Kuina tapped harder on the door, its inside echoing with the rhythm of her knuckles. She huffed in the empty hallway, biting the candy stick she had in her mouth. She stood listening to the silence before rolling her eyes, letting herself in, and closing the door behind her. 'If he gets upset, he would just be upset,' she thought. "I've been standing outside your door for close to five minutes--" She stopped before the bed as she looked on questioningly, staring at his back.
"Uh... Everything go alright last night?"
She began to fidget with the candy stick more as her question was met with more silence. She gave Chishiya another moment before pressing further, "Did everything... Not go alright last night?" She observed him as his head seemed to drop, his back hunched over. Kuina had seen many defeated people in the Borderlands, but never Chishiya. He would be the last person she would ever expect to be in this position at any given time. If something goes wrong, he always has another card up his sleeve.
"Hey, Chishiya..." She slowly walked alongside the bed and around, carefully sitting next to him. "Where's (Y/N)?" He shifted at the question, his eyes planted on the ground in front of him. "... I don't know." He stated bluntly. Kuina held back the urge to shake him senselessly as she tried to pull more out of him, "... What? What the hell happened Chishiya? Did you find out what you needed to?"
He stayed silent for a moment before slowly licking his lips, carefully contemplating his next words. He sighed and lifted his head, his eyes briefly looking over at Kuina, "Yeah. I did. Maybe more than what I wanted to." She gave him a curious look before looking down at her hands resting on her knees. "I don't feel great about my part in that... Getting a girl drunk and having someone drug her just... Gives me the ick."
Chishiya turned his head to look at her as she wiggled, his brow raised slightly. "You say that as if I'd take advantage of her."
Kuina sighed and stood, taking the candy stick out of her mouth for a moment to speak. "There's more than one way to take advantage of someone, you know. I'll be by the pool until game time." She didn't wait for a response before leaving his room, closing his door behind her. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, forcing the thoughts of you out of her mind. Her loyalty was with Chishiya, but she knew as well as he did, that she also wished to be loyal to you as well.
You opened your eyes to the sun already towering in the sky, your head throbbing at the sight. You grimaced at the light and turned your head down, opening your eyes to see Niragi laying peacefully under you. The heat rose to your cheeks quickly as you took in your positions. Both hands rested carefully on his bare chest, one of his arms wrapped around your waist, the other of his supporting his head under the pillow. The pain seemed to disappear without another thought as you unknowingly took in his sleeping face.
Niragi looked so peaceful, so at rest under you. You could feel your body slowly rise and fall with his chest, the sun highlighting his features so effortlessly. "Enjoying the view?" Your eyes snapped to his as he murmured, barely opening an eye to look up at you. Your words escaped as you studdered over them, your thoughts not forming correctly. It felt like you'd been caught as you felt your face flush.
You went to push yourself off him as he laughed, wrapping his hand tighter around your waist and holding you to him. "I... I should get back to my room, Niragi," He sighed heavily and closed his eyes again, "... No." You tried to hide your fluster even though he wasn't looking at you, "I still need breakfast, and to shower--" He silenced your protests rather quickly, meeting your lips with his own, his tongue forcing itself through. Your heart quickened as his hand wandered under your shirt, going up and down your back while drawing light circles on your skin.
Niragi reached up to cup the back of your neck with his other hand, pulling you down into him. You closed your eyes as his tongue swirled around yours, the cold metal gently gliding across the roof of your mouth briefly. Your mouth opened in a gasp as Niragi rose his knee in between your thighs, his hand that made gentle circles now moving downward to firmly grab your waist. His lips turned upward into a smile as he took in the soft moan that escaped you, pushing himself into you.
You let out a yelp in surprise as Niragi hurriedly flipped your body underneath him, his hand running along the outside of your thigh. Your body squirmed under his gaze, and you could see his prideful smile as he watched your reaction. He lowered himself down to your ear, carefully whispering to you, "You'll shower here... With me." He could see the embarrassment creep up, washing over you. Niragi smiled and let out a soft chuckle as he swept strands of your hair away from your neck, gently sucking the skin under your ear and slowly leaving trails down your neck.
He felt you squirm under him, your arms splaying down his back, ushering him closer. Niragi roughly dug his fingers into your skin, knowing for certain you would have bruises later from it. He couldn't help but let his pride show as his wet tongue ran along the side of your neck, lifting his face to press his forehead against yours. He lifted your leg and wrapped it around his waist, lowering himself to grind against you.
Niragi watched as your eyes fluttered against the sensation, your chest rising and falling heavily with your breath. He examined your face carefully, taking in every small involuntary motion you made. His lips came down to linger above yours, exchanging his breath with your own. You caught his eyes in yours as you felt your breath hitch in your throat, Niragi stopping suddenly. You looked at each other carefully, his eyes darting between yours, his tongue slowly wetting his lips.
He cupped the side of your face, his thumb gently caressing your cheek in his hand. You leaned into the warmth, his fingers carefully massaging the back of your head as your hand overlapped his. Niragi dipped his head into your neck, his breath tickling your ear as he gently tugged on the lobe, stopping only to sink his teeth into your neck as his hips gently bucked, a soft moan escaping your lips.
Niragi could feel the irritation as his pants tightened, shoving his hand down to unzip his pants, kicking them off hurriedly as he repositioned himself between you. He stole a quick glance, checking for any sign of discomfort. He leaned in close for a moment, his voice low as he whispered, "... Do you want this?" You could feel your cheeks flush as you slowly nodded, swallowing the lump in your throat.
He stared at you, his eyes searching yours for a moment. "Say it."
"I... I want this, Niragi." You watched as he grinned, quickly pushing his lips into yours hungrily, breaking to travel down your neck, dipping his tongue into your collarbone as your soft breath turned into music to his ears. Niragi couldn't help but smirk as your back arched slightly, reacting to his touch. His hands began wandering down your side as you grasped his bare shoulders, feeling your eyes roll back as Niragi's hips thrust into you. His hand grabbed and dug into your thigh as it explored upward, his fingers pulling at the bikini strap that covered you.
You gasped at another sudden thrust, your eyes meeting Niragi's as he grinned at your reaction. The metal tongue piercing gleamed off the sunlight illuminating the room as he ran his tongue over his teeth. You felt a shiver run down you as he lowered his head into your neck, sucking the skin forcefully, his body weighing on top of you as his hips bucked in rhythm. Your leg pulled him in closer, making him shoot you a surprised look.
Niragi watched you carefully as he untied your bikini, making quick work of your top as well. He leaned back for a moment and stared at you, moving his shirt that still covered you to the side as his hands wandered, gripping your thigh around him tightly. He leaned in, running a hand through his hair quickly to push it back as his lips crashed into you, his tongue swirling around yours. You pushed yourself up against him as your hand wandered down to his briefs, sinking your hand into them.
You heard him groan into your mouth as you stroked his erection, his tongue becoming more forceful. Niragi hurriedly pushed his briefs down and broke away from you, frantically throwing them to the side. He could feel his heart speed up at your touch, grabbing your wrist and pinning it above your head. His free hand reached down to your core, his fingers gently gliding across your entrance. Your body jolted suddenly as two fingers entered you quickly with ease, a moan escaping your throat.
Niragi caught your gaze with his, a grin on his face as he teased you, "Fuck... You're so wet..." He chuckled lowly, planting light kisses across your jawline. Your non-restrained hand grabbed onto his onyx hair, giving it a light tug as his fingers began pumping into you slowly. Niragi savored the sounds emanating from you, taking in every soft whimper you released as his fingers curled into you rhythmically.
"Ni-Niragi..." He looked up as you murmured his name, relishing the way his name spilled from your lips. His rhythm slowly increased as he watched your face carefully, observing every time your breath hitched. He placed his thumb gently on your clit, rubbing small circles as he felt your pulse on his fingertips. Feeling you tense he released your wrist, cupping your cheek in his hand as he pulled his fingers from you, positioning his member at your entrance, taking in the warmth coming from your core. He leaned into you slowly, gently guiding his tip further in carefully as his lips eagerly brushed against yours, releasing a moan into your mouth as he felt himself disappear into you.
The sound you made at that moment drove him near crazy. He clenched the sheets as he sunk himself into you completely, his mind going blank as he inhaled sharply at the feel of you surrounding him. You could feel yourself adjusting around him as he began pacing himself, grabbing his shoulder to steady your body as his pace quickened. He brought his head down to your shoulder to sink his teeth into your skin, making sure to leave an obvious mark for all to see.
Niragi groaned in your ear as he heard your soft moans, trying to stop himself from getting too rough. "Ni-Niragi," you studdered over your own words as you tried to speak, "Th-that feels so... So good," your voice shook as his hips snapped into you, unable to contain his want any longer. Your fingers dug into his shoulder roughly, trying to hold yourself still. His hand grabbed onto your thigh, pressing it against him as his hips bucked.
"Oh, fuck..." He muttered into your ear, his voice low. "You're so fucking perfect (Y/N)," his breath on your ear sent a shiver down your entire body, your insides clenching around him as he thrust himself into you. Niragi pulled back for just a moment, his hips continuing their rhythm as his eyes took in the sight before him.
"I could've had this before," his mind taunted him. His hand wandered down to play with you once more, making light circles on your clit, watching as your back arched in response. Niragi watched as you moaned quietly, your eyes starting to glaze over. He gripped your thigh and lifted it onto his shoulder, planting light kisses up and down your leg as he pumped into you.
Leaning down, he could feel himself starting to lose his rhythm as he met with your lips, his moans melting with your own. You grabbed onto his hair, gently tugging as you felt your abdomen pool with heat. Your name echoed from his lips as he snapped into you roughly, soft grunts releasing into your mouth.
Niragi grabbed hold of the hand in his hair, pinning it above your head as his other tightened on your thigh, his hips sloppily thrusting into you roughly. His eyes wandered in search of yours as you stared into the ceiling above you, the walls growing darker as you could feel yourself falling into your release. He felt your body clench under him as his pace increased, slamming his lips into yours, breaking only to mutter curses mixed with moans into your mouth.
Your nails dug into the skin of his shoulder as you felt yourself come undone beneath him, the fire building finally being released through your body. Niragi watched as your face relaxed, admiring the way your mouth moved when you cried out his name, knowing he was the one that made you like this. His hips slammed into you as he felt himself about to reach his own peak, your soft breaths quickly pushing him over the edge.
His head rolled as he grunted in your ear, "Oh fuck, (Y/N)..." Your legs shook at the continued movement, your vision slowly returning to you. Your eyes wandered up to Niragi above you, his bare chest now slick with a thin layer of sweat. His hips jerked into you roughly as he cursed, his teeth sinking into your shoulder as he groaned, feeling himself burst into you, leaving his final mark.
Your breaths mingled together in the silence, filling the room. Niragi released your wrist, his head leaning to rest on your chest. Your hand stroked his hair, gently weaving in between the strands as his back rose and fell with his breath. He looked up at you slowly, grasping your chin and tilting it down to look at him.
"(Y/N)..."
"Y-yeah, Niragi?"
He stared silently for a moment, licking his lips carefully. His voice was soft and gentle, the opposite of his words. "You're mine. And only mine. Nobody is ever gonna lay a hand on you again... I'll make sure of it."
