Archive of Our Own

Mitsuya didn't hesitate. He didn't need to guess, he didn't need to have any second thoughts. The reaction was instant, because he knew.

Of course, he always knew.

"Draken?"

He didn't hope for any answer, he didn't even dare to simply wish to get any response. Even if he knew, he was right, that it was impossible for him to be wrong, Mitsuya still didn't wanna have any expectations.

And yet.

"Hey, Mitsuya."

It had been a while since the last time Mitsuya cried. But he could feel, tears started prickling the corner of his eyes.

"It's been so long."

Mitsuya nodded, yes it is, way too long, even.

There are perks to being a good listener, and Mitsuya meant it in a very, very beneficial way. He could hear Draken stop by the doorway, probably spotting Luna or Mana outside of his room. He could tell Draken had a brief exchange with whoever he met, and despite not being able to actually catch the words, Mitsuya knew it was not the friendly kind if the tone was any indication.

"Luna had grown so much, huh?"

So, it was Luna. Mitsuya could almost replicate her reprimanding voice, the way she would just straight-up give a lecture to Draken about the things she thought she knew. Mitsuya couldn't blame her, but he couldn't just accept the fact that his sister had become a meddling menace either.

"She's rather protective of me," Mitsuya chuckled. "I guess, she took it personally, when I said, now we gotta have someone else to be the delinquent who can protect our family."

"My, doesn't she look like it? I'm gonna take your word for it, Mitsuya." Draken plopped down across the table. "She's scary."

Mitsuya smiled at that. "Said the one who's part of the most notorious gang in Tokyo."

There was an uncomfortable silence afterward.

Mitsuya didn't mean to make the situation more awkward than it is, but he thought, it would be best to address the huge gap that had distanced them all this time, moreover now. Mitsuya didn't want Draken to get any impression that he didn't know, because he did know.

And despite everything, he was okay with that.

"That's a stretch," Draken answered, quietly. Mitsuya could tell, he was on the verge of something, like he wanted to speak more, but he couldn't. Either Draken didn't know how to start, or he was contemplating whether it was wise to talk to him at all.

"Maybe," Mitsuya turned his head, closing his eyes as he felt the fleeting breeze that entered the room from the open window. The arrival of spring; a new hope or so they said. "Then, again, I didn't keep myself updated with those sorts of things. I may be left behind."

Draken hummed his affirmation, a sign that he acknowledged Mitsuya's words, but neither agreed or disagreed with him.

There was another silence, it wasn't as awkward but it still felt strange. It took Mitsuya a couple attempts to rack his brain before he rose.

"Tea! How rude of me," Mitsuya mumbled. "I'm gonna—"

"Mitsuya—"

For a moment, Mitsuya traveled back to the past where everything was so much simpler. A period of time when it seemed that anything that had happened in his life was merely an impossibility. That it couldn't possibly happen, not if Mitsuya could help it.

For a moment, Mitsuya went back to someplace that he should be familiar with.

A beige-painted room, with a row of counters—it was almost blurry in his memory, but Mitsuya recognized it as the Cooking Room for the Home-Ecs Club.

When the Club didn't have any activity and he didn't have any knitting or sewing to do, Mitsuya would love to hang out there. Experimenting with a new menu to try with the club members in the next meeting. Having Draken coming over to be his food tester.

Mitsuya remembered one particular memory of himself, who was about to turn around and fetch the water bottle for Draken when Draken caught his arm.

"Mitsuya, wait—"

"I'm not going anywhere, Draken, I'm just gonna get you some water to wash down that cake."

Funny, that Mitsuya could barely remember the shape of the room, the position of the furniture, even as simple the colors of everything (Was the wall really beige? Mitsuya wondered), but he could recall, very clearly even, about the feeling of Draken's hand on him.

It didn't change.

Still as rough, still as warm.

"You don't need to do that," Draken spoke.

Mitsuya recognized the subtle change of tone and for a moment, he wondered if he wasn't the only one who traveled back to the past.

Mitsuya shook his head. "I know, but you're still my guest. Luna had to have the tea prepared by now." Upon listening to the approaching step, Mitsuya patted Draken's hand on him, more like consoling rather than convincing him. "Ah, that must be her."

True to his words, Luna entered the room without saying anything. Mitsuya helped here and there, thanking her once Luna signaled she had placed everything on the table. He could faintly smell the sakura mochi, among the fragrant tea.

"Thank you, Luna."

Mitsuya had kinda of hoped Luna to not say anything back, or maybe, just snidely gave her a strong 'I don't like you here' impression in return, but Luna did neither.

"Please keep your visitation short, Draken-kun, my brother needs his rest."

He didn't have time to scold Luna for her unnecessarily rude warning when Draken answered her.

"Don't worry about that. I'll be gone before you know it."

The door was closed rather loudly as Luna exited the room, leaving Mitsuya and Draken in the privacy of the awkward situation.

Mitsuya lowered his head. "I'm very sorry, Draken." Fiddling with the end of his sweater, he continued. "Luna can be really harsh, but it's not her intention to be rude. She's just looking out for me."

Draken chuckled at that, and Mitsuya was so surprised to hear the sound, that he looked up instantly to make sure he didn't mishear.

"Nah, I get it," Draken reached for his cup of tea, sipping it before he continued, "I would act like that too, if my brother got an unwanted visitor out of the blue."

Mitsuya shook his head. "Your presence is never unwanted."

Draken sighed at his cup, almost unheard when he responded. "I know."

