Chapter Title: Midnight Eyes part I
A/N : I used 'Reed' instead of 'Kinomoto' as the name of Touya's family because this fic was under TRC, not CCS. Therefore, I follow the general rule which family name placed after surname, like Touya Reed. Not Japan basis, Reed Touya. And, the story I've written so far, 1st chapter always the strangest but the OOCness and the odd-ness will reduce as the story go on. So…please bear with it ;D
Summary : Touya Reed was working together with Officer Doumeki to catch Twin Moon who always sent card before begin their action to steal the target. Later on, everything begin to evolve around the young lord concerning his butler, Watanuki and the Officer; and himself with Twin Moon. What was the Twin Moon hides behind their action?
Caution: This story will imply of male/male, male/genderless relation in later chapter, so for who frown upon it, well…you could leave or skip the romance part, whatever you want. And I'm no English native so… you know the rest.
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A man in modest grey suit stand in the porch in front of large manor that belongs to Reed family. The large distance from the hedge and the porch didn't faze him for it was common for a noble or rich family having such enormous state that support the living of only few people. So far, he was informed that there are only two persons that live there, the young lord, and his butler. The stable boy only stay for day and went home at night.
Tcheh, rich bastard, thought Doumeki as he reached the door knock. So often, Doumeki can't understand the way of rich people thinking. In this case, he don't know why the Reed family feel the need to build such huge place for two to stay while there are abundant homeless beggar out there. Besides, he found it ridiculous that they wasting time and energy to walk from one large room to another.
However, his trail of thought stopped as the door opened to reveal a fine young man dressed in typical black servant suit. So, he assume that this person was the butler.
"Good evening, Sir. May I help you?" the young man ask.
But, it never hurt to ask.
"Are you Lord Reed?"
"No, Sir, I'm Watanuki, the butler of Reed household," the bespectacled man answered, as polite as he can.
"I know," muttered Doumeki.
"If you know then why you ask?" the butler hissed, still spare some respect toward the-uninvited-in-the-most-inconvenient-time-guest. His knuckles turn white on both of his side.
"Just to make sure," Doumeki shrugged his shoulder as if it was no such a big deal.
"May I ask what do you want to make sure of?" Watanuki narrowed his eyes in suspicion toward the most suspicious shady man.
"Yes, you may." Doumeki nodded with smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
One balloon…
Two balloon…
Three balloon…
"So, Sir…"
"Doumeki."
"So, Sir Doumeki, what do you want to make sure of in the middle of nowhere?" Watanuki again trying to be polite.
"Porch," Doumeki said as if stating the obvious.
"Pardon?" which is oblivious for the young butler.
"It's not the middle of nowhere," this time Doumeki explain it so that the other man gets what he meant. "It's called porch."
Four balloon…
Five balloon…
Six balloon…
"Of course I know what it called!!! Do you always have to state the obvious?!!" Watanuki screamed while the guest politely covers his ears to lessen the damage of his hearing system. He had a feeling that he will encounter more of the same high pitched scream later, so he need some protection.
Ear muff sounds appealing for his next visit.
"So, What do you want to make sure?" ask Watanuki again, he learns that to be polite with the poker face man in front of him only wasting his time and energy. Not that the said man worth it.
"That you didn't play pretend as Lord Reed," Doumeki ready to cover his ears soon.
God damn with the balloon!!
PLOP!!
"WHO IN THE HELL WOULD PLAY PRETEND TO BE THEIR MASTER??!!"
^^;
"No!! You can't see him! Master needs rest. Besides, it's too late in the evening," Watanuki folded his arms in his chest. Frown was clear even in the dim light.
"I don't want to see him too. But I must. This is very urgent concerning robbery."
This new revelation brought some interest to the bespectacled man though he quickly back into offensive stance. "Why must you talk about robbery with him? Go to the police, you jerk."
"But I'm police," Doumeki stated calmly.
