Chapter 1

 

                        Saving Jane

 

            Tonight was a restless night like any other night. I pace around a 12ft by 7ft room with walls painted in blue and green, colors of the sea when the sun has not yet set. I imagine I am outside, out in the free where I can breathe. I did not notice a man come through my wall. The right side where the balcony lay, assuming that he must have gotten in through the door, but no, I’m assured he went through my wall.

 

            A distant wind came in, though the windows were tightly shut and doors well locked. I continued to pace around still not noticing the man intently watching me. I did not feel nor hear him. It seemed as if he was never there. It appears to be unreal for someone or something to vanish; vanish from one’s mind.

 

            I had only been 14 that year I first met John. He had walked through my blue green wall. I was neither amazed nor bewildered of how magical that was. I was merely unaware of his presence.  More like ignorant you might say.  I share a room with two of my siblings, both girls and older than I. The boy watched me walk and think around my room not letting a sound pass his ears. Intently listening and watching me. I could not fall asleep that night and neither could he. I heard my phone ring or at least I thought I did. I tried to climb back on bed but instead was slammed down.

 

            I felt uneasy and unable to see the person or being holding me down. I was afraid but showed little of it. When he finally appeared I had half fallen asleep. I had to be shaken a couple of times until I finally woke up. He wore gray baggy pants with a matching polo shirt. His hair was of a shade of burgundy. He wore eyeglass but his eyes shown clear. Blue green eyes but had a burning sensation in them. You could see the ember in his eyes. I was then mesmerized.

 

            He lifted me up and spoke to me in Japanese; I remember hearing, “Anata daijobu?” I didn’t understand him since I didn’t speak Japanese and somehow he knew that I didn’t comprehend. I heard him laugh for the first time. He held an angelic laugh and smiled at me with such sincerity. He looked like he was at peace. “You… don’t… ano… kno-w japa-nese?” He then tried to speak in English and sounded rather cute! As if he was trying his best just to communicate with me.

 

            “No, I don’t. I can understand a little but I do not speak it. Sorry.” I answered him. I felt him lift himself off of me. Slowly I felt lighter and empty. He walked towards my chair then walked back and repeated this for a few minutes.

 

            “Is…hmm watashi wa… Takeshi… no… Joh-n.” It was cute.

 

 

“NIGERU TAKESHI!! Hayaku!” I heard a voice just outside my bedroom door. “Take my hand.” Somehow he sounded different than before. Was he… just acting? No, his eyes showed no sign of lie. As an instinct I grabbed hold of his hand and a bright light engulfed us both. I was afraid. Afraid that I might lose him, so I unconsciously hugged him.

 

 

            “John, am I going to be okay?” I asked not knowing if he’d answer. “Daijobu, daijobu Hoshi-san.” He calmly assured me. “Just brace yourself hime.” There he was again speaking in Japanese, which I did not understand. I didn’t know if he was comforting me or insulting me but his voice reassured my questioning mind. It’s weird that I’ve never believed in love at first sight but now, it’s making me think twice.

 

 

            “Are you alright? You seem really scared.” I opened my eyes just to find myself clinging on his shirt that was ripped. “What happened John?” I looked around but the only things clear to my eyes were my body and his. “Hoshi-san, don’t let go no matter what. If you’d like I can carry you on my back.” As he looked down at me I shifted my eyes elsewhere. I was afraid I would do something embarrassing if I looked him in the eye.

 

            “What’s happened John?” My voice was ghastly as if I had not spoken in months. “Answer me, please. Where is everything?!” Tears were forming in my eyes and I tried hard to push them back. “Do you trust me?” He simply asked.

 

 

 

            “I, yes I trust you. Just—“ He swung me to his back and continued to speak. “Everything will be back once you close your eyes. Promise me you won’t open them. Listen to me carefully Hoshi-san. I don’t want you to open your eyes until I say so. Got it?!” He paused and tried to catch his breath. There he was again, sounding all cute and trying to protect me.

 

 

 

            I nodded and received an angry voice from him. “I want you to promise me!” He shouted and turned to face me. “I don’t want to put you in any danger Hoshi-san.” I had now realized he had been calling me Hoshi, which was not my name, far from my name actually. “I’ll promise if you call me by my real name.” I stated.