You swallowed a lump in your throat, unable to look away from his gaze. The words felt more like a threat than a promise, you thought. Seemingly noticing your unease, he lifted himself up off you and cupped your cheek, kissing you roughly. As he pulled back, his thumb ran over your swollen lips, his eyes tracing their outline. Releasing a slight groan as he pulled out of you, Niragi grabbed his briefs, pulled them on, and made his way for the bathroom.
You sat up on the bed, your eyes searching for your top that was discarded earlier. Clothing yourself, you buttoned up Niragi's shirt that still adorned your shoulders. You jumped as you felt a pair of hands wrap around you, quickly realizing who it was when he chuckled.
"Did I scare you?"
Even though you couldn't see Niragi, you could hear his grin. "I didn't hear you..." You felt instant relief as he pulled you into his chest, the warmth seeping through the fabric of his shirt. His scent overtook your senses as you leaned your head back into his neck, his hands creeping under your shirt to rest on your bare skin.
You closed your eyes as you felt his lips against your neck, planting gentle kisses on every spot he marked, almost acting as a physical apology. "I hope it didn't hurt too much," he chuckled. You hummed at his words, trying not to become embarrassed. "I-it was... Good... I liked it," you pursed your lips together, hoping he couldn't see your cheeks flush. You could hear his breath in your ear as he whispered, "Gotta let everyone know who you belong to."
Chishiya tried not to pace in the lobby, his hands firmly in his pockets. He was certain his physical demeanor was on point; cold and distant, unapproachable by most. But mentally, his mind was driving him crazy. He wasn't used to this feeling, whatever it was. He had studied medicine for years and could handle nearly any physical diagnosis. But mental? It was still quite a mystery to him, much to his displeasure. Kuina stood near him, not making eye contact. He could tell she was still upset, another thing that irked him at this particular moment.
Chishiya withheld himself from looking over when he felt eyes piercing into his back, knowing full well who those eyes belonged to. "Niragi," he thought. His mind was overcome with memories of the night prior, his mind finally putting two and two together as he placed this overwhelming feeling, guilt, is what most would call it.
His breath hitched as he heard your voice from behind him, his eyes just barely wandering over to Kuina nearly lunging toward you. He hid his concern as he took notice of the marks and bruises covering your neck and legs. Kuina blocked his sight of you, or perhaps she was blocking your sight of him. He didn't care for it either way.
"Are you alright? What happened? Did..." Kuina's voice grew quiet, though not quite enough for Chishiya not to hear. "Did Niragi do this to you?" He felt his heart skip a beat as he turned his full attention to them, his breath held in his throat, unable to come out. As you opened your mouth to speak, the crowd erupted as Hatter took his place on the balcony. All eyes were on their leader, all eyes except for one.
"The games are upon us again!" Hatter started his speech as normal. Chishiya's eyes wandered over your body worriedly, his final thought from yesterday playing over and over again in his mind, this time accompanied by an afterthought.
"Shit, shit, shit... This is all my fault."
Chishiya looked to the balcony, trying to maintain his composure. His eyes stopped on Niragi, smugly looking down at him from above. He felt his fingernails dig into his palms as the two held gazes. Niragi's eyes said one thing, "I won."
English is not my first language; this is not proofread so beware grammar mistakes. This story contains bullying, abuse, drug and alcohol usage, and brief mentions of SA, be warned.
Niragi couldn't help the way his body shook as he stared in front of him. The same group of boys that picked on him everyday after school was there once again, their leader holding a baseball and a bat; getting ready to hit the ball at Niragi's face. The others were laughing at his terrified face.
As their leader throws the ball in the air, Niragi closes his eyes and awaits for the ball to him. He hears the bat hit the ball, and a few seconds pass before a sudden burst of pain spreads from his nose. His glasses fly off and he couldn't stop himself from toppling over as he holds his nose and upper lip in his hands. Niragi groans loudly as the pain only continues to get worse.
A hand then grabs the hood of Niragi's jacket and yanks his head up so he's looking up at the man.
"We told you to stay still!" The guy yells into his face before dropping his hood.
Suddenly, a voice rang out; "Oi!"
The laughs die down and everyone turns to the source of the voice. They find a girl, you, standing there. Your hands were in your pockets as you chew on a stick of gum. The boys snickered at you.
"What do you want, girly? This ain't none of your business." One of them says, the rest laughing lightly. You raise an eyebrow, looking between each of them. You then begin walking towards them.
"Then I'll make it my business." You respond as you arrive in front of them. It was then that they noticed your height. You were taller then all of them. Some, by a lot. "Why don't you go ahead and explain what you're doing to that poor guy. And why you're doing it."
The leader guy scoffs, turning to look at his sidekicks with an amused expression. "Nothin' you need to worry your pretty little head about there, darling. Why don't you go on back home."
That makes you chuckle. "I can tell your ego is heavily inflated." You say, causing him to loose his smirk. "Now, I would like it if you answered my questions. Please."
He narrows his eyes at you, trying to seem intimidating. "And why should I tell you? Most importantly," he leans in so he can try and get close to your face, "what are you going to do about it?"
His smirk returns, seeming to be proud of himself.
"Tell me the reason why you're picking on him, and that will determine what I do about it." You state, not moving from your spot. The guy rolls his eyes, backing away from his spot and moving to where the baseball bat laid.
"We're just playing with four-eyes over here. Just a little game of baseball, that's all." You hum in response, shifting your feet so you lean on your left leg.
"Interesting. I have just one more question," you say, spitting out you gum onto the ground before continuing, "how small is it?"
He looks up at you with an angered expression. "Pardon?"
You smirk. "How small is it?" You hold up your hand and make an example with your pointer finger and thumb, it being about four or so centimeters apart. "This small?"
He begins to walk towards you, starting to raise the bat. You still continue to smirk.
"Oh no! I'm sorry, it's like this." You shrink the space between your fingers just as he begins to start running towards you. He raises the bat up, beginning to swing to try and hit you before you quickly reach your hand out and grab the bat, stopping it mid-swing. The guys around you gasp, as well as Niragi.
Their shock doesn't last long, however. After you grab the bat from his hands, you knee him as hard as you can in the stomach; causing him to topple over in pain.
Now, with the bat in hand, you step away from the group of boys. "Anyone else?"
The boys hesitate for a moment, looking between each other for a moment before the leader speaks up; "What the fuck are you doing? Get her! She can't take on all of you at the same time!"
At his command, the remaining boys then quickly charge at you. This was going to be fun. You raise the bat, quickly swinging it at the first one to come near you.
Niragi watches from where he continued to sit as you take down each of the guys with no problem at all. Amazement was written all over his face as he momentarily forgets about the pain, too focused on how you move so perfectly, not messing up once.
After a bit, you manage to scare them off. After you had taken down all the boys, they all realized that it was no use fighting you anymore. So, they quickly gather their leader and run off. You give them a fake smile and little wave, the leader guy flipping you the bird in response.
After you're sure they're gone, you turn around and begin to head towards Niragi.
"You alright?" You ask as you arrive in front of him. He nods, looking up at you with pure curiosity and admiration. You squat down so your at his level. "Mind if I take a look?"
He shakes his head so you reach your hand out and begin to gently examine his nose and mouth. You gently press on his nose, causing him to grimace in pain. "Ooh, sorry. Didn't mean to hurt you."
After a bit, you take back your hand. "Good news, nothing is broken. Just badly bruised. Bad news, that cut on your lip will need stitches."
You stand up straight again. You then reach your hand out, helping him to stand up. He takes a gulp before speaking.
"How do you know that?"
"My mum was a nurse for over thirty years. She taught me a few things." You respond as you bend down and grab his glasses. You notice the cracked lens in one of them. "Sorry, I lied to you. Your glasses are broken."
You then hand them to him. He let's out a small huff when he spots the lens. Those were his only pair. He puts them on anyways, having no other option.
"What's your name?" He looks up at the sound of your voice.
"Um, Niragi. Suguru Niragi." You smile lightly, giving him a bow.
"I'm Y/N." He bows back. "Pleasure to meet you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We have a new student joining us, today. Please welcome her nicely." The teacher, Mr. Sato, says in his bored monotone voice. The classroom door opens, and you walk in. Niragi, whom sat in the back right corner of the classroom, immediately perks up. "Please find your seat."
You give him a quick bow before going to the only empty seat, which happened to be next to Niragi. You send him a quick wink as you sit down. He couldn't help the tiniest of smile that rises to his face at your action. Both of you turn towards the front of the classroom as the teacher begins talking again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I have assigned partners for everyone. They're on the board. Find your partner so we can start working." Niragi looks up at the board, dreading who he's partnered with. He searches for his name for a bit, struggling to see from the lack of glasses, until he feels someone tap his shoulder. He turns around, expecting a random person to make him move so them and their partner can work at his spot, but ending up seeing you standing there.
"We're partners," you say, pulling out the chair next to him and sitting down, "you okay with that?"
Niragi nods quickly, a smile rising to his lips. "Yeah, of course."
You grin in response. "Great."
The rest of the class time passed by rather quickly. Since it was the last class of the day, you head towards your locker to put everything away. However, Niragi doesn't leave your side. "You following me, now?"
He looks up at you with a sort of panicked expression. He shakes his head quickly. "No! I-I'm just going to my locker. I swear!"
You chuckle, amused at his response. "Relax, Gi. I'm just teasing."
Niragi looks down at the ground, a light blush on his cheeks from embarrassment.
You arrive in front of your locker, and so does he— right next to yours. How convenient.
"I can't tell if this is a coincidence or just by luck." You say after closing your locker door after putting everything away. You turn towards him after he does the same.
"What do you mean?"
"This is the third time we've been put together today. Don't you find that a little odd?" He seems to think about it for a second before realizing. "I'm not complaining, though. You've peaked my interest. I think I'll keep you around. Only if you want, of course."
Niragi couldn't help but smile at that, nodding his head. Maybe this is his chance at getting a real friend.
"Great." You respond, throwing your bag over your shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, Gi."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Can you teach me how to fight?" His voice breaks you from your concentration on the project. You turn to look at him, seeing him already looking at you.
"Huh?"
"Can you teach me to fight like you? Like how you did with that group of boys under the bridge?" Oh, now you understood.
"Are they still teasing you?"
"They haven't in a while, but I want to be prepared just in case. Please." Niragi looked at you with a pleading look.
"Gi, it took me years to get up to that level." He looks down again. "But, I suppose. Just know, it will be difficult. And very tiring, but I don't doubt you have the skill."
He looks back up again, and for the first time on a while, feels a glimmer of hope. "Really?"
"Yes. We can start tomorrow. Here," you reach out and grab his hand, using your pen to write down your address, "this is where I live. Come there at 7 p.m. tomorrow so we can start. Okay?"
He nods, smiling up at you. "Thank you! Thank you so much."
"You're welcome. Now, can we continue with this thing?" He nods, the smile not leaving his face as you both get to work again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No, it's like this," you do the move again, more slowly this time. "See?"
Niragi nods, taking a breath before trying the move on the dummy you had. "Like that?"
"No. Here, let me show you." You say before stepping up behind him. "I'm gonna touch you, okay?"
He nods— and with his permission, you place your hands on his waist. You gently move his waist a bit so his body is at an angle; before moving your hands to grab his arms and bending them so his elbows aren't locked.
