Things We Used To Share

Tied Hands

1 Year Later

Rima gave another hearty sigh.

She looked into the eyes of the camera, which gave another bright flash and another and another.

"Tired?" Senri asked quietly, his face unmoving as to not ruin the shot. His hair has been brushed back, rings on his fingers.

"Yeah." She answered.

The camera gave them a thumbs up, and they both sighed in relief. They managed to get through the last shoot.

Rima lifted her head, looking to Senri with a frown.

"What is it?" He asked.

"...I wonder what they're doing." She said absentmindedly. She looked up at the cloudy sky with a deep sigh.

Senri smiled, placing a hand atop her head.

"...as do I." Senri agreed. "Takuma, too."

"Takuma ditched us for Kaname." Rima groaned. "Even after he admitted to having a hand in what happened with Hiro..." she furrowed her eyebrows.

They both frowned, Rima leaning into him.

"Takuma will be back. Besides, there hasn't been anything bad going on. It's like Hiro disappeared off the face of the earth." Senri said, his eyes drifting to his cousin.

"Yeah." She murmured.

...he wondered if things were truly alright.

__________

"Ah."

"Ah."

The three of them stared at one another, cautiously giving the other a look over.

"...Traitor." Senri and Rima both said, pointing.

Takuma waved his hands around, sweat on his face. "I-I didn't ditch!" He said, moving closer to them. "But I am glad to see you both..." He smiled happily.

Senri and Rima looked at one another before nodding.

They grabbed Takuma by the arms and dragged him off, completely ignoring the fact their manager might be mad at them for wandering off...again.

"W-Where are you taking me?!" He asked, surprised to find himself inside a restaurant.

They seated him down, silently staring at him.

He smiled, realizing they were waiting for an explanation. A bead of sweat fell as he gave in.

"Well, I've been staying with Kaname." He told them.

"...it isn't awkward? After everything?" Rima asked.

Takuma gave her a pained smile. "To be honest, I think he's been far more understanding than I like. It makes his forgiveness feel...undeserved. I betrayed him and ended up hurting you guys and Hiro."

"We don't blame you." Senri said firmly. But all he received was an empty laugh.

"I..." He trailed off, guilt still lingering within him.

Senri and Rima stared with raised eyebrows.

Takuma smiled at his friends, sighing. "It's quite alright... Don't worry about me." He said, feeling a glow in his chest. "It feels good to be in a place like this."

He looked around at the people, the sweet smells filling the air and the sounds of people laughing.

...one thing was missing, though.

"How is Hiro?" Rima looked to Takuma. "Any news?"

Takuma furrowed his eyebrows. He gave a deep sigh, rubbing his hands through his blonde hair.

"...Don't go searching for Hiro." He said, his voice low. His face was serious, his eyes dimmed and his eyebrows knitted together.

"He's awake?" Senri asked, frowning.

"Well, no." Takuma tried to smile. "Just... trust me."

"But did you see him?"

Takuma shook his head. "We haven't found a way to break the curse."  He explained wearily. "He's not...it's not safe."

Rima thought back to the battle so long ago. She had never seen Hiro look so scary, so wicked and cruel.

He was always smiling, always wide eyed and curious. He wasn't perfect, but he carried a childlike innocence with him, and it made whoever he was around feel coddled and warm.

How could he not be the same? Especially after all this time?

"I want to see him."

Rima and Takuma looked to Senri in surprise.

He continued, his voice unwavering. "If he's in bad condition...we should be there for him."

Rima nodded, both of them staring at Takuma with burning eyes.

He sighed, giving a laugh. "You guys...I did indeed miss you."

"We missed you, too." Senri smiled.

"I didn't." Rima responded.

"Don't lie. You were just angry about them being gone." Senri reminded her.

She frowned at him at exposing her, before looking to Takuma.

"...so. Where is he?"

"Even if I knew, I couldn't tell you."

They looked to Takuma with wide eyes.

"But, it's Hiro." Rima grimaced.

"He needs us." Senri told him.

Takuma shook his head. "Hiro doesn't need us." He looked at his hands, sighing.

"...he needs a cure."