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22 February 2006
WEDNESDAY
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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐅 stars stretched across the night; crescent moon setting Musashi Shrine aglow, deepening the shadows of the surrounding tree groves.
"Our emergency meeting before we face Tenjiku will now begin!" Draken yells across the crowds of Toman members.
Silence rang thick across the shrine as Toman waited in momentary stillness, staring upwards towards their commanders.
"Guys, listen up," Draken began, "Tenjiku's making their move on February 22nd – and that's now today. They're finally coming at us with everything they've got! So we've all gotta focus and take em' head on; those Tenjiku bastards won't give us a fair fight." He informed.
[y/n] then stood from her position sitting on the staircase, "they're callin' themselves a 'criminal organisation' and I know they're gonna be fighting us dirty," she further explains.
The sentiments had many shaking, while others clenched their fists.
"Then Toman should do the same!" A boy shouted from the crowd, drawing many's attentions behind them, "let's fight dirty, and wipe 'em out!!"
Takemichi's jaw became slack, observing Hakkai's torn expression, breathing heavily in utter rage.
"On the way here, Taka-chan got jumped and beaten, Smiley-kun too!!" Hakkai yelled.
[y/n] could feel her heart skip a few beats, stomach beginning to reject the bit of toast Emma forced her to eat before coming to the meeting.
"No way!! How'd they take out those two?!"
Toman began to murmur in hushed panic, a few stepping backwards as if they were attempting to run away.
"Some assholes rode in on motorcycles and hit 'em from behind with steels pipes... they got taken to the hospital but they're still out cold! Those Tenjiku fuckers will do whatever it takes. If we don't step it up, Toman's gonna lose!!" Hakkai continued, voice beginning to crack from thick emotion.
Hakkai then began walking forwards towards the staircase, "the first division's all beat up!!" He gestures towards Takemichi, "our second and fourth division captains aren't here, our third division captain is gone, and the fifth division are traitors with Tenjiku now!!" He yells.
Toman started to turn in on themselves;
"Hakkai's right!"
"Toman can't go on like this."
"So let's fight the way Tenjiku does."
"Let's get some weapons and ambush 'em!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Suddenly, a motorcycle's head light beamed, engine reeving over the crowd's shouting and demands.
"Shut the fuck up, shit heads," Peh-yan scowled, before turning his bike off, "don't get yourselves all worked up. You pussies so scared to lose that you wanna ambush them with weapons?" He asks, tone mocking, "Pah-chin used a weapon and got arrested, I attacked Draken over a misunderstanding."
Peh-yan began to walk forwards, standing beside Hakkai, "I did some real chickenshit... and this is what Mikey said to me 'I don't wanna fight you'. That's why I'm still here, so, that's why this time I wanna do this in a way Mikey's okay with. I wanna fight in a way I won't be ashamed of!" He exclaims, turning towards the indigo-haired male, "I know you're freaked out over Mitsuya gettin' beaten down. But look at Mikey, is he smilin'?"
The attention was returned to Toman's commander; stoic and mouth curled down in a frown.
"Hakkai, go stay with Mitsuya," Mikey ordered.
Hakkai's mouth became ajar, "what?! Wait just a minute, I want to avenge Taka-chan!" He states, eye brows furrowing.
"It's not 'cause I'm worried about their conditions, it's 'cause when they wake up, they'll want to come join the fight for sure. So, I want you to stop them," Mikey explains, cocking his head to the side, "it'll be hard for me to fight if I'm worried about them. Takemichy – you and your friends will carry out your duties."
Mikey then glanced up towards the crowd, "listen up, everyone," he calls, "not a single captain's gonna have your back in this fight. 'Cause I'm all you need!"
The members of Toman looked up at their commander with adoration, each now holding an unconstrained grin, "LET'S CRUSH TENJIKU!!" They yell, raising their fists into the air.
[y/n] peers over the cheering crowd, rejoicing Mikey's name and his gang. She then turned away, feeling a sense of fatigue as she walked; the sparkling thrills of Toman beginning to die out of her, the taste of life stale against her tongue.
She hardly even remembered what she was seeking out of this, or why the failures to achieve it had submerged the light from her sky, only aware of the inner isolation deeper than the loneliness she brought on herself by turning away from her friends: baring the pain in silence, confining it to her mind.
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[y/n]'s leg shook in erratic motions as she hunched over her desk; lamp light illuminating the pages of her journal.
As she begins to close her latest passage, she rubs at her temple, already knowing of the bruising colouration weighing down her eyes.
