F̶o̶l̶l̶o̶w̶ Fuck the Rulebook - Kenma Kozume

Unconnected - Chap 69

Akasuki stared sadly at the screen, the words 'you were removed from this group chat' were repeated throughout her message history. Her eyes caught an individual chat, finger hovering over their name. Is it worth being hurt and hurt all over again? She pressed the chat, immediately photos loading up. Right, they never really messaged much, it was always through calls or person. There on her screen was Kenma's bright golden eyes staring at with full joy. How is it possible for someone to be so gorgeous? Her chest tightened as she gazed over the photos of his half-awake face. Flashes of his furious face replacing them in her mind. Was it okay for her to be doing this? After what she put him through, she shouldn't be looking at him. Her eyes lifted at the same time the gym doors opened, three boys sliding out all laughs and smiles. Fuck, she gritted her teeth, tears brimming in her eyes, how selfish was it of her to want to be with them once more? A pair of eyes swayed towards Akasuki's meeting her gaze, a smile spreading on their face as they pulled their phone out stopping against the wall. How can he still smile at her? Her phone vibrated in her hands, Akasuki glancing down to see a message from So,
"Who knew, even when lost, you're cute."
She couldn't tell if this was a joke or So being serious with her, still a weary smile grew on her face, he's so stupid.
"Why are you smiling?" Damien questioned, his voice tearing away her moment of joy.
"Nothing," she muttering switching her phone off.
"He asked you a question," another snapped.
"Noth," her lips stopped moving as Damien threw his against hers, eyes wide in shock, what the fuck.
He moved his lips gently against hers, smiling into the kiss,
"don't make me ask again, Akasuki."
Fuck, Akasuki tightened her lips as she held the phone loosely up to him. He pulled away slowly, the devil burning in his eyes as he slowly read the message on the screen, grunting as he gripped it in his palm,
"you really are a little slut."
What? Is he serious? She didn't even do anything. He glanced up towards the gym seeing the boys gathered by the wall, Damien, red growing in his eyes. She knew that look. Suddenly he clenched his hand around the phone, wrapping his fingers tightly around her wrist, Akasuki winced as his fingers fit their natural placement upon her skin. She never dared to complain about the pain of the marks he left upon her, they had become a part of her life. just like before. He yanked her from her seat, dragging her feet across the ground towards the boys. Why is he doing this? Akasuki couldn’t rid herself of the dread associated with Damien's confrontations. Akasuki helplessly tried to twist her wrist in his grasp ad he continued to drag her to the boys.
"Damien, please," Akasuki pleaded, "he's only being nice."
"Shut up," Damien snapped, stopped as he reached the boys, Akasuki stumbling over her feet into the back of him gazing up at the boys.
Sō. His eyes were wide like a deer in head lights as Damien growled,
"what's your problem?"
"Problem?" So slowly murmured, his face growing red under pressure.
Yūki stepped forward to squeeze past Lev, Damien's temper growing fast as he expectantly shoved Yuki, his body hitting against So's chest, a yelp leaving his lips. What, Yūki gazed up his red pink, misty eyes catching Akasuki's eyes crushing her soul, Yūki.
"Move you short ass," Damien grunted, eyes still set on Sō.
Lev took a hold of Yūki's arm carefully moving him from the situation, flashing his eyes at Damien,
"what's the problem?"
Lev. She gazed up at him, he literally was a knight in shining armour, just not hers.
"You're that desperate?" Damien questioned, his grasp tightening around her wrist.
A low yelp left her mouth causing her to bite down on her lip. Lev glanced down at her eyes narrowing,
"what are you on about?"
Damien's gone crazy, not that he wasn't before, but least before Akasuki knew why, now she has no clue.
"Him," Damien jabbed his finger into So's chest, his frown turning into a smirk, "I get it," he paused abruptly pulling Akasuki to his front, "you should have just asked."
With those words, one of Damien's minions grabbed So's shirt thrusting his head down to meet Akasuki's face, Damien's hands now on either side of her face. Wait, what is, before Akasuki could finish thinking So's lips were smashed against hers. There was a one-sided cheer from Damien's minions.
"Are you insane?" Lev erupted, his fingers trying to grab Akasuki.
They might not have been close at this very moment, but it was burned into Lev's mind, Akasuki was his best friend. Not a toy for other’s entertainment. Damien’s eyes shot up to Lev, one hand tightening around her cheeks as the other shot out to shove Lev back. Please, all she could do was beg; in her mind for everything to stop. Her palms hit out against So's chest, all she could feel was anger, not towards him, towards the world, their lips parted for a moment, Sō freeing his hands from the minion's grasps. His eyes wide, face red as he hastily whispered,
"it's okay," he took a breath of air as a pair of hands burrowed in his hair yanking his head up, "I can take it."
So, tears formed in her eyes, why did it have to happen to the nicest boys possible? The gym door flew open, Kuroo and Tora bursting out, Yaku following closely behind. Their eyes widened at the sight unfolding before them. Yaku sprinted between the pair grabbing Lev's shoulder, who was practically chest to chest with Damien standing his ground,
"calm down," Lev didn't budge from his spot eyes focused on Damien, "Lev, I said," Yaku suddenly reached up to slap Lev's face, "calm down."
Lev's eyes lowered to Yaku, a moment passing before he stepped back causing Damien to switch his sight to Kuroo,
"now look, the pathetic captain is here to watch."
Akasuki glanced around, no one was holding her, her eyes fluttered to So who was shaking his head at her. What should she do?
"How about you let him go?" Kuroo suggested crossing his arms slowly.
"But the show has only just began," one of the boys holding So remarked, their grip hardening.
So, please.
