//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 Naughty Girl // Story: The Blind Avenger // by Nightmarity19 //------------------------------// A lone girl with snow white hair skipped around the sidewalk without a care in the world, tagging along her big brother Robbie who was wearing a flannel shirt with baggy pants and tennis shoes. His little sister giggled happily as today was a good day considering she was going to her very first Kyoto Parade she had to be excited. "Easy Songbird you need to stay close to me" Robbie said catching up to his little sister. "Sorry big brother" Songbird apologized. Robbie petted the little girl before placing her on top of his head as they arrived just in time for the opening acts in the parade. Songbird watched giggling from today's entertainment, just seeing how beautiful and breathtaking those floats were. She couldn't believe how many people took a specific part in this wonderful event. As the floats were coming and going Songbird noticed a tanker truck full of sulfuric acid driving erratically and heading down the street towards the parade floats. Robbie grabbed her hand, pulling Songbird away from the event. "Big brother I want to watch the parade" Songbird whined trying to release herself from Robbie's grip but no such luck. "Don't worry Songbird we'll watch the parade from a safe distance" Robbie promised his little sister as the driver was clearly under the influence of drugs. The tanker truck overturned spatting out dangerous toxins into everyone around it. Frantic townspeople were so desperate in trying any means of escape that some got trampled just to escape whatever that toxin was. Songbird opened her eyes where toxic fumes clouded her eyesight, making it painful for the young girl as Robbie ran to get her some water to wash those fumes out. Songbird screamed in pain some more, feeling her eyes fading faster even though she tried rubbing it. Robbie came out with a damp water cloth just in the nick of time and placed it on her eyes. "It hurts..." Songbird cried out while crying a little bit from being in so much unbearable pain. "I know but don't worry I'll take you straight to the hospital where they can have a look at you" Robbie said. Picking up his little sister he ran out of the market place zipping past people. He didn't care about anyone giving him an insult because getting Songbird to an ER was way more important right now. Finally, Robbie arrived at the hospital's Emergency Ward where a bunch of nurses hauled Songbird on a gurney, rushing her to a room with Robbie close behind until he stopped to let the medical personnel give her proper treatment. Please be ok Songbird Robbie thought pacing back and forth feverishly awaiting bad news from one of the doctors. A few minutes later a doctor came in to meet Robbie. "Are you miss Songbird's guardian?" "I'm her brother yes, now is she going to be okay?" Robbie asked getting straight to the point. "Well we were able to place water to get rid of the irritation, we weren't able to repair her sight" the doctor reported feeling sympathetic with Robbie. Robbie felt the emotions crashing on top of him at once. After their parents passed away he was the mother and father figure to Songbird. To see her like this made him feel like a failure as a brother. "You can come see her if you want" the doctor offered. With a heavy sigh, Robbie followed him to Songbird's room where she had a blindfold around her eyes. That sinking feeling Robbie was having earlier came back and most of the nurses could see it and one placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Big brother where are you?" Songbird sought out trying to find her brother. "I'm right here little sis" Robbie answered holding her hand. Songbird smiled, clutching her hand on his to signal that her big brother would always be with her. "It is going to affect her everyday life from now on?" Robbie questioned looking over at the nurses. They all nodded. Robbie slowly up Songbird and carried her back to their home which was a small house in the deep quiet suburbs. He unlocked the door then set Songbird down so she could get a better viewing of her surroundings now that those fumes caused her blindness. The burden was starting to set in for Robbie. After a few days spent in the hospital Songbird carefully got off the bed then felt her way towards Robbie's leg. "Big brother are we going home?" Songbird asked. "Yes we're going home" Robbie declared holding back tears. With wiped tears, Songbird along with her brother headed home. 2 Years later... A hit landed Robbie into a brick wall as a member of the infamous Yakuza grabbed him by the neck angrily and forcefully. "You have been avoiding us for quite some time now Robbie so I'll ask you again: Where is your little sister?" he forcefully asked. "She's......not here" Robbie said choking from the grip. The leader sent 2 of his boys inside the house to check if Robbie was telling the truth or not. One of them got knocked out by a single side kick to his head. Songbird grabbed the other one by his neck until you could hear a snapping sound before putting him down. "Kanojo wa doko?" (Where is she?) he asked lifting Robbie a little higher. "I don't know! Go fuck with someone else!" Robbie shouted trying to breathe. "Wrong choice of words" he set him down then sucker punched him in the gut. He fell to his hands and knees as the leader Satoshi kicked Robbie in the gut causing him to cough up blood on granite and a few pebbles. Satoshi landed his foot right on his windpipe, slowly starting to crush it. Robbie could feel his breathing coming at wits end even when he tried to push it upward but no dice. "I want that blind girl you have to become a Yakuza member" Satoshi demanded from Robbie. "You won't have her" Robbie declared. All of a sudden Satoshi pulled out a loaded handgun and fired 2 shots into his chest not close to his heart but just enough to watch him bleed out. "Burn in Hell Robbie" Satoshi said before walking away, leaving him to die. Songbird rushed out after hearing those gunshots to feel Robbie's body turning cold. Tears began to fall as Songbird tried everything to stop the bleeding but it failed each time. "Songbird...little sis...don't worry about me...I'll be ok....just be a...good...girl" Robbie said before succumbing to his injuries. Rain began to fall, setting the scene that Robbie was dead leaving his little sister to fend for herself. In a fit of anger and sadness, Songbird screamed to the heavens to get Robbie back and she didn't care about getting her kimono drenched from the rain, all she wanted was her brother back. Robbie....why did you have to go? Don't leave me here by myself! Come back to me! She shot up quickly, breathing heavily and sweating profusely as if she had a bad dream even though she did. Songbird then walked downstairs to the living room where a picture of Robbie stood on the coffee table. Sighing after what happened, Songbird sat down eating a rice cake then feeling around for the remote before turning on the TV. The news came on about Robbie's memorial last night that Songbird attended along with family members and friends of Robbie. A single tear fell down, giving her a reason to keep living even though her big brother is gone. I have to find those Yakuza men and make them pay for what they did Meanwhile in a secret underground bunker Satoshi was laughing among his other breathern and many of the female assassins who you could notice they had a little too much to drink. "Looks like Rayni and Honda can't hold their drinks" Yaroi another female assassin said in between laughter. Honda shot her a death glare, telling Yaroi to shut up or she'll never wake up again. "Now now girls no need to fight among one another for I want you to retrieve a special girl" Satoshi stroked Honda's chin. "What girl?" Yaroi asked taking a sip of sake. "Her name is Songbird, don't kill her just knock her out so she can be one of us" Satoshi explained. "Sounds pretty easy" Rayni interjected grabbing some tranquilizer darts and a gun. Satoshi smiled looking at his most trusted assassins to handle one girl. One thing was certain: Songbird is going to be hunted down like an animal. "Now go my deadliest ladies in the world" Satoshi commanded. They left in the blink of an eye making a whooshing sound of wind picked up by their sudden movement.