And In Another Life
Chapter 2: We Meet Again
Takemichi can leap through time. I can see the future. He puts himself through hell to save us all. I live through hell to save myself from heartbreak and in the end, I can't even do that. My best chance at life is to live without you, but I don't know how to do that. No matter who I love or how far you push me, I don't want to. In this life and the next, you always pull and I push too deep then I fall right back to you.
May 16th 2005
Hey! What's up? What are you doing right now?
Yukari glanced down at the message on her phone and promptly ignored it. She'd gotten that one during ballet practice judging by the time. Before that, she'd gotten a consecutive string of 'hey's that also went ignored. It was a random number, no name. No matter how messages came through, there never was. It was almost hilarious. It was like the person who sent them just expected her to know who it was. First of all, that was pretty arrogant. Second of all, it was disconcerting. Who could've—
Damn. Realization hit like a knock on the door. Didn't I give my number out two days ago?
She definitely did, but…that couldn't be him. Who actually texts a stranger that writes on their arm?
Are you still at school?
No one did, no one but a kidnapper.
…or maybe that was pushing it a bit.
Bzzzz.
The next message had just come in, but she wasn't going to respond to that one either. In fact, she clicked a few buttons and bam! Now, she wouldn't have to respond to any.
Her ballet studio wasn't far from her school, so if she wasn't driven, she could usually just walk to it easily enough. Walking she could take the same streets. She passed the same stores. There was a convenience store on the corner that served her favorite fizzy drink. Passionfruit Explosion! Sometimes it made her eyes water it was so good, and she was so starved for something sweet she needed it extra today.
Yukari paused, her hand tightening on the strap of her bag, the press of her backpack digging into her skin.
There, parked just outside its glass doors, were two familiar heads. Both blonde. Both looking around…waiting.
Hell no.
Their backs to her, she ran across the intersection and booked it into the park, stomping against rock and twig alike to put some distance between her and the doom patrol.
She was just about to turn left to take the path that led to her house when she heard a myriad of meows rise up out of the bushes, just a few feet away. She stepped toward the sound and, to her surprise, found a boy with a bag at his feet. In little saucers, he scooped handfuls of wet cat mix from cans, petting the kittens that ventured closer. In all, Yukari counted five, all in various colors and not quite adults. They all had the slimness of a baby but the length of an almost adult. Preteens at this point.
The boy's head was bent over his work. His hair shiny black and long. The sun threw some of it in shade, so when he moved it shook like a water fall blasting off a cliff. His voice was slightly harsh in quality, deep. However, when he spoke to the strays, he was soft, kind even.
"Here you go…don't be greedy, Tora, that one's Mikey's. You can have this one here—hey, no biting! You're not rabies free!" He sighed, gently petting the head of the cat that nipped him. "I can't afford that shit right now. My mom would kill me. Mitsuya, stop sulking in the corner. Pah stop walking into that tree, it's not gonna move. Draken…you're fine, I guess. The least you can do is keep these jerks in line though. It's like feeding frenzy over here and you're no help at all."
Yukari laughed.
The boy lifted his head, shooting to his feet, a glare ready-made and sharp, ready for slashing. However, when his hazel eyes met Yukari's the sting faded. Something akin to curiosity was left behind. "Hey. I've never seen you come this way before."
"I'm avoiding people," She says, walking up to him and turning her knees so she can lower herself without flashing anyone. "Pretty sure some people want to kidnap me."
His brow flickered and his grin came easy, showing sharp, canine like teeth. There was a wildness to him, something uncaged. He looked at home in this wilderness, natural. "You've got it rough. Must be a tough job, being so attractive all the time." Sarcasm.
"Oh, wow," Yukari rolled her eyes, petting the head of the blonde cat with big blue eyes. He launched himself at her lap, climbing up and immediately curling to sleep. The black, scrawnier cat, Tora?, put one paw on her knee and received a vicious smack on the head. When she laid down tonight, she'd probably remember it ringing in her ears. Frowning, Yukari booped Mikey's nose. She lifted him up and put him down at her feet, picking up Tora instead, cradling him close. When she looked up at the boy, he was watching her with a steady expression, observing. "I can tell you feel so bad for me." She said sarcastically.
His grin spread like wildfire, curling into his voice and wrapping itself into his limbs as he squatted back down beside her, "My bad. It's not like that. Most girls think guys are stalking them anyway, even when they're not. I had a girl accuse me of being in love with her when I asked to borrow a pencil."
Yukari smiled, scratching behind Tora's ears. "I wouldn't say most girls do anything. But, you should know, borrowing a pencil is pretty major on the relationship scale. That's basically dating. And please, please don't ask for a pen. That's basically a honeymoon!"
"You've got jokes, but you can't deny some people think that way." He said, hazel eyes shining.
She shrugged. "Maybe. I envy those people."
"yeah?" his brows drew together, "How d'you come to that?"
"I live in my own little world sometimes. Those people get to stay there, you know? And reality doesn't really phase them. I bet it's nice…living like that." Yukari pulled her eyes to his profile. He had such a serious face, with serious pretty lashes, and weirdly elegant hair.