Watanuki felt as if splashed with cold water in the middle of winter. He never thought that the pasif-faced jerk in front of him was police to boot. Had he known before, he surely would treat the jer…, er-man better. But he has no attitude and already make him angry so…
But still, Watanuki can't erase the pang of guilt for the importance of the matter at hand. He would be labeled as completely-insensitive-jerk, not that anyone bother to labeling him as such, for ignoring to help some victim of thievery.
"I'll see if his lordship could see you or not," said Watanuki before leave the front door but was halted by Doumeki's hand.
Watanuki only glares in question. Not to mention a low hiss that reminds the officer of angry cat and he found it amusing.
"I insist." Said Doumeki before stepped into the foyer and closed the door behind them.
^^;
Watanuki knocks before a lazy 'come in' voiced from behind the wooden door. So, he opened it so that his master can see the guest he was brought in.
Doumeki did nothing as he observe the man behind the study table which surrounded by large and rather heavy book that marked in more than one place. He wore plain white shirt and look nothing special except for the eagle like eyes.
"Sir Doumeki wants.." the butler corrected himself as he sent a glare toward the man in gray outfit, "..insists to meet you, my lord."
The young lord closed his book and placed it in front of him. "It's fine, Watanuki. You're dismissed."
Touya watched from the corner of his eye how his butler put the foods and tea sets before leaving. The two cups not went unnoticed by him, which he assuming that his butler has set it purposefully for the guest. It's interesting that his butler expected the guest to stay a bit longer, or perhaps it was his subtle way of apologizing?
"Please take your seat," Touya waving his hands in empty air. He rises from the seat to pour tea for his guest.
The stone-faced man in his early twenty took the offered seat after saluting for the man. As he inspected, the man known as Lord Reed aren't far from his age. Quite the opposite of his first guess that the lord would be some kind of spoiled brat with spectacles and cigarette in corner of the rotten mouth. He didn't smoke, he has the air of honorable scholar and importance, quite bossy and moody but worth to be respected.
His raven locks was in short and clean cut even though some of it spiked in unnatural angle. Doumeki has the feeling that he will find the pleasantries of this man's accompanies. Or is it his butler that he was interested in? Surely, interesting things only appear around interesting person.
Doumeki heard from floating rumor around this man's father that he was connected in some special kind of cases that has quite unexpected result. From his upper and senior investigator, he was informed that even the previous Lord Reed has eccentric own way to solve the case which causing the said lord has bad impression though his reputation stayed unmarred. However the previous Lord was unavailable for quite long time. Disappear mysteriously, as people said. Not that Doumeki pay it any heed.
The other rumor stated that the current Lord has helping some people with their difficulties. It isn't uncommon that for some nobles, their issues was closed for public to protect their outstanding place in society. Therefore no police was allowed to participate in such a thing and to be solved as secretly as they can. While some people from minor classes mostly asked his help because the case was too odd or to irrational for them that they didn't take the matter seriously. If the current Lord was as capable as the previous Lord, then Doumeki won't mind at all.
"So, Sir Doumeki, what did I deserve for your visit tonight?" the young man asked straight forwardly.
"Twin Moon," the young officer said with flat tone.
The young lord's mind processing the words precisely. It never been difficult to remember the name which is quite popular recently.
The recent occurring cases mostly caused by thieve that called him/her self as Twin Moon. It wasn't the value of the good they robed that was priceless or something important generally. It was the card that was placed on the targeted object, as if mocking the police, and it did when the police failed to keep the targeted goods from prying hands.
Moreover, the action was somewhat causing a commotion recently. People mostly gathering to witness the action, and tell it to others until the Twin Moon was kind of magician. Yeah, the methods quite exaggregating and quite attract attention, which is opposites with other thieves.
"We were informed by police in Dogswrath that Twin Moon has sent card that inform the next target is Midnight Eye."
"Hm. So, what takes you to come here?"
"Lady Suzuhara asked for help because it was a priceless black pearl that passed for generations. We've been stuck so I think that your help will be appreciated."
