Obligatory Disclaimer: No, I don't own Street Fighter or any of the characters therein.
Chapter One
"You only see what your heart wants to see…"
Hayao was singing his heart out, as usual. Tokyo was just the same as it was a year and a half ago when he left for America…for Harvard…for opportunities. Hayao missed this place, and he missed singing.
"How can life be what you want it to be…"
This American music was new and strange to the people in the Rock and Sake Bar that night. They had never heard anything like this, and this purple-haired boy was enthralling. His voice rang with passion and vivacity, and his body swayed with the beat of the song.
"You're frozen…when your heart's not open…"
Two Women were eyeing Hayao voluptuously from the corner of the bar, even more captivated than the rest of the crowd. As he finished the song, they cheered loudest of all.
Hayao packed up his microphone and sat down at the bar.
"I'll have a glass of your finest sake. It's been a while."
The bartender grinned and within the span of a minute, a small glass full of strong rice wine was sitting in front of the green-eyed lounge singer. He drank slowly and thoughtfully, savoring this long-awaited taste, sighing happily.
The two Women that had watched him so intently approached him, stroking his shoulder gently. Hayao turned to them with a smile.
"Hi there…may I help you Ladies?"
The two diminutive Japanese Girls giggled. "Umm…you're really good…" one of them said.
"Well, thank you!" Hayao chuckled. "Always nice to find someone who likes my singing. I don't get much time to sing anymore…I'm on break from college."
"Uh-huh…" The other Girl just stared at him, and then slowly produced a slip of paper from the folds of her kimono.
"Here…is my number."
Hayao took it and smiled awkwardly. "Umm…thanks?" He finished his sake and got up to leave.
"Wait! Will you call me?" the Girl asked his retreating back.
Hayao stopped, looked at the paper, then to the Girl. He grinned. "…Maybe."
He exited the bar to the sound of infectious giggling.
As he walked through the alley behind the bar, his blue shirt blew in the wind. It was decorated with faded pictures of the constellations of the Zodiac. Hayao was an astrologer, and believed that great power could be drawn from celestial bodies.
Hayao wasn't looking where he was going, and bumped into a very tall man in a beige trench coat and fedora.
"Oh…sorry!" Hayao tried to make his way around this stranger. Every time, the man blocked his path.
"Hey! Move it!" Hayao looked up at this person. But it…couldn't be a person...That face! Was it…metal? Before Hayao could react, the metal man had grabbed him by the face with a mammoth gloved hand and thrown him onto the floor of the alley. Hayao leapt to his feet and assumed his stance, gently crossing his arms across his chest. He wasn't helpless. He could take care of himself…or so he thought.
Hayao launched himself at his attacker feet first, kicking rapidly. "Capricorn Kick!" he cried. The attacker grabbed hold of Hayao's foot and swung him into the wall of a building. Hayao gasped as air rapidly escaped his lungs. He fell to the ground, but rose again.
"Sagittarius!" he shouted, throwing a bolt of celestial energy from his hand. His assailant parried it with ease, countering with a dashing strike to Hayao's head. Hayao couldn't take the strain of the blow. He spun about from the recoil, and then crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
The attacker placed his foot on Hayao's head and readied himself to press, but suddenly a ring of energy flew in from the street. It struck the attacker square between the eyes and sent him flying. The attacker growled metallically, then turned around and walked slowly away.
Hayao didn't know what happened. But he soon felt two hands underneath him, one on his upper back, one supporting his legs. These hands…they were rough and firm…but Hayao found them intensely comforting. He subconsciously reached up and wrapped his arms around his rescuer's neck. This made his mysterious savior stop for a moment, but they continued on soon enough.
