Transference

by Mnemosyne's Elegy

At first Kazuma thinks he's made a massive mistake choosing to remain in van Zieks's care, but he slowly learns to rely on his mentor. Van Zieks teaches Kazuma about more than just the law and is his staunchest support in London—at least until everything falls apart. When Kazuma is exiled for his own safety, he must convince van Zieks to change his mind or learn to accept the loss.

4. Kazuma gets a case

.

Chapter 4

(In which Kazuma and van Zieks exchange gifts and Kazuma gets a case.)

---

If Kazuma had hoped that discouraging van Zieks from publishing the truth would ease the man out of his mood or improve his health, he was disappointed. Over the next week or so, the shadows under van Zieks's eyes continued to deepen into bruises, and twice Kazuma caught him falling asleep at his desk. Perhaps he had merely taken ill, or perhaps not. Whatever the case, van Zieks looked pinched and careworn, and he was very quiet and withdrawn outside of the necessities of their work. He felt distant somehow, although it could just be his obvious exhaustion. The apparent lack of sleep often manifested as biting rejoinders and a short temper when Kazuma needled him or asked one question too many, but besides how easily he was roused to irritation when disturbed, van Zieks kept to himself and was either too distracted by his own thoughts or too downright tired to pay his apprentice much mind.

Kazuma hoped that wasn't a sign that van Zieks had decided to ignore his advice and push forward with his plans. He bought a paper each morning and skimmed through every article, even though the exposé would undoubtedly appear blazoned across the front page if it were published. So far, no such story had appeared. But it could just be that van Zieks was struggling with writing it up, hence the sleepless nights.

The heavy silences and tiptoeing around an eggshell temper were stressful enough in their own way, so Kazuma was relieved when van Zieks stood up one afternoon and announced that they were going to spar. Every so often, depending on their workload, they would take a jaunt to the manor and spend the afternoon dueling. This could often be frustrating since van Zieks's main goal seemed to be ruthlessly cheating and employing every underhanded means possible to weasel his way out of Kazuma's clutches, but it had been a long time since Kazuma had been able to spar with someone who could match his skill. He and van Zieks were more or less evenly matched despite their different styles…aside from the fact that every time Kazuma thought van Zieks couldn't possibly have another means of cheating, the man still somehow produced another.

But anything was better than the awkward atmosphere in the office, and Kazuma was happy to get some fresh air and beat the grumpiness out of his mentor.

If nothing else, he had an advantage today. No man could fight as well sleep-deprived and exhausted as he could when he was well-rested and on top of his game. Van Zieks's movements were a fraction slower than usual, his reaction times dulled.

Kazuma avoided the incoming blows with relative ease and poked the tip of his sword into van Zieks's chest when he fumbled a stroke.

"Do you yield?" he asked when his mentor went still.

"I never yield."

Van Zieks threw out his arm, catching the blade against his forearm and pushing it away. Kazuma sucked in a breath to ask if he was insane, but instead swallowed hard when the tip of his mentor's sword found the hollow of his throat.

"Fine, fine," he said. "I yield. Did you cut yourself? What were you thinking, pushing against a blade like that?"

Van Zieks pulled his sword away, although he still held it like he was waiting to see if Kazuma would strike a surprise blow. "No. I caught the flat of the blade this time."

This seemed like more a matter of luck than skill, given he hadn't looked at the blade before making his move. The hard part about van Zieks's little tricks was that he rarely gave away his intentions with a quick look or shifting of weight or any other discernible signal. It was a practiced, very deliberate kind of blankness that was difficult to get a read on, and there was little warning of what trick he was about to employ.

Kazuma blew out an exasperated breath. "I hope you realize the only reason you're winning is because I'm trying not to hurt you. Otherwise, I would have gutted you already and been done with it. You're making it very difficult by doing things that will hurt yourself if I'm not careful."

Van Zieks nodded once. "Very good. You have stumbled upon the heart of the matter. When you are fighting off an attacker, your general inclination is to incapacitate and disarm, not to kill. They are trying to kill you. So while you may be holding back, they have no such compunction. That always puts you at a disadvantage."

"So I should try to kill you, then," Kazuma said irritably.

"You should not be so afraid of hurting me, or you will be forever at a disadvantage here. I am not afraid of being wounded, and so I can engage in risky maneuvers. It's a matter of weighing the risks and consequences. I would rather risk taking a gash to the arm while pushing a blade away than risk being gutted, as it were. These may be practice sessions, but this instinct is very deeply ingrained in me. You cannot be so afraid of drawing blood, Mr. Asogi. If you are going to pin me down, you must make sure I cannot rise. Fight me like you mean it. I'd think you'd find it satisfying to poke a hole or two into me."

Kazuma scowled. It still felt wrong to intentionally wound his superior, whether or not the man deserved it. Perhaps it felt a little risky in that he could be punished for it. Van Zieks could retaliate at the office. He probably wouldn't, but was Kazuma willing to stake his apprenticeship on that? And there was always that small worry niggling at the corner of Kazuma's mind that once he got a taste of van Zieks's blood, he wouldn't stop. His bloodlust had more or less simmered down since the trial, but he'd learned too much about himself while inhabiting the shadows. He didn't trust that he might not lose himself again if given the opportunity.

Besides, van Zieks didn't draw blood either, although perhaps that was only because he knew that he didn't have to push too hard when Kazuma would yield without much of a fight once his back was to the wall.

However, the temptation to 'poke a hole or two' into van Zieks was growing increasingly stronger.

Kazuma sighed and hefted his blade. "Again?"

Van Zieks squared off a few paces away. "Again."

Kazuma pushed harder this time, striking fast and with slightly less regard for his mentor's well-being. Their first match had made one thing clear: he had an edge while van Zieks was performing below his usual level. It would be a shame not to press the advantage.

