Work Text:
Takemichi’s memory has always been awful.
From forgetting to pack the correct books for the classes he had the next day to leaving the rice too long on the stove. It has always been a pain.
Recently, it’s been gradually getting worse. It's not something he was willing to admit but it was the truth.
The change wasn't an immediate one but as he continued to travel through time, it seemed his mind had slowly deteriorated; had slowly wasted away.
It started small.
At this moment, he was attending Toman's weekly meeting, where he stood at the front of the 1st Division beside Chifuyu, his vice captain. He tried to be as attentive as possible, he really did. It was only recently he had been placed in this capacity and he was trying to make a good impression on his subordinates, but hearing Mikey talk about an expansion of Toman into other territories wasn’t as intriguing as he thought it would be. So he drowned him out.
His mind wandered all over thinking about what he would prepare as a late night snack once he got home, until Chifuyu snapped him out of his dazed state.
“Partner, you good?” Chifuyu asked in a whisper whilst nudging him in the side.
“Yeah. Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” His voice slightly breathless.
“Because you've been staring into space and Mikey’s addressing you,” he responded with a bit of harshness that had Takemichi wincing. And indeed, from the top of the stairs both Mikey and Draken had been peering their eyes at him.
Ah shit.
“Commander?”
It was always hard holding eye contact with Mikey. It felt as if he was under scrutiny when Mikey looked at him and in this case it seemed as if he was.
“I asked you a question, Takemitchy. I’m expecting an answer.”
He was in his ‘commander mode’ as Takemichi liked to put it and the tone of his voice sent a shiver down his spine.
question…
QUESTION.
“Could you repeat please?” A few snickers could be heard throughout the shrine. His hands fidgeted behind his back as he felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him.
“He asked how the 1st Division was doing since it’s been a month since Bloody Halloween,” Draken responded. His tone was more harsh than Mikey’s.
“O-oh ok,” Takemichi raised his head and took a breath. He was under watch by the whole lot of Toman and he couldn't let them think he was an emotional, wimpy crybaby who couldn't even respond to the commander.
He kinda was though.
“We’re doing alright I guess. I mean I’m still trying to be a good leader and fill the role that was given to me. There are a few things Chifuyu and I are working on and by the next meeting we should be able to tell you more.”
There was a satisfied look on the commander's face showing that he approved of his answer.
“Hmm. Alright then Takemitchy, looking forward to it. Guess the meeting’s done. Dismissed.”
A chorus of “Yes Commander” rang through the shrine. As the meeting was dismissed most of Toman left leaving behind Mikey, Draken and the other Division captains and vice-captains. Their demeanours were truly different outside of a meeting; don't get him wrong they were still scary but not as authoritative as in meetings or fights. Takemichi and Chifuyu were about to head towards the group when someone called after them.
“Captain!”
Takemichi turned around to see who was addressing him.
“Cap, thanks for the help the other day” the boy bowed and seemed really grateful for something he had apparently done for him.
“You're welcome? Sorry, who are you?” He was puzzled. What could he have done for this person? He knew he was from Toman because of the uniform but he figured he was from another division.
“What? You running jokes now cap?” the subordinate let out a chuckle. “Anyways, I went to the shelter you suggested and they helped a bunch, so thanks.” Before Takemichi could respond he left, so he turned to Chifuyu for help.
“ ‘Fuyu, who was that?”
“Hold up, you weren’t joking?” The smile on Chifuyu’s face was replaced by a quizzical look.
"I really wasn't.”
“Damn, when you said you had shit memory, didn’t know it was this bad,” he joked. “It was Kota. He was the kid that came to you for advice cuz his mom kicked him out.”
Takemichi racked his mind. Kota? Kota…
“I don’t think… maybe.” He recalled having a similar conversation with a subordinate of his but the face and the name weren’t registering in his head. Before he could dig any deeper, Draken hollered for him.
“Oi Takemitchy, Chifuyu, you coming?”
“Yeah, yeah we're coming,” Chifuyu responded. “C’mon Takemitchy, it’ll soon come back to you.”
“Sure.” Takemichi lets himself be dragged towards the group who were headed for their bikes to go out for a late night ride before going home.
For the rest of the night he pondered on the situation, trying to remember who this Kota person was, hoping for a light bulb moment, but it didn't come.
