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A Curse Marked Fate

52: In Parallel

"Are you seriously trying to tell me that you believe someone is planning to brainwash you with a love spell?" Nakamori couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but it definitely hadn't been that. "Everyone knows love spells don't work."

"Well, whether it can truly be considered a love spell is questionable," Toichi admitted. "My son has been assisting with the investigation into the Matsuhara case, and he said there were moments when Kurata and her fiancé would mirror one another as though they were thinking the same thoughts."

"I've seen it before too," Sonoko volunteered. "I thought at first that they were just really in sync, but it happened so often that it was just weird. Like some creepy act."

Nakamori stared at her then back at Toichi for a long moment. "Did you seriously just suggest that this is mind control? I mean, that sounds slightly less outlandish than a love spell, I'll grant you, but not by much."

"We are basing this off evidence," his old friend assured him with a wry smile.

"So you've said," Ginzo grumbled, rubbing at his temples. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a whooshing sigh. "All right. Let's say for now that you're right about all of this. What do you propose we do about it? And what do these kids have to do with any of this?"

"Witnesses," the archmage supplied.

Ginzo grunted. He supposed that made sense insofar as any of this made sense. Still, was it just him or had Toichi hesitated there a moment? He pondered that for a moment then shook it off as unimportant.

"And where's your son? You said he was the one looking into this supposed case of mind control."

The Sky Mage grimaced. "He has apparently taken it upon himself to do some espionage."

"…Never mind. I don't want to know. Now, about the mind control business. Do you have any idea who might be targeting you and what for?"

X

"And it looks like I win again," Kaito announced, revealing his hand with a flourish.

"Congratulations," Shinichi said in a monotone punctuated by a yawn. "Can we please stop now?"

Kaito considered the question for a moment then shrugged and swept all the playing cards back into a neat stack. "Let's. Any more of this and I think I might just explode from sheer boredom."

"At least you're winning," his friend grumbled, slumping back into his seat with a sigh.

"It's no fun knowing you're going to win all the time but have nothing to gain," the Sky Mage replied with an echoing sigh.

"But you still made us play, like, a zillion rounds of war—which, I have to say, I have decided is one of the most boring card games ever invented and definitely not something I ever want to do first thing in the morning ever again."

Kaito shrugged. "In my defense, it's because I'm hoping that Dad's theory turns out to be correct. We need all the good luck we can get."

"I know, I know." Sinking back into the cushions of the armchair, Shinichi closed his eyes and tried to relax. It was harder than he'd expected. He'd been tense all the previous evening, worrying about everything from how far the Foundation's plants might already be to how long they could realistically stay hidden in the library, not to mention their chances of actually escaping and getting back to their friends and allies with the information they needed—or just getting back at all, really.

He had eventually managed to get a little sleep, but it hadn't lasted.

Scattered half hours trading off between keeping watch and trying to sleep had left them both edgy, tired and high strung. Or at least that was how Shinichi felt. Kaito was managing a decent approximation of his usual cheerful, scheming, laid back self. If he hadn't found it so reassuring, Shinichi might have been inclined to consider it unfair.

"Do you think they've worked out our message?" Shinichi asked in the ensuing silence.

Kaito sighed, poker cards arcing between his hands. "If they haven't, I'm sure they will soon. The little lady will certainly get most of it, and Dad will likely get the rest."

Shinichi nodded slowly. "So…what do you think they'll do?"

"Not sure," Kaito admitted. "I suppose it depends on who they think it's safe to tell."

"Any guesses?"

Kaito considered that for a moment then nodded. "I'd guess Nakamori-keibu. He and Dad have been friends for a long time, and having a police officer in the loop is going to be important once the ball gets rolling. Nakamori also knows Dad well enough that he won't dismiss the crazier parts of what's happening offhand just because it sounds unrealistic."

"That would definitely help," Shinichi agreed.

They stopped talking when the sound of a door opening then closing emerged from the sparrow's open beak. They turned towards it in unison, listening intently. Somewhere in the distance, there came the hiss of running water.

"Sounds like our host is getting ready to start his day," Kaito observed. "Let's hope his day is a productive one."

"I'm not sure that's a wise thing for me to hope," Shinichi said dryly. "A productive day for him could mean that he discovers where we're hiding."

Kaito considered this then nodded. "Indeed. Let me amend my comment then. Let us hope that we see a mutually beneficial day. After all, the more he does, the more we learn. In fact, I'd say we're already off to a decent start. Wouldn't you agree?"

Shinichi thought for a moment then nodded. "Yeah, you're right. There's the information we collected on your dad and the expo, and we've proven the Foundation was involved in the attack on Clover Institute. We've also learned that this man might have some kind of true-seeing Curse Mark and that he lives alone, which should make it easier on us when it's time to try and sneak out. Though his apartment is likely in a higher end building, since there were security people he talked to at the door. That means higher overall security that we'll have to watch out for."

"We also know he snores," Kaito supplied. "So it'll be easy to pick a time when he's asleep to make a move if that's what we decide to do."

"Not everyone who snores does it all the time," Shinichi observed. "But I guess it could be helpful."'

