Love Hina Fan Fiction / Case Closed Fan Fiction ❯ The Ace of Knaves ❯ Chapter 2

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- Chapter 01: Narusegawa -

 

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Dr. Brea smiled disarmingly as Urashima Keitaro was brought in the Interrogation room. He seemed amiable, smiling back at her, his head leaning slightly to his left, his eyes studying her. The armed guards forced him down the seat, pushed him towards the table, and left the room, locking the doctor with the criminal in a straight jacket.

 

“Mr. Urashima…” Brea greeted, but before she could finish her sentence, the person in front of her made a slight annoyed sound, rubbing his lips together, his tongue licking his upper lip.

 

“No… Joker,” he stated calmly. He smiled again. “You're not Kudo.”

 

“No… Detective Kudo is busy…” Brea smiled slightly. “She caught you. She won't have anything to do with you anymore.”

 

“Liar,” he stated without hesitation. “She's behind that one way mirror. She wouldn't forget me… no one forgets the Joker. Especially her.”

 

“Do you like her?”

 

“Hmmm, a bit,” the Joker just slid down, relaxing at his chair. “She has spunk. She made me say uncle. And she caught me. I love that in a woman… but she's too serious…” and he laughed. “But…” he licked his lips, sitting up. “… who are you my lovely?”

 

“Doctor Brea,” she replied easily. “I was sent here to do a profile on you. Study you. Help the police catch you.”

 

The Joker seemed to smile, relaxing a bit. “Did you have fun?” he asked. “Put a… smile… on that face of yours?” he laughed. “Or are you as serious,” and his face made a sad, puppy frown, “like dear old Kudo?” and he laughed again.

 

Brea seemed to ignore the question and placed down a file.

 

“We know about you… about your accident. Aoyama spoke to us before you… got to her,” Brea paused.

 

The Joker just laughed. “Well, after dear old Foxy friend of hers got my little joke,” his face went slightly serious, “I bet she told you a lot of things.”

 

“But… it's not complete without you,” Brea stated. “I need your story Urashima…”

 

“Joker,” he corrected her again, this time, not losing his smile. “Do you… want to hear this story of mine?”

 

“Yes,” Brea nodded.

 

“One thing then,” Joker stated, his eyes diving towards hers, his head moving, bobbing towards the right, showing his cheeks, his lips as he smiled.

 

“What?” Brea asked.

 

“Say the magic word!” and he laughed. “After all… it's not assuring that doctors are rude nowadays!”

 

The woman looked towards the one-way mirror, her eyebrows raised slightly. Ayumi Kudo, behind the thick pane of glass looked seriously, her hands tightening to a fist.

 

“Please, then,” the doctor finally stated.

 

“Lovely,” he smiled. “It all started in August, right after my little tea party.”

 

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Narusegawa Naru sighed slightly as she exited the classroom. Her classmates were all talking around her, nothing really of interest, but more gossip. Professor Lee is hot, they heard one of the female teachers is having an affair with a female student, so on and so forth. It was like being in high school once again, except everything seemed more grown up, more escalated. Same old gossip… same old subjects, just different people.

 

“Hey Naru-chan!” one of her classmates called.

 

“Hey Kei,” she greeted back.

 

“Whatcha doing this week-end?”

 

“Oh… nothing,” Naru smiled.

 

“Liar! I heard from Metsuo! You're gonna have a date with that American guy you met in the internet!”

 

Naru frowned. “And how did he know that?”

 

“Computer `Haxor'? Please. He's still probably drooling over those pictures you've been sending to that internet boyfriend of yours,” Kei laughed slightly.

 

“He hasn't learned from the beating I gave him before?” Naru growled. “Haxor… more like computer geek with no life. Perverted asshole.”

 

Narusegawa Naru. Her name was rather well known across Tokyo University. She had beauty, smarts, and toughness. The last part was quite apparent to many too forward males who tried, mistakenly thought that she was as harmless as a puppy… she had sent about ten people to the clinic. Everyone who had messed with her can asses that she packs a punch. There was nothing harmless about her.

 

About three months ago, she had taken her friend, Kitsune's advice. It was time to wash away the past, and finally get on with her life. She went on a dating web site, and met an American. He was rich, his father was in the NBA. And he had a hot bod.

 

It wasn't long before they were having rather steamy sessions. Inhibitions, as Kitsune had once said to Naru, was nothing more than shackles especially at her age. Of course, Narusegawa wasn't the one who one would consider wild, but she felt a thrill in what she and her online boyfriend did during their sessions.