The boy became quiet and pensive as he thought about her words, scratching at his chin. "I guess you're right."
Yukari almost toppled as Mikey made a beeline for her lap again, shoving himself into her grip and stepping all over Tora. She laughed, giving in and letting them both stay so long as Mikey keep those paws from poor Tora's head. "Do these guys belong to you?"
"I actually found them down by the river." The boy explained, pointing through the trees. "I brought them here so they'd have more shelter. My mom didn't want me bringing home a box of strays so…I kind of just come when I can."
"And you picked out the names?" she asked humorously, "Even Mikey?"
The boy grinned. Grinning came so easily for him. "Yeah, me and Chifuyu. He comes by sometimes too, but he got held up at home so it's just me today."
"And you pay for the food yourself?" Yukari felt Draken's claws stick into her skirt as he made the climb, followed closely by Mitsuya. Pah was still neck deep in cat food. He wasn't going anywhere.
"Chifuyu and I usually split it." His brows shot up, "What? are you offering?"
He doesn't beat around the bush does he? "Yes, actually. I really like these guys."
"They're the coolest cats you'll ever find." He boasted proudly. "I taught them manners."
Yukari giggled, "Yes, and you're a real gentleman. Asking for my name and everything."
He rolled his eyes, "You're the one who snuck up on me without giving your name first. I was already here."
She waved her hand, "Irrelevant."
He smirked, "So…what is your name, by the way?"
"Yukari Tamura. And you? Or should I call you the Cat Whisperer?"
"Cat Whisperer is pretty cool, but it's Keisuke Baji. And just Baji could work if you're feeling lazy."
Yukari flexed her brow, "And I am lazy, so Baji it is." She said, picking up the thrashing cats and setting them by their bowls. She stood up and stretched her arms, "Well, anyway, I should get going. I'll bring by some food tomorrow, okay?"
His eyes brightened, "Thanks, that's really cool of you."
She shrugged, "I like cats." She then toed her shoe into the ground. "I had a cat a couple years ago, Tai, but my brother killed him."
"Shit." His gaze darkened, furious. "Sounds like a dick."
Yukari laughed, "You have no idea." She dusted off her skirt, "Anyway, I'll see you around?"
"Wait." Baji picked up the empty saucers and stowed them in his bag along with the empty cans. He petted each cat, scratching behind their ears and stroking their tails. "Let me walk you home."
She threw her hands up, "No, that's—"
"No friend of mine is going to get kidnapped." Baji said adamantly and then cracked a grin, "even if it is all in your head. We're not taking any chances."
"I don't know…" Yukari nudged him playfully, "These guys are pretty scary."
Baji snorted and cracked his neck, "Yeah, we'll see about that. They're not scarier than me."
"I don't know…" Yukari hedged, "One guy had a whole head tattoo."
"Tch. Come on, let's find these bastards. I'll kick their asses. You'll owe me an apology when I do."
Yukari grabbed her stomach, walking in tandem with her new friend as they made their way out of the park. She didn't mention that they were in the opposite direction. She wouldn't, even with Baji on high alert, glaring at every pair of guys they happened to bump into. He grabbed one highschooler who smirked at them by the collar, surprising both the high schooler and Yukari with his strength. "Is this them?"
It took a moment for her to process it all, "The hell, Baji! No, put the poor boy down."
Sucking his teeth, he glared down at the boy and flung him backwards into the street light, "Scram you punk."
Scram he did. On his hands and knees, he scuttled away, Yukari yelling apologies as he retreated. "I'm so, so sorry about this! Baji!" she turned on him, "that's the fifth guy you've made piss himself. You have to chill."
He wrinkled his brow, confused, "Weren't you the one afraid of being kidnapped?"
"Yes! But these aren't the guys! I'll tell you when I see them, okay?"
His eyes narrowed, but finally he nodded, "Fine. But that guy definitely had it coming. He was checking you out for sure."
Yukari slapped a hand on her forehead, out of exasperation yes, but also to hide her smile. Baji was…ridiculous but being around him felt so freeing. So safe. Even saying or even shouting his name felt natural, second nature. Like she'd done it a thousand times. She groaned. "Whatever you say, Baji."
As they walked down the street, Baji listening as Yukari hummed a song. He had to guess the title. He was good at that end. Yukari sucked at it, but only when he was doing the humming.
"You're off." She said, hand on hips, being sore loser. "You're not humming it right."
"Your ears are off because I'm definitely humming it right." He said, stepping closer. "Listen."
He paused as he noticed a familiar roar of exhaust.
A motorcycle zoomed past them, and he threw up his hand to wave. Yukari lunged at him, grabbing that hand down from—
His black hair held a halo of light around him. the sun bounced off his skin, throwing the rest of him into shadow. His hair blew with the wind, beating against his white jacket, a red strip flapping off the zipper on the sleeve. He stood at the exit of the alley. She was panting slightly, having chased him this far.
