Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

The title is from the poem "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou. I thought it was fitting all things considered.


01

Her beauty was ultimately raw. All the materials were there – exotic blue eyes for her heritage – but all of her beauty unused because Dr. J deemed it unnecessary. She was slim and slight as her heritage demanded alongside the fierce fitness regimen she was held to.

None of that mattered though. Not now. Maybe not ever. Right now the only thing that mattered was the mission.

Always the mission.

Because she was the Perfect Soldier.

02

Hunger was the best teacher. It taught her to stick to the shadows, to be invisible to lessen the ache in her belly. Even now, when she had ample to eat, she could feel the echo of hunger eating her insides. This hunger, this starvation kept her body skinny and twig like. Dr. G said it was malnutrition. That she might never be what she was supposed to be. But that was okay. She could fit in tiny places with ease, including her cockpit. It was a fair trade. Her body for her life.

It also kept predators off her back.

Not all, but the ones who confused her with a boy did.

She was Shinigami.

03

Men don't notice women very often, especially the meek looking. To be seen, not heard and when not heard, forgotten. Her gender made it easier to be invisible, easier to disappear under men's eyes and with the government the way it was, women hardly looked at her either. Besides, she dressed as a man when she needed to.

It was easier than a man dressing as a woman.

Easier to appear harmless as well. Even if she was anything but.

04

She was the only daughter of an extremely wealthy man. Twenty-nine brothers. They all squabbled over being the heir to the vast Winner fortune. Many of them died. She only had nineteen now. And what set her apart from them - what made her special in their father's eyes - was her resemblance to their dead mother.

Beautiful. Delicate.

She became the heir amongst jealousy and envy of her brothers as proof of her father's love.

She grew to be ruthless in her kindness. A steel blade wrapped in velvet.

05

Her husband's word was law.

Her husband was dead.

She never had a choice.

She wrapped her medium length hair in a bun like how her mother taught her. (he loved to take it down and wrap in his fist) She had found a master, someone worthy to help her achieve her husband's goals. She begged her family for forgiveness every day, but she had to honor him in some.

She had to or she would be weak.

Worthless.


I am aware of many things, like the fact Shinigami is masculine and that girls aren't generally heirs. All will be explained in due time, it goes with the story. I promise. :) I'm keeping the names for these five the same, so no worries.