Takemichi hums a quiet tune, finishing the last fold of the black paper crane. She holds it up in her palm, ignoring the paper cuts and the aching, shaking, fingers. She sighs, satisfied by how the crane turned out, before gently placing atop of the pile of the other black cranes.
She glances up at the ticking clock, deciphering the time. Takemichi blinks before looking down at the small stacks of paper. A quick succession of knocks echoed through the empty house.
Takemichi stands up before walking towards her closet. She grabs the oversized jacket hanging from the door, sighing heavily. She glances back at the last few pieces of black paper.
"Later today..." Takemichi sighs longingly before she pulls on the jacket and exits her bedroom. She can finish the last pieces later today.
"Michi-chan? Are you up?" Hinata calls out from the front door. Takemichi smiles brightly as she skips down the stairs.
"Coming! Coming!" Takemichi shouts back as she rushes over to the front door. She slips on her shoes, stumbling when she reaches for the long cloth bag leaning against the entryway of her home.
Takemichi trips over her own feet as she opens the door, smiling as if she was the sun's incarnate. "Hina-chan!"
Hinata squeals in surprise when the black haired teenager almost tackles her to the ground with her hug. She laughs brightly, quickly returning the hug as she finds their combined balance.
"Good morning, Michi-chan! Oh! You've done up your hair today!" Hinata leans forward to kiss Takemichi's bandaged cheek, making her blush bright red.
Luckily, Takemichi had an extra uniform laying around since her original one needed to have the blood washed out. She wore a longer version of her school's black skirt and had her oversized black jacket pulled over the white long sleeved blouse. Her hair was braided before being twisted into a low bun, held together by three golden hairpins.
"Hina-chan~!" Takemichi whines before she hides her face against her girlfriend's neck. "Don't do that so suddenly!"
"Okay, okay! Let's go!" Hinata grabs Takemichi's hand with a small laugh. She blinks, her gaze stuck on the darker bags underneath Takemichi's eyes. She frowns before she gently brushes her fingers against Takemichi's cheek with her other hand.
"You didn't sleep... and you didn't even eat lunch yesterday..." Hinata mumbles, her eyebrows furrowing in her worry.
Takemichi smiles tiredly while unconsciously leaning into Hinata's hand. The black haired teenager hums, her eyes fluttering close.
"I'm sorry..." Takemichi says softly. Hinata frowns even more and huffs.
"Don't apologize! You–it's not your fault, so don't apologize!" Hinata exclaims before entwining her fingers with Takemichi's. Takemichi blinks her eyes open to stare into the loving and determined eyes of her girlfriend.
"...Hina-chan, if anything happens that causes you to disappear from my life... could you please warn me? Even if you can't tell me why?" Takemichi asks softly, tightening her grip on Hinata's hand.
Hinata blinks, eyes wide in surprise, before she smiles brightly. "I won't need to because I won't ever leave you! Unless–unless you want me to, of course..."
"Only if you don't wish to be with me anymore. I can never have you suffer because of me..." Takemichi states, smiling with teary eyes. Hinata leans forward and kisses Takemichi's forehead.
"Let's get to school. You did a lot yesterday and those... took a lot out of you." Hinata smiles and starts to lead her girlfriend towards the street. "Now. Tell me what happened. You're practically covered in bandages!"
Takemichi smiles nervously, scratching the back of her neck. "Well... it's a bit of a long story..."
"Psst! Takemichi-chan!" Takemichi turns her head at the loud whisper. She glances back at the class's math teacher before she leans towards Takuya, brushing back some of her bangs.
"Mm?"
"You're seeing Ossan-sensei today, right?" Takuya asks quietly. Takemichi smiles brightly and nods her head.
"Yamamoto-kun, Hanagaki." Both 14 year olds startle at the teacher's call out. "I've already told you before not to talk when I am teaching. I'm not opposed to–"
The door suddenly slides open, taking all attention away from the teacher. Takemichi blinks in shock when she sees a familiar head of long, pale blonde hair. Takemichi suddenly takes notice of the muffled shouts and thuds of fighting.
