[voice]

[unquestionable]

[ Ryu wasn't at all keen on being seen if he could avoid it, but a text post would be too frigid. He had to make himself seem accessible in some capacity even if he didn't care to be. People would be most likely to give information if he used the voice function, he decided. It gave a sense of anonymity without complete disconnection. ]

I'm in search of a detective.

However... don't ask me why.

[ It was evident from his tone of voice that he didn't care to waste time even if it did mean sacrificing tact. ]

Comments

[unquestionable]

[ Then he'll have to pursue the issue until he does give it up. ]

A single question isn't an interrogation. Answer it.

[tanteiotaku]

I'm surprised to find Fuuto's brightest inspector here, of all places. Ryu Terui, isn't it?

[unquestionable]

Don't ask my name if you already know it.

[ To identify him by voice alone, though... well, that was mildly impressive. ]

Redirecting the subject isn't doing you any favors, Hidari.

[tanteiotaku]

[Well. Voice and general assholishness.]

There aren't any other detectives here. If there's one you're looking for you'll have to tell me which one.

[unquestionable]

[ Ryu hadn't always been the way he was now, but many things had changed to make him the person he had become. ]

Very well. I'll speak the name you so clearly wish to avoid.

Narumi Sokichi. Tell me about him.

[tanteiotaku]

[And now he kind of wishes he hadn't egged him on. Oh well.]

He's not here.

[unquestionable]

[ Hidari's answer gave him pause, but only for a second. He wasn't going to let up yet. ]

Then tell me where he is.

[tanteiotaku]

Taking a vacation, hopefully. He deserves one. But he's far too hard-boiled to ever take a rest no matter how much he may need one.

[unquestionable]

You're only his trainee, aren't you?

No, I don't think he would leave things to you. You're lying.

[tanteiotaku]

That's ridiculous! Why wouldn't he?

[unquestionable]

You're incapable of filling his role.

[tanteiotaku]

[And there goes all the wind out of his sails]

If we're going to discuss this it's going to be in person. Your cellmate around?

[unquestionable]

If you had anything useful to say you would already have said it. Consider this conversation over.

[ The next bit of the message is privately encoded. ]

G-111. Show up if you have the nerve.

[tanteiotaku]

[Instead of answering he just shows up. Hat on but otherwise in the jumpsuit]

G-Block is a part of my territory. Just like the rest of this prison.

What is it you want with the Boss?

[unquestionable]

[ Terui's vision immediately ventured upward to Hidari's hat. He made no effort to disguise his scoff.

He was leaning against the wall of his cell with his arms crossed, his expression showing just how unimpressed he was as he gave the so-called detective a one over. ]

You don't get to ask anything until you answer me with something that isn't a lie.

[tanteiotaku]

[He adjusted his hat a bit before he answered.]

Terui Ryu has been put in G Block. It doesn't take a detective to know what that means.

[unquestionable]

[ If he wasn't glaring before, he most certainly was now. ]

That fact that is irrelevant.

[tanteiotaku]

You wanted me to tell you something that wasn't a lie.

[unquestionable]

[ At that he pushed himself from the wall, moving closer to Hidari. ]

Tell me what I want to know and if there's any patience left in me by the time this is over you might get the same in return.

[tanteiotaku]

[He's just standing there, hands in his pockets and he's not backing down. But his guilt is all over his face.]

Why do you need to know so badly? You're not ever getting out of here.

[unquestionable]

[ For a fraction of a second Ryu's expression also faded to guilt, but he was swift to cover the feelings that would only bring him to weakness. He couldn't tell this rookie detective that this case was the only thing he had left, that if he hadn't spent all of his time on it he might have been there to save his family. A shallow resolution was all the world had left to offer him, but that was something Hidari Shotaro could never know.

When he spoke, the edge in his voice remained as if he had never doubted himself at all. ]

It's my job.

[tanteiotaku]

A cop doing his job in prison is less welcome than a detective. But we're both going to do what we have to.

[But finally. Finally he caves. It was that little bit of humanity under that anger.]

Sokichi Narumi was murdered.

[unquestionable]

[ This time he manged to control his expression, but his body visibly tensed. In a way, he was now angry with himself. He had made Hidari relive memories he likely wanted to leave behind him, just as he wanted to forget his own pain. His gaze fell to the floor as he considered just what to say. ]

How?

[ His tone softened, but it was still firm. If Narumi Sokichi was murdered that meant his case was far from closed. ]

[tanteiotaku]

[He leans against the doorway, and he doesn't make eye contact anymore.]

If you're looking for the person responsible, I'm right here.

[unquestionable]

You?

[ Any control Ryu had over his emotions evaporated in a matter of seconds. His shock made way to anger, and before he could stop himself he had marched across the divide between them and grabbed Hidari by his shirt before flinging him against the wall. ]

That man trusted you and you killed him?!

[ He was yelling, but he made no attempt to calm himself. What did it matter who heard them? ]