He did it again.
He did it again.
Rei breathed shallowly through her nose, eyes wide and panicked (you're a fool to interfere with his development!), struggling to grasp her emotions.
He did it again.
She hardly recognized one of Shouto's nannies ushering her away (because of your weakness), the stinging in her face overpowering her innermost need to get the hell away.
Numbly, her hand rose to her cheek; a reflex she wasn't proud of, as her ice could just as well take control if she weren't lucid enough (Touya isn't fit to become my successor!), but it would be able to stop the pain.
He did it again.
He hit you, a voice hissed at her from deep within. He burnt you. He's gone too far now. You need to stop this.
She knew that. She knew that unless something changed, her children's future - her own future - was in jeopardy.
Fumbling with her pocket, she pulled out her phone and dialed her mother's number.
The voice on the other end of the line was fuzzy in her ears for a moment, but then she could understand. Her mother's voice filled her ears, familiar and comforting and safe.
Her mother repeated her question, and she could have cried with relief.
"M- Mom, I don't know how much more I can take," her voice came out more breathless than she'd expected, and she paused to catch her breath. "Enji, he- he burnt me, Mom-"
Her mother, concerned, asked about what happened. She filled her in to the best of her ability (cursing the sobs that escaped her as she recalled what had happened). When at last she'd finished her story, she was on her knees, one hand bracing herself on the floor, her head dipped so that her tears dribbled down her face and landed on the ground.
"Rei... I- I don't know what to say..."
"Please, just- let me leave the children with you for a few days," she begged. "Please let me stay with you. Please..."
Her entire world shattered when her mother uttered her next words.
"This isn't a matter that can be simply resolved, Rei. Enji is too popular; this will ruin him - and us - if it comes to light. I'm sorry if this comes off as too blunt, but this is solely your problem. Figure it out on your own."
As the call was ended, she was left there, staring at nothing (she abandoned me) as the other line fell dead.
There's nowhere I can turn to.
No one will help me.
This is... my problem.
This is my solution.
Something came over her then - something unexplainable clouded her mind, hid away her heart, and left her sitting there, blank-faced.
Something came over her. Something that wouldn't leave until its goal had been completed.