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ISSHIKI "TOTO" TOTOMARU
NOTHING ELSE BUT KAMONOHASHI RON'S PARTNER
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
"Isshiki-sensei,"
The two were walking down the trails, the "asteroids" hitting the land around them. Totomaru tries his best to ignore the aching in his ankle, the aching in his entire body after one of those damned "asteroids" separated him from Ron, who Totomaru swore he'd be fine. He knows he won't. He was never fine when this game Alice made had come into play, when he realized Ron might not need him anymore, when he realized he might not survive when he went after the youngest Moriarty.
He already made his decision, though.
"What is it?" They stepped over rocks, they could hurry themselves, though it'd only go in vain.
Alice only kept silent for a moment before continuing, "Your ankle is strained, isn't it?" She caught him before Totomaru could trip himself.
"Ugh.." He grumbled in pain, slouched over as Alice held one of his arm to help him keep balance. "It is, but it's not serious. We should continue—"
"It's no use," She stops Totomaru from walking ahead, pulling him as she looked up. Thousands of those "asteroids" sparkling as they head towards the two of them. "You knew very well there's a slim chance we could escape."
Totomaru looks up as well, noticing the "asteroids" while his intuition told him to run, not knowing where to— There's no shelter, even if there were it'd already be destroyed— Alice didn't want to move however. What else could they do but try to move, when it was practically useless?
Those "asteroids" continued to get closer to them, rapidly. Totomaru didn't know what to do. He should follow his urge, that's what has always saved someone from dying, but will it really help at a time like this? Will it really work? He doesn't think he can forgive himself if Alice bleeds any amount of blood.
Alice..
She didn't move an inch. Only looking up towards the sky, seemingly accepting her fate.
"You shouldn't have come for me, as much as I'm glad you did." She spoke, her hands clenching tightly.
It was getting closer.
"I already told you why I came, didn't I?"
And closer.
"I want to see mom.."
And closer.
"I think she'd rather have you live a long life, though with your crimes..."
AND CLOSER.
"It won't matter now, will it?"
CRACK
The wind howled through the forest, tearing branches from the trees and sending leaves spiraling like flocks of frightened birds. The "asteroids" now landing around near them
"Alice, look out!" Totomaru shouted, sprinting through the underbrush.
Alice froze for half a second—just enough time to see the massive tree groan as its roots gave way, tilting with a sickening creak toward her. Her legs wouldn’t move fast enough.
Totomaru didn’t hesitate.
He lunged forward, tackling Alice to the side just as the tree came crashing down. The earth trembled. Splinters exploded into the air.
Silence followed.
Then—
"Isshiki-sensei?" Alice’s voice was breathless. She looked up, mud streaking her hands. "Isshiki!"
She held her hands onto the man of whom was holding her tightly, her body just barely avoiding the tree from toppling over and trapping her. Yet, that didn't seem like the case for the other.
He held back a groan, one hand keeping Alice close while the other clenched the ground under them. "Dammit, I can't move.." He slowly looses his grip on Alice.
"Y-you.." Alice was stuck with her words, not knowing what to say in such a situation, before noticing debris that was heading towards them. The "asteroid" shower weren't done, afterall.
She lets out a small shriek, clutching onto Totomaru's chest out of instinct, who continued to cover her body from everything around them. If he were to die, he wants to save one more person, no matter who it is. He felt something hit him at the back of his head, but it didn't matter.
"Al... Alice." Totomaru called out, his voice strained as he felt this unknown pain wash over him. Which didn't make sense, as all he knew the only major injury he had is his— potentially broken— ankle under the tree. "Don't move, I'm sure the others will come."
The brunet had his eyes closed, his body barely hovering over Alice's, cradling her head as if she were someone he held dearly. Because in a way, she was, though he does in fact hate some people, no one truly deserves to die. Not even the Moriartys.
He hears Alice let out a gasp, one that sounds horrified at that. Totomaru opened his eyes slowly, looking down at the woman, noticing the dripping blood on her face. But why is it that there were no wounds? Where did the blood come from?
DRIP
Another new blood splatter was on her face now.
Totomaru furrowed his eyes. He let go of Alice's head, hesitantly raising his hand to touch his head, feeling a cold area before retracting it back to take a look.
A warm, thick red liquid had tainted the palm of his hand.
He wasn't one to be scared of blood, he's an officer afterall, he can't deny he felt lightheaded after realizing, though. It made him feel the all of the scratches caused by branches and splinters that flew all around them, feeling the cold wind touching every scar, it hurt. The mud didn't help.
It was because of the mud he slipped, causing his legs stuck under the tree.
The officer's vision started to get red, his blood rapidly starting to drip down his face. Just what hit him earlier? Was it something that blunt? He would've noticed if it were..
