An azure night (Takemichi x Hanma )

2. Panic

    The hurried steps of various people could be heard on the relatively dry asphalt of the sidewalk. Takemichi was running through, avoiding them, his breath catching in his throat.

His eyes wandered as if in a frenzy as his legs tripped over each other. He was following the familiar road he had walked thousands of times leading home, his feet leading him through the winding roads, from memory, without much thought.

A familiar building with white walls, surrounded by nostalgic things for him came into view. Takemichi rushed inside, slamming the door shut behind him. His shoes fly across his sides as he carelessly climbs the stairs

He entered the room and closed the door behind him, leaning his back against it. His breathing was heavy, ragged as his heart pounded like it was going to jump out of his chest.

'what just happened?' he asked himself, unsure of the answer. Everything happened so fast that he didn't even manage to understand what happened. One minute he was walking down the street and the next he was witnessing the most chaotic and strange thing possible, and this is coming from him, the time traveler.

Looking around the room he familiarized himself with the things around him. He'd read somewhere that the best way to calm himself down was to rely on familiar things that insinuated comfort, recognition, and safety, so he was trying to look for anything he was emotionally attached to more than anything else, trying to calm his heart.

It didn't quite work. He was panicked and felt like he was going to explode, and the fact that he was in the past with a stupid mission that was putting him under even more stress wasn't helping.

_______

The next day Takemichi woke up in exactly the same position he was in, sleeping against the door.

He struggled up from the floor, his numb back sending stabs of pain, making him groan.

Glancing at the clock he noticed that he was three hours late for school. 'Eh, it's not like I can do anything now' 'I might as well stay home'

Passing a hand over his face, he turned, heading for the bathroom, taking a shower and changing out of the uniform he'd forgotten to change out of.

He wanted to go out, move around, but the possibility that he would run into someone from Toman was too high.

He sighed, maybe take another path, one away from Toman territory?

But then, he didn't want to be beaten by someone for accidentally trespassing on his territory....well, let's hope he's not so lucky.
___________________________________________

Shibuia was always crowded, so Takemichi headed for less populated places, trying to avoid the others, yesterday's situation still fresh in his mind.

He walked slowly, enjoying the silence around him. Takemichi had considered going to a park so he wouldn't run into a delinquent, but the feeling the city gave him was different, closer to him somehow.

Although part of a gang, he was never as attracted to fighting, to pain, as he was to silence. And on top of that, he was always scared of the local delinquents, who were pretty intimidating

It didn't take long for him to feel a presence behind him, then being grabbed by the collar of his coat and suddenly pulled from behind

"Looks like we meet again Mitchy~" he heard a mocking voice behind him

Takemichi suddenly froze, all the blood draining from his face, turning him white as a ghost. No, no, nonononono, NO, why today, why now?, he knew he shouldn't have left the house

"H-hanma-kun?" his voice came uncertainly

Ugh,of course it was him, who else, why ask if he already knows, stupid, stupid

"Yes, it's me~"

Takemichi gulped, this was bad