A shrill beeping echoed through the air as morning stirred. Adachi groaned and blinked blearily at the clock. He grumbled and knocked it off before sitting up. He looked around but noticed he was alone. Shi was nowhere to be seen. He got up, pulling on his shirt and boxers before heading down the stairs. As he approached, he heard a sound. Like someone trying to tune a guitar. After a few heartbeats, he stepped into the room to see her sat with her back to him. He noticed two plates on the counter, twin breakfasts for them. But what caught his attention was when the guitar started playing. He watched as Shi began to strum a melody and words passed her lips.
"Stars shining bright above you. Night breezes seem to whisper I love you. Birds singing in the sycamore tree, dream a little dream of me." She sang softly, still unaware of him. He stepped forward, only for the floorboards to creak under his weight. The sound echoed through the house, startling them both. Shi jumped up, the guitar thudding against the ground as it fell. The two of them stared at each other briefly before Shi blushed and looked away.
"You should have let me know you were awake." She murmured as she picked up the guitar and put it in its place.
"Why didn't you tell me you could play? Or sing? It was beautiful." He said as he walked towards her.
"It never came up." She replied. She turned and moved to the counter. "Why talk about something that was never brought up?" She asked him. He opened his mouth then closed it. The way she spoke seemed mechanical, well rehearsed. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"Because I want to learn everything about you." He murmured into her ear. For a moment, the only sound was their breathing and their hearts. Then, his stomach growled. Shi snorted with laughter and handed him a plate.
"Well, I think your stomach has other ideas. But be quick. I have something I want us to do today." She said as she sat opposite him and began to eat. He opened his mouth to ask what it was, but instead she pushed a slice of toast into his mouth. "Eat." She said. So he did as he was told.
When they were finished and ready, Shi moved over to a cupboard at the end of the hall. She pulled out a pair of motorcycle helmets and a set of leathers. She also pulled out a jacket and pants. She held the jacket and pants up to him. "These should fit you." She murmured softly before handing them to him. She disappeared into the garage after giving him them. As he pulled them on, he heard the garage open and a engine rev. He headed outside, using her keys to lock the house and saw her sitting on a motorbike.
The intimidating looking machine revved beneath her, it's engine growling like a feral beast. She patted the seat behind her, indicating for him to climb on. Quite a feat, considering the leathers she wore looked bulky and uncomfortable. He sat behind her, feeling the machine vibrate beneath them.
"Kawasaki Ninja HR2." She called through her helmet. "And, I am licenced to have passengers ride with me." She added. "Hold on." He barely had time to register the final phrase before she had kicked the kick-stand back and they set off. His arms immediately wrapped around her as they tilted to turn the corner, their knees mere millimetres above the ground. The machine beneath them growled as they moved through the streets, weaving around cars. His instincts screamed at him to tell her to slow down. Yet, as he felt the wind whip past them, he felt himself enjoying it more. Until they reached a more open stretch of road.
He felt the machine growl before it increased its power, causing him to press closer and hold her tighter. The bike roared as it sped down the road, each bend making him think they were gonna fall off. But they didn't. Instead, she kept control right until they stopped outside Okina city station. He pulled off the helmet as she switched off the engine and removed her own helmet. He climbed off the bike, watching as she slipped off, unzipping the top of the leathers she wore slightly to unveil the vest.
"So, I just wanna pick a couple of things up from the store here then we can head back. Ok?" She asked him. He nodded, fighting to keep his eyes on her face and not on the leathers hugging her frame. She smiled and turned, picking up a back pack from under the pillion. She led him along the street, turning into a clothes store. She walked over to the till, attracting the attention of the attendant.
"Oh, are you here for a order?" The attendant asked. Shi nodded. The attendant smiled, heading into the back of the store. As they waited, Adachi heard voices.
"That's her isn't it?" One teenage girl said.
"Yeah. My cousin told me what she looks like. Tawakemono Shi is the only person I know with Black and white streaked hair. Do you think it's true?" Her friend said.
"That she is the one doing it? Probably. I mean, just look at her. She screams freak." Adachi saw Shi hunch in on herself slightly. He took her hand, squeezing it gently. He saw her eyes flick to him, a smile on her lips. She stood up straight and turned around.
