Hiding In Plain Sight

We'll Get Out of This Together

"You guys are going to the general store down the street then?" Shuichi asked half of the group they'd collected.

"Yes, take two of our walky-talkies, that way we can communicate between groups. Keep it on the station we set, it isn't being tracked." Handing two of the devices to Amami, Shinguji left the bar with his group.

Shuichi sighed, not happy with the idea to split up, but it had to be done. In the case one group was found and captured, the other could escape. The groups had been chosen based on superpowers and abilities, giving them the best chance of survival to prevent capture in the first place. Remaining in the bar was Shuichi, Rantaro, Akamatsu, Kokichi, Momota, Shirogane and Kiibo.

Everyone went to do their own things, most of them introducing themselves to Momota. Shuichi slipped his hands into his pockets and leant against the wall, feeling something balled up inside. Pulling it out, Rantaro's blood-covered ring clattered to the ground from Kokichi's scarf. Picking up the metal accessory, Shuichi approached his boyfriends and raised the objects in the air. "I uh, found these at the house. Care to explain the blood?"

"Huh?" Rantaro turned, sighing as he realised what Shuichi was talking about. "Oh, that, the blood isn't ours."

"Yeah! Surprisingly..." Kokichi chuckled, swinging from one foot to the other. "It's the police's blood!"

"Police? Then where are the bodies?" Shuichi asked, tilting his head in thought.

"We didn't kill anyone, they just ended up hurt... Badly... Then we killed them down the street when they followed us. Don't worry, Kiibo uh, disposed of the bodies," Rantaro chuckled awkwardly.

"It doesn't matter, as long as you're both safe. Come on, let's go to the stream so I can wash these for you two." Shuichi smiled, opening the door to leave before a hand pulled him back.

"We should give them one of these," Amami suggested, turning to the group. "Hey guys, we're going out for a bit, take one of these." He threw one of the walky-talkies to Momota who caught it one-handed.

"Alright, stay safe you three!" Akamatsu waved goodbye, whispering something into Shirogane's ear and giggling. Realising he needed supplies, Shuichi snatched a random bucket and bar of soap and left the bar with his boyfriends in tow. He listened to Rantaro and Kokichi laughing with each other as the three approached a stream of water not far from their base. The trickling of water cleared Shuichi's mind, the way it flowed towards its destination without a care in the world inspiring him. I wish I didn't have so many worries that held me back from living.

"Woah! It's so clear!" Rantaro exclaimed, bending down on the bank and poking the water.

"Probably from that pandemic that ended last year, didn't it clear up the water in Venice too?" Kokichi knelt next to Rantaro, splashing some of it at the greenette who gasped in betrayal. As the two fought using water as a weapon, Shuichi sat at arm's reach from them and stared at the water, watching it flow in the perfect position to look like glass. He could see his bloody, beaten face staring back at him in the reflection, the sunlight illuminating his silhouette like an angel looking down from heaven. "Do you have a water fetish Shu~Shu? You're staring at it like you're ready to fuck."

"H-Huh?" Shuichi stuttered, shaking away the weird thoughts as he noticed Rantaro and Kokichi frowning at him, their battle coming to a truce. "Oh, I just like the way the water moves. It's calming." Refocusing on the task at hand, Shuichi washed the dried blood from his face before filling up the bucket. Dunking the bar of soap into the pail, he started by washing Kokichi's scarf, watching the water turn deep brown with old blood. Not wanting to lose Rantaro's ring, he slipped it into his breast pocket before dunking his hands into the water. Biting his lip, Shuichi winced as he felt the soapy mixture enter his fresh wounds, realising he forgot to wrap his arms with bandages earlier. Just get through this and they won't know a thing.

"Hey, the water's drinkable. Well, it's not salty, it might have some weird shit it in," Rantaro mentioned, splashing his body with clean water. "We could use it in a pinch if we run out." Frowning, Shuichi heard his stomach scream with pain, the mention of eating or drinking anything waking it from its slumber. Please say no one else heard that. "Shuichi, are you hungry?" Shit.

