種 — Tane — Seed

Chapter I

“Mom, can we go to the park to practice bike?” A small, sweet voice came from below the countertop.

 

            Looking up from the cutting board, a youthful gaze fell upon her son’s. Briefly looking to the window above the kitchen sink and noticing that it was clearly going to rain soon, she gently placed the knife across the cutting board and wiped her hands on the towel on her hips. The youthful woman walked around the counter and kneeled down with her hands on her knees.

“Maruki, it’s going to rain, you know how it is in the spring.” Placing a caring hand atop her son’s head, the youthful mother had reassured her son that it would be too wet to practice riding his bike today. “Besides, I was just making your favourite lunch. Omurice.”

 

            Shaking the black strands of silk atop his head with excitement at the announcement of his favourite lunch was being made, Maruki smiled brightly up at his mother. Quickly though, that smile had disappeared as he thought.

“But isn’t there a covered stone area for kids like me, mommy?” His innocent logic was too much for his mother, it was apparent that he had gotten her to change her mind. She stood up once again and went to continue on making lunch with a smile on her face. Maruki’s mother had reached into the corner cupboard and pulled out two bento boxes, this got a wide smile to form on Maruki’s lips once again. “Does that mean we can go?” He questioned excitedly.

 

Returning to the cutting board to finish making lunch, Maruki’s mother smiled and nodded to her son without looked up from her tasks. 

“Yes, we can go.” She replied sweetly, with a smile. “Go and grab your helmet and pads, Maruki.” As she continued to prepare lunch for on-the-go, Maruki had run off to his bedroom down the hall to gather his protective gear.

 

            As he was running down the hall, a small voice called out from one of the rooms as he passed.
“Maruki? Are you and mom going somewhere?” A soft voice came from the crack of a door soon followed by a sweet face. “I heard you saying something about the park?” 

 

            Maruki double backed when he heard his name being called and stood outside his sister’s partially closed door.

“Yeah, practicing bike so I’m good for when school starts.” Maruki exclaimed excitedly. The idea of kindergarten being over a year away was hard on him since he wanted to go and play with other kids quicker. “Did you want to come, Kyoko?” He asked cutely.

 

            She opened the door a little ways farther and smiled down at her younger brother as she adjusted herself.

“No, no. I’m ok, Maruki.” She replied softly. “You should spend more time with mom before she heads back to work.” Kyoko was not that much older than Maruki, but she was double-digits, she understood how important it was to spend time with parents when the time was available. 

 

            “Ok!” Maruki said cheerfully and ran to his room happily.

 

            Once everything was packed and both Maruki and his mother were dressed for the weather to come, they had set off with umbrellas and bento boxes in hand. Living in Kanagawa so close to the ocean, the rainfalls were worse than usual. 

            Leaving her daughter at home alone with her husband of five years, Maruki’s mother was having a one-on-one outing with her son that she was very proud of for being so adamant of learning how to ride a bike. He was only three-years-old and was not quite ready for preschool yet but he did enjoy learning on his own at home. Compared to the mother-friend group from both work and people who were part of her pregnancy club when Maruki was born, he was always the quickest to learn.

            While maruki carried the two bento boxes, one in each hand, while his mother walked the bike while hunched over. It was mostly downhill all the way to the park, after walking for about two minutes, the two of them had approached the final hill before the park. For such a young kid, the walk home would most likely be tiring since it would all be uphill. 

As soon as they had reached the covered lot where the kids would practice on bikes and scooters without the elements beading down on them, it began to rain very heavily.

 

There were kids of all ages at the lot today with their parents watching them carefully, yet as the rain started some were already getting ready to leave. Some older kids were riding their bikes around with BMX styled tricks, it had gotten Maruki to stop and stare in awe before his mother had picked out a bench to rest at. Once his mother called his name when she found a spot to sit, Maruki had snapped out of it and ran off to catch up to his mother again. She had parked his bike next to the bench and sat down, Maruki the plopped the cloth wrapped bento boxes next to her and sat on the other side of them. After he had clipped his helmet tight to his chin, Maruki was ready to practice riding his bike.

The technique he could remember from what the bike shop owner had told him was the most important in learning how to ride a bike, and that was first learning how to walk while sitting on the seat instead of peddling. Having walking around the perimeter of the large lot wile keeping his feet off of the peddles, Maruki still fell every once in a while yet was not hurt thanks to the knee and elbow pads he had on. 

 

It didn’t take Maruki long before he became a little bored of walking around on his bike. When he looked back at his mother on the bench on the other side of the lot, he noticed she was talking with another lady and did not want to bother them. He left his bike where it was and dropped it to the ground. Running and riding BMX bikes through the centre of the lot was a group of older boys laughing and screaming as they were covering their heads with their jackets. The group of boys ran from one end to the other very quickly and it got the young Maruki to get excited and follow behind them as quickly as he could. Expecting to make new friends and play in the puddles or on the playground, Maruki was too naïve to know what he was about to get himself into.

 

The rain had not dissipated at all, the heavy droplets made deep puddles of mud, the leaves were dancing in the swift winds, the sky was a fierce grey almost black, and the park was disappearing in thick sheets of rain. Maruki pressed on, following the giddy laughter of the older boys. After almost losing them around a corner of a building, Maruki’s finally caught up with them, his feet drenched down to the sock. What Maruki had found that the older boys were laughing at what not what he expected at all. 

