Heart and Memory

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I didn't open my lids at first when I regained consciousness, unable to do anything. It smelled like the crisp pages of a freshly opened book, all around me. I felt my neck bent slightly, as if I were sleeping on my own shoulder. My fingers felt numb, but I didn't dare move them. My elbows were settled nicely on flat areas that resembled armrests. My shoulders were hunched over, and my feet were perfectly flat on the ground. Something was tight around my gut and my chest, as well as my ankles and thighs. Like something had tied me down. After a few more moments, I realized there was something wrapped around my neck as well.

"Finally awake, huh? It's about time," a voice, similar to my own, giggled. "C'mon, stop your faking. I know you can hear me, Little Dragon."

At those two final words, my eyes snapped wide open. "What...did you just say...?"

"Little Dragon," my clone chuckled as she looked at me. I studied my body, and realized she had injured me to an extent. There were multiple bruises across my arms, legs, and I felt some on my face. The clothes on me were ripped to a crazy extent, revealing quite a bit.

One of my pant legs were there, but many holes were in it. The other pant leg was shredded up to my knee. My jacket was also torn up quite a bit

My wrists were bound with heavy metals chains, as were my ankles, legs, stomach and chest. Even one around my neck. "Don't you remember?"

"Little Dragon..." I whispered to myself. "How do you know about that?"

"Simply because..." the peasant-resembling girl began, a teasing smile on her face. I squeezed my eyes shut. Don't say it. Don't say you're me. Please. "...of the girl tying you up over there."

I turned my head sharply, only to feel horrible pain in my neck. I grunted, trying not to cry out, but I felt tears sting my eyes. For some reason, though, this pain felt very familiar.

Despite this, I forced my eyes open and I looked at her. The chained girl from before. The metal links swirled around her mysteriously, with nothing supporting them. She had the same blank expression from before, and my gaze softened. Even though she resembled me to a scary extent, she seemed like Nanako. Sweet and childlike. Was this how people saw me?

I looked down at the thought, and the rag-wearing Shadow gripped my chin fiercely with her claw-like nails digging viciously into my skin. My neck hurt again, and I was sure this time it was the chain tight around it. I flinched as her glowing yellow eyes glared into mine.

"Don't look at that pathetic waste of space, Little Dragon," she spat. "At least ask me my name, if you're so polite."

I can't believe this is what's inside of me. "But...your name is Shadow Kaid—"

"Shut up, bitch!" the Shadow screeched, and I heard something from my side. It sounded like a crack, and horrible pain greeted me. My eyes watered at it, and some drops even fell gently down my cheeks. My ribs...Why do I feel like this has happened before? "You don't know a thing about Shadows! You just name them whatever you please!"

"I'm sorry!" I cried, wincing. "I'm sorry...! What is...your name? And...hers, as well?"

The creature in front of me seemed pleased as a sneer made its way onto her dry and cracked lips. "I...am Hatō. The muzzled girl over there is my sister, Memori."

My brows knit together in confusion. "M...Memori...? Hatō...?"

(A/N: 'Memori' is 'Memory' in Japanese, and 'Hatō' is 'Heart' in Japanese. X3)

Hatō shook her head, sending her crazy blue hair shaking and wild. "Here. Lemme tell you some things," she said, before snapping her fingers by Memori's face. She blinked slowly before a small glint of realization shone in the dull golden depths of her eyes. She moved her eyes carefully, trailing up the several links, and the chains around me tightened. I winced when I heard more cracks. They came from my ribs still, and I cried out, beginning to scream.

"Stop it!" I wailed. "Stop it, please!"

Hatō cackled. "No. But I'll tell you all about yourself, if you prefer that?"

I cringed. "Stop...stop it, please...I beg of you, stop..."

The peasant-resembling Shadow giggled and clapped her hands together once. "Oh, goodie. But I'm not sure I want to stop this madness!" she grinned. "After all, you're enjoying this, aren't you." It wasn't a question; just a ruthless statement.

Before I could respond, I heard a loud bang and I twisted my neck quickly, only for me to scream out again, this time much quieter. "Kai!"

More tears welled up in my eyes. No. Don't let them see this...Please please please, don't let them see me like this...!

"Kaida!" I heard Hanamura yell from below. He had a face that was torn between relief and distress. I wasn't sure as to why he'd be feeling either, quite honestly.

