And In Another Life

Chapter 5: We're Too Much for Each Other

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.

Yukari decided on a long button up skirt for the occasion, high waisted with shimmery rose patterned fabric whose leaves were both green and gold under the sunlight. Her shirt was a simple black crop top with short sleeves. A golden choker completed the look and a pair of block heeled sandals. She wore her jean jacket on her shoulders, the sleeves rolled up.

It was cute but not 'date' cute. Something she'd wear out with Hina or Kiki or even her parents. Nothing extraordinary. Good, but not extraordinary.

That's what she told herself before leaving the two girls watching her up from Hina's floor, hanging over the edge.

Yukari closed her eyes. I wish they wouldn't make it so obvious.

Yukari waited and waited and waited…and waited.

At 12:30 PM, Yukari slammed her foot down, turned toward the apartment and walked back.

Just then, a roar of an exhaust zipped around the corner. Mikey, hair flying back behind him, blurred into view, his shirt flying out behind him as he leaned forward, hands gripping the bars.

For a moment, Yukari idled as that feeling over came her again. The familiarity of this very scene. Before she knew it, he had stopped. And she was still standing, staring.

Mikey parked his bike out front, and swung his leg over the side, adjusting his hair and dusting off his checkered shirt. Draken and Emma pulled up shortly after. Emma looked very cute in an olive green sleeveless romper. But…Draken, even from this distance, seemed to have on almost the same black shirt he wore last time she saw him, hell, even the time before that…

But, she wouldn't judge him on that. It was none of business. But this? It being 12:30? That was all her business.

"I see you guys finally made it," Yukari said with a smile, her shoes clicking as she skipped toward Mikey. "Hey, Mikey?"

He grinned, eager and childlike, "Yeah, Kari?"

"Can you tell me what time it is?"

"Hmm?" Mikey pulled out his phone from his sweat pant pocket. "12:31."

"Oh, so not only is your phone not broken but you can also tell time? That's good to know." Yukari told him and then whirled around, stomping back toward Hina's place. "I hope you guys have fun shopping!"

"Wait! Where are you going?" he jumped over his bike and ran to catch up with her.

"Back inside! Who the hell keeps someone waiting that long without letting them know what's up?"

Mikey looked around, sheepish, "Oh, that."

"Yes." She said. "That. See you around."

"You're joking right?" Mikey asked her. "You can't be serious."

Yukari lifted her brow at him, "I'm going to go upstairs and if I don't come down after thirty minutes…you'll believe me, then, won't you? How about this? How about I not only not call but not send a text either or apologize for making you sit here and look stupid! Oh! I know!" Yukari clapped her hands together, "Let me also ignore the string of text messages you send me. Sounds good, right? Thought so."

"I was driving1" Mikey threw his hands up with a whine, "Oh, come on! Ken-chin, Emma stop flirting and help me out!"

Draken sputtered, face flashing color, "I was not—anyway, what do you mean, help you out? You're the one who said you could handle it if she was pissed and I told you, she would be."

Emma crossed her arms, "Yeah, Mikey. You literally said, 'it's fine. I've got this. She can't be mad at me.' Like you've been friends forever and didn't just meet her a day ago." Emma shook her head, "You're such a boy."

"Come on, Kari." Mikey jogged in front of her, hands in his pockets. All smiles and sincerity. "It's not my fault, Emma's the one—"

"Lie!" Emma shouted, cupping her mouth, "He's lying!"

Mikey frowned at her, "Then Ken-chin said—"

"Don't you dare drag me into this!" Draken cut in next. "Fix it yourself."

Mikey glowered at the both of them, pulling his hands from his pockets as Yukari didn't crack one smile. "Yukari, please. I'm doing a bad job of apologizing—"

"You haven't apologized at all." She corrected him, her eyes burning into his brow. She doesn't look into his eyes, she can't really afford to.

Mikey blinked, sticking his hands into his pockets again. Habit, maybe? "I—Oh! Let me make it up to you!"

"How about we start with an apology?" she said neutrally, still broiling. And honest to god, she was going anyway, because she kinda had to. She had to figure out what was causing these weird visions of hers and if it was all him or all her. She was going, but she had to let him know this wasn't acceptable. Friends didn't leave friends waiting.

