Chapter One

The underworld. No normal people know of the murky depths that secretly control parts of the world. These people are hidden...they slither around the unsuspecting victim...and immediately strike when the time is right.

Jade, a head of a famous crime gang, resides in a huge mansion that is isolated heavily by trees. Her followers live in small dorms in the mansion and are bound by her law.

She had long red hair that she never bothered to brush (and if anyone commented on her hair, she would have him or her beaten to a pulp), and sharp green eyes that could stare down and shake an elephant.

If looks could kill, as they say.

Her clothes style were always jeans and a T-shirt, and maybe an occasional leather jacket, if she felt like it.

Everyone feared the name Jade, because of the reputation that was super glued to it.

Jade was the type of person that would kick and punch people for a sport, if there was one. She had a heart as tough as the shell of a treasure chest, and it was even more harder to open up. There was no key.

She had no friends...she didn't get too close to anyone, as anyone could be a traitor, and she didn't bother to soften her cold heart. It wasn't necessary.

Or that was what everyone thought before a certain someone appeared.

“I finally found her! Jade!” Momoko, a happy-go-lucky, cheerful girl smiled brightly. She had on a cute shirt with an anime face stamped on it, and a blue pleated skirt to match. Her purse dangled on her arm, a pale blue, with a cute hello kitty keychain dangling from the zipper. She was clutching a piece of paper as she stared at the gate of the mansion.

“Wow!” She said in awe. “She definitely has upgraded!”

The gate was unlocked, and Momoko waltzed right in, not knowing what would happen to her.

“HEY! YOU GET OUT! THIS IS PRIVATE PROPERTY!!” A sharp voice demanded, and Momoko froze, the voice chilling her to the bone. This voice didn't sound friendly.

Two bulky men headed towards her, then grabbed her roughly, muffling her noises.

“MMF! MMMMMF!” Momoko struggled, and did what her mom taught her for self-defense. The only thing she knew when defending against herself. The only thing she was able to do.

She kicked them right in the family jewels.

“AUGH!!” The two men staggered back, choking for air. “You...bitch!”

Momoko giggled, skipping towards the entrance. Never underestimate the weak defenseless girl!

Her hand searched for a doorbell, and her mind registered a half-second later that there was no doorbell.

A part of the door slid open, and a pair of eyes met hers. “What...is the password?” His gruff voice said hesitantly, bewildered to see a girl, much less with one adorned with japanese-cultured clothing, standing before the door.

“I'm here to see Jade!” Momoko said impatiently, folding her arms. What was up with this?

“Jade...do you have an appointment?” He asked, a little bemused.

“Uhh, no! I've haven't seen her in ages, you don't need an appointment to see your best friend!”

“BEST FRIEND?!” It seemed like more than one voice, and Momoko was slowly getting more pissed off. What the heck was happening?!

“Wait one moment.” The follower said as he quickly ran to Jade's room. His knuckles rapt abruptly on the door.

“What do you want?!' The snappy voice of Jade jolted through.

“Um...someone is here to see you.”

“Do they have an appointment?” Jade sneered.

“She says she's your best friend...Umm...” The follower could tell she wasn't in a good mood.

The door opened and Jade stormed past the follower, who cowered in her presence. He bowed nervously as she went to the front door.

Momoko was tapping her foot, anxiety creeping up on her. Maybe this was the wrong person? But she checked to make sure it was her. It had to be Jade.

The door whipped open. “GET OUT OF MY-” There was a pause as they exchanged glances.

Momoko widened her eyes. This had to be her, no mistake. She could recognize her from anywhere.

“Jade?” Momoko whispered. “Is that you?”

“Momoko...” Jade murmured. “Long time no see.” She turned around and shouted orders at nearby followers. “GET SOME TEA READY! I WANT IT ICED SUGARLESS!!” Jade snapped. Then she turned back to Momoko and smiled. “Come on in.”

Momoko walked in happily and stopped in her tracks. She felt as if she was in another world. It was so...different somehow. A little...haunting.

Peoples' eyes bore into her, and she grew uncomfortable. Looking around she noticed a lot of people...that she wouldn't dare make eye contact in a dark alley.

Jade had a lot of explaining to do.

Then someone, around her age caught her eye. He had ice blue ones, and dark black hair. They made eye contact for a second as she walked past him.

Momoko could feel her face flush as her short steps attempted to match with Jade's quick ones.

X O X O X O

“Jade, you haven't changed,” Momoko grinned, sipping her sugarless iced tea. “You still like the same old tea.”

“Yeah, well, some things don't change.” Jade replied. They were in a private room now, where they could catch up on old times, and converse quietly. “So how ya been?”

“Less of me, more of you!” Momoko exclaimed. “Tell me about your current...err...occupation.”

Jade laughed. “My followers must have troubled you. Sorry for that.” She sighed. “You can't tell anyone this. Promise?”

“Pinky promise,” Momoko giggled, holding out her pinky.

Jade rolled her eyes. Yup, she was still the same ditzy friend she had. “Okay, well...to make a long story short, I am now the leader of a part of the underworld. As in...crime and stuff. Gang leader, in fact.” It took her a lot of will not to puff out her chest in pride. Momoko wasn't a type of person to like this kind of stuff.

At first the words couldn't seep into her brain. “Whoa,” Momoko said softly.

Jade laughed wholeheartedly. “I know...it's kind of cool though. You get to boss people around.”

“I bet,” Momoko smiled, but it was faint. Now it felt like Jade was another person, not her best friend at all. It was a whole new Jade.

“What about you?” Jade asked. “Tell me!”

“Well, now I'm in college, studying nearby, so we can visit each other often! But that's about it...I'm studying to get my doctor's degree.”

Jade whistled. “Pretty sweet deal you got there.”

Momoko cocked her head. “Do you plan to go to college?”

Jade made a face. “I don't plan to. Ugh...schools disgust me.”

“Oh...okay.” Momoko's face looked crestfallen.

Jade frowned. This is not how she pictured her best friend reunion. “Um, how about I show you a personal grand tour of my home?”

Momoko mouth widened into a grin. “That'd be-” Before she could finish however, there was a knock on the door.

“WHAT?!” Jade shouted, angry that their conversation was interrupted. “IT BETTER BE IMPORTANT!” She stood up menacingly.

The door opened and a shaky man hesitantly walked into the room, as if his brave guard had been stripped off like a sheep with its coat. He knew what he was going to get before it was going to happen. “Um...there's someone at the door. He wants to speak to you.”

“Save it for later!” Jade scowled. “Can't you see I'm busy?!”

“He says his name is Jayden...your brother...the one that had died years ago.”

X O X O End Chapter X O X O