"Hey, there she is! Takemitchy!" Mikey exclaims brightly, walking into the classroom. Draken leans against the doorway, passively glancing around the room.
"S-Sano-san... what are you doing here?" Takemichi asks, standing up from her seat.
"Eh? Sano-san? That's my gramps' name! Are you calling me old, Takemitchy?" Mikey pouts, making Takemichi blush in embarrassment.
"A-ah... Sorry, Sano-kun..." Mikey pouts even more at the barely less formal name.
"Call me Mikey! Now, come play with us, Takemitchy!" Mikey exclaims brightly. Takemichi glances over at Takuya with wide eyes before she slowly walks towards the gang commander.
"Eh... Takuya-kun, take notes for me okay?" Takemichi smiles at her childhood friend before she follows Mikey.
She pauses at the dozen fallen third years strewn all across the hallway. "...what happened to our third years?"
"Huh? Oh. They pissed me off, so I hosed them," Draken states as if it was an everyday occurrence. Takemichi blinks before facing the hallway again.
"Ah, that makes... sense..." Takemichi trails off quietly.
"All of you wimps, line up. Lay down on your stomachs," Draken orders, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Takemichi sighs quietly, a small smile on her face.
"These people are insane," Takemichi thinks, watching the two teenagers basically play hopscotch by using the third year boys' backs.
Takemichi slowly follows after them, walking on the side. She sighs softly, still keeping her smile on her face while ignoring the cries from each hop onto another third year.
"Sensei's gonna kill me for getting myself into this fucking mess." She doesn't notice Mikey staring at her from his peripherals.
Takemichi stops before the lockers, immediately looking for the cloth bag she brought with her. She's about to walk over to the long bag leaning against one of the lockers when Draken rests his arm on top of Takemichi's head.
"You been good?" Draken asks, ignoring or legitimately not noticing the vein that slowly pops up on Takemichi's jaw.
"You both saw me yesterday, Ryuguji-san..." Takemichi trails off quietly.
"Eh? Don't call me that. I'm not some old man," Draken says, making Takemichi look up with wide eyes.
"You're free today, right?" Mikey asks brightly like they caught Takemichi before she left for home.
"No, actually... I have a date and practice," Takemichi declines politely.
Mikey continues to smile, ignoring Takemichi's answer. "Come hang out with us a bit, Takemitchy!"
"I'm sorry, but I can't today... eh? Sano-kun–er, I mean Manjirō-san, are you listening to me?" The black haired teenager asks with a sweatdrop, already knowing the answer.
She glances over her shoulder when students start to crowd the hallway. Her face starts to burn as more and more attention is focused on her.
"How the hell does Hanagaki know such awesome people?"
"I bet she's their toy!"
"Think Hanagaki would let me mess with her too?"
"Poor Tachibana-chan. Dating such a scamp..."
Takemichi straightens up her posture, expression quickly cutting off. She takes a step away from the two boys, hands clenched underneath her jacket sleeves.
"Maybe tomorrow. I don't think it's a good ti–"
"Wait!" Hinata's shout interrupts Takemichi's blank statement. She takes a deep breath before slightly turning.
"Who're you?" Draken asks harshly. Takemichi pales in her horror and shock.
"Hina-chan... it–it's okay..." Takemichi plasters a smile on her face and rapidly waves her hands in front of her. Hinata momentarily ignores her by marching past. She stops before Mikey, face set in a scowl.
Takemichi stares in wide-eyed shock while the echo of Hinata's slap resonates in the silent hallway. She stays completely frozen before Hinata grabs her wrist.
"Let's go, Michi-chan. Don't let these people cause you any trouble." Hinata glances over her shoulder towards her girlfriend as she starts to pull her along. Takemichi barely has time to grab her bag, tripping over her own feet.
"H-Hina-chan! You–"
"I'll protect you! You shouldn't have to deal with this!" Hinata continues while Takemichi looks down at her hand. Her entire arm was shaking in fear.
