Author's Note:
Hello hello! Thanks for sticking with the story! We'll be catching up with canon really soon! For this chapter's full experience, highly recommended to search up "HIROYUKI SAWANO –「ASHES」SUITE VOCAL GEMIE EPIC BATTLE MUSIC" on another tab.
Update: I wrote this chapter awhile ago and... uhh... the accompanying song has disappeared from YouTube :(((
AHHHHH! Okay, so the song was a BRILLIANT mash-up/remix of "Ashes" by Hiroyuki Sawano and Gemie. If y'all can find it again, please lemme know! I tried to find another song, but it's just not the same... I am totally NOT panicking on the inside! :'(
Double Update: I HAVE FOUND A LINK ( v_show/id_XNDQxMTM1NDI5Mg==.html?spm=a2hbt.13141534.1_2.d_29&scm= . _XNDQxMTM1NDI5Mg)
Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.
~ Tony Robbins
First POV
I stood in the middle of a dark damp room. I had long adjusted to the overwhelming stench of mildew. Struggling to maintain my hold, I tried to fight through the oncoming migraine.
I didn't want to fail again.
At a particularly hard throb, my concentration broke. Pink swirls of light faded away, releasing the four hanging men. Panting hard, I stiffened at the sound of a soft sigh behind me. "That makes six. How many gifts do you have for me today, my little bird?"
Shuddering at what I knew was to come, I took a moment to steady myself. Just a little more. Stretching out my arms, pink tendrils wafted from my fingertips. They coiled themselves around the four men once more, only to break apart minutes later.
Another sigh echoed in the room. Biting my lip, I composed myself. Just a little more.
Bodies dropping for the twenty-third time, I sagged to the ground.
"That's enough for today." The soft sound had long hardened with impatience. "Make yourself presentable. We have a new client today." The don't disappoint me was left unsaid. Without waiting for a reply, sharp footsteps echoed out of the room.
Taking a moment to recuperate, I made a mental list of things to do for the night — clean and lock up the room, change clothes, arrange the meeting room, prepare tea…
With a trembling breath, I heaved myself to my feet, my body automatically ploughing through my list.
Less than an hour later, I was dressed in a plain white yukata with my hair pinned up in an intricate bun. Back ramrod straight, I sat kneeling on a red zabuton in the corner of a modest tatami room, waiting for the other attendees. My eyes were obediently trained on the tatami mats. Tracing the intricately woven patterns in my mind, I revisited my mental list, checking off my progress and adding more tasks for the rest of the night.
Dread seeped into my pores as I reviewed the remaining items on my list.
The sliding of the shoji snapped me back to the present. Two figures entered the room, their footsteps heavy but confident. Our guests.
Taking their seats around the low wooden table, they paid me no attention, at least visibly.
Silence filled the air. Expanding my senses, I assessed the two guests. Two males, one an old, withered charcoal, and the other a cracked pitiful thing, tinged black and purple. Diving deeper, I tried to sense their motives. Calm but with a thread of tension. A hint of nervousness? The older one flickered. No, impatience. My skin prickled as the older one turned their attention to me.
The shoji flitted open once more. A pale woman stepped through; her right eye covered by a strapless eye-patch. Sinking languidly in her seat, she took a puff from her kiseru, burgundy nails glinted with a metallic finish. A winter grey iris locked onto the two guests. She exhales with a puff of smoke, "Gentlemen, welcome to the Convent. How may we be of service?"
Withered charcoal flared with annoyance. Definitely impatient. "Gold-tier. As many as you have."
"Ah certainly! Though, gold-tiers are harder to come by these days with the current state of society. It might take a while for shipments to come in. Perhaps some high-grade silvers might suit your—"
The older man's soul flickered again. "Gold only. Unlimited contract.", he interrupted, voice hard.
The woman's temper flared, her own soul bristling with the blatant show of disrespect. Though her irritation didn't show on her face, burgundy nails tightened on thin hollow bamboo. "Of course. Any specific requests?"
"Healing and regeneration quirks, gold-tiers."
"That's quite a tall order. Surely you must be joking—"
"Oh? Then you're clearly not as good as they say." The man wasn't bothering to hide his irritation anymore.
The woman paused; her greyed soul dimmed in humiliation. My stomach churned. There was no way the woman would reject the ridiculous request now, not with that deliberate attack on her pride. It'll be worse tonight.
Taking a new puff of her kiseru, the woman turned to me, "Pour us some tea little bird. We have business to discuss." My heart raced.
