The Answer

The Answer

"We're gonna have to kill each other, you know."

Karyu froze up a bit, but didn't say anything, didn't even turn around. If he didn't acknowledge what Tsukasa had just said he could pretend the other wasn't right. If it came down to just the two of them that's the way it would have to be. Karyu wasn't optimistic enough to think that they'd find a way off the island together. No one in all the years the program had been in effect had managed to do that, so why would this time be any different?

He continued to cut the bread they'd got in their supply bag with his weapon - a hunting knife. Tsukasa's words made his hand shake a bit though and before he knew it he slipped and cut his finger. "Fuck!" he cursed and soon he could feel Tsukasa move closer and sit down behind him. "I cut myself," Karyu explained, still without turning around. Tsukasa didn't say anything, but Karyu knew that he was nodding.

"Assholes didn't even give us any band aids," he muttered and he knew Tsukasa was smiling now. He put his finger in his own mouth and sucked off the blood, though he knew that wouldn't do much good. "Do you think there's a chance we could be the last two left?" he then said after a moment's hesitation.

Tsukasa's reply was immediate. "Yes."

"That's what I think, too."

Silence.

"What do we do?" Karyu said, but his question wasn't one he wanted an answer to, and he finally turned to face his friend. Tsukasa looked calm, collected, in control. But Karyu knew better. They could read each other like open books by now. Karyu smiled though there was nothing to smile about and he leaned over, looking into the other's eyes, feeling his breath against his own face.

And he kissed him.

It wasn't a romantic kiss, nor a passionate one. It was raw, it was a last kiss, a lonely one. Tsukasa closed his eyes, and opened them again when his friend drew back. "I'd rather jump off a cliff than to kill you and to live in a world without you." Karyu spoke in a low, almost angry tone, lips still close to Tsukasa's and the other only nodded, confirming that he felt the exact same.

After a few seconds of silence Tsukasa spoke again, nodding towards the cliff they both could see outside the cave.

"Then there's the answer."