Tokyo Revengers: Empresses of Japan

Chapter 5: Requited

They were all discussing their ways on getting home and what they would do after that. Tsurumi and Draken would ride to Shibuya, with Draken meeting up his friend there to pick her up from work and Tsurumi visiting another friend's house. Mikey and Emma would go home together. Takashi would drive Minami to their neighbourhood park and Yuki would go to the supermarket then go home.

"Fuyu-kun, we might as well leave on my moped." Natsuki smiled radiantly. Chifuyu's whole face went bright red; like a strawberry, even the tips of his nose and ears turned a bright pink. The girls noticed this and couldn't help but smirk smugly; it was adorable how much that nickname would have an effect on him. Thank god Baji and Haneul weren't there, because if they were, he'd hear no end to it. Draken, Takashi and Mikey noticed then. The shortest of the Toman member's eyebrows rose and his eyes widened with sudden realisation. His mouth opened but Draken suddenly covered his mouth, stopping him from blurting anything out.

"You…you don't have to go through that much trouble." He replied meekly.

"Nonsense! It's easier for us to make our own way back." She chuckled. "I assure you I'm a sensible driver, so don't worry about dying just yet."

"Just yet?" Minami asked.

"Well, everyone dies." The 13-year-old stated. "It's kill or be killed in this world." The girls couldn't help but laugh nervously.

"Don't think you should say that after offering to drive Chifuyu home, Natsu-chan." The blue haired teen said.

"I'm not scared. Besides I'm sure she'll keep me safe." The girl smiled at Chifuyu's comment.

"Fuck yeah!" Natsu punched her fist in the air.

"Language!" Yuki scolded.

"Yeah, don't fucking swear." Tsurumi said and they all just stared at her. The redhead blinked and scratched her cheek and tilted her head to the side with a nervous laugh. "Whoops."

"If you're done scolding me, mother, I will be leaving." She smiled.

"Just be careful. Drive safe." Yuki patted her head.

"Chifuyu, you know what to do if you get into any trouble." Draken stated.

"Beat up everyone with a pipe?" He asked and the blonde-haired teen's eyebrows furrowed together.

"What? No!" He massaged his temples. "That Baji really takes things a bit too violently."

"Bye guys!"

Natsuki took hold of Chifuyu's wrist with a gentle grip and led him down the stairs. She ignored her friends loud nagging. The dark-haired girl took her friend to a dark grey moped and inched closer to the blonde. His eyes widened, going red yet again and leaning back a little whilst looking away; feeling like his heart was going to explode.

'She doesn't know the effect she has on me, damn it!'

"Fuyu-kun." Her eyebrows knotted together and she pouted a little. "Stay still."

"Suki-chan." She gulped at the mention of her nickname, one which only Chifuyu called her since they had met each other. "You need it more than I do." She was instantly snapped out of it and looked up at him again, managing to clasp the strap around his neck.

"Your safety comes before mine, Fuyu-kun." Natsuki's gaze was one so gentle like cherry blossom petals falling from trees. She fluttered her long eyelashes as the sides of her mouth perked up into a soft smile. She rarely ever showed her caring side to everyone, seeing as she was young, loud and sarcastic. But with the most treasured people in her life, she was able to show her gentle heart and caring nature. "Don't worry, I'll be okay. Now get on."

Natsuki got onto the bike first and he carefully sat behind her. The girl switched on her engine and drove off the side road. Although she was young, she was able to ride her moped carefully, not driving reckless so that no police officer could stop her over and ask for a license. Her friend on the other hand, was gripping onto the back of the moped, too shy to wrap his arms around her.

"Are you okay back there?" She asked.

"Y-yeah!" He answered.

"You know you can hang onto me; I wouldn't mind. I just don't want you falling off." She suggested. "Baji would have my head if you do."

It took all of Chifuyu's bravery to wrap his arms around his waist, feeling as if he might pass out from the embarrassment. She gulped too, tightening her grip on the handles of her motorbike and there was an awkward silence between them.

"Um Fuyu-kun." She broke the silence and his head perked up from the mention of his nickname. "Are you doing anything on your birthday?" He had just realised about that, seeing as no one had mentioned it. It was the same every year, he would either go out with Baji and Haneul or just celebrate with a cake with his mother. "It's in two days."

