The Rogue and A Different Shang

Ok, so this is the original of this story, and yes I have another version out too. I can't decide which I like better...But I am completely brain dead with that one. Thus the re-posting of this old story. I am seriously glad I keep this...and it is one good New Years Gift to all you peeps out there wishing for a good story to read. And I will try to update every two weeks to a week, but you know, with school, mid-terms coming up and JCP just starting and some of my other responsabilties, I can only say that amount of time. I ill though promise this: Every chapter will be as good at the last and also I will try to get out of my comfort zone to provide all of you a fucking good story. (sorry for the cussing, but I am over 18 and do know some good words like that are in my everyday [some what] vocab.) I know that a good story is hard to come by and I wil provide you the best that I can.

the story plot, Mika and Janina/Jana only belongs to me; the rest are Tamora Pierce's! Please bear with me as I tell of Jana and her time before she ends up in Tortall.

Chapter One: The Books

Waking up on Saturday at 6:30 was hard; working two four hour shifts was easier after Jana had her coffee at Starbucks. On her own at the age of eighteen was complicated, but she managed. As a local librarian, she had the morning shift there. Answering all the questions that the kids and adults had, she felt and was told that she was very easy to talk to anyone can get easy to understand answers out of her.

The job that she had in the afternoon helped her more then being a librarian. Although she loved to learn and read, Jana wanted another physical job to do. This one did just that. At the age of 8 she was put into martial arts because of her younger brothers. Continuing her lessons, Jana was becoming very good at her moves. As a brown belt, she was as good as her teacher. And as a teacher, Jana enjoyed her work.

During her morning hours, a teenager came up to her and asked about the series of the Lioness. After looking it up on the catalog, Jana went with the kid to the isle that she could find the books. Glancing down the rows of books, she found the series and the other books but TamoraPierce. Showing the kid, she left her to pick out the book that she wanted. The titles there seemed interesting. So that may be the next series that she'll read.

After that the hours went by very slowly, and she wanted to get away. Finally her watch claimed that she could get ready to leave. Heading to the isle that held the Lioness books, she picked out the first book two books of the Lioness Quartet. Heading to the main desk, she grabbed her things and checked the books out. Putting them in her bag, Jana signed out of the library, and went home to eat and relax. In her words: snack and then read. As she got into her Black Porsche(see pro. for pix), Jana glanced longingly at the building that she had just left.

I wonder if there's anything out there for me, past the endless searching of books and everything else that happens in that wondrous land, that beautiful building that I think is heaven...she thought, I really can't think that it would be that easy to leave that. But I don't like to stay here all the time. I want to move. I want to be free in my ways. No, I need to stop thinking this way. This is my life and it will stay this way.

She then left her world and drove home. Jana thought that her apartment was bearable. With a "roommate", the rent wasn't that bad, and Jana did enjoy herself with Mika (pronounced me-ka). Mika was Japanese, but had been living in the US for ten years. As Jana spoke German (she's ok, as she is learning German), Mika spoke fluent Japanese, as well as fluent English. When Jana did get home, Mika was also on a break, and was home when Jana got to the floor that they live on.

"Hey, Jana." Mika called as she entered the apartment. Looking up from her magazine, Mika smiled at her friend. "How was your day?" she asked

"Slow." Jana replied. "But I did learn that we had some interesting books hiding back on the shelves." she laughed.

Mika's smile got larger. "That's good. Pick any out for yourself?"

"Yeah. I did. Check them out." Jana pulled them out of her bag. Handing Alanna: the first adventure over, along with In the hand of the Goddess, Jana went to the fridge and pulled out her drink from last night. Cherry Pepsi, with a little vodka in it (I had to put it in, b/c that's Jana's character. Little liquor is good ONCE IN AWHILE for her).

"They look interesting. And certainly your type of books. All adventure, as it seems. And it seems that you're in a adventure mood" Mika said, glancing at Jana's outfit while she handed the books back to her.

"My outfit has nothing to do with it. But yeah. I found them because of a teenage girl, that asked for them." Jana said, taking a sip from her drink. "I want to see how they're written, and if they're good, I'll keep reading them. "

Mika stood up. "Hey, as long as they don't pull you in, I'm fine with it." That was her joke to Jana's obsession to books. "And if you don't start acting like the hero, or in this case, heroine, I might want to read them." Another joke. They both laughed then Mika started to head out the door to head back to her job at the pet store down the street.

"Have fun!" Jana called as Mika shut the door. She heard the noritiuous chuckle of the girl. "Now," she said to herself, "Let's start those books." Grabbing them, she headed down to the den that the two girls shared. Setting her drink on her table in the room, Jana fell into one of the beanbags on the floor. Getting herself comfortable, she opened Alanna: the first adventure.

-0-0-0-

Only taking breaks every time that she had to use the restroom, or to refill her drink (no vodka this time), Jana was able to finish the first book. And start the next book. She settled back down into her beanbag once again after the last break that she had, and set her small bowl of dry Cheerios on her lap. She reopened the book, and continued to read until the end.

-0-0-0-

Stretching her stiff muscles, Jana stood up. She had finished the two books in three and a half hours. And she wanted to continued the series. So she decided to return these and get the other two. Writing a note for the other girl-child in the house, in case Mika got home before Jana, she went back to the library. Placing the books in the Return box, Jana went to get the other books. Down the isle, Jana saw that the author had more books. So she grabbed the last two of the Lioness then the next series, The Immortals.

After she checked out once again, Jana again went home to read. And yet again, she settled down to read; this time she noticed things that seemed to be in her life. A pull on the back of her mind soon began, and when Jana thought about the annoyance of it, she saw her surroundings disappear. They soon turned into the scene of a small kitchen, a warm fireplace and two people staring at the girl before them.

"Oh, boy" Jana murmured before landing hard on the flagstones and blacking out.