"Thank you for coming in!" said the young woman as the man left the store, her dark hair done in a messy bun. Next to her stood another young woman older than she was with short blonde hair held back by a head band.
"You're doing pretty good Kaneda" she said as she organized the cartons of cigarettes behind Akemi.
"Thanks Mori, but it's been pretty slow these days" commented Akemi looking at the snowfall outside.
"Well, when spring comes around they start racing more frequently, so we'll have more customers" said Mori. Akemi eyes were still focused outside at the gas station across the street; there was a sudden gathering of motorcylces.
"Are those racers?" asked Akemi, to her knowledge only cars risked their lives racing on Akagi.
Mori looked outside and frowned "No, they're a bosozoku gang" she whispered as if they could hear them. Their leader seemed to be a tall young man with long dark hair, he looked over at the store, at this point Mori pulled Akemi away from the register.
"Listen Kaneda, those guys are the reason no one wants the night shift, they like to come here and wreck shit, harass costumers amongst other things " whispered Mori into Akemi's ear.
Akemi sighed, it was no wonder the manager hired her so quickly, he wasn't impressed by her attitude, instead it was because no one wanted to work nights. "We can fend for ourselves can't we?" she asked, Mori shook her head.
"Last two night shifters that did that ended up in a hospital bed" Mori spoke as she looked outside noticing another group of motorcycles parked right outside their convenience store, they began to take their helmets off. "Shit it's a turf war!" shouted Mori panicked as she shook Akemi.
"Stop shaking me! Calm down!" shouted Akemi holding onto Mori's shoulders staring her down. "We can call the police-"
"Are you crazy! We did once and the next day the store was trashed, owner got pissed and told us to handle that kind of stuff by ourselves" said Mori as she pulled Akemi's hand off her shoulder. They both looked outside, it was then Akemi noticed a tall blond young man standing in the middle of the motorcycles grouped in front of the store. She felt the color leave her face, the shoulders, the hair, the way he walked it was all a perfect match for Keisuke.
"Kaneda" said Mori as Akemi watched him pull a blade from his pocket, from the other side the men began to come closer. The long haired young man held a pipe over his shoulder, he wore a smug look. "Kaneda, hey, we gotta close the store so they can't come in!" Mori shook her but she stood rooted on the spot.
"Cold night" said the long haired young man as he stared at Keisuke who held his blade.
"Let's cut the small talk, we're here to send Sakamoto a message" said Keisuke as the men made a circle surrounding the two.
"Well I'm honored to see you've chosen us, I'm Haru" he said putting the metal pipe on Keisuke's shoulder with a smirk. "You sure you wanna risk ruining that pretty face of yours."
Before Haru could make a move Keisuke removed the pipe from his shoulder and punched him in the face. It was then that all hell broke loose men fighting with their weapon of choice. Haru swung the pipe almost getting Keisuke's side as the latter made a slash at Haru's face. Haru dropped the pipe dodging Keisuke's second hit and pulled him close kneeing him in the stomach and pushing him away. Keisuke managed to get back on his feet.
"You like up close and personal blondie!" shouted Haru. Keisuke held his own in defensive position, Haru tried making slash at Keisuke's face, he dodged punching Haru in the face, he stumbled back wiping the side of his mouth, before Keisuke could strike again someone pulled on his arm, he turned digging his blade deep into the person who dared to attack him from behind it was only when pulled the blade out and looked down did he noticed the all too familiar messy hair, and the brown eyes that looked up at him surprised. Keisuke dropped his blade as he looked down in horror; he quickly dropped onto his knees covering the wound with his hand.
She looked up him too shocked to speak, he applied pressure onto the wound, the fighting around had come to a screeching halt when Haru shouted for his men to back off. He looked down at Keisuke shaking his head.
"It isn't a fair fight" shouted Haru looking down at Keisuke. "Your pathetic leader is indisposed" he said kicking Keisuke who didn't budge.
"Screw you!" shouted Keisuke looking up at Haru who picked up his metal pipe, he smirked.
"I'll leave you to take care of your affairs" Haru said turning to his men signaling them that it time to leave. The sound of the roaring engines cut through the silence of the night.
