Chapter Text
“Are you sure about this?” Hatter asked, a tad bit skeptically as he eyed the place Arisu had circled on the map.
“According to my method, it should be either a hearts or a clubs game.” Arisu told him, voice firm though tone subdued. He had his arms wrapped around himself where he sat, looking properly intimidated. Who wouldn't, being alone there with Hatter and Aguni?
“Ah well, it doesn't matter for now, I'll go to that game. And in case it's a clubs game, you're coming with me.”
Arisu's head snapped up at that. “What?”
“You heard me. I'm gonna need each specialty with me if I want to survive. Aguni and Niragi will come too.”
The gamer blinked, not sure if he heard right. Hatter had really lost his mind. If it was a hearts game indeed, one that would only leave one survivor, he'd either die himself or lose his best friend and best fighter. Arisu knew that it was a higher ranked spades game from having scouted that place out before, but Hatter wouldn't know that. Which was part of his plan, admittedly, but he's thought he'd have to convince the man further.
“Uhm...”
Arisu flinched when suddenly Hatter got up close and grabbed his face by pinching his cheeks, unpredictable gleam in his eyes as he let out a small laugh. “And by taking you with me, I'm making sure you're not sending me into a trap, my dear boy.”
“I'm not stupid enough to attempt that.” Arisu managed to get out through his squished mouth, glaring at Hatter despite the building panic in his gut at the way too close proximity of this danger to humanity. He clenched his fists and tensed more when Hatter didn't let go of him, just kept staring at him in the weirdest way possible, cheeks hurting now where the man's fingers clawed into them.
“I think you've made your point clear enough, Takeru.”
As if blinking himself out of a trance, Danma shook his head and finally let go of Arisu's face. He patted one cheek lightly while looking at his friend. “Don't worry, I wouldn't dare damaging his sweet face.”
Stomach still in knots, Arisu took note of how Aguni's face was in a disapproving frown, the two friends seeming to communicate wordlessly. The gamer hoped it was about what he's thinking it is.
“C-Can I go now?” He spoke up quietly. He didn't have to fake the shudder wrecking through his body, having the insane leader so close, his whole attitude and sheer presence making him want to curl up or throw up, or both. He was glad he was feeling better health-wise, the stress reaction would maybe bite him later, but not as bad as it would have were he still sick with the cold too.
“Of course darling, go and have fun with your friends until tonight. Niragi will pick you up when it's time to go.” Hatter told him generously, and Arisu gave a tiny nod before making his way out the room.
At least he still was in a good mood because of the Eight of Hearts Arisu brought, so he had played being the nicest man alive and gave Chishiya the day off of his duties. He even let them sleep in before Arisu's presence was requested to find a suiting game for Hatter.
The gamer found his friends at the pool, in the shade of a big parasol. Tatta was with them, sitting on the floor between the two lounge chairs, and listened raptly to what Chishiya was telling him. On his way to Hatter earlier, Arisu had ran into him and asked him to speak to his friends about a little favor, glad that his guard had been too distracted to pay attention.
Tatta has been all too eager to help Arisu out, and the gamer was glad to have someone so nice and reliable as their ally now, it seemed. He was nodding vigorously and it almost looked like he wanted to salute when he got up and scurried off to an unknown direction.
When Arisu arrived, Chishiya scooted over immediately to make room for him to sit and pulled him closer by the waist as he checked for any signs of injury he might've sustained while in Hatter's supposed care. There was a tiny frown, hate glinting in those dark eyes as he touched the red marks on his cheeks, still there from how he's been grabbed.
“I'm okay.” Arisu assured him. “Hatter's heading out for a game tonight. With Aguni, Niragi and me.”
“What?! Has he lost his mind?” Kuina exclaimed, leaning forward in her seat. “I mean, of course he has, but... If he goes into a hearts game with all of you-”
“It's not a hearts. It's a clubs.” Arisu was quick to say. He wasn't quite sure himself why he didn't tell them about it being a spades. Possibly because he didn't want to be lectured that he shouldn't do a spades game when he was still recovering.
Usagi bit her lip. “He's going to be mad if you fail with your predictions...”
“It's fine, he's still in a good mood because of yesterday, and I told him it could be a clubs too.” The gamer sighed and leaned more heavily into Chishiya's one-armed hug, letting his head rest on the sturdy shoulder. His plan could fail, and if it would he'd be in deep shit. If not dead. But it was better than doing nothing, better than being a dead-weight in their group. “What about Tatta? Did he agree?”
“He did. He was pretty eager to help us.” Kuina leaned back as she observed the pool area, heaving an agitated sigh at seeing so many militants. “I'm annoyed though, that it takes so long. I miss our freedom.”
“Ann and I have something planned that should speed things up. But there are a few variables that can interfere with the timing.” Chishiya mumbled, hiding his mouth in Arisu's hair and then kissing his head. They had to be careful to not be overheard.
“What variables?” Usagi asked, just as quietly and with a concerned frown on her face.
“First of all, how Hatter's game tonight plays out. We might not even need our plan if he's taken care of like that.”
“Was that on purpose, Arisu? That you send him on a wrong game for the chance that it might terminate him?” At the climber's words, Kuina's eyes widened and she also leaned closer again.
“Was it?”
“There's always the chance that he might not survive a game.” Arisu deflected, pretending it might've been his plan. “Though by taking Aguni, Niragi and me with him he thinks he has all possibilities covered.”
