CHAPTER 16
Teruo
Teruo bolted toward Shinji, who was walking toward the staircase. The white tendrils of his spiritual energy trailed behind him.
“Shinji,” Teruo said. Though hesitant, he reached through the cold mist of reiryoku and gently held Shinji’s forearm. “Can we stop for a second?”
Shinji came to an abrupt halt on the stairs in between floors and turned toward Teruo, though his gaze was set on the floor. He didn’t look angry anymore, but rather defeated, his shoulders slouching.
“Sorry,” Shinji mumbled. “Commissioner Horiuchi’s words were…” He sighed. “Never mind.”
“You don’t have to do it. You don’t have to seal your powers for me.”
Shinji let a sharp exhale through his nose. “Of course I have to. We already talked about this, Teruo. But I’m worried about Keiko.”
They were alone on the staircase and Teruo stepped closer, his palm cupping the nape of Shinji’s neck, fingers threading through his hair. Shinji leaned into his touch, and though his skin and energy were icy, the feeling he gave Teruo was warm.
“I think Keiko might not be as opposed to the idea as we are. It’s only temporary.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Shinji admitted. “She knows our situation, so she’ll accept. But once she and I are no longer tethered, she’s not in my care anymore. If anything happens, I’m powerless to help her.”
Teruo skimmed his thumb across Shinji’s jaw in a gentle caress. “You’ve told me yourself, for all the crap stuff the Onmyōryō does, they also do good things. Besides, the ghosts they employ are doing well, aren’t they?”
“Yeah, they are…”
“I’m sure the other spirits will protect her.” Teruo tilted his head to meet Shinji’s eyes. “I have a feeling this isn’t just about Keiko.”
Shinji’s throat bobbed, and he took a long breath. “It’s not. I hate that I don’t have too many options. And I feel like shit that I have to involve her too. Keiko already hates me for the situation with Megumi. Now, there’s this.”
“Keiko doesn’t hate you.”
Shinji exhaled a humorless chuckle. “I think she does.” His energy spilled out of his body in small tendrils, floating through the air.
Teruo held back a pained groan. “The commissioner is helping us,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “So, you don’t have to go through with sealing your powers.”
“That’s what I want to avoid: the commissioner ‘helping’ us.
I don’t trust her.” Shinji’s fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.
“We are putting our faith in people who don’t seem in a hurry to deliver.
Horiuchi gives us information like it’s a privilege.
” He held his palms out to stop Teruo’s reply.
“Yes, I know she answers to the councilors. It’s still not justified, not when there’s an extractor murdering people.
I guess I’ve grown tired of everybody throwing us scraps and I want to take control of something myself. ”
Teruo nodded, but remained quiet. He understood what Shinji meant and felt even more powerless because he didn’t even have anything to take control of.
His palm rubbed across his chest, where he felt the sharp pain of his soul being torn.
But he quickly pulled it away to avoid Shinji noticing because he didn’t want to let go of him.
Shinji grabbed his phone, stared at the screen, then shoved it back in his pocket. “Kazuya isn’t answering either. What’s the damn point?” he snapped, then held his breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be so angry…”
“You don’t have to apologize.” Teruo ran his fingers through Shinji’s tousled hair. “I’m angry, too. I’m used to handling every situation myself, and now I’m letting Horiuchi and Nakajima figure it out. It’s not easy.”
“It’s all because of me.”
“Shinji…” Teruo’s thumbs traced his cheekbones, and his lips brushed against Shinji’s in a soft kiss.
“It doesn’t help us to throw blame. Now more than ever, we have to hold on and count on each other.
I don’t want to let these things break us apart.
Not the case, not my soul, not Horiuchi, not the silly gossip. ”
A soft smile tugged at Shinji’s mouth and he placed his palm over Teruo’s, closing his eyes and leaning into his touch. Teruo drew Shinji into an embrace, his palms splayed across Shinji’s back.
The icy tendrils of Shinji’s reiryoku crawled over his skin, caressing him, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and sunk deep within his skin.
Teruo bit his lip to keep himself from wincing as the cold current of energy curled around his ribs, pressing against his lungs and heart, making it hard to breathe.
Shinji’s energy wasn’t even depleted and yet it craved him, feeding on his life force, on his soul.
Teruo’s pulse pounded in his ears and a wave of nausea crossed through him, making the ground beneath him feel like it wasn’t solid anymore. He clenched his jaw, his body screaming at him to step back, but he didn’t.
He was being reckless and knew it, and yet he tightened his grip on Shinji, ignoring the way his hand trembled from the pressure of the energy within him.
