justonetruth | (no subject)

[There are loud crashing noises coming from one of the rooms, followed by the sound of shattering glass and a few more ominous thumps. It goes silent again for a few moments, before the door is flung open and someone flies out of the room, skidding across the wooden floors of the hallway and colliding painfully with the opposite wall.

It's another Kaito, though clearly not one of the more normal ones. He's dressed in a dull green jumpsuit indicative of prison garb, and a light-gray, metal collar with a bar-code adorning the front is looped around his neck. His appearance isn't helped by the dark red blood stains that spatter his clothing and smear across his cheek. Nor does is it helped by the light trail of blood that now streaks across the floor where he slid, and the droplets that now line the wall where he landed.

He's breathing heavily as he lifts a hand to wipe his mouth, and he freezes mid-motion. His gaze darts frantically around the hallway, and despite his seemingly serious injuries, he's on his feet within seconds, taking a defensive stance and glancing frantically at his surroundings]

The hell--

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Kaito blinks from Conan, then to Ran, and for the first time since his arrival in this strange place, he smiles. It's wry and tired, but ti's a smile]

... yeah, that's what I need. [a pause] Thanks.

You are welcome. [Ran pats Conan on the head approvingly before steering him towards Kaito with the orange juice.] Conan, if Kaito-san doesn't want his porridge, you can take it.

[Conan holds out the orange juice to Kaito hopefully.]

[A few more blinks, and Kaito takes the orange juice]

Er... he can have it.

[Conan takes the bowl without preamble, shifting to a cushion at the low table to eat it. Ran pours a second bowl for herself, glancing at Kaito.]

You're not hungry? Or is that all you require?

[Kaito's already gulping down the orange juice (from the carton, of course) by the time Ran turns to him with her question. He needs as much vitamin C as he can get-- especially after that last fight.

He lowers the carton and wipes at his mouth after one particularly long swig]

This'll be fine for now. Uh. Thanks.

It is no trouble. [Ran carries her own bowl to the low table, sitting beside Conan, and giving him a nudge.]

[It takes a moment for Conan to realise he is being prompted.] None at all. [Pause.] Where are you from?

[Kaito drums his fingers against the orange juice carton as he inhales and exhales deeply, deciding not to name the prison as his primary home]

Tokyo. What about you guys?

The village Beika, in the Western provinces. [Ran pauses thoughtfully.] Tokyo ... I have heard that name before.

Beika... village. That's where the Ran-san I know is from. Except it's not so much a village...

[he shrugs and goes back to his orange juice]

Someone told me that Edo was called Tokyo where they were from. Perhaps they were from the same place as Kaito-niisama?

[After a moment, Ran nods agreement.] He did say my father was a detective, did he not? Kaito-san, do you know a boy very like this one?

[Kaito glances up from his carton]

Tokyo hasn't been called Edo for a long time where I come from. [his gaze flickers to Conan]

And I've never met that kid at home before. Just you, Ran-san.

[Conan frowns, forgetting his porridge as he digests that information. What does it all mean?]

[Ran is otherwise preoccupied.] How do you feel?

[a nod from Kaito]

Better. Still lightheaded, but I'll be alright.

Perhaps you should rest here while we look for Aoko.

... Aoko? [he perks up at the sound of her name, and he vaguely remembers Ran mentioning her before]

You saw her, right? She's okay? She's... [he hesitates. If this isn't his Ran... or the Ran he knows form home, anyway, then how does he know this Aoko is the same one he was trying to rescue before?]

She is. She taught me about ... plumbing and washing machines.

[a small, humorless laugh]

That sounds just like her.

We will find her, do not worry. [Firmly.] But you must rest first. If you have finished your orange, it would be as well for you to lie down.

[Ran has a point, and he did almost down the entirety of his orange juice in such a short amount of time.

But he doesn't really want to sit down and rest when he could be searching for Aoko]

I want to help you look for her.

[Ran hesitates, then stands, coming over to take Kaito's wrist and check his pulse and temperature.] You are sure you will not pass out again?

[He blinks up at her] I'm sure! I'll be fine! [he pressed himself past his limits every single day, after all. And Aoko was far more important than his health at the moment]

[Ran would like to argue that, but he reminds her too much of Shinichi. She let go of his hand] Then, as soon as we have eaten.

[Conan stops staring at them, obediently setting to work on his bowl of rice porridge with renewed vigour.] Who is Aoko-neesama?

[Kaito's smile widens gratefully at Ran, before he turns to Conan with a few blinks]

She's... er, a friend of mine. I've known her since I was a kid.