The Princess and the Vigilante Chapter One
Crossed Paths
"I can't stop thinking about you... you saved my life but I have something of yours… Please understand… You can do anything to me, just please don't hate me…"
"RAN~!" Miyu called from the terminal.
Miyuko Kazemari—nicknamed "Miyu"—came a long way from New York to Chicago. It's been several years since she saw Ran Murajoso, her childhood friend.
"Miyu-Chan!" Ran exclaimed, waving her arms.
The two hugged each other and giggled. They walked off to Ran's car and drove off.
"So, how've you been, Miyu? And your family?" Ran said.
"I'm fine and they're doing well—my father is, at least," Miyu responded.
"Oh! Your parent's divorced… sorry."
Miyu lightly smiled and looked towards the side. She never liked to talk about her parent's marital status—it only brought back painful memories.
Ran steered the conversation somewhere else, "Hey! How about your brothers? How are they doing?"
"They're OK. Hayato's just turned 13 and Kenta got a job as an intern. Katsu's at home, taking care of Daddy and Hayato," Miyu replied.
"Aww…" Ran said, "Haya's growing up! I bet he's still cute, though!"
"You wouldn't be saying that if you had him for a brother… that annoying little…" Miyu looked outside the car window. Chicago was very different from New York, let alone Tokyo. Giant skyscrapers, busy prefectures—she would think it'd be the same as the others, but one thing separated Chicago from the others. It was the atmosphere, the feel of the town was darker, like something great was robbed from the city.
Through the rest of the trip, they talked until they reached Ran's apartment. Ran opened the door to her apartment.
"Welcome to my home!" Ran exclaimed.
Miyu walked in and looked around, "Wow, Ran. Your apartment looks like your room when we were kids."
The room was covered in plush toys and posters with some gadgets here and there.
"And this is where you sleep," Ran said, opening another door.
"Thanks!" Miyu exclaimed.
She dropped her pink and green luggage, kicked off her shoes, and threw herself on the bed. It was nine in the evening and the city was shining bright, like stars in the sky. Miyu pulled the covers over herself.
"Good night, Chicago…" she murmured and then dozed off.
Miyu awoke to the sound of J-Pop on her smartphone. She stretched, smiled, and she ran up the window smelled the air. It smelled awful, but otherwise it was going to be a good day.
"Morning, Ran!" Miyu skipped to the table like a ballerina.
"Same to you, Miyu!" Ran replied.
She was making bacon for breakfast. On Miyu's plate were two fried eggs and fried rice with a glass of orange juice.
"You're up so early, Ran," Miyu said.
"That's because I need to go to work," Ran said, "I work at the coffee shop down the block. Hey, how about you come along with me, Miyu?"
"Sure! Besides, it's coffee!" Miyu said. She loved coffee as long as it was decaffeinated.
They ate and left. They walked down the street and Miyu greeted most everyone they came across. Some people would greet back or ignore her, either way she would still say hello when people passed her. There were three men who often complemented Miyu, but Ran pulled her away, skeptical about their appearance. When they arrived at the coffee shop, named Brewed Delight, the store owner was unlocking the doors.
He noticed Ran, "Hey Ran! Always early to get to work, huh?"
"The early-bird catches the worm, Mr. Hunsten." She replied.
"I guess your right… and who's your friend?" Hunsten asked.
"This is Miyu Kazemari, my childhood best friend."
"Nice to meet you," Miyu said.
"Likewise," Hunsten said.
Hunsten opened the door and Ran put on her apron and hat. Miyu sat down and checked her phone. She got a text from Katsu:
Hi Miyu-Chan! Are you in Chicago?
Hi~ Katsu-Oniisan ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ! Yep, I'm in Chigago! It's different than I thought! (○o○)
That's good to hear! Dad and I just wanted to know if you're ok.
I'm fine! You don't need to worry! ( ＾∇＾)
Ok, Dad and Hayo-Neesan says hi. Good luck to you out there! (^_^)/"
Thanks ( ･ω･)ﾉ! Tell them I called! (-^〇^-)
The text session ended. It brought joy to Miyu that her family cared that much for her. Since their parent's divorce and her mother's later death, family meant everything to the Kazemaris'—especially to Kenta, Katsu, and their father. Minutes passed and Miyu saw customers fly in and out, Poor Ran! She thought, but one particular customer walked in.
"Moring, Sir! Welcome to Brewed Delight!" Ran said with a tired smile.
He nodded back. This person seems to have caught Miyu's eye as he was in a long brown trench coat and a cap with a green rim. He seemed tired and… "broken", if Miyu explained. He sat around the counter.
"What would you like to have today, sir?" Ran asked the man.
He sighed, "The usual… a large, strong cup."
Wow… he must be tired, Miyu thought. She wanted to walk up to him and ask if he was alright, but she assumed it would be very rude for her to ask that. She doesn't even know him. She decided to mind her own business and Ran came with a cup of coffee.
"Oh no! I didn't order any—"
"The boss says it's on the house. First cup free!" Ran grinned.
