Wang Yibo's POV:

"Papa" Oreo pulls my hand and we enter the gaming arcade "I want to play here." Her small eyes glitter as they take on various games present all around us.

As promised after our Lunch, I bring her to KidsMania Gaming Arcade where she like me loves bikes and cars. At times I do feel that maybe having been surrounded only by men in her life, she has been so influenced by what we like, she has never had a chance of ever playing with dolls. The other day she insisted that we buy her Black Tees and it shouldn't have any sparkles on them. Hm.

"Car or bike?" I question and she sprints towards a black gaming bike for kids. "This!" as she yells enthusiastically, I pay for the ride and stand next to her as she grins and enjoys her time to the fullest.

I haven't ever met Aria. Akio and I came into Seiji's life much later, probably when Oreo was just around one year old. Seiji is Xiao Zhan's friend and when he wanted someone to look after Oreo, I was available and from then on we developed a bond. I became her guardian and she became my goddaughter. Xiao Zhan once told me that Oreo has a lot of qualities of her mother. Especially their smiles were so precious. Once I got to know their history, I made it my mission to never see tears in that child's face.

Maybe that was one of the main reason it made me extra vigilant and my eyes trailed towards the exit.

Fuck. What are they doing here?

Luckily for us her round came to an end and I quickly lifted her and took the cover of a wall. Crouching in front of Oreo and pasting a smile I take her hand and observe that she is wearing a custom made watch which Seiji had always insisted that she has on her. Subtly clicking a button which is an SOS call to Seiji, I pat her back and hand over few coupons to her "Oreo, Papa has some friends over there and they wish to meet me. Wait here and don't run off anywhere. Alright?"

She nods and I lift my little finger to her face "Promise?" Grinning she nods and locks her little finger with mine. Kissing her forehead I look at the lady attendent "Ma'am, this is my brother's daughter. Could you kindly keep an eye on her? Her father will be here soon. His name is Seiji. I am feeling a bit unwell so need to use the washroom urgently." Fishing out my phone I scroll to Seiji's picture for her reference.

"Sure sir." The kind lady smiles and with another look at an oblivious Oreo, I move away but not before speed dialing Xiao Zhan's emergency number and walk over to where they were standing.

"What are you guys doing here?" My voice is unfriendly and Zane grins spitefully "Is this how you greet your elder brother, Yibo?"
Narrowing my eyes, the venom inside me bubbles out "You stopped being my brother the day you tried to kill Akio. You remember him, don't you? He's your younger brother too."

My words anger him and the next moment he pulls my collar and spits out "That fag? He ain't my brother. If it were me, before I let a man touch my body, I'll go and kill myself."

Anger. Rage. Blood.

I was about to hit his face when my cousin's voice reaches our ears "Not here. Too many eyes. Let's talk outside." One of his goon pushes my shoulders and I knew for now Oreo is safe. It's best if they don't find her inside.

Walking to an alley adjacent to the arcade, they push me against the wall and I glare "What the fuck do you want from me? Didn't you disown us? Why are you here?"

"We want money." Hans lights up a cigarette "Give us some and we'll leave you." Taking a deep breath he puffs out the smoke on my face and my eyes burn.

"I have none. When you don't care for me nor Akio, why do you care for my money?" I bite out and Zane smiles cruelly "Be glad that we haven't killed him yet. If you don't give us the money, we'll happily sell him. Someone would definitely be happy to play with him and anyways that fag just wants some co*k in him. Who cares whose is it?"

Blinding rage takes over my soul and my knuckles meet Zane's face and I yell "How dare you? Don't forget your his brother you as***le! How can you even think about this? Have you forgotten what you meant to him?"

My punch connects with his ribs and the force makes him stumble back. His goons surround me and Hans knuckles meets my jaw. A sharp pain courses through me and I realise that my lips are torn open.

Fuck.

"We have no time to hear your nonsense. It's your father who has sent us. So don't talk shit and give us the money. If not then next time we aren't sure what's going to happen to that little co*k sucking scum." He sneers and I smile eerily "Touch one hair on Akio and trust me, you won't survive to see another day. Don't test our patience. I have nothing to offer. So Fuck. Off." 

The next second Hans takes out his cigarette pierces it on my neck, burning my skin and marking me forever as I bite in to hold my scream.

