S Vol. 4: Afterglow (Yaoi Novel)
“What did you just pour?” Shiiba asked. “Gasoline?”
The room reeked of gasoline. Shiiba’s mind raced. They were close to the exit. If Godou made any weird moves, he could grab Kiri and make a run for it.
“I’ve had a bit of bad luck, so I decided to burn everything. Kiri wants that, too, right?” Godou looked at Kiri, who was standing behind Shiiba. “Kiri, let’s burn this place down. Let’s act like those guns never even existed. I know you love working with the lathe, but I also know how bad you want to escape this place. It’s been too much of a burden to stay in this place after your parents died. If only this place had never existed, they wouldn’t have had to kill themselves. You can be free now.” He reached a hand out to Kiri. “You don’t have to make guns anymore, and I won’t ask you to. You’re more important to me than that. So come back to me. Let’s go off to a faraway country, just the two of us. You won’t leave me all alone, right?” He crept closer to them with his hand still outstretched, trying to draw Kiri in.
Suddenly Shiiba grabbed Kiri’s arm, saying, “You can’t, Kiri. Let’s go see your grandpa now. You can’t go back to Godou.”
Kiri’s eyes wavered. She didn’t know what to do.
“Kiri, you’re my one-winged butterfly,” Godou called out with a sad expression on his face. “Come here. Come on.” Kiri stared at Godou and then suddenly shook off Shiiba’s hand.
“Kiri!” Shiiba tried to grab her, but he missed.
Godou held her in his arms and nuzzled her hair with a satisfied and triumphant look on his face.
“I’m so happy, Kiri,” he whispered while staring at Shiiba. “You’re such a good girl. You’re the only one who loves me.”
Shiiba glared at Godou. “You’re the one behind the illegal guns, aren’t you? Did you kill Maruoka? Why?”
“He was too greedy. When I put him in charge of gun sales, he handed out prototypes and flops to his men. Since they were in the hands of a bunch of amateurs, people found out about the illegal weapons. He got what he deserved.” Godou pulled a gun from his pocket. He held it over his head so Shiiba could see it, and then he pressed it to his lips. Shiiba could see the delicate pattern on the barrel. It had a butterfly engraved on it.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Godou crooned. “Kiri made this, too. Don’t you think it’s wonderful that such a brutal weapon can be beautiful, too?”
Shiiba concentrated on the gun in his own hand.
They both had guns. This wouldn’t end without someone getting hurt.
“When people hold a gun, there’s an illusion that they’re stronger,” Godou continued. “If you point a gun at someone, you can make them do anything. It’s almost like a magic item that reveals people’s evils and desires. This gun was my design and Kiri made it, but it’ll be sold everywhere. It’ll become easy to get, and this boring world will get a little more interesting.” He stared at the gun with love in his eyes, and then he said quietly, “I killed your sister.”
Shiiba was stunned at this sudden confession. He never expected to hear the truth from Godou during such an explosive situation.
“Eight years ago I came home from Hong Kong to have my gun engraved,” Godou went on. “After it was finished, I thought the workmanship was so beautiful. I was so moved I wanted to shoot someone with it.”
“What?” Shiiba whispered involuntarily, not understanding Godou’s words.
Godou paid no attention to him and just continued his tale. “Where should I shoot it? Who should I shoot? I thought for a while. And then I came up with a good plan. I’d aim for someone from the Koujin Association, who at the time was fighting with the Togetsu Syndicate.”
“You did it for the boss?” Shiiba whispered.
Godou smiled darkly. “No, not for him. I simply wanted to shoot someone and the gang fight was a convenient place for me to do it. I parked my car in a place where I could see the Koujin Association’s office and waited. I was going to shoot the first person I saw coming out of the building. A young man soon came out. I put my hand on the trigger. But just then, your sister came out of a nearby obstetrician’s office.”
It was all true. Shiiba was sure of it.
“Your sister wasn’t showing yet, but I knew right away that she was pregnant. She was wearing a loose-fitting dress and rubbing her belly with a happy look on her face. As soon as I saw her, I decided she was the one I wanted to shoot.”
“Why? Why?” Shiiba didn’t know whether the feeling welling up inside of him was anger or sadness. His heart pounded painfully, every blood vessel throbbed.
