Wordcount. 7364
Published: 22.01.2018
Warnings: angst and lots of people dying.
Still unbeated.
Next chapter might take a bit longer as I'm swamped with school this week.
Chapter 2:
"How the hell did you know," was the first thing that met him as Shinichi stepped into the room, having been called by a dying soul. He almost stumbled in his steps as he was acknowledged by someone immediately.
Turning around, he spotted the teen detective he had met not too long ago at the beach. If he remembered correctly, his name was Hattori Heiji – and for a brief fleeting moment he wondered why he had bothered to remember the name. The chances of meeting a mortal twice in their life time was miniscule. However, considering he kept encountering Kaitou KID, it seemed to be an occurring habit lately.
Shinichi must have spent too long to reply, as Hattori continued – apparently come to the conclusion that the angel could not remember him. "With the drowned lady. Everyone was so sure it was a murder, how the hell did you know it was just an accident?"
He stared at the detective for a short moment, hesitant to explain the reason behind his deduction. It was easier to know it than to explain why he knew it. He was not used to the idea of voicing his inner contemplations – it was still foreign to him to interact with the mortal world he had spent lifetimes observing.
"The bruises on her neck. Had she been strangled with a rope, its far more common to wrap it around to make sure the airways are blocked, rather than a simple half circle on the throat that is far more common sight in hanging."
Hattori looked stunned for a moment at the realization of his simple explanation kicked in. "Damn," he muttered. "And here I thought I was observing, and not seeing." He reached up to scratch his cheek in embarrassment, however he did not seem ashamed of the fact, rather admiring as he gazed at Shinichi was a scrutinizing expression.
"Well, in case you wanted to know what happened: She was playing hide and seek with her friends on a cruise boat. Apparently she must have climbed into a lifeboat, and being entirely too inebriated, she slipped on the ropes somehow and managed to almost hang herself before falling in the water. There have been no signs of foul play, and her friends thought she had gone back to the cabin with some random guy she met, as it was not unheard of her to do so. The cause of death was drowning, not strangulation. Poor woman, only been gone for a few hours before ending up at the shore. Not even gone long enough for anyone to miss her."
Hattori shook his head slightly at the ridicule of the story – sometimes accidents were disasters that could have been avoided. However, Shinichi knew, once death called on someone, they would die one way or the other. There was no way to prevent it. He knew it well as an angel of death, never having met nor heard of a case where someone had not died.
"Are you a detective too?" Hattori asked quizzingly, his gaze curious as they raked across the angel's body, trying to remember if he had seen him before. "I don't remember reading about anyone like you in the paper. Of course, I know there are more teenage detective's around, but few enough that I know the names of most of my competition."
Shinichi was not sure how to respond or explain – logically he knew he could not tell anyone he was an angel. But neither was he a detective, simply just an observer. Taking the title of something seemed indecent, not matter how much Kaitou KID insistent in calling him 'detective' despite him never confirming nor denying the identity.
"Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter," a grin spread on the teen detective lips as he reached out to sling his arm across Shinichi's shoulders. "Why don't we go somewhere for a meal after this, on me of course. Least I could do for being out-deducted by a fellow detective –"
Hattori's sentence was cut short as Shinichi suddenly flinched away from his embrace. His expression faltered from whatever was apparent in the angel's face as he held up his palms immediately to indicate he meant no harm.
"Ah, sorry, sorry, didn't man to spook you. Should have been more considerate," his lip lopsided into a lazy grin. "Kazuha keeps telling me I'm such a brick-head sometimes."
Shinichi could tell he was simply giving him an excuse, having picked up on the vibe that he did not liked to be touched. His wings fluttered for a moment, before resting by his side protectively. That had been entirely too close for comfort, he chided himself for not being more careful. What was he doing by making his presence apparent to humans? He was playing with fire he knew, and if he had any wit left, he would cease his interactions immediately.
However, a part of him felt a sting of pain at the idea – he did not wish to stop, his curiosity around these humans growing for every conversation.
"Its fine," he finally managed to utter in reply as he collected himself. "I'm not hungry," for he could not taste human food regardless, "but thank you for the invitation."
