Facets
- a Detective Conan story -
Author: Ryuosen
Chapters: 5/30
Words: ~ ?
Rating: M for violence, blood and gore
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Angst, Yaoi, Het
Pairings: ?
Warnings: violence, blood, character death, also a slight crossover with Eternal Darkness
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own DC/MK because otherwise they would have a lot more of crossovers!
Summary:
Since time immemorial, ancient peoples have dressed up their lack of knowledge as gods and demons. Over the years I discovered that sometimes, the fates of gods and mortals intertwine – I would know, I'm one of them after all…
"talking"
thoughts, letters…
Author's note
So for those still following this story, yes your eyes are not deceiving you. This is in fact another update of some kind. This is the former third chapter. Those who have read the story before would know. However it is now moved to chapter 2 and has been reworked. Hakuba was being more of an attention whore than Kaito usually is. So this is a more refined updated version, it's also longer.
Inside the chapter are mentions of one of the more famous poems of Poe. I recommend that you go to youtube and listen to it read by Christopher Lee.
For those not so familiar with japanese culture keep in mind that in Japan you introduce yourself with your surname first.
As always reviews and critics are more than welcome.
Readers already familiar with the story will probably notice that the pairings tags have changed. They will now always reflect the pairing of the newest chapter. Though that doesn't mean that their wont be any shonen ai/shojo ai pairings, since the rework there are possibilities for other pairings. Romance will not be the main focus of the story, however it will play an important role concerning the character development of both Shinichi and Kaito.
If you don't like the thought of two boys/girls together, then either ignore it or don't read the story, thank you very much!
If there are any questions, drop a review or a pm or find my lj of the same name.
Now I hope you'll enjoy this new version.
Cheers
ryuosen
Chapter 1 - A bloodless Lenore
"Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before; But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token, And the only word there spoken
was the whispered word, "Lenore?""
-Edgar Allan Poe
It was utter chaos, but Saguru didn't expect it to be otherwise. KID's heists were after all designed to be a spectacle. Though this time he thought that even the thief would be impressed by the sheer mass of people, who had assembled to witness as he stole one of the rarest black diamonds.
With sure steps he stood next to the glass case holding the Amsterdam diamond. His trained eyes already taking notes of the security the case provided. There were the weight sensors, which were set to go off, if the weight on the pillow differed from the one of the jewel. Motion sensors were next, their sensitivity though unknown, however according to the manager they would even detect the slightest breeze. Normally Saguru would have liked to examine the mechanics personally but for this heist Nakamori had spared no expenses to install all equipment in the last moment possible to ensure that no leak could possible happen.
Well he would see if the machine defeated KID. Not that he really believed in its victory, no machinery had ever been a match for the elusive phantom thief. A human mind however, only a human mind could ever hope to go toe to toe with KID.
His superficial inspection was interrupted, no surprise here, by Nakamori-keibu, who proceeded to pinch his cheek for the fifth time today. After the debacle at the last heist, where KID had simply mimed a police officer with an already pinched face, which he had been painted on the mask he had worn, the head of the KID task force took no chances.
In a near unpredictable rhythm did he run around and pinched various faces in hopes of exposing the thief. He even went as far as having his face pinched in irregular intervals. So far they hadn't had much luck. Not that the thief would chose this method of entering tonight. KID used his tricks often, but he would have anticipated Nakamori's caution concerning disguises and planned accordingly.
Unfortunately nothing was ever simple and logical with KID, he was like a goddamn kaleidoscope. Every time the thief moved, the pieces shifted and Saguru had a new picture.
It didn't help that he was 99% sure about who KID was but getting evidence was even harder than coming close to the phantom.
A glance outside told him that the mass of people had grown even more. It made Saguru wonder why that was. Aside from the heist note being send to a TV station there had been nothing special about it. The deciphering had taken some time but after having remembered some of the common themes the thief used it had been a child's play.
