THE DOPPELGANGER WORLD

A BACK AT THE BARNYARD & BEASTARS STORY

ACT I

FIRST LOVE

February 22, 2053.

Earth-251.

Graywolf Manor.

A lone male panda with a slender form stood in the living room, looking at various pictures featuring Louis, Legoshi, Hikari, Yuki, Tamiko, Jane, Sakura, Sarena and Rhian were along the walls. The panda felt a little dose of regret deep down about coming all this way. He had on worn out jeans and a faded slate gray plaid jacket with a backpack over his left shoulder. A part of him felt as if he didn't belong and even considered turning away right now. If only he hadn't heard what he would hear next...

"Michio."

The panda turned around and looked toward the source of the voice.

"Hikari." said the panda, as Hikari stepped off the stairs into the room. "Somehow, I've always known. The clothes you wear... The company you've kept... Is it true you pulled a gun on some guys Senior year?"

"They were going to beat my uncle." said Hikari. "But enough about me. Why are you here?"

Michio turned his back, hesitating.

"It's funny... I knew the answer before I came here, but seeing all these pictures..." he began and looked at Hikari. "...I wonder myself..."

"I don't mean to be rude–"

"You didn't mean to be rude when you broke my heart, but you still did it." said Michio.

Hikari stood quietly, before Michio rubbed his forehead.

"That was brash..." he said and sighed. "Why me? Why the asshole panda loner from the poor side of town? You could always do better than me."

"Because I never wanted my life to be about what I have." said Hikari. "It never mattered to me how rich or poor you were."

"So then you did feel something." said Michio.

"Don't." said Hikari. "Please don't do this."

"Hikari... I..." Michio began and sighed, then continued. "I guess I just needed to convince myself that you needed to know... I still love you." he said and went quiet. "I'll never intrude on your life again." he said as he teared up.

Hikari looked down at the ground with guilt.

"This isn't how these things are supposed to go..." he said. "But truly the worst thing is having asked the world for something before I knew what it was I wanted..." he said and teared up. "...and that you've had to suffer for my blind, foolish selfishness..." his voice then breaks. "That I... left such an impression on you that you couldn't move on..."

"...life..." said Michio. "I hope she's good to you, Hikari."

"I hope you find someone." said Hikari.

"Yep." said Michio and walked out the door, in tears, having reopened his own wounds, as he makes his way onto the street.

At the Graywolf Manor, Yuki walked downstairs to Hikari, who was in tears.
"Honey, you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, just..." Hikari began and put his head down, then sobs. "There's... So much you need to know, dear..."

It began at school in 2045. I was 14 years old at the time. I kept looking at Michio, who was around the same age. Michio looked around the room, then at me and back down at his paper nervously. A kid behind me then whispered something:

"Fag."

"Shut up." said Tamiko.

"I didn't say anything." said the kid.

"Yes you did, you liar!" said Tamiko.

"Tam..." I whispered.

"Tamiko, Hikari and Kiyoshi." said the teacher. "Quiet down."

"Yes, ma'am..." we all said at the same time.

Out in the halls after class, Michio and his group of friends walked up to Tamiko and I, next to my locker.

"So Hikari." said Michio. "What are you and your boyfriend doing tonight?"

"He's my uncle, asshole." I said.

Michio grabbed me by the collar of his shirt and pulled me closer.

"I dare you to say that again, cock sucker." said Michio.

A white furred wolf in glasses and a purple dress, carrying text books in her arms walked up to us.
"You know, statistically speaking, about 95% of people that bully usually target someone they're attracted to." she said. "Usually, if it's something like being gay for example, one of the reasons is jealousy."

"Okay, well no one asked you, nerd." said Michio. "I'm in that 3%."

"Actually... It's 5%." said the wolf.

"Yeah, I'm not listening to this." said Michio. "Come on, boys." he said and they walked away.

"Thanks." I said.

"You're welcome." said the wolf and walked away.

"I know my eyes had to have been deceiving me in class." said Tamiko.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because what do you see in that asshole?" asked Tamiko.

"He likes me." I said.

"It don't look like it." said Tamiko.

"Well, you didn't see the way he looked at me in class." I said.

"You have GOT to set your standards a little higher, nephew." said Tamiko.

Into the following year was more of the same old stuff. I still couldn't pinpoint what it was about Michio, but he was clearly crazy about me and was afraid to show it. Then came my 15th birthday and it wasn't long until things began to change...

