Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊


Chapter 24





Hyesung sat up in his leather chair and tapped the edge of the polished desk, thinking about Mary. He picked up his black cell phone and dialed her number. The only sound being heard in his large office was coming from the ringing tone as he waited for her to pick up.

“Hello?” Mary answered.

“Hey, this is Hyesung. What are you doing later tonight?” Hyesung smiled at hearing her voice.

“After work? Oh, I’m busy. I have to go to my sister’s house,” Mary lied.

“No, it’s okay. Take the night off if you have to. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Hyesung sounded a bit disappointed.

“Alright. Have a good night then Mr. Shin,” Mary replied.

“You too darling.” Hyesung smiled to himself. He had always liked Mary the most among his masseuses. She was good with her hands and very charismatic. He had never asked her on a date before though, due to his demanding schedules, but both of them knew his feelings for her.

She hung up the phone and walked back to the mirror to finish up her mascara. Mary was getting ready for work, but since Hyesung cancelled it, she figured she’ll take Junjin’s wallet back to him. She didn’t know why everyone wanted the number so bad, especially Hyesung. Her phone rang again. Mary rushed to it and picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Mary? It’s Junjin, the guy you robbed.” Mary rolled her eyes.

“Where do you want to meet?” Mary asked immediately, eager to hang up on him.

“Hmm...” Junjin thought for a moment as he picked out a photo of her with her puppy from her wallet and slid it into the back pockets of his pants. “How about my place?

“Your place?” Mary sounded uncertain for a moment. “Fine.”

Junjin told her the directions, and specific instructions to come alone. She didn’t know why he was so paranoid or suspicious, but was leaning more towards the thought that he could be harmless to her. He pretty much seemed to be a schlemiel anyway. She strapped on her black heels to match her ruffled black top and slanted red skirt.

Mary knocked on the wooden door outside Junjin’s home. She moved a few strands of her hair out of her face behind her ear as she tried to beat the nervous feelings bubbling up in her belly. Why was she so nervous and afraid to face Junjin?

Junjin opened the door with a smile on his face. She ignored his smile and handed him his black wallet, ready to take hers and leave. Junjin ignored the wallet as he kept staring at her. Why must she always looks so good to him, he thought. He wanted to compliment her, but didn’t want to seem so lenient.

“Hi, come in?” Junjin stepped out of the way to let her in. She hesitated, but after a few seconds, followed him in. Junjin walked over to his kitchen bar and started pouring her a drink.

“Nice place you got,” Mary commented as she looked around.

“Thanks,” Junjin smiled as he handed her some sparkling water. Mary didn’t seem tempted to drink at all. Junjin chuckled as he drank his.

“It’s safe. I won’t poison you.” Junjin sat down on the large leather couch. She followed his moves as she sat herself down across from him. She set the glass down onto the table and carefully leaned back into the soft cushion of the leather couch, yet still acting a bit sleuth.

“What is it with his number you all are after?” Mary asked. Junjin raised his eyebrows suspiciously at her, then chuckled and looked away.

“Is it such a big deal? Hyesung wants it so much, so I guess you’re lucky I haven’t gave it to him yet,” Mary shrugged. Junjin stopped laughing and stood up.

“Did you give him a copy already? I’m supposing you’re lying to me,” Junjin said as he looked down at her. Mary shot him a disgusted glare and stood up after him.

“Here.” Mary placed the wallet in Junjin’s hands, causing him to nearly drop his drink and walked away.

“Wait!” Junjin suddenly grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back to him, making her slam into his broad chest. His drink wasn’t anywhere to be found now as he suddenly pulled her into a deep kiss.

Her sounds were muffled by his kiss as she hesitated and tried to pull away. His hold was stronger now as his hands wrapped around her waist. The wallet was dropped, along with the empty glass, making a loud clank sound, but no glass was broken.

Mary soon gave in and kissed him back. There were little whimpers that could be heard in the back of her throat, driving him crazy. Mary’s hands suddenly forced him away as she gasped for air. She shot him another death glare.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Mary sounded angry, but Junjin knew she wasn’t. He sent her a mocking grin.

.........

Mike, Li Ann and Dahye sat in the body of the train, waiting for it to reach Seoul. Dahye tried her best not to fall asleep, afraid that Li Ann might trick her. Mike could tell she was tired, but Dahye had nothing to fear, for Li Ann was sleeping uncomfortably in her seat. Mike smiled as he continued staring at her from the seat across. Her delicate face was pressed onto her palm that was holding her head up. Mike reached over slowly to brush the small strand of hair that was bothering her, but retreated when he thought of the consequences.

Dahye’s eyelids kept on slipping as she tried hard to keep awake. Mike studied her for a minute. She looked like she had a hard life, running around with the kids she hung around with. He wondered what kind of person she would have been if she lived the same lifestyle he did. Well, now she would, because all his money was going to her, he thought. Perhaps she’ll make good use of the money. He couldn’t think of the negative results now. He had to think positively, it was for her own good.

The train came to an abrupt half, jerking Li Ann forward. She awoke and moved her cranky neck back and forth. Mike looked around and saw that they were already in Seoul. They did not rest in Pusan after finding Dahye, riding back to Seoul all in one night.

“Finally,” Dahye muttered.

Li Ann looked out the window and saw that it was already morning, people walking around and waiting for their trains to come.

“Good morning,” Mike smiled. Li Ann returned his smile and nodded. She made a grab for her backpack and nudged Dahye to stand up. The three of them made their way out of their section and down the long corridor to the exiting door.

Neither Mike nor Li Ann noticed a pair of dark eyes gazing over them from the crowd that the people in the train were making. Li Ann smiled as she smelled the fresh air once she hopped off the floor of the train.

The sound of a cell phone clicked.

Mike followed after Dahye had jumped off with her duffle bag. She looked around curiously with a sigh.

“So this is Seoul huh?” Li Ann looked back to Dahye and smiled.

Loud footsteps were heard walking around them in the midst of the crowd. Neither paid any attention.

“Yeah, it is.” Li Ann smiled as she motioned for Dahye to follow her towards the exit of the train station. People started scattering everywhere going in and out of the train.

Mike glanced around, realizing that he had lost sight of Li Ann and Dahye. He searched quickly around him, trying not to go too far. How had he lost them so easily? He searched down the body of the train, hoping he’d spot Li Ann, or that she’d spot him.

Seeing nothing of Li Ann or Dahye, he quickly turned around, only to bump into Brian, who had his hands in his side pockets, waiting for Mike to realize that it was him waiting for Mike.

“Mike?” Li Ann asked into the air.

“Who?” Dahye asked. “Why did we stop?” She looked around curiously at the crowd of people walking everywhere. Li Ann looked at Dahye, then tossed her head back and forth to search for Mike.

“Hey lady, wanna tell me what–...”

A gunshot was heard.

People started running and screaming as they panicked. Li Ann quickly looked back at Dahye. People were running and some ducking. Li Ann grabbed Dahye’s arm to run out of the crowd to someplace where there was less people to be seen by Mike, but before she could move, somebody’s hand clasped over her mouth, and an arm around her waist.

A man who was wearing dark sunglasses and a trench coat grabbed Dahye from behind, trying to cover his hand over her mouth too. Li Ann’s eyes widened as she heard Hwanhee’s voice whisper to her ear.

“Move or I break your neck.”

Dahye shot a blow to the other man’s knee, but he didn’t flinch. He grabbed her waist and tossed her over his large shoulder. With Dahye kicking and struggling to scream, Hwanhee and the mysterious friend of his walked out of the train station, unnoticed.

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊


Chapter 23

Mike and Li Ann stepped off the train and made their way through the crowd out of the train station. Li Ann tiredly looked both ways, unfamiliar with the streets. Mike was just as tired. They had been traveling all day, and now it was beginning to darken in Pusan. Somehow there seemed to be a bond between them, as they both felt worn out and heavy.

“Do you want to find a place to stay first?” Mike turned to Li Ann with his question. Although she looked tired, she shook her head no.

“Let’s just find your niece first, it’s not that dark yet,” Li Ann replied as she picked up her little backpack. They checked the address once again, then started off down the busy street where luminous lights hung over the light poles. It was like a festival. It was like walking through a lithe dream as they strode down the street market.

Li Ann came to a halt when she saw the numbers on a building. It was the numbers in the address. She had guessed right. The place would be near the train station. The old building seemed to be littoral when there was no water near by. It seemed deserted and run down.

“Is this it?” Mike asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Li Ann responded with a glance to him. Mike walked on ahead in front of her into the old building. He guessed it had been an old apartment unit, no longer in use.

“Li Ann, what room number?” Mike asked from over his shoulder. Li Ann quickly glanced down at the piece of paper in her hand.

“104 B.” They continued to walk up the long staircase hallway that led to the second floor. Mike looked at the doors, tightly locked closed. He wondered if his niece would have been living in a place like this, and why had he not known about her. There were a few doors that were seemed to be made of molybdenum and cold as ice. It looked more like a prison. The smell was hardly bearable to Li Ann.

“This is the room,” Mike said as he stepped out of the way. Li Ann moved up to the door and slightly knocked. There was no reply for second. She knocked again, this time louder. Still there was no answer. After a few minutes, Mike decided to pull Li Ann out of the hallway, afraid that she might faint from the intoxicating smell.

“It’s probably the wrong address,” Li Ann implied once they were outside.

“I don’t know,” Mike replied back.

“Do you want to come back tomorrow morning?” Li Ann asked. A noise clanked from a few meters off. Both turned their attentions to the little back alleyway behind the building. Female and male voices were heard. Mike slowly walked towards the invisible people conversing.

“Mike...” Li Ann called out after him quietly. He didn’t reply. He kept on walking closer and closer to the alleyway until he was completely gone. Li Ann got to her feet and paced herself after him. She stopped when she saw Mike’s back, facing a bunch of teenagers who were lounging around in the alleyway. A few of the young boys were smoking and most of the girls were dressed in baggy jeans and tanks. Some were squatting, some were leaning on the walls, and some were just standing with their arms crossed like the leader. They looked more of a gang. Li Ann swallowed back the lump in her throat.

“Ask them for Dahye,” Mike whispered to her. Li Ann looked at him and remembered he was a ghost, therefore only she could see and hear him. She had to do this on her own.

“Um, excuse me...” Li Ann stammered out. All their heads turned towards her. They blank stares questioned her authority.

“Hey lady, you ain’t here to collect rent money are you?” one of the boys shouted with a snicker from the background. The grouped joined him and started laughing.

“No, I’m....I’m looking for Lee Dahye,” Li Ann announced. A few of them stopped laughing.

“Dahye? Why?” one of the boys in front asked as he crossed his arms.

“It’s important. This concerns her uncle Lee Mike,” Li Ann stated clearly. They all ignored her and continued to talk to each other, laughing and joking around. Li Ann turned to Mike for help. He looked stuck too.

“Hey! Please tell me if any of you guys know where I can find Lee Dahye?!” Li Ann shouted once again to the crowd. A small pair of hands squeezed herself out of the few boys standing in the center of the alleyway.