"It's unexpected, yes, but never, ever, unwelcomed." Mitsuya swallowed. "I'm really happy to see you again, Draken."

Draken laughed. But it was kind of a laugh that you did when you felt so hopeless at the situation that everything left to do was laugh to keep you from being insane. Or, maybe laughing is the only sign that you have resigned to the insanity.

It's hollow. It's empty. It's the lack of every element that made Mitsuya love Draken's laugh.

Somehow, Mitsuya knew, what would come out of Draken's mouth next, based on that laugh alone.

"You're not gonna ask me, why I was there, Mitsuya?"

The air was thick with the need for explanation, the heavy mist of the urge to be honest. Mitsuya had been testing his luck by inviting Draken over, he didn't want to risk the slim chance of having Draken close again after years of not seeing him (the comedic irony didn't escape him when he thought of this).

Screw his questions, his curiosities; Mitsuya wouldn't mind staying in the dark (again, ironic yet comedic), if it meant he could hear Draken's voice again.

You're not gonna ask me, why I was there, Mitsuya?

Of course, Mitsuya didn't stop thinking about why and how Draken was there in the first place. He had his theories, he had his possible answers, but he didn't dare to even voice them out for the fear of ... what, discouraging Draken from doing the same again? For ruining the chance of encountering Draken in the future?

What's the point of being nosy if he could lose that?

Mitsuya extended his arm, catching the ceramic mug on the first try.

"You're not gonna ask me, why I was there, too?" Mitsuya lifted his mug, inhaling the content. "How could I be there?"

Draken spun his mug, the slight sound of the coaster colliding with the table surface didn't escape Mitsuya's hearing.

"That's interesting, indeed. How could you be there, Mitsuya?"

Mitsuya grinned. "Luna carved a special sign on the wall for me to find if I ever passed there. Even if I knew the roads and the alleys like the back of my hand, the wall is tricky. I memorize the other landmarks too, to determine the position. The lamp posts, the shape of the gates of the houses around there... and when I'm near, the sign Luna carved for me is there. I can just feel it with my hand."

Draken whistled. "I'm actually very impressed."

Mitsuya waved his hand, trying to act modest even if deep down, he was deeply proud of himself for making such an impression on Draken.

"It's getting easier to navigate, the longer I familiarize myself with my surroundings. Luna always complained about me roaming around too often, but well, I can't stay cooped up in my room all the time."

"It's boring?"

Mitsuya sipped his tea. "Depressing." He put down his mug. "Now, why were you there?"

For a moment, another silence befell the room. Draken had to have taken the Sakura mochi, chewing it rather thoughtfully as he crafted what Mitsuya expected to be a lie. Or, modified truth, or anything that Draken thought Mitsuya wanted to hear, instead of what Mitsuya really wanted and needed to hear.

Mitsuya waited patiently, for Draken to finally speak up.

"Nostalgia," he cleared his throat. "To reminisce the good old time, I guess."

Ambiguous, rather mysterious, and explained nothing, but Mitsuya didn't question him further.

This wasn't a police investigation. This wasn't a newspaper interview.

This was just two old friends catching up on each other after years of separation.

"Was it a good surprise to find me there?" Mitsuya lifted his mug again, hiding his smile not so secretly. Hoping that Draken saw it anyway.

"Yeah, it was." In an almost too quiet tone, followed by, "I miss you, Mitsuya."

To say that Mitsuya missing Draken is oversimplifying a very complicated thing. To say Mitsuya missing Draken is reducing a very sophisticated matter into something so insignificant it was almost unrecognizably bland. Mitsuya never missed Draken.

He had been longing for him, yearning for him.

As cheesy as it sounded, as overreactive as it seemed.

Mitsuya didn't surreptitiously try to find any news about Draken, because he missed him. He didn't take the farthest path in his evening walk, trying to gather information about Draken as much as he could, because he missed him.

For years and years. Not giving up, on any, if there's any slight chance of him meeting Draken again. Never once stopped even if it always seemed impossible for him to be able to see Draken again.

Then, again, I didn't keep myself updated with those sorts of things. I may be left behind.

Mitsuya didn't spend days passing that one particular alley for no reason. He would not have done that if he hadn't heard the hush-hush info about a certain someone's whereabouts.

It was not a coincidence.

His well-crafted plan could not just be simplified to 'because I miss you.'

And, yet.

"I miss you too, Draken," Mitsuya returned the sentiment. "It's good to see you." A pause, a mischievous chuckle. "Not see see you, but, you get the gist. I'm very happy we can meet again."

"Since when, Mitsuya?"

Mitsuya frowned, both at the question and the tone.

"Since when you can not see?"

"Eight years ago." Mitsuya smiled, hoping that it would ease Draken who was clearly upset, and didn't bother to hide his true feelings anymore. "I gradually lost my sight, not long after I got my head injury in our last brawl with Tenjiku. Turned out, the doctor failed to see the beginning of the irreversible damage. It was only a matter of time before I completely lost my vision because nobody noticed the two were connected. And by then, it was too late." He propped his chin with his hand. "I know you're hoping for me to be a fashion designer, but maybe, I was always destined to be something else."

Mitsuya might not have heard Draken speaking for more than a decade but he could tell when he tried to mask the cracking voice.

"What are you doing now?"

"I'm writing children's books." Mitsuya turned his head to the shelf in the room. This was his office room, his personal space where he did his writing, met the editor, and had Luna beta-read his work. Mitsuya didn't allow just anyone to enter his zone, but of course, without a doubt, Draken is an exception.

