Sukisho Fan Fiction ❯ 10 years ❯ Chapter 13 ( Chapter 13 )

10 years

 

By Sapadu

 

A/N: Thanks again to all of my readers and reviewers, as this story comes to an end- In response to the comment I received about the parallel between Ran vs Nanami and Yoru vs. Shinichirou... I saw a picture on the box of the first game featuring Yoru and Ran both holding the little children Sora and Sunao, the two of them looking kind of like Shinichirou and Nanami, in terms of their attitudes. That's where I got it from.

 

I should warn you, though, there is going to be violence towards the end, in a particularly disturbing scene which, if you're a big fan of Nanami, you might want to skip (or, possibly, might make you drool, if you think it would be cool to see Nanami kick some ass for once.)

 

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT... I'll talk! I don't own the series!

 

“At least a week- after that, the stitches should be healed up enough for you to walk. But if you run or jump for a few days after that, they'll reopen, so you'll have to be careful.” Ayano was explaining. Sunao was listening, carefully, but the look on his face was more than an announcement that he was not pleased with this development.

 

“Arigatou gozaimasu. Sorry for causing you trouble.” Sunao replied, mechanically bowing with politeness.

 

The Masturi-duo were standing outside the doors, listening in on the conversation, intently. Already, they knew what was going through Sunao's mind. Ayano replied in a conversational tone, but it didn't go very far as he excused himself and allowed the two blonds back inside.

 

As Sunao stared at the wall, Matsuri sat down next to him, before giving Sunao a stern glance.

 

“...Nao-kun...” He said, firmly. Sunao turned his eyes up, and spoke before the lecture began.

 

“I won't try to leave before that.” Sunao mumbled. Matsuri blinked, but sat back with a bit more ease, before Sunao spoke again, “...I need to ask you and Nakou-chan for a favor... Matsuri-chan...”

 

Matsuri and Nakou stood up a little straighter, as Sunao spoke so seriously.

 

“Nani...” Nakou asked, softly. Sunao didn't answer for a few moments, as though considering how to word his request, then, he swallowed.

 

“...I need you to find where Aizawa took Hashiba...”

 

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“Because... Fujimori kept insisting that he just wanted me to be safe... He must have called Aizawa to make the agreement that he would be a willing test subject... on the condition that I wouldn't be harmed...” Sora mumbled, while Yoru listened, patiently.

 

After a moment of hearing Sora explain it, even Yoru had to admit it made sense.

 

“...Ore no sei da...” Sora finally whispered, as Yoru gave him a sharp glance, “...Because... it was me that Aizawa wanted all along... Fujimori has been suffering for so long... he was even willing to walk back into this kind of life... that Ran would suffer along with him... that Niichan was injured again... that everyone would be involved again...” Sora held his head in his hands, eyes slipping shut, “...Datte... ore...”

 

Yoru remained silent.

 

#@%^*($^@@!!^%*^(!)&^#$!

 

“...Nao-kun... you want to find Sora that badly?” Matsuri asked, frowning a little.

 

Sunao's eyes locked with Matsuri and all possible doubts were eradicated.

 

“Aizawa took Hashiba on the same deal that I made with him. Seeing how well he kept his bargain on that one, I don't know what Aizawa will do to Hashiba...” Sunao's eyes were very narrowed, “...and it's my fault that Hashiba is in this situation again. I need to be the one to save him.”

 

“Dame, Nao-kun.” Nakou interrupted from the door frame. Matsuri and Sunao blinked and stared at her uncharacteristic seriousness. She was even frowning.

 

“Nakou-chan...” Matsuri mumbled, as she walked over.

 

“Dame desu, Nao-kun.” She repeated. Sunao was briefly struck dumb as he locked eyes with his former fiancé, before he glared and sat up, protesting.

 

“Nakou-chan, this is important. I have to go.” He insisted, “I'm not going to leave before the doctors say I'm allowed- that's why I'm asking you two to go and find out where they are!” Nakou shook her head.

 

“Sore ja nai.” Nakou replied, maintaining her gaze, “Nao-kun... why do you want to be the one to save Sora?” She asked.

 

Sunao blinked, completely taken aback by the question.