Hattori barely managed to mask his disappointment, but he nodded in acknowledgement, not going to try to convince him. "Alright, but know my invitation is always open for a fellow detective, yeah?" He turned around as someone called his name, and he responded back, before turning to look at Shinichi once more. He froze for a moment as his eyes glazed through the angel, and his eyes darted to the sides in confusion, trying to see where Shinichi had gone.
Ignoring him, the angel stepped through him and towards the crime scene – he had loitered around for too long: he had a soul to collect.
…
Shinichi did not acknowledge the woman standing by his elbow as he gazed around the ballroom. There was a sophisticated crystal chandelier hanging from the gilded ceiling above, where the light shimmered through the crystals, it made the crowd underneath glitter almost magically from the reflection. It might have been why the room had been chosen. In the middle of the floor was a glass display with a diamond neckless, and even though the room had far more exquisite and rare artefacts, it was now ignored by the mass who only had eyes for one.
Standing tall in front of the display, stood Nakamori Ginzo as his eyes gazed across the room, hoping desperately – yet knowing it was a lost cause – that he would discover a clue about Kaitou KID's whereabouts.
The sound of a throat being cleared did not catch his attention either. He felt a little guilty as he had not been called to the site and so had no reason what so ever for loitering around. However, as long as he did not have a job to do, he supposed it would be alright.
"So, what's your deal?" a slightly annoyed, yet familiar voice spoke. This time, Shinichi turned in surprise to look at the woman. It took him a few seconds before he recognized her from the Magician lover's murder case, when he had manipulated her thoughts to solve the crime for him. Something pulsated in his chest in worry, it was something he should not have done, and in hindsight he was worried at the repercussion of his actions.
"Yes, I'm talking to you," the vexation was smeared thicker as she looked straight at him, and only then did the angel realize that she could see him – once again been spotted without being actively incorporeal. It was dizzyingly to think about – that he so easily and unconsciously became visible, almost as though he longed to be recognized in the mortal world.
It was however, a concern he should worry about later.
"Sorry, what?" he finally replied, a bit shaken, feeling already out of debt in the conversation.
The blond woman – whom he now remembered was named Sonoko – lifted an eyebrow in disbelief. "I said: what's your deal?"
Shinichi gazed at her for a brief moment with growing confusion. Had she asked her a question he had not heard? "I don't understand."
Sonoko crossed her arms, her lips dipping upwards. "Listen, my friend, Ran, think you are interesting. She is rather into you stoic, calm yet smart types. I don't see why though," her eyes were critical as he scrutinized his body with a meaning Shinichi could not possible comprehend. "We have seen you around a few times. So, I ask again, what's your deal?"
Shinichi felt even more out of depth in the conversation, not understanding the meaning behind her cryptical tone of voice. "I don't –" he started, but she cut him off again when her expression changed from critical to excited fascination.
"Oh, oh! I see, that certainly explains a lot. I mean, my Ran is drop dead gorgeous and she's been practically throwing herself at you in her typical Ran fashion –" his eyes wandered to the girl in question while his eyebrows lowered in befuddlement. He had talked to her briefly once or twice, and he agreed she was pretty from a purely aesthetical point of view. Ran was staring at them in the manner of someone who tried to pretend they weren't spying – her cheek blushed red. The view did not give him a hint as to where the conversation was headed as Sonoko continued. "With this new information, everything makes a lot more sense."
Sonoko's expression was almost voracious as she stared at him, and Shinichi suddenly missed the irritation from earlier – it had been far less disturbing.
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with us," she said, her smirk possibly even wider as she turned around and disappeared into the crowd. He watched as she whispered something into Ran's ear, and they stared at him for a moment, before turning and giggling.
The whole picture was a confuddled bizarreness, and the angel realizing he could comprehend human behaviour less then he had originally thought after observing them for so long. The idea was rather frightening.
"My, my, detective. You certainly are popular amongst the girls. A thief might be a bit jealous that you are stealing all their attention at his own heist," a voice practically purred in his ears, and he turned his head to the side in surprise at the unfamiliar face that met him. It was a petite woman in her mid-twenties, with eyes a bit too wide apart to be considered attractive. The dark, male voice that escaped the voluptuous lips did not fit her. It was the first clue he had about her true identity, as a moment later KID's soul pulsated in excited greeting.
