Even through the closed ebony doors, [y/n] could sense the men's observing stares pierce through her back. Shiro wordlessly pulled her with him. When they turned around the corner, the captive was about to yank herself free. But the whitehead had already let go off her, and now, he eyed her with a deep, contemplating gaze- of something close to sadness.

"Has he done anything to you, [y/n]?" his voice was a feeble whisper, an anxious glimpse flying towards the office. "...Come"

Again, he reached out for her, but this time he gently took her hand instead of forcefully groping her arm. However, the girl winced, spiting a hiss of pain as his fingers traced her wrist. Shiro's orbs flickered insecurely. She was about to pull away, but he closed his grasp around her palm. Carefully, he tugged up her sleeves: And revealed a beautiful bracelet of red, blue and purple bruises. The imprints of fingers were still clearly visible. He could even feel her veins pulsating. The male grimaced. "We gotta cool that"

Tenderly yet demanding, he pushed her into the living room and on the couch. He vanished for a moment. The lass heard the fridge being opened and closed, before the boy returned with a pack of frozen peas. "Here" Shiro sat down next to her and positioned the cold food on his thigh, before tentatively placing her swollen limbs on top. He securely cupped her hand in his owns, searching for her focus. "...What happened in there?"

[y/n] gazed at the constellation, then gaped directly into his light gray eyes. She furrowed her brows. "Shiro, are you worried about me?"

The addressed individual glimpsed. "Of course?"

She sighed. "It doesn't make any sense."

"What doesn't make sense?" He put a light pressure on her fingers, as if to encourage her to talk.

"Why should you be worried about me? Whether I'm hurt or not is none of your business" she was about to finally pull her soaring limb away from his embrace, but again, he clutched his hands shut before hers could disappear.

A vague, crooked smile appeared on his face, while the abyss of concern in his hues deepened. "[y/n]. You might have forgotten it, after all we've done to you- and that's totally understandable- but we aren't heartless monsters. We have emotions and we have, indeed, a sense of empathy"

The captive peered into the void. All during her stay, since their very first encounter, she had seen the males as nothing but a threat, as callous creatures she needed to get rid off, like animated characters in a computer game.

Her mind wandered back to the bygone conversation with Katsuro. Maybe Shiro was right: Maybe they were people just like her, with reasons that had gotten them into their current state, just like she was a victim of influences that had gotten her on the streets. His statement sunk into the depth of her consciousness like a stone into a dark lake. It had struck her and was the loud repetition of a thought that she had carried with her through more than one moment, but had never wanted to admit to. Her brain recollected her images of the house members. With his words resounding in her head, her memory replayed single situations with the males:

There was the short- tempered, hot- headed Akito, who had once tried to kill her. But who also hadn't made a move since then, who had never hurt her more than necessary during training sessions, who had even started to acknowledge her skills; and who for sure held a lot of emotions inside of him, even if it was mostly rage.
Yasu, who was so quiet and reserved, who had shot five men without a blink; yet still repetitively showed behavior that was typical for a common boy his age. Who wanted to be kissed.
The young guy in front of her, who played a big role in the mess that had gotten her here in the first place; but again and again offered his help, even after she had knocked him out once.
Isamu, who was so daunting and stern, the last person she would dare to call out for, had offered his protection, made sure she got something to eat every day.
And last but not least, the intimidating leader with an obvious god- complex. Who set her alertness on the edge with everything he did- And yet seemed to have a intricate, deep past, just like any other individual.

But before she could built up any stronger acceptance or compassion, she reminded herself: She was still a prisoner. These men, as actual humans or not, still held her captive against her will. She still needed to escape.

But where to?

[y/n] quickly shook her head. "Yea, maybe you're right" she answered bluntly, lethargic. To give her dull response a little authenticity, she relaxed her arm in Shiro's grasp, leaning back into the pollsters. Another idea stroke her mind: I barely know anything about these guys. If I talk, if I collect information, if I show interest... They might spill details that could come in very handy, right?

She eyed the boy who silently smiled down at her bruised limb. Could he know about Katsuro's schedule? When he's present, and when not? And surely, he knows where the exit is. I just have to make him talk...

"Shiro?"

He rose his head, widening his gentle grin. "Yeah?"

"How long have you been here for now?"

He blinked in confusion. "We got back a few minutes ago"

"No, I meant how long have you..." In that second, the female realized something. A certain factor she hadn't seen until now. A certain detail which now, that the fuss was over and the adrenaline gone, crashed her with the impact of a bullet train.

They didn't come through the door.

They came through the main entrance, not through the door where she had suspected the basement's exit to be. Meaning it was somewhere else. And not in the office.
The captive touched her chest, where she felt the cool key pressing against her skin. It's worthless. Whatever was behind that door she desperately wanted to open- It was nothing she needed. Katsuro had played her once again.

Like a volcano eruption, a burst of rage exploded inside of her. She jumped up to her feet. The now useless tool flew through the room, hit the wall and vanished on the carpet. She had been on the wrong route all along.

Shiro's widened eyes only grew bigger when all of a sudden, his shirt was grabbed. He gaped into the distorted features of the lass, her [e/c] hues flaring with anger.
"Shiro, how many exists does this cage have!?" she yelled at him.

He rose his hands in pacification. "[y/n], you shouldn't ask that this loud..."

"Just tell me! You've been outside this whole night, right!? How did you get back in here?!" She continued shouting while panic rose inside the boy. When the others happen to hear them...

The girl's focus darted towards the hallway. There were five doors, and behind one of them was the bathroom. Still four left that lead into the unknown- Behind one of them must be the exit. Not wasting another second, she flung forwards. The first door to her left was her first try, she reached for the knob.

"That's my bedroom, [y/n]"

The male's announcement got her stopping mid- movement. She scowled at him.

"Really" he assured, strolling towards her. "These doors here are our bedrooms. Mine" he nodded into her direction. "Akito's" he knocked against the one on the opposite. "The bathroom, next to it Yasu." His gaze traveled downwards the hallway. Then he pointed to the last entrance on the left, next to his. "And my dear neighbor, our lovely Isamu."

