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aujima tieeeem

[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.

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[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.]

[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.]

['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.]

[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.]

[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.

[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.]

[Adachi can hear him, and he can hear Souji's friends whispering amongst themselves too, even as the ringing in his ears from an oncoming headache (like insult upon injury) fills his senses in. He's calling an ambulance? Even after all Adachi did? Man, what is he thinking? Ironically enough, it's the first time Adachi has ever agreed with them. He wonders if it's some 'good cop' routine (he knows all about those); he wonders if it's pity. He doesn't want either of those.

Oh, that's right, they were partners after all, one of them says.

Something sharp and piercing shoots up his chest. Maybe it's one of those broken ribs.]

[Dojima finally hangs up once a few cops are on the scene. They give the group of kids an odd look ("Why are they here, sir?"), until the detective explains they're with him, and he'll take care of it. Their orders are simple enough; make sure no other civilians snoop around, and wait for the ambulance.

With those things out of the way, Dojima approaches the group again (looking at Adachi, first, then then rest of them).]

You guys can head on out. I've got it from here.

[A pause.]

And thanks. A lot.

[Souji's the first to react, simply smiling and giving a nod. Dojima finds himself returning it, however exhausted the expression may look on his features now. The group seems to follow suit, heading out just as one of the cops yells out from the entrance of the department, "Dojima-san, the stretcher's on the way!" Thankfully the teenagers get the hint that there's no more for them to do here, leaving the store.

Then it's just him and Adachi in the middle of the department. It may be the end of their handling the situation, but it's barely the beginning for Dojima.]

[Adachi glances up at Dojima for barely a second, before his vision starts swimming. The world turns black at the edges; he can hardly tell that the expression he gives Dojima for a split second is as raw as it is, and can only hear the echoes of the impact as his head hits the tiled Junes floor. All he can think is, At least the stretcher's on the way.]

--Hey!

[It might be the last thing Adachi hears apart from the sound of tile, but before Dojima can lift him back up (and make sure he's still breathing), medics are already handling the situation. Just unconscious, he's told. From there, he goes back to the office, answers some routine questions for the chief, and is told to go home. ("Christ, you look like shit." Yeah, thanks, chief.)]

[Dojima gives it a while before he stops by the hospital; one surprisingly clear and sunny (and cold) day later. There's two cops just outside Adachi's room, who just nod awkwardly at Dojima when he walks up to the door. He enters, and closes it behind him. The nurses said he hasn't woken up yet, but it's worth a shot to get something out of him.]

[Just as the nurse mentioned, Adachi is not awake. He looks a good deal better than he did after the battle, but there are still bandages here and there, and a look on his face that isn't entirely serene even while he's not conscious, curled up on his side, facing the window. His chest rises and falls slowly and rhythmically, so even if Dojima can't see his face, it's obvious he's still asleep.]

[For a moment, Dojima just stands in the doorway, watching the man's frame. Still out, it seems. There's not much he can do, in that case. And yet, he takes a seat over by the window, disregarding hospital rules as he lights up a cigarette.]

...Tch. Still don't understand.

[It's more a mumble to himself than anything.]

[After a minute, Adachi's form doesn't stir, but he does speak.]

You're not supposed to smoke in here, sir.

[He sounds better than last time too, being that his voice isn't broken up. It's still a little raspy, though.]

[Dojima's a little surprised by the sudden sound, glancing up.]

I know.

[He leans back in his seat, making no move to put the cigarette out, just propping a foot against his knee. Maybe this visit won't be for nothing.]

[Adachi doesn't respond to that, merely staying in place, quiet and still. It's like he hadn't woken up at all. Obviously, he wasn't going to be the one to initiate this conversation, not with this person (anyone but this person would be better). His body still feels heavy, but his head surprisingly light and clear-headed. Maybe because that's what it feels like without an outside influence weighing on your thoughts. Maybe because that's what it feels like, not having to keep so many secrets it feels like you're going to suffocate with them any second now. Maybe because game over, there's nothing else to hold your breath for.]

[There's really nothing Dojima can ask that he doesn't know the answer to, considering all they were told in the TV world. Though now that he seems relatively calm, it might be better to ask again. And if Ameno-sagiri really was playing a part in his decisions, well... It's not like the precinct would believe either of them, but Dojima wants to know for sure.]

You should be out of here in a week or two, they said.

[Unfortunately, though, Adachi's just headed from one guarded room to the next.]

Edited 2009-11-05 14:11 (UTC)

[Judging from the curt laugh, Adachi appreciates the irony.]

Yeah? Fun, fun.

[Dojima just sighs, looking out the window. His cigarette is starting to become forgotten, dangling from his fingers, ashes falling on the floor.]

...Still standing by everything you said?

[Slowly, Adachi rolls over, onto his back, raising a brow at Dojima. For once, the other man is speaking more than he is, and that's an odd turnaround to begin with, but then again, it seems like it's always been that despite all the blabbering, Dojima has always been the one who told more. Empty words, after all, are only for shuttering in things you won't say. That irony alone makes the conversation somber.]

Why? What are you waiting to hear?

'Aww, gee, Dojima-san, thanks so much from rescuing me from that thing. Sheesh, I don't know what got into me. Just this one night I was home alone, and the lights went out and suddenly I heard this creepy voice coming from the TV, and I thought it was some kind of late-night horror flick, but the next thing you know, my hand goes through the screen and I'm like, whoooaaa! It was like that freaky girl from that Ring movie, except backwards. Man, I didn't think possession was real until now!'

Or something like that?

aujima tieeeem

whoops one more

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1/2

sorry i just realized i'm writing this more like a fic?? idk

No problem, dude. : )

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1/2

ope I lied 2/3

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