Chapter Text
Today.
It was today.
The day the last thread of his sanity was forcefully snapped as he attended Luca's funeral.
Both of them had been going through a lot ever since Mysta died, and since both had their own occupations, it was still hard for them. Especially for Luca, who commanded a whole mafia and couldn't show any potential weaknesses or cracks.
Shu saw how the usual bright ray of sunshine lost his light at every death that happened. Plus with the pressure of his occupation, he couldn't even grieve properly and that was maybe what got him killed.
He was tired. He was vulnerable and weak.
It gave his enemies an opening.
Luca Kaneshiro was shot in the heart, dying on spot.
But that wasn't the case anymore. They were all alive and Luca was as lively and strong as always, only a bit worried at him. The blond had been extra attentive towards him, always wanting to do things for him at any chance he got. Shu took it as a way for him to show his care towards him and couldn't help but smile.
“ I can wash dishes on my own, Luca ”
“ But..you should be resting and there's so many dishes! Let me do them! ” he insisted with a pout. Shu had to fight the urge to squeeze him with his hands full of soap.
“ I'm not an old man, Luca. It's not because I got hurt three times that means I'm incapable of doing simple dishes. ” at that Luca's face hardened. It was still unacceptable for him how the other members got in danger and Shu risked his life saving them all of those times.
He had taken care of the car driver and the fan that pushed Ike. He didn't do anything to the slayer because Vox had killed them on the same day.
Shu noticed what he said. “ Sorry, didn't mean it like that. If you insist, I'll let you do the dishes this time... ” he cave in and saw how the blond immediately lit up, content in helping. The sorcerer washed his hands and was about to sit down when the blond stared at him. “ What? ”
Luca pointed upstairs with a silent order. “ What? You're kicking me out from the kitchen too? ” he faked whined in disbelief.
“ You need to rest properly, so go. Unless you want me to take you there myself. ” Luca gave him a harmless glare, but Shu immediately got up and left. He knew better than to doubt Luca's ability to manhandle someone.
—
He ended up falling asleep for longer than he intended, feeling a bit groggy. Reaching for his phone, his eyes widened at seeing what time it was and how late it was.
Shu immediately jumped off the bed, Luca must be at the place by now.
As soon his feet touched the ground he fell to his knees.
Everything hurt.
His body was shaking in pain and he was even gasping because of it. It was like being on fire and having the burns be completely pressured. This time, destiny was determined to make him fail.
You can't take them away from me.
He could feel his own power surround him intensely. It was a rare show of emotional magic, but it was happening. The man got up on his feet still shaking a bit, forcing himself to ignore the pain that shot through every muscle. He needs to get to Luca.
—
Said blond, found himself in a tight situation. The enemy had more guts than he thought, to dare and use most of their men to attack him and his bodyguards. The backup was on their way, they only had to hold on for a little longer until then. What they had in number they lacked in skill, and that was a huge advantage in the eyes of the blond. But he must admit, having to fight everywhere around him was extremely hard and challenging, he doubts he'll be able to get home without any wounds or bruises. But he wouldn't die.
No, he wouldn't die. He had to live.
It only gave him more motivation and strength as he physically fought and shot the men around him. The don got particularly busy with one of them to see another person behind him raising a gun towards his head.
At the same moment, he saw purple fire raising from the ground and a gunshot sounded. He turned around, horrified by the sight.
Shu had grabbed the weapon to pull it down but he was still too slow. The moment the gunshot sounded it hit him. That added with the previous pain and loss of blood, he lost consciousness at the very second.
The person who shot didn't even have time to blink before he was shot in the head. Luca grabbed the sorcerer has the bodyguards surround them, back up finally arriving.
“ SHU!!!! ” He held him in his arms trying everything he could to wake him up while trying to stop the bleeding. “ FUCK! TAKE ME TO THE FUCKING CAR!! ”
—
When he woke up, he was once again in the same hospital. This time, all four members where asleep on top of him. Mysta and Ike slept near his legs, Luca near his stomach and Vox near his chest. He didn't move his body so he could let them rest. Although he just woke up, he could see their tired complex in the barely lit room. And even if he hurted with guilt for making them worry, he couldn't help but sigh in deep relief.
It was over. They were all alive. It's okay.
He made it. He succeeded. All four of them were sleeping near him and breathing. For once, he thought he could even hear their hearts beating in his ears. It was a huge relief.
Even if he didn't make much movement, the demon lord slowly woke up and saw that the sorcerer was awake. His voice sounded as a whisper, deep and a bit husky. “ Awake?... I should get the doctor.. ” but before he could get up, the sorcerer tugged his sleeve making him sit back down.
“ Stay. You can sleep more. I'll be here. ” he responded in a whisper softly. At that, the others slowly began to wake up too, soon looking at the sorcerer, who gave them a gentle smile. “ Good morning. ”
“ You're awake? Thank God.. ” Ike said, still a bit groggy. However Luca, as soon as he realized Shu was awake be turned a bit frantic.
“ Shhhhh... it's okay Luca, I'm fine. ” he stroke the blond's head to try and ease him down a bit. It worked. “ Just promise me next time you'll be more careful okay? ”
“ The same goes for you, you know? There's a lot of stuff you have to explain as to how are you always at critical times. ” Mysta says.
“ Why do we all have protective talismans in our rooms and belonging. ” Ike continues
“ And how are you certain of everything that was going to happen. ” Vox finishes.
Perhaps he should've known that they were as attentive as he was in some aspects. He only slowly nodded his head while pating Luca's hair.
“ I'll explain everything once we get home. ”
—
He did explain to them once he was discharged and got home. He didn't tell them the truth though. Shu simply said that he had realistic dreams of each of their death and at first tried to ignore it, but couldn't shake off the unpleasant gut feeling it left him. So, just in case, he made some protective talismans and vigilante Shikigamis for each of them, just to be sure. That's why, at every critical moment he was present.
Luckily, they all seemed to believe him, taking count his occupational as sorcerer that works with the ocult. Maybe Vox didn't believe him completely, his eyes told him that, but he chose not to comment on it.
To a certain point, it didn't feel exactly like a lie. Because when he woke up and saw all four of them alive, he thought it was really some monstrous nightmare. And maybe it was, if it wasn't the fact that he felt physically ill or bad everytime he tried to interfere. That was what proved him that what happened was indeed real.
Now, they were all sitting in the couch playing a game together. Laughter and curses went all around the room, making the place lively and fun. They were all alive and will continue to stay alive.
Deep down, Yamino Shu knows that it won't stop at that. You can't compensate death with near death experiences, more challenges awaits him in the future. And he's determined to face him head on until the day he dies. He'll take this challenges.
To the grave.