Tag Archives: ic

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“Well, it’s common knowledge that the Kudous aren’t currently here and it’s currently being taken care of by someone else. And, really, it would be downright dangerous to leave a weapon here with the house unoccupied, if someone broke in… The rifle was also in the guest room’s closet, which is an odd place for a weapon if it belonged to the owner of the place.”

Shuichi stood up and walked around. He needed for it to appear natural, that he wasn’t specifically going out of Hakuba’s line of sight. More that he was pacing.

“I am not sure, either, about how the others will take to you joining the fold, but you have potential, as dangerous as the situation is. The safe story is that Kudou is off on a difficult and tough case and allowed me to take care of his house. Edogawa is his young distant relative.”

For someone as paranoid and suspicious as Hakuba, he certainly didn’t seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as Shuichi began his rounds. Instead, he took another sip of tea and contemplated the story. It sounded reasonable enough, really, and fit with what everyone else had told him. This he had to admit, much to his internal annoyance, though he somehow managed to avoid rolling his eyes. 

“I’ll stick to that then, thank you…” Another sip. “What in heaven’s name was she doing in the guest room in the first place? I’m a little concerned that she was able to snoop around your things… Does she have no sense of propriety? Did she already suspect you? Or was it a situation where your hands were tied by societal conventions, I wonder?”

Another sip. Distracted by his line of questioning, Hakuba crossed one leg over the other and considered the details at hand. Detectives were so easy in that way. 

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“Indeed it is. It’s refreshing.” He dropped in a few sugar cubes and stirred it about, then set the tea down in front of Hakuba. He then sat across from him, steepling his fingers.

“This is all related to the dominoes that just fell and I need you on the same page. As this identity, I pass cursory glances, but I cannot withstand greater scrutiny than that if someone starts poking around. I also have no gun license as ‘Subaru Okiya,’ as that would raise some suspicions about why an engineering student who has no history of interest in firearms had a firearm license.

"That amateur detective, Kita, poked around my room and found my rifle. Turns out that she checked the registry and saw that I wasn’t within it. I deleted the photos on her phone, but she would still know that something is off about me. I couldn’t tell her anything about why or anything that would absolve myself. She’s a security risk. Telling strangers she’s suspicious of about her cases that she’s in the middle of investigating? Accepting food from them?

"My point is, if the Black Organization had gotten a hold of her, they would make her talk very quickly. They made hardened thugs with a history of loathing snitches squeal. And, if I were arrested for illegal possession of a firearm, the police would find out very soon that I wasn’t who I said I was. There’s also a high-ranking Organization member lurking nearby who has close contact with the police and he would recognize me.”

He pulled off his glasses, then took off the wig and the cap underneath. Opening his eyes fully would have to wait, as they were red and he didn’t want to scare his prey. [He then mentally swatted himself. Hakuba may be a soon-to-be meal, but that was a rude thought, all in all.] “My name is Shuichi Akai. A pleasure to finally introduce myself to you.

“The reason why I’m explaining to you is because, the last time there was an incident where the Black Organization clashed with our side, our plan was slap-dashed and rushed. It nearly got the Kaitou KID killed and Shiho as well, because they were unaware of what was going on.”

After a quiet ‘thank you,’ Hakuba took the tea cup and briefly glanced over it before taking a sip, letting the flavor settle and permeate as he listened. He’d met Kita before, and had had similar (but less serious) concerns regarding her antics, but then, Subaru’s situation was much more dangerous. He lowered the cup, watching the other man carefully as he went over the bit regarding KID, then took another drink before setting the cup in his other hand, pensive.

“Even Kaitou KID, hm? I’m curious as to who all is on your side, but I won’t press for that information just yet, seeing as I’m so recent an acquisition…”  Though, really, the more he thought about it, the more obvious it seemed. He clearly had Kudou and his family in his hands, at the very least. 

“Ah, before moving forward, I do need to ask… and forgive me if this is a painfully obvious question that I should already know the answer to… but was it not possible to tell the girl that the firearm was not your own? Or, ah, is it not common enough knowledge that this is their residence? I’ll admit that I knew that this was the Kudou home, but I had no idea that anyone was actually staying here once Kudou-san became Edogawa-kun…”  

He frowned.

“I’ve been told not to investigate his case, and although I know that he’s now Edogawa-kun and that it was this ‘Black Organization’ that somehow caused it, I… must admit that I’m not certain where I should be sitting on the issue. Ah, that is to say, what is the safe story to have in mind, officially?”

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themoonlightthief:

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“…You alright?”

