Page 78 of Secrets & Sake

“Anywhere!” He jumps into the car and starts the engine.

I’ve barely buckled in before he drives from the house. The scenery blurs around us as Raiden drives, knuckles white upon the wheel.

“I knew something was wrong!” Raiden slams his fist down on the wheel. “I… I’ve been having these flashbacks. They surface sometimes. The night Namikawa punished me, I suddenly woke up in my home. My hands covered in blood. I couldn’t remember how I got there, just that I’d been hunting something. Someone.”

I feel sick. Just when I was convinced he wasn’t responsible, it turns out I was wrong.

Beside me, Raiden’s breath comes quicker, and he tangles his shaking hand in his hair. I’ve never seen him this unsettled. His reaction is all that’s keeping me from spiraling. Raiden was responsible all this time, but there’s something more to it. Stay calm. Hear him out.

“Baby, keep talking. Tell me what’s been going on.”

“T-there was a girl. At the Lotus. I danced with her. Her name was Himiko. But I don’t remember what happened! Just that she was screaming for help.”

My stomach turns over. “Himiko is one of the women who went missing.”

Raiden’s head snaps in my direction.

“I saw her picture in the papers,” I clarify.

Eyes impossibly wide, Raiden suddenly swerves off the road and brakes once we’re in the grass.

“He’s controlling me,” Raiden whispers, voice quaking. “Making me abduct people. That son of a bitch! Why would he do this?”

Heart racing, I lean forward in my seat. “You’re sure it’s Namikawa? Could it be Takada?”

The seat creaks when Raiden slumps back into it. “It has to be Namikawa. He’s the only one capable of controlling me. But why?”

Could Namikawa be preparing the ritual? I can’t make sense of what would motivate him to do this.

“You aren’t killing them. No bodies have been found.” Fingers shaking, I reach out and grip his sleeve. “This isn’t your fault.”

Eyes damp, Raiden blinks fast. “I can’t do this anymore. I’ve gotta get out of this city. Away from him. He’s turning me into a fucking monster.”

“Then we’ll leave!”

He shakes his head. “Not until we figure out where he’s taking people. If I’m responsible for these disappearances, I can’t be the reason all those people die. So can you wait a while longer? Wait for me?”

I could never refuse him anything. I nod, squeezing his arm. “Always.”

Raiden’s mouth relaxes into a smile. “Okay… for now, let’s get back to the city. Where is your family meeting for dinner?”

Right. My family. I’d almost forgotten.

I give him the address of the izakaya and we drive, Raiden’s hand in mine.

Things spiral toward an uncertain conclusion. I’m not ready, but with Raiden by my side, I think we have a chance.

It’s late evening when we arrive in Tokyo. As we park outside the restaurant, my stomach twists itself into knots.

“You okay?” Raiden asks as we step outside together.

I nod, but he just scowls at me. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my family,” I admit after a rushed exhale.

Raiden takes my hand. “Hey. I’m here. If they give you shit, I’ll beat their faces in.”

“No, you can’t—”

He laughs. “I’m kidding, but you bet I’ll have something to say in your defense.”

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