MASSIVE TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE AND IMPLIED TORTURE. I cannot stress this enough! It was actually really tough to write this without wanting to stop. It's short but if you wish to skip, stop reading after "The next scene before them saw…" and continue after "Finally, it stopped"
Taro was hers at last!
Even in her wildest dreams she could not imagine Taro confessing to her in the way that he did but by god, did she lap it up. That night, a dream came to her so vivid and beautiful that she woke up with a feeling of real hope; she was sat in a hospital bed with Taro beside her, he was telling her about their married life and how she had just given birth to the most gorgeous baby girl in the world. She looked down to find herself cradling a small, pink infant with a few black curls on her head and sparkling black eyes. The little pink blanket which covered her small body felt like the warmth of a mother's love.
While it had been a mere dream, she lightened up with each thought of her and Taro being together and what they would do, having a baby was a big commitment and they wanted to do so many things before finally settling down.
That had been the last time she dreamt of something like that.
The following night, the dream was dark and misty. She found herself in the halls of Akademi with nothing but a flickering torch, the silence held an eerie feeling and she couldn't help but think that she was being followed. She ran forward into the darkness out of sheer desperation to escape, to outrun whatever was following her. She realised that she could hear the familiar clicking of her school-shoes on the floor, thus she torn them off and fled in her socks.
Running straight for the exit, she could see the light at last. Taro stood at the exit waving at her, smiling like he always did. Just as she reached the lockers, the vision of Taro flickered to a young man with a side-bang sweep over his left eye pleading for help. 'Dad?' She reached for the young man before she yanked back into the school building and thrown across the floor; as stood, the figure of her young mother stood before; she smiled ominously before slamming the door.
A hand gripped onto Ayano's hair, dragging her deeper into the school before she was thrown into one of the closets. A group of four shadows that resembled men with shark like smiles watched her as they unbuckled their belts. She turned around and found herself facing a mirror, only a young woman with shoulder length purple hair stared back in horror.
She blinked, and the woman in the mirror was a rotten corpse.
She had awoken in bed covered in sweat, shaking from the adrenaline.
The next day she went to school to be met by a most unpleasant surprise, Hanako had transferred into Akademi.
While it was not what she had hoped for, she did not take much offence to the girl trying to smother Taro with her attention and bear hugs when Ayano seemed to be about. Yet, for some reason, the less Ayano paid the attention to Hanako's odd behaviour, the more it infuriated the young girl.
Ayano was certain that there was something seriously wrong with Hanako but couldn't pinpoint exactly what.
She had observed the young girl constantly talking about how her brother was the best in the world, how smart he was but never said about him being handsome despite her eyes really wanting to. It grossed her out to no end.
The behaviour soon took a turn towards Ayano in the afternoon. She had brought in a bento for Taro which she had taken hours to plan and make but as soon as she opened it to pass it to him, Hanako acted up in her 'playful mood' and seemed to purposely smack the bento straight onto her uniform. Catching Ayano's face in the process. She looked up in shock to a grinning Hanako.
"Oh! Sorry Yan-chan! Maybe you shouldn't spend so much time preparing food if you're going to spill it on yourself. Hehehe" She bellowed loudly in her childish voice, attracting the stares of those around her.
"Christ Hanako! What the hell is wrong with you today? Just leave us alone damn it!" Taro yelled as he grabbed Ayano's hand and led her to the home ec. Room. Hanako certainly didn't like that, she was so wrapped up in her own anger that she had deafened herself to the words spoken with venom behind her.
"What a weirdo"
"Did you see that? You know she meant to do that. That was done on purpose."
"And to Ayano of all people. Jeez, I feel sorry for her"
"She could do better than Yamada anyway, especially with a little sister like that"
"I'd hate to have her as my sister-in-law"
Osana had watched the scene unfold with disappointment written on her face. She knew how Hanako was but even this was going too far "Really?! I really need to speak to Hanako…"
"What do you mean?" Raibaru asked innocently. "Hanako has always been… clingy. I'm glad to see Taro standing up for himself but he'll lose Ayano in no time if this continues." Osana shook her head, wondering what she should say anything the younger Yamada.
She had to change into her gym uniform while her uniform was washed and tumbled dried but her teacher paid it no mind.