"Not precisely how I'd formulate it," Shinichi replied, his eyes glued to the thief in curiosity – wondering not for the first time how he was able to disguise himself so completely. Had he not known it was KID, he would have mistaken him for a woman.
The thief's lips curled upwards. "Don't be modest, I see how their gazes are locked on your handsome features – and I can't disagree with them. From an aesthetical viewpoint of course."
Shinichi glanced down at his body with uncertainty – truth be told he was not entirely sure what he looked like. He could not see his reflection in a mirror, neither had he ever been curious about it. It was simply a shell he had been given in order to walk the mortal plane. However, according to the way people had been referring him – it seemed to be a youthful body, probably in its teen. Fitting perhaps, as he was not amongst the oldest of the angels. The concept of death had only been created once mortals had left the garden of Eden.
"You don't take teasing well, do you?" KID rolled his eyes as Shinichi spent too long contemplating – it seemed to be a rather occurring happenstance, he was used to having eternity to think. Angels had no need to hurry through a conversation, rather taking their time. Humans on the other hand, tended to talk quickly, taking silence as a hint of no reply. He would have to get used to the practice.
The thief's expression suddenly turned softer, more fragile as he gazed at him through fake eyelashes. "I'm glad you got out of the forest alright, running on your own was foolish. But glad nonetheless."
The clear concern in his voice made the angel look away as something hammered in his chest. "Don't be irrational. Of course I'd be alright. I was never in any danger," he spoke truthfully.
KID must have misunderstood his meaning, taking it as sign of arrogance and immodesty – and as an attempt to easy up on the emotional atmosphere that had settled between them. "Are you sure you are not a detective? You are certainly arrogant enough, and lack the self-preservation instinct of the public."
"First you are complementing me, now you are accusing me of narcissism?" he lifted an eyebrow. "You are more illogical than women."
The thief's cheeks suddenly blushed red, even through the mask, and a grin spread across his lips as he chuckled. "One cannot equal the other?" he stopped as he contemplated for a second, "fair enough, detective. But I must take my leave, my show is about to start. Make sure to be attentive, or you'll never catch me."
With a last grin, he disappeared in the crowd, and Shinichi did not look for him, his eyes now turning to the pedestal taking the challenge glittering in KID's eyes to heart as his soul fluttered in excitement inside of him as he had been acknowledged as a worthy adversary for the first time.
…
It was quiet but for the soft breeze as he stepped onto the rooftop. His wings fluttered behind him, however there were no feeling of death calling, and they settled next to him a moment later. For a second, he wondered if it was a foreshadowing warning. His eyes wandered searching for the object of reason behind his appearance.
He did not have to look far, as he spotted a figurine on the adjacent side of rooftop. With the moonlight behind him and the general shadows, the form looked almost black. Shinichi parted his lips for a greeting, before stopping as he realized his eyes had played a trick on him due to the lighting.
It was not Kaitou KID standing there in full white regalia, rather a man in black wearing what looked like a fedora. As Shinichi was watching with silent curiosity, wondering where his usual moonlight companion was hiding, the man turned to face him.
The angel had only a second to recognize the glinting of metal, before a sharp sound echoed across the rooftop. The air shifted around him almost immediately as he was forcefully pushed to the ground. Whatever air he had been inhaling in order to mimic breathing hitched in his throat almost painfully, and a jolt of pain shuddered across his wings as they laid warped underneath him. A weight laid heavenly on his chest.
For a fraction of a second, he imagined he had somehow been shot and this was what it felt like to be in physical pain, before he remembered he was immortal and could not feel the same sensations as mortals. Opening his eyes – only then realized he had closed them in the fall – his vision was filled with whiteness and familiar indigo eyes gazing down at him with what he could only comprehend as worry.
Before he had the time to react to the image, Kaitou KID rolled off him and stood. The whole ordeal only lasted for a fraction of a second as another gunshot rang. KID reached down to grab the angel by the shoulder as he dragged him to an upright position.
Shinichi was entirely too surprised at the action, that he could not react any further then to blink owlishly at the transpiring events. KID's touch tingled almost warmly where his hands had touched him – and his thoughts were filled with the baffled realization that his body was corporal enough to be touched by humans.