 

Surrounded by over half a dozen double-digit boys, sat a young boy that appeared not much older than Maruki. He sat there, curled in the fetal position, feet shin deep in a thick puddle of mud with his hands clasped over his ears as he cried. A broken blue and white pinwheel lay crumpled up by his feet and a cute giraffe bento box was scattered through the thick mud with his lunch lost to the heavy rains. The louder the boy in the mud cried, the more the the double-digit boys laughed and prodded at him. Amidst the heavy rain and the mist of the droplets from the dancing leaves and the rising mud, the crying boy screamed and sobbed as a loud crash of thunder bellowed through the sky.

 

Maruki could not stand by and watch any longer, his soaked feet sloshed over the wet ground as he approached the group of boys.

“What did he do?” His small voice was almost masked by the echo of thunder and the laughter of the older boys. “He’s scared, you don’t need to be mean.” Maruki, the young three-year-old boy was now shouting over the laughing crowd.

            Though he posed no threat, this pint-sized boy seemed to be enough to taper the group’s cackle and the majority of them had run off again, but not before the biggest of the older boys had pushed the crying boy face first into the mud puddle. When all had left, Maruki had walked up to the boy and dropped down to his knees in the mud, down to the boy’s level.

“Are you okay?” Maruki lift the crying boy’s face and used the sleeve of his oversized, bright orange windbreaker to wipe the mud away.  “That wasn’t very nice, not at all.” Feeling the boy shiver at his touch, Maruki’s looked around at their feet and picked up all of the boy’s belongings and shook off the excess mud. Before he stood to gather the rest of the boy’s bento box, Maruki looked to the broken pinwheel in his hand. “This was a cute wheel.” He bent down and picked up the lid of the giraffe bento box before looking around to see if the group or any adults were in sight, there were none.

            Maruki was a small boy, being only three-years-old he was only a bit taller than the dirty boy when he was kneeled down. Despite this, he offered a hand to help him to his feel. The boy was wet, dirty, and his sleeve was torn, yet there was  no adult in site and the rain was just getting worse. 

“Come.” He suggested. “My mommy will help you find yours.” The boy sniffled and complied while not saying anything.

 

            Not letting the boy’s hand go after helping him to his feet, Maruki and him had walked back to the covered lot again while the heavy rain had began washing off some of the dirt off of both of them. Coming up to the bench his mother was at from behind, Maruki had held the taller boy close to him as he held his belongings in the other hand. Still chatting with the other woman, Maruki’s mother had only been half paying attention when her son had approached.

“Maruki, this is the clerk from the local grocery—“ she gasped and spun around while jumping to her feet. “Maruki what happened?” Her son was soaked and covered in dirt while holding another boy’s hand. 

 

            Seeing who her acquaintance’s son was with, the grocery clerk flew to her feet as well. 

“Aiya!” She threw herself to her knees at her son’s feet and wiped the mud and water from his cheeks. “Are you hurt?” Having been chatting with her new friend, the grocery clerk had not even noticed her son was gone in the storm.

 

            Maruki was not hurt at all, nor was he cold thanks to his jacket, but that did not stop his mother from taking off her sweater and wrapping it around his small shoulders. It was so big that the hem of her sweater draped over the cold concrete. In one hand Maruki held the giraffe bento box, in the other he held the pinwheel that was in two pieces. 

“Boys were mean to him and broke his things.” Maruki looked to the other boy with tears welling in his eyes. “They laughed and pushed him.” Maruki may have been young, but he knew what was right and what was wrong when it came to actions towards other people.

 

            Maruki’s mother gave a soft smile to her brave son, adjusting the sweater tighter to his shoulders. 
“That was very responsible of you, Maruki.” She looked over her shoulder to the clerk and the shivering boy at her fingertips. “What do you say about inviting him to you birthday next week?” She had completely ignored that the young boy was still shivering and dirty, yet was not being tended to. She was too proud of her brave boy for standing up the the others to even notice the other boy’s condition.

 

            Maruki, the young chivalrous boy had stepped from his mother’s grasp to the muddy boy. 

“Would you like to come to my birthday? He then placed the toy and box on the ground and removed his mother’s sweater from his shoulders and wrapped it around the other boy with a soft smile. “I’d like for you to come, so no more boys can be mean.” The boy still said nothing, yet hugged Maruki tightly, still shivering. 

 

            Being watched by both mothers, bringing smiles to their faces, the muddy boy had pulled away and looked down at Maruki with a soft smile. 

“Thank you, it’d be fun.” He spoke softly, almost forgetting what had just happened to him. “I’m Aiya.” He continued shyly in a soft tone. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship of damsel and knight.