Sheepish, Mikey's lips begin to twist—

Yukari turned her back on him—

"Wait! Yukari, I'm sorry—" his hand touched hers and that was all she wrote.

Yukari sat down on the cold concrete, her cell phone lit beside her foot. Her face was swollen and puffy, ready to pop like an overfilled balloon. She'd sent him a million and one messages, but no answer. She called Draken instead and he answered on the first ring. "Yukari?"

Yukari sniffled. "What are you doing right now?"

"Me and Mikey are just hanging at his house, what's up? You in trouble?"

"So he's alive then?"

…"Why wouldn't he be?"

She heard a voice in the background, "Come on Ken-chin! I'm bored."

"We were supposed to be on a date today. He's three hours late."

"Shit." Draken said, "Hey, Mike—"

"Tell him we're done."

"Wait, Yukari, don't hang up—"

Click.

Not two seconds later, Mikey's name popped up on the screen. The call went ignored. Messages in quick succession followed.

Where are you?

I'm so sorry.

I'm coming now.

I forgot.

I didn't think you'd be mad.

Another call. Another call.

Yukari ignored them, venom pooling in her stomach. I need to hurt him, she thought. she would. She made a call. "Shuji? Come and get me."

Yukari stared at her own hand, not quite recognizing where she stood. The concrete beneath her feet was familiar. It was day, but she knew it without seeing it in the same hour.

Yukari blinked, her hands shaking. This vision was different from the last. This vision felt less like a dream. She could feel every emotion like a physical thing. she could taste the salty tears on her lips, the string of snot falling from her nose, the heat backed down her throat. The vileness.

Was that really me? "I need to hurt him." Would I really think like that? Would I really let it go so far?

Maybe today was just a bad idea in general. Maybe this was a sign?

"Yukari?" she felt a hand on her cheek, warm, the other on her arm. "Are you okay? You just started shaking. Are you cold?"

Her mouth was dry and as she finally looked at him, with his dark, caring eyes, she wondered if that was even the same person sitting in front of her. the person who would let her down so easily. The person she'd want to hurt with? Shuji? Whoever the hell that was.

She swallowed, shaking her head. "I just got dizzy."

He watched her for a moment, and he stepped closer. "I'm really sorry, Yukari. I won't do it again. Emma tried to get me out of bed but I wasn't listening. I'll make it up to you. We can do anything you want."

Yukari wanted to struggle away from his grasp. Who even was this Mikey? He felt so different from the other one…so, so different. He felt warm, present as opposed to the other. the other felt distant, elusive like he'd slip through her fingers if given the slightest reason. The heartbreak felt so weighted, a knife balanced against her chest cavity.

"Yukari?"

Yukari blinked, smiling. Hoping there was a chance this wouldn't be the same. "Anything?"

Draken and Mikey wandered over to the store next to theirs, escaping the pesky frills and lacy skirts Emma and Yukari took turns holding close to themselves.

"Thanks for coming," Emma said. "I don't really get to shop with anyone. If I do, it's with those guys and they rush me."

Yukari laughed, "I bet. Guys don't get it."

"They're dense."

"And mildly chaotic." Yukari said deciding that yes, she could use another pleated-skirt and hooked it over her fingers.

Emma smiled, growing quiet. "Speaking of dense...you called Draken my boyfriend before..."

Yukari lifted a brow, "Yeah, is he not?"

Emma groaned, "Uh, god, no. It's like threading a needle with a piece of rope.'

"Oh, wow. He seemed to really like you though. He's always looking at you."

Emma blushed. "Is he?"

Yukari nods. "It's not the same. When he looks at me, he's looking at a regular person. But, when he looks at you..." she wags her eyebrows, "he's looking at Emma."

Emma squealed. "You think so?"

"I know so. I'm usually pretty good at this thing." Yukari admitted, "As long as I'm not personally involved, of course. Otherwise, I can't tell a duck from a doorknob. Unless the duck and doorknob can speak fluent Japanese."

Emma laughed. "That explains it."

"Explains what?"

