CHAPTER 7
Teruo
That evening, Teruo and Shinji returned home to change and meet up with Nakajima Kazuya.
Teruo sat on the bed, his gaze trained on Shinji who squatted next to a backpack, arranging his mother’s journals inside. Since about half an hour ago, Shinji’s body started emitting a low, white glow, barely visible, but intense judging by the pressure Teruo felt in his chest.
It had been a while since he’d sensed that.
After Nakajima’s protective wards disappeared, Shinji had been extra careful to use as little of his powers around Teruo as possible.
He’d keep his spiritual energy inactive, and most times, didn’t even let it float out free like he used to.
Every time he had to send ghosts over at his jurisdiction, he’d take a detour to Higashikurume afterwards, and replenish his energy at the Onmyōryō’s healing room.
The whole tip-toeing around this situation frustrated Teruo, but he understood its necessity.
Part of him missed seeing Shinji’s reiryoku out more often.
It was eerie, but so beautiful, and Teruo felt horrible for making Shinji hide who he was.
He was already doing that in front of other non-supernaturals.
Teruo didn’t want him to hide even at home.
Shinji had definitely not noticed that his body was emitting this glow and Teruo decided not to mention it. He had a feeling the glow was the result of Shinji forcing himself to keep his energy in check.
“Is something wrong?” Shinji suddenly asked. “Are you unwell?”
“No, I’m okay,” Teruo lied, not wanting to add more to Shinji’s worries. The truth was, the pressure in his chest was becoming painful. “I’m ogling you because I can.” Teruo wiggled his brows, wanting to steer the conversation into a more light-hearted direction.
Shinji’s mouth curved in a mischievous smile. “Can’t blame you. I look damn fine in this t-shirt, don’t I?”
“So fine!” Teruo patted the bed beside him, but Shinji plopped down in his lap instead, wrapping his arms around Teruo’s neck, squeezing him in a little hug. It was small things like this that made Teruo feel so loved.
His excitement was cut short though, as the energy’s icy tendrils ghosted over his skin, then ran through his body, and it took all of his self-control not to shudder.
Shinji ran his fingers through Teruo’s hair, ruffling it a bit, and smirking in satisfaction as he did.
Then his lips brushed against Teruo’s and they locked in a soft kiss.
A jolt shot through Teruo, like static, and he held his breath until it passed, so Shinji wouldn’t notice.
As Shinji deepened the kiss, he gently pushed Teruo back onto the bed, their bodies pressed together.
The pain in Teruo’s chest lessened until it disappeared completely as did the cold sensation of the energy.
Shinji trailed kisses down Teruo’s jaw, then buried his head in the crook of Teruo’s neck.
When Teruo opened his eyes, the glow around Shinji was no longer visible.
He remembered Shinji’s explanation on how the flow of reiryoku was linked to the person’s mental state and figured that the cuddling had a positive effect.
Teruo pressed a kiss on top of Shinji’s soft locks of hair, and ran his palm over Shinji’s back. “I think you left a few journals out.” Four of them lay on the nightstand on Shinji’s part of the bed.
“I’m not giving Kazuya all the journals, only the first seven for now. I’m reading them backwards, so I’m keeping the last ones until he finishes.”
“Anything interesting in them?”
“About the healing, no,” Shinji said. “It seems she slowed down during her marriage to my father and her pregnancy. I found out that she ran away with my dad not because she wanted to spite my parents, but because the Onmyōryō was getting dangerously close to finding out what she was doing and she wanted to protect them. She never told them that. They always thought she’d been manipulated into it. ”
“Oh…” Teruo tilted his head to see Shinji better, but it was hard in his position. “Did she say how they got closer? Someone betrayed her?”
“I haven’t gotten to that part yet, since I’m reading backwards.
She mentioned it in passing. Her main focus in the latest journals is her pregnancy, symptoms, type of food she could eat without throwing up.
Stuff like that. And she talked a lot about her marriage.
” Shinji blew a long breath, then sat up.
“Is it bad?” Teruo asked, carefully.
“On the contrary.” His brows furrowed in annoyance.
“The way she describes my father is completely opposite than what I know. If I hadn’t lived with the man for eighteen years, I would think he was the most charming and kindhearted gentleman.
There’s not one bad word about him. I mean…
it makes me glad she didn’t see him at his worst, but…
I really wish I had known this good part of him too.
