Chapter Text
“Who are you?” Despite my small frail figure I held myself tall to try and look more intimidating to the covering boy who had curled himself into a ball to preserve warmth. He had white hair with a black piece along his poorly cut fringe, the mud had started to make its way into his hair.
“I..I got kicked out of my orphanage, p..p..please don’t hurt me!” He shook so much that even Gin began to grow sympathy for the boy.
“Ryu, let's not hurt him, we could do with the extra person. Especially since they moved closer.” I reluctantly nodded, the Mafia members had begun to move closer to our alleys which we occupied each day. Despite me having this strange ability of being able to move my clothes I was still only fourteen. At most I could deal a few cuts to someone before it became straining to continue, a knife was much more effective. It would be if I owned one.
“Follow me.” I instructed and the small boy followed after me, he seemed to dust his knees but I don’t know why. It didn’t make much difference either way.
“You didn’t tell me what your name was?” I questioned as I tried to locate Mirai, he was one of the kids I was extremely close with and if we were going to have this kid join us he had to know as well.
“Atsushi Nakajima, may I ask what your name is?” I ignored his question and continued walking. Nakajima it was. Although Atsu might be easier to remember. I tossed that thought aside for now, I could see Mirai giving food to one of the younger ones up the street.
“Mirai!” Gin shouted as she ran towards the boy, she jumped and threw her arms around him. Despite being younger than her Gin treated him as an older brother, although no-one really acted their age around here. If we did we’d probably be like those who got the peaceful way out.
“Gin, Ryuu.” He nodded to use both and then saw the white haired boy hiding behind me. What was I, a human shield?
“We found this kid, do you think he’s worth keeping?” I questioned giving Mirai time to look him over. After a few seconds of consideration he began to ruffle the timid kid’s hair.
“I’d say keep him, what harm does it make to keep him?” Mirai gave a light laugh with his words, always so happy. I don’t know how he did it.
“We reduce the food we each get?” I reminded him, he made a quiet squeaking noise at that.
“You have a point there. How about this, me and the others overheard these Mafia guys earlier discussing a shipment. Why don’t we try to get it before them?” I was shocked at his idea. We were being pushed out of the slums into the main streets slowly by these guys, and Mirai wanted to try and steal from them.
“No way. Are you seeking death?” I quickly remembered those words didn’t really hold much value here. We were all one foot in the grave already.
“Come on Ryu, consider it. Think of all the good it’ll do us.” He had that pleading look in his eyes, it never worked on me so I don’t know why he tries.
“No means no Mirai, don’t bring this up again.” I stormed off after that leaving Gin and the others behind. I doubted that he’d go behind my back and go and actually do it. I just need some rest to calm down before seeing him again. Making enemies here meant your expected lifespan dropped very quickly.
I walked for a small distance until I arrived at a bunch of cardboard boxes we’d been using as some sort of bedding for a while now. I lay down and closed my eyes hoping that I’d wake up again in a couple hours, I wasn’t like those weaklings that gave in. Despite my constant coughing fits I’d outlive this, I had to. Me and Gin hadn’t done anything worthwhile yet.
~
“RYU! RYU!” I was awoken by the loud shouts of Gin at some point, I had no clue how long I’d been out for but I was unsettled when I completely awoke to the sounds of gunfire. I don’t know what instinct drove me but I had to get us out of here, Gin’s legs had frozen in fear. I quickly grabbed at her hand and began to drag her down the alleys.
“Hey there’s two brats trying to run!” A woman called, firing bullets towards us, as if on instincts I pulled Gin behind me and activated the cloth ability I had. It stopped all but one bullet which grazed my cheek.
“Keep going!” I yelled as we both made multiple twists and turns, we knew these ways better than the people who were chasing us. This was our home afterall. Left. Right. Another right. Through this gap in the fence. Another left. Past the stray dogs. Over the rubbish bins.
“Gin in here!” I half whispered, half yelled as I pulled her into an abandoned building, someone had broken a small enough hole for us to scramble through. I always assumed this building was inaccessible.
After waiting for a couple of minutes we heard footsteps just outside the hole we’d clambered through.
“Dammit, where did the kids go?” One woman complained it was the same voice from before.
“There’s a hole in that building, do you think they hid in there?” This time it was a man, he sounded quite young. But I guess anyone can work in the Mafia.
“I doubt it, their skinny but even their small asses wouldn’t fit through there.” It was another woman, her voice was very sharp compared to the earlier woman.
