1 The Orphan

A black Maybach pulled up to the side street, opposite to a grimy block of flats. A man in his thirties was in complete disbelief, assessing his surroundings as if he was searching for someone.

"Ichimura, are you sure this is the right place?" He asked his lawyer who had helped him over the several years of false imprisonment.

"I wouldn't lie to you, Boss." Removing a black plastic folder from his briefcase and pushing up his silver rimmed glasses over his nose bridge.

"Although I don't know why the men are finding it so difficult... But all those years of unlawful imprisonment, It wasn't thanks to me that you got out." He said sighing.

"But how old is she 15-16?" He said furrowing his brows, as he watched a group of high school students walking opposite the car.

Laughing and joking as they chatted under the drizzle of rain, high pitched screams could be heard as a pair of girls shared a plastic umbrella.

"This is the original file that I received from her, with a note inside that I assume is for you and her private information." Pulling out a torn yellow envelope from within the folder.

"Akari Hanazaki." His black eyes trembled slightly at the image, reminding him so much of his deceased wife. Especially her watery,doll like eyes and blue-black hair.

"Orphan. Stayed at Ueno Tokyo Orphanage For Girls til she was 15... School report cards." A mixture of emotions swallowed him as his eyes narrowed at some of the information he received.

"Is this fake?" Looking at her practically blasphemous grades since elementary school.

"I don't know whether she's stupid or..." Scratching his balding head, reminiscing the way she found his small lawyer office and threw the document at him.

Throwing the infamous name Takashi Asano at him before abruptly leaving, coal like eyes gleaming with intelligence.

Throwing the black folder at him in annoyance, he said whilst pulling out the thick wad of paper and a small envelope. "But this doesn't explain why 20 Million yen disappeared from her bank account, that should've allowed her to not only to live well as long as she does. But in luxury."

"I'm sorry sir, but we monitored her spending as you asked us to..." Unable to have a complete answer for what went wrong.

Ignoring him he tore open the card which said 'many thanks' in English. The bright red cursive letters stood out mockingly against the white background.

Scoffing he read aloud the messy writing, that was akin to a toddlers unintelligible scribbles. "Thanks old man, think this as my debt paid off.- Hanazaki."

"Old Man?? I'm only 37!" He said clenching the card in his hands, "She didn't even have the cheek to use her full name- Who does she think I am a loan shark?"

"Hanazaki? She's an Asano!" He snarled, tossing aside the documents with disinterest. Sliding his callused hands through his auburn hair, rubbing at his stubble.

"Boss! Boss she's over there.." He said pointing towards a thin girl wearing an oversized black hoodie, the pleats of her emerald green skirt just barely noticeable.

Pulling the hood back a palm sized face was revealed, a pair of watery black eyes that were expressionless. Her lips pursed whilst tugging onto the thin wire of her headphone and sliding the other strap of her mud stained black backpack on her right shoulder.

***

After another boring day of school, where she mostly spent time sleeping or half-listening to the rants of the teachers and students. For not wearing her uniform properly or studying proactively and being a gloomy, mute freak.

It's not like she cared, or anyone else at home did.

The Orphanage was a place that made herself notice how different she exactly was which made her, who was four at the time feel scared when she thought about it.

Reading about it in Psychology books in the library that had been sponsored by the local government, she supposed they thought she was just being cute or a child. That she couldn't actually read.

Then the 'accident' happened where she completely stopped talking to everyone and ended up with no friends, not like she needed them. They were just so afraid of her, the devil child.

At the age of five she almost beat a man- specifically a 'kindhearted' priest half to death, permanently scarring his face with frightening jagged lines. Making him appear as if his face had been run over by a truck.

What was the worst thing about it was that she was completely calm afterwards, the Orphanages director Mr. Daisuke Hanazaki and the rest of the staff left completely appalled.

A doll like girl with inky black hair and eyes standing in the middle of the cold darkened corridor, her white nightie stained with blood. Flecks of red on her face and hands as a ball point pen, covered in bits of flesh, was held strongly against her chest. Cold intelligent eyes, glazed over with bloodlust.

Listening to her monotonous but childish voice, as the police asked her questions. Which led her who was then six years old to be psychologically evaluated.

However, no one thanked her for standing up to a criminal. They just treated her like a monster, locking up the man on charges of suspected and having a history of child pedophillia.

The child psychiatrist was left speechless and shaken, unable to forget that childish voice that spoke such profound and frightening words.

