Disclaimer: I don't own jack!
Suggested Listening: More Than Fate by Eye Empire
Contradiction
He scanned the images over and over again. Endeavor watched as Kagome slouched forward. She gripped her shoulder and hurriedly made her way into a back alley just off screen.
His fingers twitched.
This was why he hadn't wanted her in the public eye. There'd been too many incidences of her getting injured by regular citizens during the first few patrols he'd put her on.
He hadn't been willing to risk it. Not when she could help boost Shouto's own abilities.
The girl would've been a perfect partner for him. Her quirk was well suited to supporting Shouto and he knew that the two at least got along well. He'd tried securing an engagement but Kagome had declined his offer. She still remained under his tutelage at his agency but he could still recall her words that day.
You need to support your son, not dictate to him. Shouto has his own will.
His brows dipped into a scowl.
Since then her words kept circling around in his head. Shouto had his own will. It was so simple but the notion had never stuck with him before. At least not until that moment.
"You said there was a second tape?" Endeavor refocused his attention on the task at hand. It was evident that the girl's shoulder likely had been dislocated from the attack. She would've been injured and unable to fight off someone with malicious intentions. Conversely, if they offered her help then she wouldn't have denied them either.
This next tape would reveal their perpetrator.
He just knew it.
The officer nodded, "Yes. We believe that this shows the moment Higurashi may have met her kidnapper."
Endeavor glared at the image on screen. The setting changed to a separate view from the previous clip. It looked like it was filmed from the back side of the building instead. They couldn't see what was happening in the alleyway but Kagome came back into view. This time a male was beside her. He had his arm draped over her shoulders and it looked as if he were guiding her movements.
His gaze narrowed.
"Her shoulder isn't injured anymore." This man, did he have some kind of quirk that allowed him to heal injuries?
"That was the first thing we noticed as well." The officer slid several photos towards him. "We also managed to narrow down the list of possible suspects with this video. Currently, we believe that the young head of the Shie Hassaikai, Chisaki Kai, might be responsible for her kidnapping. For now he seems to be going by the alias Overhaul after his quirk."
He looked over them. It was hard to tell with the giant plague mask covering his face in the ID photo, but there were too many similarities in his build and visible features for it to be a coincidence.
Endeavor took to his feet, "Then get your warrant. I'm not letting this bastard keep the girl any longer."
He stormed out of the station. His fingers curled into a tight fist.
He was a hero, wasn't he?
He would not fail in this mission.
Kagome felt her heart twist within her chest painfully.
"Eri?" She approached the child cautiously.
As soon as the door opened terror had filled the girl's face. It was so overwhelming that the only thing she could think was how best to comfort her.
"Do you remember me?" Kagome sank into a spot next to her.
Eri nodded once, "I'm… sorry." The pain in her voice caused Kagome's heart to twist a second time. "It's my fault that you're here. Because I ran away."
The young woman enveloped her in her arms, "No little one. That's not your fault. Who told you that?"
Had Chisaki said that to her?
Had he been filling this child's head with shame and guilt?
A visceral rage cut through her.
She couldn't accept that!
Captive or not, she wouldn't allow him to treat the girl poorly.
Eri clamped her jaw into a tight line. The girl shook her head and lowered her gaze to the ground.
She wasn't going to tell her. Either out of fear or distrust, she wasn't willing to talk yet.
Kagome closed her eyes.
"Hey, do you still have that crystal I gave you?" It wasn't much but maybe she could do something to lift her spirits. Having a child completely locked away in an underground facility was going to have severe effects on their psyche. Eri needed to be interacting with children her own age. Being here was only going to put her behind her peers in her social development.
The child nodded once, "They let me keep it. They said that because it was expensive that I couldn't play with it though." A tiny finger pointed towards the far corner of the room.
She followed the path of where she was gesturing.
