[fic] TGZ: Two Kaitou and a Tantei
Aug. 28th, 2005 05:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ickaimpSo we're currently going back through TGZ and fixing continuity errors and other things that annoyed us. Which includes filling in a missing section. This was orginaly going to be a seprate chapter before 'Loosing Heads', but it decided to go be at the end of 'Paris Encounter' instead. Go fig. ^^;;
We're currently re-writing the Flying Hawks chapter too.
London to Ashford to Calais to Lille to Paris.
Three hours, twenty of them spent under the ocean in a claustrophobic tunnel, and they were in not only another country, but another bustling metropolis.
Different cities had different feels to them, he was beginning to learn. Tokyo felt different from Osaka, London different than anywhere in Japan and Paris different from London. It wasn't just the language, although that played a part in it, same as weather conditions, but different moods to different cities.
But one thing remained constant about cities - the people. There were always LOTS of them.
Chat Noir had met them gleefully at the rail station, kissing their cheeks and ruffling their hair fondly and insisting that they stay with her before taking them on a whirlwind tour of the city. Hakuba had been here before and spoke the language fluidly, he and 'Catherine' making what appeared to be sharp tongued comments back and forth. When he asked Hakuba about it, the blond had commented that it was just a friendly rivalry between countries. Then Hakuba and Chat Noir had smiled at each other in such a sweet way he'd had to stop himself from checking to verify they weren't holding daggers behind their backs.
Kaito made a private note to learn French as soon as possible. He was already learning English, what was one more language?
But it had been a good day. Chat Noir knew the best secret places and French food was nothing like the French food he'd had in Japan. For one thing, it was better here. Although he'd had a little bit of a problem with the escargot, to which both Chat Noir and Hakuba had teased him about while daintily prying the grey creatures --slimy from butter and herbs instead of regular slimy snail slime-- from their shells and popping them in their mouths. Eventually they'd coerced him into trying one and found it not so bad but declined a plate of his own. One was enough.
It was also discovered that biscotti made a very useful weapon. Heh.
He'd wanted to visit the Musée du Louvre, since he'd only had a little bit of time to enjoy the treasures there, but Hakuba kept giving him funny looks every time he glanced in the direction of the glowing pyramid and Chat Noir kept giggling, so they saw some of the other sights in the central part of Paris instead.
Which was how'd they come to watch the sunset from the top observation deck of the 'Tour Eiffel' or Eiffel Tower.
He was less certain how'd he come to be standing on the -roof- of the tower however. He glanced down. 324 metres, give or take the antenna behind them, was a long way down. Not quite the Tokyo Tower, but still pretty damn tall.
Chat Noir --she really did know the best secrets-- was standing next to him, goggle cat-eyes glowing. "You ready?"
"Just a moment." He smirked, pulling out cell phone. Hirokini read is his mind, dialling the number before he could. It rang a few times before being answered.
"Hakuba."
"Yo, Tantei-san."
He could almost -see- the detective startle at that. "You're up to no good, aren't you?" Came the dry comment. It was followed by a small sigh. "Never mind. Idiotic question."
"Will you be all right finding your way home?"
"Certainly." The tone was almost affronted, as if he was insinuating that the blond couldn't take care of himself wandering around a strange foreign city at night. "Hour and a half?"
"Sounds about right." He didn't think they were going to take that long. It'd take longer getting -back-. And if they were late, it'd be a good excuse to badger Hakuba into learning lock-picking skills.
"Don't get caught." Hakuba said fondly, then disconnected the call.
Kid smirked in amusement, putting the phone away. Like he was going to get caught. Such lack of faith on the detective's part. Of course, he'd probably have the same reaction if Hakuba told him to be careful. He was always careful. Even when he was reckless.
"What did your husband say?" Chat Noir questioned, voice only slightly mocking.
"He's not my husband." And what did she mean was Hakuba 'his husband'? Did she think he was the blond's -wife-? If anything, Hakuba was the Kid's wife. -He- was the one to go out and get the jewels while the detective stayed home. Ha. "And I don't know how you were raised, but I was taught that it was manners to call and tell someone that you are going to ditch them." See? -Gentleman- thief.
"Hah." She didn't sound convinced.
He shrugged. "It's been a tough couple of months."
Her head inclined, adopting a thoughtful air as she looked at him. "He knows?"
"He figured it out about two years ago."
"And?"
