Fic: Prevarication (PG-13)
Title: Prevarication
Author: Saitaina
Word Count: 2,661
Theme(s): #13: Lies
Characters:Saguru Hakuba, Gin, Kaitou Kid, un-named maid, un-named manservant
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Most of Magic Kaitou AND Detective Conan
Warnings: Character Death
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to their original artist.
Summary: How far will you go to achieve your dream? How much will you sacrifice? How much are you willing to lose?
Notes: This is again part of "Finis", one of thirty (30) fics exploring death through Saguru's eyes. (it is also un-beta'd)
Prevarication
“Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.”
-Thomas Jefferson
It was...an unusual invitation to say the least. Written on fine card stock, each line carefully drawn with a brush, the calligraphy more beautiful then Saguru had even seen in the museums around Tokyo. And in the lower, right corner, a laughing, grinning face staring up at him.
He had been invited to dinner, by Kaitou Kid. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel about this situation. This was Kaitiou Kid, the man he had been chasing for over five years. One of the most wanted men in the world. It was Saguru's life dream to see silver handcuffs around Kid's slender wrists, and yet...
This was a...unique opportunity to see the thief one on one. No spotlights, no fans, no police. Just him and Kid, over a meal. Just the thought of the level of conversation they could have sent tingles down his spine. It was rare, that Saguru could find someone worth conversing with, let alone someone capable of it on his level of intellect and interest.
And Kid was more then worth it.
So did he go, or did he stay? Or did he go and have a hell of a lot of back up with him? Though, Kid wasn't stupid, the slightest whiff of someone other then Saguru and the thief would vanish, and the chance to tangle one on one would never again appear.
So, Saguru went.
He had his driver pull around the winding driveway, dropping him off a distance away from the welcoming lights of the mansion. After giving strict orders to return at midnight unless called before, he turned away from the car that was already starting to reverse, staring at the house before him. He wondered, just for a moment, if it was Kid's actual home, before dismissing the thought. It was one of many thoughts that had been plaguing him lately, as he compiled more and more evidence of who Kid was...and each piece pushed him further and further away from his prime suspect.
He knew, in his heart of hearts, with every fiber of who he was, that Kaito Kuroba was in fact, Kaitou Kid...but the evidence just would not point that way. And no matter what, he had to follow where the evidence led, for it never lied.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked up the rest of the drive, eyes casting about lazily, absorbing the things he passed, making notes of what was around him. It was a habit, but an easy way to pass time. People rarely truly saw what was around them, and Saguru had found some of the oddest and most unique things by simply paying attention to what was near by. It had also saved his life more then once.
He paused in his walk, bending over a rose bush that had escaped it's iron fence. Smiling, he lifted a white bloom, inhaling the rich, drowning scent of the rose. Nothing could compare to that scent, it was home to him, reminding him of the rose gardens his mother grew. And while English roses would always be far above any other, this dainty flower had a scent that transported him immediately back to London, sitting in the gardens in deep summer, enjoying tea with his mother while the butterflies roamed about and the laughter of the neighbor children carried in the air.
He used his thumbnail to cut the bloom free of it's plant, taking another deep breath of the scent before sliding the button through his lapel button hole, patting it gently as he continued his walk towards the doors which opened as he approached them.
A young woman stood there, bowing low before him, offering him entry. "Master Kid in the dining room, awaiting you." she said as she straightened, removing his coat from his shoulders as Saguru toed off his shoes, sliding into the black house slippers that were awaiting him. "It's down the hall and through the double doors at the end."
Saguru gave a nod to the maid who was already scurrying off to hang up his coat. He glanced around the entry hall, taking in the rich, well appointed furnishings before exiting through the open door, and down the hall the maid had indicated. At the end of the all, a manservant stood ready, opening the doors as Saguru came closer. Saguru nodded to the young man before stepping into the dining room.
A long, deep cherry dining table caught his attention first, silver place setting glowing from the candles not only on the table, but in the chandelier above it. Roses filled bowls every few places, scenting the air and covering the smell of the melting wax.
And at the end of the table, sitting on the right side, leaning back in his chair, glass of red wine in his hand, sat Kaitou Kid.
