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It had been a great day, Chifuyu came to visit Takemichi and they talked a little about a school project and deviated in parts. Takemichi asked several times about other Tomans members. He didn't seem to mind, the other needed a bit more information. But he couldn't understand all the mess in the small house. Where were his parents? Who was cleaning it all up? In addition, he felt a slight breeze of melancholy that was not his. Takemichi?
The food was delicious. He couldn't have enough of it. Takemichi is a great boy after all. He can do many things besides fighting. And he cries a lot. But there were still many things he didn't understand. And all those things were about Takemichi. Something was wrong here. The house gave him the creeps. Something worse hung in the air. Chifuyu couldn't tell what it was, but he didn't need to be an expert that something was wrong.
Takemichi's movements were slower and more cautious than before. He was more introverted. Nearly an opposite of how he usually is outside the house. Takemichi didn't seem to notice his second thoughts, or he ignored them.
Then he spotted a jar on a dresser with two cicadas inside. Elated and amazed, he jumped up and ran to them, holding up the jar and asking excitedly, "Did you catch them? How cool." But then he saw that the insects were not moving, they were both dead.
Oops.
"Oh. They're dead." Takemichi nodded silently and lowered his head.
"How about we bury them. That it's like a little funeral. Sounds good, doesn't it?"
Takemichi stared past him, unfortunately Chifuyu didn't notice his gaze. And walked purposefully to the garden. Where should he bury the cicadas? And then spotted the best place. It was a small niche under two small red maple trees. He dug a hole, but it was still too small. He didn't notice that Takemichi had stayed inside. He kept digging and came across something hard. A treasure? A time capsule? He kept digging and flinched. It was as if he had touched something hot.And he cried out, there were two hands in front of him. Two bones. It was as if this was all fate. He had dug up a body, and in Takemichi's garden at the same time.
Wait. Where was Takemichi?
"Oh."
He turned startled, and stared into the now dead and sad eyes of his friend. The latter just stared past him, no longer smiling. "You found them"
"Them?"
Takemichi pointed to the dug-up spot. "My parents."
Dying is easier than continuing to live when there is no point anyway. His father had told him this before he took his own life with a gun. The father shot himself in front of his five-year-old son. Blood splattered on the crying boy. Takemichi just sat there, crying, because he didn't know what to do. He didn't know what was going on. Why wouldn't his father get up? What was that loud bang? It felt like hours.Suddenly he heard keys at the front door, his mother was coming back. He listened and wanted to run to her, but his father's hand held him tightly, although the real master was already dead. His mother entered the room and did not move. He looked up and shivered, his mother seemed strange. She looked lifeless like his father, her eyes staring at the body next to him for a long time. She did not bother to comfort the little brat. What a weak child. It is not hers. Her child should be strong and prepared for anything. But this boy in front of her was the exact opposite and she hated it. She ignored her son and stepped on the prone man. "Wake up! You are so disrespectful. I come home and no one greets me?!" The man didn't stir. "Wake up, you useless vermin." To Takemichi executed, "and you, shut up. Crying won't do you any good. If your father doesn't wake up, you're the one to blame for my foul mood." She slapped the child across the face. The blow was so hard that the child fell out of her grip and slammed against the table. His cheek swelled. "Mama?", Takemichi looked at his mother fearfully. She had never hit him before, threatened yes, but done? Never. He could not hold his tears and continued to cry silently. She beat his dead father without restraint and ordered him to wake up. Blood splattered around. Startled, Takemichi crawled out of the corner, his emotions would betray him now. But he wanted to save his father from the tiger's clutches. So the child tugged at his mother and sobbed, "Mama. Stop. You are hurting papa. Mama." In vain. She lashed out and knocked the child away again. Her clenched hand hit the child's temple and the momentum sent the child crashing into the wall. Takemichi collapsed and went limp. "SHUT YOUR MOUTH. YOU DISTURB!!!" It was the last time he saw his mother alive.By the time he came to, it was midnight. His head was wet and he felt dizzy. Takemichi touched his head and saw his bloody hand. He cried out and tears rolled down. He called for his parents. But no one came. Then he got up and was about to go to the bathroom to wash when he saw them. In front of him were his parents. Both in big red puddles. Lifeless. He noticed that his mother had the same wound as his father. Both had a hole in their heads. Maybe it was just a joke and they were still asleep. The same thing happened to him and he still woke up. So his parents will too. Unconsciously, he went to sleep.
