(no subject)

[bonnefois]

Title: Naked Ambition
Series: Death Mark
Character/pairing: Yashiki/Mashita
Rating: NSFW
Word count: 5,894
Summary: After drinks together, Yashiki brings Mashita home to crash, and ride out his hangover.

But, the morning brings new revelations.
Author's note:

My brain went "I bet Mashita sleeps naked" and went from there.

Oh, and there's some minor NG spoilers for what NG revealed Yashiki and Mashita were up to.

Pretend like this was actually finished during Pride month. It would've been, but I had to get up to take the dogs out and it ended up being a bit late.



Mashita's phone kept ringing, and it was the most annoying ring tone Mashita had ever heard. Mashita knew it had to be intentional; with Mashita the assholery was always intentional.

Yashiki glanced with some annoyance at the phone left on the table. Yashiki had already brewed coffee for the morning. He figured Mashita would need it after the night he'd had.

Mashita had bought him a drink, like he promised, when Mary had finally been defeated.

It became more than a one time thing. Even on Yashiki's break--which was more boredom than anything, as he tried to make himself rest. Mashita was there every weekend for a drink.

And tonight, Mashita ended up drinking a whole lot more than him. And he preferred much harder liquor, too. Enough that Yashiki started drinking water after that one drink, and snacking on lots of the peanuts at the bar, so he could drive Mashita back, and let him sleep in a guest bedroom. Because there was no way he was letting Mashita go home like that. He'd end up passed out in a gutter at the very best case scenario, prey for some spirit or yakuza looking for an easy mark at worst.

It wasn't the first time Mashita had crashed at the mansion as of late. He'd much rather have Mashita cranky and hungover here, if it meant he was alive.

Now, it was past noon, almost one. Mashita had to surely be up by now. And the phone kept ringing and ringing. As soon as it stopped, it'd start again.

Usually, he'd let things be with Mashita. He had a short temper, one that Yashiki had gotten a firsthand view after the Masquerade case. And, naturally, it was even worse when he was hungover. But, if it was that important... maybe Mashita needed this right away.

As he climbed the stairs, Yashiki's mind wandered back.

Back then, there'd been an inkling that maybe he'd felt something. But, he hadn't even known who he was. And they'd almost died. Twice for him and Mashita, even more for Yashiki alone.

Now, just like he didn't know what to do with himself now that Mary was vanquished, he didn't know what to do with the possibility of desiring a....friend? He had difficulty categorizing Mashita. He wasn't exactly friendly. Yet he kept hanging around and asking Yashiki to work with him. The extended sabbatical, or call it what you would, was the only thing really keeping him from working with Mashita.

It wasn't like he had the excuse of having a lot of family business. Yashiki didn't have any family left. Just an old mansion, memories of how he failed, and the lingering ashes of a curse that had nearly taken him too.

Old memories, painful and cold lingered like shadows. He pushed them aside for the moment. He'd have an entire life to be haunted by what Mary did to his family.

He knocked on the door. No response. Maybe Mashita was just getting out of the shower. That guest bedroom had a bathroom adjoining it.

Yashiki had been dealing with this. Hearing the sound of the shower and knowing Mashita was in there, naked and wet with suds dripping down his back. Enough to make his toes curl.

Yashiki pushed the door open slowly.

"...Mashita?"

Mashita slept naked. This realization hit him, almost physically. Yashiki nearly dropped the phone in his hands as his eyes went up the sheet. Mashita had leaned up, with tousled bedhead and bigger dark circles under his eyes than usual. Even more, he had morning wood. Yashiki could see the outlines of his hard cock beneath the sheet.

He may be short, but he kept in shape for his job. Yashiki licked his lips, without even thinking as his eyes went up Mashita's body.

Mashita had dark circles under his half-lidded eyes, which were bleary and groggy with sleep.

Yashiki swallowed and quickly looked away. It hardly mattered. The image of the way he looked like when he was hard, even under a sheet, was going to be stuck in his mind for a long time.

Mashita put his hands through his messier than usual hair and gave Yashiki a glare. Yashiki tried to ignore the thought that Mashita had sex hair without even having sex.

"The hell you want?"

