Fight Me

Breathe

"It's Mikaela."

My jaw dropped as I heard his name. I couldn't believe what I had heard. His name was Mikaela. His face, his hair, his eyes, and now his name. Everything was just too convenient, to be honest. This guy right here.... he was my long lost best friend?

After all these years...

This... this...

Isn't this too good to be true? Him appearing like this...

Because I saw it with my own eyes... Mika was eaten by a sea of flames. He dove right into the burning building. How could he have survived? And without a single burn in his body...

Time had seemed to stop as I was lost in thoughts. I eyed the white dressed man named Mikaela.

But it's Mika... this is Mika... Am I just dreaming? I don't know if this... I can't--...

A tight feeling was on my chest. It was as if my lungs had closed up, not letting any air get in my body. I wheezed in panic, desperate for air. Holding on to my chest, I bent downwards in pain.

M-Mika...

Mika.....

"Oi!" I heard Mr. Nurse say out loud. He ran towards my side looking like he was panicking. As I looked at him coming towards me, my vision became blurry until it developed into darkness.

"Yuu-chan!"

I heard my friend Mika call me from a distance. It was around three in the afternoon when he caught up to me. I was on a swing in the playground of our orphanage.

"Oi... I told you to stop with that 'chan' crap." I said, sounding annoyed.

Mika chuckled at my reaction, ruffling up my hair as he spoke, "Awe come on. It suits you well, doesn't it?"

I c****d a brow at my blonde friend, "You have weird tastes."

He stuck his tongue out at me with a smile on his face, "At least someone still thinks you're cute in some ways."

I grumbled to myself, swinging so high that I felt like I could reach the sky above. The breeze swayed through my hair, embracing me and filling my lungs with air. It made me feel like a bird, free and up so high. No one would look down on me like I was trash.

As the swing calmed down, Mika spoke. "Hey, Yuu... what do you want to be when you grow up?"

I tilted my head at his question. Mika had always been the type to want to think about such things. It never actually crossed my mind.

"I dunno... I don't really care what I'd do." I blankly answered, "What about you?"

"I wanna be someone who heals the weak, the hurt, and the weary..." Mika spoke in a tender voice. From the beginning, Mika had always been like that. He was the type who wanted to take care of everyone, especially those he loved. Kindness was poured everywhere Mika went. He was like some guardian angel.

If not... he was kind of like a mother. He was nurturing, caring, and gentle. Mika was someone who wouldn't hurt you and make you feel alone. He'd always be there.

And that's what I loved about Mika the most...

My vision had started to blur out as I heard a weird beeping sound. It was slow but constant. The sound kept repeating that it was becoming hypnotizing.

Then everything around me became black. I couldn't see or hear anything, but the beeping. It was the only thing I could hear.

Beep

Beep

Beep

Beep

A soothing rush of oxygen came upon me. It filled my lungs, making me feel alive. The light had welcomed itself to my eyes. At first, everything was a blur, and I couldn't make out my surrounds. But slowly, everything revealed itself to me. I was in my hospital room, lying safe and sound on the bed.

Did I dream of Mika again?...

I guess so...

No one else was in the room with me. Everything had seemed so peaceful, so tranquil... so quiet, that it was somehow deafening. I had mixed feelings. It was as if the silence calmed me down, but at the same time, it bothered me. It gave me some peace and some time to rest from all the heavy thoughts I always had.

But...

It reminded me of how alone I was ever since the day Mika had disappeared.

Mika...

Click

The door creaked open, breaking the silence around me. My attention turned to whoever entered the premises.

"May I come in?" A gentle voice said.

It was the white nurse himself. The man who had told me his name was the same as my childhood friend... my best friend... my cherished one.

"M-m...Mikaela?" I croaked.

The nurse's eyes dilated as I spoke. This instantly made him rush over to my side with a worried expression. "How are you feeling? Does your chest still pain you?"

I stared at the blonde before me. He really was Mikaela. Everything about him was just so similar... even the name. It could never be a coincidence.. was it?

"Yuu?" He called.

I blinked, returning to reality.

"S-sorry... yeah, I'm alright."

He let out a relieved breath, "Phew... I'm glad. Thought you were a goner."

I tilted my head in wonder. This guy... he used to call me a reckless case, and treat me like I was a moron the first few times we met. But now he's so gentle...

It makes me wonder, to be honest. Did this nurse named Mikaela actually care about me? But he doesn't recognize me. He doesn't even remember my name except for the fact that Hyakuya Yuu was his patient. Maybe... maybe the Mikaela I once met before was still alive deep inside him?

Who knows...

