TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains scenes of sexual violence/attempted rape. If you are a minor, please don't read. For anyone who may be triggered, please feel free to skip this chapter. The rest of the chapters should still make sense even if you skip this one.
If you need support please consider checking out your local helpline or crisis centre, or consider talking to a trusted friend or family member.
Emi POV
I sat up in my bed with a start, heart pounding at the shrill sound of my phone's ringtone. I squinted through the dark in the general direction of my nightstand and patted my hand along the surface until I found my phone. With blurry eyes I found the 'accept call' button and hurriedly answered, wondering who could be calling at 4am.
"Hello?" I croaked into the phone, raising a hand to rub my eyes.
"Hey babe, it's me. Did I wake you up?" I heard Aiki's voice casually greet me through the phone.
What the fuck? It's been like two weeks since she ghosted me! Why is she calling me at this godforsaken hour?
"Oh, hi Aiki… Uh, yeah you woke me up, but that's okay. What's up? Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to discretely clear my throat. I laid back down holding the phone to my ear tiredly.
"Sorry babe, everything's fine, I just missed you! I'm walking home from the club right now and I'm pretty drunk, d'you mind staying on the phone 'til I get home?" she said animatedly, now audibly drunk.
"Um, yeah of course, no problem…" I responded, unsure what else to say, "Uh, so… it's been a while.. you didn't ever answer my last message…"
There was a pause on the other end and then, "Yeah, I'm really sorry… I think I just got scared because I really like you and I don't think I deserve to feel that…"
What? I thought confusedly. I wasn't sure if my brain was super groggy or if what she was saying just didn't make sense.
"Oh… honestly, I thought you weren't interested…" I said. I felt so out of my depth right now and I really wished this conversation wasn't happening at 4am.
"I know… What I did was pretty shitty… Hey, maybe we could meet up and talk about this in person! I'm near this park, I could send you the address and we could meet there?" she asked hopefully. The rustling sounds coming from her end of the call stopped, as if she'd stopped walking.
I held the phone away from my ear in disbelief then returned it to my ear, "Right now? It's pretty late… or pretty early I guess."
She sighed dejectedly, "Nevermind, I know it's late, I shouldn't have bothered you. I just…" Her voice seemed to waver and I felt my eyes widen. Was she crying?
"I-It's okay, just send me the location and I'll be right there, okay?" I hastened to reply. Even if I thought it was a bad idea and even if I was no longer very interested in pursuing any sort of romantic relationship with her, I couldn't just ignore someone who was alone, drunk, and crying in the middle of the night.
"O-okay, thank you Emi, see you soon!" she answered, before hanging up. A second later I got her text message with the name and location of the park, and was glad to see that it was only a 25 minute walk.
I quickly pulled on some jeans and a hoodie, not bothering with a bra, and pulled the hood up over my head. Pausing before my front door, I quickly sent off a message to both Haruhi and Honey to let them know where I was going just in case of an emergency (my mother had raised me to be cautious after all and I wasn't careless enough to run off into the night by myself without telling someone). Though I hoped I wouldn't wake them up either.
With that done, I stepped out into the slightly chilled night air, closing and locking my door behind me and gripping my keys in my hand. I walked briskly and tried to remain alert despite my fatigue, scanning my surroundings. Given the hour, I seemed to be the only one out and about.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I arrived at the park. I paused, shivering slightly as I took in the pathway surrounded by dark trees and dewy lawns. It was probably beautiful during the day, but right now it looked fairly menacing. Quickly checking my phone for the exact location, I groaned when I saw that my phone was nearly dead. I quickly put it back into my pocket without opening it, hoping to save the battery in case of an actual emergency.
I began walking through the small park, checking each bench I passed for Aiki, and trying not to let all the dark shadows spook me. After a few fruitless minutes, I decided to sit on a bench in the hopes that this would lessen the chances of us continuously missing each other.