"Don't lock your elbows." You then move his left arm so it's a little below his right. "Keep one hand lower then the other so you're not blocking your vision."
You then bend down and grip his left ankle and guide his leg so it's further back behind his right. "Don't lock your knees, it makes you more slower when moving."
After getting him into position, you step back and move next to the dummy. "Now, try to aim for the throat, side of the jaw, or the eyes. The wind pipe in the throat and the jaw can be easily dislocated; and the by going for the eyes, you cause a few seconds of blindness, and a shit ton of pain." You pause for a moment. "Always make sure your thumb is on the outside of your fist, otherwise you can break it easily. And don't clench your fist until your a split second away from hitting your opponent. It saves energy and make your hit stronger."
Niragi nods, quickly understanding. He takes a deep breath before taking his hit— all of your words repeating in your head as he takes the hit. He does the move perfectly this time, causing you to grin proudly. "You did it! Great job, Gi!"
Niragi looks over at you, a stupid smile written all over his face.
"Let's continue." You say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm home. I brought a friend." You call out as you take off you shoes. Your little brother comes running up to you, his twin sister following behind.
"Y/N! You have to come see what we did!" They say in sync, jumping up and down while doing so. You smile at them, ruffling their hair.
"I will in a bit. Where's mum?" Their smiles turns into frowns almost immediately.
"She said she was going to a friend's house for a little bit. But she's been gone since breakfast." You sigh. Of course. And she left her six-year-old children home alone all day. Best mother ever.
"Alright. Thanks for telling me." You then turn to Niragi, who was setting his shoes next to yours. "Gi, these are my little siblings. That's Asahi and that's Akari. Asahi, Akari, this is Niragi. He's going to be spending the night tonight, so behave. Alright?"
They nod, giving Niragi a bow before running off to their room.
"Come on, my room's this way."
After you showed him to your room, you both quickly got to work on your project— which was due tomorrow.
"Are you hungry?" You asked after you put the finishing touches on the project. You put everything back into your backpack and stand up. "I can make something."
"Yeah, I could eat." He responds, moving to stand up with you. You nod, motion for him to follow you then you exit your room. However, when you walk down the hallway a bit, you pass by your mothers room and find her inside. Packing her suitcase.
"Mum?" You call out, now standing in her doorway. She looks up, a look of shock and a bit panicked on her face.
"Oh. Hi, Y/N. Who's that?" She asks, motioning to Niragi.
"A friend." You quickly respond. "What are you doing?"
"Packing."
"Why?"
"I'm going on a- uhm. . ." She thinks for a moment. "Business trip?"
"Is that a question or a statement?"
"Statement."
"Okay. . . Where exactly are you going, and who is it with?"
"Oh you know. . . Just going to Sapporo. With my, uhm. . . Company. . ." She trails off, scratching at her neck. She then quickly packs the last bit of clothing in her suitcase and zipping it closed before walking over to you. "Oh, but don't you worry. I'll be back in a week."
She then gives you a kiss on the cheek. "Tell your brother and sister for me, yeah?" She calls back as she quickly rushes down the hallway and out the front door. "Bye!"
You close your eyes and rub your hands on your face. What is this, her third 'business trip' this month?
"Are you okay?" You hear Niragi ask. You drop your hands to your sides as you stare into the now empty bedroom.
"Yeah." You reach over and flick the light switch off. "Yeah, I'm great."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ar-Are you sure I won't get hurt on it?" Niragi asks, rubbing his arm as he continues to stare at your motorcycle.
"I promise you won't. Besides, why would I put my best friend in danger?" You respond as you pass him your spare leather jacket. "Just make sure to keep your helmet and jacket on."
He nods, slipping on the jacket before grabbing the helmet you gave him and slipping that on as well. "And keep a good hold on my waist so you don't slip off the back."
He nods in response as you climb onto your bike. Niragi climbs on behind you, hesitating a moment before wrapping his arms around your waist.
You start your bike and turn your head to the side. "Ready, Gi?"
"Ready." He confirms. You nod once before turning your head back around and beginning to move.
Niragi was pretty stiff for the first few minutes of the ride; but after a while, he began to relax a bit. He quickly found himself enjoying it.
However, as he continues to hug your waist, as your beautiful scent filled his nostrils, he feels butterflies begin to fill his stomach and his heart begins to speed up a bit. He wouldn't know it then, just thinking it was a silly little crush that would go away with time, but would very soon come to the realization.
He was in love with you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The stench of alcohol filled Niragi's nose as his father continued to yell in his face. He could barely make out what he was saying, his words too slurred.
Niragi tried to stop the tears from falling, but those cruel words being screamed in his face cut deep. And they just. kept. coming.
Soon, the hits started. The first one being a punch in the gut, causing him to fall to the ground. Like the cruel words, the hits just kept on coming.
Niragi couldn't move, he stayed in his curled position, trying to protect himself as best as he could as his mind tried to escape the reality he was in. To try and find him the best comfort he could think of..
And the only thing he was able to think about was you.
Your heartfelt laugh. Your perfect smile. Your beautiful features. Your confidence. Your warm embrace. The amount of protection he felt when near you. Your smell. The way you always managed to make him smile no matter how bad of a day he was having. Because you were his comfort. You were his happiness. You.
That's when it dawns on him. You were the only thing he could think of when he needed some form of joy. You were the person who managed to make him feel like he could be himself.
He was in love with you.
As soon as the realization hits him, he finds himself attempting to move away from the hits. He needs to get to you. He needs your protection. He needs your comfort. He needs to tell you how he feels. Fucking hell, he just needs YOU.
Suddenly, most likely with the help of adrenaline, he finds himself standing up and running towards his front door. He swings it open and dashes out, not bothering to shut it behind him. His father moves to stand in the doorway, calling after him: "YEAH, RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY LIKE THE COWARD YOU ARE!"
Niragi doesn't stop sprinting, not caring about the cold rainy weather, or the fact that he was barefoot and wearing a thin t-shirt and shorts. He was determined to get to you as fast as he could.
So, it came as a huge relief when he spots your house. As soon as he reaches your front door, he is finally able to stop and catch his breath. He leans against the doorframe, breathing heavily as a shaky hand reaches up and presses the doorbell.
It takes a moment, but, eventually, you open the door. Your mouth opens in shock at the sight in front of you. Niragi, his nose bleeding heavily, his eye starting to swell, bruises and little cuts littering his arms and legs, his shirt stained with blood, and his body drenched in rainwater, standing in front of you. His eyes were bloodshot from the tears still falling from his eyes. He looked up at you with such desperation in his eyes, and his breathing was heavy.
You quickly regain yourself, and then reach out and gently place your hand on his back the step aside for him to come inside. He quickly does, getting water all over your floor, but you don't care.
Neither of you says a word as you bring him to your room. And as you shut the door behind you and sit him on your bed. The only thing that could be heard was his sniffles and soft sobs as you get your first aid kit and other necessary things. You then set your things down and sit on the bed next to him.
Niragi couldn't stop his tears, no matter how hard he tried, but he knew he didn't have to. You weren't going to judge him.
You grab a soft cloth and gently grab the side of his face and turn it towards you. His lip trembled as he stared into your eyes. You take the cloth and begin to lightly wipe the blood off his face. He reaches up and grabs your hand, not sure why but he just needed your hand in his. You let him hold it, his grip being rather tight. He just needed to be sure that you weren't going to leave.
You gave his hands a squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere. You're safe with me." You set the cloth down on the bed, lifting your hand to hold the side of his face. You begin to rub his cheek with your thumb lightly. "I promise."
He nods. Your reassurance giving him some of the much needed comfort. "Can-Can," he stutters out, pausing to let out a hiccup. "Can I have a hug?"
You give him your best comforting smile as you nod. You pull him into your arms, holding him as tightly as you can without hurting him. He also does the same to you. His body shakes from his sobs and he buries his face into the crook of your neck. You raise one hand up to hold the back of his head while your other gently rubs his back.
Niragi never felt more safe then in that moment. It was difficult to explain just how safe he felt. But that was fine. He didn't need to. This was a moment for just you and him. No one else. He didn't need anyone else. You were all he needed.
After however long it took, he eventually pulled away. Not much, just enough so he could look you in the eye. And that's how you two stayed for what seemed like hours. He was the one to move first—glancing down at your lips for a second before beginning to lean in. His lips connect with yours in an awkward and unsure kiss.
You jolt back in shock, causing him to look up at you with a panicked expression. He opens his mouth to begin apologizing, but you cut him off by planting a more confident-ish kiss on his lips. You pull back almost immediately, much to his dismay. You look into his eyes once more, asking if it was okay. He nods, so you lean in again.
This time, the kiss is more sure. It's still awkward, as Niragi hasn't kissed anyone yet and it's clear that you have had plenty of experience before. On your side, you seemed pretty confident with your actions. You could tell that he had no clue what he was doing, so you tried to show him, almost.
After a while, you pull away and rest your forehead on his. He ignores the slight pain of the fresh bruises that were there.
"I love you. . ." Niragi whispers, almost inaudibly. You heard it though, and you felt your lips rising to a smile.
"I love you, too, Gi."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ever since that night, Niragi seemed to have been a tad bit more clingy then normal. You didn't mind though. In fact, you found it absolutely adorable.
However, the happiness didn't last long.
Your mother came home one day, and announced that she had found her "soulmate" and that you were going to move to where he was.
England.
When you found this out, you lost it. She thinks that she can just make you pack up your things and move you and your little siblings in with a complete stranger in a whole other country?! No.
And so, you yelled. You screamed. You cried. You almost broke out into a physical fight until you remembered that you had two small children to think of who were watching this whole thing go down. After about an hour of the tears and pure anger, you stormed out of the house. You pulled out your phone and quickly texted Niragi, telling him to meet you under the bridge you first met.
When he got there, he found you standing there; a cigarette in your mouth, and tear stained cheeks. You're not a smoker. And you never cry. He immediately knew something bad happened.
"Y/N? What's wrong." He asked as soon as he reached you. You let out the final puff of smoke and throw the cigarette to the ground and stepping on it. You don't look at him as you respond.
"I'm moving. My mother is making me move to England." You respond, a single tear falling from your eye. He says nothing as he stares at you in shock. His mouth was open and his eyes held nothing but heartbreak. You don't dare look at him, knowing that it would end badly if you did. "I'm sorry, Niragi."
You look to the ground, more tears falling no matter how much you try to stop them.
"Y/N. . ." He trails off. You shake your head, your lip trembling as you finally allow for a sob to fall from your lips. You raise your hand and cover your eyes as your sobs continue to fall. Niragi is quick to move to hug you. He buries his head in the crook of your neck as you wrap your arms around his shoulders.
Niragi couldn't believe it. You were leaving him for who knows how long. There was a good chance he could never see you again. His best friend. His favorite person ever. The person that brought him the only happiness he's felt in years, was leaving. Probably for good.
You quickly try to regain yourself, managing to stop your tears before pulling away. You place your hands on the side of his face and make him look up at you. "I can't stop this from happening, but I can do one thing."
"What is it?" You smile down at him. A sad but genuine smile.
