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Takemichi woke up, his smaller back and shoulder blades aching from last night’s activity. Yawning, he glanced at the sleeping figure of Mikey. He looks peaceful. No one would bat an eye that this guy, the love of his life, used to stand on top of the world. He had seen the ugliest, the dirtiest - and the lonliest points a person could have in a lifetime - and he still chose to abandon everything and live.
Takemichi lowered himself and kissed his black eyebrows.
Proud was an understatement.
He’s honored to wake up every single day with Manjiro beside him and come home in the evening to his embrace.
“Manjiro,” Takemichi whispered. “Wake up, we’re going to be late.”
“5 more minutes, please?”
“Alright, I’ll wake you up after I take a shower.”
He placed a quick peck on his cheek and crawled at the edge of the bed. He was about to grab his towel on the drawer when a hand reached out to him, stopping him from standing up.
“Wait, I'll join you.”
——————————
They arrived at exactly 9:00 in the morning, as promised.
Takemichi rang the doorbell and Draken opened the door. “Good morning, Draken-kun.”
“Mornin’, Takemitchy, you really sure about this?” he asked while scratching his ear. Takemichi chuckled and patted Draken’s arm.
“Of course, it’s the least we could do. Now, where are the girls?”
Draken smiled and pointed upstairs. “Still sleeping. They were a bit hyper yesterday when we went to buy groceries. Emma should be waking up soon, so feel free to hang out in the living room for now.”
The sound of the car closing and the alarm startled Takemichi. Draken must’ve noticed it and smirked.
“Still not used to it?”
“Yeah,” he admitted. “It feels off — seeing Manjiro driving four-wheels, instead of two. I don’t know, maybe this is the quarter-life crisis they were talking about on television the other day?”
Draken gave a hearty laugh, tears formed at the corner of his eyes. “Wait ‘til you see the girls. You’ll feel old. ”
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Draken was right.
Reality punched Takemichi right in the gut when Emma came down with his nieces behind her. They kept their blonde hair long, just like how Emma used to have in the photos Takemichi saw in their old house. Their dresses also looked like something Emma would wear.
When they approached Takemichi to say ‘Hello’, Takemichi squinted his eyes.
They’re about to be as tall as Manjirou in a few years.
Damn.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Manjirou gripped his shoulder and squeezed. “Stop it.”
Takemichi bit his lips. “Yes, Sir.”
——————————
“Shall we go?” Manjirou unlocked the car and opened the back and passenger door for Takemichi and his nieces.
Emma wrapped his arms around Manjirou. “Are you really sure - 101% sure - you’re okay doing this?” There was worry and excitement in her voice. Manjirou patted her head and pressed her closer to his chest.
“Of course. Now go have fun with Ken-chin.”
Takemichi didn’t miss the quick, hard stare that Manjirou gave to Draken-kun. He didn’t falter at the gaze. He stood straight and nodded, knowingly. Even after a decade of marriage and having two daughters, Takemichi could only surmise that Manjirou and Draken-kun have yet to heal from Emma’s near-death assassination.
“You’re the best big brother ,” she grinned then went to double-check her daughters’ backpacks if their essentials were complete.
“Don’t let Uncle Shin and Uncle Izana hear you say that, Mama. They’ll get hurt.” The eldest warned while the youngest nodded in approval.
Emma smiled weakly.
Manjirou stood, proud and still undefeated as the best brother.
——————————
Again, Draken-kun was right.
They’re energetic as fuck.
Manjirou suggested that they try out the roller coaster as their first ride in the amusement park. The girls said 'No' and declared they're all going to try the Dumbo-flying ride. Takemichi has no idea who 'Dumbo' was, so the next half-hour boiled down to the girls explaining the whole plot of the show, including the ending.
They rode the spinning tea cups next. Then the carousel.
Takemichi was thankful when the girls agreed with Manjirou’s suggestion to try-out the less-spinning rides after lunch. Otherwise, their lunch would've left his stomach immediately.
“Don’t be scared, okay?” Manjirou teased and stretched out his hand at the entrance of the Haunted Mansion. Takemichi pouted and took it anyway.
——————————
They didn’t get to see the closing of the park and the fireworks. After riding the roller coaster twice and the ferris wheel, the girls begged Manjirou to buy them crepes. Manjirou looked at Takemichi for permission too.
Of course, he said yes.
“Oh look!” the youngest shrieked and grabbed her sister. They ran towards the shooting alley.
“Can we try? Please?”
They asked in unison.
Knowing full well that they almost, always get what they want when they do this.
Takemichi fetched some change in his pocket, handed it to the person in-charge, and loaded the fake gun. He adjusted how the handle felt against his palm. The trigger felt foreign against the pad of his forefinger.