◇
Due to his many time travelling escapades, Takemichi has noticed that his very presence in the past can affect something in his time. So everytime he returns, he always has to look out for something new.
But this was really new. Where the hell was he? He had CDs in his hands and an apron around him. There was a woman standing over him, scolding him as if he was a child. What is happening? Is this his job?
Why can’t she shut up?
“Excuse me for trying to teach you how to do the job that you’ve been doing for aeons, Hanagaki,” the woman responded.
Shit, he said that outloud. “Sorry,” he apologised.
“Yeah, all you do is apologise,” she said with an eye roll and turned to walk off. “Get back to work, Hanagaki.”
He blew a small huff and stacked the CDs from his hands onto the shelf in an order that showed he clearly did not listen to what his boss had said.
“I guess I work here now,” he wondered to himself. “When did I even get this job, before I went back to the past I was working at…”
Wait, where was he working before? Did he really have the job all along?
Well shit, as long as he had one he was good.
It was a boring day, stacking CDs wasn't that fun. Well, what did he expect?
After clocking out for the day and receiving one last sarcastic phrase from his manager, he headed home. At least he remembered where he lived, with the help of his ID card from his wallet of course.
He travelled with the train seeing as he was without a car (how could he buy one when he was living paycheck to paycheck) and walked the rest of the way home. He entered the apartment building then headed straight to his place without a detour and just as he was about to open the door, someone called to him.
“Takemichi.”
“Ah, hello?” He answered looking in the general direction of the voice whilst his hand twisted the door knob, preparing himself for anything that was about to happen.
“It’s you, right? You came back from the past,” the man approached Takemichi.
Startled about the man’s knowledge of his time travel escapades, Takemichi held out his hand in protest, “Stop right there. Who are you?”
“Huh, what kind of question is that, Takemichi. It’s Naoto, am I that unrecognisable? Like I get if it’s the glasses or someth-”
“I don’t know who you are, so please leave,” Takemichi pushed his apartment door open and entered. Naoto rushes to the door and uses his foot to block it from closing.
“Takemichi, this isn’t funny. You promised to come find me when you came back to the present and we have some serious things to discuss,” Naoto said frantically, pulling his foot from the door allowing it to slam shut.
“I made no such promises, so leave before I call the police.”
“I am the police for heaven’s sake. Tachibana’s brother, Hinata Tachibana. Come on Takemichi,” He tries to reason. Naoto was unsure of how to deal with the situation. He didn't know if Takemichi was playing a prank on him or if he was being watched by Toman but he didn't have time for it.
Takemichi’s eyes widened in realisation and he quickly opened the door whilst muttering apologies.
“It’s fine,” Naoto exhaled in relief. “Are you okay though? Did you really not know who I was?” he asked, shaking his foot a bit, the force Takemichi put on the door hurt quite a lot.
“Well yeah, I guess my memory is getting worse by the minute,” He tried to laugh it off but deep down he knew something wasn’t right. It was obvious that he struggled with his memory from day one, but it was only for simple things like forgetting homework or misplacing something. But to the point where he doesn't remember his ex-girlfriend's brother, the person he has been working with to travel to the past; something definitely wasn't right. But he'd rather not think about it now.
“Wait, so why are you here?” Takemichi asked as he made his way through his small apartment. It seemed to have been cleared of most of the garbage.
Huh, looks like he's been trying to do better.
“It seems another trip to the past was a failure. She died,” Takemichi froze, then turned to look at Naoto. His blood ran cold.
“Are you really doing all you can Takemichi? I suggest you take up my advice and just end Sano seeing as he’s the common denominator.”
This again.
“Naoto, he’s a kid. I can’t in good conscience kill him and he isn’t even as bad as you’re making him out to be.”
“Takemichi, you can't change the plan on the fly because of a hunch, lives are on the line. Hinata’s life is on the line.”
“Don’t you think I know that?! I’m working on it, I've been trying to find ways to do this. ALONE might I add, it’s not like you're there in the past to help me,” He was letting his frustrations out, and heaven knows he needed it.
“Only Chifuyu knows, and he's a kid too. He doesn't know jackshit differently than what I know. So forgive me if I don't want to kill anyone, ESPECIALLY a child, in order to get this done.”