A young skinny girl wearing baggy torn blue jeans and a red tank top stepped out. Her hair was partly braided and half tied into a bun. She wore a red bandana on her right arm and had an attitude of a bull.

“I’m Dahye, what do you want?” asked the young girl. She didn’t look much younger than Li Ann.

“I’m Kim Li Ann, and I need to talk to you,” Li Ann said. Mike was still trying to absorb the fact of seeing his lost niece.

Dahye looked back to her friends, then backed at Li Ann. She kept chewing her gum as she tapped her foot impatiently.

“About what?” Dahye asked.

“Your uncle.”

“What uncle? I don’t have any relatives. Sorry lady, you got the wrong person,” Dahye said dully as she started to walk back. Li Ann pulled her elbow to stop her. Dahye turned around a bit surprised. Li Ann moved her hand and stepped back.

“Please, it’s important,” Li Ann asked. Dahye thought momentarily with brisk silence. She turned around to face her group. Li Ann thought she was going to be ignored again.

“Hey, I’ll be back later,” Dahye shouted as she turned around to face Li Ann again. She started to walk off the opposite direction away from her group. Li Ann guessed this meant to follow her.

Dahye led Li Ann away from the dirty neighborhood there and out to a promenade like street where she stopped by a store to buy a soda. She offered Li Ann one.

“So what’s this gotta do with me? I mean, who are you?” Dahye asked once they were sitting down at a bench. Mike stood behind the bench as he waited for Li Ann to explain everything to Dahye.

“Okay, listen carefully. This is very important. You had an uncle named Lee Mike, he died a few weeks ago. He was killed by his wife because she wanted his money, but since you are Mike’ niece, you inherit all the money and corporation, since he didn’t write a will before he died. Now his wife Ji Yun and a guy named...”

“Hwanhee,” Mike answered.

“Hwanhee, is trying to find you. Once they do, they’re going to make you sign a paper that consists you to give all the money to Ji Yun. If you don’t, they may kill you,” Li Ann explained, nearly out of breath by her last sentence.

Dahye stared back at her blankly. A few seconds later, Dahye started laughing out loudly. She looked at Li Ann’s serious face and couldn’t believe what Li Ann was telling her.

“Hey lady, are you okay? Are you on drugs or something?” Dahye chuckled.

“I’m not joking,” Li Ann said defensively.

“I don’t have an uncle,” Dahye cut in.

“But you did have a grandfather, right?”

“I did,” Dahye shrugged. “But it’s not like he cares about me or anything. Geez lady, what does this have to do with me? I have no uncle, and I don’t know you, so just tell me what you really want and leave okay?”

“I just told you what I wanted to say,” Li Ann simply replied.

“And why do you know all this? Are you related to my grandfather or something?” Dahye asked as she stood up.

“No, I’m just a friend...” Li Ann replied gazing down to the floor.

“Just a friend? Ha, sure, your story is really good. Thanks for wasting my time. Bye,” Dahye said rudely before she started walking.

“Dahye! Listen to me, if I tell you another thing, you won’t believe me,” Li Ann pleaded. She couldn’t believe Dahye’s stuck up attitude was so hard to get through.

“What?” Dahye stopped and turned around to face her.

“Your uncle is right here– he’s a ghost, and I’m helping him,” Li Ann explained frankly. Dahye’s stare was even more lost now as she didn’t know whether to laugh or get angry at Li Ann. She took a deep breath.

“Look, I have a hard life enough already alright? I don’t need some person who doesn’t know me to be lying to me about stupid things like this. Just leave me alone.”

“Dahye, please, you have to believe me. If you don’t come with me–...”

“Then what? What’s going to happen huh?” Dahye asked with a chuckle.

“Then Hwanhee and Ji Yun will find you and they’ll kill you!” Li Ann shouted in frustration. Dahye shook her head with sympathy.

“Look, if you come back with me, I promise you that you will inherit all your uncle’s wealth. It’s solely to you only, that’s why Ji Yun is so eager to get it. By the way I see it, you need the money now right? And why would I travel all the way from Seoul just to lie to you?”

Dahye stopped as she stared at Li Ann’s face. There was something in Li Ann’s eyes that told her she wasn’t lying. Perhaps a little crazy, but definitely not lying. Dahye chewed her gum back and forth between her teeth as she continued to stare at Li Ann.

“So...if I come with you, how much do I get?” Dahye asked as she raised her chin with interest.

“I don’t know the exact amount–...”

“9 million,” Mike cut in. He crossed his arms aggravated.

“But it’s around 9 million,” Li Ann smiled at Dahye.

“Plus the corporation and all of my grandfather’s remaining wealth,” Mike added.

“Plus the corporation and all of your grandfather’s remaining wealth,” Li Ann added to Dahye.


Dahye and her group of friends huddled as she explained to them the deal she was getting. Li Ann looked from afar with a bit of hope that Dahye would say yes. She turned to Mike, who had his hands resting in his pant pockets, gazing up at the stars, waiting along with Li Ann.

“There’s really 9 million of yours?” Li Ann asked in amusement.

“12 to be exact, but I just said 9 to make it more reasonable,” Mike shrugged without looking at her. Li Ann’s eyes widened as she couldn’t believe how much Mike had earned in his short lifetime period. No wonder Ji Yun was so aggressive to carry on her plans to get the money.

Dahye walked back to Li Ann with the same blank expression she had when they’d first met. She stopped shortly in front of Li Ann and pursed her lips together.

“If anything happens to me, my family over there will make sure you receive the first blessings of death,” Dahye stated as she looked back to her group. They were all standing proudly around as they watched Dahye and Li Ann. Li Ann smiled and nodded understandingly.

“Fine with me,” Li Ann shrugged. Mike smiled at her boldness.

“When do we leave?”

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊


Chapter 22






The unguided rain splattered onto the cold pavement as Mike quickened his pace. He trampled through the near empty streets alone and wondered what Li Ann was doing at the moment. He had decided to go off to find Dahye. He didn’t know how he would help her, but he had to find her before Hwanhee and Ji Yun did. Suddenly he paused when he saw the train loading. Where was Li Ann? She was the only person he was worried about. Now that he got the address of his niece, surely Hwanhee would be after her as well as Andy.

Hesitating, and thinking twice, Mike took a deep breath and turned around. He should have thought of her before leaving. He had left her when she fell asleep in her bed, thinking that she would be safe, but neither Hwanhee nor Andy was on his mind. Not until now.


Junjin sniffed back the running nose and entered Hyesung’s masquerade. People were standing around wearing expensive suits and cocktail dresses that were embroidered with diamonds. Junjin scooted past several people who knew him. They welcomed him with warm welcomes, but his main business here was with Shin Hyesung.

“Hey, I’m here to see Hyesung,” Junjin informed the security guard standing in front of a large doorway. The security guard nodded and allowed Junjin to enter.

“Thanks,” Junjin said quietly as he entered into the large room where it was highly more sophisticated than the party outside. There were masseuses dressed in thin clothes and tanks full of rattle snakes. Junjin’s face grew disgusted once he saw the reptiles in those tanks. He noticed a few men standing around, but then spotted his main target.

Hyesung sat with his close associates, engaged in a conversation. Hyesung’s eyes spotted Junjin and excused himself from his group of friends. Hyesung walked over to Junjin with a mellow attitude.

“Junjin! So glad you could make it! Have a seat.” In the middle of that room were large comfortable couches and a coffee table in the middle, all on top of an ancient rug from China that was hand sewn. Junjin was quite impressed with Hyesung’s lifestyle.

“So Junjin, what have you got so far?” Hyesung asked as he sipped his red wine. Junjin bit his lips and twiddled his hands nervously.

“I haven’t gotten anything yet,” Junjin lied as he perked up more confidence.

“Really?” Hyesung set down his glass and looked at his watch.

“Yeah. I’ll get it soon. The codes to the locker are still locked, so I’m waiting for the key,” Junjin explained.

“Very well. I have plenty of time on my hands, speaking of which I’m late for my meeting. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll see you later.” Hyesung stood up and straightened his shirt. Junjin arched his neck back and forth.

“I should get going too,” Junjin said as he stood up.

“No, don’t do that. You should stay and enjoy the party. Do you want to relax first?” Hyesung asked noticing the tension in his muscles. He waved at a young masseuse to come over. The young and tall girl with light brown tanned skin looked over. She had brown sugar wavy hair and was dressed in a red camisole top and a little over the knee length skirt that had a split down the side up to her thigh. Her pretty oval face was soft and flawless and her large eyes twinkled as she approached Junjin.

“Yes sir?” She asked Hyesung as she came up to him.

“Give Mr. Park a massage. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Junjin, this is Miss Kim Sianna. She’s an expert. Enjoy,” Hyesung slyly smiled as he patted Junjin’s shoulders and walked off.

“Hello Mr. Park,” Sianna smiled seductively as she held out her hand.

“Hello,” Junjin replied as he took her hand and kissed it. She blushed bowed.

“If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to a more private room.” She led him to a dark room with maroon walls. Soft music played in the background as Junjin looked around curiously. A messaging table was set in the center, and next to it were bottles of body oils that laid around in fancy little potion like glasses.

“Nice room,” Junjin commented as he kept his eyes looking all over, trying to avoid her. She was extremely attractive and sexy to him.

“Take off your shirt if you like,” she said as she poured out some oil onto her palm. Junjin started stripping off his top. Sianna’s eyes gazed over his broad shoulders and hard abs. She looked away and walked over to the other side of the table. He laid down chest first and relaxed his arms. Her slender fingers ran over his shoulder blades and down his spine. She started messaging him as his body seemed to relax a little.

“So...where are you from?” Junjin asked.

“What do you mean Mr. Park?” Her voice was soft and melody like to his ears. He felt he was going to fall in love.

“Well, you don’t look like you’re Korean,” Junjin smiled to himself.

“I’m half Caucasian, one forth Japanese, and the rest is Korean,” she giggled.

“What?” Junjin said in a confused tone. She continued to giggle as she message his shoulders.

“My father is Korean and Japanese, and my mother is Caucasian,” Sianna explained.

“Oh, no wonder your name is so different...” Junjin implied with understanding.

“That’s not my real name,” Sianna said quietly. Junjin tensed up under her. He looked over his shoulders and into her brown eyes. He looked at her questioningly.

“May I know?” Junjin smiled mischievously.

“Mr. Park, I’m afraid that is not allowed,” Sianna joked. She continued to massage his shoulders, then moved down to his lower back.

“Why not?” Junjin asked laying his cheek back down again. He felt Sianna’s leg move over his back as she suddenly sat on top of him, on his back. He glanced over and saw her exposed thigh that showed through the split on her skirt. She leaned down until she was pressed onto his back.

“Because I’ll have to kill you,” Sianna whispered quietly into his ears. He smiled at her boldness. He relaxed some more as he felt Sianna’s hands run up and down his back.

“I don’t care. Tell me,” Junjin continued. His voice was drowning, as he felt tiresome overcome him. She smiled to herself, feeling a bit guilty.

