11: Crimson Leopard

The energy returned swiftly with the appearance of several more gang members and even a few customers. Hours passed as Akane wandered around. Sitting in one place watching the scenes for a while, sitting in another a bit later. She always seemed to be part of one conversation or another, due to the piqued interest of those around her. And when she wasn't, she was reaffirming her long lost friendship with Yata. They talked, pulled pranks, argued. There was almost a fist fight at one point but the swiftly recovering girl seemed to twist in a strange direction, and the onlookers only ended up laughing as the now overprotective boy helped her recover.

The sky dimmed as time went on. Akane moved more smoothly by the minute, no sign of the trauma she had endured but a slight wince when she yawned or maybe a limp in her step every here and there. She was well rested, fed, and even showered, for the first time in ages. She was practically glowing, and they could tell. Especially Tatara. He had a way of reading people that allowed him to notice the change in her even after so little time. He had also noticed how Yata, who had appeared more stressed than usual lately, seemed more at ease than he had in a few weeks. It warmed his heart to the core.

Anna had appeared as well after a while with a brief good morning and a shy smile at Akane before retreating to Mikoto's side again. Akane didn't pursue talking to her yet, deathly afraid of overwhelming and scaring away the child. She didn't know enough about her character yet to decide how to approach her. She was different, it was clear, making things more difficult than usual.

Akane did, however talk to Mikoto, Anna remaining a steady distance away when she was near.

What, am I threatening or something? I mean it's not like I'm cra- oh. Right. Fair enough.

It seemed like she was spending quite a lot of time in Mikoto's general vicinity too, having either quickly forgotten or forgiven the morning's events since everyone else was already too afraid of her wrath to bring it back up and tease her. They got along well, anyone could see it despite their contrasting personalities. She was very talkative yet understanding, a superb listener even when barely anything was being said. A simple look from him could inspire a whole new topic in her, and he didn't seem to mind. If he did, he would have walked away by then, Tatara was sure of this much. After all, they all knew he wasn't worried about coming off as rude. The Red King's vassal had to wonder if something had happened the other night between the two to help them build this newfound relationship, borderline friendship, even. When Mikoto would briefly glance at her in conversation, it was not the usual uncaring boredom that filled his eyes, but something engaged and engaging. Tatara wondered if intrigue was pushing it, but it was certainly getting there.

Towards the end of the day, Tatara desperately tried stopping her from confronting Kusanagi about paying something as ridiculous as rent. He really did. Not that he would be able to, but he thought it was worth the effort. He certainly thought he was more convincing than the others gave him credit for. It wasn't. He definitely wasn't. Akane walked right passed him with a roll of her eyes, as if he was some pestering child. The bartender, of course, refused to let her pay him anything, much to Tatara's relief. However, when she insisted on possibly working for him part time instead, helping clean up and wash dishes and such, Kusanagi found himself unable to refuse. He needed the help. Badly. And he figured it was a good way of keeping her around for a while. It was nice to have a new face in the bar and he knew that eventually she would end up attracting new customers. She wasn't a bad looking girl, in fact she was quite astonishingly beautiful through all her brashness, and she had a magnetic personality that would no doubt flow out his doors and onto the streets like a fishing line waiting for a catch. Yep. She was certainly alright in his book. Plus, Mikoto had obviously developed a liking towards her. She was officially stuck with them, whether she had a promise to keep with Yata or not, so they may as well put her to work.

At the moment, the sun had just set. The whole gang was there with their signature noise in tow. Chitose was telling some grand story and was building a bit of an audience in the bar, Akane in the front lines. She had finally begun to remember everyone's names throughout the course of the day and could recognize them all in a crowd, something she was rather proud of. Already the girl was building a rather close bond with the red clansmen. They laughed and talked with each other, leaving her feeling anything but excluded and cold. Their flame warmed anyone who walked in the door and stayed long enough to feel it.

However... she was becoming restless. Shifting in her seat, unable to focus and only basing her reactions on the faces of those around her, when in reality she was completely zoned out with her mind on other matters. She couldn't even listen properly anymore. All she had to do was sit and wait for a moment to get out, and hope that no one, namely Mikoto, was noticing her impatience now. She had heard earlier that a big group of them were going to some club later for drinks, but she had no idea when exactly that would be. Being underage at 19 and still "healing", she doubted they would let her go even if she tried. A couple of the more easy-going guys, including Rikio and Shohei, had already shown a bit of protectiveness over her. Not that she needed it, but she found it entertaining and didn't say anything in protest.

