{TRIGGER WARNING FOR NON-CONSENSUAL MOLESTATION}
Yu thrashed harder, nails clawing at Isuke's arm, at his chest, anywhere he could reach. His muffled screams sharpened into raw cries, his voice echoing against the empty classroom walls.
"Get off me—stop!"
But Isuke only bore down harder, lips trailing over his cheek, fingers creeping higher under the hem of his skirt.
"No—no! I said stop!"
Yu's desperation surged, his free hand flailing until it connected with something cold and metal on the desk beside him.
His fingers closed around it— a tray left from the festival clean-up. With every ounce of strength left in his trembling body, Yu swung.
CLANG!
The tray smacked against Isuke's head with a sharp crack. His grip faltered, his body stumbling back a few steps, eyes wide with shock.
Yu's chest heaved, his breaths ragged, tears streaking his flushed face. But this time he didn't cower. Holding the tray in front of him like a shield, his voice rang out—wobbling, but fierce.
"I hate you! You're creepy—you disgust me! I love Taichi, and I'll only ever love Taichi!"
Isuke's face twisted, his mask shattering as fury flashed across his features. But Yu didn't wait to see what came next. He bolted for the door, flats slapping against the tile, the tray still clutched in his trembling hands.
His heart thundered, breath burning his lungs as he flew down the hall.
'Taichi—where's Taichi?'
He screamed in his mind, half to himself, half to the voice only he could hear.
[Locker room.]
DK01's voice snapped in his head, sharp, urgent.
[East side. Keep running down this hallway. Go—now!]
Yu didn't hesitate. Tears blurred his vision as he ran, his small frame cutting through the emptying festival corridors, driven by one thing only:
Get to Taichi.
Yu's feet pounded against the polished floors, tears smearing down his cheeks as he clutched the dented tray to his chest like a lifeline. DK01's urgent directions pulsed in his head— turn left at the corner, down the stairs, keep going, don't stop.
Behind him, heavy footsteps gave chase.
"Yu—!"
Isuke's voice roared, no longer the silken mask of charm, but jagged with rage.
"Don't run from me!"
Yu's lungs screamed, his legs threatening to buckle, but fear kept him moving. He careened around a corner, nearly colliding with the wall, flats squeaking against the marble. His heartbeat drowned out everything—except the sound of Isuke gaining on him.
Finally, the locker room door loomed ahead. Yu flung himself at it, bursting inside—
—and straight into Taichi's chest.
"Yu?!"
Taichi caught him instinctively, arms closing around his trembling body. Yu clutched at his shirt, tray clattering to the floor, sobbing out broken words.
"T-Taichi—help—he—he tried—"
The door slammed open behind them.
Isuke Sasaki filled the frame, his eyes wild, hair mussed, the polished prince mask long since stripped away. His voice dripped venom as he snarled,
"Get your hands off him, Arifukua."
Taichi's body went rigid, holding Yu protectively against him. Slowly, he turned, his dark eyes burning with a fury that promised blood.
Yu clung to Taichi's shirt like it was the only thing keeping him alive, his face buried against his chest. Taichi's arm wrapped protectively around him, muscles taut, while his other hand was raised like a barrier between them and the storm that had just kicked down the door.
"Yu doesn't belong to you, Sasaki."
Taichi said, low and steady, though his voice trembled with the effort to keep his rage in check.
"Stop embarrassing yourself and back off."
Isuke's smile was wrong now, stretched thin and sharp. He stepped forward, reaching for Yu, only for Taichi's palm to swat his hand aside with a loud smack.
"Don't touch him!"
Taichi growled.
Yu flinched at the sound, but instead of pulling away, his trembling arms tightened around Taichi's middle, pressing himself deeper into his hold.
"Yu—look at me."
Isuke's voice wavered between coaxing and commanding, his fingers darting out again.
"You don't want him. He's violent. Dangerous. He'll only hurt you. Come to me, Yu, I'll take care of you."
Taichi shoved his arm away again, harder this time.
"You call this taking care?!"
The shove had enough force to send Isuke stumbling a half step, but he recovered quickly, snarling. He lunged in again, trying to hook an arm around Yu, but Yu's cry split the air as he buried himself against Taichi, legs nearly giving out.
"Taichi! Please—don't let him—"
The sight made Taichi's restraint tremble on its last thread. He shoved Isuke back with his free hand, knuckles grazing the prince's jaw this time.
