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Six days. That's all it had been. Six brutal, agonizing, nonstop days. Less than a week passed in the blink of an eye and yet to Atsushi, the days seemed to last for years.
Six days ago, Atsushi uncovered the truth about Kamui’s identity, unveiling the mastermind behind the Decay of the Angels.
Six days ago, Atsushi narrowly escaped the battle with his life, washing back up onto the shores of Yokohama. Alone.
Six days ago, Atsushi may have won a weak victory, but lost something he hadn’t realized was infinitely more precious.
When he awoke, he was alone, lying on the airport tarmac in a pool of his own blood. He had struggled to come to his senses, and by the time he was fully conscious, he had stumbled over to where Kunikida and Tanizaki lay, weight lifting off his chest as he realized they were safe. Atsushi’s mind was still reeling from everything that had happened to him in the last hour itself. He tried to calm himself down, tried to soothe his thundering heartbeat, but it was no use.
He couldn’t find Akutagawa.
He quickly took off after making sure Kunikida and Tanizaki were all right, running to where Aya and the now fully formed Bram had been. But it only took a glance to see the familiar dark form was nowhere in sight. Atsushi turned and went back to the sight of their battle, but the only evidence that remained was his own blood still staining the pavement. With nowhere else to turn, he decided to re-enter the airport.
Atsushi couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling settling in his chest. When he was ambushed, he barely had time to register that it was Akutagawa standing before him, alive and breathing, or so he had thought. Just when it seemed what was lost to him had returned, Atsushi realized the other boy was still out of reach.
He’d lost him once. Now that he knew what that meant, Atsushi wouldn’t let it happen again.
He was running through the airport now, the empty halls eerily silent as he passed through them. Atsushi’s heart was racing, his ears picking up every creak in the floors, eyes snagging on the darkness shrouded in every corner.
Nothing.
He burst through a set of doors, entering an empty lounge area, chairs and cushions scattered across the floor.
Nothing.
He passed an empty food court, neon lights creating strange shadows that danced across the walls.
Nothing.
Atsushi had circled back up to the main entrance, not far from where Anne’s room was anchored, and was met again with empty queue lines and barren kiosks. His eyes flitted wildly around the room as he anxiously ran a hand through his hair, pulling at the silvery strands. He was two breaths away from panicking when his ears picked up on a sound coming from up ahead. A faint whisper.
He moved without thinking, skidding around the corner in a flash. He came upon a wall of wide windows, golden sunset rays pouring in through the panes to illuminate an atrium walkway. About halfway down the room was a line of small phone booths, and a lone figure stood nestled in one of the cubicles.
Atsushi came to a sudden stop, breathing ragged, staring hard at the form. He knew them. Knew the inky black hair. Knew the upright posture. Knew the voice that was softly echoing down the halls. It was Akutagawa. He didn’t need to turn, Atsushi would know him anywhere, in any way.
He stood there in frozen shock, too afraid to move, afraid to even blink. Atsushi thought Akutagawa might vanish in front of him again if he moved his eyes away, even for a second. Akutagawa must have felt him standing there, and he turned to look out across the atrium as he spoke. Their eyes met and he froze mid sentence, and Atsushi had never been more relieved to see that dark onyx hue.
“Akutagawa!”
As if a lock had been turned, a rush of air filled Atsushi’s lungs and his legs started working again. He quickly closed the distance between them, heart and words stumbling over themselves in his haste.
“Hey! You- you're alright?! What happened? When I woke up you were gone, did you-”
“I am fine,” Akutagawa cut him off. He had pulled the phone away from his ear and was staring at Atsushi wide eyed. Up close, Atsushi could see that there wasn’t a scratch on him. If it weren’t for the blood staining both of their clothes, no one would be able to tell they had almost just killed each other. Akutagawa blinked and continued. “I was simply called away by the master of the ability. Once no longer needed, I was released.”
Atsushi’s hands flexed at his sides.“But, you’re ok right? You’re… in control?”