Yashiki cleared his throat, barely able to think, to breathe. What the hell. Desire took a hold of him. He wouldn't be surprised if it was starting to show on his pants. At least Mashita was still bleary-eyed from being just woken up and might not notice Yashiki's strange reaction.

"What, you're so shocked I slept naked? I didn't pack anything for this little sleepover," Mashita said sarcastically. "You expect me to sleep in my suit? I already spent half the night puking. I'm way too old for drinking this much. ...I always say that, but I always drink just as much next week."

Mashita being cranky wasn't any surprise. Though he was usually kinder to Yashiki than this. However, he was even more hungover than usual.

"Ah... Your phone keeps ringing. I figured it might be important, and thought you'd be up."

Mashita grimaced. "I'll get to it. Right now, I've got a date with a long shower and a bottle of pain killers."

"Oh...Okay."

Yashiki didn't have any smart comments for that. He barely had words for that.

Yashiki let himself out. For a few minutes he just learned against the wall and caught his breath.

He headed back down to the kitchen, almost breathless from the sheer extent of his arousal.

This was new. Or maybe it wasn't. He'd lost so much, and been so full of exhaustion and adrenaline during that period of time. He still was recovering, in more than one way.

From what he could remember, Masamune had been resigned to his fate as the head of the Kujou family, and there was no room for love, or lust for that matter. Things had been expected of him, back when there'd been a Kujou family to uphold.

Now, there was just dust and ashes. And something new in this old mansion, if he could take it.

*

Mashita looked just as sullen when he finally came down the stairs. His mood hadn't improved with a shower. Though, he was always like this. Veering between smugly calm, to smugly angry.

The thing was, Mashita would tell in an instant. It was just how he was. He read people. Even more, he seemed especially adept at reading Yashiki.

"What's your problem?"

Yashiki drank his coffee. Easier than looking him in the eye. Though, it was fruitless hiding anything from Mashita. With his experience on the force, Mashita could sniff out a lie in a second.

He really should've gotten a cold shower in, instead of trying to go down to the kitchen and pretend like he wasn't so turned on that he could barely take it. Ignoring whatever this was. But, Mashita was busy with the shower, and this mansion was old. The pipes didn't really allow for two showers to go without wrecking the water pressure.

And that would've just pissed off Mashita more. He could just imagine Mashita stomping in, yelling---

It wouldn't take more imagination to imagine Mashita's fury turning into him joining him, cold shower or not, under the spray.

He'd had to push aside his cold shower and hope some coffee and time to breathe would help. It didn't.

Now, he remembered in parts. He didn't know what to do with wanting a man, this almost friend of his, when he'd pushed himself back for so many years as the Kujoh heir. He'd lost a year to a coma, more to amnesia, and even more to the curse.

He probably didn't even know how to date at this rate. His memory was still spotty, but he didn't remember too many romantic liaisons. Certainly not out in the open. He'd never told Saya; but she was so talented in her powers, she might've known.

Mashita looked him over, and finally smirked.

"You finally figured it out, huh? I was waiting for you to tell. Bet you're hard under there."

Yashiki nearly choked on his coffee, and broke out coughing. Which might've been Mashita's plan all along. He kept his mouth covered. He was too hard to blush.

Bad idea to try and push this aside. And leave it to Mashita to be as blunt and rude as possible.

Mashita slapped him on the back.

"Don't go and choke. I'd have to give you mouth-to-mouth. You'd like that too much."

This wasn't the time to remind him that he'd require the Heimlich maneuver, not mouth to mouth. If that even worked for coffee.

Yashiki should've pulled in closer to the table. Because from where Mashita was, he could have a very good look to Yashiki's pants.

"You are hard. You like what you see, huh? Good."

Mashita sneered, his chin raised defiantly, triumphantly. It was so hot, in such an unexpected way to see this tiny, angry man in all his seething rage turn like this. Like he'd won a game that Yashiki didn't even know he was playing.

"Move back," Mashita said.

"--What?"

"I said, move the chair back and make room for me."

He didn't expect to have Mashita get on his knees and lick those pouty, kissable lips of his.

Yashiki did as Mashita asked. The chair made a discordant noise as he pushed it, and not even that could distract him from Mashita.

