#akam

The sight of Rei, his hair tousled by the wind, loose shirt billowing in the breeze, standing at the bow of the ship, looking out to sea against the inky backdrop of a star-filled sky, is one that Shuuichi wishes he could burn permanently into his memory and hold onto forever.

"This is where he belongs," Hiro observes, giving voice to the thoughts Shuuichi has been trying not to acknowledge; Shuuichi hadn't even realized he was there, but Hiro does this often enough that it doesn't startle him anymore.

He doesn't take his eyes off Rei as he says, "I hope he feels that way, too."

A soft huff – of either exasperation or amusement or both – leaves Hiro. "You haven't asked, but he seems to be fitting in well enough. Helps that he basically started asking for something to do as soon as he stepped onto the ship, and he's a fast learner. I've seen him running all over the place."

"Well, he knows his way around ships. He spent enough time on them as a kid," Shuuichi points out, though Hiro knows that just as much as Shuuichi himself. "I'm glad to hear he's doing well, though."

Hiro hums, a knowing little noise that Shuuichi is far too used to. His shoulders tense before his friend even opens his mouth, and, unsurprisingly, he doesn't particularly like what Hiro has to say. "It's a good thing everyone can see how besotted you are with him, or else you might have competition. He's charmed a good half of the crew in only a week."

A scowl makes it's way onto Shuuichi's face despite his best efforts. On the one hand, he really is very pleased that Rei is fitting in; on the other hand, he can admit – only to himself, and, unfortunately, Hiro – that he might have a bit of a jealous streak.

"Oh, don't make that face." Hiro nudges him to snap him out of his mood. "As I said, everyone knows he's yours."

He isn't, though. Rei has only just escaped an unhappy marriage; Shuuichi could never selfishly push his own feelings onto him, even if he thought there was so much as an inkling that Rei might reciprocate. He needs time to adjust to his new life – or to decide what he wants to do next, if his choice isn't to stay on the ship.

Rei fiddles idly with something small in his hand; from this distance, Shuuichi can't quite tell what it might be. He seems contemplative, as if there's something weighing on his mind.

"You should go talk to him," Hiro urges, nudging Shuuichi again. "Unless you were intending to stand here and yearn all night."

Shuuichi throws Hiro an unimpressed look – to which Hiro just snorts – but, quickly running out of excuses not to approach Rei, and unwillingly to give Hiro even more ammunition against him, he acquiesces. Quietly, so as not to startle him, as he still seems lost in his thoughts, Shuuichi joins Rei at the bow, leaning one elbow on the railing once he's close enough.

Rei turns to him and smiles, soft and serene; if Shuuichi had less self-control, he'd reach out and tuck some of Rei's wayward hair behind his ear, but he manages to curb the impulse.

"Captain," Rei greets with more formality than Shuuichi expects, but also with a slight playful edge.

Shuuichi raises an eyebrow at him, but smiles back. "My apologies for being unable to check in with you sooner."

Rei, unbothered, waves him off with, "The captain's work is never done. You've been busy."

"I'm not the only one. I hear you've been taking on every job you can find."

"Learning the ropes, as it were," Rei answers with an airy laugh. "I intend to pull my weight."

"I don't think anyone would blame you if you needed a little time to adjust. Most of us have been there." When the only response he gets is a light shrug, Shuuichi asks, "Work aside, how are you holding up?"

Rei falls into a pensive silence, and turns to focus his attention back on the sea, the night's calm waves gently rocking the ship as they sail onward. "The first time we went out on Hiro's parents' ship, I realized how tiny home felt," he starts when he finally speaks again. "For most of my life, I've felt… Claustrophobic. Trapped. But when I'm out here on the water, it reminds me how vast the sea really is, and how small and comparatively inconsequential I am."

Shuuichi frowns, unsure how to take Rei's words. "Rei…"

Rei just smiles at him again, reassuring. He opens his palm, revealing what he'd been playing with before: his wedding ring. Truthfully, Shuuichi hadn't even given it a single thought since Rei chose to come with him, but it makes sense that it would weigh on Rei's mind. Defying any expectations Shuuichi might have had – though he had none – Rei takes the ring and tosses it into water with all his strength. Even in the relative quiet of the night, the sound it makes as it breaks the surface is indistinguishable.

"For the first time in my life, I have my freedom," he says as the symbol of his former marriage sinks to the depths below. "You don't need to worry about me."

Quick enough that he can't second-guess himself, Shuuichi reaches out and tugs Rei in close, tucking him against his chest. "I may not need to worry, but can you blame me?" he asks, hugging Rei right.

In his cabin, below deck, tucked away in a time-worn, wooden box, is a letter written by Rei's hand. Shuuichi's heart has broken more than once since his return to the ship, whenever he remembers the letter's existence. He can't bring himself to read the words again – and he doesn't quite need to, imprinted into his memory as they are – but intends to hold onto it for a while, until he's certain Rei is going to be alright. Then, they can burn the damned thing to ashes together.

"No," Rei answers softly, his voice muffled by Shuuichi's coat. "I don't blame you. But I promise I'm not thinking about that anymore. All I wanted was an escape, and you offered it to me."

An escape – Shuuichi had offered that, true. Until he read that letter, though, he hadn't realized just how much Rei would need it. He only hopes that his dear friend can find solace here, amongst a few familiar faces, and won't ever need that sort of escape again.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

To any whom it may concern–

Tonight I shall return my heart to the sea where it belongs.

To Miwako, I leave everything. May she find peace in my departure.

Rei Furuya.

The letter is short and simple, and Shuuichi wants to tear it to shreds, then set fire to the remains. Fear clenches at his heart, though he knows he made it in time to prevent Rei from following through. There's a smudge near his name, just a drop of stray ink that he'd attempted to wipe away, and the stamp just below it bears Rei's insignia, assuring its validity to any who may see it. Shuuichi had been the first.

