God, It Has Started The Wrong Way Round

Just Peachy

I don't own.

Tomoe wanted to strangle something. Or, more accurately, someone.

His bastard of a father just left him, a teenager, alone.

By himself.

No food.

No money.

All because of debts. Great. What the hell was he going to do? Committing first-degree murder would be the ideal option, but sadly, he didn't know where that man went. Tomoe groaned, dropping his head onto the table.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Was that the sound of knocking? Tomoe turned his head sullenly as voices came from the other side of the door.

"Kitsune-san? Open up, please!"

He gritted his teeth as the door slid open and he slowly pushed himself up. Two men stood by the door.

"You have an order of enforcement that requires you to vacate this apartment at all costs. Where is your father?"

Crap. Fan-freakin'-tastic. He got kicked out.

He grabbed everything of importance to him, - there wasn't much - got out of the place and sat desolately at an empty bus stop. What was it, midnight? A murderous air surrounded him as he began to seethe to himself.

"That damn old man! How dare he abandon his goddamn son! We're blood related, for god's sake! He's not normal! HE'S SICK, DAMMIT! HE LEFT ME BEHIND WITH A SKY-HIGH PILE OF DEBT! WHAT THE HELL, OLD MAN?!"

Tomoe's eye twitched, and he breathed raggedly, heavily. "What am I going to do? I'm homeless! I'm sixteen and I'm homeless! Argh!" He buried his hands into his silky white hair, pulling at the strands.

Suddenly, he heard the barking of a dog. He slowly raised his head, eyes droopy. A few metres away, there was a man halfway up a tree, and a dog underneath him. The man squealed and kicked his legs up as the dog jumped up, still barking.

"Someone help me! I'm being attacked!" The man wailed, scrabbling at the tree. Talk about exaggeration. Tomoe sighed and got up, making his way towards the dog. Maybe it was smart or something, because as soon as he neared, it whimpered pitifully and scrambled away.

The man sighed in relief as he dropped down from the tree, crouching down next to it. "Thank you very much. I'm sorry to bother you, I can't really handle dogs." He smiled sheepishly and scratched his head while Tomoe stared, impassive.

What a weird guy...

The man sighed again sadly as he continued. "It's been a while since I've been here. To think that I got cornered, by a dog, as soon as I returned...well, I guess I'm not welcomed anymore..." His tone held a hint of sadness. "Are you a local?"

Tomoe raised an eyebrow. "I guess you could say that." His answer was clipped and short. Nevertheless, the man grinned again and muttered,"So we're in the same boat, eh?"

He didn't get a reply.

The man turned curiously to Tomoe and very nearly bolted out of his skin at the expression on the teen's face. Tomoe was silently raging again, clenching and unclenching his fists to prevent himself from breaking something. His teeth were bared, and he was leaning forward. All in all, he looked positively demonic.

His unwanted companion stuttered. "Uh...are you alright?"

Tomoe closed his eyes, fighting for patience. As he opened them again, he sighed. "Yeah, just thinking about a bastard."

"Oh." The man nodded as if he understood. Suddenly, his expression changed to concern. "Actually, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night? I mean, surely your parents must be worried about you not going home?"

Tomoe couldn't find the energy to be angry anymore. He blew out a long breath and leaned back on the bench. "I can't. I just got kicked out of the apartment after my damn old man left."

"Oh. Actually, maybe..." The man hesitated a little. Tomoe lazily turned his head towards him, curiosity vaguely piqued.

"What?" He yawned.

"Ah, you can have my home. I can't leave it like it is forever." The man had already started scribbling down an address as Tomoe stared at him for a few moments. Then he reacted.

"WHAT?! Hold on, old man! I never said - !" Tomoe was cut off as the man shoved a piece of paper into his hands and smiled.

"Here, go to this address. I can tell, you're more suitable to be the master of the house. Tell the people there that Mikage told you to come. I'm sure you'll be welcomed!" He placed a hand to his mouth and then ruffled Tomoe's hair. "Atta boy!"

Tomoe choked on his spit as he tried to reply quickly, but it was too late. By the time he had gotten his bearings, the strange man had disappeared into the night. He stared at the messy map in his hand.

"What. The. Hell."