Bonds
Prolog
I wonder if it's still raining, Aoko thought to herself.
Last she remembered it was coming down in buckets. But that could have been hours ago and the weather could change within seconds, really, so it could either still be raining or the sun could be shining.
Or it could be cloudy. I think the weather forecast said it'd be cloudy today, once it stopped raining, that is.
She'd like to look and see what weather it was but as far as she could tell there was no window inside the room they kept her in.
Well, they'd be stupid to keep a window inside an interrogation room. I mean, they're not that stupid.
"Fucking start talking, bitch!" a voice next to her bellowed before her face was smashed against the table in front of her – again.
It hurt. She groaned but more in annoyance than in pain because, really, could they just stop hitting her head already? Could they not, like, box her in the stomach or something?
She'd have liked to fight back but her hands were cuffed to the same table her face met just now and fighting a police officer never looked good, because in first instance everyone always believed the officer and it didn't matter if he was right or wrong. People might investigate and find out that the officer was in the wrong in the end but before that you are always at fault and get thrown into a cell.
Aoko tasted blood in her mouth. It had been there before but she also might have bitten on her tongue when they hit her or smashed her head against the table. She couldn't tell for sure which one it was. It could be her lip, too, or maybe they broke her nose. She couldn't really tell since her whole face – her whole body hurt. It felt like it was on fire. Even taking a single breath was an agony.
But the girl had had worse and showing weakness wasn't like her, it never was, so she just swallowed the pain and tried to stay positive. Of course, they could kill her, but hey, that's the worst that could happen, right?
Aoko grinned. Yeah, and right now death doesn't sound that bad, either.
"What the hell are you grinning about now, bitch?!" He grabbed her by her hair and pulled her head back against the back of the chair, ready to punch her again.
Closing her eyes shut, anticipating the blow, Aoko held her breath.
"What the hell?!"
The blow never came.
Cracking her better eye open, the girl wondered what was going on now. There was the fist right there, on the way to strike her but it was held back by the wrist of another hand. A hand which belonged to a man.
She took a shuddering breath.
A man who looked just like Kaito. Of course, if wasn't Kuroba Kaito – his hair was different and the eye color was a different shade. Those were the first things she noticed about this man because she had always quite liked that about Kaito – before that is. This man, who wasn't Kaito, was ready to pounce but he didn't look like he would resolve to violence. There was a subdued anger there, a dangerous anger, though, she'd much rather not face. However, by the look of it he might first finish off this officer and then her.
"Is this how you use your power? How you get information out of suspects and innocents, all the same?"
His voice was clear, didn't waver one bit, it wasn't even strained but the message was clear. The officer whose name she never quite got – since no one ever told her and she never asked – had overstepped his boundaries by far and would have to face consequences later.
"And who are you, brat?!" It was an insult but the not-Kaito didn't react to it, at all. She started wondering if maybe it was Kaito after all, what with his Poker Face and all. But no – Kaito had vanished off of this earth a long time ago. There was no way this was him. And besides, Kaito could change everything of himself – everything but his eyes and those were definitely not his.
"Kudo Shinichi, Detective. I'm sure you've heard of me."
Right. I must have hit my head pretty bad for not recognizing him right away.
The officer instantly whisked his arm away from the detective's grip and stood angrily before him.
"And what, pray tell, is a detective doing here?!" mister angry-head bellowed with clenched teeth.
"Nakamori-san is joining my group. I'm here to pick her up. Now move, Tarou-san." Kudo went around the officer obviously called Tarou, took some keys out of his pants pockets and opened Aoko's handcuffs.
"Do you think you can stand, Nakamori-san?" he asked softly. She was a little startled by the softness in his voice since it had been quite some time since someone had been kind of nice to her. Maybe that was the reason why she just kept dumbly staring at him without being able to utter a single word.
"What the hell are you brat doing?! That bitch is a suspect in a drug deal, there is no way she is joining some dumb group, much less yours. She is not going anywhere!"
She must have looked utterly confused and probably pained because his lips cracked the most sincere smile she'd seen in the longest time. A smile that should give her hope, telling her things would be alright, to trust him. Probably.
Then his lips thinned and he roused and turned around, shielding the girl with his back and glared at the officer.