Her hand slit down the handle. "But how... How did you get in..."

"We haven't been out, [y/n]. We've been here all this time." He stepped closer, taking the quivering hand that aimlessly hovered in the air, protectively into his own. "We had a meeting, Akito, me and Isamu. In his room. Yasu's still in his own"

He quickly closed his arms around her, just as the female's legs lost stability.

The two of them sunk to the floor. Shiro securely held her in his embrace. His fingers ran down the soft strands of [h/c]. He tenderly pressed her head to his shoulder, humming a mellow melody, while he felt her tears wetting his shirt.
The boy smiled to himself. He did not feel all too comfortable with lying to her, but he surely felt comfortable with their current vicinity. Her body was warm, her smell stroke his nose. She smelled like a starry summer night. A pleasant heat began to spread through his being; like a golden light glowing inside of him. It was a very, very sweet sensation to hold the femme like this, to have her giving up her composure around him. He closed his eyes, relaxing into the sentiency.

At this point, [y/n] didn't know what to feel anymore. She had just watched all her hopes being burnt to ashes, only to be reformed again. Like a phoenix, the realization rose in her mind.

They've been here. It can still be. The exit can still be in that f***ing office.

Through a blurry view, she gazed over the male's shoulders into the living room.

Shiro parted his lids as he sensed the girl moving. Mumbling something under her breath, she got up and left his embrance. He was left to stare at his empty hands. His lungs tightened.
The silverhead followed her into the wider quarters, just in time to watch her picking something up from the ground. Then, she grinned at him. A beaming, honest grin, pure like an angle's one. His heart skipped a beat.

"Watcha got there?" he asked, casually leaning against the wall.

"Nothing. Just a little present from Katsuro"

He tracked her form approaching the cell. "Wait" he called out, just as the female was about to vanish inside. "There's something I'd like to show you. I think you need it now"

The lass glimpsed in wonderment. He smirked, a cocky sparkle in his icy orbs. He nodded towards his door. "Come here"

She hesitated, eyeing him with mistrust. There was a certain effrontery, rather said a certain flirtatiousness in his gaze. Watchfully, she eventually approached him.

"Close your eyes" he demanded with a smirk. She now stood in front of the entrance to what he had claimed to be his personal space. She shot him a last questioning glance, but he only rose his brows, before she finally did as told.

There was the sound of the door being opened, and she felt his palm in on her lower spine, gently pushing her forward.

"Okay, here you go" the boy whispered into her ear.

[y/n] was blinded by the light. For a few seconds, she saw nothing but endless white. Then, more and more colors mixed in: Pallid blue, light pink, pastel violet. Dots, blurry and shapeless, like spilled water colors. Vibrant orange, blazing yellow, intense red. The hues danced around her, and for the moment, she lost trust in her senses. It was like a beautiful painting of aquarelle, not yet dried, and she stood right in its center, as if the paints would drip on her any second. Eventually, her view adjusted to the brightness, shadows and outlines started to form. And as the dulcet, fresh scent tickled her nostrils, she finally understood what surrounded her: Flowers.

Am I... Am I outside?

In highest astonishment, the girl tried to process the information. All kinds of blossoms filled the quarters. Sunflowers soared from pots, between buckets of cloves and lilies and other botanic beauties she couldn't even name; vine- like parts dangled from buckets hanging on the ceiling, roses climbed up the wall. It was a mesmerizing scene. One could really have the impression to be in a garden, if it weren't for the frail mural still visible behind a layer of leafs.

"What..." she breathed out, stepping further inside. Her feet met something soft- Grass protruded between her toes. She rubbed her eyes, but the pictures didn't change. She actually stood on natural ground. And that was not even the highlight of her discovery: In front of her was a shimmering pond. An actual, small pool of water.

"Shiro... What is this?"

"As I said, my bedroom" he laughed. He gestured around him: A bed stood at the one side, a small cupboard at the other, a shelf filled with books and vases. It rather appeared like the normal furniture didn't fit into this indoor jungle than the other way around.

With a smile, the whitehead leaned in the door frame and observed the stunned female: An open, broad laugh spread her lips. She approached the pond with careful, curious steps, let herself fall to her knees. Her wide orbs sparkled like the water she stared into. With the amazement of a child, she swayed her hand trough the liquid. White rose petals fluttered down on her, catching themselves in her hair like snowflakes. He missed out a breath. She looks like a beautiful flower.

[y/n] lost herself in the sensation of the cold, mellow wetness swallowing her fingers. There were so many colors, so many scents. The grass tickled her skin. She gave herself up to the moment; until she noticed the face in the transparency. The lass stopped her movements, and her reflection became visible: Bright [e/c] eyes, glowing with delight, gaped at her from underneath the surface. A youthful face, framed by wild [h/c] locks.

I can't wait to be out again. I think the first thing I'll do is going to the park

The captive averted her attention as she heard something shifting. Shiro had sat down next to her. Their gazes locked for a moment. "You got petals in your hair" he chuckled.

She felt his fingers run through her strands, and gently brush against her cheeks as he pulled back. Her focus lost itself in his icy orbs. Until the awkwardness hit her, and she swiftly tilted her head. "Shiro, how is this possible?" Her glance strayed through the chamber.

"Daylight lamps" he nodded upwards. "They emit the same wave length as the sun. And a ventilation. A thermal system that holds the room on stable 23 degree"

[y/n] couldn't suppress an impish grin. "What kind of plant's are you growing here exactly, Shiro?"

The silverhead burst out in laughter. "No, I swear." He waved his hands in denial. "But I can show you what I actually grow here" He held out a hand to help her up and began to walk around. "Most of these are healing plants. Coneflower, malva, valerian." He gestured to different pots. "Marigold, ging- Don't touch that!"

