[Four Shot!] No Apologies: Overrated -2
Rule One of the Underworld Black Market: Get Out Alive.
Not many people can...After all, getting in is easy. But getting out.
Getting out...always costs too much.
I learned that...a very very long time ago.
You made it
You played it
Your shit is overrated
You made it
You played it
Your shit is overrated
He was a newbie in the buisness. Just brought in and 24...I was about...Do the math here uh, 6? Yeah, that sounds about right...I'd seen him before only since my father's men were scouting him. And around that time I was becoming aware of the business. Still...I didn't know anything about him. I didn't know...who he was and why he showed up so much.
My father told me he was a good friend of the family. To trust him...and yet when he came over and I ran up to him I remember he was nervous about coming up to me...
"Hello!" I would say and outstretch my little hand for him to shake, he would blink and look around the room as if unsure of what to do..."Something the matter mister?" I would ask, my smile was no doubt toothy since I was losing teeth left and right then...
"...Hello." he would nod and take my hand finally, "What's...your name?" his voice seemed shakey and I wasn't sure why so I thought he was just shy...
"My name is Cashel!" I'd beam and he would blink his big dark eyes, I was always really jealous of those cool eyes...they shimmered and reflected things...
"...That's nice." I would pout and pull my hand away from his.
"You know it's manners to introduce yourself too!" I would glare at him.
"...Oh, right. I'm..."
But it seemed whenever he had a chance to tell me who he was someone new would come into my life...so slowly I grew like that. Not knowing him. Not really minding his appearance...And not minding Jun and Aiji as they one by one began to appear...
Used up and jaded
You’re thinking way to slow
So we’re creating
Answers on our own
We can’t relate
To what you think you know
And you create
The problems that will never
Go away...
I met Jun when I was about...9. I'd grown more sure of the business but Jun was able to trick me for awhile..he was more honest though. And so he in the end told me he worked for my father. Since then, I trusted him imensely and with my help I'd like to think he became a mafia boss.
As time continued...I remember speaking to that dark haired nerve wracking man again, he seemed a little more sure of himself now. He'd received tattoos for his work since the last time I'd seen him...and he somehow seemed even cooler in the way he carried himself. But I was surprised when this time he approached me at one of the family meetings and smiling a strange and yet cool smile...
"Hello Cashel, you've grown..." he seemed so awesome I just stared like an idiot at him, "What? Did you lose your voice or something?" he'd joke.
"No!" I'd fight quickly back for my voice, "I'm here!" I would nod, "I just almost can't believe it's you!"
"Well, it is." he'd laugh, and shake his head, "...not that I couldn't recognize you."
"You said I changed!" I frowned.
"Yes, you have more teeth."
I glared up at him, "Ha. Ha."
He smiled that cool smile again and I couldn't help but grin back...
"By the way...I'm-"
Some new interruption came along as I was once more pushed to the side...
Worn out and faded
The weakness starts to show
They’ve created the generation
That we know
Washed up and hated
The system moves to slow
They give us answers
To questions they don’t even know...
A few years later...I turned 14...
Aiji was next, apparently he'd always been working for my Dad since he'd been young. His family was in charge of the rough dealings...Such as...Punishments. The idea made me shiver... He was so quiet it was no wonder he was good at such work...Just imagining him sneaking up behind somebody too strike them from behind with a-
Anyway, I wasn't one to like such gory details. So I avoided Aiji a bit...
By this time...I was just turning 15. If there was a time for me to think I got it all down it was then. But like always...life throws you curve balls.
Viola got into a terrible accident. She ended up in the hospital and they said she was a hopeless case. Close to death it was impossible to help her.
I felt like I would die...She was my cousin. And not a hope seemed to spring up. Her father could do something but people would call him a "softy" and...it was just not in terms of the business...
Around that time...I rarely spoke. I was that angry little teenager I mentioned earlier. But I had a reason. I hated my Dad's business for once. I wanted to leave...to never come back. But danger seemed around every corner...
Go away, go away, go away, go away...
Jun was a savior for me. He tried his hardest to take me out and to cheer me up. He was like a real big brother...Even Aiji sent me a few cases of chocolate...Remember my sweet tooth?