"I leave in a week, how about you and I make this last bit of time together the best we can?" You offer, trying to find a way to cheer him up. Niragi smiles back, nodding in response. You then lean down and give him a quick peck on the lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the night before you were leaving. All your items were packed up in cardboard boxes and were on their way to your new house. But here you sat, right next to Niragi on a blanket at the edge of a sort of cliff area just outside of Tokyo, watching the stars.
You did just as you said you would. You both made this last week together the best you could. You took him to all sorts of places, and had so much fun. You went hiking, you took him on dates in fancy restaurants and to the movies, you had a few spicy make-out sessions, you danced like idiots, you played in the rain, you just had the most fun you could.
Although through this whole time, both of you felt as if there was something missing, but you could never figure out what it was. And it was bothering you heavily.
So, as you sit there next to him, you rack through the possibilities in your brain. There was also something lingering in the air. Something you also couldn't quite put your finger on. But whatever it was, it was strong. You're certain he could feel it too.
After a bit, you bring your gaze back down to look at Niragi. You couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate his beauty. He was such a handsome guy. It shocked you how someone as good-looking as him was the one who got bullied.
It wasn't fair, honestly. He was one of the sweetest, and most caring people you'd ever met, and he was treated like shit by almost everyone in his life. He didn't deserve any of it. He deserved to be cared for, appreciated, and loved. He deserved to have respect.
It shocked you that after how horrible he has been treated, he is still this sweetheart. You should know, you've been treated the same way he has.
When your father was still alive, you felt as if you had the perfect life. Both your parents loved you, you had so many great friends, and everyone seemed to like you. You were a nice little lady. That was, until your family received the news of your fathers death.
Everything went downhill from there.
Your mother was pregnant, so she couldn't mourn without the stress of it all effecting the babies. And after she gave birth and was out of the hospital, the memories the house had was too much for her to handle, so you moved. And right after that, she started drinking.
The drinking lead to drugs, and the drugs lead to hooking up with drug dealers, which lead to marrying random guys and getting divorces. With every new guy she married, the more abuse you would have to suffer. Whether it would be physically, or sexually, or mentally.
And because of the fact that you always took the hits aimed at your siblings, you always found yourself crying yourself to sleep from the pain. That was until you started fighting back.
You managed to get a job and find a karate studio that was willing to take in a newbie. So, with each lesson, you found yourself being able to fight back more and better. Until eventually, you managed to put a stop to it.
He must've felt your eyes on him, because after a bit, he turns his head and looks back at you. And as you look into his eyes, you finally make the realization of what was missing.
You move your hand so it rests on the side of his face. As your thumb begins to caress his soft skin, you're sure he figured it out as well. You both continue to stare into each others eyes, both of them filled with nothing but longing for one another.
And so, you lean in and connect your lips. This kiss was different then all your others. This kiss was more loving, and passionate then the others. It was a shame when you pulled away. Niragi had to stop himself from trying to chase after your lips.
"There's just one more thing that could make this week so much better then it is." You whisper as you rest your forehead on his.
"What is it?" He asks, although it was clear both of you knew what it was. He opens his eyes when you pull yourself back fully. Your eyes don't leave his as you push off your jacket. The only time you break eye contact is when you pull your shirt over your head. His eyes widen a bit as you reach behind yourself and unhook your brassier.
Niragi gulps as his eyes slowly begin to trail down from your face. He takes his time when taking in the sight in front of him. The first thing he noticed, wasn't your breasts, but instead the many scars that littered your torso.
He couldn't stop himself. He crawled towards you, and when he arrived in front of you, he reached his hand out and gently ran his fingers over a few of them. He doesn't look up at you as he begins to speak.
"What happened?" He whispered. You shake your head.
"Nothing you need to be worried about. Tonight, I want you to forget all your worries. I'll take care of you. Can you do that for me?" You bring your hand up and hook a finger under his chin, moving his head so he's looking up at you. "Please?"
Niragi nods. And so, you attach your lips with his.
And so, when the night was done, you filled the part that was missing in both of you. You made love.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All of those memories. They always remain in your head. No matter what, no matter how long it's been, no matter how much you've moved on. They're always there. Almost as if they're haunting you.
And now, in the world you're in, they provide some comfort. Each night you go to sleep, knowing that you could easily die any day now, those memories distract you from reality.
You were coming to Tokyo to visit Niragi, hoping that he would still be living there even after all those years. You had lost contact with him after you moved. Your mothers husband broke your phone after you "talked back" to him, and you were too broke to get another one. And by the time you could get another one, he changed his number.
While you were using the bathroom at the airport, the power went out and the busy room became dead silent. After you had finished, you exited your stall and found yourself all alone in the building.
After finding the usually busy streets of Tokyo empty as well, confusion was the only thing you felt. However, after running around for what felt like hours, you found another person. A man.
His name was Arisu. Apparently, he had gotten trapped here with his two friends, Karube and Chota, around the same time you did. He brought you back to where they agreed to meet after they searched around.
When you met the other two, you were pleased to find that they all seemed to be friendly. Chota was a cute little fellow with a big heart. He reminded you of Niragi a bit. Karube, on the other hand, he seemed to be a bit of a dick at some points, but nothing too horrible. Arisu was a pretty nice guy as well.
You got to know the three boys after a while. All four of you were sitting in a circle in the middle of a normally busy street, the sun had set so it was pretty dark now, and you were just chatting.
"So, Y/N," Karube says, causing you to look over at him. "What were you doing when everyone disappeared?"
"Taking a piss in the airport bathroom. You?" Arisu and Chota giggle a bit, causing you to grin. Karube chuckles along.
"We were hiding from the cops in a bathroom stall." You raise an eyebrow.
"Should I be concerned?" Karube shakes his head.
"Nah. We were just being idiots and ended up in trouble." You nod.
"Gotcha." The four of you continued to talk for a while. But then, one of the buildings came to life with it's screens showing a big, white, and brightly lit square with words on it. "This was to the gaming area" with an arrow pointing towards an area where another bright light could be seen was what was on it.
You all went towards the area, and that's where you met another chick, Shibuki, who explained the whole thing. And that's how you found out about the games.
After that, the five of you stuck together. Although, you didn't really trust the new chick too much. She gave you bad vibes, to be perfectly honest. But there wasn't much you could do.
You and them went through two other games together, somehow managing to survive. The second one, it was only you, Karube, and Arisu, since Chota had gotten injured at the first game and you guys wanted to get some practice in. But the third one, you all went.
The third game, oh boy. The third game was horrible. There was a great panic that the game caused. Only one person could survive that game. And through many tears, everyone was ready to accept their fate.
That was, until you came up with an idea.
Of course, it wasn't a set stone idea, and it could've very well have killed everyone as well, but it was the only thing you all had to go on. But when you tested it out, well, almost all of you made it out.
Your idea turned out to be the answer of how everyone could get out of there, but by the time you thought of it, there was only enough time to save four of you.
You were in the middle of working on saving Shibuki, but the timer ran out, and her neck exploded.
So that was unfortunate, but at least four of you survived instead of just one.
After that, you guys ran into another girl, Usagi, and she somehow joined your little squad as well. She was cool in your book. After she joined, you guys discovered this place called the Beach.
And that's where you were now, standing by the swimming pool they had there, in a swimsuit that was covered by your jacket, and a drink in your hand while you were talking to Arisu, Chota, and Usagi. Karube was off doing whatever he was doing.
"This place seems unbelievable. Don't you think?" You ask, looking around at all the people enjoying themselves. You then look back at the three in front of you. They all nod in response. "It's curious how they were able to get electricity here. What do you think, Chota?"
Chota looks up at you, confused on why you asked him.
"You're smart when it comes to electronic things, how do you think they managed to get electricity here?" You ask as you take a sip from your drink. He thinks for a moment.
"Probably a generator. A pretty powerful one, most likely, if it's able to power this whole place. Since it used to be a hotel, they usually have back-up generators for in case the power every goes out. But it uses a lot of gas, though." He explains. You nod as you swallow your drink.
"Makes sense." You mumble. "I wonder where Karube is. Where do you guys think-"
"Well, what do we have here?" You hear someone say from behind you. You freeze, dropping the glass in your hand and causing it to shatter. You recognize the voice immediately.
No. He can't be here. It can't be him. No, no, no, no. Please don't be him. Oh, please no.
Your friends in front of you jump back when you drop the glass, quickly looking up to find you with wide eyes and all the blood drained from your face. Your heart begins to race. Why is he here?
Everyone around you had grown silent as soon as him and his team came in. You gulp. The guilt from you abandoning him comes crashing on you all at once. You can't face him now. You're not ready. But, you don't have a choice.
Your friends stare up at you with concern, but none of them dare speak.
Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK! Do something!
"Hey, I'm talking to you." He says after you continue to stand frozen. He grabs your shoulder and spins you around so you're facing him. As soon as he sees your face, he freezes as well. The heavy machine gun that rests in his hand falls to the ground. Everyone around you looks at the two of you in confusion. Did you know each other?
You didn't want to believe it. You denied it as much as you could. He can't be here too. Why did he have to be here? You refused to believe it. But, there he was, standing right in front of you. He had changed drastically, but it was still him. Suguru Niragi, was standing right in front of you.
His hair was longer, almost down to his shoulders, and he had piercing's now. One on his right eyebrow, on the right side of his nose, and you could see, since his mouth was hanging open, he had a tongue piercing as well. His face had aged a bit, his smile lines being more noticeable.
You looked different as well. Your face showed a bit of age from the very faint worry lines on your forehead and, like him, your smile lines were more noticeable as well. Your hair was shorter, and in a different style. And, you gained a few new tattoos and piercings. But unlike him, yours weren't face piercings.
Just like you, he couldn't believe that you were here. Why were you here? You shouldn't be here. You didn't deserve to be here. But, if you're here, why were you in Tokyo in the first place? Did you finally come back to him?
"Y/N. . . ?" He trails off, still in denial. You can't be here. You can't be real. He must be dreaming. Or he somehow got high as fuck. But nope. It's real. You're real. And you're standing right in front of him.
"Niragi. . ." You trail off. And with that, he reaches his hand out, about to touch your arm before you beat him to it. You engulf him in a hug. He doesn't waste a second hugging you back.
"Are you real? Are you here?" He whispers, closing his eyes tightly. He holds you as tight as he can, you doing the same, just in case this is fake and your not actually here.
"Yes, I'm here. I'm here, and I'm not leaving." You whisper back, holding him as close as possible. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
Note: One day I swear I’ll learn how to dialogue. One day.
Game night was upon the members of the Beach as they stood, crowded in what was once a lobby for the resort. (Y/N) was standing in between Kuina and Chishiya, eyes on the Hatter as he spoke the same speech he gave every game day. Everyone let out cheers, most still drunk from the afternoon rave.
Slips of paper were handed out to the crowd by a few executives, holding your slip you looked down at the number printed, "5," it read. You turned to Kuina and Chishiya, both holding up the number "2." You sighed, pursing your lips and nodded, wishing them both well in their games mentally. They reciprocated the gesture, Kuina adding a smile.
You headed outside and to the car with a bright "5" written on the side. You stood by the door, waiting for your group to gather. Two others had approached you, getting into the front seats. You didn't recognize either of them by name yet, but they were rather new to the beach. You let out a heavy sigh, crossing your arms as you got into the car's backseat, your patience wearing thin. You were waiting on one more person, who definitely liked to take their time, apparently.
