#arda writes

[arda-ancalima]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 大逆転裁判 | Dai Gyakuten Saiban | The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles (Video Games) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Asougi Kazuma & Barok van Zieks Characters: Asougi Kazuma, Barok van Zieks Additional Tags: Sickfic, Sick Character, Hurt/Comfort, Developing Friendships, Self-Indulgent, Fluff Summary:

To Kazuma’s dismay, he falls ill and is stuck in the care of his insufferable mentor, who may not be as aloof as he appears.

[arda-ancalima]

Fowl Language

Rating: G Characters: Kazuma Asogi, Gina Lestrade, Barok van Zieks Words: 1,293

For @tgaa-gen-week Day 7 - Free Day (just a little something silly to finish off the week!)

-

When the work day had come to an end at last, Kazuma tried to shake off his irritations. Van Zieks had been especially petty lately, at least it seemed to him, and his patience with the man was wearing thin.

Kazuma paid for the fish and chips and sat down next to Gina on a bench where she was winding her watch.

“Ta,” she mumbled, slipping the watch in her pocket and taking the cone he handed her.

Taking a bite of his piping hot chips, Kazuma watched her through the corner of his eye. She was idly munching on her food while watching people pass with a wistful look in her eye. It didn’t take a great detective to guess she was thinking about the watch’s previous owner.

“Lestrade,” Kazuma said, deciding to cheer her up. “I want you to help me with something.”

“Wot,” she said disinterestedly.

“I want to know how to swear in English.”

Gina glanced at him sidelong. “Come on. You must know. Ya learned English in that fancy university o’ yours, didn’t ya?”

“They don’t teach crude language in the classroom,” Kazuma said, crossing his arms.

“Sure, but weren’t you a sailor and all? You must’ve ‘eard ‘em all then.”

Technically deck hand, a much less impressive job, but he wasn’t about to correct her. “The crew communicated in English, but no one spoke it as their native language. I learned to swear in Russian, Chinese, and Dutch, but not English.”

“Then wot ‘bout while you’ve been livin’ ‘ere? Just go down t’ the pub or somethin’.”

Maybe if he had someone to go with, or had any energy left after a day of keeping up with his mentor’s unrelenting pace. “Look, I know a few words, but you have the most colorful language of anyone I know. I just want a handful of expressions I can use when Lord van Zieks is being a pain. Rattle him a little.”

“Oh. Oh, I get it. It’ll be a prank, then?” Gina got a little gleam in her eye. “I’ll help ya, ‘Sogi.”

Kazuma was pleased to see her perk up. “Great. So what’s a decent insult I could use?”

Humming, Gina considered a moment, then said something in his ear.

“Why are you whispering?” Kazuma said, drawing back.

“It’s impolite t’ say these in public, ya know,” Gina said. “There’s kiddies around.”

There weren’t any within earshot of their bench, but then again she understood British culture better than he did. “I guess so. But that doesn’t sound very rude.”

“Oi, you’re askin’ my advice. I’m the expert ‘ere.”

“Right, right.” Kazuma put up his hands. “How about an exclamation of surprise?”

“Surprise, eh? Ooh, I got one for ya!” She whispered something else to him.

“Hm. I suppose that does sound a bit off-color. Any others I should know?”

“One ya say when you’re proper angry. The worst o’ the lot.” Gina lowered her voice. “The F word.”

Kazuma was intrigued. “What is it?”

Gina glanced around, then pulled him close and whispered a word in his ear.

“Is it really that bad?” Kazuma pulled back with a raised eyebrow. “That sounds like two ordinary words.”

Nodding seriously, Gina said, “Oh yeah. That’ll scandalize ‘im for sure.”

“Good. Well, thanks. He’s going to be shocked when I throw these at him.”

“Oh, ‘e’ll be surprised, all right.”

“I can’t wait to see the look on his face.”

“Ha! I’d like to see that.” Gina went back to her food, munching with more vigor, and Kazuma was satisfied that he had accomplished his mission. At least the first part.