Saguru couldn't help but smile, drinking in the scene of the lone thief, enjoying the elegant picture he made in this formal room. "Thank you for inviting me," he said, crossing the room to the place setting across from Kid, where he found his name held in a silver scroll. Taking his seat, plucked his name plate from the scroll, studying it before looking back at Kid. "Afraid you would forget who you were dining with?"
"Just making sure the setting was complete," Kid said with a smile, taking a sip of his wine before setting it aside. He made a motion with his hands and the doors opposite the ones Saguru had entered through were opened, the maid wheeling in a tray with covered dishes.
The deep smell of roasted pork, a sweet scent of butter soaked vegetables, and a few other enticing scents hit Saguru's nose and he closed his eyes, savoring each melody from the tray, his stomach perking up at what he sensed.
Opening his eyes, he looked at Kid across the table, his own smile gracing his lips. "Thank you, for inviting me." he said and Kid gave the slightest bow of his head.
Saguru glanced at the manservant who followed the maid, offering two bottles for Saguru's approval. Saguru gestured to the red and watched as it was opened before accepting the barley full glass handed to him. A quick glance around and Saguru had to smile. What better to glance at the wine again, then the perfect white suit of the man across from him? He tilted his glass slightly, observing the deep brown colour before giving his glass the slightest swirl, watching the the liquid moving about the glass, noticing the thickness of of the trails of the drops sliding down his glass. He wondered, as he tilted the glass towards him, inhaling the aroma of the wine itself, weather the thickness was due to the alcohol content, or the sweetness. Was Kid trying to get him drunk, or just relaxed?
He leaned back in his chair, trying to focus on the 'tasting' of the wine, to wrap his mind around what he had scented from the glass, but he was distracted by the man across from him, who sat, staring, sipping his full glass of wine, still smiling that annoying little half smile that often taunted Saguru.
Saguru cocked an eyebrow at the thief, before taking his first swallow of the wine, allowing it to wash over his taste buds, getting a first inside to the wine before lightly swishing it around, fully savoring all the wine had to offer. He swallowed and nodded to the manservant who filled his glass before placing the bottle in it's holder next to Kid.
"Is it satisfactory?" Kid asked, setting down his own glass and moving back a bit as the maid started to fill his plate, having filled Saguru's while the detective was tasting the wine.
"Quite, a nice quality." Saguru said with a smile, sliding the gold napkin ring from the linen napkin, placing the white square on his lap.
"Only the best," Kid said, following the action.
The pair started to eat as the servants left them, a companionable silence descending as the two focused more on food then conversation. Once the edges of their hunger had abated, Saguru gently stabbed a spear of asparagus, eying the tip of it before looking beyond it to Kid, whom seemed to be chasing a radish around his plate.
"Why did you invite me here?" he asked, trying hard not to smile as the thief seemed to engage in a losing battle against the red vegetable.
Kid raised his eyes to Saguru, giving up on the radish. He smiled, resting his chin lightly on the back of his hand, fork hovering slightly over his plate. "I wanted to propose a...truce of sorts."
"Oh?" Saguru questioned, eating the asparagus, chewing slowly as he focused on Kid more then the food in his mouth.
"We have spent the past five years tag, and frankly it's getting rather...routine. I want something new, and as my most honored rival, I'm extending you the invitation to join me in this new game."
Saguru stopped chewing for a moment, simply staring at Kid, trying to wrap his mind around the thief's words before shaking his head. "I'm not a criminal, Kid."
"Nor do I ask you to be, I simply ask you to be my...partner against much more valuable prey. You would know them as the Shadows."
Saguru swallowed his mouthful and sipped his wine, his mind now running in a whole different track, thinking of what this proposition could mean. The Shadows, the people attempting to kill the Kid. Yes, Kaitou Kid was high ranking on any countries wanted list...but the Shadows didn't even REGISTER on the lists, they were that big of a fish. Saguru had dealt with organized crime before, one couldn't be a detective in any field without coming across at least one case with ties to such organizations, but he had never touched upon something so enormously far reaching as the Shadows.
"How do you propose we go about this...partnership?" he asked, selecting a piece of pork and popping it into his mouth, once more watching Kid, waiting for his answer.
"I can't do detective work...I'm rotten at it no matter what, so obviously that is where you come in. I need to do something more then draw them out into the light, I need someone to keep them there. I need you to keep them there."