Kuina deflated. “Damn, that's right. I mean, he does. Fuck, that would've been cool.”
“We'd still have the obstacle that's Niragi, even if Hatter was gone.” Chishiya told her, grip on Arisu tightening the slightest bit. “Either way, the other variable would be if Ann and I would have to join a game too. Since he left us be last night, it's unlikely we get another free pass.”
“You do.” Arisu muttered, absentmindedly tracing patterns on Chishiya's free hand. “He didn't mention you guys at all, and he doesn't want me distracted tonight either. It worked yesterday too.”
“What do you mean it worked? What did you do?” Usagi seemed to assume the worst, and that also got Chishiya to tense up.
“Nothing!” Arisu hurried to say. “Just... Remember when I talked to Aguni the other day? I said that I would be too worried and unable to properly concentrate if I knew you were sent out in what could be a hearts game together. He convinced Hatter on my behalf to not send you into a game when I'm heading out. So my mind is clear and I can win for him.”
“Oh, but... but that's good, right? It means Aguni cares a lot about you already.” Kuina nodded to herself. “Maybe you could even just ask him to let us go.”
Arisu shook his head tiredly, eyes closing for a moment. “He wouldn't. He still thinks he has an influence on Hatter I think, can still save him from complete madness.”
“Tch, yeah, too late for that I'd say. That man is bat-shit crazy.”
“I'm going to come with you instead of Niragi.” Chishiya said after a few moments of silence, making Arisu straighten from his slouched position to glare at him.
“Absolutely not.”
“This is not for you to decide. I won't let you go alone with three enemies.”
“It's not for you to decide either. Hatter made his choice and I won't let you throw yourself in harm's way.”
Chishiya's eyes narrowed. “It's a clubs game, so there shouldn't be a problem. If anything, it would be good to have someone you trust with you.”
“It's not about the game.” Arisu defiantly kept the eye contact. “It's about you possibly doing something very stupid and dangerous when he looks at me the wrong way.” Really, the last thing he needed was to worry about Chishiya's well-being, and him possibly interfering with his plan. He was grateful for the way both women winced and shrugged in agreement at that statement.
“You're not really rational anymore when it comes to Arisu's safety.” Usagi gently told him. “Maybe we can convince Hatter to take Kuina or I with them, though.”
Chishiya looked mutinous, a bit like a brooding cat, but seemed to realize that the women were right because he didn't deny it. Arisu, however, wasn't going to step down.
“I don't want either of you to come with me. I think it's a clubs game, I'm not one hundred percent sure. For the off-chance that it's a hearts indeed, I wouldn't want you there. I wouldn't be able to take it.” With his eyes still a bit glassy, face still pale, it was easy looking pitiful enough to squeeze his female friends' hearts. He really meant it, too, but for this night, for this game, for this plan, he needed them safe and sound and away.
He averted his gaze, frowned down at his lap, to avoid seeing Chishiya's expression. He was pretty sure the shorter man had already figured out that there was something going on that Arisu was keeping to himself, but when it came to stubbornness he could easily keep up with Chishiya.
“What if something happens to you?” Usagi's voice was gentle, hand touching his to make him look at her.
“I'm going to be fine. Hatter needs me for the games, so he will make sure I'll survive. And Aguni will be there too and secretly keep an eye on me.” Which was the main point of his plan. “If you don't have to head out tonight, you can get yours and Ann's plan going faster, right?” Arisu directed the last part at Chishiya, diverting the topic.
The bleached blond still looked beyond grumpy as he stared at his lover, clearly dissatisfied with the turn of the conversation in general, but gave a curt nod. “We can set it up tonight, and if Hatter is still a problem tomorrow, we can set it into motion.”
“What about our two main suspects?” Kuina asked. “Are they included in this mysterious plan?”
“Partly. We'll see how the game goes and then maybe corner them before setting the real plan into motion.” Chishiya shrugged one shoulder. “Priority is getting away from the Beach. The rest can come later.”
“Damn straight.”
-x-
Later, when Niragi was waiting for Arisu to finally move so they could get to the game, Chishiya pulled his boyfriend aside.
“I don't know what you've planned, but I know it's going to be reckless and dangerous, so don't do it.”
Arisu chewed on the inside of his cheek as he stared back just as stubbornly. “And your plan is not dangerous? Don't preach to me if you don't follow your own rules.” He didn't want to argue now, it was so pointless, but he wouldn't let this stand as it is. He wasn't as sick and helpless anymore, he could stand his own ground, and fend for himself. Especially towards his hypocrite of a lover.
Chishiya's brow raised minimally, as if he fought it happening, though there was no mistaking the interest sparking. As if he actually liked the fire he could see, even though it was being directed at him. “You're a damned brat, you know that?” He said, deflecting from his own plan, though despite the words the tone was more fond than anything.
Arisu felt his own mouth tug into a small smile, relieved Chishiya wasn't mad at him for doing his own thing and snapping. When this was over, they could finally have a bit of peace perhaps, and could combine their brains to get out of these horror games altogether and back home.
“I'm your brat, though.” He quipped back softly, hugging the shorter man as tight as he could. His heart jumped at how he was squeezed back just as equally desperate. Right, he was doing this for him. For them. It was worth the danger he was putting himself into.
“Exactly. Mine.”