"No, I'm just a bit sick right now," Shuichi lied, not removing his iron gaze from the bloody pale. 

"You know, I don't need a superpower to tell when people are lying, Shuichi," Kokichi frowned. Shuichi noticed the two men shifting to sit next to him as he washed the same square continuously. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you eat, is something going on?"

"No, so drop it, okay?" Shuichi snapped, his heart racing faster than a cheetah at the thought of a secret being revealed. If they know, they'll just be disappointed in me, they'll leave me and I'll be all alone until I die. The only question is if I'll kill myself before someone else gets the chance.

"Akamatsu's right, you aren't eating, are you?" Rantaro asked, the question needing no response from anyone as it answered itself. "She told us you're abnormally thin, and I've felt it when we cuddle. You also freak out when you aren't wearing baggy clothes."

"I said drop it!" Shuichi shouted, taking shaky breaths as he stared at the murky water with rage.

"Shuichi, come here," Kokichi whispered, scooting closer so he could wrap the male in a loving hug, Rantaro doing the same. Feeling his eyes burn, Shuichi squeezed them shut as he chuckled, attempting to lighten the dark situation he'd caused.

"Sorry, I guess I'm more defensive about things than I thought," he mumbled, unable to think of a lie through his crumbling walls of emotions.

"As your boyfriend I'm obligated to feed you now. I'm going to spoon-feed you every day if I have to," Kokichi smiled, leaning over to kiss Shuichi on the cheek.

"No, you're not-"

"Ah! No arguing Mister!" Kokichi put a finger to Shuichi's lips, laughing as he gave his boyfriend space to breathe. Rantaro sighed with a grin on his face, leaning against Shuichi's shoulder. "Oh, your sleeves are getting wet, come here." Crawling towards the bucket, Kokichi reached out to grab Shuichi's shirt cuffs, the latter's fight or flight response kicking in immediately.

"No! Don't!" He screamed, kicking towards the male he saw as a threat. To his relief, he only kicked the bucket over, the metal container tipping into the water, travelling downstream a meter before getting caught on a collection of rocks. Shuichi watched as the contents spilled on the mud aorund them, glad Kokichi's scarf wasn't lost downstream. Kokichi and Rantaro frowned, glancing at each other bmomentarily. 

"Saihara. Arms. Now." Kokichi's glare bore into Shuichi's soul, the bluenette feeling like a criminal being interrogated. He can be terrifying when he's controlling, he'd make a great leader.

"No, you can't make me!" Shuichi cried, tears dripping to the dirt and grass as he attempted to scramble backwards, away from the possible threat. Kokichi noticed this and jumped on his boyfriend, sitting on his lap to prevent him from moving anywhere.

"Rantaro, help me out." Despite the squirming and desperate attempts to break free, Shuichi's arms ended up trapped in his boyfriends' grips. He shook as Rantaro and Kokichi each pulled his sleeves to his elbows, their eyes widening at the bloody sight. "Shu..." Kokichi trailed off, his face falling into a heartbroken pout.

"Sai, why do this to yourself?" Rantaro whispered, pulling Shuichi's head into his chest.

"I deserve it, that's why! I deserve all of this!" Shuichi cried, his tears bursting from their dam. He felt Kokichi climb off of his body, wrapping his arms around Shuichi from the other side. "It's my fault my uncle is dead, and I was the one that bought to all to my home just for you all to get attacked by the police. You're all suffering and I'm not doing anything except making it worse!"

Neither male replied to Shuichi as he sobbed, only shushing him and whispering comforting words that contradicted the bluenette's thoughts. Rantaro finally spoke up after allowing Shuichi to let his emotions out. "We're not leaving your side from now on, not ever. We'll get out of this together."

"We love you Shuichi, we'll do anything to help in any way we can," Kokichi smiled. "I'm making a promise here and now. I'll sacrifice myself for both of you if it means you survive, but if either of you die, I will too."