Makoto starred at Kayo's mother, but he then glared, not afraid. Titan was growling lowly, his fur on end. He didn't like this woman's scent at all.
"Why's Kayo out here?", Makoto demanded, not backing down. Mrs. Hinazuki seemed to ignore him, as she looked at Kayo.
"Kayo, come out of there", she said simply. Makoto blinked, and saw Kayo slowly get to her feet. She winced, hissing in pain.
Mrs. Hinazuki wrapped a thin blanket around Kayo's shoulders, guiding her out. Kayo didn't look at Makoto, as her mother began walking away with her.
"Kayo! What happened?! Tell me!", Makoto cried urgently. The two stopped for a moment. "Kayo...tell him how you got hurt", Mrs. Hinazuki sneered.
Kayo didn't turn to look at Makoto. She looked down ever so slightly.
"I fell", she replied in a very small voice. Makoto's heart sunk, his eyes widening in fear at her sad lie. It was so obvious to him now what was happening.
He couldn't keep this a secret any longer. He glared, before hurrying out of there. Titan and him hurried home.
"Mom! Dad!", Makoto ran inside the house with Titan. "Makoto?!", Mikasa cried. "There you are! We were about to go out looking for you!", Eren said, worriedly.
"Your teacher called and said you left the school!", Mikasa added anxiously. "I know, I'm sorry for worrying you...but..", Makoto looked down.
"But what?", Eren asked, folding his arms while Mikasa looked worried. "Mom..dad...Kayo needs my help. She's being abused by her mom!", Makoto said then, urgently.
Eren and Mikasa both blinked, exchanging looks. "Makoto, buddy...your teacher just told us on the phone that Kayo self harms herself...", Eren started.
Makoto suddenly glared in frustration. "That's BULLSHIT!", he yelled then, shocking both his parents. "Makoto..!", Eren started to scold, but Mikasa stopped him.
"Makoto...sweetie...we don't believe it either", Mikasa assured her son then. Makoto blinked, as he relaxed a bit.
"You...don't?", he asked. Eren shook his head. "I knew it the second I looked at her...her eyes. Makoto, the only problem is there isn't enough proof", Mikasa looked down softly.
"With her mother having...supposedly real doctors reports of self harm, no school or police are going to believe she's being abused", Eren added. "They're clearly fake reports! That just look legit...we have to do SOMETHING!", Makoto cried, anxiously.
Eren looked down, he glared. "Makoto's right, we have to at least send the police over. Have them check it out", he decided.
"Eren, wait!", Mikasa said then, while Makoto looked relieved. "Mika, we can't keep waiting! If that poor girl really is being abused, we need to help her as soon as possible!", Eren pointed out.
"I agree...but what happens if the police find no evidence? All it would accomplish is Kayo getting abused further and worse!", Mikasa pointed out back, fearfully.
"Mom, we have to try!", Makoto pleaded...he was desprete to save her. Mikasa bit her lip...she wanted to do this.
But at the same time, she knew if it backfired, and if the police couldn't find enough evidence to do something right away...Kayo would suffer her mother's wrath.
It may even trigger something worse...like murder.
She took a deep breath...she couldn't risk that. She got down on eye level with her son. "Makoto, sweetheart listen to me. I know you want to save Kayo right away, I do too. But in order to save her, we need to be level headed. We can't be so hasty...we need to wait to find more proof", she told him gently.
The look on Makoto's face alone told her he wasn't going to take that as an answer. "Wait?! How much more waiting can we do, mom?! Until Kayo's arm is broken?! Or her leg?!", Makoto demanded, angrily.
"If we DON'T wait, that actually could happen! If we just send police there right now, and there's NO evidence for them to arrest Kayo's mother, then who's going to suffer? Kayo! She gave you her address, that alone must have pissed her psycho mother off to no end! A child can only take so many beatings before...", Mikasa trailed off, her heart sinking.
She took a shaky breath...the very thought of that little girl being beaten to death...with no one to help her...it made Mikasa's heart stop.
Makoto had fallen quiet, this was the first time Mikasa really scolded him. Eren had remained quiet, watching.
"Makoto...we're going to help her...but we can't do anything quite yet", Mikasa finished, her voice more gentle. Makoto glared, frustrated.
He ran up the stairs with Titan, slamming his bedroom door loudly. Mikasa sighed, as Eren came over to her.
"You're right angel...we can't just...if even the school believes Kayo's self harming, we're most likely going to get no where with the police", Eren said.
