Haha. Hey. I just realized how long it's been since I updated. It's been over a month. Wow. ..T.T Please forgive me. I love you all.
"You really shouldn't sass him like that."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Kiss his ass."
"No. He's an obnoxious jerk."
"Well, he thinks you are an obnoxious jerk, so you can't exactly blame him for his behavior."
Kaoru sighed. "Fine, I'll try to be less annoying toward a stalker policeman who has it out for me. Fantastic." He grimaced. "What's your name, anyway?"
The guy sitting before Kaoru gave him a wry smile.
"Call me Fish."
Kaoru snorted. "Seriously? How'd you earn that nickname? Could you swim the ten yards in grade school?"
"No, I swam the English channel." He said.
"Liar."
"Sue me." Fish said as he spread his legs and sat back in his chair.
Kaoru sighed and resumed pacing the cell.
Yes, that's right, cell.
Kaoru had been shoved into an overnight cell at the back of the station with some random stranger. He had been in there for about six hours, at least according to the clock that hung on the wall outside the metal bars of his cage. It read 5:36 PM.
And his cellmate was…interesting.
Kaoru wasn't sure if Fish was in his early twenties or teens, but he could've passed for either. His hair was dark, long, and shaggy, like it hadn't felt a brush in years.
His smile was mischievous and intelligent, and his five o'clock shadow only added to his delinquent appearance.
Kaoru wasn't sure what he was in for, but he seemed at home, as if he came to that cell often.
What does it matter anyway? I'm in jail. I'm sure I'll be prosecuted. Hikaru…
Kaoru winced.
Hikaru doesn't even believe I'm innocent.
"What's the matter?" Fish asked. Kaoru realized he had stopped pacing.
"Nothing." Kaoru sighed as he sat down heavily onto the bottom bunk.
Fish watched him with amusement.
"So. What did you do to get in here? Were you caught with a fake ID or something?" Fish asked.
Kaoru narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "No."
"Then what?"
"I haven't done anything. I've been accused of doing something."
"That's what they all say." Fish said.
"But I'm not lying."
Fish raised his eyebrows. "You swear?"
"I swear."
"Alright then. What were you accused of?" Fish asked. Kaoru hesitated then said,
"Murder."
Fish didn't appear to be phased. He just gave Kaoru a slight smile before saying,
"Tough."
"What are you in here for?" Kaoru asked, his spirits lifting. This guy who he had just met, a total stranger, believed him. At least somebody did.
But then again…Hikaru doesn't believe me, but this guy does…what kind of brother- no, I can't think like that. This must be hard on Hikaru too. He's just…confused.
"Public urination." Fish stated proudly. Kaoru smiled uncomfortably.
"Seriously?" He asked.
"When you gotta go, you gotta go."
Kaoru jumped as the door to the cell area was pushed open.
Detective Lee strode in, a sour look planted on his face. He was towing a middle aged man beside him. Lee opened Kaoru and Fish's cell door and shoved the man inside. Kaoru was hit with the rancid stink of alcohol, apparently radiating from the grubby newcomer.
"Public intoxication, I presume." Fish said as he stood with a bow. Lee frowned and shut the door, locking it quickly as if he were afraid Fish would jump out.
The drunken man teetered over to the bunk and fell into Kaoru's shoulder. Kaoru wrinkled his nose as the stink burned his nostrils. He pushed the man away, stood, and moved toward the chair where Fish was seated.
He heard a satisfied humph from Lee.
"I hope you like your new cellmate, Hitachiin. An officer found him wandering the jungle gym at Kurokoro Park, a bottle of gin in hand. He was scaring the children, so the officer brought him in. Good thing, too, since it turns out he's a registered child sex offender." Lee stated with glee.
Kaoru glowered at the gloating detective.
You have to be kidding me. He's really trying to make my life hell.
Lee continued. "He's dangerous, really. He gets much too handsy with the younger ones when he's intoxicated-"
"Oh that's quite alright Mr. Lee, I can keep young Kaoru from pedo-bear's claws." Fish said as he slung an arm around Kaoru's shoulders.
"You look like you're a kid yourself." Kaoru scoffed. Fish pouted.
"What do you mean? I'm thirty five."
"Liar."
"Sue me."
Lee growled and began to walk away.
"Wait!" Kaoru called as he shrugged Fish from his shoulders and rushed forward. He grabbed the bars of his cell hard and yelled, "Aren't you going to question me? I need to explain!"
Lee sneered. "We don't have to do anything until we're ready. Have fun with your new cell mate." Lee turned and opened the door to the rest of the station.
"What about my phone call?" Kaoru yelled. Lee paused and sighed. He turned and walked back so he stood before Kaoru. Kaoru released the bars.
"Do you really think there's anyone who can help you now?" Lee asked. Kaoru clenched his hands.
"Just let me have my phone call."
"I don't understand. I just don't understand. Why didn't I do anything?" Hikaru whispered. He lay on his bed, staring at his ceiling with blurry eyes as he ran his fingers through his hair, not quite sure what to do with himself.