"For what it's worth…" Baji said, smile splitting his face in that way she knew well. The way she loved. "I'm glad I met you. Let's meet again in another life, okay? This time though, let's not fuck it up."
She started, running toward him, "Baji—"
"Yukari, are you good?"
Yukari let his hand fall from her grasp. She pressed her hand to her head. "Oh, yeah, sorry about that."
The change from joking to serious concern was jarring, but he changed like the wind. Somehow she knew that. Will know it. "Do you need to sit down?"
She nodded. "Actually, I should probably call someone. I don't want to waste your time."
"Don't be stupid," he sat beside her on the curb. "We can go when you feel up to it. Besides, who's going to beat up your boyfriends next time we see'em?"
She rolled her eyes, "Kidnappers."
"Same difference." He grinned, nudging her with his elbow.
Yukari looked over to him, the sun falling down against his hair. he leaned back against his palms, "Alright. It's my turn again. Listen carefully, okay. No complaining." Baji began his song, and she listened, carefully. She'd try her best to get it right. He was right. He deserved that much.
Her mother's office door was ajar, pouring from it, Yukari could hear an assortment of voices on the other line, all on speaker, all clamoring for her attention. Her mother stood at attention, her business coat draped across the couch off to the side, her hand busy with a binder and pen, another pen behind her ear.
If she noticed Yukari sneak into the room, she didn't say anything as her fingers flew across a page, listening to an older gentleman ramble on before cutting him off.
"Rido, I thought I told you to run the numbers twice?
"I did—"
"Apparently not, because when I ran them you were off by exactly 2, 546? How is that possible?"
"It isn't I swear!"
"Swear to your next boss. I need your resignation on my desk first thing tomorrow. Don't bother to clear out your things." Her mother strode across the room to her computer, typed down a response and hit send. "We'll have them sent to you."
His voice broke in half, panick shaking through this words. "But—"
"Goodbye Rido."
"My name's Rhito—"
with a click he was gone and another voice jumped to replace it. "I have the travel log ready to submit to accounting." This voice was slightly more familiar to Yukari. Mom's secretary, maybe? Jun?
"Juri, can you update my schedule for tomorrow? I won't be in until after lunch. My meetings will have to be moved. Make the proper apologies for me?"
"Oh, of course, ma'am. Now, you have a lunch scheduled with your husband, should I—"
"Cancel it. He won't be back in time and I have other things to do."
"…yes. I'll make those changes. The calls should take—"
"No more than an hour? Then I need to have the new schedule before you clock out."
"Oh, um…of course." Juri swallowed. "I'll—"
Click.
"Uryu can you tell me why you're calling me at this hour?"
"You asked for an updated list of our clients and—"
"I asked for the list an hour ago."
"It's been hard getting through your call—"
"Did your email malfunction, Uryu or did you just finish it?"
"Ma'am I—"
"Don't lie to me, Uryu. Try again and you can consider yourself unemployed."
Uryu went dead silent.
Yukari's mother pulled a dark strand of brown hair behind her ear. "You have the list, Uryu?"
"…yes ma'am."
"Let's hear it. I've been waiting long enough."
Yukari decided to back out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. across the hall was her father's office and study. He left his door wide open whether he was home or not, the lamp by his desk glowing gold shining down on the teddy bear Yukari had given him when she was five. It was a birthday present, one of the best in her five-year-old opinion. Lulu was a dusty blue with silk paw prints and a big polka dot bow and silver buttons for eyes. Her favorite. He kept Lulu at his desk for luck. Everytime she'd need a little luck herself, Yukari would rub her thumb against the pads of her silken paws.
Sitting in her father's chair, she pulled the bear close and breathed her in, closing her eyes. "Somethings wrong with me, Lu." Yukari felt her eyes burn, "I tried to make myself think it was a dream, but…dreams don't happen twice, do they?"
The bear's comforting silence warmed her chest.
"Should I tell someone? Or will they just think I'm crazy? They'd totally think I was crazy right?" Probably, I know I would. That answered that. Yukari pressed her nose to Lulu's. "What does this mean though? Am I seeing what is?" she hoped so. Both visions, however, brief were exhilarating to behold and any excuse to know her friendship with Baji lasted, was an excuse she'd take. But…the other one?
The other was less clear. That one could be…anything…at least that's what she told herself.
When Yukari got ready for bed, Baji's name flashed up on her screen. She answered with a grin, "Cat Whisperer?"
"Rich girl." She could hear him roll his eyes through the phone, "I've made it back safely. Are you satisfied?"
"Yep! That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Maybe not but it was stupid."
"How so?" she pulled her pillow close to her cheek to wrap her arms around it.
"Because I am perfectly capable of getting myself home. I've been doing it for fifteen years." Baji added, "That was before I met you, by the way, Mom."
"You never know, okay. There are a lot of gangs in Tokyo. You have to be careful."
"I'm in a gang."
She snorted, Baji was too…Baji. Yeah, he'd grab someone up by the collar quick but he was a total teddy bear. "You are not. You're way too sweet."
"First of all, I am not sweet. Second of all, what do you think gangs do?" he asked incredulously.
