Who is that girl I see...staring straight back at me?
She's derailed. She's told too many lies she can't keep up with. I don't know who she is anymore.
Did I even know her to begin with?
"You've been summoned by Lord Ieshige, my lady."
"And to what do I owe him the pleasure?"
"It is about your betrothal to Tsugaru Ronin."
"...I want nothing to do with that man."
"My lady...you haven't given him a chance. Let him prove himself to you."
"He already has, Asagiri..." My eyes eased into crescents, "He's a good man...kind, gentle, caring, loving, sensitive, empathetic...every good word you can think of."
"I don't understand, my lady. What's the problem then?"
"Me."
"...I'm sorry? What would be wrong with you, my lady? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Don't act as if you don't know, Asagiri. You know exactly what's wrong with me. Should he ever see that side of me, that unfeeling witch who conjures sorcery from her palms...he'll surely tell all courts of Edo, no trial will be given to a woman, and I'll surely be given an execution date."
"You think so negatively of yourself, my lady. Hasn't Lord Ieshige taught you how to retain your power?"
"He's also taught me how to make my presence null and void."
"Apologies for speaking out of line, but you shouldn't speak ill of his Lord. He's done and continues to do everything in his power to make sure you're safe. Please, recognize his efforts, my lady."
"Oh, I recognize...that he's trying to conceal my sorcery from the world by keeping her existence covered like the darkness of night."
She sighed in defeat, "Is there nothing I say please you, my lady?"
"Please me by answering my question honestly."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Do you think that Tsugaru Ro-...no, Jun Tsugaru knows of my sorcery?"
"Excuse me for countering this with another question, but what makes you think that, my lady?"
"Father intended for me to live the rest of my life consolidated in the palace walls. Suddenly, he comes across a man from the Tsugaru Clan who just so happens to be interested in the non-existent daughter from the Shimizu-Tokugawa Clan? Unfeasible."
"Now that you put it that way, I understand now. About your question..." She slid the last blade into my sensu, and moved her assassin eyes to my reflection in the mirror, "He sounds questionable now. Shall I kill him...Juri?"
I chuckled at her abrupt behavior change, "No, no...I'm curious now. I want to see what he wants and what he does. If he, too, has sorcery, I want his information on how he got it, if he knows where it came from, and how he uses it. However..."
The mirror cracked in front of me, splitting my image and black into purple hair into shards. My straight ankle-length hair raised around me and my normal brown eyes glowed an oceanic blue.
"Should he act irrationally and betray me, back me up...old friend."
"For some reason, I don't believe you."
"I'm not asking you to. You asked, I answered. Don't like it? Sounds like a personal problem."
"Hmm..." I could tell from his unwavering red eyes that he wasn't going to give up. "I'll ask again..."Is your past with that girl going to be a problem for us?"
"I don't think it will be," the lunatic answered. "I may or may not have had a little convo with the pretty girl at the License Exam."
"Toga, if you did anything aside from the mission you were given-"
"I only made small talk with Milah-chan," she pouted. "I wanted to get to know her, up close and personal! She didn't tell me anything about Dabi and her relationship, but the look in her eyes gave away everything! They're close. I do not doubt in my mind that this will work to our benefit. No love-stricken girl would deny helping her lover."
I glared at her as she smirked, "You fought her, didn't you?"
She nodded, "I'm not gonna deny it. She is strong and her Quirk is amazing...I can't kill her, but I want to become her. After all, my Izuku is in love with her...at impossible dangerous levels."
"...How so?" Shigaraki droned, looking back at her.
"I've only come into contact with Izuku three times...but I can tell he cares deeply for Milah-chan...perhaps to the point he'd do anything for her." She grinned, "Are we thinking the same thing?"
"If that's the case...do whatever it takes to get her here, Dabi. Charm her, lie to her, I don't care. That Izuku Midoriya has something our leader needs."
My eyes moved to the TV, broadcasting an image of Jameela Shimizu in hero costume and Kami in her U.A. uniform...before I burnt her hair.
["It's been a month since Kamilah Shimizu defended herself from her mother, Jameela Shimizu, also known as psychic hero: Kassandra, who trespassed into U.A. High School to abduct her daughter. As for Kassandra's injuries, that has yet to be explained. There's been a warrant put out for her arrest, but she is still currently under private hospitalization. The injuries to her eyes may put the psychic hero in early retirement. Her inquiry into the situation and other allegations against her will be used in court along with the Shimizu family. More on this at 6."]
"...How do you expect me to lure her in? I doubt she's still at that school. I'm willing to bet she also got herself injured fighting that old wench. She may be been taken away and is being hidden from public eye...meaning I won't see her until she's behind court doors."
"You were able to find her before...I think you'll be able to do it again," Shigaraki grumbled. "Two birds with one stone. Simple as that."
"...What does our leader want with the girl?"
"...I want her on our side for power. But I have no idea what he wants from her," Shigaraki admitted. "On the surface, she just looks like an distant teenage high school girl, but I can tell she's got more on her plate than what she allows others to see. If we-...if you can convince her to be on our side, we'd be unstoppable."
I stood up from the desk chair, "Consider it done," I sighed as I made my way over to the wooden door.
"By the way, Dabi..."
I looked over my left shoulder at the lunatic girl, kicking her feet back and forth from the counter she sat on. She was smiling at me, maniacally, of course.
"Milah-chan...loves you very much. Go steal the damsel in the distress from the hero so I can take her place, okay?"
I didn't give her the reaction she was vying for and stepped out of the room.
"Awww, so mean! How could Milah-chan be in love with someone like that?" I heard her whine behind the door.
'...I'm gonna have to speed up the process and get my Baby Doll away from both sides.'
I haven't told Kami squat about anything that's been recently happening on my side...nor did I have the time to explain to her what's happened since my "death", what I planned for us, what I hope she'll like, and what I've planned to do to the ones who hurt her, who kept her away from me, who made her sway her thoughts from her original ambitions.
My baby has been corrupted by those she surrounds herself with. She needs to be reminded of where she comes from, and that those who only know her on the surface will turn their backs on her as soon as she shows her true colors.
No one understands Kamilah Shimizu as much as I do. I was the first person she let her walls down around and the first she took comfort in telling me her troubles. When she visited my childhood home more often, she told me I made her not want to die. I'm aware of why she moved to Musutafu, her abuse, use, and hatred for her mother, and why her father was put in jail...and by mine no less, I know she also hates him and Shoto.
"She's mine..." I mumbled, wiping the blood sliding from my eyes. "You can take anything you want...but you can't take her from me, Shoto."
I admit it...I'm smitten with her, I love her and I'd do anything to make her happy but leave her alone in this world.
That might be a little difficult since killing the people she cares about would make her upset with me.
I hadn't realized I walked a couple blocks down until I saw a figure from the corner of my eye appear out of thin air, casually leaning against a tree. I couldn't see who it was exactly because of the sunset creating a dark spot by shining on the other side of the tree.
My guard went up immediately, readying my fire at the figure. Luckily, I had a giant black hoodie on to disguise myself.
"Hold on," he said, holding up his hand and revealing himself to be dressed in blue jeans and an oversized blue hoodie with golden accents.
My eyes creased at the guy, pulling his hood off.
