Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

So...

Um...

Well...

One, I have writer's block.

Two, there are some major changes I plan on making to the prologues.

Three, too much real life happening.

Four, I need an actual plot. 

Five, I have too many other stories in my head.

In conclusion, I need to reorganize this story and also force myself to actually write.

In the meantime I'll keep what I already posted here and deal with them when I actually have the revised versions.

This note was written June 17, 2024

Chapter Text

So many things have happened.

Kudou Shinichi and Miyano Shiho finally got their adult bodies back, but the fight wasn't over.

The Black Organization still looms large.

Death seemed inevitable after their latest clash; six on their side were isolated from the rest and were severely injured. Death, however, didn't take them in; instead, they woke up at the Academy of Parea. Thus, formed the Hiraeth Association.

No one knew what had happened.

The last thing they remembered was escaping from the exploding factory, certain that they weren't going to be alive after this. But now, not only were they alive, in perfectly fine conditions too, they realized that they are somewhere they don't know.

The room was completely white, other than the floor-length windows on one side. Outside the window, it looked to be spring, a warm day with sunshine, flowering trees, and the chirping of birds. They were sure that the clash with the Black Organization happened in winter.

Before their thoughts could carry them any further, the door (also white) opened and a man with a weird curl in his hair came in,

followed by half a dozen cats.

He introduced himself as Herakles Karpusi.

Karpusi explained to them the nature of magic, which, unsurprisingly, sent Kudou Shinichi into an existential crisis. He only calmed down (slightly) after being told that logic also applies to magic.

Everyone else visibly relaxed after knowing that magic isn't going to intervene in their fight against the Black Organization. (Except for Akai Shuichi, who never even looked nervous in the first place.)

But that raised other questions.

Who is this man? How does he know about the Black Organization? If magic exists what's to say the Black Organization won't gain it either? Also, what's happening outside if they are here?

Karpusi exited the room, told them to come to the forest when they've rested enough.

"Where's the forest?" Miyano Shiho asked.

"You will know." And with that, he left.

The detectives weren't new to danger, yet this situation didn't send shivers down their spines as some others had. Their curiosity had the final say, and before they realize it, they were outside the room.

The corridor was brightly lit, but it was empty and long, and there seemed to be no doors other than the one they came from and the one at the end.

The door at the end of the corridor led to a courtyard, and on the other side of the courtyard, a forest.

They found Karpusi deep inside the forest, where the dense forest opened to a clearing, a giant laurel tree in the middle, right beside where he was standing.

And more strangely, standing beside him was Morofushi Hiromitsu, who should have died years ago.

Akai Shuichi remained unfazed, though it's not like anyone noticed, as they all had their attention on Furuya Rei, who had tears in his eyes. It's not everyday you see Furuya crying. No, scratch that, no one has ever seen Furuya cry. (Maybe other than Akai and Hiromitsu)

Their story isn't exactly an open secret, yet everyone more or less knows. No one had dared to ask Furuya about it as it had always been quite a sensitive topic.

Watching the reunion, Shinichi sneaked a peek at Akai, and saw him talking with Karpusi. They were too far away to be heard, but their solemn expressions didn't escape the young detective's eyes.

In hushed voices, Akai had asked Greece about the sudden teleportation.

He didn't receive an answer.

Akai knew enough to know further questioning would be futile. He had known this years ago, when he first asked for Karpusi's help.

By now, Furuya and Hiro had finished their emotional outburst of an reunion, and Furuya was throwing daggers at Akai. Which Akai promptly ignored and walked up to the duo. (Yeah! Whiskey Trio reunion!)

Furuya grabbed him by the collars and whispered threateningly, "FBI! You better explain this and don't think I'll ever forgive you."

To that, Akai and Hiro shared a knowing smile. Which caused Furuya to scowl. Hiro patted him on his shoulder and turned to look at Karpusi, who kept his distance. 

Hiro and Furuya continued to talk about all that had happened these years, with Akai occasionally offering his own insights (most of which got dismissed by Furuya).

Never once did the topic of Hiro's undeath(?) come up in the conversation. (Technically, either Hiro or Akai will change the subject the moment it's mentioned)

"It's time!" Karpusi called, voice lethargic yet demanding, as if they are on a tight schedule. (Well, they are) 

Akai and Hiro were the first to follow, which meant Furuya would be going with them. Sera Masumi didn't want her brother out of sight, so she quickly followed.

Hattori, whose common sense might not always exist, ran after them like a teenager with ADHD.

Shinichi took some time convincing Shiho to follow. (No, she's not paranoid... She might be.)

