Crawling in the Dark

Chapter 1

For as long as she could remember her father's words stuck to her like a knife in a wound. They didn't sting or ache like the physical wound, but she couldn't forget them. It wasn't hypnosis because no one in their mismatched family had that quick. Though at times she wondered about some that would say they were quirkless like the minority of the world. Whether it was to appear harmless or hide their true intentions she wasn't for sure.

Due to the epidemic of the quirks the way of life they lived was becoming obsolete to the point she was convinced they would have to get normal, legal jobs. Those type of thoughts made shivers race through her body. Legal wasn't something she was used to. The shadows and things that went bump in the night seemed friendlier to her since she grew up with them. It was all thanks to her father and mother for this fate.

If it wasn't for them then she could possibly have a normal life that didn't involve a lot of things people considered illegal. She would be able to have a life that was out in the open. The thought of having to look over her shoulder when she was alone on the street would never cross her mind. Having friends over for what was normal girl things would be second nature instead of making up excuses like she had to do in the past.

Instead she couldn't have those things that she yearned for.

"Hime we're here." A male voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Quickly her chocolate eyes turned to the gate that stood in front of the car she was in. It was darkened by the tinted windows but those were precautions she took. As much she hated them, they had saved her life countless times along with her quirk.

A soft sigh escaped her as her gaze slowly turned to the pair of snake like eyes that were watching her intently for any indication she wanted to leave. As much as she wanted to leave, she knew she couldn't. This was the life she was born into and would have to continue to live no matter what the cost was. Kuro Hebi was the only life she knew even if it would be the death of her. At least that's what she thought.

"Reina-hime?"

Closing her eyes as her fingers twitched at the name she was given at birth. The fact that they added the honorific made her skin itch because she wasn't royalty. She was just so regular person that had a mismatched family. There was nothing special about her.

"I know Oda-san." Reina muttered though it sounded like it was more to herself than to the person up front. She knew she was stalling because she didn't want to go in the building that was waiting for her company. It wasn't like anything was going to change from the last time she had visited.

Opening her eyes and letting her gaze fall to her lap she took in the mask that stared back at her with the small holes for her sight. It was childish that she had to wear it. The simple mask that had a snake face painted on it reminded her of the festivals she used to go to as a child. The innocence that used to cling to her felt foreign as she thought back to that time.

"Are you sure you want to go in? We can reschedule this for another time." Oda's voice echoed in the car as concern was heavily laced in his words. Even his usual emotionless yellow eyes held the emotion that was concerned weak within their family.

Did they have to? The last time she tried to reschedule something this important was when she was younger and inexperienced. It had to been when she had gotten out of practice and was completely sore. She remembered pleading with her father to let her go soak in the hot springs to get rid of the soreness that was making it hard for her to move.

Instead of allowing her some kind of reprieve he forced her to go. She might have been the next person to inherit this crazy family but her father never went light on her. It seemed at times he was tougher on her than he was to the rest of the family. There were times when she felt like some kind of criminal that had been caught trying to steal money from him when she knew that he was just doing what he thought was right.

"Oji is expecting me. I don't want to disappoint him Oda." She replied finally as she willed herself out of the daydreams of yesterday.

Picking up the mask she set on her face to hide her features in case of prying eyes. It was stupid at first for her to do this, but it helped in the long run especially when she added a wig to hide her lavender hair. As much as she hated having eyes on her she knew that her line of work required her to take extra steps to ensure she stayed safe. That even meant killing for the people she called family.

A couple of soft shakes of his head answered her. Loyalty was something he knew from a young age but hers was another level of loyalty that he never expected to see. Most people would be finding a way to null the agreement between their two families but not her. She accepted her fate long ago even before he had came to know her as the woman she was today.

"How long should I come back to pick you up?"

"An hour or so." Reina answered as her gaze scanned the area that was in sight. She could feel her skin crawl in the need to release her animalistic side so her senses could be heightened for any intruders. She couldn't allow that to happen though. She had to remain the quirkless person that she claimed to be so this situation could go on without a hitch.

A soft nod answered her as she left the ebony car.

Looking up at the simple metal gate that stood in front of her she could feel the pressure to run build in her gut. Repeatedly she told herself mentally that it was the animalistic side talking again because there was nothing for her to fear there. As much as she was an outsider to the group of people within the walls she was still treated like family by some.

"Just call if you need me to pick you up sooner." Oda's voice suddenly came out of nowhere with the sound of the radio in the background of the car.

Turning around she smiled which made her feel stupid. It wasn't like he could see it because of the mask. She wanted to slap herself on the forehead but resisted the urge. It wasn't like she needed him to be concerned of her harming herself when she was still perfectly fine.

"Alright. Hopefully that doesn't happen." She said as she turned back to the gate. She almost added that it all depended on the person in the house she was there to see was willing to cooperate or be stubborn like always. But, she didn't because it would only make her chauffeur to get concerned.

With that the sound of the engine revving up to drive away was caught in her ears. She could say she was alone when she knew she wasn't. It wasn't like the sidewalk was vacant. People were walking by and giving her curious looks for the mask. It also wasn't like people behind the wall and gate weren't watching her. She knew they were. It wasn't her first visit to this compound that would give a normal person chills when they first step into the compound.

After all the times she had visited before she figured they would try to not scare her into running away. Fear wasn't something that came easily to her unless she was around their acting leader. If she wanted to call him a leader because there were times she was convinced he had his own agenda for them. Knowing the man she called oji he would try his hardest to get him to see the way he wanted the group to be led.

Closing her eyes and taking a breath to steel herself she pressed on the button for the intercom to announce her arrival. It wasn't like she was arriving unexpectedly because she visited almost every other week. "I'm here to visit Oji."

"You're back again Rei?" It wasn't a voice she recognized so it had to be one of the lowly members that meant nothing to the higher ups. Who ever this person was knew who she was so he wasn't a newbie in the underworld.

"Of course. I have to check on Oji and Kai." She answered though she allowed her voice to grow quieter. She hated to admit using his name when he obviously cared for no one but his goals and himself.

A noise echoed through the intercom before the gate opened for her. In the usual precaution that she took, Reina looked around her to make sure no one was going to sneak in while she was going in. Like she needed the anger from all of them pointed at her. She couldn't rely on her own quirk to get out of there because of all the lies that her father spread over the years.

Gritting her teeth as she walked through she wanted to curse her father for all that he had done over the years. She wouldn't say that she despised him, but she hated him at times. He was the one that arranged for this deal to go through with the Shie Hassaikai all those years ago when she was just a child. He made sure she grew up faster and experienced things that children shouldn't be exposed to. If it wasn't for him then she could openly use her quirk instead of appearing quirkless to the people that used theirs.

"Well look at who's back. Fujiwara Reina. Hungry for another punishment?" A voice called out from the group to her right. She ignored them for the most part as she walked into the house. They were just criminals that would be stuck doing petty crimes if it wasn't for yakuza.

Slipping her shoes off and taking the slippers offered to her she met the usual mask that reminded her of the plague. Why did they have to choose that kind of mask to begin with? There are so many other options for them to choose from. Like hers if she used it as an example.

"Where's Kai? I need to see him and Oji. We do need to discuss quite a bit especially this stupid arranged marriage."