Chapter Text
Years ago, in a fae ring far from the one Osamu currently resides in, stood a much younger version of Osamu. Dull eyed, and always hiding whenever given the chance, as the fae clan they were a part of at the time was not the kindest.
She was small, and always getting in trouble for misbehaving. The leader of her clan, Mori, wasn’t very fond of her attitude, and general disregard of his rules. He said the rules were to keep them safe, and allow them to not starve, but she believed it was just because he was controlling.
Osamu wanted to go out, and see the world from a young age, but it was quickly beaten out of her. Her younger siblings, Gin and Ryuunosuke, were much better at behaving, and listening to the adults. They never had to have lessons taught with violence, and threats of more.
Despite how she was treated, and the threats hanging over her head, she still wanted to get out. Which led to her first excursion from the fae ring.
Activating her glamour, she walked through the woods, enjoying the sounds of the forest in the early day. Her wandering led her to the edge of the forest, and into the backyard of a small, cottage like house. Sitting in a chair in the yard, reading a book, was a man with red hair.
He looked up when he heard the crunch of a leaf, and saw the child peeking out at him. Osamu’s hair looked a bit messy, and the faux dress had what appeared to be dirt smudges. Seeing the child, he waved, hoping she’d come out, and talk to him, so he could ask where her parents were.
“Hey kid, want to come out here? No need to stand in the woods there,” he called out to her, and she crept forward.
Walking over, she looked at him curiously, wondering if he was as nice as he looked. From what she’d been told, humans were cruel, even to their own, it reminded her of the clan she was from. Fae mistreating fae, even the children weren’t safe from it.
“What’s your name?” he asked, crouching down to her level. “I’m Oda Sakunosuke.”
“‘M Osamu…” she mumbled, nervous.
Oda smiled at her, “Can you tell me where your parents are?”
Osamu started to get scared, and shook a bit, “I don’t wanna go back yet…”
“Is there a problem? I’m willing to help you if you need it, my husband would be more than happy to help too. When he gets home, that is,” he told her, wanting to reassure the child.
“My dad… he’s mean to me, and my siblings,” Osamu was worried she’d share the wrong thing.
A hand brushed over her hair, trying to make her feel better. “How about you come inside, and I’ll get you a snack. You can even take a bath if you want.”
Her eyes widened, and she nodded, following him in. Leaning against a counter as he cut up some snacks, before handing her the plate. Oda grabbed himself a drink, and sat down with Osamu on the floor in the living room, the plate on the coffee table.
While he was talking to her, and trying to get her to open up more, the front door opened. A man wearing glasses stepped into the house, slipping his shoes off. When he spotted his husband on the floor with a kid, he sighed.
“Oda, is this another attempt to convince me to adopt a child,” he sounded tired, but almost fond of what he believed to be happening.
“Nope, she walked out of the woods, and I offered her some food.” At the look of disbelief he was getting, he tried again, “Ango, I’m not joking. I was doing some reading for inspiration in the backyard, and she just showed up.”
He seemed skeptical, but came over regardless. “So, what’s your name?”
Osamu got surprised by the question directed at her. “Osamu. You’re Ango?”
“Yeah. Can I know why you’re here?” Ango’s questions made her nervous that maybe he knew what she was.
“I snuck away from home because my dad was in a bad mood…” she didn’t like that it was mostly the truth.
The answer seemed to upset the man. “Was he taking his feelings out on you or someone else?”
She hugged her knees to her chest. “Anyone who went around him, my little brother and sister got yelled at too. They don’t know how to avoid him yet.”
Both adults were worried about how she must have had to learn from experience. It wasn’t a good environment for a child to grow up in, and for once, Ango wanted to take a kid in. She had brought him around to the idea of having a kid, just to keep her safe from her situation.
He was against letting people get senselessly hurt. So, the idea was there, even if it wasn’t the best idea long term. Just for a while, he wanted to keep a kid safe. Sending her back felt wrong.
“I need to go back soon, or I’ll get in trouble for being out,” Osamu mutter quietly, knowing she’d be suffering a punishment when she got back.
