http://clampfix.fanworks.net/x-fix/highwinds.txt </head><body><pre>Originally written as a birthday fic for Keri. ^^ Warning: This fic contains drugs, some violence, and unholy acts. If you're offended by this type of thing, then please don't read. ~High Winds~ written by Hokuto-chan Seiichirou Aoki, aged 18 last month, took one final look over his shoulder before leaping off the bridge, and onto the top of the train below him. Times like this, he praised whatever god had given him his strange powers, and allowed him to be born into the windmaster clan, as he crouched down low on the hood of the train as it swept into the tunnel. He was running away from home. He didn't know why, really. His grandfather had said he'd be the greatest of the windmasters, and would even have a role in something that was going to occur and would affect the Earth. He liked responsibility, and so that didn't bother him, so why was he running away? 'Away from fate' an inner voice said. 'You're afraid of fate.' 'Shut up' he told it angrily, as the train passed out of the tunnel and continued across the fields. It was heading to Tokyo. ~ Seiichirou wandered around the streets, staring at the change in his hand. He was supposed to bring enough to rent a hotel until he found a job, which wouldn't have been too hard, considering what an education he had had. But, most of it had just been stolen from him. He hadn't expected to be pulled into an alley on the streets, shoved against the wall, and robbed of most of his money. He frowned slightly, and stuck the rest of what he owned in his pocket. He'd have to fun some money, and soon. Sighing, he ran a hand through his light brown hair and looked around, as if hoping he would find a magical sign that said "Work here" No, no magical sign. However, he was approached by two teenagers, who looked rather in place for the bad, trashy sect of the city Seiichirou was currently standing in. "Hey," the girl said, with dyed blue hair and several piercings. She had blue eyes, too, which looked at Seiichirou, examining his neat clothes and clean shoes. "We saw what happened back there, in the alley. That was a new gang around here." "Damm kids keep taking the money of a lot of people. We're trying to run them out." Her companion, a tall boy with long black hair, a bandana tied around his forehead. "Sorry man." Seiichirou shook his head, feeling awkward around the teens. "That's alright..." The girl dug into her pocket for something. "My name is Yuka, and this my friend, Yamazaki. Ya wanna help us get rid of those guys?" Yamazaki continued. "You look like you could put up a good fight. And it would be to your best interests." Seiichirou shook his head and tried to decline as politely as he could. "No, that's alright..." Truth was, it would be kinda nice to get back at them... Yuka smirked, "I know you're lying. Come on, join us!" She and Yamazaki both grabbed onto Seiichirou's arms, grinning in a way that made him sweat. "We would make it worth your while." "How so?" Seiichirou asked, curiously. "Well, you can stay with us in our gang's apartment. And we can help you get a job. That's what you want, right? In return for that, you have to help us get rid of that rival gang." "Well, okay..." Yuka took something out of her pocket. "And, we'll give you this." She held out out her hand, and in it were small rolls of something. "All you want, for free." Seiichirou shook his head, "Oh, no. That's alright. I don't do drugs..." Yamazaki gave out a harsh laugh. "Well, then. Good you ran into us, right?" He and Yuka began to pull the windmaster to another alley, where Seiichirou could see other people waiting. When they got in the alley, Yuka and Yamazaki nodded to their friends and Yuka lit one of the rolls. She handed it to Seiichirou. "Here. Just try it, or are you too afraid?" She smirked again, her blue eyes dancing. Seiichirou paused and looked at the drug in his hand. Wasn't that why he had run away in the first place? Because he was afraid of something...and look where it had gotten him. Swallowing slightly, he lifted the drug to his mouth and inhaled slightly. He didn't feel any effect, and so in curiousty, took another another hit. That was the start of everything, he would realize years later. ~ "Seiichirou! Get your butt over here!" Yamazaki yelled from another alley. Seiichirou looked up and flicked the small remainder of his cocaine onto the ground. "I'm comin, I'm comin" he grumbled, and ran up the street to meet his fellow gang members. It had been three months since he had started to stay with his new friends, and he had enjoyed every minute of it, usually high. Yuka giggled at him as he approached, also doped up. "Took ya long enough." she frowned slightly. "We've been waiting for you." "Do you have what I asked for?" he said, gazing at her with hazy eyes. "Yeh, yeh. I got it." she dug into her pocket and handed him a bag. "I didn't go to the good stuff this early on, you be careful." "Yeah, whatever. But the other stuff is too weak." he stuffed the bag in the pocket of his torn, dirty jeans. "So, where're we going?" "Well, we finally decided to get the other gang. You comin, right?" Seiichirou nodded vehemently, which made the world spin. He leaned against the wall for support. "Yep. I got to settle some stuff, you know." The three teens nodded, and Yamazaki continued. "The boss wantsa meet us at 5." He looked at his watch. "We got two hours. What do you want to do until then?" Seiichirou shrugged, and looked at the dirty street around them. "I don't know, got