A slap on her knuckles directed [y/n]'s attention back to the boy. She had detached herself from his little tour when an especially strange looking being had caught her sight. She crouched in front of a little arrangement of flowers; Like small, violet bells, they hung from their stem. The blossom wasn't opened upwards, but downwards. They looked like tiny coats, maybe for bumblebees.

"That's foxglove. Toxic" Shiro explained, guiding her fingers away from it.

"Really? They look so pretty..."

"Most toxic things do" He spoke with a certain depth, giving her the impression that he was not merely referring to plants. He presented another part of his collection. "Here, these too. Mezereon, autumn crocus, all toxic as well." He pointed to a midnight- blue beauty that stood pressed against the wall, as if it was meant to be hidden. "...And wolf's bane. Deadly"

"Wow" the girl breathed out. "And I thought you guys only had one arms cache down here"

The whitehead chuckled.

She strolled through the quarter, inspecting each colorful component. Stuck her nose into the blossoms, at least into those she knew as harmless. "How do you know all this?"

Shiro had sat back down by the water, observing the blooming water lilies. "My mother was a pharmacist, my father a botanist. Plants were their life purpose. Whereas she mostly grew healing plants and herbs, his studies focused on poisonous ones"

"So, this all is dedicated to them?"

"It's my heritage."

The captive flung around. The male smiled at her. Yet it was not his usual, cheerful grin, but a broken, faint one. A shadow darkened his face. She lowered her tips from the petals she was caressing, and stepped closer to him. "...Did it happen while you were here?"

His back was turned to her. "Oh, no. It rather was the reason for me to get here"

She nodded, as if she understood. To be fair, she didn't understand at all. She proceeded with careful, hesitant vocals. "So... you got here after your loss?"

The female emerged in the corner of his view. She had sat down next him, avoiding his focus. He eyed her with a distant gaze before he eventually proceeded, drawing circles in the liquid's surface. "My mother died when I was twelve. My dad couldn't take it. He had thrown out all his plants, and drowned in his sorrow. A year later, he said he would go to the city, to publish his studies at the university. But he never came back"

She gazed at his side profile. The boy stared into the pond with a look so searching and longing, as if the memories were lying somewhere in the depth. "And what did you do? Could you even take care of yourself?" she asked.

A choked laughter left his throat. "Of course not. Soon, there was no food, no money left. So I went to search him. The thing is, we lived on the country side: Far, far away from civilization. There were no shops, no technology, no traffic. And the city he had left to, the capital, was a three- day- march. When I arrived, I was nothing but a walking skeleton. Up to today, I can't recall how I even made it"

Realizing how the past took him in, Shiro tried to snap out of his melancholic state. He spun around to face his company, afraid he could have startled her with his private sorrow. But she only glimpsed back at him. The deepness of her orbs held an inviting warmth, and her features were as calm as the sea after a storm. She tilted her head, like she waited for him to proceed.

"And then? What have you done as you arrived?" She spoke, like trying to complete the puzzle.

The boy blinked. Was she actually interested in his story?

Eventually, he nodded and continued: "I was thirteen at that point. I had reached the capital, and I wasn't prepared at all. The people, the cars, the commotion- It was overwhelming, like a whole different world. And I had nothing with me. At that point, I realized how lost I was: I had no money, no shelter, I did not now where I was or what university my father went to. I didn't even know if he was still there. I made out single universities but met no one who could help me. I spoke to the police once, but they only focused on why a child like me was alone so far away from home. When I realized they were about to send me to an orphanage or something, I ran. I hid myself in the alleys and backstreets, eating anything I could find. And soon, I started to recall what I did when I was a child: I had stolen apples from the neighbor's tree and cakes from windowsills. This wasn't any different, I thought. So I started snatching- First food, then money, then things you could turn into money."

[y/n] followed his thoughts in attentive silence. She was shocked: There were so many parallels to her own path. It was almost the same reason that had brought her to the city, to its streets. And she had done the same things. With the difference that he had been way younger, way more vulnerable. Her mind traveled back to the day where she first met the pale guy: A dark hood covered his face, but loose strands of silver shimmered in the nightlights. Shimmering like the bag of meth in her hands. And then, it was gone. He had stolen from her what she had stolen herself. She had been so furious at that point- But now, she asked herself whether she even had a right to be angry.

"And to stay alive, you joined this gang?" she mumbled from her mental distance, searching for the last jigsaw.

Suddenly, Shiro laughed. A laughter so bright like the white roses in the background. "No, that story went a little different"

The captive shuffled on her spot until she was fully turned towards him. "Tell me"

For a moment, he wordlessly enjoyed the smile she was giving him: Innocent and inviting, yet a little reserved, like a bud just waiting for this last needed ray of sunlight that would make it bloom. Another thing that bloomed was something in his chest. It was the first time he could recall that someone was interested in his past- The ocean of unsaid words and unshown pictures began to bubble. With a heavy exhale, he started the story of that specific day.

The skyscrapers towered high above his head, piercing the night sky with their roofs. Not a single star was to be seen. He pulled his hood deeper to his face. It was shortly past midnight, and the clubs were just getting started: Bar after bar, disco after disco bordered the street, a river of people flowing down. In the commotion, none of them noticed the slight brushes of his hands. And by the time they would begin to miss their wallets, he'd be just another shadow of the night. Shiro had started to love these nightlife districts: Everyone was so careless, too distracted or too drunk to pay attention to their belongings. However, this quarter was a little different. The people were dressed in finest evening wardrobe, styled from head to toes. There was way more security in front of the entrances and regularly, a limousine pulled up. Actually, Shiro in his loose, ripped and plain clothes was supposed to stand out like zebra between lions- But the people seemed to carry their noses so high, they couldn't possibly see a lower being like him. And so, he easily filled the pockets of his wide pants with everything that wasn't safely stored: Purses, bracelets, watches. After a while of hunting, he retreated into a dark alleyway, the light barely reaching in enough to let him inspect his prey. He ripped out anything useless: Ids, membership- passes, ec- cards, it all flutter to the dirty ground. The money, he slipped back into his bags, coming to the result that this would become his new favorite route. The amount of cash rich people carried with them was ridiculous.
He strayed a few feet further. And came to a halt in front of something enormous: A giant building doomed at the end of the street, illuminated in seductive magenta and golden lights. A red carpet lead to its giant glass entrance. Even though it looked like the crowd got magnetically drawn to it, only a few men and women stood in line behind the vermeil cordon. Broad guards thoroughly checked them before allowing them to enter, or not. The doors opened, and two well- dressed men stepped out. Immediately, everyone around them took a step back. The two guys paced around the building and vanished into the dark.
'A piece of cake' Shiro grinned to himself, before quickly tracking his next victims.

