CHAPTER 17
Shinji
Shinji left the office, and searched for a secluded space on the fourth floor to call Keiko and Tamura to him.
Rounding a corner, he headed toward a small area where there was a vending machine.
He got himself a grape soda, the can clattering into the tray, and Shinji grabbed it, then sat down on the bench nearby.
He sensed the familiar icy auras of Keiko and Tamura approaching the building, and a thread of spiritual energy flew out of him, gently tugging at their auras, calling them toward his location.
As he waited, he popped the soda can open and took a few gulps, then sighed in satisfaction at the coolness of the drink.
The temperature dropped steadily, and a ripple of chilled air brushed his skin.
Keiko and Tamura passed through the wall and floated inside, their translucent bodies shimmering under the ceiling light.
Keiko sat herself by his side, her long hair fluttering as she tilted her head to look at the can.
“I miss grape soda. I wish I could drink it.”
Shinji smiled sadly, unsure how to start the discussion, so he diverted the topic toward the crime instead. “How was the investigation with the superintendent and Furuya?”
“Oh my god…!” Keiko threw her arms out and groaned. “You know how everybody says Teruo is snappy all the time? Well, I’d say he’s a peach compared to Superintendent Yoshida.”
“A peach indeed.” Tamura nodded sagely.
“Furuya looked like he was about to faint. Serves him right.”
Shinji chuckled. “Don’t be mean.”
“I know you’re secretly enjoying it. You don’t fool me.” She wagged her finger at him.
“A little.” He grinned. Then his face turned serious. “The victim at our crime scene was a lot more injured compared to the others. She was a water kitsune, and it seems they fought for a good while until the killer extracted her spiritual energy.”
Keiko’s brows shot up. “So not even kitsune are safe from extractors?”
“No one is. That’s the point of their abilities. That’s why they’ve been kept under strict supervision…until this case.”
“The superintendent checked the other victim for traces of energy,” Keiko said. “He pulled me aside and told me to tell you he didn’t sense anything. Too much time had passed.”
Shinji nodded. “Yeah, I expected that. According to the M.E.’s report, these last two died around the same time, but before the other four victims. So, our killer has been doing this for a while and no one knew.”
“How long do you think?” Tamura suddenly asked.
“Not sure because we still don’t know why she’s doing this and whether she’s finished or there are more people she intends to kill.”
“She?” Keiko asked.
“Our current suspect is Takeda Fuyumi,” Shinji said. “Commissioner Horiuchi cooperated and gave us a narrowed-down list. Then the footage showed Takeda leaving Ms. Amano’s apartment, confirming that she’s the culprit.”
“Footage,” Tamura said, the word sounding more like a statement than a question.
“Yes.”
“And it’s clear?” Tamura asked.
“Enough for facial recognition.” Shinji frowned. “Why?”
Tamura raised his shoulders. “It doesn’t hurt to be sure.”
The condensation on the soda can was slick against Shinji’s fingers as he picked it up and sipped more grape juice. He looked at Keiko. “Commissioner Horiuchi put a protective detail on our house, just in case.”
“Makes sense,” Keiko said.
“The killer won’t target you.” Tamura’s tone was certain in a way that didn’t sit right with Shinji. “I mean,” Tamura quickly added, “there’s no reason to, right?”
Shinji had found Tamura’s earlier line of questioning a little odd, but this statement was outright bizarre. “I’ve been attacked by a killer before. Almost strangled to death by a Shinigami. If Teruo hadn’t been there, I’d be dead.”
Tamura hesitated, looking like he wanted to say more. In the end, he just nodded, but a deep crease formed between his brows. Shinji exchanged a glance with Keiko, who seemed to have noticed Tamura’s peculiar certainty too.
“Mr. Tamura, is there anything you’d like to tell me?” Shinji asked. “Because if there’s something I can help with, now is the time to let me know.”
Tamura clasped his hands behind his back and shook his head. “Nothing at all.”
Shinji’s gaze searched Tamura’s expression, and his skin prickled with unease because Tamura was clearly hiding something. “Well, think hard about it and tell me before it’s too late.” He paused and stared at Tamura, who averted his eyes. “There’s something I need to tell you both,” Shinji added.
Keiko shifted to face him. “That sounds ominous.”
“I spoke with Commissioner Horiuchi,” Shinji said, watching their reactions closely. “She’s going to inquire about sealing my spiritual energy temporarily.”
“Oh,” Keiko said. “I thought you’d given up on it? What changed?”
Shinji rested his elbows on his knees. “The commissioner and the Onmyōryō know about Teruo’s condition. There’s no point in hiding anymore.”