His brother was arrested. In jail.
Hikaru had watched as his brother was dragged away in handcuffs. And he hadn't even tried to help get him back.
What kind of brother was he?
Hikaru groaned and shut his eyes tight.
He could hear his parents arguing downstairs. His mother was most likely trying to persuade his father to use all of their money in Kaoru's defense. But Hikaru knew his father. That man wouldn't spend much on anything that didn't benefit him.
"I'm an idiot. I should go down to the station right now and clear thing up." Hikaru said aloud. But he didn't move.
He didn't move an inch. Because although he loved Kaoru and wanted to believe completely and truly that he was innocent, he didn't.
A tiny voice residing at the back of his mind couldn't help but whisper: What if?
"You don't really think it could be true, do you?" Tamaki asked.
He and Haruhi were walking through Kurokoro Park. They had met up to discuss the recent events, and Tamaki wasn't taking them so well.
"I don't know what to think." Haruhi sighed. Tamaki frowned and looked at his feet.
"I'm sorry, but it's true. This happened so suddenly, you know?" She said.
"Yeah, but…this is Kaoru. Kaoru, Haruhi. He's not capable of something like that." Tamaki tried. They passed a couple of kids riding bicycles.
"Tamaki, does anybody ever think someone's capable of something like this? No. Nobody expects the killer to be a killer. It's almost always a surprise."
Tamaki groaned. "Yeah, but…It just doesn't make any sense."
Haruhi sighed tried to look hopeful. "You know what? This is probably all a big misunderstanding, so don't worry about it, okay? Just go home and rest. It'll be fine." Haruhi said. Tamaki nodded slowly.
"Okay. I guess I'll just go home and wait to see what happens...Thanks, Haruhi. I'll see you." He said glumly before turning and walking back toward the entrance to the park.
Haruhi sighed and sat on a bench. She was exhausted and so confused. Her head felt heavy and fuzzy, like an old television set that couldn't quite grab onto the satellite. She didn't understand how somebody so close to her could be accused of something so horrible.
She watched as couples and groups of laughing kids walked past her, all of them enjoying the sun. It was a nice day that she couldn't enjoy.
I wish I could be that carefree right now.
"Yes, sir, you don't have to worry, Kaoru…"
Haruhi sat straight up and looked around. A man about ten feet away was talking on a cell phone. She'd been alerted by Kaoru's name, but it had to be someone else-
"I promise, there's no possibility that he will be acquitted. He will be charged with murder."
Haruhi's eyes widened. She sat forward and stared at the man. He was tall, handsome, and definitely had money. His suit was expertly tailored and his black oxfords gleamed in the sunlight.
"Yes, yes, I know. I told you, our man on the inside is working hard to get this right. Yes. No. No. Alright. Yes, tomorrow at Harding Towers is good. Right. Goodbye." The man hung up his phone and stuck it in his pocket.
He glanced at Haruhi, who looked away quickly. He sniffed before walked stiffly toward the entrance to the park.
Haruhi swallowed. Then she stood and began to follow.
Kaoru took a deep breath, and then dialed.
"This is operator 21467, how can I help you?"
"Hello, operator? I need to find someone's number." Kaoru whispered. Lee was standing about ten feet away, his eyes flickering from Kaoru to the door leading into the main lobby of the station.
"I'll see what I can do. Could you give me their name, please?"
"Dennis Harding."
"Just a moment." Kaoru heard a series of beeps and buzzes from the other line.
"Dennis Harding, 122 Runtoro Square, Ouran?" The operator asked.
"Yeah, I think that's him. Connect me." Kaoru replied. He heard another series of dramatic beeps. Then he heard a click.
"Yes? This is Dennis Harding."
"Dennis."
"Who is this?"
"Kaoru. Kaoru Hitachiin."
"Who?"
"Don't play dumb with me asshole!" Kaoru growled. Lee narrowed his eyes, so Kaoru reduced his voice back to a whisper and said,
"Kaoru. The guy you helped put in jail. Ring a bell?"
"Hm, Kaoru. It does have a familiar ring to it. Though why would you be wasting your single phone call on me? Oh, wait! I know. You must have nobody else to turn to. They all think you're a monster." Dennis said. Kaoru could hear the smile in his voice.
"Shut up." Kaoru hissed. "Just tell me what's going on."
Silence.
Then Kaoru heard a sigh from the other line.
"Well, I did help put you in the unfortunate predicament you've found yourself in, so I suppose I could tell you a little something."
Kaoru waited in silence.
"I know who killed that man."
Kaoru felt a gust of cold ice course through his body. His hands trembled slightly; from excitement or terror, he didn't know.
"What? Who? Who was it?" Kaoru whispered so very softly. He nearly shivered with anticipation. He could hear Dennis take in a breath as he readied himself to reveal the killer.
"Well it was me, of course."
Yay. He admitted it! Yay. Or is he lying?...But I wouldn't make things that complicated...or would I? XD Hehe. My last day of school is Monday! Hoorah! I love you all you beautiful lovely fantastic humans you!