CHAPTER 4
Teruo
Teruo sat on the sofa, stroking Dango’s silky and fluffy fur. She lay nestled against his leg, belly-up, once in a while opening a threatening eye to glare at Mochi, who was fussy and strolled from left to right, stepping all over both Teruo and Dango.
She probably felt Teruo’s anxiety because it was already past the time Shinji should’ve arrived at the airport.
He didn’t call yet and Teruo’s messages remained unanswered and his calls didn’t go through.
Perhaps Shinji had decided to stay longer in Hiroshima.
Even with all the assurances he had offered in the morning, Teruo could tell something had happened—something bad—and the worry gnawed at him.
Mochi stood on her hind legs and put her front ones on Teruo’s chest, then licked his beard.
“Aw, you’re the sweetest.” Teruo scratched behind her ear and kissed her little nose.
She moved her leg to better position herself, but stepped on Dango’s tail, and received a bite on her thigh. She turned and whacked Dango over the head.
“Oi! No fighting.” Teruo picked up Mochi and settled her opposite Dango.
She rolled on her back and purred like she hadn’t been smacking her sister seconds ago.
Dango was competitive when it came to petting, so she immediately followed suit, meowing, pawing Teruo for attention.
“You’re both too spoiled.” Teruo shook his head, but did his best to give them scratches at the same time. “I might need more arms.”
His gaze fell back on the phone screen, and he picked it up, preparing to call Shinji again. Before he had a chance to dial, the sound of the main door creaking open caught his attention.
“I’m home.” Shinji's voice resonated from the entrance.
Teruo sprang to his feet, heart racing, and he rushed to welcome Shinji. He only made it halfway because Shinji reached him first, and threw himself in Teruo’s arms. Teruo held him tight, hands spreading across Shinji’s back, and all his worries melted away now that Shinji returned.
“I missed you,” Shinji muttered.
“I missed you too. Why didn’t you call? I would’ve picked you up.” Teruo tried to pull away, to see Shinji, to kiss him, but Shinji’s arms tightened.
“I… uh… I needed some time to pull myself together because I was a mess.” His voice lowered to almost a whisper, and he pressed his forehead against Teruo’s neck.
Teruo placed a kiss on top of his head, the soft strands of his tousled hair tickling Teruo’s cheek. He ran his thumb over the nape of Shinji’s neck, wanting to tell Shinji that he doesn’t have to hide, but at the same time wanting to give him space until he was comfortable to talk.
A shuddering sigh shook Shinji, and he swallowed hard before he let go, and their eyes met. Shinji’s were a little red. “You have no idea how happy I am to be back home.”
Teruo cupped his cheeks and pressed his lips against Shinji’s. “Me too.”
They stood still for a few moments, foreheads touching, taking in each other's presence. Then Shinji winced and looked down. Mochi stood on two legs, one paw clawing into Shinji’s thigh, the other stretched toward him. She gave a long meow, and Shinji chuckled.
“Hey, princess.” Shinji scooped her up into his arms, and her purrs grew loud as she bumped her nose into his chin. “Oh, you’re so cute. Missed you too.” He looked toward Dango, who was pretending to be asleep on the sofa. “No fucks given.”
“None.” Teruo laughed, then tilted his head toward the duffel bag. “What’s in there?”
“My mother’s journals. She took a lot of notes about her healing process, so there might be something in there that Kazuya could use to help you. My grandparents didn’t have any other useful info, only dreadful predictions.”
Teruo arched a brow. “Dreadful predictions?”
“They said things about you.” Shinji’s face darkened. “Horrible things. It’s why I was so weird yesterday.”
“Let me guess: I’m doomed, aren’t I?” Teruo wasn’t sure how to react to that verdict. There was a part of him that feared the worst, but he shoved it deep inside so he wouldn’t burden Shinji with his worries.
“Don’t say that. They’re speaking nonsense.” Shinji shuddered and gently placed Mochi back on the floor. “We’ll solve the situation,” he added full of determination.
“I know we will.” Teruo decided to switch to a lighter topic. “Want to eat? You look exhausted.”
“I’m not hungry. It’s the weather,” Shinji complained. “It was hot in Hiroshima. I needed my ghosts to keep me cold, but oh well. Speaking of, where’s Keiko? I’m not sensing her anywhere.”
Teruo headed to the kitchen to grab two cans of beer from the fridge. “She’s investigating on her own, checking out the victims’ houses. She’s been keeping herself busy.”
A long silence fell over Shinji before he nodded. “I see…”
Teruo returned with the beer and wrapped an arm around Shinji’s shoulders. “I’m glad you’ll assist me on the case. We miss you in homicide.”
“By ‘we’ you mean only you.”
