Part II: Kazuo wasn't as thorough, allowing Yutaka and Shinji one last moment together.

Pairing: Yutaka/Shinji

Warnings: Violence, adult language, character death, slash


If Shinji believed in such things, he would have said it was a miracle that he survived that blast. He knew the bomb he made was going to be powerful, but this was a little ridiculous. I'm fucking amazing. While he knew Kazuo was alive-he had seen the little bastard walk away from the area just a few moments ago-he was, grudgingly, grateful that the sociopath had left. Whether he thinks I'm dead, or good as dead...well, it doesn't matter. He's gone.

Now that the immediate threat was out of the way, there were more important matters to attend to.

"Yutaka-" The moment he opened his mouth, blood gushed out of it. The pain he felt coursing through his body was unimaginable. He could feel it shoot down from his chest down to his stomach, but he pushed himself up, swallowing the bile that threatened to spill from his mouth. I have to check on him. Shinji ignored the sharp pang he felt as he put some weight on his foot. I wonder how many toes I'm missing? There goes my basketball career. There was no way in hell he was going to check that out himself, though.

Please, Yutaka. You've gotta be alive. He dragged himself forward, towards the edge of the parking lot, where Yutaka was lying face down on the pavement. Dammit, why did I have to be so stupid? If Keita hadn't shown up...He didn't spare a glance at the other boy; he was focused on Yutaka. If I hadn't been so careless...would you be alright? What was worse was that Yutaka's body had shielded him from some of the bullets-though, Shinji supposed, the first round of shots had been fatal for him as well.

Still, if I hadn't been so distracted...maybe I could have saved us. He dropped to his knees once he reached his fallen friend. He saw a row of bullet holes decorating his back. There's no way he's surviving this...Gingerly, he turned the boy over, softly cupping Yutaka's face.

"Yutaka…" He breathed out. Shinji felt hollow as he stared at the boy in his arms. Was it really only a couple of days ago that they were joking around, laughing at some stupid joke? What kind of fucked up society did they live in, where shit like this could happen to kids? "...I'm sorry." The pain from his wounds didn't compare to the remorse he felt.

"No, Shinji...It's my fault."

Shinji's head snapped to the side, eyes wide. "Yutaka?!" You're alive? The smaller boy smiled at him, trying pushing himself up in a sitting position. The front of his uniform was soaked in blood, and a steady trickle of blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth. The effort seemed to be too great for Yutaka; sweat was beading at his forehead, and his body was slightly shaking. "Don't move. Here." Shinji pulled Yutaka to him, so that he was leaning against Shinji. The added weight hurt like hell, but it was for Yutaka. Shinji would do anything for Yutaka.

"Shinji...I'm sorry." Yutaka cried out, quiet sobs escaping his body. "If it wasn't for me...you would have been off this island. All I had to do was...trust you." His head fell back against Shinji's shoulder. "You're hurt now...aren't you? You made Kazuo chase after you."

"It's not that bad. I'm just missing some toes." Shinji laughed, wrapping his arms around Yutaka's waist. It hurts like a fucking bitch to laugh. "It's nothing to worry about." But...Yutaka, you don't need to know.

"You would have been better off without me, Shinji." Yutaka's breaths were labored. "You could have survived...why didn't you just run away?"

"I couldn't just...leave you." What a dumb question. Come on, Yutaka. You're not this stupid. "We're in this together...to the end, remember?"

"Why?" Yutaka breathed out. "Why didn't you just leave me?" Tears were pouring down his face.

"Don't say that. Yutaka…you're my best friend." He smiled. "You're the most important person to me. If I'm going to be mad at anyone...it's going to Kazuo. Or this fucked up government. But not you, Yutaka." Never you.

"Why?" Yutaka asked again. Shinji wasn't sure if he should proceed. He didn't have the right to end both of their lives with this bombshell, did he? Well, it's now or never, right? It's not like I'll have the time to regret it.

"I think I finally understand what you were talking about." He said quietly.

"What...do you mean?" Yutaka asked, angling his head so he could see Shinji's face.

"The way you talk about Izumi...I finally get it. Loving someone so much...you'd risk everything for them. The sorrow of knowing you can't save them...I know why I just can't form connections with girls. I already love someone else. Yutaka, you are my Izumi." He stared down at Yutaka, whose eyes were wide with surprise. "You must be pretty freaked, huh? Who would have thought...Sho and I had something in common?" He grinned lewdly.

"Shinji…"

"It's alright, little buddy. I know...you don't…"

He was cut off as Yutaka lifted himself up and pressed his lips against Shinji's. He could taste blood-whether it was his or Yutaka's, he didn't know. But damn, did that kiss feel good. Is it because we're dying, or because I 'love' him? I wonder, is this what bliss feels like? Slowly, Yutaka pulled away.

"I liked Izumi...but it's not the same as the way I like...you." Tears were still streaming down his face. "But come on, Shinji...there's no way you could have felt the same way..."He collapsed onto Shinji, causing the Third Man to fall back onto the ground. "At least, that's what...I thought."

"Well...looks like you were wrong." Shinji smiled. They stayed like that for a few moments; each feeling the other's shallow breathing. Their time was running out.

We're not gonna make it, Yutaka. I'm sorry. Ikumi, uncle...be happy for me. I finally found someone nice to settle down with.

"Shinji...I don't-I don't want to die." He gripped the blond boy's uniform as a coughing fit overtook him. "I'm scared." The fear in Yutaka's voice broke Shinji's heart.

I don't think I can get us out of this one, buddy.

"Ah...don't be. We'll go...together." It was a lame thing to say, but it was the best he could come up with. He wasn't Noriko-poetry wasn't his thing. Shinji shifted his body, gently lowering Yutaka to the ground so that the smaller teen's head was resting on his arm. He gazed into Yutaka's eyes, burning his image into his mind. "I'm glad that I got to see you, before…" He took one of Yutaka's hand in his own and gently squeezed it.

"Yeah. Me too." Yutaka smiled, fresh tears forming in his eyes. Shinji used the last of his energy to pull Yutaka to him, capturing Yutaka's lips for one last kiss.

"I'll see you on the...other side….right, Mim?" Yutaka asked softly. His eyes were closed.

Shinji summoned the last of his breath. "...Of course." Please...if there is a God...if there is a heaven...let me be there for him.

He felt Yutaka relax into his arms, a peaceful expression on his face. Shinji felt the corner of his mouth lift, a smile of his own reflecting Yutaka's. He closed his eyes, letting his tears flow.

I'm so glad to have found you, Yutaka. Really, I am. I'm so glad that we could be with each other in the end.