Chapter 1 - And so it Begins

Something in the back of her mind was screaming at her to leave. To get as far away from this man as possible. -Secrets Chapter 1

W

hen do you get off lass?” asked a big man sitting at the bar, looking at Fumiko Roseing like she was a nice piece of steak.

“Long after the sun rises.  Sorry.”

          The man pushed back his ginger hair and grinned at her, sending chills up her spine.  Something was off about the foreigner.  She watched him lace his fingers together, and then look at his empty shot glass. “Ye’ know lass, if you could sneak away, I could really make your night enchanted.  A pretty little thing like ye shouldn’t be worken’ in a bar.  Not safe lass.”

          Fumi simply shrugged, concentrating on cleaning the shot glass in her hand. “I don’t have sexual relations with customers.  Sorry.”

          The man smiled even brighter, showing perfect white teeth. “Ye apologize too much lass.  It’s not your fault ye’re so lovely.” He paused a moment, then smiled again, “Or that ye have a splendid rack either.”

          Feeling her cheeks flush in anger, she slammed the glass on the bar, and glared at the man. “Look a*****e, I’ve tried the nice routine and you obviously don’t get the picture.  You’re distracting me from my regulars, and pissing me off.  So I suggest you shut up, and drink your brandy.” Without giving him a chance to reply, she walked down the other side of the bar to a few of her regulars.  She could feel his eyes on her still, and another chill made its way up her spine.  Why couldn’t he just leave?

          Hours later, she waved goodbye to Sam and Bobby, two of her favorite regulars, and turned to see the ginger was still watching her and sitting at the bar.  Releasing a shaken sigh, she walked over to the tip jar, and pulled out her share.  Curling a waved curl around her ear, she turned to face Mr. Sexual Harassment. “Loitering isn’t permitted here a*****e.  Unless you’re still drinking, you’re going to have to leave so I can clean the bar.”

          He smiled, but the action didn’t quite reach his dark eyes. “Been drinken’ soda lass.  Don’t worry, I’ll be here when ye change ye mind.”

          Something in the back of her mind was screaming at her to leave.  To get as far away from this man as possible.  Eyes darting to the entrance, she resisted the urge to scream for one of the bouncers outside.  Would Darrel or Grey hear her even?  Trying to look unfazed by his statement, she walked to the end of the bar pretending to answer a call, when she was really calling.  When the other line picked up, she could have cried.   Sabrina answered with her usual chipper tone, “Babe?  What’s up? You off work yet?”

          Smoothing down the front of her blouse, Fumi cracked a small smile. “Not quiet.  Still have a few hours.”

          Sabrina sounded a little disappointed but asked, “So what’s up then?  You don’t call while working unless you got a creep.” She heard her friend slap her forehead. “Don’t tell me you’ve got Mr. Creepy-Old-Man again.”

          “Uh…Well,”

          “Oh man.  Babe, you need to be packing the pepper spray!”

          “Nothing has happened yet, I just wanted to know if you could come and keep me company till he left?” She turned to see the man watching her, the smile gone from his face.  She swallowed and gripped the phone tighter.

          Sabrina made a ‘tsk’ sound and sighed. “Yeah, okay.  Only for you babe, will I put on jeans when in comfy clothes.”

          Smiling, Fumi said, “Sabbi, thank you!  I love you so much right now.”

          She could hear the smile in her voice, “Yeah, yeah, I know.  Be there in ten okay?  Keep a safe distance from Mr. Creeps-A-Lot, okay?”

          Putting her phone back in her rear pocket she walked pass Mr. Creep and went to clean more glasses.  Just keep busy and Sabbi will be here in no time. 

          When he spoke, the hard voice made her jump, making her curse her nerves. “You’re acting a little jumpy lass.  Something bothering ye?”

          She narrowed her eyes and put the clean glasses on a trey. “Had a rough night last night.  Don’t worry you’re block of a head.”

          He laughed, the sound making her stiffen. “Rough night?  I take it you’re talking about the fight last night?”

          Turning to face him again, she leaned her back against the sink. “Or I had fun in my room with some lucky guy.” She shrugged as if it meant little to her if he got it or not. “Either way, I got little sleep and want nothing more than to crash in the silk of my sheets.”

          He was smiling again as he said, “I don’t see ye sleeping with a stranger.  So I’ll assume the fight took a while to break up and ye were stuck here cleaning up the aftermath.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “I on the other hand slept like a babe.  I could take ye home and make ye sleep with a wee smile on your face from the fire we’d have set in those silk sheets of yours.”

          She felt her cheeks heat up at his words.  So cocky. “Sorry to pop your bubble, but you won’t get to feel, let alone see those sheets.  I’m not sleeping with you.  Not all that into a******s that have huge egos.” Turning away from him again, she took the trey of clean glasses and put them away.  Trying to ignore the man’s scorching gaze.      

          As she finished cleaning the remaining glasses, the club doors flew open and Sabrina Lamb strolled in.  Fumiko rolled her eyes at the unnecessary entrance her friend made.  She watched her friend walk up to the bar and take a seat, slamming her hand on the bar. “Bar keep!  I need a coke!”

          Smiling and stifling a laugh, she got Sabrina her coke with two cherries. “Was that entrance really necessary?  Grey is going to give me a lecture tomorrow about letting you in.”

          Sabrina only smiled and took a sip of her soda. “Grey can kiss my foot.  He’s too uptight and serious.”

          “He has to toss out drunks all night.  Do you think he should be laidback?”

