The Year of the Dragon

She was a vision of beauty. He was standing in front of the Princess and suddenly felt like a clumsy peasant and not like the wealthy worldwise sea-lord he was, dressed in his leather and linnen. For a moment he was immeasurably glad that he had taken at least a bath and chosen a new shirt after he had been invited to the palace. She was wrapped into expensive silk, her pale golden kimono tied and folded artfully around her slender form. The fan she held bashfully in front of her face was an intricate piece of art his mother would have committed crimes for in Venice where he had left her in their palace. Her eyes were almond shaped and almost black, deep ponds of secrets and promises and he thought he could see stars in them. She nodded and he knew that he was being rude but he could not seem to tear his eyes away from her. Then her eyes grew smaller – she had to be smiling, he realized and he grinned back at her, his brilliant smile winning her over. He opened the wooden box he had almost forgotten and presented the jewels he had brought from Venice as a gift of friendship. „Principessa: these diamonds cannot be compared to the light of your eyes. „ He knew that she would probably not even understand the italian words and once again felt inadequat that he still had not learned her language, but she statet with a charming lilt in her voice : „Sono Akiko, sono contadina, non sono la prinicpessa..." She was a farmer’s daughter, then, abducted for the harem of the emperor because of her beauty. That she had been able to learn his language was proof that she was treated like a princess, though. Captain Michele Rafe’s soul hurt for her, but she seemed to be content – her faith being married to the emperor tomorrow, so there was nothing he was able to do today ... She came closer to look at the jewels and he was able to smell her perfume, exuding from the high coiffure. It made his heart go faster and he gasped. She looked up at him, suddenly somber, her fan closing, showing a breautiful heartshaped face that stole his breath. Slowly she rose her hand to barely touch his cheek and he felt the heat of her fingertips singe him. „Akiko..." And then the door to the visitor’s chamber burst open and suddenly the room was full of soldiers, shouting, yelling, and he drew his sword to protect the one woman that had ever been important to him. He injured two assassins, then he fell, not feeling any pain as the strength left his body. And as his heart stopped beating he saw Akiko looking at him. Her eyes closed,one single tear trickled down her perfect cheek as one of the murderers stabbed her to prevent her from getting too much power at court. With a gasp Michele woke in his large bed, soaked sheets tangled around his legs, holding him down and he kicked himself free. He looked at the alarmclock on the nightstand. Five in the morning already. With a sigh he got up – after this nightmare he would not be able to fall asleep again, the dream vivid in his mind. Well, the police-gym was waiting for him anyway, open 24 hours. Detective Rafe was ready for work five minutes early, his hair still damp from the shower in the gym, and feeling better now that his muscles had received a vigorous workout. Ellison and Sandburg were at their desks, bickering about a Jags-game that had been on last night. „What do you think, Rafe? The Jags did well, didn’t they?" Ellison obviously was trying to get votes in favor of his favorite team. „Then why did they lose?" That was Sandburg, snickering. „Sorry, guys, haven’t seen the game. I wasn’t home last night." Rafe shrugged. „Ah, no doubt there’s a lovely lady very happy somewhere this morning..." Blair grinned and wiggled his eyebrows, learing. „Ah, well, not exactly." Blair was hooting as Rafe went on: „I was in class, learning ..:" but he was drowned out by Henri Brown, his partner, who was dropping a months worth of donuts on his desk – his lunch for today. „Are we all in now?" Captain Banks was ushering them all into his office, where Megan, now a new member to Major Crimes and no longer the „aussie loan", was already waiting. „This meeting", Banks was having another cup of coffee and sitting down again, as his men filed in, „is about next Saturday. Chinatown is celebrating new year and this time it is going to be a major event. Uniforms are going to be all over the place but we were asked to join the forces", Banks held up his hand to forestall the heartfelt sighs of his men – and woman, „as are detectives from burglary and drugs. The triads might take advantage of the festivities, and start something. Thus the need of plain clothed detectives. Ellison and Sandburg are going to coordinate our steps from here," of course, Rafe thought – all the crackers and drums would probably kill Ellison and his sensitive ears – while Banks was droning on about the mission. „That’s it – oh, and dress casually," Simon ended and grinned at Rafe who once again stood out in his classy suit, „This might be getting messy, they say it’s gonna