Chapter Text
Mikey was dreaming again. Dreaming of him . The beautiful man with curly, raven-black hair and ocean-blue like eyes. The man was crying, Mikey didn’t know why, but he felt it was because of him. He felt the urge to hug that man and cry with him, but why would he do that? He didn’t even know him. He looked so strange, yet so familiar at the same time. Mikey saw his mouth moving, but he couldn’t hear any words that were coming out of the dark-haired man. Who was he? Why was he appearing in Mikey’s dreams? Have they ever met? Mikey didn’t have answers, but he had a feeling that this man was important to him. In fact, he had a feeling that the man was someone very precious.
Mikey tried to come closer to the man, but his legs felt like lead. Too heavy to even try. He also tried to shout at the man, to make him come closer, but no words wanted to come out of his mouth, just like he lost his voice. Suddenly the dark-haired moved closer to Mikey, and the blonde was able to look carefully at the man’s features. The stranger looked just like his older brother Shinichiro, except for his eyes.
‘‘I was finally able to save you, Manjiro’’ the man said with a soft, yet sorrowful voice. ‘‘You, Emma, Draken-kun, Baji-kun, Kazutora-kun, even your brother and many more. They’re all alive and happy’’ he rubbed his eyes to prevent tears from falling down his cheeks. ‘‘It makes me happy too, even if I’m not a part of that happiness’’ the dark-haired man hugged him tightly as if he fought that Mikey was gonna disappear and whispered in his ear ‘‘I hope we’ll have a chance to meet again, Mikey-kun’’
After those words the scenery abruptly changed. Mikey wasn’t anymore in the dark emptiness with the man, but alone in some kind of a building; he was also able to walk freely. So he did. He took the stairs to walk to the next floor, but the second his foot touched the step, the scenery changed again. Now, he was in an empty apartment or so he fought, because the silence was stopped by the sound of the gunshot, and the two other following. Mikey rushed to the place the sounds were coming from, only to stop in disbelief. In front of his eyes there was the man, who hunted his dreams bleeding out from three gunshot wounds. He wanted to help the man, but he heard another noise. He turned his head to the cause of the noise with a plea of help, but his words stopped in his throat in disbelief and horror, because in front of him stood the white-haired man with dark eyes just like his. No… they weren’t just like his, they were his , it was him , Sano Manjiro, standing upon the wounded blue-eyed.
Yet again the scenery changed. Manjiro was on the rooftop of the building. The older, white-haired version of him was standing at the edge of the rooftop, and then in the blink of an eye that version jumped. The blonde rushed to the edge but he was too late to catch the man. Well, he didn’t catch him but the wounded man did. People on the ground made ruckus, as the two were screaming at each other. Suddenly the wounded one must’ve lost consciousness and now both of them were falling to their deaths. And Mikey was watching it all from above.
Another change. Now, Mikey was in some scrapyard. Again, there were two men but this time both had black hair. One was threatening the other with a gun, but that one ended up dead from a gunshot. Another change. Two blonde middle-schoolers, one with a katana stabbed the other. Another change, another death. The dying one was always the same blue-eyed man. Again, and again, and again. Mikey lost count how many times he saw him dying, at some point he started crying without realizing it. Inaction and despair made him miserable.
‘‘Please, help him’’ he thought. ‘‘Please, someone help him’’ he begged. Suddenly Mikey felt a soft and warm embrace around him. And he started to calm down, he simply felt safe in the presence of invisible being.
‘‘It’s ok, Mikey-kun. You’re alright. Everything is fine.’’ Manjiro heard a whisper. “I know you must be confused and scared, but please don't worry, I managed to fix everything. Please don’t worry anymore and live sound and safe with your family and friends” After those words Manjiro found himself sinking into nothingness and darkness. He tried to fight it but failed, the last thing he did was scream a name, but yet again he couldn't hear it.
***
“AAARRRGHHHH” Mikey woke up screaming, with odd feeling of wetness across his body, and no it wasn't sweat. Disoriented, he threw his head from right to left trying to analyze what just happened, but he stopped after hearing sister’s cries. He felt Emma’s arms around himself. With heavy breathing, he moved her away, trying to compose himself.
“Emma, Emma, shhh, it’s ok.” he said “Come on, what happened? Why are you crying?”
“Why am I crying?! Do you have any idea how long I was trying to get you to wake up?! You were throwing yourself on a bed like hunted, with screams and cries for help! Shin told me to try to wake you up by throwing some water on you and it worked by the fifth time!” the blond girl yelled. She hugged him again, clearly in distress and fear. Mikey of course hugged her back, with a rocking move to calm her down.
“‘M sorry. Didn't mean to scare you” he mumbled “I just had a really weird dream. Some guy was always dying in it ”
“Huh? You mean… that you also had a dream like that?”
“What do you mean also? You too had one?” blonde asked in a surprise
“Me, Shin, Izana mentioned that he also had one really creepy one” Emma got out of the hug and wiped the tears away “It doesn't matter now, anyway. Come on get up, breakfast is waiting”
On a mention of a meal Mikey’s eyes started shining with excitement, he got up and changed from his pajamas. In the kitchen the meal was waiting for him to devour. Unfortunately he couldn’t enjoy the delicious pancakes the way he wanted due to his moving thoughts. No matter how much he tries, he can't stop thinking about the dream and the man in it. After finishing sweets he ran out of the house to the garage where his dear CB250T motorcycle awaited. Without hesitation he took the bike on a ride. During the ride those annoying thoughts were still flowing through his mind, Mikey sped up to completely focus on a road in front of him. He constantly broke traffic regulations until he reached his destination which was Toman’s meeting place - Musashi Shrine.
