Tag Archives: a tale of rifles and silver bullets

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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A knock at the door woke him from his half-sleep. He got up and opened it to find Hakuba at the door. Grabbing the tub, he walked in and gestured for Hakuba to follow. Now to determine this matter for the moment at hand… He set it down in the kitchen and headed back to Hakuba.

“Open your mouth.” He was being gruff, but he wasn’t the most pleasant person when he just woke up. It took a bit for the niceties and politeness to work their way into his act.

“Pardon?” Hakuba asked, surprised at the blunt question, particularly after going through all of that effort on his errand. He frowned, wondering why in the world Subaru-san would even want- “Oh, to check my teeth?" 

The detective did as was requested, revealing nothing more than a normal – but very clean, healthy, and well maintained! – set of human teeth. Although he still considered this rude, at least it didn’t seem to be anything underhanded.

"By all accounts,” he said nervously after a moment, “I feel fairly normal. Just tired. Which, really, is likewise normal. We should get the blood packs in the freezer, however. I would be ashamed if any spoiled from simple negligence.”  

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

“Bye.” After Hakuba left, Shuichi flapped his wings and, albeit clumsily, made it from the table to the ground. Once there, he forced himself to concentrate. Once back to his human form, he got back into his clothing, wig, and glasses. He sat down at his spot, frowning.

Now was a waiting game and he was worried about if Hakuba would transform or not. That wasn’t his expectation, as that would mean that vampires would have to artificially keep their numbers low in spite of needing a meal by either killing their victims or killing each other off. Otherwise, they’d soon outpace the amount of humans in an area and start starving to death and killing off what few humans would then be left. Even then, he could be wrong. Pre-Dracula lore had the vampires kill their victims instead of spare them.

Regardless, Hakuba would be his responsibility, vampire or not, with the information Hakuba now knew.

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Two hours, forty three minutes, twelve seconds, and several phone calls later, Hakuba returned to the Kudou estate with a large cooler. Once he was parked, he jogged to the trunk and gazed down at it with a certain sense of longing. If only these were wine coolers, he thought to himself, taking the handles on either side, and I were on my way to the beach…

With effort, he hefted the heavy tub from the car and balanced it awkwardly between his knee and the back bumper, shifting the weight to close the car afterward. Then it was a matter of getting it to the door – which he did – and getting it inside. He knocked on the side door, and waited. 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“Thank you and I appreciate the offer.” That would indeed be helpful.

“As I passed out because the vampire in question was near-starving, from what I could tell, I can only give you a maximum approximation. About four hours at most.”

Shuichi stretched, as much as he could for being a tiny bat and not wanting to fall on his face. He would change back soon, after Hakuba left. Showing up naked in front of his student would probably break his brain more than it already was broken. [And the age gap was really uncomfortable for him, all in all.]

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“Four hours…”  Hakuba tapped his chin with his index finger, then nodded and carefully moved to stand. Wobbly at best, it took him a moment or two to get his bearings, frown firmly fixed on his face. “Four hours, minus the fifteen to twenty minutes I’ve been sitting here, recovering… should be enough if I pull a few strings…”

The words trailed off in a mumble as the detective paced back and forth in front of the couch, steps slow, head clearing. Then he stopped, fist in hand, resolute and determined.

“Right then. I will return momentarily. Enjoy your little transformation. Try not to bite anyone else in the meantime, please.”

This said, he left straightway for the door to let himself out.

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“…Hospital. May I ask why you’re asking me that?” He scratched an ear with a wing. If it was what he thought it was, then that could be useful. Wouldn’t have to go out attacking people, at least…

“I’d like to provide you with a ready supply in order to keep you from repeating your earlier faux pas. It could come in handy for myself, as well, depending…” He pulled the ice pack from his neck and set it aside, adjusting the collar of his dress shirt in an attempt to hide the bandage.

Said attempt was unsuccessful, so he turned his efforts to loosening his tie. "How long was it between your being bitten and having turned? All that I feel thus far is light-headed.“

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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Drinking tea again? Goodness, this boy was British. “…It’s best to keep calling me Subaru. Anyway, there was a reason why we initially came to Japan. We were hunting for an operative that goes by the name of Vermouth. She did quite a bit in the US and headed off to Japan.