Akutagawa looked at the distance between them with a brow raised, as if to say I’m not attacking you now, am I? “Clearly”
Atsushi suddenly didn’t know what to do. His heart was still pounding, his breathing not quite settled down yet. In a short amount of time he’d blown through so many emotions he didn’t even know existed and now that Akutagawa was in front of him again it was like he short circuited. Atsushi had the strangest urge to reach through that space and grab Akutagawa’s sleeves, like he needed to touch him to prove he was actually real and not another hallucination. Something inside was still telling him Akutagawa might vanish again if he didn’t hold him here. But his hands remained clenched at his sides.
He nodded and forced himself to exhale, trying to release the tension in his body. Tried to convince himself that everything was fine now because Akutagawa had returned to him. There was something about him that Atsushi felt was off, but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He ran his eyes over Akutagawa’s form again, searching for any wounds from their earlier battle, but there were no injuries. Even the arm that Atsushi had shattered was still holding the phone.
His observance did not go unnoticed. Akutagawa furrowed his brow and raised the phone back to his ear and said a quick goodbye. Atsushi faintly caught the voice on the other end and realized he had been talking to Gin. He felt a small pang of guilt for interrupting them as Akutagawa hung up the phone and turned to face him again.
“Is she ok?” Atsushi asked. He knew that the majority of the Port Mafia had been transformed in the past week, but he hadn’t been told the specifics.
“She’s fine,” Akutagawa said, sliding his hands into his pockets. It was a familiar stance for him, but Atsushi still felt like something about it looked wrong.
“It seems Stoker is capable of fully reversing the effects of his own ability.” Akutagawa spoke slowly, enunciating each word like he wanted to make sure Atsushi fully understood him. As if he were trying to make himself believe it. “Once control was returned, his subordinates were returned to their original states. It is happening across the Port Mafia as we speak.”
All Atsushi could utter was a simple oh. He nodded. “That’s good.” His eyes lifted hesitantly to Akutagawa’s throat. He’d said that everyone went back to normal when Stoker reversed his ability, but Akutagawa’s original state was dead. Anything Atsushi would’ve seen, however, was covered by the short, stiff collar of Akutagawa’s coat. The uneasy feeling inside him grew.
Akutagawa caught his stare again and shifted his weight. “I am fine,” he spoke sharply. “Whatever injuries my body sustained before, it is as if they never happened.”
The tension in Atsushi’s body released, albeit slightly, as he nodded and pulled his eyes away from Akutagawa’s neck. There was a strange expression on Akutagawa’s face though, and a flash of panic flickered Atsushi’s mind as he thought there might actually be something wrong. Akutagawa spoke before he could voice any more concerns.
“I see your injuries have healed completely.”
Atsushi huffed, some of the lightness returning to his mood. “Well yeah, it's not the first time you've ripped a limb from my body. I'm pretty used to it by now.”
He meant it as a small joke between them, but Akutagawa’s mouth flattened into a hard line, his eyes no longer meeting Atsushi’s. He shifted his weight again. “So why are you here then?” He asked, brows furrowing. “Surely the Agency and its members have regrouped by now. Shouldn’t you be figuring out your next move?”
“I was looking for you.”
Atsushi said it matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious course of action in the world. He suddenly felt a lump growing in his throat and pressure building behind his eyes. He barely had time to process losing Akutagawa the first time, much less the shock and stress of fighting him as a vampire. Seeing him now, on top of everything else, it was like a dam had broken and a wave of emotion crashed over him. He forced himself to start talking again before the tears could well up in his eyes.
“I mean, we almost killed each other and then you disappeared right after so I had to make sure you were ok,” he said, all in one breath. “And besides,” he continued, blinking back the tears, “the Agency is the only one here. You pretty much have to come back with us unless you want to stay here.”
Akutagawa’s eyes had snapped back to him at his first response, and he nodded in agreement almost as if in a daze. Atsushi didn’t catch his expression though. As he’d been rambling, his eyes had drifted over Akutagawa again, still trying to convince himself that there was nothing wrong. His skin was pale, and from what Atsushi could see, still spattered in places with blood. There was a trail of it running from his chin down to his neck, and Atsushi’s eyes followed the red line as it disappeared into the collar of Akutagawa’s coat.
Atsushi’s breath caught as he realized what had been bothering him this entire time. His coat.
