M a s k e d || Inosuke x Reader ||

҉ b u r n i n g _ d e s i r e s ҉

P r o l o g u e

Running through the forest was a good and common past time of yours, in fact, it was all you ever really did. Nobody in the village really understood why. Shouldn't an idiot delinquent like yourself be painting over the school, pulling on kids hair and laughing through the streets?

They only saw you as the girl with nothing special, the runt of the pack, the let-down, all because you weren't a boring robot only living to please others.

No. You were individual, you had a spark that put you apart from the rest of this stupid place we call earth. You may not have had a dream or goal like they wished, but you knew how to have fun and laugh and run.

Sure, it cost you the respect from others that could have pushed you to great things. Sure, you didn't have the brains, but who would need that anyways? Skipping school to have fun was all that mattered, hang from a tree was all that mattered, chase after squirrels and rabbits, be chased by wolves and fox's was all that mattered.

But nothing good stays for long when fate isn't on your side.

You weren't the village sweat-heart like most people would expect, in fact, you where the exact opposite. They all disagreed with your way of life. Running through the forest late at night, putting away the chance for a future career just to sleep in a tree.

No they could never. You were so lucky to be born into one of the brightest and most resourceful villages in Japan, having some of the smartest and best doctors and lots of aspiring young souls; except you of course.

Even your older sister and brother were destined for great things!

But every little thing changed so quick.

Flashback

You ran as fast as you could, coughing up smoke, your clothes covered in soot and burnt at the ends.

The fire crackled behind you, singeing all the leaves and swallowing the wildlife whole. You were so far away from home, not wanting to be found by anyone and dragged back to the boring class room.

How had something so peaceful and relaxing turned so bad?

It was only a nap.

"I've got to... tell them." You whispered through your coughs.

Sliding down the mountain and jumping over many logs, you finally made it to the village wall and through the underground hole you dug many years back. You ran as fast as you possibly could even though your legs were begging you to stop and ripping at your muscles.

The headman had to know. You swung the doors open, not caring who the hell told you off for intruding there so called 'business meeting'.

"Orumaku San, please listen!" You pleaded through your heavy breath. "We have to evacuate the village, there's a fire in the woods and its growing. If we don't run soon, the village will-" You instantly stopped talking, head to the side, the burn of his hand settling in.

"Stop this at once." Chief Orumaku lowered his hand, straightening his posture. "Get back to school and stop playing with tricks and matches- better yet, leave the village and perish in the fire you claim to be real."

He payed no mind to you. Only turned his back and shoved you away.

He shoved away the chance to save his home, his family, your family.

Your family...

Running was no use now, a simple slow walk would do just fine. The tears silently rolling down your eyes as the fire neared, not only the village but the house that sat just by the wall, your haven.

To unknown reasons, your mother and father had passed away when you were just a babe, left all alone in the world with your older sister and former older brother.

Of course, no happiness last forever. Like a quote you once heard, but not knowing from where.

"Life can change, as sudden as the weather, it shifts and moves on. The sun can't shine forever."

Whenever happiness is destroyed, its always followed by the smell of blood.

The forest was your happiness ,the animals were your happiness... your sister was your happiness.

There weren't any screams, or cries for help. It was just panicking civilians, the smell of burnt flesh and a simple mask.

It was her mask, she always wore it when she danced at the festivals. No matter the situation, she always managed to cheer others up with her beautiful dances.

A light blue sheet of fabric caught your eyes from the flames. It was moving slightly, as if crawling away.

Curiosity got the best of you, biting for you to put it back in the flames or help it away. It was covered in blisters and open tendons that were flaking off into ash. It was your sister, crawling away inch by inch into a bed of roses; soon to be caught by the flames too.

She looked up at you, her eyes must have been barely working at that point, it was a miracle she was even still alive.

Her eyes were always so kind when she gazed upon you, she treated like no other. With kindness and love.

"I'm home, Tanrei." you smiled at her, tears overflowing your line of sight. "Sorry, I didn't go to school today, I was going to spend it with the forest but I thought it would be better if I said goodbye to you."

You were insisting to hold her remains in your arms, show how amazing she truly was to you.

She was your world after all.

"I love you so much sister, you have no idea. I'll never ever forget how much you care for me, just like I do for you." you caved in, arms loosely laying on your knees. "You've always been there for me when nobody was, you never dared to push me away, even when you were the one in need of help. I will repay you back, I promise." you reached out to what remained of her once silky brown hair, entwining it with your fingers as you spoke. "I don't ever want you to suffer- I never have. I promise you that I will make you better, you won't have to deal with me anymore, you'll be at peace with mum and dad and Shota... please tell how much I love him, you were- no... you are both the best siblings that anyone in the world could ask for." you put on the bravest face you possibly could, smiling through the pain and burning flesh you had to endure.

"I love you." 

Word count: 1121