Even though the previous parts have been rated "PG-13" this part is rated "R" because it has to do with Beat's past and it's pretty gruesome. I warn you, this chapter contains violence, blood, drug usage, strong language and strong sexual themes. Please do not read if you are easily disturbed or offended or if you are under 15 years of age.
Everything in Italics represents Beat's narration of his past.
Love Conquers All: Beat's Past
Beat and Gum sat on the roof of the garage, watching the sun set in silence. Beat was well enough to walk and suggested that they watch the sun set as well as get a bit of privacy. The others had taken their relationship well and teasing was kept to a minimum. All and all, it was a perfect way to end the day.
Gum had kept her glove off ever since they told the others of their fondness for each other. She glanced at her new ring periodically, still unable to believe all that had happened. The ring looked as good as new. It had to be at least $1000. That's when it hit Gum. Beat didn't have that kind of money. How on earth did he get hold of such a thing? She glanced over at Beat, who was still looking at the sun set and not aware of what was going through her mind at the moment. She didn't really want to ask him, that just seemed rude to her, but she had to. She had to know how he got that ring. For all she knew, he could've stolen it. If that were the case, the cops would be after the GGs more fiercely now. She had to know.
"Beat?" she said in a quiet voice, still debating whether she should really ask him or not. "Mmm?" Beat didn't even take his eyes off of the sky when he replied. Gum chewed her tongue for a while, still not sure how she should phrase it. Any way would sound somewhat rude and she didn't want to seem ungrateful, but she still thought that she had a right to know. The best way to do that was to be nice and direct. "Where did you get this ring?" This time, Beat took his gaze from the orange sky and slowly turned towards Gum. "I didn't steal it if that's what you're wondering."
"Well, I, I mean, you don't really have that kind of money. I was, well, I don't want to seem ungrateful or accuse you of anything and,"
"It's okay. I didn't steal it, I assure you."
"Well, where did you get it?"
"That," Beat paused, letting out a small, sad chuckle. "is a long story. Would you like to hear it?"
"Well, if that's all right with you."
"All right then. Here goes,"
//////////////////////Flash back//////////////////////////////////////////
A young woman, about 19, lay in a hospital bed. Another young woman, about 21, was standing next to her, trying to offer her support. The woman in bed had light red hair, drenched with sweat as she screamed in agony. She was in labor.
"You're doing good Miaka. Hang in there." Said the woman beside her. She was a bright young woman with light brown hair. Her skin was slightly tinted with a tan and she had rich green eyes, filled with concern for the Miaka, the woman in labor. The woman who just happened to be her sister.
"Shut up Sakura! Just shut up!" Miaka screamed. Her light green eyes burned with hatred and pain. Her skin was pale and her red hair flailed as she jerked in agony. "Why did this have to happen? I never wanted to get pregnant! I never wanted some fucking baby to ruin my life! Why couldn't it have died or something?!"
"Don't talk like that, Miaka!" Sakura scolded her sister. "You should never talk about a baby like that. Babies are wonderful things!"
"You take it then!" Miaka yelled. "I don't want it!"
"That's just what I'll do then! I dread to even think about a baby in your care!"
"One more push, Miaka." The doctor couched from the end of the bed. Miaka's screams echoed through the hospital halls as she pushed the young life form from her body. "It's a boy!" the doctor declared, holding up a newborn baby. "Congratulations."
"Hear that, Miaka? A boy!" Sakura said, holding her arms to her chest.
"I don't care!" Miaka yelled. "I don't want to have anything to do with the disgusting thing! You're taking it, remember?"
"Fine, you'll regret this in a few years if you decide to change your life style."
"We're taking the baby to the nursery now." The doctor said as he handed the baby to a nurse. "Have you thought of a name for him yet?"
Miaka grunted and turned her head away from everyone. Sakura, on the other hand, smiled. She had been thinking about it a lot and thought of several boys' and girls' names. Finally, she could only decide on one she liked. "His name is Hiro. Hiro Yagami."
******
That's how my life started. I was unwanted by my own mother and by my unidentified father, who left before I was born. My aunt, Sakura, was kind enough to take care of me. I will always be grateful to her.
******
"Aunt Sakura?" Sakura turned around at the sound of a little voice calling her. She turned around and smiled at the sight of her five-year-old nephew looking up at her. "What is it, honey?"
"How come all the other boys and girls at kindergarten have a mommy and daddy and I don't?"
Sakura bit her lip at that. She had never really prepared herself for answering that question when Hiro was still so young. However, she believed that he should know the truth about his parents. "Sit down, Hiro." She said as she sat down and patted her lap. Hiro climbed into his aunt's lap and cuddled up against her chest. "You see, Hiro, your mother doesn't always appreciate everything that she has. I was hoping that she would change her life style, but she still hasn't."
"She didn't want me, did she?" Hiro asked, his bottom lip quivering a bit.
Sakura sighed and shook her head. "No, she didn't. She doesn't realize how special you are. One day, she'll realize it, though. She'll regret not being here."
"What about my daddy?"
"Your father," Sakura swallowed, not sure how she should phrase it. "well, your father was not a nice man. He used your mother for his own needs and then left her. He doesn't realize how special you are either."
"Why don't they?"
"They just, don't. Some people are narrow minded, Hiro. But that doesn't matter. Always remember that you are very special to me and I will always love you."
******
I never did forget what my aunt told me that night. Her love was unconditional. It didn't matter to her that I was born out of wedlock or that the identity of my father is still unknown to this day. She saw me as she saw the other kids. She thought every kid deserved love and a chance to succeed. She was the most kind and understanding person I've known.
******
Sakura returned home one night, looking much happier and radiant than usual. She was full of life up to her head as her hair spun around her shoulders as she turned. It was a great day for her indeed. "Aunt Sakura!" Hiro ran across the room, happy to see his loving aunt who scooped him up in her arms and gave him a big hug. "Hi Hiro! I hope you weren't too much trouble for the baby-sitter now. Were you?" Hiro fiercely shook his head, causing Sakura to laugh at his antics. "He was no trouble at all." A young teenage girl said as she walked to Sakura to say good-bye and collect her payment. "How much do you I owe you?" Sakura placed Hiro on the floor and dug into her pockets. "Twenty six dollars should do it. I actually had a really great time looking after Hiro. Call me again some time." Sakura handed the baby-sitter her payment and bid her farewell, promising to call her again.
