Disclaimer: Ditto what every other chapter says.

Chapter 7

"Wh-what? You what?" Hitomi's arms fell at her side as her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Hey, it's not like I was trying to kill her. Believe me, if I could take it back, I would. But we aren't given that chance, now, are we?"

She shook her head. Quietly, she asked, "How'd it happen?"

Dragon glanced at her. "When I was growing up, it was just my mom, my brother, and I. My father took off right after I was born. My mother tried to support us as best she could, but as soon as we were old enough, we were sent out to find odd jobs just so we could earn a few extra bucks. Folken, my brother, was doing alright, but I managed to get myself caught up in the local gang. We hit a lot of stores, though, so I was always able to bring home my share of 'income' each day. One night, we hit the rival gang's hideout, wiping out their stash of money. I happened to deal out the most damage that night. So much, in fact, that my fellow members thought quite highly of me from then on." He smirked. "It's too bad that the other gang knew it, too.

"My gang was just hanging out the next night, still celebrating over our victory, when one of them ran into the room. They said that they happened to notice something going on near the other gang's hideout, a fight or something. We wanted to get in on it so we all ran over. But, by that time, it was already over. There was only one person still there." Dragon paused before continuing. "It was Folken. Somehow they knew that he was my brother and decided that beating on him would be the best way of getting back at me. He had probably just been walking home from whatever odd job he'd been doing and had no idea that he was passing right past a bunch of gang members mad at his little brother. I remember running up to him, panicked. Of course, by then, it was too late. He must have tried to fight back, causing the other gang to decide it would just be better to finish him off. Do you have any idea how bloody a dead body can get?" he asked with a wry smile.

"When I told my mom about Folken, she was devestated. I never told her exactly what happened, though. If she ever found out I was in a gang, well, let's just say she didn't need to deal with that too. I was furious. And I was not about to let them get away with what they had done. The very next night we were prepared to strike and hard. We used the money we had stolen to buy some guns and knives, intent on wiping out the entire gang. It ended up being a pretty fierce battle because they were now on their guard, waiting for us. As I was fighting, I remember seeing someone out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned, firing my gun at the shadowed figure." The gang leader grasped the ring tightly. "I went to make sure I had really hit the person only to find out that I had shot my own mother. She'd come to see the place where Folken had been murdered. I guess that she must have heard the gun shots and was probably just trying to leave when I shot her. She was still alive, but just barely. All she did was stare at me, too shocked to say anything. And I just stood their like an idiot and watched her die. When I at last came back to my senses, I had now not only lost my brother, but I had killed my mother. All in a matter of two days.

"After that, all I had left was the gang. Or what was left of it, at least. Because of what had happened, I forced everyone to get rid of the guns in any way they could. I didn't want to have to repeat that experience again. I was promoted to leader too. Balgus, our old one, was one of the casualties. And now the gang is my home. I took a job at the grocery store, though, so I could earn some extra cash to use on myself. Or so I tell myself. It probably has more to do with the fact that that's what my mom had really wanted me to do in the first place, get a real job." Dragon closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. He then walked back over to the wall, leaning against it once more.

Throughout the entire story, Hitomi remained leaning on the back wall, listening intently. She blew a few stray hairs out of her eyes. She looked at him in the same pose across the room. He looked, well, she didn't know how to say it, but the best word she could think of was "smaller." He looked smaller. Finally, she quietly ventured, "Why did you stay in the gang if it caused so much - "

She was cut off by the creaking of the opening door and voices following the heavy footsteps. Both Hitomi and Dragon's heads turned to see the policeman followed by an handsome blonde boy in a marroon blazer. "Hitomi!" the blonde shouted, clutching the bars that closed her in the cage-like room.

"Allen?!" Hitomi straightened and took a step toward the bars, and then she froze. "What are you doing here? How'd you know?"

"Momaru called me, and I came as quickly as possible. Oh, Hitomi, we were so worried about you when you just disappeared. We could have helped you if you had only told us you were in trouble. Why didn't you come to us? Oh, and why that night? I had so been looking forward to - "

Hitomi cut Allen off just as her eyes unnoticeably glanced to Dragon and back to focus on Allen. "I'm fine. I can handle this myself," she stated coldly with finality. "Is Momaru okay?" she asked with concern.

"Oh yes, he's fine. He's just upstairs in the waiting room with Yukari. Oh, we have to get you out of here." He turned to the policeman in a very lawyer-ish voice stated, "You have nothing incriminating on this girl here, no evidence that she has done anything outside of the law. Therefore, I demand that you free her at once. You've held her here for too long for mere questioning." Allen, son of a prominent lawyer, knew that people could be held for questioning for only a few hours before they had to be released or officially arrested and held for trial.

The policeman, realizing that the boy was correct, began to unlock the gate-like door. He opened the door and let Hitomi out. "There you go, miss. I'd recommend staying far away from trouble. We have your address, and we'll be keeping an eye on you." The policeman slammed the cell door, and the bars shook. Hitomi's head was still spinning, surprised at the release and Allen's presence.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Dragon questioned from the other side of the room.

Everyone turned to look at him. "Who's that?" Allen asked as if he smelled something fishy, and he took a step closer to Hitomi as if to protect her from the caged man.

The gang leader smirked. "The name's Van, and I happened to save that wench of yours, Johnny Cochran wanna-be."

Hitomi, rolled her eyes as Allen got terribly defensive. "Excuse me?" he asked menacingly, stepping between his friend and the gang leader. Thinking again, Allen nonchalantly brushed a hand toward Van and turned to his female friend, "He's not worth our time." He put his arm around her waist and led her through the door. She looked back at Dragon with a blank look as she allowed herself to be led.