He looks up from the letter to Rei, who stares at him in utter disbelief. He's been doing that since Shuuichi arrived. "I can't believe… You've been alive all these years?" he asks. His voice is shaken, distrustful – almost angry.

"What is this?" Shuuichi asks, ignoring Rei's question. It's quite obvious he's alive, after all.

"That," Rei snaps, snatching the letter from his hands, "is none of your business. It does not concern you."

Shuuichi frowns. "On the contrary, it concerns me very much. I knew you were unhappy – Jodie said as much – but I didn't realize just how dire things were."

"Jodie–" Rei pauses, sways slightly as if he's dizzy. When he speaks again, the anger is more apparent. "She didn't even tell me she was leaving, and now I find out she's been with you. And you both left me alone here for years."

"I've wanted to speak with you every time I've returned since then," Shuuichi explains, pleading for Rei to listen to him. He never meant to abandon him, especially after learning of his misery from Jodie. "You're never home when I arrive."

Rei's eyes widen, his furrowed brow softening as his brain pieces the puzzle together. He steps away from Shuuichi for a moment and reaches into his wardrobe, pulling out a sleek, mahogany jewelry case. "You– Were you the one who left these?" he asks, opening the box to show Shuuichi a stash of trinkets – a brass bird pin with a tiny ruby for an eye, an abalone shell, iridescent on the inside, and a pair of gold cufflinks with a galleon engraved on them, among other small baubles.

"Things I've picked up on my travels," Shuuichi confirms. Then, for further confirmation that he was, in fact, the one who left them, he adds, "I put them in the secret compartment in your desk, where I knew you would find them, but few others would know to check. I had hoped that… even if I couldn't see you, it would give you some measure of comfort to know that you aren't alone."

That seems to stun Rei, as he gropes around for his next words. "How did you even get in here?"

Shuuichi blinks, surprised by that particular question. "The same as I always did when we were children." Thick vines grow on the lattice outside Rei's room; as a child, he and Shuukichi had learnt that they could climb them with relative ease and sneak into Rei's unlocked window, then climb back out unnoticed when they were ready to leave. They'd never been caught before, and Rei seems to have kept the secret in the many years since.

The faint flicker of the candle on Rei's desk catches on a light in his eyes, revealing the emotions he's been trying to keep at bay, though no tears fall. "They found Lord Tsutomu's body after the fire, along with your aunt and uncle, but you, your mother, all of the children… Nothing. I held out hope for as long as I could that you'd escaped, but it's been so long, Shuuichi… If you wanted to see me so badly, why couldn't you just stay?"

It's a fair question, given that Rei doesn't seem to be aware of Shuuichi's profession. He hesitates, debating whether he should answer honestly – but, in the end, he came here to bring Rei back with him, if possible. Rei will find out sooner or later. "The longer I stay, the more likely my crew will find trouble with the locals."

For the most part, Shuuichi would say that his crew know how to behave while ashore, but Jinpei, for example, is a bit of a rapscallion on his best days, seeking out mischief wherever he goes, aided and abetted by both Kenji and Wataru, should the mood strike them. They aren't the only ones Shuuichi worries about, but they are the ones most often on his mind. It isn't something he's been willing to risk in this town specifically, knowing that it could lose him the opportunity to see Rei at all, if they end up in too much trouble.

That, or the next time he sees Rei would be at the gallows, as he's being hanged for piracy in the town he once called home.

"Your crew…?" Rei questions, curious rather than suspicious. "Shuuichi… what is it that you're doing now?"

That, Shuuichi can easily answer with honesty. "I am captain of a vessel."

Rei's eyebrows draw together again, puzzled. "Are you? I haven't seen your name on any of the merchant logs that have come through."

"You wouldn't," Shuuichi agrees. "I'm not particularly a merchant. You were always so clever; I can't imagine that's changed. Surely you won't make me say it."

A long pause fills the space between them, strained and heavy. Then–

Pirates? Rei mouths, thankfully unwilling to risk someone overhearing that word, as he stares at Shuuichi in awe. Shuuichi barely responds to the query, though he does lift his chin slightly in confirmation. "How did that come to be?"

"That is a very long story that we probably don't have time for right now," Shuuichi answers, then drops his request like a bomb in the tense air. "Rei, I'd like for you to come with me."

Rei's expression turns to one of vague amusement. "Is that a request, or are you kidnapping me?"

Now that his guard is lower than before, Shuuichi plucks his letter back out of his hand and tucks it away inside his coat with a pointed look. "I'd prefer if you came along willingly, but, given how desperate the situation seems to be, I'm prepared to go whatever route necessary."

While he's waiting for Rei to make a decision, he strides past him to his desk and grabs some parchment and Rei's candle. "Get together whatever you need to take. We're leaving soon," he orders as he waits for some of the melted wax to drip onto the parchment. Once he has enough, he sets the candle back in its holder and slips the ring bearing the captain's insignia – a series of tiny stars arranged in the constellation for which his ship was named – from his right middle finger, pressing it onto the wax to leave his mark.

He doesn't use this stamp often. He'd inherited it, his title, and the ship from the previous captain, a jolly, kind, but eccentric man who'd made up for the lack of hair on his head with the bushiest grey eyebrows and mustache Shuuichi'd ever seen. Jirokichi had taken Shuuichi under his wing before he'd even reached the age of majority, and as far as Shuuichi knows, is now living out the rest of his time in the comfort of his accumulated wealth somewhere in Fiji – at least that's what the man had told him his plans were. Shuuichi isn't quite sure how much wealth the man had actually managed to accrue, a lot of it having been spent on alcohol and gambling over the years, but he also hadn't been inclined to bring that up. Jirokichi was always charismatic enough that Shuuichi is certain he'd figure something out, with or without money.

