╭┈─────── ʚ✟⃛ɞ ྀ࿐
╰┈➤ [Chapter 42]
╰┈➤ [Third POV]

Y/n stared at himself in the mirror, slightly shocked at the sight before. He was by himself, no one around him, no one to please, and no one to smile to. He couldn't help but hold his breath as a small resting frown was on his lips. He wasn't used to this. Y/n was used to seeing himself smile, even if it's fake, but he didn't feel like smiling right now.

Instead of the usual bright-eyed boy with a black uniform, Y/n only stared at himself who had a white uniform on, the Black Dragon's uniform. Y/n concluded to himself that he didn't look good in white. It pales his smile as it shined too brightly, in his opinion. He touched his hair, carefully brushing it with his fingers, wondering if he should dye it a different color to match his new uniform. Y/n let out a small sigh, knowing that there's nothing he can really do now.

A small knock was heard, taking Y/n out of his mind. Letting his hair fall out of his hands, Y/n turned and opened the door carefully. Akaishi was on the other side, his hands behind his back and a solemn look in his eyes. Akaishi was obviously told about the situation at hand. In fact, only a handful of people in Toman were told about Y/n's trade, but that doesn't mean that they accept it. Akaishi being one of them. He tried to fight for Y/n to stay with him and mentor him, but Y/n had already set his mind, and it was even harder to make him change it.

"Akaishi," Y/n breathed out with a small smile. "You know I have to go soon."

"I know..." Akaishi muttered, looking down. "I know. I just... wanted to say that I will miss you."

Y/n raised a brow, obviously not believing Akaishi's words.

Akaishi sighed, knowing he couldn't lie. "I was going to make a last-ditch effort to have you stay. But... you already set your mind, and as your student, I have to respect it."

Y/n couldn't help but chuckle. "You know that you're not a student anymore." He lightly and playfully punched Akaishi's chest. "You're a medic now, you're going to have to take care of all of Toman. Keep your chin up, you're going to do amazing things here, Red-Chan."

Akaishi stared at Y/n for a moment, feeling the tears bubble up. "I... I don't know if I can be, Y/n... I-I don't even know if they will respect me for who I am because of who I was... Y/n... I can't do this without you..."

Timing couldn't be worse for Akaishi. Right when he passed his final 'exam' for being a medic from Y/n, Y/n was being traded off to the Black Dragons as a peace offering. With no one to guide him on how to be a proper medic, the one loved by all of Toman, the one who is strong yet kind to everyone, Akaishi could feel the pressure on his shoulders. He wanted to cry, he wanted to be a coward. He wanted to run away and hide so that he would never be embarrassed for messing up a treatment.

"Who you were, is just that, who you were," Y/n stated, making Akaishi stare at him in longing. "Are you still that retched, outrageous, power hungry, guy?"

"... No."

"Are you still the guy who will beat people up just because other people say so?"

"No..."

"And are you still that guy who doesn't have a backbone and won't even stand up for himself?"

"No."

"Then you will never be the person who you were." Y/n held onto Akaishi's shoulders making sure he got his point across. "All that matters is who you are now, and I'll be damned if you're not proud of yourself. Look at you, you've changed, Red. You've changed for the better. I think that's something to be proud of. You wanna know why?"

Akaishi felt a tear overflow his eyes. "W-Why?"

Y/n gave Akaishi a warm smile. "Because I'm damn proud of you. You're my pride and joy, Akaishi, so show the world who you are now. Show me that you've changed." He wiped a tear off of Akaishi's cheek. "Because I know that you will always make me proud."

Akaishi's sniffled. Tears overflowed his eyes as he leaned down to Y/n's shoulder, resting his forehead as he cried silently. Y/n let out a small laugh and combed his hand through Akaishi's hair, comforting him. The two stayed like that for a minute longer before Akaishi took in a deep breath and stood up straight. He gave Y/n a determined look before nodding.

"You can count on me, Y/n!" Akaishi claimed, red under his eyes and on his nose. "I will make you proud!"

Y/n let out a laugh. "That's my Red-Chan! I know you will make me proud." He took a glance at the clock in his room and his smile slightly faltered. When he looked back at Akaishi, the other knew that it was time for Y/n to go.

