Kato held the grocery bag close to his chest as he started the treck home from the grocery store. A strange feeling of loss occupied his heart since early yesterday morning. He had suddenly started crying while in the process of washing the dishes before heading to school. He'd been trying to figure out why ever since.

He lived in a two-room, one bathroom apartment with his drunken adoptive father who adopted him from an orphanage five years back. He wished he could've stayed at the orphanage until he came of age but that didn't necessarily happen. Whenever Roger was angry, he beat him. That became normal. Personally, ever since three years ago, he tried to stay on his good side for fear of what happened then would happen again.

It was Saturday so he didn't have school, which was a curse more than it was a blessing. The school was probably the only place he could relax, even when in the company of bullies.

"Yo, Kris!" Someone called and he stiffened, turning slightly to look behind him. Speak of the devil and he shall appear, he thought to himself. It was bully one and two who have come to pick on him once again. "Thanks to you, another one of our livestock got away and we didn't get a dime off of him." The one in front, bully one as he had nicknamed him, was taller than him, like most people, and much stalkier. He was also bald and had a lip piercing. "So why don't you come with us for a moment, shortie?"

He flinched, puckering his lips. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help himself. "Don't call me that, baldie." He snapped, instantly regretting it when he shot him a pointed glare and grabbed his arm.

"Who do you think you're calling baldie, kid?" He tugged him into the nearest alley and slammed him against the wall, causing him to gasp and drop his grocery bag. "Maybe you need to be re-educated on your manners."

He pressed his lips together, his face turning pale with fear. He had caught the two of them preying on another person earlier and took the chance to distract the two while the victim got away. After that, he ran for his life. But it turns out they'd been waiting for him.

"Look at that! He's shaking!" Bully two said, smirking. He was also taller than him but shorter then bully one. He was pretty chubby and he had a buzzcut that didn't quite fit him properly.

"Yeah, well, that isn't going to save him." He pulled his elbow back before coming in and smashing it into his stomach, making him gasp again, wrapping his arms protectively around it as he blinked away tears and white dots people called stars. "Beg us for mercy, shortie, and we may hold off beating on your adorable face." If there was one thing he hated, it was being bullied on his appearance. Many people made fun of his looks because he had fair skin and dark blue eyes framed with straight black hair that hung to his shoulders. Freckles sprinkled his cheeks and nose and his body was small and petite, almost feminine. He looked girly, probably because he got it from his mother.

Biting back a response, he kept his mouth shut. He wanted so badly to make a remark back but he knew that it would only cause him more pain, which he didn't need.

"Well?" One of his hands came up and gripped his hair, banging his head back against the wall as the other punched him in his side, making him groan in pain. He felt something thick and wet behind his head and he knew he was bleeding. He could feel himself losing consciousness and he tried to keep his eyes open by blinking rapidly. If he didn't get back soon, Roger would be angry and he'd probably be beaten again.

"What's this?" Another voice, slow and smooth, made all three of them turn. Kato's eyes tried to focus on the figure that leaned against the wall. "Didn't expect to find you here, Kato Glen. Surprising."

When his vision cleared, he made out a man who looked to be in his early twenties smirking at him. He had short, dark brown hair with sparkling dark brown eyes that were almost black. He was tall and slender and had two silver earrings on his right ear and one on his left. He wore a leather jacket with what looked like a plain black t-shirt underneath along with jeans and black boots. He looked like a model on the front of a motorcycle magazine, with that dangerous look girls would fall head-over-heels for.

"Who in the hell are you?" Bully two asked, putting himself between bully one and Kato. "Here to save shortie, hot stuff?"

Kato glared at him, refusing once again to say something he'd regret in the long run. Instead, he focused on keeping his breathing steady and his mind clear, though it was difficult.

"Actually, I am." He pushed off the wall and walked forward, raising an eyebrow. "Are you going to stop me?"

Bully two opened and closed his mouth, staring at him before he smiled. "No, of course not. If you want, you can hang with us later?" That seemed to take bully one by surprise which in turn surprised Kato.

"No thank you. For now, I'd appreciate it if you let him go and walked away." The man said, stepping in between Kato and bully one, who took a step back and stared at him, nodding mutely.

When the two had run off, Kato slid down the wall, wincing in pain. He knew he was going to bruise. His eyes fluttered in and out of focus.

"You okay?" The man turned, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't think you'd be picked on..." He muttered to himself.

"Um... Y-yes, I'm fine." He licked his lips, tasting blood in his mouth. When the man tried reaching for him, he flinched back. He may be his hero, but he wouldn't let him touch him. Closing his eyes, he continued to focus on his breathing but he ended up being unable to reopen them and his body slowly became numb. "Thank you..." He mumbled.

"Huh? Hey, you awake?" His voice sounded far off, almost like the volume was turned down. "Shit. Hey! Wake-" His voice trailed off and he fell unconscious.