Butterfly Kisses and Flower Petal Wishes

by YozoraVal

Hanagaki Takemichi lost more than just his first love on the day he was pushed off the train platform. He lost an elder sister as well. His mission is clear, go back in time, fix the past, maybe find out why his girlfriend and sister had to die (or keep dying), and save not only Hina but his big sister as well. MikeyxOc

4. Resolve

It's Meiko's time to shine in full swing, lets see how the protective elder Hanagaki sibling does things when left on her own.

Also, let it be said , I am still figuring out how to write certain characters. So please excuse any oocness. (Buried under Tokyo Revengers fic, manga pages, and the anime) I've been known to get better once I get in full swing of writing with them. So please enjoy the chapter and even let me know what you think.

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July 7, 2005 Meiko

"That'll be 2,900 yen." The convenience store clerk muttered, as the one and only cousin of the Hanagaki siblings, Masaru began to rummage around his pockets to pay for the snacks and drinks he'd been ordered to pick up after school by his bosses before their fights. The store door opened with a chime, and the clerk turned from Masaru to greet his newest guest. "Welcome."

"Ah~" A familiar melodious voice sang. "There you are!" Masaru froze, as a chill ran down, slowly almost robotically turning his head towards the door, to find his cousin, Meiko 'innocently' smiling at him as she pointed at him. "I. Found. You. Baka-Masa~"

"M-m-m-meiko-chan." The sandy bleach blonde-haired teen paled, almost screaming out loud as the dark-haired girl gracefully skipped to his side. To the people around them, she may have looked like a simple innocent Japanese middle school girl. With her braided hair, black stockings, and bulky glasses. But for Masaru, he saw through that innocent visage and honey-sweet words, behind the mask his cousin approached him with. Was an unbridled fury, and venom all being directed at him as she suddenly wrapped her arms around his right arm tightly with a vice grip.

"Ne, ne! Baka-Masa-kun~" Meiko 'cutely' cooed, "I've been looking all over for you! You wouldn't believe how many people I had to talk to around your school till they pointed me in the direction of this store!" Tightening her grip on the boy's arm, Meiko looked up at him through half-lidded eyes and a gleam in one of her glasses lenses. "So~ Do you think you can be a good boy, and come with me real quick?"

The boy became deathly pale, sweat dripping from his brow as he knew there would be no escape from this lion's jaws.

Throwing the boy towards the ground in the corner of the street, Meiko slammed her foot dangerously close to her cousin's head. Watching the boy shriek as he became pinned between a literal hard place and her leg. "So~" Meiko venomously sang, "How's it going?" She asked, smiling, watching the boy shake as struggled to stare up at the usually small girl.

"I... I've been good." He shakingly replied as the girl hummed.

"I see, I see. Wanna know what I've been up to?"

"S-sur-"

"I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER COMING HOME BEATEN TO A FINE PASTE!" Meiko snapped, causing the boy to scream as she kicked the wall beside his head. "IT WAS GREAT, YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE LAST NIGHT. HE WAS BLOODY, BLACK AND BLUE, AND CRYING HIS FUCKING EYES OUT! EVEN CLINGING TO ME WHILE CALLING ME MEIMEI!"

Feeling a bit as though he pissed himself, Masaru whimpered, "Oh, really. I wonder how that-" He'd begun to try and scramble for an excuse only to freeze as he felt a tight grip on the collar of his shirt as he was pulled up towards Meiko's unamused face.

"I know." She bluntly stated, watching the boy shake.

"Y-you know?"

"Oh, I know," Meiko repeated, with a sadistic gleam in her eye. "So, tell me Baka-Masa." She leaned in close watching tears start to form in the corner of his eyes. "That is unless you really have a death wish." Her sadistic smile fell, and only pure rage covered her face. "Tell me how you fucked up and where my brother is?"

Talking as fast as he could, Masaru scrambled to speak, his eyes drowning in tears and fear as he rambled on. "It wasn't my fault! They're the dumbasses who tried to pick a fight with our second years." He screamed as he was shoved into the wall harshly, "Our boss Kiyomasa didn't like that! So they beat them up and made them our slaves and part of their fight club!"

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" She growled, the boy trying to shake his head as he struggled in her hold.

"N-no! I CAN'T TELL YOU THEY'LL-"

Twisting the boy around Meiko forced the fake blonde to his knees, planting her foot on his back as she held one of his arms behind his back. "Now Masaru, dear." She sweetly cooed, "You're not saying you're more afraid of them than you are of me... Are you?" The boy shrieked as she added, "Because sure those guys might kill you~ But I..." She leaned in close making sure her lips were barely inches from touching his ear, "I can make you suffer a hell, even worse than death." Hearing the boy begin to sob she released him letting him fall on his face as he turned to look at her menacing form. "So be a good little boy, and listen to mommy 'kay." She smiled as she crossed her arms. "And mommy says, lead the way. Dog."

Walking into the park where the fights were held Masaru pointed in the direction of where the fights were held. "T-there. There are some steps that lead down to an open area. That's where they gather and hold the fights."

Glaring at the direction he pointed at Meiko tsked, "In an open place like this? What the hell, how haven't you guys been caught by the cops?"

Scratching the back of his head Masaru refused to meet the dark-haired girl's gaze, "They got guys keeping watch around the entrances, if any cops start heading over, we're supposed to report it quick and scatter."

"Then where are the lookouts for this one?" Meiko asked, making Masaru blush. "Oh god, you're the lookout? Are they insane or just stupid?"

"I-I can be a lookout! No problem."

"You're a coward with the tendency to wet himself when confronted with anyone who even instills a bit of fear in your ass." Meiko bluntly snapped, causing the boy to jump and cower from her.

"You're the only one capable of putting that much fear into anyone."

"Someone has to be a top bitch at times." Meiko huffed, before giving the boy a somewhat... apathetically sympathetic look. "How much trouble would you be in, if they find out you snitched and let me through?"

Looking down in fear Masaru shook in his place, "If you're the judge making me pay for my crimes..." Tears filled his eyes again, "Then Kiyomasa's the executioner! That man's a walking powder keg! If he finds out I let you through without a fight! He'll kill me."

"I see." Sighing she turned to the boy, "Then... If you put up a fight, would that soften the blow?"

Blinking up at the smaller girl, Masaru paled as he realized what she implied. "You, you don't mean for me to fight you?!"

"I mean I wouldn't call it a fight..." Meiko muttered, eyeing the boy up and down, "But if you, for example, were knocked out. Well it's not really your fault you got overpowered and I got through right? So just lay down, and pretend to be unconscious."

"THAT WON'T WORK, THEY'LL KNOW I'M LYING!" He yelled, catching the attention of two boys who were slowly starting to enter the scene.

"Hmm, what's this?" Mikey muttered as he and Draken turned to enter the park and pause as they saw a small girl dryly staring up at a panicking delinquent.

"So they'll need evidence?"

"Yes!"

"Okay." Meiko sighed, "But just know, I genuinely take no pleasure doing this. You're sadly still family so I guess I'll help you out by giving you a cover."

"Huh?" Masaru blinked, only to cough and gag as he was suddenly elbowed in the gut.

"What the-?!" Draken exclaimed, watching as the guy keeled over and the girl righted herself up. "She just knocked that guy out with one hit? Who the hell is this chick?"

Mikey's eyes shimmered in awe, watching as the girl began to roll her shoulder with a sigh. "Who indeed?"

"That should leave a good enough bruise," Meiko muttered, as she looked down at the past out teen with a wince. "Oof, never knew the day would actually come when I'd feel bad about disciplining you Baka-Masa but I guess there are still wonders in this world."

"Hey!"

Looking up from the boy she'd just knocked out, Meiko watched as both Mikey and Draken began to walk up to her, her eyes narrowing a bit as she stared at the smaller of two. 'Hmm... Have I seen that guy before?'

"What's going on here?" Mikey casually asked, almost friendly, as Draken looked down at him, a bit surprised.

'Wait, is Mikey actually starting a conversation with this chick?' Looking over at the dark-haired girl he frowned to himself, 'Then again, you don't see a girl her size take out someone almost twice her size every day.'

Holding up her hand, Meiko comedically gave a very hurried or uncaring response of, "Sorry, but I don't really have time for small talk or explanations right now. I'm on a mission to save a crybaby and his musketeers."

Draken's eye twitched, Mikey actually struggled to not laugh, and Meiko began to turn to leave just as both boys opened their mouths. When suddenly the whole group heard cheers suddenly breakthrough from the path ahead.

'Michi!' Turning her gaze away from the two boys fully, Meiko began to book it down the path.

"Hey wait!" Draken shouted, reaching out towards the girl. "That's-"

"Let's go Ken-chin." Mikey cut him off, pulling out a small bag of Dorayaki and taking a bite from it. "It looks like things are about to get interesting down there."

