Work Text:
When Edgar Allen Poe had heard that the Guild was going to be taking a trip to Japan, specifically Yokohama, he quickly made plans to finish his murder novel that he had been writing for six whole years.
The time had finally come, the entire reason that he had joined the Guild, was finally going to be paid off. Soon enough he would be going head-to-head against his rival, Edogawa Ranpo.
Six years prior, the both of them had begun working on a murder case together. Poe was quite excited to be working alongside a strong willed and genius detective. This was the first, and ultimately one of the last, times he had worked with someone else.
He had heard quite a bit of Edogawa Ranpo. In fact, the only reason he had come to Yokohama, and studied and learned Japanese, was all to meet this great detective.
When it came to introducing themselves for the very first time, it was sort of chaotic.
Poe, still fresh from learning Japanese, was walking down the police station with a ‘Japanese for Beginners’ Module. He was so concentrated in his reading that he hadn't noticed a younger male walking out of a room.
They collided and soon both of them were on the floor and Poe’s module had flown in the air and struck Ranpo in the head.
“OW!” came a loud whine from the person in front of Poe.
He hoped it didn't leave a concussion, as the book was a hardcover. Poe always preferred hardcovers rather than paperbacks due to the fact that they were sturdy and didn’t bend as much. Now he knew they made a great weapon for injuring innocent people.
Poe wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. He was terribly embarrassed, here he was just five minutes in a different country and already making himself seem like a fool.
“Ah, I’m terribly sorry. I was so concentrated that I did not see you.” Poe rushed out in a worried English voice.
He quickly took his hardcover book, now a weapon, and tried to see if there were any bruises on this bystander.
“Ow!” the detective murmured, rubbing his head, “Anyways, what are you saying?” replied the boy in Japanese.
Although his ability was Ultra Deduction, there was no way he could deduct what this foreigner had told him.
Poe instantly blushed. Of course, no one would understand him, he was in Japan, an entirely different county with its own language for crying out loud. He quickly remembered what he said and repeated it in Japanese.
Ranpo would never admit to this, but he was surprised when Poe spoke Japanese for the first time. It had sounded very natural coming out of his mouth and he soon wanted to hear more from him.
“Oh, hm, it's alright, I suppose.” the younger man had said, they were sitting on the floor, and it didn't seem like they were in any rush to stand up.
Poe just stared at the boy, intrigued by his clothing. It looked like he was a detective and he slowly hoped it wasn’t the Edogawa Ranpo. If it turned out that this young man who he had bumped into, and probably given a concussion, was Ranpo, the greatest detective of all time, he would surely never let anybody see him out in public again.
“The names Edogawa Ranpo, greatest detective of all time. Although I’m sure you already knew that” the young man, well Ranpo, replied, somehow knowing that he was just thinking about him. Poe quickly stared at the floor.
‘No’
‘No’
‘No’
‘No, no!’ was the only thing that was going through his mind. This was just his luck, this detective would think very little of Poe, and he would not stick around to see his detective skills.
“Ranpo, this makes matters even worse” started the writer, “I am Edgar Allen Poe, an American, who has come to meet you and show my detective skills too.”
Poe was on the verge of tears because how could the man he looked up to and was so excited to meet, be the same one he bumped into.
Ranpo had already deducted as much, so he stood up and offered a helping hand to the latter. “Well nice to meet you Poe-Kun” was all he said and soon was off.
That first impression would always stick in Poe's mind. He was both pleased and sad that the device had left without another word. He had an urgent sensation that wanted to know more about this man.
Poe did not want this to be the last time they met and soon thought of ways to interact with him once more. He quickly bought a house, yes in Japan, he had planned to stay there for a while, and thus needed a home. He would travel to markets and shops, both in hopes of seeing his dear detective and because he needed things for his new home.
While on his stay, there was a big murder that had happened downtown, and he quickly rushed to the scene of the crime. Due to his incredible luck, Ranpo was also there. Rather than standing still, like everyone around them, he was seen walking up and down and eating gummies.
Soon they were both partnered up and thus the investigation began. Poe was thrilled that he would finally be able to interact properly with the other detective, he made sure not to bring any hardcover books this time. He was going to show Ranpo that he too was a skilled detective and would be worthy to be on his level.