"You did, huh?" Draken had swiftly moved to the shelf, Mitsuya could tell he was running his hand over the rows of titles on neatly placed books. He had taken one out of the shelf, slowly flipping the pages. "The Adventure of Twin Dragons."

"Kids love that."

Draken kept flipping the book he had taken, humming here and there, sporadically throwing light commentaries too. Mitsuya responded where he saw it fitted, giving Draken bits of the behind-the-scene, confirming whether they were based on the real event or not.

Eventually, Draken returned the book.

"I wouldn't have guessed, Mitsuya," he began. "All these times, even if I tried to avoid any news about you, in the fear of getting tempted to go back, I always had faith that you could make it. But I never thought ..."

Mitsuya smiled.

"That I am blind and not becoming a fashion designer like you'd thought I would?"

He knew, Draken froze at his honesty, but Mitsuya didn't want Draken to ever think that he was a fragile china. That he had to tiptoe around the fact that the Takashi Mitsuya he's known, was no longer the Takashi Mitsuya in some senses.

I'm still me, even if I'm blind.

"Not your fault, by the way, if you ever thought about going knightly and all." Mitsuya searched for the mochi, the plate sought his hand in an instant. He nodded gratefully, taking one to feel the weight in his palm. "Enough about me! What are you up to, now? Is there anything's not so confidential that you can tell me?"

Draken inhaled. Mitsuya recognized the action too.

He put down the mochi, before looking for anything that could tether him to Draken. Mitsuya found his hand closer than he expected.

"Are you home for long?" Mitsuya prompted with a light squeeze.

Mitsuya could tell Draken hesitated to answer before the man himself pulled his hand from Mitsuya's grasp.

"Not really, just for a short holiday." Draken rapped his fingers on the wooden surface, telling Mitsuya without actually saying the words that they could do the whole thing without them touching at all.

"We should go out together then," Mitsuya acknowledged the action, wrapping both hands to his mug. "Before you have to leave again."

Before you disappear for good and we can't see each other again, left unsaid.

Draken didn't answer. Instead, he emptied his mug, before getting more from the teapot. He hissed when he recklessly drank the newly poured hot beverage.

"I'll see what I can do," was his final answer.

The rest of the day carried on rather awkwardly. Draken was still treading lightly on the topic of Mitsuya's life after the blindness and Mitsuya could not really ask Draken about his life after their last encounter. Sticking to the old memories did no good either, considering the sophisticated relationship they had with some of the people involved.

It seemed that their interaction could not be salvaged, no matter how hard Mitsuya tried to prolong it, so when Draken announced it was getting dark, he didn't try to hold him back.

"Draken?" Mitsuya called when he walked Draken to the door. "Will you let me know, if you can do a day off with me?" He scratched the back of his neck. "I don't have a cellphone, but I can give you the landline phone number, in case," he coughed, hoping he didn't appear too excited. "you want to call me."

A pair of hands landed on his shoulder. "That won't be necessary, Mitsuya. I know where you live, will it be okay if I pop up unannounced to kidnap you?"

The disappointment of Draken denying his offer swept under the possibility of Draken turning up unexpectedly.

Mitsuya patted his hand. "Of course, Draken."

The next day, Mana was the one who opened the door and rushed to his office room.

"Nii-san! You won't believe who's at the door right now!"

Mitsuya didn't want to get his hopes up, so he frowned.

"Editor Murasaki?"

"No! It's Draken-nii!"

"The sky is clear. You can't see the sun, like, if you look up, all you see is endless blue with some sparks of white. But the sun is there, somewhere." Mitsuya listened attentively. "The beach is surprisingly empty, not that empty, but still not as crowded as I expected. The sea is calm, and if you look around, you can see that the blue between the ocean and the sky completes each other."

He could feel the breeze caressing his cheek, carrying the salt.

"The waves are moderate, I wonder if we can take a dip. Though it won't be fair to have a match like we used to, considering—"

"Rude! I can still beat you—" Mitsuya protested.

Draken laughed. "I'll take your word for it, Mitsuya. But I guess, it'll be best if we're just sitting here for a while." He buried his feet in the sand. "Just enjoying the view."

"Just admit it, you're scared of losing."

Draken bumped their shoulders. "You got me."

Mitsuya smiled, deciding to not argue further.

He thought it would be weird for them to spend time together. Draken appearing so soon after soft-rejecting him the day before, was not in any of his prediction list. Granted, Mitsuya didn't wanna hope, but he knew that his unfaltering faith in Draken could turn him into a bit of a believe-in-Santa kind of kid.

Mana was no better than Luna. He thought, she would be lenient, knowing that Draken was one of her favorite friends of his, back in the day. But she was as cautious as Luna. Maybe, she knew more than she needed to know.

You wanna go out? With him? Nii-san, are you crazy? Didn't you hear? About—

Bonten? Yes, I've heard, Mana. I'm not a hermit. But, Draken is my friend. And I've left the delinquent life behind, there's nothing he could possibly get from me. This invitation is purely social.

Nii-san, Bonten killed people. You know—

Perhaps I know more than you think you know, Mana.

And you're still going to go out with him? Don't tell me that you believe some people didn't change? Or is it always an exception for Draken-nii?

Yes.