"And we can't ask Satoshi to look into it, that would make it a conflict of interest, it would be too personal then. The rest of the office wouldn't take the case seriously. And he can't afford to lose his job, with Sakura being so ill", Mikasa added. Satoshi and Sakura were Arashi's parents.
They had become good friends with Eren and Mikasa. "What can we do then?", asked Eren. Mikasa looked down, thinking for a moment.
"I'll talk to sis, see if I can get anything off her", she decided. Eren nodded, glancing back up the stairs. "Let him be, Eren. He's upset, and rightfully so...", Mikasa said.
"I know...if I found out someone was abusing you Mika...I'd be the same way", admitted Eren.
Mikasa didn't waste any time, by the next morning she visited the Arlet house. Armin had just tucked Alex in.
Alex was up late playing video games since it was a Friday night, so now he was sleeping in. He slept in his bed, with Armin's old futon over him.
"He really is like his bloody father", Rubi smiled, as she set her son's Nintendo 3DS on the dresser. "I know, and you wanted me to get rid of my futon", Armin pointed out, grinning.
Rubi blushed, rolling her eyes. "Okay, okay, you were right honey. It's a good thing we saved it", she said.
Just as they exited Alex's room, they heard a knock at the door. Hook barked a bit downstairs excitedly, looking out the window at Mikasa, while Cheeto remained asleep on the armchair, lazy.
Rubi hurried down, opening the front door. "Hey Miki", Rubi smiled. "Hey sis...so um..you got a bit?", asked Mikasa biting her lip, as she came in.
"Sure...", Rubi blinked, concerned at her sister's worried expression. They went into the kitchen, while Armin made tea.
"So...Makoto has a new friend, well, I'd say a crush", Mikasa started as she sat down. "Oooh, really? Miki, that's great!", Rubi beamed, sitting down too.
"Yeah...she's a serious sweetheart. Her name is Kayo Hinazuki. But sis...", Mikasa looked at Rubi. "Have you...well, have you ever treated children who...were abused? Or self harmed?", she asked seriously.
Rubi looked at her, surprised by this. But she leaned back a bit. "Several times, yes. In fact, self harm and attempted suicide is common in child abuse cases...", she started.
"Let me ask you this sis...can a 10 year old girl, physically bruise herself?", asked Mikasa. "That would be a no...and what I mean is, a 10 year old child doesn't have the physical strength to bruise themselves severely...I mean, technically they could, but in all the self harm cases I've seen it's always been cutting", Rubi replied.
"I thought so...and what are some of the characteristics of an abused child?", asked Mikasa. "Timidness of being touched, quietness, distant, often is nonchalant...Sis, why are you asking me all this?", asked Rubi.
"Makoto...and honestly even Eren and I believe Kayo is being abused. Just...the look on her face alone when I met her, she flinched at my touch and...Makoto says she has bruises..", Mikasa explained.
"Sis, you need to call the bloody police!", Rubi said urgently.
"We want to call the police! But...", Mikasa went on to explain everything to Rubi.
Rubi looked down. "I see...that is all a problem...if the police can't find evidence...", she said thoughtfully.
"Her mother can do a number of things to hide Kayo's bruises too...", Mikasa added. "Not just with makeup either, she could be dunking Kayo's face in ice cold water to erase the bruises...I've seen that way too many times", Rubi sighed.
"So what now sis? We have to do something!", Mikasa said urgently. Rubi looked down. "Because Kayo lives here now, and is still a child...she is required to get a doctor's visit every few months. As soon as her mother brings her in, I'll do everything I can as a doctor...", she replied.
Mikasa bit her lip, looking down. "It might be too late by then, Rubi...", she said, shaking a bit. "I can't do anything else beyond that sis...believe me, I want too", Rubi said, looking down.
"But we can't let this go...Sis, I...I'm having trouble sleeping at night, thinking about that girl...she's suffering in silence", Mikasa clenched her fists a bit, shaking furiously.
"I know Miki...I promise, we'll figure out a way to help her. I...don't know how yet, but something will give eventually. It has too", Rubi reached across the table, taking her sister's hand and squeezing it softly.
Mikasa nodded softly. She didn't know how...but she vowed to save Kayo. She had made the decision before she even realized it...she was going to save this little girl...and bring her into the Jaeger family.
Not just for her son's sake...but for Kayo's. Even though she only met Kayo once, she was already emotionally attached to her.
And Rubi could sense it.
When Monday came, Makoto was anxious to get back to school. He hurried into the classroom, panting. But he didn't see Kayo.
"It's still early...", he told himself. He sighed, as he sat down in his desk. Alex was by him, making paper airplanes, bored.