"You need some help with that?"

Mashita rested his palms on Yashiki's thighs, enough to make Yashiki take a deep breath. The sight of Mashita on his knees like this, ready to suck his cock was unbelievable erotic. The most he could do was nod. The kind of response Mashita would probably mock him for.

"Left you speechless, huh?" Mashita laughed derisively. "Wait until I get my lips on you. I'll suck you like you'll never forget."

Mashita smirked.

"Trust me, this is a long time coming. I couldn't exactly stop to suck you off in the middle of being chased by a ghost. Especially not when you keep randomly practically adopting every child in a ten mile radius," Mashita said.

Yashiki had barely figured himself out at that point. He'd been nearly drowning. The loss of his memories, himself, the other mark bearers to save, Mary manipulating him at every turn. It was difficult for one emotion to rise above the many other negative ones that had dragged him down.

But now, with Mary at least temporarily sealed, and no spirits knocking at his door, he could face what had probably been there all along between them.

"Yeah," Yashiki said softly. "I do."

"Best cure for a hangover," Mashita said.

"You're the one who's hungover. I started drinking water after the first one," Yashiki said.

"Best cure forme. Your cock in me will definitely cheer me up."

Mashita undid Yashiki's zipper, and he did it slowly. Yashiki was pretty sure he was being tortured, as his cock pressed against the seam of his jeans more and more.

"Not bad," Mashita said. Which by Mashita's standards, was a glowing compliment.

Just as he could feel Mashita's breath on his cock, the phone began to ring again.

"Fuck," Mashita said.

With annoyance, Mashita rose up and turned it off. Mashita glared at that brick of a Nokia phone, like he might slam it on the ground. Not that this would do anything to a Nokia. You could run over one of those with a semi and they'd still work just fine.

"No more interruptions. If any ghosts pop up and keep me from you, I'm shooting them," Mashita said. His voice was raspy with desire. In just a few minutes, he was back on his knees. Fuck, he looked amazing on his knees. Those pouty, kissable, fuckable lips turned in a smirk.

"I've waited way too damn long to get your cock in me. I'm not putting up with anymore. Don't answer the phone, the door, anything. They can fucking wait. I sure did."

He licked his lips and gripped Yashiki at the base. He licked the precum from the tip of Yashiki's cock. This image would be seared in Yashiki's mind for all of his life, he knew it. It wasn't hyperbole. Mashita would be there, in every erotic daydream.

Maybe this was his plan all along. To ruin him by being so damn sexy in his own sullen, asshole way.

"I've been dying to know how your cock would feel inside me. You have no idea."

It was rare for Mashita to be this open. Usually, he had cut short any gratitude from Yashiki short. Tell him to cut the crap, cut out being a sap. He was often guarded, an asshole to most. He'd started being surprisingly kind to Yashiki at times. When the worst of the mark came, they relied on each other. Even if it was to slap some sense back into them both to try and break free from the effect of death coming nearer.

Then, there'd been that moment at the Masquerade when Mashita had rescued him. Pulled him back from the edge, and called him a dumbass. Which Yashiki probably deserved. It'd led to Mashita and him getting another drink together.

But, this was a completely different side to Mashita. Seductive in a way Yashiki had never imagined.

Mashita moaned as he took Yashiki in his mouth. The vibrations, the sheer fact that Mashita was getting off on this, just made him feel even more amazing. He couldn't stop looking down, to Mashita's own smug sort of seduction. He looked like he'd won a prize, above all others as he gripped Yashiki's cock and licked him so slowly.

He kept his teeth behind his lips, and swallowed Yashiki completely. Yashiki nearly saw white at the suction and pressure of Mashita's tongue, his mouth, his lips all around him.

He was definitely torturing him. For some slight, imagined or otherwise. Yashiki was sure of it. Then again, no wonder. It was Mashita, after all.

Mashita worked the shaft. Yashiki's dipped down his nose, and he didn't push them up. He couldn't think, could barely know anything past the pleasure and the realization that Mashita was right.

His glasses nearly fell off as Mashita finished him off, with the kind of orgasm he'd never forget.