She rolled onto her back, "I don't know. Fight adorable guys like yourself who are chivalrous and kind to strays."
He sighed, done with her foolishness. "yeah, whatever. I'll let you meet the guys and you'll see how cool and badass we all are."
"I'm sure." She snickers and then smiles, eyeing the clock by her bed. "Talk to you later."
"'Night. Yukari. Don't get kidnapped before you make it to the park."
"I'll try." She moved to press end but his voice shot up to her.
"Bring food." He demanded.
"I got it." She said.
"The good kind. Mitsuya is allergic to the cheap stuff."
And she's the Mom? "I said I got it! Hang up the phone!"
And that is how Yukari and Baji became fast friends
Yukari was in high spirits as she left practice. She had to call Hina and Kiki to let them know she'd be a little late. They were supposed to be meeting at Hina's to have a slumber party. But, first things first was the cat food. Cat food for the past week, had been an essential part of her and Baji's daily routine. Sometimes she dragged along Kiki, sometimes Hina, sometimes Chifuyu would show, but she and Baji were the constants. They always showed. She wouldn't, couldn't miss it for the world.
She walked into the convenience store nearest her school and brought as many of the 'high-end' cans as she could fit into her bag.
Walking out of the store, she almost bumped into a guy as he walked toward his motorcycle. He stepped out of the way, just in time, giving her an apology.
"That's—" she stopped, lifted her head up and came face to face with a pair of dark eyes. His brows pulled together before shooting up. Clear as day, she could see the dragon tattoo wrapping around the side of his head. "Oh. Hello again." She deadpanned, thinking about sending Baji a quick text, but thinking better of it. This guy was huge and anyway, she'd feel horrible if she got him into a fight this early in their friendship. Something told her (undoubtedly that mysterious vision) she'd have plenty of time to do that later.
After holding her eyes a moment, recognition flashed across his face. he pointed to her, seemingly excited to have remembered her. "Oh, yeah, you're the girl who wrote her whole name on Mikey's arm the other day!"
Adjusting her school bag, she took an overview of him. Imposing as he was, he had an easy sort of smile and a relaxed posture. He didn't seem like such a bad guy. He seemed happy to talk to her and that's it. "Yes. Sorry about that," Yukari hides her grin behind her fingers. "I was a little impulsive." I'm doing a lot of that lately.
"No, it's cool. We thought it was funny. Plus, you just walked out all badass. I respect it." He leaned against the handle bars of his bike.
Yukari laughed, "Is that how I looked? I was definitely just trying to escape the weird situation I put myself in."
"Yeah," the boy scratched his neck, "I've seen a lot of come ons in my day and that was definitely one of the strongest."
She threw her hands up, "That was not a come on. I just…giving someone your number isn't a come on. Here, I'll prove it. What's your name?"
"Ken Ryuguji, but everyone calls me Draken. I suggest you call me that too."
Yukari snorts, "Yeah okay, anyway. Ask for my phone number."
He hesitated, brows lifted. "Uh…"
She glanced around impatiently, "It's fine."
"O...kay." he sighed, humoring her but he definitely thought this was stupid, "Can I have your phone number?"
"yes. Good sir. I do not find myself romantically attached to you but since you seem like a cool person, you can have it. Thanks." Yukari did a little flourish with her arm, "See? Totally platonic."
He frowned at her, "You didn't say that when you wrote on Mikey's bicep."
Again, she threw her hand in the air, earning herself a smirk from him. "That was not his bicep! You're a big guy, you should know the difference between a bicep and a forearm, and I definitely just wrote on his forearm!"
"Yeah well, the next time you decide to come-on to him, do it with non-permanent ink. I caught hell tryin' to get that shit off."
Yukari bit at her bottom lip, "Oh, no. It was permanent?"
"Yes, it was permanent! Didn't you know?"
Guilty, she laughed, "…no?"
"Who does that?"
"I'm sorry okay. I wouldn't have done it if I would have known you'd have such—wait. You cleaned it off him?" she laughed. "You took a bath together?
He sighed, "We were in a public bath, I'll have you know. he was bitchin' so I stepped in."
"Well, again, I'm sorry. I'm glad you were able to get it." She stepped around him.
"Hey, wait a second. I got Emma and Mikey with me. We came to get you."
Yukari blinked, looked around. "Uh…why?"
"To hang out. Why else?" he said this like it was the most natural thing in the world. Like they did this sort of thing all the time. Like they'd made plans already and she'd somehow forgot all about them. Silly her.
"Yukari!"
She spun at the sound of her name, and Mr. Popular himself, walked up to her with a girl close behind. She was very pretty with blonde hair and a curious look. Her honey eyes glowed when they looked at her, excited to finally meet the girl who writes on arms.
"There you are! We've been looking all over for you!"
Yukari stepped closer to the road as Mikey stepped forward. "You have?"
"Yeah, you haven't texted me back yet."
"That was you?" Yukari said, "How come you never said your name."
"I did, but I think at that point you blocked me."