"The weekend goes by too fast", he complained, as Makoto watched the doors. His heart skipped a beat then, seeing Kayo enter.
She ran a hand through her hair, approaching. She looked down at Makoto, biting her lip. The look on her face said it all..she didn't want to talk about her mother, or what Makoto saw.
Panicked, and not wanting it to seem awkward, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
"You're pretty...", he said, and instantly both he and Kayo turned bright red. Kayo legit blushed, her eyes widening.
"Makoto! You dog!", Alex laughed, patting his friend's shoulder. "U-uhh...I mean..um..", Makoto turned redder, wanting the floor to swallow him.
Kayo only blushed more. "Thank you", she squeaked out, before quickly sitting down. Makoto looked down, still red in the face.
He remembered his mom told him last night...until they could find a way to truly save Kayo, in the meantime the best thing he could do was make her happy.
Give her hope...let her know she wasn't alone.
So..he got an idea. Makoto took a deep breath. "Kayo..", he tapped her shoulder. Kayo tensed a bit, but she turned to look at him.
"Listen...so..Christmas will be coming up soon...the park has already decorated some of its public trees. You want to come see with me after school?", Makoto asked.
Kayo bit her lip. She then nodded. "Okay", she replied.
After school ended, Makoto and Kayo walked to the park. There was snow on the slide and swings, and a large pine tree was decorated with lights.
Makoto and Kayo walked up to it, gazing at its beauty. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?", Makoto mused. Kayo starred at the tree...the look on her face, like she's never seen a Christmas tree before.
Makoto figured she hadn't, as he watched her reaction. And then, for the first time...a smile appeared on Kayo's face. A real, legit smile.
Makoto smiled as well, as they gazed at the tree together. "Makoto...can we stay out a little longer? I...don't want to go home yet", Kayo admitted then.
Makoto looked at her, worried. "Did she hurt you again?", he asked, anxiously. Kayo looked away, she then rolled her sleeve up, showing fresh bruises on her arm.
"Kayo...okay, where would you like to go?", Makoto asked her. Kayo looked around, noticing it looked pretty warm under the bridge.
The two kids went across the street. Makoto lit a small fire, as they sat down in front of it. They both leaned against the wall.
"Kayo...listen, I don't know how yet...but I'm going to save you", Makoto promised then. Kayo smiled very softly, a sad smile.
"Baka...I appreciate it but...I've accepted my fate a long time ago", she confessed. Makoto starred at her, horrified.
"After all...I never really was meant to be alive. My mother said I was a...'Child of Rape'...she blamed me for what happened to her. From the night I was born...my mother left my crying on the kitchen floor, in a pool of blood and placenta...I asked her once why she didn't just smother me...or let me starve...and she told me I wasn't even worth being killed. That I was her worthless toy to vent her frustrations on...her own personal punching bag...", Kayo revealed, darkly.
Makoto was speechless, but he listened. "I began to tell myself that...and eventually I realized...she was right. I'm beyond saving...", she went on.
"That's NOT true, Kayo!", Makoto cried. Kayo didn't look at him. "I want to go far away from here...far away from her...spread my wings like a butterfly, or like a bird...and fly away. As far as I can go...", she said grimly.
Makoto swallowed hard, his heart sinking. He didn't like the way she was talking...it gave him chills. "I'll help you grow those wings...", he said kindly then. Kayo looked at him, as she blushed a little bit.
She leaned her head onto his shoulder, closing her eyes.
Over the next two days, Kayo was suddenly absent from school. The teacher was informed she was sick again.
At this point, even the teacher was starting to grow suspicious from all the absents. It was also an extremely cold two days.
Temperatures had dropped severely and dangerously, below zero. It was also snowing quite a lot, and water turned to ice within minutes.
When school got out, Carly and Makoto met up. "Sis...you go ahead home. I want to go check on Kayo", Makoto said softly.
Carly's eyes grew worried, she and Arashi and even Emily knew about it all. "Makoto, I'll come with you. You shouldn't be going there alone...", she started.
Makoto shook his head quickly. "Not a good idea, sis. If her mom's home...I can hide and sneak around. Don't worry, I have Titan", Makoto assured his big sister.
Titan sat down at Makoto's side loyally. "You got guts, kid...be careful, okay?", Arashi said softly. "You got your phone?", asked Carly, worriedly. Makoto nodded, showing it.
He hurried off with Titan. "I overheard the teachers talking...and they're starting to suspect something's off. Kayo's been absent several times this season", Emily mentioned to Carly.
