Chapter 1: Opening Image
Merak walked through the sprawling streets of the vibrant city, surrounded by a sea of buzzing people and smells that hit you like a tangible force. The air was a jumbled mix of sizzling, frying foods from street vendors, the distinct scent of exhaust fumes, and the unsettling undertone of grime. The cacophony of horns blaring, laughter ringing through the air, and the incessant background noise swelled around him, his ears tuning out the chaos as he moved along the crowded sidewalks.
Merak's eyes scanned the throng, taking in the myriad of faces, each one lost in their own world, oblivious to the others around them. He couldn't help but smile at the sheer energy of it all, his golden-yellow eyes sparkling behind his glasses.
Ankoku, his partner in both business and pleasure, walked beside him, his tall frame cutting through the crowd with ease. He wore his signature red turtleneck, a stark contrast against his black hair and the sea of neutral colors surrounding them. A thin gold necklace glinted at his throat, matching the silver hoops in his ears.
His undercut haircut accentuated his sharp jawline, and despite the chill in the air, he seemed unfazed, his hands tucked casually into his black jeans pockets. His dark eyes darted around, always alert, always aware, missing nothing.
Merak glanced at Ankoku, his gaze lingering on the way his sweater hugged his broad shoulders. "You know," he began, his voice barely audible over the city's symphony, "I've been thinking about our little... situation with the docks."
Ankoku raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, really?
"And who's going to make sure they stick to the deal, hmm? You?" He leaned in closer, his breath warm on Merak's ear. "Or maybe I'll have to take care of it myself."
Merak rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Always so violent, Ankoku. Can't we try diplomacy first?"
Ankoku chuckled, straightening up. "Diplomacy is for the weak, Merak. You know that." He clapped a hand on Merak's shoulder, steering him towards a quieter alleyway.
"Besides, when have you ever known me to be diplomatic?" He winked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
Merak sighed, shaking his head. "Never, unfortunately." They stepped into the narrow alley, the noise of the city muffled slightly. "But seriously, Ankoku, we need to find a way to keep the peace without resorting to... drastic measures."
Ankoku leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Drastic measures keep people in line, Merak. It's called respect.
And fear, if we're being honest. People respond to strength, Merak. You know that better than anyone." Ankoku's gaze drifted to a nearby fire escape, his mind wandering. "Remember when we first started? We were just two kids trying to make a name for ourselves."
Merak nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "We were idiots, Ankoku. But we had heart. And we still do." He paused, looking at Ankoku. "At least, I hope you do."
Ankoku's eyes snapped back to Merak, a playful glint in them. He chuckled, before sighing. But then, two of them heard something in a nearby alleyway. A faint, rhythmic tapping sound, unlike the usual city noises. Merak's brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued. "Do you hear that?"
Ankoku tilted his head, listening intently. "Hear what?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
Merak nudged him, rolling his eyes. "Don't play dumb, Ankoku. That tapping sound."
Ankoku shrugged, pushing off from the wall. "Probably just some homeless person knocking over trash cans. Nothing to worry about."
Merak shook his head, already heading towards the sound.
"It's too regular to be trash cans, Ankoku. Besides, we can't just ignore it." He rounded the corner, Ankoku following close behind, his expression one of mild annoyance.
The alley was narrow, filled with overflowing dumpsters and graffiti-covered walls. The tapping sound grew louder, echoing off the brick walls. Merak's eyes scanned the area, landing on a pair of roller blades poking out from behind a dumpster. He approached cautiously, Ankoku watching his back.
As they got closer, the tapping stopped abruptly. Merak exchanged a glance with Ankoku, who shrugged nonchalantly.
There, huddled behind the dumpster, was a small figure. She was dressed in a yellow and green checkered shirt, a shamrock jacket tied around her waist, and black jeans with large side pockets. Her eyes were hidden beneath a black face mask and bangs that cast long shadows across her face. Roller blades were strapped to her feet, and a backpack lay beside her.
Merak blinked, taken aback. "Well, hello there," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "You're not what I expected."
The girl looked up at him, her red and purple eyes meeting his gaze.