She toed her shoe into the ground. That's right. She did block him. "Oh…right. Sorry. Anyway, I should—"
"You should come with us." Mikey insisted. And then gestured over his shoulder, "We're going to hang out for a bit. You can keep Emma company."
The girl behind him, offered a wave, smiling slightly. "You may as well say yes. He won't take no for an answer. He's stubborn like that."
"Yeah, it's kinda annoying but you'll get used to it." Draken says, and Mikey pokes out his lips like a child puffing his cheeks and crossing his arms.
"That's not fair, guys. You're making me look bad."
He kinda doesn't have a choice, Yukari thought, edging backward. "I would but I have to feed some cats."
"What an incredible lie." Draken deadpanned. "You're a real creative person, you know that?"
She flipped him the finger, "I'm not lying. I literally have cat food in my bag. I promised I'd feed them. And then later, I have a slumber party."
"We'll take you to your imaginary cats." Mikey said with a shrug. When he does, his hair kind of slides off his shoulders in just the right way, just as the wind picks it up and he has to hold a hand to his face to keep it from blinding him. Needless to say, he looks unnecessarily cool. "and then get you over to your slumber party. It's only four. We have plenty of time."
She knows she should dissect. She should question. But she's stuck into whatever quick sand he's concocted and she's left with no way to escape. Why even fight at this point?
Crossing her arms, Yukari watched the blonde boy climb onto his bike, Emma sitting behind him. he knows she's coming, he just wants to hear it. "What do you say?"
She sighed, "You'll take me right to the cats?"
"Yes."
"And then to your wherever, but get me home by eight?"
"Seven-thirty at the latest."
She swished it around in her head a bit more. I suppose I did ask for this by writing my name on his arm. "Okay. Shoot."
"Yay! She agreed! I was beginning to think we'd have to kidnap you." Mikey said, with an infectious grin.
She rolled her eyes, making her way around to Draken's back seat.
"You better not kidnap me." She warned him as she eyed the motorcycle. "I would sue you so much."
He scoffed. "Ha! You wouldn't."
"I would. Can't you tell? Look at my clothes. I'm definitely the type. Give it a try and test me."
"Yeah, yeah," Draken barked with laughter. "You're alright Yukari!"
She glanced over to Emma who sat behind Mikey, watching her with a curious look.
"It's pretty safe." Emma finally decided to add. "Draken's a great driver, if that's what you're worried about."
"Actually," Yukari winked at her, "I'm more concerned about the kidnapping thing—"
"Can you just get on already! Shesh!"
She laughed, "Fine. Emma, your boyfriend's pretty annoying, isn't he?"
"Just get on." Draken then added with some effort, "Please?"
"Ah! Finally!" she sat side saddle, wrapping her arms around his waist as—"
"Wait a second. I've got an idea!" that was Mikey who suddenly spoke up. "Let's switch passengers! Emma, you ride with Draken. Kari, you can ride with me."
Draken leaned his head back and peered over to his friend and then snorted.
"Something funny, Ken-chin?"
Draken didn't respond to him, only laughed a little more.
Yukari looked over to Mikey, watching Emma's face seize with bliss. She was very happy about the change, but… "I don't know. I don't want you to think I'm coming on to you."
"Like you haven't already—hey! You're violent for a girl." Draken complained, nursing the back of his neck where she'd slapped him.
"Hush, before I get my permanent marker out and draw you a beard."
"I have a beard."
Yukari burst out laughing, "Nice joke."
"I'm being serious!" he pointed to his silky smooth chin and a single fuzzy piece stuck out from the end. Or it was lint, one or the other.
She tapped his shoulder, placatingly. "Yes, fine. I'll play along."
"Get off my damn bike. You're way too comfortable with me!"
"Fine." Yukari says, sliding off the smooth seat and walking over to Mikey. "You're not going to kidnap me either, are you?"
"Not if you don't want me too."
Everyone was silent a moment.
"Damn, Mikey. That was creepy as hell." Draken said.
Mikey bristled, shouting across the small space that separated them. "Not creepy as you trying to kidnap a girl you just met!"
"I wasn't trying to kidnap her, you moron! You're the one who said we should find out where she goes to school and show up there! That's way creepier!"
"You agreed to do it! You was all, 'wow, Mikey, that's a really great idea. You're so smart I'm so jealous!'"
"As if I'd say something so painfully untrue—"
"You both are equally creepy for even thinking it was okay." Emma cut in sagely, "You should be thankful I stepped in and came or else she probably would have called the cops."
"Correct." Yukari told her. "Emma's right. That would have happened immediately."
Mikey turned his head to give Yukari a confused look, "But, aren't you the one who came on to me?"
Yukari growled, "That was not a come-on! Emma, give me your arm. I'll prove it."
Emma pulled her arm close to her chest, smirking. "No thanks. You're not really my type."
"Urgh! You three are impossible." She then reached forward and flicked Mikey's ear. "You'd know if I was coming on to you. I am not into games. I'd be on you like white on rice."
"Yeah, we noticed." Draken commented, and then pulled back as he noticed Yukari attempting to launch her bag at him. "Hey! You'll hit Emma."
