A Future Without You is Soon |Mikey x OC|

Chapter Forty-One

   "I want you to be there, too," Mikey says.

   "But what you want to know is Micchi's business. It's not like I've ever been to the future with him. All I know is what I've been told."

   "I still want you there, Shishi~Chan."

   Shiho laughs. "You're just concerned because I have hardly eaten since the shit with Kisaki."

   Mikey frowns, but he doesn't disagree. "Just...come with me anyway."

   Shiho sighs. "Alright. I will."

   They ride to the shrine, mostly silent the whole way. Ever since the Kantou Incident, Mikey has been much more protective of Shiho. It's nothing super important, but he doesn't like to leave her alone very much. She's sure there are several reasons, she just doesn't know all of them.

   For the most part, Shiho doesn't mind it. She's happy to stay with Mikey as long as he wants her to, but...

   She's scared.

   When they get to the top of the Shrine, Takemichi is waiting patiently on the stairs. Shiho messes with the strap on her sling, only to have her hand shooed by Mikey. She frowns.

   "Sorry about this, Takemicchi," Mikey says. "I wanted to have a conversation with you. Can you tell me about you coming from the future...and why Shishi~Chan knew?"

   Shiho glances at Takemichi. He nods at her and sits down. Shiho and Mikey follow his example.

   "I guess I'll start at the beginning," Takemichi says slowly. "Early August...I was pushed in front of an on coming train. Before I knew it, I was here. I was just a lackey for the Tokyo Manji Gang but I...had to find you and Kisaki in order to save Hina. Shiho~Chan found me hobbling back to Hina's house after the fighting ring, and I guess she found me there the next day. She found me out as soon as she started talking to me."

   Takemichi regaled Mikey with stories of his future and their present. Mikey never interrupted him. Not even once. In fact, he hardly looks away from Takemichi.

   Mikey sends a few glances at Shiho during some of the futures Takemichi tells them about.

   Somewhere towards the end, Takemichi starts to sob. "I'm sorry, Mikey~kun! I couldn't save Emma or Baji! I'm so sorry! I truly am!"

   "It's...strange." Shiho looks up at her boyfriend. His gaze is straight ahead at the stars. "When I saw you for the first time, all beaten up by Kiyomasa, your back was the biggest out of everyone's there that day. Shishi~Chan had told me about a wimp who was crying mommy on his way home, and...then I saw you. It was like you had carried a lot on your back since then. You're cool, you know? You're my hero."

   Mikey stands as the patter of feet fill the air. Shiho stands up next to him and stares at the crowd of people walking up to the shrine.

   "I always thought I'd create this era," Mikey says. "Stand, Takemicchi. Can you hear it? It's the footsteps of our era."

   "Endlessly saving everyone, even after you've gotten your ass kicked," Shiho says. "You always stood back up."

   "You've made this era," Mikey says. "It's yours, Takemicchi."

   Everyone smiles up at Takemichi, who's wiping his tear pricked eyes.

   "That's why we've decided..." Shiho says. "Well, I guess this was more Jirou's decision."

   "No, you helped me out, Shishi~Chan," Mikey says. "Why don't you help me again?"  Shiho raises a brow. Her gaze snaps down to her hand as Mikey takes it softly. "I'll do the hard part, why don't you say some words to them?"