I'm Your Weakness (MiTake)

Chapter 35

Izana POV

The sound of crashing waves filled the air as Kakucho and I stood near a shaded area, watching from a distance. The others were further ahead, busy with their own conversations, but my attention was elsewhere.

Mikey and Takemichi.

They were standing near the shoreline, talking—quietly, intimately. Mikey’s usual carefree expression was softer, his body language less rigid. Takemichi, on the other hand, looked… vulnerable.

"You’re staring too much," Kakucho muttered beside me, arms crossed.

I didn’t look away. "Something about them feels… off."

Kakucho sighed. "Off?"

I finally turned to him. "Mikey doesn’t act like that with just anyone."

Kakucho frowned, following my gaze back to the two figures at the shore. "Maybe it’s because Takemichi isn’t just 'anyone' to him."

His words made something tighten in my chest.

Takemichi.

That damn crybaby.

I’ve always known he had an effect on people—on me, on my men, on everyone he meets. But seeing Mikey like this? It was different. Dangerous.

"Interesting," I muttered under my breath.

Kakucho gave me a look. "Don’t do anything reckless, Izana."

I smirked, tilting my head. "Who, me?"

He groaned. "Yes, you. I know that look."

I chuckled, but I said nothing more, watching as the sky darkened and the group started heading back to the cottages.

Tonight, things will get interesting.

---

3rd Person POV

Night had fallen, and the sea breeze was cooler now. The group had gathered in the cottage, the warm glow of the lights casting long shadows on the wooden walls.

Mikey sat near the window, arms crossed, his eyes distant as he stared out into the night. Takemichi was beside him, fidgeting slightly—his usual nervous self. The rest of the gang was scattered around, some talking, some resting.

Izana and Kakucho entered last, silent as they took their spots near the entrance.

Something felt different.

The air was heavier, like an invisible tension was settling over the group.

Takemichi noticed it first. "Uh… is something wrong?"

No one answered right away.

Then, Izana finally spoke.

"You, Takemichi," he said, voice unnervingly calm. "You’re important to Mikey, aren’t you?"

The question made everyone pause. Mikey’s head snapped toward Izana, his eyes narrowing.

"The hell are you trying to say?" Mikey asked, his tone sharp.

Izana smirked. "I’m just pointing out the obvious." His gaze shifted back to Takemichi. "You’re his weakness, aren’t you?"

Silence.

Takemichi looked startled, his lips parting slightly. "I—"

Mikey stood up abruptly. "That’s enough."

Izana tilted his head, eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "I’m just stating facts, Mikey. You know it, don’t you? The way you look at him, the way you protect him—he’s your biggest weakness."

Kakucho sighed. "Izana…"

Mikey’s fists clenched, his jaw tightening. "Say another word, and I’ll—"

Izana chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I’m just… observing."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Takemichi looked between them, confused but also visibly shaken. He wasn’t stupid—he understood what Izana was implying.

But before he could say anything, before Mikey could react further, Kakucho finally stepped in.

"Enough," he said firmly, placing a hand on Izana’s shoulder. "Let it go for now."

Izana exhaled through his nose, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he simply gave Mikey one last glance before walking away.

As soon as he was gone, Takemichi let out a shaky breath. "What… what was that about?"

Mikey didn’t answer right away. He just turned, his expression unreadable, before muttering under his breath:

"Nothing. Forget it."

But Takemichi knew better.

And as he watched Mikey sit back down, tension still lingering in his shoulders, he couldn’t help but wonder—

Why did Izana’s words seem to shake him so much?

---

The air inside the cottage felt suffocating. The moment Izana and Kakucho left, everyone was left sitting in uneasy silence.

Draken leaned against the wooden pillar, arms crossed, his sharp eyes moving between Mikey and Takemichi. He had been quiet the whole time, observing, but now he finally spoke.

"Oi, Mikey," Draken said, his voice low but firm. "What the hell was that about?"

Mikey didn’t look at him. "Nothing."

Chifuyu scoffed, leaning forward from his spot on the floor. "That didn’t look like ‘nothing’ to me. That bastard was pushing your buttons, and for once, you didn’t fight back."

"Maybe because he had a point," Baji said suddenly, stretching his legs out as he lay down on the bamboo floor. His usual sharp grin wasn’t there. Instead, he was watching Mikey closely. "Takemichi is your weakness, isn’t he?"

Takemichi flinched at the words. "Baji-san—"

Baji raised an eyebrow. "What? It’s true, isn’t it?"

Yaz, who had been watching everything unfold from the side, finally spoke up. "You guys are all too dense." She sighed, shaking her head. "You’re acting like it’s a bad thing to have someone important to you."

"That’s not the problem," Draken muttered. His eyes were serious as he looked at Mikey. "The problem is that Izana knows."

That made everyone pause.

Chifuyu frowned. "So… what now? Are we just going to ignore it?"

Mikey exhaled sharply, finally looking up. His expression was unreadable, but there was something dark in his eyes.

"I don’t care what Izana knows," Mikey said flatly. "Let him think about whatever he wants."

Draken narrowed his eyes. "That’s bullshit, and you know it. If Izana thinks Takemichi is your weakness, he won’t just sit back and do nothing."

Takemichi tensed at the implication.

Yaz crossed her arms, sighing. "Look, I get that this is serious, but maybe we should all cool our heads first. It’s been a long day."

Baji clicked his tongue. "Tch. Whatever. I’m too hungry to deal with this crap right now."

"Same," Chifuyu muttered.

Draken ran a hand through his hair in frustration but didn’t argue. Instead, he just sent Mikey one last look before standing up. "We’re not done talking about this."

Mikey didn’t respond.

As the group started moving around, trying to ease the tension in their own ways, Takemichi sat frozen in place. His mind was spinning with everything that had just happened.

Izana knew.

And if Izana knew, that meant—

Takemichi swallowed hard.

Something bad was coming. He could feel it.