Disclaimer: I do not own Professor Layton, Zatch Bell, The Dangers In My Heart, Kyousougiga, and Toilet-bound Hanako-kun.
Chapter Summary: Suzume and Flora infiltrated a thug's hideout in disguise.
Puzzle II: Disguise
Suzume and Flora Reinhold infiltrated the thugs' hideout in disguise. Thanks to their camouflages, the women fooled Layton and Luke when they walked past them earlier. Suzume wanted to investigate alone, but Flora insisted on helping her. They wore black-colored hair wigs, long black gloves, black lace Venetian masquerade masks, black lace chokers, red a-lined dresses, and brown lace-up boots. They were in a room full of thugs while the leader quibbled about Luke.
'Just how many criminal groups that Triton had pissed off?' Suzume thought.
"That goddamn kid solved every damned mystery that our client had created!" The leader paced around. "And the client blamed it on us! That kid is fucking trouble, I swear!"
'Boss, we need to watch out for a Japanese chick." Lackey warned. "She's been hanging out with Triton, and rumor has it that she beat the crap of the serpent phantoms' leader and his two lackeys."
"What?! A woman did the beating?!" The leader shouted in disbelief. "Unbelievable! Those pricks must have been too weak to put up a fight!"
'So, they already heard about me. Just great.' Suzume frowned. 'Just who is this client anyway?'
"So, what shall we do, boss?" The second lackey asked.
"Nothing! We must wait for new orders from our client!"
"Okay, boss. What shall we do with these ladies?" The second lackey ogled at Flora and Suzume. "Shall we have fun with them in the meantime?"
Flora flinched anxiously, her hands gripping on her lap. Suzume glanced at her. Then, she blinked at the lackey, pretending to be naive to his suggestion. Deep down, she wanted to vomit on the lackey and punched him in the face.
'My 14-year-old self would let these filthy men do whatever they want with her, but the 18-year-old me? Hell to the fucking no.'
"What should we do?" Flora whispered to Suzume, clearly scared for her life.
"Just follow my lead. Don't worry. I won't let the thugs touch you." Suzume whispered back.
"Do whatever the hell you want. I'll be in my room." The leader stormed to his bedroom and slammed the door. "LUKE FUCKING TRITON!"
'Someone's obsessed with Triton.' Suzume rolled her eyes, getting irked with these morons being scared of a fourteen-year-old boy.
"You heard the boss, ladies." The lackey approached her and Flora. "Just relax." He gave them a kittenish grin. "Dance with us."
"Oh, before we dance with you," Suzume smiled sweetly. "May I ask you a question?"
"Sure!"
"What is the name of your boss's client? I am curious."
"Me too!" Flora clapped her hands together, her expression brightened.
'Good. So, Flora is pretending to be interested so she wouldn't stand out. Poor girl.'
"Well, the client's name is Viktor."
"And what's his surname?" Suzume urged him, wanting to get as much information as she could.
"Baby, that's all I could tell you. The boss will murder me if I tell you the rest. Now, let's have fun!"
"But there's no music." Flora shrugged her hands. "How are we supposed to dance without music?"
'Good job. Keep fooling the lackey, Miss Reinhold.'
"Hey!" The lackey called out to one of his colleagues. "Is that fucking record player working?! These beautiful ladies want music, man!" He gazed back at Suzume and Flora. "You two are twins, right?"
"Pretty much." The young women giggled and lied simultaneously.
Of course, he'd assured they were since they were wearing identical wigs and outfits. Suzume felt very bad for putting Flora in danger.
"Fools!" The leader rushed out of his room. "We got a new order from our client! Search for a young woman named Suzume Mizuno! She's of Japanese descent and the daughter of Tetsuya Mizuno! We will be awarded lots of money if we succeed with this job!"
'And those idiots don't even know I am here, recording their every word.'
Unknown to the thugs, Suzume had a recording device disguised as a watch on her wrist. Mr. Eggmuffin had given it to her earlier. Luke or Layton didn't know this since she asked Mr. Eggmuffin to keep it between them.
"She can't be the same as the Japanese chick who overpowered those serpent phantoms freaks," One lackey's face turned pale in fear. "Right?" He added, shivering.
"Who cares?!" The leader scoffed. "If she was, there are ten of us and one stupid girl! We'll be leaving now!"
"Yes, sir!" The thugs obeyed.
"As for your ladies, please do stay here. We won't be gone too long."
"Of course!" Suzume and Flora squealed enthusiastically.
"Let's go! Let's get that cash!"
And everyone rushed out of the room. Once the coast was cleared, Suzume and Flora exhaled in relief.
"Thanks, goodness. My heart was pounding like crazy." Flora said. "Well, we should use this chance to sneak out and report back to Luke and the Professor."