He did not get to spent more than a precious few fractions of a second in immobile thoughts, as KID grabbed his hand to lead him hurryingly behind a shed as more gunshot was heard.
The angel almost sagged against the wall as he was pushed gently into it, with KID crowding his space with concern lighting his eyes. Before Shinichi could flinch away, the thief was touching his cheek with featherlight touches – and he was thankful for the fact KID was wearing gloves.
"Detective? Are you hurt anywhere?"
The thief's voice was soft but audible enough to be heard in order to not give away their location. Shinichi had to blink at the clear worry in his adversary, could not comprehend the reason behind KID's concern for someone who was clearly trying to catch him – regardless of the fact Shinichi was only enjoying the game, but the thief did not know this.
"I'm alright," he finally managed to utter, something in his chest almost pulsating with warmth as they stood nearly chest to chest. He could sense the thief's soul beating against him, and he could not rip his gaze from KID's face.
Shinichi had never noticed how many colours mapped out the thief's eyes despite the monocle blocking some of the view– there was a dark purple ring around the irises and the inside both blue like the evening sky and the iridescence of twilight. Or perhaps it was only he could see the morphing of rainbows in his eyes. The angel had never gazed so closely into mortals' eyes before, and he wondered if everyone had the reflection of their soul shimmering in their eyes.
"I'm glad," came the breathed response, and KID did not seem inclined to move either.
Doing an entirely too human nervous tick, Shinichi finally broke their eye contact as he moved his head away to indicate he wanted space – unable to do so himself, being crowded to the wall.
KID stepped back almost immediately as though he had been burned, and he glanced almost shily at the angel through his lashes.
"You have to be more careful, or you'll be shot one of these days. I feel like I tell you this every time we meet: you really don't have any survival instinct what so ever do you," despite the chiding tone of voice, his lips were curving upwards slightly.
Shinichi finally forced himself to inhale a breath of air as he made his chest move in a mimic of breathing, lest the thief noticed something was out of place with him. He slowly let his hand rake through his scalp to quench the urge to touch his wings to calm down his nerves. The feathers quivered in excitement or worry – he could not tell which.
"Jumping into a possible stray bullet on purpose is more evidence of lack of survival instinct," Shinichi retorted, falling back on their usual bantering automatically.
KID exhaled loudly with a suffering expression, "you are absolutely impossible."
"Not impossible," the angel did not miss a beat, and this time he could not hide the amusement in his tone as his lips curved upwards in a secretive smile. "Just improbable." Like the real existence of angels.
The thief almost looked ready to facepalm, when another gunshot rang out. With a jolt they remembered their circumstances – being on the rooftop with possibly an assassin. Shinichi was almost tempted to ask why someone was shooting at them. However, even if he got an answer, there would be nothing he could do about it. For all he knew, it could just be another case of KID stealing something from criminals.
It had happened plenty of times already – remembering the body of Esumi Aneko in the woods.
"You have to leave," the words escaped the angel's mouth hurryingly before he was aware of the sentiment. He could not feel any death, however he did not want to take the risk of KID staying around any longer regardless. A part of him knew he had no desire seeing the thief shot – especially when knowing the only reason he was sticking around was due to the belief Shinichi was in danger.
Shinichi's inner-monologue proved true a moment later as KID's expression darkened in disbelief. "You mean, we have to leave. This is the forest all over again, I'm not letting you go on your own this time," he reached out to grab the angel by the shoulder, however froze when Shinichi stiffened. His arm fell slack to his side as a pleading look flickered across his face.
"Please, you don't know these guys. Snake –" he inhaled sharply, a flash of panic in his eyes Shinichi assumed came from saying something he shouldn't have. "They are dangerous alright, they wont hesitate to shoot you."
The angel searched his expression with curiosity, wishing again that he could ask the questions burning on his lips. Instead, he was the one suddenly reaching out to grab KID by the biceps. For a moment, a thrill shivered up his arms and across his wingspan that made them flap behind him at the knowledge he could actually touch something alive. It had been entirely too long – not since when he had thoughtlessly saved Kaitou KID from the fire.
He stepped forwards, almost dragging the thief with him as he went. KID struggled for a moment, but gave up a second later in curiosity as to what the angel was doing. He must have only realized Shinichi's intend the last few seconds, as he opened his mouth to protest.
