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Post by Mikauzoran on May 16, 2016 19:18:07 GMT
There's going to be a scene where Ran glosses over it briefly when she's talking to Hakuba, but I don't plan on going too in depth in the main storyline. I think that if there's enough interest, I will write a KaiShinRa prequel fic.
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Post by Mikauzoran on Jun 7, 2016 1:28:02 GMT
www.fanfiction.net/s/11937121/3/In-the-Spider-s-WebHere we go. Chapter three! ...Finally. -.-; Real life is cruel.Chapter Three: “Family” Ran gave a start at the unexpected voice, but Kaito grinned sheepishly and chuckled, “Sorry about that, Hakuba. Got a little caught up in my own head for a while there.” “It’s quite all right. I understand completely,” Saguru assured. “The important thing is that you’ve righted yourself now.” “Is that Hakuba Saguru?” Ran called, trying to get to her feet. She faltered, still unsteady from the hours spent unconscious. Kaito caught her and helped her find her balance. “Careful, Ran,” he cooed. “Thanks,” she laughed with a bashful smile. “Hello there, Hakuba-kun. Kaito talks about you all the time, so I feel like we see a lot of each other, but in actuality it’s been a long time since we’ve met in person, hasn’t it?” “A few years, yes,” Saguru greeted her cordially, giving as much of a bow as he could manage in his current predicament. “You seem well, though, Ran-san. It’s good to see you again, even if the circumstances are far less than ideal.” “You as well,” she reciprocated as Kaito helped her over to Hakuba’s side of the cell. “Ran, can you use your bra wire to pick the locks on his cuffs?” Kaito asked as Ran lowered herself down to sit next to Saguru. “I’m going to investigate the perimeter and see if I can’t get us out of here.” “On it,” Ran confirmed, fishing around for a moment before pulling out a wire that seemed to have been cut free and prepared in advance. Saguru flushed, averting his eyes until she had resituated herself. “This might take a few minutes,” Ran informed with a sheepish smile. “I’m not as good as Kaito.” “That you can pick a lock at all is impressive to me,” Saguru assured. “Though, I suppose one must acquire many out of the way skills as the lover of a world-class thief,” he mused. Ran laughed, amused at the thought, and shook her head. “Odd abilities come in handy when you’re involved with as many detectives and cops as I am. You’re often faced with ‘out of the way’ situations. For instance, it might interest you to know that I’m on a first name basis with every emergency dispatcher in Tokyo. I’m sure you’ve gained some unusual skills in your profession, not to mention as the son of a prominent police official as well.” “You would be correct,” Saguru admitted. “And Kaito’s not my lover,” Ran chuckled as the lock clicked and the first manacle dropped from Saguru’s wrist. “O-Oh?” he stuttered, blinking in bamboozlement. “Do forgive me. I had just assumed… When you said that he could possibly be the father of your child, I…” Ran shook her head as she set to work on the other cuff. “Kaito…is my partner, the one who helps me keep Shinichi in check and actually enjoys listening to all of that Holmes chatter. He keeps me company when Shinichi runs off to solve a murder in the middle of our dates, and he helps me take care of Shinichi when he forgets to take care of himself. Kaito’s my boyfriend’s boyfriend…. And sometimes Shinichi gets into a voyeuristic mood, so…but there’s no romantic passion between us like we each have with Shinichi,” Ran explained, cheeks lighting up as she tried to help Saguru understand the complex relationship between Kaito, Shinichi, and herself. “Kaito’s like a sister to me. We’re incredibly close, and we do love one another dearly, but we’re not lovers. Any physical desire he might feel for me is solely because I resemble Aoko-san. He’s never loved another woman since her, and I don’t think he ever will again.” The other cuff dropped, and Ran smiled in satisfaction at her quick work. Saguru rubbed his wrists as he bit his lip and considered his response. His face was as red as a crab’s shell as he remarked, “I’m terribly sorry, and it’s horribly indecent of me to ask, especially when your affairs are no business of mine, but…” He chewed on the inside of his cheek and lowered his voice so that Kuroba (who was currently scaling the bars of their cage like a monkey, searching for a weak point) might not