Takemichi didn’t want to kill Mikey, he didn’t even know if he could. Getting to know him let him see a different side of things so he was willing to go back and forth through space and time to reach his goal without resorting to that. No matter the cost.
Naoto tried to understand where Takemichi was coming from, but as of now he doesn’t think he can think of Sano as a child from 2005 but more so as the criminal he had turned out to be. Naoto breathed a sigh and held out his hand for Takemichi to take hold. “Don’t mess this up for us.”
“I won’t.” Takemichi shook Naoto's hand and he's sent flying back into the past.
◇
It’s tiring. Tiring and draining.
Imagine having the fate of so many lives resting on your shoulders. Takemichi can barely feed and take care of himself and he’s expected to stop fight-loving teens from killing each other? What a joke.
He has to admit that sometimes those teens can be fun to hang out with.
It had been an evening of fun, games and lots of food and now they were heading home, Mikey choosing to bring Takemichi home. The group that went, the division captains and their vices, had gone their separate ways on the ride back until it was just them left, with Mikey speeding through the streets.
It was almost midnight since they spent a lot of time out, and with the speeding, the cold started to nip at Takemichi’s skin. His shaking hands that were holding onto Mikey's jacket tightened and he rested his head on the boy's back.
“You good Mitchy?” Mikey asked Takemichi with a laugh, shifting gears to slow down the motorcycle. Takemichi shook his head “No” against Mikey’s back and muttered aloud a shivering “S'cold”.
They had approached a stoplight and instead of speeding through as he normally would, Mikey stopped. He pulled Takemichi’s trembling hands from around his waist and took off his jacket and handed it to him.
“Why didn't you bring a jacket? Stupidmitchy,” another chuckle.
“Don't you blame me after you basically pulled me straight from school, Mikey.” Which was evident by Takemichi’s school bag resting on the tank of the bike before Mikey. “Plus, I didn't know we'd stay out so late,” Takemichi hauled on the jacket and immediately sank into its warmth. He let out a quick thanks to which Mikey only hummed in response. Once the light turned green, they were off again.
Takemichi started to notice that the streets Mikey had been turning on weren't familiar to him but he trusted him.
They finally came to a stop with the engine of the motorcycle still going, and Takemichi wondered if Mikey was going to meet someone or collect something.
“Mikey, you know someone here?” He asked in a whisper, as if he would wake the neighbourhood when they literally just rode in on a bike.
Mikey turned his head to look at Takemichi and gave him a deadpan expression, “Go, I have dorayakis sitting and waiting for me in the oven.”
Takemichi was the one to be confused now causing him to unknowingly tighten his hands on Mikey’s shirt. He doesn't recognise this place. Not the neighbourhood, the streets, his supposed house.
“I know you like playing games Mikey, but take me home,” his voice told that he wasn't going to buy a word from Mikey.
Sensing that Takemichi wasn't kidding around, he turned his upper body so he could face him.
“Hey, are you alright? Something wrong?”
“Of course something is wrong. I don't live here, and to say you're my commander. This isn’t even the first time you're bringing me home,” Takemichi tried to play it off. It's just some joke wasn't it.
“Takemitchy, this is where you live. This is where you've directed me multiple times, unless you moved, then…”
“I wanna go home.”
“Takemichi, liste-”
“Mikey, I wanna go home.”
“Listen to me.”
“No, I wanna go back to my house and you're gonna take me there whether you lik-”
“TAKEMICHI!”
A pause. Takemichi’s hands were trembling, not because of the cold, but because of nervousness. He didn't know what was going on because he was sure he didn't live here and whatever Mikey was trying to pull, he wanted him to stop.
“Listen to me.This is your house and I'm going to walk you to the door and prove it, okay.”
“That's not-”
“Okay?” Mikey said with more firmness. He wasn't sure what was wrong with Takemitchy but he sure as hell couldn't make it worse by asking questions that wouldn't help the situation.
“okay.”
They made their way off the bike and Mikey led the way with Takemichi’s hand in tow, towards the house.
Takemichi was hesitant as they approached the house, “Mikey, this is not a good idea, I don't know who lives here. I live on… I live…” he was blank. Where did he live?