"Aunt Sakura? Why are you so happy?" Hiro's voice dripped with curiosity as usual. Sakura smiled and walked over to the couch, patting a place beside it. Hiro ran over to the couch and joined his aunt. She sighed happily and extended her right arm. On her finger rested a beautiful ring with a golden band and a small diamond settled in the center. "What is it?" Hiro asked, his eyes wide and bright with wonder.
"It's a commitment ring, Hiro." She paused, bringing her fists to her neck as she closed her eyes, still passioned by the gift. "Aiko gave it to me tonight. A commitment ring is a symbol of strong bondage between two people. It means that they are ready to look out for each other's needs. It's just one step behind getting an engagement ring."
"Does this mean you're gonna get married?"
"It looks like that. Maybe he'll be ready to propose to me soon. I hope so."
Sakura got silent suddenly, almost as if she had just remembered something. She slowly lowered her hands and rested them on her lap. Hiro looked up at his aunt through the uncomfortable silence. She was breathing through her nose and staring straight at the wall. "What's wrong, Aunt Sakura?" Hiro's voice was shaky with concern. Sakura smiled gently and turned towards her nephew. "Hiro," she began with a sad smile. Her friend, who just happened to be medium, told her that something terrible would happen to her in the future and that it would likely result in her death. She didn't see any reason to believe it, her friend was wrong 54% of the time anyway, but she had done a lot of thinking. "if something should happen to me, I give you my ring. Keep it with you and give it to a special lady in your life. My spirit will travel with you within this ring, and your heart."
Hiro was very confused by his aunt's words. He didn't think anything would happen to her, nothing bad anyway. Why would anything bad happen to her? "Promise me you'll do that for me, Hiro." He glanced up at his aunt, surprised and still confused. He looked at the floor, not sure what to say. He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to do. It didn't make sense to him. Then again, it all seemed so easy. All he had to do was keep the ring, but how would he know when to do it? If something bad happened to her? Like what? Hiro shook his head free of the attacking thoughts. His aunt had done so much for him, surely he could do something so simple for her. He lifted his gaze from the carpet and met his aunt's eyes. He smiled, nothing bad could happen to her. "Okay, Aunt Sakura. I promise!"
******
That had to have been the peak of my aunt's life. Everything was going perfectly for her. She had graduated from Tokyo-To's top University and was promised a great future with her boyfriend. But that all changed so quickly. She didn't even see it coming. I'll bet she didn't even know what hit her.
******
It was late February and the snow was falling lightly on the streets of Tokyo-To. Even though the day was cloudy, the sun still lit up the sky to a point. The afternoon was young and the streets were busy as usual.
Sakura and Hiro were just returning from the pediatricians for Hiro's annual check up. The day was nice and the air seemed uncharacteristically crisp and clean. Hiro had just turned six a few weeks ago and Sakura had just purchased a new apartment. She had a good paying job as a graphic designer and she had a feeling Aiko was going to propose any day now. Things were looking good.
Hiro gripped onto his aunt's hand tightly. He always felt so safe and secure around her. She smiled as she held her nephew's hand snuggly, her new snow boots making footprints in the sidewalk. Hiro enjoyed listening to the sound of her boots crunching the snow under her feet. He tried to get his boots to mimic the sounds of hers, but the little guy just couldn't keep up with Sakura's pace. She laughed quietly at her nephew's cute antics and caught him when he nearly slipped. She steadied him back onto his feet, when a sudden cry caused her to jerk her head around.
Pedestrians scrambled to get out of the way of something heading up the street. Through the crowds she could barely make out what appeared to be the figure of a man dashing down the side walk like mad. That's when she heard it. Gunfire rang out through the air. Her eyes grew wide when she saw the 9mm in his right hand. Unable to think clearly, she stood up quickly, ready to get herself and her nephew out of there.
Then another shot rang out through the streets. Sakura arched her back as she stared open mouthed and wide eyed at the sky. She dropped to her knees and fell flat on her face. A puddle of blood surrounded her face and neck when she hit the pavement. It soaked into the snow and splattered onto a nearby shopping window. Sakura was dead.
Hiro watched in horror as his aunt collapsed to the ground, covered in her own blood. The bullet shot her in the back of the neck and cut right through it, hitting it's intended target, the gun brandishing man. It hit him in the shoulder, allowing police to arrest him, but at the cost of a civilian's life. She stood up at the wrong time, just in time to catch the bullet through her throat. If she had stayed down, she'd still be alive. Such a burden as that was thrown upon the man who fired that shot. A police man. Top rank officer Onishima.
As much as he hated what he had just done, the suspect was still and threat to his fellow officers and the public. First things first they always say. Trying to hide the shock of killing a civilian, Onishima rushed to aid his peers in capturing the criminal. Even though many people witnessed the whole thing, no one knew that it was Onishima who had accidentally shot Sakura. They all assumed it was the suspect who did it. Everyone, but Hiro.
He had seen him aiming at the suspect, but now all he could see was his aunt. His lifeless aunt on the side walk, just lying there in a rapidly growing pool of blood. She didn't even have a chance, she died instantly. Through all of the chaos, no one noticed the poor little boy, all alone and scared. The little boy who had just watched his aunt, his mother-like figure, get killed right in front of him. No one noticed, and no one cared. He knelt down beside his aunt and shook her shoulder with his little hand. He was hoping she would just wake up and be okay, but she wasn't reacting. Tears started to fill up the youth's green eyes and he made no attempt to stop them. He clutched onto his aunt's coat as he began sobbing uncontrollably. "Aunt Sakura…" His voice was broken by his sobs and his whole body shook. Scared and alone, he did the only thing he could do.
******
I cried. I hid my face in my aunt's coat and cried. It was probably the hardest I ever cried in my life. Something must have happened to grab everyone's attention away from me and my aunt because, as far as I knew, no one even gave us a second glance. As I rested my forehead on her shoulder, I noticed something glittering on her finger. It was her ring. The ring I promised to take if anything happened to her. My eyes grew large as I remembered the promise. Not wasting anytime, I took the ring from her finger and slipped it into my pocket. The feeling of it in my jeans only reminded me of why it was in my possession, and I was attacked by another wave of sobs. I clutched my aunt's coat again and wiped my tears away, when I felt someone's hand land on my shoulder and yank me away.
