Niko Niko

Have you ever done something incredibly stupid in the name of love? I mean, something completely out of character but in the moment, it felt right? Hell, you enjoyed it...because it made you feel special, bonded even. So much so, that the world just disappeared, and the only thing left was you and them?

Well, I did and I'm still reaping the repercussions.

I wasn't the tatted up, pierced, blue-haired thug imposter that I am now. When I was in younger, I honestly was just an average kid trying to get by and figure out what I wanted in life. I never focused in school because things came to me easy. I guess I was gifted or something, at least that's what my teachers told my mom. So instead, I spent most of my time in class doodling. Drawing was always something I liked to do, sports were ok and I was fine at most, music I listened to but never put the time into trying to master anything, but art put me at ease.

That goes back to my dead-beat dad and my druggy mom. Life with them was tough growing up, the abuse was almost endless until my dad just never returned home. Instead, my mom had just about any ol' guy on the block come into our house instead, and that only further pushed me into my shell. A shell that was only opened by my imagination, hell even my fears. I let them dot the pages of my notebooks to tell my story. The story of a kid who just didn't know his way...hell didn't even know why he was here.

I had won a lot of art contests at school, some of them raised questions about my home life, but most greats in the field of imagination hide something tragic. But, my senior year, showcasing my final art project at the downtown Museum of Art, is where I met him: my first love. He was older than me, looked to be about 21. He wore a very nice suit and looked like he came from money. His hair was shaved on the sides and felt down over his eyes and honestly all I did was stare at him. Wondering why a guy like that would be looking at my painting for so long. Hell, I wasn't even into guys, and he was attractive enough to emasculate me.

It was then when I saw him ask my teacher about the artwork, and to my surprise, even fear, she pointed straight at me. When our eyes met, I could feel my heart pounding against my chest. His eyes were yellow almost, just so bright that it was astonishing. It almost felt like I was being sucked in.

"Niko, this gentleman has a question for you!"

I didn't say anything. Instead, I walked over to him as he smiled. Such an innocent thing made a shiver run down my spine. I don't know who he was...but there was something about him. Something...dangerous in those eyes. Eventually, I had to look away.

"So, you're the artist?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Hmm," he mused, holding his hand under his chin and staring at my piece, "what do you call it?"

"The wandering soul," shit, he got me started, "it's about a boy who can't escape his life and is trapped in a never-ending nightmare. Or at least, that's what I intended for people to see...or feel."

I felt his eyes on me then, but I didn't want to return his gaze.

"I like it. It's chilling and real, even more surprising that a highschooler made it."

My eyes connected with his then, those viper-like eyes pulling me in. "My boss would like to buy it, but he's only up for paying cash to the artist himself."

I confusingly looked at him take out a business card and hand it over to me. It was all black with Takoma engraved in gold on the front. On the back was an address and a number. It was rather foreboding."

"B...buy it?" I finally mustered, returning my gaze to the man.

"Yes, oh sorry. The price," he smiled, "would $20,000 do?"

I almost dropped the card from his response. 20...20 thousand dollars?! For what? A doodle? Was this a trick? The most I've gotten for my art was $200 and that was for charity!

"Uh...I think you made a mistake and said―"

"$20,000 too low? I can bump it―"

"No!" I blushed, literally thinking this guy was out of his mind.

He chuckled at my response. Just watching him laugh made my heartbeat more and my blushing intensify.

"Why...why would you pay that much for this?"

I honestly had to know, but the man got uncomfortably close to me and whispered in my ear.

"My boss and I don't pay for anything that isn't worth full price. Don't sell yourself short, Niko."

He pulled away then, "You're a great artist and you're bound to go places."

I was shocked, knowing the red never left my face. Me? A great artist...for some reason it meant something coming from him.

The man turned to leave, waving goodbye. "Come by tomorrow, with the painting, and we'll finalize the deal. A little birdy told me you're trying to attend Tokyo University of Arts. So, think of this as scholarship."

"Wa...wait, what's your name?!"

He turned to me once more, smirking. "Ray..."

"Ray Tacoma."