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With the introduction of Takemichi to their little scruffy group of kids, Draken’s stress levels have been getting higher and higher.
Don’t get him wrong, he’s very happy that Takemichi has another group of friends that isn’t the four weird twerps from Mizo. He’s very sure that all of them are a horrible influence on Takemichi. Except maybe that Takuya kid, of the few times he’s seen the kid interact with Takemichi, he’s seen to be very mellow and calm, caring and attentive. And from stories, he’s exactly that. All the others, though, are shit, especially that Makoto. Not like Draken’s own group is any better, but atleast he can keep an eye on Takemichi and what they’re saying to his little brother.
But if Mikey attempts to propose to Takemichi with another fucking ringpop that he got from the corner store for a few cents one more damn time, he will start grabbing his short fucker of a friend by the hair and tossing him up in the air. Thank god Takemichi has common sense and standards and continuously turns down Mikey’s offers of marriage.
And Baji’s no better, teaching Takemichi swear words and saying that it’s how you communicate ‘love’ or whatever. You’d think growing up in a brothel would teach Takemichi these words and their actual meanings, but no. He’s stupid, but not as much as Baji. (The heart attack Draken got when Takemichi called him ‘fucker’ would cause him to slap the living daylights out of the feral kid.)
Kazutora fucking loves Takemichi. Like adores him. Always hugging and squeezing the life out of Takemichi, petting his hair, pinching his cheeks, everything. And Takemichi loves him back, loving the piggy backs, free snacks, and attention. Most times out of ten, you can walk into a room that both of them were left to their own devices in, and Takemichi will be giggling as Kazutora tickles him or hugs the shit out of him.
Pah-chin has actually been very chill with Takemichi. If you exclude him picking him up at random times and running around with the younger on his shoulders. But Draken considers it cute so he’ll brush it off. But Pah-chin needs to stop scaring both Draken himself and Takemichi with his random attacks.
And Mitsuya. Draken considers him to be god-sent. Always coming between the boy’s shenanigans and kicking Mikey away from Takemichi. Or scolding Baji because the little shit decided it would be funny to tackle Takemichi to the ground on rough concrete , then quickly changing his demeanor to soft and gentle when patching Takemichi’s scrapes up. Always keeping Takemichi safe and happy when Draken is unable to, either because he went into a store for two damn seconds or is busy fucking people up.
Regardless of them all being stupid, except for Mitsuya (sometimes), he’s happy they’ve taken such a liking to Takemichi. Not like he was worried, because Takemichi is too fucking sweet to not like, but it’s just nice to know that the kid has an extra layer of protection that isn’t just Draken. They all love him and would happily break noses for him, and it’s just super fucking sweet.
—
The first to be moronic was Kazutora. Because of course it was him.
“Draken, hey! Draken!” Kazutora calls, running up to where said boy is laying on the grass, looking like a starfish. Kazutora stops abruptly and flops on the ground next to the blonde, wide eyes staring creepily. Draken’s always been creeped out by his stupid bug-eyes.
“What?” Draken mumbles sleepily, sunbathing melts your brain in just the right way, he thinks. Baji, Mikey, Takemichi, and Pah-chin were getting snacks at a shop just a block or two away from the empty field. They decided to have a little picnic, but without the blanket and basket. Just eating food in a field right next to a pond. Kazutora was supposed to be with them, but he ran off, like usual. Mitsuya was busy with his sisters but promised he would hang out with them tomorrow.
“You know how we’ve gone and made Toman, right?”
“Right,” Draken drags out, closing his eyes and throwing his head back.
“And Takemichi is with us and under our protection, right?” Kazutora has made his way from laying down to getting up and balancing on the balls of his feet crouching down.
Draken furrows his eyebrows, not liking how ‘Takemichi’ and ‘Toman’ were used in the same fucking conversation. He opens his eyes and glares at Kazutora, not liking where this was going. “And?”
Kazutora sweatdrops, smiling, “What if, we have Takemichi join Toman!”