He peered around the container. The two adults seemed to have a lively discussion; something about finances and wins. He couldn't care less, but it was handy. Agitated people were an especially easy target. A half- empty bottle shimmered to his feet.

The men didn't even turn around as the slim figure stumbled down the backstreet. It swayed from left to right, the paces wobbly and unsteady. They threw a short glimpse at him, before stomping out their cigarettes and making their way back.
Head on, Shiro bumped into the left one. "Uff, sorry buddy" he slurred. With an uncoordinated pat on the stranger's shoulder, he staggered away. In his palm, he felt the cold metal of a wrist watch.
Turning around the next corner, the boy glanced back. The alley was abandoned. Being all alone again, with some rats and crows as his only witnesses, he held up the expensive jewelry. "Rolex. Sure, what else bro." he murmured to himself. "Rich b*stards are so original"

"You know, if you had just asked kindly, I would even have given it to you"

The blood clumped in his veins. The boy knew who was standing behind him before he saw their faces. The two men towered in front of him: One blond, in a tailored, slate- gray suit, a smirk on his lips. The other one uncommonly tall, engulfed in a dark coat that made him perfectly blend with the shadows around him. Uncommonly long, onyx strands fell down his shoulders. Narrowed eyes fixed Shiro on the spot.

"L- look man" the younger male rose his hands, instinctively stepping backwards. Even if it was rare, he had been busted before,but that was never a problem since he could run fast enough. But these people- They had an aura that was so daunting, it seemed to cut the air into pieces. "I just found this. Here, have it back"

The black- haired one caught the item without taking his focus off him.

"I'm not interested in what's stolen. I'm rather interested in who stole it" the blond smiled.

The whitehead got eyed up and down, like a trapped deer by a hungry lion. He got a feeling that he should leave- Immediately. He initiated a sprint. In the next second, the back of his head hit the wall. He slid down. Blood dripped on the asphalt."What-"

He had no time to mind the throbbing pain when the blond squatted down in front of him. He was a man of rare beauty- A voice so soft, a gaze so sharp. "Tell me your name" while the quidam spoke, the boy felt something cold close around his wrist. It was the Rolex.

"...Shiro" he whispered. He held his head low. For some reason, he thought he was not supposed to level himself with the adult.

"Shiro." The name flowed from his tongue. "Don't you think it's not very clever for a small boy like you... To annoy people like us?"

As if he had followed an invisible command, the taller person, who had been in the background until now, lifted the side of his jacket: On his waist, a whole selection of knives shimmered. Held by straps, there was a collection of nearly all forms and size; thin throwing tools, pointy shuriken. The blades gleamed threateningly in the dim light. In that moment, Shiro realized: These weren't some usual idiots of the high society. These were professionals. Assassins, or gang members or whatever. But they surely were the wrong people to mess with. Cold sweat broke out on his neck.

"S- Sir, I didn't mean any trouble..." His vocals sounded high- pitched and quivery. He didn't even notice how his fingers started to tremble.

"Shh~" the man tugged back the teenager's hood: It was a youthful, scared face that gaped back at him. The cheeks were sunken, the eyes hollow, but the frosty hues full of life. "You look pretty young. How old are you?"

"... Thirteen, Sir" Shiro just wanted to run. No matter where to, he just wanted to leave, before a precise cut would slice his throat.

The adult threw a glimpse at the golden clock- face. Three o'clock in the morning. "I see. And how comes that a child is at such a place, at such an hour... And steals?"

The younger male's gaze met the stranger's one for a second, before he averted his focus in timidity. He didn't know how, what, or if to answer. "I... I just need some money, okay? I won't disturb you ever again, I promise..." His words were shaking. He felt so cold, and he was sure it wasn't because of the weather.

The man inspected him in contemplation. "And, Shiro, where do you live? Not with your family, I guess"

The addressed individual swallowed the lump in his windpipe before it would suffocate him. "I, uh, I... don't really have a place like that..." At least, there was no one the unknowns could come after once they had finished him off, he thought.

"You're a stray."

Shiro looked up and met two kind, glowing green orbs. The male smirked mysteriously, knowingly.

"I..."

"Isamu, take him"

The boy was about to protest, but the fear kept the shriek stuck in his lungs. He was grabbed by the collar, and in the next second, he hung upside down. Upside down, thrown over the tall, black- haired stranger's shoulder. The blond took the lead and started the walk back to the main street, without as much as glimpsing at his terrified companion.

'They gonna kill me. Mother, they gonna kill me' A tear ran down his pallid face.

The abducted teenager swayed from left to right. From this angle, he could not really see where they were going. Soon, the floor was changing, from the wet, black asphalt to a soft, clean carpet. Subdued, like muffled by walls, there were all kinds of noises; chatting, laughing, music.
Then, a 'bing' was heard, and the doors of an elevator sliding open and close.

He was sure his kidnapper could feel the accelerated hammering of his heart. Where was he being taken? An abandoned basement? A torture chamber? A...

Hotel room. The kid was set back on his feet, in the center of an hotel room. The furniture was noble and precisely designed: Beige wallpapers in an elegant contrast to the wine red carpeting, a queen sized bed with fluffy pillows, a majestic painting above. Cushioned chairs, on an ebony dresser a baroque- styled vase with fresh, white roses. A glassy chandelier dived the room into a gentle, golden light. One wall was fully replaced by a window, granting the view on the city's illuminated skyline. From what seemed like three- hundredth meters above the ground.