hear. “I’m morbidly curious. You, Kuroba, and Kudo-kun are…a threesome?” It took a bit of effort to get the word out without stammering in embarrassment. “Or…something rather like a threesome, anyway, but…How did that happen? The last time I saw Kuroba as Kuroba, he’d just had a catastrophic falling out with Aoko-san, and I’m pretty sure he was adamantly straight. I also recall hearing from a reputable source that Kudo Shinichi and you were the invincible power couple of the century and nothing and no one could come between you. So I’m having a little trouble reconciling my former perception of reality with what I’ve witnessed today…. If you don’t mind indulging my notorious impropriety, that is,” he added shamefacedly. “Not at all,” she chuckled, waving away his concern. “I said before that I already felt as if we knew each other well since Kaito talks about you all the time, and I have a feeling we’ll grow a lot closer, going through this ordeal together, so I don’t mind talking to you about us. Besides, you’re the closest thing Kaito has to a real friend besides Shinichi and me; you have every right to ask.” Saguru’s cheeks turned crimson with guilt. He hadn’t spoken to “Kuroba Kaito” since high school graduation, and he was supposed to be the closest thing Kuroba had to a friend besides his romantic partners? Saguru felt like a fraud. “I’m sorry, Ran-san,” Saguru stopped her before she could even begin. “But I don’t want to deceive you. I have no right to anything concerning Kuroba or your personal affairs. Despite what you may believe, Kuroba and I are far from close. We haven’t even—” “—But you two are close,” Ran insisted, a soft smile never leaving her lips. “Maybe not as Hakuba Saguru and Kuroba Kaito—former classmates—but as Detective Hakuba and the Kaitou Kid. I’ve seen you two at heists, the way you banter back and forth, the way you joke and laugh and tease one another. Hakuba-kun, you understand him and the way he thinks. You get him, and he doesn’t have to pretend in front of you.” Her expression shifted. She was still smiling, but she somehow looked sad. “The truth is, he’s more himself as Kid than when he puts on his ‘Kuroba Kaito’ act for the rest of the world every day. You know the real Kaito better than most people in his life. It doesn’t matter that it’s under an assumed name. That’s how Shinichi and Kaito first met and got to know each other and fell in love too, so… It doesn’t matter that your relationship is unconventional; it’s still real, and you’re still friends.” Saguru took a minute to digest this revelation. He slowly nodded as he realized that he really had been thinking of Kid as “rival and friend” these past few years. “It is an odd relationship,” Saguru admitted hesitantly. “But maybe ‘friendship’ isn’t as an outlandish a label as I had first thought.” Ran beamed triumphantly, nodding in agreement. “So, like I said, it’s okay for me to tell you about Shinichi, Kaito, and me.” Saguru sat quietly, rubbing at his throbbing wrists and trying not to look quite as curious as he really felt, as she recounted how she, Kudo Shinichi, and Kuroba Kaito had come to form their odd partnership. “They met at the heists, of course,” Ran began, and Saguru had to wonder which heists. He didn’t remember the Detective of the East being present at the countless heists that he had attended. Unless it had been during the periods he’d gone back to England. Now that she mentioned it, Saguru did remember Kuroba saying something about another detective moving in on Hakuba’s turf during the clock tower heist that had occurred when Saguru had been away, but…had Kudo-kun and Kuroba really left such a big impression on each other after that one heist? Or had the other detective attended additional heists after that? “And they developed something like the rivalry-turned-friendship that you and Kaito have,” Ran continued, oblivious to Saguru’s ponderings. “When they discovered that they were both working against the same evil syndicate, that was when they truly started to get close. I’m not quite sure when friendship and mutual admiration started to turn to love, but I do know from what Kaito’s told me that he never would have survived his falling out with Aoko-san at the end of high school if it weren’t for Shinichi,” Ran informed gravely, a deep sadness filling her lavender eyes. Saguru frowned as he felt a sharp pang in his chest. “Survive…figuratively or literally?” Kuroba had been a little rough at the end