He didn’t have to wait long for the second part, as van Zieks was in a mood again the next day.

“Mr. Asogi, go pick up the autopsy report.”

“Yes, I’ll do that as soon as I’ve—”

“No, do it now.”

Every word of his since he arrived had felt short and prickly, and his instructions were more like demands. Kazuma had enough.

“Fine,” he said. Then just loud enough for van Zieks to hear, he added, “Son of a motherless goat.”

Van Zieks glanced up from his desk with a brief look of bafflement, but his ever present scowl slid back into place. “Why are you still standing there?”

Kazuma sighed and grabbed his coat. It wasn’t as satisfying a reaction as he hoped for, but it was a start.

On another occasion, they were at a crime scene where they learned of evidence that changed their entire understanding of the case.

Kazuma shook his head. “Gee willikers.”

Van Zieks narrowed his eyes as he took in the scene. “That’s certainly one way of putting it.”

Kazuma was a bit surprised van Zieks didn’t chide him for his rude language. It seemed like the sort of thing he would take issue with in his apprentice. But maybe he was so distracted by rethinking the case that he didn’t fully take in what Kazuma said.

Another day, Kazuma had spent hours working out an approach to their prosecution, writing a lengthy report explaining it and double checking his work. When he finished, he explained his theory to van Zieks, going point by point through his argument. Van Zieks listened without interruption, sitting back in his chair with his face as impassive as usual.

“Mr. Asogi,” he said at last. “The argument you have laid out is impressive, and you’ve improved in your presentation.”

Kazuma would have been pleased by the praise, had he not been able to hear the “but” coming from a mile away. He sighed. “What is it?”

“I wonder if you’ve forgotten the first witness we spoke to.”

It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. He had completely forgotten. It dismantled his entire case, and he would have to start over from the beginning.

He was so upset with himself that without thinking he swore terribly.

“Fiddlesticks.”

Van Zieks’ eyes were on him immediately and Kazuma realized what he said. He had been hoping to save that one for when van Zieks really deserved it, and this had been Kazuma’s fault entirely. He would just have to make the most of it.

But van Zieks’ expression changed from neutrality to mirth, and to Kazuma’s great astonishment, he laughed.

It was brief and quickly hidden behind the grim set of his mouth, but Kazuma knew he didn’t imagine it.

Once he had recovered from the shock, he remembered what had made him laugh in the first place and grew indignant.

“W-What’s so funny about all this? I spent all day on that report!”

“It’s not that, it’s—” Van Zieks’ lip quirked upward again. “Where did you learn that word?”

Trying to reign in his embarrassment, Kazuma said, “Wh— does that matter? It’s an expletive, everyone knows that. I might have picked it up in a pub or something.”

Van Zieks shook his head. “Someone has been pulling your chain. I had wondered where the sudden use of innocent exclamations came from.”

“Innocent?!” Kazuma tightened his fists. “You mean fiddlesticks isn’t a dirty word?!”

“I can’t say I know the meaning, but it is regarded as harmless.”

“You teach me something, then. Tell me the worst word you know!”

“No. Now I believe, Mr. Asogi, that you have a great deal of work to catch up on. You better get started.”

“Argh…” I have a certain Inspector I need to pay a visit.

When Kazuma stormed up to Gina’s desk at Scotland Yard, she took one look at his furious face and lit up in glee.

“Did you say ‘em?”

“Darn you, Gina Lestrade,” Kazuma growled, slamming her desk. “Darn you to hell!”

She laughed her face off.

-

Bonus incorrect quote:

Kazuma: Oh, spare me the sanctimonious lecture. You never cared about me. In the words of one of my actual friends: ya basic. It's a cockney insult. It's devastating. You're devastated right now.

Van Zieks: …?