The next morning, she approached Amai as she was preparing several mochis of different flavours: Matcha, strawberry, choclate, white choclate and red bean. "Hello Yannie! It's been a while, how are you doing dear? Please, take some mochi for you and Taro! Congratulations on becoming a couple" She took out a small box and placed six in there before passing it to Ayano, who took it kindly.
"That's really kind of you. Thank you. How are you and Hazu doing?" She enquired, Amai clapped her hands together "Hazu is so sweet and gentle. I can't believe his skill in sewing though, he even made me this little apron last week." The new apron in question covered her front completely while keeping the cute, vintage aesthetic which was clearly Amai's style; mint green, ruffles towards the bottom with little white hearts on it.
"That's great" She paused, Amai raised her eyebrow "I need to ask you for a massive favour"
"Dear, you introduced Hazu to me and made me a very happy lady, you can ask me anything"
Ayano continued "It's Taro's sister, Hanako. She's been acting really strange and I'm really concerned that she might try to possibly set me up for something…"
"Ah, I heard about what happened yesterday" She admitted. That did take Ayano by surprise.
"Saki told me dear. She told me about what Hanako did to you. I was considering talking to you about it but I'm glad you came to me about it imstead." She approached Ayano and leant to her ear. "If you are allergic to anything, watch your bento. I wouldn't put it past her to tamper with it" A flush of cold water washed down her back.
"You think she'd go to that extreme? An allergy can kill someone!"
"If her behaviour says anything and what she's been saying about you falls in line, it certainly would" That made Ayano freeze up. "W-what do you mean? What on earth has she been trying to say?"
"She tried implying to a few people that you seduced her brother by force. Using rape I mean... but everyone who listened in apparently told the guidance councillor. Mrs Kinahito went on a tirade yesterday trying to find Hanako but she had already left school by then. She'll probably speak to Hanako and Taro today."
Ayano turned to leave but not before hearing "I'll tell my club members to keep an eye on everything, please do not worry"
As if eerily predicted by Amai, Ayano's bento looked… strange.
It had been covered in peanuts. Not a single part of box was left untouched. Ayano remembered that her mother would never touch them as even smelling them could bring her out in a rash. Taro also looked at the bento with interest "Your mother was kind enough to give you peanuts despite being allergic to them?"
Hanako had stopped eating upon hearing this. 'Interesting' Ayano thought, she decided to play along 'Yes, she had to wear plastic gloves just so she doesn't touch them but she is kind enough to do this more me" She swore that Hanako had nearly choked on her onigiri out of sheer rage but she didn't enjoy the feeling like she would have in the past.
This was sick and twisted.
Walking past the Mrs Kinahito's office later in the day had yielded some interesting results as well. "I'm not sure what you were thinking but the school will NOT tolerate this kind of behaviour. Do you even realise what you were implying? Rape has never been a joke and never will be. You're lucky that I do not involve your mother and brother on this occasion. Now get out of my office."
Hanako had ran off, red in face with tears streaming down it. All Ayano did was shake her head.
That night the dream became more vivid. Though, she wasn't trapped in Akademi this time but a single room in an abandoned warehouse with boarded up windows. It was cold and all she had to cover her fragile, bleeding body was a thin sheet. Though she wanted to get up and find a way out, another voice spoke in her mind.
"Help me, someone help me. Jin, send someone. Anyone..."
Her teeth chattered as she attempted to curl up. Her downstairs hurt really bad, but she dreaded to look down there for some reason. She awoke as the door swung open…
Hanako was quiet the next day and it was worrying her but that night the worst dream came to her. It was then that Ayano realised that this was the calm before the storm.
This time, she was standing in the little shopping area by the sea in Buraza town. She gazed about a pair of young women walking down the street. She quickly realised that one of the women was her young mother in a lilac flowery dress. The other woman those intrigued her, it was the face of the woman she had seen the other night but alive and happy. The pair giggled over milkshakes and told stories about each other's lives.
Just as the feeling of ease settled in, the young girl with purple hair also stood by her. The dead version watching her life. "W-who are you?" Ayano whispered fearfully.
The woman turned to face her. Her sunken holes peered into her very soul, the woman's skin was a sick grey with bruising and burns across every surface. She was wearing her uniform but it was badly torn and putrid black blood pooled down her legs.
"My name…" She spoke in a raspy voice, Ayano figured out why by looked at the obvious strange marks on her neck "...is Sonoko" She reached out with her blackened hands and placed them onto Ayano's shoulders.
