16 Steel Tears

In the forest a little girl with one red eye and one blue eye rose, her platinum and blonde hair seemed to wave in the wind. "Swap," said a preciously sweet voice.

"Disgusting, having to share a body with someone like that. Well at least the week should be over in this forest of death." Suddenly the body seemed to revert in a way, her hair had become completely blonde and both of her eyes became an entrancing red.

From up above her a man could be seen floating down. "Well then, did you enjoy my nice little forest?"

With a fierce blood lust in her eyes she asked him a question in a low voice, "so you were the one who did this to me? Huh!?" She removed her knife from the corpse of the demon dog she had killed earlier. "Guess what!? Your illusion failed you, I'm still alive!" She began to laugh madly before dashing forward to slit the stout man's throat. It was then that she felt the soft grass meeting her face.

"Now now my little doll, you should be thanking him for providing you with the opportunity." Sounded the voice of her uncle.

"The hell you mean opportunity," she said sarcastically, "you know how many times I died in that nightmare?"

"Quiet, a nightmare such as yourself shouldn't be complaining, now let me meet her."

"Who? Please explain."

"Don't play dumb with me Mary, don't forget you used nen when I specifically told you not to, I can still punish you however I want."

"Fine, but I'm warning you that thing is terrifying, and not in the normal way. Swap."

Her body changed once more, her eyes became a stunning sapphire and her blonde hair became a light platinum.

"Hi uncle!" She said with such kindness it was sickening.

Both men burst out laughing.

"So this is terrifying?" Asked Zecht.

Tears began to stream down her face as she tightened her grip on a nen made teddy bear, "Please don't laugh at me! I-I mean please allow me to be your friend."

"Very well then, what's your name?" Asked Zecht.

"My-my name is Mary." She said, beginning to cheer up."

"Well it was nice meeting you, but can you please swap back? I have to tell Mary something."said her "uncle"

"B-but I'm Mary." Said the child worriedly.

"I meant the other Mary, so can you pretty please swap? Just for me, ok!"

"Ok!" She said with a large smile on her face, "Swap."

The calming atmosphere changed as her features reverted back to a blonde red eyed girl. "See? I told you she's terrifying."

"Easy for you to say, a living devil."thought her uncle. He began, "Regardless of how you feel about her, she is you and you are her, also how do you feel physically?"

"I feel like shit, my body is still affected by your poison, even if it is slight. My body has been cut by the claws of that animal." She said pointing to the corpse of the dog. "And I haven't had a toy to play with, you do realize how hard it is for someone as pure as me to go without a game for so long don't you?"

"Well then I have some great news just for you! We are going to start your Assassination training tomorrow!"

"Wow, thaaaanks more training, just what I needed. In all seriousness though, don't you think we train a bit too much? Besides I want to enjoy my toy not just have a rag doll drop like a rock."

"I'm well aware, however, Mary you are very weak. Despite the power of nen, your base strength is underwhelming compared to others."

"What's your point? A difficult target is more fun to play with, their face twisting in pain, their eyes feeling despair. Ahhh it makes me excited just thinking about it." She said with a grin.

"Enough! Mary, you will obey me, I can kill you at ANY moment, for the next three years, I still have my soul grip so don't even think about running either."

It was a bluff, but there was no way Mary could know, it was no longer just her soul. It was no longer just her body.

"I see, have you informed the other me about your ability?"

"What do you think?"

"Very well I'll train with you, but don't expect me to try as hard as I can."

Grabbing her by the neck and picking her up she told her, "I think you'll change your mind about that."

With a devious smile on her face she said one word. "Swap." However it did not work. It was as though the other her didn't wish to come out. She was thrown to the floor where she began to cough uncontrollably. "I see, your soul grip must prevent me from swapping in situations like this."

This was not the case, Mary just wanted to tell all of her toys about her new friends. So for the time being she chose to not swap out.

"Now lets go, farewell Zecht, may your forest flourish once again."

"You really are shameless aren't you? It's most likely never to flourish ever again, so I'll be leaving it as is, as the true forest of illusions, maybe one day it'll even become a legend or fairy tail."

————

Somewhere far away a young boy with black hair and eyes devoid of any colors could be seen standing over the corpses of his parents. With a knife still in hand he moved over to his sister who began to cough up blood. He was beaten by her in an attempt to drive him away. Tears in her eyes all that the boy could think about was to comfort her, and so he left. He left to find her a doll that would make EVERYTHING better. Tears formed in his eyes, yet he showed no visible emotions, he just continued onwards through his life. Through the hell that was his life.