“Would you finally move your ass?!”
Arisu broke the hug at Niragi's impatient shout, and gave a last smile at Chishiya before he hurried to get to the cars with the other male. He made sure to still look intimidated by the pierced man, properly scared of him, despite not quite seeing him as almighty anymore as the other would've liked. Why he did that, he had no idea, but his gut told him for now it would be good to keep Niragi's vulnerable ego up.
The pretend-fear was making way for real one when he saw Aguni and Danma already waiting by the cars, the other one full of other militants and a few 'pawns', as the leader liked to call them. The sight of Hatter made his stomach roll uncomfortably all on its own, and while he knew his plan could work, as crazy as it may be, it made his skin crawl. In his head things sounded way easier, compared to being face to face with the horror.
Thankfully, the insane man only made a few comments about how they would be successful tonight, a decorated speech to camouflage the danger, especially since he'd sacrifice half their party without batting an eye if it meant surviving himself.
The lit up game venue came into view, and Arisu had a hard time hiding his nervousness. His hands were hidden in the front pocket of his hoodie, fiddling with the fabric inside while he chewed on his tongue.
“And you're sure it's clubs or hearts? Because it looks a heck lot like a spades to me.” Hatter muttered, glancing back to Arisu, eyes glinting dangerously.
“Y-Yes, as sure as I can be. If I were to create games, I would lure the spades players there with a false promise of a spades game, only to confront them with a clubs or maybe even a hearts one.” Arisu lied as convincingly as he could. Well, if he were a game master, and his goal were to kill as many players as possible, it would be his strategy. He doubted it was about the killing though, even though he still hasn't figured out the real reason for this hell hole.
“Mh, let's see you're correct again. But it doesn't matter, we can manage any kind of game tonight!” Hatter laughed hysterically when they pulled into the place's parking lot. “We can save finding the missing Hearts Game for another night!”
Arisu swallowed the lump in his throat, noting how neither Aguni nor Niragi shared that crazy cheer and didn't bother hiding the fact. Sure, Niragi would follow his boss' lead, and Aguni was carefully quiet as he parked the car, a strange disapproving wrinkle between his brows despite appearing as nonchalant as ever.
Had Arisu been any less observant, he might've deemed his plan as doomed already with how little Aguni reacted. Not to mention it was still risky. But... there wasn't much of a choice there, was it? Chishiya had said it, they would keep on hunting them down should they flee again. And getting answers out of Mira and Kuzuryu could end unfavorably too. Either way, it wouldn't save them – and the other Beach members – from the insanity that was Hatter being in control. He wasn't sure if Aguni were a better leader or worse, for Hatter did try to keep stuff peaceful and the farce up at least, but anything would be better than to be lured into a trap and then brought to slaughter for a single man's survival.
The laser barrier made its tiny sound as they entered the indoor bouldering hall, causing a shiver to run through Arisu. While he knew it was a higher spades, he had no idea what exactly would happen. The memory of the Ten of Spades with Kuina resurfaced, and he desperately hoped it wouldn't be about endurance again. While he was feeling better, he still wasn't back to full health, and his only hope was the adrenaline helping him through this, since every other aspect of his plan was dependent on lots of variables he couldn't plan around.
They each grabbed a phone to register, and chose a cozy place by the door to the main bouldering hall while they waited for the registration to end in a few minutes.
Arisu tensed with how Hatter put an arm around his shoulders as he sprouted a wild tale from past games to their little group, giving the pawns a false sense of security and trust. At least, he thought, Aguni was keeping an eye on him instead of just staring boredly into space as he's found him doing in the Tag game back then.
“Registration closed. Current Players: 21.”
The chattering stopped as the voice rang out through the speakers, eyes all trained on the white screen hanging above the door.
“Game: Straight to the top. Difficulty: Eight of Spades. Time Limit: Ninety minutes.”
Arisu let out a small shaky sigh on purpose, let his shoulders drop a bit to emphasize his disappointment at having been wrong in his calculations, pretending to be scared of getting punished for his faux-pas. Hatter squeezed him closer with his arm as if to reassure him, which only made Arisu's stomach roll harder.
He's of course assumed it was a game about climbing, Usagi would have easily gotten through it and could've possibly helped him, but he didn't want her in any game with Hatter.
“Goal: Make your way to the top before the time runs out.”
“See, that's what I like about spades games, they're straight to the point.” One of the militants said with a chuckle, fist-bumping his buddy.
“Rules: 1. You only can go up and sideways. Going back down is forbidden. 2. Only the highlighted areas are usable, leaving those areas results in termination. 3. No weapons or other utensils allowed.”
The door swung open to let them inside, and once they all were through, it shut closed and locked behind them. The hall was huge. In the center was a – for the lack of a better word – mountain, starting wide and going up higher and higher – there was even a hole in the ceiling so the tip of it was sticking out from the building. Every few meters were platforms, possible resting places, Arisu assumed, that got less and less the higher they'd come.
It seemed the mountain was color coded, too. The lights were off in the lower half of the hall, but the bottom fourth of the mountain, along with the platforms, was glowing in fluorescent neon light. Then it tapered out and became a black, completely smooth surface with very few handholds and instead a few ropes dangled there to assist the climbing. The third fourth was black and white checkered, like a chess board, with the handholds in the same colors, making it dangerously hard seeing them, especially if you were in a hurry. And finally, where the mountain went through the roof, it became authentic rock, without handholds and just simple jagged stones all the way to the top, as far as they could see.