Registration went by without any major disasters. When asked to give a name to their group, Hiro said "Hiraeth". This most definitely caused some confusion, but they didn't think too much about it.

Shiho then asked an essential question, "What's happening out there if we are in here?"

"Time will weave an appropriate story, we might need to alter a few memories. What I can confirm is by the first time you leave here, at most two months would have past." Karpusi replied calmly.

Silence fell upon the group. Until it was interrupted by,

"Kolkolkolkolkol..."

"Aiyah! Ivan, stop aru! There are other people aru."

...

"Ve ~"

"Why the bloody hell did I agree to this?"

"O hon hon hon ~"

"Shut up, you frog."

For the first time that day, Karpusi had a look of annoyance, and he made no attempt in hiding it.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Los Angeles, CA, USA

8:00 PM, PST

"Yuu-chan, Yuu-chan," Kudou Yukiko waved her hand in front of her husband's face, "Yuu-chan!"

"Yukiko, I have a deadline."

"But Yuu-chan, we are meeting with some people today in New York, and the plane leaves in 3 hours."

"..." Kudou Yusaku abruptly stopped typing and packed his laptop, "I can't believe I forgot."

"And Yukiko," he said to his wife before getting his coat, "you will not be driving today."

Yukiko pouted.

One hour later, Los Angeles International Airport

"Ne, Yuu-chan, who are we meeting with today? You didn't tell me last time."

"People who might be able to help our son."

"Really?! Wait, why didn't you tell me last time!?"

"Because they might not be able to help us."

"Yuu-chan, talk like a normal human being..."

"I meant that they may or may not be able to help."

Yukiko visibly deflated.

"Don't worry Yukiko, if they decided to meet us then that means they have agreed to help."

"How can you be so sure..."

"If they are not going to help, they would have sent a message. The fact that they're asking to meet proves that they most likely have a plan."

"Are you sure we can trust them?"

"Nothing else we can do, they already know the situation now," Yuusaku sighed, then mumbled to himself, "though I have a feeling they actually know more than we do."

"Yuu-chan, what did you say?"

"Nothing, Yukiko."

"Tell me tell me."

"It's really nothing."

"Fine." Yukiko huffed, "At least tell me who they are."

"I don't really know, other than the fact that they work for the government."

Central Park, NYC, NY, USA

Alfred F. Jones (America) arrived at Central Park later than he wished.

"Dude! It, REALLY, wasnotagoodideatowatchhorrormoviesatnight!"

After he calmed down, he took out his phone and dialed Greece's number.

............

"Is he seriously asleep again?!"

... Yes he is.

Elsewhere in the park, on a bench, surrounded by at least a dozen cats - and that's not including Mount Athos and a half-dozen others that followed him from Greece - and fast asleep, is the nation of Greece, aka Herakles Karpusi.

He had his phone beside him on the bench but showed no signs of hearing the ringing.

"Um, excuse me, sir," a passerby tried to shake Greece awake but found great difficulty even getting near the man, as Greece was, for the most part, covered by cats.

"Um, mister?" the passerby finally reached Greece's side, tiptoeing around the cats, "Your phone is ringing."

After a few shakes, Greece finally opened his eyes and yawned before looking at the stranger.

Some time passed before Greece realized his phone is ringing. He picked up his phone and sleepily offered a thank you to the stranger before answering.

It's only after the stranger had left Greece finally answers the call,

"Yo Karpusi! Why aren't you answering my calls are you asleep again no scratch that you were obviously asleep anyways I'm at the entrance by the Frederick Douglass Circle where are you!?"

Greece had to hold the phone some distance away to protect his (and the cats') ears from the loud voice. "I'll come and find you," he then stifled a yawn and replied, not in his usually sleepy voice, "You are 30 minutes late, I think I'm entitled to a proper nap after waiting for 10 minutes. And if you don't have all preparations done I'm leaving for the airport without you."

America was surprised by Greece's tone, but considering the circumstances...

When Greece arrived he was glaring at America in a way that was usually reserved for Turkey. The only comical part about this is the half-dozen cats following him, including Mount Athos in his arms and another on his head.

JFK International Airport, Queens, NY, USA

9:45 AM EST

The plane from Los Angeles arrived at the airport, and Yukiko continued pouting, "Yuu-chan, I don't want to EVER fly economy again..."

"Yukiko, we need to be inconspicuous."

"Fine. Anyways, where are they meeting us?"

"Well," Yuusaku took out his phone, "one of them emailed me, they will be waiting outside the terminal, and it says to look for 'a hyperactive teenager in a bomber jacket and a half-asleep man with cats.'"