In the background, the sound of running water stopped. The two teens traded glances then mutually agreed to settle down and simply listen for a while.

Outside their hidden sanctuary, Takagawa Daisuke finished his morning ablutions and popped something in the toaster. Then came the sound of a coffeemaker percolating, and Shinichi sighed with no little envy. What he wouldn't give for some coffee. Even the instant kind that came from powder mixed with hot water would be welcome at this point. Sadly, though they had more than three brands of hot chocolate and a small selection of teas, Kaito hadn't stocked any coffee.

"Sorry," Kaito said.

Shinichi shot him a confused look. "For what?"

The Sky Mage nodded towards the sparrow. "I should have thought to pack some instant coffee. You were wishing for some, weren't you?"

Shinichi blushed. "Well, yes, I was, but it's nothing you have to apologize for. We're lucky to have anything at all at this point."

Outside, a toaster popped.

Nodding decisively, Kaito hopped to his feet. "We may as well have our breakfast too. Granola bar?"

"Sure."

Twenty minutes later, their host was on his way to work.

The two amateur spies learned very quickly that Takagawa was one of the Foundation's public liaisons (not that this was really news by this point). He spent his morning as one of three Foundation representatives at a meeting regarding another upcoming fundraiser event much like the one that the boys themselves had attended. It was going to be a charity dinner with speeches and testimonials by various people whose lives had been touched by Curse Marks in one way or another.

All in all, it was not a terribly interesting morning, although Shinichi dutifully took notes on it anyway.

It was as the assemblage of reps and sponsors were dispersing from the conference that they scented something new in the water.

"Excuse me, Miss Eiko, but might I trouble you for a few minutes of your time?" Takagawa asked.

A lady's voice, older and touched with dryness, answered in the affirmative, and soon the two were presumably being seated in a private room at some nearby restaurant. They could hear the muted but constant clatter of cutlery and murmurs of conversation and laughter.

Their host and his guest made their orders and exchanged pleasantries in a manner that made it clear that they were not close. Takagawa was polite, but the woman, Eiko, was more brusque than friendly. The tension was almost palpable even from inside their little hiding spot.

The instant the waiter had come and gone, Eiko cut to the chase.

"This is about the shipment," she said bluntly.

Takagawa let out a breath that was probably an exasperated sigh, but, when he spoke, his tone was still smooth. "It is. We're going to fall behind schedule if we don't get the rest of the shipments soon. The boss would like some assurance that that won't happen."

"These are high grade jewels," Eiko said dryly. "They don't grow on trees."

"Maybe not on trees, but you are having them grown," Takagawa said mildly. "We aren't asking for quarried stones here. Just synthetics."

"I'll have you know I completed your orders on schedule and shipped them on time. The reason there is a delay now is because your lot rejected half the stones—all of which were perfectly to standard."

"They met the standards you are used to for the industry, but we need these stones for a very specialized purpose. That is why we gave you that list of specifications. We appreciate that, in some cases, the products you sent us were of exceptional quality—well beyond what we asked for, but that does not change the fact that they were not what we requested. Amulets, especially these amulets, demand a high level of precision. Every detail counts. We need them the way we need them, and that is all there is to it."

Miss Eiko grunted but seemed to accept that she had lost that round. "Well, I can get you the replacements soon enough. However, I have not yet received the report I was promised on the effectiveness of your work."

"As you know, I am not at liberty to say just how far the research has come, but I can promise you that we have already seen several breakthroughs."

"You will forgive me if I do not take your word for it. I have invested a great deal in this operation."

"I understand. When you see the boss, he will fill you in on all that we have now made possible."

"And the second half of my payment? We can't all afford to wait for years on end."

"Upon final completion of the transaction. As such, the time depends on you."

Eiko made an unimpressed noise but didn't argue.

When she and Takagawa parted ways after their meal, it was with the agreement that Eiko would be bringing the rest of the synthetic jewels she had promised the Foundation to their headquarters by the end of the week, wherein she expected a meeting with their boss.

It was definitely another thing to watch.

Shinichi worried that he was going to run out of empty notebook pages—or of ink, but there was nothing he could do about that other than write as small and concisely as he could.

"Too bad we didn't get the lady's full name," Kaito mused from where he was contemplating their variety of chocolate bars. "But I guess we know her industry. Shouldn't be too hard to find her once we get out of here."

"What I want to know is what the second half of her payment is," the detective replied, still scribbling away. "With the way they were talking, it didn't sound like that bit would be money."

"We'll just add that to our already ridiculously long list of concerns then."

Shinichi laughed despite himself.

X

"Welcome back," the sparrow said.

Kaito and Shinichi looked up in unison from where they had been watching the steam swirl inside two force field-wrapped cups of instant noodles.

"I have five messages for you," the sparrow went on. "But four of them are from Ota."

"Figures," Takagawa grunted, unimpressed. "I'm not even really late. Just tell him he'll have them by the end of the week."

"He'll complain. He wanted them today."

"Well I can't control that. You said there was a message not from Ota?"

"Yes." The woman's voice grew serious. "The boss wants to see you."

TBC