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"Takemitchy!!"
Oh, this was bad.
The evening had been going pretty well up to that point, though. Takemichi, Mikey, Draken, and the former captains and vice-captains of Toman’s first four divisions had gone out to grab a bite. It had only been three months since Toman had disbanded, but Takemichi already missed it terribly. He had been part of it for years- since the very beginning, in this timeline. He would miss all those small and big moments, no matter how stressful they may have been.
But hey, it wasn’t like he had lost touch with his friends. In fact, this evening was proof of the opposite. They were all still friends, being or not in a gang didn’t change that. Tonight, some of them had gotten together to try a new restaurant that had just opened in the area- it was freaking good.
Sometimes, when Takemichi looked at all his friends smiling and laughing, being happy… he often had to excuse himself from the room to cry. The emotions he felt in those moments were just so strong. The realization that it was finally, finally over, that he had succeeded, that everyone was going to smile now. The memories of all the deaths he had witnessed, the ones he hadn’t been able to prevent, and the blood staining his hands- now gone, nothing more than painful memories… it was just sometimes a bit too much, and the tears would flow. Sometimes Mikey would come to comfort him, being the only one who knew.
He had always been a crybaby anyway. Some things never change.
In fact, that’s exactly what had happened just a few minutes ago. Everyone was laughing at something Kazutora had said, Baji responded something and Chifuyu had fired back- and this time, they were all laughing at Baji’s expense. The moment was so joyful it caught Takemichi off guard, and he quickly excused himself to go get some air, breathless.
He had walked a bit away from the restaurant, his legs itching to move. Stupidly, he had slipped into a dark, empty alley to catch his breath. Cliché, right? Still, the overwhelmed brain of the time traveler was convinced it was a good hiding spot, needing to escape the world for a moment.
Well, apparently the rest of the world did not include the three thugs who appeared out of nowhere to mug him. Unfortunately, in his panic, he had left without, well, anything on him.
His answer didn’t please his attackers. The one in the middle -definitely drunk- pulled out a gun. Takemichi took a slight step back, and the dim light of a streetlamp lit up his face. That was when the thug on the left recognized him as the (former) leader of the Tokyo Manjikai, which startled the other two. But Takemichi’s attention was solely focused on the one still pointing the gun at him. He needed to find a way to de-escalate the situation, and fast, because they were getting more and more insistent and his heart was racing, his brain running at a hundred miles an hour trying to find a way out.
He stepped back again, which alarmed the men, shit, and then- then he tripped. Not even enough to fall ; just a small, stupid stumble that he quickly recovered from.
Unfortunately, that sudden movement was enough for the drunk attacker to pull the trigger.
A single shot, and the bullet struck him right in the chest. The pain spread quickly and agony was very fast the only thing he could feel.
Takemichi’s world went black after that, and he must’ve passed out for a few minutes, because when he slowly opened his eyes again, someone was above him. Blond hair, dark eyes… oh, it was Mikey.
He seemed to be saying something. Takemichi couldn’t quite hear it. A loud, constant ‘beeeeeeeeep’ buzzed in his ears. But why did he look so alarmed? Had something happened?
Rain was falling on Takemichi’s face. That’s strange, he didn’t remember rain being in the forecast today. What day was it again? Exams were coming up soon. If he passed them, Hina had promised to take him somewhere. Takemichi had studied really hard just for that, but he didn’t think it was enough. Why was he here and not studying right now? He couldn’t disappoint Hina. What was he doing, again?
His breathing… was hard. Something was scratching at the back of his throat. Takemichi coughed, and something splattered on his chin.
He was shaken more strongly now. Wait, he had been shaken?
“...mitchy! Answer me, damn it! Takemitchy!!”
His ears suddenly cleared, the buzzing stopping. Oh, Mikey was calling him. Takemichi should answer then, right?
Except he couldn’t. His breathing was labored, not enough oxygen making it to his lungs. Pain radiated from his chest, slowly at first, then crashing down on him brutally. The sudden agony didn’t help his already struggling breathing, and soon Takemichi was nearly suffocating.
“Hey, Takemitchy, calm down. Help’s coming, okay? You’re gonna be okay. Try to follow my breathing, alright? Breathe in… and breathe out. Breathe in… and breathe out .”
Takemichi tried to follow the instructions, his memory slowly coming back. Right. He had been shot. Oh god, he was going to die, wasn’t he?
Oh, this was bad.
If Takemichi survived this, he swore he’d never go get some air in a shady alley ever again. But honestly, he doubted he’d get the chance.
His lungs felt like they were on fire. With every breath in, the pain worsened. Air wasn’t getting through properly anyway, and he felt like he was drowning. He let out a gurgling noise, choking, and Mikey lifted him slightly, turning him on his side as he coughed up blood.
The bullet had gone straight into his lung. There was no way he could survive that. His vision was already blurring at the edges. It was probably just a matter of minutes, the paramedics wouldn’t make it in time.
He looked up at Mikey’s alarmed face.
It wasn’t that bad, Takemichi decided, dying in his arms.
“Mikey…” he murmured in a hoarse voice.
“Shh, it’s okay, Takemitchy. Draken called an ambulance. You’re gonna be fine. You’re gonna be fine.”
Mikey was gently rocking him, holding him in his arms. He was kneeling in a puddle of water. Wait, no- in a puddle of blood. Probably Takemichi’s blood. The boy with dyed hair also realized that the water falling on his face wasn’t rain, but his friend’s tears.
Takemichi didn’t want to die. Yet, he knew he didn’t have a choice. It sucked, dying like this, just after finally managing to save everyone. He had been willing to give his life for others, but going out like this? For nothing?
Tears clouded his already blurry vision. It wasn’t fair. He had worked so hard. Why didn’t he had the right to have a happy ending, too?
Manjiro’s hand gently ran through his hair, easing Takemichi’s pain a little. It felt nice. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had touched him like that, with so much gentleness.
He and Hina were always physically shy with each other. And as for Mikey… well, they had to get past the point where the boy overcame the guilt of having stabbed him with Sanzu’s katana first.
Sometimes, he felt so close yet so far from Mikey, like he was lightyears away even though they stood side by side.
Still, Takemichi was stubborn enough to always keep reaching out to him.
Well, that didn’t really matter anymore. The fake blond could feel his strength leaving him. He wanted to say his last words to Mikey, but with the air slipping more and more out of his lungs, it seemed impossible to make even a single sound beyond the choked gurgles he was making.
Oh well. He hoped Mikey was good at reading eyes.
There were worse fates, Takemichi was sure now, than dying in Manjiro’s arms.
His hands… were so warm.
That… that sounded familiar.
“Hey, Takemichi!! Don’t close your eyes!”
Mmh? He didn’t remember closing them, though.
“Please. The ambulance is almost here. You can’t die.”
Die? Was he hurt? But he didn’t feel any pain.
“You always got back up after getting beaten down, again and again… and you’re gonna let this be your end? Right after everything is finally over? That’s cruel, Takemitchy.”
After everything was finally over…? Oh, that’s right… All of his loved ones were safe now. He could rest.
“So hang on, okay? Open your eyes for me. I beg you.”
“…You should breathe. You’ll suffocate if you don’t.”
“It’s strange, I’ve never seen you this still. You’re always fidgeting around, after all…”
“Takemitchy. We should go. You’ll catch a cold if you stay on the ground. You’re already freezing.”
“Look, the ambulance is here. So stop be lazy and get up, okay?”
“Takemichi.”
“Don’t leave me.”
“Please.”