For outstanding circumstances the next few chapters will not involve the organization as of yet
I've had a few people ask so I'm just saying
That was it
READ ON!
Chapter 24: Twisting in the Wind
"Arg!" Hattori scratched his head in frustration. "There's nothin' here to find! Whoever it is that's framin' ya is doin' a really good job…too good of a job if ya ask me."
"Of course they are. If this organization has been active for this long, I doubt it would be hard for them to frame a man for murder" I replied casually as we continued to scour around the rooftop for clues.
"Ya realized that too, huh?" Hattori closed his eyes and leaned against the brick structure that led down the stairs. "I wish it wasn't 'em, otherwise findin' proof is gonna be next to impossible. I can't see anyone 'sides the guys in black that would want ta set ya up like this, especially considerin' the timin'. Besides the woman's statement though, there's no proof ya did do it either. Sorry, I mean Kid. I know you didn't do it, but there doesn't seem ta be anything here showin' that ya didn't."
"What statement?"
He closed his eyes. "I asked around before I came up here. Ms. security guard from the other building claims that she entered the scene just in time to see the last man fall to his death. When she looked up, she saw someone dressed all in white. If ya put that together with findin' the monocle, then the police have no option but ta think it was you. However, I also talked to the second division guys, and their statements go against that theory." Hattori started to tick the facts off on his fingers. "According to them, ya didn't leave a notice, there has never been any sign of violence in yer behavior before now, and the obvious resplendency that comes with yer actions as Kid is missin'."
"Obviously, because their goal is to go unnoticed from what Kudo-kun's said."
"Right, bad move on their part." He smiled, "I don't think anyone could impersonate ya successfully even if they tried."
"I've had peopel attept it. So, considering we can't clear Kid's name, what are we going to do now?"
"I don't know," the Osakan admitted. "'Cause they think it's you who killed 'em, I've no doubt that division one's gonna be involved in yer next few robberies. I'd point out what ya said to me earlier 'bout the monocles bein' different if it would sound like I suddenly developed ESP."
"We could try and lead them to the fact that it's different without directly mentioning it. I've seen Kudo-kun pull it off a few times, though I've never tried it myself since I never really had a need to."
"I've been thinkin' about that, but it would be too noticeable."
"So?" I shrugged and leaned against the wall next to him. "Besides that then, what are we going to do?"
"I don't know."
Hattori hadn't opened his eyes and it wasn't because he was thinking. The Osakan detective was tired. A few hours of sleep on the train obviously weren't enough. Already from the rooftops, I could see the sun rising.
"You know they're going to kill us when we get back."
"Ha, it wouldn't surprise me, but at least this way I can get back at Kudo for doin' the same thing to me so often."
"You should get some sleep. There's nothing we can do anyway. I'll put up with them for the time being."
"No," He forced his eyes open. "I'm a stubborn idiot after all. Kazuha's told me that often enough. I can't let things drop when I'm here and can face 'em. Even if I wanted ta sleep I wouldn't be able to."
"What illogical reasoning for a detective."
"Ya know it'll make it much easier for them to get you too. Having cops with the authority to shoot you makes a fine cover story. The police'll get blamed if they'll able ta pick you off."
"I'm well aware of that, and don't try to switch the topic. You should at least rest. It won't do either of us any good if you're dead tired. I'll wake you up in an hour or so, sooner if I find something."
Hattori stared at the officers still on the top floor. It was cold up here, but none of us were bothered by it, considering we all had our minds elsewhere. The bodies below hadn't been forgotten, but they were now in the hands of a mortician somewhere and out of sight. Having the second division policemen on my side for this, even with no proof that I was innocent, left me with mixed feelings towards the men who had always chased the Kid, determined to catch and arrest my alter ego.
"Fine, but ya better wake me up. If ya don't…" He held up a fist and smiled at me. "Well, ya'd better wake me up."
"As if brute force would work on me," I smiled back. "I will, so quit making a big deal out of it."
"Whatever." Hattori lowered himself to the floor, still leaning against the wall. He let his head rest on his shoulder while his body slouched in a limp position.
"You do know we're at a hotel. You could sleep inside."
"But then ya wouldn't get me up," He peeked on eye open to look at me. "Right? Out here ya hafta or I'll get sick as someone already brilliantly pointed out."
"Shut up, you idiot," I gave him a sour look and added on a smirk because I knew how I could irritate him, "You know, you're starting to sound just like Hakuba-kun."
