Still don't own anything.

Warnings for this chapter:

Violence and bullying (physical). Also, mentions of verbal abuse.

A note on abuse:

Some forms of abuse aren't visible on a person, though it might influence their behavior. Verbal abuse is just as dangerous and isn't as easy to identify as physical abuse since it leaves no physical marks. Some of the symptoms of verbal abuse are often mistaken for other things, or are even part of some mental diagnosis (like low self-esteem, issues in communicating, trouble with socializing, etc). Most of the time, the child doesn't even know they're being verbally abused, and is often a lot more subtle than being outrightly called a "monster" or a "curse", though it does often come from parents or family members, and in the form of insults/belittling, sarcasm, and even mimicry.

Whether physical or verbal, abuse is still abuse, and is certainly not a subject to be taken lightly.

Chapter 4: Takaya Abe

Days blurred together to Takaya, and if it weren't for writing the dates on tests and quizzes, as well as homework, he probably would just lose track of time altogether. It was the same thing every day, after all. Whether at home or school, it was all the same. He only liked school marginally better because that was when he got to see Motoki. Sure, they sometimes hung out after school as well, but since they both had issues with their families, they couldn't exactly invite the other over to play.

Another time they saw each other was lunch, and Takaya was currently headed to the roof. Typically, the roof was off-limits, so it was the perfect place for he and Motoki to be away from the throng of other students and teachers that glared at them.

A noise interrupted Takaya's thoughts, and curiosity made him look around the corner he had been passing. Hallways were usually not too crowded during lunch, since kids either ate in their classrooms or outside, but occasionally, someone would be here or there.

Takaya instantly recognized the four people.

First, was the boy held by the lapels of his shirt against the locker; it was none other than Ren Mihashi. Takaya heard that kid that glared at him often in class call the boy's name enough times, and he knew his last name since Ren sat next to him.

The one that held him against the lockers was, no surprise, Hatake. Only this time, Hatake's two cronies were there. First was Hiiragi, and the other was Yoshi. Though Yoshi was a bit shorter than the other two and less prone to violence, he could still give a good verbal bashing.

The only one who hadn't been effected by his sharp tongue was Takaya, and that was because he had heard much worse at home.

"So, you run into me and think you can get away with it, eh!" Hatake all but shouted in Ren's face.

Ren was cowering, and trying to protect himself as best as he could, but it was obvious that he was terrified. "I…'m…s-sorry! I…"

"Heh…Kanou is already getting lunch, so there's nobody to help you." Hiiragi snickered, oblivious to the boy's fear.

Yoshi grinned. "Well, not like he actually cares about you, anyway. Who'd want to hang out with someone who can't even talk properly? Nobody, that's who!"

Hatake smirked, and Hiiragi laughed.

"So, what should we do with him?" Yoshi leered at the poor kid.

"Dunno…he did bump into me…" Hatake smirked.

"Let him have it, Hatake-san!" Hiiragi cheered. "He can't just run into you and get away with it!"

"No teachers around for him to go crying to, either." Yoshi grinned nastily.

"Fine with me! I've been wanting to give this guy a good punch in the mouth! Maybe it'll fix that annoying stammer of his!" Hatake clenched his free hand.

Ren squeezed his eyes shut with a whimper when he saw the fist raised.

However, a sudden silence fell over them that made Ren open his eyes, then blink in surprise.

Takaya stood there, one hand gripping Hatake's raised arm, which prevented him from throwing the punch.

"Abe…" Hatake narrowed his eyes.

Takaya glared right back at him. "Is this how you get your sick kicks, Hatake? Beating up someone that can't fight back?"

"None of your business, weirdo," Hatake shot back.

Takaya smirked nastily. "Oh, I see…you don't think you can win in a fair fight. Hitting someone that doesn't fight makes you more of a man, huh? Your unethical lackeys, too. All of you should grow some balls before you start talking big."

Hatake let go of Ren and swung at Takaya in a single motion.

Takaya stumbled back as the fist connected with his jaw.

"I'll shut that blabbing mouth of yours forever this time, Abe! Hiiragi! Yoshi! Grab him!" Hatake shouted.

Ren fell onto his backside and looked up with wide eyes as Yoshi grabbed one of Takaya's arms and Hiiragi grabbed the other, then the two slammed him against the lockers.

Hatake laughed. "Now who's the man, huh? I'm stronger than you! We all are!"

Takaya spat blood from a split lip and smirked despite the pain. "Hah? A man? All I see is some monkey blowing off hot air, and some animals holding me…"

A blow to the side of his head cut him off, as headbutting was the only thing Hiiragi could do without letting him go.

"You…!" Hiiragi fumed.

Takaya blinked to try and clear the spots from his vision, then suddenly gasped as pain exploded in his gut and air escaped him.

Hatake smirked and pulled his fist back from where he had punched the other. "I'm just getting warmed up, freak. What do you have to say, now?"

Takaya coughed as he sucked in air.

"What was that? I can't hear you. I don't speak pain!" Hatake laughed, then was cut off suddenly by a foot to his own gut.

Takaya had used being held to the lockers to his advantage to rear back and give the hardest front thrust kick he had ever given.