"I was… innocent. I had ommitted… no crime. But… in her eyes…." She peered back at the scene, Sonoko had gone to the toilet and Ryoba was pouring sake into the milkshake. The living Sonoko returned and began to drink the milkshake "...I was guilty either way"
"Of what?" Ayano's voiced trembled as she spoke. The dead girl raised her eyebrow slowly "I think… you know. Your family… has a streak of… cruelty" The scene changed, the living Sonoko was clearly drunk and Ryoba eyed her prey with untold levels of malice. She picked up Sonoko, helping her walk into an alleyway. "She told me… that we… were going home" The rasp voice hitched up as if she was about to cry when they zoomed into the alleyway.
Three men in black suits grabbed Sonoko and knocked her out before placing her in a case. Two men appeared out of the shadows, one in a black three piece suit with the traditional Yakuza tattoos on his arms and one in a gaudy white and glad suit.
"Well I must say…" The older fat man in the white suit spoke "You just saved us a fair bit of trouble my dear. That purple haired brat found a storage unit of our and reported it. I lost out of a lot of money. Speaking of money…" He gestured to her purse.
Ryoba took out a massive stack of cash and passed it to the man in the black suit.
"1 million and five hundred thousand Yen. Dead on." He spoke in a gruff voice. The man in white laughed. "Excellent! More than agreed even. For the extra, we'll grant a request from you."
Ryoba tilted her head to the side to think, Ayano saw the black irises of her mother's eyes somehow grow darker and she dreaded whatever her mother was about to say.
"Do what you want to her. My only request is that you send the footage to Jin Otome. Just make sure its cruel enough to drive him crazy" Ryoba commanded with a smile that would send shivers down a tyrants back. Those words sent a sickening feeling down Ayano's throat. The man in white grinned widely "We will indeed. Enjoy your evening" They spoke as the scene faded into the blackness.
The next scene before them saw the living Sonoko bent over and tied to a pipe facing the wall. She was dressed in only her undergarments. As a group of laughing men entered the room, Ayano turned to the dead Sonoko.
"No…" Ayano denied frantically, her stomach doing flips as the laughter got louder, she grabbed and shook the dead Sonoko "No! NO! She wouldn't do this! She couldn't have!" She screamed desperately as she could hear belts being unbuckled and the living Sonoko desperately pleading.
Ayano turned away from the scene.
The dead Sonoko appeared in front of her "She did…" As if on cue, a high pitched scream invaded Ayano's ears. Tears streamed down her face non-stop as she tried to comprehend what she was hearing. "NO! This can't be what she meant! It can't all. NO! Stop it! Stop it please!" Ayano screeched desperately while the sounds of the background went on. .
The screaming went on for what felt like an eternality, every now and again she heard the sound of burning on the girl's skin.
Finally, it stopped. But not until the sounds of a girl's neck breaking from strangulation could be heard. Ayano felt the sweat drip off her, what had she done? Her own mother! She had condemned a girl to this fate willingly! How could she live with no ounce of guilt?
"You are… not all her. Are you?" The dead Sonoko talked plainly. The tearful, sickened Ayano peered up at the spirit. The scene had faded to a countryside field. The grass under her was a bright purple with a blood red sky.
"I sense… my lovely Jokichi… in you. You would… not have spared those… girls if you… were all Aishi" She shook her head and knelt down to Ayano, who's skin now held the same colouration as curdled milk. Sonoko brushed away Ayano's tears
"Please… Remember this. For us… I'm sorry that… I had to show you..." Sonoko pleaded.
Ayano nodded, unable to speak.
She awoke at once and ran to the toilet just before puking up everything in her stomach. The next morning. Her father had gone to work early, leaving her with her mother. Ryoba sensed something was wrong immediately. "What's the matter sweetie? Why don't you tell me what's going on with you at the moment? Are you feeling unwell?"
She shook her head, only murmuring one word. "Sonoko" Ryoba had dropped the vase she was polishing upon hearing that. "Where did you hear that name sweetie?"
Ayano spoke up again "I dreamt of a warehouse. A girl with purple hair. She said her name was Sonoko and that you led her to her death…" That was about as much as she could get out without tearing up. Ryoba, oddly, looked down towards the ground. "So the dead do speak" she ground out
"I held a… vicious streak. Someone always getting in the way of your father and I. By the time she came along, I was fed up and tired of it all. A man in trench coat had been stalking me, stalking your father. I had befriended her but, she let slip what the man in the trench coat suspected of me and how she was placed into Akademi to test me."
