She stands before a giant Tori gate, with a bronze plate engraved with the Japanese kanji for

tranquility. Beyond the gates threshold stretched a rock garden, with moss covered boulders,
which zigzagged about the neatly raked sand that resembled ocean waves. Moss covered
stepping stones form a single path through the sand and lead to the crimson oriental style
bridge, which reached across the crystal clear water of the pond and touched down upon the
island, where a simple tea house sat. A Sakura tree was in full bloom and stood tall beside the
simple house and a stone four tier lantern. To the right of the house was a dirt path which led
into a bamboo garden that was arranged into a maze. Commented [fairyhear1]:

She strolls forward, stopping at the bridges center. Leans over the rail and watches the koi fish
leap playfully from the pond as if attempting to dance with the swarm of butterflies that frolic.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream shattered the silence and drew her attention away from
majestic scenery. Just then a violent gust of wind rushed past her. The black lace velvet
nightgown she wore thrashed against her lithe body, while her hair flailed. Her heart beats
wildly in her chest as she watches in horror as the water of the pond, wind, and butterflies
commingle to create a figure, with the physique of a small child.

frightened by the sudden emergence of this foreign being she cautiously begins to back away.
However, in the blink of an eye the creature stood before her. The cavities that were its eyes
began to glow and she was petrified. It stood on its tiptoes and whispered into her ear, "be
ware. She comes". At that moment, she stood in a square room that was so tiny that the ceiling
brushed the top of her head and she could stretch out her arms and touch the walls at the
same time. Her heart began to thrash in her chest as the sour taste of panic began to rise in her
throat. Overwhelmed by the closeness of it all she began to hyperventilate. Suddenly, an eerie
red glow descended into the cell and the floor began to quiver as if giving way to an
earthquake. However, she soon discovered that it was not a floor she had been standing on,
but an entire horde of black widows.

In a matter of seconds, the horde of black widows ascended, crawling up her legs and
consuming her in a blanket of furry blackness. Her screams muffled as the spiders dash into her
esophagus and completely envelope her from head to toe.

Lucia woke with an ear shattering scream. She was drenched in sweat. Her heart thudded,
pumping fiercely against her now soggy nightgown she'd worn to bed. Sunlight blasted through
the bamboo blinds of her small apartment. The light stung her misty ice blue eyes and dazed
her. Instinctively, with lightning fast speed she drew the tanto dagger that had been resting
beneath her pillow. Where was she? Who was coming?

Then she heard feigned laughter and smelled the potent stench of opium and warm sake and
knew she was home. Home for Lucia Saito was the Pink Blossom, a modern day hanamachi
located in Chinatown, Chicago's so called red lantern district. The Pink Blossom was owned by
Yuki Saito, Lucia's foster mother, and current head of the Yakuza. Unlike The Pink Blossom's
usual tenants Lucia didn't make a living as a prostitute, but as the Yakuza's enforcer.

Lucia got out of bed and altered over to the full length mirror

Life wasn't a fairytale or a film strip of happy endings. Life is pain and hardship. She had learned
this early in life. Probably earlier then she should have. Lucia had been seven years old when
Yuki adopted her and brought her home to the Saito mansion, which was now The Pink
Blossom, and at that time home to Yoshi Saito, Yuki's father, and the man who had reaped
Lucia's innocence.

Lucia got out of bed and sauntered over to the full length, gold trimmed, claw foot mirror. An
elegant electric blue oriental dragon tattoo spread from her neck down to the small of her
back, its tail wrapping about her right thigh.

Although the tattoo was beautiful it did poorly to conceal the five long jagged lacerations,
whose origins were known by all in the hanamichi, and yet no one dared to speak of it, not
openly anyways. But the story was always whispered.

Yuki's mother had died when she was thirteen and naturally she was destined to take her
mother's place as Yoshi's left hand. Although she was young Yuki was brilliant. A prodigy in
kendo and Taekwondo. When she was eleven years old she graduated High School as that years
valedictorian. Now, at twenty-two she handled the books and tended to the girl's (prostitutes)
as well as negotiated territory for drug distribution with the local criminal hierarchy.

Yoshi viewed his daughter's inability to bear children as a dishonorable trait. As such Yuki could
not marry. Yuki was a beautiful woman - angled cheeks; rose petal, plump, soft lips; cat shape
eyes the color of honey, with jet black long curly lashes; stick straight raven black hair; and
porcelain skin, with a slight tan. She was not oblivious to her beauty and knew she could have
any man she desired, with just a coy smile and a seductive whisper into the fellows ear. Yet, no
matter how many men she took to her bed that hollow feeling would not abate.

She soon discovered that what she yearned was the unconditional love that only a child could
give. Shortly after this realization she stumbled upon the withdrawn and clever rogue, Lucia.
The little girl captured her heart instantly and so Yuki adopted her. Yoshi was infuriated at his
daughters audacity. To actually think he'd except a gaijin let alone share his name with the
urchin. Disgusted that she dared to bring this filthy half-breed before him.

Yuki decided to homeschool Lucia and rear her in geisha and kendo. Lucia excelled quickly
devouring information and filling the cavities of her mind like the pages of a blank volume. Yuki
and Lucia became insuperable. Their happiness evident to all. But when Yuki had to leave for
business, she left with a heavy heart, and unaware of the evil lurking and plotting against her
vulnerable and trusting child.

It was a fierce winter and so Yuki's flight to Tokyo was cancelled. Although disappointed she
wouldn't make an appearance with the other families, she was elated to be going home to her
heart - Lucia. But what she found when she returned home was something out of a nightmare.

she ran up the slush slick steps of the red cream colored Victorian