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Hanagaki Takemichi is currently in the bathroom fixing up his suit for this special day; Emma and Draken's wedding. Folding his cuffs for the final touch and dusting himself off, he looks at himself in the mirror.
"Ok, this is their day. They don't need your.. your jealousy and longing to ruin everything. Be happy for them, they do belong to eachother." He smiles at his reflection, though it didn't reach his eyes.
Going out of the bathroom and slowly walking to where he thinks the hall is. He stumbles upon the groom of the day; Ryuguji Ken. "Draken! Wow, don't you look dapper." Takemichi teases and got a laugh out of draken.
"Dapper? Well, right back at you mitchy."
Takemichi ignores the compliment and continues to tease "I can just see emma fainting when she sees you at that alter!" Draken's smile dropped and frowns. "Are you sure you're gonna be alright? You didn't have to come you know."
"Eh? Why won't I come? It's yours and emma's day!" Takemichis laugh, comes out humourless. "It doesn't hurt?" Draken whispers, takemichi now looks away and to draken the silence is all the answer he needs.
"Of course it hurts. I remember when Emma told me that you proposed to her, you think i didn't imagine myself in her shoes? You proposing to me? planning our wedding together? And me walking down that aisle." Takemichi sighed, clenching his hands together.
"Sorry.." is the only response from draken. "No, I'm sorry for bringing up my problems. Today is special, let's not ruin it with past.. things!" Takemichi took draken's hand in his, which surprised draken.
"All I can ask from you is, please take care of emma. She is like a sister to me, ok?" Squeezing their hands together, draken mods and promises to be the best husband he can be. They both smile at each other, tension subdued.
"OI! KEN-CHIN!! MITCHY!!!"
The voice of Sano Manjiro echoed through the corridor. Takemichi looked behind draken while draken turned around, they see mikey running towards them. He doesn't even look ready, no tie, hair is all over the place and he looks a little tipsy.
"Mitchy~" mikey whined, hugging takemichi around the waist. "Why didn't you become a groomsmen?" Mikey pouted and takemichi sweat dropped. Draken grumbled when he got a good look of mikey, he looked so much worse than he did from afar.
"I-I just didn't want to, mikey-kun." Mitchy stuttered, "but! You're close with ken-chin and emma was excited to have you as a groomsmen!!" Takemichi just shrugged in response. Draken got mikey off of takemichi "can you atleast do a toast?? Cuz mitchyy~ you're part of the family too!" Takemichi was touched at what mikey said.
"I agree, I feel like emma would appreciate that." Draken agreed with mikey, so takemichi has no choice. He nodded and smiled at their request. "Now. C'mon mikey, we need to freshen you up. Wanna join us mitchy??"
Takemichi shook his head and waved goodbye at draken and a whiny mikey. After theyre gone, takemichi's smile drops. He turns his heel and starts to walk the opposite direction.
Hugging himself, remembering draken's warm embrace when they dated back then. His small kisses, his kind words and his loving eyes. Now, takemichi will never experience those anymore.
He found some seats and decided to sit down, tucking his knees to his chest. Takemichi's thoughts went down memory lane, when draken got stuck at takemichi's place due to a storm, when draken confessed to him and when they finally shared their first kissー
ー"Sorry about this mitchy. You don't mind if I stay the night, right?" draken asked, rubbing the back of his neck. Takemichi happily nodded and went upstairs to ready draken's bed.
Draken shocked and offered to just sleep on the floor but takemichi was insistent. Draken slept peacefully in the guest bedroom and woke up to a sleepy mitchy cooking.
Draken couldn't help but imagine takemichi cooking him breakfast everyday, hugging him from behind and pepper him with kisses. Draken looks away from takemichi, so that he wouldn't see the blush slowly appearing on drakens cheeks.
The breakfast was delicious, draken couldn't wait to brag to mikey. Draken thanked takemichi for the food and went to the kitchen sink to clean them, informing takemichi that this can be considered payment.
Takemichi bid draken goodbye.
.
.
.
"I love you."
Takemichi's eyes widen, looking at draken who was besides him. Draken is blushing, "Look, I love you. Your determination, your bravery and kindness. I was so worried when I saw kazutora stab you. I thought you were gonna die, without me even confessing to you." Draken still hasnt looked at takemichi.
"I just wanted to get that off my chest, I understand if you don't feel the same way anー"
"I-I love you too..."
Draken turned to face takemichi, who was now covering their face. Obviously blushing with takemichi's ears and neck turning into a deep red color.