"Just because I look weak and is much younger than him, doesn't mean I have to accept being targeted like a wild animal. Just because I look cute and gentle, doesn't mean I don't have sharp claws and teeth. Perhaps it would have been better if no one was there to see that, I could help protect you and society stay ignorant. I could be an ignorant and stupid child in your eyes and others, as long as I don't open my mouth." Long lashes flickered, as clear black eyes watched her shamelessly.

***

Blocking out the sound of traffic, she paused as she neared the bus stop outside of the cheap block of apartments where she lived.

Her canvas shoes were soaked after she was pushed into a large puddle on the way home, gritting her teeth she wondered who it could be.

Thinking of the possibility of being watched from the minute she left school, she figured she should get rid of them somehow before heading in.

Walking slowly she head towards the alley by the side of the apartment block, feeling the burning gazes of two people a little further behind her. Tugging out her headphones and disconnecting them from her IPhone, she checked the battery of her phone case discreetly. Letting them watch as she abruptly turned away from where she lived, making them confused to think this was never her intention in the first place.

Slender white legs wet with rain clung to her green skirt, her eyes narrowing in discomfort. Pausing half-way in, she heard the slight squeaking of mice and watched the flooded gutter flowing with muddy water.

Seeing two large shadows behind her she pressed the button on the back of her phone case, a small clicking sound could be heard as she felt two sharp protrusions sticking out against her stomach.

"Akari Hanazaki your father is looking for you." A gruff voice said as she turned to see a thin, badly bleached blonde haired man. A dragon tattoo peaking out from his maroon silk shirt, three buttons undone as he held his black blazer with one hand.

"You've mistaken me for someone else and I'm an orphan." She said nonchalantly, letting the man assess her from under a pair of black oversized sunglasses.

"Still shouldn't I bring you in for beating up members of my gang?" Ignoring her, replying as he picked out his right ear condescendingly.

"Do you have evidence that I did it?" Eyes flashing with threat. Reddening a little making her seem a little animalistic.

"I am an orphan." She reiterated stubbornly.

Speechless, his tongue dry. He huffed and gave a sarcastic smile to his companion, a chubby bald headed man dressed in a large white baseball shirt.

"Brat, don't be difficult." He warned approaching her slowly, "Mr. Asano just wants to talk with you."

"I'm Hanazaki." She deadpanned.

Her cold eyes watching him slyly approach her, noticed the slight tug on his pierced lips.

Jerking suddenly about to grab her thin wrist, she slid back quickly against the wet concrete a clenching fist attacking his face. Dodging slightly the lenses cracked and were forced off his face, flicking out a long leg and skidding dangerously before kicking him ruthlessly in the jaw.

Falling to his knees he chuckled bitterly as he wiped the blood from his nose, she was about to throw another punch when a large black figure charged at her.

Aiming to grab her by her backpack, she dodged swiftly pure disgust shone in her unwavering black eyes. Letting him grab her she fluidly slid her arm out of the right strap and grabbed her phone.

Flexing her thumb to maximum voltage, he held his breath a little stunned by her murderous demeanour. Piercing him frozen as if a sharp blade was threatening his life and his ability to think.

In his moment of hesitation her eyes flickered with satisfaction as a sneer formed on her lips. She forced the sharp profusions towards his neck and eagerly pressed down on the stun button. Listening to the crackling sound as his body shook, his grasp loosening. Falling down with a heavy thud, his eyes rolling back.

Zipping up her opened backpack, her eyes narrowed when she watched the other guy struggling to stand.

The sound of a car door slamming shut and feet rushing this way startled her, turning around she ran away. Climbing on to the large black bin with one hand, she effortlessly jumped and grasped the metal bar of the rusted fence.

Swinging her legs over, not bothering to look at the faces behind her. She would've seen the proud and aghast faces, running away like the wind.

"Akari Asano!" Someone shouted furiously behind her, making her raise her eyebrows and click her teeth.

Squinting his eyes as he sat down on the wet concrete and watched the black face of his boss, he smiled flinching a little.

Rubbing his side and clicking his teeth he glanced at his unconscious buddy, Fat Yama who got tasered without fighting back.

"Well she's definitely your kid boss." Sai said helplessly, making the broad shouldered man wearing a tight black shirt laugh. His handsome brown eyes gleaming with subtle amusement, before narrowing in remembrance.

"Let's go to Ueno Orphanage For Girls, I haven't seen my brother-in-Law in quite a while." Eyeing the black gun in his pocket.