I don't know who my parents are, my last name or my name. My real name? I never knew.
'Seven' was given by my brother. I figured my mother gave my real name since every time I ask him about it, he always mutters: 'Because that good-for-nothing slut gave you that name.' And he is obviously angry with her. I gave up asking him my real name but whenever I ask if his is genuine, he will just smile.
I know it is hard for an 8 year old to act strong for a 5-year-old kid while staying in the streets. In the morning, Kenji nii-san always volunteers in any small jobs to get money since he believes in living honestly. The money he earns is used for food and the extra is for savings. In the evening, we stay in an old building and if ever the place became a gang's hideout, we move out. Even with this kind of life, I enjoyed it. Nii-san would sometimes teach me to draw and he always pick up worn out text books just to explain to me the contents. This kind of lifestyle continued for months until that couple found us.
After asking our names they immediately 'adopted' us.
Kenji nii-san was brought into a white facility while I was transported in a house. As a gullible child I believed them that my brother have an infectious disease and is required to be isolated. The only reason I was able to visit him once every week is because of Shingen. At that time, he is a 'doctor' in that facility. Every time I secretly visit, Shingen will be guarding the door while I excitedly tell him my time in school. Kenji nii-san always listen to my story and sometimes he even narrate his happy day with the other patients. Of course I believed him.
After a year, I started to question my foster parents because when I tell other people about Kenji nii-san, they always scold me not to call my father, brother. They do have the same name but others won't believe me, as if the only people who knows he existed are my foster parents, the staff in the facility and me. It wasn't that long when I was able to sneak in the facility without the help of Shingen and the times that I was able to visit him, multiplied. Sometimes I let the doctor know but mostly no. That year passed with me thinking my brother is happy.
Then…
Everything I believed shattered that night.
The next year, the day of Nii-san's 10th birthday. I didn't tell the weird doctor that I'll visit my brother since I wanted to surprise him. As I walk quietly in the hallway, I can't help but notice the unusual quietness of the place. Upon arriving at his room, I peeked inside first and surprised not to see him inside. I closed the door. I continued walking in the hallway, my intuition started to tell me to enter the room in the end which I followed out of curiosity. I slightly opened the door.
"This will be the last for today, Kenji-kun" I heard Shingen say. My heart beat faster since the first thing that came in my mind is his 'illness'.
I hastily opened the door.
My eye widened at the scene. Nii-san is curled trying his best not to scream in pain, people in white is circled around him. I looked around the room, other scared people stared at me with bloodshot eyes, different kinds of apparatuses are present. I saw Shingen look away. My eyes returned to my brother then to the syringe a man is holding. I tackled the man to the ground, grabbed the knife I saw and ran towards Nii-san to protect him.
"WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?!" I shouted. My hands started to tremble as I point the knife at them. My brother's eyes opened slightly.
"Stop it Sev, I'm fine" he was able to say. I glanced at him to ask if he can run but before I could open my mouth to speak, something hit me in the neck and I lost consciousness.
When I woke up, I'm back at my room. An unfamiliar man is sitting on a chair near the door. He smiled at me as I sat up.
That is the first time I saw Yodogiri Jinnai. He only came there to threaten me if I told others about what I saw he'll kill my brother.
After that meeting, I wasn't able to visit Kenji nii-san again. I know something is wrong with me, I started to do things that freak out others and sometimes they question my humanity. I didn't mind them. A week passed and I'm still trying to contact Shingen but I always fail.
The couple 'adopted' us came home 5 hours early one night, rather than arriving at 2 am. My paranoia led me to eavesdrop in their conversation in the kitchen.
"It's going smoothly but why?" my 'father' asked sounding frustrated.
"His body can't take the drug so he broke" my 'mother' said.
"Who broke?" I asked from the door. I started to crazily tremble again. The man with the same name with my brother grabbed my hair and dragged me nearer to their spot. "Who broke?!" I shouted trying my best to ignore the pain and the swelling tears.