Draken grabs Hinata's wrist, forcing her to stop. "Hey, don't make me kill you, brat. You slap him out of nowhere, and now you're peacing out? Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Who do you think you are?" Hinata asks, head tilted towards the floor. Takemichi stares at the hand gripping her girlfriend's wrist. Crystalline blue slowly starts to fade into an icy blue.
"Wha?"
"You just waltz into Michi-chan's school and try to take her away by force. Michi-chan told me what you said to her! Michi-chan's friends have been so injured lately... and Michi-chan got really hurt yesterday to save them. And if that's because of you two..." Hinata turns around, sweating in her fear but her eyes holding her stubborn nature. "I'm going to put a stop to it!"
Draken suddenly pulls his hand back when something slams onto his wrist. He takes a step back with a loud curse before something is pressed against his jugular.
"Don't touch my girlfriend, you bitch," Takemichi hisses with her teeth bared. She holds the end of her long bag up against Draken's jugular with both hands and icy blue eyes promising immense harm if she wasn't listened to.
"I don't give a flying fuck who you or your little "commander" are, Ryuguji-kun. You ever lay a hand on any of mine, I'll kick your balls so hard, they'll pop out of your fucking mouth. Is. That. Clear?" Takemichi raises her bag a little bit higher, making Draken choke slightly.
Draken pushes the bag away before grabbing Takemichi by the front of her shirt. "You threatening me? I'll knock you out with one punch, Takemitchy."
"I'll keep getting back up until you listen, bitch. I'm not someone who gives up," Takemichi retorts, not even fazed that Draken is basically holding her in the air with her shirt.
Draken makes a noise of confusion before he drops Takemichi to the ground. She stumbles back, trying to regain her balance before Hinata quickly helps her.
"Aw~. I was really hoping we could be friends," Mikey states as he glances up at the ceiling. He turns towards Takemichi and walks forward.
"Will you follow through with your threat, Takemitchy?" Mikey continues while stopping right before Takemichi. The black haired teenager glares up at him, hand clenched around her long bag.
"Not this again! Why can't I just keep my fucking mouth shut?! This is not how I wanna die!" Takemichi mentally freaks out as her hands start to shake from the realization.
"Why wouldn't I? At the perfect height to do so," She comments when Mikey returns her glare. Everything stays completely still for what feels like an eternity before Mikey smiles with his eyes closed.
"You're pretty cool, Takemitchy!" Mikey compliments, making Takemichi blink rapidly. Her face quickly explodes in shades of red and her eyes widen, returning to their normal crystalline blue.
"E-eh? You–what–what?" Takemichi sputters to find a coherent thought. Mikey starts walking towards the entrance doors before turning around.
"Your girlfriend's lucky to have you, ya know!" Mikey states with a smile.
"It's–it's the other way around actually..." Takemichi trails off quietly before she makes a noise of surprise when something is placed on top of her head. She looks up and sees Draken using her head as an armrest once again.
"Takemitchy... you actually threatened me," The tall blonde states, making Takemichi turn an even brighter shade of red before she turns to give him a deep bow.
"I-I am so sorry, Ryuguji-kun! I–"
"It's cool. And call me Draken." Draken walks forward with his hands shoved into his pants. He turns around with a smirk, startling Takemichi. "You're an interesting one, Takemitchy."
"N-no need to joke around like that, K-Ken-san..." Takemichi says quietly, messing with her jacket. She ignores the warm feelings in her chest and the passing thoughts in her head.
It's best not to get her own hopes too high before the other shoe drops.
"People like us can always fight, but there's not many like you anymore. Not giving up for anyone, even if you bite off more than you can take."
Takemichi stares up at the darkening sky with a slight smile. She gently shakes her head, lowering her gaze to focus on walking.
"A new age of delinquency?" Takemichi's smile grows when she spots the entrance of an old Japanese estate. "I'm sure you can do it... Manjirō-san..."
