Case Closed Fan Fiction / Love Hina Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Lady ❯ Chapter 2

01 - The Replacement

 

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“Good evening, this is Miyoko Chie, for Tokyo News. Top of the story tonight is Detective Heiji, who had just transferred from Osaka city was promoted as lead detective for the police department. This afternoon, the Chief of police called a press conference as they discussed their plans for fighting the rising crime rate of the city.”

 

The view changed, from the news studio, towards the front of the police department, with the Chief of police standing in front of a microphone, and speaking inaudibly.

 

“Detective Heiji is a welcoming addition to our team,” the Chief stated. “He is a high caliber detective, well known in the Kansai region, and arguably on the same level as Detective Kudo, who has, unfortunately, left the department.”

 

“Does Detective Kudo know about her replacement?” a reporter asked.

 

“I have called her about this, and she easily recommended Detective Heiji.”

 

The view changed once more, as the Chief was replaced by Heiji on the stand, speaking.

 

“Actually, I haven't talked to Kudo-san at all since her injury two years ago. The whole situation is a tragedy, and her services for the Police Department were, as most of my colleagues agree, irreplaceable, but she agrees that crime does not rest. We have to keep working, and work hard to gain back peace in this city.”

 

“Do you have any plans you wish to share with our viewers as you take on your job as lead detective for the police department?” a reporter asked.

 

“While I cannot divulge specifics, I have been cleared to say this: my job is to bring down the crime rate which has risen since the rise of this psychotic criminal known as the Joker. While he has yet to appear, he left in his wake the means and opportunity for crime syndicate to rise up to a point where this once great city has been suffering because of it. As I take this job, I have established, with the permission with the Chief, of course, a unit that is specialized for heinous crimes, and those linked to the syndicates. Our job is to maintain peace, and eradicate crime as my predecessor did.”

 

“How about this `shadow woman' who had appeared in the past few weeks who had been terrorizing criminals?” another reporter asked. “How will you deal with her?”

 

“Personal opinions aside, I am, above all, an officer of the law. Whoever this shadow woman is, she is breaking that very law we as citizens are supposed to uphold. If we ever encounter her, we will do what that very law demands us to do.”

 

Then, the studio reappeared, while the picture of Heiji as he was talking minimized into a small screen on the announcer's left, muted.

 

“Brave words. And hopefully, he would live up to them. While many people feel that the police are wrong about their plans concerning this mysterious figure… most feel that after two years of increasing crimes, the police have someone competent to-”

 

Kudo growled, and turned off her TV. Behind her, Miyano Shiho had a small smile on her face, and moved towards the couch beside Kudo and sat down. Her smile never left its place, earning her a glare from her care.

 

“What's funny?” Kudo asked.

 

“Well, it seems you got annoyed, rather, towards the end,” Miyano replied easily.

 

“Heiji speaks too much,” Kudo muttered, lowering her volume. “I didn't know he'd grow up to be such a media-hog.”

 

“Well, I'm sure Heiji-kun would love to hear your opinion about it when he comes over,” the blonde woman reminded, standing up again.

 

Kudo could only nod, and relaxed slightly on her couch.

 

The living room was large, and considering the history of this house, it was expected to be so. This mansion was one of the few properties that the Black Organization had owned and used as a headquarters before his father, with the full backing of the police, FBI and CIA stormed into the organization and their branches with an effective blitz. This was also her father's care, who fascinated by anything remotely mysterious, moved in here, even after marriage, just to explore this house's secrets, which it held, plentifully.

 

Kudo also had a few memories here. This was where she and Heiji explored when they were younger, and it was around this area, rich in rock caves, where she had fallen into a chasm, and had been attacked by bats.

 

The doorbell rang. Kudo automatically grabbed her cane, and slowly pushed herself up. Her left leg for a moment tinged with fire, but when the pressure was off the pain lifted, and she could drag herself to the front door.

 

“Hey, Ayumi-chan!” Heiji's greeting came in, as his face, much more relaxed than it had been on the news earlier, smiled as he entered. His eyes behind his glasses moved slightly towards her leg, and his lips almost frowned, but he kept himself.