"That's not funny."
"Sure it is, Hakuba-kun Jr." I nudged him with my foot teasingly as I pronounced the name.
"Do you want me to get some sleep, or are ya tryin' ta start a fight with me?" He raised a fist, serious about his question.
"Get some sleep." I walked away from Hattori, so that I wasn't tempted to do anything to him while he was unconscious, "I just thought I'd give your mind some nice dreaming material."
"Shut up," The Osakan snapped, though his voice was quiet.
Detectives are so easy to mess with.
We'd already seen all there was to find about the crime scene so there was nothing for me to look for while Hattori slept. The group in black was obviously trying to set me up, making it easier to get me out of their way later on. This meant that they would have made sure that nothing was left behind, nothing that could be traced back to them.
Left with the prospect of standing next to the cops, or bothering Hattori while he was exhausted, I headed towards the deserted side of the building. Not only would I be out of everyone's way, no one would bother me there.
However, as I arrived on the other side of the building, a sudden and unexpected movement shoved me against the wall, just out of sight of the rest of the group.
"I want some answers," came a gruff, angry yet familiar voice.
I made a little pained noise as someone, once again, injured my right side. I hide the sound behind a sharp exhalation and a smile. Poker face, Kaito. Poker face, no matter how painful it is. "What's the problem?"
"I know it's you, you bastard. After all this time, there's no way I'd overlook anyone anymore. You gave yourself away to me the minute you walked up here." Nakamori was breathing down my face and his fingers were tight against my arms. I had lost track of the man once again and this time I was paying for it.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." My accent was perfect and there was no way that I'd let anything slip up. My clothes, my voice, my attitude, and, just by a few years, my age were all different.
"Don't treat me like some idiot. Some guy I never met before comes up to me and puts a hand on my back and then acts coldly to me. It was obvious that you were trying to hide something from me and there would only be two people trying to do that, the Kid or the murderer. Whoever did this wasn't stupid enough to come back so I knew it had to be you. I know that mocking tone of voice anywhere. Kid, you gave yourself away. Now give me some answers!" The man was actually shaking with anger, showing that he was to the point where fatigue and distress were having a physical effect on him.
"I'm sorry Keibu. I can't tell you anything." I smiled, still hiding behind my Poker face, as I tried to diffuse the situation.
It had the opposite result, as I should have realized earlier. This was a Nakamori after all. His fingers dug into me painfully, and this time I had nowhere to escape to. Avoiding my eyes, he was taking shallow breathes to try to keep his cool. "Tell me… at least tell me that you didn't do it!"
"I've been on a train before and during the execution of these men, Keibu." He looked up at me for this, making me feel very vulnerable for once. "Only ideas can kill a man from miles away without lifting a finger." Looking straight into his eyes, I calmly stated with conviction, "I didn't do it."
"Why the hell should I believe you?"
"Because you want to believe me. Though that doesn't make what I've said to you any less true. I've been in disguise, following Hattori-san all day." And it was true, for the most part. I'd still had the green contacts on while I was on the train. Thus, I had still been 'in disguise'. Also, I had been with Hattori so I wasn't technically lying.
"Are you going to arrest me for murder now, Keibu?" I laughed lightheartedly, though I was feeling anything but.
"I should. Damn it all, I should." He lowered his voice to keep our conversation from being overheard. "Damn it!" He shoved me away from him, but since I was already against the bricks, it hurt his hands more than anything.
"Nakamori-Keibu, I'm sorry you find my innocence so dreadful."
"Kami help me if that were the case." He sighed and turned away from me. "I knew you didn't do it. I just had to hear you say it."
I shoved my hands in my pockets and whispered over his shoulder. "You understand me so well Inspector. I wish I could share the sentiments. What was it that told you I didn't do it?"
"You just couldn't have. I didn't even have to think about it. But with all those first division officers trying to tell me otherwise, it made me start to doubt my own beliefs." Shaking his head, as if to clear his thoughts, Nakamori then looked around at the other officers on the roof before turning his gaze back at me. "You should get out of here," his eyes narrowed at me, "Before I change my mind and arrest you."
"Do that now, and I'll be charged for all the wrong crimes. You know that."
"You're a thief. Like hell if I care what happens to you!" he huffed, turning and stepping aside to put some distance between us.
"I'm sorry Keibu, but I can't leave just yet."