"Apparently, he doesn't care." He rested his hands in his pockets, watching the hypnotic lights of the city. "If I get sloppy, he'll catch me. But he got involved with some pretty nasty stuff because of me in Japan." Took a bullet for him even. He was still boggling over that. The vest had stopped the bullet but still seriously bruised the ribs underneath. Hakuba had been wincing for days, every time he moved wrong. The stoic detective had tried to hide it of course, but he still saw it.
"I heard the men who killed your father were after you." Chat Noir commented. He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged. "I was curious and did a little digging. Magic's in the blood, non?"
"Oui." He agreed. "They're after him too, now."
"You're not happy about it." It was more of a statement of fact than a question.
"No." It was his fault. He should have said 'no' when the detective offered. He'd thought it the lesser of two evils at the time, keeping Hakuba safely in the background instead of attempting to mop up after the detective stepped into something messy trying to discover about the mysterious organisation. He wasn't so sure anymore that he'd made the right decision. Hattori and Kudo certainly seemed to think not and they made damn sure that he knew it.
Perhaps it would have been better to have let Hakuba stumble around, trying to find the organisation than to lead him to it. But what was done was done, there was nothing he could do to change it.
"Even though he's a detective." In this case, 'detective' was Kaitou speak for 'enemy'.
"We're... friends." Possibly --Probably-- more. Allies at least. Not quite rivals, not for a while now. "We watch each other's backs."
She chuckled, looking out over the light filled city as well. "You have a very strange relationship with each other, mon garçon."
"Tell me about it." He sighed. It helped, it hurt, it was confusing and he didn't know what to do with it anymore.
And dammit, he -owed- the bastard detective!
... he really shouldn't be thinking such thoughts while in uniform either.
"I'll not taunt him too badly then." She assured him, clapping him on the shoulder. "But for now... "
With a muted cackle, she launched herself off the Tour Eiffel. "Last one to the Arc de Triomphe is jail bait!!!" Her voice taunted on the wind as her dark para-glider opened up, lifting her up into the night sky.
"Oi!" He leapt off the tower after her. Neither of them were young enough to be jail bait anymore, thank you very much. And since she was heading north, he was betting that it was the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile across the Seine River to the north of the tower she was talking about and not the Arc de Triomphe de la Carrousel to the east.
Well, maybe he'd have to visit both of them, just to be sure....
+++
The next morning, Hakuba was almost smugly reading the newspaper at the local cafe that Chat Noir insisted at having coffee at. It wasn't quite the front page, but the Kaitou's night time flight hadn't gone unnoticed by the public.
The blond made a rather large point of glancing between Kaito and the article several times, a small smirk on his face. "I trust you had fun last night?" He inquired mildly.
Kaito smiled languidly back. "Tons."
"The Paris sky is just so much more magical at night." Chat Noir agreed silkily, sipping her coffee. "Wouldn't you agree, Kaito-kun?"
He resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at her comment. What kind of game was she playing? "Absolutely enchanting."
She nodded sagely in return.
Hakuba glanced back and forth between them, radiating curiosity. Then he started glancing between them towards the picture of the shadowy Kaitou in the night sky.
Kaito could -see- the instant Hakuba got it.
With a groan, Hakuba thudded his head on the tabletop. "Why me?" The detective muttered between thuds. "First him, then you and now this."
Kaito was slightly worried, but decided to let it go when he realised that the newspaper was cushioning the blond against too much brain damage. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Hakuba-kun." He said saucily. "Do you, Catherine-neesan?"
"Not a clue." Chat Noir said smoothly, watching the detective with amusement. "Not a one."
Hakuba stopped hitting his head long enough to glare sourly at them. "Oh, stop that." Chat Noir scolded. "You're attracting attention."
Which, much to Kaito's unease, they were. Hakuba sat up straight, placing his hands on the table. Probably so that he had something to grip and so that the two Kaitou could see them, to know that he wasn't going to go for his handcuffs. People turned their attention elsewhere, towards more interesting things.
"So you two..." He said tentatively, motioning between the two of them with his eyes. Hakuba was a smart boy, he probably already knew that they knew who the other really was, but it never hurt to verify the facts.
"Japan." Kaito nodded. Well, she'd found out that Kuroba Kaito was the Kaitou Kid back then. It had taken him a little longer and some minor digging to get Chat Noir's name.
Hakuba rolled his eyes, grumbling. Chat Noir giggled. "All right." The detective ceded. "Then why let me in on it? It is a rather large risk, is it not?"
Kaito turned towards Chat Noir, wondering much the same.
She smiled. "Have you ever heard of a thief named 'Viper'?" She inquired.
