A/N: Yes, I decided to roam from the Yaoi into… Yurri. No I'm kidding, kinda… There will be a bit of Yurri in future chapters, should I chose to continue this, but the basic pairing in this fic is my absolute fav pairings, besides Hwoajin of course! This, like my fic, 'All is Fair' is only an experiment. Only unlike the fic I just mentioned, this one has future chapters already planned out.
**Disclaimer** the poem interspersed within this Chapter is "Narrow Doors" by Frannie Stearns Davis. It is not mine. Speaking of things that aren't mine, Tekken is one of them. And all the two characters in this chapter related to Tekken are not mine either.
Eyes May See Chapter One The Narrow Doors**The wide door into sorrow
Stands open night and day.
With head held high and dancing feet
I pass it on my way. **
The cab pulled to a stop in front of a large house. It was beautiful. Christie stared up at the walls as she got out of the van and walked over to the trunk with the driver. The door of the house opened and a young Japanese woman ran out, her arms wide, and hugged the awestruck Brazilian. Christie hugged back with one arm as she continued to stare and pull at one of her bags.
"I can't believe you finally made it!" Noriko shrieked, grabbing a couple of Christie's suitcases, "These are heavy! What did you pack? Your whole country?"
Christie laughed, "If only that were possible…"
The Driver carried the last 2 bags to the door. She paid him, giving him a generous tip and watched as the van drove away before turning back to her friend and grinning excitedly. No words were necessary. They hadn't seen each other for two years and were happy just looking at each other. Years of information passed through one excited flash of the eyes, and they giggled and ran into the living room, leaving the bags inside by the door.
"I missed you!" Noriko hugged Christie once more.
The Brazilian squeezed her friend before sitting down, "This is so weird. It's been a whole two years since I came here for the tournament, and I already feel like I've been in Japan for years… besides the fact that I don't understand a word anybody says."
Noriko giggled, "So what's the boy scene? Did you and Eddy hook up since you found him?"
"Eddy? No way… Ok maybe for a little while, but he was totally obsessed with power and it got really irritating… aside from in bed… and I dropped him."
"Really?" Noriko grinned, "So he was good in bed?"
"Ooooohhh!" Christie moaned loudly, "He was a GOD in bed."
Noriko and Christie both begun to laugh. They fell off their chairs and onto the floor. Christie quickly stopped laughing and faced her friend, crossing her legs. Noriko stopped to and crossed her legs also facing Christie. She could see a playful question on the Brazilian's face and couldn't wait to answer whatever it was.
Christie didn't let Noriko down. "So what about you? Any man in your life?"
"Many!" Noriko grinned.
"Well, give me details, girl!"
Noriko Leaned in closer, "Tommy Chung."
Christie's eyes widened, "You mean that Buff Chinese guy we met in the club last time I was here?" She shook her head, "You can't be serious."
"I can be serious, and I am. I totally dated him for a whole month."
"A month?" Christie laughed, "Was he a god too?"
"No."
Noriko and Christie began laughing again, falling forwards into each other and hugging each other. Their eyes closed. Soon their laughing was interrupted by Noriko's cell phone ringing. She frowned at the unwanted interruption as she looked at the caller ID. She sighed and walked into thee next room to answer it.
Christie waited patiently. Before Noriko finally came back in, Christie had counted 254 lines in the carpet. She looked up at her Japanese friend with tired eyes, "What was it? A new Boyfriend?"
Noriko shook her head, "I have to go attend a meeting. Some idiot wants to make a presentation for some Tourism commercial."
"If he's cute, get his number for me, will ya?" Christie winked.
"Only if I don't want him," Noriko winked back and walked out of the room.
Christie smiled to herself as she turned on the TV. All the channels were in Japanese so she settled with a cartoon, guessing what was going on.
Fifteen minutes later the sound of a car pulling into the driveway caught Christie's full attention. Surely Noriko wouldn't be home so quickly. Then she remembered that Noriko had a roommate. It was about time Christie had someone to talk to! She jumped up off the floor and ran to the door. After a few moments the door opened and in walked a tall curvy woman with long flowing red hair and emerald green eyes. She was dressed like a French maid.