Akaishi took a deep breath. "Before you go, Y/n..." Y/n looked up at him. "...please, wear this. As a memory of Toman." He brought his hands in front of him, and in his palms, delicately placed, was the butterfly pin that Y/n has yet to wear.

Y/n stared at the pin for a moment, remembering how Akkun was the one who gave it to him. He was so shocked that he couldn't even keep his smile up. But once he realized what it was, Y/n smiled. Carefully grabbing the butterfly pin, Y/n put it in his hair. Moving the pin on correctly, Y/n smiled up at Akaishi.

"Look's good?" Y/n questioned.

Akaishi smiled. "Perfect."

Y/n let out a sigh as he had to push past Akaishi, but not before looking back at him and patting his chest. "You're going to do great things for Toman.

"I know it, Red-Chan."

─────── ʚ✟⃛ɞ ྀ࿐

Y/n was standing in a hallway with a small stack of paper in hand. He was in the same building as he was in the other day, since it was the Black Dragon's personally owned building. A bit of an overkill in Y/n's opinion but he digresses. The paperwork he had in hand was the currently injured people that Y/n needed to take care of. He was just surprised that he had a whole medically room just for himself and the injured. Right now, he was double checking the 'diagnosis' he gave to the injured so that he could give his paperwork to Taiju, the man in charge.

"Small gash wound... Bruised cheek... Busted lip... Paper cut, honestly why would he come in here with that?" Y/n talked to himself. "Oh well, not like I can do anything about it. Taiju might beat him up though..." He deadpanned. "Then I have even more work to do... Running me dry for real~"

"What's this? Is that Toman's medic?" A voice spoke up.

Y/n raised a brow unamusingly as he looked up to see a Black Dragon goon in front of him. "Are you here for an injury? If so, you'll have to wait because you need to fill out a form first. I'm on a tight schedule as is, so I don't need a distraction."

The goon smirked as he put a hand on the wall that Y/n was closest to. "A 'distraction,' eh? Maybe you need one. So stressed looking and uptight~ From what I heard, you can be really rude too with that little smile of yours."

Y/n sighed. "If you're going to stand there flirting, might as well make yourself useful and get this paperwork to Taiju. As I said, tight schedule, no distractions. So, go make yourself useful."

"I'm no errand boy to you, medic," The goon scoffed. "I too have places to be, but here I am making time for you. You should be grateful~"

"If you have places to be, then scram."

The new voice made Y/n and the goon perk up a bit. They looked to the side and saw Inui, in all his glory, striding up to the two. The goon immediately flinched back as his hand came off of the wall quickly. Y/n, however, was amused and let the scene play out in front of him. He'll admit, seeing the goon get scared so easily almost made Y/n want to laugh.

"Bugging he medic when he's working is strictly prohibited," Inui claimed as he towered over the goon with his heels. "I suggest you leave now before I report you. Or better yet, have the medic deal with you."

The goon scoffed as a sweat rolled down his cheek. "Th-The medic? What's he going to do? Strangle me with bandages?"

Y/n and Inui glanced at each other, both fully aware that the goon was an idiot. Inui looked back at the goon. "I think there's a misunderstanding. The medic here isn't just going to strangle you with bandages but can also beat the shit out of you whenever he pleases. You're looking at the person who took down more than half of Valhalla's troops, survived two stabbings, and had all of Toman under control.

"That is just the tip of the iceberg, and are you sure you want to go up against one of, if not the, strongest gang member in history who isn't a leader?"

"Oh dear, Seishu, I think you've made an understatement about what I can do. But..." Y/n trailed off as he glanced at the trembling goon with a smirk. "...you know I'm just playing nice for now."

The goon trembled more before giving a half-assed apology as he bowed and ran off. Y/n gave a breathy laugh as he rubbed his temple. Inui rolled his eyes at the goon before turning to Y/n. He couldn't help but notice the small smile on Y/n's face. To which, Inui blushed lightly but quickly shook it off.

"You doing alright?" Inui asked.

"Yes. Yeah, I'm fine," Y/n sighed as he put a hand on his hip. "You know I could've handled that myself, right? Because I'm the 'one of, if not the, strongest gang member in history who isn't a leader'?" He smirked as he looked at Inui.

