Chapter Text
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Kaito asked, concern crinkling between his eyebrows as he stared at Kokichi. Kokichi merely shrugged, keeping his face as indifferent as he possible could.
"It doesn't matter if I want to or not. I need to. Stop looking so worried, you'll get wrinkles." He needed to do this. After finding out Takuro was dead, Kokichi knew he would have this conversation. She deserved to know.
"Hey-!"
Kokichi ignored his tall boyfriend's indignant squawk, stepping forward and lifting his hand, his unbandaged one. He tenderly knocked on the door. Moments later, he heard the door unlocking from the other side. Kokichi stepped back a little, and Kaito stepped forward to be next to him. The door opened, revealing the kind face of Itsuko Emon. She looked surprised to see the two males. Her hair was a little more gray than Kokichi remembered, and her face was more wrinkly. She smiled warmly.
"Kokichi...it's been awhile," she greeted.
"Hello, we..." Kokichi glanced at Kaito, a lump in his throat forming.
"We want to talk to you. About what happened," Kaito supplied, moving to squeeze Kokichi's shoulder. Itsuko nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. She opened the door further to let them in.
"Please come in. Would you like some tea?"
"No, thank you," Kokichi said stiffly. Kaito shook his head as well. The two sat on the couch, their hands holding. Itsuko sat in her rocking chair across from them, her black eyes expectant.
"What exactly did you want to talk about?"
"Well...you know...Takuro is dead, right?" Kaito asked hesitantly.
Itsuko's smile grew a little sad. "Yes, I'm aware. The police came to my door on the night it happened."
"He had it coming," Kokichi muttered.
"I know," Itsuko said quietly.
"You know..? Yet you still look like you're going to cry," Kokichi pointed out, frowning. "Did you really love him? He...he kidnapped me. He tortured me. He raised Haruto to be a monster, and he's in prison. How can you even love someone like that?" he raised his voice a little.
"It's hard to explain, dear," Itsuko sighed.
"He didn't even love you...Haruto himself said that Takuro didn't care about anyone," Kaito chimed in.
Itsuko looked down at her wrinkled hands in her lap. "I wanted to be his light."
"His...light?" Kokichi repeated.
Itsuki rocked in her chair a little. "Back in the late 1800s," she started, "Takuro's great grandfather was born. His family was very religious. Quite terrifyingly so. His name was Yoshimatsu Emon. He was an obedient little boy, but his family ridiculed anyone who did not follow their beliefs. When he married, they had a son named Riko. However, it was around this time when the first world war was arising. So Riko went to fight in it, considering it honorable to himself and to his family."
"What does this have to do with-" Kaito started.
Itsuko held a hand up. "Yoshimatsu disagreed. When Riko came back with a badge of honor, Yoshimatsu threw it into a fire and criticized him heavily for being a murderer. For killing countless people, even those who were innocent who had been dragged into the war. Riko resigned in the military, and tried to start a new life to make up for it, having a son of his own, Kyo."
"Takuro's father..." Kokichi murmured.
"Yes. But Yoshimatsu refused to forgive his son. He told him he would burn in the very depths of hell. Riko slowly began to lose his sanity from the constant pressure and hatred of his own parents. That, plus his apathy from the war...he took his anger out on Kyo without any remorse. Kyo grew up surrounded by hatred and anger, until one day he got so angry at a woman, he murdered her. He reveled in it. In the power he had over these women. He took a specific liking to one. His head nurse. He was a doctor, after all...and he demanded she married him. So she agreed to protect herself. They had two children. Ai and Takuro. Takuro knew what his father was doing growing up, and neither seemed to care when Takuro's mother and sister left the family. Takuro started getting affected when his father was found and arrested."
"That's Shuichi's uncle's father who arrested him, right?" Kaito asked.
"Yes. He tried to live on, and that's when he met me," Itsuko smiled sadly, "we met almost forty years ago now. I was a waitress at a diner, and he was one of my customers. He'd gotten into a little spat with another customer, and I had to break it up. He was swearing and he was just so angry. I could tell he was a troubled soul. So I pursued him, and we talked, dated, and eventually married."
"You...you were the one who pursued him? Why?" Kaito asked, stunned.
"I was hoping to be the person in his life who believed him, so he could turn over a new leaf. I enjoyed helping him, and though he never said it, I'm quite sure he appreciated me being there with him. That's what I like to believe. His family...has been hard on each other for as long as he could remember. If there was just one person who could be with one of them without fear or disgust then maybe it would turn out okay," she sighed. "However, I seem to have simply enabled him. I allowed him to raise Haruto with hatred, teaching him wrong ideology. I did my best to help, but Haruto grew to slowly hate me."
"Some people aren't worth it, you know..." Kokichi said quietly, "why didn't you ever leave him?"
"Because I had hoped it will one day change. The day he kidnapped you, Kokichi, he stopped coming by. He called me on occasion, but it was just to tell me he'll be home eventually. I wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but I had a feeling I wouldn't be seeing him again."
"And, in fact, you were right," Kaito sighed.
"Yes. With my husband dead now, my nephew in prison, and no other family to speak of, I'm alone now. But I stuck by his side, and while there are some things I would love to have changed, I don't regret a thing," she said.
"...I'm sorry," Kokichi said softly.
"Hm?"
"For your loss. I'm glad he's dead, but it can't be easy for you."
"Don't worry yourself, dear. Please, focus on getting better. It's...the opposite of what Takuro would have wanted," a ghost of a smile crept up on Itsuko's face.
"I don't get it though...why do you care so much? We caused your husband's death, and your nephew being thrown in prison. Why aren't you mad at us?" Kokichi asked, fidgeting.
Itsuko's small smile grew warm. "You didn't do anything wrong. It was their actions that got them where they are now. However, if you are seeking my forgiveness...then don't worry. I've already forgiven you long ago."