"Why not?" He turned to me with a frown. I saw his eyes take in my appearance now that they weren't clouded by anger and frustration. The hair I was adorning was a different length, color, and texture than my own. My eyes, voice, and facial physical appearance were also part of the illusion I had created. However, I still felt like he was seeing through me, seeing something in me that he shouldn't have.
I tilted my head back towards the other officers, now bathed in sunlight while we were encased in shadow. "You may believe me when I say I'm innocent, and your men may believe you in turn, but it seems to me that the other officers don't. Personally, I dislike the title of 'murderer,' it's a title with too much blood on it. I much prefer sticking to 'thief.'"
"So you are going to prove you're innocent? They won't listen."
"I'm well aware of that, which is why Hattori-san is a necessity," I mentally frowned at that thought, but outside I grinned, "Unfortunately, they don't listen to him very well either."
"There's nothing to be done. You're as good as a murderer in their eyes, so take the label and leave. There's nothing to find here anyway."
"Nothing to find here," I thought aloud to myself. There had to be some way to get the police directed towards that fact, that it could possibly be someone besides me, even if it didn't clear my name completely.
"What do you mean 'here'?"
"Huh?" I looked up at him. "Well, there is proof, but it's not definite and I'm not too sure who has it."
"What is it?" Nakamori's tone significantly lightened, a hint of hope in his voice, as he looked back at me encouragingly.
"You were there when I stole, ah, I mean attempted to steal the Russian Easter Egg, right? I thought that the evidence would have been turned over to you." I raised my eyebrows.
"What evidence? The only thing I did, after you were supposedly shot, was join the team out in the harbor."
"That wasn't a fun night for either of us then. I would have confirmed my safety with you, if I wasn't stuck trying to evade everyone without drowning. I was also half blind for a few days so I had to be careful," I added with a smile. "But that's not what I'm talking about. I lost my monocle that day and I thought your department would have it."
"No, we had believed it fell in the water. The officers in Osaka never mentioned it to me." There was a serious tone in his words, his eyes were glinting rather dangerously. I was tempted to take a step back if I could, but the brick wall behind me and my inner resolve to maintain my Poker Face prevented me from doing so.
"I wouldn't take it personally Keibu. There were a lot of things going on at the time," I tried to calm him down, though I seemed to be failing if his growing ire seemed to be any indication. "Of course, Hattori-san and I cannot point this information out to them because, according to the records, neither of us should be aware it existed."
"But I can."
"No Keibu," I smiled at him. "If you didn't know that there was evidence left behind before, people will wonder how you have obtained that information now."
"That doesn't matter. I could say I overheard some of the other officers talking about it, or that I have been wondering about the evidence myself. Evidence that I should already known about and had," he growled under his breath. "I just need to find someone in the Osakan police force that will cooperate with our investigation."
"I got ya covered on that."
"Hattori-san," I turned to the Osakan detective who couldn't have gotten more than ten minutes of sleep. "I thought you were going to be out for a while."
"I'm a light sleeper." He put his pinky in his ear as if he was cleaning it. "And I'd love to see the guy that can sleep through yer yellin,'" he said with a grin at Nakamori.
"Yes, the Inspector has quite the healthy temper." I rubbed my arm to try and counteract the pain that was still running through it. The man had held me tight enough to bruise and with my arm already injured, I wondered how much longer it would take the arm to fully heal.
"I'm gonna call my old man then," Hattori sighed, "This ain't gonna be easy either. I told him I was on a case, but I've missed school fer three days now. I ain't lookin' forward to his reaction."
Yes, school. We were all going to have to pay repercussions for that. I wasn't optimistic in the outlook of the next few weeks afterwards either. Not that it would be all that hard to catch up in terms of schoolwork, but Aoko was going to have my head.
I mentally shivered, visions of mops and an angry Aoko dancing in my head.
I gave no outward sign of my thoughts, and I said nothing back. The last thing I wanted was for Nakamori to be in the situation like the other detectives were. Without answers from me, I doubted the old man could stand to be in the same room. We were on a roof now so technically I had the advantage. Luckily, he didn't push it, but if we weren't in such an open area… things wouldn't look very promising for me.
As Hattori got on the phone with his father, it occurred to me that it must be somewhere around five in the morning. I listened closely, which wasn't hard considering that his phone was loud and we were on the quiet side of the building. It only rang twice before the Osakan's call was answered.
