Chapter 1: Chasing Shadows of Basketball Players

The mellow tunes of a guitar drifted out the bedroom door of Asaru Thakasha, Hashime and Mirai's 15-year-old daughter. Thirteen years had passed since the incident of the assassination, and here they were, a normal family among the sub-urbs of Japan.

"Drat," she murmured quietly. Looking at a guitar finger-chord chart, she placed her fingers on the correct fret and strings, then strummed quietly. It was 5:45 in the morning, and she was careful not to awaken her older brother, Asaru Itcharo. She reached for a piece of gum on the bedside table, ate it, then strummed quietly again.

After a few hours, everybody was up, and Thakasha changed her clothes after taking a shower. Her outfits for the day were a pair of baggy pants, a blue t- shirt and a pair of loafers. After strapping the guitar to her back, she went out of her room downstairs.

The crisp smell of bacon was in the air, and Mirai stood in front of a frying pan on the stove.

"Good morning," she greeted her daughter.

"Morning mom. Where are they?"

Her mother knew she meant her father and brother. "Your brother's in his room and your father's outside, checking the mailbox. You're all dressed. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Michiwa's house with the others for practice. Bye!"

Thakasha met her father outside, still in his pajamas. Hashime stared at his daughter as she greeted him good morning and ran towards the other street. He also shook his head.

Thakasha was in a very good mood when she got to her friend's house. She opened the door and saw her group of friends huddled together on the sofa. She wiped her shoes on the rag. Michiwa looked up and saw her.

"Hi Kash!" You're here."

"Hi, and yes, I am here. What're you doing?"

Kairi reached up and pulled her down. "You won't believe this. We've just discovered someone—uggh! He's so cute!" she shrieked, pointing to the picture they were poring at. A basketball player. Thakasha blinked.

"Well, what's so special about him?"

"Honestly, Asaru Thakasha, what do you think?"

"Uuh... he's special 'cause he's got... black hair?" none of her friends responded.

"Okay, because... plays basketball?"

Again, no response. They all glared at her.

"I can't tell! C'mon, what am I supposed to be staring at? I'm no expert on that. I don't know anything about boys being chased by girls." Actually, she did know a lot. Her older brother was constantly stalked by a horde of devastating females. The problem was, he had eyes only for his sister and none of them.

"Are you a girl, or a boy?" Michiwa asked in frustration.

"Well, I suppose... birl? Okay, fine... goy?" and she laughed at that thought. Her friends only rolled their eyes.

"Okay, Thakasha, he is Kaede Rukawa, the cutest and hottest guy in the planet! Practically every girl—" she broke off, looking at Thakasha, then revised, "I mean, almost every girl is swooning over him. So—" she broke off again.

"Why are you crazy over him, anyway? You've never even met him."

"Well, if you're not interested, maybe Michiwa or I will have him," Kairi giggled.

This time, it was Thakasha's turn to roll her eyes. "If you're going to spend your time chasing shadows, then it's fine with me, since I can just play my guitar!"

She stormed out the door and walked away, leaving her friends fantasizing and giggling over the picture.

Secretly, her friends wondered when she would ever open her heart again, ever since the most tragic moment of her life happened. Since then, Thakasha changed. She still did not get over that particular incident thought it happened three years ago.