"Take a bath."

For the split of a second, in the mesmerization of the scene, the whitehead had almost forgotten about the other two presences. He spun around. The two men casually leaned in the door frame.

"I'll call the room service. Order whatever you want" The blond proceeded. "When you're finished, Isamu will guide you to my office"

With that, the entrance closed, and he was left alone with his bafflement and necrophobia.

'...Might as well enjoy it before I die'

Soon later, cleaned and saturated, Shiro hesitantly stepped out into the corridor. He wondered if the man had purposely chosen a room at a height that would make an escape out of the windows impossible to survive. So the anxious boy had no other choice left but to face his abductors. Isamu, if he recalled correctly, leaned against the wall, arms crossed, barely passing him a depreciating scowl.
He followed the daunting stranger down the hallway and into the elevator. They ascended several levels, and the air seemed to grow thinner with each second of uncertain silence. They arrived on a floor that held no other exits, only a single massive one at the path's end. A harsh shove pushed him right through it.
Shiro stumbled into a large office: It was modernly furnished, held in elegant black- and- white contrasts. Behind the broad desk, a familiar face lifted his focus.

"Shiro. Come, take a seat" the blond smiled welcoming, politely gesturing towards the chair to his opposite.

The addressed visitor was frozen on his spot. His palms were cold and even though he had just washed himself, he already smelled sweat of fear again. The third attendant grabbed his shoulders and forcefully pressed him into the seat. Now being directly in the attractive and just as hectoring adult's reach, the boy clenched the pollsters.

"I have missed out on introducing myself correctly: My name is Katsuro Kagutsuchi and I'm the owner of this casino and hotel. I'm happy to finally meet you in person" his grin grew teasingly arcane.

'...Finally? Meet me in person? Does he know me?' Suddenly, the younger male had a dozen of questions in his mind. Since they didn't fit on his tongue all at once, the only thing slipping out was a hazy, dry "...What?"

Katsuro leaned back. "We've kept an eye on you for a while now. You've been stealing and dealing in my territory after all. To be precise: You stole my goods from my people. And then you are even audacious enough to resell them"

Shiro didn't know what "audacious" meant, but he figured it was nothing positive. However, the given explanation didn't make any sense to him. "I haven't taken anything from you, I swear. All I've snatched so far besides money were some dru- Oh"

The adult grinned by the sight of the little guy's wit working.

The whitehead shifted on his seat. There was a hunch telling him he'd just dropped way deeper into trouble than he already was.

"But since your just a child, we've let you do your thing" the stranger continued. "You look like you need the money way more desperately than I do. However-"

He winced as Katsuro suddenly stood up. The elegant man stepped around his desk, halting right in front of him. The boy felt so tiny, so petty in the focus of those vivid green hues. Like the minuscule street urchin that he was.

The blond continued. "But today, you actually tried- and even almost managed- to rob me. And that was not only brave and equally stupid, but indeed impressive. I know you have skills, Shiro, a talent. You might know these streets even better than I do. And therefore, I would like to make you a certain offer..."

He leaned down to the teenager, watching the fear dance in his bright orbs. "...Join me. Lend me your abilities, and I'll promise you never have to be hungry or cold as long as you live"

Shiro had a hard time following him. "What do you mean, 'joining you'?"

"You will become my little... envoy. You will fulfill some tasks for me and therefore, you can live here, in this hotel. I'll provide you with food and fresh clothes every day. Also, this is the safest building in the whole city." He spoke the last sentence in a seductive whisper, like he knew exactly about all the dangers the boy had to face as soon as the sun vanished behind the buildings."You won't do much different from what you do now. Procure some things, visit some places. But from now, on with backing"

The fright on the child's features disappeared and was replaced by a sudden determination. It did not take him long to answer. He had nothing to lose after all.

"The training was rough. Isamu didn't give a damn that I had never done something like that before and absolutely didn't went easy on me. I had to learn how to fight, to move, to use weapons. It helped me a lot though" he stared at the ceiling, his gaze sunken in the memories.

[y/n] mutely looked at her hands. She recolored the story fragments in her head: It was the sad, touching movie of a child that had lost his parents and found safety in the most dangerous of structures. What an irony. The leader's face appeared in her mind, with his unsettling smirk and the threateningly gleaming orbs: To her, it sounded more like the young male had no choice but to join him. How could one be so... heartless to put a child under so much pressure? Take advantage of someone's misery? Use a living being like an inanimate tool? She clenched her fists.

"Hey, what's with that face" the boy gently nudged her shoulder, and swept off a little of the atmosphere's oppressing thickness.

She hesitantly curled her lips. While she did not want to display the emotional impact he had triggered inside her, she couldn't help but find herself unable to process her thoughts. She gazed into his kind, argent hues. "Shiro, have you ever like, regretted your decision? I mean, Katsuro had surely forced you into immense danger. I understand that a shelter and food surely was alluring, but..."

"That I'd be better of without him?" he finished for her. "You think that I have done or experienced some... 'serious stuff', because of his orders, right?"

She silently nodded. He shook his head. And put on a crooked, distant smile. "You see... I don't know why Katsuro had even offered so much. I'd already have agreed if it were only for some money or so. That's why I think he wasn't even that interested in my 'abilities'. I think it was more like a pretext so he didn't have to admit that he actually wanted to... Help me. Even after I had joined him, and lived with all those advantages he had promised, his support didn't stop. For example, he always made sure that there was someone to pick me up when I was out, and..." Suddenly, his cheeks were tinted by a light blush. He appeared trying to hide it, which was not really successful with that white skin of his. He fiddled with his fingers. "You see, I'm actually very afraid... Of the dark. I somehow ended up telling Isamu about it, thinking he would laugh at me, or maybe even kick me out. But after that... The boss had always made sure I wasn't alone out at night"

Shiro came to the end of his narration. "He'd mostly sent me together with Akito, I've met him soon after I joined. That guy was barely older than me, but hell, he was- A combat machine. Like he had never done anything else in his life. He complained non- stop, but always watched out for me. Saved my a** more than once. After a year, Katsuro declared us three to be a part of his 'inner circle'." The member had gotten up, stretching his arms.