Mitsuya didn't bother to elaborate, but he could picture Mana biting her lips, planning to tell Luna as soon as possible, even if she let him go after that. Not without surreptitiously giving a threat to Draken, while she bid them goodbyes, though.

“It would be wonderful if you and Nii-san could join us for dinner, Draken-kun.”

Nobody missed the change of honorific. Especially, Draken.

“I'm looking forward to that, Mana-chan.”

Mitsuya had always believed that Draken meant no harm, not with him at least, but he was glad to hear that they would be going to have dinner together after all this.

“You can just ask me, Mitsuya, I know you have tons of questions.”

Draken's voice broke into his reverie. Mitsuya turned his head, listening.

“Me, disappearing for a decade, then turning up in front of you, out of the blue, you must want explanations.”

So, Draken did admit, that he came back for some reasons and one of the reasons was Mitsuya.

“I did,” Mitsuya nodded. “Tons of questions, just like you said.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Why are you coming back, Draken?” Mitsuya scooped the sand with his hand, feeling the minuscule particles in disbanded on his palm, as he let it fall between his fingers.

“I miss home.”

Though the lies were anticipated, Mitsuya was disappointed just the same.

“Are you alone?”

“I'm with Zephyr.”

“Will you be gone, again?”

“It’s not something that I could tell you, but yes.”

Mitsuya had to look so disappointed that Draken had to bump their shoulders again.

“Don’t worry about that. I'm here, we can go anywhere you like. I'll take you to any place you want to visit, Mitsuya.”

Mitsuya wanted to tell him, that he didn’t want to be in any place where Draken wasn’t there, but he didn’t want to come off as clingy, more than he was. It had been bad already, that he could feel Draken’s phantom touch around his waist when they decided to visit the beach they used to go to in their old times.

He had enough time to establish himself as someone independent. Luna and Mana learned to not pity their brother over his attempt to do everything all by himself.

Mitsuya was blind, but he was no invalid. He could walk, he could move, he could talk, and he could listen. He might not be able to see, but it didn’t stop him from trying to go back to normal as he used to be.

“Can we stay here? I want to catch up with you,” Mitsuya had been worried that his request might be too much, but he could hear a rustling sound of what he had assumed, was Draken taking off his outerwear.

“I'd like that.”

They spent their day, exchanging stories, and sharing anecdotes, just like two old friends who had never seen each other for so long and now they were trying to keep themselves updated with everything that happened around their time being separated.

Maybe because they were far from curious eyes and ears, Draken was way loosened up with his stories. He dropped some familiar names here and there like they were normal occurrences, he masked the gruesome details with jokes and funny metaphors, and he really played into ‘imagine if this happened to you daily’ as if he wanted to ease Mitsuya into his world.

The world that Mitsuya was prevented from going to because Draken wanted him to be someone’s normal. Because Draken wanted him to have a future.

The future that Mitsuya did not live like Draken had expected him to.

“I wish I could see you,” Mitsuya sighed after Draken finished describing what he looked like. The topic of his appearance came up because Mitsuya had told the stories about Luna complaining to him that Mana had been so obsessive with coloring her hair. Draken casually said that he wouldn't think he would change his hairstyle either, and yet here he was.

“You can touch me.” Draken's voice was closer than Mitsuya expected and it got Mitsuya's cheeks warmer. It was bad already that he could hear Draken was probably in his personal space, when Draken reached for his hand. “Here, feel me.”

Mitsuya gulped nervously, but he let Draken take his hand, guiding him.

The first touch of the skin was soft.

“It's my face,” Draken said, letting Mitsuya run his fingers to feel the area of his cheeks, the space between his eyes, the bump of his closed eyes, the soft eyebrows and eyelashes, the ridge of his nose, and the seemingly chapped but also soft lips.

“Aside from my hair, nothing’s changed.”

Mitsuya gasped at the sudden words, right when he could feel Draken adamantly keeping his hand closed to his mouth.

“I can only imagine,” Mitsuya smiled, trying to reconstruct Draken's face in his mind. How he would look, with his black hair, tied behind in a messy bun. The way his dragon tattoo was still there for anyone to see, the way the contour of his face did not change, but aged just fine. How he morphed from a youngster with a boyish smile into what Mitsuya imagined, an adult with a far more serious expression.

Draken's hand wrapped itself around Mitsuya, and Mitsuya didn't know what he expected but certainly it wasn't Draken bringing their joined palms to his lips. He pecked the entwined fingers, almost too gently.

Mitsuya stopped breathing.

It had been a while since the last time his heart threatened to jump out of his chest. It had been even longer, than the last time he was filled with silly excitement of getting closer with Draken. It was ridiculous, how he hadn't seen Draken for years, and yet, it felt like just yesterday when Mitsuya's heart skipped a beat at their mere closeness.

“Have I ever told you, that you're still as beautiful as I remembered you?”

Mitsuya was sure his crimson cheeks were impossible to hide, so he didn't even bother to deflect.

“I must not have heard you right.”

Draken kissed his knuckle, and let his lips linger on the skin.

“You are beautiful, Mitsuya,” he whispered. “I always think that you're beautiful.”

Mitsuya never thought of himself as an adventurous person. Even if his sisters often thought that his decisions were controversial, they were always well-thought and well-planned. Mitsuya organized his moves and his words. Always.

And yet.

You are beautiful, Mitsuya. I always think that you're beautiful.

Mitsuya did not think when he surged forward and tried to kiss Draken. He ended up aiming for his chin, and his nose crashed to the bone rather painfully.