"After.. after the Moebius fight, y-you kept hovering over me. At first I didn't like it and felt like I was being babied but then I found comfort in it. I felt safe. I thought that you only hovered to keep a close eye on me to not do anything stupid."
Takemichi uncovered his face, started to squeeze his shirt where his heart is. Now draken was the one blushing hard. Draken took a deep breath and turned takemichi to face him.
Blue eyes, the same blue eyes he loved were looking at him. The rustling of the trees, the bright stars up at the sky and heart beats that could be heard from the two.
Takemichi closed his eyes and slowly started to leave in, draken cups takemichi's cheek. Closing the gap between themー
ー"Michi??"
Takemichi fliched and letting go of his legs, looking around. He saw chifuyu, who looked startled at first but calm down. Moving to seat besides takemichi, comfortable silence enveloped them.
"Draken noticed you weren't there yet, but didn't want to make a big fuss about it so he only told me.. Since you know?" Chifuyu shrugged, him being the only one to know of takemichis and drakens past relationship.
"Wait, they already started.?" Takemichi is scared that he missed the wedding, chifuyu nodded "yah, they're already to the... 'I do's'" Chifuyu knew how hard this was to takemichi, he still wonders why takemichi even came.
"I.. do?"
Takemichi's shoulders raised up and his eyes start to water. Chifuyu stood up, hugged takemichi tight. Takemichi flinched but hugged back, "that should be me, right now!" Chifuyu rubbed takemichi's back.
"The amount of 'I love you's' I said behind his back and wanting to distance myself to not make problems. Why couldn't it be me? To say 'i do' and become Ryuguji Takemichi??" Takemichi's cries echoed, even chifuyu felt a bit teary eyed.
Takemichi loosens his grip on chifuyu, who sighs in relief since he started to get uncomfortable in their position. "Sorry about your suit.." takemichi rubs his eyes and cleaning off excess tears.
"It's fine.."
"I.. I want to see them."
Chifuyu is very skeptical of that, but knowing takemichi's stubborness. He hesitantly took takemichi's hand and guided him there. Chifuyu is hoping that it's over, he didn't want to subject his best friend to this.
Takemichi just followed, looking down on the floor and not saying anything. Is he ready? To see the kiss that bounds emma and draken together? To lose the one he loves?
Takemichi felt chifuyu tug his hand, looking up and seeing that they were at the door. Fortunately, everyone's attention was towards the couple at the altar. And unfortunately, takemichi can see them, clear as day.
"Do you Sano Emma. Take Ryuguji Ken as your lawfully wedded husband? do you promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?"
Emma smiles, about to cry. "I do."
"And do you Ryuguji Ken. Take Sano Emma as your lawfully wedded wife? do you promise to love and cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"
Draken seemed hesitant, in takemichi's eyes. Takemichi knows the answer or else it would've been him up there. "I.. do" Draken smiled at emma, who now bursts into tears
"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may now kiss the bride."
The world suddenly got slower for takemichi, their lips were slowly closing in. Takemichi didn't feel the tears flow down. Emma's and draken's kiss reminded him of when THEY first kissedー
ーLips collided and to takemichi it was the best feeling ever, he felt draken's arms go around his waist and his arms went to draken's neck. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds.
"I.. I love that.."
Draken caresses takemichi's cheek, going in for another. 'I could get used to this' takemichi thought, imagining himself at the altar with drakenー
ーTakemichi see them kiss at the altar that he dreamed to be on. Everyone was cheering and crying. Takemichi is crying too, though for a different reason.
"And I kept waiting.. for you to take me but it seems that that never is going to happen."
Letting go of chifuyu's hand and walking out.
"So, I'll make sure. To keep my distance."
Takemichi went to bathroom, sank to the floor. Pulling out a old photo, of both him and draken at their first date.
"Say 'I love you's' when you're not listening."
Takemichi woke up to the sound of an alarm. He tried to sit up but he felt arms tying him down. Takemichi rubbed his eyes, his vision got clearer and he noticed that he wasn't at his bedroom.
Takemichi blinked a few times before remembering that draken invited him over, seems like takemichi slept over. Reaching over to the alarm and turning it off.
Turning over, getting greeted with his lovers sleeping face. Takemichi giggles and leaned further into draken's embrace. "I know you're awake." Takemichi sighed while draken groaned.
"You need to let me go, I got plans with emma today!" Takemichi tried to escape but draken is too strong, "what plans?" Draken drawled out. Takemichi is honestly astonished how a sleepy draken can be this strong.
"She just told me to meet her at the mall, I mean, it's been a while since we both hangout so I didn't think about it." Takemichi is still desperately trying to escape, he only did when draken finally let go resulting to takemichi falling to the floor.
