The setting was an all Boys private Catholic school called St. Michael's Senior High School in Nagasaki and the case was murder with a missing soul. Tsuzuki and Hisoka were the ones to investigate.

The victim had been seventeen-year-old Student Council Leader, Okazaki Izuru. His body had been found in the sea, ring and small fingers severed from each hand and foot with the words 'Forever my lover' carved into his skin.

Suspects for this murder included: Mitani-sensei, the Christian History teacher- however, he had no apparent motive, so hypothesis was made upon suspicious behavior; Fujisawa, the Vice Student Council Leader- he had wanted Izuru to disappear so that he could claim the Council Leader's position; and the mysterious Tsukiori, the Dorm Chief who wanted both Izuru and Fujisawa out of the way.

Fujisawa was found dead one night, in the same condition that Izuru's body had been- minus the sea. This, of course, ruled him out and brought Tsukiori up as the main suspect.

After a few more misleading clues, Mitani-sensei, who had become very good friends with Tsuzuki the priest, came to him for a late-night confessional. He reveals to Tsuzuki that he was the one who killed Izuru and Fujisawa.

"He... Izuru from the past has yearned for me. Watashi...no, boku (1)... I was at first puzzled about his feelings. I couldn't reject his earnest thoughts... Our relationship quickly grew tighter. After that, we both indulged ourselves, repeating the dirty act over and over. But I held reservations. Was this thing right? Was it alright to break the taboo? Izuru probably noticed my confusion. That night, while we were together... he cut off his own finger. Doing that felt good he said... so he burned his skin, carved his back with his arm..."

(Tsuzuki thinking: So then, the body's wounds were done by Izuru himself...)

"I desperately tried to stop him. But it had escalated too far that finally... he died on top of me. This filthy me... It is just as if I had killed him. I will surely be scorned by the Lord..."

A person you mustn't love

Held even if only to satisfy one's curiosity...

"But I am a researcher, no matter what I wanted to know."

Even using his emotions...

"I wanted to see what kind of world was the world God forbade for humans... just once even... I wanted to see it..."

Is it a beautiful paradise? Or a land of darkness...?

At this time, it is elsewhere found out when Tsukiori attempted to use Hisoka as the innocent lamb for a sacrifice that he was really a she and was working for EnMaCho undercover. She explains to Hisoka important information to this case.

Because Tsuzuki had killed Sagatanis, the demon that was after Hijiri and Kazusa in the Akuma no Toriru arc, he became in a high position in the ranks of the demons. Because of this, a number of demons would be after him to kill him and to claim his title. One such demon was Fohkaroru.

Back with Mitani-sensei and Tsuzuki, the corpse of Izuru is resurrected and speaking to them. In the battle the ensued between the Shinigami and the demon Fohkaroru that had taken over Izuru's corpse, Mitani-sensei is fatally injured. He has a final monologue before dying.

"Izuru..."

In truth, I didn't care about God or taboos... But I was a teacher and you were my student... I didn't have the confidence that I would make you happy... Substituted by a different feeling... Time and again confused... hesitating, wandering inside... But always, in my heart...

"Finally, I couldn't go against you and my heart... I'm sorry I never told you Izuru... I'm sorry..."

More than anyone...

More than the Lord who is my Father...

I love you...

After this, the demon Fohkaroru reveals that Izuru had made a deal with him so that he would have Mitani-sensei's love instead of the confusion that the teacher had felt. In exchange, Fohkaroru would steal his body and spirit.

(A/N: And I am pretty sure from my obsessed rereading that Fohkaroru was the one who did all of the self-mutilation to Izuru's body- not Izuru himself.)

Tsuzuki, in anger, releases Suzaku and kills the demon before weeping over the dead teacher that had fallen victim to all of this just for being confused about religious taboos and love.

You who have sinned against the Lord
The world you see

Is it Paradise?

Or is it...

(1) Watashi is one way of saying I that is more common while boku is another way that young and innocent boys use.

Oy, I dub this, the choppy and boring chapter. I hate doing summaries, especially when it is directed at an audience who intends upon reading a story, not a summary. I'm sorry for boring all of you!

But it seriously was a sad and lovely story that I'm sure is controversial enough to touch people in different ways. It was a story about betraying God and going against taboos for love, and no summary can fully catch that. Mitani-sensei and Izuru now have an undying place in my heart where I feel that they should be happy. Dang it, why did Matsushita-san make her characters so loveable?

My recommendation: if you can stand seeing two guys having sex (Graphic, but not REALLY graphic... about R-rated. If you've read Lumen Lunae, think that.), get the manga and read it. There are translations available, of course. I just recommend it, even if... I dunno. I just recommend it.