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Takemichi looks ahead as Mikey leads Kanto Manji Gang with five hundred members while he, as the leader of the second generation of Tokyo Manji Gang, has fifty members at his command. The gap between their numbers is so huge that his friends doubt the outcome of this fight to be in their favor. But even so, they had to try. They didn’t come all this way for nothing.
The yard was silent as Mikey stepped forward. Mikey’s presence alone had the air be filled with tension and trepidation. He stared at Toman so intensely that some had to try and not look away. Takemichi, however, wasn’t intimidated by it. He got used to those eyes he once loved — still do — so he gazed back with the same ferocity.
Mikey couldn’t help the small twitch of his lips; Takemichi didn’t back down from his gaze. Those ocean blue eyes Mikey coveted the most were now in front of him, staring back at his chasm, drowning him in their depths. Mikey always wondered what would happen if he stared at them for too long, would he drown into its depth? If it was only the two of them, Mikey wouldn’t mind staring at those eyes all day long. Aaaaah, how lucky he was to see them again. To see him again.
He wants to get near Takemichi but there are pests he must discard so he can have the teen’s full attention. Toman would no doubt stop him from going near Takemichi, especially Matsuno and Inui. He tilted his head and called for his high-ranking officers.
“I want to talk to Takemitchy, without anyone else. Sanzu, Koko and Kakucho, you know what to do.” He received silent nods of affirmation from the three.
Everyone in Toman was on high alert as the three along with the rest of Kanto Manji Gang descended upon them. Takemichi yelled for them to move and so they did. He had a suspicion Mikey planned something, if not, then Sanzu would have said something to provoke them, just like back then. But now, the pink-haired teen was silent and just fighting whom he comes across with. He also noticed that neither the captains nor members of Kanto Manji were trying to hurt him or even go near him.
Was Mikey’s plan to fight Takemichi alone? Before the blond could rationalize, he was already in front of Mikey.
“Takemitchy.”
“Manjiro.”
He might be seeing things but did Mikey just twitch? And what was with the nickname? That doesn’t concern him right now, what troubles him is that Mikey singled him out. Why?
“Why did you single me out? Do you think taking me out by yourself is going to give you the upper hand?” Takemichi asked. He was prepared for Mikey to move and land a kick on him but he wasn’t prepared for Mikey to smile.
“Takemitchy… I thought I’d never see the day you would lead Toman. But here you are, strong and confident to fight against me. But you know… I don’t want to fight you, Mitchy, I really don’t.”
“W-What are you talking about? What do you m-mean you don’t want to fight me?!” Takemichi asked, bewildered by the sudden change. Was Mikey high or something?
“I just don’t. I’d rather have you join me instead.”
“Excuse me?!”
Okay, so maybe Mikey was high on something because the words he’s spouting make no sense. Maybe a bit but the purpose of this battle was to fight! Not to recruit!
"Think about it Mitchy. You and I, together, can make a new era for Japan, no, for the whole to see. We can have everything we want and no one could oppose us.”
“You can’t just say that out of the blue Mik— Manjiro!” Shit, he almost slipped up.
“I know, but when have I ever not been unpredictable, Mitchy? Even in the face of danger?”
“Even so, for you to say that in a huge battle such as this, is unbecoming of you. You wanted to kill me that day and now you want me to join you? Are you crazy?!”
“Yeah, crazy.” Crazy for you. “But you know that I couldn’t control myself, Mitchy. Of all the people who knew of my impulsivity, you would know that I couldn’t help it. You were in the way, as selfless and brave you were, I didn’t want you to interfere.”
“And I didn’t want you to kill anyone! Why do you even need me to join you, Manjiro? You have all the power and strong members you need. I am your enemy!”
“You’re not my enemy, Mitchy. You never were. You were my only ally in the darkest days of my life, you were the light guiding me away from my nightmares. You came back for me ! How could I ever think of you as my enemy?” Mikey’s tone was soft and yearning, it begged for Takemichi to listen and understand.
