I am almost entirely submerged in water, eyes closed as a single sound reverberates around me.

Thump thump... thump thump... thump... thump... thump thump...

My heart beat... it is irregular.

Tweleve Years Ago

I watch from my dark corner as Yakuza file into our living room.

Father is trembling in fear. It frightens me.

"Mana..."

The whisper is urgent, as if the speaker is on the verge of despair.

I turn toward the sound to see Shuuya peering out of the closet, his hand outstretched to me.

My fear evaporates as I reach for his hand.

"I'm telling you I don't have the money!"

"Then you'd better think of something fast!"

I turn back, just for an instant, concerned for my father, and find him pointing at me.

"Then take my daughter! She is payment enough right?! She will grow into a beautiful woman! You could sell her for the money!"

I can hear my heart beat speed up as everyone turns towards me.

Two men move forward, and suddenly my vision goes white.

"Mana... don't watch okay?"

Shuuya's voice trembles slightly and I realize that the white in my line of vision is the back of brother's shirt.

I reach out to grasp it and he looks over his shoulder at me, grinning "I'll protect ya. kay?"

The room is suddenly humming with electricity.

Shuuya is pulling me along behind him, the rain drenching us to the bone as we flee from the burning house we once called home.

There are men still chasing us.

Our legs are short, and we don't get far before they find us.

Shuuya is torn away from me, both of us struggling to reach each other.

He is thrown into a garbage bin, the impact of the collision leaving him unconscious and sprawled across the soaking wet pavement.

Something inside me snaps.

I wake up to the steady murmuring of my name, "Mana Mana Mana..."

Brother's head is on my chest his trembling hands and arms holding onto me tightly.

"Shuu-nii?"

His head shoots up at the sound of my voice, and for the first time in a long time his eyes fill with tears, "I couldn't hear your heartbeat..."

Present Day

I surface from the bath water, my eyes falling to the scar across my heart.

The place where my first exploding force field nearly stopped the steady beating sound for good.

Thump thump... thump thump...

"It's still beating Shuu-nii..." I murmur to myself, wondering if he even cares anymore.