“Shit,” Mitsuya winced, embarrassment engulfed him, more than guilt upon committing an unconsenting act towards his best friend. He, however, did not have time to utter his apology, because the next second, Draken angled his face in the right direction.

For the proper kiss.

There was no need for visualization when Mitsuya was overwhelmed with feelings.

The feel of their lips fitted each other like a perfect puzzle, the feel of Draken's hand cradling his face so gently, without letting go of their entwined fingers. The way Mitsuya didn't know he was that hungry for the touch, how much he craved the closeness and the intimacy. How Mitsuya didn't want to pull back, and how Draken shared the sentiment if the way he chased his lips when they slightly parted to breathe was any indication.

When the kiss eventually ended, all Mitsuya wanted was for everything to happen again and again. But Draken rested his forehead on Mitsuya, their lips were in the right distance to speak, not too far that they wouldn't brush each other.

He wanted to tell Draken many things, he had so many things to say. But words seemed to fail him now.

“I'm not sorry,” Draken began. “This is never a mistake.”

Mitsuya wished he could see Draken's smile at that very moment if the curve of his lips against his was a sign of happiness.

“How can it be a mistake,” Mitsuya's eyes fluttered open, hoping that Draken could see the honesty reflected in his eyes, despite his eyes could no longer work anymore. Whatever Draken found there, Mitsuya hoped it was only the truth. “when it feels so right?”

When Draken leaned to kiss him again, Mitsuya believed Draken had found what he had been searching for.

Riding on Zephyr invoked melancholic nostalgia in Mitsuya. How he used to ride with Draken, riding on his Impulse, racing each other in the quiet of the night.

He remembered, glancing sideways when he managed to catch up with him. How Draken threw a lopsided grin, mouthing, “Again?” to which Mitsuya merely smirked, as he sped up his Impulse, leaving Draken protesting behind.

Those were only memories though, now, Mitsuya sighed sadly.

“I always want to ride with you like this, you know,” Draken's voice interrupted his nostalgia. Mitsuya could feel Draken patting the arms that circled his middle, as if he knew that Mitsuya would be conflicted and he tried to make him better.

Even if that's the case, the words still got Mitsuya smiling against Draken's shoulder.

“I hope we can do it again,” Mitsuya popped his head so that Draken could see him from the rearview mirror.

Mitsuya could feel the rise of Draken's chest through his back, when Draken answered, “Me too.”

The dinner went surprisingly fine. Luna and Mana had been on their best behavior, ignoring the elephant in the room which is the fact that Draken is still part of the notorious crime gang, Bonten. They had to notice how Mitsuya looked genuinely happy, and they didn't want to be the one to burst the bubble when they and Mitsuya himself knew, the undeniable would come and do it for them.

Draken was far more relaxed when Luna and Mana chatted him up like he never left. They cleverly stirred the conversation to themselves, talking about what they were up to, with Mitsuya chiming in here and there.

Despite the underlying tension, they managed to go through the evening rather well.

“Draken-nii,” Mana called. Mitsuya was delighted that Mana resorted back to the familial honorific, though he couldn’t help to be wary, considering that Luna hadn’t chided him as she did the last time Draken was around. And true, Mana continued, “I hope you don’t keep Nii-san up for too long.”

Luna must rope her into this!

But Draken only answered solemnly, “That won’t be a problem, Mana-chan.” Mitsuya heard the dishes being pushed in Mana’s direction. “Thank you for the delicious meal. You and Luna did wonderful.”

“We know,” Luna had been back with her ‘I am the big sister now’ demeanor, which included the lack of modesty to mask her defensiveness. “Nii-san, I will prepare the bath once you’re ready.”

The unexpected mention of that colored Mitsuya red, that he didn’t bother to respond to her, as he stood up, offering his hand to Draken, while he hurriedly said, “Come, Draken, I’ll take you to the front door.”

Lucky that he knew his house like the back of his hand, that it was no trouble for him to locate the front door. He pretended he didn't hear Draken snicker amusedly as he let himself be pulled.

“Sorry about all of that,” Mitsuya muttered, loosening his grip, but Draken merely grabbed his hand, turning the situation around. “I swear, I'm more independent than I look. And I'm not the kind of person who—”

“Mitsuya—”

“—used my disability to my own benefit. Luna and Mana helped me, of course, but it didn't mean that I can't do things on my own—”

“Mitsuya—”

“—they’re just being annoying because I am not home all day and they don't like it when I go out—”

His brain stopped working to compose words and sentences.

And yet, his brain also seemed to know what happened, because he responded almost instantly, opening up to Draken's mouth capturing his.

“You're alright, Mitsuya,” Draken grinned against his lips. Mitsuya suddenly didn't care if Draken saw him blushing. He was very sure it was a lost cause already, considering the lack of distance between them.

“Take a good rest, okay?” Draken brushed his cheek. Mitsuya leaned to the touch. “Sorry for not letting you do any writing today.”

The apology earned Draken a weak jab over his chest.

“Stupid.” Mitsuya ducked his head and Draken immediately hauled into his direction. “I enjoyed today very much.”

Carding his fingers among the hair, Draken left a lingering kiss on his forehead. “Me too.”

Mitsuya knew, the day they spent together was on the clock. It didn't stop ticking just because they felt like they had forever. The time would never stop for them, no matter how much they wished for it.

So, Mitsuya braced himself, asking the question he had dreaded to ask.

“Will I see you again?”

