The sun has faded away, turning it's warm embrace into a dim lit city leaving only the orange scenery in the sky. There was something in the air that made things seem different, or off; everyday the town changes slightly more as a man made substance makes its way around. The city is not all quiet, people are leaving work from long hours. Some are people ready to enjoy the night time activities. The remaining are either heading home from school or.... looking to cause trouble.
"So what do we do exactly, Alex," said Hermione. "They were on their way to Cheesy burger to meet up with Hinata's group. I'll explain later once everyone gets there," Alex replied, even though he himself was unsure,
"ya-know, you kinda don't have that gangsters vibe..... most people wouldn't help people like you in these kinda situations, it's a bit below the things you've done. You're like a weirdo, Alex. "
"I'm sorry, but did you call me a weirdo? Fool! You're the weird one. You were dressed like a guy for the longest time, but I'm the weirdo?"
Alex and Hermione playfully joke around on the way to the burger joint. They developed a friendship where they knew each other well enough to make jokes targeted at each other, jokes others may be offended by. They bantered and prodded at each other giggling like little kids.
Inside of the cheesy burger were Miki and Rena. They were just chatting away while waiting for hinata and Sosuke as well Alex and Hermione to show up.
"Why can't we just do this on a Saturday?" Miki was restless sitting in the booth, he rested his chin on his hands, fidgeting.
"Jeez Miki it is Saturday. And you just wanna go home and watch anime," Rena was sitting across from Miki as he threw his tantrum. To people around them it looked like a big sister and her little brother sitting in a diner as he was throwing a fit like a young toddler. Hinata walks into the food joint,
"Miki, why are you acting like a child?" Miki jumped up and hugged Hinata.
"I'm so tired of sitting here and waiting!" Hinata was trying to get Miki off her, she pushed him by his face playfully.
"Where is Alex and Hermione?" Asked Hinata, slightly concerned. she looked around, wondering if maybe they were at the counter ordering food or waiting.
"They should be here any minute now" Rena replied, Hinata stopped looking, "oh,"
"So do you think those guys are a couple yet?" Asked Miki.
"That's way too fast" said Rena "they barely know each other, he came to our school like a day ago." She laughed at the thought, "but it is funny that the whole school thinks they are."
"Rena does have a point." Miki included.
"So, where is Sosuke?" Asked Rena. Hinata responded, explaining that he's picking up Hanabi. "He volunteered to go by himself since we were meeting up, he said hes fine with being a little late and hell catch up when he gets here".
Down by the YMCA, Sosuke is standing by the lobby.
"She should be getting out any minute now." He thought to himself. Sosuke was basically staring at his watch, it was running a couple minutes past usual. A group of kids and their parents come walking out.
The kids seem to be talking about the things they learned from today's lesson. Following behind came Hanabi. She was looking around to see who's coming to pick her up today.
"Yo Hanabi" she turns towards the voice. "Sosuke!" She runs at full speed and jumps into his arms with excitement. With the momentum, he lifts her in the air.
"Woah there tiger cub" he spins her around and puts her back down.
"Alright let's get going now. Are you hungry?"
"Always!!" she responded. As they began walking and talking, Sosuke was struck from behind. Before falling, he released Hanabi's hand. The figure behind him was a large male wearing black.
"Hahah, Sosuke, you're on the ground let me help ya out" as he walked towards Sosuke he kicked him in the ribs. Sosuke let out a yelp and gasp for air as his legs curled inward, fetal position. Hanabi tried to help but was stopped by a short young man. Blocking her path.
"Not so fast, we have something in mind for you, brat"
The bigger one looks away from Sosuke and towards Hanabi.
"I don't know what you creeps are on but the answer is no! I'm not going anywhere with you" she yelled and showed her teeth attempting to look fearless and intimidating to their attackers.
Sosuke gets up and regains his balance while he recognizes his assailant, it was Pete and Jason. Hanabi was getting into a stance ready to fight, the two in black looked at her in awe as it was amusing and laughed at her.
"Hanabi. Go to your sister, now, she's at your favorite place. You know how to get there." Sosuke was unbuttoning his jacket. He was worried she was going to get herself hurt. Hanabi was trying to testify, "No! It would be easier if we both take them." Sosuke just gave her a glare.
"Your father would kill me, now leave" as she was about to take off, Pete tried to stop her, as Pete was moving, Sosuke grabbed his head. Sosuke ran with force and rammed him head first into a street sign. Jason tried to grab Hanabi's hand but was intercepted with a swift kick to the side of his head by Sosuke. With her path open, she spirited away. She ran and didn't look back. The way they tried to snatch her seemed to snap some sense of danger into her.
"Now, why don't you guys tell me what you're up to?" Demanded Sosuke with intimidating eyes. Pete and Jason were back to their feet,
"I'm sick of this guy already" whined Pete.
"You think so, they did say he could fight." Replied Jason as he pulled out a pocket knife. "We were only instructed to not hurt the kid, you on the other hand, I have plans for." he stepped forward. Sosuke was just gonna let it off as a school fight, but clearly this was something more.
10 minutes of running
Hanabi was a great distance away when she heard a gunshot. She stopped running in complete shock and disbelief looking behind her where it came from. People around her started talking about what direction the shots came from, then went back to walking, talking and going about their normal day-to-day as before. Hanabi began to cry heavy tears she tries to cover her face so her voice doesn't sound out as she keeps on running. She wondered if she had stayed, would she have been able to help Sosuke.
She started to run faster. She has to tell her sister... no she must tell sister at once. After a long deadline sprint, she finally arrived at her destination. She rushes through the doors frantically looking in all directions.
"Hina! Hina! Where are you!" Everyone in the restaurant was looking around. Hinata finally stood up. And ran towards her sister through tables and people staring.
"Hanabi what's wrong? Where's Sosuke?" Hanabi clung to her sister shaking, Hinata brushed her sisters messy hair back to behind her ear and looked at her directly, hands on the young girls cheeks.
"We were attacked by these guys and he told me to run to my favorite place to find you and when I got far away I heard a gunshot" cried Hanabi. "It's all my fault, I could of helped or something if he just let me!" The shock was too great. Hinata was frozen for about 3 minutes. When she suddenly dropped soon after she reassured her little sister that it was all going to be okay, Rena was there to catch her. "Hinata!?"
—End of chapter-