Inui seemed to have puffed up in pride of his words. "I mean what I said. Besides, I don't think that we need more people in the infirmary than we already do now."

"You can say that again. Did you guys have a brawl or something before I came here? There're so many people with untreated, or very badly treated injuries. It almost makes me sob."

"We didn't have a medic," Inui stated as he walked with Y/n down the hallway as Y/n was looking through the paperwork. "Most of the wounds are taken care of by other people with... not nearly enough medical knowledge."

"How comforting..." Y/n muttered. "So, what do you do for the Black Dragons? I got the gest of most people here, but I can't get my head around your job."

"I'm merely an assistant for the boss. I'm also the captain of an attack squad."

Y/n let out a low whistle. "Really now? With your pretty face and heels, I thought you'd be treasurer with Kokonoi."

Inui had to pause in the middle of walking, letting Y/n stroll ahead of him. His eyes were wide after Y/n had said. He couldn't help but blush as he watched Y/n slowly coming to a stop after noticing he wasn't walking with him anymore. With a raised brow, Y/n glanced back at Inui with a questioning gaze.

"E-Excuse me?" Inui couldn't help but stutter. "D-Did you just call me 'pretty face'?"

"Well, obviously. I mean, look at you," Y/n claimed, gesturing Inui up and down. "Perfectly lean with good muscle, blue eyed and blond, a good height, pale skin... need I continue? You're like... perfectly good to be a model or something."

"I-I... Uh... Didn't think I do... No one ever..."

Y/n scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Then people are just idiots for not noticing. I mean, you stand here and you're not attractive? Like, no. The ladies will have a field day with you."

"Attractive? You find me attractive?"

Y/n stared at Inui for a moment before shrugging with a small nod. "I think you're pretty, but attractiveness is different for everyone. Hell, people are even loving asymmetry these days so that scar of yours is a total knockout. Personally, I think it suits you."

"I... never thought of that..." Inui muttered slightly as he looked down. "I'm not going for an attractive look, I don't think."

"Then props to you for being naturally pretty," Y/n sighed out. "People out there do all sorts of things to meet beauty standards. Consider yourself lucky, Seishu."

"I think... you're lucky too, Y/n."

Y/n paused for a moment. "Are you calling me pretty?"

Inui blushed as he looked away. "No, I... I think you're... handsome...?" The statement sounded more like a question because Inui, in all honesty, couldn't put Y/n's attractiveness into words.

Y/n blinked for a moment, not really used to those types of compliments. However, he smiled when Inui looked back at him. "Thank you, I appreciate it, Inui. Now! Let's get these to Taiju, we've wasted enough time now."

"Ah, right," Inui perked up as he was quick to follow Y/n down the hallway. "Oh, and call me Inupi."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Then... I think you're pretty, Inupi-Chan!"

"Ack-!"

─────── ʚ✟⃛ɞ ྀ࿐

Y/n rubbed his head from an incoming headache. He leaned on the counter as he was in his infirmary. He had just gotten finished with multiple injuries that were said to be 'emergencies' when really it wasn't, and the amount of disrespect he had been served was unfathomable. Y/n hadn't felt this stressed in a long time. The flirting, the intimidations, the whining, it was starting to get much for Y/n.

There was a knock and the sound of the infirmary door opening. "If you're here for an injury, wait it out because I'm on my break," Y/n claimed as he rolled his eyes. "Give me 15 minutes." He laid his head in his arms, acting like it was a cushion.

"I think the medic needs a medic. Are you doing okay?" Kokonoi's voice spoke up.

Y/n looked up from his arms to see Kokonoi leaning on the wall with a small smirk on his face. However, in his eyes, Y/n could see that Kokonoi was genuinely concern for him. "Ugh, you wouldn't believe it even if I told you. When I signed up, I was expecting at least a little bit of respect walking into this, but, oh my god, this is bad-bad."

Kokonoi raised a brow. "I don't think that it's that bad."

Y/n glared.

"Right?"

"Oh no, it's pretty bad, Koko-Chan," Y/n grumbled as he jumped onto the counter to sit. "Not only do I get disrespected here, but I also get harassed. Who knew people here would be so handsy and horny all the damn time!

