Third Person

~

They lost their match.

Kira couldn't even bring herself to sigh as she was still breathing hard sweating puddles until the ground. She wanted to kick something but there on the open court the was nothing she could take her anger out on.

Especially when there was no one to blame other than herself. If only she had spiked that last one, then their teams would have tied. But she missed, she wasn't quick enough.

She could feel Sasaki's burning gaze berating her more than usual as they sat quietly in their team's assigned changing room.

"Chin up ladies, you held up well." Coach Makino tried at lifting their spirits, "It was just a practice game, remember this feeling of defeat so you'll never want it again."

"Yes Coach." Was their subdued reply.

Kaito excuse himself from the room so they could all get to changing.

Kira sat back while everyone was leaving, unable to bring herself to go with them like nothing happened. Why hadn't anyone said anything, no one had blamed her or even hinted at it?

Sasaki had just avoided her gaze the whole while.

"Hey, Vermillion." She looked up to see one of the other first years on the team, Kusamatsu Izumi, het shoulder length brown hair fell in layers around her face and she was slightly taller than Kira, "Hinode-san said you should quit moping and join everyone on the bus back so we can talk strategies before closing for the day."

Kira nodded stiffly.

"I actually volunteered to call you, because...I want to tell you something,"

Kira studied the other girl with little interest, 'Just get it over with, blame me.'

"You haven't been doing your best recently," Kusamatsu said firmly, "And I just want to say if you don't wake up and put your head in the game soon, I won't hesitate to replace you."

Kira's eyes widened in disbelief, narrowing into a slight glare but the girl went on.

"I really want to play too, but when I saw you and Sasaki during the tryouts, I knew I didn't stand a chance, but since then, you've been slipping. I don't know what's always on your mind but I don't care. Sasaki isn't your only challenger now, I'm practicing so you should up your game too if you want to keep your spot as a regular."

With that, Kusamatsu turned on her heels and hurriedly left the room.

Kira watched after her, several emotions ranging from annoyance to anger swimming inside her.

She wanted to throw it off as a bunch of big talk from some jealous classmate but she saw how passionate even those on the bench were.

How they grew along the regulars during practice.

Her phone rang, she swiped without looking and snapped at whoever the was, "What?!"

"It's Haru." The small slightly frightened voice replied, "I wanted to call and ask how the game went and if you could come-"

"It was terrible," she stated bluntly, "Listen Haru I'm not in the mood, we'll see tomorrow right?"

Haru heard as she hung up before he could say anything. He stared at his phone screen, chest suddenly heavy.

He tried to convince himself that she was only curt because she was sad from losing a game but the thoughts of her just being tired of him couldn't be kept away.

'Who would honestly want to friends with you?'

'Wake up, look at her, she's got a bunch of friends who are all cool and good-looking.'

'You don't stand out.'

'Just face the facts.'

He buried his face into the pillow to keep the voices out and just tried to not exist.

***

The next day at school, Kira was feeling pretty bad for how she snapped at Haru, she broke up from Troy on the way to class and was about to go into Haru's when he came up behind her at the door.

"Haru, good morning."

"Good morning, is anything wrong?" He asked, his voice had lost the little bit of confidence that had come ilto it over the past few days.

"I wanted to say sorry about yesterday."

He smiled slowly, "I'm fine, I've gotten over it."

"Don't get over things too easily," She punched Hime lightly, "To some people that's a sign of being a push over, c'mon be annoyed."

He looked breifly confused before scrunching up his face in what he hoped looked like anger.

She chuckled.

He joined her almost immediately, "I was thinking that we could do something else today, like hang out."

Kira stopped laughing, looking a bit thoughtful, "You know, Moriko already invited me out for a cheer up outing since I was in such a bad mood yesterday. We're going to the mall."

Haru's own smile fell, of course she'd chose her real friends over him. What was he thinking?

"Haru...you can come if you want to."

"I...I can't stay out for too long, my parents..." He didn't complete his sentence and walked around her into the classroom.

Kira wanted to go in after him but the bell rang and she couldn't be late for class.