But...then I thought about it.
Viola was still in that coma. She was still terribly sick. And she wasn't getting better...If she was going to die...I needed to say...Goodbye.
So I got up the courage and left school early one day to do just that.
The hospital was like most hospitals, aggravatingly clean...I walked the halls to her room and ordered the two bodyguards my Dad and Jun had considered for me...to wait at the door.
Approaching her bed was the hardest part...She was asleep. Or so it looked but tubes and IVs and everything were all around her. and bandages circled her head...I was to cry but couldn't because Viola wouldn't have...
"I miss you." I admitted to the sleeping form, my eyes were on her...They had been since I came in so naturally I had missed the cool forming sitting on the chair...guarding the sleeping girl...
"And I'm' sure she misses you too...She's your cousin, right?" I jumped and spun to face the man on the chair...
He rose slowly from his spot and the man I know today...The one I despise more then life smiled back at me... He was still so cool. I nodded and he sighed to approach my side...I felt his hand run down my back...It was most likely a reassuring gesture...but I tensed at the feel of it.
"...I'm sorry." he said and I just nodded again, staring down at poor Viola...
"...I just don't know how the guy who did this...isn't...gone." I muttered.
"Hm." the man chuckled, his arm still around my waist, "I thought you hated the...life?"
"...I did." I said, "But...if it can help Viola..."
"And it can." I turned to look up at him, he stared no longer down at the girl but at me, "...it can help her. And it can help you."
"...Help me?" I frowned.
He nodded and his other hand slowly raised to brush against my cheek, "You've grown again..."
I turned away from him and shrugged, "I know, I know. The teeth, right?"
He chuckled again and shook his head, "No. Not the teeth..." I froze and swallowed as his lips brushed my forehead gently, his breath following to breeze over me...making me shiver. "Something else has grown..."
"I guess..." I said, then it hit me where I was. Viola! I pulled away from the man and pulled myself to the other side of the bed...as far from him as I could get...He just stared after me with those cool dark eyes...
"What's wrong...?" he muttered, crossing his arms, flexing his muscles unnecessarily.
"...I don't even know your name." I reminded him.
"...Oh, yeah..." he looked away as if that was completely pointless, "My name is Kirito..."
"Kirito?" I repeated and he nodded.
"Well, my real name is a secret...But that's what I go by."
"Cool." I admitted. He smiled.
"So..." he nodded down to Viola, "Saying goodbye?"
"...I..." I looked down to the ground, feeling my body shiver..."I don't want too."
"Ah..." he said, "It's like that."
I nodded.
"I truly...am sorry." he seemed so sincere...so as he crossed the room again and pulled me into his arms, as I finally started to sob into his shirt...His hand resting against the back of my neck and head...He pat my hair down in an awkward soothing motion.
"W-why did s-she have to-o...Is he going to...get hurt?" of course I meant the one who'd done this to her...
"If I can help it..." began Kirito, still holding me, "He'll be dead by morning."
"...R-really?"
Kirito tilted my face up to smile down at me, "Yes. Really."
I blinked up at him, tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was pretty damn positve my nose was running...I wasn't Ms. Fantastic at the moment but it didn't stop him from leaning forward to whisper something in my ear before placing his lips against mine...in my first real kiss...
"No time for goodbye...Don't put your life in someone's hands...
Their bound to steal it away."
...If only I'd listened to him.
After that...I hated him. I hated everything about him.
----------------------------------------------------
I glared across the room at him. He sat up in his chair now. It had been a week since the occurrence with Viola. Father refused to speak on it with me...But apparently Aiji was working up a team for the job...I hated him too.
At least I still had Jun.
So there I sat, feet underneath me, not really listening to the nonsense and shit everyone else was talking about...which probably wasn't a good idea since-
"Cashel?" I blinked looking up to see Jun smiling down at me, "Cashel? Did you hear what was just said?"
"D-did I what?" I looked around the room, feeling like a complete fool.
"...There was a definite lack of attention on her part, isn't there?" sneered Kirito from his seat, I glared over at him.
