"You know what I hate the most? Losers who think they're so much better than me." A fist connected with his cheek but he found himself retaliating on instinct alone. His fingers curled in a fist and met with the flesh of his peer. Nothing could calm him down at this point. He hated the fact that no one bothered helping the bullied underclassman. He hated the fact that they simply stood on the side; watching, laughing, and filming the way his best friend pummeled someone who's younger than them.

Rage-filled eyes stared him down. Ezra bared his unusually sharp fangs at the person who he thought he could trust the most besides his own brother. "What the actual fuck, Daemon? Losers who think they're better than you? What you hate the most? You fucking hate bullies. What the fuck is up with your stupid head?" Because this wasn't the Daemon who he grew up with. This wasn't the Daemon who smiled at him lopsidedly when he pranked someone.

This wasn't the Daemon who put various insects in his bed when they were younger to scare the hell out of Ezra. This wasn't the Daemon who he had come to know in the years they'd spent together. "What happened?" Ezra's voice came out forced as if he didn't want to ask that question. He didn't want to know the answer but he needed it to understand him; to understand what in the world happened to his best friend.

Ezra knew for a fact that his friend wouldn't do something like this without a reasonable reason. Daemon wasn't the kind of person to suddenly change out of the blue. It was just last night, Ezra remembered with clarity, how Daemon sent him a selfie of him with his face smeared with frosting, a cheeky smile painted his lips. In the background, his two little brothers seemed to have been running around, their hands filled with the same frosting that Daemon had on his face.

"Why should I tell you?" Came his best friend's retort. Anger bubbled in the pit of his stomach but Ezra tried to reign it in. It would do him no good to lose his composure without getting the answers he wanted. It was a great idea to go out and confront Daemon in the soccer field though.This way, no one was going to interrupt them and Ezra wouldn't have a hard time if his best friend tried to run away. "Don't butt in my fucking business."

He let out an exasperated sigh as he watched Daemon stand back up with a grunt. "Not my fucking business? Bro! You hit an underclassman for no fucking reason at all! I'm your best friend who's getting worked up, wondering what the hell is going on and trying to understand why you did what you did!" Ezra took a deep breath, holding it in for a couple of seconds before exhaling. A sharp look came across his eyes, one that made Daemon flinch back.

"You know I'm a worrywart—""— not more than your brother—""— and I'm just worried about you. You were bullied during our elementary years. You fucking hate bullies. You despise them even. Seeing you like this... seeing you acting like the people you hate... it worries me. It honestly terrifies me. Bro... Daemon, what's going on? Did something happen? You know you can trust me, right? I told you before and I'll tell it to you again; you're like a brother to me, you're family. I want to help... please."

The anger he had suddenly died down like the embers of flames flickering out of existence due to lack of oxygen. This is better, he thought. I can think more like this. "I..." Daemon's voice snapped him back to reality. There was hesitance in his voice, unsure and dubious. "... family stuff. Divorce. Separation. I don't know what to do this is driving me mad—" he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. "Mom's taking my brothers with her while Dad takes me."

There was a reason why they were best friends. One absolutely good reason and that was their love for their brothers.

And honestly? Ezra was terrified of how much he loves his brother because he thought of things that he shouldn't have but it still felt so right. But Daemon? His love for his brothers was nothing like Ezra's. Daemon thought of how he could help them, how he could guide them. His best friend was nothing like him, Ezra knew. Because despite the same amount of love they have for their siblings, Daemon was still kind. He was the best role model there was.

And Ezra? He would keep it to himself, those thoughts that wander his mind, and simply protect his blood brother and surrogate brother to the best of his abilities. He didn't care if he had to fight, if he had to dirty his hands. That was the point of picking fights. On the other hand, he also loved helping others so he picked fights with bullies. It was killing two birds with one stone. Ah, he mused. I'm getting off track.

The point was that Daemon hurting others conflicted him. He was Ezra's surrogate brother, Ezra loves him. That punch he gave Daemon hurt him more than it hurt his best friend. It made his feelings a mess. "There's nothing we can do." Ezra stated with a tone of finality. This situation was one out of their hold; one they couldn't mess with. "But you can visit them, right?"

"That's the sad part. Mom's going back to her home country and my brothers aren't allowed to possess any kind of gadgets, they can't be trusted with anything, because it would end up with the house on fire." Ezra didn't bother inquiring about that last part because he could only grimace at what Daemon said. There wasn't going to be any form of contact between him and his brothers.

"Wake up."