As he walked up the steps, to his eyes appeared that he wasn’t alone there. On the benches were sitting all of Toman’s divisions’ captains and some vice-. The closer the blonde was getting the louder their voices were getting, or rather their screams. And finally as he climbed the last step of the stairs, an abnormal view reached his eyes.
Baji Keisuke captain of the first division was held back by his two vice- Matsuno Chifuyu and Hanemiya Kazutora from punching Mitsuya - captain of the 2nd division, who was held by Shiba Hakkai and Ryuguji Ken (known also as Draken). The other four boys remaining were yelling at them to prevent the two from doing something stupid that they would later regret.
“What the hell, you mean Mitsuya, haa?!” Baji yelled “You said yourself that we should do something about this absurdity, and now you want to run like a dog with its tail between its legs?!” black-haired tried to get out of the grip of two smaller boys, although he failed and remained in the same place.
“All I’m saying is that we should think through this twice and not make any rushed doings, you idiot!” The lilac one yelled. Which was something odd, because in the whole Toman it was Mitsuya, who was known as the most patient member. “Listen. Baji we don't even know if it means something. Those dreams might be only dreams”
“But Baji-san is right in this statement” Chifuyu cut into conversation “It’s not normal that all of us had so similar dreams about the same person”
“Wait a minute, you want to tell me you also had those dreams?” all heads turned to the direction of Mikey’s voice. The blond came closer to his friends “The dreams about dark-haired man or blonde teenager with ocean-blue eyes that always die?”
Ten boys stayed silent on his question, as if they hadn't heard him. They only stared at him with wide eyes. That made Mikey feel ignored and what's worse made him feel like a freak. Maybe they weren’t talking about that? No, I definitely heard right.
“You… also had dreams like that?” the one to break the silence was Draken, unsure whether he should say something else.
“Yeah” Mikey answered confidently “He always dies in mine. Although one time it was me who died”
“Soooo… At least now we know that we’re not mad” spoke up Pah-chin
“But occurrence like that is nearly impossible to happen” claimed Mitsuya “I mean… Has anyone ever experienced something like that? Ten people had dreams about the same guy”
“Oh, not ten” Mikey chimed
“What do you mean by that, Mikey?” Kazutora asked “Elaborate with us”
“Well… After Emma woke me up, she said that she, Shin and Izana also had similar dreams”
“What the fuck?!” Baji yelled, while still trying to get out of the grip around him “That doesn't make any sense. What is it? Some kind of delusion?! And for God’s sake, LET ME GO YOU BASTARDS”
“Oi, Baji! Calm down” Kazutora and Chifuyu loosened their grip around the boy, Draken and Hakkai also let go of the lilac one.
“I think we all need to calm down after those informations” Draken decided “For now let’s ignore those dreams. Besides we have more important matters that need to be discussed”
“Like what, Ken-chin?”
“Like the occupation of Toman’s territory by that new gang”
“What?! Why am I finding out about that now?!” Mikey ask reproachfully
“Maybe ‘cause you were too occupied by eating your dear dorayaki when we talked about that the last time?” answered sarcastically Baji
“Hey! Away from my food Baji!”
“Or what? What will you do, ha?”
“I will kick your big, fat ass, you motherfucker!”
“Hohoho, if you’re so cocky then bring it up!” Mikey was ready to throw the kick onto his friend. No one should ever dears about his food. But in the moment of getting ready, he was stopped by Draken’s thundered voice.
“Enough, you two! Don't fight because of a stupid sweet! You should be more mature than this.”
“Oi, if that’s all with the dream thing then me and Angry are coming home” announced Smiley “ We have to try this new ramen recipe, right Angry?” his brother nodded.
After that every member decided that it would be best to take care of their own things and for time being forget about the dream’s guy and focus on gang matters. Although Mikey should have come straight home, he took an even longer ride around the city. He just couldn’t forget the look in the guy’s eyes, they looked haunted but simultaneously at peace. Like he regretted something but realized that it would be better. The blonde wanted to know what were man’s troubles, he felt weirdly responsible for his happiness. Why? He didn’t know. Or he knew, at the bottom of his heart. He had a premonition that he knew why the man was sad, but couldn’t get a grip on that thought. Just like something was blocking him from that. Mikey could only hope that someday the truth will come to him.
When Mikey spotted that the sun was starting to set, he took a turn to his home, where awaiting him was a cold dinner consisting of miso soup, soba and grilled pork. His hunger wasn’t big, so he put the meal into the fridge. Instead contented himself with tuna onigiri, previously prepared by his sister and sweet taiyaki with red bean paste.
After eating and showering, he layed in his bed wondering about the next days and his gang’s business. The blonde was also hoping for finding the answers for the mysterious dreams. He fell asleep before realizing.
Maybe I will be able to meet you someday, you poor crybaby