Colorblind (-Hiroko-)

[M.A.P.]

Part 1

Having taken to her new life rather well, M.A.P. found herself working, training, and slowly though steadily becoming stronger. With consistent meals, a revolving exercise agenda, and the stability of day to day life- she was feeling better. Remembering more eaisily, her mind slowly becoming sharp enough to remember details long into the week without asking for reminders. Though she did become a bit more anal about cleaning, she only did it when Mr Katashi wasn't around- being it seemed to annoy him when she did clean. The only section she didn't touch, as per their contract, was anything above the kitchen baseboards- the floor was hers to clean as she pleased everything was out of bounds. As were several parts of the domicile but she didn't mind. She was bound by contract, no need to oppose it.

Tonight she was up late. Mr. Katashi off gallivanting about, spending his usual amount of time away from home on a Friday. M.A.P. had become used to him being around only enough to get her moving to class, to his class, and home again. She honestly did not venture far- even on her runs, which she still did despite his constant scolding- her running usually lasting for several hours into a few of their pre-schedule training sessions. For this, she was required to carry a watch. She disliked the object- it made her wrist hurt after a wearing it. So for now it was off, and sitting in her room, next to her normal clothing.

Him being gone gave her the opportunity to use the training area alone. Though she found the placement of everything awkward, she had slowly learned to walk around it. As per tradition, all the lights, excluding the one in the kitchen were off. She didn't like training with the light on- she didn't want to see the movements, she preferred to feel them as they came. Pausing, adjusting her black sports bra and spandex shorts- looking out the window to see Honcho chasing birds. His new pastime being the simply hunting and barking pure madness at the only creatures smaller than him- birds. She shook her head, he would be fine outside.

Returning to the center of the designated training spot, she adjusted the bandages on her hands. Her bandaged knuckles had almost bled completely through the material- she had been strengthening them but her judgment in distance had become...off- not so much which required correction but enough to be the difference between an 'ow' or a (&@%*^.

She winced slightly, not her knuckles but her back- her number..her burned arm- they tingled and stung more sharply than they had in months. Bad memories festered there, burned, tore, and destroyed. She shook her head, shivered and took at stance. Basic, simple- stance one against...air. She sighed. Mr Katashi had told her to stop practicing with the invisible, use the pillars- toughen up with something solid.

[M.A.P.]

Part 2

Hesitant at this- though alone, without being carefully watched, she didn't mind trying at least. Squaring up to a beam, she looked it over.

At least the enemy in her mind moved.

Shifting her weight to one leg, she simply practiced touch contact. Keeping the rotation slow though the switch and the hit held enough force to make the beam to- still stand as firm and as unmovable as it had been proving to her all week it had been. Hit, switch, hit switch, hit switch, hit. Both hands were kept behind her back, each hand held a wrist- keeping the muscles tight as her focus was on her thighs, knees, calves ankles and feet.

She moved to follow through with a roundhouse- more for the sake of doing a complete stretch as opposed to this half hearted flexing- but as her foot came in contact with the pole it shifted and became anew.



"Talbot," she choked out, her steps quick to move away and step back.

The darkness of the room was gone, only white brilliant piercing light remained. The walls were made of rare metals forged into pure white walls- the floor where crimson now pooled around tiny feet. Looking up her eyes grew wide, deep violets shimmering. Small blood covered hand, raven hair which had yet to reach past her shoulders.

The tall man, wrapped in garments of pure white- a small sneer of a smile appearing on his bony face, "Ah, My Darling, fine job," his bushy thistle colored hair seeming to bounce slightly as he walked over the fallen body, adjusting silver tinted glasses, "A little messy- though to be expected considering his level."

Chains rattled, she shifted slightly, head bowed- a stance of obedience, submission. Do not look up, do not speak, only listen. Do not move, do not breath too loudly, stand still. Violet eyes rested on the sandy blond hair of the fallen. Fragments of protruding bone could be seen with the naked eye- as could the indentation of the youth's skull- the hit having been hard enough to not only fracture but to shatter enough skull to love a bit or two.

But that had only been the minor damage- the loss of his eye and the force of his own nose being pushed into his brain was what had killed this child. His murderer, no older than him, no older than a year.

Gloved hands pressed on small shoulders, dug in with a tenacity and small content purr emanating from the tall form. Violet eyes half closed, the sensation would have made a normal child cry out as small punctures drew blood past flesh. Do not speak. Do not cry. Do not move. Stay still and obey.

