In a night, not so unlike any other, in a city with no particular name; in the midst of the bright lights and intoxicating jubilus atmosphere, a doorway hidden by the common eye between a number of tightly packed buildings stood. The only light that came in into the poorly lit alley was the faltering overhead lamps placed symmetrically a few feet away from each other. The melody of cars and footsteps came and went but every so often one or two people would make a turn on that alley; their destination behind the metal grayed out door. A few knocks in sequence, a whistle, and a patient mind, and eventually the door would swing open with no apparent host to receive them.
New visitors would have a mixture of emotions, some were thrilled; curiosity besting them in a game of logic, and they would step inside without looking back. Some would tense up, their fears of the unknown winning over, but nonetheless, they would step in with the hope that their fears were nothing but that. Of course, recuring visitors knew the truth, that behind that mysterious entrance, nothing much out of the ordinary waited for them inside.
Once in, one would walk for a short distance before realizing the nature of this establishment; a simple club. The smell of smoke and a distinct aroma akin to sweet apples permeated, but one quickly grew accustom to it. Lines of tables with chairs stretched from one end of the room to the other. They were well decorated, glasses and small silver gleaming utensils placed accordingly next to each other over a red tinted cloth with small designs imbedded from corner to corner. Towards the other side, a large stage with lights hovering over it stood. A piano alongside a mic and a few other instruments were carefully placed, showing that this was likely a music club of sorts. If that wasn't enough for patrons that found themselves into this oddly hidden business, a bar near the entrance, with a number of seats adjacent to the countertop, invited even the most disappointed comer to at least a drink or two. Once here, the classy décor and gentle atmosphere would take over, and one would find themselves sitting here for hours, on this dark lit club enjoying the relaxing mellow music, or simply the company of one or other person who happened to walk in for a drink.
This particular night was no different than any other night for this music club, despite their large number count of tables and chairs, only a handful of people sat around taking a drink in and simply taking in the tranquility of it all. A symphony, jazz perhaps, played in the background, the band plucking away at their instruments, and a woman voice that sooth even the heart of those in deepest turmoil.
One specific patron, one who visited just as often as those who had learned of this tucked away gem, if not more often, sat with her back against the rest of the club, facing the bartender who was slowly wiping away at a glass in his hands.
She glanced at the glass in her hand, her fingertips slowly moving around in circles around the edges as if tracing its design over and over again. She would then pick it up, rattle the ice around the drink for a bit before taking a sip, and repeat the process again.
"Miss..." The bartender spoke up, his indifferent tone and deep voice bringing no sense of alarm.
She raised her eyes, only partially paying attention to the man in front.
"Would you like me to top that?"
The drink in her hand wasn't quite empty, but it showed signs of attentiveness in this man's work that he offered to do so already. She nodded her head and moved her hand away from the glass.
The bartender quickly pulled out a bottle from the other side of the counter, and poured the drink ever so carefully over her glass filling it just perfectly.
"Thank you."
He nodded, and went about his work.
This had been her life for a while now. It was tiresome so she would come here every so often, and linger with the mortals of this universe as one of them to take some time to herself. Of course, no one knew who she really was, no one here at least. To them, she was a woman who visited this club frequently and had a few drinks over the course of hours before leaving and repeating the process again the next day.
From the corner of her eye she noticed a man who had just arrived sitting a stool away from her, but she didn't pay it much mind. She continued with her usual ritual in silence.
"I'll take a scotch, on the rocks."
She could tell the man was looking her way when he ordered, still this was nothing new. She looked up sympathetically so their eyes would meet for the first time.
He was an attractive man, tall, well-built, a silver suit and a blue tinted tie. Around his wrist a gold watch and a ring in a finger she already knew would mean trouble.
Nonetheless, his round brown eyes lit up when hers looked up and he gave small sweet smile. "Hey, see you're here again."
They had met before; long ago for her maybe, a day or two for the man. "So, we do."
He leaned back, and raised an eyebrow. "The girl with the funny name, Sayu."
She gave a polite smile and sneered under her breath. "Charming."
"I can't say I haven't heard that before." he responded with a laugh of his own. "Most would also say funny and handsome."
"I find that hard to believe." she responded jokingly.