At one point a customer, some random greasy drunk, who obviously had to get his shit together, in his mid to late twenties had been relentlessly trying to talk to her. It only took half a moment for Kusanagi to narrow his eyes on the man and for Yata, in all his loud yelling glory, to practically drag him out with a couple others standing defensively by their new friend. It seemed like a solid minute and a few confused blinks before she even realized what had happened and started laughing and hugged them all. They joked about it for the rest of the evening.

Finally.

The group reconvened and got ready to head to a place a few blocks away, in the heart of the bustling city. A night club called The Flintlock Candle. They always had the best music being performed by live musicians, who worked there for half shifts as bartenders and servers between shows. Akane seemed to perk up when she found out where they were headed, once again seeming in the present and not distracted by other matters. She didn't speak up, though. She had somewhere else to be.

"You should come." Mikoto was standing beside her and had noticed the spark that entered her eyes, just as the name of the club suggested. He looked down at her and met her bright grey eyes, filled with child-like energy. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to go with them and dance and sing and steal sips of their drinks while they weren't looking. She wanted to screw around with Yata and get to know the guys better and just live for once, without worrying about the rest of the messed-up world.

But all that came out was, "I can't." He frowned lightly down at her, brow furrowing just the slightest bit.

"You mean you won't."

"I mean," she looked into his eyes and hoped to god she could get away with this, she truly did want to go more than anything. But she also had responsibilities. And she had to protect her new family with every ounce of strength and ability she had. "I shouldn't." She shrugged apologetically and looked away.

Dammit dammit you're gonna give yourself away. He's gonna know you're lying. You can't trick a King. He knows what you are. I thought you said you were done with this shit?!

Akane had to stop from telling herself to shut up out loud. That would probably not have ended well. "I just need some quiet for a while. Plus, I don't think my body's up for dancing quite yet, and you can't go to a club without dancing." She said this like it was the most blatant thing in the world. Some kind of unbreakable rule. It made the King crack a smile.

"I manage just fine. And you've barely eaten. We'll get you something."

Akane was vaguely surprised at the length of his statement. A whole three sentences. She didn't expect such a compelling, lengthy speech or she would've gotten popcorn and a better seat.

"I'm good, chatterbox. But thank you. I'll walk there with you guys if you want though."

His head twitched in a lazy nod, "Couldn't hurt. Probably."

"Ha. Ha. Although knowing my luck maybe you should push me there in a wheelchair just to be safe."

"That would be quite a sight." She laughed lightheartedly, and he couldn't help it as the corners of his mouth curled into a slight smile.

"That it would be, Sparky. Quite a sight."

The guys began to meander out the door, conversations still mid-swing and full of the energy that comes with the partying night life. At the last second, though, their new guest dashed into a back room where they had stored her violin for the time being, and was back and out the door with them before anyone really noticed she was missing.

The streets were still busy, bustling with people going to and from work in the city dusk. Bright lights flooded the streets a few blocks ahead, the heart of Shizume shone and reminded Akane of her childhood, as short as it was. She tried to look beyond the sea of people flooding down the pavement but made no progress.

"Hey Rikio, how's the view up there?" Even though she had lived on these streets for the last couple of years, she never had the chance to really come out of the dark alleys and take in the sights. Her freedom wasn't exactly as free as she had hoped, but she hadn't had room to complain either.

Kamamoto shrugged, "It is what it is, Ms. Akane. Wanna take a look?" Her beaming smile, rival to the neon billboards ahead, was his only response.

As they all turned the corner onto the main block, the guys were messing around like kids, and the group was loudly chanting a drinking song, lead by a strange, raven haired girl sitting on Kamamoto's shoulders, throwing caution to the wind, with a boy in a beanie hovering close by in case she fell. The passers-by could tell that they hadn't even started drinking yet. Their words weren't slurred, their eyes were clear, and their walk was still steady and straight. But the pure joy surrounding them leaked into the auras around them, turning heads and spreading smiles as strangers laughed at the group heading for the Flintlock Candle.

None of them noticed the narrowed golden eyes aimed at Rikio's back without any reasonable explanation in all the jubilant commotion.

Yata helped Akane down from his partner's shoulders when they got there, and they all milled about outside for a bit, just talking with no need to rush. After a while though, someone complained about the cold and they began to file in, teasing the gang member for being weak against the elements.