Legend has it, the captain of Cetus is a man known as Greybeard, but Shuuichi is neither bearded nor greying – and Jirokichi had lacked half of those traits himself. The moniker, as Jirokichi had told the story the day he divulged his plans to Shuuichi, is one that has been passed down from captain to captain regardless of how fitting it may be. Some former captains grew into their title, while others had subverted expectations.

To those outside of the crew, and a select few ashore, Greybeard is either an immortal being who has captained Cetus for far too many lifetimes, or a myth. As with most things, the truth always lies somewhere in the middle.

Rei slips out of his overcoat just as Shuuichi turns back to him, laying it neatly over the back of his desk chair. "I don't want signs of a struggle. Perhaps it will buy us some time," he explains as he tidies the room a bit more, then checks the latch on his jewelry box and slips it into a bag, followed by a small pouch of coins – enough to get him by for a while, but not so much as to look like a robbery. Then, his mind made up, he turns his attention back to Shuuichi and offers a mischievous grin. "Alright then, Captain. We should go."

It is that exact moment when Shuuichi fully realizes the hold Rei has on his heart.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

Their return to the ship is simple enough, the most harrowing part being the climb back down the vines and sneaking away from Rei's family property, and even that only requires sticking to the shadows. From there, it's just a matter of calmly walking through town and to the docks; they aren't even stopped along the way.

As Shuuichi ushers Rei aboard, he looks around at the crew hanging about, taking in every face he can see. When his gaze lands on Taka'aki, leaning against the starboard railing with both Kansuke and Yui close by, he asks, "Has anyone not returned yet?"

Although Hiro is typically the man who keeps track of everyone else, Shuuichi doesn't see him above deck, which makes more sense when Taka'aki answers, "We're only waiting for Hiromitsu now. He should return soon."

Shuuichi nods in acknowledgment, just as Rei says, "Taka'aki?"

Taka'aki gives Rei a faint smile. "Rei. It's been a while."

"I see the captain finally bullied you into joining us," Kansuke adds from beside him.

Rei smiles back, a hint of awkwardness to it – not that Shuuichi blames him; Taka'aki has always been a hard read, even when they knew him as children, and Kansuke can be a little intimidating, even to those that know him well – then turns to Shuuichi. "Hiro's part of the crew, too? Did you just adopt every familiar face you could find?"

"More or less," answers a voice from behind them. They turn just as Hiro walks up the gangway, stopping directly in front of Rei as Taka'aki steps away to do a final headcount. He bows with a dramatic flourish as he says, "Welcome aboard, Rei. Quartermaster Hiromitsu, at your service." Then, he stands back up fully and laughs, pulling Rei into a tight hug. "It's good to finally see you again."

Taka'aki returns to Shuuichi shortly, confirming that everyone is accounted for, so Shuuichi looks to James, his helmsman, and instructs him to prepare for departure.

When he turns back to Rei and Hiro, it's Hiro who says, "Go handle your duties, Captain. I'll show Rei around."

Shuuichi opens his mouth to apologize to Rei, but Rei cuts him off. "It's fine, Shuuichi. We're on a ship, I'm sure we'll see each other soon enough."

If Shuuichi had known then that an entire week would pass before they're able to properly speak again, he would've insisted on staying with Rei a bit longer. As it is, one thing after another distracts him, from plotting their next course, to discussing supplies with Hiro, and various other tasks that James continually informs him shouldn't fall to the captain – but Shuuichi is of the mind that he is no more important than any of his crew. If he won't help where it's needed, then why should he expect that of the rest of them?

He sees Rei, sometimes, from a distance, or when they pass each other in the course of their days. Once, he finds himself with some free time on his hands and attempts to seek his friend out, only to find that he's fast asleep below deck after working through the previous night's storm. He watches Rei for a few moments, taking in his peaceful expression, and hopes that he's having nice dreams. Surely, he tells himself, their schedules will line up soon.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

"You haven't told me how you became captain of this ship," Rei reminds him, pulling away from the hug and putting a more respectable distance between them.

"Ah, of course," says Shuuichi, trying not to be disappointed. Given his upbringing and how recently he's left his marriage, Shuuichi can't begrudge him his discomfort. "Mother and I escaped with the kids after the fire and went to live near her old family home. When I turned seventeen, I managed to find work on this ship, under the former captain. I was… young and very naive, and didn't realize it was a pirate ship, at first. Once I knew, I didn't particularly care.

"Three years in, Captain Greybeard informed me that he'd been looking for someone to replace him when he retired, and he had his eye on me. I didn't really know what to think at the time – why would he want me, the youngest person on the ship at the time, aside from the actual children, and one of the crewman with the least experience, to step up and lead? When I asked, he just laughed and told me he liked my attitude, and that the ship needed new life, not some crusty old captain who'd die in a few years anyway. Blunt, but he was always like that.

"When he announced his impending retirement to the crew, a few left at the next port. Most stayed at the time, even after he turned the ship over to me on my twenty-first birthday, and a handful of them are still here, seven years later. So, I guess I'm Greybeard now. It felt so surreal, at first, but now it's just my life."

"The helmsman is one of the old hands," Rei observes, and though it's lilted like a question, he doesn't wait for an answer. "He has a great deal of respect for you."

Shuuichi nods. "James has been absolutely invaluable. There are still things I don't know, and he's been at this so long that he has most of the intricacies all figured out, not to mention he may well have the entire Caribbean mapped out in his brain.

"Yukiko, Shinichi and Kaito joined the crew after me, but before I became captain. Their family was killed, I'm not sure the circumstances, but she fled with her son and nephew. Captain Jirokichi took them in, and they've been with us for close to a decade now.

"Kuroda and Jii are from the old crew as well. I don't know if Hiro has warned you yet, but if you see them drinking and playing poker together, it's best to just walk away. Don't get involved, it only ends badly."