any ideas?" Yuka was thinking. "I gotta get to work, but I'll see you soon." "You work?" Seiichirou asked, curious. Truth was, he was supposed to work, too. After he had gotten into the gang and hooked on drugs, working seemed too boring and seemed to hold way to much responsiblitly then he wanted. " Of course I work," Yuka said, digging into her sack for something. "How do you think I can pay for all the drugs, man? It would be easier if you worked, too." She sneered at the windmaster, and he gave her a look back. "What do you work as?" She laughed, "Public service, I guess you could say." She took a roll of clothes out of her sack. "Watch the alley while I change." Seiichirou and Yamazaki did just that, watching the street and trying not to look over their shoulders, and in a few minutes, Yuka walked back out. Seiichirou turned to talk to her, and his drugged up eyes nearly bugged out. The girl smirked and laughed and pressed herself against him, dressed in very little clothing. "Y-yuka..." a hint of the old Seiichirou shined through the haze, causing his face to flush in embarrasment. Yuka rolled her eyes and handed her sack to Yamazaki, who was standing there with an amused look on his face. "You're no fun, Seiichirou." She swept her blue hair out of her face and began to run off down the street, waving back to her two gangmembers. "I'll see you two later! At five!" She nearly tripped in her high heels, then turned her attention to the street in front of her. "She's a prostitute?" Seiichirou asked Yamazaki, disbelief on his face. He had nothing really against the girls who worked on the streets, and had even made "friends" with a few of them, but he had never imagined Yuka would be one. "Good money," Yamazaki said, shrugging. "I do the same thing sometimes." "You? But you're a..." Yamazaki burst out laughing, a bit harsh and he punched Seiichirou lightly in the arm. "Yeah, some guys like that sorta thing. And I get girl custumers, too." Seiichirou rubbed his arm, feeling the affects of the coke fade away. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the bag Yuka had given him earlier. Yamazaki grabbed his hand. "No, don't take that. Not if you want to fight in two hours." the gangster's eyes were unusually serious. "We loose a lot of people who go in fights while doped up. Don't wanna loose you too." "Right..." When Yamazaki's back was turned, going into the dirty apartment the gang shared, Seiichirou snorted some anyway. ~ Later, with the sunset casting orange glares over the trashy streets, two gangs stood on either side, calm but deadly serious. Seiichirou flinched and supported himself with one hand. 'I should have followed Yamazaki's advice...' he thought to himself. 'I'm too doped up to harnish my powers... if they escape..." He let out a cry of surprise as Yamazaki grabbed his collar and shoved him against the wall. "You took it, didn't you?" The older teen's gray eyes narrowed angrily. "I told you not to, but you still did!" He yelled and pushed Seiichirou so hard, he nearly blacked out. "Whoa, Yama!" Another gangmember, Toshiya, grabbed Yamazaki's arm and pulled him back. "Don't worry about it. We'll just keep him outta the fight. We outnumber them anyway." he nodded to the other gang. Yamazaki still looked miffed, but nodded just the same. He shoved Aoki to the side, not bothering to look at the teen as he fell into some trash bags. Seiichirou concentrated on not passing out. When he felt steady enough, he turned his attention to the other gang. "Well, well, well..." a sturdy young man, probably the gangleader for the other gang, said, grinning amusedly with black eyes. "Planning on running us outta town? Are we competetion?" his grin became deadly. "Are we stealing your women?" He gestured to the side, and Seiichirou's gang cried out in anger and fear as a small figure was dragged to the man at the front. She was being pulled by her blue hair, which had been chopped harshly shut, and Seiichirou could see cuts all over her small body, even with the distance and the haze on his vision caused by dope. It was Yuka, still putting up a spectacular fight, kicking and screaming and punching. It was taking three well sized guys to carry her to the gang leader, and they weren't without well sized bruises. They deposited the girl uncermoniously at their leader's feet, and stepped back, watching him. The leader grabbed Yuka by her throat and held her up. "You're one of them, aren't you? I know you are, I've seen you all the time with them." He glanced back at Seiichirou's gang, who looked ready to jump him at any second. Behind their back, Seiichirou could see weapons drawn, knives and broken bottles, and even a gun. Yuka's captor continued. "I'll give you a deal... if you surrender and back off the streets, I'll spare her little pathetic life." he reached into his pocket and pulled out a sharp knife, which he held against Yuka's white throat. "Don't do it!" Yuka screamed at her gangmembers, defiant to the end. Everyone hesitated, for one moment everything stayed frozen. Seiichirou looked in horror at Yuka, as did everyone else on his gang, as they saw the rival leader draw the knife across her throat. Before her eyes went blank, Seiichirou saw a small tear run from her blue, wild eyes. And then blood spurted from the wound across her neck, and she collapsed. All Hell broke loose, as Seiichirou in his drugged state released the full fury of the wind. It raced down the broken street, tearing bricks from walls, scattering paper across the walks. The gang