"What-", Chifuyu stared at Takemichi, disturbed and frightened. It had all been a coincidence. He thought someone had murdered two people in his garden or they had been there before. That it had nothing to do with Takemichi.But who could have expected it. No one, not even Chifuyu, because Takemichi would not have been outwardly able to pull something like that off and still keep it a secret. How much suffering did it cause him? It had been ten years since Takemichi had lived alone. Now, he understood why the other one acted so selflessly and always saved the others and still smiled. The laughter was only fake and Takemichi put all the blame on himself when someone gets hurt in front of him, whether it was enemy or friend.
"Why didn't you say anything?" he could have spared himself the question. Takemichi just looked at him and remained silent. For a long time they stood still. In front of them lay the skeletons of Takimichi's parents. Scrawny and dirty. They frightened him and he looked at his friend, but saw only the bitter cold in his eyes. The glow in his eyes was gone, silence crept across the beams and hung over the two boys. "Takemichi. Why didn't you tell me? I'm your partner, aren't I?" , he felt betrayed that the other didn't trust him.
Takemichi looked at him concerned and puzzled. "How?" he breathed. How could he tell such a thing? It had been his fault, after all, and he had promised himself to take this to his grave. It was too hard to turn to other people when they detested him. What could he do? He was afraid. Very scared.
"We could have helped you! Why? Takemichi, you can't carry all the suffering on your shoulders. I'm your partner after all, I'm here for you."
He looked away. He couldn't tell anyone. He couldn't manage it because he was very afraid of being left alone. But when he looked back, Chifuyu was running away, out of the garden. He faded from his sight and everything collapsed.
The secret buried him deeper into the earth. Takemichi couldn't stand it and broke apart. He cried and cried, tears falling and falling down his face. They had left him, he had feared that. But it hurt him. It hurt him. He was in great pain. His heart flamed out and broke in pieces. He was alone again.
Looking back at his then parents, he stood up monotonously and buried them again. For a while he stood there staring at the floor. Then he turned around and picked up a shovel. In the far corner he dug a hole and sat down in it. If Chifuyu had already found out, then the others would too. And he will destroy everything. He will break the promise. If they leave him like his friend did. Then he can't go on living with this pain. At least here in his garden he would not be alone, because his parents are with him.
It began to rain and the wetness made the excavated earth slide. Takemichi looked up and saw the grey world stretching out above him. A weeping world. And all at once everything went dark and he gave up giving. He had promised them to bring the secret to the grave. They just hadn't said when.
It hurt. It was so dark and stuffy. A last tear ran down his face. I'm sorry, he thought before the world disappeared.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was as if the world had thrown a big stone at the paving stone and it had bounced off, then it rolled onto the road, without warning a car drives over it. But it is not destroyed, not redeemed from the streaks of bad luck. The car does not react and drives away. A child sits in the car and wishes for a miracle. And suddenly the car hops, it makes a squeaking sound and the driver loses control. The child tears open its eyes and sparkles with refreshment and salvation. The driver, fortunately, regains control and stops. The child laughs, the driver too but only with relief. But then screams ring out outside the car and the stone breaks the window of life, taking one with it. The driver gets out and sees a trail of blood on the road, their life is saved but another died.
That stone hit everyone in its target, and one it pursued. One who ran from duty. Chifuyu walked through the city with his eyes narrowed. Just away from these sufferings. Away from his friend. This incident came so unheralded and shattered his views. It shattered his world views, his blamelessness against the brutal world, his ignorance of the romping dangers.
True, he was part of a great gang, Toman. True, he fought with his fists and was familiar with any fighting, but this fight enveloped him like a mist and numbed his senses. For this fight, someone else was fighting. He was just the unfortunate one to have discovered the fight. He never wanted to know. It was none of his business. It became too much for him. That's why he ran.
He couldn't look back, he ran and ran.
Two bony hands protruded from the churned earth. They reached out towards his legs and grabbed him.
Chifuyu shook his head vehemently.
They pulled him under the earth and closed his only exit.
He ran and ran through the crowds, he had no direction only blindly running.
