-Mari's P.O.V.-

San Fransokyo looked more magnificent at night than at day. The neon lighting boasted a homely, happy, Asian themed culture. The number of tall skyscrapers just showed how big the city really was.

However, I was forced by Ayako to attend ANOTHER street alley party. I didn't like these parties. I never did. I hated dressing up in the special black and white Fujita kimono and painting my face, even though I did it every day. There was always at least twenty people drunk at the party. Unfortunately for me, three of them happened to be Sakura, Yama and Ayako. I never drink, I know what alcohol did to people, I saw it with my own eyes. I didn't want to be following in their footsteps.

Sakura and I got a tad bored after a while, and started to play a game of truth or dare. "Truth or Dare, Sakura?" I asked her.

"Truth." She responded.

"What is the secret ingredient in your street stir fry?" I replied, asking her something odd, yet something she would never tell anyone.

"Sweet potatoes." she stated. Wait, I thought, she puts sweet potatoes in her stir fry? Well, it tastes nice, so I can't judge.

"Okay, my turn. Dare or dare, Mari?" Sakura mischievously whispered. I sighed. This was going to be a really rough dare.

"Dare." I said, fearing the worst.

"Yes! I dare you to go up to Ayoko and Yama over there, poke them both, then slap their faces, punch them in the guts, and knock their heads together. Hard."

Oh man. I knew she was drunk. But I hated them both, and so I did as I was told. I walked up to them, poked them, which made them look at me, then slapped their faces, punched them in the guts, and knocked their heads together the hardest I could before running to the end of the alley.

"Mari! Come here!" That was Ayako.

"You can't make me. I don't have to if I don't wanna. Besides, we both know I'm stronger than you." said my slightly cocky and sassy self. But it was true. I was stronger than her. She never bothered to train with Sakura and I. However I soon regretted saying it because of what happened next.

"MARI HANA NAKATA! I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR STUPID PRANKS! YOU ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE AS A FUJITA! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!" Ayako screeched at the top of her lungs. My eyes grew huge as I saw her slowly draw out her dagger...

Oh man. Run Mari, run!

I heard her. I am no longer a Fujita. I no longer have to listen to her. Best. Night. Ever. Well, not really. She did want to kill me now. I grabbed my heavy, shoulder bag (not a messenger bag), and ran faster than I ever thought I could run, but Yama and Ayako were hot on my heels.

After running past three blocks, I slowly realised I was starting to tire. I needed somewhere to hide, and fast.

I turned a corner, and another, and pushed my way past a glass door into a building. I didn't care what I was doing, even if that meant trespassing. A bell jingled. I was now inside a...cafe? The room was dark though, indicating that the cafe was closed. I was confused as to why the door was still open. For the owners and my sake, I locked it. I heaved a large sigh, rested my back against the nearest wall, and slumped down until I reached the ground.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a plump calico cat look at me with the cutest eyes I had ever seen. It hesitated, gave out a small meowrr, and scampered toward me. It cuddled up on my lap, and in return, I petted it, making the sweet little thing purr. I always had a soft spot for cats. Thanks to Ayako, the last time I was able to pet one was when I was eight...

I was snapped out of my thoughts by loud shouting coming from outside the cafe. I peeked outside, through the glass door. Yama and Ayako looked around cluelessly, but since they didn't know where I had gone, it looked like they decided to give up the chase. "The brat would probably get herself killed, anyway." I heard Ayako state right before they left. That wasn't true, I mentally reasoned, I can definitely take care of myself.

I looked down at the cat. The cat looked up at me. I noticed a black collar around its neck. I inspected the little tag, revealing that the cat's name was Mochi. "Hello, Mochi." I exclaimed, before chuckling. Mochi responded with a mrrrowrr, and hopped off my lap, hiding behind a pair of legs.

My eyes widened. Wait, what? LEGS? What is going on? I questioned myself, to which the answer was a simple 'I don't know.'

I slowly looked up, to find a boy, who looked about my age. He had messy raven black hair, fair skin, and his mouth was partially open, revealing a gap in his teeth, something I had too. He was looking as me as if he was thinking, which he was. He seemed familiar...

"A Fujita." He concluded, spitting the words out like dirt. A misunderstanding. Great first impression, Mari.

"Okay, okay, it's not what it looks like!" I exclaimed, trying awkwardly to get up, but couldn't; he was in the way. So I sat back down.

"Oh yeah? Explain to me why you're here, in my aunt's cafe, after hours, wearing a black and white kimono and matching makeup. The cosplay festival is in half a years time, you know." He said with a hint of sarcasm.

Harsh. "Who do you think YOU are, going around offending every innocent person you see?"

"Well, I'll be nice and answer your question first." The blood rushed to my face in irritation. "My name is Hiro Hamada, and I don't go around offending other people, it's just because you..." But I wasn't paying attention. Something in the back of my mind just clicked. All at once, the extra blood drained away from my face, and a cold chill ran down my spine.

"H-Hiro? Is that really you?"

Hiro seemed confused. "Excuse me?"