Poe assumed that the case would take at least a week and that they would be spending a considerable time together. He had already found out a crucial piece of evidence and was on his way to tell Ranpo, when the latter took him by the hand and said nothing.
“What the hell” he muttered in English, because he was so confused at what was going on. The pair were now cruising down the police station.
“Shush, I don't even understand what you're saying, so don't speak at all,” the detective said while sucking on a strawberry lollipop.
Immediately he had shut up because what else was he supposed to do? He didn't know where anything in Yokohama was and so he placed his trust on the younger detective. He never let go of his hand, and while Poe was confused, he didn't put too much attention to that fact.
“Chief, this case is solved. I know who the killer is and how the murder took place,” was all that came out of Ranpo’s mouth once they hit the investigation room.
The look on Poe's face was something out of a movie. To say the least, he was utterly shocked. It had been half an hour since they were placed on the same team and now they, well Ranpo, had figured the case out?
No, this must have been impossible. Sure, Ranpo was said to be the greatest detective of all time, but this couldn't be. There was no way he had solved this case in such a little amount of time and without and without any evidence.
As soon as Poe was going to comment something, the chief interrupted him. “Incredibly done once again, Ranpo-San. Please come inside and tell us.”
Poe was left outside, still in shock. He couldn't move nor could he comprehend what had just happened. If the chief had already seen Ranpo’s display of solving a case so quickly, why the hell did they need Poe for?
He didn't do anything. He didn't solve the case in mere minutes, nor did he have time to show his detective skills. Poe felt a strong urge of embarrassment and felt as though a rock had punched him in the gut and taken all of his self-pride.
That rock was no other than Edogawa Ranpo. Was this his plan all along? To humiliate and bring Poe down? Was this revenge for dropping that stupid hardcover book on him?
It must have been. He had probably teamed up with the chief in order to achieve this downright humiliating plan.
Poe did not stick around to find out if his theory was true. He rushed back to his house, a place where he was slowly getting used to, and packed. He packed and packed and soon he was just putting random items with tears dripping down his face.
Is this what it feels to lose to someone? Is this what it feels like to lose your life? Your sense of purpose?
Had Ranpo taken one look at Poe and deemed him insufferable? Was Poe truly that useless?
Edogawa Ranpo was no longer someone he looked up to. From this day forward he would be his sworn rival. And he intended to get Ranpo back for this humiliation.
Now we turn to the present. After those long, depressing, and difficult six years, Poe was finally going to show Ranpo who he messed with.
The Guild had made plans to leave North America in four days and so every member quickly began to make preparations with their luggage and family. They had all decided that this trip would be a nice distraction from their everyday lives.
It was early in the morning when Poe had entered the Guild’s Headquarters. It was a tall obscure building, and it was very spacious making it so that each member had their own office in the building. Poe had pulled an all nighter in order to make his final preparations with his novel.
Poe wanted to leave immediately, desperately wanting to be closer to his revenge and his rival. But of course, it wasn't just him leaving, it was the entire organization.
He began to wonder what look Ranpo would make after getting defeated. Would he feel the same way Poe did all those years ago? Will he feel humiliated and feel a lack of pride?
‘Oh, how good he will look beneath me’ he thought but was slowly pulled out of his thoughts by Louisa.
How long had she been trying to get his attention; he doesn't know but he was grateful he was pulled out of his thoughts because thinking of his rival too much did him no good.
“Miss Louisa, here are the next three manuscripts for the Guild's architect plans.”
“Why thank you Mr. Poe.” she started “Sir Franics, will surely be delighted with the advanced manuscripts, but may I ask why you rushed ahead?”
She appreciated his efforts but was more concerned in the fact that Poe was overworking himself.
“Oh” he was quite embarrassed to admit why he was working so hard.
“Well, as you know I have been to Yokohama before, and I have made plans with my dear riva-, um friend.”
He was quite reluctant to use the word friend, but he didn’t want Miss Louisa to think anything about it.
“I do hope that that is alright?” he asked because no way did, he want to get in trouble with the organization that took him, and Karl, in.