 

Heiji Kei looked like he never aged. His light brown face was still smooth, though now slowly developing sharp lines across his cheek. His face matched his black hair, which was obviously combed, but now disheveled by the elements with his bangs coming down towards his square-rimmed glasses.

 

“Kudo-san,” the Chief of police walked in after Heiji, and greeted her with a nod.

 

“Welcome,” Kudo stated neutrally towards them. She looked towards Heiji and frowned. “And don't call me that.”

 

“Ah, don't be mean,” the young man stated. His eyes suddenly spotted Miyano, and smiled. “Hey, auntie Ai!”

 

“Don't you call me that,” Miyano growled.

 

“You two been hanging with each other too long,” Heiji smiled. “So… we late for dinner?”

 

Supper was uneventful. The food was served in the large dining table, with Miyano and Heiji, who volunteered, placed the plates and the dishes, where the Chief and the injured Kudo waited in silence. Done with the task, the four ate in relative silence until Heiji started some small talk that got the Chief and Miyano in. He had tried a few times to invite Kudo in the mix, but she'd wave it out, and just listen to them intently.

 

“Meh, Auntie Ai, you cook next time,” Heiji suddenly interjected after getting another bowl of rice. “All this take-out is expensive.”

 

“Hospital bills are more expensive,” Kudo replied neutrally, surprising the other three on the table. “If Miyano can cook anything edible, I'd eat my cane.”

 

“Hey!” the older blonde woman complained, only to be drowned in Heiji's guffaws and the Chief's chuckle. “You two stop laughing!”

 

It was over an hour when all the leftovers were properly placed in plastic boxes, stored in the fridge to be eaten for another day, and the dishes washed and dried did the mood go serious again. Back to the large living room, Kudo finally sat down on her comfortable couch, and in front of her were the Chief and Heiji, sitting on their own couches, placing folders on the table between them.

 

“Hmph… are you sure you want to discuss your job here instead of your new unit?” Kudo muttered, grabbing one of the folders.

 

“I'd rather go first with you and the chief before I do anything else with the other officers in the unit,” Heiji replied rather seriously as he grabbed another folder. “Besides… there are some questions only you can answer.”

 

“Like what?” Kudo asked, not even looking at the man as he spoke, flipping through the pages in the file.

 

“About this Joker guy…”

 

Heiji felt Kudo's eyes suddenly glaring at him in an instant, and he nervously chuckled.

 

“I have to ask, you know,” he muttered in his defense.

 

“I already put a nice long file about him before I left my position,” the woman growled. “I'm pretty sure you read it more than once. If not, do so again. I'm washing my hands off that monster.”

 

“Look, sorry, Ayumi-chan, but I had to ask. You are the only one who almost caught this guy, yet your file, forgive me for saying, is very lacking. You're probably the most experienced one in dealing with him, and I need all the help and insight I need if he will appear again. ”

 

“It's been two years. There has been no whisper, no peep about him since his disappearance,” Kudo stated, her voice growing colder. Her eyes were back again on the file.

 

“It doesn't mean he's gone, you know,” Heiji countered. “I'm sure someone knows something… criminal circles, Yakuza, street thugs-”

 

“Whatever they have to say about the Joker would most likely be a lie,” Kudo cut him off.

 

“And why would you say that?”

 

“Because the Joker is a showman. He loves to be the center of attention. If he hasn't been showing himself around, he must be waiting for something, or moved somewhere else, or hope to the gods… dead. Cold dead,” the woman muttered. “I doubt he's dead though. Just pray… really, really hard… that he won't show himself.”

 

“He must have left a large impression,” Heiji noted.

 

“He single handedly ruined my father's, and my work in just a year,” Kudo frowned, staring at the file she had been reading more thoroughly. “His legacy continues even now, at his absence.” She paused. “What the hell is this?”

 

“What?” Heiji looked up, checking what his childhood friend was checking.