"I don't have any plans. Baji and Haneul said they'd stop by at mine in the evening with some gifts. But no plans." He answered.

"Would you come to mine? My aunt is out of town on that Sunday and I thought we could chill?"

"What time do you want me there for?" Natsuki smiled at this.

"12pm?"

"Sure, wouldn't miss it for the world."

The pair of good friends got to Shinjuku and she parked up her moped. The blonde placed his helmet on her bike and something caught his eye. Chifuyu looked up and his turquoise eyes sparkled at the sight of Kinokuniya Bookstore. It was here that he met Natsuki when they were 9 years old. It was their usual meeting place on weekends or after school. They entered the book shop and he rushed to the Shoujo section, constantly scanning through. She joined his side and watched him as he frantically looked for a book.

"What are you looking for?" She asked curiously with her hands clasped behind herself as she tilted her head.

"A few volumes for Nana and Paradise Kiss. I've been waiting weeks but I've visited every bookstore in Shinjuku. I couldn't find anything." He sighed and she patted his shoulder.

"It's okay Chifuyu." She reassured him. "Just pick out…." She slurred as she scanned the books with her eyes and chuckled. "I'm not really good at this. Not my type of manga. Um, hey, Vampire Knight is new."

"Ehhhh, nah." He twisted his face with cringe. "Not into vampire love stories. We might as well go find you something."

They walked over to the Shonen section of the store. Her fingers scanning the shelves containing hundred of manga books. Her eyes sparkled as she tried to find the books she wanted. She picked Death Note Volume 4, Gin Tama Volume 4 and she managed to find the last book of Bleach Volume 15. Chifuyu had a blank expression on his face, that genre didn't interest him at all. But when he turned to see Natsu's face, she would have this sweet smile and a soft gaze. The way her light blue eyes glimmered and she would grin; it made her so beautiful. Her fingers caught his eye and he noticed them covered with plasters and scratches. His eyebrows rose and he instantly placed his hand on hers.

"Suki-chan, what happened?" He asked worried as he held her hand and her cheeks turned pink from the sudden contact.

"Oh, it's really nothing." She reassured him.

"It isn't. What happened?" Chifuyu argued and she stared at him. It was cute how concerned he was.

"I got into a brawl." She lied. His fingers trailed over the plasters and scratches and he shook his head.

"No. That ain't it." Chifuyu said and she began to sweat nervously. He looked at her with a cute little pout and the girl huffed; she couldn't resist that.

"Okay, okay." She raised her hands with defeat. "I was working on a necklace and got a few scratches."

"You should be more careful next time." He scolded her and she nodded.

The girl headed to the till whilst Chifuyu waited outside for her. She got out and he noticed her carrying another bag with a box in it.

"What's that?" He asked curiously.

"Oh, I ordered a few other books for myself a few weeks ago and it came so I just had to pick it up." She lied again but luckily for her, Chifuyu believed her.

"I'll carry them." He took the bag from her and she smiled at him. "Wanna get some food?"

"I'd love to." She smiled.

The two young teens both walked around the booming night streets of Shinjuku, talking about school. They both indulged in a variety of street food; Takoyaki, Tamagoyaki, Yakitori, Korroke and Ikayaki. They had moved onto desserts and after much arguing, Chifuyu bought crepes which they both enjoyed.

The dark-haired girl stopped at a post box and opened her bag. He watched her take out an envelope and inserted it into the box. They both walked back to her moped and she drove him home. She parked up her moped in the garage, leaving the helmet hanging from the handle. When she got out, she saw Chifuyu sitting at a nearby bench and joined him. She stared up at the stars like he did and they both enjoyed moments like this, when they could just do simple things which didn't need much effort or time.

"That letter." She broke the silence between them. "It's for someone in Yokohama."

"Oh, you have a pen pal?" Chifuyu asked but she shook her head.

"No. We met a really long time ago. I remember when I made my first piece of jewellery. It was an earring with a silver small hoop and a long rectangular pendant made of obsidian. The necklace's pendant was the only thing I made; it was a resin blue butterfly charm. They weren't that great in my opinion, seeing as I only made them 3 years ago."