For a moment, Draken didn't answer. Mitsuya didn't expect him to, know the circumstances, knowing the situation. He didn't know which he wanted more, the raw honesty or the sweet-covered lies.

Draken nuzzled his hair, and Mitsuya pretended, he would get to do this again and again.

“Good night, Mitsuya,” he eventually said. “Hope you sleep well.”

Mitsuya didn't pester him.

Maybe it's better like this.

So, he merely whispered back, “You too.”

“… so, I guess, you better fix the scene where the Snake appeared to—oh my God, Nii-san, did you even listen to me?”

Luna clicked her fingers right to Mitsuya's face and jolted him back to reality.

“Sorry,” Mitsuya mumbled. “You were saying something about the Eagle? Did I overdo her? She was meant to be a badass character, I kinda consider her to be regular—”

“We're past that, Nii-san, I told you, the Eagle was great. I, however, have a long critics about the Snake but apparently, you don't need my opinions if you're too busy ignoring them.”

Mitsuya shook his head. “I was distracted, sorry.” He gestured vaguely. “So, you were saying? About the Snake? He needs some reworking or something?”

Luna sighed, the kind of sigh that Mitsuya was familiar with. The kind of sigh that she did when she thought her brother was purposefully being difficult.

He heard the rustling sound of paper being swept aside and the clattering of pen being put down.

“You can not expect him to come back, Nii-san,” Luna started, but Mitsuya already turned his head, and hardened himself for her lecture to come. “He is not the Draken-kun you know ten years ago.”

What did even Luna know? Mitsuya wanted to laugh. Luna didn't spend her day with him, Luna didn't listen to him talking and telling stories. Luna knew nothing.

“Do you even know why he's here, Nii-san? Why did he come back to this town, his hometown?”

Of course, Mitsuya knew.

Why are you coming back, Draken?

I miss home.

“He has been charged with multiple murders of the parliament members. It's all over the news, Nii-san, a guaranteed death sentence,” Luna’s voice trembled. “When I met Draken-kun that day, Draken-kun knew that I knew. And I've told him that he can't drag you down with him, but he told me, he just wants to see you for the last time before he turns himself to the police.”

Mitsuya didn't respond.

Will you be gone, again?

It’s not something that I could tell you, but yes.

“Nii-san, does he tell you anything about this?” Luna had to have caught up with the fact that Mitsuya's face remained stoic like he didn't have the energy to be expressive. Her voice returned to the same tone Mitsuya himself used when he was being cautious over some sensitive matter.

“He did tell me, he will be gone,” Mitsuya almost didn't recognize his voice. “He just never told me when he will leave.”

Mitsuya might be blind, but he was never not in the know of what was happening. He had been keeping an eye on Bonten, so to speak. Being prevented from following Draken, had never stopped him from following Draken at all.

He listened to any news regarding Bonten religiously. He remembered about the murders Luna mentioned. He remembered, trying to trick himself into thinking that many higher-ups could be involved in those cases and maybe Draken would be important enough to keep himself clean.

It might be hard to believe, but just like Luna said, ten years was such a long time.

Many could happen, and many could change.

All this time, Mitsuya held an unnerving faith that Draken would remain the Draken he knew, no matter how small the possibility was.

Despite everything, Mitsuya was right.

Draken did still have a part of himself that didn't change over the course of time.

Draken knew when he should take the blame for his wrongdoing.

“Luna,” Mitsuya began, having the clarity of everything for the first time. “can I be selfish and ask you for a favor?”

It feels like a deja vu.

Mitsuya didn't hesitate. He didn't need to guess, he didn't need to have any second thoughts. The reaction was instant, because he knew.

Of course, he always knew.

"Draken?"

He hoped for any answer, to get any response. He knew, he was right, it was impossible for him to be wrong.

Mitsuya held his expectations high.

For this very time.

For everything to align and happen just like they are destined.

"Hey, Mitsuya."

Mitsuya had steeled himself not to cry, but he could feel tears beginning to prick at the corners of his eyes.

He didn't waste time, dropping his cane, he wildly grasped whatever he could reach from Draken.

Draken was so far away, then.

But now, Mitsuya managed to pull him by the hem of his jacket, securing him.

“Let's run away, Draken, the two of us. Together.”

Draken didn't even have the chance to answer when a familiar voice did the job for him.

The voice that Mitsuya had never expected to hear.

The voice that Mitsuya did not want to hear.

“And where do you think you're going, Mitsuya?”

He moved almost on instinct, not knowing the direction, not knowing his surroundings. Both arms stretched to protect Draken, throwing himself in front of him like Draken was the one who needed to be safe at the very moment.

Whatever happened or would happen, Mitsuya only knew that he had to shield Draken, preventing him from being taken away from him.

"How cute," Mikey said, clapping in an almost bored manner to emphasize each word. "Ken-chin, you didn't tell me you had a special bodyguard."

Despite believing Mikey wouldn't harm him, Mitsuya couldn't help feeling alert in his presence.

When he'd asked Luna to contact the police through his associates, Mitsuya had hoped he wasn't too late—that he still had a chance to save Draken, to spare him from death, even if it meant breaking the law.

This was Mitsuya's final selfish act: he had to save Draken, no matter the cost.

“Mikey, let him go,” Mitsuya didn't want to beg, but damn him, he was desperate. “You have him for his whole life, I just want him to be free.”

Mikey clicked his tongue in distaste. Mitsuya tried to locate him; it shouldn't be hard given the narrow alley they were in. But Mikey's presence was just like a ghost, almost undetected.

