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The claws retract with a soft swoosh, and the world goes whisper-still.
Somewhere beyond himself, Yuki could hear the faint sound of droplets hitting metal. The noise seemed louder than the pain lancing through his chest. Afterwards, there was only silence for long seconds. After Taira completed her speech, nobody else had a single word to say in response. Yuki felt the piercing, alien pain fall away. It was replaced with emptiness. Instead of flesh and blood, Yuki could have sworn he could feel the void forming where parts of him used to be. Despite this, somehow his heart was still beating, and his lungs kept going, even though they were ragged and torn. He knew this because he could hear his broken breath, and feel his heart pounding desperately on. There was no way to stop the blood as it kept flowing to stain his chest and blur the corners of his vision. Yuki's hands were floating, and stained with red.
He tried to look forward, blinking through the haze. Before him, a blurry figure was moving towards him across the courtroom. He could hear the sharp sound of footsteps, and the light squelch they made in the blood below as they stopped nearby. Suddenly, someone caught him, and Yuki realized that his legs had collapsed. He must have been falling, but now, he felt pressure around his chest. Because someone was trying; someone cared, even after everything. Scarlet eyes met his, and there was a level of panic there Yuki had never seen in them before.
It was Kinjo…? Yuki’s thoughts were slow and heavy. He couldn't understand. Was Kinjo crying? Yuki hadn't known… he hadn't expected that anyone would care this much. Something about that was reassuring, like a weight had lifted, because someone cared about him, and that someone was the person he'd cared for the most all along. There was no sense in denying that now. Shaky fingers rose, and he let them find the back of Kinjo’s head before weakly combing through his hair.
“M-Maeda, try not to move,” Kinjo’s voice trembled. Maybe Yuki had misheard, because his voice never sounded like that. What should have been orders sounded more like pleas. “Just hold on, I…” Yuki felt himself sinking from somewhere outside himself. But that was okay, because he had a place to fall. Kinjo caught him, and he felt himself being held. As arms wrapped around him, the pressure around his wound remained, but Yuki could tell it was no good. He stared upward, into Kinjo's face. To look at anything else or miss a moment would be unbearable. Kinjo’s gaze met his. The usual guarded calm over his features was still there, but Yuki could see the facade shattering as his expression began to break. He wanted to tell Kinjo that it was okay, but the words came out as a weakened gurgle.
“...Tsu…?” He managed. Even with all the breath he had left, he couldn't finish the word. Still, he could tell by the faint look of shock in Kinjo’s eyes that he had heard and understood. Just this once, he wanted to say it. There were many things he'd never do. Couldn't he at least have this? Even if just for a little while? A hand pressed against his neck and face. Yuki was glad for the warmth. Everything was getting so cold. Tears fell from somewhere above and hit his cheek. Maybe there by now, there was no point in denial, as the iron tang of blood grew heavier and heavier. It was just like all the times before, except there would be no trial or justice for his death.
“I’ve got you,” Kinjo whispered, and Yuki felt himself being drawn even closer. “I've got you.” His voice was strong, but brittle. Yuki could hear the fragility in it. Was this ...love? Could he really have been loved, all along? Everything was agony, but even that last painful wound, just one more in a series of hurts, was beginning to fade. Yuki was surrounded by safety and warmth. He could no longer see his protector’s face like this, so he couldn't see Kinjo's expression, but he heard his heavy heartbeat, and felt the intense pressure of his grasp. Yuki could feel the skin of Kinjo’s neck against his cheek, and let himself shift closer. It was far warmer and softer than he’d imagined.
Kinjo stiffened slightly, before holding him closer. The courtroom flickered behind them in a strange display of pink and monochrome hues, but Yuki felt the embrace soften as Kinjo drew in even closer, and gave up all else just to hold him close. At last, Yuki realized he'd been deeply cared for all along. Though not being able to respond in kind was painful, it was reassuring to know what he hadn't known.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if Utsuro was still there; if somehow, he was feeling this too. Was Taira really okay with this...? Were his friends okay...? In the end though, it was impossible to focus on anything else beyond his bubble of pain and the sensation of Kinjo's body close to him. As Kinjo's shoulders shook, Yuki tried to lift his arms, and return the embrace. Instead, his fingers slid weakly down against Kinjo's uniform, and failed to stay.
Their heartbeats were falling out of sync now. Kinjo’s continued to speed up while Yuki felt his slowing. The steady drumbeat near his face made it easier to take. He hoped that heart would keep beating. It had to. If he could have one last selfish blessing before he went, that would be it.
“Yuki, stay with me,” Kinjo’s voice sounded strange, as though it were coming from underwater, and it was surprisingly soft. "Please..." Yuki had already sunk into the depths below, but he tried to answer, because he wanted more than anything to stay right here like Kinjo wished. But the world was growing hazy, and he felt as though he were drifting away. Yuki blinked slowly, barely able to tell the difference between his eyes being closed or not. It really had all been real, hadn't it? Even someone like him, had become real, even if just for a while. The memories of it were floating past him now, beyond his reach as they bubbled towards the surface, and a reality he could no longer be a part of.
Still, he could feel a gentle touch on his face. He was wanted. He was safe. He was loved.
That warmth surrounded him, even as his own body seemed to grow cold and distant, reverting to the role it had always been meant to serve. A hand cupped his cheek.
Yuki tried to smile; he could sense someone searching his face as he closed his eyes one last time.