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They met again under the bridge, where the loud sounds of the train traveled up and over. The graffiti dry and old on the dirty red bricks, sun barely shining on them. It was evening when Sakura caught a tall figure struggling to stay on their feet, wide shoulders curling on themselves. A familiar jacket, now stained with blood and grime.
His back was turned towards Sakura, getas dragged on the concrete heading somewhere. Back to school, home perhaps. Sakura didn't know but what he did know was that he couldn't just keep watching him struggle any longer.
Sakura crossed over as the wind changed direction and his jacket couldn't protect him from shivers that traveled through his body. But the closer he got the more he could smell the blood on the taller boy. He could have said many things, like 'do you need help?' or 'you should sit down and rest.'
What came out of his mouth was harsher, tight spoken. "Stand up straight, you're just hurting yourself more."
They both freeze, from the sudden words.
Togame knew he was being followed for awhile now, the boy wasn't quiet with his steps. Not that it mattered to him, he was waiting for him to say something. Comment on how badly he was hurt, how he should have done better, fought harder to not get as many punches from the opponent.
They know how painful it is after a fight, when the adrenaline disappears and are left with ugly bruises, dark dried up blood, drumming headache and a thirst that never ends. Knows too well how the walk back takes ages, how their legs feel heavy and numb. Though they have won, it's carried with so much weight that they'll have to win the next fight or fail to make their school and friends proud.
"Hmm, I am." Togame says, making an effort to straighten his back.
But out comes a painful groan from the older boy, holding onto his left arm. A student from another city gave him a good fight, his punches felt like needles to him. Fought to the very end, until Togame gave the boy a last one with his hard wooden geta right on the back. He walked miles to get back home and take a hot shower, let his wounds soak and wash away the pain.
"You're not." Quick was Sakura's reply to his lie.
He didn't know how but he moved so quickly that in seconds he was supporting the right side of Togame, and arm over his much smaller shoulders. Togame relaxed right away, letting out a loud sigh, hands trembling from the aftermath.
"How bad was it?" Sakura asks.
He's looking down, too nervous to make eye contact with the older boy. "Some don't know how to act in front of their elders." Togame responded.
He didn't explain further, they kept walking slowly until they made it to a corner store. Sakura helped Togame sit on the old bench outside of the store, told him to wait and went inside to get supplies. Waited there for several minutes, finally hearing the sound of the glass door opening and out came the boy from Bofurin. A complete opposite of what he is, much sharper, not easily molding to anyone's liking.
Gives a good straight forward punch, knuckles and all.
A fresh breeze of air to Togame, with something sweet mixed in there if he stood there long enough.
Sakura rummaged through the plastic bag, took a water bottle out and handed it over to Togame. He accepted it with a weak thank you, uncapping and taking big gulps of water. "Take your jacket off." More of a demand as Sakura opened a package of gauze.
"Huh?" Togame replied.
"I need to see how bad it is." Sakura looked at him with so much seriousness, there was no choice for him.
He puts the water bottle down and carefully takes off his jacket, placing it next to him. Looking at his hands in that moment, he hadn't noticed how much blood had dried on his skin. His dark blue samue had even deeper stains, annoyed that he'll have to hand wash his clothes.
Sakura paid attention to Togame's left arm first, rolling his sleeve up with care. There was a sizable long cut on his forearm, luckily not deep enough for concern. But enough to leave a scar, so Sakura works quickly. Takes the bottle of rubbing alcohol and pours a good amount onto the cut, making Togame hiss in pain. "This will have to do for now, but you should get this checked out." Sakura tells him.
"I think I'll be fine." Words slow, headache growing bigger.
"Sure..." Sakura says, not believing him. He wraps his forearm with a rough bandage, putting pressure on the cut, getting tighter with every turn, then putting tiny clips to keep it in place.
The younger boy notices every cut and scrape on Togame, one right on his eyebrow, another near his bottom lip, the start of a bruise near his collarbone almost hiding under his clothes and his tired eyes that kept staring right at him.
A blush starts to creep up his face, making his cheeks feel warm. Wants to smack that look off of Togame, wants to see if it's true to what he himself feels for the older boy. Even with exhaustion at the tips of his finger he wants to grab onto Sakura and bury his face in his chest. Because, yes he's felt the same way for a while now.
Thank him over and over again for helping him, even if it wasn't necessary. Could have told him to get home safe and turn the other way to leave, but he pushed his way in.
"You're the best.." More of a tease from Togame.
