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Ranpo felt confident as he approached the home of his dear Poe, for he had multiple cases he was eager to tell his partner about, and that he assumed his partner would be just as excited to hear that the great detective and his super deduction were at it again! He figured it’d be refreshing to see his Poe, as well as his raccoon, Karl, after a long, yet exciting week of quickly solving mysteries. Ranpo fiddled with his keys for a moment, trying to find the right one.
"I'm here!"
he shouted as he walked through the door, but all he received in response was the echo of his own voice. He immediately knew something was off, for he heard no rustling, yelps of surprise, or little feet. Little feet got the man thinking about Karl, the architect's pet. The detective did a quick scan of the rooms, not seeing any sign of life in the home. That was until he approached Poe's room. In a heartbeat, the raven-haired man flung the door open, for he could hear muffled sobs coming from the room.
Poe's usually kept room was a mess. It had papers everywhere, books upon the floor, balled-up blankets, and a miss-placed chair. A laptop was clearly in need of repairs now. Ranpo ran over and crouched down next to Poe, who was sitting on the floor by his bed, shaking out of fear, and with the most pained look on his face that Ranpo had ever seen. Poe was holding Karl in his arms. Ranpo looked at the scene, with terror in his eyes. Slowly moving down to be level with his lover, Ranpo carefully brushed the long, wavy bangs out of the taller man’s glossy and distressed eyes. Poe flinched and looked up to Ranpo. Poe was crying, and the only reason for that, right now, would be that his beloved raccoon, was dead. Ranpo hadn't need super deduction to figure that out. When Ranpo had realized this, he started to tear up as well. All the times the three of them spent on walks through the park, sharing snacks, and cuddling on the couch, would all be a memory. Every silly little thing Karl did always bung a smile to their faces. He looked at Karl's cold, dead eyes, and shut his eyelids. The small man started to pet Karl's dark fur gently, taking this moment to remember how it felt. As Ranpo stroked Karl, Poe looked at the man next to him. He calmed a bit, knowing there was someone there with him in this time of despair, and outstretched a hand to his former rival.
Ranpo, looking up with faint tears in his eyes, took Poe's hand, as the American softly whispered a prayer. He'd asked for Karl a peaceful transition into the afterlife, and to see him there again. Ranpo wished this for Karl as well. After Poe finished praying, he finally spoke.
"R-ranpo?" He said between sniffs.
"Yes?"
his human companion replied in a calming tone.
'Are you- are you going to die too?"
asked Poe.
Surprised, Ranpo firmly squeezed his hand.
"Of course not Poe Kun. I'll always be here by your side, like I am now."
The detective said, failing to fake a smile. Poe carefully set down his now unenergetic pet on a nearby pile of blankets and took Ranpo into a firm embrace.
"...Always?" said Poe.
Ranpo’s eyes widened at the question, but then calmly shut. He hugged Poe tighter.
"Always."