The gunfire was the first thing that happened. My mind was racing and my heart was beating in my ears. I didn't like having to be in this situation. I looked over at Shuichi.

"It's going to be ok," His side glance told me in a moment before he looked back out the hatch and went back to the constant gunfire. The sound pounded in my head and made it hard for me to focus. Come on Kokichi, I need you to focus...come on! I scolded myself as my hands gripped the triggers. My hands are slick with sweat and trembling. This all making it harder for me to hold onto it as it fired relentlessly out the hatch.

Whatever was going on out there didn't even cross my mind. It was all of the scary thoughts plaguing my mind. Making it seem like water was slowly coming in and surrounding me. Thought after though just adding more drops in the invisible pool of anxiety that was soon overwhelming me. The air is getting harder and harder to take in...but I couldn't let it get the better of me because I have a job to do. There are people who are depending on me to do it.

When they come back I need to be able to open the hatch and close it in time for them to get in before the others could get in as well...I took in a breath. I need to get over this. I need to be able to help even if it ends up killing me. The stress or anxiety, one of them was definitely going to kill me eventually...it just depended on what one would end up killing me first.

I focused my mind back on the present moment by shaking my head violently. I need to get rid of those thoughts for the time being...I can handle them later if given the chance. Because now they need me. They need me to be able to work hard until the end, at least until the end of this mission.

I looked over to Shuichi again. I need to make it for Shuichi, because over all else he matters more. He matters more than any of the other shit going on outside...I need to do this for him. It doesn't matter how much I'm hurting because we are all hurting...I need to be able to do my part so we can all make it back, so we can go back and be back at our normal.

Normal...

God that word doesn't mean anything to me anymore. Our normal used to be late nights cuddling while Shuichi told me about his day at work. Our normal used to be us eating dinner on the couch while we watched a dumb movie that was playing on the older movie channel on the tv. Our normal used to be me and him getting closer and closer to the moment when he....I paused letting some tears come to my eyes. Our normal used to be when we were staying together and waiting anxiously for the other to propose. Our normal used to be something else...something other than this. I would have never thought that our normal would be us staying together in a safe camp while the world is falling apart.

The gunshots soon came to an end when Maki yelled over the communication device that it was time to open the gate for them. I snapped out of my thoughts once more before typing in the password with shaking hands.

11037...

"Everyone in!" Maki yelled again before snapping at me to close the gate again. It screeched as it soon came down to the ground, once again containing all of us from the outside. The hellscape the city has become over the past year or so...

"Is everyone here?" Maki asked in a more hushed tone. Hajime spoke soon after breaking the short silence.

"Yes, We are all here and accounted for..." I noticed that Fuyuhiko and Peko were both here as well...so I'm assuming they were able to find him and deal with the situation to get the both of them out. Fuyuhiko was leaning against Peko as he winced before getting into the back of the vehicle. My hands were shaking as they clutched the sides of my uniform, we made it, and it's all going to be ok.

"Kichi," Shuichi whispered before holding my hands in his own. This helped mine to stop shaking before I looked up at him.

"Shu-," I said before seeing some tears fall from his eyes.

"Shuichi!" I gasped before pulling him down into a hug. He started to cry into my shoulder as Maki came over to me. I told her she could drive while me and Shuichi shared my seat. We had to share because we had only planned for a couple more people to come into the vehicle but they needed more space to tend to some of the wounds that were received in the fight.

I slowly moved Shuichi with me into the passenger's seat before taking a spot in his lap. "It's going to be ok, I love you," I whispered to him before wrapping my arms around him before Maki buckled us into the seat. I was glad the seats in this car are more spacious because then I can do this with Shuichi without feeling like I'm being crushed.

He nuzzled his head into my shoulder. "I love you too." His voice was shaking and it made me feel the guilt rise in my chest again. I blamed myself for this because it wasn't really my fault we are now in this situation...but taking care of my beloved is always on my mind.

Maki started driving back to the base while Shuichi fell asleep with me in his arms. I just let him hold me close to him because I knew he would need sleep after this...because he isn't great with traumatic events...I'm not either, but I can deal with the stress enough so people think that I am.

-Thank you all so much for reading! I am changing my writing schedule and would suggest you read my most recent announcement for more information!-

-ShuichiOuma010-