******
Letting out a startled cry, Hiro was drug to his feet from behind. "You're coming with me, kid. Just settle down, will ya?" The man held tightly on to Hiro's coat collar and drug him to his car. Hiro screamed for help, but no one lifted a finger to help the frightened child. He tried to stop himself by digging his heels into the ground, but only succeeded in causing himself to trip over his feet. "Okay, let's get her outta here." The distant voice caused Hiro to look up just in time to see a team of medics lifting his aunt's body onto a cot and wheeling it into a nearby ambulance.
"Aunt Sakura!" Hiro fought fiercely to get out of his napper's grasp while screaming wildly and tears flowing freely from his eyes. Spectators gave him strange, yet sympathetic looks as he struggled in vain to get free. "Hold still!" the man grunted as he shoved him into the back of his car. The back of Hiro's head hit the seat, causing the rest of his body to follow. He sat up quickly, still hoping to escape, only to have the door slammed shut right in front of him. That was when he realized why no one helped him. He was in a patrol car and the man who had gotten hold of him was a keisatsu. He placed his hands on the car window and peered out. The ambulance had just finished loading Sakura's body up and began to pull away from the sidewalk. "Aunt Sakura..." Hiro mumbled quietly to himself as his hands slowly slid down the glass, leaving a smeared trail of handprints. The officer started up the patrol car as the ambulance headed off in the opposite direction and disappeared.
******
That was the last time I saw my aunt. I still don't know what happened to her after the ambulance took her away. I never heard anything else about my aunt, just that she died. No, she was murdered. Murdered by him.
******
Officer Onishima. Top of his class and just a step below being captain, he was put in charge of finding the relatives of the youth he had brought in. Shuffling a few papers behind his desk, Onishima brought up a directory search of Tokyo-To on the computer. "What's your name, kid?" Hiro shifted uncomfortably in the wooden chair placed in front of the officer's desk. Still sniffling from his previous crying fit, he rubbed his nose and looked at the floor. "Hiro Yagami." The clicking sounds of a computer mouse quickly followed as well as the sound of a pen racing over a sheet of paper. "That woman that was shot, what was her name?"
"Sakura Yagami," Hiro's voice seemed forceful and angry, as if Onishima should have known her name by heart. "She was my aunt."
"Right," Once again, Onishima scribbled something on a piece of paper and continued his search on the computer. Hiro was a bit angry and hurt that he could just brush off the death of his beloved aunt like it was nothing. Especially when he was responsible for it. "Do you know what your mother's name is?"
"Miaka Yagami," Hiro mumble. The same sounds followed his response as Hiro began examining the office again. It was his only comfort now as he faced an uncertain near future. "We're going to send you to live with your mother."
Hiro's eyes opened widely as he snapped his head to look straight at the officer. "I don't wanna live with my mom. She doesn't like me!" Onishima ignored his protest and skimmed through an address book. "Have you ever met your mother?" he said without looking up. "No."
"Then how do you know she doesn't like you?"
"My aunt said that she didn't appreciate me and..."
"I don't care what your aunt said, kid! You're going to live with your mother whether you like it or not!" Onishima finished his statement by slamming his papers on the desk, leaving Hiro cringing and clinging to the sides of the chair.
******
Onishima can be pretty cold blooded, and I had a feeling he knew that I was being sent to live with a woman who was in no way fit for caring for a child. Not only that, but she was abusive. She and her boyfriends as well. I clearly remember meeting her for the first time when Onishima dropped me off in the gutter of Kogane, where my mom and many other poor people lived. You see, my mom is a prostitute and a striper at a local nightclub. She's also a drug addict. That's why she barley had any money on her, despite how much her 'career' brought in. Her boyfriends, I think she had at least six, they were just men who wanted a free ride. They didn't give a crap about her and she was just too stupid to realize it. My father was one of them. They'd just use her for their own horny needs and then move on. Not that I cared, though. She deserved to be used like that. Sometimes, I don't even know why I refer to her as my mom. All she did was give birth to me, but it takes more than that to be a mother. Hell, my old sitter was more of a mother than she'll ever be.
******
The door had just slammed shut behind him, and Hiro found himself in a shabby little apartment. Dirty clothes scattered the floor and the kitchen floor was in desperate need of some mopping. The only light in the entire place was provided by a pathetic lamp in the corner of the living room and was badly shaped. A young, thin and sallow looking woman circled around the young boy. Her light red hair was a tangle mess and her clothes were wrinkled. "This is just what I need!" Miaka said in heavy annoyance as she threw her arms in the air. "Why did you have to come back to bother me!"
Hiro kept his head down and his hands behind his back. He was scared, but he hid it well under a cover of sadness. Genuine sadness, that is. "I hope you know the only reason I'm allowing you to live here is because I don't want any trouble with the keisatsu." Hiro could feel the tears forming in his eyes, but he fought to keep them back as he continued studying the shaggy carpet. He had tuned out what his mother was ranting on about and tried to mentally escape his situation. "Are you listening to me?" Hiro found himself taking small steps back towards the door. He didn't know what had triggered his sudden movement, until he felt his mother's hand grip tightly around his arm. "Don't you ever ignore me, you little shit!"
Her superior strength overwhelmed Hiro as she yanked him away from the door. Tightening her grip on his wrist, she backhanded him right across the face, which she followed up with a punch. Already too punch drunk to stand straight, Hiro couldn't even stop himself from hitting the wall. He felt a strong foot connect with his chest as he slid to the floor. Miaka gave her son an evil look, as if she was about to hit him again, then decided he wasn't worth her time. Though, just for good measure, she gave him one more good kick before turning her back on the frightened and hurt child.
******
So the abuse began. My mom would always find some reason to beat me and her boyfriends would usually 'take care of it' for her if they were around. Sometimes, to advertise her 'business' even further, she'd throw orgies. The first one had to be the worst experience for me, and they just kept getting worse.
******
A group of partiers crowded the small apartment to its maximum capacity. Adults of all ages were there, drinking heavily and shooting smack or whatever else they could get their hands on. Some had already passed out and some were making their mark on the floor with a random partner.
Hiro was in his small room, wide awake and staring at the ceiling. He had just woken up from another nightmare and gripped his raggy blanket tightly. No one was there to comfort him. If he even asked for assistance from the several people just outside his room he ran the risk of injury. He caressed his cheek gently. Miaka's new boyfriend had given him a pretty bad bruise there the night before. Hiro was scared to death of him. He was a lot bigger than his mom's previous boyfriends and just as cold hearted. He hated his mom and he hated her mean boyfriends.