"...So the newbie hero came to get burnt-"
He pointed at me, "Wrong. I'm not on the clock and I'm here on my business. It was hard finding you...you're not really on the plane's spectrum, just like my lil' sis. You got a death wish like her, huh..."
Cautiously, I put my hand down, but I kept it lit aflame just in case he tried to pull a fast one on me. I've never met the guy and despite the good things Kami told me about him, I don't trust him.
"What are you saying?"
He did a double take, astonished at what I said, "So you don't know...? Oh, uh, never mind that. By the way, put those flames out, you're making us look suspicious!" he whisper-shouted. "Also, I need to ask you something so be honest."
"What makes you think I'll do either of those things? You're not good with interrogation, are you?"
"Do you love Ami?"
My immediate reaction was a glower and increased the flames on my hands. Was Kami forced to tell him about us? I better play dumb just in case.
"Who?"
He blinked, "...Oh! You might not know her by that nickname, my little sister, Kamilah."
His simple reply made me wonder if he was taking this seriously. I didn't put out my flames just yet.
"...Why are you asking me this?"
"I've finally been given a chance to help my little sister. She's taken the blame for so much shit I've done, I can't count it on all ten fingers. Putting that aside, I..." He looked like he was struggling to say what he had to say, "If you love my sister...I need your help to save her."
The desperation in his eyes matches the way I felt when I hit Kami, when I knocked her unconscious, when I thought I killed her...
"..."
"...Will you?"
I flicked the flames away, "What's wrong with her."
He sighed, most likely from relief and the build of anticipation. I was tempted to walk off, but I don't think someone as innocent as him would lie, especially a hero regardless of being off duty or whatever.
"My sister and I...we've been sick for a long time."
"I'm aware. She's told me..." I narrowed my eyes in suspicion, "I heard your mother is quite the handful. Looks like my little baby doll got sick of her shit and gouged her eyes out."
"What makes you think-"
"Not sure of the details, but I know Kami did that. I know her as good as these burnt scars."
He looked uncomfortable by my words, "...Sure. We're c-..." He suddenly got tense and looked around. "Say...let's go somewhere else."
I stuffed my hands in my pockets, "Why?"
"I feel..." He pushed himself from the tree and walked to me. "We need to go. I don't like what I'm feeling. Someone might be watching us."
I took a step back, but he just touched my shoulder and...
"What the..."
The best way I could describe what I'm seeing is that I'm in the universe.
"This is my safe haven. Don't worry, you can breathe in here." He smiled, "Do me a tiny favor and not tell your cohorts about this. I'd really appreciate villains not knowing about the inner workings of my Quirk."
"I can give a rat's ass about this. Where is Kami and what's wrong with her?"
He walked into the distant space so I followed him, but I kept my distance to not be caught off guard by him again if he tried to pull something.
"I thought she would've told you...since she's so committed to you, but I guess she doesn't even want to hurt the man who's murdered hundreds," he seethed, finally showing his true colors. "Listen to me, I don't like you at all and it's not like I want to cooperate with you, but I ain't got no choice. You don't gotta know all the deets, but just the surface. My sister and I have been cursed."
As we walked, whatever this place formed images of this guy and Kami, seemingly bedridden, coughing up blood, bleeding from their eyes, nose, and mouth, falling unconscious, etc.
It's like he was telling a story from a picture book.
"This has been going on for generations. She's encountered death way too many times since before we moved here. A family member of mine has found a way to cure this curse. I'm taking you to her because she needs you for some damn reason. You're the "source" or whatever..."
My fists clenched, ready to burst into flames, "You mean to tell me...she's been suffering this whole time and didn't tell me?"
"Looks like it."
"...Hey, that image," I called his attention to an image that didn't seem to be his.
"Hm?"
It was an image of a 7-year-old Kami, lying face up on the snow in a fluffy white coat and her hair sprawled around her. She looked like a sleeping angel...but I knew better.
She was an angel that I had knocked out due to my episode. The kid version of me standing over her, gently cradling her, and the flames roaring behind us proved it.
"How do you know about that?! Were you there?! You didn't do anything to stop me or help your sister?!"
He looked enraged by the image, "...If this is showing, then that means this was a time Kamilah was dying that you were involved with somehow and that-"
"I am here now," a voice behind me alerted me.
Quick to set my flames anew, I twisted around, ready to aim them at the intruder...but my hand was caught by two tan ones.
"Kami...?"
I carefully looked over this person just to make sure...and she looked like Kamilah, but with some difference in height, skin color, and hairstyle.
"Who the hell is this, two-face?" I asked the guy.
"I..." She let go of my hand and put her right over her chest, "Am not your enemy."
I took a step back from her, "I assume so...with you looking like her."
She nodded, "My name is Misuzu Shimizu. It's...quite unnerving to finally meet you, Toya Todoroki."
"..."
She noticed something, "Oh, I expected you to try and swing at me again mentioning your name. You're more calm and collected than the last time I saw you." The weight of her stare...actually felt sickening, "I hope you learned not to hit a defenseless girl anymore."
My expression immediately toughened at her reference. "Are you trying to start something, woman?"
Her face returned to its blankness... 'Just like Shoto.' I grimaced at the thought.
"More like end something. My chil-...My relative has been ill for a long time now. I couldn't do any for the generations before me nor could I for the generations after me...but these two, I'll make sure they see they're cured."
"Lady cut the shit, and get moving. I don't care about what your family has going on because I have my own to deal with. Tell me what to do so I can help my girl out of whatever bullshit I did"
The smile that slid on her face was...creepy. She outmatched Toga.
"I'm so happy that you're eager to help her."
I gave Miss Misuzu a look of disapproval and aversion.
"What do you mean by "Find Toya Todoroki."? Have you finally lost your mind, Miss Misuzu?!" I ferociously exclaimed at her.
She responded by covering her ears until I was done, "I've lost it, but not on this matter. I can explain."
I nodded my head, "Please do."
"The Shimizugawa Curse began when the Shimizu-Tokugawa branched off from the Tokugawa shogunate. Ever since the first heir's sick child died an odd and mysterious death, the main branch cursed the Shimizu with 2 children of each generation being born with a sickness and a yearning to die at a young age because life is something the first heir's child didn't have."
"...That didn't explain shit to me," I deadpanned.
"I only reminded you so you can understand the next part. Juri had two brothers, Ierharu and Shigeyoshi. Shigeyoshi was the other cursed child and he died later after Ieharu. Shigeyoshi bore no children, that's just a cover-up to who really continued the bloodline, Juri. Because she had a Quirk, she was shunned, and kept hidden away from people in the Edo period and history books."
"I know this is goin' somewhere so I'll keep listenin'."
"Juri was cursed by the main branch because they saw her use her Quirk to try and save the first heir's dying child, people back then didn't take too kindly to seeing Quirks so the main branch ordered Ieshige to hold her in the palace walls until her death. However, he didn't want his daughter to feel estranged and feel like a caged bird so he entered into an agreement with the Shimizu-Tokugawa closest ally, the Tsugaru Clan."
"So Juri was framed. She was just trying to save a life and she..." I shook my head from the saddening thought. "I'm assuming this is where it starts to connect. What happened next?"