“Relax Mr. Park,” Sianna said as she felt him slowly drifting off.

“Call me Junjin,” he yawned back. He closed his eyes and in a matter of minutes, was asleep. The last thing he remembered hearing was a soft voice whispering to his ear.

“My name is Mary.”

He opened his eyes. He is still in the same room with dark red walls and soft music. He slowly rose from the table and looked around. He saw his jacket and shirt piled on a chair nearby. Junjin stood up and yawned. He pulled on his black sleeveless shirt and picked up his jacket. An odd feeling came over Junjin as he suddenly searched the pockets of his jacket. His wallet, cell phone and the number were all missing.

“Sh!t! No, damn,” Junjin muttered as he looked around everywhere in that room for his items. All the bottles were gone, and so was the girl. That girl. He remembered. It must have been her. He shouldn’t have trusted her that easily. Such a poisonous rose she is. He cursed himself out and grew more pissed by the moment. Junjin slipped into his jacket and stormed out. Oddly, the masquerade was over. There were no rattlesnakes in the large tanks, no rich men in sophisticated suits or beautiful women in cocktail dresses. And most significantly, there was no Shin Hyesung or masseuses.


Li Ann sat in front of the television screen watching an engaged mellifluous speech by a politician when she heard a knock on her door. She got up to go open the door, only to find a bundle of pink roses at her footstep. They were slightly wet from the rain, but still neatly wrapped in cellophane. She picked them up and read the note. It was from Andy. She rolled her head back and closed the door. Coming back into the kitchen, Li Ann tossed the roses into the trash can and opened the refrigerator to find something to eat.

She walked over to the dining room and strode out back into the living room. She felt as melancholy as the dim living room itself. The quiet room made up a musical composition like a medley as she listened to the rain pour from outside. She stood quietly still, listening to the splatters, to the wind, the footsteps.

“Mike?” She turned her head to the side to see Mike standing there, with sorry written all over his face. Her face lightened up a bit as a weak smile appeared.

“Li Ann...” He walked up closer to her. There had seemed to be melanism in his face as he too, smiled back.

“Where did you go?” She tried to sound as casual as she could, as if nothing ever happened between them.

“Just to finish some business,” Mike lied. He couldn’t look her in the eye. She stepped back, letting the shadow from the living room cover her face. He stepped in closer to the light showing from the kitchen.

“Why are you all alone in the dark like this Li Ann? I worried about you a lot,” Mike stated as he looked down to the glossy wooden floor.

“Mike...do you like me?” she asked with her eyes fixed on him. He looked up with a confused look on his face. He swallowed the lump forming in his throat and nodded slowly.

“I like you too,” Li Ann said quietly. She was being blunt and open with him. They had to write this down and figure out what they needed to do. She knew far off that he was a ghost, and she was human, but her feelings were real this time.

“We can’t be together,” Mike choked out quietly as he looked away, both hands in his pant pockets. Li Ann didn’t reply. She didn’t know how to respond to that. It was the truth, and it won’t change.

“If only I was still alive,” Mike faked on a small smile to try and cheer her up. The moment grew quieter until near silence.

“In that case, we would not have met,” Li Ann replied. Her emotion and tone of voice were still the same, in doubt and pain. He searched her blank face for any expression of what she was thinking, but he found none.

“Li Ann...I’m sorry,” Mike whispered.

“Don’t be. It’s okay Mike. I still want to help you out though.” It was now Li Ann’s turn to cheer him up.

“You really do?” Mike asked not surprised. She nodded.

“Will you go to Pusan with me?” He thought it would be a good idea to keep her safe if she went with him, rather than stay here. At least he could keep a good look out for her. Li Ann was always so uncaring of who was around her. He felt he needed and owed her to protect her.

“To find your niece?” Li Ann asked.

“Yes,” Mike answered in his serious tone. Li Ann smiled. The echoing of her brother’s footsteps approached the doors. Li Ann turned startled and aware that her brother was home.

“I’ll ask him for the car,” Li Ann stated as she moved from her spot towards the door.

“Don’t,” Mike stopped her. “We’ll take a bus.” The look in his eyes assured her that he knew what he was doing. She nodded obediently and agreed.

“Man, it’s raining like no tomorrow,” Dongwan muttered as he closed his umbrella. He was wet from head to toe, with water droplets dripping off the tips of his hair.

“I know oppa. How was your day?” Li Ann asked brightly as she took his suitcase.

“I got into traffic jam, and I dropped my coffee all over myself,” Dongwan said recalling his day. “How was yours? Didn’t you go to class?”

“No, there was no class today. My day was gloomy. Um, oppa, I’m going to take a trip to Pusan this weekend,” Li Ann said.

“What?” Dongwan stopped taking of his jacket and looked at her with a frustrated expression.

“I’m going to visit a patient down there oppa. I’ll be back soon. Is that okay?” Li Ann asked.

“A patient? Who?” Dongwan asked as he hung up his jacket.

“A girl. She needs my help, so I need to go down there,” Li Ann answered, feeling not so guilty because she told half of the truth.

“Who are you going with?” Dongwan asked.

“Myself.”

“In this weather?” Dongwan’s face was in disbelief. She nodded and smiled. His face slowly softened as the thought about it.

“Well, if you need my car–...”

“I’m taking the bus,” Li Ann cut in quickly. Dongwan studied her face for a minute, then nodded. She smiled excitedly and hugged him.

“Don’t you have to go to work?” He asked one last time in protest.

“My work is in Pusan!” Li Ann shouted back as she jumped upstairs to her room.

Dongwan smiled at Li Ann’s childish attitude and carried his suitcase into the kitchen. He noticed the bouquet of roses in the trash can and picked up the note in between them. He read Andy’s name and tried to recall who Andy was. Not caring much, he tossed the note back into the trash can and continued on his way.


[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 21





Hwanhee and Ji Yun reached home by early dawn with pissed expressions of not completing either of their tasks.

He paced around the room while she was boisterously fussing with the kitchen. Hwanhee had no idea what she was doing, but cared nonetheless.

He wondered who that man was that had attacked him earlier. He didn’t even get the name of the girl he danced with. He remembered the information the lawyer had given him, as he reached into his pockets to take it out. Nothing is there.

“What the...” Hwanhee mumbled as he suddenly stood up and looked all around him. Realizing that he was in no luck whatsoever, he cursed out loudly.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Yun asked, walking back from the kitchen.

“Sh!t! Somebody took the address out of my pockets!” Hwanhee shouted as he slammed his fast down on the lavender colored walls.

“What?!” Ji Yun stood there looking at him shocked.

“I...I was dancing with this one girl and then this guy came up and just started beating me! I think he took it! Damn!” Hwanhee continued to ramble on, cursing himself as Ji Yun stared back at him in disbelief.

“You bastard! Why did you? How could you!” Panic struck her gaze as she glared at him.

“Did you get the number?” Hwanhee suddenly asked her. She looked up and blinked. “No, I didn’t.” Ji Yun crossed her arms and looked away.

“Why?”

“I don’t know! I was close to it until people started screaming everywhere about a fight!” She spat back at him angrily.

“I’ll be back,” Hwanhee said as he quickly turned around and sprinted out the door.

..........Li Ann grabbed her throbbing head as she continued to feel dizzy. She checked her alarm clock, it was 7:39 a.m. She quickly recalling the events that had happened the night before, she got out of bed and changed immediately.

Although she felt as if her whole body had been on a cathode ray, she forced herself to be fully prepared. Coming out of the restroom, she glanced around the room. Nothing had changed. A questioning look danced across her face as she wondered where he was.

“Mike?” she asked into the still of her room. No reply. Had he really left?Li Ann made her ways downstairs where Dongwan was, cooking breakfast in his always natural cheery mood. He greeted her with an awkward look as she walked past him.

“Where are you going?” He asked, still holding the frying pan in his hands.

“I’m going to get your car.” Li Ann walked around the living room before deciding to go back to the club to find her brother’s car. She wondered where Mike was.

He’d usually see her early in the morning before she’d left for work, but feeling drowsy and tired, she didn’t want to go to work either.

Li Ann took the bus downtown to Club Xtasy. Outside the perimeter of the club was all quiet and deaf, like it was already shut down.

Of course, the midnight scene was much different, but early in the morning like that, hardly anybody would be around. She walked around to the back of the club where the car was still parked. She sighed with relief, thankful that his car was still in good condition.

Suddenly a tap was felt on her shoulders before she could get into the car. She wisped around, shocked to see Hwanhee smiling down at her.

“Good morning,” he acknowledged.

“Uh...hi,” she replied a bit confused.

“Do you remember me?” He asked with a full grown serious expression.

“Yes.” Her simple reply astounded him. Although she looked a bit weary and out of shape, he was still feeling attractiveness towards her.

“What are you doing here?” He asked looking at Dongwan’s car behind her.

“I’m here to pick up my brother’s car,” Li Ann mumbled as she looked away, wanting to seem in a hurry, eager to get out of this conversation.

“Mind if I have breakfast with you?” Hwanhee asked with an eyebrow raised at her.

“No thanks. I really have to get going,” She said opening the door to her brother’s car.

“Wait,” Hwanhee said as he suddenly grabbed her elbow and pushed her against the cold surface of the car.

“What the hell are you doing?!” She protested. He leaned in on her closely to her ear with a dead serious expression on his face. His grip on her wrist tightened.

“Where’s the address?” He asked with his cold chilling voice. Li Ann’s eyes shot up as she tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

“What...what are you talking about?” She asked with quivering lips.

“You know what I’m talking about! Where is it?!” Hwanhee shouted into her face making her wince. His breathing was fierce as his eyes bore angrily into hers. He looked as if he hadn’t had any sleep all night.

She didn’t answer him. She was too startled and afraid to think. He sensed her fear and suddenly released her wrist.

She gripped it, finally feeling her blood circulate correctly again.

“Who’s that guy? The one that messed with me?” He asked as he took a step back.

“An...Andy Lee,” She stuttered back with a grim look as she held her wrist tightly to herself. Hwanhee looked at her, searching her face for any sign of honesty.

He finally gave up as he turned around to leave. A moment of silence and coldness passed through her before she finally snapped back into her own reality and got into the car.

Taking a big swallow of the lump forming in her throat, Li Ann started the engine and drove off, wishing Mike was there to protect her.

She didn’t know why she would really care if he was there or not, but after that unfortunate encounter with Hwanhee, he was the first person on her mind.

“Mike, where are you?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 20




Mike lifted his gaze and see an angry Brian standing in front of him.

Brian’s eyes were lighted with fire as he breathed out fog. Mike stood up slowly and dusted himself. Brian once again shoved Mike all the way back further into the alleyway.

Mike shouted as he tried to push Brian back, but Brian’s strength seemed to be supported by some unseen force of nature.

“I told you to stay away from her!” Brian shouted angrliy.

“What the hell is your problem?!” Mike shouted back as Brian backed off a few steps.

“Look!” Brian said as he pointed to where Li Ann was. She was now in a sitting foetus-like position, clutching her knees closely to her as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back to catch some air. Mike paused for a moment, too, to catch his breath.