He blinked. "Did you hear that?" The sudden change of atmosphere startled him. Daemon threw him a look of confusion. "Hear what?" A moment of silence and he heard nothing. "Blah, it must be my imagination. Anyway—"

"Wake up!"

This time it was louder and it rang in his ears. He covered them, in an attempt to muffle the sound. However, it failed because it just kept echoing inside, making his eardrums shake and tremble. "!!!" He could see Daemon's lips moving, a pair of arms wrapping around his shoulders when he felt his knees go weak. The sound drove him insane. It just went on and on and on and it. Was. Maddening.

"EZRA, WAKE UP!"

What the..?

"For Thanato's sake, you're finally out of there."

Out of what?

"You were going to get lost in your memories, moron. Once you're trapped, there was no going back."

... I don't... I don't get it...

...

It was safe to say that the moment she woke up, Haruno Takara was buried under a dog pile of her family. "Kara!" A displeasured groan left her lips. "C-Can't breathe—!" It was her mother who got off first, then her father who gave her a sheepish smile. Sakura refused to let go of her no matter what their parents said. "Kura—"

"— no! You scared me! You wouldn't wake up no matter what I did and... and you stopped breathing and I was so scared I didn't know what to do I—" Takara's heart ached at the sight of her sister's tears. Her face was a mess. Kura's eyes were puffy and swollen and red. She kept sniffing back her snot (Takara made a disgusted face at this) but all in all, the fear that painted her face was clear.

(... family stuff. Divorce. Separation. I don't know what to do this is driving me mad—" he stopped for a moment to catch his breath. "Mom's taking my brothers with her while Dad takes me.")

A hand reached out to caress Kura's tear-stained cheek, her thumb wiping away the tears her precious sister shed for her. "I'm sorry, Kura. I didn't mean to scare you." But in all honesty, she still wasn't sure. Haruno Takara refused to acknowledge the fact that she was reborn against her will. She had been in denial but it all came crashing down. She didn't want any of these.

A life (could it even be called a life?) of eternal peace and comfort awaited her back then when she died. She was finally going to rid herself of the sins and dirt she accumulated from Before and ascend to where she could relax for all eternity. But no— Death had other plans for her. Death found her amusing. DeathDeathDeathDeath— Death!

That stupid pretty-faced bastard—! He only showed up when I was in distress! Takara was proud that her face remained calm and apologetic on the outside despite the raging bull wrecking havoc inside of her.

¡Whack!

The sound and stinging of her cheek brought her back to reality. (In the background, Mebuchi and Kizashi gaped at the sight.) It left Takara wide-eyed. Did Kura just— Did Kura just punch her?! It didn't hurt as much as Takara expected but it still caught her by surprise. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid Kara!" Silence and the pinkette's sobs filled the room and it left Takara feeling a little bit awkward.

She just got punched... by her twin sister no less.

"Um... sorry again?"

(It was no surprise Takara didn't know what to do. Sakura had never acted like this towards her before.)

Takara watched as their mother picked up her crying sister, leaving the room but not without giving her a little smile. She turned her head to her father. He had his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes surrounded by miniscule crinkles when they narrowed down at her with a displeasing look. "Takara... what happened?" And for once, the blonde wanted to curl in like the child she was and hide away from her father's sight.

("What happened?" Ezra's voice came out forced as if he didn't want to ask that question.)

Her eyes were fixed on the white bedsheets of the hospital room she was in. "I..." She started out with an uncertain tone. "... I'm not sure. I just... went to sleep last night—"

"— last week—"

"— and... wait, what?" She jolted in surprise, her eyes glued on her fathers face, his features softening at her confused and disgruntled expression. "You've been asleep for a week, Takara."

... that was a long time...

...

"You had me worried—"

— I didn't know what happened—!

"— your soul almost left your body!"

Wait, what?

"Your refusal to live; that sudden urge to deny the fact that you lived for the second time made your body well-nigh reject your soul out!"

I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO LIVE AGAIN!

...

The next day, Sakura found her sister in a foul mood.

Sure, the pinkette was still a little upset with the blonde but her mother explained that the situation was unavoidable. That what happened couldn't have been stopped. It still didn't make Sakura happy though. She thought her sister was... was... She would rather not finish that thought. Their mother was outside and it was only her and Kara inside.

The moment she stepped inside the room, she found her blonde twin wearing that same expression she had a couple of days ago. That furrow of her brows, the downward curve of her lips, the way her eyes narrowed; it was the same displeased and frustrated expression she had when she wasn't acting like herself that one time.

"... Kara?"