"Come to find out. By a freak of nature..." She smiled, "The Tsugaru, who specialized in spell casting and were a rare Quirk family as well, found out that Juri's Quirk protected her from the curse. Instead, both Shigeyoshi and Ieharu...were cursed instead."
I beamed at hearing that, "That's...good, right? I mean, not good about her losing her brothers, but that she wasn't wrongly cursed."
"Juri was sad to have found that out and wondered for many long years when she'd hear of their demise. Both died at the age of 50 so it was a long time after she escaped to the Tsugaru Clan's palace. Putting that aside, Juri married a ronin from the clan."
"A ronin of his own clan? Shouldn't he had served his own lord?"
"Lady," she corrected. "Who wanted to bed him because she was Quirkless and wanted to produce heirs with his powers. He didn't agree, he wanted to marry and have children out of true love."
"So when he heard about Juri, he was genuinely interested in getting to know someone who struggled with a similar power."
"You're catching on, good. Because Juri was outcasted, she had a difficult time opening up to new people, much less-"
"A man who wanted to love her, but she refused him," I finished for her. "It took time, but he finally began to get her to stop hiding behind a fierce face and she fell in love with him. She let her guard down...and the curse took effect." My brows furrowed in confusion, "But I don't get how the curse could've taken effect on her. Her siblings paid the price."
"The lady the Tsugaru Ronin didn't want to serve had a spy go and find out the truth, why no one ever spoke of Juri after her exile or as they called it "sudden passing". She enlisted the help of a "sorcerer" from across seas and had them reinvoke that curse in return for giving them Juri's body to study, mummify, and formed a cult worship her as the god of the secretly renewed Egyptian Pantheon by the Libyan nomadic tribe, An-Nur."
Hearing her nearing the end of the full circle made me feel sick to my stomach. The fact that our mentally ill mother comes from a corrupt background that ties in with the Shimizu-Tokugawa lineage...doesn't sound too far-fetched. It makes hating her...easier.
"You shouldn't blame her ancestors for how she ended up, Hakim. I refuse to let you sink to such depraved levels," she
I shook my head again, "I know...Sorry. It's all so...fucked up. What happened to the Ronin? Juri's children? The lady?"
"The Tsugaru Ronin raised the children in secret until eventually being found by Lady Tsugaru's samurai legion in the morning time. She wanted him to herself, and to kill his children. He sacrificed himself so they could run away. Distraught by the death of his wife and yearning to join her in Yomi, he fought until the sun had set."
The story was saddening, but I had one last question, "...The curse continued. One of Juri's children died and it's been like that ever since. What was Juri's Quirk?"
Miss Misuzu closed her eyes. It's like she was holding back an outburst of emotions...as if she experienced this personally or it's as if she was relieved from something.
"Juri didn't give up. Her soul would not rest until she ended the curse. Agonizingly, she had to wait centuries, watching her descendants die. It was only until she found a descendant who transformed an evil power into their own. Prior generations called Juri's Quirk "Hope"."
I lifted a brow, "What's it call now?"
She finally opened her eyes, and crystalline water refused to drop from her eyes, "Suffering is fighting. Fighting is hoping for change. Hope is possible when the suffering is nulled."
We had to wait for the right moment when everyone left the vacation home.
I made it "convenient" for them by "waking up" in the bedroom I "fell asleep" in, and promised to watch over Ami while they were gone.
The vacation home was in the middle of a forest on private property which made it all the harder for prying eyes or the nosey press for trespassing in.
Carefully, I watched the man hovering over my unconscious sister. His shadow was cast over like a darkness waiting to consume the light. I watched his burnt finger ghost over her face, swiping a strand away to see a scar she got years ago from "walking into telephone poll" due to "zoning out".
What a load of bullshit. Miss Misuzu told me the truth about every scar and every near-death experience Ami had. Compared to her nearly drowning, getting knocked unconscious, being stabbed by an icicle, and the backfire of overusing her Quirk, every other near-death experience paled in comparison to her.
But not to me.
Every near-death experience I've had has had a major impact on me. It's made me put on a front. The curse has only gotten worse since becoming a hero. I also think it's taken a toll on my emotions.
It's apparent to me because...lately, I've been feeling jealous towards my sister. She treats death like it's nothing while I'm out here busting my ass to keep her alive; she was the favored child in Quirk abilities; and she took responsibility for the mistakes and accidents I made just so our mother didn't have to scold me.
I wonder if these feelings have anything to do with the curse. Miss Misuzu didn't tell me anything about her having a bad relationship with her sibling or about Juri's. I hope these negative feelings have something to do with it or I'll feel more of an asshole than I already do.
"How long has she been like this?"
I sat down in the chair on the other side of Ami's bed, "A month...and a couple of weeks."
"...Poor baby..." he mumbled, grazing the back of his hand on her cheek.
"Listen, Toya-"
He gave me the meanest mug I've ever been given.
"Er-...I mean, "Dabi". It's none of my business, but then again, you are an adult who is intimately involved with a minor who happens to be my little sister—so what I'm about to ask you is my business."
He didn't reply.
"What is your relationship with Kamilah? And do you make her happy?"
"...I think so. She's been all smiles with me. As for my relationship with her?"
My fists tightened, preparing for what he was about to respond with.
"Calm down, I haven't done anything to her body. I may be a murderer, but I'm not a sick fuck who does anything wrong to the person I love. I haven't even kissed her yet."
My body posture became less tense.
"...although, I will say I haven't thought about it. She's filled out nicely..."
"Dickhead," I sneered.
"What? I'm a man. And that's it, I'm a man, she's still a child that doesn't know who she wants to be."
I let him continue, wanting to hear more of what he had to say about Ami. I don't know anything about these nor do I know anything about the guy except his real name.
"But who am I to decide that for her? And yet, I want her to run away with me. She may still feel that way...but I think when it comes down to it, she'll have to leave all of those she has befriended and has become acquainted with. Compared to her younger days, she's become soft and has let her guard down."
'Just like Juri.'
"What will you do if she doesn't want to go with you?"
"...I'll cross that bridge when I get to it," he answered, obviously choosing his words carefully around me.
Reluctantly accepting his answer with a droning hum, I sat back on the sofa and closed my eyes.
"Ami didn't tell you my real name. She would never betray me. You got sources from somewhere else."
"Yeah, I did. What about it?"
"Tell me."
'From what Natsuo told me, the last few interactions they had before he faked his death weren't too kind. And the info that was gathered from students at the training camp, about him calling Shoto by his full name...yeah, no, fuck that. He's got a target on his family.'
"So you can go murder them? Hell no."
"What makes you think you bringing me here to help my Doll out isn't gonna stop me from murdering you and taking her with me?"
"You'd make your "Doll" very upset. I've never seen Kamilah infuriated with my own eyes...but I've seen the aftermath what she's done once you pissed her off, and that shit looks vicious."
"You think she's gonna fight me? Don't count on it."
I smirked, "Then murder me right now."
"..."
"...I thought so. You can't do it because you don't know what Miss Misuzu is capable of. I wouldn't want to provoke her either. She can be a scary woman..."
"How do I do this?" he cut straight to the point, ignoring me.
"She said "Clear your mind, think of only Kamilah, you need to think of how much you love her, how much she's made you happy, why she's important to you"."
