Chapter 3: Home. I’m Going Home

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At Mikey's Apartment

"Hey Mikey we gotta talk" Draken said to Mikey.

"W-what's going on Ken-chin. Why are you packed?"

Mikey asked hesitantly.

"I uh just got a call from someone of my team. They told me that they are all fine and that they need me back" Draken answered Mikey.

"S-so y-your leaving" Mikey asked with her voice cracking.

"Yeah. I have to go back" Draken said not looking at Mikey.

"Oh ok I understand. I mean we both knew that you were gonna have to leave eventually, it's just that I thought we would have more time together " Mikey said now crying.

"I know I did to" Draken said still looking down.

"S-so when can you come back?" Mikey asked.

There was a brief moment of silenced before:

"I don't think I could ever come back Mikey" Draken said.

"What do you mean you can't come back" Mikey said a little loudly.

"My work won't let me come back because I don't want to get you involved in what I am doing" Draken said now looking at Mikey and seeing her tears streaming down her face.

"So are you saying that this is goodbye? That we won't be able to see each other anymore? I could never see you again? Is that what you are saying Ken-chin" Mikey asked Draken.

"...yes" Draken said now looking down.

The only sounds that can be heard was the sound of Mikey crying and if you listen closely you can hear the sound of a few tears coming down from Draken's face.

"P-please. Please Ken-chin. Please don't make me say goodbye. P-please don't leave m-me. Please I'll do anything say goodbye to you. I'll do anything but let you go Ken-chin, so please stay with me, stay with me a little longer Ken" Mikey said now falling to the ground, crying even more.

"Please please don't cry please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please" Draken begged now kneeling down with Mikey trying to comfort her.

After a few minutes have passed Mikey has somewhat calmed down, but not enough to stop crying.

"I know Ken-chin has to leave but can Ken-chin stay until I fall asleep please" Mikey asked Draken.

"Yeah. I'll stay with you a little longer" Draken said to Mikey.

Now in the bedroom, both Mikey and Draken both laid down in the bed, hugging each other as if they were gonna let each other go which in reality they were.

"I'm going to miss you Ken-chin. I'm going to miss cooking each other's breakfast in the morning. I'm going to miss us playing board games and me saying "one more time" even though we both know that I suck at it" Mikey says in between laughs even though you can hear her trying not to cry again.

"I'm going to miss seeing you in the morning. I'm going to miss our movie nights. I'm going to miss our laughs. Our smiles. And I'm going to miss you" Mikey said now tears falling down her face.

Draken stayed quiet to let her get out her emotions, when deep down he felt the same way. He was going to miss her and the moments they shared together. He didn't want to leave but he had to. He made a promise to his team, his family. But why at this moment did it feel like he was leaving something even more precious than anything.

"I know I'm being selfish right now Ken-chin but I just can't help it. Out of anything in my life, you are the one thing I just can't let go" Mikey said.

"But I know it's the right thing to do, since your team needs you more, but it still hurts" Mikey said quietly.

"I don't want to let you go either but I made a promise and I can't break it. I'm sorry Mikey" Draken said now shedding tears as well.

"It's okay Ken-chin. I understand" Mikey said to Draken, while wiping his tears away.

"No matter what Ken-chin, this will Shays be your home. I will always be waiting here for you to come back home, no matter how long it takes. I promise you Ken-chin" Mikey said to Draken, smiling at him, even with tears coming down her face.

Draken hugged Mikey even tighter, not wanting to let go of her.

"I lov-" Mikey was going to say but cut herself off before she can finish her sentence.

Draken looked at waiting for her to finish. When he saw that she wasn't going to find her sentence, he felt a little disappointed since he wanted nothing more but for her to say those 3 magic words. But instead she said:

"I'll miss you" Mikey says not looking at Draken.

"I'm miss you to Mikey" Draken said a little disappointed but tried not show it.

After that, they both stayed silent, until all you can hear is the slow breathes of air Mikey was letting out as she soon fell asleep in Draken's arms.

Seeing Mikey asleep, Draken slowly got out of her grasps trying not to wake her. But before exiting the room, he took one more look at her, admiring her beauty, knowing he will never see her again.