The lass couldn't sit still anymore as well. She wandered around the room and stopped at a pot of lavender. "When you said, the three of you- Akito, you and Yasu I guess- would belong to Katsuro's 'inner circle'..." She plucked off one of the tiny blossoms and brayed it between her fingertips. The scent kissed her nostrils. "What did you mean by that?"

The whitehead bit his tongue. He was not sure whether this was knowledge he was allowed to spill. "Well, Katsuro has a hundredths of men standing behind him. But we are like... His favorites. Let's say we are his favorites"

"Is that why only you guys live here, together?"

"I guess"

By the hesitance and coldness of his vocals, she could tell he tried to to close the topic. She nodded in understanding, pretending to be lost in fascination for the violet plant. However, her guts turned in their places.

"A hundredths of men behind him."

It weren't only those five males she needed to run from- Once she would leave the basement, there was a whole city filled with the leader's followers. Hundredths of people that could come to chase after her. Hundredths of people she would need to hide from. [y/n] finally realized: Getting through the door was only the first, tiny step of a whole journey.

"So..." Her focus evasively strayed through the quarter. "So, do you keep all these flowers to continue the studies of your dad?"

"...Something like that"

The girl had a feeling it was only the half the answer. But she didn't plan to emotionally strain him or herself any further: He had already shared information way more intimate than one could ever ask of him.

The member's eyes widened. Suddenly, the female locked his frame into a close embrace. His body got pressed against hers, in a short but meaningful moment. Just when he was about to return the gesture, she pulled away. She turned her back on him, continuing to walk around.

"What about you?"

The sudden grab of her shoulder startled the lass. She got swirled around, and almost bumped into Shiro. He stood unusually close. His face was leveled to hers, only a few inch separating their noses. Curiosity sparkled in the light hues. "What about your parents?"

The captive had risen her arm as a barrier between the two of them. She wanted to back away, but would throw over some buckets if doing so. The male's sudden change of mood confused her. "It's not that much of a..." Happy story, she was about to say, in an attempt to avoid his interrogation. But she realized her rudeness just in time. It would be insensitive to imply that his past wasn't darker than hers.

Shiro noticed her reserved acting and tilted his head. "I won't force you to tell me... " A pleading expression crossed his features, resembling the heart-melting look of a hurt puppy. "But I would really like to get to know you more"

The girl averted her focus. After all he had trusted her with, maybe it was only fair to return some privacy. "...Fine- Ey!"She had barely spoken her consent when the whitehead yanked on her arm and swiftly pulled her to the bed. She slumped down next to him on the mattress. He observed her with a grin of anticipation.

"...Well... I guess I can't really remember much, to be honest" she leaned against the mural and crossed her legs, inspecting her nails. "I only lived with my parents until I was seven or eight or something. My mother was in a mental health facility ever since I can remember, my father was barely at home. My grand-parents took care of me most of the time... And took me in when my father disappeared" She bit her lower lip, throwing an anxious glimpse towards her company. It somehow seemed... wrong to show a cut to someone who had lost an arm. But Shiro still smirked, attentively watching her. Still, there was a fog clouding his hues. She cleared her throat and proceeded, haltingly: "I had a nice childhood and did not really understand much of what was going on back then. But then... My dad's face began to appear on TV. My granny had tried to explain it as that his job made him 'famous', like when someone becomes a star with their singing. I was too young to understand it was the wrong kind of fame"

"...What had he done?"

The captive shook her hand and let her shoulder slump down. "I don't know. But around the same time, a lot of weird things happened: People broke into our home, in something like a black armor and turned the whole house upside down. That happened once or twice a month. Suddenly, we weren't allowed to visit my mother anymore. And in school, all my friends had left me. They said they weren't 'allowed' to play with me anymore" With every word she spoke, [y/n] felt like the seams were pulled out of not yet healed wounds. But at the same time, every shared thought took a stone from her heart. It was a disconcerting, strange feeling: Never had she spoken to anyone about this, never had she planned on doing so. And yet, the individual to her opposite had shuffled closer, gazing at her with the comforting warmth and mellowness of a blanket that could cover all her pain.

"Those men in black clothing, they were..."

"A SWAT- team, yes. As I got old enough to realize that, I began to do a lot of research about my father. He had done something very, very wrong, obviously. But when I was trying to find information about him on the internet... There was nothing. My grand-parents refused to talk to me. So I had to try other sources: I talked to the police, I called the News- channels, I went to the citizen- registration. Nothing. As if... As if he had never existed" Something tender closed around her fingers. It was his hand, squeezing hers slightly. "So I visited my mum, but she was barely any help. But then, I found his keys: He had owned an apartment in the city, and it seemed it was still his property. Maybe he was still there, I thought, or at least it would lead me to the next hint. My grand-parents did not seem to know about that and so I didn't tell them, afraid they would take them away from me. I just wrote them a letter, knowing they would never allow me to leave to the capital all on my own, barely sixteen... So I just- left"

"...And you haven't made it back ever since" The male finished for her.

[y/n] swallowed. She silently eyed their intertwined fingers. Suddenly, his knees appeared in her view; she looked up to have his face hover mere inches in front of her. A glow flared up his orbs, a contrast to the steadiness of his soft features.

"[y/n]..." Shiro whispered, vocals deep and serious. He seemed up to say something very important. "I know that right know, I might be the last person you would trust... But I'm your friend" His focus persistently locked with hers. He rose their hands, planting a light kiss on her knuckles. "Let's be friends, [y/n]"

The female blinked. She sensed the urge to pull away and pressed her back further against the wall. The boy did not seem to be aware of her discomfort. He flashed her a wide grin. "What do you say?"

