It's the weekend. Kuro's walking to his house. Yes, his house. The house that once kept that broken family inside which he's left in alone. Still on very little rest from working all night on his laptop, his eye bags are as dark as ever and on the walk to the house, intrusive thoughts arise
Kuro: "How did it become like this...? Nin got Shiko roped in so much. He almost slipped up. I helped cover it up as always. The people that lost their lives... Sure they weren't all good but I helped their deaths disappear... dirty work.. so much dirty work..."
Coming onto the area he lives in, the street is quite quiet and Kuro looks to be the only one walking. He hears a crack, much like someone stepping on a twig and immediately looks back. Nobody is seen. He turns back towards where he was walking and takes a deep breath. He doesn't have much an expression but he looks alert and somewhat bothered.
"I'm not. Paranoid."
He continues to walk. A little bit later he hears a snap, a bit like someone taking a photo. Again, he immediately looks back. Of course, there isn't anybody. His face twitches a little, annoyed, he yells out
Whoever is out there, come out NOW. He looks around while not moving from where he is. Nothing. Not a sound. Not a single person in sight. He turns back again and after a few steps, turns around and rushes to a guy closing the distance on him. He quickly lays him against a car face first and holds his arm behind his back
Guy: OW OW OW OW OW! Time out! TIME! OUT! He taps the car with his full hand a couple of times
Kuro: WHO are you and WHY are you following me?. He says loudly yet holding his voice back a bit to not get it echoing in the street and cause a scene to neighbors
Guy: CAN YOU- Relax a bit kid? I'll talk! I don't get paid enough for this, let alone from THAT woman!- he says, also holding his voice back. After a few seconds of thinking, Kuro pushes the guy on the car once to intimidate him and lets go. The guy stretches his arms and shakes his body a bit to collect himself
Kuro: Now, Speak. He says seriously, looking impatiently annoyed. The guy sighs and gives Kuro his card. Kuro takes it, confused. The guy fixes up his glasses
Guy: Name's Takato Shinichi. Age 27. Investigator. He glances around and gets all quiet Normally I shouldn't be telling you classified information... he tells Kuro to come close with his hand. Kuro shakes his head no and raises his eyebrows once, telling the guy to just speak already. Takato rolls his eyes and stands up straight. He sighs
I've been sent by your mother to check up on your life. All I know so far is what school you go to and that you earn your own money one way or another. Your name, age and that kind of info were given to me beforehand anyway... Kuro crosses his arms and tilts his head, raising his eyebrows
Kuro: You look cheap. And what the hell does that woman even want with me anyway? He looks at the guy up and down. Takato grumpily crosses his arms too
Takato: Ya know man, kids like you really suck the fun out of everything. He opens his arms and shows himself. He's wearing a beige long coat and a long sleeved gray shirt inside. Pants are black and look cheep, his glasses frames don't look so great either And you think your mother would be able to pay for anyone higher priced than me? Kuro shakes his head to one side as if saying *fair point* And plus! I wouldn't say I'm cheap- he looks away a bit I'm economical... Kuro rubs both the sides of his head with one hand, trying to calm his headache
Kuro: Yea okay, great excuse... You didn't answer my question though. What does she want with me? He lets go of his head I haven't heard from her in 2 years if you'd even call those days "hearing from her" when she lived under the same roof as me. Takato looks at him with an expression that just feels like he's thinking *yikes*
Takato: Well- Sheeee- is your mother!! He nods One way or another, she should be checking on you at some point- You're only in highschool! She- Kuro interrupts him
Kuro: If, she honestly cares- and I doubt that; She'll have to come see me herself and tell me whatever she has to say. "Checking on me" doesn't happen with a cheap investigator sent my way. As Takato is about to speak, Kuro interrupts him
And I've been living in my own personal hell these past few days so if I see you again near me, you'll be sorry. Takato smirks like a know it all and takes a step close to him
Takato: Is that a threat? Kurosaki Kaito-San? Kuro turns Takato around, hold the back of his arm behind him and bends him over in seconds. He sighs
OW OW OW OW! OKAY- Just- LET GO! Kuro lets go of him, Takato shakes himself up again Geeeeez kid- Kuro looks serious
Kuro: Considering the fact that I had to learn how to stand on my own 2 feet before becoming an adult, I had to learn how to protect myself. You are violating my privacy. That's all. No threats. His phone rings. He looks at it only to see its Tsubasa. After a bit of letting it ring, he puts the phone on silent and back in his pocket. Takato raises his eyebrow
Takato: Aren't you going to answer that? he smirks slightly. Kuro sighs
Kuro: That's none of your business. And speaking of "your business", you're done here. He turns around and continues walking
Takato: So you just expect me to leave now?- he says behind Kuro, Kuro doesn't turn around as he replies
Kuro: Yes. Tell that woman what I said, THAT's your job now. Or I'm going to report you. He raises his hand and waves at Takato while still walking away. Takato sighs, turns around and leaves. Kuro stops in place and looks back to check that he's gone. After confirming, he gets behind a car and takes out his phone. He calls Tsubasa
..... ...... ......