Arisu eyed the mountain with trepidation, how was he supposed to get up there within one hour? He didn't get much time to ponder over this, when the voice told them the game was starting and the timer began ticking down, visible on the big white screen on the top half of the hall. It would make them more nervous and prone to mess up on the checkered part of the mountain.
Maybe they really were for entertainment, the games, Arisu mused inwardly as he began climbing. His eyes squinted at the harsh neon light hurting his eyes, making it harder. It was comparably easy for him for now, with his height and just concentrating on getting up. Almost too easy, which was confirmed when the ten minute mark hit and suddenly the hall was being flooded.
For a moment, Arisu mused it was unoriginal to use flooding water again in a spades game, but when the young woman still way below was touched by it and screamed bloody murder, it was revealed that it wasn't simple water.
The other players all looked down to where she lost her hold on the mountain with the pain and fell into it, being burnt and dissolved in mere seconds. It brought new urgency to everyone, their climb turning more frantic. One of the few higher ups cursed as he slipped and missed a handhold, also falling into the slowly rising acid.
Another, already at the ropes, thought he'd be smart and came to stand on a platform that wasn't lit up as belonging to the mountain, and dropped right down with it. A man in his thirties tried to climb down to help his friend, and also fell when the handholds he's already touched vanished beneath him for breaking the rules.
Within another twenty minutes, their player count was reduced to half. Arisu's muscles were already quivering from the strain the constant climbing caused, and he was more than a little surprised when Niragi helped him by pulling him up to the platform he was standing on just at the upper edge of the ropes, right when the checkered part would start.
Arisu took the moment to catch his breath and check on the other players. Aguni was just helping Hatter onto another platform a bit higher up, while two of the pawns and one militant were gone, the others about the same level as them. From the other non-Beach players, there were about four left. Two of those were already at the end of the checkered part and taking a short break there, while the other two were scattered somewhere below and would probably be killed by the acid soon.
“I need you to fucking tell me where to go.”
Arisu's head swiveled to watch Niragi, who glared at the black and white wall in front of him. For a second, the gamer wanted to ask why, when he realized that Niragi, who needed glasses, would have way more trouble finding the handholds there. So that's why he saved him, so he could help him. “Yeah okay.” Arisu still agreed, hyping himself up to continue the climb.
Niragi began climbing right after him, almost uncomfortably close, but he needed to, to be able to see where Arisu put his hands and feet and hear his breathless instructions. He got more confident the higher up they came, and having a lot more stamina than Arisu with his current condition, came up closer so he was almost hugging the gamer from behind how, face at Arisu's waist area. His intentions were clear when Arisu almost slipped at a coughing fit and was saved from plummeting by Niragi's body to lean against for a moment.
“Fuck, go on, I can't hold this up for long.” Niragi hissed, out of breath, and Arisu did his best to get his bearings back and make it the last few meters to the next platform.
Just when Niragi moved to climb on it too, one of the higher players yelped as he fell, hitting Niragi's side and causing him to slip.
Arisu didn't quite think when he reached out to get a hold of the pierced man's other arm, almost getting dragged over the platforms edge himself hadn't Niragi been able to make use of the brake in his fall to get a foot on a handhold to stop the momentum. Fueled by adrenaline when the handhold vanished, he scaled up the last of the distance and with Arisu's help, landed on the platform with him. They both were breathing hard, not looking at each other for the moment as they reflected on what happened.
Niragi's shoulder seemed to have taken a bit of damage from how Arisu had grabbed his arm, while the gamer's wrist was aching from the twist. Still they'd be able to continue their climb, they had to if they wanted to survive.
“Come on, there's only twenty minutes left!” Both of them were brought out of their stupor by Hatter's voice. The man was a few meters higher up with Aguni, on another platform, the last one until the top and already on the outside part through the roof. The wind whipped through Hatter's hair, and paired with his excited grin, making him look even more manic than usual. There was blood from who knows where – or who - on his face, which made Arisu feel even less inclined to join them. There was not much choice, though.
So he and Niragi continued their way up, using their system from earlier to reach the platform just where the rock part started, just out of reach of the acid. It was a tight squeeze with the four of them, but better than the alternative.
“W-Where is the other one that was so far ahead of us?” Arisu asked, skin crawling with how pressed against Hatter he was. The ones who were below them were already gone; they couldn't hear their gasping breaths or climbing noises anymore, the acid having risen enough to kill all of those still in the hall.
“Please, do you think we'd have room for five up there?” Hatter tsk'ed as if he was scolding a kid and when Arisu looked up he realized that at the top there was a platform just as big as the one they're currently on. It was already small for four, a fifth one definitely wouldn't fit. Which meant...
“You killed him...”
“It's us or him, and why would I care about a stranger when I have my precious people here? Now, shall we continue before the time runs out?”
Arisu didn't know why he was still surprised by that behavior, why it still shocked him. He knew what Hatter was capable of. So he swallowed what he wanted to say and instead tried to focus on the game. He needed to get up there to the top, he needed to survive and get back to Chishiya. He needed to pull himself together and think about his plan. His stupid, stupid plan that had a maybe 10 percent chance of working. He was such an idiot.