There was a defiance in her stare, a challenge that belied her small stature. Merak found himself smiling, intrigued by this tiny, mysterious figure.
"You're not afraid of us, are you?" he asked, crouching down to her level. Ankoku remained standing, his arms crossed over his chest, observing the scene with mild amusement.
The girl shook her head, her bangs swaying slightly. She didn't speak, but her eyes never left Merak's.
"Can't talk, huh?" Merak guessed, pointing to his own throat. The girl nodded, keeping a distance between her and Merak.
Ankoku watched the exchange, his interest piqued. He pushed off from the wall, stepping closer to the duo.
"What's your name, kid?" he asked, his voice a low rumble. There was a hint of threat in his tone, but Merak shot him a warning look.
"Easy, Ankoku," he murmured, turning back to the girl. "He's harmless, I promise. Mostly."
The girl eyed Ankoku warily, but she didn't seem intimidated. Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small notebook and a pen. She started writing, her hands shaking from the cold.
Merak noticed her fingers were blue, and he felt a pang of sympathy. He took off his jacket and handed it to her, saying, "Here, take this. You must be freezing."
She looked up at him, surprised, and hesitated before accepting the jacket. She wrapped it around herself, her small frame disappearing inside the oversized garment. She wrote something else in her notebook and showed it to Merak.
"I'm Ombre," it read.
Merak smiled, "Nice to meet you, Ombre."
Ombre nodded, before writing in her notebook again. "What's your name?" Ombre scribbled in her notebook, holding it up for Merak to see.
Merak chuckled, "I'm Merak, and this is Ankoku."
Ombre's eyes flicked to Ankoku, then back to Merak. "Where are you from, Ombre?" Merak asked, genuinely curious.
Ombre hesitated, then wrote, "I lost track a year ago." Her eyes flickered with a brief flash of sadness before she quickly hid it, her expression becoming guarded once more.
Merak nodded understandingly, "Well, Ombre, you're safe now. We won't hurt you." He gestured to the bustling city beyond the alley. "But it's not exactly safe out here either. Have you thought about finding a place to stay?"
Ombre's eyes narrowed slightly, and she crossed her arms defensively. "Why should I trust you?" she wrote, her handwriting neat and precise despite the circumstances.
"I've managed fine on my own so far."
Merak held up his hands in surrender, a disarming smile on his face. "Hey, I get it. You're tough, I can tell. But even tough cookies need a break sometimes, right?" He gestured to the jacket she was wearing. "And besides, I think we're past the point of introductions here. I mean, I did give you my jacket."
Ombre looked down at the jacket, then back up at Merak. She seemed to consider this for a moment before writing again. "Fine.
But only because you gave me your jacket," Ombre wrote, her expression softening slightly. She tucked the notebook and pen back into her pocket, her eyes darting between Merak and Ankoku.
Merak smiled, satisfied with her response. "Great. Now, how about we get you somewhere warm and grab some food? You must be hungry." He stood up, extending a hand to help Ombre to her feet.
Ombre hesitated before taking his hand, allowing Merak to pull her up. She wobbled slightly on her roller blades, but Merak steadied her with a gentle hand on her arm.
Ankoku watched the exchange, his expression inscrutable. He seemed amused, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes - perhaps curiosity, or maybe even a touch of jealousy.
"Come on, let's get out of this alley," Merak suggested, leading the way back towards the main street. Ombre followed, her eyes scanning the surroundings warily. Ankoku brought up the rear, his gaze fixed on Ombre's small form.
As they emerged from the alley, the noise and bustle of the city enveloped them once more. On there way, Ankoku suddenly clung to Merak's back, he kissed his neck from behind before Merak could respond.
"Ankoku, stop it!" Merak hissed, trying to wriggle free. "Not in front of the kid!"
Ankoku chuckled, his breath warm on Merak's ear. "She's not a kid, Merak. Besides, I thought you liked an audience." He winked at Ombre, who rolled her eyes.
Merak sighed, exasperated. "That's not the point, Ankoku. Some things are private, you know."
Ankoku laughed, letting go of Merak. "Fine, fine. I'll behave." But he leaned in for a moment, "But we're having "fun" later." He whispered in Merak's ear, making sure Ombre couldn't hear. Merak blushed, pushing Ankoku away gently.