"Detective, please, don't do this –" he tried to fight the insistent push as hard as he could, however the angel was far stronger then the mortal. The last think he saw as KID went over the reeling, was a flash of panic and concern, before the wings of the paraglider spread out and was caught by the wind.
Shinichi watched in silence as the white dot disappeared in the distance, his soul beating against his ribcage. From afar, he could still feel the thief's burning gaze, and Shinichi's lips curled upwards on their own accord. It was not him who was impossible – rather KID was for treating him as a human. As though they could be friends.
It was an impossible idea.
…
The sound of cluttering from utensils and plates felt almost dim in the background as Shinichi gazed almost glassy-eyed down at a plate of food placed in front of him. What had the detective called it again? Something to do with nimono or agemono, he was not entirely sure. Glancing to his side, peered underneath the fringes of his hair at his companion.
Hattori Heji's cheeks were flushed with good humour as he kept talking and waving his hands around – the angel was not entirely sure about the conversation topic. Rather, he felt out of place and out of his comfort zone. Somehow, he'd had the (mis)fortune of meeting the detective once more – and how he could see Shinichi so easily the angel had no clue – and this time at a restaurant. He'd had not even the slightest chance to open his mouth to decline the request once the culprit had been caught, before he had been pushed into a seat while several dishes were placed in front of him.
All he had gotten as an explanation was a boyish smile and a "I promised I'd buy you a meal. Hattori Heiji always keeps his promises."
So there he was, trying not to feel watched as he tried to figure out how to use the chopsticks that he had been handed – and more fascinated by his ability of picking them up more then anything. Even under his glove, he could imagine they felt smooth against his fingertips and the weight a soft comfort.
"You don't like the food?" Hattori's questionable gaze forced him to stop staring at the chopsticks, and he turned to look at his companion properly. "I should have asked if you had any preferences, I could order something else –"
"Please don't," Shinichi cut him off rather hurryingly, already feeling ill at ease over the situation. He could not consume any of this food – he neither required the nutrients, neither did he actual possess digestive system. Putting the chopsticks back on the table, he made to stand. "I'm just not hungry."
Hattori stood with him, his hands suddenly reaching out to grab the angel's sleeve, before freezing halfway through the motion. Something in his expression told Shinichi that the detective remembered he did not liked to be touched.
"Thanks for the meal," he interjected before his companion could object, as he turned to leave the room.
"Wait," Hattori stepped forward to block his path, his eyes dark and brows furrowed as he looked the angel in his eyes with a hard but desperate expression. "I just want to get to know you, you know. You aint an easy fellow to find ya know."
Shinichi looked away, feeling something in his chest tighten at the desperate plea in confusion – for what reason could the mortal possibly have any interest in him? As far as he was concerned, the angel was no one special. Instead of replying, he simply shook his head as he stepped around the man.
Before he slipped out of the room, he could hear Hattori calling after him. "How about next time yeah?"
…
The café was brightly lit with both illuminating lights from above and the sun filtering through the window. The booths looked old yet comfortable and it was a large locale without being crowded as the owner had focused on comfort rather than profit.
The room was half-full, and the friendly chatter was a buzz in the background as soft music was playing through hidden speakers. Some of the guests were drinking coffee, other's tea and some even drinking beer despite it barely being past noon. It seemed as though the café also worked as a bar.
The foreboding feeling of death itched across Shinichi's whole wingspan as he materialized inside. And he reached out to brush his fingers against the feathers. It had been itching more than usual these days, as though the approaching feeling of death was somehow bothering him. He had been around it for centuries, long since used to watching mortals die several times a day. Every day, hundred and fifty thousand humans died, and only a limited number of Angels of death existed.
A familiar sensation suddenly brushed against his mind, and he opened himself up to the warmth and thrilling laughter that waved through him in greeting. He immediately turned to the side to gaze down at the soul. He did not recognize the owner from look, but the soul was intimately familiar to him.
It belonged to a boy in his late teens who sat in the window booth, with wild brown hair with too many shades to differentiate the exact colour. His nose was a bit crooked, and he had a small, barely noticeable silver-scar on his eyebrow. Despite the unfamiliar facial features, his eyes were the same: the iridescent purple colour of the twilight sky.