Tsubasa: "About time"
Kuro: Sorry. What is it? A few seconds pass in silence. Kuro's voice gets a bit more serious Tsubasa, did something happen?. Tsubasa sighs
Tsubasa: Nothing "important". Just- ... Yamada killed himself. Kuro freezes. Takes a moment and also sighs
Kuro: Are you sure it was suicide?.
Tsubasa: "Yes. I double checked. It wasn't Nin. He damaged Yamada's vocal cords and broke his fingers last night so he couldn't tell anyone even if he wanted to." Kuro takes a deep breath and looks a bit down
Kuro: "Ugh... That bastard."
Tsubasa: "Yamada, went to his school today, only to go to the rooftop, leave his shoes behind and jump. He was found just an hour or so ago. It's recorded as suicide as well. I have people working inside so the damaged vocal cords and broken fingers won't be be traced to us. Our case is closed." Kuro doesn't reply for a bit before-
Kuro: He broke him. But in the end, the deed was "not done by him". I did tell him to not kill the guy... he lets out a long, long sigh Good work Tsu... he looks around to make sure nobody is around
Tsubasa: "Thanks. And you know Nin is a bit different from the rest of us. Focus on now, we aren't at risk anymore." Kuro nods to himself. He falls expressionless again
Kuro: Yeah. Thanks for telling me. I've got to go now. Tsubasa hums a *got it* and they close the phone. Soon, Kuro arrives in front of his house and gets in. He locks the door, falls silent for a bit and puts his bag on the ground at the entrance. He sighs I'm... he turns to the corridor and sighs again home......
Of course there is no reply. Not a sound. No smell of food as he comes home. No light which you can see from the entrance. Kuro walks in while leaving his stuff there, immediately goes to his room and flops onto bed. Too tired and undernourished to move. He slowly feels himself slipping and ends up half asleep. With the sound of a few knocks, his eyes open wide where he's laying. He checks his phone which was in his pocket to see a few hours have indeed passed without him even feeling the rest sink in. Still tired, he gets up and sighs. He heads to the door and almost falls over on the way. He holds the wall to support himself, face emotionless and just trying to stay up. He checks from the peephole but doesn't see anyone
"Could I have... imagined a knock..? Am I... actually parano-" he hears a knock again and immediately opens the door this time. It's a woman with long bangs, shorter than him, he knows immediately who that is. Though she looks a bit different; It's indeed his mom, looking down and avoiding eye contact with him. He stays expressionless
Kuro's Mom: H-Hey... Kurosaki... her voice is quite timid how... have you been? she hesitantly looks up into Kuro's eyes but after seeing a harsh glare, she looks back down again
Kuro: What are you doing here? Akane. The woman catches her breathing and slowly looks back up again
Akane: W-Why would you... refer to me with my name...? I'm your... she averts her eyes I'm your mother... her voice is still sort of quiet, Kuro sighs
Kuro: So. You do know you're my mother. Akane doesn't reply and looks further down. Kuro scratches the back of his head Fine... come in and speak. he pushes the door open a bit more. Akane nods while looking down and bows a few times to thank him as she enters the house. Kuro closes the door, locks it and brings his mom to an area where they can sit and talk. Akane sits and looks down as Kuro goes to the open kitchen area which you can see from the living room. It's dead silent for a while
Akane: S-So..... what have you been up to..? My son..... she asks hesitantly and lowers her volume a little more. Kuro starts pouring some tea. He glances at his mother, looking bothered
Kuro: Didn't your little investigator friend tell you that much? He comes in the living room and puts the tea in front of his mom. She bows a few times to thank him from where she's sitting. He glares at her and about that by the way- he stands up straight. Akane hesitantly looks at him What the fuck?. She averts her eyes
Akane: I'm... sorry... she says very timidly I.... didn't know how to approach you...... she gets a bit teary I'm sorry.... I wanna make up for it, I know you've made a life for yourself... but if you could let me back in- I.... Kuro sits down and cuts in
Kuro: Make up for it; you mean for when you abandoned me. Right? Or, could you mean those years you didn't make a sound while seeing how dad treated me? Akane gets a bit teary and hesitantly cuts in
Akane: Y-You know how he treated me!- she says a bit louder before falling hesitant again I was...... afraid.... I panicked when he died and... I finally felt free for a single moment. She looks down So I left.... Kuro rubs the side of his head and speaks a bit louder himself