"Kaida-kun!" Chie-chan shouted as well. -kun? Wasn't it -chan before? Why the sudden increase of respect?

"Oh, welcome to the party," Hatō smiled widely. "I am Hatō, and my friend over here is Memori. Stand up, Memori."

The silent Shadow did so, and Hanamura gasped in surprise. "Two Shadows...?!"

Hatō giggled. "I know. This girl's bottling up quite a bit, isn't she?" she turned around, and looked at me as though she were deep in thought. "Now, where were we? Oh, right, I keep torturing you!" She smiled maniacally before snapping her fingers. The chains tightened under Memori's orders, and it squeezed out another scream of pure pain from me.

"Kai!" Yu shouted angrily. He turned his furious glare, something completely different from his blank one, onto Hatō. She was cackling as he yelled "You leave her alone!"

"Hmm, lemme thi—No," Hatō frowned. Does my inner self suffer from bipolar disorder or something? "She's enjoying this, so I'll continue."

"Who...w...would..." it hurt to speak, as most of my ribs were broken and still being strangled by the chains. "...e-enjoy...this sh...shit...!?"

Hatō giggled. "You, of course," she said with a sickly sweet smile. "You want to look strong for everyone, and pain is always a good way to look nice and powerful."

"Shut...the...c-crap..."

"You're so weak, Little Dragon," Hatō sighed. "But that's just because of Mr Yu Narukami over behind me. He's everything you aren't, and everything that's good about you, despite the lack of the latter. Perfect in every way. Perhaps I wouldn't have been born if it weren't for one thing."

I stiffened, and instantly knew what she was going to say next. "No! Don't say it!! Please, I beg of you!" My desire, my need, my pure longing for her not to speak my secret was tearing me apart, but it gave me strength to speak.

Hatō chuckled. "Maybe I won't, but it'll be difficult explaining Memori without it, so....NO!" she smirked. I felt broken, and squeezed my eyes closed. "You see, Memori is literally her locked up memories from when she was five years old and younger."

"Five years...old..." Yu knew exactly what was coming next when he heard those words. I could tell by the sharp glint in his eyes. "Shut up! That's her secret to tell!"

"Why five years?" Chie-chan asked, looking angry. She looked so weak, grabbing onto my bo for support to stay on her feet. Hanamura was holding her by the shoulder, keeping her upright.

"Because that was when she ran away from home," Hatō smiled. "And the only name she remembered was...Little Dragon."

I winced. Stop. Stop talking. Please.

"But...why didn't Narukami-kun or their parents remember her name?" Chie-chan looked utterly confused.

"Because..." Hatō sent me an evil grin.

"Shut up...!!" I screeched, feeling pain swell from my ribcage as I continued to scream. "Don't say a word!"

"She was adopted!"

Tears were waterfalling down my cheeks as Chie-chan and Hanamura both gaped. "A...adopted....?" Hanamura could barely believe it. "But they look so alike!"

"But they're not!" Hatō giggled. "They are related in no way whatsoever. It was mere chance that his family hit her with their car and took her in as a way of apology. Kaida isn't even her real name!"

My eyes widened, and I flinched as a sudden pain overtook my head as well. Images flashed in front of my eyes, and they bulged in a dazed manner.

It was dark all around, and nearly completely quiet as well. Pain was running up her legs. Hunger gnawed at her stomach. Suddenly, a flash of bright, bright lights pierced the darkness, and being as oblivious as she was, she began running for the lights, screaming for help. But the lights merely got closer, and she heard something inside her body shatter at the impact. She felt blood pour from her stomach, and saw people hurriedly run out of the now-paused vehicle.

"Oh my god...Taichi, it's a child!" a woman began panicking. "Sweetie, can you move? Can you hear me?"

"Mm..." she tried to keep her eyes open. Silver hair met her gaze. "Who..."

"She's still awake!" the woman said, a relieved tone in her voice. "Taichi, make sure Yu-bō doesn't see this."

"Little late for that," Taichi-san replied. By his side was a blank-faced boy with silver hair that matched his mother's.

"Then call an ambulance! She's going to die if you don't!" the woman continued to shout. She then knelt over the girl. "What's your name, sweetie?"

She muttered something incomprehensible, and the woman furrowed her brows in confusion. "What did you say?"

"Little..." the girl managed to say, unable to breathe. "...Dragon..."

"Oh, you must mean Kaida, right? The last name? But, what is your first name?"