Rei laughs, a bright, cheerful sound that warms Shuuichi's heart. "It sounds like you learned that through personal experience."

"I was not warned," Shuuichi confirms, then chuckles alongside him.

When the laughter fades, Rei closes his eyes and just breathes for a moment, and Shuuichi watches as he takes in the night, the breeze, and the salt in the air. Hiro was right – he really does belong here. When he looks at Shuuichi again, Rei asks, almost hesitant, "Are you happy?"

Shuuichi has never been a morning person. Even as a kid, though he wouldn't grumble about being awake for school – he didn't like risking those looks Mother would give him – he would've always preferred to sleep in. Caffeine, and, much later, nicotine became staples to keep him from dozing off midday, forming bad habits far too early in life. Nobody has ever given him a particularly compelling reason as to why the day has to start at the crack of dawn; even his soulmate's yearly photo doesn't arrive until the afternoon.

Shortly after his twenty-sixth birthday, after he returns to Tokyo from an extended assignment in Hokkaido, however, he discovers the one thing that threatens to change his mind: the NPA's newest recruit, Detective Furuya Rei.

To call Furuya compelling would be doing him a disservice, because he is so much more than that. Sharp-tongued and quick-witted, Furuya walks into a room and everyone pays attention, despite how new he is to the department, and how little relative experience he has. Shuuichi is no exception.

He arrives at headquarters, every day, at what most would consider to be a reasonable time (Shuuichi would find it reasonable, if it were a few hours later), and every single day, he finds Furuya's little white Mazda already in the parking garage, and his office light on.

For the first couple of weeks that this happens, Shuuichi simply greets Furuya in his office as he passes by. Once, he makes the mistake of poking his head in and asking if Furuya needs help with anything, only to be met with a glare so fierce it rivals his mother's. Shuuichi holds his hands up, backing off and leaving Furuya to his work.

The next morning, he brings in an extra cup of coffee. He's not sure what, exactly, earned him that glare, but he knows he must have stepped on Furuya's toes somehow.

Furuya watches him warily as he steps into his office and sets the take-out cup on his desk. "What?" he asks, voice low, distrustful.

"Coffee," Shuuichi answers with a quick half-smile. "It's black, since I don't know how you take yours, but hopefully it'll suffice for at least the beginnings of an apology."

Furuya's expression is no less suspicious as he asks, "And what is it that you feel the need to apologize for?"

"For yesterday. I didn't mean to imply anything about how you handle your work."

A heavy sigh leaves Furuya as he takes a moment to reply. When he does, it's a simple, "thank you," followed by quickly by, "I have a lot of work to do."

Taking that as the dismissal it clearly is, Shuuichi nods and steps away, leaving him to his work. Furuya is ever-so-slightly less frosty to him after that, though the distrust remains for a little while. Shuuichi continues bringing him coffee in the mornings, though maybe it's just an excuse to spend extra time with him.

A month or so later, their supervisor sends them out on an assignment together – a couple of days in Kyoto looking into an incident at the Ooka residence. Despite the former Prime Minister's apparent beliefs, the NPA is not meant to be their private security team, but Shuuichi isn't high enough in the ranks to question his superiors' decisions. Regardless, he isn't complaining too much when he finds out who's accompanying him.

They decide to drive to Kyoto, rather than taking the shinkansen. It's a longer trip that way, but will ensure they have a car available if needed. Furuya will be driving, because he'd taken one dubious look at Shuuichi's truck and insisted he would, so he shows up to Shuuichi's apartment very early the next morning.

He'd been expecting this, of course; it's what they agreed on, due to the lengthy travel time. Shuuichi is technically awake and half dressed by the time Furuya arrives, well before sunrise, the coffee pot already going.

As he lets Furuya in, he's greeted with a confused look that quickly turns to amusement at his disheveled, groggy, shirtless state. Furuya, dressed as immaculately as ever, tries (and fails) to hide a smile by biting his lip, and asks, "Did you sleep at all?"

"I slept some," Shuuichi answers, reaching up to tie his hair back. It's at this point that Furuya looks away from him; Shuuichi doesn't think much of it at first, until he realizes, a little later, that Furuya doesn't look at him a single time more until he pulls a shirt on. Interesting. He notes that in the back of his mind to think about later.

Once he's more or less ready to go, with two travel mugs of coffee prepared for them, Furuya shoos him out to the balcony to have a cigarette because, "You are not smoking in my car, Akai Shuuichi," as he washes the coffee pot. It feels oddly domestic, when Shuuichi returns inside to find Furuya leaning against his counter, waiting.

The purpose of their trip ends up being mostly a waste of time – it could've been handled by the local police – but he does enjoy the approximately ten hours spent in a car with Furuya. Though, admittedly, his heart sinks when, halfway back to Tokyo, he realizes that all signs point to Furuya likely having been a classmate with his soulmate at the Academy.

Guiltily, Shuuichi also realizes that he's barely even thought about his soulmate since he met Furuya.

More importantly, though, he finds out that Furuya had been friends with Hagiwara Kenji, a member of the bomb disposal unit that lost his life in the line of duty back in November. Shuuichi's assignment in Hokkaido had started shortly before that, so he wasn't around for either the disaster or the fallout of it, but his soulmate certainly was – he'd felt their grief through the bond. And, upon further investigation, Hagiwara was present in the picture Shuuichi had received for his soulmate's twenty-third birthday.

Curiously, Furuya wasn't, which leads Shuuichi to one of two conclusions: either Furuya and Shuuichi's soulmate had overlaps in their friends but weren't particularly close, or Furuya is his soulmate. He immediately buries the latter thought so as not to get his hopes up.

Either way, Furuya hides his grief well when not speaking of it directly, even now that Shuuichi knows to look for it.