Kazutora’s head whips back at the force of a punch to his mouth. He falls backwards with a yelp of pain. If looks could kill, well, then Kazutora would be ash.
When the other four come back from their adventures, they were startled to see Draken sitting and staring at Kazutora’s crumpled form like he killed his mother and then made him watch as he ate her. Which was weird, because Draken didn’t have a mom.
Draken just turned and smiled at Takemichi and opened his arms for a hug, assuring that Kazutora just tripped and was being dramatic. While the younger boy may have fallen for it, the other three did not trust his smile and glare. And Kazutora’s signature ‘I have fucked up but will not say how’ grin with dried blood stuck to his lips and chin definitely made it seem like something else happen.
Despite that, they had a good picnic. Even though Kazutora was complaining the whole time because he had bitten his tongue and all he tasted was blood. But, whatever.
—
Baji was up next. The idiot has no self preservation.
“BAJI, PUT THE POOR BOY DOWN!” Mitsuya yelled, chasing after Baji who had thrown Takemichi over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and just started running without a word, just cackles. Takemichi was yelling and squirming, voice cracking in usual pre-teen fashion.
Draken ran after Mitsuya, aggravated and very much done with Baji. Kazutora was cheering and clapping. Pah-chin was just laughing. And Mikey was just smiling in his usual stupid cat-like way.
“BAJI, YOU WANNA GET YOUR SHIT ROCKED SO BAD, DON’T YOU?” Draken yells out, snarling and smirking when Baji shrieks.
“I JUST WANNA HANG OUT WITH TAKEMITCHY! YOU GUYS KEEP HOGGIN’ HIM ALL THE DAMN TIME, AND I GET NOTHIN’!” Baji bites back, grip on Takemichi tightening as the boy squirms more.
“BAJI YOU’RE BEING STUPID!” Mitsuya yelled as he reached out for Takemichi’s outstretched hand. Takemichi making grabby hands at the lilac haired boy.
Takemichi screeched as Mitsuya was finally able to grab him and pulled, resulting in the black haired boy getting yanked and both him and Mitsuya falling on the ground. Baji kissed the floor as the kick off of Takemichi’s weight leaving fucked him over.
Mitsuya groaned, throwing his head back as he coughed, attempting to breathe correctly because the air was knocked out of him. Takemichi was no better, holding his wrist which felt like it was dislocated due to Mitsuya pulling so damn hard. A red ring had formed around it, and he mentally made a note to go to Draken about it if it still hurt when they got back home.
Draken stepped over the pile of little brother and twin dragon as he made his way over to Baji. Because apparently Baji falling didn’t do enough. Baji squawked as he was dragged away from the rest of the boys, yelling for help and pouting when all he got was ‘you were beggin’ for it’ and ‘rest in peace’.
Once farther away, out of hearing distance, Draken craned his neck at Baji as he towered over Baji.
“What was that about? You could’ve hurt him,” Draken says, crossing his arms. Baji shrugged.
“Just wanted to hang out with him like I said!”
“You were though?”
“Were what?”
“You were hanging out with him.”
“Yeah but not like- alone!”
“ You wanted to hang out with my little brother alone?”
“NO- WAIT!”
After a swift smacking, Draken continued his glaring as Baji rubbed his cheek.
“I wanted to talk to him about something.”
Draken raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
“About joining Toman.”
It was silent for a second. Then two. Then three.
From where the rest of the boys were standing, they could hear distant screams that sounded eerily similar to Baji.
“Wonder what’s got someone screaming like that,” Kazutora murmurs, wrapping an ace bandage around Takemichi’s wrist after it started getting swollen and they genuinely worried about a strained wrist.
Mitsuya hummed, unwrapping a bandaid and nudging Pah-chin for help applying it on his arm, where a small cut resided from a rock or something slicing it after he fell. Pah-chin frowned and put antibiotics on the bandaid before putting it on Mitsuya. Flicking his forehead, he scolded him for not making sure it wouldn’t get infected.
“Probably some dumbass doing dumbass shit,” Mikey remarked, turning his head this way and that, swinging his legs back and forth.