"Wait you were only 10?" Chifuyu asked, his eyes widening and eyebrows rose with amazement. "That's amazing, Suki-chan. You're really talented. The only thing I made as a 10-year-old was a mess in my bedroom." She giggled at this and he chuckled too. When the laughing had died down after a minute or so, he turned to her. "Did she like it at least?"

"He did." She corrected him and his smile instantly disappeared. His heart felt like it had dropped to the deepest depths of his stomach. He found it difficult to swallow, like there was something stuck in his throat.

Chifuyu just shook his head. Why did he assume that she liked him the way he did? How stupid was he to believe that? He was just a delinquent with attitude and anger problems. And Natsuki? She was adorable, interesting and funny. She was way out of his league.

"He said he wore it every day." When he turned to her, she saw how her eyes sparkled and her cheeks were pink; he must be her boyfriend. Of course, she liked him! He was probably tall and handsome. He could probably sweep her off her feet and protect her with all his might. He was most likely calm and composed too with a steady head atop his shoulders.

"How long have you known him for?" He accidentally asked out loud.

"I've known him since we were 6." That boy had known her longer than Chifuyu did, and he just gripped onto the bench with frustration. "We were in the same orphanage as kids. People used to bully him for the scar across his eye from a car accident, as well as his name being feminine and I'd stand up for him, taking every hit and fighting anyone who messed with him."

"Have you met him since?" Chifuyu asked, his voice dry as if he would cry at any moment.

"No, I haven't. I'm not able to go to Yokohama by myself because my Aunt worries it's dangerous for a 13-year-old to go by herself. I think I'd be fine." She stated smugly. "So much can change in 6 years. But I know I'll recognise him, and he'll recognise me."

"Do you…" She turned to him, tilting her head to the side with that curious look on her face. "Oh, don't worry." He shook his head.

"What is it?" She asked with a pout. "Come on; spill."

"Do you like him?" He asked in a whisper.

"Of course, I do." When she turned away from him, he clenched onto his shirt, feeling his heart crumble, tears brimming in his eyes at that answer. "How could I have not liked him? He was my best friend." Her voice broke and he turned to her, as if completely ignoring what she had said. Chifuyu noticed tears falling down her cheeks as she looked down, gripping the bottom of the bench. The boy placed his hand on her shoulder gently.

"Suki…"

"Being in an orphanage after your parents die, is the most painful thing a person can experience. You have no one there to support you and you have to suffer from the loss of losing your parents by yourself. The first two weeks, was the most painful, I wouldn't eat or talk to anyone. I'd always thought that it was a nightmare. That someday my mother would wake me up, that I would go downstairs to find my dad serving breakfast. But it wasn't a nightmare, they were gone." She wrapped her arms around herself and sobbed quietly, with Chifuyu's tears falling down his cheeks. "Each night, I'd cry in bed, I'd hardly eat and I'd refuse to talk to or play with any of the other children. Until one day, he arrived and sat next to me during lunch time, placing his own tray of lunch in front of me. When I didn't touch the food, he spoon fed me, and I started crying. I'll never forget the kindness he gave me from that day. And then, I lost him…And it makes me wonder if everyone else will leave, until I'm all left alone."

She felt a warm hand on her cheek and turned to her friend. He wiped her tears with his thumbs and held her cheek. "I promise, I won't ever leave you alone. You don't have to be alone anymore, cuz I'm right here with you. Until the end, Suki!" Her eyes widened from his promise and she felt her heart flutter like a butterfly's wings. Her bottom lip quivered from what he had said and she instantly smiled whilst crying, this time from happiness. "Wait, no, don't cry."

"Fuyu, thank you!" She exclaimed whilst wiping away his tears.

They both got up from the bench and walked up the stairs to the second floor of the apartment block. He opened the door at Apartment 20 and she opened the door next to his, She held onto the door whilst tilting her head to the right smiling at him ever so gently again.

"Thank you, Fuyu. For being you. Goodnight." She stated.

"Goodnight, Suki. Thank you, for being my friend." He returned the smile and they both entered their apartments, closing the doors behind them.

Unbeknownst to each other, they both leaned their backs against the walls they shared and slid down to the floor. They both placed their hands on their chests and sighed deeply. Chifuyu smiled and rested his head on the wall with a smile on his face. Natsuki placed her other hand on her cheek, where his hand was with bright pink cheeks.

"I really like you." They both murmured, not knowing that their feelings were requited.