They prove efficient enough of a team that, as spring arrives, they're paired together on most assignments, both a blessing and a slow torture for Shuuichi, as he watches Furuya-kun grow more and more confident in himself and his abilities. Though Shuuichi, as his team's Inspector, officially takes the lead, he finds himself deferring to Furuya-kun's judgment more often than not – especially in matters with civilians. Shuuichi has never been particularly good with people, and though Furuya-kun is a little rough around the edges, he's miles better at speaking (and finds far too much amusement in Shuuichi fumbling his way through conversations).

More than once, in the quieter moments, he finds Furuya-kun staring wistfully at the blooming cherry trees, transfixed by the pink flowers. It doesn't take Shuuichi a lot of thinking to figure out he must being reminiscing about his late friend. He snaps out of it quickly, though, when he catches Shuuichi watching him, and offers a small smile before changing the subject to something he deems safe.

He speaks of his other friends sometimes – of Date Wataru, their 'squad leader,' who had basically taken on the role of keeping them in line as much as he could, but was just as likely to go along with their shenanigans as to try to talk them out of it, and of Matsuda Jinpei, whose temper is just as bad as Furuya-kun's and who taught him the basics of disarming bombs, and of a man he simply calls Hiro, who Shuuichi never really gets specifics about, but who always earns the biggest smiles from Furuya-kun.

It takes every ounce of self-control he can muster not to look these men up, especially this 'Hiro' who Furuya-kun seems so fond of, because the more he hears, the more that thought he'd banished before comes crawling it's way back: could Furuya Rei be Shuuichi's soulmate? One thing is certain, though, and that is Shuuichi's feelings for him, regardless of whether they're soulmates or not. He can no longer deny that this has gone far beyond a simple attraction. Furuya-kun lives in Shuuichi's thoughts, even when it's inconvenient, and he catches himself looking for him every time he enters a room at Headquarters.

Not that he can act on it, though, when he's instead busy acting as Furuya-kun's superior. He keeps the boundaries between them as professional as possible and writes nothing less than stellar (and, crucially, accurate) reports on Furuya-kun's capabilities.

In early summer, Furuya-kun is called into a meeting with their superiors and promoted to Inspector. This is unprecedented – the youngest inspector, they're calling him – and Shuuichi decides right then and there that they're going to celebrate.

"Drinks tonight," he insists, leaving no room for argument. "Unless we're stuck here late. Call your friends, if you want."

Furuya-kun grins and shakes his head. "Okay, sure. Drinks."

They end up at a bar between Headquarters and Shuuichi's apartment after sunset – later than he would've liked, but work kept them – where they meet up with one of Furuya-kun's friends. Date, apparently is busy on a case, and he hadn't been given a reason for Matsuda's absence, but 'Hiro' arrives halfway through their first drink.

"Sorry I'm late," he greets, taking a seat next to Furuya-kun. "Work has been nightmarishly busy."

As soon as Shuuichi looks at his face, everything slides into place. The man now has neatly trimmed stubble lining his chin, but there's not a single doubt in Shuuichi's mind that he's the same man who has been in so many of the soulmate photos he's received over the years. He introduces himself as Morofushi Hiromitsu as Shuuichi catches his voice; Furuya-kun must notice his moment of struggle, because he takes it upon himself to introduce Shuuichi.

Recognition lights up Morofushi's eyes – does this mean Furuya-kun has mentioned him? – and he smiles, just as Furuya-kun stands.

"I'll go get Hiro a beer," he says.

"We're celebrating you," Shuuichi counters. "You stay here, I'll go get it."

But Furuya-kun simply shakes his head. "You don't even know what he drinks. I'll be right back."

Alone with this stranger who is so familiar to him, Shuuichi studies him quietly; from the serious gleam in Morofushi's eyes, he gets the feeling he's not the only one trying to figure something out. It's Morofushi who speaks up first, a light-hearted comment to break the ice. "He didn't even tell me what we're celebrating."

Shuuichi chuckles and waves it off. "We'll wait until he gets back for that." Though he's pretty sure he already knows the answer, Shuuichi wants to confirm his suspicions, so he poses a question. "Do you mind if I ask how long you've known each other? Furuya-kun talks about you sometimes, but never really gives details."

"A while," Morofushi answers vaguely, side-stepping the question and returning it with one of his own, the corner of his mouth quirking upward. "Have we met before? Something about you seems familiar."

Amused, Shuuichi lifts his chin with a slight smirk. "I have my mother's eyes. Perhaps you've seen a picture of her," he replies, and pauses for a moment to let that sink in and assess whether it has the intended effect. Morofushi's blinks, then his eyes widen the tiniest fraction, so Shuuichi continues. "When you say 'a while,' would you say that's about… sixteen years or so? Give or take a few months?"

From the way Morofushi's eyebrows raise, and understanding dawns on his face, Shuuichi assumes he must have arrived at the answer. His theory is confirmed when Furuya-kun returns seconds later. Morofushi takes the beer he's handed, and, Furuya-kun sits down, Morofushi lowers his voice to ask, "Do you know who this guy is?"

"Akai Shuuichi," Furuya-kun answers. Then, he lowers his voice so only their table can hear, looks to Shuuichi, and gives him a cheeky little grin. "My soulmate."

Shuuichi's mouth drops open before he can stop it, to which Furuya-kun laughs brightly in response. "I should've known you would've figured it out already," he says once he gets over his immediate shock. "How long have you known?"

"A while," Furuya-kun answers, just as vague as Morofushi. Shuuichi knows in that moment that these two together spell trouble, but he finds he's looking forward to learning more about them both. "I've been waiting for you to catch up."

With a huff, Shuuichi replies, "It's been in the back of my mind since Kyoto. And it's not like I could do anything about it before, even if I was certain."