"Mikey, that girl-"

"Is pretty interesting, don't you think?" He smiled, cutting Draken off, "I'm sure she'll be fine." Mikey added as he began to walk ahead. "After all, we're here."

"Damn it, at least take this seriously." Draken sighed, "What if that girl were-" He paused mid-speech. "Hey... Do you think... That girl was Emma's new friend?"

Mikey hummed, as his dark eyes seemed to brighten with full interest. "Ah~ That girl... What did Emma say her name was again... Hanagaki... Meiko-chan? Hmm..."

Running as fast as she could, Meiko listened to the shouts and cheer's of the crowd of boys from the fight club as she approached the site.

"Kill him, Kiyomasa-kun!"

"Give him death!"

"Give him death!"

"Give him death!"

"Give him death!"

Her heart dropped to her stomach hearing these chants. 'Takemichi, guys, please be safe!'

Yet as she arrived at the top of the stairs that led down to the group's makeshift fight club arena, Meiko froze as she noted the crowd's excitement wind down, and noted the fighters at the center of it all.

"Michi...!"

Three of Takemichi's friends, Yamagishi, Makoto, and Takuya, closest to the top of the stairs had their heads snapped up as they heard the girl's shocked cry.

"Mei-senpai!"

"Meiko-chan!"

"Mei-chan!"

"Let go, damn it!" Kiyomasa yelled as he continued to beat Takemichi down, and yet.

The crowd and Meiko stared, noting how Takemichi did not fall back, how he did not go down, how he continued to grab on and fight on against Kiyomasa.

Finally kneeing the blonde away, both boys were out of breath, yet even as he struggled to stay up, Takemichi cried out "I'm not.. I'm not done yet!" Grinning a smile that made Meiko shiver in her spot as the boy's gaze snapped back down at their male friend.

"That's enough, Takemichi!" Yamagishi yelled.

"You're seriously gonna die!" Makoto shouted along.

"Takemichi! Just stop!" Takuya almost cried, voice cracking as he yelled.

Meiko quietly began to make her way around the crowd, eyes never leaving the fight, more specifically her brother, as she maneuvered herself closer and closer to the bottom. 'Michi... When did you... Suddenly start to grow up?'

Laughing under his breath and slightly off-balance, Takemichi only repeated himself. "I ain't done yet." Using the back of his right arm to try and whip the blood dripping from his nose. "This ain't enough... to cure my weak-ass heart."

Meiko's eyes filled with tears as she came closer and closer to the scene. "Michi." She whispered as Akkun's head snapped in her direction.

"Meiko-chan...?"

"Of the past twelve years!"

"Huh?" Akkun's gaze snapped back towards Takemichi.

"The hell is he talking about?" Makoto quietly asked Yamagishi, the boy not even able to form a sound.

"I just ran, and ran...and ran and ran..." Takemichi's mind recalled his final talk with the future Naoto.

"You're the only one who can save our sisters."

The warm and peaceful image of Hina and his sister turning back to him with reassuring smiles, flashed through his mind as the tears filled his eyes.

Pocketing the pocket knife he had held in his hands, Akkun shouted out to his friend. "That's enough, Takemichi! You showed us how tough you are! Y-" Before he could even try to warn his friend of Meiko's appearance on the scene Takemichi yelled back.

"I can't turn back!"

Meiko's tears spilled, as she finally found herself at the bottom and out of the mass crowd out of her brother's sight. 'Michi.' Her muscles tensed and her hands clenched into fists. 'You...'

"I have a reason why... I can't turn back!" He yelled, "Kiyomasa of the Tokyo Manji Gang... If you wanna win, you're gonna have to actually kill me." Takemichi angrily declared before grinning up at the man determinedly. "I ain't gonna lose!" He watched as Kiyomasa stepped back, and rage-filled his face. 'I'm...' Takemichi's tears finally fell, 'I'm gonna save Hina and Mei-nee!'

'Enough!' Meiko thought, jumping a bit in place before she started to run forward.

Kiyomasa, blinded by his rage, did not notice as he called back to his men. "Bring me my bat!"

"Hey!" Takemichi's stomach dropped, and his friend's eyes went wide. "Getaway... from my little brother!" Meiko screamed, running full speed past a shocked Takemichi towards Kiyomasa before jumping mid-run, and slamming her fist right in Kiyomasa's face. The sound of a crack causing the entire crowd to gasp as the taller boy was sent back with a pained cry. His nose was bloody, a tooth knocked loose and out. As the female Hanagaki pulled her fist back and landed shakily on her feet, her fist now bloody and throbbing as she took a defensive stance before her brother's beaten form.

'It... can't be.' Takemichi thought as the tears streamed harder as he stared up at his sister's confident form. 'What is she doing here?!'

"Shit!" Yamagishi exclaimed, moving to head down the stairs.

"We need to protect them!" Makoto exclaimed concernedly while following.

"You no-good bastard!" Meiko growled as she glared down at the dazed man. "How dare you... hurt my Michi!" She almost snapped, cursing as she shook her bloody hand. "Also, holy hell! Talk about having a thick head."

"Meimei- I mean, Mei-nee! What are you doing here?!" Takemichi concernedly exclaimed, causing his sister's angry glare to then be directed at him. 'Scary!'

"Why am I here?" Meiko growled as she stared down at the boy with a shaking bloody fist. "Uh excuse me! Earth to Bakamichi! Why wouldn't I be here?!" She yelled, turning to face him, and promptly grabbed him by the ear.

"Eeeta ta ta ta!" Takemichi painfully exclaimed as his sister literally twisted his ear.

"Do you have any idea how worried I've been these past few days! Not knowing what was up, and why the fuck you been beaten so much!"

"O-ow, ow, ow! Onee-chan!" Takemichi exclaimed, still having his ear twisted.

"Idiot!" Meiko shouted, releasing his ear finally, and Takemichi froze as he looked up to see his sister crying as she looked at him. "We promised... To protect one another! How can we do that, if you keep hiding things from me!"

'Meimei...' Takemichi guiltily thought as he stared into his sister's crying eyes, 'I...really hurt you. Didn't I?'

"Look out!" Takuya suddenly yelled, trying to shove his way through the crowded stair.

"Mei-senpai!"

"Takemichi!"

Both Yamagishi and Makoto screamed as Akkun stared in horror.

"Behind you!"

"You... you bitch!" Looking up, Takemichi's eyes became wide with fear as he noted Kiyomasa now standing behind his sister with his bat ready to swing and strike her. "You die first!"

His vision from the night before flashed through his mind and Takemichi felt his adrenaline run through his veins. "Meimei!" Noting his sister's shocked expression as she turned to see Kiyomasa and his bat, Takemichi jumped forth to shield her. 'No! I won't let you! I won't let you hurt my sister!' Throwing his body over top of Meiko's Takemichi braced for impact as he secured himself around his sister's smaller form.

She gasped in his arms wide-eyed. "Michi!"

'I promise, I will protect you this time!' Takemichi determinedly thought, ready for the worst only.

"Oi, Kiyomasa." Kiyomasa angrily paused before he could actually swing.

"HAH?" He exclaimed, ready to snap at the latest intruder, only pale when he saw exactly who it was.

"You've drawn quite the crowd."

Pulling a bit away from his sister, Takemichi and her both looked up to see as Draken and Mikey entered the scene. 'Who is that?'

"Ah!" Meiko exclaimed quietly, "The two guys from the entrance."

"Calm down, dumbass. You're the host ain'tcha."

"A blonde ponytail and a shaved head... and a dragon tattoo on his temple..." Yamagishi nervously started to note aloud as Makoto stared in shock beside him, and Akkun glared cautiously.

"No fucking way." Makoto gapped. "The Vice Commander of the Tokyo Manji Gang... Ryuguji Ken! A.K.A Draken!"

Finishing up his snack from behind his friend, Mikey then spoke up. "Ne, ne, ne, Ken-chin."

Twitching a bit annoyed, Draken turned to glare back at his smaller friend. "Wha- Don't call me by that stupid nickname here."

Yet the teen was unbothered as he simply smiled and showed his hand to his friend. "I'm out of dorayaki."

"Huh," Meiko blinked in shock at Mikey's words. "He's actually kinda cute." She thought aloud as she noted the slight innocent charm the boy's face now held with crumbs at the corner of his mouth. She'd said this as though she were noting the nice weather.

Though this did make Takemichi look at his sister as if she had lost her mind. "You're saying this now? Really? Read the atmosphere."

"The hell is up with that guy?" Akkun legit could not help but ask, confused.

"He can't read the atmosphere of this place at all," Makoto noted as Takuya finally joined the group.

"Ah, another Mei-senpai."

Suddenly, the majority of the third year, and even some of the second year, boys began to bow, much to the shock of the four members of the Mizo five.

"Good day, sir!"

