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Niragi stared down the blonde idiot attempting to push past him and get to the long-haired nerd hiding behind him. One look at his piercings and dead eyes and the guy decided to walk away. Fucking coward. It was bad enough after the fucking Borderlands he’d been reborn in another country, in the fucking past, but he was forced to go through high school again because the bitch he called mother wanted him to ‘make friends his own age’. He resisted the urge to slam his head into his locker. “Um, the bell’s gonna ring soon man,” the long-haired guy who’d used him as a human shield commented, flinching back when Niragi turned to look at him. “Do you know where Mr. Bell’s class is?,” he asked. “Um, yeah. This way,” the guy gestured with a ring-covered hand.
Niragi raised an eyebrow as the long-haired guy showed up in his nook in the library where he had a bento in his lap. “Oh. Hi!,” he whisper yelled before falling into the seat next to him. “I didn’t get to introduce myself last time, Eddie Munson,” he did a dramatic pose. Niragi merely raised an eyebrow, “Niragi Suguru. Call me Niragi if you have to,” he muttered seeing the other was waiting for him to reciprocate. “Cool. So you’re Japanese right? Whatcha doing in boring old Hawkins?,” he asked, looking into Mirage’s lunchbox in curiosity. Niragi picked up a piece of sushi roll with his chopsticks and offered it to the boy. He blinked at the offering and leaned forward and ate from Mirage’s chopsticks. Niragi blinked but didn’t say anything. He wouldn’t be a douche to the guy, the rest of the town already hated him. He didn’t need it from Niragi. And Niragi didn’t feel like being an asshole to him. He’d been in his shoes a lifetime ago. “My grandfather decided to retire here and my mother came with him to take care of him,” he stated, giving Eddie another piece of sushi to keep him from asking him more questions. Eddie chewed slowly and swallowed. Before he could say anything else, Niragi stood and packed up, leaving the nook just as the bell rang.
Niragi raised an eyebrow at King Steve, Tommy Hagan and their goons. Harrington was more interested in flirting with anything with boobs, but Hagan. He was one of the assholes who wanted to see people cover beneath him to feel powerful. It seemed like the blonde after Munson squealed and Hagan was here to make sure the new foreign kid new his place in the hierarchy. And he decided to do it in the middle of the gym in front of all the juniors. Idiot. Niragi wasn’t helpless. Refused to be after his childhood in his last lifetime. He was too jaded by the Borderlands to bother with teenagers with inferiority and daddy issues. He had muscles under his baggy clothes and he knew how to throw a punch and to break bones. It didn’t take much to have the ‘jocks’ snivelling on the floor with bruised bodies and nosebleeds. He rolled his shoulders and tucked his hands into his pockets as he walked away. This was why he had lunch in the library.
Niragi didn’t bother looking up at the sound of footsteps and clinking metal. The smell of weed that followed meant it was a certain sophomore. “I saw you in the cafeteria,” Munson stated. Niragi heard a chair being pulled next to him. He kept his eyes on his book. “It was pretty metal. No one’s gonna fuck with you now,” he crowed softly. Niragi gave in and looked up to see the older boy cross-legged on the table, head in his hands as he stared at Niragi, studying him. Niragi raised an eyebrow at the older boy and turned his attention back to his book, half-listening as Munson rambled on about Dungeons and Dragons and his band.
Junior year went by and in came sophomore year. And he was as adjusted as he could be. He had people he spoke to. He was pretty certain he’d somehow become friends with the resident high school drug dealer. He was definitely enemies with the jocks and the ‘cool’ kids. Not that he really cared. He fucking hated bullies but he didn’t care much for those bullied. He’d step in if anything happened in front of him but wasn’t interested in becoming friends with them. Munson was a unique case but Niragi could admit school would be boring with the boy’s constant rambling in his ear. And he had pretty decent weed.
Niragi did not expect to get hit by some disgusting monster from hell when heading home on his bike only to get dragged into a fucked up version of Hawkins. It was fucking irritating. He’s already died in one version of hell and here was another in this stupid, sleepy town. He figured this was where the Byers kid and the Holland girl got dragged to. On that note, he cocked his head at the sound of a very female scream. He sighed and pulled out the knives he hid in his boots. He dared whatever was down here to fuck with him.
Barbara stared at the Japanese teen who’d saved her from the monster of viscera attempting to eat her. He’d pounced on the thing and sliced it apart without hesitation. He’d given her a quick look over and asked her about her own abduction before guiding her through the forest, handing her a wickedly sharp needle that he’d used to hold up his hair. She’d given him a hair tie in trade to keep his hair out off his eyes. They wandered for what seemed like hours, killing whatever came after them, before they found the Byers home. Niragi had an idea that the Byers kid was probably down here to and it wouldn’t hurt to check. The kid would go somewhere familiar and if this was a fucked up version of Hawkins, he would go home. Barbara’s mother had been friends with Joyce Byers once upon a time and she managed to get them to the Byers’ house. And there was Will Byers. Will looked terrified but also relived to see other human beings. Barb watched as Niragi patiently and gently interrogated Will, before persuading him to show them exactly where he’d been taken. The kid was obviously scared but Niragi’s promise to kill anything that so much as moved, along with her own testament of his ability to do so, persuaded him. He stood shakily and wrapped his arms around Niragi’s waist. Barb expected the caustic teen to shove him away or pull away from the grasp but Niragi allowed it. Even placed an arm around Will’s bony shoulders. Maybe the supposed bad boy wasn’t such a bad person. Nancy had listened to Harrington’s stories about him but she’d seen the way he fought of the bullying jocks. He was a quiet guy who preferred books to people. He wasn’t evil. At least she didn’t think he was. He was skilled with knives and had no qualms killing the creatures. Whatever Niragi was, she was grateful he was here.
