Chapter 2

She noticed the looks that were around her from some of the people that didn't wear the signature masks. They looked like they were mocking her or taking pity in her for being in the predicament she was in. Like she needed it because she knew how to handle herself if it came down to it.

"Overhaul?" A voice answered her with a question. Quickly her chocolate eyes snapped over to the plague like mask that he wore. Unlike the others that had those masks his face wasn't completely hidden. It made her want to trust him even though her father told her that looks could deceive her.

"Yes. You should know that by now Tengai-kun." Reina replied as she stepped onto the hardwood floor.

If it wasn't for how things were in this place it would remind her of home. Home wasn't something she could say lightly considering all the things that went on in the few years. She could feel like she could relax in the place she called home much like if she was the quirkless person she claimed to be.

Biting her cheek, she met the grey eyes of the man in front of her. He made her want to relax even if she knew letting her guard down was the worst idea in the world. He even reminded her of someone that belonged working at a shrine with the calm that he emanated.

"You know that today isn't the best day to be doing that Reina-chan."

She ignored the voice that was beside her even if it caused chills to race up her spine out of surprise. The animalistic itch she felt earlier also returned. All she wanted to do was run out the door and let her body change into some kind of animal to escape. It wasn't her fault that no one bothered to let her know when Chisaki was available or not.

"Is he downstairs or wherever he usually spends most of his time?" Reina questioned as she tried to steel herself for the possible onslaught of comments and insults that would come from the group of men around her.

If she had her way, she would be able to show her quirk to strike some kind of fear into their hearts. If that wasn't possible then she would at least have someone with her to act like a bodyguard because she could tell that some of them itched to try to rough her up. She refused to go down without a fight because she wasn't going to be viewed as some damsel in distress. That wasn't something she was raised to be by her father. She would even go as far as play dirty like the men around her.

"Overhaul doesn't want to see you." A voice hissed at her which grated at her nerves.

Quickly her chocolate eyes turned their attention to the person to her right. The same usual mask as the various people around her stood out against his blond hair. Like she wanted to see him because of all the times they butted heads was about this very issue.

"Oh really? It isn't like I decided to pop in for a surprise visit. You people know full well when I come to visit. It's always the same day every couple of weeks. Now how about you tell me where he is or I will just force my way through this place until I find him." She threatened as her eyes narrowed to give more heat to the threat. Much like before she felt the desire to use her quirk burn through her body but she knew the form she wanted to take. Something that would strike fear into their hearts which would be hard to do considering who they were. Yakuza barely stepped down to anything unless they wanted to lose their reputation within the group.

"Wha―"

"Just allow her to go. She just wants to see the old man and Overhaul." A voice called out from behind the group in front of her. She knew that voice well. He knew what she wanted and how much she was willing to fight for it.

A smirk graced her face as she let the tension in her body ease. She wasn't going to let it completely disappear because some of these men she refused to trust. They reminded her of some back-alley doctor or someone that was willing to kill for just a small amount of money if it came down to it. She knew how some were willing to test her to see what she was capable of.

Slowly she pulled the snake like mask off her face to let her face be shown to the group around her. As her gaze danced around to take in the sight of them she noted who she hadn't seen before. The mental notes could come in handy for later. At least that's what her father told her when it came to dealing with people.

"Thank you, Kurono-san. I was really getting ticked with the idiotic comments from people that don't know their place." Reina muttered though she made sure some of the men around her could hear it.

"What was that?" Someone hissed from behind her as she took the brunette wig off her head.

Setting the wig down on a stand and running her hand through her shoulder length lavender hair she tried her best to ignore him. It wasn't worth the fight as much as she wanted to let some of the tension out of her body.

"Don't try me. I might be a lowly girl to you heathens but I am the boss for the Kuro Hebi yakuza. I will do what I have to do to protect myself even if it comes down to killing you." Reina threatened as she let the acid leak into her voice. Even to make it clear that she wasn't trying to kid around she pulled out a plain pocket knife out of her pocket.

Almost every time she came over to visit this was the same occurrence. Some new punk thought he could take her down just because she appeared to be a weak female. If it wasn't for her father lying all those years ago just to get on Shie Hassaikai's good side. It was purely business to gain the upper hand in the dying business that was the yakuza but he made her appear weak. She could be letting her body run its course and turn into something that could strike fear into this group's hearts.

Taking a quick breath, she practiced the breathing technique that someone taught her to control her anger. It sometimes didn't help but it was better than losing control. It was far too late for her to lose this deal because there seemed to be no other yakuza syndicate around.

"Overhaul wouldn't enjoy the fact that it got messy here. You know how he feels about messy situations so allow Reina-chan to pass." Kurono called out which seemed to break the trance she was in.