 

“This…” and without a pause, Kudo threw the file she had been reading towards the table to a certain page, which had names of officers in alphabetical order.

 

“Uh… name of the officers I had picked up for as my team for the Major Crime Unit,” Heiji replied easily, albeit a bit confused. “Why?”

 

“Redo it,” the woman replied, pointing at five different names.

 

“Uh… no,” Heiji stated.

 

“I'm not playing, Heiji,” Kudo muttered more seriously. “Redo your team.”

 

“Look, Kudo, I don't know if you're being bitter-”

 

“Bitter?” the woman fumed somewhat, looking at the other man carefully.

 

“Well, how can you explain this jerk-knee reaction to it? You're either bitter or jealous-”

 

“Now it's jealous?” Kudo growled. “Get your head out of your ass, Heiji. I may not like your little media stunt in the TV earlier-”

 

“That media stunt was something that the public needed… some assurance since they were still waiting for you to recover,” Heiji cut her evenly. “You're not a media-person, you didn't even do any interviews at all when the whole Joker-outbreak went on. Hell, you didn't even form a specialized unit. You love working alone. If the department didn't even order you to work with that fake psychiatrist, you wouldn't have. Look, I'm sorry your life turned shitty but come on, Kudo. Don't take that out on me.”

 

“I'm not,” the woman sighed. “Yeah, I don't like how you work… too different from my approach, and I also don't like the fact that you just started here and you already have your own unit, but honestly, I do not mind. What I do mind is the fact half of your team has been investigated by the IA.”

 

“I'm not like you, Ayumi-chan…” Heiji sighed as well, relaxing. “I don't get bonus points for being an idealist. I work with what I get. The department doesn't trust me, or have been too laden with fear. As days pass, it's more influenced with the Yakuza. I need something to fight back.”

 

The tension slowly lifted from the room. The Chief was sitting there, watching, somewhat fascinated like watching two forces pushing at each other. They may not have noticed, but they were almost at the verge of standing, leaning at the very edges of their seat. It was a rather entertaining sight for him.

 

“Do you trust these officers?” Kudo whispered, visibly relaxed now.

 

“I don't know. I never worked with them before.”

 

“Don't drop your guard around them,” Kudo muttered. “Your team. Your funeral.”

 

“Don't be so pessimistic,” Heiji frowned.

 

“Alright… but you mess up, I won't let you live it down,” Kudo smirked. “So, is there anything else?”

 

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Kudo sighed. Heiji had left earlier, as he was now about to start the big job. Discussing his plans with her, she knew that Heiji needed help. She didn't trust the officers on his team, and while she couldn't do anything about it, she could perhaps lower the chance of Heiji being tripped up somewhere. And then there's his overall plan with dealing with the Yakuza…

 

“This needs a lot of work,” Kudo stated towards the lone male sitting in the couch across from her. The Chief of police had stayed in, mostly quiet during the conversations, giving some input when it was necessary.

 

“Can't blame him… he just started his work here, is an official part of the police force, and has to abide with regulations,” the Chief stared at Kudo. “Unlike you.”

 

“You disapprove?” Kudo shot back.

 

“Miyano-san keeps me informed, and I share her worries,” the Chief stated neutrally. “I'd rather have you back at the force.”

 

“Officially, my leg is a wreck.”

 

“As long as your brain works,” the Chief stated.

 

“At least I know one man who wants me for my brains,” Kudo rolled her eyes. “It feels just as bad as having a man only wanting you for your body.”

 

“I'm sure Heiji respects both aspects…”

 

Kudo's glare went directly towards the Chief who just chuckled.

 

“So… you telling him?” the man asked.

 

“No. This is between us,” Kudo sighed. “Plus, I don't want to involve him… at least, not emotionally. Who knows how he'll react if he knew.”

 

“He'd understand, most probably…”

 

“Yeah, right,” Kudo chuckled. “Or arrest me. I'd have done the same if I met the old me.”

 

“True… but…”

 

“Yeah…”

 

Both thought of the same thing. The bleach-skinned man who laughed, having caused chaos two years ago… the man who was responsible for countless of deaths, even though his apparent target was three young women, all so he can erase his history as the man before he had become known as the Joker.