Niragi leaned against a tree, deep in thought. Holland was standing next to him and the kid was still clinging on to his waist. He didn’t have the heart to push him away when he’d been trapped down here for two whole weeks. He absentmindedly stroked the boys hair when he noticed something. He left the two barricaded in Byers’ room and did a little reconniasence. The monsters were aggregating and pacing around a specific part of forest. They were waiting for something. And it clicked. That was where the next doorway would open. He had been a Diamonds player and whatever demonic shit this was, it was not getting the better of him.
Niragi was right. But it wasn’t just them who wanted out of the freaky world. There were monsters aggregating at the opening portal. Niragi took a breath and got ready to barrel through the beasts. He’d learnt that beheading the things was the fastest way to kill them but he had no time. He needed to get the kid out at the very least. He rushed them and the makeshift smoke bombs he’d made from what he could find in the Byers’ kitchen proved good cover. Holland managed to stumble out but Will was jumped by one of the beasts. Niragi tore into the thing with his knives, before grabbing the kid and running. He could see the door closing, he growled and threw Will. He saw Holland grab him just before the portal closed and he ran. He couldn’t afford injuries if he wanted to survive until the next portal opened.
Will screamed for Niragi as the portal closed behind him. Barb held onto the boy, feeling tears fill her eyes. But she forced them back and pulled him up. “We need to get help,” she told the boy, “he’ll survive. Maybe he’ll find another portal. He’ll be fine,” Barb rambled trying to reassure the crying boy. Barb managed to drag them out of the woods and Will seemed to recognise where they were, leading her straight to his back yard. She watched as Joyce Byers ran towards her son and held him tight, as Jonathan Byers did the same. She took a breath and when Joyce approached her with kind, concerned eyes, she couldn’t help herself from falling into her arms in tears. In the Byers home she was met by a girl with a shaved head and an eleven tattooed in her wrist and the Chief of Police. Will had been missing for three weeks and her for five days. Niragi had been gone for three. Will was distraught when the girl told them that the Upside Down wouldn’t open another portal for a while. The world was sentient and it refused to lose anymore of its prey. Will was inconsolable and Barb was just numb. Nancy and the kids that were Will’s friends showed up with proof of the other world. A dead monster found nearby where Niragi’s bike had been. They were glad to see Will and Barb were alive but that was it. Instead of figuring out how to get Niragi back out, they were discussing how to permanently close the gateway between the two worlds.
“What about Niragi?,” Will yelled at them. The very words Barb wanted to yell. Hopper and Joyce exchanged looks that made Barb want to scream and stab someone. “Honey. It’s for the best,” Joyce whispered, “we can’t let anymore of those monsters out.” “He saved me. If I hadn’t tripped he wouldn’t have gotten trapped. He’s still there because he stopped to save me and you’re acting like his life doesn’t matter. If I was still down there you guys wouldn’t be discussing closing the fucking gateway,” he yelled, furiously wiping away the tears in his eyes. “Kid. The scientists at the lab are after El,” Hopper began, “if we keep messing with this shit, they’ll find her,” he tried to press. “And how are you going to explain our reappearance and his disappearance? Will they fake a corpse?,” Barb spoke up for the first time that night. Hopper looked relieved that she seemed to understand his point of view. “No. You guys were kidnapped and managed to escape. There is an offical cover story and NDAs to sign. As for Niragi, they never found his bike. I have it. His mother didn’t seem surprised at his disappearance, told us that he’d planned to leave at some point. We’ll just tell everyone that,” Hopper stated. “This is bullshit,” Will spat walking away from the group and locking himself up in his room. “Don’t worry kid. The boy didn’t have friends. They aren’t going to notice.”
Hopper was wrong Barb realised. Barb watched as Eddie ‘The Freak’ Munson waited in the school parking lot until the very last minute, sometimes even skipping first period. The way he would walk into the library during lunch and come out disappointed. She watched as he got twitchier and his eyes dimmed with confusion and anxiety. And one day he approached her. “Holland. Do you have a moment?,” Munson asked. Barb had been expecting this and nodded, letting Munson lead her to an empty classroom. “Um. I hate to ask. But, when you got kidnapped was Niragi with you? Japanese, tall, long hair and eyebrow piercings?,” Eddie rambled a description. Barb felt her stomach roil at having to lie to someone who very obviously cared about the silent Japanese boy. “He wasn’t,” she was glad she didn’t stutter. Eddie scoffed, it was ugly and rough like he was on the verge of tears. “He would never have fucking left without his notebooks. All his plans, his algorithms, his drawings, his life’s works,” Eddie snapped at her, “they’re still in his room. Don’t bullshit me,” Eddie begged. But she couldn’t say anything, not with the contracts she’d signed. “Is he alive?,” Eddie whispered. She couldn’t meet his eyes. Eddie bit back a sob, turning on his heel and making his way out of the room. “He saved us,” Barb whispered before he stepped out of the room. He didn’t turn around or respond but she knew he heard her.