"I'm not helping you next time." Sakura spits out, taking more gauze out to clean his face and distract himself from the warmth he feels in his abdomen.
He's so close to Togame's face, can see the thick strands of his hair stick to his face, skin marked with past injuries and the smell of iron with hints of the cologne Togame uses. Have the guts to trace his fingers around the edge of his face and rub away the tiredness, maybe kiss it away.
Though that can't happen, he wants it more and more.
Togame can sense the want from Sakura, but he can wait until the younger boy is ready. He's patient to the very end, in everything he's done.
Sakura breaks away, looking for any more injuries on the older boy. Focusing on what needs to be cleaned up, uncapping and applying ointment on the smaller cuts. "When you get home, put ice. It'll help with the swelling." Sakura says, filling the plastic bag with trash.
He knows the protocol after every fight, but likes knowing that Sakura advises him because he cares. "You didn't have to bother, Sakura-san." Togame looks him in the eyes.
"Tsk.."
The older boy is never a bother, not even when they first met. Sakura wanted to take him head on from the very start and now he takes his less injured hand and pulls him up, grabs his jacket. "It's getting dark, we should go." It’s all the young boy says, makes a motion for Togame to lead the way. Togame adjusts his glasses and takes slow steps, feeling the weight of the whole day.
They go their separate ways when Togame tells Sakura to go home, can tell he's almost hesitant on leaving the taller one alone. He'll be fine, he knows his way home just a few blocks more and another day will pass them.
Neither of them know that they'll meet in a similar situation weeks later.
Sakura sees him leaning against a post, right on the other side of train tracks. It was mid-day, the sun was beaming so hard on them, Sakura could see sweat running down the side of Togame's face and how he was holding onto his shoulder. His feet were slipping under him, having trouble keeping pressure on the wound.
There was clear anger on Sakura's face as he walked over the tracks and towards Togame. "Now what!" Sakura's voice rang through the older boy's ear.
A rightful scolding from Sakura, as he moved Togame away from the post and to a shade nearby. They were lucky that there was a convenient store down the street heading east. This time it wasn't a cut, his shoulder was punctured from an item laying around and used to damage the soft tissue on the lower part of Togame's shoulder.
The boy worked fast to get the wound to stop bleeding, Togame had half of his upper body exposed as Sakura poured water first and then wiped away the dry blood. Togame looked the other way, hissing from the dull pain that came after. Sakura had poured something else on him that felt cool to his skin and began wrapping the wound.
Once he was finished, Sakura wiped his hands the best he could with the leftover gauze. Togame saw he was having a difficult time getting his blood off him. Only to reach up and take one of Sakura's hands into his. They were slightly colder than his hand, much smaller compared to his that had dirt under his fingers from the fight earlier that day.
What brought them together again, so unconventional. So unprepared to have something more than what they are having right now.
Togame squeezed his hand as an apology, Sakura squeezed right back then let go to give the older boy a water bottle. A frown appears on his face as he takes the bottle, knowing this might happen again.
But wanting it even if it's painful for them both. Though ending with calmness, they could take their time with this. They hang there for a while longer until Sakura speak first, "You need to sleep on your side, or you'll make it worse." There was no bite to Sakura's words.
Togame hums back and is the first to get up, waiting for Sakura to be ready. The walk home is slow, neither of them wanting to leave the other, Togame tells Sakura to go home. That he'll be fine yet again even when Sakura wants to protest but stops and turns around, leaving with his arms to his side making tight fists.
They don't say goodbye.
Knowing they'll see each other in a few days, weeks, maybe.
It's a bit longer this time, when Sakura spots the other high schooler. He's standing by a bench, has his head pushed back with a hand covering half of his face. It's a strange position but as he walks closer, Sakura understands.
"Really?" Sakura says, annoyed look on his face. "You're doing it wrong."
He makes Togame sit on the bench, takes out the few tissues he hoarded in his pocket and tells Togame to move his hand and he does. Sakura scoots closer, thigh touching thigh and an angle that has him facing Togame. He had the older boy tilt his head back into the right position, it took some time for Togame's nose to stop bleeding, all the tissues soaked with a dark red tint. "They thought I would go out with the first punch." Togame's heavy laugh travels up Sakura's body and turns the tips of ears bright red.
An itch to kiss Togame's stupid smeared and bloody face in that moment, but he sits there and doesn't respond, only continues to hold the tissues to his face. "I'm sorry…for all of this." Togame says with a hand placed on his dirty pants and broken glasses.
