I shuffled along behind my friends as we walked down the sidewalk. Hanging out together after school was something that I normally looked forward to everyday. I watched the four of them laughing and joking around earning stares from the other pedestrians. Normally, I would be right in the midst of them, but today I just couldn't bring myself to keep up the act.
I noticed Hayato, the self proclaimed leader of our group, looking back at me. He nudged his second in command, Ryu and jerked his head in my direction. Pretending to be interested in a shop I avoided their looks, but I knew they would know something was up. We'd all known each other for too long. I looked up as my path was blocked. I rolled my eyes looking up at them.
"What?" It came out more petulant than I intended and Ryu's eyes narrowed his lips thinning. Hayato just shook his head.
"What's going on Takeda? You've barely said two words all day today. Are you getting sick or something."
Thankful that he'd inadvertently given me an out I shrugged, "I guess. I'm just really tired that's all."
It wasn't a total lie, I really was exhausted. It was just weird to admit it. I was normally the bundle of energy in this group. Looking up I realized the Tsuchiya and Hyuuga had also stopped and were looking back at us with puzzled expressions.
Hayato stepped forward and throwing an arm around my neck drug me forward.
"Why didn't you say so sooner? It must be hard to keep up on those short little legs of yours. Need me to carry you home."
Giving him what I hoped was death glared, I shoved his arm away. "Shut up, I'm not that much shorter than you idiot."
By that time Tsuchi and Hyuuga had wandered up, no doubt to see what was wrong. Tsuchi was smacking his fan against the side of his head as he grinned down at all of us.
"Aww, poor wittle Take is tired." He cooed. Before I could even react he'd bent down and thrown me over his shoulder. I couldn't contain the yelp as my sore ribs came into contact with his bony shoulder.
"Ts-tsuchi! Tsuchi that hurts, let me down."
"Let him down you stupid oaf! I think you hurt him." Hayato growled from somewhere below me.
"Well crap." Kneeling down, Tsuchi gently set me back on my feet. I swayed for a moment trying to get the throbbing pain under control. "Jeeze Take I'm sorry, I was just playing around."
I waved him off, one arm around my ribs as I tried to get my breath back. "Not . . .not your fault."
Ryu leaned down beside me his voice soft. "Are you still sore from that last go around with Ara?"
Managing to straighten up I moved a little away from him. "I'm fine. Tsuchi just surprised me is all. I think . . .I think I'll head home."
"You sure you don't want us to walk you home."
I shook my head. "It's not that far really. I'll be fine. I'll call you when I get there, okay."
The last thing I was going to do was go home, but I couldn't stay with them either or they'd just keep pestering me until I told them something.
"I'll see you guys in class tomorrow."
Scuffing my feet in the dirt, I slowly rocked back and forth on the swing. What was I going to do? I couldn't tell the guys, this wasn't something they could help me with. My phone rang, startling me. Digging it out of my pocket I opened it seeing my mom's name pop up on the screen.
"Hi mom."
"Takeda sweetie, how are things going. I haven't been able to get a hold of your father."
I took a deep breath before I answered. "Fine, he's just been working a lot, you know how he gets when he's stressed at work."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "Takeda did something happen."
Damn mothers and their weird intuition. She went on when I paused too long.
"Takeda, if you need me to come home I will. My sister is doing fine and the baby is healthy so I can leave anytime."
"No, no everything is fine. I promise. You just enjoy your time with your sister."
Her sigh was audible over the phone. "Okay, if you say so. Have you been eating properly, and going to school."
"Yes mom." Going to school was a much better option than staying home.
"Alright, I'll call you again tomorrow. Bye sweetie."
I stared at the phone for a while after she hung up. I hated lying to her, but if she knew the truth . . . I shook myself rubbing a hand over my eyes. I'd never realized what she put up with from him, she'd been shielding me from the worst of it for so long. Wrapping my arms around the chains of the swing I leaned forward letting myself hang there. It had been dark for a while now. If he was home he was probably passed out on the couch by now, so it should be safe to go home. My stomach decided for me as it rumbled loudly. I hadn't had anything to eat since lunch when I'd mooched off Ryu and Hayato. Ryu always brought the nicest bento box for lunch.
A hand clamped down on my collar and for a second I thought Ryu or Hayato had followed me. I grabbed for the chains as I was roughly yanked backward. I ended up sitting in the dirt looking up at an all too familiar face.
He sneered at me, "What's the runt of Kurogin 3D doing out all by himself at this time of night?"
