From The Bottom Of My Heart [ Detective Conan Fanfiction ]

Chapter 2 - The Calm Before The Storm

In a cafe on the street corner, a waitress is preparing to receive customers. The clock is already showing 8 o'clock in the morning, but there still not a single customer came.

'Haah..'

She sighed. The waitress remembered the words of the cafe owner.

'The cafe should open at 7 a.m. but usually I open it a bit later. You can start open the cafe at 7 a.m. but you have to be patient, Akira-chan.'

'Why, owner?'

'Hmm.. I think you should try working first. I hope you will not resigned like the previous workers.'

At that time, Akira did not understand what the owner mean but now, looking at this, she felt like she understand now.

'It's been 1 hour, but no one came.'

Akira sighed again.

'It's okay, Akira. You just have to be patient. Think on the bright side. If no one come, you might as well take a rest, right?'

She brightened again when she realize that she can read her favourite novel again while resting.

While she was thinking of reading, the bell on the cafe door rang to indicate there were customers entering. Hearing that, Akira felt excited as she will receive her first customer.

She saw a man who was wearing a hoodie and a cap when she looked towards the door. She welcomed the customer and showed him the the table.

"Welcome to the 'Peace Cafe'!"

The customer-- Elias, raised his right eyebrow.

'What a fitting name.'

Elias looked around the cafe. Its atmosphere is very comfortable. He took a window seat where he can looked at the scenery outside.

The waitress who is smiling brightly give him the menu. Elias took the menu and skimmed through it.

"I would like to have a Caffé Mocha, please."

"Sure. Anything else?"

"No."

"Okay. Then, please wait a minute."

Elias looked at his watch as he heard the door open. He smiled.

A man with long hair sat next to him.

"I'm not late, right?"

The man asked Elias.

"Hmm. Just in time."

Elias looked towards the man.

"Long time no see, Akai Shuichi-san."

Akai Shuichi smirked.

"You're right. We just mailed each other before."

Elias had been in Japan for 3 months. He was glad that Mr. Orlando has arranged a place for him to stay.

'Actually, I don't understand why I had to go here. It's not like I had to do some field work.'

His task is just to search, analyze and provide informations needed by the agents. Elias usually give the informations by email, except when James asked him.

"Are you okay with meeting like this? Do they not doubt you?"

Elias felt a little concerned.

"Don't worry. At last, I've gained their trust after three years of infiltrating the organization."

Yes, it also has been almost three years since Elias met him. He met Akai Shuichi when he was told to work with FBI. James assigned him to work with Akai Shuichi as a partner.

>>>>>>>>>>

Three years ago, during their first meeting.

"Elias-kun, meet your coworker, Jodie Starling. Jodie-kun, this is Elias Hutton."

"Nice to meet you Jodie-san. Just call me Elias."

"Nice to meet you too, Elias-kun. I am looking forward to work together."

Jodie replied.

"Me too."

James talked again.

"And beside her is your partner, Akai Shuichi."

Their eyes met.

'What a beautiful colour.'

That was his first impressions of Akai Shuichi.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Elias glanced at the man who sat beside him in the cafe.

Tsk.

He lightly clicked his tongue.

'That beautiful eyes' colour of his just had to be ruin by the bag under his eyes. What a waste.'

"This place is befitting with its name."

Akai's voice brought him back from his thought.

Elias chuckled.

"I know, right. There's no people in here so your and my identity will be safe, don't you think so?"

He looks out of the window and murmured.

"Today is very peaceful.."

'...but it is before the storm.'

"I hope today's mission will be a success."

Elias turned to Akai and noticed that he has something in mind. He watched Akai intently.

"..Is something wrong with you and Miyano-san?"

Akai paused and then he sighed.

"To think you even noticed about that.."

Elias just shrugged his words.

"..I told her everything."

Elias' pupils shrunk but his face didn't change.

'He truly loves her.'

He don't know why his chest feel heavy. He didn't do any activity that will make his breath short. He didn't understand so he ignored it.

"Whatever you do, I will support you. As long as you happy."

Elias patted Akai's shoulder.

'Yes. You should be happy.'

"And? What do you need from me? You can just mail me instead of meeting."

Akai takes something from his inner jacket and put it on the table.

"I need you to protect him until he decides to receive witness protection programme."

Elias saw a picture of a japanese man in his thirties.

"You can just give the task to your men. I prefer to work without needed to move, you know."

He grumbled.

"They are not free like you."

Akai pointed.

Elias took the picture and keep it in his pocket.

"Yeah, right. I am very free."