Chapter One

Sounds of bass and disco-techno music pounded the air around Duran. The music, pulsing strobe lights and streams of fluorescent color sent his senses on a celebratory high. He took in the scene of the lights bathing the gowns and suits of wedding guests dancing on the dance floor. The atmosphere was surreal to the point of utopia.

Finally, his mother had her one to settle with. A fact Duran was thrilled about. In his mind, he flicked through the number of fathers he had over the course of his life and, by his mother’s standards, were never good enough in the end. But, today was different. He truly was happy for his mother’s marriage and for the additional family to enrich his life.

‘Hey my new Nii-san. You’re not dancing?’ Duran glanced over his shoulder and greeted his new sister, Himeko Suzuki. He had met her before the wedding at a family introduction. At that time and now, he was relieved she didn’t turn out to be a psycho-hose beast and appeared a sensible girl.

‘I’ve two left feet. It’s safer for everyone if I didn’t,’ Duran joked. He and his sister watched their parents dancing in each other’s arms like a pair of love-struck teenagers. ‘They look good together eh?’ Himeko commented through a warm smile.

‘Yeah. I thought I’d be jealous but I’m glad she has someone else to love. It’s just been us for far too long.’ Duran reflected on the day he met his new father, Ryuu-chichi, and the instant comfort he felt back then.