"…Is it okay?" she asked softly.
"Yes."
"I want to suck and suck, a whole lot."
"I don't mind."
"I'll probably end up wanting to kill you."
"If you think you can."
"…I'll stab you, you know?"
"Go ahead."
"…!"
Ravenous.
That is the only word that fits.
Toga snatched the utility knife I offered and, in a near-frenzy, drove it into my arm. A sharp pain flared, and blood spurted out—natural, given I had rolled up my sleeve.
Without a second's hesitation, she pressed her lips to the wound. I believe I had a straw ready for her, but she didn't have the presence of mind to use it.
She began to drink, the sound of her rhythmic sipping filling the air. She drank as if she were starving. Curiously, the act itself wasn't painful; it was a strange, inexplicable sensation.
She slumped down onto the hallway floor, clinging to my arm and weeping even as she drank. Her face was masked in a look of pure ecstasy.
Yet, somehow, it felt like her. It suited her. There was no longer any trace of the suffocating struggle she had shown at school. This version of her was far more fitting.
And so, for a long while, I allowed her to cut my flesh and drink my blood. Again, and again.
Let's discuss what happened afterward.
First, we were nearly reported to the authorities. Even though it was after the graduation ceremony and the school was mostly empty, "mostly" does not mean "entirely." It was inevitable that someone would stumble upon us.
However, I insisted that the act was consensual—that it was something I had personally desired. I managed to de-escalate the situation enough to avoid police involvement. It also helped that I managed to clean up the significant amount of blood splattered around before a crowd could gather.
Of course, naturally, no one understood.
Not that I blame them. To be honest, I can't claim to fully understand Toga's urge to drink blood myself. I suspect I never truly will.
However, I thought people might at least understand the reasoning behind why I allowed it. I tried to explain it logically, step-by-step, but comprehension remained elusive. I suppose that is simply the nature of "the masses." Still, being misunderstood stings, however slightly. Toga had been suffering under the weight of that sting her entire life.
But I had wanted to save her. I did what I did for that reason, and I have no regrets. At the very least, the Force did not rebuke me. For me, that is enough.
I also ensured that word of the incident didn't reach Toga's parents, sparing her from the verbal abuse of people who would only try to force her back into a "normal" life.
To accomplish this, I used a Force technique: the Mind Trick. It is a form of mental manipulation, planting one's will into the minds of others to guide their actions. It is less effective on the strong-willed and entirely useless against certain species… but conversely, it works wonders on those lacking conviction or drive.
Personally, because it involves tampering with the mind, I consider it a technique that strays from the true path of the Jedi. I dislike using it. But I judged this to be the right moment. The gamble paid off, and the situation was settled without escalating into a crisis.
That said, the Mind Trick worked terrifyingly well on every single school official. It left me with the grim impression that not a single teacher in that building actually gave a damn about their students. It felt like I had glimpsed the "darkness" of this country's education system, but that is a conversation for another time.
…As a side note, Anakin's master, Master Kenobi, was a virtuoso with this technique. His own master, Master Qui-Gon, was also quite fond of it. Part of the reason I have mixed feelings about the Qui-Gon lineage is their tendency to use such methods for the sake of "justice" without much hesitation.
Regardless… somehow, we managed to stop Toga just before she fell completely into the Dark Side.
She is still in a precarious position, no doubt. Therefore, I introduced her to my family as a friend and decided to let her vent her impulses on me periodically.
Any wounds she inflicts, I can heal with my "Quirk." I can replenish lost blood, too. In fact, it serves as excellent medical practice, so it's actually beneficial for me. It also helps me acclimate to pain. It's rare to sustain injuries from attacks in daily life, so in that sense, it's almost a blessing.
…Oh, right. The boy Toga showed her true self to? He didn't end up spreading rumors. Toga's "disguise" had been so perfect up until that point that no one believed him. I felt quite sorry for young Saito-kun being branded a liar, so I made sure to offer him a subtle apology.
When everything was settled and I reported the events to Anakin, his reaction was one of: "You've really gone and done it now." I didn't quite understand why.
"It's not that what you did was wrong," he told me. "It was likely the best you could do given the circumstances. However… the way you phrased it, and the fact that you've taken everything upon yourself… that might lead to trouble later on."
"…? Is there a problem, Master Skywalker?"
"…I can't say for certain. But… look, just make sure you take responsibility. You've essentially placed a flimsy leash on a wild beast and invited it to sit by your side. Society will never accept that, and if something goes wrong, the consequences won't stop with her."
"That goes without saying. I may not possess your insight, Master, but I will take responsibility for her. I will see to it that she integrates into society."
"…I hope so."
I didn't fully grasp his concern, but he is far more experienced and knowledgeable than I am. It would be wise to remain cautious.
Perhaps criminals might try to exploit her. If that happens, the public likely won't care about the nuances of her situation. One can never be too careful.
In any case, that was how the matter was resolved.
The remainder of my first year in junior high passed by in relative peace.