That wasn’t Akutagawa’s coat.
“What is it?” Akutagawa asked. Atsushi only stared at him and Akutagawa looked himself up and down and back at Atsushi questioningly. “I told you I am not injured.”
“It's not that it's…” Atsushi trailed off as he turned to glance down the hall. He could see the door to where Anne’s room was anchored from where he stood. He could be there and back in less than a minute. “Actually, wait right here. Don’t move.”
Akutagawa made a noise of protest, but Atsushi was gone in a flash, already halfway down the hall before he could speak. He entered the door in record speed and found Anne’s room completely empty, but that was fine. He wasn’t here for a person. Atsushi went to a small chest in the corner and almost ripped the lid clean off in his hurry. He grabbed the object that was laying on top slamming the lid shut as he headed back to the airport. Akutagawa was still standing where he left him, arms crossed and annoyed look on his face. He watched Atsushi as he approached and opened his mouth to speak. His expression went slack however when he saw what Atsushi held in his hands.
Atsushi reached him and held up a folded bundle of black cloth. “I cleaned it up as best as I could. So, uh..here. You should have it back.” He held it out towards Akutagawa, suddenly nervous.
Akutagawa blinked. “This is…’ he started in confusion. His eyes flickered between the fabric and Atsushi’s face, hands hovering in the air as the realization of what it was settled on him. “This is my coat.”
Atsushi nodded gently. He was trying to figure out what Akutagawa was thinking. The look on his face seemed like a mixture of shock and something else that made him look afraid. His jaw was slack and his eyebrows were drawn together. Akutagawa’s hands shook slightly as he took a step forwards and grabbed the coat out of Atsushi’s hands.
“You kept my coat?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Atsushi said.
The truth was Atsushi couldn't bring himself to get rid of it. After he was rescued from the shore, he had taken it and washed and cleaned it up as best as he could. Seeing the distress he was in over it, Lucy had given him a safe place in Anne’s room to store it, which he was grateful for, but Atsushi couldn't just let it stay shut up in a drawer forever. Whenever he was in Anne’s room, he’d bring the coat back out. Fold and unfold it. Try to smooth out the wrinkles. Try to will it to move once again. But it remained a dead black cloth in his hands.
Akutagawa held the garment gently, as if it might unravel at his touch. “You….” his voice faltered, palm smoothing over the soft fabric almost reverentially, shaking his head in disbelief. He slowly raised his gaze to meet Atsushi’s again.
“….You idiot.”
Huh?
Atsushi blinked as Akutagawa’s expression quickly changed, his mouth pressing into a hard line. “What on earth is wrong with you?”
“What?” Atsushi said aloud, dumbfounded.
Akutagawa raised the coat between them, shaking it in Atsushi’s face. “Why would you to keep this?”
“I- I figured you’d want it back.”
“Want it back?” Akutagawa stared at him incredulously. “Want it back?!” Atsushi stumbled as the coat was shoved into his chest. “I was dead!” Akutagawa lashed, face twisted in anger and confusion. “Even then, I was nothing more than a mindless beast! You should have disposed of me and moved on to the actual target and instead you risk your life and you – you keep my coat?!”
Atsushi stood there in open-mouthed shock. He wasn’t exactly expecting tearful gratitude, but the outright rejection threw him off guard. He felt like he should have known better though. Knowing Akutagawa, this kind of immediate criticism was annoyingly predictable. Atsushi glared right back at him.
“You’re welcome, asshole,” he said, clutching at the coat to keep it from falling to the floor. “I did just save your life, you know, a little thanks would be nice. And besides,” he continued, “you were conscious!” Akutagawa frowned at him disapprovingly, and he pressed on. “You hesitated! You spoke to me!”
“Hesitation means nothing,” Akutagawa snapped, hands fisted at his sides. “It would not have been enough.”
Atsushi just stared at him. He wanted to say he couldn’t believe Akutagawa was acting like this but he guessed that not even death could get him to drop that stubborn defiance. Seems like we’re right back to the way we were, he thought. That should’ve been comforting, but right now it was only pissing Atsushi off.