"Keisuke" she whispered as the sound of the engines began to fade, his men stared at the two, noticing this he looked up the adrenaline still running through his veins.
"All of you get the hell out of here! NOW!" he shouted, the men backed away each starting to go to their respective motorcycles. Some of them wore confused looks whilst other just stared down at their leader.
"A bosozuko gang" she whispered her voice shaky, he nodded.
Keisuke was silent as he noticed the blood seeping through his fingers. The convenience store doors slid open as blonde young woman ran out, when confronted with the scene she looked down at them in shock.
"What happened?" she asked kneeling looking at Akemi whose head rested against his shoulder.
Keisuke looked at the girl lost for words; she shook Akemi who gave no response. "I'll call for help! You stay here!" she said as she stood up and hurried inside. He looked down, Akemi's eyes were closed.
"Akemi" he said shaking her limp body trying to get a response. Keisuke's throat began to itch as he was keeping pressure on her wound. She opened her eyes looking past him into the night sky.
"It's...snowing" she whispered lifting her hand placing it on the side of his face. Keisuke looked down at her, his vision blurred for a moment "don't...cry…." she whispered before her hand went limp. The sound of the ambulance filled his ears; they parked a few feet away from them. He held her close, he tried to come up with an apology, but nothing he could say or do would reverse what he had down.
The paramedics said something, but he couldn't hear them. All he knew was that she had been pulled away from him into the back of an ambulance, leaving him to look down at his hands covered in her blood.
Someone shook him, it was the girl from earlier "hey, do you need a ride to the hospital?" she asked. He wiped his face with the back of his hand as he stood up.
"Which hospital did they mention?" he asked as the young woman.
"Maebashi general, I'll give you a lift-"
" I've got my own way of getting there" he answered trying to keep his voice steady walking over to his bike, his hands still shaky as he placed his helmet. The blonde young woman watched him as he drove off into the same direction the ambulance had.
He walked into the hospital the blood on his hand dry, it was crowded with nurses' running back and forth, until one pulled his sleeve, he turned as the older woman looked up at him.
"You must be the boy the paramedics said to look out for" she said softly guiding him to the nearest chair where she took a seat beside him "you're looking for the girl that was stabbed in front of the convenience store?"
He nodded, it was then he noticed that she held a chart. "If you know her name I'll need it."
Keisuke looked down at his hands "her name is Kaneda Akemi" he mumbled turning to see the nurse write it down. "How is she?"
"She's in surgery" said the nurse before standing up. "If you know any family or friends of hers, now would be the time to call them."
Keisuke pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, flipped it open and looked through the contacts before pressing the dial button.
"Hullo" Yuta yawned, Keisuke couldn't find the words to describe what he'd done. "Dammit Keisuke it better be good! It's three o'clock in the friggin morning!"
"Yuta" he began trying to keep his voice steady, at the other end of line it was quiet "I...screwed up."
"What happened to the bike?" asked Yuta his voice tried.
"No, not the bike...Akemi-"
"What about her Keisuke? Is she okay?" Yuta shouted into the phone, as the blond clenched his teeth, he couldn't give Yuta an explanation over the phone "Keisuke, talk to me! Where are you?"
"Maebashi general" those were his last words before shutting his cell phone, how was he going to tell Yuta what he had just done to their best friend?
"Hey Keisuke!" she shouted, he turned now facing the girl he had pulled out of the pool days prior.
"I never said you could call me by my first name" he said harshly, even whilst glaring at her she smiled back.
"C'mon I just want to treat you to some coffee or food, since I noticed you didn't have lunch" she said, he looked surprised as she pulled him out of the school gates. "It's my treat!"
Keisuke found himself suddenly sobbing as he stared down at his hands shaking. "I screwed up…" he whispered wiping his face. What would he say to Yuta? The truth? "Who the hell am I kidding? Yuta's going to murder me the second she wakes up and tells him, I should just get it over and done with" he thought resting his head against the wall behind him. The nurse would be back soon, with news. All he had to do was wait, and hope Akemi was alright.
An hour and a half passed before he had made contact with another human, it was Yuta, and his brother Kyo, they rushed towards him as soon as they laid eyes on him.
