aujima tieeeem

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Dojima's breath is still catching up to him as he listens to the 'dying' words of that Ameno-whatsitsface. The voice is deep, and distorted, but somehow the words still ring clear. It's almost amazing, too, to see how determined his nephew and his friends are to keep justice and peace - it brings a tired smile to the man's face, despite the hardships they've all faced up to this point. The strength of heart truly is something.

It's not quite over yet, though. Eventually, after the speech, Ameno-sagiri fades away, and leaves his partner in his wake. The team looks at Dojima, Adachi, then back at each other.

"You think... it was controlling Adachi-san?"

It's hard to say if Dojima's listening; he's already walking over to where Adachi is lying on the ground, brushing past the scraps of police tape, avoiding the cracks in the cement.

"Who can say...? I believe it was at least partially his own intention as well."

Dojima stops at Adachi's feet, looking down at the other man. His partner is looking elsewhere, inhales and exhales looking almost painful to keep up. If it is painful, well, Dojima can't say he doesn't deserve it.

The team stays behind just a ways off; still within hearing range. (They're still curious teenagers, and they've been chasing Adachi in circles all this time themselves, after all.) The air is suddenly heavier, though, even if Dojima himself has seemed to lighten up. The events haven't been given much time to sink in just yet, and well, there's relief in just knowing it's over. Their killer is caught. It doesn't change the fact that it's his partner, in the end, but he's had more time to let that fact sink in. He already gave him what he had coming, and now it's time for him to pay his dues for what he's done.]

...Adachi.

Comments

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[A dry laugh, followed by a wet-sounding cough. It's safe to say that the sound isn't just a result of some common cold. Adachi's chest heaves with the effort it takes to hold itself together, and he adamantly does not look anywhere near Dojima' face. His voice isn't as ragged as it should've been, given his condition, but that may just because he's stubborn enough to force it to hold together.]

...S-sorry, not really in the mood for small t-...alk. If you could...fi...nish it quick, it'd be good.

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[He frowns for a moment, hands settling in his pockets.]

I'll save the questioning for the precinct.

[Hopefully Adachi doesn't think he's getting off that easy, though. Dojima has tons of questions, sure - they're just jumbled up in his mind, overwhelming and incomprehensible. There's the resounding "Why?", but they were given the answer to that in the room with the noose and bloodstains; not that Dojima was very satisfied with it.]

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[To his credit, Adachi looks just as surprised as some of the kids do. Precinct? That was a long way from here.]

Don't tell me you're going to...

[Drag my dead weight all the way there? Could he even hold it together long enough? Everything, everything, even down to his bones, seemed to ache. Adachi's half-sentence seems to voice what the kids are thinking, though Souji remains oddly stoic, staring at his Uncle's back, before nodding.]

whoops one more

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Well, Dojima's not sending him straight there. Not while Adachi's in this shape; he has more mercy than that. But, until they're out of the TV world, his dead weight is going to be dragged out whether he likes it or not.]

You know how things work, Adachi. You're going back, and facing your crimes.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[As far as Adachi is concerned, this isn't mercy. It's torture, like letting bones mend only to break them again.]

Just land the...blow, man. It'd be the same out...come over there, too.

Or are you t-...too much of a wimp?

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[A certain particularly loud someone speaks up before Dojima from behind him. "Asshole, we're not le-"]

Tatsumi.

[Kanji stands back, despite not wanting to stand down on that one. He stills adds, "He's just running away from his god damn punishment." (For once, Yosuke seems to agree with him.)]

I'm not changing my mind.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Despite the bravado, Adachi just barely flinches when Kanji seems ready to jump at him. It's ironic, because he's pretty certain that at the end of this, he's going to die, and he says as much, but when faced with it, he still shies away. Maybe that's the way Adachi handles a lot of things; consequences always seem to take him by surprise, no matter how obvious.]

Always such a god...damn slavedriver, Dojima-san.

[He tries to pull himself up, or at least roll over, but his limbs ache in sharp protest with every miniscule moment, and he eventually gives up, just laying on his side and trying to get it to stop stinging when he breathes. Maybe if he were lucky, he'd die before he even got there.]

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately, Adachi was just one of the many people Dojima has underestimated. This was certainly a more extreme way to find out, thrown in your face (and rubbed in), but there's only so many times you can take it before you've finally learned. He shakes his head, leaning down.]

You know I can't cut you slack on this one.

[Adachi's not going to like it, but he picks up his arm and puts it over his shoulders, Dojima's other arm sliding around his back to start lifting him up.]

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

['On this one', as if Dojima has ever really cut him slack on anything else before. Adachi keeps that wry comment to himself, though, being that he was clearly in no condition to fight any more. He sucks in a breath through gritted teeth as he's moved (another person doing it for him doesn't really make it any less painful), but he's got his pride too, and he bites on his lip to keep from making any noise. No, he wouldn't give those brats the satisfaction.]

...Nn.

[But maybe a little escapes.]

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[For a guy like Dojima, it's certainly noticeable when he's handling something (someone) with care. It probably makes no difference when you're in as much pain as Adachi, though. At least he's the only one who hears that little bit.

Souji approaches, silently offering his help, but Dojima shakes his head.]

Just lead the way out of here.

[The boy just nods, turning back to his group. Dojima's at the rear, lugging Adachi along, but now and then they seem to get a few glances back.]

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[Adachi keeps his gaze lowered, anyway, though it might be because of the effort it takes to raise his head, rather than any real shame (the former being more likely than the latter). Occasionally, he stumbles, and catching himself is almost as painful as falling, but not once does he say a thing during the trek back. If he were the one holding someone else's weight, he probably would've whined with every step.