 

 

条件反射 — 伊野尾慧 (Jouken Hansha — Inoo Kei)

Romanji

Dara shinai kimi wa kirai shitsuke na kucha

(Onozo mino mama ni)

Kikoenai yarinaoshi Tell me what you want

(So Crazy, Harder, Faster, Deeper, More)

Nani kuwanu kao shite osuki ne

Risei o nuga seba kekkyoku osude ne

Let’s go, Tonight’s the night. It’s gonna be all right

(Honno ni aragau hitsuyou wa nai)

Ai o sasayaku nante mou Nansensu [Nonsense] dayo

Oh Baby

Hoshi gatte motto kuru o shiku umareta mama no sugata de

Surikon da jouken hansha de haetoku ni modae nagara

(Kono machi ni fuki tamaru yami)

Wow

(Shinya ni ji)

Kimi wa omoi douri

(Hari no anateido no doutoku)

Kairaku ni otosareru mama

Tonight we own the night

Mawa demo ii kukuritsuke hanshigaii wa shinai

(Honto you shanai ne)

Kobita me de mite mo dame Tell me what you want

(Bow wow, Give Me More)

I o tsuranuku houga kimochi ga ii desho

Oh Baby

Narite mite motto ijirashiku shikou kairo tobikoete 

Ari no mama jouken hansha de gaman nante muri dakara

(Kono machi ni fuki tamaru yami)

Wow

(Shinya ni ji)

Kimi wa omoi douri

(Hari no anateido no doutoku)

Kairaku ni otosareru mama

Oh Yes, Oh Yes

Kimi mushi shairarenai

Dara shinai kimi wa kirai shitsuke nakucha

(Yeah, Dou nattatte kamawa nai)

Karappo no sara o mite yorokunde

Hoshi gatte motto kuru oshiku umareta mama no sugata de

Surikon da jouken hansha de haetoku ni modae nagara

(Kono machi ni fuki tamaru yami)

Wow

(Shinya ni ji)

Kimi wa omoi douri

(Hari no anateido no doutoku)

Kairaku ni otosareru mama

A New Light

A New Light: Chapter I

Yet another early shift as they all have been this past year, first years always got the earliest of shifts and the worst of tasks; today’s shift started earlier than usual, today was a 3:00am shift start which gave him only a few hours of sleep. Unfortunately there was no point in complaining because it has always been that way, and it could harm his chances of moving on into second year residency. After doing the morning rounds in the ward that he was given, Maruki as well as three other residents were called to emergency for there was a larger group coming in and there were not enough doctors on shift and needed assistance. There was no information through the mass text as to what the group that was coming had suffered, which made the situation that much more nerve wrecking. The first years had never been in the emergency room when there was an actual emergency, the last Maruki had to deal with was that stitch case, and even that made him anxious.

All four first years ran down to emergency as they were prompted to and lined up while nurses placed the disposable smocks on them. Waiting at the automatic doors for the paramedics to wheel in the first of the patients. To the four residents, there were two attendings, meaning there was going to be two on their own with nurses. 

The sirens fast approached and stopped abruptly at the automatic doors and two paramedics jumped out of the back of the truck and quickly pulled a young woman out on a stretcher. She was wrapped in gauze, covered up to the neck in an emergency blanket, and her head was wrapped in a neck and jaw brace as well as her features appearing soaked through and through. After shouting a bunch of jargon to the attending and nurses that the residents had not heard before, the first attending had decided that Morimoto, the resident standing next to Maruki could handle this patient.

After the first ambulance had driven off back to the bay, the second had arrived and repeated the process. The attending this time gave Maruki and a few senior nurses the patient. This girl was in a torn clubbing outfit, various broken bones, some of which were sticking out through the skin, her neck was in a brace as well but there was a protective guard over her forehead as well; like the first patient, she also appeared wet from the rain. Why of all patients was Maruki given the worse of the two so far? Complaining would not get far, besides, if he succeeded with this case, it would look better for him. Having the nurses wheel her into one of the trauma rooms, the paramedic had debriefed her status as well as how and where they found her. With the information that was given, the senior nurses looked to the resident for instruction as to what to do next. 

What was to be done? Maruki never had to think this fast under pressure before. Ordering to have her moved to a permanent bed and off the stretcher was the first command, next was to assess all of the wounds and see if there was any hemorrhaging or possibility of immediate infection. Finding that she had internal bleeding in her abdomen, there was more urgency into assessing everything else. Removing the braces from her neck and head, it was discovered that her neck was not broken, yet there was a small fragment of bone floating which meant that it chipped off of one of her vertebrae. Under the loose bandage over her forehead, it was a very likely case that she would possibly lose her left eye.

Informing surgery, Maruki had called for three different surgeons if they were available; someone to aid in the internal bleeding, someone to see if there was any salvaging her shattered femur, and finally a plastic surgeon to see if there were any possibility in saving her eye and orbital socket with her natural bone.

Placing the young girl in the care of the nurses to make sure that her vitals don’t drop too far while the surgeons were on their way, Maruki returned to the bay to see if he could be of any assistance to other residents that were not finished with their patients. However, the last two that were to arrive in the emergency room were not of priority as they had passed in transit due to the injuries they had sustained. Morimoto’s and Maruki’s patients were the only two to survive, at least for now.

All of that excitement for nine in the morning, and it had not even lasted forty-five minutes. Luckily for Maruki, who was not ready to see someone die, was not around when the last two were wheeled in.

Looking for Morimoto after all of the commotion and getting cleaned up from the bloody clothes and gloves, Maruki was still shaking yet Morimoto looked to be as cool as a cucumber.

“Has anyone talked to you as to what happened? Was it a car accident?” Maruki asked with a small shake in his voice. At times like this he wondered if it was the correct career path for him if he could not even handle something as simple as a living woman with a few broken bones.

The other resident had pulled Maruki aside into somewhere a little more private away from the rest of the residents and nurses in the emergency room. He looked around to see if anyone was close enough to hear.