Perched against the wall was a small glass cabinet. It was only a couple of feet high and had two shelves in which items could be displayed. At the center of the upper shelf rested the camellia crystal she'd created.
Kagome sighed, "That idiot."
She'd talk to Chisaki later about keeping Eri from her figurine. She didn't know how effective it'd be but doing something was better than doing nothing at all.
The young woman splayed her palms, "Alright then, let's play a little game. I'm going to make a few shards and your job is to put them together. It'll be just like a puzzle."
Eri blinked, "What's… a puzzle?"
She felt her heart drop.
No, there was just no way Chisaki had kept this child that isolated. That couldn't be right… could it?
A sinking feeling settled into the pit of her stomach.
She fought down the disturbing feelings coiling within her chest. She'd talk to Chisaki later. Right now there was a child who desperately needed her help.
Kagome flashed her a wide smile, "Well you're in for a real treat!" She allowed the first set of crystals to form in the palm of her hand. "Puzzles are a type of game. The goal is to solve a problem. Here, we just have a bunch of shards right?"
Eri glanced over the oddly shaped pieces and nodded once more.
"But look what happens when we put them together the right way." Kagome shifted the pieces and began to press them in upon themselves.
Eri watched with wide eyes as the shards began to emanate and pulse in response.
"They're glowing!" A tiny hand fell over her own.
"That's right. When the shards are put together they'll sometimes fuse." She uncurled her fingers to reveal a tiny, cartoon-shaped unicorn.
The girl picked it up from her palm, "What does fuse mean?"
"It means when something becomes bonded to another. Like these shards." Kagome sat back and allowed her to play with it. "Here, did you want to try it on your own this time?"
She splayed her palms up towards the ceiling.
"Okay," Eri reached for the crystals that appeared. The girl began to gather them together. Her fingers could barely fit over the shards. The glass-like surfaces clinked together as she began to cup them within her palms. Eri shifted the little objects and lined them side by side. The child gave a sharp gasp of surprise as they grew warm. A faint glow emanated from the shards—displaying a coral-colored light upon the girl's face. Kagome felt her smile soften. She watched as the shards began to form together one after another. Eri rolled them within her palms in amazement.
Kagome grinned, "There you go! You've almost got it!"
This child would need as much support as she could get.
She didn't know what all Chisaki had put her through, but Kagome knew that she couldn't let this go on. For Eri's sake she would find a way to save her.
She was a hero, wasn't she?
This was her true calling.
Chisaki observed their interactions carefully.
He hadn't noticed it before but Kagome was quite adept at handling Eri. The child was engaged and seemed more alert than she'd been in days. This was a good start. If they could keep Eri satisfied then she'd be less likely to run away.
Granted Kagome herself had appeared horrified at the girl's state. If anything, she was going to become combative tonight. This was going to be the true test of his ability to convince her. To persuade her to his cause without the need for excessive force. He'd rather have her as a willing participant. He just needed to convince her that this was for Eri's benefit as well.
Chisaki watched as Kagome kept the child entertained.
"Sir, is this alright?" Kurono came up behind him.
He didn't spare his colleague a glance, "It's fine. She's making our jobs easier." At least when it came to Eri, she was. Kagome herself might prove to be a more difficult obstacle in the future.
He turned his attention away from the girls, "Do you have what I asked for?"
Kurono nodded, "I do. It's just a preliminary antidote we created from the first set of blood samples we drew from her. We'll need more time before we can come up with anything truly effective yet." The man reached into the pocket of his coat and withdrew a glass vial. A scarlet serum reflected within its transparent container.
Chisaki quickly took it from his hands, "That was much faster than I expected. We'll hold off on doing any sort of trial runs with it yet." He glanced up at Kagome's softened expression. "We'll need to make sure that this won't have any lasting effects before we use it."
They couldn't risk damaging her ability to use Crystallize. They needed her quirk to succeed.
