#ishimukuro

Being an ex-SHSL Soldier, Mukuro has had her share of dealing with pain in the past. Whether it was emotional or physical, it was nothing she couldn't learn to endure or shake off.

However, the agonizing pain she was experiencing right now was a genuine exception.

The 22-year old veteran was currently laying with elevated and open legs on a hospital delivery bed surrounded by a few doctors, beeping hospital monitors, and her husband, Kiyotaka, who was trying to encourage and soothe his panting wife (albeit with a bandaged hand, which Mukuro had fractured hours earlier). After eight hours of enduring rough labor, she felt like she was ready to pass out. However, she did her best to resist that urge and regain the strength to bring hers and Ishimaru's child into the world.

"Okay, Mukuro-san," one of the doctors told her, "You're almost there. Now, on your next contraction, I'm gonna need you to start pushing."

"Mmm-hmm..." Mukuro nodded, still taking steady breaths with a sanguine face.

When she felt another strong pain surge through the lower half of her body, Mukuro clenched her teeth as she began bearing down and gripping Ishimaru's hand forcefully. After a few seconds, Mukuro tried to catch a much-needed breath before repeating the painful process yet again a few minutes later.

"Ahhh!" She cried during a push, "Taka, I don't know if I can do this..."

"Mukuro, you mustn't give up!" Ishimaru assured her, trying to endure the throbbing in his bandaged hand, "You've come so far and you're almost there!"

"Yeah, but you're not giving birth, now are you?"

"That may be true, but you're still doing great, my dear! Besides, who was it who told me to 'fight our fears head on'?"

"Ugh... me," Mukuro groaned, trying to pant away another contraction for a short break.

"Correct! Dear, just think of how wonderful our child's going to be!" He told her, encouragingly, "Before you know it, we'll be parents! I believe in you, my love!"

Ishimaru's caring words were once again enough to make Mukuro smile, even as she felt another contraction come. Inhaling sharply, she gave another big push and furthered the process to bring her descending baby into the world. It still felt like several sharp objects were being pierced through her body, but she still refused to yield to exhaustion yet.

After nearly half an hour of a repeated procedure of pushing, hand gripping, and encouraging wife-coaching, Mukuro squeezed Ishimaru's hand as she felt another contraction come up, even though it felt like she was going to scream at that point.

"Okay, here comes the rest of the head and the shoulders," the delivery person pointed out, "Take a deep breath, and push!"

Bearing down one last time with a yell and a strong grip on her husband's hand, Mukuro soon felt her now-emptied waist relax completely as she and Ishimaru heard the much coveted cry of a newborn.

"Congratulations," the delivery person said with a smile as they cleaned off the drenched infant, "It's a healthy girl."

"Date of birth: July 3rd at 7:15 pm," another doctor stated as they snipped the infant's navel cord.

Once the still-crying baby was placed into her mother's arms, both parents instantly fell in love with their newborn daughter. Despite both of them being utterly exhausted, Mukuro gave a genuine smile at her baby while Ishimaru couldn't help but begin bawling tears of pure felicity upon becoming a father.

That night in the recovery room, the new parents were finally given some alone time with their sleeping daughter, whom was still mostly swaddled in a pink blanket and in Mukuro's arms.

"You did great tonight, dear," Ishimaru said softly as he shared a kiss with his wife, "Our little girl she's so wonderful; so beautiful!". Suddenly, their baby began cooing as her eyes slowly opened.

"Kiyotaka, look," Mukuro added, "She has the same crimson eyes as you do."

"Ah, she does! Maybe in the future, she'll be lucky enough to have her mommy's adorable freckles?"

"Oh, you..."

"What should we name her, Mukuro? Did you pick out a name?"

"Umm... how about 'Chiyo'? It seems like a nice name."

"It is, but I don't want to name her after my mother, no matter how much she looks like her," Ishimaru insisted as he let the baby grab his index finger. "After all, I want my daughter to have her own individual name and work towards her own future! So, how about..."

"Aiko," Mukuro said after thinking it over a bit.

"'Aiko'? Why that name in particular?"

"I've... heard the name before and it's supposed to mean 'little loved one', right? I think it fits her perfectly, don't you?"

"Yes... I like it!" agreed Ishimaru, "Besides, 'Ishimaru Aiko' does have a nice ring to it. Aiko-kun! Do you choose to accept your new name with full responsibility?"