"Female ex-thief, recently went 'straight'. Currently works as a security advisor." Hakuba recited from memory, frowning slightly. "Been known to have been mixed up in some rather unusual business involving objects rumoured to have magical properties."
"Very good." The female Kaitou applauded cattily. "How about one named 'Origami'?"
"Rumour had it that Viper had something to do with his arrest." Hakuba paused, then reluctantly added "Rumour also had it that he could turn himself into paper and change shape, hence the name 'Origami'. Specialised in stealing Asian artefacts."
"I knew you were good." Chat Noir smiled approvingly. "Oldest story in the book. She met a man. An 'Archaeologist', who specialises in Martial Arts"
"Went straight because of him?" Kaito questioned, trying not to smirk.
"Something like that. But last year she was in Paris with him. Took him down to the 'Fox and the Rat'. You've heard of it?"
Hakuba shook his head. Kaito nodded. In supposedly the seedier part of town, hangout for thieves and rouges. Good place to gather and exchange information, a sort of an underworld networking place. He caught Hakuba's eye, motioning that he'd explain it later.
"She took him there, looking for information on Origami. Evidently her friend had been framed by Origami and they were looking to clear him. Ended up causing a brawl at the 'Fox and the Rat'. Property damage, the whole nine yards. Got the police called in. She's now person non-grata in Paris."
Kaito winced. Hakuba shot him an inquiring look. "You know that saying 'honour among thieves'?"
"Yes." Hakuba nodded. "Depending on who you talk to, it means nothing at all or quite a bit."
Chat Noir gave him a small smirk. Kaitou were not ordinary thieves, they had a different standard to uphold, so were definitely part of the later category. However, Kaito had worked with --undercover, of course-- with some of the former before and much preferred to work alongside his own rare breed.
"Exactly. Lie, steal, what ever. But you don't tattle on other thieves."
"A sort of professional courtesy." Chat Noir interjected with a smirk.
Kaito smirked back, fangs politely hidden. "Kill, and you're a murder who steals. Squeal, and you're no longer a thief, you're a tattler."
"Viper," Chat Noir said with a grave finality "Is no longer a thief."
"Because she changed loyalties." Hakuba said cautiously. "So therefore, she is not to be trusted. By anyone."
She'd get no help and no resources from anyone on the 'wrong side of the law'. No one would take the risk that she wouldn't betray them to the authorities. The Law themselves would be hesitant to help her, because she had once been a criminal, someone they chased.
Chat Noir smiled. It wasn't a polite smile, more of the baring of teeth a cat would make before toying with a mouse. "Exactly."
Hakuba gave her a level look. She sparkled back at him, taking a sip of her coffee, eyes narrowed in cat-like pleasure.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. Just what was she getting at? He wasn't actively looking for heist jewels, but that was because he had found what he wanted, not because of the detective. And he'd all but told Hakuba who he was --either of him-- when he suggest coming to England. Hakuba wasn't going to use it against him.
... wasn't he?
No. Kaito trusted the detective at least that much. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't sure of that. Hakuba was at least as great of a gentleman as he was if not more so. He did not betray confidences.
Hakuba nodded. "I have no intention of asking him to do anything more than he wills to do."
Chat Noir's eyes narrowed down to mere slits. "Keep it that way." Somewhere in the background, a cat growled.
Kaito scowled slightly at her, torn between figuring out her motivation and defending the detective. She caught the look and smiled sweetly at him, any and all hints of anger gone. "You're away from your family on this side of the world, mon garçon." She reached over and ruffled his hair fondly. "Someone must watch over you in their absence."
His face grew hot and he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or pleasure that someone liked him well enough to want to keep an eye on him. "Ah," He swatted her hand away, embarrassment winning as he stammered. "Cha-Ca-Catherine-neechan!!!"
She smiled at that, practically glowing in happiness. "Ooh! I like that. 'Cat-neechan'. You should call me that. Both of you." She gave Hakuba a small salute with her cup. "After all, we are family. Of sorts."
"A family of rogues." Hakuba quipped dryly, returning her salute. "Auntie Kitty."
'Auntie Kitty' grinned roguishly at him in response. Kaito sighed. He'd have to explain to her in more detail just what had happened in Japan. Later.
"So." The dark haired woman asked, brushing the serious business aside as she turned back towards him. "What do you and your husband want to do today?"
He and Hakuba gave her identical looks of not-quite mock horror. "AUNTIE KITTY!!!"
-fin-
Thanks to Dagron for the French help!
