Wolf's Rain Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Claw ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

Broken Claw

Prologue

A Month Earlier….

The door suddenly swung open and it sent a jolt throughout the barren store. With little thought, the cashier grabbed a shotgun and pointed at the entrance. However, once he saw who it was, he sighed and put down his weapon.

"Oh, it's just you, officer." He said, relived.

The man chuckled. "Is this how you greet an old friend, Mr. Minamoto?"

"Too many damn robberies, Officer Shinishiro."

The policeman entered in the store undaunted. He was a tall figure of a man with black hair and a swarthy complexion. His blue eyes, filled with warmth and understanding, matched the blue uniform he wore. "Late night again, sir?"

"Yeah," he replied huskily. "Sorry about the welcome, Officer Shinishiro."

"It's Ken. You've known me too long for honorifics."

"Fine, fine. You're a different breed of cop. Your father demanded respect."

"Well that was then, this now."

"What will it be then, Ken?"

He walked up to the counter a put down a five-dollar bill. "Cigarettes, my brand."

The cashier went under the counter and pulled out a red pack. "Well, here's one thing you got in common with your father."

Ken quickly opened the package. "Got a light?"

"No," he replied gruffly and pointed to the door. "Go smoke those things outside!"

Ken chuckled. "And here's one thing you got in common with my sister."

"Don't be such a smart-ass," the cashier laughed. "Tell your sister I said hi."

"I will. By the way, you can keep the change." He turned and left back out the door.

It was a cold night in December in the city when Ken Shinishiro made his rounds once again. The sky was clear and no cloud was in sight and the air was crisp and bitter. The growing moon above shone with brilliance, giving the dark streets some kind of light.

Light? Ken then thought. Damn, that's what I need.

He then searched the many pockets of his uniforms in search of a lighter. Turning every one inside out, the only thing found was nothing. Then, a flicker of light caught his eye and he turned to his right. Four homeless men stood around a bonfire burning inside an iron drum. They used it as a crude but effective source of heat against the brutal cold. Immediately, Ken walked up to them.

"Mind if I borrow a light?" he said, holding out his cigarette.

A man no much older than him with sandy blonde hair and sad, grey eyes nodded. Ken dipped it into the fire and then put it back in his lips. "Thanks."

"Where are you going on this type of night, officer?" the blonde man asked.

"Home, of course."

"You might want to be careful, Officer--?"

"Shinishiro, and why should I?"

"Now, you don't the wolves after you, do you, Officer Shinishiro?"

Ken scoffed in disbelief. "Wolves? Here?"

The man nodded, smiling. The three others around them peered at Ken through the red flames.

"Bullshit," said Ken. "I haven't seen a wolf since I was a kid. They're gone for all I care."

The man smirked even more so. "What makes you so sure?"

"Look, I would love to stay and chat with you guys but I have to finish my rounds." With that said, Ken turned to walk off.

"Why in so much of a hurry?!"

Without a second thought, Ken turned again to them and suddenly a large black animal lunged out at him over the fire. Ken fell backward as it tore at his throat. He tried to scream, but its fangs had bitten deep into his vocal chords, leaving him paralyzed to utter anything. Agony was increased ten fold as another pair of teeth bit at his stomach, tearing a piece of flesh from there…

The street seemed to grow even darker….

The smell of blood was everywhere….

Ken felt weak….

A howl was all that was heard….