Hello, everyone! First of all, I think it's only right for me to give the greatest, BIGGEST apology for my long absence. I've suffered to very difficult semesters and in the midst of it all, forgot how much I love writing. It is only recently that I rediscovered my love, and I have every intention of making it up to all of you who have been waiting so patiently. After much consideration, I decided that I wanted to start this story over and write a second draft, as I don't think I gave you my best work the first time around. That is why, if you remember the initial story, it will be different. But I'm going to do my best to make it up to all of you and give a better story than I had before! I hope you all can forgive me, and I hope you enjoy it! (Once again, disclaimer: I don't own Shugo Chara or any of the other characters, aside from some extras.)
On the Rocks
Chapter 1
It all started with a Joker on the rocks...
"Hey, bartender! Six shots of vodka over here!"
The purple-haired bartender barely heard the man's request over the racket of the "bar", if you could even call it that. "Bar" was far too classy a term to describe the room that looked it came straight out of the 1800s. Nagihiko Fujisaki glanced at the table from which he'd been called. Three regulars sat there.
Daichi Hachiro, recently-freed petty thief.
Haruka Kurosaki, a high-level businesswoman who had been embezzling money from her company for eight years. Her boss was onto her, but was too concerned about the company's image to say anything.
Hayato Wilson, a grand auto thief who was currently on the run from the local police.
Of course, this was the normal clientele for the bar. In fact, they were small fry. Embezzlers and thieves were nothing in comparison to the serial assailants and murderers who often came by. After all, not many upstanding citizens would like to go to a bar in the most dangerous part of Tokyo.
Which is what made it so shocking when she came in that night.
As Nagihiko brought the shots to the table, he carefully observed the newcomer. Bright pink hair. Dead eyes, the color of honey. Petite, with a slouch that appeared unnatural for her. A pretty girl who looked like her entire world had collapsed.
Nagihiko placed the shots of vodka on the greasy wooden table with a fake smile that looked real. "Here you go." There was no thanks, or even acknowledgement that he had come over. The pinkette had already sat on a stool at the wooden bar by the time Nagihiko returned.
"Hello, ma'am," Nagihiko said politely with the same fake smile as before. "What can I get for you?"
In a dead voice, she asked, "What's the strongest drink you have?"
Clearly, just as Nagihiko had thought, she was a newcomer. Any regular new exactly what the strongest drink was, and avoided it like it would kill them-which, really, it could. "Well, our strongest cocktail would be the Joker, but even most people with a high-tolerance can't-"
"Give me a Joker. On the rocks."
Nagihiko didn't mention that it was only available on the rocks. Instead, he questioned, "Ma'am, are you sure? There are several different hard liquors-"
"Just give it to me." Realizing that she had unintentionally snapped at Nagihiko, the pinkette said quietly, "Please just give it to me."
Nagihiko internally shrugged. It was her own poor decision. He tried to hold a conversation with her, since she appeared to be alone. "So why exactly are you here?"
Amu stared at his turned back, trying-and failing miserably-to put on a cool face and hide her grief. "No reason."
Nagihiko's eyes remained on the drink. "Surely there's a reason you came to this particular bar. After all, it's very risky for a young woman to come to the most dangerous part of the city just to drink alone."
The pinkette muttered under her breath, but Nagihiko heard her. "It's not that much of a risk. Not like anyone wants me."
Nagihiko placed the finished drink on the counter before her and moved to give her the large glass of water that was required for anyone who asked for the Joker. "What do you mean by that?"
Before he could even touch a glass, the girl tipped her glass up and downed half of the drink in seconds. His eyebrows went up in surprise. I hope she doesn't drink too much. I really don't need another 2013 incident. He rushed to give her water so he wouldn't have to hospitalize her. The glass of water touched the bar at the same time that the young woman began ranting in pained anger.
"I broke my ankle!" Nagihiko was about to try and soothe her, telling her that it would heal and there was no reason for her to be so upset, but she continued talking.
