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As soon as Professor Mikotoba left the room, Ryuunosuke let out a long sigh and sat in the armchair in the attic. It had been a very long day and an even longer week. But finally, all the mysteries of the Professor and of Inspector Gregson’s death had been put to light and he could relax for a minute. He loved his job, but the eccentric witnesses and suspects could get a bit tiring. He hadn’t realized how worn out he was, and it was only now, in the hours of the evening, that he could allow himself a brief respite. He knew it wouldn’t be longer than a few minutes as Mr Sholmes and Iris were waiting for him downstairs, but it was better than nothing.

In a few days from now, he would depart for Japan, leaving behind a year full of memories, discoveries, adventures and sorrow. He still could not quite believe that Kazuma was alive, only a few blocks from Baker Street, and that he could see him whenever he wanted. He understood why Kazuma wanted to stay in London. It had been his dream, and not Ryuunosuke’s, after all. But after the discovery of the Professor’s case and Kazuma’s vengeful spirit, Ryonosuke had doubted his motivations. Maybe Kazuma only wanted to go to London to shed light on this case, maybe reforming the legal system was only an excuse to get closer to the truth. But his friend had quickly reaffirmed his wishes. Deep down, despite all the changes Kazuma had gone through and how much of a different man he seemed to be, he hadn’t lied about his wish to become a better lawyer in the British capital. It was as a prosecutor and not a defense attorney that Kazuma filled this role, but it didn’t change the truth. The more he considered it, the more it made sense for Kazuma to want to become a prosecutor. Truly, his friend could be anything he wanted. He had put the work in, had the assurance and a solid head on his shoulders. And maybe the dark part he had discovered in him made him feel as though he was better as a condemner than a defender. For Ryuunosuke however, the choice was easy. Inf act, there was no choice. As soon as he had stepped in the shoes of a defense lawyer, back in Japan a year ago, he had known that it was his true calling. At the time, it wasn’t as clear, hidden between heaps of self-doubt and admiration for his friend, but the passion had always been there. In Japan, he hoped to follow formal studies and obtain the title of lawyer in a more traditional and formal manner than the one Stronghart had granted him. 

Ryuunosuke was drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of someone knocking at the door. He was surprised that he had heard a knock coming from downstairs before his friends, but their chatter surely covered the ambient noises. He quickly went down the stairs and saw Susato looking through the door’s peephole.

“Miss Susato! So, you heard the door too.”

She looked up from the door with a smile. “Mr Naruhodo, I think you may be surprised by the person who decided to join us.”

“Who is it?” He leaned down to look through the peephole, but Susato stopped him.

“Just open the door, you’ll see.”                                                                                 

And so, he did.

“Oh Lord Van Zieks! What are you doing here? I thought you had gone back to your office.”

The prosecutor had his arms crossed, waiting impatiently in the cold of the night. He didn’t look very pleased, not that it changed from the usual.

“I did but, as you must be aware, I do not have the habit of sleeping in my office. As I decided to go back to my residence, I decided to take a small detour here.”

“And we are glad that you decided to. Do you want to eat dinner with us, Lord Van Zieks?” Susato asked.

“I must decline. Do not disturb your plans and the detective for my simple presence. I wanted to speak with Mr Naruhodo.”

“M-me?” Ryuunosuke blurted before he could stop himself. Van Zieks being anything but disrespectful to him was already new and now he had come all the way here just to talk to him. What could be so important that it warranted not to wait until morning?

“I wasn’t sure where you would be in the next few days and so I took the initiative to come here as soon as possible so that we would not miss out on each other.” Van Zieks replied, as always seemingly reading Ryuunosuke’s mind.

“Then come in, Lord Van Zieks.” Susato said politely, opening the door wider to let the man in.

Ryuunosuke took a step back, always surprised by the size of the man. He didn’t look as tall when he was on the other side of court but when they were standing face to face, the 25 centimeters separating them were very much obvious. He gulped, ignoring the shiver that ran through him at the idea that he was close to Lord Van Zieks in a context not linked to any trial for one of, if not, the first time.

“Well, do you have a place you suppose we could talk?” Van Zieks asked. “It would not be acceptable of me to impose our conversation onto everyone.”