"Good day, sir!"

"Good day, sir!"

Meiko looked around the arena in slight shock as the many sections and boys bowed to give their respect and greeting. Ending her look around, on Mikey as the boy's expression became more serious and aloof, and he licked the crumbs off the corner of his mouth as he stared directly at her and her brother. Before beginning to step forward in their direction.

Takemichi instinctually stood up straight and moved his sister slightly behind him. Staring at the teen boy before him as he walked in their and Kiyomasa's direction. 'Wait... is he...'

Both Mikey and Draken slowly made their way up to the three teens, strolling through the parted sea of bowing delinquents as they continued to shout. "Good day, Commander, sir!"

Meiko's eyes became wide, and her hand flew to grab the back of her brother's shirt. 'Commander?!' She watched as Mikey smiled at her and Takemichi, 'He's the big boss?!'

'He's the head of the Tokyo Manji Gang... Sano Manjiro?' Takemichi thought in shock, as he watched Mikey approach closer and closer.

"It's the Invincible 'Mikey', The leader of Toman!" Akkun exclaimed.

"Mi... Mi... Sano-kun! I'm with the 3rd special attack unit." Red, otherwise known as. "My name's Akaishi." Tried to greet, as Mikey completely walked past the guy without sparing even a glance. "Ugh."

"You're in the way." Draken boredly stated while walking by, "Mikey doesn't talk to guys he ain't interested in."

"Oh... S-sorry about that..." Red nervously apologized.

"Seriously?" Yamagishi whispered in shock, as he and the rest of Takemichi's friends stared in awe and shock.

"Red-kun couldn't say anything back," Makoto noted whispering.

Noting Mikey, finally making it up before him and the Hanagaki siblings. Kiyomasa began to bow ever so slightly, causing Meiko to wince when he greeted him. "Good day, sir."

"Idiot..." Takemichi blinked in confusion at his sister's whispered words, only to jump as he saw Kiyomasa be kicked in the gut so hard by Draken, that he had keeled over to hold his stomach. "Even I know that's not a proper bow."

"Kiyomasa, who died and made you king?" Draken dryly scolded unamused, "You're seriously going to greet the Commander with that shallow bow? Make sure you're that far down when bowing to him."

"Y-yes, sir..." Kiyomasa painfully grunted, while secretly glaring up at Draken, his gaze ever so slightly even shifting back towards Takemichi from his bowed state, more accurately Meiko who stared at him as if he were some unintelligent bug.

Or at least she did until Mikey finally came up to her brother and her. Getting too close to Takemichi's face and sending him off balance as he fell back, almost taking his sister down with him. "Michi!" Still, she tried to soften his fall, gently holding him up as she helped him sit down on the ground. "Are you okay? Are you concussed?" She asked, completely ignoring the blonde commander who stared down at them boredly, or at least that what the pair would have assumed.

"Hey, what's your name?" Mikey asked, as now both Meiko and Takemichi's attention was turned solely up at the boy.

"H-Hanagaki Takemichi." Takemichi stuttered out but froze as he noticed Mikey's eyes then shifted towards his sister.

"And you?"

Puffing up her cheek's Meiko turned her head away, "I'm sorry, but I prefer to know the name of someone before I hand out my name when asked."

'MEIKO!' Takemichi panicky thought, as the whole group of males gawked at the girl as if she was insane.

"Is she crazy?!"

"She's either got balls of steel or a death wish!"

"Senpai!"

"I see," Mikey muttered a slight twitch to the corner of his mouth.

"M-Meiko!" Takemichi exclaimed then, causing both Mikey and his sister to turn to him. "Her name is Hanagaki Meiko. My sister!" He exclaimed, "She's just a bit shy with new people."

Meiko felt a vein pop in her head as pinched her brother's side, "Shy my ass!" She quietly hissed, "Watchya doing giving my name out without permission, huh?" She quietly hissed, unaware how Mikey's eyes seemed to become more and more amused as he stared down at her and her brother.

"I see. So Takemitchy, and... Ei-chan."

"Huh? Takemitchy?"

"Ei-chan?"

The two siblings confusedly muttered out as they stared up at Mikey.

"That's what Mikey said, Takemitchy, Ei." Draken bluntly confirmed, as if leaving no room for argument on the matter.

"Huh?" The two siblings exclaimed at once before feeling both their heads be grabbed and pushed close to one another, cheek to cheek.

Mikey now crouching down before the pair of siblings as he asked "Are you two... really in middle school?" Takemichi's eyes went wide in shock, while his sister's eyes narrowed at the unwanted touch. Smiling at the pair, Mikey then said, "Takemitchy, Ei-chan, starting today, you're my bitches! Okay?"

"Eh?" The siblings stared in shock, Mikey releasing the pair just as Meiko's eye twitched in annoyance, and moved away before the girl could even dare to grab ahold of him.

Takemichi even having to grab ahold of his sister's arm as she angrily raised it as she whispered. "Imma hit him."

"No! Aren't you supposed to be the responsible one between the two of us?! You're going to get us killed!" He panickedly hissed, as the pair watched Mikey walk up towards Kiyomasa.

"Are you the one running these matches?" He casually asked, as Kiyomasa nervously replied.

"Y-yes."

Smiling at the teen's response, Mikey suddenly kicked Kiyomasa directly in the face.

The two Hanagaki siblings gasped in shock, Meiko herself even wincing once she noticed that the teen's nose no longer simply had a popped blood vessel, but had now been broken. As Mikey grabbed a tight hold on Kiyomasa's head through his hair. "Who the hell are you?" He coldly questioned, punching the semi-conscious teen's face repeatedly as the whole crowd watched uncomfortably.

"Kiyomasa..." Red nervously whispered, watching as his leader was then dropped as Mikey harshly planted his sandaled foot onto the unconscious man's head one final time.

"Okay, then." Mikey sighed, turning back to his much taller friend with a blood-splattered face and smile. "Let's get going, Ken-chin." Stepping over the unconscious Kiyomasa's head, the blonde began to walk away. "Taking bets at this little fight club is lame."

Glaring down at the unconscious Kiyomasa, Draken annoyedly ordered before following behind his friend. "Stop bringing Toman's rep down."

"Takemitchy... Ei-chan..." Stopping to call back at the two Hanagaki siblings, Mikey happily smiles at the pair. "See you later!" He almost burst out laughing, as he noticed Meiko angrily twitch at his nickname for her.

Moving to open her mouth as her brother quickly covered it, to panicky hiss in her ear. "Meimei, don't!"

A chuckle did escape though when he noticed the girl able to break her hands-free enough to flip him off. 'Fuck you! You- You- Stupid... Stranger danger cutie!' Meiko angrily exclaimed in her mind, still upset with the boy's claims of her and her brother being his 'bitches'.

Though he caught sight of this strange interaction, between his friend and the Hanagaki girl. Draken simply remained quiet on the matter, as he began to order and wave the crowd off. "Y'all wake up and scram already."

July 7, 2005 Draken

Falling close behind Mikey, Draken gave a final glance back to the fights club area as the majority of the groups left leaving only Takemichi, Meiko, and the other Mizo boys behind. "Took them long enough."

"Ne, ne, Ken-chin." Mikey called out, causing Draken to sigh as he looked back at the shorter boy.

"What is it Mikey?"

The image of Takemichi holding his ground, and Meiko running in to save her brother, flashed through Mikey's mind. He smiled and turned back to his friend, "I think I really like those two. Let's go play with them tomorrow."

Taking note of his friend's interest, Draken only smiled in return. "Whatever you say..." The pair began to walk in silence until "By the way... Why bitches?"

"Hmm...? Isn't that just a way to call someone your friend?"

"... Emma is gonna kill you when she finds out you called her friend your bitch."

"Ah! That's right Ei-chan was her friend first... Oh, well." He turned to grin back at the taller teen. "I've really taken a liking to her, so I think I'll make her mine."

Draken's eyes became wide, and a light blush even crossed his face at the implication behind his shorter friend's words. "Wait when you say yours you don't mean–"

"Hmm, I'm hungry. Hey, let's go eat, Ken-chin."

"Don't just change the subject!"

July 7, 2005 Takemichi

As night fell, Meiko tended to her brothers and bruises. The other Mizo boys gathered around the pair, holding painfully at their ears, after having Meiko both physically and verbally twist them into telling her all that she missed. As well as scolding them after as she was treating her banged-up little brother.

'So he's Toman's boss, Sano Majiro.' Takemichi thought as Meiko pulled away to put the last of her first aid kit materials away.

"There, that should do it." She sighed, closing the first aid kit shut as she let two of the boys, Yamagishi and Makoto, take her place before Takemichi.

"Stare..." Takemichi actually flinching back as he finally noted the two boys getting too close for comfort.

"Hm?!"

"That was fucking amazing Takemichi!" Yamagishi exclaimed.