I made sure to pay extra attention to the tea.
"How many songs do you have for me tonight my little mockingbird?", the woman asked, still seething from the business meeting. I watched as her slight figure moved about, discarding her luxurious fur shawl and expensive jewellery.
"Twenty-three," I obediently murmured.
Turning back to my suspended position, the woman hums, "Well let's make them count. I'm awfully exhausted tonight. Make sure to sing loud and clear for me, little bird."
An ice-cold eye glinted with a painful promise. Just a little more.
"Thank you, my little mockingbird. You were wonderful as always." Burgundy nails adjusted the luxurious fur shawl around her arms. Flicking a switch on her way out, the well-worn metal cuffs around my wrists and ankles clanged their released. Skin and bone crumpled unsightly on the cold floor.
Black hair clumping with red sweat stood starkly against plastered grey. "The hunt begins tomorrow. Don't be late." Breathing hard on cold cement, I listened to the fading echo of sharp stilettos for the second time that night.
With a shuddering breath, I tried to compartmentalise the mind-numbing agony. Searing hot spikes of pain laced through my body. My once-pristine yukata was dyed a dark red, some spots were already a crusty dark brown. With practiced discipline, I attempted to ease the trembling in my muscles. Moving would only help repaint the floor.
My eyes fluttered shut, desperate for a temporary reprieve. At least today's list is complete.
Yellow tendrils subtly spread across my wounds, attempting to restore my body as much as it could while it was in a restless sleep. Just a little more, Hime.
Waking up the next day, my body was sore. Open weeping wounds had closed during the night. Light pink strokes were the only remaining evidence of the night before. As always.
Taking a moment to compile my list for the day, I bit my lip remembering my new assignment.
Gold-tier quirks were hard to come by in the ring network. Not only were they rare in society, they were also impossible to steal away unnoticed. Gold-tier healing-type quirks even more so.
Steeling myself, I moved to my feet. At least it's not number one on today's list.
Small hands gripped onto familiar rough bark. The giant banyan tree was just one of many in the compound. Delicate curtains of brown draped down from the outreaching branches. Reaching the end of my ascent, I settled into the tiny hollow where the thick trunk sprouted limbs. I laid on my side, curling up for what little warmth I could find. Closing my eyes, I concentrated.
Pink wisps swirled from my pale skin, seeping into rough brown. The pink stream travelled through the bark, permeating through the forested compound. As the connection was established, a monochromatic view of the compound flashed through my mind. Tiny orbs of colour scattered around the bleak landscape. Ignoring the cold spots within the compound, I expanded my search to the surrounding area. I furrowed my eyebrows at the lack of vibrant colours, the tell-tale sign for gold-tier quirks. Bronze, Bronze, Silver, Bronze— No gold.
I dived deeper, searching beyond the immediate neighbourhood. Sifting through the dots of colour appearing on my mental radar, panic swelled in my gut. I could not afford to return empty-handed, for the fifth day in a row.
All of a sudden, rowdy crimson crackled in my peripheral. It was tiny, nothing more than a small, bright red spark. (They all had to be.) Swarming over, I evaluated the tiny spot. Vividly bright and blazingly loud. Definitely gold. And yet, I hesitated.
It was warm.
This was the first strong gold I had found in weeks. Marking this tiny red speck would shorten my lists, for today and tomorrow. My back ached remembering the dual-coloured flicker I had skipped just days before. Biting my lip, I weighed my options.
Softly exhaling, my body screeched in protest as I ignored my recent find. Metal liquid dripped on my tongue. Shivering with a ghostly chill, I continued my search elsewhere, anywhere not warm.
Hours later, pink webbing rescinded back to pale skin. I laid staring at the stretching shadows. Another fruitless day. Processing my mental lists, the numbness in my body gave way to a thrumming ache. A tear would have dripped traitorously had they not dried out years ago.
It was 5 for 5 now. How much more?
~ Somewhere else ~
A tall regal woman stood atop a tall skyscraper, platinum blonde hair swaying with the wind. Clear silver eyes opened to the blinding lights of the city landscape. Found you.
[music: from start to 02:21]
Violent tremors shook the ground, displacing clouds of dust that laid undisturbed between the stone bricks. Startled awake, I listened to the mounting chaos, body vibrating with the trembling stone walls. Probably a raid from a rival ring. Perhaps Oasis?