He stood up, wiping his face as Yuta pulled him into a bone crushing hug. Keisuke's hands were limp by his side, looking past Yuta he caught Kyo's glare it was as if he knew what had happened.
"I'm still a bit tired, I'm going outside for a smoke" said Kyo turning his back on the two.
It was then Yuta spoke "what happened? Is she okay?" he asked Keisuke who stuffed his hands in his pockets but that didn't prevent Yuta from noticing the blood stains on his clothes. His eyes widened in fear "is that-"
"Yes it's hers" he said taking his hands out his pocket running it through his hair, before he could say anything else and older looking woman walked up to them.
"Kaneda Akemi!" The boys turned it was the same middle aged nurse that had spoken to Keisuke before she walked towards them looking down at her chart.
"She's alright made through the surgery, we'll keep her a few hours under observation, you're welcome to sit and wait, I'll let you know when she's in a room."
They nodded as she walked away towards a small family.
"C'mon let's get Kyo and give him the good news" said Yuta relieved but as he went to grab Keisuke's arm he stepped away. "Keisuke?"
"I did this" he whispered, Yuta shook his head confused.
"No you saved her Keisuke-" began Yuta as Keisuke took a step back. Yuta shook his head as Keisuke looked away biting his bottom lip. "But you wouldn't" continued Yuta grabbing Keisuke's arm, the blond pulled away looking Yuta into his eyes. It was then that Yuta connected the dots. "You stabbed her?"
Keisuke nodded clenching his fists "I didn't see her Yuta, she came from behind-"
It was then that Yuta pushed him into a nearby wall, some stopped to watch the young men whilst others went on with their business. "How could you?!" he shouted stepping back shaking his head, his eyes were full of tears.
"I didn't see her!" shouted Keisuke as Yuta walked up to him once more now grabbing Keisuke by the collar.
"There's no valid explanation to what you've done" whispered Yuta loud enough for Keisuke to hear, the blond looked away. "To think that she actually loves you" Keisuke turned back to Yuta his eyes wide. "You heard me right Keisuke, she friggin' loves you, hell she's always had faith in you..."
Keisuke stood shocked his usual sharp eyes softened "Yuta, I-"
"Of course you didn't know you were always too dumb to notice" spat Yuta walking past him towards the elevators.
It was Keisuke's cue to leave, as he walked his heart felt heavy as did his arms, and feet. The moment replayed itself in the back of his mind, if she hadn't pulled him at that moment, if she had just waited a second longer. "What the hell was I supposed to do?" he thought as he drove back to his home "Aniki would never screw up like that, he's too smart to." Keisuke held his bike steady trying to keep his mind off Yuta's harsh words, off of Akemi's wounds, the look of surprise that she wore when she realized who had stabbed her.
Once in the safety of his garage he allowed himself a moment of weakness as he sat in a corner his head between his legs, his shoulders shaking as he tried not to make any unnecessary noise. His father had always been right; he was nothing but a screw up.
Keisuke couldn't tell how much time had passed when the garage door opened allowing the entrance of a white car, Keisuke tried to keep his shoulder's steady but couldn't instead he continued to sob, hoping his brother would just walk past him.
He ceased to hear the sound of the engine and now instead heard a door open and close, then footsteps.
"Keisuke" he said in almost a whisper, the blond looked up still shaking.
"Aniki, I screwed up" he managed to say before going back to sobbing. Ryosuke took a seat next to him pulling his younger brother towards him, like he used to when they were kids. Before Ryosuke could ask what had happened Keisuke decided to come out and say it "it was an accident-"
"You don't have to explain yourself Keisuke, get up" he said helping his younger brother stand. Once they both were standing did he take his brother to the bathroom, instructing him to wash his hands. "Keisuke-"
"The blood's not mine" he said hoarsely as he washed his hands, his brother kept quiet as they walked out of the bathroom.
Once in the hallway Keisuke turned to his brother "You know all I do is fuck up."
Ryosuke frowned "Keisuke, that's not true-" Keisuke dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand and instead walked towards his bedroom. Before his brother could speak again he opened and shut the door behind him.
