“Uh…yes.” Shinji mentally cursed. He had nearly slipped and said ‘Shinigami’. All these talks with Teruo had made him let his guard down.
“I think you meant to say something else.” Teruo shuddered as they advanced. “It’s fucking cold.”
“It’s because of the ghosts,” Shinji replied, grateful Teruo didn’t press on about the Shinigami.
“So, what did you mean to say?”
I spoke too soon.Shinji huffed, amused at himself for thinking a detective would just let it go. It was obvious from the frown and the wary look in Teruo’s eyes that he battled between curiosity and caution, between wanting and yet not wanting to know at the same time. Shinji could only imagine how difficult it must be. He hadn’t felt this curious in a long time. He knew enough about spirits; sometimes even wished he knew less.
“Can’t elaborate,” Shinji answered. “Not now.”
Teruo clicked his tongue. “How the hell can they even find out? We only talk about this stuff in private.”
“Lower your voice and don’t underestimate these people,” Shinji whispered. “They have their ways. Trust me.”
He leaned sideways, his forearm brushing Teruo’s. There was no one on the path and he slipped his hand into Teruo’s overcoat pocket, squeezing. Even in this weather, Teruo’s palm was warm. It was one of the things Shinji liked about him.
“Okay.” Teruo nodded, twining his fingers through Shinji’s and squeezing back.
They approached the Buddhist temple, a cluster of three buildings, two smaller ones on the left and right with simple, chestnut wooden walls and columns. In the middle stood the main building with a curved black roof, intricate golden designs on the walls and vermilion columns. The monk’s voice chanting sutras echoed. This meant Ishida’s family was already inside and the ceremony had started.
Two, tall stone lanterns flanked the bottom of the stairs and they stopped there, next to a lantern. Shinji’s gaze trailed through the yard, beyond the pine trees. A lone figure stood in the trees’ shadow, dressed in a black kimono and hair meticulously tied in a bun. Behind her, barely visible in the thick fog were three ghosts. Ishida Hideaki’s spirit must’ve been inside the temple.
“She’s here,” Shinji muttered. “Don’t turn around, don’t stare.”
“Saw her earlier. I thought she was with Ishida’s family.”
Shinji took a breath. “Let’s wait for the family to come out. It shouldn’t take long now.”
“Well, while you chat with her, I’ll speak with the family.”
Minutes later, a couple dressed in black with a child holding their hands, emerged from the temple. The woman dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. A few more people followed, some carrying the casket down the stairs and placing it in the hearse to be taken to the crematorium. The last to exit was Ishida Hideaki himself, his spectral body glowing white, the lines of the wire dark around his neck. He stopped at the top of the stairs, staring down at his family and the hearse carrying his physical body.
Teruo started walking toward the family, while Shinji headed to the Shinigami hidden behind the pine trees. Ishida had noticed him and floated to Shinji, both of them stopping next to the Shinigami.
Shinji bowed to her and the spirits. “All good?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I was told you wished to oversee their crossing yourself.”
“Indeed.”
The woman looked past him. “Is that Chief Inspector Hayashi Teruo of the TMPD? Your new boss?”
Fuck. She knows. They know.
Of course they did. The Onmyoryo had people everywhere, watching everyone and everything. Was she just curious? Or was this their way of giving Shinji a warning? He never knew with these people.
“He is,” Shinji confirmed, steadying his voice.
“A non-supernatural,” she stated in what sounded like a challenging voice to Shinji.
I’m getting paranoid now.
“Correct. The chief and Ishida Hideaki worked together for a month.” He turned to Ishida. “The chief wanted to pay his respects to your family, so we arrived here together.”
Ishida pointed to the couple Teruo spoke with. “That’s my older sister and her husband,” Ishida said. “We only had one another left. I feel horrible for leaving her behind. This is all my fault...”
“None of this is your fault,” Shinji said, not wanting Ishida to leave this world full of regrets.