Akashic Arcana Hollow's Den

Yuuki kept her eyes tightly closed even as she felt herself being tossed in the air. There were few people who had proven to her that they would die for her if it came down to it. Shirosaki was the first and Grimm was the second. She knew they would see to it that those that had wronged her would pay for it. The gentle firm hands that cradled her to the warm body of the woman who had found her first made her relax a bit. Her words eased her racing heart so she could once again breath a little more steadily.

"Shi-nii, made those men mad by doing something bad," she whispered, "I want, Grimm-nii too," Her voice cracked a little as tears started slipping down her pale cheeks more.

Not long after Shirosake came out with Grimm leaning heavily against his shoulder his magic had been dispelled for now. Shiro's hands were black with soot and bleeding here and there. Grimm moved to leaned against the car while the white haired male crouched on his haunches to look inside, "You can open your eyes now, Yuu."

Opening her large brown eyes her whole body shook before a wailing cry edged past her lips as she reached towards him. He pulled her into his arms deciding it was best to sit on the ground then risk both of them becoming harmed. The Chained King petted tussled blue locks of hair as he silently held the child letting her cry her heart out. Grimm smirked slightly, "Hey kitten," He purred at her lovingly as he petted her head, "We should go get you patched up."

A hospital likely would have been best but they were both unsure if anyone would help her at the local one.
 
Midori's eyes traced back to Shirosaki as he held onto his crying sibling, "If you wish to take her to a clinic, I know of a doctor who would be able to help," she said softly, "but it seems like what she needs now more than anything is comfort..."

"We're more than happy to escort you to the clinic, if that is what you want to do," she said softly as she gestured at her men, the four of them now reunited as they nodded in unison as their leader looked at them.
 
Grimm knelt by the two and leaned his head close to Shiro's, "She need to see a doctor," His blue eyes lingered on the tiny girl before he pulled her close and much like a cat rubbed his cheek and chin over her head leaving his own scent behind. It disgusted him that anyone would possibly harm this sweet little one that was held tightly between two men who had killed more than their far share of men. They knew the scent of blood hung on them as they held her getting traces of it on her but they cared not.

Shirosaki let her go then, "Go with Ms. Midori to the clinic. I have somethings I must do here then I will be along," He patted her head and kissed her tears away before picking her up and placing her in the car next to his new ally, "I leave her in your care for now. Please don't let her be alone for now."

He was sure that other memories would plague her tonight. It seemed no matter how much he kept her safe there was always someone else there to steal the light from his life. Standing he motioned for Grimm to go with them. While he turned around and walked back into the warehouse.

"You don't mind if I come with you do you?" He already noted Yuuki was starting to nod off due to exhaustion and couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips, "I smell a man on her. I can't tell though if he..." He had to grit his teeth slightly, "Touched her in that way. That's why she needs to see a doctor soon."
 
Midori nodded as she wrapped her slender arms around the small girl's frame, keeping her close as she dozed off, a small pout across her lips as the two boys implied the worst that could've happened to the young and colorful girl.

"If you need anything, I will leave one of my men here," she said softly as she nodded towards one of the men holding the door of the car open, "I will communicate with you two if any issue arises," with that the door of the car was closed by the man that was to stay with the Hollows, and the black car sped away towards the one doctor that she had plenty of favors to cash in with.

----

The small clinic was ways away, or so it felt like it was because of the unavoidable traffic at this time during the evening . It was a rather small looking building with large glass windows, not quite a hospital, but definitely fancier that your everyday physician's office.

She carried the girl in, her men following close behind after they opened the doors to the place. The receptionist took no longer than a minute to recognize who had just walked in with a child in her arms.

"Dr. Moore?.... Ms. Sagawa is here," the receptionist voice was tinted with the nervousness that almost everyone that knew Midori personally would have. She forced a smile as she put the phone down before looking over at the woman and the men in black, "Doctor Moore will be joining you shortly."

Midori offered a nod with a small smile back at the young woman before taking a seat on the nearby couches; Yuuki remained asleep, the dried up tears across her cheeks served as a sad reminder of the world she was stuck in. Midori looked up at one of her men, his eyes locked with hers momentarily before her offered her a reassuring nod... for the first time ever, she looked genuinely sad in front of her men. Which caused for them to be not only confused, but comforted at the fact that their leader was in fact still, just a human.

