Between the lines "Mukuro Ikusaba"
Mukuro Ikusaba and Junko Enoshima were orphans since a young age. They were even homeless at some point.
As time passed, she gained a particular interest in the military and warfare. There was a certain occasion when a survival game tournament was celebrated in her elementary school, were she achieved a flawless victory. Time later, she began writing articles for military magazines.
They were adopted by a pretty good family, who were caring and loving. She was grateful, not only because thanks to this, she wouldn't need to take care of Junko, who seemed happy with her foster parents, but because of this, she would launch to search for her dream.
Fenrir. An elite mercenary group based out of the Middle East, a fierce group of soldiers who engaged in direct combat. She sneaked out a day when her parents and Junko went out.
When she found them, they laughed really hard. Really hard. It took some time but when they saw her proficient skill with a knife, they decided to at least see if she is Fenrir material.
It was then when her training started. Close quarter combat, firearms training, and tactical insight were the things Fenrir taught her, in which, she showed high proficient and natural talent. They were astounded when she went the first time in battlefield and came completely unscratched.
She had to harm and kill people, but those were the concepts people normally associated when someone hears military warfare. She did too and didn't mind. It was her choice.
It was because of that, that she was rather surprised. When the Hope's Peak admission letter was sended to her years later.
She was choose, naturally, as the Ultimate Soldier.
Whether accepting it or decline, was all thrown to the window when she saw the forum where information about Hope's Peak academy were posted.
"Junko!" She saw the entry of her little sister, Junko Enoshima as the Ultimate Fashionista. Her sister made herself a modeling career. It wasn't so surprising, Mukuro already knew the beauty that her sister had.
She accepted the recommendation letter. She was going to see her sister again…
But…
What would she think of her?
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Ultimate Despair.
She was perplexed and dumbfounded by her sister's plan. Even more bewildered when she heard her reasons:
"Because Despair is awesome!"
She…she was confused. The plan that her sister formulated was going to take millions of lives. The action of taking a life wasn't unknown to her in the heat of battle but…killing all this people because of a whim?
"So you are going to abandon me again, Mukuro-nee?" She looked depressed and had mushrooms growing from her head.
She…was at loss. Even with all her eccentricities and blatant disregard for human life…she was still her sister. Her sister.
The one she abandoned to fulfill her own selfish desires. She was regretful about her decisions.
She took a decision.
She wasn't going to abandon her, not again.
After all, she was the one who understood her the most.
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She already accustomed to the antics of her class.
Oowada and Ishimaru's constant fighting and Fujisaki's tries to mediate between them. Kuwata trying to hit on Maizono, only to get rejected. Celes commanding his servant Hifumi to make her royal tea. Sakura and Oogami's friendship and the latter's wrath if someone harmed her. Hagakure and his stupid's stunts that generally got him in trouble. Togami's attempts to brush off Fukawa and Kirigiri's silent but warm demeanor…
And Makoto Naegi's ahoge.
He was just an ordinary boy with an ordinary face. He was short to someone of his age and had a (to the eye) scrawny complexion. The talent of Ultimate luck suited him, his only redeemable quality was that no matter what happened, he always had a smile on his face and his eyes always had a glint of hope.
Junko despised that. She started rambling about 'how she would like to kill the little maggot and erase his shit eating smile filled with that disgusting hope'. Mukuro didn't understand why her sister hated Naegi so much. She thought he was a nice and honest person, and she never gave thought on another person who wasn't her or her sister.
He always talked to her about variety of topics, mostly of her interests. When she asked him why he would talk about war, looking obviously uncomfortable with the subject, he answered:
"Ikusaba always looks inexpressive, but the truth is that you haven't socialize in a while, right?" He hit a nail in there.
She hasn't talk to anyone in a normal basis. The only thing she did in her time in Fenrir was relaying orders or giving them herself. Still didn't explain why he would talk about a touchy subject (at least to him) with her. For the matter, why would he talk to her?
