Red Panda Goddess

The Land of the Setting Sun

We land in Los Angeles, California for a plane trade and I ask Mr. Cheng for a favor, “I’ve got a friend who lives near here, it shouldn’t be maybe a couple of hours...” just then an alarm went off and the entire airport went offline, the backup generators came online and the lights were faint. We look up to the flight manager and everything was delayed or cancelled for the hiccup that just happened. “Odd timing...” Mr. Cheng looked at me with an odd face.

“Did you do that? Some kind of black magic wizard now?” He smiles and punches me in the arm, “relax Vemo, I’m joking with you. Can I come with you to see this friend?” He looks at me with a curious grin.

“Of course you can! Why wouldn’t you? It’s a female friend that I’ve been friends with for a little over a year and thought I would stop by and say hello since I’m in the area.” I grab my things and notice there’s something moving in my back pack.

“Oh is this a pretty girlfriend?” He says with a cheeky grin.

“Well...uh...yeah, she’s really pretty actually. As a matter of fact it would be super creepy if I just showed up out of the blue like this, I better contact her first.” The backpack seems to squirm some more and I kneel down to check it out. I unzip the top part just slightly and Juki pokes her head out at me, “Juki!” I yell out on accident and fall back on my butt.

“Quiet Vemo, she’s not supposed to be flying, Juki get back in the back please.” Mr. Cheng calmly as ever just acts like nothing is going on. I zip the backpack over her head and grab my phone out. We get to the front desk and Mr. Cheng walks over to talk to the attendant while I make the phone call. I watch him pull out his ID and another card and the attendant looks surprised and acts quickly and hands him a set of keys and points to the parking lot. My friend answers.

“Hello? Mark? Is that you?”

“Hey Lori! I’m in Los Angeles with a friend of mine and we are heading to China. We got delayed here so I thought I’d call and see if you’d want to meet and hang out for a while?” My voice was nervous because I’ve talked to her a lot but I’ve never gotten to meet her in person.

“Wow really? That’s awesome! Of course I’d love to hang out. Give me 30 minutes to get ready and meet me here. I’ll send you the directions from LAX. Can’t wait to see you buh bye!” She hangs up and a couple of minutes later I get a text message with directions to a restaurant. Which is good because we are both hungry. Mr. Cheng directs me to a set of lockers where we store everything but our backpacks and my guitar, then he leads me outside to a car he acquired from the rental service.

“Here,” he tosses me the keys, “I’ll let you drive since you have better experience than me.” He puts our bags in the back and gets in the passenger side. I get in the drivers seat and adjust everything to my liking then Juki hops up onto the arm rest and then over to my lap and stares out the window. I pull out of the parking lot and follow the directions taking my time and also taking pictures of everything, then I realize it’s hard to use a camera and drive too so I hand the camera to Mr. Cheng and he does all the hard work for me. Around an hour and twenty minutes later we arrive at a local Italian restaurant about 200 yards from the beach and park in front of a big rock leaned up against the building.

“I’m pretty sure this is it, I do hope she shows up, but what do we do about Juki?” I look over at Mr. Cheng with concern in my eyes. He sits there for a moment and of course an idea pops into his genius mind.

“I’ve got a leash for you Juki, I know you hate them, but would you please wear it so we can take you inside?” I look at him confused for several reasons but decide not to pry on his genius. “I know what you’re thinking, but I’m an old Chinese man that needs his support animal and will not go anywhere without her.” He smiles with a mischievous look. He puts the harness on Juki and pulls the leash up to his wrist. I get out and walk around acting like I’m helping him up and then I look up as I notice a stunning young woman with long dark brown curly hair gets out of the car next to us. Mr. Cheng stops and stares too, Juki turns and looks the other way as if she were jealous. She turns around and her majestic body never skips a beat and her face reflects the setting sun perfectly as if it were cut straight from a super model magazine. My camera goes off without anything touching it. “Lori?” I ask nervously, barely able to speak at all.

“Yes?” She turns around to look at me, “oh my god! Mark! Hey!” She trods over in high heels and tackles me with a huge hug, I could hear Juki growling slightly.

“Wow, uh...Lori, you’re like. God I can’t even use words right now...” she never let’s go of the hug.

“Wow, it’s so nice to finally meet you! I’ve been looking forward to this for so long! I’ve told all of my friends about this sweet dude from Alabama that melts my heart every time we talk and plays me beautiful music to help me sleep,” She hugs me tighter and tighter as she makes me lift her off the ground, “what took you so long?!” She finally loosens her grip and I take a huge breath. She then pulls her head back and kisses me on the lips and hugs me again. All the while Mr. Cheng stands there smiling like he’s going to get the same treatment.