"Easy enough..." he mumbled.
Dabi sat on the side of her bed and reached to grab her right hand with his left while his other slid from his pants pocket and grazed the back of it against her left cheek. He rests his forehead against hers.
Watching over them carefully, the room was filled with silence other than the heart monitor's constant beeps. I expected to see something happen, but nothing did.
Maybe it wasn't a spectacular event with a bunch of sparks. No pun intended. Maybe this was supposed to take time. How much? I have no clue. I should've asked Miss Misuzu.
'He's supposed to enter her subconscious and find her. Help her accept his love. As soon as Miss Misuzu find a piece of Ami to connect to, she's gonna try to wake her up. Toya doesn't look like much of a romantic to me, but I may be wrong. What the hell does Ami see in him anyway? He only has special treatment towards her and it's literally "fuck everyone else". A cold-blooded murderer...'
I leaned back in my sleep, still keeping my eyes on them through my astral projection. This might take a while.
It only felt like a couple of days ago.
After everything that's happened with the Shie Hassaikai yakuza and saving Eri, it all felt like something to distract me just so I didn't have to think about it.
About what she did to Mrs. Shimizu. About what she looked like. About what may have happened to her.
I'm grateful for the distraction...but it wasn't long enough. The school festival's coming up and should do the trick, but...it might be more short-lived than saving Eri. I'm confident I can put a smile on her face...just like how it didn't take long to put a smile on Milah-chan's face when we were young.
"Still thinking about that crazy girl, Midoriya?"
I jumped at hearing the voice behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Mineta clinging to the back of the couch, critically staring at me.
"It's okay, bro. She wasn't your type anyway," he...tried to...make me feel better? "I don't think you could've handled her anyway. If anything, I think she was taking advantage of you because you're too kind and soft."
Kaminari hit him on the back of the head, making him fall down.
"Not cool, dude. He's really going through it so lay off," he defended.
I managed a smile, "Thanks, Kaminari, but...whatever you think was happening, that's not what I'm worried about."
"No need to cover it up, Midoriya. I heard you that day in the cafeteria before that fight went down." He became smug and leaned over the couch next to my head, "...You tried to ask her out, didn't you?" he whispered.
"NO! NO! YOU GOT THE WRONG IDEA! IWASDAREDTOPULLAPRANKBYSOMESECONDYEARSORTHEYWOULDTRYTOSPREADSOMERUMORSABOUTMILAH-CHANANDIDIDN'TWANTHERTOBEATRISKSOIWENTTHROUGHWITHWHATTHEYSAIDANDI'MGLADTHATITWASINTERRUPTEDBUTI'MNOTGLADABOUTHOWITWASINTERRUPTED! YA KNOW?! AHAHAHAHAHAHAA...Haha...haaah..."
"...Riiight," Kaminari slurred "convincingly". "You're clearly down bad."
"Hey, Deku. Are you alright? Are these two harassing you again?" Uraraka approached.
"Ah, oh, uh...no?"
"You're a terrible liar, ya know that?" she giggled.
My face felt flushed with heat, 'Okay, lying like Milah-chan obviously doesn't suit me,' I thought in dread.
"You don't need to hide it, Deku. I know the thought of what happened to Shimizu is still bothering you. She's your friend, and it's okay to be openly worried about her," she comforted. "She's not in our class and I don't know her well other than what you've told me about her, but I'm worried about Shimizu as well."
"I don't think there's anything to be worried about," Ashido spoke, sitting on the couch across from me. "Shimizu...can clearly hold her own."
"You're only saying that because you were in the middle of that fight with Kassandra," Kirishima addressed.
"I'm saying that Shimizu is capable of handling her own and then some. Seeing her like that was...terrifying, but...I knew she wasn't going to let anything happen to me or anyone else for that matter. I think she's...misunderstood." She looked across the room past me, "What do you think, Midoriya?"
"I agree. She's always been like that." I scrolled through my phone, passing headlines about the Shimizu family.
"So you admit to have seeing her like that before, Midoriya?" Kirishima asked.
"No, not exactly. Other than Milah-chan beating up the people who bothered me, the closest I've come to seeing her like that...is probably at-"
I jumped up from the couch, turning around and waving my hands frantically.
"...Are you trying to add fuel?"
"Look here... Leave my friends alone and only take me, okay?"
"Aren't I the one you've wanted from the very beginning?"
"Ya know, I've had practice with hotter."
I stopped scrolling past the headlines, "..."
"Um, Midoriya? "At" wh-"
Effectively cutting off Kirishima by standing, I walked away from the lounge area and towards the door. I opened my contacts and scrolled to the bottom.
"Deku? Where are you going?" Uraraka asked.
"Out. I need air," I curtly responded and opened the door, hoping not to come off as rude or mean.
After closing the door behind me, I called the name I found and decided to go on a walk in case any of my classmates wanted to eavesdrop on my conversation.
'Come on...please, pick up-'
Letting the street lights guide my way, I kept walking until...
["Hello?"]
My shoulders sagged at the relief of hearing her voice, and I released an audible sigh. I was anticipating her picking up.
["Is anyone there? Hello?"]
I jumped at her repetition, "Ah, yes, ma'am! Dr. Chinen, it's me, Izuku Midoriya."
["Midoriya...? Wait, how did you get my phone number?"]
I fidgeted, hoping she wouldn't scold me, or worse, report me to Principal Nezu.
"Well, it's a long story, but to make it short, Milah-chan gave me your cellphone number for just-in-case reasons."
["...Those "just-in-case reasons" being?"] she asked, not sounding too happy about her niece's decisions.
"She told me to call you if anything happens to her or if I feel threatened by an "unfamiliar person"...or specifically speaking, a villain she encountered at the raid in Kamino," I informed her.
["I see. I'm assuming you're calling me about the first one. Listen, Midoriya..."] she began and sighed, ["I understand you're her childhood friend, her best friend, but you have to leave this up to me and my family. It's not gonna happen over night for all of this to be solved so I'm asking you to be patient with us. Please?"]
My eyes fell to the pavement, "...I understand. However, I'm not calling about what happened to her, more so about her being threatened by someone. But I do want to know if she's okay? If she's awake yet?"
Dr. Chinen sounded caught off guard, ["How did you know she wasn't?"]
I mentally cursed myself for the slip-up but quickly recovered. "Well, whenever Milah-chan overuses her Quirk, I've noticed she gets extremely exhausted to the point she gets sick, and she faints, too. The fight she had with Mrs. Shimizu a month ago was the third time I've witnessed it."
'I can't believe I just lied to her. I should tell her about her nephew giving up being a hero for the time being. But if I do that...who knows what could happen to him or Milah-chan. I could jeopardize them both.'
["Oh...right,"] she fell for it. ["She's...still asleep, I'm afraid. Don't you worry though, Midoriya. Nothing good ever came from worrying. If this is the third time you've witnessed her in such a state, you know she'll keep coming back stronger like she usually-"]
"But what if she doesn't this time?"
["..."] She didn't say anything at first. ["I don't think a pro-hero thinks like that, Deku. What would All-Might say?"]
Hearing her say that eased a lot of tension in me. It made me realize how much doubt I showed in Milah-chan and her family.
