Chapter Text
The first thing Niragi noticed when he woke up, was that his head was pounding like hell. It was like someone had grabbed him by his head and was smashing it on a wall, without showing mercy.
It was no help at all that the sun was peaking through the window's curtains, almost like messing with him. He tried to blink his eyes open slowly, but instantly hissed at the disturbing sun light, squinting his eyes.
Niragi's hands came to touch his aching head, trying to rub his forehead in hopes that the migraine would go away. Today was clearly not his day; his visa was expiring, which automatically meant that he had to participate in a game unless he wanted to die by a laser coming down the sky.
He felt so stuffed up he almost chose to lie in bed for the rest of the day, waiting for the laser to shoot him in the head. Nevertheless, it quite felt the same. At the very last minute however, he opted to try and get up and not be a pussy.
Having getting up from the bed, Niragi made his way to the room's connected bathroom and turned on the tap, splashing some water on his face. He felt his face burning up, while his body felt cold, which was unexplainable. It had been years since Niragi felt like a shit, he had almost forgotten how bad it was.
Combing his black hair back with some hair gel and a hair tie, he took a look at the mirror across him. His face was almost as pale and white as the bathroom's tiles. He saw dark circles under his eyes, indicating it had been at least weeks since he had a good night's sleep. He cheeks were still burning, hot to the touch.
Having taken his appearance in, Niragi sighed, moving his hand away from his burning forehead. He exited the small bathroom, trying to find some painkillers.
It was a few days ago his head had been pounding again, but not so bad as it was right now.
That day he had returned to the Beach from a spades game, which was a pain in the ass, having won at the last minute, with the help of Last Boss. Niragi couldn't take the pain and as soon as he stepped into the Beach, he immediately went to Chishiya's room, demanding he do something. He knew the blond was meticulous, his bedroom acquired all the means someone needed to survive in this temporary place.
Chishiya looked at him as if he had grown two heads, raising his eyebrows up, internally questioning Niragi's motives. It took a bit cursing and shouting from Niragi to finally give him some painkillers Chishiya had picked up from raiding a pharmacy, near a game's arena.
So thankfully, Niragi didn't use all the painkillers that night, meaning he still had some left. He took two outside of the box and gulped them down with some water.
Having put on a shirt he found lying on the floor, some pants and his black boots, the last thing he did before exiting his bedroom was to pick up his rifle, check the gun's magazine and he was good to go.
Almost good to go. Niragi felt like gripping the Beach's walls for support, as he was making his way to the lobby. His legs felt wobbly and weak, like he hadn't taken a rest for years.
His head was screaming at him to just lie down on a surface, he didn't care what surface, as long as he lied down. Niragi tried to muster his reaction, trying not to look so pathetic in front of the Beach's peasants. He didn't want to give them the idea something was wrong with him, he was supposed to be feared by them, not laughed at.
Nonetheless, the peasants didn't really seem to notice him as Niragi went down the stairs slowly. He scoffed at them as they went by and he tried to bring up his rifle, but his weakness didn't let him. He couldn't even raise his gun, how the hell would he participate in a game?
"Woah, you look like hell", someone exclaimed not in much seriousness behind him.
Niragi huffed at the comment, "I didn't ask you"
The voice behind him, was unmistakable. Niragi could recognize this annoying voice from miles away, much more the annoying person it belonged to.
"Don't tell me your visa is about to expire", the voice -Chishiya-, kept on bothering him.
"And why do you care you little shit?"
"Because you won't stand a chance being like this at a game. Hope you can bring your gun, I wouldn't bother participating if I was you", Niragi saw Chishiya smirking like an idiot, making his blood boil.
"Oh just shut the fuck up. Don't talk shit to me unless you want me to put my gun into action even before entering the game", Niragi glared at the blond, growling. His voice however, came out raspier than normal.
Chishiya even had the tendency to bring his arms up as if he was surrendering, but then his lips turned into a chuckle.
"Everyone! Please gather up, four game arenas in total have opened. We still don't know the color of the games, so the groups participating will be chosen for each game at random", a notorious voice, belonging to Hatter, could be heard from the upper place of the lobby.
Niragi rolled his eyes at the commotion and the delusional cult's leader's words.
"Members with expiring visas are in priority, which means some executive members will also have to take part in some of the games today. Ann and Aguni will be in the first group heading south and Chishiya and Niragi will be in the second group, heading north", Hatter explained while looking down at the sea of people that were gathered at the lobby.
Niargi's eyes widened as soon as he heard the group's sorting.
"Ha?! I'm not going with this prick, i wanna go with Aguni in the first group"
Aguni, who was standing across from Niragi, looked at him disapprovingly, raising an eyebrow up.
"The group's sorting is done, there can be no changes. You are to go with Chishiya and that's the end. After all, the game located in the north is probably a diamonds game, you two excel in them, so you are the best option"
Niragi looked at Aguni in disappointment, he hoped that he would have supported him and actually let him join the first group. He scoffed under his breath, his cursing going unheard by Aguni.