He threw himself on his bed biting down on his pillow to keep himself from screaming.
Keisuke walked out of his room running his hands through his hair, he looked at his brother's door the familiar light of his computer was all he could see. For a while now he'd wanted to talk to his brother, he could help him out, to try and solve what he had done.
The image hadn't let him sleep, her eyes the moment she looked up at him. He couldn't forget it. But then couldn't keep himself locked in that forsaken room, the small space suffocated him, in there he couldn't think straight. Hell, if he could take it back, he would have listened to Yamada's words and kept himself away from anything that had to do with Sakamoto. If he'd listened he wouldn't be in this mess.
He stood in front of his brother's door but before he could knock he heard a voice.
"I haven't seen Keisuke lately, is he ok?" said Tsugumi worry clearly in her voice. Suddenly the typing stopped.
"I haven't spoken to him, he's kept himself locked up" answered Ryosuke, Keisuke backed away from the door as if his brother could see him.
"But tomorrow's Christmas" said Tsugumi, Keisuke frowned, it was already Christmas, he sighed turning away from the door, down the stairs and into the kitchen where he knew no one would be. He opened the fridge and found the left overs of last night's dinner. He pulled them out putting them on the table trying to keep noise to a minimum, last time his mother woke up and tried to convince him to go out, needless to say that didn't end well.
He found himself white rice and curry, although they were cold he didn't mind food was food. Keisuke began to eat trying to keep his thoughts to a minimum when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. "Dammit" he thought picking up the left overs, he'd just have to eat in his room.
As he walked out of the kitchen he came face to face with his brother who seemed surprised to see Keisuke up.
"I still live here" said Keisuke harshly as he tried to leave but his brother blocked his way.
¨We need to talk¨ said Ryosuke staring down his brother; Keisuke rolled his eyes going back into the kitchen, leaning on the counter continuing to munch on his left over rice. "Whatever happened, you can't avoid it forever."
Keisuke glared at his brother who walked over to the fridge and pulled out a water bottle, placing it next to Keisuke who watched as his brother stood next to him. "I know that" he muttered placing the leftovers on the counter.
"What happened Keisuke? You haven't ridden the motorcycle, at least not today" said Ryosuke, Keisuke sighed. He was tired of keeping it hidden, it was no use anymore.
"I stabbed her" he began his voice numb, he avoided his brother's gaze as he went on. "So she and Yuta have just cut all communication from me, I screwed up, let him down I guess…"
"If you're talking about Kaneda she's fine" said Ryosuke causing Keisuke to look back at him curious. "She's at the convenience store, I stopped by to buy a pack of cigarettes" he finished pushing himself off the counter. "Focus on yourself for now Keisuke, the rest will come."
"You smoke Aniki?" asked Keisuke, his brother turned with a small smile.
"After that conversation that's all you get" responded Ryosuke, as he pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket "here" he said throwing them at Keisuke who caught it. It was a half empty Salem pack. "Enjoy those, consider them a Christmas gift."
Keisuke put down his food in favor of taking a cigarette, putting the food away he walked to his bedroom with the cigarette dangling from his lips. Once in the sanctity of his bedroom did he pick a lighter, lighting his cigarette.
It was the first one in about a couple of weeks, lately it had all been alcohol and fighting, taking a drag, it calmed him as he walked over to balcony and opened the crystal door letting in the icy air.
As he stepped outside he could hear the snow crunching underneath his weight. "It was one of the last things she said to me" he thought releasing the smoke and flicking some of the ashes off the cigarette. "Aniki said she was alright, maybe I should drop by" he thought looking up at the night sky. Still all he could hear was her voice, he missed it, both of them. The late night cigarettes with Yuta, even if he did most of the chatting, and Akemi her smile, the way she walked, but above all he missed the sound of her voice.
He took the last drag before putting out the cigarette. Turning back into his room, the night was still young, and the Fireblade needed a spin. With that in mind he walked back into his room and was out of the house in ten minutes, the sound of the Fireblade shattering the silence of the night.
A/N: Hello readers, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I have to thank Shadow55419 for all the help in this chapter :)