"You sure you're not coming in?" Yata was among the last left out with her.

"Yeah, I'm sure, I just had to get out of the bar for a while. As much as I've grown to love that place, I haven't been indoors for that long in years. I missed the city air, as shitty as it is. I'll head home to keep Anna and Tatara company in a bit."

"Alright then, you'll have to come another time though." He tried to playfully ruffle her hair and she slapped his wrist away with a laugh.

"Just try and stop me." She smiled and stuffed her hands in the pocket of her sweater, "See you later, Yata." He waved back, and with a nod at Mikoto that was only returned with a calm stare, she turned and disappeared into the cityscape at a gentle stroll.

After she was sure they couldn't see her any longer, she pulled up her hood, hiding her face and dove into a dark alleyway, breaking into a run. Her lung injury only mildly ached and she couldn't help but smile as she dashed through the home she had only just recently left. This was her world now. She was back. And nothing could stop her.

Except maybe another bullet.

Don't ruin my fun.

Soon she slowed her pace and sauntered up to an old warehouse. The doors were all rusted and broken, barely a shard of glass was left in the windowpanes, and the roof was but a memory. Dew dripped from a hole in the floor above down to the cement ground level and plants crawled lazily up the stone, run-down walls. The girl's footsteps echoed in light taps, nearly as silent as the steady dripping of the water surrounding her. Akane found her way to a panel in the floor in the far corner of the large room, and the scraping of stone against stone hurt her ears as she tried to drag it to the side. Underneath, she had revealed a hole, only large enough for a few belongings.

Reaching in, she pulled out a plain black backpack, showing signs of obvious age with a rip every here and there, threads sticking out along seems. Opening the bag, she found a red ribbon to tie her thick, flowing ebony hair into a high pony tail. The ribbon trailed down and stopped just below the tops of her shoulders. It swung with her hair as she moved and pulled the next item out of the backpack. Carefully and meticulously, she wrapped her wrists in strips of white cloth, grimacing as she came across the occasional red spot, no doubt a bloodstain from the past. She followed by doing the same to her ankles, just in case. She always felt better with the extra support. After this, she threw the sneakers she had been wearing into the floor hole and replaced them with dark, lace-up combat boots.

Last but not least, she zipped up the backpack and slung it over one shoulder, tying a red bandana over her mouth and nose to conceal her face. Regardless of whether or not it would stay there, she felt it completed the look she had built for herself. Before leaving, she double checked the contents of her bag. She put her near-empty pill bottle in it, which she had snagged before leaving at the last second. Sitting with this was a pocket knife and a loaded handgun. She could never be too safe, especially where she was going. With a final thought, she put her new sweater in the hole with her shoes. If any evidence of the night's events showed itself on Tatara's gift, she would be totally screwed. This left her in black jeans and a white t-shirt, of which she had rolled the sleeves up and tied at the side, so it wouldn't hang as loosely on her frame. She made a mental note to keep everything as clean as possible and to look for something else to wear on the way, although this endeavor would most certainly be unsuccessful.

Akane kicked the panel back into place, once again concealing her belongings, and she headed out of the abandoned building with a newfound confident spring in her step. Taking the blackest of alleys, keeping to the shadows and only allowing the slightest slivers of light to reveal her, the girl made her way through the dark of Shizume.

There was a guarded door in the alleyway. A giant brute of a man stood nonchalantly leaning against the frame, picking his teeth, pretending to simply be minding his own business. But that was never how the real world worked. No one knew how to mind business like they did everyone else's, and this guy was no exception.

A small girl with a slender frame and face hidden in vermillion smirked, she could take him down if she wanted to. Not much of a guard really. But she would have to bite her tongue and swallow her snarl for now. This wasn't the place for such things.

Akane Himura leaned against the other side of the doorframe in the same fashion, looking at her nails like she gave a crap, and as if she didn't see the thug before her.

"So, big guy, what's the word on the street?"

He eyed her rather incredulously, like he couldn't believe she was standing where she was. However, he quickly regained his composure and responded as planned, "I was hoping you could tell me."

She shrugged, portraying her devious smile through her eyes, "Dunno for sure, could've sworn I heard something about a lily bed."

He grunted and knocked loudly on the metal door, stepping out of her way. It quickly swung open, "Why don't you see for yourself..." After a moment's hesitation he added, "But you better watch your back, little lady, things can get pretty rough in there."

