Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. And We Are Children of Circumstances we have to live with or die.

Well, with what we have seen happening with Rei everything is pretty messed up right? I want to say things are only going to get better. I WANT to say that. I REALLY do. However, you and I both know optimism will not save you from the horrible reality you may find yourself in. We all got to find a way to make it or perish.


Chapter Two: The World is Filled with Greed

Rei Kurenada stood transfixed staring into his notebook planner itinerary. Today was not anything important of significance, except he knew that he would have to attend a family gathering. Not that he even wanted to, but apparently it was a pretty big deal among the Kurenadas; Distasteful, pointless, and above all self-serving.

He finished gathering his things together, made sure he was dressed in a cordial suit and tie and made his way over to the main hall room of the estate. He passed by some family members on the way, none of whom said hi.

Rei Kurenada smiled with contempt, making mental notes in his mind.

Seventy-two family members in all attended the meetings. He had seven brothers, four sisters, two sisters of whom were married having children, five brothers married, four with kids, and he had numerous aunts and uncles, who fitted his very perception of a stuck up 'I'm-better-than-you' persona trying to one up each other when it came to riches, Rei Kurenada hardly ever seeing them contribute anything meaningful to the world aside from making 'money'.

He made his way down the hall downstairs slowly, his hand guiding him holding along the railing. He wondered what would it be this time? Usually at such an event their would be some ploy or scheme to make money be touted as something wonderful, but usually it was just family members playing tricks with each other.

"Rei!" a familiar voice called out, Sarada running over to him in a dazzling pretty light green dress. Her short hair flowed smoothly, her amber eyes making him forget his disdain for his own family briefly.

"I'm so glad you're here!" she smiled. "It's so hard to talk to anyone who will take you seriously."

"I know what you mean," Rei smiled backed. "They'll look through you, but they won't look at you. Not unless you're someone worth value in their eyes."

"Mhm!" she smiled. "We're a lot different from them," she smiled.

"Yeah," Rei said.

"By the way," she said, "Have you seen your Dad around? I don't think I've seen him at any of these meetings."

"Well," he said, "My Dad is a pretty secretive guy. He's married to his work, even more-so after Mom passed."

Sarada nodded her head. "Yeah," she said. "I just wonder why he makes us all meet like this once a week to begin with?"

"Hmmm," Rei Kurenada said studying her expression. "Let's not worry about that now," he said. "Sparkling cider?"

"That sounds delightful."

They made their way over to a laced table and Rei obtained two sparkling cider glasses, giving one to her.

Rei Kurenada sniffed it, then halfheartedly drank some. He had a habit of doing that lately. Murderous stares seemed to dart out at him from time to time, and, it was not that long ago he discovered from among the family circle that Irobuki, a younger relative of his had apparently gone missing…only to be found floating dead in the river outside of his house. Such responsible parenting. He however, had other ideas of why he had died.

"Sarada?" Rei asked, her laughing as she drank it, the bubbly fizzes entertaining her.

"What is it Rei?" she asked.

"You'll let me know if you see or hear anything suspicious won't you?"

"Of course. You and Hiroki both!" she grinned. "I wouldn't keep things from you guys."

"Good," he sighed.

"Why helloo!" a familiar voice said approaching him. It was a larger older woman in her forties. Rei believed her name was Aunt Tamako?

"Aunt Tamako good to see you!" Sarada smiled. "I hope you're doing well?"

"Quite right little Sarada," she said rubbing her head messing her hair up.

This habit of hers really irked Rei, but he kept it in.

"I heard that someone will be turning thirteen pretty soon," she said. "It's an exciting time isn't it?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "I'm going to be attending high school soon."

"My?! Already?" she said.

"Yes!" Sarada replied.

"Well, I hope you'll make a lot of wonderful friends," she smiled. "And I hope you can claim your share of the family fortune soon," she added. "Surely it will help you get into an ideal college one day."

"Yeah," Sarada said shuffling her feet, Rei knowing she was getting uncomfortable.

"Well, do take care of yourself dear," she said. "This family needs you. You're a shining beacon," she smiled nodding her head slightly and walking away.

"You know that was rude," she said pouting. "She could have said something nice about you to," she said drinking her cider more forcefully.

"Don't let it worry you," Rei smiled. "I gave up on anyone talking to me nicely a long time ago. It's a major relief," he said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Because," he said finishing his cider, "Any time anyone says anything nice about anyone especially at these meetings there is usually something to be suspicious of. Especially if you don't have anything they want."

"What could she possibly want from me?" she said obliviously. "I'm nothing special."

"No, you are," he said. "At least, you are to me. And Hiroki to."

She perked up humming to herself a bit.

"What is it?"

"Nothing," she said still smiling nodding her head back and forth. "For some reason I'm just in a much better mood. Let's go check out the lunch menu!" she exclaimed dragging him by his arm over to a table filled with sweets.

Rei Kurenada rested at the table aware of all the eyes darting back and forth while Sarada daintily munched on an assortment of sweets.

He kept his composure, the heaviness of the environment weighing upon him. The whole meeting itself was a farce. If you did not have any money, and you were a child, you were marked. And why was that? Why was somehow Irobuki killed? When he was set to receive his inheritance money? Well, he knew the answer.

A long time ago, his family was involved in the mining of precious metals from all over the country. Sekiwa it was called. The time stretched all the way back to the medieval period where they would mine for the materials passing it onto their lords, but in time receiving prominent recognition for their service to the country as craftsman. However, over time as the wealth accumulated and technology increased that labor went into machinery and the family started to live luxurious lavish life styles having little to nothing to do with working hard and instead living off of the family fortune.

