How's it going, guys? I've been busy these past few weeks, but I PROMISE to get back on track! I have a full batch of new stories coming up after Hitman and Abandoned 2, so be on the lookout~

Chapter 9: Try-Hards

Haruichi spat on the ground in irritation as he cracked his neck, mumbling under his breath. "I didn't want to take out my gloves. But he left me no choice." Springing up from the crater his body left in the building, he landed in front of Raichi with a scowl on his face.

Raichi cackled. "Kahaha! Is that look supposed to scare me or something? Cuz it's definitely not working—WHOA!" He shouted as Haruichi suddenly appeared under him and punched him square in the jaw with his glove, electricity crackling after it.

Raichi's body flew up into the air and violently crashed back down through six stories of the building, dust and bricks flying everywhere. The pinkette chased after him.

The brunette screamed in shock as he realized his tongue was torn and hung loosely out of his mouth. From the chin down he was soaked in blood. His nose was bleeding profusely, making it hard to breathe. He panicked as he saw Haruichi slowly walking towards him, his fists at his sides. "L-L-Listen," he managed to say in his current condition. "I'h horry! I hih'nt me ih! F-Fohih me! Ahh!"

Haruichi shrugged as he squatted next to him. "No can do," he said sternly. "Once you attempt to harm Sawamura-san, there is absolutely nothing you can do to escape me."

Raichi's eyes widened in peril as the smaller male trapped him in a headlock with his legs. He tried to pry him off but his arms were completely worn out for some apparent reason. His vision was fading. He was done for. "AHHHHHH!"

CRACK!

Eijun sighed as he hugged his knees to his chest, inhaling and exhaling slowly. "Where's Harucchi? He should be here by now—"

RING! RING!

His fingers frantically searched in his purse for his phone. "Come on, come on~" Rejoicing as he felt his thumb brush against it, he took it out and answered immediately. "HARUCCHI?!"

"Sorry, it's your boyfriend calling," the voice on the opposite line said.

"Fuck!" The brunette rolled his eyes. "I wasn't expecting you to call; what's up?"

"I want to tell you something important," Miyuki said with a serious tone. His voice was ice cold, making Eijun shiver.

"What you t-talking 'bout?" the mastermind asked, failing to hide the nervousness in his voice. "I have better things to worry about. Like Harucchi. I don't know where he is."

The bespectacled male sucked his teeth. "Well… when you solve your little situation, come meet me at my house."

"I don't even know where you live!"

"Ha! That's a you problem!"

Eijun pouted. "Fine! If I get kidnapped, I'm suing your ass!"

Miyuki smirked. "Whatever. Peace. Love you." Without waiting for a response he hung up and whistled. 'Saying that always makes me feel kind of… weird,' he thought, scratching his cheek. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared down. Coincidentally, he was crouching on a building right below where Eijun was curled up. His lips turned upward. "So cute."

"Sa-Sawamura-san…"

Looking up, Eijun gasped in relief as he saw Haruichi sauntering towards him. "Harucchi!" he shouted ecstatically. He got up from the ground and ran up to him, trapping him in a hug. "Damn, what took you so—"

Suddenly, his smile faded as he examined Haruichi's condition. The pinkette was bleeding heavily from both sides of his head, his bonnet was missing, and his arms and legs were lifeless. His breaths were short and rapid.

Eijun frowned. "Geez… what happened? Why do you have your gloves on? You know those are…"

Haruichi laughed weakly. "I h-had no other choice," he croaked. "Todoroki Raichi was p-pretty strong… he tried to k-kill you… I'm glad I protected… you…" With that, his eyes shut and he collapsed in his master's arms silently.

Eijun's eyes widened. "Oi, Harucchi! Oi! Wake up! You're not dead, right? Oi! Harucchi!"

1 Hour Later…

Haruichi groaned as he woke up to sounds of machines beeping and voices muttering amongst themselves. He slowly opened his eyes and saw a familiar face. A face he strangely didn't want to see. "…Aniki?"

Kominato Ryosuke shook his head, his hand on his tie. "I always thought of seeing you in a state like this. All banged up and the like. I knew it was coming."

Haruichi bit his lip. "Do you really have to be like this?"

"Do you really have to be so reckless?" The pinkette stood and walked over to him. He played with the earring placed at the top of his earlobe. "You're not a baby anymore. I don't need to come visit you."

"I never asked you to come visit anyway. We're not even supposed to be talking."

"Wait a minute. Just who do you think you're talking to with that attitude? I know you're not talking to me."

Haruichi rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure I'm talking to you, Aniki. I'm not a baby anymore so I can talk to you however I please."

Ryosuke smirked. "You're lucky I'm stripped clean right now."

"You wouldn't dare lay a hand on me."

"I totally would."

A long and tense silence passed between the rival brothers as they stared at each other with a deep sense of hatred. The beeping of Haruichi's heart monitor grew louder, the sound resonating around the room.

Ryosuke broke the silence. "I just came here to say that you wouldn't be in a hospital bed if you were on my side."

Haruichi scoffed. "Eijun-kun is my best friend. I would never betray our friendship to be on your damn side. I swore on my life that I would protect him and I'm g-glad that I'm on this bed. As proof of my loyalty to him, I suffered. So can you please stop bothering me about not following in your footsteps?"

The older male made his way to the doorway. He stopped and turned around slightly. "Whatever floats your boat. But remember… if you were on my side… you wouldn't have to worry about what your little boyfriend is doing."

Enraged, Haruichi frantically picked up a glass vase and threw it him, screaming. He missed as Ryosuke left swiftly, hearing the crisp shatter of glass against the marble floor. He leaned back against the bed, clenching the bedsheets. "Satoru has absolutely nothing to do with this…"