He lived in Kyoto, right?
No, was it Roppongi?
Where was he?
Who was he with?
He felt cold and disorientated.
His mind flashed with moments from the present and the past as he tries to remember anything at all. Contorted faces and voices. It was too much.
He stood still, forcing Mikey to stop and look at him.
“Mitchy, what's up?”
“I live… I-I live. I li-live, I-I live, I-I-I live.” He was a broken record, the phrase being muttered under his breath over and over again. It was as if his brain had shut down and his speech began to drawl.
By the time Mikey had the chance to figure out what was going on, Takemichi’s body fell forward with violent shakes.
“Takemichi!” Mikey grabbed his body, the weight making him fall to the steps leading up to the house, but he held him. Takemichi’s body continued to shake and a low groan left his mouth as if he was in pain. Mikey had no idea what to do, he was frightened. Another of his friends was helpless in front of him and he was in a stupor. He was worthless.
“Mitchy, c'mon talk to me” his voice desperate as he held onto Takemichi’s shaking body. The boy had no control, his body was in spasms, his limbs frozen in contorted ways.
“Takemichi, please,” Mikey's voice began to crack, on the verge of tears. There was nothing he could do but to sit there.
A minute passed, which felt like an eternity, of Takemichi shaking and groaning but he soon noticed a change, that his groans turned into huffing. Takemichi's body was no longer shaking as violently as before but was now in small spasms. Mikey gripped the back of the jacket that he gave Takemichi and held him close trying to ground him.
“Hey, hey, I'm here. You're cold aren't you?” He tries to pull Takemichi’s arms around him but they're still having spasms.
“Mitchy, come on, it's okay.” He pleaded. “I'll take you home then, is that better? I'll take you home wherever it is, yeah?”
His voice seemed to reach him and Takemichi’s body was becoming limp.
“Manjiro?” He muttered brokenly with all his strength.
Mikey’s eyes widened, and relief coursed through him. “Takemichi. Yeah it's me.”
A whimper was heard and then small cries. Cries turned to sobs that shook Takemichi’s body. Mikey began to worry if it was another of those spasms but it was just the cry baby crying.
“Manjiro, I can't anymore,” Takemichi confessed with a sniffle, his throat sore from crying. “I can't, I can't.”
“You don't have to Mitchy, nobody's forcing you to do anything,” Mikey had no idea what Takemichi was on about, but he did his best to comfort him.
“I have to save you, I have to save Hina. I have to save everyone,” He had begun to gain some strength which he used to cling onto Mikey. He wasn't sure if should have been saying this to him but he didn't care. It was what he was feeling at the moment.
“Save yourself Mitchy, I don't need your saving. Think about you first.” Mikey said, rubbing his hand along his back.
“How am I gonna stop you from killing everyone in the future then?” At this point Takemichi was half asleep being calmed by the slight breeze that rustled the leaves. “I'm going to come back as many times as possible.”
Takemichi hadn't noticed, but when his words were heard by Mikey, he froze. What was he to think after hearing such a revelation?
He'd ask Takemichi another time, but for now he had to get him into his house and to bed.
He took his time lifting Takemichi’s now sleeping form and himself off of the concrete stairs and walked him to the house unlocking it using the house key that was hooked on the boy's belt loop.
“You're a heavy little shit aren't you?” Mikey jokes even though the boy couldn't hear him, and continues to haul Takemichi through the house and up to his room. He decided to leave the jacket with him and left the house making a second trip to get Takemichi’s school bag before locking the door from the inside and leaving.
When Mikey ended up seeing Takemichi again, it was as if he did not remember anything from a couple nights ago and was a completely different person, so his questions went unanswered.
The Takemichi he was looking for had gone to the Tachibana household the day before to find Naoto to send himself back to the present.
◇
“So what you're saying is that you think every time you time travel, your mind or your brain is affected?”
This was most troubling. Naoto did think of the possibility that this power came with a consequence, but when Takemichi showed no signs of any side effects he didn't inquire any further but he should've. He should've because this could jeopardise everything they've been working for. He thought that a couple of trips back and forth to the past would fix everything but he was naive to think that would be all that it took.
