Since this is the writing area, I guess I could put this up.
Note: This is only a rough draft written by a 16 year old, so remember that when the critics inside you take over. That said, I begin.
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As a graduate of Echelon’s Military Institute, I had an obligation to my government to fulfill. I had promised that once I graduated, I would become and officer in the Japanese Infantry. As a graduation gift, I was given a wachishi from my school and a katana from my family. I was soon to get the last piece which would be armor from my military branch since my family was not the nobles of war, but of trade.
I had two months leave before I was to be introduced to my platoon. I planed on spending this two months at my palace in southwest Japan with my family. Letter had told me of the wonderful blooming of the peach and apple orchards. I missed my home.
I got an envelope with two-hundred Wong and I wondered if the train to Mahogani would be in time for lunch. I sat for a while but I never had patience for idleness, so before long, I was pacing back and forth. It was when the sun was setting over the horizon that the train could be heard over the distance. Other passenger and I stared at an object bellowing smoke, and soon it became a clear, less distorted picture. We boarded as soon as the train slowly stop to a halt and then we were allowed.
I pulled out my card and showed it to the conductor when he asked for it. He saw me dressed in fine silk, ivory sandals and a silver ring with sapphire and showed me to a better place: Platinum class of the train. I tipped him handsomely by the way he was tripping over himself in thanks. We knew I was not supposed to be there and he made sure nobody else knew as well.
When I noticed I was alone, I unhooked the katana and wachishi from my belt and put them on the table in front of me. I had taken the katana and unsheathed it. It gleamed under the candle light as if it was liquid. It had inscribed on it, “For my Long Lost Son.” I swung it around a few times just to heard it whistle in the air. I sheathe it and re-clipped it to my belt.
The wachishi on the other hand was a gift from EMI for passing it four year program fused with leadership training and academic studies and one year completely dedicated to leadership and combat. I pulled it out and read its inscription again, “The ancient and the modern ways guide this warrior.”
My school was a fusion, and it was the first of its kind. EMI was founded by a German named Jo Han von Siken. In his military career in the German Army, he was the equalviant of a Lieutenant Colonel.. He was against following a criminal kaiser as soon as he realized that these were innocent Japanese, Indonesians, and Filipinos he was killing for worthless islands. Therefore when he sought asylum, Japan granted it to him and gave him control of a military school to teach us his morals.
He believed that the way of the sword was over. He believe the gunpowder is going to be the Future, but the emperor, advised by his teacher said to uphold the ancient traditions. He reduced the funding on the program, but that was about it. It stayed the same. As usually, the military schools of secondary learning were from nobles and those who had gotten on the emperor’s good side, but those were few and far between.
The ride was well enough, platinum class had more then I was accustomed to, but I ate to convince the un-learned cook that his food was fit for the emperor. I grinned to myself, not because anyone thing pleased me, but the sum of the parts mixed together just right, as it was like ecstacy.
Our first stop was in a small town named City of the Orchard known for their apple trees in the spring. I got up and walked outside to stretch out. The train needed more coal which would take around an hour to an hour and a half, which gave me plenty of time to see its landscape. I got a small cup of tea and walked outside.
Since the train ride had ended near dawn, the crisp, cold air stung like a punch to the kidneys. I noticed people staring at me, especially the kids who had tree branches and ready to spar with someone. The attention made me feel strange. In my neighborhood, I was the poorest of the noble type, not because we did not have the money, but because my parents came from the middle class and they still worked. I increased my step so that I could get away from the attention that came with the flashy clothing.
The marketplace gave less attention , because my classmates had already wowed them with the size of their pocket books. I threw away my tea and looked for a breakfast place. They had good food which surprised me, the train could use cooks like this. I ordered hot apple tea and three cinnamon rice cakes. I drank it all and ordered another to go. I sipped on this one more slowly and wiped my mouth as I headed for the train station. The sundial in the middle of the market told me I had half an hour to an hour before the train left. I took the same route when I was heading back when someone got my attention.
That someone was Higura Otomgiru, a fellow EMI graduate who had tried to bully me. He was a big person who decided to go the route of Infantry Police, so the academy gave him a large Magnum that held eight bullets. With the gun that he was given the power to protect and serve, he used to aimed at a man with a broom stick asking for a night in bed with his daughter. The man had too much honor to knowingly allow that, and when he saw me coming over, his heart newly skipped a beat.
“Who are you looking....” He started when he saw me coming. “How, hi Kenji what a nice surprise.”
“Leave my family alone, all we want is to live in peace.”
“And you shall after this, all I ask is your daughter.”
“Never!”
“Then I am sorry.” Higura said as he pulled back the hammer.
“I can let you do this.” I interjected.
“Watch me.” He pulled the trigger as my hand grabbed the revolver which stopped it before the round could be shot.
“I will not let you do this.” I repeated myself with a bigger firmer voice.