"I suppose," Furuya-kun agrees, that familiar glitter of amusement in his eyes. There's clearly more that he wants to say, but Shuuichi notices the way his eyes dart around the crowded bar, and realizes why he's holding back.

Morofushi must realize, too, because abruptly he changes the subject. "So, what's this about a celebration?"

Taking that as his cue, Shuuichi says, "You're looking at our newest inspector. If the rumors around the office are anything to go by, he's the youngest ever." While the rumors may be slightly exaggerated, Shuuichi can't imagine they're that far off, since Furuya-kun hadn't been a detective for a full year before his promotion.

"You made Inspector?" Morofushi half-shouts, thrilled. "Zero, that's amazing!"

Furuya-kun makes a valiant attempt to laugh off the praise, but neither Shuuichi nor Morofushi are inclined to let him downplay his achievements, knowing how hard he's been working, so they make a quiet toast (because even though they want to celebrate, Furuya-kun already seems uncomfortable with the idea of too much attention from strangers) and order food to go along with their drinks.

The celebratory dinner continues for a couple of hours, until Morofushi calls an end to it on account of all of them having to work in the morning. Outside the bar, Morofushi pulls Furuya-kun into a tight hug and throws Shuuichi a knowing look before excusing himself.

Furuya-kun turns back to Shuuichi and opens his mouth, probably to say good night as well, but Shuuichi jumps in before he can, unwilling to let him go so quickly if he can help it. "Furuya-kun," he starts, then pauses and tries again, because it feels strange to address his soulmate so distantly. "Rei-kun. Come home with me?"

Rei's eyes widen for a second before he nods. "Yes."

They'd driven to the bar in Shuuichi's truck, with the intent of Shuuichi dropping Rei off at home afterward, so getting back to his place is simple enough. The silent stretches between them the whole ride, not awkward, exactly, but charged with the expectations of what's to come. Shuuichi knows he can't be the only one feeling that tension because as soon as they're inside his apartment, Rei pulls him close and kisses him.

Shuuichi's heart soars and his pulse spikes as he wraps his arms around Rei. "I've been wanting to do that for months," he murmurs against Rei's lips as the kiss breaks.

Rei laughs and kisses him again, gentler this time. "You made that pretty obvious. At least to me. Always watching me, always bringing me coffee."

"Do I need to worry about other guys bringing you coffee?" Shuuichi teases, earning a roll of Rei's eyes. With a more serious tone, he then says, "I know there are things we probably need to talk about, but I–"

"Not tonight," Rei cuts in decisively, echoing Shuuichi's own thoughts. Then, he goes back to kissing Shuuichi.

They wake early in the morning to the alarm Shuuichi'd hastily set to make sure they have enough time to get ready for work – including time to take Rei home. Reaching for his phone, Shuuichi turns the alarm off, then rolls over to look at Rei instead of immediately getting up. Rei's already watching him with sleepy eyes and a faint smile.

"Good morning, Rei-kun," Shuuichi says, voice rough as he tugs Rei in close and nuzzles against his throat.

"Don't get carried away," Rei warns, though he sounds more amused than anything else. His hand rests itself on Shuuichi's back, his fingers drawing incomprehensible patterns on the bare skin. "We still have work."

"Do you think we need a bigger apartment?" Shuuichi asks, his fingers running through Rei's hair gently, over and over, attempting to soothe him. He's a bit surprised Rei agreed to rest like this, his head on Shuuichi's chest, just over his heart. He'd seemed like he was on the verge of a panic attack when Shuuichi decided to excuse them from dinner, and he's been quiet ever since.

Rei is rarely quiet like this; it's deeply unsettling.

A confused noise leaves Rei's throat, but he doesn't shift, his arm still thrown over Shuuichi's waist. "Why?"

That he's spoken at all feels like a good sign, even if it is only one word, so Shuuichi works to get another response out of him. "Perhaps not bigger, but a better layout. You mentioned you used to grow celery in your apartment, but our place doesn't really have a good window for it."

"You're thinking about moving to a new apartment just for better windows?" Rei asks, baffled.

It does sound a little absurd when Rei phrases it that way, but Shuuichi shrugs it off. "Or maybe a house. We could get a house with a garden, and then you could have all kinds of plants." He's pushing his luck, and he knows it – Rei regularly reminds him that their situation is temporary – but if it keeps Rei talking, he's willing to suffer a little hurt later, once he has to face the truth again.

Whether he realizes what Shuuichi's doing or not, Shuuichi can't tell, but Rei goes along with it regardless, sighing a little as Shuuichi feels some of the tension release from his shoulders. "Hypothetically…" he begins slowly, "if we were to move into a house, I would like to have a garden, yes."

"I've never grown anything before," Shuuichi tells him. His mother never had much of a green thumb, and, though his father dabbled in gardening from time to time, Shuuichi hadn't taken an interest back then – something he kind of regrets in hindsight, knowing he missed out on one more way to bond with him. "Maybe you could teach me."

Rei hums, the vibration reverberating pleasantly through Shuuichi's chest. "I could."

He doesn't elaborate, so Shuuichi continues the conversation, but in another direction. "You'd want to stay near Tokyo, I assume?"

"We work in Tokyo," Rei points out, as if he has to remind him.

A light chuckle releases itself from Shuuichi. "A transfer is theoretically possible. More importantly, Morofushi and the other guys are there."

"And your family."

"And my family, yes. Near Tokyo would be best. I'm thinking something in the traditional style – tatami and sliding shoji screens and all. That would suit you."

Rei lifts his head, Shuuichi's hand falling away for the moment, and stares at him with an unreadable expression, somewhere between awe and confusion. Then, as he settles back down, he murmurs, "That would be… I would love that."

Returning his hand to Rei's hair, Shuuichi says, "I thought so."