Will refused to give up on Niragi. He made plans and theorised. He snuck out and tried to find any trace of the Upside Down, as his friends had coined it. He knew he was hurting his mother with his refusal to stop. But he was so angry at them. Niragi had protected them, him. He’d let Will stick to him for what felt like months in that hell, and he managed to figure a way to get them out. Because of Will’s clumsiness, he’d gotten stuck in that freezing hell. He didn’t like how dismissive his friends were. Especially Mike. But he was crushing so hard on El, he didn’t give a shit as long as she didn’t disappear. They act like she was his saviour when she hadn’t done anything. Niragi was the one who stood between him and those monsters. Who wrapped him up in his leather coat and hugged him when he needed to get some sleep. Time ran differently in the Upside Down and every minute was agony, especially if you were alone. Lucas was supportive, understood Will and he would go into the woods with Will. It was one of those afternoons, where it was him, Lucas and Dustin and they heard a loud thump. Will’s eyes widened and he ran towards the sound. He froze. Leaning against a tree was a bloody Niragi. “Call Hopper,” Lucas yelled as he and Will ran towards the man, Will pressed his hands against his stomach where blood was poring from a deep claw mark. Niragi opened his eyes at the pressure. He gave a bloody smile, “Hey baby Byers. I got out. Fuck, it was hell,” he mumbled before his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness.
“He is very strong. He killed many of them. They were not pleased but it needed to get him out,” Eleven muttered as she stood at his side. After getting stitched up by doctors approved by the government, Will had glared his mother and Hopper into submission and gotten him moved to Will’s room until he woke up. Will slept in a sleeping bag on the floor, not wanting to be far from Niragi. “He scared the Upside Down into spitting him out,” Dustin gaped at the man on Will’s bed. “He is a good protector,” Eleven murmured in approval. Will glared at her, Niragi was his protector and he’d saved him, with Lucas and Dustin’s help, but they wouldn’t have been there if Will hadn’t insisted. Niragi woke up to Will’s rant on physic annoyances who every one loved instantly while Will was the crazy one for trying to save his friend. “To be fair. You’re a kid,” Niragi muttered, voice far too gravelly due to disuse. Will gasped and was immediately at his side with a glass of water and the medication for when he woke up. “Thanks kid. You ok?,” Niragi asked. Will nodded frantically, tears filling his eyes as he stood next to the bed. Niragi sighed and opened the blanket, ignoring the pain in his limbs as Will slipped in next to him. It looked like he had a trauma bonded duckling. Perfect.
Niragi would be up and moving the next morning. Intent on heading home and away from the guilty gaze and overly kind gesture of Joyce Byers. Hopper had been reluctantly apologetic. Niragi didn’t give a fuck. He gave the police chief a single punch in the side that had him doubling over in pain. He considered them even. The news spread that he’d returned from his sabbatical. No one really cared, he returned to his classes, caught up quickly and ignored everyone around him. He didn’t care for how Harrington and Wheeler stared at him, but he figured it was because Holland had told them about what happened. Said girl had welcomed him back and left it at that. She seemed to understand his need for solitude and she merely told him she and her family would be leaving at the end of the school year. He wished her well. He didn’t see Munson anywhere, but apparently he’d been suspended for fighting. Meaning he’d gotten beaten up and the bitch teachers were pinning the blame on him.
Niragi did not expect to see Munson seated on his bed when he walked out off the shower. He blinked at the other boy who had shot up, filled manic energy. Not the normal kind, there was tinge of anxiety. Munson was red and he figured it was because he was only in boxers but when his gaze moved down towards the claw scars across Niragi’s torso, he paled. “What.. what happened?,” he gasped stepping closer, a hand shakily pause just before it touched skin. “The government won’t let me tell you,” Niragi stated frankly, taking that step and taking a breath as those calloused fingers traced his still tender scar tissue. “It hurt like fucking hell,” Niragi muttered. Eddie took a shuddery breath and looked up at Niragi unsure of his welcome. Niragi rolled his eyes and placed an arm around Eddie’s shoulders pulling him into Niragi’s chest and wrapping the other arm around Eddie’s waist. Eddie tensed for a moment before curling into Niragi’s hold, soft sobs leaving him. Niragi let the hand around his shoulders dig into Eddie’s hair.
“I’m sorry about sobbing all over you man,” Eddie murmured as he watched Niragi come out of the bathroom after a quick wash and changed into a pair of shorts and a black wife-beater. “You were worried,” Niragi hummed tossing a pair of sweats and a band shirt. Eddie blinked. “Shower, you can spend the night,” Niragi muttered. “I knew you’d been taken. You wouldn’t have just left,” Eddie whispered as they laid in bed facing each other. “I’ll tell you if I decide to leave,” Niragi promised. In the past year, Eddie had become a friend and Niragi knew he had less than platonic feelings for the metalhead. He was secure in his sexuality but this was America in the 80s, he didn’t want to lose the first true friend he’d had in a while.
