The Spirit Within [Kasey]

Just as Setsuna could be there for her, she was sure Goliath was there for him. At least, that was how she saw them. Sure, it was more of a master and servant relationship, but they had each other. They didn't need to like each other, but at least they were never really alone. They were there, when the other needed them. Even if he was just a shadow would would mimic the one that casted him, he was still his own being. Even if they were bonded to the same spirit, they were their own souls. They both put each other in check.

"I don't think she hates you." her voice, was calm, despite the fact he was yelling. "When I... well," it danced on her tongue, perhaps the only secret she kept from him, "There's this old man that tells stories. No one else listens to him, but I do. Anyways, he told me a story like that. I think it was about a man named Seiguro." She slowed down her words, thinking about the tale. She didn't really pay attention to his outburst, or his breakdown. She was trying to understand the story that wasn't being told.

". . . I think she's just confused." Kasey would say. "If I wanted to be a hero, and my father told me he was a villain, I would be confused too. It would be hard to fight for justice, when your own parent isn't facing it." She grabbed her chin in thought, "Maybe if she saw who you are now, she won't be so mad. Maybe, she can take your stories and learn from them to be a better hero." Kasey went on, trying to make a story out of nothing.

"Maybe, by understanding how you ended up a villain, she could stop others from doing the same? Then she can be like the best hero ever because she could get into their heads too, and that would be thanks to you." She said it, less of a question, and more of a suggestion. She didn't really understand how families worked, but if someone she cared for was the embodiment of the one thing she wanted to get rid of, she would try to understand, for both their sakes. Maybe the girl was no different.

He had calmed, and his words were nothing more than a confirmation that he too, was confused. If he was anything like her, he didn't know how to express himself, at least correctly. What in his eyes, would be acceptable, would be seen as mad, in other people's eyes. That isn't taking in account the protective stance on being a parent.

He told his side, and even brought up a time he tried to see her. So, this other woman too, was in this child's life, but wanted no part of him? She, she was the true villain.

"She welcomed you with her friends." she said, "If she hated you, she would have dismissed you. She would have done everything she could to bring you down, if she saw you as evil." she spoke again, thinking aloud.

"We should simply kill those that make our lives hard. Murder is the answer. Like the Lab. Like those men did to you. Does their actions not warrant-"

She thought aloud, speaking to herself, only for the reason that Setsuna could not drown out her words. It was the way she could ignore him, and get her thoughts together. She would continue to do so, knowing he could also hear her words, and perhaps it would help him as well."She is confused, and probably wants to see you for the best of you, not the worst. " She sighed, and sunk her head into her knees.

"I wish I had someone like Miku in my life. She sounds like a really good kid. I wish you two could figure it out. I think you both do what I do." she spoke, bottling up her own feelings. "I don't think you both like to show your real feelings and you just hide it in like, anger?" She dropped her head. Hiding her face from it. Even in his difficult life, she would trade hers, for his in a flash.

"Maybe I can ask her, when I see her at UA."

"You've already allowed me to live here." she would say. It was a lot more than anyone else had given her. While she could have made use of it, and simply never talked to him again, it felt wrong to simply take advantage of him. She felt in debited to him, a feeling she despised and wanted nothing more than to repay him. Each and every lesson he taught, seemed as if she owed him more and more. It was not something she woudl tell him, but she would do everything to try and improve his life, before it was all over. She had to pay her own respects, to a strange man who had invited a strange girl home after just meeting her. But in a world of quirks and powers, anything was possible.

"Well so much for a landlord and tenant relationship." she would say,laughing a bit. She rose her head to look at him, she would begin tearing the boxes of cereal slowly, as if she needed something to do. Something to busy the voice in her mind.

"No one is perfect, if you didn't make mistakes, then I'd be worried." Kasey said, "We don't have to be the best, we just have to be better." She believed it, if not from herself, then from Master Seki. He was nothing more than an old man who understood far too much about quirks. IF she could learn a story a day, then her study on quirks would expand and she would begin to grasp them all. Perhaps, he was the answer to all of her problems.

She only had one goal, one drive. It was money. She could have turned to evil for it, but that would subject everyone to pain, just as she was. IF she was going to sooth the world, then she had to start with an endless fortune. For now, that was her drive. She had no reason to try and manipulate G. She had no reason to intrude on his life. She only wishes for the best, as he has given her the chance to live her life as she had planned, and perhaps even better.

"I'm not smart, I don't know everything." she would say to him, "I simply know, what I know." And it was true for the most part. She had taken up reading in most of her freetime, as it was easier than trying to talk to others. But the more she talked with G, the less she felt the need to cut herself from society. Around him, she felt like she was apart of something greater. Perhaps a family was all she needed to feel normal.

Maybe his house would become a haven to just random people with no place to go. Just a thought. At least, to her.

Again. AGAIN!

She wanted to ask for it again, but she had shut down. Her eyes closed, her body both clenched up, and relaxed. She opened her eyes to see him talking again. Her ears had shut out all sound in that moment, only catching the last few words. It didn't matter what else he said, there was more to be questioned. Their time was limited. The longer she stayed up, the more she would have to eat, and the more time he spent with her the less villains were being fought. Or maybe, tonight he would not go out, Maybe this night he would keep him company.

"Mano poly, what is that?" she asked, yawning again. Perhaps she could get a few more things figured out for the next day. As far as she imagined, they would be planning for the next coming nights. It was a weird thing, to be planning for tomorrow. All she did was plan for money, but now she made plans with another person for once. It was a change in her life, and perhaps for what she wanted. For now, she would let it be, and let her mind grasp more of the world she lived in. There was no many luxuries she never explored or had in her life until now. Now was the time for her to learn how the world worked.

She wasn't tired. She wanted to stay up. She could have stayed up. She could have stayed up forever.

But the next moment she found herself getting picked up and carried to her room? It was a strange turn of events. How long had it been? A week? A week she had known the man and they had came to this. Her weight, would be like paper as she carried her, her bones lightening, hollowing themselves. It was a useless trick, but for moments like this, he would at least not have to put all of his energy into something so silly. She wasn't going to fight it, but she would make it easy.

She would plop onto the bed, atop the blanket, only to get another pat on the head. She would have not mind his intrusion normally, but in the corner of the room was nothing but a tarp covered in blood. With it, bits of flesh lay, along with various objects made of bone. She didn't bother cleaning it up yet, as she had intended to come right back to her room. The smell of it would fill the room, and she would wonder what he would do.

"No... I... Okay." there was no point in fighting it. Tomorrow perhaps, they would play the Mano Poly. "I will, big brother." she would speak, unsure of what to do. It was his house, and his rules. For now, he would be the one making the rules.

What was she to say? He cared, and he seemed to care a lot. She didn't know what to do with someone like him. She wanted him to leave, but also wanted him to stay. Her room was barren, with the exclusion of the various pieces of bone all over the room. She didn't have anything there for herself, only what she needed, when she needed it. There was no reason for her to buy more than needed. In the far corner, a pile of random clothing from the store. Most of them were donated, and most of them costed no more than change in her pocket.

"Tomorrow, I want to play the Mano Poly." she would tell him, "But tonight, I must clean." she spoke, sitting up from her bed, looking at her tarp, almost disgustingly. It wasn't the smell that bothered her. She was used to it. It was the various tools and toys she made. None of them seemed useful enough for anything and all of them were still covered in blood. They were unclean, and soon would be stained if left that way. She wasn't going to sleep, but perhaps she had something else to do that night.

"T-Tomorrow. . . " she said again, looking at him

But it was not about the game. She wanted to find the people that were in his life. She needed to understand, what made a family, a family.