It has been awhile since i've updated, but life's hectic schedule has made me less able to write them. But i have managed to get some time to get on and do just that. Hope you enjoy, take care, and thanks for reading my work.

Our eyes caressed one another in passionate thoughts. She, eying me immensely, stood in silence on stage, caring little to the whoops and hollers the bar was giving out: fire in the pupils, sweet but fierce. It just made me blush; that or the booze was getting me flushed. Then it changed. I snapped back into reality as she turned around with a swift sway of body movement, disappearing behind the powerful red velvet drapes. I only sighed. Am i getting lonely?

I drooped down, soured in expression as i raised a bottle to my lips and drank the weary away.
This is to hope, whether it loves me or not. It went down stale, bitter, dreadfully hoarse, but i just gulped more of it. It was a bad habit; keeping the purge of drunkenness. Drowning out all the sad memories. It only worked for an extent of course, but it gave me that buzz of free wings.

Time passed by slowly, the unoriginal sound of bar music now replaced the exotic number that the babes in scantly clad outfits dance too. But for the participants of this place, it didn't seem to effect them. Then again they weren't sitting there doing nothing, most were betting over games of chance with dice and cards.

I slammed the empty bottle on the bar, peering with saggy eyes over to the barman, his face notched together from my lazy attitude. "Barman! Another one!" I cursed out, shaking the empty beer in hand, "Make it on the rocks!" I couldn't tell i was yelling now, but the mustached man took no heed to it.
Probably used to getting shouted at.
I was close to just leaving, hitting the hay and prepare for this afternoons hangover, but i just couldn't seem to get the energy to do just that. I never did get that certain chance to speak to her. So elusive to my touch, gone from words, reach and taste. But she was still here in thought. Every bit of her, taunting me with that sick belly dance.

Certainly i was just pertaining on what i merely knew. She may be drop dead gorgeous but it still doesn't answer the question, why am i head over heels in feelings for her? Rem... for some reason she just reminds me of Rem. I took a look through the bottle, everything on the other end fixated and out of place. My hope has ran dry. Just like the content of this bottle, empty and through the looks of it, clouded in a fog of uncertainty.
The awful stench of whiskey faded into obscurity, replaced only with the scent of flowers; a mix of daffodils and roses. Rem's favorites.

Flowers? Could it be her?

My mind raced with signals of what to do, all tracing back to a simple concept of turning around. It was harder for me to do than to think about it, sincerely i could only whisk in the aroma; fading my energy away into a puddle. It was both uplifting and, on it's own terms, a painful odor that i can remember; soured memories intact.. But i needed to look, if only for the sake of ending the misery of second guessing what was yet to come. With an expression of a shocked school boy, i spun around on the bar stool top and faced the direction of the smell. Then my jaw dropped, if not anything else.

"Is something the matter, stranger?" the mistress giggled out, speaking in a thick slander of accented vixen speech. The kind of which you would here from a bad cowboy movie, where the maiden of the pub always spoke in, with few lines of course, a distinct tone. With my few seconds of silence, it gave her the chance to speak again, "There something on my face, sweetie?" The woman i had been tailing asked, frowning slightly, wiping at nothing but cheeks and lovely lips.

I missed a beat; a heart attack just around the corner. Her body, from a view not far away like before, was curved and slender, but enough thickness on the hips and belly to show she had a good appetite and healthy fatigue. This was no forced beauty by rigorous starvation and workouts, no, this was a natural perfection. Her dress, which had been changed since the play, was a outfit carved to fit snuggly around her body, the trends of the end stopping close to the ankles, giving her the look that she was an innocent person with lots of commitments. A church girl to simply put it. Baby blue in color with black stripes going in a simple pattern in squares all along the top and down. Born and bred in a society dunked into religious culture. I would see her in different eyes if i never knew what controversial things she does at night.

Her head tilted to the side, black long bangs moving as well, she smiled, showing pure white teeth.
"You don't talk much do you? Or is their something- distracting your concentration? Drunk perhaps?"
She giggled once more, placing her hand in a curtsy across ruby red lips as if to hide the shame in laughing at this complete stranger.

