CHAPTER 26
Shinji
Teruo felt like he was swimming through deep water, his whole body heavy. He opened his eyes, blinking to clear the fog of slumber, and the room came into focus.
He was on a bed in the Onmyōryō’s hospital wing. The last thing he remembered was talking to Shinji after Takeda was arrested, and then nothing. Did he collapse? He’d been feeling weak these past few days, but refused to acknowledge it. His body must have reached its limit.
Teruo tried moving his head, but a dizzy spell hit him, and he closed his eyes for a moment, waiting for it to pass. His limbs wouldn’t move, but he figured it might have been the anesthesia. Shinji had told him they’d put him under, so they could work on his soul properly.
Suddenly, Teruo’s eyes widened. Shinji! How terrified he must be.
Teruo groaned, trying to move, only to now realize that Shinji was pressed tight against him, wedged precariously at the edge of the bed, an arm across Teruo’s chest, and his head resting in the hollow of Teruo’s neck.
Already Teruo felt lighter just from feeling Shinji next to him and knowing he’d been here this entire time. He pressed a kiss on Shinji’s head, soft hair tickling his lips, and struggled to move his free hand to hold Shinji’s.
Teruo’s arm trembled a little as he moved it, but it didn’t hurt and he settled his hand over Shinji’s.
Deep within his chest, Teruo could sense the difference. There was a soft icy sensation that wasn’t there before. If he was alive and no longer healing Shinji, then whatever Kazuya did worked.
He was terribly curious to find out what happened but didn’t want to wake Shinji up yet. The windowless hospital room made it impossible to tell the time, and he couldn’t reach the phone, but it was likely night time or very early morning.
His palm gently caressed Shinji’s arm, and he remained like that for a while longer, enjoying the calmness after the nerve-wracking weeks he had.
Shinji stirred and raised his head. After his eyes focused, they widened instantly when he noticed Teruo was awake.
“Hey,” Teruo said, smiling. He lifted his hand and brushed his fingers through Shinji’s hair.
For a heartbeat Shinji simply stared. Then tears welled and spilled down his cheeks, and a choked sob escaped him.
He wrapped his arms around Teruo and held him tight, crying against his neck.
Teruo hugged him back just as tight, his hand moving soothingly over Shinji’s back. His body shook with his sobs and Teruo wiped the corner of his eyes as well. Shinji was scared he had lost him.
“I’m alright,” Teruo murmured softly.
Shinji only clung tighter.
“I’m okay,” he said again.
The sobs gradually quieted into uneven breaths. Shinji drew back, and his lips trembled as he tried to form words.
Teruo lifted a hand and brushed his thumbs beneath Shinji’s eyes, wiping away the remaining tears. He leaned forward and kissed him. Shinji’s mouth was still shaking, but he responded, pressing their lips firmer together.
When they parted, Shinji looked at him anxiously. “Are you in pain?”
“No,” Teruo said. “But I still feel a little numb.” He settled his hand on his chest. “I figured out I had your spiritual energy within me immediately. I can sense it.”
Guilt flashed across Shinji’s face. “I’m so sorry…”
“Don’t say that. I have a part of you always with me now.”
Shinji chuckled and wiped his tears. “It’s not too cold?”
“No. It’s perfect. Just like you.”
Shinji’s eyes filled with tears again. “I love you the most in this world.”
“And I love you. Now that I’m okay, you’re stuck with me forever,” Teruo said smugly.
“I look forward to that.” Shinji pressed his forehead against Teruo’s. “I want us to grow old together.”
“I’m gonna be a very grumpy old man.”
Shinji laughed. “I expect nothing less.”
Teruo grinned, then looked down at himself. “I see I'm in pajamas?”
“You were brought here in a hurry, and Kazuya intervened immediately. Your suit was sweaty due to his fiery reiryoku, so once he was done, I cleaned off the sweat and changed you. You slept through the entire night.” He checked the phone. “It’s eight in the morning.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of me,” Teruo said.
Shinji beamed. “Expect to be very pampered these next few days.”
“I’m gonna enjoy that.”
Someone knocked on the door, and Shinji called for them to enter. Nakajima Kazuya came inside. Teruo pushed himself up into a sitting position.
“You look sharp,” Teruo joked. “Out with the gangster friends all night?”
Kazuya wore a slick black suit, and his hair was untied, flowing down his back. “Unfortunately.”
Teruo shook his head. “I swear, you’re the most unenthusiastic yakuza boss I’ve ever seen.”
Kazuya burst into laughter. “I had to tend to urgent matters at one of the clubs. How are you feeling?”
“Like a newborn.”
“You are newborn in a way.” Kazuya reached for Teruo’s chest. “May I?”