 

 

 

 

            “Some bargain… what’s your real name?” He faced me once more. “You figure it out.” I smiled at him and rested on his shoulder. “Promise me Jennifer, that you won’t open your eyes, not until I tell you to.” I was at a pure state of shock. How did he know so fast what my real name was? I then started to wonder who he really was. There was an emblem, I noticed, on his right arm, a sort of tattoo of a white and black wing. “Yin and Yang? John, how did you know my name?” I looked down at his feet waiting for his reply. “Just promise me you won’t open your eyes.” He simply answered. “I promise John. I won’t open them until you say so.”

 

 

 

            I could feel his eyes watch me and then everything went black afterwards as if I had fallen into a deep slumber. “Wake up, Hoshi-san hayaku! Hurry hurry.” I didn’t recognize the voice but I knew something was wrong. Probably with John but I could not assure if my guess was right. I was rushed getting up and hastily gone out? Probably, I wasn’t that sure because it was really dark. As I was being rushed out my hands had been trying to feel for a wall and there I felt something silky and soft touch my hand. A thought of having touched a spider web crossed my mind a couple of times. It scared me with just the thought of having to be close to spiders.

 

            “When are you going to stop touching my face?” I heard a familiar voice ask. “John? Is that you?” I then moved my hand down to his shoulder, his arm and finally reaching his hand. “You just wanted to touch me huh?” I felt my hand entwine with his. A smile had formed on my face unnoticing. “Don’t let go. I promise you, you’ll be safe.” In the dark I could not see his face but in my heart and soul his eyes were clear and caring. “Promise me you’ll be alright. So I don’t have to feel guilty that I’m safe and you’re not. Okay?”

 

            I started to pull him deeper into the nothingness that I saw. “I promise you that if your life is ever in danger so will mine. I promise you that I will protect you even when death has taken me. I promise you hime, that your life is safe in our hands, in my hands. I promise…” His promises were great and all but they were not the right words. “Promise ME!” I shouted. I started to shiver either from cold or just shivering. “I promise you that my life will not be taken. I promise you we’ll both be alright. I promise you that your life and my life will always be chained together and if you are hurt I will be too. If you die I will too. If you live, we’ll live together.”

 

            Finally, the words I’ve wanted to hear were sounded out. “Thank you. Hontou Arigatou?” I tried to speak in Japanese as best I could. “That’s right.” He then undid his hands from mine. “Follow my voice.” After an hour of walking into the nothingness I saw a bright light come from in front of us…me? “John... John?” I twisted and turned… then turned back to the light. “Still here, don’t panic I won’t leave you.” Together we walked towards the light and outside waiting for us was a carriage small enough to fit 4, and not counting the “driver”.

 

 

 

 

            “Fly…” John said out loud. “Fly? Hah, that thing can’t fly!” I knowingly said. “Hn. That’s what you think. Ride on me.” He smirked at me and once again our fingers intertwined. “Do I have a choice?” I smiled back and made a questioning face. Was that flirting? I didn’t know. I just felt real safe by his side. “I guess not.” I then answered myself. I went to go walk over to his back but he would not let go. “Not there. We won’t be able to fly if you got on my back. Just hold on tight to me. Okay?” My face clearly showed how confused I was and thankfully he saw it. “Don’t worry. Do you trust me?” He asked me that once before and I’ll answer the same way, “Yes I trust you.” but in a more reassured voice.

 

             As I wrapped my arms around his neck he slowly moved his right arm to my waist. “This is when we fly…” He whispered. I watched him intently not noticing the pair of wings sprouting from his back. “Do you see it?” He asked. I was mesmerized by his eyes then averted mine towards his back. “Wow, sugoi!!!” I unknowingly said. “So you do speak Japanese.” He stated. “What? Nani?” I had done it again. Spoke in Japanese. “You… are you using your… but I never… that’s great you can speak Japanese.” He looked away from me.