Finally, masking quickly the fact i was coming up with situations in mind, i spoke- but not in the way i hoped for. "Concentration? Drunk? N-no, its just I'm... thinking- thinking of something else to say to not make myself sound like a bumbling idiot, you know what i mean?"
I scourged over what i had said, already scratching out the bad pick up line and nervous tone that went with it. Now she will think of you as just that: a bumbling moron.

But to my surprise, she laughed a little more and took a seat on the stool next to me. Her eyes, a hazel tint, staring into mine, somewhat, in my opinion, in a flirting notion. It sent chills down my spine, she was quickly wrapping me around her little fingers. Delicate of course.
"Awe, that's so cute. Never in all my life have i had anyone say that to me. Trust me, I've heard them all." Her hands, gloved in white, were pressed on the bar, folded formally. She seemed like the type that came from a upstart family. One's whose reach was high with money and formality. Personally everyone in this town seemed to be rich to some decree, either by wealth or the love of friends and family. Maybe Both.

"Well at least i know I'm making somewhat of an impact." I gestured, the nerves seeping away. The bartender pulled up between us, or at least near us, and placed the drink on the bar. I didn't look at it, but quickly asked a question, "Would you like anything to drink, um-"
I paused as if wanting to call her by her name. She must have caught on because she answered full heartily.

"Name's Caroline, Most around here call me Ms. Caroline. I'll have a water if you don't mind."
She said to me, paying no heed to the bartender, our eyes locked. He just shrugged and walked off to the sink to fetch a glass of natural water.
I reached, with extended arm, for my glass. Casually i felt it in palm and pulled it up to my lips. Not a single glance down. I left it hovering at mid point, waiting for a- sophisticated time to take a gulp.

"Ms. Caroline? You don't seem that old for such a title."
She laughed and cupped the water as the bartender handed it to her, "Most find me as an old soul. So, not surprisingly they gave me that name. Besides, you never know, i could be older than you think." She winked, took a sip, if you'd like to call it that, and lowered it back down.
If only she knew how perceptive i was, she'd be hesitant to restate that.

"Well my name is Vash." I spoke, trying to go ahead and give away that tidbit of information, luckily my face doesn't seem to be on any posters around here. The destruction of July still lurking in my memories.

"Vash, that's such an excellent name! I''ll have to remember that one for when i have children."
My eyes bulged if only slight. Already talking about children? Pretty brash, thats for sure. Wonder if thats a hint of some sort? Of course i didn't dwindle on it for to long. "So... about your age. Can i take a guess? I love games." I replied jokingly, as well sipping- all of the drink within my glass. It was now apparent my buzz was replaced by another, one more of a natural high than artificial, like the drinks here give, or any all around the world for that matter.

"Well, you know the rules, you never ask for a ladies age. But for you... I'll consider as a friendly gesture, so sure, guess away. I'll give you one try." I rubbed my chin playfully, looking over my shoulder, noticing mostly everyone watching my every move as well as Caroline's. Now that i took notice to it, the music was not on anymore. Just us, talking, laughing and cutting up. But i didn't pay much attention to them, in fact i slightly rubbed it in their faces.
"And if i fail?" I asked seductively, getting a few cringes from the audience; raising now empty glass to take a piece of ice out.

"You have to take me out to dinner tomorrow."

I nearly choked on the ice; almost lodging itself in my throat. The cube flew out of tongue's reach as it whizzed right by Caroline's head. At least she didn't find it disgusting as she quickly laughed and snorted at such a funny thing. "So don't screw up, or you'll have to put up with me," She said, in between small bursts of laughter, "Now guess."

Of course the thought occurred to me, i could get it right. But what have been the point? Miss a chance to date this lovely girl that is 'coming on' with such fierceness? Something I've learned is: you never trust the opposite sex to an extent. Whether this was a test, my mind just couldn't place it as so, but it seemed sincere. Sincere? Well... that was just a way to put it.
What are you doing Vash, this is some young female, from a rich family! A church goer whose traditions ban anything and everything you could offer her. This is only trouble, turn away now!
I just ignored my brain, following only what the heart wanted. Logically, my mind was correct, but as i saw it; this was a grand opportunity to pick up on lost social time.

"Okay, i guess that your- twenty-two years old." No! Needle Noggin, what the hell are you doing?
Sheez, blinded by lust, you love struck fool.