I struggled to my feet. My wounds had yet to close but at least it had stopped weeping. Grimacing at the uncomfortable stickiness clinging onto my skin, I made my way out of the basement. The distant tremors were getting stronger.
Stopping at the entrance of the house, I realised I was wrong. This isn't a rival gang attack.
Six figures clad in strange clothing marched through the compound, subduing the henchmen in their paths. Six vibrant colours. Quirks blasted back and forth, painting the field in a myriad of colours. Uniforms of black and grey lined the back, forming a tight perimeter around the area. They were warm.
Hurried steps slapped against wooden planks. "It's the wretched cops! And they've brought goddamn heroes!"
Heroes?
"It doesn't matter. We were due to relocate anyway." Sharp footsteps clicked on the wooden flooring. The woman paused at the edge of the engawa, blankly surveying the scene.
"Besides, we have our little mockingbird."
Long slender fingers clasped at my chin, tilting my head to meet a soulless-grey iris. "Will you sing for us my little bird?"
I hesitated. I don't want to.
They were different. Their souls blazed with unbleached colour.
Burgundy nails tightened at the lack of response, imprinting crescent marks on my cheeks. Bleak grey twinkled with a harrowing promise for the slightest disobedience.
With a small nod, I stepped off the wooden porch. I stared at the six moving bodies. They were constantly in motion, fluidly shifting from one stance to another. Six specks shifting with a trailing warm glow, though not as blazingly warm as my two secret finds.
I stiffened at a harsh tutter of disapproval from behind me. But I don't want to face her wrath even more.
Taking a deep breath, I released my quirk. Pink light enveloped my unimposing form. Nipping the internal buds of self-disappointment, I closed my eyes.
I'm sorry.
[music should be at 02:21, until 06:36]
"I could hear the signs calling out from the bottom of the fire
I am like a torch flickering in the wind as the saying goes
Lost all my precious
Rage ate me up
Endless forlornness has made me numb
I'd rather rise from here
Or should I hold on to my past?
They've burnt to ashes
Faded to grey
Returned to the earth
Yes it's meant to be
Uncertain flame of hope I found
Will you lead me back on the right track?"
Pink strands stretched out, enveloping anything that was touched by my song. Strong winds blew through the open space, viciously rustling leaves from their branches. Tree roots, outlined with a pink hue, shot up from the ground, slithering into action. The roots coiled around moving limbs, ensnaring the trespassers in a suffocating hold.
I gazed into the surprised eyes of six seized bodies, the first to be trapped. You shouldn't have come.
Henchmen clamoured to their feet, breathing small sighs of relief. They ran past me, knowing they had a few stolen minutes to evacuate the compound.
Looking beyond the six, I gazed dismally as the uniformed lines of black and grey broke apart. Physical armour provided little protection against vicious pink.
Just as I lowered my eyes, a reflective shine flashed in my peripheral. Intrigued, I turned my head.
Everything changed the moment coral pink eyes met with hypnotising silver.
A translucent iridescent dome expanded over the compound, casting everything in a greenish-brown tint. Looking around, I quickly realised that everything was frozen in time. The roots stopped mid-attack. Swaying branches suspended in the wind. People petrified in their tracks.
Except her.
Silver eyes had sharpened to a demonic yellow, the pupil had narrowed to a thin feline slit. My heart started to race. Startled pink eyes stared at the approaching woman, "Who are you?"
Stopping a mere few meters away, a velvety voice responds, "You're a difficult child to find, as always."
Her straight hair was platinum blonde, still slightly disturbed by my summoned wind. She was clad in a white full-body suit that only bared pale smooth flesh from the collarbones up. Silver armour guarded her forearms and enclosed around her feet in knee-high boots. Metal plates layered around her middle in a V-shape, defining her hips with a makeshift miniskirt. A short white cape was attached to large silver shoulder pads, ending at her hips. As her hair settled, a strip of black fabric coiled around her neck was revealed, plunging to meet the metal detail around her collar. A white symbol was stitched distinctively against the black threads.
Eyeing the large broadsword hanging diagonally from her back, I hesitantly replied, "Do I know you?"
"Perhaps. But that's another story. What about you?"
"Me?"
"Do you know you?"
I paused, puzzled at the strange response.
"It's impressive you know."
My confusion must have shown on my face as she clarified, "You're impressive, powers – or 'quirk', as they call it here – and all."
My lips thinned as my expression turned grim. Melancholic thoughts enveloped my mind. It's nothing but an impressive curse.