The newly-named Aiko paused for a brief second before happily cooing at both of her parents. She then made a few grabbing motions at Ishimaru with her small hands.

"I think someone wants to say 'hello'," Mukuro said smiling, "Do you want to hold her, Kiyotaka?"

"I'd love to," He responded as he took the newborn into his arms. As he softly stroked Aiko's thin black curls, he could have sworn he saw the tiny girl smile at him. Just the sight of her alone was enough to make the almost-23-year old male politician's heart melt. "Welcome to the world... my sweet little Aiko."

As Aiko gave a quiet little yawn and slowly drifted into sleep once again, she was returned to Mukuro's arms, all while her parents had loving gazes locked on her. Even after those long nine months of Mukuro feeling her daughter slowly grow inside of her and even having a fair share of worries with Ishimaru, everything was worth it at that point.

"So, which store would you like to go into first, Mukuro?" 

Mukuro snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing the question of her boyfriend, Kiyotaka Ishimaru, the Super High School Level Hall Monitor. It was quite sunny and warm that fine summer Saturday, so the two decided to go a local outlet mall in Osaka. For the occasion, Mukuro convinced Ishimaru to wear something simpler (a short-sleeved gray collar shirt, some dark-blue jeans, and brown shoes) other than his usual white gakuran, pants, and black boots. However, Ishimaru still kept his trademark armband on for the sake of his usual outfit. He did however convince Mukuro to wear a pretty white sundress under a sky blue yarn jacket, brown sandals, and an adorable pink strawberry headband in her chin-length jet black bob.

"Oh umm..." Mukuro pondered, not quite sure where to go. She scanned the Directory until she found a shop that caught her eye. "There! ...Let's go there."

Ishimaru moved his crimson orbs to see which store his girlfriend was pointing to. Upon closer inspection, he saw that she had her steel blue eyes on a candy store.

"Huh. I didn't know you liked sweets, Mukuro!" He pointed out, smiling.

"It's... been a while since I've had any," She added in simple tone. "You know, since I've spent so much time in Fenrir and all."

"Ah, that's right. I don't suppose your military rations had any candy in them, did they?"

"No, that would be silly. Let's just get going, Kiyotaka."

Entwining her hand in his (which made the prefect blush and jump a bit in surprise), the two followed the directory's instructions on how to get to their destination. After a few minutes of walking, Ishimaru and Mukuro finally arrived at the rather colorful candy shop.

With an almost robotic stare, Mukuro nonchalantly skimmed the shelves for something that would stand out to her. She stopped upon coming across a small bin of something called "saltwater taffy". The SHSL Soldier cringed a bit at the bizarre name, but decided to place about fifteen pieces of different flavors into a small plastic bag instead of being close-minded.

"You're not going to buy something, dear?" She asked the empty-handed Ishimaru standing next to her while paying for her bag of taffy.

"Hmm? Oh no. After all, too much candy is bad for your teeth!" Ishimaru told her.

Once the taffy was paid for, the couple left the shop with the cashier waving them bye and telling them to come again. Ishimaru and Mukuro found a nearby bench so the latter could eat a bit of her taffy.

"Well... here it goes..." Mukuro sighed, hesitantly unwrapping a piece of watermelon taffy.

Putting the piece of candy in her mouth, the mercenary let it sit for a few seconds so it could get softer before she chewed it. With each chew, Mukuro's face lit up with pleasure at the faintly salty but mostly sweet and fruity taste.

"So, how is it?" Ishimaru asked her.

"D...Delicious...!" She beamed after swallowing the chewy treat. Blinking a few times, Mukuro switched back to her usually calm composure before handing a piece of cinnamon bun taffy (for it was a fact that Ishimaru enjoyed the taste of cinnamon buns, something that he would only admit to a few). "Would you like to try some, Kiyotaka?"

"Eh? But Mukuro, I have yet to eat lunch!" He objected, "After all, it's important to eat a proper meal before consuming any sweets!"

"Come on," Mukuro groaned, "One piece of taffy won't kill you. ...Please?" She said the last one cutely with a slight puppy-dog pout.

"Oh... alright," Ishimaru sighed, not being able to resist his girlfriend's cuteness.

As Mukuro placed the unwrapped piece of taffy on her boyfriend's tongue, Ishimaru withdrew his tongue slowly chewed the candy before his eyes widened a bit with surprise and slight pleasure. Swallowing, a bit of pink flushed over his cheeks.

