Evil Within
Death Note © Tsugumi Ohba & Takeshi Obata
"This is not right," Teru mutters when Matt breaks the kiss. "Seriously, Matt-kun, I'm eight years older than you."
"Well, and I'm eight times more experienced," Matt laughs. "God, Mikami-san, you're so cute, where have you been all my life?"
This is a blatant, shameless lie: Teru Mikami is Matt's third partner – second if you don't count Matt's right hand – because Matt just doesn't go out often enough to meet people, while Teru does have something to be proud of – that is, if casual sex can be considered an accomplishment – but Teru is a prude who doesn't mention his physical experiences to anyone and acts like a celibate hermit, pretty much, so Matt decides that his new friend's personal life can't be too impressive. But he is fun to be with, oh, he definitely is, and Matt can always pretend that he is the boss here since he knows how it goes in the most scandalous video games. "Wanna smoke?" Matt nudges him teasingly when they make a pause. Teru cringes. "Not in my room, please… use the balcony."
"Aw, you're so… straight-edge," Matt replies with a wide grin. "Fine, wait a sec then."
Midnight Kyoto looks gorgeous from this height. Matt takes a deep drag on his cigarette and sighs. Teru may seem like a typical Japanese workaholic, but there is something elusively odd about him, as if he is hiding a swarm of vengeful spirits behind that cool, proper façade. Even his appearance is vaguely strange for a truly normal guy: long hair, pale skin, slightly sunken eyes… "Incidentally, Mikami-san," Matt points out, "you remind me of that dead chick from the Ring movie. You remember. The one from the well."
Teru rolls his eyes. "Nice. No, actually, I don't, I'm not interested in horror films. Listen… Matt-kun, I have work tomorrow. Let's sleep."
"Okay," Matt nods and nestles up by his side. "Hey, I'm not being mean or anything. She was rather beautiful back when she was, well, alive."
"Who?" Teru murmurs lazily.
"The dead girl," Matt answers. "I mean, you're awesome, just a wee bit creepy."
"Because I… play around with random foreign boys from computer stores?" Teru asks: his voice sounds sincerely sad. Matt ruffles his hair. "No, silly. I simply don't get you sometimes. And you love order way too freakin' much," he adds with a chuckle. "Honestly. 'Tis all good as long as you don't stab me with a knife and hide me in the basement."
"Forgive me, but that's not funny at all," Teru declares and turns away. Matt yawns, wraps his arms around Teru's waist and falls asleep in five minutes; his very last thought is yeah, of course, that's what serial killers say to their victims. Maybe he will crack this Pandora's box next time; maybe they will part ways like it usually happens in the movies; maybe he won't wake up again; no matter what, Matt has no regrets.