I straightened my stance, "I'm sorry, ma'am. It's my fault for thinking so negatively. I'll reconsider my words next time and put better trust into the people who are responsible for Kamilah. Thank you for making me realize that."
["You're welcome,"] I could hear the smile on her face. ["By the way, Midoriya..."]
Other than Dr. Chinen's voice, I heard two more in the background, but I couldn't hear what either of them was saying.
"Yes, ma'am?"
["Since you called, I think it's...time you meet someone. I suppose Ami was right for giving you my number...and I also think you deserve some answers. You are a key to Ami's future."]
I lifted my head, 'Meet someone...?'
Dressed in noble-clad kimonos, fragrances of herbs mix in the air, and classic Japanese hairstyles exude our presence in this dark, yet polished room.
We are the extended family from the Shimizu-Tokugawa branch of the Tokugawa clan. We pride ourselves on order and peace, or what's known now as Neo-Confucianism. We have exercised our ideals since the Edo period and have transformed that exercise into our duty as heroes since the dawn of heroism in Japan.
But with the good from back then, still comes the bad. We prosper, but we still have strife among "social classes".
I'm second in line for father's position over the clan. As much as I love him and as much as I pride on the good in people like the next "true" All-Might, I'm a human...and I hate that I yearned for my father to pass on already.
He's stuck on traditional values and refuses to see how the world is warping before his very eyes. When that time comes, I can put our values into full effect, change unnecessary rules, and make my family feel a little less miserable with this curse hanging over our heads.
Maybe then I can find some closure with Miyoko's passing and interact with my grandchildren again, Hakim and Kamilah.
It's not because of my falling out with Jameela that I don't visit my grandchildren, it's because my father has forbidden me, my husband, and everyone else in this room from doing so.
Every day since my son and his ex-wife left with my grandchildren, I question myself...
How do you make a murder look like natural causes?
"Father, you have to understand that they're not just acting foolishly. There's reasoning behind every step your grandchildren are taking."
"Silence, Mirai. I've heard enough of it."
"Yeah, there may be reasoning behind Norio's steps, but as for our youngest sister? She's the unpredictable one. She's a cursed child. There's no telling what catastrophe she's getting Kamilah in," my first niece, Chiho spoke.
"Sister, for all we know, Yuiko could've told Kamilah to do that awful thing to Jameela. We're just not sure of them yet," my sister, Mizuki supported her daughter's claims.
"I thought you would've supported me, Mizuki!" I yelled at her. "I told you what that woman, who calls herself a mother, is like, and you don't believe me still?!"
"I haven't seen it for myself so I can't justify it yet. Jameela has been nothing but kind to me and our family the times we met her! I can't say the woman has ill will if I haven't seen it myself."
"Well, of course, she would look like the "perfect angel" to the family she's not fucking over! She's deceiving you into thinking that in case she finds herself shit out of luck! And look where she's heading now? To court! I know she'll call you all in to support her false claims!"
"Mirai!" Kako yelled at me for my use of ill language.
"Listen, Mirai, I understand you're her sister, but I won't let you talk to my wife like that," my brother-in-law, Nobu, hissed. "Get your wife under control, Kako. I didn't understand why she was a cursed child, but now I see it."
"This would be so much easier to deal with if Great Aunt Miyoko didn't pass. From what I heard, she was subservient to everything and let decisions pass," Chiho spat.
"Sister! Don't you speak bad on her name," Koko, my second niece, stood from her chair to scold her. "Apologize to Aunt Mirai and our mother this instant!"
In case she pounced on her sister, Amari, her husband, my second nephew-in-law, grabbed her arm to hold her back.
"I'm not taking back what I said. You should've died, Mirai. You and your husband have done everything in y'all power to keep us from dealin' with your sorry son and our miserable sister."
"Chiho, that's going too far," Isamu, her husband, my first nephew-in-law chided her. "I know I have no right to say anything because I wasn't born into this family; however, it's terrible to say such things about your kin."
"Take back what you said about my wife, our son, and your sister, Chiho," Kako growled, no longer worried about holding back. "Sounds like you need to put your daughter in her place, Mizuki."
Mizuki glared at an unashamed Chiho but didn't say anything.
I scowled at her, "Had I died, Misuzu isn't the name you would be frightened to speak of."
"Silence at once! All of you!" Father ordered us.
We all did as he said. There was an intense silence left in the wake of our arguing. No one made a move over the elongated cherry-brown wooden table, everyone remained seated in their cushions. The candle-lit flames flickered in the dimly lit dining hall, but not one went out.
We all focused our attention on Father, who gave each of us a stern countenance and we responded by looking down at the table, daring one of us to go against his orders.
"I didn't gather you here in my estate for you to all be fighting and behaving like the young children you once were. Shame on all of you."
We remained silent.
"I gathered you here...to discuss my great-granddaughter and great grandson's...execution."
We all broke our gaze from the low and long brown cherry wooden table engraved with cherry blossom trees to meet his empty expression.
There was no remorse in his words. There was no sign of playfulness. Father never joked around, he never showed sentiment either, and he never once suggested anything as heinous as this.
"Father...what are you saying?" Mizuki asked before I could.
"I'm saying...we end this curse once and for all. I've been thinking about this since my wife passed long ago. Your mother's death made me realize something. Once a life is over, everything can be let go of. I've made my decision."
"Father...you can't do that... What if Norio and Jameela come for you? What about Yuiko? What if she lets Zurui know? What would you do then?" I asked, finding myself slowly hyperventilating at the possibilities. "Have you ever taken into consideration that the curse can reflect back on Yuiko or Zurui?"
"I have, but that is unlikely to happen. But if it does, Yuiko never amounted to what Mizuki taught her to be. As for Zurui, he will rot in jail so there's nothing to fret over. After Kamilah and Hakim die...I don't care if they or anyone else comes to take my life. I've lived a full one. However, I doubt any of them can. Zurui will never get out of Tartarus. Yuiko isn't strong enough. Norio is too soft. Jameela is the least of my concerns. Knowing that the curse ends at them will finally bring me content."
"But, great grandfather...they're your family. You only met them twice. You don't know anything about them. You don't care?" Koko asked, sounding heartbroken.
"...What am I to care for two children who aren't fully Japanese? They're no great-grandchildren of mine."
Koko fell to her knees. What he just said...made it clear what he thinks of her marriage to Amari, an African American man, and about her child, Furora.
I expected Amari to start defending himself and his daughter. But to my surprise, he lifted Koko from the velvet cushion and pulled her out of the room. Koko was shuddering, crying, and sobbing in his arms. Amari hadn't said anything this whole time, but his overall facial expression displayed everything.
He was done with this family.
"How could you...father-in-law..." Kako grit. "How could you say such a thing?" He stood up, "You haven't considered if we will stop you."
Father glanced up at him, "I have."
"And?"
"I'm aware I can't take all of you on at this old age...so I made a pact."
I flinched and stood as well, suddenly feeling uneasy, "...With who?"
"...Jameela is indeed the least of my concerns and I'm not fond of her at all...but I'm grateful to her for indirectly introducing me to the person she works for."
An overwhelming sense of apprehension fell over us.
It became difficult to move. The atmosphere was too heavy. My bones are old, but the gravity of the presence in the room made them want to crumble and shatter.