"You can't tell that Mikey has been flirting with you this whole time?"

Yukari played with her hoop earring, "No...I think I got that part. He's not very subtle, is he?"

"Nope!"

"I figured." Yukari deadpanned.

"And?" Emma hedges, "What do you think of him? I mean, you did come on to him first."

Yukari threw her hands up, "Dear lord, you two are literal twins! That was not a come on. When I come onto someone, I'm putting my hands all over them. I'm all up in their space. Me writing on him was just...random. I can't even tell you why I did it. I just felt like...I don't know...like I had before? If that makes sense? Déjà vu?"

Emma blinked. "No. but, I get what you mean...I guess. But, you haven't' answered my question and I'm not letting you off that easily."

Yukari gave her a once over. "Are you going to tell him what I say?"

Emma held up her pinky, "If we're going to be girlfriends, we have to keep secrets don't we? here, I promise I won't tell. Besides Mikey and Draken always keep secrets from me anyway, it's only fair that I finally get some of my own."

Yukari took her pinky and squeezed it. "Okay." she looked around, pulling Emma closer to her. "I actually like someone else."

Emma's eyes widened and she covered her mouth, "Oh, no!"

Yukari had no clue why she felt the need to but she immediately grabbed onto her shoulders. "But I know for a fact he doesn't like me back! I'm trying to get over him and it just...wouldn't be fair, you know? To let myself get carried away without first dealing with...this issue." Among other things.

"Whew!" Emma deflated, placing a hand on her chest. "That's a relief."

Yukari took in Emma's expression. Her worried, slightly disappointed eyes replaced with hopeful relief. "You guys have a sweet relationship."

Emma rolled her eyes, but smiled. "he's a good brother sometimes, when he's not being a jerk."

"Hmm."Yukari hummed, "I bet that's nice."

"Do you have any siblings?"

Yukari flipped a tag around before grabbing up the white gold button coat. "Just an older brother."

Emma rolled her eyes, "Not you too?"

"Unfortunately, only he's four years older and...he does his own thing."

"Mikey doesn't always keep me in the loop of things...especially involving Toman, but it is nice when he can confide in me, even if I have to badger it out of him."

"You're a good sister." Yukari says, "It's nice to ask, if even he doesn't want to tell, I bet...it's nice to hear."

Emma smiled. "Anyway, you've changed the subject again, don't think I didn't notice."

"Emma," Yukari said, "you're the one who changed the subject."

Emma waved her off, "anyway, so what kinda guys are you into?"

"Oh, my god, are we really doing this now?"

"We're girlfriends aren't we?"

Yukari gave in, "Okay, well, you answer your own question first."

"That's easy." she grins. looking mischievous as her brother.

"Oh, right. Draken." Yukari finishes, rolling her eyes. "He's so tall though!"

"I like his height."

"But he has to bend at the waist to kiss you."

Emma looked sheepishly away, "well, he technically haven't kissed yet, remember? But I wouldn't mind. It's cute."

"Well, you have at it. He's way too tall for me."

"Oh, that narrows it down!" Emma snapped her fingers, honey eyes blazing, "Okay, so what does this guy look like?"

"Well, he has the blackest, prettiest hair I've ever seen and when he grins he just looks so daring and cool. He always looks like he's planning something nefarious, or he's just done something reckless. and his eyes are like hard candy. The sun is his best friend, but the moon is in love with him."

Emma burst out laughing, "you're such a hopeless romantic! It's adorable. 'the sun is his best friend', I can't believe you just said that!"

Yukari threw her hands up, "I read a lot. I can't help it." she pushed her arms, "hey, stop laughing, it's not that funny.

Emma got a steady look in her eyes, "Do I know him?"

"Why would you know him, Emma?" Yukari grinned, holding her eyes as she delivered her line. "I just met you yesterday."

"I'm not stupid." Emma says, "I know avoidance when I see it. I deal with two idiots on a daily basis."

Saying nothing more, Yukari scooped up her items to dance toward the changing rooms. "Oh? Then it should come to you soon then."

Emma stamped her foot, "Yukari!"

Frustrated, Emma wrung her hands.

"What are you doing?"