Lord Van Zieks didn’t seem to care much about disturbing others. No, Ryuunosuke thought, he wanted to talk to him in private for his own benefit, because he didn’t want the conversation to be heard. It made his mind run even harder to try to decipher what the prosecutor could possibly want with him. They were on friendlier terms since the previous case, but they were a far cry from confiding in each other.

“Yes, let’s go upstairs. There is no one else there.” The lawyer said.

“Perfect. That will do.”

Ryuunosuke looked at Susato who gave him a smile while covering her mouth with her hand and tilting her head to the side. She was amused at the thought of the big old scary prosecutor coming to see him. There was a twinkle in her eyes as she mouthed, for his ears only ‘have fun, Mr Naruhodo’. He scratched his neck with a grimace. Fun, he wasn’t sure that was what Van Zieks had envisioned for him.

They climbed upstairs, Ryunosuke offered him one of the two wooden chairs. They weren’t very comfortable, and a sofa might have been more fitting, but van Zieks didn’t seem to mind. They sat and silence settled between them. Ryunosuke cleared his throat. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

“I thought we might reminisce about the case we had both been subjected to.”

“Reminisce?”

“Remember, have a brief moment of introspection, talk about the past… Whatever you preferred way of expressing it is.”

“I know what a reminiscence is.” Ryunosuke added with an awkward grin. “I am just wondering why you wanted to do this with me.”

“It is true that it is not part of my habits but considering all that happened recently, I dare think that you could wish this as much as I do.”

It was a strange request, but Lord Van Zieks hadn’t hit off far from the mark. After all, wasn’t reminiscing exactly what he was doing on his own before the prosecutor interrupted him? And if it could help him learn more about the man he had faced five times in court, he wasn’t going to argue.

“You’re right actually. I was doing a bit of introspection when you knocked.”

It seemed to surprise Van Zieks. “Oh, pray tell where your thoughts led you to?”

“Not very far, I’m afraid.” He smiled apologetically. “I was actually thinking about Kazuma.”

“Asogi I presume?”

“Yes. He might be your apprentice but as you know, before all that happened with the Professor’s case, he was most of all my best friend.”

“I understood quite as much from your comments and the way you acted when you saw each other. Not to mention your attitude when things got personal in court.”

There was something weird about the way Lord Van Zieks said this last sentence. Aggressive wasn’t the way to describe it. Van Zieks was speaking too softly for it to be the case. But it felt like he wasn’t taking it too kindly either. His expression didn’t betray his feelings, but Ryunosuke had gotten used to analyzing the inflexions made by his voice and what they meant.

“My attitude?”

“You seemed concerned with the way Asogi handled the case and it was clear that there was something else at play during that trial than simply deciding of my verdict.”

There it was again, this annoyance. Especially when he had said ‘something else’… So, the prosecutor wasn’t found of his friendship with Kazuma? Ryunosuke wouldn’t have thought he would care at all.

“It’s true. It was a heavy trial both for Kazuma and you, as well. After all, you were the defendant.”

“Indeed. But it was not what disturbed me the most about this case.” Van Zieks’ tone shifted almost imperceptibly at the end of the sentence, but Ryunosuke understood. There had always been a quiet resolve in Lord Van Zieks. He had been ready to accept his fate in the cell, he had not begged Ryunosuke to take his defense. On the contrary, he had been firmly opposed to the idea. And he knew very well that no other lawyer would take this case. Being accused and locked in a cell was not a pleasant experience but it wasn’t the heart of Van Zieks’ struggles.

“What would have had happened, had I not taken the case?” Ryunosuke asked.

Van Zieks looked up at him, thinking his answer through. “Hard to tell. I would have had to handle my own defense. Without access to the crime scenes and locked in a cell, it would have made my job much harder than when working as a prosecutor.”

“Not to mention you would have been on the defense’s side.”

“Yes. That would have been strange as well.”

“Do you think you would have succeeded?” Ryunosuke asked, suddenly driven by the burning desire to know.

To his surprise, he saw the ghost of a smile at the corner of Lord Van Zieks’ lips. “I am afraid, my learned friend, that I do not possess half the ideas that crossed your curious mind. And it goes without saying that your inability to let go, even to the very end, has its unique advantages.”

Wow, he was complimented by Lord Van Zieks and two times in the same sentence! Surely a miracle had to have happened.

“So, you don’t think you would have…”

“It is hard to tell but I think not. I certainly would have had trouble pointing my brother as the Professor.”

“But you could have proven your innocence even without that! You just had to show that Judge Jigoku had done it.”