"Wait, Miss Reinhold." Suzume stood and hurried to the thugs' leader's bedroom. "There's gotta be something here to use as concrete evidence of the thugs's activities. You can go ahead."
"No, I refused to leave you alone, Miss Mizuno." Flora shook her head in refusal. "Let me help you."
"If you wish," Suzume sighed.
Suzume and Flora didn't find concrete evidence, and the front and back doors were locked from the outside, so the women escaped from the hideout via broken windows that had to shatter since the windows were also sealed. However, they did find a safe box with a combination lock, but it was too heavy to carry back home. They had a difficult time trying to solve the combination.
"Miss Reinhold, please don't tell Triton or Mr. Layton about what we did today. I don't want to worry Triton. He has enough on his plate."
"I understand," Flora smiled at Suzume kindly. "I won't say a thing. We need to remove our disguises through."
"True."
Suzume and Flora were walking through the winding alleyways to avoid the streets.
"Maybe it'd be better if we keep our disguises on. Those thugs are looking for you, Miss Mizuno."
"Shit, I forgot." Suzume frowned in disgust. "But they don't even know what I really look like."
"Oh, right. I forgot. I'm sorry. Flora said dejectedly.
"Don't apologize, Miss Reinhold." Suzume shook her head, gazing at her sternly. "It's my fault for allowing you to join me today."
"No, I choose to come with you."
"...Thank you."
That's all Suzume could say to Flora. Her mind was too occupied with the thugs and their client named Viktor. What did Viktor want from her and her father? Was Viktor the reason why her father came to Steam Bison? Suzume shook her head in doubt. She knew her father better than anyone. Her father would never associate himself with criminals or underground crime syndicates.
"Miss Mizuno, Luke, and the Professor are over there." Flora pointed at Luke and Layton, who stood six feet away, observing a clock tower in front of them.
"Crap. Let's act normal. Don't even speak, or else Triton or Mr. Layton would discover us by our voices alone."
"Got it."
Suzume and Flora rushed towards her guestroom and removed their disguises instantly. They changed into their regular dresses and walked out. The woman sighed with ease. No one was around in the corridor when they arrived back home.
"Where did everyone go?" Flora looked around in curiosity.
"Who knows?" Suzume said.
And Luke and Layton entered through the front door. Suzume and Flora winked at each other as a reminder to keep their today activity a secret.
"Luke! Professor!" Flora approached the two. "How was your day?"
"Pretty good, Flora." Layton smiled at her.
"Hi, Flora. Where did everyone go?" Luke asked.
"They probably finally found a hotel room and moved out." Suzume shrugged at Luke. "Or maybe they decided they should stop freeloading and buy food for your household."
"Miss Mizuno, I don't mind having people here," Luke smiled merrily at her.
"Ha. Whatever you say, detective boy." Suzume laughed, ignoring Luke's gaze full of fondness. "Well, I'll be in the kitchen."
"I need to use the bathroom," Flora excused herself and headed towards a guest bathroom.
"Well, Luke, I'll be in your study." Layton nodded and headed towards Luke's study.
"I'll see you there, Professor," Luke responded, following Suzume. "Miss Mizuno, what did you do today?"
"Oh! Flora and I were working on a 50-piece puzzle in the living room, but we ended up giving up. We aren't as smart as you and Mr. Layton." Suzume quickly explained, making up a lie. She entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She frowned. "The hell?! Tweeds and the others better bring back groceries! There's barely food for two people!'
"It isn't true. You and Flora are smart in your own ways." Luke told her courteously. "The Professor and I aren't good with disguise, for example."
Suzume froze. She felt her face had turned pale. She stood in front of the refrigerator, her hand on the handle. No way. There's no way in hell Luke spotted her and Flora on the streets earlier. She looked over her shoulder slowly and found Luke in a thinking pose.
"You don't look good with black hair, Miss Mizuno." He grinned at her smugly. "You do look much better with your natural hair color. And I prefer blue as a color scheme for your dresses."
"You..." Suzume closed the refrigerator door and looked at Luke in disbelief. "...little shit! How do you-"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I need to speak with the Professor now! See ya!" Luke waved and winked at her. He ran out of the kitchen.
"TRITOOOOON!" Suzume yelled after him. "Get your ass back here and explain yourself! Gosh! You are such a child! Wait, you are still a child!"
Suzume pouted while she folded her arms. Of course, Luke would have a playful side. He's still a fourteen-year-old boy, after all.
'I'll get back at him. By stealing and hiding his teddy bears.' A naughty glint flashed in her eyes. 'Mah. That'd be too childish for me.'
Suzume went back to her bedroom and lay on her bed. She gazed at the ceiling. She was too tired to cook, so she closed her eyes and rested her mind.
'Father...'
A/N: Added Flora because Level 5 ignores her sadly.