          Sabrina scoffed, “Of course not!  That would put you in the hot spot.  I just think he needs a lady friend.”

          Fumi rolled her eyes, “I’ll be sure to tell him you offered.”

          Sabrina reeled back in her seat, hand over her heart dramatically. “Fumi, he is so not my type!  He’s also a drag and party pooper.”

          She had to laugh at that, and leaned on the bar. “Careful, he might hear you.  You don’t want him stalking in here to toss you out do you?”

          Sabrina shrugged and slid off her seat, shooting a cross look at the ginger, “What you looking at bucko?”

          He lifted his hands in surrender and smiled. “Nothing miss, just admiring your fiery spirit.”

          Sabrina looked at Fumi and then back at the stranger, “Whatever.  Fumi, I’m going to go to the bathroom, and then we’ll head on out okay?”

          Smiling at her friend, she nodded and started wiping down the bar. “That would be your queue to leave, Red.”

          He stood and smiled slightly at her, sending yet another chill up her spine. “Later lass.  Have a good night.” And with that, he quietly stalked out.

          Moments later, Sabrina walked out with a large bag. “Sabbi, is there a reason why you have my purse?”

          “I was getting your stuff so we could go.  You take forever to get your things.” She laughed, “When you get ready, it’s an even longer wait.  Fumi, my friend, you are such a girl.”

          Moving around the counter to meet Sabrina at the door, she rolled her eyes, “And you are just now noticing this?  I like to look pretty.  You never know when you’ll meet a good guy.”

          Sabrina slung her arm over her shoulders and shook her head, “Babe, you need to get out more.”

          Rolling eyes, she looked at Sabrina and put her own arm around her friend’s shoulder. “You are so lucky I love you Sabrina.  Or I would have to hit you.”

          The two of them walked out together, said their goodnights to Darrell and Grey, and made their way to Sabrina’s apartment. “Why didn’t you drive?”

          Sabrina shrugged and made a puff of mist in the cold air, “I live seven blocks away.  Didn’t want to waste gas.  Why?”

          She gripped Sabrina’s hand tighter and looked over her shoulder. “What if he’s following us?”

          Her friend looked at her with creased eyebrows, “You think tall dark and red is the stalker type?”

          “He kept trying to pick me up with vulgar pickup lines.” Another chill ran up her spine while her heart began to pound within her chest.

          Sabrina patted her arm. “Babe, it’s okay.  I’ll get you home, and you can soak in a nice hot bath.” She winked at her, a bright smile spread across her face, “Free of charge.”

          “With that, I can’t refuse.  You know the way to my heart too well Sabbi.” They continued to walk until Sabrina remembered she needed to stop by an ATM.  Apparently, she planned on having her spend the night for a few days.  Knowing Sabrina, she thought it was the safest and easiest way to be rid of a persistent male. “Thanks again Sabbi.  This really means a lot.”

          Sabrina flipped her long black hair with purple and blue highlights over her shoulder and smiled, her chocolate brown eyes sparkling. “Only for you babe.”

          Laughing the final block to her house, Sabrina stretched her arms above her head and grinned. “I’m telling you now Fumiko, I love you and your silly girly-girl personality!”

          Fumi laughed at that, and smiled at her friend, “Where did that come from?”

          “The very bottom of my heart.” Sabrina said in an all too sweet voice.

          “Really now?” She laughed and kissed Sabrina’s cheek, “I guess I love you and your crazy-chick attitude 100%.”  As they approached the steps to the apartment, Sabrina was reaching into her bag for her keys when a low voice broke the silence.

          “Evening ladies.”

          They both looked up to see the stranger from the bar leaning against the apartments railing.  Sabrina looked irritated, while fear made Fumi shake.  He’d followed them.

          “I couldn’t help but notice that ye both live alone and walk just about everywhere.” Again he wore a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re both quiet attractive too.” He tilted his head to one side as though he was trying to solve a puzzle. “A shame no one has staked a claim on either of ye fine lassies.”

          Sabrina slung her bag over her shoulder and glared at the stranger. “Look creep.  My friend and I have had a pretty long day, and want nothing to do with you or your male counterparts.  So if you wouldn’t mind stepping aside-”

          Everything happened so fast, the girls didn’t know what was going on before it was too late.  Before Sabrina could finish her rant, a man grabbed her from behind and put his large hand over her mouth-which practically covered her face- and lifted her against his chest so her feet dangled in the air. 

While Sabrina struggled against his hold, another man appeared behind Fumi and wrapped her hair tightly around his fist.  Black dots danced in her vision and a searing pain blazed through her skull.  She clawed at the man’s hands trying to free her hair when something struck her face, a taste of iron filling her mouth.  Dazed for a few moments, she hadn’t realized Sabrina was running toward her, or that the man who was holding her now had a hand cupped to his nose.

Feeling tears burn in her eyes, she swung her leg back and managed to hit her capture in the groin.  His grip on her hair loosened and she pulled away, reaching for Sabrina.  No sooner than their hands connected, they both heard a loud thundering noise and were surrounded by a strange blue light.

The last thing she remembered was pulling Sabrina close and crying out in pain…Then everything went black.

Dancer with the pale blue eyes,

Sing us the tale of the small warrior.

Dancer with the dark brown gaze,

Sing us the tale of the female swordsmen.

Dancers,

Sing us the tale of your story.

Author's Note

The poem at the end of some of the chapters go together to make the prophecy foretold about Fumiko and Sabrina.