"No I won't. I'm a great shot. I have perfect accuracy as long as you stay still."
Mikey threw his headback and laughed. "You're pretty cool, Kari. I'm glad I decided we're friends."
She meant to retort, or, at the very least, to flick his forehead like the little kid he was acting like, but stopped. When he smiled, like real hard, his eyes closed with the force of it and somehow he still beamed brightly. Her heart fumbled a beat and she bit the inside of her cheek.
Yukari swallowed, letting her eyes drop as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
Yukari held her breath, and clamped down her arms-
"Hey, just relax okay," one of his hands found her slightly cold one, zapping her again. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. You're safe with me, Kari."
The wild beating of her heart denied his claim and shoved it down into the desert, nowhere to be seen. The soft, gentle sound of her nickname did nothing but add to her nerves doubling them by 3. "I'll believe you when we get there."
He chuckled, something deep, something smooth. "Just hold tight."
His hand left hers, and a sheen of coldness was abandoned in its place traded in. At its loss, her eyes opened. just then he revved his engine and pulled off.
She made to scream, to allow the sound to ripple out into her body but paused. They weren't zooming down a street, flashing so fast she couldn't see a thing. They were moving but not fast enough to blur everything around her. In fact, it was like filming a movie. She imagined herself the cameraman as Mikey swerved out of the way of a truck and took a deep turn around the corner, keeping up with some phantom star before them. Air pressed in on her, but Mikey blocked the bulk of it and she was able to laugh as the wind tickled her cheeks and caressed its bulky fingers through her hair.
"You believe me now!"
He roared and she squeezed tighter, hating how good it felt to hold onto him in any capacity. "We'll see when I don't die!"
It was so exhilarating she didn't even know until five minutes in that they had made an eight and were on the way back the way they'd come.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking you to the park." he says over his shoulder, "We could've just walked there we were so close but I wanted you to ride with me."
Heat flares its head again, and kisses her cheeks. she sighs, and he did it, flying through life without a single care in the world. "I wish you didn't make it so easy."
He laughed, not understanding, "Am I supposed to be sorry?"
She grins, and fights the psycho urge to kiss his cheek. That really would be a come on. "You should be."
Walking through the park, Yukari can't help touching her cool cheeks and screams. "My face is so cold."
"Let me feel." Mikey is in her face in a second, both hands coming to cover her cheeks—
Draken reaches for him, "Mikey, you can't just—
But it's too late.
His hands are warm and zip with an electricity that throws her backward into darkness.
When she can finally see, she sees him.
"Why does everyone leave me?" Mikey asks, turning his head from the view of the water, a scarf wrapped around his neck, dorayaki in his hand. "Everyone does. Even you…"
"I don't want to leave you." She says, stepping closer wrapping her arms around his shoulders breathing him in, "I just don't want to hurt you, Mikey. You're delicate."
He presses his head to her stomach, "Losing you would hurt more."
"You don't know that—"
"I do."
"Mikey—"
"Do you believe in destiny?" He asked her, looking up at her, tears the hugging his lashes, "Remember when I asked you that?"
She nods.
"What did I say?"
Yukari swallows, "You will. Trust me."
"And do you?"
"So much I can barely breathe."
He smiles—
Yukari inhales sharply and yanks from Mikey's grasp. He doesn't look offended, just surprised.
Breathless, she laughs, trying to steady the wildness of her heart. "Sorry, you shocked me. Static electricity and all that."
"Oh." Mikey laughs, stepping forward, he grabs her wrist, "Let's go."
"Mikey, don't drag her," Emma protests, "You can't drag a girl places just because!"
"It's fine," Yukari says, waving her off with a sigh, "he's not going to stop."
Baji placed down a box of kittens just as the tree of them strolled into view, "Yukari," he says, standing up, "You're late. I've been waiting forever—"
His eyebrows shoots up and he gasps, his eyes fly to the four of them, lingering extra long on Mikey's grip on her wrist. Yukari slips from his grip. "Yukari? You know Mikey and Draken?"
"I'm here too." Emma said, crossing her arms and blowing a strand out of her eyes.
Yukari gestured to the two blond boys. "You know these guys—wait, Mikey, Draken, You're in Baji's gang."
"Actually," Mikey said smoothly, leaning over her shoulder, "Baji's in my gang. It's called Toman and I'm the commander."
"Toman." She repeated it softly, flipping the name over in her head. It did sound a little familiar. The one to know would be Kiki, of course, being the daughter of a detective she was fascinated by crime life and its early beginnings. She knew about most gangs even if she didn't care to share. Still, to be honest, she really couldn't picture it. "Really? Baji and Draken are way more mature than you are though."
At that he pouted, "That's hurtful; I'm mature. Mature enough for you to come on to me."
At that, she lost it, shoving him in the chest. He caught her hands as he laughed, keeping her from escaping, the toe of her shoes pressed against his sandal. "I was not coming on to you! Baji, when I gave you my number, did you think I was hitting on you?"
Baji glanced around like he was being tested. "Uh, no."