“Well, I think it would be better to tell you while we eat.” I let my arm go from around her waist and step to the side, “This is the legendary Mr. Cheng, my teacher, my friend, and my family. And the little girl in his arm is Miss Juki, she is a wonderful albino red panda that’s part of the family.” Lori walks over and kisses Mr. Cheng on the Cheek and then hugs him tightly.

“It’s nice to meet you too Mr. Cheng,” she pulls back and bends over slightly and pats Juki on the head and rubs her back gently, “you too Miss Juki, you are the cutest little girl aren’t you? I hope these rowdy boys are treating you right!” She winks at her and then stands up and right and faces me. “Well then, shall we go eat?” I gesture for her to first and she hooks her arm up at me to grab and escort her to the door and I leisurely grab and lead her to the door and open it for her. I look back at Mr. Cheng and he winks at me and gives me the “good job” Look and a thumbs up. I shake off the unnecessary gesture and follow in behind them. Once inside I notice that the place is very popular but not as crowded as I had originally thought. It’s much bigger on the inside than it seems.

“Um sir, no animals allowed unless they’re service animals.” The hostess tries nervously to speak up to us. We all turn around and Mr. Cheng walks over to her and shows her his ID and another card. She then smiles and says, “alrighty then, this way please!” And leads us to a corner booth and sets out some menus. “Your waitress will be with you shortly.” She walks towards the kitchen and gathers the crew in a huddle and starts whispering. Mr. Cheng decides to let us sit down first and I give Lori the first choice trying to be a gentleman.

“If you don’t mind I’d like to sit next to you both so I’ll take the middle?” I agreed and she slid in to the middle, then I sat down on her left side, then Mr. Cheng on her right.

“I’m left handed when eating, so to keep from bumping elbows it’s easier for me to have the open side.” She looks up at me with curious eyes.

“I’m left handed when eating too! How weird...even though I saw you draw and write left handed I never put it to thought because you always play guitar right handed.” The waitress walks up and asks us what we want to drink and we all order tea. “So one the best things to try here is their pastas, if you get anything you should try the lobster shrimp special. It’s amazing.” I glaze through the menu without even looking after that, she’s already stole my heart now she’s controlling my mind? What is this sorcery?! Mr. Cheng closes his menu as well after she says that. The waitress comes back with our teas and asks if we’ve decided on our orders and we gesture for Lori to go first and she orders the lobster shrimp special double pasta Alfredo extra Parmesan and mozzarella topping. Mr. Cheng and I stare at each other in amazement. Then we both simultaneously say, “what she said.” And hand up our menus. Lori giggles at our reaction and Juki crawls over to my lap and curls up.

“Hey waitress?” She walks back to the table, “can we get an extra order of shrimp and lobster? Just on the side please? And cool it off, pretty please?” I use my best doggy eyes.

“Yes, is it for the service animal?”

“Yes ma’am it is...”

“Ok we have some extras that people return because it wasn’t what they wanted so I’ll bring it right out to you ok?” She walks into the kitchen and not even a minute passes before she brings a plate loaded with all kinds of shrimp, lobster, crab, steak, chicken, pasta, and onion crisps. It looks like it was freshly cooked and made right then.

“Thank you so much!” I lay the plate in the seat next to me and Juki starts eating quickly, “I knew you must’ve been hungry after that long flight.”

“Hey Mark?” Lori looks at me with curious eyes, “how long are you gonna be here? And then how long are you going to be in China?” She looks at my right hand sees my ring that I’ve had for years. She reaches over and grabs my hand twirling the ring with her finger staring at it and holding my hand.

“Umm, I’m not sure. They said they will call us when a flight comes available which could be today or tomorrow, there’s really no telling. And for China I really...”

“It will be at least six months if not more.” Mr. Cheng interrupts me, “he is still working off a debt to me and I’ve got a lot of work to be done in China. So it will be a while. If I were to put a maximum number I would say no more than a year.” Her face loses its excited expression.

“Why do you ask?” The curiosity was eating me alive and I haven’t even begun to start eating. She looks up at me and then gestures for me to follow her outside. So we walk outside together and while following her I notice she’s wearing a blue plaid pleated skirt with black thigh high socks, her shoes were white 7 inch stiletto heels with ribbon straps that wind up the calf. The shirt was a long sleeve black knitted sweater open neck covering a white button up dress shirt with a long collar and a ribbon tie. Her well endowed body was nothing to be ashamed of looking at and any woman in her right mind would kill to have her curves. Plus she was beautiful with and without makeup, she had adorable smile dimples in her cheeks and gorgeous blue-green eyes, which I could tell were cosmetic contacts. I remembered she had big brown eyes from our video chats in the past few years. She walks over to the back of her car and sits up on the trunk pushing her skirt between her legs and crossing them. I walk over beside her and lean back against the trunk.