Not three minutes after I had sat down, I saw a shadow approach and sat up straighter. I was about to call out to Aiki, when I realized the shadow was much too big to be her. My throat went dry as I saw another shadow step up alongside the first. As they got closer, I stood up, hoping I was just being paranoid again and that I could easily pass them to leave the park. Unfortunately, that was not to be.
"Look here Rick, there's a little bird all alone out here," leered the first man.
That was all it took for me to start running, trying to skirt around them. The universe must have had it out for me though, because I ended up slipping on the wet grass and sprawling across the ground. I tried to reach for my phone as I got to my knees. Of course, this gave the two men plenty of time to catch up to me. The second man, Rick, yanked me up by my arm, and immediately pinned my back to his front when I tried to pull my arm away. With my arms pinned to my sides, I tried to kick my leg back into his instead, yelling at him to leave me alone. He hissed and shook me, "Damnit Kuro would you help me out here?!"
The first man, Kuro, strolled over casually and looked me over as I struggled, "Please, let me go! I won't report you if you just let me go now!"
My head snapped back with the force of the blow I hadn't seen coming and the coppery taste coating my tongue told me my lip had probably been split. I shook my head as my ears rung.
"Shut the fuck up you little brat, you're gonna get us caught!" Kuro growled, punching me in the stomach for good measure.
Yeah! That's kind of the point! I thought hysterically.
I heaved, trying to catch my breath as I continued to struggle. But my efforts seemed to be wasted, being no more than a slight pain to these huge men. I felt a large hand slip under my hoodie and harshly grab at my breast, causing me to cry out in pain.
"NO! Stop it! Please!" I yelled out, thrashing in renewed desperation and feeling my feet make contact a few times.
With a pained grunt, Rick threw me to the side, where I collided with a tree and fell to the ground. "Kuro already told you to shut up, so why don't you do that huh?"
I struggled to sit up, slipping in the mud and scratching my hands on the tree roots as my head spun. I was pushed back roughly and felt a crushing weight straddle me. Through blurry eyes I could just barely make out Kuro sitting on top of me, grinning lewdly. I went to hit or punch him, anything, but found my hands pinned to the ground by Rick.
"Now the real fun starts sweetheart," he wetly whispered in my ear. I felt bile rise in my throat and tears sting my eyes as I realized that I wasn't escaping this situation.
I began to feel oddly floaty and detached as I felt a cool breeze run across my torso, and then my breasts being squeezed roughly. I felt something hot and wet latch onto the space between my neck and shoulder, and cried out in pain as a set of teeth sunk into my skin.
I felt something hard press into my stomach and I stiffened, before the floaty feeling tripled and left me in a hazy fog.
Then I realized they were gone. The weights on my wrists and waist were gone. I laid there in wonder as I heard thuds and pained yells coming from my right. I turned my head from my spot on the ground and saw a mass of writhing shadows. The next thing I knew, the mass of shadows had diminished to one small shadow, which began rushing toward me. I felt some fear rise up, but the fog swallowed it whole.
The shadow kneeled next to me, and blonde hair emerged from the darkness, along with big chocolate eyes that were filled with worry and fear.
The angel… why is he scared? Is it because of me?
"Emi-chan…" he whispered, reaching out. I flinched a bit, but relaxed as I felt the cool breeze vanish from my torso, replaced by the soft warm fabric of my hoodie.
"…Honey…" I said as the fog covering my mind lifted slightly. "What…," I shook my head, wincing as it throbbed, "Can we leave? Please?"
He nodded rapidly, eyes dark, "O-of course. Is it okay if I carry you? It'll be faster."
I nodded without hesitation. I knew I could trust the angel. He gently scooped me up and began briskly walking out of the park. In the street, filled with streetlights, his trusty limo waited. The driver was quick to hop out of his seat and open the back door, looking sad and a bit scared for some reason.
Honey carefully manoeuvred us into the limo, setting me on a seat and kneeling before me to buckle me in. His eyes travelled across my face and down to my hands, looking more serious than I had ever seen him before.