Mikey, still holding her in his grip asked him with a grin, "Did she write her name on your arm?"
"No." he then looked to Yukari, "wait, you did that? Really?"
"I was being impuls—look. I was not coming on to anyone, okay? Can we please feed these poor babies?"
Mikey smiled as she glowered at him, still holding her in place, slightly pulling her toward him and she had to fight to keep from falling into him. Try as she might, she would not be running away. "Don't make that face. You can come on to me all you want. I don't mind."
With a roar she pushed into him just as he pulled her back and they both toppled to the ground with a resounding boom. Yukari gasped as she fell into his chest, narrowly avoiding smacking her forehead into his by a half centimeter. Draken and Emma whirled around them. "I told you to stop playing around!" Draken shouted. "Now look at you."
Meanwhile, Yukari felt a tap of electricity sing through her arms and stay her tongue as she moved to speak but found herself frozen. He was…sturdy for a boy. Strong. Firm. Really firm. Noticeably firm. Mikey was laughing at their predicament, not at all trying to leave or pushing to get her off. If anything, he held her steady so she wouldn't slide off into the grass and dirty her clothes. When his eyes finally opened, his irises were dilated, blown like a supernova. She felt that spark again, bright and burning.
"Yukari."
Yukari jumped, her knee banging into Mikey's kidney. Turning she found Baji with a hand outstretched for her. still slightly shocked, she took it, her face starting to burn slowly but surely as the heat in her arms refused to fade. "Thanks, Baji."
"Anytime," he says, although he looks slightly crestfallen when he does.
The usual glow isn't quite there and she needs him to bring it back. Baji not wearing his signature smirk is like the sun taking a sick day. It isn't' natural.
She goes to poke fun at him—something to make him smile—but pauses as she lifts his hand. "What the hell, Baji? What's this?" she points to the specks of blood on the sleeve of his striped shirt. She notices them because they've all managed to hit the black lines and fell right into the white. She quirks her brow at them, "Out looking for my stalkers again?"
A flash, a pull on his hand, and he's alive again, all teeth and eyebrows, slightly feral. Baji. "Nah, this time some guy looked at me funny…" he trailed off, avoiding her eyes completely by turning his head and scratching his chin, "so I punched him…seven times."
"Baji," she almost laughs but holds it in, because if she doesn't she's a cosigner, an enabler, "you can't just hit people who look at you funny."
"I didn't like the look he gave me, plus," Baji turned back to her, lively in his own defense, "He looked at me for a long time. It's like he wanted me to hit him!"
Yukari blinks, "He could've been like, 'oh, wow, that guy looks super cool and badass, I want to be his friend.' Now look at you, you've ruined a potential friendship! What if you'd hit me, the first time we'd met? Huh? You're lost without me. You pray for my company. You wish on a star for my presence."
Baji shot her a look, his cheeks tinting pink, "First: No. Just: No. You're not funny so stop. Second: I wouldn't hit you, you're a girl." He said, and then smirked, "Plus you can't fight."
Yukari steps right up to him and throws her arms in the air, "Who says! I can fight."
"Kiki can fight. And she'd probably destroy you too." Baji says and then seems to think more about it, "It's actually kinda cool. You can hardly find pretty girls like that who can actually throw hands. Most girls are like you. Pretty or whatever. But she's not just pretty. She's different."
She's different.
She's different. Echoes in Yukari's head a moment, it makes its way around once, twice before she loses her smile.
That, for whatever reason, stings. It burrows deep, thrashing about, pushed forward by the reflective look in Baji's gaze as she reminisces. She didn't expect it too, because they always teased each other. Always poked and prodded. Often times since they'd started hanging out these past several days, they'd say things like that.
"Oh, Chifuyu's a better cook. You kinda suck, Baji." Or he'd say, "Kiki, get over here and teach your friend how to throw a punch, it looks like she's trying to slap a gnat every time she comes at me. I'm actually going to be sick."
This time it's different. This time, she just wants to leave.
Instead of that, she gives a shrug and turns her back on him. her stomach is sour and if she spends a second more looking at him, it'll rot out her insides. Keeping her eyes down, she unzips her ballerina bag and proceeds to pull out the goods. "Anyway, back to these babies. Emma, can you bring the box over—"
"I got it, Emma." Baji sweeps toward her, dragging the meowing kittens closer. The bounce in his step is back and he's all movement and swagger as he closes in on her.
She stands as Baji squats beside her, he almost brushes her arm and she wants no part of him touching her.
Emma, purses her lips as she watches this, but says nothing. "Draken, you and I can handle these two. Mikey, you—"
"Show me how to do this."
Yukari starts when she finds Mikey suddenly by her side, suddenly close. He's all demands, holding out a can to her, "Is there a specific system, Kari? Or is it free for all and it's survival of the fittest?"
Yukari snorts, some of her strange gloom dissipating. Mikey inadvertently blows all those dark clouds away just by looking happy, innocent, childish. "You're adorable."
He takes the compliment and gives her even more of his dark gaze, more of his sunshine.