Kurono glanced between them cautiously, "Do you think we can neutralize Black Abyss without harming her quirk genes? We've never tried to find tune Rewind this much." His colleague's tone grew serious, "There's still a lot we don't know."
Chisaki stepped towards the door that led to Eri's observation room, "We need Kagome to be able to use Crystallize at its maximum potential." He gripped the handle between his fingers, "Creating an antidote is the first step. After that we'll find a way to safely eliminate the source of Black Abyss within her." He gestured towards his neck. "Shinigami used to wear a brace as a child. I believe that the organ responsible for creating the miasma might be located near the thyroid. We'll need to get a scan to be sure."
Kurono offered a short bow in return, "I'll arrange it as quickly as I can. Do you still wish for us to proceed with the quirk erasing bullets?"
Chisaki fell silent for a moment.
Making the bullets would drive an even greater rift between them. Perhaps they could switch gears temporarily to allow time for Kagome to adjust.
"We'll put a hold on that for the moment." Golden eyes reflected against the glass pane of the door. "If we're successful then we'll be able to move into a much larger facility by the end of the month." His gaze focused on the reassuring smile painted upon the young woman's lips. "We'll use Crystallize to finance our research. Then when we have more supplies, we'll be able to continue the bullets with ease."
He began to slide the door back, "You just focus on Black Abyss. That's the greatest threat to our progress."
His eyes narrowed.
Shinigami.
How long would it take for him to find them?
He was certain they'd find out sooner rather than later.
His hands twitched at his sides.
"Give me an answer," He stepped forward, curling his fingers around the bulging neck of the male scurrying away from him. "I won't repeat myself again."
"Shi-Shinigami!" A violent shiver wracked the man's body. "I don't know! I don't anything about the girl! Last I heard Shigaraki planned on going after her again once the investigation died down." The male waved his hands frantically. "I don't know anything else!"
He sighed through his nose.
Another dead end, except there was one detail he managed to grasp this time. The League didn't appear to be involved directly with his daughter's disappearance. If anything, they seemed more furious that they had not been the ones to take her. As per their decision to destroy the shrine.
His fingers gave another hard twitch at that thought.
The memories he shared with Momo there were gone.
The only place he'd ever considered his home had been reduced to ash. Even if the League hadn't taken Kagome, the shrine's destruction was reason enough for him to get involved. He wouldn't allow such a thing to go unpunished.
"Useless." A cloud of black surrounded his form. He shivered and gnashed his teeth together.
He hated using his quirk. It took entirely too much effort to control. Not to mention the side effects of its extended use. The fevers were the worst. They could hit suddenly and effect his ability to think clearly during a fight. Not to mention his senses becoming much duller than they normally would be in that state.
He sucked a breath through his nose.
"You're working hard." A familiar voice intoned from behind him.
He glanced over his shoulder.
"What do you want, Hawks? I'm busy." Azure eyes narrowed at the hero.
The young man cast him an unconcerned smile, "I came here with some good news." Hawks stepped towards him. "So if you mind letting that guy go, I can tell you."
He stopped, "What kind of 'good news'? The last time you told me something was good, it'd nearly cost me an arm."
Hawks gave a good-natured laugh, "It wasn't that bad. I did warn you that, that guy was going to have a pretty nasty quirk up his sleeve. You decided not to listen to my warning."
He stood to his full height, "You best count yourself lucky." He lowered his mouth next to his captive's ear. "Feel free to go back to that little League of yours and let them know that I'm still going to get my revenge. Shigaraki especially so." He released the man. In an instant his captive had scrambled onto his feet. He scurried away without so much as a peep. The stench of sweat and blood left with him.
Turning his attention to the other male, he threw him a sharp glare.
"Now, finish what you were saying. What did you find out?"
Hawks wouldn't have approached him unless it was important. He wasn't the sort of man who'd risk an impromptu meet up like this. The hero did things at his own pace but he was smart. Their very connection was based solely on the man's intelligence and due diligence.