"He said no. You don't get to ignore that!"
Isuke's face twisted, no longer the idol prince adored by the school. His lip curled, fury spitting out between his teeth.
"He doesn't even know what he wants. You've poisoned him against me—"
"Funny…"
Taichi cut in, eyes narrowed to a blade.
"Because right now, he's begging me to hold him. Not you."
The words landed like a slap. Isuke's face darkened, his eyes snapping to Yu.
"Yu—say it. Tell me you love me, not him. Say it!"
He grabbed for Yu again—
—but Taichi's arm intercepted, shoving him back so violently this time that Isuke's nails dragged across Taichi's wrist, leaving angry red scratches. Yu gasped, seeing the mark, and clung even tighter.
"Stop it!"
Yu screamed, voice cracking as he twisted his head enough to glare at Isuke from the safety of Taichi's chest.
"I don't love you! I never will! I love Taichi!"
The Love-o-meter ticked up:
57 - 59
The words rang like gunfire in the tiled locker room.
Isuke froze, his chest heaving, his perfect composure shattered.
And then—he lunged.
Taichi let go of restraint entirely, shoving Yu aside and finally meeting him head-on as fists flew.
The air cracked apart the moment fists started flying.
It wasn't clean or disciplined — it was two boys slamming into each other with all the fury and desperation they had. Taichi's fist connected with Isuke's shoulder, his jaw, his ribs. Isuke clawed back, shoving, grappling, swinging wide punches that landed hard enough to stagger Taichi sideways into a row of lockers with a metallic clang.
Yu's cry rang out above the chaos.
"Stop! Please—stop it!"
But neither of them heard.
Their bodies collided again, grunting, fists thudding, shoes squealing on the tile floor. Taichi's knuckles split; Isuke's lip bled. Both looked like demons pulled apart from their masks, raw hate driving them.
And Yu — trembling, heart pounding — realized what was happening.
'If this went on, Taichi… Taichi would get dragged away again. He'd be painted the monster, the violent beast. He'd lose everything.'
"Taichi!"
Yu screamed, hurling himself forward. He wedged himself between them, his small hands pressing against Taichi's chest, his body a fragile barrier.
"Please, no more! Don't—don't fight!"
Taichi froze, fists trembling in midair, his breath ragged.
But Isuke, eyes wild and still swinging, didn't stop in time. His fist clipped across Yu's cheek.
The sound — that sound — was louder than anything else.
Yu gasped, stumbling back, blood trickling from the corner of his lips. The sight stunned Isuke, his face blanching in horror as the realization hit.
"Yu—wait, I—"
He reached out, but Yu flinched away, clutching his face with wide, tear-brimmed eyes.
And Taichi saw red.
A sound ripped from his throat, more growl than human, and he charged. His fist crashed against Isuke's jaw with a brutal crack, sending him sprawling across the floor. Taichi advanced again, ready to put him down and keep him there, his whole body shaking with the need to end him.
But Yu's voice broke through the storm.
"Taichi—! Stop!"
Bloodied, crying, Yu wrapped his arms around Taichi from behind, clinging desperately to his waist. His voice trembled but his words cut through, sharp with love and fear.
"If you kill him, they'll take you away from me! Please—please don't leave me!"
Taichi's fist stopped midair, his body trembling so violently it looked like he might shatter. His breath came in harsh gasps, eyes locked on Isuke lying dazed and bleeding against the lockers.
Slowly, painfully, Taichi lowered his arm. His hands curled into fists against his sides, nails digging into his palms.
And Yu held him tighter, sobbing into his back, terrified but resolute.
The locker room fell into silence.
No sound but the ragged breathing of three boys and the metallic echo of fists that still clung to the air.
Yu's cheek throbbed, blood warm against his skin, but all he could think about was Taichi's trembling body beneath his arms. He slipped around to face him, grabbing hold of his hand with both of his own, then his arm, clutching him like an anchor.
"Taichi…"
His voice cracked, pleading, but steady where it mattered.
"Let's go home. Please. Just… let's leave this place."
Taichi's chest heaved, his knuckles still dripping blood, his whole frame locked between fury and restraint. His eyes—still burning red with the need to destroy—slowly softened as Yu's words sank in. He looked down at the boy clutching him, bloodied but unbroken, and everything else fell away.