[arda-ancalima]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Genshin Asogi, Yujin Mikotoba, Herlock Sholmes Words: 1,770 Summary:

In the short time he worked for Scotland Yard, Genshin Asogi had already grown used to Herlock Sholmes meddling in his cases. But it is a surprise when the one to approach him at a crime scene is instead his friend Yujin Mikotoba.

-

Genshin stepped outside and took a moment to gaze up at the stars. It was late. While he would have preferred to be at his flat finishing up a letter home rather than waiting around at a crime scene after dark, such was detective work. Wandering to the gate of Number 3, Lauriston Gardens, he watched for Inspector Gregson’s return from an errand. A man with a similar silhouette approached in the fog, but to Genshin’s surprise, the man soon illuminated by the street light was Yujin Mikotoba.

“Ah! Good evening, Asogi,” he said politely.

Genshin raised an eyebrow. They were on the other side of London from the hospital where Mikotoba worked, and farther still from the flat he just moved into on Baker Street. “Good evening. I should inform you that this is a crime scene, so whatever business you have here will have to wait.”

“Oh, it—it’s nothing like that,” Mikotoba said, oddly nervous. “Actually, I was wondering if perhaps…”

Genshin cut him off. “One moment.” He stalked along the fence to the shadow attempting to creep in between the rails. “Mr. Sholmes.”

Sholmes snapped up his head and hit it on a rail, wincing. “Why, Mr. Asogi! Fancy meeting you here!”

“I could say the same,” Genshin said, crossing his arms. “All right, on your way.”

Continue reading on AO3

[arda-ancalima]

A Study in Shuffling

Characters: Genshin Asogi, Yujin Mikotoba, Herlock Sholmes Words: 1,743

For TGAA Gen Week Day 1 - Dancing @tgaa-gen-week

(Update - edited version now on ao3!)

-

Genshin stepped back outside and took a moment to glance up at the stars. He wasn’t exactly pleased to get called to a crime scene tonight, but such was detective work. He wandered to the gate of 3 Lauriston Gardens, waiting for Inspector Gregson to return from an errand. A man with a similar silhouette approached in the dark, but to Genshin’s surprise, the man who stepped into the street light was Yujin Mikotoba.

“Ah! Good evening, Genshin,” he said politely.

Genshin raised an eyebrow. They were on the other side of London from the hospital where Mikotoba worked, and farther still from the flat he just moved into on Baker Street. “Good evening. I should inform you that this is a crime scene, so whatever business you have here will have to wait.”

“Oh, it—it’s nothing like that,” Mikotoba said, oddly nervous. “Actually, I was wondering if perhaps…”

Genshin cut him off. “One moment.” He stalked along the fence to the shadow attempting to creep in between the rails. “Mr. Sholmes.”

Sholmes snapped up his head and hit it on a rail, wincing. “Why, Mr. Asogi! Fancy meeting you here of all places!”

“I could say the same,” Genshin said dryly. “All right, on your way.”

“Of course.” Sholmes’ grin shone in the lamp light. “Just as soon as I’ve had a look at the crime scene.”

“No,” Genshin said firmly. He saw Mikotoba hovering nearby and put up a hand. “One moment, Yujin.”

“Oh, er, you see…” Mikotoba began.

“He’s with me,” Sholmes said.

“Ha!” Genshin barked. “I’m sure.”

“Tell him, Doctor.”

 “Lying will get you nowhere. Now quit bothering this man and—“

“Er, Genshin,” Mikotoba interrupted. “I am here with Mr. Sholmes.”

Genshin whipped around to stare at him. “What?” he said dumbly.

“This is my flatmate, Herlock Sholmes. Mr. Sholmes, this is my friend, Genshin Asogi.”

Sholmes extended his hand and Genshin automatically went to shake it. “Pleased to—no, I know who you are!” He snatched his hand away. “What do you mean, your flatmate?”

“I told you about that flatshare on Baker Street, right?” Mikotoba said.

Horror filled him. “You didn’t tell me he lived there!”

“I didn’t know you were acquainted.”

