HEY!!! France is extraordinary, but I have bruises from climbing the Alps, para sailing on the Mediterranean Sea, and all these other things I did (worth it!)

(pauses to sigh at memory)

Oh about chapter one, I made Solomon a little biased about Japan. Sorry. I was going for a new direction than my other story (mentally kicks own rear for the communist comment). Anyway, CHAPTER 2!!!

Solomon: Hold on, ARE YOU WRITING ABOUT ME?!

CSOH: It's a good story, you stole Saya and ran to Canada.

Hagi:(reads chapter 2) I think your writing is improving.

CSOH:(Squeals in delight, hugs Hagi, and runs around)

Solomon:(reading chapter 2) I don't...

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Chapter 2: Red Means Stop (among other things...)

Saya lay on the couch of the condo. Solomon was at work at the hospital and was going to be there all night...again. She leaned back as the television show went on a commercial break. "At least he left the house finally." He had been so paranoid the first couple of months about her as he would rush to her bedside each night at different times to ensure she was still there and then there was that one time where he had run into the bathroom because she had the window open and a cat had jumped in. There were no words to describe his running in while she was showering and then slipping on the wet floor into the shower. Saya shivered at the memory and the show returned. It was a boring show and she had no idea why she even bothered to watch. "Yes you do. It's because you keep having that odd foggy dream and that one guy's arms you were held in were REALLY nice," well maybe the show had a use being on television after all. Saya got up and turned off the TV. She went over to the stereo and turned that on. That stranger's arms weren't that great," she thought as she clicked on the random button. She knew she was lying to herself though. She leaned back and started to listen.

Don't worry, come closer.
Don't cry.
Ahh don't cry.
Ahh don't cry.
Ahh...

Get moving or I'll kick your ass...(background)

Ooohh...I watch you comb your hair in different light.
You change the chair and seem to think that's alright.
I understand,
You need a change.
When you make that change,
Don't look to see...
I'm alright.

Now that I look at you in different light...

Change the chair....
A violet unicorn to me that's alright

I understand,
You need a change...
The world will elevate you.... world.. will elevate you....
and when you make that change the world will elevate you...

And if I told you then that I could cry,
Would you take my tears and wash the sun rise?
A man afraid... has no shame...

So when you take those tears don't look to see I'm alright
look to see I'm alright

When you take those tears don't look to see I'm alright
look to see I'm alright....

How can I tell you?
How can I explain?

I.... I....
I want your love, I need a change...

In me.

Ba-da ba-da ba, ba-da
Ba-da ba da....

Suddenly,
You and I will wait...
In your dreams.

Suddenly,
You and I will wait...
In your dreams
Tonight... night...
We'll finally change
You and I will wait...
And maybe time will tell...

All over...
All over...
All over...
All over...
All over...

You and I will need a...
...you and I...

You and I will need a...
...you and I...

You and I will need a better place....
To start all over... again...

Oh babe,
Maybe tomorrow
...maybe tomorrow

Will Be their brighter day?
Be their brighter day-hey... ...day-hey...

All over...
All over...
All over...
We'll finally change....
With a lesson...
With a lesson...
Oh and.... ...ohh no.

Loving chile there's,
Always something new...
Always something new...
Always something new...
Always something...
Always something...

Darling... ...yeah... ...there's something
Always something... ...always something...

The song ended as Saya felt herself starting to cry. She had never heard this song before and knew she shouldn't be this moved by it, but she found herself getting up and pressing the rewind button to hear it again. After a couple of more times hearing it she got up and headed toward to door. It was only eleven and she would only be out for a little while. Saya headed down toward the metro and headed to the Eaton Centre mall. It was eerie to not travel with Solomon in the metro. He was usually always around to talk to and watch for the stops. The stop arrived and Saya got off and headed up the stairs it was a couple blocks away from the mall, but Starbucks was on this route and she was thirsty.

Saya was not paying attention as she thought about the kind of coffee that she would get. The streetlight turned red and Saya felt herself pulled back before a car hit her. Without looking at her hero she mumbled a quick thanks and thought back to her upcoming purchase.