Eddie played with Niragi’s hair as they both watched the Rise of the Walking Dead. Eddie was on the couch with a beer next to him. Niragi was seated on the floor, between Eddie’s knees, dark eyes on the screen. Wayne walked in from the bedroom. “I’m out for the night boys,” the older man hummed. “I made you some food, “Niragi hummed not looking away from the television. Wayne picked up the oval lunchbox or bento box as Niragi called it. “Thank you kid. See you guys in the morning,” Wayne hummed. Eddie placed his chin on top of Niragi’s head. “You don’t have to cook for us,” he commented lightly. Niragi scoffed, “The two of you subsist on beer and frozen meals. Consider yourselves lucky I cook a lot,” he muttered. Eddie hid his smile in silky, straight black hair. Prickly as he was, Niragi was a sweetheart.
And it was never more obvious than when he would wait outside the Middle School for Will and take him home on the back of his bike. He would send the kid in the morning with his own lunchbox and watchful dark eyes. If anyone was stupid enough to bully Will, they’d face the wrath of his Japanese shadow. He’d let the kid cling to him and drag him to the arcade to play games. Niragi had even gotten Will a leather jacket in a similar style to his own coat.
Time sped by and so began Niragi’s senior year and Eddie’s second senior year. Eddie was determined to graduate with his best friend. He didn’t think he’d survive a school year without Niragi around. Yeah he had Hellfire but Niragi got him in a way no one else did and when he left Hawkins, Eddie wanted to be right at his side.
Billy Hargrove’s entrance was notable, but everyone’s attention shifted when Niragi sped through on his motorbike. All the working out over the summer had given him a firmer build and the skintight turtleneck he wore emphasised his lean musculature as well as highlighted his oddly slim waist. He was missing his jacket but his long sleeves stretched around his biceps. He took of his helmet and shook his hair free before pining it up with a needle. He waited till Will hopped off and handed him his helmet before getting off himself. He would put both helmets in his locker. He ruffled Will’s hair and waved him off to join his friends. Giving Dustin and Lucas nods of acknowledgment. He slung his backpack across a shoulder and made his way to class, not noting the blue-eyed blonde watching him with unobstructed interest.
“Hey Sugar,” Eddie crooned happily as he found Niragi in their nook. Niragi had allowed him to call him Suguru and Eddie usually called him Sugu or Sug’ which turned into Sugar pretty quickly. Niragi didn’t mind all too much, it was amusing watching Eddie turn red every time he called him annata. They weren’t anything yet but Niragi was determined to have the curly haired boy as his partner by the end of the year. “What do you think of the new guy?,” Eddie asked after a while of rambling. “What new guy?,” Niragi raised an eyebrow. “Blonde, built like a tank. From California and gunning for King Steve’s throne?,” Eddie blinked before chuckling as Niragi just shrugged.
New boy was in most of Niragi’s AP classes and he kept staring at him. It was grating but Niragi knew how to ignore people and this guy wasn’t as irritating as Chishiya had been. Niragi raised an eyebrow as someone leaned against the locker next to his. He wouldn’t have given a fuck if Eddie’s rambling hadn’t stopped so abruptly. “Can I help you?,” Niragi asked without looking up from the code he was writing in his notebook. “Heard you fucked up the basketball team,” Hargrove hummed almost playfully, leaning closer. Niragi closed his locker, not looking up, “And?.” “Come on pretty boy. Stop playing hard to get,” Hargrove crooned and Niragi looked up with dark eyes. Waiting for the idiot to say what he wanted and get out of his face. “I want a rumble. Apparently you’re the one to beat,” Hargrove sneered. “Whatever,” Niragi sidestepped and walked off towards the parking lot, Eddie a couple of steps behind him.
Billy wanted a fight but he wasn’t stupid. Those eyes promised pain and blood and he wasn’t willing to end up broken fighting someone who didn’t give a shit about the hierarchy. No, King Steve was the better target.
Niragi had been conned into escorting the brat pack through the neighbourhoods trick’o’treating. “You look so cool,” Will grinned at Niragi in his yukata, a katana hanging on his right hip. “I know. Not bad yourselves twerps. Now start walking,” he commanded. “Yes sir, samurai Ragi,” Dustin cheered. “Suguru,” Lucas’ little sister greeted. “Erica. You make a lovely princess,” Niragi hummed. The girl grinned, “Thank you.” The girl had spunk and was probably his favourite after Will, followed closely by Lucas and then Dustin. Mike was so low on the list, he was hanging on to the end of the torn page. The kid was so fucking annoying and bitchy. The night went smoothly. Then Will wasn’t well enough for school the next day and Joyce waved Niragi off. Then Will was absent for a week and Niragi was getting antsy. Before he could check on his duckling, Dustin had found him and was dragging him to where he’d kept one of the demon dogs as a pet. And somehow, Harrington had been pulled into the adventure.
“Hi,” Niragi looked at the red head girl who looked vaguely familiar. Niragi gave a nod of greeting and unsheathed his katana, making the kids stare at him in awe. “Stay where I can see you Harrington,” Niragi muttered as the demon dogs surrounded them. Before he could slice all of them in half, they stampeded away. He tsked and set the remains of what he and Harrington had killed on fire. “Come on brats, let’s figure out where they’re going,” Niragi hummed, flicking his katana clean and sliding it back into its sheathe.
