#chasing the truth

His head was throbbing from the earlier hit he took. One moment, he was walking down the streets, heading back to the office after a late night snack run when he heard and felt, a loud ｔｈｕｎｋ！on the back of his head. Next thing he knew, he was staring dizzily up at the night sky, people walking past his body with no care in the world.

Stay classy, Kamurocho, Yagami thought. What the hell had that been? The Keihin gang ready to throw hands again? Goons from the Matsugane family that Hamura sent after him? At this point, he didn’t really care. He was content with just laying down there before something or someone decided to hoist him up like he was nothing but a rag doll.

Yagami considered Genda Law Office to be one of his homes. It was one of the places he actually felt accepted and safe in when he came to Kamurocho. It was a place that he could go to just to talk with Genda-sensei about whatever was troubling him, or Shintani whenever he wanted to mess with someone other than Kaito-san. Now Hoshino was part of the group, and Yagami couldn’t help but feel slightly awkward when he was around him, just because it seemed like Hoshino looked up to him like some sort of role model.

But the one person that always remained a mystery, was Saori-san. He knew from Mafuyu that she and Saori were good friends back when they were younger, and still were to this day. He remembered them talking and most likely gossiping about who knows what when he was still just starting out at the law office. Yagami always wondered if he was ever brought up in their conversations.

Stepping in the elevator, he looked down at the bag of “exclusive” sweets that he managed to snag for Saori. I hope Tsukomo was right about these things, they were a pain to get. Yagami sighed, gripping the bag’s handle tighter. Maybe this was finally the gift that would get Saori to open up more to him. He always felt like they had some sort of sibling bond, even if they weren’t blood related. He had always wanted a sibling when he was younger. Probably would have made everything that happened at least a little bit easier, Yagami thought with a scowl.

The elevator made its usual ｐｉｎｇ when opening, alerting Yagami he was there. He took in a breath and stepped out, opening the door to the office and immediately spotting Saori in her usual spot at her desk. She had her usual stoic expression as she typed away on her laptop, most likely writing emails or another case file for Genda-sensei. He looked around the office and was surprised to see neither Hoshino or Genda-sensei around. On break maybe? Either way, it was the perfect opportunity for Yagami to slide the sweets to Saori.

Did he just have to be so unpleasant? People like him, though honest to a fault, were so hard to understand. At least, when it came to trying to read them, it all got surprisingly hard. Maybe, being so clear blinded his eyesight. He let out a soft groan, showing a fleeting grimace before crossing his own fingers against themselves.

“Cats, huh? Yeah, seems like they could keep Ayabe busy. Those are good news.” Kuroiwa commented, that was the plan, if he really had sent cats towards the station. But, assuming Yagami was just being… Yagami, he probably was just making fun of him. He had to just count to ten, mentally… No need to get angered so quickly.

He cursed Yagami’s innate ability to just make his head explode, but he’d keep a neutral expression outside. He couldn’t even find the strength to tell him that searching for cats hardly counted as a case, he probably knew that, anyway. Kuroiwa eyed the bartender as he served another one and then turned his head to the other side.

“It’s actually not that bad a place.” he whispered to himself. A bit cramped, sure, but places like that were quite nice, for some reason. Maybe it reminded him of his office or something. He turned his head back at the drinker. “You’re practically everywhere, but you seem to frequent this place. Though not alone, if I recall. Is Kaito-san lost?”

The police station was an airless place. The smell of shoe shine and hair gel radiated off most of the staff there. He had only recalled a couple of people who actually gave him the time of day whenever he would drop by there when he still was a lawyer. Going there nowadays just felt like a deathwish. Livening up the place for Ayabe and Mafuyu with stray cats seemed like just the perfect plan. If only I wasn't just joking, he internally chuckled.

❝ What can I say, it’s got a good atmosphere. The drinks aren’t half bad either, ❞ he shot a small smirk at Masuda, receiving a simple shake of the head in response. Yagami would see the small smile on his face though. ❝ My detective, now you’re looking for Kaito-san too? Maybe you really did come here hoping to see us, ❞ he placed a hand mockingly on his chest, as if he were a fair maiden, ❝ I’m honestly touched. ❞

He tapped the side of his glass, his fingers getting wet from the condensation. ❝ I know you think we’re attached to the hip, but even he has his own things to do from time to time, ❞ he looked over at Kuroiwa, a glint in his eye, ❝ Unlike some people, I’m not monitoring my partners 24/7. ❞ 

@mewgagotoku​

He was in the middle of scrolling through report cases on his laptop at his desk when the door opened. The cigarette hanging from his lips dropped some ash, causing him to curse, brushing it off and depositing the thing into the ash tray in front of him.

Standing and walking over to the woman, he looked her over. She seemed rather shy, though he wouldn’t blame her considering she was most likely asking for help. He chuckled a bit at her thinking he was Kaito-san.

“Please don’t.” he would stop that stupid idea there. “They would probably make a big fuss out of it and congratulate you. Not to mention they’d take up precious time they could be using for work just to ask me all about ‘my rebellious phase’.” The accuracy of his words gave out the fact that something similar must’ve happened to him before with the higher ups. Honestly, he preferred for them to respect him and think that he only lived to work, not have them try and go out drinking or smoking on the rooftop. He didn’t have time for that.