“You could’ve killed me instantly at any point, but you didn't,” Atsushi said, trying again to convince him. “Fukuchi even gave a direct order to kill anyone associated with the agency, and you spared Aya. That has to mean something.”
Akutagawa continued to glare at him “It does not. I was not conscious. If that sword had not been removed, you would have ended up dead.” His eyes passed over Atsushi’s neck and Atsushi could’ve sworn his face paled.
“Well, the sword did come out and I'm fine and you're fine so just take the damn coat.” Atsushi shoved the now crumpled garment back into its owner's hands, his frustration growing. “God, you're always like this. Why can't you just accept the help people try to give you?”
Atsushi couldn't understand why Akutagawa was acting like this when it seemed so obvious that he had been awake on some level. He remembered the tightness of rashomon wrapped around him, the look on Akutagawa’s face as he hesitated to strike, the feel of his hands around him. Anyone under Fukuchi’s control would not have held him like that, would not have killed him like that. Atsushi hoped that Akutagawa would give up and admit that he was conscious, but it looked like he wouldn’t budge
Akutagawa scoffed in an infuriating manner, like he wanted to call Atsushi an idiot again. It made Atsushi want to strangle him. “Why can't you get over your foolish need to try and save everyone, even when it is pointless?”
“I was trying to save you!”
“I never asked you to save me! Akutagawa shouted, getting up in Atsushi's face. They were full on yelling now, voices echoing down the vacant hallways, and Atsushi was glad they were alone. He felt like they might start swinging on each other again at any moment. “You had no reason to believe that, even if I was conscious, I would return to this state! What possible motivation could you have had to try and save me?”
“I could ask you the same damn thing!” Atsushi shot back, jabbing a finger at him
Akutagawa glared at him in angry confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Atsushi took a shaky breath “Why did you save me on the ship?”
It had been eating at him for the past week. Ever since that fateful day, everything Atsushi thought he knew about Akutagawa was abruptly turned on its head, and he was left reeling alone in the aftermath. He rethought everything. Every interaction. Every word and attack thrown at each other. Each time he sat in Anne’s room and folded and refolded the coat, Atsushi thought about Akutagawa. And the more he thought about him, the more Atsushi seemed to discover. It was like a switch had been flipped and all he could think about were the moments of kindness he’d been shown. Moments of brutal, but needed honesty. Every moment where Akutagawa had reached out and saved him, instead of letting him die.
It made Atsushi angry. He was upset that he noticed it all too late, too focused on Akutagawa’s flaws to put together all the pieces of his virtue. He was angry that Akutagawa couldn’t seem to see it within himself. Atsushi realized with a start that Akutagawa must be angry now because he thought he wasn’t worthy of being saved. But if, after all they had been through, Akutagawa had thought Atsushi was worth dying for, Atsushi had to know the reason why.
Akutagawa let loose an exasperated sigh, rolling his eyes. “That is different. We had a mission to complete, with information that affected the fate of the whole world-”
“That is such bullshit,” Atsushi cut him off. “When have you ever given a fuck about the state of the world?”
Akutagawa opened his mouth to speak but Atsushi could sense what he was about to say and beat him to it. “And don't try to say it was about Dazai’s approval either!”
“There is no other reason!” he yelled, red aura glowing as rashomon began to crackle behind him. Akutagawa didn’t strike, but he was staring at Atsushi with his teeth bared.
“Akutagawa!” Atsushi exploded, throwing his hands into the air. He wanted to scream, wanted to grab Akutagawa by the shoulders and rattle some sense into him. “Ever since we’ve met, you’ve done nothing but try and kill me, regardless of anything else that was happening! If what you’re saying is the truth, then where was your concern for the fate of Yokohama when you tried to kill me on the Moby Dick? Where was the need for Dazai’s approval when you hunted me down on Standard Island? You spend all this time saying you hate me and want me dead and then suddenly you switch up? Why? What changed?”
“I have told you before, it isn’t hate-”
Atsushi cut him off again, voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh yeah, because telling me you don’t hate me as you try to kill me is sooo convincing. You still wanted me dead!”