Christie and the woman looked at each other for a few moments, both in extremely revealing clothing, and both with a similar build. Christie stepped back a couple steps, allowing the other woman more entryway. She couldn't stop staring. This woman was beautiful! They grinned in unison and right away Christie knew she'd get along with the woman. With a grin like that it was a given.
The woman closed the door behind her and faced the Brazilian again, "You must be Christie Monteiro."
"Yeah. You must be… Noriko's roommate."
"Aw," The woman frowned, "Noriko didn't talk about me enough to mention my name? That's rather depressing. My name is Venus Libricht… Where is Noriko?"
Christie frowned, "She left to a meeting thing. Aren't there any English channels?"
Venus laughed and took off her shoes, "There are a few, but they suck. I've got a DVD library. Wanna watch a movie? I've got tons!"
Christie nodded. Venus grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall and up some stairs. They stepped into a large walk-in closet to see DVD's covering the walls. Venus took one out and pulled Christie to another room complete with a large screen TV, a DVD player, Cushions lining the floor, and blankets everywhere. Christie stepped into the room and tripped, and fell flat on her face. She sat up and pressed on the floor, fascinated by her hand being able to sink into it.
Venus watched from the doorway, grinning, "The floor isn't a floor."
"Sweet!" Christie got up and hopped around, "It's seriously a BED room! You could totally have orgies in here!"
"I'll go make some popcorn. What do you want to drink? Coke, Pepsi, or ice Tea?"
Christie thought for a moment, "Pepsi."
Venus smiled and walked away. Christie let herself fall backwards and giggled when she sunk in about a foot. She always knew Noriko and her roommate were rich but she never imagined they'd have a literal bedroom. The most amazing part was that she'd be living in the house with these two filthy rich girls for a while.
She propped a cushion under her head and covered herself with a blanket. If only grandfather could see her. He'd probably be doing flips all over the room if he were there. She smiled and thought about her family. It was hard to imagine what life would have been like if she grew up in a house like that. Noriko did and she was fine. Eddy did too, but money and power did get to his head very easily. Christie decided she was glad she grew up how she did because it was no use regretting what you had no choice over.
After a few minutes, Venus came back in carrying a huge bowl of Popcorn and two big Glasses with 3 straws sticking out of each. Christie hopped up and grabbed the bowl, setting it on the ground beside where she was laying. She then took the glass Venus was holding out to her and the two laid down, Venus quickly pulling together her own mini sub-bed.
"Before the movie starts I should tell you something."
"You're really a man?" Christie asked, trying to keep a straight face.
Venus considered, "Uh… not last time I checked. No. There's a room across the hall from this one. The doorknob is brass instead of a silver color like the rest of them. Even if the door is open, it's off limits. Noriko would freak if anyone went in there."
"Off limits? Why?" Christie asked, intrigued.
"One of Noriko's family superstitions. Both her father and her grandfather committed suicide in that room, so her family believes that it is cursed. In fact, it was her father that first decided it was cursed and wouldn't let anyone in it, but one day he was tricked in," Venus said in a spooky campfire story type voice, "The minute after he stepped through that door, Everything went wrong. He went completely nuts. His wife left him, his son ran away, his youngest daughter died, and Noriko was going to commit him so he killed himself."
Christie raised an eyebrow sceptically, "She never told me that."
"It's not one of those things she likes to brag about," Venus shrugged, "And now for our feature presentation!" She pressed a button on a remote and the door shut. Another button and the lights faded. Another one and the TV turned on, and the DVD player started. She started putting in the code.
"What movie is it?"
Venus grinned, "Modern Vampires."
Christie's eyes Widened, "Are you serious? SWEET! That's like my fav movie of all times! Casper Van Dien's ass, here we come! Omigosh I think I love you Venus!"
**I never tread within it.
I never turn to see
The wide door into sorrow.