I’ll only have horrible memories of him for the rest of my life. ”
Teruo entwined his fingers through Shinji’s. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy he was good to her. I would’ve been devastated if I’d found out he abused my pregnant mother. Or maybe she’s lying about it in her journals…” he trailed off and ran his hand over his face. “I can’t think about that.”
Teruo pressed his mouth in a thin line, lost for words. He couldn’t imagine living the life Shinji had lived, having been through what he had, only to find out bits and pieces now, years later, and neither of his parents was alive to clear things up.
“Anyway,” Shinji continued. “She had a sweet tooth like me.” His smile returned when he said that and it was the most beautiful thing to see his face brightening. “And she loved winter, too. She was excited to give birth in December.”
Teruo playfully poked his cheek. “You certainly are your mother’s son.”
Shinji grinned in excitement, but their moment was interrupted by his phone buzzing.
“Let me guess,” Teruo said. “It’s the ponytailed gangster.”
A snort escaped Shinji. “Ponytailed gangster. You’re such a little bastard.”
“Excuse you. I’m a big bastard.”
“Of course. What was I thinking?” Shinji checked the message. “Yeah, he’s sending someone to pick us up and our ride is almost here.” He pushed up from the bed and grabbed the backpack, but stopped mid-motion and stared at it.
Teruo walked to him and settled his palm on the small of Shinji’s back, rubbing in soothing circles. “Hey… all good?”
“Oh. Yeah… I just hope Kazuya will be able to find a solution.”
“He will. The guy knows everything.”
Shinji raised a brow. “Since when are you so confident in Kazuya’s abilities?”
“Since he helped us with those protective wards, I guess. I may not agree with what he does for a living, but I can tell he’s got the skills to solve the situation.”
Shinji sniggered and placed a kiss on Teruo’s cheek. “I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.” He patted him on the shoulder.
“Ha, ha. No, I haven’t.”
They headed for the main door, while carefully avoiding Mochi and Dango who were having the zoomies on the stairs. Teruo went out first as Shinji took a quick trip to the kitchen to grab a water bottle.
Parked outside Teruo’s house was a black car, and a young man in a dark suit and red satin shirt stepped out.
His shoulder-length hair was dyed blond, and his face was scrunched in a scowl, like he wasn’t happy to be here.
The feeling was mutual and Teruo’s brow twitched at the fact that Kazuya sent one of his yakuza lackeys to pick them up.
“You’re our ride?” Teruo asked, matching the scowl because he wasn’t going to let some delinquent out-scowl him.
“Yep.”
When Shinji reached them, Teruo pointed to the yakuza. “Blondie over here will take us to Nakajima.”
“The color is platinum ice,” the yakuza corrected, running a hand through his locks.
Teruo pretended to lick his palms, then slicked them across the sides of his combed hair. “And mine is rich onyx.”
Blondie huffed. “Is that even a color?”
“I don’t know. Is yours?”
“Enough.” Shinji stepped in between them. “Can we go?”
Blondie threw a nasty glare at Teruo before stepping back behind the wheel.
“Behave,” Shinji whispered as they climbed into the back seats.
“What? I’m socializing.”
Shinji rubbed his forehead in frustration, but the corners of his lips were turned upward in a smile he was trying to hide. Teruo would’ve kissed those beautiful lips if the guy wasn’t staring at them in the rearview mirror.
The sun had long set, and the car rushed through the streets lined with mid-rise buildings, some on convenience stores or small offices on the first floor. The tall trees on the sidewalks stretched long shadows over the traffic.
Teruo sank in his seat, struggling to stay alert.
Whatever that earlier reaction to Shinji’s energy had been, it had taken a small toll on Teruo that was now starting to reveal itself.
His whole body felt heavy with fatigue and coldness, despite the warmth of the car.
He would’ve blamed it on stress from the investigation, but he knew his body, and it wasn’t that.
He had an urge to wrap his arms around himself, but that would give it away, and he didn’t want to discuss just yet.
Not until Nakajima read the journals and decided the next steps.
The car left the main road behind, entering narrow streets of residential areas.
They arrived in a quiet neighborhood with small two-story apartments.
A few people strolled on the streets, all young, possibly students.
Since Nakajima Kazuya’s home was the Nakajima-gumi’s residence, Teruo guessed this location was used for security purposes.
The yakuza stopped the car further from the students and gave Shinji the apartment number.