Tokyo: Rabbit Police and Her Evil Partner

Chapter 568 Marriage
Fushimi Shika stood still at the crossroads.

The red light kept flashing, the car clattered, and time ticked by. Then, Kujo Yui's voice came through the phone again: "I'm here to help you this time. If I had any complaints about you, I would have already shown Tamako that videotape."

Fushimi Shika glanced at Tamako across the street: "Hasn't she seen her yet?"

"Yes," Kujou Yui said gravely.

“The videotape has already been released; this can’t be kept secret any longer.” Fushimi Shika rubbed the calluses on his fingers.

He never expected this day to come so suddenly.

Ever since he wrote the words "divine punishment" in the auditorium, Fushimi Shika had imagined more than once what his and Minamoto no Tamako's final fate would be.

Perhaps he revealed a flaw, or perhaps Genji discovered the truth. Through repeated tests and clashes, they gradually came to understand each other... Ultimately, under the impetus of a suitable opportunity, Genji changed him, or perhaps he changed Genji, bringing this matter to a complete end.

But reality was different from what he imagined. Life doesn't have a progress bar, and he didn't know when the climax of the movie would arrive. Suddenly, the director yelled "Cut!" and the screenwriter said that this was the scene they had decided on, and this was the ending. The protagonist, however, was completely unaware and was still picking his toes in front of the camera.

It wasn't until many, many years later, after the movie ended and it was repeatedly replayed, that the actors finally realized—oh! So this scene should have been acted this way.

Unfortunately, life doesn't offer second chances.

“Tell her not to get involved,” Kujo Yui reiterated, explaining why she was calling: “Even if you can’t do it, at least you can delay things for a while.”

"What's the point?" Fushimi Shika asked.

Kujo Yui took a deep breath, as if she had made a momentous decision: "Do you know? A second is enough to change a person's life."

"so what?"

"You two should get married," Kujo Yui said.

Fushimi Shika was stunned. He stood straight, people passing by on both sides, and Kujo Yui's explanation echoed in his ears:

"Article 147 of the Criminal Procedure Law explicitly grants spouses the right to refuse testimony. In addition, secrets of spouses learned by professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and police officers in the course of their work are protected under Article 134 of the Criminal Law, the crime of 'disclosing secrets.' Even if the spouse agrees to testify, the professional can still refuse..."

"If everything's alright on your end, propose as soon as possible. Of course, Tamako might not agree, so her grandfather might fall seriously ill in a few days. When you two go back to Hokkaido together, her grandfather will naturally make the marriage happen..."

He understood what Kujo Yui meant; it was undoubtedly a despicable yet effective tactic.

Once they're married, even if Minamoto no Tamako finds out the truth, they must keep this secret together.

The traffic light began its countdown, seemingly urging him to make a decision. Across the street, Yuan Yuzi looked around, waiting for the countdown to end so she could run towards him.

Fushimi Shika stood at a street intersection with two forks in the road. The traffic on the right had stopped, the red light was about to end, while the traffic on the left continued, the green light was about to come on.

In fact, he only had fifteen seconds to make a choice.

But Fushimi Shika didn't realize this; he was only thinking that this was an even bigger lie, calculating how many indulgences he would need to resolve the problem. His fate had already been decided by one lie after another; he would continue down this path.

After the red light ended and the green light came on, Fushimi Shika hung up the phone, turned around and walked towards Minamoto no Tamako, as relaxed and carefree as ever.
"All done cleaning up? Let's go get some barbecue."

Yuan Yuzi, completely unaware of his decision, jogged over across the zebra crossing and said, "I didn't pack up. A huge accident happened, and you'll never guess what happened!"

"What's wrong?" Fushimi Shika asked knowingly.

Minamoto no Tamako recounted what had happened in the Special Investigations Division, and then asked Fushimi Shika what he thought.

Fushimi Shika shrugged: "What else can we do? The team leader has already given the order; there's no way to investigate..."

Gen Tamako puffed out her ahoge (cowlick), straightened her chest, put her hands on her hips, and said with great pride, "That's right! Whenever injustice and corruption occur in the Metropolitan Police Department, it's time for the Deduction Team to step in!"

She has expanded her deduction team to six members, and her power is growing stronger and stronger. She is at the height of her power. Nowadays, even high school clubs may not be able to gather six people!

“That’s not what I meant…” Fushimi Shika squinted.

Kujou's phone call was truly prescient; a mother really understands her daughter.

Minamoto no Tamako wouldn't listen to a word. She had already assumed that Fushimi would join, and then she made a phone call to summon Watanabe-senpai and the others.