Takemichi stood up, glared at draken and stuck his tongue out. "Did I leave some spare clothes here?" Crossing his arms and looking around. Draken laughed and pointed to his drawers, takemichi walking towards it and thinking what his outfit will be.
"Hey, you sure you want it this weekend? If you're not ready we can wait a bit more."
"... We can't keep hiding this relationship, it's already been a year and a half of hiding and being embarassed. I want to show everyone you're taken and mine!"
"Possessive~"
Takemichi got his clothes, going to the bathroom to change not before going back to the bed and kissing draken. "Not as much as you. See ya, k? I'll buy you something." Draken nodded and waved goodbye.
After changing, he went out and greeted some of the girls while passing by. Out of the doors, takemichi smells the city air. The mall that emma wanted to hangout at is only one train ride away, said train ride was smooth but very crowded.
Takemichi thankfully got out of the busy train station and headed to the mall. Emma texted him saying that she'll meet him at the entrance, and there she is, looking calm and collected but her feet said otherwise.
When emma noticed takemichi coming up, she hugs him only for a second and immediately took his hand to drag him inside the mall. She seemed so excited and smiling over nothing.
"C'mon! You took forever mi-chan!"
"Emmaaaa! Stop calling me 'mi-chan'"
Emma only giggled, definitely going to keep calling him that stupid nickname. 'Is this how ken feels?' takemichi inwardly sighs, she really is mikey's sibling.
Really takes takemichi back. Back when emma wasn't interested in him and didn't even want anything to do with him, not until the day he saved her from possible death.
Crossing the side walk, motorcycle coming at them at full speed no sign of stopping and what seemed like a bat on one of the peoples hand. Takemichi pushed emma down and ducking, the both of them got little to no injury.
Emma was so grateful and labeled him her new 'bestie'. At first takemichi thought that emma was going to forget about him, but after hanging out multiple times. Takemichi has grown to love emma's company and he too to her.
"Mi-chan~ let's go check this out!" Emma pointed to what looks like a clothes store, go figure. A few clothes in and takemichi judging them, "hey, what's got you so excited?" Emma pauses before she got in the changing room.
"Well.. Tomorrow, I'm finally gonna do it!"
"Do what?"
"You'll see~ I just hope it goes well."
She says as she gets in to try on another outfit. Takemichi was curious but shrugged it off, though there was this unsettling feeling in his gut telling him to not shrug it off. Shaking his head and continued on with their hangout.
They bought some snacks, went to the arcade, just having fun. So far in takemichi has forgotten about that unsettling feeling he felt earlier.
At the end of the day, both saying goodbye to each other and takemichi headed home. He contemplated on going back to draken's place but decided against it. Takemichi will just text him later.
As he changed into something comfy, he face-palmed when he realized that he didn't get take out. Now turning on the stove and cooking a simple dinner for himself, staring blankly at the blue flames and hearing the sound sizzling.
Takemichi thought about tomorrow, he remembers he has plans with chifuyu. Takemichi hopes that those plans can help him get distracted from his paranoia.
It didn't.
Takemichi isn't listening to what chifuyu is saying, it's about some new manga he saw or something. He burnt his dinner last night, got the worse sleep ever and woke up to a massive headache.
"Hey michi? You good?"
Takemichi still ignores chifuyu, this feeling won't go away. So he reaches his phone from his pocket, ready to beg emma what she was planning to do today and before he could do so. Emma texted him first, takemichi froze.
Chifuyu is so worried on what happened to his partner, takemichi looked very tired when they met up at the park and chifuyu noticed that takemichi wasnt listening to what he was saying. Now he is frozen in place looking at his phone is shock and betrayal.
Chifuyu couldn't help but look over and there it was, emma's text message in all caps "MI-CHAN! DRAKEN SAID YES! HE LOVES ME BACK <333" chifuyu gasps and took a step back.
Takemichi suddenly stood up making chifuyu step back again. Without another word or anything at all, takemichi starts walking away. "Sorry chifuyu.. but.." and he was gone.
Chifuyu just stood there, shock still travelling all over his body. Draken is screwed, but it's takemichi who's more screwed. Takemichi knows that he can always come to chifuyu when he needs to vent, so it relieved chifuyu to some extent.
Takemichi is currently waiting in draken's room, sitting on the bed and staring at that one message from emma. He of course, replied with one of the most two faced replies ever. Pretending to be excited and congratulating her but takemichi knows he shouldn't be mad at emma, she doesn't know.
Draken is a different story, why did you have to lie to emma.. or is it even a lie? Takemichi shook his head, turning off his phone and looked at the photos pinned to the wall.
