New Lease In Life

Hi. I'm back and with a new chapter. Originally this was supposed to be a one-shot fic, but in light of fan clamor, requesting for a continuation, I decided to give in as a new thought hit me and decided to try an experiment on having Takuma encounter new "adventures" while "moving on". It was an interesting challenge on what he's doing after three years of emotional suffering at the hands of his ex-neighbors from Lovely Hills.

Though Enma Ai made a cameo appearance, I decided to have one of her three assistants show up and have an interaction between the two. Moreover, Rin Tosaka of Fate/Stay Night will also show up and I'll be adding some spice to have them meet each other and build a romance between the two. That's a thought I wanted to try since Shiro Emiya is in love with Sakura Matou following Saber's departure. Of course Rin needs a love interest and Takuma's the one instead of Archer.

Well, here it is…chapter 2.

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Disclaimer:

- Jigoku Shoujo is owned by Aniplex and Well-Think

- Fate/Stay Night is owned by TBS, Crei, Type Moon and Fate Project

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After several months of classes, it was summer vacation and Takuma was anxious to et out of school and get a breather. Even though his teachers have warned other students against taunting him about the Lovely Hills incident three years ago bullies were persistent in getting their target to bite the bait so some bullying teachers would punish him for his conduct but Takuma managed to restrain himself and ignored the taunting but when he was outside the school the bullies would follow him and taunt him again. But when he wouldn't budge they began ganging up on him and beat him up. Even though he managed to fend off the assault, he was outnumbered and was pinned down and bloodied up.

"Ha! The Devil's Child is a weakling! Why don't you make us disappear??? Let's see if you can make a busted lip disappear? TAKE THAT! AND THAT! HOLD HIM GUYS…LET'S BUST HIS RIBS!"

The school bullies keep on beating him until a passing police car saw this and went after the fleeing bullies while another passing cop checked on him and recognized Takuma, and he was quite incensed that even though the Kurebayashi's ex-neighbors from Lovely Hills were the real culprit, the bullies seem to make sure the 14-year old boy would suffer more and was determined to make his attackers pay.

"Don't worry, lad. I got you. I recognized the bullies who did this to you…we'll make them pay."

Takuma was seething at his condition as he was beaten up badly and wanted to send them to Hell but chose not to. He knew it was wrong so he remained silent. Three hours later the bullies were arrested and their parents were in a tight situation as they'll be on the receiving end since the bullies were aged 16 and hence are minors like Takuma, and thus they'll bear the responsibilities of their sons' actions. Takuma's dad was infuriated at the bullies and it took the police and the bullies' parents' assurance to calm him down.

As the Kurebayashi's are heading home Takuma couldn't help but punch a mailbox out of frustration as he slowly recalled what he's been through and his dad couldn't help but sympathize at his son's exasperation.

"BLAST IT!!! WHY WON'T THEY EVER STOP??!! IF I WERE THAT DEVIL'S CHILD I'D SENT THEM DOWN TO THE LOWEST PIT OF THE EARTH, SO THEY WON'T COME BACK!!!"

"Hush, son…it's been taken care of…your mom will be sad if she sees you like this…don't worry. Their parents are taking measures to discipline their sons. Remember…you've been cleared, so you don't have to worry. Be strong and don't let others push you around. Move on…it's been three years since we left Lovely Hills. Though those bad neighbors have not yet been caught, one day they will be. Right now you enjoy your summer vacation."

And so the two head for home, as they are still living in Kobe and have settled there quite contently since moving in. Mr. Kurebayashi is still a producer and is constantly out on the road to meet up with film directors to make movies. Though Takuma wished to spent more time with his dad, he was contented to have a few months off to get the stress out of his body.

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A few weeks later Takuma was near the Fuyuki City border as he decided to take a stroll to help relax after the summer vacation was officially on. Many teenagers were out on the streets strolling while others were dating. He wondered what he should do from this point on after Hotaru was brought out of her coma and is out of the country to help recover from her ordeal and so he was alone again. He still recalled how Enma Ai died saving his life and wondered where she is now. He then stopped by an outdoor snack bar and took a table and seat to take a rest.

"Since Enma's gone…where does this leave her three assistants? I haven't heard from them for three years…have they left and moved on with their lives?"

At that point a familiar face went to him and the 14-year old boy was surprised to see who it was.

"You…you're one of Ai's assistants! The guy with the sword!"

It was Ren and he is working at the snack bar as a waiter. He too was surprised to see Takuma, noting that he has attained some considerable height but was still a bit shorter than an average adult woman, though he is now good-looking and his appearance is still the same. He smiled as he noted that Takuma has seemingly recovered after his "ordeal" three years ago.

"Well, well...fancy meeting you here...I see that you're doing well..."

"Well…not at all…the past is still haunting me…"

"So even the town your staying also knew about your…"Devil's Child" tag?"

"Yeah…"

"Be strong, Takuma…the Mistress didn't gave her life just to make you suffer. I'll let you in on something…Seri has been moved to Purgatory…I managed to pas by the place and she relayed me this message…"

The 14-year old stared wide-eyed as he listened intently at what the message is.

