Senko-san: Hi again y'all! Missed me? (LOL) I can't help but feel EXTREMELY happy and grateful for your reviews! I can't thank you guys enough! Like I said before, this time, the story is mainly on GOJYO! And I'll do my best to make it just as interesting as "My Unforgettable Vacation". I promise!
Riyo-san: Uh-huh… and you PICKED TWO DAYS BEFORE YOUR EXAM TO WRITE THIS THING? --#
Senko-san: (Looking at her innocently) I can't help it! I can't focus on my studies for the WHOLE day, y'know? I need a break too!
Riyo-san: Ugh… Fine! Do whatever you want!
Senko-san: Hee… Arigato ne, Riyo-san! (Face towards the readers) And now, fellow readers, a new story begins!
Searching For a Blood-red Lotus
Chapter 1
I could see myself running as fast as I could. I didn't dare to stop, for if I did… I fear I'll never get the chance to see her again…
When I arrived, I saw her hesitantly stepping inside the car. I shouted her name with all my might. She stopped and looked at me, glad to see me before they were about to leave.
She ran towards me too, and gave me a hug. It took her sometime to let me go… I knew her heavy feelings of leaving this place… leaving me… I could feel her tears dampened my shirt, as I hugged her back.
"I wish you didn't have to go…"
"Me too…Gojyo…"
"You're the only friend I have…"
"… We'll meet again… right?"
I paused before I gave a grim nod.
"…And when we meet…" I took something out of my pocket and handed it to her. "I'll recognize you with this…"
She took it gingerly, forcing herself to smile as she wiped away her tears.
"I'll keep it close to me… I promise…"
We both heard her father calling her; it was time to part… She slowly climbed into the car, glancing at me one last time, and her mother closed the door.
As the car drove away, I tried to chase it with all my might. She was still looking at me through the window, in tears once more.
"Promise me we'll meet again!" I screamed, still chasing the vehicle.
"We will, Gojyo! I promise!"
Unsatisfied, I continued to chase the car. I still can't believe that she has to move away… far away from me…
Yet, I finally slowed down and stopped. I couldn't feel my feet anymore, and my shirt was drenched with sweat. I watched helplessly as the moving truck and the car with her in it vanished from my sight…
Slowly, I woke up. I sat upright in my bed and absorbed everything around me. I heaved a heavy sigh when I saw the time; I woke an hour earlier again… I sank half of my face into my right palm. The same dream… the same memory…
Knowing that I won't fall asleep again, I got up and headed towards the bathroom to freshen up.
I thought of the dream again. It has been 13 years… and we still haven't met after that… Honestly, a part of me told me to forget her, but the other part was still filled with hope… But if we did meet, how was she to recognize me, anyway? Will she still remember me?
We were kids back then… Kids tend to forget too… but I didn't… Not everything, anyway… Argh! I don't know what to think anymore!
Years passed by, lots have changed. I have opened few pubs under my name, and recently opened a video store… so I guess I didn't do too badly with my life after all… Hakkai was always worried that I might end up on the streets, jobless… Heh! I guess I proved him wrong…
I made myself some breakfast and ate it quietly. If that saru was here, I know he'll make my life miserable by eating up EVERYTHING in the fridge! And Sanzo hitting us with that stupid fan of his, Hakkai smiling helplessly… Yet… it does feel awkward without them around…
I lit a cigarette and placed the dishes in the sink. I'll clean them later…
I picked my coat and headed out. I guess I'll check out the store…
I was half-way there when my assistant called me from behind.
"Yo, boss!" He grinned.
"Hey, Zhan! You're early today…" I smirked back at him.
"So are you! You've been coming earlier lately…"
"Yeah, I know… You got a problem with that?"
"Looks like I can't come late anymore…" He joked.
"If you ever do that, I'll beat the crap outa' you!" I grinned.
"Ooh… scaaaary!"
They continued to chat along until they reached the store. Zhan was two years younger than Gojyo, but he is a responsible guy. That was why Gojyo hired him in the first place.
Time passed by quickly, and the day was getting darker. I decided to go check out how the pub was doing.
"Hey, Zhan! Wanna drop-by the pub for a break?"
"Hmm, sounds good."
"C'mon! And don't worry, I'm not gonna cut it from your wages!"
"Thanks, boss!"
Just then, they heard someone screamed in pain. They stopped and tried to find the source of the voice.
"It sounded from over there." Zhan pointed towards from the abandoned building.
"Uh-huh… I'm gonna check it out… Coming?"
"O-Of course!"
"You don't sound so sure…" I grinned.
"I'm coming!" He said, louder.
"Alright, let's go…"
As we got closer, we could hear a conversation going on.
"You…! How dare you ruin my face!"
We heard someone being shoved hard and crashed towards the crates. I could hear Zhan held his breath and gulped heard. I smirked to myself. Poor guy! He's not used to these kind of things, but he still wants to come along… Points for his bravery!