 

“If this is something stupid or rash, such as wanting revenge on Aizawa or feeling obligated to repay Sora or because you're the one responsible... I'll hold you down myself as the doctors sedate you, if necessary.” Nakou continued, firmly.

 

Sunao's eyes went wide, before he looked down, guiltily.

 

“...O-ore...” He mumbled, not sure of what his real reason was. Matsuri wore a pained expression, before adding,

 

“...Nao-kun... Nakou-chan is right. After everything that's happened, if you go in for the wrong reasons, completely unprepared, you'll only hurt yourself, and Sora, even further.” He said. Sunao's eyebrows quivered, before he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

 

“...Ano tokii... Hashiba was always with me... that's the one thing that I remembered, above everything... that Hashiba never stood by and let me suffer. Even if it was something in school, like that stupid boat race Matsuri-chan looped us into...”

 

Matsuri blinked, and recalled the incident- but mostly how Sora had stepped up and defended Sunao... and even then, it had only been because Sunao was being harassed for being afraid of water than the actual force that Sora had gotten mad about...

 

“...If I was in trouble, and if Hashiba knew about it... he always came to my defense.” Sunao mumbled, but it was articulate, “In the lab... in school... and when Aizawa started his experiments again... Hashiba... Hashiba never stood by and watched as I needed help...”

 

Sunao paused, head hanging so his bangs fell and hid his face.

 

“There might have been times when he didn't know... times when he wasn't there... demo... Hashiba... always tried his hardest for me... whenever he could...”

 

A loud gulping noise was heard echoing off the walls.

 

“...Dakara... this one time... I want Hashiba to know... that I haven't forgotten that... I want to bring him back... to atone for everything I've done... and so that Hashiba... doesn't have to depend on only himself when things become too painful...”

 

The room was deathly silent, before there was a knock on the door. The three blinked at it, before Matsuri stood to answer.

 

“KONNICHI WA, HONJOU-SENPAI-TACHI!” A loud, familiar voice bellowed while the green-haired figure standing right at his side plugged his ears.

 

Sunao and Matsuri blinked with surprise, as Ichikawa Gaku bounced in, arm in arm with Nagase Kai. Nakou simply tilted her head with curiosity.

 

“...Dare... kore?” Ichikawa asked, impishly. Nakou extended her hand to shake.

 

“Michiya Nakou-chan.” Matsuri answered, and Nagase paused, frowning at her.

 

“Michiya? Masaka... you wouldn't be the daughter of the owner of the Michiya corporation, would you?” He asked. Nakou peered at him, owlishly, before answering.

 

“...You've heard of Tou-san, then?” She asked, and Sunao put in,

 

“She knows about Aizawa, Nagase.” Nakou blinked at Sunao, before turning back to Nagase, hand still extended. Nagase smiled, somewhat thinly.

 

“A pleasure to meet the daughter of one of my father's former sponsors.” He agreed, kissing the back of Nakou's hand instead of shaking it and causing the eyes of everyone in the room to bug out.

 

“NA-GA-SE-BU-CHO-OU!” Ichikawa whined, tugging on the back of said buchou's coat, “HOW CAN YOU DO THAT WHEN YOU ALREADY HAVE ME?!”

 

Nagase, meanwhile, was smirking, as though pleased that he'd managed to get Ichikawa jealous. Nakou blinked, before grinning as well.

 

“...Troublemaker... I think we'll get along just FINE...” There was a mild chuckle, before Nakou pulled her hand away and stretched her fingers.

 

“Matsuri-chan! Ikou ka!” She said, cheerfully. Matsuri blinked, curious as to what she was referring to.

“Nao-kun asked us to find where Aizawa took Sora, didn't he? After all, he can't leave the hospital for a week.” Nakou clarified, with a wink.

 

Matsuri blinked at her, before grinning back with an identical expression. Ichikawa and Nagase stared at Sunao, whom was openly gaping at Nakou.

 

“Wakkatta! Ikou ze!” Matsuri agreed, heading for the door, before Nagase stopped them.

 

Matsuri and Nakou gave him a curious glance, before he spoke.

 

“...Look for a building that would be out of the way, unlikely to be disturbed, probably with a fence or a sign forbidding trespassing. And, it would most likely have a generator- most of his testing methods require electricity to run, so the buildings almost always have a generator in case of a power outage.” Nagase told them.

