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𝟐 || 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐁𝐀𝐉𝐈 ||

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Tossing and turning in the futon laid across the living room floor, Takemichi winced at the sharp pain coming from his cheek when he placed his head back on his pillow.

This sucks...

It's already been two days since Takemichi met Baji, and he was still recovering from the brutal punches thrown at his face.

That evening—after befriending Baji and finding out they were gonna live in the same apartment complex—Takemichi had stepped into his new apartment only to be welcomed by a petrified scream that belonged to his mother. Takemichi had never seen his mom move so fast in his life. From her spot in the kitchen, she dashed straight for the small boy, nearly knocking one of the workers over in her haste to fret over the curly haired boy.

There was nothing Takemichi could do at that moment; his mother's hand had a strong grip on his chin as she turned his head from side to side, closely inspecting the dark bruises and dried blood that covered his face. Takemichi failed to make out the words that came out of her mouth, but he knew enough to know that she was interrogating the small boy—all the while—trying to comfort him.

"I just flew off the swing, mom! I'm ok!"

That was the excuse Takemichi decided on when he finally got the chance to speak. His mother didn't think twice before believing him—enveloping the injured boy in her arms as the workers trailed past her, awkwardly watching the pair as they attempted to step around them to exit the apartment to grab more boxes.

Takemichi's mother finally remembered to patch her son up when he started explaining (not whining! Takemichi doesn't whine, only little kids whine and Michi is a big kid!) about how the embrace was hurting his face.

That evening ended with Takemichi in his futon sporting a big bandage that wrapped around his forehead, a Batman band-aid over his right eyebrow, and—lastly—an ice pack to put over his left eye that was practically swollen shut.

Oh—and they had takeout to Takemichi's delight! How could he have forgotten that? Aside from gaining a new friend and petting cats—with said friend—the spicy ramen he shared with his mother was the highlight of that entire evening!

...that doesn't mean Takemichi's still not upset about his face though. His precious, beautiful face that his doting mother would fawn over just to make her son turn red.

As much as the curly haired boy doesn't want to admit it, Takemichi's gotten beaten up before—plenty of times actually. The old town he lived in was swimming with mean bullies who never hesitated to hurt or steal from anyone. The elementary school Takemichi used to go to was like a battleground for small children—Kids would bite and punch others over things like glue, toys, and food.

And the teachers were useless. Spineless bitches was the term Takemichi's mom used to describe them once.

Then there were the streets. It was impossible for Takemichi and his mother to walk through their neighborhood without being harassed by someone. Groups of boys and men would say dirty things to his mom while scrutinizing the smaller boy.

Takemichi hated it.

It wasn't until after an accident at school—that had Takemichi in the hospital for two weeks—that his mother finally used what was left of her saved money to move the two of them into a safer environment to live in.

And then Takemichi was free from harm! He would never have to worry about mean bullies again for the rest of his life!!! He's a survivor, not a victim!

...Takemichi quickly got a reality check the first day he moved to Shibuya.

...and now the person who gave Takemichi a reality check, became his friend.

And they both like cats—can't forget that one!

No matter how many times Takemichi thinks back to the moment Baji declared (asked, but the way Baji said it made it sound like Takemichi didn't have much of a choice) Takemichi as his new friend, the boy can't help but...be confused.

Takemichi got curb stomped by the same kid who called him cool.

But, oddly enough, the whole scenario seemed right? Like it was supposed to happen?

Meh, who knows.

His mom's talked to him a few times about fate and how it was a load of bullshit, but Takemichi can't help but still hold on to the silly concept. There's a possibility that their one in a million chance encounter was supposed to happen, and—if that was the case—Takemichi wouldn't change it for the world.

Why? Michi found himself asking that every time his thoughts drifted to the feral boy with fang like teeth and narrowed bronze colored eyes; but his smile was so bright and his eyes were full of so much affection?

Baji was dangerous, probably even more so than the kids who used to pick on Takemichi, but he was now somehow Takemichi's new friend? How?

