Title: New Assistant
Disclaimer: The both of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! and Cuticle Detective Inaba and their elements belong to Akira Amone-sensei and Mochi-sensei, not me of course..
Post Date: 2016/06/24
New Assistant: The Meetings
Kei met the brunet several times in those 2 weeks, almost daily.
With different situations and circumstances.
Kei thinks it was just a coincidence, but he's not sure himself.
Is it really like that?
The more often Kei met him, more often he learned something about him.
...and it made Kei curious.
The first meeting happened on Tuesday, first week.
That meeting was short and fast.
Kei's late. He's overslept that morning, so he's late to his part-time job.
He was running when he bumped into someone which cause him to fall. "Ouch," he rubbed his knee.
"Are you alright?" asked a soft voice as a hand outstretched in front him. He took that hand and stood up. "I'm fine" Kei said as he looked up.
Dressed in faded jeans and a plain orange shirt, a young brunet stared him with a worried face. "I'm sorry for that."
Kei smiled, "Don't worry, it's my fault for running."
The brunet smile back, "I'm glad you're..." he stopped, looking at Kei's back and his face became pale. "...Oh, no."
Curiously, Kei turned to his back.
There, two men in black were approaching them, in fast pace. Kei flinched, he didn't know, but anyone sane could smell a dangerous aura in them.
"I'm sorry," Kei quickly turned his attention to the brunet in front him again, only to see the other teen was gone.
"...Huh?"
On Tuesday, they're still strangers, not even remember each other face.
Kei also learned the brunet is fast runner.
...or he could disappear?
That is their first meeting and it won't be their last.
The second meeting is next day, he helped Kei pick a flower(s).
"Welcome, sir, how can I help you today?"
Kei snapped his at the voice, somehow he has heard that voice before, but not remember it. He looked up to see a young brunet in his age smiled to him. Some flower in his hands.
"...Um, I want to buy a bouquet of flower." Kei said nervously. "But I don't know what flower I should buy." After all, it's the first time he bought flowers. And it's not for him. 'Iori-san really owe me for this'
"If I may know, for whom this flower will be given?" the brunet asked again. "I can help you chose it."
Kei paused for a moment, remembering what his housemate told him before.
"My roommate will give it to his friend who will move to another country. It's farewell gift."
"I see.. How many kinds of flower I should add in the bouquet?" the brunet began to walk around the shop, looking and picking some flower.
"...three is enough, I think." Kei also follow the brunet, looking variety of flowers himself.
"Michaelmas Daisies are good flowers for farewell gifts" the brunet took five small blue star-shaped flowers, and green leaves "of course would be better if we add some Ivy, it's has meaning of friendship… But, hmm, something is missing," he mumbled alone. "Ah! How about this?" he picked three pink flowers.
"It's beautiful, " answered Kei.
"Desho?" the other teen chuckled, "Pink Carnation has a meaning I will never forget you." After that, he went to the counter and began to wrap the flowers with clear plastic and add purple ribbon.
After some minutes, he gives the finished bouquet to Kei, who waiting in long couch. "Here, it will be 6400 yen in total"
"Thanks..." As Kei paid the brunet, he noticed two small yellow flowers. "This is..?"
The other teen chuckled, "Primrose, they're bloom this morning. It's fit for beautiful woman." He winked, "That's bonus from me." and Kei just nod in thanks.
As Kei was about to leave, he faintly heard "Also a Primrose has a meaning Silent Love, tell your roommate a good luck..."
"Huh..?" Kei turned, but the brunet has left.
'How did he know that Iori-san's friend is a Woman?' Then he widened his eyes 'Didn't Iori-san told me that the woman is his crush?'
In Wednesday, he kept thinking about the brunet.
Could it be the brunet is a psychic?
Nah, that is impossible?
...right?
The third meeting Kei's learning his name (or he thinks so).
It was coincidence (or not) that Kei ran into the brunet again in small yet cozy café in the next day.
That day, his roommate gave him ticket as a thanks gift because he helped him the other day, a coupon to eat free cake at certain café. Kei didn't too much fond of sweets, but he also didn't hate it. And it was free, so why not?