She gave a serious face, lined with a sense of mysterious array, mixed all into one. Then she smiled, as if victorious, The emergence of a hope that she yearned for leaked out like a blissful sun rise, playing across the barroom. It felt like basking in sunlight, one that was not there because of the cold darkness outside. But it was different within here. "Nope! Wrong! It's settled, you mysterious stranger, you'll take me to dinner at the Blooms dinner hall tomorrow, at around, lets say... seven o' clock sharp."

My heart lit with flares, a celebration of the ages going on inside. I had at last in all these years scored a date! Now the only thing that was on mind; other than partying, was to get to know her better. Millions of questions bubbled, all equaling to stuff I'd adore her for, for liking the things i did.
Like for instance: Whats your favorite color? Which do you think came first, the chicken or the egg? Do you like eating? But one came over all solutions, one most dearest and on a need to know basis than anything else.

"So, Ms. Caroline, do you like donuts?" My heart raced for an answer, hoping it wouldn't be placed into a negative thing. Because, truth be told, I didn't think i could love someone who didn't like donuts. Yes, i can imagine a stack of them right now. My greedy fingers ready to pounce on their delicious, tasty, mouth-watering, creamy outsides before they dung into the juicy inner. Bliss on earth.

She stopped, raised a brow and placed a finger over her lip as if thinking, ignoring the fact i was about to cry. "Well... it depends. Do you like glazed? If not, we'll have to stop right now and go our separate ways." Jackpot! I thought, arms raised high reaching out for the heavens above. But... to the world outside the little bubble i was floating in, they saw nothing than a lunatic trying poorly to catch nothing but air. At least i was quick to fix my mistake as i straightened back my hair, winked and gave a smile.
Oh yeah, you still got it.

Ms. Caroline laughed, the whole bar baffled at such a sight. One mans cigar, drooping to a point of falling out. I stood victorious, certain that nothing could go wrong. Ms. Caroline, took a glimpse behind me, the clock reading a time late, a time most for any respectable person to be asleep, wrapped in blankets and warmth in the comfort of their own home. It showed on her face, she was out passed that- time.

"I'm so sorry! I need to go, i shouldn't be out this late!" She pushed aside her water, nearly knocking it over with grace. I looked down at her, opened mouth and surprised to see her so quick to leave. "Are you sure you can't stay?" I asked, trying to convince her otherwise that it was safe.
But it didn't work, she was looking around frantically, everyone swaying to her every turn.

"I'm sorry Vash but i must go." She stopped over by the door and smiled, hand already resting to turn the knob. "Anything you need to know before i see you tomorrow?" One thing was actually bothering me, now that i think about it; at least my conscience was wondering. "How old are you exactly?" I questioned, hoping she would answer, fairly and just.

She twisted her smile, looked me in the eyes then voiced out loudly, "I'm sixteen."

My heart dropped like a bag of bricks, i could have swore she'd be at least twenty. No wonder they thought of her as older than she is: men always hitting on her, flirting majestically. She had the body of a lady. But why does she seem so interested in me? Though I'm not really of that age, i would like to say i give off a look around twenty to thirty. Besides, why me? Why some man that has just arrived at town? Of course to any person that knew my real age i could be considered as a father, but this certainly took the donut. I was about to speak up to halt this quick pace of madness; urging a slowdown, but she cut me off before i could speak.
"See you tomorrow, sweetie."

I raised my hand to stop her, but she disappeared out the door, nothing left but the after drift of perfumed flowers. Did i not tell you? More trouble than you need. "Yeah well, next time I'll listen to you." I spoke to myself, the whole bar staring at me, grimaces across their stubby faces, heads shaking at such a lucky sight to behold. Most were just jealous or disgusted.
They're ones to think of such things, it was obvious everyone here, probably the bartender as well, had made passing attempts of getting something from her. It just happened to be me she choose...

Yes, this was not going to end well. I can see it now, humanoid typhoon gets pride of the town swept away in a hail of gunshots and controversy.

Such a heavy reputation would weigh high over my head. Murder of a young female...

Lest we not forget, Drink to hope... hope of not depriving more people of their homes...

I need to leave town... now...