"I don't think that I could be that much of a help," Touya decline obviously. He didn't like the idea about the fancy robbery, or their magical things that people claimed so often.
Touya stares at Doumeki to give this up. But still with his unwavering gaze, Doumeki reached for his pocket and draw a neat folded paper with picture of two crescent that across each other. He placed it in table between them.
"This is the card," Doumeki's eyes tell more than to ask the man with dark brown eyes to read it.
Slowly, Touya took the paper and opened it. Inside, written in corsiva letter with black ink was a challenge for him.
/Challenge to Lord Reed to take part in little game. If between 10pm to 11pm at Sept 11th you able to catch Twin Moon, Twin Moon will give up. If you can't, Midnight Eye belongs to Twin Moon/
"They never openly challenge someone before," Doumeki informed with impassive face. Not appear to be bothered by everything at all, though when the young lord returned the card to him with the same coolness.
"They…" Touya muttered low left noticed by the officer.
"The using word twin stated that there are more than one people, in this case we assume that there are two of them," Doumeki explained.
"But so far, there is only one that does the works if I'm not mistaken."
"Sure. We still can't see the importance of other figure if this figure existed."
"Well, it's your duty to catch them," Lord Reed stated the obvious so Doumeki didn't feel the urge to reply his agreement or disagreement. Instead, his silent encourage the raven haired lord to speak more of his mind.
"I don't have to involve.."
"Are you afraid that you can't win?" ask Doumeki which successful to make the more socialite man snapped his head and clearly display his displeasure.
Touya counted into ten while staring at the young officer in front of him. He should know better that they always have the tendency to underestimate him. Not that he dealt well with it before and he never intends to ever deal well with every kind of insult and mockery. More over that the said mockery coming from a mere officer that not far older than himself with poker face to begin with.
"I'm not afraid of anything. I just don't see the necessary to compete with theft that want to show off…"
"You're incompetent," again the officer cut.
Touya was about to counter him, the insolent fool in front of him. He wonders how he can despise the man so much when they just barely meet and talk when Doumeki cuts him.
Again.
"You said so yourself that you don't think that you could be that much of a help."
"It's just because I'm sure that you can catch them without my consent. That's all." Lord Reed blurted with thin patience in him. Now he understands why his butler was making noise, when Watanuki was one of the few polite persons he met so far, in the porch before bring the guest in.
"So you too can handle them."
"Of course…" Lord Reed said with the 'duh' expression on his darkened face.
"Then prove it. I'm waiting there," said Doumeki as he wore his hat and turn to leave the room and the furious lord behind.
"That arrogant bastard… " Touya muttered darkly before tracking down the butler to make arrangement for his travel.
^^;
It was noon when the raven haired lord come in the house of Suzuhara family with visible scowl that seemed permanent in his handsome face. He stepped out of his carriage to be greeted by mere officer in black uniform in nothing more than friendly glance.
It's not the mere officer's fault if they didn't know him and only think him as one of Suzuhara. Not that it bothered him. It was the whole fiasco since the officer made their appearance in his house, them having argument, the inconvenient journey inside the carriage across almost the deserted village.
Did he mention about villagers that have nothing to do than sticking their nose just because the possibility of ridicules theft appears in their village?
Darn, he even sure that some number of police was sent to keep the curious citizen at bay.
"Good afternoon, my lord," greet someone that stood out from other officers. Not only he wore ordinary clothes, while other officers have their uniform on, his stoic young face differs him from others too.
Lord Reed just merely nods his face in reply. "I want to see how things prepared first if you don't mind," he smirking, expecting that he will find big chink in the plan to put the officer in great shame.
In any normal situation, Touya wasn't person who take personal matter affecting his works. However, this isn't normal situation since the officer already taunt him. Not that the young lord let his feeling make his sense duller because quite the contrary he tried his best.