Michio slammed my locker closed and looked at me with a smirk that says "I'm better than you".

"What do you want?" I asked.

"Oh was just wondering..." Michio began. "If you get ass fucked enough times, does your ass get numb?"

"Why do you pretend?" I asked.

Michio laughed.

"Pretend?" asked Michio. "Like rainbows and pots of gold and shit? What is this? A fucking fairytale?"

"Why do you pretend to hate me?" I asked. "Anyone with half a brain more than yours can tell you love me and you don't wanna admit it. So stop being a dickhead–"

Around that time was when Michio had his hand around my shirt collar.

"Shut the fuck up, faggot." he said. "You say one more fucking word, I'll break your damn skull like a fucking toothpick."

I then punched him hard in the left cheek, knocking him to the ground, stunned.

"You little..." said Michio.

"If you're going to continue to lie to yourself, then fine. Don't touch me again." I said and walked off.

A part of me wishes that was the end of it... But it was a beginning of something. Every day until I was old enough to drive, I was exercise my legs. Walk a bit from school to home. It may not have been the smartest or safest for an herbivore like myself, but... Well... Later that day, it was that time. I had figured I wouldn't run into Michio. He had left earlier and I had presumed had walked a different way... As I was walking by an alley in the city, I felt an arm grab me. I looked at them and of course, it was him. He pulled me into a space out of view from folks passing by...

"You're a brave little deer..." said Michio. "You shouldn't be walking alone here."

"Whatever you're going to do, do it and get it over with." I said.

Michio shoved me hard against the wall.

"Shut up." he said, before roughly kissing me.

I had known, but somehow, it was still shocking to have his tongue in my mouth. He then stopped and whispered.

"I'm sorry..." said Michio. "But no one can know about me... You don't understand what it will cost..."

"Then start ignoring me." I said. "Because if you ever lie a hand on me again, I will make your life hell."

"Understood." said Michio.

"For now..." I said. "I assume you wanna fuck?"

"Very much so." said Michio.

I smirked.

"Yessir." I said and we both undressed each other.

Michio then leaned forward against the wall, his furry black and white butt out. Somehow I knew he'd think I was the very thing he was... I then lined myself up and leaned against him, then whispered in his ear.

"You ready?"

"Do it." Michio whispered back.

I then shoved myself in... This was my first time... Him, not so much.

"Mmm.." I moaned.

"Ohhh fuck..." said Michio. "Wait... Do you know what you're doing?"

"Yes." I said.

"Go on." said Michio.

I started thrusting softly.

"Mmm..." Michio moaned. "Pound me... Beat the ever loving shit out of me."

I chuckled.

"That bold, are we?" I said, before I started really pounding him. He put his right cheek against the wall and moaned.

"Oh yes... Mmm..." he moaned before panting.

It of course went on for a while... you couldn't get too fancy in an alley though. There was the sense that we'd gotten what we've been needing for a while. Sometime shortly after, we were sitting next to each other naked, against the wall, him smoking a cigarette.

"I know it don't mean much after a couple of years, but I truly am... very sorry." said Michio. "I wish there was some other way."

I then put my hand on his.

"We can just pretend." I said.

Michio took his hand away and stood up.

"Don't be so sweet to me." he said. "A person who treats the one they love like shit for two years doesn't deserve that."

I looked down.

"I'm not ready yet to say that I love you." I said. "But we could test the waters... Try to be boyfriends..."

Michio sighs.

"I would... I'd love that." he said. "But if I am toxic to your life, you have to promise me you'll cut me loose."

"Okay." I said.

At dinner, I was nervous and love high at the same time.

"You okay, son?" asked Dad Legoshi.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I said.

"You took a little longer coming home today." said Dad Louis. "There's not someone bullying you, is there?"

"No, umm..." I said. "I..."

"Were you doing something you weren't supposed to?" asked Dad Legoshi.

I looked down and blushed.

"Spit it out. And don't lie to me." said Dad Louis.

"I... I lost my virginity..." I said.

"Hikari... You're too young for that." said Dad Louis.

"Father..." I said.

"Well... Who was it?" he said.

"Some guy from school." I said.

"And I assume you didn't use protection?" he asked.

I looked down.

"Well... I am going to schedule appointment to have you checked for STDs." said Dad Louis. "And from now on, you stay at school and wait for your father or I to pick you up."

"But..." I said.

"No buts." he said. "Do as I say."