As we drove away from the museum, the weight of our conversation about Adrian still lingering, Kitsune unexpectedly took a different turn than the one that would lead us back to his office. I furrowed my brow in confusion as we continued down a winding road that I didn't recognize.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
He glanced at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I thought we could use a change of scenery. How about a detour?" he asked.
Before I could protest or ask for more details, we rounded a bend, and suddenly, the vista of Cherry Blossom Bay's beach unfolded before us. The sight took my breath away. The golden sands stretched out to meet the azure waters, and the gentle waves lapped at the shore in a soothing rhythm.
A sense of awe washed over me as Kitsune pulled the car to a stop in a small parking area overlooking the beach. I stepped out of the car, the cool breeze carrying the faint scent of saltwater. The sound of seagulls overhead added to the coastal ambiance.
Kitsune joined me, and we stood in silence for a moment, simply taking in the beauty of the scene before us.
"Sometimes," Kitsune said softly, breaking the silence, "it's important to pause and appreciate the world around us. It can be easy to get lost in the details of an investigation, but moments like these remind us of the beauty that exists in our town."
I nodded in agreement, grateful for the unexpected detour.
We walked along the shoreline, the sand cool beneath our feet. The rhythmic sound of the waves seemed to wash away some of the tension and unease that had settled within me. It was a brief respite, a moment of clarity amid the complexities of our investigation.
Kitsune cast a sidelong glance at me, his curiosity clear. The rhythmic sound of the waves provided a soothing backdrop to our conversation.
"So," Kitsune began, his voice gentle as his hands rested loosely in the pockets, "you want to talk about it?"
I hesitated for a moment. I knew exactly what he was referring to, but I didn’t know how much to reveal. I didn’t want to talk about Adrian because that would inevitably lead to discussing Alexander and even the thought of him –
My heart squeezed painfully. Not because I was still in love with him. Not because I still cared. But because I was still ashamed by my own stupid actions, that I could fall in love with someone as cold and as cruel as Alexander. And I cared what Kitsune thought of me. Would he think I was stupid? I had been in college. It wasn’t like I was some teenager with a crush.
At the same time, I realized if I was going to stay here, if I was going to continue to work with Kitsune, there was a good chance Adrian and Alexander were going to come up. Thinking otherwise was naïve. Which meant I had to get over this.
"Yeah," I replied, my gaze fixed on the horizon. "I knew Adrian through his younger brother, Alexander. We were... close."
Kitsune nodded, his expression thoughtful. His eyes were on the ocean, and I wasn’t sure if that made things easier or not. “I see,” he said. “And Alexander is what to you?"
I sighed, knowing that this part of my past was complicated. "Alexander is my ex-boyfriend," I said. I wanted to tug at my hair, my skirt, anything to just do something with my hands.
Kitsune didn't press for more details, and I wished he would have. I didn’t know what he was thinking in times like these, and that bothered me more than I was willing to admit.
"Look," I began, my voice steady, "I want to apologize for my reaction earlier. I know we're here to solve a case, and I promise I'll be completely professional from now on."
Kitsune smiled, finally turning to look at me. “There's no need to apologize,” he murmured. “We all have our history and our personal connections. It's only natural for those emotions to surface.”
“Even you?” I asked.
“Especially me.” A beat. “Is there anything I need to know? About you and Alexander?”
I didn’t want to discuss what happened between me and Alexander. In fact, the less I thought of him, the better.
“No,” I said. “Only, things ended badly between us."
“How well did you know Adrian?” Kitsune asked.
I pursed my lips. “Not well,” I said. “Alexander and I would meet up at his duplex he shared with his brother at college. The thing was, they were both extremely wealthy, both coming from a prominent family. I didn’t realize they came from Cherry Blossom Bay. Anyway, there were times I would stop by to meet up with Alexander to hang out, and he wouldn’t be home. Class wound up going over, he lost track of time, that sort of thing. But Adrian would be there.”
Kitsune said nothing but his eyes narrowed slightly, his shoulders squared up more. It was hard to explain, like he was trying to prepare himself for something.
I ran my hands up and down my arms. It wasn’t even that cold, but bringing up these memories never left me comfortable. “Honestly,” I continued. “I should have listened to him.”
“To who?” Kitsune asked softly.