Magatsu Mandala seems to breathe out a sigh of defeat, and none of the shadows touch them during their retreat. Adachi's legs hold out until they cross the boundary of televisions, strength and stubbornness both exhausted by now, and he buckles onto the ground, arm slipping out of Dojima's grasp, muttering.]

Ugh...crap.

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Before Dojima can readjust his hold, or slowly ease the man down, Adachi's back on the ground. Dojima breathes a sigh of his own; not that the effort of carrying Adachi was hard, but everything just seems to weigh back down. It's a tired, yet relieving air about the team. It must be an entirely different story for Adachi; though, speaking of...]

I need to make a few calls. You guys wait here.

[Dojima steps out of the way; within earshot if you're listening hard enough. A few words can be heard, such as "ambulance" and "Junes electronics department." Silence, then another call to the police department. It's sounds more standard, and Dojima walks a bit farther away for that call.]

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[The request is, to say the least, unexpected. It's a nice Saturday in spring, even, the case (not) long forgotten when he gets word from the city jail that he's requested to be there - by an inmate. Naturally Adachi is selfish and thoughtless enough to want him there the next day.

So here he is (all too soft to ignore his ex-partner; Adachi probably knows it, too), sitting across from the man himself in an isolated room at the prison. Considering Dojima's position, it's easy enough to get the guards to wait outside while that talk - also in Adachi's request.]

You better have a damn good reason for calling me here on a Sunday.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

Morning to you too, sir.

[It's a mocking tone in his voice, and a mocking expression on his face, even if that slight discoloration in the skin near his mouth dampers the mood just a little, and takes a notch off whatever intimidation Adachi could've managed, if he could have managed any at all. Prisoner garb fits on his form as awkwardly as the suit did, wrinkling up at parts where it's too broad for his shoulders, too short for his arms, too loose around the waist. No matter what the situation, Adachi seems like the type that doesn't quite fit well into anything in life. In a not-too-surprising show of etiquette (or rather, lack of such), Adachi slumps in his seat before leaning forward onto the small counter with his elbow, head in his hands.]

How's the wife and kids?

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[A twitch in Dojima's brow, actually looking up at Adachi for the first time since he's walked in. And yet, if you were paying attention closely enough, it might seem like his expression eases some when he sees that shiner Adachi's sporting. It really should be no surprise, but nonetheless, Dojima speaks softer.]

Don't try my patience, Adachi.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

Aww, c'mon, Dojima-san, you're no fun. It's not like you have anything better to do these days, in this dump of a town.

You don't even have someone to yell at anymore. And don't bullshit me with the idea that crime in Inaba actually picked up. I know as well as you do that without the murders, the police department's just a bunch of sitting ducks.

[Maybe he should've been more careful with his words, given his situation, but then again, he's only careful when he thinks it's worth it.]

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[It's amazing how Adachi's ability to grate every nerve of Dojima's hasn't faded in the least. He stands so suddenly that his chair is knocked over, and looks right out like he's going to sock another hit to the other side of Adachi's face.]

Do you have something to say or not? This is starting to look like a big waste of my time.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[He's good with big words, but not with big actions. The sudden motion makes him flinch, though whether out of habit, out of reflex, or out of newly learned survival instinct, is hard to say. He jerks back into his seat before he can check himself.]

...Sheesh. Take a load off and sit down, will you? No need getting so worked up when I'm already locked up.

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Miraculously enough, Dojima seems to gather his composure. Whether it's Adachi's words, noticing that flinch, or something else entirely is hard to say, though. He rubs his forehead, before stepping back and pulling his chair back up, plopping down carelessly.]

Just... Tell me why you wanted to see me.

[Why you chose now to talk to me.]

1/2

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

You sound so suspicious.

[He laughs a little, but he doesn't lean forward again.]

Can't a guy just miss seeing his old friends' faces, especially if he saw 'em every day before? Got yelled at, hit by, walked over and treated like a delivery boy by? That kind of face?

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[But before Dojima can fly off the handle again, Adachi takes something out of his pocket - a white envelope, unwrinkled but slightly bent from his carrying it around. He slides it across the table, fingers at the farthest edge.]

I need you to give this to someone.

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[Adachi knows his temper all too well, sometimes. His mouth opens to snap at him again, before he notices him reach for something, pausing. He straightens when he sees the envelope, but doesn't make a move to take it just yet (despite noticing what he thinks is Souji's name on the front). Just because he's diffused him for the moment doesn't mean he's convinced he should do anything for Adachi.]

Just what makes you think I'll do that? Did you think I'd just agree after all you said?

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't let go of the envelope quite yet for exactly this reason, and begins sliding it back towards him instead.]

Well, I could just drop it in the mail, and it'd get to him eventually, too. Just thought you'd like to see my pretty mug again too.

[coffeearcana.livejournal.com]

[A hand falls over the letter, though, stopping him from moving it any further.]

If you could do that, you wouldn't have called me here.

What's in it that's so important you'd ask for me to hand deliver it? Maybe I'll consider if you give me an honest answer.

[nowheresman.livejournal.com]

[A touch of a smirk creeps into the line of Adachi's mouth as soon as Dojima's hand falls. Seems like he was waiting for just that.]

Well, there's some stuff in there I'd rather not have the guys around here checking out, you know? I mean, as soon as they start seeing talk about other worlds and televisions, they might put me up to a shrink in addition to all the other crap I have to deal with around here, you know?

[Adachi slants a look up at Dojima's face.]

I just thought it might be better to hand it off to someone who'd understand.