Story: "Angel Promise" (working title)  Chapter-01 Introductions  


The orange and violet glow of the sunset fills the sky.  

A soft staticy voice... "Five people found dead yesterday..."  

Clouds, the delicate remains of a morning storm, drift lazily on a soft wind.  

"...Police officials say this is the latest in a string of.."  

The warm glow turns the lush green colors of the park, to those of fall.  

"...Officials say the targets of these recent crimes are alleged criminal leaders..."  The shadows of the nearby buildings grow as the sun creeps slowly down.  "...More on this story later.  Up next. Scientists say that..."  

A young woman sits on a wrought iron bench listening to the radio.  Her long dark brown hair, falls across the shoulders of a dark blue blazer with a wide collar. Around the collar of a sky blue shirt, rests a loose red bow.  The three colors are mirrored in the plaid of her pleated skirt.  She stares intently at her book, in the fading light, as a shadow falls across the pages.  

"Excuse me."  

She looks up from her book to see a mans shoes, standing on the opposite of the puddle, that's in front of the bench.  The black leather shoes are newly scuffed over a recent coat of polish , dark blue jeans, and deep blue business shirt, belong to a man a few years older than her.  His clothes seem new but already well worn.  He has, light brown hair and hazel eyes.  He carries, a huge paper shopping bag in his left hand, and a drink cup in his right.  He looks into her shimmery bronze eyes, and she slips off her headphones.  The faint sound of voices can barely be heard.  

" Excuse me.  May I sit here?"  He says with a slight smile, pointing his hand at the bench.  

"Oh.  Ya, sorry."  She slides over a mid size leather bag, and a long thin rectangular leather case; scooting to the right.  Stepping around the puddle with out even looking.  He sits on her left, giving her as much room as he can.  Setting the huge bag on the bench end.  

[SILENCE...]  
 
"So, waiting for kendo class; or did you just get out?" 

She gives him that curious look people give you, when you ask something they think you wouldn't know.  "...?" 

" I know there's a class near here.  And, I saw the case for the practice sword...  At least, I hope it's for practice."  He laughs.  "I've always had an interest my self."  He leans back and points at the bag beside him.  The huge paper bag has twine handles.  And is stuffed in with some groceries, books, and some other things.  An object wrapped in a dark cloth sticks out of the bag.  She quickly realizes it's the handle of sword; though not a Japanese style.  "The interest but not the discipline"  He smiles. 

"...Do you live around here?  I don't think I've seen you before."  She says as she looks him over more carefully. 

"I used to, some time ago.  I come here every year around this time." 
"Why?" 

"Huh?" 
"Why here?" 
He looks off in the distance... 

"I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to pry." 
"That's fine.  It was just a memory..." 
"...?" 

"I use to come here all the time, with someone." 
"A woman?" 
"Yea." 
"Girlfriend,... or maybe... wife?"  Her voice so soft, she seems embarrassed that she asked. 
He looks at her and smiles, "The first one..." 
"May I ask, what happened?" 
"She died..."   his body goes limp, and he places his left hand against his right shoulder, as if it aches.  "She was killed..." 

[Shock]  Softly; "I'm sorry..." 
"No.  It's fine."  He perks up.  "It's not a pleasant memory, but it was a few years ago."  "And she would want me to go on." 
"Did they ever catch who did it?" 
"No...  She got away..." 
Softly; "Sorry..."
"It's fine...  You know I think she went to the same school as you."  He looks at the wide collar of her blazer.  On it is a crest for a nearby private high school.  Beside the crest is a small button with a company emblem(天囚保全会).  Whispers "Tenshuu..." 
 "What?"
"I was thinking, your dad must work for Tenshuu Corporation." 
"How?..." 
"The pin."  Smiles. 
"...You must have lived near here if you recognize that." 
"Yep." 
"Yes.  My pop the "Honorable" President of the Tenshuu Corporation..."  Her, honorable is laced with sarcasm. 
"President huh?" 
"Yea, I actually had to ditch some body guards, to get time to read my book.  Father has been kind of paranoid recently.  I'm surprised they haven't found me yet..."  She looks around, agitated.   

"Maybe you shouldn't tell that to strangers with sharp objects."  Indicates the sword in the bag. 
She smiles, "Maybe your right." 
"I'm sure he's just worried about you.  The recent news and all.  The company does have a "shady" reputation, after all."  He emphasizes shady.
"Please!  Don't, remind me."  

"Sorry...  What book is that by the way, it looks familiar." 

"Android Angel Mizuki Vol. 4"  She holds up a well creased manga.  On the cover is a anime type character, with short green hair and a pink uniform.  She has huge white wings. 

He looks down and away and smiles. 

Quietly, "What?..." 
"She was a fan to..."  He looks at his shoe, dabs it in the puddle, and touches it to the dry brick path.  "I made some like these for her"

 When he lifts the shoe, an image like the one on the book appears.  Except she has longer hair and the uniform is different. 
Her eyes widen, "Wow..." 

As he takes a drink, he looks at the watch on his right hand.  "Well, I'll have to be going soon so I'll let you get back to your book."  He stands slowly and grabs his bag.  "Oh, and you might want to buy an umbrella.  It's going to rain soon." 

She looks at the empty sky, the light still fading. The voice on her radio, so quiet she'd forgotten it was even on says, "Another storm tomorrow, but clear for the rest of the night..." 

"What do they know..." Smiles.  "Well it was nice to meet you."
 
"It is nice to meet you too, Mister?..." 

"If we meet again, then you'll need to know my name...  Until then..." 

He gives her a slight wave and walks away.  She watches until she can't see him.  She smiles. 

"Until then..."