(A/N: Welcome to the last chapter of this drama and angsty fic. Thanks for supporting me and joining my journey in completing this fic altogether. I hope you enjoy the last chapter as much as I did).
Chapter 5
By: Aztec999
Ever since their heated confrontation during dinner the other night, they weren't talking with one another.
Izana blatantly ignore him and Takemichi avoided him like a plague.
Kakucho had enough of this growing tension in the room. He much preferred it if they're throwing barbed insults to one another rather than this suffocating silence and completely ignoring the big elephant in the room.
"Okay. What is going on the between the two of you Takemichi?" He asked directly as he went inside his room and placed the tray of food in the bedside table since he 'apparently missed lunch' today which was an indirect way of saying that he didn't wanna deal with seeing Izana today.
"What do you mean?" Takemichi asked casually as he picked up the sliced of bread from the plate and ate it.
"Don't start on me like that." Kakucho warned mildly. "What's up between you and Izana? It's like I'm talking with a ghost whenever you two are around each in the same place."
"Shouldn't you be happy Kaku-chan? I mean it's better rather than seeing us each other going at each other's throat in the past." He shrugged.
Kakucho sighed.
"Well damn. It seemed like I'm dealing with two little stubborn, brats. But suit yourselves. If you think that this is for the best, then so be it. But we both know that one day this gigantic tension will blow up to both of your faces and I don't wanna deal with it." He threw up his hands in defeat before he left his room.
Takemichi smiled bitterly.
Maybe this was for the best.
No.
This was for the best.
He found no reason to communicate with Izana any longer when he finally understood what he was planning.
All of it.
Takemichi swallowed thickly as he remembered hearing him talking to someone accidentally in one of the rooms in the villa when the door was left slightly ajar the other day.
"Yeah. Make sure to tie up the loose ends all right? I don't want the cops getting some ideas about our shipment last night at the Toyosu Pier Koko." Izana stated calmly at the other end of the line but before he ended the call he stilled and gripped the phone tightly.
"What do you mean? We can't have Naoto dying. We still have some used for him and Takemichi. Tell them to take better care of him or I'll be the one who'll drive down there to oversee things myself which is not going to be pretty as you know how I operate Koko." Izana's stated in a glacial voice.
Takemichi put both of his hands over his mouth, trembling before he fled away.
He can't stay here for any longer and had to find Naoto to go back into the past.
Takemichi knew it was risky, but he had to do it. Naoto was in danger. And he needed to do something.
He needed to save him.
He watched the guards patrolling around the area before he steeled himself. It was already midnight. Now, if he could push past the shrubbery in the backyard without revealing himself in the hood that he was wearing—
"Where are you going Takemichi-kun?" A familiar, stony voice made his mind went blank and frozen in place.
He didn't dare move a muscle. He couldn't even seem to find his voice in this tensely situation.
"Hmm? Not going to answer me properly Takemichi-kun?" He sensed the other footsteps striding towards his side.
It's now or never.
With superfluous actions, Takemichi quickly spun around to aim a punch to his jaw when Izana predictably caught his fist with his other hand easily and pulled him closer to his frame.
"Let me go Izana." He said, his voice shaking in surprise and anger.
"Not until you tell me where are you going." Izana replied with a cold smile on his face and leaned his face closer to his own,
He clenched his fists to the side, looking at Izana with a mixture of emotions flitting across his face until the angry tears cascaded down his face. The frustration building up inside of him.
Why can't he win against him?!
"Do you really want to Know Izana? Because I get a damn feeling that you already know the answer to that." He spat.
Izana narrowed his eyes. "Don't start with me Takemichi." He warned lowly.
"Or what Izana? Gonna punish me again? Go ahead. I won't be surprised if you do." He laughed wetly as tears blurred his vision.
"If you know what's going to happen to you then why do you keep on doing it? Stop making your situation difficult than it already is!" Izana snapped as he let him go, raw and unbridled emotions swirling in his eyes.
"Do you even love me Izana?" Takemichi asked instead. "Or the more precise question is do you even know what love is Izana?" A broken laughter broke out from his lips afterward.
Izana's eyes widened for a fraction of seconds, his sharp words caught him off guard.
"Takemichi I—."
"Do you really despise me that much Izana?" Takemichi cut him off. "To the point that you know what my feelings are for you, but you toyed with it like a ragdoll? You knew that I'm in love with you and you already knew about my time leaping abilities, but you still confined me here for what…? So that you can tear me apart?" Every accusation was a dagger piercing through his heart and Takemichi could feel his heart cracking.
Takemichi closed his eyes and breathed in and breathed out, opening and closing his palm tightly at this side.
