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[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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[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?

[Needless to say, he looks less than amused. He stands up, glaring over at Adachi, voice raised.]

I'm not kidding around, Adachi. You and I both know you can't tell them the truth. I'm the only one who can listen to you without thinking you're a complete nutcase. So if that's all you have to say, I'm done here.

[He's used to it, sadly enough, so much that normally, Adachi probably could've let that voice just wash over him like white noise. Given his state, though, the raised voice just makes that dull ache in the back of his head (emptiness, now that what used to reside there, pushing in, invasive, is no longer present) ring, and he winces. A nurse hears it too, and she opens the door, reprimanding Dojima and reminding him to Please, sir, be quiet, and don't disturb the patients. She doesn't mean for Adachi, of course. Inaba is such a small town, and grudges run deep in small places. He's been catching those looks the medical staff were throwing him.]

Doesn't matter, you know.

[He smiles bitterly at Dojima.]

The only one who'd get anything from my 'truth' is you. Where I end up won't change. Six feet under in cold, damp dirt.

[Dojima's brow furrows, rubbing his temples once the nurse leaves. Always getting scolded by them, jeez. It does calm him down, some, though.]

...You're ending up in a jail cell, Adachi. For years.

[Then he sighs, looking towards the door. Who's to say he could believe what Adachi would tell him, anyway? Maybe it's all pointless, trying to understand why his partner would lie to him like this.]

[Adachi smiles, and turns to look back out the window, or whatever was out there of interest (imaginary bodies strung up on roofs, what a girl's hair looked like hanging upside down, limbs askew, and pale as death).]

You think so? I don't know. I know the laws pretty well too, Dojima-san. I was a cop too, studied them all when taking the qualifying exams. And you know what's the funniest part? Pegging me for crimes I didn't commit. Oh, I pushed them in all right, but I'm not the one that killed them. More like, I was the one who put them in the wrong place at the wrong time, but hey, how much can you fault someone for that? It's like blaming a late train or a malfunctioning traffic light.

[A hand slams down on a table, and despite what the nurses say, he starts yelling again. After all, he's not dumb; Adachi's room is separated from the "normal" patients.]

That's bullshit, Adachi! You knew it'd kill Konishi! Just how much of that do you think the cops are gonna buy?!

Up to the part about pushing people into televisions. Which means, none of it.

I told you that the truth wouldn't help anyone.

[At this point, Dojima's already starting to get tired of this, supposing there really is nothing else to get out of Adachi. It's almost hard to admit on his own part. There's a dull ache in his chest at the thought, just looking down and shaking his head.]

...That's all, then.

[Dojima grabs his jacket off the chair, heading out.]

[Adachi doesn't complain, but he watches Dojima turn his back on him. This will probably be the only time they'll ever 'talk'. He recognizes giving up when he sees it.]

Bye, Dojima-san.

[Every parting needs one.]

Edited 2009-11-06 00:47 (UTC)

aujima tieeeem

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1/2

ope I lied 2/3

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