rain..." Henri laughed at the small joke, slapping his friend on the shoulder. „He, I’m sorry for you, I know you had plans for the weekend." „Well, that’s the job, isn’t it – and my mother is going to stay until Tuesday, so it’s not that much of a problem." Truth to be told it was a problem as he had wanted to fetch his mother from the airport, but he hoped she would understand – as she always did. Refusing a donut – „it’s bad for your arteries and I refuse to live a cliche!" he sat down to work on his files while Sandburg who had overheard the health-statement was quietly clapping his hands much to Ellison’s annoyance. Henri took an exaggerated bite out of his donut, getting sugar all over his shirt. She was as beautiful as one of the small, perfect blossoms dusting the cherry trees that surrounded the dig. Rafe was wiping the sweat off his face – it was damn hot here and yet this girl looked as cool as an after hour drink on ice. His rifle was heavy on his shoulder but he had been hired to protect a bunch of old scientists that spent their days in dirty holes. He was getting good money, too. It was just that this assignment was terribly boring – even though there had been threats against the scientists when they had discovered the emperor’s grave in the first place nothing had happened in the weeks that passed, the treasures they had revealed save and untouched. And now for the past two weeks there had been SuLing. A flower, a dream, a miracle that had happened to him when he least expected it. He lit a cigarette, but the small girl took it out of his mouth, twittering something he was not able to understand and then placing a kiss where the cigarette had been. A kiss, he was totally able to understand. He embraced the woman sensuously rubbing against him, her dark almond eyes deep and soulful as she smiled up at him. „You have the most incredible smile of all long noses, Michele..." her english was heavily laced with accent but he understood what she wanted to tell him: „I love you, too, SuLing. Only a few more weeks and I’ll take you home as my wife..." She smiled again, and kissed him again and he had to think about last night when she had writhed in his arms, sighing and gasping as she came. He had almost been unable to stop himself in time – but he did not want to make her pregnant – this would have to wait until they were back home and officially married. Their kiss grew more passionate as his cock hardened in his pants. And then all of a sudden there were shouts and he shoved the girl behind his broad back, already releasing the safety catch of his rifle, yelling for his team to pay attention and there were gunshots and he was taking aim and taking out their attackers, killing two of them until there was this sharp pain. The rifle was too heavy to be held any longer and there was blood blossoming on his chest, he noticed with surprise as he sank to his knees. The shooting had stopped, their attackers dead or injured, and SuLing was holding him, crying, her tears perfect pearls on immaculate skin. There was another yell and a struggle, when one of the assassins broke free and started shooting again. And all of a sudden SuLing jerked, then tightened her grip on him and the last thing he saw was her beautiful smile as she fell on top of him... His sheets were wet with sweat and his heart was panicking. The second nightmare in two days – and once again it was so vivid. His alarmclock went off and he stopped its ringing with a slap of his sweatslicked hand. The girl had looked the same as the princess. He shuddered. His mother, not one to deny her mediterranean heritage of witches and clarevoyance, would most probably have an explanation aside from the fact that he had not had a girlfriend in way too long, despite the reputation he somehow had gotten at the precinct. He was really worried now – he had never been one to suffer from nightmares – not even that one time when he had had to kill the totally stoned kidnapper who had held two children at gunpoint. There had been no other choice and he had gotten a promotion for outstanding efforts, but even though he had seen the kidnapper’s face every time he closed his eyes for weeks after the shooting, he had never actually dreamed about him. Quietly he showered, then chose a dark gray suite, a light blue shirt and a light gray tie, noted that working out regularly with Ellison indeed showed, the muscles now harder and more pronounced without becoming „schwarzeneggery", dressed, and left for work, still deep in thought. He arrived barely in time, and to the whistles and catcalls of his colleagues because he did not arrive empty handed: he carried wicker baskets full of italian bread, spiced with olive oil and whole olives, tomatoes, prosciutto crudo, speck – the more unhealthy version of smoked ham – and half a dozen different kinds of cheese, as well as Sdricca, an earthy chardonnay from northern Italy. Sodas, a guacamole dip, chips and popcorn for the less adventurous of his colleagues were also part of the fest he