I kicked off my shoes and pulled my knees up to my chest, then noticed the mud, "Oh, but Honey, I'm getting your car muddy!"
He looked at me in disbelief, "Emi… that's not what matters right now! You were just-!"
I looked back at him blankly, still floating around in space, "Alright…Sorry…"
His eyes watered, "No, I'm sorry Emi-chan… I was just worried." He gently took my hands, peering at them with a frown, "I think we need to go to the hospital so you can get checked out. You're definitely scratched and bruised, and you might have a concussion, and… other injuries."
In a moment of total clarity, I shook my head vehemently, "No! I don't want to go to the hospital! They- they didn't… They didn't do more than what you saw so please, please don't make me go. Not today. Not yet. Please."
I looked into his eyes pleadingly, desperately. He must have seen how much I needed to be heard in that moment because after a slight hesitation, he caved. "Okay Emi, but will you at least let Kyoya check you for a concussion?"
Sensing that this would be the best compromise we would come to, I agreed, settling back into the fog soon after.
The limo began moving, I assumed in the direction of Honey's place, and I distantly listened as Honey spoke quietly into the phone. "Yes…two men…left them in the park…concussion?"
What felt like seconds later, Honey was gently guiding me out of the limo and into his suite where he turned on the lights and then rushed to dim them a bit when I winced. Then Kyoya arrived, carrying a large first aid kit, and kneeled in front of me where I sat at the kitchen table. He didn't seem quite himself. He was surprisingly gentle as he cleaned the scrapes on my hands and face, and flashed a light in my eyes.
"She doesn't seem to have a concussion," he said to Honey. "I believe her confusion and distant expression are more likely due to shock. She should drink some juice and rest. But…," he hesitated, before turning to me, "Emi, do you have any other injuries that we can't see right now?"
The fog was now rapidly retreating and I couldn't say I was happy about that fact. My stomach churned as I gripped the front of my hoodie, remembering the events of the night. I opened my mouth, then clamped it shut, shaking my head nervously.
Seeing that I didn't seem to be able to answer at the moment, Honey turned to the Shadow King turned nurse, and glared at the floor, hands clenching. "When I got to her, her hoodie was lifted up… It was too dark to see clearly but…I'm sure those disgusting parasites didn't just look," he ground out lowly.
Eyes dark, they both turned to me. I tried to steel my nerves, I really did. But as soon as I tried to explain what had happened, I felt my stomach rebel and I ran to the washroom instead. I slammed the door behind me and fell to my knees in front of the toilet, retching. When my stomach had expelled all it could, I flushed the toilet and rinsed my mouth, avoiding the mirror completely.
Sighing, I opened the washroom door, unsurprised to find them both standing in the hallway uncertainly. I really didn't want to tell them the specific details, and I definitely didn't want to show them, but there was one particular injury I felt probably did need some sort of treatment, so I hesitantly spoke up, "There is one thing… A-A bite… But I don't have a bra on… Do- Do you have a tank top or something?"
Silently, Honey slipped away and returned with a white ribbed tank top. I took it from him and glanced at Kyoya before glancing away. "Um, Kyoya, thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it. I know it's really early in the morning to deal with… all this. But, I think I might feel a bit more comfortable with just one person at a time… And technically Honey already saw…," I trailed off, wincing in shame at the mere thought of him finding me like that.
Kyoya nodded, not seeming at all offended thankfully, "Of course, I'll leave some instructions on how to care for bites and prevent infection."
He began walking away, then paused, "Emi… I'm very glad you're safe."
I swallowed thickly, feeling tears prick at my eyes as I watched him leave.
Me too… I can't even imagine-
I shook my head, cutting off that train of thought, and closed the bathroom door. I took a deep breath and pulled off my hoodie, gasping at the dark purple handprints that now adorned my chest. I stepped closer to the mirror, eyeing the bite mark that was still oozing a bit of blood and which was quickly purpling as well.
Just then I heard a knock on the door. "Emi-chan. Kyoya just had these clothes delivered for you, if you want to take a shower. There are extra towels under the sink, okay? I'll leave the bag outside the door and I'll be in the living room, so take your time."
