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Takemichi wandered through the rubble of the abandoned building. There were so many interesting things scattered throughout, many being parts of vehicles. Takemichi arrived in the Phillippines upon Mikey’s request. This was definitely the place.
The place where Shinichiro Sano had found the engines for their bikes. Their, being Mikey and himself. The bike Mikey had gifted to him when they were 14.
They were now 26. The world had changed, and Takemichi was waiting to find out how much had really changed. Would his goal be met, or would he have to keep returning to the past?
He heard a small noise from his left, there he was.
He looked the same. His eyes held the same look they had 12 years ago. His physical appearance resembled Shinichiro, but his eyes still held the sorrow they had before. He was sitting there quietly as he smiled at Takemichi. The smile seemed to hold a thousand words, but none of them would ever be spoken.
“Have you been well?”
“Yeah,” Mikey replied as he looked down to stare at Takemichi. A brief silence followed. Takemichi could feel his eyes well up with tears, and there was no stopping the stream of tears that slid down his face.
“I’m,” Takemichi wiped his tears, “I’m sorry.”
“Still a crybaby, some things never change huh,” Mikey stood up from the pile of rubble he was previously sitting on. “I called you here because I wanted to ask you something,” He wandered down to where Takemichi was standing.
“What is it?”
Mikey ignored his question as he turned away from him, “I have so many memories here. I wanted to remember my memories with him, so I came here.” He didn’t have to say who him was, Takemichi knew who he meant. “I’m so overwhelmed, the past is so beautiful. I laughed, cried, fought, and learned so much. That’s how I grew up.”
“Mikey,” Takemichi was so happy, smiling up at him, had he finally won? He seemed to be doing well. He had no reason to hurt his friends. Mikey could finally have a happy ending.
“Toman has changed a lot, Takemichi.”
Takemichi looked up at him, “What?” The previous thoughts were replaced by ones that were the opposite. The atmosphere had changed in the blink of an eye.
“Why’d you leave, I wanted us to be together. I wanted you to stay with me.” Mikey turned to look down like he was hiding something. “I tried to fix everything myself, it was too hard. Things will never be like they once were.”
Silence once again consumed them both. Takemichi didn’t know what to say, he doesn’t know what happened in those 12 years he was gone, and so why was Mikey saying these things? “Mikey, what do you mean?”
“Why didn’t you stop me, you said you would. So in the end, I tried to stop you. Mitsuya and Ken-chin tried to stop me, but they couldn’t.” What was Mikey saying, what was there to stop? “Why did he leave Toman? They gave me their lives. Mitsuya told me he didn’t want you to end up like us.”
Suddenly, Takemichi understood what he was saying, “ This means… those two?”
“They were the last.” Mikey’s previous expression was overtaken by one that was filled with sorrow. “I’m the one who killed them. That Toman no longer exists, Takemichi. Everyone is gone. I killed them all.” Mikey had finally looked up to meet Takemichi’s gaze, “I want you to stop me.”
“Kill me.” Mikey’s words were laced with venom. They hit Takemichi with so much power. How could he say something so horrible? “I want you to end it all here, my dream.”
“Mikey, what are you saying? I don’t get it, Stop. Why ask me to kill you after we meet again? I just wanted to see you again.”
“Someone else said something similar, “I wanted to see you again,” It was Hakkai I believe.” Mikey looked up, there was a bird flying overhead, “His dream was unachievable. Open a New Era. Toman was on the right track, and now suddenly we are here.”
Takemichi looked over to see Mikey’s eyes flutter with something that could be nothing but emptiness. “When I killed for the first time, I didn’t feel anything. I thought the difficulties of this world could be solved by killing.” Mikey turned and flashed Takemichi a smile, “All is well when you eliminate those who get in your way.” Takemichi was enraged at that. Mikey had just asked him to kill him. Those words held weight and he knew it.
“You’re wrong! You haven’t changed, you’re still the same Mikey.” Takemichi grabbed Mikey by the shoulders and shook him with each sentence.
“Stop it Takemichi.”
“I see it in your eyes, the same look you had when we were kids.”
“Stop.”
Takemichis grip tightened as he spoke, “You haven’t changed, so stop talking about killing people!”
Mikey grabbed Takemichi by his shirt and swung him to the ground. Mikey settled down atop Takemichi, “What part of this do you not get?” He pulled a gun from seemingly nowhere and pressed it to Takemichi’s cheek, and another fell from where he had the previous.
Mikey remembered what Chifuyu had once told him, “Hanagaki Takemichi, you remember him? When he looks for you and finds you, it will be like he traveled back from time. He will be the same as he was in the past. Look into his eyes, you’ll see what I mean.”