Teruo shrugged. “My ego and opinions weigh as much as a dozen people, so ‘we’ is valid.”
“Ha! At least you’re self-aware.”
A smug grin spread on Teruo's lips, and he gave Shinji a kiss. “Wanna drink on the balcony?”
“Sure. Give me a few minutes to freshen up.”
Shinji went inside the bathroom, while Teruo walked upstairs to the bedroom’s balcony. He slid open the door and set the two cans of beers on the small table.
Outside, heavy rain clouds roamed the sky.
The canopy of the two trees from the neighbors’ yards that flanked Teruo’s house kept the air cool, but Teruo still rolled the blinds halfway to make sure they provided enough shade for Shinji.
He’d been complaining about the heat the entire summer, and Teruo guessed it might’ve been a Shinigami thing, the cold energy making him crave icy air.
Teruo drew the two woven armless chairs together and sank into one of them.
The balcony used to be empty; just a space for Teruo to occasionally smoke at night.
But they decided to buy furniture—as much as they could fit because it was narrow—and make it their little nest of relaxation.
There wasn’t much of a view since the area was full of houses or apartment blocks, but the trees were tall enough that it gave a good nature vibe.
Shinji returned, wearing only a pair of shorts, and Teruo watched him, taking his fill of his gorgeous body. Water droplets glistened on his chest, one sliding deliciously down his pec and abs. His tousled hair was damp, and he ran a hand through it, pushing it away from his face.
He sat down with a long sigh and grabbed his can of beer. “Cheers. To being back with my real family.”
Teruo’s heart warmed and ached at the same time. He raised his can. “To the beautiful life we’re building together.”
Shinji’s face brightened at his words and it brought Teruo immense joy to see him feeling better. They clinked their cans and took a few swigs of beer.
Teruo put the can back on the table and stretched his arm. “Come here.”
Shinji smiled and leaned against him, hand gently caressing Teruo’s inner thigh.
“We’ll be all right,” Teruo said. “Nakajima will read the journals and find a solution.” As soon as it came out of his mouth, Teruo regretted bringing it up again because Shinji’s earlier cheer turned into a dark, distant look.
“Yeah, he will.” Shinji nodded.
If not, I’ll find a solution myself, Teruo thought.
He wouldn’t let Shinji watch him die, force him to look at his ghost, and send him to the other side. It was the most horrifying thing imaginable.
“Don’t think bad thoughts,” Shinji suddenly said, and for a moment, Teruo wondered if he’d accidentally spoken out loud.
Shinji glanced at him. “I can see it on your face. I don’t care what my grandparents think.
My mother managed to fix the situation once, so I’m sure with her journals we’ll fix it again.
” He gave Teruo a kiss on the cheek. “It’s such a beautiful day. I don’t want to spoil it.”
Teruo arched a brow, staring at the threatening clouds. “It’s about to rain…”
“Exactly. Beautiful day.” As if on cue, rain started pouring, heavy and loud, hitting everything in its path with a vengeance.
Shinji’s grin widened. “There it is!” He shifted onto his side, snuggling against Teruo, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on Teruo’s chest. He looked skyward with excitement.
“Now, thunder would be nice.” A deafening roar echoed in the distance and Shinji gave it a thumbs up.
“Are you controlling the weather?” Teruo asked, half joking, half worried about it being a real possibility.
“I wish. I’d make it rain and snow all the time.”
“A crowded city’s biggest nightmare.”
Shinji smirked mischievously. “I’m a bit of a sadist sometimes.”
Teruo laughed and his hand moved to cup his cheek, thumb brushing over his skin. His gaze lingered on Shinji, over his beautiful smile, and the way his eyes sparkled as he looked beyond the balcony. He’d never loved anyone the way he loved Shinji—with every fiber of his being.
“You’re lost in thought,” Shinji whispered.
“I’m thinking about you.” Teruo pressed a peck on Shinji’s nose.
Shinji wiggled his brows. “Kinky thoughts, yes?”
Teruo guffawed again, then wrapped his arms around Shinji, palms tracing over the muscles of his back. “How can I have anything but kinky thoughts?” He pushed a hand underneath Shinji’s shorts and squeezed his ass.
The guttural moan that escaped Shinji was delicious, sending a shiver down Teruo’s spine.
He captured Shinji’s mouth in a hungry kiss, teeth tugging on his lower lip, and tongue slipping inside, tasting him, devouring him.
Shinji’s hands found their way under Teruo’s t-shirt, swiftly removing it, and he kissed his way down Teruo’s throat, toward his collarbone, and his chest. Teruo shivered as Shinji traced a thumb over his nipple before dipping his head and circling the hardened nub with the tip of his tongue.
“Fuck, that’s good…” Teruo muttered, his body aching for more.