Amira was silent as she left Saruhiko Fushimi and Hikaru Okamihime where they had stood, wanting to give them some privacy.
She had restrained Isuke Inukai with a pair of plastic handcuffs after making sure that she had no other weapons that she could use once she regained consciousness, and Scepter 4 would bring her in; since the Black Class had been established by Meichi Yuri, Koshi Mizuchi's sister who was also connected to the Gold Clan, Scepter 4 would also be involved.
The bright lights from the trucks and helicopters belonging to the Blue Clan was a sharp contrast to the shadows of the building where another battle had been fought by the two individuals who were now in each other's arms, and Amira had to blink to adjust her eyes to the difference.
Scepter 4 wasn't the only clan present in tonight's drama; thanks to Anna Kushina's involvement in the drama, HOMRA was also now on high alert, and because the somewhat speechless little girl refused to leave without seeing her friend, they'd had no choice but to also come to the construction site where another pair of teenage assassins were present.
The Blue King, Reisi Munakata, was standing at a discreet distance to give his men space to move around as they set about sealing off the area, and entering the skeletal structure of steel and concrete she had just exited. He was speaking with the Red King, Mikoto Suoh who looked bored and lethargic, and both men seemed to be trading barbs rather than conversing.
Movement to her left caught her attention, and she turned to see two of the Scepter 4 paramedics carrying a stretcher that had Mahiru / Shinya Banba on it. She was still unconscious from the punch Saruhiko Fushimi had given her, and as it drew level with Amira, she stopped their progress to check on the girl with a split personality. Despite Mahiru / Shinya Banba being one of the assassins chosen by the Gold Clan to be part of her class, Amira couldn't help but feel pity for the scarred girl, because she had learned at a young age that people don't develop split personalities for fun; they do it when they are unable to cope with the emotional and mental trauma of events that are forced on them, and Mahiru Banba was no exception.
Mahiru Banba was born to a gambler father, and an alcoholic, drug addicted mother, both who had mistreated and abused her for as long as she was with them. When she was seven years old, her parents had gone into debt, and sold her to the Gold Clan as a result. They spent the money they had received on their vices until three months later, their sins caught up with them: Mahiru's father was killed by a fellow gambler who had caught him cheating at the table, while her mother had overdosed on the heroin she had become addicted to, and died with a needle in her arm.
But their daughter had been removed from one hell to be moved to another.
The man who had paid her parents was a member of Koshi Mizuchi's team, a pedophile who also indulged in photography, and he picked Mahiru as his latest victim. His " treatments " of what he claimed were her bursts of emotional outrage were far from healing, because they were a means for him to indulge in his perverted passions. He would take Mahiru to his " office " among the lowest levels of the Nanakamado facility which he had also converted into a photo studio, locking the iron door, hence, preventing the little girl from escaping. There, in his lair, while his photo studio lights were on, he would molest and torture little Mahiru, delighting in her terror and pain as he photographed her; he was also fond of using camera flashes as he committed the despicable acts, even photographing the girl as she tried futilely to escape, and called for help.
To him, Mahiru was the most beautiful when she was terrified, and in pain.
He continued his perverted passions with her for seven years until the day that Amira had brought the Nanakamado facility down with her weather manipulation abilities.
On that day, Mahiru had finally snapped, giving birth to her other personality, Shinya, who engaged her pedophile captor in a fight that left a scar on the left side of her face. In retaliation for all the years of abuse she had suffered – physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually, " Shinya " had tortured her former captor by tying him to a metal chair with wires from the lights he was very fond of using before castrating him, and gagging him with his genitals, followed by a plastic covering over his head which would slowly suffocate him. She then poured water around the chair where she had bound him as he struggled to breathe, before taking one of the studio lights he was always used while tormenting her, and dropped it – facedown – into the little puddle that surrounded the metal chair he was bound to while it was still plugged, shattering the bulb. The effect was that it had electrocuted him before his clothes caught fire, thanks to the material being made of velvet that he so vainly wore; she had also doused him with rubbing alcohol that sped up the immolation process. Just as his muffled cries died down, the building shook, and the former captive knew that she was free. Taking the keys to the room where he had tortured her for seven long years from his desk, she unlocked the door, and escaped through the fire exit.
However, it wasn't easy to escape the memories.
As a result of all the years of sexual abuse and torture she had endured, Mahiru Banba and her other personality, Shinya – who emerged only when in a dark area, or when the sun set – were afraid of bright lights.
It was a fear that would follow them for a long time to come…
" Will she be alright? " Amira asked as she touched the other girl's hand before pulling up the sheet that had slipped so that she was decently covered.