When she came back during both the break and lunch times, he was strangely not in his seat and no one knew where he'd gone to because, of course, none of them were his friends.

Why would the bunch of idiots that spread rumours about a shy, nerd boy care.

She tried calling him after school but he didn't pick up. She sighed, deciding she'd visit after the trip to the mall

***

"Aki told us you had another student home for tutoring the day before," Haru's father said as they ate lunch in the family dining room. His father was tall and lean man, severe, eyes hidden behind wire rimmed glasses.

His parents had raised him to only eat a meal at home and not outside like all other people. He could occasionally buy a snack then and there but over all he must be a picture of discipline.

"Yes." Was his simple reply.

"I'm happy to see your mind isn't removed from our goal."

He nodded.

"I need a proper response, Haruno." His father chided.

"I-I mean, yes...sir."

"No stuttering."

Haru swallowed thickly, the suffocating feeling he usually got around his parents coming back, he was so happy his mother was yet to return or it would be far more worse.

"Father, I wanted to ask something?"

"Proceed."

"I...want to add a few more things to me room." He wanted to at least try, after his talk with Kira he felt a bit less anxious, maybe if he pushed back slightly.

"What more do you need other than what we've provided?"

"I was thinking some posters and another shelf."

"Your room has been tastefully decorated Haruno, growing men don't need those things."

"Other kids my age-"

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Haruno please, I have a headache and can't deal with a confrontation right now." His father snapped.

"I just-"

"You shouldn't want anything," His father bit out simply, Haru felt that drive straight through his heart "We gave you life and a comfortable living, you should be grateful and obedient."

Haru's shoulders sagged, more reaffirmation of how he didn't matter, "I'm sorry sir."

"Good, if your sister had been this respectful she'd have lived longer."

"Why do you always talk about her like that?" Like she didn't matter? But he didn't say that.

His father shot him a scathing look, "Watch that tone."

Haru got up and left to his room not bothering to excuse himself like he usually did.

He changed into some better clothes and left after hearing his father's car leave the compound once more.

It was wierd how he had gotten here?

On the roof of some abandoned housing building not far from his neighborhood.

He'd contemplated it several times, just running away and leaving everything behind. They wouldn't care, they'd just see it as another inconvenience to their goal to have the perfect trophy family.

Like his father's father and the one before him.

He was becoming increasingly irritated with everything. He constantly failed at the one thing he wanted to do and wasn't allowed to pursue the passion he wanted.

He was stuck in this cycle of endless darkness and dark voices making him hate himself more.

'People deserve more than a coward.'

'No one cares.'

"Stop talking." He sniffed, tears pouring down his face.

Right now, he just didn't want to care, he wanted to dash their dreams, ruin the plans they'd made for so long.

This was probably what Aoi had felt when she walked out head high after being disowned. Finally making a decision they couldn't take away or reverse.

He didn't have the courage to face the outside word. He wasn't that brave, people scared him by simply being themselves.

So there was the next best thing.

***

"What's wrong Kira?" Kuro asked, on noting the frown that wrinkled her features. He was stuffing the new headphones she got him into his side bag.

Kira smiled quickly, "It's nothing, I just keep getting this weird feeling."

She couldn't shake it off. Everyone was here and fine but her enhanced instincts were just all over the place. Her mind wouldn't settle down and all her thoughts kept circling back to Haru.

"Kira, look at these cute shorts." Moriko called.

"Are those ripped? I call dibs." Jade said hurrying to snatch the item.

"I call dibs." Kuro yelled as well, going to snatch them as well.

"You don't need them, shortie." Jade teased.

"Tasteless." Troy muttered under his breath.

Kira really wanted to get into the moment, but her skin was crawling with uncomfortable feelings.

She handed her bags over to Troy who flashed her an annoyed look.

"Sorry, I've got to go somewhere." She whispered, "If I'm not back in twenty minutes, just call me." She added before dashing off.

She transformed and made it to Haru's house in record time, changing back before approaching the gates.

They let her in and it was only when she got to the doors that she was informed Haru had left the house.

The maid, Aki, was particularly worried because he seemed in a foul mood and had also left his phone behind.