“Wait! How about you stay here, and we’ll keep you away from your father?” Ango offered, not wanting her to slip between his fingers.
She shook her head, “He’ll come looking around eventually, since I can’t get far by foot. Then it’ll just be worse.”
They were scared for the child, but knew they couldn’t keep her there. Oda stood up, offering her his hand, which she took. Letting herself be led back out into the backyard.
“You know your way back?” He asked, worried she might get lost.
“Yeah. Um, if I can ever come back to visit, could I?” Osamu asked, wanting to be with the humans again, as they were so concerned for her well-being.
Both adults nodded, with Oda adding on, “Anytime. We’ll always welcome you here.”
Hearing that, she thanked them, before walking back into the woods. Oda and Ango held each other that night, fearful of what was happening to the child they’d met.
—
Upon getting home, Osamu got in big trouble. Screaming could be heard for a while, both of Mori’s anger at her running off, and coming back smelling of humans, and her screams of pain as he beat her. Bruises remaining, even as she activated her glamour in the corner of the fae ring she slept in. It was down a small tunnel, and hard to access for any of the adults.
She curled up in there, her siblings checking on her at one point, but giving up when she didn’t respond to them. All she wanted was to go back to the kind humans, and stay hidden away with them. Oda and Ango had treated her nicely in the short time they knew each other.
Slowly, a plan to slip out again was crafted in Osamu’s mind.
—
The next few days, she stayed locked away. Nobody fed her, knowing it would anger Mori, since anything that could be used as punishment, would be used as punishment. Osamu wanted to run away, to the odd couple on the outskirts of the forest. She wished she’d never have to return.
Slinking through the ring in the dead of night was how she escaped, with time to enjoy her freedom. The rest of the fae she lived with were already resting, so, it was the best chance. Getting out and running after activating her glamour. All the ugly, twisted parts of her body looked smooth, and slightly bruised. It made her feel better to see the more human body, something that was only ever real in fae-human hybrids.
Finding her way in the dark was only a bit more difficult than it had been in the light of day. Luckily, as Osamu drew closer, she saw lights on in the window. Walking faster, and then practically running up to the back door and knocking.
Inside, both men froze at the sound. At first worried it was someone planning to break in, and then they checked the window, seeing the child from before. Ango ran to get the door, letting Osamu in. She was covered in bruises, and dirtier than last time.
“What happened?” Oda asked, after the child was inside.
“My dad hit me when I got home… then I had to stay in my room with no food until I slipped out tonight,” she told them, seeing the horrified faces.
Ango piped up immediately, “How could he not feed his own child?”
Osamu looked sad at that, “He doesn’t like me very much when I’m not helpful, or I am disobeying. I’m not allowed to leave our home, so I ended up disobeying him.”
“He shouldn’t be forcing you to stay home and inside. Plus, not feeding you is child abuse, and he shouldn’t be allowed to have children.” Ango had very strong feelings about what was happening.
“I’m used to it, but thanks for your concern,” she smiled, but it fell mere moments later.
Both of them were like worried parents over their kid. Osamu was loving the attention, and actually being cared about for once. She planned to stay as long as they would have her.
“Hey, Osamu, we got something for you,” Oda cut her out of her thoughts, by informing her.
“Something… for me?” It confused her.
A soft nod was given, “We picked it out because we thought you’d like it.”
It was shocking to the child who never received gifts, or care from anyone older than her. Gently, both adults held each of her hands, and walked her up the stairs. They passed by the bathroom, opening up another door, revealing a shocking room to Osamu.
“We put some stuff in here hoping you’d like it, but you can personalize it as you please,” Ango informed her.
“It’s mine, all mine?” She was confused.
Oda crouched down beside her, “It’s all for you. We wanted you to have a safe place to come whenever something is going on, and you need a place to calm down by yourself.”
Looking around the room, she saw so many things that she had never seen before. All of it looked so soft, and welcoming. Osamu slowly stepped forward, going over to the bed, and feeling the fabric under her fingers. She wanted to curl up on the bed, and just stay there. But she knew that there was dirt all over her, and the bed was so clean.
