Friday, September 16, 2016
SOSUKE POV
"Yo Fukawa," I jogged over to her house on this bright and sunny day. I tweeted my departure time a little so I could walk with her. It's a harmless thing to me really. I didn't even expect her to live this close to me.
Today felt a little bit off, I was comfortable with Fukawa looking a tad dissatisfied when she left her house. A growl or spat would be heard when she locked her front door, most often. I was used to that kind or aura surrounding her living conditions. I don't ever recall her own mother handle her so roughly. A grip strong enough to bruise Mondo. The pain was plain to see even when Fukawa gritted her teeth to keep the scream in.
Whether through an unconscious reaction or through desire, I jumped over Fukawa's white picket fence. It felt as if I was watching my own body move to protect Fukawa. Her mother, who seemed to be directly focused on Fukawa, threw her daughter to the pavement. I managed to catch her head, a second before contact. I slid across the yard with her head in my lap, our belongings long discarded.
"H-Huh?" She blinked twice.
"Hey Fukawa," Play it cool Sosuke. This is your chance. "How's it going?"
"Who the hell is this?" Her mother demanded attention I noted.
"Sosuke, a friend of Fukawa." I turned my back to her and brushed myself. "You okay?"
"Y-Yes, I guess I owe you a 'thanks'." She plucked the leaves from her hair. "Don't let it go to your head, though!"
"Never crossed my mind." I lightly laughed.
"Disrespectful children, who said I done talking you?!" This woman forced the dialogue back to herself. I glanced at Fukawa before giving her mother a look. "That's better. What do you want with her?"
"Straight to the point I see." I shoved my hands into my pant's pockets. "Hopefully, your daughter's hand in marriage."
"St-Stop saying stupid things like that!" I could notice the blush in Fukawa's voice. Nonetheless, I never took my eye off the mother.
"I doubt that. Fukawa could never get a boyfriend let alone a husband." Such a foul woman, to think they're related.
"It can't hurt to try, but may I ask a question?" I feel like there's more to this than on the surface. "Why are you talking to your daughter like that?"
"I don't have a daughter."
"Aunt?"
"No."
"Grandmother?"
"How old do you think I am?"
"Old enough to pass either one of those three."
"You wretched ingrate. How dare you?"
"I could say the same thing."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying. You seem to have a distorted heart if you're treating Fukawa like that."
She didn't say anything, just glaring at the two of us. I shot a matching glare back. I heard rustling behind that I could only assume was Fukawa. The Ultimate tugged on my sleeve. Losing the staring contest, I turned my attention to my blessing. Without another word, the two of us left the yard. I heard a slamming door in the distance. That should be Fukawa's mother. At least, Fukawa's okay.
"He-" Fukawa's words
"Why did you get involved?" She didn't stutter. I can hear the seriousness in her voice. It's definitely present.
"Because you seem like you were getting hurt."
"Cut the bullshit! This is not the time for your Romeo crap!"
"That's my reason. I wanted to protect you."
"You're only causing trouble." Fukawa's words, although seemed normal for herself, nudged at something I something that was in my past. I forced out a sad smile and kept a spasm inside. I don't want to be a nuisance. Not again.
"Sorry, I don't want to be a nuisance." My voice faded. I tried pushing back the memories. Fukawa gave me a brief look and growled.
"Wh-What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Oh nothing," I pushed my brave mask forward on my face.
"I know that lo-look!" She pointed an accusing finger at me. "Do-Don't make me re-repeat myself."
"I didn't you would ever care about me," I smirked playfully.
"Do-Don't avoid the question!" The Ultimate shouted rather boldly even for her personality. She quickly retreated to her hunched posture just as fast. "I'm just paying back the favor."
"Favor?"
"You caught m-my head, so I figured that I owed you something."
"Oh, don't worry about me," I smiled with false comfort in my words. "I'm just doing what I can to help you."
"That's the th-thing I don't get! Why me?"
"Does it really matter?" I sighed. I don't think I ever saw Fukawa force a subject this hard. "I like hanging with you, working with you. Is that really wrong?"
"N-No," She shrank down a notch before growing twice in size. "You're hiding something."
"Aren't we all?" I played with the subject. "Are you sure want to know? It's pretty heavy."
"Yes! Don't mess with me either!" She cast her usual glared upon me.