"I was totally moved!"

"Huh?" Takemichi confusedly blinked, as his sister then smiled down at him.

"They're not wrong." She proudly noted, "The way you stepped in to protect Takuya and the others and stood your ground was really grown up of you."

"Mei-nee...!" Takemichi almost began to tear up with a smile until he was flicked harshly by his older sister.

"But the next time you think of picking a fight with some giant that can snap you like a twig without so much as letting me know." She drew her thumb across her neck smiling.

"Wha– seriously?!" Takemichi exclaimed, gapping up at his sister as she simply shrugged.

"Hey, I need to have some idea of what to tell our mom a dad when you fuck up and bite the dust. By the way, can I have your motorcycle poster if you do?" She nonchalantly explained as Takemichi yelled at her.

"That's beyond morbid and messed up!"

"Then don't fuck up!" Meiko yelled back, arms crossed.

As Yamagishi and Makoto only continued to fanboy over the siblings and the day's events.

"Invincible Mikey totally took a liking to you too!"

"That's friggin' awesome, Takemichi, senpai!"

"Huh?" Meiko blinked, with a tilt of her head. "We did?"

Takemichi on the other hand had to shut his eyes as he thought. 'I wasn't imagining it then.' Then proceeded to freak out as he grabbed ahold of his face in shock. 'That monster took a liking to not just me but Meimei too!?' He proceeded to allow his mind and imagination to run wild. 'I went from being Kiyomasa-kun's slave to the plaything of some eccentric monster!' He turned his almost tear-filled eyes up to his unimpressed and uncaring sister as she seemed lost in her own thoughts. 'This is an even worse hell. I even dragged Meimei into this too! I've already failed my own mission! Why us, though?!' He thought, turning away from the two boys to almost curl up into himself.

'I really don't think we left much of an impression that guy though.' She thought, rubbing the back of her head. 'Also why did he look so oddly familiar?' Her mind conjured up the image of Emma and the boy Mikey side by side, 'Wait a second... could they be?'

Tapping the back of Takemichi's shoulder, Yamagishi and Makoto began to tease their distressed friend. "Guess you're 'Takemitchy' from now on."

"That's what Mikey said, Takemitchy." Turning to tease Meiko, the pair thought twice when they noticed the ominous look she sent them while smiling. "A-ah, but... Meiko-senpai is fine as she is."

"Y-yeah!"

"Teehee!" She giggled, and the boys cheered at their avoided death sentences.

Takemichi, though, silently cried to himself. 'Must be nice to be so stupid.'

"Ta-kun!" Meiko proceeded to move towards Takuya, "Let me look over your wounds."

"H-huh?!" Takuya exclaimed, "Bu-but I didn't fight today, Mei-senpai."

"But you were hurt before, right? Come on let me see, we all know you don't have the best constitution."

"A-ah, okay."

Watching as Yamagishi and Makoto fooled around and Meiko checked up on Takuya. Akkun sighed, as he watched the two groups from beside Takemichi. "They're so dumb..."

"Huh?" Takemichi turned to look down at his sitting friend. "Oh, you mean Yamagishi and Makoto."

Akkun nodded, "Yeah. I haven't heard them say dumb things like that in a while." Looking towards Meiko, as she patted a blushing Takuya's head he added. "It's been even longer since we've had Meiko-chan even join in. I'm sure the others were missing her as much as we were." He noted watching as she shoved Takuya off to the two idiots of their friend group, as they tried acting out the events of Takemichi's and Meiko's meeting of the Toman leader.

"Man, what total kids." Meiko huffed, resting her hands on her hips. She moved to go sit by Takemichi and Akkun, only to stop when she noticed Akkun's sudden dark mood as he spoke to Takemichi.

"Takemichi... I... Honestly, I was thinking about stabbing Kiyomasa-kun."

Meiko's eyes went wide, as she just barely caught on to what their friend had just admitted. 'No way...'

"Huh?"

"I mean, think about it. At this rate, we could've been slaves forever. That would mean we needed to take Kiyomasa out."

'Akkun...' The two Hanagaki siblings could not help but think.

Takemichi in particular, coming to his own realization. 'He always did care about his friends a lot.'

Watching Akkun begin to rise from his seat, Meiko quickly turned herself away from the two boys and hoped neither Akkun nor Takemichi noted her listening in. 'Shit! Shit! Shit!'

"Thanks, Takemichi."

"Huh?"

"We don't have to be slaves anymore because you toughed that out." Akkun boldly complimented, as he smiled at his blonde friend. "You were really cool back there."

Meiko quietly snorted to herself, taking the moment to turn to watch her brother become embarrassed by his latest ego boost.

"Oh, stop. You're making me blush." He said, rubbing the back of his head as Akkun laughed.

"Now Akkun, don't you go saying such things to Michi." Meiko teasingly called back, as the boys turned to look at her. "We can't risk our Crybaby Hero getting such a big head now. Ne~"

"Ah! Mei-nee!" Takemichi angrily exclaimed as his friend burst out laughing at his sister's latest nickname. "How many times do I have to tell you to not call me a Cry baby!"

"Oi! Ya-kun, Ma-kun, Ta-kun~" Meiko shouted out to the three goofing off boys, "Is Michi a Crybaby? Aye or nay~"

"Aye!" The three boys happily exclaimed, making Akkun burst out even harder in laughter.

"You assholes! Just who's side are you on!"

"Obviously not yours~"

"Shut up Meiko!"

The night would end, with the group laughing fooling around. Brother and sister finally at peace, once more.

July 7, 2005 Emma

"She what?!" Emma gapped at her grinning brother, as Mikey sat across from her.

"Went to save her crybaby brother, and punched the guy who was dragging Toman's name down in the face." Mikey casually hummed, "Oh, and flipped me off. I guess she didn't like becoming one of my bitches or her new nickname."

Twitching at her brother's words, Emma glared at the aloof blonde. "I'm sorry, can you repeat that last part?"

"Hmm," Turning to his sister, Mikey innocently tilted his head to the side. "Which part? The new nickname, or how I claimed her and her brother as my bi–" He jumped as his sister suddenly threw a couch pillow from her seat. "Wha– Emma!"

"You idiot! You don't just tell a girl you just met that she's your bitch!" Emma yelled, running after her brother as Mikey ran to try and avoid her wrath. "What are you, some brainless dolt! How did Draken let you get away with that!"

"Huh?! But her brother didn't seem to care!"

"Mikey!"

The siblings ran, a good twenty minutes around their home. Their grandfather silently listening as the pair ran and shouted at one another.

"Get back here so I can teach you some manners!"

"It's not that serious!"

"You jerk! You better apologize to her!"

"No! Ei-chan and Takemitchy are now my bitches! Why should I apologize for making friends!"

"Ei-chan?! That's not how you make friends! Don't just go claiming my friend without permission."

"Too late she's mine now! I saw her kick-ass, and I liked her spunk!"

"You don't even know her! Mikey!"

Enough to say, when Meiko received a text from Emma later that night.

To Mei-chan:

I'm so so sorry for my stupid brother's comment. When he called you guys his bitches, he meant it as if he was calling you his friends.

Meiko was far from surprised if a little relieved. "Oh~! So he is her big brother, huh? I guess being cute runs in the family." Meiko mumbled around her toothbrush. "Who'd have thought?"

From Mei-chan:

It's cool I guess. If that was his actual meaning. Though seriously, I was about to hit him. Warn him not to call a girl that next time, not unless he asks at least.

Emma felt her eye twitch, as Mikey stood smirking over her shoulder looking down at her friend's response. "See~ It wasn't that big of a deal."

"She wanted to hit you!"

"Hmm... I wonder if she could have?" Mikey honestly wondered as he imagined the small Hanagaki girl throwing a punch at him.

His sister gaped at him, "What are you? A secret masochist?!"

July 8, 2005 Meiko

Walking side by side, with one another, Meiko yawned as she quietly flipped through her stack of study cards from beside her whining younger brother. "Man, going to school right now is harsh."

"Well, no one told you to get your ass kicked for fucking up." Meiko boredly retorted as her brother yawned by her side.

"That wasn't even my fault."

"Uhuh~"

"And besides, eight AM is way too early for school."

"That's just cause you suck at mornings." Meiko teased, nudging her pouting brother.

"Good morning, Takemichi-kun, Mei-senpai." A familiar female voice called out to them.

Turning to look back, the siblings spoke together at once.

"Hina!"

"Hina-chan!"

She sent the pair of siblings a grin and a peace sign, "Good for you! You're actually heading to school in the morning, like a good boy!"

"Isn't he~" Meiko cooed, "Michi was so good today he didn't even fight me to get out of bed."

"Mei-nee!" Takemichi hissed embarrassed, Hina only giggling as she ran to stand between the two siblings. "You're embarrassing me!"