"I thought Hanma was bad, but no~ this is a whole other bad, down bad! Like, if I'm bandaging your ankle, don't make a joke about me being on my knees because I'm taking care of you. I swear I was going to break that ankle again if I could."

"Honestly, you should've." Kokonoi shrugged.

Y/n deadpanned at Kokonoi. "I would get in trouble."

"I will pay you to do so."

Y/n paused for a moment. He raised a brow and looked at Kokonoi expectantly. "You serious? Because there's a really good Mochi place nearby I want to try out."

Kokonoi leaned closer to Y/n with a smirk. "Go bad shit whenever someone disrespects you." He winks as he holds out a few thousand yen. "I got you covered. Both money wise and with the big boss."

Y/n raised a brow as he too leaned closer. "What's the catch?"

"Just take care of them after you finished."

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Y/n cheered as he took the money. "Oh~ Koko-Chan you have no idea what you've let me done! Haha~ I love you so much right now, how could I repay you??" He looked down at the money he had in his hands.

Kokonoi blushed at Y/n's unfiltered words. However, he smiled and used his pointer finger to lift Y/n's chin to force the other to look at him. "How about I buy you..."

Y/n's eyes slightly widened as a small bit of blush dusted his cheeks. "What...?"

Kokonoi smiled a closed eyed smile as he pulled away and put his hands up. "...dinner of course! How about I buy you dinner? My treat as an apology for the poor service."

Y/n blinked for a moment before leaning on one hand and tilted his head. He smirked. "Another treat? Stop~ You're spoiling me, Kokonoi." He chuckled. "Who knows, maybe I'll give you a treat of my own, huh?"

"I can't say I won't be waiting for it," Kokonoi claimed. "Besides, who wouldn't want to spoil you, handsome boy?"

Y/n chuckled at Kokonoi's teasing. "You have a way with words, Koko-Chan. But back to the dinner date, huh?"

Kokonoi suddenly blushed. "Date? No, no, that's an apology."

"Not anyone just invites someone to a dinner for free, Koko-Chan. I know when I'm being asked on a date by someone, and you, kind sir, already asked and I've accepted. You can't back out of it now. Besides..." Y/n gave a comforting smile. "...I think I'll have fun."

Kokonoi stared at Y/n for a moment longer. Seeing Y/n's real smile for once brought something out of him to his heart. He blushed a little more than before as he stared for a moment longer. Finally, he shook his head and smiled. He tilted his head back at Y/n as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"I'm glad."

─────── ʚ✟⃛ɞ ྀ࿐

"When you said that I would be accompanying you at the end of my shift today..." Y/n muttered as he looked around him. "I didn't think that I would be attending church with you."

Y/n looked up at the tall ceiling in slight wonder. The moonlight, along with the candles placed under a Holy Mary glass picture, were the only light source for the church. There wasn't anyone in the church at the moment, only Y/n and Taiju, who was walking ahead of him. Y/n, however, stopped when he got to the stage of the church. Taiju stepped up to the stage and put his hands together in front of a glass picture of Jesus.

Y/n decided to keep quiet for the time being. Although he didn't really believe in the Christian God, he didn't want to be disrespectful to Taiju's religion. He stood a bit away as he put his hands together in front of him. He waited patiently for Taiju to be done praying. Y/n's eyes decided to wonders as he looks around the church, amazed with the colors, paintings, and artistry.

"I brought you here so that you could pray with me," Taiju claims, his head bowed down to the cross and not bothering to look up. "But, by your hesitance to talk, you do not have the same religion as mine."

Y/n was silence for a moment, watching Taiju carefully. "I don't like labels when it comes to belief. In all honesty, I don't believe in a being that's all powerful and all knowing; a God in other words."

"I don't need your explanation. Your religion has nothing to do with me, so I will not force you to believe in something you don't believe in," Taiju says as he bows to the cross and walked back to Y/n. "I just wanted to see what you will do. However, I am grateful that you respect this holy place."

"Just because I don't believe in it doesn't mean I don't respect it," Y/n said as he and Taiju sits down on one of the benches in the church. "I guess, I was just shocked that you would take me here of all places to accompany you."

