A Future Without You is Soon |Mikey x OC|

Chapter Thirty-Two

   It felt surprisingly good to hit Taiju. The sting on Takemichi's knuckles from Taiju's tough jaw was drowned out by the adrenaline coursing through Takemichi's arm. He hardly noticed Taiju's fist on his own jaw.

   Takemichi flies backwards, landing flat on his back. He gasps for air as he sits up. He hardly notices the incredulous expression on his friend's faces.

   Taiju clicks his tongue. "Didn't hurt a bit." Despite his cocky words, Taiju falls to his knees. Surprise is evident on his face.

   "Takemichi..." Hakkai's voice is thin, as if talking any louder means unstoppable tears. "Please...stop already..."

   "The smallest change..." Takemichi mutters. "if it'll change...the future...isn't it worth risking my life? Hakkai, fighting on...isn't painful. What hurts more than anything, is being alone." Takemichi smiles widely. The action hurts, but it's worth it. More iron fills Takemichi's mouth. He resist the urge to spit it out. "You can talk to me about anything. We're friends, aren't we, Hakkai?"

   Tears prick the corner of Hakkai's eyes. His lips tremble. "Takemicchi!" Hakkai cries. Hakkai lowers himself onto his knees, tears cascading down his face. "Please...! Help me!"

   "Leave it to me, Hakkai." Takemichi smiles kindly.

   The Black Dragon shout inquires, both at Taiju and to each other. Takemichi guesses this doesn't happen that often. Mitsuya laughs where he sits. "Touman and its captains are just badass!"

   "Holy shit, Aibo..." Chifuyu mutters.

   "I'll protect Yuzuha for you, Hakkai!" Takemichi says sternly. No one says anything for a minute.

   "You're wrong..." Hakkai says. "You're wrong, Takemicchi. I don't have a single bruise, do I? Even though Yuzuha's all beaten..." Everyone stares silently at Hakkai. Hakkai grits his teeth. "I...I wanted to protect Yuzuha, but I didnt have the guts to stand up to Taiju. Instead, I've been protected this whole time! I...I lied to you!"

    "What...?" Takemichi asks.

   "The one who protected me...was Yuzuha this whole time," Hakkai confesses. he angles his head downward so Takemichi can't see his expression.

   A strange feeling ripples in Takemichi's chest. "You mean...you were always being protected. Everything about you protecting Yuzuha...was a lie?"

   "I told you what Yuzuha had done for me, but I made it sound like I was doing it for her," Hakkai says.

   "That's pretty shitty of you," Chifuyu sasy, standing.

   "Lame," Inui says.

   "Hakkai!" Yuzuha calls.

   "Oi, Young Master, it's bad enough a girl took some hits for ya, but lying about protecting her? Now that's really lame." Kokonoi chuckles.

   "It's none of your business," Yuzuha snaps. "I decided to do it. It's not Hakkai's fault."

   "I'm sorry, Takemicchi. This is all my fault..." Hakkai says. "You're apart of this because I lied. I was just scared so scared of Taiju that all I could think to do was stab him. I just ran from my own weakness!"

   Takemichi watches Hakkai lower his head with a neutral expression. What should Takemichi say? Should he try to cheer Hakkai up? In the end, there's only one think he can even think to say. "You suck, Hakkai."

   Everyone's eyes widen.

   "But don't think you're the only one who sucks," Takemichi says. Takemichi snickers. "I suck even more."