 

Of course, Metsuo, tried to blackmail her one day, appearing in front of her with a few pictures she had sent to Joe (the American), claiming to have hacked in her computer. After she made sure Metsuo wasn't actually Joe, she broke his jaw and face, and forced him to swear of silence unless he wanted her to castrate him. Being a wimp, he just nodded, and came to school the next day, claiming he fell off a long stairwell.

 

It was a cold day in September when Joe said that he was going to visit her. Excited, she set up a date with him in a fancy restaurant. She did most of the work… reserving a table at the time of their date, but she knew she was going to be well compensated. She wondered slightly if she was going to go all the way with him, or tease him for another time.

 

“So, what? You going on a date?” Kei asked.

 

“Yeah, yeah, so stop bothering me,” Naru muttered.

 

“Aren't you scared?”

 

“About?”

 

Kei looked around. “Haven't you been following the news? Some nut broke a few more nuts out of the nuthouse. The police only caught a few of them… who knows where the others are?” she shuddered.

 

“Ha! If some psycho comes at me, I'll send him flying away,” Naru scoffed. She raised her fist.

 

“They have guns...” Kei stated with a small smile. She always loved Naru's little act, even though sometimes she would be over her head. Her friend seemed to have this notion that nothing could stop her.

 

“So?” Naru chuckled. “They're brainless. They'll probably shoot ten paces away from me.”

 

And after that, they went back to what girls usually did best. Gossip. But this time, it was away from current events the whole country found important, to a events that only the two of them found significant. Her date with her American boyfriend.

 

-*-*-*-

 

Narusegawa hurried to her apartment. It was different from Hinata-sou, but she missed only the company of her friends... and of course, Shinobu's cooking. She looked at the group picture of them together in the house before the perverted manager came in and ruined their peaceful lives. She frowned.

 

“No... don't think about him,” she muttered. It wasn't her fault. It was his. He had to come up her room when she... ugh. She growled. He deserved it. She was a bit sorry of his death, but how would she know?

 

She opened her closet, and took out a rather beautiful dress that Joe had sent her. She couldn't afford such a fine dress, but Joe was smitten by her. He said he would spoil her. She smiled at that.

 

Of course, she had her reservations. Sure, he had sent a few pictures of himself, naked or otherwise, and he seemed nice enough... but if he was a pervert, well... her fists of fury will be busy pounding some American beef.

 

Her phone rang.

 

“Hello?” she answered.

 

“Hello... this is Mr. Kerr's driver,” the voice from the other line replied. It was an American. “Is this Ms. Narusegawa?”

 

Kerr... that was Joe's last name. Driver? Wow... he does sound rich, she thought. She was slightly amazed how her English improved from the first time she met Joe. She had studied some in Tokyo University, of course, but Joe at the beginning, had laughed at how her English writing came out wrong at times. When they had voice chats, he diligently taught her more about English more than what some Professors were allowed to teach. Curse words, slang, and over time, Naru was speaking almost like an American, though her accent was still heavy.

 

Joe didn't mind though. He found it cute.

 

“Oh! Good evening!” she greeted back in English.

 

“Mr. Kerr would like to offer you a ride to your date. I will be in your apartment in half an hour.”

 

“Oh, thank you very nice. I will be waiting,” Naru replied with a small smile on her face. A chauffer! For her date! How delightful. Naru felt that her day would be absolutely perfect.

 

She went towards the mirror, put her glasses down, and went for her contact lens case. For a perfect day, it needs a perfect looking girl.

 

-*-*-*-

 

Naru's happiness rose to whole new level when a limousine turned up at her apartment. Many stared as she came down, wearing a long coat to hide her dress, as a big muscled man in a suit came from the driver's seat, and opened the door for her. Closing behind her, she relaxed, took some drinks present in the mini-bar, and the driver went on his way.

 

He was silent, as if talking was not something he was really good at. However, it suited Naru just fine as she watched with slight interest as the city passed her by through the heavy tinted window. She wasn't in a mood to talk anyway. She was thinking more of what to do once she meets Joe.

 

Again, her thoughts dwindled towards the past, but she forced herself away from it. She took a deep breathe, and drank more spirits. She wondered when she was going to arrive.

 

About ten minutes later, the limousine stopped in front of a fancy restaurant. Naru smiled. She waited until the chauffer opened the door before she stepped out. That's when the man finally spoke.

 

“Mr. Kerr will be arriving shortly.”

