.

Chapter 10

Makishima's hysteria

...

Makishima curiously stared at Kagari. "Why would you help me?" he finally asked.

Kagari shrugged. "I guess I don't like the way things are going."

Makishima felt uncomfortable. He didn't know Kagari. In fact, he didn't remember actually fighting with him. They never met, or maybe their encounters were too brief to be remembered. Because he didn't know him, he felt insecure. At the same time, he had no choice but to go along with the orange-haired's suggestion. He slowly nodded, realizing that he was running out of time.

Kagari grinned. "Good. I'll go distract Ginoza, you go find Kogami. Do you know the way?"

Makishima blinked. "No... They didn't show me a path, fearing I might escape."

"Fair enough." Kagari gave the white-haired his phone. "Take it. It contains all the directions you need. Safe to use, don't worry. And it's a spare; you can keep it."

Makishima narrowed his eyes as his vision went blurry.

Kagari helped him to descend from the treetree and patted his back. "Be careful."

Makishima didn't know what to say and disappeared into the thick fog. Kagari's grin faded as seriousness washed over him.

He slowly but surely walked towards the safe house, where Ginoza was.

3 hours later

Makishima gazed at the instructions in the phone. He felt weaker with every steps he takes. The instruction said he was two kilometres away. He was close. He could see the city looming from behind the fog. He had to move forward, but his body still betrayed him. His world turned around and he fell to the side with a gasp. He was blacking out when he heard a small ring tone. He searched with his eyes, and then realization hit him. His lips parted with a small smile. He was being tracked down this whole time. He couldn't have removed the bracelet even if he tried.

He knew what his punishment was.

He forced himself to stand up and ran into the city. He knew that it was a matter of time, minutes, and maybe seconds.

He ran as fast as he could, hoping to reach his destination before it's too late. He blinked, bumping into someone. He heard a small yelp of surprise and the next thing he saw was a huge load of books falling on top of him. He winced, hand reaching for his forehead.

"Y-You!" Akane stared at him, eyes round. He glanced up at her. "I... need to see Kogami."

"No. He had just woken up. You can't just go and see him!"

"I'm out of time..." Makishima stood up, leaning on a pole nearby. "They will soon... kill me."

Akane shook her head, incredulous. "Who will kill you?!"

Makishima seemed exhausted, his shoulder still bleeding. His state was terrible. Akane anxiously glanced around, looking for help. She knew she wouldn't find any. She blinked, as the white-haired collapsed in front of her, unconscious.

She bit her lips. "I... I'll do this for your sake, Kogami..."

Meanwhile

Kogami absently stared ahead. He had just woken up, but he felt like he could use some more sleep. However, he wouldn't. The image of Kagari and Makishima both being alive was still fresh in his mind. He felt like he could never go over the shock of seeing two dead people come back to life on the same day.

He thought that he had lost Makishima forever, let alone Kagari.

Dead people kept on coming back, one after another.

Kogami's gray eyes slowly widened.

What if... he returns too?

No. He wasn't ready to see him alive once again.

He felt himself starting to shake. His heart started beating faster, and he gasped as someone grabbed his shoulders.

He stared up at Shion, flabbergasted. He was unable to utter any words. Fear was creeping all over him. The thought which just occurred to him felt so alive. He wanted to throw up. He wanted to lose himself. He wanted to...

"Kogami! Put yourself together!" Shion frowned. "Your psycho-pass level is rising! Do you know the consequences?!"

Kogami lowered his head, took a deep breath. He rested his head on his chest. "Sorry," he only managed to say.

Shion leaned back. "What were you thinking about, just now?"

Kogami threw himself back on the bed, feeling exhausted. "Can you... drug me some more?"

"You're not sounding like yourself, Kogami."

"I don't want to get back out there anymore."

Kogami was speaking low and slow, barely enough for Shion to hear. She saw the depression Kogami was going through, and at the same time she couldn't do anything about it. She sat beside him, gazing into his equally pained and hollow eyes. She never thought a combination would be possible. She dared to pat his hair, sharing a small smile. "Do you really want to go back to sleep?" for once, she seemed serious.