"Why I'm talking with you? Well, why not? You are my classmate, Ikusaba. I like talking with you!"
W...What?
It's true that her answers were always short and blunt but his smile never even twitched or faltered. He talked her like it was a normal thing. Does he really enjoy talking with her?
Ikusaba felt a strange pang on her heart.
She started to look at Naegi more often, looking forward to talk with him. Her sister also noted it and teased her to no end.
But she also cruelly reminded her of the plan, in which Naegi was going to participate.
She couldn't do nothing to prevent it. For some reason, she was for this.
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The preparations for the prototype of the future mutual killing of Hope's Peak academy were done.
Junk managed to found the most important and well-guarded secret of Hope's Peak academy…that is the Ultimate Hope and the first 'artificial' person in the world, Izuru Kamakura.
Junko was ecstatically when she saw her plans came to realization. A big smile appeared on her spotless face as she was commanding the start of the Mutual Killing Game.
Only to be stopped…by him.
Makoto Naegi.
She was shocked when she saw him went into the room. Junko was too, only to dismiss him in the last second, saying that Kamakura will take care of him.
Ikusaba felt the need to stop her…but she couldn't.
Because she didn't know why she would stop her.
Is it because of Naegi? He is…was just a distraction. Only to pass time.
She was ripped off her thoughts when she heard the disbelieving screaming of Junko.
She directed her look to the screen.
And she was slack jawed. The screen was displaying a fight between Kamakura and Naegi.
And Naegi was winning!
A hit of Kamakura would at least send you to the hospital for one week. Naegi seemed to know this and was dodging and parrying all the punches and kicks that Kamakura was sending him.
A hit to the nape of Kamakura signaled the end of the fight.
"What the fuck!? How…How did that happen?! How that shrimp beat Kamakura!?"
She shared the thoughts of her sister. How and when Naegi learned to fight?
She felt confused. Naegi stopped the Mutual Killing game from happening. But there will be riots. What was the staff doing? Who was the longhaired kid that was (apparently) going to kill everyone? Those kind of questions were going to root in people's minds.
The other thing she felt, unknown to her, was relieve. That Naegi was Okay.
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His intervention or as her sister says, 'meddling', didn't stop there.
He convinced Monaca Towa to cease the production of Monokumas and her connection to Ultimate despair. How did he did it?
His next move was to track the members of Ultimate despair. Not to convict them or get rid of them, but to convince them.
Junko scoffed at this, saying that there is no way that they would listen to a hope' lover like him.
Ikusaba noted that Junko didn't insult Naegi this time.
It was then when he proved them wrong again. He managed to convince Nagito Komaeda, Hiyoko Saionji, Mahiru Koizumi, Ibuki Mioda, Souda Kazuichi, Teruteru Hanamura, Nekomaru Nidai, Gundham Tanaka and Sonia Nevermind.
She was impressed, if not, awed at Naegi's prowess. A small smile always made the way when she heard of him.
Although, because of this, their forces were halved. Junko was neither happy nor angry.
She was…excited? As time passed, the strange feeling that her sister gave to her was increasing.
It was…weird.
Every time that a topic about Naegi appeared on the conversation, a strange glint appeared on Junko's eyes. All of her plans had the secondary objective of capturing Naegi.
Keyword here captured, not killed. She thought it was because of some kind of torture that she had on mind.
She hoped.
Because if is what she think it is…
One day, she decided to ask her.
"Junko, I'm hope I am not being intrusive but…"
"Mukuro!" She yelled, enraged. She flinched and was waiting for a slap to come to her face, which didn't happen "You know how much I hate the word 'Hope'. Come on!"
Strange…she would have slapped her 2 or 3 times already…
"I'm sorry…" She gave herself the strength to say the dreaded question "Junko…are you…in love with Naegi?"
Junko, as always, would answer her question with affirmation, which it would be a lie and then mock at her for being stupid or stuff.
*THUD*
She looked at her sister, who had an emotionless expression on her face.
"In Love…?" she whispered "with…Naegi?!" she yelped.