Van Zieks scoffed. “ ‘Just’ ? Must I remind you that you obtained vital clues thanks to this imbecile detective. And thanks to your proximity to the judge in a more informal context. I do not see how I could have fathomed that he existed, lest he be the culprit.”

“That’s true, then there was only one way left…”

“To prove that I had a strong alibi or no opportunity or motive to kill Gregson. And as we both know; the odds were not in my favor in that department either.”

A thoughtful silence fell on the room. So, Van Zieks truly was still alive thanks to him. It was a thought that made his head spin. Surely, that was also the case for the other clients he defended, Mr Natsume, Miss Gina, Mr Hairbrayne… He literally had saved their lives, saving them from a death sentence. It struck him at this moment how heavy of a cross the role of a lawyer was to bear. Van Zieks seemed to notice his troubled gaze.

“Are you alright, Mr Naruhodo?”

Ryunosuke felt warmth bloom in his chest at the hint of worry in the prosecutor’s voice. And being called by his name in the same sentence only made him feel lighter with happiness and a hit of hope.

“Yes… I was just realizing how important our job truly is. Without us, so many people end up convicted, paying for faults they did not commit.”

“As shown by the familiar example of Genshin Asogi.”

“You’re right. It is still hard to believe that the Professor was…” It was so much harder to say when in was not in court, when his heart hurt for Barok Van Zieks more than his head when he tried to solve the case.

“My brother.”

Ryunosuke looked up at him with wide eyes. He knew how painful the subject was and didn’t want to send Lord Van Zieks on this dark path once again.

“Do not look at me this way. I have accepted what my brother has done. I must.”

“You are allowed to grieve the image you had of him; you know.”

Van Zieks looked at him strangely, treading waters between coldness and curiosity.

Ryunosuke inspired deeply. “When Kazuma came back in my life, I was shocked at how much he had changed. I admired him so much. He was the perfect student, brave, respected, decisive. Those qualities didn’t fade but they were tainted by his spirit of revenge. It made him look like a man ready to do anything for vengeance instead of my good and pure of heart friend.”

“The same personality, put to a different use.” Van Zieks commented.

“Exactly. But then he made me realize that he didn’t change, I was the one who did. He was always moved by his desire to avenge his father and seek justice but before I couldn’t see it.”

“I would think that Asogi hid his true motives with talent as you don’t seem devoid of the ability to read people.”

Ryunosuke didn’t let it show, focused on the point he was trying to make, but he noticed the half compliment, once again, and thought that he would soon need more than two hands to count all the time Lord Van Zieks had said something nice about him.

“He did. Maybe not on purpose but he always appeared to me with a perfect façade. He was my friend but also my mentor. Someone my age who had already accomplished so much in my eyes. I wanted to become like him, to follow in his footsteps.”

And then he saw in Van Zieks’ eyes that he knew where he was going with this.

“What I mean,” Ryunosuke continued. “Is that Kazuma was to me what your brother was to you. Someone you could always rely on, look up to. Someone you thought could do no wrong and who fought for bigger ideals. But who actually was corrupted by the evil he was trying to fight.”

Seeing as Van Zieks didn’t grant him an answer, he started to panic. Maybe he had gone overboard with comparisons that shouldn’t exist. After all, he had never met Klint van Zieks and only knew of his relationship with his brother through the man himself.

“I’m sorry if that was presumptuous of me. I-”

“Do not excuse yourself.” Van Zieks said abruptly, glaring at him.

That shut Ryunosuke up effectively.

“You should not give excuses for giving your opinion, much less with it is one that has… some truth to it.”

“Sorry.”

He realized he had done it again as Van Zieks glared at him. This time though, he realized how ridiculous he sounded and just laughed at his own fears.

“You’re right. I really should stop excusing myself for existing. Kazuma said the same. But it’s a difficult habit to kill.”

He saw the corners of Van Zieks’ eyes get softer. Was he looking at him… fondly? Surely, it had to be a trick of the eye.

“So, as I was saying, I can see why you drew this comparison. You did not know my brother and I did not know Asogi as he was in Japan but somehow, we can agree that we share this uneasiness of not truly knowing a loved one.”

Ryunosuke blushed at the idea that Kazuma was a ‘loved one’ but he was glad that Van Zieks had accepted his observation. They had gone a long way since they had met for the first time, and he still couldn’t quite believe that he hadn’t been insulted in more than fifteen minutes.

