Villain To The Victim

April 6th, 8:00 PM.

Northern Osaka, The Kaito Estate.

Akiko Mikami could hear the sound of car doors slamming outside her home, her entire body shivering in anticipation as she put her back against the wall as she stared outside the window of her former bedroom, which was now covered in dust; the sun was now setting, and soon the entire mansion would be painted in darkness.

In the back of Akiko Mikami's head was a nagging feeling, though she was unsure of how to express it without drawing attention to herself. She could feel an unfamiliar lump form in her throat as her head whirled with dozens of thoughts, this situation feeling all too similar to something she could not put her finger on.

Her body experienced what felt like an electrical jolt for a few moments, her innards curling in response to the foreign feeling. Just what the hell was this? If anything, she would just scream her lungs out in response, but this time around she was completely silent.

Akiko fell to her knees suddenly, her hands running against the smooth yet dusty floor as she panted heavily, her face hidden by the darkness. She knew very well that she should be focusing on the incoming threat, but something else had been nagging at her.

"Get out of my head, please," Akiko begged quietly, as if she did not believe that she was entirely alone at the moment, "I have control over him, get out of my fucking head…"

Was she really just an embodiment of an urban legend or was she flesh and bone, just a human being who only made wrong turns her entire life? Kuchisake-onna. Malicious spirit. Monster. She never intended any of this, but she somehow took joy in her sick deeds. Who would think she is beautiful now?

That question haunted ever since her murders began, which was a long nineteen years ago… and since then, she asked the same questions to her dozens of victims, which consisted mostly of children who had lives ahead of them. Am I pretty? How about now? Maybe it was fair that people labeled her as someone that was born from a horror story.

Anyone who had faced her always met the same fate, at least the majority did. Ask if she's pretty, it doesn't matter, she'll cut you from ear to ear. Again and again and again and again. It did not help that people tried to buy their life from her, which made it somewhat harder for her to go through with it… and yet, whenever she carved a smile onto their face, she would laugh and revel in her work.

The way she trapped children, and how she made sure they did not cry for help was something that only her and a few Stand users knew about. It could be guessed that she warped reality for that child and pretended to be their mother, making it a bit easier to murder them.

The smile carved into her face no longer stung, but sometimes she wished it did – it was the only thing that let her know she was alive, and now she was completely numb aside from the constant madness stirring inside of her brain.

Her mind took her back to when and where it all began.

[Nineteen years ago…]

November 8th, 2014. 3:00 PM.

Osaka, Japan.

Akiko Mikami only wanted to be a businesswoman. She wanted to lead a normal life, but it all took a big turn when she married Norisuke Kaito, who many people proclaimed the most generous man in Japan. Her expectations of a modest home were met with a gorgeous mansion filled with maids and servants to cater to her every whim each and every day; it made her feel like a queen. That put a little bit of pressure on her – she swore she wasn't actually above anyone else! And yet, the whole world put her to the same expectations of her husband.

Ever since the day that they had been wed, Akiko Mikami had only been called Miss Kaito out of respect and sometimes irrational fear, as if she had connections that would send them to prison if she noticed the smallest of slip-ups. Thankfully, this was not the truth, Akiko was one of the sweetest people for miles, her own generosity just as revered as her lover's.

Akiko had been married to Norisuke for half a year before she was suddenly plagued with vivid nightmares, most of them having horrific details of abuse that she would only dare to divulge to her husband; because of this, he had insisted that she was merely expecting them after the first time, and it was a self-fulfilling prophecy. He had attempted to convince her of this several times, but she stubbornly went to see a doctor.

Doctor Nobuyuki's Office.

"Nightmares? What do they entail and how often do you experience them, Miss Kaito?" Nobuyuki asked, his hazel eyes looking at her expectantly as he pressed his ink pen against his clipboard which held a piece of lined paper. "You may hesitate to tell me, so allow me to remind you that everything we speak of in this room is completely confidential."

"Uh," Akiko stammered, her body feeling strangely hot as she attempted to speak, "S-sorry, this is just a little… uh, well, give me a moment…"

"You don't need to feel ashamed, whatever it may be," Nobuyuki said matter-of-factly, giving her an understanding smile to try and put her at ease, "Take your time, Miss Kaito, I'm a patient man."

"Thank you," Akiko took a deep breath and exhaled soon after, her hands resting on her legs as she attempted to speak once more, "The nightmares… I always dream about someone touching me and I can't even lift a finger, and I can't even scream out for help. It feels so real, and the man's touch always feels so cold… the way he touches me makes me want to vomit and it makes me feel ashamed of myself. These are just dreams, right?"