Van Zieks gave ground, and a slight tightening of his lips made Kazuma think that he had realized the same thing. Kazuma kept his guard up, waiting for his chance. Finally, he found his opening and seized it. Van Zieks blocked the blow just in time, but their blades collided with such force that it sent shockwaves up their arms.

And then Kazuma saw it. Van Zieks's grip around the hilt faltered, loosening under the impact. An uncommon slip.

Kazuma reversed course and brought the flat of his blade down hard on his opponent's knuckles. It was not the most honorable move, but as van Zieks had said, it was vital to guard your weaknesses and take advantage of your enemy's.

Van Zieks's saber fell to the grass with a soft thud, and Kazuma whipped the tip of his blade to the man's throat. Kazuma was undoubtedly more surprised by the maneuver than his mentor was. This was the first time he'd actually managed to disarm him.

"Do you yield now?" Kazuma asked, perhaps a bit smugly. "You're disarmed. You can't hope to pull a fast one on me now."

Van Zieks did not look frustrated or afraid or upset. If anything, he looked almost pleased.

"Good," he said.

Before Kazuma had the chance to celebrate his victory, van Zieks leaned back abruptly and spun to the side. Kazuma tried to follow him with the blade before considering the risks of accidentally slitting his throat, but he needn't have worried. Van Zieks ducked inside Kazuma's guard and slammed a fist into his jaw. Kazuma yelped as his head snapped back and felt van Zieks clamp a hand around his wrist and twist violently until his sword fell from nerveless fingers. The next thing he knew, something sharp and cold pricked his throat.

"But not perfect," van Zieks said.

"What the–? Let me go." Kazuma rubbed at his jaw as van Zieks stepped away, working it open and closed with a wince. "You hit me! And where did that come from?"

He pointed an accusing finger at the dagger van Zieks held loosely in his hand as he bent to retrieve his saber.

"You should never assume an opponent is disarmed until you have proof of it," van Zieks said. "People still have their bodies, and you should learn how to use yours to your advantage as well. As for this…" He twirled the knife idly between his fingers, an easy gesture that spoke of familiarity and experience. "I find it helpful to have a secondary weapon on hand. It's saved my life once or twice. I'm not the only one who keeps concealed weaponry. You're lucky it's a knife and not a gun."

Kazuma shook his head, exasperated but also grudgingly impressed. He really should have expected something like that. Maybe he should be pleased that he'd finally pushed van Zieks hard enough to draw out this other hidden weapon, if nothing else.

"Why not keep a gun instead?" he asked, genuinely curious.

"It's easier to avoid casualties in a sword fight. I prefer not to assume the extra risk that comes with firearms."

Kazuma fixed his mentor with an exasperated look. "I'm not saying you should go around murdering people if you can help it, but when it comes to self-defense, don't you think you ought to prioritize your own life? If you're really so determined to live no matter the means, it would make more sense to have a gun."

Van Zieks heaved a breath like a sigh, looking exhausted again. "I may fight dirty, but I do not fight to kill. We must all draw our own lines in the sand, decide how far we are willing to go. That is mine. I never wanted to be a killer, regardless of the circumstances, and I find myself even less inclined to it now that…" He shook his head, but Kazuma heard the unspoken reference to Klint as loudly as if he had shouted it. "Well. There's a difference between stooping to dishonorable tactics to preserve your life and wantonly abandoning your morals."

"And why let yourself be painted as the Reaper at all, then?" Kazuma asked. Every time he thought he was starting to understand something, he found another inconsistency. Van Zieks was full of contradictions, and trying to figure him out was a frustrating and thankless task. "That seems like a good way to risk being killed. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble by fighting it."

"Because it served a purpose. Because nothing I said ever made a difference, and I was too foolish to walk away. I see that you are trying to generalize this lesson, but it is largely for the context of street fighting. You can still stand by your morals and ethics, and sometimes that will require you to accept risks and consequences. I chose to accept the danger that came with being the face of the Reaper…but that does not mean I will go down without a fight."

Kazuma stared at him very hard, trying to fit together these disparate, seemingly contradictory pieces. "So when you said you survived because you were not an honorable man, that would be in the context of street fighting. You don't strike me as particularly dishonorable otherwise. Just discourteous and wildly exasperating."

Van Zieks wrinkled his nose. "You're thinking too hard. Let's go again."

They sparred a few more rounds before van Zieks called a halt and invited Kazuma inside for refreshments.

"I'm to be invited inside?" Kazuma asked. Van Zieks's housekeeper generally brought refreshments out to them, where they could relax at the table on the patio. Kazuma had yet to see the inside of the manor. "How exciting! I am truly touched by this unexpected gesture of friendship."

Van Zieks scoffed, unamused. Truly, Kazuma's wit was wasted on him.

"I have something for you," he said, ushering Kazuma inside. "You can wait in here while I fetch it."

"What is it?" Kazuma asked, intrigued.

Van Zieks only shook his head and led Kazuma at a brisk pace through the halls. A poor host, he did not give his guest time to look around. He left Kazuma in the parlor and disappeared into the depths of the manor. Kazuma amused himself with drinking as much water as he could get his hands on and shoveling tea sandwiches into his mouth.

Some five minutes passed before van Zieks reappeared. He crossed the room slowly, with obvious reluctance, and a furrow had taken up residence between his brows.

"What's that?" Kazuma asked, trying to get a look at what his mentor was holding. It appeared to be several small rectangles of paper held carefully between his fingers. "Ooh, a gift! It's not even my birthday. How kind of you."

If anything, the creases lining van Zieks's face only seemed to deepen. Even Kazuma shifted uncomfortably in the face of the man's obvious unease, his thin amusement fading.

"I found these recently," van Zieks said finally. He slowly reached out to offer Kazuma the objects in his hand. "I thought…that perhaps they belonged more to you than to me."