"This will have consequences for you, Tarou-san. You will lose your title, you will not ever work as a police officer, anymore, and you will most surely not touch a hair on this girl ever again. Are we clear?" he turned halfway, never leaving Tarou out of his eyes and called. "Megure-keibu. Arrest this man. He violated enough laws to spend some years in prison."
Aoko's head whipped around, surprised to see Megure-keibu inside the room, as well. Now, when did he get in? She never noticed. Apparently, Tarou didn't either, judging by the way his face paled within seconds. Or maybe he finally realized that this was it. This would have consequences, ones he wouldn't likely get away from.
When Tarou was escorted out of the room, Kudo turned to her and looked her over. He didn't overly show it but she got the feeling that he didn't like what he saw. Well, surely, she didn't look very well right now so it most likely was no surprise.
"How do you feel, Nakamori-san?" He tried to help her up but she was steady enough on her feet that she didn't need his help.
"Fine enough" she muttered rebelliously, though she didn't feel much like it – not that she'd openly show her pain and discomfort but she sure as hell wouldn't let some stuck up detective a la Hakuba help her up and walk. (Even if he acted nice enough.)
"You might have a concussion. Do you feel faint, like throwing up or having a bad headache?"
Honestly? She felt like all of them and more, but she'd been worse and survived, besides, she didn't feel the need to tell him anything. He might not smash her head against a table but he still might have horns beneath all that hair of his. If he was anything like Kaito then she couldn't trust him either way.
"I'm fine" she spat. Detective or cop, they were the same, after all.
He held her gaze for a while, his gaze intense but he showed no emotions, not even underlying like before. He nodded, then and escorted her out of the room.
"You can wash up for now but I'll have you treated at the base. Do you think you'll be fine until then?"
"I told you, detective, I'm fine. I don't need treatment. And what is this whole thing you're talking about? It's all bullshit! I'm not joining no weird detective group!"
Maybe there had been a time when she would have gladly accepted such a chance, she would have gripped it and held tight, but today was not that time anymore.
"I'm afraid you have no say in that matter, Nakamori-san. It was decided you'd join my team and that's that. Well" he said and turned to look her in the eyes. "of course, it's either that or prison."
She looked angrily back at him. She had thought that this might be it – that she would not get out of it without facing some consequences. It came sooner than she anticipated, but it didn't surprise her that much, either.
"There'll be rules but you won't be captured inside a cell. Unless that is what you tried to accomplish I'd recommend you take this chance."
He turned around and started walking again. When they walked past a toilet, the detective stopped and pushed her inside.
"Clean up, Nakamori-san."
She growled a little at the hand he put on her back to push her inside but to be honest, he was careful. It wasn't forceful at all and even rather gentle but he probably just did that because all the other officers were looking, not that they'd step in but it sure would tarnish his reputation. (She was but a criminal, no one ever stepped in before, so why would they suddenly start now?)
Looking at herself through the mirror, Aoko sighed. They got her good, so good that she wondered why that detective didn't run away the first second he lay his eyes on her. She looked like a monster. Her eyes swollen and already turning blue, her lip busted, blood trailing down her whole face, she wasn't sure if her nose wasn't broken – well, she'd know tomorrow.
"No one will be able to touch you again if you're under my jurisdiction, Nakamori-san. What just happened will be the very last time someone misused their power on you."
Her knuckles were as bloody as her face, torn and sore but thankfully they weren't bleeding anymore so she could clean her face to finally look human enough. At least her face, that is, her black sweater was torn on several places and dirty (blood and soil and sweat) and her black jeans really didn't look any better.
When she finally turned towards him, signaling that she was done cleaning up, he left through that same door, Aoko slowly following behind him – contemplating his words.
"It's better than prison, Nakamori-san. Of course, illegal fighting won't get you more than a few months in prison but maybe you'd still like to spend that time rather freely."
"You must know that I'm a criminal. Why would you let me join a group with people who are probably your friends – so people who you might treasure. Why would you let a criminal like me join that group? I could hurt them, after all. Why take this risk?"
He stopped abruptly at her words and tensed up visibly.
"Are you telling me that you'll try to hurt my friends if I take you with me, Nakamori-san?" he asked without turning back towards her. His voice was even – too even for her taste.