Keiko stiffened. “And are you two gonna be okay?”
Shinji went quiet for a few long moments. “I hope so.”
The commissioner hadn’t threatened him, hadn’t even mentioned a punishment despite all the rules he’d broken. That should’ve been reassuring, but it wasn’t because they’d bought her silence by offering Teruo as a study subject.
“Teruo agreed to let them do a few tests.”
Keiko’s face darkened. “I thought that was the one thing you didn’t want to do?”
“It still is,” Shinji admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. “But what choice do we have? We need help, and I can’t do anything. My powers—” His jaw tightened. “They’re not meant to fix him. They only make things worse.”
The words had a bitter taste. He’d been proud to be a Shinigami. Now, it felt like a curse; a burden that did nothing but hurt Teruo. And lately, he’d started to hate himself.
Shinji let out a sigh before he continued, “If the commissioner gets the approval to seal my powers—and that’s a big ‘if’ given the shortage of Shinigami—that means I’ll lose my jurisdiction and I won’t be able to use my gate.
” He shifted his gaze to Tamura. “You’ll be assigned to a different Shinigami. ”
Tamura’s eyes widened slightly, and he stared at Shinji for a long moment. “I see…”
When he added nothing else, Shinji returned his attention to Keiko. “Our link will have to be broken. The commissioner doesn’t want you staying here without being connected to me, so you’ll have to remain inside the castle temporarily. Before I go through with it, I need your—”
“Okay,” Keiko said easily.
Shinji blinked not sure he’d heard correctly. “Okay? That’s it? You’re really okay with this?”
She shrugged. “It’s temporary, isn’t it? Once Kazuya fixes Teruo’s soul and he stops healing you, your powers will be unsealed, and we’ll work together again. Isn’t that the plan?”
Shinji deflated. He’d been so certain she’d push back or refuse altogether, but it seemed he’d made himself anxious over nothing.
Keiko chuckled at his expression. “Why do you look so surprised?”
“I just—” He exhaled, shaking his head. “I thought you’d be against it.”
“Why?” she asked, tilting her head. “If this helps Teruo, I’m in.
Besides, I get why Commissioner Horiuchi doesn’t want me out on my own.
I’m not a lost ghost anymore. I’ve been getting better at holding things and at touching things without going straight through them.
” She lifted a hand, flexing her fingers into a fist, then punched the bench between them without going through it.
The upholstery’s fabric bent under her knuckles.
“The commissioner wants to be cautious.”
Shinji swallowed. “Yeah… Yeah.” He didn’t have the courage to tell her that the main reason Horiuchi wanted to keep her inside the castle was out of worry that Keiko would go to Megumi’s apartment again and put her health in danger.
Keiko smiled. “Look, if staying inside the castle for a bit ensures Teruo’s safety, I’ll do it without a second thought.” Her expression turned serious. “If things were reversed, if I were in his place, I’d hope someone would help me. It’s too late for me, but it’s not for him.”
Shinji’s throat tightened. “Keiko…” he croaked. “Thank you.” Gratitude swelled in his chest, so strong it made his eyes sting, and he blinked hard. “I’ll let the commissioner know.” He looked at Tamura as well, but the man seemed lost in his thoughts, staring somewhere into the distance.
“And when will it happen?” Tamura inquired.
“The sealing? If approved, I’m hoping as fast as possible. It’s pretty urgent.”
Tamura nodded. “I’ll wrap things here until then,” he stated, and Shinji waited for an explanation that didn’t come. “It seems the two of you have personal things to speak about, so I’ll wait outside.” Tamura bowed his head and floated away.
Shinji sensed him stopping just outside the building. “That was peculiar.”
“I told you there’s something going on with him,” Keiko said. “He’s been weird since these last two murders.” She lowered her voice. “What if he’s working with Takeda Fuyumi and that’s why he approached you?”
“You think he’s been inserting himself into the investigation to keep ahead of us and give info to the killer?
” Shinji hadn’t considered the possibility that Tamura was in any way related to the crime.
He had been nowhere near the crime scenes and was unrelated to the victims. But was he related to the killer?
Had Shinji accidentally brought a spy in their midst?
“Did he leave your side at any point?” Shinji asked.
“No, he’s been with me this entire time. He’s got an alibi.” Keiko huffed, sounding rather annoyed about it. “Doesn’t make him less suspicious. Didn’t you notice that line of questioning earlier?”
“I did. And he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to tell me what’s keeping him here.”