“What...what happened?” Mike asked seeming out of breath.

“Li Ann?” he called as he tried to walk towards her. Brian stepped out in front of him, stopping him from going any further.

“Get the hell away from me!” Mike shouted trying to shove Brian aside.

“I wouldn’t get near her if I were you. Unless I want her to die,” Brian replied cooly. It had seemed as if all of a sudden his attitude had shifted from a angry menacing beast to the all around easy going Angel of Death Brian.

“What do you mean?” Mike asked, confused by Brian’s explanation.

“You–...I didn’t tell you this before,” Brian said with a loud sigh.

“What?” Mike asked more concerned for Li Ann that for what Brian had to say.Suddenly Andy appeared from around the corner. He looked down to see Li Ann holding herself, tired and unable to move. He immediately bent down to see if she was okay.

“Li Ann is human, Mike,” Brian replied, looking at Li Ann and Andy.

“Li Ann? Hey, wake up. Are you okay?” Andy asked quietly, tapping her cheek to see if she was conscious.

“I know she’s human!” Mike retorted back angrily.

“Yes, but that’s why!” Brian shouted back at Mike’s stubbornness.

“Why can’t I be with her?!” Mike asked fiercely.

“Because the more time you spend with her, you take more of her energy. She is translucent to you and will eventually die if you get too close to her! That right there– that kiss! You nearly drained her! If you don’t stay away from her, she will eventually be too weak to live,” Brian explained calmly.

“What the f***?” Mike stated back, uable to believe what Brian was telling him.

“Your paths are not supposed to be traversal, but you crossed the line. I warned you already,” Brian said as he started to walk away.

“Wait! You never told me about this!” Mike called after him.

“Oh, but I did warn you,” Brian said quickly.

“And–...” he added.

“– you won’t be able to touch her for a while. It’s a transverse wave passing through.”

“What the hell does that mean?!” Mike asked angrily.

“It means stay away from her!” Brian shouted as he turned around, but still kept his pace.

“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” Mike questioned. Brian finally stopped and turned around.

“Because for ghosts, they will take advantage of people. That’s why I didn’t tell you. They have no use for the energy they take, but if they take enough, they can become almost invincible and have accelerated chances.”

“What makes you think I’ll do that?!” he asked a bit angry.

“I learned from experience, and now I hope you will too,” Brian shot back as he started walking again.

“Wait, how will I get her home then?!” Mike shouted back.

“That’s her problem,” Brian replied, suddenly disappearing out of sight.

“Andy?” Li Ann whispered back feeling the dizziness back down a bit.

“Yeah, it’s me. Are you okay? Did you drink that much?” Andy asked with a slight chuckle.

“Mike?” Li Ann asked as she lifted her gaze to Mike, who was now standing behind Andy. Andy looked back, but then turned back to her with a confused look on his face.

“Pardon me, who?” Andy asked. She slightly shook her head as she grabbed Andy’s arms to try to get up.

“Whoa..easy. Let me take you home,” Andy said trying to hold her up. She shook her head violently.

“No, that’s okay,” Li Ann mumbled back shaking him off.

“Li Ann,” Mike called out. She looked over to him.

“I think it’s better if Andy takes you home.” Mike’s voice was full of an apologetic tone. The look in his eyes told her that he meant it.

“Wait,” she said to Andy.

“Please take me home.” Andy smiled in triumph to himself as he helped her to his car. Sitting in steadily, Li Ann waited for Andy to drive her home. She had not thought so much of Mike, but she thought about why she had suddenly just collapsed like that.

Andy pulled the car out of the parking lot and headed towards her home.

“So...why were you dancing by yourself tonight?” Andy asked as they were halfway to her house. She still held her head as she shot him a annoyed glare.

“I was dancing with that man until you came,” she muttered.

“Hey, I’m just doing my part. He’s not supposed to be dancing with my girl,” Andy shrugged.

“What...Your girl?!” Li Ann asked shocked. Andy smiled amusingly to himself as he kept his eyes on the road. He soon stopped in front of her house. Li Ann didn’t wait to walk out of his car, slamming the door behind her. She could barely walk to her front door. Andy wrapped his arm around her waist as he tried to hold her up all the way to her door. She pounded on the front door for her brother to open.

“Oppa! It’s me!” She called out. Dongwan opened the door, but his face frowned when he saw Li Ann’s pale face.

“What the hell did you do to my sister?!” Dongwan asked angrily to Andy, ready to pound Andy right there.

“Hey, hey! Cool down man. I didn’t do anything to her! I just help to bring her home!” Andy said defensively.

“Oppa, it’s okay,” Li Ann said putting a hand against Dongwan to stop him.

“Later Li Ann,” Andy stated as he started to walk back to his car. Li Ann turned her head back to Dongwan and fumbled to walk inside.

“Li Ann? What happened to you?” Dongwan asked concern.

“Nothing oppa, I just got a little drunk,” Li Ann lied as she pushed her way past him and up to her room.

“Li Ann, you know you shouldn’t be drinking. You know you have a problem with that. And where’s my car?” he asked crossing his arms.

“It’s at the club oppa. I’m sorry. I’ll get it tomorrow,” she said as she walked into her room and closed the door.

“Good night!” Dongwan shouted back. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked into his room. Li Ann sat down on her bed and began to slowly remove her boots. She was too tired to even try to remove her jacket.

“I’m sorry,” Mike whispered from behind her. She turned her head around and saw him standing there, the shadow overseeing half of his figure. She smiled weakly.

“Here,” she slowly handed him the crumpled up piece of paper. He was too worried about her to even care for it. In fact, he had forgotten about it. He reached for it, trying his best not to touch her hand.

“Thank you Li Ann. I’m really sorry,” Mike said again with a hint of sadness in his tone. She made a face that asked him why he was being sorry.

“I should have never kissed you,” he mumbled lowly. She lowered her gaze to the floor, thinking that he only thought of her as a friend perhaps.

“It’s okay,” Li Ann shrugged it off. “I’m going to have to leave you now,” Mike choked out, looking away from her out through the window.

“Why?” Her question was so innocent, it made him almost feel guilty for dragging her into this mess in the first place. “

I have to Li Ann,” Mike responded, looking at her in a serious way, but added on a smile anyway to comfort her.

The room was dark. Only half of it was visible by the light shown from the moon outside.

“Is there a problem? Did I do something wrong?” she asked worried.

“No, it’s not you,” Mike said lifting his chin up with a wider smile.

“Then why do you have to leave?” she asked blinking her tired eyes to stay awake.

Mike paused to think for a moment.

How would she understand something that isn’t visible to her?

“Because, I don’t want to drag you into the world of dark blue,” he replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 19


Wondering endlessly when her brother would return, Li Ann slouched down even further on the couch until she was sure her eyes were going to close on her.

She yawned and stretched, trying to stay awake. The television screen seemed to blur even more as she blinked her eyes continuously. She checked her watch, only to find that it wasn’t even at all dark out yet.

She yawned again and wondered what she had eaten earlier to feel so tired and sleepy. She wished there was a certain kind of sport there was that she would actually enjoy without procrastinating for once, but there wasn’t.

Without further due, she finally got up and stretched, arching her head back and her arms straight out. She suddenly felt the presence of somebody else around her.

“Mike?” she asked quietly.

“It’s me,” he replied. She turned around and looked at him wearily.

“Oh, hey,” she replied as she fell right back down onto the couch. He smiled as he sat down next to her.

“Are you that tired?” he asked. She sat back up straight and looked at him intensely.

“No?” she replied hoping that he would have something for her to do.

“Do you wanna go out?” he asked sounding a bit nervous.

“Out where?” Li Ann asked raising an eyebrow.

“To a club,” Mike shrugged. Li Ann cracked a little smile as she leaned back.

“Are you serious Mike? We can’t go to a club...” Li Ann laughed.

“I’m serious Li Ann. Why not?” he asked looking at her questioningly.

“Because...” she said unsure.

“Because?”

“Because I would look funny if I talked to you,” Li Ann rolled her eyes.

“No you wouldn’t. Come on, get up, get dressed and I’ll wait for you here,” Mike said as he tugged her arm upward. She slowly rose from her seating position but immediately felt lightheaded and collided back down, pushing Mike down with her.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Mike asked as he helped push her shoulder up. She grabbed her head and nodded.

“I don’t know, I’m just so tired today,” Li Ann said with a light yawn.

“Well, you don’t have to go if you don’t feel–...”

“No no no no no, I’m going too. I can’t stand being alone,” Li Ann said as she stubbornly got herself up. She paced herself upstairs as Mike sighed to himself, wondering if taking Li Ann would really be a good idea.

The door unlocked as Dongwan and Calida strolled in, both carrying a large load of laundry.

“Lili! I’m home,” Dongwan called out as he and Calida set down the laundry baskets.

“I thought I was Lili?” Calida asked with a bright smile.

“No, you’re Leeli, with a L-E-E,” Dongwan corrected as he brought his arms around her.

“Where’s Li Ann?” Calida asked getting out of his hug. She walked into the living room and sat down on the large warm couch. Mike leaned by the wall for support as he crossed one foot over the other and waited for Li Ann.

His arms were crossed and his head was busily tilted down, examining the floor for some odd reason.

“Li Ann?” Dongwan called out once more as he poked his head into the hallway. “Right here oppa!” Li Ann shouted back as she clipped on her silver hoop earrings.

She grabbed her Suede leather jacket and rushed out. Footsteps were heard coming from downstairs as Li Ann made her way down. Dongwan came out from the kitchen when Li Ann walked past him.

“Where are you going?” Dongwan asked raising both his brows up as he inspected what she was wearing. Dark denim jeans and a ruffled top black tank, under her creamy Suede jacket. Mike glanced up at Dongwan’s voice and saw Li Ann in a different way, one that he’d never seen before.

She was looking more beautiful and daring than ever. Li Ann smiled at her brother.

“I’m going out oppa,” she replied.

“Out where?” Dongwan asked raising his eyebrows even further up. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Do I always have to be treated like a five year old? I’m going out with Min– Lindsey,” Li Ann managed to cover up his name and lie about it, smiling after her sentence that she did.

“Lindsey?” Dongwan asked. She nodded quickly.

“Fine, have a good time,” Dongwan said with a wave of his hand. She walked over to hug him, then asked for the car keys.

Dongwan handed them to her as she headed out, motioning for Mike to follow. They stood outside the long line, waiting for their turn to enter the already packed in full Xtasy Club. Li Ann folded her hands neatly in front of her and waited like an excited little girl, while Mike guiltily followed behind her.

She turned around and noticed the attitude change when he wasn’t even looking the right way.

“Mike, is something wrong?” Li Ann asked. He looked up from out of his trance and shook his head, adding on a smile to cover it up. She smiled, then turned back to the line excitedly. Mike bit his lips as he forced himself to speak up.

“Li Ann...” Mike’s hoarse voice called out quietly. She wisped around with a questioning look. “Can you do me a favor tonight?” Mike asked nervously.