Takemichi tightens her grip around the strap of her bag as she picks up her walking pace. A young woman, no older than 17 years old, walks past the entrance, heading towards one of the many buildings inside the estate walls. She's dressed in a simple sky blue kimono with a sunflower design, a dark pink hakama skirt with a white bush clover design along the bottom, and zori sandals.
"Umesaka-san!" Takemichi calls out from the entrance. The young woman pauses before slowly turning around. Her dark eyes focus on the black haired teenager, expression set in its usual dissatisfied blankness.
"Good evening, Ojō-sama." The young woman, Umesaka Suzue, bows politely with one of her hands raised towards the center building. "Sensei is waiting for you."
"Thank you Umesaka-san... Is RinRin around?" Takemichi asks, glancing around the estate. It was clearly old, but with all the loving attention given to it over the past few centuries, it still stood proud.
"Training with Kumabayashi-san, Ojō-sama," Suzue answers simply. Takemichi smiles once more and inclines her head towards the older student.
"Thank you, Umesaka-san. I'll take my leave now." Takemichi walks towards the main building, leaving Suzue to continue what she was tasked to do. She doesn't notice the dark eyes staring after her, or the slightly shaking hands as Suzue starts to walk away.
Takemichi steps into the entryway of the main building, taking off her shoes. She steps further into the building, following the sound of sword swishes.
"They're getting better..." Takemichi thinks with a soft smile, watching two 10 year old kids practice side by side.
The girl, with her black hair styled into two braids falling over her shoulders, stared ahead with the utmost concentration. She wore a dark blue kimono with yellow festival lanterns scattered along the sleeves and an ocean blue hakama skirt with a wave design trailing the hem. Her dark brown eyes held a burning fire that seemed to glow brighter with her iaitō reflecting against them.
The boy was shorter, his long dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, and scowled in his determination to match the girl's kata. He wore a dark grey kimono with morning glories along the sleeves and black hakama pants. His black eyes momentarily glanced towards where Takemichi stood before going back to his own iaitō.
He startles heavily before whirling around with wide eyes and a bright grin. "Ojō-sama! You're here!"
"Ojō-sama!" The black haired girl, Miyamoto Hyo-rin, turns around and rushes forward, sheathing her iaitō.
"I was only gone for a few days, RinRin! No need to be so excited!" Takemichi exclaims as Hyo-rin attacks her with a hug. The boy, Ko Rinshō, tackles them both with his own bright smile.
"And that's a really long time, Ojō-sama!" Hyo-rin states with a pout, making Takemichi laugh before she pats the girl's head.
"Ojō-sama~! I'm serious!" Hyo-rin crosses her arms, appearing even cuter in her attempt to look serious.
"You look like shit, Hanagaki-san." Takemichi's expression falters at the new voice before she looks up. She keeps smiling while she inclines her head towards the young man. He had shoulder length black hair pulled into a small bun and dark eyes. He wore the uniform of a school Takemichi never bothered to memorize.
"Kumabayashi-san. I'm glad to see you back at the dojo," Takemichi greets before looking back down to focus on the two younger students, both glaring heavily at Kumabayashi Hiromitsu. "It's getting late. Finish up your katas and go home. I'll be here tomorrow until evening."
"Promise, Ojō-sama?" Hyo-rin and Rinshō, The RinRin as Takemichi affectionately calls them when they're together, ask while looking up with equally adorable gazes.
"Yes, yes! Now get going! Kumabayashi-san, is Sensei in his office?" Takemichi finally gives her full attention to Hiromitsu, deliberately ignoring his glare of disdain. The kid duo run away to finish their training for the day.
"He's where he always is this time of day," Hiromitsu states coldly before brushing past the black haired teenager. Takemichi sighs heavily and stares after him over her shoulder.
"I'll discuss Kumabayashi-san's attitude with Sensei. This is getting out of hand." Takemichi sighs again before she starts walking. She exits the main room through a side door, giving The RinRin one last wave.
A bright smile grows on her face when she spots an elderly man sitting in a seiza at the corner of the engawa outside of this part of the main building. He wore a simple green yukata and dark blue hakama pants. His silver hair was pulled back into a high ponytail, showing off his dark brown eyes and the crow's feet at the corners.
