I was sleeping on my bed soundly. The rays of the afternoon sun striking the sheets that covered me. The door of my room opened and I woke up.
"Yuu-chaaan." I heard my father's voice mumble somewhat drowsily.
"You've been drinking again, weren't you, Papa?" I asked, laying still on the bed with my back turned to him.
"Aah. We had a party in Yamamoto's place and it was extreme!" he replied.
I heard him knock his shoes off his feet as he walked towards the bed. I felt my blanket being pulled up and the edge of my bed sinking with the weight pressed upon it.
Papa yawned and laid beside me.
"You stink." I muttered, smelling the alcohol from my father.
"Mmmh." He drowsily protested.
Papa moved close to me. I felt his sinewy arms wrap my body and pull me close to him. I can smell my father thoroughly, now that my head rested on his chest. The smell of alcohol was dominant but I can still smell that familiar, fatherly scent that was common to me. I know that it is quite uncomfortable being hugged by a drunk boxer, but as long as I know that they are my father's arms around me, I still feel secure, protected, safe, comfortable, happy and loved.
I smiled at the recollection of the memory I treasured from five years ago, when I was nine years old. I wrapped the denim jacket on my body tighter; if only it could replace Papa's embrace, but no, nothing else could replace it. I wanted to cry as I sat on the dark alley with my knees curled up to my chin, but, as Papa told me, boys don't cry. I have been living alone for two years now, but it still hurts, especially when you do not know the whereabouts of your father who was the only person you've got in your whole life.
"Let go! Let go of me!" I heard a girl's voice shout.
I stood up and saw a girl being assaulted by three men. I walked towards them from behind the boxes where I had been sitting.
"Oy." I called out to the men. "Don't you know that women are supposed to be taken care of?"
Tss, how ironic, I thought, I do not even recall having a woman in my life, my mother died when I was young.
"This is none of your business, kid!" One of the men spat at me.
I scanned the men. I can tell from their attires that they were Mafioso. I smirked. "Yes, it is my business."
I readied my fists for a fight.
One of the men stepped forward.
Straight left, right uppercut, twist jab; the man was knocked out in an instant.
I went to the other two who held the girl.
Empty hand strikes on both their arms paralyzed their hands and their grip on the girl's wrists loosened.
They attempted to run away but I caught their collars and pulled them back. I grasped their heads in each of my hands and smacked them together with great force. I let go of their heads and they fell on the ground with a loud thud.
"Are you hurt?" I asked the girl.
Her orange-brown eyes gazed at me. "No, I'm fine."
"Aw, c'mon, don't fool me. Your wrists are bruised."
She looked at her wrists.
"Does it hurt? I can't heal it, but I can ease the pain." I told her. I warmed my palms and held her wrists.
"It's warm." She said.
"Is the pain relieved?"
"Yes."
"Hey! What are you doing to her?" A boy with silver locks hollered when he saw us.
I withdrew my hands from the girl's wrists.
"Sora, are you alright? Did he hurt you?" the boy with silver locks asked her.
"No, he didn't hurt me, Arashi. As a matter of fact, he was helping me." She explained.
"Is she your girlfriend?" I asked the boy.
The boy blushed a little, but he kept on glaring at me with his fierce green eyes.
"Well, you better take care of her. Don't you know that she was attacked by some Mafioso?" I said, glancing at the three unconscious men on the ground.
"What? Sora, is that true?" the boy asked, turning to the girl whose name turned out to be Sora.
"Y-yes, they tried to kidnap me again."
I raised a brow at the word 'again'. I wanted to ask further but I do not want to have anything more to do with the mafia. I do not want to have anything more to do with the business that my father used to be involved with and is now responsible for his loss, or maybe, his death.
I walked away, my fists uncontrollably shaking as thoughts of the mafia filled my head. The mafia killed my mother when I was three; the mafia took my father away from me two years ago; the mafia gave me this nasty scar below my lip when they abducted Papa. That event two years ago provided a new life for me; a new life alone, without my father, away from the mafia. But I know that the mafia would seek me and will soon find me. I know that I would not be able to escape the life of a Mafioso that my father lived. That girl, Sora, and that boy, Arashi, came to my mind; maybe they were forced into the mafia too, maybe they did not want that kind of life too, maybe… maybe they are connected to someone who might know where my father, Sasagawa Ryohei, is. I stopped and tried to head back and ask them.
"Nonsense!" I told myself. "I don't want to be involved further anymore."
I turned back and continued walking forward.
Shit, I suddenly thought, I've got to pay my rent next week; I must be earning some money now!
I ran off as fast as my feet could carry me; to the place I call 'my workplace'.
Author's Note:
Sora means sky and Arashi means storm…
So, maybe you have a clue…
*wink*
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