“I don’t want to get it dirty,” she mumbled, not sure what to do.
“Oh, well, you can use the bath to wash off. We got some clothes that looked about your size, we weren’t quite sure what you’d like thought,” Ango told her.
Oda knew she didn’t know where to find it, so he offered to show her. “It’s just across the hall.”
She exited the room, and looked at the bathroom. It was still shrouded in shadow, until Ango flipped the light switch. There was a mirror in the room, and Osamu hoped the couple wouldn’t see her reflection. Oda walked in, and started to run the water for the bath. It gave her a chance to stand out of the room and watch, not wanting to be in front of the mirror until the door was closed.
The water filled the tub, and Oda showed her what soaps were for her hair, or were body wash. Then he let her go in, and close the door behind her. Osamu figured out the lock right away, and turned it, making it impossible for anyone to enter.
Letting the pseudo clothes disappear, she stepped into the tub, feeling warm water envelop her. It felt amazing on her sore skin, and washed away the dirt that had been building up on her. She relaxed in the tub for a while, before finally cleaning her hair and body.
Osamu was glad for her glamour, knowing she was a cursed fae. The rest looked beautiful, with minor odd elements to their looks, while she was a twisted creature. That was why Mori told her no other living being would want to keep her around. He had created a sole reason for her to stick around, but the humans were so inviting, that she couldn’t resist the call.
Her curse wasn’t the worst, but, it made her body hideous, and even if she were to undo the curse, she’d remain scarred in places it had been strongest. Ironically, the only way to break the curse was to drink a cup of the blood of a human who held complete faith in her. Which would be so easy if she weren’t so bad at communicating with others.
Stepping out of the tub after a good cleaning, she wondered if the couple would be her chance. Drying off, she pulled on the clothes that had been provided. Making sure her glamour hid her well, before exiting the room, rubbing her fingers over the soft material of the shirt.
She didn’t see them, so she assumed they were downstairs, which they were. Oda was making some food, worried about how Osamu had not eaten since seeing them last. Getting to the bottom of the steps, they finally noticed her, and waved her over.
“I’m just finishing up some food, and then you can have some,” he told her.
“Thanks… for all of this,” Osamu hadn’t experienced such kindness before.
Ango wished she wouldn’t look so nervous, like they would take it away if she misstepped. “It’s no problem, we’re just glad you came to us for help.”
Her eyes widened, “You really don’t mind?”
“Of course not, you need help, and we want to help. Plus, Oda has always wanted to take in a kid, so, taking care of you has made him happy too,” he told her, knowing his husband was going to get embarrassed about being called out like that.
All the kindness made her feel things she hadn’t before, and she walked over and hugged Ango. He was surprised, but relaxed, and ran his hand through her hair, trying to bring comfort to Osamu. After a few moments, he noticed she was shaking, and his shirt grew damp with tears.
Not wanting to make her stop expressing his emotions, he remained still, letting her cry out her feelings. Oda had noticed what was happening, and looked sadly at her. He wanted to make all her troubles go away, and keep her safe from her family.
After a while, she stopped crying, and pulled out of the hug, wiping away her own tears. “Sorry…”
“It’s no problem, you’re going through a lot,” Ango reassured her.
“Foods ready, if you want some,” Oda told her, holding out a bowl of curry.
Osamu nodded, going over to him to take the bowl. She set it on the counter, and was thankful that the spoon was made of wood, as she had heard humans used iron and silver to make them as well. It would have been embarrassing to not be able to touch the spoon without risking death.
Digging into it, she found that the flavour was better than anything she had tasted before. Had she needed to hold back, and eat slowly, she wouldn’t have been able to. Osamu quickly finished the bowl, and saw smiles on the faces of the two men.
“Did you enjoy it?” Oda asked, chuckling.
“Yes… could I have some more?” Osamu held the bowl out to him, and another scoop of curry was placed into it.