“Yeah, that's what I'm thinking,” Takemichi was sitting on Naoto's couch as he explained what he thought was happening to him. He wasn't sure if should tell him about the seizure he had the other night and the fact he might have told Mikey a little too much.
Naoto wasn't sure what to say. Should he give up whatever progress they had made by going off of Takemichi's hunch or should they try one last time?
“It's a hunch though right? It isn't confirmed.”
“Well yeah, I think I can still manage to time leap again,” He was really stubborn and Naoto indulged him because he wanted to save his sister's life.
“Then let's do this one last time,” Naoto said with an outstretched hand.
They shook hands and Takemichi was sent back to the past, both of them unsure if this was the correct decision to make.
“One last time” became “Try again” and “This time it'll work”; Takemichi was as hard headed as ever and Naoto didn't try to stop him. Everytime he shook hands with Naoto, his sanity was the cost but he didn't let it show. For as long as possible, Takemichi had hid it from those around him both past and present.
He learned to cope. He managed the seizures on his own which was tough at first, pain rocking his body and the piercing headaches he would have afterwards; but he started to be able to sense when one was about to happen and he'd hide himself away and have a bottle of painkillers on hand.
His already shit memory worsened, there was no way to hide that, but he tried his best to avoid questions about it, especially with Mikey who still wanted to know more about what happened that night. That was especially hard because Mikey was a persistent person but when he would corner the boy in a situation that could be deemed inescapable, Takemichi would always somehow weave himself out of the confrontation.
But the truth always came to light.
It was a couple weeks after Tenjiku and Toman were still recuperating from its losses; moreso from the death of Emma and Izana (Kisaki's death was celebrated as bad as that sounded). Mikey and Draken took a major hit that day and even though Draken was showing signs of acceptance, Mikey still seemed down so they tried their best to get him out of that mood. Toman's top brass were having their weekly meetings where they would just get together just as friends to hang out. No formalities or titles, just friends getting together to have fun and they hoped that it would help with lifting spirits.
Lately, Takemichi’s seizures were worsening, having multiple within a short span of time, so he had decided not to attend this week's meeting, but when Chifuyu rode up to his house to offer a drive, he really couldn't decline. Instead, he grabbed his bottle of painkillers and Mikey’s jacket, which he forgot to give back, and headed out the house with his partner.
They arrived at the usual meeting spot, the Musashi Shrine, where everyone had brought their different delicacies to be shared amongst themselves. Takemichi wasn't planning on coming, so he was empty handed.
He was immediately greeted.
“Takemitchy!”
“You came. Did Chifuyu rough you up or something?” The question came from Hakkai who sat on the stairs beside Mitsuya. Everyone was lined up along the stairs, passing around tupperwares, except Mikey who wasn't going to share his dorayakis.
With a sheepish smile Takemichi responded with a bright “Yeah, he did,” much to Chifuyu’s dismay. As much as he didn't want to come, he sure did enjoy their company. The Mizo Mid were his first set of close friends but Toman came in at a close second.
They all settled in, having laughs to the point of rolling on the ground and choking on their food and fighting (all jokes of course). Takemichi was having a good time.
The night began to wind down, and Smiley and Angry were the first to start getting ready to leave, causing everyone to protest in response. It was at that moment that Takemichi felt weird, the familiar feeling of dizziness and anxiousness started to waft over him.
“I think… I think I'm going to leave too,” he stood up. He didn’t want to leave but he had to. All eyes were now on him, his friend's faces becoming blurry.
“boooo.”
“C'mon Takemitchy.”
"Yeah dude, don't be a buzzkill like Smiley and Angry.”
“Oi, don't let me come over there and beat your ass.”
“I gotta, I gotta, gotta leave, leave, leav-” first was his speech. Followed by his body running cold and then he froze.
Then he fell.
Mikey had been watching Takemichi from the moment he came to the shrine. He wanted to finally get some more information from him without him leaving like he usually did, but when he saw the change in Takemichi’s demeanour, how he looked frantic to leave, he was immediately on high alert. What if there was a repeat of that night?
And that was exactly what happened. He sprang into action, dropping the paper bag with one remaining dorayaki, heading towards Takemichi in a hurry. He grabbed his falling body from behind and brought him to the steps and rested him in his lap.