Then he flew over the asphalt and felt the air and this lightness. He was free until hands grabbed him and pulled him backwards.
He fell onto something soft yet sturdy. His landing pad began to move under him and he heard a groan.
"Damn, you're heavy."
He recognised black long hair. The eyes, face and voice belonged to only one, Baji.
"Ah-Baji?!"
The other only grunted in reply and pushed the blond off his body.
"What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here? Saving your butt! What are you walking around town with your eyes closed. Stupid. That's you. What's the matter? You're never like this."
Now Chifuyu, waking up from the fog, notices the big busy street in front of him. If no one had stopped him, he would most likely have been hit by one of the speeding cars. Then he might have died. Baji would have seen his hand under the car, a bloody hand, a bony hand.
The grave
The bodies.
That dead silence
Takemichi!
Oh, shit.
Dazed, he stood up without responding to Baji's questions. His mouth wide open. He left his friend alone there beside his parents' grave. He just took off. He had become afraid and was so disappointed, but that is no excuse to leave Takemichi alone with his dead parents. Alone with his dark thoughts. Alone without help. Alone.
And his eyes were so lifeless and sorrowful.
He cursed under his breath and looked back. "Shit, shit, shit..." this is not good.
"Hey!" Baji slapped his arm. "Don't ignore me. What's wrong with you? Did you do something to make it this far? Aren't you supposed to be with Takemichi? Something happened, possibly. That still doesn't mean you walk around Tokyo like that. Not before Moebius attacked Draken. I'm just saying. I don't want to make the same mistake." He hits the blond boy again, a little harder this time. "Chifuyu! Are you even listening?"
Chifuyu looked him straight in the eye and shivered. "I'm so sorry. I messed up."
"Why are you apologising? Did something come up after all...damn."
But his eyes looked down at the ground and suddenly a sob sounded.
Baji startled and his eyes widened. Heh?
He doesn't understand the world anymore. Chifuyu was crying, in front of him. What should he do.
Then without warning, Chifuyu's legs collapsed and he almost slumped to the ground, had it not been for Baji. He held his friend tightly by the arms and went to the same eye level.
Mikey had sent him to get Chifuyu and Takemichi since the meeting was starting and they weren't there. Hina had told them that Chifuyu had gone to Takemichi.
But it's weird to find Chifuyu here, three blocks away from Takemichi. Stopping him here. He's never like this. And the crying, isn't it more Takemichi crying? Why you too? Can someone show him the way out of this mess, he doesn't want to get dragged into anything. Not like when they killed him. Just to please one. But it was too late.
But Chifuyu is his friend and he can't leave him hanging. Maybe other gangs attacked them on the way. Where's Takemichi, then? Keep fighting, ridiculous, he can't fight, not really.
"Chifuyu, where's Takemichi?"
Chifuyu stared at him for a long time, taking in that he left Takemichi there alone for a long time. What is he doing? What would one do if someone else uncovered a terrible secret? Isn't it that they make it all go away, or disappear, or run away, or even ...?
Left him alone, with all his suffering and pain. Alone, he has carried the burden on his shoulders, like Atlas carries the world. But not everyone is strong enough like that, he is only human. And with such a burden, he would be pressed into the ground and break. The stone, the causer would drag him along in the canyons, into the dark nothingness. Into the fatal silence of the fragile breath of life.
No one would be able to keep the stone from them forever.
All at once, the words spilled from his mouth. All that he had left behind, all that he had neglected. The gush did not stop. Tears ran down, his nose ran and he cried. He had left him alone. It was all his fault.
Baji just knelt there and listened, like a stupid child. He didn't know how to help. Just once he would, it was a lie, but...he hugged Chifuyu and squeezed with an understanding.
But they could not stay longer. Time was running out. They must hurry to Takemichi. If they stay longer, it will be over forever. Of everyone he knew, Takemichi was the person who needed the most help. Even just an ear to listen would have been one of the best gifts. They couldn't waste any time. Later, they could cry all they wanted.
Chifuyu is not responsive. They are blocks away. It would be too late.
He can't leave Chifuyu behind and run to Takemichi, who will take care of Chifuyu? "Fuck." Everything is so complicated.
He pulls out his phone and calls the next best person.
Time is running out.
