Disclaimer: I don't own Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro.

Note: The "stickit torture" is a method of torture I developed myself. All you need is a sharpie and a crapload of sticky notes. It's so simple, yet it's amazingly effective. It's great for mocking people, or getting them to bend to your wishes. Have fun.

Stickit Torture

20FacesChizu

"… Idiot."

"What is it this time, woodlouse?"

"… Don't make me watch you die so many damn times. I'm going to have a mental breakdown."

He didn't have to remind her that he was immortal. She didn't have to remind him that he was getting closer to being human every day that went by with her. She hadn't bought a hot spring resort with her savings just because it seemed like a wise investment. She was bent over him as he laid on the futon, and though she'd been disinfecting his wounds, her hands had just stopped.

The bullet holes were gone. It wasn't like she had to do this.

"Neuro… I love you."

He won't say it back, because he doesn't love her. He doesn't have true 'emotions,' just notions of things. He knows he won't kill her. He knows he won't let himself die, because she would cry, and he hates that. It's messy and ugly, and makes her make-up run. He knows that, as long as she's by his side, he can continue to make it on the surface, and it just seems as if no other human will truly do.

"Sleep. You have work tomorrow."

She knows that he's actually telling her "Go to sleep, before you start crying." Because she knows he hates it when she cries. It makes him uncomfortable, because he's stopped being such a sadist. Because he won't hurt her while she already hurts. There is that level of trust.

And even though she's pretty sure he'll move, or move her, she lies down beside him and tucks her head into his shoulder. Maybe he's just feeling mellow because of the pain, but he actually does wrap his arm around her shoulders and draw her closer. If some of the inn's workers or patrons saw the scene, they'd definitely misunderstand, since neither was completely decent, their yukata sprawled this way and that, but Yako wasn't really thinking about that.

Neuro knows, but doesn't care. Or rather, he'd like to get the rumor mill started, because then Yako would stop waiting for an answer he'd never be able to give her.

He could tell that she hadn't just gone to sleep- she'd passed out. Her hand was lax against his stomach, covered in a slowly drying cold sweat. It was still odd to think of her as worried about him, when he didn't think nearly so highly of her. He would stop her from dying, but he would not mourn her death. He couldn't even imagine himself doing so.

His hand was stroking her hair, though he wasn't really bothering to think about it- this is what human lovers did to comfort one another, wasn't it?- and as he let his eyes close, he briefly let his mouth murmur a few words thoughtfully.

"I love you…"

Neuro felt like hell the next morning. He wasn't far from warmed over death to begin with, but as he was, it felt worse than usual. More humanly in pain. Yako was absurdly keen on that, so he would have to work even harder than usual to hide it today.

Yet, as soon as he entered the bathroom, he found a sticky-note on the medicine cabinet.

Advil is the maroon pill. Just take two and don't complain. Yako

P.S.- More to come.

The stickit torture… had begun.

AN: There you go. This was originally supposed to be longer, but I cut it off because I just wanted it done so I could call something FINISHED. T_T And here it is. So enjoy please~