Fushimi Shika turned her back and, while she was on the phone, sent a message to Kujo Yui:

"it is good"

……

Holding up her pink flip phone, Minamoto Yuko made a call as she walked: "Okay, see you later... Shika-kun bought some barbecue, we can eat and chat then..."

Just then, she heard a beeping notification sound: "Oh, wait a minute, another call is coming in."

Yuan Yuzi hung up the phone with Ya Lan. She lowered her head, fiddling with her small phone in both hands: "Oh, it's Mom calling..."

Fushimi Shika stood to the side with his hands in his pockets and said, "It might be something very important, so hurry up and answer it."

“Oh,” Yuan Yuzi answered the phone without suspicion, “Moshi Moshi, Mom, have you heard about the Cat Island videotape…”

The questioning stopped abruptly. Gen Tamako's eyes widened as she asked, "Eh? Really? Grandpa...?"

Fushimi Shika feigned confusion, mouthing the question silently, "What's wrong?"

Yuan Yuzi covered the microphone, looked up with a blank expression, and whispered, "Grandpa suddenly had a heart attack, and the doctor issued a critical condition notice..."

After saying that, she lowered her head and continued making the call: "Um...did Grandpa really say that...I...I might not be able to get away...Okay...okay...I understand..."

After a while, Yuan Yuzi hung up the phone, her little face full of worry and a bit of anxiety, and her ahoge (cowlick) drooped listlessly.

"Is the situation serious?" Fushimi Shika asked in a low voice.

“Yes, they’ve given up on treatment,” Yuan Yuzi said, kicking a pebble by the roadside. “Grandpa wants to see me. Mom told me that every time he wakes up from a coma, he asks the people around him, ‘Has Yuzi come back yet?’... I think I should go back.”

"Why at this time of year..." Fushimi Shika feigned regret.

“Yes, it just so happens to be this time.” Yuan Yuzi sniffed, her nose feeling a little sore. “But a case can be investigated anytime. If you miss seeing your loved ones one last time, it’s something that can never be undone.”

“That’s right, I support you.” Fushimi Shika nodded.

With a pout, Minamoto Tamako said stubbornly, "Anyway, the Special Investigations Division doesn't do anything productive, and there's nothing we can do if we stay in Tokyo. It's the same if we ask Ya-lan and the others to help collect the videotapes... When I get back, I'm definitely going to solve this big case!"

Fushimi Shika had heard of similar cases in his previous life, except that all the people who knew about them were dead. He thought about it carefully and felt that Kujo Yui's judgment was correct. It was better not to let Minamoto Tamako get involved.

And so, they went home to pack their things, bought plane tickets for that day, and headed back to Hokkaido to see their grandfather. Hira Sakurako still had to go to school, so she was temporarily entrusted to Moriki Aya's care.

Before boarding the plane, Fushimi Shika made an excuse to go to the restroom and called Satake Gen, asking him to collect and destroy the videotapes related to "Dog Head Man Special," and also instructing Kazama Takusai and others to help.

Of course, he wouldn't let anyone work for free. For every videotape of the Dog Head Man special that he destroyed, he would receive a bonus of 500 yen. The cost of purchasing the videotapes would also be reimbursed. The more tapes he destroyed, the higher the bonus would be.

With everything in place, they took a plane and rushed all the way back to their hometown in Hokkaido.

The death of a loved one is always sad. Even though Minamoto no Tamako had a bad relationship with her grandfather and had said that she would sever ties with the Kujo family, when it came to the moment of life and death, she still softened, felt so sad that she was at a loss and dared not go inside.

To go all out, Fushimi Shika changed into a pure black suit and black tie beforehand, looking exceptionally solemn, as if he were attending a funeral.

Everyone at the Kujo residence looked grief-stricken. It was unclear whether Kujo Mutsu had made prior arrangements or was simply putting on an act so convincingly that his subordinates thought he was about to die.

In short, when Minamoto no Tamako stood at the door, she had no doubt about the truth of the matter.

Grandpa was lying behind the door. Yuan Yuzi didn't know what to say or how to face him if she went in.

She had a lot of unpleasant experiences with her grandfather before, such as him ruining her relationship with Fushimi-kun, lying to her that her mother had arranged a marriage for her, and imprisoning her at home and not letting her go out...

She also did some very outrageous things, such as crashing her mother's motorcycle into the French windows, running over the meticulously manicured lawn in the yard, and declaring that she would sever all ties with the Kujo family...

The bond of kinship is such a wondrous relationship. Even if two people hate each other, they will eventually find peace with each other and attend each other's funerals with heavy hearts.