He couldn't continue to stay awake, he's loosing far too much blood than he should. Too much blood that he knew it would make his chance of surviving lower.
But..
"I'm fine. Don't worry about.. About me..."
..He'll continue to try and protect her.
This is his last mission with Ron, afterall.
Totomaru doesn't think much after that, his mind being filled with only one goal, to prevent Alice from being gravely injured to the point of no return. He's sure his vision blacked out every few moments here and there, but that doesn't matter. He won't stop until those damned so-called "asteroids" stop raining over them.
The headaches only got stronger the more he attempted to stay awake, focusing on the pain he felt on his entire body so that it'll wake him up, over and over, but it got to the point he didn't feel them anymore. He began to feel numb. Maybe tugging his leg to get out wasn't the best idea, he couldn't feel a single thing, it felt cold. It wouldn't be surprising if he had a major injury there too.
Alice seemed like she was passed out from shock, completely hiding herself underneath Totomaru, her hands clutching onto him, for protection.
..It won't hurt for him to rest. As long the other stayed alive.
His entire body gave out, blocking every large debris and splinters that would harm Alice. Blocking everything that's... Harmful...
THUD
ISSHIKI "TOTO" TOTOMARU
A SO-CALLED FAMOUS DETECTIVE RELYING ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR DEDUCTIONS
WHAT A FRAUD YOU ARE!
WHO ARE YOU WITHOUT KAMONOHASHI RON?
Once Totomaru opened his eyes again, he immediately regretted it, being met by a sickening smell of smoke and fire around him, his body being seemingly off the floor and being carried by someone. Whoever it is, he doesn't know. He can't see. He can't open his eyes properly— He doesn't have the strength to open them anymore. It's cold. Despite the fire, it's cold. He felt weak. He could barely move a single muscle.
Where is he again? He doesn't know. Judging by the sounds of mud he's outdoors, in a forest maybe? He doesn't know. He doesn't like the fact he has lack of knowledge of what he's currently going through. Normally, someone would tell him... But who?
He could faintly hear someone talking, the one carrying him. The words were muffled, yet he can make our a few words..
"Toto.." muffled. "..ou said you'll be...." muffled. "...not fine..." muffled again. "...Spitz...."
Totomaru doesn't know what to make out of those words, each one of them was a different sentence he knew no context of. His eyelids felt heavy, heavier than before— Why is his vision becoming red?
It forced him to close his eyes again.
ISSHIKI "TOTO" TOTOMARU
YOU WENT TO SAVE THAT GIRL KNOWING YOU WOULD DIE
BUT YOU WERE GLAD YOU WOULD
ARE YOU WILLING TO LEAVE KAMONOHASHI RON FOR YOUR SELFISH WANTS?
Totomaru opens his eyes again.
Properly this time.
The smell of the sea filled his senses— The ocean rocking him back and forth slowly, a blue sky greeting him.
He felt dirty. At least he should've. The hand that was once stained with his own blood was now clean, he felt as if his wounds were the same, his clothing however did not. It's still had mud, though was obviously attempted to be cleaned off.
Everything was still cold. He still had a headache. His leg was still numb. He can still feel the pain in every injury that he had gotten. His eyes were still heavy, telling him to go back fo sleep, but he doesn't want to.
Where's Alice?
Did he do his job?
He slowly turned his head around, even when his neck threatened to shriek in pain when he did, spotting the blonde haired woman lying on what appears to be a makeshift bed, only being a couple of fabric stacked together. He himself was on something more elevated, and what he could only tell was more comfortable. She's still alive, her complexion was still a rather contrasting color.
It wasn't the same for Totomaru, though. He had lost a lot of blood, and he knew that, his skin was a lot paler. Concerningly pale. A hue that he'd scold Ron for having.
"Toto?"
Speak of the devil.
"You're awake.." Ron ran over towards his partner, kneeling down on one knee to check on him properly, immediately holding his hand. "Thank.. Thank God you are..."
Totomaru stared at the "detective" with a look of regret. He realized right away something was amidst, it didn't take a genius deduction to figure it out, to notice Ron's red nose and strained voice tone. To notice how his eyes were red, despite barely able to see them. To notice how he held the other's hand so tightly.
The black haired man wiped his nose, knowing Totomaru noticed what he had been doing before checking up on him. "Don't speak, I know you can't, but don't even try. You have thousands of injuries, you idiot. Some are around your neck and I don't even want to think of what this might cause you. Your leg is broken, dammit!"
Totomaru lied silently, unable to do much. He can't move at all, he doubts Ron would even let him. He could only advert his gaze elsewhere and lie down. That's all he could do.
God, he wished those "asteroids" had done enough so he could di—
"Don't.." Ron muttered, his head hung low as all he did was hold Totomaru tighter. His breath becoming more uneven. "I know what you're thinking. Even in these situations you won't stop whispering your damned thoughts..."