Kazuma sucked in a sharp breath and fanned out the photographs. There were three of them. In one, Genshin Asogi stood in a grassy field, a mansion rising from the ground behind him. He held Karuma in front of him as if preparing to duel, and his mouth curved into a slight smile. In another, Genshin and Klint leaned over a chessboard, Klint's fingers delicately plucking a white rook from the table. It looked like black was winning, confirmed by Genshin's sly smile and Klint's apparent good-natured exasperation. In the last picture, Genshin stood with both van Zieks brothers outside the Old Bailey, perched on the steps with the grand building looming behind them. If the photograph was meant to be posed, the shutter had missed its moment. Klint smiled fixedly into the camera, but his companions weren't looking. Genshin had tilted his head towards the younger van Zieks brother, eyes glittering and lips curved upwards, and van Zieks was looking up at him with unabashed admiration, mouth parted as if he was in the midst of asking a question. This younger van Zieks had an open, expressive face, cheerful and full of wonder. Kazuma could feel the connection between him and his father. It was strange to see them together, enjoying each other's company.

Kazuma opened his mouth, but his throat felt thick and his eyes burned and he had no idea what to say.

"I will give you a moment," van Zieks said. He turned on his heel and strode from the room briskly enough to give the impression of running away.

Kazuma slumped back in the chair and ran his eyes over the photos again and again and again. He traced the contours of his father's face until they disappeared behind a film of unshed tears. It had been so long since he had seen his father's face, heard his voice, felt his touch. This was but a pale reflection of those things, but it was precious nonetheless. At least a small taste of what he had lost.

This was a part of his father's life that he'd never been privy to. He'd never seen his father here in England, outside the very courthouse where he worked, on the same lawn where he and van Zieks practiced dishonorable sparring. Kazuma had imagined it a thousand times, what it would have been like. He had heard a few small stories and observations from people who had been there. But this was the first time he could catch a glimpse of it himself, however small and fleeting and insignificant. Van Zieks had provided this tiny window to the past, and it left Kazuma feeling shaken and indebted and wildly, grudgingly grateful.

Kazuma wondered if van Zieks could provide the stories behind these photographs, if he had a hundred small anecdotes from back then. It would be dangerous to ask, potentially shaking their fragile peace and bringing old hard feelings back to the surface. Perhaps that was why van Zieks had been so wary of handing over the pictures. Kazuma did not think he was ready to swallow his pride and ask just yet and doubted van Zieks would be eager to talk about Genshin either, but maybe someday he would work up the nerve.

He blinked away the tears and let out his breath. He searched Klint's face too, looking for any sign of a killer in disguise, but all he saw was a man blissfully living his life, enjoying the company of friends and family. As for van Zieks himself… Well, Kazuma had never seen such an unguarded, openly happy look on his face before. Even in the photograph found in Gregson's office, van Zieks's smile had not been so open, caught in a candid moment. He was like an entirely different person from the grim, combative prosecutor Kazuma scuffled with on a daily basis. It was even stranger to think van Zieks had been this way with Kazuma's father, with how viciously he'd hated him later.

"Is everything alright, sir?"

Kazuma started and looked up at the housekeeper as she set down a new platter of snacks. They occasionally exchanged niceties when she brought out refreshments after sparring sessions, a few polite words here and there, but that was about all the interaction they'd ever had.

Kazuma cleared his throat twice before trusting his voice. "Yes, thank you."

She glanced his way curiously and then seemed to do a double take. She drifted closer, gesturing to the photos.

"Do you mind…?" When Kazuma shook his head, she took a closer look at the pictures and sighed. "He must have found these while going through his brother's things."

"Pardon?"

"He's been in his brother's rooms at all hours lately, sorting through everything. Not sleeping, not eating… He's going to make himself sick again, he is. He gets very intense sometimes. You know how he is with his cases, I'm sure. I can't say I understand why he's doing it now after all these years, but hopefully he'll finish to his satisfaction soon enough."

Here, at last, was a possible explanation for van Zieks's recent exhaustion and poor temper. Perhaps even a reason for the sudden interest in removing portraits and publishing the truth, or at least a consequence of it. Kazuma wished the answer had been anything else. Something about it didn't sit right. It felt downright masochistic.

"That…doesn't sound good."

"I'm sure he knows what he's doing," the housekeeper said, though her voice lacked conviction. "I don't know what he's looking for, but I hope he finds it soon." She sighed again, then smiled more fondly at the photographs. "Those were better days. He used to light up this whole house. We all adored him, and he adored his brother. Goodness, I'd almost forgotten your father. It seemed like he was here every couple of weeks for a few years there."

Kazuma looked at her sharply. "You knew my father?"

"I wouldn't say that, exactly. But he was here often enough."

"It's…true, then? That Lord van Zieks was friends with him?"

She laughed and gestured at the last photograph. "Of course. They used to have such lively debates."

Kazuma had half a mind to ask her more about his father, but the words stuck in his throat. He wasn't sure he was ready to hear anything more today. It was already overwhelming.

"Do you know where Lord van Zieks went?"

She motioned towards the doorway. "He's outside, in the back. I assume he'll come to collect you shortly."

He thanked her, and she bustled out of the room to return to her other duties. Kazuma looked at the pictures for another minute and then stood. His sense of direction was good, and he found his way back down the hall without any trouble. When he looked out the back windows, he spotted van Zieks sitting at the patio table, staring off into the distance.

Van Zieks looked up at the sound of the door and watched with hooded eyes as Kazuma shuffled over and dragged to a stop. Neither of them said anything for a long moment. Then Kazuma cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

"Thank you," he said. His voice sounded strange and low and husky. He cleared his throat again.

"…You're welcome. I left them in their original form so that you could decide if you wanted to alter them."