Their climb continued, now considerably harder and slower without proper handholds and the sharp rocks digging into their palms. Arisu's wrist began throbbing with the constant strain, and he could hear Niragi curse repeatedly under his breath and how he favored his left side with the injured shoulder.
Hatter kept mumbling between pants, something sounding like complaints about his palms being cut up, but Arisu paid him no mind for now as he tried to concentrate on not falling. The clock was still ticking, the cold wind biting his skin and numbing his fingers dangerously.
There were relieved sighs when Aguni pulled Hatter onto the platform and shortly after also Niragi. Arisu was still too far down to reach out, the thin cool air making his lungs constrict. His fingers dug into the cold unforgiving stone as he coughed, muscles on the verge of giving out on him.
“Remaining time: 2 minutes. Players left: 4.”
Two minutes. He could make it. He had to make it.
“Move it you idiot!” Niragi's voice was faint in the whipping wind, though his tone made it clear he didn't want him to die just yet. Arisu risked a glance up, Aguni was perched on the very edge of the platform, already reaching out to him. It was only about a meter until he could grab his hand.
Arisu's lip was bloody with how much force he used to bite down on it, determination and adrenaline the only thing keeping him going.
“Remaining time: 30 seconds.”
Panic gripped him, making him slip in his haste. For a few horrible milliseconds, he thought he'd fall. And then he was jerked when his wrist was engulfed by an iron shackle. Or, more precisely, Aguni's hand.
With wide scared eyes, Arisu looked up from where he was dangling. Aguni was leaning half off the platform, only being held back by Niragi's grip on his belt while the other clung to a jagged part of the mountain top. The pierced man was lashing a litany of colorful curses at the strain, too stubborn to let go though.
Aguni's eyes held something Arisu recognized as fear...
-x-
Arisu's never had to worry about his own safety. His mother has always been there to shelter him from any danger. In their garden he didn't have to be afraid at all, and when they were in the park with the nice playground, she was always there to keep an eye on him.
Hajime was finally old enough to properly play with him, and they made use of this as often as possible.
Like now, they were kicking a soccer ball back and forth. Or more like, Hajime clumsily kicked while Arisu tried to teach him how to properly do it.
“You have to kick it harder! Don't worry, it doesn't bite!” He had said and laughed, five year old brain not quite realizing the danger that was the main street way too close to where they were playing.
Little Hajime had kicked then as hard as he could, and the ball flew, hitting the pavement of the momentarily quiet street.
Cheering because it had been a good shot, Arisu ran to get it. His mother's sudden, terrified scream when his soles touched pavement instead of grass, when he picked up the ball, would haunt him forever. The way her face looked as she ran for him.
There were screeching tires all of a sudden, a crashing sound and lots of car horns, and then he was yanked into his mother's arms. She had looked at him so desperately worried, held him so tight he thought he wouldn't ever be able to breathe again. It was only way later he learned that he's caused a massive car accident with fortunately only mildly injured people.
-x-
Arisu blinked himself out of his sudden memory, heart thumping way too harshly, surprised to find himself on the platform now and in a suffocating hug. There was a small moment of panic, but when he realized it was Aguni, he calmed down considerably.
The muscular man was subtly shaking, and Arisu could feel his heart beating way too fast to be normal too. The grip was so similar to his mother's back then, desperate and terrified. It was safe here, his mind supplied him, and the chime ending the game sounded like perfect music to his ears.
The grip on him lessened when the mountain parted lightly to reveal a set of stairs leading down, the acid being drained from the hall below. On the first step of the stairs lay the card they've won.
The walk down was very awkward, as both Niragi and Aguni were lost in their own thoughts it seemed, with what happened and about their own reactions, while Hatter kept animatedly chatting about it as if it was the funniest game ever.
Arisu was still dazed, though had to admit knowing both men had saved his life made him want to pull through with his plan. And with how this game had played out, it would make even more sense. He just had to hype himself up enough to pull through with it.
His body was supporting him in the act he'd have to pull off, his quivering muscles and general shaking as he came down from his adrenaline high ensuring he'd have no problem pretending. For the moment, for their ride back to the Beach, he kept quiet, pretending to be even more shaken up than he was. He was aware of the glances being thrown at him, but as he's been written off as too sensitive in their eyes already, it only played into his cards.
At the Beach, he was glad they didn't run into Chishiya or the others on their way to the conference room. Was glad the short meeting with the other groups that have headed out ended quickly and calmly. Should be glad when Hatter simply dismissed him and Niragi... but...
“W-Wait, I... I have a favor to ask...” Arisu choked out, his knuckles white as he gripped the fabric of his hoodie, tears effortlessly gathering in his eyes.
Hatter tutted as he shook his head. “Aw, my sweet darling, you were incorrect with your game prediction tonight. I don't think I can reward you for that.”
“Please, I-” Arisu sobbed, and desperately wiped at his eyes with his sleeves, hoping to be as convincing as possible, “I can't take this anymore. I don't want to be scared for my friends anymore, I don't want them facing these high ranked games anymore.”
“You're so funny.” Hatter chuckled, running a hand through his wind-tousled hair. “They're top players, of course I need them for the high ranked games.”
Arisu gazed at him with huge teary eyes, desperation clear as he spared a minimal glance at Aguni and Niragi, who was still standing by the door. Then the gamer seemed to steel himself, and took a few shaky steps towards Hatter, reaching to grip the silk robe. “Please. I will...” Arisu took a shaky breath, as if giving up, “I will do whatever you want me to. Just please, please spare them.”