“It is not that simple.” he snapped with a glare. Small tendrils of his ability were beginning to weave out from the fabric around him. “Am I to explain my every action to you?”
“Yes!” Atsushi demanded, not caring about the present threat. He was determined to get to the bottom of this, whether Akutagawa wanted to or not. “You owe me that much.”
Akutagawa jutted his chin out, speaking through gritted teeth. “Why does it even matter to you?”
“You died!” Atsushi shouted in a pleading tone. “We were supposed to win together and I had to watch you die and it destroyed me to know I couldn’t do anything to save you!”
A crack appeared in Akutagawa’s angry expression. He stared at Atsushi open-mouthed, his face going slack. The light from his ability slowly died out as the threads returned to the fabric. Akutagawa only blinked at him, looking as if he were struggling to speak.
At his lack of response, Atsushi groaned in frustration, dragging his hands down his face. “Look,” he started, through labored breaths. "I know that you don't like me, and you hate having to team up with me. And I know that you think you have to do everything yourself to try and prove you’re better than me.”
“That's not-” Akutagawa said shakily, but Atsushi kept speaking.
“But I have spent this entire time trying to show you that you already are ahead of me! That you’re already strong, that you could do more than killing. And you seem to be the only one who doesn’t realize that,” he said, pointing an accusatory finger at Akutagawa.
“I-”
“And it’s just infuriating for you to refuse to see any other way, to watch you run yourself into the ground for nothing!” Atsushi said, his voice rising. He knew he was ranting, his words coming faster and faster, but he just had to get this off his chest. He had to know why the boy who had so vehemently fought against him decided to give his life instead. “And then when you did give in a little bit, I thought we might make some progress, but you still decided you were going to kill me!”
“Jinko.”
If Atsushi had been paying attention, he would have seen how Akutagawa’s hands flexed at his sides. He would have seen his head shake, the rapid blinking of his eyes, how they darted around the room like a cornered dog looking for an escape. If Atsushi had been paying attention, he would have heard the way Akutagawa’s breathing quickened, the tightening of his voice. He always had a knack for realizing when he said something that shouldn't be mentioned, knowing when the switch goes off in a person's head. But Atsushi was too caught up in his own emotion to notice that something deep inside Akutagawa was close to being unearthed.
He continued, oblivious. “Even if what you're saying is true, about your illness and running out of time, then why didn’t it make a difference every other time we fought?” Atsushi gestured wildly in the air. “If it really was about being stronger and Dazai’s approval, you should have acted the same way! But you didn’t!”
“Jinko,” Akutagawa said again, strained, almost pleading.
“You can argue all you want that those were the only reasons, but I know you,” Atsushi protested. “For you to give up everything and save me, there has to be some other meaning! I just don’t understand why you won’t -”
“Atsushi!”
He froze mid sentence hearing his name. His hands paused where they had been gesturing in the air, leaving Atsushi absolutely defenseless as Akutagawa dragged him by the front of the shirt and crushed their lips together.
For all his tiger-like reflexes, Atsushi couldn’t quite catch up to the sudden change in their argument, and he stood there stupidly for a second. Akutagawa’s eyes were closed, brows furrowed and face scrunched up a bit. Despite the force he was grabbed with, Atsushi felt his lips were surprisingly gentle against his own. It took about three whole seconds for him to finally register what was happening. He was being kissed. Akutagawa was kissing him. Akutagawa’s grip started to loosen as Atsushi’s brain finally caught up with itself, and he grabbed his arms and pulled him right back in.
It was Akutagawa’s turn to be surprised, eyes widening and grip slackening on Atsushi’s collar. Atsushi returned the kiss with a hungry fervor, surprising even himself. He wasn’t quite sure of what he was doing, but it felt good. Atsushi was shocked at how right this felt. He couldn’t deny that the past few times he and Akutagawa had clashed, there had been an itch he couldn’t quite scratch, an undeniable ache he had been too afraid to name. Intertwined as they were now, Atsushi dazedly wondered why the two of them had been fighting the entire time instead of this.
