“Must’ve been tough getting used to someone like me,” Teruo said. “Someone who doesn’t believe you.”
Shinji smiled. “You don’t believe me?”
“I don’t know yet. You haven’t given me much to go on.”
“Teruo, I—”
“Yeah, got it.” Teruo pulled his hand away from Shinji’s. “Got one question, though.” He threw Shinji a sidelong glance. “Do youreallyuse virgin blood for the rituals?”
Shinji chuckled. “No. It was a bad joke. There's no blood involved in any of my rituals.”
“Hm.Yourrituals.”
Shinji didn't answer to that implication, though it was clear Teruo read through the lines that some supernaturals did use blood. It worried Shinji just how many things Teruo could figure out on his own. But it had been Shinji’s own fault for giving a detective hints and thinking he wouldn’t put the pieces together.
Their thighs brushed with their proximity and Shinji felt Teruo tense, his gaze focusing on Shinji’s lips. If they weren’t in the middle of a victim’s apartment, if they hadn’t argued earlier, if there weren’t so many problems looming over their heads, Shinji would’ve…
“We should go,” Teruo said, a hint of anguish in his voice.
They broke away from each other and left Yamato’s apartment.
CHAPTER 20
Shinji
The guard outside the forensic medical center didn’t bat an eye when Shinji and Teruo strolled in. Shinji assumed Teruo was such a frequent visitor, he was considered part of the scenery. He kept close to Teruo as they crossed the narrow corridor of the first floor.
Not surprising to Shinji, the place had a few spirits. What he found peculiar was that they stood lined up with their backs to the walls, as if they were waiting for someone or guarding something. He wondered under whose jurisdiction this area was and made a mental note to call the Onmyoryo and have the Shinigami on duty get here and see if any of them were ready to cross into the afterlife.
Teruo opened the double doors of the corridor’s last room and walked inside. Taniguchi was closest to them, wearing dark blue scrubs and holding a stainless steel tray with dirty instruments in his gloved hands. He jolted and gawked at Teruo in shock as if he had seen Godzilla—which, frankly, wasn’t far from the truth. Teruo looked just as menacing.
“Good afternoon.” Taniguchi bowed, slowly backing away until he reached the opposite side of the room.
Suzuki and Kojima stood at an autopsy table, covering up a man’s body—not one of their case’s victims. Kojima quickly took off her dirty gloves and apron, placing them in a bin, then patted down her scrubs and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Suzuki approached and gave Teruo an elbow nudge. “Hey there. Missed me, didn’t you?”
“You know how much I love it here,” Teruo replied.
“Should start working here part time. Open up the victims yourself.”
“Yeah, I’m considering it.” Teruo grinned.
Kojima, who had sported an amused smile at their banter until now, suddenly paled and Shinji leaned in toward her.
“He’s joking,” Shinji whispered.
“Oh…” Kojima let out the longest sigh of relief Shinji had ever heard.
Suzuki shook her head at Kojima then looked at Teruo. “What brings you here?”
“We went to Yamato Daichi’s house,” Teruo said. “Didn’t find much besides a laptop. There’s some information in there I’d like to take a look at.”
Suzuki nodded upwards at the next floor. “The forensic team is available if you want.”
“Nah,” Teruo said. “Miyazaki and I will check this one ourselves.”
“So, you’re close to cracking the case?” Kojima asked, looking excited at Shinji.