Rei sighs, almost seeming to melt against him, causing a smile to twitch at the corner of Shuuichi's mouth. "Quit putting thoughts in my head, Shuuichi," he scolds lightly.

"So, we shouldn't think about the future?" Shuuichi asks, with a teasing edge.

Rei ignores that question and asks, instead, "Why are you bringing up houses, all of a sudden?"

Although he's tempted to keep up the ruse that he's just thinking about their future, if Rei is scolding him, then he seems to be back to himself now. "I was trying to distract you from whatever is going on in your brain," he answers, massaging Rei's scalp lightly.

"Ah." Rei falls quiet for a long moment again, before quietly mumbling, "I owe you an explanation."

"You don't owe me anything," Shuuichi insists, sliding his hand down to rub at Rei's back. "If you want to talk, I'll gladly listen, but I'm the one who put you in this mess in the first place."

Rei grumbles something that Shuuichi doesn't quite catch, then says, "No, I should've told you back when you first asked why I was looking into the Miyano family, or at least when I told you Akemi might recognize me."

Truthfully, that bit of information alone had fascinated Shuuichi more than anything else. Rei had already told him that he was looking into them for 'personal' reasons, back when he first brought it up, but if Akemi recognizes Rei, then he must have known them. He's curious about the circumstances, but it's obvious that the memories cause Rei a great deal of heartache, so he's never felt the need to push. "You can tell me as much or as little as you like."

Rei takes a moment to exhale and gather his thoughts, then begins his story. "I never knew my mother. I don't know why she left right after I was born, but she did, and my father resented her for it. And, by extension, he resented me, too. I guess I look too much like her."

What he describes after that is a childhood of neglect and loneliness, being ostracized from the other kids at school because of his looks, and the teachers coming down harder on him for defending himself than the kids who started the fights. Things start to look up when Hiro enters the story; it doesn't really change the way others treat him, but at least he has a friend now. Shuuichi's heart still breaks for him.

"The first time Miyano-san found me after a fight, she dragged to her parents' clinic, and that's where I met Elena-san," Rei explains. The way his voice quivers has Shuuichi wrapping his arms around him, holding him tighter. "She was the first adult in my life who treated me with kindness, and she looked like me, so it's probably no surprise that I grew very attached to her very quickly. I went to see her as much as I could. Sometimes I even got into fights on purpose, just to have an excuse. It was like… an escape from the constant pressure of being at home.

"And then, one day, only a few months after we met, she told me she wouldn't be able to help me anymore because they were moving away. And I never saw her again. In my teens, I looked into it, to see if I could find out where she went, only to find her obituary. I was… absolutely devastated, and the whole thing felt suspicious to me. When Hiro told me he wanted to join the force because of his parents' murder, I jumped at the chance."

Somehow, Shuuichi never expected it to have been Morofushi's idea for them to join the police – he hadn't given it much thought, really, but if he had, he would've assumed Rei was the one with the idea, and Morofushi went along with it. It gives a new angle to their dynamic that Shuuichi hasn't really considered; he finds the pair even more fascinating than ever.

"I see," he says, thinking all this new information over. "So you met Akemi when you two were kids, and that's why you weren't sure if she'd recognize you."

Rei nods against his chest. "Right. It's been nearly twenty years."

Shuuichi pokes him gently in the side. "But it turns out you're unforgettable. It's unsurprising, really."

"I know you can't see it, but just imagine I'm rolling my eyes at you," Rei replies dryly.

"Noted," Shuuichi laughs.

Rei huffs in return. "Anyway, I guess when I saw how upset your mother seemed at the whole ruse, it just felt like being back in my dad's house. That's why I… reacted the way I did."

"I understand, I'll talk to her. I need to figure out where exactly she stands with all of this, anyway." As soon as he feels Rei tense against him, Shuuichi's hand makes it's way back to his hair, stroking gently to try calming him down. "I won't bring this up with her, don't worry. In fact, I should go talk to her now, sort things out tonight."

With great reluctance, he sits up, unfortunately forcing Rei to do the same; he already misses the warmth of his soon-to-be husband in his arms. Before he can second-guess the action, he leans forward and presses a soft kiss to Rei's temple.

"Are you sure it can't wait until morning?" Rei asks. He's not quite pouting, but there is a hint of a frown to his expression.

Shuuichi fights back a smile, knowing Rei wouldn't appreciate it. "It would be better to get it over with. I won't be long."

As he slides off the bed, Rei grabs his hand suddenly. When Shuuichi turns back to him, he simply says, "Thank you. For… all of this."

"Any time, Rei. I mean it," he replies, squeezing Rei's hand before letting go. There's so much more he'd like to be able to say to Rei, but tonight isn't the night for it. Rei has been through enough – and Shuuichi isn't sure he'd appreciate the sentiments, anyway.

There have been a few moments in their time together where Shuuichi thought maybe, just maybe, Rei felt similar things to him, but, in case he's wrong, he refuses to make Rei uncomfortable by being too obvious with his feelings. They had an agreement; he'll stick to it unless Rei wants things to change.

(He'd be lying if he said that Rei's sudden insistence that they share a bed didn't spark some hope in him, but he won't push his luck.)

Almost as soon as his shoes are off and placed neatly by the door, Rei pulls his phone from his pocket and navigates to Akai's contact, loosening his tie as he goes. It's late – pushing one in the morning, which means it's right around noon for Akai – a time when he's not typically available, but Rei's been assured that he will be today. He's fairly certain, based on their many previous conversations, that Akai doesn't typically get Saturdays off, but somehow their schedules have lined up in such a way that he's off now. The beginnings of unwanted thoughts start to form in Rei's mind, and he abruptly pushes them away as Akai answers.

"Rei-kun," he greets, a smile in his voice. Something unfurls in Rei's chest, the tension in his shoulders slipping away. "How was the wedding?"