"Hmm, that was actually quite delicious!" He admitted, smiling. "May I please try another piece, dear?"

"...Very well then," Mukuro agreed as she chewed on a piece of strawberry taffy. "Close your eyes and I'll give you a surprise flavor."

Closing his eyes, Ishimaru parted his lips and awaited another piece of taffy. However, his eyes flung wide open as his lips were touched by not another piece of saltwater taffy, but rather Mukuro's equally sweet lips. Briefly returning the surprise kiss, Ishimaru pulled his lips away from Mukuro's.

"Well now..." Ishimaru breathed, still blushing, "I'd say that was just as satisfying! Not to mention, the flavor taffy you were chewing stayed true to your name, 'Miss Strawberry'!"

"T-Taka!" Mukuro chuckled as her face turned red enough to resemble the aforementioned fruit, "Do you really have to call me that now?"

"Indeed I do. After all, your face is just as red as one... Miss Strawberry~! May I please try some more of that taffy?"

"Okay. But not too much, or you won't be able to get any lunch after!"

Mukuro handed Ishimaru a piece of chocolate malt taffy, which he then proceeded to chew in his mouth. To return Mukuro's earlier actions, the SHSL Hall Monitor gave her an open mouth kiss so she could taste the chocolate flavor on his lips and tongue. After about ten minutes, the pair ceased their game of repeated passionate and sweet taffy kisses when only eight pieces of saltwater taffy remained.

"Why don't we go get some lunch in the food court?" Mukuro suggested with a heavy blush on her freckled face.

"I agree," Ishimaru replied with a blush of his own. "After all, all that sugar can spoil a man's appetite~."

As a Super High School Level Soldier and ex-agent of the notorious mercenary group Fenrir, Mukuro Ikusaba was not one to show her true feelings to just anyone so suddenly. Well… there was one boy named Makoto Naegi, whom she’s had a crush on ever since the day he smiled at her in spite of her dangerous talent.

However, she knew that the chances of Naegi returning her feelings were between slim and none. The reason was obvious: He had feelings for the SHSL Detective, Kyouko Kirigiri. Seeing how hopeless it was to get Naegi to like her as more than just a good friend, Mukuro decided that as long as Naegi was happy, so was she.

Little did she know though, someone else would soon come her way.

"Ikusaba-kun?" A voice had asked, "Are you alright?"

Mukuro looked up from her thoughts as her gray-blue orbs made contact with the crimson ones of Kiyotaka Ishimaru, the Super High School Level Hall Monitor.

"Y-Yes, Sir," She stated somberly while giving him a formal military salute, "I’m alright."

"You don’t sound alright. If there’s anything you need to talk about, I’ll listen."

"…It’s not really a big deal. There was this… boy I liked, but he has feelings for another girl. Nae— umm, this boy was special to me; he made me feel like I was actually human. Actually worth something."

"Worth… something?" Ishimaru asked, trying to conceal the pink flush in his cheeks. "Ikusaba-kun, you are worth something!"

"I assure you, Sir, I’m not," She sighed with a look of seriousness on her face. "As Junko-chan tells me, I’m not worth anything. I’m merely my sister’s tool just waiting to be thrown away, and nothing more. If my sister ever says I’m worth anything, then I’ll believe it."

Mukuro’s self deprecating statement made Ishimaru sigh. For quite some time, he had admired the ex-Fenrir soldier from afar. To him, she wasn’t some “dog” under Enoshima’s orders or just a broken tool. In his eyes, she was more than that; She was beautiful, she had the qualities of a leader, she was patient, respected her elders, and had great sedulousness in her field. The more he noticed these things, the more he had developed… special feelings for her; feelings akin to those of a crush.

However, he too was in the same boat as Mukuro. Ishimaru was aware that while he harbored feelings for the SHSL Soldier, Mukuro in turn had eyes for his friend and fellow classmate, Makoto Naegi. Although he agreed the best thing to do was to let her be happy, he also knew that letting her sulk after losing her hopes for love was not an option.

"Ikusaba-kun," Ishimaru said as he took a seat at the desk next to the forlorn Super High School Level Soldier, "You shouldn’t believe everything your sister tells you. Just because she repeatedly tells you these things doesn’t mean any of them are true! After all, you’re an individual human being, not some mindless puppet!"