He wants to tell Togame that he shouldn't do this any longer, but that's not in their nature. They both know their responsibility to themselves, to the school.
They both go home with blood on their hands and realization that they want this.
Perhaps further down, Sakura won't have to patch up Togame and all he'll have to do is hold his hand with care and the adrenaline will come from their quiet kisses.
For now they walk side by side until they have to part ways, the sadness on Sakura's face is so apparent, Togame wants nothing more than to take Sakura far away from here.
The truth comes in ugly forms, welts on the skin that will never heal the right way, marks deep within.
Late evening was setting in, street lights gave a warm hue, there were loud and fast steps that Sakura could hear from a distance, then boys his age passing by in a rush. His head turns and makes out a crowd of students surrounding something on the ground. He's not one to bother with a mess that is not worth his time, but then he hears something from one of the students.
"Oh man, isn't he from one of those schools?" They start. "Uh, Shishitoren?"
"Hey, you okay?" Another student, some hover over him inspecting the damage.
They're confusing Sakura, making his way towards them. It can't be right? what would be the chances it's the one person that looks at him with such care, patience.
As he pushes his way through the crowd of boys, his eyes stare in shock, anger rises in him.
Then panic settles in his stomach, he moves on autopilot. Everything he's seen doesn't compare to this, there's so much blood on Togame's hand. Not sure if it's his or someone's else, or how it had soaked his jacket. The older boy is in a fetal position with his hands covering the top of his head, Sakura can't seem to push out any words from his mouth at first.
Gets on his knees and tries to pull Togame's hand away from his head, "To-togame.."
"Hey, hey can you hear me." Sakura continues as he attempts to pry Togame's fingers out of his hair. He hears Togame mumble something, there's a groan here and there.
"It's me.." Sakura speaks, much louder. "Come on, let go." It doesn't come as a surprise to him how strong Togame truly is under pressure. It's scaring the younger boy, he wants to see his face but there's too much stiffness.
"Don't just stand there!" He yells at the boys surrounding them, "If no one's going to help, leave!" They all flinch from his frustration, standing awkwardly. Sakura is better off dealing with this by himself, Togame just needs him. He'll be the first to check on him, clean his wounds, walk home with.
Will be the last to watch him get up and move on forward, he may not be safe most of the time but he knows he is safe with Togame, even with blood on his hands. Togame lights something up in him that no one else can, those dark green eyes catch the soft touches that come from him. The frailty of Togame's words that could make him burst.
Leave, leave, leave!
"Togame, just let me see." His frustration is building, needs to see how bad his injuries are.
Sakura worries get caught in his throat, the difficulty to swallow. He can feel a headache coming, and it's not getting any easier.
Until the crushing feeling of his fingers makes Togame come back, as if he's coming up for air. The older boy's body jumps from shock, the cold hard ground and the panicked look on Sakura is all he needs to know that he has gone too far.
Togame lets go of his hair, moving to support himself with his arms and the weight of Sakura on him as the shaking body envelopes him tightly. "Don't do that!" Sakura pleaded.
He's gripping onto Togame so hard, their chests could become one. Their body heat was protecting them from the cool evening night that had set over them. Even with all the uncomfortable stares and hushed words from the students that watch them on the ground couldn't break them.
Not long after one of the boys from another school ushered others to leave, pushing some away. Slowly but surely they all left the two on the ground to deal with whatever they had going on. Togame noticed first whilst he held Sakura in his arms for however long it had been.
For him it only felt a minute or two that he had been sitting in this position, with the younger boy almost sitting on his lap, the exhaustion of calling out to him.
"Please don't do that.."
"Ever.. please." Sakura's words came tumbling out, that only Togame could hear.
Togame brought his hand up to the back of Sakura's head, gently caressing him. He was getting blood on the younger boy, he had stained his uniform, stained his heart.
"I won't, okay." Togame started.
"Hey.." He maneuvered Sakura to look him in the face, "Baby, it's okay." With so much sincerity, those words had slipped from him. Togame's brows had turned down, wishing this wasn't the way for them to come together.
Yet, he would do this all over again to have Sakura in his arms, beaten and broken, but with so much love for the young boy. He could see how Sakura's monochrome eyes filled with fresh tears, at the brink of spilling over. He didn't see them fall as embarrassment came over Sakura and hid himself at the crook of his neck, the ticklish of his breath could be felt on his skin.
