Tag Archives: thread

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The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

The magician/thief blinked at him wide eyed before tilting his head in confusion. That was unexpected but it was also such a let down.

“So you’re just going to give up?" Kaito said before thinking about it but that offended him. He always gave it his all. He thought that even though they went at each other throat they had fun. The detective seemed, to him at least, to open up a bit more. So what does that mean now?  "Did you stop trying at the heists too?”

Now Hakuba blushed, turning away with an irritated scowl, sipping the last of his tea before setting the cup back on the plate and reached for a cookie, though he really, really wasn’t hungry anymore. “You have other detectives to play with,” he snapped, then grimaced, hissing a frustrated breath as he set the cookie down, hand running through his hair again.

“Bloody hell.. I mean, HE has other detectives to play with. My priorities have changed. I’ve no interest in arresting the damned thief, but I’ll continue to work with the task force as long as I’m able." 

Things were turning badly very quickly, and Hakuba glanced toward the exit, wondering what he would need to do in order to excuse himself appropriately. He didn’t want to fight, not now. Not when they’d actually had a moment of civility. Not when there had been a small glimmer of hope for something other than disdain between them.

Not when he might have had ONE friend in the whole bloody country to confide in. 

"Perhaps I should go; I’ve kept you from your work long enough, Kuroba-kun. Thank you for your hospitality and advice.” He pushed back from the table and stood, taking a moment to adjust his tie and collar.

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Keena cooed at him then flew back to her master. As if that was her answer. Kaito narrowed his eyes. “Can’t go through with it? You? Why not?”

“…Why not?” Hakuba glanced back, expression incredulous as he regarded the other teenager. “I… well, I thought that was obvious, Kuroba-kun.” Another huff and he picked up his tea cup again, sipping from it in irritation. “I’m clearly not going to capture Kaitou Kid. Therefore, I will never succeed. It shouldn’t be surprising." 

Really, after berating him for the accusations, now this? Such a thing! 

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

“I see … you …really want this? What about …” catching me? He finished that sentence in his head. Frustrated he sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, this time his hair went crazier. He continued to ignore the pressure in his chest. Opening the fridge he pulled out a water bottle and twisted off the cap harshly. A long gulp washed back the bitter feelings in his throat. Keena cooed and Kaito turned his head to see why. Hakuba was stroking her lovingly.

“ …. then go.” He said quietly. “This is your dream Hakuba. You deserve a chance to take it.”

I’m going to miss you. Kaito smiled freely and openly at the detective he had known for a couple of years. 

Hakuba wanted to be upset with the answer. It was what he’d expected; taking any chance to send the one person who knew his secret away. It hurt. But when Hakuba saw the smile, he held his breath. That wasn’t a cruel expression; it was genuine affection, and it caught him off guard. 

He continued to pet Keena, though his movements slowed as his thoughts were derailed and distracted, looking back to the envelopes with a small frown. “It… it isn’t so simple, Kuroba-kun… I still have work here to do, and I don’t…”  He sighed, frustrated, shoulders sagging as he leaned back in the chair again. 

“I don’t want to go home a failure. England sent their champion to take care of Japan’s problem, and I… I can’t go through with my task. But I also don’t see a future for me here… Yet, I… I almost don’t want to leave, either." 

Hanging his head, he huffed, looking to Keena as if she had the answer to his problems. "I used to be so sure of everything; now I don’t know what to do.”

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

He froze. Even his breathing paused. There were two colleges to England and only one to Japan. Oxford and Cambridge some of the top colleges in the world. They provide so much and asked for so little in return. He would receive some of the best schooling there. He’d also be near family. Hands down Kaito would have chosen either of the two but …

He smiled and shut down the emotions that threatened. “That is a hard choice.”

Don’t go! Don’t go to England! Kaito’s mind kept screaming as he took another sip of tea. His hands though weren’t steadied at all. Mentally cursing himself he set the cup back down with a clack and stood. Keena moved off his shouder to rest near Hakuba and bumped her head against his hand for scritches. 

“Just those three?”