Their was however one unfortunate problem due to this fortune. Apparently the family head had made a stipulation to family members who would receive their piece from the family vault. The vault itself was vast and the fortune given to a family member had very strict parameters. Not one of them was allowed to receive any of it until they turned 13 years old, when the funds could be used to their best advantage. However, if those funds that child would have received were unable to be given to them, then the parents or guardian of that child would receive it in their stead. They were unable to access it except for normal expenses while the child was alive as it would be in a child's 'trust' account.

Rei Kurenada had wondered if their were so many children if the vault would run dry, but he heard from another uncle Fujiwara that since the vault is invested in stocks pretty heavily surrounding the precious metals heart of the fortune, that interest keeps the value of the finances up and seemingly never ending as long as it is balanced. It was a never ending money supply; a nightmarish scenario for any child in the Kurenada family.

"Rei? Rei?" Sarada said. "It looks like they are having an announcement," she said after popping in a few dainty sweets in her mouth. "Let's go see what's going on."

They made their way over to the entry way trying not to get in the way of the adults.

"Now, now," a familiar voice said, "We can't have us adults be the only ones to see this can we?" the voice said. "Kids, don't be shy! Come to the front to see ol' uncle Goumatsu!"

The voice irked Rei, but the invitation irked him even more.

"Oh! That must be you, Rei, and you Sarada!" a familiar uncle said Rei having forgotten his name.

"You better get going!" another aunt smiled as they all made room for him.

Rei and Sarada walked forward until they were sitting down on mats in front of Goumatsu along with twenty other children whom he was vaguely familiar with.

"I am happy to announce," Goumatsu grinned, "That the Irojuro company, our long time rival for precious silver has finally given up the fight. As of today, they have now merged with Sekiwa. The value of the vault has almost doubled!"

At this the whole family erupted in applause, Rei staring around at their frantic faces so overjoyed, which immediately made him sick to his stomach. This was not good. He realized because the value of the vault was a lot more then that meant the fortune that their children would receive would be substantially larger, but even more so if it ended up lining their own parent's or guardian's pockets.

He stood up looking at all of them, also looking at the other kids who looked a bit nervous.

"I-I have a question!" he shouted a bit anxiously.

"Eh? What is it Rei?" Goumatsu said studying him.

"About the family vault," he said, "Did the Irojuro company have any debts that we assumed per the contract?"

"Debts?" he wondered aloud. "Oh, there were a few of those. We had to sell some of their property as well in order to pay for it."

"So, does that mean," he swallowed, "Does that mean the value of the vault has changed all that much?"

"No," he said. "In fact, it's just the opposite," he grinned.

"How so?"

"Since our competitor has been taken out, the service that we supply to our vendors has only increased by half with our monopoly on the market. That means the demand is up, which means that when I say the vault has doubled I mean all of it. Stocks, bonds, even the 'heart' of it."

Rei Kurenada felt his heart drop and sank to his knees as applause rang around him from the family.

"Oh dear, what's the matter?" he asked. "Is it too much money for a brat like you to comprehend Rei?"

Rei covered his mouth trying to prevent himself from throwing up; his skin turning pale.

"Rei!" Sarada exclaimed. "What's wrong? Rei!"

"Say something!" another one of the children next to him demanding.

"What's wrong with the family fortune increasing?" another one asked.

"Yeah Rei, Sarada?" Goumatsu grinned. "What's ever wrong with that?"

Rei wanted to get the words out, but he couldn't. It felt as if he had been marked. That everything of his would be taken away. No, stolen. Everything…

...Everything.

The splashing of cold water across his face snapped him back to reality as he took care of himself at a faucet. Rei had no time to be sick. No, he had to be even more vigilant from now on. He had no choice.

"Hey," Sarada said kicking her feet off an elevated stairwell post, "Don't let it worry you. I know that look on your face. That look of 'oh no we're all doomed,' she said dramatically making a dramatic pose with her hands.

"It's not a lie," Rei grinned. "Did you see the look on all of their faces when that was announced? They lit up, and then, just for an instant, I saw their eyes lock onto their children. They weren't loving glances either," he said.

"So you really think then that we're in danger then? Do you really think our own mother and father would treat us like that?"

"Mine didn't," Rei said. "But I fear for you Sarada. Both your parents died in an unfortunate car accident. And your guardian is…"

"...Yeah, my father's brother Goumatsu, and his wife Shirui," she replied a bit apprehensively.

"Now more than ever," he said, "You have to be careful. What is it that you always told me you wanted to be?"

"A dentist," she smiled. "So everyone can have a smile like mine."

Rei Kurenada closed his eyes for a moment reflecting on her good nature. He then rushed over, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her off of there and wrapped his arms around her.

"You're too pure-hearted for this world," he said, but not even sure if she could hear him. Here in this den of demons, truly lived in angel among them.

She looked kind of surprised, but stroked his head as he held her.

"It's going to be all right," she smiled, the feeling vaguely familiar. "You shouldn't worry about things like this so much. You won't be able to enjoy your life you know?"

Rei smiled wanting to believe her, but let her go and placing both hands on her shoulders. "And I can't enjoy my life," he said, "If I am worried about you. Please value yourself more," he grinned, the two of them smiling, their own light creating a beacon, a glimmer of hope in an unwavering world threatening to consume them.