Chapter Text
Ranpo flops himself down onto the train seat, nearly kicking a man on the seat next to him, atsushi giving him an apologetic smile and bow of the head as he sits down next to ranpo,
Ranpo rights himself on the seat and sets his hands behind his head with a sigh, yet, atsushi doesn't notice how he actually doesn't relax at all, too busy looking at his phone holding the directions they are going to have to go once off the train,
'atsushi! I'm bored!' ranpo basically whines quickly shifting to lean onto atsushi both hands on his shoulder and leaning into his personal space, 'ranpo! Sit down' atsushi is pink in the face as people begin to stare, but ranpo doesn't relent 'gimme your phone! I accidentally left mine at the agency!'
'What? No! I'm sorry ranpo but I can't loose these directions!' atsushi trys to keep the phone from ranpo, but the older man is quickly trying to grab it, causing more eyes to roam to them, the feeling of eyes on atsushi causing him to slowly go more embarrassed, while ranpo eventually relents and sits there with a massive huff on his face and arms crossed
'the train ride isn't long ranpo, I'm sure you can do without my phone for a bit..' atsushi sighs as he relaxes into his own seat again 'okay.. BUT! Can I have it for just a quick moment?' ranpo holds his hand out expectingly, at atsushi defleats quickly as he sets the phone into ranpos hands,
True to his word after about a minute ranpo sets the phone on atsushis leg, still open on the directions from before, no new apps downloaded or any new messages sent, after looking through his phone thoroughly atsushi pockets it as they stop at the station before theirs,
'one more station before we get off ranpo' atsushi begins to inform sending a quick glance to the detective beside him, only to see ranpo with his head resting on the head rest behind him and breathing calm, atsushi believing the other is asleep, smiles softly and decides to leave him until it's time to get off..
Nothing truly interesting happens for the rest of the train ride, as they reach the station, atsushi gently shakes ranpos leg to wake him up, ranpo grumbling as seats atsushi's hand away and sits up a bit more as he slid down the seat slightly at some point 'are we nearly there?' ranpo asks as he rubs at his eyes, 'less than a minute away' atsushi replies
The train goes into the station, a few of the people in ranpo and atsushis cart get up, pushing past the two to get off before the doors closed, the two barely made it out before the doors closed, ranpo dropping his hand and atsushi somehow dropping his phone,
'awh no! My phone is cracked..' atsushi whines as he sees the badly cracked screen of his phone, the cracks eminating from the middle and webbing towards the sides, obviously stood on at some point when dropped..atsushi groans as he turns the device on and see green lines running across the desplay, parts of it not responding to input when atsushi presses on it 'this is going to cost a fortune to fix...' he murmers as he puts the device back in his pocket..
Ranpo looks towards the clock on the station wall 'we are going to be late if we don't get moving' ranpo says pointing towards the clock on the wall 'well.. Best get moving then.. Let's go ranpo' atsushi says begining to make his way out of the station, ranpo following suit,
And if atsushi doesn't notice a person dressed in yellow following behind, ranpo says nothing..
'oh atsushi! Let's go this way! I want to go to this new cafe that's over this way come on!' ranpo yells setting his hands on atsushis back and basically shoving him the other direction he was going 'ranpo!' 'let's go let's go! Come on!!'
And if ranpo goes the way that takes longer, making sure to keep atsushi infront of him, no one notices anything...
They arrived at the case 10 minutes later than they should have, atsushi immediately apologising for being late to the police and forensics, they stand away from the crime scene, ranpo, on the other hand walks over to the body, lifting the tarp covering the body and taking in the evidence surrounding, taking notes of the injuries..glasses already resting on his nose
Male, around the early 30s, 32 to be exact.. Brown hair, pepperd with grays.., a large scar running across the neck, just missing the jugular jagged and healed awkwardly, messily.. Scar also on the cheek, a chunk of the ear missing.. All seeming old, the most recent injury is a large injury running across the eyes, mangling the eyelids, and when ranpo lifts up the remains of what couldve been called a eyelid, the eyes underneath seems to be gouged out and missing,
The males clothes are olden and filthy, stained with a myriad of unknown substances, well, they could be known but ranpo doesn't deem them to be important as of right now.. Though one is blood, another is mud that much is obvious from first glance and the situation at hand, the man's name is English, Arthur Lester, he was here for business leisure of some sort,
He was killed by someone obviously..
But who, ranpo cannot figure out, whenever he tries it's like the culprits name slips away from him.. He remembers red, Blood, a manic smile.. A music box?.. A crazed laugh..
Ranpo is kneeling next to the body, his eyes opened and raking over the man's body fully, even with his glasses he is struggling to keep the information, the information he has already is useless in this situation, other than the fact he is a music composer who made music for his daughter, who he was trying to win custody of after a rough patch of being an alcoholic and rehabilitation..
Ranpo hears the snap of a twig too late before he is surrounded in a yellow glow and surrounded in kanji..