Draken's voice caused Emma to yelp as she jumped and turned to whack his arm. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

Draken chuckled, Mikey eyeing a mannequin with curiosity, "Are you guys finished in here? You've been in here a whole hour."

"We have not." Emma said, and then shrugged, "we're just hanging out like girlfriends do."

"Huh. So, what did you two talk about?"

"None of your business."

Mikey scratched his head, "You know we heard your whole conversation, right? You were basically shouting at us."

Draken slapped his hand over his forehead. "You weren't supposed to say anything about it, Mikey. Geez."

Emma clamped her hands over her mouth, "Damn it." She sighed, "there goes my secret."

"Let's take a picture!" Emma exclaimed, hooking her arm through Yukari's as they passed a mirror in the entrance of a boutique. "We look awesome!"

"I couldn't agree more," Yukari said, pressing her cheek against Emma's as they smized into the camera, throwing up the peace sign. "Now, let's take a few full body shots. We've got to get this outfit of yours, you look like a model, Em."

"Me! You look like a supermodel!"

"Well, you're beautiful!"

"You're gorgeous!"

Mikey grumbled behind them, waiting not so patiently with Draken. "Can we go now?"

"Oh, my gosh!" Yukari exclaimed, "I should've said something sooner but I was so mad at this guy—" she jammed her thumb toward Mikey who pouted like a child, "that I didn't get to say anything. "I love your shoes."

"I got them on sale, here actually. At a store called, No No? They're usually seriously expensive but they had this 75 % sale that only lasted two hours. I almost got nothing though, thanks to Mikey—" Emma as well, threw her thumb over her shoulder, he was full on scowling now while Draken laughed. "he was complaining about being hungry the whole time even though we just ate! Urgh! Family can be so frustrating."

Yukari sighed, "Tell me about it."

"You feel the same?" Emma's eyes lit up like stars, and although Yukari felt a strange pinching in her stomach, she nodded.

"Always. I remember my mom and dad arguing over who would get to hold my hand when I was little and my brother egging them on, roping me into it. I'd cry and he'd put me on his back and run around the room until his knees buckled from the weight. I would be the one consoling him by the end….It was nice. I'd laugh so much." Yukari began walking further into the mall, Emma following. "We were really close a while ago but we're different people now." Her stomach began to sink, and she needed to paddle to the surface to escape the fall out. She gave Emma bright smile, forcing a laugh. "It's probably better this way. We're all pretty terrible for each other."

"Oh." Emma said, honey eyes pooling with sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear that, but I don't think you're terrible."

Yukari said nothing, deciding to point forward. "Is that what I think it is? Yes! Yes! They're having a merch sale, let's go!"

Emma hesitated, eyes narrowing at the store front. Taking in the large posters hanging, the figurines placed here and there, glued down so no one could steal them. "But…this is a anime/manga store."

"Exactly! Shit! Shit! Shit! Is that who I think it is?" Yukari screamed, reached back and grabbed Emma's arm. "Let's hurry!"

Yukari drove them like a missel through the crowd, weaving around bodies to skirt through the half open glass door. "Safe! There we go, now where's my—Ah! There you are, honey! Miss me?" Yukari threw herself in front of a poster with none other than the sexiest man in Hunter X Hunter on it, Chrollo Lucilfer. Yukari shivered running her hands along the posters edge. "You're beautiful." She whispered, "We'll never be apart again. Clerk!" she whirled around, spotting the said clerk wearing a navy polo. "I'll take these, wrapped and sent to my house."

The clerk adjusted his glasses, "Um…Miss? We don't wrap posters or send them out. Not to mention…that's the only one we have left. You're welcome to—"

"Done." Yukari reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet.

Emma suddenly laughed beside her, "You're really that into comics? I've never been a fan."

"How can you not be?" Yukari asked, and then guided her closer to the glory that was Chrollo Lucilfer, holding his bandit's secret, looking for all the world like a very dangerous lost boy. Another shiver trembled up her spine . "Look at my husband in all his glory. You can't tell me he isn't the sexiest guy you've ever seen."

