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Hoji woke up-- sort of. Still lost somewhere between dream and reality, he saw the world through a thick haze.

And to make matters worse, he didn't know why. He'd racked his brain, trying to figure out how the hell he'd wound up like this, but he was just so tired that all he could recall were memories of a struggle, and even those were vague at best. He tried focusing on the things around him currently, hoping that might provide some insight.

The room was small, poorly-lit. He tried moving, just a little-- and quickly discovered that he had been handcuffed. And there were voices. So faint that he could only catch a word or two, but Hoji paid attention, realizing that this was the closest thing to a clue he was going to get.

Dammit… kinda hoping… he'd just OD…

Just shoot him already…

Only problem there… make enough noise to alert his friends… trying to avoid a confrontation with SPD, remember?

Too late for that… kill him… they'll be too busy with his corpse to notice we've escaped…

They were going to kill him. Hoji still wasn't conscious in the strictest definition of the word, but that much had gotten across. He felt his chest tighten as something long and dark was pointed at his head, but still had enough control to keep his face neutral as the weapon hummed into life. There was no way out of this, not now, but he'd be damned before he gave… whoever they were the satisfaction of breaking his pride as a pro--

There was a bang. Then another one. And then there was so much noise all at once that Hoji didn't have time to wonder why he wasn't dying when someone had clearly shot… but then his head drooped as he tried to stay awake. Apparently, whatever they'd drugged him with had yet to leave his system…

He tried to keep his eyes open, to see what was happening… but it was no good.


It was quiet again. Whatever had happened, it was over already-- and seeing how Hoji was still alive (and still so very exhausted) he was guessing that his captors were no longer a concern.

Wake up.

Hoji was vaguely aware of something red holding him, speaking softly-- and for some reason, that seemed odd. Maybe if he wasn't so tired he could figure out who it was…

Damn you, wake up!

He felt a strange sort of relief when the voice shouted at him-- like the world was back to normal. Perhaps now it would be all right if he went to sleep… just for a little while…

No, no, no…

Hoji felt lips pressed against his in a rough, urgent kiss… and then nothing.