members turned and looked horrified as the wind desended on them. Seiichirou was thrown back by the wind, into a crevice created by two buildings. He clamped his hands over his ears, trying to shut out the roaring of the wind and the screaming of people being torn apart. For a long, long time everything was silent and Seiichirou dared to open his eyes and uncover his ears. Head spinning, he picked his way out of the alley, careful not to get too much blood on his shoes. A few streets down, he collapsed against the wall of the dirty apartment he had shared with Yuka and Yamazaki. In the distance, he could the sounds of screaming and of police sirens. It seemed someone had found the carnage. Pulling himself into a ball, Seiichirou drowned all of the noises out with drugs. The next morning, he got groggily to his feet, swaying slightly. The last evening was much of a blur, all he remember was seeing Yuka's throat being slashed. He flinched at the sight and stumbled into the bathroom and began to vomit, trying to purge himself of the memory. He leaned heavily against the shower stall and wiped his mouth with his hand. The bathroom smelled strongly of vomit and urine and other things best not thought about, and Seiichirou closed his eyes, trying to pretend that last night hadn't happened. He had LIKED Yuka. She was firey and bold and had a certain quality to her that drew men like flies to light. He had liked her enough to even give up his viriginity to her, one night when they had gotten drunk. He didn't regret it in the morning, and neither had she. Even if she did sell her body for drug money, he still thought she was innocent in some way, that she was just trapped in her situation, unable to get out. Just like he was. Getting to his feet, Seiichirou half-ran, half-stumbled out the door, wanting to leave the memories behind, of laughing faces, of drugged parties, and carefree sex. He couldn't leave it behind. ~ Seiichirou sighed and stuffed the bag into his pocket. He was running low on drugs, and he didn't want to leave the habit behind him. Running a hand through his hair(which he noted was getting rather long), he tried to think of somewhere to work. He couldn't think of a place that would hire a drug addict, especially one that was as dirty looking as he was. With a low growl, he kicked the bricks of the building he was leaning against, and closed his eyes in concentration. Maybe he should give up and go home. Admit he was wrong, and give in to his grandfather and father, let them give him drug treatment. He shuddered at the thought. He didn't like admitting he was wrong, and doing that, Daisuke could see him. And Dai looked up at him, he wasn't going to let the impressionable young boy see him as a druggie. He sighed again, wondering what he was supposed to do. He was rudely pulled away from his thoughts when he heard a gruff voice say beside him. "Are you for sale?" Seiichirou opened his eyes and looked at the man who had appeared. Blinking, he remember what Yamazaki had told him. Maybe that was a way, however degrading, to get money. "No, but I'm for rent." he said, slightly nervously. The man laughed. "You've got a sense of humor. Come on." He began to walk to his car, parked a little down the street. Seiichirou hesitated for a moment, but followed him. No turning back now. ~ Later that night, he sat on a dumpster in an alley, counting up what he made that night. He felt sore all over, but that didn't matter. What mattered was that he had made quite a bit of money. Now, it looked like he would be able to get more drugs, and maybe even some new clothes. His dirty, torn rags didn't make him look any more attractive, he thought. They would have to go, for clothes that would make him look even more prettier. Stuffing the bills in his pocket, he headed out of the alley to find a drug dealer. Luckily, he found one. One who had known Yuka, and had heard about her dying in the gang fight. The dealer had been a friend of hers, and let Seiichirou get extra drugs, as a sort of "memory" to the girl. He sold himself again that night. And the night after that. The next few months passed in a blur, of "customers" and drug dealers, of being in the back of cars, or in cheap hotels, being sore afterwards, but happily counting his money. He fell into the rhythm of drug addict life, into the rhythm of selling himself out willingly, that he forgot about his grandfather and his Clan, even about his little nephew Daisuke Saiki, who he had adored just months earlier. One day, Seiichirou was walking down the street and stopped in front of a shop mirror. He blinked, and wondered who the scraggly, dirty teenager in the reflection was. He looked around, but he was the only one on the street. Looking back the reflection, he studied it. The teen was rather tall, with long messy light brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, and need a shave, badly. His ragged clothes showed a body that was skinny from the constant use of drugs and had scars from needles up the arms. There was dirt all over him, and other things best not mentioned. Seiichirou blinked again, and raised a hand to his cheek to feel the scratchiness of it. The boy in the window did the same, eyes widening. That's when it hit him. The boy in the window, the boy with messy hair, and dirty clothes, the boy with scars on him from drugs, and scratches from fights, was him. That was what he looked like now, after nearly a year on drugs. It scared him. Before he had run away, he'd been clean and well built. But now he was