"I'm so sorry Mikey. I never ever meant to hurt or see you in pain. If I had a choice, I would choose to stay with you forever until my last breathe but I can't because this isn't a fairytale. The world is a cruel place, trust me I know. I never thought in my life I would have something worth fighting for, I always felt like I never had a choice for myself, but after meeting you and being with you in this tiny apartment for a month, I have never felt happier in my life, and I will never ever trade these moments with you for anything in the world" Draken said to himself as he was caressing Mikey cheek.

"Goodbye Manjiro Sano" Draken said before kissing Mikey in her cheek with a tear coming down his face.

Soon enough Draken left the bedroom, then the apartment, and soon enough the shop.

After that Draken went to go meet his team in their new hideout, but as he walking to his destination, he couldn't help but feel a little more lonely now.

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At Toman's Hideout

As soon as Draken got in (after them making sure that he was the real Draken) he was greeted with his friends faces and hugs.

"Draken your finally here" Mitsuya said running up to Draken to then giving him a hug missing his twin.

"Yeah. I'm happy to see you guys too, you have no idea" Draken said hugging his friend back.

"Hey Draken is that you?" Another person said, walking towards both Draken and Mitsuya.

"Hey Baji, what's up man" Draken said hugging his friend.

"Yeah man it's been awhile. Where have you been, we thought we lost ya" Baji said returning the hug.

"Yes where have you been Draken, we were so worried about you, after we haven't received contact from you for almost a month" another person, as more people were coming to see if Draken had really returned.

"Oh well I was recovering with the help of someone special" Draken said with a small smile forming in his face by remembering his time with Mikey.

Everyone stared in shock to see their friend who was never really the smiling type to smile even if it was a small one.

"Woah. Whoever this person is, must be some kind of god or miracle even, if they got Draken to smile" Baji said in shock.

Everyone else just kept staring at Draken, while agreeing on what Baji just said.

"So who is this "special someone" Draken" Smiley said, another friend of Draken's.

"That's not important right now. What is important is what happening between us and these other groups okay so let's just move on" Draken said to his friends.

"Yeah Draken's right we should focus on the topic at hand" Mitsuya said to the others.

"Well I guess your right, even tho I want to know who this mystery person, but oh well" Baji said sounding disappointed since he couldn't get the tea from Draken.

"Know where is the boss?" Draken asked the others.

"He's in his office, probably working on paperwork" Mitsuya said.

"Or he's probably stressing out since we have other groups to deal with" Baji said.

"Well let's go pay him a visit shall we" Draken said to the others.

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Bosses Office

*Knock* *Knock*

"Who is it?" Toman's boss asked.

"It's me Draken" Draken replied from the other side of the door.

"Oh Draken come on in" Toman's boss replied.

One Draken got there okay, he opened the door and went inside to see his friend sitting down on his chair doing paperwork.

"Wow, looks like you got your hands busy, huh Takemichi" Draken said to his friend.

"It is not bad as it looks" Takemichi said chuckling whole scratching his head.

"You can fool some people Takemichi, but I am one of the few that you can't" Draken said looking at his friend.

"Hahahahaha, I couldn't fool you either huh" Takemichi said smiling a little.

"It's that bad huh" Draken asked his friend.

"It was tolerable back then, but now we got trouble with the big ones if you know what I mean" Takemichi said to Draken.

"You mean those "two" are giving us shit" Draken asked.

"It's not just them but some other groups too" Takemichi said.

"Why? How?" Draken asked.

"Well I don't know how this happened, but I do think I know why" Takemichi said.

"Well why?" Draken asked his friend now confused.

"Well Toman is still new but we quickly raised to the top even after forming our group less than a year ago. But even so, we are still a small group compared to the others, so if anything, they want to corner us into backing down so 1). They can force us to join their group and we merge but we work for them or 2). They kick our *** and force us to disband" Takemichi said looking at Draken.

"Wow we are in some messed up shit huh" Draken said chuckling at his friend.

"Yeah. Yeah we are" Takemichi said laughing too.

"So where were you all this time" Takemichi asked Draken suddenly.

Draken stayed quiet for a little bit, thinking about whether he should tell Takemichi about Mikey or not. After thinking hard about it he decided that Takemichi is a good friend of his and that maybe telling him won't be so bad and if anything he can ask Takemichi for some advice on what to do.

"Take your time Draken, you know you don't have to tell me, so when you are ready I'll be here to listen if you want" Takemichi said, smiling at his friend knowing he was having trouble in deciding on what to do.