Suddenly, the door busted open. Hiro bolted up into a sitting position to see who or what had just nearly knocked his door down. There was Miaka, drunk and swaying slightly in the doorway. She was clinging to the arm of a large man. A man with dark brown hair and blackish brown eyes. He wasn't exactly ripped, but he did have a pretty good build. He was tall and very intimidating. He was Miaka's boyfriend.
"Hey you," Miaka said, nearly slurring her words. "The rest of the house is crowded and we need a bed. Get lost."
"But I," Hiro suddenly stopped and froze with fear when Miaka gave him that evil leer of hers and started staggering towards him. Miaka's new boyfriend, Teshio, held a hand in front of her. "Let me take care of this, babe." He said as he gently pushed her back. Miaka grinned wildly as she stepped back and Teshio stood ready to take her place. Hiro's breath caught in his throat and his eyes widened as Teshio slowly walked towards him, cracking his knuckles. His entire body shook violently with fear as he tried to summon up the courage to move. He still had a chance to escape, if he was quick. However, it was too little too late.
When Hiro finally made his move to escape, Teshio was already within striking range. He grabbed the youth's arm tightly and yanked him back towards the bed. He then tightened his grip to a crushing pressure and raised his right hand. Stars flew into Hiro's vision when he was violently backed handed right on the cheekbone. Teshio had released his grip on him and sent him flying into the wall. He could already taste blood in his mouth as he tried to get up. He blinked a few times, still stunned, but could only see the shadows casted into his room from the opened door. He slid to the floor, hearing the footsteps of Teshio coming closer. Even though there was a group of people just outside his room, no one stepped in to help him. No one even noticed. And as for the few that did notice, they didn't care. No one did.
Hiro suddenly felt himself being lifted off the floor. Teshio had a hold of him again and sent him slamming into the wall. He closed his eyes tightly and prepared himself for the hit. Right across the face came the first punch. Then came another to the side of his head. Soon Hiro was trapped in a shower of punches and backhands. By now, he was bleeding steadily from his nose and mouth, but the hits kept coming, then stopped. "He's not worth your time, Teshio." Miaka said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I think he's learned his lesson for now. Come on! We have to get it on right now! I can't wait any longer!"
"All right. I'll be right there. Just let me dispose of the trash."
Just as Hiro thought his living nightmare for that night was coming to a close, he found himself looking at the floor again, his eyes bulging out of his skull. For good measure, Teshio had nailed him in the gut and laughed as he doubled over. Once again a strong hand gripped his arm tightly and drug him towards the door, forcing him out of the room and into the opposite wall. The air seemed to pulse around him as the door slammed shut behind him.
******
I was trapped outside with a bunch of people I didn't know while my mom and Teshio made heavy love on my bed. Scared and injured, I slowly made my way through the crowd, trying to find a safe place.
******
Hiro pushed his way through the mass of partiers. Just about every room was occupied, even the bathroom. He hated being exposed like this and was feeling rather uncomfortable. Everywhere he looked there were people getting drunk, high and banging on the floor, and none of them seemed to notice Hiro's existence. Finally seeing the crowd lighten a bit, he made his way towards the kitchen. The least occupied room in the apartment still had a few people enjoying themselves in the most immoral ways, but at least he could find a safe place to hide until this was all over. Hiro made his way towards a large cabinet and opened it, pushing whatever was inside of it out and onto the floor. He didn't care that he was making a big mess, nobody would even notice. When he had cleared that all out, he climbed inside and shut the drawer. Once inside, he brought his knees to his chest and hugged them tightly. His stomach still hurt from the punch and his face was still covered in blood and bruises, but at least he was safe for now.
******
That was one of the most terrifying nights of my life. After that, I began to grow accustom to my mom's little 'parties', and I always had a plan of escape. Speaking of escape, I spent most of my time outside and away from my mom's wrath. Though the gutter of Kogane wasn't exactly the best neighbor hood for a child to grow up in, it was better than being in that urine soaked hellhole of a home I had. I met a few other kids, each had stories of their own. I was glad to know that I wasn't the only one going through a tough childhood. Just about every kid who lived in there was either a victim of abuse or came from a really poor family, or both. There was this one kid, Oshiro, who lived a nearby apartment building. He told me about how his father killed himself when he was really little and about how his step-dad was abusing him and his mother. We were best friends and we spent just about every day together. Until one day,
******
Hiro sat in his room, crying his eyes out. It was early in the afternoon, usually the time of day where he would be out playing with Oshiro, but he wouldn't be playing with him anymore. He was dead. He had just found out that his best friend was killed, hit by a car. His mother was so depressed that she committed suicide to be with her husband and son. Now Hiro felt alone again. Sure, there were other kids in the neighborhood that he could play with and that actually would enjoy his company, but there would never be another Oshiro.
He had heard the shouts of his mother, telling him to quiet down, but he just couldn't. As much as he tried, he couldn't stop the sobs. He didn't want to either. He had just lost another person close to him, he had every right in the world to cry, but he knew what would happen to him if he continued. However, none of that mattered much. He figured he was in for a beating sooner or later and it didn't really matter what the circumstances were, so he continued to cry.
"Dammit! I told you to SHUT UP!!" Miaka was standing in the doorway, the door making another dent in the wall as she slammed it open. She was drunk again and her fingers gripped around the beer bottle in her hand so tightly, it looked as though she would break it. Hiro continued sobbing, not even facing his mother. He was disgusted by her and didn't care that he was about to be beaten again. "You had better stop crying RIGHT NOW or I'll really give you something to cry about!" Angered that Hiro was once again ignoring her, Miaka let out a pent of frustration and stomped towards him.
Gripping his shoulder tightly, Miaka turned Hiro to face her. Her drunken eyes narrowed with anger and hatred as she raised her right hand, the hand that held the bottle. Hiro could feel his eyes growing large at the sight, but forced them shut as the bottle made it's decent towards his face.
/////////////////////////Back to present//////////////////////////////////////////
Beat removed his green sunglasses and turned towards Gum. She had been wondering about the scar under his left eye for quite some time, but she never expected there to be such a gruesome explanation behind it. "That bitch," was all Gum could say. Beat smiled lightly and nodded. "I was lucky. If the bottle had hit me just a centimeter higher, I would've lost my eye." Gum tried to put on a sympathetic smile for him, to try to make him feel better, but she was unable to when she noticed a wetness in his eyes. "You've been crying?"