Hurriedly, she left the compound, more worried than she had been in a long time. What if he had been snatched up by some new yokai that was out for blood.

She went into the alley she had come from and transformed again, running up the tallest building she could find there. She made a hasty connection to Lucifer's abilities and let out the largest sonic air blast she could, struggling to pick out Haru's aura which she come accustomed to during their time in his room.

She was sweating now, nervous that something that gone horribly wrong until she finally found it.

She pounced off in that direction, heart racing and dreading what she might come to face there. If any Yokai had laid a hand on him, she wouldn't hesitate to rip them to shreds.

What she found instead, made her breath catch.

Haru stood, looking down at the streets below. It was slowly getting dark and there were barely any people around anymore.

Why was he waiting so long no one was coming, no one cared, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized he didn't want to be here anymore.

He wasn't going to be a coward anymore, he wasn't thinking when he left himself fall back, he stared up at the evening sky, a single tear flying off his face as he closed his eyes, at least his last sight would be the beautiful blue, pink and gold skies.

Kira jumped missing Haru by several seconds as she got to the buildings ledge. If she was on the ground, jumping up to get him would be possible but she couldn't do that now. She couldn't jump after him at any speed as she'd push them faster and he wouldn't survive the impact.

In a split second the decision was made.

She reached out and called on Mammon's weapon, eyes locking at Haru's form, "I'm your master now not Mammon, your power is mine so save my friend." She whispered under her breath.

The power flared to life in her palm, a chain appeared and she grabbed one end, the other end immediately diving after Haru and wrapping around him. Stiffening suddenly to keep him from hitting the ground.

There were screams and shouts from several people below but Kira was pulling him back up.

Haru stared at the chains around his mid section in shock. One thing he found strange was how they didn't even feel like cold hard chains. Instead, they were warm and unrestricting.

He was being pulled upwards.

A strong arm reached out and pulled him into a tight, bone-crushing hug.

He pulled back to stare at who was sobbing and hugging him. A strange figure in a hood and a face of mist.

"Are you Demona?"

Kira was crying, she reached her hand up to her hood and willed away the Mask. She watched Haru's face morph into one of surprise.

'Good.' She thought before giving him one hard smack to the face.

He held his bruised cheek in his hand, still staring at her in awe.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" She sobbed, the dam bursting more than she'd ever wanted it to.

His silvery eyes narrowed, losing what little warmth they had left, he was suddenly too exhausted to fake being happy, "What do you care? You shouldn't be here."

"I'm here because I was worried about you." She shrieked, "What's your problem, it's obvious you don't like people but I've been nice enough haven't I?"

"You have, that's why I didn't want to bother you," There was a slight hic halting his statement, he was near tears too, "You don't know what it's like, what it feels like to not know what people are thinking, to be scared you'll do something wrong that'll make your own parents throw you to the streets."

Kira grit her teeth, "If they're the problem then say it to their face."

"Must be easy not being scared when you're a superhero and all that but Kira, I'm afraid." He shivered in the cold evening hair, eyes wild and fearful, "I'm scared to be alone Kira."

She scooped him up in another hug, "You're not alone Haru, I've been trying to bring you to people for a while now." She said around the tightness of her throat, "You don't have to be afraid of me or my friends. She pulled him back, holding his shoulders and making him look straight into her eyes, "And when it's time, you finally find your voice, we'll be there to help you tell them you've had enough. If they don't take it well then we'll still be there."

"Kira you don't have to, I've gotten-"

"Don't get over it!" She screamed, "Get angry, cry, do something because you have a right to. You're only human so don't bottle anything up."

She jabbed a finger into his chest, "If you don't like something, say it, if it hurts and you can't find a nice way to put it then say it the way it is."

He nodded, breaking down as well and sobbing into her shoulder, she out her hands on his back, stroking slowly.

"I'm so sorry Kira."

"Let it all out." She chuckled.

'You can't let him walk away knowing your identity.' Mammon said sternly.

'Meat-head is right, he's close to you and has already been exposed.' Lucifer added.

'Then what do I do?'

Lucifer sighed, 'There's a special pill in the pouch on the left. It's specially made to erase memories of up to twenty minutes before ingestion. Until you can do so with your powers those will suffice.'

