The weather was damp and even the softest of breezes could chill one to the bone.

But even though time itself seemed to slow a bit, her journey on that bus was her ticket to a fresh start.

'Seek out a man named Pia, chika. He'll set you up real nice. Get you a job and a home and your freedom. And stay off those drugs, you got it, mami? You look a hot mess...'

Diamond's words still rang loudly in her ears under the blasting Dir En Grey that shot from her headphones. Her fingers idly traced the cover of her leatherbound notebook...it was a parting gift from the man she loved to hate. On the cover was the Yakuza dragon, embroidered with a brilliant gold and blood red thread.

'Damn Yaks,' she muttered quietly. Under the hood of her jacket, her face was cut up and bruised, a warning to any other who decided to run.

'Fuck the Syndicate, fuck the Yakuza, and most of all, fuck you, Jun Takimoto.'

Plucking a picture from inside her notebook, she takes a lighter too it while a sinister smile flashed across her pallid, clammy features.

Kazu was born as Kazuko Hitomi Ushida to a wealthy family, a daughter of the feared Yakuza. She grew up under a strict rule in Tokyo, her father being an accomplished businessman and her mother, a traditional modern day geisha. Both parents were adored by the masses, blessed with both charm and good looks, so it was only normal for little Kazu to carry such traits. Stunning silver hues and raven black hair accented her pale flesh, giving her the appearance of a doll rather than a human being. For as long as she could remember, she was thrown into the ways of culture, tradition, and most importantly, honor. Her father even went as far as to arrange her marriage to the son of a once competing company, as a way of building a bridge between Mister Takimoto and himself.

But Kazu didn't want that. She didn't want any of it. Not the straight A's, not the kimono, or the tea, or the hours of study. She wanted to be -free-.

Years passed, and by the time Kazu was 16, she was ready to graduate and head off into the world. By that time, her father had grown terribly ill (poisoned by Mister Takimoto himself, though he was never charged) and Kazu had to go find work instead of relying on her father's dirty money. She moved herself to the Harajuku district, well-known for it's fashion and music. It was there she fell in love with the world and what it had to offer. Elegant beauty was transformed into a die-hard street punk, with piercings and tattoos to boot. She made her living by working at a small coffee shop while trying to contain her addiction to the mass quantity of drugs that the streets had to offer.

Another year passed, and Kazu got word that her father had gone onto the next world. In her sudden grief (and fear of having nothing to fall back on), she went to Jun, who was just now learning to head his father's faction within the Yakuza.

'It'll be alright, little Kazu-chan. I love you...I'll take you to America with me and we can start over.'

Funny what one would believe when stoned out of their mind.

Her time in America was a blur. There was beatings, gunfire, drugs, sex, more beatings, fights, murders...everything that her friends had warned her about. Jun was cruel and uncaring, getting her hooked on every drug he could just so he could control her.

The months passed, and the beatings continued. It got bad enough that Jun actually had to take her to a doctor, claiming he found her on the streets.

That's where she met her: a lovely, kindhearted Puerto Rican by the name of Diamond.

'Oooh, mami, you look like you got roughed up good. Don't you worry, this doctor's real nice. She'll take good care of you. Who did this to you, nina?'

Kazu sat in silence, the fear obvious in those oddly colored hues.

'A man, huh? He say he love you? He say he gonna give you the world? He's nothing but a puta. I've been there, nina, believe me.'

Again, Kazu would remain silent, balling up in the chair of the waiting room.

Diamond dug in her pocket, pulling out a small business card. It was worn and well-used, but it held the name of Piaget Hax and the logo of a place called the Daily Grind.

'Pia's a good friend of mine, nina. He took care of me when no one else would. Got me a job and a place to stay. There's a city not far from here...Hathian. Have you heard of it? After your doctor's visit, we'll get you on a bus, ok? Nina, you're going to be fine...I promise."

Kazu couldn't hold back anymore. The tears flowed down her battered and bruised features while she balled up more in her chair. She was getting her freedom from a complete stranger.