He aimed a punch at my chest which made me let go of the gun.
“Now what samurai.” He said as he aimed the gun at my head. My palms got sweaty.
“This one not included in your close combat course.”
My hand jerked towards that magnum as my head twisted the other way. I felt the air burn around the right side of my face as I lifted the gun up in the air. I elbowed him in the armpit and watched his dominant arm go limp. He threw a clumsy punch with his left as my face saw his shock. Using the momentum of the punch, I grabbed his arm and jumped into the air. I used him a cushion as I landed and I knocked all the air out of him. He passed out.
“That was a fundamental disarm move.”
“Thank you, kind sir, may I, if you please, know your name.?” The man asked me.
“It was not a problem, sir. My name is Kenji Notchigumi.”
“I recognized that name.... But I am not sure from where?”
“We took over the Asian division of the Kolby Fishing Corporation, and we started our own little hotel and getaway resorts both on and off the nation of Japan, among other things.”
“That to, but there is more, but it doesn’t....”
“Just out of curiosity, who was the girl that he was going to defile.”
“Yes, I would assume that you would want to know. Kagome! Kagome! Come out it is safe, a man wants to greet you.”
The young lady ran out and I saw her. The silky black hair was cut to her shoulders, her common dress was patched heavily around the knees. Part of her face was smudged with soot and the other part was wet. Her arms and legs where thin but not bony. Exactly how a princess should look like.
She flashed a smile at me with near white teeth, though this was a smile commonly given to a stranger, I desired to hope for more.
“Kagome, this is Sir Kenji Notchigumi, he fought of this man who was holding a gun to my head.”
She winced at the thought of the statement and thought of what to do. I looked at my classmate/traitor thinking of what I should do with him. A noble like him can not be judge by common law if prosecuted but commoners, only by one of his peers, another noble.
I was surprised by the caress of her lips upon my check. My surprise stayed away from my face and I bowed. Both of them bowed back and Kagome left. I continued my walk toward the train station, eating my last rice cake.
I entered the train and the ride continued as I rubbed my check. The idea that it slipped through my senses and that she surprised me had me more confused then why she did not pick some flowers for me. Still something about her lingered on my mind. I fell asleep to her still on my mind, she was tending to her father’s business.
She was probably an only child, which would explain why the old man was defenseless for so long. So why didn’t he know how to defend himself. The more I thought about, the shorter time took to pass.
The train stopped at my hometown. I got out and looked at the warm day. The poor man’s taxi service had people running carrying other people wherever they need to be. I however picked up my one suitcase and walked to the waiting room. In there was my mother.
“Kenji,” she said in a low, ecstatic voice.
“Mother.” We quickly walked to each other and I crouched to hug my mother. She called to a servant and he picked up my bags. She led to the my carriage as she asked me questions about my schooling and when I plan to get out of the Infantry and let my dad retire.
“I want to travel the world, and dad likes his jobs, and I know you like the resorts.”
I looked out at gradient from poor to rich. I waited, for who I did not know. I had know that I was destined to be marriaged at the age of nineteen, EMI rearranged that to age twenty. The knot in my stomach would not let the butterflies out of my stomach.
I stepped out of my carriage and walked to my room. She was waiting for me, and I would not waste anymore time then I needed to, but I need to make the best impression I could. I looked in my room for my new shiny armor. It was there along with the over-robe from EMI. I called in a servant to help put in on. The dark green armor had a red circle with a white outline. I slung katana over my back and holstered the sling and whikicha on my armor belt. I took a deep breath and walked outside. I stopped as quickly as I had a good view of the meeting ground. No one was there, which had surprised me.
“Dear, I am sorry, but I am afraid that their train will be arriving a little late. I would assume that you are hungry. Come, eat some off the appetizer that we had prepared for your dual feast.”
My stomach spoke before I understood what was said, and I was lead by my mother to my the kitchen where I eat same sushi soaked in teriyaki sauce. I had eaten two when a servant ran in and told me she had arrived. I shallowed my last bite, wiped my mouth and when to the courtyard where we met sixteen years earlier.
I stood on elevated ground as I heard the floor stop rumbling. I looked in that direction, trying for my most calm pose, as I was sure she was trying. From inside a building, came Kagome. It could not be. The woman who I stop Higura from abusing would be my future wife. I noticed shock on her face as I knew she would recognize me soon enough.
A man and his son walked out after him, though I did not recognize them, that man was definitely not the one from before.
The young man, seeing the girl’s shock, went over to her. They exchange words as I went to my family.
“That was the woman I saved early on in the train ride.”
My mother and my father looked at each other, speaking in glances that I could not interpret. My dad went over to the other man and spoke to him. He came back and spoke to me for the first time in five years.
“She is still your wife-to-be, accept he and make my joy even more for-filled.”
The older man left Kagome and she started walking toward me. We meet in the middle and I nodded my head as she bowed. I offer my arm and she took it as we walked inside.