She was beyond thankful that he didn’t tease her for eating it quickly, or wanting seconds. After finishing a second bowl, Osamu was beginning to feel tired, and yawned. Her bowl was taken to the sink by Oda, and rinsed off.
“Can I go to sleep now?” she asked, not wanting to be disrespectful.
“Of course, if you’re tired, you should rest,” was the response Ango gave.
Nodding, she mumbled, “Okay, thanks.”
Osamu walked back upstairs, and entered the room they had prepared for her. Sliding under the covers, and falling asleep quickly. The softness making her feel safe.
—
After that night, she ended up staying with Oda and Ango for a week. Knowing she would get in big trouble upon returning home. The couple had introduced her to a lot of human things that children would learn in school. They believed she’d been locked up by her parents, and unable to go outside. It wasn’t entirely wrong, so she let them believe that.
There was just one thing they brought up to her that made Osamu question something about herself. Humans could decide if the sex they were born as didn’t line up with the gender they felt like. It had struck something in her, and immediately she wondered if that was her.
Upon telling Oda, through mumbles, a couple days after she’d been taught that, he told her that exploring different pronouns was fine. So, Osamu began being referred to as a boy, and he loved it. Ango had heard all about it after he got home from work, and he told him that he was proud that he was figuring himself out.
Osamu felt so safe with them, he didn’t want to return to his fae clan. He knew everything would be beyond his wildest nightmares if he went back, so he put it off. Not knowing that Mori was looking for him.
—
Nearly a whole month after he began living with Ango and Oda, Mori found him. Osamu had been with Oda in the backyard, helping him come up with ideas for his novel, when it happened. Things had gone from playful conversation, to silence from the teen.
Fear was written across his expression as he stared into the woods, and Oda got a very bad feeling. He assumed the child saw something he hadn’t, and quietly got Osamu to go into the house. Locking the door once they were both inside.
Through the window, he saw an older man walk into the backyard. Dark hair, and a similar face to Osamu’s, walking with confidence, and a face twisted in anger. Oda knew right away that it was the kid’s father, the one who had hurt him, and starved him as punishment.
Running over to the phone, he called the police about the man in his backyard, and that he worried the man had intentions to cause harm to him, and his child. He left out that Osamu was not legally his, and that the man was actually the child’s father. The person on the other side of the phone told him someone would be there as soon as possible, and told him to hide somewhere with his kid until they arrived.
However, as soon as he set down the phone, since he couldn’t bring the landline with him, the sound of shattering glass came from behind him. Osamu screamed, running over, and hiding behind Oda. He watched as the man walked into the living room, looking beyond angry.
“Osamu, come over here, and let’s go home. If you don’t, I promise that this friend of yours won’t make it.” The man was chilling, and his words made Oda shiver in fear.
Oda put a hand behind himself, keeping Osamu from going to the man. It didn’t matter to him if he got hurt, as long as the child he cared for like his own didn’t get hurt. No matter the cost, he’d protect him.
“Run, and hide somewhere,” he whispered, taking a step forward, going to address the man. “I won’t let you take him. You’ve hurt him before, and I won’t let you hurt him again.”
“Oh? Has Osamu confused you into thinking she’s a boy? Besides, she’s not some innocent little girl, I doubt she’s shown you what kind of monster she is, though. Hiding behind a facade,” Mori stepped closer, knowing he’d be harming, if not killing, the red-headed man.
Oda grimaced at the misgendering that was going on, directed at the boy. “He’s not a girl, and he’s definitely not a monster. The fact that you’re calling a child that is beyond disgusting, and you have no right to be a parent with that sort of behaviour.”
He got even closer, the human-like look melting away, and revealing a creature with raven wings, and horrifyingly handsome features. Long nails came from his hands, which looked like they could tear a person apart easily. It was beyond obvious that he wasn’t human.
“Now, do you see what sort of monster you’re defending. Osamu is my daughter, and is much more of a monster than I am. She is cursed, and a cursed fae is the most disgusting of beings.” Mori looked proud of himself, as he made the mortal before him feel fear.