"Be strong…don't forget who you are…be yourself and don't let others push you around. Move on as you got your life back. Those are the words she asked me to relay it to you. You got your dad back and the real bad guys have been exposed. So be yourself and move on. So what if bullies torment you? Fight back and they'll learn when to back off…"

"I did…but they persisted…"

"And so you should too. You're not meant to be a punching bag so be tough so girls would like you…so…any crushes at school?"

"No…"

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I'm not!"

"Really? Let me read your mind…hey! A pretty senior high school student…wearing pigtails…red sweater-like shirt…black mini-skirt…"

"You're wrong!"

Takuma's face went red while brushing off Ren's mental probing as he actually found someone who awaken his heart, and it was Rin Tosaka, but he was unable to meet her in person since he was a bit shy and that he assumed that she has a boyfriend whom he saw her with someone though she is actually single. Their discussion was cut short as new customers arrived and Ren had to attend to them first before he resumes his chat with the 14-year old boy.

As Ren went to the new arrivals, Takuma glanced at the new customers and he blushed even further as the new customers turn out to be Rin Tosaka, and with her are Sakura Matou and Shiro Emiya. He looked away in fear of she might look at him and think of something unpleasant. Ren noted this and decided to try a little teasing to see which one of the two girls are "unattached".

"So, may I have your order?"

"May we see the menu? We'd like to choose first…"

"So…I was wondering…which one of the two is your girlfriend? I'm just wondering…"

"I'm his girlfriend…"

Sakura Matou answered thus Ren figured that the other girl is Rin and he decided to stall them a bit and when the three gave their orders he went to the table where Takuma is reading to get his order as well.

"So what will it be then?"

"Um…a hamburger…"

"By the way…that girl in the red shirt and mini-skirt…she's single and unattached…want me to help you out?"

"No…I can't…just get my order, please…"

And so Ren went to the cooking station to get the orders ready. While the 14-year old boy was looking at his table Shiro noticed him and recognized that he was the one who followed Rin to Fuyuki High. As Rin went to the nearby toilet he whispered to Sakura about Takuma which surprised her to learn that Rin has an admirer outside their school.

"That boy there…really? He looks like he's in junior high…"

"From the looks of it…he followed her there but left seeing me with her so he must've mistaken me for her boyfriend…"

"What are you going to do,,,?"

"See if I could bring them together…he might be better than Shinji…and it's about time she entertain suitors…"

"Hey, you two…what are you talking about while I'm gone?"

Rin came back after her toilet duties and the other two had to compose themselves as they do not want to give a way some secret planning to get her together with Takuma. Shiro then noticed that Takuma was secretly glancing at Rin and then looked away. Then he got an idea on how to get them to meet up. As Rin was about to put her round-shaped perfume inside her bag, Shiro "accidentally" hit the bottle causing it to roll off towards Takuma's table and the 14-year old noticed it and instinctively picked it up. At the same time Rin also attempted to pick it up but they ended up touching hands and when they glanced at each other they both froze, as attraction hit them and Rin, for the first time, was drawn to the younger boy while Takuma was mentally panicking on what to do now that they met face-to-face. Composing himself he gave her the bottle.

"Umm…here…does this belong to you?"

"Oh, yes…thank you…"

As she got the bottle and went back to her table she paused briefly to look at Takuma again, seeing the innocence on his face and this made her drawn to him even more, seeing him reminds her of her childhood days when playing with other boys following the death of her father following the conclusion of the 4th Holy Grail War.

"Hmm…I wonder how old is he…?"

As she sat on the table Shiro and Sakura began teasing her which caused her to blush for the first time in a romantic thrill much to her surprise.

"So…found your soul mate?"

"Rin…I think he's in junior high…but he looks quite better than Shinji…"

"Wh-what are you talking about???"

"Come on, Rin…you were looking at him…"

At that point, Ren arrived with the food that they ordered and even overheard their discussion and decided to contribute some info for them to know.

"That kid…he's 14…and single…he's been glancing at you, Miss…might be love at first sight…"

"R-really?"

Tosaka was taken aback that someone is interested in her and then Ren went to Takuma's table to give him his order. To his surprise Takuma gave him the payment and left in a hurry, his face still red and was in a state of confusion.

"Heh…at least he's grown up…but getting jittered over a pretty girl?"

- - -

At the Kurebayashi house in Kobe, Takuma was lying on the couch with his mind awhirl on what happened earlier. He couldn't believe that he ran off after meeting the girl who woke his heart. He was unsure if he should entertain girls given his traumatic past. It was bad enough that his school have been tormenting him for being involved in the Lovely Hills scandal and taking the blame over her mother's murder even though the real culprits have been exposed. His thoughts were interrupted when the door rang and he answered it, in a surprised manner as the person at the door was none other than Rin Tosaka…and she is alone.

"Hi…you left your ID at the snack bar…um may I come in?"

Left with no choice, he let her in and she noted that he was blushing hard and she couldn't blame him. As soon as they're at the living room they started to have a normal conversation. There she managed to calm him down and learned that he's three years younger than her and that their friendship started to connect, but as it was nearing sunset she had to go but she gave him her phone number and bid goodbye.

By nightfall Takuma was at his room staring at the paper containing Rin's number and wonder how to call her since he was still conscious toward her.

"Should I call her or not…?"

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Hope you liked the semi-romance here…but this is all I could come up in short notice…let me know if you want to see more of them getting together or not…I might make it happen or not…