"You must have read my file, Tantei-san. The only thing I wasn't accused of so far is murder."
His eyes softened (she wondered why). "I trust you, Nakamori-san."
Police officers around them stopped and watched the argument like a tennis match. Megure-keibu stood behind Aoko, shaking his head in disbelieve (youngsters these days).
"Nakamori-san, I'd much rather not see you in prison. And I'd even more like to not throw you in myself. For your sake and for your father's, please just go with Kudo-kun" Megure pleaded.
It hurt, the why Tantei-san looked at her – he lied – and then having her father mentioned. She hated it when someone brought him up and she knew that Megure-keibu knew as well. He probably intentionally did it to shut her up and make her go without a fight. Kudo probably wanted the same, make her go quietly. It hurt but it wasn't like she wasn't used to it by now.
Of course, living in a golden cage was better than a stone cage. However, she had heard of this group – they called themselves detectives who would solve every crime that happened, no matter how impossible it looked. They were a bunch of kids playing detective. True, they were pretty successful, but that didn't mean that she hated them any less. In prison, she'd be with fellow criminals. With Kudo she'd be with freaks who took justice just a tad bit too seriously. She didn't know which was worse, to be honest.
With Kudo, she'd be able to sneak out and leave. Escaping from prison would be hard, not impossible, but hard nonetheless and maybe escaping Kudo's grasp would be fun. Maybe it would put those justice loving freaks in a bad light for once. No one said that she'd have to like it there. She could sabotage them, right?
Megure-keibu put his hand on her back and shoved her lightly forward. "Go now, child."
Aoko stumbled a little, breathing still hurt like a bitch but damn, if going with him meant she could finally take some meds, then maybe it was worth it, after all. A prison cell would be waiting for her no matter the time and maybe, just maybe, being with that group was the right choice.
"I need my things, Tantei-san. And I need my things from home."
"Of course, Nakamori-san." His voice was slightly strained but he wasn't hostile towards her, probably still weighing the pros and cons of taking her with him. Well, that one was a first. Though, she really did wonder why he gave her that choice, why they all did that. Maybe it was still for her sake and especially her father's, it was probably her name still but why risking so much just because of that? She wasn't stupid. But Aoko's head hurt and as much as she'd like to find out right there she wanted to make the pain stop.
The 22-year old followed Kudo to the reception, where she took her things out of a box. She didn't have much, but those things were incredibly precious to her. A leather band she hastily put around her wrist where it should have been all the time, her phone which she put inside her pants' pocket and the hairband they took away from her, fearing she might have a weapon stored inside her bun.
Yeah right, she scoffed.
It wasn't raining, anymore, the air felt fresh and crisp but not overly cold, a typical spring evening.
Aoko followed him obediently – like a dog, her thoughts not his, and found herself soon inside his car, which she assumed was his. The way it was polished and shined in the moonlight, it could belong no one but him. It was a nice sports car, maybe he needed it to catch criminals or maybe he needed it to impose his dominance. Maybe he simply liked it. From what Aoko gathered, Kudo Shinichi was a man who liked people to know where he stood and where they stood – not in a negative fashion though. He looked like he respected his elders, the way he talked to Megure-keibu showed her that much at least. She, on the other hand, was barely a lowly criminal. She was way beyond him, surprisingly though, he treated her with respect.
And just like he said, they stopped in front of the Nakamori residence, either because he knew for sure that she still lived there or because he didn't care if she did or not.
Aoko let out a deep sigh. Suddenly, she wanted nothing more but for Kudo to turn around and take her to that group of his, far far away from here. Unfortunately, there was no way he would do it without requesting an explanation which she wouldn't give him. Besides, she needed to get her things, right?
The house, as anticipated, was as dark as the night they were driving through.
It's 2 am, of course Otou-san would be asleep. That's what she hoped at least.
Right when she wanted to finally open the door, Kudo softly grasped her right wrist, right above the band she wore.
"Are you alright?"
He looked sincere enough that she decided to be nice, for once.
She nodded. Her head pounced like a bull in hell and her body felt like it was on fire, but yeah, she was as fine as she could be. Moreover, she really didn't want him to know how she really was.