 

 

 

 

            For a while it was quiet. We were tailing the carriage while it flew. It was quiet until suddenly I heard John scream from agony. “JOHN! Are you okay?” I was now holding his face. His eyes were slowly turning full green. “Within your eyes are irises embedded.” I said out of know where. “You don’t know but you glow when your eyes are both blue and green. And the iris is dancing around your eyes. Ao Midori Ayame…”

 

 

 

 

            “What did you say?” His voice was quiet and calm. “You’re bleeding John.” I exclaimed. “I’m fine. Daijobu right?” I chuckled lowly and answered, “Right!” I held him tighter as he slowly landed on the steps of the carriage. “Go in.” “John, here are the others. Are you two alright?” The same voice from earlier asked. “We’re fine, I got attacked so put all of them in.” He faced me once more. “Trust me, I’ll be just fine.” He then pushed me in and helped the others bring in the “survivors”. Surprisingly they were my siblings. All three of them were actually unconscious. “Don’t wake them up.” John whispered and turned to nod at someone I could not see.

 

 

 

            “So you’re Hoshi-san. I’m Ume .” She smiled at me warmly. “Like plum?” That was so inconsiderate of me to ask. “Isn’t it cute?” She questioned. “Very.” “You mean totemo right?” She stared at me for what seemed like hours. “Yeah… is that how—“I tried to continue but she silenced me. “Yes it is. Just calm down okay, once they get back then you can panic. Okay?” She looked at me strangely and looked down. Then and there I realized my brother lying on her lap. “Tommy!” I jumped up and hit my head on the roof. “Anata daijobu?” She asked me. I heard that before, John had asked me the same question the first time we talked.

 

 

 

            Usually I doubt all what guys tell me or strangers for that matter but it’s different with them. To me it feels as if I’ve known them for so long even though it’s only been for a night. I looked at my watch remembering that I had it. “That’s the wrong time just so you know; we’re traveling in between universes. You’re not in your place anymore. This… look outside, you’re in our point of view. That is Kareno, Withered Field. But that is only part of this universe.” She smiled at me and looked outside. She seemed younger but spoke with such elegance. “So, what is your world called?” I looked back and smiled. “I wouldn’t say world, more like country. Hatsu-yume, Hatsuyume means First Dream.” She looked down again at Tommy. “First Dream… Hatsuyume. So there are other countries like yours?” I was calm and I didn’t know why. “Yes. For example yours and there are also others like Shitatari where some have the power to control water. Our country is the strongest country. We are able to gain power like other countries have. That is why we are called First Dream. There are also those who master the element of earth, fire and air. Different kinds, you’ll see. We’re as of right now flying over the country of earth. It’s the alternate world of yours where as they can control earth but you only live on earth.” She took in a long breath and looked outside again.

 

 

 

 

            “Oh I get it. That’s why it’s Withered Field. Right?” I looked at her once more. “Are they, going to be fine?” I looked back at my sisters and wondered if they knew what was happening. “They don’t know. They’re more confused than you are. Didn’t you say to Takeshi you trusted him?” She smiled once again and looked out. “ Ume , open up, Takeshi and Namako are seriously injured.” She slowly laid Tommy down and walked to the door. “Hayaku.” She simply said. “Hoshi-san can you help us out, take John.” She stared at me and made a forwarding motion. “Uh…” Before I could completely answer her she had placed John’s body next to mine. “Don’t worry he’ll be fine.”

 

 

 

            Were they reassuring me when I didn’t need it? I was not worried. Not even one bit. I didn’t know why but I was just calm. I probably knew he’d be fine. “Aren’t you even a bit least worried about me?” I heard someone say. I turned to John and smiled at him. “You said to trust you right? You said you’d be fine so I’ll believe that.”

 

 

 

            “Look over there, at the trash can. There’s bandages and medicine. Get the bandages and the bottle with the red cap.” He nudged his head towards the trash can. “Why… never mind.”  I bent down and reached for the things he told me to get. “Where are you injured?” I asked him after I had gotten the things. “I’ll do it myself, just hand me the medicine.” He held his hand out waiting for the bottle. “I can do it. Just tell me where you’re hurting.” I smiled at him caringly.

           

                        Aira - Please comment on what you think. I plan on doing this manga style but I need people's thoughts on it. Thank you. Pictures are coming soon just don't have the time to outline and color and scan. haha.