Nothing By Chance

There is very little I remember from my childhood; glimpses of huge, ballrooms lit by crystal chandeliers high above me, a brush of warm fingers straightening my small tie, piles and piles of papers sprawled across a mahogany desk as an elderly man screamed in rage. My brother's warm hands covering my ears. Attempting to protect me.

The only warm memory I have is the sweet smell of mochi that i found comfort in, snuggled into my Obachan's side at night.

"Remember, mago...the Japanese have one rule, the utmost, absolute law, we abide by," i hummed, sleepily absorbing her words. "never question your family, your legacy. Your honour."

And so I hadn't.

The questions rose to my mind's surface, then evaporated at the heat of the memory, seared into the neurons.

Until she came.

Every forbidden argument, every unanswered question....suddenly voiced out loud.

A new memory to print over the old one.

A pair of burning, fiery, different coloured eyes.

Why was she here?

"It's all a game," her words I inhaled like the oxygen needed to live. "and i'm going to figure out the rules."

And more importantly....what is happening?