“No, apparently they were all found like that in a park on a bench. It seemed that they were dumped there from a local bar, the bartender remembers seeing all of them there until closing time.” Morimoto may have been a competition, considering all residents were all competing for the position they wanted, yet he still seemed friendly because while competitors, he knew that they all needed to work together as well to get to where they wanted. 

This peeked Maruki’s interest, he had no ties in the law whatsoever, but there seemed to be something exhilarating about speculating as to what had happened and if the suspects would ever get caught. After the small tidbit of information from his peer, Maruki continued about his day of tasks that would carry him until dinner time that evening. Making this a fourteen hour day, slightly longer than his usual shift but it would not have been as long if it the emergency room and the paperwork that came with it did not take almost two hours to complete. Making sure that everything was complete before clocking out, Maruki had then left as quickly as possible in attempts to not be held back still from his sweet retreat to bed. 

After getting off of the bus, because the parking at the hospital was just far too expensive especially for a resident, Maruki had arrived at home to find that his roommate was walking behind him, looking just as tired as him if not even more tired.

“Ai, aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Stopping in front of the door after having unlocked it, Maruki looked back to Aiya slumping down the hallway. Walking passed him, he said nothing as he pushed into the door while turning the handle and heavily stepping into their apartment. “Are you feeling ok? Did you leave early?” Maruki was not getting much out of Aiya other than a few groans, there was obviously something wrong and he was not telling him. Following him into the apartment and locking the door, Maruki anxiously waited for Aiya to explain to him what was going on.

Haphazardly slipping his shoes off and not caring of where they were placed, Aiya walked heavily into the living room and threw himself down on the couch, pulling a pillow over his eyes. 

“I haven’t slept. I had to call my work because I was not able to make it.” Him pausing made Maruki’s anticipation grow. “I was at the police station all morning because I was a witness to a few women who were injured last night at my bar.” He groaned loudly and rolled on his side facing the back cushion of the couch to hide from the light. 

Maruki’s eyes widened as he dove down to the side of the couch, placing a hand on Aiya’s shoulder. 

“I had those people come into the emergency room today, it’s why I’m home late!” Maruki shouted as he leaned over Aiya to see if he could see his face. “Are you ok at least? I know you’re tired, but you weren’t hurt or anything were you?” Lowering his voice again, Maruki leaned back on his heels, preparing to stand. While Aiya was there in front of him exhausted, he was still afraid that he could have been hurt or even slightly traumatized if he came in contact with anyone suspicious. 

Rolling over to his other shoulder, Aiya pulled the pillow off of his head and tossed it on his lap lazily.

“No, I’m fine.” It had sounded as if was already going to pass out from exhaustion. He had worked a morning shift at the convenience store and almost immediately after started his shift at the bar which was only supposed to last until 00:30 in the morning. “I’m just really tired. They didn’t let me sleep at all when I was giving them my statement.” Aiya let out a long and deep yawn, pulling his beautiful hands over his mouth. “I think I’m going to take a nap though, I’ve been awake for almost thirty-six hours.” It was rare for Aiya to be awake for so long, while working two jobs, he did love his sleep and got it as often as he could. 

Patting Aiya’s shoulder before placing the blanket from the back cushion over him, leaving him to sleep. Closing the curtains on the the one-and-a-half walls for Aiya before retreating to his room to relax on his own.

It was not long after being forced to be in his room alone and having to be quiet, Maruki was losing his mind. While he was tired from his fourteen-hour shift, he was no longer sleepy, as what happens to those select few when they get in the comfort off their own home. Feeling that four hours of trapped in silence was at his absolute limits of boredom. Maruki loved his roommate in all, but he needed out of the house if he was not allowed to walk television.

It was nearly ten in the evening, and Maruki was just leaving the apartment. There was no scheduled shift for the hospital tomorrow and the same peer that was given his on-call shift had been given it again, giving him another surprise day off. Sneaking into the foyer and quickly slipping his shoes on, Maruki had to get out and go somewhere, and do anything. While he felt bad for leaving Aiya on the couch alone after a stressful day at the police station, maybe coming back with a treat would make him feel better when he woke up. 

Even in the early summer months, the sun was long gone by nine in the evening, making the streets an eerie and silent trip through the dark. At this time of day, only the overachieving office workers and late night service workers were wandering the streets; taking in their celebratory after work drinks and their caffeinated beverages to keep them awake on their commute home. The bright flashing lights of the store signage and the billboards were blinding against the night sky.

~*~

Being trapped in between the man in the dark grey three-piece and the man in the metallic purple blazer, the mysterious boy sat stiffly in the roomy SUV as they drove aimlessly down the wet streets of downtown Tokyo. Off to the side on the limo styled seat, Keisuke was yet again slumped over, barely conscious in his bloodied and tattered beige suit. Akira spoke calmly to the boy in order to not scare him, for he was staring over at Keisuke.

“We’ve seen you around, yet somehow you are a very difficult person to get ahold of.” The tone in Akira’s voice was almost annoyed, like this single boy had offended him. “Why have you even been looking for us?” It was a a quiet day in the streets of Tokyo, the rain played an obvious part in that. People have been hesitant in going outside unless it was absolutely necessary due to the downpour. Since the week prior, it had rained a total of one-hundred and twenty millimeters, this was unheard of in almost any part of the world during monsoon season, let alone a country that never saw this much rain in a season. Due to there being a lack of people in the streets, the two elite men were bored and very agitated without the possibility of a hunt. 

