Inheritance of Shadows [Hugo Vlad x Fem!OC]

Chapter 8: Buried Legacy

Yurina growled in defeat. "Fine! But you owe me—buy me the expensive catnip next time, got it?" She hung up without waiting for a reply.

Yukari chuckled, tucking her phone away. She knew Yurina would always come through—even if she complained the whole way.

—

Yurina was driving, her eyes flicking between the road and the GPS on her phone, which was clipped to a stand on the dashboard. Soft rock played low from the car speakers as Yukari leaned back in the passenger seat, one leg crossed over the other.

"Hey, Yukari," Yurina said, glancing sideways, "you seem way more obsessed with Mockingbird than even Inspector Adriel. What gives?"

Yukari hummed, eyes half-lidded. "Because he reminds me of someone. Even though I know they're not the same."

"Who? Hugo?"

Yukari gave a small nod. "Yeah... him. He felt familiar. I don't know much about Hugo, but I keep finding more about Mockingbird than I ever did about him. Sometimes..." she let out a dry chuckle, "I really think they're the same person. Kidding, of course."

"...And what if he is?" Yurina asked, laughing a little too quickly. "H-Hypothetically, I mean. No way, right?"

Yukari went quiet for a beat.

"I hope not," she said softly. "Because then... I'd have to arrest him."

Another pause.

"But I don't want to." She glanced out the window. "I think... I think I'd rather chase him forever."

Yurina blinked, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. "What do you mean by that?"

"If Mockingbird really is Hugo," Yukari said, voice barely above a whisper, "then I want to know everything about him. Piece by piece, through every heist. He's the only mystery I can't solve. And maybe..." she trailed off, her smile faint but wistful, "...maybe I don't want to."

Yurina's face softened, "You really like Hugo huh?"

"Yeah, I do."

Yurina's ears perked. "Wait- You like like him?"

"Wha- No!!" Yukari's tail flicked side to side. "Of course not! We've been friends for so long and I barely know him and he knows everything about me because I got too comfortable!" She huffed, crossing her arms, pouting. "If that idiot ever opened up to me I wouldn't have this talk!"

Yurina giggled, "Man, I wish the ship would sail."

Yukari raised an eyebrow, giving her a side-eye, "What do you mean by that?"

Yurina smirked, "Nothing...!" She purred.

Yukari clicked her tongue in annoyance, "Fine..."

The city lights blurred past the windows, glowing faintly against the darkened sky. They'd been driving for over thirty minutes, and the outskirts were starting to look unfamiliar.

"...You think he's lonely?" Yukari suddenly asked, voice low.

Yurina glanced at her, surprised by the shift. "Mockingbird?"

"Hugo," Yukari clarified. "Even when he smiles, it's like something's missing. Even his arrogant, confident, teasing smiles have some empty feeling behind it."

Yurina's grip on the wheel relaxed. "Maybe he's just waiting for someone to notice."

Yukari went quiet, gazing out at the road ahead.

Eventually, Yurina yawned. "How much longer till we get there?"

Yukari glanced at Yurina's phone, checking the GPS. "Fifteen more minutes."