He then clasped both of her hands, which made her flinch a bit in surprise. “Enoshima-kun isn’t the one who should be in charge of who you are. Only you and you alone can decide that! …Do you not agree, Ikusaba-kun?”

The encouraging words of the Super High School Level Hall Monitor made Mukuro’s eyes widen with slight… hope. Someone other than Naegi had openly seen her as a person and given her encouragement rather than the insults she received from Junko several times a day.

"…Thank you, Sir," She said, smiling.

"Guhh…!" Ishimaru stuttered, a bright pink blush overcoming his cheeks. "P-Please… feel free to call me ‘Ishimaru’."

"Very well then. Thank you, ‘Ishimaru-kun’."

It wasn’t quite clear about what Mukuro had felt for Ishimaru that day. She doubted it was anything like she had felt (and still kind of feels) for Naegi, but she did know it was an admiration of some sort.

However, much to her surprise the next day, Ishimaru had decided to join her at lunch, something that Junko rarely ever did (even when it did happen, Mukuro was promptly ignored by her Fashionista younger sister).

"Ishimaru-kun, why are you here?" Mukuro asked him, "I normally sit alone."

"Ah, and I have noticed that," Ishimaru answered, blushing. "I… thought you could use some company for once. And perhaps… we could…"

"We could what?"

"Get to know each other a bit more. After all, I do not believe a proper introduction and discussion has been made, Ikusaba-kun! We only know each other’s names from the attendance roster, but that’s all!" He then paused and looked away from the raven-haired Soldier with freckles as the blush returned to his face. "Although, I’ve never exactly been ‘adequate’ at holding a straight conversation. If my ramblings start to bother you, then I don’t mind leaving…"

The Hall Monitor’s sudden shift from his normal confidence to that moment of being as timid as a rabbit actually made Mukuro wonder if there was another person beneath the passionate disciplinarian exterior that was Kiyotaka Ishimaru. Since she was just as good at negotiation as he was, they both agreed to start out with small talk.

Soon enough, Ishimaru and Mukuro had begun to see each other differently; learning things they hadn’t about each other before. For instance, who’d have thought that Ishimaru would have empathized with being burdened with a bittersweet relationship with a family member he had admired dearly (which in turn explained why he treated the term “genius” with utter contempt)? And, there was also the fact that both of them knew what it was like to work hard and rise through the ranks in order to change whom they used to be, even if it meant becoming even more out of touch with their social skills than before. When the lunch period had ended, the two had agreed to start setting up private “lunch meetings” with each other from that day on.

Eventually, the Hall Monitor and the Soldier had started to become closer. No longer was it just them sitting together at lunch and conversing; now the two had started to do a lot of other things together as well. Those things often varied from being as mundane as walking to class together to more “strange” activities such as going on special outings with just each other (there was also unconscious contact of the hands, which would make both of them blush). For Ishimaru, these activities made his already-existent romantic feelings for the ex-Fenrir agent grow stronger. But for Mukuro, they were long-suppressed romantic feelings that had been rekindled; only this time, they were for someone who reciprocated said feelings. The feelings and relationship that blossomed between the two were publicly obvious as it had become quite a popular conversation topic among the majority of their classmates.

By the middle of their school year, Ishimaru and Mukuro were “official” (as Leon and Hagakure would put it). They were also beginning to do more things that fit the criteria of their status as a couple such as the “outings” becoming “dates”, kissing, hugging, and holding hands. Of course, the two wouldn’t dare do it during inappropriate hours at school (for Ishimaru still remained loyal to prohibiting “PDA”, though he would sneak in some brief pecks on the lips every now and then). Somewhere in the mix, there were also a few nights of them making passionate love to each other that always ended with the two waking up next to each other the following morning and smiling. As the end of their school year was approaching, Ishimaru had finally worked up the courage to give his girlfriend something very important.

"You wanted to see me, Kiyotaka?" Mukuro asked once they were alone.

"…Mukuro," Ishimaru gulped nervously, "We’ve been together for quite some time… and I feel the need to give you something."

"What is it?"

"Just… close your eyes."

Shutting her eyes for a brief moment, Mukuro reopened them once she felt something slide onto her left ring finger. Her eyes widened with surprise and slight wonder at the sight of the silver promise ring inscribed with the words “True Love”. Looking over at her nervous and furiously blushing boyfriend, she noticed that he had an identical ring on his right ring finger.