He nodded once. Wordless. Obedient to the one voice he couldn't ignore.
Yu's small fingers tightened around his, tugging gently.
"Come on. With me. Always with me."
And Taichi obeyed.
The two of them walked toward the exit, their shadows cast long in the fluorescent light, bruised and battered but together. Taichi never once let go of Yu's hand, his grip firm, protective, as though he feared the world might rip him away if he loosened even a little.
Behind them, Isuke struggled to sit up, blood dripping from his split lip and nose, his eyes wide and glassy. His voice cracked, desperate, raw in a way he never allowed anyone to hear.
"Yu—!"
He reached out, his hand trembling.
"Forgive me! I didn't mean— I love you, it's only you… please, don't go—don't leave me for him!"
His words bounced off the walls, but Yu never looked back.
"Yu!"
His voice broke now, wet with tears.
"Why can't you see I'd do anything for you? Just… love me instead! Please…"
But his cries fell hollow. The two boys he wanted most to break apart walked away without a glance, their bond unshakable, their love carved into the silence itself.
For the first time, Isuke's composure shattered completely. He pressed his hands over his face and sobbed, shoulders heaving, the sound of his heartbreak echoing through the empty locker room.
Isuke stayed slumped on the cold tile floor long after their footsteps faded. His sobs rattled the locker room, ugly and uneven, nothing like the polished laughter he wielded so easily in public.
He pressed his palms to his eyes until they burned.
'What have I done?'
Yu's voice echoed in his head, every word a blade—
Creepy… disgusting… I love Taichi.
For a heartbeat, something cracked through his frenzy of longing. The thought came uninvited, unwelcome.
'Should I just… give up?'
His chest seized with the possibility.
'To let Yu slip entirely into Arifukua's arms, to stop chasing, stop hurting… would that be mercy, or cowardice?'
But the silence gave him no answer. Only the sting of rejection, raw and festering. His fingers curled into fists, trembling. The tears didn't stop, but somewhere behind them, another fire began to smolder again.
---
Outside, night had draped itself over the school grounds, only the distant sparkle of streetlamps and car headlights cutting through the dark.
Yu leaned against Taichi as they walked, his smaller hand still locked in Taichi's larger, calloused one. The world around them had gone strangely gentle—empty corridors, the muffled buzz of laughter still floating from the festival's last stragglers—but in their little bubble, it was quiet.
Taichi kept glancing down at Yu, his brows drawn tight at the sight of the bruises forming, the dried streak of blood at his lip.
"We should've gone to the nurse."
Taichi muttered, his voice husky from the fight.
Yu shook his head quickly.
"No. I don't want… anyone else seeing me like this. Just you."
His pale hair caught the flicker of the yellow lights from outside, eyes ruby-red and luminous in the dark.
The words sank deep into Taichi, easing something wild inside him.
When they reached a bench outside the school gates, Taichi sat Yu down gently, crouched in front of him. He pulled out a crumpled handkerchief, dipped it into his water bottle, and began dabbing at Yu's face with all the tenderness he could muster.
Yu winced once or twice, but never pulled away. He only watched Taichi's careful hands, the deep crease of worry between his brows, the way he handled him as though Yu were made of glass.
"You always take care of me."
Yu whispered, small but certain.
Taichi paused, his throat tightening. He swallowed hard, then gave a soft smile—one that belonged to Yu alone.
"Always."
Yu's lips curved faintly, exhaustion tugging at the corners of his face. He leaned forward, resting his forehead against Taichi's, their breaths mingling, their bruises forgotten for just a moment.
Together, they rose again, fingers intertwined, and began the quiet walk home.
---
The night followed them home, streetlamps painting their shadows long and thin on the pavement. Yu's hand stayed glued to Taichi's, his grip small but firm, and neither spoke much as they walked. The quiet wasn't heavy—it was the quiet after a storm, where every step forward felt like a fragile victory.
When they reached Yu's small studio, Taichi shut the door behind them and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The space was dim and familiar, lived-in—two mugs still on the counter, a blanket tossed across the couch, the start of a crocheted row lay next to textbooks, evidence of the life they had built together.
"Sit."
Taichi said softly, guiding Yu toward the bed. He disappeared for a moment into the kitchenette, returning with a cool, damp towel and the battered first aid kit they'd come to use too often.
