<< 01- Ace of Clubs. >>

"Dinner is in the fridge! Eat well and sleep early darling! I don't want you to have those eye bags and stuffs! Don't forget to wake up for school! I'll be coming home late and getting out early, you shouldn't worry about your dear father and me. We are still busy with our never-ending experiments! I hope you'll be a great woman JUST LIKE ME!"

"Valerie, that's enough. You're babbling non-stop."

"Oh come on, Shigure! You wanna say something too, right?"

"Huh, yeah but unlike you, mine is very simple! Okay dear Yana, remember this until the day you die that we love you forever and death won't tear us apart. Never will. Follow your heart and all you must do is believe."

"Ew, that doesn't sound like you."

"Bet you're gonna cry now."

"Oh shut it! Okay then honey, we love you! BYE!!"

I chuckled hearing their conversations through the voice mail.

Reality sure is evil.

When I was at the age of 17, Mum and Dad seemed to be busier and we don't see each other except for early morning before my departure to school and also the quick 'goodnight' kisses on the forehead around 2am. This continued until the day of my graduation ceremony and they were nowhere to be found. I was sad and disappointed. How could they not witness my success? Did they forget about me?

I went home with grief and found out that they left a voice message that was actually received two days ago. When I heard the message, I broke down and locked myself in the house to ease my mind.

One year, two years, three years passed and this year is the fourth.

I then realized that they had left me. Whether they are dead or they simply ran to wherever far from me, the main conclusion doesn't change.

I am alone.

But what had shocked me is that everyday when I got home, the voice message will automatically turn on and when I look in the fridge, there's always food. Or that one time when I was really tired because of work, the food was prepared on the table. Hot and fresh. It feels as if Mum and Dad are here but only invisible. I wonder who bothered to make all those stuffs.

I work in a game company where I'm the graphic designer. Sure it's hard but I loved it. Drawing handsome breathtaking fictional characters is heaven!

Today is such a fine day and I was on my way home from work when suddenly I realized a man was following me. In the end, we broke into a run and I met a dead end.

Cursing, I punched the wall and turned to face the man. He got closer and finally spoke, or rather, hissed. "You can run no more, Diamond Spade."

I frowned. 'Diamond Spade? Who....?'

"Rumors have been going around and it seems that we need to get rid of you quickly." He said and withdrew a blade from his coat.

I quickly thought of a solution. That resulted me kicking his hand away and also his 'treasure' down there before trying to run away. Of course, when I said, "try" that means I failed. The man regained his composure, pulled my hand and slammed my back onto the wall.

I winced and unconsciously, grabbed the blade as the man tried to stab me with it. He continued to stab further and I could just wince in pain rather than letting out a sound. I wanted to scream but it seems that my voice won't come out without a reason.

"Whoa, what do we have here?" a voice startled us two. I turned my head and saw a man with blonde hair, grinning at us. WHY THE HECK ARE YOU GRINNING YOU BLONDIE!! COME AND HELP ME! "A defenseless girl against an armed man? Isn't that quite unfair?" he questioned.

YES IT IS SO GET YOUR ASS HERE AND SAVE ME YOU SO-NOT-GENTLEMAN PIECE OF SH-

Another two guys appeared; one with red hair and one with green hair and spectacles.

"Let me handle, Ryouta." A voice appeared. On cue, a raven-haired guy stepped in front but his back was facing me so I couldn't see his face. He took something out from his coat and pointed to the man. W-wait! Is that a gun?

THAT'S A FREAKING GUN! AM I IN A THRILLER MOVIE OR WHAT!?

I titled my head to see.

"J-joker! C-crown Deck! Please.... DON'T KILL ME!" the man yelled.

I tried to shout not to kill the man but,

The raven-haired guy pulled the trigger several times. My eyes widened and I slid off the wall. It's as if I'm the one who was shot. He turned to me and ASDFGHJKL HE'S SUCH A HANDSOME BOY-PFFT YANA! STOP! HE KILLED A MAN!

The guy kept his gun, knelt down and then extended his right hand, smiling warmly that could get any girls captivated.

"Found you, Cozart Yana; Diamond Spade."

.

.

.

.