* Tokyo Tower is 333 metres tall.
Viper, Origami and the bar come from 'Jackie Chan Adventures'. Details may be a little bit off because it's been so long since we've seen that episode.
We're currently re-writing the Flying Hawks chapter too.
London to Ashford to Calais to Lille to Paris.
Three hours, twenty of them spent under the ocean in a claustrophobic tunnel, and they were in not only another country, but another bustling metropolis.
Different cities had different feels to them, he was beginning to learn. Tokyo felt different from Osaka, London different than anywhere in Japan and Paris different from London. It wasn't just the language, although that played a part in it, same as weather conditions, but different moods to different cities.
But one thing remained constant about cities - the people. There were always LOTS of them.
Chat Noir had met them gleefully at the rail station, kissing their cheeks and ruffling their hair fondly and insisting that they stay with her before taking them on a whirlwind tour of the city. Hakuba had been here before and spoke the language fluidly, he and 'Catherine' making what appeared to be sharp tongued comments back and forth. When he asked Hakuba about it, the blond had commented that it was just a friendly rivalry between countries. Then Hakuba and Chat Noir had smiled at each other in such a sweet way he'd had to stop himself from checking to verify they weren't holding daggers behind their backs.
Kaito made a private note to learn French as soon as possible. He was already learning English, what was one more language?
But it had been a good day. Chat Noir knew the best secret places and French food was nothing like the French food he'd had in Japan. For one thing, it was better here. Although he'd had a little bit of a problem with the escargot, to which both Chat Noir and Hakuba had teased him about while daintily prying the grey creatures --slimy from butter and herbs instead of regular slimy snail slime-- from their shells and popping them in their mouths. Eventually they'd coerced him into trying one and found it not so bad but declined a plate of his own. One was enough.
It was also discovered that biscotti made a very useful weapon. Heh.
He'd wanted to visit the Musée du Louvre, since he'd only had a little bit of time to enjoy the treasures there, but Hakuba kept giving him funny looks every time he glanced in the direction of the glowing pyramid and Chat Noir kept giggling, so they saw some of the other sights in the central part of Paris instead.
Which was how'd they come to watch the sunset from the top observation deck of the 'Tour Eiffel' or Eiffel Tower.
He was less certain how'd he come to be standing on the -roof- of the tower however. He glanced down. 324 metres, give or take the antenna behind them, was a long way down. Not quite the Tokyo Tower, but still pretty damn tall.
Chat Noir --she really did know the best secrets-- was standing next to him, goggle cat-eyes glowing. "You ready?"
"Just a moment." He smirked, pulling out cell phone. Hirokini read is his mind, dialling the number before he could. It rang a few times before being answered.
"Hakuba."
"Yo, Tantei-san."
He could almost -see- the detective startle at that. "You're up to no good, aren't you?" Came the dry comment. It was followed by a small sigh. "Never mind. Idiotic question."
"Will you be all right finding your way home?"
"Certainly." The tone was almost affronted, as if he was insinuating that the blond couldn't take care of himself wandering around a strange foreign city at night. "Hour and a half?"
"Sounds about right." He didn't think they were going to take that long. It'd take longer getting -back-. And if they were late, it'd be a good excuse to badger Hakuba into learning lock-picking skills.
"Don't get caught." Hakuba said fondly, then disconnected the call.
Kid smirked in amusement, putting the phone away. Like he was going to get caught. Such lack of faith on the detective's part. Of course, he'd probably have the same reaction if Hakuba told him to be careful. He was always careful. Even when he was reckless.
"What did your husband say?" Chat Noir questioned, voice only slightly mocking.
"He's not my husband." And what did she mean was Hakuba 'his husband'? Did she think he was the blond's -wife-? If anything, Hakuba was the Kid's wife. -He- was the one to go out and get the jewels while the detective stayed home. Ha. "And I don't know how you were raised, but I was taught that it was manners to call and tell someone that you are going to ditch them." See? -Gentleman- thief.
"Hah." She didn't sound convinced.
He shrugged. "It's been a tough couple of months."
Her head inclined, adopting a thoughtful air as she looked at him. "He knows?"
"He figured it out about two years ago."
"And?"
"Apparently, he doesn't care." He rested his hands in his pockets, watching the hypnotic lights of the city. "If I get sloppy, he'll catch me. But he got involved with some pretty nasty stuff because of me in Japan." Took a bullet for him even. He was still boggling over that. The vest had stopped the bullet but still seriously bruised the ribs underneath. Hakuba had been wincing for days, every time he moved wrong. The stoic detective had tried to hide it of course, but he still saw it.