"Of course," Nobuyuki nodded and then set his clipboard to the side after writing something down in a rush, "I think you'll be just fine. But to truly put you at ease I'm going to do a few blood tests, are you fine with this?"

"Yes, please," Akiko agreed after sighing with some sense of relief, wholeheartedly believing her doctor's words, "Thank you so much, Doctor Nobuyuki. I don't mean to be so anxious."

"Oh there's no need to thank me, Miss Kaito! It's my pleasure to help out my patients, so please don't apologize," Nobuyuki gave her a reassuring nod before opening up one of the drawers behind him, soon pulling out a rather sharp needle, "Alright, this will sting just for a moment…"

[A few days pass…]

November 11th, 9:30 AM.

The Kaito Estate.

"When do you go back to work, sweetheart?" Norisuke asked before tearing a piece of sausage off with his knife, soon sliding it into his mouth. "Are you still on leave due to sickness?"

"I won't be going back until next week," Akiko informed him, ignoring the plates clanging behind her as maids and servants made their way inside and outside of the dining room, "Nobuyuki is going to get my results back to me soon, so I'll be able to go back when I'm sure that it's just a recurring nightmare."

"I'm telling you, it's self-fulfilling prophecy," Norisuke replied after swallowing, placing the fork and knife next to his now empty plate, "But if it helps you sleep at night, feel free to try any medicine that could help you out. I just want you to feel fine again."

Before Akiko could respond to Norisuke, the cellphone in her pocket rang loudly which prompted her to answer it and press it against her ear. Norisuke tilted his head curiously, wondering who would call so early in the morning.

"Hello, sorry to call so early in the morning," Nobuyuki said in a rushed tone, which confused Akiko slightly, "But could you head over to my office right away? It's very important that you get here as soon as possible, Miss Kaito!"

"Huh? What is this about?" Akiko asked, her heart thumping in her chest wildly as he spoke to her so worriedly. "Nobuyuki?"

"It's easier if I tell you in person," Nobuyuki said, "It's something I did not see coming up in your tests, and it's potentially… just, please, get here quickly!"

"Okay!" Akiko ended the call and slipped her cellphone into her pocket, her feet carrying her over to her husband quickly. "I'm sorry, but I need to leave right away! I'll be back home in an hour or two, I promise!"

"Stay safe!"

[At Nobuyuki's Office…]

Akiko had one leg crossed over the other, her hands rubbing against her knees as she waited for Nobuyuki to make his way into the room. This anxious feeling made her feel like she was going to vomit, and it did not even dissipate when the doctor came rushing into the room.

"I'm sorry it took so long, it's been a busy day," Nobuyuki apologized, his face completely flushed and his shirt covered in sweat, "But, your tests came in."

"Yes?" Akiko muttered, her voice as quiet and helpless as a baby kitten's cry as she attempted to look up at him, admittedly expecting the worst.

"Miss Kaito, it appears you've either voluntarily or involuntarily ingest high doses of a drug called ketamine," Nobuyuki spoke calmly, seeing his patient's face turn as white as a ghost, "Did you know of this beforehand?"

"W-what?! No!" Akiko screamed, her eyes widening as she stood up, panting heavily as she put her back against the wall. "How is that possible?! I've never done that on purpose!"

"Calm down, I believe you," Nobuyuki assured her, attempting to keep her level-headed so she would not lash out, "I propose an idea. Have you had a drink today?"

"N-no, why does that matter?" Akiko asked, her entire slender frame nearly going numb from the shock of this revelation.

"Please refrain from drinking anything for the rest of the day, no matter how parched you may become," Nobuyuki advised, "Are we clear, Miss Kaito?"

"Crystal clear," Akiko nodded slowly, her muscles tensing as she turned away from him, "I'll… I'll be okay, right?"

"Yes, you'll be just fine," Nobuyuki stated with a reassuring smile, despite the fact that she could not see it, "Just do this and we may be able to pinpoint just who is doing this to you."

"R-right," Akiko murmured before opening the office door, "I'm going to go home and lay down… I'll let you know what happens."

"Hang in there, Miss Kaito. I believe in you."

"Thank you."

[Later that night…]

The Kaito Estate, 10:15 PM.

Akiko set her pair of scissors on her nightstand, the feeling of suspicion washing over her. Could he have really done it, her dear Norisuke? She never associated with anyone else aside from him, and she talked to him every single day for hours on end; she also knew that for a fact, that he was the one who prepared the drinks every meal.

But… could it really be him? Am I just over thinking things and Nobuyuki is wrong? Maybe there was some kind of error in the test… but if that was the case, I wouldn't have brought my pair of scissors I use as a weapon. They're a tool for creating, they are not something someone should use to feel safe at night… Akiko thought to herself as she pulled the covers over her shaking frame, her husband still not in bed or even in the room.