Niragi began to squeeze the trigger as the man suddenly burst out crying, "Take it! P-please, just take it!" He held out his slip of paper, hands trembling. Niragi smiled coyly, ripping the paper out of his hands. "See, was that so hard?" He laughed, slamming the butt of his rifle into the man's face. He looked down at the slip proudly, gleaming at the number written on it. He slung his rifle over his shoulder, proudly walking to the cars waiting outside. He looked down the line of vehicles, eyes darting from one to another. A smile spread across his face as he found it, a blue car with a bright number five written across the doors.
You were too busy making small talk with your two group members you hadn't noticed him approach the car. The door swung open, making you jump in your seat. You swallowed a breath, knowing already by shirt and rifle who your group was waiting on. You pushed yourself into the corner of your seat as much as you could, trying not to be too obvious. By the look on Niragi's face when he slammed the door behind him, you were failing.
The silence in the car was nearly deafening. The two men in front, the ones that were laughing with you at some lame attempt of introducing yourselves just minutes ago, both as silent as could be. You could feel the tension radiating off Niragi, seemingly glaring daggers into the two up front.
It wasn't long before the car rolled up to the stadium, lights beaming into the sky. You hurriedly got out, welcoming the fresh air that greeted you. You took a deep breath, closing the car door behind you, and walking into the lit entrance. Niragi trailed behind you, the two others in front of you. The four of you each grabbed a phone next to the "One per Player" sign, letting it scan your features. There were already a few people in the arena waiting for the game to begin, your group splitting up amongst them.
Niragi stuck to you like glue, never letting you get more than a few steps ahead of himself. You waited patiently, trying not to look nervous. Arenas typically meant only one kind of game; Spades, your weakness. It wasn't long thankfully before the announcement rang out, "Registration has now closed. Twelve players entered. The game will be: Obstacle Course. Game difficulty: Seven of Spades."
You tried not to let your disappointment show as your heart began to beat faster, a small bead of sweat dripping down the back of your neck. Everyone made their way to the start line, audible gasps heard from some. The arena had seemingly been carved out, squares of cement being held in place by small steel rods throughout. The walls were covered in spikes; spears hung from the ceiling by a literal thread. The entire place, in a serious sense, was a death trap.
The start bell rang out loudly, much to your displeasure. You stood back, observing those who chose to maneuver through the cement blocks first, and much to their surprise they were not, in fact, held up by the steel rods underneath them, but rather merely placed on top of them. You held firm in your blank expression as two fell to their deaths into the pit beneath them, the blocks giving away almost immediately. The third stood gingerly atop the block, his arms shaking. It wasn't hard to read people in these situations, he was most certainly going to die.
You don't know what happened to the rest of your group. Somewhere along the line, you had gotten separated from them. You were gingerly making your way across the ledge, your chest hugging the wall the best you could. You could hear the man grunt angrily on your side, spitting into the void that was a certain death pit behind you. "Would you hurry the hell up?!" He shouted at you, grabbing your wrist and pulling you backward. Your footing had failed you as you fell, barely catching yourself on the ledge.
"What the fuck?!" You screamed as the man above you laughed, placing his foot heavily on your fingers gripping the ledge. "Women are so useless, every one of ya, why don't you just die already?!" He brought his foot down on your left hand, crushing it beneath him. You let out a scream, feeling at least one of your fingers breaking under the pressure. You closed your eyes and gritted your teeth, all you had to do was wait for him to move on, then you would hopefully be able to pull yourself up again.
You let out the breath you hadn't realized you were holding when you felt a sudden relief in your hand. You looked up, eyes going wide with horror. Above you stood Niragi, his knife shoved into the man's throat. Blood was dripping down his arm as he pulled his knife out, using the same arm to push him down into the pit. You wanted to scream, but nothing could come out as your breath hitched in your throat. Niragi looked down at you, his eyes scanning yours for a moment.
You let out a surprised yelp as he grabbed you by your arm, hoisting you up. His arm wrapped around your waist as your feet hit the ledge, gaining their footing once more. "Wh-what are you--" You could feel his calm heartbeat as his eyes locked onto yours, a small "shh," escaping from his lips. You silently nodded after a moment of silence, his arm tightening around you.
His grip was warm, not harsh like you thought it would be. But then again, you would've never thought Niragi would be helping you either, so maybe anything is possible. He held you close to him as he guided the both of you to the other side safely. You thought he would let you go after that, but you were proven wrong. He held you by his side until you both made it passed the finish line, clearing the game.
The announcement didn't take long as the time limit was passed. "Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the game. You have earned seven days on your Visa." You let out a sigh as relief washed through you. You hadn't noticed until you felt the breeze on your face that you were being led out of the arena with Niragi's hand in yours, gently pulling you along toward the car. Your eyes were beginning to hang heavy as he ushered you into the car, opening the door for you. You looked towards the arena as he started the car from the driver's side, hoping to see the other two members of your group walk out after you.
Niragi stepped on the gas, leaning over towards you for only a moment, "They didn't make it. Spikes." You put your head down, nodding in understanding. The ride back was as silent as it was beforehand, even as you said a silent prayer for the other two, the only noise of comfort was the sound of tires running over the few potholes that riddled the street.
The Beach filled the sky with lights. From afar, one might even think it was a game arena, but the triumphant noise coming from inside would prove one wrong. Niragi drove up to the entrance, and looking over you could see his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Your legs ached, and warm water was calling your name. He pulled the car up to the front doors, turning to you and breaking the silence. "Stay away from that snake." He spat out his words, tension echoing throughout the car. You opened the door and stepped out before turning back and looking him in his eyes, "He said the same thing about you." You shut the door, swearing you heard him catch his breath.
Niragi watched in disbelief as you walked past the open doors and up the stairs to your floor. He clenched his jaw and slammed on the steering wheel, frustration boiling inside him. "Did she just ignore me?," his thoughts echoed. His eyes burned with anger as he caught that smirk out of the side of his vision, there stood Chishiya, hands in pockets as always, a sly smile crept across his face. "Trouble in paradise?" He sneered as he watched the blonde walk leisurely into the building, only quickening his pace to catch up with (Y/N). Niragi felt the pressure on his jaw as he saw Chishiya stop you, tapping your shoulder and swinging his arm around you. He saw you laugh as if anything that cat could say would ever be funny.
Niragi snapped back to the present as rain started to pour from the sky. He looked up into the dark sky, sighing at the sudden change of weather. He remembered once again the girl in the alleyway all those years ago, recalling it was raining that day as well. He looked back into the building, watching (Y/N) and Chishiya talk in the hallway. His heart shot adrenaline through him as he recalled her face, your face. It was you. The girl running from Haru, from your own brother, mascara stained and top partially ripped open--.
His breath caught in his throat as he began to piece together information from his memories. He grabbed his rifle, hopped out, and slammed the car door shut, leaving the keys. He walked into the building, eyes roaming the halls for you. He caught the back of your swimsuit from the corner of his eyes, walking towards Chishiya's room. He gripped his gun, running up the stairs. He approached you fast, grabbing your hand and swinging you around to face him,
Niragi's door slammed behind him as he entered his room, his mind still clouded with anger. 'What the hell was Chishiya there for?' he thought, his stomach turning in disgust. 'He should just know when to die,' he looked at his gun for a moment before shaking his head. 'Aguni would kill me if I just shot another executive out of nowhere.' His frustration getting the best of him, he took the nearest object his hands could find and threw it into the mirror. The sight of the glass shattering didn't do much, but it did give him a moment's peace. He could break whatever, or whoever, he wanted, given the right time.
He turned when his door opened, Aguni standing firm in the doorway. "Niragi. C'mon, we have a job to do." He smiled, muffling a laugh as he knew exactly what that meant. He might not be able to kill Chishiya, but he could kill someone and for now, that was enough. Niragi followed Aguni out of the room and through the building, his trigger finger already twitching as it rested on the side of his rifle propped on his shoulder.
The people cleared the way as he walked, something he never got tired of seeing. They both exited through the fire exit on the side of the building, its alarm gone with most battery devices. The noise from the pool grew quieter as they hastened their pace, Niragi practically running with anticipation. His eyes lit up as he saw them; traitors. Their hands were tied behind their backs, speckles of blood wet on the cement. Some already had swollen lips, some resting their bloodied faces on the ground, their bodies unsteady. Niragi's excitement might've gotten the best of him as he hadn't even noticed Aguni standing back, watching him carefully as he began to beat a traitor with the stock of his rifle.
The moon had taken its place in the sky by the time Niragi returned to his room. His shirt was bloody and his arms ached from beating men so mercilessly. He sighed heavily as he unbuttoned his shirt, throwing it on the bed. He turned his attention to the bathroom, a new mirror had already taken the last's place above the sink. Niragi turned the water on overhead, unbuckling his belt and undressing. He steps in as the mirror starts to fog, the hot water washing over him as he runs his hands through his hair. He pulls out his hair tie as his body relaxes, the heat soothing his aches.
His mind began to wander against his will, the memories of the morning still lingering in his mind. He recalls the way the light hit your eyes when you opened them in the morning, the way you clutched his shirt to your chest as he kissed you. He closed his eyes when the thoughts persisted, 'She'll be the death of me,' he thought. He stood under the water unmoving until it went cold, lost in a battle with himself until he came to his resolve. 'If it's ever her or me...'
Niragi turned off the water, shaking his black hair of water. He pushed it back, grabbing the nearest towel to dry himself quickly. The sooner he delivered his resolve, the better he would be. He dressed in fresh clothes and grabbed his rifle, heading out into the hallway. Words kept repeating in his mind, words that made his heart hurt, but nonetheless, he kept repeating them. 'She is nothing to me. She can't be.'
You ran into your room, how you made it there without falling on your face you still weren't sure. Your back slammed the door closed behind you, your body giving in and hitting the floor. You slumped against the door, hugging your knees to your chest as you bawled. 'How could Chishiya do that to me? We... We were friends, weren't we?' The tears came harder the more you thought, your wails echoing through your room.
Your mind told you to lift your head at the sudden sound, but your body didn't want to listen. It wasn't until you felt a pair of arms wrap around you tightly that you realized what, or who, it was; Niragi. You could see his gun on the floor behind him by your bed, but your senses were more focused on the smell of his hair, still damp. You couldn't help the tears that overflowed harder, practically crashing your body into his.
You buried your face in his chest, his silk shirt taking on the tears as his hand caressed your back slowly. You could hear a sound come from him, a soothing one at that. The arms around you tightened, his hand stroking your hair. You could feel him placing soft kisses on the top of your head in between your cries of pain.
The both of you sat in front of the door, Niragi's arms around you as your puffy eyes grew tired. Niragi pulled away from you, unwrapping your arms from him gently. He lifted your tired face so you'd look at him, watching you carefully. His other hand goes to your cheek, wiping away the last remnant of tears softly. Niragi gasped as you grabbed his hand, nuzzling the side of your face in it, holding your own hand over his.
You could see the surprise on his face, but the feeling had such a calm to it. You told yourself it was the warmth, but you were starting to think it was him, instead. His onyx eyes darted back and forth between yours as you looked at each other before he spoke, "... Who did this to you?" You bit the inside of your lip, wanting to look away from him. His grip became firm on your chin, even lowering his head so you'd be forced to look at him, "... Was it Chishiya?" You could feel your face betray you as his eyes grew with anger, his jaw clenching.