“So we’ve known each other for what? 3 years now? We have talked and talked and talked. We have shared so many memories and so many stories with each other that, even though we have just met face to face today, it feels like we really have a deep connection you know? Like I really feel like I’ve done nothing but fall for you ever since we got a deeper connection and I’ve counted the days til we could meet face to face.” My heart does two things at the same time at that moment. I could feel my heart leap out of my chest and land at my feet, and at the same time it’s lodged in my throat and I can’t breathe or speak. It takes me a full two minutes to even blink before I’m able to say anything. I decide to push myself off the car and start walking so I could talk and not have to show how nervous I was. And just as my body lunges forward I feel her hand on my shoulder pull me around, she opens her legs and pulls me into her. She thrusts her face onto mine and she starts kissing me with passion that I haven’t felt in a really long time. I’m surprised at the moment and hardly have time to react and my body decides to take over since my mind is being slow. So I start kissing her back and this goes on for about six or seven minutes and she pulls back. “Do you understand how I feel now? I’ve been wanting to do that...” Her eyes go from mine down my body, onto hers, and then back up my body and back to my eyes, “and much more, for a really...really long time.” I’m still speechless, and very aroused at this point and I’m hoping I’m going to be able to pull away from the car and walk back into the restaurant without fear of embarrassment.

“I understand completely how you feel, I’ve thought the same way about you, although a little more conservative wise. But in general the same way.” I felt stupid with my explanation but it’s all the gibberish my mind could come up with after that.

“That’s one of the reasons why I feel like I’m falling for you so hard, you’re a gentleman and not afraid to show it. I really hope you are going to stay the night here before going to China, I would love to sit on the beach with you and talk forever.” She pushes me back and hops down off the trunk and grabs my hand. “Shall we?” She walks forward dragging me along and we walk back towards the restaurant while I’m staggering and hopping trying to situate myself before going to sit back down. The food is already on the table when we return and we both abruptly go back to the table, and Mr. Cheng looks up to me and points to his lips. I understand his gesture and use the side of my black tee shirt to wipe off the lip stick.

“Mr. Cheng, would you like to do the honors?”

He bows his head to me and then he blesses the food in mandarin, translated he says, “bless this food and may it give us nourishment and energy for the day ahead of us and the trials it brings. The love we share with friends, family, and stranger alike be shared with honor, grace, and life. Good fortune!”

When he finishes we all bow our heads together and say, “xie xie!”

“Odd, I didn’t know you knew Mandarin, Lori?” I say looking at her surprised.

“I didn’t know you knew it either Mark, but Mr. Cheng, that was a beautiful blessing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before, is it traditional or family?”

He looks at her with curious eyes and a content face, “how nice of you! It was my wife’s favorite blessing, her father used to use it and said it came from his ancestors. So I would say it’s a family tradition.” We all smiled and started eating.

“To be honest Lori, I’m only learning mandarin slowly from Mr. Cheng and the Wein family back in Alabama. So I can only catch a few words here and there at times.” She smiles at me and continues eating.

Once done we all walk outside and around the building to the beach side. The sun has already dropped below the horizon but it’s still twilight. Mr. Cheng stops and sits down crossing his legs and takes in the beautiful scene, “this reminds me of my grandfathers back yard, such peaceful times.” I look at him with a curious face and decide not to pry. I notice his eyes start welling up with tears and he sits there smiling with Juki sitting in his lap enjoying the wonderful colors. I decide to sit down in the sand as well and Lori joins in beside me. We all sit there until the beautiful array of pink, purple, orange, red, and grey dissolves into black. The moon is in waning crescent and the lights of Los Angeles bleeds out the majority of the stars.

Lori puts her hand on my shoulder and leans over to my ear, “Hey Mark, I know this is kind of sudden, but I have an extra room at my house and you guys could stay with me to save for a motel. Plus there’s a beach not far from there that’s out of the light pollution from the city. That is, if you think you’d want to?” She blushes and has a nervous tone in her voice.

I look over to Mr. Cheng and he smiles at me as if he heard what she said but gives me the nod to go ahead and ask, “Hey Mr. Cheng? Would you like to accept Miss Lori’s invitation to stay with her tonight? It might be better than staying at a motel for the night, LA’s motels are pretty expensive. Plus she knows this place where we can see the Stars much better...?” He just keeps smiling and nods to me in agreement. His look is that of “I know what you’re up to, you can’t fool me.” But my intentions are purely innocent, where Lori’s intentions may not be so much, it’s still a better idea than a motel or sleeping in the car. “Well Miss Lori, it looks like the jury has decided...” and before I can even finish my witty sentence she bursts into a tackling hug and knocks me to the flat of my back in the sand.

