Chapter 2

One fateful day, Toushiro was walking home from school when he saw a street vendor with apples for sale. He didn't have any money for one but he was so hungry. He hadn't had lunch today due to a lack of money. In fact he hadn't had lunch in a week due to a lack of money. He had never stolen anything before but he was just so hungry. He felt like his stomach was turning inside out. He slipped a delicious looking green apple off the pile and tried to shove it in his jacket pocket before the vendor noticed but before he could, the vendor grabbed his wrist.

"Just what do you think you're doing, little punk?"

Toushiro froze. He wasn't sure what he should do.

Then out of no where, a hand clamped onto the vendor's shoulder a little too roughly to be friendly. The vendor looked behind him only to have to tilt his head up to look at the 6'4 black haired man in the face. The man was holding up enough money to cover the apple and a little extra. The vendor looked at Shiro and sneered then he grabbed the man's money and went back behind his stand.

Toushiro looked guiltily up at the stranger.

"You've never stolen anything before have you kid."

It wasn't a question but Shiro shook his head anyways.

"Well are you going to eat the apple or not?"

In all of that, Shiro had forgotten about his hunger and the fact that he was still holding the apple. He looked at for a moment before taking a bite.

"My name's James Kuchiki."

"Toushiro Hitsugaya. And thanks for your help."

James inclined his head. "Kid, I think we could help each other. Walk with me?"

Toushiro looked up at him warily. The stranger had thick black hair that was cut short, a long expensive looking coat, and dark blue eyes that looked disturbingly honest and mischievous. "Look no offense but I think I'll have to pass."

James smiled a little. "It's a good thing you're cautious and I don't blame you. But I'm being deadly honest. I think I've got a job for you. That is, if you're interested."

"What kind of job?" This stranger had peeked Shiro's interest when he said the word 'job'.

"An errand boy. I'll just need you to come to my house or other places and pick up packages and deliver them where I tell you. It will all be within the city limits."

"Why can't you just mail them?"

"Let's just say the contents of the packages are too valuable for me to risk the post office loosing them."

Toushiro backed a step away. "I don't want to get into anything illegal."

"It's not technically illegal. Just frowned upon. Look I'll tell you more if we go somewhere with less ears listening."

Toushiro looked around. Could this stranger be trusted? Should he risk going with him?

James waited for Toushiro to decide if going with him was worth the risk. James of course didn't blame him a bit. It was a rather strange situation. But James knew that Toushiro was perfect. He was a kid who had never tried to steal anything before today and James had seen the guilt on his face. He knew he could trust this kid not to fail because this kid wanted something better and he wanted to get it honestly.

Finally, Toushiro sighed and nodded. "Okay. Lets go to Central Park."

James nodded in approval and they started walking.

/

They found an abandoned bench in the park and sat down.

"Okay, kid. So you've heard of how some people sneak slaves into this country even though it's technically illegal right? Or some rich person promises someone from another country that they'll bring them to America if they work for them for a year but then they turn them into slaves?"

Toushiro nodded. He had heard rumors. Especially since a lot of those 'slaves' were sometimes transported to New York.

"Well, all of those 'slaves' have a right to become a U.S. citizen. But first they would have to return to their country, then apply for a visa, then get a visa, and then come back and that's if they manage to stay away from their 'owner' long enough. Well that's where I come in. I pass word around to the right people who work the underground. Word gets to some of these 'slaves' and if they manage to escape, they come to me. I shelter them and pull political strings to make sure they get a new identity along with a visa."

"How did you manage to get all this money and political ties to do this?" If this guy was telling the truth, then Shiro wouldn't mind helping him at all.

James smiled a little. "Well my dad built a casino in Las Vegas and left it to me when he died. I turned it into seven more."

Toushiro sighed. "Look all of this sounds great but how do I know you're telling me the truth?"

James sighed. "I could show you some of the 'slaves' that I've helped to get a visa. There are a few that have stayed in the city."

Toushiro nodded. "Okay. Lets do it."

James nodded and stood.

/

James introduced him to a small convenience store owner, one of Toushiro's teachers, and a cashier in a Toys R Us who he had helped to attain a new identity and a visa. All of them spoke fondly of James to Shiro and they all seemed very happy with their new life.

Toushiro knew that there was a possibility that this could all be a set up but who would go through the trouble of all of this just to do something to him? When they left the Toys R Us, Toushiro looked up at James. "Okay so I think I'm pretty convinced. Not completely but close. So how much would I get paid to carry this packages everywhere?"

James smiled. "I'll give you $500 cash every Friday. And if you or your parents ever get sick or injured let me know and I might be able to help. I have to be careful because I can't have my name getting all over the place but I will do everything I can to help."

Toushiro's jaw had dropped open when he said $500 every Friday. "$500? Seriously?"

James nodded and held his hand out. "So, do we have a deal Toushiro?"

Toushiro looked at the hand for a moment then smiled and shook it. "Yes we do, James."

James smiled. He had a feeling he was going to like working with this kid.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about the job since it's not really the main focus of the story even though it is an important point in the story. Anyways, tell me what you guys think so far and the next chapter should be up in the next day or two. Thanks for reading! :)