“Oh, of course Mr. Poe! Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your plans with this special somebody” she said flustered and leaving quite quickly. She hadn’t known that Poe had a lover in Japan, and honestly, she didn't want to stick and find out.
Why had Louisa looked so red and used the term ‘Special somebody’? Poe stood in the empty headquarters and then it dawned on him. Louisa had mistaken his so-called ‘friend’ for a secret lover.
‘Fuck no.’ he thought as his face started to heat up. He was just embarrassed, he thought to himself.
No way would Poe ever have romantic feelings for his rival. The person who he lost his pride and sense of purpose to. The fact that Louisa thought so was honestly mind blowing.
You could definitely tell her special ability wasn’t Ultra Deduction. Oh god, why was he now thinking about his dear rival?
Poe quickly decided to leave the Guild Headquarters and find something to get his mind out of Edogawa Ranpo.
He didn’t know why but his mind was always going back to him. It was like he purposely wanted to be forever intact with Ranpo.
The following days were the slowest days of Poe’s life. He couldn't fathom how time was going slower than usual. He desperately wanted to be on the Guild’s private jet on his way to Yokohama.
Well, it wasn’t that he wanted to go to Yokohama, it was that he needed to go. It felt as though there was a string attached to him and his rival. Each day it was pulling him closer and closer. Poe didn’t want to understand what that implied.
He didn’t want to question why he dedicated six entire years of his life obsessing over a novel just to prove to his rival who was better. He didn’t want to stop and think about why everything reminded him of Ranpo.
He would go to markets and take a look at the sweets section and stop and think about what his rival would get.
“Ranpo wouldn't eat the spicy hot tamales,” he had once explained to Karl, receiving dirty looks from the other customers. He was always self-conscious about looks from other people but when his mind was stuck on Ranpo, he could hardly care. “He’d prefer the powdered donuts.”
He would take long walks in the rain just because he didn't feel like staying inside all the time. He would walk out so long that sometimes the gloomy clouds became one with the sun and his mind would take him back to Ranpo.
He would sit outside cafes practicing his Japanese because he wanted it to be absolutely perfect for the next time, he saw Ranpo. He wanted Ranpo to look at him and tell him; “Wow, you never faze to impress me with your talents.”
He stopped buying hardcover books and switched to paperbacks, even though he disliked them because he never wanted to hurt Ranpo again.
Why did everything in his life, in America, which was 6,059 miles away from Yokohama, remind him so much of the detective who changed his life for the worst?
This question made him lose sleep, yet Poe did not want to cross and open borders. He didn’t want his mind to wander off and come up with some ignorant conclusion. He would rather lose years of sleep than ever finding out what that means.
Soon enough, it was the day that the Guild was finally going to Yokohama, Japan. No one had been more thrilled than Edgar Allen Poe, but he omitted that fact from his fellow co-workers.
He tried to stay to himself and talk occasionally to Karl throughout the entire trip. Although the Guild had been very kind to him and his pet, he did not like interacting with such a loud crowd.
But at times, he could feel Miss Louisa glancing towards him. It was pretty weird, but she was probably thinking back on their conversation about how Poe was going to visit his “special friend”. He really needed to clear up that misunderstanding.
The trip took a little over fifteen hours, but it was definitely worth the wait. If anyone paid Poe close attention, they would notice that he was blasting with excitement and determination.
As soon as they landed in Yokohama, Poe was instantly taken back to the first time he set foot on his journey all those years ago. He remembers that day by heart and will probably be thinking about that day for the rest of his life.
The Guild had made preparations to stay at a five-star hotel that Franics had booked for all of them and while Poe appreciated the offer, he had his little house to get back to.
Karl was in awe the entire journey to Poe’s little gothic house. There was much going on downtown Yokohama, yet Poe had managed to block out all that noise and commotion and focused on Ranpo. He secretly wished that he would see him shopping at a market or getting some of his detective work done.
Although it had been years, six to be exact, Poe could remember every single detail about Ranpo’s face. Those eyes that always managed to be closed but could see everything. He could remember the clothes he was wearing. His brown detective outfit that revealed he was a detective investigator. He could even remember what brand of gummies Ranpo had been eating the day they got placed to work on the investigation together.