"Strength comes from pain, My Sweet," the tall man purred, bringing his head down to just above hers- it would have been ridiculous for him to bend all the way over, "32011, Christian, will never know this," his hands released her shoulders, he stood, straightened his glasses and waved a hand to the unseen crew to come clear away the boy and begin the paper work.

[M.A.P.]

Part 3



He smiled, lenses flashing, "I was wise to allow you into the lower rankings," he spat on the fallen, "weed out the weak."

Violets looked up, expressionless face showing no sign of resentment or anger, not fear nor awe- simply blank. His upper lip raised in a sneer- before she could move a sharp palm arched a sharp blow against her cheek. Sending tiny feet skidding backwards on the highly polished floor before she fell backwards. Violet eyes stared up as he towered, a giant among gnomes. His face rigid with what could only be described as outrage and anger.

"Who told you to make eye contact? Who gave you the order to meet my expression with your own?" He raged, stepping forward only after she had stood. Gave her no time to move out of the way, only time to defend. Her hands coming up and blocking a hit which would have blinded.

She pushed his hands to the sides, her tiny voice rang out in both memory and in true life, "To close!"

She wasn't old enough- wasn't fast enough to dodge- sharp palms struck her stomach. She winced, grunted lightly, the scratched were small- minor, would only bleed a little. Shaking her head, she bowed her head but as he assumed victory, the tiny girl charged the giant. Knowledgeable enough and trained enough to utilize a roundhouse but not tall enough or old enough to put sufficient force behind it or to reach only where his shoulder would have been- if he had not stepped away, stepped behind with a cackle.

A surge of electricity send her to her knees with a soft thud. Shivering slightly, she exhaled a breath hot enough to be seen- bowing her head she stayed still as he paced around her.

"My Sweet, perhaps it is the snow which causes your mind to drift.The snow- that brilliant colorless white.." as if he was struck with inspiration he nodded, "Color. We shall give you color, My Darling. Color for focus."

Standing she shook her head...

"Just the area, I am in the dark, just in the house," raising her hands to her face, palms pressed against her eyes and cheeks, trying to mash away the memory. She was lone in the dark. Alone. Safe. Alone.

And for a blissful moment she was in the dark.

Lights snapped on, brilliant white, silver walls, the heavy smell of medical stringent, cold steel and ominous endings.

"Come along now. Time for your color."

She turned, planting a fist to the gut of the owner of the voice- a thug, a mindless drone, a servant- a life to be toyed with just as her own. Watched him double over, felt the thick black hair between her fingers, reveled in the sicking crunch of his nose against her knee. He fell- yet she felt no joy. This was a hollow victory as was every one which had been 'earned'.

[M.A.P.]

Part 4

More came. Only two- just enough to delay and detain. Murderers, law breakers, monsters of old habits, seeking redemption in life but finding only their old blood lusts and ways to greet them- which, in their mind, was just as it should have been. Disfigured, misshapen, cruelly altered by the one called 'Talbot'. Their owner, their master, the man who ran this caged home for children in need of correction. Both lumbered forward, both sneered as thoughts of 'simple enough' ran through their heads.

Violet eyes faded to black, she slid eaisily past them. A thick arm swung at her, lowering her head- just missing the fist and sliding past them on the floor. Hopping her feet, a beginner's wide stance was taken. It had always been easy to fell these giants. Leaping up, foot striking just shy of a cheek bone, heel skimming into a temple.

Her pale heel slammed into the pillar, the blood flowing from her shoulder flew in a thick pattern off her flesh to the floor and the pillar, as the thick wood gave a loud crack.

She panted, her internal temperature raising to nearly beyond feverish- too much longer and she would burn out from the pressure and the strain of maintaining such heat.


She grunted as large hands grabbed her, threw her to the floor. The intention and goal to stun long enough to gain an upper hand. Imagine an adult fighting a child for the upper hand in a battle for control and power. Odd, no?

She had thrown her arms out to stop herself from hitting too hard, a heel drop from her attacker prevented a secure fall, her arm flexed in an awkward direction- her shoulder slammed itself out of socket- she screeched, the instantaneous pain near blinding- instinctively reached for her shoulder. No tears will fall from black eyes.

Her abuser laughed, his voice echoed in her ear and a deep rage flooded her mind. He was a fool- only a fool would pick her up as he did at this stage in a fight. Her seeming defeated form brought forth to this man's attention that he would not win this fight- as her foot slammed into his throat, crushing the windpipe with the force of the initial hit.