The said prick could be seen chuckling and Niragi swore he saw red. But as soon as he was about to yell at him for being an annoying bastard, a hard cough interrupted him.
He bended over, coughing hard onto his right arm, feeling his chest hurt like hell. His head continued to pound, making him feel as if he had been swimming underwater for a while.
Chishiya ignored Niragi's annoying behavior, going up to him and shaked his shoulders.
"C'mon, there's no time to lose, we should go"
Niragi narrowed his eyes at him but didn't say anything in return, following Chishiya as they made their way outside the hotel and to a black car, owned by the Beach.
The ravenette felt so weak he couldn't even argue with Chishiya as to who will be driving. He sat on the passenger seat, not saying anything, Chishiya's reaction not going unnoticed.
"Wow, Niragi not arguing and yelling, that's something happening once every 200 years", the blond smirked as he started the car's engine, going backwards out of the Beach's area and turning right to the main road.
"Could you please shut up and let me in peace for the rest of the ride you obnoxious shit?", Niragi turned to his left, glaring at the blond. He didn't even wait for a reaction, as he turned his head again, letting it fall on the car's cold window.
The cold window was truly doing wonders to his hot cheeks, he felt somewhat better now that his head was resting on something cool. The aching hadn't subsided not even for a second, making his eyes hurt every time he opened them.
So, not being able to keep his eyes open, Niragi let them fall close, the coldness and Chishiya's humming while he drummed his fingers on the wheel, sent the brunette into a well needed sleep.
Chishiya noticed that Niragi was acting a bit weird, unusual that is. Actually, he had always been acting weird ever since Chishiya met him at the Beach, but he had never seen the ravenette being so awfully quiet.
Of course the cursing and glaring couldn't be missed, Niragi always sported them with much pride. But something told the blond that Niragi wasn't really feeling his usual self.
Chishiya noticed the way Niragi rested his head on the car's window, while he had curled in on himself, as if he was trying to warm himself up. The past few nights it was cold indeed, but not that cold so as to tremble and freeze.
The blond nevertheless, turned on the car's heating on and stopped drumming his fingers on the wheel, so as to let Niragi rest. He looked across him where Niragi had been sitting, noticing that his lips had turned into a small, relieved smile, his arms hugging himself.
Half an hour later, the game arena could be seen in Chishiya's optical shpere. He slowed down the car, following the arena's headlights and turning the car left to the road.
As soon as he reached the arena, he parked the car and turned the engine off. Niragi was still sleeping beside him, but Chishiya could notice the uneasiness that he was in. His face was in a frown, his eyebrows furrowed. The small smile that had been on his lips, it was long gone.
Chishiya's instinct told him to check Niragi's temperature, the cold the boy was feeling was not so normal. He stretched his hand across him and tried to touch the ravenette's face, going for his forehead and then his cheeks.
Chishiya immediately retrieved his hand, Niragi was really hot to the touch, but he could still see the militant's body shake. He was having a fever. Chishiya's eyebrows creased, the other was clearly not in state to take part in a game.
He made a mental note to raid a pharmacy for a thermometer and some antipyretic medicine on their way back to the Beach. That is if he hopefully clears a game.
The blonde's hands went to Niragi's shoulders, shaking him awake. He saw the boy stired awake, he was really out of it, his eyes foggy and unfocused.
"Are you feeling okay?", Chishiya couldn't help himself but ask the ravenette.
Niragi still hadn't looked at Chishiya's side of the car, still curled up on himself. His hands instantly went to touch his forehead, wincing at the pain. He hopelessly tried to rub his forehead in circular motions.
"Are you feeling dizzy?", Chishiya asked again after seeing Niragi wince as if had been hit in the head.
The ravenette finally seemed to acknowledge Chishiya's precence and turned himself to face him.
"I'm...I'm good, we should head inside"
"Are you sure? I mean we can always come back tomorrow and participate in another game"
"Our visas are expiring today, have you forgotten?", Niragi said while forcing a laugh.
Chishiya let his hands fall from the car's wheel. Indeed, they were fucked. Participating in today's game meant that Chishiya had to help Niragi in order to renew his visa and not die, which was a bit hard in their situation.
"Okay. Okay, you are right, I'm gonna try to help us both"
"Oh c'mon, I don't need your help", Niragi exclaimed tiredly, as he moved to open the car's door.
Once he opened the door, he felt the breeze hit his face, instantly freezing. Niragi gritted his teeth and tried to step out of the car, on wobbly legs. He would have fallen down if it was not for Chishiya who grabbed him by his arm.
Niragi looked up angrily but a shot of pain going through his head was much more severe. He hissed in pain while he felt Chishiya trying to pull him up to his feet.
"Good my ass. Look, you are gonna stay by my side as I try to finish the game. No buts. At least I hope it's a team game, it's gonna be easier for us both", Chishiya looked at Niragi in all seriousness, not leaving room for any doubt.
Niragi huffed at his words and tried to pull his arm away from the blond, making his way slowly to the arena and on shaking legs.