"We were discussing the importance of Viola's situation to all of us..." Aiji tuned me in, "And clearly your reaction yesterday shows...how important it was to you." I swallowed, I'd known this was coming but I hadn't thought it would appear so suddenly...
"Um, I, uh-" I tried to find the words.
"She was quite surprised!" my father filled in quickly for me, I lowered my head...glad he'd spoken for me.
"As were we all..." said Jun shaking his head, "I'm afraid her reaction is a worry."
Okay, apparently I don't have Jun on my side.
"She's my cousin!" I argued.
"...Viola and Cashel have grown up together..." Viola's father filled in.
I nodded insanely.
"...It would make sense." Kirito mused aloud, "If you cried about it more openly...hm?" he smiled down at me, and I felt my face grow red...I knew what he was refering too...Me sobbing into his shoulder...as I stood next to Viola's bed...before he kissed...
"I guess what we're asking Cashel..." smiled Jun wearily, "Is...what's more important to you?"
I frowned, "Nani?"
"The family?" Kirito sneered, "Or...Viola?"
"..." I stared mouth agape at all of them, this had to be a sick joke.
"...What..." my father said, losing his voice.
"Ridiculous..." frowned Viola's father.
"What's ridiculous..." Kirito turned to them, "Is that you old assholes are still incharge, hm?"
"...Boy...You shouldn't speak to me-" Viola's father was cut off by a few of Kirito's bodyguards surrounding him, cracking their knuckles...
"It's up too you...What happens here." sneered Kirito, "You can listen to my earlier idea..." he seemed to be referring to something they'd all talked about in secret...and then I noticed his glance turn to me, "and if you accept what I suggested so kindly last time...then you can G.O.A."
"...Boy..." my father was shaking, he wasn't normally made angry but..."I wll not accept-"
Kirito stood from his chair and turned to Aiji and Jun, "Let us...go. Let them decide and think things over for the week..." he smiled to turn back to me..."We'll see you next week...Alright?"
I watched Kirito push Jun and Aiji toward the door...
I stood only to be pushed back down by my father...
Kirito blew me a kiss from the door as it closed behind him.
His words rang so true in my ears...
Don't put your life in someone's hands
Their bound to steal it away...
Not many people can...After all, getting in is easy. But getting out.
Getting out...always costs too much.
I learned that...a very very long time ago.
You made it
You played it
Your shit is overrated
You made it
You played it
Your shit is overrated
He was a newbie in the buisness. Just brought in and 24...I was about...Do the math here uh, 6? Yeah, that sounds about right...I'd seen him before only since my father's men were scouting him. And around that time I was becoming aware of the business. Still...I didn't know anything about him. I didn't know...who he was and why he showed up so much.
My father told me he was a good friend of the family. To trust him...and yet when he came over and I ran up to him I remember he was nervous about coming up to me...
"Hello!" I would say and outstretch my little hand for him to shake, he would blink and look around the room as if unsure of what to do..."Something the matter mister?" I would ask, my smile was no doubt toothy since I was losing teeth left and right then...
"...Hello." he would nod and take my hand finally, "What's...your name?" his voice seemed shakey and I wasn't sure why so I thought he was just shy...
"My name is Cashel!" I'd beam and he would blink his big dark eyes, I was always really jealous of those cool eyes...they shimmered and reflected things...
"...That's nice." I would pout and pull my hand away from his.
"You know it's manners to introduce yourself too!" I would glare at him.
"...Oh, right. I'm..."
But it seemed whenever he had a chance to tell me who he was someone new would come into my life...so slowly I grew like that. Not knowing him. Not really minding his appearance...And not minding Jun and Aiji as they one by one began to appear...
Used up and jaded
You’re thinking way to slow
So we’re creating
Answers on our own
We can’t relate
To what you think you know
And you create
The problems that will never
Go away...
I met Jun when I was about...9. I'd grown more sure of the business but Jun was able to trick me for awhile..he was more honest though. And so he in the end told me he worked for my father. Since then, I trusted him imensely and with my help I'd like to think he became a mafia boss.
As time continued...I remember speaking to that dark haired nerve wracking man again, he seemed a little more sure of himself now. He'd received tattoos for his work since the last time I'd seen him...and he somehow seemed even cooler in the way he carried himself. But I was surprised when this time he approached me at one of the family meetings and smiling a strange and yet cool smile...