 

Nakou blinked, again.

 

Ichikawa gaped, almost horrified that his lover would help them with something that could so easily lead to more casualties than one.

 

Sunao couldn't find words, either to thank Nagase, or to ask why he was assisting them- especially after being used to the other as a supervisor for the project.

 

Matsuri smiled, nodded, and then, the two of them were gone.

 

&$!@$@*(!#$@#*%^($@@$^(

 

“He'll need to remain in the hospital for quite some time- partially because he lost a lot of blood, but also because the bullet caused some minor lead poisoning and damage that needs to be treated and healed. But he should wake up relatively soon, other than those conditions.”

 

Nanami nodded, mechanically as Ayano offered the details of Shinichirou's recovery. He wasn't listening clearly. Really, Nanami was waiting for the words 'you may see him'. His hands were twitching, almost like an addict separated from his drug for too long.

 

...That was what Shinichirou was... like a drug for Nanami... a wonderful, healing, pain-numbing drug which made life bearable and happy.

 

It made Nanami shake to think that was what his beloved had been reduced to in his eyes.

 

Ayano paused from his obligation of informing Nanami of Shinichirou's condition. Nanami was shaking and staring down at the floor, and, quite frankly, Ayano didn't think that it would go much further if he continued to talk.

 

Instead, he folded up the chart and gave Nanami a long look. The nurse blinked and looked up after five minutes of realizing that Ayano wasn't speaking anymore.

 

“Nanami... maybe you should go home. Or visit Sei-kun and Sunao-kun. But the way that you're worrying yourself staying here, waiting for Shinichirou will only make it harder on him when he wakes up. At least, I'm sure that he wouldn't want you to be doing this to yourself.” Ayano said, firmly. Nanami blinked, eyes blank, before nodding and obediently leaving his vigil post.

 

Following Ayano's suggestion, Nanami first went to see Sei and Sunao. The former still hadn't woken up from, what appeared to be, a catatonia- both Shiina and Kitamura were still with him.

 

“The doctors told us that he probably won't wake up for a while... they said it was a combination of all the blood he lost, a concussion, and the fact that nobody knows how long it was between the time he lost consciousness and when he was found...” Shiina whispered, his voice shaking and frightened as he held onto one of his friend's hands.

 

Nanami took a long look at Shiina, Kitamura, and Sei's faces, and couldn't help but still see the children they had been just a few years ago...

 

At least, however, that he didn't need any machines to keep his breathing steady or his heart beat regular.

 

Nanami's visit with Sunao was a little less painful, but much more awkward. Sunao spent much of his time looking at the floor, or mumbling things about how the weather was supposed to be nice for the next few days and how Nanami should get out and enjoy it.

 

Nanami had laughed, somewhat hollowly at that, and Sunao had understood that he wouldn't be able to enjoy anything- not while Shinichirou was still in the hospital.

 

After a moment, Nanami decided to move, but Sunao began to speak before Nanami could fully leave.

 

“...Nanami-niichan...” Sunao began and Nanami froze- Sunao hadn't called him that since before Matsuri had moved away.

 

“...Nanami-niichan, I... there's something I need to ask you to do...” Nanami turned back, barely even thinking what it could be, much less why Sunao was asking it of him, before Sunao explained, “...You're the only one who I can ask for this...”

 

Nanami carefully walked over and sat down, mostly because he didn't trust his legs not to give out on him.

 

“...Ore... as soon as the doctors will let me out of the hospital... I'm going to bring Hashiba back.”

 

Nanami blinked, then blinked again, then stared at Sunao with very wide eyes, as though wondering if he'd heard correctly.

 

“...Fujimori-kun...” He whispered. Sunao had a peaceful smile on his face.

 

“...I asked Matsuri-chan and Nakou-chan to find a few places where Aizawa might have taken Hashiba... Nagase and Ichikawa-kun went with them to be sure that they wouldn't be caught or that Aizawa wouldn't see them.” Sunao added as the look the nurse was giving him was just a little short of horrified.

 

“Fujimori-kun.” Nanami gasped.

 

“...Dakara... Nanami-niichan... I want you to come with me...” Sunao finally said.

 

Nanami's jaw dropped.