Glancing over his shoulder to the man in the purple blazer while scrunching his nose, the mysterious boy fell silent for a moment before looking to his feet.

“Every time you’re around, a disgusting scent fills my nostrils.” He explained lowly, afraid as to what they two men would do to his comment. “I didn’t know it was you I was looking for, I was just looking for the scent.” He continued, trying to make the comment a little less harsh. It was even hard for him to sit around the two, not knowing why made it worse as well. The mysterious boy’s eyes fell upon the man in the shaggy suit, when he noticed the blood, his eyes darted back to the man in the metallic suit.

A small grin fell upon the man’s lips, he had obviously known something about the boy. Addressing Keisuke as well, Akira  returned his gaze to the boy.

“Oh, him? Don’t worry about him.” He waved off their accompaniment as if he were a piece of trash on the sidewalk. “He chose this lifestyle.” That key word got the mysterious boy to look between the two men on either side of him, what did they mean about lifestyle? Akira knew that would peek his interest, and now there was plenty of explaining to do. “look kid, there are things that you don’t know about, that you should really know about. Since you know, you’re in the life style as well.” He spoke almost toneless.

The mysterious boy’s brows furrowed in confusion, this man was making no sense at all to him.

“I am part of the lifestyle? What does that mean?” His gaze shifted to the man on the other side of him. “Does that mean you know something about me?” Maybe it was the break he was looking for, being able to get some answers after being in the dark about his past for half a month about who he was. Shifting now to face the man in purple he looked to him in determination. “What do you know about me? Do you know my name?” The one piece of information the boy would settle for if not being able to get any more. There was a sense of urgency written all over the boy’s face, he needed to know if these potent men knew his identity.

Folding a leg over the other, the man in the three-piece suit addressed the boy with all of the information that he knew of him.

“There are many species in the world and just as humans had evolved and mutated over time, there were species born along side humans as well. Just as there are many species of feline or canine, there are of sapiens as well.” Kyohei started in an almost bored tone, as if he had spoken of this far too often. “I am of the Master and Kyuuketsuki race. I know it makes me sound narcissistic. Akira here, is of the Hetaera and Kyuuketsuki race. While born into it, there is no deciding factor as to what race is chosen, it is more of a mutation in that sense.” He continued calmly, noticing there was still an expression of confusion over the boy’s face. 

“Modern terms call us mythical, monsters.” Hoping the boy would get the hint, yet his unchanged expression spoke otherwise. “We are vampires, Ruka.” The boy’s ears perked up at that last comment. “Yes, that’s your name.”

Ruka completely ignored the rest of that small monologue of the well dressed man. All he cared about was him name. 

“My name is Ruka?” He questioned softly as he looked down to his feet, feeling as if a piece of a puzzle had fit into place. As it was said, he questioned as to how he had forgotten for it felt as if it never left. 

Staring at Kyohei in silence for a moment waiting for the boy to continue with questions, his annoyance grew as the boy remained silent beside him.
“That’s it? You don’t care about anything else?” His tone grew dark while he grew fully annoyed. Ruka looked to him for a moment before looked down to his feet again silently, indicating that he did not care at all about everything else Kyohei had said. That got Akira to clench his teeth together hard, as it had always been, he was never good at controlling his anger and it showed. “You do realize what I had just told you, right?” That strain in his throat was forced, with one simple sentence the boy had Akira properly annoyed. Responded to with ignorance and silence again Akira had reached his limits, looking up to the driver in the front seat, whom of which he gave a stern and specific look.

Glancing back to his boss from the rearview mirror, the driver gave a hesitant nod and followed those silent instructions to the best of his capability. Searching the drowned streets for what he normally had kept an eye out for, he noticed his boss twirling his finger in the air, a universal sign of ‘switch it up.’ Did that mean he was not looking the usual flaky female, but anyone this time? Not only would it be difficult to find a lone man at this time of night, but anyone due to the weather.

While Ruka remained deep in his own thoughts of his lost newly found identity, the driver continued his hunt for his employers. 

“Kid.” Kyohei called out softly after seeing the look in Akira’s now glaring eyes. While just as heartless as Akira, there was a time and a place for needless killing and this was not that. Also left with a silent response, Kyohei let off a quiet sigh before turning to the window and look out it silently. Knowing Akira, there were only two ways this was going to end: either nothing was to happen for they would find no one before he got bored, or there would be an unnecessary casualty that would either be food, or a lifeless vessel. However, nothing could prepare him for what Akira actually had planned for when their driver had found a victim.

Biting his lip in anger, Akira looked out his window while the kid kept thinking to himself. Staring out into the darkened, reflective streets, Akira had found someone of interest; a lone male carrying a ready-meal in a convenience store bag. A scene as such usually indicated that they had no ties to family or friends and their life revolved around work or school. 

“James…” Akira called out to his driver, whom again looked to him from the rearview mirror noticing his gesture as he pointed out their target. The driver looked to the streets ahead of him and locked onto the lone person in the street, waiting for instruction as to what to do next; it was to usually pull up next to them and offer a drink and a fun time going to clubs or bars, however this time may have been different. “Hit ‘im.” That got Kyohei to shoot a wide-eyed gaze over in Akira’s direction, he was not only going to needlessly kill but in the middle of the street. With great hesitation, James had closed his eyes in a painful regret for his future actions. Turning the wheel of the SUV slowly, the driver turned to be straight with the lone individual in the street even if it meant to drive over the curb and onto the extra wide sidewalk.

