Takemichi Angst Prompts

4) "I'm not the good guy here"

"Manjiro!" Takemichi yelled at the top of his lungs during the Three Deities War.

Every delinquent present stopped to look at the bloody mess that was Hanagaki Takemichi. 

He was fighting with Mikey after he killed South.  Mikey's eyes widened a bit because he was shocked that he was able to keep standing.  Then again, he can take a beating even back in middle school.  His eyes went back to its normal size making him look bored.

Takemichi's feelings were going haywire.  Draken's dead. South is dead.  Mikey is not the same Mikey he used to know. 

His abilities seem to have evolved again but this time its creating after images in his head and its making him nauseous.  He can see everyone's future actions. Even the tiniest ones like taking a step forward.

He focused on Mikey.  Seeing his moves before it happened.  He saw a kick was coming so he dodged. He kept predicting his former commander's attacks and dodging them.

Everyone was in awe while Mikey was getting frustrated.  He never encountered anyone like this before.  Even if people manage to catch his foot or take his attack without flinching, no one has ever dodged it.

Koko narrowed his eyes at Takemichi.  He noticed that his eyes were blank.  Like he was daydreaming.  Or seeing something only he can see.  Whatever. It doesnt matter.  Now, whos side should he be on? His former captain, or current captain? He sighed exasperatedly.  Inupi's gonna kill him.

"Do you want Shinichiro back?" Takemichi asked as he dodged another kick.

"What?!" Mikey let out a feral growl.

"It all started with him right? If only he didn't die.  If only Kazutora and Baji weren't so stupid!" Takemichi said.  "You'd be happier, wouldnt you?!"

...That's all everyone ever wanted for you. I'll make you happy.  I promised everyone.

"What would he say if he saw you now?!"

"SHUT UP!" Mikey screamed, as he went for another kick.

Takemichi dodged. 

"YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING!"

Takemichi dodged again.

"YOU THINK JUST COZ YOU CAN TIME TRAVEL, YOU'RE BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE?!"

Takemichi saw his eyes.  They eyes practically burning with so much rage.  He felt his tearing up. 

"YOU'RE THE REASON PEOPLE KEEP DYING! YOU KILLED MY FRIENDS! BECAUSE OF YOU!--"

The time leaper agreed with that sentiment.  And so, he stopped dodging.  Accepting his punishment.  He caught a kick with his face.

"--BAJI DIED!--"

A punch to the face.

"--IZANA DIED!--"

A kick to the stomach.

"--EMMA DIED!--"

A kick to the head.

"--KEN-CHIN DIED!"

A skull-shattering kick.

Takemichi flew across the ground.  He saw Mikey stand before him.  His face still filled with anger, resentment and grief.  Takemichi hadn't given up, even when it resulted to Draken's death.  He wont start now.  He's gotten this far.

He willed himself to sit.  Mikey kicked him down.  His previous commander's foot digging into his chest to keep him from moving.  Takemichi coughed up blood.  Wheezing as he start to lose control of his breathing.

"I always wanted to meet Shinichiro."  The battered boy managed to say.

Mikey lessened the strength of his foot, but still there to keep him down.

"I wanted to know--" Takemichi coughed up more blood.  "I wanted to know why people keep comparing me--" he wheezed painfully.  "--to him."

He looked up at Mikey with tears streaming down his face.   "He must've been a great guy."

Mikey's face softened a bit.  Still looking more emotionless as he removed his foot entirely.   He didn't look angry anymore.  At least less angry now that he could hide it.

"You're right." Takemichi whispered.  "If it weren't for me..."

Takemichi's vision blurred.  "Hmmm. you're right."

"All this time I was called a hero." He chuckled bitterly.  "a hero? Where? People only said that to make my lame ass feel better huh."

He blinked multiple times as he tried to regain his vision, as well as to blink the tears away.   "After all, I'm not the good guy here."

He looked at Mikey, forced a smile and said, "I'm sorry."

He held his hand up for Mikey.  "If you'll let me...  Let's meet in another life.  What do you say, Mikey-kun?"

"I hope... You'll be happier in your next life."

Mikey stared at his hand for awhile before finally deciding to shake the dying boy's hand.  In the most emotionless voice anyone has ever heard, he said, "Be better in your next life, Hanagaki."

Everyone, including Koko, shivered as they felt the coldness of the Invincible Mikey.

Takemichi smile broke a bit but didnt let it fall.  He mustered all his remaining strength and optimism.

And then...

"Hai," became his last word.