“The killer is keeping him here, in my opinion,” Keiko said. “He’s gonna ‘wrap things up’ before you seal your powers. The guy is planning something.”
Shinji stared at the glass block windows through which Tamura had exited. “Shit… But what the hell is his role? I checked, and he’s never worked for the Onmyōryō, so he doesn’t have access to the extractors’ seals. Perhaps he’s meant to locate the victims? Guide Takeda to their location?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll find out what he’s hiding,” Keiko said.
Shinji wrapped his hands around her translucent ones, feeling her familiar frosty aura seeping into his skin. It brought such comfort to sense her that this little moment right here made him hate his powers less.
“What would I do without you?”
“You’d be in trouble.” Keiko grinned. “I’m the best ghost detective.”
“You are.” Shinji chuckled. “I don’t want you to be stuck in that castle.”
She entwined their fingers. “Why?”
“It feels like I’m locking you away.”
“Shinji, you’re awfully harsh on yourself. I’m agreeing to it. You’re not forcing me to do anything.”
“I know, I just…” He closed his eyes for a moment, unsure if he should go down this road. “I feel guilty that I forbade you to stay around Megumi. I know how much it meant for you to connect with her.”
Keiko’s lips trembled slightly, but she smiled.
“I was angry back then for a little while. But I would never forgive myself if I hurt Megumi or created trouble for you.” She looked down at their hands and squeezed.
“I know I’m dead, and I’m on borrowed time in this world.
I’ve been trying to make peace with the fact that I’m a spirit.
” She blew a humorless laugh. “I’m failing.
Is anyone ever truly at peace with such a thing? ”
Shinji didn’t answer because his mind held only desolate thoughts right now. Of all the spirits he had sent over, few truly seemed at peace.
“The way I left things with Megumi will always haunt me,” Keiko continued.
“She’s the one who last saw me alive and the one who found me dead.
I don’t think she’ll ever forget the image of my body split open.
Before you proceed with sealing your powers, I want to ask for a favor, just in case the Onmyōryō won’t let me return. ”
“I will not allow them to do that.”
“Shinji, please.”
“Of course.” He nodded quickly. “Anything.”
Keiko seldom asked for favors. She had helped them so much, he would not refuse her this, no matter what it was, and he had an inkling what it would be about.
“I want to say a proper goodbye to Megumi,” Keiko said. “I want to give her and myself closure because I feel like we haven’t gotten it this entire time.”
“I’ll talk to the commissioner.”
“You don’t need to do that because I don’t want you to tell Megumi I’m a ghost. I have a plan, but I need your reassurance that you’ll do it.”
“I’ll do it, yes. Absolutely,” Shinji said.
“Thank you.” Keiko wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him into a hug, weightless at first, like a mist brushing against his skin. But then she focused, and Shinji felt the solid pressure against him as her arms remained steady around his neck.
He held his palms gently on her back, the small particles that made her spiritual body prickling against his fingers. “Are you all right?” he whispered. “Are you unhappy?”
“I’m not unhappy,” she said softly. “I feel incomplete, but I’m okay, despite it.” She pulled back and sighed. “I’ve been thinking whether I want to cross over.”
Shinji swallowed the knot in his throat. He knew the day would come; he just didn’t want it to be so soon. No words left his mouth as he patiently waited for Keiko to continue.
“I had a few moments when I thought I should just go. Why prolong the inevitable? My life isn’t what I envisioned it to be, but… I like it.” She smiled widely. “So, if the Onmyōryō doesn’t decide to kick me to the curb, I’ll stick around.”
Shinji’s heart drummed with joy because he’d been afraid she planned on crossing over since she wanted to say goodbye to Megumi. But he understood she needed closure. He wasn’t going to let the Onmyōryō do anything to her.
“You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”
“Oh, I know. I’m very lovable.”
Shinji laughed and hugged her again.
“And don’t worry,” Keiko said, “it’ll all work out with you and Teruo. Kazuya—” Just then, Shinji’s phone rang, Kazuya’s name on the screen. “Ah, there we go! He’s been summoned.”
Shinji chuckled while at the same time scrambling to answer. “Hey, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”
“Sorry,” Kazuya said. “Tough to reply when there are people trying to kill me.”
“You okay?”
“I’m alive. We need to talk. I have good news.”
Shinji let out a loud and long sigh of relief. “That’s great! All the stress had me climbing the walls.”
“Well, get down from the walls and come to my estate as soon as you can.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour, tops.” Shinji hung up and grinned at Keiko. “He said good news!”
“Told you it’s gonna work out. While you take care of that, I’ll handle Mr. Tamura.”