He arched a brow, more than a little puzzled about the detective’s behavior and unexpected rambling. Perhaps he always did talk a lot, but that didn’t explain the way he suddenly stopped and stared down the hallway, like…something was there?

“You were asking why I was here. Sort of.” Pausing, suddenly feeling a little uneasy himself, he shifted his hold on the bag, expression turning sheepish. “And, speaking of which… Mind if I borrow your shower? Or bath? Either works, really. My bathroom’s—”

‘…possibly filled with dopplegangers trying to get into my pants. Or kill me. I’m not sure which yet.’

“—being renovated.”

“Wh-what? Oh… ah, yes, that’s… that’s more than fine…” Hakuba shook his head, pulling out of the sort of daze that he’d fallen under while trying to pay attention to his guest. He couldn’t shake the feeling of hearing… well, something back where he’d come from. That hallway, where his bedroom was.

He licked his lips and reached over to put an arm around Kaito’s shoulders, turning him toward the hallway. No, wait. They were going to the kitchen, weren’t they? He turned them toward the kitchen.

“Yes, of course… walk-in shower or the garden tub, that would be fine. Not a worry at all. Hot chocolate first? And oh, right, you asked me a question. Ah. I’m fine. There’s just…" 

Hakuba frowned, looking to the hallway again. 

"Something… odd going on.”  No, that sounded stupid. “I mean, I haven’t been sleeping much. Again. Something about… nightmares… Er, I mean, not that the dove hasn’t been doing its job, I just keep staying up too late and, ah… the…”

More frowning. When had he turned toward the hallway again?

“…Hot… cocoa…?" 

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themoonlightthief :

He heaved a mental sigh of relief when the door finally swung open, and a wide grin settled on his lips as his eyes finally locked on the blonde. “Hot chocolate sounds great, actually. Thanks~ Good to see you too, by the way, Hakuba. Really.”

“So pleased to hear that, thank you! Yes, do come in, let me get this door closed and firmly locked to keep out the cold and we’ll go straight to the kitchen." 

The detective, who was perhaps a little more antsy than usual, stepped to the door to do just that. 

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this evening, anyway? If you don’t mind my asking, of course… not that you have to have a reason, necessarily, to come visit me, but I’m curious as I always am and you know, that sort of thing just-" 

Hakuba paused, glancing back behind him toward the darkened hallway, hesitated a moment, then let go of the breath he’d been holding. 

”…What was I saying?“ 

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He shifted the bag currently slung over his shoulder and glanced around, swiftly scanning the surrounding area, but upon not seeing anyone else around – or, more importantly, none of his /doppelgangers/ – he grinned, turned towards the door and knocked. Now he just had to play the waiting game. Hopefully only for a little bit though. He could feel himself growing restless already, with every second passing. “C’mon, c’mon, it’s /cold/–“

All of these ghostly sounds and wanderings and now a knock at the door? And were was Baaya? Or the other servants? 

He snuck down the hallway and to the front door, biting his lip again with a healthy amount of trepidation. Did he dare answer it? Who would be visiting without an appointment? Still, it was rude to not answer, even if there were some sort of a monster waiting just beyond the arguably unenforced passage.

So he opened it.

“Oh! Kuroba-kun, it’s you. It’s wonderful to see you again, such a pleasant surprise.” Thank God, someone to keep him company and help with the spectral visitors. “Ah, please come in! I can make some tea or hot chocolate or something?”

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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Wait, what? “…I thought you were aware of Kudou’s diminutive condition. Regardless, I do know Kudou, though I only first met him after he ended up going by the pseudonym ‘Conan.’ And I’ve met Yukiko. She comes over on occasion and stays here because she wishes to see old friends.” He filled the kettle with water and put it on the stove.

“Anyway, I keep up the property and watch over the area, as the Kudous are aware of the ‘crows’ and their threat. And the crows do have an official name. The Black Organization.

"The Black Organization is an organized crime ring that is much more dangerous and far reaching than what the phrase ‘organized crime ring’ entails. The higher ranking members are each named after alcoholic drinks.” He smirked slightly. “My codename was Rye. There are several people who infiltrated their ranks. I was one, along with another that I know of.

"You must understand this, as I have a rifle, a pistol, ammunition, and grenades that I keep here. As this identity, under my current pseudonym, I cannot pass a background check. My cover was blown not too long ago. Afterward, to maintain the other person’s cover, I had to feign my death at their hands.” Subaru took the kettle off the stove and poured a mug of water from it. He added tea leaves and stirred it about. “Anything in your tea?”

