My only Friend?
The lights flashed, the man's eyes bore into her young fragile body. By now Mahiru knew not to move when her captor took pictures, or she would suffer another beating.
Or worse.
No one would help her. No one cared to help her. No one had been there to save her and at this point, she had lost all hope anyone ever would.
All Mahiru could hope for was for him to leave her alone when he was done.
Suddenly her head jerked back, he grabbed her by the hair and started dragging her towards her room. Mahiru never made a sound, too afraid to do anything more than shake in fear.
He threw Mahiru back into her cell.
"I'm having company over so you better be quiet Mahiru chan. Or I'll have to punish you again. Okay?"
His disgusting mouth stretched up into a sinister grin.
Mahiru nodded her head, never making eye contact with him. He shut the door and locked it from the outside.
Banba had no tears left, she closed her eyes and squeezed her knees against her chest instead. No matter how selfish it was, the only wish she had left to her was for someone to share in the pain with. Someone to be there with her, someone to warm her at night and tell her they would get out of there together. Mahiru's desire for companionship was stronger than any other feeling she had left.
She imagined how much better her captor would be dead. How warm his blood would feel on her skin, how nice it would be to see his eyes open wide in fear. Mahiru wanted to see all hope disappear from his eyes when he realized there was no escaping his inevitable fate. She wanted him to feel everything he made her feel. Wanted him to feel helpless and weak. Wanted to put him in excruciating pain.
After the sun disappeared that night, Mahiru heard a faint whisper in the back of her mind. A voice that was not her own. It scared her because at first she thought the monster of a man was coming back to make her pose for pictures again.
Or worse.
But then she heard it again. It sounded nothing like that man, it sounded warm despite its rough texture.
Mahiru focused on that voice, desperately desiring to hear it again.
"Set yourself free."
Mahiru stopped all movement and sucked in her breath.
"W-what?"
"What? You can't do it Mahiru?"
Mahiru shook her head side to side, eyes now wide open. This was a voice she did not recognize.
"Then I'll do it. I'll kill him and set you free."
Mahiru's eyes widened even more.
"You're l-lying!"
"Mahiru, you are too soft and innocent to do anything on your own. I will kill this dumb fucker for you. I'll bash his fuckin head in and cut his heart out."
The voice was filled with confidence and power. Mahiru felt herself warming up to it right away.
"H-he is too strong and big and scary a-and-"
'Maybe for someone like you. I can crush him easy. I'll protect you Mahiru."
Mahiru let her legs slide away from her chest.
"P-protect me? What's your n-name?"
"Call me Shinya. Banba Shinya. From now on, I'll be your friend and guardian."
In that moment, Shinya appeared before her. She looked similar to her, but far more wild and confident. Her face sported a cocky grin, yet Mahiru could feel warmth radiating off of her.
Mahiru felt her lips twitch slightly upwards, she looked up at Shinya, her eyes shining with hope.
"S-Shinya, you'll really protect me? Will you rea-really be my f-f-friend?"
Shinya's expression softened and she knelt in front of Mahiru.
"Of course I will. Just let me take care of you, no one will ever hurt ya again."
Mahiru smiled at her new friend.
Mahiru could already feel how much fuller her empty husk would be once his life ended. With Shinya on her side, she felt much more confident this wish would come true.
'I'll handle everything, I promise. I'll slaughter him and his ugly ass mustache when he least expects it.'
Mahiru nodded her head in response, feeling far more hopeful than before. Someone had finally come to save her, to help her, to protect her.
"I'll kill any bastard who comes near ya. The world is filled with people just like this shit head and they all need salvation. The only way to give them that salvation, is to release their souls. "
Mahiru's head shot towards the door when she heard the latch turn.
"Mahiru chan, are you ready?"
The man slammed the door open, a lustful glint in his eyes.
'Don't be scared Mahiru. Tonight he dies.'
It was still impossible for Mahiru to remain calm, despite the strong presence of Shinya. She could not stop the shaking, or the occasional whimper as he dragged her towards the usual room. Where he would take more pictures.
And maybe something worse.
The disgusting man left her in the center of the room and forced her into a pose she did not want to be in. The flashes started and all Mahiru could do was shake, fear filled her stomach once again.
When Mahiru thought everything she had been told was all a lie, when she started to sink back into her despair, she heard Shinya's voice louder than ever.
'I'll free us Mahiru. I won't let this waste of life do this to you anymore. Just sit back and relax, you deserve it.'
Mahiru felt herself thrown to the back of her mind while something, or rather someone else took over.
The man saw Mahiru's head tilt back, he lowered his camera to the floor. He had been kneeling on the ground for a better angle.
"Tilt your head back-"
"Mahiru" shot up onto her feet, charged forward and kneed her captor straight in the throat, shutting him up immediately. He fell backwards, her tiny body delivering an insane amount of power. He grabbed at his throat, trying to catch some air.
"You need to shut the fuck up ya putrid piece of shit!"
Shinya picked up his camera and shattered it against his face, maniacal laughter escaped her mouth. She followed up with repeated elbows to the face.
His head bounced against the floor over and over again. After the fifth elbow he fought back. He grabbed Shinya's arms and threw her off of him.
She smacked against the floor, but stood up in a split second, determined to steal his life away.