A few minutes passed before the young American doctor crossed the doors behind the receptionist, her voice was a combination of smooth and rough all at the same time, her bright blue eyes almost like lakes.

"Mido, what a pleasure to see you," she beamed with a radiant smile on her face before her face quick changed as Midori rised and approached with the girl laying in her arms.

"Oh no..." She said quickly before walking around the desk, the almost limited probabilities of why Midori would have a child with her quickly washing over her young face as she pressed the back of her hand against Yuuki's forehead.

"Let's go back..." She frowned as she led the woman and child into her office.
 
Last edited:
Yuuki blinked her eyes open as she felt a person touch her forehead her pulse was racing by now. Her skin felt clamy and cold even to herself. She couldn't help but snuggle closer to Midori for warmth. There were many things going on at once with both herself and the world around her. As soon as she was set on an exam table she twisted to the side and dry heaved trying to empty her stomach of whatever was in it. Sadly that didn't amount to much as she shivered and rested her feverish forehead on the cool plastic cover.

Despite having slept it hadn't been peaceful. Memories of her parents attempting to kill her flashed through her mind causing her to whimper as she curled up on herself. Her eyes slowly eased open to stare at the people in the room with her. Midori was the closest and also the friendlier face at the moment as she reached out shakily for the other's hand. She needed comfort that she would have normally gotten from her brother but he was doing what he did best. Making sure no one hurt her again.

------

Shirosaki and Grimm watched as the building before them continued to burn to the ground. There weren't any fire trucks coming to put this one out. They had pulled a few strings to make sure that would be the case. By tomorrow morning there would be nothing left of the people who attempted to destroy them by breaking his sister. Sighing he relaxed against the only man he considered his brother. They needed to get moving soon but he was exhausted. Hell they all were every member of the Hollows had proven their worth in this night to their new King. After some time the two boys and the man who had been left with them headed towards the clinic where Yuuki was being treated. He prayed she was alright even as he drifted off against the shoulder of Grimm.
 
Midori's warm hand wrapped around Yuuki's as the doctor probed around the young girl, ensuring that she checked for vitals and everything else that she could check on without making the obviously afraid child even more nervous. Her soft voice questioning Yuuki with the typical 'does this hurt?' 'what about this?' - this exchange of small talk between the two went on for at least twenty minutes before the doctor left the room to get the required instruments for further testing.

"How are you feeling, child?" Midori asked as she ran her thumb over the girl's soft hand, "Your brother should be joining us soon."
 
Yuuki glance warily up at Midori, "I wish I didn't exist so I could stop causing my brother so much pain," She whispered without thought, "I don't want him to have to safe me every single day. I wish he had just let them bleed me out that one day..." Her large eyes watered before a choked sob ripped from her throat. Her hands covered her face as she cried as she had in her brother's arms not an hour before.

There was only so much a child's mind could handle before it broke. Her heart had already been shattered once before now it cracked even more into a fine dust to where it wasn't even possible to tell what it had been before, "Why didn't they just kill me instead?! It would have been better... Shi-nii wouldn't have to be that monster any more. He would be able to go to school and see to it that he was happy. I just wanted him to not worry but I was too scared to fight back. Too weak..."

She believed it was due to her being magicless that she was weak and had no hope of ever becoming strong enough to fight for her own life. They had touched her and abused her till she believed she was nothing more than the filth on the bottom of their shoe. She knew her brother would look for her but feared he would be seen as weak if he wasn't able to let go of a useless girl like her. She feared for his life in this moment despite knowing she would be safe.

---

Shirosaki stood outside the exam room listening to his sister's tears and pain. It broke his heart to the point he didn't know what to do to fix the situation. He loved her as only he could but couldn't heal the wounds that scarred her soul. His teeth clenched tightly as his hands were fisted tightly. Seeing the doctor headed to him he placed a finger over his lips to signal that the two inside the room didn't need to know he was there. Not yet at least.