Kei also went to the flower shop, to say thanks to that brunet because he helped Kei. But, the owner says that the young brunet, who only part-time in there has quit for unknown reason. 'Maybe I couldn't meet him again?' Kei thought.
But these thought was proved wrong as he walk into the café.
Kei openly gaped at the sight in front him.
In three different tables at center of cafe, in the midst of many people cheering, three people sit at each table, eating some cakes.
That wasn't weird right?
Yes. But, that not the reason why Kei stared them.
No.
He's looking at several empty plates beside three of them.
About six plates on a blonde woman's table, eleven or twelve plates near fat guy, and... Kei really gaped at total of plates in the last table. He couldn't count them, because there is a mountain of empty plates on a brown-haired boy's table. How can a young boy eat those cakes?
Wait…
A brown-haired boy?
Kei narrowed his eyes.
Ah, that boy who helped Kei in flower shop yesterday.
But… 'What is he's doing here? Eating cakes like that?'
"Okay, the time is over!" come the voice from front café. The owner, a redhaired and glassed man holding a microphone. "Now I'll announce the winner for '15 minutes Cakes' contest! *crowd cheered* Third winner, with six plates, B-table, Yuina-san! (just random name). Second winner, with fourteen plates, A-table, Wataru-san! (random too) and finally the first winner, with twenty-nine plates, C-table... Sora-san!"
"And as the first winner, Sora-san didn't need pay the cakes he ate (29 free cakes! Yay), plus he'll get a discount coupon to eat desert in every café in Tokyo for month!" with that, everyone cheered and congratulated the brunet who only smiled shyly.
Several minutes later, after everyone disbanded, Kei finally sit in the corner seat and ordered two slices of cake and a cup of black tea (using his coupon of course). As Kei awaiting his order, someone approached him.
"Ano, can I sit in here? Every seat is full." Kei looked up, only to see the brunet, Sora holding a tray of parfait and another cake.
A nod.
"Do you still want to eat these?" without thinking, Kei blurted that question. Immediately, he clamped his mouth, "Sorry."
Sora smiled, "It's okay." Then he chuckled, "I guess you saw that contest, right?"
A nod.
"Let just say I really like sweets. There is always a different stomach for sweets." The brunet said, eating another spoon of his parfait.
Kei only sweat-dropped. '...different stomach?'
"Ah, by the way, You're the person who bought flowers yesterday, right?"
Kei seems surprise, "You remember?"
"Of course I always remembered my customer. What about the flowers? Does your friend like them?"
"Yes, it's thanks to you, Sora-san" Kei didn't notice the brunet raised his eyebrow.
"No problem..." Sora trailed on.
"Kei. Nozaki Kei. Nice to meet you, Sora-san"
Sora smiled, "Nice to meet you too, Kei-san."
Three meetings in the row, maybe it wasn't just coincidence?
But, Kei didn't meet Sora on Friday.
He wondered why?
In another side of town, in a certain hotel, a young brunet woke up with a bad headache. 'Oh my God, my head… It felt like I had been hit by Leon Hammer.' Then he shook his head, 'Uh, oh, don't think about that right now.'
Is it a side-effect because he ate too many sweets yesterday?
...Maybe?
The next meeting on Sunday, Kei finding out about the other side of Sora.
The cards were shuffled and the hand started. Bets were raised, and suddenly Kei knew the entire game had changed. Kei stared his cards, gave a small sigh, and back down. He's really bad in card games. The bald man gave him a smirk, the woman grinned, but Sora's face stayed neutral.
Now, you're wondering how it could happen, right?
Well I wouldn't tell you the detail. (No, sorry)
But in short, when Kei was walking home after his part-time job, he coincidentally found Sora in front of casino. Somehow Sora dragged Kei to play poker in that place. When Kei asked the brunet why? the brunet's answer?
'I'm bored, Kei-san… and I could get money from this place. So, accompany me okay '
In the end Kei gave up and decided to accompany the brunet.
It was also mystery why the guards in front allowed two of 16 year-old teenagers to enter a casino.
"All in," the bald man moved with a smirk, and pushed all his winnings toward the center.
The woman seemed to think for a time, before a big smile adorned her face, "I'm sorry for you, dear." and she too put her winnings in as well.