A part of the bloodline died.

The new blood deserves our remembrance.

Gen Tamako took a deep breath and pushed open the door. She was also dressed formally, all in black, and looked somewhat like a widow.

The bedroom is very large, with little furniture, except for a striking large bed made of velvet that looks very soft.

Kujo Mutsu lay on the bed, emaciated, as if he had sunk into it.

He wore a ventilator mask, and a cardiac monitor sat beside him, its cold beeping sound ringing out. The plastic mask billowed with white mist as his chest rose and fell.

"You're here?" Kujo Mutsu looked tired as he turned his head on the bed, appearing to be struggling.

Fushimi Shika was amazed, thinking to himself that the old man's acting skills were really good, and he looked just like the real thing. No wonder people always say that old people are wise and shrewd.

Yuan Yuzi almost burst into tears; the little resentment in her heart instantly vanished: "Yes, Mom said you wanted to see me..."

"Yes."

After Kujo Mutsumi finished speaking, he suddenly coughed violently, as if he were coughing up his lungs. Fushimi Shika secretly gave him a bad review; according to the established storyline, he had heart disease, not lung cancer, and wouldn't cough so violently.

Genji was soft-hearted and quickly went to help pour water, wanting to support Kujo Mutsu and pat his grandfather's back to make him feel better.

But Mutsumi Kujo refused. Lying in bed, he sighed in a hoarse voice, "I'm too old. I don't even have the strength to sit up anymore."

Minamoto no Tamako didn't know how to comfort her, because Kujo Mutsu told her a fact.

She couldn't even say, "Grandpa, you'll definitely live to be a hundred," because Kujo Mutsu was about to die, and saying such a thing at this time would only seem very pale.

Silence fell over the bedroom. Soon, Kujo Mutsu spoke again: "Tamako, I'm so sorry to have troubled you to come all this way just to see me..."

"You're welcome," said Gen Tamako. "It's what I should do."

"Was it Yui who asked you to come back?" Kujo Mutsu sighed.

Yuan Yuzi felt a pang of sadness. She felt that her grandfather would definitely want to see her mother more. But her mother was the Superintendent General of Police, with heavy responsibilities, and she certainly couldn't leave right now. She could only put her work before her family.

"No, it's...it's my own choice to come back..." Yuan Yuzi told a white lie, hoping to make her grandfather feel better.

“Ah, I see,” Kujo Mutsu looked at Minamoto Tamako and said sincerely, “Actually, I’ve always wanted to apologize to you in person.”

"Huh?" Gen Tamako was somewhat surprised.

"I was confused before and made some mistakes. I'm really sorry." Kujo Mutsu gave a bitter smile. "I'm sorry, I don't even have the strength to stand up and bow now... I just hope you can forgive me."

Yuan Yuzi nodded hurriedly: "I...I forgive you, Grandpa. I understand. You had your reasons for doing those things..."

"Thank you." Kujo Mutsumi closed his eyes. "Now I can leave in peace."

After he finished speaking, the bedroom fell silent again.

Fushimi Shika was stunned for a moment, thinking to herself, "That's it? What about the marriage?"
For a fleeting moment, he thought Kujo Mutsu was really going to die. The old man was taking it too seriously; perhaps he had lung cancer and only had a few days left to live…

Just as he was lost in thought, Kujo Mutsu opened his eyes again: "Ah, there's one more thing that I'm still worried about."

"If you say so, I will do my best to do it." Minamoto no Tamako's eyes were already red, and she was secretly wiping away her tears when Kujo Mutsu closed his eyes.

"Tamako, do you love Fushimi-kun?" Kujo Mutsu asked.

"Why are you suddenly asking this..." Minamoto no Tamako was a little flustered and glanced back at Fushimi Shika.

East Asians don't often say the word 'love.' Love seems too heavy a word. Even if people love each other to the point of life and death, they are too embarrassed to say it out loud.

“Tamako, I want to entrust you to someone worthy of my trust.” Kujo Mutsuko’s gaze shifted upwards, meeting Fushimi Shika’s eyes, everything unspoken: “This is my last wish. Before I die, I want to attend your wedding.”

With a slight tremor of her small hand, Yuan Yuzi dropped the water glass, which shattered on the ground.

"Getting...married?!"

She turned around abruptly and looked at Fushimi-kun: "You, you...this...I..."

Fushimi Shika was prepared. He knelt on one knee, took out a ring from his pocket, and asked softly and sincerely, "Tamako, will you marry me?"

Yuan Yuzi collapsed onto the edge of the bed with a thud.

(End of this chapter)