“As soon as she passed in front of the Koujin Association’s office, I pulled the trigger without hesitation.” Godou shrugged his shoulders and laughed. “Your sister had very bad luck. Poor thing.”
Shiiba’s anger exploded as Godou said this without an ounce of remorse.
That was why Yukari had been murdered? That was why the child inside of her had also died? Because some man shot her for fun?
“Later, when I found out she was a bureaucrat’s wife, I was surprised. I thought I might as well make the situation more interesting, so I told my uncle what I had done. He had another man sent to the police to confess. It was the same with my mother. That man would do whatever I said. Even though he knew what she was doing to me, he pretended like he didn’t, always at the most inconvenient times. I was satisfied that I had killed someone so I went back to Hong Kong. That’s it. What do you think? Is that the truth you wanted to hear?”
“You’re insane,” Shiiba growled. “Every last cell of you is insane.”
The black flames started rumbling up from inside Shiiba. He automatically raised his gun and aimed it at Godou.
“Do you want to shoot me? Then do it. I’m sure you’re longing to kill me right now. Just shoot me. All it takes is one movement of your finger. Don’t miss this time.” Godou almost looked gleeful as he taunted Shiiba.
Shiiba wanted to shoot him. He wanted to shoot and kill him right now. He wanted to fire a bullet into his stomach and make him drown in a sea of his own red blood. He wanted to rob him of his future. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to slaughter him. He wanted to so badly he felt like he was going crazy.
Shiiba steadied his aim and flicked down the hammer with his thumb. All he had to do was squeeze the trigger. He was within point blank range so he couldn’t miss.
Munechika and Shinozuka’s faces flashed in his mind. But they couldn’t stop him in the state of mind he was in now.
He’d already come to this point. He had been waiting for this moment for so long, it was no surprise that all of the anger within him was engulfing him completely.
He tightened his index finger. Everything could be solved in one second.
But just as he was about to shoot, his eyes met Kiri’s. She stared at him as if she were pleading with him. Her expressive eyes made his resolve waver.
He had prayed for Kiri. He had prayed that she wouldn’t get swallowed up by the darkness and that she would come back into the light.
But maybe he had been praying for himself all along. Maybe he had been unconsciously replacing her with himself.
So he had to stop. He had to stop right there.
Because there were people praying for him, too. Supporting him. Praying that he would stay as he was. For those people who cared about him, he had to overcome his hatred. He could overcome it.
After a few seconds of being conflicted, Shiiba lowered his gun.
“Are you going to run away?” Godou said with a taunting smile.
“If I killed you, nothing would change,” Shiiba replied. “I wouldn’t gain anything from it.”
“You are running away, you coward.” This time Godou raised his own gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
The shot pierced the upper part of Shiiba’s left arm. The bullet lodged deep in his skin. He was seized by an intense pain as blood started pouring from his arm, staining his shoulder.
He groaned in pain and he clutched his arm, backing away from Godou.
“Shiiba, you can’t hesitate to shoot someone,” Godou said quietly. “Passion isn’t what’s necessary to pull the trigger. It’s simply murderous intent and a calm judgment.”
Shiiba was cornered and he started to waver again.
Maybe he should shoot Godou. Maybe he had to pull the trigger in order to get out of there alive.
But before Shiiba could raise his gun, Kiri did something completely unexpected. She grabbed Godou’s right hand and tried to get the gun away from him.
“Stop, Kiri!” Godou yelled, pushing Kiri away with force. Her slender body fell down and she hit her head on a nearby piece of machinery.
She lay on the floor, not moving. Shiiba tried to run up to her, but Godou pointed the gun at him.
“You need to worry about yourself more than her,” Godou said calmly.
“See if she’s okay. Don’t you care about her?” Shiiba felt his anger rise again at Godou’s nonchalant face.
Godou couldn’t have just been using Kiri. Shiiba knew Godou had to have the ability to love people. He wanted to believe that.
“Yes, I care about her,” Godou replied, “because I love her. But right now, she’s going to have to die along with you.”
Shiiba was astounded at Godou’s indifference. He was saying he loved her, but he didn’t care if she died. Shiiba couldn’t understand it.