“Yay! I can’t wait to show you guys this awesome place!” She jumps up off of me and dusts the sand off of her. She then extends her hand to help me up and I grab it and stand up dusting myself off. She begins to help dust my back and butt off, then smacks my butt as I start to walk towards Mr. Cheng and she giggles playfully.

“Hey! Watch it there spunky!” I yelp at her in surprise, then I walk over to Mr. Cheng and offer my hand to Juki first and she climbs up to shoulder, then Mr. Cheng takes my hand and stands up gracefully. Lori helps dust him off and we walk back to the cars.

“Just follow me, try not to fall behind!” She playfully teases at me.

“If it weren’t for being a rental and having precious cargo, I’d accept your challenge! But alas I’m being the responsible one today and trying to be as adult as possible.” I smile and wink at her. She blushes and drops into her car with haste looking away from me. But I could see her blushing brightly from her hud lights.

“You should be careful with your emotions Vemo, caution is better than carelessness...” Mr. Puts his hand on mine and nods. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. I can tell she is a very caring woman, but you have to remember that we will only becoming back through here once after we leave. Then we will be going back to your home, unless that is, you have a change of heart between now and then. But I must warn you that when you get to China with me, I want to have your full focus.” He sternly grasps my hand and then let’s go and smiles.

“I understand completely. Only getting to see her once is quite the ordeal, especially after knowing her for so long and earning an emotional attachment to her. Then not getting to see her for a very long time added with not being able to communicate with her as well poses a problem both emotionally and physically for both sides. But I do believe I should enjoy tonight for whatever it may bring. Of course I will be respectful to her to the utmost possible way so that I can keep my pride of being a gentleman.” He smiles at my resolve and sits back comfortably. Juki crawls to the back seat and into my backpack. We follow her for about an hour when she finally comes up on her small house on top of a large hill and parks her car on the side of the driveway and opens her garage.

“Hey pull into the garage so that your car will be locked up and nobody will try to get into it or anything oki doki?” She said through Mr. Cheng’s window. So I pull into the garage and park inches away from the wall. We both get out and I grab my backpack, then I open the trunk and we both grab a change of clothes. “Once you’re ready we can take my car down the road a little ways to the spot I was talking about.” She still sounds nervous but with more excitement this time.

“I’m driving...” I say as I hold my hand up for her to toss me her keys and her excitement leaves her face. A nervous chill sweeps through her body and goosebumps start rising on her arms and legs. “Come on it’s not that bad, I’m an excellent driver...” she doesn’t seem to be convinced, “you have full coverage yes?” She nods yes, “Mr. Cheng do you mind waiting here with Miss Juki for 10 minutes? Please?” He agrees and takes my backpack from me. “Alright Lori, grab yourself a passenger seat and seat belt. I’m about to rock your world and then some...”

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that, but I didn’t think it would be like this...” she interrupts me nervously while everything from her shirt to her hairline turns a bright red.

“Look you don’t have to worry much, I’ve told you before that I’ve done some pro-amateur circuit races, along with many street races. I don’t plan to lose today...” I throw her an arrogant grin her way and crank her car up. The car is a black and pink Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, that’s been tuned to the brim with the best aftermarket parts available for it. It’s body has also been modified to handle the road and airflow more successful. It has a wide body kit and the spoiler has been modified to be more flush with the sides and also in symmetrical order with the rest of the car. It has a modified suspension that she didn’t know you could control to either raise or lower the height for circumstances, for what I’m about to do I lower it down to 2 inches. For normal driving it’s best raised to 5-8 inches to account for speed bumps and such. The black bottom looks like it sits perfectly on the black tarmac, and right under the window it fades into a hot pink with pixelated accents. I notice she has interior and exterior neon lights and I flip them on, and then I back out her driveway. I pulled out my gps and marked out a route in a big 5 mile circle that ended back at her house thinking 5 miles is enough torture.

“I know that we had huge celebration when I won this car from the Need For Speed Carbon Racing Competition at E3 2009, but that doesn’t change that I have an emotional attachment to it...” she buckles the racing straps on her and the normal seatbelt over that. I look over at her and her breasts are poking through the safety belts and she’s looking at me with most anxious face I’ve ever seen. The pink neon lights on the floorboard, door panel, and dashboard mix with the blue hud lights and accent the features of her face and I smile at her. I reach my left hand over to her face and push back the right side of her hair that fell over her eye behind her ear and trace my fingers down her jawline to her chin and gently lift it as I lean in kiss her lightly. Then I lean back into my seat and buckle the racing straps and regular seatbelt too just for safety. I push in the clutch and shift it into first gear and let it coast down the hill while holding the brake with my left foot and goosing the gas with my right building the turbo boost pressure.