Does anyone read Detective Conan? I really enjoy it, but dear god the series is long. It's almost breached one thousand chapters! And then there's me, on measly old chapter 130 something. I can't help looking at how much there is to go and getting discouraged. I mean, I'm eagerly waiting for Rachel to figure out Conan's true identity, and for Conan to finally find a way to go back to normal, and does that not ever happen? I'm dying for there to be more interesting character dynamics, because there's sooo much promise there! Ah, well, on another hand, this chapter comes in after a time skip of a month or so. Just thought I'd give a heads up, if you're reading this afore note.
Please enjoy the next chapter.
I stir the coffee in front of me, stomach twisting hungrily as I watch the short woman in front of me devour her sundae. When was the last time I ate in public? Maybe that time I ate with Yui at RE:? But did I even eat those sandwiches back then? I have a feeling I let her eat them for me. Even if I did eat them, though, that was what? Three, four weeks ago? The days kinda started blending together when I moved into Mami's place and stopped going to school.
The woman across from me pauses to sip her soda, then pulls a file out of her bag. She slips it across the table. She doesn't say a word as I open it, leaving me clueless until I see the pictures inside.
She's found her.
The first photograph I pull out is a little blurry, but it clearly shows a girl with a dark, feline mask. The angle is odd, but she's unmistakable. Her location, however, is indiscernible. A bridge, maybe? Among cars, certainly, but trucks instead of regular cars. And fire? Is that what those lights and shadows are?
"That was two days ago," Chie tells me through a mouth of ice cream. "A supply raid on a shipment of RC suppressants to the 23rd Ward. You wanted proof, and I got it."
"Yes, thank you." I slip out a second picture, then a third. None of them are perfectly clear, but they're all of her. She's wearing her mask in all of them. That doesn't matter, though. What matters is what she's doing, and who she's with. There aren't many shots with other people in them, but there are enough to tell she's with a group of ghouls. And the context confirms she's indeed with Aogiri, supporting the rumor that Uta had been hearing.
"Remember the payment."
"Things to photograph," I recall, glancing up. "I'd be glad to provide, but that's pretty vague."
"Yeeaahh," she agrees, lifting her camera. "I can't really tell you more than that, either. I like people's expressions, though. It's great when I take pictures of ghouls in action. It would be great if you'd let me tag along with you sometime soon, 'cause my main model is a bit sick."
"I'll call you when something's happening, then," I promise.
"I won't do you another favor until you do," she warns, pointing her spoon at me. I finish my coffee and smile. She's definitely weird, but I like Chie. I owe Kanae for introducing us. And, by extension, I owe Uta for introducing me to Kanae.
I leave my money for coffee on the table, done despite the cup not even being half empty. I've gotten too used to RE:'s coffee to enjoy any ordinary blend. "Sorry I've got to leave so quickly, but I've got an appointment with Uta."
She doesn't even notice, too busy with her dessert. I shake my head, containing my laughter while I leave. I shove aside a curly lock of black hair the wind blows into my face. It's been dyed for the past few days, since I can't very well go parading around with naturally yellow hair. Before I finally decided to dye it, I'd been confined to the apartment during the day. The curls I just added for extra disguise, since my hair is naturally fairly flat. Now, if I remember correctly, the meeting place was…
XX
BANG BANG BANG
I reload the gun and fire again. BANG! This time, I hit the target square in the forehead. I switch to aim at the heart and begin shooting. Although I can't quite seem to get it perfect, the holes in the target generally collect near where the vital organ would be as I finish the next round. As I drop the clip to load another, something catches my eye. I turn and jump, not having expected that thing to be a person.
"How long have you been there?" I demand, replacing the safety on the gun. I remove the earmuffs to hear his response.
Uta scratches the tattoo spiralling around his neck. "The past five minutes."
"You should say something, then!"
"I was curious to see how you've improved. Do you like the range?"
"Even if I didn't like it, it's not like I have another choice. Guns aren't exactly legal. You don't just find a shooting range while taking a stroll through the city."
"So you do like it."
"I don't," I huff. "I'd rather not be using a gun at all. Anyway, what'd you want to meet with me for? Am I attending another event?"
"You've been to enough of those," he informs me. I can't help but agree with him. There's been at least two, if not three events per week ever since Uta first invited me to that 'Pet' show. "There's a job for you today."
That's new. "A job?"
"There's someone some higher ups are looking to get rid of, but can't be bothered with themselves. It's an assassination."
My fingers clench around the gun in my hands, but I don't let my voice waver. "Why would I be called in for that?"
"Because they're curious about you." He steps closer to me, as usual disregarding personal space and coming closer than comfortable. I've grown used to it, though, so I stand my ground even when he's merely a foot away from me. "Appearing on multiple occasions accompanying a clown has gotten their attention."