They made their way back to lab, Niragi more on guard for the monsters than paying attention to all the conversation. When they got back to the Byers house, he demanded to see Will and Hopper and Joyce figured his presence would help considering the Upside Down had been freaked out by him. Niragi didn’t flinch at burning the Mind Flayer out of Will. The whispered threats made the creature leave all the faster. “Swear to god kid. You aren’t leaving my sight,” Niragi muttered as Will clung to him as the black sludge hissed at Niragi. Niragi scoffed and threw a lighter at it, watching as it screamed and burned into black dust. “Come on kid, let’s go check on the others,” Niragi muttered.
Niragi narrowed his eyes at the beat up Steve Harrington and sighed. “Come on Harrington. We’ll head to the emergency room,” he left no room for argument. Once the guy was patched up and given his meds, he forced him into bed and asked if he could use his phone. “Sure man. Why?,” Harrington mumbled. “I need to call my mum and tell her I’m staying at yours. Someone needs to make sure you wake up every hour. Shut up and sleep,” Niragi demanded, glaring down the boy’s need to protest. Harrington blinked and did so.
Eddie frowned, “You aren’t coming over? Do you want me to instead?,” he asked. “No. I’m not home. I’ll see you at school tomorrow,” Niragi stated. “Are you ok?,” Eddie asked. Niragi gave a soft chuckle, “Yeah. See ya tomorrow Eddie.” “Night sugar.”
A week after everything happened. Niragi managed to get what had happened to Steve while he was high on pain meds. Niragi decided to show Hargrove exactly what happens when he fucked with his second favourite. Hargrove woke to the pressure of a knife against his jugular and another pointed into his stomach. Niragi hovered over him like an angel of death. “You touch those kids. You look at them wrong and I will kill you and leave you bleeding in the woods. They won’t find your body and they’ll simply make excuses and forget you even existed. I don’t give a shit about your ego or your reputation, you say anything to Lucas and I will slice through your legs until no matter how much surgery you have, you’ll never walk again. Forget basketball. Clear?,” Niragi hissed. Billy was stupid enough to try and nod, hissing as the blade nicked him. “Idiot. I’ll let myself out,” the man walked out quieter then a ghost, leaving Billy laying there terrified and hard.
It’s not that Niragi wasn’t aware of Neil Hargrove’s violent tendencies. His parents had been similar in his past life. He just didn’t give a shit. The bastard didn’t touch Max, who had become important to his second favourite, so Niragi could ignore his presence. Billy kept to his word and avoided and ignored Harrington and the brat pack. Niragi settled in for an uneventful rest of the year.
Niragi’s eyes hardened when he got home to find a crying Will, a distraught Dustin and a bruised Lucas with a black eye. He treated Lucas first, icing his bruises and the eye. “I used the spare key,” Will whispered. “Don’t worry about it. My mother and grandfather are out of town for the week. Come, let’s get you guys some food and you can tell me what happened.” As the three boys ate the sandos, Lucas dictated that he’d been feeling watched for a while and that Neil Hargrove and a few other men he hadn’t recognised to be from Hawkins had cornered him and threatened him. Neil had beaten him up. Dustin had found him and radioed Will. Niragi clenched his jaw. “I’ll take care of it. Call your parents and let them know you’re having a movie night,” he gestured towards the phone. Once the kids were asleep, he grabbed his blades and stalked off into the night.
It was very easy to fake deaths in the 80s. He waited until they were very drunk, punctured their tires and ended up having to stop at the side of the road. He had the assholes friends dead in minutes. Neil suffered slowly. Death by a thousand cuts and all that shit. He got them back into the car, crashed them into a tree and set them on fire. The corpses were mostly unrecognisable by the time the fire department got there but the car was notably Neil Hargrove and the pub had many witnesses claiming the men had been incredibly drunk. It was written off as an accident. Niragi didn’t say anything when the boys showed up. Nor did he say anything when Lucas clung to him whispering his thanks.
Niragi had a feeling Billy knew. He saw the blonde watching him when they crossed paths but he wasn’t going to either confirm or deny. It wasn’t his first time killing someone and considering the shitty town, it wouldn’t be his last.
Niragi wasn’t surprised when the kids showed up for his graduation. Their cheers almost gave his mother a heart attack, it was adorable. But he was surprised and disappointed Eddie hadn’t shown up. He understood that it was hard for him to see the ceremony, since he’d be repeating senior year for the third time but he would have liked his friend there. So Niragi decided to go find him. He dropped by the trailer, got a congratulations hug from Wayne and was pointed in the direction of the Quarry.