Jerking her gaze to his mask she tried to watch for any indication that he was up to something himself. Deep down she hated those masks that covered their entire faces because she couldn't watch their gaze for any type of reaction. But, it wasn't something she could change.

Walking past the group that was gathered around her she could still feel the tension hanging in the air. Her animalistic side was begging to be let out so her own tension and stress wouldn't reach its breaking point. She knew it was going to have to wait until she was safely away from this place to let it happen.

As she walked away and down the usual halls that she had memorized she could feel nostalgia start to replace her tension. All the years ago she would run down these halls to greet the man that once ran this mob that was in one of these rooms. She even could faintly remember the coldness that Chisaki would give her when she ran into the room despite being a couple years older than her. That changed over the years to him being polite, but she could still feel the coldness in his gaze and voice.

"Oji." Reina whispered as she opened a door that led to a sterile hallway that reminded her of a hospital. She knew she was in the right direction but the sight still surprised her. It was the complete opposite of the traditional look the house had.

Slowly she made her way down the stairs as her gaze looked for anything new. Like anything would have changed because it wasn't something he preferred to have. Which made her wonder if he actually had any type of emotion run through his body.

Stopping on the last step her gaze turned to the sparse doors that were on either side of her. It was the only detail that reminded her that this wasn't some underground hospital. The screams of a child would also bring her back to her senses if she came on a day that magically lined up with whatever Chisaki was planning. The times she had heard the screams made her skin crawl and the hidden maternal instinct act up.

Protecting the girl that she knew lived down here was not something she could do. The little peeks that she had stolen in the past told her that she was usually guarded or hidden away from outside eyes. It hurt because she knew she needed someone to be a friend if she hadn't given up on any type of light in her life.

Looking at a plain gray door she knew that it was the one she needed. If she listened closely she could hear the mechanical beeps behind the door. Quickly Reina went into the darkened room and took in the appearance of the aging man that laid motionless in bed.

"Oji." It came out as a whisper as she crossed the room and sat down on the bed.

There were no changes from the last time she visited. Every time she hoped she would see him awake and sitting up with that usual stern look on his face with his smile saying how he really felt. But instead she would come to him stuck to machines that kept him alive. He should have been the one leading the gang not Chisaki even if she would never voice that.

Lightly her fingers ran across his groomed hair that was still surprisingly soft to the touch. He wasn't being forgotten which was a light at the end of the tunnel. If he had been forgotten she wasn't sure how she would react. It wouldn't end like she hoped.

"I missed you Oji. I wish the days would go by fast because nothing has really changed since the last time I visited. It's been quiet at Kuro Hebi but you know how that goes." Reina rattled off as she let her hand linger on his cheek.

Her childhood flashed before her eyes as she stared at the motionless face. All the summers she would spend here with this man and trying to break the wall that was around the boy he took in. He was the one that took her under his wing when her father was assassinated by a once rival gang. She might as well not have a mother because she watched her get stabbed by a member of their own gang from jealousy.

Sucking in a breath she tried to keep her emotions in check. No matter how many times she thought about the day her mother died in front of her she couldn't help the rage that filled her. Her mother didn't deserve that type of death even if the rightful punishment was given. It just didn't change the fact that she didn't have a mother in her life.

"I tried to get through that shell of his but it isn't going to well," she whispered as she thought back to her last visit. No matter the amount of times she tried to get some affection or emotion from Chisaki she got nothing. She remembered how irritated she was when she left because Oda had to deal with her messing with the radio constantly. "I-I just wish I could reach him. He needs someone. I know he does because we all need someone in our lives."

Instead of the usual insight he would give her she was met with the noise of machines. But there was a noise hidden in the constant noise that she picked up on causing her attention to turn to the door. Someone was listening in which wasn't something she wanted. If someone knew about how she acted and felt about the new head of the yakuza, then it would spell trouble.

"Kurono-san told me you were here." A male voice called out of the darkness that the dimmed light didn't erase. She knew that voice because she grew up around it for years now. She just didn't like the emotionless void that was in it.

It showed they were completely different people. For him to show no emotion and her to rely on her emotions showed how much they were opposites. Even his gaze showed nothing of how he felt as if he was on something that suppressed his emotions. How he was able to lead a life like that made her curious. She didn't want to find out the answers she wanted because it scared her.

For her to actually fall for him slowly scared her more. He was the type that came off as possessive and controlling. Those were the types of men she was taught to avoid but here she was wanting one in her life even if he wanted nothing to do with her. It was just thanks to the deal the two previously heads of their gangs for this predicament they were in.