"I used to be a ballerina-one of the best in Japan! But one day I fell off the stage. In the middle of a recital! And in case that wasn't bad enough, when I hit the ground my ankle shattered. Some of the shards even tore my muscles. The doctors told me that it would never get back to what it once was. That I could never dance again! That if I try, I'll only collapse and make it worse!
"And that's not all," the pinkette continued. "I told my boyfriend what happened to me. That I could no longer dance. Sobbing my eyes out as I told him. You wanna know what he said to me?" She paused for a moment as if waiting for a response, but continued without one. "He broke up with me. Told me that he couldn't handle that much emotion. That he thought I never cried, or got angry. That I was just always happy. He told me that he wouldn't be with a girl who would cry at such a little thing!" The pinkette laughed harshly. "Apparently my greatest dream being crushed in a matter of seconds was just a 'little thing' to him."
Nagihiko had to admit it; he was shocked. He didn't even know this boyfriend of hers, but he couldn't help but hate him. Perhaps it was because he himself, at a younger age, had loved to dance in the traditional Japanese style. He had stopped of his own free will, but to be forced to quit due to an injury? That would have crushed him. Beyond that, having the woman he loved saying his emotions were out of line? It would drive him insane. He would likely be in the same place as this pinkette: sitting in a bar, drinking away his sorrows.
Which is probably the reason why he gently took her hand off the Joker and place it around her water.
The pinkette looked up at him in surprise-the first emotion besides sorrow he had seen on her face all night-but she didn't move away. Perhaps it was due to her encroaching drunkenness.
"I cannot express in words how sorry I am that this happened to you." Nagihiko found the words falling out of his mouth of their own accord. "I can't even imagine the pain you must be suffering. But I can tell you this: I tried to make it as a traditional Japanese dancer when I was young, and I couldn't do it because I didn't have the determination. So the fact that you became such an amazing ballerina speaks worlds about your determination, or at least your stubbornness." The young woman let out a choked laugh. "So use that same determination that got you this far to drag yourself out of this mess and start with a clean slate. Your friends will be there to support you as well, I'm sure. Okay?"
The girl sniffled a few times, looking like she might start crying again, but then smiled at Nagihiko. A dazzling smile, as if she were a star. "Yeah!"
"Bartender!" some unknown person yelled from across the room. "Eight beers over here!"
Nagihiko placed both of the pinkette's hands around the glass of water. "Drink all of this." He wrapped his own hand around the Joker. "I'll take this."
"Bartender!" the same man yelled.
"Thank you so much," the pinkette said. Nagihiko only smiled. She looked down at a silver necklace she wore, holding the pendant tightly.
"BARTENDER! Get me my damn beers!"
For the first time that night, Nagihiko smiled for real as he joked to the young woman, "I better get him those beers before he tears the bar down." Which actually wouldn't be that surprising; he was a criminal specializing in arson, and was notorious for his anger management problems.
The young woman seemed more focused on her pendant than on him though-well, as focused as a drunk person could be.
Nagihiko reached for eight Blue Moon's, placing them on a tray, and carrying them to the table. He gave another fake smile to the table of two, placing the beers on the table. "Here you are. Eight beers."
The man scowled and said, "I hope you know you aren't getting a tip now."
As if you would have given one anyways. But Nagihiko simply smiled at him again and walked back to the bar, only to find the pinkette's glass of water and stool empty and a glint of silver at the base of the glass. Nagihiko cocked his head to the side when he saw what it was.
The young woman's necklace.
Nagihiko picked it up delicately and examined it more closely. There were two pendants: the first, a pair of point shoes, which looked faded from being held so often. The second was a heart-shaped locket. Two names were engraved on the cover: Amu & Tadase. Overcome with curiosity, Nagihiko opened the locket to find a picture of the girl who had just left in the embrace of a blonde-haired, pink-eyed man.
Nagihiko stared at the front door in curiosity, wanting to know more about the pinkette who had just left her necklace in a bar where she clearly did not belong.
His reverie was quickly shattered by a loud shout: "BARTENDER!"
I hope that this was okay, especially considering how long I have been keeping you all waiting. How was the new version? What did you all think? Please comment!