The blond tucked his hands into his pockets, "I got a call from Sir Nighteye earlier. Apparently they have reason to believe that the Shie Hassaikai was the one responsible for your daughter's abduction." His eyes narrowed sharply. "We don't have all the details yet but Sir seems to be under the impression that they took her as a way to fund their operation. Her shards haven't shown up on the black market yet, so I've been tasked with keeping an eye out." He paused for a moment, "Seiichi," The man referred to his real name. "I shouldn't have to tell you how dangerous this is for her right now. After a bit of research it's easy to tell that her ability to control that quirk is unstable. If she's unable to maintain its usual function then she could be in some serious trouble. Overhaul isn't the sort of man who grants mercy to others."
Seiichi gnashed his teeth together, "I know that!"
He already knew that much about the man. He'd never met him directly but he'd had enough connections to know the truth.
Overhaul.
A man born from despair.
A monster driven by his desire to raise the yakuza out of its abysmal state.
If Kagome was truly under his thumb within that organization then there was a real threat to her safety—both physical and emotional.
His shoulders stiffened at the thought.
"What do we know?"
Hawks lips curved upwards into a smirk, "I knew you'd ask that."
He'd do whatever it took to save his daughter.
Kagome was the only family he had left in this world. She was his child. The only proof of his connection to Higurashi Momo—the woman who'd saved him from his overflowing hatred.
If saving his child meant he had to become a monster once more then so be it. Her life was worth more than any other that crossed his path.
That was his only duty.
As her father, he would see her home safely.
Nothing else mattered.
Bakugou glowered up at the building before them.
This wasn't right.
None of this felt right.
They were missing one person. They couldn't sit here and act like everything was completely normal. Not while she was being held captive the gods only knew where.
His mind went back to the day Tsukauchi had appeared on his doorstep. He kept thinking about it over and over again. Was he right to hand the shard over to them? Should he have kept it for himself? So that when the time came, he could've found her on his own?
Bakugou shook the thought from his mind.
No, he couldn't think about it like that.
Kagome was more important than his sense of pride. If they could save her first then he would put his trust in them, but if they failed then he would take matters into his own hands.
"Kacchan…" Midoriya reached out towards him.
Bakugou glanced up. His brows furrowed and his lips thinned at the other teen.
He knew what he wanted to say. He knew it so well that it just pissed him off even more.
"Don't bother," Bakugou turned his shoulder to him. "I already know what I have to do."
Midoriya shot him a concerned glance, "But Kacchan…"
They both froze as the rest of the students began to gather around them. Their expressions were mixture of worry and fear.
"Deku," Uraraka stepped forward. She curled a hand towards her chest, "Is it true? Is Higurashi actually…"
He knew what she was trying to ask.
Did Kagome choose to become a villain?
He gritted his teeth together.
It was all bullshit!
"Listen up you damn idiots!" Bakugou squared his shoulders. "Whatever you think about her, whatever you fuckin' heard, you know damn well that she would never choose to be one of those bastards." Scarlet eyes narrowed at his classmates.
They were all so damn blind.
They were all so damn focused on the shit everyone else was saying. Did they not see what was right in front of them? Was it so difficult for them to understand that Kagome never betrayed them?
She was a victim who desperately needed their help.
Even now she was probably curled up hoping for the slightest chance that they'd rush to her rescue.
His hand tightened into a fist at the thought.
She'd always been a tough opponent but she wasn't infallible. She needed them now more than ever. She needed their support.
"She's innocent and you all damn well know that." He wouldn't hear them say otherwise. If her own friends began to see her as something other than what she was, then he'd just have to fix it. He'd teach them the truth no matter what it cost him.
His brows furrowed, "You suggest that she became a villain again and I'll kill you."
An overwhelming silence filled the atmosphere. It was heavy and nearly brought him to his knees. Still, Bakugou stood tall. He would fight anyone that indicated that Kagome was fault.