“A few others, as well, including one in the United States, but I’ll be damned before I go there. God, I mostly just wanted to see if I could get in…”  Hakuba laughed, setting his own cup down to give Keena more attention, watching her as he stroked her little head. “But the three I mentioned are all… absolutely amazing. My Mum went to Cambridge, so that’s where she’d like me to go. My father went to Keio. And I…" 

The detective sighed at that, closing his eyes as he mulled the words over in his head, wondering if he should even say them. ”…well, before everything with Kaitou Kid, I’d always dreamed of going to Oxford. Ever since I was a little boy. But wherever I choose… that… that is where I’ll apply for citizenship, begin networking, and setting up my career path for the rest of my life.“ 

He pursed his lips, then looked back up to Kaito, cautiously. "I don’t have very long to reply… so this summer is more or less the interim between me and my future. I’m a bit terrified.”

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito was stunned. There was so many different people he could have asked. His family was one, Nakamouri-keibu, the other detectives he knew. Yet as stunned as he was he was strangely humbled and touched by his actions. Shifting in his own seat he cleared his throat and ignored his hot cheeks.

“I … well I think a Congrats is in order first. As for the decision: where are the colleges located and which is going to benefit you more by going to it. I’d consider these. Do you mind telling me which one you’ve gotten accepted to.”

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“Well, they’re… they’re all quite impressive, actually. I’d probably be happy going to any of them. The, ah, complicated part comes in with the location…” Hakuba took a deep breath and spread the envelopes out in his hand like they were playing cards, plucking one to show, then set it down on the table. “Keio, here in Japan,” he set it down. “And then Oxford and Cambridge, back in England." 

With ‘cards’ on the table, the detective leaned back in his seat, carefully glancing up to watch for any sort of reaction. It was Kuroba’s chance to help send the pesky detective away, really. Would he take it?

"Four years in criminal science. I’ve got to decide my which country to settle my citizenship by my 21st birthday. So, you see, it’s a matter of… going home or permanently leaving it…" 

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

The minute he heard those words Kaito spun his gaze back quickly to the detective and managed to go redder. He stood from the table with a clatter and flinched when Keena touch his shoulder. Her tiny beak pressed the kiss to his lips and Kaito collapsed back into the chair.

Okay, everything was okay. He breathed slowly and faintly heard what Hakuba had said over the roaring blood in his ears. “On what exactly?”

Hakuba took a sip of tea before he replied, nervously shifting his legs under the table as he considered his words. “It’ll all sound so silly, honestly… I, ah, it’s about college. I applied to several universities and was accepted into my top three schools…” He set the cup down, then picked up the thick envelopes, biting his lip as he shuffled them in his hands.

“But I’ve no idea which one to choose. It’s not something that I can just hedge my bets with; it’s… it’s a huge decision and I’m really at a loss." 

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito covered his cheeks and scrubbed at his face. On a breathy exhale he recovered somewhat and sat down. Did Hakuba even realized that they had just … He shook his head and reached for his tea. The blush was still staining his cheeks. 

“Thank you, ah what was it that you wanted to talk about?” He said quickly and ignored the way his hand trembled slightly. He wanted to change the subject fast before the detective had a chance to really read into what had just happened.

Interesting. Hm.

Hakuba looked down at the rose dove again, considering the situation and the question, rubbing the top of her head with the pad of his index finger. “Ah, yes… it’s about these envelopes,” he said, nodding his head to the stack on the table. He then brought the bird to his mouth and smiled.  "Keena, kiss,“ ready to let her do her trick and pull her away so that she could return to her master. All with a steady, warm smile. Just a liiittle bit smug. 

”…you see, I’ve got to make a decision very soon, but it’s complicated and… I’ve found that I don’t really have anyone to talk to. So I’m hoping you’ll be able to offer me some advice.“

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Lonely Elegance || kaitomagic

kaitomagic:

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“I didn’t ask.” The teen responded, dryly. Taxing? As if.
He watched Hakuba’s face, gaze shifting down to the piano keys again as the detective’s hands glided across them, both curious and put off. Who did this guy think he was? Acting all suave and innocent…
“Still going on about moonlight escapades… when will you give it up already?”