What?
"What do you mean by love, Mukuro-nee?! Do you mean as if I want to fuck him or something?" She asked with her cutely personae.
"N-No." She answered hesitantly. This wasn't normal. She would be already on the floor laughing at the notion and throwing demeaning insults to her. "I mean…"
"Reformulate you question, Young lady." She had her analyzer persona "the term 'Love' can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment. It can also be a virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection—"the unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another". It may also describe compassionate and affectionate actions towards other humans, one's self or animals." She finished her explanation about love. "Now…does anything like that remotely happen between him and me?"
Why does it sound so familiar?
Mukuro decided to change her approach.
She sighed "Junko…why did you make the Makoto plushie?"
"To stab him and as a stress reliever!" she said, with a cheerful smile.
"Why did you have a picture of him on the wall of your room?"
"Didn't see the darts stuck on it?" she retorted. Yes she noted it. She also noted the stack of pictures she has on her drawer…
"Why did you bugged his room and his family's house?" She had the slight suspicion that it wasn't only to get information.
"I need to know about him. The files told me absolutely nothing about him! What made him in the annoyance that is today!" She yelled. "…It doesn't matter because he found out and removed the wires." She whispered depressed, barely audible to a normal person but not for the high senses of the Ultimate soldier.
She decided to end this conversation. She was going to get nothing worthwhile and didn't want to trigger her sister's wrath. But she now knew that Junko definitely formed some kind of attachment.
She treats him differently from the rest. She never insults his persona and is plans lengths to meet him on the school time.
She wasn't sure how she felt about this.
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It was the day. The Mutual Killing game was going to begin. She captured all the students of the 78th course of Hope's Peak academy…but failed to find the headmaster, Jin Kirigiri.
Following the trail of evidence, she arrived to the trash room, where it wasn't Jin Kirigiri, would be ex-Headmaster, who was waiting for her...
But…
"Hello, Ikusaba."
"Naegi…" It was the brown haired kid, his ahoge standing as always.
"So…it is really happening?" He asked to no one in particular. "Where are the others?"
"…their memories were wiped and were deposited on their assigned start point…" She then directed her gun at Naegi. She knew what he was capable of do…well, she didn't knew.
No one knew, even Junko. He always brought the unexpected outcome of situations. "Where is the headmaster?"
"…" he was silent…and he was still smiling, even in this situation. "Let's get this done." He said.
I readied my stance and waited. He just calmly walked at me as if he was walking in a park "Don't you have a job to do?" he asked calmly.
"U-Uh?" he was extending both of his hands, waiting to be handcuffed.
"The fastest the better." He said. "You wouldn't like your sister to be mad at you." He gave me a troubled smile.
I handcuffed him and directed him to the headmaster office's, now the lair of Junko, were she could monitor everything that happened in the academy (except for the bathrooms, Mukuro begged her to not do it).
"She is waiting for you…" I said offhandedly, while pointing the gun to his back.
"I see…so this is the end." He mumbled, his face looking ahead.
"It is." The mutual Killing game will begin. The Hope of all mankind is going to kill itself…and the worlds hope will die.
"For Ultimate Despair, it is." What?!
"…Are you planning something?" He was calm, even relaxed. He was waiting for me to pick him up…
"Maybe." He said, absentmindedly. "Ikusaba, do you know despair?"
"Of course." She saw it in the soldiers' looks back in the battlefield.
"Do you understand it?" He asked. I felt a heavy atmosphere fall upon us.
"I…" Do I understand what despair is?
I never gave much thought to its meaning. If Junko wanted it, it didn't matter for me. If it was for her sake, I was ready to give it to her.
"I don't" I answered honestly "bit if it's for Junko's sake, I will bring it."
"Yeah" he smiled at me "I know what your answer would be." He then turned her head.
"Do you hate me?" She asked to him. She was feeling sad at the prospect of Naegi hating her…but she asked for it. It was better this way…
"Not in the slightest. Why would I hate a person who loves her sister so dearly that she would go lengths to ensure her safety and happiness?" She widened her eyes. She was flabbergasted.
