`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

The street was busy and packed with people hustling down the sidewalk from every direction. They all had somewhere to go and no one spared a glance for the slim Asian man who had just stepped off the bus.

His beautiful dark eyes surveyed his surroundings and a small smile pulled at his lips.

This was exactly as he had imagined it to be, a huge city full of people. Some of them good law abiding citizens, the others dirty criminals.

It was the later kind that would need to watch out for him.

Momentarily his mind flashed to a face much like his, but more outgoing. He cringed and shut it down not wanting to think about it. He tossed his long shiny hair behind his shoulder, too painful.

With purpose he joined the crowd heading to his new workplace first.

He had a purpose, yes. His fists imperceptibly clenched, he was going to show the criminal world that they couldn't just mess with good people and get away with it.

~^.^~

Three streets down completely unaware of the force of nature that would someday come his way Ivan Braginski conducted his business as usual.

"Kolkolkolkol. So tell me comrade how long did you think you could cheat me? How long did you think it would take Mother Russia to discover your treachery?"

Ivan's violet eyes were the only thing glowing in the dark room. The outline of a trembling man lay on the cement ground below him, whimpering.

"P-please!" he begged, "I just did what he told me to do! I swear it wasn't my idea!"

The mafia lord sighed, why did they all use this excuse? "Francis, if you would please," he ordered indifferent.

A man with shoulder length blond hair emerged from the dark and held a gun up to the whiner's head only causing the man to shake and sob more. "Please! P-p-please…"

"Just tell me the name of your ring leader."

"Ravis Galante! The Italians promised to get him into England to live with his lover or some shit like that!"

Ivan sat up now highly interested. "The Italians? Ravis, Ravis, Ravis what kind of trouble have you been up to?" he chuckled, "Thank you comrade. Francis if you would please show this man some peace."

The poor excuse for a human didn't have time to react before the trigger was pulled. Brain matter and blood exploded across the room and the Frenchman's blue eyed companion wrinkled his nose in distaste from back in the shadows.

"A war with Roma…" Ivan mused, "How fun this will be." His face lit up with childish delight.

Too bad a war with his fellow mafia wasn't what he should have been worrying about.

~^.^~

Yao walked the streets stopping every once in a while to take a picture. People of every shape, size, and color passed by him as he snapped away on his camera. He stopped smiling widely as he flipped through what he'd already caught on film.

He loved streets, they told so much about the place they were in. This busy street depicted perfectly the fast lane way of life the city personified. His editor would love these.

Yao had always wanted to work for a newspaper, one that delivered real news. Newburg Gazette tried its best to give the public good relating news, often being thwarted by local thugs and police men. The editor had hired Yao under the condition that he could turn things around to their favor.

Yao had promised much, much more, but it was too soon to mention that.

~^.^~

Ivan lounged in an outdoor chair, motioning to the nearby waiter to refill his drink. It was early morning yet and the heat of the day wasn't quiet present.

He was bored to say the least. Ravis had safely made it out of the country before Ivan's men could rip him to shreds and there were no more leads on Roma's movement through Newburg.

He'd been looking for some fun, but fate just had other plans.

*Sigh* Oh well, Ivan supposed the excitement of hiding from his overly attached sister would have to do for now. He took a sip from whatever beverage was in his hand, he couldn't even remember now, and caught sight of a bouncing glare across the street.

He studied the reflective object until the blur settled into the shape of a slim Asian man holding a camera, smiling softly.

He looked like a reporter, black pants, loose black tie, black jacket, white dress shirt, and his hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. In general reporters were people Ivan loved to manipulate, and manipulation meant fun.

He grinned wickedly as the man became a blur again, rapidly taking pictures like a squirrel on crack.

"Eduard, comrade, tell me who that interesting man across the street is."

The slight bookish man adjusted his glasses as he looked over at his employer in surprise. He too looked at the swift Asian before typing away on his computer.

"His name is Yao Wang, Wang Yao if you want to say it the traditional way," Eduard stated, "he is from a small town back west and his parents were Chinese immigrants. He dual majored in photography and journalism in college, and moved out here to work with the Newburg Gazette."

As if sensing the eyes on him Yao turned and met the Russian's gaze and frowned. Petulantly he turned his back on the other man and continued to take pictures.

"Hhhhmmm," Ivan grunted crossly, he'd had trouble with that newspaper a lot in the past. They forever strived to stick their noses in everyone's business and make their lives a living hell. Himself in particular and they wouldn't accept bribes. He'd had to resolve to threatening family members to keep them quiet.

Suddenly the man across the street seemed much less interesting and like a lot of work. He wondered if he could take care of this one before he got any ideas.

"Bring him to me," he ordered gruffly, Francis and another man, Toris started to make their way through traffic.

Yao wasn't intimidated in the least and the Russian businessman could see the Asian reporter put his hands on hips and start to argue. He didn't stand down until a smirking Francis gestured to the seated Ivan watching them.

Ivan couldn't help but grin again, clearly those dark eyes held some fire. He kept the grin menacing as Yao sat down across from him fuming.

"What is the meaning of this aru!" the sentence was more of an exclamation than a question.

Aru? Ivan thought keeping his face in control, how cute.

"Well it is like this da?" Ivan beamed frighteningly, "I couldn't help but hear you were new in town comrade, and working for Newburg Gazette no less. Since the Gazette and I are such good friends I thought I'd welcome you town!"

At that Francis and Toris jumped Yao taking his camera and smashing it to pieces.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" the poor reporter shrieked in distress.

Ivan pouted, "We are just welcoming you, what's all the fuss?"

Yao threw up his hands at the larger man crying, "Who in their right mind would be perfectly all right with being drug around and then threatened by a bunch of thugs?"

The Russian laughed, "Your boss was, we gave him a proper welcoming, even better than yours da? He smiled and was perfectly polite but unfortunately he took over the Gazette right after."

Yao felt pride well in his chest at this mention of his tough employer, becoming even deader set on his goals. "Welcome?" He asked mildly afraid of the answer.

"Da, and a warning to be careful," Ivan's purple eyes began to sparkle, "It's a dangerous town and we wouldn't want anything to happen to you now would we?"

Yao's eyes lit aflame at these words. Mental images of bashing the Ruskie's head into his expensive drink crossed his mind but were immediately discarded for obvious reasons. There were too many witnesses and hit men that weren't his. Stiffly he stood up from the table and left with a rim rod back silent as the grave.

Ivan watched him go with a sadistic smile on his face.

"Kolkolkolkolkol, that was too much fun!"

~^.^~

Night fell over the city like a bucket of acid water, sudden, cold, and terrible.

A small orange light lit a lonely apartment room. Feathers, paper, and other random objects were scattered across the room and Yao stood amongst it tears streaming down his face.

HOW DARE HE?! HOW DARE THAT RUSSIAN BASTARD TRY AND SABATAGE HIM!?

An already torn pillow flew from his fingers and more down came out of it as it slammed against the wall.

Yao stood fists clenched, his chest heaving, unbound hair spilling into his face, and breaths angrily ragged as he made a cursed promise.

Ivan Braginski would regret the day he tried to break down Wang Yao.

Resolutely he shrugged on his coat, put his hair back up, grabbed his spare camera and set out into the cruel dark in search of his next victim.

After all why not keep that promise now rather than later?

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

Hello all once again! I had this plot bunny eating away at my brain for a while and it seemed legit. I hope you think so too! I've edited and combined what was the first two chapters of this story so maybe they won't be so lame! :'(