Chapter Three

The words echoed in her head as she picked up the papers and other photos that had fluttered to the ground. Looking through them she felt a cold sweat break out, the were doctors reports of incidents that caused her siblings and their mother to end up in the ER. It was always swept under the rug due to their father's hero status.

Mixed in with those were also police reports, mostly having to do with the fact that the Flame Hero used excessive force when apprehending villains. But since they were villains he never really had any repercussions.

The taste of bile rose in her throat as she shakily gathered the papers, the photo on top, and stood to shove them in the draw of her desk. She couldn't breath, she needed to get out, to get some air and hopefully calm down.

Grabbing the forgotten bowl of cereal she dumped it in the sink as she made her way to her room to throw on day clothes. A pair of black leggings and an over-sized red knit sweater. It wasn't cold enough to need a jacket but there was enough of a chill in the air that a short sleeved shirt wouldn't offer much warmth.

Grabbing her purse she slid into a pair of ankle high boots bending down to secure them on her small feet. Task done she fished her keys out of her bag and left her small dingy one bedroom apartment. Locking the door behind her she began a brisk walk towards the nearby park. Being out in nature was calming to her, much better than the slums of the city she called home.

Though she was lucky to even have a roof over her head, she had to juggle two jobs in order to afford it. Add in the fact that she was trying to become a pro hero with no one backing her...she had very little free time so as she made her way towards the nearby park her mind was mentally making lists of everything she had to do before her next shift at work. As well as trying to ignore her mysterious package...

So caught up in her thoughts she didn't even see the tall dark man until she bumped into. Letting out a small squeak she jostled back, the only thing keeping her from falling was the ironclad grip that was on her forearm. Blinking she flushed in embarrassment and gazed up at the man she had run into.

He was tall, easily a foot taller than her, lanky, and a bit haggard looking. Everything about him screamed villain, his patch worked skin, his many piercings, and his dark apparel, yet she still offered him a genuine smile as he let her arm go once he was sure she was okay on her feet.

"Ah, I'm sorry I really should have been paying more attention." She tucked a piece of raven hair behind her ear, truly embarrassed she had practically run right into him. His deep blue eyes shone with amusement as his lips quirked in a small crooked smile, his piercings flashing in the light.

"S'ok just pay more attention kiddo." His voice was low and smooth as he put his hands in his pockets, his gaze not leaving hers.

Huffing at the term kiddo she merely nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that." Moving to walk around him she paused as he made a small noise. Turning back to him she arched an eyebrow at him, her gaze trailing over his from. Narrowing her eyes she noticed he seemed to shift his weight to rest mostly on his left leg...

"Um excuse me for being nosy but are you okay?" Most people wouldn't spare this man a second glance let alone ask him if he was okay but she wasn't most people. Besides what kind of a hero would she be if she didn't try to help everyone who needed help, not just those that looked the part of a good law abiding citizen?

He glanced at her, surprise onus face before it faded to amusement. "Are you always so friendly with strangers? It's not a very good habit to have in such an area. What if I was some big bad guy hmm?" She couldn't resist rolling her eyes as he tried to loom over her with an intimidating look.

"Even if you were a bad guy if you're hurt I would still try to help you. Your vocation whether it be hero or villain does not define you as a person. No matter what you are a living and breathing person, just like me. If it's within my power to help you then I should offer it. I don't get why everyone is always so hung up on labels. Honestly." She really didn't get it.

Heroes could be horrible people just look at her father.

So if that was true then could Villains not also be good guys? Everyone had their own reasons for what they did but at the end of the day they were all human.

She jumped at the sharp ark of laughter that fell from the taller man, her cheeks flushing as he laughed at her. He no doubt thought she was odd, she'd heard it so much growing up that she was used to it. She just really hated being laughed at to her face. So with a huff she turned on her heel to leave the rude man to his own amusement. She after all only had five hours until her next shift and she wanted to spend some time surrounded by nature.

Not tall jerks with mesmerizing eyes.

The man, seeing her intent to just leave turned on his heel and reached out to place a hand on her shoulder to gain her attention. "Ah, look sorry I wasn't laughing at you kiddo. It's just you have a very interesting view when it comes to the world." He didn't flinch as she glared up at him, a small coy smile on his lips as he watched her emotions flash through her eyes.

She had always been so expressive...

Letting out a huff she shrugged his hand off her shoulder but nodded believing his words. "Yeah, I get that alot. Anyways I really do have to get going, unless you actually do need my help Mr?" She paused waiting from him to either introduce himself or wave her off and be on his way. The choice was his to make.

"Ah, name's Dabi. What's yours kiddo?" She felt her eyebrow twitch at the nickname.

"Kagome, now did you need any help or can I be on my way? I really want to enjoy my time off before I have to go to work." A bit curt but she was high strung due to the mysterious letter and the ever present fact that no matter what she did she would never be able to get out from under her father's thumb.

Dabi shrugged his shoulders as he moved to keep walking in the direction he had been going before bumping into her. "Nope, but do be careful kiddo. It's pretty dangerous out here." He gave her a careless wave over his shoulder as he rounded the corner leaving a huffing Kagome in his wake.

Staring after the odd man known as Dabi she could only shake her head, the world was full of all kinds of people.