The woman glanced to the six trapped strangers, "In this world, everyone waits for heroes to save the day." She paused for a moment before turning back to me. "But sometimes the only hero that you need is yourself."
Staring me straight in the eye, she continued knowingly, "Nothing improves without change."
My heart was pounding. Gnawing my lip, I turned a hesitant eye behind me, to the nightmarish woman frozen in time.
"A woman once told me, living in fear is not living at all. But without fear, there cannot be courage. You remind me of her."
Stunned, I whipped back to the intimidating woman, "I'm not– "
Eyes softening with fondness, a small gentle smile pierced through the woman's stoic demeanour. "Maybe not, but you could be."
As quickly as she came, she disappeared.
[music should be at 06:36 until end]
Colour and noise returned to the field, assaulting my senses.
"Time to go, little bird." Frozen in place, I turned back to the struggling trespassers. Hypnotising colour beckoned to my yearning spirit. Turbulent thoughts whirled through my mind. Six sparks, vibrant and strong. Maybe strong enough–
A cold eye narrowed at my disobedience. "That's enough, my pet." Boiling anger seeped through her next words, "Don't keep me waiting."
Sometimes the only hero that you need is yourself.
My body trembled with fear as I breathed in.
No more.
"I could hear the signs calling out from the bottom of the fire
I am like a torch flickering in the wind as the saying goes"
Pink roots slowly loosened their hold, releasing their captives. Blue and purple swirls intertwined with pink, sharpening the slithering bark with barbed teeth.
"Lost all my precious
Rage ate me up
Endless forlornness has made me numb
I'd rather rise from here
Or should I hold on to my past?"
The underground bark whipped at their new targets with a vengeance. Suffocating coils tightened around gangly limbs, seeking retribution for years of torment.
"They've burnt to ashes
Faded to grey
Returned to the earth
Yes it's meant to be
Uncertain flame of hope I found
Will you lead me back on the right track?"
Tendrils of green and orange crept around the perimeter. The area lit aflame in blazes of green and orange, halting the henchmen's escape.
"How dare you! You dare to betray me, little bird?", her shriek grated my ears. Spikes of fear jabbed at my heart.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I continued my song, unknowingly causing the suffocating roots to tighten. Pointed spikes of blue and purple pierced through fragile skin. Whirling winds blasted through the chaos, smothering any more of her venomous words. The surrounding fire blazed anew, reaching towering heights to engulf the terrain in raging flames of green and orange.
Slowly turning backwards, I gazed solemnly at my tormentor. Vengeful thick roots had entwined themselves around the one-eyed woman in a complex criss-cross pattern, imprisoning her in a choking hold. Evidence of her roughly split skin dripped familiarly onto the ground.
Yellow coils twirled around me, soothing my aching, thundering heart. Never again.
Third POV
Platinum blonde hair billowed behind her as the woman surged forward to catch the exhausted child. Commanding the other heroes and officers on the scene, she tightened her protective hold. Impressive as always.
~ Hours later ~
Leaning against sterile walls, silver eyes were closed in peace. Her louder associate was unusually silent, quietly perusing the medical chart. No words were exchanged, both too lost in thought. The only sound in the private room rang from the rhythmic beeping of the monitoring machinery.
"Amaya Miyuki. Beautiful fortune. How poetic."
Grey eyes turned to the meditating woman with a childish gleam, "Never thought I'd see the day you break the rules, Galatea."
She ignored his childish dig, maintaining her relaxed disposition. Seeing the lack of response, he turned back to the sleeping child. "So, it's Amaya Miyuki this time huh?" His playful demeanour sobered, "It's too soon. Especially considering how the last one turned out."
Metallic eyes flashed open, staring piercingly at the concerned man. "It's not our place to interfere. Our role is only to watch and observe."
"How ironic coming from you."
"Would you have done things differently then, Urahara Kisuke?", she perceptively responded.
The man scoffed. Of course, he would have. He would have changed things earlier. Had he the means, he would have made things happen ages ago, consequences be damned. It was the least he could do, what with everything the girl had done for his story. But things were getting worse and the shackles around his wrists were tighter than ever. The man eyed the luscious black locks spread out on the sterile, soft pillow. Damn demonic bastards.
A tensed silence reclaimed the room, only to be dispelled as the door swung open.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting. There was a lot of paperwork to process.", the jovial tone dissolved the heavy mood. Shutting the door, the tardy figure stepped closer to the occupied bed. Standing barely taller than the hospital bed, the latecomer continued, "Shall we begin?"