Mashita swallowed. A bit of come dripped from his mouth and he brushed it aside with his thumb.

"I may be a son-of-a-bitch asshole, the rudest man you've ever met, but I sure can give good head," Mashita said.

Yashiki couldn't respond to that. He'd come so hard he couldn't even form words. Could barely think. The most he could do was let out a moan.

"That good, huh?" Mashita smirked.

Mashita rose up and brushed off his knees.

"You've been working yourself to near death every day for how long now?"

Yashiki finally could talk again. It wasn't every day he had an orgasm so intense it just rendered him speechless. In fact, he couldn't remember when he'd had a fuck like that.

Then again, there was a lot he didn't remember. Even with his memories (mostly) back, there were patches that remained fuzzy. More years lost to Mary in the end. He wasn't sure if they would ever come back. It hardly mattered. There wasn't a Kujou family to be the head of anymore. Just a mansion and the son who hadn't died, though Mary had sure tried.

And it was looking like the Kujou family would die with him in the end.

"Years, probably. I'm still piecing together the life I had," Yashiki said.

The years that Mary took from him. Not just from the curse, but from the coma he'd been in as well. And the years he'd been searching for some way to purify the Nejibutsu and keep Mary from harming anyone.

And Saya, who Mary had taken as well, via Hanahiko. A case not even Saya could solve.

"I thought so. I can see impending burn out. Take out that stress on me."

"On you?" Yashiki's brow furrowed as he tried to interpret that.

"Do I have to be even more blunt? Fuck me senseless, Yashiki. We'll both feel better after we get this out of our systems. Then everything can go back to being normal. As normal as it would be for someone in our lines of work, at least," Mashita said.

The phone was left downstairs. Yashiki followed him up to the guest bedroom.

"I should've just come downstairs naked," Mashita muttered. He loosened his tie. "Not sure why I even bothered getting dressed."

Then, their pants were Pants off, left in a mess on the floor. Buttons off (between desperate kisses that almost made them trip) Mashita pushed him back on the bed and crawled up in a way so seductive, Yashiki was shocked by just how aroused he was, even after he'd just came.

He was too old for this. And yet, here he was.

Mashita ran his hands up Yashiki's thigh.

"Don't hurt yourself, old man," Mashita said.

Yashiki groaned. "I'll live. Probably."

"You're not that old to have to worry about death by sex. Yet, anyways," Mashita said.

Mashita eyes were filled with a kind of amusement. He certainly had the body of someone who used to be in law enforcement. Several scars that looked like bullet holes were in his chest. His knuckles had scars from past fights. Though knowing Mashita, he wasn't sure if that was before he became a cop or not.

His body was slim, but still quite toned. Though an old injury limited his mobility. He'd mentioned it once

Mashita climbed up to straddle his hips. His ass ground back against Yashiki's erection. He rested his palms on Yashiki's chest.

"Not so bad for an old man. I thought you had a nice body underneath those drifter's clothes."

Mashita leaned in to lick down his chest. At Yashiki's stomach, he flickered his eyes back up to Yashiki. His voice was surprisingly tender. Something he wouldn't expect from Mashita.

"You're worth the wait. Worth the curses. Worth it all. Can't wait to ride you."

"Where do you keep your condoms, Yashiki?"

Condoms, condoms. He had plenty of books in the house. Plenty of old artifacts, but not a single condom.

"Oh, you think to grab a random broken umbrella, but no condoms? Tsk, tsk, Yashiki. You'll have to do better. Good thing that I always keep a condom ready, just in case. But when this whole thing finished up? I got some in bulk. A whole box. Wonder how long it'll take us to get through that."

His voice was so smug, so arch. And it turned Yashiki on so much.

"Let me put it on," Mashita said.

He shifted off of Yashiki, only to rifle around in his clothes, and pull out the condom. Mashita ripped the foil packet with his mouth and held it there for a moment as he crawled on the bed towards him. Yashiki couldn't take his eyes off him. And Mashita knew it. Mashita gripped to base, and began to slowly, agonizingly slowly, roll the condom down.

It was lubricated condom, which meant Yashiki didn't have to go searching in the kitchen for lube, either. Mashita would probably have some choice words if they ended up fucking using baking oil.