The drive over had been hell on him as well as Grimm. They both simply stared out the windows trying to offer a shoulder to lean on as they prayed for the girl to heal and recover. Her words now made him wonder if he hadn't been selfish when he saved her life the first time.
 
"Child, I grew up alone," Midori said, "All of my struggles were handled alone because though I had my father, he is a man of pride. I was not allowed to cry, so instead I learned to do what your brother does. Make everyone regret hurting me."

Midori was not a physical person, touching was not something she did often if at all... but the trembling and crying girl made her feel like it was appropriate to be just for once; making her pull Yuuki into a rather awkward comforting hug. Her warm arms wrapping themselves around the small frame of the girl, resting her cheek against the kid's head.

"The universe works in rather interesting ways, child," she continued speaking, "Your death would've done nothing but destroy your brother. He would've become a ghoul seeking constant revenge in a never-ending failing attempt to bring you back - and that is not a way to live."

She wasn't sure how comforting that was, but in her mind that was something the little girl needed to hear, "I don't know you or him for that matter, but I can tell you he is a very one-of-a-kind individual, you're lucky to have him."
 
Being held and told that there was a very good reason for her existence calmed Yuuki down a bit more. Her face was stained with tears still as she cuddled closer to the kind hearted stranger that held her. She was emotionally and physically exhausted at this moment, "I want to become stronger. I don't want Shi-nii to have to fight for me any more. I don't want to be an easy target. I know he doesn't want to teach me to defend myself but I need it now. He can't always be there."

A sigh escaped her as she reached up and rubbed the tears from her eyes as Shirosaki leaned into the doorway just enough to glance into the room. His golden gaze landed on his sister for a moment before it drifted to Midori then glanced away. He could only imagine how weak he might look to this woman in this moment. Hiding like a child from the pain his sister was feeling. He moved away so the doctor could finish her work and made his way to the waiting room. Grimm glanced up as he walked in his narrowed blue gaze asking for information, "She's had some trauma," he stated, "I don't know the extent yet as the information doesn't come from the doctor but rather from hers."

The blue haired male nodded as he leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. It was going to be a long night. They all knew that well.
 
"All I can do for you child is teach you how to defend yourself," Midori said as her fingers found themselves down the girl's colourful hair, gently untangling the strands of delicate hair, "but I cannot promise your brother will not find out." Her voice was soft enough for only the girl to hear before she reached up to clear her eyes from the tears. The frame of the ivory-coloured man pressed against the door. Her dark eyes meeting his only momentarily before he left the doorway.

"I will check on your brother, I trust the doctor is almost done and needs time with you for a second," Midori said with a sincere smile before letting go of the child, walking out of the room gently closing the door behind her.

Her heels clicked softly against the floor as she made her way through the almost silent hall towards the waiting room, the two boys quietly waiting as her men stood by the door, looking like bouncers outside a bar.

"I trust Dr. Moore will be waiting for you to join her shortly," Midori noted towards Shirosaki, not moving from the end of the hall in case the doctor were to call them back in.
 
Yuuki would have replied to Midori if it hadn't been for the fact that she was stuck staring at her brother who disappeared as quickly as he had allowed himself to be known. He had always been like that. Silent but always there when it came to the serious moments in her life. She felt a little shame for him having heard her words so clearly. She managed a thank you as Midori stood to leave. The doctor entered a few moments later.

Shirosaki shifted his stance to glance back at the woman who spoke to him his golden eyes stayed on her before shifting away in that silent brooding manner he was prone to fall into when he was sure he wouldn't like anything he would hear in a bit. It earned a sigh from his partner in crime as the blue haired teen stood and moved towards the woman in the hallway, "I'll go sit with, Yuu. Shiro. It's in the past no matter what we learn about now we can't dish out any more pain to them."

His words were true but that didn't mean that they hurt any less as the white haired male plopped heavily into the now abandoned seat with a heavy huff of annoyance. Grimm tilted his head slightly as he gave a shrug and shoved his hands in his pockets before moving to where he could smell his adopted sister. The boy figured the two head of gangs could use some time to chat.
 