He had to do this.
He had to.
"This was crueler than putting us to death Izana." His voice held a slight tremor towards it. "Don't tell me that out of your love for is the reason why you're doing any of this?" He added with a shaky yet cold laughter.
"But what if I am Takemichi? What if I'm doing this because I'm in love with you and not out of revenge or anything like that?" Izana looked at him directly on his eyes.
Takemichi stilled. He wasn't expecting that kind of response. But he had to steel himself. No more falling for his lies and charms even though his own heart was screaming at him. "I can't believe you're stooping this low Izana. I won't fall for your schemes any longer." He tried to walk past him but Izana caught his wrist and spun him around instantly.
"Let me go Izana!" Tears blinded his vision as he yelled at him. He tried to yank his arm away but Izana wouldn't let go.
"Can't we just talk first Takemichi? And stop being childish and just walked away every time we had an argument like this!" Izana raised his voice but he could see in his eyes the raw emotions that was swirling in his deep, mauve irises.
"Talk Izana? Talk? There's nothing to talk about?!" Takemichi screamed at him. "I already get it. There is nothing to talk about how you lie and manipulated me because clearly you wanted to spite me and make me suffer because of that fucking hatred inside of you! But do you think for a second that I wanted Mikey to die? Of course not! I always wanted to save him and everyone else! You think I didn't have fucking nightmares about it? How guilty I felt every time you remind me of my faults and mistakes about him? Of course, you didn't. What did I expect? You're just fucking selfish Izana. All you care about was yourself and your own misery that you didn't stop and think for a moment about how your actions would affect other people." Takemichi laughed shakily as he stared at him in the eye through his unshed tears.
"If your love is like that, better keep it to yourself then. Or maybe just throw it away in the garbage. Because I love you Izana but I will manage on my own even if it fucking hurts in here." Takemichi added as he pointed his hand to his left chest where his beating heart lay.
Izana was completely stunned. Every fiery word and accusation were like a dagger piercing through his heart. He belatedly realized that Takemichi finally left him again and went back inside the villa since all he could think about was the pain and anguish in his voice and words ringing on his ears.
He was still thankful that he can still stand because he felt that his knees were weakening, and he could probably collapse on the ground right now.
So, this was how it feels like…
The feeling of being in pain like this…
He was still staring blankly at the spot where Takemichi had left until his vision blurred.
And for the first time in his life ever since Shinichiro and Mikey died, silent tears fell from his eyes, painting his cheeks in painful anguish of misery and regret.
"What're you even doing Izana?" Kakucho scowled at him when he entered his private office on his loft.
It's been a few weeks since their last heated exchange at the backyard with each other.
Ever since then Izana threw himself at work and expanding his gang and business in the underworld, distracting himself temporarily from the indescribable ache that Takemichi had left him that night.
"I'm busy doing important paperwork here Kaku. What does it look like that I'm doing?" Izana arched a brow at him as he looked at his scowling face.
He crossed his arms over his chest. "You know that's not what I mean Izana. You're not visiting the private villa anymore where Takemichi is located. You don't even check up on him any longer."
"Why? Is the work too heavy for you? I can call Koko and the others—."
Kakucho strode towards his table and slammed his hands down there impatiently. "Stop acting dumb Izana. You and Takemichi have problems and you need to fix it. Heck, you looked like shit already. And I'm not even saying about what Takemichi looked like right now because you know what I meant." He replied testily.
"What the hell do you want me to do Kaku?" Izana finally stood up and glared at him, his patience running thin.
"I can't believe you're asking me this Izana." Kakucho looked at him incredulously. "I know that you want to exact revenge on Takemichi but not at the expense of you looking miserable too! It's fucking pointless!" Kakucho added frustratedly.
"What do you even know about what I feel Kakucho huh? Servants like you shouldn't talk back at me like this." Izana strode towards him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, every word was fiery and tinged with unexpressed regret inside.
"Oh, so now we're playing this hierarchy game huh?" Kakucho glowered at him as he placed his hand on his hand that was grabbing him by the collar and yanked them off. "Stop fucking pretending that you're not being affected by all of this cause I know that you already have feelings for him! Jesus Christ. You're both terrible at this that I had to stepped in to make things happen." He threw his hands in defeat.
"Feelings? What's even the goddamn point Kaku? Let's say theoretically that you're correct. I have feelings for Takemichi but what good will it do to admit it to him? He hated my guts now! And isn't that wonderful? That's my goal from the start. To make him loathed at my existence that he just wishes to die in an instant." Izana laughed bitterly and stepped away, bringing one of his hands to cover his face and not to let Kakucho see the flash of pain and anguish on his eyes.