"Are you alright?" She felt her thoughts scatter as her rescuer bent over to look her in the eye. He was breathtakingly handsome with his steel gray eyes and his long brown almost a black hair that was obviously escaping whatever held it out of his eyes. He straightened up as he gave her a quick once over to see if she had been harmed. "Um...Yeah I just was a little distracted." "and the car must have hit my head cause you, kind sir, are obviously from my watching too many late night movies with Solomon." Saya felt herself blush as her mind said that. The man smiled before he pointed toward the now green light.

"It seems to be alright now. Would you mind if I take you to wherever you were headed?" Saya could only nod as she grabbed his hand and headed down the street. She let go of him as she entered Starbucks and ordered a frappachino. The guy went to a corner table and sat down. After she had it she went over and sat opposite him.

"You don't have to stay here with me." Saya had been debating over the last few minutes over whether he was a normal guy or one of those guys horror movies are done after.

"You don't remember me, do you." His eyes bored into mine as I thought deeply if I had ever seen him.

"Nope," I took a quick sip of my drink, "but my boyfriend will be pissed if I don't get home soon." It was a lie, but random guys don't act like the guy in front of me did.

"Boyfriend?" He looked startled at that and also a little hurt. "Okay so he probably was lying about knowing me and wanted to ask me out. I should probably end this whole thing now and head home."

"Well he is actually my roommate, but he would like to think he is more to me." The guy relaxed as Saya thought about what had just happened. She had told the truth, but now he... Saya glanced at the table.

"I'm sorry. I'm making you uncomfortable." He stood up.

" NO, I'm just thinking. I usually stay by the house, but tonight I just decided to go out on my own and I-"

"Do you want to head home now?" He was kneeling in front of her as he once again gazed into her eyes.

"Kinda..." Saya stood up and walked out of the building with him. They walked back to the metro and sat down for the ride back. Saya looked at their now interlocked hands as she thought about her night so far. "and I don't ever know your name..."

"It's Hagi," Saya looked up at him as he spoke and she realized that she had spoken out loud. He looked at her before adding, "My name is Hagi." She felt herself start to blush.

"Oh. Do you live here in Toronto?" She felt stupid asking, but she needed to get her mind off of the fact that she was thinking out loud and nearly getting run over.

"No, but someone very important to me is here and I came to ensure that nothing happens to her." Hagi said it like she was the person he had come for.

"Well I should probably let you go and make sure she alright." The metro stopped at her stop and they got out and headed for the condo complex. They stopped at the door and Saya turned to face him. "Umm...so I guess this is goodby-"

Hagi stopped her by pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. His arms felt so good around her... even better than the stranger's from her dreams. Then all too soon he pulled away from her lips and leaned his forehead against hers. "Next time remember red means stop." With that he turned and walked away. Saya stared after Hagi for several minutes before going into the condo and falling onto the couch. She didn't bother to get up as she realized after a few minutes that the stereo had been left on when she had left. Saya started to fall asleep as she listened to the next song play.

A thousand years, a thousand more,
A thousand times a million doors to eternity
I may have lived a thousand lives, a thousand times
An endless turning stairway climbs
To a tower of souls
If it takes another thousand years, a thousand wars,
The towers rise to numberless floors in space
I could shed another million tears, a million breaths,
A million names but only one truth to face

A million roads, a million fears
A million suns, ten million years of uncertainty
I could speak a million lies, a million songs,
A million rights, a million wrongs in this balance of time
But if there was a single truth, a single light
A single thought, a singular touch of grace
Then following this single point , this single flame,
The single haunted memory of your face

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head

I may be numberless, I may be innocent
I may know many things, I may be ignorant
Or I could ride with kings and conquer many lands
Or win this world at cards and let it slip my hands
I could be cannon food, destroyed a thousand times
Reborn as fortune's child to judge another's crimes
Or wear this pilgrim's cloak, or be a common thief
I've kept this single faith, I have but one belief

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head
On and on the mysteries unwind themselves
Eternities still unsaid
'Til you love me