After a moment to think, Li Ann’s face grown serious as she replied, “We’re not here to have fun, are we?” It was like she had already known Mike’s proposition for having her here, and that made her sad to remember the fact that he was only using her to help him, but she didn’t mind.

She told herself she didn’t.

“Not exactly,” he replied feeling guilty for having to lie to her.

“It’s okay, I understand. What are we here for then?” she asked with a smile, making him feel more comfortable after a minute.

“We–...”

“Excuse me Miss, can I see an ID?” the bouncer interrupted Mike. Li Ann turned around surprised. She suddenly nodded as she pulled out her wallet and showed him an ID.

He waved his hand and let her in as Mike followed. Inside the loud booming club, Li Ann’s excitement rose as she remembered her first time going to a club. Of course that was in the States, so a club in Seoul would be slightly different– for one thing there were only Koreans.

She held onto the railing as they walked down to the bar. The club was highly stylish, with a water like theme to it. It was more like an aquarium.

On the walls where fish tanks carved into it, with gold fishes swimming in them, their scales glistening as the light shown upon them. The dance floor was in the middle of a fountain like structure, surrounded by a ring of water, and a bridge over to the bar.

Mike poked Li Ann’s arm, causing her to turn her attention towards him.

“You see that guy over there?” Mike said as he pointed a finger towards Junjin, who was sitting next to a young girl, talking and smiling like a devious player.

“Yeah,” Li Ann slightly nodded.

“That’s Junjin. He worked for me. He was a very loyal man to me, but I guess things have changed. He went to my office earlier today and stole the number,” Mike said, regretting the fact that he had trusted Junjin in the first place.

“And what do you want me to do?” Li Ann asked unsure of why Mike was telling her about Junjin.

“Not yet. Hwanhee’s the guy. Hwanhee has my nieces’ name and address. He’s coming here later to get the number from Junjin. Can you get it from Hwanhee?” Mike asked looking her in the eye.

She looked at him as if he was crazy, but as crazy as she was herself, she nodded with confidence. Across the room was Andy, sitting with his men, drinking and playing jokes with the waitresses that worked in that club.

Andy’s eye caught sight of Li Ann as she walked over to the railing. He smirked as he wondered why she was there alone. Mike turned and looked around the club to see if he would see any other familiar faces.

The moment was right on time when Hwanhee walked through the door, wearing the same jacket he had on earlier, with his one arm around Ji Yun’s waist. She was dressed in black leather pants and a red backless shirt.

Her makeup was utterly thick and her hair was curled into a style that Mike had never seen her in before. Hwanhee spotted Junjin in the spotlight and pointed a finger towards him. Ji Yun nodded as she kissed Hwanhee’s cheeks and walked off.

“Li Ann,” Mike said quickly turning to her. Li Ann turned her head around and smiled.

“There he is. Have you thought of how you’re going to get it?” Mike asked a bit worried for her safety.

“Um hm,” she nodded as she sipped her drink. Mike’s eyes widened with surprise as he didn’t recall seeing her get a drink.

“Where did you get that?” he asked a bit surprised.

“Oh, they were passing it around. Did you want one?” Li Ann asked, but immediately felt stupid, forgetting that Mike is a ghost.

Mike smiled and shook his head. He then turned his head back to find Hwanhee.

“He’s going to sit down over there. Do you think you can get the paper out of his pocket?” Mike asked.

“So you want me to seduce Hwanhee and try to get the piece of paper in his pocket out?” Li Ann asked jokingly.

“No! I didn’t say that,” Mike retorted. She started laughing as she pushed him slightly back with her palm.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get it,” she said as she swallowed the rest of her drink down.

“Li Ann, do you get drunk easily?” he asked feeling a bit nervous once again. She shook her head stubbornly, then glared over to the dance floor.

“Mike yah,” she said in her husky voice.

“Take me to the sea. I want to go swim with the fishes,” she said as she suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the bridge.

“Li Ann? Are you okay?” Mike asked not knowing what she was going to do next. Li Ann somehow managed to make it over the bridge without falling down.

She pulled him into the center of the dance floor and started to move her body to the fast trance song. Mike stood there dumbfounded, not really sure of what she was trying to do. She moved in closer and pulled his arms around her.

“Move like this,” she said as she started dancing, swaying her body from side to side. Mike laughed out loud as he saw her wobble in her drunken state of mind.

She pouted and shoved him aside.

“Fine, you don’t want to dance with me?” Li Ann said angrily crossing her arms as she felt a burp coming along. Mike ceased his laughter and glanced over to where Hwanhee was sitting. He didn’t seem to be going anywhere soon, so he turned back to Li Ann.

She had just swallowed down another glass of wine and gave the empty glass to the waiter, who took it away with a smile.

“Li Ann! What are you doing?” Mike asked shocked that out of nowhere she was drinking.

“Don’t worry. I’ve done this a million times before,” Li Ann said as she shoved him once more and stared dancing by herself. She turned around and started to feel the wine rush down her body into her blood.

It was intoxicating. She loved it. Alcohol was her enemy, but once with her, it becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, Mike didn’t know that. He walked up behind her and slowly started to dance with her. Li Ann turned around and smiled, half surprised that Mike was actually dancing with her. He wasn’t so bad of a dancer.

He just didn’t want to dance. She moved in and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck as she moved along with him in a synchronized motion. Andy drank his wine from afar, looking at Li Ann. He chuckled to himself, seeing her dance by herself. Surely, he thought, after their “breakup,” she probably went crazy.

He leaned back and watched her as she danced, by herself. Hwanhee’s friend tugged his elbow. Hwanhee stopped talking to a nearby friend and turned to the guy who tugged his elbow. His friend pointed towards Li Ann and cracked a joke.

Hwanhee laughed along too, but when he turned to see Li Ann, he thought she wasn’t bad looking at all. It was kind of fun to see her dance by herself.

“What is she doing? Man, she’s crazy,” his friend said as he leaned back and laughed to himself. Hwanhee stopped laughing and looked at his friend.

“She’s not crazy. She looks hot, well, maybe a little crazy, but that makes it better right?” Hwanhee joked as he drank down his cold beer. Ji Yun walked up to Junjin, who was by the bar getting a drink. She leaned in casually on the counter of the bar and ordered a drink.

Junjin recognized her voice and turned to her.

“Ji Yun? Hey! What are you doing here?” Junjin asked sounding happy to see her.

“I’m here with a few friends,” she lied as she smiled at him through her fire red lipstick. Her eyes scanned him up and down, then taking her drink, she winked at him and walked away back to her seat. Junjin smiled to himself, then grabbing his drink, he followed.

He sat down after her, sitting across from her as he made himself comfortable. Ji Yun knew now that she had him trapped.

“So tell me Jin, what are you doing here?” she asked as she laid back and played with the tip of her wine glass.

“I’m just here to meet a friend,” Junjin said with a shrug as he set down his drink.

“Business meeting?” she asked with her seductive voice. Junjin swallowed as he shifted. Ji Yun scooted in closer to him.

“Yeah, um, sort of like that,” Junjin said nervously as he clasped his hands together.

“Really? How come you didn’t come visit me anymore?” she asked leaning in closely to him. Junjin gulped.

“I...well, I’ve been busy. Why are you here again?” Junjin said quickly as he reached over for his drink, trying to get away from her intoxicating smell of perfume. She smiled at his weakness.

“Oh, you know, after Mike’s tragic death, I’ve been very lonely...and I just thought that I’d come out here to see what I could get,” Ji Yun said as her voice grew sexier, pulling him deeper into her eyes as she leaned in closer to him again.

Junjin forgot to pick up his drink all of a sudden. She pulled his collar and got up.

“Follow me,” she whispered into his ear as she walked out of the sitting lounge and into a dark hallway.

“Where the #### is Junjin?” Andy asked frustrated as he checked his watch again. He wanted to go dance with Li Ann, but feared that Junjin would not see him if he did. He angrily glanced back towards the dance floor to see her, still dancing to herself, but something nearby her caught his attention.

There was another man approaching her. Li Ann danced easily with Mike to the R&B beat when suddenly Hwanhee cut in through Mike.

He smiled as he scooted in closer to Li Ann. Mike stood aside and waited as he tried to forget what he saw in her face when he had moved in closer to dance with her just a few minutes ago.

She was so beautiful, energetic, so full of life, something Mike now wished he had. Li Ann’s conscience suddenly kicked in as she remembered what she was supposed to do. She smiled playfully as she wrapped her arms around Hwanhee.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and started dancing with her.

“You look awfully lonely out here by yourself,” Hwanhee said into her ear.

“Oh, but I wasn’t alone,” she replied, winking at Mike with a grin.

He smiled back, but then suddenly made a scolding face for her to hurry up. She rolled her eyes at him. The music’s pace quickened as Li Ann pulled apart from Hwanhee to match the music scenery. He refused as he pulled her arms back to him.

Hwanhee suddenly felt a tap on his shoulders. Turning around, he felt a hard punch to his nose.

“Ahh! What the–...”

“Get the #### away from my girlfriend!” Andy yelled.

“Sh!t,” Hwanhee muttered as he threw a punch back at Andy. Li Ann swallowed as she stood there shocked, not knowing what to do. Suddenly people were scattered all around, shouting

“Fight! Fight,” as Li Ann tried to see what was going on.

“Crap,” she mumbled as she stood over on Hwanhee’s side and reached into his pocket. Feeling a crumpled piece of paper, she had no time to see what was happening. Hwanhee was pushed down by Andy, causing Li Ann to fall onto his lap.

She laid there startled. “Mike?” she whispered as she looked around frantically for him.

“F###, son of a b**ch,” Hwanhee cursed as he stood up and jumped Andy. Both men were rolling on the floor taking turns at each other.

Fists and cheers were thrown up into the air by the people standing by with their screams filling up Li Ann’s ear as she searched desperately for a way out. Junjin rushed out of the hallway, followed by Ji Yun as he saw what was going on. He scanned the crowd quickly for the people who were fighting.

“Sh!t, it’s Andy,” Junjin said as he saw Andy’s men approaching the fight scene.

“What’s going on?” Ji Yun asked. She looked towards where Junjin was looking and gasped when she saw Hwanhee in the middle of the fight.

“Jin! What’s going on?” asked Junjin’s friend from behind.

“I’m out of here,” Junjin said as he made sure the number was still in his pocket. He and his friend started walking out of the club when Ji Yun stopped him.

“Where are you going?” she asked knowing that her task was not done.

“Sorry Ji Yun, I gotta run,”Junjin said as he shook his arm off her grab and headed out. She glared evilly back at him, but then turned to see if she would find Hwanhee.

“Mike?” Li Ann asked trying to remove the hair strands out of her face. Suddenly somebody grabbed her wrist and started pulling her out of the crowd. She closed her eyes, scared of somebody’s fist accidentally hitting her.

Mike ran with her across the bridge, passing by the security guards and over to the high platform where the railing was. Andy caught a glimpse of Li Ann as she exited out the front gate. His men held Hwanhee down as he got out of the crowd and ran over the bridge, trying to chase after her. Mike and Li Ann ran around the front entrance and turned the corner into a dark alleyway.