I'm sorry, Takemichi. Your secret will be shared between us now. Trust us.
Outside his house the lights were flashing, red and blue.
Standing among the throng of emergency doctors, policemen and concerned neighbours was none other than Sano Manjiro. There were too many people here. Too many. In addition, it was too noisy.
He waited. An hour had passed and Takemichi had not yet been found. The police found a few traces and then all hell broke loose for a moment. They had found two bodies. A woman and a man. Both had a hole in the skull. How did they get into his garden? Who were they?
Takemichi was still in danger. Maybe it was a murderer who came back to see if the bodies were still there, which is stupid, but you never know. It's a possibility, it can't be true.
Manjiro just stood there staring at the house. The light transformed the world and he felt himself being turned back in time. Blue and red, blue and red. Policemen standing outside a shop, his older brother's shop. A large pool of blood covered the beautifully cleaned floor. His brother was taken away under white sheets.
He is going to lose someone he liked again. Someone important. Someone who is the light of his darkness. The light from the tunnel, holding him close and warm.
"Takemichi."
He breathes the name. Not a joke, not a nickname. Just the right one.
"Takemichi Hanagaki."
He hopes for a miracle.
A hand takes his, he stares numbly at a boy with black hair. It was the child who called him, informed the police. Without this child, he would never know about it. He wanted to be there.
Naoto held the older boy's hand and looked at the crowd. It was so crowded.
And they stood there, eagerly waiting.
Never in his life has Kohei Oomori been so disturbed and shaken to the core. He was called to a case where fate and time collide. He thought it was just a simple incident, but the next information made his old bones tremble. A child found two already decomposed bodies in a friend's garden.
A murder, he thought. But it wasn't that simple. The friend was also missing and they had seen him the other day in the house with another friend.
An hour had passed. They still hadn't found the child. Mr. Oomori himself is a father, which means his fatherly side is anxious to solve this case as soon as possible. He has a gut feeling that if they were to give up now, the child of this household will lose its life. He will not allow it to happen.
He stared at an old photograph of the garden with the missing boy. He holds up a cage. A cicada is inside. A magnificent and lively one. The same one he found in a soft spot in the garden. Wait a minute, there was a shovel next to the bodies.
He didn't miss a beat and ran down the stairs, tripping and shifting a chest of drawers. Behind it was a hole in the wall, inside were letters. Old letters, about ten years old the detective guessed. Distracted from what was actually happening, he carefully opened the letters and read through them.
"Mr Oomori? Are you all right, why are you crying?" A policeman stepped into the hallway. "Oh, you've found something. Are those letters? They look old. Mr. Detective?"
"Fetch the commissioner." It was an order and promptly the policeman returned with the commissioners.
"What's wrong Mr. Oomori?"
"Read these letters and tell me what is wrong." Monotonously he thrust the letters into the other man's face and strode thoughtfully towards the garden.
He found the shovel and felt the underside. With success, the soil was still quite fresh. It still had a different consistency from the grave under the bushes. He looked around and discovered a bulge. It was so fine and small that he would not have discovered it without proper inspection.
The detective jumped up and dug around in the soft earth until he touched something that was still warm. He was so scared. He could cry with joy and relief. From the earth he pulled out the body of the missing boy. The pulse was very weak, but there was one.
They had found him at last.
Kohei Oomori waded through hell and left with a candle of hope. If he were the boy's father, this would be the best moment of his life.
Screams rang out and a man stepped out of the house. In his arms he held a boy. The hair, that figure. Mikey aka Sano Manjiro couldn't believe it. They had found him. His Mitchi. He let go of the boy's hand and ran through the barrier towards the man.
They found him.
"TAKEMICHI."
He could jump because of
happiness, but that would probably be too embarrassing.
Takemitchi is still alive, he felt the rise and fall of his chest as he laid his head on him. The paramedics fumbled here and there, the emergency car was quiet. But not too quiet. For he heard the breathing of his beloved friend.
No one died.
The stone hanging by a thin thread was attached by several people to a much tighter one. They carried it far away from Takemichi. Each took a share of the dignity, the burden, and together they helped the fallen back to their feet.
Mikey sobbed softly and buried his head in the unconscious man's hand.
It had only been a couple of hours and he had missed him. Now, Takemichi is with him.