She watched her blonde twin blink several times before looking towards her. It was that same loving and doting expression she always wore on her face when she looks at Sakura. The pinkette hesitated a little but with a little nod from Kara, she approached the hospital bed the blonde laid in. "How was school?" Was the first thing she asked her.

"Shikamaru and Choji are worried about you and Iruka-sensei didn't really give out that much homework last week." Remembering last week, both boys had bombarded (more Choji than Shikamaru anyway) her with questions about what happened. Alas, Sakura didn't really know. They just found Kara in that state when an owl— "An owl." She muttered under her breath, confusion written all over face.

Why was there an owl inside Kara's room that time?

"What did you say, Kura?"

"An owl... an owl came flying out of your room to get mama and papa."

...

Death... answer me.

Answer me, dammit! It was you!

Where the fuck were you before that, huh?! You— You pretty-faced bastard!

"... that's... not actually an insult, you know?"

Ugh— that's besides the point! Just answer me!

"... I can't say..."

And why not?!

"I just can't!"

...

That confrontation made her think. It was the first time she saw that look on his face. It was a mixture of desperation and... fear. Huh, she absent-mindedly thought. Isn't that kind of... ironic? Death being afraid was something she didn't really expect. In the first place, what terrified even Death? She pondered on this for a while as she went through her daily routine.

She had been discharged from the hospital just yesterday, saying that she was good to go, and the moment she got home, she pulled Kura on her bed and cuddled with her. Sure, she had been asleep for the past week but the bed at the hospital sure as hell wasn't as comfortable as the bed she owned at home.

At the moment, she was brushing her long, golden locks and she wondered why she had the same shade of hair as Death. Probably because he's a narcissistic bastard. He didn't answer any of her question and that left her in a foul mood. "Kara? Are you ready?" She saw her precious sister peek at her door from the mirror. With a sigh, she placed her brush down and picked up her sling bag.

"Yeah, I'm ready, Kura."

There was something about walking in the mornings with just her sister every day. The smell of freshly-baked bread wafted in the air, the scent of flowers that decorated the homes of the villagers followed after. It was refreshing and soothing. Calming and relaxing. The hand in Takara's hold was small like her own but softer and more delicate than the one she has. And why such a difference? The blonde twin kept doing her routine from Before.

In the beginning, it was only light exercises but it gradually became harder and more intense as she got used to every regime she set for herself. It was probably the reason why her own hand was a little callouse and rough, opposite of Kura's.

Then again, why was she doing all these? Her eyes trailed to the girl beside her, the twin sister who smiled at her with an innocent grin, the twin sister who clung to her at night when she has a nightmare, to the twin sister who gave her so much love and affection. But Takara didn't want to live. She didn't want to walk through the world of the living. She just didn't want to hurt again.

"Ezra, I'm sorry..."

"Please talk to me."

"... please..."

He stared her down with an unusual stern look on his face.

"... what were you doing?" It was a rhetorical question because what she had done was incredibly stupid. What she had done was absolutely moronic. Shikamaru glared down at her. What was she trying to do...?! He didn't know what goes on through her head, what she was going through but that doesn't answer why she tried to take her own life!

"Takara," he had said with a tone of finality, a tone that said he wasn't going to stop until he got some answer out of her.

"... I don't want to talk about it."

"Takara..."

"... it's fine. I won't do it again."

"Takara!"

Anyone who knew him would be surprised to hear him raise his voice. They would wonder how a seven-year-old could look so intimidating. "It's not fine. Won't do it again? I don't believe you." Her expression alone told volumes of her lies. Shikamaru hated the fact that Takara won't just open up to anyone.

He had noticed the first few days she had been back in the Academy after being discharged from the hospital. Something... changed about her. The air around her, the way she carried herself, the look in her eyes; they were subtle changes but changes nonetheless, undesirable ones much so. In the eyes of others, Takara looked perfectly fine and bored like she usually did. She wasn't.

The blonde even managed to fool her own sister but Sakura seemed to notice something out of place; however, she never actively pointed it out. That, alone, worried him. Shikamaru knew the Haruno twins were inseparable and they didn't hide things from each other. To see Takara hiding something and Sakura worrying about it, Shikamaru (for once) decided to do something about it.

It left him bewildered when Takara separated from the pinkette at the Academy entrance after school. It left him puzzled when she walked in the opposite direction. It left him feeling dread when he noticed a rather alarming glint in her eyes as she stalked away. He didn't hesitate and followed her without being noticed as best as he could. He found himself hiding in the bushes in one of the many training grounds in the village.