Everyone was stuck in a state of shock as they saw their 1st Division captain incapacitated on his side on their commander's lap, with Mikey knowing almost exactly what to do.
“Chifuyu, help me!” Mikey’s tone ventured more into his commander's voice, one he only used when dealing with his subordinates in a more serious setting.
Once the words left his mouth, everyone began to move.
Chifuyu hurried towards Takemichi, grabbing his legs that were shaking and rested his weight on him to try and ease his thrashing. Seeing his partner like this broke him, the groans and moans that left his lips, he was suffering and Chifuyu couldn't help. What could Takemichi be going through to cause this? He knew about the time traveling, he was trusted from the very beginning with this information, but could it be the very thing affecting him now?
Draken got the idea of what Chifuyu was trying to do and went to do the same, putting force onto his body. “Call an ambulance, Mitsuya!” The order coming from him this time. Mitsuya frantically reached for his phone to call the ambulance as the rest of the captains stood by and watched, because what more could they do?
Peh, Smiley, Angry and Hakkai watched in horror. They had grown quite attached to Hanagaki, not so much Sanzu, but he was also staring at the badly bleached blond with sympathy.
Takemichi was shaking non stop, it was worse than any of the ones he had earlier that week. Mikey had been trying to talk him through it, similar to what he did the night his first seizure happened.
“You're okay. Toman's right here with you,” he grabbed his face, his cold hands causing Takemichi's eyes to open. “See, I'm right here with you.”
“The ambulance is on their way,” Mitsuya stated loudly making his way over to where they had Takemichi. “Is this the first time this has happened?” Mitsuya was looking at Chifuyu at first but he responded with “Don't look at me, this is the first time I'm seeing this.”
“Not right now Mitsuya,” Mikey huffed out annoyedly as he continued to try to ground Takemichi.
“Alright, fine.”
Tears began to leave Takemichi’s eyes as the shaking turned to spasms and slowly died out and his pain filled groans turned into whimpers. Draken and Chifuyu eased off of him and his body fell limp against Mikey. A sigh of relief left everyone's mouth once they realized, and Takemichi drifted off to sleep.
There was a silence that permeated the air with everyone wondering what the hell had just happened.
“It happened once before,” Mikey spoke quietly, trying not to disturb the sleeping body in his lap as he brushed his hand through his hair. “When I was dropping him off at his house and he kept saying he didn't live there and when I tried bringing him to the house he froze and fell just like he did here. This one seemed worse than that one though.”
“Did you tell anyone?” Chifuyu asked, evidently annoyed. Takemichi didn't trust him enough to tell him and his commander didn't see it fit to come to him.
“Obviously not.”
“Why?!”
Draken, ever faithful stepped in, “OI! Chifuyu, calm down. He's still your commander even at this moment so watch your tone.”
“I get that and all but why didn't he tell anyone?” He could give a rat's ass about formalities right now. All he knew was that his captain, his partner, his best friend was suffering alone all this time. He could've come to him at any time; Takemichi was always his rock to lean on, a listening ear when he wanted to vent and he wanted to be the same for him but he wasn't deemed reliable enough for that. “Maybe we could've looked out for signs. But he kept it to himself! Both of them!” Chifuyu was outraged. He wasn't trusted.
Hakkai and Angry tried to calm the boy but it was no use.
“Chifuyu, chill. You might wake him,” Souya pleaded, resting a hand on his shoulder whilst Hakkai was trying to get him to move away but he flung them off and stepped closer.
“I could've told you, I could've gone to anyone but I didn't and I knew what it looked like and I still didn't see anything, no signs to say that his situation may have gotten worse.” Annoyance was starting to seep into Mikey’s voice.
There was a pause as Hakkai began to pull Chifuyu away once more.
"well guess you didn't look hard enough.”
“Chifuyu,” Mitsuya warned.
“One more word and I'll punish you for insubordination.”
The words came quickly. Mikey’s voice was low and dangerous, promising something he would most definitely do. All of them knew that because it wasn't the first they would've seen their commander in a murderous mood.
Before another word could be uttered, Takemichi shifted in Mikey’s lap and looked up towards him. His face was stained with tears and his eyes held no recognition.
“Who-”
“Partner!”
Takemichi moved his eyes around the area, seeing strange faces all around.
“Who are you guys?”