Milo walked down the street with his head down and his hands deep in his pocket . He didn't look at anyone , he didn't raise his eyes from the pavement .
He didn't want anyone to notice his tears .
But he should have looked up . If he had , he would have noticed the punks across the street . He would have noticed them point at him , cross the street and begin following him . He would have noticed when they split and one group went ahead of him and the other stayed behind him .
He should have been paying attention . But instead his mind was focused on one thought ; He'd never bother with Ryomen Yashiba again .
...
( It's hard to decide who was at fault for what happened after Milo kissed Ryo .
One could blame Mina for not being more clear with Ryo on what he was brought back for .
Or , one could blame Milo for taking things to heart and opening up to soon to his bully .
But , no matter which person is blamed above , most people would blame Ryo . )
Milo looked up at Ryo and then down to the pavement , his cheeks slightly flushed . He'd just kissed him !
Was it too fast , he wondered then , was he rushing it ? Why was he even getting interested in Ryo ? These thoughts whirled around as he looked at the ground and he didn't notice the look that came on the other boy's face .
Ryo breathed out slowly and put a hand on his cheek , right where Milo kissed him . It had been brief but he felt the spot as if he'd been burned with a brand . A warmth rose on the spot , rising through him and he started to smile .
Then an image flashed in his mind , of a crumpled paper in a dirty box . His hands fell and the smile turned to a frown .
" What are you thinking of ? " Mina asked next to him , she had seen his face .
Ryo ignored her and reached into his pocket and Mina's eyes grew wide . Not now ! She thought but it was too late . Ryo had pulled out the letter of reconciliation .
" Well , " Ryo said drawing Milo from his thoughts , " I'm guessing you liked the date . "
" Yes , I liked it. Wasn't I clear on - huh , what's that ? " Milo pointed to the folded paper in Ryo's hands .
Ryo opened it and slowly showed it to Milo , Mina had her hands on her head . He can't be doing this , she thought desperately , not now . Now is not the time !
" It's the letter . " Ryo said and Milo frowned in confusion , " The letter I gave you last time . The one you didn't want to sign . "
" Okay , " Milo said with narrowed eyes , " Why are you showing me it ? "
" Well , since I've done all these nice things and made you love me , " Ryo handed the letter to Milo , " you can sign it now . Right ? "
" What ? Are you ... are you saying that you did everything ... all of this ... just so I can sign this letter ? " Milo asked in disbelief .
" Yes , " Ryo said and Mina slapped her face ( not a dream , Mina ! ) " I figured if you loved me , you'd sign the letter and I could leave , just like I said I would ."
" What ? What ? " Milo looked at him in confusion and anger .
" Well , you said you hated me . " Ryo said nonchalantly , he put his hands in his pockets and regarded Milo , " Now , you don't . You kissed me and that means you like me . So ... just sign the letter and I'll go . You won't have to see me again . "
You won't have to see me again , the words echoed in Milo's head and his chest felt a wave of devastation .
He used me , Milo realized , he tricked me and played me like a fool . How could I have been so blind ? How could I have been so STUPID !
" I brought a pen ." Ryo said holding it to Milo and Mina shook her head .
" Why ? " Milo said softly whilst looking down , " Why me ? Why ? "
" I promise I'll leave after you sign it . " Ryo said misunderstanding Milo .
" Why ... do you ... why do you , " Milo's head shot up and Ryo was surprised to see tears in his eyes , " Why do you torment me ? "
" I just ... , " Ryo looked to the side and gave a sigh , " I just want you to sign it . So do it already ."
" You are the most cruelest , manipulative and heartless person I have ever met ! " Milo said and Ryo grimaced but said nothing . This only made Milo more angry .
" Bastard ! F*cking bastard ! " Milo said and shoved him , or he tried to but Ryo held his hands .
" Stop it . People are going to start watching ." Ryo said , " Not that I care ."
" You don't care about anyone or anything but yourself . Let go of me ! "Milo shouted and gained some glances . Ryo sighed and let Milo go and the other boy wiped his tear stained eyes .
" So , are you signing or ... do I need to do more nice things ? " Ryo asked with a cold face and it splashed on Milo's heart like an Arctic wind .
He used you again , a voice said in Milo's head , just as I said he would . Will you carry on being used ? Do you want to still be his plaything now ? Are you still willing to believe in him ?