I nearly cried again at the thoughtfulness of the two hosts. I quickly hopped in the shower and began rubbing at my skin with one of the washcloths I'd found with the towels, using the vanilla-scented body wash that must give Honey his signature scent. It was only the fact that Honey was waiting for me that prevented me from spending hours under the hot water, trying to wash away the memories of the night.
Once out of the shower, I dried off and I quickly yanked on Honey's tank top, which was fairly snug, just barely reaching my belly button, along with the black sweatpants Kyoya had ordered. On the bright side, the tightness of the top acted as a pretty good support for my boobs. On the other hand, the bruises on my chest were peeking out from the neckline and the bruises on my stomach were peeking out from the hemline.
I opened the door and walked to the living room, where I found Honey pacing back and forth in front of the coffee table. I looked down at the floor as I made my way to the sofa and sat down, clenching my hands together as I waited for him to come over.
I heard his footsteps approach and a quiet gasp, "Emi-chan…"
I looked up to see his eyes darting between the bruises and the bite mark, before settling on my face and his lips pulled up into a shaky smile, "I'm just going to treat the bite 'kay?"
At my nod, he sat next to me with the first aid kit, gently cleaning the wound with an alcohol wipe, applying an antibiotic cream, and covering it with a large bandage. Hesitantly, and giving me plenty of time to protest, he placed a feather-light kiss on the bandage, before moving back.
"Thank you Honey… for everything. I-," I paused, moving to pull on the zip-up hoodie Kyoya had provided, and immediately feeling more secure, more normal, with everything covered up, "Can I- can I have a hug?"
Chocolate eyes widened in surprise before he smiled and opened his arms wide, allowing me to make the first move. I scooched over and twisted to face him, one foot pulled up on the sofa and one on the floor. Shyly, I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him. I tensed and then relaxed as I felt his arms hold me gently but firmly.
"Thank you Honey," I whispered as he rubbed my back soothingly, "And I'm sorry for the trouble and for worrying you."
I felt him shake his head, silk-soft strands tickling my cheek, "It's not your fault Emi-chan! I'm just glad you messaged me before you left, otherwise…"
Otherwise, he might not have made it, and I might not have either…
I leaned back to look at him, "Um… what happened to those…"
Honey tilted his head, "Those bad guys?" He giggled innocently, though his eyes were dark, "Oh, they're in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital and officers from Kyoya's police force are waiting to take them into custody."
I stared at him, aghast, "The intensive care unit? You- You did that?"
He started to look concerned, "Yes, but I would never do that to anyone who didn't deserve it. Please don't be scared Emi-chan. I would never hurt you!"
I clutched at my stomach as I felt something bubbling up my throat and, unable to contain it, I burst into wild peals of laughter. Honey looked at me in complete bewilderment, likely fearing for my sanity.
"I-I'm sorry," I gasped out between giggles, "I-It's just that you were so worried about not being manly enough and… you just put two huge men in the ICU all by yourself like it was nothing! I mean I don't usually approve of violence but… they deserved it."
I sobered slightly, "And I could never be scared of you Honey, you are an angel after all." I winked, lips pulling up at our little inside joke.
He looked at me, then giggled, his eyes lightening. He saluted jokingly, "Your own personal angel at your service!"
"Well in that case…" I started, hesitating before I continued on, "Could you take me home? And… could you stay with me? Just for a bit? I know you're probably busy with the dojo and school and-"
"Of course Emi-chan!" he cut me off mid-ramble, beaming innocently "I'll stay as long as you want!"
In that moment, despite everything that had happened that night, I felt extremely lucky to have met and befriended Mitsukuni Haninozuka, the angelic sweets-loving ninja.
A/N: If you read the chapter and are now feeling triggered or upset, please remember that there are crisis centres and helplines that you can call or text. This is a 24-hour Crisis and Information Line you can call if you're in Canada: 1-877-392-7583