It cannot frighten me. **
The next day Christie walked down the hall of the second floor, past the cursed room, she laughed to herself at the silly superstition without even looking at it. The stairs creaked underneath her weight, but the carpet muffled the sound into a quiet moan. She stretched as she stepped into the kitchen. Noriko and Venus were sitting on the floor by a low table, eating noodles. Noriko was sitting very stiff and proper like one of those traditional Japanese women you see on movies. Venus, however, was leaning on the table, her legs spread out at her side. Christie grabbed a bowl of noodles and joined them, taking her own unique relaxed position.
Noriko looked at Christie and smiled, "Good morning."
Christie frowned as she tried to grasp some noodles with Chopsticks, "Morning…" She dropped a few more, "Damn it! How do you work these things?"
Noriko giggled, "You'll get used to them. There are some forks somewhere around here. I have to go to work right away. Venus has taken the day off so she'll keep you company. Is that all right?"
"That's all great!" Christie grinned at Venus who grinned back.
Venus picked up her bowl and dumped the rest of the noodles into her mouth. She spoke with her mouth full, "We're going shopping. Hurry and eat!"
"SHOPPING!" Christie shrieked and proceeded to tossing the chopsticks down, and eating the noodles with her fingers. Noriko shook her head, baffled by how two women could have such a lack of table manners.
After Christie finished, Venus pulled her out the door. She hopped down to the car on one foot, trying to get her shoes on. They got in, and buckled up, only pushing their excitement aside for one moment to wave at Noriko who was watching them through the window. The engine started with a low growl. Venus flashed Christie a bright smile before putting the car in drive and stepping on the gas.
They made it downtown within five minutes, on account of Venus's need for speed. She parked in a lot behind a sushi bar and got out. Christie followed. They stood outside the car for a few moments allowing Christie to take in the series of shops surrounding her. There were fast food restaurants, fancy Japanese restaurants, Toyshops, candy shops, and a rather interesting street a bit farther away. Christie squinted, trying to see what kind of shops were down that street. Venus grinned and started walking down that way, once again, the Brazilian followed close behind.
Once at the street Christie gasped. Cyber punk Clothing shops, sex shops, Goth shops, and clubs littered the street. She said nothing, but instead decided to give an example of what she was thinking by running into the cyberpunk clothing shop. Venus followed, amused by her new friend's excitement.
They shopped for 3 hours before deciding to get something to eat. They carried their bags back to the car and went into the sushi bar. There were only two tables left and Christie bounded to one before anyone could take it. Venus shook her head, still grinning and went to order their food.
Their food came quickly. Before Christie was able to stuff a piece of shrimp on a ball of rice into her mouth, a familiar face stepped in the door. She gasped and put the sushi down on her plate, "Omigosh it's him!"
Venus looked around, "Who?"
Christie's jaw dropped open, "That guy with the lone spike on his head. It's Jin Kazama. I met him at a tournament I went to two years ago!"
"Well go talk to him!"
"But," Christie frowned, "What if he doesn't remember me?"
Venus laughed, leaning over and unzipping Christie's jacket halfway, "Now he'll remember you."
Christie snickered and got up. She watched Jin take a seat at the other table and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and looked at her for a moment with a confused blank expression on his face, "… Suminasen?"
"Osoroshii kangae nimo osoware mas," Christie replied, it being the only Japanese phrase she knew how to say.
Jin raised his brow, "Do you now?"
Christie shrugged, "I don't know. Tell me what I said and I'll give you a straight reply. Sound like a deal?"
"You said, 'I have many evil thoughts.'"
"In that case, yes." She grinned, "You waiting for someone?"
He shook his head and nodded at the other seat, "Would you like to sit down?"
Christie grinned and sat down, "What did you call me?"
He smiled, "Suminasen? That means waiter."
"Waiter?" She frowned, "Does that mean you don't recognise me? Even with my chest ready to fall out any second?"
"I'd probably recognise you without… that, Miss Monteiro. I was just playing with you," He glanced toward the front, "It would have been a lot more fun had you brushed up on your Japanese."
She smiled, "Give me your arm."
Jin obeyed, hesitantly, but without questioning. Christie took a pen out of her pocket, rolled up Jin's sleeve and began to write down an address, "This is where I'll be staying for awhile. Drop by sometime," She winked as she stood up, "We'll… Catch up."
"But," He raised an eyebrow, "Don't people usually give their numbers?"