She chuckled and patted his shoulder in a friendly manner, "Won't they know it, big guy."

And immediately she was surrounded by chaos.

The tall structure was mostly hallowed out, with viewing balconies lining the walls for several floors up, filled with the richer, douchier of the general population. The ground, though, was flooded by maniacs fueled by the thirst for blood. They all screamed, shouted, and chanted in the eerie red light, surrounded by debris and crowded together in the mosh pit, shoulder to shoulder. The air was sick with smoke from cigarettes and who knew what else. Anything was game in there, there were no rules and no one to abide by, let alone enforce, them.

She loved it with all her heart.

I know this life isn't for everyone.

For a second there was a tugging at her shoulder, a feeling she was used to. She spun around and grabbed the wrist of the man trying to steal from her bag. With a single motion, he cried out in pain as his entire arm was twisted unnaturally, and the girl narrowed her stormy eyes. Those in their direct vicinity moved a step or two away but didn't cease in their current actions.

Especially not for the sane.

The referee blew a whistle and tugged one man off another, both bleeding profusely from various areas on their bodies. The unconscious one was tossed to the ground, off to the side of the elevated fighting ring, and the other managed to stumble out on his own to collect his winnings. At the startled cry of Akane's victim, the ref turned to locate the source and the two locked eyes. The strange man immediately broke out into a huge smile, paired with a joyous laugh.

"Well if it isn't my favorite damsel in distress, I was wondering when we'd see you again."

She dropped the anonymous thief's limb and he scrambled away. "It's good to see you too, Yuuto. You got any room for another street rat delinquent like myself tonight?"

"For you my dear, always." He held his hand out to help her into the ring, still grinning.

But it's the life for me.

Standing tall in the strange, red moonlight, filtered from broken glass above, Hyou Shu took the stage and silence fell upon the balconies, with various audience members snickering. But those who recognized her looked away, faded to the back of the crowd, with only a few remaining to watch the show with wide, wonderstruck eyes.

"Let's take on two today, Yuu. I need the cash." She said this under her breath so only he could hear and dumped her bag in the corner of the ring, she knew no one would be dumb enough to take it.

He laughed quietly, "That's my girl, I knew I could count on you to bring an end to a slow day."

She cracked her knuckles and rolled her head from one side to the other. Her eyes were slowly freezing over, becoming blank and painfully cold, ready to stab right through whoever might stand before her. Both literally and figuratively.

"So, which two of you suckers out there are ready to take on the bloodied beast of the jungle, the crimson leopard, the mighty HYOU SHU!" He raised his arms in the air dramatically, reveling in the theatrics of it all. It almost made the girl in the ring smile. Almost.

A couple of big guys stepped up to the challenge. Giving each other a look she easily recognized, the this is going to be such a joke look. Now this made her crack a smile, not that anyone could see through the red bandana still shrouding her face. Soon enough the bets were in and the opponents faced each other on the battlefield.

You see, hope comes in many forms. It's a complete variable in these crazy lives of ours.

Yuuto stood between them, practically licking his lips as he saw the cash flow in at the crazy odds against his little friend. "Alright, you lousy fucks, you all know the rules. I'll call it when one side is down, no guns, no knives, et cetera et cetera. And most of all..." A startling, crazed look entered the man's eyes as he prepared to take a step back, "...have fun."

It comes in different shapes and sizes. It works in mysterious, inexplicable ways, just like everything else.

"This won't last long enough to have fun," said one of the brutes, and the other smirked in agreement.

"I agree," said Hyou Shu from under her bandana, "No fun at all." She took a battle stance and gave a silent hello to the presence suddenly standing behind her. Shadows clung to him and dead brown eyes peered out with his signature glowing smile while the spectators seemed to look right through him. He was there though, she knew he was. He had to be.

"I knew you couldn't resist me for long, Hane-chan."

Yuuto blew his whistle and jumped back, leaving the crimson leopard to hunt her prey.

And this is the way it works for me.

The afternoon air was crisp, yet warm and comfortable in the sun. A bird passed by overhead, and a few scattered people wandered around below like ants. Something soft and mournful pierced the air, the quiet sobs of a girl, once strong, now only a child, as she hid from her peers on the roof of the building.

The bell had rung ages ago, but she hardly cared right then. More important matters were at hand.