Sora fiddled with his cards for a bit, then gave a small sigh, "I guess I will too."
"Well, then show your cards." The woman's smile widened, and the bald man laid out his hand. He laid out his cards, one at a time, "Full house, eights high," he grinned and leaned back in his chair.
The woman's face remained the same, but as she laid down her cards, she chuckled, "Four of a kind, sevens."
The bald man swore, and pounded his fist into table.
All eyes turned to Sora, who was still looking at his cards with interest.
"Too scared to show your hand, boy?" the woman smiled.
The brunet didn't even respond, and started to lay his cards on the table, one by one: a ten, a jack, a queen, a king, and finally… an ace. Royal Straight Flush.
"Ah!" Sora's face had broken from the picture of innocence, to pure evil. "I believe I win."
Kei looked shocked.
The rest of table was sat in complete silence.
How?
After that, Sora always win in every games of poker.
...you didn't want to know how much money he got after beating every single of players.
Kei's reaction?
"Sora-san?"
"Hmm?" the brunet still counting the money he earned.
"I ban you to go to casino again." Kei said deadpan.
"Eh, why?" Sora asked childish.
"You want to be kicked out again? Or polices might capture you if you go to the place like that. We still underage."
"Huft, fine then." Finally the brunet pouted. "...But, I still can play poker, right? I'll get more money," he said quietly and bit of evilly. But too bad Kei heard it.
"NO!"
"You're no fun, Kei-san"
Because of poker, they somehow become friends?
The next day, on their fifth meeting, Kei finally has courage to ask an important questions to the brunet.
"A psychic?" Sora raised an eyebrow at Kei's question. "What did you mean, Kei-kun?" after somehow they became friends, they changed suffix –san to –kun.
"Sometimes you can read people's thought, remember yesterday? You can guess every your opponent cards. It's like you can see their mind and cards."
"I'm just lucky. And I read their facial expression"
"What about the first meeting? You could disappear?"
"Ah, I just run fast, Kei-kun. It's a habit"
"...and the second meeting, in flower shop? How do you know your customer is woman?"
"Again. I just guessed it"
Kei was staring at the brunet.
And staring...
Finally he let out small sigh, "Fine. Whatever you say, Sora-kun"
Sora grinned,"I have this superb insight, as you might say."
'superb insight? It that same as a psychic?'
Kei heard a giggle, "No, it's not same."
Oops… is Kei said that aloud?
No, he was sure Sora could really read the mind.
"It means I have great Intuition."
"That including saw the future?"
"Huh?"
"The accident this morning, remember? You save a house from fire by told me to call firefighters an hour before the fire happen. Glad I didn't tell any name, because the police might be suspect you as the perpetrator. How did you know, by the way?"
"I didn't know. I just have bad feeling when we across that house. And it just… lucky guess again?"
"Guess the fire?" a nod.
"See? I think you could see a future."
"I couldn't, Kei-kun" a pause "It is my friend who can see future."
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing~" The brunet smiled mysteriously.
The conclusion?
Kei didn't know anything about the brunet.
...and the more he thought about it, the more questions arise.
For his remain sane, he don't care anymore.
About the strange things from the brunet.
The next meeting is bit complicate, they meet in much later, five days later, somehow Kei saved him from 'shady people'.
It was 2 in the afternoon, Hiroshi, Kei, Yuuta, and Ogino was walking after they just come back from investigating a murder case in neighbor town (well, it just Ogi. He dragged Hiroshi who brought his assistants).
A scene in his left caught Kei's attention. "Inaba-san, look at that!" suddenly Kei yelled.
The other three (who far ahead) stopped their steps and turned to the direction Kei was pointing.
In a small street there are five people, men in expensive black suit surrounding a young boy who very clearly looked distress.
Because of big distance between them, Kei and the other only could hear their conversation a little.
"... stop running ... us." One of men says.
"... don't follow ..." The boy said, out of breath.
"We ... ... our job." Another man said.
"... boss ... ordered ..." the boy looked mad.
"... did ... ...choice." The bald man said.
"Yes ... ... kill..." the second man took a step forward.
"... found... didn't ..." The boy's face became pale, he found his back collided with the wall behind.
"... ... very angry ... gone." said the last man.