“I’m sorry,” Eddie whispered as Niragi moved to sit next to him on the open back of his van. Niragi took the joint from his fingers, taking a hit and passing it back. “That you didn’t graduate?,” Niragi hummed. “That I didn’t cheer for you. I didn’t like facing the idea that you’d be leaving and I couldn’t leave with you,” Eddie muttered. Niragi chuckled. “I’ll stick around for the next year. We’ll make sure you graduate and we can leave together,” Niragi hummed. Eddie twisted around, “Are you fucking with me? You got into the best university in the country!,” he hissed. “And it’ll be there in ’87. I can defer. Spend the year working and saving money. Spending time with my lover,” Niragi added watching Eddie’s expression. Eddie frowned, “What lover? Have you been holding out on me? Is that where you’ve been going when you don’t come over?,” he hissed, pulling away. “Idiot. Anatta means darling,” Niragi stated before placing a hand on the back of Eddie’s head and pressing their lips together. It didn’t take to long for Eddie to get with the program, kissing back a little sloppily but just as passionately. He gave a delicious little whine when Niragi easily hauled him onto his lap, grinding down onto Mirage’s hard on. “That’s it baby,” Niragi mumbled darkly against Eddie’s throat as he bit hickeys into the delicate skin. Two orgasms later, and an overly touchy drive back to Niragi’s later, Eddie was curled up next to the Japanese boy dressed in one of his sweats and a band shirt. Niragi had his hand on Eddie’s head, giving him a gentle massage, while he wrote lines of code in one of his notebooks, his glasses perched on his nose. Eddie figured he was the only one who knew Niragi wore glasses, he had contacts in most of the time.
Niragi ended up doing some coding work for a video game company over the summer. It was remote thing and all he needed was his computer. It was old and finicky thanks to the decade he was in but he manage to DIY his own version of a laptop, selling the design to a tech company and ensuring he had a good amount in his bank account. Starcourt didn’t hold too much appeal to him, only going when the Sinclairs wanted someone to watch over their two kids and their respective posses. Will was usually in his house, making use of Niragi’s art supplies and learning how to use knives under Niragi’s intense supervision. His evening were usually spent with Eddie either in his trailer or in Niragi’s room.
It was an impossibly a comical sight seeing Niragi trailing a group of preteen girls but he’d been recruited as Erica’s minder and he didn’t actually mind the stares. He knew he looked good. Didn’t give a fuck about anyone else’s opinions. Well, he may care a bit about Eddie’s but they were dating. He followed Erica and her troop into an ice cream parlour and was gifted with the sight of Steve Harrington dressed as a sailor in shorts with a stupid hat. “Shut up,” Steve muttered as he leaned against the glass protecting the ice cream. Niragi raised an eyebrow and let a smirk touch his lips as he looked over Harrington. He could understand why so many of the girls, and several guys drooled over him. “Niragi,” a female voice greeted. Niragi cocked his head, the band girl he’d been partnered up for a history project. He remembered liking her, “Buckley,” he greeted. “One scoop with whatever toppings and I’ll take you lot to the movies if we’re out of here in five minutes,” Niragi hummed seeing Steve was about to burst a blood vessel with Erica’s tester torture. The girls cheered and began ordering properly. Niragi chuckled at Steve’s betrayed look as he paid. “You couldn’t have done that earlier?,” he hissed at the Japanese boy. Erica raised her eyebrow in a way that was creepily similar to Niragi. “He wouldn’t be my favourite if he did,” she commented clutching into Niragi’s arm. The Japanese boy allowed it, winking at the two and walking out. “He’s really good with kids,” Robin hummed. “Yeah,” Steve ignored his speeding heart.
“Can I ask you something personal?,” Max asked as she skated alongside Niragi. The older boy had forgone his usual coat and long sleeves, changing into cargo pants, a Hawkins basketball jersey and a beanie. Will had told her that Niragi had several skateboards in his garage and she’d asked if he was any good. He was awesome and had agreed to teach her some tricks. Now they were skating around town. “I might not answer but you can ask,” he hummed. Max liked Niragi most, he was like the best older brother figure and she was jealous that Will was so close to him. “Do you like guys?,” she asked in a whisper. Niragi cocked his head at her and stopped by a park bench. He gestured for her to sit and walked into a small cafe, returning with sandwiches and cold fruit juice. “I like both,” he hummed as they ate together. “And that’s ok?,” she blinked. He cocked his head, “You’re from Cali,” he began. “I know, I know. It’s just. People here are so urgh,” she groaned. “It got into your head,” he nodded. “Yeah. So are you dating a guy?,” she asked. “I am,” Niragi answered. “Cool. And you’re like happy right?,” she asked. Niragi could help the chuckle from leaving his lips, “I’m good kid.” “I’m glad. You deserve to be happy you know?.”
Max liked talking with Niragi and was pretty annoyed when Billy showed up to pick her up. After Neil’s death, they had been allowed to keep the house but Billy had to live with them until he turned eighteen. Which wasn’t until near the end of his senior year. At least he wasn’t that bad of a douche these days. “Get in shitbird,” he yelled out the window. Niragi winked at her and skated off. He didn’t care about Billy enough to acknowledge him, but Billy was watching him with something of a single-mindedness that Max wasn’t comfortable with. “He’s dating someone,” she felt the need to mention. Billy scoffed and ignored her.