"What happened?" Sakura asked quietly, still hiding from Togame.
"Ya know, a fight.." He talked with a dry throat, the pain finally catching up to him. "I don't remember much."
"But then I saw you."
"Scared the hell out of me." Togame continued, watching their surroundings. Realizing they had been there for far too long, wanting to take Sakura somewhere safe in case anyone would come back for him. He couldn't really protect him with how injured he is, it stings everywhere, his skin feels raw from the grueling fight.
"Come on, let's get up." Patting Sakura's back, "We should leave." Togame added, and with all the strength he had left in him, he got both him and Sakura up from the ground. Sakura helped with supporting Togame's side with his body, taking slow steps as he noticed that Togame couldn't put one of his feet down.
They chose to head to Togame's apartment, which was the closest to where the older boy was found. The walk was the worst of the many Togame had to endure, he had forgotten what happened earlier that day. Not knowing where all his injuries were, or if he even finished the fight. He's not one to run from a fight, but how he got where he got was bothering him.
It had become dark when they arrived at Togame's place.
He unlocked his door, hastily looking for the light switch of his apartment. They both take off their shoes at the front entrance, "Down that hallway is the bathroom, there should be a first aid kit." Togame began.
"Could you get it for me?" Leaning against the wall for support as he spoke.
Sakura nods his head and quickly heads to the bathroom, leaving Togame by himself. While Sakura is busy, Togame pulls his weight and goes to his kitchen. Opening his cupboards looking for cups and putting his kettle under the faucet to fill it with water as pain shoots up his leg trying to put his foot down. "Ah, fuck." He mutters, aware that it will take longer to heal and not happy about it.
"You need to go sit down, what are you doing?" Sakura says, standing behind him.
"Making tea?" Togame replies.
"I'll do it, leave it." Sakura takes a hold of the kettle and puts it to the side, "Wash your hands, we'll do the rest later." Togame hums and does as he's told.
After he's done getting rid of most of the dry blood Sakura directs him to the small living room, there's barely anything in his apartment. There's a few cushions on the ground, a sizable floor table and a small lamp placed on the floor. The window currents are wide open and are left as is, whilst Sakura gets Togame comfortable on the floor, two cushions on his back a few supporting his injured ankle and getting him to take off his jacket.
Sakura takes off his own school jacket and rolls up his sleeves, opens the aid kit and takes a few things out. He sits and gets up every so often as he's cleaning up Togame's injuries, checks on his sprained ankle, wipes Togame's knuckles and rubs ointment on them. Undoes the straps of his top and cleans all the cuts on his upper body, places an icepack on a forming bruise near his collarbone.
They're both quiet in all of it, there isn't a single word spoken until Sakura is wiping Togame's face with a wet towel. Togame's eyes are having a hard time keeping open, "Stay awake, you can't fall asleep." Sakura begins, "You might have a concussion." He's certain that Togame took a hit to the head with the way he watched him, how bad he looks.
Knows that Togame can keep up in a fight, has the better chance of winning with the way he fights. It's rare he could be taken out, and even if he may have won this fight, he was left like this and it scared Sakura too much.
But now he's here with Togame, safe under his care. No one could take him from Sakura, they'd have to rip him from his hands, the hands that are putting more ointment on his face.
Togame wants to press his lips onto his, feel the softness of them.
Wants to thank him over and over again by every kiss he could possibly give to the young boy. So he lets Sakura take care of the rest until he's given the chance to do just that.
Sakura gets up one last time to bring over the tea he poured for them and some crackers he found in the kitchen. He also had water for him and aspirin ready to take, getting himself seated right across the table from Togame. He had given Togame a blanket for the cold but was watching him intently, in case he'd start closing his eyes.
"Will you tell me what happened, if you remember?" Sakura asks.
"I will, but I don't think it matters much now." Togame responds, looking out the window. All dark, only the outlines of their bodies stare back at them as the light from the small lamp reflects it.
"I'll stay up with you." Sakura says as he places an elbow on the table and rests his cheek on the palm of his hand. The long and tiring day gets to him and loses himself to sleep, he tried to stay up, eyes blinking so often.
He had fallen asleep with the white side of his hair placed on the table and an arm stretched out, his back rising and falling and Togame moving and draping the blanket he had over Sakura instead.
He was fine with being the only one to stay up until morning, watch with care at Sakura's sleeping form. Wait until the sun rises over the buildings and ask Sakura what he wants for breakfast, let him put more clean gauze on him and be told to rest. Be wanted in a way that felt risky for them both, that they couldn't escape, not that he even wanted to.
