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Tachihara didn’t expect his first job in the Port Mafia to be guarding a room in the basement, but he would do whatever it took to get the information this undercover mission could provide. While standing there trying his hardest not to fall asleep he heard a loud splintering snap that seemed to echo through the entire floor's dimly lit walls. Tachihara rushed into the room despite being told to stay out should it sound like something was wrong. The small child sat in the dark, back to the corner with shaking hands attempting to cover their ears, while a creepy cloth doll sat on the other side of the room. Tachihara was horrified to discover that the room he was made to look after and ensure that only the boss of the mafia could enter held a child, that had clearly been chained to a pillar in the middle room.
“Hey kiddo are you ok,” Tachihara asked while running up and kneeling in front of the still-shaking youth, “Is there anything I can do to help?” he continued, hesitantly reaching out towards the kid.
“STAY AWAY,” was the only thing the trembling child said, causing Tachihara to freeze in place until he heard the kid continue in a voice that seemed so weak it could stop at a moment's notice, “...please, I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore.” With that small plea in a voice so fragile it seemed weaker than glass, Tachihara felt his heart breaking as he vowed to himself that he would get this child out of this monstrous place.
“Hey, hey it’s ok, you don’t have to worry about that right now,” the ginger said in an attempt to comfort the kid, “ Can you tell me your name, please?” Tachihara continued hoping to get more information so he could help the child who shook like a kitten left out in the rain.
“I can’t really remember my real name anymore,” the kid said, finally looking up revealing their eyes that had a star in one and a circle in the other, after a short pause in which the youth wiped away tears that were falling from those fascinating eyes they continued, “Though most people hear call me Q, or Noroi.” Hearing that awful nickname given to the kid, Tachihara felt anger building up inside his chest.
“I don’t know who gave you that name but listen to me. You are not a curse.” He said firmly hoping that it didn’t come off too aggressive, “Mark my words, I will get you out of here, we will find out your true name, and you will never have to worry about using the ability you were born with if you don’t want to. I know that it is a lot to promise but even if it takes years and costs me my life, I will do this for you.” As he finishes, tears flood Q’s eyes as they practically throw themselves at Tachihara for a hug. “Oh also, may I ask how old you are? It could help me figure out who you really are.” The teen with a weirdly placed bandaid asked while holding the young one in a snug hug.
“I think I’m 11, maybe 12, depends on what month it is,” Q says pulling away, “If it’s late January or later then I’m 12, if not then I’m probably still 11.” All the time with a puzzled look on their face, making Tachihara sick to his stomach with guilt over being unable to help sooner.
“It’s January 4th today, if that is any help at all,” Tachihara says, not expecting the young kid in his arms to suddenly have a smile on their face, “Now what's got you so excited kiddo?” He asks with a slight chuckle moving one hand to ruffle the kid's hair, only for the kid to get enthusiastic.
“Because it’s my birthday,” Q answers, their hands shake and make small grabbing motions while they bounce up and down slightly, “Plus you have given me the best birthday present I’ve ever gotten,” This prompts Tachihara to slightly tilt his head and slightly cocking his eyebrow while letting out a small noise of questioning, “You gave me a taste of what it’s like to be cared for, a promise for a better future, and the thing that’s the most important to me. You gave me a brother, one that I can truly trust to protect me no matter what happens.” While the words might have seemed cheesy to anyone else, Tachihara had a feeling of unexplainable joy as those were the same exact things that his older brother had made him feel. Q let out a yawn that shook Tachihara from his thoughts.
“Hey kiddo, do you mind if I sing a lullaby that my brother used to sing to me?” The redhead asked, the youth nodded letting out another yawn and curling up against Tachihara like a kitten to its mother, “Ok, can’t promise I have the best singing voice,” Tahihara said with a chuckle before starting to sing in a hushed tone, “You are my sunshine, My only sunshine, You make me happy, When skies are gray, You'll never know, dear, How much I love you, Please don't take, My sunshine away…” After a bit, Q was fast asleep but Tachihara still hummed the lullaby slowly falling asleep himself, not fearing the consequences should he be found.
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Q sat in their cell hiding in the corner they had used almost two years ago, unlike then they weren’t afraid of having to hurt others for no reason but instead of whatever monsters were at the door of their cell scratching into the metal. With their eyes still not able to stop examining the door for any signs of collapse, they tried to remember the lullaby that their brother had sung to them when he first promised to protect them. It took a bit but after a while, they started to sing, though their voice kept breaking due to fear.
“The other night, dear, As I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you. In my arms, When I awoke, dear, I was mistaken, So I hung my head and cried…” Q had just finished singing the second part of the song when the thick metal of the door was thrown open so violently that its hinges bent slightly. Standing in the doorway was Tachihara though he didn’t seem quite right: his eyes so bloodshot that his irises and pupils couldn’t be seen, with teeth so large and sharp that he couldn’t close his mouth without causing severe gashes to form in the soft and fragile tissue, he moved in a way that was jerky and kinda limping almost like all of his limbs had fallen asleep. Though what drew Q’s attention the most was the red uniform, it was one they were told to look out for because it belonged to a government group that would not hesitate to kill them should their existence and ability ever be made known to anybody who wasn’t permitted by Mori himself. The fear caused by that uniform quickly dissipated as Tachihara scooped the kid into his arms and started humming the lullaby, though the sound was muddled like water was in his throat.
