Author's Note: This chapter was hard to write. Not because of writer's block, but because it's a traumatic thing to write about and giving up more detailed background on the main Original Character of this story. I'll mark off a warning for my readers. This chapter is going to be dark and rough. I promise it won't be very detailed or graphic though.

Disclaimer: I don't own MHA or its characters. Original characters are mine but that's it. Story is rated for sensitive subject matter and content both mentioned and written. Includes but is not limited to child abuse, drugs, assault, rape, violence and othsr adult themes.

Chapter 66 - What Goes Around

In the past -

Azumi walked arm in arm with Ren as they had finished class at the Medical University of Kyoto. An armful of books in her free hand as Ren held his briefcase in his own free hand. He was purring, an aspect of his quirk that he only did around Azumi and only when they were close. They had been engaged for four months, trying for children since before their engagement and they were looking forward to a test in a few days which is why Ren had offered to meet up with her after a class. They often walked to the taxi stand where Ren took a taxi to work and Azumi took one home. Tonight, they were enjoying the cool night air as the overhead lights on campus lit the brick walking path they took in companionable silence.

The taxi stand only had one taxi tonight, Ren already holding the door for her. "After you my love." Ren grinned as his cat tail swished, but Azumi furrowed her brow. "What? No, hun you need to get to work. I'll wait for the next one." Ren's pupils became slits and his ears fell flat on the head. "No, Zumi I'm not leaving you here alone at this time of the night. Let's just both take this one and I'll pay the guy to take me to work and then you home." Azumi shuffled her books and got a look on her face that told Ren he wouldn't like what she had to say. "Shit, I left my notes back at campus. I have to go back for them anyway Ren, just take the cab now. I'll walk back to get my notes and ask security to walk me back here."

Ren looked at the taxi and saw another person with books in hand heading their way. If he took the taxi before Ren he would definitely be late. He gave her a kiss, gently cupping her chin. "If you need to, you use your quirk and keep your phone in hand to call emergency services, alright?" Azumi smiled, her purple eyes bright and loving as she took out her phone and dialed the number to get it ready. "One button away love." Ren smiled before slipping into the taxi, glancing towards the figure of a man with a baseball hat and jacket who had paused when he saw the taxi was taken.

*Intense violent sexual themed scene coming up.

Azumi turned to walk back to the campus, a faint nod to students here and there as she went back for her notes. As she walked along the well lit path, she heard someone walking in step behind her. They weren't breathing heavy, no other sounds except their footsteps in the pattern of her own which gave each footfall a heavy echo. A quick glance around showed her no one was around that she could see and she felt her heartbeat pick up as she tried walking a bit faster. Azumi knew she was breathing a bit faster as she speed walked for her study hall. The footsteps behind her were only missing for a moment before she heard the running steps coming up behind her too fast to be anything but an attack.

She hit the send button on her phone as she tried to scream words to activate her quirk, pushing through her panic and fear as someone slammed into her back and shoved a gloved hand into her mouth from behind. Her books and phone dropped to the ground as a second arm was around her middle, steering her into the nearby bushes that led into the darkness of campus. She screamed through the glove as it was removed from their hand and forced further into her mouth like a gag. Azumi started kicking and fighting against her attacker as she was thrown to the ground so hard the breath was sucked from her lungs. Her phone had called emergency services and the operator was listening to muffled screams with the sounds of a fight as they tried to speak and get information based on what muffled cries and noises they could hear.

The attack lasted twelve minutes and eighteen seconds. When the ambulance and police finally found her location, Azumi Tayaka was almost pronounced dead on the scene. Her face was bloody, severe bruising around her throat where he had strangled her and upper arms where he held her down. Bruising on her thighs and her left wrist was broken. She had been raped so violently they believed she had been stabbed or assaulted with some sort of sharp implement due to the blood around her. The EMTs barely stabilized her to move before they were able to get her into an ambulance and raced her to the nearest trauma center. Police taping off the area and speaking to security about cameras and information about the medical student turned rape victim.

