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Flames erupted upon tall wooden lampposts every time Atsushi passed them. Lightning up the path of chipped stones and overgrown grass, especially illuminating the slimy, slithering bodies of black snakes circling him as he continued to run along the path. The running tore many ragged, consecutive breaths from his lungs and his abdomen held a piercing pain that made him tumble every five strides.
He took a glance behind him, the flames were put out when he passed, but he could still perfectly see the dimmed shape of Rashomon tearing through the air. He was practically seeking death, circling his way back to the Rashomon-user. The moon was nowhere to be found and the flames of fire mocking him every time he tripped, the snakes giggling as he cried out in agony when they bit his ankles. But he kept moving, running through the overgrown smiling trees, with only the mocking fire as his light. He continued to run on the long loop path, hoping that he could reach where he started, before the tendrils grabbed his limbs.
A spark of horror lit up his chest with the thought of what Rashomon would do to him.
Atsushi’s chest heaved as he forced that thought down his guilty mind and continued to run.
It didn’t matter what Rashomon would do to him. He was the one that left the rogue, ability-affected Akutagawa first. Out of fear, because Akutagawa was a strong, dangerous man. And if his own mind was controlled by his own blood-seeking ability then he truly cannot be stopped. So Atsushi was afraid. He was afraid when he saw those grey eyes that made him freeze, a shiver of instinctual obedience running through his body when they locked onto his. When those grey eyes turned into a deep red, fever quickly ran through his body. He ran.
Hopefully he could outrun Rashomon and make his way back to his partner.
He sobbed once more when another particular bite was extra hard. The world tilted violently and he threw his hands out, but there was no one to catch the guilt-stricken orphan except the stones of the path. Of course. Akutagawa wasn’t there anymore. He slammed into the ground chest-first. He lay paralyzed, gasping like a fish out of water, waiting for his vision to stop spinning. After the harsh impact, he immediately caressed the aching burn on his bare foot while tears spilled along his red cheeks. Atsushi choked out a gasp when the snakes smiled and wrapped around his stinging leg, making their way up. But he ignored that in dread as Rashomon finally caught up. She circled him a few times when he continued laying down in fear, but then she made her way to his body. Trying to camouflage as the black snakes, making a form that was flexible and followed the same movements as the reptiles.
“Atsushi.” In a soft tone that Akutagawa would never address him, he stepped into Atsushi’s blurred vision. His vibrant, red eyes now gazing upon him as a wide, wicked smile stabbed through his face. His coat extended into the playful Rashomon, caressing his limbs, matching the teasing snakes.
“Akutagawa.” He gasped out, his heart pounding in his ears when the two slithering bodies were coming closer to his neck. His eyes widened in horror when he tried to move his hands, only to realize that it was tied together by the coiling Rashomon. “Akutagawa… please” He looked up at Akutagawa. Begging, hoping that his partner would come back. He could save him. Akutagawa would save him. He always did.
But will he really save the same person that left him to torment in pain as their target’s ability clouded his mind? Save the boy that told him to go deeper in the forest, even while knowing the laughing snakes there. Knowing that if they were to go into the belly of the forest, there was no way they would make it out without capturing the target. That the boy was childish enough, wanting to reach the edge of the forest, the cliff that shows the glistening waters.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Akutagawa.” The reptile and Rashomon reached his collarbone now. Atsushi couldn’t bear to look up at the rogue man before him. A gust of wind blew over them, and the scream flew with it. Atsushi sobbed, screamed, and thrashed around as two bites were made on his neck. The snake refused to latch off, while Rashomon moved to another part of his neck.
Akutagawa hummed, he kneeled beside the crying man. He grabbed the snake with a frown then forced it off of Atsushi’s neck. Flinging it to the side. Some of Atsushi’s flesh went with it, but relief came quickly. It left just as quickly when a bunch of other snakes hissed and made their way closer to the two. Rasohomon was making small bites on his neck, he wouldn’t dare complain about that though. Who knows what Akutagawa would do.
“Stand up and follow me.” Akutagawa grimaced, eyeing the reptiles. He stood up and waited for the boy. Atsushi continued watching him, his body felt like it weighed nothing and a bus at the same time.