"Little....Dragon..." the girl repeated, feeling liquid come from her lips.

"Hmm, I guess I'll call you Kaida-chan, even though it's a last name, okay?"

The girl, now named Kaida, weakly nodded her head as she was lifted into the woman's arms. "I'm Shizuka. Nice to meet you, Kaida-chan. Taichi, where's that ambulance!? She's bleeding all over the place!"

The boy from earlier walked closer. "Who are you...?"

"Little...Dragon..." Kaida forced out of her lips again.

"That's a weird name. I'm Yu. Nice to meet you, Little Dragon," the boy said. Kaida found herself smiling as darkness enveloped her. She didn't listen to the sound of approaching sirens.

My eyes opened again, and I noticed that the straitjacket had been gone from Memori. Was that something I forgot?

"More like they hit me....themselves," I muttered, and Yu had a look of guilt on his face.

"Kaida!" Hanamura yelled.

"Don't look at me..." I said quietly. "Don't."

"What?" Hatō had a mock look of surprise on her face. "Oh, Little Dragon, dearie, are you feeling pathetic? Because you are. You're the weakest, most insignificant person alive. You should be dead. The only reason you want to stay alive is because you love your 'brother' so much. But you know what? He's fake. You don't have any ties to this world. So you want to fade away, and never come back."

"That's...not...true..."

"Oh really? Well, you're insignificant to him, at least," Hatō smiled. "For example, when he insulted you before you entered the TV, saying you could never help. Or when you fought Chie-chan's Shadow. He told you to help with the defeat of her, but you couldn't do a thing. He pities you. Just like every other person you know. And you love their pity for you."

"Sh...shut...u...up..." I could barely suck in enough breath to speak as the chains tightened further.

"But you're stupid and don't deserve that pity!" Hatō screeched. The chains suddenly lowered me down to Hatō's level, and her claws grasped my exposed side. I felt the flesh there be cut up, and I screamed. "Even now, they pity you. You want this to continue, so they can worry over you...to make you feel like you matter to them, to boost your ego."

Hanamura's eyes widened. It was the same phrase used by his own Shadow.

"You..." I struggled to turn my neck to look at Hatō, right in the eye. It hurt to breathe, and my voice sounded miserably small. "will never...be..."

Yu's eyes widened, and I knew he was going to stop me. "Kai, no! It won't help anyone!"

"...me..." I finished my sentence. "Memori c-can't...be me...either...When Y-Yu's father hit...me with tha-that...car...It s...started....a new, b-better....life for...me...I-I locked u-u-up the...m-memories of...my p-past life because...o-of my new life...."

For once, Memori's eyes flashed. She looked up, and met my eyes. It was scary, as she moved slowly towards me. The ball-and-chain on both of her feet dragged with her, making a horrible scraping sound. She then showed me her hands, and I realized they were covered in metal to keep them from being used. But I heard a muffled sound come from her, from behind her muzzle. Hatō merely smiled in a sisterly way at Memori, and grinned sinisterly at me.

"She says 'Thank you for the power, Little Dragon'," Hatō chuckled. "Now, time for the show!"

Suddenly, red and black energy swarmed around them, and I instantly felt faint. C'mon, fight it! Chie-chan could, and so can you!

But when they transformed, I felt fear crawl up my spine slowly. I tensed with fright.

Hatō had turned into a black and cream-white dragon, that was fat and covered in scars and blood. Her jaws were thick and heavily set with sword-length fangs. Her eyes glowed a vicious ivory white, and her claws the sizes of elephants. There was a small heart marked on her left temple, and she bore a scary sneer. Golden flames danced inside her large mouth, in the back of her throat and spewing out of the sides. Her wings were ravaged, and the membrane was grey colored and glowing. Her tail was lined with scary spikes, and blood dripped from the end.

Memori, however, had turned into a small, tiny silver dragon lined with a deep red and black color. But chains still floated around her, and her wings were incredibly large for her size. They were long and they resembled a tower almost. Her back was lined with small spikes, and her lean body looked starved with very visible ribs. She still had a muzzle, and some of the chains remained around her frail-looking body. But her bloody and red eyes gleamed with emotion, unlike before. But the gaunt appearance and the too-tight skin resembled that of a corpse, making her all the scarier. Blood dribbled from her gaping jaw, spilling over her teeth and forming tiny puddles along the tile grounds.