Beat opened his mouth to answer, but slowly shut it as Gum's soft glove ran across his face. The fabric soaked up a few of his tears as she brushed them away. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Beat said quietly, looking off in the distance. "It's just that whenever I think about my aunt or Oshiro, I just loosen up I guess." He felt Gum's arm wrap around his shoulder and pull him into her snug embrace. "You don't have to continue, if you don't want to."
Beat smiled and slowly removed her arm from his shoulder. "No, it's all right. It actually feels kinda good to get it all out." He slowly put his sunglasses back on and turned towards the sunset. Gum scooted closer to him and held his hand, just incase of the event that he may need some more comforting. "Now then…."
///////////////Return to past/////////////////////////
Time past and Hiro grew. As he grew he continued to face hardships and acquired scar after scar, both the physical an emotional kind. But as he grew, he began to dream. Dream of a way out of the gutter. He had lived in Shibuya once, when his aunt was still alive. He had seen for himself that there was a place beyond the hookers and the drug-dealers, the alcoholics and the poverty stricken, the diseased and the hungry. He knew that he had to get back to Shibuya-Cho. But how?
As Hiro continued to dream of his escape, he spent more and more time out doors. He got to know his way around the neighborhood more and was able to swipe a thing or two from unsuspecting street vendors. It wasn't long before skates made their introduction to Kogane's gutter, but these weren't just any skates. These new skates just happened to be magnetically driven, in line skates, powered by the newly developed netruim batteries. What skates like these were doing in a place like this, no one is sure of. But those who had the money bought them, and Hiro wasn't about to miss out on this. A quick pinch from his mom's purse and the skates were as good as his. "Not like she needs more smack," he used that as his justified means from stealing from his own mother's purse, but then again, who could blame him?
Skating was Hiro's favorite activity. He could get out of the apartment and escape from all the pain he had to face at 'home'. He never felt as free as he did when he was skating. He soon discovered that the more he skated, the better he got. It wasn't long before he was pulling of grinds and a few basic tricks. Of course, he fell down here and there, but road rash was nothing to him.
Hiro continued to grow and continued to get better at skating. Finally, he was thirteen years old. That was the age, he decided, that he would make his move. He was going to escape. He had been neglected, abused, depressed, hungry, and lonely for seven years. He was sick of putting up with his mom's shit and being beaten into a bloody pulp by her boyfriends for breathing. He was finally going to get out.
******
I had planned everything out for that night. Right at sunset was the best time to move. Street vendors always closed at that time and the streets were generally deserted, making it easier to skate. However, when night hits Kogane, that's when all the psychos and drug dealers come out. Kogane is the most dangerous place to be at night in Tokyo-To.
******
Hiro's heart pounded with excitement as he scanned over the items he had just packed away into his backpack. Tonight was the night. He would no longer have to put up with his mom or the gutter. He took one last look around his room to see if there was anything he needed to bring. Not that his room consisted of much to begin with, that is. A bed and a small table as well as some old dirty clothes that he'd never wear again anyway. That was all of the possessions he had that he couldn't bring along. Not that he'd terribly miss any of it, but it was kind of a shame. His travelling inventory consisted of a semi-clean pair of pants and a T-shirt, a small blanket, a flashlight, a pen, his journal, and his skates as well as a few replacement batteries. Between what was in his room and what was packed, the only other things he owned were the clothes on his back and his new green sunglasses he swiped from one of the street vendors to cover up his scar. No, there was one other thing. The ring.
He zipped up his backpack and took a look out his window. The sun was just beginning to set and he could already see the street vendors packing up for the day. Now was the time. He slipped his backpack onto his shoulders and got up from the bed. He placed his hand on the doorknob, and froze. It hit him then what he was really about to do, he would never see any of this again. He suddenly felt as though he should take one last look around his room, but he only shook his head at that thought. What kind of memories did his room have to offer him anyway? What kind of memories did the whole neighborhood have to offer him? Nothing but pain, that's what. The only happy memories he could really grasp on were the times he spent with Oshiro, but even that lead to pain. 'Don't look back, Hiro. Don't ever look back.' He slowly turned the doorknob as his hand was once again free. He carefully pushed the door open and stepped out. Releasing his hand, he slowly pushed the door until the click of the knob was heard. The back of his mind cried out for him to reopen the door and look one last time, but he ignored whatever was calling him back. He was proud of himself for doing so.
Hiro quietly crept through the apartment. He had no idea where his mom was and he wanted to get out without getting beaten again. He still beared the bruises from the previous night and he vowed to himself that that was the last beating he'd have to go through on Miaka's part. She didn't appear to be home, so things were looking good at the moment. Exhaling a short breath through his mouth, Hiro turned heal and headed straight for the door. Nothing would stop him now, not even the doubt that surfaced in his mind as he opened the door, and froze once again. However, it wasn't the doubt that stopped him this time, it was the sense of duty.
He slowly turned around a looked about the apartment. Almost everywhere he looked he could draw up an image of him being savagely beaten by either his mom or one of her sleazy boyfriends. He gently touched the sensitive part on his face with his fingers. An evil grin spread across his face as he scanned the room. He turned around and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door shut. As he walked down the stairs, he kept his eyes on the streets, scanning them as if looking for something. He reached the bottom of the stairs and ran over to a pile of boxes leaned up against a building. He began throwing boxes left and right, digging through the garbage like one of the homeless looking for food. 'I know I saw it in here yesterday,' He continued littering the sidewalk until his eyes fell upon the treasure he was looking for. Snatching it from the damp ground, he turned and ran up the apartment steps. He was running out of time. He didn't know when his mom and her new boyfriend would be back and if he didn't get out of Kogane before nightfall, he would be bloody mincemeat before tomorrow morning. Still, this was something that needed to be done.
Reaching his floor in record time, Hiro pushed the door open and scanned the apartment. The same evil grin was on his face as he brought the object in front of him. A rusty black crowbar. "Now, mother, it wasn't very nice of you to treat me the way you did," his voice was dripping with anger and insane laughter as his breath became short and quick. "therefore I must take it upon myself to reinforce a sense of moral upon this living establishment." The first thing he spied was Miaka's sacred television set. This was one of Hiro's gateways of escape, but he wouldn't be needing that anymore. "Trust me, you'll thank me one day."