Lord Reed inspecting the three stores manor from outside first. He found nothing solid attached to the building so it reduce the invasion/escape route. The tall plantation that obscuring the manor from entrance was as unsuspicious as other things that surround the mansion.
Feeling okay with external part, Lord Reed moving inside the house. He just opened the door when he running into something.
Or to be precise, he was ran into by something. He didn't sure what it was except a high pitched squeal before collided in the floor. The next seconds, Touya found that he was in the floor, straddled by red haired girl with round eyeglasses.
"Oh, my! I'm sorry, S-Sir!" the girl stuttering and waggle. In HIS lap. As if it will make the matters better.
"I-It's fine," good, now he's stuttering too.
"But…I…" the girl lowered her innocent face, and it means lowering her body. And it means more weight shift in his lap.
"Just get on your feet, miss." The lord tried to regain his composure.
"Oh, eh…but please spare me, Sir!!"
"Please forgive her rudeness, my lord." A cold voice can be heard when Touya saw a towering figure standing not so far from them.
The figure in typical male servant suit lift the girl without much difficulty from Touya's sprawled figure before extended his clothed fingers to the young lord. Touya took the offer then dusting his clothes.
"Sir Doumeki already informed us about your stay tonight. I'm Yue, the butler of Suzuhara household and this is one of the maids Nakuru," the butler said with an icy edge in his voice. "Would you like for me to show the house or your room first?"
"The house please," Touya said as he keep an eye toward the slender built man with ridiculously long braided silver hair. Touya remember something about appearance tells more about people's personality.
"Very well. Nakuru, prepare the dish," said the man to the maid before turn to him and indicated him to follow.
"Lady Suzuhara was deeply sorry because she can't stay. Her condition has gradually decrease since the card spotted," the butler said as he leads both of them ascendance the grand stair in the foyer to second floor.
They then turn left and walk toward the west wing where, as the butler said, was where the Midnight Eye stored.
"This is the rooms where the members of Suzuhara stay when they come. It's pretty much empty now," the butler keeps walking to the end of corridor where another ladder raised to third storey.
There is only one door in the third floor, heavy oak double door. Yue pulled out a set of keys before pull the right one and unlock the door. Inside was something people would call as study room with books that filled the shelves, a fireplace in one side complete with soft looking sofa and it's dull colored carpet. In opposite side of the room which not occupied by the book or whatsoever were filled with racks that display collections.
Another door was once again opened easily, for it was already unlocked, with a gentle turn on the door knob.
"Inside was precious collection of Lady Suzuhara."
"She seemed to think so high of you," Touya commented. It was unusual for the owner left the hold of things she treasures most in the hand of butler. Even though he was her butler, he stills a servant.
"Lady Suzuhara clearly instructed me to help with the prevention as much as I can. I already do the same with Officer Doumeki."
Touya wished to catch something in the handsome man's face but he didn't get any. He seemed as cold as ever, if not bored. He almost get a glimpse that this whole ordeal that involve his Lady doesn't concern him at all. Perhaps he even doesn't concern about the Lady. So it nulled the possibility of this man to have affair with the lady that granted him position as butler in the household.
The inner chamber was smaller with a glow of the sun dissolves from windows in the side. There is one wooden cabinet which after unlocked it with separate set of keys, revealed collection of little boxes with variant color and size. The wood itself covered with black velvet to make those boxes more outstanding.
"The black in the middle was where the Midnight Eye placed," the butler didn't say anything as if encouraging the lord to inspecting the box.
Touya open the lids and peered inside the small confinement. Atop the dark velvet was a shape of half round small silver plate with smaller black round pearl attached to it. He has no idea what kind of decoration it was.
Touya returned the box and let the cabinet locked once again. He was slightly surprised when the smaller man turned to face him with serious looks.
"Do you planned to stay in the study tonight, Sir?" asked the butler. His piercing purple eyes were straightforward.
"Most likely," Touya wonder why the butler was so composed all the times with steady cold aura.