"I still don't get that," I shake my head. "Everyone, ghoul or dove, seems to be amazed by you. What's so great about you?"
He blinks, but otherwise appears unaffected. "Do you not like me?"
I return his gaze, thinking. I admit he's been a lot of help, but it's because of him that I have blood on my hands. If he wasn't here, I wouldn't still be washing my hands with blood. "I could like you more."
"My apologies."
I snicker. "I didn't know you cared." As the words come out of my mouth, my heart squeezes. How long has it been since I've been with a person I mutually liked? I suppose there's Mami, but considering the amount of stuff I'm hiding from her... "Do you like me?"
"If I disliked you, I wouldn't be helping you," he assures me.
"Thanks." I slip the gun into my borrowed purse. It barely fits. Mami's wardrobe is, for lack of a better word, unreasonable. All her clothes are thin, all of them questionable in either what's on them or what they lack, and her accessories all metal. And since I've a lack of personal attire, I've been forced to wear hers for the past month. With the dark hair and these clothes, I wonder if Hanako would recognize me if she saw me right now. "So," I ask, cocking my head, "how's this happening?"
For a second I almost think a smile tugs at the corners of his lips, but the next second I dismiss the idea. In the two months we've known each other, I've yet to see Uta smile once. "There's an undercover detective that's been digging too close to a certain ghoul's business. A party for his wife's birthday is coming up this Saturday, and that's where it is to happen. They decided the ghoul had to be in all ways unrelated to the business, and the man remembered you from when you accompanied me to his party last week."
"So, what? I crash the party?" I can't help but smile wryly at the idea.
"How you do it is up to you. Just don't get yourself caught."
"Where? What time?"
"He rented out a banquet hall, since it's her fiftieth. The party begins at seven p.m. and goes till midnight. It's highly formal, so you'll want to dress nicely."
The way he says it, I have to ask, "Are you not coming?"
"This is your job."
"What the hell?" I slap him hard in the chest, only to grow even more irritated when he doesn't budge. "How do you expect me to get this done, then?"
My aggression dwindles, though, when he grabs my raised hand roughly by the wrist. His wide, inky, bloody eyes bore into mine until I'm forced to avert my gaze. Still, a little flame of rage flickers in the pit of my stomach. When he speaks, I can just barely feel his warm breath.
"What do you want me to do?" he inquires, his velvety hair falling into his eyes. His piercings glisten, giving his face a calculating, machine-like facade. Our breaths mix between us while my brain hastily formulates an answer.
"I-I don't know," I growl, wrenching my arm away and taking a step back. "But I'm just an ordinary eighteen year old girl! You can't expect me to suddenly know how to pull off an assassination!"
He's the nerve to argue with, "You're far from ordinary."
"Because of circumstance!" I hiss. "Just...just get me into the place. I'll handle everything once I'm actually inside the building."
He doesn't respond and I anxiously shift my weight from foot to foot. I've gotten past not being able to believe what I'm saying, or what I sign up to do. Practically everything I do these days is something I wouldn't have dreamed of ever attempting half a year ago. However, that by no means means I'm comfortable with everything going on around me.
"Since it's your first time, I'll get you in," Uta finally consents. I have to stop myself from breathing a sigh of relief.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Please let this conversation be over.
"For now."
"I'll see you Saturday, then." I start past him, glad to leave, but he holds up his arm to block me. I bite the inside of my cheek and glance up at him.
"If you succeed at this," he tells me, voice low, "you will be in demand for other jobs as well. Only a handful of ghouls are in this deep. Are you sure you want to be one of them?"
I scowl, jabbing him accusingly with my finger. "If you wanted to ask me that, you should have done it before you got me to kill that little girl!"
He drops his arm and I storm past him. I discard the earmuffs on the floor and swing open the door to the exit, only to be stopped by Uta's taunt.
"Show me the bird's wings aren't just for show."
So he still insists on referring to me as a bird. I'm admittedly getting a little tired of hearing that, even if my own mask is what created the nickname. I tap my fingers against my legs in indecision, then flip my head around to meet his eyes.
"I'll sing you a song that'll shut up your doubts. Just wait and see!"
A bit defensive there, aren't we, Kiyoko? Ah, well, I'd bet she's a bit high strung at this point with everything she's been going through. Anyway, now we know that Hanako really is with Aogiri, although I think Uta was a pretty trustworthy source to begin with. Kiyoko must've thought otherwise. And, uh...I actually don't have much to talk about today. I guess this was bound to happen at some point. Well, look forward to the next chapter. *evil grin* It should be quite thrilling.
Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!