Taiju let out a small hum letting the moment between him and Y/n pass for a second before speaking up again, "The Black Dragons... is everything stable here?"

Y/n sighed as he rubbed his arm from the snow cold that was happening outside. "All the injuries are cured or going through treatment. All who are, are already documented, hence the paperwork I gave you the other day."

Taiju narrowed his eyes slightly as he glanced down at Y/n. "I have heard from Kokonoi some unpleasant stories on your behalf. Are my man bothering you while you work?"

Y/n hesitated. "Sureee~ They're great. No problem at all."

Taiju furrowed his brows and Y/n seemed to have noticed that Taiju picked up that he was lying.

"Right..." Y/n sighed, looking away. "Lying is a sin." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Not all of them are bad, that's for sure. It's just... Everyday I come in that infirmary, I dread doing what I love. Not only do I have to treat some of the smallest wounds I've ever seen in my life, but I also get harassed.

"The cat-calling, the groping, the threats... I..." Y/n sighed once more as he put his face in his hands. "I'm so stressed, Shiba. I swear I'll get everything down as soon as I can but... it's hard." He looked up at Taiju, who was listening intently to what Y/n was saying. "I want to be your medic, I do, but I can't do my job if this continues." Y/n lightly hissed to himself, feeling an in coming headache. "Sorry for ranting, Shiba..."

"There's no need to be sorry, Y/n," Taiju said as carefully as he could with his rough voice. He firmly but gently held Y/n's hand and pushed it down, making Y/n look back up at him. "I have heard the reports from Kokonoi, Inui and a few others. I just wanted to confirm myself that this is true."

Y/n stared at Taiju for a moment before giving a soft smile and standing up, Taiju following him as they walked out of the church. "I never knew you were someone who cared so much about this," he claims. "Honestly, I didn't say anything at first because you wouldn't do anything."

Taiju raised a brow, almost offended by Y/n's words. "Heh? You think I'm going to trade for a medic only to have him not feel comfortable in his own working place?"

Y/n shrugged jokingly still keeping his smile. "Yeah~ I mean, you are a big tough guy, you know?"

Taiju scoffed. The two didn't say many words after that as they started to walk to the main road. The night was cold and the air seemed to be colder. Small flasks of snow fell from the air as the snow on the ground crunched slightly under Y/n's and Taiju's boots. Y/n held his arms close to himself, cold from the air around him.

When Taiju and Y/n stopped at a crosswalk, Y/n shivered and breathed hot air into his gloved hands. Y/n doesn't really like the cold all the much. He enjoyed the snow, don't get him wrong, he just cold more easier than others. Taiju seemed to have noticed Y/n's shivering. Without looking down at him, Taiju stepped closer to Y/n and pulled him to his body. He held onto Y/n's shoulder as Y/n blinked at the sudden action

Y/n's cheeks felt roses along with his nose as he couldn't help but smile. Maybe Taiju was a better person than Y/n thought he was. Now that Taiju wasn't abusing Yuzuha and Hakkai, Y/n couldn't help but have a fresh mind on Taiju's character. Of course, Y/n doesn't fully forgive Taiju to what he had done, but life keeps moving and people change during it.

"A few weeks from now..." Taiju started. "...Black Dragon is hosting a meeting with other gangs. It will almost be like a party, of sorts, but it is also a trade meeting. Members of the Black Dragon are to assist the other gang members during this party."

"This is the first I'm hearing about it," Y/n muttered, watching the cars go by him and Taiju.

"That is because you are the first to hear about this. I wanted to let you know ahead of time so that you can collect your thoughts and decide if you want to join or not."

"And I'm guessing that this privilege only applies to me?"

Taiju glanced down at Y/n. "My gang gave you enough trouble, consider this my apology in a way."

Y/n through about Taiju's offer for a moment before he smiles. "I'll help out. As your advisor or as a waiter, those are the only two jobs I'm doing. Being a medic for so many people isn't really my forte~"

╭┈─────── ʚ✟⃛ɞ ྀ࿐
╰┈➤ [Chapter 42]
╰┈➤ [A/N: This took way too long to do TT^TT]
╰┈➤ [4348]