H-how did he know my name? And who the heck is Diamond Spade!!? Why are these insane guys calling me that!?!

.

.

"Let's get you home." He spoke and got up, urging me to take his hand. I took it and stood, brushing my back from the dust.

"W-wait I-"

"Get back home first and we'll talk about this." He said and I hushed, following him.

vvvv

"Seijuro, if you may, please send your men to investigate the attack just now." The raven-haired guy said and the red-haired guy simply nodded and we all landed on the leathered sofa in the living room. After a while of silence, the guy started the explanations.

So it's like this. My parents; Cozart Shigure and Cozart Valerie are surprisingly from a Mafia group called CRISIS SOUL but were killed four years ago, a month before my graduation. The one that has been sending me food like a ninja is the raven guy; Nijimura Shuzo or better known as Joker. The blondie is Kise Ryouta or his codename; Ace Heart. The redhead with hetero orbs is Akashi Seijuurou, with the codename Red King. And lastly the green-haired guy with spectacles and bandages on his left hand is Midorima Shintarou; Green Club.

They are Crown Deck. I wonder why the poker stuffs. I mean, there are lots of other names rights? So anyway, these guys had sworn allegiance to Crisis Soul, which is my parents'. For some reasons, I was entrusted to them when my parents died.

Diamond Spade? Oh yeah, that was my codename. I have no idea why I'm involved in this thing but Nijimura told me that my parents got me involved since I was born. They wanted to entrust Crisis Soul to me but unfortunately, that group was disbanded because most of the members died.

Basically, I'm stuck with these Mafias that could kill me any second. That night, the four of them went home, leaving me alone again and Nijimura strictly warned me to lock the door.

Now, I'm lying on my bed, staring at the plain white ceiling, reminiscing my past and the conclusion of these craps I was told. So my parents did leave me....

"Dinner is in the fridge!"

Suddenly I could hear Mum's voice through the voicemail. My eyes widened in fear and I shot upright. The voicemail will turn on automatically ONLY when someone enters the house. Didn't I lock the door?

"....we are still busy with our never-ending experiments!"

Fear crept within me and I shivered. On cue, my phone vibrated and with shaking hands, I answered the call.

"Yana, don't make any sound. Hide under your bed!" it was Nijimura.

"Wh-wha-" before I could protest, I could hear the sound of footsteps.

"Don't question and do what I said!"

I did what I was told and I could clearly hear Nijimura's voice from the phone. He was giving orders to his subordinates.

"Seijuurou, prepare your gun. Ryouta, drive faster. Shintarou give me that, I'll handle it. Everyone, guards up!"

"N-nijimura..!" I gasped when I heard the door being opened roughly.

"Yana, don't panic. Don't speak a word." Nijimura said.

I stayed silent but my teeth were chattering and I was sweating so much.

"We'll be there. Stay calm." He said again, giving me ease.

Suddenly, a pair of legs stood in front of my bed. I prayed deep from my heart that he won't bend down-

A serious face and an evil grin welcome me. "Found you." He smirked and pulled my elbow from under the bed. I screamed.

"Let go!" I shouted and struggled from his grips but he was strong.

A cold metal pressed against my temple suddenly. I stood there frozen, my struggling stopped, eyes widened. The fear of dying engulfed me.

"Follow me like a good girl and you'll be just fine." He said and dragged me downstairs.

The moment we arrived in the living hall, he threw me to the coffee table. I grunted in pain and gritted my teeth as he went to me and pulled my hair, forcing me to look at him.

"Oh, Diamond's little daughter is being naughty, hm? How about a slow death, would that make up for what your parents did?" he asked rudely, and pressed the gun on my temple harder. I shut my eyes close.

"YANA!"

The door flew open and before I could make out who was it, I was caught in an embrace. Familiar warmth, a familiar hug. Unconsciously, I started to sob.

Hand caressed my hair softly. "Yana, don't cry. I'm here, no more fears okay." The person whispered into my ear. I gripped his shirt tighter and continued to cry.

"N-niji-"

"Yes, I'm here. Shh, go to sleep. You have work tomorrow, no? Sleep dear girl." He said gently.

Eventually, the last thing I heard was a gunshot and I fell asleep.

★★★★

"Yana, look where you're drawing!"