Gangsters… like usual…
We were few yards away, and I told Zhan to find someplace to hide. At first, he refused, but I forced him to.
"If anything happens, go and get the police…" I told him.
But I don't think that'll be necessary… this will be over shortly…
"Alright…" He obeyed.
I walked on towards them. They were still busy punching and bashing their victim into a pulp.
"Oi, play fair would ya?" I voiced out, gaining their attention.
"And who might you be?" One of them, their leader, perhaps, growled.
I noticed his left cheek was bleeding terribly. I guess he was the one who screamed earlier.
"Just a passer-by…" I puffed a chain of smoke.
"A nosy one, at that…" he smirked.
"You guys were kinda noisy… so I just dropped-by to tell you guys to shut the hell up…" I simply replied.
"You're really looking for trouble…"
"Maybe… It depends whether you guys can beat me… besides…" I looked at the person they were hitting; now on the ground. "It's an unfair fight; seven against one…"
That triggered everything. They immediately attacked me, but they were too slow… Like I thought, this is going to be another dull fight…
Minutes later, all of them were on the ground. I clapped my hands clean and lit another cigarette. Geez! Such big talk and no action! Baka! (Idiot!)
I approached the person; still unconscious. I could hear Zhan running towards me excitedly.
"Whoa! I didn't know you could fight like that!"
"Heh! Now, you do…" I chuckled.
"You were amazing!"
"Yeah! Yeah! I heard that a lot from the ladies! Now help me with this guy, would ya?" I turned the person to face me, and got a surprise by what I saw.
She's a woman!
"Hey… isn't she-…"
"You know her?" I looked at him.
"Yeah, she's a waitress at the coffee shop across the street."
As I carried her, I took my time to observe her facial features. It was kinda hard because of the lack of light…
She had long wavy dark brown hair, and pale skin. Her shirt and jeans were torn and there were stains of blood on them. She was bruised everywhere, and I were saddened to see her in that state… it's just not right to hit women… Not like this…
"Oi… do you know her name, then?" I asked Zhan.
He paused, and then replied.
"I'm not sure… but if I'm not mistaken, her name's Scarlet…"
"Scarlet, huh?"
"I guess so. That's what I saw on her name-tag…"
"I see…" I walked forward.
"I heard she has a sad history…" He continued.
"Really? Would you mind sharing?" I asked in a half-joking manner.
"Hmm… let's see…" He tried to collect everything he could remember. "Oh, for one, she can't talk."
"What do you mean she can't talk?"
"Like what I said! Well, she could, before she got involve into an accident years ago…"
"Accident?"
"Yeah. Car accident. She was the only survivor… but she was traumatized by it… that's why she couldn't talk now…"
"I see…"
Pity… A beauty like her had to suffer all that…
"Uh, boss? Where are you taking her?"
"Home."
"Shouldn't you take her to the hospital?"
"On foot?"
"Uh… right…"
The hospital and police station were miles away from where we are. That's why there are lots of cases of gangsters and vandalism here… But I'm used to this place…
"But we could call the ambulance…" He suggested.
"I think I can handle it…" I told him casually.
"BOSS!"
"Alright, alright! I'll call a doctor to check on her, okay?"
"I'm coming with you." He said solemnly.
"Hey, don't you trust me?"
"Not with women…" He eyed me knowingly.
"Ch! Fine! Come on!" I sighed, annoyed.
As promised, I called the doctor. He came and checked on her and advised us to make a police report. I told him that I will, and he left.
What the doctor doesn't know is that it's pointless! Lodging a police report or not, they wouldn't dare come down this area anyway… Cowards…
Zhan refused to leave, so I let him take the couch. The woman's in my room, still unconscious.
The time ticked by, and Zhan drifted slowly to sleep. I was sitting on the sofa beside him, thinking. I noticed Zhan was finally asleep, but I wasn't feeling sleepy yet…
He REALLY didn't believe me when I'm with the ladies! I chuckled. I wasn't mad at him, but I find it rather funny. I love women, but I never force them to do what they don't want to… They have their own rights…
I decided to check on her, since I had nothing more to do. I slowly opened the door and looked down at her. She was sleeping peacefully, which made me feel better. I also noticed the color of her hair wasn't exactly dark brown… it was more of… brownish-red… I think…
She began to stir. She sat up immediately, bewildered.
"Hey, calm down. You're safe now…" I told her.
She slowly looked at me, and gave me another surprise. Her eyes… Her right eye was crimson red, like mine… but the other, was green…
Is she… a taboo too? Or…-
"Are you thirsty?" I asked.
She still looked at me suspiciously, but slowly nodded.
"Be right back…" I headed towards the kitchen.
I guess she'll be staying here for awhile… It's not like I mind, anyway… But… communicating will be… a slight problem…
Senko-san: Well, I have to stop here for now…(Writer's block) T.T;… and I have to continue with my revisions… I'll try and update after the exams, okay? Till then, ja ne! (bye!)