"Nothing illegal?"
"Nothing."
"I have one condition," Saguru said after a moment of silent thought spent weighing the pros and cons of such a partnership.
"And that is?" Kid asked curiously, tilting his head slightly to the side as he drained his glass. He reached for the bottle in the holder next to him, pouring a fresh glass for Saguru before filling his own.
"That you're truthful with me about things. That we can form a bond of trust between us. I'm putting my life, my job on the line here for you."
Kid paused, fork dangling absently, the pork heavy on the tines, making it swing slightly. "Trust?"
"Trust. It's not that hard, Kid, to allow someone to know you."
Kid made an non-committal sound, appearing to be lost in thought as he contemplated Saguru's counter offer. His tounge darted out, wetting his lips, before taking a deep breath, raising his glass. "To trust," Kid said, sealing the agreement, watching Saguru over the rim of his glass.
The detective raised his glass, smiling. "To trust," he echoed once he had swallowed the bite he had taken just before Kid spoke. He tipped his glass towards Kid before raising the glass to his mouth, watching as the thief raised his, taking a sip of the deep red wine. Saguru followed suit, the crimson liquid spilling easily down his throat. He set aside the now empty wine glass, wiping at his lips with his napkin.
Kid watched as Saguru's throat moved, the liquid being swallowed before raising his glass again, allowing the liquid he held in his mouth to spill back into his glass. He set it aside before leaning on his hands, elbows resting on the table as he studied the blond who was staring back at him, a look of adorable confusion crossing his face. "Trust, is an fragile thing...easily broken." he said over his hands, smiling at Saguru. The blond opened his mouth, intending to speak, and promptly collapsed face first in his dinner.
"Trust no one, Saguru-kun. It just gives them a reason to stab you in the back." Kid said mildly, pushing his plate away and dabbing at his mouth with his napkin before standing. He crossed around the table, leaning over the detective, brushing back the blond curls before placing a gentle kiss to Saguru's ear. He then turned, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets, walking out of the dining room, leaving Saguru's body for the maid to dispose of.
--
"It's done," Kid said. He was sitting on the edge of a building, watching the smoke from his companion's cigarette curl up into the air and away from him. He found it rather...nice, of his companion, to keep the smoke away from him, and it was rather un-expected.
Gin watched the thief for a moment before a sadistic smile curled over his lips. He took a drag from the cigarette before tossing it off the edge of the building, ignoring the sound of a card flying through the air, cutting through the cigarette and extinguishing it before it could land on someone.
"No complications I'm presuming?" he asked, removing his hat to push his bangs out of his face before replacing it, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"None, it worked perfectly."
"Good, then this is yours." he said, pulling a manila envelope from under his trench coat and offering it to Kid whom accepted it, tying the bindings and opening it, allowing the photos and papers to spill into his hand. He stared at the face of his father's killer, a brief flicker of emotion crossing through his eyes before being shoved aside. "Why him?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"No, why Hakuba, why him?"
"Because he was getting too close. We still have use for you, we need you around, and not at the other end of his handcuffs."
"How touching," Kid said before standing, feeling the pull of gravity as he stood on the edge of the roof for a moment before turning and hopping down. Gin joined him, though not as gently in his decent from the edge, stumbling slightly. Kid smirked, shoving his gloved hands into his pockets, waiting for Gin to regain his footing before moving across the rooftop.
"Screw touching," Gin grumbled, lighting up a fresh cigarette, again holding it on the side away from Kid, blowing away from the thief's face. "We just need your skills, it's nothing personal."
"Of course," Kid said. He walked with Gin to the roof door before stopping, allowing Gin to get ahead of him. "Go on, I'll meet up with you later for my next assignment."
"Don't worry about it, brat, you're free for a while." Gin said, waving his hand in both a brush off and a good-bye, heading down the stairs.
Kid watched him go, waiting until Gin was swallowed by the darkness before turning around, staring up at the moon above him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, forcing his emotions under the mask of his poker face, even as he wanted to cry for the friend that had died that night.
He took off running across the rooftop, throwing himself off the edge, surrendering to gravity's embrace as he flipped through the air. There was a soft click, and suddenly Kaito was jerked up, floating on the wind current, tears finally breaking through, flowing down his cheeks.