"Alter them?"

Van Zieks waved a hand. "To remove third parties. I expect you will find them more palatable without me and Klint. They are yours to do with as you will."

Kazuma looked at van Zieks then, really looked. "Don't you want to keep them? They have your brother too."

Van Zieks looked very tired and drawn, like even this brief conversation was draining the life out of him. His eyes glittered dully like broken glass, and the blankness of his expression couldn't hide the pinched lines of his face or the unhealthy pallor of his skin.

"I have my own mementos," he said. "I will make do with them. I was not sure if you had much of your father left."

Kazuma swallowed hard. "I don't."

He had very few things left from his father, and he had sent Karuma back to Japan with Ryunosuke. It was a miraculous stroke of good fortune to have these pictures fall into his lap, where before he'd had nothing.

"Well, you may keep those," van Zieks said. "You are dismissed for the day."

Kazuma didn't move. "What are you looking for in your brother's rooms?"

A brief, startled look flashed across van Zieks's face before he shook his head. "You've been speaking with Mrs. Cooke, I see. I don't see how that's any of your business."

"It's not."

Kazuma stared expectantly, and van Zieks sighed.

"I am looking for Klint," he said wistfully. "For who he was, what I missed. The parts of him I didn't understand. Or maybe I am looking for some piece of myself, something I lost a long time ago. I don't suppose it matters much. I doubt I'll find anything of the sort, but it seemed awful not to at least try."

Kazuma did not find that reassuring. That was a more lofty goal than searching for some lost trinket. It was the kind of soul-searching that could lead either to enlightenment or self-destruction, and for all van Zieks's gritty wisdom, he had never struck Kazuma as particularly enlightened.

"I'm going to dinner with Iris and Mr. Sholmes tonight," Kazuma said abruptly. "Would you care to join me?"

Van Zieks frowned. "Pardon?"

"You've been avoiding Iris, and she's most eager to coax you back to Baker Street. Since you aren't publishing your exposé, there's no need to stay away from her. If you're just embarrassed to go by yourself, you can say I dragged you."

"That's not–"

"I visit her regularly. If you're that concerned about someone noticing your interest and asking questions, come with me. I am your apprentice, and we go out together quite often. It won't look so strange if you accompany me on my errands. People will assume you're there at my request or because we have business. No one need suspect your interest is in Iris."

Van Zieks drew in a short, sharp breath that whistled between his teeth. He understood the offer. He was being careful not to give anyone reason to suspect his connection to Iris, but if Kazuma could give him another excuse, a front to explain his presence at Baker Street…

Van Zieks had given Kazuma a piece of his family back. Maybe Kazuma could do the same for him.

Indecision was written all over van Zieks's face. It looked like he wanted to say yes, but there was still something holding him back. Lots of things, probably. Kazuma didn't doubt that the man could come up with a hundred excuses to pass up the chance, but at least he seemed to realize this was a golden opportunity. It was enough to make him hesitate, at least, before dismissing the suggestion outright.

But then he shook his head. "It's unforgivably rude to show up unannounced and uninvited."

Kazuma snorted. "You have a standing invitation, I think. Don't worry so much. Iris will be ecstatic if you show up unannounced. And I'll be the hero of the hour if I can bully you down there for her. Let's go. I need to garner some goodwill to make up for my frequent tardiness."

He took his coat from the back of the chair and shrugged it on, tucking the photos inside. He waved impatiently for his mentor to follow suit, and van Zieks slowly stood and put his jacket back on, making himself presentable again.

The trip to Baker Street was tense. Van Zieks's unease grew more and more palpable the closer they got, until he was as stiff as a scarecrow. He drifted along a good few steps behind as Kazuma marched up to the door and knocked.

The door swung open, and Iris beamed. "Kazu! You're early today! I'm glad you didn't forget this time!" Her eyes went wide as she noticed van Zieks lurking in the shadows behind him, shoulders hunched awkwardly like he was trying to make himself smaller and disappear. She let out a shriek that had Kazuma clutching at his ears. "You brought Mr. Barry! Come in, come in. I'm really glad you could make it, Mr. Barry!"

"Pray forgive the discourtesy of imposing on your hospitality unexpectedly, Miss Wilson," van Zieks said gravely. "I wouldn't want to be a bother."

"No, no, none of that!" Iris grabbed his hand and tugged him, stumbling, into the apartment. "It's no bother at all. Unexpected guests are the best kind, and I was hoping you'd come back! And I told you, call me Iris!"

Van Zieks looked genuinely baffled by the warm welcome, and Kazuma had to stifle a smile behind his glove as Iris ushered them inside, chattering away cheerily. As they helped Iris set an extra place for dinner, Kazuma caught van Zieks watching her sidelong with uncommonly soft eyes, and he was glad to have issued the invitation. He did not know if van Zieks would find the answers he sought about his brother, but if he just searched here and got to know his niece instead, he might find something even better.

---

"I have a case for you," van Zieks said as he strode into the office, back from some meeting he hadn't seen fit to invite his apprentice to.

Kazuma scowled and gestured at the files strewn across his desk, wincing as the pen in his hand flung inkblots in the midst of its arc. "Can't you see I'm still working on the last case you got me? Can I at least finish this report first?"

Van Zieks gave him a look as if he'd said something very stupid that hardly deserved acknowledgement. It was his most infuriating expression.

"Leave that," he said impatiently. "This is more important. I've convinced the Lord Chief Justice to let you prosecute a case."

"To prosecute a case?" Kazuma asked, scrambling to his feet and following van Zieks to his desk.

He had been allowed to accompany his mentor on his investigations and trials, but other than that, he had been working with files from past cases, practicing how to build cases he'd never be able to present in court. He had been expressly forbidden from taking control of his own cases or prosecuting at the bench himself.