"I know, mom, dad and Auntie Rubi, and even Uncle Armin have been trying like hell to save her", Carly nodded anxiously.
"It makes me sick...knowing what that sick bitch could be doing to that little girl right about now...behind closed doors", Carly admitted. "We'll figure it out, baby..", Arashi assured his girlfriend, holding her close.
Makoto arrived at the trailer park with Titan. He approached Kayo's trailer. There was no car, indicating her mother wasn't home.
He hurried up to the front door, and knocked. No answer. It was silent, and pitch dark in the trailer. Titan's ears perked then, and the Akita barked towards the backyard...where the shed was.
Makoto's heart sunk, getting de'jevu. "No...she can't be...not again..in this weather...", Makoto followed his dog into the backyard.
It was snowing out lightly, and it was freezing. Makoto could see his own breath, as he squeezed through the fence with Titan.
Sure enough, Titan ran over to the shed, scratching urgently at the door and whining. "Kayo!", Makoto sprinted over through the deep snow, and yanked the shed door open.
Kayo was laying on her side, but this time she was unconscious. There was frost in her hair, and even on her face, indicating she's been out here for a long period of time.
"Kayo..oh god..!", Makoto hurried in, and knelt down at her side. Her breathing was very weak and shallow, and she suddenly coughed weakly.
Makoto felt her forehead. "She's burning up...", Makoto quickly removed his own coat, and wrapped it around her.
"Kayo...Kayo, can you hear me?!", he cried urgently, as he held her in his arms, slightly shaking her. Titan whimpered, and licked her face softly.
Kayo's eyelids barely cracked open as she stirred.
"M-Makoto...", she whispered, her voice was very hoarse and quiet. "I'm right here, Kayo! Hang in there! I'm going to get you help!", Makoto assured her, fearfully.
Kayo breathed weakly, and she coughed again...it was a very dry cough. "W-Water...", she pleaded quietly.
Makoto's heart sunk, he quickly grabbed a handful of soft snow, not wanting to leave her side. "Here, Kayo...", he very gently helped her, as she ate the snow, letting it melt in her mouth, into cold water.
She was obviously extremely dehydrated. "Kayo...how long have you been out here?", Makoto asked fearfully, rubbing her back.
"Since...last night...", Kayo replied weakly, she coughed violently again, before whimpering weakly.
"You were out here all night?! In this weather...Kayo..!?", Makoto froze then, seeing her slip back into unconsciousness, extremely weak.
Makoto's eyes filled with horror...it was obvious. Kayo was literally freezing to death. She was at death's door.
He glared then. "Stay with me Kayo! I'm going to help you...I'm taking you home", he carefully lifted her onto his back then.
He began walking, as he grunted a bit, being only 10 himself. But he was surprised...and horrified. She was extremely light.
It felt more like he was carrying a 6 year old, not another 10 year old. He moved as fast as he could, carrying her. Titan stayed right their side.
The snow picked up, turning inside a blizzard as Makoto exited the trailer park, carrying Kayo. She had gone dead limp on his back, her arm hanging.
As Makoto moved through the snow, ignoring the intense cold, he could feel on his back...Kayo's heartbeat was slowing.
He looked back at her face, fearfully. "Kayo...hang in there..!", he pleaded, as he kept going. In his panic, he forgot he even had his phone to call for help.
He kept trudging through, until he finally was close to his house.
Inside the Jaeger house, Mikasa saw the weather as she looked out the kitchen window. "Carly, try calling him. The weather's getting worse", she said worriedly.
"If he doesn't show up in five minutes, I'll drive around and look", Eren added, also getting worried. "His phone's off...", Carly answered then, after having tried to call.
"Damn it...okay, I'm going to go...Mika?", Eren noticed his wife starring out the kitchen window.
Mikasa looked harder, to see a figure appearing through the storm. As it got closer...Mikasa saw it was Makoto and Titan.
And her son was carrying an unconscious Kayo on his back. Mikasa's heart sunk. "Oh my god!", she cried, as she hurried outside. Eren quickly followed, and so did Carly.
"Oh shit! Makoto!", Eren ran over with Mikasa, as Makoto fell to his knees in front of the house, exhausted.
"MAKOTO!", Mikasa ran over, quickly throwing a blanket over the two, as Carly also hurried over. "M-Mom...Kayo's sick...help her...please", Makoto pleaded weakly.
Mikasa saw Kayo's condition, her pale face, the frost in her hair, her labored breathing...she was dying. "Eren, call an ambulance!", Mikasa demanded urgently, as she gently took Kayo into her arms, while Carly helped her little brother inside with them.