Her target tried standing up too, he nearly fell over twice due to being in a daze and her most recent attack, a kick to the ball sack. After this she ran out of the room, straight into the kitchen.
He chased after her in a fit of rage, screaming curses all the way.
When he burst into the kitchen Shinya was nowhere to be seen. He slowly crept around, the island in the middle of the room provided a great hiding spot for small children. He smirked, that girl was going to get the worst beating of her life.
"I've caught you you little bitch!"
He jumped over the kitchen island and grabbed at the air. His eyes widened in surprise, he heard movement behind him and spun around.
"Stay still and die!"
Shinya leapt at her target wielding a knife in one hand.
He stumbled back on top of the Island and struggled to keep the point of the knife away from his body. The two fought for the advantage, when suddenly his fist bashed into her face and he rolled over on top of her.
Her captor pointed the knife back at her face, it slowly inched towards her forehead. The blade cut into the area above her right eyebrow.
She struggled to push him off, it saved her life and her eye, but the cut started sliding all the way down her face.
It dug deeper and deeper into her skin, finally Shinya felt a burning rage rise in her chest. She screamed a warcry and with superhuman strength rolled back on top of her target. The two of them fell off the island and onto the floor.
Shinya smiled and jabbed her finger straight into the mans eye. He screamed in pain while Shinya dodged his wild swings and kicks and ran back into the picture taking room, picking up the knife on the way.
Idiotically, the man stood up and stumbled back after her. The adrenaline and anger driving him after her. She stood nearby his photography equipment, hands behind her back.
He charged towards her and knocked over his camera stand on the way. Before he could make another move Shinya stepped to the side and thrusted the knife into his ribs, forcing all his movements to stop.
His eyes went wide with fear and shock, he stumbled backwards and fell onto his back. Shinya had already pulled the knife out and took a few steps back. He no longer struggled, he just sat there staring up at the ceiling. His hands tried to cover the wound, but eventually he stopped even that. No sound came from his throat, the shock kept him quiet even though his mouth opened and closed.
Shinya and Mahiru took great pleasure in his current state of being. All anger, greed, hate, and hope faded from his eyes when he realized he would die.
Blood trickled down her face, Shinya reached up and touched their new scar. She smirked and a new feeling washed over her.
She jumped on top of him and stabbed him. Then she did it again and again and again and again.
Shinya's clothes turned a nice shade of red, blood splattered onto her face. Shinya laughed hysterically the entire time, finding great pleasure in releasing his life energy.
Shinya stabbed him one final time before getting off of his mutilated body and taking a rest. After a few minutes she leaned off of the wall.
"I kept my promise now didn't I, Mahiru~?"
Shinya laughed and started walking towards the exit.
She heard Mahiru sob.
"Thank you so much Shinya. You're th-the best friend I've e-ever had."
Shinya smirked even wider.
"No one will ever fuck with you again, I promise."
With that they ran out of the dark apartment, they needed to get as far away from that place as they could.
"Mahiru, it's time to wake up.~"
Said girl opened her eyes.
It was all a dream.
She was back in Myojo academy on a mission for a holy relic, given to her by Ichinose Haru. All she needed to do now was kill her of course.
"Mahiru, you are going to be late for class if you don't get up."
Sumireko stood by the entrance to the bedroom, her smile bright and warm as always.
Mahiru immediately looked away from her roommates face.
"I-I'm sorry."
Mahiru sat up, rubbed her eyes and swung her legs over the side of her bed. Facing away from her roommate.
Sumireko placed a hand over her mouth and giggled.
"No need to apologize. I'll be waiting for you in the living room."
Mahiru nodded her head as a response, her face slightly red.
She began her morning routine, Shinya laughed.
'She totally has the hots for you, or should I say us.'
Mahiru shook her head violently and began to change.
'She is j-just being nice to me.'
'And that is exactly why you need my help."
She ignored Shinya and swiftly finished changing. Mahiru had showered the night before, all she needed to do now was brush her teeth.
Once she finished she shyly went to meet her roommate in the other room. The two of them silently made their way out the door, they stayed in that silence until they were out of the dorm building.
"Were you having a bad dream last night"
Sumireko turned her head towards Mahiru.
Mahiru jumped slightly at this question, then shook her head no.
Sumireko tilted her head to the side and for a split second looked hurt. It disappeared as fast as it appeared.
"If you ever want to talk I'd be willing to listen."
Mahiru shook her head up and down, deciding words would just make her sound stupid or mean.
Sumireko sighed and looked straight ahead. This was when Mahiru decided to take a look at her, and instead of hastily looking back at the oh so interesting ground in front of her, she smiled.
Hanabusa shifted her eyes toward her, they quickly shot back.
"I-is something wrong?"
Mahiru looked back at the ground and let out a tiny giggle.
"N-no."
Despite being flustered moments before, Sumireko made a quick recovery. She smirked and stepped a little closer to her companion.
"My Mahiru, you seem to be getting more mischievous lately.~"
Banba let out a small squeak and closed in on her self, attempting to hide her face. This elicited a laugh from Hanabusa, causing Mahiru to smile again.
Perhaps she had more than one person who wished to make her smile, perhaps more than one person cared about her.
Maybe it was time to start treasuring that person.
A/N: This is supposed to be a one shot, but I may make it longer. Depends on what happens in the near future.