Another scoff - this time with some smoke escaping him - and he was nodding slowly to those words. He was right… and it gave him a sense of relief to hear that. They weren’t friends because of this, not even close… right? Even strangers and acquaintances could share a smoke in a bar. Being the type of person he was, stuff like this came as unknown and, though peaceful, exciting but uncertain.

Careful fingers played with the cigarette and would probably stay that way, dark eyes watching the trail of smoke slide around and disappear. He wasn’t one to smoke much. Social smoking was as far as he went and, even then, he wouldn’t do it through to the end. Plus, at this very moment, his head was somewhere else, paying close attention to those last words he managed to hear in between his own random thoughts. He started making up theories as to what they meant.

“Similar interests? You mean, because we both smoke? Or am I missing some philosophical revelation you’ve discovered during this casual conversation?”

It was interesting to say the least to see Kuroiwa talking so much about things than nagging him or interrogating him. He wasn’t sure which side he liked more, though he guessed it was similar to choosing lesser of two evils. I’m not sure if this guy wants to kill me or not, he’s so hard to read sometimes, Yagami thought, exasperated. Didn’t seem like Kuroiwa liked people butting into his personal life that much, or even talking to him about things not related to work. A dedicated workaholic, or maybe just needs to get the stick outta his ass. Yagami chuckled under his breath at the thought.

❝ Kuroiwa being rebellious, sounds like they’d have a field day with that one, ❞ Yagami flicked the burning ashes of his cigarette into the ash tray between them, ❝ Not a fan of water cooler talk, huh? ❞ He liked to imagine what a younger, fresh faced Kuroiwa on the force would have looked like. Would he be those kinds of newbies that bent to their superiors’ every whim and acted like a lap dog? Or was he one of those who just grit their teeth and did whatever they were told, even though all they wanted was to just get by and not be looked down upon. Kuroiwa was certainly full of mysteries; mysteries Yagami didn’t know if he wanted to dig deeper into or not. 

He sighed out another long puff of smoke, shaking his head at Kuroiwa’s antics. Already getting antagonistic again, huh? Haven’t even finished my smoke yet, thought Yagami.

❝ What? We don’t share interests? I want to get to the bottom of these Kansai gang murders, don’t you? ❞ he pulled the now shortened cigarette from his mouth, putting it out in the ashtray probably a little harder than he meant to, ❝ I’m interested in finding the person responsible. The Mole. Aren’t you? Unless, we both have different end goals in mind. ❞

“I don’t.” he answered sincerely. Of course he didn’t. Why would he trust people like them? None took their job seriously and they were the personification of Kamurocho’s deadly ways. Let it grab hold of you and it’ll consume you. The den of monsters and traitors. Especially traitors. It made his thoughts cloud up whenever his mind wandered there. He didn’t need to remember. Closing his eyes for a second too long, he closed up the memories with it.

“Nothing bad with keeping him down the right road.” Even if he could take care of himself, he had the duty of making sure he actually did it. “Hopefully, he won’t do anything stupid, knowing that I’m watching over.”

Chuckling at the thought of such a possibility, he stopped the track of his thoughts to stare at the pack of smokes. His eyes traced the form of the package, as if he had never seen something like that before. Of course, this wasn’t true. He scoffed at the comment. Maybe Yagami knew he would’ve refused. Though small words like those shouldn’t bother him, he opted for accepting, grabbing one for himself.

“Even boy scouts smoke, Yagami. Exhibit A.” he replied with a slight smirk as he proceeded to grab his lighter out from one of his pockets. Placing his cigarette between his fingers, he offered lighting up Yagami’s before his own. “Should I take this offering as a form of truce? You don’t seem the type to cease throwing petty comments at the people you don’t really get along with, though…”

Too bad Ayabe already does stupid things behind your back even with you breathing down his neck, Yagami thought. A dark cloud came up over his head, thinking about what would happen if Ayabe got caught sneaking classified information. The cloud grew darker thinking if Kuroiwa found out he was the one Ayabe was feeding information too. As if their “relationship” wasn’t shaky enough as is. 

He watched with an interested gaze at Kuroiwa, who seemed to be having an internal mental debate whether or not to take a smoke. To be fair, Yagami himself didn’t know what caused him to make such a little “peace treaty.” Though, he pondered, might as well get on his good side as much as I can while I still have a chance. 

Yagami couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Kuroiwa’s try at being snarky. It was an interesting look for him to say the least.

❝ My my, how scandalous of you, Kuroiwa-san. Should I tell your higher ups about this? ❞ he teased. Though his snide attitude was quickly cut off as he watched with wide eyes as Kuroiwa reached over to light his cigarette, before doing the same to his own. He must have looked quite foolish, staring with his cigarette perched between his slightly part lips. 

He quickly regained his composure, silently hoping he didn’t look too much like a gaping fish. He took a long drag, blowing the smoke away from Kuroiwa’s general direction while also not hitting Masuda in the face who was watching the exchange. He made sure to send a small glare at the bartender, who only chuckled and continued to wipe down the glasses as he always did.