KaitoPuri: Tsubame chap 23

Clipped Wings

June 6th

“Are you…. Alright?” was the first question Fuji tried to ask tactfully.

Atobe grunted annoyed. “Who do you take me for, ahn? Something like this is a walk in the park to me.

I had hoped it to be cleaner, though….”

Normally, a suspect wasn’t allowed to have visitors.

But Atobe was a powerful man with connections.

Oshitari was a close friend of the family too. No coincidence, of course.

So Fuji had 15 minutes of precious time to talk the matter over with his father.

Tezuka had urged to come along, but Fuji refused.

There were things only he and his father ought to know, after all…

“When’s the trial?”

Atobe leaned back. “It’s going to take a while. Could be a month or two.

It’s because that damned war is taking everyone’s time.”

Atobe’s eyes shifted to his son.

“Listen, Syu…. Yuuta’s on my lip and won’t let me go any time soon.

I don’t want you on and about in a town at war, without your father by your side.”

Fuji frowned worried. Of course, his father was saying this to protect his and Tsubame’s secret, not because of the war. But you’d never know who was listening along.

“What… do you want me to do then?”

Atobe paused.

“…. Go to your sister… Go back to Japan.”

Fuji stared at his father, his mind blanked out.

Away? Back to Japan?

But… what about father?

What about Tsubame?

What about Yuuta and Oshitari?

…… Tezuka..

When arriving at Tezuka’s apartment, the older was already waiting for him in the door opening.

Fuji sighed and dumped his head against his friend’s chest.

“How did it go?” Tezuka asked.

“Hnnn…” Fuji snuggled.

Tezuka took him along inside, without letting go of him.

“So… What happened?”

“…..” Fuji forced a smile on his face.

“It’s fine… just a misunderstanding… it’s going to take a while, though.

....Actually, I can't stay for too long. There's a lot I have to arrange with my dad's business partners and such."

Tezuka frowned. He was a man who valued responsibilities, so he didn't disagree to Fuji wanting to help his father the best he could, but...

"Then... I'll come with you."

"No." Fuji averted his eyes. "uhm... If you want to help me, then... wait for me here for a while. I'll be back soon, really."

Tezuka stared at him. He felt skeptical about the matter. Something was off with how Fuji was behaving. Of course, the arrest of his father was getting to him.. but there was something more then just that….

"well... Alright. But do come back soon. Will you promise me?"

Two blue eyes looked up at him.

And Tezuka knew from that look. He knew Fuji couldn't make such a promise!

The boy pinched his eyes into his usual smile. "Of course."

"......."

"I'll come back as soon as I can, then... Bye bye."

He turned off and left.

"....tsk."

Tezuka never thought he'd one day have to use his skills as a reporter to stalk his lover.

He was in luck that Fuji chose to walk the distance rather than to take the bus.

Thinking about it... If Fuji's house was really on walking distance, he must have played the 'last bus' talk as an excuse to stay over.

Did Fuji already like him back then?

Then there was all the more reason for Tezuka to wonder why the other was keeping secrets from him like this.

To be honest, Tezuka had wanted to get mad at him, right then and there.

But his enigmatic boyfriend was a tough nut to crack if it comes down to things he doesn't want others to know.

So even if he were to be thought of as a creepy stalker, this was the only solution Tezuka could think of.

Fuji led him to his house. It was a big land house, typical to Atobe's style.

Tezuka doubted if Fuji has had any saying in the matter of interior.

With a little trouble, Tezuka broke in through a window.

The house was..... completely empty?

Tezuka didn't understand. Why would Fuji's house be empty like this?

Carefully, to not make a sound, he headed for the room where Fuji was.

The boy looked....surprisingly calm.

He was writing something down.

A letter?

The youngster looked up. Fuji's eyes were keen and his ears were sharp.

Shock. Despair even. And a small hint of hope was reflected in his eyes as he spotted Tezuka.

".....What is the meaning of this?" The taller man walked towards him.

Fuji gazed down."....The house is empty."

"I can see that. Why?" Tezuka urged. His patience was running out.

Fuji had been lying about something. And had been hiding things...

"Niou took care of everything; I don't know what he did with our items."

"Niou?....That is not my point. 'Why' are they gone?"

"......."

"Fuji!"

"......" Fuji's small frame looked fragile.

"....I'm sorry... I lied to you...I lied to you, over and over and over again."

Tezuka tried to calm himself. Yelling at the boy wouldn't help.

"Fuji.... does this have to do with your father's arrest? If we just wait patiently, he'll be released. He's innocent, right?"

"......" Fuji seemed to doubt between turning off or facing the man in front of him. He chose the latter.

"Tezuka.... I am not who I've claimed to be.

I'm a liar....

And a thief..."

Tezuka's eyes grew wide for a moment, but he regained his senses soon enough and grabbed the boy's upper arms.

"Don't take me for a fool.... Don't pretend that I don't know what you are like."

".... then..."

"....You are him.... aren't you?"

Fuji smiled. "What makes you think that?"

"Nothing. All evidence work against me. But I know you are.....I had hoped you were..."

Fuji crumbled the letter in his hand.

Tezuka noticed and gently took it from his clutched hand.

It was a simple letter. Addressed to him.

Dear Tezuka,

Sorry.
I am Tsubame.

With love,
Your Fuji Syusuke.

"Farewell. My love."

“--!!??”