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At some point during the chaos of the battle, Koko became aware of a hand clutching his like a vice. He hadn’t noticed the exact moment Inupi had grabbed his hand, too focused on the unfolding scene of violence between their former commander and two living legends to pay much attention at all to his surroundings. Soon after, another Toman captain, Kawaragi Senju, had come to stand next to them and watch the scene unfold, after a long— and far too pointed— glance at him and Inupi.
They probably made quite the scene; both badly beat up, uniforms dirty and torn as they stood side by side, leaning on each other for support in their exhausted state.
But it was still there. The near-constant pressure of Inupi’s hand gripping his tightly, a small pocket of calm amidst the surrounding chaos.
Then, suddenly, it was over. The moment that Taiju was cut down— and was that a katana — gang members on both sides scattered, wanting no part in whatever was going to happen next. Something bad was in the air and Koko felt it prickling at the back of his neck.
With their clasped hands and opposing gang uniforms, Koko and Inupi might as well have had a target on their back, complete with a sign saying ‘slice here’. Koko didn't particularly want to stick around to find out exactly what Sanzu ‘traitors will be disposed of’ Haruchiyo would have to say about Koko’s … resignation from Kanto Manji Gang. To say they were in danger might be a bit of an understatement.
“We should get out of here—” Koko lurched forwards, intending to follow the retreating crowds, but was stopped abruptly by Inupi pulling him back. “Let go, we need to—”
Inupi shook his head, pulling even harder on their interconnected hands. “No.”
“What do you mean, ‘ no ’?” Koko tried to quell the panic that rose in his throat. Had Inupi been critically injured without his notice? “Is something wrong—” Koko began to ask, but was interrupted by Inupi pulling him closer by the hand until they were just inches apart.
“I meant it, you know.” Inupi’s voice was so low Koko had to lean even closer to hear him over the steady roar of the surrounding chaos. “I’m never letting you go again.”
Oh.
Against his better judgment, Koko felt his face go red. He tried to pull his hand away again— weakly this time— but Inupi only held it closer to his chest.
Inupi had said something along those lines before, hadn't he— words yelled in the heat of the moment that didn't really have a deeper meaning, that could have been influenced by the adrenaline of a fight, the desperation of seeing his best friend get the shit kicked out of him…
He’d thought about Inupi every day since they had gone their separate ways nearly two years ago. That entire time, Koko had believed he’d been doing the right thing— that it was worth any price to keep Inupi safe from harm. But nothing had ever felt just quite as right as the slightly sweaty hand currently holding his.
“That's— I’m not leaving you here! You’re coming with me!” Koko nearly shouted against the roar of the crowd, pulling at their intertwined hands with enough force to make Inupi stumble forwards. After everything Koko had said— even going so far as to betray Kanto Manji to keep him safe— did Inupi really trust him that little? “I meant what I said too, idiot! I’d follow you to hell if you wanted me to— but right now you need to follow me as we get the hell out of here.” They desperately needed to talk; although preferably somewhere quieter, and with less noise and bloodshed.
Koko’s outburst had caught Inupi off guard enough that he was able to pull him by the hand now, joining the retreating crowd on their way out of the thickest part of the battle.
A yank on his hand from behind, and Koko looked back to find Inupi gesturing to a secluded area behind some shipping containers just ahead of them, probably near where his bike was parked. He allowed Inupi to pull him away this time, as the roar of the crowd turned into a distant hum behind them.
Finally, they were alone. Koko leaned against the wall as both of them struggled to catch their breaths, hands still intertwined. He couldn't remember the last time he’d actually had to run anywhere, let alone while dragging another person behind him . Koko turned towards Inupi once he’d caught his breath somewhat, about to ask Inupi where his bike was parked when he was suddenly shoved against the container wall with a loud ‘ bang ’.
Inupi’s face was inches away, their joined hands pressed up behind Koko’s head; the only warning Koko got before Inupi’s lips were on his, swallowing Koko’s involuntary gasp with no hesitation.
Koko should probably have been concerned about someone following them, about the state they were in and how if Sanzu or Hanma or god forbid Mikey came after them now, it would be over. Koko probably should’ve been concerned, but it was truly the last thing he was thinking about.
Not while Inupi was kissing him like this, like Koko was the only thing that he cared about— his free hand pushing Koko’s dishevelled hair out of the way— like this was the only way to save him even though he should know by now that Inupi had saved him already from drowning in his own obsessions and Koko wasn’t going anywhere alone, not now and not ever .
Inupi was kissing his neck, pressing him harder against the cold metal shipping container, free hand beginning to unbutton the front of Koko’s jacket with practiced ease— It used to be his uniform too, after all, only a couple adjustments made since then— before sliding it off his bruised shoulder, exposing the white t-shirt underneath.
With a groan, Inupi pulled back, and Koko resisted the urge to follow him. “You told me you meant it too.” Inupi’s voice was breathless as he leaned back in, punctuating himself with yet another kiss. “— Is that— all of it? You meant all of it? That you’d follow me to hell, but also—”
“That I’m sorry?” Koko asked, interrupting Inupi who pulled back, although still not letting go of Koko's hand for even a second. “That I’ll stop living for Akane-san— That I’ll forget about her and dedicate myself to you instead?” Inupi’s eyes were wide now, cheeks flushed and Koko felt brave, as brave as he was at twelve— running into a burning building to save the girl he liked and ending up with a boy he loved— brave enough to say the one thing that had been eating him up from the inside since he’d kissed a sleeping Inupi all those years ago. “That I love y—”
Inupi surged forward to kiss him again, stealing the words straight out of his mouth.