"Aww~ But that's my job as your big sister." Meiko teased, "Right, Hina-chan."

Giggling at the older girl's teasing Hina nodded, "Mnn, I do it all the time with Naoto." She admitted.

"It's definitely an older sister thing..." Takemichi muttered to himself, as the two girls looked at him confused.

"Huh?"

"Nothing." Takemichi nervously brushed off, not wanting to risk the wrath of either girl if they were to find out what he and the past Naoto had talked about during his first time leap.

"Oh! By the way," Hina said, looking up at her boyfriend. "I have cram school after school today."

"Y-yeah?"

"Let's go on a date before my cram school."

Meiko's eyes went wide, looking away to cheer for her little brother and Hina in her mind with a fist pump. 'Ah! How cute! You go Hina! Get your man! Michi you better not fuck up!' Sneaking a glance back at the two, her smile widened as she noticed the nervous blush start to form on her brother's cheeks. 'So cute~!'

"S-sure..."

'Wahoo!'

"Is that really a 'date,' though?"

Meiko almost tripped as they walked at this, 'You idiot!'

"Heading to school together is a date, too." Hina smoothly replied, the teens slowly turning as they noticed the older Hanagaki freeze before she started to power walk ahead.

"Scuse me, I can see I am not wanted and needed. Have fun with your date." Turning quickly back to the teens she held up a proud thumbs-up to Hina. 'Good luck, Hina-chan! I believe in you, you sweet sweet cinnamon roll!'

Hina blushed but nodded determinedly back at her boyfriend's supportive older sister. 'Yes, Mei-senpai.'

'Are they having a conversation in their minds?' Takemichi could not help but quietly think, 'I knew they were getting along, but I didn't know it was this good.'

Chatting amongst themselves the pair bonded during their walk, Hina even pouting by the end as she noticed their talk about to be cut short as they neared their school. "Man... I wish I was in the same class as you, Takemichi-kun."

Takemichi could not help but have a lovestruck face, as he stared at the girl he called his own. 'Okay, school is the best.'

Meiko looking back at the pair could only be deadpan as she noticed her brothers look, 'Oh great... He's checked out for the rest of the day.' She sighed though, and could only shake her head with a smile. 'Though that's okay I guess. He is in love.'

July 8, 2005 Takemichi

"This part's important, so make sure you remember it."

Sitting in class, Takemichi was unable to even try paying attention to the teacher or the lesson before him. He silently groaned and rested his head on his desk behind his textbook. 'This is no time to let my head stay in the clouds and have a good time.'

"Sano Manjiro and Kisaki Tetta." The future Naoto relayed, "Stop the two of them from meeting. Then we can save our sisters."

'Naoto... I met Sano Manjiro.' He remembered those final moments before he time leap, glaring up at his textbook as he silently thought to the man. "Even if it was just a coincidence." He muttered aloud while balancing a pencil between his lips and nose. 'In order to save Hina, and Mei-nee, who died getting caught up in that mess,' his mind recalled the photograph of the crime scene where the truck had crashed and killed the girls in his life.

'I need to stop the strife within the Tokyo Manji Gang. And to make that happen,' His mind flashed the images of the Mikey and Kisaki of the future. 'I need to make sure the two heads don't meet in this era.' His mind flashed back to his first sighting of the still innocent Mikey as he'd entered the scene the day before. 'I managed to meet Sano Manjiro, one of the two leaders.' He became distressed though recalling everything the boy had done, from beating Kiyomasa, to showing interest in his sister Meiko.

'But I have no idea what the hell I'm supposed to do from here. And what's more–' He recalled the way Mikey's dark eyes seemed to spark whenever he looked towards his sister and her reactions to him. 'Meimei has now been dragged into this whole mess, even more, all because of me and my big mouth!' Groaning to himself, Takemichi aggressively ran his hand through his hair. "Making sure they don't meet? That seems impossible doesn't it, but Mei-nee's life might just really depend on it now!" He muttered, only to pause as an angry male voice broke over the teacher's dull lesson.

"Oi! You can't just barge into a school however you like!"

"What school you bastards from?!"

"Get the hell out!"

Hearing the sounds of a fight, and people being beaten, Takemichi and his classmates turned their gaze towards the classroom door. His heart stopped though when the door opened to reveal a smiling Mikey. "Oh, there he is."

"Huh?" Takemichi blinked in shock.

"Come play with us, Takemitchy, Ei-chan!" Mikey happily said as he walked into the room, Draken himself appearing behind the boy waiting outside the classroom door that he actually had to slightly bend to look in through. Mikey looked around though and pouted slightly, "Aw~ But Ei-chan isn't here. Doesn't she go to the same school?" He quietly muttered aloud, Takemichi palling even more at the boy's words.

"Huh?!"

"U-um, we're in the middle of class right now..." The teacher nervously tried to rein in the boy, only to be ignored, though Draken seemed to be the more respectful of the two boys as he simply apologized for the intrusion and the stealing of one of his students.

'This dude is totally insane!' Takemichi mentally screamed, even as Mikey began to lead him away and out the hall. The scene Takemichi was met with left him even more frightened and surprised. "A-ah, our third-years... Mei-nee is sure to hear about this..." He muttered pointing at the scene as Draken came up behind him. "Um, what exactly am I looking at here?"

"Huh? This? You mean all the trash?" His mind pulled up the memory of Mikey and him entering the school and overhearing the boys skipping speak.

"I'm telling you it's Hanagaki-chan, she's definitely got the biggest rack in this school."

"Nah, it's gotta be Nozaki. They probably only look that big with how small Hanagaki is."

"Maybe but Hanagaki definitely keeps her's more hidden than Easy Noza!"

"Dude have you seen the way they bounce when she run–"

He twitched, recalling how the boys then proceeded to notice the unamused Mikey and him, and how that led to the confrontation for the information on the siblings and the scene before Takemichi and himself. "They pissed me off, so I hosed them..." Draken simply replied, not feeling the need to explain about what he and Mikey had walked into over the boy's sister. After all, the pair had already stepped in to help defend his sister. "All of you wimps, line up. Lay down on your stomachs." Draken apathetically ordered, before sending the group of beaten-up boys a glare to hurry.

When the boys had aligned, Takemichi was left confused by what was happening, as Mikey seemed to absently look around the hall ignoring the situation as he seemed lost in thought. "Hey, you're too far apart." Draken annoyedly muttered, "This is gonna hurt you more than it hurts me."

"Huh? What's gonna happen?" One of the last boys preparing to lay down asked. Only to be answered as Mikey and Draken proceeded to step and jump upon each of the boys as a makeshift human bridge.

Takemichi following simply close behind, walking beside the row of layed out third-years. 'Yeah... The Tokyo Manji Gang is absolutely insane."

"Apparently Udagawa's crew is trying to gain control of Shinsen." Draken casually began to say as he and Mikey walked on the human bridge they'd made without a care in the world.

"Cool. Let's go kick their asses." Mikey simply and happily replied.

Takemichi had to look at the now smirking boy and Draken as he thought. 'For them, tormenting people is just a part of their daily routine. It's the same as washing their faces.'

Hearing the final school bell ring, the trio had now reached and stood amongst the school's shoe lockers. Draken even casually, if perhaps a bit friendly, slinging his arm around the still smaller Takemichi to ask. "You feelin' okay?"

"Well, it's so soon after yesterday." Takemichi tried to excuse himself, as Mikey called out to him.

"You're free today, right?"

"Err... Actually, I'm not."

"Come hang out with us a bit. Ah, we could go find your sister too!"

"Huh? Mikey-kun, are you listening to me?" Takemichi tried to brush off the two teens, as a crowd of students and onlookers began to gather around the school's entrance.

"Wha? Hanagaki-kun is buddy-buddy with Mikey?"

"Not just him, he mentioned Hanagaki-senpai too!"

"Idiot you're being too loud!"

"There's someone that awesome at our school?"

The mass of students muttered and mumbled amongst themselves much to Takemichi's embarrassment.

"Hey, that's Takemichi!" Yamagishi exclaimed as he and Makoto came to see the scene.

"I thought Mikey-kun liked him." Makoto confusedly muttered, watching the nervous boy interact with the two Toman members. "What could've happened in a single day?"

"Crap... he's gonna get killed. Should we go get Mei–" Yamagishi began to nervously panic, as a familiar short-haired girl determinedly made her way past the two boys and the crowd. "Tachibana?"

"Mikey? Mikey from Toman?"

"Then is the taller dude Draken?"

"Keep your voices down! We'll get our asses kicked again." A trio of third-years who'd recovered muttered as Takemichi only continued to become more nervous and lost in thought and Mikey seemed to note this.

"You don't need to be so nervous, jeez."

'Right. This is my chance.'

"We're just gonna talk."