Definitely a dumbass doing dumbass shit, thank you Mikey.
—
After Baji incomes Mikey.
Mikey and Draken were chilling outside Mikey’s home. In Mikey’s hands was some banana milk, and in Draken’s was some apple juice. In Draken’s other hand was dragon fruit juice, one of Takemichi’s favorite.
Mikey slammed his head on Draken’s own, smirking when the taller boy yelped.
“Ken-chin,” Mikey whispers, looking down at his companion wide-eyed. Draken looks up at him from where he was sitting on the ground.
“Don’t call me that,” Draken whispers back, “What?”
“You know your darling little brother?” Mikey continues whispering, smiling brightly at the thought of him. Draken’s face falls and his fist goes into his best friends face quickly. Draken ignores the offended gasp coming from the other side of him as he gets up and starts walking away.
He doesn’t get what the other boys deal is with Takemichi, but he sure as hell ain’t listening to whatever bullshit Mikey is about to spew. His mind brings him back to Kazutora and Baji attempting and failing to convince Draken to let Takemichi come into Toman, and he knows that Mikey is gonna try to get him in on that too.
How much times does he gotta say that he doesn’t want Takemichi involved in gang shit until it clicks in their brains. He tucks the dragon fruit juice in his pocket and feels a few extra yen in there, and sees a convenience store up ahead. Maybe he could get Takemichi some candy.
He smiles at the thought of Takemichi excitedly taking the juice and snacks from his hands. Maybe they could watch a movie tonight or play some games. Especially since the boy is going over to Takuya’s place tomorrow night, and he won’t be seeing him until Monday morning, and it’s Thursday right now. That’s all weekend!
“Ken-chin!” Draken rolled his eyes at Mikey’s whining, turning around and starting to walk backwards.
“I said stop calling me that. And what do you want?”
Mikey smiles, “I was trying to say what I wanted but you hit me and walked off!”
“Yeah, ‘cause you were saying dumb shit. Now what?”
“Ken-chin, don’t walk backwards you can run into that pole right there,” Mikey warns, and Draken quickly turns around and lets out a breath of relief at the sight of a metal pole a few steps in front of him. Glad he didn’t hit that.
“Anyways what?” Draken sighs out, Mikey quickly walks to fall in step with the taller boy.
“Well, we know that Takemichi is taking lessons at the dojo, and we’re also teaching him how to fight for protection, yes?”
Draken sighs again, this time more heavily. “Yes.”
“What if- this is just a what-if- what if he joined Toman?”
Draken pushes Mikey into a glass window and continues up ahead to the convenience store, getting out his spare change and counting that it’s enough for two chocolate bars and a small ice cream pint.
Takemichi is so going to think he’s the best big brother ever.
—
Number four is Pah-chin. Draken should’ve guessed him to be next because Pah-chin is a fucking idiot.
Pah-chin, Draken, and Mitsuya were at the grocery store all together. Mitsuya had to go grocery shopping for him and his little sisters and requested help from the two as he had a lot of things to get and needed more hands.
“Alright, Pah-chin, can you get all of the things on this list?” Mitsuya hands him a list of fresh produce items with dairy items. Pah-chin nods, blinking at the list to try and remember all of it. A basket also makes it’s way into his hands.
“Draken, I need you to get all of this,” Mitsuya hands him a list of different meats, spices, bread, noodles and two large bags of white rice.
“Dude I need a fucking cart for this shit. Those bags are like fourteen pounds a piece!” Draken shouts incredulously. Mitsuya looks at him blankly.
“Why do you think I needed your guy’s help? It’s a nightmare having to lug all this around.”
Draken thinks that Mitsuya is of another world. He has no clue how his friend is still sane. No way a single person can do what he does and not be paranormal.
“Anyways. I’ll get the rest of the stuff needed. Draken go ahead and get two carts because I’ll need one too.”
Once they all have everything they need, they all separate.
About twenty minutes later, Pah-chin and Draken run into each other in the refrigerator isle.