"Eh!?"

I snapped to reality and erased the sketches I accidentally drew on the table. Yesterday, Nijimura stayed with me until this morning then he was the one who sent me to work because he said someone might come after me again.

When I asked him what my parents did, he avoided the question and would often change the topic. Understanding that he doesn't want to talk about it, I prevented myself from talking about it too.

"You're allowed to go home early today." My friend, Eisera said.

I frowned. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Boss asked me to tell you that."

I nodded. "That's actually weird."

"I know right."

Right then, my phone rang and I quickly answered it to make sure no one heard it or it'll catch everyone's attention and I hate it.

"We're waiting in the car park. Pack your things and get down here." It was Midorima. He sure sounds like he hate me but by the looks of his face, I can sense the tsundere-ness.

"Eh? Why so? I have another 2 hours until my-"

"I don't care."

I pouted. "Oh fine. Be there in three minutes." And cut off the call.

"What's wrong?" Eisera queried.

"Matters." I muttered and packed my stuffs. "See ya~" I waved.

She nodded and waved back. "Have a safe trip."

"Hope so."

All four were there when I came down. Kise was the first to break the silence. "Yanacchi~ don't look so scared! We're going home because of some important matters." He said.

What's with that "cchi" and, "What does your business have anything to do with me?" I asked.

"We have ceremony to attend. And it involves you, of course." Akashi spoke.

"Ceremony?"

"Enough questions get in the car, everyone." Nijimura ordered. We obeyed him and Kise drove off.

"Wait, that's not the way to my house." I frowned and turned to Nijimura for explanation.

"Yeah of course. You're moving to my house. You're no longer safe there." He replied.

"Hey! You don't move me without my permission! I have my stuffs and the voice-"

"We have been supervising you since the past four years, Yana. We know what you need and what you want. Everything's settled." He cut me off.

I inhaled sharply and tried to avert my attention somewhere else.

≥_≤

Turned out to be it was a ceremony where the Crown Deck will announce my official resignation from the broken Crisis Soul and that I will be accepted to Crown Deck. Though I did absolutely nothing and I don't think I can call that resigning, I went with the flow to avoid unwanted incidents.

"So this miss here, Cozart Yana, was entrusted by Cozart Shigure and Cozart Valerie along with their few men, to us, the Crown Deck before their deaths four years ago. And now, Miss Cozart Yana or her codename given by her parents, Diamond Spade, is officially the Crown Deck 5th member." Nijimura announced and audience cheered.

Akashi told me that they're from various group of Mafias. The thought of it made me shiver in fear. Someone might just pull the trigger and I'll be dead in no time.

"Before their deaths," Nijimura added. I looked up from my feet. Eh? I thought that's the speech. There's more? Even Akashi, Kise and Midorima frowned. All eyes centered on him. "Cozart Shigure had told me personally. His daughter will officially have all of his properties. With this, Cozart Yana will be the successor to Shigure's treasure."

Everyone clapped. I gaped. AM I IN A MOVIE!? WHY DOES THIS SOUND SO CLICHÉ!?

"One last thing," he said again and everyone went silent. "Cozart Shigure had officially crowned me as Cozart Yana's future husband, therefore, right now, her fiancé."

All of them gasped and murmured to each other. On the other hand, Akashi and Kise were supporting me. My legs gave out and I wobbled before they managed to catch me from hitting the ground.

"Shuzocchi did scare her too much! Seicchi, what do we do!?" Kise went panicked. The world is spinning. I feel nauseous and the headache worsened.

"Shuzocchi!" Kise called out.

No don't call him or I might faint like right now!

"What's wrong Ryou-Yana, are you alright!?" Nijimura's face appeared in front of me. I gasped and tried to inhale oxygen but I think my respiration system weren't working because they forgot to exchange carbon dioxide with oxygen; therefore, leaving me in the darkness right after the world shut its light.

The last thing I knew was that familiar warmth again and I passed out for the second time.

[A/N: Okay how was the rewritten version? Is it better or worse? Or rushed? Sorry guys but I was too excited. Um anyway, you might as well realize that none of them call each other with their family name. That's because in their Mafia system, the family name is not mentioned because the victory goes to that certain individual, not their family.]