heroes and thieves
chapter one - prologue


It's a rainy morning in March. Narumi Kiyotaka sits in a booth along the wall of a small diner, drinking deep from a mug of coffee. And across from him, on the other side of the booth, a young woman absently twists the long strands of her blonde hair into a braid.

The tall detective sitting across from her hasn't said anything, and the young woman is glad for that. She called him here for a reason - well, a few reasons, really, but one important reason - yet is having trouble finding her words. Kiyotaka is still technically her boss, after all. She's never really been afraid of him, but in this specific situation, she's worried about what he'll say.

Specifically, she's worried that he'll say "no." And then her whole plan, her ideas, her carefully thought-out map for the next few months, will all be for nothing. And the two years she's spent in Tokyo will be for nothing, too. And -

"Yui."

She looks up, suddenly, because the detective has said something. And the entire right side of her hair is almost completely braided.

"Sorry." Kiyotaka smiles, steepling his fingers together over the now empty coffee cup on the table. "You looked very deep in thought. I don't mean to rush you, but..."

"O - oh. No, it's... it's not a problem. I understand." She releases her hair with a sigh, and it falls to rest against her shoulder, the fine strands loosening and releasing most of the braid. "I realize that you have to be at work very soon, so..."

"For a moment, I wondered if you'd forgotten your name. I was trying to get your attention for quite some time." He chuckles. "I suppose it has been a very long time since we've used it."

"... ah," she murmurs, glancing away from him. She's been Yui, last name unknown, a former orphan and ward of Japan, contract employee to Narumi Kiyotaka for something like nineteen years, and Yuizaki Hiyono for only one. But somehow it seems like the last twelve months have been the most important.

"Well." Kiyotaka's voice is soft, almost understanding, as if he knows what kind of thoughts are running through her head right now. "Have you called me here to end your contract? Our time is almost up, after all, and now that your job is coming to a close - "

"No," she says, quickly, and looks back to him. "I... actually, I would like to ask if I could - no. I would like to request a favor."

"A favor?"

"Yes, I... truthfully, I..." She swallows down the lump in her throat. "I know that there is... research to be done, now. And that your remaining funds will go toward..." She swallows again, but it's useless, the lump won't go away, and there's a twinge of pain low in the pit of her stomach when she finally speaks his name. The name of the person she is about to betray. "... toward Narumi-san's health."

"Oh, yes." Kiyotaka nods, smiling again. "That is the plan… assuming Ayumu is victorious, of course."

"I... I would like to help. In any way possible." She closes her eyes tight and bows the best she can, her ribcage banging against the edge of the table. "Please."

The detective is silent for a moment. She doesn't know if he's surprised, or if he's been expecting this all along. Knowing him the way she does, she's sure he's anticipated something like this. But whether or not he'll agree -

"Hmmm." When she opens her eyes again, she sees that a waitress has arrived at their table to refill Kiyotaka's mug. He grins and nods his head in thanks as she turns to walk away, and when he looks back at the blonde across the table, the grin hasn't faded at all. "I wonder," he begins, lifting the coffee to his mouth, "do you speak any German, Yui?"

"... what?"