had planned. „Rafe!" Ellison smiled dreamily while he took a third helping of speck and olive-bread, „I love your birthdays. Now I know why you were working out that vigorously over the past few weeks: This orgy ..." he swallowed and took another bite, while Blair interrupted: „Is totally unhealthy and will clogg your arteries." „And yet," Rafe grinned „italian people are known to live up to their nineties." Ellison snorted and embraced Rafe, making a face at Sandburg: „See, Chief!" But Sandburg was too distracted by the sweetness of italian tomatoes and the sharp taste of fine cheese to pay attention any longer. It was Henri who finally called for attention by chiming two glasses together. „Hey, guys, presents now!" Simon joined them, grinning, chewing on a cold cigar, while he brought the two packages his men had hidden in his drawer. H refilled their glasses: „Tomorrow’s our assignment where you’ll have to dress casually. But I don’t think you even own casually. So we decided to show ya that there IS casual clothing that’s damn classy." And while his friends laughed goodnaturedly Rafe, his throat suddenly constricted by the fact that anyone had even known that he was celebrating birthday, unwrapped a smoothe jeans-shirt, so soft it had to be expensive. He was already mumbling thankyous but H was forcing the second parcel into his hands – it was heavier than the first one and he looked from at all his friends to maybe get a hint at its contents. But Sandburg only said: „I picked it!" And Megan stated amidst a roar of laughter: „As our token fashion expert.." No longer able to unwrap the parcel carefully, Rafe finally tore through the birthday paper, a silly design full of dancing mice who tried to blow out birthday cake candles at the same time. And then it fell out: The most beautiful leather jacket, short, like the ones pilots had worn during WWII, only made of the softest shiny black leather he had ever laid his hands on. „You are nuts! This is incredible... thank you ... it’s too much..." But his friends were drowning out his attempts on gratefulness, Megan shocked him by kissing him on the mouth, H embraced him and muttered something about being a great pal, Simon was slapping his shoulders, the force of it driving him into Sandburg who was spilling wine on one of his many shirts he was wearing today. There was laughter and friendship and he felt more at home than ever before. Finally the noise died down and Rafe stuttered: „I ... be sure I will wear this ... tomorrow and anytime – it is truly magnificent. Really..." And everybody applauded and then went back to killing the buffett, as it was a slow day, like the quietness before a storm... Once again Rafe stroked over the wonderful leather, inhaling the rich scent. He finally put the jacket down on the couch in his living room, its chrome frame and cream pillows the perfect background to the beautiful black leather. Everything was perfect in his penthouse – he had inherited the apartment from his father’s brother – waiting for his mother to arrive tomorrow. Then, after once again sniffing at his new jacket, he went into his pristine bedroom, and slipped under the covers, still shaking his head over the generous presents. „MaiLi!" he was smiling at the beautiful young girl,marvelling at the fact that he, an american pilot with italian ancestors, had found a chinese girl in the midst of the riots in war-troubled Japan. He had been so lucky. Her dark almond eyes were looking at him with so much love and he could not believe that his little Geisha had been waiting for him all her life. He had rescued her from a jealous japanese man who had been hitting her because she had refused his advances. They had not been parted for more than two hours since then. It was the most perfect time amidst the ruins, his love for her so deep – he had not known it could be possible. MaiLi was closing the door to her small apartment behind him and snaked her arms around his middle,snuggling into his back with her firm body. „I missed you.." He turned to look into her heartshaped face and gently kissed her eyelids and the tip of her small, upturned nose. „And I love you." Raising her fingers to his lips, he pressed a small kiss onto the engagement ring he had given her two days ago. She nodded sagely, smiling the secretive smile that was full of promise. „Yes, Mick." Then she blushed a little and unbuttoned her blouse, her fingers suddenly shivering. „You do not have to..." But she shyly nodded and unzipped her skirt, standing there in her plain undergarment while her clothes pooled around her ankles. „I want to, really." He suddenly had the urge to hold her, to warm her, to keep all the bad things away from her. Later, when he fell into her passion, he realized that the gift she was giving him was indeed sacred to him. Her love had never been touched before and he promised to her and to himself that it would never be tainted. She shuddered in his arms and sobbed when it became too much for her and he kissed her tears away, still