“I’m sure in the future I’ll remember Kiri and cry about it. But it’s not bad to live with sadness every once in a while. Sadness is one of the greatest feelings there is.” Godou looked at Kiri tenderly and sighed. “Kiri was my one-winged butterfly. When I was with her, I could be at peace. It’ll be agonizing to lose her. But I’m sure I’ll find another butterfly somewhere else. I’ll have to burn everything so I don’t have any regrets.” He took a lighter from his pocket, flicked it to spark a flame, and threw it behind his shoulder. The flame hit the floor and ignited the gasoline. Fire spread out all at once throughout the ironworks.
“Too bad for you, Shiiba,” Godou murmured with a sad look in his eyes. “I thought you would be the one to kill me. I’d been waiting for your anger and hatred to destroy me. But you made a mistake. I gave you so many chances, too...” He stretched out his arm and aimed his gun at Shiiba.
Shiiba didn’t have any time to be confused now. He pointed his own gun at Godou.
Godou smiled boldly. “It’s too late. You can’t kill me.”
Suddenly the dry sound of a gunshot rang out. Godou’s body shook violently and red blood poured from his side as he staggered.
Shiiba turned around.
Munechika stood at the entrance of the ironworks holding a gun. Kaname was right behind him.
“I should have done this a long time ago,” Munechika added, walking nearer. “Before you became this crazy.” His face showed his strong resolution.
“You don’t have the right,” Godou replied as he staggered forward. “You ran away from me.” He aimed his gun at Munechika, but, before he could pull the trigger, Munechika quickly shot him. The gun flew from Godou’s hand.
“I didn’t run away. I just said goodbye. Long ago, I was drawn to your broken heart and I projected your warped heart onto myself.” Munechika walked forward and shot Godou again.
Blood spurted from Godou’s chest. But even though he was covered in blood, Godou didn’t fall down.
Just then the gas can that was behind Godou burst into flames.
Shiiba came back to himself. He quickly picked up Kiri, who was completely unconscious.
“That’s right...we’re alike...you...understand me...that’s...what I thought, anyway...” Godou said, breathing painfully. “I thought you’d...understand me...more than anyone.” He coughed and a lot of blood poured out from his mouth.
“Yeah, I did. We are alike, but we couldn’t be together. Your darkness is too deep. No one can save you from it. So let’s end this. I’ll end it for you.” Munechika shot him point blank in the chest.
Godou fell backwards. He screamed. The flames that crept along the floor surrounded his blood-soaked body and engulfed him.
Kaname took Kiri from the injured Shiiba. “Shiiba-san, get out of here!”
The flames spread even more inside the ironworks. Besides the can of gas Godou had brought, there was gas and machinery oil already inside the ironworks as well. The building could blow up any minute, so they needed to get out as soon as possible.
“President, outside!” Kaname yelled when they heard another large explosion.
Shiiba plugged his ears to block out the loud sound. Splinters of metal came flying through the air, stabbing them. He could barely keep his eyes open with the smoke that hung in the air.
“Shiiba, over here!” Munechika grabbed Shiiba and ran out the door with him. Behind them another explosion erupted.
As soon as they were safe outside, Shiiba turned around.
On the other side of the smoke, there was a human figure on fire. A black human pillar inside the red flames. It didn’t move, as if it was waiting for someone.
Shiiba saw Godou, wrapped up in crimson flames, smiling as he always did.
Chapter 10
“Kiri Yoshizawa-san’s room is 302. Back there.”
Shiiba thanked the nurse and headed down the hallway. Just as she had said, Kiri’s name was on the door of room 302. He held up the small bouquet of flowers in his hand and slowly opened the door. Kiri was in the bed in the farthest corner of the four-person room.
“Kiri, are you awake?” he quietly asked Kiri, who had her eyes closed.
Kiri opened her eyes right away and immediately sat up when she saw it was Shiiba.
Shiiba sat down on a stool next to her bed and set the flowers on top of the refrigerator beside it. Kiri stared at them absentmindedly.
The hospital room was overflowing with the bright afternoon light. It was winter, but the sunlight was warm.
“Are you in pain?” Shiiba asked.
Kiri shook her head. The bandages wrapped around her head and left arm looked painful. She had been carried off in an ambulance and had had to get stitches in the back of her head. She had also broken her left arm when she fell, so the doctor had put it in a cast.
Shiiba himself had his left arm in a sling, but his injury wasn’t bad enough to have him hospitalized.