“This is all fascinating stuff,” Sholmes said, making it clear that he thought it was anything but. “However, we are on a rather tight schedule, so if we could just…”

“I thought I made it clear on several occasions that civilians, even amateur detectives such as yourself, are not allowed at any crime scene,” Genshin said.

Sholmes drew himself up to his full height, which was still a good few inches shorter than Genshin. “And just how is Scotland Yard coming along on this case?”

Narrowing his eyes, Genshin glared at him. They were going nowhere, but he wasn’t about to admit that to Sholmes.

“That’s what I thought,” Sholmes said, his smug look doubling Genshin’s irritation. “Anyway, I was invited by Inspector Gregson.”

“Somehow I doubt that.”

“Just ask the good doctor.”

Genshin raised an eyebrow at Mikotoba, who rubbed the back of his neck.

“Well…he was doing a lot of grumbling…and he did mention the address, so…could we take a quick look?”

Genshin couldn’t believe he was actually considering this. He gave an exasperated sigh. “Five minutes.”

“Splendid!” Sholmes said, climbing up over the fence and pumping Genshin’s hand. “You won’t be disappointed, my dear fellow!”

He went ahead into the house and up the stairs, while Mikotoba followed behind with Genshin.

“I’m used to Mr. Sholmes wheedling his way onto my crime scenes,” Genshin said, “But I still don’t understand why you are here.”

Mikotoba shrugged. “I’m not sure myself. But he invited me along, and I had nothing else to do.”

“I really must warn you against him,” Genshin said, lowering his voice. “Especially as a flatmate. The man is a nuisance, and possibly insane.”

“He seems a decent enough fellow,” Mikotoba said. “Eccentric perhaps, but from what I’ve seen, a brilliant man.”

“Listen, Yujin.” Genshin stopped on a landing. “You see the best in people, which is admirable, but can get you into trouble. I don’t want to see you get in over your head. You tend to get swept along in whatever someone asks of you.”

“Yes,” Mikotoba said with a faint smile. “Like how you and Seishiro bullied me into coming to Britain in the first place.” He took the last few steps ahead of Genshin.

Genshin sighed through his nose and stepped up to the door, nodding to the bobby guarding it, and went inside.

Sholmes took a quick look at the body in the middle of the room, before turning his attention to the walls. After he had scoured them, he gestured to the body. “Doctor, if you would.”

“What—me?” Mikotoba said.

“What is your professional opinion, as a medical examiner? It would be very useful to me,” Sholmes said.

“W-Well, I…I’ve only just begun studying post-mortem examinations, but…I’ll do what I can.” He crouched beside the body, carefully turning the head to get a better look at it. “He’s dead, that’s for certain…no signs of head trauma…” He picked up a hand. “No blood, no defensive wounds…erm…heart attack, perhaps?”

“Would it be a crime scene if it was a heart attack?”

“Oh, right, then…poison?”

“Excellent!” Sholmes snapped his fingers. “Now take a look at this marking on the wall and tell me what you make of it.”

Mikotoba jumped when Sholmes pointed it out. “Oh! There is blood! It looks like writing.”

“Rachel,” Genshin said dryly. It had been the most glaringly obvious clue in the room.

“Is that indeed what it says?” Sholmes turned his grin on him, and Genshin got a sinking feeling. “Scotland Yard is falling down on the job these days. This crime is completely transparent to me!”

Mikotoba gaped, and it needled Genshin to see him so impressed. “You—you’ve worked it all out?”

“All the clues are here, we need only put them together.” Sholmes pointed aloft. “It is time for Herlock Sholmes’s Logic and Reasoning Spectacular!”

Genshin groaned as the spotlight fell on Sholmes, who twirled around the room as if it were a stage and pointed to the red writing.

“Here we have a word written on the wall. What does it say?”

“That’s obvious,” Genshin said, his arms folded as he watched from the doorway. “Rachel, though he was interrupted before he could write the ‘L.’ I believe it to be the victim writing the name of his killer.”