"I told you not to tell him."

"I know," she choked out to the soft voice in her ear. It was low, powerful, comforting, ever-present in her life. Haunting her past even now.

"Do you enjoy this pain?"

"No!" She bit out the word and threw it at him. "Of course not." The girl hid her head in her knees, which were pulled up to her chest. "Why would I want to hurt him?"

The voice laughed. "Jealousy, of course. He's just so perfect, isn't he? You want him to have a taste of your pain." The words echoed in her ear, repeating over and over again like whispers from an entire crowd. It made her squeeze her eyes shut and throw her hands against her throbbing ears as she whimpered from the sheer intensity of it. They were so loud.

"No, no that's not it... that's not- ugh shut UP! That isn't it!"

"Of course it is, silly girl."

"But I like him. A lot. I just want him to be happy. I want him to trust me." She hiccupped through her tears, looking into the voice's bright blue eyes.

"Well those are two very different things, darling." He chuckled. "So... which do you want more." The last word jumped on her shoulders and the weight almost made her cry out in shock and pain. She felt like her chest would implode yet explode at the same time. What did she want? What did she want? What did she want? Why did it matter? It didn't. She didn't. But that word was so heavy. She just wanted the weight gone. That's what she wanted.

"I don't... I just... I just want this to go away."

A smile appeared before her, warm and kind and gentle and safe, and a large, rough, comforting hand reached out. The hand she only vaguely remembered from her childhood yet that sat there waiting patiently for her, every wrinkle, every scar and crevice clear as day.

"Thatagirl. I knew you'd get there." She smiled and looked up into the man's eyes that had always been as deep and boundless as the sea, with complete and utter trust. Trust that should have died years ago, but was still being dragged along by a burning thread. "We can fix it all. Together."

She took his hand and carefully stood on shaking legs, weak knees. Everything was sore. Her hands, her mind, her chest. Her heart ached. Constantly. Her eyes stung, and it felt like they were being filled with led. Voices from below floated up to her on the autumn breeze, but none pierced the hazy bubble around her mind.

They walked to the edge of the roof and peered down at the ant people. They were so small. Insignificant. Yet she didn't even feel the slightest bit of vertigo, let alone the crippling fear she fell victim to whenever she was this high up. Were they even real? She sighed. Probably not. Either way, she wanted them gone. She didn't want to have to look at them anymore. Their weightlessness, their smiles. Ridiculous. Stupid. She didn't want to have to look at them for another moment.

The figure beside her let go of her hand and stepped up onto the short wall protecting them from the ground below. He stood there for a moment, just looking down at the bugs. "I understand. They're hateful, aren't they?" He held out his hand once again. The child nodded. She followed his lead.

Side by side they stood at the edge of forever. She felt like she could see the whole world below. Her whole world. Stagnant. Beautiful from a distance. She had no desire to have another close encounter. She had no desire to stay.

"Look." He pointed with his other large hand, a symbol of hope, and she saw before her a bridge of light. "You never have to look at them again. You never have to look down or be afraid again. Everything, all the joy in the world, could be yours."

She smiled. Nodded. Wiped her tears away and took a deep, shaky breath.

"Now go, my dear, and we can all be together again."

"Together." She whispered the word and felt a small bit of the weight disappear. Her leg confidently reached out to walk down this glowing path to a life, to a new joy, and-

"Hane!" Something grabbed her wrist just before she could fall, leaving her half-suspended with only one foot on the wall. The figure beside her turned dark like a shadow, furious and snarling, just like in her nightmares, and faded to nothing. The fog around her mind finally dispersed and the bridge disappeared, she could hear the wind and the unknowing ants below her as she hung 10 stories in the air.

Her eyes went wide, and Akane shrieked, jumping back as fast as she could and landed on whoever had saved her. The wind was knocked out of him, but he still tried to catch her as he landed on his back, impacting harshly on the cement. She barely payed him any mind as she scrambled away from the edge, no doubt scratching up her palms, and curled up into a terrified ball, closing her eyes tightly shut again.

"Not again not again..." she chanted. It had been months since her last critical episode, and if this meant they would become recurring again, the she didn't know how long she would last.

"Tell me about it. I thought I was done saving your ass for a while." The boy got up with a wince and walked over, crouching before her to see if she was at least physically alright. He would never admit it, but he had worry plastered all over his face.

