Bareknuckle Angel

It had been much too much of an emotionally exhausting day. All poor Benjiro wanted to do was just go home, curl up into a ball and forget that the world existed for a little while.

'Come to think of it, I never did finish that one episode of Berserk', he thought as he walked home, 'I wonder what happens after Guts decides to leave. Can't guys like him ever just settle down with people they love. Or at least as settled as you can get for a claymore toting merc?'

'Oh the irony', Inei quipped, 'You want to talk about emotionally unavailable people not knowing when to accept a little tender, loving care from people who became their surrogate family? That is rich.'

'You act as though you know something I don't. Why and how?'

Inei just gave him that knowing smirk, 'Just because you're aware of something doesn't mean you fully understand it.'

The door to his home seemed extra inviting after a hard day. The next day was rather nerve-wracking. Everywhere Benjiro looked, all he could see was potential threats. All day long, he felt so unsettled, his eyes constantly scanning everyone's faces and taking note of their body language. It wasn't much consolation, but the Domon Battalion seemed to be satisfied with the previous day's festivities. Sakurai's cruel eyes smiled in satisfaction at seeing the skeletal young man's nearly paranoid behavior. Benjiro may have still been able to give the girls their presents yesterday, but he still couldn't relax.

Going to that day's tutoring session was honestly the least stressful part of his day. While dealing with his pupil's odd mixture of willingness yet apathy, it was one more uncertain factor. As he made his way to the music room, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the familiar face of his neighbor. At first, Benjiro was unsure of approaching her since she had been rather distant as of late, but nonetheless, he steeled himself and walked forward.

Nervously tapping her shoulder, "H-Hey, Higak-ki?"

While he wasn't expecting her to light up when she saw him, the look of disdain Benjiro received was making him uncomfortable.

"Um I've b-been trying t-to find you f-for the past f-few days, b-but you haven't been ar-round."

"So you actually know that I exist for once", she replied, her voice tense.

Benjiro pursed his lips in confusion, but continued speaking as he reached into his bag, "Er y-yeah, anyw-ways, I w-was doing some shopping and-"

"You went shopping all on your own?"

A thoughtful smile quirked on the young man's face, "No, I h-had a little help. But wh-while I was th-there, I got-"

"Do you enjoy toying with people", Akiko asked sharply.

Benjiro looked at her with wide eyes and a crooked mouth, "What?"

"Do you just hop from girl to girl hoping for a little attention?"

Benjiro felt his face warm up at the accusations.

"What are y-you talking ab-bout?"

Akiko crossed her arms, "I saw you with your childhood friend. You were carrying a bunch of bags and laughing. What, did you have a nice shopping date?"

Benjiro held up a placating hand, "Th-that wasn't-"

"Yeah, just go run off with some girl that you haven't seen in years and get cozy. Isn't that typically how it goes?"

Benjiro's sweaty hand started crushing the tickets.

"F-For you information, w-we weren't getting cozy. W-We were j-just doing some sh-shopping for Ch-Christmas gifts, one of w-which was for y-you.

Akiko stopped whatever she was about to say.

"And f-further, w-we're not d-dating. She h-has a boyfriend and I-I don't c-come between things l-like that."

"Sure seems like that's a line you're willing to cross."

All the anger that was building in the boy's skinny body came to a screeching halt.

"Is that what you really think", Benjiro said in a low voice. He took his hand out of the bag with the tickets in his clenched fist, "I wanted to get a gift for you and the others because I figured that would be a nice thing to do."

He held up the crumpled tickets, "Mine helped me get those tickets because we both thought they'd be something you'd enjoy seeing", he then proceeded to toss them on the floor, "Go and see it with someone you can actually stand."

Spinning on his heel, Benjiro walked off without even stopping to see Akiko's face taht was contorted with guilt. The speed walk to the music room was filled with nothing but incoherent, angry mumbling. When Benjiro walked into the room, the resident tomboy sat up from the floor and gave him a trademark scowl upon seeing him. Daitan was still a brick wall, a few bricks missing but a brick wall all the same.

"So, what's on the docket for today, Scarecrow", she said in a bored tone.

Benjiro simply grunted as he sat down at the piano and jerked his arm for her to come forward. Trudging forward herself, Daitan plopped down on the spot next to him. He went through her lesson with none of his usual life or vigor. His pupil didn't ask and the young man was in no mood to fish for sympathy. After ninety minutes of slogging though what was arguably the worst lesson Benjiro had ever taught, Daitan grabbed him before he walked out the door.

"What do you want, Haruoka", he said in a bored tone.

"Where are you going", she casually replied.

"Where else? Home."

Daitan not so gently spun him around, "I think there's somewhere else you should probably be."

"Not really. Dad's not home tonight, so I have to make dinner."

One of the tomboy's eyebrows rose, "Perfect, that makes this all the easier", she said before marching down the halls with her tutor in tow. Benjiro tried fighting back at first, but the older girl was much stronger than he was.

"W-Where are you t-taking me", he protested.

"Just shut up and you'll find out in about thirty seconds", Daitan shot back.

A moment later, Benjiro was yanked out to the school gates where there was a nondescript car waiting out front. Standing by was the man from the day he was taken captive, Kawamura, if he remembered correctly.

"Mr. Nojiri, it's good to see you once more", he formally greeted, "If you'll just step inside."

Despite his misgivings, considering who his boss was, Benjiro felt he didn't have much to worry about. When he was about to duck his head inside, speak of the devil, there he was.

"Hey there, little bro" Kenshiro greeted, his face scars turning upward.

Benjiro was too stunned to speak at first before he just leaned forward and hugged his older brother. The muscular man seemed unsure of how to react at first, before he brought his awkwardly hovering arms around his brother.

"W-What are you d-doing here?"

Kenshiro jerked a thumb out the tinted window, "Your girlfriend there got into contact with one of my guys to deliver a message to me. Basically played a short game of 'Telephone.' I don't know the whole situation, but I cleared a few things around. We're going out for a little while."

Benjiro looked out the window to see Haruoka, who seemed to have suddenly taken up the hobby of cloud watching.

"Just a minute", he said before extracting himself from his brother's grip. The mop headed boy approached the slightly taller girl.

"What do you want", Daitan said in what sounded like a flustered tone.

"Thanks for doing this for me. I know w-we never say anything m-much but, you're a good p-person."

Daitan turned her head to the side, "I just did my job, no need to get all sappy about it."

'It's only mid-January, why is her face getting so red', he wondered.

Regardless, the young man gave a small smile and got into the car. They drove for a few minutes before stopping at a two story restaurant that while it was nothing especially upscale was nicer than anything Benjiro had been to. Back across town, Daitan was walking to the train station for a ride home. It was only when a woman standing next to her asked if she was feeling sick, that the tomboy touched her face. Indeed it felt quite warm, but it was more a pleasant and almost fluttering warmth rather than the harsh heat of a fever.

After exiting the train and shortly arriving at a small two bedroom apartment, Daitan flopped down on the floor and stared at the ceiling. All she could think about was why she had gone out of her way to help the Scarecrow. And why did him thanking her make her feel so light.

Laying an arm across her eyes, she groaned, "Damn, why does something so simple have to be so complicated?"