Chapter 1
The midnight-haired teenager strolled into the dusty old warehouse like he owned the place. And for all the rest of the world cared, he did. This place had been essentially ignored since 1985. If he hadn't stumbled in here three years ago, it probably would've collapsed from disuse. It'd taken months to get it looking semi-normal as things stood.
The world hardly cared what happened to this place. But they certainly should care what happened inside. This particular teenager was the head of a gang and obviously on the fast-track for mischief.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Anybody here?" There was a stretch of silence before a cardboard box fell somewhere deeper inside the building. He made his way in that direction. His deep blue eyes dropped to another teenaged boy lying on the floor by his feet. "What the hell are you doing, Kukai?"
Kukai Souma scrambled to his feet and grinned at his friend and higher-up. He made a sort of salute in the newcomer's direction. "I was just so excited to see you, I couldn't control myself, Tsukiyomi."
"Hmph." Ikuto Tsukiyomi walked past the way-too-hyper boy and toward the select few of his gang he'd invited to this get together. Kukai was right behind him.
The only other two he'd asked to come were both girls. There was a short blonde who looked more like an angel than the demon he knew her to be. "Rima, nice to see you again."
Rima rolled her eyes and replied coolly, "You act like I came because I wanted to. Yaya was the one who dragged me here. You know that."
Yes, Ikuto did know that. The other younger girl is the only reason Rima ever came to any of these meetings. Not because she respected the girl who acted more like a baby-no, it's more like she listened just to make her shut up.
"Yaya is happy Ikuto-tan is here! Did Ikuto-tan bring Yaya candy?" Chuckling, Ikuto tossed her a plastic bag he'd carried in with him. Yaya looked like he'd just given her the Holy Grail.
Kukai nudged Ikuto's shoulder. "Want one?"
Ikuto glanced down at the cigarette box he was being offered. He shook his head. "Nah, I'm good." Kukai shrugged and took one of them for himself. His lighter flicked to life and ignited the cigarette. Ikuto had never really liked them; he didn't like the taste they left in his mouth.
"Catch." Ikuto turned just in time to grasp the bottle flying towards his head.
He turned it to look at the label. "Corona?" Rima nodded. Ikuto still didn't know why she ever brought him anything. The girl had never been his biggest fan. But it seemed that most of the time she came prepared with some kind of drink. He popped the bottle cap off. "Thanks."
The four took a brief moment to relax. Rima broke the silence. "Why did you call us here?"
Ikuto smirked. "What? I can't just have a friendly little get together with my friends? There has to be a reason?"
Rima frowned. "There's always a reason. So what is it this time?"
Ikuto leaned back and looked up the ceiling. "I just have a strange feeling. Like something big's gonna happen soon. I don't really know what though. I wanted to ask if anything weird's happened with you."
There was silence as they all paused and thought about it. None of them could think of anything. "Are you sure you aren't just gonna heave your guts out?"
Leave it to Kukai to say something ridiculous tactlessly. "Yes, Kukai, I'm sure. Though your concern is touching."
No one spoke for a moment. Then Yaya screamed. Ikuto and Kukai were on their feet in a second. Rima was tense and scanning the area around her.
Yaya cried out, "SPIDER! SPIDER!" and burst into tears.
Sighs escaped from everyone's mouths. Kukai walked over to Yaya and killed the spider. "It's okay, Yaya. The spider's dead now."
Ikuto was getting a migraine. "I'm heading out, guys." He placed his barely touched alcohol on the ground. "Try not to kill yourselves."
The young gang leader walked out of the warehouse, rubbing his temples.
"Bless us, oh Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ Our Lord. Amen."
"Let's eat!" The family of four lifted their chopsticks and began eating their dinner.
"So, Amu, how was your day at school today?" the mother asked.
The pinkette at the head of the table swallowed her rice and shrugged. "The same as normal. Math class was less than fun, though. We're learning basic ratios, but I just don't get it. No matter how hard I try I just can't understand it."
Midori Hinamori smiled. "How is Tadase doing?"
Amu Hinamori blushed for a moment at the tone her mother used when saying his name. "Mom! I already told you I don't like him!" Under her breath she added, "Not anymore."
Tsumugu started sobbing. "No! I will not allow this to happen! Not to my little sparrow!"
Amu's eyebrow twitched. Fourth Commandment, Amu. Honor your father and mother. Remember the Fourth Commandment... "It's okay, Dad, it's not like that. You're little sparrow isn't going anywhere."
"I wike Tadase!" Ami cried.
"No! I refuse to give you to a boy! Ami...!" A fresh wave of tears hit Tsumugu.
"Honey..." Midori said to her husband with a warning in her voice.
Amu placed her chopsticks next to her food and said, "Excuse me." She stood and started walking away from the table.
"Amu!"Amu turned to look back at her mother.
"Yes?"The older woman smiled.
"Don't forget to say your prayers." The girl nodded in acknowledgement.
"Good night." She walked up the stairs and knelt next to her bed. She ran through a mental list of prayers and decided on her favorite one.
"Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray to God my soul to take.
If I should live for other days,
I pray the Lord to guide my ways.
Father, unto thee I pray,
Thou hast guarded me all day;
Safe I am while in thy sight,
safely let me sleep tonight.
Bless my friends, the whole world bless;
Help me to learn helpfulness;
Keep me ever in thy sight;
So to all I say good night."