“On another subject, I brought two bottles of my hallowed wine as a form of celebration.”

“Oh, you did? I didn’t even see that you had something on you when you came here!”

“Funny how someone who is so keen to find the slightest contradiction must also be granted with a terrible sense of observation.”

Oh, so the insults weren’t really gone. At least now they were also wrapped in a shred of compliment. And frankly Ryunosuke was already used to this half pleasant, half harsh comments. It was all part of Lord Van Zieks’… charm. The prosecutor put the bottles on the table between them from where they had been waiting on the floor. He also made two chalices appear from thin air and started to pour the red liquid in them.

“So, you were out in the streets with some bottles and two glasses?” Ryunosuke tried his best to hide the laugh that threatened to break out.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Van Zieks glared at him. “My coachman deposed me here and I only had to walk a few steps outside.”

“How stupid of me to forget that some people have personal carriages and staff that take them wherever they want.” Ryunosuke added sarcastically before he could stop himself.

Van Zieks considered him, bringing his glass to his lips. “Your tone is rarely so biting, my learned friend.”

Ryunosuke blushed in embarrassment and took a gulp of the wine. It was surprisingly good. He hadn’t expected Van Zieks’ wine to be bad, of course, but he had not been a fan of the alcohol he had tested in England.

“The way you drink the alcohol as if it was juice is both sacrilegious and a compliment to my vineyards. I don’t know which sentiment should prime.” Van Zieks said.

“I would suggest the second one. It’s really good.”

“Thank you, I will pass the message to my vintner.”

Ryunosuke didn’t know if that was supposed to be a rich person’s joke or if Van Zieks really had someone who personally made wine for him, but the thought made him smile. How many people were there exactly at the Van Zieks’ estate? Or was it called a manor? A haunted mansion?

“Where do you live?”

That… wasn’t really the way he had wanted this question to come out. Van Zieks seemed taken off guard by the demand.

“Why do you ask?”

“Arg sor-“ No he couldn’t be sorry. He had said he would stop saying it tonight. “I just thought about these people you employ and wondered what place could host them all.”

Van Zieks seemed to relax, hearing the answer. He was surely reassured that Ryunosuke was not someone weird, wanting to invite himself to his house or keep tabs on him.  Ryunosuke took another gulp from his glass, that had been previously refilled by the man in front of him.

“The Van Zieks family has lived in its respective manor since the last century. It has been passed down from generations to generations.”

“So, you still live in the house where you grew up?”

“Yes, that is a way to put it. Although, I see it as a heritage more than my childhood home.”

“A heritage… So are your parents… ?” Lord Van Zieks was still young, only nine years older than him. Even if Ryunosuke wasn’t close to his own parents, it was weird to imagine not having them.

“Dead, yes. Father died when Klint and I were only boys and Mother passed away two years after my brother.”

“I’m sorry about that.” Ryunosuke said softly. He understood better now why Lord Van Zieks was so close to his brother, as he didn’t have a father figure he could relate to. That also made him think about his own relationships. He had been inspired by Kazuma and pushed to follow his dreams. It wasn’t his father, that worked out of obligation and never found any joy in his job, that had inspired Ryunosuke. His mother stayed at home to take care of the house and had raised him, but as sweet as she was, she hadn’t really pushed Ryunosuke to pursue his dream carrier. That is why he had chosen an English major, out of love for the language, but also bound by the limitations of his knowledge of other subjects. It had been the easy choice. But he was glad destiny had led him to follow another path that he found even more fulfilling.

“No need to be. It was years ago.”

“So, you live alone with all those servants? Well, I supposed you’re not truly alone, then.”

“Yes. They helped when Klint died as I was surrounded by people who also knew him. Their pain was more sincere than any condolences other members of the law or noblemen could ever offer.”

Ryunosuke nodded, drinking in Van Zieks’ words like the drink in his hand.

“However, there was no denying the difference of class between us. I remain their employer, legally. And as much as I don’t doubt some have developed a certain fondness for me, they can’t understand the struggles of this job.”

“So, you do feel lonely.”

“It does happen.” Van Zieks admitted, his gaze lost over Ryunosuke’s shoulder.

