Shiro Toraichi sat at her study chair and stared blankly pass the window with her deep blue eyes, watching the sunset. The wind blew her long ash colored hair which is tied with two red ribbons in front, and sighed. Kevin is cheating on me? It can't be. He even said 'I love you' with his honest blue eyes. But I can't call Wilma a liar... She would probably hate me if I did that... Even so I know Kevin is a hot and cool boy, with his playful attitude you can call him a playboy... But I trust him with all my might. Even I was an air-head, clumsy, uncute, and totally useless he still stayed by my side. Everyone kept calling me old woman and granny because of my almost white hair, but I haven't heard him said that. But Wilma stayed by my side even though she was getting bullied because of me, she stood up with dignity and told everyone that she is my friend, no one would ever lay a single hand on me with her protecting me. Wilma is such a strong girl... But now who will I side? Wilma, who is my friend for about 3 years or Kevin, who I was first in loved with...
Shiro slumped at her study table and sighed deeply. Then Shiro heard a knock, it was her Auntie Irma.
"Shiro, Wilma is waiting for you downstairs." Auntie Irma said.
"I'll be coming soon" Shiro replied as her Auntie Irma shut the door gently. Shiro face the mirror by the table and arranged her hair a little and went to the living room, Wilma is fidgeting by the bean bag being wary that she had upset Shiro. Shiro just chuckled at her worried face and tapped Wilma by the shoulder, in response Wilma squealed like a rat.
"Shi-Shiro..." Wilma said shyly. "Um... You see I din't mean to upset you... Erm.. I mean I just told you the truth so that you won't get hurt... And I want to apologize to you... Erm.. I feel awkward saying this because I know I did right but... I truly very sorry for everything Shiro!' Wilma apologized with her stubborn attitude.
"Apology accepted." Shiro said and reached for Wilma's head and shuffled her hair with a small smile on her face.
"Really? Thank you very much Shiro! I really love you!" then Wilma hugged Shiro and Shiro hugged her back. "Then let's go to the festival!" Wilma exclaimed as she released Shiro with her hug.
"But I have to-"
"Go have fun darling be home by 8 alright?" her Auntie Irma interrupted with a motherly smile at her face. Then Wilma dragged Shiro to the festival and started playing and eating around. Then they rested by a tree trunk, watching the people passing by them, the children playing tag, families playing together and friends who were having fun.
"Maaan~, I wish I have changed before going to the festival..." Wilma sighed as she look down at her clothes which were her uniform: sailor uniform with a red collar and ribbon paring with a red skirt with a thin white lining at the end which is inches away from her knees.
"We just rushed out the house without thinking after all..." Shiro said
"Well, I also wish that Kevin would come to this festival... I want to know who is better at shooting..."
"It can't be helped after all... Kevin is down with a cold... He is at his house resting... Even if I say I want to visit and check up on him, he will say 'I dont want you to catch my cold' or something alike"
"Aww... Too bad... If he was here I bet-" Wilma left her sentence unfinished and her eyes widened in shock and her jaws dropping. "HE IS RIGHT THERE!" her finger pointed at the stuff toy stall. Kevin was with a beautiful girl clinging at his arm, they were acting all lovey-dovey. In rage Wilma stood up and went up to Kevin "KEVIN!" she shouted. He turned around in shock, seeing Shiro lagging behind but he can tell that with her eyes saying 'Please, this isn't what it supposed to mean'.
"Oh, Freign. How nice to see you here." Kevin said so casually.
"'NICE'? Do you expect me to say 'Oh it's so nice to see you too, Kevin' ? Who is this Freaking girl? Aren't you supposed to be down with a cold, resting?" Wilma shouted
"Oh her? She is Arriane Dread, my girlfriend." he said it with a smirk on his face and the girl smiled at them. Wilma and Shiro's eyes widened in shock.
"But I thought you love Shiro?" Wilma stuttered but clenched her fist in anger
"Oh about that? It was a great acting isn't it? I always wanted to try doing that." Kevin said coldly. Wilma shook in anger. "And even so, how can I love someone so useless? Ha! Keep dreaming girl! I would never date an uncute and useless girl like you! You stupid Gran-" before Kevin his sentence, Shiro took action. She slapped Kevin so hard that he even bit his tongue. Tears started to flow, she shook hardly, everyone was dumbfounded even Wilma. For Shiro who always been protected, she never fought back to anyone even if she was bullied. This was a first time Wilma saw Shiro to be this angry.
"I trusted you! But you betrayed me! You freaking ugly, stupid, unreasonable, conceited, self-centered playboy! I never thought i have fallen for such an idiot! You freaking retard!" Shiro shouted with her might and ran away, leaving Kevin with a scared expression and Wilma with a surprised one. Shiro had never raised her voice to anyone, she who has a small voice and shy attitude it was all new for her. Then Wilma stood up and punched the cowering Kevin really hard, then started searching for Shiro.