"Damien," Akasuki spoke turning to look at him, she could try, "please," she moved slowly towards him her hands shaking as she reached out to touch his face, "it's my fault. I'm sorry."
Damien turned his face slightly to look down at her, his eyes narrowing,
"you're right."
She knew that. Damien half turned to face the boys holding Sō. As he began to speak, Akasuki felt a hand brush up against her fingers, tensing instinctively at the touch. Her eyes shot to meet Tora's concerned gaze. Suddenly her feet had left the ground, her body tilting back as a hand hit her shoulder harshly, Damien’s voice filling her ears,
"don't, fucking touching her!" he rubbed his hands together, “you were lucky last time, not so much now.”
A group of arms caught her as she staggered back. Damien shot his head towards the girls around Akasuki,
"get her to class."
Their arms linked, pushing her shoulders as she was dragged away, wait, no, this, she couldn't leave them alone with him. Who knows what he would do? Her vision faded of the boys as she was brought into the school. Please don't hurt them. All she could do was hope they got out of it unharmed.
-Back to the start-
Her arms draped over the bed; the squeaking of the curtains being pulled open.
"Akasuki, schools over now. How are you feeling?" The nurse questioned.
Feeling? She wasn't sure how to answer that. She slowly pushed herself up, blinking to adjust to the burst of light. She had taken to her old routine of going to the nurse to avoid Damien and his friends. It always worked. Plus, she wanted to make sure none of the boys ended up here. Akasuki nodded lifting herself of the bed,
"thank you."
The nurse smiled softly,
"take care of yourself."
Akasuki weakly nodded as she left the room, stepping out into the cold corridor. No one's around, she should be able to leave without being seen. She stepped out into the darkened courtyard, the nippy breeze running over her skin. She took a breath of air; the coldness of the breeze was kinda reassuring to her. She moved towards the gate, leisurely taking her time. Suddenly she impacted a darkened figure, instantly freezing as she prepared for the worst.
"Suki," the voice whispered quietly.
Her eyes widened, this voice, she glanced up to their face,
"Yūki?"
His eyes were misty, his skin pale yet his cheeks were a soft pink,
"Why are you out here? It's freezing, you'll catch a cold if you aren't careful."
"I," he sniffled, "I'm sorry, I was trying to get out of the way and he just, he shoved me and I," tears began to dribble down his cheeks.
Yūki. She grabbed him softly pulling him into her chest, soothing his hair,
"hey, hey, it's okay, don't worry about it. You did the right thing."
Suddenly there were footsteps from behind her, Yūki sliding out of her arms,
"I'm sorry Suki."
Huh? What?
"Your great bait," Tora's voice spoke from behind her.
Bait? She slowly turned around to become face to face with Tora and Kuroo,
"why, why are you guys here?"
"We could ask you the same," Kuroo spoke in a monotone voice, "what's going on with you?"
"Not, nothing," she gulped glancing away.
Tora grabbed her wrist,
"wait," Akasuki argued yet he had already carefully pulled her sleeve up to show the bruises of Damien's fingers.
"Suki," Tora gasped, "what's happening to you?"
"Nothing!" She insisted pulling her arm away, tears growing in her eyes.
"Akasuki," Kuroo sighed, "this is the last time I will reach out to you," he stepped forward holding out his hand, "if you take my hand, I promise I will get rid of everything bothering you," that sounded like heaven to her, "and if you don't, I'm cutting you off, from everyone, even the stray aways like Sō.”
Cut off from everyone. She still struggled to imagine what it would be like to not be there for them. She never realised it would carry on for this long. Her eyes fluttered to Yūki; it's hurting them. She's hurting them, still. It's, all her fault. She stepped back shaking her head taking a gasp of air,
"I'm okay," she forced a smile as a tear slipped down her cheek, the three watching her in despair, "I, told you from the start, it's better if you don't know who I am."
"Suki," Tora went to step forward but Kuroo held his hand out to stop him, "are you sure about this?"
She has to be. This was for the best. If anyone could protect the boys, it was Kuroo. What made her think she could ever do that? She nodded.
"Good bye Akasuki," Kuroo spoke with a nod of his head.
It was as if the door connecting the two had been shut officially. It had been forced shut, maybe even locked. Tora watched Akasuki helplessly. Kuroo squeezed his shoulder pulling him back,
"come on man, don't make it harder for yourself."
Tora nodded lowering his head, his lips taut as he slowly turned around. Not one word. She thought at this point, she wasn't worth any words. The pair began to walk away. This was the right thing to do. Suddenly arms were thrown around her, clinging onto her for dear life.
"Please, please, don't leave us," Yūki begged, "it won't be the same without you."
Akasuki sighed sadly as she carefully removed Yūki from her chest holding his hands out in front of her,
"Yūki," she smiled at him watching the tears slip off his face, stop crying, "why are you crying?"
"I don't want you to leave," he sobbed trying to grab her shirt, Akasuki held his hands in place listening to him closely.
"Yūki," she pulled him into her chest, whispering softly into his ear, as much as it pained her, "speak to Kenma," she paused, this was the last thing she could ask him to do, "ask about our book," she pulled back lifting her hands to brush away the tears on his face, "think about it like I'm on holiday, it's that easy, okay?"
He nodded, his tears subsiding,
"okay."
Kuroo suddenly appeared behind Yuki his hand landing on his shoulder,
"come on buddy."
Yūki nodded loosely removing himself from the space between to join Tora a couple of metres away. There's no need to feel sad, this will help them. It has to help them. Kuroo stared at Akasuki for a moment more nodding in silence, stepping away. Fuck, why does it hurt more than she expected? She turned on her heels, bursting into a sprint. She needed to get home. Home.