Exchange (Soukoku & Shin Soukoku)

14- The Clue

Chuuya placed the photo in one of the desk drawers and took the bouquet to inspect it.

"Well, first of all, these aren't all roses," Chuuya declared. "There are camellias, pink daisies, blue roses, yellow dahlias, yellow wallflowers, anemones, and bromeliads."

"And what does that mean?" Atsushi asked.

"That means," muttered the red-haired man, "that Dazai is an idiot and a damn bootlicker."

Camellias symbolize love and hope. Pink daisies represent pure love, blue roses symbolize passionate love, yellow dahlias represent loyalty, yellow wallflowers symbolize fidelity in adversity, anemones represent abandonment and perseverance, and bromeliads represent resilience.

Who else but Dazai would send such flowers?

"What does Dazai-san have to do with this?" Akutagawa asked, a little lost.

"Dazai has been kidnapped," Chuuya informed them, swallowing hard. "Apparently, it's related to those Arab drug traffickers we ambushed last time because of the chemical weapons we confiscated."

"I see, so Dazai-san knew he would be kidnapped and arranged for the bouquet to be sent in advance," deduced the tiger. "So that we can catch the culprit!"

"That's right, knowing Dazai-san, the flowers must have a hidden meaning," commented Akutagawa. "Chuuya-san, what do these flowers mean?"

"Ah, well..." Chuuya blushed. How could he explain that the message roughly meant «I love you, purely and passionately, I will always be faithful to you even in troubles, I may have abandoned you, but you must persevere and resist, have hope»? "Uh, it means that... Oh, look at that! There's a piece of paper inside."

He sighed and pulled out the paper, which was filled with dashes and dots.

"Chuuya-san, what is that?" Ryuunosuke asked.

"Morse code," Chuuya replied.

"Is it a code?" Atsushi asked.

"No, it's a numerical sequence."

"Maybe it's a phone number," suggested the tiger. Chuuya clicked his tongue.

"That's it!" He ruffled the boy's hair. "Well thought, Atsushi."

The albino smiled, and Akutagawa, far from feeling jealous, felt infinitely happy to be able to see the detective's beautiful smile.

"All right, everyone be quiet," the red-haired man said. "I'm going to make the call."

He dialed the number on his cellphone and brought it close to his ear. They answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Um, hello. Um, I'm calling on behalf of... Dazai?"

"From Dazai? Oh, I see! Hold on, I'll put you throug—ARGH-"

Someone else answered the call and greeted cheerfully.

"HELLOOOOOO!"

Chuuya clenched his fists. He recognized that voice all too well.

"You," he said with a scowl.

"That's right! It's me! How are your marital problems, Mr. Fancy Hat?" Nakahara blushed and was thankful that the call wasn't on speakerphone. He wasn't in the mood to answer Akutagawa's endless questions.

"Dazai has been kidnapped. Although I suppose you already know that. Why else would Dazai put your number in my bouquet of flowers?"

"Of course, I know he's been kidnapped. Who do you take me for?" Ranpo scoffed.

"Listen to me closely, you damn glutton," Chuuya threatened. "I was given your number for a reason, so you better have some good information for me. I don't like you, and I hate having to ask you for help. But if you know anything about him, I hope for your own sake that you tell me."

"Hey, hey! There's no need to be so rude!" Edogawa seemed more amused than offended. "And of course, I have information for you about your little hubby. Do you know that bar next to the park bakery?"

"There are many bars and bakeries and parks, Edogawa," muttered the redhead, rubbing his temples. "But yes, I know which one you're referring to."

"Well, then, come see me there tonight at seven. You won't regret it, I assure you."

"I hope so, because if you ever put me in one of your boyfriend's books again..."

"HAHAHAHA! See you tonight!"

And he hung up. Chuuya pocketed his phone, feeling annoyed.

"Was that Ranpo?" Atsushi asked.

"Yes. He wants me to see him tonight," Nakahara replied.

"Great! What time are we going?" Atsushi exclaimed.

Nakahara raised an eyebrow.

"'We'? There's no 'we,' tiger-boy. I'm going alone."

"Huh?!" Akutagawa protested. "But, Chuuya-san...!"

"No but, Akutagawa. Besides, you entered my office without permission and looked at private things. You don't have the right to demand anything from me."

"But, Chuuya-san..." the albino persisted.

"You too, Atsushi. You're under my supervision, and you'll do as I say."

Both teenagers pouted.

"Don't make that face. Go help Kajii or Black Lizard. And Kenji..."

Chuuya went pale.

"Shit! I left Kenji at home!"

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hellooooooo

Ranpoe canon, whoever says otherwise is lying.

I hope you liked the chapter.

Whoever tells me what the photo of Dazai and Chuuya was of, I'll give him a candy.

Thank you for reading!