Azumi woke up three days later, informed of her rape and assault. She had no family to be called although Ren was her emergency contact. The nurse checking her vitals informed her she had lost her unborn baby, the child she and Ren had been working towards that they didn't even know was on the way. Informed her that Ren had filed a claim on the engagement ring that was taken from her on admittance to the hospital along with all of her other clothes and personal effects. Informed her that once Ren heard what had happened and her condition, he filed for the ring and left without even wanting to see her.

It had been unnecessarily violent as written in the police record. Azumi was hospitalized for almost two months, with three separate surgeries to save her life including a full hysterectomy. Her chance of children was gone before she had even begun. Azumi reached out to Ren, but he never answered. She tried updating him during her stay at the hospital, but he eventually disconnected his phone number and she was left alone. The nurses tried to help, recognizing that Azumi had been studying to be one of their own. They talked to her, did her hair and nails while she recovered and helped bring her books for school to her once the police released them. Two weeks before she would be released, her life changed again.

Dr. Seeks was visiting the Trauma Center to visit with a colleague of his when he overheard the nurses talking about the sad case in room 205. Intrigued, Dr. Seeks loved nurses gossip and pretended he was reading a chart as he listened.

"She has such an amazing quirk for nursing work too. Relaxing patients with the sound of her voice? I wish I was so lucky."

"Yeah, but after this, it would take a miracle for her to even continue going to medical school. She was assaulted and raped on her way back to get notes for her class. I would never want to set foot on that campus again."

"It's not the only medical campus you know."

"She lost her entire life, Gil. What kind of person would want to work in the medical field when it took away everything she had?"

Dr. Seeks had heard enough, walking up to the gossiping nurses with a smile. Because he ran a Mercy Clinic in the slums of Fukuoka, he was often seen as a sketchy sort of medical practitioner. How else could he manage so many addicts and low income families without trouble. "Ladies, that woman you were just speaking of, may I see her chart?" The nurses glanced at each other before one of them finally reached for the board and handed it to him. He smiled and looked it over before handing it back, her name, quirk and current condition were the only things he really needed to see. "Thank you. Back to work with you, ladies."

Azumi was sitting up in bed, starting out the window of her hospital room, fingers playing over the empty spot on her left ring finger. She was due for therapy in an hour. Two more weeks of therapy and she could go home. Home to what though? Ren was gone. He moved out of their apartment taking everything that had been his, and her classes had been suspended until administrators could talk to her about continuing or transferring credits. Her life was never going to be the same and in a way, it was her own fault. Why hadn't Azumi just gone into the cab with Ren and left her notes until the following class?

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, although she didn't turn to look. Probably one of the nurses trying to cheer her up again until she heard a very male voice, much older than her own doctor. "Excuse me, Azumi Tayaka?" She blinked out the window confused before turning to look at the bald old man in green scrubs and a white doctor's coat. Traditional stethoscope around his neck, with triangle shapes for pupils and irises. "I'm Dr. Habari Seeks from the Mercy Clinic in Fukuoka. How are you doing today?" Azumi furrowed her brow confused. Mercy clinics were for low income families, government operated and funded. In the medical field, it was where the desperate went for clinicals and experience.

She remained silent as he walked into the room, sitting on a small bed next to hers since the room was a double. "I know you don't know me, but I heard about you from the nurses, they gossip you see." She blinked and clutched her blanket as he stayed at a distance. "I understand you are going to medical school to become a doctor. How far into it are you?" Azumi let her purple eyes look down at her feet, covered in red socks under her blanket. "Second year." she spoke softly and he smiled gently in reply. "Do you plan to finish and become a doctor?" Azumi bit her bottom lip, uncertain how to answer that. Ren was her primary supporter for medical school. He was one of the reasons she was specializing in animal based quirk medicine.

"I don't know." Her voice was still soft, and Seeks supposed he could understand her reluctance to speak. "May I call you Azumi?" He asked softly as she nodded in reply, the doctor offering a smile to the broken woman before him. "Azumi, I can't imagine what you are going through. I just can't even begin to fathom it. My reason for visiting was something I heard about your quirk, Relax. I've never heard of such a quirk but it sounds amazing. May I speak with you about it?" Azumi was looking at her hands in her lap as she spoke. "Being a doctor and helping people is important to me. I have so much to think about now. Everything is different." Dr. Seeks didn't rush her, staying silent as he listened.