"I'll stay here and wait for you. Take your time, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to run away, Nakamori-san."
His blue eyes reflected in the moonlight, undermining what he said. He gave her a chance, a very last chance but he didn't care if she decided to go to prison, he wouldn't stop her. But he wouldn't push her towards it, either. He was a neutral third party between her two choices. And the choice was all hers.
She nodded again and left the car. The air started feeling suffocating and she couldn't tell if it was because of him or if her lungs were giving out on her.
Better not dwell on it for too long. Now, let's get this over with.
When she arrived at the door, Aoko realized her keys were still inside the bag she had with her at the fighting stage. Of course, those idiot officers didn't take the bag so now she was without keys. Unless her father left the door unlocked which – never mind, the door opened with ease like it was never supposed to be locked at all.
The girl slowly took step after step inside the house she's been staying at for the last 22 years. The TV was on but the rest of the house was shrouded in shadows.
Aoko stopped in front of the couch on which her father was sprawled out, beer cans and bottles of hard alcohol scattered around. From what she could see, he was unkempt and in bad need of a shower.
Seeing her father like that broke her heart. Again and again. She wished she could go back in time and save him. Save herself and save him, save everyone. But unfortunately, time traveling wasn't possible so all she could do was taking care of him when he wasn't looking.
She hastily put all the empty cans and bottles away, put a blanket over him, turned the TV off and put a glass of water on the table next to him. He knew where the meds were if he wanted to take some.
Maybe he would get better if she stopped living with him. Maybe, being in a prison cell would heal him. But maybe not. Maybe this was for the best, after all. This way she'd be away from here but she'd still be close enough to secretly watch him from afar and make sure he didn't do something stupid. That was all she could hope for now.
Deciding she needed to leave soon, she headed upstairs to quickly pack her bag. There were a few things she couldn't live without but not more than would fit inside one bag.
Pathetic.
Not much later she sat back inside the black car and watched the house disappear in the distance. Aoko hoped dearly her father would be alright. That this decision was the right one.
By the time they finally arrived at their destination the rain was once again heavily pouring down.
"Let me get this straight once and for all, Nakamori-san", Kudo said, before Aoko could open the door.
They had just stopped in front of a huge building somewhere in Tokyo, that much she could tell. Was she really supposed to live here? Were the others living here, as well? Were they sharing this … mansion?
He threw a big, heavy file on her lap. "Thieving, illegal fighting, drugs, possession of illegal weapons. The list goes on and on. In fact, I did study your file, Nakamori-san."
He looked her straight in the eye. "If you had been anyone else, you'd long been in prison. But since you're the inspector's daughter, the name got you out of trouble one too many times, if you ask me."
She scoffed at that. "If you didn't want this arrangement, then why the fuck am I here?!"
"Language, Nakamori-san." He contemplated his next words. "This will be your last chance. This is my place, you will live under my rules. Break them and this deal is off."
"You didn't answer my question!"
"Everyone deserves a second chance. That's why you're here. This file shows me that so far you've gotten a lot more than just a second chance. That's why there will be no second chance with me. Just this one. Take it or leave it, Nakamori-san."
He turned to get out of the car, before he looked over his shoulder to address the angry girl next to him. "And as for the rules, this is simple. You're free to do whatever you like unless it is illegal. If you end up at the station just one more time, I'll leave you there. You'll pay rent by solving cases with me, of course you can get a job if you'd like. Attending university is highly recommended."
With that he left the car.
Aoko silently seethed at his speech. Stupid detective, what the hell did he think he was? Angrily leaving the car, she took her bag from the backseat and followed that stuck-up detective inside the house.
By the time she was inside she had cooled down enough to realize that she simply had to not get caught doing those things. He said that the deal was off when she landed herself at the police station – well, before, she didn't care if they caught her or not but if it was just that, then it was simple.
"Where have you been, Shinichi?"
Aoko looked up to see a woman – who fucking looked like herself okay – standing on a very impressive looking staircase. She had a frown on her face and when her eyes traveled to her own figure she gasped. "And who is that?"
"Yeah, that's what I'd like to know, as well, Kudo."
Aoko looked to her right to find a guy looking at her with narrowed eyes. Behind him a woman followed and then a guy – wait, was that Hakuba and –
Aoko stilled when the next figure revealed himself. This couldn't really be true, now could it?