Li Ann was laughing with excitement and being overly hyper when Mike finally stopped running. He looked in both directions to see if they were safe, as he panted for breath.

“That was so cool!” Li Ann said as she laughed and tried to catch her breath at the same time.

“What? Are you okay?” Mike asked as he leaned his hand over her shoulder to support his body weight.

“I’m fine,” she replied as she leaned back on the cold brick wall. She still felt tingly inside as she tried to hide her laughter. “Did you get it?” Mike asked with a deep breath.

She giggled and nodded. He smiled with relief and let out a little chuckle along with her.

“Did you see Andy? What a loser,” Li Ann continued to laugh as she spoke of Andy.

“Yeah,” Mike breathed out as he smiled at her last comment. The moon was not showing that night, but the lamp post above her shone a light yellow light onto her glimmering skin. Her smile enlightened him as her eyes twinkled with a spark.

He didn’t realize what he was doing, but it was too late to return when he pressed her up on the wall and stared into her eyes. She suddenly forgot to laugh when he was so close to her, breathing into her face. Chills were sent up and down her spine, reaching her joints and neck as he leaned in.

She closed her eyes shut and waited for the moment of his lips being pressed upon hers. They were warm and soft, against her glossy lips that tasted like cherry. She deliberately kept her mouth shut as tightly as a locked door.His hand moved to her chin, then she felt pressure when he forced her mouth open for him.

As soon as she gave in to his silent request, he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, deeply, swiftly, completely. Li Ann was so startled she tried to move, but he wouldn’t let her. His mouth slanted over hers, sealing the whimper of her weak protest.

Li Ann’s last coherent thought was that Lee Mike certainly knew his way to kiss. She was beginning to kiss him back, feeling more loose and comfortable, when all of a sudden a enormous force out of nowhere shoved Mike out of her sight.

Right at that moment, she dropped to her knees, feeling ultimately weak and tired. Her vision immediately blurred as she felt her head spin.

She closed her eyes as she felt the sudden coldness that not even her jacket can protect her from.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Brian’s voice echoed throughout the dark alleyway.

[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 18


Li Ann skipped downstairs while humming a soft tune to herself. She flipped her hair out of her face and became a bit frustrated with its annoying way of always getting in her way. She had thought of cutting it several times, but never got around to it.

She walked over to the patio that stood outside her kitchen and spotted Mike, leaning against the wall, staring off into the endless distance. Li Ann didn’t ponder him with questions, but instead just stood there next to him and stared.

A few minutes later, Mike finally turned to face her. She smiled.

“Hi,” Li Ann greeted cheerfully.

“Hey,” Mike asked in a low tired voice. Her smiled slowly faded as she wondered what was up with the sudden down change of his attitude.

“Something wrong?” she asked just to break the silence between them. Mike slowly shook his head as he looked down.

“I’m going to a Manchurian restaurant this afternoon,” Mike said, still keeping his gaze on the ground.

“For what?” she asked, suddenly feeling like she was intruding his private space. She backed up a little like she was going to walk back in.

“My lawyer’s going there to tell Ji Yun who my niece is. This may be my chance to find her,” Mike spoke ever so casually.

“Do you need me to come with you?” Li Ann asked with a hint of hope in her voice that he would eventually say yes.

“No, that’s okay,” Mike replied quietly. Li Ann’s reaction was a silent stare. She somehow felt a bit betrayed that he didn’t need her.

“Good luck then,” Li Ann said with a small smile as she walked back into the kitchen, slowly sliding the door behind her.

Mike leaned back onto the wall for support and wished he had a cigarette. He had quitted years before he died, but now he suddenly had the desire to taste one. He rested his head and closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry Li Ann,” Mike whispered to himself as he walked out of the patio and onto the sidewalk of the street.

He was headed downtown to that Manchurian restaurant. Li Ann, feeling a bit disappointed and lonely, decided to keep herself busy.

That day had been a warm sunny day, not like the regular stormy gray ones, but with Mike’s rejection brought her a feeling of depression.

She told herself she shouldn’t feel this way. Mike has his own business to take care of, and it be best if she stayed out of it. She plopped down onto the bouncy couch and popped in a movie. #### it if she didn’t have any clients that day.

Her class was not going to start anytime soon, and her friend Lindsey is busy with her boyfriend.

Li Ann asked herself why she didn’t have a boyfriend either?

Maybe it was Andy? He was the first man she had peculiarly dated first since coming back from the States, but other than that, she questioned herself for not obtaining one.

Mike brushed passed the busy crowds as he made his way into the busy marketplace. Up ahead of him was the Manchurian restaurant that he could tell was already filled with costumers. Suddenly he stopped.

His eyebrows tighten as he thought of what had just happened a few seconds ago. Had he just brushed passed some people? Did this mean he can touch things without having Li Ann around? To try out his hypothesis, he reached over to a nearby pole, but felt nothing.

It was the same. Perhaps it was just his illusion. Perhaps he was stressing himself out with his journey to find his niece and save her. But why save her?

He had never met her before, nor seen her. He didn’t even know he had a niece. Then he remembered his cousin Lee Tae Jung.

His cousin was much older than he was, and he remembered that Tae Jung had married, and had a daughter before passing away.

So that must be the niece?

Could it be?

All these questions had an insurgence to Mike as he tried to recall the past. He was seven years old when his cousin Tae Jung had his daughter. So would that mean his niece was already seventeen years old?

He stepped into the restaurant and looked around for a familiar face he would recognize. He immediately spotted the lawyer who sat nervously at the end of the restaurant, with a coffee cup on his table.

He kept glancing at his watch as Mike approached.

“Are you Mr. Choi?” asked a voice from behind Mike. He turned around and saw that it was Hwanhee, who was talking to the lawyer.

The lawyer nodded and motioned for Hwanhee to sit down. Hwanhee looked around uncomfortably, then sat down. He kept glancing over at the other side of the restaurant.

“Such a bad place to meet,” Hwanhee muttered as he kept looking at everything in sight with suspicion.

“Where’s Ji Yun?” the lawyer asked nervously.

“She asked me to come get the information. Do you have it?” Hwanhee asked with his eyes boring directly into the lawyers. The lawyer nodded in response and took out his small brief case. He took out some papers and shuffled them in his hands.

“Can you hurry up?” Hwanhee asked impatiently.

“What’s the hurry?” the lawyer asked still browsing through the papers.

“There’s a detective over there,” Hwanhee pointed a weak finger towards Eric and his friends sitting at the opposite end of the restaurant, talking and eating.

“A detective?” Mr. Choi asked looking towards where Hwanhee was pointing. Mike looked the same direction and analyzed Eric, who was enjoying his conversation with Tae Hyung. They looked like impersonate fools to him instead of detectives.

Perhaps they were undercover impersonate detectives? He shrugged off the thought and turned back to the conversation.

“Yeah, he’s on Mike’s murder case,” Hwanhee stated as he leaned back in his seat. Mike crossed his arms smiling at how pathetic Hwanhee must be to just give away secrets like that.

“Oh, okay,” the lawyer replied. He handed the papers to Hwanhee and sat back, drinking the rest of his coffee.

“What the ####’s all this crap?” Hwanhee asked looking over the thick pile of papers in his palm.

“Those are just outside information, but the info on the niece is also in there,” Mr. Choi explained. Hwanhee picked out the paper on top of the pile and looked over it. “Lee Dahye?” he asked raising his eyebrows.

“Yes, she’s seventeen years old and she lives in Pusan. Her address is there, and the rest is just outside information like I said,” Mr. Choi explained again.

“Seventeen? And she doesn’t know about Mike right?” Hwanhee asked with some kind of interest in the girl.

“Of course not...yet,” Mr. Choi mumbled back.

“All right, fine. Thanks,” Hwanhee noted as he stood up, folding the top piece of paper into four parts then stuffed it in his jacket. He tossed the other bunch back down onto the table as he stood up to leave.

“Keep this informational confident,” Mr. Choi shouted back in a low voice as Hwanhee walked towards the exit.

“Lee Dahye?” Mike said quietly to himself. Now that was a name he had never heard in his family before. He walked out to follow Hwanhee when he suddenly saw Eric and his men shift out of their seats to follow after Hwanhee.

Hwanhee walked quickly out to his black BMW when Eric suddenly tapped him from behind his shoulder. Hwanhee turned around and shown a surprised expression on his face. Tae Hyung, Tony and Jae Won followed and stayed a few feet away from Eric and Hwanhee.

Eric smiled cooly at Hwanhee as he checked out Hwanhee’s car.

“Can I help you?” Hwanhee asked as he looked around.

“I was just wanting to ask you a few questions as I saw you in there,” Eric replied stepping a few inches back.

“Sure...” Hwanhee said trying to sound calm.

“Do you know anything that has to do with Lee Mike? I mean, I saw you in his home the other day I went to see his wife, so I was thinking maybe you could be a friend of Mr. Lee?”

“Oh, no. I don’t know that guy. I am just co-workers with his wife, so I went to talk to her,” Hwanhee shrugged as he explained his relationship with Ji Yun. Eric nodded slowly.

“Oh, I see. Well, thanks for your time then,” Eric acknowledged.

Hwanhee shook his hands and got into his car. With a innocent look on his face, he glanced at Eric and waved, then drove out of the parking lot.

Mike sat in Hwanhee’s car, in the backseat with a cold glare at Hwanhee. He wanted to see what Eric was doing, but couldn’t afford to lose Hwanhee either. Eric put his hands on his hips and bit his lip, thinking to himself.

Tae Hyung, who was talking to Tony and Jae Won, walked over and stepped in front of Eric. “Hey, who’s the guy?” Tae Hyung asked.

“He knows Mike’s wife. I don’t know, but it feels as if I’ve met him somewhere before...hey Jae Won! Can you do a background scan of Hwang Sung Hyuk?” Eric shouted from where he was to Jae Won.

“Yeah sure,” Jae Won shouted back. Eric rolled up his sleeves and walked over to his car. The other three men followed. Tony stepped into his silver convertible while Tae Hyung and Jae Won got into Eric’s four wheeler.

Jae Won sat comfortably and took out his lap top.

Typing in the name “Hwang Sung Hyuk,” he glanced over to Tae Hyung.

“I’ve never heard of a guy like that in my files,” Jae Won muttered. Eric slammed the door in the drivers seat and looked back over to Jae Won.

“Anything?” Eric asked with one hand over the steering wheel.

“Nope,” Jae Won shook his head as he kept staring at the laptop screen.

“All right, maybe he’s never had a record before,” Eric muttered as he started the engine and started the car into gear. Hwanhee drove to a familiar territory that Mike was known to and stopped when he reached the parking lot of Mike’s corporation. Nobody was in the corporation at that moment, making Mike wonder why he had come there.

Hwanhee stepped out of the car and walked over to the entrance. Mike got out and quickly followed behind, keeping a close look on Hwanhee. Hwanhee glanced around the empty parking lot for signs of anybody, but without anyone in sight, he took out a silver key and unlocked the gates. Oddly, the security system didn’t go off. Mike inspected even closer, wondering what Hwanhee was trying to do.

