Kageyama wakes to the aroma of coffee and toast. He stretches and sits up, yawning loudly in the process. The clock on the wall reveals that it's already nine o'clock. Sunlight filters through the curtains, pouring onto the wooden floorboards. He tests a patch of light with his foot and finds it delightfully warmed by the sun. Mornings like these are promises of a good day ahead.
"The toilet's 'round the corner to your right," Hinata's voice floats out from the kitchen area.
Kageyama hums in reply, sitting on the couch for a few more moments, before finally standing and making his way there.
He steps around the corner and finds himself next to the door of the bathroom. The hum of the washing machine to his left is somehow rhythmic and soothing. He slips into the bathroom slippers, wincing slightly at their plastic texture.
Sunlight from the small window is enough to illuminate the bathroom, so Kageyama makes no move to switch on the light. Another yawn escapes his lips as he washes the bleariness away.
When he returns to the living room, Hinata calls him over to the kitchen. Kageyama slides into the chair beside him.
"Morning," he says to the other, who has already begun scoffing down breakfast at an alarming speed.
"Mhmm. You've had a good rest?"
"Yeah, I'm actually pretty surprised that you're this trusting. Don't people usually act wary around strangers?"
At this, Hinata scoffs, "But you're not a 'stranger' stranger. Anyways, you're such a kind person, what are the odds that you'll be, like, a serial killer or something?"
Kageyama lifts an eyebrow. What are the odds indeed, he wonders to himself.
The ginger continues, oblivious to the tiny gesture, "Speaking of killers, have you read about the recent murder cases?"
"That I have. There's that guy on the run, right? Hasn't it been a year or two already?" Kageyama bites into his toast. Ah, egg sandwiches are his absolute favourite.
Hinata nods affirmative. Dropping his voice low, he whispers dramatically, "They've started calling him 'Sire Noble' now. Did you know that he never takes anything from his victim?"
"Yeah," Kageyama replied, "Have the police figure out his motives yet?"
A shrug is directed his way. "Who knows? All I can say is that he's a real creative guy, morbid as it may be. Have you seen the reports? One of his victims had her fingers broken off and sealed in the cookie jar!"
Mid-twenties. Single mother. Two kids. The murder was committed a fortnight ago, downtown. The woman denied her children of a comfortable life, yet she herself indulged in one, thanks to a sugar daddy of hers. A hypocrite. A shot of her with the rich man was taken and he placed it in the jar, along with her broken, bleeding fingers. The children's lives weren't spared either; making them orphans would be much crueler.
Kageyama added, "There is also a recent murder, right?"
"Yeah, they discovered him yesterday. Found his wedding ring sewn to the walls of his stomach."
The kill yesterday. Man of mid-forties. Cheated on his wife. Kageyama saw her sobbing on the sidewalk when he took his morning jog a few days ago. It appeared that the man threw her out during a fight. He seemed insistent on eating his wedding vows, so Kageyama helped him a little.
"Y'know, normal people don't usually talk about grizzly murders during breakfast," Kageyama commented.
Hinata laughs, "A conversation goes both ways, so you're weird too."
A relaxed ambiance hangs in the air as the two settle into a comfortable silence. Honestly speaking, Kageyama thinks that he's never had such a pleasant meal with anyone before. Feels like a nice change of pace from his usual solitary life.
All good things eventually come to an end, though, and breakfast is finished soon enough, with Kageyama taking his leave.
"Thanks for everything, I'll be returning home now."
Loud clatters resonate through the apartment as Hinata dumps the dishes into the sink. "Wait a second, I'm coming!" he shouted, already bouncing over.
"So where'd you live?" He asked as he sent the other off, "Are we close neighbours? Do I get to visit you as well?"
"I live directly below so you better not cause a ruckus at night."
"Or what, you're gonna come kill me?"
Looking at Hinata's taunting face, he almost wants to laugh aloud at the irony. Life is just amazing sometimes, no?
Back at his own place, Kageyama prepares for his next homicide.
"I'm on a killing spree," he tells his reflection, who stares back at him with horrified eyes and flushed cheeks. His hair is a mess, plastered to his forehead and glistening with sweat. A trembling hand clutches the pages of illegible scribbling and calculations.
He looks like a wreck, barely contained excitement shimmering under the surface, tension reaching a dangerous peak. This next case will be absolutely stunning, he's gotten it all planned out, a masterpiece of exquisite taste. Kageyama breaks into a smile, extremely pleased with his work.