He let go, she fell to her feet, landing solidly as he fell back- fell to his knees gasping desperately choking strangling on his own panic and lack of air. His eyes rose, within them the fear and respect she, the tiny figure- the killer of those her own age, the dog and the true monster- deserved. She had no distance to cross and he was too weak, too stunned to defend himself. No mercy for the weak. Her heel slammed across his face deepening the crack in the pole.

Panting harder, body shaking,

A flash of lightly, a cool cunning smile, "Goodnight, My Darling."

[M.A.P.]

Part 5


Hitting the floor with a heavy thud, and a wince. Her world spun behind barely open eyes. She had no ability to stand, her entire body was drained weak, without feeling...beyond her arm and number. The fire in them burned more raging than that of one intending to consume a forest, one intending to consume her. Her chest heaved, small puffs of heat passing her lips. The cold floor feeling good on her flesh.

Her burning arm lifted, the other lay slack and limp- only the muscle holding it into place, and wiped blood- fresh and flowing freely from her eyes. Through her clouded sight she could only see darkness..tiny highlights of light.

She lay in the dark, safe, conscious, but too tired, too drained to stand or to call out. She forced herself to shift, failed- she was laying on..something- landed on something hard and sharp. The reflected light shone on a the pillar a large piece missing- that...she must be laying on that. Her heel ached softly, her entire body ached at that- her shoulder stung, other arm and shoulder burned. Her panting slowed to a gentle breath, slow steady, calm, cooled- she seethed winced, she had not been ready for this. She hadn't been prepared.

Closing blood covered eyes, exhaling a long pained breath. She would have to clean-

Outside, Honcho scratched wildly at the door. Barking, whining, howling, this tiny dog would have been mistaken for rabid and half mad if not for the lack of ruby red eyes and foam. He was sane, non rabid- only desperate to get inside! His human was in danger or hurt and there wasn't one damn doggy door in sight or smell! INSIDE! Tiny white paws scrabbled at the doorframe, wearing his nails down. INSIDE! He whipped around and began howling! Howling as loud as his puppy lungs would allow- they always came to you when you howled! They always come!

[M.A.P.]

The light clicked on, a voice. Lifted. She hadn't made a single sound, winced at the movement- an out of socket arm isn't the most comfortable thing. It hung almost normally though it sent a wave of nausea and pain through her. But something- other than her arm- was wrong. The once vibrant colorations of the world were gone- mind you she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open- each open and close of usually violet or blue lenses seemed to switch lacked focus- for a long while they remained black. Her body was worn, tired, exhausted- broken.

Honcho stayed close by but not under the big human's feet. His nose went wild- he could smell the blood, sweat- he could smell is sage and lavendar human... the mint was long gone- she smelled of raspberries- his little ears twitched. What a new scent. New and worrisome, he whined.

Lain out on the table, cleaned and repaired as best could be done. She lips moved once or twice, no sound. Don't speak. She was trapped in the white room- too tired to move too drained. What was- where had Hiroko gone? No..wasn't he fixing her? Black eyes watched him- only seeing the sharp smile of Talbot.

It was when he picked her up for the second time that the real pain shot through her arm- but she couldn't lift it, could barely move and each step he took felt as though the sharp hands Talbot had possessed were pressing in once again. Talbot...Talbot did not carry people, dark blues focused on her carrier. Hiroko Katashi, he'd come back. But. Why was his skin gray..why was Hiroko's gray? Had he gone to some party, costumed event? No..he would've said something yes? It was in the terms of the contract- she tells him, he tells her.

Honcho didn't follow- he went in investigate the scene, sniffing about but being careful to walk around as opposed to through the blood. His ears went straight up- his fur on end and he snarled.

She winced as he put her down. Seethed softly, dark blue eyes shimmering with not tears of pain but confusion. He was..why was he gray? Why? Mr Katashi was a vibrantly colored man- why was he gray? At his question- his expression, black eyebrow raised- why was it black! It should have been another color- should have been something different. Where was the color? What had happened to..this was a cruel joke- but...everything was just as he was. Gray. Black. White.

His question- her eyes focused on him for a moment, glasses, lanky, white coat, a terrible smile, her eyes grew wide for a moment- fear, pure fear- she understood it again- this memory was- had been for fear. "Talbot." He wasn't Talbot..shaking her head slightly, the vision of the lanky man fading away from her eyes- returning that of Hiroko to where it should have been, "Mr. Katashi, I- a memory returned."

It was all she could give him as she, out of habit, started to slowly force herself up with what little energy she had left. She belonged on the floor. That was..where she was supposed to be.