He shrugged and smiled. "You're right, I mostly just annoy them till I leave."
Sayu giggled and nodded her head. "I can believe that."
The man glanced around the club before turning back and asking. "Alone again?"
She drank from her glass before responding. "Yeah, just me again."
"Well if you don't mind, I can always keep you company."
Sayu eyed the man suspiciously but with a playful smile nonetheless. "Sure."
He got up and moved towards the stool next to hers, his bigger frame over her own was noticeable even to her. It reminded him something alongside that of Hiromichi.
Her mind went blank for a second, that name not having popped into her mind in thousands of years. It had been a while since those in that Universe came to her mind, and now suddenly the memories of them came rushing in. She wondered how long it had been to them since they had last seen her.
"You mind me asking you something?"
"What is it?"
"You look like a really beautiful girl..."
She chuckled. "That's not a question."
"I wasn't finished, what are you doing alone here by yourself?"
It was a hard question to answer without this man thinking she was crazy, so she put it as simple as she could. "I just need time away from work."
He looked satisfied with the answer but still continued to press on. "What about family, friends?"
"They're... far away from here."
"That's depressing."
"Thanks."
They sat and drank in silence for a while. Sayu could sit here for an endless amount of time without moving but it seemed the man wasn't satisfied with leaving it like that. She didn't mind talking to him either, she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something she felt similar to this man.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Why are you here alone?"
"I thought I would give last night another go."
Sayu shook her head and looked away. "I'm still not interested."
"Two strikes down, I really am losing my game."
"It's a shame you're not going to land a hit."
"You're still here, I think I got another shot or two."
They both laughed silently.
"What about friends, family?" Sayu continued
His expression grew distant for a split second. He looked over at Sayu and quickly played it off with a laugh. "Couple of friends, no family though."
Sayu looked down at his ring and then back at him. He shuddered as he moved his hand back.
She decided not to press and turned back to her drink.
"Got anyone special then?" it was the man's turn to ask the questions.
It was her turn to hesitate, her mind instantly wandered back to eons, every single memory filed with a face she never thought she would see again. She shook her head. "Not anymore."
The man's face filled with curiosity but he didn't ask. "What do you do for a living?"
"I... trade assets with off shore clients."
The man looked thoroughly impressed. "Well, I'll be damn, a business woman, I'm something of a business man myself. I focus on international stock exchange for a company. My boss is a complete dick though so, that's a whole second job on its own."
Sayu laughed and shook her head. "I'm my own boss, for the most part."
"No kidding, damn, you hiring, I wouldn't mind changing jobs if we got to do this more often."
They continued to chit chat back and forth throughout the night. The hours flew and before they could tell it was last call.
The man looked down at his watch and whistled. "Already this late, looks like it's time to take this party elsewhere, reconsidered?"
Sayu got on her feet and smiled once more. "Still not interested."
He scoffed but lifted himself from his seat as well. "Your loss."
They walked out into the alley still exchanging small quips back and forth. They turned to face each other, the man carefully glancing at her face. "It was good to see you again, hope we get to see each other sometime soon."
Sayu smiled, her lips spreading from one end of her face to another. "We might, but you should know I'm not-"
The man raised his hand stopping her from continuing. He gave a genuine smile and spoke. "I understand, friends at least."
Sayu nodded in agreement. "Friends."
"I could walk you home if-"
"That's not necessary, I appreciate the offer though."
He looked doubtful for a second but eventually nodded and turned his back and looked back. "The name's Chris, by the way, since you didn't bother asking or using my name."
"Chris, I know."
"See you." he eventually left, leaving her standing in the midst of the alley by herself.
Sayu sighed and turned her attention away. An ethereal door raised from the ground with an ominous red tint. She reached into her dress and pulled out a key, twirling it around her fingertips with hesitation for a while. The door however sprung open, without her doing so much as lifting her finger towards it revealing a figure behind the door.
It was a man, standing tall with a dark suit and completely hollowed out dark eyes, he gave a slight bow and moved to the side as if to welcome Sayu inside. "Your Majesty, welcome back."
She sighed once more, and slowly entered through the door before its presence vanished from the mortal realm leaving an empty alley once again.