Glass littered the floor as the end of the crowbar broke through the television screen. Hiro was on a destructive spree as he smashed everything in his path. The lamp was in a thousand pieces on the floor as was the telephone. Vodka and tequila gathered in puddles on the floor while surrounded by the pieces of glass that once served as their containers. Hiro opened the fridge and pulled out everything, dumping it on the floor, then tipping the damn thing over on its side. He then took his wrath to his mother's room, where the raging beast inside of him was finally set free. All of Miaka's personal possessions lay broken on the floor. Holes were punctured into the walls and the carpet was ripped from the floor. All of her clothes littered the floor, ripped to shreds and was she ever going to be surprised when she found her stash in the toilet. In the middle of all the wreckage, Hiro stood, breathing heavily. The crowbar slipped from his fingers and onto the floor. Glancing around, he took what time he had to admire his handy work, but he had to leave soon. It would be dark very soon and Hiro definitely didn't want to stick around after what he had done. Not wasting anymore time, he hightailed it to the door and down the steps.
Once on street level, Hiro strapped up his skates and prepared to jet outta there. He didn't take the time to look over his shoulder at his old apartment, he just wished he could've stayed to see the look on his mom's face when she saw his good-bye present to her. Pushing off with one foot, he glided down the street. A side from a few pedestrians here and there, the streets were deserted and perfect for fast skating. He had a long way to go before he got to Shibuya and not a lot of time to do it. He tried not to think of that though, he was getting out. He didn't have time to think negatively anymore, at least not at the moment. The tall apartment buildings whizzed past him as he gained speed began to lose their height. A sure sign that he was reaching the end of this forsaken neighborhood. His gut tingled as he flew by the last few houses and got a taste of crisp air as the wind picked up. It was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. He was free.
He soon reached a tall wire fence, which stopped him in his tracks. Unphased by the obstacle, he skated around until he found on opening. He pushed his backpack through first, then got on his belly and crawled through, taking care to keep his clothes from snagging. Once that was cleared, he got up and brushed the dirt off of his pants. He found himself in what appeared to be an abandon construction site, and it was all up hill from there. He had never skated uphill before and that task tuckered him out rather quickly, but he kept pushing on. He even fell down a few times, but he always caught himself and got right back up. Sweat ran down his forehead and dripped off his chin, but he quickly wiped it all away with his shirt. He scolded himself under his breath as he went. "Keep going, dammit!" He'd say. "Get up!" After climbing up a seemingly endless twisting hill, he placed his hand on his knee and supported his weight with another hand pressed against the concrete wall.
He kept his head down as he caught his breath, watching as his skates rolled over a few clumps of dirt. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught what appeared to be a sparkling. Some sort of reflection of the setting sun. Taking his gaze from the ground, he dropped his jaw at the sight of a large body of water. He certainly didn't remember ever seeing that before. Not only that, but there were highways just overhead. And straight in front of him was a line of houses bunched up together. He was glad for an incline after climbing that hill. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and stepped onto the roofs. Hiro had never gone down something so steep before, but he was sure to get up some speed and the faster he went, the better. He could see the end of Kogane in the distance. He was almost there.
He gently pushed off the wall and allowed himself to roll down the rooftops. The speed was slow at first and easy to manage. A simple lift of the skates and he cleared roof after roof, but as the speed increased, his control level dropped. Before he knew it, he was clearing an entire roof with what seemed like a tame jump and saw himself descending towards the next roof at a much greater speed than he would've liked. "Oh shit!" His skates pounded on the roof as his body lunged forward. Hiro struggled to keep his balance as he tried to maneuver his feet while waving his arms in the air like a maniac. He soon discovered that he managed to keep his balance easier by going with the speed, but there was still the problem of landing safely. He saw the street just ahead of him crowded with children playing. Normally, landing would just be a matter of not losing balance when coming in contact with the street. Unfortunately, there was a large warehouse at the end of the houses and not enough road to slow down on.
Hiro shrugged off his predicament with a quick breath and decided to gamble on his only idea. He jumped high into the air a few houses before the end the house hill and turned to the right to give him a bit more room to land. He flew over the last of the houses as well as a small road parting the houses into two groups and a few spectators. He quickly descended towards the ground and prepared his body for impact. Just as planned, he did land on his feet, but they promptly slipped out from underneath him causing him to land on his face. 'Not bad, considering that's the first time I've done that,' Hiro thought as he got up and brushed the gravel off of his jeans. 'I didn't break any bones anyway.'
Glad to still have his body functional, he slowly skated towards the warehouse to see if there was a way through it. He placed his hands upon the window frame to try to get a look in, only to discover the wall crumbled at his touch. "It's doing that thing again!" he heard someone complain from behind. "Why don't those lazy ass Rokkaku guys fix it properly. It's a hazard!" Hiro took a deep breath and was glad that he hadn't personally caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to the building. Jumping down the floor, he slowly skated over to the large red doors and pushed them open.
Looking directly below him, Hiro saw a vertical concrete wall with deep gap of water. It was at least twenty feet to the water surface, perhaps thirty, but it was only three feet from where Hiro stood to the road on the lower residential area. Not a bad jump, he could make it easily. At least, he had given up most of his fear with the whole roof top thing, this should be nothing. Retreating to the back of the warehouse, Hiro readied himself for a dash, putting his right foot on the wall for better acceleration. He sprung forward and tuned into a constant dash pushing himself to the limit. He saw the edge of the floor drawing closer as he squeezed the energy to his legs, making him even faster. Placing his front wheel on the edge of the wall, he jumped pushing himself forward like a spring. He felt a sense of pride as he cleared the gap easily, but that was crushed when he mixed up his footing on the landing and once again got a close up look at the tar road.
"I've really got to work on that," he said nonchalantly as he got up. Looking around, he found himself facing a large bare wall to his left and a concrete bridge to his right. He turned left and skated past the wall where he was forced to turn right. He spotted a small water tower and a tall fence lining stairs to the lower level of the residential area. Out in the distance, he saw it. The wooden bridge over the orange water, leading out of Kogane. Shibuya was just ahead, he was in the home stretch. He skated over to the stairs and took care while descending them, bouncing along as his skates hit each stair. Reaching the bottom, he sprung into another dash. He decided not to take the long way through the houses and jetted right for the stairs. Jumping the second gap, Hiro landed on the stairs and once again lost his balance. Climbing the stairs in skates proved to be more challenging than it seemed. His feet kept wanting to slip out from underneath him and he had to lean on the wall for support. Finally reaching the top, he launched into another dash just as the final sunbeams broke through the clouds and night slowly swallowed the sky. He made it. He got out of Kogane with seconds to spare. All promised to be easy now.
