Hello to all!
SHIN: Where's the update?
(clears throat and ignores Shin) Welcome to the new arc, 'Shadow and Silhouette Arc'! This is the first installment of it and the Chapter Eight of the story, 'Twin Thieves'.
SHIN: Don't you dare ignore me! You're late at the update! WHY?!
(looks at her) I was looking for a job, you know! And it difficult! Thus, the late update! (puts her tongue out) And I'm sorry for that! (mutters) It's just ten days…
SHIN: Whatever! At least you're going to update. (sits back)
A review! Lectori Salutem-san, yes, of course! And the hunting…well, in the next chapter! (smirks)
DISCLAIMER: Please, One Piece, how much I want it to be mine, is not gonna happen sooner or later! (cries)
Be yourself and your own reach to know
How far your genius, taste and learning go;
Launch not beyond your depth, but be discreet,
And make that point where sense and dullness meet.
-Alexander Poe-
CHAPTER EIGHT: BLADES' BURGLARY
Black-gloved hand gripping the thin rope like a part of its life. Thin yet so strong as steel. Going over hand in hand, wrists sinuous and supple like a calligraphy expert going on its work diligently, foot graceful and limber like a ballerina with her ballets. Had to be or the owner will fall down from a ten-story high building. Another hard grip on the rope and the wristwatch blinks, 2:56 A.M. The street under were being populated by drunks of the lower part in every corner. If one of them looked up, they could only see a black dot, upon the red brick wall of the building, hanging on the rope. If they concentrated more, they could see a shadow. Too big for a mere dot, really. But, of course, being drunk and all, they wouldn't believe what they were seeing, let alone someone would believe them too.
Lips forming a smirk. They said that the alarm system was good, very good but not impenetrable. Well, not impenetrable for the ever-clever thieves like them. The alarm system has been short-circuited; when opened, the part where the balcony resides will shut down. And shut down it did!
When they went to the party just this night, they tried to engage into one of the discussions about anything, upon seeing that the people present were distracted enough, one of them turned away and played with the alarm system with an altered Palm given by a friend and, with its help and a little bit of cleverness, the alarm system was just a child's play. And then waltzed back to the party, itching to go home and plan the robbery.
Black-boot clad foot set its way to the balcony' porch and the black-gloved hand opened the sliding door. There's a light film of sweat under the hat, not from fear but from concentration. Heaving a deep, silent breath and accompanied by a slight breeze, a figure emerged from outside the balcony clad in full black. The figure glided through the door and looked left and right for something or someone that could disrupt their plan. When the figure saw nothing, the figure walked back to the balcony's railing and looked down, nodding down a signal. Minutes, later, a new figure emerged from downward and walked beside the first figure. They nodded to each other and letting the second one lead the way. They went to the most hidden part of the building where their focus was located at.
"Is that it?" the first asked.
The second nodded. "Yes."
They saw mini vault hidden behind the stacks of primordial books at the library. Before going and meeting the vault, the second figure let the first check for any alarm that might trigger when they touched the vault. Checking every corner and all, the first gave the second a double thumbs-up and grinned. The second smirked. Opening a small tool kit carried by the first, they started to work. The first figure handed the second a stethoscope which then, the second used against the vault and concentrated turning the dial left and right for the tumblers to set in place.
The two of them started young at stealing to live. It was needed for them to do this after their foster family was brutally killed in front of them. It was done for the stupid stones that their family has. Luckily, they killers never bother to look for any witness after they gotten their hands on whatever stone that was. Except someone saw the youngest of them.
A click at the stethoscope signaling that the first tumbler was set into place.
Scared, the both of them ran away out of the city and ended up at a shabby-looking place. At first the two of them didn't know what to do. They were young and small, how could they live at the outskirts. Initially, they stole and felt guilty at doing that. But after years at the streets and depending on themselves, they got the hang of it.
Second click. Nearing now.
Now that they have back-up, they could do more stealing. No, stealing is an understatement for it, make burglary. Why not steal money? They're cold and lifeless. Why not steal paintings? They're beauty could only be appreciated at a distance, worthless. Then, why steal stones? Simple, they're so magical and mystical and full of history. Oh, that person would surely giggle. Out of joy.
The third tumbler clicked into place and the vault slowly opened itself. The figures grinned and leaned; but the second figure stopped and stopping the first along the way too. The first figure looked at the second, perplexed. The second indicated the insides of the vault: laser sensors. They sighed. It took a half a minute to disengaged the sensors and carefully took they velvet pouch within, tipping it down on the little velveteen from their handy-dandy tool kit.
Diamonds. Little ones, perhaps six to eleven carat. Here, another diamond, approxiamately thirty-eight carat, with a sterling silver lining with it. Oh, a seventy-one carat Burmese diamond!
Rubies. Ten, twelve and… oh my, a fifty-eight! All Burmese!
Sapphire. Twenty carat. In ugly cut and the clarity? Cloudy. The first figure grimaced at the sight and the second looked pityfully at the sapphire. Then, their demeanor change when they saw the last piece.
Emerald. Sixty-two carat. In an elegant cut, brilliant green. Perfect!
The othe stone were placed back inside the vault. Activating the sensors back, they tip-toed towards the balcony and out in the night. Grinning.
"A new one, Shadow."
"Nice, Silhouette."
The figures, the second and the first, respectively, congratulated each other.
-----
Cameras flashing, footsteps of running feet, yellow lining throughout the whole room and the balcony and, above all, voices whispering, commanding and sobbing at the same time. And the medias---
"Make sure that there are no Medias inside!"
Fine.
Cameras of investigators flashing every way, capturing every piece of whatever furniture or things on the hall: the balcony itself the floor and the very vault. Everything.
Footsteps of investigators running in every direction possible, obeying their superiors' order: check this and that, give this and that to this people and make sure you see this and that. Everywhere.
Voices of the people present at the crime scene could be heard too: the commanding tones police and investigators, the gossiping ones of the maid and houseboy and the wailing of the Blades themselves. Especially, Madame Blades' cry of "My…my….s-s-t-tones…"
"The balcony alarm and the vault sensors never made noise during the burglary? Odd." Sanji turned from checking the vault to the balcony. "The sensors I could understand… but the balcony?" He walked towards the said place and softly tapped the sliding door with the sole of his right foot.
"The alarm has been short-circuited." Zoro answered, leaning at the wall near the balcony. "My instinct tells me that they did it during or after the Blades' party." he said, in thought.
"So, the boy's wrong, then. The diamond has been stolen." Sanji said, lighting another cigarette.
Zoro frowned. "Diamond? No. the emerald has been stolen not the diamond. Diamonds were still complete inside the vault."
Sanji exhaled a thin smoke. "Picky bastards, were they not?" A mere statement. Who would stole an emerald if you could see a handful of diamonds along with it? And of fresh water at that?
Shadow and Silhouette, of course. 'Picky little bastards' Sanji cursed them silently. "It means one of them was at the party last night."
"Or both." Zoro added.
"But that party was for the diamond itself and it was private!" Sanji sighed.
Zoro grunted. 'It means the Blades' knew them.'
And the investigations all lead to dead end. 'Perfect little bastards.' Zoro thought. 'Nobody knows who are they and that's the first thing we must do. Must know who they really are and all the dead ends will make a new path towards something.' Zoro glared at the ceiling. 'Like their motive.'
MUSIC: Doubt & Trust by Access
There's the update!
SHIN: LATE?!?
(cowers)
SHIN: R&R guys!!!!! Tell us what you think! (glares at Gene-chan)