He didn't answer. She sighed. She felt powerless. She didn't know what her next move will be. Of she leaves Kogami alone, he might do something terrible. She needed to stay, but he wouldn't tell her anything that would help her -or him.

They just sat in silence for the next fifteen minutes, until Shion's watch ringed. She received a message from Akane.

As soon as she opened it, her eyes fluttered wide. "What?!"

Kogami sat up, leaning against his elbows. He was trying to focus his mind on something.

"What happened?" he asked.

She started rubbing her temples. "Akane said that she had found Makishima in the city outskirts. He's bleeding. She wants me to treat him at home."

She clenched her fists. "But I can't leave the bureau without a detective. I need an authorization to do so, and getting one will take days of paperwork."

Kogami knew what she was getting at. He stood up, leaning on the wall. "Let me... get changed."

She glanced at him, at bit surprised. "Will you really do it?"

"We have no other choice. If he needs help, I'm the one who must help."

Kogami didn't eye her as he spoke. He grabbed his suit and went to the room in the back, to get changed.

She felt somethsomething was weird about him, but chose not to say anything...

One hour later

Akane sat was sitting beside the white-haired, who lay in pain on her velvet red couch. He was unconscious. He didn't wake up since the time he collapsed in the street. His vital signs were stable, but the bleeding wouldn't stop. She took a look at the bullet wound in his shoulder. It wasn't any better.

She was alarmed by a soft moan coming from him. She pulled back, a bit scared and wary at once.

Makishima shortly woke up. He still seemed a wreck, but now he had regained consciousness.

He struggled to sit up and pushed himself to stand up. He felt small hands pressed against his chest. Akane gazed up at him, her eyebrows shot up in concern and hesitation. "Lie down... You can move around yet!"

He felt the shot in his shoulder spreading poison into his body, very slowly. He knew he was dying. He knew he wasn't.

He world suddenly turned around as he fell to his knees. Akane gasped, caught him. "H-Hey!"

His reflexes were slow, his hearing too. He felt everything around him moving in slow motion. He felt awful.

"Why... are you... helping... me," he whispered, "I... killed your--"

"Please, shut up!" Akane felt her eyes watering, remembering the painful memories. "I will not allow my personal feelings to interefere in my line of work!"

Makishima smiled weakly, nodded.

"Kill... me," he breathed.

Her eyes slowly widened. "Eh? I didn't... hear you?"

"Kill me," he spoke a bit louder and clearer this time.

She shook her head, gazing up at him. He was staring right into her eyes. His look wasn't dangerous. It was just strange.

She felt a bunch of feelings welling up inside of her when the door knocked. She pulled back abruptly and left the room, without saying anything else to him. He always knew how to make her speechless!

Kogami and Shion were at the door. Akane smiled warmly, held them both and laughed with relief. "Finally! I didn't know what I'd do!"

They heard a thudthud coming from inside and they rushed to the living-room.

Makishima was lying on the floor, already losing consciousness. Shion rushed to his side. She placed him in a sitting position against the couch.

"Can you hear me?" she squeezed his hand.

But she received no answer. His head tilted backwards. His gaze was hollow, almost as if he'd died.

Akane bit her lips. "How is he?!"

Shion shook her head, "I wouldn't know... I'll make a blood test."

They started working and chatting. Kogami wasn't with them. He was sitting in a corner of the room, watching them, and watching from the window.

He was burning all the cigarettes in his pocket. He felt his enxiety intensifying. His feet nervously knocked the ground. All of a sudden, his hate towards Makishima tripled. He hated being with him. He didn't want to share a room with him.

All the negativity became so dominant that he didn't know what to do with it.

So many things were unclear. He hated that too.

He heard the white-haired gasp, as they were trying to take out the bullet. He could almost share his pain, but still felt an unfathomable hate toward him.

Makishima's hand reached for anything. He felt his whole body hurting. Shion gently grabbed his hand. "What is it?"

He took a shattered breath, and then tried to speak, but no words came out.

She nodded. "Take a deep breath and try to speak up."

His hand was cold and trembling. "They... know..."

"What do you mean?"