 

“...Nanami-niichan... Aizawa has caused you a lot of pain too... and you've lived a long time, afraid of him... and carried that secret all by yourself to protect us... I want you to be able to confront him... and say that you're not afraid of him... and free yourself from whatever he's done to you.” Sunao's voice was shaking, but he managed to say everything that he needed to, and it was painfully obvious, as Nanami saw when Sunao looked up and made eye contact, that he was still plainly terrified of Aizawa.

 

“...Fujimori-kun...” Nanami's voice dropped to just barely a breath of sound. Sunao continued to look at him- just looking, watching, waiting for a 'yea' or 'nay', not staring or trying to intimidate an answer either way.

 

Nanami was silent for a long moment, staring at his hands, thinking over what Sunao had just said.

 

...He wanted Nanami to be free of what Aizawa had done to him- both directly and indirectly by using Sora and Sunao in his experiments. That... that almost sounded like what Shinichirou had always been encouraging Nanami to do- instead of running away, do SOMETHING to confront it...

 

Nanami... had always been bad at that. He'd always been a coward, running away instead of turning to fight...

 

He'd run away from Aizawa when he was too afraid to continue working... he'd run away from Aizawa when he was to afraid too return to the man's side as a plaything...

 

He'd run away from Aizawa... and left Sunao in the laboratory... Even when Shinichirou had picked Sora up under his arm... Nanami hadn't done the same for Sunao...

 

Nanami looked back up, tears forming in his eyes.

 

“...Alright... Fujimori-kun...” Nanami finally replied. Sunao hesitantly raised one hand, but stopped as he barely brushed Nanami's arm.

 

“...Nanami-niichan...?” He asked, quietly, as Nanami raised his arm and wiped away his tears on the cuff of his white nurse's coat. His hands were shaking again, but this time... something felt different.

 

Nanami felt... emboldened... he felt... empowered... just enough that he could tell himself that he could do this.

 

He would help Fujimori-kun get Hashiba-kun back. He would break his ties with Aizawa. He would... He would...

 

He would.

 

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“We found one building which is probably where Sora and Aizawa are right now...” Matsuri said, handing Sunao his camera so Sunao could see the picture taken.

 

It certainly fit in with all the other laboratories- the building was only one story, but it looked much like an abandoned prison, with heavy double doors, bars on the windows, and ivy growing on the crumbling walls. A fence surrounded the grounds, complete with barbed wires and a sign that read “Private Property- No Trespassing”. There was also, just as Nagase had predicted, a generator with wires trailing into the building.

 

Sunao's insides shuddered.

 

“That's where Hashiba-kun is...” Nanami whispered, in shock. Matsuri turned to the shaken nurse.

 

“Daijobu- Nao-kun's going to rescue him.” He said with a cheerful wink. Nanami continued to stare at his knees.

 

“...Watashi mou..” He whispered. Matsuri, Nakou, Ichikawa, and even Nagase looked shocked at this declaration.

 

“...Watashi... I'm the reason that everyone became involved in this... I need to help Fujimori-kun bring Hashiba-kun back... And I need to confront Aizawa... so he no longer troubles anyone...” Nanami was whispering.

 

“Sensei...” Ichikawa protested, but Sunao stopped him.

 

“I asked Nanami-sensei to help me.” He said, quietly, “I'll need help to bring Hashiba back... and I think Nanami-sensei deserves this chance...”

 

Everyone in the room gaped, before Nagase spoke, with a concerned frown.

 

“Will you two be able to do it?” He asked, and before Sunao could snap in response, continued, “The last time, even Hashiba Sora was still terrified to the point of being controlled- and all father needed to do was turn on a lighter.” Sunao glared back down into his lap, “Would you be able to break his control over you, if you needed to?”

 

Nanami continued to stare at his hands, which hand started to tear the cloth of his doctor's coat, eyes glittering with fearful tears at the mere thought of having to see Aizawa again.

 

Sunao, on the other hand, set a determined frown on his face.

 

“I believe we can do it...” Nagase's frown eased, though fractionally, “Hashiba was also able to face Aizawa last time... and tell him, to his face, that he couldn't tell us what to do anymore... If Hashiba could do that for me... I should be able to do the same for Hashiba... or it wouldn't make a difference.”