Author: Saitaina
Word Count: 2,661
Theme(s): #13: Lies
Characters:Saguru Hakuba, Gin, Kaitou Kid, un-named maid, un-named manservant
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Most of Magic Kaitou AND Detective Conan
Warnings: Character Death
Disclaimer: Not mine, they belong to their original artist.
Summary: How far will you go to achieve your dream? How much will you sacrifice? How much are you willing to lose?
Notes: This is again part of "Finis", one of thirty (30) fics exploring death through Saguru's eyes. (it is also un-beta'd)
Prevarication
“Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it.”
-Thomas Jefferson
It was...an unusual invitation to say the least. Written on fine card stock, each line carefully drawn with a brush, the calligraphy more beautiful then Saguru had even seen in the museums around Tokyo. And in the lower, right corner, a laughing, grinning face staring up at him.
He had been invited to dinner, by Kaitou Kid. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to feel about this situation. This was Kaitiou Kid, the man he had been chasing for over five years. One of the most wanted men in the world. It was Saguru's life dream to see silver handcuffs around Kid's slender wrists, and yet...
This was a...unique opportunity to see the thief one on one. No spotlights, no fans, no police. Just him and Kid, over a meal. Just the thought of the level of conversation they could have sent tingles down his spine. It was rare, that Saguru could find someone worth conversing with, let alone someone capable of it on his level of intellect and interest.
And Kid was more then worth it.
So did he go, or did he stay? Or did he go and have a hell of a lot of back up with him? Though, Kid wasn't stupid, the slightest whiff of someone other then Saguru and the thief would vanish, and the chance to tangle one on one would never again appear.
So, Saguru went.
He had his driver pull around the winding driveway, dropping him off a distance away from the welcoming lights of the mansion. After giving strict orders to return at midnight unless called before, he turned away from the car that was already starting to reverse, staring at the house before him. He wondered, just for a moment, if it was Kid's actual home, before dismissing the thought. It was one of many thoughts that had been plaguing him lately, as he compiled more and more evidence of who Kid was...and each piece pushed him further and further away from his prime suspect.
He knew, in his heart of hearts, with every fiber of who he was, that Kaito Kuroba was in fact, Kaitou Kid...but the evidence just would not point that way. And no matter what, he had to follow where the evidence led, for it never lied.
He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked up the rest of the drive, eyes casting about lazily, absorbing the things he passed, making notes of what was around him. It was a habit, but an easy way to pass time. People rarely truly saw what was around them, and Saguru had found some of the oddest and most unique things by simply paying attention to what was near by. It had also saved his life more then once.
He paused in his walk, bending over a rose bush that had escaped it's iron fence. Smiling, he lifted a white bloom, inhaling the rich, drowning scent of the rose. Nothing could compare to that scent, it was home to him, reminding him of the rose gardens his mother grew. And while English roses would always be far above any other, this dainty flower had a scent that transported him immediately back to London, sitting in the gardens in deep summer, enjoying tea with his mother while the butterflies roamed about and the laughter of the neighbor children carried in the air.
He used his thumbnail to cut the bloom free of it's plant, taking another deep breath of the scent before sliding the button through his lapel button hole, patting it gently as he continued his walk towards the doors which opened as he approached them.
A young woman stood there, bowing low before him, offering him entry. "Master Kid in the dining room, awaiting you." she said as she straightened, removing his coat from his shoulders as Saguru toed off his shoes, sliding into the black house slippers that were awaiting him. "It's down the hall and through the double doors at the end."
Saguru gave a nod to the maid who was already scurrying off to hang up his coat. He glanced around the entry hall, taking in the rich, well appointed furnishings before exiting through the open door, and down the hall the maid had indicated. At the end of the all, a manservant stood ready, opening the doors as Saguru came closer. Saguru nodded to the young man before stepping into the dining room.
A long, deep cherry dining table caught his attention first, silver place setting glowing from the candles not only on the table, but in the chandelier above it. Roses filled bowls every few places, scenting the air and covering the smell of the melting wax.
And at the end of the table, sitting on the right side, leaning back in his chair, glass of red wine in his hand, sat Kaitou Kid.