With curiosity bubbling in his chest, Shinichi approached – wondering exactly what KID could possibly be doing at a café of all places. It was neither evening nor did it seem like a viable target for a heist. Sliding into the booth, the angel decided to greet him.
"Hi KID."
The stiffening response and flicker of fear in his eyes as he turned to watch the newcomer was an unexpected response. The teen's Adam's apple moved visibly as he swallowed loudly. His eyes suddenly turned sharp for a moment of thought before his expression smoothed out in his usual poker face.
"Who are you calling a kid? We look to be about the same age."
Now it was Shinichi's turn to be surprised – why did the thief pretend to not recognize him? Tilting his head to the side slightly, he voiced his uncertainty. "I don't understand."
It must have not been the reply KID was expecting, cause his eyebrows twitched in some emotion the angel could not comprehend. The angel's eyes were suddenly glued to the brows in fascination – wondering exactly how he managed that feat. Some human facial features and emotions were simply out of his grasp of understanding.
His staring must have made the thief nervous, as he suddenly squirmed like a cornered animal, as evident by the flickering gaze. "You must be mistaking me for someone else –" he started, trying once more to deflect the fact they knew each other.
Something Shinichi could not understand, it was clear as day to him that his companion was Kaitou KID. His soul was more evidence than he needed – and it was not before later that he remembered mortals could not sense each other's presence in the same way.
"Kaito," a chirping voice cut his musing, and KID's sentence was cut off as a young woman in her late teens made an appearance. In her hand she was holding a tray with two cups and two plates of pie. She peered at the angel with curiosity. "Is this a friend of yours?"
The thief stiffened, and several expressions flickered across his face as he was unable to keep his poker face. Shinichi could recognize several emotions such as fear and disbelief. The girl seemed to ignore his reaction as she put down her tray before reaching out with her right hand.
"I'm Nakamori Aoko, nice to meet some more people who can tolerate Kaito's presence," her smile was wide and almost impish as he peered at him closely with curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
Shinichi glanced back and forward between them for a moment, before realization sank in. Kaito must be Kaitou KID's civilian identity, that would certainly explain his reactions. Perhaps believing the angel had come there to out him and have him arrested – not that he would have, even if he was mortal and working with the police, Shinichi thought silently to himself.
The angel never had the chance to respond, as the sound of a tray with glasses smashed into the ground, followed by the thud of a body. Several surprised screams echoed through the café, and everyone's eyes snapped in the direction of the scene. Death pulsated across his wingspan in urgency as a soul cried out in distress. For a few moments there, he had completely forgotten as to the reason behind his appearance in the café.
Kaito's soul suddenly darkened in what could be describe as horror, and Shinichi's eyes were drawn to the change in fascination. He had never peered at a human soul so closely before, and he wondered silently to himself why he had never noticed how souls changed in colours, as though they were a conscious entity even while alive.
Aoko was suddenly gone in a flurry of activity as she whipped out a cell phone and started ordering people around in a manner that seemed more befitting Nakamori Ginzo – and only then did he realize the connection with amusement. He looked at the thief with his lips curling upwards ever so slightly.
"I must admit, you are craftier then I gave you credit for."
Kaito seemed to have paled while his attention had been elsewhere, and there were clear cracks in his poker face. He reached out to grab a cup from the trey, but as his hand started to shake slightly, he withdrew it immediately in an expression that told Shinichi that Kaito was hoping he had not noticed.
His reactions were baffling the Angel – was he scared of him all of a sudden? Had something happened between last heist and today? The smile on his lips fell in discomfort, and he decided he would simply collect the soul and leave – not feeling welcomed in the thief's presence any longer. He started to slide from his seat, when Kaito suddenly reached out to grab his biceps.
The angel froze underneath the hand, stopping to manually breathe in surprise, still not used to being touched by corporal objects.
"Please," Kaito's voice was shaken and low and desperation gleamed in his eyes as they drilled heavily into his. "Please don't tell anyone, not right now. I have something I have to do first – its important. I swear, I'm not doing it just for the thrill."