 

This proclamation was met with blank looks- everyone was getting used to these uncharacteristic speeches from Sunao.

 

“Soushite... Nanami-sensei... Ran was never afraid of Aizawa. The most he ever felt was a paralyzing anger and disgust that Aizawa could hurt everyone and get away with it... I believe that Nanami-sensei was never really afraid, either... but you always just felt so guilty that you believed you deserved to be hurt by him...”

 

By the time Sunao was finished speaking, Nanami was gaping at him.

 

But, at the same time, his posture had shifted, however subtly- instead of hunched over and staring miserably at the floor, he was sitting up straighter, his arms were relaxed at his sides, and his expression was... much less tense.

 

“Nao-kun...” Nakou and Matsuri breathed, at exactly the same time as Nanami whispered,

 

“Fujimori-kun...”

 

“WA-AH! THAT'S THE SPIRIT, FUJIMORI-SENPAI!” Ichikawa broke the silence.

 

Nakou was blinking at Sunao, before she smiled.

 

“Wakkatta, Nao-kun...” She finally said. Matsuri turned to glance at her, “We'll stay here and watch over Shinichirou-san until you come back with Sora!” Nakou gave them a similar wink, and Nanami's head swiveled, expression surprised, then grateful.

 

“I'm allowed out tomorrow- we'll go then...” Sunao mumbled, looking back at the camera, and the group sat down to help plot the rescue mission.

 

$#!*((((&)$^!%#$$@#&%%(^*@!$#@

 

“Koko da...” Sunao whispered.

 

Nanami didn't reply.

 

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Sunao was relieved that he didn't meet Aizawa in the hall as he walked past doors. He and Nanami split up, going from room to room, looking for Sora.

 

Sunao finally found him, in what he guessed was the east wing.

 

The room resembled a small surgery lab- a table with trays of instruments was right next to the operation table, and a movable lamp was on the other side.

 

And Sora...

 

Sora was laying on the surgery table, staring blankly and unblinking up at the ceiling, not even aware that Sunao was in the room. He only wore one of those white gowns which hung open in front with a tie to keep it shut. It wasn't closed at the moment, however, and Sunao could see every inch of Sora's skin, dotted with bruises and healing punctures where needles had been. Sunao could even see chafe marks on his ankles and wrists, where they'd been bound to the table.

 

Apparently, they weren't needed, now...

 

Sunao felt his heart thud painfully between his ribs.

 

“Hashiba...” He whispered, walking over to the table. Sora didn't move a muscle.

 

Sunao's hands shook as he lifted them and felt Sora's skin- at least it was still warm.

 

...But what had Aizawa DONE to him?

 

“Hashiba...” Sunao breathed, his breath hitching like a hiccup combined with a sob, face contorting.

 

The glazed look in Sora's eyes didn't fade. One of Sunao's hands clenched at the fabric over his chest.

 

“Hashiba...” Sunao whispered again, hoarsely, shaking Sora a little, like a child trying to awaken his father. Sora didn't move for a long moment.

 

Practically crying with frustration, Sunao bent his head against Sora's chest, shoving him a little harder.

 

“Hashiba... mezama de yo...” Sunao hissed, frantically.

 

Sora blinked, then groaned.

 

Sunao looked up, relieved that whatever had happened wasn't permanent- probably just sedation or a drug.

 

After a few more moments of shaking, by the end of which, Sunao was beginning to panic that Aizawa would be back any moment, Sora was blinking, blearily, around.

 

“...Fujimori...” He mumbled, hand coming up to touch Sunao's face, as though probing reality to be sure it was really there.

 

“Aah... it's me, Hashiba...” Suano whispered back, pulling Sora to his feet, “Ikou...”

 

They had barely made it out the door, before they stopped.

 

“Are you so eager to escape that you don't consider Nanami's safety important?” Sora froze, pulling Sunao to a stop with him.

 

Blood going cold, Suano's head turned. Aizawa was behind them both, hands casually in his pockets and Nanami no where in sight.

 

So... did that mean Aizawa had...?

 

Or was he just bluffing?