Three days had passed since that fateful night. Munechika and Kaname had hidden themselves as Shiiba entrusted Kiri to the paramedics, and then watched the firefighters from a distance. Several fire trucks had responded and it had been complete chaos. The firefighters desperately tried in vain to put the fire out, but in the end Yoshizawa Ironworks had burnt to the ground.
Both the fire department and police department had inspected the scene and found a large number of what seemed to be guns. COC5 had been deployed and had seized every last gun.
One strange thing had emerged. Godou’s remains were never found within the ruins.
No matter how Shiiba thought about it, there was no way Godou could have survived. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have been able to run away in his condition. The only explanation was that even his bones had been burnt to a crisp.
With the information provided to them by Shiiba, COC5 had investigated a man who had worked under Maruoka. The man had confessed that he had taken the inferior guns Maruoka had given out, gotten member information from his part-time job at a gun shop called “Gambino’s” and sold the guns on the internet. His testimony became a valuable part of the investigation. The incident was settled as a normal person selling illegal weapons.
Shiiba had recently received a phone call from Takasaki with some very unexpected news: “Tokujuurou Yoshizawa was the one making the illegal guns.”
Shiiba had been surprised as he continued to listen to Takasaki’s story. Apparently a detective from COC5 had questioned Yoshizawa in the hospital, and the old man had confessed.
Takasaki had gone on to say: “Yoshizawa passed away. Right after he confessed, his condition suddenly worsened and he passed away.”
Shiiba hadn’t said anything. He had squeezed his cell phone so hard he thought it might break.
The old man had passed away. Without being able to see Kiri.
Yoshizawa had covered for all of her crimes. He had protected her through life and death.
But Shiiba knew the truth, so he had been torn about whether he should admit that the confession was a lie or not.
But he had thought that since Yoshizawa had sacrificed his own life in order to protect Kiri, he should keep the truth to himself. He didn’t care if it was wrong. He could bear the burden on his conscience. He wouldn’t forget the heaviness of that lie.
It had been discovered that the one behind the series of illegal gun incidents had been Godou, Maruoka had been the seller, and Yoshizawa the manufacturer. But Takasaki had said that since all the major players in the incident had died, the case would never be completely solved, but that it would be tied up after a bit more investigation.
“Kiri, I have something to tell you,” Shiiba said quietly, his thoughts coming back to the present. Kiri cocked her head and just looked at Shiiba. “Your grandpa died today in the hospital.”
She must have been prepared for the news. She just clenched her teeth.
“Your grandpa covered up for all your crimes. He confessed to a detective right before he died.”
Kiri’s eyes widened with surprise.
“He protected you. I think that showed how much love he had for you.”
A translucent tear dropped down on the bandage wrapped around Kiri’s hand.
Shiiba saw Kiri crying, but still maintaining an expressionless face. Tears flowed across her cheeks and dripped down from her chin.
He felt a pang in his chest as he watched Kiri cry, unable to speak.
“What are you going to do now?” he asked.
She had lost Godou, her only protector, Yoshizawa had died, and she had even lost the ironworks. She was so much like a child he wasn’t sure how she could live.
Kiri wiped her tears away with her right hand and opened her mouth.
She had just said something. Not with her full voice. It was almost like she just breathed the words out.
Kiri wasn’t mute. She just hadn’t used her vocal cords for so long. But she could whisper.
“I’ll be okay,” Kiri said again.
As Shiiba heard her whispers, he realized something. “Was it you who told me it would be okay that time I was at Godou’s condo?”
Kiri nodded.
Motoaki had given Shiiba some drugs which had made Shiiba have a terrible dream. But Shiiba had felt someone hold him and whisper to him that everything would be all right. He had believed that it had been his imagination, that it had been Yukari’s voice.
“It’ll be okay. It’s just a bad dream.”
Kiri suddenly grabbed Shiiba’s arm and then she put her hand on her stomach.
“W-what?” Shiiba asked, surprised. “What’s wrong?”
Kiri nodded. Shiiba gazed at her and then looked at her stomach. “Kiri, you can’t be...”
“I’ll be okay,” she repeated again, and smiled.
I have another life inside of me. I’m not alone. I’ll keep living with this new life.
Shiiba felt that that was what her strong gaze was saying. He couldn’t find any words to say. Kiri smiled so strongly, just like a mother would.
“So you really loved Godou...” Shiiba trailed off.
