CHAPTER ONE

"Five years ago, on October 31, 2004, Arata Misu, twenty-five years old, was convicted for the murder of his boyfriend, Kanemitsu Shingyouji, aged twenty-four. He pleaded guilty and was spared from the electric chair."

"Life?" Stillman asked from the place where he was standing, a few steps from Lilly who was reopening Shingyouji's case box. She examined the picture of the young men, with Misu's arm circling Shingyouji's form stiffly. Shingyouji was beaming and smiling widely at the camera and Lilly wondered why someone wanted to hurt such a sweet boy.

"Yes. Possibility of a parole is in twenty-five years."

"How did Misu get involved?"

"There were witnesses who saw Misu's car, 2003 white Chevy Impala, driving into the forest." Lilly showed her boss the picture of the car. "The forest ranger also said he heard Shingyouji calling Misu's name, but thought it was just a prank played by camping teenagers. Misu himself didn't have any alibi to back himself up. He confessed so quickly no further investigation was made."

Stillman picked the couple photo. "Looks like a nice kid," he commented. "Wonder why he ended up with such a grump."

Lilly smiled thinly. Misu indeed looked sour at the picture. "They met in Shidou Academy, a high school in Fukushima, before coming here to be independent in their studies. Both came here when Shingyouji turned eighteen. They just got their US citizenship a few months before Shingyouji died. Misu was in med school, doctor-to-be, while Shingyouji was in the nursing one nearby. That was all Misu told in the interrogation."

"What about their relationship?"

"Nothing. He didn't even say that they were boyfriends, aside from the fact that they lived together since they came here. As these notes say, 'Arata Misu is a cold, detached man, with little feelings towards the victim, when it was obvious that Kanemitsu Shingyouji was quite infatuated with him'."

"And this Minoiwa guy?"

The female detective shrugged at her boss. "Not much is known about Reiji Minoiwa. Same age as Misu. Had a degree in Hospital Administration. Straight-A student, class president, with interest in violin and tennis. Mom died giving birth to him. And his dad… Akihiko owns the hospital he worked at. Unlike Misu and Shingyouji, he was born and raised in Philly. No crime records."

Stillman picked Reiji's picture this time, the one given by Akaike before he left. He looked like a nice kid, even though not as sweet and naïve looking as Shingyouji. He returned it to Lilly before saying, "Well, I think we should pay a certain someone a visit."

"I'm with you, Boss."

The prison, as usual, was cold and grey. Even as police officers, both Lilly and her partner Detective Scotty Valens never liked the image of it. After speaking to the receptionist, they were taken into a small room where they could talk.

Not long after, an officer brought in the infamous Arata Misu, dressed in the bright orange jumpsuit for the convict. His hair was brown and cut short, just like in the mugshot of his five years ago. He looked around suspiciously, as if someone was going to attack him. He sat down calmly on the seat before the two detectives, his piercing eyes turned back and forth at them. It reminded Lilly a bit to Akaike, who looked like he belonged there.

"Misu," Scotty called. "Do you know Reiji Minoiwa?"

Surprise flashed in his expression, but Misu quickly composed himself. It was obvious that he didn't expect that question. "Why do you ask?"

"He died last week, do you know that?"

"Yes. Saw it on the paper in the dining room." He sighed. "I couldn't believe he's dead."

"Were you two close?"

Misu shrugged slightly.

"How about your boyfriend? Was he close to Minoiwa?"

Another shrug. He looked detached, as if he weren't the one answering those questions. "I think so. Shingyouji was interning in the hospital Minoiwa's dad owns. It was also through him that I could get myself in there. He was someone who always wanted to take care of things."

"Including you."

Misu looked up at Lilly who had said that. He quickly looked away, his eyes darted at the grey wall on his right. "Yes." It was no more than a whisper.

Scotty had enough. He leaned on the metal table and glared at the convict as near as he could. His eyes forced Misu to look back at him, his eyes equally icy. "Then why did you kill him, you bastard?" the male detective hissed before Lilly could stop him.

Misu's eyes narrowed. "I have my reasons," he said darkly. He leaned back to get himself as far from Scotty as possible.

Lilly patted her partner's back, stopping the banter before it could escalate. "Have you ever noticed anything weird between those two?"

The convict thought about it for a while. "Now that you asked about it… there was something on the first day I met Reiji. It was a week before I got my internship."

(Song: 'City of the Damned' by Green Day)

"Do you think I can get in here?" Misu didn't want to say it, but the hospital was huge and popular that he wasn't sure that he could be accepted. The question itself was a slip on his tongue; he never wanted Shingyouji to know he was worried. That pet would never stop pestering him if he did.

Shingyouji grinned at his boyfriend. "Of course you can, Arata-san! I've got here, remember? I know you will. Then we can work together. I can imagine how fun it'll be."

"Silly pet," Misu muttered. Shingyouji heard it and the grin widened. "Now, where's that friend of yours?"

"Minoiwa-san will be here in a minute," Shingyouji said patiently. "I think you'll like him, Arata-san! He's nice, and I bet he'll help you get in here for real once you graduate. This time you can help out in an internship program, just like what I'm doing. Showing you the ropes and such."

Misu shrugged. They continued to wait until a young man walked into the meeting room, where they were asked to wait. Shingyouji stood and urged his boyfriend to rise to his feet. "Arata-san, this is Minoiwa-san. Minoiwa-san, this is Arata Misu."

Minoiwa's given name was Reiji and he was the son of the hospital's owner. Misu didn't miss the way his eyes lingered on him as he introduced himself. He shook hands with Misu and asked him a few questions about his studies, grades, and plans of specialization. Misu explained that he was going to specialize in cardiovascular, which made Shingyouji beam with pride next to him.

"Interesting," Minoiwa said after Misu finished his explanation. Something Misu couldn't decipher flashed in his eyes. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks, Minoiwa-san!" Shingyouji cheered, bowing repeatedly. If possible, the grin widened even more.

Minoiwa turned to him. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Misu shrugged and walked out. Outside the door, he could still hear their voices. Minoiwa's stood out the most.

"No, no! You owe me, Shingyouji-kun! Remember that!"

He sounded… angry, and it bothered Misu so much even though he didn't want to admit it.

"What did he mean by that? Shingyouji owing something to Minoiwa?"

"I don't know." Misu shrugged. "I'll never know."

"You didn't even ask?"

"No. I thought it was something at work. We never really talked about it."

After exchanging glances, Lilly and Scotty stood. "Thanks for your time, Misu," Lilly said, rather coldly. They were heading towards the door when Misu called them.

"What's going on here?" he demanded. "Why did you just barge in and ask me questions? I killed Shingyouji, okay? I beat him up and left him there. So, can you just leave me be?"

Neither detective answered him.

A/N: Shingyouji as a nurse is a reference to my DaiMao fic A Proper Painting. I just can't imagine him having another job when he's an adult. Misu's hair in present time is like the one in Pure, and the flashbacks had him with Bibou's (and Ano Hareta's) hairstyle. Thanks, BabaRyo, for having various hairstyles in a single character XD

Hope you enjoyed it so far!