"Yes." Van Zieks sat down and handed over a thin file. "It's a burglary and assault incident that took place last night. The Yard has already conducted some preliminary investigations and secured the scene. It's a low-profile case, but a good opportunity to get your foot back in the door. Do not miss this chance to earn more privileges in the courtroom."

Kazuma was practically vibrating with excitement. Yes, it was a small case, but it was his. Leading a case again would be far more exciting than slaving over paperwork and reports.

"This is great! We should get started right away."

"Yes, but don't forget the terms of your probation," van Zieks said, his voice heavy with warning. "I am still required to supervise your investigations and shadow you at the bench. Do not jeopardize your position by striking out on your own and conducting unsupervised investigations."

Kazuma flapped his hand impatiently. "Yes, fine. It will be just like always."

"No, it won't. You have followed my lead until this point, but as of now, you are in charge of this matter. I will be here to offer guidance as needed, but I expect you to make the decisions going forward. Show me your process for bringing a case to trial." Van Zieks's eyes narrowed as he caught the grin spreading slowly across Kazuma's face. "No. Don't try to order me around. You are already insufferable enough as it is. Don't lose your head."

Kazuma only laughed. He wondered how far he'd be able to needle van Zieks with this new mantle of faux authority before the man lost his temper.

"Don't worry, I would never let power go to my head," he said cheerfully. Van Zieks heaved a long-suffering sigh, apparently not fooled. "Shall we get started?"

"That is entirely up to you. What do you want to do first?"

"We should probably take a look at the scene."

"That is an advisable place to start," van Zieks said, but he made no move to stand, only leaned back in his chair and regarded his apprentice with his second most infuriating look: the one that said he was just waiting for Kazuma to realize something he should have noticed ages ago.

Kazuma chose to ignore it. "Let's go, then." He took a step towards the door and then paused. "Ah… Where are we going?"

"Really, Mr. Asogi. Shouldn't you know where to find the scene of your own case?"

Kazuma scowled at him and then looked down at the file still clutched in his hand. "…Maybe I will take a minute to review the brief first."

"What a clever idea," van Zieks said dryly, reaching for a file on his desk. "The first step is always to review the information at your disposal."

Kazuma rolled his eyes, but he was still too excited about being given his own case to take van Zieks's snarking to heart. He skimmed over the incident report and then slammed a fist down on van Zieks's desk with a loud, satisfying bang. Van Zieks, thoroughly immersed in whatever he was reading, gave a little start and then fixed Kazuma with an unamused glare.

"What?" Kazuma asked slyly. "It's been so long since I've gotten a case of my own that I might be a little rusty. I'd better practice my objections before the trial."

"Let me assure you that your objections are the only thing I am sure are not rusty, as I have to deal with any number of them on a daily basis."

Kazuma laughed and swept from the room, van Zieks falling into step beside him. Since the scene of the robbery was not far and the weather was overcast but not rainy, they walked.

"How did you manage to convince the Lord Chief Justice to let me prosecute a case again?" Kazuma asked as they turned down the next street. "I thought it would take months still."

"I called in a favor." Van Zieks hesitated, brows drawing together as if there was something else he didn't want to say but wasn't sure whether Kazuma ought to know.

"What is it? Just spit it out."

He sighed. "As I've tried to explain to you, part of navigating the system is establishing relationships, exchanging favors, leveraging connections… Social intrigue and politicking, as it were. There is a complicated web of relationships running through the office, constantly shifting alliances and rivalries that sometimes influence the politics and applications of justice. Who is being considered for a promotion, who will be given charge of certain cases, what to do with controversial exchange students… These and other issues often have a social component that can be leveraged.

"Part of the reason I secured such favorable terms for your probationary practice is that I provided a tacit endorsement for our current Lord Chief Justice when he was considered for the position, and my opinion carries a good deal of weight around here. He has since been amenable to working with me. I put my name and reputation on the line in vouching for you to continue your apprenticeship, and now again in recommending you to this case. You've been afforded these opportunities based on the weight of my reputation rather than on your own merits.

"This is your chance to show what you can do, so that next time you are able to win this kind of opportunity based on your own skill and merit. I have cracked the door open for you, and now it is up to you to force your way inside and create your own opportunities going forward. I will still be here to assist you through that process, but I cannot stress to you enough the importance of giving your absolute best performance here."

This was all news to Kazuma. While he knew a great deal of work had been done behind the scenes to secure his continued apprenticeship, he had heard very little about the specifics. It hadn't occurred to him, in his excitement about being given a proper case, that van Zieks would have had to put his own name on the line again to do it. Although he supposed that perhaps everything he did reflected back on his mentor now.

Kazuma cleared his throat. "So what you're saying is that it will look very bad for you if I mess this up."

Van Zieks made a guttural sound of exasperation. "What I'm saying is that you should take this seriously so that you will not always be dependent on my intervention. It won't change things overnight, but it will be a start."

What Kazuma should really say was thank you. Van Zieks had just done him an enormous favor and put a great deal of faith in him—undoubtedly a difficult thing to do for a man who trusted no one.

"I won't let you down," Kazuma said quietly.

Van Zieks sniffed. "I know you won't. I'm not a trusting person. I wouldn't have risked it if I wasn't very, very sure."

Kazuma huffed out a small laugh and eyed his mentor sidelong as they turned the corner. Van Zieks looked better than he had a few weeks ago. Still a little tired, still a little sad, but not as utterly exhausted and careworn as before. He hadn't brought up his brother or the exposé again, and had even consented to join Kazuma for dinner at Baker Street once or twice. Watching him with Iris was fascinating. He was very formal, very polite, and very awkward. But he could be…sweet, almost. Kind. It was very strange. But in seeing how he could be kind in small, awkward ways, Kazuma was learning how to recognize those same small kindnesses elsewhere, merely disguised with more discourtesy.