Saguru had noticed early on that KID apparently preferred to steal his jewels under the light of the full moon. It was an important detail for the thief's motive, however so far he hadn't been able to find the connection. Also with the exception of the Clock Tower early on, all his thefts included jewels he had returned later on and they still had no idea why he did that either. Over eight years ago the KID hadn't done that. No the thief had kept what he had stolen.
Another hint that the KID of before and the one now weren't one and the same, though Saguru was hesitant to call anyone a thief, especially a dead man. Because the only way the story worked was that Kuroba Toichi had been Kaito KID before. He had been a stage magician and Saguru could name at least three occasions where Kuroba Toichi had given a show in a city, only for a jewel or another valuable commodity to be stolen a few days later.
It would also make sense that a father would entrust such secret only with his son once he was old enough to understand its importance. The only thing not making sense was how the secret could have been passed on since Kuroba-kun's father had died in an accident over eight years ago. Coincidentally the thievery of Kaito KID had also stopped around the same time.
Well he could put the mystery right next to the mystery of the connection between the jewels KID stole and then returned, all under the full moon.
Sighing Saguru opened his pocket watch, the sound of the methodical unending ticking soothing his frayed nerves. They still had at least forty minutes before KID announced time of arrival. Seeing that had yet to stop Nakamori running around and bellowing orders, Saguru knew that the small details such as air vents, windows and emergency exits would fall to him.
The keibu wouldn't think of it, rumors had it, that another would become head of the task force if Nakamori didn't catch the thief soon. A rumour that no doubt let the KID task force fly into a frenzy. He knew them to be a very tight-knit and loyal bunch. According to the files his father had provided him with, nearly every of the higher ranking officers belonged the original task force. He knew they would give it their all for Nakamori not to be demoted.
Besides it wasn't if it would change anything. There were very few people who might be a match for kid. Nakamori at least had his sheer force of will and the stubbornness of an ox, that made him a fierce adversary and Saguru? He had his intelligence and knowledge of KID to counter anything that the other threw his way. And one day he would prevail and catch him. Only then he could return to Europe and finish his education there, then he would become a detective, just like he wanted.
He ignored the twinge of guilt he always felt when he thought about sending Kuroba-kun to jail. Law was law and had to be followed, there were no exceptions, not even for phantom thieves.
By the time he had finished his round, having noted and memorized the other exhibits the museum currently had on display, Saguru was certain that all exists were guarded by officers as ordered, cameras had all air vent under supervision and every single window in the whole building had been secured with an alarm. There was no way that KID could enter without notice. If he wasn't already inside the building, he wouldn't get in. And that was impossible. The checks for this heist had been meticulous. Every person somehow connected to the case had been forced to undress and submit all his possessions for a check.
Clothes had been probed, faces pulled and pinched. Hell every officer had been measured beforehand to compile a detailed profile of every person involved with the heist. Nakamori had decided to only accept men, who were either taller or a good deal shorter than KID's own presumed height. Every possible opportunity for the thief to use one of his strengths had been eliminated to the best of their abilities. Height, electronics, random checks to make sure, that the phantom hadn't decided to impersonate someone despite their measures taken.
The manager of the gallery had even gone as far as to order a new security system from America to ensure the safety of the black diamond. It had only arrived the day before. No possibility for the KID to get notice of it. This time they would get him.
Nakamori had finally stopped with the pinching as the blond returned to the main room, where the jewel was displayed. Nothing had changed, the sky was still dark with clouds hiding the moon and the artificial light chasing the shadows of the room away. Another glance on the clock told him all he needed to know, had the bell not started to chime.
Midnight... or in other words: Showtime!
The last chime hadn't even died before the lights went out and Saguru cursed under his breath, apparently KID had somehow managed to get his hands on the building's electronics. There was no telling what else he had access to: Windows? The cameras? Kami, he might even have access to the sensors of the cabinet!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, my dear task force…" KID's voice seemingly coming from nowhere, not even the speakers, he knew to be hidden in the corners of the room. Saguru didn't bother with listening anymore, it wasn't as if KID ever said anything worthwhile.
