SL Mangaka
Cyber City
Alone, she hated being alone, but she chose this place to do just that. A dark tunnel on the east side of town. Eerie lights and the glow of neon illuminated a beautiful pale face. She was a dancer, that was her profession. It wasn't a great job, but she was good at it. Making a measly earning to live in the neon district called, Cyber City, wasn't easy either.
Today was the worst when a customer followed her out of the club and took her money. She was relieved that he didn't take anything else from her. So, she sat alone, in the dark wanting to be invisible. Her Asian shaped eyes looked up when she heard footsteps approach. Maybe he wasn't finished with her. Maybe he wouldn't be able to see her here. She bent her head trying to hide. A gentle voice spoke, non threatening, he looked down at her. "Hello, there. Are you hurt?" She looked up to see a serene face in uniform, the face of an angel.
But, it was an angel in Cyber city's military elite police, she recognized the attire. "No, I'm fine." She said abruptly, wanting to say she had all her money stolen and that the guy was still out there somewhere, but knowing the military didn't really care for civil offenses. She only sighed and stood up slowly, he assisted her anyway. Wasn't chivalry dead, she thought? His eyes looked into hers as she stared at him. "Is there something wrong with me?" he said to her. She looked down and away removing her arm from his grasp. "No, it's just that I'm not use the military paying attention to a civilian. You're an elite and we're just the lowly workers, ne?" She walked away from him, but took a glance back. "But, thank you for asking about me."
She walked on until she found a dark bench. She sat sighing heavily and closing her eyes. The tree beside cast a blueish tint to her pale skin. Clap, clap. Footsteps? Running this time. It was him again, running and then leaping over a the crate in front of her. He playfully smiled as his ponytail whipped out against the wind.
She tried not to notice him but looked up to see his perfectly chiseled visage sitting beside her. "Are you sure you're okay? What was that remark about back there? I've never said anything like that." She bowed her head, making assumptions had always got her into trouble. "Gomenasai, you're right, I shouldn't have judged you." His eyes softened, his gaze was warm and inviting, it made her fidget slightly. "I'm sorry if I bother you, I'll go." He stood up slowly, his jacket blew gently against her legs.
She reached up and took his hand. "No... don't go. Stay if you want to. I don't mind. Besides, I hardly get to talk to someone like you." He turned and sat closer to her. "Like me? You mean the military elite?" She smiled softly, "No, someone interested in how I'm doing." He touched the side of her face. "I don't see how that is, you must have hundreds of people who adore you." She blushed and giggled covering her mouth, "Silly, that's definitely wrong. No one cares if I come or go, or live or die. There's only me, but that's fine. I make it day to day just fine."
He smiled at her again. "I'm sure you do. May I ask your name?" She blushed slightly, "Taishi." "Taishi chan, my name is Ryoga, it's nice to meet you. Would you like to ride with me?" She stared back at him. "Ride? Ride where?" "Around the city, I'm on an unofficial patrol, would you like to come?" She smiled and stood up. "Hai, I have nothing else planned tonight." He walked over to a bike that glittered and glowed a soft blue, she became excited and ran to leap into the back seat.
"I've never rode a hover bike before. It's amazing." He laughed at her enthusiasm and straddled the seat. "You'll have to hold on tight." She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. The bike gently hummed below them as the street lights darted by in colored blurs. She wondered why he was being so nice to her or why he let her ride with him. All of this was highly unusual for a man of his status.
The hierarchy of world in this age were clearly defined and the lines drawn. No one stepped over them, at least, not until now. He felt different though, looked different, even smelled different, like he was a being altogether alien from what she was use to. Men that were dirty, smelly, and sweaty like the patrons at the club. She hated to even look at them, but she smiled at them because they paid her more to do so.
He parked the bike at the beach and both of them walked along the shore. Security hovercrafts shown lights down, searching the sand for trouble. Once they saw him, they scurried away quickly. She was amazed how differently he was treated, but he only walked silently beside her. "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I that curious?" She blushed again, not realizing she was staring. "Oh? Suminasen, I ... It's just I'm wondering, why you're being so nice to me? Most guys like you never even venture into this sector and we're forbidden to venture out. Are you looking for trouble?" She wondered if he was just being defiant and wanted to prove a point to them, with her. Being used again, the story of her life. "No, not trouble. I just believe, it's not fair for the military to have so many advantages over people. I like this sector, I can move around as I please without so much aggravation. The city above is so ordinary, lifeless, and dull. Everything and everyone has a position and a duty and never do they deter from either one. I want something more. I want to... see that there is more to life than that."
