Shortly after the steamboat launched from the docks, Haruki was shown to his living quarters. No cabin for him this voyage, he was taken down below with all the Japanese citizens abandoning home for the dream of a better life. It wouldn't be long down there before Haruki looked just as downtrodden and sad as the rest of the people. Being cramped into a small space with a bunch of other people has its effect on you. After a week, Haruki spent much of his awake time at the stern of the ship looking back, wondering what was to become of his family. His father and mother back in Japan, his younger sister. Would he ever see them again? How would life be in the family mansion without him? What would his friends think of his sudden disappearance? He didn't even get to say goodbye to anyone. After a month sailing with nothing to do but look at the water and downtrodden passengers, Haruki finally heard the sounds of civilization. The boat, it would seem, was finally reaching its destination. Haruki didn't really have to ask where the boat was going, once he was lead down below he knew already. Where else would all these people be fleeing to but America?

Disembarking from the boat Haruki found the nearest bar and sat down for a drink. He hadn't had a drink in a month and he was dying to drown his sorrows in alcohol, he didn't even care what the bartender brought. Cheap beer, an expensive wine, he just downed it all. Naturally, with this attitude, it didn't take Haruki but a few weeks to piss away the wad of cash his father had left him to find a new future. Within a month of arriving on American soil, Haruki was a bum living on the streets. No food, no money, and no hope. The day his father put him on that boat his spirit was completely broken. The love of his life was across the world from him, all of his late night adventures had been with the beautiful Yuki. They got into so much mischief but it was all in good fun. And now she was gone from his life, never to be seen or heard from again. The worst thing was she didn't even know why he was missing from her life.

Finally, Haruki was broke; no money, no food, and no hope. He had lost all self-worth. He broke down and started eating food out of dumpsters. Begging for change on street corners. If his father where to walk by he probably wouldn't even recognize his own son anymore. The crumpled slouched person just waiting to die on a street corner. The suit that once looked so nice was ripped, and muddy. Slipping further into his new life Haruki lost all sense of honor and respect, and he began fighting a lot. He was just looking for a way out of this nightmare that was his current existence. Eventually, his fighting went too far; one night a few too many punches and kicks and the body he was beating on was no longer twitching. Haruki had killed his first human, there was no returning to the naive Richie rich kid now.

Hyacinth was tired, she'd had an early morning following up a few jobs around the city. Her hair was frizzy and her cheeks rosy from the sharp wind, thankfully she had managed to stop back at Headquarters. Running into her office she looked through the armoire she kept in the corner, having a few spare changes of clothes had always come in handy. Pulling out a blue floral dress she quickly slipped into it and a pair of blue heels. Checking herself in the floor length mirror by the armoire, she scrutinised her appearance. 'I need a few new dresses,' she thought, making a mental note to go shopping the next day. Sighing she checked the clock and left the Bouquet Residence, grabbing her coat and hat on the way out.

Tonight Hyacinth was off to nowhere in particular, she had decided she wanted to visit a few of the local businesses she had an interest in and thought tonight would be a good chance. She had heard of a speakeasy at the back of a restaurant near the docks and directed her driver there. As they drove through the streets of Chicago Hyacinth made small talk, she was looking forward to relaxing with a nice drink in her hands, maybe by a warm fire. As they turned at the next junction Hyacinth suddenly screeched at her driver:

"STOP!"

The driver used to the abrupt orders, sensibly pulled the car over to the pavement slowly and looked around to see what had caught Hyacinths attention. With nothing to see he looked quizzically at his boss who was staring intently behind them. She was sure she had seen something, just a glimpse as the headlights had illuminated an alleyway as they turned. Jumping out of the car, silencing the protestations of her bodyguard, she walked back towards the alleyway and peered into it. What she saw should have sent a chill down her spine, but instead, she watched for a minute as a young man beat a lifeless body. He looked wild in his tattered suit, blood on his hands. Her ever-present bodyguard went to move towards the young man when she kicked him in the shin, a warning to stay put. 

"Have you finished?" her voice sounded loud in the silence of the night.

Haruki looked around, started at the sound of someone's voice. Being lost in his own mind with rage he hadn't even realized someone had entered the alleyway he was in. Haruki took a second to even register the voice was female, and even longer to notice where she was and what she was wearing. His mind a blur he turned away again having half a mind to just run, however as he came down from the adrenaline rush of his rage he realized he didn't have the energy anymore to make 10 steps let alone outrun this lady and the muscular figure behind her. Letting out an audible sigh Haruki simply slid down the wall near him and put his head in his hand. He figured all too soon the police would arrive to take him away to his new home.

