justonetruth | (no subject)

(no subject)

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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"Then thank you." Saguru smiles, and passes into the room. He takes note of the exits, of potential weapons, almost automatically, long ingrained instinct that kept him safe kicking in.

He sinks into a chair with a quiet sigh, stretching his left leg out carefully in front of him, running his fingers gently over the aching joint.

"So... what happened?" Perched on the edge of the bed, curious and slightly worried. If this were his Saguru, he wouldn't have needed to ask, wouldn't have needed to be told. But this was a different one, and older, and Kaito didn't know what had happened.

"To you? Or to my knee?" Saguru's tone is wry, hiding his hurt beneath a slightly twisted smile. He doesn't give Kaito time to respond, continuing speaking.

"My limp was the result of getting caught in gunfire and having a bullet shatter my kneecap." He pauses, and leans back, regarding Kaito quietly. "...I am not sure you'll like what I have to say about yourself."

He doesn't have time to respond to the first question before Saguru--- before Hakuba answers both.

The way he was injured was ironic, but nothing to be amused about. It was obviously both painful and permanent.

"I've been around enough, I know enough about alternate versions of myself, and I know how easily I could hurt or kill if I wanted. If you want to talk, feel free."

A sigh, and Saguru shifts slightly in his chair, considering his words before speaking.

"You're nothing like him, you know." Caught in reminiscene instead of plotting? How unlike me. "My Kaito..." He shakes his head. "I've left these memories untouched too long, it's hard to know where to start."

Kaito stayed quiet, letting the older man talk. He was content to study him, looking at all the differences (his Saguru would never dress like that, and the differences that age brought), and similarities (the hair, the eyes, the way he had scanned the room when he entered).

"I never called you Kaito. It wasn't until I came here the first time that I even discovered your name." Quietly, almost reflectively, Hakuba adds the piece of information that could be earth-shattering, if this boy has heard the stories of the insane inhabitant of the mansion.

"I knew him as 1412."

1412. The crazed assassin version of himself. This could be dangerous, could be very dangerous, especially without his Weapon.

"I see."

"You've no need to fear me," says Hakuba with a crooked smile. "He's been dead for over a decade now, and though I miss him dearly, I wouldn't wish to follow in his footsteps." It looked like this conversation might be cut short, if the boy was as educated about 1412's proclivites as some other members of the mansion he remembered. He did hope not, though.

"It might be foolish, but I trust you." Regardless of what this Hakuba had done, regardless of what that Kaito had done, this was still Saguru. This one might not be completely sane, but that was nothing new. "If you do something stupid," a memory of solid metal connecting with his skull, Saguru's twisted smile, "I'll take you down, but I'm not going to kill you."

Saguru nodded in understanding. "Of course. I would expect no less." He wasn't about to 'do something stupid' to Kaito, not unless he proved himself an active danger. And even then, whatever he did would be done with regret.

"Though seceding the same mercy to 1412 would be... not wise." Hakuba casts him a level look. "I would caution you to not start a fight with him."

"I'm not an idiot. I know how to pick my fights." Though, if he had Saguru, they would be more than a match for 1412.

"I hope you do," said Saguru just as levelly as before. "Because even if you think you can deal with 1412, if you leave him alive, he will find you and end you." Blunt, yes, but out of fear for 1412 and for the innocence of the boy in front of him. 1412 changed people.

"He wouldn't be the first crazed murderer I've executed." Ninety-nine murderers and a witch. All far more dangerous than one human, armed only with manmade weapons. All dispatched with quick precision and little injury to him.

"Mmn, but there comes the small detail of you hurting what's dear to me." He smiled thinly. "The both of us, you could not hope to take on."

"You underestimate me, sir."

"I highly doubt that."

"Well, there's no point arguing about this. If 1412 stays out of my way, I'll stay out of his."

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