Saguru couldn't help but smile, drinking in the scene of the lone thief, enjoying the elegant picture he made in this formal room. "Thank you for inviting me," he said, crossing the room to the place setting across from Kid, where he found his name held in a silver scroll. Taking his seat, plucked his name plate from the scroll, studying it before looking back at Kid. "Afraid you would forget who you were dining with?"
"Just making sure the setting was complete," Kid said with a smile, taking a sip of his wine before setting it aside. He made a motion with his hands and the doors opposite the ones Saguru had entered through were opened, the maid wheeling in a tray with covered dishes.
The deep smell of roasted pork, a sweet scent of butter soaked vegetables, and a few other enticing scents hit Saguru's nose and he closed his eyes, savoring each melody from the tray, his stomach perking up at what he sensed.
Opening his eyes, he looked at Kid across the table, his own smile gracing his lips. "Thank you, for inviting me." he said and Kid gave the slightest bow of his head.
Saguru glanced at the manservant who followed the maid, offering two bottles for Saguru's approval. Saguru gestured to the red and watched as it was opened before accepting the barley full glass handed to him. A quick glance around and Saguru had to smile. What better to glance at the wine again, then the perfect white suit of the man across from him? He tilted his glass slightly, observing the deep brown colour before giving his glass the slightest swirl, watching the the liquid moving about the glass, noticing the thickness of of the trails of the drops sliding down his glass. He wondered, as he tilted the glass towards him, inhaling the aroma of the wine itself, weather the thickness was due to the alcohol content, or the sweetness. Was Kid trying to get him drunk, or just relaxed?
He leaned back in his chair, trying to focus on the 'tasting' of the wine, to wrap his mind around what he had scented from the glass, but he was distracted by the man across from him, who sat, staring, sipping his full glass of wine, still smiling that annoying little half smile that often taunted Saguru.
Saguru cocked an eyebrow at the thief, before taking his first swallow of the wine, allowing it to wash over his taste buds, getting a first inside to the wine before lightly swishing it around, fully savoring all the wine had to offer. He swallowed and nodded to the manservant who filled his glass before placing the bottle in it's holder next to Kid.
"Is it satisfactory?" Kid asked, setting down his own glass and moving back a bit as the maid started to fill his plate, having filled Saguru's while the detective was tasting the wine.
"Quite, a nice quality." Saguru said with a smile, sliding the gold napkin ring from the linen napkin, placing the white square on his lap.
"Only the best," Kid said, following the action.
The pair started to eat as the servants left them, a companionable silence descending as the two focused more on food then conversation. Once the edges of their hunger had abated, Saguru gently stabbed a spear of asparagus, eying the tip of it before looking beyond it to Kid, whom seemed to be chasing a radish around his plate.
"Why did you invite me here?" he asked, trying hard not to smile as the thief seemed to engage in a losing battle against the red vegetable.
Kid raised his eyes to Saguru, giving up on the radish. He smiled, resting his chin lightly on the back of his hand, fork hovering slightly over his plate. "I wanted to propose a...truce of sorts."
"Oh?" Saguru questioned, eating the asparagus, chewing slowly as he focused on Kid more then the food in his mouth.
"We have spent the past five years tag, and frankly it's getting rather...routine. I want something new, and as my most honored rival, I'm extending you the invitation to join me in this new game."
Saguru stopped chewing for a moment, simply staring at Kid, trying to wrap his mind around the thief's words before shaking his head. "I'm not a criminal, Kid."
"Nor do I ask you to be, I simply ask you to be my...partner against much more valuable prey. You would know them as the Shadows."
Saguru swallowed his mouthful and sipped his wine, his mind now running in a whole different track, thinking of what this proposition could mean. The Shadows, the people attempting to kill the Kid. Yes, Kaitou Kid was high ranking on any countries wanted list...but the Shadows didn't even REGISTER on the lists, they were that big of a fish. Saguru had dealt with organized crime before, one couldn't be a detective in any field without coming across at least one case with ties to such organizations, but he had never touched upon something so enormously far reaching as the Shadows.
"How do you propose we go about this...partnership?" he asked, selecting a piece of pork and popping it into his mouth, once more watching Kid, waiting for his answer.
"I can't do detective work...I'm rotten at it no matter what, so obviously that is where you come in. I need to do something more then draw them out into the light, I need someone to keep them there. I need you to keep them there."