“We got clearance to work within the country to track her down and bring her back to be tried in the US. Unfortunately, she’s eluded our grasp at every turn. She’s a cunning one, though I did manage to deal with her lackey, Calvados. Broke his legs, but he killed himself to avoid being captured… That’s a recurring motif with the Black Organization. Everyone in it, when they know that they’re going to be captured and cannot weasel their way out, commits suicide.”

He could go into details about why that was the case, but he figured he shouldn’t overload his student’s brain even more just yet. [Namely a mixture of a cult-like brainwashing practice and terrifying people about the consequences of snitching to the police, federal agents, and so forth.]

“Anyway, though the FBI are still in Japan to deal with the Black Organization, I am not sure about if they have any other agents as their targets. I don’t have access to that sort of information and, though Kudou may hear a bit more, I doubt they’d just tell him, unless he explained everything to them, which is something he’d almost never do.”

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The detective paused momentarily at the mention of ‘Vermouth,’ eyes narrowing ever so slightly before he continued to sip his tea. When it was finished, he leaned forward to set the cup on the table, then leaned back to continue soaking in every detail dispensed by his bat sensei. This he did while forcing himself to avoid the temptation of making playful references to him truly being the night and so on. It was difficult, but he managed. 

In the end, he nodded, lips pressed into a thin, thoughtful line. 

"I must admit that I’m incredibly curious about this ‘Vermouth’ that you speak of, as well as the other intricacies of your work with the FBI… however, before I ask for more details about that, I do need to ask. Do you prefer your blood from the hospital or black market?" 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“I am not sure about what KID knows, but I doubt Kudou would have told him anything in detail and I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to him. Then there’s Shiho… She was originally a member of the Black Organization, a scientist. I knew her before she became a traitor and ended up shrunken down, much like Kudou. She’s currently next door, going by the name of Ai Haibara.

"On top of that, there is professor Agasa, and both Yuusaku and Yukiko Kudou. Yukiko’s rather nice when she visits. Seems Yuusaku’s usually running from editors, as I haven’t seen him around and Yukiko occasionally talks about it. Those are people who are aware of Kudou and aware of the Black Organization. Aside from Kudou and Shiho, you’re the only one aware that I’m Shuichi, as I intend to make sure only those who need to know are aware of my being alive.”

He frowned slightly. Even then, Shiho deduced it because of his similar language and mannerisms. Hakuba wouldn’t have this knowledge and Kudou set up some of the details of the feigned death. As for the others, they just had to listen to Kudou vouching that he wasn’t Black Organization, because he was still very… shady.

“The FBI agents James Black, Andre Camel, and Jodie Santemillion are aware of the Black Organization and are here to deal with them, but they are unaware of my being alive and unaware of Kudou’s state. They also think I’m dead and they must continue to, otherwise an undercover agent could get killed if things play out a certain way.”

Ah, more information. Nice, concrete details like names, relationships, organizations, occupations. Hakuba could work with this. He stored it all away, taking mental notes as he listened to the tiny bat talk, returning to his tea once he was satisfied with the position of the ice pack on his neck. 

“So you’ve even got the FBI on your side; that’s quite interesting, Subaru-san… or Shuichi-san? Which name do you prefer that I call you?" 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“I have told you a basic outline of some of the situation, but there are pieces only other people can tell you and I could fill in some details I’ve omitted. Do you have any particular questions?” Shuichi got a bit closer to Hakuba.

World-shattering was a bit strong, he thought. After all, Hakuba knew about Kudou’s diminutive condition. A crime organization would be much less bizarre than an older teenager shrinking down to a small child’s size, no?

While that was true, all of it combined painted an incredibly bizarre picture. And, truthfully, he was till reeling over the fact that he’d had afternoon tea interrupted by vampire bite. So very, very odd, that.

More quiet chuckling at his own joke followed, then a raise of his brow as he watched the little bat. So small. So soft-looking.

“Questions, questions…. ah, well. Are you at liberty to tell me who is involved in your circle of trust? I’ve mentioned that I was going to wait to ask, but now that you’ve bitten me, it seems that we’ve become closer.”

And brief pause. “You’re small enough to ride in my breast pocket, you know." 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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Shuichi got up and grabbed a small bag. He went to the freezer and started filling the bag with ice. “I am not sure, Hakuba. And I don’t know anything about having venom. Even then, it would be reminiscent of rear-fanged snakes and having to chew and work at their victim a while because my fangs aren’t hollow. As for the bat thing, I haven’t tried it.”

