What More Could I Need (Book #2) AOT Fanfiction

New Relationship

Maki Yamazaki

Like every day, I walk with Aki to an ice cream stand before going home after practice. I turn away for a quick second to retrieve my wallet. When I turn back around, he's gone. His equipment and book bag is left on the ground. I look around and he's nowhere in sight. He wouldn't run off without me. It causes him anxiety to be by himself, especially with his poor vision. I try to catch his scent but I get nothing. How can he just become so cold? I run around the streets, searching for one person. This isn't like Aki to just disappear. It's only been ten minutes and I can't help worry that something terrible has happened. 

I pass an alley and catch the eyes of a group of thugs. No doubt, they work for Yakuza based on the tattoos that peek from their clothing. There's a muffled voice coming from behind them. They must have Aki. "Hey!" They quickly look up and reveal slightly who they are holding. Aki has his limbs pinned down with a cloth in his mouth. What were they planning to do? "Let him go!"

"This doesn't concern you, kid. Scram!"

We'll see about that. There's six of them but I shouldn't have a problem. I drop my bags and sprint forward. I push a fist forward and hit the first within reach. My force is enough to send him flying to the back wall. Two of them trying to grab me by my arms but I move my arms together to bash their heads together. Three down, three more. I realize one has a pipe and the other has a wooden bat. I need to go about this carefully. I have to put together everything Saichi has taught me. 

I'm about to grab the pipe when I'm suddenly hit in the back. My wind is knocked away and I hit the ground. I try to recover but a firm foot comes to pin me down. My airways becoming squeezed. Aki lays not too far from me, frozen and unsure what to do. This is one of those days that his vision is failing him and I'm sure he doesn't like what he hears. "Aki, run..." I receive multiple kicks to my body. This when I should transform but Saichi told us to never do it in public, no matter what. I have to limit my movement so the foot on my back doesn't hold any more of my air. "Aki..."

Out of nowhere, the blows stop and the foot is slowly lifted. I turn up to see Saichi standing to the side while Takahiro and Levi have the thugs already knocked out. They work fast. I like it and I know Saichi does as well. I hold myself up on my arm, taking in the air to fill my lungs properly. I glance at Aki once again and he's on his feet, brushing his clothes off. He looks scratched up but nothing his body can't fix within the hour. Levi tries to help me by pulling me from my waist but I cry out instantly. 

The pain is coming from my lower spine and my right leg. Walking or even standing on my own does not seem to be something that will happen at the moment. Saichi kneels down and holds my face up. "Too hurt to get up, yes?" She gestures to Takahiro. "Get him up. We need to get home. We've caused enough of a scene."

The moment Takahiro touches me, the pain shoots through me again. Even as I do cry out more, he ignores me and carries me in his arms like I'm some child. During the walk home, my eyes become clouded in black. Maybe my body decided to black out from the pain but, the next thing I know, I'm waking up in an empty bedroom. I slowly sit up and inspect my body. There doesn't seem to be anymore bruising but my spine does still ache. I lie back down, sighing. I was so stupid. I should've just transformed. I would have been able to protect him better. 

There's a soft knock on the door after a half hour of being by myself. "Come in." Aki comes in with a tray of hot tea and soup. His injuries healed as well, no surprise though. He sets the tray down on the end table and sits on the edge of the bed, his back to me. Even without looking at his face, I can still tell he's on the verge of crying. "Aki, what-"