 

“I thought you'd come, Fujimori Sunao. You always did like causing trouble for everyone...” Aizawa continued. Sora was already shaking so badly that Sunao couldn't hold onto his hand very well- maybe it was still because of the drug in his system, or maybe Aizawa had done a few more treatments during the week he'd been here, but apparently, just the sound of Aizawa's voice was enough to frighten him, now.

 

“You've caused everyone a great deal of trouble, even now- first these experiments... a lot of time and effort went to waste, both now and last time... then for Hashiba Sora... he had to come and take your place to make up for your mistakes... and yet, you throw that away, too...”

 

“...Ya... mero...” Sora was whispering, not realizing that the words weren't meant for him. Aizawa could have discussed the economy, politics, or even poetry, and it would have had the same effect. Sunao's knees quaked, before it occurred to him- Aizawa wasn't even close enough to them to touch them, let alone harm them... they simply had to run.

 

Sunao's face hardened and he gave Sora's arm a sharp enough yank that it woke him up from his stupor. As soon as they started running, it quickly became an alternation of Sora dragging Sunao, neither looking back at the sound of Aizawa's pursuing footsteps, but with every step through the dark corridor, they both felt like they were being run into a corner.

 

...Somehow, the phrase 'trapped like rats' seemed to be frighteningly appropriate.

 

It was when the muscle spasm hit that Sunao remembered he'd been told not to run.

 

Sunao hit the floor, a throbbing pain tearing through his leg where the stitches were. He heard Sora's feet squeak as he spun on the floor.

 

“Fujimori! Fuji-” But instead of running back, Sora came to a complete halt, staring at something behind Sunao.

 

“Hashiba, nigite!” Sunao shouted, clutching at his leg. Sora didn't seem to hear him, and as Sunao was yanked to his feet by someone pulling on his hair, he understood why.

 

“Hashiba!” Sunao kept shouting, before an arm went around his neck, pressing against his throat, making it hard to breathe.

 

He could see Sora's face returning to that blank look, the glassy appearance returning to his eyes, and he heard Aizawa utter a single command.

 

“Korose.”

 

Sunao choked. Sora's response was subtle, but still present- Sunao saw his hand clench around a scalpel, one which he must have taken from the tray of instruments.

 

Sunao's arms went up and struggled to loosen Aizawa's grip on him. Sora's face was still completely void, but his foot shifted slightly, as though taking a fraction of a step forwards.

 

“...ha... shi... ba...” Sunao's voice was barely a wheeze, but he didn't care.

 

Sora was going to do it. He was actually going to kill him...

 

So many things went through Sunao's mind at that moment.

 

He was going to die.

 

Hashiba was going to remain here, under Aizawa's control.

 

Nanami-sensei and Oniichan were never going to know what had happened.

 

Matsuri-chan and Nakou-chan were going to be waiting for them to come back, even when it would never happen.

 

...And Hashiba was going to remember this... with a crushing sense of guilt... until the day he went crazy or killed himself.

 

Sunao's hands were shaking so badly that he couldn't even pull Aizawa's arm off from his neck.

 

“HANASE!” A new voice screamed, and with a crash of glass breaking, Sunao found himself back on the ground. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Nanami with the remains of a glass jar, beating Aizawa as best he could with a wrist restrained in Aizawa's grip.

 

Sunao stared, horrified, but still somehow unable to tear his eyes away from the ferocity and rage he saw Nanami attacking Aizawa with- it was something that he'd never seen Nanami do before, as though the kind, motherly, and timid Nanami who had been, just a day ago, almost crying over the prospect of facing Aizawa had been replaced with a rabid monster. Maybe it was the fact that Aizawa had just ordered Sora to kill him, or maybe Nanami had just snapped, but Sunao felt more than disturbed, watching as Nanami smashed the broken glass against Aizawa's face, tearing his skin in a jagged scar. Sunao felt his insides twist further as Nanami started screaming unintelligible things, but what sounded mostly like a chorus of 'I hate you, I hate you, I hate you', but still wholly unlike Nanami.

 

“...Nanami-chan...” Sora whispered. Sunao stood as best he could on one leg, leaning against the wall, wobbling until he reached Sora. Nanami looked back over his shoulder, long enough to shout at them.

 

“Dette ke!”