"... I'm... her... here..."

"Who does?"

Makishima forced himself to stand up. The red substance was making its way from his shoulder down to his fingertips. The poison was kicking in. He stood behind Kogami. His hand reached for him, but the raven grabbed him and pinned him to the wall, teeth gritted.

"What do you want?"

Makishima almost fainted in shock. Shion straightened. "Slowly, Kogami. At least let me see the thing with his blood. It's way too thick."

Makishima started seeing double. "I... h... heard... them..."

"Who?"

Makishima opened his mouth to speak, but his eyes flashed wide. He left out a small gasp, body leaning forward and gradually relaxing into Kogami's grasp. Kogami frowned, not knowing what to say or do. "What the hell..." he finally uttered, letting go of the white-haired. He caught him as he fell and sat down. "What happened, Makishima?!"

Shion stared at the test, jaw clenched. "How... horrible..."

Kogami glanced at her. "Wh-What?"

The poison level in his blood is crazy. It's almost as if they threw him in a radioactive room."

"You're... kidding." Kogami glanced down at Makishima. "So just now, he..."

"Let me check." Shion grabbed Makishima's wrist, trying to feel his pulse. She inhaled deeply. "We lost him."

A heavy silence fell upon the room.

Noone said anything, and everyone drifted in his own thoughts.

Kogami carefully laid down his lifeless prisoner and took a few steps back, pressing his hands against his face. He wanted to die right now. He slowly shook his head.

"No... I can't accept this..."

He grabbed Makishima's chin and started doing CPR. It was botched, but he still did it anyway. He was losing his sanity. He has had enough of seeing people die.

He has had enough of seeing his prisoner agonize in the face of death for so many times, without being saved.

Blood and saliva covered the ground, but it was all fruitless. Kogami pulled back, hyperventilating. He punched the ground with both of his fists.

"There he is."

Ginoza walked into the room with more agents. He knelt beside Makishima and felt his pulse. "The poison took four hours to get to his heart..."

He glanced up at the agents. "Take him to the helicopter. We're heading back to the jungle."

"His... heart?!" Kogami smiled like an idiot. He grabbed Ginoza's collar. "What kind of animals are you?! Why... would you do that?"

"I received authorization."

Kogami's smile widened. He nodded. "It's fine then... I am sorry, really..." he laughed weakly, rubbing his forehead.

Ginoza emotionlessly glanced at him. "If you like, you have the right to come with me. You're his guardian, after all."

"I'll do that." Kogami lifted Makishima and walked out of the flat, without saying anything more.

Ginoza followed him out.

They rode into the helicopter, and the medics there placed electrodes all around Makishima's body. A medic wore black gloves. Kogami assumed they were used to apply lightning. The medic unzipped the white-haired's jacket and pressed his palms against his chest; lightning flashed.

Kogami narrowed his eyes, as nothing happened. The medic glanced at his teammates and they raised the intensity of the lightning. They kept on trying until it actually worked, and Makishima's heart started beating again.

Kogami didn't even bother to feel surprised. He decided that he would accept anything from now on.

They started extracting the venom from his body...

Kogami stared at the dark blood, deep in thoughts...

2 weeks later - 11PM

He slowly opened his eyes. He felt very weak. He was in pain. His heart was stinging. He gasped, as Ginoza grabbed him by his hair and pulled him forward. "You took your time, asshole."

Makishima stared up at Ginoza, not sure of what's going on. A slap sent him crashing on the floor. He tried to stand up but the detective crushed his ribs against the ground. He lay on the floor, gasping and coughing blood.

Kogami silently watched his prisoner getting beaten.

"Tell me, vermin, what are you plotting with your traitor of a brother?"

Makishima didn't say anything, not having any answer available.

Ginoza grabbed his jaw and smashed his head against the wall. "I'm one year older. Don't ignore me..."

Makishima's eyes started closing. Ginoza threw him to the floor and he didn't sit up. He lay on the floor, shuddering. He gripped his heart with a trembling hand.

"I said ANSWER ME!"

A yelp echoed in the room, as Ginoza sent lightning through Makishima's body.