“Adrian,” I said. The ocean seemed to stretch on endlessly, its depths holding countless mysteries. I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as I gazed at the shimmering waters. “There was one time we were at the duplex together. Alexander was at a study session that went over. Adrian hadn’t said more than three words to me, but those eyes…”
I shuddered.
“It was like he could see straight through my soul,” I said. “He told me to give up Alexander, that Alexander would never want anything more from me than a sordid affair.” I shook my head. “He said Alexander was expected to be with someone from a different background and that I was only fooling myself to assume what we had was anything more than a fling.”
I sighed.
“At the time, I thought he was being cruel, like he wanted to hurt me,” I continued. “I thought maybe he was jealous that I was taking his brother away from him or something like that. But the truth was, now that I know who Adrian is, I realized he was warning me in the way only he could. Because he wasn’t wrong. Alexander and I broke up not even a month later, after…Well, it doesn’t matter.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my hair. “I just…it’s embarrassing. I feel like a fool because I argued with him so passionately, and the truth is, he was right.”
As I stood there, I found comfort in unburdening myself with that memory. I didn’t want it to be Kitsune. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who got caught up in things like love affairs and true love. But now that I had said it, it was like a weight had been lifted.
I kept my gaze ahead of me, the vastness of the ocean offering me a comfort I didn’t realize I needed. It was a moment of reflection, a chance to gather my thoughts and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead in our investigation.
Beside me, Kitsune remained a steady presence. I thought I needed something from him. Comfort, maybe? Acceptance? But his silence was enough. Knowing he listened to me was enough.
As we sat by the ocean, finding solace in its rhythmic waves, I couldn't help but think about the next steps in our investigation. I would have to deal with Adrian if we were going to get anywhere. The mysteries surrounding Victoria's life and death were growing more intricate, and I knew that speaking to the key individuals involved would be crucial.
I turned to Kitsune; the sunlight casting a soft glow on his thoughtful expression. “Kitsune, when are we going to talk to George?” I asked. “I know he’s your friend, but…he might have valuable information about Victoria."
Kitsune considered my question for a moment before responding. “I think we should gather a bit more information before we talk to him,” he said. “It's clear that there are multiple layers to this case, and I want to approach George with as much knowledge as possible."
I understood his reasoning. Speaking to George prematurely might not yield the insights we needed, and we risked missing important details. Kitsune had always been methodical in his approach to investigations, and I trusted his judgment.
"Okay," I replied with a nod. "But who do you want to speak to next?"
Kitsune's gaze turned toward the horizon, where the ocean met the sky. “Before we talk to George, I'd like to have a conversation with Adrian,” he said. “His connection to both Victoria and her sponsorship might provide us with valuable context.”
I nodded.
“When do we do that?” I asked.
“Tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll go to the hospital when he gets in.” He tilted his head. “Ready to head back?”
“Hey, Kitsune,” I asked, stepping to him. “How’d you know to take me here?”
Kitsune said nothing but lifted a shoulder.
“Is this…” I rubbed my lips together. “Is this where you go? You know, you’re late all the time. Is this where you come?”
He sighed, his eyes searching the horizon for something. “Sometimes,” he finally said, “you need the peace only nature can provide. It can…settle things.”
That didn’t answer my question, but I didn’t think Kitsune was going to give me more than that.
As I smoothed the wrinkles on my dress, the soft sea breeze ruffling my hair, I sensed Kitsune stepping closer to me. My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't deny the flutter of emotions that stirred within me. His presence had always been a comfort, but this proximity felt different, intimate in a way that made my pulse quicken.
I watched, breath held, as he extended his fingers to delicately pluck a small, pink petal that had found refuge in my hair. His touch was tender, sending a shiver down my spine and igniting a rush of warmth within me. In that fleeting moment, it was as if time slowed, and the world around us faded into the background.
“He’s a fool to have lost you,” Kitsune said quietly.
My cheeks screamed red. I didn’t know what to say to that. Did I say anything?
I needed to.
Suddenly, the silence had gotten too…overwhelming.
"Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, my eyes locked onto his. The gratitude in my words was genuine, but it couldn't fully convey the swirl of emotions I was experiencing.
Kitsune met my gaze, his own eyes holding a depth of understanding and connection that transcended words.
“Let’s get you home before your aunt gives me hell,” he said as we headed back to the car. “And we’ll resume this tomorrow.”