He lets go of you and stands up abruptly, his body tensing. You watch him shocked, unsure of what was going on until you saw him pick up his rifle. You felt your heart start to quicken with panic as he started for the door without another word. He stopped as he felt your hand grab his, pulling it towards you. Without turning to look at you, "What're you doing, (Y/N)?" he said without even giving you a moment's glance. You sat in silence for a moment, just relishing his hand in your own before you felt it tense up, you spoke. "... Why do you always leave?"
You kept your eyes on the floor as you spoke, not wanting him to see you so vulnerable. You felt his hand leave yours, your body aching for that particular warmth again almost immediately. Your body suddenly felt so cold, shivers traveling down your back. You held your breath as you saw him crouch down on the ground in front of you, his hand pulling your face up to meet his, your nose just barely brushing up on his. He held you like that for a moment before speaking, "Why're you looking at me like that?"
You wanted words to come out, but they just wouldn't obey you. You pulled away from his hand, your body nearly falling backward into the wall behind you before Niragi's arm clutched you to him. Your brain yelled at you to push away as it stared at the rifle just inches away, but your heart relished in the closeness.
Niragi leaned down into your ear carefully, you could hear the metal piercing on his tongue gently clasp against his teeth for a brief moment as he licked his lips before whispering, "Anyone else that hurts you," you gasped as his fingers dug into your waist, "... deserves to die." You felt your back hit the wall as he let go of you, standing again and swinging the door open. You rushed towards him, your mind racing, "Niragi!"
He propped his rifle up onto his shoulder as his mind gathered itself. He only stopped when he heard you run after him, your footing sloppy. "Niragi, stop!" He clenched his jaw and swung around as you grabbed his shirt, trying to pull him back to no avail. He tried to hold the anger in his voice back as he spoke, "What part do you not understand, (Y/N)?" Niragi could tell he failed by how you looked at him after. You looked so scared, of him, of all people. He said he would protect you, but at this rate what exactly was he protecting you from?
His face grew soft as tears slowly started pouring out from your eyes unwillingly. Your eyes were already so tired, red from exhaustion. He couldn't help but hesitate going forward, his mind still screaming from not following through on his resolve to be rid of you. This was why he had made his resolve; seeing you in pain made him sympathetic, angry, and even hurt, one could say. Watching you be happy made him jealous, and frustrated when it wasn't being purely directed at him. All things that would easily get someone killed in the Borderlands.
"P-please... Please don't kill him..." The look of defeat on your face said it all for him; killing Chishiya would hurt you. But why? He was nothing more than a snake in the grass, always planning on who to bite next. 'Killing him would surely be best in the long run,' he thought. 'It might hurt her now, but she'll be better later. She'll understand. I'll make her understand.'
He nearly laughed as his thoughts made more and more sense. "And why not?" Niragi watched as your eyes spilled over again, your brain turning any wheel it could to think of a reason that might appeal to him. He only gave you a moment before turning his back, brushing off the hand that held him back. "You'll thank me later."
"If you kill him... I don't even want to see or hear from you ever again." He stopped in his tracks, whipping his head around to look at you. He scanned you for any signs of a bluff; he didn't find a single one. You stood sloppily, body staggering, but your eyes told the truth. He could feel something drop in the pit of his stomach as his mind was wiped of any thought. His hand tightened on his rifle in the empty hallway, devoid of people.
He approached you quickly, grabbing your arm to hold you steady. His fingers gripped you tight enough to bruise as he stared into you, anger in his eyes. "You don't need him, I--" His throat trapped his words from being released, his thoughts screaming. 'I'm stronger, smarter. I can protect you. I'm more powerful. I'm better.'
Your words were low, almost a whisper, "He's my friend..."
"I'm better! That snake would let you die if he had the chance! Hell, he might even kill you himself!" You jumped back as Niragi yelled, but his grip kept you in place. You swallowed every fear and survival instinct you had since coming to this place. Every instinct that told you not to speak back, not to taunt a man holding a literal rifle just inches from you with the safety almost always off.
"... Th-then prove it."
Niragi stared at you almost dumbfounded, your words sparking confusion throughout his body. "What?"
"Prove it to me." You mustered up all your courage as you tried to speak firmly, "Don't kill him. If you're better than him," you took a quick breath hoping, no, praying, that this wouldn't get you shot. "Then please do me that favor... F-for me..."
You did your best to hold yourself steady, biting your tongue to stop your lips from shaking. You could feel your knees start to buckle under the weight of Niragi's gaze. "... And if he hurts you again?" He spat out his words, the disgust clear in his tone. "T-then... Then I won't question you again."
The thought was a tempting one as he contemplated. Some part of him wanted to rejoice; you would never question him again, and you'd do it willingly, at that. Another part of him grew upset, and he couldn't quite put his finger on the reason. His piercing traced his teeth as he thought about it for a moment, ignoring the voice in the back of his mind.
His lips turned upwards into a smirk as he replied, "Deal."
You felt your entire body relax at a moment's notice, your legs finally giving in to the floor. Niragi stood for a second shocked before swinging his rifle strap across his chest, pushing his gun behind him. He grabbed your arm and waist, hoisting you up carefully. He pressed your body against his trying to get a look into your eyes. They both rested closed, swollen from a day of tears. He couldn't help the feeling of unease as he wrapped your arm around his neck, placing his hands on your back and under your legs. His knees lifted you up carefully as he held your body tightly to his.
Niragi kicked the door partially to crack it, the weight of his body opening it for him. He kicked the door again, and once he heard the satisfying click behind him, he became more relaxed. He carefully laid you on the bed, grabbing the nearest pillow and resting it under your head. Niragi threw his bloodied shirt from earlier down to the floor, kicking it under his bed. He went to his closet as he heard you stir in his mattress, grabbing his favorite shirt and bringing it to you.
You felt his hand shake your shoulder gently, ushering you to open your eyes. You could tell your eyelids were still puffy and sore when you complied, a soft groan escaping your lips. Your mental state had seen much better days, even in the Borderlands. With the help of Niragi, you were sat up, slumped over in the bed. You couldn't help but feel out of place; your eyes wandering an unfamiliar room. You felt your arms being moved without your strength, a soft fabric covering you.
Niragi sighed, gaining your attention. Your eyes caught his as he stared at you, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of your hair back, his fingers lingering behind your ear.
"I hope you know how big that favor is."
Your breath hitched for a moment at the tone in his voice; it was so soft, so mesmerizing, and yet, it felt like a threat at the same time. Without words, you simply nodded in response. You felt your throat go dry, suddenly remembering what happened the last time you were in this room those many nights ago.
You were so lost in thought that you didn't feel yourself being pulled back into the bed. You stole a quick glance to your side, eyeing Niragi on your right. You hid your face in the dark as the realization hit you; the warmth from his chest was from a lack of a shirt. The deep breaths you took to steady your heart weren't much help as Niragi wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling your back into his chest.
The first thing you noticed was the heat from his body; it was soothing in its own way. It melted through the silk shirt you were wearing, right to your skin. You could feel his face nuzzled into your neck, and you could've sworn your heart was about to beat out of your chest.
Niragi smiled proudly; he could hear your heart beating rapidly. He decided to push himself just a bit further, placing his hand along your thigh. He'd let go of his anger for just tonight so he could lay next to you peacefully. Even if it wasn't how he wanted, he did still get to prove that he was better than Chishiya. It didn't go the way he wanted, no. But while the snake was in his room alone, Niragi had you pressed up against him in his bed.
He closed his eyes as he made a new resolve, one that defied his character in every way. It made his instincts scream, but he could retrain them, given time. He would get you to feel the same way for him as he does for you, one way or another. It surprised him; how quickly his mind could be changed when you were around him. He was so confident in himself just an hour ago, ready to kick you to the curb. But every time you came around, all those thoughts disappeared.
Niragi listened carefully as your breath deepened, your heart finally steadying. He lay there for a moment, carefully planning his next objective. To kill Chishiya would take time, especially if you kept associating with him. He would slip up eventually, making his true intentions known. A snake doesn't hide in the grass for long.
The sun illuminated your room, the light spilling out through the window. Niragi woke to see your face, still peacefully resting. He was taken in by the way your hair fell in front of your face as your body slowly rose and fell in with your breath. He couldn't help himself as his hand rose from his side and swept a strand of hair from your face, pushing it back behind your ear carefully.
It was almost as if you were home. You always knew you weren't welcome in the house of your family, but for the first time, it felt as if you had a home to come back to. A home to wake up to, a place where you could relax; free of judgment and wild accusations.
His eyes fixated on yours as they fluttered open in a daze. "Oh... You're still here," your voice was as soft as a whisper, as gentle as a lovers would be. Niragi watched as the corner of your lips turned into a smile, and even the most powerful force in the world couldn't silence his thoughts. 'So beautiful, the way you wake up next to me...'
You could've sworn you were awake, but the serenity you felt in the moment was enough to convince you otherwise. Your eyes wandered his face for what felt like forever, going over the little details you never noticed. He did look just like he did back then when he was like this; his hair fell so naturally around his face. His lips parted so gently and closed like the words he would've said wouldn't have been enough. You were so taken in you almost hadn't noticed his hand resting on your cheek, his thumb gently caressing your face.
Niragi was normally a man of his word, although most of his words were more threats than promises. He'd kill who he said he'd kill, torment whoever he liked, and fucked whenever he wanted. The thoughts from the night prior crept toward him slowly, 'I can be that again tomorrow,' his thoughts echoed. 'That,' the self he had worked so hard on. His life in the other world wasn't what he wanted. It was rather lonely, he recalled. But here, he had made a name for himself. People were scared when they heard his name. He told you before, not to expect him to be there when you woke. Yet here he was, his mind focused on you entirely.
With you, he felt his heart beat more rapidly than he would care to like. He could feel his expression soften as he lay by your side; waking up next to you was quite the feeling, indeed. He found himself unable to leave you when he woke first, your head still nuzzled into him. Your hand had crept its way into his shirt from the middle, forcing him to undo a few buttons in the early hours of the morning.
Part of him screamed at him from the inside. He was being reckless, careless, even. 'This will be the end of me,' he thought. Yet his eyes kept pacing back and forth between yours in the morning light, his body couldn't help itself as it eyed his shirt still covering you under the sheets.
He lifted your chin ever so slightly as your lips parted, barely being able to utter his name. All you felt was the warmth of his lips on yours, his hand reaching to cradle your neck into him. You couldn't help but fall into him, a pleasant hum running past your lips at the welcome surprise. Now, you were near certain you were still dreaming.
Niragi could feel every muscle in his body aching, his other hand wandering over your shoulder, running down your arm, careful of the fresh bruises from the night prior. 'These bruises should be from me,' he thought. 'I should be the only one who gets to touch her, ever,' his lips began to push with more force, his tongue pressing through to meet with yours.
He could hear the soft hums from you, his body aching to respond to them in its own way. His entire body froze the instant he heard the knock on the door, the last voice he wanted to hear echoing through past the door. 'That fucking snake,' he thought as his mind was clouded over in an instant with anger. Niragi can't remember the last time he got up so quickly, practically running to the door, his breath rising from his chest, he threw open the door.