She was a naïve girl who'd gotten caught up in something far bigger than herself.
She was just a stupid kid who'd had too much faith in strangers. A faith that her grandfather had foolishly instilled in her.
So he would fight.
For her sake, for her future, he would make sure that she had a place still left for her. That she would have somewhere to call home—somewhere that she could feel supported.
The world had already turned against her. She didn't need them to do the same. Not ever.
Kirishima clapped a hand to his shoulder, "We've got your back." His friend flashed him a confident smile. "After all, Higurashi busted her ass to save us back at the summer camp. Who knows what would've happened if she hadn't fought that patchwork guy to a stalemate."
His lip dipped at the memory of the other man.
Dabi
That name still gave him a cold feeling every time he thought about it.
The man possessed a power that he couldn't measure up against yet.
His fingers flexed.
Even when they did bring Kagome back, he would be their next true opponent. Something had happened between those two during their fight. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but there seemed to be a level of respect that they shared for one another. He'd seen it in their fight in Kamino Ward.
Bakugou snorted through his nose, "This is the only warning you'll get. Say she became a villain again and I won't show you any mercy."
Kirishima's grip tightened in solidarity. The man wouldn't say it so aggressively, but it was clear that he agreed with him. That was one thing he respected about his friend.
"Kacchan is right," Midoriya intervened. "Higurashi isn't the sort of person who'd just join a villain group. Plus I believe that the League of Villains burned the shrine as a warning." Emerald eyes narrowed sharply. "They know someone else has her and they were issuing a declaration of war."
His fingers flexed.
He already knew who was issuing that declaration as well.
The azure flames were proof enough.
Todoroki spoke up, "I agree with him." His mismatched eyes surveyed the students that surrounded them. "I wasn't all that close with her but I know that she wouldn't do something like this. She fought hard every day to separate herself from her father's legacy of death. She's had to try harder than most to prove herself." He clenched his fist. "Whoever took her made a mistake. If they think that they can break her spirit then they're dead wrong. That's one thing I do know. She will bide her time and then strike when they least expect it. That's how she's always been."
Bakugou clenched his jaw.
That was right.
Whenever they were in battle, Kagome's spirit was at its strongest. It was an indomitable part of herself that had never been crushed. Not by Dabi. Not by society. Not by the bastard who took her.
"We'll save her and bring her home." Midoriya clenched his fist. "We can't call ourselves heroes until we do that much."
That was the one thing they could agree on.
Everything else aside, they knew the truth about Kagome and the struggle she was facing right now. She needed them. So just this once he would swallow his pride and work with the people he hated the most.
Bakugou lifted his chin, "We'll fight."
Todoroki continued, "Until she's safe again."
This was the one thing they would compromise on.
Chisaki observed in silence as Kagome stormed past him into the quarters he'd provided to her. He knew what was to come. He knew exactly how she'd react. The woman was predictable to a certain degree.
"I want an explanation Chisaki!" She rounded on him. A wave of fury rolled off of her shoulders as she prodded at his chest with her index finger. "Don't feed me some bullshit excuse about this just being part of the training. That girl is traumatized! What in the world have you been doing to her?!"
Her righteous fury was an interesting change from her typical submissive behavior. It was intriguing.
He took her wrists within his hands calmly, "I explained it once before. Eri is incapable of controlling her quirk." Golden eyes narrowed at the sharp clenching of her delicate jaw. "Rewind only affects living people. When its power spirals out of control there is a great risk of someone being rewound out of existence."
Kagome roughly shoved her palms against his chest to force more space between them, "So what then? You just let that girl fall into a pit of despair and refuse to train her yourself?"
He steeled his tone. He knew that she would put up a fight. He knew that she would lash out against him for such a crime. So long as he could help it, Kagome would never discover the true depths of the experiments that were being performed on Eri. They would have no hope of peacefully coercing her into helping them if she ever found the truth for herself.