Rather than encouraged, the lass felt alarmed as his grasp tightened. A sudden sharpness formed in his eyes, letting the silver iris sparkle like a keen piece of ice. "Uh- I..." Her gaze jumped to the door. All of a sudden, she really wished to leave. But his body blocked any possibility to move. "Shiro, I have to, uh, to talk to Katsuro. Will you let me go please?"

All friendliness vanished from his visage. He fixated her with a cold, trapping stare. The captive sensed a sudden shift of mood.

...What's happening?

She waited for him to release her but seconds passed and the member still didn't move a centimeter. In fact, he just seemed to come even closer.

"Don't you... Don't you want to be my friend?" His voice was a monotone mumbling, yet a dark undertone resonated with it. Something threatening.

The female felt her lips become dry. Her muscles tensed, prepared for a fight- or- flight input. She slowly got a feeling that there was only one way to exit this room in a peaceful manner. Just then, she became aware of the opportunity the male had offered her.

"Sure, Shiro" she smiled up at him, slowly moving up her palm to tenderly place it on his cheek. "Let's be friends"

Shiro smirked. The girl gazed up at him, with eyes like crocuses blooming through the snow. He felt the heat of her skin against his face.

"... Can I ask you something?" [y/n]'s vocals grew more sober as she retracted her arm. Her companion nodded.

"Katsuro... Could it be that he doesn't sleep here?"

The boy shrugged. "Not really. He is mostly out during the days. To be honest, I think he doesn't sleep at all"

She chuckled with him. "Okay, then I should go catch him before he leaves. Shiro..." she shyly searched for his gaze. "Could I ask you for a little favor? As a friend?"

"Sure"

"Could you make sure that my door doesn't shut when I sleep? It's super bothersome when I can't, you know, go use the bathroom"

The whitehead pondered on her request. He couldn't imagine that his boss or Isamu would grant it. But if he opened her cell when everyone was sleeping, no one should notice it. "Sure. I'll come open the door when everything is quiet, and close it before they wake up again, okay?" He winked, smirking playfully. "This will be our little secret"

"Thank you" she returned his smile and swung her legs down the bed, grateful he finally made space.

"Under one condition"

An arm curled around her waist. "What-" His hand turned her head until she fully faced at the male's visage.

"Show me you really mean it"

[y/n] glimpsed at him, confused. The tips of their noses touched. "...What do you mean?"

"We should seal our friendship. With something that's only between the two of us"

"Something like...?" She tried to gain distance, but he firmly held her in place. An anxious tickling crawled up her spine.

"Something... intimate. Something like a kiss"

Dumbfounded, she gaped at him. She didn't doubt what she heard, but she doubted she could follow it. She pressed her palms against his chest to shove him away. "We should find something more, uh, friends- like"

"So you were lying?" His smirk disappeared. "That's not very kind, [y/n]..."

"Huh? No, I wasn't!"

"Then why would you refuse me like this? Affection is a part of friendship as well"

"Yeah, but not like sexual!" The blood shot to her cheeks. In a sudden movement, she pushed him off, about to stumble from the mattress. But he caught her wrists just in time.

The corner of his lips moved upwards. A teasing flicker lit up his orbs. "You were about to get sexual? I wouldn't mind, though"

"No, I was surely not, let me go now!" The captive felt more and more tested, more and more cornered. Both her patience and temper were running thin. She couldn't share his amusement. And furthermore, his grasp caused a sore pain.

"One kiss, and I'll make sure your door is open any time you need. Friendship is a giving and taking, little alley cat"

[y/n] couldn't tell what agitated her more: The offending nickname or the manipulative extortion. She remembered how he called her like that on her first night in imprisonment.

A stray cat would probably be way more thankful for being taken in than I am. She kept her ironic remark to herself while pondering on her next move. She was indeed bound to his cooperation.

"Fine" she eventually snapped. She reluctantly turned towards him. He leaned in.

A knock was heard.

The whitehead let go off her so abruptly, she fell from the bed backwards.

"Oi. Is the wretched girl in there, Shiro?"

It was Isamu's firm voice that boomed through the door like it would burst the wood. Never had the female been this grateful about his emergence. She jumped to her feet and darted forward.

The ravenhead impatiently tapped his toes on the ground. The entrance opened, and indeed, the brat appeared in the frame. She stared up at him with a wide grin. He furrowed his brows. "Come" he demanded sharply. "Eat your dinner, or don't, but go in your cell"

She threw a glimpse over her shoulder. "Good night, Shiro" she uttered.

"Rest well" he smiled reassuringly. She slipped through the exit.

As the lass was out of sight, the two males exchanged meaningful glances.

"Why that creepy look, Isamu?" Shiro smirked innocently. "I haven't laid a finger on her, I swear. I'm just following Katsuro's orders and welcome her as one of us. Besides, I have some very interesting information for him"

"... Report tomorrow, then" the adult pulled the door shut.

The echo hovered through the walls. Shiro sat alone in the solemness of his room. It felt like the temperature had dropped suddenly, but he knew there was no need to check the regulators. He gazed at the spot on his bed where the girl had sat seconds ago. It was still warm.
"... I surely don't plan to be your 'friend', [y/n]"

Relieved yet not relaxed, [y/n] stepped into the living room, the tall man following right behind her. A hand on her shoulder made her stop in her tracks.

"I told you", the he spoke, with a sharp look, "to immediately tell me when these morons try something stupid."

She couldn't even surely tell if he was referring to. "Something stupid like...?"

"Like what boys his age do when they are alone with a girl. You don't need me to elaborate, do you"

She rose her brows. For the moment, the captive pondered on what would happen if she actually confide the happenings. But she did not plan to lose her new ally before he even came to use. "No, he hasn't done anything" she answered earnest.