Break in? But why?Hwanhee got through the glass doors and locked it. He walked into the quiet lobby. The elevators were shut down, so he walked into the staircase room and climbed up the stairs. Mike followed right behind. Making his way to the sixth floor, Hwanhee looked around pantingly for Mike’s office.

Mike also wondered why the security cameras were off also. Hwanhee found Mike’s office and used yet, another key to open it. It had seemed as if Hwanhee knew his way pretty much around the building. This surprised Mike. Hwanhee walked into Mike’s office and headed straight to Mike’s desk.

Mike walked slowly behind and looked on to see what Hwanhee would do next. Hwanhee bent down behind his desk where Mike had kept all his personal files.

“X marks the spot,” Hwanhee smiled slyly as he inspected the shiny brown desk that held a small drawer behind it. He used a smaller key this time to open the desk drawer. Mike grew concern as to what he suddenly knew what Hwanhee was trying to do.

He was searching for that number. How would Hwanhee know that Mike also kept a record of the number in his office. Obviously Mike was not that stupid to keep it right in his desk drawer. He sat down on top of his desk and crossed his arm, amused.

“#### it,” Hwanhee muttered in frustration as he searched through the pile of papers in that drawer. Mike smiled as he waited for Hwanhee to drive himself insane. After a few minutes of sifting through every single paper there is, there was no luck for Hwanhee.

No number. Hwanhee poked his head up when a clicking sound was heard. Mike looked up and towards the door. The sound was heard from far away, as if somebody else had gotten in. Hwanhee immediately pushed the drawers back in and locked it.

He got out quickly from behind the desk but figured it was too late to run out, so he ran for cover behind the bathroom that was in Mike’s office. Mike stood there still, waiting for somebody to show up through the doors.

A minute later, Junjin walked in with his fast pace. He didn’t seem to wonder why Mike’s office was unlock. Hwanhee peeked through a open crack from the bathroom door to see what Junjin, a man he’d never seen before, was doing.

Hwanhee smirked in disbelief when he saw Junjin kneel down behind Mike’s desk and also used a small silver key to open. So everyone was after that number? Mike stared in half questioning shock as Junjin looked through every single piece of paper there was. He looked back up a bit frustrated as he seemed to have no luck either.

Hwanhee wished he had a gun with him so badly. Five minutes in the room, Junjin finally stood up, holding a small piece of paper in his hands. Hwanhee’s eyes grew wide as he suddenly wanted to jump up and strangle Junjin, but from his estimation of Junjin’s size, he’d probably have a slim chance only.

Junjin walked around the desk with a sigh in triumph. He walked away from the desk and towards the door to leave when his cell phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and answered it.

“Hello? Yeah, this is Jin. Okay, sure, okay.

I’ll meet you at club Xtasy later tonight then,” Junjin said as he closed his phone. He folded the paper into four parts and slipped it into his jacket.

With that, he walked out and locked the door to the office behind him. A few seconds afterwards, Hwanhee stepped out of the bathroom and walked out of the office, forgetting to lock it up. Mike stood inside his office, still puzzled.

Was Junjin becoming a traitor too? He had fully trusted Junjin when he was alive, and now he couldn’t believe what he just saw. He felt as if the whole world had betrayed him, yet the only person he could really trust was Li Ann. Hwanhee walked out of the building, securing the lock behind him. Junjin had already left the area.

He stopped walking when he reached his car and pulled out his cell phone.

“Ji Yun?” he asked. “Get ready baby. We’re going to club Xtasy tonight.
Don’t ask why, I need you to do something for me alright? I’ll see you in a while,” Hwanhee said as he hung up, stepped into his car and drove off.

Mike walked out of the building, right through the glass pane doors.

He knew where Hwanhee was headed now.

He had to get to Li Ann.

Club Xtasy was the destination.

[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊


Chapter 17


The loud rumbling sound of cars was heard passing by as Junjin emerged from his bedroom towards the sound knocking on his front door. He rubbed his head lazily and reached for the doorknob.

“Hello,” said Eric from outside the door.

“Hi,” Junjin replied dully.

“May I come in?” Eric asked.

“May I ask who you are?” Junjin asked back not moving. Eric reached for his wallet and flipped it open, revealing a photo and identification information.

“Detective Eric Mun, I’ll like to ask you some questions regarding the death of your former employer Lee Mike,” Eric said sharply as he stuffed his wallet back into his coat jacket.

Junjin stepped aside to allow Eric in as he walked over to the kitchen nearby to pour some coffee. Eric looked around the house like he always did, inspecting everything in sight. Junjin sat down and motioned for Eric to do the same.

“When was the last time you were with Mr. Lee?” Eric asked taking out a notepad and black pen to scribble down notes.

“A little more than a week ago, Friday night,”

“And where was he headed?” Eric asked not lifting his head up from the notepad.

“Home,” Junjin replied bored.

“How long have you known Mr. Lee?” Eric asked flipping the page of the small notebook he held in his hands.

“Almost two years,” Junjin replied sipping his coffee. Eric nodded as he seemed to be in deep thought.

“Do you happen to know any hated rivals or enemies that Mr. Lee might have encountered?”

Eric asked ending the blank questions as he moved on the important ones. Junjin thought for a moment before clearing his throat to reply.

“I’m not sure on that. Mr. Lee has a lot of rivals,” Junjin said blankly.

“Can you give me a name? A source? Or a reason why he had so many rivals?”

“Well, if you think about it, he owned the whole banking system in Seoul, and his corporation is extremely profitable, so would that be the cause of him making enemies?” Junjin said slyly as he leaned in to rest his elbows on his knees, setting the coffee cup down onto the coffee table in between them.

“His corporation?” Eric asked paying a little more attention to the hidden details Junjin was hinting to him.

“Shin Hyesung wanted the corporation, and offered Mr. Lee millions for it, but he refused,” Junjin explained.

“So are you saying Shin Hyesung killed Mr. Lee?” Eric asked, leaning back in his seat as he wrote Shin Hyesung’s name down.

“Killed? I thought it was an accident?” Junjin exclaimed a bit shocked himself.

“That’s what everybody thought, until we did further investigating. His car, the brake wire had been purposely cut, but unprofessionally did, because the end of the wire was jaggedly cut,” Eric said as he closed his notebook and stood up.

Junjin immediately followed.

“Wait, so you’re saying somebody murdered Mr. Lee and you’re looking for the killer?” Junjin asked finally realizing the cause of Eric’s visit.

“Well, we don’t have any familiar suspects, until now,” Eric said putting away the notebook.

“Shin Hyesung?” Junjin asked raising his eyebrows. Eric walked to the door.

“And you,” Eric said as he slightly nodded and closed the door. Junjin stared out the small window next to the door looking at Eric got in his car and drove away. He was now a suspect too?

As if his life wasn’t miserable enough. With Andy hunting him down for the number to unlock the bank accounts and him almost having no job was making it hard for him.

Even his sister Terri didn’t agree with him about Andy. Eric walked into Seoul Police Headquarters, taking quick glances at his watch as he paced up to the main office. He walked in to find about five men sitting down at a long black desk with papers and coffee cups scattered all over.

“Hey Ric,” shouted his partner Tae Hyung.

“Hey,” Eric muttered as he took off his jacket and sat down. He crossed his feet on top of the table and leaned back.

“Where did you go man?” Tae Hyung asked as he sat down next to Eric.

“Talked to that Junjin guy. Says he knows that Shin Hyesung was trying to buy Lee Corporation, so we have him listed under suspect now,” Eric explained as he took out a cigarette.

“Shin Hyesung?” asked another guy named Tony. He tossed away his gum wrapper and chucked.

“No donut head, I was talking about Shin Mi Hae, and how fine she looks when she walks into his office with that mini skirt,” Eric joked as he rolled his eyes back to Tae Hyung.

Tony made a face as Eric teased his girlfriend.

“Hey you be careful Eric,” Tony warned.

“At least I have a girlfriend.”

“You mean that hoe you pimp around? We all know she’s slept with half the officers in here,” Eric said as he and Tae Hyung started laughing.

“Ha-ha, f*ck you too,” Tony muttered as he turned away back to his paperwork. Just then the commander in chief walked in. Eric removed his feet off the table and sat up straight.

Tae Hyung stopped laughing and stood straight.

“Good afternoon boys. Eric, how did the case go?” he asked as he sat down at the head of the table.

“Sir, we have another suspect, Shin Hyesung. Hey Jae Won, have you found anything on him yet?” Eric said leaning to the side to see Jae Won who was in front of a computer doing his research.

He turned around and stuffed a bagel into his mouth as he carried a file over to the table.

“Um, yeah,” Jae Won said handing the file over to the commander in chief.

“Shin Hyesung, age 24, accused for crimes before such as bribery, robbery, printing counterfeit bills and owns a ring of corporations for his private matters.”

“Good work brainiac,” Eric said as he reached for a paper that the commander in chief gave him. A picture of Shin Hyesung, walking out of a black car wearing a suit and black sunglasses was stapled onto the front. “This guy looks gay,” Eric said as he tossed the paper down.

“I bet you’re interested huh?” Tony cut in.

“Hey why don’t you go f*ck your boyfriend,” Eric shouted back not being happy about Tony’s black humor.

“Gentlemen,” the commander said in his stiff tone. Both men stopped arguing and turned to him. Tony and Eric glared at each other with tension as the commander went on. “We will have to work together on this case.

I’ve been trying to track down some people lately, but with no results, so this is the best case we have so far. Don’t screw it up, got it?”

His order was immediate as Eric, Tae Hyung, Jae Won and Tony all agreed. ...........

“Oppa! I’m home!”

Li Ann shouted throughout the house as she carried a large bag of groceries towards the kitchen. Her shouts weren’t really heard because her house keys were stuffed in between her lips. She kicked the door closed as she struggled to walk.

She fumbled over her keys, sunglasses and purse, about to drop the whole bag when Mike walked out from the hallway and ran to her.

“Whoa, Li Ann,” Mike said as he tried to take hold of the grocery bag. He didn’t seem to be touching it in any way.

The bag passed through his arms. Li Ann’s speech was muffled by the keys in her mouth when Mike wrapped his arms from behind her around her waist. His arms then held the heavy bag from under her hands, helping her balance it.

Slowly they made their way to the kitchen. Setting the large grocery bag onto the counter, Li Ann finally breathed for air. Mike took a step back to give her room. She removed her hair strands out of her face and sat down.

She had never felt so tired and exhausted before. She was normal before encountering Mike, but then the bag was heavy as well.

“What do you have in there?” Mike asked looking at her confused.

“Lots of cans,” Li Ann shouted out in exasperation.

“Cans?”

“Dongwan eats mostly canned foods,” Li Ann said a bit annoyed that her brother wasn’t there to help her.

“Every time he goes shopping, it’s no problem for him.” Mike chucked at her with his arms crossed.