He set the bag of ice in front of Hakuba and sat back down. Concentrating, he wondered if he really could transform or if he just looked silly. About when he was going to give up, though, now he was draped in cloth. Oh, for heaven’s sake…

He climbed out and flew clumsily up to the table. A bat. A tiny, fluffy one at that. He looked up at Hakuba. Voice squeaky and high pitched, he said, “That appears to be a yes.”

Hakuba sighed, pressing the bag of ice to his neck with a frown. “Thank you,” he said, though he felt as though Shuichi really didn’t deserve the gratitude. Not for having bitten him like that. Undignified. Uncalled for. Unprecedented. And certainly unexpected from someone that he had thought was as civilized as Subaru-san. And he couldn’t even tell him if he’d soon be a vampire, as well? Hmf!

Pouting, he didn’t bother to respond further until he realized that the other man had disappeared. He blinked, brows raising high on his forehead as he tried to stand up to look – only to be forced back into a heavy sit, head spinning. Bad idea, bad idea. He let out a slow breath, then massaged his temples with the hand not holding the ice pack, then glanced over at the bat that was his sensei.

“Indeed… and, what do you know, I was right. Desmodus rotundus after all; the common vampire bat. Of course.” Hakuba leaned his head bad and closed his eyes. “Well, then. Any other world-shattering pieces of information to share? I’m a rather captive audience at present, so you may as well dish to your fuzzy self’s content." 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“Initially, I was interested in giving you the information, Hakuba. The problem is that I haven’t fed enough, so a human being nearby is like a starving dog spotting a steak.” He walked over and grabbed a cloth, licking the blood off of his free hand.

“As for the mythos, I’m unsure.” He dug around in a cupboard and grabbed a small bottle of iodine and some bandages. After setting them down in front of Hakuba, he sat down across from him. “I don’t remember much of what happened when I was turned. Guy drained me until I was unconscious. But, given how there hasn’t been a rash of mysterious deaths involving victims with puncture marks in the area, I’m presuming not. Perhaps I’m wrong.”

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Hakuba set the teacup aside and reached over for the bottle of iodine. Grimacing, he began to clean the wound with a hiss through his teeth. “God, that stings! Was there bruising for you? Could I get some ice? My clients are likely to ask questions… God, how inconvenient…" 

He sighed, wincing as a wave of dizziness washed over him. Woah, right, blood loss. The detective closed his eyes in an attempt to force some amount of concentration, fingers working the bandage with practiced movements. 

”…Forgive me for asking again; I must admit that I’m a little muddled, but… do you believe that I’ll be turning, too? And do you have venom? Are you able to transform into a bat? If so, what species? I’ll be highly disappointed if it’s Desmodus rotundus; that would be so terribly common.“ 

The chuckle that followed his excellent joke ended with a short exhale, pressure from applying the bandage bringing a new spike in pain. 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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Shuichi took his time, blood welling in his mouth. It was welcome, like drinking ice water on a blazing hot day. After a bit, when he was reasonably satiated, he licked the wound clean and put his hand on the bite, applying pressure to it. His eyes were now open and bright red.

“I apologize. I was recently turned into a vampire.” He opened his mouth wide enough to show the fangs. “I may not be one for superstitions, but the evidence says otherwise…

"I’m sorry that this is a lot to take in.  Do you need anything in particular?”

Of all of the things that he had thought might have possibly happened to him that day, this was certainly not one of them. The initial surprise and burst of pain of the attack was gradually replaced with shock, during which, the detective stayed still and stiff. All he could think to do was  stare at Shuichi out of the corner of his wide, frightened eyes. 

Once the older man was finished with the halfer’s mixed blood, and Hakuba’s heart calmed to a reasonable rate (more like a nervous rabbit and less like a screaming one), he sucked in a breath and released it in a huff, gaping afterward.

“Do I need something?! An explanation might be appropriate! You… just… BIT me. Bit me! You used misdirection! Giving me valuable and interesting information to disguise the fact that you really just wanted to BITE ME."  Eyes still wide, one brow raised, the other creased, leaving the young detective with an incredulous expression. He shifted the teacup into his other hand so that he could swat at Akai’s hand, wanting to cover his own neck, thank you very much.

"Over afternoon tea, no less! You bit me over afternoon tea! I just…! What?! Sensei! Am I to become like you, then?! I hardly believe that you’re going to kill me off after going through the trouble of providing such vital information. What mythos are your vampiric rules based on?"