He still smiled at her the same way when he talked to her in the classroom. His friendly smile that didn't show any hidden feelings.
"I don't think you are evil, Ikusaba. Nor your sister. You are just doing what a sister should do and Enoshima Is just misguided."
Misguided? Her sister? "What are you talking about?"
"Enoshima wants to spread despair, for the sake of it, but also, she doesn't dirt her hands. She always command or manipulate other in doing the deeds. You know why?"
Of course. Junko just doesn't like to do the grunt job. That's why I am here for.
"She often manipulated people into doing bad things instead of directly doing them herself, and then had a habit of blaming these manipulated people and claiming it wasn't her fault, as a part of proving her point that despair exists in everyone and that hope will naturally lose to that despair."
"Above all, Enoshima is deeply obsessed with despair, having found despair to be the most (and possibly the only) enjoyable emotion for her, whether it be the inflicting of despair unto others, or suffering from despair wholeheartedly."
…W-what?
"The whole point of this, she wants to show the world that despair exists in all people's hearts. She thinks that things like Happiness, friendship and Hope will naturally crumble against Despair. I don't really know why, or how she is like this…but I can't tolerate it."
"That's why you go lengths to stop Ultimate despair?"
"It's not just that. I want to show something to her…and you."
"Me?"
"Hope is a real thing, not a fantasy. As despair is in people's hearts, Hope is also as well there. I will show her that despair is not the only emotion enjoyable." He said. "And also, it kind of annoying." I hear him mumbling.
"Annoying?"
"I was in ugly situations since my childhood. People either tried to rob me or kill me. Was present in Catastrophic accidents, accidentally being shipped to foreign countries, the list is endless. They were bad itself, but I never gave up hope. So yeah, the whole foundation of her organization is spitting in my beliefs. Hope is real for me and it exists. Sometimes is there and sometimes you need to drag it outside. But is not a fairy tale. Humanity has been far ahead because of it. I will show you what Hope is."
They arrived. "It was nice to talk you, Ikusaba. See you around!" He waved both of his hands and entered the room.
Mukuro understood why her sister was, for a lack of a better word, obsessed with Naegi.
He was the same as her.
While her sister wants to spread Despair over all the world and show that despair looms in people's hearts, Naegi wants to prove that Hope is also there, to give Humans belief and strength.
But at the same time, they are completely different.
Junko has no disregard for human life. Not even her own underlines. Using her analyzing skills, she could bend the will of anyone and use their own weakness against them, that's how she got her army of despair. She prefers to watch rather than participate herself, but if the situation calls it, she will step in.
On the other end of the spectrum, Naegi holds any life dearly and he believes in People's inner strength and beliefs. Already shown when he decided to convince Monaca and the (now) Remnants of despair instead of arresting them. He goes lengths to ensure a stranger's wellbeing, no matter how hard it is. He can draw 'Hope' from people's hearts.
Despair and Hope.
The two of them are alike, but act differently.
It struck then…
Mukuro wasn't the person who understood Junko the most.
Maybe it's because of that…Junko was attached to him…
She saw him as an equal. He understands her. That's why he was able to hinder her plans all this time.
They were equals.
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Extra:
"Sis, have you seen the Makoto plushie?" Junko, who was looking below her bed, asked her sister.
"No. didn't you destroyed it?" She asked her sister, who came out from below the bed.
"Maybe you are right, I don't remember where I left it...Oh, well, I will have to make another one!" she went out of the room.
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Ikusaba went to her room and locked the door. She was sleepy and tired. She changed into her pajamas and she lied down on her fluffy bed.
…she took the thing that was hiding under the pillow. She looked at all the sides of the room, searching for possible intruders…
When she saw no one, she took the thing that was hide behind her pillow…
"!" she widened her eyes "It's soft…" She then fell asleep, hugging the Makoto plushie to her side.