"My quirk allows me to relax anyone who hears my voice. From a subtle relaxation to a sedation effect if I use it correctly. I can't use it on myself, or if I'm emotional like panic or fear." There was silence before she continued. "I don't have any family left alive, but my mother had the same quirk. She always wanted to be a doctor, accept she couldn't afford it. I always wanted to help people and be a doctor as well. Ren helped me get into medical school and was paying my tuition." She glanced over at Seeks and he smiled gently at her purple eyes even though they looked sad. "Part of why I wanted to study animal based quirks. With him gone, I don't know what will happen now."

Dr. Seeks pulled a business card from his pocket. "I run a Mercy Clinic in Fukuoka, not very glamorous, I know. Your quirk would be a blessing to those less fortunate who come in. Pain medication and sedatives aren't covered by most insurances. And I know people who can help fund your education through the government. My email and personal cell is on there if you ever need it." Azumi took the card slowly, looking down at it. "What if I don't want to continue in the medical field?" Dr. Seeks stood and smiled as he tucked his hands into his pockets. "I will happily be an ear for you to talk to. About anything." She was silent for a long time, staring at the card. This entire time, no one had offered to listen. The nurses had been keeping her occupied, talking to her, obviously gossiping about her. Until now, in the six weeks that she had been in the hospital, since the incident, no one had ever offered to just listen.

When she looked up, she saw he was already gone, having left while she had spaced out. A small smile was on her face as she held the card in both hands like a lifeline, whispering to no one in particular as her eyes watered. "Thank you."

Present Day -

Soji stared at the computer screen which was now blank, the headphones muffling any noises outside the office. He had watched the video twice, the camera angle was from behind the attacker after he had dragged her into the bushes. It was dark, a bit grainy due to the time of night and how far away they were. There had been sounds, the man's hand was visible because he had removed a glove to shove it into Azumi's mouth. Soji thought he could handle watching this the first time through, but he had to pause it and get himself together because of his own anger st whatbhe was witnessing. The second time through he had muted the video to see what details he could without hearing sounds which he knew were going to haunt him.

He slowly pulled the disk out of the computer and put it back in its case. He stuffed it in the envelope and marked it as case evidence to make a copy of, then put it in his top drawer, locking it shut with a key. He hadn't said anything, but he knew his hands were shaking. Once the disk and headphones were away, he looked at the pictures on his desk. He changed them out pretty often, but there was one he kept on there at all times. It was Azumi curled up in a chair with her chin resting on her knees, hands wrapped around her ankles as she smiled out at him, bright purple eyes and waves of blue hair. Soji had taken the picture early into their relationship, the two had been sitting in lounge chairs at the beach after dinner, and she looked so happy and relaxed.

Soji felt numb, cold, angry too. He saw the lowest of criminals in court, on the streets, in his own office at times. The world painted a picture of crime as two parts, villains and heroes and everything else. What had happened to Azumi was the type of crime you beg a hero to stop, but the odds of a hero being able to, even in today's world of overwhelming hero and sidekick numbers was so small. He wondered what Azumi would have been like if she hadn't gone through that. If someone had stopped it, saved her, protected her. He had seen an ugly side of the world, of his wife's background that she had never hidden from him. It still hurt as he replayed frame after frame, the noises ingrained in his mind as a sick feeling like lead hit his stomach.

He barely got to the bathrooms before throwing up his lunch. The sound didn't go unnoticed by Rubi as Soji splashed water onto his face. He needed to compartmentalize this and focus on his family, his cases and leave this until he could really focus on it. As he left the bathroom, adjusting his tie, Rubi stood in front of him and slapped a hand over his forehead. "Eat something you weren't supposed to? You didn't even sleep for the full hour before running for the bathroom. I know you're still on a restricted diet from your accident you know. Trying to sneak foods you aren't supposed to have and sleep it off isn't going to help" He grinned, despite himself and shook his head.