Midori kept her eyes on Shirosaki as he pouted like a spoiled child that wasn't getting what he wanted when he wanted it. She walked over to him and took a seat on a nearby chair, before she spoke in the same soft voice she had used when speaking to Yuuki, "The debt deal stands, you have people to look after," she continued, "I don't often encounter children being in anyway involved, after all, they are innocent beings."

She nodded in the direction in which she came from and where Grimm had gone towards, "Yuuki does not deserve to wonder why you are not making it home at night. As long as the debt is paid in the time frame I have given you, I will ensure you remain safe. Including her and your people."

The receptionist interrupted with her voice shaky as she addressed the pair, "Some of the results are here, the doctor is currently speaking to Yuuki and the other guy right now... but she wanted you two to look at them yourselves." The nervous female pushed a pale yellow folder across her desk and towards them. Midori's eyes looked over at Shiro, "would you like to look at them?"
 
Shirosaki gave an honest hiss at Grimm who merely sighed as he walked off. At least when the boy was done being a dipshit he would feel better and have even more reason to keep everyone safe. The white haired boy glanced at Midori as she followed him into the waiting room. His golden gaze narrowed slightly on her before he relaxed again, "I'll pay you back for what is owed to you. I don't want to be in more debt to you because you've caught me on a bad day. I'll keep her safe but if she seeks you out on her own I will turn the other way. Yuu can do whatever she wants. I have expressed to her what I desire and it seems that's only got her into danger."

A heavy sigh came from him as he looked to the receptionist who handed them the papers. Part of him didn't want to look while another part needed to. Had to know what had been done to an innocent soul. His hand shook as he opened it and read silently. She had been raped and tests showed she wasn't pregnant. He thanked whatever god there was for that. Other than that she had been minimally harmed. A few bruises here and there but nothing that wouldn't heal. Shiro gave a shaking breath as he set the folder down on the table, "Thank you," He murmured and bowed to the woman slightly, "I'm glad she will be alright."

Yuuki and Grimm came out some time later. Yuu was asleep in his arms and wrapped in a large grey blanket. The blue haired man walked by the pair without much of a glance and out to a black car that had pulled up behind Midori's own car. A dark haired man got out and opened the back door for the pair. The pair spoke for a moment before he got back into the driver's seat. Grimm then returned to the lobby of the clinic, "Yuuki is staying with okasa and otou for the rest of the week." He informed before heading back out to the car and getting in the back.

Shiro sighed yet again. Leave it to Grimm to do what needed to be done while Shiro pouted. Yuu would be safe at Grimm's parents. She always was.
 
Midori shook her head slightly as Grimm walked out with the young girl in his arms. Her eyes traced up the body of one of the men, an unspoken order causing him to follow after the blue haired male to ensure that the pair would make it safely to their destination.

"Your sister is more worried about you than you are of her," she spoke quietly to Shirosaki, her lips pursed as she looked away for just a minute, "If she comes to me, my men will look after her as if she were my own flesh and blood. I myself will look after her, but I cannot promise I will be keeping you safe."

She traced her dark eyes back to his own, ensuring their gazes met, "I can lend you my men, my land and even my own power.... but I cannot possibly fix whatever ails you. Yuuki is becoming affected by it. You just need to heal before trying to heal her."
 
Shirosaki cut his gaze sharply over to her as tilted his head, "Fixing me is an impossible task just like me being the person she needs. We came from a fucked up home. I'm surprised she didn't break sooner. It's not me she needs. I'm just the only thing that has ever stood between her and death. When our parents tried to bleed her out in the bath tub --" He sighed, "I don't remember what I did. But I do know that she was safely locked out of the house. Grimm took her to the hospital."

That monster that scratched and clawed at his mind growling and hissing at him in a tongue he had no hope of understanding had gotten out that day. It left his parents terrified and submissive to his power. He dug his fingers into his hair, "You haven't a clue what ails me. Thank you lucky stars then, Midori. I prey you never see that beast."

Letting go of his hair he stared up at the ceiling. For a moment he looked every bit of his young age and even more so the child that still didn't understand the world around them. He closed his eyes and rubbed his neck, "We have our deal. She'll stay at Grimm's parents. They adore her and have kept her on many occasions. I will work at paying off this debt to you and after that. I need to learn to control this monster."
 