Ombre watched the exchange with mild amusement, her eyes flickering between the two men. She seemed to find their dynamic entertaining, though she kept her thoughts to herself.
They walked through the crowded streets, Merak leading the way with Ombre by his side and Ankoku trailing behind. The city was alive with activity, the air filled with the aroma of various street foods and the hum of countless conversations.
Merak spotted a small, cozy-looking café nestled between two towering buildings.
Its warm, inviting glow spilled onto the sidewalk, drawing him in. He steered Ombre towards it, Ankoku following closely behind.
"Let's grab something to eat here," Merak suggested, holding the door open for Ombre. She hesitated briefly before slipping inside, her eyes scanning the interior warily.
The café was small, with only a handful of tables scattered about. A counter ran along one wall, behind which a middle-aged woman worked, her hands moving deftly as she prepared orders. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries filled the air, making Ombre's stomach growl audibly.
She blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she followed Merak to a table by the window. Ankoku slid into the seat next to her, leaving Merak to sit opposite them.
Merak picked up a menu, his eyes scanning the offerings. "So, Ombre, what do you feel like having?" he asked, glancing at her over the top of his glasses.
Ombre looked at the menu, her eyes widening at the array of choices. She pointed to a picture of a chocolate chip muffin and a cup of coffee, then held up three fingers.
Merak smiled, "Three of each, coming right up."
He turned to the counter and placed their order with the woman, who nodded and got to work. As Merak sat back down, Ankoku leaned in, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"So, Ombre," he began, his voice low, "what brings a little thing like you to the big city?"
Ombre rolled her eyes, pulling out her notebook and pen. She wrote, "None of your business," and showed it to Ankoku.
Ankoku chuckled, unperturbed. He walked over to Merak, whispering in his ear, "I like this kid." Merak smiled, "I knew you would."
The woman behind the counter returned with their order, placing three steaming cups of coffee and a plate piled high with chocolate chip muffins on the table. The rich aroma filled the air, making Ombre's mouth water.
Merak pushed the plate towards her, encouraging, "Go ahead, help yourself. You must be starving."
Ombre didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed a muffin, breaking off a piece and popping it into her mouth. The taste exploded on her tongue, the sweetness of the chocolate chips contrasting perfectly with the soft, tender muffin.
Ombre closed her eyes, savoring the moment, before taking a sip of her coffee. The hot liquid warmed her insides, chasing away the last remnants of the chill from the alley.
Merak watched her, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Good, isn't it?" he asked, taking a bite of his own muffin.
Ombre nodded, her mouth full. She swallowed, then wrote in her notebook, "This is amazing. Thank you."
Merak waved her thanks away, "It's the least I could do. You deserve a treat after...
everything you've been through," Merak finished, his voice gentle yet firm. He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving Ombre's. "So, Ombre, where will you go after this? Do you have any plans?"
Ombre hesitated, her fingers tracing the edge of her notebook. She seemed to consider her answer carefully before writing, "I don't know yet. I guess I'll figure it out as I go."
Ankoku leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're not planning on sticking around, are you?" he asked, a hint of challenge in his voice. "You do realize that this place is a Mafia City, right? We own this place, and you're messing with our business." Ankoku's voice was low, a subtle threat underlying his words.
Ombre looked up at him, her eyes meeting his gaze steadily. There was no fear in her expression, only a quiet determination. She wrote in her notebook, "I'm not afraid of you or your 'business'. I can handle myself."
Merak chuckled, breaking the tension. "Well, aren't you full of surprises?" He turned to Ankoku, a playful glint in his eye. "Maybe we should keep her around, Ankoku. We can possibly keep her to steal things." Though, he sounded like he wanted Ombre to stay because he liked Ombre.
Merak wasn't sure why, but he felt a strange protectiveness towards the girl. Maybe it was her fierce independence, or perhaps it was the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. Whatever it was, Merak found himself wanting to help her, to offer her a safe haven in this chaotic city.
Ankoku, however, seemed less enthusiastic about the idea. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he studied Ombre. "She's a wildcard, Merak. We don't know anything about her.