Work Text:
Kazuha was getting tired.
The first few days after Tomo was killed were fuelled by adrenaline, and a crushing urge to keep running. He would fall asleep in caves, or under the shade of trees, waking up at the slightest of noises. The swirling grey vision would be kept in his hand at all times; except when he had to use his sword, in which case it would be shifted to his left hand. The object had cooled greatly since the first time that he’d held it, but he could still vividly remember the searing pain on his hand when he grabbed it. The fact that the burns hadn’t even begun to heal and were only protected by a layer of bandages did not help soothe the aching memory.
But there was a bigger problem he had to face, and that was the posters. He discovered the first in Ritou, on a quick stop to grab medical supplies. Outside the store was a piece of paper taped to the wall. It was a surprisingly flattering drawing of a white-haired boy with red eyes and streaks of red through his hair, with the word Wanted printed across the top. A lump formed in his throat, and he tore the poster down and balled it up—
Before immediately un-creasing it to reread the words he almost missed.
Right at the bottom, in tiny print: Please report any information to Detective Shikanoin Heizou.
Shikanoin Heizou.
Memories of mulberry-coloured hair, two twin moles under green eyes, sharp smiles and smooth words, all flashed across Kazuha’s mind.
They were friends, once. Not as close as Kazuha and Tomo, but close enough that Kazuha would often spend time with him. Kazuha would sometimes recite poems to Heizou, and Heizou occasionally came to ask for help with his latest case. Kazuha knew he didn’t truly need his help—Heizou’s reputation preceded their friendship—but he appreciated the excuse to spend time together. Every minute that they spent by each other’s side sent a thrill through Kazuha’s chest, like he’d swallowed one of Yoimiya’s fireworks. Every word of Heizou’s was entrancing, with the barest hint of a challenge, spoken in that lilting tone of his…
Kazuha heard him before he saw him.
‘Split up. Search the surrounds. I want nowhere unsearched. I’ll take the campsite.’
‘Are you sure, detective? I mean, what if you attempt to apprehend him and he attacks—’
There was a scoff, so indignant and Heizou-like that Kazuha had no doubts who it was. ‘I may be a humble detective, but I am not going to be in danger around Kaedehara Kazuha.’
Kazuha found himself chuckling at what Heizou could mean by that. To the other detectives, it may have just sounded arrogant, like he was doubting his skill. But Kazuha knew better, and from the several dozen times they had sparred together he also knew that they were an even match. In his mind, he considered a different interpretation of those words, namely the idea that Heizou of course knew Kazuha would never hurt him. It seemed closer to the truth.
The voices grew louder in volume, and Kazuha ducked behind a large rock that was just barely covered from the rain. The place he had been staying in was someone’s abandoned campsite, where they’d built a barely stable roof to shelter from the weather. The area had been a pleasant refuge from the relentless rain that had plagued him for days and served for a quiet—albeit not very warm—place for him to dry his clothes until he could find somewhere else to camp. He tried to move as often as he could, so the people tracking him wouldn’t be able to catch his tail, but it seemed he hadn’t moved often enough. Pity.
The footsteps shifted, coming to stop right beside the boulder Kazuha was hiding behind. He let his eyes fall shut in defeat, a sigh coming from his lips. All this time playing games with the detective, evading his searches, and missing him by a hair, only to be finally found. He looked up to find Heizou staring at him, eyes wide and surprised like he hadn’t actually anticipated finding him.
‘Ah, so we meet again, dear friend.’ Kazuha said softly. His voice was barely audible over the sound of rain battering against the roof. ‘I’m sure we both know why you’re here, correct?’
Heizou was silent, his face unreadable.
‘But I’m sure that isn’t the whole story, is it?’ Kazuha pressed. ‘After all, why would you be here, waiting and watching, when I am certain that you have been aware of my movements for days. I heard you on the wind. I know you off by heart by now.’
Heizou’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his lips parted in a slight purse. There was a tenseness in his shoulders and the weight of something heavy in his eyes. Still, he didn’t say a word.
‘Well, no point wasting time. I’m sure you’re aware of the value of efficiency, detective.’ Kazuha said. Perhaps it would have been wiser to not provoke him, considering Heizou was the one standing between his freedom and an execution at the hands of the Almighty Shogun, but in that moment, Kazuha couldn’t find it in himself to care. ‘Go on then. The rest of them are only a call away.’
‘Hey!’ Heizou yelled out suddenly, making Kazuha flinch. His shoulders fell in disappointment, but there was resignation in his eyes.
‘Detective, have you found the criminal?’ A voice called out, some distance away.
‘No. It is far more likely that Kaedehara fled north up the coast. Let’s head out.’ Heizou said sharply. Kazuha’s breath hitched.
‘Are you sure? The informant was quite certain that he had seen—’
‘Doubting my intuition, are you?’ Heizou chuckled, nothing like the sweet sound Kazuha was used to. ‘I am the detective assigned to this case. And I know the likelihood of the criminal being anywhere close to here is slim to none. Now let’s go.’
The group began to shuffle away, footsteps squelching uncomfortably in the mud. Everyone except Heizou, who was still standing frozen in place, eyes fixed on Kazuha.
For a moment, Kazuha thought he would say something, maybe smile and pose an impossible riddle with no clear answer, just like he used to. Then, Kazuha would play along, tilting his head in thought, before answering confidently that the wind could not say. And then Heizou would burst into laughter, the sweet-sounding kind that made a smile tug at Kazuha’s lips.
Heizou opened his mouth, and Kazuha prepared for the words that followed.
‘Detective Shikanoin! Are you coming?’
It was as if a switch had been flicked in Heizou’s mind, and the pain and frustration and yearning vanished from his gaze. His face turned blank, eerily so, and he called out a quick, ‘I’m coming.’ He turned on his heel, marching from the house without looking back, and stepped out into the pouring rain.
Behind him, Kazuha could only watch with his mouth agape, openly staring as the others followed him away. He kept his eyes fixed on Heizou’s back, until his silhouette had vanished among the trees. Even then he continued to stare, grip tightening on the vision in his hands.
Kazuha closed his eyes, something like relief settling in his chest. ‘Thank you… Heizou.’