Wandering around the evening atmosphere of Shibuya-Cho was breath taking for Hiro. It wasn't quite as he remembered it, but it was a definite improvement. There were no bums littering every street corner. Trash didn't litter the streets. The air was a lot cleaner as well as the streets, which were nice and dry. Not damp with sewage, alcohol, and urine like in the gutter. It really was an improvement and even though he didn't have anywhere to go at the moment, he didn't care. He had made it and he still couldn't believe it.
After a while of walking around, he decided it was time to find a place to settle for the night. Unfortunately he had only one option. The street. Not a bad choice compared to where he used to live though. He found a nice clean alley and checked around him before settling down. No one was around and the alley was actually rather warm as it was between to apartments. He unloaded his sleeping bag and took out his blanket. He gathered a few newspapers together to make a pillow, shaking them out first to make sure there were no little critters living inside. With his bed set up, he pulled his blanket over his shoulder and prepared to fall asleep. He kept the flashlight nearby just incase as he was pretty nervous. It was his first time sleeping outside after all, and if Shibuya's streets were anything like where he once lived, he wasn't going to be there in the morning. But that was a risk he had to take and, surprisingly, sleep came rather easily to the young runaway.
Moving from alley to alley is how Hiro spent most of his days. Just trying to find a safe and warm place to sleep wasn't easy, but he didn't fear psychos here as much. However, as the seasons changed and winter approached, finding dry places to sleep was getting harder and harder. He knew that if he didn't find a warm shelter by winter, he'd freeze to death. That knowledge put increasing pressure on him to find a permanent place to stay. Not only did Hiro have to worry about shelter, but food as well. Water wasn't much of a problem as there were several water fountains scattered through Shibuya, but food didn't come quite as easily. Hiro had too much pride to resort to begging, so stealing was his only option. Easier said than done though. Nine out of ten times Hiro snagged something to snack on, he'd get caught and would be forced to sacrifice the food in order to escape. He didn't get to eat very often and had noticeably lost a few pounds. He had become so hungry his stomach hurt and he began running low on energy. Some would say that running away was a big mistake, but Hiro would disagree whole-heartly with that.
He had no shelter. "What is shelter?" Hiro'd say. "Shelter is something that you are safe in. Well, I was far from safe when I was living with my mom. The last time I had shelter was when my aunt Sakura was still alive." He had almost no food. "I wasn't eating much better in the gutter than I am on the street. My mom would spend most of her money on drugs and very little on food, and what I did eat was usually scraps. The only food advantage I had there than out here was that I got to eat everyday. I'd say that I'm much better off on the streets than in the gutter. I can't say that I'm disappointed in Shibuya." While all that was true, Hiro knew that he wouldn't last through winter if he didn't find a good shelter. Even that didn't phase him as he continued the struggle to survive one day at a time.
However, one night turned out to be much fiercer than the others. Hiro ran through the streets as he held a newspaper over his head. It was raining heavily and the temperature had dropped dramatically. It was only forty out and no one knew if it would be getting any colder, but odds are that it would. He hadn't eaten in days and it was already November. Winter was right around the corner and Hiro was almost out of time. He checked alley after alley, but there was no dry place to sleep. Things seemed hopeless. He wasn't willing to give up though and he ran down another alley way hoping to find a stoop or anything else that would provide temporary shelter from the rain. He frantically looked left and right. Nothing but walls, damp papers, trash cans, abandon building…abandon building? Hiro skidded to a stop and took a few steps back to make sure he saw what he saw. Slowly approaching the building he took a look inside the window. That's when he realized that the abandon building was really an abandon garage.
He stepped through the large window in the front and discarded the soggy newspaper. Everything was dark and cold, but at least it was dry. Hiro set down his backpack and reached inside taking out his flashlight. He turned it on and was amazed by what he saw in one corner of the building. It was a large stereo system. It was broken at the moment, but not past repair. Why anyone would leave a perfectly restorable stereo system behind was beyond him, but it was there and Hiro had every intention of keeping it. Upon further inspection of the garage, he found a glass wall perpendicular to the stereo system, probably used for strategy maps or something, behind that he found a metal sheet door and on the other side was a whole hidden section of the garage. There was what appeared to be a kitchen like room and there were some other rooms beyond that, but there was plenty of time to explore tomorrow. He was tired and he found a dry place to sleep. That was all that mattered at the moment. If he could find someway to restore it and make it a little warmer, he could use it as his permanent home and the threat of perishing during the winter months would be eliminated. But that didn't matter now. He was dry and safe, and all he wanted to do was sleep.
It was the sharp hunger pains in his stomach that woke Hiro. The rain had stopped and it was late in the afternoon. The garage had warmed up a bit and his hair and clothes had almost completely dried. But he was hungry, and he didn't know what he was going to do for food. It had been days since he had eaten and it wasn't as if he hadn't been trying. Each time he tried to snag some food, he'd get caught and was forced to choice between sacrificing the food or his freedom. Stealing food was getting harder and harder and he hardly had enough energy to move, let alone pull off a successful heist. He lay on the floor with his back against the cold hard concrete. "I don't think I can make it," He had no idea his energy level would be so low when he awoke the next morning, but it was. He had no food within reach and no one knew he was there. By the time he was found by someone it would probably be too late anyway. It definitely looked like the end. "Well, I can't say I'm disappointed." Hiro said, grinning to himself. "I got away from my whore of a mom and returned to Shibuya like I always promised I would. I had a lot of fun living on the streets actually and surviving one day at a time wasn't so bad, even if I did fail. What a perfect way to end my painful life. I'll be warm and dry when I die, that's more than some people get. Yes, what a perfect way to die." Hiro narrowed his eyes, his grin dipping a bit. "Aunt Sakura," he whispered softly. He didn't really know why he whispered her name, it just felt right.
Hiro exhaled gently and rolled over to his side. He was about to go back to sleep, when he felt something pinch his skin. It was something in his pocket. It was the ring. "I still have the ring Aunt Sakura. Aren't you proud? I kept my promise." That's when his eyes narrowed even more and his grin turned into a snarl. "No, I didn't. I promised I'd give it to someone special and I didn't. I can't either, unless I live. I have to live to fulfill my promise. I have to do it for Aunt Sakura!"
