ROSE AMIDST MYSTERY

16; ❝ VERMILLION FLAMES ❞ ❁ཻུ۪۪⸙͎༄

「 Episode 325-327, The Red Horse within the Flames_⌫」

Reisamu had left after helping with the dishes that night. Of course, she had left with an invitation to join the family and the Osaka kids in their shopping trip tomorrow. 'Though I already stocked up on cleaning supplies and food, I should go considering those boys are planning to investigate a case.'

The streets were darker now, most of the people were already turning in for the night so there were far less lights to illuminate the area. She was unbothered however as she entered her car and began to buckle the seatbelts.

tap, tap

She turned, a hand knocking on her window.

"Konbanwa." The brown haired girl greeted, rolling down the windows "Akai-san." The man simply smiled despite the cigarette between his lips "What are you doing here?" she motioned for him to get in, eyeing the building. Hopefully they don't notice her companion.

Seeing her cautious behavior, he got in without a fuss and she drove off. It had been awhile since they had last met. After separating after the train station incident with the black organization, he had went to the other FBI to report the situation, of course leaving out some details at her request.

The FBI had gotten busy, sneaking into the renovating train station to sweep the area for fingerprints, hacking into CCTVs around the area and even digging through trash in hopes of finding vodka's cigarette butt. Of course, it was all futile.

If Gin, or even the organization had been reckless, they would have been caught by now. So of course not even a speck of dust or an eye witness was ever found, it was most likely nonexistent anyways.

"I was just walking around." He answered staring at the window, taking in the sights of the city he hadn't been to for a long time "Have you been playing housekeeper?" 

"How rude, I'm not playing at all. I take my job very seriously." Whether it be managing the residence or assisting the boy. She had been doing everything she could do at this point. Limited resources and trust be damned.

"Sorry if I offend you." he brushed her off, despite noticing how tense her smile had been. Sometimes it was just too easy to poke fun at her. "So what are your next plans?" "All of the leads from the encounter have turned up dead" He told her, he wasn't as emotional as he was back then, almost jaded. If it were the younger him, she'd have been able to see his irritation "the only lead we have left is that person."

The car slowed down as the green light turned red. The streets were empty, apart from a few motorcycles passing by at the intersection. "Ah yes, I almost forgot about them." She coughed, the smoke from the cigarettes bugging her. "Jodie is keeping a close eye on them though, has she found anything?"

Akai nodded, rolling down the window as he threw the cigarette out. "That kid. Haibara Ai, correct?" He glanced at her "What can you tell me about her?"

"Nothing."

It shocked her, instead of a teasing smile or a slow response, that answer was quick, cutting the air like a warning. "She's a child." she told him, "she's not like me, or Conan." 'She's entirely different' "So hopefully you and the others won't do anything that'll endanger an innocent kid."

"You're lying."

Silence filled the car, replacing the cheap tobacco smell. He looked away, surrendering for now "the light turned green." Akai ignored how she accelerated too fast than usual, almost slamming down on the gas pedal. They passed several streets, turning left and right every now and then before stopping at. .