"I met someone" Draken said looking at Takemichi.

After seeing that he has Takemichi's attention and the approval not to keep going, Draken decided to proceed.

"During the night where we were ambushed, I got shot at, and when I was looking for a place to rest, I stumbled upon a shop, and the person there took me in, and took care of me. She never left my side. She would always wake up early to make me breakfast. She would always make sure I eat first before she does. She's patient with me even when I know I'm not the most patient person to be around, she always puts other people before herself. If anything she is perfect in every way" Draken said smiling, just by thinking of Mikey and there time together.

"Then what the hell are you doing here then" Takemichi asked his oblivious and confused friend.

"W-what do you mean?" Draken asked confused.

-Sighs- "I mean what are you doing here with us when you should be over there with her" Takemichi said now a little annoyed by his friend's idiocy.

"But Toman's my home" Draken said to Takemichi.

"Okay then let me ask you this. In this moment right now where do you want to be?" Takemichi asked his friend.

"...here?" Draken replied back.

"Are you asking me or?" Takemichi said.

"Well I don't know" Draken replied know a little frustrated.

"Yes you do but you feel like what you want to say is wrong" Takemichi said.

"What's holding you back Draken? What's keeping you away from the thing you want most?" Takemichi asked his friend.

"Takemichi look I made a promise to Toman that I will be here and if anything she deserves better than me" Draken said now feeling defeated.

"No. No. No. No. No. No. You are not gonna let Toman keep you from being happy. And what do you mean she "deserves better", what's wrong with you that you feel like you aren't worth it or even worthy of her love" Takemichi asked his friend.

"Everything. Everything is wrong with me Takemichi. My job isn't really a nice job to have since we are in battle almost everyday and any day can be my last. I don't want to start something with her and then for me to die and never come back to her and make her feel like I just went out and left her all alone. I don't want to do that to her. I can never be with her since I am a part of the yakuza group and she works at a flower shop. We are clearly living in two different worlds and I will rather die then let her get mixed up in all of this and for her to get hurt in the crossfire. I will never ever live with myself if she ever got hurt because of me. I want her to be happy with someone who can give her all the things I can't give her. Someone she can go out in public with and won't have to be a target, then us being inside and keeping it a secret any case someone from another group sees us. Someone who can give her everything that she could possibly dream of like: getting married, having kids, moving in together, starting a life together. I can't give her any of that without putting her in harms way. I just can't" Draken says, now starting to tear up knowing he can't ever be with Mikey.

"I understand" Takemichi says now looking at his friend in pity.

"But have you ever considered on how she feels about it?" Takemichi asks his friend.

"Can you really stand here and say that you will be happy for her if she finds someone else to be happy with" Takemichi says.

"By what you are telling me it sounds like she loves you too and by somewhat already getting to know what kind of person she is, it sounds like she is willing to fight for the both of you" Takemichi says looking at his friend.

"If anything Draken it sounds like you are scared because you are afraid you are gonna lose her, but I think you will lose her forever if you don't tell her how you feel. And trust me you will regret not telling her sooner" Takemichi says.

After that, Draken thinks for a moment before thinking that maybe Takemichi is right, and if she does reject him (which he hopes she doesn't), well then he will at least know that he told her how he felt before it was too late.

"Now Draken I am gonna ask you one more time. At this exact moment where do you want to be right now? Or even better who do you want to be with right now?" Takemichi asks his friend.

"..key" Draken says quietly.

"What?" Takemichi says.

".ikey" Draken says quietly.

"What?!" Takemichi says still not hearing what his friend said.

"Mikey. I want to be with Mikey" Draken says proudly.

"Then go to her. Go home Draken" Takemichi tells

his friend now smiling.

"I'll see you later Takemichi. Thanks for your help" Draken says as he leaving the office.

"No problem. Go get her Draken" Takemichi yells with a laugh.

"For someone strong, he sure does know how to doubt himself" Takemichi thinks to himself.

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At Toman's Hideout

Everyone there is just lazing around until they hear the sound of someone running. Curious to see who it is, they turn around to see Draken running, as if his life depended on it.

"Wow wow Draken calm down why are you in such a hurry" Mitsuya asked his friend.

"I'm sorry Mitsuya but I have to go" Draken said wanting to leave already.

"Go? Go where?" Mitsuya asked confused.

"Home. I'm going home" Draken said to Mitsuya.

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