"They once belonged to my mother and father," He explained to the speechless Soldier. "I know it may be a bit sudden, but… it’s a promise to you that one day, I could be your husband?"

Noticing a few tears in Mukuro’s gray-blue eyes, Ishimaru quickly bowed his head in a sincere way.

"I apologize, my dear…" He sighed, "If you choose to not accept, then I’d be more than happy to—"

Before Ishimaru could finish his sentence, he was cut off by Mukuro giving him a tender kiss on the lips. When they pulled apart, she looked at him with a closed, yet warm smile.

"One day," She said, "I will say yes. Of course, it will have to occur when we finish high school."

"That’s right," He agreed, smiling. Ishimaru then gave Mukuro a kiss on the lips. "Even before that happens, I promise we’ll always be together."

Sadly, Ishimaru would come to forget every word he’s ever told her. 

Just before the beginning of their final year of high school, Junko had coerced Mukuro into starting the inception of the School Life of Mutual Killing once The Worst, Most Despair-Inducing Incident had commenced. Once Hope's Peak Academy had been boarded up for protection, everyone's memories were erased by the Despair Sisters… including Ishimaru’s. Not only was Mukuro assigned with the task of masquerading as her twin sister, but she was also burdened with the task of leaving behind any memories she had formed with Ishimaru.

"Hey, Bushy-brows," She firmly said to him one day in front of no one else.

"Enoshima-kun, I would prefer it if you didn’t call me that," He retorted, "It’s quite rude."

"Ugh, whatever. Listen… there’s something I wanna ask you."

"What is it? Is there a problem?"

"…Would you happen to know a girl by the name of… ‘Mukuro Ikusaba’?"

Ishimaru raised a curious eyebrow at “Junko“‘s question. Something about that name made certain parts of his altered mind flicker with curiosity, but it wasn’t enough to make him remember completely.

"No… sorry," He apologized, "I don’t believe I know anybody by that name. Why, do you?"

"…Nope, not at all," She lied, trying to mask her disappointment. "Lemme ask you another question: You wouldn’t happen to have seen some kind of ring by any chance, have you?”

"Actually, yes," Ishimaru answered, showing her his "unfamiliar" silver ring. "I’m not sure where this promise ring came from, but I found it on my finger when I regained consciousness earlier."

"Can I see it?" Mukuro asked, only for Ishimaru to react by clasping the ring tight in his palm.

"I apologize, Enoshima-kun," Ishimaru said, "For some reason, I don’t feel comfortable with letting this ring go. I… feel as though it holds some sort of importance."

"You don’t say…" Mukuro mumbled, feeling a spark of hope return to her.

"Err, no matter! I highly doubt that a petty piece of jewelry would have much value. Unless it pertains to education or escaping this place, it shouldn’t have much meaning! Do you not agree, Enoshima-kun?"

It was those words that made Mukuro’s spark of hope become consumed by despair once again. Attempting to conceal the silver promise ring on her own finger and the tears forming in her eyes, she shot the SHSL Hall Monitor an annoyed look.

"Hmph, whatever," She snarled, "Later, freak."

"Once again, Enoshima-kun," He insisted with an equally annoyed look, "I would advise you to refer to me as ‘Ishimaru-kun’ and nothing more. You really ought to show at least a shred of respect for your chairman.”

Ignoring him, Mukuro stormed off in a huff, surrendering to the tears falling from her eyes. Oddly enough, Ishimaru was left with strange feelings. For some reason, he found himself… enamored by who appeared to be the SHSL Fashionista, Junko Enoshima. The minute he had seen her walk away, his heart began to wrench with wistful guilt without an apparent reason.

Meanwhile in her dormitory bedroom, Mukuro removed the Enoshima wig from her head, revealing her jet black hair arranged in a chin-length bob. Discarding the wig onto the floor temporarily, the SHSL Soldier looked at the tragically nostalgic promise ring on her finger.

"I guess… some promises just aren’t meant to be kept," She sighed with a forlorn look in her eyes.

Getting back up from her bed, Mukuro placed the strawberry-blonde wig on her head again and exited her room. As she walked down the halls, she decided the best thing to do was forget about her feelings (much like Ishimaru had, not that it was his fault though) and resume her focus on her duties as Junko’s accomplice and Junko’s accomplice alone.