"You're mine, tonight, Yashiki. No more waiting," Mashita said.

Mashita dropped his hips His lips were parted, his eyes closed in sheer pleasure as he took Yashiki's cock as deep as he could manage.

The first thrust was so tight, so perfect. He clutched Mashita's hips hard and pushed into him.

"Hhh....fuck....right there."

"Deeper, Yashiki. Fuck me deeper."

Each thrust hit perfect. Mashita's nails dug into his back as Yashiki took him deeper and deeper. After so much waiting, it was clawing, desperate, bleed on the sheets from scratches sex.

Sex they were probably too old for, and would regret, but not quite as bad as a hangover. But, it hardly mattered. He'd look at each scratch and smile at the memories when this was over.

At the apex, just when the thrusting hit so good, and it felt so perfect, Yashiki stopped.

"What's wrong? You're staring. Did I fuck so good I broke your mind? Or are you planning to propose on the spot because of how good I give head.?"

"I'm just thinking...I don't want to forget this. So I'm trying to focus, as if I could make it a memory I never lose," Yashiki said.

"You're a sap. You're just lucky that I like that about you. Getting all emotional about a fuck like this."

He leaned in to kiss him. Kissing Mashita was like remembering a part of himself all over again. Yes, he had this very human desire to fuck, and kiss, and love other men.

It'd been something put aside for many years. Another symptom of Mary, yes, but being Kujou family head hadn't left much room for a love life. Let alone one which wouldn't produce any children.

"Now, stop being a fucking sap and let me fucking come, or I'll never forgive you," Mashita said.

They laid back in the tangled sheets after. Mashita smoked and Yashiki just remembered every moment. The way Mashita's skin smelled after sex. The way they fit together, so warm and perfect. How the light fell on his face. Everything. Until even Mary couldn't take this away.

*

The one time thing that was supposed to be just getting it out of their systems turned into a week, then two. He was damned lucky the kids were busy in school, or they might've desperately checked in on him.

And that would've been awkward. He and Mashita had barely been dressed in weeks. The fridge was getting empty. The house was dusty. And it didn't matter because they rarely made it far. A trip to the kitchen, a shower and they'd collapse back in bed.

Mashita might be listed as a missing person by now for all he knew. Because they were lost to the world out here at the Kujou mansion.

It was decadent, gorging on the love he'd denied himself for so long. He was exhausted and sore, but he kept on crawling back into bed for another fuck. Maybe Yashiki had forgotten what it even felt like to feel good. The time in Mary's grasp had milked him for all the fear, stress, worry and despair she could get out of him. He probably hadn't had a good day in years.

He was memorizing Mashita, bit by bit. Mashita was cranky before he had his coffee. Mashita was rude, but to Yashiki his rudeness became almost playful, even flirting. Mashita was seductive in ways he had never even thought possible. He could get Yashiki into bed in almost record time just with a faint shift in the tone of his voice, and his bedroom eyes.

Yashiki was sure it was some kind of triumph on Mashita's part, though Yashiki thought himself no prize. Just the sad old heir of a dead and cursed family. For some reason, Mashita was fine with his ghosts and curses.

"You're finally relaxing a little," Mashita noted.

Mashita figured him out so well. Better than Yashiki even figured out himself.

"Hard to be wound up when we're like this," Yashiki said.

"Don't get too relaxed. The honeymoon's got to end someday. And we're out of condoms and almost completely out of food. Might as well end it unless you want to try and make a meal out of coffee filters and soy sauce," Mashita said.

Even though he knew Mashita was being sarcastic, the mention of honeymoon made his heart beat faster.

"Listen..." Yashiki said.

Mashita's eyes were hooded as Yashiki spoke.

"Does this have to be a one time thing?"

Instead of replying right away, Mashita lit up a cigarette. He held it in his hands between two fingers, and laughed ruefully.

"We went through a bulk box of condom, Yashiki. I doubt it's a one time thing. How many are we up to now? Twenty times over these past weeks? I'm surprised we haven't had to go to the doctor with injuries at this rate."

"I lost count," Yashiki said.

