Reminiscent Butterfly - Totsuka Tatara X Female Reader

Chapter 5: Memory 2

Eric slowly crept closer and apologised for what he was about to do. Tatara did not utter a word but looked at his lonely face. The lampost flickered on and off. The silence was deadly as the wind of danger enveloped around the two young men. “PLEASE DIE!” the hooded boy lunged forward with the blade, which reflected the moonlight onto Tatara's face. But he stood there. Blood splattered across the men and tainted the floor red. Eric's eyes widened as he saw Fujishima defending Tatara by holding onto the blade of the knife. Blood trickled down his arm and smothered the weapon in a scent of metal. He looked furious. 

“St… Stop...” Eric cried out. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING, HUH…!?” screamed the ginger haired male. He gripped onto the knife tighter to prevent the boy from moving it. The red flowed down his arms too. He yelled at the two males with wrath present in his brown eyes. Tatara was shocked at the sudden burst of anger. Eric shook upon hearing the man shout. He never shouts. Fujishima is quite known to be tranquil. “...You're the kind of person that kills others?” the guy in the white shirt rhetorically asked. Fujishima threw the weapon onto the red covered cold concrete. Furiously, he grabbed Eric by the hoodie and spoke in a quiet threatening tone, “...Since you didn't want to talk at all. I didn't even try to begin listening to you. ...But now, I regret that I didn't hear you out, even if I had to force you to.”

Earlier the day, Eric compared himself to a dog when he ran out. Fujishima was there hearing him out. So then he asked what he meant as it seemed now like the right time. Tatara gently held the blonde boy's hand then lifted down his sleeve. His arm was covered in bruises from mistreatment. When asked about who was ordering him around, he responded with “my owner”. He arched forward with his hands pushing onto his chest. He told them of his past. He was a part of the group 'Hikawa' that HOMRA had crushed and the place was his world. His parents were members of this group but when they passed away, he was kept and treated like a dog. To be fed, the male had to obey orders given to him. “...So, in revenge for pulverizing their group, you've been ordered to kill Totsuka-san?”
“Though it would be best if I could kill the King of HOMRA. ...If I don't succeed, I'll be killed.” Eric continued, “A dog that doesn't follow its master's command is unnecessary, right?” Fujishima's irritation subsided as he calmly asked the boy why he didn't ask them for help. He was surprised by what he had heard (he didn't think that anyone would have supported him). He slowly looked down. His fringe covered his eyes. “DO I EVEN HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE SAVED BY YOU PEOPLE!?” Eric shouted in mental agony. He did not look up at the two men in front him.

A soothing voice spoke out, “So if it's me, then even Eric can kill me.” The blonde male was shocked as Tatara revealed how he knew from the start but still called him. Tatara whispered, “... But you weren't thinking of kill...” Eric gave an expression of… peace? Happiness? Relief? Meanwhile the ginger male looked bored as he turned to Tatara presenting his wounded hand with blood stained upon it. The male quickly apologised as he bandaged his hand. Tatara's hair shadowed his eyes as he helped Fujishima and admitted how the clan was not a charity organisation, and how he (Eric) had no right to be rescued by them but “If it's an “opportunity to take advantage”, there should be lots of them, since there is such a good-natured person after all.” He pointed at the wounded man. The male clenched his bandaged fist then grabbed onto Eric's hair and told him to try and say “Help me.” 

“... Please help me...”

Meanwhile at the bar, (Y/N) perked up as soon as she heard Tatara's voice on the other side of the phone. Kusanagi glanced slightly at (Y/N) before he carried on listening to what he had to say about Eric. When asked about him on an verge of getting killed, he denied it. But it didn't prevent Kusanagi from knowing as he muttered, “DON'T. TRY. TO. HIDE. IT.” After the tension, he told Tatara to bring Eric back. He faced Suoh asking him what he was going to do. He gave a sinister smile then walked off. (Y/N) smiled at Suoh as he walked out the bar to punish Eric's 'owners'. It gets terrifying for them when he goes alone. (Y/N) just hoped that he would be fine as Suoh is like a big brother to her.

~A few hours later~

Kusanagi waved at Suoh with a cigarette in his mouth as he returned. He explained how Eric and Fujishima waited for him. The King looked at the two males. The spiky haired male bowed to Suoh and apologised but was cut off when the blonde boy grabbed his shoulder and told him to stop. He vowed to take responsibility not push it onto others. This shocked the miniature crowd. Suoh identified his determination as his hand blew up with red flames as he walked towards the male. Fujishima attempted to tell his King to stop but was too late as he clung onto Eric's head. The blonde man screamed in pain when the fire withered around. Fujishima yelled his name as he lunged forward to get him but was pulled back by (Y/N) and Kusanagi. Suoh went off to sleep. Eric covered his face with his hands then removed them. He wasn't burned. He felt a short stinging sensation on his left shoulder so when he moved his hoodie too see, the flames left the HOMRA insignia on it. 

Tatara opened the door for his King then told him how there was no need to threaten. Suoh responded by telling him to shut up as he punched his head downwards. Rubbing his impacted head, Tatara whispered to himself, “It hurts.” The red-head told the male to look after the newcomer. The man with brown eyes gave a smile at him then walked off to Eric.

~Present Time~

The video made a whirring sound as it progressed through. The light shimmered like a thousand diamonds. By then, all of the members were watching the films that Tatara took to keep the memories alive. Eric, who sat at the front by the projection, pulled a sorrowful look. Fujishima asked the sad male if the video was about his first appearance in HOMRA, which was more than one and a half years ago. (Y/N) was happy as she knew Tatara would be in a better place although it was painful living without him. After seeing the two different memories (Y/N) gently wiped her eyes then lifted up a facade and strode on through the video.  Kusanagi looked through the belongings of Tatara and thought to himself, “Many things have increased, thanks to his varied hobbies. But among them, these films are the most after all. … Let's just save these then.” Eric's face still remained saddened. The light from the projection beamed at the wall where they were all watching the film. 

Fujishima glanced at Eric but didn't utter a word to him. A violent blow landed on the blonde male by Yata as he told him not to get gloomy as there is something they had to do right in front of them. No response came from the boy. (Y/N) was disappointed with the lack of Tatara in the videos but was glad that at least, they were taken from him. 

Kusanagi thought, “Even though… there are a lot of videos, Tatara isn't in any. 'Cuz they were all recorded by him. And yet he could just tell us to save these memories.”

Suoh placed his hand on her shoulder for comfort. Smoke from his cigarette smothered the room, relaxing (Y/N).

“At least he never changed… despite everything else.”
(Y/N) thought to herself.

“Because… Tatara is gone.”