Lying is a Sin, A Sin Hanagaki Takemichi Commits Too Often

Don't Think, Just Hold Me Close (Don't Say You Love Me) Part 1

A little bit more insight into Hanma and Takemichi's relationship. Will be in two parts. 

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14 months ago

Breathe in. Breathe out. It's simple. Take in the addictive cancerous substance, take out the CO2, or whatever it was. Kisaki Tetta was an asshole. Hanma knew this. Everyone knew this. He was a manipulative bastard who went to stupid lengths just because this girl he knew in his childhood showed him some attention. Even though now, he was over said girl (Hanma didn't really believe him after finding out that said girl was now engaged to another girl, Sano Manjirou's sister to be exact, he threw his phone and kicked Hanma out.

To say they were friends was an overstatement, hell even acquaintances was pushing it. Hanma honestly didn't know why he stuck around. Perhaps because he thought it would be fun? Like it was back when they were in middle and high school. But now, even Kisaki bored him.

His hands clenched around his lighter when he realised his peace was about to be interrupted. Sure, it was an alleyway in the middle of a busy district full of cafe's, bakeries, coffee shops, hair salons and bookstores. A sweet smell filled his nostrils and he thought back to when he walked into the alleyway, it was next to a bakery. He drew in another hit of his cigarette and allowed his eyes to wander over to the back door which opened.

Someone walked out, their hands full of several black garbage bags. He didn't see their face at first, just a head of wild black hair, the person grumbling under their breath as they struggled to lift the bags into the dumpster that was nearly double his height.

Hanma chuckled to himself, but it was loud enough for the person to hear. They snapped their head in his direction and Hanma was surprised when he recognised their- his face, his eyes. It was Hanagaki fucking Takemichi. The said man who seemed to be the root of all of Kisaki's problems when they were younger. The latter always droning on and on about this stupid crybaby hero who had captivated the heart of not only Tachibana Hinata, his girlfriend and Kisaki's obsessive love, but those of many around him.

Hanma never really understood, nor did he really care. He just wanted to have fun. When he finally met Takemichi though, after Kisaki had finally made a big move to confess to Hinata, who in turn rejected him, he kinda understood. Not fully. No, not yet. The piss coloured hair was off putting to say the least, but if you ignored that, he really was quite pretty. And determined and well, Hanma had been intrigued.

He didn't see Takemichi often after that at the end of middle school. He was jumping from place to place, turning 18 meant the police could finally come after him for real. But he'd somehow catch glimpses every so often of the hero. As he matured in highschool, learnt what toner was and stopped styling his hair so ridiculously, Hanma really understood. He had never had a direct conversation with the guy, but was almost always by Kisaki's side when he did.

Nevertheless, he was standing right in front of him now. His hair now black, he assumed to be his natural colour, it suited him, made his eyes stand out more.

"You need a hand, Hanagaki?" he found himself asking. Why? He didn't know, but he didn't really care to look into it.

"H-Hanma? You recognise me?" Takemichi asked, confused, a trash bag slipping out of his hands and he bent down to pick it up.

"I could say the same for you," he mused, bringing the cigarette back to his lips.

"Oh um...your tattoo's." Takemichi replied, trying to pick up the trash bag, but instead, the rest just fell out of his grasp.

Hanma laughed once more and Takemichi glared up at him for a few moments before huffing and avoiding his gaze, "Can I take you up on that offer? They apparently don't make dumpsters for normal sized people."