Christie grinned, "If you want my number, you're going to have to come and get it," and she went back to sit with Venus.
**The Narrow doors to sorrow
Are secret, still, and low:
Swift tongues of dusk that spoil the sun
Before I even know. **
Venus dropped Christie off at the house because she had to go to work. Christie plodded in, carrying all her bags. Why did shopping have to be so hard on the feet? She trudged up the stairs and put everything in her room. A draft blew in, rustling the curtains. That couldn't be normal. That was a rather large draft for indoors. A window must've been open somewhere.
Christie walked back down the hallway and stopped by the cursed room. That's where the draft was coming from! She peaked in, without stepping over the threshold. The window was shattered. Her eyes widened as all the possibilities flicked through her mind. 'Stay calm Christie, stay calm,' she thought to herself. No matter what happened, panicking would do more harm then good.
Before she could turn away there was a movement in the corner of her eye. She faced the room again only to see a small brown speckled bird limping around near the wall. Its wing was wounded. Christie ran into the room and picked it up, whispering soothingly to it. The wing was beginning to bleed.
The phone rang. Christie ran out to the hall phone with the bird pressed securely to her chest. She shifted it around gently, freeing one of her hands, and picked up the receiver, "Tseki residence."
"Monteiro," A raspy voice said with a mocking tone.
"That's me! What can I do for you?"
A laugh from the other line startled Christie, but he replied before she could say anything, "You can do a lot of things for me. Let's start by undoing that Jacket all the way."
Christie laughed, "No," And started undoing her Jacket.
"Why do you say no when you're doing it anyway?"
Christie froze.
"That bird doesn't look to good. You should bandage it up."
Christie hung up the phone and ran down the stairs. The bird chirped in pain, and she slowed down, whispering an apology as if the bird would understand. The phone call left her a little freaked out as she searched the house for something to bandage the bird with.
The doorbell rang. Christie considered not answering it, but perhaps it was someone important. She sighed and walked down the hall, holding the bird's wing with a rag gently, trying not to affect the fracture. She stood next to the door, realizing that she had no hands to open it with. "It's unlocked!" She called, "Come in!"
The door opened and Jin Kazama walked in. He looked at her and then at the bird. His eyes widened, "What happened?"
"It crashed through a window and broke it's wing," She frowned, "I don't know what to do. I can't call a vet because I don't understand the phone book and I don't know where there is a vet so I can't go to one, besides, I don't have a car, and the poor thing might not be allowed in a cab."
Jin looked at the bird, "May I?"
Christie nodded, "By all means."
He gently took the bird from her and studied it for a few moments, "Where's a flat surface? I can fix this."
"Uh… Kitchen. This way," Christie led him to the counter, "What do you need?"
Jin gave her requests and Christie scrambled around the house looking for the right things. Eventually she found everything, or just about everything and similar substitutes for what she couldn't find. Jin worked on the bird for almost a half an hour before putting it in a well-ventilated large box with food. He straightened up and glanced at Christie who was staring at him in amazement.
He smiled, "My mother taught me how to care for animals."
She smiled back, "Thank you."
"Well," Jin looked went over to the sink and washed his hands, "I didn't come here to save a Dusky Thrush. I came to see you."
"Dusky thrush?"
He laughed lightly, "That's the type of bird it was."
"Oh."
Jin paused, "You said it crashed through a window?"
"Yes."
He frowned, "Amazing it lived through that with only a fractured wing. That should have killed it. Of course, I'm glad it didn't, but it's still weird."
Christie shrugged and pulled Jin into the living room, "You have to tell me what's happening on this crazy cartoon!"
Jin grins as he watches the Brazilian turn on the TV.
**My dancing feet are frozen.
I stare. I can but see.
The narrow doors to sorrow
They stop the heart in me. **
A cool breeze blew across the room, Bringing Christie to a comfortable awakening. She rubbed her eyes and lazily sat up. The house was unusually quite, but all she could think about was Jin as she stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She hummed to herself as she undressed.