"Do you even want to know how Takemichi is faring these days without you being there? He's crying! I know that he's a crybaby but he's crying every night! He tries so hard not to fall apart in front of us, but I can see the longing look on his eyes whenever he glances down at the front door when someone comes in and hoping that maybe it's you. And I can't even describe the disappointment on his face when it isn't. I even heard of him admitting it to himself that he's still in love with you even with all the shit you've done to him. So, for the love of God or so help me. Make something right out of it and just talk to him! He may be hurting because of what you did but it didn't erase the fact that he actually misses and loves you." Every word that left Kakucho's lips was raw and tinged with intensity that Izana had to look at him with unbelieving eyes for the first time.
"What…?"
"Just go. Both of you needed to be goddamn adults and communicate properly." Kakucho sighed in defeat.
Izana finally steeled himself. It's now or never. Kakucho was right. He needed to do something about it and he's not the type of person to just moped around and do nothing. He was amid in sprinting away from his office when he suddenly stopped and turned around to stare directly into Kakucho's eyes.
"Thanks for waking me up Kaku."
Kakucho scoffed lightly, shaking his head in fond exasperation. "Someone needs to get his king's head out of the gutter and who's more suitable to do it other than this servant?" He grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up.
Izana chuckled lightly at his words. "I'll do my best to fix this mess." Were his last words before he left him.
Kakucho just watched in silence as he left the office.
'You better Izana.' He thought hopefully.
He spent another day inside the private villa in deafening silence.
Not that he wasn't used to it. Even though Kakucho and the others accompany him here, it's just different. No more small talks with Izana, no more casual yet comfortable bantering between the two of them that made his heart flutter, and no more holding each other at night after spending it with a passionate lovemaking that left them both breathless and sated in each other's arms…
Takemichi should be used to this.
What did he expect?
Izana's goal was already fulfilled of making him fall for him only to be awakened in a harsh reality that he just toyed with his feelings and made him feel miserable just like he was in that twisted mindset of his.
"Fuck. I should just goddamn accept it. Out of all people Takemichi, why do you have to fall in love with an asshole like Izana?" He thought out loud before he buried his face into both of his hands and cried miserably.
"I fucking ask myself that too Takemichi." Izana's breath hitched in his throat upon seeing Takemichi again looking downtrodden and wretched because of him.
Because of him.
Hearing his voice once again made Takemichi froze before the familiar erratic beat of his heart started inside his chest once again. He hated it. Yet at the same time he yearned for it. Adored it. And loved it.
When it came to the matters of the heart, he really was a fool.
"What are you doing here?" He croaked out as he finally looked at him and noticed the eyebags under his eyes and how he lost weight over the past weeks because of his sunken form under his clothes.
Takemichi resisted the urge to run towards his direction and embraced him tightly against his arms.
Izana laughed at his words yet it was tinged with unvoiced frailty and sadness. "What does it look like I'm doing here Takemichi? I'm here to tell you that I've fallen deeply, madly and helplessly in love with you. I'm here to admit of how fucking stupid I am in front of you because of my goddamn heart. That amid all of my hatred and hostility towards you, I still can't help but to fall for you along the way. And isn't it fantastic Takemichi? Because for the first time that I ever felt this way towards someone, I am too late to make this person return my feelings since everything backfired at me. I should be happy that I'm seeing you miserable like this but fucking hell Takemichi. It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest every time I see you like this because of me. Not seeing you for a few days…even weeks…was like hell for me. But seeing you in pain because of me is something that torment can't even described of. Maybe it was my karma for all the things that I've done huh?" Izana struggled not to cry in front of him but his eyes glistened slightly at the incoming tears that threatened to fall.
Takemichi grew silent and stony. But every word that he uttered pierced right into his heart. Every action that Izana made on not to fall apart completely in front of him was making his heart cry out for him.
"But is it really enough Izana…?" Takemichi finally spoke in a shaky voice. "Is your love enough to erase that aversion and anger that you felt for a long time? Because I'm also in love with you Izana. I love you so, so, so much that I'm willing to give you a chance for us to start all over again." He added in a trembling voice.
Izana should've been happy at hearing those words but seeing the look on Takemichi's face made his heart clenched painfully inside his chest.
He already knew what his next words will be, and he needed to get this one out before the other could speak once again.
