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With the incessant sound of the cicadas chirping and the bloom of countless blue hydrangeas, summer had finally begun to unfold.
Shiodome sometimes became quieter, increasingly looking off into the distance and stopping his tracks to close his eyes, mumbling as if he was communicating with someone. He had mentioned before that it was because the veil between the living and the otherworld is starting to become at its thinnest.
Since the aftermath from Ooejima, Oosaki and Shiodome have been situated in Aogashima, the island the latter was born on and returned to officially become a Miko. After resigning from Shinkiba-san’s detective agency, Oosaki began to work alongside Shiodome, constantly being by his side and often assisting him when necessary. On occasion, Shiodome’s duties required the two to travel out of the island, usually for purposes such as performing rituals and meeting with clients. This time too, they would stay in Kamakura for a couple days staying at an inn close to where they could overview Koshigoe beach.
It was our last night in Kamakura, leaving for Aogashima the very next morning. Throughout our visit, as if he were inexplicitly drawn to it, Shiodome had been gazing towards Koshigoe beach with an unsettled expression even now through the window as we had gotten back to our room after a busy day. When Oosaki had asked about it, Shiodome had unexpectedly stayed silent before replying with a somewhat vague answer. It seemed even he wasn’t exactly sure why.
Still in his Miko attire, the slight sea breeze swayed past his hair which had grown longer since. Oosaki briefly thought to himself that perhaps once they returned home he could help Shiodome cut his hair.
As night fell, laying down their futons the two got ready to head to sleep.
“Good night, Shiodome-san.” Oosaki said.
“Ihihi~! Good night, Oosaki-san.” Shiodome in his usual demeanor replied back with a bright smile.
Since their time in Ooejima, their good nights have become a constant in their lives, one where the two are no longer able to sleep without. Even if the nightmares have persisted whether it be Oosaki or Shiodome or the both of them, the two would be there never letting one another go. After all, the only ones who could truly understand them were each other.
The two often dreamt about Ooejima. About Ariake-san, Takeshiba-san, and the other attendants. Still having not moved past their sins and regrets from when they were alive they continue to appear tormented full of grudges and obsessions. Over time, these dreams became familiar and another that only the two of them could share.
Recently, Shiodome said he’s been having dreams of himself and Oosaki. Sometimes it would be snippets such as making dinner and greeting each other at the doorsteps. A mundane but peaceful and happy life together. The ‘Shiodome’ and ‘Oosaki’ in his dreams were different though, somehow lighter, but every time he had these dreams Shiodome was worried. What if Oosaki might prefer that version of ‘him’, various uncomfortable thoughts started to creep up in his mind ever since. To Shiodome, compared to the other nightmares it had been more terrifying as he was deeply afraid of returning to loneliness once again.
It was around the middle of the night when Shiodome woke up with tears in his eyes from what seems to have been another nightmare. Oosaki had still been awake, unable to sleep easily due to his insomnia. Thinking it might have been ‘that’ dream again, just as he was about to sit up and reassure the other, Shiodome quietly got up and like he was in a trance headed outside of the room. Oosaki had a strange feeling, the two had never separated since, always going where the other went no matter what.
“Shiodome-san!” Oosaki yelled out while hurrying after.
Despite the short distance between the two, Shiodome just kept proceeding as if he didn’t hear the other. Eventually, the two were outside of the inn going further and further away from the town’s bright lights and deeper into the dim forest. Even after repeatedly calling for Shiodome, there still had been no response and all Oosaki could do was try to follow after.
Once they had entered into the forest, it became harder to see and keep track of where Shiodome was heading. Surrounding Oosaki was just the pitch black night and the eerily sound of the trees swaying from the wind. Starting to get a little exhausted, Oosaki was unsure how long he had been chasing after Shiodome.
Suddenly, Oosaki heard footsteps behind him and felt a chill run down his back. He was sure it was different from his own and Shiodome’s even though there probably shouldn’t have been anyone else in the forest but them. Without risking the chance of losing Shiodome, Oosaki had no choice but to continue on, suppressing the urge to look back.
However, deep between the branches, Oosaki had seen the multiple pairs of eyes staring at him. Red eyes that looked bizarrely familiar. Unsure if what he had been seeing was real or his exhaustion making him hallucinate, Oosaki felt like he had been back to Ooejima. Distracted by these unsettling events, the distance between him and Shiodome had become larger.
Oosaki was usually not able to see or hear the things beyond the living although there had been rare cases where he had seen glimpses of otherworldly nature only when he was right beside Shiodome. As for the reason why in this moment he was able to experience these things more clearly, Oosaki thought it might have to do with the ‘veil’ that Shiodome had mentioned before. It was also likely related to Shiodome’s strange behavior from tonight and these past couple of days. No matter how hard Oosaki had tried to catch up, the gap between him and Shiodome had not grown closer.
Shiodome started to gradually head up and Oosaki was careful not to slip and fall from the uneven patches of rocks as he followed. Eventually, after what seemed to have been a long walk, the two had made it out of the forest and into a small rocky cliff overlooking the sea. Oosaki could hear the loud waves crashing against the cliff dangerously and the strong sea breeze blowing against both their thin clothes and hair.
As Shiodome was approaching the edge of the cliff, closer and closer, Oosaki felt his blood run cold. Shiodome had reached the end of the cliff briefly pausing and Oosaki ran as fast as he could. Just when Shiodome was about to step onto the empty space and fall into the sea, Oosaki had barely made it in time, grabbing Shiodome by the arm dragging him away from the edge. The impact had made them both fall onto the ground.
“Oosaki-san…? This is…” Shiodome who now seemed awake looked around his surroundings with a confused expression.
“Shiodome-san, do you not remember anything?” Oosaki asked. Seeing the latter shake his head, he briefly explained what had happened and what almost could have happened.
The two had made their way back from the rocky cliff, leaving the forest. To Oosaki’s surprise, it felt very short compared to when he had entered. Throughout their journey back, both of them had been silent, not one saying a word. As they were close to approaching the town, the two saw a glimmer of light and the sky gradually becoming brighter, signifying that dawn had come.
Making their way back into the inn and into their rooms, Shiodome opened the window gazing back towards the beach. He then turned to look at Oosaki before speaking. Shiodome said that he felt as if a different person had overtaken him. Although he didn’t have all the details, he could feel their emotions, the sadness and grief of losing their lover and their desire to join them in death.
“Oosaki-san, what if one day we can’t find each other?” Shiodome quietly asked with a trembling voice. He said he understood the feelings of the one who had possessed him, after all, he would have done the same if he had lost Oosaki first. Oosaki also thought, if Shiodome was no longer by his side, there would be no purpose left for him to live any longer. Still…
“Even if something like that happens, I’m sure I’ll be finding my way back to Shiodome-san no matter what. Just like today.” Oosaki replied. Somehow or another, he would return to Shiodome’s side whether in life and in death. Oosaki promised him.
“Ihihi~!” Hearing Oosaki’s reply, Shiodome laughed just as he did as usual.
Having very little time to rest, the two prepared to leave as it was the morning they would return home for Aogashima. It would be a long journey but as long as they had each other, it was enough.
“Let's go home, Shiodome-san.” Oosaki said, softly grabbing the other's hand, their fingers intertwining.