Wait. Maybe it's because they both like cats?

...ok, enough about cats Takemichi.

KNOCK—KNOCK—KNOCK!!!

Takemichi was startled by the loud noise, staring at the entrance door with blatant fear. Shooting up from his comfy futon, Takemichi once again winced at the pain that shot through his head at his quick movement. He really needs to start being more careful with these injuries...

OK WHO CARES ABOUT HIS DAMN INJURIES?! SOMEONES OUT THERE FOR BLOOD!!!

Once again—without minding his injuries—Takemichi stood up and quickly searched for an item that could be used as a weapon against his attacker. His mother hadn't bought any knives or silverware, so that was completely out of the question. He didn't have the strength to pick up the wooden chair— seated in front of the living room table—without breaking his back, so that was also a no brainer.

On the brink of losing hope, Takemichi settled on the old retro lamp his mother bought (well, she stole it, but you didn't hear that from Michi) at a garage sale and held it up, ready to strike his unknown attacker.

KNOCK—KNOCK—KNOCK

With every step Michi took, he was getting closer to the entrance and—by relation to—the heavy pounding coming from behind the door.

Takemichi gulped.

He made it to the door. His grip tightened around the base of the lamp.

He'll keep him and his mom safe from now on. He'll protect her. He made a promise before leaving his old town and he intends to keep it till his last breath.

With his blue eyes swirling with determination, Takemichi swung open the door, held the lamp above his head and—

"HEYA TAKEMICHI!!!

Takemichi barely caught himself from attacking the boy in front of him. The injured boy unconsciously dropped the lamp—flinching at the sound of shattered glass that made its way to the floor behind him.

A fanged smile, black shoulder length hair with a middle part, bronze colored eyes—

"B-Baji?!"

"Uh—duh! Also, did you just break that lamp?"

...oh shit. He did...

Takemichi felt his face pale while Baji broke out into a fit of laughter.

"PFFFT!!! N-NEED SOME HELP W-WITH THAT?"

Yes. Yes he did.

So, reluctantly (and with a pounding headache), he let Baji into his home.

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"Man, this place is kinda boring, Takemichi,"Keisuke commented offhandedly while staring at the mountain of boxes that almost covered the living room and kitchen area. Keisuke could easily climb the boxes if he wanted to, but something stopped him from doing so.

That's weird. Eh, whatever.

Looking over his shoulder to glance at his host, Keisuke caught Takemichi throwing a trash bag (presumably the shattered lamp from earlier) into the trash bin that was hidden in one of the kitchen counters.

"Yeah, sorry bout' that. We haven't taken everything out yet," Takemichi apologized; his bandaged face scrunched up in pain all of sudden before settling back to its neutral expression—his blue eyes (or in this case, 'eye') still sparkling with that hypnotic determination from the day on the playground.

Keisuke refused to get swept in by Takemichi's doe eyes again. Keisuke huffed in exasperation, spinning on his heel to correctly face his new friend. "Does it really take more than two days to unpack a bunch of boxes?" Keisuke questioned while still eyeing the cardboard boxes.

Keisuke and Takemichi could've made the sickest fort out of em' if he and his mom had finished unpacking...

"I dunno," Takemichi answered as he fumbled with climbing on top of the kitchen counter. "—but my mom's been busy trying to earn all her money back, so she's been out meeting with more clients." Takemichi finally made it on top of the kitchen counter and Baji watched as the curly haired boy grabbed two cups from the cupboard.

Clients? Was Takemichi's mother a business woman too?

"Want some water?"

Meh, Baji will ask some other time.

"Nah, I'm actually here to take you somewhere." Baji observed the way Takemichi perked up, but his face quickly fell.

"I'm not supposed to leave the house with my...injuries," Ah, right. Those.

Keisuke was definitely at fault here. But how was he supposed to know that Takemichi was trying to protect a box of cats? He wouldn't have decked him in the face otherwise...