It was already something big for the prosecutor to admit. Usually, Ryunosuke would have been too stunned and polite to press the conversation, respecting the man’s short answers. But tonight was special. Tonight, Lord Van Zieks had come to him. He had thought that Ryunosuke would help dull his loneliness, he realized. Because despite their differences, they shared circumstances and a whole carrier.

“Lord Van Zieks, did you come to see me only to debate about the case?”

He looked at the man, who could almost be described as hiding behind his chalice. Really, he was putting it to his lips every time Ryunosuke tried to meet his gaze for more than a few seconds. Maybe that was why he had it in court all the time. So that he could hide from him. The thought sent something hot in his stomach. Was he intimidating to the prosecutor?   

“It was on my mind, and you were the obvious candidate seeing as you led the defense. My defense”

The words tugged at Ryunosuke’s heart again. Yes, he had saved Lord Van Zieks. That was a strangely empowering thought, one that made him almost dizzy. The alcohol on his tongue didn’t help to dull this feeling, on the contrary.

“I’m so glad I saved you.” He felt like blaming his loose tongue on the wine but really, the thought had always been on his mind, ready to spill, only blocked by a small sense of self-preservation. But in the moonlight-lit attic, in front of a broken and beautiful man that started to open up to him, self-preservation was wholly unnecessary.

Van Zieks considered him silently, his eyes widening a bit, if the light wasn’t tricking Ryunosuke. He had surprised him yet again. That made him feel way happier than he should have.

“Mr Naruhodo, I may have given you too much to drink.”

“Not at all!” Ryunosuke exclaimed, finishing his fourth glass of the night to make his point.

“How often do you drink alcohol?”

“Err- once a month maybe? I don’t really keep track.”

“I’m afraid your tolerance is quite different from mine.”

“I mean you’re so tall, it’s not surprising you need more than me to feel something. Plus, you drink all the time in court.” He could feel himself starting to babble already. He was already an honest person but under the influence, he lost all capacity to keep himself from talking. “And I’m sure I could have another drink or two without a problem.” He liked how light it made him feel, how his shoulders weren’t tense for once nor did his eyes look nervously around him.

He reached for the second opened bottle, but Van Zieks caught his wrist with a firm grip. It wasn’t meant to hurt but to be a warning.

“It would be unreasonable.” The prosecutor said, his tone a bit softer contrasting with how he held him.

Ryunosuke’s focus was suddenly on the feeling of silken gloves against his skin, how his body was now a bit closer to Van Zieks’, how he was holding his breath.

He didn’t try to get his hand back.

Van Zieks must have felt the change in his demeanor and let go of his hand. Ryunosuke tried not to dwell on the disappointment.

“I think I will go.”

“No! We were having a nice time.” Maybe, that came off as too eager. He felt a tinge of discomfort as he didn’t want to be a bother. But then he thought about how special this night was and how little chance there was for it to happen again before he went back to Japan. There wouldn’t be an opportunity like this one.

It was his turn to catch Van Zieks’ hand. This time, the prosecutor’s shock was way more evident as he froze under the touch, his eyebrows raising.

“I meant it.” Ryunosuke says with determination. “I am glad I saved you, Lord Van Zieks, and I will not feel sorry for saying something that is true.”

The way he had turned Van Zieks’ earlier words back at him seemed to surprise them both. Ryunosuke hadn’t meant for this to become some form of confrontation, but Lord Van Zieks seemed almost admirative.

“Then, I suppose I am glad I was saved by you.”

The sincerity of the words enveloped Ryunosuke, a swirl of fondness envelopping his heart. They had been said reverently, by a man who had never expressed anything quite like it before to him. Before he could listen to all the reasons it was a bad idea, he brought Van Zieks’ closer as he was still holding his hand and placed his lips on his.

Van Zieks froze against him, clearly shocked by such an action. However, as Ryunosuke didn’t retreat, he started to melt under him. Slowly, his lips started to move back against Ryunosuke’s. It was tentative and curious, but Ryunosuke was so happy he could cry. He had not been rejected. He could not believe it. He pressed Lord Van Zieks’ hand harder, leading it to his own cheek. The prosecutor caressed it, and Ryunosuke resisted the urge to pull his hands in Van Zieks’ hair and just pull. As the kiss ended naturally for them to take breath, Ryunosuke let out an out of breath laugh.

“What is so funny?” The prosecutor asked, also amused.

