Rise of the Aragami

Chapter 1

Kai slowly opened his eyes as he woke up. He glanced around quickly as he became alert to make sure he was in the same place as he fell asleep. He sighed in relief. There was no knowing what people would do to you while you were sleeping, at least not when you lived where he did.

Kai had learned his lesson about being careful about where you sleep. A few years ago, Kai had woken up surrounded by men missing teeth and smelling strongly of liquor. He escaped before he could find out what those men wanted to do with him. He was lucky.

Right now, Kai made sure his hideout was relatively hidden. It was wedged between two buildings, but it was set up around the corner of one of the buildings so that unless someone walked all the way down the alley they would never be able to notice the little den. Kai's living space as made mostly of scrap wood, mismatched bricks, and a crinkly wrap-like sheet that he used to keep out water.

As Kai sat up, his hair fell over his eyes. He was sixteen, and his hair was pitch black, and his skin was relatively tanned from being out in the sun all the time. His eyes were also a colorless black, set on an angular face with defined features. His body was almost always full of cuts or bruises, but even though he usually skipped meals, it was in rather decent condition. He grabbed his canteen of water, one of the only plentiful recourses available to people like him who were outcasted from society and had to fend for themselves. Kai had never met his parents, and had little recollection of his early years. All he knew was that he was taken in by an old religious man that wanted to let go of him as soon as there was a chance Kai could survive on his own. Left homeless, Kai had tried to find shelter, but no one welcomed strangers.

As Kai stepped out of his makeshift tent, he had to squint his eyes from the sun. He checked his pocket for the few coins he had managed to garner from carrying water for "neighbors". It was a pitiful amount, but it should be enough to buy breakfast. And if he split the breakfast three ways, he could make it stretch through the day. After he bought the breakfast, he needed to try to find some way to make more coin. He had a small stash that he kept very well hidden for emergencies. Or when he needed to be extravagant.

Kai looked around the corner of the building he lived behind to make sure it was safe. All clear. He put his chin up and stood straighter. He often found that when he exuded confidence, people left him alone. He was already a frightening figure, with hair that fell past his eyes, hiding their gaze, and a worn yet muscled body. He made sure to always buy black clothing. The first reason is because it hides dirt, and the second is that it matched his persona.

Kai continued walking through the empty streets. It was too early for most people to be up and about their day, but Kai occasionally passed by someone who was getting ready for the day. They barely noticed him. Kai had realized that people didn't want anything to do with the "dirt". If he was lucky, Kai got by with a glance of disgust, usually paired with curses. If he was unlucky, he got into a fight. That usually only happened if the stranger is frustrated or drunk, usually the latter. Kai had learned that if he dodged enough and ran away, most people would lose interest and leave him alone.

Kai continued on his way for a while, kicking pebbles across the paved road as he shivered in the cool early morning. He lived in a relatively large city, but it was no where near the size of the bustling metropolises that were in the country, Thissia. Kai felt no pride for his country that had only treated him with disgust and brutality. He had been on the streets for six years now, and not once has he ever met someone who lifted a finger to help him. He didn't need help anymore. The city was humid and cold, and usually snowed during the winter. It was dangerous for people without a proper fire, but Kai had never found it unbearable, even without any extraneous heating. Yes, it was painful. But survivable. And that was usually the most he could hope for.