Ryudai did not have the luxury of being born into a Sanctuary City run by decent human beings trying to reestablish what was civil and peaceful society. Born in a Silent City, which is usually under the control of the Usarian Empire, made up of power-hungry "royalty" or bandits, is under the control of the yakuza clan his family is from. Ryudai yearns to be a worthy member of the clan meant to fight off the Bandits from the Exiled Lands, The Usarian Empire and most importantly, the Ladito family, a group of mafioso, their worst enemy. Though there has not been any fighting in ten years between these two rival crime syndicates. Though his dreams of proving his worth to his yakuza clan crumbles as Ryudai is punished for a murder he never committed. After being banished into the Exiled Lands that is guaranteed a slow and painful death, he's given an offer to join the Ladito Family. Though he finds family and allies in some of the mafioso he once called enemies. He even finds love, but as the mafioso, who still consider him an enemy, threaten to sever the bonds with the few mafioso he considers family, he'll become a monster to protect those bonds. Even if he hurts those he loves in the process.
Elliot's partner was his whole world, but after Allan's death, his ghost haunts Elliot's dreams. Everyone tells Elliot to move on, but he isn't sure he can.
*****
It's been a year since the love of Elliot's life, Allan, passed away. Everyone thinks he should have recovered after that much time, but Allan still haunts Elliot every night. He struggles to maintain relationships with his family, and despite a coworkers interest he can't summon up the courage to date. Elliot is living for the past, because to live for the present means he'll have to live with a hole in his heart. But the question Elliot has to face chases him through his monotonous days: is mourning Allan with everything he has truly living?
[[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]]