Takemichi straightens her posture and walks with silent elegance towards the man.
"Sensei. I apologize for keeping you waiting," Takemichi greets with a deep bow. The elderly man continues to look up at the darkening sky, a soft smile on his face.
"No worries, Takemichi." The man stands up with ease. "Come."
"Of course, Sensei," Takemichi speaks as she starts walking with her sensei, Shimizu Hideyoshi. A comfortable silence encompasses the two while Hideyoshi leads them towards the side entrance of the estate.
"Speak."
Takemichi blinks before her eyes gaze down at the ground. Her hands clench around her long skirt as she sighs.
"It started with a few visions. I saw my friends about to be beaten in this stupid fighting ring that Masaru roped them into. I fought the leader and then I met someone... interesting," Takemichi begins quietly, recalling the rapid succession of visions throughout yesterday.
"It happened, then."
Takemichi sighs tiredly before nodding. "Yes. I didn't mean to get roped up into any of this, but..."
"You are too selfless to even think to turn a blind eye towards the people you love. You have enough self control‒if you get into fights for your loved ones, you will be fine," Hideyoshi reassures his personal student with a knowing tone in his voice. Takemichi blushes a faint pink that reaches all the way down her neck.
"But those visions... how many did you have?" Hideyoshi continues, finally glancing towards Takemichi.
"...I had three. I... The first one, I was killed. The other two were about the fight."
"How?"
"My neck had been slit," Takemichi answers plainly while her eyes stare off in a daze.
Hideyoshi stops before the side entrance. He turns and stares down at the dazed teenager. Takemichi slowly blinks and tilts her head back.
Hideyoshi sighs quietly and places a hand on top of Takemichi's head. "Child, you have been making paper cranes haven't you?"
Takemichi blinks again before she casts her gaze to the side. The street next to this side of the estate is always busy. Takemichi nods her head once.
"We will go through your meditation practice tomorrow. Training can wait for the evening," The sensei of theIaidō dojo says gently before pulling his hand back and hiding it beneath his yukata sleeves.
"I can do it alone, Sensei. It's only one death dream. You have too many students to push them aside just for me," Takemichi says quietly, still staring at the side street. Some kind of celebration is happening, it seems. How nice.
"Takemichi. You are my personal student. Helping you deal with this is just as much my job as training the other children in the dojo. And your grandmother will rise from the dead to kill me if she finds out I didn't help you," Hideyoshi states with a small look.
A soft smile grows on Takemichi's face when her grandmother is mentioned. Sobo-sama, Hanagaki Wakako, the late matriarch of the Hanagaki family. She had ruled the family with a ruthless tongue and an ice-cold glare from the moment she married into it, until her death.
Takemichi misses her so much.
"I still say you should introduce your girlfriend to Wakako-san. If you keep putting it off, she won't be happy," Hideyoshi changes the subject with a small smile. He turns around and starts walking further back into the estate. "Do be careful on your way home. And if anything comes up with your new... activities, please let me know."
Takemichi instinctively bows deeply towards her sensei's receding back. "Good night, Sensei. Thank you for your time."
She stays bowed as her eyes glaze over. She'll introduce Hinata to Sobo-sama... later. It's too early for that. It's too early for a lot of things... Too many things.
There were too many colors on her plate. Purple, green, burnt orange, then brown with sprinkles of white.
Her dinner looked more like a fucking art piece than actual food. It made her stomach turn.
Her nails, too long foriaidō practice and painted a deep midnight blue, tap against one of the many silver forks sitting in front of her. Why is she even here? She hates dinner parties like these.
Crystalline blue eyes blink slowly before glancing up. A dinner? Where is she?
"Ah, Take-hime! I'm so glad you could make it!" There's a pale hand on her shoulder before sharp black eyes are staring directly at her, loving and happy. "I told you, you would look absolutely stunning in this kimono."