Luckily many heists had taught him one important lesson: Be prepared for the unexpected!
And prepared Saguru was. Moments later he was wearing night vision googles and studied the room. Some of the police officer, mostly the newbies, flailed around, not knowing what to do. The veterans though, calmly, awaited orders from Nakamori.
Of course there had to be a catch?
Nakamori was nowhere to be found. He frowned. Where had the keibu gone? It wasn't like him to leave his place before the KID showed himself or before barking new orders. Had KID impersonated the keibu? No it couldn't be, the keibu was far too tall for KID to impersonate believably.
Then there was a bright flash
But where was he... the jewel. GONE! Just like the thief who had stolen it.
He didn't waste any time, none of the windows had been broken. There was only one other entrance to this room. KID had to have fled though it. Ignoring the remaining task force and he sprinted towards the still closed double doors. From beneath the two double doors he could see faint red light and frowned slightly.
He reached the door, wretched it open - it should have been locked - only to run into a solid wall. Unprepared Saguru had no means of bracing himself. It was like the time when he had fallen off of a tree and landed on the sidewalk beneath.
Groaning he sat up, rubbing his head, his fingers came away bloody. What the? What was that? There could be many things said about the KID but the rule of no one getting hurt was iron clad. He'd never break it.
Fascinated he gazed into the dim red light spanning across the threshold and for the blink of an eye he thought he could see someone walking away. Then there was nothing but the red mist floating like a veil.
He didn't dare to touch whatever the mist was. There was no telling what reaction touching would cause and truthfully he could do without finding out.
Then Saguru heard it, the mocking laugh he knew so well. He turned, noticing a white light but dismissed it as a flashlight of one of the other officers.
The thief was perching on the empty cabinet, less than ten feet away from him, the pendant with the tear shaped diamond dangling from a thin chain in his hand. He frowned and pulled a handkerchief from his pockets to stave the blood only for the cloth to come back clean.
How had KID managed that?! No, it was better not to ask too many questions. Before anyone could react the jewel vanished in the depths of KID's tux. With his voice seemingly coming from everywhere the thief spoke, "Ladies and Gentlemen, once more I would like to express my deep gratitude for the kind invitation you'd send me. Without further ado I present you my newest trick."
He spread his arms and Saguru braced himself for whatever was to come but just like that the thief vanished. One blink he was there, another he was gone! Behind the glasses his eyes flitted rapidly over the remaining officers, but the count was still correct, including the still missing keibu.
Well then it would be up to Saguru to take control of the situation, as always. Quickly he got hold of the officer closest to him, "You, try to contact Nakamori-keibu!", then he pointed at another unfamiliar face, "You, take the team and then after him! He can't be gone this quickly." And at last he grabbed the keibu's second in command, "You try and contact the security department. We need light! Hurry!"
Great, soon he would be barking orders like the keibu himself as Saguru watched as the officers scrambled to do as he'd ordered. They really needed to find Nakamori and KID, though if things went their normal course they would undoubtedly find the keibu caught in one of KID's clever traps.
Saguru felt his lips part, ready to give more orders as he heard it. Above him and faint, but he heard it.
Footsteps!
Quickly he snapped to attention, "He's upstairs!"
Saguru was, predictably, the first on the entrance only to run into the veil of red mist, solid as any concrete wall and if that hadn't been enough he felt a current run through him. The electrocution hurt even worse, him and every officer behind him also. Groaning he sat up, one hand rubbing his head. 'Weird', he thought. The scene was disturbingly familiar and he could have sworn it already happened. But no. The KID had just vanished.
Cautiously his hand reached towards the red mist, fingers connecting only to pull them back hastily. It was as if he could actually feel the current flowing though the veil. Saguru frowned. How had Kuroba managed such a thing. Especially in the light of the tight security measures. He could see through the doorway, but he couldn't pass.
