Chapter 1

She took in a deep breath, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. This is it she thought to herself. It took every ounce of energy in her hand to twist that doorknob. As she pushed the door open, she sighed and looked around her old house. It's still the same as before, except everything's covered in dust. She lets out another sigh; it's going to take a whole long week to have this place clean up.

Judging the state of the floors she doesn't bother to take off her shoes. She puts her luggage on the floor and examines the area. This was the place where she used to live- the place where a family used to live. She puts her hand on the sofa and found dust collecting on her fingers. She inhaled the dust filled air and remembered that her brother, Nii-san and her twin sister used to hang out and spend time together at this very living room.

Wiping her dirty finger at the edge of her skirt, she walks down the hallway and she opens the door to her right. The room is dark and she switches the lights on revealing two empty beds facing each other. She and her sister shared this room a long time ago. Her lips curled up into a smile, remembering the practical jokes she would have with her twin. Sometimes, they would surprise their brother when he enters and they'd tackle him down. The three of them would have a laughing fit.

Then, her lips curl down and she is frowning. Across the room was her brother's. Hesitantly, she twists the knob and the door opens whit a creek. Inside the room- was nothing, just an empty bed and a study table. In fact, the study table was rarely used. He'd always spend his time in his 'office' (as to what he calls it) upstairs.

She takes the narrow staircase that leads to the attic (the office). The door was open and as she pushes it wider, it made an eerie noise which made the hair on her neck stand. This was her brother's favorite spot- or his office as he likes to call it. She remembers how she likes to come in here and interrupt her brother- annoying him at the very least. But he was never angry, heck he never asked her to leave. Every time she entered he would greet "Welcome, I'm glad you came to me" and he'd give a sly smile. Most people would be bothered by it but not her. Why would she? She is his sister after all.

The inside of the room was empty, the only thing left was a chair, a shelf and a table connected to it. Heck, it was empty since before they moved away. The day their parents decided to change homes, her Nii-san decided to go to. He packed his things and had everything moved out in a day and left- leaving the twins alone.

"Nii-san don't go… we need you here" she begged her brother, clinging on to is arms.

"Please stay" her twin pled clinging on his other arm.

He didn't look at them. His eyes were hidden in the shadows of his bangs. He pulled away his arms and walked away without saying anything. Tears were filling her eyelids as she sees her brother taking steps forward. "Dad, make Nii-san come back!" she said, her voice croaked.

Her father smiled and his eyes were filled with sympathy. Slowly he shakes his head "I can't. He's a big boy now. He can make his own decision and live his life without troubling us". Those words struck her like lightning bolts. Her father's words were cold as ice. And she wasn't expecting it. Is that what her father has thought of him? Trouble, nuisance- why? He's their dearest and only brother, doesn't her father know that? Did he do anything wrong?

She wanted to run to her brother and drag him home but her father caught her hand. Tears stream down her cheeks and she saw the eyes of a killer her father was wearing. "Mairu, Kururi, come. We're moving into our new house and there's a lot that needs to be done" his tone was strict. There were no comforting words, just the sounds of despair in his voice and a tinge of hate in the end.

Ever since that day, she never met her brother. She couldn't even find a way to contact him. There wasn't any information of him when she checked. She lost all hope of finding her brother- which she is longingly hoping for. To find him and to be in his arms and tell him how much she misses him. She wants to tell him about everything since the day he left. How she felt, how she and her twin were hanging on without a brother to play with- and most importantly- her last days with Kururi. Yes, especially that. She wants to tell him about Kururi having leukemia and how she spent most of her days in the hospital with tubes in her body. She wants him to know that Kururi has been dreaming about him and died smiling thinking about him. And she wants him to know how much she-herself misses him and how much she needed him when she was lost.

Yeah, that's why she came back. It's been six months since Kururi died. Nii-san needs to know-when she finds him. Her main goal is to find her brother and her gut is telling her that this is the right place to start.

A cracking sound was heard. Her skin prickled and she lifts her foot, an old photo frame with a crack in the middle. To her surprise the photo frame is empty. This is a sign she thought. And she believes that this is an opening to a new chapter.

-O.M-

"FUCK OFF" the blond screamed while having a body flying across the street. The body hit a parked van and fell with a thud and he didn't move. Being the man he is he was sure that toss wasn't enough to kill a man- maybe a few broken bones at the very least. The other men who surrounded him had their weapons on guard and sweat dripping down their necks. One of them swallows hard before charging towards the man in the middle. His arms lifted, ready to take the swing as he approaches him. But as he swings, the blonde catches his weapon and flings it-and the attacker, all together.

Heiwajima Shizuo, the strongest and scariest man in Ikebukuro. He can lift the heaviest things that a man can't carry alone with less effort. He can just punch you in the face without ever thinking twice if you were to piss him off. And he may just leave you in a dark alley half dead if you don't pay your debts. Yup, that's Heiwajima Shizuo, Ikebukuro's monster. That's how people see him on the surface.

Yet, people like you and me would know better than to get into trouble with that guy. So why are there people who don't notice the 'piss-me-off-you're-head's-off' sign that's clearly on his forehead? You might think they're stupid. This is kind of the case here. In Ikebukuro, there are a lot of stupid and dangerous people and you wouldn't want to make a scene in this particular city.

"WHO'S NEXT?" he challenges giving them the stink eye. His voice growls like a lion and it sends chills down their spines. Fortunately for them, they whimper and scatter like little mice. Shizuo digs in his pockets and takes out a cigarette to light it. He takes in a deep breath and let the smoke exhale through his mouth. A swirl of smoke disappears as he turns around and walks in that direction. Right now, he's heading for the convenience store to fill his crave for a carton of milk- his stomach grumbles- make that instant noodles for dinner too.

Along the way, he sees a poster of a new movie on his right, staring his brother as the main character. Looking at his brother's face in the poster makes him feel happy inside but sad at the same time. The happy part is because of the fact that Kasuka enjoys his career and whatever makes him happy, Shizuo is happy. The sad part, Shizuo wishes that he could spend a little more time together with Kasuka. Being a film star keeps him working round the clock. Shizuo wishes that if he had cut the times he had been in fights back then, he could bond a little more with his brother. Seemingly that's the only family member he has and one the few he cares about so much.

"Yo Shizuo" Simon greeted him and he replies with a nod. "Come in and have Russian sushi. We have a new menu" he says as he hands out a flier. Shizuo just shakes his head and continues to walk. He raises his hand as a sign of no thanks and shoves it in the pocket again. He always always turns down an offer from Simon. It's not like he hates the guy. He may seem big and tough and taller than he is but Simon's the gentlest guy that he has ever met, especially here in Ikebukuro (well in this town, odd balls are normal). Basically, he just doesn't have that much money to be spending a lot. Or maybe he just prefers the taste of instant noodles.

Between curry and chicken flavor- he is having a difficult time choosing between the two. Then, he just drops both the flavors in his basket thinking that could cover up for tomorrow's breakfast. So next on his list would be milk (not like he has anything else to buy). The last carton of milk left in the fridge. And as he is about to take it, another hand snatches it away from him leaving him milk less. His fingers twitch and his nose crinkles up as he is about to give a blow to whom ever took his carton of milk.

"Sorry, did you want this?" a voice said. He turns his head and looks at a familiar figure from top to bottom. The figure was familiar enough to turn his anger into rage. "Oh Shizu-nii, how nice to see you again~" those wide eyes and the attitude and tone in the sentence reminded him so much of that damn flea.


A/N: so I hope you guys enjoyed reading this first one. I really hope you did (cross fingers), And I'd like to know what you guys think ;) Should I continue?