Author's note:

Heyaaaaa~! OMG. I just love all your reviews! xD

I'm inspired to make this chapter, and hopefully you'll get Kise's view~

Reviews are appreciated~!

05: Remember

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The neighborhood scenery was dyed with the orange hue of the setting sun.

"Yoruzaki!" Came a group of yells from the distance as he rounded the corner. Almost immediately, his hand tightened around the metal bat he had always carried around and swiveled to face the familiar group of rough-looking teenagers.

"Whadya' want now, footprints or fistprints?" Yoruzaki Ryouta retorted back, his yellow eyes glinting with annoyance and confidence.

"Tch," The largest of the group, a man with square face and a muscular built spat, cracking his knuckles, "Done with your mommy's grocery shopping, huh?" He eyed on the large plastic bag on Ryouta's hand.

"Yeah. Something you guys are too chicken to do," He smirked and tossed the bag to the corner of a post, swinging his bat to his shoulder, "Let's get this over with."

And with a flash of black and yellow, the first man was down on his back, groaning in pain. The group of delinquents roared and charged at the smaller male, fists and chains ready to make contact with flesh. Instead, all they got was thin air. The metal bat swooned at a close head, knocking it back, and making another rounded hoop to a man behind it.

Yoruzaki Ryouta had spent the rest of his grade school years like this. He had a gang who usually followed him, but he'd rather deal with others by himself, so he rarely calls them out. Well, he didn't technically made the group. They were just a bunch who wanted to idolize some strong guy, and they even called it Yorukei or something. He didn't care if they followed him or not, if they get in his way, he'd beat them up.

With just a few scratches and a ripped sleeve, Ryouta dusted himself up and eyed at the bunch on the ground before finally remembering the time. He cursed and quickly got the groceries, rushing to round the corner and catching sight of the playground.

"Ryouta!" A silhouette waved from across the swings, "You're late!"

Ryouta smiled weakly and approached the brown-haired male who hopped off the swing, "Sorry, Akita,"

Akita 's green eyes widened, scanning the untidy boy infront of him, "Did you get into another fight?"

"Shouldn't you be used to it already?" He scoffed back and dropped both his bat and groceries on the ground under the large tree and collapsed beside them as well, leaning back and stretching against the trunk, "Man, I'm beat!"

"Oh, so no tag today huh?" Akita sat beside him and grinned.

Ryouta stared at him blankly, "You're too old to be playing that..."

"You just think old. I'm a child at heart."

"I guess you'll always be."

Soft laughter resounded in the small playground. Ryouta had always liked it this way. It doesn't matter if his days are rough and repetitive. As long as he could always come back to this shade and release all his frustrations with a simple laugh with his only friend. He feels like he can deal with anything with him and his bat of destruction because he knows that there's someone waiting for him, expecting the usual game of tag or 'who can swing the highest'.

That was what he thought. That was what he always wanted to stay the same.

But then Ryouta started to notice it after those days. Sure, Akita would still be there, but the problem was already the increasing number of kids who came after him. He'd recognize the same three groups who's always after him, but then kids from other neighborhoods and other schools started ganging on him. It was much worse than his last load of fistfights, and his trusty bat was already wearing out. No, it's more like he's the one being worn out.

He collapsed beside Akita one day, panting harshly and the bruises and cuts he got from the last fight would sting that he wouldn't dare move.

"Ryouta!" Akita called out in a frightened voice, shaking him lightly, "Oi... S-should I call your parents..?"

Ryouta's face broke into a bitter grin, "It's not like they'll care for someone like me.."

"Don't say that! They're your family and-" His voice got cut off by a bunch of laughter from behind them.

"Ah, so this is lil' Yoru's hideout huh? And he's got a friend!" It was the guys from the school near the station, the other all-boy's school.

Ryouta wheezed and sat up, grabbing Akita's shoulder, pulling him back, while his other hand held his bat, "Fuck off, guys,"

"Hah. You still talk back after getting pretty beat up by Sono's gang," A lean kid with spiked back red hair chuckled out, "This makes it even interesting,"

"I can still beat you up, Ryuuga." Ryouta hissed out, standing up straight and resting his weapon on his shoulder proudly.

Akita panicked, "Ryouta! You're in no shape!"

"Aw, why don't you listen to your friend? Just submit to us and we'll end the attacks,"

"Get out of here, Akita..." The black-haired male glared behind him, "I'll deal with these guys."

"No! As if-"

"Don't act like some hero! You can't fight like me!"

"You're the one acting like a hero!" Akita roared back, although slightly taken back by his words, "I won't-"

"I don't want you here. I can't have you being hurt. Go." Ryouta's eyes softened in resignation.

The brown-haired male pouted, clenching and unclenching his fists before yelling out in anger as he turned around, "Whatever! You better get them good or else I'm not treating you for next week's special!"

"Yeah..." Ryouta had finished just as his friend left his sight. He turned back with an air of confidence and gave the group of guys a wide grin, "So, who wants to start?"

The fight began, and to his surprise, more kids came out from the alleys. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. Quite an ambush, he thought as he readied his bat. And soon, the sun has set and overshadowed the brawl with darkness.

It took Ryouta a while to finally realize that he was under the playground's tree, dozing off with his bat by his side and dozens of bodies unconscious around him. It was late as well.

Ryouta stood up with a cringe, rubbing his sore side, "Augh... They got me good, huh," He muttered to himself. He scanned the group on the ground and noticed that a lot had already left.

He scoffed and picked up the bat before stalking away from the scene. He only got a couple blocks down before he heard loud police sirens in the distance. A police car was there, and cops were questioning an old lady who was screaming while pointing at some kids- Those kids being familiar faces that he remembered he beat up. His stomach coiled anxiously as he passed by, hoping not to get caught or involved with with anything. But as he was about to turn away, the sight of the familiar mess of brown hair made him freeze on his spot.

The ambulance door was opened by some guys in white. A stretcher was placed down beside a boy who was carefully placed on it before being hoisted up.

Ryouta watched in utter panic, his breath getting caught in his throat. His yellow eyes widened as it caught sight of the green-tinted eyes staring back at him. A smile crept its way on the other boy's face as if telling him it's okay.

The ambulance doors finally closed and his breath was back, and with a raspy voice, all he could say was, "A-Akita...!"

"AKITA!" Kise screamed, breathless, eyes wide and body frozen.

It took him a couple of minutes to realize that he had been dreaming. No, not dreaming. He was reminiscing that tragic memory.

He sat up groggily, burrying his face in his arms, "Damnit..." He murmured, clenching his eyes shut. His fingers dug deep on the thin fabric of his shirt and all he could do was stay like that, muttering and shivering at his own fault.

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TBC

A/n:

Oh, I also drew a picture of Yoruzaki Ryouta. It's at my account page... Scroll alllll the way down~ Yep Yep~!

Review! Gimme your insights~! x3