Chapter One

He didn't know why he let Mia and her colleague from another college set himself on a blind date. He wasn't really interested, too many other things took up his spare time as it was. He had a few dates since he started college, but even with some of his bigger responsibilities dying down, he still had a ton of other things to do. Write papers by the dozens, help Yulie study for college entrance exams, and occasionally meet with his friends. They were just as busy with their new lives as well, but he still liked to make time for them...just in case.

He sat down at the french cafe, he was early and he wouldn't be hard to find. His hair was blue for peet's sake. He pulled a book from his bag, and started to read it as he waited for his date. It was a favor to Mia really, most of his other friends were enjoying being well...normal. She complained that he needed to too, and it didn't help her colleague was charismatic and persistent as well. They didn't tell him too much about her, but that was at his request. He wanted to know her by talking to her personally.

"That's my book your reading," a soft but stern voice said. He looked up, and almost jumped but previous experiences rendered his shock incapable of showing outwardly. The woman was not what he was expecting. Mia had set him up a bunch of woman, most of which were bimbos in his opinion. This was not the same. She was short, maybe five feet at most, and albino. She must have really beautiful before...before whatever caused her accident. Her entire right side was scarred, although the scars on her legs looked a lot lighter than those on her hand, neck and face. Her right eye was dimmed, and the muscles closest seemed numb and less functioning. She wore a plain cream colored pencil skirt over a small demure frame, and a white blouse. Her white hair was cut in a bob just under her chin, the bangs cut at an angle to hid some of the scars on her face. She sat carefully in front of him, she seemed pretty weakened.

He turned the book over to the cover, "so you're HH Strathmore?"

"Just a pen name, I assure you," she said holding out her left hand, he felt she must be ashamed of the scars. "I'm Hoshi Hikaru Stratin."

He took it and mentioned nothing about the wrong hand, "Rowen Hashiba."

She smiled faintly, "well, this is a first."

"A first," he asked.

She gestured her hand to the rest of the cafe, the waitresses were gossiping and several other people were whispering, "you're the only one not shocked to see me. Or you know how to hide your emotions well."

He smiled, she was clever and even more than her book led to believe about her, "well, I don't rely of appearances as a judge of good character."

"That's decent of you," she chuckled as the waitress finally made her way over. "Can I have a bubbling water?"

The waitress blushed at the boy, but kept her eyes off the girl, "and for you sir?"

"Just some tea."

The waitress scampered off and Hoshi smiled. She was truly shocked, not by the people starring or even the waitress, but the man in front of her was not what she was expecting. He seemed completely in control, but a had a nice smile and physique. She couldn't possibly burden such a gentleman with her problems. Hoshi sighed, " I won't waste your time Rowen. It was nice meeting you, I just came to apologize for how pushy my colleague was."

"Actually, I'm kind of glad she was," he smiled and she felt a cheeks turn hot. Was she blushing, she never blushed. "I never would have gotten to meet the author whose fantasy novels are all the rage."

Hoshi pursed her lips, "and what do you think of them fine, sir?"

"I think you're holding back, you have some brilliant ideas here, but I think you assume your audience is dumb," he replied and she busted up laughing, which caused some uncomfortable looks.

"Would you believe I wrote it on that premise?"

He laughed, "I figured as much."

"Leea was right, you are smart, and not just IQ wise either," she paused as the waitress sat down their drinks. "Tell me, what causes such a young man to understand a person so well with so little known?"

Rowen smiled at her, she was curiouser and curiouser to him. She was strong, because she was unphased by the glances and japes. Her writing was spot on despite the premise she was working off of, he only assumed it was because she had some sort of grudge against the average person. She definitely wasn't average, but then again neither was he. Not that he could tell her any of that, but he definitely felt some sort of kindred spirit. "I assume we're the same age," he began and she nodded. "I don't rely too much on face value, people are much more complex than that."

"Indeed they are," she smiled as he sipped his tea.

He smiled as she sipped her own drink, "I would like to know why you doubt people so?"

She finished her drink, "maybe, I'll let you know next time."

Rowen smiled, "there will be a next time?"

Hoshi took a deep breath, she never had the courage before to give a guy her number. She had to know if he was playing games or if he was face value. She had been hurt once before, and would not be again. She started to leave, ignoring the looks the patrons were giving her, and she felt her phone buzz.

She looked at the text message: It's Rowen.

She turned back and he waved at her, and she felt a blush creep up her neck. It had been a long time since a guy made her blush. He noticed and he grinned. She quickly turned and fought the urge to run out, her heart was going about fifty miles an hour.