No , Milo thought vehemently and then he tore the letter to shreds . Ryo looked at the pieces as they fell and his face filled with rage . But before he could even attack Milo , the other boy said something that stopped him cold .
" You can hit me , hurt me all you want , " Milo said with a look of void in his eyes , " But I won't give in to you . I'm done ... I am done with you . After you are finished , I'll leave and then ... you will never see me again ."
For a moment the two boys stood facing each other , Milo's face was resolute and ready for an assault but ... it never came . Ryo stood there with a frown on his face but it wasn't anger , he looked frustrated but not angry . After two minutes of nothing , Milo turned around and walked away .
Ryo didn't follow him .
.....
" Hey ! "
Milo almost bumped into the guy infront of him . He gave an apology without lifting his head and moved to pass the guy .
A hand grabbed him and pulled him back .
" What the - "
Milo didn't get to finish as a punch landed in his gut . He almost fell to his knees but was grabbed from behind and hoisted upright .
With teary eyes , he saw three guys infront of him and some shadowy figures in the back . He didn't have time to recount how many guys there were as another punch landed in his stomach and he felt pain breath through his body .
The group of boys began to beat him harder , moving from face , chest and stomach . Eventually Milo lost strength to stand up and the guy holding him dropped him to the ground . One guy dressed in red looked down at him and smiled with a false golden tooth .
" Let's search for money . " The guy who had been holding Milo up said .
He moved down and reached into Milo's pocket . The guy in red turned to the left side of the alley to check if anyone was coming . Which was when Ryo came from the right side .
He ran into the group and kicked the guy next to Milo on the head , making him snap back and fall . Then Ryo turned around and twisted his fist , landing a viscous punch on the guy in red . The man was knocked back and the guys around drew away from such a savage fighter . The guy who had been picking through Milo's pocket crawled away on hands and knees .
Ryo looked down at Milo and when he saw the blood on his lip , he gave a growl . He turned to the guys who stood around them . For a moment , the light shined in his eyes and increased the redness of them . In that moment , Ryomen's eyes were blood red .
" Get him ." The guy in red said and two guys rushed forward to beat Ryo down .
One swinged his right fist , aiming it at Ryo's face but Ryo turned left at the last moment , giving the guy a knock on his head as he sped past . The second man , raised both hands and charged forward like a bull . Ryo lowered down and gave a kick to the guys legs , momentum shot him into the wall .
Ryo looked at the two guys , who were moving in pain and regarded the rest of those still standing . For the second time , the light shined in his eyes and he had the look of a demon .
One guy grabbed an empty glass beer bottle , raised it and smashed it into a deadly weapon . The guy next to him rushed to Ryo with a mighty punch ready and his eyes holding menace . Ryo stood still until the last moment , ducking to the side and landed a blow onto the guy's jaw . The guy landed on the pavement with a thud .
Seeing his friend down , the guy with the broken bottle charged with his weapon . He swung it left and right , growling like a rabid dog . Ryo moved quickly from each swipe at him and then he reached out and held the guys wrist , stopping his attack . Ryo raised his knee and banged it into the guy's abdomen and he keeled over . The bottle fell into Ryo's possession and he held it loosely , looking at the sharp edge . He raised it lazily and eyed the guy in red , who glared at him with hate .
" All of you , " the guy in red yelled , " get him no- ahhh ! "
The guy in red held his stomach as if suffering from a severe stomach ache . His hands held onto a foreign object and he quickly pulled it out . It was the glass bottle . Ryo had thrown it with ruthless precision and pierced the guy in red's bowels . Blood seeped out and the guy in red became more red .
The other guys looked at this and then at Ryo's face . They saw cold hard anger and felt fear trickle down them . Who was this guy ? they wondered and they turned around and fleed , those on the ground rising and limping after them . Finally the alley was empty and only Ryo and Milo were left .
Ryo breathed out a heavily sigh and turned around , ending up next to Milo . He stooped down and lifted him into his arms . Milo moaned and Ryo's face gave a grimace as he realized that Milo must be unconscious , maybe with a concussion or broken bones .
" I'm glad you listened and came after him
" Mina said next to him . " Feels good , helping him , huh ? Maybe he'll forgive you for everything you said earlier ."
" I don't care . " Ryo said flatly and Mina frowned .
" What ? But your - "
Ryo gave Mina a hard look and the spirit guide looked down meekly .
Mina didn't understand any of this . She was only trying to help .