Akutagawa pulled away from him with a small gasp, hands still fisted in Atsushi’s shirt. The two stared at each other wide-eyed and nose to nose. Akutagawa looked like he couldn’t believe he’d lost his composure. Atsushi was sure he looked equally as shocked, already feeling heat rise to his cheeks. He was trying to remember how to form words when Akutagawa broke the silence with a shaky breath
“For a detective, you’re quite the idiot.”
Atsushi couldn't help the little laugh that escaped him. His head was spinning, from lack of oxygen or earlier blood loss or shock, he couldn't tell. The only thing he was certain of was the heat of Akutagawa’s figure against him, alive and breathing and steady in his arms. “Yeah, you keep telling me that.” Atsushi tried to steady his own breathing. “It would help if you could make up your mind as to if you actually wanted me dead or not.”
Akutagawa huffed, pulling his eyes away from Atsushi's face. Atsushi thought he was going to get a signature jab in response, but as Akutagawa’s gaze settled on his own hands fisted in Atsushi’s shirt, his expression softened in a way Atsushi had never seen.
He nodded. “I suppose you are right.”
His grip loosened, but he didn't quite release him. Atsushi secured his own grasp on Akutagawa’s arms, struck again by the thought that he might disappear again if he was let go. Akutagawa’s face scrunched up as his eyes lifted back to Atsushi’s.
“You.. really believed I was conscious?”
“Yeah,” Atsushi answered immediately.
“Why?”
“You just…had to be. I’m tired of losing the people I care about. I wouldn’t accept anything else.”
Atsushi felt the heat rise into his face again as the weight of his words settled between them. He was surprised at how easily the confession came. It seemed insane that Atsushi would come to care for someone who had caused him so much harm, but Atsushi had always been one to find strange comfort in the pains of his life.
Akutagawa was staring at him wide-eyed. As if this was the first time he had ever seen Atsushi before. His mouth hung slightly open in a way that Atsushi would’ve thought was cute if he wasn’t slightly mortified with himself at what he’d just said. Akutagawa moved as if to speak but Atsushi cut in before he could utter a word, afraid of what he might hear.
“You still haven’t actually answered my question, you know, why you saved me on the ship?”
Akutagawa sputtered and gaped at him like he’d hoped Atsushi had forgotten about it. He froze for a second, and then settled on his typical cutting glare. For the first time, Atsushi didn’t find it threatening, he thought it looked more like a cute pout.
…cute.
The thought finally registered as it flew across his brain. He actually thought Akutagawa looked cute. His enemy turned reluctant ally turned we’re kissing in an airport after you died to save me and came back to life. Atsushi had to resist the urge to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. Yeah I’m definitely suffering from blood loss, He thought. He couldn’t bring himself to care though.
A muscle ticked in Akutagawa’s jaw and he sighed, speaking as if it took tremendous effort. “Have I not made my reasons obvious?”
“That doesn’t count,” Atsushi said, smacking Akutagawa on the shoulder lightly. “You and I both know there are some things that just need to be said.”
Akutagawa was silent for a moment, his eyes drifting down to where their hands still clutched at each other. He let out a deep breath, and to Atsushi’s surprise, released him and took a step back. His hands flexed before they slid back into his pockets, his gaze shifting to the floor.
Atsushi stared at him, mourning the loss of contact, his own hands balled at his sides. He was afraid if he said anything, this fragile moment might be ruined. That Akutagawa would say it was a mistake and be lost to him again.
When Akutagawa did speak, it was slow and deliberate. “I don’t think there is an…adequate way for me to describe it, the complexities of my feelings regarding you. I’m not sure even I understand them myself, but…” His eyes lifted up to meet Atsushi’s. “It seems that, in spite of the path I chose, and as much as I tried to remove you from it, you have become someone I care about as well. Although, I may have realized it too late,” he said with a regretful look. “That is why I decided to save you on the ship.”
His shoulders sagged as the admission left his lips, as if freed from a weight he’d been carrying around far too long. There was a beat of soft silence, before Akutagawa suddenly rocked backwards as Atsushi flung himself forwards, arms wrapping around his shoulders.
