Chapter Text
He called Sugizo's phone few times in the taxi, but each time, he found the line busy. He knew that Sugizo was still at work and he understood that this was inconvenient for the other one. But something in his heart warned him of the impending doom. He didn't want to lose Sugizo as he had lost Minako. So, he texted him, urging him to call when he finished work. Perhaps his desperation tone in the message would make him.
The sun had already set when he arrived home. He expected the apartment to be empty but surprisingly, he saw light coming from underneath the door. Sugizo was home.
Atsushi rang the bell and Sugizo opened immediately, smiling at him. "Hey, welcome home."
Atsushi was rather taken back by his sudden change of attitude, but he managed to respond. "Good to be home."
Sugizo returned to the kitchen, allowing Atsushi to enter. He closed the door behind him and noticed Sugizo cooking. He put his coat and bag away, asking. "Um...how are you?"
"Me?" He looked at him briefly before looking back at the stove. "Good. I'm in the mood for pasta. Why don't you go and freshen up?"
"Uh...let me help." Atsushi approached Sugizo but Sugizo playfully pushed him.
"No, you'll ruin my pasta sauce with your spoiled Sake." He chuckled. "You get cleaned up and rest a little, Acchan."
Atsushi sighed and gave up arguing, glad that he was okay. His mood had also brightened, which he was grateful for, but it was a little odd...too odd. Something seemed not right. Something was not right.
Atsushi slowly turned to Sugizo who was still cooking. His mind played again and again whether this was real or a trick. And in the end, he felt the warmth from his face fading.
"Sugizo?"
"Hmm?" He didn't look back.
"What did you just call me?"
"Huh? What?" Sugizo finally looked back obliviously.
"You called me...Acchan. You never called me Acchan."
"Of course, I did. I...?" Sugizo's face paled, realising that he never called him Acchan. He always called him Atsushi. He slowly looked at the stove and carefully turned it off, still expressionless.
"Sugizo?" Atsushi took a step back, not wanting to believe this.
A menacing smile broke on Sugizo's face as Atsushi shook his head in despair. "No..."
Sugizo's face changed and no longer remained the friend Atsushi knew. It was His face.
"Very clever, Acchan. I must say that I'm impressed." Even his attire changed. He leaned on the kitchen counter and observed Atsushi intently.
"Where is he?" Atsushi gritted.
"Somewhere where he can't distract us." He casually took the Sake bottle and poured himself a drink. Unable to tolerate the demon's callousness, Atsushi marched and grabbed his collar.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO SUGIZO?!"
Instead of panicking, Yoshiki smiled and stroked Atsushi's face, seemingly liking the roughness on his part. Atsushi backed away, disgusted by the demon's touch. He asked again.
"Where is he?!"
"Calm down, Acchan. He is alive." Yoshiki snapped his fingers and Atsushi heard Sugizo's voice. He turned around and saw Sugizo crawling on the floor with a hand on his chest. He looked in pain.
"Sugizo!" He rushed to Sugizo and pulled his head on his lap. His chest was bleeding, bringing Atsushi to tears. "What did he do?!"
"A-Atsushi! R-run! J-just run!"
"Don't talk!" Atsushi glared at Yoshiki. "Bastard, I'll kill you! I swear, I will kill you!"
Yoshiki's smile faded. It replaced with a remorseful one as he approached the two. He knelt before them and tried to touch Atsushi's face but he smacked it away. Dejected, Yoshiki grimly added.
"I told you to be careful. I warned you that this would happen. You cannot cheat me, Acchan. You cannot get rid of me."
"What do you want?!" He shouted at Yoshiki, pressing his hand on Sugizo's chest as he barely breathed.
"You already know." Yoshiki's smile returned.
"Just fix him! Fix him!" Atsushi finally ended up crying, holding onto Sugizo for dear life.
"On the condition that you give up."
Atsushi gasped, contemplating the little choices he had. Minako gave up her life so he wouldn't but now he had to do it to save Sugizo. He had no other choice.
Feeling the energy leaving him, Atsushi mumbled weakly. "I'm sorry, Minako."
"A-Atsushi!" Sugizo gasped but Atsushi shushed him.
"It's okay, you're going to be fine. I'm so sorry to put you through this. I really am." Atsushi leaned on his face and kissed Sugizo's forehead, grateful for all the things he did for him.
Looking back up at the demon, he weakly said. "I give up..."
The smile on the demon's face widened as the wound on Sugizo's chest healed in minutes. Sugizo slowly sat up, with his hand on his chest and looked at the demon.
"Took you long enough, you bastard." He muttered and stood up, walking to Yoshiki's side, leaving Atsushi stunned on the floor.