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Throwing Stones

Chapter Eight: Unwanted Stress

Kagome watched as the group finished up the final touches of the exterior of the Saito couple's home.

"Now that's some teamwork! Good job guys!" Present Mic shouted down at them.

She winced slightly at the sheer volume of his voice but opted not to say anything. The man was at least bringing some measure of entertainment to the group while they worked on their community service. Much to her relief, Present Mic had kept up an entertaining atmosphere with his commentary that seemed to inspire the others to work even harder. Especially Kenji and Jin. Those two were currently putting all of their effort into making sure all of the furniture was in the exact spot they were before they'd started their clean up project.

She clapped her hands together to gather everyone's attention, "Alright! Now that we've finished the outside, it's time for us to head in!"

Kagome watched as the group shared cautious looks with one another, as if concerned about entering another person's home.

"We've got two days to help the Saito family get their house cleaned and back in working order. Please do be careful not to damage anything valuable or sentimental to them." She pressed her palms together in a pleading manner, "We don't exactly have the budget to replace anything at the moment."

She had enough to ensure that they would be able to afford food, bills, clothing and anything else they'd needed for the duration of the one year period. After that though, she'd be strapped to afford anything else. Hawks offered to help her out but she didn't want to take from him if she could help it. He was already helping her enough as is. She didn't want him dipping into his own savings nest to fund this final project of hers.

Kagome pursed her lips together as she spotted the unopened text message on her phone.

She would have to make a phone call to the Safety Commission later tonight as part of their required 'routine check ins'. On top of that one of their officials would be by this weekend to analyze the work they'd put into the house's restoration. The Safety Commission had made it perfectly clear that if the participants' work didn't live up to their expectations, then they would pull the plug. They were to finish one project each week and if they failed to meet those deadlines, then that would be the end.

It was honestly an unfair rule. Some of the areas they would have to work on next would require so much time and physical labor that she was unsure if they could finish it all. Provided that the Safety Commission didn't yank the plug on them, she would have to call a group meeting with everyone and give them the full details of her arrangement. That way they could at least understand why the deadlines were so tight. Even if it was unfair to them.

Her lips pressed into a thin line at the thought.

Honestly she'd wanted to bring in a therapist too, that way each of them could get individualized counseling as they went through the program. Unfortunately she hadn't the budget or the permission to secure one. So in lieu of having someone they could talk to, she'd bought journals that she wanted to pass out to them. Even if they never used them, there wouldn't be anything wrong with giving them at least something to catalogue their thoughts and ideas into. It'd be better than letting them become bored to tears any time they had a down period at the dorm.

Kagome watched as the group started work on throwing away any obvious trash and periodically checking with the couple about what was safe to toss and what they wanted to keep.

She felt her heart twinge slightly when she'd spotted Chizuru patting the top of Himiko's head and beaming down at the young teenager.

The Saito couple had been one of the main fixtures of their town for many decades. They'd been here long before she was born and had witnessed its sordid history first hand. They were a city forgotten by the outside world and they were perfectly happy with staying that way. The Saito couple was no exception to that rule.

The only thing that they'd ever wished for had never come true though.

She'd discovered from her mother long ago that the couple had tried many times to have children but found that they were unable to. So in order to fill the void that their infertility had created, they would act as the part of the local grandparents to all the citizens that'd passed through the town. Whether it was for five minutes or for the rest of their lives, the Saito couple loved all who came to visit. They'd cherished her growing up and now it would seem that they were willing to extend that same affection to the group she'd brought to their doorstep.

She watched as Touya glanced up at the pictures of all the people on the couple's wall. From the family that ran the local fish market to herself and her parents. Everyone was present on their wall.

"You're doing a good job, kid." Present Mic spoke more softly than he had all day. "Shouta couldn't stop bragging about what you've managed to accomplish already. I gotta say, I agree with him." The blond flashed her a warm grin, "Just look at 'em. All working together and not a single fight. Some might just call this a miracle."

Kagome pressed her palm over her heart as a small smile spread across her lips.

"The miracle here isn't that they're working together, it's that they have the opportunity to do so." She lifted her head to watch as everyone scurried about, each of them dividing the labor and working as a cohesive unit. "I believe that every person has good in them. Some people just need a little extra help from others to see it."

Present Mic glanced between her and the group, "I know a lot of people who'd argue with you on that but I'd say that you're doing a good thing regardless of the critics."

She closed her eyes as her smile widened, "The critics are never ending, besides their opinions have never once mattered to me. That was the first lesson Mr. Aizawa taught me when I was his student."

It was a necessary lesson as well.

Given her family history, she'd faced more backlash than any other hero. On top of that her decision to work within the prison system had also garnered her even more critics. Being interrogated by reporters and followed by the gossip rags had just been a daily part of her life. She'd temporarily lived in a flat with Hawks out in Fukuoka just so that she wouldn't lead the circus of chaos to her home town. They were still reeling from the battle that'd ended in Shinigami's arrest. They didn't need the sharks circling their homes any more than they already were. By now most of the public had forgotten her father's name and face. So it was slightly safer for her to emerge from the shadows. Still, she didn't like going into stores anymore to do her shopping. She'd order her groceries for delivery whenever she could help it.

Kag0me paused as her phone went off yet again.

She felt her brow twitch when she saw the contact flashing across the screen.

"I need to take this," She excused herself, stepping out of the house in the process.

She walked to the far edge of the yard close to the garden wall. She sucked a breath through her nose before she swiped her finger across the screen and answered.

"Higurashi speaking," Kagome spoke pleasantly.