"I heard the men who killed your father were after you." Chat Noir commented. He raised an eyebrow and she shrugged. "I was curious and did a little digging. Magic's in the blood, non?"
"Oui." He agreed. "They're after him too, now."
"You're not happy about it." It was more of a statement of fact than a question.
"No." It was his fault. He should have said 'no' when the detective offered. He'd thought it the lesser of two evils at the time, keeping Hakuba safely in the background instead of attempting to mop up after the detective stepped into something messy trying to discover about the mysterious organisation. He wasn't so sure anymore that he'd made the right decision. Hattori and Kudo certainly seemed to think not and they made damn sure that he knew it.
Perhaps it would have been better to have let Hakuba stumble around, trying to find the organisation than to lead him to it. But what was done was done, there was nothing he could do to change it.
"Even though he's a detective." In this case, 'detective' was Kaitou speak for 'enemy'.
"We're... friends." Possibly --Probably-- more. Allies at least. Not quite rivals, not for a while now. "We watch each other's backs."
She chuckled, looking out over the light filled city as well. "You have a very strange relationship with each other, mon garçon."
"Tell me about it." He sighed. It helped, it hurt, it was confusing and he didn't know what to do with it anymore.
And dammit, he -owed- the bastard detective!
... he really shouldn't be thinking such thoughts while in uniform either.
"I'll not taunt him too badly then." She assured him, clapping him on the shoulder. "But for now... "
With a muted cackle, she launched herself off the Tour Eiffel. "Last one to the Arc de Triomphe is jail bait!!!" Her voice taunted on the wind as her dark para-glider opened up, lifting her up into the night sky.
"Oi!" He leapt off the tower after her. Neither of them were young enough to be jail bait anymore, thank you very much. And since she was heading north, he was betting that it was the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile across the Seine River to the north of the tower she was talking about and not the Arc de Triomphe de la Carrousel to the east.
Well, maybe he'd have to visit both of them, just to be sure....
+++
The next morning, Hakuba was almost smugly reading the newspaper at the local cafe that Chat Noir insisted at having coffee at. It wasn't quite the front page, but the Kaitou's night time flight hadn't gone unnoticed by the public.
The blond made a rather large point of glancing between Kaito and the article several times, a small smirk on his face. "I trust you had fun last night?" He inquired mildly.
Kaito smiled languidly back. "Tons."
"The Paris sky is just so much more magical at night." Chat Noir agreed silkily, sipping her coffee. "Wouldn't you agree, Kaito-kun?"
He resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at her comment. What kind of game was she playing? "Absolutely enchanting."
She nodded sagely in return.
Hakuba glanced back and forth between them, radiating curiosity. Then he started glancing between them towards the picture of the shadowy Kaitou in the night sky.
Kaito could -see- the instant Hakuba got it.
With a groan, Hakuba thudded his head on the tabletop. "Why me?" The detective muttered between thuds. "First him, then you and now this."
Kaito was slightly worried, but decided to let it go when he realised that the newspaper was cushioning the blond against too much brain damage. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Hakuba-kun." He said saucily. "Do you, Catherine-neesan?"
"Not a clue." Chat Noir said smoothly, watching the detective with amusement. "Not a one."
Hakuba stopped hitting his head long enough to glare sourly at them. "Oh, stop that." Chat Noir scolded. "You're attracting attention."
Which, much to Kaito's unease, they were. Hakuba sat up straight, placing his hands on the table. Probably so that he had something to grip and so that the two Kaitou could see them, to know that he wasn't going to go for his handcuffs. People turned their attention elsewhere, towards more interesting things.
"So you two..." He said tentatively, motioning between the two of them with his eyes. Hakuba was a smart boy, he probably already knew that they knew who the other really was, but it never hurt to verify the facts.
"Japan." Kaito nodded. Well, she'd found out that Kuroba Kaito was the Kaitou Kid back then. It had taken him a little longer and some minor digging to get Chat Noir's name.
Hakuba rolled his eyes, grumbling. Chat Noir giggled. "All right." The detective ceded. "Then why let me in on it? It is a rather large risk, is it not?"
Kaito turned towards Chat Noir, wondering much the same.
She smiled. "Have you ever heard of a thief named 'Viper'?" She inquired.
"Female ex-thief, recently went 'straight'. Currently works as a security advisor." Hakuba recited from memory, frowning slightly. "Been known to have been mixed up in some rather unusual business involving objects rumoured to have magical properties."
