Chapter Text
It was a cold and abandoned night in the outer city of Hoshi. Without the tall walls of the inner city, the icy wind blew with bitterness, leaving the homeless to huddle together for warmth. Not even the moon or stars wanted to look upon this gutter tonight. Harukawa Maki was fine with this. She didn’t even want to look at herself tonight.
Climbing through the open window of a small attic like a cat, she was greeted with the scent of a burning candle. He’d stayed up waiting for her again—but then again, he always did.
Saihara Shuichi was flipping through a book, his hand over his mouth as he studied its contents deeply. The candlelight flickered in his grey eyes, making them look faraway. Maki had no desire to disturb him. Walking as silently as a whisper of wind, she took to the small bathroom that they shared. It was best if Shuichi didn’t see her anyways.
“Ah, Maki, your back.” Shuichi suddenly blinked out of his daze and turned to her. She cursed under her breath. He somehow always knew when she moved. “The candle light flickered,” he explained bluntly. His eyes immediately scanned her form and his lips pressed in a thin line. Maki averted her gaze. He commented with faked nonchalance, “I’m guessing it was a success then?”
“Don’t be stupid,” Maki turned around and continued to her destination, “your plans are always successful. It’s why we are still around. Why we have the reputation we do.” Shuichi followed her into the bathroom. “No Maki,” he retorted, “it’s because of your skill that we are still here. I’m just doing all I can to make it easier for you.” Shuichi frowned and he wetted a cloth.
Maki didn’t say anything and averted her eyes from the mirror. She felt sorry that Shuichi had to look at her like this. Then again, they both should be used to this by now. And it was by his insistence that he always washed the blood from her skin.
He dabbed the cool cloth under her eyes, the fresh bright stain of blood clear on the white cloth. “She didn’t even see me. It was a quick death and a perfect shot. Removing the arrow was messy, however.” Maki fiddled with the arrow she collected from the victim’s neck in her hands, the crimson blood still on it. “The money will be sent to us tomorrow morning.”
“I wonder how long we will have to continue this for.” Shuichi sighed and moved to her hands, washing them for her. “I hate that we have to play a part in this.”
“We do what we need to do to survive. You need to steel yourself.” Maki told him as much as she told herself. She didn’t assassinate for the fun of it. Nor did Shuichi plan these flawless murders for her with glee. They did this for survival. So, that one day it would be over. “We just need a bit more money. Then you can stop using your skills to help criminals and start using them to help solve crimes. We can move to the inner city. Or maybe somewhere faraway”
Shuichi smiled sadly at that and he washed the blood from the arrow. “Maki we aren’t anywhere near close to the number of funds we need to leave the Guild. We should have never signed up with them. It was a mistake.”
“Don’t say that!” Maki exclaimed, drying her hands and throwing the cloth to the floor. “We would have starved on the streets and the orphanage would have been cut funding, we had to do it!” She curled her hands into fists. “One day you’re going to help people Shuichi. Even after all these years you’re still soft at heart. I don’t even know what I am anymore. I’m just tired.” Shuichi opened his mouth, but Maki cut him off. “And we will have enough funds very soon. If all goes well.”
“What…” Shuichi tilted his hat down, covering his eyes, “do you mean by that. We are so far off, even if you worked for—“
“I was given an offer two days ago.” Maki sat on the lower bunk of their bed. Shuichi blew out the candle, the room left in total darkness. His response was wary, “What kind of offer…”
Maki’s words were blunt. “The king will die tonight. He was poisoned and his body is frail and old.” The King was a well-liked man. He’d ruled for over 40 years and he’d stopped many wars that Kibou was participating in. Yet, he was too generous with his coin and misguided in its use, leaving him in debt to many nations. Quality of life in the Kingdom of Kibou fell despite the lack of wars, but the King was an idealist who still managed to give the people hope even in the dire circumstances of poverty and famine. In his later years however, the aristocracy had begun to rule the kingdom and the citizens of Kibou were worse off than ever before and their king could do nothing. Maki was not glad nor mournful of his death.
Saihara jolted out of his bed in surprise, the creaking sharp. “King Momota?! Maki you didn’t--!”
“Calm down Shuichi. I didn’t poison him. I would have told you first. Apparently it was one of his servants, or something, but they purchased the poison from the Guild.” Maki explained. “The job I got offered was about his heir.”
“Ah his heir…” Shuichi tussled his brain for a name. The old king had one son, who died in war before he could ever be crowned. Luckily his son had a child before his death and so the king had a single grandson and only heir, or so Shuichi had heard. The man wasn’t 16 yet and hadn’t been formally introduced to the kingdom. “If King Momota dies then it’s more likely Queen Momota will take over the throne than the young prince.”
“Yes, I thought that too but,” Maki turned to her side, speaking to the darkness. “I don’t question my jobs. I kill. It’s simple.” She spat the words cleanly, well practiced but bitter. “The pay was ridiculous Shuichi, we would have enough to move if we take this job.”
Shuichi closed his eyes. He could picture it. A life where his investigative skills weren’t used to help crimes, but to prevent and solve them. He hated his life with every fiber of who he was. He hated himself for having any part in it. Even though he’d taught himself to read and write, in beggar’s clothes and a home in this part of town, there was nowhere for him. “I think there might be a rebellion or a coup.” Shuichi thought aloud. “First the King, then his only heir. Someone is trying to end the monarchy. What I don’t understand is why they are allowing Queen Momota to live.”
“Do you want to die? It doesn’t matter.” Maki wanted Shuichi to stop thinking about it. “All you need to do is think of a plan. The Prince Momota will be very well guarded after his grandfather dies. I’ll give our confirmation of the job tomorrow at the King’s funeral. It might be our last kill.” Maki’s words were definitive and Shuichi’s hated how his mind had already started to think of schemes.
Shuichi looked at his palm, a mere shadow in the dark. “This might be our last kill,” he repeated to himself like a prayer. One more. Prince Momota. It seemed suspicious to him, but if it wasn’t them, the job would be given to another. That’s the way this world worked.
And Shuichi wanted to escape it.