Li Ann pouted as she walked over to the refrigerator for some water. Dongwan walked into the kitchen with a towel around his neck.

“Hey Li Ann. Did you get tomato?” Dongwan asked sifting through the bag. Li Ann glared at him from behind her cup.

“Yes, and next time you’re going to do the shopping! I nearly died trying to carry that bag out,” Li Ann said as she washed her glass.

“#### woman, you need to work out or something. Like me!” Dongwan said ignoring her look as he continued to take out the groceries.

“Whatever,” Li Ann mumbled as she walked out. Mike followed her with an amused grin. She turned around to face him.

“What?” she asked.

“You drove?”

“Of course I did,” Li Ann said as she continued to walk to the living room.

“I didn’t know you can drive,” Mike said as he sat down across from her. He was already getting accustomed to living in that house.

“I can drive. It’s just that Dongwan needs the car all the time, and I’ve only been there for three and a half weeks, so I don’t have one yet,”

“Three and a half weeks? You mean you weren’t living in Korea from before?” Mike asked surprised.

“No. I studied in the United States ever since I was seventeen,” Li Ann replied.

“I lived with my aunt while I was over there. I had just recently moved back when I got my degree.”

“Oh, so that’s why I’ve never seen you before when I was alive,” Mike replied. Mike stood up and walked towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Li Ann asked feeling a bit of need to follow him.

“I’m going to see Ji Yun,” Mike replied. Li Ann suddenly felt a bit of hesitation and an urge of envy.

“I need to know who my niece is,” Mike continued. Li Ann finally smiled and nodded.

“Do you need me to drive you there?” she asked.

“No, I’ll be fine,” Mike replied as he walked through the door and disappeared. Li Ann sighed and leaned back and took a deep breathe.

She felt her body weakening as the need of sleep kicked in. She dragged her tired body upstairs and flopped down on her bed as a blanket of warm feeling rushed through her. She was already asleep before she knew it. Mike made his way quickly around the city and soon he was back at his layer’s office to find information regarding his niece. He walked in without being noticed at all and made his way to the lawyer’s office.

Mike walked over to the desk but before he could do anything, the door had swung open. His lawyer quickly walked over to the desk and picked up the phone. After a few rings, he breathed out a sigh of relief and spoke into the phone rapidly.

“Ji Yun? Ah, yes, I’ve found the niece, yes, yes, fine, okay, I’ll meet you tomorrow and the Manchurian restaurant. Have a wonderful day,” the lawyer said with a bit of satisfaction as he hung up.

He looked around his desk, scanning for anything that would be out of place before he grabbed his briefcase and walked out.

“You son of a b**ch,” Mike said with a bit of a smile. He felt betrayed and a sudden need to seek revenge. If this niece of his was to be the sole claimer of his properties, then so be it.

He’d rather let her have it than Ji Yun.

“Manchurian restaurant,” Mike repeated to himself.

“Let’s see who gets there first.”

[To be Cont]

Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 16


Mike followed Li Ann as she made her way around the small unit of houses to find her art class. They were held in apartment like structure houses, surrounded by trees and green grass. Behind it was a lovely vineyard and the building itself was painted with many different art pieces done by students.

Li Ann was excited to show Mike her class. Mike had never attended one before, so he wouldn’t know what to expect. Upon entering the class, many students were engaged in their activities. Li Ann sighed as she saw her friend Lindsey, chatting away with Amy.

“Hi Lindsey,” Li Ann said as she sat down on her stool in front of the clip board.

“Hey! How are you?” Lindsey said cheerfully.

“I’m doing good. Hi Amy,” Li Ann said as she leaned forward to see Amy sitting on the other side of Lindsey.

“Hello! You look so pretty today,” Amy complimented. Li Ann smiled and said a thank you. She turned to Mike and smiled at him, motioning for him to sit in the empty seat beside her.

“So what do you do in here?” Mike asked eyeing her art piece as she laid it out on the clipboard.

“I’m working on this piece,” Li Ann said proudly.

“So much for a one day a week class huh?” Mike asked as he examined the elaborate painting of a tall white two story house surrounded by bushes and trees, in front of a light blue sky.

“I’ve been working on it for about two weeks and a half now,” Li Ann replied as she sat down and analyzed it.

“What is it?” Mike asked leaning in closer to her ear to speak quieter. He was so close that their shoulders were touching.

“It’s a house,” Li Ann replied looking at him, then back at the painting. Mike chuckled.

“Well, I can see that! I meant, why is it a house?” Li Ann thought for a moment. She had her mind buried in her painting for so long, yet she didn’t really know how she would explain it to the class when she is finished.

She looked at the painting for a minute before finally looking back into Mike’s eyes to tell him.

“It’s my house,” she replied quietly, swallowing a bit. Mike leaned back to look at her, then squinted back at the painting.

“It sure doesn’t look like your house...isn’t your house a lot smaller?” Mike asked raising an eyebrow.

“It was my house,” Li Ann corrected herself as she looked down at her feet.

“It was my house before it burned down.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mike said understanding Li Ann’s change of tone from cheery to emotional. “My parents died in that house,” Li Ann continued.

Mike went silent for a minute. She looked back up and forced a smile to brush away the moment. She picked up a dab of white paint and gently dabbed on white clouds to it.

“How did they die?” Mike asked, his voice gentle and concerning.

“A fire escaped from the basement and...my father took me out, then he found Dongwan. He went in to look for my mother, but the fire just went wild and covered the entire house. I never saw my father or mother again,” Li Ann explained slowly.

“Who are you talking to?” Lindsey cut into her thoughts, making Li Ann jump a bit.

“Oh...I was talking to you. Weren’t you listening?” Li Ann lied cunningly causing a weird look on Lindsey’s face.

“Oh, sorry, I was still talking to Amy about...wow, is that yours?” Lindsey said as she caught site of Li Ann’s painting.

“Uh, yes,” Li Ann smiled as she turned back to face her drawing. Something strange about it had shown up that wasn’t there before. A red rose stood out from the bush. She looked down to the brush holder, and noticed a small paint brush’s tip dabbed with a reddish pink color. She looked at Mike.

He had his arms crossed, leaning a bit back to examine it once more.

“Looks better like that,” Mike said with a teacher like tone. Li Ann let out a slight laugh.

“I like it!” Lindsey said cheerfully from beside Li Ann.

“Thanks,” Li Ann replied beaming with happiness.

She was glad Mike had done that. She felt as if he had planted a flower in her heart, making her feel better about painting her old house. Indeed in fact, the house did have roses before. Her mother loved keeping the lawn and garden clean and full of flowers.

She missed her mother now. Hours passed by as Li Ann tried not to look too crazy talking to Mike. It was already time to leave.

Mike and Li Ann were engaged in conversing and deciding what to add on the drawing that they didn’t notice most of the students leaving already until Lindsey poked Li Ann’s arm telling her class is over.

“Give me a minute to wrap things up,” Li Ann said to Mike as she took the brushes to the sink to wash.

“Okay, I’ll wait outside,” Mike said as he left the classroom.
Outside he stood as the wind blew a bit harsher than it was earlier that morning. Mike stood there with his hands in his pockets waiting for Li Ann when he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

He turned around to find Brian there, this time dressed in a full black suit. Everything on him always looked perfect. Black slacks, shoes, shirt, and tie. Brian had on a pair of specks and was cleaning them when he reached Mike.

“Hi Mike,” Brian said not looking at Mike. He kept cleaning his glasses with a piece of black handkerchief.

“Do you always have to look so...classy?” Mike said inspecting Brian’s outfit.

“What’s wrong with the way I look? Anyway, I came to check up on you,” Brian said quickly as he slipped his glasses back on. He took a deep breath of the fresh air.

“I’m good and dead,” Mike replied sarcastically as he turned away.

“You’re still hanging around Li Ann aren’t ya?” Brian said. Mike stopped and turned around to face Brian again.

He took one hand out of his pockets and squeezed his cheeks inward not answering Brian.

“Mike, you can’t be around Li Ann,” Brian said in a more serious tone.

“And why not?” Mike raised his eyebrows.

“Why do you want to be around her anyways?” Brian asked back not replying directly to Mike’s question.

“Because she is the only–...”

“She can’t help you Mike,” Brian interrupted.

“I don’t care. If I have to stay in his #### hole, at least she’s the only one that can make me feel alive,” Mike replied harshly, raising his tone a bit.

He paused for a brief moment as Brian kept his silence.

“She doesn’t make me feel like I’m a ghost Brian. I’m happy when I’m with her,” Mike replied with his eyes softening as his voice grows quieter.

“You like her,” Brian replied in more of a statement rather than question. Mike didn’t reply.

“Might I remind you that you’re a dead man? A married one too,” Brian said crossing his arms.

“Li Ann said the same thing,” Mike replied casually.

“I’m serious,” Brian said with a sigh.

“How is it that I can only touch her and not others?” Mike asked questioningly.

“When you’re around Li Ann or near her, you can touch just about anything you like. It’s her that’s giving you the power to do so,” Brian answered.

“How can that be then? Are all ghosts–...”

“I don’t know Mike. There was something that happened during the process of your death and somebody screwed up the system so it’s all twisted right now,” Brian replied sounding a bit impatient and ticked off.

“Fine, fine. I understand,” Mike said as he looked away and walked back to the classroom.

“You be careful Mike. You never may know what will happen!” Brian shouted after him.

Mike walked into the classroom ignoring him. “#### stubborn idiot,” Brian muttered as he backed away and walked off.

Mike walked into the classroom where Li Ann just had put away her painting. She dusted herself off as she smiled gleefully back at Mike.

“Ready?” Mike replied looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Yes,” she replied as she picked up her bag. She looked around outside once they were out.

“Where’s my brother?” she said as her face pouted.

“Late as usual,” Mike joked.

“Right,” Li Ann said dully.

“Come on, let’s walk,” Mike said pulling her sleeve. He walked off ahead leaving her there. She wanted to protest, but feeling alone, she followed him anyway.

Once she caught up with Mike, she noticed how quiet he was, with his hands tucked in both pockets and just staring straight ahead. She sensed a tense feeling, but didn’t want to bug him about it.

“Mike?” she asked after a long moment of silence between them.

“Huh?”

“Why are you so quiet?” she asked trying to bring up a conversation.

“Because if I talk to you then I’ll never stop. Just like if I look at you, then I’ll never stop,” Mike replied still not turning to face her. Li Ann didn’t know how to reply to that. There was another moment of awkward silence before Mike suddenly stopped and glanced at her.

She paused and looked back dumbly not knowing what to say.

“Am I bugging you?” Mike asked.

“No...” Li Ann replied back unsure of what he was asking.

He thought for a second, then nodded. He turned back to walking again. Another moment of awkward silence passed before Mike stopped again. Li Ann stopped in her heels almost bumping into him.

She glanced at him questioningly wondering he was acting so different.

“Want to see a movie?” Mike asked finally smiling. She looked around them and didn’t even realize that they were in downtown, near a movie theater.

“Sure,” Li Ann returned his smile.

[To be Cont]