Clang! Clang!

I am in a box.

A wooden box, actually. I could see indistinct outline of bodies sturdily chaining the box I was in.

Now why am I here again?

Right, right... my stunt act. I am so stupid. I mean, who would ever manage to get out of three-inches-thick oak wood encased in fifty-meters-long rusty chains? Plus getting thrown into the ocean?

Now why was I doing this?

Oh yes, requests... I should learn to turn them down before things become more severe, if it isn't already. At least they are providing me these materials. Whoop, the box is lifting..?

"Kyaa~!" Chatter chatter-

Things are getting rowdy out there. Okay, you win. You guys' ideas are much more exciting for the audience than mine. The movement came to a halt, I held myself between small gap as gravity stopped for a moment until...

Splash!

Salty water slapped across my face, water pouring through the slit of wood panels. In mere seconds I was in a water tank. My eyes stung when I blinked them open. Now what should I do? I looked around my surroundings and there was nothing: no gap bigger than half a centimeter, no slack chains, no nothing. Absolutely nothing that would hint survival. The usual occurrence. I waited.

One Mississippi...

Two Mississippi...

Three Mississi-The fall came to a sudden halt and through the slits I see something... red..?

Craaaccckkkk-! The board broke into pieces in an instant and I found myself gaping -cough! Cough! Ugh, wrong choice- at a giant octopus as rusty chains fell around me. I blinked. It blinked back. Ho~ What do we have here? Oh yes, a giant octopus for ten-years worth of takoyakis. Too bad we don't have supplies for that. I wonder is Denis can grill it. AHHHH! Enough with the rambling! I'm almost out of oxygen! I looked up. Uh-oh, I'm about 60 meters below ocean level by the look of the surroundings and I'm not sure my legs will make it. I glanced at my bleeding calf. It got cut by stray splinters. Uwah~~~ It stings~! Especially adding salt water and all. I still made my attempts. Did I tell you frog style swimming isn't the best way to swim up? More like faddling in one place. I was near suffocating when something slimy touched my feet. I was pushed upward really fast and no sooner, I was thrown out of the water.

"Kyaaaa~!"

"Unbelievable!"

"It's a miracle!"

With a loud thump I landed on the wooden surface. I promptly rose my hand and a loud applause exploded. Chilly air sent me goose bumps, my whole body stinging with salt. Better have a shower soon. One by one the onlookers dropped few coins or euro bills into preset box. I thanked and bowed and the crowd soon dispersed. I picked up my box and glanced back into the ocean to see a shimmering red before disappearing into the deep blue. I smiled and began to count my reward.

Ding- Dong

Grunting, Skull turned the shower knob off. Beads of water formed at the ends of his damp and not-so-spiky purple hair. There was a faint scar on where the heart would be. Cool air basted onto his wet skin making him shiver. Brrr~! Promptly wrapping a towel around his waist, he opened the door for the unexpected visitor.

"Congrats, Skull!" A bouquet hit him in the face with full force.

Wam!

"'Give me a call before you come.' Haven't I always said that?" He scowled playfully at the brunette with messy hair.

"Hahaha! But then it wouldn't be a surprise!" laughed the offender, still shoving flowers to his face. Skull smirked.

"Going to stay outside or what?"

"I'm going in!" He quickly got in and closed the door. Skull left to get dressed and make some tea. A moment later he came back.

"Thought you were helping out your dad?" He handed him a cup of tea.

"Already finished! Things are going smoothly lately. We have a good dealer!" He gladly accepted the cup and took a gulp. "Atsui~!" Skull laughed at Denis fanning his tongue with hand.

"Glad to hear you're not working your ass off."

"Haha! Yeah! I don't know about you though."

"I'm fine. It pays well."

"No, I mean the stunts." Denis notices the bloody scar. "You got hurt again!"

"It doesn't hurt anymore." Skull replied nonchalantly.

"But it may get infected!" He pushed skull to a sofa and magically brought out alcohol and bandages. Skull observed him treating his wound with mild interest.

"I always wonder how you always have the right thing at the right time."

"You just don't think further." Denis chuckled as Skull snorted.

"Was that an insult I hear?"

Creak~

The door open and closed, revealing Vlad.

"Sorry for interrupting..?"

"Hahaha! Vlad, you kid too much!" Skull blushed in the corner.

"Don't put it that way!"

"Skull, you're too easy to tease." Skull glared from his dark corner.

"You sadistic bastard."

Denis smiled happily as the argument transpired.

"Hahaha. It's too bad I have to leave now. My cousin's coming for a visit."

"I heard he was Japanese?"

"Yeah, I hope we get along… Catch you later!"

"See ya!"

Comfortable air settled into the brown toned living room. Despite the atmosphere, there was worry in Vlad's eyes.

"Skull."

"Hm?"

"Do you have to continue your stunts? They are not healthy and I'm sure Denis's dad would be more than happy to have a new worker."

"Unhealthy? Stunts are what keeps me fit!" Skull jested.

"No… They'll attract unhealthy attention."

?

Vlad rubbed his temple and Skull looked at him with puzzled eyes.

"Nevermind.. I'm heading out for a job interview."

"About time. I shouldn't be the only one to pay our room fees."

"Whatever. Chaos."

Skull locked the door and walked back to the sofa. '"Unhealthy attention" huh? Well... the requests I get aren't healthy for my body... what did he mean by attention..?' Skull remembers what Vlad joked earlier and blushed. 'Uuwwaaaaahhhh~~~! Stop, y-you stupid brain!' Skull started to run around the room with steams puffing from his head until he stripped at his own feet and got knocked out.