He vaguely heard a scoff and then fading footsteps as Niragi left. Aguni's change in stance from weary and relaxed to alert. And most importantly, Hatter's eyes glinting as his face lit up in interest, intentions clear.
“My dear boy, you have any idea what that means?”
“I just need to know my friends are safe. Please...” Arisu let his tears fall, not having to fake the desperation.
“Takeru, he has-”
“Sshh...” Hatter shushed both his friend and Arisu, pulling the youngest into his arms as if to comfort him. Arisu waited for three seconds, and then let his knees buckle, feigning losing consciousness. His skin crawled at how Hatter took his weight and held him close. “My, the game must've been too strenuous for him...” He lifted him up bridal style and grinned at Aguni. “But you heard him, he said he'd do whatever I want to save his friends. Isn't that great? Just how I hoped it would turn out.”
~
Waiting was the worst. Chishiya knew some things needed time, and usually he could be quite patient when it was for a bigger plan, but when it came to the safety of his lover, he found he didn't possess that level of patience.
It was bad enough he couldn't stay sitting in the lobby, where he, Kuina, Usagi and Ann were waiting. They've flimsily disguised the meeting there as him explaining some medical things via books to Ann, even though none of the their guard dogs really paid attention to them since executive Ann was with them.
Tatta had joined and informed them just a few minutes earlier that both Kuzuryu and Mira had talked quietly for a very short time and then went to their respective rooms, to retreat for the night he assumed.
For Chishiya, it didn't quite mean as much for the moment, as he was still waiting for Arisu to come back from the game. He and Ann had set up their own plan, and once his boyfriend was back they would set it into motion. The air was filled with a foreboding electricity, as if something was going to happen, and it urged them to get a move on before it would come to bite their asses.
As it was, he was pacing the area, playing with the lighter he stole and hid in his jacket's pocket. Every time someone entered through the main entrance, he'd check if it was them, but so far it's only been the other groups.
Which is why he was mildly surprised to see Niragi appear from upstairs – they must've come in from a side entrance – looking worse for wear but still as insufferable as usual. The pierced man gave the little group a suspicious once-over, but didn't linger. His face was stony as he met Chishiya's gaze for a moment, before he locked on a spot over his shoulder, as if he didn't want to look at him anymore. Most curious behavior indeed.
“What do you want? Where's-”
“You might want to check on your fucktoy. He won't be yours anymore if you wait too long.” Niragi didn't bother elaborating, he just rolled his apparently hurt shoulder and then moved to talk to the guarding militants.
Chishiya let the words pass through his mind again, sharing a look with the others, and then let the rage take over as he made his way to where he assumed Hatter and Arisu were.
~
“I told you this is a terrible idea, Takeru.” Arisu heard Aguni say as he was laid out on the sofa in the conference room. He tried not to squirm at Hatter's hands lingering, eyes almost burning him physically as they trailed his features.
“He offered himself, you heard it. There's nothing to say against that. And I'm not scared of Chishiya.” Hatter laughed. “The stuck up brat will have to learn to respect his boyfriend's wishes. And if he tries to make trouble, we still have Kuina and Usagi for protection.”
“Takeru...”
Hatter let out an agitated breath, patience running thin, as he straightened and turned to look at his friend. “We've been over this. He is not Kento, he is not your son. So stop playing protective daddy and leave if you don't want to stay and watch.”
“You promised not to touch him as long as he does what you tell him to. Don't go back on your word now.”
Arisu could hear the building rage in Aguni's voice, the fervency surprising him. So it apparently wasn't simply Hatter's pleasantry that they haven't been living in worse conditions than they have when they came back.
Sensing the agitation, Hatter chuckled to diffuse the situation. “Come on, how am I supposed to justify giving into his wish without getting anything in return? You have to be a bit more logical. I've given them way too much freedom already, I can't be seen as too soft now.”
“Not. Him.” Aguni's voice was low and dangerous, definitely a warning, though a hint of desperation as if he didn't want to fight against his friend.
“I don't know what's gotten into you, old friend. You never cared before. And just because he reminds you of your boy I'm supposed to turn down this treat?” Hatter was back in Arisu's space, grabbing his cheeks and squishing them. “Look at him, he doesn't even look so much like Kento. Would you feel better if I covered his face? It'd be a shame, but for you I'd do almost anything.”
Arisu almost let out a startled whimper when his hoodie was pushed up so it flipped over his face and covering it. He allowed his eyes to blink open but couldn't see anything but the dim light filtering through the fabric.
“I told you to stop.” Aguni's voice was muffled now through the hoodie, though the tone was clear. Arisu's heart beat faster, his plan was actually working. Aguni was leaning up against Hatter. The nutcase would lose his only support pillar, and without the militants, he would lose his power.
“I've had enough of you, Mori-chan. Go to bed or something.” Hatter's hands were suddenly on his bare waist, making him want to gag and squirm away, but he managed to hold still for the time being.
“Takeru, I'm warning you!”
“You know what?! I don't fucking care! You've lost your mind with him, just because he looks like your son!” Hatter exploded now. “When Kento is a few years older, he'll look exactly like him, and you can either let me have Arisu now or I'm coming for Kento once I'm out of here!”