'wha?..' the police is informing atsushi of the situation one of them noticing ranpo surrounded in the yellow glow and point towards ranpo.. One of them smile and grab atsushi's shoulder keeping a firm grip.. Keeping him from turning around..
Ranpos vision is going yellow at the edges, the yellow glow fading swiftly, once atsushi shrugs off the police and turns around the ability glow is already gone..
Ranpo stands swiftly, swaying as his vision continues to slowly go yellow, and if he opens his eyes, they would see emerald green turning to a vibrant gold..
Footsteps come from behind ranpo before he is smacked on the head... Harshly with a shovel, atsushi runs over as ranpo falls to the ground out cold.. As the yellow cloaked figure turns and runs off, a half mask resting on their face the rest dark no features seen as atsushi is beside ranpos side 'Ranpo!!'
Atsushi sets his hand on ranpos shoulder, a thin trail of blood runs down the back of his head, onto the nape of his neck making his hair get matted with blood from where he was hit and the blood trail down, atsushi sets his hand on where the blood is coming from, trying to stifle it the best he can, the police look around shocked before atsushi yells over 'What are you all doing?! Ranpo just got knocked out find them before they run off to far!!' and with that the police run off in many directions, though one seems to have already been gone,
The police that grabbed atushi's shoulder is gone.. Perhaps even before ranpo got knocked out... Atsushi keeps a hand on ranpos head as he uses his other to pull out his phone, cursing as he remembers how damaged it is, he ignores feeling of blood seep into his hand as he trys to navigate through the damage on his phone, calling his top contact.. That apparently being dazai...
It rings five times before dazai even picks up, 'hello at su shi! ~ what do I owe the plea-' dazai greets in a light tone, before atsushi cuts him off 'dazai! Ranpo was hit in the head, someone attacked during the case, police are out searching but I don't think I can carry ranpo, and if I could I don't think it would be wise to take him on the train!'
Its quiet on the other side atsushi debating saying something again before finally dazai replies, 'on my way' and hanging up, atsushi sighs as he puts his phone away..
It takes a while before dazai comes drifting into the scene, atsushi has turned ranpo into a vauge replica of the recovery position keeping his head where it is and turning his body not sure of if its right.. Dazai barely stops the car before he is out and over at ranpos side, 'how is he?' he asks eyes going 100 mph taking in everything..
'he hasnt woke yet..from what I saw he was hit quite hard, the bleeding finally stopped but started again just recently'
Dazai nods as he begins to lift ranpo, 'keep his head steady, ready?' atsushi nods as dazai begins to lift ranpo, atsushi keeping his head still until he's properly in dazais arms before setting ranpos head on dazais shoulder,
Dazai sets ranpo on the back seat, laying him down 'here, sit where his head it, put it on your lap and keep it stable again' dazai says to atsushi, atsushi nods and sits on the passenger side in the backseat setting ranpos head on his lap and putting his hands on the side of ranpos head, dazai shifts and moves ranpo into a hopefully comfortable position before closing the door and getting into the driver's seat,
Atsushi is sure he ran through multiple red lights, nearly ran through a family of four and is going over the speed limit.. But they make it to the agency swiftly so he isn't complaining too much.. Ranpo still hasn't woke during the drive yet dazai drove like a mad man..
Dazai carries ranpo into the elevator, atsushi standing beside him, rocking onto his heels before onto the balls of his feet... The elevator ride never felt this long before..
After what felt like hours but realistically couldn't have been a few minutes at most the doors open and dazai basically sprints over to yosano's office.. Yosano standing at the door waiting for them the moment dazai and ranpo was in she walked away and let the door close..
After a minute dazai exits and there is a audible click as yosano locks the door...
Ranpo didn't wake for 5 days..
Yosano is obviously worried eye bags begining to appear under her eyes, fukuzawa hasn't left ranpos side since yosano deemed it safe enough for ranpo to have visitors.. Dazai is spending a long time with ranpo as well he hasn't been tormenting kunikida at all during the 5 days, kenji is worried but it still trying to keep spirits bright, the siblings have been busy with school but also spend some time with ranpo, kunikida has relaxed on his schedule and cases the slightest bit.. kyouka has spent most of the time clinging to atsushi, or with Kenji, even if she doesn't show it, she is worried....
They are all worried for ranpo..
It is night when ranpo wakes up,
He startle awake as someone calls his name, far too close and loudly for his liking, and then... He panics...
He knows his eyes are open, he feels they are open, and yet he cannot see, his head rings loudly before a voice cuts through
'it's okay friend.. Calm down.. You are in I believe a medical area..'
'Who are you?! Where am I?!'
Ranpo can't see... He can't deduct where he is or who the voice is if he can't see them.. He doesn't know this voice... His thoughts feel like they are water, slipping through his fingers, never staying long enough for him to properly know..
'it's late, friend...why don't you go back to sleep?'
The voice says, too loud.. Too close.. Yet as ranpo yawns he can't think long enough to panic anymore.. He's too tired to panic nor think anymore.. And falls back to sleep..