Christie walked down into the kitchen only to find it empty. She looked out the window to see the car gone. The table was empty, and so was the sink. There was no proof whatsoever that any breakfast was eaten. A note sat on the table. Christie walked over and picked it up, skimming over it quickly. She gasped, bringing a hand up and covering her own mouth in shock.
Christie!
I'm sorry but I tried to wake you but you wouldn't wake up. I assumed you had a long night so I left without you. Noriko was in a car accident and is in the hospital. She's awake and everything. The doctors assured me that she wasn't dieing, but she'll have to stay in the hospital for a while. There's a number for a cab company by the phone. Come down here when you're ready.
Sincerely,
Venus
Christie put down the note and sighs. She walks over to the phone and studies the number. Her wet hair drips onto the page, smearing the name of the cab company, but she manages to save the number by flinging her hair behind her back. She reaches for the receiver but before she can touch it, it rings.
Jin got her number before he left the night before. Christie jumped up and down thinking that it must be him. She picked up the receiver and said, "ohaioh!"
A raspy laugh came in response, startling Christie. The creepy man spoke, "Good morning, my dear. Did you enjoy yourself with Jin? I know I enjoyed the show you two gave me," He laughed a slow almost moaning laugh, "Won't you speak to me, dear? You know, I didn't ensure you're being alone this morning just to talk to a wall."
"Ensure?" Christie asked, confused, "How the hell did you do that?"
"Noriko made a lovely performance of strength when she crawled out of that mess of a car after my friend hit her. I have it on tap if you are interested."
Christie contained herself, wanting to scream and lash out at the man, "What do you want?"
"We'll get to that later. For now, I suggest you do as you're told. That friend of mine I told you about is in the hospital with your friend, and he's armed and ready to blow her existence away at my signal." He paused to allow his words to sink in, "Now go to your room and change. Put on you're new gloss latex jeans and… let's see… That heavy weight storm trooper bra thing."
"It's not a bra," Christie argued.
The man sighed, "Do you really think it wise to argue with me? Now when you're all prettied up, make your way to the hospital and visit your friend. If you didn't show up, it might look a little suspicious. Don't try telling anyone either. I'm always watching you."
She shook her head and hung up. It was time to change.
Obeying the man about the choice of clothing wasn't hard. The clothes may have been skimpy but she had been wearing much worse just the day before. She called a cab and went to the hospital, trying to catch anyone following her. Something always had to ruin her fun. In this case it was a homicidal stalker. Damn.
Inside the hospital, a nurse signed her in a book and gave her directions to where Noriko was staying. She thanked the nurse quickly, especially glad that someone actually knew English. She went up the elevator to the third floor, only because she couldn't find the stairs. The actual room was easier to find. The number system was a little confusing so Christie just walked until she seen the right one.
Venus stood inside the door. As soon as Christie stepped in, she was pulled back out.
"Hey! What the hell?" Christie asked, frowning, "I want to go see Noriko, please. I'm worried about her!"
Venus shook her head, "She's sleeping and the nurses would have kicked you out in a matter of seconds anyway. They're taking her for tests. You'll have to wait longer, friend. Let's go get some coffee."
Christie shrugged and followed Venus into a small deserted room, "Doesn't anyone else drink coffee?"
"Not from this room. There's a cafeteria downstairs," Venus answered as she locked the door.
"Wha-What," Christie stammered, "What are you doing?"
Venus grinned and stepped toward Christie, "You look very sexy today."
"Huh?" The Brazilian stepped back, "Thanks but please get the fuck away from me before you really scare me."
"Scare you? Oh I don't mind." Venus ran her hand along Christie's face, going down the neck and stopping just above the chest, "You know, maybe you'll be more comfortable if you know exactly what is happening right now."
Venus undid a few of the buttons on her shirt, and slipped out of her baggy jeans, revealing a g-string. She stepped closer to Christie to the point where they could feel each other's warm breath. Venus kissed Christie's neck, causing the Brazilian to shiver. She then ran her tongue along Christie's flesh, from the neck to the lips and presented her with a hungry kiss. After a few moments, Venus broke away from the kiss and grinned, "Do you still want me to stop?"
"No."
** Oh, stranger than my midnights
Of loneliness and strife
The doors that let the dark leap in
Across my sunny life. **