Hiro rolled over on his stomach and pushed his body up with his arms. His arms shook under the weight and he placed his knee under his body for support. Pushing himself up to a kneeling position, he placed his hand on the wall and slowly stood. At the moment, he didn't have his skates on or he would've fallen. "Skates! Why didn't I think of it before!" All the times he tired to steal food, he was wearing sneakers rather than skates. Perhaps if he tried, he'd be more successful. It was worth a shot anyway. "But do I have enough energy to skate?" Since skating down a street took much less effort than walking, Hiro decided that he'd be better off on skates than on foot. Making his way over to a wall, he leaned up against it and strapped up his skates. Once he was in a sitting position, he didn't feel quite as weak. It was like some of his energy had come back to him. Maybe it was all in his head, or maybe his will to survive was energizing him a bit. Whatever the reason, he had a bit more energy to work with. Not much, but it was better than nothing.
Hiro slowly stood up and pushed himself off the wall. He slowly glided over to the window and placed his hands on the edge to rest a bit. He then slowly crawled through the window and skated down the alley. Center Street was nearby by and he could get up a lot of speed on that street. Not to mention that not too far down Center Street there was a business section where street vendors made a killing. Therefore, that would be Hiro's best bet for food. As he skated he often had to stop and rest, but he wasn't using as much effort as he would be on foot. He already noticed that he covered much more distance on skates than he did on foot in a shorter amount of time. "I just might pull it off after all,"
Standing at the top of Center Street, Hiro decided to take the road to the right, as it had no cars. He took one last breather before allowing himself to roll down the hill. He gained speed faster than he had expected but did not have too much trouble maneuvering himself. Once he reached the end, he took a sharp turn right and pushed himself a bit to keep his speed up. He then stopped and just allowed himself to go. He covered a large distance in no time with out much effort on his part before slowing to a stop amongst a huge cluster of skyscrapers and office buildings. Just as he predicted, there were dozens of vendors scattered around selling hot dogs and other foods.
He skated over to a bench and sat down. His energy level had gone down just a bit, leaving just enough to make a steal. There was no room for error. Hiro inhaled deeply to nourish his body as much as he could. The aroma of food from a nearby cart filled the air and Hiro unconsciously clutched his empty, aching stomach. "Hot dogs. Been a while since I had those," he mumbled as he eyed the nearby cart. He had his routine down pat. Wait for the vendor to hand the food over to the customer and make your move. Easy strategic, but very difficult to execute.
Hiro rose from the bench and made his way closer to the vendor. He was about ten feet within the cart when he grabbed a nearby street light pole and pulled himself over. He rested his back on it as well as his right foot to give him an extra boost when it was time to attack. Then he waited. "Customer walks over, places order, hands vendor the money," Hiro leaned forward into a tiger-like crouching position, ready to pounce. The vendor was just putting the finishing touches on the two hot dogs that head just been ordered. He put the ketchup and mustard away and turned to the customers who had just grabbed a few napkins. Just out of the corner of his eye he could see a kid in a yellow shirt and green shades skating at full speed in his general direction, but he didn't think much of it. That is, until he noticed the kid was skating right at him.
He turned around, with the hot dogs still in hand, and glared at Hiro who was less than two feet from his target. "Hey kid!" That was about all the vendor had time to say as Hiro launched himself in the air and connected the front of his skates with the poor guy's forehead. As the vendor fell to the ground, the world growing dark around him, Hiro snagged the two hot dogs and dashed out of there. "Hey! That kid stole my food!" Hiro could only chuckle at the people yelling behind him. "What are they so upset for? It's not like they'll never see food like this again."
Hiro made it to the safety of an alley and sat down to catch his breath. He had gotten ketchup and mustard all over his hands, but the feeling felt great! He took a small bite of the hot dog and chewed it carefully. He had learned from experience that even when you're starving it's not a good idea to eat your food too fast or you might throw up or get major indigestion. After swallowing, he paused for a while to let his body adjust to having food in it again. After his stomach settled down a bit, he continued. He closed his eyes and grinned to himself. He was going to live after all. That meant he could fulfill his promise to Sakura. Besides, he wasn't about ready to bite the dust just yet. There were a few things he'd like to do first.
After finishing the first hot dog, Hiro licked the ketchup off of his hand and began to devour the other. However, and sudden rustle in the alley disrupted his meal. He gulped as fear began to rise in his body. If it was another street bum begging for food, he'd simply give the guy what he wanted and then get the hell outta there. All bums scared him, even though the Shibuya bums weren't nearly as crazy as the Kogane ones. But it wasn't a bum that crawled out of the alley.
A small little bulldog limped out from behind a cluster of trashcans. It seemed pretty beat up as it whimpered with each step and struggled just to stay standing. It had gang tagging on it's fur and a few scabs covering it's body. Even from where he was Hiro could smell the drugs from the dog's fur. Whoever the dog belonged to was a pothead and most likely forced the poor animal to fight for entertainment. And it was only a puppy.
Hiro's heart was crushed by the appearance to the poor dog. It looked like it hadn't eaten in days and it was pretty dirty. He broke off a small piece of the hot dog and tossed it to the mutt. The dog sniffed at it and greedily ate it up. "Poor mutt," he mumbled, breaking off another piece. "But then again, I can relate to him." He tossed the dog another piece and he trotted over to the free eats. Sniffing the air, he knew that Hiro had more food on him, so he finished off what he had thrown to him and carefully made his way over. Hiro grinned and held out another piece of food. The dog sniffed his hand then gladly took the sustenance from him. He allowed the dog to lick the ketchup off of his hand, then attempted to pet him. However, the whimpered and lowered it's body to the floor, obviously afraid that he was going to get hit. "Poor mutt's probably been beaten it's whole life," Hiro held out the rest of the hot dog in his other hand and the dog helped himself to the offering. While he was feeding, Hiro slowly laid his hand on the dog's head and began stroking the rough and dirty fur. The dog licked Hiro's hand and was obviously pleased with the gently attention he was getting as Hiro scratched his ears. "You wanna come live with me, pup?" The dog responded by jumping up and placing his paws on Hiro's knee. "I'll take that as a yes."
Ever so gently, Hiro picked up the puppy and cared him back to the garage. The whole way he kept licking his face making it difficult for Hiro to see where he was going. Not that it bothered him too much. He wouldn't have to face the winter months alone and he felt a bit of his aunt's virtues coming through in him. Sakura was always a kind-hearted person. After all, she raised one hell of a nephew.
To be continued…..
So, what did you all think of my interpretation of Beat's past? Well? Don't be shy people, just review!