Dropping the black-ink pen onto the desk, [y/n] snapped the book shut by the spine, before hearing her bedroom door being opened behind her. Swivelling fast on her chair, she prepared for an excuse to fall out in the same breath, but however instead met the tired form of [b/n].
"[b/n]... what are you doing up this late?" [y/n] asked.
In response [b/n] yawned, scratching at his neck, "you're still awake too," he pointed out, before glancing away in slight bashfulness, "I... had a nightmare again," he murmured.
"Oh..." [y/n] responded, getting up from her seat, lifting up her mattress to hide her journal underneath, "wanna talk about it?"
[b/n] shook his head, "not really," he states, eye brows furrowing after as he stared off towards where [y/n] hid her book, "what're you hiding?" He asked.
"That's a secret," [y/n] grinned, contrasting heavily against what clouded her thoughts.
[b/n] pouted, moving from the doorway to sit on his sister's bed, fiddling with the ends of his t-shirt, "I'm scared you won't come home one day... like what happened with Mikey's older brother," he then mumbled out.
[y/n] paused, staring down at [b/n] with wide eyes, "oh, [b/n]," she whispered out, crouching in front of him, "I ain't goin' anywhere, yeah? I still got a lot of things to do; like look after you, and watch you grow up," she says, giving him a small smile.
[b/n] nodded slowly, lips forming a line as he noticed the way [y/n]'s hands shook with tremors, unable to meet his gaze with askance.
"Hey, you reckon you do me a favour?" [y/n] requested.
[b/n] gave [y/n] a look of scepticism, "what is it?" He replied, squinting his eyes.
[y/n] grinned, standing back onto her feet, "I need'ya to help me sneak out – I have somewhere important to be," she asks.
[b/n] paused for a few moments, pretending to think over [y/n]'s request, "fine," he then agrees, helping her exit out the back door of the household, without [parent/guardian] waking to stop [y/n] from leaving.
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[y/n]'s pov
Kisaki's plans plagued my mind; festering into an all consuming dark hole.
The threat had my thoughts unstable, but what was clear was the drive to stay by her side, and to protect her. I didn't take much care in the scene that was unfolding in the grave yard, instead taking precedents against Emma's side, scanning at any sign of an assassinator.
"Why do boys have to fight all the time?" Emma then voices her thoughts aloud.
I took a glance down at her crestfallen face, lips slightly turned up in a smile.
"Mikey has always been so strong – even through the death of Shinichiro. He just hid his weaknesses around many... but he's just a child," Emma continued, looking up to meet Takemichi's eyes, "he's just a child that can't even sleep without his childhood blanket."
The sentiments left a gripping sensation in my chest, leaving me to stare off into the distance to where Mikey was conversing with Izana and Inui.
My face tugged, the pressures of Toman and expectations of reciprocating feelings, as well as the possibility of Emma dying finally creeping up on me. Letting out a huff that confirmed the thickness growing in my throat, I force out a warming smile.
Emma peered up at me, returning the smile in kind, "hey, let's go get a drink from the vending machine," she offers.
third person pov
"Sounds good," Takemichi agrees, following behind [y/n] who stuck to Emma like glue.
Takemichi pondered on how he was possibly going to save [y/n] from an oncoming collision that happens in the span of seconds. He had tried all means so far that wouldn't risk in other's safety – from reasoning with [y/n], trying to keep her and Emma indoors, all for it to just fall short.
The trio walked up onto the side walk, before Emma points out the vending machine that resided across the road, picking up her pace from [y/n].
In that moment, Takemichi gazed up towards the deep blue street sign, the name making his head reel.
Takemichi's face morphed into one of horror, whipping his head around to see a black car coming racing down the street, with no number plate as stated in the police reports.
[y/n] was quick to hear the sound of a speeding car, lurching forwards to where Emma was crossing the road.
However, Takemichi was closer to [y/n] than she was to Emma.
Without thinking over the various possibilities, Takemichi gripped onto [y/n]'s shirt, violently pulling her back onto the side walk.
Against Takemichi's bear hug, [y/n] reached out to Emma, only to helplessly watch her body being hurled.
Emma was thrown 10 metres, until her back slammed against the lamp pole.
[y/n] stopped her fight, becoming desolate in the moments that proceeded.
Once Takemichi had processed what had just happened, he instantly dropped [y/n], who stumbled forwards into a sprint.
"Emma, Emma, Emma!" [y/n] called in hurried chants, her hands not ceasing its intemperate trembles as she reached for Emma's unmoving body.
[y/n]'s jaw didn't seem to know what to do; opening and closing in erratic motions.
