When You Found Me

by HelphyCelphy

Summary:

Nights on the outskirts of Yokohama city are dangerous, and a fourteen-year-old Ranpo’s about to learn this lesson the hard way. Fortunately, Fukuzawa is there to intervene.

OR: An alternate universe exploring a different version of Ranpo and Fukuzawa’s first meeting.

Notes:

I had this idea stewing in my mind for a while and I wanted to write it. Hope you enjoy and please leave a comment if you wish!

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Fukuzawa watched his client return to his residence safely. It was late, so all he could see was a shadowy blur cross the street and head up the driveway to the luxury villa in the distance. Ever the diligent bodyguard he was, he refused to take his eyes away until the mahogany doors shut with a satisfied click. It was a simple escort mission for the day. His client was an influential businessman who needed to attend to some urgent meetings, and he hired Fukuzawa to accompany him for additional protection. Fortunately, nothing out of the ordinary ever occurred.

His client lived near the edge of Yokohama in a large estate shouldered by rows of primly pruned trees. If it was day, Fukuzawa was certain he’d be able to appreciate the country backdrop. But that view was currently swathed in darkness. Unfortunately, being so far out also meant there were no taxis in this area. The night was so quiet even the evening air seemed to hold its breath. He’d have to walk back to the main road to hail a cab and head home.

Fukuzawa glanced down at his watch. Its silver hands winked back under the streetlight. It was well past 11pm. He needed to retire for the night and rest in preparation for the mission he had the following day. A local theatre had received a mysterious note promising death upon one of their actors. The manager had hired him to apprehend the criminal before any tragedy could take place.

Fukuzawa turned back and began to head into the inner parts of Yokohama city.

---

The sky was a vast expanse of black velvet, soft with pinpricks of stars sewn into its surface. Little light illuminated the streets as the moon’s silver face was hidden behind plumes of black clouds. Ranpo sat on the sidewalk under a streetlamp’s sickly yellow light with his elbows propped on his knees and his head resting in the palm of his hands.

Today marked the third night since he was kicked out of the police academy with nothing but the clothes on his back and a bag with the few possessions he had. He was lucky the first night since a sympathetic passerby let him stay at their place after he was thrown out so suddenly. The second night, he found refuge in an abandoned car. Ranpo wasn’t so lucky tonight.

Footsteps approached him. Ranpo hoped whoever it was would walk right past him and leave him alone. But his streak of bad luck showed no signs of letting up.

“Hey kid, what’re you doing out here all by yourself?”

Ranpo looked up to see a man looking down at him with a smile that was far too wide to be genuine. It boasted a bright cheeriness as if to overcompensate for the sinister glint in his eyes. His gaze wandered up and down the stranger to absorb every detail. Ranpo estimated the stranger to be in his mid-forties, wearing a grey suit with a tie incorrectly worn around his neck, black shoes scuffed and worn. Today was Friday. There’s a bar a few streets across but it closes around this time. Overall, his observations led him to one conclusion. This man was pretending to be an innocent office worker heading home after a late night out drinking. Ranpo scowled and looked away.

“Go away, leave me alone.”

“There’s no need to be so hostile, I’m just trying to help. Come with me and I’ll get you something nice to eat.”

Ranpo huffed in annoyance as he stood up to face the man. “Are you stupid or something? This is literally the oldest trick in the book that kidnappers use to lure their victims away. The only thing you’re missing is a white van and free candy.”

The smile on the man’s face twitched. “My, you’ve got a vivid imagination! I won’t take you far, I know a good restaurant not too far down the road.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say I’m not going anywhere with an old geezer who can’t even wear a tie properly.”

The man’s face flushed with rage. Despite the dangerous situation, Ranpo couldn’t help the smirk that crept to his lips. “There it is.”

As the stranger reached out to grab him, Ranpo ducked nimbly under his grasp. He swiped at the boy again but Ranpo slid out of his reach.

“You adults are so predictable. It was so obvious that you were a kidnapper how did you think this would work?”

The darkness behind Ranpo quivered. A hand reached out of the shadows and gripped Ranpo’s arm, as if it belonged to some monster in a children’s book. Ranpo jerked his arm back but it was too late. Like a rabbit trapped in a snare, he’d been caught.

“Don’t worry I got him,” the newcomer said triumphantly.

The fake office worker glared. Although his scowl hadn’t been directed at Ranpo, the boy shivered all the same. “Fucking finally. You sure took your sweet ass time,” he snapped.

Ranpo’s breath quickened. He tugged again at his arm, but it may as well have been clasped to an iron clamp. The grip didn’t budge.

“Hey! Let go you -”

A strong hand clamped to his mouth and stifled any cries he made. Icy panic chilled his blood. Ranpo renewed his struggles, scrabbling at the hand clasped over his face whilst twisting his body furiously to try and wrench himself out of his captor’s grasp. But he was firmly ensnared in this monster’s clutch.

“Stop wiggling, brat!” His captor spat.

“Just hurry up and bring him to the car before anyone notices,” the other man hissed.

