Eros. (Benimaru Shinmon)

七十五

There was a weight in Benimaru's words, a promise that felt genuine and sincere. I nodded slowly, absorbing the gravity of the situation, but the unease surrounding Burns lingered like a dark cloud. My instincts told me something wasn't right. But first, I had to ensure Akira and Ichi were safe. After that, I would dive deeper into the labyrinth of the temple's secrets. There was no turning back now.

As Burns continued speaking with Joker, it became increasingly difficult to believe his account. There was an underlying tension in his words, something off-kilter that didn't sit well with me. I knew I couldn't trust him entirely. The Holy Sol Temple's facade was pristine, but beneath the surface, I could sense the rot. I made a mental note to discuss this with Ichijiro and Akira as soon as possible.

"I can sweep today's little incident under the rug," Burns remarked casually, his arms still tucked under his jacket as Joker took the tattered blue notebook and slipped it into his vest pocket.

"Thank you," Joker muttered, his tone almost dismissive, though his eyes gleamed with curiosity.

Burns then turned his gaze to Benimaru. "I've heard stories about the 7th Captain Shinmon, but you're tougher than they say."

Benimaru raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "Not sure what exactly you mean by that, but that's a compliment where I'm from."

Burns nodded, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Luckily, you pulled your punches to some degree, so there's only minimal damage. As for you, Inori, we can chalk this up to a typical training session—an exercise to ensure that the Sol Shadows and you can work together on future missions. There were some fatalities, but those were just weeding out the weak who couldn't ensure the temple's safety."

I fixed Burns with a cold, unyielding stare as I replied, "I don't care."Burns snorted, seemingly unfazed by my indifference. "I can keep this under wraps," he said, his tone measured but with an undercurrent of authority.

He then turned to the three of us—Joker, Benimaru, and me. "Tell me, what's your next move?"

I tsked, my skepticism growing by the second. There was something off about Burns—his tone, the way his gaze lingered on Joker as if he were trying to coax something out of him, perhaps leveraging their past as mentor and mentee.

"The truth, much like the eye you lost, remains in the dark," Burns continued, his voice tinged with a faint mockery. "And Inori, you'll need to go to the hospital to make sure your teammates are taken care of."I glared at him, my patience thinning, as Joker quipped, "Well, it's good that I can see the truth with only one eye." He flicked his cigarette and began to walk away. "Let's go, Mr. and Mrs. Almighty. There's still a whole lot I want to investigate."

"I'm out," I said, raising my hand in dismissal. "My team comes first," Burns called after us, his voice taunting. "Sounds like you know where you'll train that eye next."

Joker didn't break stride as he responded, "Next, yeah. And without Inori, it can still be done—Haijima Industries."

I looked puzzled, trying to piece together Joker's implication."Since they worked hand in hand with the Holy Sol Temple to build Amaterasu, I've got a hunch they're linked to the Evangelist," Joker continued, his tone laced with intrigue.

Benimaru, adjusting Akira's position on his back to ensure he was securely held, added, "You might find clues to Raffles the 1st's true identity."

Burns, still standing with an air of quiet authority, said, "But Haijima is a massive company—they have facilities spread out all over the Tokyo Empire. How will you know where to look first?"

Joker shrugged nonchalantly. "I guess I'll just hit them up one at a time."

Benimaru, adjusting Akira's position again, placed a free hand on his chin, deep in thought. "Haijima, huh? They make the medicine that Lieutenant Konro needs. I can't cause trouble there."

Joker's eyes widened in shock, his lit cigarette nearly falling from his mouth. "You... uh... You didn't think that today's little excursion might make them cut off his supply, given their ties with the Temple?"Benimaru, in his typically aloof manner, simply replied, "Never crossed my mind."

I sighed, both exasperated and amused by the man I loved. His nonchalance was infuriating and endearing all at once. "I can handle that issue," I said, stepping forward. "But in exchange, Joker, you'll check out Haijima since you're already rogue."

Burns, observing the exchange with a keen eye, added, "It seems you're interested in this as well, Inori. You know our positions constrain us—at least regarding any action against Haijima."

I shot him a sharp look. "Speak for yourself, Burns. I simply don't want to get my hands dirty."

Burns nodded, a shadow of a smirk tugging at his lips, but beneath his calm exterior, I sensed a tension, a crack in his composed facade. Something was still off, and I knew that whatever lay ahead, the truth would be far more complex and dangerous than any of us could predict. The path forward was shrouded in darkness, but I was determined to uncover the secrets buried deep within the Holy Sol Temple—no matter the cost.

Benimaru's gaze lingered on me, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he looked down with an expression of growing interest. There was something about the way he studied me as if trying to decipher a puzzle that had eluded him until now. The weight of his attention made the air between us hum with a quiet intensity.

"Where to?" he finally asked, his voice low and calm, though I could sense the curiosity beneath it.

I met his gaze evenly, unflinching. "We can go to Asakusa," I replied, my tone matter-of-fact. "You're technically in the doghouse, so you are not allow at my place per my teammates request. Therefore, I'll be at the Special Fire Guardhouse 7, taking care of my teammates."

For a moment, there was silence, and then Benimaru's lips curled into a chuckle, the sound deep and rumbling. "The doghouse, huh?" he echoed, clearly amused by my choice of words. He didn't seem bothered by it, though; if anything, it appeared to entertain him. With a casual shrug, Benimaru turned on his heel, heading back towards his matoi, the traditional firefighter banner he carried with him. The night air was cool as he approached it, his movements fluid and confident. He began preparing it to light, his focus now on the task at hand, but he didn't leave without a parting remark.

"I'll comply," he said, glancing back at me with a sly smile playing on his lips, "if it means winning your hand in marriage. And I'll be staying at the Special Fire Guardhouse 7 during your stay."

"You have an entire house that you could stay at," I pointed out, thinking of the house that had once been my home when I lived in Asakusa.

"It's lonesome," Benimaru replied simply, his tone softening as the playful edge in his voice faded.

His words were bold, delivered with a mixture of seriousness and playfulness that was entirely Benimaru. It was impossible not to react. I rolled my eyes at his audacity, but despite myself, I felt the corners of my lips twitch into a small smile. There was something infuriatingly charming about his persistence, about the way he could balance such levity with sincerity. As he ignited the matoi, the flames crackling to life and casting a warm glow across his features, I couldn't help but feel a sense of inevitability about it all. Benimaru wasn't one to back down, and I knew that, for better or worse, he would follow through on his promise. The road ahead might be complicated, but at that moment, with the firelight dancing in his eyes and a smile tugging at my lips, I found a small measure of comfort in the fact that we'd be facing it together.