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Draken stares down at his best friend's little brother, Takemichi.
Chewing loudly on a piece of candy, the boy stares up at him with narrowed, unfriendly eyes, and the two fall into a battle of an intense stare down—a regular thing.
Draken can't stand this kid. In fact, he thinks that none of the others except Chifuyu, Kazutora, Sanzu and Baji can stand him.
Every time he comes over to the Sano's residence, Takemichi is always the one to open the door. Never Emma, Mikey, Izana, Shinichiro or their grandfather, it's always Takemichi.
It's as if the kid's Draken alarm alerts him that his prey has arrived at his doorsteps.
And he's just so creepy, never saying much of anything and staring into Draken's soul like he knows all of his deepest, darkest secrets. It's unnerving.
Draken really misses the days when Takemichi was a little intimidated by him. Now that the nuisance has gained confidence, he glares, barks out sarcastic comments whenever, and tries to keep Draken away from his big sister, Emma.
Even Izana and Mikey are more tolerable and that's saying something.
The two stand in tense silence until Takemichi grows bored and attempts to slam the door in the older boy's face.
Draken, used to the blatant disrespect, reflexively shoves his foot into the doorway and elicits a groan from the twelve-year-old pest.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Takemichi flatly asks, opening the door again.
Draken ignores his questions. "Where's Mikey? Tell him I'm here."
"He's not at home, he left alr-"
"Ken-chin!"
Takemichi clicks his tongue in annoyance and grumbles under his breath.
Draken sniggers at his defeat, and he pushes the kid out of his way before stepping into the house.
_____
When the commander and vice-commander of Toman are finally ready to leave for the meeting, Takemichi suddenly springs out of hiding and stretches his leg out to trip Draken with his foot.
His effort produces success, but the older is quick to grab onto Mikey before he's planted face-first onto the floor.
"Ow! Ken-chin, what's wrong with you?!" Mikey bellows, startled.
"I-"
A snort followed by a cough interrupts Draken and both he and Mikey whip their heads to the side.
Takemichi puts on an innocent expression and flails his arms in front of his face. "I didn't mean to do that!" he shrieks. "I didn't see you coming, Draken-kun!"
The older scowls at the lie, but before he can bark out an insult, Mikey speaks. "It's okay, Takemitchy. Just be careful next time, you could've really gotten Ken-chin hurt."
"Yeah, I'll be careful." He doesn't even sound that convincing.
Mikey ruffles his brother's hair affectionately and exits the house. Draken lingers behind to glare at the little twerp. "Well played, ya pipsqueak, but I'll put you in your place next time."
"Aren't you almost twenty-seven with that height? Most adults find themselves a job instead of beefing with kids."
Takemichi gets a twitched brow in response as well as Draken's resistance against his urge to kick him into the wall. Annoyed, he walks out of the Sano's home without saying another word and follows after Mikey.
"Damn, I can't stand that kid!"