And In Another Life

Chapter 7: Our Current Future

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.

The boy with the blonde hair scowled at his reflection, hoping for a shift a change to show less of that man and more of his mother, his stern and loving mother. All he had that was his was his name, and even that, wasn't quite true. It was a mash-up of people past, long dead and gone. The same could be said for his siblings, but they weren't old enough to know to care.

He wished he was like that.

He wished he didn't have to be a reminder of a place where his parents were happy without him. Where these people made them happy. What he couldn't do, no matter how hard he tried to be perfect.

The door suddenly cracked open, and line of light spilled onto his face. It was only a matter of time. The boy glared at himself in the long mirror, trying to ignore the empty cradle behind him, the thin black material tossed over it. "You came to tell me to be a better brother? To make me apologize? Don't bother. I already know."

A beat passed. Then two and the silence began to choke him.

"Your mother's been looking for you," the man said as he leaned into the doorway, spilling light onto the boy's face, making his dark eyes squint away from it. "You wanna tell me why you'd make her worry like that?"

His eyes burned as his lip trembled. He fought to keep it in, to keep the tears down. But, the harder he fought, the worse it became. He struggled to see, even to breathe—

The man placed his cool hands on either side of the boy's face. his pale eyes were steady as they waited in the silence, only the sound of the boy's breathing piercing the darkened room.

Almost as if the boy could hear the man's voice telling him, Breathe in….breathe out….breathe in….breathe out…breathe in…

"Breathe out." The man finished, giving a feint smile. He waited, watching the boy slowly calm down. He was the image of his father, the exact image from so long ago, from before everything went to hell. "Kenshin?"

"Yeah, Uncle?" the boy asked, light, more innocent than he wanted to believe he was.

Mitsuya's smile brightened at the use of his honorary title. It brought him back to a time before, the day he was born, in some ritzy hospital in the good side of town. Beautiful Yukari clutching him in her arms, exhausted but happy to see her little boy. He was the first to hold him. the first to see him, red faced and squealing.

"Uncle?"

Mitsuya snorted, "Your mom would cry if she caught you in here."

"She never comes in here." Kenshin was barely audible, "She won't have to cry."

"She would if she knew you'd come in here."

Kenshin turned his head, a sudden fury threatening to burst out and spill into the room. "Why does she act like Takeru didn't exist? Why do they all act like that? Even the freaky clown."

Try as he might, Mitsuya couldn't help but chuckle. He didn't want to but when he did, Kenshin smiled too, it was weak and wobbly, but it was a smile none the less. A precious smile. The man sighed, sobering. "It's only been a year, Kenshin. Losing a child is…unimaginable."

"Is that why mom always freaks out when she can't find me?" Kenshin lifted his head.

Mitsuya nods, "You're ten years old and smart as hell, you know that's why. So why keep doing it?"

"I didn't mean to!" he shouted and then ripped his arms away, "I wasn't going to but that—that man pissed me off. He said these awful things and Keiko and Emiya were just being so stupid—"

"Wait, what are you talking about?" Mitsuya whirled him around, holding the boy firmly. "Tell me what he said."

Kenshin hesitated.

"I won't tell your mother. I promise."

"Mom?"

Yukari rushed from the floor and threw her arms around her son, squeezing him to her chest, breathing him in.

Kenshin pulled back, but she still kept him locked in her embrace. She could be strong when she wanted. He felt his chest warm at their closeness, the way her amber eyes gazed down at him. she repeatedly kissed his forehead and he turned scarlet. "Mom…please." He groaned.

Mitsuya laughed, watching them from the doorway of the nursery. Emiya and Keiko raced over to him, pulling him further into the room. Their little spat with their older brother forgotten.

Emiya had black hair and his mother's amber eyes. Unlike Kenshin, he wore his hair longer, for reasons Mitsuya and Yukari never discussed. But…it was pretty obvious why. Keiko had Yukari's brown hair, thick and wavy. Yukari's eyes. Despite this both of them looked just like their father, just slightly altered versions of him.

Takeru was a different story. He was his mother exactly. Even at two, he seemed to act like her. An effortless nobility, thinking he was older than he was, wanting and bossy and getting everything anyway. When he'd rage, it would rip apart a room. Only his parents could handle him, but his favorite person was Kenshin. He bossed around the twins—not that they minded—and had everyone doing whatever he wanted. Mitsuya was one of those people. When he died…it seemed like most of Yukari went with him. whatever was left after Emma…and Baji.

"Hey," He called over his shoulder as he hefted the giggling twins in his arms. "what did we talk about?

"Right." Kenshin nodded, slipping out of his mother's grip to stare deep in her eyes. His brow drew together and he opened his mouth to—

She pulled him close again. "I know, Angel. I know."

He wrapped his arms around her waist, letting the tears fall to his feet.

"Hmph!" Keiko shook her fist at him, "I still want my apology! You made Em cry!"

"I didn't cry. You cried!" Emiya retorted, cheeks flaming in embarrassment. "You always cry!"

"Nu-uh."

"Uh-huh."

"Nu-uh."

"Uh-HUH!"

"Come on," their mother cooed, pulling them back down to their toys. "Let's get back to our game. Then, it's bedtime."

"Mom!" they cried in unison.

Later that night, she heard a light knock on her door and opened it immediately, ushering Mitsuya inside.