“I just thought that since you parted to breathe, you must not be a vampire. Many people speculated you might be and, I don’t know, it’s stupid but it’s the first think I thought about.”

“People talk about me being a vampire?” Van Zieks asked incredulously.

“I mean the bats, the pale complexion, the dark hair, the handsomeness. Not counting the fact that you have not shown yourself often in plain daylight. The evidence is very damning, I’m afraid.”

“You think I’m… handsome?”

Ryunosuke laughed harder. “I tell you you’re a vampire and that I’ve got sixty reasons to prove it and that’s where you’re stuck on?”

Van Zieks glared at him but there was no real bite behind it. “That doesn’t answer my question, Mr Naruhodo”

Ryunosuke shivered at the way his name was said. “Yes, I do. You are so amazingly beautiful.”

He could see that Lord Van Zieks didn’t really believe him in the quirk of his eyebrow and so he went for another kiss.

This time, he wasted no time in tentative presses and met the prosecutor’s lips with intent. There he allowed himself the pleasure of letting his hand roam, first touching Van Zieks’ cheek, then his ear and finally tugging lightly on the violet curls. Van Zieks let out a low moan and Ryunosuke took advantage of his open mouth by sliding his tongue into it. He didn’t go too fast as he didn’t want to scare off the other man. But to his pleasant surprise, Van Zieks gladly took the hint and accepted his advances without complaint. They explored each other’s mouth, slowly the rhythm to simply enjoy the moment, before finally breaking the kiss.

“You make a very convincing case; I have to admit.” Lord Van Zieks said, his eyes not leaving Ryunosuke’s lips.

The lawyer smiled, proud of his effect. “Thank you, my Lord.”

Van Zieks seemed to really like this appellation as Ryunosuke saw his eyes darken at his words. Interesting. He stored the information away for next time. If there was a next time… What he had done dawned on him. He was to leave in no less than a week and he had started… whatever this way with Lord Van Zieks.

“Hmm… I feel like we should talk.”

“That is what we were doing. At first.”

“No, I mean, about this, us.” Ryunosuke made a vague gesture between them. “What is this supposed to be?”

“First of all, my learned friend, there is no need to panic.”

Lord Van Zieks hadn’t been very demonstrative of his attentions so as simple as his last sentence was, it helped Ryunosuke. He knew that Van Zieks trying to reassure him already meant he cared a lot.

“You’re right. It’s just that I’m going back to Japan in five days. Everything is ready. I was resolute to leave everything behind, as much as it pains me to leave Kazuma’s side so soon after seeing him again. But now we have… something.” He didn’t know what to call it. A relationship? Wasn’t it a bit early to name this spark between them already? They had just kissed, not professed their undying love. It was hard to think with the alcohol still in his system.

“And why would that change anything?”

Ryunosuke froze. He had been too hasty, maybe this all meant absolutely nothing for Lord Van Zieks.

“W-What do you mean?”

“Yes, we have gotten closer. And I am glad about this turn of events. But your plans are already made, do not change them because of me.”

He looked up, daring to meet those icy blue eyes. There were not cold but something else, something different from usual. Compassionate? Caring?

“But it will be a long trip! I will be gone for months. Won’t that bother you?”

Van Zieks’ lips softened in what could almost be mistaken as a fond smile. “If I am quite honest, it would have bothered me too had this night not happened. Yes, it is difficult to imagine myself an ocean away from you, but I was ready for this for weeks now.”

“Weeks?” Wait, had Lord Van Zieks been thinking about him for that long?

The Lord seemed to catch on to what he had let on and turned to the side, bringing his hand at his head. “Some unnecessary information may have been divulged against my best wishes.”

Ryunosuke couldn’t help the laughter that came out of his lips. “Lord Van Zieks, you really are very dramatic sometimes.”

And as the prosecutor tried his best to keep his stern mask on, it only made the defense attorney’s laughs brighter. It was amazing how funny Lord Van Zieks was to him, without even trying to be. All his manners to protect the truth from his heart that Ryunosuke couldn’t wait to fully uncover.

“But I’m happy.” Ryunosuke continued. “That you have been caring about me for so long, from before Inspector Gregson’s case.”

“Of course. I do not simply have respect and affection for you because you defended me. You have proved yourself six months ago even, when you defended this blond pickpocket girl.”

Van Zieks seemed offended that he could think that he had only liked Ryunosuke for ‘shallow reasons’ such as saving him. Then again, it was very amusing how the man’s honor could be picked for such a subject.