 

Sora didn't need to be told twice, picking up Sunao under the shoulders and knees, running for the nearest door, collapsing and sliding to a halt just before he reached it. They could still hear Nanami's shrieks and some kind of muffled growl from Aizawa echoing off the walls.

 

“Hashiba...” Sunao sat up, bracing the other as best he could, “Hashiba... daijobu?” Sora gasped, for breath, the drugs still in his system, as he leaned against Sunao, before haggardly sitting back up.

 

“Nanami-chan...” Sunao jumped a little, and looked back the way they'd come, “...We need to go back for him...”

 

“Don't you two dare.”

 

(^^!@#$!@^$&$(*$^(^@$#%!#!@$*$^

 

“Honjou-senpai, Nagase-buchou!” Ichikawa shouted. The two senpais were standing watch for Sunao, Nanami, and, hopefully, Sora, but had moved inside as it started to rain and mist over. Nakou had left to get coffee for everyone, seeing as the hospital had no decent vending machines for that particular drink.

 

Nagase was the one who ended up being Ichikawa's brace as he stopped to catch his breath.

 

“Gaku...” He mumbled, puzzled, before Ichikawa had a chance to fully say a full sentence.

 

“...Ichikawa-kun, what happened?” Matsuri asked, walking over as Nakou returned with cans of coffee.

 

“...Minato-sensei...” Ichikawa panted, “Minato-sensei's disappeared.”

 

“Nani?” Matsuri demanded, eyes going wide, before he looked out at the rain outside. It wasn't a heavy storm like the one they'd had just a few months ago... but it was still no weather to be out in.

 

“Did you tell Kozuki-san already?” Nagase asked, providing a shoulder for Ichikawa to lean against as he hyperventilated. Ichikawa managed to nod, but was panicking over where the math teacher could have disappeared to.

 

Around early morning, the rain began to let up and a mist settled over the ground. Through the mist, they could see smoke rising in the distance, in the direction of the second laboratory. Matsuri and Nakou exchanged a nervous glance, as did Ichikawa and Nagase, but nobody said anything.

 

An hour later, two people came walking through the fog, one with spiky hair, the other, without.

 

Shinichirou was leaning heavily against Nanami, limping as he walked, shirt stained with blood from his reopened wound. Nanami was frazzled, and coughing repeatedly, but was otherwise unharmed.

 

Ayano silently strode out of the hospital, bunny doll on his hand as he smacked it upside his younger brother's head, before escorting the two inside.

 

Nanami looked pleadingly at the four for a reassuring hint, but was met with very depressed looks. Nanami wilted, then sat down to watch, with them.

 

Just barely five minutes later, two more figures emerged from the mist.

 

Sora and Sunao stopped inside the hospital under the door frame- Sora was carrying Sunao, whose leg was bleeding again, both were sopping wet, and smiling, triumphantly.

 

Matsuri and Nakou grinned.

 

No words were needed.

 

#$#$&%^*%&(^*^!$!@$^%#*#^#

 

In the middle of the night, after all the doctors had left them, being sure they were okay, Sora's hand stretched out and touched Sunao's whose arm was also extended.

 

Their heads turned and a single gold eye saw through the darkness and met two bright ruby eyes.

 

“Yoru...” Ran smiled. Yoru squeezed his hand.

 

“Ran...” Yoru replied.

 

“They've grown up...” Ran whispered, eyes glowing with pride.

 

“...Aizawa never did understand...” Yoru said. Ran tilted his head in curiosity, “...His theories, experiments, theses... all operate on the basis that people are born a certain way and they always maintain the specific type of person they are...”

 

Ran smiled, partly with reflective serenity, and partly as though he was laughing at Aizawa, wherever he was now.

 

“...Demo... Sora and Nao...” Ran continued the thought “...They have changed a great deal... the last time... Sunao was with Aizawa, and Sora came to rescue him... wasn't it?'

 

Yoru and Ran smiled at each other, fingers caressing the other's palm, before Ran spoke again.

 

“Nao wants to see Sora.”

 

Yoru nodded.

 

“Ii...”

 

The colors in their eyes faded.

 

The smiles on their faces didn't.

 

@!%^#$&$^*%&@#$!&&^$*@@@#$!@

 

“Sorry you're stuck here a while longer.” Masturi said, pouring tea, not sounding sorry in the least.

