Title: Diamond's Promenade
Theme(s): Regret
Characters: Saguru, Kaitou Kid, Nakamori
Rating: PG
Warnings: Character Death
Summary: Saguru becomes Kaito's teacher, and mourns the outcome of the lessons.
--
Diamond's
PromenadeI believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death.
-Robert Fulghum
He skated slowly backwards, turning in a graceful spiral as he focused on the ice in front of him, unseeing. The cold wind whipped past him, blurring the scene as it blew his tears back towards his eyes, forcing him to blink.
He altered his turn, now going forward, retracing his previous marks in the ice as he pushed himself across, the silence around him broken only by the blades slicing the slick surface. He held out his arms, balancing himself as he made yet another turn, carving another spiral behind him, picking up speed. He felt his skates leave the ice and drew his arms and legs in, twisting gracefully in the air.
--
"And just why would I want to learn to skate?" Kaito asked, peering across the ice before looking back at the blond detective standing next to him.
"Because you can't and I can and it makes me feel superior to teach you." Hakuba said honestly, before stepping onto the mirror-smooth surface, pushing himself backwards across the ice, smirking at the thief still standing on the sidelines. "Don't tell me you're scared."
"Of course not," Kaito scoffed, taking a shaky step onto the ice before him and promptly falling face first, chin making a sick cracking sound. He glared at the laughing blond, pushing himself up to his knees, sticking out his tongue to make sure he hadn't bitten through it before pushing himself slowly, carefully to his feet.
There was a small shower of shaved ice as Hakuba skated up to his side, smiling at him. "Give me your hand," he whispered,and Kaito looked up at him before offering his own gloved hand. Hakuba took it and pulled Kaito easily around him, wrapping an arm around the smaller boy's waist, pushing forward. Kaito yelped as he slid backward, body stiff, causing Hakuba to clack his tongue chidingly. "Relax, Kuroba." he said softly, twisting them around so that he was now skating backwards, making it easier on the beginner. "I won't let you fall."
Kaito looked up into Hakuba's golden eyes, his body melting into a more relaxed posture as the pair flowed across the ice, the detective easily holding the other teen up as they moved, until Kaito was sure enough in his steps to slide with the detective.
"That's it," Hakuba said, turning them again, using his leading feet to teach Kaito how to move backwards. "Easy as counting," he said with a laugh.
--
He landed easily from the jump and twisted, spiraling back towards the start before starting across the ice again, his mind drifting as his feet performed familiar steps across the ice, ignoring the grooves from his previous maneuvers. To him they were nothing more than ghosts on the ice, following along with him in a mirrored procession.
He pushed his leg out, balance coming to him easily as he slid across the ice, feeling colder as the wind entered through the bottom of his jacket, sliding along his body like a lover, stealing the precious warmth he had gathered under the wool. He closed his eyes, lowering his leg, turning slowly on the edges of his blades, trying to keep from thinking, from feeling. Blank was nice. Blank kept you sane.
--
"GET BACK HERE, KID!" Nakamori yelled, teeth clenched tightly around the cigarette in his mouth.
Kaitou Kid smiled at them over his shoulder, tossing a handful of roses that promptly exploded upon impact with the cement of the roof, leaking a gooey gel. Several officers went down while Nakamori and Saguru detoured around the mess, far tooused to the thief's antics to fall for such an easy trick. "Good evening, gentlemen!" he called over the glider snapping into place as he jumped off the roof, laughing as the wind carried him off into the wind.
Saguru slid to a stop a few inches from the edge, pinwheeling for a moment, eyes trained on the white spot that was the vanishing thief. He slid his pocket watch from his jacket and clicked it open, studying the face before looking up at the clouds that were starting to shift their position. He glanced back at the thief, smiling as the figure tumbled for a moment in the air, before turning for a landing. "He's heading to the park, sir."
"Good," Nakamori said before snapping the location into the radio he held, heading for the access door, intent on capturing the thief who had once more been outsmartedby nature itself.
They arrived at the park shortly after seeing Kid land, and the Task Force spilled from their cars before the drivers had even stopped, all eager for the capture of the thief that sometimes haunted their nightmares.
"Head towards the pond!" Saguru yelled as he climbed out, pulling his coat tighter around him. "He went down towards there, be careful of the ice!" He winced as his words came too late, three officers going down, sliding on their stomachsacross the frozen pond.
"So glad you could join me, gentlemen. Shall we have a skating party?" The cool, smooth tones of Kid's voice came out of the shadows and a figure came gliding past backwards, cape billowing around him.
"Kid..." Nakamori growled, chasing after the skating figure. He was confused as to the Kid's ability to ice skate, when it was a well-know fact that the thief couldn't, and he looked around for anything that might give away Kid's actual position, sure that this was an accomplice.
Saguru slid after the thief, bitter about the soles of his dress shoes being unable to provide proper traction on the ice, and even more bitter to have his teachings thrown in his face in such a manner, although frankly he should have expected it.
He managed to gain some ground on the thief by simply sliding, using his traction-less shoes as skates, the thief having a bit of trouble as the frozen pond grew uneven. He knew he had to end this chase soon. It was growing darker, too dark to really see, the moon and park lights hidden from view by the tall trees surrounding them. As it was he could barely see Kid in front of him.
It was dangerous to be this far out on the pond. The ice was weak, the water underneath flowing out into the manmade waterfall that emptied into a 'river' that flowed back around the park. It was supposed to be a beautiful and serene feature, but in this darkness, not knowing where the edges were, the sound of the rushing, swollen river was terror inducing. Saguru felt as if he would tumble over into it at any moment.
He slid faster, watching as Kid turned to look at him. The thief smiled, giving a wave and raising the small control that would activate his hang glider. Saguru let out a breath, turning slightly, skidding to a stop as he watched the thief, relaxing a bit at the fact that he may not catch the man tonight, but at least they would be safe.
Kid depressed the button on the glider control just as the ice gave way to water about to crash over the edge of the waterfall. He turned again, intending to jump at the last moment; skates weighing him down slightly as the water shoved him hard, pushing him closer to the edge.
Saguru watched in horror as the thief's skate caught on a jutting piece of wood, tripping the thief. He screamed Kid's name as the thief fell, pushing himself to move closer to the edge as Kid's white clad body tumbled into the air.
"KAITO!" he screamed, voice cracking, watching the falling boy just as the teen slammed into the river below. He felt arms wrap around his waist as he himself almost went tumbling over the edge, and he was left, dangling slightly, staring at the blood stained rocks below.
--
Saguru turned on the ice, blinking again as more hot tears stained his face. He drew his legs in and together, slowing his pace as he glided back to the center of the pond, sniffling slightly. He opened his eyes and stared blankly across the frozen water, watching the darkness before him. He swallowed thickly, tears coating his throat as he pushed off again, skating towards the darkness.
He could hear whispering beside him, the rustle of leaves on the snowy banks that he couldn't see, the rushing of a distant, swollen river, and a teen boy's laughter. Warm arms embraced him, sliding easily around his waist, holding tightly to his hand.