"More like bad thoughts. I've been working a few side cases and one of them is a bit rough to go through. I'm following doctor's orders." Soji held up a hand as if to swear. Rubi narrowed her eyes and turned to walk back to her desk. "Good. I would hate to have to call Azumi about you not listening." Soji's smile faltered a bit, but he ran a hand through his hair before glancing back at his office. Just knowing that disk was there felt like a bomb he didn't want to get near. "Maybe I'll call it a day early and head home. I know Azumi and Mila are home today." Rubi nodded but made no reply as she answered the phone that had been ringing.

Soji heard Akina on the phone in his office and saw some of the legal aids handling paperwork and filing. His mind made up, Soji turned off the lights in his office and locked the door. He grabbed his briefcase and stuffed a few documents into it as he paused to retie his sneakers. A nod to Rubi and a wave to Akina on his way out the door as he left his office. Despite his heavy stomach from throwing up, Soji wanted to go home, wrap his arms around his wife, and hug her so much she would never have to worry about being afraid ever again. He was going to be her hero where heroes had failed her.

/

Azumi and Mila had gone home after their visit with Keigo. Mila was coloring on a large blank sheet of paper, occasionally making a soft whistle or coo. Azumi was working on preparing dinner, chopping up meats and vegetables to go into a large pot with minced garlic and ginger at the bottom. Her plan was to start the hotpot in a little bit so it would be done when Soji got home. Every once in a while, Mila would hold up her drawing to show Azumi, and the blue haired woman would smile at the winged five year old's artistic licensing with crayon drawings of Hawks and herself in the air flying. Mila truly loved her big brother, and not just because he taught her to fly and gave her a cool ribbon to wear.

The phone rang, and Azumi had to wipe off her hands to get it, laughing when Mila started trilling to mimic the ring of the phone until Azumi managed to grab it off the hook. "Hello?" She heard the familiar voice of Officer Tsukauchi on the other end. "Hello, is this Azumi Nakamura?" She tucked the phone between her chin and shoulder as she turned to watch Mila coloring. "Yes, Officer Tsukauchi, it's been quite a while. What can I do for you?" He sounded uncertain, definitely uncomfortable with what he was about to say. The reluctance in his voice made Azumi's heart beat faster as she listened to him talk.

"I was calling because the probation and parole office has requirements in place to inform victims of a crime when a subject is being released for parole or probation. Sara and Obi Takami are due for release in ten days, and your name was on the call list. I figured it would be better hearing it from a familiar voice." Azumi froze as her vision swam in a panic. They were letting them out of jail? She was told she would never have to see then again! How did this happen!? They knew what building she lived in! She had another young child and a husband now that they could potentially hurt to get to Keigo! Tsukauchi must have realized she was going into a panic attack because he had to repeat her name a few times before she swallowed, a hand to her temple as she shook.

"Azumi, I understand this is not the news we were hoping for. I can schedule a meeting to explain it better for you and go over the details of their parole. As one of their victims, you have the right to know-" she interrupted with a shaky voice. "Have you already told Keigo?" There was a pause and that told her all she needed to know. They hadn't even told Keigo his parents were being released yet. There should have been a hearing at least to give them a chance to say no! Mila had hopped down from her chair and walked over to hug her mommy, seeing the panic on her face and noticing that her breathing was erratic.

"Can-can we discuss this another time? To-tomorrkw. I'm free tomorrow. If I- could we meet tomorrow?" Azumi was trying to get off the phone. An arm around Mila as the officer on the phone agreed, informing her that he had the same address and office as last time she came down. Azumi promised she would come by and cut the call short by hanging up. As soon as the phone was hung up, Mila chirped and pulled on Azumi's shirt until Azumi finally fell to her knees, scooping up Mila in a hug, the five year old wrapping her wings around her mom in an attempt to help her feel better.

"It's ok, mommy. It will be ok." Azumi squeezed her eyes shut as memories of what they had done came flooding back to her. The abuse they put Keigo through, the break in and attack in her home, being tied up. Azumi choked back a sob as she held Mila close, the familiar feeling of little wings helped to ground her as she forced her fears back down. She had to be strong and protect her family, she wasn't going to let them hurt her family again. Azumi's face was buried in Mila's wings as the little girl chirped softly to try and comfort her mommy.

And that's how Soji found them both when he came home.