Secret Rose

Chapter 1

A Beginning and a Surprise

Saya was on the deck of Red Shield Headquarters, sitting in one of the comfy chairs and staring up at the sky, watching the clouds make their endless journey across the world. The sun was hidden behind a cloud, but then the cloud moved, causing Saya to be momentarily blinded by light.

"Ooh…" said Saya, now shielding her eyes from the sun with her right hand, squeezing her eyes tight and then opening them, in an effort to make her eyes return to normal.

"What's wrong Saya?" Haji asked, suddenly kneeling down next to her, placing his bandaged hand gently on her face.

"It's nothing, the sun was just a little too strong." she said, smiling slightly.

"Saya! Haji!" they knew the voice before even looking. They turned around to see Riku running towards them, waving his hand in the air, trying to get their attention.

"Hey Riku. What's up?" Saya asked, smiling up at the boy who had just reached her chair.

"Mr. David and Mr. Joel want to see you about something. They said it was important. They also said for Haji to come too. I wonder what could be going on." Riku said the last part mainly to himself.

Saya got up and Haji stood. They followed Riku back into the ship and into a room with a large conference table. Inside was David, Lewis, Kai, Julia, and Joel Goldschmidt.

"Hey. What's going on?" Saya asked, now curious as to why everyone was here.

"Well Saya, it seems that you and Haji have been requested to attend a school in England. The school seems to be having a problem with chiropterans appearing, and the headmistress of the school asked us to send someone to help them. We decided that since you're the only one who can successfully kill chiropterans, we would ask you. Haji as well." He said, nodding towards Haji.

"I see," Saya said, thinking about what had been said. "I'll do it, especially since there are children in danger."

"Excellent. Now, before I forget to tell you, this school is a school of magic. One where wizards and witches come to learn. So, as such, you will be undercover as a witch, and Haji a wizard."

The entire group looked shocked at this, but it was Kai who spoke up. "What? No way. There's no such thing as magic, it only exists in those fairy tales that you tell little kids."

"I can assure you it does, as the headmistress, Professor McGonagall, showed me some himself. The woman turned my tea glass into a hamster and back again. Besides, before actually seeing them, would you have believed in chiropterans?" Joel asked, raising an eyebrow slightly.

Kai looked like he wanted to say something, but didn't. Instead he mumbled to himself something that sounded like "chiropterans are different than fairies".

"Well alright then, I'll tell Professor McGonagall about your acceptance, and she'll be here to pick you up tomorrow, and then take you to get all of the necessary materials for your schooling. If I were you, I might want to start packing."

"Mr. Goldschmidt, I was wondering. Why can't Kai and I go along too?" Riku asked, looking a little sad.

"Well Riku, we don't think that you and Kai would be able to perform magic. It would also be very dangerous for you two to go. It's dangerous for Saya as well but since she can kill chiropterans, she'll be fine. I'm sorry Riku. But, during the holiday season, you'll be able to stay with Saya at the school for a couple weeks."

Saya and Haji turned around and headed to Saya's room to start packing. Haji just grabbed some extra bandages to cover up his right hand. Saya packed all of her clothes, hairbrush, tooth brush, some clips for her hair and even a little bit of makeup. Not a lot, but enough to get her through the year.

After about an hour, she was finished, and they headed down to see what Lewis had made for dinner. "Hey there Saya, getting hungry are we?"

"Yeah, I'm starving. What's in that huge pot over there?"

"Some of my famous miso soup. Would you like some?" Lewis asked, already uncovering the lid on the soup, knowing that the answer was yes. Saya could never turn down some of the delicious soup.

"Yes please. It smells amazing." Saya said, inhaling the steam rolling off of the bowl of soup.

Saya ate three bowls of the soup, denying the fourth that Lewis was trying to get her at the moment. She and Haji then went back upstairs to Saya's room. Haji sat in a chair, playing Bach's Cello Suite No. 5, his usual piece he played, while Saya went to take a shower.

After about fifteen minutes, Saya came out in fuzzy pink pajamas. She pulled back the covers of her inviting bed and turned off the light next to her.

"Goodnight Haji," she said yawning.

"Goodnight Saya,' Haji said, now playing a lullaby on his cello for her.