Relaying CCTV footage he collected from as many locations around the cafe she disappeared from, Shuichi's uncle sat at his desk, perplexed. He massaged his throbbing temples as he replayed the footage of Kyoko Kirigiri being hauled into a van another time.
There wasn't a clear view of her face (as the footage had been collected from inside of a nearby shop) but the woman in the video was no doubt Kyoko. The van zoomed past and dragged her into the vehicle; all he could make out were hands which certainly didn't belong to her - hers were always gloved, but that was common knowledge.
What he didn't understand was how the van seemingly knew how to avoid the majority of the security cameras around the city. This abduction had been executed with maximum precision, almost like it had been thoroughly calculated. This wasn't just any accident - someone was out to get her. At least that's what he believed it looked like.
There were no witnesses to the crime, no number plate on the vehicle and ultimately no leads. His whole investigation so far had been a dead end.
Detective Kirigiri was known throughout every detective agency in the country as an extremely capable young woman. If she hadn't already escaped, she was either in real trouble or likely dead. He prayed it wasn't the latter.
He cut back to the part where the van approached and slowed it down as far as it would allow him. He adjusted his glasses and leaned forwards so he could try to see who her captors were, or any possible identifiable features. She needed to be found. Fast.
-
The loud birdsong he woke up to that morning came so sweetly, almost tangible, as if it were softly spun cotton candy. Shuichi faded back into existence blankly and opened his eyes. The sky outside was still grey, though calm, peaceful. It was another normal day; the continuous tedium of life looped yet again. It was as if nothing had ever happened. He gritted his teeth in an inward grimace as he acknowledged that what had happened wasn't a dream. This couldn't possibly be a normal day! Without Kaede the whole world couldn't possibly go on--
But it was. The world was thriving, and that's what felt so surreal.
It was an alien feeling, waking up to a world so blind and bland. Part of him wanted to believe that he himself was a figment of his own imagination because there was no way he could survive without Kaede. The only way he could portray how he felt was empty, it was indescribable otherwise.
He felt as if his entire life was on autopilot and he didn't have any control over it, defencelessly spectating from the sidelines. Did he even exist? When would he wake up from this nightmare?
He sat up slowly and stretched his arms above his head in a wide mouthed yawn. The time on his phone read 09:14; much later than he usually woke up, but perhaps his body needed the rest. He'd had a tough few days, after all.
He was supposed to meet Kokichi at the cafe at 10, but all he wanted to do was stay in bed and waste away. Despite this, he still wanted to see him again. Kokichi was all he had.
Shuichi dragged himself sluggishly from bed and took his time getting ready - there wasn't any rush, he supposed. The only resolve he had was his promise to Kaede to discover the truth of her sister's disappearance. Besides that, he had no motivation to do anything. The only reason he was willing to move today was because he was eager to see his friend. Maybe it'd do him some good.
He'd do this for not just himself, but Kaede too. He wouldn't be needing any accessories today.
Shuichi looked in the mirror and a hollow shell stared back.
-
She tapped her long nails against the desk. "The boss has plans today, it seems."
"With the detective?"
YOU ARE READING
Deceit - The Phantom Thief
Fanfiction**COMPLETED BUT UNDER REWRITE** It is human nature to survive, to cheat death at every opportunity, but what happens when detective Shuichi Saihara is faced with a seemingly simple case that delves far beneath the surface of rationality? It begins a...