"Kai … to … ?" she gasped.
For a moment his poker face slipped and he looked scared, though if of her or because of something else, she didn't know. When the moment was over though, his face was as emotionless as she was used to before he just disappeared from earth. So, he'd been here all this time?
For a second her mind blanked. Everything – everything – went downhill because Mister decided to just disappear. She thought, he was dead. All this time, she had been praying for his soul to find peace, regretting her choice because dammit maybe if she'd been more observative he'd still be fine, she could have done something anything. How many nights had she spent crying and pleading with whatever God to just bring him back? How many nights had she spent lying wide awake wallowing in guilt and pain because she felt responsible for his disappearance. How many nights did she actually wander and look for him?
In the end, he'd been here. All this time? Had he been here all this time? Safe and sound?
Why? Her voice sounded broken – even in her own mind.
She didn't know if to be angry or happy to know he was fine, after all. The only thing which was certain was disappointment that settled deep inside her chest. Disappointment to know that she was never important enough to have been told about this. To never have been considered as a friend who might want to know – no, who might need to know about this. To at least know that he was safe and sound all this time. It would have been enough.
"You two know each other? Great. This is Nakamori Aoko and starting now, she's joining." Kudo said flatly.
"I object", Kaito immediately threw in.
Damn her chest hurt. Her heart hurt. He was there – right there. He just stood there, looking like … like Kaito. Kuroba Kaito her once best friend.
Before Aoko could retort the dark skinned guy interfered.
"I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm with Kuroba on this one. Just look at her, she deserves a prison cell and not a room inside this house and freedom."
"Now shut up, Heiji! Is that how you treat a new member?!" the girl behind this Heiji guy yelled.
Aoko visibly winced. That girl was damn loud and it really didn't help her headache any. Not to mention her whole body which wasn't feeling one bit better.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when there was suddenly a hand on her shoulder. She whipped her head in the direction and stopped at her lookalike looking with sympathy at her.
She smiled softly. "My name is Mouri Ran and you need your wounds treated. Come on. I'll show you around."
"Don't touch me", she hissed in pain and took a step away from Ran.
Said girl watched her unsurely before taking a step back as well, realizing this might be just too much for the girl. "I'm sorry. Still. Those wounds need to be treated, Nakamori-san."
Ran looked nice enough, but the glare she got from that Heiji guy made her feel on edge. She didn't really want to be here in the first place but to find out that actually no one else wanted her to be here, either, made her realize that maybe this was the wrong choice after all. Kudo seemed to be nice enough but he showed her his distaste about the whole thing. This Heiji guy was outright hostile towards her and Kaito didn't want her here, either. Well, it made things pretty easy for her.
"Never mind", she said. "Thanks for trying, Tantei-san but this would never have worked out. I think I take the prison cell after all."
She smiled sarcastically before turning around and heading for the door. It's not like she wanted to be here. It's not like there was a future for her, if here or wherever her path would take her, but still … he had been the first person to not be outright hostile towards her. Kudo who stopped that bastard from bashing her head in. Maybe, if he hadn't stepped in, he really would have killed her and she still didn't know for sure if she was sad or happy about it.
Before opening the door, she turned one last time and fixed her eyes on Shinichi. She tried hard to keep the hopelessness out of her face but she guessed that she grandly failed. Straining a smile she still tried.
"Still, thanks for trying, Kudo-san. I appreciate it."
He fixed her with the same disappointed look her father looked at her with which she wanted to flee from as fast as possible but before she could, pain overtook her body. Her stomach clenched and she fell to her knees, coughing and throwing up blood.
Well, this is a new one. In the end, this is it, isn't it?
"Aoko!"
"Nakamori-san!"
"Nakamori-chan!"
There was chaos around her, she could tell. Loud and quick steps echoed around her, frantic shouting and running. They must not be used to see people throwing up blood, either.
Probably. Heh.
Choking on her own blood, Aoko tried hard to keep calm, to try harder to breathe because, damn she'd die if she stopped but every time she tried, only more blood would come out.
She heard their voices, felt their touch when they tried to turn her around but all she saw was darkness and soon it overtook all her senses.