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AKUJI WATCHED AS THE King fought her friends, hurt them, killed them. She was in pain, physical but also emotional. Grief smashed down on her with unimaginable force. Her heart had shattered, sorrow sweeping her up into its darkness.
They had lost.
All of Akuji's friends were dying. She, herself, was dying. But she wouldn't give up – not yet. Determination had always been her best weapon and she prayed that it would not let her down now.
Grunting in pain, the girl forced herself to her hands and knees. Her breathing was raspy and every movement sent a fiery sharp pain through her stomach. Still, she crawled toward the King of Spades.
Slowly but surely, Akuji continued until she was right behind him. Her knife had been discarded to the side a few moments before as the King fought Usagi with his fists.
Akuji was sure she might pass out from the pain. In fact, she wished she did. She wanted the pain to end. But not before she had a chance to save her friends.
Clutching the knife in her shaking hands, Akuji rose onto her unsteady feet. She flung herself at the King, plunging her knife deep into his neck.
He gasped. He coughed. Then, blood started to dribble out of his mouth.
The King grabbed Akuji by her shoulders and threw her off of him easily, sending her flying into Akane. He kicked Usagi away from him before grabbing his gun.
He aimed it at Akuji and she glared up at him. Even if he killed her now, he would still die later on whilst choking on his own blood.
But he didn't kill her.
A bullet had fired through his leg. Aguni, battered and beaten but still determined, had managed to reload his gun and had shot the King. Blood spurted out of the wound and the King fell to the floor. His injuries were taking a toll on him; he was getting weaker.
Suddenly, echoing footsteps were heard up ahead. Akuji glanced up with the little energy she had left and realised it was Arisu on the balcony that lead to the drug store.
He aimed his shotgun at the King at the same time the King tried to shoot him. Arisu ducked behind a corner and yelled, "What did you do to my friends?"
The King did not reply but instead pulled himself onto his feet and hid behind a wall.
Hesitantly, Arisu glanced around the corner he had hid behind. Once he realised the King was not there, he surveyed the scene before him: all of his friends injured and dying.
"Akuji! Usagi!" He exclaimed. "No, no, no!"
Even from how far away she was from him, Akuji could see the tears starting to run down his face. His voice quivered and his hands shook as he held his shotgun, screaming to the King, "Come out! Come here!"
The King slowly left his hiding spot, gun aimed at Arisu. Before he had chance to shoot the man, Arisu turned and dashed inside the drug store, giving the King no choice but to follow him.
It seemed like hours had passed but certainly it had to be only a few minutes. Akuji felt somebody's hand press into her wound. Although it hurt, she hissed in pain and forced herself to deal with it – it was to stop the bleeding, and it's not like she had enough energy to push their hand away anyway.
She looked over to see Akane pressing a familiar material onto Akuji's wound: her school tie. It was the same thing Akuji had used to stop the bleeding on Akane's leg in the Seven of Spades.
"Don't," Akuji said weakly, "You need it more."
Akane gently shook her head. She had little energy and did not want to waste it on speaking. Continuing to press down on Akuji's wound, the girl managed to stop the bleeding somewhat.
Akuji sighed in relief. She reached down and grabbed Akane's hand, squeezing it tight. Akane laid down beside Akuji and the two closed their eyes; they did not want to sleep in case they never woke up again — they just wanted to rest.
Boom!
Akuji's eyes flew open in shock and fear as she heard an explosion not far away. She felt the vibrations tremble through the ground although the explosion was far enough away not to hurt her. She looked to Akane and noticed the girl was equally surprised and confused. Their plan seemed to have worked against all odds.
"Usagi! Akuji!" Arisu called to his friends as he ran down the alleyway. He was limping with cuts and blood on his face.
Akuji watched him help Usagi to her feet, wrapping her arm around him so she could use him to lean on. Together, the two headed over to Akuji. Silently, Arisu wrapped his hand around the back of her head as Usagi grabbed her back.
They attempted to pull her into a sitting position, making her yell in agony and bat their hands away, "Stop! Stop, it hurts! Please, just leave me."
"What? Akuji, we can't!" Arisu protested. He gulped, tears in his eyes, "I'll never forgive myself."
"Go complete the last game." Akuji told him, her voice raspy. "Just go!"
"Arisu..." Usagi said in a warning voice, knowing that they could not stay there forever. They were the only remaining players fit enough to complete the final game.
Without them, nobody would go home.
"Go, I'll be fine." Akuji emphasised.
"What–what were you going to say? Before we split up?" Arisu asked, stuttering and stumbling over his words as he sobbed.
"I wanted to say that even though I have ruined it all, I hope that–that you can forgive me and I'm sorry. If I could take it all back, I would. I would do it again but better." Akuji confessed with a sad smile.
Arisu gasped as a wail wrecked his body. "I do forgive you. I–I think I get it now. We have killed countless to survive and I killed my own friends. All I know is that I won't hurt anyone else to make sure I live." His resolve hardened and he brushed the matted hair out of Akuji's face before placing a kiss on her forehead, "You're my family, you're better than my blood relatives. I love you. I will survive for you."
He stepped back and Usagi took his place. She cupped Akuji's cheek, putting on a brave face, "You've been through so much. I know you can survive this. I need you to survive this. Please, try, for me?"
"Of course." Akuji nodded, feeling her energy diminishing. She couldn't say much else.
Usagi, too, pressed a kiss to her forehead, a sisterly bond between them. Then, she and Arisu turned and left to complete the final game.
Akuji hoped with all of her might that she lived to see them again.
AUTHOR NOTES NOT ARISU AND AKUJI MAKING ME CRY :,) also im sorry that akuji and all of her friends don't get their angsty love filled goodbyes trust me i want to write it but it wouldnt make sense with them all being at death's door :((