“Look at me with those eyes!” Takemichi looked up to stare into Mikey’s eyes. Mikey wondered how Chifuyu’s words were true, how he had known? The eyes were the same he remembered staring into 12 years before. The way they glistened with tears and raw emotion. “Take that gun, and kill me. If you don’t, I’ll kill you instead.”
Mikey was now crying alongside Takemichi. Teardrops falling from his eyes to land on Takemichi’s cheeks. There was silence before Mikey spoke again, “We can’t go back in time.” There was a gunshot, but Takemichi didn’t feel any pain. Instead, he felt the man above him fall.
“Are you okay Takemichi?!” The shout of Naoto’s voice cut through the air like a knife, and Takemichi couldn’t feel his lungs. He looked to Naoto, and back to Mikey. Blood was all over him, his hair drenched in his own blood.
“Mikey!”
“Don’t go near him!” Naoto darts to where Takemichi and Mikey lay. Naoto notices something when he looks down. The gun had its safety lock on. Mikey wasn’t gonna kill him, he hadn’t even been serious. Takemichi’s screams brought Naoto back to reality.
“Mikey! Mikey!!” Takemichi cradled Mikey in his arms, once more screaming, “Mikey!”
“Tachibana Naoto, Thank you,” Mikey says as he lies in Takemichi’s arms. “Takemichi would’ve been unable to do it. Finally,” he paused as he turned to Takemichi, “It’s over. All my life I have been suffering.”
“Don’t say that! I can change that! I can change the past, start over again, whatever it takes to save you! I refuse to give up! So don’t say that.”
“Thanks, Takemitchy, your words are comforting. Even if they are lies, I’m happy.” Mikey was silent a moment before continuing, “Ah, Takemitchy, your hand is so warm.”
The silence that followed was shattering. Takemichi felt everything he loved being taken from him again. “Mikey? You’re lying. Not true.”
“Answer me, Mikey,” All the memories of the two came flooding back to Takemichi. From when they first met, and how Mikey had claimed him. To the time where he found himself in a bathhouse with Mikey and Draken. To where Mikey had told him his dreams. To when Mikey had told him how strong he was. Takemichi could only cry as he accepted this future.
“Takemitchy…”
“I have to go back. I need to save him. Naoto, shake my hand.”
“Good luck, next time we meet, I hope it’s much more pleasant.” Naoto reached his hand out to Takemichi, his eyes seemed to hold something Takemichi couldn’t tell.
“I promise to come back, and this time. I will succeed.”
Time passed, Takemichi fought for the future he sought. The world around him changed with every action he took. The way Mikey learned about the future, and Mikey promised him a future he could return to. A future where he would be happy.
Takemichi hoped upon his return everything would be good, and it was. Everyone was happy and living their lives. Kazutora and Chifuyu owned a pet store together. Draken and Inui owned a bike store. Peh-yan and Pah-chin worked in real estate. Hakkai and Mitsuya worked in the fashion industry. Nahoya and Souta owned a ramen shop. But one person was missing. Mikey. They had told him that Mikey owned a restaurant overseas. That was shocking, as Mikey never seemed like the type for that. Hinata and his wedding was in a week, and Takemichi wished nothing more than to invite Mikey.
He had found out that Mikey was still involved in gang activities. Several former members of Toman were alongside him. He had been lied to, but he didn’t care too much.
Yet, now he was sitting alone in an abandoned bowling alley. He and Kazutora had been trying to find Mikey. After he had disbanded Toman he had pushed everyone away he learned, and they hadn’t had contact with him since. The former members of Toman had tried to stop him, but Mikey fought them and won. He only had three days before his wedding, and this was his last chance to invite Mikey. Now he felt lost as he was unable to find him.
Sitting alone in the abandoned building, the air shifted.
Takemichi heard shuffling, but he had heard too late, “Don’t move, or I’ll shoot.”
The strange man beside him spoke again, “Man! You stink like hell! Even back then, Slimly looking Motherfucker!”
“Who are you?”
“Shhh.” There was a brief moment of silence before Takemichi felt the presence of a third person, “The boss will talk now.”
“It’s the best future isn’t it?” At those words, Takemichi felt himself start to cry once more. “So, you wanna ask anything?”
“Mikey…” Takemichi holds his right hand up, containing a letter. “I want to give you an invitation to my wedding. I want you to come, no matter what. Everyone is doing well, just like you promised 12 years ago. Everyone but you.”