“Where are you taking me?” He whispered. His throat was dry, it took a lot of effort to even say those words. The ability at least allowed Akutagawa to have some sense of capability to communicate.
Akutagawa clicked his teeth and Rashomon tightened around his neck.
“Get up,” he said.
Atsushi closed his eyes, exhaustion making its way into his body. Rashomon was probably laughing as she wrapped around his whole body, injuries and bites were burning as the fabric rubbed against it. He felt his body lifted from the ground.
He opened his eyes just a little, only to have a hand slide from his forehead over his eyes. The world went black then and the burning sensation, the tingling went away.
***
Atsushi grimaced as he opened his eyes, his eyelashes fluttering a few times. His neck felt hot, but definitely cooler than before. And his entire body felt sore, sluggish as he tried to sit up straight. When he finally managed to, looking around he saw that he was on a cliff now.
His eyes widened when he saw the sight before him. Glistening waters under a bright, white moon. Gasping as he tried to stand up. It took a few times, but then he finally gave up and started crawling to the edge. When he reached there he looked down.
He was high, high up. The waters were a deep blue, but it was sparking that it was practically drawing him in.
A cough behind him brought his attention as he snapped his head back. A figure came from the dark, long black coat, sharp jawline, and red eyes. Akutagawa.
Red eyes.
Not grey yet.
Atsushi stood up, his legs fighting the will of his mind, but he was determined.
“Akutagawa.”
He summoned his ability through his white arm. Blue light and rings surrounded him, and eventually instead of a human hand it was a tiger’s paw.
Akutagawa continued standing still, his eyes looking far from Atsushi.
“You wanted to come here.” Akutagawa remarked, his footsteps approaching him. Rashomon wasn’t summoned but Atsushi knew. He knew that she could be here in a millisecond. He must be aware of everything Akutagawa could pull out of his pocket. He continued. “You were complaining a whole lot. Now look at what happened.”
He extended his arm. “We were ambushed by our targets and the forest’s habitat.”
The words reawakened the raw burn of the snake bites on his neck. Akutagawa was right, and that was the most terrifying part. He had wanted the cliff, the scenery. Now they were here, but Akutagawa was now affected by the ability.
Atsushi didn’t know what to do.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” He muttered while raising an eyebrow.
Atsushi nodded.
Akutagawa chuckled, stepping forward until he was breathing down Atsushi's neck. "Then let's see if your apology holds any weight."
A sudden shove of his hand caught Atsushi completely off guard. He tipped backward over the ledge, but his instinct took over. His tiger paw shot out, clamping tightly around Akutagawa's wrist. Akutagawa went right over the edge with him from the force. With a snarl, Akutagawa's coat flared and Rashomon lashed out. Catching a rock at the absolute last second. They jolted to a halt. Atsushi's legs dangled mid-air as he held onto Akutagawa's arm.
"Fool." Akutagawa hissed, the vibrant red of his eyes burned with an unholy intensity in the moonlight. "You always drag me down."
"I won't let go," Atsushi choked out, his voice a desperate whisper against the roar of the ocean below. He squeezed Akutagawa's wrist tighter, the blue rings of his tiger ability pulsing with erratic light. "I won't leave you again!"
Akutagawa snarled as he used his other arm to wrap around Atsushi’s torso, letting Rashomon hold their combined weight.
The sound of approaching blades shattered through the wind whipped past them. The helicopter approaching them caught both of their attention. With his tiger vision he could see a brown coat flowing past the doors. The light of the helicopter engulfed them, brighter than the red in Akutagawa's eyes. And that was all Atsushi needed, before the world dissolved into muted noise and whipping wind.
***
The roar of the ocean was gone. Instead a beep echoed softly against white walls. Atsushi grimaced, his eyelashes fluttering as he fought the heavy fog of sedation. His neck felt tight and sensitive, but the fever of the venom had cooled into a dull ache. Thankfully his ability was working overtime back into the forest to heal him.
He slowly turned his head on the pillow, his vision blurring before finally locking onto the chair beside his bed.
Akutagawa.
He wasn't wearing his black coat, just a simple dark shirt. His head was tilted back against the wall, his face was relaxed, and his eyes were closed in deep, quiet sleep.
His eyes fluttered open and Atsushi felt the relief wash over him.
Beautiful grey eyes