Chishiya stared at him in silence, taking note of his appearance. His shirt was half open, no shoes, hair was untidy. He leaned to look past Niragi, his eyes catching you still in bed, Niragi's shirt barely covering your body. "The hell do you want?" Chishiya's eyes snapped back to Niragi, an unfamiliar feeling swelling in his stomach. "(Y/N)."
Niragi could feel his mouth twitch in disgust as the blonde spoke, his eyes staring daggers. "She's busy," he closed the door before Chishiya could protest. Every time he saw that man, he got angrier and angrier. He turned around to see you fully sitting up, clutching his shirt around you. You were holding a hand to your lower lip, tracing over the heat that lingered. He sighed watching, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling his shoes on. "How're the bruises?"
You had barely noticed yourself until he spoke, finally taking a moment to look down at your body. "Oh... Th-they're fine, just a little sore..." You couldn't help but try and subdue the heat in your cheeks, the realization hitting you. 'Did we... Did Niragi kiss me?' You thought, wanting to ask. You watched in silence as he suddenly stood up, his back to you.
"Good." Your breath hitched as you took in his demeanor; this was not the Niragi from moments ago. His voice held no concern when he spoke to you, "Try a little harder not to get killed." He didn't hesitate as he spun the door open, nearly slamming it behind him. The temperature in the room dropped almost immediately, shivers going up your arms.
You looked around hurriedly ignoring the uneasiness you felt in your gut, looking for any clothes that weren't completely crusted with blood. Your feet stung hitting the cold floor, the cuts in your heels still fresh from the night prior. Your attention turned to the door as you heard a familiar knock followed by the door opening.
"Sooooo, Kuina told me to come and get--" Chishiya stopped and stared at you for a moment, his words seemingly caught in his throat. His footsteps broke the silence as he came towards you, pulling his hands from his pockets. "(Y/N)... Are you alright?"
Chishiya waited for your reply as he searched your face, fighting his own concern. "Y-yeah, I'm fine... Why, what's up?" Your voice was soft in the morning, he noted. He lifted his hand up to your face and brushed your cheek, holding out his fingers for you to see. The wet tears glistened on his hand, making you bring your hand to your own face as well to wipe it, unaware you were crying. "O-oh, yeah... Sorry, I guess that would be concerning," Chishiya stared at you as you feigned a laugh, trying to shift the conversation.
He thought on his words for a moment, catching you unable to look back at him. "... Did he hurt you?" Your head snapped up, "Huh?" Chishiya gestured and rose his brows to your dominant arm, particularly covered in bruises and small cuts that rose to your shoulder blade. "Oh, those... No, Niragi didn't hurt me. My game last night was..." you swallowed the rising saliva, feeling your stomach turn with unease. "Rough."
Chishiya nodded slowly, unsure if he was going to believe you today. "Huh... Well, regardless, I wanted to..." He hovered over his words a bit more than usual today, watching you closely for any particular reaction. "Check on you. I tried to stop by earlier. You were busy." You could feel embarrassment creep up on your cheeks, "About that..." He took a step back and raised his hands in protest, "You don't have to defend yourself to me."
You could see the corners of his mouth rise a bit as he spoke, "You can do whatever you want here, remember? I would go with someone a little less... Homicidal, personally." You watched his lips form a partial smirk, "But hey, everyone has a type I guess." You wanted to say he was wrong, that he didn't know what he was talking about. But you knew you couldn't. If Chishiya would ever be under a label, it would simply say "I'm right."
"It wasn't... It's not like that," was the best thing you could say in your own defense. He nodded slowly, pursing his lips out, "Of course." He shoved a hand back into his pocket, "You know, if you don't get those taken care of, they'll get infected." You looked at your arm again, turning it over to get a better look. "Ann would yell at me if I went to her for something as little as this." You sighed, dropping your arm to your side.
Chishiya quickly took a step towards you and grabbed your arm before you knew what was happening. He examined it carefully, gingerly going over even the smallest of cuts. His hand was a bit cold, but you couldn't help but feel like they had a care in the way they moved across your arm. "Regardless of size, even the smallest cut could be the death of you, depending on the one doing the cutting."
You tilted your head in curiosity, looking at his eyes as they wandered over your arm. "Chishiya," he stopped his hand and glanced up at you as you said his name. "Sometimes you can say some weird stuff." You smiled and let out a small laugh, seeing his demeanor change into a rather confident one. "Everyone else is the weird one, I'm the only sane person here." He laughed with you for a brief moment, his eyes catching yours for a moment.
"Stop by later. I'll help you deal with the cuts." You nodded and smiled, silently thanking him. If it wasn't for Chishiya and Kuina, you would actually be dead by now, certainly. Chishiya lowered your arm back to your side and took a few steps back, putting his other hand in his pocket. "Ah, before I go," he unzipped his hoodie and took it off, watching as you hid your face. Most of the men here were already shirtless, but it still razzled you to see someone who would normally be covered be bare like he was.
He couldn't help but hide his smile as he took slow steps toward you. "You look like you need some new clothes." He raised his hand to touch the collar of what was Niragi's shirt, "These aren't really suitable. Rules are rules, you know. Hoodies, on the other hand," he stopped for a moment and licked his lips slowly, "Are perfectly acceptable. Just so you know."
Chishiya grabbed your hand and held it out, placing his hoodie and enclosing your hand around it. "Just for now. Wouldn't want you breaking the rules. I'll have Kuina get you something." You swallowed your pride and looked up to see him looking at you intently. "Um, t-thanks I guess..." The corner of his lips rose just for a moment, "Be seeing you then." He took a few steps backward, eyes still studying you for a moment before he turned and left, gently closing the door behind him.
You couldn't help but sit on the ground where you stood, a leg outstretched. 'Why does everyone keep giving me their clothes?' You looked at the white hoodie in your hands, sighing to yourself as you closed your eyes. This morning, you were lying in bed with Niragi practically making out in your bed. Not even moments after, he got cold after Chishiya showed up at your door. They made each other near furious, one was just a lot better at hiding it.
You laid your head back on the cold hard floor and stared at the ceiling. Last night, Niragi was taking care of you; bathing the dried blood off you, watching over you as you slept, holding you when you were cold. Then the moment is gone, and he's back to being cold like when you first arrived. You looked down at the hoodie still in your hands, its owner wandering into your mind. Chishiya didn't threaten you to wear it. He must have his reasons for giving it to you besides the obvious; he always had something else going on in the back of his mind.
The only way to tell was by asking so that only left you with one rational course of action. You closed your eyes again, not caring you were still on the floor. You shut your brain down the best you could before taking a deep breath, hoisting yourself up from off the floorboards. You glanced in the bathroom, only seeing the bathing suit that was still coated in hardened blood by this point. You debated in your mind for a moment before finally settling. Tonight, you would go see Chishiya. But for now, Kuina's kindness was reaching out for you from the floor below.
Kuina dragged you to the bar, ignoring your protests over the blaring noise. "C'mon, it'll be fun!" She was careful to not grab you too tightly around your arm, but she dragged you along with her nonetheless. The lights were almost blinding, reflecting off the pool in various directions. "Here, try this one!" She handed you a small glass with red liquid inside, "What is it?" You questioned, Kuina clinking your plastic glasses together without answering. "Something fun!"
You gave her a questioning look before taking a deep breath, "God, it's been a while." You hyped yourself and Kuina being there definitely helped as you both knocked back the sweet liquid in an instant. You could feel the gentle warmth go down easily as Kuina piped up, "Cherry bomb!" You tilted your head before she gestured to her cup, "You asked what it was!" You were surprised she would actually answer you.
It wasn't long before you and Kuina delved more into the party at the Beach. It had genuinely been so long since you were able to have fun, you admittedly got a bit carried away with her. You were glad Kuina was a fruity drink person, it was another thing you had in common. As the night rolled on you found yourself and Kuina at the edge of the pool, a drink in hand and your body swayed gently with the music.
Kuina's voice was still raised and she spoke over the music, "Sooooo, (Y/N), I noticed Chishiya left you with a preseeent!" She giggled over herself as you focused on her, "Nooo, it's not like that! People just keep throwing clothes at me!" You both laughed loudly, drawing some mild attention from those in the pool. It didn't take long for their attention to be drawn elsewhere thankfully. You tried not to hiccup through your next words as you spoke, "Chi.. Chishiya said that-- that shirts weren't allowed," you waved your hand in the air as you explained, "So--so he gave me his hood thing until you got me clothes!"
Kuina covered her mouth as she laughed loudly at you, "Hood thing?! Oh, sweet, naive (Y/N), you really are a treasure!" The world seemed to spin around you and you tried harder to focus on your friend. "Ku-Kuina, I think... I think I've had a bit too much to drink." She continued to laugh as she watched your body sway harder, wrapping her arm around you.
"Don't worry (Y/N), I'll get you back safely!" You grinned as she stood, tugging you up with her by the waist. "You're-- you're a good friend, Kuina!" The music poured on as the two of you made your way slowly into the lobby of the Beach, Kuina taking the first steps and helping you along. As you began to walk up the stairs, the lobby started to spin a bit more than usual. You could feel Kuina's hand around you tighten as your body began to slip from her, "Woah, careful!" You could hear your laugh echo throughout the halls, your mind blissfully unaware of the eyes peering at your back.
Chishiya sighed heavily at the knock at his door. He stood, walking over lazily and opening the door just a crack to peer through, "Yes?" He held his breath as he caught your body from hitting the floor, "What on Earth..." He could hear you laughing faintly before hoisting you up and leaning you against the wall in his room, his eyes scanning the hallway for people. "(Y/N), are you drunk?"
You erupted with laughter as your eyes began to barely focus, "Chiii-shiii-yaaa!" He sighed to himself, "So, that's a yes. Come here." He gently grabbed you by the arm, attempting to lead you to the bathroom before he had to turn around and catch you from falling once again. "How much did you have to drink?" Your mind could barely form a response, "I... Kuina, and I, we had, like--" He cut you off as he lifted you up in his arms, surprising you. Just by looking, he didn't seem the type to be able to pick up a person. "If you were out with Kuina, then probably too much."
He pushed open the bathroom door and sat you by the toilet, lifting the seat cover as you rested your head against the tub. "Just in case." You smiled drunkenly, "Awwww, you're so sweet!" You had a short-lived laugh as you felt your stomach start to turn, closing your eyes. "Oh, boy..." You reached out and grabbed the edge of the toilet, just in case.
You opened your eyes as the light turned on, squinting as Chishiya held out his fist. "Take these. They'll help later." You did your best to steady yourself as you cupped your hands, Chishiya dropping three white capsule pills in your hands. You popped them in your mouth and swallowed, making a face at their plastic taste. "Ew..."
He laughed while looking at you, "You're supposed to take them with water," as he held out a bottle. You hiccuped as you took it carefully, noticing the top was already off, "Oh... Yeah, that makes sense." You giggled to yourself as you brought it to your lips, the water refreshingly running down your throat. Chishiya sat down next to you, grabbing your free arm and bringing it to his lap. You were taken by surprise and tried to pull it back when he stopped you, "Careful. The disinfectant might sting a bit, okay?"