After what seemed like an eternity in Haruki's head he looked up not sure why he wasn't in cuffs yet. The body that should have been before him was gone. The lady at the entrance to the alleyway was standing next to him, a handkerchief in her hand. He hadn't even noticed till now, but she was wearing a blue dress and matching heels. He looked up at her quizzically wondering where the body had gone, now not even sure there was a body. There must have been one though as he had blood splattered all over his clothes and hands. He took the Handkerchief from her and wiped his hands and face not sure what else to do.

Hyacinth watched as the young man slumped against the wall, putting her hands on her hips she surveyed the mess of the body in front of her. Walking towards it she gave it a shove with her foot, definitely lifeless. 'So much anger' she thought to herself as she looked back at the desolate man, his head in his hands like he'd given up. His torn clothes looked like they hung slightly looser on him than they should have, a man down on his luck. She wondered what started the fight, a scrap of food? The wrong words? Maybe just a look. Either way, it was over now and his fate was in her hands. Of course, he didn't know the police would be the last people she would call.

Turning back to her bodyguard she leaned in whispering instructions, for the size of him he moved quietly through the darkness. She watched as he slung the body over his shoulders and walked quickly back to the car where he threw it in the trunk. Her driver would make a short trip to one of the warehouses she owned by the docks, where her men would dispose of the body. It would probably take about 20 minutes for her driver to return, in the meantime, she walked over to the slumped figure, handing him a handkerchief.

"It looks like you've got yourself in a bit of a pickle," she watched him waiting to see if he would run, though she was sure he wouldn't.

Just then her bodyguard came back around the corner, nodding to him, he took up position at the alleyway entrance watching the streets. Hyacinth was ready to get out of the alley, it's odour accosting her nose with a hint of blood and sweat mixed in. But the man intrigued her, he fought with determination, though he would need to learn to control his anger. She asked herself how he ended up here, alone and broke, what circumstances brought him to Chicago with nowhere to go. Hyacinth shivered as a crisp breeze suddenly blew through the alley, rubbish danced around her feet as she pulled her coat close around her. Someone could be heard laughing at an unheard joke, as they passed near them, her bodyguard shifting himself to make sure they stayed hidden in the darkness.

"Do you usually leave bodies lying around?"

Haruki took the handkerchief from the woman standing over him. Looking up at her with dejected eyes he wiped the blood off his hands and face while listening to her words. Haruki wasn't entirely certain what was happening or what was going on in his surroundings being rather numb from the murder he had just committed. His first murder, he had really just killed a man. He heard the woman ask him a question, but he wasn't sure how to answer her. After a few moments, he looked back down at the bloody handkerchief and his raw bruised knuckles and mumbled out a "no." Looking back up at the woman with hurt in his eyes he asked, "What will become of me?"

Looking around Haruki notices the muscular man blocking the alleyway, he begins to wonder why the man is blocking the alleyway, and what the woman might really be after. Did she know who he was? Was his father's reach so far that he had people in the states watching him? Or was this maybe one of a henchman of father's enemies? Was he about to be hauled off and used as blackmail? As these questions formed in his mind he observed the woman's posture. She didn't look to him like someone who took orders, more like someone who gave them. This ruled out the henchman theory, although she could just be one of his enemies and doing her dirty work personally. After a moment Haruki looked away from the woman and gave a small shrug, whatever happened would happen. He didn't have the energy to fight it anymore.

Hyacinth's bodyguard tapped on her shoulder, her car had arrived. 'Must have picked up another one' Hyacinth thought to herself, she knew her driver wouldn't return with a half cleaned car. Looking back at the man she realised she could give him a future, but would he want what she had to offer? He could stay here on the streets, become a brawler and probably die young, or she could give him a job and a place to put his head. She wondered how long he had survived on the streets so far, what skills he had picked up, or would she have to teach him even the basics?

"What will become of me?"

His question was one she had heard before, many young arrivals to these shores landed in America looking for a future, but sometimes the reality was starker. Sometimes they made their fortune and other times they ended up like this young man's victim. He had survived so far, but for how much longer without a family? This was something she could help him with.

"No one can answer that, but your choices will help shape your future. Those choices start now."

She heard her bodyguard murmur something, though she couldn't quite make it out she could sense his disapproval. Pivoting on her heel she faced her bodyguard.

"He's a fighter Patrick, look at the boy. Can't be much smaller than when I met you!" 

Turning back she spoke to the young man, introducing herself "I'm Hyacinth and I may have a job for you; if you can handle it. Prove a hard worker and I can give you a bed and food, it's your choice."