My Past, Your Present, Our Future

Chapter Three : Divergent feelings

Kidou patted his desk with his bic, staring pensively at the manuscript in front of him. His hand stroked the blues the last time. It had been a few days now. Kidou had not seen Ishido for a while. Aside from a few messages and other calls he had completely ignored, he had not returned to the Fifth Sector since their last meeting. And it was better for now.

The chestnut went over to the next sheet and looked around for lines that seemed endless. And painful. Kidou swallowed and sighed, slumping in his seat while removing his glasses to rub his tired eyes. He unbuttoned his shirt, looking at his coffee cup. He still needed another if he wanted to end up extracting the information from the record. He stood up and went to the kitchen, his coffee cup with one hand and the phone in another. He checked his mails. Nothing important. Contrariwise, he had a ton of messages. His father, Haruna. He stopped himself. Gouenji, of course. Or rather Ishido. The man with whom he spoke had nothing  to do with Gouenji.

He put a capsule in the machine and put down his cup before pressing the start button. The coffee machine was roaring, the water in the tank coming down gradually. He continued to consult his messages. He continued to descend before he stopped again. Sakuma. Sadness and shame invaded him. Since his first 'interview', and especially his 'rendezvous' with Ishido at the Fifth Sector, Sakuma had bombarded him with messages, asking him tons of questions, asking him why he was doing such a thing. And now he begged  him to answer him. 18 messages in all from his former assistant.

Kidou, with his eyes fixed on the screen, did not notice that the coffee was already overflowing. He only realized when the burning liquid touched his skin, his hand leaning against the marble counter while waiting. He swore, and after stuffing his phone into his pocket, he eagerly stopped the machine before opening the faucet and plunging his hand under cold water, sighing in relief.

He couldn't answer him. Even if he wanted it. And Ishido had told him so. No  contact with Sakuma. No more  contact with any  other person or Teikoku. Ishido wanted him to cut all ties with anyone, Sakuma as well. Even though it was his oldest friend.

A wave of sadness filled him. He cleaned up the mess in the kitchen before taking his cup and coming back to his office, his mind misty. He couldn't think of that now. He absolutely  had to concentrate on the case to solve it. Ishido had asked for help. He had to help him. He had to help them all.

Kidou stared at his desk, seeing these files stacked, these pictures more than frightful, those things kept secret for too long. Things that Ishido trusted him enough to talk about, and that he knew he was able to solve, to help him change all  that. Even if he had to force himself not to cry. Yes, he had to.

Kidou sighed and sat down, glancing up at the clock : 02:46. He had to finish this file. And then, it wasn't so late. Maybe he'll not need another cup of coffee.

As he had left it a few minutes ago, the former coach returned to work, burning by a strange motivation.

**

"You're back. Something important ?"

"Your insolence hasn't changed".

"Unfortunately, you don't either".

Senguuji shot the Emperor with a dark look. The blond, seated at his majestic desk, didn't have that spark of mockery that always shone in his eyes when he spoke to him. No, it was boredom. Ishido was annoyed at his coming. Did he know what he was going to ask again ?

"I received the invitation for the Saturday evening", Senguuji said, waiting to see how the conversation would unfold.

"What invitation ?"