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If there’s one thing Bourbon is notoriously known for, it would be his excessive information-gathering talent. Well, of course, his being good at everything he does is obviously given, everyone in the Organization knows that. Even someone like Gin would rely an important mission to him.
And today’s just one of those days. No, he’s not doing any digging that is extremely vital for the better being of the Organization, like the verification of whether Sherry is alive out there, or Rye—Akai Shuuichi, that FBI dog… is still alive out there. Just a people (well, person) watching job—observe what can, may, and will happen.
It used to be so laughable; the Black Organization believing that Akai Shuuichi is dead after getting shot twice by Kir. By getting burnt to a crisp in the car that had exploded thanks to Kir. On that dark night where Gin and Vodka could only watch from afar. Bourbon, Furuya Rei, knows it just can’t be that simple…! Oh, he loves to internally snicker at the very fact that Gin actually believes the so-called death of that very bastard. Arrogance truly makes a man blind.
No, that’s not the point. He refuses to believe not just that, but Akai Shuuichi has to die by his own hands.
It was infuriating to see how close he’d come to finally figuring it all out, just to get played by Akai Shuuichi, no less…! It was infuriating to see how Okiya Subaru is different from Akai Shuuichi and that both are one and the same. He hates being played with, and by Akai Shuuichi, no less…!
If only everyone could feel the rage emanating from him the moment he sees the ugly-looking pink hair from afar.
It wasn’t Shuuichi’s, or rather Subaru’s in this scenario—the idea to get dragged with Conan-kun’s, or formally Mouri-san’s, case and therefore having to formally dress up appropriately for a ball. A politician’s daughter asked for some assistance from the Mouri Agency to simply ask for their guidance for the ball, considering that her guests would be important figures around the country, it would be safer for her (she believes so) to have the detective on watch.
Shuuichi is baffled at the belief. How come these people do not understand how much of a death magnet the boy trailing Mouri-san’s shadow…? Well, for once, he can't exactly relate what goes on civilians and politicians’ mindsets alike considering he is neither.
And thus he was dragged by the boy himself to go with them, believing that Shuuichi’s Okiya Subaru disguise could serve as her bodyguard, boyfriend, or whatever, as long he watches and protects her from any suspicious person, being a client and important person and all. Preparing himself was easy though, considering he's been doing this for a while now—make-up and his clothes with a good collar height enough to hide his voice modulator underneath having to be consistent if he doesn’t want to get Akai Shuuichi exposed due to negligence… No, that’s not exactly the issue right now, but on how everything was sudden.
No, it's not that he’s incompetent, but on how it could’ve been better, to say the least.
…But he’s extremely trying his goddamn best not to break his facade and grin and giggle in joy to see a familiar blonde from afar, oh, this is going to be a lively night!
The ball is at peace, so far. Which is great, to say the least; everyone is simply talking with each other over toasts of wine, some are on the table stuffing their faces with food (Kogorou is one of them), while suspicious people (if there are any other than Rei) are perfectly blending in with the civilians so far. Their client is simply sitting between Shuuichi and Kogorou, in which Conan is sitting beside the former.
Shuuichi pretends, but if there’s someone he cannot fool, it’s himself. Or the boy who’s sitting beside him. Shuuichi makes sure someone has to stay in his vision, even if only in his peripheral. The only blonde guy in the room right now, wearing the most ordinary black suit with blue tie, yet something about him sparks charisma that makes women flock over him. As usual. A fact like that is considered common sense.
Rei is alone on the job, a Black Organization job Shuuichi hypothesizes, talking with someone else as he is holding a wine glass of his own. A fake, formal smile that he usually sees when the man guises in his Amuro Tooru identity, something that feels so hollow and empty yet is still enough to fool a regular guy and lady on the street.
Their eyes meet. Hoping the night will simply end with that. For the one who thought of it, that, we can’t say for sure.
…Yet here they are, for whatever the fates have thrown amongst them—Shuuichi and Rei dancing on the waltz and of course with Tchaivosky’s Swan Lake. Classic.
See, here’s the thing: none of this was planned. Both parties are only there to watch from afar for their targets for the night—Shuuichi with the politician’s daughter, Rei with the politician. The party had arranged a waltz for the guests, with 10 pairs of dancers with the loveliest and flowiest dresses and suits among the elegant performers. For whatever reason occurred, a pair miraculously got their stomachs aching and had to rush home. Nobody would believe that, but nonetheless the obvious lie they have to think of a solution. Even the Kogorou et al., with an addition of one (1) Rei, had to rush to the dressing room to make sure that there weren't any murder attempts had occurred within the premises, considering the luck of a certain kid tailing as if he’s the Grim Reaper.
Of course, the most plausible answer to this simple problem would be for all the dancers to simply adjust their formations slightly so that a missing pair wouldn’t be obvious. But what would be a special night if there is not anything special happening?
“Subaru-san and Amuro-no-niisan can dance as replacements!” A booming high-pitched voice of a kid echoed through the cramped vicinity. A silly proposition, of course, two men as partners for the waltz, within the conservative country as Japan. But of course, everything is alright if the star of the night, the politician’s daughter herself, agreed to such a thing and giggled.