"Hakuba-san? Are you okay?"
Gazing back at the other officers, he swallowed the words he wanted to say and settled for a nod. Something was different this time around. He breathed in and tried to ignore the feeling settling in his gut. While he would never exclusively listen to his gut feelings like that hotheaded detective from the West, he had learned not to dismiss it. And right no it was telling him that something was very so very wrong.
Then he heard a sound like a glass being shattered and the red mist dispersed, leaving the doorway free. Dimly he could hear as one of the officers muttered about the thief becoming more clever as time passed. He refrained from agreeing and addressed another officer instead, "Try going through!"
His order was sharp and for a brief moment he regretted being rude but the uneasy feeling had by now evolved to a tsunami crashing against his ribs with every breath he took. The officer hurried to comply. He, a newbie, stepped through the doorway like it was nothing.
Saguru sighed in relief and followed the officer into the hallway. In the background he could still her someone trying to reach the keibu and from the frantic voice he would guess failing. What was happening? There had never been a heist where the keibu had been unreachable, even caught in a trap his voice would bellow through the rooms. No now, now they had no idea where he was and another shiver ran down his spine.
Normally he only had such feeling when Koizumi-san was near and not paying any attention to him but to Kuroba. It wasn't identical, alike but at the same time completely different. This was like being dumped into icy water, the cold all encompassing and ice piercing his skin.
And then he knew, he felt fear. For some reason he was afraid, more afraid than the time when a suspect had pulled a gun on him. Shaking his head, he discarded the thoughts. He was needed here and now.
"Upstairs quickly!"
It couldn't have been more than a minute but Hakuba ran, his legs moved as if an armed Yakuza mob was chasing him. Not even twenty seconds later he entered the exhibition about Egypt and all instincts screamed at him, urging him to be faster. His flashlight was like a lone ray in the darkened building but that didn't deter him, until he saw it.
Blood!
He stopped for a moment, took in the splatter and the drops on ground before he set on following the trail, the fear he felt only intensified. Almost absentmindedly he ordered the officers to draw their weapons. This wasn't a simple theft anymore. Someone was badly injured and… NO! He would not think of the possibility. Slowly they followed the trail that led them to the upper floor into the Edgar Allan Poe exhibit.
The blood drained from his face and it took him actually a second to force his voice to work, "Call an ambulance and Megure-keibu!"
In the pale flare of his flashlight was Nakamori-keibu, bloody propped against the wall, gun still clenched in his hand. His eyes were closed and hadn't Saguru been trained for finding details, he wouldn't have noticed the faint erratic breathing.
The horrified gasps of the other officers mirrored his as they, too, realized what they were seeing. Then one of them was kneeling in front of the fallen keibu and felt for the pulse.
"Hakuba-san, he's alive!"
He nodded, face already turning to follow the trail that led into the room a few feet to the left. The sign next to the room read, "The Raven". He knew that to be one of the more famous poems of Poe. Glancing back he made sure that someone would take care of the keibu he continued until he stood in front of the massive double doors. One of the doors was ajar. With a gesture he beckoned one of the other officers closer. The man nodded and carefully pushed the door open. Saguru saw him take a step inside and angled the flashlight to lighten up the room. The officer blanched, face losing all its color before he heaved, turning away from the door with both his hands pressed to the mouth.
Saguru wanted to ask what was wrong, wanted to demand answers and never got to them. Stepping forward he passed the threshold and his face turned white.
Like a ghost he stood there, in the middle of the room. The normally white impeccable clothing stained red and even the monocle dyed with blood. A whisper following him as Hakuba took in the pools of blood that coated every surface of the room. The blotches turning up like a blobs of paint under the light of his flashlight. Around KID were what could only be remains of bodies. His eyes met the concealed gaze of the bloody phantom and he could only whisper in horror, "KID, what have you done?" as the thief vanished giving him a view of the only unstained painting inside the room.
Lenore…
tbc…