She death glared up at him. He rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously, all the while seeming to shrink away from her.

"Uh... Too soon?"

"Well seeing as I almost accidentally killed myself again not thirty seconds ago... YES, YATA! TOO FUCKING SOON!" He winced as she raised her voice and tears started coming to her eyes again. They were red, irritated and puffy, and the old tracks hadn't even disappeared yet. It was no mystery why she was up here, after all these years so close to her he knew better. Brave, strong, dignified Akane Himura would never let anyone see her cry. Even he had rarely had the opportunity. So she didn't even have to say it. Someone... something... was breaking her heart.

Which meant it was breaking his too.

"Sorry... you really scared the shit out of me back there." He sat beside her and looked over, debating whether or not to try to hug her. He decided it was better to not. He just looked forward at the ground in the awkward silence as she tried to regain her breathing, remembering how many times in the past they had been in this exact situation. "I'm glad Aiko decided to call me when she did. She was really worried that you didn't show up to class... and she said you were acting weird during lunch." He paused before daring to go on, giving her the chance to stop him. "You wanna tell me what's up? Ugh," He threw his head back in frustration, not at her but at himself, "Is this because I couldn't come last night? I'm sorry, I would've, but my mom's really been on my back lately when I am home. I really really tried though, I'll go next time, and the time after that and..."

"I told him." Her expression didn't change through all of his ramblings. She wiped her nose on her sleeve and sniffled like a small child, just staring straight forward. It was like she didn't even hear him.

Yata had a suspicion of what she was talking about. Her and their newbie had been getting closer by the day, and while it scared him in the back of his mind, he knew she had to learn to trust other people too. But if he ever hurt her...

He was a dead man.

"Told who?"

"Hiro, who do you think? He knows now... he knows what I did." She glanced over at him for only a moment. "Well, most of it. He at least knows what I am."

"And what do you think that is?"

She laughed coldly and sniffed again, blinking back the last of her tears. "Think? Yata, I'm a cold-blooded killer and we both know it. And now Hiro knows it too."

"Hane, you're anything but cold blooded. You can be a bitch sometimes, sure, but if that was the case then we wouldn't be up here. You wouldn't even have told him in the first place." She shrugged. A nonverbal whatever. He sighed, why couldn't she see it? Why couldn't she see how amazing she was? She was stronger than whatever was inside her and they all knew it, even if he was the only one who knew what she was facing. She kept these matters private and would hardly ever speak of them, but they all knew there was something in her head. They all knew she was sick. Yet they all had faith she could beat it no matter what. And she could. She just had to remember it every once in a while. "So... what did you tell him, if he doesn't know everything?"

Akane took a deep breath and replayed the whole thing in her mind. "I told him about the beginning. At least of what I can remember... I was so young back then. But," She looked over at him through the corner of her eye. Yata was the only one she trusted enough to talk about this with, and even with him it was difficult. If she ever lost him... she probably wouldn't make it. "He knows about the fire. He knows what I did, what happened."

"Did you show him?"

She looked at Yata incredulously, a slight bit of humor returning to her eyes. "Yeah because that wouldn't have been awkward."

He shrugged and laughed, "You showed me." He had to fight his face from turning pink at the memory.

She rested her chin on her knees again and mumbled, "That was different."

"Uhuh. Sure it was, whatever you say." He turned serious again. "Does he know..." He cleared his throat, "Does he know about the thing after that? You know..." She looked at him with alarm, "About your da-"

"No. No no no. I'm never gonna tell him about that. Anyone. Ever. Yata, don't you dare ever tell anyone. Promise me. Promise!"

"Ok ok," he threw up his hands defensively as he saw her get all frantic and crazy eyed, "I promise. I won't bring it up again."

She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, sitting back again and stretching her legs out in front of her. "I saw him today. That's who it was this time. I don't get why-" she choked up for a moment, "I don't get why he keeps coming back."

He hesitantly reached over and took her hand, holding it tightly. He wouldn't dare with anyone else, let alone a girl, but this was Hane. His best friend. They trusted each other with everything. Every dark secret and every guilty pleasure. They were family. And right now his family needed him.

"I don't know either, Hane," he said quietly. "But one day I'll find a way to scare him off for good. We'll get through this. Together."

She opened her eyes and smiled at him weakly, giving his hand a squeeze.

"Together."