Takemichi stared down at Keisuke from his place on the kitchen counter, idly swinging his legs with an empty cup in his hands. The fanged boy suddenly didn't like the difference in height. Craning his neck up to look at Takemichi was too much of a pain. Keisuke walks into the kitchen and hoists himself onto the kitchen counter beside Takemichi; The bronze eyed boy is back to looking down at Takemichi (as it should be, of course! Keisuke was taller for a reason, yknow?).

Keisuke scoffed. "You're gonna let a few scratches keep you from leaving? I thought you were stronger than that!"

Takemichi's blue eyes glared with something akin to aggression. "It's not that I don't want to leave!" The curly-haired boy defends, setting his plastic cup down beside him on the counter. "It's a rule my mom made."

...Huh?

"What do you mean 'it's a rule'?"

"I—I mean it's a rule! I can't leave the house when I'm injured, that's the rule!"

Why was that made a rule in the first place? Does Takemichi get beat up often or something?

"Why is that a rule?" Keisuke had the urge to ask, a small inkling of worry bubbling up in the pit of his stomach. Keisuke couldn't have his fellow cat lover constantly staying home because he gets beaten up on a day-to-day basis! It'd be a little hard hanging out when a wall separates the two kids.

Takemichi avoids Keisuke's gaze as his blue eyes move to the kitchen floor, his face scrunched up in a painful (and cute?) scowl. "...It just is. I can't leave unless mom is home."

Ah, so Takemichi's gonna keep it a secret? Well, Keisuke will find out sooner or later.

Instead of questioning the boy further, Keisuke flashes Takemichi a mischievous smirk, blind to the way the injured boy squirmed under his gaze. "When's she getting back home?" Keisuke asked, a TOTALLY full proof plan forming in the front (not back) of his mind.

Poor Takemichi. He just sat there on the counter, oblivious to Keisuke's intentions hidden under such a simple and blunt question, while trying to come up with an answer.

"Um...not till' dark. Why?" Ok, maybe Takemichi wasn't all that oblivious. He still had half the mind to know something was up with Keisuke.

But back to Takemichi's answer! Not till dark? Keisuke's smile broadened at the information. He swings an arm around Takemichi's shoulders and pulls him in close, making Takemichi almost fall off the counter.

"I just need some help taking care of something. You'll help me, 'wontcha?"

Takemichi's face immediately turned pale.

"...taking care of what?"

Keisuke laughed at the fear he invoked from Takemichi and jumped from the counter, forcefully bringing Takemichi down with him. With his arm still wrapped around Takemichi's shoulders, he guided the smaller boy to the exit of Takemichi's apartment.

"Oh don't worry bout' it. I won't have you do any of the dirty work yet—don't wanna scare you off or anything!"

"Scare me off?!"

Takemichi's face was downright hilarious: his blue eye comically bulging out of his socket, jaw dropped open to the point a fly could fly in and make a home for itself, eyebrow twitching in shock, skin ghostly pale (and sweaty), and his body was shaking like an autumn leaf about to descend from its branch.

It reminded Keisuke of that one cartoon his mother tried getting him to watch. What was it called? Booney Toones or something? Well, it's not like Keisuke really paid much attention to the show since it didn't contain badass action scenes.

Keisuke's smirk got even more wicked.

"Yeah. We're friends now and friends help each other out, right Takemichi?" The smaller boy's face got even MORE pale after hearing Keisuke utter those cruel, cruel words. Hook, line, sinker! (Is that how the saying goes? Who knows, Keisuke's only heard it once from some cheesy stereotypical villain)

And just like that, Takemichi was too stunned to speak as Keisuke led the smaller boy out the door of his own apartment, NEVER to be seen AGAIN!

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"Meow!"

Takemichi stared down at the small creature sitting on Baji's balcony in disbelief.

"Yeah, we hear ya lil guy! Ya hungry or something?"

Baji kidnapped Takemichi to take care of a cat, NOT a dead body as he had originally assumed.