To be up at five in the morning when you're not expecting a call. I couldn't do it. I would just turn the darn phone off.
"Hey Otousan," I could see he was nervous as he tried to keep his voice strong. "Yes, I know…'Hattori – today you – home'" I couldn't catch whatever it was his dad was telling him, but a few words were comprehendible. "I can't…'-mother-'…I know but I need yer help with something…'Son – handle – officer'…I know dad, but I need ya for this one. I'm in Beika right now an' I need ya to do me a favor…'own – help – now'…Dad, it's important to me." There was silence for a while as I respectfully moved away so that Hattori didn't feel like I was intruding on his conversation, which I was.
"Thanks," he said after it seemed like his dad was going to hear him out. "It's fine. It's gonna sound weird, but ya remember that case with Kid and the Scorpion a few months back? Well, I need the monocle that was left at the crime scene. One of yer guys musta picked it up 'cause the other officers don't have it… Yeah, it is… No… No… Dad, I said no!... Fine... yeah, sorry… thanks… You don't have to do that, I just need-… yeah… I'll see ya in a few hours then."
Hattori hung up the phone and turned to me and Nakamori. "I guess my old man's gonna bring it here," he informed us before glaring at his cellphone. "Why's he gotta get involved in my cases? All I wanted was the evidence!"Hattori muttered angrily to himself, though it was loud enough for both of us to hear.
This time he directed his words at me. "My old man will take awhile ta get here so I'll be sleepin' inside. My dad'll also call before he arrives so ya better get me up before then." He looked over at Nakamori. "Ya want me to find you too, right?"
"Yes."
"Do ya care?" Hattori asked me. I already had Nakamori on my side and if he could help matters along, I saw no problem with him being involved. For now.
"Not in the least my dark skinned friend. I think I'll stick around to see your results though." I couldn't say that I was staying because I was waiting for Hattori. Nakamori would find it interesting if I said I wasn't leaving because of that. It was too bad that Hattori probably needed to be there when his father came, or else I would have left with him after everything was set in motion.
My new distance to him did not go unnoticed. The Osakan narrowed his eyes at me, but went inside without another word. I was sure I would hear plenty from him later though. That left me standing alone with Nakamori in uncomfortable silence. There really wasn't anywhere for either of us to go, or do.
"Kid, what happened the other day?"
Huh? "You'll need to elaborate Inspector. I'm afraid a lot has been happening recently, so I find it hard to pinpoint which occurrence you're asking me about."
"I had you." I saw his hands clench. "I had you, but… something was wrong." He looked up and met my eyes. "Since when do you work with others?"
Ah, Hakuba's presence at the last heist was bothering him. "I was with someone I couldn't shake off. They should not interfere with my work again so, rest assured, I'm not ganging up on you or anything."
"I don't need to be running after two of you."
"Heaven forbid that. The world only needs one of me. I wouldn't be unique if there was someone out there just like me."
"With my luck, I probably wouldn't be able to catch either one of you," there was harshness to his tone that wasn't attributed to anger, "I've already had others in division two breathing down my neck for letting you escape so often, but no one's done any better, or have gotten as close to catching you." He narrowed his eyes at me, "So don't get caught by anyone before I get to you."
"Don't worry Nakamori-keibu, I won't do anything to your credibility. That doesn't mean I'll let you catch me though," I smirked. "No one will have that privilege."
"You can't run forever."
"I don't plan on it." I looked around the corner into the morning sun, which blinded me for a second before my eyes adjusted. One of three things was sure to happen: Snake or his group would take me out, Nakamori would catch me from some mistake on my part or good fortune on his, or I'd find Pandora and be able to end it all. No matter what though, things couldn't go on the way they were forever.
That or, with my dumb luck, I'd get knocked off by these new bastards.
"Well Nakamori-keibu, I'd like to spend the next half-hour somewhere safely out of your reach so I'll be taking my leave now."
"Just be glad I consider you the lesser of two evils."
A sentiment I was sure the other detectives shared, and the only reason none of them had gone after me either.
"I like to think of myself in a similar fashion, except as the lesser of two goods."
"Hmpht," Nakamori sat down on the small raised edge of the building. Instead of walking towards him, I took a step back, allowing myself to be bathed in sunlight to stop him from identifying me any more than he had. I was surprised he hadn't contradicted me. The older man lit a cigarette and the shadows surrounding him made it stand out – a clear, burning, red puff of light.