I scrambled to my feet, trying to put as much distance as possible between us. I couldn't remember his name but he was the leader of the group from Ara High that we'd often tangled with. Faded bruises from our last encounter were still visible on his jaw. Hayato had a nasty left hook and now I really wished I'd let them walk me home.
"What do you think guys?" He addressed his four friends, "Should we teach this little prick a lesson?"
My heart was trying to jump up in my throat. I'd never had to face them alone. I'd always had my friends with me. I knew I had no chance. At five on one even Ryu or Hayato would be hard pressed and me . . . there was no way in hell. I'd get my ass handed to me in a paper bag. I wasn't stupid.
They had fanned out around me and I did the only thing I could think of doing. Spinning around on my heel I took off running. They shouted and I could hear them pounding after me. Don't look back, I reminded myself, just keep running and don't you dare fall down. The noises of their chase gradually fell behind as I wove my way through the streets headed for the one place I would be relatively safe.
Panting, I came to a stop outside my house. Glancing around to make sure no one had followed me I went in.
"I'm home." I called softly as I slipped my shoes off, hoping against hope that he was already asleep.
"Where the fucking hell have you been?"
I flinched hard enough that my shoulder hit the wall as he suddenly loomed over me. He reeked of alcohol, his eyes bloodshot and blurry. I tried to duck away from him as he made a clumsy grab for my collar. His fingers raked the side of my face, latching onto my hair. I yelped as he dragged me into the living room throwing me forward hard enough that I lost my balance and fell.
"Answer my question." He roared as he drew back a foot to kick me. Scrambling to get out of the way I managed to avoid the blow.
"I-I was just hanging out with my friends." I needed to get him calmed down and fast. I didn't want a repeat of the night before.
"How did I raise such a worthless son?"
I stood slowly not daring to look at him, desperately hoping that he would just go back to drinking on the couch and let me shut myself in my room.
"Some of the guys from work saw you skipping school with your friends the other day." His voice was low and dangerous, his words no longer slurred. "You know what Yabuki said to me? Do you know what that fucking son of a bitch said?" I sank back against the wall as he screamed at me.
He lowered his voice again stepping up close to me. "He said it must be disappointing to have a son who'd never amount to anything. It's all that woman's fault for babying you. Well, I'm not going to let that happen anymore. You've had it too easy around here Takeda."
He backhanded me hard enough to snap my head around. I didn't look up, tears burning in my eyes. Grabbing my face in his hand he forced me to look at him.
"I will not have a worthless son."
I was late to school the next morning. I'd ignored the buzzing phone in my pocket as I walked to class. Slipping in the rear door into the utter chaos that was class 3D, I stood there for a moment. Got to act normal, I told myself, got to show them nothing is wrong.
"Goood Mooorning!" I forced myself into a cheerful smile bouncing up to pounce on Ryu where he sat playing cards with the rest of the gang.
"There you are." He muttered, his eyes never leaving his handful of cards. "We were starting to get worried."
Hayato, sitting on top of his desk just opposite flicked his eyes up at me. "I tried calling you."
"Sorry." Moving away from Ryu I shoved my desk over and gingerly slid into the seat. I looked up to see Ryu watching me, his dark eyes unreadable. I glanced away. "So you going to deal me in or what?"
"First I want to know why you didn't call me when you got home, like you said you would, Take."
Shit! "I'm sorry. I was so tired I guess I fell right asleep once I got home."
"You weren't answering your phone this morning either." It was Hayato's turn to glare at me.
Fishing it out of my pocket I flipped it open. "Sorry I must have forgotten to turn it on." I muttered.
"You are a bad liar Take." Ryu's voice was soft as he shifted around so that he was facing me. I hated it when he did that. He'd always been able to drag any information he wanted out of me and he wouldn't give up until he was satisfied. Hayato was just as bad. Between the two of them I never stood a chance. Tsuchi had stopped fanning himself and raised his eyebrows at us.
"Are we not playing cards anymore?"
Avoiding Hayato and Ryu's eyes I smiled at Tsuchi. "I'm just waiting to be delt in, unless you guys want to do something else."
"Don't change the subject Take."
"There was a subject?" Hyuuga looked up a quizzical expression on his face.
I stood up, needing to release some of the pent up frustration burning through me. "Nope no subject, let's play darts instead."
Hayato grabbed my wrist, "Sit down Take."
It was impossible to disobey Hayato when he used that tone. I sat back down, wincing a little. The pain meds I'd taken earlier must be wearing off and I didn't have any more.
"You will tell us what is going on." Ryu informed me. "Now."
I shook my head, "I can't."