Ryoba sighed "Perhaps, I was a little evil with the way I got rid of her. I don't know the exact details but.. I know the journalist threw everything at me in a desperate attempt to show my nature. Of course, he came off as desperate and unhinged." She giggled. Ayano remained silent until she left to go to Akademi.
Osana had approached Hanako in the morning.
"I don't understand what you hope to gain by trying to harm Ayano but you'd better knock it off!"
"Osana? What do you mean?" Hanako trying to act innocently "I didn't do anything"
"Are you kidding me? I'm not stupid Hanako! I saw you enter my classroom and exit five minutes later. That day, Ayano found all those peanuts in her bento. I can't believe how malicious you've turned out to be! You should apologise to her!"
Hanako's eyes darkened.
"It's all your fault. If you hadn't been seduced by the first guy what showed you attention apart from Taro, I wouldn't be in this position in the first place. I'm doing what's right!"
Osana became redder in the face than her friendship bracelet. Her eye twitching as she had to prevent herself from slapping the girl before her "Don't you dare speak of my boyfriend like that! You have no idea of how much he has helped me! You know what, don't bother talking to me again until you clean up your act!"
The auburn haired girl stormed off as Hanako watched hopelessly "Osana wait! I didn't mean it!" She yelled but Osana didn't look back.
She was losing control. All because of some sultry thing by the name of Ayano Aishi, everyone just seemed to love her so much that her usual tactics had all backfired. She peered over as one of the delinquents, the one in the purple top, came over the hill and she walked over to him. Unbeknownst to her, Midori had spotted the interaction and started to film…
Midori felt sick to her stomach with what she had just heard. Running as fast as she could, she burst into Mrs Kinahito's office in a flurry.
"Midori Greenu? What could be the matter to warrant bursting into my office like this?" Saki said nothing as she handed over her phone and played the video. By the end of it, Genka was seething. She took a very deep breath "I will speak with her as class starts."
Saki trembled as she left. God help Hanako Yamada when Mrs Kinahito got her hands on her...
Class had started when Ayano was suddenly called to the headmasters office.
Whatever it was, she knew something was serious but couldn't think of what could warrant this level of action from the reclusive headmaster. The double doors opened to Ryoba, Jokichi and Itsumi sat on opposite chairs, Saki and Genka stood by the headmaster and Taro with Hanako clinging onto him. "Have I done something wrong?"
"Oh no." Genka spoke softly "We need to show you all something that Miss Greenu took eariler…"
The phone was placed onto the table and a video began to play.
* Hanako and the deliquent talk.*
"I need some help"
"Get lost girlie"
"I'll pay you, my family is rich"
The delinquent chuckles "How much you willing to offer?"
"I'll pay you 50,000 yen to scare Ayano Aishi out of dating my brother. Any means necessary."
"Huh, seriously? Are that desperate? Get lost"
"If you rape her, I'll pay double. Each you rape her I'll double it"
"Are you mad?! Screw this, I'm outta here!" *
The gasps could be heard from the classrooms next to the office…
Hanako now realised she was in real trouble judging by the look on her face. Taro threw her off his arm in vehement disgust, he was shaking in incandescent rage "What was that?!" He spoke though it sounded more like a growl.
Ayano had purely gone into shock. 'What? How?' Taro ran to her and held onto her tightly. The noise in the room seemed to vanish as everything started to slow down, she could see Itsumi going mental at Hanako while Jokichi tightly held onto Ryoba's arm in an effort to make sure the girl didn't perish in the office.
The phantom of Sonoko appeared behind the headmaster. She looked alive this time.
"I'm sorry" She spoke before vanishing into thin air.
Genka's voice brought order back to the chaos before her.
"That's it. I have never heard of someone doing something of this heinousness in the school! What were you thinking? That he would get away with it? He clearly had the sense to see the madness in you and I see it too."
Ayano could have sworn that a vein on Genka's forehead was ready to pop. The headmaster did nothing to step in. Genka's fists clenching as she brought down the final nail in the coffin "I have spoke with the headmaster and he agrees that with something of this magnitude, the only solution I have to hand is to permanently expel you!"