He narrowed his dark eyes in mistrust. "It's not in our interest to put you into unnecessary danger. If these teenagers can't behave-"

"Unnecessary danger?" She now fully turned towards him. "You mean, besides holding me captive, isolated, uninformed and exposed to your moods?"

"...Just go in your room"

Not visible for the [h/c] haired individual, the man sneered. No wonder that Katsuro had so much fun with her: She indeed was a woman of unusual low ability to calculate consequences. How could she still dare to have such a loose tongue, despite her position? And since she surely wasn't fearless, he wondered whether he had to express his authority a little harsher. Before those undying fight- instincts of hers would cost her her petty life.

Friday, 21th of July, 05.14 AM

While waiting for the night to end, the lass had been repetitively haunted by thoughts of Katsuro. By Shiro's assumption that the man hadn't been interested in him as a useful object, but rather wanted to help a homeless child. Inviting him to work for him, just to free him from the streets- Could he have planned the same for her? Did the blond see her as a defenseless, pitiful stray as well and wanted her to join, so he could give her a place to live, a place where he could watch out for her? If she only had more background- knowledge about the other two boys, she could maybe find an affirmation. But Katsuro was still the head of a mafia group, she reminded herself. A money launderer, a drug- dealer. Possibly even a murderer. She couldn't imagine someone who had strayed so far from the light, so dubious and devilish, to be interested in the well- being of some little runaways.

"However..." the girl mumbled to herself, slumping down on her mattress, "I'd rather be free in the dirt than controlled in his house"

She had been staring into the darkness for hours, or so it felt. She had eaten, had taken her time in the bathroom since it was supposed to be her last shower for a while, and prepared everything for her departure. That meant to inspect the giant carton in the cell's corner until she found a bag one could actually fit things into; and stuffed it with a set of spare clothes, a cashmere scarf and a bottle of water. With a purloined scissor from the kitchen, the lower half of the expensive designer jeans was gone, granting her way more flexibility. Since the whole outfit she had once arrived with had disappeared, her loyal combat boots included, she needed to improvise with whatever Katsuro's gift could provide: That was a pair of sandals, not firm yet at least without heels. They wouldn't hold for long, but they would allow her to run. She fixated them to her ankles with the help of golden necklaces. A belt around her hips held a kitchen knife and the scissor within reach.

The noises had hushed down soon after, leaving the captive naked to the anticipation. Every single fiber of her being seemed to be electrified.

What if I don't make it? What if I make it??

'Katsuro has a hundredths of men standing behind him.'

She wondered where she would end up. If she was even still in the capital, or in a whole different town. Wondered what was above her- If she was really in a basement, or just in a building without windows. And once she actually reached the daylight- Where she would go. How far she would come.

[y/n] eagerly shook her head, trying to sweep off her overthinking. She did not plan to let her anxiety distract her- The first priority by now was to get through the door, and find the way out before her absence could be noticed. She recalled her last attempt to open the unknown exit, and how terribly wrong it went. But now, there was a key between her fingers.

Still lying on the bed she gaped a hole into the endless black. The metal's coldness eased her heated palm like it was trying to comfort her. Floated by shaking nervousness and burning volition, the girl waited for her new friend to fulfill his promise.

Just when the frustration was about to make her scream into her pillow, a hesitant squeak resounded. Instantly, she curled up underneath the blanket.

Shiro carefully stuck his head through the door. The bluish corridor light reached in enough to illuminate the human- sized bundle. Silently, he tip- toed over to her sleeping form. Her young face looked even more feminine, so calm and natural. Her even, deep breathing was all to be heard.

"Hey, [y/n]" he whispered, suavely placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'll leave it open. If you need to pee, just don't wait too long, okay?" 

The captive forced herself to wait a little longer, until his paces had fully faded. Eventually, she jumped up, grabbed her few belongings and swiftly crept to the exit. Indeed, it stood open just enough to peak through. On the other side was nothing but surreal half-darkness and eerie silence.

She stepped into the twilight. The hallway was deserted. Not a sound was to be heard. The soft carpet swallowed her steps, but as she passed by the doors, she did not even dare to breath. Shiro. Akito. Isamu, the bathroom. Yasu. As she finally reached the painting at the end, she dared a last glance down her path. Nothing moved. Her eyes targeted the massive ebony entrance. The next challenge was to get through without causing too much noise. She sharply inhaled through her nostrils. Carefully, haltingly, the evader pushed down the golden handle.

Her gaze thoroughly checked the area, at least as much as the murkiness allowed her to. That was barely the two meters in front of her. She eavesdropped into the nothingness. Hearing only quivering throbbing of her heart, she slipped through the frame, closing the door as noiseless as possible.

So far so good.

[y/n]'s hands trembled as she pulled out the key. The hole shimmered in front of her, even though the rest of the barrier was barely visible. Her senses were absolutely on the edge. It was like her mind was so braced with the thought that something would go wrong, that her limbs ached when she made them follow her will. But there was no other option. The tool slipped in smoothly. She halted for a second. And bit her lip as she turned it.

With an affirming 'click', the latch slipped open. The female had absolute no idea what could await her beyond. Maybe it was only one section of many. Maybe she would run into other people. Maybe even into a fight. But she was supposed to find out any second.

Bare from the waist up, Katsuro stood in front of his armoire, indecisively eyeing the collection of formal suits, jackets and shirts. The furniture took up half of the wall and held all sorts of possible combinations and colors. "Isamu, ivory or alabaster?" he called out to his companion.

Isamu leaned against the opposite mural, a deep wrinkle of annoyance on his pale forehead. He couldn't care less. Besides, he could not even tell the difference between 'ivory' and 'alabaster'. "Explain to me one more time why I'm here and not in my f***ing bed" he groaned, massaging his temples.

"Because I'm awaiting a visitor" the blond answered, "and I don't know when they'll arrive. Come on, keep me some company"

"Who the hell..." the tall man got his answer when the door swung open.

Katsuro smiled.

[y/n] did not.