“But I did give a chance for him to be free, Mitsuya.” Mikey's voice sounded serene. “I gave all of you, a chance to be free. Ken-chin isn't special, he's just stubborn. We wouldn't be here if he didn't tell you off, would you? Years ago?”

Mikey didn't want us to follow him, Draken.

But do you ever miss it, Mitsuya? The life of the delinquent? Because I can't seem to move on from it.

What were you saying—

I'll continue to follow Mikey, and you're better becoming a fashion designer, okay?

The conversation flashed before his eyes. Mitsuya bit his lips, swallowing the phantom of heartache.

“Because that's his fatal point, Mikey, Draken is loyal to a fault. And he's especially loyal to you.”

Mikey huffed like he was annoyed that his plan didn't work out like it was supposed to. “Ken-chin, why don't you tell our dear friend, Mitsuya, why are we here?”

Mitsuya slightly turned his head, listening.

“Draken?”

He could hear Draken's heavy breathing behind him, so close, yet so far. Mitsuya had no knowledge of what was happening, he was completely blind in this situation (ironic, isn't it?).

“He wants to kill himself.” Mikey singsonged.

Mitsuya whipped his head in his direction. He didn't know what kind of face he made, but the sight delighted the person who used to be someone that Mitsuya once really admired.

“W-what?”

Mikey cackled. “It's all over the news, Mitsuya. All of those murders!” He whistled, and something pricked the back of Mitsuya's neck over the tone. “He’s done it so many times before, Mitsuya. Slit people's throat, shooting their brains out, what's more, Ken-chin,” Mikey pretended to think. “Oh yes! The arson! Didn't you also kill small children there?”

And as if Draken wasn't in the earshot, Mikey faux-whispered to Mitsuya, “Poor girls, I heard they were sisters. Like, Luna and Mana.”

Mitsuya didn't have time to process the mockery, when Draken moved so swiftly to shove him behind his back, growling at Mikey.

“I've told you, I'm done, Mikey. I'm fucking done with everything.”

Mikey sounded so serene when asked, “So, you think you can run away? From me? To where? Do you plan to be a snitch and end all of us altogether?”

“I’m too valuable to Bonten, Mikey,” Draken’s voice gradually went calmer. But to Mitsuya, it still contained danger and threat. “I know, the inside of my head is worth a fortune. You don't want to mess with me.”

"Is that a threat I heard, Ken-chin?"

"It can fucking be."

Mikey was silent for a moment. Mitsuya wondered if he and Draken were exchanging some non-verbal conversation. He could almost hear the other sounds: the truck honking not far from where they were standing, Draken and his hard-breathing, Mitsuya even swore that the rush of blood in his ears was pretty audible.

He did not expect to hear Mikey so close to him until the said man hauled him by his shoulder.

“You love Ken-chin, Mitsuya?”

In another situation, in a completely different time and place, Mitsuya would be flustered and maybe stammer his denial. And yet, Mitsuya had nothing but fear at the fact that Mikey knew.

“Yes, Mikey, yes, I do,” Mitsuya spoke, suddenly feeling scared and brave at the same time. His closest people could see his blatant admiration towards Draken, his sisters could tell, he was also pretty sure back then, some of Toman members could too. But he never said those words loud. He had never admitted it to anyone. Sure, he shared kisses with Draken a while back ago, but saying it makes it real. Saying it, sealing the deal.

“Don't you too, Ken-chin? Don't you mourn the life you don't get to spend with Mitsuya?” Mikey's grip on his shoulder was almost like a rope binding him firmly.

Draken didn't answer, but the tension around them seemed heightened upon the question.

“Do me a favor, and be selfish,” Mikey whispered to Mitsuya's ears. His breath smelled sweet like he had just eaten a bunch of candy before their encounter.

Mitsuya froze. Mikey didn't wait for his response, whether Mitsuya was gonna agree with him or not.

He did neither. And neither did Draken.

The grip on his shoulder loosened, and for a while, Mitsuya felt like Mikey was hugging him in a very awkward position. So brief, almost too nostalgic, and soon gone, the moment he let go.

“Do me a favor, Ken-chin, Mitsuya,” Mikey's stepped away, further and further away. Draken had to wait for Mikey to be completely in the safe distance before he pulled Mitsuya into his arms.

As if he could protect him from him.

Mikey laughed like he had expected the action. The melodious yet slightly threatening laughter echoed in the alley.

And then, quiet.

It was almost strange to think that Mitsuya had anticipated this, his whole life. Maybe he was always imaginative, indeed. Nothing motivated you enough like unwavering faith and hope. And Mitsuya had nothing but those two when it came to Draken.

Didn't matter if it had been ten years.

Didn't matter that everything had changed, even for the worse.

As long as the hope was there, Mitsuya would not hesitate to put his faith.

To Draken.

Sometimes, Mitsuya thought that even if his eyes couldn't see, his heart would always recognize Draken everywhere.

I have blood all over my hands, Mitsuya.

I don't care.

I am not a good person.

You still are to me.

Mitsuya—

Please, Draken, I never ask anything from you. Not when I need you to stay, back then. Not when all I wanted was to follow you. I don't wanna make the same mistake.

I don't deserve you.

You deserve me in every way imaginable.