The one who pulled away first was Shinji. “You’re in pain,” he whispered. He looked at him with sad eyes that saw right through Teruo’s pretense. “I can feel the way your body’s trembling. We shouldn’t be touching.”
“I don’t want to let go,” Teruo said, his voice thick.
“I don’t want to, either.” Shinji pressed his forehead against Teruo’s. “My energy wants you just as much as I do… but not for the same reasons.”
Teruo managed a chuckle despite the frustration burning within him.
His gaze fell on Shinji’s beautiful lips, which were slightly parted, and he surged forward, capturing his mouth in a rough and sloppy kiss.
Shinji inhaled sharply and held on as Teruo pinned him against the wall.
Fingers gripped Teruo’s belt, pulling their bodies flush.
Shinji’s blunt nails scraped across Teruo’s back as he kissed him, tugging and biting Teruo’s lips with the same fiery blend of need and anger.
Teruo threaded his hand through Shinji’s locks and pulled back, deepening the kiss, his tongue sliding past Shinji’s lips.
The low breathless moan that escaped Shinji made Teruo even more desperate and annoyed that they were at work and not at home.
Shinji pressed himself against Teruo harder, his body warmer by the second while Teruo felt so dizzy, he had to lean his whole weight against Shinji’s arms. Despite this, his earlier frustration melted away because there was nothing sweeter than kissing his lover.
When they pulled apart, Shinji’s lips were red and wet. Teruo gave him another short kiss just because he could.
“Getting me all hot at work,” Shinji breathed. “How scandalous, chief.”
Teruo smirked. “Oh, you know me. I’m a little rebel.” Another bout of dizziness overwhelmed him and he rested his head against Shinji’s shoulder. The spiritual energy had disappeared from around them, but Teruo could still feel the remnants of its cold touch.
“You’re not okay…” Shinji held onto him.
“Not really, but I’m forcing myself to bear through it because I’m afraid you’ll leave me.”
Shinji gasped and gently tilted Teruo’s head to see him better. “I’d never do that.”
“Not in the sense of breaking up,” Teruo explained, “but temporarily going to a hotel or something like that.”
Shinji sucked in a breath. “I have thought about getting a hotel room.”
“See? That’s why I don’t complain.”
“It would be for your own good,” Shinji said, his thumbs caressing Teruo’s jaw. “It wouldn’t be forever.”
“No.” Teruo held firm. “I’ve lived alone. Before you, I was alone for years. And even when I was in a relationship, I was lonely. I hate coming home to an empty house—even temporarily. I know I’m risking a lot, but I’m not changing my mind.”
“Stubborn.” Shinji sighed. “But I’ll talk to Keiko and then I’ll seal my powers, if allowed.”
“All right.” Teruo couldn’t object to that. If Keiko agreed to it, and if Horiuchi could convince the Onmyōryō to seal Shinji’s powers, at least that would help him hold on until someone found a solution. “Let’s get back to the office and work on the two suspects,” Teruo said.
“Yeah…” Shinji nodded.
They stepped down the stairs, toward Teruo’s office. Inside, the blinds were drawn to keep the strong late afternoon sunlight from streaming into the room, and the air con blasted a cool breeze.
Nakagawa glanced up from the monitor and pointed to Teruo’s desk where two cups stood. “I got you coffee,” she said. “Although I think it’s gotten a bit cold.”
“Thank you.” Teruo beelined for the cup and took a few good gulps. It was still a bit warm, and he offered the other cup to Shinji. “Sorry, we got sidetracked by Commissioner Horiuchi,” Teruo explained. “But we have narrowed the list to two suspects, thanks to her.”
Nakagawa gave him a curious glance, probably wondering how come Horiuchi had managed to narrow the list down when they couldn’t.
Teruo sipped more coffee, hating the idea of not being able to give all the necessary information to Nakagawa.
The lack of transparency in the investigative process was pissing him off, but he was also aware he couldn’t start telling his non-supernatural detectives about it.
Not for fear of the Onmyōryō. He didn’t give a shit about them.
But out of concern that he’d sound insane.
“Digital forensics sent anything over?” Teruo asked, as he placed the two photographs on the whiteboard.
“They’re still working the last victim’s phone, and on Morimoto’s laptop.
” Nakagawa looked at Shinji. “They haven’t been able to break through the encryption and his tablet has nothing useful on it.
But we have the video footage,” she added.
“I was just going through it. And the other crime scene has been wrapped up. We have footage from it as well.”
“Good. Will be easier to put the footage against our suspects and see if either of them appear.”
Nakagawa looked at the photographs. “Do we know who they are?”