Any further consideration was cut short as they arrived at the jewelers that had been robbed during the night. A single detective waited for them, poking halfheartedly around the building.

"It's an open-and-shut case," he told them. "We've already tracked down the bloke who's done it. He didn't get far. And the owner of this here place got clobbered upside the head and knifed in the gut, but he identified the fellow alright. Seems too easy a case for you, My Lord. What do you need from me?"

"Ask Mr. Asogi," van Zieks said. "It's his case."

They spent the next ten minutes combing over the scene, but there wasn't much to see: a spatter of blood from the victim's injury, smashed glass from broken display cases, a few bloody boot prints, a good deal of missing jewelry.

"Where are the missing goods?" Kazuma asked.

"Recovered most of them," the detective said. "The owner insists a few pieces are missing—some of the most valuable ones. We guess the crook was able to stash them somewhere to go back for them later, before we apprehended him. Got some bobbies out searching, but haven't turned anything up yet."

Van Zieks's eyebrows lifted minutely. "Why not stash everything, then? He knew he was being pursued. It would be a waste of valuable time to sort through the stolen goods and hide only the most costly ones."

"Some of these crooks aren't too sharp. Who knows? Here, this is the bag he was carrying when he was arrested."

The detective retrieved a burlap sack from the corner and offered it to van Zieks, who crossed his arms over his chest.

"Give it to Mr. Asogi. He's in charge of this case."

The detective gave him a faintly baffled look but offered the evidence to Kazuma instead. It seemed that everyone was so used to deferring to van Zieks that it was hard to break the habit, or maybe it was only that the man had such an intimidating presence that it was easy to place him in charge of a situation.

Kazuma glanced briefly over the contents of the sack, an assortment of money and jewelry, and then at the inventory the victim had provided with the missing items highlighted along with their estimated value. Sure enough, the most valuable pieces were unaccounted for.

The only other obvious oddity at the scene was that while Kazuma could easily identify two sets of bloody shoe prints that must belong to the proprietor and burglar, there was one single print that didn't match the pattern of the others. Not even a whole print, really. More like half of one.

"Well, the victim said he thought he might've heard another voice, but he couldn't say for sure and didn't see anything," the detective said, regarding Kazuma's find dubiously. "We haven't found any sign of an accomplice, though."

"Except for this," Kazuma corrected.

"Sure. It's a bit weak, though."

Van Zieks waited until the detective had wandered off to say in a low voice, "Treat this case as if there is an unidentified accomplice."

"Oh?" Kazuma said. "Even though it's largely conjecture?"

"You can only address it in court if you have the evidence to prove it, but for the purposes of the investigation… Consider possibilities that might open up if there was another perpetrator and look for the evidence of it, because I'm very sure there was."

Kazuma wondered what made him so certain. Something more than half a boot print, surely?

"The missing items," he said. "You think another accomplice has them? Maybe the perpetrator didn't take time while being chased to sort out the valuables and hide them—maybe they were already sorted out by that point. If the second man was more selective in what he took and left our crook to collect the rest without needing to consider value… They split the goods, but only one got away."

Van Zieks didn't answer immediately. He was frowning at the bloodstains spattering the floor, chased through with footprints.

"For cases with a component of burglary," he said finally, "it's generally wise to ask the Yard if they know of any other cases that follow the same modus operandi."

"Modus operandi?"

"The same…pattern or method. Most murders aren't serial killings. A person is killed for a reason, some crime of passion or as a means to an end. Theft is more likely to be a way of life. Some people only steal once to get what they need, but often they are repeat offenders. That makes it more likely that we can find similarities between different crimes and establish if they were perpetrated by the same person. If we can connect cases, we might be able to glean more information or find more evidence to piece together."

This sounded sensible, so Kazuma asked the detective if there had been any similar robberies reported recently.

The man frowned and rubbed at his jaw. "Can't say for sure. We've seen an uptick in burglaries recently. Hard to keep track of them all. I can ask around and see if some of the fellows working those cases have any thoughts. If I find anything, I'll send the files to your office."

With that sorted and little else of interest apparent at the scene, Kazuma and van Zieks headed back to the Prosecutor's Office on foot.

"It might be a simple case, but this possible missing accomplice is going to bother me," Kazuma said.

"An almost certain missing accomplice," van Zieks corrected.

"Why are you so certain?"

Van Zieks let out a breath and slowed his pace to a more comfortable stroll. "Because in other cases perpetrated by suspected members of this crime ring, there was another accomplice we could never quite stick a charge to. I even have a good idea of who he is."

Kazuma stopped in his tracks but quickly started forward again when van Zieks continued on without him. "Sorry, what?"

"There's a reason I picked this case for you," van Zieks said. "I convinced the Lord Chief Justice to give it to you because it seems like a very simple open-and-shut case on paper, something safe to give you as a first try, but I recognized the modus operandi when I looked over the report. I prosecuted two other cases where a similar burglary resulted in murder, one shortly before you came into my care and one shortly after. I don't know how well you remember the Hastings case… You were still just settling in. I uncovered links to an emerging crime ring during those investigations, but I was unable to find the evidence to connect it to those cases. They call themselves the Golden Hand."

Kazuma wrinkled his nose. "The Golden Hand?"

"Yes, it's a ridiculous name. A little on the nose. I've been keeping tabs on this ring and any criminal activity that might be attributed to them, getting copies of reports from the Yard and conducting some unofficial investigations of my own. The fact that they are linked to so many thefts—and I suspect at least four murders—makes them a high priority to bring to justice, in my opinion.