"The past is set," she said before looking at him with a raised brow, "You'd be surprised about the number of things we have in common based on the few things I know about you, Shirosaki."

She stood and waited for him to follow, "Follow, I have something to show you," she waived at the mousy receptionist as she nervously waived back at her. Midori's long silky black hair flowed behind her like strikes of ink through the air, her men following close behind the pair as she led the group down the street, "Do you like to fight or is it more of a shore to you?" she cooed, "I'm a passive leader, very rarely do neither me nor my men enter battle unless we absolutely must... However I would be a liar if I said that I didn't love every single fight I have been in."
 
Follow. It was a command that nearly made his hackle raise up as well as nasty growl that he barely managed to swallow back. Commands were a thing he had a problem with these days. They scratched and clawed at him in the worst of ways, but for his sister he would do what was needed of him without much question. So he followed the dark haired woman out into the night. Her dog followed behind them.

Shirosaki wondered where she was leading him but her question about battle caught his attention more, "I fight for the mere feeling it gives me to dive into the pain that's both given and taken during the exchange. It's easy to believe you gain something of that person that you fight. Perhaps an understanding... Perhaps a taste of their soul."

Yes. He believed in the soul and he also believed that the soul only showed itself when it was in need. The part of his soul that showed itself in his times of need wasn't his own and he would likely never know who's it was even if he was sure he knew the sound of its voice and its natural appearance but simply couldn't remember. The fight at the warehouse gave him a taste of the souls that had been in there. They were more hollow than his own and Grimm's combined.

The Hollows believed that there was something missing in their souls that they called the heart. Their masks were reflections of what their soul was suppose to be. His was a demon while Grimm's was a panther. The logic was there as was the belief.
 
She turned around and walked backwards, her steps almost as if she were sure she was not to run into anything. It was merely a skill she had learned a long time ago, one that even now seemed to be found impressive - not everyone could walk like that with the certainty she appeared to have, "Interesting... earlier you noted how there was.... something that was unleashed within you whenever you fight... what if instead of suppressing it you would just let it out more often? What would that do? Would it stop gnawing at you?"

Midori's eyes remained locked with his, curiosity sparked across her face almost like a child asking if they could have a toy. The air of the city began to feel cold around them, but it appeared that they neared their destination as Midori spun on the balls of her feet again so she could walk facing where she was going, "We are close.. just a block or so."
 
Shirosaki scoffed at her, "It's not released when I merely fight with someone," He begins to explain, "It comes out when I'm near my limits and when I can't control my rage. If I were to let it out? Who knows? It could devour me and anything close enough to become prey. I don't know as I've never wanted to test the theory against those I might lose for life."

It was a simple explanation that left room for question but made it clear that they answers wouldn't be easily forth coming as he may not know the answer himself. As he followed her he felt that inner monster lift it's head and growl. He could scent what had it on edge as well. Beyond where they stood was a place of pain. A place where it didn't matter if one was a monster or merely a man. Blood would be spilled, "Where are we going, Midori?And what should I care what you do with your men?"
 
Midori nodded just as a sign of acknowledgement to his answer. Her steps the rest of the way being the only sound to come from her before she brought they party at a stop in front of a brick building, the aura surrounding the building felt tense yet soft all at the same time. To Midori, this place alone signified comfort.

"Did I mention I own a tattoo parlor?" she only half turned her face, just enough to look at him and for him to see her fox-like smile, "Welcome to Noro's Sleep Shirosaki."

She pushed the glass doors open and the men and women inside, clients and artists alike, raised their eyes to see the picturesque owner and the men following her into the entrails of the parlor, behind the divider of where her station was and near an almost pitch black hallway. The men that had been accompanying them stopped right at the entrance of the hallway, almost like vampires that had not been invited in.

"It's not always I run into someone I care to keep around," she explained herself as she leaned against the wall of the hall, the dim light from the rest of the parlor almost enough to illuminate most of her, "I learned how to be a leader by starting from the bottom, basically killed my way to the top. And here I am, with the little knowledge I have from you, I know that was probably your case too... Am I wrong?"
 
Back
Top