"You think I'll be scared?" Taking a deep breath I continue "Haven't you tortured me far beyond all this? How many times have you marred my skin? To have family like you, is not a boon." I spit on his face "It's a curse."

Just then a blade pierces through my midriff and my eyes widen. It was Zane and his eyes gave away nothing. It's was remorseless. It wasn't the eyes of my brother whom I once adored. There was nothing in them. For him I was just a trash.

"What the fuck is going on?" Everyone around me turns to find a cop standing at the entrance of the alley. Without another word they sprint out and push him aside. Yelling he follows them and just then a warm hand catches my fall.

"Mr. Xiao Zhan?" My hazy vision takes in his form as he places a hand on my wounds. "You're hurt. Let's get you to the hospital."

"No. Not the hospital. Take me back to my apartment." I breathe in.

"You need stitches Yibo!" He yells and I smile warily "Then it's not the first time for you to stitch me up. Please." Just then my vision fades away and I am plunged into a dark oblivion.

Last I hear is a scream. Maybe it was Mr. Xiao Zhan's? Who knows.

Xiao Zhan's POV:

My phone beeps in middle of a meeting with my team. The tune was the one I have heard before in my past and always prayed never to hear of it again.

Yibo's SOS.

He's in danger!

Dismissing my team I call Officer Yu. He has dealt with Yibo's case before and is also our family friend. I give him directions to the place from where Yibo's signal could be located. Driving like a bat shit crazy person, I dial Seiji's number instantly and he like me sounded scared "Zhan?"

"I just received Yibo's SOS. Didn't he say that Oreo and he would be going to KidsMania Gaming Arcade?"

"Yes. I am almost here. He activated Oreo's SOS button from her watch. I'll be reaching in two minutes." Seiji reports and I nod "Alright. Call me once you have Oreo in your arms."

I continue to drive and my heart pounds for that boy. Last time he sent me an SOS, he was tied and gagged by that wretched family of his. I still could never forget that day when my soul found him. His breathing was so shallow back then.

My phone rings and it was Seiji "Oreo is safe. She was playing on one of the machine. An attendant informed me that he had a stomach upset and had to use the washroom urgently. Zhan what's going on?"

My knuckles tightens against the steering wheel "I have no idea. You take Oreo back home. I'll call you once I meet Yibo." Parking my car in the parking lot, I sprint to where the location was beeping on my phone only to hear Officer Yu shout. A group of thugs pushed past him and in that instant I knew they were his brothers.

Running into the alley, sucking in a deep breath, I watch blood gushing out of Yibo's midriff and in nick of time I take his falling body into my arms. He as usual refused to get himself admitted in the hospital and yes, this wouldn't be the first time I stitched him.
Carefully lifting him up in my arms I gently place him inside my car and drive towards his apartment.

"Fuck" he yells out as I stitch him and sheen of sweat covers his face. Unconciously my eyes trails over all those faded marks on his chest. From afar one would assume his skin is unblemished, but once you're close enough, you'd know how far you're away from the truth.

"Yibo, your wound isn't deep. This time." I stress as pain and anguish fill his eyes. Once my work is done, I help him cover his body with a fresh shirt. Walking into the kitchen I make him a cup of tea to calm his racing heart only to find him wipe those tears subtly.

Gently I apply some ointment on his neck where now a new scar marks his skin.

My heart couldn't stand his pain.

Suddenly his phone rings and we both knew it was Akio. Taking a deep breath he answer the call "Hey brat."

I could assume that Akio is asking him when he'd be back home.

"I'll be home in half an hour" pasting a fake smile he nods and cancels the call. "We need to leave." When it comes to these two, there is nothing I could do but support him. Moving away from the bed I pick up the medicine box and stash them safely for ... next time when he winces and I support him with my body.

His eyes were still brimming with tears and my heart couldn't bear his pain anymore. The next second I pull him into me for a tight embrace.

Wei Ying's POV:

"Are you ready for this battle?" He enquires and all I could do is nod. Taking out a satin cloth from my inner robes, I hand it over to him "If anything happens to my soul, then promise me that you'd hand this to my Lan Zhan."

It was a Jade Hairpin with a red stone embedded in them that once Lan Zhan had gifted me.

"I promise." His voice is gentle and I smile.