"Nakamori-keibu, I don't think it's safe for you to be sitting that close to the edge. With how top heavy you are, you may fall over."
He blew smoke in my direction with a sardonic smile. "I'm as likely to fall off as I am to put you behind bars by the end of today."
"I don't know whether you mean you're safe or not, what with your confidence and all."
"You standing here in front of me is like waving a million yen at me, so get out of here," he shooed me away and flicked his cigarette over the edge, raining bits of ash down the building.
"Fine then, I'll leave while whatever restraint you have is still intact." Nakamori really was showing off his softer side. He'd had me in his hands, yet he'd let me go for no other reason than the impossibility of me proving my own innocence while in handcuffs.
However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I went to the adjacent edge of the building and sat down as well, a good distance away from Nakamori. Being over the edge didn't bother me, not with my love of heights. Unlike the Inspector though, I had a few things I could save myself with if I accidentally fell off. I drummed my fingers absently on the brick beneath me as I thought.
Some of the mortar crumbled when my weight was on it. More started to fall at my small movements. That's strange.
I got off and knelt beside the bricks, tapping them roughly with my knuckles as more particles fell and the bricks shifted.
"Ah, Nakamori-keibu," I breathed deeply and tried to keep my voice even, "I need you to get off the ledge."
"What's the matter?" he tapped his cigarette against the edge again, shifting his weight to keep the ashes off himself.
"Please. If you won't get off, at least stop moving."
"I'm not moving." The man didn't understand the danger he was in because at that moment, he crossed his legs to be in a more comfortable position. Unfortunately, that was when the already chipped away cement decided to give.
He fell.
I'd already started planning. I swept a hook I always carried at my side over the top of the outcropping, where the stairs descended. It caught easily and I jumped after Nakamori. We were on the dark side of the building, which was unoccupied except for us so we were seen. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to use the glider with any success. The Inspector simply weighed too much and, combined with my own weight, if I turned it upward at that velocity, the framework would snap.
The Inspector was too shocked to let out more than a small scream when he fell. It took me one-third of the length of the building to catch up to him and grab his sleeve.
I shoved the rope in his direction to show that I wanted him to grab it. Nakamori was still surprised, but he nodded to me and held on tightly, right below my own hands.
I tugged the rope hard, so that the whiplash wouldn't kill us when we ran out of slack. Both of our bodies brushed roughly into the building. I got my feet against it, in an attempt to try to slow us down. I winced as my ankle screamed in pain, hitting several window ledges, but enough speed was lost that when the rope went taunt, we weren't thrown off. Nakamori's hands closed around mine, securing our hold on the rope when I'd almost released it because of my shoulder.
"Well, I'll never doubt you again," he panted when we safely stopped. I was panting as well, but somehow I managed to smile back at him.
"You should always doubt, Inspector. Not everything in front of you is as clear as it may seem, especially when you're dealing with a Phantom Thief."
The whole outer edge of the roof had been chipped away. There was no way that the investigating officers would have noticed that. Obviously, the murderer had planned for more people to die afterwards. I could understand that the organization wanted to set me up, but why go to the trouble of breaking up that much stone to randomly kill whoever sat on it?
The breeze, and our leftover momentum, was swinging us back and forth like a pendulum. The other officers would not see us, since the Inspector hadn't screamed loud enough for them to hear, and I didn't want to be stuck at the end of the rope when we were found.
Suddenly, a flash of heat went pass my face and embedded itself into the wall. My eyes darted to the bullet hole and Nakamori's followed it, immediately turning around to scan the area before I could.
"What the hell?"
I searched the area after as well, trying to calculate the angle of the shot to determine where the bullet could have come from. There was a taller building nearby, a few hundred feet away; I could scarcely make out a form on top of it.
Of course! That's why they'd taken the time to chip away at all those bricks, to draw me out! Under any circumstance, I would never allow anyone to soil Kid's name. Thus, they were sure that I'd be at the scene. By putting people in danger, I would have to show myself to save them, leaving me also exposed to them.
"Nakamori-keibu," I breathed as I started to swing the rope back and forth by kicking off the side of the building and lowering myself down. "I need you to follow me back inside the building, quickly."