"However, we have your room prepared in the east wing in case you need some rest," the man informed again.
They then walked out from the study. Being in the back of the butler gave Lord Reed advantage to study about the butler from behind. Not that he can see much other than the lean back and long braid, or the graceful pace the young butler has.
Suddenly, out of the blue the words flow smoothly about the other male, "You have quite a long hair."
The said man turned his head slightly to see any meaning behind the out-of-the-blue-comment. Not that he saw any so he dismissed it as he opens the door and held it for the honorary guest to pass before closed it behind him. Everything he did was procedural.
"Doesn't it inconvenient to do the work?" with that long hair, but the rest left unsaid.
Touya studied the butler when the man keeps silent but unlike prior time when the butler has disinterest toward almost everything, the young lord wonder why he kept dealing with people that lack of expression in their face, a sparkle in his purple eyes looked somewhat dreamy. He unconsciously petted his braid lovingly as he stare into far behind the wall.
"Master said he liked it long," the butler said in gentle voice Touya didn't know he has.
Well, it explains something. Touya didn't thought that Lord Suzuhara has interest in that kind of thing. But something still didn't settled right.
"How long you served the Suzuhara?"
"Almost two years."
Well, two years was too short of time to grow that length of hair. At least he let it grow for four or five years. So he guessed it was his previous master.
"What happened with your prior master?"
It took quick to answer the question but the reply wasn't what Touya expected. Now he saw annoyed and longing look on the scowling face, "He's gone."
So, it indeed his previous master.
-_-
Touya has inspecting further about the house. He found out that there were four servants includes the butler beside the Lady who now rest in other city. The butler, Yue has worked since 2 years ago. Lady Suzuhara found him abandoned so she took the initiative to bring the young man under her wing. He did almost everything like his trustworthy Watanuki. Nakuru was cheer girl but also clumsy with the tendency to bump into something or tripped by her own feet, she responsible for the cleaning. Another maid was took care of Lady's which not given a strong body since born so she was off with the Lady right now. It left the stable boy, Jimmy that trusted to take care the horse, garden and plant in general.
He suspected people with the easiest access to Midnight Eye named Yue though why the butler waits for almost two years before steal the jewelry was beyond believe. The fact that Twin Moon more interested in Midnight Eye other than ones with higher value also questionable. But there is possibility that the robber will make its magnificent entry from outside the house like it always did before.
It make Touya can't complain about where the Officer placed his men. They were divided into groups that defend the house from outside and inside. While he will personally guard the study room with two other officers in the front door, the officer will wander around.
So in short, suddenly it was 10 minutes to 11 pm.
"I wonder how they will infiltrate this time," Doumeki muttered as he glances toward another occupant of the room.
Then there was a knock on the door. Quickly, Doumeki rose from his place and opened the door. There, the butler standing with a tray of tea set looked as composed as ever.
"Tea to calming your nerves, my lord," he said as entering the study and pouring the brown liquid into the cups. Soon, the scent of brewed ingredients filled the room.
Touya didn't say anything as watching the silver haired man did his task, neither did Doumeki. They quite enchanted by the butler's gracious movement, even task as easy as serving the tea looked like a sacred duty.
Since the said master can cause a change on the cold man that hardly move his lips when he was speaking, the young lord wonders what the butler looked like when he was serving to his master. Perhaps he will produce wonderful voice while having his body curving delicately unde…
His naughty thought was interrupted by loud explosion and little shaking as the impact.
Doumeki quickly moved out from the room. "Stay still, probably it just a distraction," he said before completely disappear.
"I think it best if I'm not disturb your duty," the butler bowed slightly before leave with the tray.
^^;
Doumeki spotted a great damage on the wall that reach the roof, make the corridor split into two. He didn't slower his pace as he caught a figure in dark outfit between the thick reddish dust and debris.
The officer didn't want to know why it colored red and think of it as one of the thief's fetish.