The river reflected a huge full moon, and Shiro stared at it a she cried her heart out. Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! Idiot! Stupid! How could you love someone so heartless! Why does it have to be someone like him! Is God really punishing me this much? First my parents! Then crash my life by letting me fall in love with someone so heartless!
Then she fell asleep with that thought on her head over and over again with tears still running down her face.
"Where am I?" Shiro said. Then a smaller version of Shiro ran passed her, then she saw that smaller Shiro went to tackle someone a hug. She could tell it wasn't her father neither her mother. Then smaller Shiro gave a flower to the man, "Thank you Shiro, I love you.' he said with his deep and calm voice. Then ruffled the hair of the smaller Shiro with a smile of achievement on her face. Big Shiro didn't seemed to know the man, she tried searching through her mind but found nothing. Then it started snowing all of a sudden, the man stood up and stared at the falling snow. "The snow is very cold and white..." he said glumly. Then big Shiro looked up, the snow dropped on her face and felt its coldness.
Shiro woke up with the face of an unknown stranger, he has a long red hair and a hat. He was wearing a black cloak with a certain crest on it, some kind of cross and a flower on it and a gun strap which obviously had a gun. Shiro sat up calmly, like he was just another friend, she didn't care was she looked like. Then something glowed by the strangers cloak, it was some kind of a box emitting a green, warm light. "Oohh.. So you were compatible with this cute girl." he said as if the box was gonna answer him back. "Girl, can you lend your hand?" Shiro didn't hesitated and gave her right hand to him, it was not like he was gonna cut off her arm. Then the man took her hand and kissed the back of her palm, Shiro flustered and blushed.
'Wha?" Shiro said in shock then the man placed the glowing, floating box at her hand gently. The box's light separated a little from it's body and entered Shiro's right eye, she can feel a small pain and she covered her eye. Then through her left eye she can see that the box's light disappeared and it started to enter Shiro's right arm, heat spreaded to her arm and she winced in pain. Then she saw the man with a small satisfaction on his face, then a strong air pressure blew Shiro's hair. She looked up and saw something round with craters all over it, it had a red, wide antenna and a mask in the center. It's mouth opened, a pink light was gathering pointed at Shiro's direction, the pink light was released like a laser and Shiro braced herself and closed her eye. A few seconds has passed and all Shiro can feel is that the pain has subsided on her arm and eyes, when she opened her eyes she saw the man standing with a pole and the grass not far from her is burnt to ashes and was steaming. It was like the man deflected the shot with just a pole.
"Oh, that was close. Are you alright missy?" he asked and Shiro just nodded. When she looked over the round laser throwing thing, she saw something that caused her to puke. She saw a woman-like soul lingering around the round thing, she looked like a woman who was stabbed a million, her eyes were not aligned, one was near her forehead, one stayed near the ear, her nose have been sliced into half, a mouth which ends were sliced up until the ears, her hair was in a total mess, and her body was 'VERY' deformed. Her torso was stab holes everywhere, she had only one breast, her arms were bent into a different and strange angle and so was her fingers. Shiro didn't get to see the lower part of her body and she don't want to see further more. Help me. a voice came from no where, it was scratchy yet hoarse. Shiro looked around to look who just spoke, and didn't saw anyone but a weak looking dog, she was definete that it wasn't the dog nor man's voice nor hers. Then the mouth opened again, it showed a nuzzle of a gun, the pink light gather much more faster and fired much more faster and multiplied, the man carried Shiro into his arms. The had dodged the attack, but the dog got his by the light, a star appeared after the dog got hit. Then the man grabbed his gun and fired at the round thing and hit the forehead of the mask. As the round thing started to crumble, the soul which is attached to it screamed in pain, Shiro figured that the voice earlier was hers. Shiro covered her ears but it was useless, she can still hear the scratchy screaming and she felt like her ears are gonna burst that she screamed. Then the man slapped Shiro. What the hell are you screaming for?" he shouted
"Can't you hear that? That excruciating scream! It's piercing my ears!" Shiro complained. Then the round thing has finally turned into dust, the woman soul disappeared and the screaming died. But before Shiro sigh in relieve she saw the dog that got hit, she immediately knelt beside it. Before Shiro can touch the dog the man shouted "Dont touch it!" that Shiro's hand jerk away. Then suddenly the dog turned into dust just like the round thing. The wind blew all the ashes, and Shiro cried. The man comforted her.
"Wha-what were does things? The dog! What happened to him?" Shiro asked miserably
"Those were Akumas, they-" he was cut off by a shout. The shout for Shiro's name. It was Wilma, she was breathing heavily, sweating hard and was looking for Shiro about an hour and half. Shiro bolted up straight, before she went to Wilma the man told her that Akumas will following her now that the Innocence has been compatible with her and keep everything a secret. Shiro nodded and tackled Wilma a hug and continued crying on her only friend's chest.