dirty and looked like he hadn't eaten in weeks. His eyes widened even more, and the shop's window was blown in by a strong gust of wind. As glass shards lay on the pavement, they reflected the image of a teenaged boy running down the street. He was running away from home again, Seiichirou realized, as he payed for a train ticket back to the town the Clan lived in. But this time, he wouldn't regret it at all. "I should have done this weeks ago..." he muttered to himself, suppressing a shudder as the image of the boy in the window surfaced in his mind. As he walked to the station, he noticed a little red- headed girl sitting next to the wall of the station, clutching a teddy bear to her. She was holding a small bag that held a few clothes in it, and it looked like she had bruises on her cheeks. Out of concern, Seiichirou walked to her. "Hello... what are you doing here?" he asked politely, and wasn't surprised when the girl looked at him in fright as she noticed his clothes and hair. "I'm waiting for my new mama.." she said, and curled up closer to the wall. Reaching into his pocket, Seiichirou pulled out the remainder of his money. Even though it had been earned with indecent and horrible acts, he could put it to good use now, right? "Here." he said, handing it to her, watching in amusement as her golden eyes widened. He thrust the money at her, and waved goodbye as he began walking down the street to the station. "But wait, sir!" the little girl cried, and began to gather the money up to hand it back to him. "Keep it. I don't need it anymore." He smiled at her, and the little girl leaned back against the wall. She smiled back and waved, putting the money into her bag. As he boarded the train, he kept the smile plastered on his face. Second thing that day he didn't regret. ~ Half-way through the trip, he began to experience withdrawal. Horrible withdrawal. Flinching, he gritted his teeth and tried not to think about the drugs he had thrown away prior to purchasing his ticket. He shivered and pulled his dirty coat around his shoulders. 'Only a few more hours' he muttered to himself. 'Then, it will be okay.' It was after dark when he slowly approached the house his grandfather lived in. He could hear talking and other noises coming from the yard, and was a bit hesitant to approach. What if Daisuke were there and saw him in that state? His little nephew was only four, and was much too impressionable for him to see Seiichirou in this state. The windmaster bit his lip nervously. Another fit of shivers overtook him, and he flinched again, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. He would have to. With any luck, Daisuke would already been in bed. Inside the house, Akiko Saiki looked up from her book when she heard the door opening. Blinking, she looked at the boy who stood in the doorway, ragged clothes falling off his body. Then, recognition set in and she leapt up and grabbed her baby brother, surprising him as she hugged him tightly. "You're back!" She said loudly, and that sentence caused her father and grandfather to come in from the garden. The two men looked at the boy, their eyes obviously not amused in the least. Akiko looked at them, and winced, then whispered into Seiichirou's ear, "You're on your own for this." She backed off quickly. Fujitaka Aoki narrowed his eyes at his only son, who gulped and looked back at him. They were nearly level in height, and looked almost identical. "Where have you been all this time?" he asked, eyeing the boy's attire. "I've been in Tokyo, Father..." Seiichirou answered truthfully. Fujitaka's gaze rested on the scars on his arm and he raised an eyebrow. He walked to his son and walloped him hard across the head. Seiichirou lost his balance and would have fallen back if his father hadn't grabbed him and held him tight. With as much maniless as he could, Fujitaka said. "Don't you ever do that again." Standing to the side, Kyuusaku Aoki had noticed his grandson's scars as well. He also noticed that the teen was shivering and that Seiichirou's aura was darkened with drugs and horrible deeds. Speaking up, he said softly, "Let's get you something to eat, and then we will discuss what to do about everything." Akiko nodded and she left the room to prepare somthing. Seiichirou looked at his grandfather and father, and then looked around the living room. He was home again. And this time, he woudn't leave. Years later, he would look back at his time in Tokyo's slums, not regretting them but not hating them, either. He went to college at the insistance of his grandfather, and met a woman. They fell in love and married and after a few years of happy marriage, they had a baby girl, who he named Yuka the instant he saw her bright blue eyes. That was another way he could honor the girl's memory, and in better ways then drugs and sex. Sometimes at night when he worked alone in his office, he would wonder if the money he had given the little girl with the red hair had helped her. He hoped that it had, he would hate to see her end up on the streets as he had. The results were not pleasing, as he remembered drug rehabiliation and surgery to cover up the scars. He thought that it had. And years later, he would realize that maybe it was good that he had been a junkie and a slut. Because then he was able to help a little girl with red hair with the money. And maybe, he could save her life in the way his had needed being saved. End. ~ that was certainly interesting... what do you all think?</pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>