EPILOGUE
Shinji
On Monday Shinji was late coming in to the TMPD.
He had to take a detour to Higashikurume again for yet another interview about the case.
While their investigation on the murder victims was officially closed, the Onmyōryō was only just now starting to seriously look at all the other illegalities within its core.
About time, Shinji thought.
He still didn’t like Horiuchi too much but he had to give her props for it.
She had balls to do this, especially when some of those she investigated were higher than her in rank.
But Horiuchi continued to be nonchalant about it and wipe the floor with whoever stood in her way. It was both scary and awesome.
Besides the situation at the Onmyōryō, she had kept her word and brought Shinji back to the homicide unit.
Today was his first day of reinstatement and he was glad not to jump from unit to unit and put a nice face whenever the other officers poked fun at him because of his relationship with Teruo—although he’d noticed it hadn’t happened lately.
Possibly another one of Horiuchi’s doings, or Megumi who’d caught her own officers being pricks.
When he reached the homicide unit’s floor, a satisfied grin stretched on his lips as he saw Horiuchi along with Assistant Commissioner Ogata further away. Horiuchi seemed to explain something to him while Ogata looked positively miserable. Shinji was petty so he enjoyed the moment.
When he reached them, he bowed with a beaming smile. Ogata gave him a nasty look. The man was no longer trying hide his disdain behind fake pleasantries.
“Good day to you, Sergeant Miyazaki,” Horiuchi said. "Ready to be back in homicide?"
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You were doing well in other units,” Ogata chimed in.
“He’s doing better here,” Horiuchi retorted which only turned the scowl on Ogata’s face worse.
“I’m happy to be back. Thank you for this opportunity.” Shinji bowed only toward Horiuchi because he was on a passive aggressive streak. Then he walked away, wanting to reach Teruo faster.
He turned a corner, and came face to face with a few detectives from the homicide unit.
As always, gossip traveled faster than light and he got congratulated on his return by some of them while others kept their distance.
He was fine with that. Truthfully, he knew he had been done a huge favor by being brought here again and he didn’t intend to just rub it into the other officers’ faces.
Shinji knew that, had he not been Teruo’s boyfriend, or worked with Horiuchi at the Onmyōryō, this kind of thing would’ve never happened.
But he hoped for his situation to create a positive precedent instead of a negative reaction.
Shinji smiled politely, then rushed away from the crowd only to stumble over Furuya, and stop in his tracks.
“Welcome back,” Furuya said in a careful tone like he expected Shinji to lash at him.
“Thank you.” Shinji bowed. He wasn’t going to make a scene. There was no point in doing that now.
“I’m glad this was solved,” Furuya continued. “I look forward to working together.”
“I do, too.” Shinji wasn’t entirely sure of his own words, but Furuya seemed remorseful enough that Shinji was willing to give him a second chance. They would work together and Shinji didn’t want to be antagonistic.
They parted ways, and upon reaching Teruo’s office, he knocked and entered. Inside, Teruo and Nakagawa were talking. She had a small box in her hands with some personal belongings as she prepared to move to the sex crimes unit.
Teruo’s eyes lit up when he saw Shinji and his body twitched like he was about to hug Shinji, but stopped himself.
“Are you back for good?” Nakagawa asked.
Shinji chuckled. “I hope so. I’m kinda tired of surprises.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “I’m getting ready, too.
” She pointed to her box. “I was just telling the chief I’m thankful for the opportunity to work here.
This last case was a very peculiar one.” She lowered her voice.
“I noticed some details have been classified in the database. It was because of the agents, wasn’t it? ”
Shinji exchanged a glance with Teruo, then spoke, “Likely because of them, yes.”
“Anyway,” Nakagawa continued, “I appreciate your help with my application, chief. I feel a little guilty about it, but thankful nonetheless.”
“Don’t feel guilty,” Teruo said. “You deserve it. They were being pricks for no reason. If they give you any trouble, just come to me and I’ll solve it.”
“Thank you, chief. Sergeant.” Nakagawa bowed. “I wish you two the best. And, I hope I’m not being too nosy or out of line, but I respect the loyalty you have for each other. It’s beautiful and inspiring.”
Shinji gave her a playful nudge. “You’re making the chief blush.”
And, indeed, Teruo’s cheeks were a little red.
Nakagawa leaned toward Shinji and whispered loudly, “I’d say he’s cute, but I’m kinda scared to do that.”
“He’s got that adorably threatening aura, doesn’t he?” Shinji said.
Teruo clicked his tongue at them, but he had a huge smile on his face. Nakagawa bid them goodbye and left. The moment the door shut behind her, Teruo came up to Shinji and gathered him in his arms, squeezing him hard.
“You have no idea how happy I am to know that you’ll sit right by my side again.”
Shinji pulled back just enough to see him and pressed a kiss on his cheek.
“I’m happy too. There’s nowhere I want to me more than here with you.
It was a tough road, but we made it.” Shinji pulled Teruo toward his desk and hopped on top, bringing Teruo flush against him.
“If someone had told you that you’d end up with the weird guy who talks with invisible people, would you have believed them? ”
Teruo burst into laughter. “Probably not.” He bit his lip, and sadness crossed his face for a moment. “To think that I almost didn’t give us a chance…”
“We both had our moments, but we are together now, that’s what matters.” Shinji cupped his neck, trailing his thumbs over the stubble, and pressed their lips in a kiss.
Teruo snaked his arms around Shinji’s waist and kissed him back hard, savoring him like a starved man.
“I love you very much,” Teruo said. “I want you to know that.”
“I know it. I love you too.” Shinji entwined their fingers and pressed Teruo’s hand to his beating heart. “I feel blessed that I met you, that our roads crossed, that I made the decision to come here. I cannot imagine a future without you.”
Teruo’s eyes glistened and he brought Shinji’s hand to his mouth, kissing it. “Seeing you every day is my greatest joy. That thought kept me strong because the desire to spend the rest of my life loving you was more powerful than the threat I was facing to my very soul.”
Shinji’s heart drummed so fast he thought it might burst out of his chest. “I was thinking about something. I thought we could take some time off and travel to Hiroshima and to the village where I grew up. I ran away from all of that, but I think I can finally face all of it now that I have you. I want to learn more about my mother’s legacy. ”
“I would love that. We can see your grandparents, too. If you want to patch things up with them.”
Shinji nodded. “I have been thinking about it. I was reluctant, but I’d like to try.” He looked into Teruo’s dark eyes and smiled. “There are so many things I want us to do. So many.” Then he smirked. “Some of them very dirty.”
“I knew you’d get kinky.”
“Always,” Shinji said proudly. “So, what kinky stuff are we doing today?”
Teruo waved his hands dramatically, then pointed to his desk. “Paperwork.”
“Oh, great. Can’t wait. But on the other hand, I need some chill days of paperwork and nothing else.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Teruo agreed. “So let’s not jinx it.”
Right then, Keiko floated in. “I was stuck at the Onmyōryō. What did I miss?” She looked at the two of them. “Have you two been doing naughty things in the office?”
“Great minds think alike,” Shinji said. “Keiko is thinking we’ve been doing naughty things.”
Teruo chuckled. “Let’s see you two perverts writing those reports.” He gave Shinji one last kiss on the lips, then sat back at his desk.
Shinji settled on his chair and took a few moments to just bask in the feeling of being here again. He glanced at Keiko who was browsing diligently through the files, then at Teruo who was already glaring at his laptop and muttering something under his breath.
It was perfect.
The End