Kiri hadn’t been swallowed up by Godou’s darkness. Kiri had just loved him in her own way. That was why she was smiling. That was why she was so happy. Even though she didn’t know what would happen the next day.
Shiiba prayed for the happiness of the small life growing inside of her body. He didn’t believe in things like fate and karma. But he couldn’t help thinking that there was some meaning in Kiri’s pregnancy.
Godou had killed his own pregnant mother who carried his child, and shot and killed the pregnant Yukari. He had killed two women and two fetuses. He had had an untimely death himself. It was ironic that the only thing he had left behind was his own child.
No, Shiiba thought again. It wasn’t ironic. That was just the cycle of life. Kiri would give birth to Godou’s child. She would raise it. Probably with the deepest love...
She wasn’t showing yet, but as he watched Kiri put her hand on her stomach, Shiiba’s shoulders trembled. His eyes grew hot and he couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.
One life had ended and another had begun.
She was going to be all alone, but now the new life inside of her gave her hope.
The new life growing inside of Kiri was the single ray of light in this whole terrible situation.
After Shiiba left the hospital, he headed towards the parking lot and got in Munechika’s car. Today Munechika was at the wheel for a change.
They still hadn’t found the person who Godou had hired to go after Munechika. But Kaname had said the man probably wouldn’t have time to target Munechika since he, himself, was being targeted. This relieved Shiiba’s mind.
“Keep me company for a bit,” Munechika requested. “You’re free, right?”
Shiiba shrugged and said, “Yeah.”
“I think you’re in a position now where you can take a little time off,” Munechika mused.
Since Shiiba had gone to see Yoshizawa while under house arrest, he had been given even more time under house arrest. He wasn’t sure if he could go through with it. No matter how much Takasaki tried, Shiiba always went against his orders. Takasaki also couldn’t assure Shiiba that he wouldn’t be transferred to another department once a decision was made by his superiors.
“Where are we going?” Shiiba asked.
“A drive to the beach,” Munechika answered impishly.
“Hmph,” Shiiba huffed. “That white sandy beach that you like?”
Munechika laughed and just tilted his head.
Apparently Munechika had the day off also because he was wearing a suit but no necktie. But the outfit didn’t make him look sloppy, it made him seem even more wild and sexy.
Munechika headed towards the pier. The place where they had had it out. The place where Munechika had asked Shiiba to erase the record of him being an S. The place where Shiiba had cried.
“I thought you hated this place because it wasn’t sexy,” said Shiiba.
“That’s what I thought,” Munechika answered, “but I had a change of heart. Probably because someone let me make love to them here.”
“Idiot,” Shiiba replied as they both got out of the car.
The sun was setting and it had grown cooler. They hunched over against the cold wind. As they watched the tankers come and go along the coast line, Shiiba lit a cigarette. Munechika asked for one. Shiiba put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it for him.
“Hey, Munechika, why was Godou so screwed up?”
“That was out of nowhere,” Munechika said, raising his eyebrow.
“While I was at Godou’s villa, I heard about his mom. It was a terrible story. Did you know about it?”
“Yeah.”
“And before, at his condo, he mentioned that he had told you his secret. Was it that he killed his mother?” Shiiba had wanted to ask that for a while now.
He wondered if Munechika knew the complete truth. He could understand about Godou’s mother. He also knew that Godou had an intense hatred for his uncle and the Togetsu Syndicate, but he didn’t know why.
“I feel like he really hated his uncle,” he murmured.
“He did. He hated them both.” Munechika stared at the cigarette in his hand. “Shiiba, Godou was actually a son of the Togetsu boss.”
“Wasn’t Godou his nephew?” Shiiba asked, confused. “If Godou was his real son, why’d he raise him as his nephew?”
“That’s all he could do,” Munechika replied, “because his mom was the boss’ younger sister.”
“I know that, but ...”
Something clicked in Shiiba’s mind and he stopped talking. Had Godou been the product of incest between the boss and his sister? Was he proof of the taboo between a real brother and sister?
“Did Godou know that since he was little?” Shiiba asked.
“Yeah. His blood was cursed. So in that way I felt sorry for him. He was so good-looking and had such talent, but he could never accept himself.”
It was a world Shiiba couldn’t even imagine. To hate your own blood. In a way, that was hating your own life.