He thought it was for extra practice; Takara told him about it. She would sometimes be in the training grounds for practice but she was always and he meant always had Sakura with her. When she pulled out a ninja wire from her pocket and saw that look in her eyes as she glanced at one of the sturdiest branches, he lashed out.

He knew that look, had seen them in the eyes in some of his clan members after a particularly... gruesome mission according to his dad.

Now, as he looked down at her with one of his most stern gazes, he waited for her to speak up. To explain why that even crossed her mind. "Takara..."

She never said and he never pried into it ever again. However he made sure to keep a close eye on her, made sure that she wasn't alone. Takara was his precious friend, one that understood him the most. She was one of those who knew what goes through his head and he didn't need to speak up what he wants to say. She always knew and always did something about it. Haruno Takara... troublesome... she's gonna be the death of me someday...

I'm sorry...

"Hey, hey..."

... I'm... so sorry...

"I know."

... give me some tissue, dammit!

"Pfft— alright, alright, no need to get angry while you're crying."

At the age of ten, Naruto found a friend... well, more like an acquaintance but that's besides the point. He could remember it oh-so clearly...

It was a day filled with... misery... and hunger, mostly.

It was his birthday... and the villagers glared at him with a lot more... hate than usual. No, they didn't physically hurt him on this day. It was their eyes. Their gaze. To him, that seemed a lot more unnerving. A lot more... terrifying. Oh, he could handle the whispers, the words, the pushes, the insults... but something about their gaze just... felt wrong. Horrifying. It felt... like he was slowly being devoured.

To him, feeling that way was worse than being hit.

And then, she happened.

He sat in the swing set at the park, his head hung low. One hand clenched his white shirt as he tried to keep his stomach from growling. He was so, so hungry. He forgot to stack up on instant ramen last week and he ran out this morning. "Stupid, stupid..." He pouted and mumbled under his breath. A frown graced his lips when his stomach growled. "I'm so hungry, 'ttebayo."

"Here."

Naruto blinked in surprise when an onigiri appeared in his line of sight. A hand filled with bandages held the onigiri and this made him glanced at the owner. It was a girl whose hair was brighter than even his own, almost golden in his eyes, and eyes so pretty he couldn't help but just stare. "You gonna take it or not?" This snapped him out of his stupor. Her voice was impatient but he didn't... he didn't feel ashamed... afraid... for some reason, she didn't make him feel bad.

Hesitantly, he reached out, his own hands filled with cuts and dirt. The onigiri was pulled away and his heart sunken. I knew it... it was too good to be true. Too good for someone to give him food for it to be real. I hate this, 'bayo. "Are you stupid?" He flinched and trembled as if a cold bucket of ice water was poured on him. What did... What did I do so wrong—?! "Wash your hands, stupid," he blinked, the tears receeding back. W-What? "Your hands." He looked up and saw her looking at his hands with disgust.

"Dude, how can you eat if your hands are dirty? That's just unhygienic." She wasn't... She wasn't making fun of me? Naruto startled when she grabbed his wrist and dragged him to who knows where. He couldn't find his voice so he silently followed after her. Soon, they reached a fountain. "Wash your hands and then you can eat." He didn't know when, he didn't know how but he found himself washing his hands and taking a bite out of the onigiri.

It was... It was warm.

Tears streamed down his face, snot blocking his nostrils, and eating his onigiri. It was warm and delicious. Naruto hadn't eaten something so good aside from Ichiraku's Ramen but this... this just made him so warm and homey and he felt like he actually worth something. "It's okay to cry out for help, you know?" He heard but didn't say anything. He knew she knew that he did. "I know not everyone's going to come to your aid... not everyone's kind and you might have known that years ago."

There was a bitter tone in her voice and this made Naruto look at her a bit. He hadn't heard her with such a tone before. She had always seemed so indifferent about everything. She was the cool kid in his eyes, someome who had everything they wanted like Sasuke but it wasn't like that. He realized it now. "You can come to me... or my sister... or even my friends, Uzumaki Naruto." He blinked in surprise, the tears had stopped some moments ago.

When he looked at her, it was... it felt so right. "You can count on us."

They weren't friends. Simply acquaintances at the moment but he wouldn't have it any other way.

Haruno Takara seemed like a weird person but that night, Naruto met her. The real her and not the mask she put on during the day.

Author's Note

It's been a while! Sorry, I've been on Wattpad a lot recently! But I missed it here so here's another chapter of No Regrets!

For some reason, I really like writing about Takara and the name, gosh, I like how it sounds.

What about you guys? Are you all doing great?