Though his observation is interrupted with draken's door opening. Takemichi stood up, arms crossed and ready to make eye contact with draken. He tried to keep his angry face but the thought that maybe this whole thing is gonna be over in a few minutes just breaks his facade.
"M-michi?"
"Ken..."
Draken closes his door and dropping his things by it. Draken kept quiet and so did takemichi, the silence is suffocating. Is this over? Is this it?
"She told you didn't she?"
"You say it like as if you're going to keep it from me!"
"No! Michi! Look, I can explain!"
"Then do so."
Takemichi sat down on draken's bed, massaging his head. Great, this is going to turn into a screaming match, isn't it? Draken sat down as well, on his desk stool.
"Emma.. told me to meet up with her. We were just chatting until she started confessing all of a sudden. The confession caught me off guard so all I could say was 'yes'!"
"That's your excuse?"
"Michi.. Please, you know emma had a crush on me for so long, consider her feelings!"
"HER FEELINGS?? But not mine???"
Draken has the audacity to use emma's feelings against him, yes takemichi sees emma as his sister but that's not the issue.
"I'm not mad at emma, I'm more proud that she finally took the courage to confess to you! I'm mad at YOU for lying to her face."
"So it's my fault? When YOU waited for months to finally tell them that were an item!"
"Don't you dare put the blame on me when YOU said YES!"
Draken opened his mouth to retort but no sound came out. He instead sighed in frustration, trying to come up with something. "Why didnt you just say no? The truth! Now here we are fighting!"
"Michi.. it's not easy to say no to her, I didn't say yes to her because I do love her. You need to know I love you and cherish you but emma's going to be heartbroken.. Maybe even hide it."
Takemichi couldn't take it anymore, all draken has said in this arguement was about emma's feelings. Takemichi knows how long their pining has been for, but why does draken think that HE isn't gonna be heartbroken from this.
"You're a coward."
Takemichi stood up, took draken's collar and looked at his eyes, the eyes that takemichi loves so much. Tears running down his face, his heart is breaking into pieces that'll be difficult to piece back together.
"EMMA'S FEELINGS THIS, EMMA'S FEELINGS THAT. HOW ABOUT ME?! MY FEELINGS!"
Takemichi started shaking draken, who sat there taking it.
"I thought you love me.. I thought my feelings come first... Was that whole year of dating just a test run for you? Were you actually waiting for emma? And I'll just be tossed away?"
"No.. miー"
"You're a coward... I always see myself to be the coward in this relationship but I guess not."
Takemichi let go of draken's shirt collar, ready to go home and cry for days. He was right, this is it. As takemichi is ready to get out this room, draken grabbed his wrist.
"So? That's it? Were not even going to clear things up and talk properly?"
"Clear things up?? What is is there to clear up? I think your intentions have already been revealed."
Takemichi tried to get out of draken grip but it's obvious who's stronger between the both of them.
"Takemichi look at me, and say that this is over.."
With tears still in his eyes, he takes this chance to look at draken's beautiful eyes for the last time. Draken's eyes, glossy with little tears coming down. Takemichi is gonna miss them.
"This is over. But don't worry draken.. I'll keep my distance."
Draken's hold loosened, takemichi then walks out with draken not attempting to stop him. That night the both of them cried the whole night in their rooms while a clueless emma was lovestruck as ever.
Takemichi woke up to chifuyu trying to fix up his suit. Chifuyu explained that he found him in the bathroom, asleep and a mess.
Chifuyu then informed him that he has to do a opening toast for the husband and wife. At first takemichi was confused but remembered that he promised draken and mikey a toast.
This toast can be a finally goodbye to draken. They both didn't have a proper goodbye, so this is takemichi's opportunity to make it proper.
Takemichi thanked chifuyu for the help and asked him to take him the reception, chifuyu, sweet as ever, didn't want to but after a few words of reassurance chifuyu led the way.
Waking through those doors were hard, but greeting emma and draken was even harder. Hugging the both of them and asking some champagne. Being given one, takemichi was ready to make this toast on the spot.
Getting everyone's attention, takemichi took a deep breath.
"Congratulations to Ryuguji Ken and the now Ryuguji Emma for this successful marriage. I'm happy to be here today to witness said marriage but my happiness doesn't compare to our couple of the day.
A toast for the following years to come, future dreams and love flourishing for this couple today! A toast to emma for after years of pining, she finally confessed and here we are. A toast to draken to being truthful and ready to give emma the love that she deserves."
Raising his glass, to everyone clapping and cheering. Takemichi whispers his final words or word.
"Goodbye. I love you."