" We'll know once we get to the hospital, " the man in front answered, somewhat unnerved by the young girl's appearance. He had been one of those who had witnessed the fight between her and Otoya Mizuchi, and he still had a rough time wrapping his head around the fact that Amira Arashikage was a seasoned killer in addition to being a powerful Strain.
Amira nodded, glancing at the unconscious girl before allowing them to load her into the ambulance before the doors closed behind them.
Maybe now, Mahiru and Shinya would finally be free.
Ryuho Kamo draped a blanket over Amira Arashikage's frail shoulders, obviously startling the girl who had seemed to space out after watching Mahiru Banba being loaded into the ambulance that would take her to the hospital.
" Uh… Thank you, " she said softly, pulling the blanket around her as the wind picked up, bringing a chill with it. She looked up at him, noting that he was almost as tall as Munakata, his long hair partially tied in a bun, and allowed him to guide her to one of the vehicles where she sat on the stairs, heaving a tired sigh.
Kamo had read the file on the young Strain, and her history, and had been affected like the father that he was. Witnessing her mother's death in a bloody fight, and then waking up to find that her father had left her alone, before he eventually died in her arms was a burden that he doubted that even an adult could endure; the fact that she had experienced all that pain at such a young age while keeping her head up, and defiantly meeting the challenges that came her way revealed exactly how strong she was because she refused to give up, but at the same time, Kamo couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart for the girl who had lost her childhood in such a brutal way.
As he stood back to allow Anna Kushina to approach Amira Arashikage, he watched with an aching heart as the two Strains embraced each other, before the older girl lifted HOMRA's little princess onto her lap, enfolding her in her blanket. The black haired girl's expression was no longer cold and aloof, but warm, and loving as she allowed the little albino to wrap her arms around her neck, and hug her even tighter.
They really love each other.
" Are you alright, sweetie? " Amira asked as she brushed back a strand of hair from Anna's face, and kissed her softly on the forehead.
The little girl merely nodded, but never spoke.
" Quite an eventful evening you've had, Arashikage-kun. "
Amira looked up at the sound of the Blue King's voice as the man who had given her the blanket saluted, and moved to one side to allow his Captain to speak with her. She was about to rise at his approach, but he motioned for her to remain seated as he came to stand in front of her. Anna had settled quite comfortably on her lap, and held onto her arms as she wrapped them more securely around the little girl. " Not exactly how I wanted a Friday night to end, Captain, " she answered ironically. " But at least those three are out of the equation. "
The Blue King's expression was grim. " Kamo-kun, " he addressed the man who had given her the blanket. " When Fushimi-kun and Hikaru Okamihime emerge, tell them that I wish to speak to them in private. "
This time, Munakata thought as his eyes held those of the little mermaid he had almost lost tonight. I will be the one to protect you; I was not able to protect you from Otoya Mizuchi, but this time, I will fulfill my promise.
I will not let them take you away from me.
It had been a tense confrontation between himself and the disgraced Gold King this morning when the latter had surprised everyone on the base by personally coming to Scepter 4, and demanding that Amira Arashikage be arrested for the Nanakamado Incident.
" The girl is a dangerous Strain who must be kept under lock and key! " Daikaku Kokujoji argued after being received in the Blue King's office. " I want her arrested, and handed over to us so that she will not cause any more damage! "
Munakata answered his visitor's demand with a cold smile, showing that he was unaffected by his presence. " If fighting for your right to live is a crime, and Amira Arashikage is a heartless murderer, " he countered. " What do you have to say about the crimes perpetrated by your clansmen that had gone unpunished for years? Is it even true that you were unaware of their actions – those of Koshi Mizuchi, and his men in particular? "
The old man had tried to gain the upper hand in the argument through intimidation, and releasing his power, only to be countered by the younger man's aura.
If the Second King thought that the Fourth King was a weakling who would submit to his will because he was the owner of the Dresden Slates, he was sorely mistaken.
" Amira Arashikage is a victim of your clan, " the Blue King's eyes were almost grey were with anger as he faced the Gold King. " And she has every right to refuse your demands – whether to allow herself to be arrested, or to join your clan; she is a woman of her own mind, and under the protection of Scepter 4. "
With those words, Munakata rose from behind his desk. " She is one of my clansmen, and I will not hand her over to you – or anyone else. "
She felt herself becoming lost in those beautiful violet eyes, and wanted to kill herself right then.
What right do I have to be this close to him and Anna after what they've seen me do? she wondered. What right do I have to even see them…?
She was startled out of her thoughts by Anna moving out from her embrace and ran to the Red King who had stopped at some distance from them. Munakata turned slightly, aware of his rival's presence, his grim expression never changing. " Follow me, " he ordered as he moved past her and into the truck where she was sitting.
She could feel the tension in the air. " Understood, Captain, " she answered softly.