holding her as he, too, succumbed to the waves that carried them both high up into the blue blue skies. They were sleeping when the door shattered and broke and there was an outraged scream that tore through the quiet night. He sat up in bed, trying to block his love from the faceless attacker who wore a white headband with the telltale red dot in front. Two shots – the smoke from the nuzzle was slowly curling and floating ... The alarmclock woke him – again. Rafe was bathed in sweat and shivering in the early morning cold, the nightmare still on his mind. It had been the same girl – just that this time he had worn the leather jacket of a pilot. At least he knew where that part of the story came from. But his sheets – with a sigh he took them to the bathroom, filling the washing machine, then stepping under the hot spray of the shower. While the hot water was scalding him, he decided that today –he would play it save. He stepped into his casual clothes – jeans, his new shirt and jacket, donned a Jags cap he had once borrowed from Ellison and drove to the precinct. This was hell even without heightened senses. Rafe understood why Banks had decided to leave Ellison at the precinct. The cacophony of drums, shouting, fire crackers and exotic music was deafening. Up till now nothing dangerous had happened, though – unless you called noise dangerous. A large paper dragon, carried by dozens of dancers, was moving through the narrow streets of china town, shaking its large head, its paper-beard waving with every swing. Thousands of people were dancing and shouting with the dragon, not only the symbol of the coming year but also the symbol of good luck and endeavour. Pickpockets were having a high time but so far no crime lord had struck and disrupted the festival. Rafe was standing on the walkway, trying not to be shoved against the wall of a house by the dancers and bystanders. Slowly he was forced to follow the dragon, and he had to shout to make himself heard over the police walkie talkie. The paper dragon turned into yet another street and he had no choice but keep walking, passing open shops where the sales clerks were standing in the doorways, waving, shouting... And then he stopped dead in his tracks. She was as beautiful as a dream. His dream. She was standing there, wearing jeans and a silken blouse over a plain white tshirt, laughing, her black hair tousled by the wind. Her almond eyes were almost black as she turned to him, her heartshaped face tilted and full of joy. Akiko – SuLing – MaiLi – it was her, definitely. He shrugged off the feeling of slow motion that had held him back and stepped closer, smiling brilliantly. The cloud of noise that was almost suffocating him, was suddenly penetrated by a sharp crack that did not belong. The detective’s training kicked in as he whirled around. Rafe saw the hardfaced asian male two paces away, a gun cocked – that had been the crack that had alerted him. Everything fell into place. A smoothe step brought him in front of MaiLi – or whatever her name was now – as the bang of a bullet fired was swallowed by the noise of a bunch of firecrackers going off. Rafe janked out his gun from his back holster, when the impact of the bullet threw him back into the beautiful girl. He shot. The attacker went down. MaiLi screamed. He shook violently, lying on the ground, his breath coming in short, painful gasps. Henri was suddenly standing over him, the anxious brown face filling his vision, shouting into his walkie talkie. And then the young girl looked at him, and touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers. He tried to say something, but breathing was still too painful. H ripped at the new shirt, now graced with an ugly bullet hole, and unclipped the damaged kevlar vest, finally yelling: „You’re ok, only hurts, but no open wound. God, Rafe, you scared the shit outta me! And anyway, how doya do this - get shot but not get dirty?!" Rafe, still too winded to talk, tried to grin. H had already managed to step into the one puddle of dirty water on the pavement. And then the girl, her fingers still touching his skin, said: „I am so very glad that you are not harmed." She helped him sit up, was kneeling next to him on the pavement. „You saved my life – the killer – they wanted my father’s shop but he refused to give in to their threats. I didn’t think they would go that far, though." But Rafe heard only half of her explanation. While he pulled himself out of his stunned silence all he wanted to know was: „Who are you?" She smiled and he did not even realize that he smiled,too: „I am SuZha, but you may call me Sue. And you have the most incredible smile..." He shook his head, and her fingertips, still resting on his skin, seemed to stroke his cheek gently: „I want to know you – come to dinner with me?" „Oh, I want to, really... After all: The Dragon", and she pointed at the tail of the enormous retreating paper-lucky-charm "seems to be with you..." His smile was charming and warm: "You know, I had these incredible dreams..."