"That's it for today. I'll do the investigation." Kogami stood in front of Makishima, coldly eyeing Ginoza. "You go home and rest. You seem stressed out."

Ginoza clenched his fists.

"I'll be back tomorrow." he walked out of the room.

He felt stressed out, indeed. He couldn't argue with Kogami on that. Ah, Kogami knew him so well.

Ginoza hasn't forgotten what happened between him and Akane, but he hasn't also forgotten the decision he took to overlook that incident.

It still pains him to remember it, yet at the same time it made him relieved. He no longer had to ask questions.

He will just lead a solitary life. It wouldn't be so bad.

That's why he chose to dedicate himself for work and ignore anything else.

Kogami was a recourceful and intelligent man. He always has a better control over his emotions and hardly let's anything skip unless the situation is dire.

He was a competent detective, more competent than Ginoza can ever be.

Ginoza, after realizing the fact, recided to do things his own way. Makishima was guilty. He would deserve anything that happens to him. It doesn't matter if he dies.

IT was alright to take any anger and frustration on him. It was alright to use him as a punching bag. He wouldn't mind, nobody would.

With that conviction, Ginoza started a new phase of his life. He would just bully Makishima all while doing his job. Everyone will praise him, and he will get rid of this accumulative stress.

It was a perfect plan...

Meanwhile

Kogami sat near Makishima. "Are you ok?" his voice seemed soft.

Makishima didn't answer. He just lay down and suffered.

Only then did Kogami realize how depressed Makishima actually was. He has never asked about how he was doing. He just... never thought of it.

He hesitatingly patted the white-haired's shoulder and instantly pulled back, hearing the latter's sharp cry.

Makishima was probably losing his sanity too.

For screaming, for crying...

He had probably lost it a long time ago.

Kogami lowered his head. He ran a hand into the white hair. "I'm... sorry..."

He carefully wiped away the blood on his prisoner's forehead. He helped him to sit down and wrapped his arms around his trembling body. "Are you in pain?"

Makishima clung to Kogami's back, his hands bloody. He then broke into tears. Kogami frowned, held him closer. He didn't know what to do. It was the first time he sees Makishima like this. He had never dreamed of it, not even in his wildest dreams. Yet, here he is...

He felt a knot in his stomach. He gently rubbed circles in Makishima's back. "Calm down. I won't hurt you. I promise."

Makishima suddenly gasped, throwing up blood.

"Ma... Makishima..."

Makishima's hands dlowly fell from Kogami's back, head leaning forward.

"Makishima?!" Kogami laid the white-haired in his arms, calling his name several times.

Makishima was struggling to breathe. He was already on the verge of death.

Kogami's eyes slowly widened. "No... wait... Please..." he held Makishima's bloody hand. "Where does it hurt? Do you want me to call the helicopter?"

Makishima slowly blinked. He tried to speak but ended up whispering something Kogami couldn't understand. He leaned forward to listen, and he wished he didn't.

"Bury... me..."

Kogami felt his heart dropping. Makishima was totally not himself. He was lost for good. He only cared about dying, and nothing else.

Kogami forced a smile. "Don't... Don't say that. You're being weird. Why are you..."

"... den ..."

"What?"

"I... I'm... burde..." Makishima stopped talking midway.

"No... It's my job. I never complain. You're not a burden. I... want to help you."

Makishima slowly nodded. He seemed so tired. Kogami carried him to his bed.

"Kog..."

"Yes?"

"I'll... s... sleep..."

Kogami glanced down at him. "Wh... What..."

"Be... fore... that," Makishima spoke very slowly, "I... didn... didn't... kill... him."

Kogami's eyes widened. "Who?"

"S... S... Sa..." Makishima's voice slowly died down, and silence warped the room again.

Kogami stared in front of him, eyes round.

"Why... didn't you... tell me sooner?!" he whispered, falling to his knees. He held Makishima's hand, eyes watering. "Who did, then?"

He felt his head about to burst. He rested it against the bed. "Please, wake up!" he whispered, before everything turned black for him...

5AM

It was still dark, but close to sunrise. Makishima had just woken up. He took a shower and helped Kogami into his bed.