“As for me, I’d say I liked you for… most of the time, to be frank.” He had half a mind to be embarrassed that he had fallen so easily but most importantly he was proud to finally show Lord Van Zieks how long he had thought about him.

“Since the beginning? Even as I was treating you of the worst names known to man and almost throwing my hollowed chalice in your direction? How could that be?”

Ryunosuke scratched his neck. “I don’t know, it’s hard to say. I wasn’t a fan of how you perceived me, that’s for sure, but I guess I was more intrigued and admirative than mad.”

“Your mind truly is a miracle. One that favors my person but that I do not truly understand.”

“Sometimes I don’t understand it either, but I just deal with it. It was easier to admit to myself that I liked you, despite your insults and deadly stares, than to fight the feeling tooth and claw.”

Van Zieks looked at him for a long time, lost in contemplation. Ryunosuke could only offer him a genuine smile, feeling the high of expressing his feelings and of the wine tangled together.

“So yes, I had envisioned your departure from the capital, back to your natal country, a few times already. I did not know at the time that it was your wish, but it was one strong possibility. I did not know when it would happen, but it had to.”

“That makes sense. I just think that I’ve accomplished what I wanted here. I realized when Kazuma came back that I wanted to expose the truth of what happened, at any cost. Contrary to him, or to you, I had no personal affinity to the case, but I was driven by this desire to uncover everything. And now that I have helped in taking Lord Stronghart down, I feel like I must also help with the judging of the corruption in Japan.”

“That is a brave and selfless wish.” Van Zieks said. “As for me, I intend to take Asogi as an apprentice for as long as he wishes to. To be fair, it is more his ask than mine. But I am ready to indulge him.”

“You should tell him, if that bothers you.”

“No, I should think it is a new opportunity for me. To help someone else after five years almost exiled from the world.”

“That’s a good way to put it. I think Kazuma is glad to have you as a mentor. You are a very talented prosecutor.”

Van Zieks looked at him, silently grateful, although he was not quite ready to let out of loving tirade. “Thank you.” He said simply and it made Ryunosuke’s heart beat faster and his cheeks burn brighter.

“As much as I am grateful that you support me going back to Japan, it still doesn’t solve our problem. What should we do about us?” Ryunosuke tried to lead back the conversation to where they had left it.

“There are not many things we can do other than write letters, I’m afraid.” Lord Van Zieks said.

“You’re right. And then, in a few months, I’ll come back. Or you could come to Japan! Once Kazuma feels like his learning is finished, he could get there with you! I could show you the capital, the Yumei university, my home…” He was getting carried away by the excitement of sharing this other part of him with Lord Van Zieks.

His declaration was met by a silence. “Oh of course, only if you are interested! Since you didn’t seem to like Japanese people that much, maybe it’s a bad id-“

“No.”

“What?”

“No, it is not a bad idea. As I said before, do not put yourself down. I was actually touched by the nature of the proposition…”

“Oh?”

“Yes. It would be an honor to accept your invitation, Mr Naruhodo.”

Ryunosuke grinned. “Only if you call me Ryunosuke.”

Van Zieks raised his eyebrows but quickly retorted. “Then I will accept no other name than Barok. Lord Van Zieks always made me think of my brother and father.”

“Deal.” Ryunosuke said with a confident but playful smile, handing out his hand. Fortunately, Van Zieks played along, and they shook hands for these new terms.

“Then, …Ryunosuke, what do you suppose we should do in the short time before you leave?”

His name felt wonderful, passing the other man’s lips.’Mr Naruhodo’ had already shook him to his core at the time but more because it was proof that Van Zieks had a shred of respect for him than the name itself. But right now, it felt so wrong and right at the same time.

“Well, Barok. I suppose I could grant you most of my time. And you have carte blanche for the place.”

Barok raised his eyebrow. “Would you then consider our next meeting a date?”

Ryunosuke smiled. “Totally. And the four other days we’ll meet too.”

Van Zieks nodded in satisfaction. “I will need proof that this contract will be respected. My time in England for your time in Japan. How do you think we could seal this deal?”

Was he dreaming or was Barok Van Zieks flirting with him? “Oh, I have an idea.”

He got up, finally leaving the table between them behind, leaned down toward Barok for their final kiss of the night.

Well, not exactly their final one.