“Even if I want to punch you in the face right now? Even if I were to stop you at all costs?”
“Oh, Mitchy… You don’t fully understand how much you mean to me. My captains don’t even want to fight you. They all want you to be here in Kanto Manji too.”
At the reminder of the captains, Takemichi tried to spin around and see if Chifuyu and the others were alright, but Mikey walked towards him. His sudden movement made Takemichi focus his attention back on Mikey. He cannot afford to slip up, Mikey might attack him when his back is turned.
That’s right Takemitchy, Mikey thinks, your attention should only be on me.
“Join me, Mitchy. All I ever wanted was you by my side… We can start all over again! Create a new era just like before!”
"Manjiro…" As soon as Takemichi said that, Mikey’s expression changed from pleading to anger.
"No! Stop calling me that! I'm Mikey-kun to you, right?! Why? Why did you stop calling me that? I know you wouldn’t. Who told you to stop saying my nickname? Was it one of them?" Mikey yells, desperate to hear his nickname from the boy he loves but Takemichi's still shocked by Mikey’s sudden change in mood.
He could see the desperation and madness in Mikey's eyes. Oh Mikey, how Takemichi would love to say your nickname but if he did, then he would not be able to move forward. No matter how much it hurts him to say Manjiro instead of Mikey, he has to, for the sake of leaving his — their — past behind. Mikey attempts to get near Takemichi but the blond walks backward at every step Mikey makes.
Have patience Mikey, just a little more and Takemichi can be in your arms again.
"Takemitchy… Please, join me, stay with me, just like before… That’s all I ever wanted.”
"You know we can't go back to the way we were before, Manjiro…" And just like that, Mikey’s whole demeanor changed. It was back to his serious one and the alarm bells inside Takemichi’s head were going off.
"Then you leave me no choice… I only want you Takemitchy. If you just said yes, then I wouldn’t have done this.”
“Wha—”
“Boss, we’re done. What do you want us to do with them?”
Startled, Takemichi swerved his head back and to his horror, saw all of his friends on the ground. No… No, please don’t let them be… In his panic, he forgot all about Mikey and the battle and rushed toward his friends. They couldn’t be dead, Takemichi would never forgive himself if they were. He shouldn’t have let them fight in this battle, he shouldn’t have even made this gang in the first place if the only consolation he got from it was the death of his friends.
However, before he could run, Mikey grabbed him from behind and trapped Takemichi in his arms. The blond thrashed around, using every strength he has to escape from Mikey's grasp. He was silently crying as Mikey covered his mouth with his right hand. He barely registered the blond whispering comforting words to him.
“It’s alright, Takemitchy. They’re fine just a bit ba— Fuck!”
Mikey cursed as Takemichi reverse buttheaded him, causing Mikey to release his grip. Takemichi was fast to escape but Mikey was faster. He pulled the teen hard by his collar which had them both falling to the ground. Mikey quickly wrapped his arms around Takemichi; his left arm around the boy’s waist while his right arm was across Takemichi’s chest, his right hand covering the teen’s mouth. Takemichi tried to break free but it was futile. Mikey even had his legs wrapped around Takemichi’s legs so he couldn’t attempt to stand up.
“There, there, it’s alright, Mitchy. They’re just unconscious. As much as I want to hurt them, they’re your precious friends. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.” Takemichi wants to believe Mikey but he needs to see it for himself. He already lost so much, he didn’t want to lose many more. He sees Chifuyu on the ground but his friend wasn't covered in blood. However, Takemichi's panic caused him to remember Chifuyu bleeding on the floor after he was shot in the head by Kisaki.
“You’re tired aren’t you Mitchy? You must be… Don’t worry, I have something that could help you sleep. Sanzu.”
“Yes, boss.”
Takemichi panics in Mikey’s arms as Sanzu comes near them with a syringe. Mikey’s attempts at soothing him only made Takemichi freak out even more. Sanzu gently took hold of Takemichi’s right arm, not bothered by the fear in the teen’s eyes. Takemichi tried to pull his arm away but Sanzu's grip on him was strong, gentle but strong.