The thick maroon substance seeped into [y/n]'s pants and coated her hands as she pulled up Emma into a hug, resting her head into her own shoulder.
Loud, heavy breaths was all that could come out from [y/n]'s voice box, the world beginning to blur into a mess of red and Emma.
[y/n]'s heart then began to die a slow death, following along with Emma's soul; her skin fading into stiff coldness against [y/n]'s still living form.
It was then [y/n] released a scream of anguish, rocking the slumped body against her own, pleading towards anyone who was listening to have Emma back. Her cries could be heard throughout the neighbourhood, far reaching enough to scare the birds from their resting posts.
She didn't care for the saliva that poured out from her mouth and down her bottom lip, or the sounds of Takemichi crying and calling for help behind her.
The three in the cemetery all instantaneously discerned who they belonged to, and Mikey took off into a sprint.
He was the next to witness horrific scene, shoulders slumping into a catatonic trance.
Soon followed the sinking feeling that came with the sounds of ambulance sirens; medical professionals pulling Emma's body away from [y/n]'s grasp.
[y/n] could only watch on as they placed her inside one of the two ambulances, allowing a medic to direct her away to check her for any damage on herself.
Takemichi kept an arms reach beside her the whole time, not noticing Mikey wandering off in the direction of the Asagaya Hospital.
After, the medical team drove [y/n] and Takemichi to the hospital, dropping them off in the waiting room. Upon arrival, Mikey was already waiting in the completely empty hall, head slumped against the wall and hunched forwards.
Without words of greeting, [y/n] strode to where Mikey sat, seeing Emma's figure through the open door. Her body was covered in a pale blue hospital blanket, leaving her deathly pale and bruised face to be witnessed.
[y/n]'s vision glossed over again, head spinning at the view of her best friend. Feeling light headed, she slouched into the double seat beside Mikey.
Mikey gave no reaction that told anyone he even noticed [y/n]'s presence, staying in a stagnant stare off with the lacquered floors.
And just as the night of August 14th 2003, [y/n] reached out to Mikey in a simple gesture.
Grasping onto his ice cold hand, skin sticking to the sweats of her own palm. [y/n] gave enough energy to send a small squeeze.
Mikey didn't respond in kind.
But [y/n] continued to hold onto his hand, not allowing it to slip away and for him to completely engulf himself in the drowning, unknowing of how the waters began to fill her mouth to the point of suffocation.
Takemichi was left to watch afar; reconsidering all of his actions over and over. Reliving the memories that constantly replayed of [y/n] dying, it seemed as though he completely forgot the risk she was trying to prevent, now only realising it when [y/n]'s face was now replaced with Emma's.
The decision he made, felt as though it was either one or the other at face value.
It all went so fast. A split second decision that he regretted with all his being, yet a decision that allowed [y/n] to live another day.
But was it truely in his right to make it?
[y/n] was so willing to sacrifice herself – throw herself in between the car and Emma, giving up everything just for her sake.
Although, at what consequence? Her death had fucked everyone over. But as Takemichi watched as Draken stride into the hospital room, he heard [y/n]'s words ring.
'...remember, everything you do has an equal and opposite reaction. One good thing now may lead to a future of bad – so be careful of your decisions...'
"Draken," [y/n] calls, voice croaking against her shattered voice box.
The dragon tattooed boy couldn't tear his eyes from the body that laid lifeless, face a sickly grey that heavily contrasted her once rosey complexion.
"...Draken," [y/n] once again calls out, reaching out to another who was coming undone in front of her.
"Mikey, come outside," Draken demands, still staring down at Emma's soulless body as he spoke, before abruptly turning on his heals to leave.
Mikey listened to his commands, wavering as he stood, dropping [y/n]'s hand as he slowly followed after Draken.
Takemichi could see the anger that radiated from Draken's form as he strode out, knowing that what he had to say wasn't going to be said in a kind manner. Flicking his eyes between the pair exiting, and [y/n], he came to realise he had another decision to make.
Stop the brewing explosive argument between Mikey and Draken, or stay beside [y/n]. Staying inside for a few moments, he knew his heart was pulling him to stay by [y/n], but was instantly changed when he saw Draken throw a punch into Mikey's face.
Takemichi was then the last to leave [y/n] alone, unbeknownst that the last flicker of the flame began to die; left alone to be smothered out.
And so, the heart of Toman withered.
.
.
.
.
𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝟐𝟐 𝐅𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟔
"I'm Tomonori Yamashita, live at Shibuya station. Devastating news tonight; a 15 year old girl, by the name of Emma Sano, has passed away at Asagaya Hospital after a hit-and-run incident..."
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