 

Naru nodded, and went in the restaurant, and took her place in the reserved table.

 

For the first five minutes, she entertained herself by tapping on the table, but after that, her elbows were firmly at the tablecloth. She always looked left and right, hoping to see a man walk towards the table that was not wearing a penguin suit, asking her if she wanted to order. For twenty minutes, her patience was running thin, and almost abruptly left the table if it wasn't for the approaching chauffer.

 

“I am sorry, Ms. Narusegawa, but Mr. Kerr will be arriving right about now. He told me to give you this as a means of apology…”

 

Naru grabbed the box with a slight grunt. It had better be some diamond necklace or else…

 

Her train of thoughts stopped suddenly as she found an odd item inside. It looked like a gas mask. She looked up towards the big man, about to ask her what this was all about when he too was putting on a gas mask. Everything after that turned to complete chaos.

 

One of the waiters seemed to shout, and everyone stood up as they looked. Green gas began to emit all over the place through the ventilation shafts and spread around her. Naru watched in horror as the people began to grab their necks, coughing, gasping, and turning pale as they dropped to the ground. She immediately wore the gas mask.

 

What was going on here? What happened? These thoughts were never voiced, but her eyes darted as the fear of death immobilized her. People were dropping like flies, obviously dead. Men in their fancy suits, wooing women… waiters… she suspected even the kitchen staff were also dead.

 

The gas slowly began to clear, and the muscled man, after a moment, took off his mask. Naru didn't. She was too afraid to do so.

 

The door opened with force as a new person emerged from the outside. Naru's first thought through her head was seeing how colorful the man seemed. White skin, red lips, and his hair was in a dark shade of green. He looked like a clown. A well dressed clown. Purple jacket, purple pants… green vest, and multi-colored shirt underneath. His shoes were leather, yet obviously worn.

 

He smiled like a clown… yet his eyes… his eyes disturbed her very much. As he approached, Naru couldn't help but feel that she recognized him.

 

“Heeeeeeellllooooo Naru!” he greeted in Japanese. “Sorry I'm late, dahling, but you wouldn't believe how hard it is to get here from the sewage system,” and he laughed.

 

His finger suddenly tapped the mask she was wearing.

 

“No need for that anymore,” he said.

 

Naru, after much hesitation, finally lowered the mask. Her voice quivered, choking on the question she was about to ask… “Wh… who are you?” she asked.

 

“I am… the Joker,” he suddenly stood up, and spread his arms. “I am the clown Casanova!” and he winked, exaggerated, “Ace of Knaves! And all the whoop-deeoop!” and he laughed again. “Ooh, I gotta write that. After all, if I want a name… it should be done in multiple choice! HahAhAhaHahA!”

 

Naru tried to steel herself as this clown finally settled down. He's probably a psycho… he is brainless. Laughing like some sort of dork… she forgot completely that he probably killed everyone in the restaurant.

 

“Look here, white face,” Naru growled, though still not with the usual fire she normally had. “If you don't leave now I'm going to take you down.”

 

“Oh, but why?” he asked with an exaggerated pout. “After all… you did set up our date.”

 

“Date? What are you talking about? I didn't set a date with you!”

 

“Oh, of course, of course… you probably know me as Joe…” he smiled. “Dean's list, and yet you cannot see it now?”

 

Naru's mouth opened. Joe Kerr. Joker.

 

“Or did you expect a buff blonde blue-eyed gaijin with a six pack?” the Joker chuckled darkly. “Ah… I'm sorry my dear… but that man is a model for a petty female-oriented site…” and he whispered the last part, “and of course… those who prefer the same sex.”

 

Naru felt humiliated. She was tricked. By a psycho clown. He was laughing again… at her! Each “ha” of his began to grate her. Her fists were shaking, clenched, hard as a rock. He dangled some model's pictures at her, and he bit it.

 

“Listen here, asshole,” she growled… but she didn't finish as he grinned.

 

“Oooh, yeah… that is the Narusegawa I remember… such fire in your eyes, such passion… especially against… what did you call me again? A pervert? A no good ronin?” he smiled widely.

 

Naru froze as if she was struck. She stood up slightly, walking back, while the Joker seemed to relax at his chair.

 

She recognized him…

 

“You…” she whispered. “It… it can't be. You're dead…!”

 

“Oh, am I now?” he laughed again. “Well… legally, I am dead, Narusegawa… due to your little outbursts.”

 

“It wasn't my fault…!” her face was pale. “It was yours! Yours!”