"Hello Cashel, you've grown..." he seemed so awesome I just stared like an idiot at him, "What? Did you lose your voice or something?" he'd joke.
"No!" I'd fight quickly back for my voice, "I'm here!" I would nod, "I just almost can't believe it's you!"
"Well, it is." he'd laugh, and shake his head, "...not that I couldn't recognize you."
"You said I changed!" I frowned.
"Yes, you have more teeth."
I glared up at him, "Ha. Ha."
He smiled that cool smile again and I couldn't help but grin back...
"By the way...I'm-"
Some new interruption came along as I was once more pushed to the side...
Worn out and faded
The weakness starts to show
They’ve created the generation
That we know
Washed up and hated
The system moves to slow
They give us answers
To questions they don’t even know...
A few years later...I turned 14...
Aiji was next, apparently he'd always been working for my Dad since he'd been young. His family was in charge of the rough dealings...Such as...Punishments. The idea made me shiver... He was so quiet it was no wonder he was good at such work...Just imagining him sneaking up behind somebody too strike them from behind with a-
Anyway, I wasn't one to like such gory details. So I avoided Aiji a bit...
By this time...I was just turning 15. If there was a time for me to think I got it all down it was then. But like always...life throws you curve balls.
Viola got into a terrible accident. She ended up in the hospital and they said she was a hopeless case. Close to death it was impossible to help her.
I felt like I would die...She was my cousin. And not a hope seemed to spring up. Her father could do something but people would call him a "softy" and...it was just not in terms of the business...
Around that time...I rarely spoke. I was that angry little teenager I mentioned earlier. But I had a reason. I hated my Dad's business for once. I wanted to leave...to never come back. But danger seemed around every corner...
Go away, go away, go away, go away...
Jun was a savior for me. He tried his hardest to take me out and to cheer me up. He was like a real big brother...Even Aiji sent me a few cases of chocolate...Remember my sweet tooth?
But...then I thought about it.
Viola was still in that coma. She was still terribly sick. And she wasn't getting better...If she was going to die...I needed to say...Goodbye.
So I got up the courage and left school early one day to do just that.
The hospital was like most hospitals, aggravatingly clean...I walked the halls to her room and ordered the two bodyguards my Dad and Jun had considered for me...to wait at the door.
Approaching her bed was the hardest part...She was asleep. Or so it looked but tubes and IVs and everything were all around her. and bandages circled her head...I was to cry but couldn't because Viola wouldn't have...
"I miss you." I admitted to the sleeping form, my eyes were on her...They had been since I came in so naturally I had missed the cool forming sitting on the chair...guarding the sleeping girl...
"And I'm' sure she misses you too...She's your cousin, right?" I jumped and spun to face the man on the chair...
He rose slowly from his spot and the man I know today...The one I despise more then life smiled back at me... He was still so cool. I nodded and he sighed to approach my side...I felt his hand run down my back...It was most likely a reassuring gesture...but I tensed at the feel of it.
"...I'm sorry." he said and I just nodded again, staring down at poor Viola...
"...I just don't know how the guy who did this...isn't...gone." I muttered.
"Hm." the man chuckled, his arm still around my waist, "I thought you hated the...life?"
"...I did." I said, "But...if it can help Viola..."
"And it can." I turned to look up at him, he stared no longer down at the girl but at me, "...it can help her. And it can help you."
"...Help me?" I frowned.
He nodded and his other hand slowly raised to brush against my cheek, "You've grown again..."
I turned away from him and shrugged, "I know, I know. The teeth, right?"
He chuckled again and shook his head, "No. Not the teeth..." I froze and swallowed as his lips brushed my forehead gently, his breath following to breeze over me...making me shiver. "Something else has grown..."
"I guess..." I said, then it hit me where I was. Viola! I pulled away from the man and pulled myself to the other side of the bed...as far from him as I could get...He just stared after me with those cool dark eyes...
"What's wrong...?" he muttered, crossing his arms, flexing his muscles unnecessarily.
"...I don't even know your name." I reminded him.