Those gummies could not be found anywhere other than Yokohama. He had known because he was determined to find some back in North America but did not find any to his luck. So, he paid the cleaning crew he got to look over his house to send him those sour gummies each time he craved to feel Ranpo.
Beforehand, he had made arrangements to set up Karl his own room and it was just incredible. Karl had hopped out of Poe’s lap the minute they entered the house and immediately went to rest on his new comforter.
His house still looked the same and it definitely encompassed a part of Poe before his defeat to Ranpo. He wanted to keep his house away from any darkness, not physically, but he wanted his house to represent the reason why he had come to Yokohama in the first place.
Poe could never understand why he still felt a sort of admiration for the detective when he was his rival. Ranpo had taken everything away from Poe, yet all Poe wanted to do was keep thinking about the detective but not in an ill-mannered way.
He quickly moved to go to bed due to the jetlag, but all of a sudden, his breath faltered for a moment. His eyes had come across a hardcover book, but not just any hardcover book. No, it was his “Japanese for Beginners” hardcover book that he had accidentally used as a weapon the first time he met Ranpo.
It felt as if time stopped in front of him and their first meeting was taking place. Suddenly he wasn't Edgar Allen Poe but just a mere bystander watching this interaction.
“Ah, I’m terribly sorry. I was so concentrated that I did not see you.” said a young man in English. He had looked so lost in thought that he hadn’t seen the other man in front of him.
“The names Edogawa Ranpo, greatest detective of all time. Although I’m sure you already knew that” the injured man had told Poe.
Seeing this interaction from another perspective, it seemed like something that had come out of a novel. Soon he was the reader and could tell everything that he was feeling. He could tell that Poe, that himself, did not go to Yokohama for mere admiration, no he went because of love. Poe decided to go to Japan and buy a house and change his lifestyle because he was in love.
Tears were quickly dripping down his face, and he didn't know what to do. He wanted to scream out. He wanted to rip that hardcover book and throw it into the fireplace. He wanted to cherish that book forever. He wanted to reach out to the scene in front of him and take Ranpo into his arms and hold him. He wanted to look into his eyes, not closed but open, and make him feel everything that he had made him feel. He wanted nothing more but to kiss his dear rival.
‘No’
‘No’
‘No’
Days later he found himself leaving an envelope outside of the Armed Detective Agency’s office. It was titled to Edogawa Ranpo, and he was sure that Ranpo would soon get it.
What happened a few days ago with the book was nothing more than a breakdown, Poe had convinced himself. He was tired from the trip and wanted to get revenge as soon as possible, that was the only plausible explanation.
Poe wasn't in love with his rival and his rival isn't in love with him.
The hardcover book that has caused him such distraught was now locked away out of sight. He almost burned it, but Karl had stolen the book. Nevertheless, he was sure that with it out of sight, he would no longer break down.
From this moment on everything would go according to Poe’s plan. He was soon going to get his revenge and show Ranpo just how humiliated he had once felt.
It was eleven in the morning when Poe had heard the doors open to the abandoned warehouse he had selected for his revenge.
Karl had been quite squirmy and kept moving but Poe had explained to him before leaving that this was all going to go according to plan and that he had reason to worry. He even told Karl to fall asleep as this was going to take ages. The mystery murder novel that Poe had written had taken six years to write so surely it would take longer than half an hour, longer than a day to solve.
He had to admit that he was quite disappointed when he saw that a woman had accompanied Ranpo. Poe had wanted to be alone with Ranpo and get him all to himself but oh well, this was probably for the better.
The pair that had just walked in stared at Poe and then started at themselves. They seemed to be communicating without words and Poe instantly became jealous. Just who was this mysterious woman that had taken away his minutes with Ranpo.
“It’s been a while, Ranpo-Kun.” he started in Japanese, slightly thanking whatever god that his ability to pronounce had gotten much better. “Were you able to solve the riddle at the entrance?’
He was quite intrigued by what his rival had to say. He had placed high bets that it was fairly easy, but he wanted to get praise from Ranpo and hear his thoughts.
“Who are you again?” left the mouth of his so-called rival.
Poe could not begin to understand. Ranpo, for the last six years, was in his head constantly, and it was getting to the point where it was daily. His entire life was changed and while he so desperately remembered Ranpo and what had happened in the past, he didn't remember him? Was Poe truly that forgettable that the greatest detective of all time couldn't remember him?
