-----Past-----

Yourself and Mao stood on the beach. You had just graduated high school and you're going your separate ways.

"I'm surprised." You cracked a smile.

"Huh?" Mao glances at you.

"You graduated." You smirked.

He narrows his eyes at you, "Shut it!"

You let out an amused chuckle. You're going to miss your childhood friend.

You both stood in a comfortable silence. You listened to the waves, the ocean air, the bird, the wind, the trees, everything.

Mao glanced at you, smiling a bit, "You know...I'm kinda disappointed."

"Why?"

"We promised we would never leave each other. Just look at what's happened." He looked down.

You stared at him concerned. Mao is very teasing, sly, childish, and cynical. Seeing him so sincere and serious is still new to you, even if you knew him for over 10 years.

"You're right. I guess...that promise is now broken."

"Why are talking like it just broke? It broke two years ago..."

"..." You said nothing, knowing he's right.

-----Present-----

You ran through the different roads. Their is somewhere you need to be and that with Ruka. An escaped inmate.

Enki broke out. His little 'sidekicks' did as well. Ruka being one of them.

It began to rain. You ran to the only place where he could be.

You came to a stop in front of a small shrine. It was meant to honour the guards and inmate who have died at Nanba. The main cause being the New Years Tournaments. However, one being an inmate killed at the hands of a guard.

Your uniform soaked wet with rain drops, but you didn't care. Despite the coldness, you felt relaxed.

"It's been awhile." Mao spoke.

Mao had beat you to the shrine.

Ruka stood facing the shrine, not bothering to go under it. He felt low with energy. It's because of his heavy heart.

"Why did you let me go? Did you care at all?" Ruka said.

You could barley see it, but it caught your attention.

Ruka trembled. He held his gut and cupped his mouth his his hand.

Your eyes softened, seeing him in such a fragile state.

Mao spotted it as well, but that didn't stop him. "You were offered to study at a fashion school. We didn't want to hold you back."

"But I didn't want to go!" Ruka shouted over the rain.

You frowned. "It was best Ruka."

"No it wasn't. Only I know what's best for me. It certainly wasn't that good for nothing school." He hiccuped.

You walked forward, stopping next to Mao.

"....that was your only chance to go to your dream school. We had to let you go." You spoke up.

Ruka hesitated for awhile before answering, "You let me go....but you two never left each other. I heard rumours about two guards at Nanba who have been childhood friends. One of them being Chinese and the other being (nationality). I had a hunch it was you two. My best friends."

The three of you are quiet now. He had a point. You all promised to be together forever yet you let Ruka go and only two hung on to each other.

"It's no like we really wanted to nya." Mao said.

"Then what did you want?" Ruka turned around, glaring at his old friends.

"We wanted you to stay but....we also wanted you to follow your dreams." Your voice cracked.

It was odd. Despite the pouring rain, the only thing you could hear was silent crying.

Mao glanced between his best friend, and his old best friend.

The three had met when they were young. Maybe 4 years old? They promised they would always be with each other. They made that promise at a shrine. Mao felt kinda guilty. At the time, the three agreed to wish for the same thing; to be together forever. The other two wishes for it, but Mao didn't. His wish...was that if something were to ever happen to the friendship...it would all work out so they could be friends again.

Mao was lost in thought, when he was slapped out of it.

*slap*

Mao's eyes widen as the sudden pain hit his left cheek. His head turned to the right, caught off guard from the impact.

He looked back at Ruka, he held his cheek tenderly.

"We broke up. Our friendship broke up and you just let it happen." Ruka glared.

You stared with wide eyes at the scene in front of you. You didn't know how to react at this point. Do you defend Mao? Do you stand down? Do you take Ruka's side? At the moment, the second option was appealing, despite not deciding what to do yet.

Mao narrowed his eyes at the man, "If you didn't want to leave why didn't you say anything? We did what we thought was best for you and you didn't speak up about it."

"You're right." Ruka's smile catches yourself and Mao off guard.

"I should have spoken up." He then leans over, pointing at his cheek.

"(Y/n)....I want you to hit me."

You stepped back at the sudden request. "What?"

"I hit Mao...I know how protective you are over him. I can only imagine how upset you are with me. So...hit me." He closes his eyes, getting ready for the impact.

You we're taken back for a moment, before clenching your jaw.

You raised your hand, getting ready to slap him.

As you continued to stare at his fragile state, your eyes softened.

-----Past-----

"Let's go give this to big sister Noriko." 4 year old Mao smile, holding a small sack of change.

"What would she need coins for Mao?" You questioned.

You both ran down the streets of Shanghai, China. You we're visiting China and managed to make a friend on the first day. You've been here for a week already.

"I don't know Nya. Maybe girly stuff like jewelry?" Mao shrugged.

You passed by a park and out of the corner of your eye, you say another boy who looked to be your age, sitting a line under a tree.

"Who's that?" You tug on Mao's shirt.

Mao looked over in the direction your pointing in and shrugs, "I don't know nya. Just some random kid."

Before he could run off, you grabbed him and ran over.

"Hello." You smile at the boy.

He stared at you for a moment before looking at Mao.

He looked at you curiously, "Hello."

"What's your name?" You lean down.

"...Ruka. What's yours?"

"(Y/n) and this is Mao. Wanna be best friends with us?" You smile hopefully.

Ruka just nods, not sure what to do, "Sure."

Mao sits next to him, "Just so you know, we have a delivery to deliver. You can come with us if you want."

Ruka hesitated but nodded, "I should ask my dad first..."

"Who cares." Yourself and Mao smiled at him.

Ruka looked at you both taken back before laughing, "You guys are funny."

-----Present-----

You lowered your hand, instead opening your arms.

"I can't hurt my best friend." You smile.

Ruka stares at you shocked before hugging you.

He silently cried, this time for a different reason. He's happy.

"I'm getting slapped a lot lately. Just saying Nya." Mao mumbles, still holding his cheek.