His fingers twitched at the thought.
He had to act swiftly.
"I have tried, Kagome. My methods of instruction are not sufficient to train her. She needs someone capable of empathizing with her." Chisaki tilted his head towards her cautiously. He couldn't forget that this woman was dangerous. Her submissive disposition may not be an act, but she wasn't without her own sense of power. She fought Dabi to a standstill. If she had the ability to hold her own against a man as powerful as him, then she could do some serious harm if she were truly incensed.
He needed her cooperation.
Chisaki stepped forward. Her back pressed against the wall behind them. Delicate brows furrowed into a steep glare. Azure eyes flicked to life as her body went stiff. She was on the verge of attacking. He could feel it in the coiling of her muscles. He could sense it in the tightening of her fists. He could hear it in the gnashing of her teeth. In that moment she reminded him of a furious feline. Bristled fur, narrowed-slits for eyes and the impending feeling of danger right before the strike.
He pressed onward in his explanation, "To prevent the worst case scenario I've had to use my quirk. It is an unfortunate circumstance that, that is the only way that I can stop Eri once her power goes out of control." Kagome thrashed against his hold. She shoved at his chest but he held firm. He had to do this. He had to convince her. "That is why we need you. We need a humane method of handling her."
Chisaki knew only a few things about human attachments. Relationships were not something he often thought about. Even then he never truly understood the reason why someone would put themselves at the behest of their spouse. Be it husband or wife, the notion was not one he welcomed. Still, he knew that he had to appeal that instinctual nature Kagome held. He had to draw her to him emotionally. He had to make her see him as someone capable of providing her and Eri both with the support they would need.
His real plan could not be revealed.
This strategy would only work if she believed him.
"Do you understand?" He slid his thumb from the point of her wrists towards the inside of her palms in an intimate gesture. They'd already shared physical intimacy but they had not yet sealed their relationship as anything other than captor and captive. He had to change that.
Kagome started to go lax within his grip. Her eyes bore into his for a long moment. Confusion, fury and determination flickered in that azure gaze. Then she lowered her arms.
"No, I don't Chisaki. I don't understand you using Overhaul on that little girl." She held his gaze firmly. "I don't agree with you. I don't agree with what you're doing to that child." The young woman wrenched herself from his grasp. "But I will help. Not because you asked me, but because Eri needs me."
Kagome squared her shoulders, "This is my only compromise." She curled her fingers in towards her palm. "You need my quirk more than you're letting on. You need its financing and its power boosting abilities."
The muscle in his jaw twitched at that.
"I will personally oversee Eri's development from this point forward. You will not deny me access to her so long as I'm handling her training." Kagome pushed forward, "Secondly, you will not use your quirk on her unless absolutely necessary. It's hurting that poor child. So if you want to ensure my peaceful cooperation you'll do as I request." He felt her hand encircle his own.
Chisaki stiffened as hard crystal shards formed over his fingers and palm.
"Violate these conditions and I will destroy everything."
She wasn't just threatening to fight him. She was threatening to destroy his ability to use his own quirk.
His gaze hardened, "I will grant you those conditions but make no mistake." He flexed his fingers. The shards that encased them burst apart in a splintering of glass and crystal. "You will not get the best of me."
This was the true testament to the girl's courage and tenacity. This was what enabled her to fight so many villains and succeed. It wasn't just her quirk. It wasn't just her technical skills or her raw power. It was her determination to see a goal through to its end. Even though she was still questioning her place in society, she still had enough will power to stare him down in this situation and threaten him.
He could respect that aspect of her personality.
Chisaki turned on the ball of his heel, "Rest for tonight. Starting tomorrow you will officially take over Eri's care."
He clenched his fist.
He would not let her win.
Golden eyes narrowed into thin slits.
This would be his victory.
Kagome glowered at the retreating form of Chisaki's back.
Something was terribly wrong.