Naoto was left behind by the tall boy. But he didn't take it bitterly, because at least Takemichi was found. He was so happy. He must tell Ne-san. She was very worried by the news she had heard. It turned out all right after all. The detective approached him. He put his hand on his head and stroked it. "You did a great job today. I'm proud of what you did. You were very brave." , he smiled at Naoto. "Thank you, young man."
As he turned to leave, Naoto held onto his hand. "What is your name?"
„Kohei Oomori. Why?“
„Thank you so much for finding him. I owe you.“
„There's no need. It's my job.“
„Thanks.“ Naoto turns first and ran back to his Ne-san.
What a cute boy, muses the detektive.
Only this was his end, but something clung to his body and pulled him back from the clutches of the earth into a warm world. The tunnel and the feeling of being underwater faded away and what remained was the warmth, the silence and the light.
He opened his eyes and found himself in a soft bed in a white room. Green plants stood on the floor, a window on the left was open and fresh air flooded his room. To his right, someone stirred and he glanced at the sound. Blue eyes gazed into black pearls.
"Mikey?"
Mikey smiled softly and hugged him. "I got you. You're here. With us. Don't run away like this." Holding Takemichi's face in his hands, he whispered. "If you plan to run again, take me with you, okay? We're with you. I'm here and I've got you. You stay with me." You're my everything.
"I missed you so much. Don't ever do that again." he said a little louder and lightly pinched the other's cheek.
"Ow! What are you pinching me like that for?!"
"You had us very worried."Takemichi lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Hmph..."
Mikey really is someone Takemichi would need in his sad world. Such lightness is to be envied. He chuckled lightly.
"Are you done, lovebirds?" It was Baji and Chifuyu. They grinned stupidly and Chifuyu snapped a photo. Takemichi blushed. Lovebirds?! How dare they.
"It's really better. You look prettier when you laugh. I'm just saying."
Uhhhhhhh, really fitting.
"Stop it. He's getting all red." Mikey looked at the patient and back at Baji. He grinned. What do you think I'm trying to achieve?
"Takemichi." Chifuyu took a deep breath. "I am truly sorry for leaving you there alone."
Silence.
"Chifuyu. I think you can bring it up another time. Now is not the time." Baji looked at the silent patient.
"Takemichi?" asked Chifuyu.
Instead of anticipating tension and disappointment, Takemichi remained cheerful and light. "Oh, come on. It's all over now. Let's not think about it. Later."
"Fine. But it's my fault."
"What? No. I kept it a secret!"
"Don't say it. I am guilty. I was a coward. I ran away from the fight."
Fight? Did Takemichi miss something? "What fight?"
"Yours."
"Since when?"
"Don't get confused. Chifuyu always has these phrases that no one understands." Baji informs him.
"Lie! I can understand them very well."
"You are also the one who makes the sayings. I don't understand them."
"Liar, the other day you were saying.... mhpf...!", Baji closed his mouth with his hand while Chifuyu scratched his hand like a cat.
Takemichi missed it. He takes Mikey's hand and squeezes. The latter returns with a firmer one.
The stone is gone. The burden still there but blurred in the shreds of hope.
The light continues to shine as if it had never been extinguished. It lives in the present and is happy to create new memories and experiences while it is still alive.
Unlike Atlas, Takemichi had his acquaintances and friends. They supported his legs and arms and attached the stone to a fixed rope so that he himself no longer needed to touch the stone. They led him to freedom.
He was finally a part of the world. A part of the whole. This life aspires to a new value. A new beginning. A better one.
"What are you smiling about?"
"I'm just happy not to be alone. All my life I was alone. Then I thought life was teaching me a lesson when Chifuyu found out. That burden collapsed all at once. And I..." they were alone. The other two had left half an hour ago.
Before Takemichi sank into the murky depths, Mikey took his face in his hands and kissed him on the mouth.
"Don't think about it. I've got you. You're with me. You are not alone. I won't leave you alone. Never will I...I love you so much. Do you know how many worries you always give me? More than I ever had. But that's why I love you so much. You're mine. Is that clear? And you're never alone. I have you."
"Y-yes.", Takemichi nodded. "I love you too."
Mikey climbed onto the hospital bed and held him in his arms.Ah, before he forgets.
"You still owe me Dorayakis."