“Well for good measure.” The first woman spoke before aiming her gun into the gap before firing bullets in random directions. I grabbed onto Gin, fear overtaking us both. This is where it ends. This is how we die.
But when I opened my eyes again all I saw was a reddish colour before me and Gin. The weird ability…
“If they were in there they would definitely be dead now.” The woman laughed in amusement, her voice trailed away as she continued walking with her co-workers. After waiting for a few more minutes I poked my head out and deemed it safe for us to begin our return.
We both walked in silence for a while, not knowing what to think. Why had those people gone after us? We hadn't done anything to aggravate anyone in a while. Then Mirai’s words from earlier began to play through my mind.
‘me and the others overheard these Mafia guys earlier discussing a shipment. Why don’t we try to get it before them?’
Could that be why? No… Does that mean he’s…
Before Gin could even question the darkened look on my face I took off as fast as my body would let me. When I got to the main alley we occupied I could see them all. There wasn’t a single one spared. Some had gotten lucky and died with one shot. Others weren’t so lucky. Me and Gin slowly made our way down the alley filled with the stench of blood and a small hint of gunpowder. It was burning the back of my throat, probably Gin’s as well.
I was trying to focus but their cries were agonising. The pleas for mercy, the pleas for us to kill them. They clawed at my mind, but I couldn’t do anything to help them, I had neither the time nor method to do it.
I then noticed Mirai’s auburn hair at the end of the street, he was hiding someone behind him but I had no care for them at this instant.
“Mirai!” I cried as I ran forwards turning him over, the minute I did I regretted it. There were a multitude of bullets through his chest. He was losing too much blood at a rapid rate, he wasn’t going to last much longer.
“Oh good… You're safe…” He mumbled looking up at me, his vision looked glossed over. How much longer did he have? A few minutes? A few seconds!?
“Ryu… Promise me… you’ll get… Revenge… For us… All…” His voice was so raspy, I wished he wouldn’t speak. It was so painful to listen to. I nodded to his words.
“I will! I’ll make them pay for killing you, for killing all of you!” Mirai smiled at my response, he blinked slowly then turned his head.
“They didn’t… Get us all… Atsu… Come on… Come out…” I was initially confused at his words but then realised as the white haired boy from before rose from the ground, he had bullet marks throughout his clothes but not a single wound in sight except a couple scars I could see through the gaps of his clothes.
“H..How did you…” I began but Mirai interrupted me.
“He’s like you Ryu… He’s special… I think you two… Should stick together… You’ll need someone… To look out… For you… Seen as I…” Mirai began to cough and brought up even more blood. I began to panic more. He couldn’t die, I needed him. We both needed him.
“Don’t say it! We’ll get you help! We’ll…” My words trailed off as I looked into his eyes.
He knew it.
I knew it.
He was going to die.
And there was nothing we could do to stop it.
“Thank you… Thank you both… You guys… Are my family… I couldn’t… Ask… For… More…” His breathing stilled, his hand dropped to the ground.
He was gone.
With no further thoughts in my mind I chased in the direction I believed the people from earlier had gone. Rage filling my head. Someone was following me but I couldn’t care who it was as long as they didn’t get in my way.
When I managed to get to an opening of land I saw a man with tousled brown hair with bandages covering one of his eyes standing with a gun in hand. He had a smirk plastered on his face. When my gaze panned over to what he was looking at I saw six bodies riddled with bullet holes.
A youngish man. A woman with perfect blonde locks. A slightly youngish girl with cropped curls. Three other bodies were there but I couldn’t distinguish anything particular about them.
Guess they were the ones from earlier. The man noticed my arrival and turned to me.
“You must be the mad dog that’s been mentioned.” I didn’t trust this man one bit, he’d just murdered murders. That didn’t make him any better than them.
“You don’t like my gift?” He questioned me, I moved my focus from the pile of bodies to him.
“I have an offer for you. You can live your life in comfort, never have to worry about poverty ever again. Or…” He trailed off his words as he looked me up and down, he looked to be examining me.
“Or?” I questioned back.
“Become my student and join the Mafia.” In a fit of anger and rage I agreed, I don’t know what it was but I felt a sense of respect for this man.
“Bring along your sister if you wish, oh you have a friend? Sure he can come too.” I turned to look to the alley I just left. I imagined Gin had followed me but someone else?
The white haired boy. He’d survived and followed me. I felt a slight resentment begin to simmer for the boy, why did he have to survive. It should have been Mirai.
Not him.