Carrying a  clear umbrella under his arm while he was nose deep in his phone screen, the man carrying the ready-meal was none-the-wiser of what the intention was of the lone vehicle in the street. His first priority was to return home and deliver the ready-meal while it was still hot. Akira had placed a hand on the top of the boy’s head to face out the windshield and witness the task that was dropped in James’ lap.

“I implore you to witness, please.” Akira exclaimed in a calm tone as he instructed Ruka to watch a supposed heinous crime. As he spoke, the vehicle jittered as it jumped the curb and quickly drove smoothly as all four wheels were on the same level; but that would not last long.

Even with the bright LED lights beaming in his direction and reflected off of the glazed cement, the innocent pedestrian was caught off guard for there was no expectation that a vehicle would jump a curb just to hit a pedestrian. Like a deer in headlights, a cliché everyone knew yet never expected that it would happen to them, the pedestrian froze and stared at the vehicle drive straight for him and straight towards the building wall on the other side of him. 

With wide eyes, Ruka was forced to stare out of the window as this psychotic man held his gaze to lock with the scene. An innocent person was nearing the front of the vehicle quickly and there was no stopping soon in sight, this heavy duty vehicle was going to come in contact with that innocent person. Paralyzed in fear, Ruka did not blink and in a flash, there was a loud crashing thud, and what felt like a very large, uneven speed bump. In a quick second, the sports utility vehicle had stopped just before hitting the cement wall in front, yet the car was still uneven. Glassed, hollow eyes stared forward at the windshield being pelted with heavy raindrops and the wiper blades drying them off as fast as they came. Whatever just happened, it was still in progress and he was now a part of it. What felt like for an eternity was only a few moments before Ruka could not remain silent any longer. Letting out a blood curdling scream and while staring Akira in the eye, Ruka had an instant stream of tears rolling down his cheek.

“WHY!” Grabbing that ugly blazer by the collar, Ruka shook the man. “What did that person do to deserve this?” There was no answer that Akira could give him that could make any possible sense or logic, there was nothing that warranted death a gruesome and needless as this.

Kyohei glanced out his window, there were feet sticking out from underneath the vehicles wheels on his side, why his side? Peeling his glance away from that image, his eyes locked to Akira whom had a content expression on his face.

“What are your intentions now?” There was a bitter taste of anger that rolled over his tongue, it was the first time in years that he was angry at Akira through and through. “Do you plan on leaving that human there? He did nothing to deserve being left on the sidewalk to rot.” While always trying to keep a calm and collected façade, those who knew him best knew that Kyohei was not always as calm as he lead off to be.

Pushing the kid off of him and straightening out his collar again, Akira looked to his right-hand man with an ugly smirk on his lips.

“Of course I don’t intend on leaving him there.” Giving the kid in the path of their gaze a glance, he then continued with his explanation. “This kid is going to get some experience in our life and change ‘im.” With that, Kyohei’s eyes widened further, Ruka’s look of disgust and fear became more apparent, and even Keisuke stirred awake at that comment.

On That Faithful Day

 

Short One Shot

Late April; it was my last final exam of my second year in the Bachelor of Arts, it was difficult as they all are but given the allotted time to finish, I was sure I did well on it. I had to do well on it, the GPA needed to be considered for an international student was higher than that of domestic students. Before the final exam marks were to be posted, my GPA stood at a handsome 3.4, not the one I aimed for, but still higher than the average student in the faculty. All the hard work of studying for those quizzes, exams, assignments, and presentations would all be for naught if that 3.5GPA was not achieved. 

Two weeks had gone by and there was still no notification on the school computer system for that last mark. Psychology 302, that one mark that was important for it was the field I was going into. The stress was incomprehensible, the waiting game was a game no one liked to play.

Finally, at a painful 3:00am ping from my phone, I had forced my eyes open to see what it was, it was the school notification system. Sitting up on my elbows, barely being able to see through the blurriness of the sleep in my eyes I tried to focus as hard as I could to see that letter grade — A. I had passed my final exam and got a 3.7GPA, I was ready to finish the application for the school. 

Being the insomniac that I am, staying awake to finish all the paperwork was no challenge. Finding my language proficiency test papers, the application, official transcripts, form for credit transfers, everything I needed was on the computer desk waiting to be sent in. The final step after clicking ‘send,’ was to pay the hefty fee that all international students needed to pay. In a single click of the mouse, months of work and savings was gone, yet I could not have been happier for it. This started the second waiting game.

Having working almost every day throughout the summer to build up savings again, it was hard to believe that it was already mid-June, and that’s when I got an email. I was accepted.

This was when things got complicated. The wheels were rolling, but no one had told me that the brakes were released on a steep hill and those wheels were spinning out of control quickly. My husband of three years had finally stated his opinion that he was going to be staying here in Canada while I went off to a different country for school, for two years. On top of having to go alone, I had felt almost betrayed that my husband felt that moving with me was more of a burden than it would be to be away from me for two years. As painful as it was to hear, everything was already moving and thousands of dollars gone, there was no turning back now, I had to go alone.

It was now late August, I stood at the security checkpoint at YEG, and this was the last I would be able to hug and kiss my husband for 730 days, and even more hours. In tears, I had to pry myself from his arms in order to make that eighteen hour flight that was going to change my life forever. On that long flight, all I could think about was how much better it would be if my husband was sitting next to me and we both would be headed to one of the most amazing cities in the world to an apartment we would call home for the next 24 months, alas it was just me.

