Miya history 2.0

Miya Aikawa did not have a happy childhood.

Her mother left her with another family when she was young, didn't even leave her a name. She was adopted by the Aikawa family, but she

always felt as if she were a misfit - she knew from her dark skin that she didn't fit in, that she wasn't like her brothers and sisters. She knew

from the way her father viewed her with secret resentment that she was a pity case. She was young, too young, but she knew.

She knew, and so she acted out, because she wanted to prove herself as capable. She wanted to prove she was strong, that she was worthy

of love. But her loudness only earnt her scorn, and other parents warned their children away from her. Her brothers and sisters didn't much

like her, because she pulled their hair and called them names, resentful of how easily they were loved.

She was so resentful that she didn't see how much her adoptive mother loved her. She couldn't possibly have heard the hushed arguments

the woman had with her husband over their problem child. If she had, perhaps she would have turned out better. Paid attention in school.

Earnt her parent's love.

Instead, she took to the streets of the Hirasaka Ward as soon as she was capable of leaving the house on her own.

Miya, only thirteen years old, was on a mission to prove herself -- not just to her family, oh no, but to the world at large. She'd heard of

Hirasaka, heard of how the people there were misfits just like her, and she was determined to finally fit in somewhere. Anywhere.

It didn't work out well for her. The first day out she was mugged, and when she tried to stop the person who mugged her, she found herself on

the losing end of a battle. As she limped away, someone else tried to take her on - but this kid was younger than her, scragglier, and Miya was

able to beat him with a little quick thinking and clawing at his face.

Once they'd done fighting, they retreated to opposite walls, regarded each other cautiously. Miya spoke up first.

"What happened to you?! You look like a cat dragged ya in!"

"You're not mad?"

"I won."

"Oh. M'name's Budgie. Wanna get somethin' to eat?"

"I don't got a dollar on me. Some jerk stole all my money!"

"Eh, didn't expect you'd have nuffin'."

Following the boy, Miya learnt a few more Hirasaka lessons - how to shoplift, and how to make friends.

From that day on, Miya was not a common sight in her home. Her mother worried, but she had other children to worry about, and her father had more important things which occupied his concern. Miya found a more accepting home in Hirasaka than she ever found at home -- after the inevitable fights, her toughness was usually rewarded with acceptance. It wasn't long before she found herself running with the Rhythm Gang.

She began as a neophyte, stealing from supermarkets and running drugs from one part of the Ward to another. But as Miya grew into the rough-and-tumble life of Hirasaka, she discovered that money could buy her the attention she truly deserved. From there, it was a short leap to realising that she deserved to be the centre of attention.

When Miya was sixteen, she challenged the leader of the Rhythm Gang for its leadership. Three years of street brawling had given her plenty of fighting knowledge, and she easily embarrassed her leader in front of the other girls. Miya became the sukeban, and tattooed "BEAT BOSS" across her knuckles to show that she would not be dominated.

Miya's ego and her unwillingness to be defeated led her to bring the Rhythm Gang to greatness, defeating the other delinquents of the area and earning big bucks through their illegal activities. She spent nights away from home, much to the concern of her mother -- but she barely even cared about her family, any more. Her family had abandoned her. She deserved better.

But the sad fact was, Hirasaka was not an appropriate cradle. There were dangers... dangers which Miya was eventually bound to run into. She had just turned eighteen when she finally ran afoul of the police. Not for any crime, oh no -- just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They brought Miya back to her family, and her father decided that he'd had enough.

"She's going to live with her aunt."

"But dear, she's troubled--"

"Precisely because she's troubled!"

After an argument with his wife, he packed Miya off and sent her to Inaba. She didn't appreciate it, not one bit...