You noticed he had a cotton ball in his hand, a clear liquid already absorbed into it. "Ohhh, okaaay." Your words were getting harder to say as your eyes started to fail you.
The feeling didn't last long as you felt a sting on your arm, ushering your eyes open to be alert. Chishiya brought his hand back, studying your face carefully. "I told you." You both sat in silence for a while as he went back to carefully dabbing the open cuts on your arm, even after a day that still stung. Once your thoughts began to form a bit clearer, you spoke, "Chishiya," he stopped and glanced up at you, still holding onto your arm tenderly. "If I ask you a question, will you be honest?"
He took his hand and placed it over his heart and clutched it, "You say that as if I lie." You licked your lips as you thought about your question. Even if you asked it, there's no guarantee you'll get an answer you'd like. "Are... Are you using me?" It was only for a moment that his expression changed, but you noticed it clear as day. He pursed his lips out as if he was thinking, "And if I was? What would I be using you for, hmm?"
You opened your mouth, but nothing came out. He smirked at your reaction, swapping out the cotton ball for a new one. "I don't know." He looked up at you briefly before turning your arm over to aid the back, "That's what worries me..." You could feel his hand stop at your words and rest on your back. He placed your arm in your lap, his fingers lingering on your skin as he let go. Chishiya grabbed your chin gently and pulled your face towards him so he could look at you. "What if I just enjoy your company?"
You stared at him for a moment, wanting to choose your next words carefully. You shook your head slowly, "I think... You only come around when Niragi is near. It's like... You're always playing a game, even when others aren't." Chishiya didn't seem displeased with this answer as he responded, "And tell me," he turned himself so he was sitting directly across from you, his hands now resting in his lap. "Where is Niragi now?"
You shook your head, "I don't know." He raised his eyebrows in response, "I see. So, I'm here, and Niragi isn't, correct?" You nodded and paused, 'Why did I tell him that?' you thought. Chishiya noticed your hesitation and spoke first, "I do owe you an apology, (Y/N)." You looked at him curiously, "What for?"
He sighed and grabbed your hand in his own, pulling out your arm gently and resting two of his fingers on your wrist. "Technically, I didn't lie to you. That part is important." You began to pull your arm away cautiously, "What do you mean, 'technically?' What did you do?" He promptly ignored your questions, following up with his own. "Do you feel sick? Any nausea, dizziness?"
"No," you answered without a second thought. 'Wait, why don't I feel dizzy? I had so much to drink...' Your mind flashed back to the pills Chishiya gave you just minutes ago. "W-what did you do?" You asked louder, causing him to look at you fully. "I gave you some medicine. Scopolamine, to be exact. Nothing too special, not really a hangover medicine, more of an after-surgery medication that would reduce the saliva your produce. There are some parts of the world, however," he paused for a moment to let you absorb the information, "They say if you use it on someone not fully aware, they give information a lot easier. Some people call it, 'dragon's breath.'"
Your eyes grew wide as you pulled yourself away from him, your back hitting the tub. "Y-you... You drugged me?!" Chishiya sighed to himself for a brief moment before standing up, his body leaning against the doorway, blocking it. "I didn't force you to take them. I merely offered. It's not lying, think of it as... Withholding the full truth."
Standing up hurriedly, your body would've collapsed from itself if Chishiya hadn't caught you. "Woah, you might not feel drunk, but you still are. Be more careful." You could feel your heart quicken under him, your panic starting to rise. "Why? Why would you do this?" He held you upright and grabbed both your shoulders in an attempt to steady you, "It's not personal (Y/N)," his expression softened when he saw the panic in your eyes. "But for some reason, I can't read you."
Your eyes furrowed in confusion as you watched his mind race. It wasn't easy to see, a normally composed man suddenly unsure of himself. "I can read every single person here. Most of them, exactly the same as the next," he licked his lips, continuing, "But with you, (Y/N)... Whenever I think about it, I can't seem to think rationally. It's incredibly bothersome." You tried to take a step back but couldn't, Chishiya's hands pulling you more toward him whenever you tried to push away. "If it makes you feel better, you probably won't remember this conversation tomorrow. Just," he seemed to lose himself for just a moment as he closed his eyes, thinking. "Trust me. I needed to know you're intentions."
"My intentions? I had no intentions! My intention was to survive this fucking place and go home!" You could feel tears spill out of your eyes as you yelled, your voice cracking throughout. You began to sniffle, your body was still drunk indeed. "I-- I thought you were my friend!"
His arms dropped to his side as he let you push past him, nearly tripping as you ran into the hallway. He listened as your footsteps pounded away on the floor, all the way down to your room. He contemplated following you for a moment, stopping himself as he closed the door in front of him. Once again, you left his mind unable to react in the way he needed it to. The only thoughts he could muster were simple ones of regret, 'Shit.'
The next day came sooner than anticipated. You had forgotten how late it had been when you arrived back, the sun already starting to peak when you closed your eyes to rest. The sun was now high, the music loud, and two friends, if you could call them that, were waiting for you by the pool.
Your eyes still stung from the lack of sleep or perhaps, you hadn't yet gotten used to the amount of death around you. Not sure if it was a dream or not, you recall screams from the hallway in the early hours, gunshots following them. Someone was probably a traitor, hoarding cards or weapons from the militants. No matter to you, they were long gone by now, certainly.
The clothes on your bathroom floor had stiffened with blood, the smell of iron being the first thing to hit you in the morning. You skipped breakfast today, your appetite seemingly nonexistent as you made your way down the stairs. The hallways were mostly empty today as well, not many hung around when there was alcohol to drink, or people to fuck. The doors were well in sight, the rhythm from outside seeping through. You felt a shudder run down your spine, feeling eyes on your back. Your instincts told you to turn around out of fear of danger, but your eyes seemingly had other plans, thankfully.
"Hey. What took you so long?" Chishiya cocked his head, a hand on the door. You hurried towards him, the music almost blaring. "Sorry, I slept in," you felt an ambush from your side, turning to be enveloped in Kuina's arms. You could hear what seemed to be sniffles, her face buried in your neck with her arms tightly around you. "We were so worried these past few days..." You furrowed your brow as your arms returned her embrace, "We?" Chishiya looked away, his eyes refusing to meet your gaze.
Kuina pushed herself away, placing her hands on your shoulders, "We need to talk!" She linked arms with you, disregarding your protests. You could feel Chishiya linger behind, your back still seemingly burning. His footsteps soon echoed behind you, Kuina leading you past the party, over to an empty alleyway of a side building. If anyone saw, it would be easy to mistake the scene as the two of them ganging up on you, you thought.
Kuina spoke first to break the silence, her voice hushed, "So, was it true?" You felt your body stiffen, "I-is what true?" She looked at Chishiya, his eyes diverting almost immediately, "Well... We heard that you and Niragi... Did he hurt you?" You could feel your shame creep up on your face, and your heart started to beat faster. "H-he... Um, he.." You jumped as Kuina's fist hit the wall at your side, "The creep! I knew we should've kept a closer eye on you!"
The more Kuina spoke, the less you seemed to hear. Your focus shifted over to Chishiya, trying to place an emotion to the look on his face. Was it pity, disgust maybe? No, something a bit deeper than that, but you couldn't put your finger on what. You felt Kuina's hand on your shoulder, bringing your focus back to her. "You'll stay in my room from now on, alright? I don't want to leave you alone with someone like that around here!"
"No," Chishiya spoke nonchalantly. The brunette shot him a daring look, "What do you mean, no?!" His hands stuffed into his pockets, his gaze on nothing in particular. "It'll put us at a better advantage if (Y/N) stays where she is." Kuina scoffed, her hands' knuckles turning white from her grip, "You're still on about that?"
You spoke for the first time, "Advantage? What are you guys talking about..?" They both looked at you simultaneously, then at each other. "Tell her, Chishiya." The blonde ran a hand through his hair before sighing, "Don't say a word about this to anyone else. Got it?"
His teeth clenched as Kuina led (Y/N) out of the building, the cat returning daggers at him. If only he'd brought his gun, he thought, 'but that would only scare her more.' He waited until they were out of sight, walking back to the upstairs rooms. The hallways were dead silent now, unlike the earlier hours. Some random had been hiding cards, Niragi had seen them in the man's back pocket while he was walking. He didn't hesitate to open fire, a pinch of guilt as he gunned him down.
He didn't feel bad about killing him, no, not one bit. Guilt wasn't a feeling he was used to, seeing how he flourishes in this place. He felt bad as he passed your door, hesitating for just a moment to hear anything from your room. He felt better when he heard nothing but a slight shuffle. How anyone could sleep with gunfire a whole 20 feet away from them is still a mystery. He had made sure to have someone clean the place up; Hatter didn't like the stench that death brought.
Niragi fought the urge to go to (Y/N)'s room, instead opting to get a drink instead. Every time he went into that room, he seemed to lose himself just a bit more. He remembers how he was before; before the Borderlands, back in what others might call the real world. He was partly glad to be in this place. It wasn't as lonely as it was back then. He slipped into the booth as the music raged on, downing his first drink of the day. Being feared at the Beach had its perks; you never had to get up to get your own drink, and some lowlife would always bring it to you.
He sighed as his mind wandered back to the real world, closing his eyes and swirling the ice in his glass. Alcohol didn't provide an escape for him, instead, it trapped his mind in its worst predicament.
It was pouring out, that day. Niragi held his bag tightly, trying to see past the rain with his broken glasses. He had forgotten his umbrella, or maybe it was stolen again by Haru and his gang of bullies. He would've taken the sidewalk home, but his fear of being beaten overcame that reasoning quite easily. If they ever spotted him out in public, they would fly to him like vultures, and who would stop them?
He was in the alleyway of a convenience store when he was knocked over by a hard push. But when he looked up, he saw that it wasn't a malicious push, but a girl. Her top had been partially ripped open, her eyes puffy and cheeks stained from mascara. He gasped and stood up quickly, extending his hand worriedly, "Are... Are you okay, Miss?" He heard footsteps near the corner hitting the ground hard, the young girl sprinting forward, and with her voice shaking, "Hurry! He's right behind me!"
She sprinted past him, quickly rounding the corner of the way Niragi had come. His eyes followed her until she was out of his sight, and his breath hitched at her voice. He turned his gaze back to be met with a fist slamming straight into his jaw. He fell to the ground again, holding his face, "Well, well... If it isn't Niragi." He looked up to see Haru, a half drank bottle of liquor in hand. "Now where the hell did she run off to..." Haru turned his gaze onto Niragi, still on the ground. "Well? Aren't you going to answer me?" He kicked him in the stomach, making Niragi roll, clutching his lower ribs. "I was asking you a question!"
He never told him where that girl went. Part of him hoped she got away, the other hated her for dragging him into yet another beating. It would've ended the same no matter if he told him where she ran off to or not, he thought. But he was weak back then, and now, he's strong. No one would ever dare talk to him like that. Buried deep in the back of his mind, he did still wonder about that girl. He couldn’t remember her face, no matter how hard he’d try.
Niragi didn’t believe in fate. Fate was something unavoidable, something you couldn’t fight back against. He believed he could fight back against anything or anyone that could challenge him. But, as the cursed word ‘fate’ would have it, the girl he often found himself wondering about was much closer to him than he would’ve liked to think, sitting by the pool with the Cheshire cat and the light that would lead her forward.