“Rachel, is it?” Sholmes said. “Mikotoba, is there any other meaning it might have?”

“Well, this is a bit far-fetched,” Mikotoba said. “But I know a little German. It struck me that it might be ‘rache,’ the word for revenge.”

“Precisely!” Sholmes spun around again. “Don’t lose your time looking for Miss Rachel. The word is revenge, the motive for the murder, written…in tomato paste.”

“Er, Mr. Sholmes…” Mikotoba ventured. “Don’t you think that might be blood?”

“Indeed, it is blood!” Sholmes disappeared from the wall and reappeared near the body. “And just what is this revenge all about? Strange that it was written by the victim, don’t you think?”

Mikotoba said nothing, looking intently at the victim, thinking hard. Then something seemed to light up his face. “Hold it, Mr. Sholmes. That’s not it at all.”

He tapped out a few dance steps before tipping his hat stylishly. “The victim’s fingernails are perfectly clean and smooth. Since the word was scratched onto the wall with blood, it couldn’t possibly be the victim who wrote it.”

“And thus it concludes…” Sholmes spun so that he and Mikotoba could point out the solution together.

“Rache was written by the killer!”

They began work on another clue in the same manner while Genshin watched in astonishment. From time to time, Sholmes turned over the spotlight to Mikotoba, who danced as he explained his own deductions. He was light on his feet, suggesting a certain lightness of heart that had been absent in him for a long time.

Softening at the sight, Genshin almost missed Sholmes appearing behind him.

“Brilliant, isn’t he?”

Genshin chafed at the detective so close over his shoulder. “He is. You on the other hand…”

Sholmes laughed loudly and went off to twirl around the stage again.

Once their deductions were complete, Genshin, to his chagrin, had a much better understanding of the case.

“All right, your five minutes are more than up,” he growled.

“Not a problem at all, my dear fellow,” Sholmes said. “Our work here is finished. Do excuse me, I must fetch the victim’s missing suitcase in the back alley.”

He dashed down the stairs. Genshin and Mikotoba went back outside at a slower pace, waiting by the house while Sholmes conducted his search. Genshin sighed.

“Why don’t you like him?” Mikotoba asked.

“Why don’t I—why do you like him?”

“Well, it’s hard to explain, really.” Mikotoba looked out at the dark street where Sholmes had disappeared. “He fascinates me. Yes, he has some bothersome habits, but he’s the cleverest man I’ve ever met. It’s never a dull moment with him around.”

“Yes but, not being rude Yujin, you’re more of a dull man yourself.”

Mikotoba laughed, filling Genshin with warmth to hear the sound again. “Yes, well, good to keep the mind occupied, you know? I think I’ve had rather enough dreary days all to myself. You were the one telling me to get out more—”

“Not like this!”

“—And to make new friends—”

“Not like him!”

“Genshin…” Mikotoba faced him directly. “I know you’re trying to protect me. And I know you’re older and wiser and know better. But if I am making a mistake, I’m confident I can handle myself.”

If he was honest, Genshin would agree. It was possible Sholmes did have a good side to him, and if he could make Mikotoba laugh again… Well. It’s not like Genshin had much choice in what the detective made up his mind to do, and maybe if Sholmes had Mikotoba to civilize him, he would be less of a pest at his crime scenes.

“Tell me that when I bail the pair of you out of prison,” Genshin muttered.

Sholmes appeared out of the darkness holding a packing case. “Come, Doctor, the game is afoot!” he called.

Mikotoba chuckled. “I’m sure I will.” He wished him goodnight and followed along after Sholmes.

[arda-ancalima]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Asougi Kazuma & Mikotoba Yuujin Characters: Asougi Kazuma, Mikotoba Yuujin Additional Tags: Minor Injuries, Family, Pre-Canon Words: 1,874 Summary:

Kazuma, a teenager living with the Mikotoba family, gets sent home from school for fighting. His black eye will make it obvious enough, and he will have to tell his guardian about it sooner or later.