 

“As always, blaming other people for your mistakes,” he grinned, though this time, losing its mirth. “I always wondered… what was it that I liked you for? Maybe its time to look for a new girl…” he paused. After a moment, his grin widened, this time, showing more enthusiasm than earlier, and said, “Or maybe just change you for the better? Oh, yes… I like the sound of that.”

 

Naru ran. She ran away from him as fast as she could. Behind her, the Joker looked calmly at the buffed man.

 

“We have a runner,” he said. The man was unspoken. “Well… it is more fun that way. Bob. Gun.”

 

Handing a pistol to him, the Joker took aim and shot without pause. A small arrow flew from the chamber, and hit Naru right on the back, but she kept running. However, after seconds, she realized there was something wrong with her body. Her speed dropped. She stopped for a moment, and felt her back, finding the arrow in her lower side. She pulled it out.

 

A tranquilizer bullet.

 

Her head began to spin, as her body leaned on one of the pillars as she watched the man of her past dancing towards her, whistling an upbeat tune.

 

“And a WHEEE around the Merry-go-round we go!” and laughed as he finally approached the fallen Naru. “Bwye bwye sleepy… I will see you… next time…” and he laughed harder than he ever did. The last thing Naru could hear was his laughter before everything turned black.

 

-*-*-*-

 

“Wakey, wakey, sleepy head…”

 

Naru was jolted back to reality, feeling a cold shiver down her back. She looked up to see his grinning face. She suddenly tried to move, but her arms and legs were weighed down, tied. Her mouth tried to close, but something is forcing them open. She could only scream out curses that came out wrong.

 

“Now that you're awake… Nurse… carving knife please…”

 

Naru's eyes widened as she watched a slender gloved hand came to view, handing the psycho clown a knife with a curved edge.

 

“Here you go, Mr. J…” and her face came to view as she giggled.

 

“Mr. J… ooh, I like that,” he replied to her, smiling. “But now… it's Dr. J.”

 

“Of course… doctor…” and she giggled again.

 

Naru thrashed. She knew her! She knew her! Why is she…? She screamed, and thrashed some more.

 

“Don't worry, Narusegawa,” he said with a twisted smile… his eyes blazing slightly. “I will just put a smile on that face.”

 

Naru could only scream.

 

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“So… it was revenge?” Brea asked.

 

“No, quite the opposite, really. She was in dire need of a make-over,” the Joker replied. “But… poor Naru… I forgot to give her some sedative to make the operation… manageable. She died of shock.” He grinned. “But then again… how do you make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, eh?” and he laughed.

 

Kudo couldn't stand it anymore. She burst through the interrogation room, startling Brea in the process as she dove for him. Pushing him down to the ground, she dragged him up, and pushed him hard against the wall.

 

“Shut it! You killed 32 people in that restaurant, and you defaced that poor woman, and you have the gall to laugh about it!?” she growled.

 

“My, my, detective… it's so good to see you again,” the Joker licked his lips.

 

“WHY!” she shouted. “WHY DID YOU DO IT!? HUH! ANSWER YOU PIECE OF SHIT!”

 

“I wanted to be alone with her, that's why I killed those people… and I wanted to give Naru a make-over,” he cackled. “Hehehe… detective… is that your fist raised?”

 

Kudo noticed her arm at the side of her head, wanting to explode in action.

 

“Come on!” he licked his lips again, smiling. “Want to? Hit me!”

 

“Kudo stop…” Brea's hands softly held Kudo's clenched fists. “This isn't you…”

 

Her fist flew suddenly, but instead of hitting the Joker, struck the wall a few centimeters from his ear. She wanted to see him gasp in surprise… see him tremble slightly… but what she got was something quite the opposite. He began laughing, like he found the whole thing funny.

 

“HahAHAhaHAHaha!!! HahaHAhaHaha!! Detective… never hold a gun! You missed me! HAhaHAHAhaHA!!!”

 

Kudo growled… and with a last push to the wall, she let him go.

 

She cursed. She went straight to the water closet, leaving the interrogation room, the Joker, and Brea behind, and cursed. She turned the tap on and rubbed her face hard with water. She looked through the mirror, and saw his face, laughing at her.

 

She punched the glass, smashing the mirror to a hundred pieces. But the laughing never stopped.

 

It never stopped.

 

- To Be Continued -

 

Author's Notes:

 

After doing the prologue, this came rather easy. Still difficult as well. Oh well. Enjoy.

 

Again, thanks to Aaron for helping. : )