Chapter 1: New

Shizuka stared out the tinted windows of the black car, watching as raindrops raced down the windows. Sighing, she leaned back and looked towards the driver, an older man with white hair and a chevron mustache to match, named Watari.

"How much longer until we get there?" She asked, referring to the orphanage she'd soon be calling her home.

"Another ten minutes" He replied, not looking away from the road. Another ten minutes of wondering what the hell is so special about this place, Shizuka thought to herself. She had been sentenced, as she put it, to this place. Something about being smarter than normal and putting her skills to use; that was all they told her. For all Shizuka knew they could be putting her to work as a chimney sweep, like the cliché English orphan that she was. If my parents were going to die they could have at least given birth to me somewhere else, I don't want to be a cliché, the thought of her parents made her upset. If that man hadn't 'accidently' set fire to their apartment building they'd still be alive. A tear escaped and Shizuka quickly wiped it away. She hadn't cried since she first found out about their death, wouldn't allow herself to be so overcome by it, and other peoples' pity that came with it. They all asked the same questions: "Are you ok?" "How are you holding up?" "If you ever need any help, just ask". But Shizuka didn't want their charity; she was fine on her own. Or she would be if she wasn't only sixteen; old enough to drive, and drink*, but technically not old enough to live alone. She could if she wanted to, but that would mean having to have a job and pay bills, and Shizuka didn't want to have to do that quiet yet. She stared at her lap, thinking about the past, wishing her parents were still alive.

When Shizuka looked up again, a large building, surrounded by black ornate gates, loomed ahead. The orphanage, I'd assume, she thought, staring at the building. It seemed pretty nice, or at least roomy. The car stopped and Shizuka opened her door, stepping out. It was cold outside, being February, and the raindrops stung her skin. She pulled her jacket closer and walked to the trunk, where Watari had already pulled out her one suitcase, filled with whatever belongings of hers had survived the fire. She grabbed the handle and followed Watari to the building.

Inside, Shizuka stood in what could be best described as the 'living room' while Watari went to get someone to show her around. While waiting, she grabbed her mp3 player out of her suitcase and shoved the earphones on. She had forgotten to take it out before she left, and an hour without any music was too long. Music was practically her drug. As the lyrics to the song "Lullabies" blasted in her ears Shizuka felt much better, the song letting her become engrossed in her own world for a little while. She closed her eyes and quietly sang along "Make it a sweet, sweet goodbye - it could be for the last time and it's not right. "Don't let yourself get in over your head," he said. Alone and far from home we'll find you...Dead - like a candle you burnt out"

When the song finished and Shizuka opened her eyes again a boy, looking to be around eighteen, was standing there. He had messy black hair that stood out against his pale face, and he was slightly hunched over. Shizuka took her earphones off and put them around her neck, the music still playing. She took in his plain attire, a white shirt and jeans with no shoes, before looking back up at his face.

"Hello" She said shyly, worried that he had heard her singing.

He nodded to her "Hey" then turned and started walking away, then looked back as if thinking she would just follow. Does he just expect me to know what he's thinking? She thought, then sighed and started walking in the same direction he did.

"Where are we going?" Shizuka asked the boy.

"I've been instructed to show you to your room" He replied.

"Oh, ok…so, what's your name?" She asked.

"Everyone here goes by an alias. I'm known as…B, or Backup" The way he said it made Shizuka think he despised the name.

"Oh, ok, that's…ok. So I guess I'll end up with an alias too. So, uh…well, um, why is your hair dyed?" It seemed like an odd question, but she figured as long as she didn't ask anything personal, which, in theory, dyed hair could be, he wouldn't care. Of course, her assumptions were wrong.

B stopped walking, seeming perplexed by the question, "What?"

"Why is your hair dyed? I've never met anyone with dyed hair, my mom was kind of strict about the people I hung around, and people with dyed hair seemed to be 'bad influences' in her eyes. I never got why…" She trailed off.

"How did you know my hair was dyed?" He asked.

"Well the hair around the nape of your neck is slightly lighter than the rest of your hair, though most people wouldn't noticed because the rest of your hair covers it; also, your hair is only one shade, I mean, since it's black people probably wouldn't think twice about it, but natural hair is lighter in the front and gets darker in the back, while yours is the same shade all around. And your eyebrows are a tad lighter than your hair, nothing too noticeable though if one wasn't thinking about it. I'm guessing your natural hair color was a dark brown - very, very close to black"

He stared at her for a second, then simply said "You're observant" And kept walking.

Shizuka started following again, "Yeah, a lot of people tell me that. I tend to notice the little things." She caught up and was walking next to him "Anyways, you didn't answer my question"

B ignored her, and instead looked ahead.

"Sorry if I talk too much, I tend to do that around people I think are-" She stopped talking, realizing what she was about to say, around people I think are cute. Shizuka took a deep breath in, deciding to go back to her quite side that she showed in the car.

After walking up a flight of stairs and down another hallway in silence, B stopped in front of a door.

"Here's your room" He told her, then walked away. What the hell? He just leaves me? What if I couldn't get the door open? Shizuka smiled How stupid would that be, I was brought to this orphanage because I'm a 'genius' and I can't even open a door. That would certainly be special. She let a small laugh escape at the thought, and opened the door to her new room, immediately heading to the bed to sleep.

*In most European countries and the UK 16 is the legal drinking age.