He’s aiming for later.

(For @tgaa-gen-week!)

-

The first part of Kazuma’s plan was a success. Susato’s grandmother was sitting on the front veranda in the sun as always, and he was able to slip around through the back undetected. The house was as still as he expected in the middle of the day, but he still crept quietly through the hall toward his room. Now he just had to get cleaned up so he could—later—explain the situation to Mikotoba on his own terms.

“Kazuma? Is that you?”

He blew out a breath. It was Professor Mikotoba’s voice coming from his study. Kazuma heard footsteps behind him as Mikotoba came into the hallway.

“Yes, I—you’re home early,” Kazuma said, trying to glance back while keeping the bruised side of his face carefully turned away.

“I forgot the exams so I thought I’d come home for lunch.”

“Right. Well, excuse me, I just need to…” he gestured toward his bedroom.

“Kazuma? Will you look at me, please?”

Closing his eyes, Kazuma sighed through his nose. He slowly turned and faced the professor, whose eyes widened momentarily as he took in the black eye, dirt, and specks of blood littering his face and hands. Kazuma darted his own gaze away.

After a moment, Mikotoba asked, “Were you sent home for fighting?”

Kazuma tried not to squirm under his astute gaze. The man had an uncanny ability to infer whatever was going on. He wasn’t the most observant, but the things he did notice he instantly put together into the truth. Over the years of living in the Mikotoba household, Kazuma had learned he couldn’t get much past him, not that it stopped him from trying.

“…Yes.”

“Right.” Mikotoba looked him up and down. “Are you actively bleeding anywhere?”

If he asked, that must have meant the cut on his face had scabbed over. “No.”

Mikotoba nodded. “Go get cleaned up. Then come into my office.”

“Yes, Professor,” Kazuma murmured before making his temporary escape.

Continue reading on AO3

[arda-ancalima]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 10/10 Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke, Asougi Kazuma, Mikotoba Susato, Sherlock Holmes | Herlock Sholmes (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Barok van Zieks, Iris Watson | Iris Wilson, Tobias Gregson (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Gina Lestrade (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Mikotoba Yuujin Additional Tags: Dai Gyakuten Saiban | The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Spoilers, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, What-If, Friendship, Strained Friendships, Disillusionment, Courtroom Drama, (after a while) Summary:

Spoilers for The Great Ace Attorney 1 and 2

Alternative universe - Kazuma makes it to England, but their trip is nothing like Ryunosuke expected. Caught between his convictions and his best friend’s wishes, will Ryunosuke be able to support Kazuma as increasing pressures put him at risk of losing his soul?

All chapters now posted!

(Read from the beginning)

[arda-ancalima]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke, Sherlock Holmes | Herlock Sholmes (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Natsume Souseki (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Mikotoba Susato, Iris Watson | Iris Wilson, Tobias Gregson (Dai Gyakuten Saiban) Additional Tags: Humor, Case Fic Summary:

Natsume bursts into 221B Baker Street with a new mystery: he was on his way home when he saw a ghost, and then that ghost punched him in the eye! Can they find the truth behind the savage spectre, or is Natsume cursed to be haunted forever?

This fic was co-created with my brother Klint, and is an adaptation of episode 5 of the 1954 Sherlock Holmes TV series produced by Sheldon Reynolds, using much of the original dialogue from the show. At the moment, you can watch this episode on archive.org or find the series on tubitv.com. It's a lot of fun and I would recommend it! We thought this story would be a good fit for poor Mr. Natsume. :)

Contains minor spoilers through case 2-2.

(For @tgaa-gen-week Day 6 - Investigations: London Side!)

-

It was a quiet evening at 221B Baker Street. Following three back-to-back trials, Ryunosuke and Susato had a mound of paperwork to complete that kept them working until ten o’clock. Iris kept them company in the sitting room while diligently typing away on her latest story, and Sholmes tinkered with the machine on his desk.