Unfortunately, asking about the wedding conjures up other things Rei has been trying to not think about – namely, being interrogated about why he didn't bring Akai as his date. It started with Date, who really should've been more focused on his new bride than why Rei didn't invite his long-distance friend from halfway around the world to be his plus one, commenting, "I was surprised when you said you were coming alone; we thought for sure you'd ask Akai. Could he not make it?"

"He didn't ask," Hiro answered for him. If not for the smirk, Rei would've thought that perhaps he was trying to be helpful, so that Rei didn't have to explain himself.

He did give it his best effort, though. "He's already flying over in October for his brother's wedding. Twice in just a few months is a lot to ask."

This, of course, only led to teasing from both Date and Matsuda, while Hiro, Hagi and Natalie-san offered him no help whatsoever. Thankfully, as the highlight of the event, Date and Natalie-san couldn't stay too long and ignore their other guests, so at least he got some reprieve from the harassment, but the thought stuck with him.

Should he have asked Akai? It did seem a little selfish, given that a trip to Japan requires planning and taking time off from work. In the end, for those reasons, Rei convinced himself he made the right choice.

A small part of him still wishes things were different.

"It was good to see everyone again," he answers Akai, then puts the phone on speaker and sets it on his bed so that he can change his clothes. "I see Hiro all the time, but we're so busy with work that I haven't seen the other guys in a while."

Akai's quiet hums come through from the other end of the line. "I'm glad you got some time to relax with your friends."

"They asked about you," Rei says before he can stop himself. Mentally kicking himself for even bringing it up, he steels himself for whatever Akai's response might be as he works open the buttons of his shirt and slips it off his shoulders.

Akai's voice lilts upward in obvious confusion. "Oh?"

Rei hesitates there, debating. If he tells Akai the truth about what they said, it could lead to an uncomfortable situation. "They… just wanted to know how you're doing," he lies, heart pounding in his chest. For some reason, he feels disappointed in himself. "I told them you're keeping busy with work, but seemed to be doing well otherwise."

If Akai doesn't buy into his lie, it doesn't come through in his understanding hum.

Stripped down to his underwear, his clothes put away for cleaning later, Rei debates, for half a second, going to take a shower, but the call of his bed, and his unwillingness to end the call when they've only just started talking win out. He can shower in the morning. So, he plugs his phone in to keep it from dying, crawls into bed, and places the phone next to him as he lays on his side.

"Should I let you sleep?" Akai asks, apparently having heard the shift of the mattress.

"Not sleeping yet," Rei answers, though even he can hear how groggy he's already starting to sound.

Akai huffs quietly, which Rei chooses to ignore. "Go brush your teeth, Rei-kun. I know you'll hate yourself in the morning if you don't, especially if you've been drinking."

Rei's brain stalls; he'd completely forgotten, in his exhausted, distracted state, that he missed a step in getting ready for bed. He grumbles something unintelligible, sighs, and crawls back out of bed to the sound of Akai's chuckles. He hadn't had much to drink – he doesn't drink much these days anyway, can't quite stomach it – but that's no excuse for not taking care of himself.

As he trudges his way to the bathroom, taking his phone with him, Akai says, "My coworkers have decided that I must have a secret wife in Japan."

Stumbling a little (and determinedly blaming it on the one glass of champagne he'd consumed, despite how little sense that makes), Rei nearly chokes. "What."

This reaction only seems to further Akai's amusement, because there's laughter in his voice when he answers, "I rarely go out for drinks with them after work, and they've seen me texting someone. They made assumptions."

Despite knowing it isn't true, Rei can't quite help the bubble of annoyance forming inside him. He does his best to keep it out of his tone, though he's not sure how successful of an endeavor that turns out to be. "Logic would dictate that if you have a secret wife, you'd be working toward actually being in the same country as her."

"That would make sense, wouldn't it?" Akai agrees without hesitation. "I would hate to be separated from the person I love longer than necessary."

Rei's eyes narrow – something about Akai's words ring as suspicious in his ears, but he's too tired to figure out why. Choosing to push it out of his mind – perhaps he can think about it tomorrow – he focuses, instead, on getting through his nightly routine, Akai running commentary in the meantime by telling Rei about his latest case.

If he closes his eyes, it almost feels like Akai is in the room with him, rather than in New York; his chest tightens at the thought. He concludes that there's something seriously wrong with him tonight. He'll be back to normal in the morning.

He finally finishes up and puts his toothbrush away, then trudges his way back to bed, reclaiming his earlier spot. "If I've forgotten something else, it's not important and can wait until morning," he declares, earning another soft chuckle from Akai.

"Get some sleep, Rei-kun," he urges, and Rei's heart rate speeds up in panic. He's not ready for the call to end, even though he feels his eyelids starting to droop.

"Wait," he says, before Akai can say anything else. "How… are Agent Starling and Agent Camel doing?"

He feels ridiculous even asking, as he's never asked about them before. Akai's surely confused by the sudden interest, but he hides it well. "They're good. Though, I think Camel misses your cooking. He was talking it up quite a bit the other day."

Rei snorts, pulling his blanket over himself and snuggling his head onto his pillow, the phone lying beside him. "I've only made food for him once, and it was a sandwich. Hardly a culinary masterpiece. Doesn't even count as cooking."

"That's not how he tells it."

"Insane," Rei mutters, sleep tugging at his brain as he stifles a yawn. "If he visits, I'll cook a proper meal for him. Then he can quit waxing poetic about a damn sandwich."

"I'll let him know," Akai laughs.

Rei isn't really sure what else is said after that. Akai keeps talking, and he even responds to it, but words stop making sense, and he's pretty sure most of his replies come out as mumbles, as his mind succumbs to the quiet comfort of sleep. He'll only remember in the morning, with a pinch of guilt, that he didn't end the call, meaning Akai must have.