Fear, that was all that was going through her heart, her mind, that and the fact that she was probably going to die, all because she had to open her stupid mouth and stand up for that meek, bespectacled girl. What the hell was she doing in that alleyway, alone to begin with, anyway? This was a dangerous city. Atsuko knew that, and she'd only lived there for a month! Oh, where were cops when you needed them? Of course, they're right behind you when you accidentally miss the trashcan, but when a woman is being chased down the street but not just one or two thugs, but close to five or six-she hadn't stopped to count-cops seem to be on the complete opposite side of the city.
Shit, please, not now, Atsuko thought as her feet began to slow down. Suddenly, a park type of place came into view, with what looked like a jungle gym built on a tree in the center. If she could speed up just a bit she might be able to hide in their while they thought she had gone on! Just as that though entered her head, her shoelace came undone, and she fell flat on her face. Of course…
"Hey, there she is, get 'er!" Atsuko heard a male's voice yell, and she knew she was in for the beating of a lifetime, when she smelled cigarette smoke… Wait, was someone there with her? Please, let them be able to help her!
"Please," she said looking towards the smell, not seeing anyone there, "if there is anyone there, please help me." She knew she sounded pathetic, but at that moment, she didn't care, she just wanted help. As she got up, about to start running again, the first blow came in contact with her ribcage, which was confirmed with a sickening crack. The next thing she felt was he head being pulled up by her hair, until she was standing completely, her knees buckling in fright. She kept her eyes shut tight, not wanting to see anything, and if she could, she'd block off her sense of smell, as well, because she didn't want to smell that there was in fact someone there who could get help.
"Now, you little bitch, why don't you repeat what you said back in that alley when we were trying to talk to that pretty little school girl?" asked the one who was holding her by the hair, his breath was like death, as though he hadn't brushed his teeth in weeks. It seemed as though he was the leader of the small gang. When Atsuko gave no reply, however, the man holding her grabbed her cheek and forced her to look at him.
Now, being forced to look at her attackers, she noticed they were all wearing yellow, not just yellow shirts or stuff like that, but scarves, bandanas, and random bits everywhere. Oh, shiiiiit. Out of all the gangs to be caught by, she had to be caught by the Yellow Scarves.
"Now, maybe we won't have to hurt you, if you do a little something for us, if you know what I'm askin' for, girlie," the main scumbag said, his lip curling.
Overcome with rage, and forgetting for a split second her position in this scuffle, Atsuko acted in impulse and did what she thought any girl would do. She spit in his face, a big fat wad, too, not like what most girls would be able to produce. Hideaki would be so proud.
The next thing Atsuko saw all happened in a blur. The man she spit on slapped her hard across the face, letting her fall to the ground. Her hands out to stop and break her fall, she felt a kick to her stomach, a kick to her butt, and two sets of arms begin to hold her now still form to the ground. Her eyes closed as a few more well-placed blows were aimed at her already fragile body. This time, instead of fear registering through her mind, she was a blank slate, she felt light headed, and worry. What will happen to Hideaki without her? Where will he go? And with whom? He was five, and she was all he had, and vice versa, he wouldn't understand this, he would just think that another person had abandoned him.
Just as the thought of that poor boy being all alone in the world entered Atsuko's head, the hands holding her down were ripped rather painfully from her body, yelps of fear sounded so loud, it made her ears ring. What was going on? Curiosity got the best of her, and she opened her eyes, and the sight that greeted her was one that would be engraved in her memory forever. She saw a tall blond haired man in a uniform of sorts beating the living shit out of the men who had previously been doing the same to her. It was a sight that she enjoyed with vengeful delight.
"People like you piss me off!" the blond man roared, grabbing one man by the scruff of his neck and throwing him further away than Atsuko thought humanly possible. Another came up behind him, yelling like a mad man, only to be punched in the face so hard he flew over Atsuko and into the jungle gym tree. After that, all the other men seemed to realize that their attempts at fighting the blond man were fruitless, and ran away with their tails between their legs.
The blond was breathing heavily, his shoulders hunched, his knuckles white from being clenched so tight. Who-or rather, what-was this man?
Atsuko felt a little awkward lying there on the ground, while he was just a few feet away, so she unsteadily clambered to her feet, dusted herself off, and cleared her throat timidly.
"Ahem, er, um, hi?" She squeaked. Out of all the ways to speak to her rescuer, and she squeaked. Clearing her throat once more, as though to dispel any lingering things caught in her throat, she tried again, "Hello, thank you so much for saving me just now…"
At last the blond looked over his shoulder at the small girl behind him. She seemed timid, but not afraid. Her long dark hair was sticking up in odd places, and her clothes were now in shambles. In response to her thanks, he grunted and nodded in her direction, to which she visibly sweat dropped. This was her knight in shining armor?
Oh, well, beggers can't be choosers, might as well make small talk to see if he can help me understand where I am. "Uh, I'm Atsuko Ogawa, and you are…?"
"Shizuo Heiwajima."