Rei wasn’t exactly a fan of dances. If there are at least one thing he can’t, won’t for the matter, bother doing is dancing. There are rare cases, of course—days and nights of disguises and using his own body to won over information needed for his job, but he’d rather do it over drinks or through more explicit means. Given that, he had certainly experienced disguising as a woman, given his slim fit and high-quality acting, even Vermouth would be glad to compliment him here and then. Given that, there aren’t exactly strings attached to such advances. A job is a job.
front, step, close. back, step, close
Rei’s hand placement on Shuuichi feels so familiar, yet he knew this was the first time they had ever danced waltz. Shuuichi’s hand over his waist feels so uncomfortably big, larger than he used to feel, yet the warmth was something he wouldn’t admit out loud that he misses.
They had been simply chilling under the summer heat, the noise of the fan's loud engine being amplified within the living room. Noisy, noisy crickets, melted icecream among the scattered popsicles on the plate, this was the first time Zero had taken interest on something magical.
It was simply a show about teaching basic dance movements. The proper way to hold your partner, not to step on their feet, be able to dance as one. To experience such, like fated soulmates destined under the same stars, it made him want to learn it. And of course, Hiro had knew. Hiro always knew.
Perhaps the twinkles among his eyes gave him away. His gaping expression, to feel the want to experience such thing, Hiro pulled him so they can stand in the middle of the living room.
“See, it's actually as easy as it looks! Simply follow my lead, OK, Zero!?” Young Hiro exclaimed, his smile beaming as if brighter than the living room lights Rei could even feel warmer from it alone. Putting Rei’s hand over his shoulder, and his on the latter's waist, they swayed, swayed, ever so slowly, as if the time stops for them.
front, side, close. back, side, close
Under the scorching yet ordinary day in summer, they danced with their little feet, across the room bigger than them, yet this very scenario made them feel like they were the only people in the world. Deserving before the unknowns they have yet to experience.
Eventually, they had the time for themselves again, alone on the balcony this time. At this point, no one could be surprised if Conan pulled this up again (correction: he didn’t this time). Tooru has his arm on the ledge with wine (to clarify: he is not drinking any red) on his hand, observing the visitors within the vicinity while Subaru is leaning on the wall, hidden from the sight of anyone else besides the former, observing what’s beyond the vicinity. Both are still here for their own missions, yet simply found, perhaps a teatime, a break in-between. Still vigilant. As what they have been as long as they remember. As it is an integral part of their lives to be aware, expect, and prepare for anything fate throws at them.
“Honestly amused with your dancing abilities,” Rei was honest about that one, he certainly didn’t expect the man to be good at dancing of all things, “learned that to catch some in university?” Smirking and mockingly he asked.
Shuuichi simply laughed. Softly, not bothered one bit, never in the capacity to be offended by his tone, “No. I thought we had to be flexible to be whoever we can anytime back from the Organization?”
“Yeah, of course. Forgot you used to be a part of it with your stupid-looking pink disguise you have on now. Idiots could only be fooled.”
“Hm, fooled you once—or twice, as far as I remember.” Shuuichi hummed, earning a tongue click from the blonde. “So, what brings you here?”
Rei gave him a ‘are you stupid?’ look, as if the answer was obvious. It is, but Shuuichi just wanted to continue the small talk or whatever he thinks of doing, Rei doesn’t care.
Not replying at the man, he puts the empty wine glass beside him. Putting both elbows now on the top rail, he looked on the reflection of the sky amongst the glass panes in front of him, the stars accompanying the moon all shine brightly, casting a lonely everblue tones around them—a contrast of the warm lights by the chandeliers and the bright smiles of the people alike inside the mansion.
He simply changed the topic. “How do you do… this? Everything.” He asked, not giving the man a look, but simply motioned around. All being perceived as ‘normal,’ he wants to convey vocally yet he didn’t.
Shuuichi simply watches him, choosing to wait before replying would Rei has something more to say, in which he doesn’t, and is also waiting for a response. Shuuichi then tilted his head sideways, not understanding the vague question, which the reaction Rei didn’t see and the former is actually glad for once he didn’t; Rei would be pissed and that he may drop the topic immediately. Instead, “Do what exactly, Furuya-kun?”
“Is it really that easy to move on? That how life works for you, Akai Shuuichi?” He refuses to look.
Yet Shuuichi was watching him, and there it was again. The smile that is full of grief, the smile that reminded him of the waltz earlier.
front, side, slide. front, side, slide
He knew that despite the smooth movements and sliding of shoes between them, their dance wasn't exactly the main focus for Rei. Shuuichi remembers how he felt the latter grip his shoulder tighter. He was about to say something else but then decided not to as he saw a smile for the first time. He knows it wasn't for him; the smile, full of loneliness and yearning for someone that isn't with them anymore.
He simply didn't respond.
“...Hey,” Rei called.
Looking at the blonde, with the bright moonlight making a perfect shade of blue under the stars, the loneliness in his eyes that accompanied Rei’s smile as they danced earlier, remembering the bittersweet memory of Hiro.
“Why don't we try doing it? Dating.”