Tag Archives: clue

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You’re just about to leave for the police station – as it seems, they still need your input about the case from last night – but as you open the door, you stop, mid-step, as you realize that you’re about to step on something. You glance down. And find a white little chinese dragon statue, just about the size of your palm, wearing a tiny, removable deerstalker, and a rose. And a note. “A little companion just for you. Remember to feed him; he likes petting and little head kisses~”

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Hakuba cradled the tiny dragon in his hands, admiring each clever detail for several minutes. It wasn’t until Baaya noticed the front door open that he realized that he’d been too lost in thought to get out the door and on to his appointment. 

Clearly, there was no time to bring it back inside, so he took it with him, despite handing the rose to Baaya to put with the others. The note slipped easily enough into his pocket, and the dragon he was sure to pet the entire cab ride there, before slipping it into one of his inner jacket pockets where it would be safe during his meetings. 

What made him think to get me a dragon, I wonder..?

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When you eventually wake the next morning, you notice the smell of food in the air. In fact, it seems like it’s coming from right next to you. Opening your eyes and turning over on your side to glance down towards the floor you spot a tray – and what looks to be a traditional English breakfast; complete with tea, bacon, poached eggs, sausages, toast with butter, and fried tomatoes and mushrooms. Along with, yet again, a red rose and a note; “What better way to start the day than with breakfast?”

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“…goodness, you’ve been busy.” Hakuba stared down at the tray, shifting ever so carefully to pick up the tray and bring it closer. This kind of breakfast was no easy means to come by in Japan outside of home cooking, but… The detective couldn’t help the eager smile that slid onto his admittedly softened expression, once again touching the rose, and the note. 

“Why are you doing this for me?” Hakuba asked to no one. The breakfast was hot, yes; everything was perfect. But if it really was who he thought it was, they would be long gone by now. And instead of search, he tucked into that breakfast, completely unable to resist the call of those tomatoes and mushrooms and everything else. 

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You open the door to your bedroom and step inside, more than ready to at least try to get some sleep – no matter how little of it you’ll actually end up getting – but stop once your eyes lock onto your pillow. There, nestled comfortably, is a plushie, about the size of your head. A white dove. And, resting next to it is, as you might have expected, a rose. And a handwritten note. “Sleep well, as this little dove does its best to keep your nightmares at bay.”

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“Yet again…” Hakuba said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. He glanced to the window, which looked locked and secured as expected, then sighed. “If you’re nearby, Kaitou-san, you really ought to show yourself… Breaking and entering is a serious crime, you know.”

Yet, despite his words, the detective smiled. He took the note and ran his hands over its surface, memorizing the hand-writing, and took it to slip between the pages of his private journal which he kept stored in the lockbox underneath the window seat. The rose he added to his growing collection, slipping it into the vase with care. And the dove? Well…

For once, instead of going through his whole nighttime routine, Hakuba simply got into bed, full suit and all, and pulled it against his face. He hadn’t had a plush in several years and he had to admit that it was very comforting. So much so that within five minutes, the detective was fast into a dreamless sleep. 

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You return home after yet another long day of working on cases, tired, exhausted, and looking to simply sit down and relax for just a few moments, before checking your notes once more. You step into the living room and there, standing in the middle of the table, is a plate with homemade cookies, a cup of hot Earl Grey tea, a teapot and, as you might have expected – a red rose.

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The tea was still hot. Surely, there must be something…? Hakuba touched the rose, as if to prove to himself that this was not a dream, and then hurried to check the room. Behind the curtains, in the closet, the hallway. If Kaitou or whoever this mysterious gift-giver was around, he wanted to know. Had to find them. To ask why. To thank them.

Perhaps also to… casually let it slip that this, the show of affection and kindness, really meant a lot to him. Things had been particularly difficult and exhausting lately, and it was so nice to know that someone knew that he was alive. He was certainly trying, at any rate. 

Unable to find anyone, however, he took a seat in one of the arm chairs next to the table, sighed, and took a sip of tea. Earl Grey, even.  Someone was going to quite a lot of trouble for him…

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…and he wanted to know who.

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You slowly make your way towards the kitchen, sluggish, exhausted. It’s been another long, long night and you haven’t slept at all. How many sleepless nights does that make now? Too many. You sigh and card a hand through your hair, absently mulling over the case notes in your mind as you enter the kitchen, gaze flicking over to the counter – and the steaming cup of coffee comfortably sitting there. Next to another red rose.

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Another… 

The detective looked from the rose to the coffee, then back again, before lifting his head to look around the kitchen. It was silent and still, as it always was so late (or early). Still, he swallowed and offered a small “Hello?” before reaching for the rose, examining it cautiously. 

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Things like this didn’t happen to him. True, he had his admirers, but they had been forced to go through proper channels for some time now. And it wasn’t as if just anyone could get through the security at the Hakuba household. Baaya, perhaps…?  

No, she’d been in bed hours ago. He’d checked on her earlier when pacing the inner perimeter. But then who…? Dare he hope that it be Kaitou Kid? The thought hurt almost as much as it thrilled him. Certainly, Kid was the most logical explanation, for a variety of factors, but… 

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Hakuba brought the rose to his lips and kissed it once, tenderly, taking in that subtle scent. Was it a dream? No; there wasn’t enough fire. Perhaps a trap, then? 

Perhaps.

But if it is, he thought, picking up the coffee cup with his other hand to return to work, I think I’ll allow myself a few moments of foolish enjoyment, anyway… 

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You hear the lightest of a tap come from the living room windows and, curious, you move across the room and push the curtain to the side. The window is open, just an inch or two, and as you press it open fully and look outside, you just barely manage to catch something white flashing in the corner of your eye, before it disappears. You glance down, pausing. Left behind, on the windowsill, is a red rose.

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“What’s this now…?” Hakuba canted his head to one side as he lifted the rose, confused expression softening to something fond as fingertips from his opposite hand moved over the petals gently. Silky velvet. Almost like the smooth fabric of someone’s white suit and cape… He looked out to the garden again, eyes scanning the dark for that same flash of white but, alas. It was gone.

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“…I suppose I should get to writing more riddles, then…" 

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An unmarked package arrives on Hakuba’s doorstep. A letter is attached. “Mr. Hakuba,” it reads. “While excavating some ruins in Wales, we have uncovered a strange item. With your permission, we would appreciate it if you could examine it and send us back the results. Signed,” and here the signature was blurred, the ink having rubbed off during transit and poor handling. Inside was a strange item, looking somewhat like an emu or dinosaur egg.

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“Well, that’s… somewhat unusual. And you’re not sure who sent it, Baaya?”

“No, sir… it was on the doorstep this afternoon. Apparently, there was no signature required.”

“The return information is missing, too… That’s troubling. I wasn’t expecting anything.”

“It’s a good thing that you’re a detective, or that might be a problem.”

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“Thank you, Baaya.”

Hakuba brought the box to his bedroom and opened it at his desk. “An egg? How peculiar.” 

He removed it from the box and handled it gently, inspecting it from top to bottom with interest. “Very curious…” It didn’t appear to be a real egg, at least not any that he was familiar with, so he set it upon his desk to act as a rather large paperweight. 

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He’d need to get a stand for it to prevent it from rolling off.