“You don't remember me?” came out more like a sob than anything else. He had been hurt, and Poe wasn’t sure why he didn't expect this. Ranpo had hurt him once in the past, he was foolish to think it wouldn't happen once more.
“No” once again his pride and ego had been hit.
“I only joined the Guild so I could redeem myself against you!” Poe had whined out.
He had dedicated so much of his life to Ranpo only to be rejected. But this time Poe had a plan, and he wasn't going to be humiliated once more.
The younger detective, and that woman, continued to stand in the room in silence.
“I am Poe! For the last six glooming years of my life, I have endured the crushing shame of being defeated by you.”
Poe had stood up to make sure that Ranpo got a good look at him. He no longer had long hair and his outfit was much more sophisticated and looked very mysterious, like a detective should be.
“Can you speed this up? I'm getting quite bored and falling asleep.”
“HUH?!” he yelled in English.
Poe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Here he was giving the best speech of his life, he had practiced for half an hour before coming, and yet Ranpo threw that out the window. Did this detective not get any fucks about who Poe was and what he was doing here?
Still, Poe kept his head high and carried along with his plan. Karl, not wanting to fall asleep, now stood there and witnessed this interaction, he was quite intrigued.
“Read this detective novel I've prepared for you and determine the identity of the serial killer.” he started and then went on to reveal his plans.
If Ranpo were to somehow manage to beat Poe once again, he would hand over the Guild's secret. Like he had said before, he cared for the Guild to some extent, but the only reason he was even with them was all for this revenge.
As he had predicted, Ranpo, and the woman, were shocked when they saw the glowing light of Poe’s ability being activated. He was quite satisfied that they had fallen right into his trap and that Ranpo hadn't been able to deduct what was going to happen.
Soon enough they both entered Poe’s murder novel and he couldn’t help but to laugh out of joy, and revenge. Karl had been quite surprised but just continued listening to Poe rant on about how he was finally getting his revenge and how he hoped they both died.
Well, no, he didn’t necessarily want Ranpo to die because he needed him to still praise Poe and tell him all the good things about his novel. That’s the only reason why he wanted Ranpo to live, it wasn't because he loved him or anything.
Quickly Poe shut down any of those ignorant thoughts and began to laugh and stare at the book. It wasn't a hardcover because he wanted everything to go perfect and because the thoughts of hardcovers had been a sort of sensitive topic to think about as of recently.
Poe was quite pleased with himself after an entire hour had passed. He was so glad that Ranpo hadn’t figured it out in half an hour, like the last time they worked together. He was willing to wait an eternity if that is what it would take.
By the end of two hours there were two things Poe gained from his second meeting with Ranpo.
The first thing he learned is that Ranpo truly was the greatest device in the world. He had somehow solved the mystery and gotten him and the woman out of Poe’s novel. He felt foolish for underestimating his abilities.
The second thing he learned was that he was never going to live up to Ranpo’s level. He solved what Poe created for six years in two hours.
“Poe-Kun, all those years ago might've seemed like a waste but to me it showed that you were worthy of challenging me.”
Poe looked up from the ground and there was an immense light shining through the cracked windows. The sun was not shining on just Poe or just Ranpo, it was shining on both of them at the same time.
“I await your next challenge, Poe-Kun!” and with that the pair from the Armed Detective Agency members left.
He wanted to cry, not out of sadness or out of anger but of happiness. Although he had lost once more, it didn't feel the same way it did all those years ago. He felt like a burden had been lifted out of his shoulders. He desperately wanted to get home and start working on a new novel for Ranpo. Poe now had a new purpose in life, and he had felt happier than ever.
As they left, Ranpo had turned to look back and saw that Poe was crying with a smile on his face. He couldn’t help but feel his heart strings pulled and he quickly paced forward wanting to get back to his sweets at the office.
The next time the two rivals met once more it was with no ill intentions. Instead, it was filled with new beginnings and desire to see each other more.
Poe showed up to the Agency with his new manuscript, those sour gummies Ranpo had eaten years prior, and the stupid hardcover book that had started it all.