Munechika continued. “When he lived at the boss’ house, the boss’ wife and his cousins treated him terribly. They told him he was dirty and cursed. But the boss doted on him, so even though Godou hated him, he couldn’t cut him off. It was like the boss was trying to make up for his sin.”
“So that’s why the boss covered up for Godou for my sister’s death.”
“Probably. When children grow up they can leave their parents, but parents can never leave their children.”
Munechika and Shiiba threw their cigarettes into the ocean.
Godou had been the son of his mother and his uncle, he had had a relationship with his mother, and, at the end, he had left a child. He had killed his child inside of his mother because he had hated his cursed blood so much. He had thrown away everything and become free for the first time.
He had said to throw away common sense and morals and conventions to have the life you wanted. But had Godou really been free? He had lived however he pleased, had acquired wealth and power, but he had still been caught up in his past and hadn’t been able to escape a gruesome end.
He had probably shot Shiiba’s sister because he had remembered his own mother.
Shiiba and Munechika stared at the ocean for a while, then Shiiba turned towards Munechika and said, “Munechika, I’m going to quit being a detective.”
Munechika must have been expecting that because he didn’t look surprised. “Why?”
“So I can be with you,” Shiiba said clearly.
Munechika grinned. “A proposal? Isn’t this a little sudden?”
“I’m serious,” said Shiiba. “You’re going to support Motoaki from now on, right? That means you’ll be working a lot more with yakuza. So that’s the only way. We can’t continue our relationship unless I quit being a detective.”
It hadn’t been an easy decision, but he couldn’t think of any other way.
His job or Munechika. If someone had told him to choose between the two, he would always choose Munechika.
“You can’t,” Munechika objected. “Keep being a detective.”
Shiiba shook his head. “You’ve compromised enough. Let me be the one to do it now.”
“It’s not like you to want a relationship where something has to be sacrificed,” Munechika admonished.
Shiiba couldn’t take it anymore. “Then what should I do?” he moaned, his feelings wavering once again. “What should I do?” He tugged on Munechika’s suit. “What should we do? Can an S and a detective really not be together as lovers? Do we have to just continue having that kind of a painful relationship?”
Munechika grabbed his hand and put it on his chest. “Give me some time.”
Shiiba looked up at Munechika. Munechika was looking back at him with strong, tender eyes. “Time...?”
“Yeah. I want to support Motoaki as much as I can. But that won’t be forever. Just until he can make it on his own. I have to rebuild the organization and make sure he can handle it by himself.” Munechika embraced Shiiba tightly and ran his hand through Shiiba’s hair. “After I’m done, I’ll come get you. By then I won’t be a yakuza anymore. I’ll be a man worthy of a detective like you. I promise.”
“So keep being a detective,” Munechika said quietly but fiercely. “Please.”
When they had first met, Munechika had asked Shiiba to quit being a detective and come work with him. Of course Shiiba had turned him down, but now Munechika was saying the opposite.
Shiiba knew Munechika’s words came not out of selfishness. They were words that came from his lover’s heart. He understood it so much it hurt. His chest throbbed in pain. In just one year they had come so far. Nothing had changed on the surface, but they had both changed so much inside.
Shiiba nodded, tears brimming in his eyes. “Okay. I understand.”
“Let me see your face.” Munechika put his hands on Shiiba’s cheeks. When Shiiba looked up, his eyes met Munechika’s strong gaze. “We can’t see each other until it’s all over. We can’t call each other. Can you handle that?”
“I’ll be okay.” If it was for their future together, he would handle it, no matter how painful it was. That was all he could do.
“I promise,” Munechika said fervently, “I’ll come for you.”
Shiiba bit his lip and buried his face in Munechika’s chest.
Twilight colored the sky red and the afterglow began to fade.
When they part, Shiiba would have to erase Munechika’s record as his S. Today was the last day he would see Munechika as his S.
Afterwards, they couldn’t be involved in each other’s business or personal lives. Shiiba had decided to live as a detective, so that was the least he could do.
But, even though he knew he would see Munechika again in the future, his heart felt like it was being ripped to pieces as Munechika held him tight.
From then on, their new relationship would begin.
So Shiiba closed his mouth and didn’t ask when Munechika would come to get him.
It might be one, two or even three years. But he would wait forever if he had to.
“Stop fighting,” Shiiba said to a young man as he closed the door to the investigation room.