Then Wilma escorted Shiro home, when they entered the house Auntie Irma was about to scold Shiro until she saw her red eyes and guessed it was from crying. Then they have dinner together with Wilma and Uncle Jeremy. They were having a fun conversation about the annoying teacher of Wilma and Shiro,but Shiro's thought didn't linger at the dinner and conversation but the words that the man left her 'Akuma will keep following you now that the Innocence has been compatible with you' and then realization struck her.
The windows of the kitchen shattered, then three 'Akumas' entered the dining. Auntie Irma was hiding behind Uncle Jeremy and both were shanking, while Wilma stood in front of Shiro trying to protect her but she was shivering with fear. Shiro saw this and had a firm desicion. "Innocence, activate"she muttered under her breathe. Then the first Akuma shot at Uncle Jeremy's direction, smoke was made.
"JEREMY!" Auntie Irma shouted in vain. Then Wilma noticed that Shiro was gone behind her, she panicked. Then the smoke disappeared, both female gasped. Shiro was holding an unconcious Uncle Jeremy on her left and her right arm turned white and big, it was like a monster's hand. Then the Akuma behind Auntie Irma turned into dust. Shiro's position looked like she flickered something. It was the first Akuma's laser, right after he launched it, Shiro activated her innocence, grabbed uncle Jeremy and flickered the laser to the Akuma who was about to lunch a laser at Auntie Irma. Then the two Akumas brought out the nuzzle of the gun out of their mouths and started gathering pink lights, before they release their attack, Shiro carried the unconscious uncle Jeremy to her back and grabbed Auntie Irma and Wilma by their shirts using her left hand. Her left hand changed into a bazooka-like weapon, she shot downwards and the impact made all of them fly to the sky, barely escaping the spread attack. All thanks to the walls nothing escaped from the windows and holes to hit the other houses, Shiro sighed in relief. Then they landed softly out side the house, Shiro gently put down her Auntie Irma and Wilma to the ground and laid Uncle Jeremy to the road. Now what? She thought, then her hand returned to it's normal innocence state. Before charging into the house again, Wilma grabbed her skirt.
"You-your Shiro right? Your hand... Your hair.. Your eyes... Is it really you?" Wilma stuttered, Shiro just silently stood there staring at the ground. Then Shiro pulled her skirt, and charged at the house. She slashed her large claws at the Akumas, and their masks were cut to pieces, they slowly dissipated. Shiro had a pained expression, she can hear screams and see three souls begging for help. Shiro wanted to puke, but she cant Not now. She thought.
Then Wilma entered the dining room where Shiro stood coldly with her eye that had a faraway look, it looked like she mercilessly killed the Akumas. Before Wilma can utter a word, Shiro ran passed her and went ot her room. Shiro took a couple of undergarments, her spare uniform, couple of clothes that can fight with, personal necessities, pocket money, a small kit filled with ribbons and her precious bracelet and stuck it at her bag. She jumped out of her window and stood at the roof, staring at her Uncle Jeremy and Auntie Irma then at the same time Wilma busted out the door and looked up to see Shiro. With the big full moon at her back, falling snow Shiro mouthed Sayonara, smiled weakly and made her dramatic exit by jumping through house roofs. Wilma felt weak and cried hardly, Shiro heard her and cried silently but with a determined face. I can't let my beloved one would get hurt because of me just like earlier.I can't let Akumas hurt them. I am gonna be like the man earlier. I should not be protected anymore, I am the one doing the protecting. I am not the weak girl from these past 13 years, now that I have this innocence , I have to be strong.
Then Shiro reached the river where she met the man earlier. The man was still there, laying in the cold grass then Shiro showed into his sight. "I want to be like you. I want to be strong." Shiro said.
"It seems like the Innocence affected your appearance." The man chuckled and sat up. He looked at a white-haired, red eyed, determined Shiro, he noticed that Shiro's innocence is the same as a certain someone. "Then what do you want to do? Chase me around? Make you my apprentice? Maybe I can make an exception to a cute girl like you." he said he lifted Shiro's chin and shortened the distance of his lips to hers, Shiro instantly slapped the man with her left hand.
"I didn't come to you to play around, as I said I want to be strong. If I have to chase you around, I can. If you make me your apprentice that would be a great help." Shiro smiled cutely that the man didn't argue being entranced with her beauty. Then Shiro went the river and saw her reflection, she gathered her hair in her left hand and held a single claw at her right hand, she slashed her hair and it was cut into a shoulder-length. Shiro let the cut hair fly with the wind and stared at her new reflection. This is a last night of the weak Shiro Toraichi, and after the sun rises tomorrow a new and strong Shiro Toraichi will rise.
