The Man Who Ran Off With The Moon - [ Tsukkiyama Art Thief AU! ]

As The Sun Sets

a/n: fic isn't done yet but here's a warning that we're a couple chapters out! ahhhhh makes me anxious. this chapter slightly references, resolves the special kenma chapter, so if you didn't read that one, a very small part of this might feel like it's coming out of left field.

also!

there's a playlist for this fic that i highly recommend listening to the last songs on for these last couple chapters. bless, arigato, thank you for your support!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/14OP9ytQkg6Vw8eo0f1eYX

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Tsukishima wordlessly returned the stone to his pocket, clutching it tight. His face felt hot. Goda blindly lunged forward, crying "That's MINE-"but Kuroo stepped in front of him, backing him up with the gun. The guards did not bother to interject, assuming an uncertain neutrality. Goda stepped back, smoothing a hand over his clothes, before gesturing aggressively at Kuroo and Yamaguchi.
He turned to his men, "Aren't you going to do anything? Aren't you going to take it back?"
The guards looked among themselves, each trying to determine if the other would act. Scarface broke the debate, rushing forward towards Kuroo, but Kenma stepped around his husband to trip the larger man. Scarface hit the deck, hard. Kenma kicked him in the stomach, "That's for threatening to shoot my leg off", he mumbled.

Kuroo looked at his husband like he was falling in love all over again.

Goda looked at his guards, who made no other motions forward, "Pathetic." He turned back to Yamaguchi. "So you- you've tanked my company and seized a large portion of my wealth, what are you going to do now?", he snarled.

"You, and anyone else who wants to join him, are gonna jump off the side of this boat. I'll give you one life vest, because I'm not cruel. You just have to promise I'll never, ever see you again."

Tsukishima's eyes widened. They were far enough from the shore that it was possible Yamaguchi was handing the old man a death sentence, though it was extremely likely that a ship would pass through. Still, it was frightening. He would never get used to it, the split reality of the person before him.

"And if I don't?", Goda taunted.

The sea ran quiet, still red and boiling, as if Yamaguchi had obtained his very power from the pull of the tide. "Then I'll kill you."

Goda laughed, "You wouldn't-" BANG.

He fell to the floor, clutching his arm, howling in pain. Tsukishima jumped back in surprise, a sickness coming to his stomach. Scarface rushed to his boss's side, supporting him to standing as blood continued to run from the gash in his arm. Yamaguchi glared coldly, "Swim away, old man. Next time, it's your head."

Tsukishima lightly reached out to rest his hand on Yamaguchi's arm in a silent plea. He hated the energy that was coming from him, it threatened to overwhelm him. This was all so much. The moon's stone sat heavy in his pocket. Kuroo slid a life jacket towards Goda. They parted, allowing him to go to the front of the boat. Goda pushed Scarface away, grimacing with pain. "I can walk myself." He put on the lifejacket, turning back to Yamaguchi one last time. Yamaguchi took Tsukishima's hand, gripping it tightly.

He felt cold.

The old man moved with finality, but he didn't seem like someone on the way to confront death. Goda smiled, disarming, toothy. He took in the group, his eyes resting on each of them.

"No promises, Tadashi."

Before Yamaguchi could react, Goda dove off the front of the boat into the waves. Scarface quickly jumped after him. A splash echoed from below. Kuroo gestured to the other guards with his gun, "Any of you want to join them?"
They shook their heads, casually placing their weapons on the floor, backing away, "We're good."
Kenma leaned over the side of the railing, narrowing his eyes at the water. "I don't see them. I don't think they surfaced."

"I hope they never do", Yamaguchi said, darkly.

He looked up at the sky. The red sun that lingered at the horizon's edge was now cut with vibrant pinks, golden hues that made the infinite ocean coppery instead of scarlet. It was a brilliant thing to behold, the type of sunset that warmed and rested the soul.
Yamaguchi turned away, "Let's go home."
He knew how to drive the boat, and he knew how to drive it fast. As they kicked into gear, Kuroo explained to Tsukishima that Yamaguchi had snuck into his and Kenma's room with a flash drive that deprogrammed the blocks put on Kenma's computer. The three had stayed all night coordinating their final move. Apparently, this had been Yamaguchi's motive all along in taking the gem. Freedom. Police would be waiting at the shore to take their statements, but an understanding had been reached with Japanese law enforcement in exchange for the stone and information on the Goda company's other illicit activities. Tsukishima nodded, dumbly. He knew he should be happy, celebrating their win, but he didn't know if he felt like he had gained anything. His memories were confusing, disorienting, untrustworthy. It was strange. Within an hour, he had gone from peacefully accepting a certain death, to sitting in a comfortable chair, watching Kenma and Kuroo grip the edge of the boat's railing, laughing into the wind.
They made love look easy, but Tsukishima now knew that ease was misleading.
He knew from the sum of this experience, that love was as easy as a brick to the face.
He had watched Kuroo deteriorate without Kenma, and Kenma in all his boniness and exhaustion hadn't seemed to fair much better. Love had pushed Tsukishima and Kuroo to do something as crazy as steal a highly guarded national artifact, and sure, things had worked out, but it almost felt like they had only won by chance. He felt Yamaguchi's presence at the boat's controls behind him. He felt his steady hands.

Love hurt, and Tsukishima didn't know if he could handle any more pain.

Still, Kuroo and Kenma were laughing. They were holding onto each other, like they had chartered this boat for some kind of deluxe anniversary date, instead of its intended purpose to send them to an early, watery grave. Kuroo flinched back as some of the ocean's spray caught on him, beaming brightly. Kenma's lips moved to say something, but the wind drowned him out. Tsukishima watched as Kuroo leaned closer to hear his husband.

"WHAT?"

Kenma wrinkled his nose, raising his voice to be heard, "LET'S ADOPT A KID."

"WHAT?!?"

"I SAID-"

The wind washed over their conversation, but Tsukishima watched as Kuroo picked Kenma up, kissing him against the sunset, shaking his husband with excitement. Kuroo turned towards where Tsukishima pretended not to eavesdrop from his place farther back on the deck. His arms were slung over Kenma's shoulders, who's face burned in a happy embarrassment.

"HEY, GLASSES! GUESS WHAT! WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BABY!"

Tsukishima smiled wearily, giving them a thumbs up as Kenma pushed his husband off of him, "Kuroo, do not say it like that-"

He couldn't understand how they were able to even think about something like that after all that had happen. Life had no certainty. It was paralyzing. He could feel Yamaguchi looking at him, freezing him under his kind gaze. He wanted to be off this boat and somewhere far, far away from everyone, somewhere his heart could stop beating so painfully.

The sun set, and he knew some kind of end had to be near.