Mr. Nurse had fed me as usually. There was no talk between us. Just little conversations like 'Does the food taste alright?' or 'how do you feel?'.

But I somewhat wanted to make it clear if this guy was really Mika. Even if it was so obvious from the way he looks, his name, and everything else... I just wanted to confirm it.

"H... hey..." I said.

The nurse looked at me with a curious expression. I hesitated to speak. Wouldn't it be weird to just suddenly ask him if he was my friend from years ago? What kind of question is that even?

I sighed, frustrated with my inner conflict. Well, what would be a better way to solve this? Should I just ask him straight out? No... I have to stop being so impulsive. There has to be some way for me to know.

"Hello?" The nurse said.

"Ah..." I sat there without words.

The nurse had sat down the edge of my bed with a soft look on his face. "So that girl that visited you was your girlfriend?"

Girl? Was he talking about Shinoa?

I violently shook my head. "N-no! I just met her. She's an acquaintance or something..."

He sneered with a playful face, "Geez. No need for you to be all shy about it. She's your girlfriend~"

"NO!" I leaned towards him, desperate to prove my point. When I was already leaning, I had realized that we were only a few inches apart. I could feel the warmth of his breath.

I instantly back off, feeling all hot in the chest. "I-I only think of one person... and it's definitely not her."

Mr. Nurse replied calmly, "Then who's the one that's always in your heart?"

Mika.

"A friend..." I looked down. No smiles, no bright eyes, just a sad expression. "He was a very important person to me. He was my best friend. My only family."

There was silence afterward. Mr. Nurse did not talk, but he looked at me with sincere interest. I took this as a signal for me to keep talking.

"He was gentle, and very kind too. To everyone, he was a friend. You could say he was some kind of angel... In fact, one time he had told me he wanted to be someone who heals people and protect the weak."

Mr. Nurse had a soft smile on his face, "He sounds like a nice person. Where is he now?"

I looked at him with grief. Biting my lip, I then let out a heavy breath. "When I was around six years old, before meeting Guren, we were kidnapped. I was saved, but he..."

Soon, images of the past came to haunt me. The flames... the pain... the adrenaline of running away... every single moment of that horrible memory. It made me grimace in pain.

Then, I felt someone hold my hand. The images had flushed away, and I was taken back to the present. Mr. Nurse had held onto my hand, his expression was of worry. It was strange for some reason... just a mere hold of my hand had made me feel better. It somehow gave me hope that those hurtful memories could be moved on from. That I could be healed.

Just like how Mika always healed me.

"I'm sorry to hear about your friend..." he held my hand closer. His pale blue eyes stared at me with passion, "I know I cannot replace your friend. But please allow me to be here for you."

Thump

I felt something pull at my heartstrings. My mouth slightly opened, and I had a hot feeling on my cheeks. They were burning. My whole body was burning. It was so weird.

Mikaela... damn it... saying stuff like that with that angelic face.... t-that's not fair. Wait, what am I saying? THIS IS WEIRD!

I shook my head violently to try and recover. But alas, the feelings were still there.

I averted my gaze from Mr. Nurse. "I-It's fine. As long as you stop shoving weird things in my mouth."

"Hahaahah...." I hear him chuckle softly. This made me look at him with curiosity. His hand had let go of me, but he still had a smile on him.

"I can't guarantee, but I'll do my best." He smiled. It was weird though... I felt really happy after that. Just the thought of this guy becoming my friend... and then smiling like that. It was like all the sadness I had felt for the last years were taken away from me.

After his little laugh session, Mr. Nurse had then spoken about himself.

"You're lucky though... I've met some people in my life, but I've never found anyone who I could call a real friend," he said calmly.

I listened without saying a word. I didn't want to interrupt him... and hell, I really wanted to confirm if this guy was really Mika.

"To be honest... even though I was smiling and hanging out with people, I always felt alone. It felt like there was always something missing in my life." He let out a slight sigh, a sad smile on his face.

"I think that loneliness started when I was around six years old..." his smile faded. This made me a bit alert. Six years old... that was the age I had lost Mika.

"I don't really remember the years before I was six... except that I was very happy... and..." he closed his eyes, biting his lip.

"And...?" I tilted my head in curiosity.

This was it! There was something when he was six.... what was it? This... this couldn't be a coincidence...

Click

"Nurse M. We need you in the other room, now! Please. The patient is in critical condition!"

Another nurse had entered the room in a panic. Mr. Nurse stood up, alert. "A-ah! Alright!" He looked at me, "s-sorry... I have to go!"

He exited with the other nurse, leaving me in a state of curiosity and yearning.

Damn it...

Are you really Mika?