Luck clearly wasn't with them. It turned out they had stepped onto an arena, where a spades game was taking place, meaning physical activity and strength was required.
Niragi had none of them at this moment, cursing his bad luck. How in the hell would he be able to pull through the game and actually win? The chances seemed low.
He heard Chishiya curse at a low voice beside him, pulling down his white jacket's hood.
"Don't worry, I will think up of a way to finish this", Chishiya told him, while taking a phone from the arena's white table.
"Oh yeah? Then tell me what you are gonna do, because personally I'm doomed!" Niragi hissed at him, not believing a word. After all, it was Niragi's place to finish the game by himself.
"Trust me you idiot. As you can see, the other participants seem like they don't know what's going on, it seems we have a chance to overpower them and make it through", Chishiya assured him, as he leaned his back on a wall, arms crossed.
Niragi rolled his eyes at the other's words, making his way across him but was cut off of the usual annoying robotic voice.
"Welcome to the game! You are participating in 6 of spades. All you have to do is participate in a run with the other contestants. Those who make it to the finish line in 1 minute will clear the game. Those who don't, will be executed. Guns and other means of violence are permitted. The game will now commence. Please, take your positions", the annoying voice announced happily.
Chishiya moved from where he had been resting his back on the wall, going to take his position in the start line. He saw Niragi rooted in his place, not making a move.
"What are you doing? Come here quick!"
"Didn't you listen? I said I'm doomed. There's no way I'm gonna make it to the finish line in one minute", the ravenette replied in a sassy way.
Niragi felt his shirt being yanked by a strong hand and he quickly found himself in the start line.
"Cut the bullshit. I told you to count on me", Chishiya reminded him as he continued staring ahead of him, not even looking at Niragi's eyes.
Niragi growled at him, going for a sharp response but he heard the game being started, seeing the other participants start running. He felt Chishiya's arms push him to the line and guess there was no other option but to run.
His weak legs couldn't carry his weight and were screaming at him to stop. His aching head was protesting and pounding even more as if telling him to surrender the game. Niragi put all the strength he had left so as to run and make it to the finish line, even though his eyelids felt heavy and the ground welcoming.
He felt the adrenaline rush through his body, making it feel hot and burning. But he couldn't exactly pinpoint whether that was the adrenaline indeed or the fever he had. Nevertheless, he continued running on aching legs, seeing the finish line coming close.
What he didn't notice was the person to his left, who tried to push Niragi out of his line and make him fall behind. Seconds before his feet touched the finish line, he was tumbling to the ground, which welcomed him warmly.
His dizzy head didn't give him a chance to try and get up, prompting him to continue lie there, while it kept swimming, his eyes slowly dropping. The last thing he saw was a blond guy in a white hoodie yell at him to get up and eventually dragging him by his arms. Niragi couldn't care less.
The next time Niragi opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was his room's ceiling at the Beach. He looked at it confused; he clearly remembered he was on a game arena playing a spades game with the prick.
What happened? He didn't remember finishing the game, so how did he end up back to the Beach? He noticed his head was aching a lot less than it had been while he was at the game.
He felt a cool sensation on his forehead, his hand moving to touch it. His hand came across with a wet rag, lying on his forehead. His face made a frown, who had put it there?
Niragi's body was in a sea of blankets, curled up on them neatly. His eyes fell on the nightstand, on which there were a thermometer, some painkillers and a glass of water.
More confused than ever, he finally felt arms hugging his waist. Niragi couldn't help but look at the person beside him, eventually realizing it was Chishiya.
Niragi didn't know how to react. Why had the prick been lying beside him, on the same bed?!
Chishiya stirred in his sleep, opening his eyes. He saw Niragi already looking at him confused and smiled.
"Oh you are awake. How are you feeling?"
Niragi's eyes widened.
"What the fuck are you doing here?! Don't you have a room to yourself? Leave!"
"Well, you could at least thank me for saving your ass, then I can leave"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever", Niragi replied angrily, while trying to shove him from the bed.
"If it wasn't for me you'd be dead. Some random guy decided last minute to shove you away from the line and you being a fool actually fell and didn't get up. So I was obligated to drag you all the way to the finish line, while you were knocked out", Chishiya explained, nuzzling into the warm blankets.
Niragi gasped at his words.
"You idiot, don't make it look like I owe you, cause I never will. You saved me so as to owe you. Smartass"
"Well, you could say so, but I wasn't obligated to drag you to the car, make sure you were comfy and all warm and then raid a pharmacy for medicines. That all took me two hours", Chishiya smirked from where he was hidden under the blankets.
"So I owe you a thanks? That's what you are saying you little shit?", Niragi yelled in his raspy voice, a hard cough erupting.
"Just shut up and let me hug you. That's your thank you to me", the blond replied, his arms returning to Niragi's waist and hugging him.
Niragi couldn't shake the shock away, but he soon found himself feeling comfortable in the other's arms and soon drifted back to sleep.