He'd do it again and again, he'd do it for Sakura.
How his muscles ached and how his skin itched of wounds, but eyes never faltered on the boy.
The rays of sun glittered over Sakura's small frame as the morning sky gave way to a new day, in the distance could be heard birds chirping and sounds of cars passing by. Togame looked out the window and held out his arms to stretch his stiff muscles.
He got up slowly and headed to the bathroom to relieve himself and when he got back Sakura had woken up from the noise he was making.
They looked at each other with surprise and before Togame could say anything the younger boy was up and going to the kitchen.
Togame followed behind, showing him where the coffee grounds were. Where he could find a pan and where he stores his spices for cooking, there were few words between them. Soon after, Sakura sent him to sit back down, bringing their breakfast over.
A simple one, fried eggs, toast with butter and hot coffee. Togame thanked him for the meal and asked for sugar, pointing where Sakura could find it.
They sat there and ate their food, then Sakura reapplied ointment and changed his gauze. "I have to go.." The boy told him.
"You'll be okay, right?" Sakura asked, finishing his eggs.
"Sure." Togame replied, he didn't want Sakura to leave.
But he had helped plenty, should be going home and resting as well. He took Sakura's hand in his palm and held it, until Sakura pulled away.
They traded numbers, "If you need anything else, or I don't know." Sakura shrugged his shoulders and got up, picking up a few things before leaving Togame's apartment without a goodbye.
He sat there on his floor, until his legs fell asleep and he had to get up to shower, thinking about the boy. Over and over in his head, he was looking for the right words to say to Sakura. Say to him, that he needs him even if he's not there to clean up his wounds but to be there just because.
Because he wants him.
Sakura got a message from Togame a month later, when there was enough time apart from each other to think.
Togame asked him to meet at a park close to his apartment, and so he did right after school. He walked there instead of taking the train.
It was past six in the evening when he arrived at the park, he could see that Togame was sitting at one of the swings, waiting. He wasn't wearing his glasses and had some bandages on his hands, but his face looked better, less tired.
They locked eyes and Togame waved at him and he waved back weakly. Sakura was prepared for whatever Togame was going to say to him, that he doesn't need his help anymore, that he shouldn't bother in becoming friends and all sorts of stuff that ran through his head.
The pure insecurity he hadn't felt in a long time, for a guy that he's only known for a couple of months and how he was making him feel all sorts of things.
He stood a few feet away and crossed his arms, waiting.
"You deserve better, Sakura-san." Togame began.
That's not at all what he thought the older boy was going to say. "I haven't been very honest with you." He continued.
"I told you to come, because I wanted to tell you in person.." There it was, what Sakura knew would happen. Be left behind, be tossed to the side.
"It's selfish, but I don't care." Confused, Sakura waited in anticipation for what Togame was going to say next.
"I want you, I want you not just because you've helped me."
"I want you for so many reasons." Togame looked down on the ground then right back up. "For your kindness, how understanding you are, stronger than anyone I've ever met." It was all true what Togame was saying.
Sakura felt heat come up from his legs to the tip of his ears, spread all over his body. Those words were too overwhelming to him, new to him.
"Would you give me a chance?" Togame asked, eyes almost pleading.
He was asked to come all the way across the city, for this. All those moments together, every touch, every stare, every interaction brought them closer and Sakura wasn't the only one that felt that way. For the first time there was something there for him and him only.
So he took the chance and stepped closer, where his hands came up and cradled Togame's face. A thumb brushed against his cheek and the crisp air hit them, angling his head in the moment and pressed his lips to Togame's own.
Eyes shut tightly, he felt the trembles of his tryings.
The softness of Togame's lips as he pressed forward and had Sakura open up until a warm tongue slid in so gently, he had forgotten to breathe. More and more, their lips moved with a twitch and quiet moans from Sakura, wanting to be eaten up from the inside out.
Togame was holding onto the chains of the swings so tightly, it was going all to his head.
The last of it with Togame pulling on his bottom lip, breaking off slowly.
Sakura's lungs were asking for air but he wanted more, and more he would get.
"So, is that a yes?" The older one asked, eyes wide open.
"You know what, you're dumb for someone so.." Keeping his hands on Togame, never wanting to let go.
"Yeah, yeah." Togame let out a short laugh. Then put a hand on Sakura's back and pulled him in to touch those soft lips again, and was accepted so easily.