In memoriam of a mentor and a good friend.
The storm rages in the cold night. A small pup sits in her bed, holding a plush wolf. The plush wolf is missing its left eye; it still sees the little brown wolf; it's red with a white belly and muzzle. The brown pup loosens her grip on the plushy as the booming has passed, holding the red toy close, the six-year-old girl opens her eyes to the pitch-black room. Her fur matted from tears of fear.
"Yuuma!" she screams for the oldest of her brothers.
Strong footfalls echo in the creaky; rotten floorboards of the hallway. Juno pulls her plush toy close to her chest as she heard her door open, but her brother doesn't speak. Did the ghosts in her living room finally get her siblings, and now it's come to claim her as well? Quietly, she whimpers, closing her eyes with her plush wolf resting in her neck, waiting for the phantoms to steal her life away. She starts to cry as the thunder booms again, failing to stay hidden from the evil spirits. Slowly, three sets of footsteps begin to creep closer with the click of a light switch.
She feels a gentle hand rest on the back of her head with a slow petting before it pulls her close. His fur is coarser compared to hers, but the pup finds comfort, wrapping her arms around his neck. The thunder erupts once more as the girl begins to sob in her brother's arms.
"It's okay, we're here." Her eldest brother says calmly hugging the she-wolf, "We'll always be here."
"The thunder hurts my ears!" Juno sobs drying her face on her brother's fur.
Her other brothers leave the room to continue their conversation.
The thunder growls; quieter than earlier. Juno finally opens her eyes to look at her brother. He is sixteen years old, with more stories than most his age. Scars from claws and bites are visible in his discolored black fur. His right forearm is bandaged, teeth and claws missing or broken. His body is malnourished as he gives Juno his meals. He has a hole the size of a small coin through his left ear.
"Can we watch cartoons?" Juno whimpers holding him tighter.
"Only for a bit." He smiles, carrying his sister to the living room where the others are.
"What's going on?! We swore to keep her out of this!" the youngest brother exclaims.
"We are, Jiro. We're going to watch some cartoons." The eldest says without raising his voice.
Jiro mutters to himself as the eldest turns on the television, "We're scared too."
Yuuma, the oldest returns to the brothers and begins planning. This will be their last job. One final job before they're freed of their parents' debt to the Shishigumi. A jewelry store, nearly a kilometer down the street, near the back-alley market. After this final heist they will be free of the collars and chains forced on them by parents who left behind their children.
"Broad daylight might be the better idea, police patrol late night. We could walk in, smash the counters, and take the money and jewels." Yuuma points at the square shape on the page, "Jiro you're on lookout, and the both of us can hit them fast. We hide the loot behind the hybrid daycare and come back later."
"Why am I always lookout?" Jiro asks.
"I need at least one of you to make it back to Juno if I don't." Yuuma says looking at both brothers.
Juno speaks up, turning to look back to them from her floor seat, "Don't do that. It's not nice!"
The three boys lower their heads in shame. She's right, but this is the only way to protect each other. To protect Juno. After this, they could attempt to be normal kids again. Then again when has a crime syndicate kept their word? Could they truly be normal after living this life for two years.
"We know." Hisoka, the middle brother, speaks lowly, "But we don't have a choice."
Sitting to face the television again, she pouts. Her brothers are not violent towards her, they're kind, and they shouldn't have to be mean to other animals. They should stay together, like a real pack.
Her brothers sit beside her and watch the show with her. Yuuma picks her up, and lets her sit on his lap. The thunder now a low moan in the distance. The boys envy Juno. Her innocent eyes don't see the wounds until they stop bleeding. She doesn't hear the gunshots from police or gangs whizzing by their ears. She doesn't sell blood to unsuspecting kids. In their eyes, Juno should never have to do wrong. Juno will be the better of the orphaned wolves. She won't have to worry about the lions going back on their word.
As the hours go by, Jiro and Hisoka fall asleep, Yuuma is struggling to match his sister. Juno yawns as the program ends. Her brother's lap shifts as he falls backwards, snoring. The young she-wolf yawns again and lies on Yuuma's chest. Sleep came easy with her three brothers to protect her from the dark and the ghosts. She enjoys these moments with the only family she has left. One of the rare moments they're not tired or sore and can enjoy the time they have with one another.
"Yuuma, it's time. We can back out and do more small jobs if you want to." Jiro says, a black mask to cover his muzzle in hand.
The older brother wakes up with vigor, and lays the still sleeping Juno on the floor so he can stand. He stretches his legs and arms and grabs his shirt, mask, and hammer. With a sad smile, he carries Juno to her bed; if they have luck, they'll be back before she wakes.
"We can't back out." Yuuma smiles hiding a hammer in his pant waist under his oversized shirt, "Besides, I like a challenge."