Underground (2045)

Chapter 2: Rose Monrey (2041)

'Pray do tell me what heck did I do to get this life?!'

Rose was born in London, England and she lived there for most of her developmental years. Then her father passed away due to illness. With no family besides her sickly twin sister, she left for Japan to live with a good family friend named Sanae. Her sister, however, had been to sick to make the move and was sent to a less than "good" family friend in France.

However, that only lasted a few months. By the time she was done griefing for her father, Sanae died in a car crash.

Then she was moved to Keica, Japan to live with yet another close friend to Sanae, Oji. He was a gambler and an alcoholic. Well know on the streets to win almost any match he played. He was the one who taught Rose to gamble.

Thus Rose became a gambler. By the time she was in 6th grade, she had racked up almost 1 million yen for herself.

"Read 'em and weep boys. It seems the fates are still on my side." Her translator said from behind her. Since she had only been in the country for a year at best, she couldn't speak Japanese well. So she paid a translator to speak for her, or atleast while she gambled.

The 3 people surrounding her, 19, 23, and 32 as she had numbered them by their apparent age, were shocked. They had just lost 50,000 yen each to some 6th grader.

Rose giggled. At the rate she was going, she might be able to afford private school for her high school career.

However her victory was short lived as she felt a knife slide against her back.

One of the people, 23, stood up, speaking Japanese to number 32 then turning to Rose saying something that, yet again, she could not understand. Her translator laughed and the knife he held press up against ber back even harder.

19 responded, a concerned look upon his face. 32 shook his head, looking to be trying to reason with 19. Then 19 punched him, knocking him out cold.

23 pointed to Rose. Yelling something to 19. 19 pulled out a lighter and held it above the money.

'He's threatening to light the money on fire... so he's on my side.' Rose lifted her foot and slammed her heel into the Translators knee. He dropped the knife screaming. Rose grabed his knife and ran.

She felt bad for leaving 19 behind, but she had to. She's not exactly a fighter.

"Ne! Mattete!" 19's voice called after her. Rose dived into an alleyway. No way she was talking to someone in the middle of the street.

"Rozu migi?"

"I'm sorry. I can't understand." She said shaking her head.

The man nodded and pointed to his chest, "Kei."

"What?" She tilted her head.

"Kei!"

'Is he trying to say his name is Kei?'

Rose pointed to her chest. "Rose."

'Kei' smiled and started walking away. After a few feet he stopped and motioned for her to follow him.

Rose shook her head. "I can't."

He smiled at her. "Hito English."

Rose blinked. Hito? 'That sounds like a name.. I think... This Kei guy did help me. d I can't exactly walk home.. fine I guess I'll go.'

"I'm coming." Rose nodded and followed him. They walked a few blocks before a car pulled up beside them.

Kei put a hand on her shoulder and pointed to the driver. "Hito."

"What's up girlie?"

Rose smiled. She hadn't heard someone speak Enlgish so casually like that in such a long time. Not even her translator or Oji could do that. Tears fell from her eyes as she spoke the words "Thank you. Thank you so much!"