"Ah, it's good to hear from you Kagome." Houjo greeted her from the other end of the line, "I was told that I'm supposed to come check out your progress this weekend. So I was thinking…"

She quickly cut him off, "The participants are a little ahead of schedule so they should be finished with the Saito family's house within two days. You can come on Saturday during their down time to check it out. Hawks will be present."

"Oh, you won't be there? I was told that you were the main coordinator." The other man's voice sounded disappointed, as if he were upset at the possibility that they would not be able to meet.

Kagome fought to keep her blood pressure under control, "Unfortunately my main task is to oversee the participants. Saturday is the only day we can spare Hawks to show you the before and after of their work. I'll be busy tending to things here at the dorm."

It wasn't a complete lie but she also had an ulterior motive for sending Hawks in her stead.

"Then mind if I check out the dorms afterwards? The Safety Commission said that I'll be the one assigned to your case for the rest of the year. So I'd like to check things out first hand." Houjo pushed.

Kagome felt her heart twinge painfully as her irritation grew.

She needed to stay calm.

She couldn't let him get under her skin. Figuratively or literally.

"It's a risk," She warned. "They've been okay with myself, Hawks and some of the teachers from U.A. However you're talking about people who aren't fond of heroes and the Safety Commission in general. So if you come into their place of residence on their day of rest, they might not take too kindly to it."

The very thought was making her own skin crawl.

Just how many times did she have to tell him point blank that she wasn't interested before he'd get the picture? She doubted that the Safety Commission was so strapped on staff that he was the only one they could spare. She'd heard that he'd joined their facility shortly after graduation. He'd made sporadic comments on his social media about the few promotions he'd received since then. However knowing what she did about the organization, she was fully aware of the fact that Houjo was still just a grunt. A simple cog in the wheel of the group that was currently holding her program hostage. Knowing Houjo, he probably annoyed his superior until they'd agreed to assign the case to him. It'd be easier than sending someone actually worth their salt.

"I'll take that risk," Houjo's voice grew serious, "If it means seeing you again. Then I'll take any risk I can."

There it was.

The exact thing she'd wanted to avoid the most.

"Allow me to make one thing clear," Kagome kept her voice firm despite the pain that was now beginning to crush down on her chest. "This is for work only. I'm not entertaining anything with you. You are to come here, check out their work, investigate their living conditions, then return back home and file your report. You are not staying the night. Have I made myself clear?"

She pressed her palm against her chest as the heaviness began to weigh down on her.

She was stressing entirely too much.

She felt the rapid beating of her heart through her ears and coursing down to the tips of her fingers. The heart palpitations had returned. If this kept up, then she'd be forced to take her emergency pill a second time this week. She couldn't imagine being forced to put up with the fool in person for an entire day. His behavior alone would likely send her into a premature grave.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

Then Houjo finally spoke again, "You really dislike me, don't you?"

Kagome bit the inside of her cheek, "Do you really want me to respond to that?" She then changed topics, "I meant what I said. You can come here but focus on your work. I refuse to have anything else to do with you."

With that she hung up the call and slid her phone into her pocket.

Her heart thundered painfully beneath her breast.

Kagome pressed her palm against her collarbone as she tried to calm herself.

Everything was fine.

Even if Houjo tried to give a false report, she still had one more card up her sleeve that she could use in a worse case scenario. She wouldn't allow that bastard to try chaining her down a second time.

Kagome fought to get her breathing under control as her blood pressure gradually began to settle.

"You know," A familiar voice called out from behind her. "If you're still sick, you should just head back."

Touya came to stand beside her, his arms full of old trash that he was bringing to the street to be picked up.

His azure eyes shifted towards her, "I don't know what you've got, but it's pretty bad if you're still struggling with it." He cast her a short yet concerned glance, "Don't try to take on too much, got it? Most of us here would prefer this kind of work to being in our cells. We can't have you keeling over on us."

Kagome smiled as she gave a pained laugh.

Her chest twinged and the pressure still pushed down on her, but she fought through it.

"I appreciate knowing that you're having a wonderful time." She stood to her full height as she met his gaze directly. "Also thank you for being concerned but I'll make sure that you guys are able to see this program through to the end. I made a promise and I intend to keep it."

Her smile softened as his expression became undecipherable, as if he were torn between feeling worried and confused all at once.

"I gotta ask," Touya peered down at her, "Why us? You could've saved anyone. So why people like us?"

Kagome closed her eyes as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"Why not you guys?" She then turned to grin up at him, "Being a criminal and having a record doesn't make you monsters. The only thing that would make you evil would be if you felt nothing at all." She then gestured towards Tenko who was chatting away with Shuichi, both of them carrying out more trash in their arms as well. "Last night the two of you bickered. You could've gotten into a fight but you didn't. So let me turn the question around on you. Why didn't you fight?"

She watched as Touya's eyes widened and his lips became pursed, as if he'd never really considered it in the first place.

"It's the same for me," She continued. "There's no real reason why. I just wanted to. Plus I think you guys are good people at heart. You've just had more burdens to bear than most."

Kagome opened up her arms as she offered to take some of the load from him, "So let me at least help you out with this."

Touya grinned down at her, "I'll give you some of my burdens once you can handle your own." He playfully dropped his palm atop of her head after he dumped the trash in its assigned pick up spot. "Just don't be afraid to count on us when you need it. We'll pick up the slack when you can't."

Kagome blinked as his palm fell away and he strolled back towards the rest of the group.

She felt her face flush as the warmth of his palm still remained.

Had he just offered to help her?

A small smile spread across her lips.

It looks like this program really was working.