BAREFACED

Chapter 81

"Taiju!" A voice yells from behind you. You slowly turn your head to see Mitsuya walking in. Your eyebrows furrow as you look at him. He looks back at you and then at Taiju. Taiju slowly looks at Mitsuya with a crooked smile on his face.

"Everyone just wants to keep intruding I see..." He huffs, glaring at Mitsuya.

"No... Mitsuya- don't-" Hakkai yelps as he reaches his hand towards Mitsuya. "If you do anything... then you will- the agreement..."

"It doesn't matter what happens... This is a fight between me and Taiju... not Taiju and Toman."

"Huh!?" Chifuyu shouts. "Are you saying others aren't coming?" He asks Mitsuya. Mitsuya nods. Taiju laughs and drops Yuzuha. He turns towards Mitsuya, walking towards him. Hakkai sits helpless on the ground. Tears streaming down from his eyes. Taiju stops a few feet in front of him, a huge smile on his face. Mitsuya clenches his fists and glares at him.

"Yuki..." Mitsuya pauses... "Watch Yuzuha for me." 

You stare at Mitsuya then at Yuzuha. Her eyes are wide as she stares at Mitsuya. You look back at Mitsuya as he speaks to Taiju. Your ears are buzzing and your legs are going weak.

"He's going to kill Mitsuya..." Yuzuha quietly says behind you. You turn you head to look at Yuzuha.

"Huh?"

"Taiju... hes going to kill Mitsuya..." 

"..." You stare off into the distance, watching Mitsuya.

"Why did you try to kill Taiju?" You ask.

"Why wouldn't I? He's the reason why me and Hakkai have suffered for years..." 

"I understand... but I don't agree..." You slowly say. "Trying to get rid of a problem will create new ones..."

"What do you mean?"

"You aren't really getting rid of the problem... you're avoiding it. Killing him is you avoiding to fix a problem..." You breathe. "Imagine it like a flame on a paper... you can blow the fire... but that will only temporarily get rid of the fire..." You pause and rub your fingers that you can no longer feel. "That's like avoiding a situation. You can get rid of it temporarily but the problem will come back and fester more then it did before... but if you throw water on that fire it will go out. Yes the paper will be soaked but it can dry up."

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't know... I'm starting to sound like Eli..." You softly chuckle.

"Yuki?"

"I'm just saying... there's other ways to fix or get rid of a problem... that doesn't involve harsh actions..."

"How would you know..."

"Because- do you think I didn't feel trapped before... or stuck?"

"..."

"I still feel that way-" You sniffle. "But... finding a better reason or another way will help you get unstuck... you know- you aren't alone Yuzuha." You softly say.

"..."

"There will- always be someone who cares to help you even when you feel trapped." You look down at your hands that had lost their color and now are blue. "Right?" You breathe as you fall down to the ground. Yuzuha jumps up as you lay on the ground unconscious. 

"Yuki? YUKI!?" Yuzuha shouts, moving towards you. Chifuyu's eyes widen as he looks in your direction. Mitsuya slowly pushes himself off the ground after being beaten down by Taiju.

"Yu-ki?" He groans. 

It's dark... so dark... and cold.