Kako, Nobu, Mizuki, Chiho, Isamu, and I couldn't move at all. It's like whatever the darkness was behind great-grandfather had a grip around our throats and we struggled for air.
"I'm happy you were interested in my Master's business and took the opportunity. I'm also happy to finally meet your family...Aoto Shimizu."
The figure emerged from behind him. It was a young man with light blue hair dressed in dark attire and clad in...hands covering his upper body.
"You see, my Master was curious about a relative of yours, the one whose name you don't speak of, Misuzu Shimizu. He thought she was irrelevant to who we wanted on our side...just another person trying to play hero to cast aside. But he was wrong...he did find some use. You all have no one else to blame for bringing this "omen" upon your family other than the girl's mother."
"...You..." I whispered, breath taken away from my lungs at the mere sight of this person...if you can even call him one.
He removed the hand on his face and smiled, "Kamilah Shimizu is sick, isn't she? You all want the curse removed from over your family, right? I think All-For-One can cure her...just like how he cured me. I'm sorry he couldn't be here to introduce himself so he sent me instead."
Mockingly, he bowed his head.
"Tomura Shigaraki...at your service."
I had a bad feeling. Normally, Rika wouldn't let me act on my instincts, but she did this time due to what happened with Ami and her mom a month ago.
I was in school when I called her, and she was at our shared apartment. I didn't care about the teacher yelling for me to come back when I walked out of class. I didn't care about changing my shoes when I got downstairs, and I didn't care about jumping the school gate to get my two-seater Harley.
All I cared about was finding Ami and making sure she was safe.
Rika has no qualms about my claims. When it came to Ami's safety, I was normally right.
Before we left Shizuoka for Iwaizumi, we took the liberty to look around in the places where we would probably find Ami or Kimy hanging out. We even scoped outside of U.A., but there were no strong scents of them. It took me an hour to get us to Iwaizumi from Shizuoka. I only obeyed the speed limit when the law was lurking somewhere.
"Rika, I'm telling you, something just ain't right, okay?"
"What makes you think that?" she asked, getting off the motorcycle so I could store it.
"You don't feel it?" I asked her, swinging my left leg from around it and standing in front of her.
"I am connected to Ami through imprint, but I don't feel the same way you do about her. I can't sense everything you're sensing, Joon," she explained.
"That may be so, but it's been a month since we heard anything about Ami. Madre isn't picking up her phone either nor is Uncle Rio, Aunt Yui, or Hakim. Doesn't that bother you in the slightest?"
She nodded, "It does, but...what makes you think they're all here?" she asked, looking in the direction of the Shimizu vacation home.
"Not all of them, but Ami. If they removed her from U.A., they moved her up here somewhere in Iwaizumi. Mom isn't home, Ami and Kimy's childhood home is still abandoned, and they're not back home or at Hakim's apartment in Shizuoka. Where else would we look?"
"You're...right. Actually..." She took a whiff of the air, "I smell someone..."
I took a whiff, too, "No...not just someone...some two...wait, three! Hold on...I smell smoke-"
The hidden vacation home suddenly burst into blue flames.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Rika shouted, running towards the burning home.
I was about to follow her until I saw someone run behind some shrubs and trees. Glancing back at Rika who was already out of view, I trusted that she'd handle herself.
Getting down on all fours, I activated my Quirk and sped off towards the running figure. As I got closer, I saw the long dark jacket-clad figure carrying someone. The smoldering fire was clogging my nose...but I knew better.
One of their scents ...it smelled like the person who disguised themselves as Sho...while the other-
Primal urge kicked in as I jumped onto a tree branch for a clear view. I was right. There she was...and that impostor I now have a face with.
"LET HER GO, FUCK FACE!"
Thrusting myself from the branch and after him, he looked over his shoulder in time enough to evade the molten punch I threw at him.
As I expected, he turned around and revealed an unconscious Ami to me. She looked sick like she was a step away from death's doorstep. I noticed her hair was reaching her shoulders now, and the dark purple cracks in her skin were a light purple, almost bluish, maybe the lilac shade of periwinkle.
Seeing her like that in his arms filled me with fury. I wanted to kill him for whatever he did to make her look like that, but I refrained.
I went with what I originally planned. He let go of the back of her knees and secured her over his left shoulder while he outstretched his right hand to send a wave of heat at me.
Scarcely avoiding the roaring flames, I jumped over him, using my devil tail to wrap around Ami's unconscious body and I pulled her from his hold on her. Unexpectedly, he aimed his hand up at me, about to launch off another round of flames.
To my surprise, a katana went through his palm, making the flames immediately disappear from his hand. He looked to be in a state of shock so I took the chance and pulled Ami off him and into my arms.
Cradling her in my arms, I landed on another tree branch some ways away. Turning around, I saw Hakim emerging from the bushes and trees. He had some burns and bruises on him, but nothing too fatal to keep him from standing.
He was huffing and puffing for air. I think he was caught in the flame outburst earlier.
Rika emerged from the same place as he. Standing right behind him, she put her hand on his back for support. Her eyes looked at the villain, then at me and Ami.
"...Did you do that to my her?" she asked the villain.
"That's none of your business," he responded, taking the katana from his hand and flung it behind him.
On reflex, I caught the katana with my tail and threw it into the ground in front of Hakim for him to grab.
"I...gave you my trust...to help her...and you drug her...and try to abduct her. Again?" Hakim cackled. "You fucked up. I'm not a hero right now...so I get to do whatever I want to you."
"Kimy...control yourself," Rika mumbled, sensing his wrath.
"Drug her?" I mumbled, then looked down at the villain, "YOU DRUGGED HER?! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU PLAN ON DOING TO-"
"Joon-Woo," Rika called, stopping me short out of outrage. She gave me a stern expression, "Get her out of here. We'll handle him."
Fighting the beast that wanted in on the action was tough, but I had to prioritize Ami first.
Never before have I seen Rika in a fight. Her Quirk wasn't meant to be for physical training, but I trusted that she would be able to support Hakim with however he was gonna fuck this guy up.
This was a nightmare...it felt like all that happened before the Shimizu family left...was happening again.
Nodding to her, I cradled Ami close and jumped from branch to branch until I got out of the forest.
'Priority number 1, get Ami out of Iwaizumi. Priority number 2, get somewhere safe until Ami wakes up, and priority number 3...'
"I'll cross that bridge when we get to it."
"I was mistaken."
"We make mistakes, Misuzu. We can't linger on them, we have to make them right."
"..."
"Your family is going to be okay."
"Yoiichi...leave me. I need to be alone."
"The pain and self-blame only grows when you're left to your own thoughts, Misu. I made that mistake once before...and I'm not gonna do it again."
"..."
"I'll do whatever it takes to help Kamilah, Hakim, all of your family."
"..."
"Please, Misuzu?"
Hearing his voice didn't sway me anymore to wanting their help. They helped enough already. They helped me to my grave. I'll never forgive them...
"On one condition, Yoiichi...Kudo," I rasped bitterly. I looked at them from the dark and windy distance, "Neither of you or any of the OFA users will concern themselves with my daughter after this shit storm blows over."
"We promise," they both pledged.
