Edited to comply with rules regarding songfics. These lyrics are mine.
Cigar smoke hung heavy in the air of the Blue Rose Lounge Jazz Club amid the sounds of clinking of happy glasses, a slap on the waitress's rear, and the hearty guffaws of well-to-do men as they watched the entertainment…
"Please show your love for the Blue Roses' newest jewel, from the far reaches of the Orient, the sultry croons of Sakura!" the enthusiastic cry of the ringleader came over the mic.
When the swell of fists banging on tables died, the spotlight shone on the salacious silhouette of a slender vixen of 20, honey brown hair piled in a silken mass in a fashionable twist on her head, exposing the plunge of the glittering beaded sheath dress clinging to her form. Sakura slowly spun around to the strumming of the bass strings, the beads glittering on the bodice of her low-cut pale pink dress, the thin straps at her slim ivory shoulders as she began to sway.
When the bass begins, it plucks at my heart
My eyes see you and I feel Cupid's dart
Won't you be with me,
Stay with me, sway with me?
Her silken voice floated through the hazy air of the club, the air quieted, but rapt with attention. Sakura flashed a smile as one hand held the mic close to her lips, sensuous cherry lips pouted to her audience as her other hand accentuated her rhythm, the slender arm waving to the beat of her hips as she danced to the thump of the bass, driving her heartbeat.
In the taste of sunset, it begins
Like a sleeping morning glory folding its wings,
Chocolate kisses I hold so dear,
With you I have nothing to fear.
The men began to cheer as they raised their glasses to her. A man turned up the collar of his trench, nursing his glass of Dewar's in the shadows, but his gaze focused on the hypnotic writhing of the beauty on stage.
Dance with me on the moonlit floor
My heart is painted yours.
Only you have the power to make me weak
When we dance, cheek-to-cheek.
Sakura was warming up to the crowd. Her diamond jewelry flashed on her slender neck and on her ears, her bracelets catching the gaze of the spotlight and sending a scattering of playing dots in the air as she continued.
I am sinking deeper into you
Catch me smooth, dance with me
Fingers idling in your hair
Give me more of that honeyed stare
Dance with me on the moonlit floor
My heart is painted yours.
Only you have the power to make me weak
When we dance, cheek-to-cheek.
Sakura leaned over the piano, crooning to the mic, winking to the dark figure in the shadows, blowing a kiss to another as she offered a flirting kick, crossing her legs demurely as she sat up on the white grand piano, the hem of her skirt frilling up against her upper thighs, her voice growing more powerful, more intense, drowning in a sea of reminiscence as she sang.
I am sinking deeper into you
Catch me smooth, dance with me
Fingers idling in your hair
Give me more of that honeyed stare
Give me more
Of that honeyed stare
Sakura finished to the thunderous clapping and cheering, a few cries for encores rippling through the audience. She grinned and blew a soft kiss to the club as someone passed her a bouquet of flowers…
"Thank you all for your love. Please be sure to listen to me again next week, same time…"
Backstage, Sakura was tired. She leaned against the vanity, staring at her overly made-up face, her fair skin a sticky pallid color under the harsh lighting. She slowly rubbed at her coral lips with a tissue, the vivacious color blending to a softer pink as she wiped away her lipstick.
"Great show, Sakura. I always knew you were a moneymaker."
Her boss barged in the dressing room, the other girls not caring as they strutted around half naked, preparing for the next act. They earned a few grins and spanks from him. They squealed modestly, but their sluttish grins said otherwise. They had every reason to try and milk a raise from their sleazy boss. He was dressed impeccably in a new pinstriped navy suit, topped with a matching fedora held on his head at a jaunty angle, a white silk handkerchief flounced at his breast pocket. It meant he had found new investors, and had come into more money.
"When am I going to see this money, Yamazaki?" She was bored with this routine.
"Now now, you know you get a salary here more than the other girls. Don't push your luck." His smile did not reach his piercing gaze as he rubbed her shoulders, glaring at her hard through the mirror. She shrugged her shoulders and pushed him away.
"And what about the security you promised me?" she asked. As if on cue, a girl in a fantastic lavender feathered costume dropped a basket of flowers on her dressing table wordlessly. Sakura didn't need to read the card. It was the same blood red roses in the basket, the same card that would read "Marry me. Or die." All from an unknown face who must have been watching her shows.
"Fuck you, Yamazaki!" She shrieked as she threw the basket of flowers across the room. "He was in here again!"
"Sakura, it's just a fan. Come on now, he paid good money to see all your shows…"
Sakura just growled at his reasoning and threw on a white jacket, not bothering to change out of her stage dress and slinging on her pink backpack.
"Fuck you, Yamazaki," she repeated. "I want my fucking check by tomorrow."
With that she slipped out into the chilly night air.
Sakura's heels clicked briskly on the pavement as she walked to her apartment a few blocks from the club. A breeze swirled dead leaves around her as she hugged her arms for warmth, gazing surreptitiously at the dark alleys. She regretted leaving in such a hurry without the usual company of her friends to escort her home. But at the time, she just wanted to get away from Yamazaki and the stress of working as a lounge singer. There was a sudden rustle behind her that made her whip around to see nothing but the pitch dark. The streetlight flickered and buzzed yellow ominously above her as a sheet of an old newspaper fluttered by. She raked her hair out of her face, emerald eyes glowing dark, hardened by years of living in the city alone after her sole family, her brother and father, was unexpectedly killed in a hit and run accident.
"Who's there?" her voice was scattered to the wind. Silence echoed to her.
She turned, walking faster to her apartment, fingers digging through her bag. Keys keys keys… she was almost there…
BAM
She was slammed suddenly against the brick wall, dragged into an alley, the wind knocked out of her… she couldn't even scream for help. She found herself struggling under a man who reeked of too much alcohol, the lean man still able to hold a hard grip over her wrists as he pinned them above her head on the wall, kissing her roughly along her neck, stubble scratching her…
"NO!" she finally managed to scream, struggling against his grip… His hands were sliding up her dress, his knee forcing hers apart…
"Did you like my pretty flowers?" he murmured into her neck. Sakura's eyes widened, her blood rushing cold. "I kissed each petal before I had them sent to you."
"No! Get off of me!" She shrieked before his other hand tore at her dress, trying to muffle her screams with his lips, his alcoholic breath washing over her, making her choke. She writhed in his arms, trying to kick him away, but suddenly…
Sakura could breathe. She coughed, rubbing at her throat as she slowly looked up to see the stalker fly toward the wall, his back landing on the brick façade with a sickening crunch. He slumped to the floor and didn't stir. Standing protectively before her was a dark figure of a man, his dark trench fluttering in the wind. The streetlight caught a hint of his chocolate locks, his amber eyes steely as her savior glared critically at the unconscious man. Sakura breathed as she braced against the wall for support, straightening up slightly… He turned slowly to glance at her.
"You ok?"
It was the next to last thing Sakura heard before feeling her knees buckle under her, her eyes shutting as the world grew dark, only aware of someone catching her as she fell to the soft flutter of… wings?