The policeman shrugged and went over to Dragon's cell to let him out.

"Momaru!" Hitomi hugged her younger brother. "You're okay, right?" He nodded.

"Oh, Hitomi!" Yukari exclaimed from behind Momaru. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was so worried when Allen called to tell me what your brother has said over the phone. We hadn't heard from you in so long..." Her blubbering was cut off by a long, almost painfully strong hug given to Hitomi.

"I'm fine," she assured, pushing her friend away, catching her breath.

"That's good to know, but it would have been nice if you had called us," said Allen, "One day you were fine, and the next you were gone! We had no idea what had happened to you, and when we never heard from you, we started to fear the worst."

She smiled weakly, "Well, you shouldn't have. Momaru and I have been doing fine," she assured.

"But sis, what about that gang - ?"

"Really, we've been fine," she stated, trying to shut her brother up. Yes, he was right - they had been far from fine for a while, but these two wouldn't understand. They were good friends, that was true enough, but their lives, their experiences were far from lending them the life lessons to understand her situation.

"A gang!?" Allen nearly shouted. Heads turned to look at him, but he didn't seem to notice or care. "Was that what happened at the store? Were they bothering you? Who are these people?"

Totally self-conscious, Hitomi headed to the exit, guiding her brother out. She saw Allen's silver BMW in the parking lot but headed to the sidewalk. Allen and Yukari ran to catch them. Yukari put a reassuring hand on Hitomi's shoulder, "Really, we want to help you. You're our friend, and we're worried about you."

Hitomi stopped and looked Yukari in the eyes. "I'm fine. Really." She hoped they would believe her.

"We talked it over before we got here," Yukari said, nudging Allen in the side.

"Yes," he continued, "I want you and your brother to stay at my house until we get all this worked out. You'll be safe there and well cared for."

Hitomi was shocked. "I can care for us just fine. We don't need your help."

Momaru looked at his sister. "Hitomi," he bit his lip. "I'm scared."

She looked into his brown eyes and furrowed her brow. She looked back at her friends, resolute. "I can't just up at leave my jobs. They're counting on me being there, but I would be very much appreciative if you would watch Momaru for me until I can get this figured out better."

"Look, you know I'll gladly watch Momaru for you, but the two of us would feel much better if you'd come too. We can call your work and ask for time off. I'm sure they wouldn't mind at all. This is serious." Allen looked at her with a pleading expression.

"No, I can't. Mr. Moleman can't find someone on such short notice. I can't let him down." She didn't want to talk about her other job. She turned Momaru to look at her. "I'll come to get you soon. Don't worry about me - I'll be fine." She winked at him. "Thanks," she said to her friends and started walking down the sidewalk.

"Wait!" Yukari called. Hitomi turned. "Gimme your cell phone," Yukari hissed at Allen. He took it out. "Take this - just in case. Our house numbers are on the speed dial." She threw it to Hitomi who caught it and put it in her smock pocket.

"Thanks," she mumbled, smiling slightly. They were being such good friends. What was wrong with her? Shouldn't she have accepted their help? She didn't look back as she continued down the sidewalk.

In a few minutes, the BMW slowed down next to her. "Can't we give you a ride?"

She shook her head. "But thanks." She waved as they pulled away.

Dragon briskly walked down the street. When the police had picked him up, they had apparently decided it best to leave his car there. Now he had to walk back to the grocery store just to pick it up. He hoped that no one from the Slayers was keeping tabs on him. If they saw him, he could be in trouble. He glanced around just in time to see a silver BMW speed by, the Johnny Cochran wanna be in the driver's seat. He frowned. Rich kids had always been the most annoying people, acting like they owned the world or something. He made a mental note to find out just where he lived so that his gang could pay him a visit.

He at last made it to the store. Walking to his car, he planned on just speeding back to the warehouse, until he realized that his work clothes were still in the store. He groaned and ran his hands through his hair. He really hoped that no one recognized him, either as Van the bagger or White Dragon the gang leader. At last he put on his sunglasses and left his jacket in the car, hoping to get away from his tough guy look as best as he could. He then walked into the store, heading straight for the break room where he left his clothes. He managed to make it there without trouble. However, upon opening the door, he realized that his luck had run out.

"Hey, who are - " Gaddes asked, noticing the lack of uniform. He paused. "Van? Dude, what's with the sunglasses? And I didn't know your hair was that long. Man, the boss would have a fit if he knew!" he said with a grin.

"I'm just here to pick up something," Van mumbled as he walked over to his bag.

"Hey! Did you hear about what happened earlier?" asked Gaddes "Apparently some guy came into the store and took Hitomi, ya know, the cashier, to the back. She just left! Shut her light off and everything. Man, and the cashiers complain about us disappearing. So anyway, some old man eventually found her in the refrigerator with not one guy but two! I never thought she was like that, more of a goody goody, ya know? And, get this, she was taken to the police station for using a gun! Man, I was sorry I missed it, but the other baggers told me all about it."

Van rolled his eyes. "Yeah, too bad. The one exciting thing in this place, and I missed it." He walked toward the break room door, his bag in his hand. Turning, he grinned at his fellow bagger before leaving, adding, "But at least we now know what she's really like. It always makes things easier on us."

to be continued...

A/N: Dun dun dun... So there you have it. Van's life story and the introduction of Allen. Aw, come on, you knew he was coming. But he knows Hitomi? Hmm, interesting, ne? ^_~ Sounds like things could be even worse for Hitomi than before, but, hey, anything can happen... Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Oh, and the next one will not be out as quickly. Since I have no idea when that will be, if you would like me to email you when I post again, just email me to let me know.