The man, with long black hair falling down one shoulder and down his back, leaned over her with a sharp and commanding beauty. He wore a ruffled white blouse styled with black palazzo pants and a waist cincher corset, and he wore red platform boots to make his already tall height even taller. A smoker red lined the corners of his eyes in sharp lines and his lips were barely tinted with a pink gloss.
Takemichi blinks before glancing down at herself. She wore a midnight blue hōmongi patterned with wisteria coming up from the bottom. The obi was the same light purple as the wisteria and was tied into a large and elegant bow from behind.
Takemichi's painted lips grows into a small, but tired, smile as she reaches her own hand up to pat the one on her shoulder. "I never said I wouldn't. You look beautiful, Hajime-kun."
Well, she can easily swallow her own discomfort for Hajime. He's worked so hard for this.
"Are you alright, Take-hime? You don't look so well," Hajime asks, his smile disappearing when he notices Takemichi's dazed behavior.
Takemichi continues to smile. Hajime? Does she know a Hajime?
"I'm just tired, Hajime-kun. Don't worry about me. This is your night," Takemichi's mouth speaks for her instead of the questions she wants to ask.
Oh. Wait. That's right. They met 12 years ago. The... the Black Dragons. How could she forget?
Hajime stares at her for a long moment before sighing heavily. "Takemichi. You should have told me you weren't feeling well. We all know how your visions affect you, sweetheart."
Takemichi's blood runs cold. How does he know about her visions? When did she ever tell him?
"I won't miss out on the most important night of your life, Kokonoi Hajime," The black haired woman speaks with a stubborn glare. "Besides, I'm just tired. Nothing more, I promise."
Hajime leans down and presses a kiss to the corner of Takemichi's mouth. He sighs softly before he reaches up to tug at a loose strand of Takemichi's black hair.
"Silly ohime-sama. Your health takes precedence, especially after your visions," He speaks warmly with an even warmer smile.
How does he know? How does he know? How does he–
Takemichi feels her face flush before she smiles. "You take precedence for me. You all do, Hajime-kun."
Takemichi opens her eyes with a sharp breath. Darkness greeted her.
Did she pass out at the party? She didn't want to worry Hajime-kun...
Takemichi turns her head and stares blankly out of the window above her bed. The stars shine brightly, none the wiser.
No. She doesn't know a Hajime... she doesn't, right? She doesn't own a hōmongi with that pattern... but–
The young teenager shoves her blankets off of her, stumbling out of her bed. She trips over her feet, but keeps her balance, running towards her bedroom door.
Takemichi slams open the door and runs down the hall, dodging the shadows and the figures she refuses to see in the corners of her eyes. She reaches the room she leaves untouched and never opens.
Heavy breaths leave her mouth, wheezing and frantic. The dark wood stain stares back at Takemichi in the pitch darkness. She presses her hand against the door, pushing like she wants to sink into the wood grain.
"Sobo-sama..." The whisper leaves her throat in a broken plea.
Sobo-sama wore a hōmongi with a wisteria flower pattern. Sobo-sama only wore a hōmongi with a wisteria flower pattern when she went to formal occasions for her close friends.
Sobo-sama owned a hōmongi with a wisteria flower pattern, and Takemichi kept it safely stored in her sealed bedroom.
"Sobo-sama," Takemichi repeats the name, louder than before. She breathes deeply as she curls her fingers, digging her nails into the door.
A vision or reality? Vision? Reality. Vision. Reality. Visionrealityvisionrealityvision–
Takemichi falls to her knees with a silent sob. Her head pounds with the beat of her heart. She presses her forehead against the door to try and ease the pounding pain.
Please... please make something real. Please give her some sanity.
Hey!!!! I hope you all like the new chapter! Not me taking two years to update this fic with its SECOND chapter... my bad.
I got busy and received a rush of inspiration for my Bleach fics from a metal baseball bat straight to the head.
Anyways! I hope you all are enjoying the story so far! Hopefully, the next chapter won't take so long to be made and posted... Bye!
WhovianWhoudini