As she turned on her side and shut her eyes, she awaited his arrival as she shook, her fear and suspicion keeping her wide awake. Seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours as she waited for him, knowing full well she would be unable to sleep until she knew for sure it was him.

Her heart nearly froze in her chest once the door creaked open rather slowly, light footsteps moving across the room and to the queen sized bed though something felt incredibly off; when he arrived at the bed, he did not crawl beside his beloved wife.

With a low hum, he moved to his wife's side of his bed, the latter only being able to hear his footsteps since her eyes were shut tightly. With no warning, she felt the warm blanket that acted as a shield disappear as he peeled it away; just moments later she could feel his cold fingertips on her arms, his hands moving lower, though she would not know it until he prodded her.

Before another move could be made, Akiko grabbed her pair of scissors and leaped forward, lodging the sharp tool into his chest; now that her eyes were open, she saw that it was indeed her husband as she sat on his chest, her hand burrowing the scissors deeper inside of him.

"He was right… he was right?!" Akiko's lower lip quivered as she felt something inside of her head snap, her teeth clenching as she screamed, her free hand now wrapping around his throat.

"I knew it was a mistake to let you see that fucking doctor," Norisuke groaned, blood soon seeping out from his mouth as he spoke, "Goddamn it… I thought you would act on a suspicion, but you're smarter than you look, huh, Akiko?"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Akiko screamed yet again, her fingers slowly crushing his fragile windpipe as she removed the pair of scissors from his chest before stabbing him again. "Monster… demon! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?! I ONLY EVER LOVED YOU!"

It would seem that Akiko would not receive an answer from Norisuke, as his body fell limp as she squeezed his throat and blood poured out from his chest wound; she soon stopped mangling his body, panting heavily as an orange aura surrounded her.

"Am I dying? I want to die… I want to die!" Akiko sobbed grossly as she remained on top of her now deceased husband's body, her teary eyes seeing what seemed to be a crimson, fleshy fist just a few inches away. "Is this real? Am I going to hell?"

She could hear many footsteps run throughout the marble mansion, her eyes red and her body shaking from the crime she had just committed without hesitation; she soon removed the pair of scissors again, raising them towards her mouth.

"Someone help… please help… I can't take this!"

[Back in the present day…]
Akiko Mikami rose from her knees and onto her feet, her hand running down her chest and let it eventually rest on her heart. She could remember everything so vividly, especially now. What changed in her? She knew that there was no going back, and was it really even a lie if she kept telling herself she was going to change?

Nineteen years of killing had contorted her once pure mind, which had become fragile and infected with greed. Maybe it was envy that drove her to kill others, as she knew that everyone else on this planet could live up to their full potential, but she had thrown it all away to do away with the one that had defiled her.

They were coming closer to the mansion and she knew that there was no running away this time. Even if she had planned to escape into her pocket dimension, she would not be able to stay very long if they took their time with Norisuke; strangely enough, she felt confident in herself as the pain in her arm finally subsided.

Akiko Mikami did not have a choice but to fight, as these people would chase her down to the darkest pits of hell, and follow her until the end of time until she had answered for her crimes. Either she was going to be the one that died, or this mansion would be littered with their lifeless bodies for the rest of eternity.

Should she roam the mansion and find them before they found someplace that could prove to be advantageous for them? Or should she wait for them, as she knew this entire mansion like the back of her hand, and there was no way in hell they would be able to use her home against her.

Had Josiah Joestar arrived? She figured that he surely knew of her past since he had seemed so obsessed with her, and this would be the most obvious place to look; she would never admit it, but she had no where else to run.

"How many friends did he have? I killed that Sophia girl, and then Shinnosuke because I thought he would be troublesome… there's Clark Kubrick, that guy with the messed up face, the little brat that had the nerve to scream at me… and the other two that fought Damon. There's also Josiah… then there's six of them? I'll keep that in mind, but I shouldn't take the old guys too lightly. Clark's Stand can fire at me from a fair range, and the guy with the leather jacket used some weird power against Damon that I didn't recognize," Akiko whispered to herself, attempting to get a good idea of what to watch out for and how she could exploit them, "This is a war, and I'll be damned if I let a few kids ruin my fucking fun."

As she finished speaking, she could hear the front doors fly open as several footsteps moved across the marble tiled floor; she licked her lips and pressed her back against the wall, giggling to herself as her Stand materialized.

"This is it, kiddies…"

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHARACTER BIO
Name: Leopold Gilbert
Age: 22
Stand – Novocaine
Stand Statistics
Power – E → A
Speed – C → E
Range – C
Precision – A
Durability – B
Development Potential – E

(Realized I've never shared his Stand bio.)