Chikamaru AU where Maru discovers that Yoshitoki is actually a ghoul and literally doesn’t give a fuck about it and proceeds to smooch his longtime friend in front of everybody? And so Chika joins forces with Hide & co~

Yassssssss.

“Yoshitoki.” Marude Itsuki approaches Yoshitoki from behind. He holds out the gun, and he’s disgusted his hand doesn’t shake. Has he really been trained this cold?

“If this is a joke, it isn’t funny.” Yoshitoki says tightly. Why – why does Maru have a gun on him? Is it all about to end?

Marude holds up King Bileygr. “It’s not that I believe everything in this book. I checked all your meals and medical records. Nothing is off. But then I checked the Rc Scan Gates. You, Matsuri, Hsaio Ching-Li, Ihei Hairu, Arima Kishou – you all cause spikes in the scanners without detection.”

Yoshitoki says nothing.

“Is it true?” Are you – have you desecrated everything we’ve been fighting for?” Marude’s voice doesn’t shake, and he hates himself for it.

From the corner of his eye, Yoshitoki sees a man losing his purpose. I’m sorry, Maru. 

“Why?” Marude whispers. “Was it all a lie? Chika?”

Chika. Yoshitoki wants to return to those days, to return to being just Chika and Itsuki, young men living full of potential.

“You were my friend, weren’t you? So why the secret?” Marude creeps closer, raising the gun.

Yoshitoki turns around, and he sees no anger on his face. He sees acceptance, sorrow even, and defeat. 

He’s never seen Chika defeated before. 

The gun finally shakes in his hands.

Marude can’t quite drop it, but he stumbles forward. Chika doesn’t move. If Maru wants to kill him, he will not blame him.

Marude’s face approaches. Yoshitoki steals himself.

And then Maru’s lips meet his.

Yoshitoki gasps in sync with the guards behind them. “What?”

“We were friends. If – if that wasn’t a lie, show me a way forward. Join Nagachika and I. You’re … you don’t have to live with this alone.” Marude laughs harshly. “I’m no good at kindness, you know. But I know if there’s anyone I want to show mercy to, it’s you. Call it love, call it idiocy, call it treason. I’m here to help.”

“You don’t know what you’re up against.”

Maru snorts. “Isn’t that the situation we officers often find ourselves in?”

Yoshitoki doesn’t believe in absolution for his crimes. But he hopes that someday, with Maru by his side, he can stop them from perpetuating. This is everything he’s ever wanted, and he’s scared to nod his head.

His friend loves him. His friend knows he’s a ghoul, and he kissed him. 

Finally Chika can whisper, “Okay.”