"You already know the answer, my dear" the woman told me. I struggled hard until the man let go and I pushed him with all my might. He stumbled back hitting his head in the process. The woman rushed by his side while I hurriedly ran outside, bumping on different kinds of furniture on the way because of my teary eyes. I plan to tell the police but even before I can reach the door, strong hands grabbed me and dragged me back to the living room. The man was able to wake up to drag me back and his wife watched him as he throw me on the wall. Not knowing what to do, I broke the vase beside me and rushed towards the man. The woman screamed.
I fell on my knees as I assessed the scene in front of me. I was sitting on a puddle of blood. I just stabbed two people to death. I stabbed them multiple times. Tears continuously flowed in my eyes and my gaze turned to a stunned man in white coat near the door. Shingen kneeled in front of me and explained everything. That they chose to get us because my brother have the same name with him and used me as a cover to show that they are normal citizens. That the drugs they are injecting in Kenji nii-san are viruses and they try to make an antidote. That the stories of my brother are all lies so that I won't worry. That they just used us.
I was unresponsive. I just stared at Shingen but I understood all the things he said. I watched him fake a ransom note and carried me inside his car before driving far away. Far away.
Ikebukuro. The city where Shingen's family lived. He changed my name and didn't allow me to go out for months until my 'missing' case has gone cold. During those months, Celty is always my companion and I was able to meet Shizu-nii since he sometimes drop by. Shingen then enrolled me to a different school but even so I was still able to hang out with Shizu-nii, then I met Kasuka. Now that I think about it, Kasuka is the one I want to thank the most. He always make that quiet remarks with that poker face which annoys me before, that expressions motivated me to do my best in every field just to beat him. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't know a lot but it still annoys me that the day before I left, I lost in our last fight. Even though I mostly lose at our fights. I remember Shizu-nii asking himself why he has insane strength when he was raised in a normal family but his brother have infinite hobbies and that is definitely not normal.
When Shingen decided to leave again, I decided to come. I wanted to know who's behind those human experiments and end it. I started to lose hope until that doctor dragged me to Italy and I was able to track them down. Then their target now is Celty. I don't want that to let that happen again. I won't let that happen again.
"The couple adopted us since my brother and him have the same name and they used me as a cover. I lived a happy life when he stayed in that facility. Then I found out. They threatened me. Then my brother died. When I found out, I killed my 'parents'. Shingen found me and hid me here in Ikebukuro. End of story." Seven said with the same tone Izaya used when he told her his story. She let the informant fill in the voids in her story.
"Don't you at least feel sad?" Izaya asked after a few minutes.
"If I keep on living in the past, I'll be filled with sadness and hatred. If I'll live in the future, I'll get scared. Living in the present gives me a contented feeling. To be able to protect them is fine. But there are times I can't help but think about the past" she answered.
"Why do you still use the name Kirigaya?"
"I only used the name Kirigaya when I introduce myself to people who I will end. Yours is an exemption, I used that name as a clue for you but i do use the name Kenji when i introduce myself to others"
"How about in the name Kirien? 'Kiri' is from Kirigaya and 'en' is from Seven"
"Since that day, I associate 'Kirigaya' and my name to death"
Seven looked at Izaya and inwardly smirked, she felt stupid for forgetting that incident. She finally remembered that the first time he saw him is when he went to the apartment to let Shinra treat his hand and Shizuo appeared carrying the door with him. She recalled that she's hiding in another room since Shinra told her not to get involved with Izaya but she quietly watched the scene from that room.
Izaya considered their conversation done and checked his phone which he turned off to avoid interruptions in their talk. He raised a brow when he noticed there are a lot of missed calls from a single person. He called that person back. Seven ignored Izaya when he stood up to distance himself and just continued to pick up the scattered handgun. She glanced at the direction of the troll to look at his expression. Instead of the usual smirk in his face she saw a serious one.
"Any news?" Seven asked upon seeing him put his phone down. He turned around and looked at the girl seriously.
"They got Celty."