Niragi cocked his head at Billy Hargrove. The brats had convinced him to head to the pool. And while he didn’t mind the stares, he was cut and tattooed, he was finding it disgusting when he noticed Karen Wheeler and her fellow house wives staring at him like he was snack. This was why he liked the Sinclairs and Mrs.Henderson most, Joyce was a close third but he held a grudge for the way she hadn’t wanted them to even try saving him. Billy was acting strange. He was wearing a shirt and not flirting with his fellow lifeguard. Niragi had a sixth sense when it came to shit with the Upside Down, so did Will to a lesser extent, it was probably due to how long he’d been down there. So he asked to make use of Steve’s sauna. He knocked out Hargrove and locked him inside, watching as the black goop possessing him finally decided to leave its host. Niragi was waiting and set the thing on fire. Drove Hargrove to the Byers so Hopper and Joyce could explain shit to him before heading to the mall just in time to get kidnapped by Russian spies.
The torture was bearable. He took the brunt of it. The fact he was foreign meant they assumed he was some international spy. At least they didn't touch his face. He’d have a few more scares and a few of dentists chairs for a while but it wasn’t as scarring as the shit back in the Borderlands. The moment they brought out the drugs, Niragi immediately began speaking in Japanese, keeping them busy with translating while he dislocated his thumbs and slipped out of the handcuffs and slipped his hands into the inner pockets of his coats. It was quick and easy to slice through their jugulars. He’d cut Steve and Robin from their own binds and were on their way out, Niragi slicing through everyone who tried to stop them, when Dustin and Erica showed up. They ended up splitting up. Niragi with the kids and Steve and Robin on their own. He was sure they’d be fine, they’d be puking up the drugs eventually.
Niragi groaned as Eleven explained the Mind Flayer. “Um, we brought these,” Will handed Niragi his katana wrapped in a rug. “Thanks brat. Now does anyone know if there’s a hardware store in this place?,” he asked.
It was a crazy plan. It involved a lot of molotov cocktails and a few more explosive toys of Mirage’s creation, as well as a diy flamethrower. But it mostly worked out. Hopper died unfortunately but Niragi managed to get everyone else out before burning down the whole place, including the Russian lab. He’d even managed to grab Harrington’s car keys on the way out. Once they were cleared by the emts and had signed another set of NDAs they made their way back to the carpark. “Sugu!,” the yell had Steve and Robin yelping and grabbing onto each other but Niragi had spotted that familiar silhouette before he’d noticed Niragi. Niragi wrapped his arms around Eddie, unashamedly kissing the drug dealer. Eddie melted into the kiss before pulling away and staring at Robin and Steve who were staring in shock. “I’m dating Eddie Munson, you tell anyone and I’ll hurt you,” Niragi said, ignoring the way Eddie elbowed him in the side. “Yeah no, its cool. I’m a lesbian,” Robin squeaked. “And I won’t tell anyone,” Steve swore. “Good. Go home and stay together for the night. Harrington’s on concussion watch. Come on babe. I want to shower and I need you to make sure I don’t die in my sleep,” Niragi hummed calmly. Eddie’s eyes widened and he immediately wrapped an arm around Niragi’s waist, taking some of his weight. And Niragi let him.
“Write and call kid. For anything,” Niragi whispered into Will’s ear. The boy nodded and hugged Niragi tight before getting into the car. “Does this mean we’ve been bumped up in terms of favourites?,” Dustin asked as the car disappeared down the road. Niragi rolled his eyes, “Sure. Lucas and Erica are my favourites and you’re second,” Niragi shrugged. “Sweet. Can we have sushi?,” Dustin asked. Niragi rolled his eyes but nodded, letting the three kids follow him home. Mike could go home with Nancy. The kid was a jerk and Niragi refused to indulge him like the others did. Until he apologised and showed some respect he wasn’t welcome in Niragi’s home and Niragi wasn’t watching him. He just didn’t like the Wheelers with the exception of Holly. She was just cute.
Niragi and Will wrote to each other weekly. He knew all about Joyce figuring out her job, Jonathan and his foray into weed and El’s difficulties fitting in and getting bullied. About the girls and how Will just wasn’t interested in them and his frustration that no one seemed to have time for him. Niragi felt for his favourite but could do nothing but offer support. And count down the day still Mike left town. God the kid was annoying. “Hey Ragi,” Robin hummed, beaming at the Japanese boy. “Robin, Steve,” he greeted before heading towards the horror section. “I will never understand how you can stomach that shit man,” Steve mumbled. “Strong stomach,” Niragi shrugged.
Billy watched Munson with irritation. No one really fucked with Munson or his nerds unless they wanted his dark shadow after them. The other guys had hoped that Niragi would leave after graduation but as he didn’t. As long as he was in town, he was a threat. Billy just didn’t fucking understand what the beautiful man saw in Munson. Nerdy, freaky Munson. Billy had seen them at the Quarry sharing a joint and kisses. Had seen them through the window in Munson’s trailer when he’d gone for weed. He knew how dangerous Niragi was, those dark eyes hardened so very quickly. He was a maniac with knives and his sword but he cared so very intensely for the people under his protection. Those kids and Max and Munson. Munson got his protection and his love. Billy had watched as Niragi had stripped them both down. Had worshipped the older boy’s body, those dark eyes never leaving Munson for a moment. The intensity and heat and passion between them was palpable as they came. Billy had felt an echo of heartbreak when Niragi had kissed Munson so sweetly before cleaning them both up and falling asleep wrapped around each other. Fuck, Billy hated Munson so much.