He nodded and lowered himself down as well. After a few more swings, I managed to get to the nearest window. Quickly cutting a rough hole into it with my glass cutter, I tried to get to the lock when a few bullets penetrated the glass. Fortunately, the glass did not shatter, and we remained untouched. I opened the window and landed gracefully inside before turning to help the Inspector in. Another bullet was shot, which I was able to barely dodge away from; it had just missed my chest. Pushing the Inspector away from the window, I then quickly stepped out of view so that the sniper wouldn't have either of us in his or her sights anymore.
"Nakamori-keibu, I hope this doesn't mean that you've changed your mind and decided to see me put in jail after all."
"What are you talking about?" His eyes were wide, though he'd figured out enough in the minute or so dangling outside of the building to have a good idea of the situation.
"Your earlier statement, when you claimed that you were as likely to fall off that ledge as I was to be arrested today. I think you've got your facts wrong."
"Why were we shot at? And who the hell is shooting at us?"
"No one, Inspector. I'm sure that you could find better things to occupy your time with than finding out the reason behind it. This is my problem."
"Like hell it is!" He grabbed his radio from his pocket. I immediately put my hand up over it before he could relay any information to his officers. His stunned expression met my grave one. This time I had no monocle to hide behind so my expression was clear, I was completely serious.
"I'd prefer it if you didn't look into this. Call it a favor from an old friend."
"I'm no friend of yours!" Nakamori yelled at me, pushing my hand away. When he pressed the button to talk, there was no noise.
"Forgive me Inspector, but I took the liberty of taking these from you," I waved the batteries in front of him and placed them in my pocket. "By the time you get a decent amount of officers together, the sniper should be long gone."
"Why are you protecting the person who was shooting at us? A would-be murderer?"
"I'm not Nakamori-keibu, I'm protecting you and your men. It would be a shame if any of you got hurt."
"You call that a damn answer? I'm an Inspector! I don't feel like taking orders from a damn petty thief! Stay out of my way on this and go play around in someone else's damn business for once… what the hell is the matter with you?"
Hm?"What are you talking about Nakamori-keibu? I've done nothing, but relieve your device of its power."
"Not that, you dumb ass!" he pushed me backwards, not hard but enough to make me lose my balance. I had to step back to catch myself, causing me to wince as pain spiked through my ankle and my breath to be caught in my throat. I'd already realized I'd hurt myself on the way down, but I didn't think I'd broken any bones. Since my right side was my dominate side, it was once again that side that had gotten injured. However, a few fractured bones seemed like a small price to pay for both of our lives. Hopefully though, they were just severely bruised, or even hairline fractures, and not actual fractures.
"Your concern is touching Inspector, but unnecessary."
"I'm not worried about your damn heath. Go catch pneumonia and die for all I care. Just don't let anyone catch you!" He paused for a minute and looked out the window. "Or kill you."
Was that worry in the Inspector's voice?
"You can't kill what you can't catch and as I've already assured you, no one is going to catch me."
I left him standing on the safe side of the window as I walked away, only wincing a little with each step I took. It would hurt for a while, but nothing too dramatic. Hopefully, I wouldn't need to perform anything too drastic again for a while.
Hattori's father came soon after and there was no mention of gunfire, though the Inspector made sure that the other officers knew about the loose bricks.
The Osakan and his father quickly convinced Inspector Megure and most of the division one officers that the culprit might be someone other than Kid. Although I wasn't sure if they successfully managed to shake the idea of Kid being the murderer from their minds, since I kept a backseat role throughout their entire explanation. I wasn't going to get close to Inspector Nakamori again.
The few times I had seen Hattori Heizo, it was from a distance. Most of what I knew of him was through word of mouth. Despite his narrowed eyed look, the man supposedly had sharp eyes and an even sharper mind. In person, I found all the above to be true. The man was frightening, far more so than his son. I made sure to give him his space, though I did receive a few hard glares from the observant man.
"Well, good thing that's taken care of, maybe ya'll be safe from the good guys now." Hattori came up to me where I was resting, out of everyone's sight but the officers in front of me.
"Yes, well." I slid further into the shadows from where I was sitting . "I think I'll need a second if we're leaving."
After making sure I was mostly hidden from view, I quickly took off everything and placed on black hair dye and dark makeup to look like a member of Hattori's family.
"Ya gonna tell me why ya suddenly have to do that where the cops might see ya?" Hattori stepped in front of me to help hide me from view.
"Better the cops than anyone else who may be watching."
The Osakan's eyes darted around before looking at me for a direction.