Shouting quickly filled the manor as he instructed to catch the thief who quickly ran from west wing to the center of the house where police gathered. The thief then cornered by police that approaching from staircase and from both wings.
"Give up and I'll think of sparing your crime," the officer walked toward the tense thief. His focused gold eyes look threatening and intimidating. Though he was never get this close toward the thief, Doumeki thought that the eccentric robber will has taller body or more built. Instead, the thief looks slender if not thin.
"You won't able to catch me," said the thief suddenly. The voice was light and cheerful and it made Doumeki taken a back for a moment though he didn't show it.
"Are you going to jump from there?" Doumeki asked, mentioning about the large window behind the thief. "That's dangerous," his voice deep and state the matter of fact.
"Well… what other choice I have then?" the thief with unmistakably confidence voice seemed amused with whole situation. Not slightly bothered by the fact that 'she/he' was cornered. And falling from second floor along with scattered glasses surely can cost a live.
"Surrender." Doumeki didn't give room for chatter.
"Oh, I don't mind. But is it safe to leave your companion alone?" the thief then doing something unexpected by pulling off the mask.
Behind it, a wom- girl, one he acknowledge as the clumsy maid, with red flowing hair smirk naughtily challenging the officer. The man was stunned for a moment before the girl throws another thing that causing pink smoke explosion. Then he could only hear a happy 'see you again, officer', a breaking glass and chains of fit cough amongst them.
^^;
Inside the study, Touya focused on now his silence surrounding. It was eerily silent despite the fact that there was a chasing of certain thief. Then, that little rattled voice disturbed the peace. The sound was muffled by something but the lord quickly enters the collection room.
The cabinet that stores jewelries was the source of the sound. Then something struck him. It was ridicules for the thief to barrage from the front, and learning how cunning the Twin Moon can be, it seem that they use other route to securely robbed the black pearl.
The cabinet though locked securely, the wood material was easily to plunge and if his guessing was true, he will find a hole that connected the cabinet to other room. Named it the empty rooms where Suzuhara's stay.
With a loud thud, Touya breaks the lock. He didn't surprised to find someone there. A slender figure with flowing hair. He was caught with 'Midnight Eye' in his gloved hand.
"So, it really was you, butler of Suzuhara," Touya said coldly, grabbing the man's thin wrist into his own and then pulled him out from the cabinet with endless layer that showing the empty room beneath.
However, the man's impassiveness impressing the raven haired lord. He pulled a handcuff from his pocket and clasped one of it in Yue's wrist, the other in his hand.
"And what makes you sure that he hold the real thing, Lord Reed?" another voice asked from behind.
Touya quickly turned his head to spot another figure in dark tight suit and the same long hair. Only this one a brilliant red and belong to the girl. Touya prefer not to pay attention of the lack of rack every girls at that age should have even if it just a subtle curve.
The girl he known as Nakuru hold the exact 'Midnight Eye' like he has witnessed. The exactly same one with the one Yue was holding.
"Which one?" she asked while walked closer and Touya suddenly felt like a sandwich between the two. Quite literally.
Her fingers roam at his back when he heard another familiar 'click' sound. It was too late to realize that now one end of the handcuff linked to cabinet's handle and Yue's wrist was now free.
"I count it that we will see each other again frequently in near future, my lord," the girl whispering before releasing her hand.
She giggling as she pulled her partner in crime hand. A rush padded foot sounds loudly each passing time and Touya can only scowl as the thieves that named them twin moon jumped from the large window. A large sheet of gantole make their escape work smoother. The officer arrived in time to witness how the figures escape from his grasp again with a merry 'ho ho ho ho' that fading into darkness.
They fell quiet for a moment before the officer turned to the handcuffed lord.
"So, I assuming that you like the show, Lord Reed."
Touya's scowl grew more menacing because Doumeki emphasis his name in mockery.
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A/N: It's so fun writing Doumeki and Watanuki with their spat ^^.. Let me know if you have something in mind. Review are welcome.