'If I can get close to Mikey and keep him from ever meeting Kisaki Tetta...'

"Okay, let's go."

"Hold it right there!" Hina shouted out marching directly towards the boys as all three turned to her confused.

"And you are?" Draken was the first to speak up.

While Takemichi was left aghast at the sudden appearance of his girlfriend. 'Hina?!' Watching the girl angrily make it closer, Takemichi gave her his best smile, as he nervously began to rub the back of his head. "I'm sorry Hina... Today is actually busy for me, so–"

Her hand flew up, and suddenly Takemichi was left in shock, as Hina, his girlfriend, slapped the Toman Commander Sano Manjiro in the face.

'Hina! What the hell are you doing!?' Takemichi mentally cried, 'Can this get any worse?!'

July 8, 2005 Meiko

Hearing the school bell ring Meiko began to stretch at her desk, as she felt the familiar pops of her muscle loosening with a sigh, "Mhhh, ah! Man, sitting in one place for hours really kills."

"Oi, Meiko." A red-haired girl, with forest green eyes, called back to the dark-haired teen. "Are we good to go do some runs today?"

"Hmm," Meiko hummed, before giving the short-haired girl a pointed glare. "Don't you have cram school today Yayoi?"

Crinkling her nose, the girl known as Yayoi dropped her head on her desk and began to moan. "Don't remind me! I hate going to those stupid classes, I wish grandma wouldn't make me take them! How the hell did you and your brother even avoid having to take those classes, don't you both suck at math!"

Twitching at her friend's statement, Meiko responded, "Maybe but we still get by, somehow, and besides..." She sent the moaning girl a pointed glare. "We're not the ones fated to take over some clinic."

"Ugh! Don't remind me!" Yayoi yelled, aggressively messing with her hair. "Why is it that I gotta be the one to become a doctor and inherit some small family-run clinic! I'm fifteen damn it!"

"But don't you actually like helping around your grandparents' clinic?"

"Not when it means I have to study more!" Yayoi cried, "Medical textbooks are one thing, but who needs illusionary numbers, or Japanese history when it comes to medicine! Who cares about old dead people!"

"You care when they were doctors."

"Only when they actually did something." Yayoi cried, and Meiko sighed, patting the back of the girl's back.

"There there, I'm sure you'll survive."

"So cold..."

Suddenly the classroom door slammed open, and the two girls and their remaining classmates' heads shot up at the person who stood at it.

An out of breath Takuya and Akkun slumped against the third-year classroom door, as he looked up towards Meiko and began to point outside the class. "Takemichi...! School Lockers... Invincible Mikey! Trouble...?"

"Wait, what?" Yayoi confusedly gasped as she turned to look at her glasses-wearing friend.

Eye's narrowing, Meiko shot up from her seat, removing her glasses as she did so, and handing the lens to her friend. "Yai, hold these."

"Wa-wait!" Yayoi yelled, scrambling to stand up and follow as Meiko began to book it from the room. "I wanna watch you beat people up!"

Running down the hall, past some of her fellow third years and other students, before jumping down the stairs, and even kicking off the stair case's wall to make her way down to the ground floor faster.

Caring nothing if she flashed anyone as she landed, and quickly continued on her way. Yayoi, Akkun, and Takuya following close behind as the two boys openly gaped at the girl's moves.

"Woah!"

"So cool!"

"Damn it Meiko, just cause you're wearing pantyhose doesn't mean you can flash people!" Yayoi yelled, actually running down the stairs as the two boys behind her blushed at her statement.

"Flash?!"

'What the hell is going on?' Meiko angrily thought as she sprinted through the halls, 'Why was Michi suddenly called out? And by Em-chan's brother? Why is he even here?' Rounding the last corner before the hall for the shoe lockers, Meiko's eyes became wide as she finally pushed her way through the crowd and landed on the scene before her.

Mikey with a red cheek facing towards the locker, Draken glaring and holding onto Hina's arm, and Takemichi, her brother. He had planted firmly his hand atop the taller boy's shoulder, shaking. She opened her mouth to step in but froze as she barely just caught her brother's shaky words. "Let go of her."

Draken's glare shifted to Takemichi and he bent down slightly. "What was that? I don't think I heard you clearly!"

Takemichi's mind flashed to his talk with Hina when he first came back again.

"I'll protect you!"

"I said, to let her the hell go, you asshole!" Takemichi yelled, still shaking as he angrily and fearfully tried to stand his ground. 'I promised that I would protect Hina this time!' His sister's crying face flashed through his mind, 'I promised I would protect Meimei! I need to protect them!'

'Michi...!' Meiko quietly gapped, her heart skipping a beat as she stared at her brother's shaking form. 'You...'

"You bastard..." Draken moved his face to stare directly and threateningly into Takemichi's own. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?"

Hesistentally meeting the obviously much taller and stronger boy's gaze head-on, Takemichi only continued to stand his ground. "There are things I just won't give up on ever again!"

"What?" Draken released his hold from Hina's arm and even stepped back enough for Takemichi to let him go. "Ever again?"

"Huh?" Yayoi spoke as now she and the four members of the Mizo five stood confusedly behind Meiko. "What's going on?"

"It's like yesterday all over again," Akkun muttered as he stared at Takemichi's back.

"Yesterday...?" Yayoi confusedly asked, unaware of what the boy said of as Meiko silently stared at her brother from behind.

'It is...'

"This ain't enough... to cure my weak-ass heart. Of the past twelve years!"

"I just ran, and ran...and ran and ran... I can't turn back!"

'It is like yesterday.' Meiko seriously thought, 'It's almost exactly like then...' Her hands clenched into fists as she continued to focus on her little brother's back. 'It's almost as if... He's suddenly grown up.' She thought, noting the slight change that had overtaken her brother the last three days.

Quietly watching the scene before him, Mikey finally spoke up. "Aw... And here I thought you could be my friend. Too bad. Now the question is..." Mikey almost seemed to jovially smile, before turning to blankly stare Takemichi down. "How do ya wanna die?"

The ends of Meiko's neck hair stood up as she stared at the boy, Takemichi shuddering in fear, as his friends quietly gasped from behind Meiko.

"Oh no..."

"Takemichi!"

"Isn't that too sudden?" Yayoi gasped as she grabbed hold of the back of Meiko's uniform top. "Aren't you gonna do something Meiko?"

"Senpai!" Akkun almost hissed, looking up at the shocked Meiko, wondering why she had yet to speak up let alone jump as she stared at the scene.

'No way...' Meiko quietly thought.

"Just promise me... Just promise me one thing." Takemichi nervously but strongly asked, "Don't ever lay a finger on Hina!" Hina gasped as she heard her boyfriend's request.

'He can't be seriously going to hurt Michi. What did he and Hina even do?' Meiko tried to think, 'There's no point to this. He has to be joking!'

"And don't... Don't touch my Mei-nee either! Whatever reason you had for looking for her, forget it and leave her alone!"

'Takemichi!' Meiko's eyes became wide at this, as she watched Mikey reel back his fist.

"What? Like I care."

Takemichi closed his eyes tight, and the sudden sound of a clap from flesh meeting flesh reached his ear. No pain, though, bloomed from his face, and as he hesitantly opened his eyes. Takemichi's jaw dropped as he stared into the back of his sister's head, as she stood directly before him holding onto Mikey's wrist.

"Wha–" Draken gapped, eye's widening as he realized who had stepped in. 'It's her!'

Mikey's dark eyes were wide as he stared at the small girl that had stopped his stride, 'She's strong...' He secretly flexed his muscle feeling the girl's grip tighten to resist any attempt for him to break free. His heart skipped a beat, as the girl's gaze finally looked up through her bangs, and he realized who it was that had caught his wrist. "Ah~ There you are Ei-chan!" He smiled at the girl as Meiko threateningly tightened her grip on his arm.

"I don't care who you are... But don't you dare even joke about throwing a punch at my little brother while I'm around."

"Huh? J-joking?" Takemichi stuttered as he stared at the two older teens in shock alongside Draken.

'She knew...!'

Smiling at the girl, Mikey actually began to laugh out loud as he broke his wrist free from the girl's vice grip, smiling, "Ahaha! So you could actually tell I was kidding Ei-chan! That's kinda cool!" He proceeded to start smacking the girl's shoulder lightly. "Though jeez, Takemitchy sure is gullible, maybe you should fix that. Like I'd ever hit a girl."

Suddenly smiling up at the half ponytail boy Meiko giggled, "Is that so?" And proceeded to harshly flick Mikey in the forehead much to the crowd, Draken's, and Takemichi's shock.

"Ah!" Mikey yelped, feeling himself be flicked a few more times. "Hey! Stop, Ei-chan! That hurt!" He childishly whined as he covered his now red forehead.

"Good!" Meiko almost seemed to shout, as she pointed a finger in the boy's pouting face. "You deserve that after that whole bitch comment from yesterday!"