Eddie cocked his head at Chrissy Cunningham. The girl was overly jumpy and he wondered why for a moment before heading into his room to get what she wanted. He did not expect to walk back into the living room to see her levitating. He panicked, calling her name and he was certain his heart stopped when she began screaming, her bones breaking before she dropped to his floor dead. The urge to run away and hide was so fucking strong but he forced himself to breathe and called Niragi. His boyfriend would know what to do. Would believe him when he said he had nothing to do with whatever the fuck just happened.
Niragi was racing off on his bike the moment he hung up. Eddie could barely speak, sobbing and terrified and Niragi had no idea what had happened but promised to be there as soon as he could. He packed his knives and other supplies just in case he needed to hunt down and dispose of bodies. If Eddie was hurt, he was going to murder the perpetrators. He did not expect to see the broken body of a cheerleader in his boyfriend’s trailer. He listened to Eddie and settled him in bed, promising to take care of it. He studied the girl for a moment before grabbing the large garbage bag he’d packed. He pulled on rubber gloves and slowly wrapped up the corpse. He’d clean the blood from the carpet when he got back. When he headed out of the trailer, Max was there. “Is she?,” he asked. “Upside Down shit. I need you to tell me everything you saw,” he hummed as he loaded the body on his bike. Niragi placed Chrissy’s body in the woods, a bit away from a gas station. They’d find her and give her a funeral. And Eddie wouldn’t be a suspect. “We’ll have to tell him,” Max murmured as they road back to the trailer park. “Tomorrow. Tonight, I’ll keep an eye on him.”
Eddie watched as his boyfriend cleaned the blood of the carpet. “Sugu, you believe me right?,” Eddie whispered. “Of course,” Niragi stated calmly, “we’ll talk in the morning. Pack some stuff, you’re coming home with me.” Eddie did as he was told, still shaken by what he’d seen. The fact Niragi wasn’t freaking out helped a bit.
Eddie stared at the kids, Harrington, Buckley and Wheeler. “You’re telling me that there some kind of twisted version of Hawkins underneath Hawkins and that was where you were back in junior year?,” Eddie gaped at his boyfriend. “Yeah. According to El, our resident mind-powered Supergirl. Niragi killed so many of the demogorgons and Mind Flayers that the Upside Down spat him back out,” Dustin rambled. “You’re so badass,” Eddie commented nodding at Niragi. Niragi shrugged. “So what do we do now?,” Steve asked. “Find out what’s causing the deaths. Someone is defiantly trying to get out of the Upside Down and he’s fucking powerful,” Max muttered. Nancy burst into Niragi’s living room, “Fred is dead,” she gasped, “and we need to look up Victor Creel.”
Somehow they ended up looking for the gateways into the Upside Down and found one at Lovers Lake, where Steve then got dragged underwater and everyone decided to join him. Niragi resisted the urge to just leave them there but the kids wouldn’t forgive him. Dustin would nag him to death and Eddie was looked a mix of terrified and disapproving, knowing exactly where Niragi’s thoughts had gone.
Niragi wasn’t too pleased to be back in the Upside Down but he was more than capable of surviving and navigating the cursed world. He just had to make sure everyone else did. Which was ultimately harder than it should have been considering they were practically adults. At one point Harrington bit one of the demon bats and tore it apart and Niragi had to deal with a pang of jealousy as Eddie pointed out how ‘Ozzy’ it was. Nancy decided to lead the way home to get her guns, Niragi totally approved and said as much. He missed Nancy’s blush but Eddie didn’t, narrowing his eyes at the girl to Robin’s amusement.
Shit went down and the next thing he knew, Niragi was pushing Eddie out of the gate just as a tentacle wrapped around his leg and another pieced right through him. He saw the fear in Eddie’s eyes, saw him scream and try to jump back through but Wheeler and Harrington pulled him out. That was good. Those dumbasses weren’t too useless after all.
Niragi didn’t expect to die in the Upside Down. But hell, he’d done enough damage that he knew his kids would be able to close up the connection between worlds no problem. Everyone was safe and he felt somewhat accomplished. He wasn’t scared of death. He’d died before. He was worried about how Will, Lucas and Erica would take it. How Eddie would. But he had no regrets this time around. He felt weak as blood seeped from his wounds. He closed his eyes and let the darkness take over.
Eddie sat in his trailer staring at a picture of him and his boyfriend. It was a Polaroid and Niragi was actually smiling. It had been a week since his funeral and it hurt so much that Eddie would never have those dark eyes and strong hands on him again. That he wouldn’t be able to curl up against a firm tattooed body or have nimble fingers comb through his hair. He wouldn’t hear Niragi grumble in Japanese in the mornings or see him feed his brats Japanese food, insulting them when they insulted the sashimi but ate it all up anyway. The plans they had were dust in the wind. He’d had a will, one he updated yearly. That he’d updated the night Chrissy died. He’d left Eddie all his money and notebooks with instructions on how to sell his ideas. He and Wayne were set for a long time. But Eddie didn’t want the fucking money, he wanted his boyfriend. He wanted his best friend and lover. His muse and anchor. He didn’t even tell him he loved him.
It hurt so fucking much.