"Damn, he just doesn't get it," muttered Vlad in annoyance. It was so hard to explain the reason why without revealing too much. He had to stop Skull before others notice him. Who knew he would keep up his acts after 'that' incident? He casually bought a newspaper from a boy and began to skim through it. Someone was following him, about two of them. He couldn't see them but he could feel their eyes on him. As a wave of crowd passed between him and the unknown stalkers, he took a sharp turn to his turf: the alley.

(line break)

"Where did he go?"

"Damn, we lost him!"

"He should be around, keep searching!" Three men wearing a suit ran past a fallen trashcan. Littered trashes scattered about on the cobblestone. Vlad observed them running to the opposite direction from where he was hiding. Too easy. He slipped away from his hid-out and jogged to his exit until…

There was another men he wasn't aware of standing before his exit. Shit. He swiftly turned for a run only to be welcomed by the rest of the gang. The man between the two impeded his attempt on kicking his way out with a single sentence.

"What?"

"Cavallone Primo wishes to see you."

"As I've always said, I won't be the next heir. Tell him I refuse." This time, the men didn't move an inch when he walked to get past them.

"Even when he's in his death bed?" He halted, slowly turning to the man who had spoken. "He wishes to have a last word with you."

A sleek, black car drove off in silence from a quiet alley entrance. No soul was there to witness this event. A crow cawed in the orange, setting sky; flying to the horizon, it saw nothing. The abandoned newspaper flew few feet by the artificial gust of wind, finding itself a corner in the dark and dirt, out of the watchful eyes of the setting sun having a last look before falling into a deep slumber. Or so Vlad thought, overlooking the inevitable gleam of stars over the drifting cloud.

It was dark outside by the time Denis got home. His house was pretty far away from Skull's apartment after all, but that won't stop him from visiting his friend. The air got chilly quickly and white puffs formed from his mouth. Taking out a rusty key, he heaved the heavy wooden door open and shouted his arrival.

"I'm home~!" He saw his dad, portly belly, strong arms with little cinders on his hair, casting a shadow on an orange streak of lamplight streaming out into the dark hallway through the slightly open door.

"You're late. Went off to Skull's place I presume?"

"Haha, sorry dad."

"I couldn't care less as long as you had your fun. Just be glad that your cousin doesn't mind." His dad walked past him saying, "I'm going to bed."

Aw dad! Is this your little punishment for leaving you alone with someone who's not your co-worker? You've got to work on your social skills! Having friends do wonders! Denis swiftly entered the room and was struck by how much his distant cousin resembled him, but what struck him more was the outfit that was totally out of his culture. First thing in his to-do list, go shopping with his cousin. He could have mistaken him as a doppelganger if it weren't for his neat, straight hair unlike his curly hair. The other seems surprised as well.

"You are… U…getsu…"

"Asari would be fine." He answered politely, maybe too formerly?

"Ahahah! That'll save me! I'm quite bad at pronunciations. Hey, I know you're from another country and all; but you're my, if not distant, relative! Don't be so formal! Or else I'll be in trouble!" Asari relaxed a little. He was worried about their culture barrier that happened few minutes ago but seeing the other amiable made him feel welcomed.

"I'm afraid I may have caused your father discomfort."

"Don't worry, don't worry! He's a bit shy with people, that's all!" Denis noticed a long katana and three short blades resting next to his talking partner. "That's a mighty strange thing to have with you; do all Japanese men fight with them?"

"Ah, no. They are what I managed to get selling my sakuhachi -a flute- and afford to travel here." Denis caught a nostalgic gleam in his face.

"What made you to come here? I think your saku…chi? was precious for a tour around here." A look of surprised formed at the question.

"I have heard that… my friend was in a crisis, and I am well known as a flautist. I'm happy it was enough for my travels." Denis mused at that.

"I heard that you're going to stay here. Was it worth it to give up your sa..saku…- ah, forget it – flute? You may not be able to go back." Asari took out a pocket watch and caressed it lovingly.

"Better a broken possession than a broken friend. What is a friend if he isn't there for his friend at his dire moment?"

"I must agree you with that, my friend is doing a risky job and I would be lying if I said I'm not worried."

"I'm glad you are affable with our conversation. I'll be staying for a month until my friend comes to pick me up. I hope we get along."

"Hahaha! I'm sure we'll get along just fine~ Just so you know, you have to help out with our chores!"

"Of course! It would be unfit for me to lounge around when you're doing me a favor!"

"Alright! Tomorrow, we are going for your new cloths and a flute! I'm not sure if it'll be the same as Japanese flute but it'll be similar!"

"My word! How can I thank you for this?"

"Hahaha, you're overreacting! I just want to hear you play it that's all!"

"Yes, but it means much for me. I'll play it for you how many as you want!" Asari shone brightly with a smile.

"Finally you're showing me your true smile! No need for polite smiles around me! I'm order than you so I can take anything in the range of whiny to straight-out murderous! Now, let's head to bed shall we?" Asari looked at Denis for a moment. Is this what it feels like to have an older brother? He smiled to himself to have such warmhearted cousin.

"Yes. Thank you."

I hope you enjoyed it! If not, I'm open for any suggestions! Please review and tell me how you feel about this chapter! Thank you for reading! Take care~!