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5 YEARS AGO
Kyouka was nine years old the first time she met the White Reaper.
Her father had a job in Yokohama, and her mother decided to take the time to visit two old friends. She doesn’t remember the women’s names, only that one had a kind smile and the other had bright red hair. One of them had brought along a daughter, but the green-haired girl was much, much older than her, with a cold stare - Kyouka did her best to avoid her. She was supposed to stay in the cafe they were catching up in. She knew that, and yet-
There had been a beautiful butterfly floating through the busy mall, and she couldn’t help herself.
It was a golden color, bright and beautiful against the drab walls. What was it doing inside, she wondered? She should catch it and release it outside. There was no point in keeping it locked up inside. It deserved to be free, roaming the air like a-
Another gold flash caught her eye. Was there really another butterfly in here?
She shook her head slightly. No, no, that was just a woman with a butterfly clip in her short black hair. It looked eerily similar to the real butterfly, though, and Kyouka squinted her eyes. The woman wore an all-black suit, and a cigarette hung loosely from two fingers. Her hair was short, so, so short, and she was headed the same way the butterfly was.
There was something off about her. Kyouka’s parents would both know how to deal with this.
She was capable, too. And she would prove it.
She began to follow the woman and the butterfly. She didn’t really know where she was anymore, but that was okay, she would make her way back eventually. For now, she needed to do this. The woman started to turn, casting furtive glances around before ducking into a store. Kyouka’s eyes narrowed.
Before she could follow, though, the golden butterfly stopped in front of the store and exploded.
What had just happened?
Her ears were ringing.
There was ash - or wait, was that blood?
Somebody let out a scream. She got the feeling it was her.
Slowly, she tried to pick herself up. The soft pink kimono she had been wearing was ruined, covered in soot and smoke and ash - the tips were singed off. Her ears wouldn’t stop ringing. Everything felt dulled. Her arms and feet hurt.
From the corner of her eye, she could see the short-haired woman approaching. There was a deadly-looking cleaver in her right hand. She shivered slightly. The floor around her was covered in unmoving bodies, she noticed.
Was today the day she would die?
A blur of grey sped in front of her. A boy dressed in a thick black coat stopped in front of her, arms outstretched. He shouted something at the short-haired woman. She shouted something back. Kyouka’s ears were still ringing. She couldn’t understand a word either of them were saying.
The woman raised her arms angrily before walking off. Kyouka did not see her again.
The boy turned to her, a concerned expression on his face. Her hearing was returning, slowly. She furrowed her brows, trying to concentrate on his words-
“-are you alright?” He sounded concerned.
She blinked. That wasn’t what she was expecting.
A small nod, followed by an attempt to get up. Her hands were shaking, and her legs didn’t seem to be working the way they’re supposed to. The boy bent down immediately, grabbing her hands and helping her up. She looked up at him in surprise. He smiled reassuringly. She smiled back, but it faded slightly when her eyes landed on the choker around his neck. Blood dripped from it, painful to look at.
“Thank you,” she said, voice hoarse and cracking. “What is your-”
“Kyouka!” A distressed voice said from behind her. “Kyouka!”
Her mother. She whirled around in panic.
She ran toward her, Golden Demon hovering menacingly above her shoulder. Just behind her, the red-haired woman followed, a guilty expression on her face. The older woman with the kind smile was last, trailed by her daughter. Kyouka’s feet tried to drag her towards them, but her movements were still sluggish, and she nearly ended up on her face.
“Kyouka, are you alright? Where did you go?” Her mother asked, pulling her into a fierce hug.
“I was following the butterfly.” She said quietly. “The boy with the choker saved me.” She turned around, looking for him, but he had vanished. The thought made her slightly sad. She wanted to thank him properly.
The red-haired woman’s eyes widened. She whispered something into her mother’s ear, something Kyouka just couldn’t hear. She wanted to know. She wanted to see the boy again. She wanted to know what was going on.
She just wanted to prove herself. She didn’t think it would have ended up like this.
・・・
A week later, Kyouka learns that the attack was one led by the Port Mafia. Wanted Posters for the woman with the butterfly clip increase, and a new member is introduced. A boy, with silvery-white hair, kind eyes and a thick choker.
His name is the White Reaper. Even her mother bristles at the mention of him. But Kyouka isn’t scared. She still remembers the way he saved her, the way he spoke to her - like he truly cared.
She wants to see him again.
2 YEARS AGO
Kyouka’s parents are dead, and it’s all her fault.