I didn't respond to them, concluding our brief oath. Turning away, I found myself standing in Hakim's deep space. I clasped my hands together, closed my eyes, and bowed my head.
"Please...if there is a god...don't make me go through this again."
The poor woman. She looks awful. Serves her right.
She lay in the hospital bed, dressed in the proper attire for easy movement, all bandaged up, but nothing on her body was more wrapped up than the gauze over her eyes. There was some blood seeping through the gauze that would have to be replaced soon. Her curly hair was tousled all around her. She looked skinny and her skin was lighter since she hadn't gotten any sunlight. Her wrists were chaffed from prior pulling on the Quirk restraints and cuffs.
"Mrs. Shimizu, you have visitors," the nurse announced to the seemingly unconscious woman.
Her body twitched at the nurse's voice, turning her head in the direction, "Who...wh-who are they?"
Taking the chance to catch her off guard, I walked to her side and planted a quick peck on her forehead.
"Long time, no see...Jame."
Her body went rigid. She sat up on the bed, looking up in the direction she heard my voice. Had she her eyes, I imagine the emotion she was trying to express is stupefaction, disarray, and panic.
"I guess it's wrong of me to say that, huh?" I joked.
"Rui, I understand you hate her, but this is downright cruelty," Xitalit smacked the back of my head and I pouted at her in response.
"Wh...what are you... How...how the hell did you... N-Nurse, nurse. Nurse!"
"Be quiet," Norio demanded and she immediately shut up.
"It's almost like old times, Jameela," Yuiko articulated with a hint of malice. "Except my ex isn't here...but you'll be seeing-...oops, I mean, hearing from him at the courthouse."
"...What do you want from me?" she raspily asked, I assumed from constant temper tantrums.
"Cut the shit. You know what we want. We want your testimony. You have no choice in the matter, Jameela. We called the police department, and we have Chief Officer Tsurugame involved and, as you already know, Detective Tsukauchi. Enji knows the literal surface level of you and Zurui's
"marriage" so he will be involved as well. Also, about your little revenge on him? Your homicide ideation and attempted murder will be addressed in court, too. Zurui is a good man...though flawed for the villainy he did in the past, he wants to correct them now. You tried to make him look like the worst scum on the earth. You knowingly lied about him abducting Kamilah when she was little. You never divorced Zurui after he was imprisoned and Norio regained consciousness, that makes you a bigamist. You set up Norio's assassination to get to Zurui because you thought he produced a weak child that couldn't take over your revenge if you didn't succeed. You seduced Zurui into having a child with you by acting as a "mourning widow"...and drugging him. It wasn't on his own terms. On countless accounts to receive some therapeutic and medical health, you ignored them, causing your second-born child to develop an uncurable cerebric neurological disease. On top of that, you emotionally, physically, and verbally abused her so she could use her Quirk better than your firstborn, who also suffered from your emotional and verbal abuse. Child abuse. You also kept their aunt, their legal guardian, from trying to protect your children by threatening her job position, which I don't give a shit about, threatening to harm your children if she acted, and putting a restraining order on her. To put the icing on top of the fucking cake, you let All-For-One prey on your desires to make Kamilah better so he could use her. Those are all crimes and false accusations that will be addressed in court."
"..."
"As you are now, I don't think AFO has any more use of you. He played you like a fiddle and danced to every beat. Whatever sick and twisted things you were going to do after you gave him Kamilah, you can unpack your bags now because I will make damn sure...you end up in Tartarus for the rest of your fucking, worthless life," Yuiko articulated.
"..."
"There also some crimes and misdemeanors you've conducted over the years as well. For what you've done, they shouldn't be called that but here's a list to recount your sins."
"Domestic abuse, kidnapping, and theft," Norio stated.
"Abusive sexual contact, aggravated assault, minor drug possession, and drug use," I stated.
"Hate crimes, harassment...theft," Xitalit stated, emphasizing theft.
I refrained from laughing, 'Stealing someone's high school boyfriend is not a crime, Li...but I can't say I wasn't on the verge of marrying so...yeah, theft.'
Yuiko crossed her legs resting her palms on top of her right knee, "Need we say more, Jameela?"
Her head lowered to her palms, not saying anything, "..."
Jameela has been defeated. There was nothing else could say to save her hide. Surely, she knew all that she had done in the past will come back to bite her in the ass? Oh, wait...right...she's not mentally well. She probably thought everything was going to be a breeze.
"I didn't think so. Now...is there anything else you want to tell us?"
"...sold her..." she mumbled.
"What? Speak up. We can't hear you," Norio snapped at her to which she flinched, probably not used to using her ears as her only way of sight.
Again, wait...she never listened to anyone other than her own opinions.
"I...sold her..."
"Sold who?" I asked.
"...I sold Kamilah as an prostitute to an American drug lord with a strong Quirk to make my getaway with Zurui so AFO wouldn't be in my way. I didn't want to serve him anymore after he took Kamilah. That drug lord will be here in a few weeks time to take her away."
The room fell silent.
Yuiko slipped a pen from the breast pocket on her white coat and opened the suitcase she sat next to her chair. Opening it, she slipped out a file and took a sheet of paper out.
Xitalit stood from her chair, her heels made quiet clacks toward Jameela. She didn't do anything, she just loomed over. I couldn't see her expression either, but I knew it wasn't good.
"Illegal selling of prostitution and human trafficking," Yuiko spoke as scribbled on the paper. "Xitalit grew up in an environment of where it was either clean the home, take care of the children, and serve the man or sell her body to the scum in the streets."
Jameela began to tremble, most likely feeling Xitalit's growing darkness.
"She came close to resolving to prostitution... Hadn't it been for my cousin who found her and helped her out of the slums of Japan, she would've been stuck there."
I was sick to my stomach and wanted to say something or do something to Jameela, but the next thing that occurred was a sharp slap and a wail leaving Jameela's mouth. I didn't have to do anything but sit back and watch.
"¿Vendiste mi pequeña tomate a un narcotraficante? ¿Estás loco? ¡¿Qué te hizo hacer algo tan repugnante?! ¡Probé una simple muestra de ese tipo de vida y está jodida! ¿Qué tal si te vendo, perra enferma?!"
"I didn't know how else to get rid of that brat! I'm sor-"
"You have no right to say anything remotely apologetic. Be quiet," Norio seethed, repeating himself.
"If Xitalit didn't do anything, I would've done worse. You should be grateful I didn't step in, Jameela. You only see what I show you. You had it twisted this whole time. I only act the way I do for the love of my niece and nephew," Yuiko continued to talk as Jameela muffled her cries to the best of her abilities.
"Jameela..." I called to her, catching her attention. "I need to know something. Can you answer me honestly?"
She nodded her head, trembling, "Y-yes, yes, anything! I'll tell you! I-I'll tell y-you anything, Rui..."
"...Do you love me, baby?" I asked her sweetly.
She kept nodding, "Yes," she sniffled. "Y-Yes, I love you! I-I always have! There was n-no one else other...other than y-you!"
Though Norio had grown not to wear his heart on his sleeve anymore, the brief flinch of his body and the hurt that crossed his face didn't go unnoticed by me...neither for Yuiko because she placed her hand on top of the one gripping the armchair of the seat he sat in.