"Who would've thought this day was gonna start so serious?" I chuckled. Fukawa looked like she was ready to chuck a textbook at me. "Okay, I guess not. I guess I don't want to be a bother to you or anyone really."
"You bo-bother me every day!" Fukawa intercepted.
"Yeah, but I mean an actual bother. Someone no one wants around." I smiled at the sun. "Sure, as a journalist, some generally hate me and my work. Most think we're unhonorable and just looking for a scoop. I can live with that. As long as I stay with I believe in and the truth, I'm never affected by those people."
"I-I know there's a but!"
"True," My smiled fell all the way down to a frown. "but with my friends, I don't want to be useless. That's why I want to be there and entertain people. Whether with my newspaper or something else, I wanted that feeling of being useful."
"That's how you get taken advantage of, idiot." She growled. Her eyes narrowed as if my answer alone was pissing her off.
"I know, and I don't mind." My smile had more contradicting meanings than most would ever notice. Satisfied yet secretly desiring more. Happy yet sad. Optimistic yet numb to the pain.
"Urgh! You sound like Komaeda!" She cringed on instinct.
"Okay, that's just an insult." I sweatdropped. But I did snap out of that daze.
"Then st-stop acting him!" She let out a huff.
"Fair enough," I jokingly raised my arms in the air. "I don't want to be like him."
"No one does. Now come on," Fukawa picked up the pace of our morning walk. "Knowing Ishimaru, he'll give us so-some kind of punishment for being late."
I blinked for a second. Us? I smirked, knowingly. Even after such small amount time, I can feel our bond growing a bit deeper. Maybe this will work out.
"Snap out what-whatever dream you're in and come on and hur-hurry up!" She snapped. Yeah, I guess it will.
KIRIGIRI'S POV
My father is indeed a strange one. To think, he would let these kids continue to join our class. I studied how each of the elementary students interacted with my classmates. Kotoko and Celeste were sipping tea and trading elegant secrets. Chihiro and Yamada were teaching Jataro about anime and different type of character tropes. Makoto and Ikusaba were keeping Monaca busy with doodling on the chalkboard; Ishimaru and Nagisa were discussing politics. Daimon, counteractive against his usual personality, was in a corner pretending to sleep. Normally, I could ignore such old behavior, but why is he lying against the wall with his hand over his right eye?
"There should be more to it than on the surface." I slowly said to myself.
"Say something, Kirigiri?" Leon must've heard me.
"It's most likely nothing, but is Daimon okay?"
"Huh?" Leon looked back to glance at the small red head. "I don't know. He could be tired."
"Hmm?" I weighed my options. I should at least check on him. I signaled Leon follow me. I crouched down until I was eye level with the Lil Ultimate. He's really is awake. Normally, a person would have long gentle breaths. He's holding his breaths. "Daimon, I know you're faking. Please wake up."
"Yo dude, if you're faking, ya gotta wake up." Leon folded his arms. "If I can't sleep, I'm sure you can't either."
"Do I have to?" Diamon opened his left eye to peek. "I want to stay like this."
"Yes," I answered. "Now, why are you faking?"
"It's nothing." He shifted his head to the right to hide the right side of his face. Hiding his face... covering his eye... he must have something wrong with his eye... There's a number of possible reasons.
"Come on little man, you can talk to us." Leon gave him a thumbs up and a smile. "There's no need to scared-"
"I'M NOT SCARED!" He snarled at Leon, jumping up from his position and glaring at the two of us. Leon surely hit a soft spot. Daimon is scared of something. This is my chance to find the answer.
"Then, what's wrong with your eye?" I cut through anger with my stoic stare.
"No-Nothing!" Daimon's defensive anger changed back into a wall. I know I saw fear in his eye. Fear... covering an eye... I think I know what's wrong, but I need to confirm my suspicions.
"So you have no problem with me checking your eye?" I offered my hand.
"A-As if, I have nothing to hide!" He hid behind his upbeat and proud personality. Has he always hidden behind this? Has he always forced a smile on his face? I can answer that later.
I nodded and slowly lifted his hair out of the way of his eye. The swollen eye was all I needed to confirm my intuition. Daimon is being abused.
"Holy shit!" Leon's eyes widened quite a bit. "Dude, what the hell happened?"