Since I was forced to go alone, there was no need for an apartment in the city close to businesses for work, so I chose an off campus apartment building that unfortunately was closer to another branch of the school and not the one I was going into. However, it was cheaper and I got a transit pass from the school so I was not complaining about the travel times.

Now, this was becoming terrifying. I was a woman, alone in a different country, in a city with a population of over thirty-million where my country was just over thirty-million, attending the renowned school of Meiji University. I was confident that I could learn the material with ease, yet it was the fear of not being able to talk to many people that was what concerned me. 

I had unpacked my suitcases and a box that I had shipped out before me in the small 125-square-foot dorm room where I was also alone, after unpacking I decided to go out and wander the city, which was a big mistake. Having found myself in the centre of Shibuya square, I was completely lost. All of the Japanese I knew and was able to read, left my brain in the sheer panic that I was feeling. It did not help that I was in a timezone fifteen-hours ahead of my original timezone, so I was exhausted as well. Panic started to set in, I had no idea where I was, nor where I was supposed to go back to.

Hyperventilating, my panicked gaze scanned over the streets in hopes to find someone who looked like they knew how to speak English, yet I saw none; or my anxiety ridden brain registered none. Suddenly, I saw a familiar face; how? I knew no one and was in the city for mere hours. The face that stood out to me was one that I saw everyday in my life in Canada and at that moment, I was thankful I had to get a new phone and did not have my old phone with me just then, because this familiar face I saw, was my background. 

Suddenly, my mouth spoke before my brain could figure out what it was doing. 

“Ano, sumimasen.” I darted up to this person and was screaming at myself to run way and never look back, that didn’t happen. Stopping a good few feet from this person, as strangers do, I had bowed to them from respect, which is probably why the responded the way they did.

Looking away from the phone in their hands and removing the face mask from their mouth, I was one-hundred-percent sure now I had approached who I thought I did. 

“Onegaishimasu. Hikitsudzuki go shien itadaki, Arigatou gozaimasu.” The bowed to me in respect as well. 

This was when my logical brain shut off causing me a lifetime of following through with a lie. 

“Support? Is it an honour to give directions?” I spoke in English accidentally, yet it seemed they understood a couple of words. I laughed nervously at the idea that it could be honorific to give directions.

The man stood from his bow, just as confused as I was at his thanks. ‘Directions,’ ‘honour,’ and my nervous laugh got him to nervously laugh as well, linking his long fingers together out of embarrassment. 

“Uh, no. Sorry.” His accent was very strong, it was cute as he tried to speak English to me. It was welcoming in this scary city where people were always out for themselves. “I thought you know me from music.” I did, but that’s not the reaction I gave. This poor man was just trying to get somewhere, supposedly on a day off of a job I knew ate up most of their time, but here I was bugging him, rudely at that by speaking English.

My eyes widened, hopefully not too apparent that it was just an act.

“Do you do music or just listen a lot?” I tried to speak in as simple English as possible, while it was known that the Japanese learned English in school, learned second languages were usually lost if not used. 

This normal acting man seemed to relax at that, fresh people who knew nothing of him was refreshing. 

“I sing. I am in a group called “Hey! Say! JUMP. You don’t know?” Inside I screamed, outside I shook my head hesitantly in pretending to think about it. “Ii desu yo.” He sighed in relieve, I was panicking at the thought of him ever finding out I lied just then. “Direction you say?” Bringing this short interaction back to the original reason why I ran up to him.

I jumped, having already forgot why I approached a stranger in the street; the fear of being lost had my voice shaking, or was it that I was talking to someone I idolized so much? 

“Yes, I just got here, I cannot find my way back to the dormitories for Meiji University. Kowai yo.” I ended, it was the truth, I had no idea where I was going nor where I was going. 

This got his ears to perk up in hearing Meiji, it obviously struck a memory in him though it had been years since he had been there, but I knew none of that in his eyes.

“Meiji daigaku? Sono omae wa ikuzou ka?” I gave him a quick nod and an ‘un’ in return. “Ikimashita yo.” He said with a look of reminisce in his eyes. 

“You did?” I asked excited, he would definitely know how to get back if that were the case. “Would you be able to tell me how to get back? I will be living on campus and mistakingly left without knowing where I was.” All I had expected was verbal directions, this was when my proficiency test would come in handy, knowing how to follow verbal instructions. I had not expected what he was to say next.

Pulling his sleeve back to look at the smart watch on his wrist, he then looked back to me as he pulled me aside from the crowds.

“Tsureteitte.” This was not happening, it couldn’t have been. There had to be hidden cameras somewhere or I was still asleep on that plane. “I can take you.” 

My heart dropped, I felt a blush hoping it wasn’t visible. I looked around, no one else seemed to be able to help so I guess I had no choice but to accept. “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” I bowed to this man whom had no idea that I was virtually in love with. “You aren’t too busy Mr. Musicman?” I asked jokingly, going off of the only information he had given me. 

We began to walk in the direction he had come from, with just that information alone I knew I was going in the wrong direction the entire time. He gave a chuckle at the nickname. 