Emma took a glance at Yukari, the fever in her eyes, and stepped forward, giving him a clean sweep of eyes. "I mean, yeah, he's handsome. But…he's not Draken."

Yukari felt her eyebrow tick up, "What?"

Emma inclined her head back behind them, to the two boys who were just now entering the store. "Draken looks better."

"You poor thing." Yukari said patting her arm, "You've gone blind."

"I'm not blind. He does."

Yukari snorted, "Yeah, not with that braid."

Emma crossed her arms, "I love his braid."

"It's not doing him any favors." Yukari decided crossing her arms as well.

Emma stomped her foot, "Here, I'll prove it to you. Draken, come here!"

Draken and Mikey were goofing off with two action figures when they raised their heads. "What is it?"

"Just come here for a sec."

Blinking, he walked over giving her a look. "Yeah, what's up?"

Emma uncrossed her arms and hit Yukari with her elbow, placing the other hand on her hip. "Take your hair down."

His eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"It's important." Emma insisted. And then added, "For science."

Dryly, Draken parroted, "For science?"

Yukari grinned, nudging Emma back, "For chemistry." She then thought about it, nudging the blonde girl again, "Or would it be biology?"

"Hell if I know. Chemistry sounded good to me." She said. They both nodded and then turned back to the taller teen. "Well?"

Draken groaned, "Do I have to?"

"It's to make up for me waiting forever for you guys." Yukari decided. That got Mikey's attention. It would, seeing as she hadn't been speaking to him this whole time. He ran up to them and reached for Draken's hair—

"Hey! I get it! I'll take it down, sheesh!" Draken says. "You owe me for this, Shrimp."

"You'll forgive me when he does?" Mikey asks Yukari, dark eyes swallowing her whole.

She loses some of her spunk, insides turned to jelly. She only nods, "Sure."

"Do it Ken-chin!" He said happily, making Yukari laugh.

Draken, with a groan, removes his braid, allowing his hair to fall around his shoulders. He looks coolly down at them. Something of a bored prince, a handsome one. "There. Is this what you wanted?"

Emma beamed crossed her arms and turned to Yukari. "See?"

Yukari opened her mouth and closed it. Draken raised an eyebrow, but that slightly irritated look added to his over all affect. Damn. "Wow. You're right Emma. I can't believe I never noticed it before. Draken is kinda hot."

Emma nodded, giving Yukari a satisfied fist bump. "Experiment completed."

Draken's face turned bright red and he yanked away from them. "You girls are so weird."

Mikey sucked his teeth, got closer to Draken and slapped the back of his neck. "Put your hair back up, you dummy."

"Hey!" Draken turned on him, and grabbed onto his shirt. "What the hell was that for?"

"Didn't you hear me?" Mikey replied, "I said put your stupid hair back up."

Draken pulled back his fist to hit his friend back, startling nearby patrons, but then took in Mikey's look and dropped his arm. "Wait. Are you…jealous?"

Mikey pushed out of Draken's grip and crossed his arms, "No!"

"You are! You idiot!" Draken roared, laughing his ass off.

Emma giggled too, but, for once Yukari took pity on the poor boy. She didn't mean to, but with his lips all poked out…arms crossed, she couldn't help it. He looked so cute.

"Mikey," she began softly, as she walked up to him and whacked his arm.

He winced, complaining again, "What the hell?"

"Why would you hit, Draken?" Yukari asked, trying to keep her voice impassive as possible, pretending that her heart wasn't racing. "You know you're cute with your hair up or down."

Mikey actually blushed at that, leaning back slightly, before the fire returned to his eyes. "But you said, Ken-chin was hot. Hot is way better than cute. Even I know that."

Inwardly, she groaned. Why is this boy so….

"Yeah," she said with a shrug, stepping as close as she dared, holding those big dark eyes of his, pouting and petulant. Mission. She thought. Remember mission. Don't succumb to… "and after taking one look at you, I literally wrote my whole name on your arm." She said pushing at his shoulder, before putting her back to him, "if that doesn't say how I think you look, I don't know what does."

Yukari released a breath and tried to walk back to the clerk who was now taking down her poster, but a voice stopped her.

"Ha! So you were coming on to me!"