She doesn’t know what to do, or where to go. Her parents lie unmoving on the floor in front of her, covered in blood. She remembers that day, three years ago, when she was in the same situation in that Yokohama mall. Back then, she hadn’t cared about the dead bodies. Now, they’re the two most important people in her life, and the one who did it - the awful monster who killed them - is under her control.
Her heartbeat increases. It’s getting harder to breathe.
Kyouka turns around, running as fast as she can. She needs to get away, get away, get away get away get away get-
She trips on the temari ball she had dropped earlier, and eats a faceful of dirt. Quickly, she scrambles to her feet. Starts running again. There’s nobody here except her. She doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t want to leave her parents here. She wishes she could go back in time and make it so that this never happened.
She hits the edge of her yard, and her running slowly stops. She doesn’t know where she’s going. Where should she go?
She can still see her mother from here. Her hair fans out beautifully, her kimono turned from light blue into a dark crimson. If Kyouka didn’t know better, she would say she’s just taking a nap.
Her stomach churns. She doesn’t want to look at her mother anymore.
・・・
The match strikes easily.
・・・
Her house looks beautiful on fire, she thinks.
Her parents are in there. Now she won’t ever have to look at their bloodied bodies and glassy-eyed stares. If she could have sent Demon Snow in there to burn, she would have. The monster stayed firmly hidden, though. She doesn’t know how to control her.
That’s good. Maybe, like this, she’ll stay hidden, and Kyouka won’t have to deal with her at all.
“Did you do this?” A familiar voice asks from behind her.
She whirls around in surprise. A boy stands there, a boy she’s seen countless times in her dreams. A thick black coat, bloodied collar, uneven silver hair and lavender-gold eyes. It’s been a few years, though, and he doesn’t look much like a boy anymore. Her savior. The Port Mafia’s White Reaper.
“You’re the White Reaper.” She says quietly.
His mouth quirks up into an empty smile. “I prefer Atsushi, from those who know me.”
“You saved me three years ago.” She says, trying to control the trembling of her body. “You were supposed to kill me, but you saved me. Why did you do it?”
“You’re a child, Kyouka.” He says softly. “I’m a child. I don’t kill children. Besides, I was right, wasn’t I? Dazai-san agreed with my decision.”
Her brows furrow. “What do you mean, you were right?”
“Your parents were important people, Kyouka. Their deaths will cause a major uproar. Lots of people are on their way here, right now. If you stay, they’ll probably arrest you.” She knows he’s telling the truth. Her parents had her memorizing the emergency escape plan from the moment she could speak. He extends a hand. “Or you could come with me.”
She doesn’t know what to say. “What would happen if I went with you?”
“You seem like a good kid, and I just want to help you. The Port Mafia saved my life.” He says, and Kyouka gets the feeling he’s telling the truth. “They can save yours, too.”
Well, when he puts it like that, there’s not really much of a choice, is there?
・・・
“I’m ready.” Kyouka calls softly. The backpack has been packed for hours, but she just wanted an extra moment in her backyard. The house is still on fire, but rain is starting to fall. She expects it’ll put itself out soon. She doesn’t really care. As long as her parents are gone, she doesn’t care in the slightest.
Atsushi extends a hand. She takes it gratefully.
・・・
The woman’s name is Ozaki Kouyou. Kyouka recognises her. She had stood behind her mother, three years ago, staring with guilt at the wreckage from the explosion. Now, Kyouka understands why. She was a member of the Port Mafia. A high-ranking one at that, who had probably organized - or at least knew about - the attack.
But not anymore, or so Atsushi tells her.
“Please,” She shouts in the rain, “Kyouka, please. Don’t follow Atsushi. The Port Mafia is a dark place. You can still stay in the light. You could join the Armed Detective Agency. Please, just don’t go with him.”
“Stay out of this, Ozaki.” Atsushi replies, voice taking on a harsh edge. “You’re a traitor. With a single push of a button, I can have half the Port Mafia here. Do you really want to do this?”
Ozaki had been kind to her. She had given her a box of chocolates. Kyouka remembers liking her.
But Atsushi saved her life. He saved it once, and he claims he can do it again.
“Thank you for the offer, Ozaki-san. But I have made my decision.”
・・・
Atsushi leads her away, hand in hand. Ozaki stopped shouting ten minutes ago, when a red-haired man arrived and took her away. It’s still raining. She imagines her house has stopped burning. She imagines her parents are finally gone.
Kyouka doesn’t look back.