Wandering Eyes, Wandering Hearts

Prologue – Promise

Where could you be…?

Why did we part…?

I waited so long to see you…

All I know…

…I will find you, no matter what…

Stupid promises, stupid words. That’s all they were. It wasn’t always that way. At one point in time, she’d found comfort in such pathetic sentiments, but now too many things had happened. There was no going back to the old days. One could only look forward in times of war.

She brushed her hand over the cleaning cloth she was using to wipe down the bar counter. In all actuality, it wasn’t really that nice of a cloth. It was getting pretty raggedy. She’d used it repeatedly to wipe the messes of customers and the other part timers who tried to steal her job away from her. I guess it’s time to check inventory again…. Won’t this ever just end…? She really had no complaints. She loved her job. She loved what she did. She always had. She never had a desire to change it.

“Bartender! Another round of Stardust Ale over here!” The voice was gruff. Although it sounded like it was fairly far away, she knew it was only on the other side of the room.

She narrowed her eyes when she heard the demanding tone. That was the only thing she didn’t like. It would make my life a lot easier if idiots like you were just killed off. Not only had he interrupted her in the process of cleaning, but he had also broken into her thoughts. Frankly, she was more concerned about herself than his wants or needs. Of course, working in the customer service industry one knew that the customer was always right. If she didn’t treat him with respect, then she’d lose customers, which would result in a loss of money, which would then result in the loss of her tavern. That, she just couldn’t have. The tavern was her entire life now.

She quickly lifted a large platter from beneath the counter and placed eight mugs of the frothy ale upon it before she lifted it with her left hand. She gave a soft sigh to herself. She knew she needed to remain calm and yet, in control of the situation at the same time. She had never been too terribly gifted at multitasking. Practice makes perfect. Just don’t lose your temper. You’re much better than he is. You are a great legendary warrior while he is nothing more than a mere rat that you will trample on if you ever get a chance to carry out your revenge. The thought of avenging the deaths of fallen comrades instantly brought her relief. She’d always been one to use violence as a means to keep herself content…and it worked.

She wandered around the counter and headed over to the table on the far corner of the room. As she looked among the group, she thought they resembled unlikely warriors. They were all dressed in cloaks as though they were rangers instead. She remembered when cloaks had been in style. Of course, previous to becoming the fad, she had donned a cloak and immediately ditched it when others began to take her fashion. Over the course of the years, she’d managed to change her outfit several times. And now, she found herself in a Chinese-styled short dress and a pair of black shorts beneath the silky material.

She waited for a spot to open up and when it did, she leaned down and placed the platter down upon the table. As she was removing the mugs, she froze when she felt a pressure upon her rear. She didn’t have to look. It was so painstakingly obvious that one of those so-called warriors thought he could get away with such harassment. She should’ve been used to it by now, but it still caused her insides to flame with anger. When she was finished, she lifted the platter back up and then pulled herself away from the closest male to her. As she parted her lips, her voice was calm and collected. “That’ll be one hundred silver.” She held out her free hand to him, waiting for her payment.

The man chuckled as his eyes traced against her frame. She certainly was a looker. Of course, he’d heard the rumors while he was in the war. He thought he’d come and see if they were true…and apparently they were. And each time she got angry, he found she became more beautiful. “I have a better idea…” He reached out his hand and grabbed hers as he pulled her against him. He was fairly certain that she wouldn’t attempt to fight him off. He’d heard that she was pretty stubborn when it came to her ideals. “I’ll pay you fifty gold, you spend the night with me, and we forget the hundred silver.” His lips curled into a sneer as he leaned forward and took a moment to sniff her hair.

That was going a bit too far. She could feel the red flame within pervade throughout her body. She didn’t exist for the enjoyment of others, only for herself. She jerked her hand upward, catching his wrist within her grasp as she twisted it in such a way that she was able to hold it against his back with her body weight when he arose out of his chair. “How is it possible that you’ve managed to survive in this war, you bastard? You’re obviously no general, and if I were yours, I would’ve slit your throat myself.” Her eyes flashed up to the others around the table, and she silently warned each one. As she released the male’s arm, she thrust him back into his seat. “I’ll put it on your tab. You have five days to pay it off. If you don’t, I’ll hunt you down.” Without waiting for a response she turned her back to the group and returned to her counter, ignoring the whispering among them.

She had always wanted to make it a point to prove that she was as far from vulnerable as one could get. She hated to be thought of as weak, and she constantly made everyone aware that she was no pushover. If she wanted something, she would have it. If something was to be done in her tavern, it was to be done her way. She really didn’t care how anyone saw her. That should’ve been the least of their worries. If they’d properly been thinking, perhaps they would have recognized her or somehow heard of her great feats and then treated her with more respect. Her family had raised her in such a way that she knew respect and honor were the greatest things that one could be blessed with.

Family…one of the few things she didn’t like thinking about. There wasn’t actually much that she did like contemplating. Thinking often led one to make mistakes and she hated making mistakes. She preferred to react solely upon her instincts. She knew that she was following the right path as long as she didn’t second-guess herself.

She shook her head quickly and she returned to wiping down the counter, moving the idle drinks of the customers at the bar. Why am I thinking about these things right now…? I must be crazy. There’s no sense in torturing myself with thought. Just do the job…and get it over with. She arched her neck to the side as she turned to look at the clock behind her. She was starting to wish that she had made a closing time for the tavern, because then she could have some sort of time to herself. She had been running the bar almost all hours of the day and night. She raised her head once she was done cleaning the counter and looked around. Thanks to the war, she was getting a lot more business than normal. Tonight seemed a little off on account that there weren’t too many people in. She wondered if there was a battle that night and if company would come in later to celebrate an astounding victory.

Lacking the overpopulation, she decided it was a good time to check the inventory in the back. The sooner that was done, the better. She didn’t want to wait any more. There were just some things that needed to be taken care of. She sighed dejectedly and took one more glance around the room and then excused herself through the back wooden door into the storage room. She closed the door behind her and then brushed her hand against the wall, until she found the trigger for the torch lamp. As light flooded the long corridor and room, she wandered up and down the few aisles that carried her inventory and she sighed.

She raised her left hand to pull through her silky black hair. “I really don’t feel like doing this tonight. It’d be much easier on me if there was someone else here to take care of the petty jobs like this one. ‘Just leave the customers to me,’ I’d say. The probability of that happening is nonexistent, though…” She trailed off, reaching her hands forward to shuffle through the light taupe hued cloths. After counting through them to herself, she reached to the next shelf and pulled down a bottle that she was sure she’d need if there was indeed a winning battle that night.

She hesitated when she heard the sound of approaching footsteps behind her. She was wondering if it was one of the customers, who’d just come to the back to ask a question. Of course, it could’ve also been that same thick-headed guy from earlier. She hoped that wasn’t the case.

The voice was soft and gentle. It reminded her of memories she had locked away forever in a box, never to be reopened. “I’ve finally found you…Narusegawa Kiata…”

She straightened her composure and turned to face him and as their eyes locked upon each other, the bottle in her hand fell to the ground with a crash, and splinters of glass and liquid began to permeate across the ground. Her lips parted with surprise as a hand raised to brush the fingertips against her hidden necklace. “…You…”