Totomaru learned how much he hated himself at that moment,
And how much he loved Kamonohashi Ron.
..It wouldn't hurt to learn to love himself if he could love such a man.
But does he have the time for such thing?
ISSHIKI "TOTO" TOTOMARU
..YOU STILL HAVE TIME
FOCUS ON YOURSELF FOR ONCE
DID YOU REALLY LET YOURSELF BELIEVE EVERYTHING I SAY?
The hospital wasn't the best place to rest, but what could he do?
Totomaru is completely bound to his hospital room, bandages overlapping one another over every wound with a few on his face. Mofu had checked in on him immediately the moment they had gotten home, as much as he was grateful, he did not like the fact he was the one who stayed the longest in the hospital.
He used to share the room with Amamiya, emphasize on the "used to." She didn't get any deep wounds since she was only unconscious thus she recovered faster which was no surprise, what was surprising was the fact she lingered so long whenever she visited Totomaru. He couldn't figure out if she was genuinely worried, or just wanted an excuse to see Ron. He thinks it's a mixture of both.
Speaking of Ron, he never left Totomaru's side. He refused to, only ever leaving when it's something visitors aren't allowed to join in on, other than that Ron had accompanied Totomaru in the hospital for the past what? Five days? He lost the track of time the moment he was on the island.
Totomaru could speak now, thankfully. The only major injury he had was on his head and legs.. Does a strained wrist count? He wouldn't know. He had his fair share of straining his bones when he lived with his grandparents, due to his energetic personality from when he was a child, thus he was far too used to such a thing. It seemed normal to him; But according to his friends (more importantly Mofu) it really wasn't.
Back to the topic of Ron; That man was currently still holding Totomaru's hand, his head lying beside his hip. Seemed like he fell asleep while waiting for Totomaru to wake up again. The atmosphere between them was.. Odd. It wasn't something the brunet was familiar to anymore. He felt too much remorse for even thinking of removing himself from Ron's life, unable to bring himself to speak.
"Toto.." Ron mumbled, though his eyes were still shut— Was he sleep talking? "..Please, live..." With a mutter, a snore came right after those few words.
The patient almost wanted comment on the— very badly timed— snore, but chooses to ignore it. He only furrowed his eyebrows on that fact and continues to stare off outside the window. Totomaru already knew Ron wanted him to live, it was made obvious the moment he woke up after passing out in that island, the other clinging onto him tightly. Desperately. Not to mentioned the conversation he and Mofu had whilst the brunet had just finished going through a surgery.
He was half awake, assuming from that he was given anesthesia. Still numb, his hearing wasn't the best, and he still only able make out a few sentences. It was better than last time, when he was saved by who he recently realized was Ron through the ruined island.
From what he remembers, Dr. Mofu said how Totomaru lost too much blood and had mostly only a few more time left, specifically a day. Ron responded with a beg, suggesting if he could donate his own blood if he could, enough so Totomaru would live longer. Even for a single hour—
"Kamonohashi-san, if you donate so much blood, you'll be the one on the verge of death— Knowing the both of you, Isshiki-san would do the same with his lack of hesitance, it'll only be a worthless sacrifice!" Mofu pointed out, her and Ron's silhouette from within Totomaru's room.
The man's breath hitched. "Even so, I still want to do it! He deserves to live much more than I do—"
SLAP
Totomaru couldn't see much. There was no one in his room, though he can make out a silhouette through the windows around him, and he guessed he was in an operating room at that moment. His ears gradually got worse, only hearing a ringing sound, as it got louder he couldn't make out any of the other sentences. Seeing the two figures out the window argue before his vision fades into black once more.
He doesn't question why he woke up feeling slightly more energized.
Kamonohashi Ron had let himself give up his own blood to give to Isshiki Totomaru.
Just so he can live a little longer.
Totomaru didn't know what to make of it at the time, staring mindlessly at the resting Ron beside him, blinking every so often— Before letting out a chuckle and smiling widely, shifting his hand so it could intertwine with the other.
Totomaru has gone through countless of near death experiences. When he prevented the barber from jumping to his death, when he almost got poisoned if the fake magician's pen didn't get switched up, when he prevented the "scammer" from getting hit by the falling chandelier, when he was tied up and almost got shot in the heart if Ron had not signaled him to move, when he was shot in the stomach..
But now the damage's already been done.
Will he really survive this time?
Has he done enough to at least leave some sort of impact?
What about his grandparents? They can't visit him, he hasn't seen them for weeks..
He feels numb again.
At least Ron's a proper detective now.
ISSHIKI "TOTO" TOTOMARU
FOREVER THE MAN WHO SAVED KAMONOHASHI RON
WHO IS HE WITHOUT YOU?