"Hatake-san?" Yoshi and Hiiragi glanced over.

Takaya felt one side slacken, which was what he had been hoping for, and easily tore out of Yoshi's grip with a twist and pull of his arm.

Yoshi stumbled, off-balanced, as Takaya swung around and planted his free fist right in Hiiragi's nose.

Hiiragi cried out as he cradled his now bloody appendage.

"You…!" Yoshi started forward, but they all knew he was the weakest in a physical fight.

Takaya blocked his attempt at a punch, and sent a rising fist into his chin that actually knocked Yoshi off his feet for a moment and caused him to crash onto his back, out cold from when his head hit the floor.

Hatake had lost consciousness from the strength of the kick, and Hiiragi finally let the merciful darkness overtake him.

Takaya, breathing hard, glared at the three downed boys a moment before he turned to where the frightened Ren still sat.

Ren trembled as his gaze slowly went from the three strongest bullies in their year to the one that single-handedly took them out.

Takaya held out his hand to the boy. "Are you hurt?"

Ren made a squeaking noise and slid back a couple feet, shaking.

Takaya blinked. "Hey…it's alright. They won't get up for a couple minutes, at least. What about you?"

Ren watched as Takaya walked closer. The one that had that scary look on his face just a few moments ago…the one that mouthed off to Hatake on a daily basis (granted, in response to something Hatake said or did, but still mouthed off)…the one that had blood running down his chin from the split lip, and a bruise forming on the side of his head, his clothing slightly ruffled…

"D…"

Takaya blinked and took another step. "Did they hit…?"

"Don't come…any…closer!" Ren surprised himself with the shout, but it effectively halted the other.

Takaya froze, hand still extended, confusion on his face.

Ren opened his eyes and saw that Takaya had, indeed, halted. He scooted back some more, then got to his feet. "D-don't…don't…touch…me." If he wasn't so afraid, he would have noticed the hurt that shone through Takaya's eyes for a brief moment.

Takaya dropped his hand as Ren turned and ran away, stumbling slightly. Then, he looked at his hand. Not cursed, huh? I think I'm plenty cursed, Motoki.

A bitter smile formed on his face as he flexed his hand. Then, without warning, he slammed it into the lockers, which actually put a dent in the one he had hit. The pain was only a dull throb, and didn't seem to even register with his brain since the real place he hurt was much deeper than flesh. I really am a monster, just like they say. A cursed existence that just brings pain and fear.

Motoki looked up when the door to the roof opened. "Oh, hey…I was wondering if you were even gonna show! Lunch is almost over, and…what happened?"

Takaya shook his head as he stood in the doorway, bruised hands clenched into fists. There was a butterfly plaster at the corner of his lip, and another on his cheek.

Motoki got to his feet and slowly went over.

Takaya bowed his head and mumbled something.

"What?"

" 'Toki…I…I really am…just…something to be feared. I'm cursed. I…"

Motoki's eyes hardened slightly, though more out of worry and protectiveness than anything else, and he placed a hand on Takaya's head. "Who said it?"

"Mother did. After they called her."

"A fight?"

"Everyone else feels the same. They run from me. It's the truth…"

"It's not."

" 'Toki…"

"You're not a monster, Taka. You're not cursed. You're just a kid." Motoki blinked tears from his eyes. My parents can be nasty, but even they don't go around telling me I'm some cursed existence. I hate them! His parents…and the kids of this school who made him feel the same way!

A small whimper escaped Takaya's throat as he bowed his head even more and mumbled a denial.

"You're not! If I hafta say it a million times, I will! If I hafta scream it from the top of this school roof, right here, right now, I will! If I hafta march down to your classroom and tell it to those assholes…I will! Dammit, Taka…!

Motoki paused since his voice broke slightly. He cleared his throat and gave the other a one-armed hug around the shoulders. "…you shouldn't have to feel this way. You're a really nice person…even when I have bad days, you still hang around me. You stand up for your classmates…don't deny it! I've heard about it!"

Takaya couldn't help the sob that tore from his vocal cords as he leaned against Motoki's shoulder.

"You're a good person, Taka. You help people that don't even thank you. You still try to make your mother happy. We're both a little clumsy, I know…so it's hard. But that's why it sucks! It shouldn't have to be hard…it shouldn't!"

"… 'Toki…"

Motoki held the other boy closer and leaned so his head was next to Takaya's. "It's not you, Taka. It's them. They're the ones that can't understand. They're the ones that can't see past the surface. They look at us and just see delinquents, or maybe even someone stuck up just because we aren't confident enough to go up to them. They don't even understand what we want. It's so simple, what we want…"

Takaya clung to Motoki like a lifeline with a muffled sob. He promised that he wouldn't cry any more, but sometimes…it was just too much.

Even Motoki was close to tears, but somehow held it together. "…and it's not your fault, dammit! Just because they can't understand us…it's not your fault! You're not a monster or a curse!"

"It's not your fault! You're not a monster or a curse!"

Motoki is the only one to ever say those words to me. He's the only one that knows how hard I try, and how much I hurt. If it weren't for Motoki, I would have fallen apart by now; even I can't live alone. Still…

…I wish I heard those words from my family, too.

TO BE CONTINUED…