I know, I know. I'm a horrible person. As bad of an excuse as this is, it's true. My heart just hasn't been in it for a while. I'm sorry. Things happened like having to put down my cat so please understand. But now that I'm okay and things happening are lessening or over, I thought I really ought to update this story and I read the last chapter. I'm ready to get back into this! I'll try to be less horrible about updates. I'll try to do weekly updates at least but no guarantee.
One other thing: I realize now that I got the timeline a little mixed up, but fear not! Kuro is coming.
I seriously appreciate the reviews sent my way! Follows, favorites—all of it. Seriously. It means a lot. Thank you!
14
The Reunion of Loneliness
"Why does it have to be so hot?" complained Rin, fanning himself with tongs for their seafood stand.
"Why would you even bother fanning yourself with tongs? It wouldn't work to begin with and it's even worse because you've, oh, I don't know, just been handling fried squid with it?" said Izumo, glowering at all passing by while she got ready to go swimming. "In any case, if you're so hot, just take off your shirt."
"I shall not," said Rin, clearly annoyed. "Besides, Izumi didn't take his shirt off and no one is bugging him."
"Nobody bugs him for anything."
"I'm right here you know," said Shinichi, raising his hand.
"We know, that's kind of obv—"
"I find your lack of presence disturbing," finished Rin, very deliberately cutting her off.
Izumo shot him an irritated glare and looked back at Shinichi. "Are you seriously not hot?"
"Who cares? Why is nobody coming to our stand? This is an outrage! I hear that fried quid is very popular with the ladies," said Shima, who promptly knocked over a bucket of tentacles, causing a nearby girl to scream. "Delicious squid?" he added, running over to the girl and holding out a fried tentacle on a stick.
"I bet you five bucks he's gonna get slapped," said Rin to Izumi.
"I refuse to take that bet."
Rin couldn't help but notice that Izumi seemed to be looking around for someone, even if he did it subtly. Not that he would ever ask him about it. Every cram school student had learned to avoid asking him questions. It wasn't like anyone would ever get answers; all he ever did was tighten his fists, square his shoulders, and blatantly ignore you. What a friendly guy, huh?
Suddenly, he heard a bit of a commotion coming from the water. "What's going on?" he asked to no one in particular.
Suddenly, a little boy darted past the stand and dove into the water, swimming out to—was that Izumo?
"I've got you!" shouted the boy, pulling her to shore and slamming his forehead into hers by accident.
"Ow—"
"Sorry, lady. Are you okay?" he asked, looking at her with genuine concern on his face, Rin couldn't help but notice as he got closer.
Shinchi wasn't sure how, but somehow he had wound up in a pet store with the boy from earlier, whose name was Yohei. The boy seemed stiff around him. Perhaps he could detect a trace of Migi? He sure hoped not.
God, he thought, when did my life start revolving around Migi?
"Okay, everyone just stop," said Rin, kneeling down to get on Yohei's eye level. "Something is wrong. I know it is. Please just tell us. Maybe we can help you."
Everyone nodded in agreement like they had noticed too. Shinichi couldn't help but feel the fire of panic shoot through him for just a moment—sure, he had never been super social but he had always been able to tell when something was wrong for anybody. But it was gone as soon as it had come. He would not let fear control him, he would not let panic control him. Remain calm, remain calm—and he was calm.
"My father—he was out at sea. That creature killed him. The kraken killed him and I will have my revenge even if it kills me. He's been gone for six months. I will get that monster," Yohei paused, his eyes shining. "All I want is my father back," he added quietly.
All I want is my father back.
All I want is my father back.
All I want is my father back.
All I want is my mother back.
Shinichi swallowed it best he could. Not everything revolved around his life.
"Even if it kills you?" asked Shima quietly.
The boy responded by firmly nodding his head.
After all the exwires had left, they all agreed to make sure Yohei didn't go into ocean. Nobody wanted Yohei's blood on their hands. It was difficult, but they did it—sunset was the problem.
"We managed," said Rin, breathless. It was amazingly hard work keeping him from going. Then he paused. "What's that?"
Izumo and Shima looked at him with quizzical expressions but Shinichi knew exactly what he was talking about. It surprised him that Rin had felt it but it really didn't. He knew something was up with Rin already, he just didn't know what. He had felt a tremor. The two other exwires in the room felt it soon after Rin spoke. They looked at each other, wasting no time dashing outside.
The kraken screeched in the water.
Kuramori watched, observed—however he felt like dress it up that day.
And he did it very, very warily.
He knew of this teen's right hand and he was worried this would be his last case. He had nearly dropped his camera when he felt the tremor.
"Wha—" he cursed under his breath as he looked up. And up. And up. The color drained from his face.
You've gotta be kidding me, he thought, staring wide-eyed at the giant sea creature threatening to attack. He snapped a quick picture and moved as safe a distance away as possible.
All four exwires lunged at the kraken, weapons drawn and ready. To their chagrin, it deflected everything until nobody could lift a finger to help. Well, Shincihi could do something more but he couldn't risk more people knowing of Migi.
It was a good thing the kid was sharp. He raced to a motorboat and shot out to sea, carrying a harpoon, which he promptly shot at the beast.
It fell with a wail and out came Yohei's father.
"Dad," said Yohei, his eyes shining once more but with a different light in them.
"Yohei," replied the man, spreading his arms wide. Yohei ran into them, the tears flowing freely now.
"I thought you were dead," he said.
"But I'm here."
All I want is my father back.
If only.
Sighing and shaking himself of his thoughts, Shinichi walked away and spotted his tracker. "Kuramori," he said, catching the attention of the detective, who eyed his right hand, "we need to talk."