Ranpo felt himself get dragged across the street towards a parked car on the other side of the road. He dug his heels into the paved tiles. His boots scraped against hard cement, desperately catching onto any ledge that would delay his inevitable kidnapping. A harsh yank made all his efforts null. The pit in his stomach grew and an iron lump of dread settled inside.

No one was around at this time of night. No one would be coming to save him.

The thought made Ranpo’s vision blur with fear, his heart hammering so hard against his chest that it hurt. He could only pray for someone else’s intervention, as slim as those chances were.

---

Fukuzawa halted. For a moment, he thought he’d heard a shout. Yet when he paused to listen more intently, the silent night air brought no more unusual sounds to his waiting ears. Just the buzz of pale streetlights and chirping crickets. It may have been a trick his tired mind was playing on him. Still, he had to check just in case his ears had not deceived him. Fukuzawa began to hurry towards the source of the noise.

As he approached, he caught the sound of two older men speaking. He was nearing his destination. Fukuzawa slowed down to prevent his clattering footsteps from giving away his presence. He peered around the corner and his heart sank at the scene.

His gaze immediately drew to a young boy who looked to be no older than 15 grappling with a man who was dragging him away. A second person stood nearby hissing at his partner to speed up. An accomplice to the crime. Fukuzawa’s nostrils flared as a deep frown settled on his face.

He kept himself cloaked in darkness as he crept closer. Hawk-like eyes closely observed the two criminals to watch for any signs that they’ve detected him. However, their focus was solely preoccupied by their current endeavour. Fukuzawa didn’t even need to draw his sword for these crooks.

His first target was the kidnapper with the young boy in his grasp. Fukuzawa bolted with the speed of a flying arrow shot from a bow. To his prey, he was merely a ripple in the shadows.

“What the –”

Fukuzawa struck his victim by the side of his head. The man grip on the boy loosened and he toppled over like a limp ragdoll, unconscious. The young teenager squirmed free of his captor’s grasp.

His companion let out a strangled gasp as he scrambled to get away. He wasn’t fast enough.

Fukuzawa was upon him in an instant. A sharp punch delivered to the gut sent the man sprawling into a heap. He too joined his partner in crime as a lifeless heap on the floor. Fukuzawa quickly surveyed his surroundings to ensure there were no more threats around. Once satisfied, he rushed to the boy who was standing a few feet away with a wide-eyed expression of fear and shock.

“Are you alright?”

Green eyes looked up to meet his gaze. “Yes… thank you mister bodyguard.” The child’s voice was quiet.

“Are you injured anywhere?”

The boy shook his head. His complexion was as pale as a ghost but fortunately he was mostly unharmed.

“I’ll contact the police to get these criminals arrested. Stay here for now.”

The child nodded silently. Fukuzawa pulled out his phone to contact Yokohama police. Although it was late, there should still be a couple of officers at the station for the night shift. He exchanged a few sentences with the policeman on the phone who assured him they’ll be on their way shortly. With that matter taken care of, Fukuzawa turned his attention back to the young boy standing beside him.

“What were you doing outside so late? Where are your parents?” Fukuzawa questioned.

“Dead,” the child replied flatly.

Fukuzawa stiffened. Young orphans were prime targets for kidnappers and other twisted individuals who prowl the streets at night. If they went missing, their absence wouldn’t be noticed. The thought of this young boy being murdered and becoming next morning’s news headlines or getting abducted by human traffickers made Fukuzawa’s gut twist with revulsion.

Fukuzawa sighed deeply. “What’s your name?”

“Ranpo. Edogawa Ranpo.

“Ranpo, come with me. I’ll let you stay at my place for the night.”

Ranpo’s face brightened. “Really?”

“Of course. Once the police arrive to take these criminals away, I’ll take you back to my apartment.”

Chapter 2

Red and blue lights illuminated the scene as a police car pulled over to the side of the road. Two officers exited the vehicle and approached Fukuzawa. He explained the situation to one of the policemen while the other handcuffed the criminals and marched them to the police car.

“Are you related to the child in any way?” The police officer questioned Fukuzawa.

“No.”

“Are you his guardian then?”

“Of course he is!” Another voice piped up.

The interruption made both the officer and Fukuzawa shift their gaze to Ranpo, who made the sudden declaration. He emphasised his statement by clinging onto Fukuzawa’s coat. The boy’s lie placed Fukuzawa in a difficult position. Should he correct the misinformation or play along for Ranpo’s sake?

“Well if that’s the case, you should be good to go. Thank you for your time and please be careful on your way home.”

The latter option it was. Fukuzawa nodded and bid the officer goodbye. As the police car pulled out of sight, Fukuzawa began to grill Ranpo for answers with a pinch of sternness in his voice.

“Ranpo, why did you lie to the police officer?”

“Because I didn’t want to be taken away by some governmental organisation.”

“They have establishments that help children in situations like yours. You wouldn’t need to risk your safety by being alone in the streets at night.”

Ranpo didn’t reply but his scowl of displeasure was more than enough of a response. Fukuzawa decided not to press the matter. Who was he to judge? He doesn’t know what Ranpo has gone through. Whatever wounds the boy had suffered at the hands of the system in place weren’t his to pry into. Besides, it was too late to change anything now.