"I have been collating my findings for months now, and I will surrender the file for your review. It will be a good place for you to start, and I expect our mysterious accomplice is the same man I couldn't link to the Hastings case. Getting our suspect convicted should be an easy enough matter, but to pin the crime to the accomplice as well and prove a connection to this organization… That will be a good deal trickier. This will be your chance to shine. Everyone expects you to win the case—that's why they've agreed to let you have it. Digging deeper will require a great deal more skill. Even if you can't make the charges stick, you'll have the opportunity to show off the depth of your abilities in making your argument. And if you can do it… It would be a very impressive win for you."

Kazuma stared at him. "…You've really planned it all out, haven't you?"

"I arranged the best opportunity for you that I could. It is up to you to take advantage of it."

Kazuma only shook his head. It would have been enough for van Zieks to vouch for him to resume prosecutorial duties on a simple starter case. Secretly buying him into a potentially much bigger case was a bold move.

"I'll do my best," Kazuma said.

"I know," said van Zieks.

Still, it was easier said than done. Proving the accused guilty would not be particularly difficult, but as for the rest… The file van Zieks handed over was more than ninety pages long: some twelve separate cases with their briefs and evidence catalogs and trial records, along with the man's own observations and theories written and neatly bulleted in his spidery scrawl. It was an enormous amount of information to sort through, even with van Zieks's notes summarizing the key points and tying together common elements.

This particular case might be Kazuma's, but the investigation of the crime ring was van Zieks's. While van Zieks largely held back a step or two to let Kazuma decide what direction to take, he frequently started taking charge again before remembering himself and backing off. There was a burning look in his eyes that spoke of how badly he wanted to finally pin down the ringleaders rather than just sweeping up the dispensable, low-ranking underlings who kept getting caught. Kazuma quickly understood why it had proven so difficult—the important players were very careful not to be caught at anything. That van Zieks had managed to gather such an extensive list of suspects and scrounge up personal details in brief profiles was impressive enough.

They had only two days before the case went to trial, and while they did eventually find a few more bits and pieces of evidence, it was largely circumstantial. Kazuma wasn't sure if it would be enough, but he supposed he'd have to try.

The day of the trial dawned gray and gloomy, much like Kazuma's mood when court began. The case was so simple that it was difficult to drag it out long enough to get a chance at digging deeper, and the defendant wasn't budging or giving up his accomplice.

Kazuma cast a sidelong look at van Zieks and saw the same frustration mirrored in his eyes.

Van Zieks had said little throughout the trial, only offering an opinion if Kazuma asked for it, but now he waited until the defense was cross-examining the victim again and said in a low voice, "We just don't have enough evidence to call in Mr. Britton to testify. Any evidence linking him to this case is circumstantial. We would need the defendant to give up his name or some new detail in order to justify issuing a subpoena."

"I know that," Kazuma muttered

The opposing counsel had touched on the signs that a third person had been present that night, but he was still futilely pushing to disprove his client's culpability rather than focusing on a possible accomplice. One thing Kazuma missed about being a defense attorney was thoroughly cross-examining witnesses on the stand. He could still ask questions, but it looked different on the other side of the courtroom. Van Zieks was adept at asking or observing just the right thing in just a subtle enough way not to overstep the prosecution's bounds, the genius of which was easy to miss amid his blunt discourtesy, but Kazuma had always preferred a more straightforward game. He didn't have the patience for roundabout attacks.

Van Zieks's strategy hadn't worked in his previous cases, and their evidence and witnesses just weren't solid enough without something more substantial to back them up. The prosecution's hands were tied.

But a good defense attorney… Well, a good cross-examination could draw out something more. Something to give them enough probable cause to subpoena a new witness. The fool across the courtroom was not that person. Ryunosuke would have been. And Kazuma would have been.

Kazuma might not be the defense anymore, but he knew how to be. If he could use what he had learned on the opposing side of the courtroom to bolster his position, perhaps that would be his greatest strength.

He bit the bullet and dove in. His questions were blunt, his motives more transparent than van Zieks's would have been. Once, the judge wondered aloud if he should be questioning his own witness so thoroughly. An air of unease held van Zieks stiff, but he didn't intervene except to once caution Kazuma when he was pushing too hard.

In one blinding moment of clarity, Kazuma saw all the pieces align. He struck upon the thing that might make the defendant crack when paired with the right piece of unassuming evidence.

When the defendant finally broke down and admitted he'd had a partner, no one seemed more surprised than van Zieks.

"You've done it," he marveled during the recess, when they were issuing the subpoena and waiting for the new witness to be located. Kazuma had spent enough time cooped up with him over the past months to read the way he almost vibrated with anticipation, even though there was little discernible change in his expression. "Truly, I didn't think we'd be able to justify the subpoena. It seems your experience as a defense attorney has come in handy again…although perhaps you could learn to wield it with a little more subtlety."

"It's not over yet," Kazuma said grimly. He expected a fight.

"Of course not, but this is a major coup. It gives us a fighting chance, at least. And you've shown off your skill far more than the simple burglary case everyone expected from you."

Kazuma scoffed and turned up his nose to hide how much his mentor's assessment pleased him. It didn't really matter what van Zieks thought, after all.

The second half of the trial was even more of an uphill battle than the first. The accomplice was a slippery man, and it took Kazuma longer than it should have to find that one piece of otherwise innocuous evidence he could use. Even then, he would never have made the connection without sifting through van Zieks's notes. It was amazing how the simplest of observations combined with the smallest scrap of evidence could pull the noose tight.

Kazuma still had to fight a while longer before the man finally realized he was caught and cracked, but the victory, when it came, tasted sweet.

He cut a smug look at van Zieks, intending to gloat about the hard-won victory, but paused. Van Zieks was watching with the corners of his mouth turned up in a small, fierce, nearly feral smile. It was sharp-edged, not nearly the same as the soft and open smiles glimpsed in pictures of the past, but it was the first time Kazuma had ever seen him smile in person.

"Congratulations, Mr. Asogi," he said. "You have once again exceeded my expectations."

