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Walking through the hallways slowly, though not without a destination in mind, Hakuba Saguru was deep in thought. Obviously many years older than another Saguru, this one was in his late thirties and using a cane to support his left leg as he walked. His dress was reminiscent of an english professor; tweed jacket, tan pants and a shirt set off by a dark brown tie. And a mostly hidden bulge under his left arm, from a gun in a shoulder holster.

Someone perceptive (or intrusive) enough to notice the ragged scar tissue on his right wrist, mostly hidden by his sleeve, might connect this Saguru to the one who used to wander the mansion attached to 1412.

Disturb? >_

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"Ah," Shinichi says, bowing in acknowledgement. "It is pleasant to see you again, Hakuba-san."

Hakuba nods his head in return, careful to show less respect for the teen in the depth of his bow.

"And I to you," he replies. "Though I do not beleive I have met 'you' before?" He ends on a querying tone, to elicit information from the teen if he can.

"Ah?" Shinichi blinks, considering Hakuba with a frown -- until understanding dawns. "We did not discuss Newton-sensei in the library shortly after my arrival here?"

"No. I do not believe I've encountered you before. Though..." Hakuba scans Shinichi briefly, thinking. "I would hazard a guess at the Edo-period?" He smiles, expecting his guess to be correct and only awaiting Shinichi's confirmation.

"It is not exactly the same, but it is close enough," Shinichi agreed. "Closer than anything else at least." He approaches Hakuba with poorly concealed curiousity. "Your accent is different. You are not from ... England?"

"I am, orginally. But I have spent a great deal of time in Japan since I departed. I imagine my accent has changed substantially." Saguru shifts his weight to stand more comfortably, resting on his cane. He is keeping a quiet watch on Shinichi lest he come too close, or begin to act threatening, but he is not overt about his wariness.

There is something more to his stance than an old wound ... Overt interest is not polite and Shinichi does his best to look merely polite. "I hope that your time in Japan has been -- better than appearances might suggest," he said, hoping that the remark was not too personal.

Saguru offers a pleasant, neutral smile. "I have enjoyed my stay, yes." And no comment on his injury or use of his cane. It may be slightly illogical to despise this Shinichi for something another did, but his hate runs deep and he has no desire to make things easy for the teen.

Shinichi is used to being despised, and equally used to pretending he doesn't notice it. A few more polite comments and then a polite exit, curiousity unsatisfied. "That is as well. It seems you have made Japan your home -- any particular part of it?"

"I travel quite a lot, though I do mostly stay in Ekoda. It's something of a second home, I suppose." Still smiling pleasantly, and noticing the change from openly curious to more reserved, Saguru expects an end to their conversation soon. Though there's no great loss there; he has other, more pressing concerns, and investigating the teen's peculiarities comes second to him. "And yourself? Where do you make your home?"

Ekoda? So close? "It seems there are many here that favour that village," Shinichi commented. "Perhaps you will find a friend here."

He is surprised at the question -- surely he's done nothing that requires being reported? Then again, this Hakuba must be thinking of his Shinichi. "I am fortunate to live in the village Beika."

"Like the one I knew, then." Hakuba deliberately uses the past tense. "It appears some of the differences between you are nearly nonexistant."

Shinichi has his polite-non-greeting prepared and is all set to fade unobjectionably away. Then that bombshell. "Like the one you -- oh, not again." To say Shinichi is put out is to put it lightly. "I hope that will continue to be a difference."

"Indeed." A cool smile, as pleasant as a snake. "It was such a pity when you-- he passed."

"Kind of you to say so." Shinichi bows, making a mental note to keep his sword with him at all times.

Hakuba nods his head in return, keeping up the falsely pleasant smile. "It was a great loss," he agrees, adding false pleasantries to the smile.

"You do not have to go that far," Shinichi returned quietly. "It is well to be polite, but -- I believe I have spoken out of turn. I ask pardon."

"Oh no, it's quite alright. The police force were greatly saddened to lose the man who killed the troublesome assassin."

Saguru's smile is downright vicious now.

It is, and that troubles Shinichi. "Hakuba Saguru-san. Have I harmed you or yours?"

"Yes." Hakuba smiles. "But we'll leave it at that. It's too early in the morning to plot your death, and blood is so hard to get out of clothing."

Shinichi bowed. "If you wish a formal challenge, I will be in the library," he said. "Though I hope, of course, that will not be necessary."

"Not unless you plan on killing someone else I hold dear," replies Saguru with chilly formality, bowing a precisely inch higher than Shinichi.

That would explain it. "Hakuba Saguru-san," Shinichi said, still formally polite. "There are many here from worlds not as you know them. Some of them are me." He paused gravely. "It is well that you moderate your anger that you do not hurt an innocent. Can you keep yourself in check?"

Saguru smiled thinly. "I fully realise you are not the same person, Shinichi-san, I simply do not care. And so I reiterate - harm someone I hold dear, and that will be the last that anyone ever hears of you."

"It is not seemly to ask so direct a question of a senior," Shinichi continued, calmly. "I ask pardon. Are you a danger to the inhabitants of this place?"

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theotherknight.livejournal.com - 2010-07-11 15:47 (UTC) - Expand

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