Defy
Defy
Chapter 8
Author Notes: Ohhhh i'm sooo excited! Things are going to be cringy and awkward and for once it's not going to bother me~ Here we go ladies and gentlemen! I do not own nanbaka
3rd P.O.V
The tense silence was absolutely unbearable as both individuals were lost in their own thoughts. Awkwardness and a thin curtain were the only things that separated them. Jyugo had never felt so mortified in his entire life. Nor so stupid! And seriously, he's done a lot of stupid crap over the years.
He just couldn't believe this! The one secret he wanted hidden was just revealed and to Uno of all people! Under other circumstances it wouldn't be so bad, as Uno was Jyugo's most trusted friend, and he loved the annoying, optimistic gambler.
"So were you ever going to tell us?" Uno's voice was low, lacking the usual pep and mischief that Jyugo already missed. For the first time since they met, Uno was upset, and Jyugo had no idea what to do.
The raven haired convict heard a sigh from the other side, one full of annoyance as he refused to answer. He didn't want this! "You can't hide in there forever. You're dressed by now right?" There was nothing more the teen wanted to do then stay hidden, avoiding the situation entirely.
But he couldn't run or weasel his way out of this one. Sighing in defeat, Jyugo reluctantly opened the private veil. There he saw his friend, still staring at the wall frozen in place. It was hard to mask the dread and anxiety but he swallowed that alongside the bile, shivering as he stepped onto cool tile.
Finally answering his cellmate's question. "No. It was a secret I planned to take to the grave." Figuring it was safe, the taller of the two turned around, once more they were face to face. Their blushes had died down, there was no more warmth as Uno stared at him, hurt and upset.
"Why!?" Blue eyes followed every fidget and flinch, much like a predator, waiting. "Because...that's not Jyugo." He had to word this carefully, he was going to be in in so trouble for being discovered. "What do you mean?"
But he couldn't let Uno get dragged down along with him. This was Jyugo's problem. "I can't tell you." He flinched as Uno's eyes hardened, and it's the first time Jyugo's ever seen him legitimately angry.
And it scared her. "Has everything been a lie? Is Jyugo even your real name!?" He hit a sore spot, Uno knew that from the way Jyugo harshly backed away. His movements similar to that of a cornered animal. Right now Uno didn't care, he was hurting and confused.
For years Jyugo and him were close, or at least he thought so. Yes he knew Jyugo was keeping secrets, ones he knew were important to him, but just how much has Jyugo been lying to him and the others? Why didn't She trust them? Did she ever consider them as friends in the first place?
She opened her mouth, unsure what to say, reminding Uno of a fish. Were it not such an important moment he would've laughed ans teased his supposed best friend. Eventually however she was able to speak. Choking on the pain emotions and pain she had been hiding for so long.
"No...Jyugo's not my real name. And I'm not allowed to tell you why i'm here and hiding my gender...but not everything was a lie." Tears fell down her face, as her facade broke. Her entire plan in pieces.
She was doing so well pretending to be Jyugo, but she couldn't do it. Not any longer, all she could do was fall to her knees and sob. Her entire body hurt, her heart was breaking-everything was in pain, and again Uno was left stunned.
This time though he felt guilty and concerned as he watched on. His frustration and anger took a backseat seeing her grip her bandaged arms in an attempt to gain control. She needed an anchor, and could only rely on herself to regain her composure.
Jyugo didn't need anyone to make him feel better, so she could do it too. Though the only thing she could think of to calm down was messing with her burns. Her body quivered in agony when she applied the pressure, her eyes shutting from the pain. There was no other option.
It only continued for a minute, if that before she was stopped. "Don't." Much to her surprise Uno was still there, now lowering onto his knees. Instead of leaving her, he gently pulled her to his chest, stopping her self harm.
She expected him to abandon her in hatred, unable to believe her, but he stayed. Even through her disgusting, loud sobs she heard him, muttering small apologies and assurances into her ear.
His fingers were softly rubbing against her back, and it brought her back to those times where she would get nightmares or find herself unable to sleep, back when she wasn't able to play it off or pretend to be Jyugo.
Uno would always wake up to her gasps of fear and shivering form. Holding her just like this, granted back then he never realized it was her, but a friend who he figured was just having a rough night.