The sigh that escaped Takemichi was enough to shake neighboring buildings and convenience stores. Why did Baji have to talk in such a way that made him out to be some kind of killer?! Like seriously, anyone else would've had the wrong idea if they overheard Baji in the apartment complex.

Now that Takemichi thought about it, Baji probably did it on purpose to spook the smaller boy. How cruel...

"Aren't' cha gonna say hi, Takemichi? He's waiting!" Baji exclaimed while holding the cat out in front of Takemichi. After getting over his initial shock, Takemichi finally took the time to take in the wild cat's appearance. It was a short-haired cat with ginger colored fur with a black ear, his eyes were a forest green with pupils shaped as slits. The orange haired cat just stared at Takemichi, its purrs filled the balcony and canceled out every other sound that arose from the bustling streets.

He was...really cute. Takemichi couldn't help but smile warmly at the cat being presented to him. With one last glance aimed at Baji (who's expression had softened over the past few minutes, probably due to the cat he was holding), Takemichi reached for the cat and was delighted when the creature allowed Takemichi to hold him close to his chest, feeling the vibrations that rumbled through the cat's body.

So adorable!!!

Takemichi beamed down at the cat snuggling in his arms. "You're so soft!" Takemichi cooed, earning him a loud purr from the orange haired cat. "—and adorable!" He adds with a bright smile.

There weren't many friendly cats back in Takemichi's old town, so it was nice to be able to pick one up without being mauled, scratched, or bitten and have to get tested for rabies (which had happened one too many times). There was something so comforting about petting cats; dogs, on the other hand, were always too rough to Takemichi. Their barks never failed to startle Takemichi and the thought of having those sharp teeth clamp down onto his skin, tasting the sweet blood that would ooze from his injury, filling the air with the stench of copper that would inevitably attract more dogs and—

"Hey—You're holding him too tight!"

Takemichi snapped out of his thoughts at Baji's reprimanding tone and—yup—Takemichi was almost strangling the poor cat. Takemichi quickly placed the cat down on the ground, still shocked over what he had done to the furry creature.

"S-Sorry! I don't know why I did that," Takemichi apologized, casting his gaze down to his uncomfortable flip flops his mom had bought him at a retail store in shame.

Was Baji gonna kick him out? Beat him up? Not be friends with him anymore? Throw him off the balcony? The possibilities were endless and—

A punch to the shoulder almost made Takemichi stumble and fall backwards.

"I get that you like cats, but don't hug em' to death!" Baji lectured, his tone half serious and half playful.

Guess Takemichi gets to live another day.

Takemichi watched as Baji sat down on the ground, his hand patting the spot next to him. Takemichi took the hint and sat down next to Baji, both their eyes following the orange cat as he licked his orange paws.

"I really wanna keep him, but I can't," Baji pouted, grabbing Takemichi's attention.

"Why?"

"My mom's allergic to cats." Oh. Yeah, that would be a problem.

"Her eyes get all red and her face breaks out—"

"Kinda sounds like a zombie..." Takemichi blurted out offhandedly, earning a scowl from his companion.

"You saying my mom's a zombie?"

"No! The eyes going red and face breaking out thing—reminds me of a zombie!"

"Well, my mom's NOT a zombie! Her skin isn't green, idiot!"

"How am I supposed to know that? I didn't see your mom when we came in," Takemichi defended playfully, not bothering to see the kind of face Baji pulled.

"That's because she's at work!!!"

"Ohhhh!"

Baji thumped Takemichi hard on the head, earning a small 'hey!' from the small boy. "Like I was saying before you INTERRUPTED ME—" Takemichi didn't have to look over to know that Keisuke was fixing a glare at him, "I was thinking about hiding him somewhere...maybe in your apartment or something."

Um...pause?

"Wait—my apartment?!" Takemichi exclaimed loudly, his high pitched voice making the orange cat jump in surprise. Takemichi sent the cat an apologetic look before focusing back on Baji who's face lit up for god knows why.

Man, being