There is no choice in this. It is not of free will. It is something you are born into. There is only one way to get in, and one way to get out.

If you are selected, you are beat mercilessly. You are beat to the point of passing out. This is supposed to toughen you up for what lies ahead. What you will face in your life.

That is how you get in.

If you choose to leave... well, you don't. Because if you choose to leave, you die. If you betray, rat out or want to leave, BANG. You are dead. One shot to the head, execution style.

That is how you get out.

People call it many things. Tokyo's Bad boys, the Gangs of the Underground, the Devil's Children, Monsters of Madness, Children of the Gun. They can call it whatever they damn well please.

I call it family.

"I am so sick and tired of your shit, Keikochan!"

I balled my fists until my knuckles turned white, glaring back at him as he breathed heavily, looking into my eyes. This had been our third fight of the day, I didn't get why he couldn't just leave me alone.

"You are the one that is blowing this up into a huge deal! You are the one that pissed me off!"

Shin looked at his arm then back at me, still screaming. "I didn't ask to get into a fight with you! You cut my arm! With a damn kitchen knife! "

"Well, apparently you deserved it." I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

He growled and lunged at me, pinning me down to the ground. His eyes were narrow as he slapped me across the face. He went to punch me again but I grabbed his hand. I shoved him back and stood. He stood too and lunged again. He grabbed me and pressed me to the wall. He punched me in the face. Hard. Pain radiated from my jaw as I looked back at him. He had an evil sadistic smile on his face. I screamed and tackled him to the floor and punched him repeatedly.

He tried to make me stop, but I wouldn't have it. I felt my lip bleed but I didn't care. I continued to punch him, seeing more and more blood. I couldn't stop. I just had to get more and more blood.

Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind. I was pulled off of him and someone stood in front of me. He was shorter than I was, but way more muscular. He looked down at Shin and helped him up.

Shin started screaming immediately. "IV! What the fuck are you doing! I wasn't done with her!"

IV stood in front of me and turned to speak to me. "Go to your room."

I shook my head and glared back at Shin. "No way. Not until I kill this mother fucker."

Shin yelled and took a step towards me. "You are the one who is going to be dead, you little bitch!"

IV yelled louder than both of us, holding us back. "HEEEEEEEY! Both of you shut up and listen to me!"

We stopped and looked at IV. He exhaled sharply and flipped his hair out of his face.

"NOW. Mom is going to be home soon. You don't want to get kicked out again, do you!"

Shin and I lowered our heads, shaking them gently.
"Good." IV turned back to me again. "Go. To. Your. Room. NOW."

I balled my fists again and turned, walking up the stairs slowly.
IV called out after me. "And clean your lip! We can't let mom see that!"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes, licking the blood from my lip. "Yes ma'am!"

IV turned back to Shin and glared at him. "What... THE HELL were you doing? She is your little sister!"

Shin yelled back, angry that IV had defended me. "She is 19!"

"And you are 23! Look, I am your older brother and hers too. I hate seeing you guys fight. It is stupid and pointless..."

Shin glared at IV and walked past him, pushing him out of the way. "I already have a mom, I don't need you too."

IV growled and turned swiftly. "I am just looking out for you!"

Shin stopped and turned swiftly, walking up to IV and standing very close to him, glaring down at him. "Next time you get in my way, 'big brother'... I will NOT hesitate to take you out either."

IV glared up at him and suddenly put his hands on Shin's chest, shoving him back. He stepped towards Shin and yelled angrily. "Fine! I don't care what you do! I am not going to be your goddamn baby sitter anymore! You are on your own!" he turned to leave, speaking lower and darker. "And you had better not cross my path either. I do not consider you a brother anymore." he paused and bit back a tear. "You are my enemy."

IV turned and headed upstairs, stopping in my doorway. I turned in my chair and looked at him. I turned away and looked down. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Keikochan... what are you doing? Why did you beat Shin up? You know I don't want you to follow the examples we have set." He pulled me out of my chair and sat on my bed with me. He leaned me against him and held me close. He leaned his head on mine and spoke gently. "I know your older brothers haven't been the best example, but I was hoping you would be smarter and not follow our way of life..."

I looked up at him and into his eyes. "You are my role model. I want to be just like you..."

He sighed shakily and held me tight as a silent tear slid down his cheek. "That is what I was afraid of..."