Shining Light

Chapter 4

“The leader is running late,” Isshiki informed him as he sat down at the table. Akira let out a soft sigh of relief. It had been one of those days where it was a struggle to get out of work on time for the meeting. Even as the police’s official representative to Orange, they always found something they needed him to do last minute.

Though today it had been his own fault. His paperwork hadn’t been in order in weeks. He kept making stupid mistakes.

His mind was just somewhere else these days.

“Isshiki, you previously mentioned a specific quirk among kaijus.”
“Oh?” Isshiki hummed, his long nails clinking on his glass as he picked it up.

Akira couldn’t take his eyes off him more often than not. Even after all this time, he couldn’t work him out. He’d end up staring at him during meetings with his mind ticking over, wondering what the right questions were to ask. Then he’d be reminded why he didn’t ask Isshiki any of them. Isshiki’s personal matters weren’t his concern for the time being.

“You mentioned that two kaiju could have a child together regardless of gender.”
“Yes,” Isshiki replied taking a sip of his water.
“What about a human and a kaiju?”

Isshiki put down his glass and stared at him, furrowing his brow.

“If a human and a kaiju had sex, the human would become a kaiju.”
“Ah, right,” Akira mumbled.

But Shou-chan’s boyfriend wasn’t a kaiju.

“It wouldn’t be impossible for one of them to get pregnant on that occasion, probably. They’d both be kaiju by the end anyway.”

Had they been lying about that side of their relationship after all?

Akira relaxed. They might be dating, but there was no way that girl was theirs. Next time he saw Shou-chan he could ask him and find out the truth of what was going on.

Shou-chan was at home. It was unlikely he’d be leaving before the meeting was over. It would probably be too forward to go straight over to his house, but he could easily orchestrate another run in.

“Berg, are you feeling alright? Your face is pale,” their leader's voice carried throughout the room, reverb-less and almost monotone except for the distinct sound of his smile.

Akira looked, and sure enough, Isshiki had gone completely pale and was staring at his glass, the water shaking under the pressure from his hands. The leader walked out the darkness and placed a hand on his shoulder. Isshiki went rigid despite the leaders attempt at reassurance.

“I just remembered something I need to do after the meeting is all,” Isshiki said with a forced laugh.
“Is that so,” the leader said and let go of his shoulder. He near glided over to his chair at the end of the table.

“Leader,” Isshiki spoke up again before the leader to sit down, his voice shaking. “Would it be possible for a kaiju to get a human pregnant at the same time as passing on the kaiju?”

The leader held the back of his chair, looking at him, smile fading. The void of his eye stared down the table at them.
“Yes. They can.”

Isshiki took a sip of his water and nodded.

Well, it wasn’t like any of them were casually turning people into kaiju. Akira wasn’t interested in turning anyone into a kaiju, nevermind getting anyone pregnant.

Then again, if him and Shou-chan were to, and Shou-chan were to get pregnant. It would only be right that he took responsibility. Things with Sakura had been messy enough, there was no way that boyfriend of his was prepared for taking care of a child.

It was best that Shou-chan and him break up soon before things get messy. Akira would have no problem getting a restraining order if it was necessary, but thugs like that weren’t beyond getting nasty. Not to mention their lack of respect for the law. He’d have to see about other provinces in need of inspectors.

“Akira,” the leader cut off his thoughts, reminding him of his place. “Is there a reason for the sudden interest in children? I believe you already have a child?”
“Ah, yes. But he was born before I became a kaiju,” Akira explained. “I happened to reconcile with someone important to me - a fellow kaiju - and the topic came up.”
“Trouble in paradise,” Burai scoffed, taking a sip of his scotch. Akira never knew why he was allowed to drink during what were supposed to be serious meetings. Or what made him think he had the right to speak on matters concerning Akira and his wife. He’d never met Kiyoko and had no right to pass judgement on what was a perfectly happy marriage.

“A fellow kaiju?” the leader asked.
“Yes, he’s been a kaiju since we were children. He was the reason I became a kaiju.”
“Ah, a childhood love.” Isshiki’s face seemed to soften a little, making Akira’s heart thud. Even for all he couldn’t understand about Isshiki, he was a romantic person. He seemed to enjoy hearing about tales of young love, no matter how the story ended.

Akira stood up, patting his papers into order and brought the proposals for this meeting to the front.
“I would like permission to bring him to Orange. I believe he’ll be a great asset to the cause.”
“So, we’ll be meeting the mistress but not the wife,” Burai smirked.
“I have no objections,” Isshiki commented, raising his hand in a loose motion.

“We’re always open to new members. However, if you wish for him to access the higher levels, we’ll need a record of who he is and what he’s seen. We wouldn’t want anything getting to the press that shouldn’t,” the leader said.
“Shoutarou Kagome.”

The leader smiled.

“I’ll see that everything is arranged. Let us know when, and we’ll have everything cleaned up ready for the tour. You can even show him our special project.”

Akira’s heart hammered in his chest.

“Th-thank you! I will confirm a date with him as soon as possible.”
“Of course, we’ll make sure it’s a memorable date,” the leader said and moved on before Akira could correct him. “May we go over the minutes from the previous meeting?”