Chapter Text
Heavy rain fell over the rough asphalt of the streets of Shibuya.
Hanagaki Takemichi was in a familiar situation, one she'd been in multiple times since she was six. The raven haired girl was crouched underneath the awning of a shop, her arms wrapped around her skinned knees. It was dark, most likely past ten. Her father had been worse this time, usually the man would just roughly shove her and hit her with a belt. This time he resorted to his fists, he made the unfortunate mistake of trying to run away from her Father's blows, to which he got even angrier. Her father dragged her by her hair and threw her outside telling her to leave if she wanted to run away so badly. It wasn't the first time he'd thrown her out the house, but she was scared about what awaited her this time when she returned, so Takemichi simply kept walking, and now she was lost.
Suddenly the door of the shop opened, a tall and lanky man walked out wearing a mechanics uniform, he leaned back against the door, lighting a cigarette and calmly staring out at the street. Sano Shinichiro was working late at his shop and decided to take a smoke break, just after he lit his cigarette, he heard a small sniffle. He turned around and saw a small girl, she looked around his brother's age and obviously looked like she'd been through a lot. The girl had skinned knees and a nasty black eye and a bruised lip. Noticing him staring the girl quickly stepped back only to be met with the wall hitting her back. Shinichiro sighed, " Long night?" he asked the girl tiredly, she meekly nodded back. " Me too." Shinichiro commented before throwing is cigarette on the pavement and stepping on in, " Come in, I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." he told her gently.
Takemichi was hesitant to trust a stranger, but she had no where to go. So she followed him into the auto shop, it smelled of motor oil and dust. The man flipped over a bucket and gestured for her to sit while he knelt beside a motorcycle and began to continue his work on it. After a few moments of silence he began question the girl, " Problems at home?" he asked gently, glancing back at her. Takemichi nodded, Shinichiro turned back to the bike, " Figured. . . What's your name?" he asked
" Hanagaki Takemichi. . . What's yours?" she answered timidly. Shinichiro smiled, " Sano Shinichiro, did you get lost?" he asked, she nodded. " It's pretty late, you can stay at my family's home. I have siblings around your age. Emma and Manjiro are ten and twelve, Izana is fifteen. How old are you actually?" He asked calmly. " I'm ten and a half" Takemichi answered, fiddling with her hands. Shinichiro stood up, " Well Takemichi-chan, we should get going, before the rain gets heavier." He said with a smile, holding a hand out to the girl. Takemichi smile and took his hand as Shinichiro led them out of the shop, making sure to lock up before leading them down the street, making sure the umbrella covered her more than himself.
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The Sano family home was much different than Takemichi's house. It wasn't extravagant, but it was obviously filled with people who loved eachother. The light was warm toned and smelled nice. The living room had a variety of different things, a punching bag and a bunch of dolls scattered on the table made it obvious there were kids there. Shinichiro gave her a towel to dry herself off, and ushered her to sit at the dining table, serving her some leftovers. While Takemichi ate nervously, almost scared someone would steal it, Shinichiro looked at her sadly, a pang of protectiveness in his heart. Suddenly a door opens from upstairs and a messy haired blond boy tiredly made his way down, almost tripping as his eyes were still shut. He yawned and made his way to the kitchen, opening the freezer and getting out a tub of ice cream and an obnoxiously large spoon, only for Shinichiro to scold him. " Mikey, no sweets after ten." the man's voice rang. The boy, ' Mikey' simply nodded and ignored his brother's words, plopping himself on the couch in a cris-cross position and began eating the ice cream. An irk appeared on Shinichiro's temple, but he sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. " By the way, who's the cute girl?" Mikey asks after a few seconds, pointing the ice cream filled spoon at Takemichi, who blushed in embarrassment.
" Mikey! Manners! This is Hanagaki Takemichi. Takemichi this is my brother Manjiro Sano, just call him Mikey." Shinichiro explained. Takemichi nodded gently, smiling at the boy slightly. Mikey's eyes widened softly and he stood up and walked over to her and took her chin into his hands, " Nii-chan, can I keep her? She'll be my girl." Mikey asked, so nonchalantly you'd think he'd asked for a simple toy. Shinichiro choked on his saliva, coughing as Takemichi flushed once again. Mikey laughed and smiled, his dull black orbs shining with a hint of passion, " Takemitchy-chan, your my girl now!" he said, wrapping an arm around her.
Shinichiro finally snapped out of his shock and dragged Mikey to the couch by his arm, " Mikey be quiet and eat your ice cream." But Mikey simply stuck out his tongue, quickly running around the couch as Shinichiro chased him. Just then two more kids came downstairs followed by an elderly man. " What the hell is all the noise about?!" The old man's voice rang in annoyance. Mikey and Shinichiro froze, beads of sweat running down their heads out of nervousness. " Nothing Gramps, Mikey's just being a brat." Shinichiro laughed, ruffling Mikey's hair.
Suddenly, one of the kids, a little girl who had golden eyes and dirty blonde hair with eyes that widened at the sight of Takemichi, she squealed in happiness, " Shin- Nii! You actually got me that life size doll I asked for!" The girl said hugging Takemichi tightly, and Shinichiro sighed exasperated , " Emma Chan she isn't a doll! Let her breathe, this is Hangaki Takemichi she's staying here for the night." Emma's eyes sparkled and she bows quickly "I'm sorry Takemichi-chan! I'm Emma! Woah! Your so cute! I really thought you were a doll!" The girl says in awe making Takemichi blush , " T-Thank you Emma-Chan! Your really pretty too!" Emma smiled and looked up at her oldest brother, " Can she stay in my room?" she asked, and instantly Mikey was next to Takemichi, " No! She's my wife, she'll stay with me!" Mikey pouted. Emma blew her tongue at him, grabbing Takemichi's hand and running upstairs with the girl into her room.
Mikey whined, " Nii-chan, Emma stole my wife." his words made Shinichiro sigh and the silver haired boy simply flicked Mikey's forehead, " Mikey stop being a pain." he commented calmly, a hint of a smile on his face. " Come on you two, hit the sheets." their Grandfather says, gently pushing them towards the stairs. Once Shinichiro and his Grandfather were alone, the older of the two sighed. " So where'd you find this girl?" Shinichiro shrugged, " By the shop, she's in no condition to go home. She's obviously experienced some form of abuse."
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" Emma-chan, you have so many dolls!" Takemichi says in awe at the girls room, which was all pink and girly. Emma smiles, " I know, you wanna play with me?" She asks excitedly, and Takemichi nodded. The girls laughed and smiled enjoying their time together until they got tired and sat on the floor together calmly, when Emma suddenly broke the silence. "So this is what it's like" Emma says gently, looking up at the ceiling. Takemichi perks up and looks at her, " What Emma Chan?" , Emma smiles and says, " This is what it's like to have a friend, my brothers have friends and never play with me since I have don't like fighting or whatever boys do in their free time. But now I get to have a friend. " She says happily, Takemichi smiles brightly at Emma's words, " Don't worry Emma Chan! I'll be with you forever! I promise" Takemichi states determinedly. The two girls smile and laugh growing closer in just an hour as if they'd been friends since birth. A bond had connected them, a bond that would never break.
But. . .promises that can't be kept shouldn't be made.