A few hours later, they stood outside a house just a couple of blocks from the Ashinaka train station. It was plain, boring from the outside. The usual beige walls and white doorframe, brown roof. But to her it looked like hell. Still dressed in her school uniform, Akane, now collected and composed, stood outside the gate by a mailbox labelled Maruyama with a small suitcase next to a strange, chestnut-haired boy, skateboard in hand.

"I can't believe it's already Friday."

"We'll miss you, Hane, but you'll be back before you know it." Yata handed her backpack over to her, having taken it on the train while she wasn't looking. She wasn't happy about it, but she never was. He did it every week anyway. He couldn't help himself. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "You're sure you and your aunt don't have anywhere else to go?"

She shook her head. "We don't have a choice. And I'm afraid something bad will happen to her if I don't come back on the weekend like he tells me to."

The boy's expression darkened. "I don't like it."

She hoisted the bag higher up on her shoulder, "Yeah well, you don't have to like it. We just have to survive it."

"I'm telling you," he glared angrily at the front door, "one day I'll be strong enough to get you out of here. I'll throw him into hell where he belongs, and you'll never have to come back."

She looked sadly over to him, "That'll be the day, Misaki." She turned and hugged him before having to say goodbye for the next two days. "But I can't wait to see it." She said it softly to him, and he hugged her tightly back before releasing her and watching her walk through the gate and down the stone path to the front porch.

"Hey," he called out and she turned to look over her shoulder one last time, "If ya gotta get out, you know how to find me." She nodded assuredly with a confident smile, and knocked on the front door, his queue to quickly disappear from sight and skate down the street.

She watched the last bit of hope she had left race away with the wind singing beside him under the setting sun.

Mikoto sat at the dimly lit bar, beer in hand, listening to Chitose try to sweet talk some girls next to him. The music was loud. The people were loud. Yet no one had anything to say. At least... it didn't seem like they did anymore.

He used to truly enjoy the Flintlock Candle, but tonight was different. Everyone seemed fake, everything in the room irritated him to the point where he had to keep his aura in check. A fire breaking out would not be good.

But, as yet ANOTHER random girl gave her shot at hanging from him and trying to get him to buy her a drink, the idea became more and more tempting. He closed his eyes and sighed in frustrated annoyance. The girl and her friends whined at him.

On another night, he would've given in to their tricks. Gotten them wasted, taken them home, had a little fun. But now they just disgusted him. He wanted them gone. Away from him at least. Somewhere where they could be someone else's problem. This made them seem even more nagging.

He looked at them through half opened, lazy, uncaring eyes, showing them coldness for all his warmth. He was sick of them. Their fake laughs. So hollow, forced, needy. Their dull, dead eyes, shining only with the opportunity to get something out of him. Like vultures.

He never would have thought along those lines two days ago. But he didn't know what had changed. His head had been fucking with him lately, trying to tell him something that he just couldn't see. He thought getting out of that bar would help, but being around all these fake tramps was making it worse than ever.

Mikoto closed his eyes and sighed angrily again, passing his hand over his face, trying to futilely gain some clarity. Either way, he couldn't push away that feeling that distracted him so much. The one that made him anxious to the point of nausea. It was the feeling he got whenever Tatara ended up in the hospital, or when one of the guys didn't come back to the bar after a job for a couple of days. It was like he was worried about someone.

It was like something important was missing... and he had to get it back.

A/N: Soooooo this chapter felt like it was a LOT longer than 10 pages when I was writing it... also it took fucking forever so sorrrryyyyy But I feel like it still has a ton of important character development and the plot is progressing a lot faster. Yay! No more lame, boring buildup!

Anyway~ so who was expecting street fights, huh? I thought that final reveal ended up being pretty cool, and finally entering Yata into her backstory. I know the italics and everything are kind of confusing, but you'll get used to it, I promise.

I still haven't decided whether or not to have a flashback in the next chapter or to keep the current plot going at a good momentum, so lemme know your thoughts on that pleassseee

AND ONE MORE THING!
I've been posting my status updates and funny quotes and stuff for Akane and Deepest Red on my tumblr, so if you want a good laugh and to stay up to date, I'll put the link in my bio. Thanks everyone!

Favorite, Follow, Comment to let me know what you think and share any suggestions or helpful information. I've been doing my best on schizophrenia research but I'm sure I've still got some oblivious, ignorant holes and such.

Love you all and see ya later!

-TFT

*awkwardly moonwalks into oblivion*