 

“It's okay. Where's Nakou-chan?” Sunao asked, accepting the mug, which was full of ice cold tea- but it was better than nothing.

 

“She's spending the day with her mother, learning how to bake- Nakou-chan told me that the most she can bake is cookies, which usually come out burnt.” Matsuri chuckled, but he blushed as though he were admitting something about himself.

 

“Just like you, huh, Matsuri?” Sora grinned, leaning back against his pillow. Matsuri shot him a sour look.

 

“Be nice, or I'll dump tea on your head.” He warned. Sora just stuck his tongue out.

 

“Hashiba, he warned you...” Sunao mumbled over his mug.

 

“Besides, Nakou-chan's still busy with preparations- invitations, dress, everything like that.” Matsuri added. Sora and Sunao blinked.

 

“...Huh?” Sora finally said.

 

“Just because Nao-kun and Nakou-chan aren't engaged anymore doesn't mean she's not getting married!” Matsuri explained, as though they should have figured that out. Sunao blinked.

 

“To who?”

 

Matsuri just chuckled.

 

Sunao's jaw dropped. Sora's eyes bugged out.

 

“...Uso!” Sunao finally blurted out.

 

Sora couldn't reply, because soon, another trio came into the room.

 

“Sora-niichan!” Sora sat up to see Sei peering around the door- his arm was still in a sling, and he still had a bandage covering the left side of his face, but a wide smile was spread across his face, identical to the ones on the faces of Shiina and Kitamura. With synchronized movements like when they were children, the three entered and found various places to sit.

 

“Yo, chibi-tachi!” Sora grinned, waving at them. Sei stuck out his lower lip.

 

“We're also adults now, you know!” He protested, indignantly. Shiina was much more polite.

 

“Sora-senpai, Suano-senpai, are your injuries recovering well?” He asked. Sunao gave him a small smile.

 

“Aah. Hashiba and I will be fine in a few weeks. You don't need to worry.” He replied.

 

“Not if Ichikawa-senpai wants to spar again, right Sora-senpai?” Kitamura put in. Sora made a much-put-upon noise.

 

After the visitors left, Sora turned to Sunao, whom was staring at his blankets with a troubled expression.

 

“...Fujimori?” He asked. Sunao looked up, then glanced away again.

 

“...I was just thinking about work... Now that Aizawa's gone, I don't know what I'm going to do for a job... especially since I can't write down on any applications what I've been doing for the past ten years...” Sunao mumbled. Sora's gaze softened, before he climbed out of bed, sitting down next to Sunao on his own mattress.

 

“Hashiba- get back in your own...” Sunao was cut off as Sora pulled him into his arms.

 

“...Fujimori... I was just thinking... if you needed a place to stay, since you can't pay your rent anymore... you could stay with me until you got another job...” Sora muttered. Sunao blinked as the offer took him off guard.

 

“...Hashiba...” Sunao whispered, letting Sora pull him closer, before he heard the other stammer.

 

“...W-Well... if you don't want to, that's okay too... I'm sure Matsuri would be willing to share an apartment with you, too... or maybe Niichan and Nanami-chan would let you live with them... and I'm pretty certain Nakou wouldn't make you live on the streets, either... I was just saying...”

 

Sunao chuckled, snuggling against Sora a little, but enough to make him stop babbling.

 

“...Ii yo, Hashiba...” Sunao replied, “...I don't think I'd feel right if it was anyone else...”

 

Sora's cheeks went pink, before he let himself be dragged down by Sunao's sleeping weight.

 

It would be nice, he reflected, to be able to fall asleep like this every night, from now on...

 

A/N: That's the last action chapter- however, I've officially decided, there's going to be another one coming! Call it an epilogue, call it an OVA, call it an Omake- but whatever you do, call it silly, because that's the point of it.

 

Wow... I've actually finished a fic... can you believe it?

 

Translations:

 

Datte- because

 

Sore ja nai- That's not it.

 

Ikou- Let's go. If you see anything with 'Ikou' in this chapter, it means 'Let's go'. Period.

 

Nigite- The best I could spell it, the other way of saying 'Run'.

 

Korose- Kill him.

 

Hanase- Let him go.

 

Dette ke!- Get out!