Confession ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 26: It Ends Here

~Juuzou's POV~

I remember when I crashed Marude's bike.

He was so mad at me. He yelled and screamed...then cried. I think I remember him saying something about that bike being his baby.

I smile at remembering that. Why am I remembering that? And why right now?

The car hits a pothole and shimmies. I blink and look out the window. The sun is setting. It's making the clouds this pretty pinky-orange. It looks warm and comfortable. Kind of like a pillow or a massive bed. I wonder if clouds are as soft as they look.

"We'll be nearing the location soon, sir," Hanbee says. He sounds calm and levelheaded. Then again, he always sounds that way. Even in the face of danger, he never wavers.

That's how I usually am. Typically, I don't get anxious about a mission. After all, whether I live, or die doesn't matter. It never has before. Everybody dies. Mama died. I didn't cry. But there is one person I would cry for.

Shinohara.

My stomach flips. I'm nervous this time. I'm nervous because I want to make it home. I want to get back to Japan. I want to see him. I want to see Shinohara. I have to. I have to be there when he wakes up. So, I have to live.

But... Maybe these nerves go deeper than that. Maybe this – all of this reminds me of how I lived before the CCG. Maybe this case hits close to home. A little too close, really.

Key.

The crimes he's committed have gone on for far too long. Now, he needs to pay. He has to pay for every woman killed and every kid whose life was flipped upside down. And I'm determined to get that justice for every victim – both known and unknown.

"And Ito and Haruki have been sent to retrieve Y/N and Rui. They should be there by now," he adds as he brings the car to a turn.

I nod, "Good. And the other kids?"

"All being transported."

"Good."

Honestly, I kind of feel bad for not telling Y/N about moving her and Rui. I wasn't going to. Not originally, but the thought of doubling security at the hotel and hospital seemed too much like a huge clue for anyone working for Key. Bringing all the victims to one mutual location just seems more logical. And safer, really. This way we can have a higher concentration of TSC personnel guarding them. It just makes sense.

But hopefully, after tonight, they can all go home. Hopefully, after tonight, they won't have to watch over their shoulders anymore. Hopefully, after tonight, they can all start to heal – to really heal. And hopefully, after tonight, the souls of all those women lost can rest and we can find any other children who have been sold off.

Hopefully.

Then, we'll be a step closer to closing this case for good, and that's something I look forward to. And after that...I can go home. I can go back to Japan. What a great day that will be.

"We're about ten minutes out from where the other units are," Hanbee says.

My heart races as the adrenaline pumps through my veins. This wave of anxious nerves crashes and mixes with excitement. We're almost there. It's only a matter of minutes now.

I inhale slowly and exhale. "It ends tonight, Hanbee."

He nods, "Yes it does, sir."

It ends tonight. It ends here. Key will answer for his crimes. Those women will rest. Those kids will heal. Justice will be served on a golden platter. Tonight – this night – it all will come to an end.

All the pain.

All the heartache.

All the trauma.

All of it.

It ends here.

**Bello lovelies! Another day, another chapter...this one also written on 08/20/2022. Yeah...it was a stormy day so I've been held up in my room most of the day typing. But hey, three chapters in one day? That's a new personal record. That said, looks like the TSC is on their way to apprehend Mr. Key. Any idea how this will go? And for anyone worried. It's now been confirmed that the two men who showed up at Y/N's hotel really were TSC personnel, so they're legit. Just thought I'd add that lol. This all said, stay tuned for more! The story's not over yet! As always, thank y'all soo, sooo much for everything! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross

P.S. "Save Yourself" by ONE OK ROCK