The young man’s face lit up and he stuck out his chin. “Roger!”
He walked away and Shiiba sighed, exasperated. It hadn’t been a big deal. Someone had run into the young man on the street and had hit him. Then there had been a fist fight and the police took the combatants in. There hadn’t been enough injury to file a damage report, so the two had just been verbally reprimanded.
Shiiba returned to the office and sat down at his desk. Maehara, the one in charge of the station, was smoking a cigarette as he came up to Shiiba.
“Shiiba, you haven’t turned in your formal receipts,” said Maehara. “Today’s the deadline.”
“What?” Shiiba squawked. “Oh, man.”
He hadn’t calculated them yet, but he knew his expense report would be a lot. If he forgot to turn it in, he had to pay his own way, so he had to get it in on time. He quickly prepared the receipts. Halfway through writing, he looked up to see that he was the only one left in the office. He stood up and poured some coffee in his cup and stared out the window.
There were many cherry blossom trees planted around the station. The area outside was a beautiful sight at that moment. The trees were in full blossom and the wind blew the white petals across the air.
The area didn’t look like the business district, but more like a quiet suburb.
It had almost been a year and a half since he had been transferred to this small police station. When he had left the Metropolitan force, Takasaki had promised he would bring Shiiba back some day. Shiiba had been relieved somewhat.
Right now he was part of the Community Police’s Law Enforcement Department and was working every day. Since Shiiba had gotten his new appointment, not even one homicide had occurred. It was relaxing and peaceful there.
His new job meant that he didn’t have to worry about illegal guns. He didn’t have to have an S. He was thankful just because of that. He couldn’t have replaced Munechika. He couldn’t have found a better S anywhere.
At first everyone had viewed him as an elite from Headquarters, but now he had pretty much blended in with everyone else. Of course there were still some people who were cold and said he would just be called back to Headquarters soon anyway. But Shiiba didn’t mind those people. He had confidence that he could do a good job wherever he went now.
His job now wasn’t that stimulating. But he had realized something through his days of dealing with trivial incidents concerning suspects and victims. He didn’t have a job that involved crimes; it was a job that involved people facing each other. This was a fact that he couldn’t have realized at his previous position. It was a valuable epiphany that made him realize the value of being a detective. He just had to take his job one day at a time. But, for the first time in his whole career, he was finally starting to feel glad that he had become a detective.
“Shiiba-san, want to go get some ramen?” Saitou asked as Shiiba was about to leave the office.
Saitou was the youngest detective on the force, but he was only about two years younger than Shiiba.
“Ramen?” Shiiba asked, then said teasingly, “Okay, but it’s your treat, right?”
“Whaaat?” Saitou grumbled as they started walking out of the office. “Why?”
“Because I paid before. Now it’s your turn.”
“Wow, Shiiba-san! You’re greedy!”
Saitou admired Shiiba because Shiiba had been part of the Metropolitan force. He always wanted to hear stories about Shiiba’s time there. Shiiba was also fond of the young man’s cheerful demeanor.
“I’m off duty today,” Saitou added, “do you want to come drinking with me?”
Shiiba frowned. “Don’t tell me with the girls from the traffic division again?”
Saitou grinned. “Yep! Come on, just once have a drink with us! They’re always asking me to bring you along.”
“No, thanks.”
“You’re always so mean! Shiiba-san, you’re not seeing anyone, right? Then just come!”
“Who said I wasn’t seeing someone?” Shiiba complained with a displeased look on his face.
“Don’t just assume things.”
Saitou’s eyes widened and he stopped walking. “Wait, are you seeing someone? No way! What’s she like? When do you go out on dates? It didn’t seem like you were seeing someone!”
Shiiba glared at Saitou. “Sorry.”
“Oh, don’t tell me, it’s a long distance relationship? Is that it?”
“Yeah. That person is really far away.” Shiiba felt a little empty at his own joke.
He wasn’t far away. They were both in Tokyo. But even if he wanted to see that person, he couldn’t. He couldn’t even talk to him. So all he could do was wait. Because that had been their agreement.
“That must be rough,” Saitou murmured sympathetically. “I wouldn’t be able to handle it!”
Shiiba had been trying not to think about it, so he started to get angry at Saitou for bringing up the subject. But then he realized it was impossible to stay mad at Saitou. They both left the station, and as they were walking down the stairs, Shiiba’s cell phone rang.