of high school—more sour than usual, less clownish—but he hadn’t seemed self-destructive or like he was falling apart. At least…no. Now that he thought of it, Saguru had noticed a shift in Kid’s behavior as well. He’d seemed a little more off-kilter than normal, a tad more reckless, but… The pain in Ran’s eyes told Saguru that “rough” wouldn’t even begin to cover the emotional turmoil Kuroba had been through. Ran shook her head slowly, gazing down at her hands like she wasn’t really seeing them. “Kaito broke after that. Shinichi told me about it later, and Kaito’s talked about it a little, but…apparently all the confidence drained out of him and he started wondering if what he was doing was really worth it, if he really wanted…” Her voice caught, and she squeezed the hem of her skirt. “If he really wanted to keep going,” she finished. Saguru gritted his teeth, balling his hands into fists in frustration at himself, but he said nothing. He felt he hadn’t the right to speak when where had he been whilst Kuroba had been suffering so? England, half a world away. It hadn’t even occurred to Saguru to check up on Kuroda during the six months he was away after high school ended. He had never thought to make sure Kuroba was really okay and not just putting on another one of his damn masks. Ran bit her lip and mumbled, “I can tell from my interactions with him as Kid back in high school, but Kaito used to be such a strong, carefree guy. I think being Kid, learning about the Organization and what they do—how they ruin people’s lives—drained him. He lost a lot, being Kid. And then everything with Aoko-san…that was what finally broke him.” She looked up at Saguru and smiled softly. “But Shinichi was there for him when it got to be too much. Kaito’s told me about how Shinichi carried him through it…and I think that’s when it happened, when they fell in love. Kaito got to see how compassionate and attentive Shinichi can be, and Shinichi…” She chuckled, smile strengthening. “Shinichi has always been protective and valiant. He’s a real knight in shining armor. I think seeing Kaito’s vulnerable side really did him in. They didn’t tell me that, though. It’s all my conjecture. I mean, the first I even knew of any of it was when Shinichi introduced us. Before that, I had thought that Shinichi was off on a big, important case and that we’d be getting married and living happily ever after as soon as he was able to wrap things up.” Ran shrugged cheerfully, regaining her spirit. Saguru raised an eyebrow. “I gather Kuroba threw a bit of a monkey wrench in the works then. How did Kudo-kun introduce you, if you don’t mind me asking?” Saguru frowned, trying to picture it. “I imagine it took a great deal of planning, tact, and delicacy.” Ran laughed, shaking her head. “Shinichi has no tact. He told me he wanted to introduce me to someone important, we met at Poirot for coffee, and Shinichi said, ‘Ran, this is Kuroba Kaito—my boyfriend.’” Saguru’s eyes widened until they resembled tea saucers. “Surely you’re joking.” Ran grimaced. “I only wish I were. Things would have gone so much better between us if Shinichi had put a little more thought into things. He could have at least told Kaito what he was going to say. The poor guy thought he was going to meet the real girlfriend and be introduced as a friend of Shinichi’s. Kaito didn’t even know that Shinichi considered the two of them as dating, let alone as dating seriously.” Her expression darkened into a look of profound regret. “I didn’t handle things very well, and I think my initial reaction is still causing problems between the three of us.” “How so?” Saguru prodded gently, aware that it might be a touchy subject. Ran looked Saguru in the eye, guilt clearly inscribed on every line of her face. “I was horrible to Kaito. I treated him like a boyfriend-stealing slut for the first three months at least. I’m so ashamed to admit it, but…I was honestly horrible.” “But it wasn’t your fault,” Saguru rushed to make excuses for her. Ran had proven what she was made of, what kind of person she was many times over in the cases he had heard about. Saguru knew she was a selfless, loyal, loving human being. “I’m sure you were angry and hurt,” he insisted. “From what I understand, you and Kudo-kun had been engaged to be engaged practically from the time you were in diapers. In your mind, Kuroba had stolen the man that was practically your husband from you. It’s Kudo-kun’s fault for not managing the manner