"Nothing illegal?"
"Nothing."
"I have one condition," Saguru said after a moment of silent thought spent weighing the pros and cons of such a partnership.
"And that is?" Kid asked curiously, tilting his head slightly to the side as he drained his glass. He reached for the bottle in the holder next to him, pouring a fresh glass for Saguru before filling his own.
"That you're truthful with me about things. That we can form a bond of trust between us. I'm putting my life, my job on the line here for you."
Kid paused, fork dangling absently, the pork heavy on the tines, making it swing slightly. "Trust?"
"Trust. It's not that hard, Kid, to allow someone to know you."
Kid made an non-committal sound, appearing to be lost in thought as he contemplated Saguru's counter offer. His tounge darted out, wetting his lips, before taking a deep breath, raising his glass. "To trust," Kid said, sealing the agreement, watching Saguru over the rim of his glass.
The detective raised his glass, smiling. "To trust," he echoed once he had swallowed the bite he had taken just before Kid spoke. He tipped his glass towards Kid before raising the glass to his mouth, watching as the thief raised his, taking a sip of the deep red wine. Saguru followed suit, the crimson liquid spilling easily down his throat. He set aside the now empty wine glass, wiping at his lips with his napkin.
Kid watched as Saguru's throat moved, the liquid being swallowed before raising his glass again, allowing the liquid he held in his mouth to spill back into his glass. He set it aside before leaning on his hands, elbows resting on the table as he studied the blond who was staring back at him, a look of adorable confusion crossing his face. "Trust, is an fragile thing...easily broken." he said over his hands, smiling at Saguru. The blond opened his mouth, intending to speak, and promptly collapsed face first in his dinner.
"Trust no one, Saguru-kun. It just gives them a reason to stab you in the back." Kid said mildly, pushing his plate away and dabbing at his mouth with his napkin before standing. He crossed around the table, leaning over the detective, brushing back the blond curls before placing a gentle kiss to Saguru's ear. He then turned, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets, walking out of the dining room, leaving Saguru's body for the maid to dispose of.
--
"It's done," Kid said. He was sitting on the edge of a building, watching the smoke from his companion's cigarette curl up into the air and away from him. He found it rather...nice, of his companion, to keep the smoke away from him, and it was rather un-expected.
Gin watched the thief for a moment before a sadistic smile curled over his lips. He took a drag from the cigarette before tossing it off the edge of the building, ignoring the sound of a card flying through the air, cutting through the cigarette and extinguishing it before it could land on someone.
"No complications I'm presuming?" he asked, removing his hat to push his bangs out of his face before replacing it, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"None, it worked perfectly."
"Good, then this is yours." he said, pulling a manila envelope from under his trench coat and offering it to Kid whom accepted it, tying the bindings and opening it, allowing the photos and papers to spill into his hand. He stared at the face of his father's killer, a brief flicker of emotion crossing through his eyes before being shoved aside. "Why him?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"No, why Hakuba, why him?"
"Because he was getting too close. We still have use for you, we need you around, and not at the other end of his handcuffs."
"How touching," Kid said before standing, feeling the pull of gravity as he stood on the edge of the roof for a moment before turning and hopping down. Gin joined him, though not as gently in his decent from the edge, stumbling slightly. Kid smirked, shoving his gloved hands into his pockets, waiting for Gin to regain his footing before moving across the rooftop.
"Screw touching," Gin grumbled, lighting up a fresh cigarette, again holding it on the side away from Kid, blowing away from the thief's face. "We just need your skills, it's nothing personal."
"Of course," Kid said. He walked with Gin to the roof door before stopping, allowing Gin to get ahead of him. "Go on, I'll meet up with you later for my next assignment."
"Don't worry about it, brat, you're free for a while." Gin said, waving his hand in both a brush off and a good-bye, heading down the stairs.
Kid watched him go, waiting until Gin was swallowed by the darkness before turning around, staring up at the moon above him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, forcing his emotions under the mask of his poker face, even as he wanted to cry for the friend that had died that night.
He took off running across the rooftop, throwing himself off the edge, surrendering to gravity's embrace as he flipped through the air. There was a soft click, and suddenly Kaito was jerked up, floating on the wind current, tears finally breaking through, flowing down his cheeks.