She kept a single lamp on, and not much else. Her window was exposed to the outside rain, the thunder could be heard from here. She could even see the streaks of lightning across the sky. The city could be seen in the distance. This was as far as Mikey was willing to go. He needed to be close to Tokyo. To his city.

"Where did you find him?"

Mitsuya only had to look at her for her to know. She couldn't hold his gaze, moving away toward the window, crossing her arms against the chill.

"Thank you, Taka. I know I've said it so much that it doesn't mean anything but—"

She paused as he stepped close to her back, she could feel him behind her, closer than he should be. She could smell his cologne drift over her neck. If she looked up, she would catch him towering over her. His silver bangs dangling in front of his eyes.

His response came sometime after, careful, thoughtful always. "You know that's not true."

She smiled, turning to face him. "Do you…hate me?"

His eyes narrowed at the question, more out of frustration than anything. "You and Kenshin are just alike."

"I know." She had the decency to look chastised.

"I wish he knew." He replies. "He'd be happier."

She snorted, "I doubt that. I'm not someone to emulate. I have exactly four things I don't regret. The rest are constant reminders of how selfish I am. How needy and messed up."

"You've gotten better." He says, with a sly smile.

"You only say that because you don't want to hurt me." She sighs, "You're too good to me. I only take advantage of your kindness."

"Then stop."

"I would—" any response is cut off by him hugging her, pulling him to his chest and holding him the way she held her first born. He pressed his face into her neck. I would but you don't want me to.

Five, maybe ten minutes pass as they stand there, the only sound coming from the outside.

"Sanzu knows you want to leave." Mitsuya finally told her. "He told Kenshin that you wanted to abandon him and never come back."

"If he really believed that, he wouldn't have told Kenshin. It's like warning me." She says, pulling back. "Talking about it would be stupid."

"But it's true."

"He doesn't believe that…not completely. Sanzu doesn't know me well enough to know that I will. And I haven seen Mikey in days. Wednesday is my best chance to get out with the kids. I can't leave them."

"I know." Mitsuya says allowing the silence to fill before breaking it again. "Who is that guy you're supposed to be staying with?" his voice sounds disinterested, but both of them know it isn't true. She hates herself for it.

"Naoto Tachibana. He's expecting me. He's inconspicuous so…I should be fine as soon as I make it to his place. Even Sanzu wouldn't kill someone like him."

"You don't know Sanzu."

She paused, "We're both assuming Mikey won't let me leave. If he loved me as much as you think he does, he'd want to see me, wouldn't he? But I haven't heard from him in days. He could be dead for all I know. The only reason I know he's alive is because he calls Em and Kei every night before bed." she adds, "I think he calls Kenshin too but…he never answers."

"He hates him."

"No, he's just not a baby. He knows what's going on. He knows what his fatehr does, what you all do. What I know you all do. What I do." She paces again. "He's too smart for his own good. He can't be fooled by us anymore. I'm surprised he doesn't hate me."

Mitsuya sighed in admonishment. "I wish you'd stop that."

She didn't reply.

"You don't have to pretend with me."

His words, softly spoken, cut her like a knife. "Mitsuya, you know I can't—"

"I know." He says, "I can't either," he says, "But pretending it doesn't exist is unhealthy. I'd rather just say it, than pretend. It's less draining that way."

"I wish I could be more like you."

He sighed again, "No, you don't. Stop—"

"I'm not pretending this time, Taka. ….I mean it. "I'm not strong, not like you." And she did mean it…half way. Because they were a lot alike all ready. They protected people, the both of them did, so much so it hurt them. And then, they took those people and loved them far too deeply than they should. The only difference is, she had figured this out long ago. She had the scars to prove it, the broken expectations, and shattered dreams. But Mitsuya, as inexperienced as he was in love, was only just figuring it out. He was a child himself. And he had decided to love the only woman in the world he couldn't have. Loneliness tended to do that to you. It confused you, made you believe things that aren't true. She wished he'd fallen for someone better for him, like Yuzuha or Hina. Kiki. If Kiki could see this, she'd hate her even more than she does now.

Yukari only knew how to hurt people. She was bad at love, and could never love someone like Mitsuya. Unlike everyone else she'd loved, he wasn't broken and he didn't need fixing. She wouldn't know the first thing about loving him. She wouldn't know how. Afterall, if he didn't need her—didn't go mad at the thought of being without her…. why should he want her? why should she want him, if he could so easily be fine without her? she needed to be needed. Wanted to be wanted. She chased being chased. Desired their desire. If he couldn't fall apart, what was she supposed to do?

Yes. She decided. He was confused. He was lonely. But not lonely enough, not broken enough for her to bother putting his pieces together. And, quite frankly after all this time, she still didn't want him to be the one to put her pieces together.

I can't love you, She thinks, pushes the words over to his mind, forcing him to hear words unspoken. You know that…don't you?

"Were you followed?" Naoto ushers them into the small apartment, and quickly checks behind the small family.

"I don't think—"

"Yukari!" Hina jumped up and threw her arms around her.

The drive was almost quiet. The kids couldn't help chattering in excitement the whole way to the festival. All of them walked together. All six of them didn't notice the truck.

Author's Note: I had to wait for the manga to end before I continued. Now that I know the ending, I can move forward with my original plan.

Here we see a future timeline. Everything that happened in the other chapters, contributed to this one.

Shout out to everyone who waited, favorited, reviewed and followed. I really appreciate it.

Also, Shout out to underappreciated Mitsuya.