A/N So, this is the reposted version, couse the first one apparently looked like chunk, I do hope this one is better:) thanks for the advice by the way;) So, enjoy!

Oh, and of course - I do not own any of the characters, they unfortunately are a property of Nitro+Chiral.

The beginning : Shiki I

He is the winner.

Others call him Shiki.

Yes, probably because it suits his very self being, if you know what I mean, of course. In a way, though. 'Couse actually nobody knows him. None has found out who he is his true self.

In this self-made game called Igura, which has been invented just for the pure reason, that in this world, where all what humans have been creating - homes, where there should exist peace, concord and understanding - has been destroyed, the only possible way to survive is to attack. Otherwise you'll be vanished from the face of the Earth.

Well, this is the thing he masters better than anyone else apparently. In a way it seems like million miles away, but at the same time it happened just yesterday. He had slashed so many and so fast, that there would appear no one to confront this warrior. That was the moment when the battle for him had ended. So, Shiki left.

What's the point to stay in a place, where you have reached the maximum goal? Of course, this is a rhetorical question, but at the same time, seriously, is there any reason at all, once you've achieved all you possibly could?

It seems like an eternity since he's been out there wandering. Countryside roads changed to highways and forests got replaced by vandalized tower-blocks. Wolfs he met on his way eventually turned into two-legged beasts, but the only thing never changing is his memories about Tokyo once upon a time.

For the reasons unknown, in those memories he's always a little boy. No, it's not like he's watching upon himself like it would be in a movie. It's him. It's his, own gaze, which slides above the surroundings. Those are his spinning thoughts, which are grasping almost every tiny detail from all around turning the overview into a perfectly clear picture inside his mind.

Shiki still is that little boy with hair as black as feather from a ravens' wing. It seems like time has no power over him as well as lifes' changing fingertips can't reach this being of his.

Half-human - that's how they used to call him back in the orphanage, where Shiki grew up. Since those early days he felt himself being different, not quite like everyone else, not like every other little scum, how he silently referred to children around him even being a brat himself. But he kept those thoughts to himself without making a sound.

Already back then he recognized himself as being superior. Shiki almost knew that his appearance in this world holds a bigger meaning, so, he did not need anyone else. And very quickly he realized that to say the truth it's an immeasurable advantage, to be alone. It means to be free, untangled and what's more important invincible. It's obvious that everyone needs somebody else to rely on, to confess to or simply to be with like it is with friends, allies or lovers. Anyone, but him.

There was no need for friends, authorities or simply someone to be close to. He was strong in his lonesomeness. There were no flaws.

Life was as bitter as that cheep beer he used to by on the occasions, when managed to sneak out of orphanages' territory. There was no beauty in this life whatsoever. Children those days learned quickly how to underestimate themselves.

This unintentional method - to repeat and remind this to the little ones worked perfectly. Surprisingly this insistent disparagement which bordered almost on bullying made a whole lot of selfless little soldiers, who would try to accomplish even impossible tasks if required. The only one who did not submit to this systematic drilling was Shiki.

And as more so called teachers tried to suppress the boy and entangle him in this little society as stronger grew his resistance. Already then he saw right through the system and its' creators, a half of whom held onto mentioned manner of discipline because it evidently gave the best outcome and the other half because simply knew no better than that. First ones Shiki avoided and when came into contact tried to stay in the shadows, though the last ones on the contrary he considered obtuse and dense, so openly displayed his ignorance or scorn. Even his fellows young strategian had divided into two sorts - brainless idiots, of whom to take an advantage if possible or sweep out of the way by force once they got in the way and those, who were either stronger or relevant opposers, but just for the time being.

By the time Shiki became 14 years of age there was no match for him anymore nevertheless anyone capable to overpower the teenager. Those who fell in the same age category as him unmistakably feared him and did not even come close and tutors treated him as one of their own kind, namely like an adult, because in some unexplainable way boy had this responsibility so characteristic to grownups, that he never even challenged anyone without a reason anymore. Probably it was because he understood himself, what would be the outcome of another fight. Already too many times before he had showed others their place in his scale of values like when they were lying in the muddy puddles of the orphanages' courtyard. Shiki had fought to gain his rank among others and there was no need for a struggle any further.

For a brief moment it calmed him down and made a bit more patient towards fools around him. And that was the very moment, when a newbie arrived at the institution. Well, on a one hand that wasn't anything special, 'cause such unluckies, whose families and relatives had been killed by some street gang braking into their houses arrived and departed from the place all the time with relentless regularity, but on the other hand this time something was different. Well, at least for Shiki.

In the beginning young boy seemed just like everyone else who showed up - subdued, quiet and always seemingly miles away. Though everything changed, when first self-defense class arrived.