"Could I help you ladies?" She asked, startling the girls. "Because I have heard you talking about me now for the past five minutes. I don't know why you have decided to gossip about me but a word of advice. Never gossip about someone when they are in the same area." She explained with a smile.
"Here you are Tawakemono-sensei." The attendant said as she placed the parcel on the till. Shi turned and picked it up, placing it in her back pack. She headed out of the shop with Adachi, the gossiping girls left dumbstruck. As the door closed behind them, Shi let out a laugh.
"Phew, I thought I was gonna end up laughing or apologising to those girls." She shook her head before looking at him, kissing his cheek. "Thanks for supporting me. Guess we should be heading back home." He nodded, walking alongside her towards her bike. She paused as she saw three shapes crowded around it.
"This is awesome! Look at it Yu, this is the type of bike I want. The guy riding this must have girls hanging off him." Shi sighed as she heard Yosuke speaking.
"That would be the case, if the owner was a man." Shi said, one hand on her hip. The three students spun around to face her, surprise evident on their faces.
"This is your bike Tawakemono-sensei?" Kanji asked.
"Yes. That is my bike. Now, would you kindly step back from it? I need to move it so that we can head home." She said. She moved, lifting the pillion seat to place her bag under it. As she went to sit astride the bike, Yosuke approached.
"Tawakemono-sensei, could I just get a picture of me sitting on it?" He begged.
"No. You have no idea how to behave around it." She replied, sitting on the bike and switching it on as Adachi sat behind her. "Besides, you would probably do yourself an injury climbing onto it." She added before pulling her helmet on. She set off again, leaving them behind as she headed back to her home. She pulled up outside, pausing as she felt Adachi squeeze her waist gently. She removed her keys and her helmet, turning to look at him. Her eyes widened as his lips met hers. She was still not used to this, her eyes slowly closing as he deepened their kiss. The moment was disturbed by someone clearing their throat.
"So this is why you haven't been answering my calls." an older woman said as she looked at Shi. Her grey hair was pulled back in a tight bun, the lines on her face making it look harsher. Her eyes were narrow and cold and directed at Shi.
"Obaa-san." Shi murmured. "What do you want?" Adachi glanced at Shi then back at the woman.
"Well, I was coming to see why you hadn't been responding to my calls and here I find you….distracted by a man." She said. "If he can even be called that. Aren't you going to introduce me?"
"Adachi, this is my grandmother. Mei Takahashi. Obaasan this is Tohru Adachi. My boyfriend." Shi introduced them. Adachi couldn't help the warm feeling he got at the phrase.
"Hmm….doesn't look like much. Though, your mother didn't either when your father originally introduced us to him. I guess like father like daughter. So, why won't you talk to me?" She asked.
"Because all you want is gossip. I cannot tell you anything about this case." Shi said firmly.
"As I thought. You don't care about your family." Mei said. Shi stiffened, about to open her mouth when Adachi spoke.
"Don't you dare insinuate that she doesn't care. She is working herself to exhaustion to solve this case!" He snapped. "Every moment is spent searching for a resolution. And people like you are just making it worse. So I would suggest you leave her alone."
"Or what?" Mei asked, glaring at Adachi. He smirked in response.
"Or I will arrest you for harassment. I have heard the calls on her voicemail. I know what you have said." He replied.
"You can't. You don't have the power to…."
"Did I mention my boyfriend is a detective Obaasan?" Shi interrupted, making Mei freeze. "So….he does." Mei looked at each of them before huffing and leaving. As she turned the corner, Shi got off the bike, kissing Adachi's cheek. "Thank you." She said as she led him back into her home.
"That's what I should do as your boyfriend." He said, grinning at the word. She smiled at him.
"Then, let me reward my boyfriend." She murmured as she shut her door.
Several hours later, as she lay beside him, his arm around her waist and their sweat cooling in the night air, her phone began to ring. He grumbled, pulling her close as she leant over to answer it.
"Tawakemono." She said, trying not to laugh as he kissed her neck.
"Tawakemono sensei! We…..we need you at a crime scene. We…." She sat up as they said the words she never wanted to hear. "We have another victim."