Teruo nodded, and Kazuya carefully placed his palm on his chest. This time, Teruo saw his fiery spiritual energy floating within him. It felt so strange compared to Shinji’s power, and Teruo winced a little.
“Does it hurt? “Kazuya asked.
“No, it's just a bit peculiar, that’s all.”
“Well, everything seems to be in order, and you’re no longer reacting in any way to Shinji’s reiryoku even though it’s still depleted. That’s very good.”
“Thank you,” Teruo said. “For saving my life.”
Kazuya squeezed his shoulder and smiled. “You’re very welcome.” Then his smile turned into a mischievous grin. “This is gonna go down in history.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Teruo warned.
“I know you like me.” Kazuya winked. “You don’t have to hide it.”
“Go deepthroat a cactus,” Teruo said.
“Maybe I’m into that.”
“Enjoy your cactus then.”
Shinji snorted. “You two are terrible.”
“Is the commissioner around?” Teruo asked. “I’d like to thank her as well.”
“She’s been handling the situation with Takeda Fuyumi.
Moving her from the TMPD to the castle’s prison.
From what I understand, she and Superintendent Yoshida had to pull some serious strings to manage because too many non-supernaturals are involved in the investigation.
But I think she’s returned because I heard Takeda is incarcerated here. ”
Teruo nodded. “Thanks. So, what’s going to happen now? To my soul, I mean.”
“Nothing. It’s done,” Kazuya said. “There’s nothing else for me to do other than annoy you once in a while since you’ll be visiting more often now.” Kazuya stood. “Well, gotta go. I have gangster business to attend to. See you around.”
After Kazuya left the room, Teruo stretched his upper body a little.
He felt exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in several days.
That icy sensation from earlier seemed to settle, and he was starting to get used to it.
He wasn’t a supernatural, but he wasn’t that normal either.
He’d heard some hushed comments last time he’d been here.
Anomaly, they’d called him. He was no longer bothered.
Better to be some supernatural anomaly and alive than dead.
“Do they have showers here? I still feel kinda grimy.”
“Yes, that’s the one.” Shinji pointed at a closed door inside the room. “Let me help. Kazuya got us both some spare clothes from home.”
Only now Teruo noticed that Shinji was in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. There was a large bag on a corner table, with another set of clothes folded next to it, and Shinji’s suit shoved messily inside the bag.
Shinji helped him up carefully, and he stretched a bit more at first to get some circulation back into his limbs. He leaned on Shinji and walked inside the bathroom. It was small, but had everything they needed, including an extra stool for Shinji.
They undressed and settled down on the stools. When the hot water hit him, Teruo let out a satisfied moan, and Shinji chuckled from behind him. He was washing Teruo with so much attention and care—occasionally giving him a sweet kiss—that it made his heart melt into a puddle.
Once dried and dressed in clean clothes, he felt much better.
“Don’t you want to rest for a little longer?” Shinji asked.
“I’d rather rest at home. It’s nice here, but the lack of windows bothers me a lot. No natural light.”
“Oh, yeah, true. It’s because some of these rooms are placed in the middle of other rooms, so there’s no opening for windows.
There wouldn’t be any natural sunlight even if they were since there’s no sun in the bubble dimension.
” Shinji grabbed the bag and their phones.
He offered Teruo his arm and Teruo looped his through.
Outside in the corridor, a few people in scrubs moved from room to room. They signed the discharge papers at the front desk, then took the elevator to the first floor.
Further away, Superintendent Yoshida spoke with Horiuchi and another woman.
Horiuchi was in her usual dark work suit, while the woman wore a pale red sleeveless blouse, loose-fit beige slacks, and comfortable sneakers.
She seemed to be in her mid-forties like Horiuchi, and when she placed her hand on Horiuchi’s arm and smiled brightly, Teruo immediately realized that was Horiuchi’s wife.
They looked so much at ease and just unbothered about everyone else around them.
Teruo threaded his fingers through Shinji’s and squeezed. Shinji gave him a curious but happy look. By the time they reached the group, Horiuchi’s wife bid goodbye to Yoshida and left after whispering something to Horiuchi.
Yoshida noticed them first. “I heard everything is well?” he said as a greeting.
“It is,” Teruo said. “Thanks to Kazuya and the commissioner.”
“How are you?” Horiuchi asked.
“Good. Glad it's finally over.”
“Made you a schedule for your first six months’ worth of appointments. Will email it. Try not to miss them?”
“Appointments?” Shinji glared at her.
“He has to be monitored,” Horiuchi said, unbothered. “This is unprecedented, remember?”
Yoshida looked from her to Shinji with a worried face.