Securing his feet on the ground, Takemichi pulled the trigger.
And missed.
Clicking his tongue, he loaded again, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
And missed.
“Dammit. The game’s rigged.”
It’s a pathetic excuse but his nieces are watching. Gotta act cool.
Cooler than Manjirou-the-best-brother-ever.
“Want me to try?”
Takemichi wanted to say ‘No’. This was his chance to shine , dammit!
Still, his dark, dark eyes seduced Takemichi to hand over the last bullet. His last shot.
Manjirou smiled and electricity cascaded Takemichi’s spine. The butterflies in his stomach haywired.
The gun’s size looked ridiculous when Mikey held it near him. The cheapness came through when Takemichi remembered the guns that Mikey possessed when he served as the head of the dark Toman, Bonten, and Kanto Manji. Takemichi shook his head, trying to ignore the idea that had festered at the back of his mind since he leapt through time and convinced Manjirou to live with him - Am I doing the right thing or am I being selfish?
“Takemitchy,” Manjirou’s voice commanded. He looked at him. His deep, dark eyes unwavered, and in an instant, his doubt vanished. “I’ll win for you.”
The girls blew raspberries and complained at how ‘lovey-dovey disgusting couple’ they are just like their parents.
Manjirou got the girls two giant plushies to get back his 'Best Uncle' title.
——————————
They arrived home at around seven in the evening, carrying one of the girls in their arms. Takemichi held the bag of the eldest while Manjirou opened the door with his other hand. He reached for the light switch when Takemichi tapped his shoulder.
“Don’t, it will wake them up. Let’s just put them in the guest bedroom for now.”
“What about washing up? Brushing their teeth?”
Takemichi rolled his eyes. “Don’t pretend you’re Emma , Manjirou. I know you.”
Despite the darkness of their house, Takemichi saw how he managed to make Manjirou smile again today.
“Fine, we’ll wake them up in 30 minutes.”
——————————
Careful with their steps, the two opened up the spare room and laid down the sisters next to each other. Manjirou unclasped their watches and their hair ties. Takemichi meanwhile, removed their shoes and socks, leaving them in the entrance of the house.
——————————
“You alright?” Manjirou handed him his mug of hot tea. Takemichi said thanks and when he saw Manjirou comfortably sitting beside him on the sofa, he leaned his forehead on his shoulder.
“Yeah. You?”
“Of course.”
They both basked in the comfortable silence that was founded in mutual trust, friendship and braving the unknown. Timeline after timeline, Takemichi found himself glued to Manjirou — Mikey — and for the second time today, he admits to himself that he’s grateful to meet him.
“I really love you, you know.”
The light from their dining room reflected the wide eyes of Manjirou. They rarely say these words to each other. They rely more on their actions towards each other and how they extend that same kindness to each other's family and friends.
But there was something about tonight that pushed Takemichi to just say it.
“I love you, Mikey .”
Fat, wet tears fell down Takemichi’s eyes. On instinct, Manjirou wiped them with thead of his thumb and cupped Takemichi’s cheeks. He peppered his face with butterfly kisses, ignoring the salty taste on his lips.
When he finally reached Takemichi’s mouth, he gently pressed his lips on his. Takemichi remembered this exact moment, a decade or more ago.
Their first kiss.
How they tiptoed and tested the warmth of each other's arms.
Manjirou’s fingers were already under his shirt when the alarm rang. They giggled, like teenagers caught in doing something naughty — like cutting classes or falling in love.
Manjirou kissed Takemichi one last time before fixing his hair and clothes.
They woke up the girls and helped them clean up.
——————————
“Someone had fun,” Manjirou sneered when Emma opened the door. The girls greeted their mother before running to their room.
Manjirou expected her to retaliate like always. A smack on the head or her throwing something to him. But his sister flashed her sweetest smile. “Of course I did. Probably one of the best birthdays I had in a while.”
Manjirou stuck out his tongue and covered his ears. “Don’t wanna hear the details!”
Emma rolled her eyes and called him a 'Baby'. More bickering was about to escape her lips, but when she heard the lock of the car and the sight of Takemichi carrying the girls’ bags on his shoulders, Emma shover her brother to the side and threw her arms around his neck.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“What are you—“
“Draken told me everything last night.”
Takemichi’s brain short-circuits. Words failed to leave his tongue. And then he felt his shoulders suddenly become wet.
“You’re welcome," were the only words he thought were okay to say.
Emma wiped the tears off her eyes. “And for loving Mikey.”
Takemichi grinned.
“That’s the easiest part.”