"Haru, no one can know I'm Demona."

"I pretty much guessed that since you haven't been put in jail yet." He sniffed.

"That includes you funny guy." She said.

He flinched, pulling away, "Why? Don't you trust me? I won't tell anyone."

"Believe me when I say it's for your own good," She pulled out a small blue wrap from the pouch and opened it to see a cylindrical, white pill, "It's for the best, you'll only lose a few minutes of memory."

"What if I forget everything and I want to jump off a building again and you're not there to stop me then?" He was back to being genuinely scared again.

She smiled, warm and comforting, "I'll be there to stop you, and I'll keep stopping you, until you no longer feel like jumping, or running or crying... I'll be there."

Haru's lips wobbled slightly as he took the pill.

"You promise?"

She was making so many promises these days, she held his other had, watching as he dry swallowed the strange pill.

"I promise." She said finally as he swayed and collapsed into her arms.

Haru woke up to slightly darker skies and the crisp air of the Tokyo night. He could see Kira's eyes looking down at him with his head on her lap.

"Kira, why....what happened?"

She frowned, "You tried to end your life is what." She hissed, punching him a little harder this time.

"Oh right, but I'm alive, how?"

"You're lucky Demona saved you, I was just passing by after leaving your place." She locked eyes with him, "You gave me quite the scare."

"Wait, how did she know we knew each other?"

"I don't know, ask her the next time you plan jumping off a building." She deflected.

He could tell she was obviously mad and worried, "I'm sorry, I was going through somethings and I didn't want to burden you or anyone with my problems."

He felt her arms around him and it was a serious challenge to keep himself from crying.

"Please, Haru, don't scare me like that ever again."

"I don't plan on doing so." For some strange reason, his head felt fuzzy but his heart felt lighter than it had in a long time, like he'd be gotten rid of a lot over so little time.

Kira stood up and turned to him, flashing a smile he was so happy to see right that moment and for a split second when she spoke, he could almost imagine her in a dashing cape, sparkling and reassuring everyone that came in contact with her.

"You don't have to do anything alone Haru, not when I'm here," She held out her hand, "Now, let's get you home."

***

"That's some serious stuff." Kuro winced when Kira narrated the whole ordeal to them the following day. She had called out of patrol for the night and went straight home. Collapsing into her bed and wondering why everything in her life wanted to kill her from a heart attack.

Troy and Kuro hadn't let her off that easy though. They hounded her with calls until she gave some bit of information and promised she explained the next day when they met up at the aquarium.

"His parents are real douchebags, you should hear what he says they say about his dead sister." She ended, she saw Moriko and Jade approaching, "Just be super nice when he gets here, Troy I'm talking especially to you."

The blond rolled his eyes.

"I think it's sweet though," Kuro stated, "That you got the chains to work because of him."

Kira couldn't help but feel the that sane, she just hoped the next time she had to make her powers work, no one important was about to die.

Not too long after Momo and Jade arrived, Haru got there also. Looking pretty nervous in his button down and loose knit vest.

"H-hi, I'm Haru, um no, you can call me Haru but my name is-"

"Nice to meet you I'm Kuro!"

"You could have at least let him finish first." Troy bit out.

Kuro pushed him aside and walked over to Haru's side, he put a hand around the older boy's shoulder, "Ignore him, he's just grumpy cause we're keeping him from his fish."

"I heard of a beautiful koi pond they just installed, I really want to see that too." Haru got out.

"That's what I wanted to see as well." Troy said, studying Haru for any signs that he might actually be worth wasting more breath on.

"Fish are pretty, we get the gist, now let's go in." Moriko said, grabbing both Haru and Troy's hands, "Lead the way fish lover boys."

"Please don't overwhelm him." Kira said but was ignored by almost everyone.

Jade turned to her and leaned in close, "I don't know what you did but the guy doesn't look like he's about to faint anymore."

"Really?"

The purple haired girl nodded, "C'mon, I want to get in Zhao's face everytime he seems to be enjoying himself."

Kira linked arms with her and they followed the others into the building.