"I know Takemichi. I know. I'm just so goddamn lucky to have a fallen angel like you in my grasp but we both know deep in our hearts especially you that you still have an important mission to do. You're right Takemichi. I knew of your time leaping abilities with Naoto back then hence instead of killing the both of you instantly, I concocted a plan to just separate you from each other and torment you in my own way because I morbidly thought to myself of how dare both of you toy with the other's life and futures like this just for the sake of saving someone at the expense of the other people's lives? How dare both of you of taking Mikey away from me? So, I wanted you to feel the pain that I felt when I lost him that day without even stopping to think that you're also fucking hurting too back then. I'm blinded by my own wrath against the world and how it treated me that it didn't matter who I killed or hurt just so it could satisfy the vengeance inside my heart. But now…I wanted to make things right…and you're right Takemichi. Love isn't enough because we must grow apart to realize something. So, that's why I'm letting you go. Letting you see Naoto once again and finally go back to the past for you to make things right this time." Izana's tears finally fall from his eyes, silently streaming down his cheeks despite the smile that he offered to Takemichi.
Takemichi was stunned into silence. He couldn't believe on what he was hearing this from him. But at the same time, he understood. And without any further warning he rushed to his side and engulfed him into a tight yet gentle hug, sobbing into his shoulders.
"I'm so sorry Izana. I'm sorry. But I must do it. This is the only way that I could save Hina, Mikey and the others from their terrible futures. And that includes you." He hiccups as he clenched tightly on his shirt, his tears soaking on the right lapel of his clothes.
"Don't say sorry Takemichi. I should be the one who is saying that for the things that I've done to you and for getting in your way. But the one thing that I'm not sorry for is falling in love with you." Izana whispered soothingly before he gently pulled away from his hug and tilted his chin towards his face, capturing his lips in a soulful kiss.
"I love you too Izana. No matter what timeline it is, my heart belongs to you." He murmured against his lips as he returned his kiss deeply, sealing their fates away on that day.
"Takemichi!" Naoto's eyes widened in surprise and relief, rushing towards his side to envelop him in a tight yet gentle hug.
Takemichi hugged him back, swallowing back his oncoming tears and the freight of emotions that threatened to engulf him. Seeing Hina's little brother again safe and sound sent a comforting sensation inside of him.
"Naoto…I'm happy to see you again…" His voice cracked at the end, his eyes prickling slightly as he could feel them glistened and watered.
"Me too. And you're still a crybaby." He chuckled lightly.
From a distance, Izana could spot them from his window and looked away with a blank expression on his face.
"Don't tell me you're jealous?" Kakucho rose a brow at his expression.
"No. I just wanted this to get over with." Izana replied dully, not looking over to him.
"Liar. You can't even look me in the eye." Kakucho looked at him in slight amusement, shaking his head. "You can't be this serious. Takemichi is head over heels over you. He always looks at you like you hung the moon and the stars in the sky even if you're a goddamn bastard sometimes."
Izana huffed out but a small smile slipped past his lips. "Takemichi is just too fucking good in this rotten world. I don't even know why I deserve his love for me at this time around." He let out a light laughter, yet it was tinged with forlornness.
"Izana…" Kakucho looked at him in half admonishment and half concern.
"No, no. I'm okay. I'm okay. This is just me sometimes who can't even fathom on why some good things still landing on me despite being one of the scums who walked into the face of the planet." Izana was wearing a calm yet resigned smile on his face, watching the sky from his window forlornly.
Kakucho sighed deeply. "Stop thinking like that. Yeah. You're an asshole sometimes but you're not the only who is a goddamn bastard in this world you know. Also knowing Takemichi…" His eyes lingered downwards who was still conversing with Naoto before his eyes settled back on Izana. "He's my childhood friend and let me say this to you that he doesn't back down on his promises. He was my hero too when I was a kid. And he still sees something good in you that's worth saving at. So, have some faith not only in yourself but to Takemichi as well."
Izana absorbed his words and pondered them in silence.
"I guess that's what Takemichi really is. He is irritatingly optimistic and naïve sometimes. But it's also one of the reasons why I have fallen in love with him because he sees the best in me despite the ugliness of my character that is presented to him." Izana faced him with a small yet genuine smile on his face this time.
And Kakucho realized that this is one of the few times that he saw Izana genuinely happy and content. The last time he had seen this kind of expression on him was when they were kids and building a snow fort on one snowy day of Christmas and talking about their dreams and goals for the orphaned children in the future. Seeing him like this made his heart clenched and inwardly thankful for Takemichi into coming into his life even though it started out as not an ideal type of situation and they were cursing each other's existence.
"Yeah… That is Takemichi all right." Kakucho laughed softly.
"A fallen angel into this rotten world." Izana spoke softly, looking at Takemichi with reverence and fondness on his eyes.