“What’s done is done. There’s no sense in dwelling on the past. Follow me, we’ll take a taxi.”

---

By the time they reached their destination, the night had rolled into the early hours of the next day. The initial adrenaline from the kidnapping incident had worn off and fatigue had begun to creep in. Although Fukuzawa was weary, it wasn’t uncommon for him to go nights without rest when he used to work as an assassin. Ranpo was faring worse against exhaustion’s tug. His head began to droop despite his best attempts to stay awake.

The taxi stopped and Fukuzawa had to shake Ranpo gently to get him to stir. “We’re here,” he said softly.

“Mm-hmm,” came the quiet response.

Ranpo dragged himself out of the cab and followed Fukuzawa into the apartment complex. He trudged after the bodyguard up the flights of stairs until they made it to the third floor. Fukuzawa unlocked the door to his one-bedroom apartment. He pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Ranpo enter first.

It was a modest but comfortable living arrangement. The living area was slightly larger than the average single-person apartment with a lounge area circled by the kitchen and two other separate rooms. Fukuzawa earned more than enough from his prior occupation to support himself. Ranpo noted how tidy and organised the space was.

“This is where you live?” Ranpo asked curiously.

“Yes. Is there something wrong?”

“I thought apartments were a lot smaller than this. You have all this space to yourself?”

“My job pays fairly well so I can afford a larger apartment. Still, I don’t have a spare bed, but you can sleep on the couch for the night.”

“At least this place is bigger than my old dorm room.”

Fukuzawa decided not to pry further into that statement.

He slipped off his sandals and unclasped his scabbard from his belt before setting it down in a wooden box by the entrance.

“Give me a moment,” Fukuzawa said.

He entered his bedroom, one of the side rooms in his apartment, and began to rummage through his closet. He pulled out a spare futon which he kept in cases of accidents like spilt tea or other unexpected mishaps. When he returned, Ranpo was still waiting for him by the entrance.

“You can use this. I always have extra futons just in case. It’s late, so you should get some rest. I’ll also be retiring soon since I need to be at a job tomorrow.”

Ranpo perked up as his interest was piqued. “Job? What kind of job?”

“It’s nothing you should be concerned about.”

“Can I come?”

“Absolutely not, this mission is too dangerous for a child to tag along.”

“I’m not a child!” Ranpo pouted. “Besides, there’s nowhere else I can go.”

Fukuzawa paused. Ranpo was right. He couldn’t possibly turn the boy onto the streets the next morning without any kind of support. He also couldn’t let Ranpo stay with him forever. Having a child to take care of would complicate things. Money wasn’t an issue, Fukuzawa earned enough to support the both of them. The real issue were the logistics of education, taking care of the boy’s emotional and social needs, being there for Ranpo despite the unpredictable nature of his job.

It wasn’t sustainable in the long-term. But he could at least make a compromise.

“My client may be hiring. I’ll let you come along to see if she has any work for you.”

A wide smile broke out on Ranpo’s face as his eyes gleamed with delight.

“Thank you!”

“Now get some sleep. It’s far too late for someone your age to be awake at this time.”

Ranpo needed no further invitation. He kicked off his shoes, untied his cape and snuggled into the couch with his futon as if it were a luxury king-sized bed. A sudden thought occurred to Fukuzawa.

“Ranpo, are you hungry?”

“Uh, yeah I guess.”

“When was the last time you’ve eaten?”

Ranpo tilted his head to think. “Do snacks count?”

Fukuzawa didn’t bother to answer. He shook his head silently and made his way to the kitchen to cook a proper meal for the boy. The quiet air was soon filled with the sounds of clinking pots and pans, bubbling water and the soft hiss of gas from the stove.

A delicious smell wafted through the air. The dish would be ready soon. A few minutes later, Fukuzawa set down a bowl of soba noodles on the dining table. Filling but not too heavy on the stomach. It should be a suitable dish for a growing teenage boy to eat before bed.

“Ranpo, I’ve made some noodles for you. Come get a bite to eat before you go to sleep,” Fukuzawa called.

No answer.

“Ranpo?”

The only response he heard was soft sounds of breathing. Fukuzawa looked over to the couch to see Ranpo’s small figure as still as a log save for the steady rise and fall of his chest. The boy had fallen asleep. Fukuzawa’s gaze grew gentle, and he couldn’t stop his heart from softening with fondness for the young teenager.

He reached a hand down to pat Ranpo’s head but caught himself. He wasn’t the kid’s father, he wasn’t one of his relatives, he wasn’t even his guardian. He was just a stranger who stumbled across Ranpo on his aimless path as a former assassin of the government. He had no right to do this.

Fukuzawa withdrew his hand, his fingers curling into his palm as if to deter the urge to bridge that uncrossable gap.

It’s late. He needs to head off to bed.

Notes:

That's it, just wanted to write a short and sweet fanfic. This is my first work in this fandom so hopefully everyone's in character.