They were all startled by a frantic pounding on the front door. Iris hopped up to let in their caller, who turned out to be Soseki Natsume. While their new friend was uneasy at the best of times, on this occasion he looked a fright. His tie was askew, his face bore an expression of wide-eyed terror, and one eye had a dark bruise around it.

“Dear me, my good fellow,” Sholmes said, leaning in to get a better look at his face. “Another one of your vigorous academic debates? Who struck you?”

Natsume could barely speak. Iris went to fetch tea and something for his eye while Susato helped him sit down.

“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” she said with concern as Iris pressed a steaming cup into his hand. “What’s happened?”

He downed the tea, the cup rattling violently as he returned it to its saucer. “Y-Y-You said it yourself,” he said, his words quivering as much as his hand. “It was a g-g-ghost!”

“A ghost?” Susato gasped.

“And…without any warning at all…h-he hit me in the eye!”

Iris raised her eyebrows.“I think you’d better have another.” She refilled his cup of tea, which he sipped slower this time, and gave him a handkerchief soaked in herbs to put on his eye.

“And now I’ll begin again,” Sholmes said, put out to have been ignored for so long. “Who struck you?”

Continue reading on AO3

[arda-ancalima]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 5/8 Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Naruhodou Ryuunosuke, Asougi Kazuma, Mikotoba Susato, Sherlock Holmes | Herlock Sholmes (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Barok van Zieks, Iris Watson | Iris Wilson, Tobias Gregson (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Gina Lestrade (Dai Gyakuten Saiban), Mikotoba Yuujin Additional Tags: Dai Gyakuten Saiban | The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Spoilers, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, What-If, Friendship, Strained Friendships, Disillusionment, Courtroom Drama, (after a while) Summary:

Spoilers for The Great Ace Attorney 1 and 2

Alternative universe - Kazuma makes it to England, but their trip is nothing like Ryunosuke expected. Caught between his convictions and his best friend’s wishes, will Ryunosuke be able to support Kazuma as increasing pressures put him at risk of losing his soul?

—

(Read Chapter 1 here)

Chapter 5

Scotland Yard was bustling with activity. As they entered, Susato said nothing of the building’s recent construction, or its appearances in Herlock Sholmes stories, or the constables’ hats, but hung back behind Ryunosuke as he spoke with the desk sergeant. No, Inspector Gregson was not here; no, he did not know when he would be back; no, they were not allowed to wait in his office.

Ryunosuke sighed in frustration. He had been doing a good job of keeping it together this morning but didn’t know how long he could keep up the illusion. Turning on his heel, he almost slammed into Gregson himself.

“O-Oh, sorry, sorry—”

“Eh?! Oh, it’s you two.”

Before he could slip away, Ryunosuke lurched in front of him. “Inspector, er…could we speak with you?”

Gregson eyed him for a moment, then glanced around the crowded room. “You best come in my office.”

Under the watchful eye of the desk sergeant, Gregson led them past the receiving area to the main part of the station, and from there into a private office.

Now that Ryunosuke could see him up close, he could observe the slump in Gregson’s shoulders, the dark circles beneath his eyes, and the deepening lines of his face. Inspector Gregson has changed since we met him all those months ago.

As Gregson sat down heavily, Susato spoke in a soft voice to Ryunosuke. “It is as though the weight of the world were upon him.”

Sitting across from Gregson, Ryunosuke took a breath and began to stumble through the words he had run through in his mind over and over on the way here. “Inspector, I—I apologize sincerely on behalf of—”

“No need.” Gregson waved him off. “No harm done.”

“You…you were not hurt?” Susato asked quietly.

“Nah. Not even close.”

“Oh, well, that’s good.” Ryunosuke chewed on his lip, debating if he should bring up one of the many questions eating at him since last night. “Lord van Zieks told us. About, erm…Kazuma’s father being the Professor.”

Continue reading on AO3