Eri's self-deprecating words. Chisaki's reluctance to tell her the true scope of his plans. The very fact that he stole her from the shrine in the first place.
None of these were adding up.
He hadn't convinced her.
Not in the least.
Still, she couldn't just give that away. She'd let him think that he'd persuaded her. She'd let him believe that she was some naïve fool.
That was her only option for the moment.
Chisaki wasn't going to let his guard down around her that easily anymore. He would play things cautiously. Which meant that she would have to reestablish trust with him. The only difference was now she'd be in direct control over what was happening to Eri. If she could use herself as a wedge between the two, then maybe she could find a way to help the child escape.
Her eyes hardened, "So what are my options?"
It was hard to say what could distract a man like Chisaki from his goals. What could she possibly provide him that would occupy his time enough for their escape? She wanted to ensure Eri's safety firsthand. She couldn't trust anyone with her. Especially other members of the Shie Hassaikai.
Kagome scratched at her chin thoughtfully, "I need some kind of clue." The young woman paused. Her eyes drifted towards the full sized mirror that hung on the furthest most wall. In the harsh fluorescent lighting she could still spy the faint bruises he'd left upon her neck.
She pressed her palm over it.
That moment had been one of pure desperation. She'd wanted to earn his trust no matter the cost. She'd wanted to get him to let down his guard. It'd not only worked but it seemed to have sparked an instinctual reaction in him.
Kagome dropped her hand to her side.
There was a flicker of that same excitement in his gaze earlier too—right before she threatened him.
The young woman pursed her lips into a thin line.
That was it, wasn't it?
The one thing that would get him to shift focus. The one thing that would enable her to facilitate Eri's escape.
A hard knot formed in the pit of her stomach.
Desire. Fear. Guilt.
They all crashed and collided against each other within her chest.
Why are you fighting so hard for a society that spits on you?
At the time she hadn't really given much thought to those words. Yet now they seemed to circle in her head over and over again. That night kept flashing in her mind. She'd known what he meant back then. She'd known what he was really trying to ask her. Why, after all the vitriol and fury, was she willing to push herself so much? Why was she really so willing to fight? Especially for those that would rather see her dead.
Kagome flexed her fingers at the thought.
He'd called her an idiot for the answer she'd given him back then.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe she was an idiot, however she was a determined idiot and nothing was going to get in her way.
She slapped her palms to her cheeks, "I can do this!"
Her stomach gave another uncomfortable coil. Right now she had a child that needed her. Whatever she may be, she was determined to see to that girl's safe return to society.
This situation was nothing like that night.
She couldn't use raw force of will to power her way out of the Shie Hassaikai's compound with Eri. She would have to be subtle. She would have to use everything she had—including her body.
Her lips dipped downwards at the thought.
Kagome glanced at her splayed palms.
"I have to do this." She spoke the words to herself more than anything else. "I can do this."
Whatever Chisaki was, he was still a man first and foremost. He'd already displayed that he wasn't impervious to persuasion of the sexual kind.
This would take time, trust and a fine-tuned plan to enact. Still, it was better than anything else she could come up with.
Her gaze drifted towards her own reflection once more. A vague smile pulled at the corner of her lips.
If he was here right now, she knew he'd call her stupid.
This plan wasn't perfect. It was hardly even thought through. Chisaki might have already assumed she'd think of something like this. Yet this was the best she could come up with.
Fighting wasn't going to be enough.
If it were Chisaki alone then she would've already taken him on. No, she had at least eight others here who were extremely powerful. Nine against one was not a gamble she wanted to take. Especially with Eri depending on her.
This was her fault. She'd been so damn stupid to put her faith in Chisaki. She shouldn't have ever trusted him. Yet the second someone had shown her a vague glimmer of kindness, she'd instantly dropped her guard.
She'd been so stupid.
Kagome's smile waned, "I really am an idiot, aren't I Dabi?"