A/N: just as a head's up, I apologize in advance for any screw-ups regarding honorifics. Even after doing some research, the darn things still do not cease to confuse me at times. Also, thanks to Nilesdaughter for the cover ^^

Prologue: The Rebel Without a Home

"I'll give you plenty of reasons why you won't be able to make a decent living as a guitarist!" Shinjuo Itogara bellowed.

Ryu Itogara didn't utter a word or move a muscle. He just stared back at his angry father. This scenario was nothing new, just another day at the office almost. His dad had hounded him about his want to be a musician for what, three years? He'd always shrugged it off and kept up his drive. His Mom had acted as a sort of neutral party, wanting to support her son but always having to fall in line with her husband's way of running things.

He'd thought this had been over, that his dad would stop bringing it up. He'd even gone so far as to get a job at a sushi place busing tables, something that had nothing to do with being a rock musician. But apparently keeping the playing of his Gibson Flying V relegated to a hobby and occasional job (playing for people at the restaurant or other small venues) wasn't enough. Apparently it, like the wolf's tail that sat just above the nape of his neck or the tribal tattoo on his left arm, still meant rebellion, and still gave a reason for confrontation.

"You should at least consider what your father has to say, he just wants you to be a good person." She said in a voice that was far gentler than his dad's. The eighteen year-old looked at her.

"I should consider something I already know I don't want to do?" He asked, turning his head towards the woman. She nodded, but only slightly.

"No son of mine is going to make his living like this. You have a perfect opportunity to become a respectable businessman. Hell I'd be even prouder if you used your track skills to become an athlete. But this?!" the head of the household went on.

"And why should I do what I don't want to? Because Itogara Shinjuo's too afraid of his son being anything other than a perfect little daddy's boy?" the teen sneered.

The second his father seemed hesitant, Ryu decided he'd had enough. He didn't want anyone to try to dictate his choices anymore. He took a step towards the man and jabbed his chest with a finger.

"And when I'm making more money doing what I love than your ass is in two lifetimes, when I've got girls lining up just for a peck on the cheek, you know what's not gonna happen? You getting a single ounce of the share. Yuji-san? Kara-san? I'll make sure if they need help their big brother does what's he's supposed to, but you won't exist to me. Not even if you were two fucking inches in front of me." He snarled, trying not to end the declaration with a swing.

Shinjuo didn't respond, and Ryu's mother had backed up a step or two. Ryu let the words sink in before doing anything else, keeping his face firm and gripping tightly to his nerve, lest it slip away and his father seize the upper hand. Concluding the older man wasn't going to respond, the ponytailed young man turned to leave, but a hand reached out and seized his shoulder.

"Don't you dare walk away from me like that!" the older man roared. Ryu reacted immediately.

It was a disturbing moment for the two parents when their first son, the one they thought would be their pride, took a swing at his own father. Ryu's fist collided with the right side of the businessman's face, the force sending Shinjuo stumbling to the left. His son again turned and walked off with haste, ascending the steps to his room. When he closed the door, he locked it and started collecting his things…

Ryu stopped and listened again. He was still expecting police sirens to start blaring at some time sooner or later. Guess the old bastard had a little bit of heart after all the teen mused. He set the duffle bag aside and looked at perhaps the most valuable thing he owned: his guitar. He'd worked harder than anything in his life to get his hands on the black and white instrument, and he'd put even more effort into getting use out of it. He wrapped one hand around the neck and part of him felt the need to play it one last time to piss off his dad…

The other part of the rebellious youth wanted to beat the businessman over the head with it…

Without choosing he let go and hid the instrument inside its case and slung it over his shoulders like a rifle. The young man opened the door, leaving behind a good amount of his worldly possessions outside of what was important. The house was still quiet as he walked down the stairs. Ryu began to wonder if his family had gone out to try and defuse the situation, but that thought was discarded when he found his two younger siblings, Kara and Yuji, sitting on the couch in wait. Kara wasted no time in running up to her much older brother.

"Oniisan, where are you going?" the raven-haired girl asked. The soon to be vagabond decided to make things easy to understand for the two ten-year-olds.

"Oniisan has to go away for a while." He replied softly, taking a knee.

"Go away to where? Is Otousan mad at you?" His little brother chimed in. the ponytailed one sighed and nodded.

"Yes, he doesn't like what I want to do, so I've decided I have to not talk to him for a while, and try to do what I want."

"But Oniisan, what about us?" the younger of the two Itogara boys protested.

They got him there. He loved his two siblings and felt like he bore most of the responsibility when it came to them. If he was leaving his parents he was leaving them too, and though it pained him he couldn't bring himself to stay just for their sake.

"You take care of one another, and grow up to be people Oniisan would be proud of. Hopefully I'll even get to see you at that stage." He told them both. They only continued to give him innocent stares.

"I love you both." He added bringing them both close in embrace.

"We love you too Oniisan." They both replied in near unison.

He let them both go and stood up, walking towards the kitchen to help himself to a few things in the fridge, packing them the best he could and stuffing them in his bag. The young man had toyed with the idea of taking a few of his mom's dishes to add a little money to what he had in his bank account (something he'd gone to great lengths to keep from his father's grip), but he'd already gotten a break with avoiding arrest for hitting his dad. No need to push it…

And with that Ryu stepped out the door to mount his ageing Yamaha and glanced back. Sure enough his younger brother and sister watched from the window. Another sting of guilt hit him hard, but he swallowed it and instead gave them both a thumbs up. Yuji returned the gesture and they both watched as he saddled up and left, motorcycle engine making its mechanical buzz all the while. Ryu pulled down the helmet's visor before he let any tears fall.