"Even as I said it, I knew you'd catch feelings. Fucking knew it. Just a couple weeks and you're begging me to stay. Guess my ass was just that good."

Mashita took a drag. The room smelled like cigarettes, and him. Yashiki didn't care of the sheets smelled like cigarettes and sex. It'd just remind him of Mashita. Maybe form a memory so strong that not even a spirit could take it from him.

"But, I knew I'd catch feelings too. Just something about you..." Mashita shook his head. "I keep coming back, no matter how dangerous. I'd risk anything to get back to you. And not just for a fuck, either. I might as well have been lying to myself, thinking it'd ever get back to normal after I got a taste of you. It's all your fault, you know. Making me feel like this."

Mashita gave him a cynical glance.

"I'm a real asshole, you know."

"I think I've figured that out by now," Yashiki said dryly.

"Even worse when you're spending a lot of time with me. You'll have to put up with this all the time. You really willing to deal with all that?"

Mashita never mentioned that he was perceptive, surprisingly caring and even almost gentle when Yashiki was hurt. How he could even protective, and an excellent partner in all things. And Yashiki knew if he highlighted Mashita's good points, Mashita would probably mock him, or tell him to shut up.

Or maybe, he'd tackle Yashiki and drag him back for another fuck.

"I can take it," Yashiki said.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Mashita said.

"All right, fine. I'm yours. Some jackpot you got, huh?"

"I feel pretty lucky," Yashiki said.

"You say that now, in the afterglow. Wait until you've seen me before I've had coffee," Mashita said.

Yashiki shifted enough so that he could pull Mashita close. He wouldn't take Mashita for a cuddler, but he let Yashiki draw him in nearer. He even rested his head against him.

"I've seen you before you had your coffee and hungover and almost dead from ghosts and I still want you," Yashiki said.

"You'll have to look for a new heir for the Kujou family, because I'm no good with kids and I sure am not giving you any," Mashita said.

Even though he'd driven home Tsukasa and Moe and made sure they got home safe. No way they could adopt, or get a surrogate when they couldn't even marry legally.

It'd be trouble if he ever got as injured as he did before, when he fell into a coma overseas. Legally, he couldn't list Mashita as spouse or family. But, Mashita would find him, surely. And probably all but beat down the door to reach him. Even if only to tell him what an utter dumbass he was for getting himself hurt again.

Then again, his life was too dangerous for a child. Maybe he could name another as the Kujoh heir. Suzu had real promise. She had so much spiritual power that she'd rivaled even Saya. Maybe one day, when she was older, she could be the next in line to make sure the people were safe from monsters, and keep watch if he couldn't destroy Mary completely in his lifetime.

Yashiki laughed ruefully. "Not much to inherit. Just a mansion, and a whole lot of curses. Maybe it's best to end with me."

"Yes, so you can let the monsters run around free? Come on, Yashiki. We'll have to train up somebody," Mashita said.

"Maybe," Yashiki said noncommittally.

*

Mashita was right.

He would've loved to hear that, if he'd been there.

Eventually, the vacation had to end. Mashita had one hell of a backlog of cases. Some he probably lost by swearing out the people who angrily asked why he hadn't returned any calls. And that was if he didn't just bluntly tell them what he had been doing to shock them into silence.

Yashiki wouldn't put it past him.

Mashita left. Yashiki did the grocery shopping, and started to clean the dust from the mansion again.

It felt far too empty without visitors, without Mashita.

Yashiki let out a sigh and took another sip of his drink. His sabbatical was technically still in effect, but here he was. Wishing for work, for ghosts, for Mashita.

*

A week, more. Not a call. Yashiki checked the machine every few minutes. He tried to brush it off. Maybe the whole thing had been a fling. Maybe Mashita was just busy. Maybe everything they'd said had been the post-coital heat of the moment things that some people regretted saying.

Flip a coin. Heads, he was busy. Tails, it was a fling and their friendship, or whatever the hell it was, would survive, if just barely.

He was too old to be this besotted and tangled up in someone else. Especially someone like Mashita. Yashiki sighed.

It was a rainy day. Yashiki watched it. A good day for trying to glean information, but he couldn't focus today. Couldn't focus on a damn thing.