"Hinata," he says on a whim, liking how the name rolls off his tongue as smooth as honey would.
As smooth and rich as the boy's blood would, if one simply presses onto his skin a sharpened blade. The cream, the orange and the scarlet would blend together like the dancing flames of an inferno. Wild, unrestrained bursts of colours flash across his eyes, burn him, awe him, engulf him. His hand itches for the handle of a knife.
He wants to cut-
needs-
Kageyama suppresses a shudder. Calm down, his reflection childes him.
"Calm down," he repeats, and does.
Focus should be on the current projects first, he tells himself. Tonight he will strike again, unexpected, as people all around are still basking in the relief that it's not them this time round either. Everyone will be so surprised when they read the news tomorrow, he muses.
The newspaper cutting on his desk flutters in the artificial breeze of the fan. Kageyama glances over, frowning. As logic and rationality resettles into his mind, he ponders over his next move.
If his intuition is accurate, in this game of killers and victims, Sire Noble can no longer monopolise the playing field.
He reads the newspaper article again, just to make sure.
The wedding certificate that he placed on the plate is not present on the dining table in the description. Instead, it is on the floor, as though knocked over by the wind. That might be what the newspaper says, but he had been careful to leave the windows closed.
He trusts that the police are experienced in handling crime scenes. No one could possibly have opened the window... unless a third party had chosen to pay an uninvited visit.
Kageyama rubs his throat, slightly anxious. Hitmen and agents outside of the law are not as uncommon as one would think. In fact, he knows a few organisations- illegal, of course- which allows one to hire services such as these. Perhaps one of his victims had unfinished business with another? Or is it the corrupted side of the FBI, fed up with having him on the loose? The possibilities are endless.
Nevertheless, he isn't ready to give up on his scheme for tonight. The planning spanned over weeks and fear alone would not justify why he should leave his targets be.
The target is a family of four. Middle-income family. With the older son being an obsessive gamer and the younger being an Internet addict, he will be able to finish them off quickly. The parents are more troublesome, but he has a good enough hold on their schedule to know that about eight every night they'll be sprawled on the couch, eyes glued to the television screen. A family of gluttons and sloths? He has just the right setting for them.
The media will have a field day with this ones, he smirks.
By eight fifteen, Kageyama already has the bodies ready. Four tranquiliser darts stick out from each of their necks, the drugs inside effectively knocking them out cold for a much longer time that he will need to prepare his work. He draws the curtains and turns off most of the lights.
Rummaging through the bag he brought along, the boy finds latex gloves and takes the leather ones currently on his hands off, slipping the former ones on. Now comes the hard part.
Kageyama never liked draining the blood of his victims and he tries to avoid it for most of his murders. Liquid is especially hard to
manipulate, but he has had enough experience to prevent it from becoming messy. A bucket is the necessary first step.
The precise slice of the knife opens up the vessel in the neck. He hold the bucket in place until the spray turns to a leak. Grimacing slightly, he does the same for the other three bodies.
Now for the setup, a much more favourable part of the whole process. Kageyama strides into the kitchen, opening drawers after drawers until he finds what he needs. Four wine glasses, a couple of plates and some utensils are bought back to the living room.
Arranging them in a formal set-up is the easiest part. After that, he retrieves a wine bottle from the cabinet, a Robert Mondavi, and enters the content into the bucket as well. Setting the mixture aside for it to set, he gets ready the scalpel and proceeds to lift up the shirt of the oldest victim.
"As the head of the family, you should provide for your wife and your kids," he mutters, placing the scalpel onto the man's oversized stomach with trained precision. Pressing slightly, he makes a small cut-
The door bell rings.
Surprised, Kageyama flinches, almost gutting the body.
"No way, a delivery right now?"
He should have taken into account the spontaneity of the family as well as their love of pizza. Sighing, the victims were temporarily abandoned as he made his way to the door, tranquiliser gun in hand.
How the hell should I handle this situation? The pizza delivery guy would be missed if he doesn't return, but I can't leave him be either, it'll attract suspicion.
Kageyama swears quietly under his breath. Seems like tonight's plans are going to be washed down the drains. What a waste. He is really going to do a number on this guy just for the sole purpose of spiting him. A tad childish, given the situation, but he will not have it any other way.
The doorbell rings again as he reaches the front door. I'm coming for you, he exhales, very much annoyed.
"Hey, anyone at home? It's the pizza delivery!"
Kageyama's hand freezes inches from the doorknob. He knows this voice.
It's Hinata Shouyou.