"Very good." The female Kaitou applauded cattily. "How about one named 'Origami'?"
"Rumour had it that Viper had something to do with his arrest." Hakuba paused, then reluctantly added "Rumour also had it that he could turn himself into paper and change shape, hence the name 'Origami'. Specialised in stealing Asian artefacts."
"I knew you were good." Chat Noir smiled approvingly. "Oldest story in the book. She met a man. An 'Archaeologist', who specialises in Martial Arts"
"Went straight because of him?" Kaito questioned, trying not to smirk.
"Something like that. But last year she was in Paris with him. Took him down to the 'Fox and the Rat'. You've heard of it?"
Hakuba shook his head. Kaito nodded. In supposedly the seedier part of town, hangout for thieves and rouges. Good place to gather and exchange information, a sort of an underworld networking place. He caught Hakuba's eye, motioning that he'd explain it later.
"She took him there, looking for information on Origami. Evidently her friend had been framed by Origami and they were looking to clear him. Ended up causing a brawl at the 'Fox and the Rat'. Property damage, the whole nine yards. Got the police called in. She's now person non-grata in Paris."
Kaito winced. Hakuba shot him an inquiring look. "You know that saying 'honour among thieves'?"
"Yes." Hakuba nodded. "Depending on who you talk to, it means nothing at all or quite a bit."
Chat Noir gave him a small smirk. Kaitou were not ordinary thieves, they had a different standard to uphold, so were definitely part of the later category. However, Kaito had worked with --undercover, of course-- with some of the former before and much preferred to work alongside his own rare breed.
"Exactly. Lie, steal, what ever. But you don't tattle on other thieves."
"A sort of professional courtesy." Chat Noir interjected with a smirk.
Kaito smirked back, fangs politely hidden. "Kill, and you're a murder who steals. Squeal, and you're no longer a thief, you're a tattler."
"Viper," Chat Noir said with a grave finality "Is no longer a thief."
"Because she changed loyalties." Hakuba said cautiously. "So therefore, she is not to be trusted. By anyone."
She'd get no help and no resources from anyone on the 'wrong side of the law'. No one would take the risk that she wouldn't betray them to the authorities. The Law themselves would be hesitant to help her, because she had once been a criminal, someone they chased.
Chat Noir smiled. It wasn't a polite smile, more of the baring of teeth a cat would make before toying with a mouse. "Exactly."
Hakuba gave her a level look. She sparkled back at him, taking a sip of her coffee, eyes narrowed in cat-like pleasure.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. Just what was she getting at? He wasn't actively looking for heist jewels, but that was because he had found what he wanted, not because of the detective. And he'd all but told Hakuba who he was --either of him-- when he suggest coming to England. Hakuba wasn't going to use it against him.
... wasn't he?
No. Kaito trusted the detective at least that much. He wouldn't be here if he wasn't sure of that. Hakuba was at least as great of a gentleman as he was if not more so. He did not betray confidences.
Hakuba nodded. "I have no intention of asking him to do anything more than he wills to do."
Chat Noir's eyes narrowed down to mere slits. "Keep it that way." Somewhere in the background, a cat growled.
Kaito scowled slightly at her, torn between figuring out her motivation and defending the detective. She caught the look and smiled sweetly at him, any and all hints of anger gone. "You're away from your family on this side of the world, mon garçon." She reached over and ruffled his hair fondly. "Someone must watch over you in their absence."
His face grew hot and he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or pleasure that someone liked him well enough to want to keep an eye on him. "Ah," He swatted her hand away, embarrassment winning as he stammered. "Cha-Ca-Catherine-neechan!!!"
She smiled at that, practically glowing in happiness. "Ooh! I like that. 'Cat-neechan'. You should call me that. Both of you." She gave Hakuba a small salute with her cup. "After all, we are family. Of sorts."
"A family of rogues." Hakuba quipped dryly, returning her salute. "Auntie Kitty."
'Auntie Kitty' grinned roguishly at him in response. Kaito sighed. He'd have to explain to her in more detail just what had happened in Japan. Later.
"So." The dark haired woman asked, brushing the serious business aside as she turned back towards him. "What do you and your husband want to do today?"
He and Hakuba gave her identical looks of not-quite mock horror. "AUNTIE KITTY!!!"
-fin-
Thanks to Dagron for the French help!
* Tokyo Tower is 333 metres tall.
Viper, Origami and the bar come from 'Jackie Chan Adventures'. Details may be a little bit off because it's been so long since we've seen that episode.