Then, a knock. He would never unlearn the sense of dread of another mark bearer once he heard that knock. Perhaps it'd be with him until the end of his days.

Mashita swore as he pushed the door open. He had a plastic garbage bag over a box of files. The rain poured down, and lightning lit the skies. Yashiki quickly closed the door behind him, before the rain could soak the walls.

He'd rarely been so relieved, and he'd faced some of the worst ghosts and monsters.

"There's a fucking leak in my office. I paid premium rent for this, and I get this bullshit? The landlord isn't doing a damned thing. Fuck the asshole. I'm getting out of my lease as soon as possible."

"Sorry I didn't call. I got deep in a case, and lost track of time. When I get into cases."


"What, did you think I went and dumped you? Hardly," Mashita said.

Yashiki laughed, albeit weakly. Mashita had seen through him again.

"You could move your office in here. There's plenty of guest rooms," Yashiki said.

He didn't even think over the consequences of having Mashita around. Of all the noise and traffic. That by letting in Mashita, he'd be dragged into every case.

He just opened the door and let Mashita in. Into his life, his heart, his house.

Mashita gave him an arch smile.

"You'd have me moved in here in a few months, and probably begging to marry you before this was over."

"You're probably right," Yashiki said.

Mashita lit up a cigarette, and Yashiki took it.

"It's a bad habit to get started on."

Yashiki coughed, but smiled. "It tastes like kissing you."

Mashita smirked.

"My, my, that addicted to me already? What a sap. One with horrible taste, too," Mashita said.

Mashita took the cigarette back. "No take backs, you know." He took a long drag of the cigarette, and a breath. When he looked at Yashiki, he shook his head.

"There's just something about you. It brings me back," Mashita said. "Even if I have to fight death to keep you. And I've already done it too many damn times."

A smile between them, and Mashita came closer.

"Fine. I'll move my things in. For my office. I'm not moving in here yet. If we're still together in six months, I'll think about it. It's way too early. Even if it would save on gas, and be nice to be able to fuck you whenever."

"Besides, I'm dragging you into this business, one way or another. You're looking through this file with me."

Mashita was stubborn as ever.

"Still on that?" Yashiki said.

"We're good at this. And it's good to have a psychic hanging around in my line of work."

"What about Madame Yasuoka?"

"Ugh, that old bat. She's stubborn as hell. We can barely stand each other," Mashita said.

Which summed up a lot of people Mashita met. Hiroo couldn't stand being around him, either. Then again, neither would admit that was because they were both abrasive, blunt people who were too rude for their own good.
'
Yashiki had learned to manage both of them. (Though, if Hiroo made another pass at him when not affected by a spirit, he might have to give her a gentle I'm taken, and also only into men sort of talk.)

Mashita put the box on the kitchen table. Yashiki got some water started for coffee for them both.

"A famous reporter's son went missing," Mashita said.

"You're all business," Yashiki said, slightly teasing.

"This is a case for you," Mashita said.

Yashiki took a seat and glaned over the file.

Yashiki glanced at the file of Naomasa Ban. Naomasa was an older man, with glasses and an off-putting glare at the camera. There was some sort of glint in his dark eyes.

"It says here he's also a massive gambler. Could it be the yakuza?" Yashiki said.

"Look at the date there."

It would've been in the time frame of Mary's reign. A monster awoken by her, maybe. His son might've died a horrible death.

He was young, too. Far too young a life. Guilt filled him. This was his--Masamune's doing. Another casualty. Even if Mary had been finally put to rest for now, so many had died. And there still could be ghosts woken by her and turned into horrific monsters.

"I'll help," Yashiki said.

"Told you," Mashita said. "You were made for this. We're good together."

And Mashita didn't clarify whether he meant loving him, or working the case, or maybe both.

"I started this. I'll clean it up."

One day, if he got annoyed enough with his landlord, Mashita would drive in with boxes and move in completely. Until then, there was cases to solve. He'd had his vacation, and spent it mostly in bed and Mashita's arms.

Now it was time to get back to work.

Mashita leaned in for a kiss. And this was how it'd be for now on. Them at the kitchen table as the coffee brewed. Cases to be solved, kisses between it all.