Silver shifted to gold once more, casting a greenish-brown tint over their surroundings. Shifting his cane to his left arm, the man snapped his fingers, conjuring a white orb over the unconscious girl. The shortest of three stood patiently, an extended appendage waving leisurely behind him.
Wisps of light radiated from the tiny body, floating towards the floating orb and dyeing it a soothing yellow. A dark yellow silhouette of a tall man flickered before solidifying at the foot of the bed. He was dressed in a muted grey turtleneck and dark leather pants. Black leather straps belted around his hips and crossed his left upper thigh. A trailing black trench coat hung from his slender frame, with straps of leather wrapped around his right upper arm. The coat flashed with intricate detail as embellishments lined his shoulders and X's of gold were woven into the fabric. Black combat boots completed the gothic-inspired look. Against the moonlight, the man's irises glowed a haunting yellow.
Yellow eyes studied the group of three. "Galatea. Urahara. It's been a long time." Narrowing on the only stranger in the room with a degree of caution, the mellow voice spoke, "I don't believe we've met."
A long tail waved in barely-disguised excitement, "We haven't. My name is Nezu. It is an honour to meet a guardian knight."
Deeming the stranger an ally, the man replied with a muted smile, "It's a pleasure to meet you Nezu. I only wish it were in better circumstances. I am Ezekiel, the third knight."
Turning to the familiar scientist, Ezekiel asked "Why have you summoned me Kisuke?"
"Ma, just wanted to check in, see how you're all doing. Maybe grab some tea, you know, take a break?"
The disguised accusation had not gone unnoticed. The knight sharpened internally with annoyance. Maintaining his gentle appearance, Ezekiel responded with a relaxed smile, "Thank you for the offer, but there's far too much to do."
Yellow eyes flashed eerily, piercing through the false pleasantry, "And time is running out."
With a cheerful wave of his tail, Nezu was the next to speak as he stepped towards the bed, "I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but the villains in custody are claiming that our dear Amaya-chan was a voluntary accomplice in the Convent's operations. Some of their accounts are particularly… convincing, especially with some of the rescued captives giving similar accounts. Despite Amaya-chan being a minor and a victim herself, there are members of the department that are still looking to persecute her with criminal charges."
Wriggling up the foot of the bed, the human-like rodent continued, ignoring the triple spike of killing intent prickling the air. They matched his own.
Palpable tension surged with underlying currents of anger and frustration. "Unfortunately, this is to be expected given the overly simple-mindedness of this modern society. These people are too quick to stamp labels of Heroes and Villains, according to their observations and pre-conceived notions. They conveniently ignore the idea of heroic inaction and remain ignorant to the fragile divide that exists between Heroes and Villains. It is because of this ignorance that there will be many who will shun her for her 'contributions' to the Convent, victim or not."
Ever the dramatic (and sadistic) rodent, Nezu swung his feet as he purposefully allowed a pregnant pause to envelop the room. Acting as though he had not just dropped a bombshell, Nezu cheerfully exclaimed, "Well it's not like all hope is lost…".
Gradually, the atmosphere in the tiny sterile room lightened with relief.
"So, with this, Amaya-chan will be able to remain relatively anonymous, receive top-notch protection and, hopefully, get back to the mission directive. Though she'll still need help of course." The other three stood still, minds actively processing the almost-too detailed plan.
Gold eyes gleaming with steadfast determination, Galatea nodded in the direction of her long-time comrade. "And she'll have it. Both our division squads will see to it." Temporarily caught off-guard by his displaced role of the master tactician, Kisuke absently replied, "That might work. I'll see what I can do to reach out to other squad leaders. Last I checked, Shizune was in the area too."
"And on behalf of the Seers of this world, we pledge our allegiance to the cause of the Ancient's chosen Champion. It would be our ultimate honour."
"Alright then." Bowing slightly, yellow eyes shined with a gleam of appreciation, "On behalf of the other knights, thank you. We are forever in your debt."
The gathering coming to a close, the floating yellow orb wavered. Taking a last glance at his sleeping mistress, he softly requested, "Please take care of her."
"Ma, just go already."
Author's Note:
Canon is up next. Whoop whoop! Can't wait for you all to read what's next!
Also, I'm still trying to figure out FF's formatting thingy. It's so confusing? Let me know what you think about the formatting!