It was coffee with whipped cream over it and two cinnamon sticks to complement. A little too sweet, but Miyu loved anything sweet. "Thanks Ran! And tell Mr. Hunsten I said thanks!"
Ran returned to her duties and Miyu was enjoying her cup of coffee. Nothing can go wrong… Miyu thought.
It was, however, a bad time to think that— A REALLY bad time. A group of men walked in and they were the same men that complemented Miyu a while ago. The man in the trench coat was very uneasy about them and Ran was nervous but still greeted them.
"Welcome to Brewed Deli—" She stopped in her tracks as one pulled out his pistol and aimed for her forehead. He had a goatee and a right diamond earing. She quickly raised her hands.
"Don't fuckin' move!" He ordered.
The other two pulled out their M-4's and such. The ordered everyone in the café to get on the floor. Miyu did just that, but she couldn't believe what was happening. Those three nice men are really criminals plotting to rob a café (A café? Seriously?! She thought). She noticed the man in the trench coat, on the floor covering his head. In his right hand, however, he had what looked like a smartphone over his head. She assumed he was going to call the police, so she tried to stay calm.
"Hey-hey!" One of the men exclaimed, looking at Miyu, "You're that pretty girl from the street!"
The other one turned his head, "Hey! You're right!" He grabbed Miyu's arm and pulled her off the floor, "How 'bout this one, boss? I bet a bunch of pervs would love to buy this one!"
"Miyu!" Ran exclaimed, but the man in the goatee forced the gun up to her head.
"Shut up and give us the money, bitch!" He looked at Miyu and examined her face, "I know I'd buy an Asian girl like her. Alright, bring her along, too. We just made a score: Money and new merchandise!"
The two men laughed and grabbed her arms. Miyu cried and shrieked, "No! No! Let me go! Someone! Help! Please help!"
No one was willing to help her, not even Hunsten or Ran. She's been in Chicago for two days and she was already in deep trouble. She knew there was a dark atmosphere lingering in and around the city. A sense of helplessness… she felt it around the city and she was experiencing it. She only hoped for the best...
Then the lights went out.
Crash!
Bang!
Bang!
Crash!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After the gun-blazing, screaming, and close-combat melee, Miyu opened an eye. She saw the men on the floor, beaten brutally. One was shot in the chest; it was astonishing how he didn't die from impact and the other one was bleeding profusely from the side of his head. The one with the goatee was being interrogated by Trench Coach-Man, who held a gun towards him.
"Butch "Gritty" Penson," Trench Coat-Man said, "You have a warrant and have resisted arrest many times. You also are the ring leader of an underground sex trafficking syndicate…"
"What…?" Miyu whispered.
He ignored the girl and closed the gun on Penson's temples. Although he wanted to shoot him, there were too many bystanders and Ran just called the cops. He stood up, put his gun away, put his scarf over his mouth, and ran out the door.
Ran slumped over a wall and Miyu was processing what just happened. She thought she was going to die but that man—Trench Coat-Man—saved her life and the lives of others. She wanted to thank him, so quickly got up and ran but something caught her eye on the floor. It was a smartphone, but not just any smartphone…
It's Trench Coat-Man's phone! She thought.
She ran outside the café.
"Hey! You left your phone!"
But he was gone; he just… vanished into the crowds. The police later arrived and arrested the three men. Miyu, Ran, and the rest were told to stay to answer some questions.
Miyu looked at the smartphone, I have to get this back to him, she then clenched the phone.
Author's Notes ('•̀ ▽ •́ )φ!
Throughout the story, you might come across some honorifics, translations, references, etc... Lucky for you, I'll be explaining these things along the way so you won't be lost along the way and your reading will be enhanced! So do not fret! ( ﾟ∀ﾟ)
*-Chan: Japanese honorific used to address "something cute or lovable" such as friends, family, babies, cute animals, lovers, etc... BUT never say it to an adult! It's considered rude! ┗(•̀へ •́ ╮ )
*-Oniisan: Honorific translated as "Big Brother." That makes Katsu Miyu's superior. ヾ(￣ー￣)X(^∇^)ゞ
*-Neesan: Honorific opposite of "Oniisan." It's "Younger Brother," making Hayato Miyu's inferior. (ｏ・_・)ノ"(ᴗ_ ᴗ。)
*-J-Pop: Japanese pop music. Miyu is Japanese and lived in Japan for at least six years. It just a part of her. (๑´▿｀๑) •*¨*•.¸¸ ✧
*-Japanese Emoticons: You might just see some JP emoticons added somewhere in the story or used in Author's note. This is used to show emotion. ヾ(*´ー`)ノ
*-Trench Coat-Man: Spoiler! It's Aiden Pearce! He just hasn't been properly introduced yet...(*σᴗσ)(ㅎᴗㅎ ) ｜‸눈;)
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of The Princess and The Vigilante! Stay tuned for the next chapter: Once Lost, Now Found! (✌ﾟ∀ﾟ)