He wore his dark blue jeans and white shirt. He knew that in an hour or two, he will get killed...

He glanced at Kogami one last time. He left the room and went to the kitchen.

He grabbed the biggest knife he found. He pointed the knife at his neck.

"STOP!"

Blood stains dropped to the floor.

Kogami gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain in his hand, which was just stabbed. He held Makishima from behind. "Stop," he repeated, softer this time.

The knife dropped from Makishima's hands. He took a few steps back then grabbed the first-aid kit. He helped Kogami to stand and they went to the living-room. Makishima started treating his wounds, eyes clogged with tears.

"Makishima..." Kogami held the cold, trembling hands. "Is what you told me true? Did you really not do it?"

"I... didn't..." Makishima shook his head. "But please... let me die."

"I'll measure your psycho-pass. Do you mind?"

"I... want to die... Please..."

Kogami pointed a dominator at Makishima. His eyes flashed wide.

Psycho-pass... 1101...

The dominator fell from his hands. He pulled Makishima in a tight hold. Makishima shook his head. "Let me go... Let me go! LET ME GO! LET ME DIE! PLEASE! DON'T HURT ME! IT HURTS! PLEASE! KILL ME! KILL ME! KILL ME!"

Kogami gritted his teeth, not knowing what to answer. Makishima struggled against his hold. He screamed, cried and punched, but none of it was affective. Kogami held him until he gave up.

Makishima slowly leaned on Kogami's hold. His gaze went empty. Kogami then lay him in the couch and covered him. "I... Forgive me for doing this but..."

He injected his prisoner with with a tranquilizer, to make sure he won't do anything reckless. Regardless, Makishima didn't speak or react in any way. He just blankly stared upon the distance.

Kogami cursed, as the door knocked. He went to open.

"Ginoza..."

Ginoza walked inside. He stared at Makishima. "Did he die?"

"That's the thing."

Kogami showed him the psycho-pass results. "His psychological condition is terrible. He can't be a subject of investigation any longer."

"He's immortal."

"I'm not sure." Kogami crossed his arms. "Each time he dies, he becomes weaker physically, and his psycho-pass rises. It's not healthy."

Ginoza glanced at Makishima.

He sighed. "Fine. I leave him to you. I'll put the investigation on hold."

"Sorry for the trouble."

"It's fine, but what happened?"

"I don't know. He tried to stab himself and I stopped him at the last moment. Later, he broke down and started screaming and trying to do the same thing. I stopped him, so he suddenly became like this."

Ginoza nodded. "A mental breakdown. I didn't expect Makishima to go through that. It seems severe. Should I call a psychologist?"

"No, I'll handle it."

Ginoza stood up. "Then, I'll head off."

"Ginoza," Kogami called, "If you need anything, call me."

Ginoza spared a small smile then left the house.

Making sure he left, Kogami knelt beside Makishima and held his hand. "Can you hear me?"

He sighed, hearing no answer.

The drug will affect Makishima for the next thirty minutes, enough for Kogami to make some breakfast. Maybe food can cheer Makishima up.

A faint line of blood ran from the corner white haired's lips. His eyes started closing. Kogami frowned.

"Makishima..."

He grabbed his wrist and felt his pulse. It was getting faster.

"No... Makishima, calm down..."

Kogami gently stroked Makishima's hair. "Please, hear my voice!" Makishima slowly moved his gaze to Kogami.

He smiled weakly. Kogami smiled back. "Come on... Let's go wash your face."

He helped Makishima to stand up and they walked to the bathroom.

Makishima suddenly bent down, wrapping an arm around his stomach. He fell to his knees with a gasp. Kogami sat beside him. "What's wrong? Stomachache?"

He blinked, as Makishima fell to the side, unconscious.

"Don't be surprised anymore." a voice started from behind.

Yasura emotionlessly stared at Makishima. "He's a dead man."

Kogami frowned, turning to him. "Dead... man?"

...

To be continued...

Ps: I have no control over the layout of the chapter because I wrote it using my phone. My pc broke two months ago. I hope it's fine like this.