Whining Mikey glared at the girl, "I thought you forgave that!"

"I didn't get to hit you then! And then of course was the whole heart attack that was this whole visit. Do you have any idea how fucking panicked I got when people said my Michi was in trouble? I mean honestly who jokes about killing a friend!"

"But it's not my fault Takemitchy's a dummy!"

"Oi! The only one who can call Michi a dummy is me, and my precious future sister-in-law Hina!" Hina's and Takemichi's faces both exploded deep red at Meiko's words.

'Future sister-in-law!' They nervously sent one another a side glance, blushing even fiercer as they had to turn their heads away embarrassed.

"Dummy! Dummy! Dummy!" Mikey childishly shot back, moving out of Meiko's reach.

"Get back here!"

Staring at the two teen's Draken sighed, chuckling under his breath. "Well then... I guess it makes sense now." He muttered to himself, watching as Mikey enjoyed the ruffling of the Hanagaki sister, as well as how the girl even if riled seemed to be able to handle herself without issue against his friend.

Finally realizing that everything was alright Takemichi sighed as he looked at his sister and Mikey strangely interacting with one another. 'Well... I wasn't expecting that.'

Seeing the younger Hanagaki sibling now calmed down, Draken threw his arm over the top of the boy's shoulder. "Takemitchy... You actually threatened me." He watched as Takemichi tensed up again.

"S-sorry."

"It's cool."

"Eh?"

"There are times when you can't give up. There aren't many guys who'd say that about a girl these days." He smirked down at the boy, now finally getting the read that had attracted Mikey to the two siblings. "It's pretty old school." Releasing the younger Hanagaki, and walking over between the still 'playing' Mikey and Meiko. Stopping to look down at the girl as she and Mikey both looked up at him.

"Ken-chin...?"

"Yes?"

"You're pretty sharp. Not to mention ballsy, that's pretty rare for a girl."

Meiko only slightly twitched before sighing, "I'd just call it not being blind, and having a never-give-up attitude."

Mikey blinked a few times looking at the girl, before gasping. "Ah! That's it!"

"Hmm?" Both Meiko and Draken turned to look at the blonde boy.

"You're not wearing your glasses. I thought you looked different."

Both teens deadpanned as they stared other teens down, 'Are you serious?'

"Ne, ne, so are you pulling the reverse of Baji?" Mikey curiously asked as Meiko took a step back at the boy leaning into her personal space.

"Huh? Baji...? I don't even know who that is!"

"Oi, Mikey. It's rude to just ask things without context." Draken scolded, "You're just gonna confuse people."

Tilting his head as he stared at Meiko, Mikey hummed. "Where are your glasses by the way?"

"Are you even listening to me?" Draken hissed, as Yayoi hearing the teen's question quickly took the opportunity to step in.

"Ah! Here they are!" Running to join up with the other teens she held out Meiko's glasses towards the girl, "Here Mei, I guess you won't be needing to keep them off for safekeeping since you're not gonna fight."

Nodding at her friend's words, Meiko reached out for the spectacles. "Yeah, thank you, Yai." She said in almost perfect English, only to have the lens swiped from the red-haired teen's hands.

"Eak!"

"Hey!"

"Mikey!"

The three teens yelled, turning to the boy, as he opened and looked through the spectacles confused. "Hmm, are these real?"

"Of course they're real!" Meiko shouted.

"Then how come you can see just fine without them."

"I'm farsighted, you jerk! I get headaches from having to look at things too long up close, and contacts are a pain to use! But I can't risk breaking these and being forced to use them so I take them off as needed! So give them back!"

Staring at the girl a bit, Mikey then smiled as he placed the lens back directly upon the dark-haired girl's face. Yayoi and Draken's eye's widened as they watched Meiko blush at Mikey's next set of words. "There... You know I think you're pretty cute with your glasses on."

"Eh, cute?" Meiko gasped, facing exploding red as Mikey finished putting her glasses on her with a mischievous smile.

'Eh...? What is this?! Meimei's blushing! Cause of Mikey-kun?! What, when, how, why?!' Takemichi gapped, staring at the scene, while Hina, like Yayoi, silently gasped looking between the pair. Even Takemichi's own friends were quietly freaking out amongst one another, as Hina slowly turned to her boyfriend to point at the scene.

"Um, Takemichi-kun... What's with those guys and Mei-senpai?"

"Uh..." Takemichi began to say, as a flustered Meiko shouted.

"Wait hold on! Why were you guys even here in the first place?!"

June 8, 2005 Takemichi

"Hinata!" Meiko yelled, staring down as Hina bowed deeply before Mikey, now outside their school's doors with Takemichi and Draken.

"I'm so sorry!" Hina embarrassedly shouted as she was now cleared upon who Mikey and Draken really were... but in turn, Meiko had discovered what events had transpired to lead to the whole debacle she came to. "I had the wrong idea." Hina blushingly admitted as she stood back up embarrassed.

"It's fine," Mikey replied, before rubbing his cheek with a teasing smile. "That was one hell of a slap, though."

"But completely uncalled for if that was the case!" Meiko scolded, making Mikey snicker. "Hina! I love your enthusiasm for protecting Michi. But jumping to conclusions like this over just appearances, and assumptions will just make an ass of you! Plus it's dangerous! At least come and get me next time, I'll even put myself on speed dial!"

'She's one to talk...' Takemichi silently thought, staring at the three.

"I'm sorry!"

"It's fine to do what you can for the one you like," Mikey simply smiled at the girl's apology. "But don't push yourself too much." Meiko nodded, at this as Mikey came up to Hina and began to lightly scold her too. "Things would have been bad if you'd hit someone that was willing to hit back, you know?"

"Exactly! Know your strengths, before you pick a fight. Don't pull a Bakamichi." Meiko added, making Takemichi flinch as if he was stabbed.

'She doesn't have to use me as an example.'

"Right!" Hina simply agreed, standing up straighter with her blush as she took to heart what the two older teens said. Mikey and even Meiko lightly laughed, as they noted how serious the girl took their words. Smiling back at the two teens, Hina finally turned back to look at the slightly depressed Takemichi. "Okay, I'm gonna go."

"Uh, sure..." Takemichi began to reply as she turned to walk back inside for her things. Only for his eyes to go wide as he remembered something, "Wait, what about our date?!"

Looking back at the boys and Meiko she waved back and said. "We can do that another time. Your friends came to see you, after all."

"Be safe at cram school!" Meiko called out, waving back, "Tell Naoto-kun I said Hi! Oh! And make sure to drag Yayoi with you, I think she's gonna try and skip!"

"Bye-bye! Don't slap me in the face next time!" Mikey teasingly waved goodbye as Meiko looked back to him and asked.

"If slappings off the table, does that mean we can still flick you if you're being dumb." Mikey only seemed to laugh at the obvious joke Meiko had made.

"She seems nice."

"The nicest." Meiko proudly stated, "Michi really scored himself a treasure."

Humming at the elder Hanagaki's words, Mikey turned to look at the stunned Takemichi. "It's rare to find someone like her. Make sure you take good care of her."

"Ah!" Meiko then exclaimed, "Shit! I forgot my cell in my bag back inside!" Turning to the three boy's Meiko pointed a stern finger. "Wait here! I need to go get it in case our parents call to check in!" Meiko panicky stated, turning to run inside. "I'll grab your bag too while I'm at it, okay Michi!"

"Uh, yeah! Thanks." The still stunned Takemichi replied, staring as his sister went back in. 'Shit. I forgot that Mikey wanted us both to hang out with him.' Takemichi thought, sending a side glance to silent Mikey. 'Maybe I could convince the guys to just... go without her?'

"Her too."

"Eh?" Takemichi blinked owlishly at the Toman commander.

Smiling once more to Takemichi, Mikey nodded to himself. "Your sister. She's a pretty rare one too. Are you taking care of her?"

Blushing at the teen's words, Takemichi looked down at his feet, "Oh, um... I... Think so. Though...! Mei-nee is actually the one taking care of me." Takemichi nervously admitted, his heart filling with guilt as he recalled his sister's tears from the day before.

"Idiot!" Meiko shouted, releasing his ear finally, and Takemichi froze as he looked up to see his sister crying as she looked at him. "We promised... To protect one another! How can we do that, if you keep hiding things from me!"

"Honestly... I've only recently started to realize just how much it is, my sister takes care of me."

Mikey hummed at this, "Well that makes sense." Takemichi looked up at the older boy and froze as he noticed an actual soft smile being directed in the school's direction where his sister had disappeared. "That's just the way it is sometimes with siblings." Grinning back at the boy he added, "But you're doing your best now right?"

"I..." Takemichi was unable to respond as he openly stared back at the older boy in shock.