"I lost track of them so it's better for 'me' not to be seen for a while.
"What happened?"
"Nothing much. They made sure they caught a good look at me though." I sighed as I took off my sweater for a light weight jacket, making me less easy to spot.
"Let's get goin' then before my old man notices that I've suddenly got a less attractive look-a-like."
"Aw, I'm insulted," I smirked at him, "I didn't know that you'd be comparing me to a gopher.
"Now what am I supposed to say back ta that?"
"Nothing because I won." I pushed him a little and true to his nature, Hattori pushed me back harder. When I limped as I scooted aside, I remembered what I'd wanted to tell him.
"It's nothing bad, but I hurt myself on the building after you left to rest." Not a lie exactly, I just wasn't saying that I was dangling hundreds of feet in the air at the time.
Hattori narrowed his eyes at me for a moment, probably gauging my words with my previous action. As if accepting my explanation, for now, he relaxed and grinned. "'Kay. Fortunately, I've remained intact. Let's see who those two are gonna be madder at when we get back now." He laughed at me.
"Tsh, laugh it off while you can." I took some of the pain killers I bought at the store, dry swallowing them. Hopefully, they won't burn a hole through my stomach.
I followed Hattori as he led me to a squad car with a rather large officer in the driver's seat.
"Oh, by the way," Hattori's smile was the most smug I've seen yet. "This is our ride back an' I'm sittin' up front." He opened my door for me and waved a hand in front of it, trying to usher me in. I could see the bars separating the sections of the car and realized why the Osakan was so smug. "That mean ya gotta sit in the back."
Hattori got in and rolled the window down to watch me, knowing I would be uncomfortable riding in the back like a criminal even though technically I was one.
"Are ya gettin' in or not? Ya can always walk back, but it'll take ya forever and it's pretty cold out ta be wearin' just that."
"Fine." I got in and hesitated before closing the door, not liking the idea of locking myself in a police car. Hattori smiled at me over his shoulder and the other officer grinned at me too, though his was more of a friendly grin than an arrogant one like Hattori's.
"First time in a cop car huh? Dontcha worry about it. Hei-chan and I'll let ya out when we get there."
"Don't tell 'im that Otaki. He's fine. Natsuki-kun's not scared of anything… right?" He smirked at me. I slammed the door closed in retaliation.
"Of course not."
…
The car ride wasn't that bad. I knew I could get out if I needed to, but I vowed never to repeat the experience unless it was absolutely necessary. Hattori's smug expression throughout the entire ride was not something I wanted to endure ever again.
Besides that, there was something about being in the back of the police car that made me very uneasy. It was probably the thief in me, but I didn't like feeling that the detective had won whatever battle it was that he'd started by getting me in the car in the first place. It was almost as if he had finally managed to capture me, the Kid. I did not enjoy that feeling.
We made it back to the Agency soon enough and Hattori tried to milk it when we got there.
"Hey," he waved outside the window, "How ya doin'?"
"Heiji, don't mess with him," the large man scolded when he got out of his car to watch the Osakan teen from over the hood.
Hattori's window was still down so I could hear their conversation. I waved at the Osakan and took the handle, opening the door and smiling at Hattori before getting out. I palmed the small device I'd put on the lock mechanism back in my hand so that he couldn't see it.
"I'm just fine."
"How did ya…?" He shook his head. "I take it back. I don't wanna know."
Otaki was on the other side of the car so he didn't see that I had been the one who opened it. He got back into the car when we'd made it to the stairs and drove off after he made sure we got through the door.
"Um?" Hattori mumbled when he stepped in. "Hello?"
I sat on the couch before laying down, making myself comfortable.
"Hello?" The Osakan shouted louder.
"They're not here," I murmured as I closed my eyes.
"What do ya mean they're not here? Kudo told me ta meet 'em here after they got off the plane 'cause we were gonna decide what to do with the kids. Where would they go?"
"It's Kudo-kun, where else would they go?" I looked at the clock. "Hopefully, whatever he's mixed up in will be over soon. Until then I'm going to sleep."
"Poor bastard," Hattori said as he lay down on the couch across from me. "That Brit is gonna get his ass handed to him by Kudo this time."
"Probably, who knows?" I laughed. "But I feel sorry for whoever it was who is either dead or in enough trouble to warrant their interference."
"Really? It can't be that bad." He looked over at me before putting his hands behind his head as a makeshift pillow, "They took the kids with them."