Arisu's eyes were wide at the words, shocked at how easily Danma had spat them out. He wasn't sure how serious he was, there was always a possibility he was just bluffing to get his way now, but still...
“That's what I thought.” Hatter's voice rang out in the following silence, and then the warmth of his rough and scraped hands on his bare chest was back, moving down to the hem of his pants.
There was a beat of panic in Arisu, he'd have to fight, but Hatter barely managed to hook his fingers in to pull his pants down when a shot rang out.
Warmth sprayed Arisu, then weight crashed on him as Hatter groaned in pain. Blood rushing in his ears, heart hammering in his chest, Arisu frantically pulled his hoodie down so he could see.
Hatter was holding his shoulder, dangerously close to his heart, grunting in pain on top of Arisu and bleeding all over him.
Arisu pushed him off, making him gasp in pain as he hit the floor, curled up as he still held his injury. Aguni was standing there, gun still smoking, shock displayed all over his face. His hands shook the tiniest bit despite probably having killed countless people before.
Before Arisu could even open his mouth, the door slammed open to reveal Chishiya and his friends. Relief flooded his whole being at seeing them, despite the danger still not completely gone.
Chishiya was by his side immediately, only giving the paralyzed Aguni a minimal glance, and lifted the bloody hoodie to check for injuries.
“I- I'm fine. It's... it's his blood.” Arisu assured him, shaking with how shocked he himself was at how it played out, and dove into Chishiya's arms. He hid his face in his lover's neck and shoulder, body finally relaxing in the safe warmth.
“What the fuck happened?!” Kuina blurted out when she found her voice again, warily staring at the scene, the whimpering and groaning Hatter and Aguni, who finally let his gun drop. The muscular man suddenly looked lost, like half his age. Ignoring Kuina's inquiry and generally the others in the room, he took a step closer to his friend and then his gaze found Chishiya. “Help him... please...”
Chishiya glared at him, his hold on Arisu tightening.
“Aguni saved me...” Arisu's whispered words made him only relax the slightest bit, but he reluctantly let go of him and went to crouch by the fallen man.
“Go get hot water and towels, and the bag with instruments from Ann's workplace.” He told Aguni, who was too out of it to even question why he was supposed to run the errands when Tatta was standing right there.
As soon as Aguni was gone, Kuina opened his mouth to ask why the hell Chishiya was helping, but got stopped by Ann covering her mouth with her hand.
Chishiya's face was cold as he stared down at Hatter's rapidly blanching face, the older man having the audacity to grin up at him even in his pain. “Knew you had a soft interior...” he breathed in amusement.
The med student gave a bitter half-smile, eyeing the wound for a moment. “Lucky. The bullet hit through the back and almost came back out here.” Chishiya boldly touched the bleeding place on his chest, making Hatter convulse in pain. “The angle missed your heart by a bit. Lucky indeed. I would've hated for you to die so quickly.” He put more pressure there, feeling the bullet move a bit deeper into the wound and viciously twisting his finger.
“FUCK YOU BITCH!” Hatter cursed out his pain, blood trickling from his mouth now too.
“For what you've done, you'd deserve a lot more pain. You're lucky we don't have that much time, I would've loved to show you just how much I could make you suffer before you beg me for death. For now, this will have to do.”
Chishiya sounded like he really meant it, and Arisu had no doubt he would've done it. And while it was scaring him a bit, it was also making him relieved, knowing how much Chishiya cared about him, how far he'd go to get revenge. Hatter had simply taken it too far, Arisu would have additional nightmares about him for ages to come, and still he wasn't sure if he deserved death... but chances that he'd die anyways were high. It would be bad for Aguni, would scar him for life, which was the one thing making Arisu second guess. He had saved him, multiple times. However, it was not his decision to make anymore.
Hatter had lost way too much blood already, his body had stopped writhing since he had no strength left. Still his eyes wore hatred as he stared up at Chishiya. When they heard Aguni's heavy footsteps, Chishiya pushed his finger deep, sending the bullet into the right direction to kill Hatter a moment later.
He pretended to have put pressure on the wound when Aguni entered, and then gravely shook his head at him.
“He's lost too much blood. The bullet sat too deep.” Ann supplied, managing to sound apologetic.
Aguni dropped the supplies, quiet for a moment. And then his face became stony and numb. “Get out. Leave.”
“Leave?” Tatta inquired, as if it was the smartest idea to question his choice, but Aguni simply dropped to his knees by Danma's side.
Arisu held back the urge to stay and maybe offer comfort, but was not able to anyways with how Chishiya pulled him away.
There was no hesitation as Ann and Chishiya dragged Kuina and Arisu out, Usagi making sure confused Tatta would follow too.
“The main entrance is just-”
“No, we're taking the south exit.” Ann said curtly, speeding up her steps.
Usagi, Kuina, Tatta and Arisu found the time to exchange a very confused glance, but let themselves be led by the diamond players to the south exit.
Arisu couldn't quite explain himself where the sudden hurry came from, when they ran into two other militants and Niragi.
The pierced man seemed to relax the tiniest bit at seeing Arisu up and running despite the blood soaking his hoodie. “Where's the fire?” He said coolly, as if he hadn't told Chishiya to save his damsel in distress.
“Fuck off, we don't have time for your bullshit today.” Kuina spat, already stepping up and getting ready to take all of them out, when Arisu put a hand on her shoulder to make her pause.