"...Oh, yeah..." he looked away as if that was completely pointless, "My name is Kirito..."
"Kirito?" I repeated and he nodded.
"Well, my real name is a secret...But that's what I go by."
"Cool." I admitted. He smiled.
"So..." he nodded down to Viola, "Saying goodbye?"
"...I..." I looked down to the ground, feeling my body shiver..."I don't want too."
"Ah..." he said, "It's like that."
I nodded.
"I truly...am sorry." he seemed so sincere...so as he crossed the room again and pulled me into his arms, as I finally started to sob into his shirt...His hand resting against the back of my neck and head...He pat my hair down in an awkward soothing motion.
"W-why did s-she have to-o...Is he going to...get hurt?" of course I meant the one who'd done this to her...
"If I can help it..." began Kirito, still holding me, "He'll be dead by morning."
"...R-really?"
Kirito tilted my face up to smile down at me, "Yes. Really."
I blinked up at him, tears were streaming down my cheeks and I was pretty damn positve my nose was running...I wasn't Ms. Fantastic at the moment but it didn't stop him from leaning forward to whisper something in my ear before placing his lips against mine...in my first real kiss...
"No time for goodbye...Don't put your life in someone's hands...
Their bound to steal it away."
...If only I'd listened to him.
After that...I hated him. I hated everything about him.
----------------------------------------------------
I glared across the room at him. He sat up in his chair now. It had been a week since the occurrence with Viola. Father refused to speak on it with me...But apparently Aiji was working up a team for the job...I hated him too.
At least I still had Jun.
So there I sat, feet underneath me, not really listening to the nonsense and shit everyone else was talking about...which probably wasn't a good idea since-
"Cashel?" I blinked looking up to see Jun smiling down at me, "Cashel? Did you hear what was just said?"
"D-did I what?" I looked around the room, feeling like a complete fool.
"...There was a definite lack of attention on her part, isn't there?" sneered Kirito from his seat, I glared over at him.
"We were discussing the importance of Viola's situation to all of us..." Aiji tuned me in, "And clearly your reaction yesterday shows...how important it was to you." I swallowed, I'd known this was coming but I hadn't thought it would appear so suddenly...
"Um, I, uh-" I tried to find the words.
"She was quite surprised!" my father filled in quickly for me, I lowered my head...glad he'd spoken for me.
"As were we all..." said Jun shaking his head, "I'm afraid her reaction is a worry."
Okay, apparently I don't have Jun on my side.
"She's my cousin!" I argued.
"...Viola and Cashel have grown up together..." Viola's father filled in.
I nodded insanely.
"...It would make sense." Kirito mused aloud, "If you cried about it more openly...hm?" he smiled down at me, and I felt my face grow red...I knew what he was refering too...Me sobbing into his shoulder...as I stood next to Viola's bed...before he kissed...
"I guess what we're asking Cashel..." smiled Jun wearily, "Is...what's more important to you?"
I frowned, "Nani?"
"The family?" Kirito sneered, "Or...Viola?"
"..." I stared mouth agape at all of them, this had to be a sick joke.
"...What..." my father said, losing his voice.
"Ridiculous..." frowned Viola's father.
"What's ridiculous..." Kirito turned to them, "Is that you old assholes are still incharge, hm?"
"...Boy...You shouldn't speak to me-" Viola's father was cut off by a few of Kirito's bodyguards surrounding him, cracking their knuckles...
"It's up too you...What happens here." sneered Kirito, "You can listen to my earlier idea..." he seemed to be referring to something they'd all talked about in secret...and then I noticed his glance turn to me, "and if you accept what I suggested so kindly last time...then you can G.O.A."
"...Boy..." my father was shaking, he wasn't normally made angry but..."I wll not accept-"
Kirito stood from his chair and turned to Aiji and Jun, "Let us...go. Let them decide and think things over for the week..." he smiled to turn back to me..."We'll see you next week...Alright?"
I watched Kirito push Jun and Aiji toward the door...
I stood only to be pushed back down by my father...
Kirito blew me a kiss from the door as it closed behind him.
His words rang so true in my ears...
Don't put your life in someone's hands
Their bound to steal it away...