Yukari growled, spinning back and running at him. "You are impossible!"

He caught her hands, keeping her at bay, while also tugging her closer as she pushed on him. He grinned, laughing.

"You are the worst!" she said, as he pulled her even closer to his chest. The fabric of their clothing mashing together, his shirt pressing into the exposed skin of her stomach. An electric current sparked and sputtered as she tried her hardest to put it out.

He laughed even louder, as she gave up, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. "Can we just shop, already?"

"Oi!" Chifuyu called out as he spotted Mikey and Draken flipping through comics in the Shonen isle. "What are you guys doing here?"

Draken snorted and gestured over his shoulder to Yukari and Emma who each had several posters piled under their arms and were grabbing down manga after manga.

Yukari held up one manga before a very eager looking Emma. "If you like sexy smart guys, Yu Yu Hakusho is where you live. Kurama is your guy. He used to be my guy, but Kiki beat me in a staring contest so I had to give him up. But! Then I was able realize how amazing Hiei is. He's my one true love!"

She hummed, "He is cute, but oh, he's so short."

"I like his size." She says dreamily, "He fits perfectly in my arms."

Emma blinked, smirking, "You like his size, huh? He's all yours. What about this guy?"

"That's Yusuke. He's cute and all, a delinquent, but he's taken and I don't go for taken guys."

"Ah!" Emma nodded, "I guess I'll stick with Kurama then."

Baji laughed, "She's pushing her obsession on Emma?"

"You know about it?" Draken asked.

"We were talking about anime one day and she wouldn't stop gushing about it. She's insane He nodded his head toward the other posters, "Let me guess, has she gone on and on about Android 17 yet?"

"No…" Draken spun around just as Yukari squeeled again.

"There's my other husband! Seventeen!"

Draken turned back, "There she goes."

Chifuyu nudged Baji's arm, before walking over to join her and Emma. He was immediately put on poster duty, reaching up to grab the ones she nor Emma could grab.

"You guys shopping too?" Draken asked. "If I would have known you'd be here anyway, we would have invited you."

"Baji?" Mikey came out of the corner carrying a bag full of manga. "What are you doing here?"

"Shopping. We had to do something else since you wrecked our plans."

Mikey laughed, "Oh, that. You said you didn't mind."

Baji said nothing, pointing to the bag. "I didn't know you were that into comics, Mikey. There's got to be about forty in there."

"Oh, that's Kari's." Mikey said, glancing down into the bag. "I'm carrying her stuff now because I was late for our date."

Baji's blood ran cold. "Date? You're on a date?"

"Yeah."

Baji blinked, "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Mikey says, "You think I would just say that."

Baji looked over to Chifuyu and then to Yukari rummaging around, throwing even more things into his arms. "I see. Good for you. She's awesome."

Baji noticed the silence that quickly followed, but didn't care to correct it. Was Chifuyu right?

Mikey burst out laughing, "Haha! I'm joking. Kari would kill me if she heard me."

Baji felt himself instantly relax. "Oh, yeah? I thought you were serious."

"He wishes." Draken says with a smirk. "But I heard her tell Emma she has crush on some other guy."

"It could've been me." Mikey says confidently.

Draken just looked at him, "D'you have black hair, Mikey? No? Didn't think so."

Baji stilled, his face warming.

Mikey rolled his eyes, "Oh, well. It doesn't matter. Apparently, he's kinda stupid and doesn't like her back. It's only a matter of time."

"Before what?" Baji asked, before he could stop himself.

"Before I make her mine." Mikey says simply, looking over his shoulder to the unsuspecting girl. "She's perfect for me. I can see it now. We'd be awesome together."

"You think so?" Baji shrugs. He couldn't see it. And anyway, they'd definitely fight all the time. "You're so different. You have nothing in common."

"Doesn't matter." He says, "I can just feel it." Mikey suddenly got this mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked to Draken, "She'll be the Emma to my Draken—"

Draken bristled, "Hey! Cut it out!"

Mikey threw his head back, laughing as loud as he could.

Author's Note: Hellllllooooo! This was supposed to be longer, but I cut it here so I could update. Let me know what you think so far!