Kuro: You abandoned me. You didn't have to leave me behind. Or leave at all after HE was gone. His voice settles down You're right. Akane looks back up at Kuro, expecting he'd at least be tearing up a bit but she holds her breath after seeing he is expressionless I did make a life for myself. And I'm proud of what I've achieved. Who I've become.... A few seconds pass in silence Can you say the same for yourself?. Now that you're back for this one day. Akane slowly takes a sip of the tea Kuro made and lets out a breather. She looks back at Kuro after setting the tea back down at the table
Akane: That's... what I wanted to talk about... I... I wanna come back to you. Kuro lifts an eyebrow, feeling this couldn't be true
I want us to be a family again... even if you'll mostly be at school or- working whatever way you do for our... she reaches and puts her hand on Kuro's I have... some debts to pay... Kuro sighs and averts his eyes If... you can help me repay then, please... we can be a family... Kuro pulls his hand away and gets up from where he's sitting. He starts walking back and forth in the room, his face twitches a few times
Kuro: I'm.... failing to understand WHY you'd think we were EVER a family. We NEVER were..... you should know that!- I-.... His voice goes up and down and he speaks with a lot of hand movements. Akane's tears flow as she hesitantly gets up
Akane: Softcake...... I'm begging you... if you help your mother out, just a bit and pay off all my debts- I promise it'll all be better.... I'm begging you... she raises her voice slightly and her voice shakes Y-You can hit me if it will make you feel better! If... If it'll help make up for leaving you- she gets close, Kuro pushes her away lightly and yells
Kuro: STOP. It's like his voice echoes in the room. They both fall silent a bit. After that, Kuro takes a deep breath and turns to Akane. His voice shakes Of course I'm not going to hit you..... I'm... NEVER going to become my father. He takes a step towards his mother I'm an adult now. If what you want is to use me for my money that I've earned with my own blood sweat and tears, and manipulate me with your words I- ... he takes a moment in silence Then I'll take legal action to keep you away... he raises both his arms and slowly slaps them down I'm done. Akane slowly looks down. She quickly wipes her tears away, bows a few times and takes her bag
Akane: I.... She takes a shaking deep breath I'm sorry... softcake.... I- Kuro interrupts her
Kuro: DON'T- call me that. A few seconds pass in silence again. Akane bows once to Kuro
Akane: Goodbye Kurosaki..... thank you for the tea.... She turns away and quickly leaves. As the door closes, Kuro is left alone in the house.
It's silent again. Kuro stands where he is for a minute or two, frozen. Feeling empty and partially defeated. He takes a shaking deep breath and starts tidying up. He sighs
Kuro: "Of course she would only try to return for money... to use me... I....... I hate this... maybe I really am losing my perception....... For a second I really thoughtâ" he loses his train of thoughts, feels his vision getting blurry and back to normal as he slowly stumbles to his room again. He messages Haru
"Bring me my pillbox under my bed in the morning to this address."
He sends his home address
"My spare key is in the purple pill box"
He takes a moment to think, Haru sees the messages then
"Make sure you aren't followed on the way."
Haru sees the message again. Kuro sits on his bed and takes a deep breath
"I'm not being paranoid. I swear."
Haru is typing...
Haru: "Bro-"
"Ya good?-"
Kuro's eye twitches a bit. He quickly replies. His vision gets a bit blurry and back to normal again
Kuro: "Yes. Just do what I said and don't tell anyone."
He puts his phone aside and lays down. Slowly, he falls back unconscious. Seconds... Minutes.... Hours pass and still "sleep" feels just like an unconscious emptiness
Time Just passes until Kuro hesitantly opens his eyes again in the morning. He checks the time From bis Phone. It's 10AM and his phone's battery is almost dead. His charger in his bag which he left by the door. He slowly sits up straight and gets up. He holds the wall to support himself and notices something unfamiliar in the house. It smells like food. His eyes widen and he steps into the living room only to see... Shiko in the kitchen, making an English breakfast. A plate is set on the table aside the open area connecting the two rooms and the second plate is on the way. Shiko looks at Kuro's shocked expression and nervously smiles
Shiko: M-Morning- ahaha... Kuro lets out a short breath and small smile of disbelief. He leans on the wall, facepalms, lets out a few breathers and sighs
Kuro: Heh....... he- he slowly looks up at Shiko He told someone...
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