"Shit!" Hanamura cursed, picking up Chie-chan before placing her weak self into a safer place. He then punched the blue card in front of him, and Jiraiya appeared behind him.

Izanagi had already appeared, and he was going for me, who was dangling in the air only held by Memori's chains. The sword was positioned to slice through the metal links, but as soon as the blade touched the silver, I screamed. Pain filled my insides and outsides, like I was getting hit by that car all over again.

"Oh, did I forget to mention?" Hatō's voice was hanging in the air, not coming directly from the beast. "Those chains will give her the pain you give them. You can't break her out unless you beat us."

Yu gritted his teeth together. "Fine! I'll fight you until she's free, no matter what!"

I turned my eyes slightly to look at Yu, my energy being sapped away by the chains. "Why...are you...fighting for...me?"

Hanamura drew his kunai, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Back off, you stupid Shadows! Leave Kaida alone! I don't care if she was adopted or Yu's blood sister! She's still herself, right!?"

"Haha, you sound so unsure," Hatō giggled. "And you, Chie-chan? Any...inputs, on Little Dragon's situation?"

Chie-chan looked angry, and glanced down at her shaking legs. I flinched. "Chie-chan..." I managed to say. "Don't...do a...thing...You shouldn't..."

"I'll fight! She's my friend!" Chie-chan snapped. My eyes widened, and more tears entered them. "What else should I do?! Run like a coward!?"

It was then that I realized; the chains around me were suddenly cold as ice. Despite being up against my rather warm body for so long, they remained the same, freezing temperature and seemed to grow colder by the second. I saw ice on my skin—which had little streaks of black and red inside—that was very gradually beginning to form. It was then that I also noticed ice crawling up my neck, frosting it. My breath was amazingly clear in the darkened air.

"So...cold..." I whispered. Yu noticed my discomfort while my tears froze to my cheeks, clinging painfully.

Memori's dragon form seemed to smile a bit underneath the locked muzzle.

Some chains, resembling snakes, shifted around me, and I realized they supported a muzzle similar to Memori's before she transformed. There were chains around it, and with my arms locked in place, they moved it over my mouth, slowly, before locking it tightly over my likely-blue lips. It hurt, as it tightened and tightened until it hurt to so much as adjust my jaw.

"Mmm!" I tried to speak, but no understandable noise came from me. It was all just nonsense.

"Kaida-kun!" Chie-chan yelped. "Narukami-kun, she's frozen solid!"

I felt Yu's worried gaze fall upon me, and I closed my eyes as the ice incased them as well. So...sleepy...

My ears, and my hair were slowly covered in frost. My toes and fingers felt numb. My stomach was shivering on its own till the nerves wouldn't feel anything at all. My lashes were uncomfortably close to my cheeks. The pain that was once in my ribs had vanished. I felt nothing at all, after a while.

"Kai!" Yu shouted, but it was a dull sound. I heard nothing. I felt nothing. I saw nothing.

I am nothing.

----Third Person----

"Kaida!" Yosuke shouted with anger. She was covered over with black and crimson ice, her hair limp off her back. The chains around her came from the silver dragon who was reserved in the corner. Fury came over him, and he clapped his hands together. Jiraiya responded, and sent a violent gust of wind towards the Shadow. But she quickly retaliated with a chain of her own, blocking the attack.

Yu looked on fire with rage, his hands shaking as he commanded Izanagi to defeat Hatō with his blade. Izanagi seemed to feel the same way about Kaida, which was understandable considering that he was Yu's Persona.

The sword cut through to the dragon's wing, but Hatō merely smiled before snapping her jaws around Izanagi's middle. She shook him around like a rag doll before throwing him to the wall. Yu followed his motions and felt his pain.

"Narukami-kun!" Chie cried out, her heart aching for his sake. She wasn't falling for him, that she knew. But her eyes fell on something by his body as she worried.

It was a small instrument.

Or, on closer inspection, a violin. When Chie had joined Kaida for bo practice that one time, she briefly mentioned being able to play the violin. But it only tugged on Chie's memory now. Looking up, the green-wearing student noticed the silver dragon of Memori staring at her curiously with large, silver eyes. The cage-like muzzle seemed very uncomfortable to wear, in Chie's opinion.

Reaching downwards, she carefully lifted the instrument into her arms, cradling it as one would for a newborn. The bow was in her fingers, and Chie knew not to touch the horse hairs from personal experience. She then turned her wide and fearful gaze to the Shadow above her.

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