The man beside Takemichi spoke again, pushing his gun further against Takemichi’s head, “Hey man, shut up or I’ll kill you.”
“Could you leave us alone Sanzu? I want to talk to him, just the two of us.”
“Got it, I’ll be downstairs.” Sanzu walked off, and Takemichi felt the atmosphere change. Heaviness in the airlifted.
“Mikey… What is this dark impulsivity? I thought the reason the future was always bad was because of Kisaki, your brother, but that isn’t it. What was that video?” Mikey didn’t respond, so Takemichi continued. “I tried to go back by shaking hands with Naoto, but I couldn’t. My goal of saving Hina is over. It’s thanks to you.” Mikey was still silent, “You don’t have to talk. You saved everyone. But now it’s my turn to save you.” The silence was interrupted by the familiar sound of a bullet. Takemichi felt the world slow down. He felt his body be moved by a force. He realized that sound was Mikey shooting him. He turned around to see him finally. Mikey stood and shot him twice more.
“I didn’t wanna meet. Because I knew things would end up like this.” Mikey turned around, leaving Takemichi in his own blood, “Your journey ends here.” He stopped when suddenly he heard Takemichi speak.
“I will save you.” His voice faded, “no matter what. For you, I’d do it a thousand times over.” Mikey kept walking.
“I will end everything here.” Mikey climbed to the top of the building. People below started to notice and began shouting. One of those people being Sanzu. He had been standing aside an alleyway out of the public eye. Only to realize it was Mikey who was standing atop the building.
“Mikey!” Sanzu shouted, yet Mikey didn’t seem to hear him.
Mikey was reminded of everyone he had lost. His brother, his sister, his childhood best friend, and his right-hand man. Alongside Toman. “Everyone! Let’s do this!” He smiled once more.
Sanzu shouted once more, desperate for the man to hear him. But he was too late. Mikey had jumped.
But, when he had thought it was all over. A hand grasped his. Takemichi grabbed Mikey and held him as he fell. “I will not let you die here!” Takemichi had one hand holding Mikey, the other holding onto the metal of the building. He felt his consciousness fading. People below were recording and watched as the commotion before them unfolded.
“Grab my hand!”
“This is stupid. I tried to kill you, y’know? Yet,”
“Mikey there isn’t much time left. I’m losing consciousness.”
“Let go of my hand. I want to end it all here.”
“Stop, you’ll regret it!” Takemichi was trying to keep himself where he was, to not fall alongside Mikey. He couldn’t give up hope. Not after all he had fought for. “Quick…please, I will save you. No matter what. I will go back to save you.”
“You can’t go back anymore. This is why I didn’t wanna meet you. I didn’t want this. I literally just shot you, Takemitchy, please put me in peace.”
“Shut up!” Takemichi’s outburst shocked Mikey, “Why are you so selfless! Always taking the burden on yourself. Why won’t you let us help you? Manjirou. Just say it once, ask me to save you!” Mikey was shocked by the first name usage, never had he called him that before. “Just ask me to help you damnit! I’ll definitely come. Manjirou!”
Mikey couldn’t hold his tears back anymore, “Please help me, Takemitchy.” As Mikey said that, Takemichi’s grasp failed him. He felt himself fall alongside Mikey. He pulled him close.
“I would do anything for you Mikey, never forget that."
“It appears we are out of time, I hope we can meet again.”
Takemichi felt the familiar warmth from Mikey. He understood what Mikey meant in his final moments in the past, the warmth was nice. Takemichi knew this was the end. Mikey nor him would survive this fall. “Before it’s over, I just wanted to tell you one thing, Mikey.” Takemichi could feel the wind in his hair, and how he could see Mikey so clearly in the city lights. Once again, his eyes had not changed. They were filled with the same sorrow and tears as the last time. Yet, this time there was something else within them. Something more. “You’re the person most precious to me, and I hope next time, we can have a future. Together.” Takemichi smiled as he felt himself finally fade away, hoping maybe he would be able to travel back, but the feeling never came. The only thing he could feel was the warmth from Mikey. History had once more repeated itself, only this time, there wouldn’t be another chance.
Takemichi had reached the end of his journey. All his efforts being wasted as he was now plummeting alongside Mikey to their impending doom.
As the end approached, Mikey uttered, even though Takemichi wouldn’t be able to hear it, a small confession. He spoke the words he had dreaded. Everyone he had loved had died. Nothing changed. He had lost everything. This time Mikey held Takemichi as he died, and reveled in the paradox. Life was fleeting and he only realized that as he lost the one he cared about most. The only one he had left.
Now he would accompany him to the end.