"I-I-I'm s-s-sorry. M-My name is M-Mari Nak-kata. D-D you r-remember m-me?" Stupid stuttering.

Hiro copied exactly the same actions I did a few seconds ago. "M-Mari? This is YOU?"

Commence awkward situation now. "Uhhhhhhh... Y-Yeah."

I saw Hiro's face change from a look of shock to a look of disappointment. "So let me get this straight. You're a FUJITA?!"

I hesitated. "Well, I... You see..."

I stopped at the sound of someone rushing down the stairs. It turned out to be Aunt Cass, Hiro's aunt. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry, I forgot to lock the... HIRO, GET AWAY FROM THE FUJITA!" I shot her a skeptical look, as if saying: Seriously? YOU TOO?!

I inhaled slowly. "Listen, why don't we all sit down, and I will explain." Aunt Cass was hesitant for a slight moment, before agreeing. However, visualising myself as an outcast, I was definitely not expecting them to take me up to their residential apartment upstairs. Hiro gestured for me to sit on a couch, and he sat on one facing me.

A few minutes later, Aunt Cass came back with mugs of hot chocolate.

"Honestly, you shouldn't worry about me. I'm fine." I told her.

But she just sweetly said "No, honey, take it. I insist." She is so nice, I thought.

So I spent the next seven minutes talking about my backstory. Aunt Cass came up and hugged me as tight as she could when I introduced myself, recognising me. Otherwise, both nephew and aunt looked straight at me, listening intently.

"Do you remember me? I used to be childhood friends with Hiro, as you probably already know. Both of Hiro's parents and mine died in a violent car crash on the way home from a night out. Hiro and I were only three, while Tadashi was seven.

I was then adopted by foster parents, who, even though they paid for my elementary, intermediate and high school fees, treated me like dirt, as if I was nothing to them. But, as you would know, I was still able to find the Lucky Cat Cafe, where both of you and Tadashi always managed to brighten up my day, along with free food (since I so happened to be Hiro's friend), and really, I thank you for that.

I was eight when contact stopped between you and I. My foster parents (if you could call them that) were drink driving and crashed into a brick building, killing them but not me, the house was sold, and I was consequently pushed out of it onto the streets (A/N: yes, I know, excruciating saddening)." I inhaled sharply, before continuing.

"Luckily, I managed to survive a week, and then was taken in by a certain group of villains called the Fujitas, who consist of Ayako and Sakura. I then became the youngest and shyest Fujita, and the other two associates gave me a certain nickname that I won't tell you, I personally think it's too stupid. To tell the truth, I really didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing to join, but, from my perspective, I knew that I would die on the streets. So, with no choice, I accepted the offer.

We lived in a low-budget rental apartment, so it wasn't exactly well kept. But, it's better than living out on the streets.

Sakura was a little tough with me but she had a kind heart (mind you, it was only slightly), and was the second oldest Fujita at nineteen (A/N: just go with me here). She was the one who taught me a great deal of martial arts, which I later improvised, and became a professional," I grinned while saying this, "street cooking, and a bunch more activities.

Ayako was the oldest Fujita at twenty-one, and she was the one I absolutely hated. She always bossed Sakura and I around and made both of us do most of the dirty work (A/N: not like that for you pervs out there). If either of us had to step out of line, she would threaten to kill, and she meant it. It happened once. Sakura managed to get away from her with large gashes on her forearm and neck.

When the I was at the early stage of fourteen, I got into SFIT via the annual student showcase. By enrolling in this fashion, I didn't have to pay any college fees, fortunately, which meant that being accepted into SFIT this way was a very rare occasion. I'm sure you'll be familiar with that, I heard that Hiro got accepted the same way.

And now, I'm due to be fifteen in three month's time."

I finally finished. I had my head down, looking at the ground, not wanting to make any eye contact. I didn't notice this, but their looks of interest quickly changed to looks of sympathy. Aunt Cass came up and hugged me, followed by Hiro. A silent tear rolled down my cheek. I haven't had this much kindness, in, well, eternity.

Just before they separated the hug, I quickly wiped off the tear, to make it look like I wasn't crying. I gave the both of them a grateful smile, before diminishing back to my former state.

Hiro and Aunt Cass moved to a corner of the living room to talk over something for a few minutes. I managed to catch a few words, like 'safe', 'fine' and 'thanks'.

Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Sweetie, do you want us to take you in, adopt you, maybe?" said the voice of Aunt Cass.

My head shot up. "No no no no no, please, it's ok. I wouldn't like to impose..."

"But you won't be imposing on us. We'd love to have you here."

I looked at Aunt Cass, who was smiling her sweetest smile, then at Hiro, who was giving me a pleading look.

A/N: Oooh... Cliffhanger. Hey, have any of you readers ever thought when someone says 'cliffhanger', you sometimes (if not all the time) picture someone holding on for dear life onto the edge of a cliff? Okay, okay, I'm weird. Sheesh.

By the way, I will be updating every Saturday, just if you want to know.

Stay awesome, peeps!