Cage of bones

6.

Tobirama

"Chief? Chief."

I sighed, then turned back to the room. The carpet underneath the round table was so thick, it absorbed much of the sound, creating the illusion of a cramped space. Yet the room was spacious, lush, all purples and petrols and mahogany and designer lamps.

The meeting room of the police force.

"This is the first time someone who is slightly famous disappears", I said, going to the board where we'd hung photos and information. "Martin Hallendale. Ballerina in the city ballet company." The boy Izuna had danced with. Who had left us alone when he saw us flirting. "Did not show up for training three. Last seen at training four days ago. No trace."

"It's sick how only a few weeks ago, something like this would have drawn a big search party", an officer said. "Young man like him. Handsome. Successful. But now..."

"People in the city know it's fruitless", someone else said.

"There's one connection between him and another one who disappeared, however", I said. "First noticed by Oliver, another of the missing people, Marcus, attended a party a few months ago at the Skytop Bar. Martin was at the same party."

"Did you search the guest list?" an officer asked .

"No." I sighed, closed my eyes, prepared myself for what I had to say. "I was at the same party and I recognise him from it."

A whirl went through our colleagues.

"Did you notice anything suspicious?" one of the officers asked.

"Nothing", I said.

"And the other missing people? We're they at the party?"

"No", Oliver said. "I searched the guest list."

"That's all for now", I said. "It's a tiny connection, but it's the only thing we have. We have the guest list. Try to find any connection between any of the guests and the missing people. Dismissed."

The thick carpet prevented any sound from scraping chairs as my officers stood up to work.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Sir?"

It was Oliver.

"Not now, Oliver", I said, ashamed at how irritated how was but not ashamed enough to do anything about it.

"There's someone here to see you."

"I can't just now."

That wasn't strictly true. I could. I just didn't want to. I was just so tired. So fucking tired.

"It's about the case", Oliver said and I suddenly realised that some of his habitual nervousness was gone. He seemed to stand taller, more confident, more sure of himself and his place in my team. It was hot. "He asked me to tell you his name is Izuna Uchiha."

I jerked. It had been months. I hadn't forgotten him. I just hadn't had the mental headspace to do something about my longing; about how my body ached for him. I then remembered the phone call with Hashirama I'd had with Oliver in the room, when Oliver had overheard Hashirama ask if I had fucked Izuna, and I realised Oliver knew I Oliver knew exactly with whom we were dealing with here. As Oliver left to let him in, it made me feel all sorts of things. 

Izuna stepped in and Oliver closed the door as he left, leaving me and Izuna alone. He was beautiful as ever, even if I saw he had been crying. He wore a thick, grey cardigan with his hair in a messy knot. His black trousers showed off his sculpted thighs splendidly.