Joker

46. Akabane is dead. So is Joker. So is Card.

Aki sighed as he reached the production studio where the main members of Card met. He held up a thumps up "Body replaced. I'm out."

Arjun was there unsurprisingly. He crossed his legs and beckoned Aki closer "You have to explain everything to Nakul when you return. If you want to, tell him about me too. Whatever it takes to get him to understand."

"I'm not revealing anything about anyone else. I'll only speak for myself if I ever get the chance to." He said "I- I want to be honest but not this way... I never wanted it to be this way."

The look on Nakul's face haunted Aki. He could feel his heart being stretched to the point of ripping. The look of utter betrayal. That shattered gaze of horror and disbelief. I'm so sorry my love. I'm so sorry... Emi spoke softly "Nobody will oppose me when I now say that Card needs to go. We're already erasing everything on Akabane Inari. Aki might as well have never existed. Nothing will ever show up for him. So even if the FBI or whoever tries, they'll have nothing. The video and just eye witness testimony will not do much since he's technically been burned to death. No way of identifying. They'll just declare your death and move on."

Aki nodded. I wanted to say bye to Ayu. Aki so badly wanted to go to Ayu and assure him that he was fine. That he would be back one day for him. But maybe not for his father. Aki forced himself not to cry thinking about Nakul. Aki felt his head, heart and eyes burn just thinking about his beloved Nakul. Why did I fall for him? This would have been so much easier if I just never fell in love. If I never stayed with him. If I never dated him. AND HE WAS PROPOSING! I WAS SO CLOSE TO HAVING MY HAPPY ENDING! I WAS GOING TO QUIT! EVERYTHING WAS SO CLOSE BUT I WAS TOO MUCH OF A FUCKER TO DESERVE IT! Aki couldn't help but sob. Nakul... Nakul...

San hugged him "You need to get ready to leave the country. Come back when everything blows over. Then you can tell them."

Aki hugged him back and cried desperately into San's shoulder "I- I- I love him so much. I- I didn't lie about that! I didn't!"

"I know."

"We all know." Arjun said softly and took Aki from San "But kid you need to go. You're getting a new identity. Go somewhere far and start the life you've always wanted."

"The life I wanted died with Akabane." Aki whispered, "I want them both and I always will."

"I'm leaving that up to you."

"Do they hate me?" Aki asked.

"Ayu sure doesn't." He said "He's hellbent on finding you. He is convinced that you are good. And you are."

"N-N-" Aki couldn't even say his name. Why can't I say it?

"He's heartbroken. Confused. Scared. Betrayed." Arjun sighed "I- I understand why he'd be. It hurts seeing my little brother like this but it also hurts seeing my boy like this. That's why you should go Aki. I don't have time to lecture you."

"You still have money in your new name." Kenma spoke for the first time "All your earnings with your new identity. Your new persona was born rich. We- crafted a whole life for you. Some loose ends to be tied up but we're working on it. You'll be airtight by the time you land."

"Where am I going?"

"Australia." Gale answered "Safe. I have contacts there who can protect you and keep tabs while getting you out of trouble should you get into any."

"But I still don't have a response from you two." Emi said, giving them a stern look "Are we quitting together or not?"

Aki smiled grimly "One of us is already dead." He pointed to himself.

Kenma nodded "I- I quit then. I'll finish up Aki's stuff then work on sending the profits off."

"I quit too." Gale sighed "I'll handle our personnel here."

"I'll take overseas."

"I'll handle the people." Emi sighed regretfully "I don't want them to go back to where they were... I'll talk to my people and make sure that they're all well taken care of."

"So this is it?" Aki said softly "We're done?"

"Done." Emi pulled back her shirt and rubbed the tiara on her collarbone.

Kenma showed the back of his hand with his own crown "Done."

"Done." Gale pulled down his shirt to show the 'J' on his chest.

San rubbed off the concealer under his ear and showed off the 'A' followed by a heart, diamond, club and spade underneath "Done."

Aki held out his wrist "Done."