“It’s alright, Takemitchy. Sanzu’s an expert in this, he practiced just for you. Koko along with Kakucho bought all of this stuff to make you feel better. See? I told you everyone wants you here.”
No, please don’t do this, please. Mikey-kun, please!
He wanted to scream and plead, but Mikey still had him silenced.
“Don’t worry, my queen. I will be swift. Then you can get the rest you deserve,” Sanzu softly said. He injected the needle into Takemichi’s arm and made sure his queen wouldn’t feel pain from it. Seconds passed by and it was beginning to take effect. His queen stopped squirming in his king’s arms and his eyes were slowly trying to close. Sanzu pressed a cotton ball on the injected area and tried to calm himself because he was holding Takemichi’s arm.
“Mikey-kun…” Takemichi murmured. “Why?”
“Because I love you.”
This isn’t love though, is it Mikey-kun?
“Go to sleep, Mitchy. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Mikey said as he kissed Takemitchy’s forehead. He held Takemitchy in his arms as the teen lost consciousness. Mikey’s expression was soft, so in contrast to the serious one, he shows every time they have a meeting. Only Hanagaki Takemichi, his Takemitchy, can make him smile like that.
His plan went perfectly well. Although Takemichi reverse headbutting him was an unexpected variable, he was pleased to reach his goal. He finally had Takemichi in his arms.
After the battle of the three deities, he had some time alone to think about what he had done. Takemitchy came back and tried to stop him ( he came back for Mikey ) but what had Mikey done? Hurt him badly to the point he almost went into a coma. He asked Koko to look after Takemitchy because he couldn’t do it, no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn’t bear to see what he had done to the person he loves. He was tempted to never see Takemitchy again, but when he heard from Koko that Takemitchy blamed himself for Draken’s death, he snapped.
It wasn’t Takemitchy’s fault! It was that bastard South’s! It was his men that shot Kenchin! So why was Takemitchy blaming himself?
He wanted to tell the blond teen that it wasn’t his fault but he knew how stubborn Takemitchy was. Something inside of him shifted. Would Takemitchy try to leap back in time again? Leave him? No, Mikey can’t have that. His Takemitchy is finally here. So he created a plan that would ensure Takemitchy’s safety and his position by Mikey’s side.
He told his plan to his captains and surprisingly, they agreed. Well, not that surprising because Mikey had a hunch they all liked Takemitchy. Who didn’t? He’s seen the looks they’ve given his beloved. Maybe Mikey could let them have a touch of his Mitchy, but only those who deserve it. Mikey gave Sanzu the honor to inject Takemitchy with the drug, which made the teen excited. Koko spent all of his time with the help of the Tenjiku boys to get the goods they would need. Gas bombs filled with sleeping gas from a dealer Koko knew worked well. Toman dropped like flies the moment they inhaled it. Good thing Koko prepared something else so that members of Kanto Manji wouldn’t be affected. While in Takemichi’s case, the liquid in the syringe was something special, just for him. Kakucho had to use force for the dealer to sell the goods to them for a reasonable price.
Oh Takemitchy, the things Mikey and the others would do for you. Mikey stood up and carried Takemitchy in his arms. He signaled to Sanzu and the others to bind the members of Toman and carry them to the warehouse as planned. No one would try to find them as Mikey made sure that their plan would be carried out so that not even the police would be alerted of the situation. Mikey went on ahead to the penthouse to make sure Takemitchy sleeps peacefully.
While Takemitchy might protest to all of this when he wakes up, he has no choice but to listen to Mikey, not when the teen has his friends. It’s downright evil to use Toman as leverage but Mikey’s gotta do what he needs to do for Takemitchy to stay with him forever.
He finally now has him right here and Takemitchy will learn that all he needs is Mikey and Kanto Manji Gang. He will learn his place in this world as Mikey’s equal and lover. This will be the start of a new era, of an empire with Mikey as King and Takemitchy as HIS Queen.