Takemichi resisted the urge to cry even though his vision was already blurring due to the unshed tears that threatened to burst out of his eyes.
"I'm going back to the past Izana. The only way that you can stop me is by killing me altogether." He stated as he looked directly into those lavender orbs. Before it was always filled with venom, malevolence and hatred towards his direction. But now…it was filled with something else entirely.
And Takemichi's heart ached at the mere sight.
But he never reached out for him. He needed to stay firm. If he wanted to make things right…he had to go back and save Mikey…and the others…and dare he say including Izana not because he promised Kakucho in the past but because his heart wanted to. His love for him wanted him to be his saving grace and salvation in his life that was filled with nothing but misery and hatred for the entirety of his existence.
Izana smiled sadly at him. "There's no really stopping you Takemihi isn't it?" He inwardly congratulated himself for not letting his voice crack even though he was falling apart silently. How could he realize late what's really in front of him? He was blinded by his hatred and rage that he didn't know the precious gem possessed his heart when he has it.
And now…
Izana swallowed thickly.
No. He had to respect Takemichi's decision. He had done enough damage to him and unpardonable sins in his lifetime that this was best thing that he could do.
And that was to fulfill his mission. Because he's everybody's hero. He was Mikey's hero.
And…
Izana was the love of his life.
Hence that's why he was letting him go and let him go back to the past to fix everything…to fix and save him as well even though he didn't deserve it and he was beyond saving at this point.
The wind was humming along their skin. Time was ticking. Takemichi couldn't waste any second.
He had to go. He had to.
Takemichi forced a smile on his lips and gave a silent nod before he turned and walked away from him.
He was already near the exit when someone caught his wrist and suddenly spun him around.
Before Takemichi could react, he felt those familiar, warm lips clashing against his in a fluttering yet captivating kiss that made his insides melt and steely resolve crumbled in an instant.
And Takemichi hold onto Izana like he was his anchor and returned his kiss fervently.
"Before I let you go Takemichi and go back to the past, I want to tell you that I really, really love you very much. I'm fucking sorry for realizing that late and this time I don't wanna have regrets. Past, present, future. I'm gonna fucking wait for you so please come back for me alright?" He murmured against his lips as he kissed him deeply, one of his arms encircling around his waist and pulled him gently on his body.
Takemichi gave him one, last deep kiss before he pulled away and looked at Izana's eyes. He wasn't crying but he could see the raw emotions swirling beneath his amethyst orbs and the rare vulnerability there. He cupped his cheeks with his two hands and shot him a wobbly yet tender smile.
"I love you too. Don't ever fucking forget that Izana. I know that promises are meant to be broken but I can promise you that whatever timeline I go, my heart always stays with you. And I will come back for you once everything is all right. Remember that Izana." Takemichi's sky blue eyes glistened with determination.
"Yeah, yeah I get you. So, go now before I change my mind." Izana let go of his body and gently pushed him away, smiling tearfully at him. "Go save Mikey and the others Takemichi. Because you're the hero that they're waiting for." He uttered.
Takemichi nodded with a bittersweet smile on his face before he turned around and finally left where Naoto was waiting for him.
"I'm ready Naoto."
"Good luck Takemichi. I have in faith in you that you can save my sister and make the past right and hopeful once again." Naoto smiled at him and offered his hand.
Takemichi took it and shook it firmly. He closed his eyes once he felt that he was being pulled away from here.
When he opened his eyes, the familiar sight of the smiling blond with obsidian eyes greeted his line of sight.
"What're you standing there for Takemitchy? C'mon the meeting at the shrine is gonna start soon."
"Sorry about that Mikey-kun. I spaced out for a bit." Takemichi answered and jogged up behind them but not before looking briefly behind him.
He knew that it's going to be a real work before he reaches the future where everyone was happy.
But he'll try his best.
No.
He will do his best.
Since he promised someone and he's waiting for him in the future.
And he can't wait to succeed and see Izana once again.
(A/N: *sighs* I know this is cheesy and a bit unrealistic but what could I do? Hear me out on this. I remembered Izana's dying scene in the manga and his lines of, "beyond saving me at this point" etc. and realized that look of regret in his eyes. Honestly, if he was given a chance to make things right, he would prolly do this but who knows? Since he met his untimely death at the manga before he could even ponder on his actions. So, maybe this last chapter is like a what-if scenario between these characters especially with Takemichi being around them because we know the effect he has on people. And the way his words, convictions and moral decisions impact the other characters in the franchise. Lastly, with the ongoing angst in the franchise it seemed like providing an open ending into the unknown, but a sliver of hope is appropriate in this short multi chaptered fic of mine).