“Draken!” Pah-chin waves as if they hadn’t just seen each other a few minutes ago. Draken smiles and waves back, walking up to him.
“Hows it goin’ with your list?” Pah-chin asks, looking at his cart curiously. Draken shrugs.
“I’ve gotten pretty much everything, just need to grab chicken, fish, and beef. Think you could help if you’re done?”
“Yeah I’ve gotten everything, what do you need me to get?”
“Uh, salmon, cod, shrimp, tuna and trout.”
“Aye, aye.”
They part for a few minutes before meeting back up and walking to the front of the store together.
“So,” Pah-chin starts.
“So.” Draken answers.
“The boys have been wondering, and it’s gotten me curious too,” Draken raises a brow at Pah-chin, “When’s little Mitchy gonna join Toman?”
Draken stopped walking and breathed in and out, trying to fight annoyance. Goddamnit, the fuckers got Pah-chin in on it too.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, it’d be cool if Takemichi joined. We’d see more of him, and that’s pretty cool.”
Pah-chin looked over at Draken to figure out his response or reaction only to get a mean flick in the face.
“Ow! Fuck Draken! What the hell?”
Draken just grabs his cart and gets a running start before he hops on the front and glides away.
Fuck these boys, only Mitsuya can be trusted.
—
Mitsuya cannot be trusted.
“Hey, Draken,” Mitsuya mumbles, leaning his body weight on Draken while they both ate snacks on a hill. His droopy eyes half open from being so sleepy.
Draken hums in response, not looking away from the trees wiggling around from all the windy-ness.
“D’ya think Takemichi sh’ld join Toman?” He slurs out, the smell of rain and sound of wind lulling him to drowsiness.
Draken tenses and pushes Mitsuya off of him, looking as the lilac boy struggles to get up after being snapped awake.
“Why can’t you guys just leave that alone?” Draken asks, upset. He doesn’t want Takemichi in Toman, he doesn’t want Takemichi in any gangs, nothing.
“Why not?”
“It’s dangerous!”
“But you’re also in a gang. You’re also doing dangerous shit.”
“Yeah but I can protect myself-!”
“He’s currently learning how to protect himself with us, the most trustful people to you.”
“So fucking what! It’s dangerous and I don’t want him doing it!”
“Even if it’ll give him more protection and have an easy way to keep an eye on him even more often?”
Draken’s weak argument cracks a little. He pouts and furrows his brows.
“Have you asked him about it? Maybe he’d have a different idea. Plus, it’s his choice before yours.”
Draken grumbles. Knowing theres no use in arguing with Mitsuya’s strong wall of common sense.
He groans, flopping on the ground and rolling around. “But what if he gets hurt?”
“Then we’ll help him.”
“What if it changes him as time passes?”
“We’ll fix him up.”
“What if he gets traumatized by-”
“Then we’ll comfort him- oh my god Draken cut it out!” Mitsuya raises his voice and stands up, putting his hands on his hips and scolding Draken like the responsible older brother he is.
“Takemichi will be fine because we’ll be there for him! Even if he doesn’t join Toman, that shit could still happen to him! And guess what? We’ll still help him! Because he’s our family no matter what! Just like we’re your family!”
Draken grunts, understanding why Takemichi always cries when Mitsuya knocks sense into him. It definitely makes his chest ache.
—
“Michi, hey,” Draken greets, barging into Takemichi’s room at 11PM at night. Takemichi is up, reading some manga that his friends lent him. Takemichi looks up and smiles.
“Hey, Ken.” Draken flops on his bed and lays his head in his little brothers lap.
They sit in silence for a while, Draken reading the pages Takemichi reads, not understanding anything as this is Volume 5 of a series, but it seems like a cool story. Something about time travel.
“Hey, I have a question,” Draken prompts, sighing as Takemichi’s fingers scratch at his scalp.
Takemichi hummed, fully enthralled in the manga.
“What do you think about joining Toman?”
Takemichi paused, looking up from his manga to his wall, then down at his older brother.
“Sure, I guess.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright then.”
Draken can admit, that was not that bad.