“I don’t care what he is, he’s still a child,” Oda argued, refusing to see the kid he had been taking care of as a monster.
Upon shouting that, the fae lunged forward. Pushing Oda to the floor, where he smacked his head against the floor. Then, he used the sharp claw-like nails to dig into his back, planning to slowly, and painfully tear him apart. The first set of wounds started on the shoulder, and went down to the centre of the back. Deep, and bleeding quickly.
“Oda! His name is Mori, use it to get him to leave,” Osamu shouted from the hallway that lead to the garage.
“Okay,” he rasped, “Mori leave my home, and return to where you belong.”
The fae stiffened, using the only strength he had against his name to run over and grab Osamu. Then, while carrying the younger fae, his body was forced to cooperate, and exited through the broken window. Walking out of the house, and into the woods, where he’d come from.
Small hands smacking him the entire way, and feet kicked him in the stomach repeatedly. Osamu was trying to get away, but didn’t have enough strength to resist an adult who was much more powerful than he was. Eventually, as they got far enough away from the house, he gave up.
“Osamu, you will be facing punishment for your actions,” was all Mori told him on the way back to the fae ring.
It felt like the walk took forever, and Osamu just wanted to be back with the kind couple who had been caring for him. They had let him become comfortable with himself, and taught him a lot. He’d hoped that eventually he could have become enough like them that he could have stayed, and become their child.
Yet, he was thrown to the ground, just outside the ring. The other fae came out to see what was happening, and saw Osamu. His younger siblings, Gin and Ryuunosuke, were staring in fear. They knew he’d been missing for a while, but never thought he come back looking like nothing bad had happened. It was clear that wherever he’d been had treated him better than being at home ever could.
“You, Osamu, and hereby banished from our clan. If you ever come within one thousand feet of the forest, you will be killed on sight. This is for your crime of endangering all of us by conspiring against us with humans,” Mori loudly proclaiming, for all the fae to hear.
Some gasps could be heard in the crowd that had gathered. He looked away, unable to look at anyone, since they all hated him already. Being a cursed fae was enough to make them all avoid him like the plague, and this was just fuel on a fire that already burned hot.
Ryuunosuke ran over, crying, “No, please, no. I don’t want you to go, please let me stay with you.”
Mori picked the child up easily, “Ryuunosuke, you are not to interact with her. Unless you’d like to be executed.”
He started crying, shaking his head. Osamu knew that he had to go before Mori decided to kill him instead. Getting up, he started running away, to escape a worse fate. Wishing to run back to Oda, but knowing it wouldn’t help, and he’d just be killed there too.
Oda’s belief in him would likely not help, as it was likely that he’d have died from blood loss already. Ango would get home to the sight, it made him was to cry. However, it gave Osamu a reason to not go back, as Ango might blame him for his husband’s death.
So, he didn’t return to the house that had been so welcoming. Eventually, his feet hurt from running for so long, and his lungs burned. Osamu was outside of the forest, and far enough away to not be killed. Yet he didn’t feel safe, since there was no one there to comfort him.
Collapsing in the field he was in, he sobbed, and felt like all the strength in his body was gone. At some point, he passed out from the exhaustion, clothes dirty from laying on the ground. He would wake sore, and still feeling tired, but would continue walking.
His journey brought him through many towns, where people gave him strange looks for his dirty appearance, and lack of shoes. It didn’t bother him, since Osamu’s only goal was to find a safe space to stay. After months of wandering, he found himself in a forest, just off of a town.
The seasons had changed from cold spring, when he left, to burning summer, and then a chilly autumn, by the time he arrived. Making his way to the nearby river, he shed the only warm layer he had, which was the sweater, and pants Oda and Ango had given him. Stepping into the cool water to wash off the dirt he’d had building up on his body recently.
Taking his clothes, and scrubbing the dirt out of them too. Then, hanging them up to dry. Using glamour to look dressed as he laid on the grass of the river bed. Osamu touched his hair, which had grown out since he’d gotten Oda to cut it months earlier.