more carefully. I’m sure no one could blame you for reacting badly when—” “—I blame me,” Ran whispered, but there was an odd hint of tranquility in her voice, like she was at peace with what had happened. “Even if Kaito had stolen Shinichi, I should have accepted it gracefully, tried to understand why things had happened that way and then tried to win Shinichi back fair and square instead of slinging mud at Kaito. I’m ashamed of the way I reacted, especially since learning that Kaito never intended to take Shinichi from me in the first place. I mean, you heard him earlier, how he goes on like Shinichi and I are a couple and he’s just the mistress.” Saguru shifted uneasily. It was hard, hearing how the rival he respected had fallen apart while Saguru did nothing to help, not even aware of the issue. Sorrow, pity, and regret made themselves at home on Ran’s face once more as she continued, “I know he still just wants to slink away and leave Shinichi and me to our ‘fairytale romance’. He thinks he’s in the way, and he doesn’t believe Shinichi loves him every bit as much as he loves me. It’s horrible to watch him struggle with all that self-doubt and low self-esteem after marveling at his boundless confidence and talent as Kid all those years in high school.” Saguru nodded in agreement, the guilt over never noticing corroding his insides. “Kaito doesn’t feel like a real part of our family,” Ran sighed. “That’s why I sincerely do hope that my baby is his. That way, maybe he’ll finally feel like he belongs. I just want him to realize how much he means to us…realize how deeply he’s loved.” Just then, Kaito finished his inspection of their cell and hopped down, landing in a cat-like crouch. He straightened up with a sigh and walked over towards them, rifling one hand through his hair in frustration. He paused, observing the unusual atmosphere between Hakuba and Ran, and raised an eyebrow. “What’s up, guys?” Ran shook her head and smiled like she had a secret. “Nothing. We were just chatting, catching up. It’s been such a long time since we’ve seen one another. But how did your investigation go? Any luck?” Kaito eyed Ran warily. He’d known her long and well enough to be able to detect when she was scheming, but he chose not to comment at that point and instead presented the fruits of his labors. “Well, with the tools we have on hand, things don’t look so good,” he glumly admitted. “If I had some ice, some kind of powder like blush or the stuff they use for fingerprint dusting, a latex glove, and something that emitted an electric current, then I could maybe make it work, but…” Kaito shrugged. Saguru frowned. “Are you quite serious?” The list of items necessary for obtaining their freedom seemed ridiculous and random to Saguru, but it was just ridiculous and random enough to be genuine, knowing Kuroba. Kaito shrugged. “I was MacGyver in another life.” “Isn’t he impressive?” Ran prompted, as proud of Kaito as if she had been his own mother. “Perhaps…if he weren’t a miscreant,” Saguru conceded. Kaito rolled his eyes. Ran pursed her lips. “Hakuba-kun will change his mind once he knows better. It’s your own fault for not explaining yourself properly, Kaito. He has no choice but to think of you as a criminal with the facts he’s been given.” Kaito gave a sullen grumble, shrugged, and then got over it, returning his focus to the task at hand. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter. Everyone turn out your pockets.” They all did so and then scrutinized the objects intently, stretching their brains, trying to think of ways to improvise ice, powder, a latex glove, and an electric current out of their hodgepodge assortment. The three were so absorbed in the exercise that they failed to notice as a presence crept up upon them from the shadows. They didn’t see the woman sneaking up to their cell until she snickered, “My, my. Are the little doves trying to escape from their birdcage?”
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neonquincy1217
God
Note to self: Be kind to yourself. Be patient. Embrace the random. Life is not instant noodles. :))
Posts: 1,339
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Post by neonquincy1217 on Jul 2, 2016 1:49:35 GMT
"Kyara"? What's a "kyara"? ^.^; Oh! Oh, I meant character. OMG I said that? xD ROFL, sorry. Must be too tired to the point that fingers typed what mind was thinking without proofreading the thing (^_^;)v
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