Kazuma opened his mouth but then closed it again. Van Zieks looked so downright pleased. There was a vicious edge to his satisfaction as he watched the criminals being taken away, but it softened just a touch when he glanced back at his apprentice. Kazuma had quite forgotten what he had been going to say, caught so thoroughly off guard. He told himself that he shouldn't care, that it shouldn't matter, but seeing his difficult, inexpressive, not easily impressed mentor look so pleased with him made a strange, warm feeling well up inside him.

They were met outside the courtroom by the Lord Chief Justice himself, who smiled amiably and shook Kazuma's hand.

"Good work in there," he said. "Your technique is unusual, but you displayed a great deal of skill. I see that Lord van Zieks was not exaggerating your ability. A brilliant performance."

"Thank you, My Lord."

"I am not prone to exaggeration," van Zieks said. "He has exceptional ability."

Kazuma suddenly found his shoes very interesting. It was the shock of that ridiculous smile. It made even a compliment feel so much dearer.

"It occurred to me that this crime ring Mr. Asogi accused also came up in a few of your past cases," the Lord Chief Justice said in a meaningful tone. "Quite a coincidence. It seems as if this case you assured me would be incredibly easy, almost impossible to mishandle, was a bit more complicated than all that."

"It did turn out to be more convoluted than at first glance," van Zieks said soberly.

The Lord Chief Justice laughed, shaking his head, and gave Kazuma a conspiratorial look. "Your mentor is a cunning man."

Kazuma snorted. "I had noticed."

Van Zieks only shrugged. "I was not able to prove the links in those cases. Mr. Asogi has managed to do what I could not. It will still take a good deal more time and investigation to take down the organization, but this is a strong start."

Kazuma looked up at him, frowning. "Well, I hardly could have done it without you, could I? Those investigations you've been doing into every related incident over the past several months were invaluable."

Van Zieks raised his eyebrows. "Just take the credit, Mr. Asogi. I didn't help you at all in the courtroom. You did all of that yourself. It was impressive work."

"The two of you make a formidable team, I see," the Lord Chief Justice said with a chuckle. "Congratulations again on your win, Mr. Asogi. I expect we will see you prosecuting more cases of your own soon."

That sounded like good news, pushing Kazuma's spirits even higher as he and van Zieks headed back to the office.

Van Zieks agreed. "I think you'll be given more latitude to investigate and prosecute your own cases under my supervision. The Lord Chief Justice seemed impressed with your performance. I'm glad I invited him. Seeing it in person will have made a greater impression than only reading the reports."

"You invited him to the trial?"

"Of course. He might have come on his own, but he is a busy man and this was a small case. Such high-ranking officials rarely have time for trivial matters."

Kazuma shook his head. Van Zieks always had some kind of machinations going on behind the scenes.

"Frankly, I'm surprised you've been so complimentary. I would have expected the full laundry list of everything I did wrong."

Van Zieks waved a hand almost jovially. "We will go over the missteps and weak spots in your performance, but that can wait until tomorrow. You may celebrate your victory today."

"How generous," Kazuma muttered, but he smiled. Van Zieks would be van Zieks.

Back in the office, van Zieks took two chalices from the case behind his desk and considered his options before selecting a wine. He passed a half-filled glass to Kazuma, who raised his eyebrows. He'd never been offered any of the man's precious wine before.

"Goodness," he said. "You are in a good mood."

Van Zieks scoffed and tapped the rim of his chalice against Kazuma's before taking a sip. Kazuma took a hesitant sip of his own and felt his face screw up. The wine was bitter, making his tongue curl.

Van Zieks coughed out a sound that could nearly have been smothered laughter. "And I even picked a sweeter vintage. It's an acquired taste. You don't have to drink it if you don't want to."

Kazuma took another stubborn sip. He wasn't going to be defeated by some old, crushed grapes. Besides… This felt like an important moment, something special. It was the first time van Zieks had offered a taste of the wine he loved, the first time he had smiled in Kazuma's presence. Kazuma hadn't untangled his feelings on the matter just yet, but they were something uncommonly warm. It made him feel good and proud of what he had accomplished today, knowing that his notoriously cantankerous and hard-nosed mentor thought so highly of his performance. He wasn't going to risk breaking their sudden, unexpected camaraderie.

"I'm having dinner with Iris tonight," he said. "She'll be most excited to celebrate our win. She's always looking for an excuse to throw a dinner party. You should come too."

Van Zieks eyed him warily, the way he always did when Kazuma issued an invitation. "Wouldn't you rather celebrate on your own? I would think you've seen quite enough of me at the office these past days. Don't let me ruin your party."

Kazuma rolled his eyes. "Have I ever tried to spare your feelings before? I wouldn't bother inviting you if I didn't want you to come. It's your win too, you know. Iris will want to hear your side."

Van Zieks hesitated, his fingers tightening around the stem of his glass. "Well…perhaps…"

"Perfect," Kazuma said, cutting off the rest of the awkward fumbling. "It will be good to do it tonight, before you go picking apart my performance tomorrow and I get annoyed enough that I won't want to see you again for weeks."

Van Zieks huffed out a quiet breath and downed the rest of his wine. "Very well. I suppose I should enjoy the last dregs of your good humor while I can."

Kazuma groaned. "It's going to be that good, is it?"

"It will be thorough."

He sighed and shook his head, but not even that could deflate his spirits. That was a problem for tomorrow. Right now, he was already thinking about what he was going to add to the bottom of the half-composed letter to Ryunosuke and Susato sitting on his desk at home. He couldn't wait to tell them about his first proper case and the tough victory. He imagined they'd be utterly gobsmacked to hear that van Zieks had cracked a smile.

Kazuma took another sip of his wine. It already tasted a little sweeter than the last. He thought that he could grow used to it.