"If I had to guess," I fixed his hair to cover the wound. "someone has been abusing Daimon. Physical abuse to say the least. I can't confirm if he's being verbally or emotional abuse though."
"Abuse?" Leon raised an eyebrow at my allegation before turning to Daimon for a possible answer. "By who?"
"I'm not being abused!" He cried out in desperation. We are most likely guessing close to the truth. "I deserved it..."
"Does your parents know?" I asked, getting off the ground.
"Yeah..."
"Can I talk to them about it? If someone is putting their hands on you, I know a way to stop them?"
"Um..."
"Daimon, it's okay. We're here to protect you." Leon rubbed him on the back.
"Really? Okay..." Diamon admitted defeat.
"Ishimaru," I opened the door as Fukawa and Sosuke came in. "Leon, Daimon and I will be out for a while. There's something we need to take care of."
"This is where you live?" Leon asked with Daimon on his back.
"Yeah, my dad should be home." He flinched at the word 'dad'. Interesting... The house itself wasn't anything outstanding or memorable. It was a tad ran down with the paint peeling, dents in the wall, and a window panel smashed in. I knocked on the door with Leon by my side.
It took a moment for his father to come to the door. At first glance, I could tell he fit a certain character people tend to associate with an abuser. He had a ungroomed beard, a wife beater with multiple stains and holes, overweight, torn jeans, and poor hygiene altogether. I took a mental note of the smell of alcohol and tobacco coming from him.
"Huh? Who the hell are you two?" He scratched his beard, eyeing level to the two of us.
"Kirigiri Kyoko and this is Leon Kuwata," I motioned. "Can we come inside? There's something we would like to discuss with you about Daimon."
"Shit, what did he do now?" His eye twitched as he quickly tried to sneak a glare at Daimon. Leon might've not noticed, but I took a note of it. "Don't worry about I'll teach him a lesson.
He tried reaching for Daimon, but I placed my hand in between the two.
"That's why we're here." I cut him a cold glare. "I'm here to investigate what you mean by 'teaching him a lesson'."
"Look girlie, how I discipline my fucking child is between me and him. I don't need some purple headed bitch snooping in my life."
"It became our business when you put your fucking hands on Daimon!" Leon shot back.
"There are two logically choices. You can either invite us in, and we talk like civil and mature adults. Or, Leon and I report you to the police on the claims of possible child abuse." I restrained my smirk. "I'm sure the police will do a thorough investigation. Which will it be?"
"Fucking bitch..." He grunted but nevertheless opened the door for us.
Leon went in first, and I followed close behind. If I had to describe the condition of the house, I would say it was a cross between a dirty bar and a whorehouse. Beer cans and cigarettes were lying around the house. The smell of marijuana was quite present. A cloud of smoke was floating against the ceiling. He must not get out a lot. Also, it's almost noon. Normally, people would be at work. Why is he still at home? I didn't see a wedding ring on his finger, so the possibility of a wife is out. That might also explain why there are five prostitutes passed out on the floor. Could he be using these women as a source of income? Anyways, a child can't live in these conditions.
"Daimon, you live like this?" Leon's asked as we walked into, what I assume, the living room.
"It's not that bad. I promise." The Lil Ultimate pleaded.
"We will see about it." I comforted him. "Mr. Masaru, how did Daimon get the black eye? I assume you were talking him 'a lesson'."
"Yeah, what about it?" His father lit a cigarette to probably calm his nerves.
"Daimon, what was the lesson for?" I turned to the little boy.
"I got caught." He looked at the ground.
"Doing what?"
"Getting his beer from the store..."
"As in what?" Leon asked.
"I'm not old enough to pay for alcohol, so he told me to sneak him a six pack. The store guys caught me and brought me back home when his shift was done." Daimon shamefully admitted.
"Why not the beer yourself?" I turned back to the father in questioning. "You're clearly old enough."
"I'm under house arrest." He rolled up the cuff of his jeans to show off his ankle bracelet. "Got caught driving under the influence and some pot."
"So instead of learning a lesson out of all this bullshit, you sent your underage son to get you some beer?" Leon clenched his fist.
"Ain't like he's worth much else." He picked at his teeth. "I sent him on a simple errand, and he got caught. Thought I taught him better."