"All right I got them!" Meiko shouted while running out of the school. "And just in time too! Mom was actually calling about exams and wooh! Let me tell you Michi, you better hope you passed! She was not playing!" Meiko sternly reported as she came up to the teen, before blinking confused as she noticed a strange mood between Mikey and Takemichi. "Huh...? Did something happen?" She looked between the two boys, and then to Draken who silently observed the whole scene.

"Nope~" Mikey easily replied, turning to walk away. "Ken-chin, you take Ei-chan kay. Takemitchy, you can drive for me."

"Huh?!" Takemichi exclaimed.

"Got it."

"Oh, are we taking bikes? Sweet! I love riding the back of bikes!" Meiko cheered, "Michi, don't fuck up and crash this time."

"I was six! When are you gonna let that go?!"

"We fell in the river!"

"I said I was sorry!"

Riding for a good while, the four teens had ridden out to near a riverside with the sun begging to set around them. Takemichi could hear his sister Meiko, making small talk with Draken, as she sat side straddle on Drakens bike.

"So does she know that you guys skipped to come and see us?" Meiko quietly called up to Draken.

"It's fine." Mikey simply called back, as Draken sighed. "We do things like this all the time."

"Just cause Emma's used to it, doesn't mean that it's fine Mikey."

"Yeah! At least invite her, next time! I would have loved to have seen her again. It's been a while!" Meiko sighed as both boys replied at the same time.

"No way."

"Wha–! Rude! I'm telling Em-chan what you said, jerks!"

They seemed to be talking about someone, some girl, though Takemichi had barely caught much of their conversation as he'd become lost in his own thoughts over this whole debacle of the day as he bicycled.

'From what Naoto told me, twelve years in the future, the Tokyo Manji Gang are involved in gambling, fraud, violence, and murder. They're an evil organization that'll resort to anything.'

"Taking bets at this little fight club is lame."

"Like I'd ever hit a girl."

He remembered how so contradicting the younger Mikey was to this image of the future Toman, 'Is he really the head of that evil Toman?' Catching the fact that the other older teens had fallen silent in their ride, Takemichi took the chance to speak up. "Say... Mikey-kun."

"Hmm?"

"So, uh... Why did you take a liking to me and Mei-nee?"

Meiko hummed in agreement, "I've been wondering that too."

Draken only smiled as he watched Mikey lean back to respond. "What a dumb question."

Takemichi paled, while Meiko twitched. "Uh... Sorry!"

"It's not dumb if the two people honestly can't tell what it is you're talking about!"

Unable to really argue with Meiko's argument, Mikey closed his eyes and decided to clarify. "Well... I have a brother who's ten years older than me." Mikey began to nostalgically explain. "He's dead now." Both Hanagaki siblings' eyes went wide as they gasped at the boy's response. "He was totally reckless. He had no problem picking fights with guys way stronger than him."

"I see. He must've been pretty cool." Takemichi said as Meiko hummed in agreement.

"He sounds really cool. I bet he was an even cooler big bro."

Smiling at the two teen words Mikey added, "You two kinda remind me of him to some extent."

"Huh?" Meiko blushed, hearing the fond tone Mikey had taken when referring to his late brother, and implying that they reminded them of him.

"B-but I'm not that cool at all! How do I seem like that?" Takemichi embarrassingly replied as Meiko laughed.

"Oh definitely not cool, you should see his sense of fashion when he's left alone.."

"O-oi!"

Laughing Mikey agreed, "Yeah, he definitely wasn't lame like you, Takemitchy."

"Now, that's just mean."

Parking the bikes off to the side of the river channel, and a baseball field, the group stood overlooking it, and the city bathed in the setting sun.

"Pretty..." Meiko whispered, as she openly stared in awe at the scene. 'I never knew there was a baseball field here.'

Mikey then spoke up, "Nowadays, people just think delinquents are lame."

'I see. I guess he's been hearing that even now.' Takemichi thought, 'After this time, delinquents will keep being called stuff like that...'

"When my big bro was alive, there were so many biker gangs around here. You could always hear their super-loud bikes as they went by. They all acted super tough. They fought all the time... But they cleaned up their own messes. What's so lame about that?"

"But that's the issue ain't it?" Meiko cut in, making Mikey, Takemichi, and Draken look at her. "The delinquents these days are usually total posers. They're no better than thugs praying on the weak for their own gain, like that Kiyo-what's-his-face," She closed her eyes as she felt the wind move past her and the group. "If they were anything like the ones from your brother's time..." She opened her eyes as brushed away a few strands of hair, "Or maybe like the two of you." She recalled the same moments that had confused her brother. "Then maybe the term delinquents wouldn't leave such a bitter taste in people's mouths." The boys were left in shock at the girl's words.

'Meimei...' Takemichi especially, being in awe as he thought, 'I'd forgotten she'd never been one for labels or following the status quo laid out by society.' Touching his own bleached hair he blushed thinking. 'She was even the one to support me during my delinquent days... What matters to Mei-nee... Has always been a person's heart, and their actions.'

As she helped dye the pouting first-year Takemichi's hair, Meiko hummed as she responded to a question her brother had for her. "Hmm, why help you with this?"

"Yeah... If mom and dad find out–" She lightly bonked him on the head with the comb she was using. "Ow!"

"It's fine!" She continued to part his hair to apply the bleaching substance. "... I know you, Michi. I know... Being a delinquent is the coolest thing in the world to you." She hummed, "And I know... You won't let being one change who you really are inside."

Openly staring at the older Hanagaki sibling, Mikey felt his heart skip a beat as he smiled at the girl, "Exactly!" He turned away from the dark-haired girl's gaze as a blush ever so slightly colored his cheeks. Sitting down on the slope that led down to the river and baseball field, to better take in the setting sun. "That's why I'm gonna make a new era for delinquents." He stated, before turning to look back at Takemichi. "You should come with me." Standing up he added, "I like you two, Hanagaki Takemichi... Hanagaki Meiko."

The two siblings stared in shock.

"There are plenty of guys who are good at fighting." Draken finally spoke up, catching the two siblings' attention. "But you know..." Draken recalled the way Takemichi was beaten up by Kiyomasa, and tried to stand up to him and had even been ready to take a hit from Mikey. He recalled how Meiko, a tiny girl around almost the same size as Mikey's own sister. Ran into the Kiyomasa fight to save Takemichi, and then stood her ground and even seemed able to easily understand and deal with Mikey. Unafraid by either his or the boy's appearances, when she had been confronted by either boy in their first meetings. "Standing up to anyone for something you won't give up? There aren't many people like you two." He praised, making Takemichi smile and Meiko blush as she scratched the side of her face nervously.

"Oh..."

"Think about it, Takemitchy, Ei." The two boys walked away to their bikes, leaving the siblings to themselves as they parted ways.

Walking home together, Meiko sighed to herself. "And here I thought, I was just being brought along as some witness of some sort."

"Meimei..."

Waving her brother's nervous look off, Meiko scoffed, "Yeah, yeah. Cool your jets Michi, I won't be joining any gangs." She huffed, "You know I'm not really a fighter, I'm more of... a lover."

"You mean a punisher." Takemichi joked, as Meiko lightly punched his arm.

"Only to those who deserve it, and I'd prefer 'defender of justice.'"

"That's still a fighter!"

"Shush Michi! I'm older therefore you should respect my opinions."

"Even when they're wrong?"

"Even when they're wrong."

"You don't do that for me!"

"That's cause you're younger, and have a habit of running into fire."

"I don't run into fire?!"

"Kiyomasa."

"..."

"..."

"...I retract my statement."

The two snorted and began to laugh at this, returning to their walk of silence from then on, as the sky darkened around them.

Takemichi became lost in his own thoughts from there. 'Mikey's a delinquent, but he's not a bad guy. At least, not the kind of guy who'd crash a truck into a festival and kill Hina, and Meimei.' He thought, as the contrast of the past Mikey, and the crime scene of his sister's and girlfriend's future death clashed with one another in his mind. 'The Tokyo Manji Gang of twelve years in the future... That guy is definitely not their leader. What changed Mikey?'

"Ne, do you want to go out to eat or can you wait until–" Walking past a group of boys led by an oddly familiar boy, Takemichi felt the world drown out around him, as his mind recalled the future Naoto's words.

"Sano Manjiro and Kisaki Tetta. If these two had never met, the current Tokyo Manji Gang never would've existed."

Stopping mid-walk, he paused alongside his confused sister, "Huh?"

"What's wrong Michi?" She watched as he looked back at the trio of boys walking in the opposite direction to them.

"It's not like you get do-overs."

"I know, right?"

"Michi?" Meiko repeated, looking back at the confused boy.

"Huh? Why do I feel like I've seen that guy somewhere before...?" He nervously muttered, making Meiko's heart stop a bit in concern as she looked back towards the boys they had walked past.

'... I have... A bad feeling about this.'