Everchanging

Karma

!!TW!! Flashback/discussion of CP/SA, Discussion of Prison mob, Slight discussion of suicide

Genya dozed on the couch, Suika on his lap and Yuka curled up on his shoulder, while his brother buzzed about the apartment. Time was ticking before Giyuu came over to pick them up, so Sanemi was getting the last of their things and triple-quadruple checking everything. Genya's medicine; check. His markers; check. Sour watermelon candy; check. A baggier change of clothes; check. Hair Bands; yep. Sanemi would've never guessed that raising a child meant carrying an arsenal whenever they went out.

"Genya, are you awake?" Sanemi called as he grabbed the dumpling Tupperware, he could hear his brother shift on the couch, but the boy didn't respond. "Genya?"

"'M awake. Jus' resting my eyes." Sanemi huffed a laugh, putting the Tupperware in the bag with the gifts. Genya pushed his body up, disrupting his pets' nap as he blinked at his brother. Sleep has often eluded the child lately, consistently finding himself joining Sanemi's bed to run away from a nightmare. His medicine was more of a nuisance now, making it harder to wake up when he did have a nightmare, so Genya pleaded with Sanemi to not take it until they found a better alternative. "When's Giyuu coming?"

"Soon..." Sanemi looked at his tired brother, affection and sympathy battling his heart as he ran his hand through the boy's hair. He couldn't help but smile when Genya rested the weight of his head in the palm of his big brother's palm. "Are you sure you want to come? I could always call someone to come hang out with you while you napped."

Genya shook his head, standing up and stretching with a yawn. Suika's claws tapped on the floor, circling the child with excitement while Yuka mewled.

"I'll be fine, Nemi. I want to come." His big doe eyes blinked into clarity and, before Sanemi could say anything else, the boy was already collecting his own coat and shoes. The elder brother followed Genya, close enough that he could hear the boy humming some song that Inosuke had shown the teen.

"Okay, just– If you start feeling overwhelmed let me know." He knew that this conversation always droned on, a constant repeat of words and phrases. He was sure that both he, and Genya, had this entire discussion memorized word for word, but it was important enough to say another hundred times more. "We can always step out for a breather or take a walk."

"Mhm, is Officer Sabito going to be there?" With the teen's back turned, it was difficult to read his expression. But his words were soft, like he was somewhere further away with his thoughts. Sanemi wished his brother would turn around and look at him, then maybe he would be able to think of the right thing to say. Was Sabito a sore spot for Genya? It wouldn't be surprising, considering that the man had been assigned to Genya's case.

"I want to put that woman away for as long as possible. In a perfect world she would never see the light of day, but the world isn't perfect so the most I can do is keep adding sentences." Sabito turned the laptop around so Sanemi could see the screen. "I already got her for everything else, but I want to add possession of child pornography to her list of crimes."

Sabito knew so much about Genya, more than probably either Shinazugawa was comfortable with. But they both also owed the officer every inch of their skin. Because of his thoroughness and conviction, Miyano was convicted with just about everything she ever put Sanemi's baby brother through. She would never see the light of day, not entirely because of Sabito's conviction, but not without his involvement. The monster that haunted the teen's dreams and rotted his life was no longer under the same sky as them.

She was gone.

Forever.

And now all they could do was pick up the pieces that she shattered and introduce Genya to a world without pain, a life worth living. And Sanemi had Sabito to thank for that. He didn't think that Genya would have survived if Sabito failed to convict Miyano. Sanemi didn't even want to imagine it.