“Sorry. Wait a second.” He looked down at the display and saw an unfamiliar number before he answered it. “Hello?”
It was a familiar, deep voice. Shiiba thought his heart would stop.
“Oh, so you’re seducing a young detective while I’m away?”
It was a nostalgic, teasing voice. Shiiba pressed the phone closer to his ear and looked around.
“You’re not very nice. And here I’ve been spending lonely nights all by myself...”
“Where are you?” Shiiba interrupted. “You’re watching me, right? Where are you?”
Then he saw it. A silver Lexus was parked across the street.
“Shiiba, I’ve come to get you. I’m sorry I made you wait.”
Once Shiiba heard those words, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He wanted to run to the car. “Saitou, I’m sorry,” he quickly said. “Something’s come up. Let’s do ramen another time.”
“Huh?” Saitou said, startled. “Are you serious? Is that your lover?”
“Yeah,” Shiiba admitted, and Saitou looked even more surprised. “That person came to get me. I’ll be able to see that person for the first time in so long so I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Saitou cheerfully replied. “Go on! But I’m really surprised. I’ve never seen you look so happy. You must really be in love.”
Shiiba smiled. “See you tomorrow.”
Shiiba ran down the street and, once he was sure there were no cars coming, ignored the green lights and ran across the intersection. He decided to ignore the law for just that moment.
The car was parked under the streetlights. Shiiba ran to it and peered in the window. He met the gaze of the man in the driver’s seat. He quickly opened the door and slid into the passenger’s seat.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asked breathlessly.
His question had meant if Munechika had been waiting for a while for Shiiba in that spot. But a different response came back.
“Yeah. About a year and a half.”
Shiiba laughed. “Me, too. Don’t act all stuck-up.”
“Oh, really? Well since we both have waited so long, I guess we have a lot to talk about tonight.”
“Oh, we’re just gonna talk?” Shiiba said teasingly, stroking Munechika’s knee meaningfully.
“Don’t tease me,” Munechika warned. “I’ll make you cry!”
“I dare you,” Shiiba replied.
Munechika smiled and stepped on the gas. The car quietly sped away, carrying them into the night.
Afterword
Thanks for staying with this series until the end. This is the final volume of the “S” series.
After I finished writing S volume 2 (Love Bite) and heard I was going to be able to write two more books, I started worrying which direction to take for the ending. I didn’t know whether I should have Munechika and Shiiba have an endless rivalry or to give them a definite conclusion. In the end, I decided I needed to end the series definitively so I continued with “Afterglow” right after “Split” ended.
I’ve heard many different opinions from readers like “Please let Shiiba be happy” or “I don’t want a simple happy ending!” I know I can’t make everyone happy with my ending, so all I can do is pray you enjoy it. I liked Shiiba’s happy face at the end.
Two years ago, around this time, I was writing the manuscript for the first book. When I went to write the postscript, I looked at my plot. For character descriptions I had written “Masaharu Shiiba (his name was different then) is proud and cool, calm and collected, but he’s easily excitable” and “Keigo Munechika seems like a stoic, dangerous guy, but he’s actually just a pervert.” Pervert. (laugh) The point blank Mr. Magnum.
When I wrote the first book, I was really worried if the story was okay since there wasn’t much love in it. But when I sent the manuscript off, the editor said, “This is really interesting!” and after I wrote the afterword I found out it was going to be a series. At the time, it had only been six months since my debut, so I was really excited to get my first series!
And now this is my sixteenth book. Ever since I started S, it feels like the last two years have passed by in the blink of an eye.
To Chiharu Nara-sensei who did the illustrations: thanks for all your hard work! Words can’t express how thankful I am to you. I’m so happy you were able to illustrate all four books. Thank you for all of your wonderful illustrations.
And to my editors: if I didn’t have you, this series would never have been possible. Thanks so much for staying with me until the end. It was a great experience.
“S” was my first series, and amazingly enough it’s become a CD drama! Thank you to everyone who made it possible for S to appear in so many different forms.
My fans have encouraged me so much with their warm words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
The original story is going to end here, but there is a smaller story in the works. Hopefully I can relax now and enjoy writing about the characters of S. I’m waiting for all your comments!
Saki Aida