Shinichi did not dare move a muscle as Kaito's insistent voice rushed through his story, as though he was afraid the angel would disappear if he did not come to the point. Shinichi had never seen such despair in the thief before, and suddenly he had the odd impulse to soothe his worries, just so he would not wear such a vulnerable expression any longer.
"On the rooftop the other day – the ones who shot at us. They are bad people, and I'm trying to stop them. So please, please trust me," for a moment, Kaito looked surprised at his own words as his eyes widened. An unconscious part of him trusted Shinichi – and the angel knew why – however, consciously, he was not comfortable with suddenly speaking so truthfully.
Shinichi could not do anything else but to put his gloved hand on top of Kaito's – he had seen humans do it often when trying to console. "I wont," he promised, speaking truthfully. The thief couldn't know that Shinichi had no one to tell, so comforting him with an empty promise wouldn't hurt.
It seemed to be the right thing to say, as Kaito sagged against the seat. His hand fell back to his lap, and gratitude shimmered in his eyes. "Thank you – I," he hesitated for a moment, before continuing with a soft expression. "Thanks Detective."
If Shinichi had been mortal, he was sure he would have been flustered by that. Instead he gave a short nod before standing. Turning towards the soul calling for help, he removed one of his gloves. One of these days, he should start making his job the top priority again, he thought silently to himself in apology to the suffering soul.
…
The small clearing was dark from the lack of streetlights and no illuminating moon above. The stars twinkled above almost dimly. The only light source came from the other side of the bay, where a large Ferris-wheel belonging to an amusement park shone in several colours. Standing by the guardrail was the figurine of a woman kneeling next to her eight-year-old daughter as she fuzzed with the collar of her dress.
The only sound was from car-horns in the distance, and Shinichi found the serene picture too out of place. He imagined a sad tone in the background – or a song. Perhaps the noise from rapid footsteps or a helicopter to the rescue.
Instead, he had only a buzzing in his ear and an unrelenting itch in his feathers as death almost hummed. His wings were spread out behind him, unable to keep still as the growing urge to do something tingled through him. All life must die, he repeated in his head over and over again. Death is not the end of life.
Words he had once found solace in, now felt empty as they echoed in his mind.
He presumed, this was why there was a taboo amongst the Angels of death to interact with the mortal world. It was not prohibited out right, simply not a conceivable idea. He had never pondered it before, had never had a reason to seeing as he had never felt a care for the humans. His job was to collect their souls, good or bad, deserving or not.
He had felt an echoing call of death a few hours earlier, and out of curiosity and something akin to boredom fuelled his action as he answered the call prematurely. The scene that met him was chaotic: a woman by her knees – pretty in her late twenties – and her hands firmly placed on her daughter's ears.
Towering above them was a group of women who were both attacking verbally and physical, however the kneeling woman neither moved to defend herself nor spoke.
"How dare you accuse him, you gold digger," hissed one of the women, a larger one with bleached hair and too much make-up.
"Its not rape if you get payed for it, is it?" a second one said, her eyes cold as steel with judgement. Her nose was an inch too low on her face, indicating she'd had a nose operation years ago.
"You are just a piece of trash dragging down a nice, honourable man for your own pleasure," a third woman bulldozed herself through the crowd to land a kick on the accused back. The woman buckled underneath the force, but did not utter a sound in defiance.
The little girl – her daughter Shinichi had presumed – suddenly tore herself from the mother's grasp as she ran across the road. Fear and concerned read clearly in her face, and she almost stumbled over a pebble in her hurry. Shinichi only realized too late that she had spotted him, as her gaze burned on his figure as she darted around a flowerbed.
It was a nice neighbourhood, with reasonably priced houses laying in row, seeming almost identical in décor. A large playing area filled with trees, a pond, a few benches and a playground for children was visible from his locale.
"Oniisan," the girl came to a stop, her eyes large as he gazed up on him. Her chest heaved in quick succession as she tried to regain the air she had lost in her sprint. Her eyes were impossibly brown on the verge of being black, and freckles drizzled her nose and cheek. "Help my mum, please. She didn't do anything wrong."
Shinichi had frozen in surprise at being noticed, and his feathers quivered with the need to help. What being could possibly turn away a frightened child – he had certainly been unable in the past. And yet, yet he knew he had to – should stop meddling in human affair. Death was calling – and he had the suspicion he knew who was going to die. Part of him hoped it was someone else, however he could not interfere with fate.
