#tiger boy

October afternoons are moments you specifically wait for every year. Theres something comforting in the sound of crunching leaves underneath your boots, the wind playing a soft melody next to your ear as you walked aimlessly around the abandoned neighborhood you once used to live in. Seeing the now empty streets of the place once full of smiling faces filled your heart with nostalgia. Your eyes wandered from one street sign to another, memories flooding your mind. Why would people just disappear from here?

Ah yes, constant gang fights.

Since you were little you admired those who walked those streets with uniforms and proud looks even if your mom was quick to hide you behind her. "Gangs are dangerous" she said as you walked back home, you knew that but there was something about them that pulled you closer, you couldn't help but look back as the bikes engines started running. Back at that moment you only had one thought.

"I want to be just like that"

Standing now, in the same spot from years ago looking at the empty space where the bikes had stood you smiled. Of course, you were glad your mom didn't let you be like them. You didn't end up in jail or as a failure, you were just a normal kid but a part of you still yearned for the thrill. A small hiss brought you back from your thoughts as you looked at the place it was coming from, a playground. You used to love this place back then, thats where you met your first friends, where you broke your first bone because you fell down the slide. It hurt like hell but it was still a memory that made you laugh. You found yourself making your way towards the sound that were now getting louder with every step you took.

"Are you alright?"

The question slipped from your lips before you could even think as the person you've approached lifted their head. It was a boy with black hair and yellow highlights, he has a white jacket on that said "vallaha" on the back. You assumed he was another gangster and he confirmed your suspicion after looking at you. Seeing his beaten up face you couldn't help but grimace. "Who did this to you?" The boy stayed silent for a while before finally answering.

"None of your business"

Well, rude but okay. You sighed and sat next to him on the bench looking up at the darkening sky. "It's late, you can't stay here" The boy flinched slightly before looking at the ground with gritted teeth. "I told you it's none of your business." He couldn't accept that someone was worried about him, especially some random person. They were in an abandoned area, was that person really not afraid to approach him. "Maybe, but I can't let someone be here alone beaten up. If I leave you here I won't be able to sleep at night." You were so stubborn but also too kind for your own good. Another reason why you couldn't be in a gang, you were too trusting and Kazutora caught up to that right away. Just as another minute of uncomfortable silence was coming you spoke up. Again. "Ne.. Whats your name?" Your eyes met when he looked at you sceptically, his yellow eyes narrowing before he gave you a quiet answer.

"Kazutora.."

Few seconds passed before you got up and extended your hand with a soft smile on your face and gentleness in your voice that the boy never got to experience before.

"Lets get you cleaned up okay? I don't live far."

He wanted to refuse, someone he didn't know was offering to take care of him but if Kazutora had to be honest he was exhausted. He got ambushed by people from rival gang and of course, he beat the shit out of them, but he still got injured. Also the thought of coming back to his house and seeing his parents made him want to puke so he found himself taking the hand of the stranger.

"Okay.."