Leaning forward, I grabbed her shaking hands away from her face, and held her fingertips towards my lips, gently kissing them.
"Z-Zurui? Wh-What are you-" I cut Xitalit off.
"That makes me so happy, Jame. I'm glad you still love me. Since you do...can you do me a favor? It's not much, I promise," I softly spoke.
"Y-Yeah, I-I'll do anything you-you want, Rui," she hiccupped, her voice sounding relieved.
"Good, that makes me happy because I want you to listen to what I have to say..." I smiled, "I never loved you."
What I said to her obviously didn't process yet because she kept that teary-eyed smile, "..."
"The entire time we were together, I never loved you. I never will. I just pitied you," I chortled. "But I do love who you birthed for me. My joy I fought for this whole time."
The bandages around her eyes were getting wet with gray and red, "..."
"Ya know, I'm kinda glad you sent me to prison. I wasn't the man I needed to be for my daughter when I was younger. I was a mess, all over the place. I wish I saw her grow though..." I moped as I let Jameela's hands fall to the bed. "But that's okay. I'm here now to catch up on all I've missed. You've had her long enough to hurt her. She'll be in my care now."
"...Ru-i..." her voice cracked.
"I was thinking of all the disgusting things I could say to you after I got out of prison, but I figured...that's what you were expecting to hear me say so I settled for this."
Standing up, she tried to scuffle towards me, but Xitalit pushed her back. I grabbed my soon-to-be fiance's hand and placed a kiss on the back of it, making her blush.
"This is the last time we'll be talking privately ever again, Jameela. After the judge makes his decision...I'm glad I won't ever have to see your face again. Never speak to me or my family ever again. Oh wait, you can't...because you'll be in prison forever," I heartily chuckled.
The whimper, mumbles, tripping over words, and waterworks began to leak from her lips and "eyes". I know the water burns her eyes. Though it's been a month since Kamilah inflicted that injury, those wounds are deep.
"I hope you got what you wanted out of all of this. By the way..."
Digging in my right pants pocket, I grabbed the golden band and flung it to her, resulting in it hitting her cheek and landing on the bed in front of her.
"I don't need that anymore. I'm engaged to the woman I've been in love with since high school...the real Mrs. Shimizu." I looked over at my brother and cousin, "I've said all I have to say. She's all yours."
With that being my final words to her other than what I have to say in court, I walked out of the hospital room.
It wasn't until we got to the end of the hallway that the nurses came rushing when screams, sobs, wails, laments, and regrets were being messily spewed.
Not too far behind the nurses were policemen who were sent to watch Jameela in case she tried to break out of the cuffs she was chained to on the hospital bed. Norio was there for extra measure just in case she overpowered the policemen. As for Yuiko...she wanted to be the first to read off Jameela's crimes to her; no doubt that sadistic side she hadn't shown in years got off to it.
"Mr. Shimizu."
Xitalit clung to my arm as soon as the detective approached. It's not that she was scared of him, more so of...willing to rip him apart if he tried anything against me since I'm still labeled as a "criminal".
I tilted my head slightly down to look at the detective, making the white hood on my head shadow my face.
"Yes, Detective Tsukauchi?"
"Remember, you may be a framed man...but you're still a criminal and a person of interest. These claims your family and you make are still allegations. There's not concrete evidence just yet."
"He knows that," Li snapped at the man who flinched.
"All I'm saying is...when all of this comes out...and if you end up being a free man, the public isn't going to take too kindly to this. Don't roam too carelessly or freely. You'll need to watch your back and keep a low profile. Your-"
"Honestly speaking, Detective...I don't give a damn what the public thinks of me or my family. I've been ostracized before, and I've had too much time to myself in Tartarus to care about someone's opinion other than my family and friends."
"I already knew that based on files of how you acted in the past. But you being a target to the public is my least concern." He got serious, "I'm worried about how the public would respond to your nephew and daughter."
All apathy left me, "..."
"I'm sure Hatif can handle himself out there and public opinion would sway in his favor because of his good status as a hero, but as for your daughter...if I were you, sir...I'd get her out of U.A.-...no, I'd get her out of the country ASAP. The aspiring heroes there will most likely turn into the situation in Iwaizumi when she was a little girl. It's not my place to say but I don't think your daughter can relive that trauma."
"...I'll consider your words."
He bowed his head, "Mr. Shimizu..." He looked at Xitalit in question.
She let go of my arm and held my right hand to which I intertwined our fingers and brought her hand up to my lips. Li moved her eyes from mine and back to a stunned Detective Tsukauchi.
"It's Mrs. Shimizu," she sassily responded to which I chuckled at her antics.
"M-Mrs. Shimizu," he bowed his head before heading to the wailing woman being restrained and most likely sedated down the hall.
It was only until Tsukauchi was out of earshot that Li began to speak.
She had a distressed expression when she looked up at me, "What are you going to do, Zurui? What if Kamilah wakes up after the court dates and is thrown out as an outcast? She won't lie like how she did in the past, she'll outlash at anyone who tries to hurt her."
"...No, she won't. Kami won't lie and she won't fight."
"Then...what do you think she's going to do?"
I looked down at her with a smile, trying not to show my uncertainty. I raised my left hand to comb through her soft mahogany curls.
"I'll ask her what she wants to do when she wakes up."
A/N
Sensu is a pleated folding fan. It's used as a bladed weapon in Japanese martial arts fiction.
"¿Vendiste mi pequeña tomate a un narcotraficante? ¿Estás loco? ¡¿Qué te hizo hacer algo tan repugnante?! ¡Probé una simple muestra de ese tipo de vida y está jodida! ¿Qué tal si te vendo, perra enferma?" translates to "Did you sell my little tomato to a drug dealer? Are you out of your sick ass mind? What made you do something so disgusting?! I tried a simple taste of that kind of life and it's screwed! How about I sell you, you sick bitch?!"
I have not uploaded in three months because life has been kicking my ass. It's one thing after another, but I somehow continue to prevail during these troubling times. Anyways...
I'm happy to have finally explained the Shimizugawa Curse lore. I do base subjects and objects on real historical figures and/or artifacts from Egypt, Greece, Japan, Korea, and Japan of course. I'm a history major buff, what can I say?
I didn't think I would be good at creating different stories and intertwining them for the big finale; this fanfic is my first try at doing that and I think I'm doing an okay job. A few things slipped from my mind because I'm not always working on this project, but that's okay because I'm willing to see holes in my plots, accept critique, and correct my mistakes. What inspired me to do the small plots to encourage the final one is Hajime Isayama and Tite Kubo's writing styles. I like the idea of small plots contributing to a bigger one, it's detailing and fun.
Pushing that aside, I haven't just been slacking off from this fic, I've been going into my notepad and documents and writing little scenarios, but not with just the serious factors of this fic. I still don't know how to end this story, but I have a few ideas. Will Kamilah become a tragic anti-hero or go through with being a villain for the sake of love? and peace I don't know yet.
I also wanted to showcase Juri Shimizu-Tokugawa and her handmaid and trusted friend, Asagiri. Will I delve deeper into their characters? Most likely. It all started with her so it's right I only end it with her through Kamilah. There's so much to write! No more dilly-dallying in this author's note, time to get this story going!