That was all she could say.
She could have kicked herself for not realizing that she had been led to this particular truck because it belonged to him, and as she followed him, she glanced at her little girl who watched her as she held onto her King's hand.
Oh, Anna, she thought. Why don't you say anything?
He closed the door behind her, and moved towards his seat, wanting to see her alone. She had been somewhat off when he'd approached her, the detached, yet uncertain look in her eyes troubling him.
She stood quietly in her blanket, her eyes taking in the details of the interior of the vehicle before she turned to him. " It's bigger than it looks from outside, " she commented.
He had to smile at her observation. " You may be seated, Arashikage-kun, " he pointed out as he sat down. " We have much to discuss. "
" This means that you'll be returning to Scepter 4 Headquarters probably by the wee hours of the morning, " Amira sighed. " I seem to be causing you a lot of trouble; I'm sorry for that. "
She looked so exhausted and forlorn that he found himself reluctant to break the grim news to her, but he knew that he had to. " The important thing is that you, Anna Kushina, Hikaru Okamihime, and Fushimi-kun are alright; we have also managed to apprehend two of the three assassins trying to murder you in the process, while the tird one has been adequately dealt with, so I would say that this evening's drama was quite productive; if you had not killed Otoya Mizuchi when you did, she might have eventually found a way to escape, and come back for you. "
His indirect mention of the time made her glance at the digital clock on his desk, and she was surprised to see that it was almost 10pm. Damn, she thought. I didn't notice the time.
" Meichi Yuri will be arrested, and the Black Class dissolved, " the Blue King revealed. " His Excellency also wishes for you to be arrested since he has labeled you a murderer for the Nanakamado incident, however, I had already anticipated his intentions. "
Amira scoffed. " His Excellency has got a lot of nerve calling me that when his own men were committing atrocities right under his nose; whether or not he was aware of their actions, that doesn't excuse the Gold Clan of their own crimes. "
Good Lord, he thought, smiling helplessly. You are quite stubborn…
" Why do I get the feeling that that's only the beginning? " she asked solemnly, her eyes sad. " You wouldn't have asked to speak with me – or Hikaru and Fushimi-san in private if it wasn't serious. "
" It is more serious than it appears, " Munakata admitted. " Do you remember the night I made you that offer to join my clan? "
" Are you withdrawing it? " Amira asked, trying not to panic. " I wouldn't be surprised if you did, considering the situation, and who you'll be up against if you don't. "
The Blue King's eyes changed from a tranquil to steely violet in less time than it took her to blink, and she wondered if he was going to strike her. " Never have I withdrawn my offer to those I wish to join my clan, " he answered in a low, yet hard tone as he rose to his feet. " And I am not about to start that practice now – especially not now. We will arrest Meichi Yuri within the hour, however, your classmates are another matter. "
" Not all of them are heartless killers, " Amira pointed out. " What will happen to them? "
" Isuke Inukai will be arrested, of course, " Munakata answered, folding his arms as he sat on the edge of his desk. " Mahiru Banba, however… "
" I did my own research into her history, " Amira said. " She was abused since childhood, and needs help. "
She was still concerned for one of her classmates despite the danger that she had been in, he noticed. She may be skilled in taking a life, however, it weighs on her.
" Your other classmates will be scattered, " Munakata told her gently. " Those who wish to continue their schooling will be transferred to different sections of the school, provided that they do not cause any more bloodshed, and they will be under observation. I have also made arrangements for you and Okamihime-kun to be given your graduation diplomas early – they are already in my office – so that you may start at Scepter 4 on Monday. "
She stared at him, stunned. " What is it you're not telling me? " she asked softly.
Munakata stood, and offered her his hand. For a moment, she stared at that hand, not sure if she should take it or not.
She wanted to take his hand, and yet, she knew that she had no right to do so…
" If you think that you have no right to touch anyone due to the blood you have shed, " he told her gently. " Let me tell you something: there is a different between a murderer and a fighter. Murderers kill with no remorse, enjoying the death they spread, the despair that comes with it, the pain of the victims and the ones who are left behind. A fighter refuses to bow down, and will fight to the end… while keeping their humanity about them. "
She watched him, afraid to speak lest she break down in tears and make a fool of herself.
" You are the latter, " he said softly as he bent down and took both her hands in his before pulling her to her feet, and wrapping his arms around her. " And yet you are more: what I see is a young woman who is wired to protect others, who cares for the innocent, who values the lives of those around her. "
Munakata could feel her heart racing, her warmth as he held her in his arms…
He lifted a hand and brushed a strand of hair from her face, looking deeply into her eyes. " And yet… I find myself being selfish because I do not want you to go to anyone else… Because I want to keep you to myself…."