"Sorry dad, I'll try hard next time." Daimon put on a brave smile that honestly seem unhealthy. I turned to his father to see what he thought of the matter. He cringed at his own son. I will admit. The smile is odd, but to cringe?
"Daimon, you're not the one who should be apologizing." Leon corrected him. "It's your father that's at fault."
"Why? It's not my fault he's fucking defected." He dug his finger in his ear, cleaning out the wax.
"Did he-" Leon snapped his head towards my direction. He looked at me as a way to see if we heard the same thing. "Did he really just fucking say that?! What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"What? You saw that smile. He's clearly defected. No normal kid does that."
"It's your fucking fault that he's like this! How the fuck are you going to say all this while Daimon's in the same room?" Leon raged on.
"Do you have a problem kid?" Daimon's father- no sperm donator- raised off of the couch to meet Leon, eye to eye. "Do I need to teach you a lesson too?"
"Oh, I fucking dare you." Leon handed Daimon to me and rolled up his clothes. "You pissed off the wrong person, you sorry excuse of a human being."
"Hold on now!" I placed myself in between the two of them. I turned to Leon. "If you hit Daimon's father, I will have no choice but to call the police."
"What? That's bullshit! He has this coming!"
"That's not what's important. Leon, you're a senior of Hope's Peak Academy. If you throw that punch, you will lose your future and go straight to jail. Do not allow your anger for this man consume you. He has already thrown away most of his life. You do not have to do the same." I cut through the tension. "If you need to cool off go outside with Daimon, I will handle the rest."
"Kirigiri-"
"Leon, do not argue with me." I shot him a cold stare before softening a bit. "Trust me, I can handle myself."
"Fine," He scoffed. "Shout if you need me."
"Fair enough," I waved the two of them off. When the door was fully closed, I hardened my eyes and glared at the man. "There are no words to describe the person you have become."
"Yeah yeah, preach all you want girlie. I don't give a damn." He grunted.
"I learned a moment ago there's no reasoning with you. However, I can alert the police about you not keeping up with you house arrest conditions."
"Bitch, what are you talking about? I haven't left my house."
"Yeah, but you have been drinking a large amount of beer which breaks a condition in most drinking related house arrests," I informed him. "If you are not already aware, I will gladly tell you. If you are cause drinking while under house arrest, you will go to prison. Not only that, you clearly possess marijuana and prostitutes. There's also the fact that you clearly abuse your son, so I'm sure I can give Child Protective Service a call."
"You fucking bitch!" He prepared himself to lunge at me.
"That's not in your best interest," I warned him, standing unaffected by him. "I can call the police faster than you attack me. Now, face your punishment with the little dignity that you have left."
I walked out the house, untouched. Whatever Daimon's father did when I closed the door was none of my concern. I saw Leon and Daimon sitting on the steps.
"It's over Daimon. You don't have to deal with him anymore." I confirmed the ending.
"Really?" I think this is the first time I ever saw true hope and happiness in his eyes. Even for a moment, that's excellent progress.
"Yes, he will be arrested for every crime he has committed and every wronging that he has done."
"What about me? What's gonna happen to me?" The Lil Ultimate said, cowering from his own thoughts.
"Most likely if we can't find your mother, you will be placed into foster care." I could lie, even when the truth was despairing.
"I gonna regret this." Leon groaned. "I can adopt him. I mean I got an extra room at my place. My record is clean, so there should be no problems right?"
"I guess, but it's up to Daimon really." The two of us look at the small red head. "So do you want Leon as your older brother?"
"Big Bro Leon?" Daimon muttered the phrase to himself a couple of times to see how it rolled off his tongue. When he realized that this was actually happening to him, a life change event, he hugged Leon, crying out his heart. "Thank you."
"Aye no problem man," The Ultimate patted his head in a comforting way. "Come on we should head back to school."
"Oh yeah! I gotta tell the others!" Daimon showed off his toothy smile. "I'm gonna be living with a real Ultimate! Kotoko's gonna be so jealous that she's gonna jizz her dress. Just you watch!"
"Don't say things like that." Leon sighed, already regretting his life choices.
A/N: So I honestly think if someone would just set the parents straight, the Warriors of Hope would be happier. I mean all it took to solve Daimon's drunk dad was one concern teacher or someone seeing a bruise on the kid. Child Protective Service would've been all over his ass, but I digress. I don't know if I'll do this for all the Warriors.