"Thank you, Itsuko," Kokichi murmured, standing up and bowing, before walking to the door. Kaito followed suit. Itsuko waved from her seat, her smile not fading.
"Good luck, dears. I'm always rooting for you."
The two boys nodded, and left.
After Kaito shut the door, he turned to Kokichi, his eyes wide. "What the hell? She's so sweet."
"She is," Kokichi agreed, and the two of them began walking back to Kaito's truck.
"How did Takuro not treat her right? Or Haruto, for that matter."
"They were heartless, they only cared for themselves. But she was willing to do anything for them. They figured they could use her to their own advantage," Kokichi shrugged, "it sucks, but hopefully she'll be more at peace in the future, not having to deal with that."
"I hope so."
-
Music filled the banquet hall as people danced to the music. Kokichi watched everyone dancing from the sidelines, sipping at his grape panta that he'd brought. The two men of the hour danced together, smiles adorning their faces.
"Yo, Cock-itchy! We gonna dance or what?"
"We danced like twice already," Kokichi whined, "can't you go bother someone else?"
"Nope, you fuckin' owe me a dance," Miu stood nearby, her hair curled and pinned back, her pink dress low cut as usual.
"What about Angie?"
"Angie's taking a piss."
"Thanks for the info."
"Yeah, yeah. Come on, bitch, I don't have all fuckin' night!" Miu snorted. Kokichi sighed loudly and set his soda down and stepped over to her. He rested one hand on her shoulder, and his right hand, the injured one, held Miu's. Well, not exactly. It had been a few months since the incident. Actually, it's been five full months. It was currently December, and his hand, while healed, was still pretty tender. He'd torn off his skin to escape Takuro, after all. So his hand wasn't holding anything, and Miu held his wrist carefully as they swayed.
"Any particular reason why you wanna dance with me for the third time? I'm such a highly requested guy, you know," Kokichi smirked.
"Hey shota shit, did you know it's scientifically proven that people fuck around with rats? They're highly requested too."
"Fuck you."
"I'm not into tiny dicks."
"Aww, are you really so loose that even tiny dicks won't do it for you?"
"Fuck off."
"You came to me!"
"I come to a lot of people."
"Gross. Fucking pig."
The two shared a laugh. Miu twirled him once. Kokichi glanced at her curiously.
"Seriously though. What's up? Are you still paranoid of me being alone for too long?"
"So what if I am?" Miu asked defensively. Before Kokichi could respond, there was a tap on her shoulder. Both glanced over. Maki stood there, wearing a red dress. She played with her ponytail, a pout on her lips.
"Angie's locked in the bathroom."
"Again?!" Miu let go of Kokichi and hurried off. Maki followed her, glancing at Kokichi with a wry smile on her face. Kokichi blinked, and jolted in surprise.
"Bitch, what the fuck do you mean, again?! I need details!" he shouted after her. He barely saw Miu's thumbs up from the distance before she left the room, with Maki in tow. He huffed and crossed his arms. Well, that had been totally pointless. He looked around, spotting Kaito talking to Shuichi and Rantaro, each of them laughing. Kokichi sighed and headed to the balcony. A gust of cold wind hit his lithe body, but he ignored it.
He leaned against the railing, staring out into the night sky. Unlike at the New Year's party, he felt at ease. Much more relaxed.
It was funny. A lot changed in a single year. Kokichi was going right back to being heavily traumatized, but at least he knew he was safe now. No surprise villains jumping out to do evil things to him. No more assault, no more torture, no more pain. Ever since Rantaro paid for him to go to therapy, it's been a big help. It didn't take away the fact the entire year was traumatizing in it's own right, and two years prior to that had been traumatizing too. But he was moving on.
If only Haruto and Takuro could see me now...they'd be so pissed off, Kokichi thought smugly.
The door opened, and the music got louder, before the door shut. Kaito joined him.
"Kichi? You good?"
"Yep. All good."
"No stalkers?"
"Nope."
"Good."
Kokichi chuckled and stared up at the twinkling stars. "Hey, Kaito?"
"Yeah?"
"Have you gotten over what happened?" he asked.
"What? You mean to you?"
"Yeah. I know you get nightmares sometimes too."
Kaito flushed. "That's...well, yeah but..." he sighed, "I had been waiting for you to come home, you know? Of course finding out you were gone had scared the shit out of me. And everyone else. I don't think...I'll ever forget that fear. Anyway, why does it matter? You're the one who was actually hurt by it all."
"Yeah, but unlike you, I'm in therapy for it. I'm moving on. Slowly, but I am."
"We'll both be alright," Kaito said firmly, "I believe that, to the stars and back. We'll get through this and heal. I'll be here for you, no matter what. This time, nothing's gonna stop me from protecting you."
"Mm." Kokichi made a noise of agreement.
"And maybe one day, we'll end up like Rantaro and Shuichi."
"...Maybe," Kokichi smiled, for once, not teasing Kaito for his sappy personality.
It was a long road to recovery, not just for them, but for everyone involved. But it would be okay. Kaito firmly believed it, and Kokichi believed it too. Because they were all friends, weren't they? Friends were there for each other no matter what, and Kokichi had the best damn friends he could ever ask for. All of them were amazing in their own way. Some more protective than others, some not so smart, but the variety made their whole group even better. Everyone made up for whatever someone else lacked. And having so many people supporting him felt...empowering? In a sense. It gave him hope.
Hope...he'd grown to quite like the word.
Yeah. He and Kaito had hope for a better future. And they'll work towards it, building their own future, one full of hope. Kokichi reached out and slowly, almost shyly, held Kaito's hand as the two of them stared out at the stars. Kaito gently gripped his uninjured hand.
There would be no more despair days.