“Two sugars, please. Milk, too, if it’s Earl Grey… just sugar if not." 

The answer was automatic, and fortunately so, as Hakuba needed to buy himself some time to deal with the new information that was just given to him. Subaru Okiya had been a double agent in the Black Organization, which was the same criminal ring that Kaito had mentioned? The crows are the Black Organization. Dangerous. Alcoholic code names. Hm.

The detective tucked this information away as he worked through Okiya’s words again, and then a fourth time. Living under cover, presumed dead, weapons in the household. So much to take in, to profile and organize. Where to start? Hakuba pursed his lips, considering.

"Convenient to make the Kudou home your watch post, then… ah, it’s…really impressive, isn’t it?”

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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“Come along, then.” He headed back inside and said, “As you are aware of the circumstances surrounding Kudou, I’ll explain this now. I currently reside in the Kudou house, for the apartment I was living in burned down and he permitted me to stay here. I keep watch over the area for those crows we talked about in passing before.”

He headed to the kitchen and adjusted his glasses once. “Anyway, would you like something to eat or drink? This will be a long story, Hakuba-kun.” He still had the strong urge to bite into Hakuba’s neck and drink his blood, but this wasn’t quite the time. He needed to do so when Hakuba was sufficiently distracted.

The young detective followed along obediently, pace brisk and light. Once they were inside, he opened his mouth to inquire but quickly found it unnecessary. “Oh,” Hakuba said, blinking once as he came into the kitchen. “I was just about to ask, actually. So you know Kudou-san personally, then? And you live here?” The half-brit whistled, impressed, taking that moment to look around. “I’ve always wondered what it was like in here… Ah, how long have you been here? Have you met Kudou-san’s parents? Oh, I’ve read all of Kudou Yuusaku’s novels and-”

Hakuba cut himself off with a sheepish laugh, raising his free hand to rub the back of his neck. “Ah hah, my apologies. I’m getting ahead of myself. Some tea would be wonderful, yes, unless- ah, wait,” he glanced at his wrist watch. “It’s far too early to drink, isn’t it? Tea is more than sufficient.”

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A Tale of Rifles and Silver Bullets

okiya-subaru:

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As he was now a vampire, he couldn’t venture outside for very long without being caused pain. He opened the side door leading from the house into the garage when he heard the car pull up. He opened the garage door and stepped out to Hakuba, shading his eyes. The little pricks of pain started up, but he’d be fine soon enough. “Hello, Hakuba-kun.”

“Subaru-san,” Hakuba said in return with a nod and a warm, if not somewhat nervous, smile. “It’s good to see you again. Thank you for inviting me, ah…”  He desperately wanted to ask about the house, where its owners were, how Okiya came to reside there, and so on, but… now was not the time, and certainly not the place.  "Well, I’ll save my questions for when we get inside. I’ll follow your lead? I’m here and eager to listen.“

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A Drunken Waltz [Open]

themoonlightthief:

At first, the thief frowned, brows furrowing in confusion and annoyance as this person just moved to block the path to his longed for goal – food, bread, instant ramen, chocolate – but then the other male started to speak. 

Kaitou blinked, expression turning blank as he tried to place that voice. And that hair and those eyes. Where had he—

And then realization hit and an utterly blinding grin split his face as he leaped – stumbled – towards the detective, arms winding around his torso in a tight, tight embrace. And to hold himself up. For some unexplicable reason, his legs didn’t quite seem to want to carry him. Hm. He should probably look into that later.

It could wait though.

“Ha~ku~baaaa~” The thief singsonged, focus returning to the blonde detective. “Can y’get me som’ chocolate? I think’ve lost m’wallet~”

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“Good God, it really is you.” Hakuba frowned, chin tucked against his throat as he looked down at the thief that clung to him. “What in the world have you been doing? And- chocolate? For God’s sake, you’re still in uniform, in public, and you’re asking about chocolate?" 

The detective sighed. On the one hand, he really liked Kaito, as KID or otherwise. On the other, it was dangerous for him to be out and about like this. And irritating that he was drunk, clinging to him, and acting all around completely undignified.

…then again, he really liked the way the thief had said his name just then. 

So Hakuba sighed again. "I’ll get you some chocolate, certainly, but if I do will you come with me? I need to get you off of these streets before someone else finds you. Here, hold my coffee and don’t move from this spot,” he said, attempting to detach the thief and reattach him to the corner of the building. “Sit here, or something… I’ll just nip in and get you something and then we can be on our way. Deal?"