That wasn't the case, and it won't ever be the case again. "You need to talk to me Jyugo. I can't help you if I don't understand." Her breath hitched as she tried to regain her mask. "I can't tell you-I promised." Her voice was higher pitched now.
She usually had it lowered and deeper than this, even when she was pissed or startled. "Who did you promise? The warden?" Uno glanced down at the sixteen year old, his heart shredding itself apart at the sight of Jyugo's swollen eyes. She shook her hair, red and black locks flying.
"Don't do this Uno. You'll get hurt trying to know. He-he's out there. You can't die too." Her statements as vague as they were connected to the pieces of the puzzle in Uno's mind.
Despite her deflections on the matter, those scrambled sentences as well as his observations led to the answers he wanted. Or at the very least the main ones he currently had. Jyugo was hiding from the asshole who nearly killed her a month ago.
And from the sounds of it Jyugo's lost someone important thanks to this person- whoever they are. The warden knows-she would have to and is protecting her from him. "I'm not going anywhere Jyugo." Shuttering gasps escapes instead of inhales and exhales she was doing. She was almost there.
"You and the guys need to stay away Uno, it's only a matter of time now. He knows I'm here-he know's I'm Jyugo. When the time comes-when he's done playing around-" Strong arms practically crush him into place. "Don't you dare finish that. I won't let him!"
Whoever this guy is would have to go through Uno first. "Idiot...this is why I didn't want to tell you." Blinking Uno loosened his hold, revealing that monotone voice and deadpanned expression he was used to.
Rising to his feet, Jyugo crossed his arm, and were it not for the after effects of crying, no one would think that he was a puddle of tears not even a minute ago. The sudden transition was off putting. "You don't need to pretend anymore with me." Uno hopped right back up, watching his friend limp to the box of food sitting on the table.
"It's not pretending. I have to be like this. And you need to get out of here before anyone suspects something." There he goes again with being crypt, frustrating the hell out of his British inmate.
The poor guy was tempted to pull his beautiful hair out. "Isn't there anything I can do?" There was no way Uno could let any of this go, his friend was in trouble, his life literally on the line-there had to be something!
Uno would do whatever it takes to help, however to do that needed to know the whole truth. Judging from the sigh that came from Jyugo's lips as he painfully trudged his way back to the bed, food in hand, he knew it too. "There is someone here who could give you the whole story. Musashi."
The name rang a bell, but he couldn't match the name with a face. Jyugo huffed, noticing his companions' struggle. "Don't try too hard with remembering, you haven't officially met him. He was the guy I was facing off at the tournament." A lightbulb went off as realization crossed the gambling man.
"Him?!" His reply was a small nod of confirmation. "Tell him I sent you, and he'll take care of the rest. But remember...no one else can know Uno. And-" There was a slight pause, hesitation in the young cross dresser before meeting Uno's gaze.
His eyes shifting colors in the bright light. "Be careful Uno please! The moment something seems wrong or one of your infamous hunches gives warning signals-get somewhere safe." He relaxed a bit as Uno promised him.
But like the cheeky jerk he was Uno lifted up a pinky, wiggling it in front of the Japanese teen. "I'll even pinky promise you Jyugo~" The concern and fear was gone as Uno got a well deserved smack on the shoulder.
"Now's not the time for that moron!" It was like everything was normal again, like nothing ever happened. "Ouch don't be mean!" However things did happen and though Jyugo wasn't happy with what transpired, he had to deal with it.
Uno is involved, no matter how badly he didn't want him to, there was no going back. "Back to your cell Number 11." Even as an oblivious Hajime dragged a smiling, waving Uno away the knots in Jyugo's stomach refused to go away.
He crossed his fingers as he looked towards the white ceiling. Hoping to whatever deity that dared hear his prayers to watch over his friend and help him stay out of trouble. He couldn't bear the thought of losing anyone else.
to be continued
Author Notes: And we're done. I'll admit this chapter was a tough one to write since i've gone off the rails of canonicity, but i feel like it worked out pretty well. Just wait till Jyugo gets released from the medical ward~
Oh and before I forget. Things will be explained but the whole she/he sentences were done on purpose. There are reasons I do things and this wasn't a "whoops made a mistake" type of scenario. So please no comments on that please and thank you.
Well with that we'll be seeing you all next time. Guys if you're enjoying this series so far, please feel free to fav/follow/review as I appreciate all the love my stories get~ Tchao for now.