Atsushi was laughing, from relief, from joy, at the insanity of his life that led him to this moment. Akutagawa had initially frozen at the contact, but slowly brought his arms up around him, holding Atsushi tightly. Atsushi buried his face in Akutagawa’s collar, glad that he couldn’t see his expression. Akutagawa could, however, feel the shaking of Atsushi’s chest.
“Are you really crying, jinko?”
Laughter bubbled up out of Atsushi’s chest again. ”Yeah.” His arms tightened around Akutagawa for a second before he relaxed and settled his feet fully on the ground. “It's just-” he brought his hands up to wipe the tears from his face, “this has been the worst week of my life, and so much has happened and I’ve been worried about everything and I thought you were gone forever and I had no idea how we were gonna get out of this one and-” Atsushi cut himself off with a deep breath. “This is just… nice.”
Akutagawa gazed at him with an unusually soft expression. “Well I suppose it’s good then, that you have one less person to worry about.”
Atsushi looked back up, pink dusting both of their cheeks. He let out a small laugh. “Well, depending on how many more times we’re gonna fight each other again, yeah I think so.”
Akutagawa scrunched his nose, looking slightly offended. “I’ve kept my word to the best of my ability so far have I not?”
“You have, but six months is coming up pretty quickly.” Atsushi shrugged his shoulders. “Who’s to say after that?”
Akutagawa looked taken aback, as if he was offended that Atsushi would even mention their arrangement. “You still think we are bound by that bargain? After all of this?” He gestured between them.
“Are we? Atsushi asked with a brow raised. “You did say you always keep your promises.”
Akutagawa blinked at him and thought for a moment. “I suppose we will have to agree to another deal then, won’t we?”
He knelt down to the floor and grabbed his coat from where it lay between them. Akutagawa had dropped it when he reached for Atsushi, and now he lifted it gently, brushing it off and smoothing out the folds. A dim red glow lit the space between them and the fabric slowly came alive. Atsushi watched, entranced as the fabric warped and spread and settled itself around his body.
“I have proven already that I no longer need this coat to activate my ability,” Akutagawa said, running his eyes up and down Atsushi’s form. “It has been my blade, but also what has protected me.” He swallowed and bowed his head. “Take it with you as my new oath. I will not bring harm to you or others unless necessary.”
Atsushi held his arms out and looked down at himself. He’d worn the coat before, sure, but that had been during battle, when he’d been enveloped within rashomon, the fabric twisting around him to become blades or claws. But now, the coat clung to him like it was made for him, fitting to his form perfectly.
He considered Akutagawa’s words and the corner of his mouth twitched up. “No harm? Even when I’m being annoying?”
Akutagawa lifted a hand to his mouth as a quiet laugh escaped his lips. “That may occasionally fall under necessity.”
Atsushi let out a soft laugh. “So” he said, looking over himself once more, “what are my terms?”
“Your terms?”
“Yeah.” Atsushi tilted his head up questioningly. “I mean, on our first deal I told you not to kill for six months, so what do you want on my end?”
Akutagawa blinked, and his brows drew together. “I don't think I'm in the position now to ask anything of you,” he said with a shake of his head. “There is no other end to this.”
“Really? I figured you would try to make me your dog or something.”
“I have no need for a stray that refuses to do as he’s told.”
Atsushi did laugh then, lighting smacking Akutagawa’s shoulder. “How about this? We were set up to be a new duo, so why don’t we start acting like it?”
“And what does that entail?”
Atsushi thought for a moment. “Well we’ve established the not killing each other or other people, so I guess we’re already on the right track. Really all we need is….” His voice faltered as he thought about it.
“Trust”. Akutagawa spoke softly, gentle in a way Atsushi had never heard before. He looked up at Akutagawa, who was gazing back at him, eyes wandering over the coat clinging to his body. Atsushi unconsciously pulled the fabric tighter around himself as the memories from six days ago flashed across his mind.
“Yeah.” Atsushi said with a small smile. “I think we’re on the right track with that too. So what do you say, partner?”
Sunlight streaming in the windows illuminated the light in their eyes as the two boys looked at each other. The world had almost come crashing down around them, and yet they stood together now, smiling and covered in each other's blood. Akutagawa straightened, eyes meeting Atsushi’s full of new determination. He nodded.
“Very well, partner.”