 

He had changed things. Forever.

 

Sighing, the Chief looked towards Kudo, who smiled back weakly. The air turned somewhat somber around them.

 

“Anyway,” the Chief finally broke the silence. “What did you mean by not wanting to at least involve him emotionally?”

 

“Oh… you caught that eh?” Kudo smiled.

 

The Chief chuckled. “I wouldn't have been in my position just by kissing ass, Kudo. You're better at me when I was at my prime, but don't think of me as an idiot.”

 

“I didn't,” Kudo chuckled. “And I'm sorry if I may have implied that.” She paused, going somewhat serious. “You're right though. I won't tell him who I am… but frankly, I'm a bit disappointed at how small his plan to eradicate the Yakuza is.”

 

“I'm pretty sure he's going to build around his current plan.”

 

“True, but there's a way to speed things up a bit,” Kudo stated seriously. She looked at the Chief. “I will help speed up things.”

 

The Chief looked at her seriously as well. “You're playing with fire now. I thought you only had one purpose?”

 

“Right now, having Heiji troubling the Yakuza is part of that purpose,” Kudo muttered slowly. “As a bonus, we can fix this city as it was before.”

 

“The police force won't work with vigilantes.”

 

“I'm not working for the police. I'm only offering my help to a police officer,” Kudo stated evenly.

 

“Well, you have to get him to trust you then,” the Chief muttered. “I can't get involved. Heiji's not stupid either…”

 

“I know,” the woman nodded. “I'll take care of it.”

 

The Chief sighed, and relaxed again, leaning back on the couch. Looking at his watch, he realized how late it was. He rubbed his chin, and stood up, looking thoughtful.

 

“Isn't it about time you went to work?” he asked.

 

“Yes…” Kudo slowly stood up, putting most of her weight with her uninjured leg and her hand holding her cane, balancing herself. “I can trust you to know your way out?”

 

“Yeah…” and he paused. “Kudo… after you find him… are you really going to-”

 

“Kill him?” Kudo huffed. “Yes. Why do you keep asking?”

 

“After you kill him, what then?” the chief asked.

 

Kudo looked at the Chief, somewhat blankly. There was no after, just her purpose. She couldn't distract herself with such a question until the situation comes to her, and for that to happen, she has to know that he was dead. By her hand preferably.

 

“Ask me again when the time comes,” Kudo answered, turning around, and leaving the Chief looking at her back.

 

He sighed. There was little he could do to convince her. Obsession has been in her eyes since she had returned from the hospital two years ago. The fearful raging inferno on those reflective surfaces had scared him, and the worst was that he knew he couldn't do or say anything that would change her mind.

 

At least she trusted him enough to tell her what she had in mind although it may have helped that she knew that he wouldn't given her up to anyone else. He could have, but the price might be too high and there was still a chance, a slight chance, yet still a chance that she can regain herself, and he was banking on it.

 

Kudo could hear the Chief's steps a few moments after she had left the living room area, with Miyano at her side, handing her a syringe. Without a second thought, she injected herself on her injured leg, and as always, immediately felt her limb regaining vigor and the small fire of pain fading. Seconds later, she handed her cane back to the blonde woman, and nodded.

 

“I hope you can recover yourself, you know,” a male voice called from behind her. It was the Chief. “Vengeance is not the answer. You should know.”

 

“It's the only answer I have,” Kudo replied, without looking back.

 

The Chief nodded, and led himself to the front door. When he was out, Kudo finally continued on her way towards the grandfather clock.

 

“Time for work, eh?” Miyano whispered.

 

“Yes…” Kudo stated as she unlocked the glass door open, revealing the opening. “Time for work.”

 

To Be Continued

 

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Author's Notes:

 

This chapter came easier than the last one, but still took some time. I'm a bit glad my writing aspect is slowly shaking out its rust, and I find myself somewhat satisfied with this chapter. Anyways, enjoy this one guys. Later.