They sat on the beach together watching the waves come in and leave again. "You're lucky you know. Here we scavenge for food and find shelter. We go hungry every now and then. I'm lucky to even have a job. Believe me, you don't want to be here. You have everything you ever wanted..."
"I hate it there. The rules, the stifling conversations, the senseless arguments and political rhetoric. I hate it all. This beach is real, it's not be sanitized to the last molecule. It smells of the ocean, ours has no smell at all. A fake ocean for a fake people. You, you even treat me differently because you know what I am, but you don't know who I am." She smiled and touched his arm. "Ryoga san, it's ok, I don't have to know anything. You don't have to say anything more." He looked down at her and sighed. "I'm myself here, with you. That's what I want."
She laid in her bed, but couldn't sleep. His image stayed in her mind. She shouldn't be such a baby and want things she knew she couldn't have. Still.... his eyes, his face, his scent, was all she could think about. She was being silly. What could he possibly want with a nobody like her. She stood and bowed her head. He said he would meet her, would he keep his promise. She tried not to keep her hopes so high. It was definitely getting harder.
She walked up the stairs to the roof top and smiled. His ebony coat flailing out in the wind, a dark figure against the bright lights of the buildings. He actually was waiting for her. She was so happy she ran and jumped into his arms. He caught her instinctively and laughed. "This isn't the reception I was anticipating. I thought you didn't like the military elite." She smiled and hugged him tighter. "I can change my mind, can't I?" He laughed and held onto her. "I guess so."
This was the first time in her life she actually felt safe and... needed and she needed him too. She didn't want to let go. She held onto him and breathed in. His scent was the same, his hair brushed along her arms, was this happiness?
"Is everything ok?" She then realized she was holding him longer than he might want. "Everything is great. I'm just, glad I get to see you again."
"So, did you really missed me?"
"Miss you?"
She didn't want him to know she thought of him night and day and that yes, oh yes, she missed him. "No, not much," she lied. He only laughed at her knowing she was lying. She blushed and giggled. God, I'm a terrible liar.
Their embrace lasted moments and he let her down. He laid on the ground looking up at the dark sky. The stars could not be seen for the city lights. She laid on top of him, smiling down at him. "I'm surprised you came."
"Why is that? I said I would."
"Hai, but I thought, it was my imagination that I met you. I'm grateful that it's not." He laughed at her and touched her hair, moving her bangs away from the blue eyes hidden behind them.
"I have to go away soon." Her smile quickly faded. "Go away? Why?" He sighed closed his eyes. It pained him to look at her. "I have something I have to do, no one can do it but me." A tear fell slowly down her cheek.
"Don't cry. I want to show you something." He stood and took her hands in his. "Don't worry."
He watched her as he touched a button on his belt. Suddenly she felt as if she were being thrown. She seemed to be teleported to a place she had only heard of in stories, a place above the ground, and above the flying city. She stood at the entrance of what looked like a chapel. The Chapel of Tenshou. Her eyes searched around the tall columns and around the benches. He was no where that she could see.
Slowly, she made her way through the chapel. It was empty and every step echoed throughout the building. "Ryoga?" she called to him. No one answered. She stood in front of the alter sadly looking down. "Ryoga san" she said when a shadow covered the ground. She looked up to see, a one-winged tenshi flying above her. His dark wing spread out to his left, hands in his pockets, he looked like a reluctant angel.
"This is what I wanted you to see. Tenshi never get to go to the lower sector, we have wars to fight and people we have to protect. People like you, Taishi chan. I thought I didn't want this life. I didn't want to fight anymore, but, now I have something to fight for. I have to go now, but I promise, I will come back to you. Do you believe me?" She only nodded and smiled, amazed, as she watched him, the face of an angel. "Hai"
The End
This story was inspired by Sadistic Hacker hairstyles and by Nic and Sugar clothing. Location, Cyber City.
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