He looked at Niragi. “Mira and Kuzuryu are in contact with the people who made the games. Aguni is too out of it, but they have to be interrogated before they get wind of it and flee.”
The pierced man frowned, but couldn't see any malice behind Arisu's words. Had it been anyone but him, he mused, Niragi would've simply brushed them off. With Arisu, however, his stance relaxed a tad bit as he believed him. “Then why don't you do it yourself if it's that important?” He inquired though.
“I just want to get away from here... from him.” Arisu muttered the last part, glancing behind him as if Hatter was still alive and would come after them. “Aguni bought us time and told us to leave, we can't waste this.”
“Aguni did?” One of the other militants scoffed, but Niragi was still frowning. After this night's game, after seeing just how much Aguni cared for the kid, it wasn't that far fetched anymore.
“We're wasting precious time. They surely already know we're onto them, Tatta saw them pack up to leave.” Ann threw in when Niragi still didn't move.
Arisu heard Tatta bite back a whimper when Usagi pinched him to keep his mouth shut. Chishiya stepped forward, grabbing Arisu's hand again. “They're heading to the main entrance.”
Ann spared a glance behind her sunglasses, showing Arisu her mild surprise at the location he gave. What was going on?
“Ah fuck it. If you lied to me, I will find you again and gut you alive.” The threat was mostly directed at Chishiya, though at least he began moving, running towards the main entrance with the other militants.
“Let's go, hurry, it's already set in motion.” Ann urged them along, and just as they left the building, a gigantic deafening crash was heard. Everyone but Ann and Chishiya turned to look, but were dragged along, further away.
The part of the main complex, where the lobby was located, had exploded. There was dark smoke coming from there, heat being carried by the wind and fire slowly spreading.
“What... what did you do?!” Tatta gasped out once they stopped running, watching the burning entrance from a safe distance.
Usagi also shook her head in shock. “What about the innocent people there?!”
“The explosion was just in the lobby. It's late enough that most of them should be in their rooms and safe from it. I also sent everyone away from the lobby earlier as if it were Hatter's orders.” Ann explained calmly, pushing her sunglasses up and out of the way.
“But...” Arisu frowned at Chishiya, who watched the fire with a manic satisfaction. “You sent Niragi there on purpose...”
At those words, Chishiya finally met his gaze, no remorse visible in those dark eyes. “He would've been a threat forever.”
Arisu shook his head in disbelief. “He saved my life twice in the game, and he just let us leave!”
“Arisu, he would've found out about Hatter's death. And Aguni? If he has enough time to think, to get out of his shock, he'd realize we've been playing him. We would've been chased again.”
“But this is... still it...” Arisu felt his exhaustion slam into him again, dragging him more and more down.
Chishiya held him up and used a hand on his cheek to make him look at him. “He's like a cockroach, he might've survived. But for now he's not a threat to us anymore and that's all that matters to me.”
The gamer sat down on the grass in defeat, just let himself be held by his lover as he tried to process the happenings of this night.
“So... what's the plan now?” Kuina asked a while later as they sat and watched the fire. “Do we just start collecting the cards anew?”
Ann looked at her. “We wait and see what happens to Beach now that Hatter is dead. Some of us have a bit of healing to do.” Ann said with a hum. “We try to collect our own deck in the meanwhile, and as soon as we deem it safe we can try stealing the cards from Hatter's safe. Chances are they will be abandoned in the chaos, and they will definitely have survived the fire there.”
“Wait, what about Kuzuryu and Mira? I thought we were supposed to question them...” Tatta threw in.
Usagi nodded in agreement. “The explosion will have scared them off, chances of finding them now are way lower than earlier.”
Chishiya sighed through his nose, fingers running ceaselessly through Arisu's dark locks. “The original plan would've been to corner them first and then set off the explosion. But with Hatter's death... we didn't have much of a choice there.”
“I didn't think he'd shoot him...” Arisu muttered, eyes only half-lidded as he watched the fire burn merrily. “He... I thought he'd fight him, tell him his militants wouldn't support him anymore... not... not this.”
“We know, Arisu. It's not your fault.” Chishiya told him as gently as possible, knowing how fragile he was now after this encounter. “Hatter had it coming. There's no one to blame but him.”
Arisu gave the tiniest nod, but then buried his face in Chishiya's chest to blend out his surroundings, he just wanted to sleep and forget everything that happened.
-x-
“Mhh, we should've expected something like this sooner~” Mira heaved an amused sigh from where she and Kuzuryu watched the Beach burn. “It was fun in the beginning.”
“I'm glad this craze is over. They got scarily close to finding all the cards. We did what we had to do.”
“Aw, are you scared of being beaten? It's been so boring lately, the second stage would finally bring some action.”
Kuzuryu side-eyed the Queen of Hearts and adjusted his glasses. “You were the one setting the plan of Beach destruction in motion by making Hatter so interested in Arisu in first place. Are you sure it's not you who is scared?”
Mira grinned widely. “It was nice seeing it play out, and our dear Arisu is such a good playmate. I really want to see how he'd fare in my special game.”
“So you finally decided to set a Ten of Hearts into motion?”
“Mhm, it's gonna be so much fun. Let's talk to the others and tell them to get in gear, for the second stage is just around the corner!”
Her joyous laugh carried through the night, unknown to the oblivious players...
THE END