They'd only met days ago and somehow he was already calling her by a nickname, skipping past the last entirely. Like they didn't even need it. "Actually," Yukari feels that sourness in her stomach again, and it wants to take a bite out of her happiness, puncture it like a balloon. "you should let Baji. He's the expert." Yukari looks up and finds his hazel eyes on her, "Right, tough guy?"
Baji's gaze flickers as if he senses something wrong, something amiss. But as soon as he notices, he shrugs it off, thinking nothing of it. "Uh…actually, it's pretty simple. They're all pretty greedy so they each get a can."
"Cool," Yukari says, gesturing Mikey closer. "Mikey—"
Mikey does her one better by sliding so close his chest his pressed to her arm, his face just over her shoulder. She inhales sharply at his closeness and fumbles with the can, fingers slipping over the tab. This happens twice. Each time, Mikey giggles. She stops glares at him, tries again. Giggle.
Her eyes pierce him, "Quit, you're making me nervous."
His eyes pull up from her hands and hold her, "How am I making you nervous?"
She has…no words, just continues to miss the tab, over and over until Mikey explodes behind her and she savagely hits him. He fumbles back but doesn't fall, still grinning. "I don't know what Baji's talking about, I really felt that one."
Yukari rolls her eyes, she holds up the can. "You try now, Mr. Commander."
"That much I can do," He says, reaching one arm over her right shoulder and coming even closer on her left so she's enveloped in the very scent of him. His hand glides over hers as he removes the can from her grasp, and she lets both of them fall dead in her lap as his other arms presses in on her.
Stubborn, she forces herself to regulate her breathing, to focus on the poor kittens, to keep her eyes forward, to ignore the scent of his shampoo mixed with wind and slight smoke, to not count the number of lashes brushing his cheeks, to not admire the swift, deftness of his fingers, to not studder when he speaks softly at her ear. "Got it for ya. What now?"
She takes a second to steady herself, before leaning forward to break herself from his closeness, "Now," she glances back at him, more confident now that she's not in his arms, "we give them what they came for."
Little Mikey makes a beeline for her lap the moment he sees food. Clamoring over Kazutora and stepping on Mitsuya's tail is nothing to him. He launches himself into her stomach, head butting her in the process.
Big Mikey laughs, "Who's that little guy? I like his spirit. He knows what he wants and gets it."
"His name is Mikey," Yukari says, almost without thinking, grinning as he tries to stuff his face into the can, while also keeping her hands to himself by hissing at the other cats she tried to pet. "he's obsessed with me."
Good natured, easy, Mikey laughs, and its infectious, makes her want to watch him in real time. The moment she turns to meet his dark eyes, they sober. Looking at him feels a lot like staring down a marksman seconds from releasing his arrow. An arrow that's been set on fire, flames roaring and spitting. By all the gods in heaven, she swears she can feel its heat lick her skin. "He probably has good reason."
Bang. Just like that, she's hit. Yukari pauses, waits for him to crack a smile, but his gaze his steady, and he's so serious gooseflesh springs along her arms. Spiders legs tap down her spine. Not finding anything in her arsenal to top him, she hums, turning back to the other cans and proceeding to—
"Let me."
He grabs another, and another, until their all open.
They all squat, Draken and Emma chatting mostly to themselves. Baji doing whatever. Yukari doesn't have it in her to look at him. She just feels let down. Disappointed. Sure, they'd only known each other a week. But, she'd been so comfortable with him. so natural. She'd gotten along so well with Chifuyu. He with Kiki and Hina. Maybe too well.
Looking back, he laughed a lot at Kiki's jokes, spoke like her, cursed like her. Hit like her. It was only natural. Still, watching his eyes brighten like that was enough.
Maybe he didn't see it, but boys were dense. They're dense about a lot of things. Baji was clearly dense about her, how happy she was when he was around, how, despite being tired after practice she always came to hang out in the park come rain or shine.
But…that's fine. It's fine. She'd get over it. Afterall, it was just a pinprick, a small, microscopic cut. She hadn't known him very long. He just…made it easy.
"Kari?" that was Mikey's soft voice at her ear again, it had this faraway quality to it, tentative. Thoughtful.
"Hm?" She turned to face him, he'd held up one knee and pressed his elbow against it, his chin balanced on his cheek.
"Do you believe in destiny?"
Yukari paused, played with the strands of her hair. She thought back to those visions of hers, visions that could mean nothing and everything. "Never."
His gaze stole her off again, pulled her deep down. The locks of his hair closed the door behind her as she came. "You will. Trust me."
Author's Note: I apologize this took so long. The outline has been chucked and I've decided not to go where I was going to go. I think that path would have been a little weird. Hopefully you guys like this. Let me know what you think!
Liam-airin: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you think so too! I was in the habit and noticed the lack of stories. There's quite a few in Spanish but unfortunately I can't read it. I took French! Oh, well. I am so, so glad to hear that you like it. It's really a pick me up. I smile reading these, really. Thank you. Also, yeah, Takemitchy's going to change a lot for her. You just wait!