Still don't own Hardy Boys or Hell Girl...
The vanilla ice cream thing was mentioned in "Rocky Road." Frank's taste in ice cream sucks.
Enjoy!
"This is for you. If you truly wish revenge, untie the scarlet thread from the totem's neck. Pulling the thread binds you into a covenant with me. I will ferry the soul of your tormentor straight into the depths of Hell."
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"Does Dad think I'm in Hell or something? Cuz, you know, my body's kinda in America…"
"No. I convinced him otherwise. But he… He hates the fact that there's something other than the justice system to help people. Not to mention the fact of the whole Hell business."
"Not everyone is a friend of the Hell business." Joe tore his gaze away from Frank, and stared off towards the moon. "But it's like a desperation act. The last chance for them to survive…"
Frank did not respond to the statement, and Joe didn't encourage one. Both just stood on the balcony, as Frank tried to understand what he was suppose to say before his brother left. "So… How's she?"
"A typical Frank question. 'How's she?' Well- wait. Which one?"
"I dunno. Both, I guess."
"Well, Kukiko's plain crazy. She stalks people in pictures, reflections, and in person! I mean, it's her job, but still…"
"And… what about Ai?"
Joe almost laughed when he heard the name. "Should have known. I really should have known!"
"Shut it, Joe. Just shut it."
"What?! I can't help it if my older, wiser brother has no knowledge of love!"
"Joe…"
"As they say, 'Love is a fool's wisdom and a wise man's folly'! Or… Something like that…"
"Okay, Joe. Two things. One, since when did you start quoting from other people? And why can't you just answer my damn question?"
"It's a gift, bro. I will show it no disrespect by using it as often as I can. And it's fun messing with you and all of your smartness and Frankness."
"'Frankness'? What is that, exactly?"
"It's you and all your smartness and taste for the bland all in one! Besides, it needed some kind of name."
"Vanilla ice cream is not bland."
"Oh, right, I forgot. It's just plain. Unless you decide to act more daring, and add butterscotch."
"There's nothing wrong with vanilla ice cream or butterscotch. Stupidity, on the other hand-"
"Face it Frank. No one in the whole universe can compare to you and your swelled up brain. So do us a favor and go to another planet with all of your alien friends."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing… Exceptyourplanforrulingtheworldwithyouralienatecleanliness."
"I understood that, you know."
"Yeah, I do."
It was like nothing had changed, as Frank noted in his head. It was as if the horrible murder had never happened. They were only two brothers, and the line of life and death, loyalties to justice or a different realm, had just vanished. The crevice that had been between them had closed, even if it was only for a few minutes…
"Joseph." Both heads turned to find a teenage girl who looked younger than she actually was. Her red eyes shone within the darkness, contrasting to her pale skin. Frank felt his heart become dishevel, and his thoughts became depreciated in his mind.
"A new request?" A simple nod of the head, and before their eyes, the image of his brother had changed into a crow.
"See you later, Frankie!"
"Don't call me that!"
The crow had laughed, and took flight towards the horizon of a night sky and a city.
Both spectators watched until the figure had disappeared altogether, and then set their gazes upon each other. Frank began to feel benighted, and the only path from the darkness were the red orbs.
"Ai Enma." The words barely left his lips, as he began to wonder what else he could say to her.
"You've entered a complicate world."
"Yes, I know." But I think I'm willing to risk it all.
"Have you decided?"
The decision. Yes… he remembered the question clearly in his head. But that didn't mean the answer was as clear to him. And yet, he had already made that decision long ago. He wanted to cross that line, be able to have some common grounds with his desires…
"Yes." He did not have to say any more than that one word.
But, a thought crossed his mind. "Ai… What happened to the others? They're not there in the dreams anymore. It's like they vanished."
"They have."
"Really?"
"They had disappeared eight months ago. We have been looking, but they are gone. It might be something bigger than we thought."
"Yeah… Well, I'll help you in any way I can."
They gazed into each other's eyes for a few seconds, before Ai whispered "Thank you."
By the time his father had come to check up if Frank was getting use to the new time zone at all, Frank was all alone on the balcony, staring at the sky.
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"Mistress… There's something up. One of the people… escaped."
"How?"
"That's kinda the problem. He just disappeared. Most likely, he used what was left of his powers."
"Is there a connection?"
"Possibly. I can't say for certain, but it seems he might be the lead we need. You know… like a detective."
"We must not forget the contract. Go watch the girl for now."
"Of course, Mistress."
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There was a connection. If only he knew who the person was… But the answer had eluded him, possibly because Frank had only known the contracts that had involved Joe. For all he knew, it could have been someone from centuries ago.
Truthfully, he only thought about it now, hours later as the sleep finally seeped into his body and mind. He had known a bit from experience how jet lag and time zones can really mess up one's sleeping habits. The oldest Hardy son had even developed his own method to correct the time shift mentally.
However, it had only been used for a small amount of hours. Now, he was on the other side of the world. A sudden change had made the method prove inefficient to him.
Maybe I'll be able to talk to Joe again… he mused. Maybe… I can ask… And maybe I'll see Ai again…
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"Well, she pulled it. Shall we go Mistress?"
"Yes."
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Frank had stayed up, looking at the night sky. He leaned against the glass of the sliding doors, careful not to put too much pressure on them. A cup of hot chocolate sat next to him, releasing vapor as a way to remind the world it was still warm.
"Why do you bother waiting?" Frank barely turned his head to greet his younger brother, transforming from the crow that had flown in seconds before. "It's not going to help your sleeping patterns if you keep on doing this."
"I bother because my dead brother has come back from the grave to talk to me. I do it because he's the only one I can talk to without the tension. He's the only one besides me who hasn't had to choose a side with our parents-"
"Our parents?"
"They've been arguing a lot. Apparently… since you died, they've been more open about it. Every day, they argue about little things. I think… I think this isn't only a trip to stop Ai. It's their only chance to calm down."
"It all goes back to that last chance, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does."
"Frank… you know what you had agreed to, right?"
"Yeah, I do. And I don't regret it at all…"
"But?"
"I'm just worried about everything else, that's all. Just about the world we grew up in." A silence passed between the two, before Frank asked "Hey, Joe?"
"Yeah?"
"I think… I think the world's falling apart around me. And I don't think anyone gives a damn."