Kaito wondered, idly, how long it would take Aoko to figure out where he had ended up… and also whether his hope that she’d drag him away again might be foiled when she spotted Hakuba. What did she see in him, anyway? “And what about you? No date? That’s surprising with how much of a playboy you are.”

It was… frustrating, to say the least, to hear the denial time and time again. Hakuba knew who Kaito truly was, and he knew that Kaito was well aware of this. Add to that the playboy comment and the dry response, and it put a significant damper on his ability to pretend to be pleasant. 

The detective stilled his hands, letting the notes die with chord unresolved, and tilted his head back to regard the teenager next to him coolly, mouth curved so very slightly downward into a frown.

“This is an event for the police, many of whom I consider colleagues and mentors. It is not a setting in which I feel comfortable bringing personal matters, which a ‘date’ would fall under. But, thank you, Kuroba-kun,” Hakuba remarked, voice dry, words quick, and tone perhaps a bit harsher than necessary. “It’s always good to know where I stand with people in their opinions of me.”

And where was that? Irritable, nosey, pretentious playboy. Insufferable. Hakuba glanced away, down to the piano keys, fighting back the urge to run. Kaito was too observant; he’d know that he’d hurt him with his words. He’d know he’d won.  Hakuba forced a smile.

“Ah, so admired, am I. It’s so nice to have friends.”

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Taiyaki Search || grumpylucario

grumpylucario:

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Getting separated was somewhere between inconvenient and disastrous, but Lucario hadn’t decided where on the scale that was yet. Then again, figuring out a solution was undoubtedly more important than determining exactly how important said solution was.

And so, the canid walked aimlessly alongside the dense buildings, trying to make sense of location or purpose of this new area. It had to be somewhere in the Kanto Region, undoubtedly, but everything just seemed a little bit off. No Pokémon, no particularly strong aura. It was just… dull. Then again, at least dull was calm, particularly as the streets seemed to not be all that crowded, even if Lucario seemed to be getting some particularly odd looks from the few people that were around.

Getting to the Pokémon Center seemed the logical priority, but… Where was it? Weren’t Pokémon Centers normally bright and garish buildings that demanded to be the center of attention? Wandering ‘this way’ might be helpful, but just as likely, it might not.

“Hm?” Someone was staring. Lucario’s red-eyed gaze fell on a young man who seemed less content to pretend he didn’t exist. In fact, said young man appeared to be heading in this direction. Well, maybe he’ll know where the Pokémon Center could be found.

 

No. No, the thing was not a statue, nor a clever cosplay. It was a living, breathing Lucario. Or at least some sort of genetic creation that looked startlingly like one. But how..? And why?  Hakuba couldn’t help but continue his approach, halting only briefly when it looked at him. He had to know. Had to investigate. 

Looking around, it seemed that no one else seemed willing to be as perplexed as he was; perhaps it was a symptom of being a Japanese native. This sort of thing probably happened often enough, if the stories were to be believed. It wasn’t too far from the realm of the reality that he knew, all things considered. After all, he’d dated an actual witch and made it a habit of chasing after a phantom thief. All stories had their origins in truth, so why couldn’t a pokemon exist?

Hakuba stopped a good five or six feet away, regarding the creature like he might a wild rabbit; slowly, calmly bowing, then straightening up and offering a warm and inviting smile, tilting his head.

“Good evening, Lucario-san. How are you?”

by

The Interim

smokebombsandmirrors:

Kaito wiggled slightly and slid closer then scooted out back wards.

“Sorry about that. This is Keena.” The slightly small rose dove clung to Kaito’s shoulder and nibbled at his bangs. Kaito quickly moved her from his shoulder to his hand and offered her a chance to meet the detective. 

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It took four seconds for Hakuba to recover from his deer in headlights stare once the bird was in front of him. He blinked again, then looked down at her, realization dawning. “O-Oh! Oh! A bird! That explains it. Yes, all right, all right…”  

Hakuba laughed at himself, bringing a hand up- slowly, carefully -to first brush his own hair from his face, then offered it to her, perfectly positioned for her to change perches if she wished.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Keena,” he said, smile immediately fond as he looked her over, memorizing her features. Then, he glanced quickly up at Kaito. “God, she’s beautiful. Is it all right if I ask her to step up? Does she know that command?”