Ren stepped off the train at Rakuencho Station.
The station was dark in color, but neon lights from signs and businesses illuminated the area. For a train station, it was very quiet.
Ren looked around for Kaito, who was supposed to be meeting him at the station.
'Damn it, where is this fucker?'
Ren began to get annoyed after looking for Kaito for a good while.
"Hello, cuz!"
A large, tall, muscular person wrapped his arm around Ren's neck and pulled him close. It was Kaito.
"Where the hell were you, man? I've been looking for you for a while."
Ren said, annoyed but with a slight smirk on his face. Also, he wondered how the hell he got so close to him, going unnoticed, especially considering how big Kaito is, but he let it be. He was just happy to see his cousin after so long.
"I had some business to take care of. Don't worry about it. How have you been cuz."
Kaito had long, rough, red hair and deep red eyes to match Ren's and was more built than even Ren's father. He wore a black tank top, and his arms were covered in tattoos of many different designs.
But one stuck out to Ren, a tattoo on his neck that looked like a red eye. He thought about asking him about it, but decided it wasn't his business.
"Well, besides getting beaten by a fat pig powerless to do anything, it's been pretty good, I guess."
Kaito let out a booming laugh that echoed throughout the station.
"Are you done bitch?"
Ren Asked, amused.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore, little cuz, I gave your father my word. Also, if people knew that I was looking after you, no one would dare touch you."
Kaito smiled a wide and playful smile and gave Ren a big slap on the back.
"I may be weak, but I don't want you to worry yourself over me."
Ren avoided Kaito's deep red eyes that mirrored his own.
Kaito's expression softened, and he placed his large hand on Ren's shoulder.
"Ren, we are family, and no matter what, I've got your back."
For the first time in a while, Ren felt a sense of safety.
"Alright, cuz, you ready to see the place you'll be staying for the time being until you graduate?"
Kaito gestured for Ren to follow him, and Ren didn't argue. After a couple of minutes of struggling to keep up with Kaito's long stride, they finally made it to the exit of the station.
Outside looked like a large city with lots of neon lights, but also at the same time a slum.
Waiting for Ren and Kaito was a black sports car that looked like it could go extremely fast, and in the driver's seat was a boy who looked around 17 years of age.
He had short white hair and deep green eyes, and a familiar red eye tattoo on his neck. He also wore a black jacket that looked to be made from expensive materials. The jacket also had symbols that read DEMON on the sleeve that Ren could make out from the outside of the car.
"Ren, meet my good friend Shinya Iguchi. He is a senior in high school. He will be your protector at your new school for the time being."
Ren examined Shinya closely and concluded that he looked skinnier and lankier than him. Ren gave an obvious expression for what he was thinking in that moment.
"Don't worry, Ren Shinya is one of our most talented... well, he is very talented at fighting, isn't that right, Shinya?"
Shinya nodded in the car, not saying a word to either of them.
After getting in the car and driving through the neon slum for a bit, they finally made it to Kaito's place, which surprised Ren with how big it was.
When Shinya stepped out of the car, his black jacket shone a deep red on the back of it, revealing a giant red eye. The same red eye that both of them had tattoos of.
Ren couldn't hold in his curiosity any longer.
"What's with the red eye?"
Shinya ignored the question and opened the door for Ren. And then simultaneously, Ren stepped out of the car onto the giant lawn that was right off the driveway.
"Park her in the garage, then come on in Shinya"
Kaito said to Shinya, also seemingly ignoring Rens' question.
"Ren, follow me. Let's get you settled. There are also some things that we need to talk about."
Ren did what he was told and followed his inhumanly built cousin to the entrance of his oddly big house for a construction worker.
Kaito guided Ren to the expensive leather couch in the living room and instructed him to sit and place his bags on the floor next to it.
"I assume your father didn't tell you much about Rakuencho"
Kaito sat next to Ren, taking up nearly half the couch with his size. While popping open a beer bottle with only his thumb
Ren shook his head.
"All I was told was where to go, and I went."
Kaito smirked.
"That's your dad all right."
Kaito took what looked like a sip of beer but was half the bottle.
"You weren't sent here by your father just to keep you safe. He mostly sent you here to toughen you up."
Ren was confused but kept listening anyway.
"You see Rakuencho is a paradise, a place where crime and gangsters thrive. A place where nearly 100% of its residents are affiliated with a gang."
Kaito's smirk grew wide into a smile, and he quickly finished off the beer bottle, slamming it on the small wood table next to the expensive couch.
"Us residents like to call it Gangsters Paradise!"
Ren tried to contain his laugh, but it was too much.
"Gangsters Paradise sounds silly, like something out of a song."
Ren chuckled.
But Kaito's expression turned serious.
"Listen cuz although I love this place, you won't last long like that."
Kaito pointed at Ren, gesturing to all of him.
Ren felt a little bit offended, but he knew exactly what he meant.
"Ren, you're like me. You are also a part of the Suzuki bloodline, and you also have the demon eyes of Suzuki to prove it. So, don't worry; your warrior potential is far greater than most. You just need a little bit of training to unlock that potential and latent abilities."
Ren was instantly confused at this statement, and this time he didn't hold back questions.
"Suzuki Bloodline and Demon eyes of Suzuki, what the hell is that? And latent abilities!?"
"So, you don't know well. I'll let you figure it out on your own."
Before Ren could respond, the door opened, and Shinya entered the house.
"For now, you need to worry about joining a gang."
Kaito smiled proudly.
"Everyone who lives in Gangsters Paradise needs to be a part of a gang for safety and protection. And there is only one gang you're allowed to join. Though just because I'm the leader, don't think you can skip the requirement to join the Red Eyes."
Ren, hearing this, began to put the pieces together, and many things started to make sense, such as the red eye tattoos, the large house, and Shinya's jacket.
Ren had never been a fighter; he was too weak, but with the opportunity in front of him to be more than just a punching bag, but able to fight back. He didn't hesitate or question anything anymore. he knew he had to take this chance.
"Kaito, what is the requirement?"
Kaito smiled a wide, sadistic, and amused grin.
"You have to last 10 seconds with me in a fight."