For the reasons understandable enough Shiki was tutoring the lessons. Teachers acknowledged very well that youngsters who had to leave the orphanage by the age of 16, without any skills of fighting wouldn't last till the next morning once thrown into the world of cruelty and never ending street fights, which was the most recognizable thing about this city. And who else would possibly know more about self-defense than Shiki, considering that even way much older boys avoided him ever since anyone could remember.

On that cloudy afternoon the boy who seemed so frail wounded another sixteenyearold so badly that the poor bastard was most likely limping till this very day. Later when Shiki was being asked about the circumstances of the incident, he simply replied: „ He made a mistake by choosing the victim." Everything had been said by that and no one ever asked any other questions regarding the event. The guy left the place as soon as he could, so nobody found out what exactly happened between two of them and why. Anyway . . .

It had come to this - Shiki was 15 years of age and a sensei, feared by everyone out of his unpredictability, subtleness and more often because of his cruelty. As he emphasized, it's better to be ready for the worst than to be treated gently now and suffer the defeat. It wasn't because he would care about any of the orphans or their lifes prolonged or abruped, but because of such a trivial reason as living up to your NAME.

Shiki had decided to earn a reputation in the city way before showing himself openly. Disallowed or more precise no officially he already had made uncountable trips outside the walls during the years of this life in the orphanage and not only once he managed to kill or mutilate someone outside there and return as unanimous winner. And exactly thanks to those visits he had made an impressive collection of armors, one of which he was holding above the unlucky ones head ready to strike the lethal blow.

Everyone else standing there frozen with a sheer horror watching the scene unwrapping itself right in front of their eyes. And then all of a sudden somebody broke the array and by wrenching that steel baseball bat out of Shikis hands threw it all the way over the field.

In an instant Shiki spun around and by grabbing the hero of a kind by the throat smashed him against the wet ground of orphanages front yard where the lessons took place. All the line of pupils gasped. Shikis' piercing gaze met eyes filled with sorrow. He tensed his fingers making them squeeze tighter around the other boys neck, but opposite the expected nothing changed about the look in the eyes. There wasn't usual panic and despair. They still seemed to be staring into some far away unseen abyss above Shikis head. And for a brief second he fell into complete confusion what resulted with a hard kick in his stomach, though the boy didn't manage to throw Shiki off. Instead the stronger one tried to push his fist into the face of the one under him, but as he did the attacked one already had managed to shake of his hold and the fist landed on the ground just inches away from other boys' left eye. He slapped Shikis hand away so that it wouldn't be holding his throat anymore and by pushing abuser to one side he rolled over to the other side.

In an unison they jumped to their feet facing each other. The viewing public held their breath, while Shiki viewed his opponent from head to toe with indescribable gaze. There was interest mixed with anger, as well as sense of fascination but coldness at the same time.

- What's your name? - Shiki broke the silence.

- Akira, - came a reply verbalized by a voice peaceful and calm.

Shiki smiled. Genuinely. That wasn't his usual smirk, which evoke more horror then uncovered hatred even madness that flashed in his eyes from time to time. And while everyone dumbfounded by this unexpected behavior stared at each other Shiki with a ghost of the smile still trembling on his lips turned towards surprised orphans and said:

- So, you see, my dear useless nerds the attack is the best defense. Surprising the enemy is already a part of victory. And if there were more like Akira amongst you, maybe one day one of you might even wound me or at least get closer than few feet.

After that due to the overall astonishment Shiki came up to Akira and while standing as close as possible whispered into his ear:

- For the sake of law of nature in this very moment I should brake each and every bone into your body, but I'm not gonna do that yet, 'cause you seem to make more sense than any other of those scumbags. I'll let you live, if you will be able to surprise me at least once more.

By that Shiki winked at the amazed boy, turned around on his heel and walked towards canteen.

And that was the beginning of strange and hard but unmistakable relationship between them two. The only one Shiki knows and which to be honest he misses, which is the reason behind his return to Toshima. He does not know how much time has passed or is Akira even still alive, because he has never been the best when it comes to fighting. Like how many times Shiki had had to save his neck from almost absolutely unavoidable death. But then again he's never been counting. Akira wielded of this unbelievable talent to get himself into troubles cause of his, as the guy called it himself, obligation to stand by the innocent. According to Shiki there were no innocents. There are only winners and losers. The first are to live and the second ones are to die. Simple as that. But exactly because of this right now, when Shiki is looking over the former Tokyo city from a distance he is thinking about Akira.

For this guy nothing is simple. Everything has a meaning, grounds and consequences. He is something else, something different. And that what is special and extraordinary is what pulls Shiki.

Akira . . .

He whispers.