Q felt safer than ever in his arms, “thank you” the kid said glad that their brother came to save them. It took a little while but after a walk, the pair ended up in the alleyways and Tachihara set Q down before grumbling out something that couldn’t be made out, like he was talking underwater. “What?” Q asked, looking up at him, unsure of what they had heard. Tachihara responded by repeating the sound while poking Q in the chest. Still confused, Q tilted their head, “me?” they questioned. Tachihara nodded and opened his mouth a bit wider causing blood to pool out before he attempted to talk.
“You Yumeno,” he says voice strained as blood continues to fall out, “you free from them, run and live.” as Tachihara says this he pushes Q down the alleyway trying to get them to run. Q looks up at him before nodding and running full force glad to be free from the Port Mafia but looks back once to try and get one last look at their brother to see that he disappeared.
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A few weeks had passed since Yumeno was able to get away from the Port Mafia. While they were overjoyed to be free, they were currently running through the woods from one of those monsters that they saw the day their brother freed them. Since they were freed it became obvious that Yokohama was overrun with these bloodthirsty monsters.
Yumeno closed their eyes as they tried to force their body to run even faster to escape whatever was following them, air burning in their lungs and legs getting cut up from the branches. “Please, please leave me alone” Yumeno pleaded while trying to keep balance and also stay ahead of whatever beast was following them. This dream was cut short as an exposed tree root caught their foot causing them to fall, as they scrambled to get up they felt a weight hit their back. Flipping over and trying to fight off the monster they realized that their attacker was not some stranger turned into one of the monsters.
“Brother…” Yumeno’s eyes widened as they recognized the red hair and uniform, now torn up and covered in dirt, “are you ok-” Their question was cut off as they felt the skin on their back being torn by sharp nails. They try to talk but the pain is too much, the realization of how much danger they are in sinks in as Tachihara’s grip tightens crushing Yumeno’s lungs in the grasp.
Using what little strength they can muster they try to push him away as they feel their ribs crack and Tachihara’s nails dig deeper into their flesh, drawing blood. The pain was way too much but Yumeno couldn’t activate their ability, not against the one person who made them feel safe. Suddenly they felt the cold air hit their skin as their shirt was ripped away, the claws that did it drawing more blood from their shoulder. The feeling of their shirt being removed so aggressively caused Yumeno’s brain to flood with memories of when they were younger and still trapped in the Mafia. As the panic caused by the onslaught of memories distracted them and made them stop moving, they felt a sharp pang in their shoulder.
Looking to the side Yumeno saw Tachihara’s fangs penetrating his skin right above where he had scratched them. They wanted to scream and push him away or fight back in any way but they felt Tachihara’s claws tightening around them, causing deep gashes and bones to start popping out of place. The pain was unbearable and now it was too late, they couldn’t activate their ability if they wanted to, the blood just kept pooling out of their sides and shoulders. Tachihara suddenly let go and Yumeno felt a ray of hope as his grip on him loosened, only to realize everything would only get worse as they felt a pain in their neck that could only be described as a bear trap closing down around it. They didn’t have to worry about the pain lasting that long though, as they felt the trap closing more as Tachihara started to really eat like he was a mindless monster only capable of one thing. It didn’t take long after that Yumeno’s vision slowly faded to black as they lost the ability to take a single breath, going limp in Tachihara’s vice grip.
Even after Yumeno had passed the feasting continued, with the sounds of flesh ripping and a scarfing noise being heard coming out of the darkness of the forest. Tachihara repeatedly tore into their flesh, ripping out their jugular with his teeth while using the sharpened claws on his hand to pierce into their abdomen and rip out their heart before starting to devour that as well. Every living thing for miles had run away at the sounds and nauseating scent of blood.
Minutes passed when Tachihara felt a snap in his brain. His fangs turned back to normal human canines as his claw-like nails shrunk to normal size and his eyes turned back to normal. Tachihara blinked a few times before realizing the metallic taste in his mouth, “what the…” was all he could manage out before he noticed the body he was holding. Tachihara felt his heart drop as he stared at the mutilated corpse of the kid he had promised to protect, his mind started racing as all he could think of was that it wasn’t possible just repeating no in a soft voice. “Please, no. This didn't happen, please” his pleas falling on deaf ears.
Tachihara grabbed onto Yumeno and pulled them close, just repeating sorry over and over again as tears filled his eyes. “Please, someone let me take this back, please,” He begged to the darkness around him, “please, at least let me apologize.” as he said this Tachihara broke down in tears. Dragging both him and Yumeno’s corpse over to a tree he laid back against it and hugged the body close as he pulled out a small knife he kept concealed on his body, using his ability to hold it against his neck. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep you safe, that I actively hurt you. My sunshine.” Tachihara closes his eyes letting the knife plunge into his throat thinking back to the first time he met this kid he failed.
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You'll never know, dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away