“Inoo Kei. Watakushi no namae wa.” He was so formal all of a sudden, perhaps it was because he decided to walk with me. “I go home, done work for today.” With such simple words, this man got my heart to skip a beat. It was all so surreal that I, a random Canadian girl, was walking with a Japanese Idol that I was completely in love with, metaphorically of course. 

I gave a few awkward nods, listening a little too intently that I forgot what he was saying, his voice was clearly that of an idol and was intoxicating. 

“Aa, Inoo Kei san wa? Watashi no namae wa Rukuufuu Andi. Andi wa ii desu yo.” I glanced over at him, all of the online encyclopedia all said how tall he was, but it was even more of a reality to see it in person; as an average North American, I was surprised he was taller than me. “It is a short name, but my full name is too long to say.” I gave him a small head bow, in another silent ‘yoroshiku.’ 

We walked in silence for almost a block, I had no idea what to say. Looking over at me he asked a school related question.

“Omae wa Senkou ka?” Ah yes, I may have been able to get him to tell me more about himself which was a good thing. 

“Ano, Shinri-gaku. Atama wa omoshiroi.” I chuckled nervously again, I knew what he took so psychology may not have been interesting to him. Glancing over at him again briefly, the crowded streets did not allow for eye contact while walking like they did in Canada. “What was yours? You did say you were once a student? Graduated?” I had hoped the succession of question would not give away that I knew what he took and when he graduated.

Those beautiful lips parted in an ‘Aa,’ one of slight surprise. 

“Etto, architecture.” He said it slowly, almost not knowing which English syllable went where. He pointed up to the skyscrapers around us. “Buildings.” I had assured him that architecture was the correct word to use. “Ni sen juu san nen. Finish.” He directed us to take a left, a small restaurant was looking familiar. 

Following, I took that left and looked back over my shoulder as that turn made him fall behind a couple of steps. 

“You graduated in 2013? That’s so exciting!” I slowed for him to catch up again. Not knowing where I was going, it seemed weird that I was in the lead. “Is it rude to ask how old you were when you finished?” The Japanese were very personal people, but I also knew it was very difficult to tell how old they were given how well they aged. Not to mention an idol who had access to beauty products that seemed to stop their aging process, making them seem much younger than they really were. 

A casual conversation with a foreign stranger, it did not seem to bother him that I had asked such a personal question, or perhaps it was because he knew he was not all that old. 

“Ni juu sai deshita.” He gave a small smile, it was obvious he knew what my reaction was going to be.

Doing the quick calculations in my head, I had to stop walking.

“You’re my age?!” I shouted out accidentally. “You look 23 now.” I said, hoping it would be a compliment. It was exactly the reaction he was expecting and I gave it to him. “Now I feel old telling you I’m in Meiji.” It was a genuine pout, I was always self-conscious about being an older student in university. 

We took another turn, this time to the right across a street. I saw the building a few blocks down the road that if remembered correctly, was only a couple of building over from the apartment that I was assigned. Offering a hand for a high-five, which I found odd, my Canadian brain subconscious hit that hand. Almost as soon as our hands hit, with furrowed brows I looked to him. 

“Why did we high-five?” A genuine question, I had no idea why he wanted a celebratory gesture. 

“Older it not, you are going.” That beautiful smile I loved so much was directed at me, something I never thought would happen in a million years. “Be proud of yourself.” I was always told to do so, but it was hard being surrounded by younger students at all times. Yet this one person actually made me feel proud to be a student even if I was older than the majority. It got a smile out of me as well, I could not even respond, there was no way to respond. A smile was all I had to offer.

It was not long after that where we finally had reached my dorm again, it was much closer than I thought but would never have found it without this surprise meeting of an unexpected person. 

“Saa, Inoo sama —“ I bowed respectfully after turning to him. “Hontou Arigatou onegaishimashita.” It was ni like that I was very thankful to him for taking time out of his day to help me, especially when he could have just told me where to go. 

Waving it off, he gave a quick smile before pulling out his cell phone.

“Iie Andi chan.” Oh no, he was very informal. “If you ever would like a tour of any of the buildings, call me.” He was giving me his number?! ‘Maybe, on break or shuumatsu. I introduce you to tomodatchi?” His friends? Meaning the rest of the group? Yeah, this had to be a dream.

“Tomodatchi? Ano, Hey! Say!... Mo nani wa?” I knew it was what he meant, but why? I was a stranger that just happened to go to the same school he did, hundreds of thousands have done the same since he had graduated. 

“JUMP. Hey! Say! JUMP.” He finished. “Omoshirokatta desu. Sorera ga suki naru.” 

“Onegaishimasu.” I pulled out and handed him my phone, taking his as we added ourselves to the others phone. With the number I gave him he sent a quick ‘hello’ mail just to make sure it was correct. I had no other number in my phone since I had just picked it up at the airport. “Saa, jaa matta, Inoo sama?” I had no real clue if I would see him again, but this exchange of numbers was almost a foolproof way of saying yes, I will see him again. 

He nodded, tucking his phone away again. 

“Yes.” That strong Japanese accent made it cute with the exaggerated English he gave. “Gambare de.” He waved off, looking at his wrist again before darting down the street. 

Dumbstruck, I was in a trance as I returned to my dormitory room. Upon arrival I had locked the door and collapsed on the twin sized bed heavily. I wasn’t breathing, did not know for how long, once I did I sat up quickly. Reaching for my Canadian phone and looking at the background, making sure it was who I had just talked with, it was. 

“WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!”