Raising The Stakes

~Last~

  ( I updated this a couple of hours ago (chapter seventeen) and this is the one after that so if you came to the most recent chapter go back to seventeen.)

 A tired Hinata stumbles across the room to where Komaeda is waiting for him.

   Once he's close enough, he collapses, falling forward towards his partner. Komaeda steps forward and catches him. He scoops the tired human up into his arms as he groans.

   "Nagito, I did it. . ." He mutters.

   Komaeda smiles and kisses his forehead. "You most certainly did. I'm proud of you, Hajime. You defeated despair."

   "Hey Nagito. . ," Hinata mutters, "Before you kill me or whatever, can you bring me back to my cabin? I want to take a nap."

   "Of course, Hajime. You earned it."

   The brunet shuts his eyes.

   Komaeda sighs. "Kamukura-san?" He calls across the room.

   The person looks up, wiping some blood off of their face.

   "I'm taking Hinata home to rest. I'll see you soon."

   "Okay. I will help you out with that thing later as well."

   "Thank you so much, Kamukura-san! Goodbye!"

-
When Hinata wakes up, Komaeda is bending over him, licking his lips impatiently.

"Good evening, Hajime. How was your nap?"

Hinata rolls his eyes, pulling himself into a sitting-up position. "You can skip the pleasantries and just take it already. I know you're hungry."

Komaeda blinks. "Huh?"

"Don't play dumb with me; just eat my soul already!" The brunet demands.

The demon sighs, sitting down on the bed next to Hinata.

"Oh, okay. Thank you." He breathes.

Hinata shudders and squeezes his eyes shut from fear. Komaeda slowly moves closer to him, brushing loose strands of hair away from the human's face.

The hunter's entire body is trembling. His only regret is that he didn't get to say goodbye to Nanami or Kamukura.

"You're trembling an awful lot," Komaeda notes in a soft voice.

"Am I?" Hinata responds hoarsely, "I'm sorry."

Komaeda leans all the way in and kisses Hinata. Confused, he automatically kisses him back. A moment later, Komaeda moves away and has him open his eyes.

Hinata frowns. "Was that it? Did you take it? It didn't feel like last time, and I'm still alive. . ."

Komaeda smiles and shakes his head. "No, I didn't."

"What? Why? What happened?"

"I don't want to. So I'm not going to."

   "Huh? I don't understand. . .I thought legally you need to take my soul now that your part of the deal is over?"

   Komaeda grins and chuckles, taking Hinata's hands in his.

   "Hajime, do you remember what exactly I said for the official record when we formed the contract?"

{ "Make the deal with me."

"W-What?!"

"The one you keep teasing me about. Where you'll support, train, and provide me all the information I need to defeat despair in exchange for my soul or whatever."