• Chapter One: KIDNAPPED

    I hugged my best friend Yuki. She patted my back. We lived in an orphanage, along with one other seventeen year old, several nine year olds, and a couple three year olds. Every single person in this orphanage had at least one thing in common: All of us had no one to take care of us.

    I let go of Yuki. Tears slipped out my eyes and made their way down my cheek and to my chin. I didn't bother to wipe them away. Yuki tried to wipe my tears away, but I softly pushed her hand back. She smiled a sympathetic smile and caught a new tear that rolled down my cheek. All my previous, untouched tears formed into one large tear at my chin, plopping onto my neck and sinking into my skin.

    I smiled back. Yuki grabbed my hand and laid down in a bed. She pointed at the bed next to it and I laid down in the one she pointed at. She rolled onto her side that faced away from me and instantly fell asleep. I did the same, and thought about how my mom would sing me a lullaby to help me fall asleep before she and dad... passed away. I sang that song in my head, and fell asleep.

    * * *

    I woke up in what looked like the living room in an apartment building. I sat up, looking around. The lights were off, but I could see the silhouette of a boy who looked about my age. If not, then a year or two older. He flicked the lightswitch and five dim lights turned on. The boy was staring at me, smirking and mumbling to himself. I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out of my mouth was a pathetic squeak.

    "You... are you Ayu Issunboshi?" The boy asked me. I nodded.

    "I'm Eichi Hamasaki," he said. His brown-blonde hair shimmered in the light. He had white skin and soft blue eyes. He was wearing a sweatshirt and baggy jeans. He was wearing Vans and thin black socks. He smiled at me. His teeth were so... sharp.

    "Don't worry about my teeth. I keep them sharp. It's natural," Eichi laughed. Another boy came into the room and looked at Eichi. "This is Ayu?" Asked the boy. Eichi nodded and the boy looked at me, "Hello, Ayu! I'm Takuto Hamasaki!" He seemed overjoyed to see me. Takuto had black hair, the same white skin, light brown eyes, and a crooked smile that showed his sharp teeth.

    Takuto guided me up the stairs. He took me into a room. "This," he said, "is Eichi's room. You will be staying here." I shivered. "No!" I protested. "I don't want to sleep in the same bed as Eichi!" I narrowed my eyes and my muscles tightened. I hated Eichi. Takuto laughed. "No worries!" He giggled, "Eichi won't be sleeping in here if you sleep here!" I sighed in relief. My muscles loosened. I sat on the bed as Takuto left. I fell asleep, thinking about why I could be here.