It had been so long when he met the couple, and upon realizing he wanted to be a boy, he’d asked to have his hair cut short, to the same length as Oda’s. The curls had remained, despite the shorted length, but that hadn’t bugged him much. But, now that it was so long again, he wanted to cut it down to the old length.
Laying there, the sun warming him up, and drying him off, he wished to be home. Missing the warm bed, and soft blankets that they’d given him, and how he felt a part of their family. While laying there, trying to not get too upset over the loss of his home, someone approaches him.
“I haven’t seen you around here before. It’s not often fae end up around here,” the voice says, as if it’s the most basic thing.
Osamu jolted up, turning around to see another fae standing there. Pretty, glittering green wings resting on his back. He reminded him of a forest spirit, a type of fae that was only ever spoken of, as it had been told that they’d been hunted by humans until none remained.
“Who are you?” Osamu asked, still on edge.
“I’m Ranpo, now, can you tell me who you are, and what a lone fae is doing around here?” Ranpo repeated his question, with a bit more detail.
Sighing, he decided to answer the question, “I’m Osamu, and I got kicked out of my old clan. The leader of the clan made up reasons to get rid of me because he didn’t want a cursed fae around anymore.”
Humming in thought, Ranpo then declares, “You’ll join the clan I’m a part of. The others would probably end up liking you anyway.”
“What? You want me?” He was beyond confused.
“Yup! C’mon, let me bring you back,” he shouted, grabbing Osamu’s arm.
Dragging the younger fae along, they ended up running into another fae. He was frowning at them, and Osamu worried that he would be told to go away. But, Ranpo doesn’t seem to care or even worry about any of that.
“Kunikida, remember how I sensed a new fae in the area?” A nod was given. “Well, I found him!”
“I can tell, just bring him inside, we can all introduce ourselves in the safety of the ring. Yosano was looking for you, she was complaining about how you promised to show her that trick, and then you just disappeared,” Kunikida informed Ranpo, practically ignoring Osamu.
The older fae laughed, “She’s so impatient, but I guess I can’t blame her. Being cooped up all day isn’t pleasant, and the sun feels so nice. I wish we could still spend the days in the sun.”
There was a sigh from the blonde, “You know we can’t. Fukuzawa told us to only go out at night, since we don’t want to get hurt like Kenji did.”
“The kid didn’t deserve that, he just likes taking care of plants. Stupid humans, can’t even let a child play,” Ranpo seemed annoyed at where the conversation went.
“Um, can I be let in on what happened?” Osamu asked, curious, but nervous to get in trouble.
Kunikida looked at him in surprise, before answering, “Our youngest, Kenji, got caught a few months ago when he wanted to go out and play in a nearby glade. Some humans beat him up badly, and we had to incapacitate them to get him back to safety. Before that, we would go out in the day, and find food, but after that, we can’t.”
It hadn’t been what he’d expected, “My old clan just banned going out all together for the youngest. So, I’m honestly surprised you guys would let the kid out at all.”
Both of the fae looked at him like he had said something weird. Osamu didn’t know what was so odd about what he’d said. It was how things had been, and how he’d been raised. Although, most things that he learned in his clan had been put aside once he met Ango and Oda.
“Why would they do that without reason?” Ranpo asked as they neared the fae ring.
“I’m not sure. We lived far from humans, and the nearest ones were a couple who lived in the forest. They were odd, but didn’t fear the fae, until my father decided one of them had to die…” Osamu knew they looked upset, and likely sounded upset too.
It was clear to the two fae who were just meeting Osamu, that the clan he was from was violent, and mistreated its members. They intended to show him that they weren’t the same. Reaching the ring, they crawled in, entering the underground space.
“Well, welcome to the clan for misfit fae.” Ranpo made a gesture towards the tunnels that led off.
Some other fae crept out, and it didn’t take long for all of them to surround Osamu, excitedly introducing themselves, and asking who he was, and where he was from. For the rest of the day, he ended up sat with the other fae, and told them all about himself. They were shocked by his journey, and glad that Ranpo had found him, and brought him in.