Yu obeyed, perching on the edge while Taichi knelt in front of him. The compress was pressed gently to Yu's cheek, cool relief against the swelling. Yu flinched once, then sighed, letting himself lean into the touch.
"You'll bruise…"
Taichi murmured, brushing damp strands of white hair out of Yu's face.
"I don't care."
Yu whispered.
"As long as I'm with you."
Taichi's chest tightened at that, but he kept his hands steady, dabbing at the small cut inside Yu's mouth. Yu winced when the disinfectant stung, but didn't complain. When Taichi was done placing a square bandage over Yu's bruised cheek, Yu caught his larger hand, pulling it closer.
"Your turn."
Yu's voice was soft, but insistent. He tugged Taichi up onto the bed beside him and carefully cleaned the split knuckles, wrapping them with clumsy yet gentle fingers. His ruby-red eyes were narrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a little pout that made Taichi's heart twist.
When the bandage was secure, Yu sat back, inspecting their handiwork. Both of them looked battered—faces bruised, knuckles red, clothes rumpled. For a beat, silence stretched, and then they both chuckled at the sight.
"We look like a mess."
Yu said with a weak laugh.
Taichi chuckled with him.
"A matching set."
The words warmed Yu, but when his smile faded, a shadow flickered across his face. His gaze lowered, his fingers twisting in his lap.
"…I don't like it."
He whispered.
"Don't like what?"
"That he… was the last one I kissed."
Yu's voice cracked at the confession. He turned toward Taichi quickly, his cheeks already pink.
"I want to erase it. Please—"
Before Taichi could respond, Yu leaned in, pressing his lips against his. It was soft at first, searching, then Yu tried to deepen it, tried to pour everything into the kiss. But the sting of his swollen cheek and the cut inside his mouth made him flinch, breaking the seal with a hiss of pain.
Taichi rested his forehead against Yu's, hands firm on his shoulders.
"We'll stick to light kisses for now. Until you're healed, okay?"
Yu let out a little sigh, puffing his cheeks in a pout—then immediately regretted it with a sharp
"Ow."
His exaggerated misery made Taichi laugh, and he leaned down to press the lightest kiss to Yu's forehead.
"You're becoming really assertive lately."
Taichi teased, his smile warm.
"It suits you. Means you're more comfortable with me."
The words struck Yu deep, filling his chest with a shy, dizzy warmth. Before he could respond, a voice stirred inside his head—
[Observation: You are, indeed, exhibiting increased assertive tendencies. Analysis suggests this may be related to your Incubus King soul needing to feed. For your own safety, your Incubus nature has a limiter in place however—]
DK01's voice dips low as if letting out a secret.
[It is only natural for you to desire heightened intimacy with your chosen partner.]
Yu flushed scarlet, his fingers gripping at Taichi's sleeve as if the comment were visible on his face.
'DK01, shut up!'
But even as embarrassment burned through him, his heart swelled at Taichi's words, too. He hid his face against Taichi's chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat.
And though their bodies ached, though bruises would bloom by morning, Yu felt safe. Loved. Whole.
Yu stayed nestled against Taichi's chest, his cheek pressed to the warmth of him, even though the bandage tugged faintly when he moved. His breath came slow and tired, but every so often he tilted his chin just enough to steal another soft kiss. Light, fleeting touches of lips—each one careful, like they were both afraid to break the fragile peace holding them together.
Taichi indulged every single one, smiling faintly each time Yu leaned in, responding with a whisper of a kiss in return—at his temple, at the tip of his nose, at the corner of his mouth.
"Don't stop."
Yu murmured, drowsy and pink-cheeked.
"I wasn't planning to."
Taichi whispered back, his voice rough but fond.
Gradually, the kisses slowed, replaced by the steady rhythm of breaths syncing together. Yu's fingers curled into Taichi's shirt like he feared he might be pulled away again if he let go. Taichi wrapped his arm tight around Yu's waist, anchoring him, the other hand brushing lazily through his long white hair until the strands fanned like silk across the bedsheets and pillow.
The bruises ached, but in the hush of the small apartment, they didn't matter. Only the warmth of their bodies pressed close, the quiet hum of the city outside the window, and the quiet truth shared between them:
We made it through today, and we're still here together.
By the time Yu finally drifted into sleep, his lips were still curved into the faintest smile. Taichi followed soon after, his forehead resting against Yu's crown, holding him as though he'd never let go.