Chapter 14: Safe but not Okay
Yusuke ran.
He didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Didn't give a damn about the cuts burning across his body or the blood staining his jacket.
All he cared about—all that mattered—was the girl in his arms.
Keiko barely moved, head resting against his chest, her fingers curled weakly into his shirt.
She wasn't asleep.
But she wasn't awake, either.
She was just...there.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Yusuke's stomach twisted.
Keiko was never quiet. She was always yelling at him, nagging him about being reckless, calling him an idiot—
And now?
She was broken.
And that killed him.
Finally, the forest cleared.
He was back in Raizen's territory.
Toujin Village wasn't far—hell, they could probably see him coming. But he wasn't gonna wait for the welcome committee.
He just needed her to be safe.
The guards at the entrance barely got a word out before Yusuke barked, "Outta my way!"
They scrambled.
He didn't stop until he got to the main house.
Raizen's old quarters.
It still smelled like him. Like smoke, fire, and raw power.
Yusuke kicked the door open and marched straight to the bed.
Gently. So damn carefully, he laid Keiko down.
She whimpered at the loss of warmth.
Yusuke immediately kneeled beside her.
"Keiko." His voice was soft. A tone he rarely used.
She stirred, eyes fluttering open just enough to see him.
His chest felt tight.
Her eyes.
They used to be bright. Full of fire.
Now?
All he saw was pain.
His fingers brushed against her cheek. "You're safe, babe. I got you."
She didn't say anything. Just turned her face into his palm, shivering.
Yusuke exhaled, slowly.
His whole body still thrummed with rage.
Mikuri was lucky to still be breathing.
But Yusuke wasn't done.
Not yet.
He had one more bastard to deal with.
Kageyami.
The one who started this.
The one who let this happen.
His fingers twitched.
He was gonna burn that bastard to the ground.
But first…
He looked back at Keiko.
She came first.
Yusuke leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Get some rest, babe."
Keiko finally spoke. Barely a whisper.
"…Don't go."
His chest ached.
He climbed onto the bed, pulling her against him.
"Not leavin' you, promise."
And for the first time in weeks, Keiko finally slept.
Yusuke didn't.
His eyes were wide open.
Because as much as he wanted to hold her forever…
His fight wasn't over.