#not in a way that kazutora is still his enemy or whatever (although for the first timelines perhaps) but just in a way to find a way to

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

I've already talked about the 龍虎, Ryūko, the great rivals, in Japanese culture and how Kazutora being the one to kill Shinichiro was a way to show the balance was no more

But now, I'm focusing on why Mikey decides to get the dragon tattooed on his neck (and not the same side as Kazutora) and not somewhere else. And the only (interesting) answer I found is.. ^ 龍虎. Ryūko.

[deathfavor]

Kazutora really dislikes when people say he'll always be a part of Toman, both Valhalla era and in his future verse.

When he's younger, it provokes him into a violent fit of rage. He wants nothing to do with Toman. I don't think he ever had that connection with Toman despite Baji having the idea to do so for Kazutora. But Kazutora never asked for anyone to help with his problems with Black Dragon. He also never seemed to really find his place other than besides Baji, although he's always cool with Pah and seems decent at least with Draken. ( Enough to answer a phone call and meet up with him even as enemies. ) Mitsuya's always been icy for whatever reason and Kazutora didn't like Mikey for a good while there. So he could enjoy some times, sure, but it wasn't his gang. They weren't his friends per se. And the situation with Junpeke also destroyed his faith in friendships other than Baji. So when he gets out of juvie, all he wants to do is have that chapter sealed and shut. He burned his uniform that night. Toman is just an enemy in his mind. He participates in those hunting down Toman members and beating them / burning the outfits. Like he said " Don't stop if they can still move. " He's not Toman. He doesn't WANT to be affiliated with it.

In his future verses, it causes discomfort rather than the fury of his youth. In some ways, his mindset hasn't change. Kazutora never really bought into the whole 'always a part of Toman' bit because he never really felt he fit in to begin with even before everything went bad. And he actually spent more time as a member of Valhalla than Toman, he connected better in Valhalla than he did with Toman. So in the future when/if someone says it, it feels awkward and uncomfortable. Other than Bad Toman for obvious reasons. But Bonten? It causes a lot of discomfort and he'll generally just try to push the conversation on or look away or anything other than directly responding it. Because his history with Toman isnt good. Because he missed out on the years everyone else did things and grew. He's not a part of that. Valhalla was always the gang that felt more like his than anything else. ( And his white jacket in that timeline is suspiciously similar to Valhalla's, all im saying. )

In his other AUs for the future though, it DOES provoke a mix between youthful rage and older discomfort depending on the particular one.

All in all, saying he's a part of Toman really just does provoke negative or uncomfortable emotions at best with Kazutora.

[braindeadbaddie]

Baji scrubs at his hands.

He couldn’t get clean.

He couldn’t get clean.

His hands were red and raw from washing them in the sink. And although the blood on his knuckles right now were his own, all he could picture was Chifuyu’s face.

Chifuyu’s bloodied face.

Chifuyu’s bloodied face that he caused.

“In our gang, if one of our friends gets hurt, we’ll stomp the fuck outta whatever gang that did it. So remember, he’s my friend.”

What kind of person did that to their friend?

Baji stared with hard eyes at his own face in the mirror.

A monster.

A monster did that.

And he was a monster.

Chifuyu was just three flights down, bloodied and bruised and it was all his fault.

All his fault.

All his fault.

All his fault.

He wanted to save Mikey, he wanted to save Toman.

But was this really the way?

Could he really save Toman at the expense of tarnishing it’s very values?

At the expense of disrespecting its very core?

At the expense of Chifuyu?

Baji stormed into his room, face screwed in angry, resentment, hurt, self-hatred, and isolation.

Ah, that’s what this feeling was.

Isolation.

Baji wasn’t used to that. He was always surrounded by friends. By people who cared about him. By people who loved him.

He always had Mikey.

Mikey who he betrayed.

And Draken and Mitsuya and Pah.

All of whom he had abandoned.

And Kazutora.

Who was barely holding on by a thread.

And Chifuyu.

Who he had beaten half to death.

The first tears slipped down his face. He looked around his dark, empty, cold room, and felt an ache in his heart.

God, what was he doing?

He walked up to his desk and picked up the envelope that had laid there, collecting dust.

Written neatly across the middle was Chifuyu.

He had worked for about two weeks to get the letter right, practicing on different pieces of paper, practicing the spelling, practicing what to say.

Chifuyu had helped him with letters to Kazutora all the time. He just wanted to show him how much he improved. He just wanted to express his gratitude. For the help, for his friendship.

And maybe…maybe he wanted to express something else too.

And a week ago, he finally had gotten it right.

And then he found out there was an enemy in Toman.

How could Baji think about anything else?

The letter laid on his desk forgotten. And honestly how was he supposed to give it to Chifuyu now?

He took a deep breath.

This was for Chifuyu. This was for Toman.

So he took another deep breathe.

This was for the best.

So he tucked all his feelings away into the letter, steeled his resolve, and threw it in the trash.

This was for everyone.

Even if it was at the expense of himself.

~~~

Months later, when Baji’s mom could finally go into her son’s room without breaking down at the door, she found the letter in the trash. She invited Chifuyu up to their apartment, and handed it to him.

Chifuyu was conflicted about what to do with it. If Baji-san wanted him to see it, he would’ve given it to him, right?

But…His name was on it. So it was his, right? He could open it, right?

So the next morning, bright and early, he heads to the Baji family grave with peyoung yakisoba and the letter.

And when he reads it, he wishes he never did.

Because how was he supposed to live the rest of his life, knowing that his first love was reciprocated, but still ended before it ever began?

~~~

Inspired by @dukewine and this Twitter post.