Mitsuya—

Draken, let me be selfish for once. Let me be selfish by wanting you to stay. You don't have to run away anymore. All that blood, let me help you wash them away. Let me love you the way you deserve to be loved. You don't even have to do anything. You don't even have to love me back—

How can I not? How can I not, when loving you is all I've ever wanted, Mitsuya?

Mitsuya missed many things when he went blind.

The simple things like watching Luna and Mama's face, or riding Impulse, or getting involved in the Home-Ecs Club activities. He missed the way the sky turned into different colors when the sun had set, he missed the way the stars were twinkling and the moon reigned the night. He missed the way his surroundings used to inspire him to design.

And he would be lying, if he said, those didn't invoke such a great sadness inside. Even convincing himself was hard, trying to tell himself, that he would be fine, that those would be his cherished memories.

It had been destined and he was a mortal incapable of denying the blessing and the bliss of his life now.

Mitsuya steeled himself for any doubt that might rise, and yet—strange how he could only feel certainty.

“Nii-san, what were you thinking!”

He didn't even need his eyes to know that Luna was beyond furious. If it wasn't for his hand grabbing her wrist firmly, Mitsuya was sure she would not hesitate to take Draken down.

“Mana-chan, where's the bag?”

It might be the fear that turned Mana into an obedient robot, while Draken tried to pack Mitsuya's things as fast as he could.

“Mana, stop!” Luna yelled, but Mana didn't answer her.

“Nii-san, I know you're head over heels for Draken-kun, but he's not the same person you knew years ago. You can't just blindly trust him like this!”

Mitsuya shook his head. "Luna, believe me when I say, I know what I'm doing."

Luna scoffed. "You don't, Nii-san. You might endanger yourself. I've lost you once, and I'm not going to lose you again." She took a deep breath as if to calm herself. "Draken-kun, please leave. If you love my brother, please leave him alone."

"Luna!"

There was a loud, heavy thump as if Draken had just dropped the bag he'd been busy with.

"Luna, I can't thank you enough for taking care of your brother. I can never repay the time you've spent with him, tending to his needs, being the greatest sister anyone could ever wish for."

Mitsuya could tell Luna wasn't going to fall for Draken's words. He could feel the tension through her wrist, the hardened will to protect.

"Your brother means the world to me." Mitsuya's heart ached. "I made a mistake once by leaving him behind. This time, I want him to come with me."

"Don't you realize this could count as kidnapping?"

There was such a childish innocence in Luna's question that it made Mitsuya chuckle.

"It's not, if I'm willing to go with him, Luna."

"Oh, so you're willing to be his accomplice, Nii-san?"

Mitsuya sighed. "Luna, listen to me." Even in her fury, Mitsuya could tell she was trying her hardest to not crumble, Mitsuya could feel she stood a bit closer upon hearing him saying the words. “I did a lot of questionable things throughout my life. I never told you any of it because I thought you weren’t grown up enough. Now, I need you to open your mind. I need you to trust my judgment, now, more than ever.”

There was a momentary silence before Mitsuya let Luna go.

“Draken didn’t rope me to go with him. I am the one who wants to go with him.”

“Will you be okay?” Mana surprisingly spoke.

Mitsuya smiled. “I will, Mana.”

"You better keep him safe," Luna's voice turned hoarse as if she had kept her emotions at bay and now they came crashing through. "Draken-kun, I swear to God if you don't take care of my brother, protect him—"

Draken cut her off, his tone firm as if he were proving a point to himself rather than to Mitsuya's sisters. "With my life, Luna."

With that, Mitsuya searched for Luna's hand, squeezing it lightly. "Luna, thank you."

Instead of squeezing back, Luna hugged her brother. It was like the old times when Mitsuya came home from a brawl, covered in bruises and wounds. Yet nothing healed him faster than his sisters' worried embraces.

Mana joined them soon, turning it into a three-person hug.

Just like the old times.

Mitsuya could hear Mana sobbing quietly on his shoulder, Luna sniffled so close to his ears.

He would miss this.

“Draken?” Mitsuya called, giving his sisters, the only family he had, the final goodbye for now.

“Yes?”

“I’m ready to go.”

Before everything, Mitsuya had always thought that the only place he would always want to be at, would be the beach. The location didn’t matter, as long Mitsuya could see the endless ocean, the blanket of the sparkling sand, the touch of the salty breeze—Mitsuya would want to be there.

Who would have known that the beach would be such a significant place to him?

Mitsuya could still recall the blurry memory of his first trip to the beach. The excitement, the happiness. With a faint image of a father he barely remembered, the mother who used to be his shelter, and sisters too young to understand, Mitsuya saw the ocean for the first time and thought—

"Isn't it wonderful?"

He remembered the salt water soaking his feet, teasing him with an invitation to join the waves. He remembered the sand making its way between his toes, tickling him with an invitation to run along the shore. He remembered one big, warm hand taking his, keeping him in place.

Mitsuya remembered.

He opened his eyes and he saw nothing.

Yet, the memory had never been more clearer.

“Draken,” Mitsuya tightened their entwined hands. Draken squeezed lightly, leaning toward him.

“Hm?”

“Tell me,” he whispered. “tell me about what we are seeing right now.”

And instead of answering, Draken cupped Mitsuya’s face, gently angling his face.

Mitsuya’s eyes were open and he saw nothing.

Yet, his vision had never been more clearer.

And so, when Draken leaned forward to capture his lips, instead of wanting to hear the answer, Mitsuya chose to find the answer by himself.

It’s us, Mitsuya, just the two of us, together at last.