".. see ... only ... take little ..." sighed the boy.
"... ... let ... force ...you." Three of them touched their suit.
Then Hiroshi noticed something, "Ogi, those men is armed." He saw some guns in their suit.
Kei also noticed something, he felt familiar from that boy. A brown hair that seemed to defy gravity and a pair of chestnut colored eyes, Kei widened his eyes, 'Sora-kun?" he couldn't be mistake about that.
Then the brunet, Sora sighed, "I ... .. ... hurt ... .. left me ... choice."
But before anyone could shot anything, Ogi shouted, "Hey! What are you doing there!"
All six heads turned simultaneously. The men pointed their guns. And the brunet looked a bit shocked.
Kei and Yuuta approached the brunet. "Are you alright, Sora-kun?"
But Sora didn't answer.
Ogi and Hiroshi stood in front the three teenagers, protecting them.
"Hey! Who are you?!" shouted one of the men.
"Yeah, stay out from him!" the other one yelled, pointing at the brunet.
Ogi decide to show his ID, "Inspector Kuniharu Ogino from Polices force. I'll capture you for carrying illegal weapons, kidnapping and killing attempts."
"Shit, the police."
"He told us for don't deal with them in here"
"What should we do?"
Maybe only Kei noticed this, but he saw the men took a glance to the brunet who only stared them with a blank face.
But wait...
'Is he having silent communication with them?'
Finally, after some second, the men storing their guns and run away.
Before Ogi go after them them, Sora holds his clothes. "Inspector-san, it's alright, don't chase them"
Sora sat nervously.
In front him, Hiroshi, Ogi, Kei, and Yuuta were staring at him. "So... Sora, right? A friend of Kei?"
A nod.
The brunet currently in Hiroshi's office because he kept refusing to go to the police office.
"Why's these men chase you?"
"I... Someone told them to.. capture me." Sora answered. 'Well, something like that.'
"Where do you live, young boy?" asked Ogi, "I can escort you home."
Silent...
"Sora-kun?" said Kei worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"My home's far away. And...I don't want to go home." he mumbled, but the others still heard him.
"Nande?"
"Eh… well you see…" Sora shuttered. "I ran away from home?" it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Ogi raised an eyebrow. "Ran away? Why?"
"Umm, family problems."
"Then where do you live now?" asked Kei again.
The brunet shrugged, "Maybe in some hotel, I'm still haven't decided where I'm going to stay for today." He answered casually.
"For today? What do you mean? How long you've ran away from home?" asked Ogi worried, a young boy who runs away from home could face any danger easily.
"Two weeks, sixteen days I think"
"And for those days, you've stayed in a hotel? How did you get the money for that?" asked Yuuta, is he rich or something?
Sora flinched, and Kei knows why.
After all Sora gained money from gam- *ehem* play poker. It's impossible for him to tell them.
Kei didn't know how many times the brunet beating some people in his games.
Hiroshi, who has been quiet from beginning only looked at the young brunet. Finally, he asked very unexpected question. "Sora, how about you live here and become my temporary assistant?"
Four heads turned to the redhead, surprise.
"EH?!"
"Okay, it's decided then!" said Hiroshi happily. "From today you will live here and helped me with my job!" after talked this and that, finally Sora agree.
"Let me introduce ourselves again, my name is Inaba Hiroshi, a detective. My assistants, Sasaki Yuuta and you know about Kei."
'Oh my! How can this happen?! How can I end up in detective office from all place?!' the brunet began to panic. After calm down, he smiled "My real name is Sawada Tsunayoshi, I'm sorry Kei-kun *smile at Kei* but Sora only my nickname, a fake."
"Nice to meet you"
"Oh, well, at last he seems to be normal, a sane one." Kei heard Ogi muttered and only give him a blank stare.
"Don't say that, Ogi-san"
"Huh?"
"You don't and didn't want know."
After all, since the first time Kei met So- I mean Sawada Tsunayosi, the brunet never be normal.
~OWARI~
This chapter is strange, right? Many skip and rushed in some part, I know.
I'm sorry...
Oh, maybe next chapter will focused in Tsuna's situation / past
But I'm still thought about that.
And last, thank you to everyone who read, review, favorite, and follow this story