"Please, oniisan," the girl pleaded again, her voice both soft and shrieking at the same time, as though she was a foreshadowing Banshee. She grabbed his hand before he had the time to flinch away, and dropped something in his palm before curling his fingers around it rather defiantly. "I'll pay you if you help my mum."
Shinichi gazed down at her for a quiet moment as he was torn between duty and desire – no one deserved such onslaught of abuse. The little girl met his stare unrelentingly and without blinking.
"I can't," he finally managed to speak. "I'm sorry, but it's not within my jurisdiction." He tried to explain, hoping against everything that the child would understand how torn he was on the subject.
Her lips dipped downwards in displeasure – a far more adult expression then she should have been able to, as she suddenly turned away to sprint back to her mother in order to defend her alone. The angel watched her go, a strange feeling was growing in his chest – and if he was human, he imagined it could have been guilt. Only after the group had dispersed, did he realize the girl had not taken back the token she had given him.
Uncurling his fingers now, back in the present, Shinichi once more gazed down at lollipop he had received. It was an innocent looking item, with a head in a shade of red that reminded him of cherries glittering on a summer day field. A part of him, wished he had taste buds and could taste the flavour of it.
He was stirred from his thoughts as there were movement on the pier. The nameless woman suddenly stood, her child's arms wrapped around her throat as she hung from her mother's back. Despite the darkness, Shinichi could differentiate the midnight blue shade of her dress. Her mother was wearing an identical in colour, however hers were more tight fitting to her body.
Shinichi took a step forward unconsciously, his hand once more curling tight around the token clutched in his palm. It would happen soon, he was sure of it – and he was powerless to stop it. How would it happened, he wondered. An assassination to quiet the woman on the events that had transpired? Perhaps a drunken robbery.
He could not tell – never got any information about how people died. All he did was answer the call when he felt death summoning. More than ever, he felt like watcher – one without the freewill mortals had. Perhaps his existence was not truly living, simply just a presence existing for the sake of existing. One with only the purpose to do as he was told.
By now, the woman was facing the view of the bay. The lights from the Ferris-wheel seemed almost to brighten with colour, and the ushering of the ocean were barely audible over the inhale of breath from the humans. Above, the stars were twinkling coldly.
The little girl hanging from her mother's back suddenly turned her head to look at the angel. Red lights in the distance reflected from her right eye – suddenly all mask of childness seemed to have vanished as her expression shone with understanding beyond her years.
Shinichi only had a moment as something hitched in his chest, and his wings ruffled behind him ready to take air at a moment notice, as sudden realization shook him to the core. However, he was frozen to his spot from the girl's gaze as the mother suddenly stepped onto the railing with quick strides and without any hesitation –
The angel tore his gaze away and turned his head. His eyes shut tightly to keep the image from forever searing behind his eyelids. A rush of energy jolt shimmered across his body with a sensation he could not comprehend – he had witnessed suicides in the past. More than he could possibly count – had seen so much terror and horror that had passed indifferently to the angel. So why now, why did this shake him to such a degree.
The woman and the girl meant nothing to him, he did not even know their names. And yet he had been the sole audience to their death – the only one who knew that lives had been lost in a such of terrible way.
He gritted his teeth, trying to push the invading thoughts away. Death was the sole goal of living: the freedom of life was given knowing that one day the humans would die. In the meantime, they had the freedom to do and act as they please and live their life as they chose. And Shinichi, as an immortal being, had his purpose in the universe.
Opening his eyes, he noticed he was at the foot of the cliff. In the short distance he noticed something familiar mangled in the rocks. His eyes started to itch, and almost in curiosity he reached up to trail his fingers underneath the eye socket – almost expecting to feel something moist. However, there were no tears for the deceased, for he was not human.
His wings brushed against his sides as he retracted them, and he imagined they were almost comforting as he reached out to brush his fingers against the feathers in an effort to calm his energy from bursting. In the distance he could hear the distressed souls calling for him, but he hesitated for a moment.
Not yet ready to see their memories, to relive their lives – and be the only recorder of their deaths.