She kept her head down as I had questions I desired to ask her, but it would have to be in due time. Now was a fesitival, for my friend would need to see us happy.
“I never got your name.” Shyly spoken from the lady on my right.
“You did.”
“But, not from you.”
“My name is Kenji Notchigumi.”
“Mine is Kagome....”
Disturbed was I when I heard her not add my last name, and I became displeased with her, my queen. She looked at me and I at her, she was slightly frightened, which softened me. She was almost raped and I come and save her. Seems almost like a plot. I stopped and faced her, which made her freeze.
“What is making you so nervous?”
“Why is it that you, a rich noble like yourself would marry me, an unlucky?”
I thought about my reponse. It would be easy to shut her down by saying my family never knew we would get rich and influential. That would make this marriage start of horribly. I like the way she looked when she dressed up, and I did not want to throw it away.
“I was not always rich.”
I offered my arm, she took it a little more confused then before. I whispered to her before we enter the banquet hall to please act if not be happy. She listened, like I expected her to.
At the end of my celebration, I asked her if she wanted to walk with me. She nodded and got up slowly following me. We walk in the apple trail, she asked questions that made me wonder myself what where my parents thinking.
“How did you get so rich?”
“I had been wondering myself.”
She was not satifisted, it seemed she want to learn how to be rich, walk, act and talk like the rich. Personally, I had not mastered that yet, that would be my first secret. I guide her towards town, to get her a gift, the first thing she stared at would be bought, no matter how much of a setback it would be.
The sun was high in the sky which made the fifteen minute walk unpleasant. The nobles in their carriages stopped and stared, making Kagome and I uncomfortable Whispers all around us mad me mad. This persons who I had looked up to when I was young made me hate being rich, yet I would not give up my luxuaries. The market was better, but not by much. She keep her mouth locked shut which made my arm burn. This woman was confusing.
“What do you like?”
She looked around, but keep quiet, like a servant would.
“Please speak.” I said softly
She looked up at me, eyes broken and told me without saying a word.
We turned around and walk home.
Home had quieted down a little, but I had wondered what to do when I met my mom. I found sitting in the southern garden. She noticed me out of the corner of her eye. She faced me and offered me a seat.
“How is your new bride?”
“Complicated.” She let out a small laugh.
“How so?”
“If I knew, I would ask her about it.”
She was silent, thinking. I was looking up into the stars and at the crescent moon. I looked down at her to find her smiling.
“If we would have known our business venture would end up like this,” she motioned to her palace. “I would have let you find your own bride.”
“So what should I do?”
“Think for yourself, I can’t give you all the answers in life.” She yawned. “I going to sleep, good night.”
I was left alone.
The morning after, I found myself with my wife in bed. She stirred a little as I go up. I went to the hot spring to shower but mostly to wake up. I lay on the warm rock, looking up the skylight. I grimaced as I hit my toe on a rock. After a while of reminiscing, I got up and walked outside to meet my brother-in-law. He was in a bathrobe.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He said nicer then I expected.
“Hope you had a good sleep.”
“Yes.”
With that, I let him pass as I walked to my room. I realized she was in the room, lying on the bed with her eyes open. She saw me and apologize.
“No, its okay.”
“Wouldn’t it be awkward for you if I stayed here.”
“I went to an all-male school, I don’t care much anymore who is in the room.”
She smiled, but she looked the other way as I got into my house clothes. I sat down on the bed with her.
“What disgust you some much about me?”
She looked up at me, those pearl black eyes acting like a lock to the only treasure I want. This lasted for a good twenty seconds, then she answered.
“If I knew, I would tell you, but there is just something about you that I am unsure about.”
That hurt more then I knew it should. I stood up and looked out the window. I looked at my feet and then walked out the room, holding in tears for a woman I had not known more then a day.
The clash of steel eased my mind. My sparring partners were my palace’s guard trainees. I blocked a swipe to the head and kicked him in the gut. I saw a guard running at me through the reflection in the blade of my katana. I leap forward and saw my opponent slashing downward. I sidestepped and elbowed him in the chest. I flipped over his leaped into a flip before the other two could converge on my positions. I held my saber in a downward defensive position. Both rushed at the same time. I blocked one and was hit in the side. It went in two inches before it was pulled out making my new assembled crowd wince and hiss. Both of them bowed and I bowed in pain.
My mom rushed to me as I grabbed the side. “Are you okay?”
I removed my hand as my clothes were covered in blood. “It could of been worse, it might of not hit my side.”
My mom grimaced at the idea but dad left. My lady was still sitting down, slightly distrubed. The father and his son sat showing a little remorse for something they had not done. I sat down and they crowded around me. My dad came to me with my family physician who came with a mobile surgery kit. I was helped to me bed as the physician kept everyone out as he sowed me up.
“Now stay off your feet and you should be ready for when you go into the war. Outside of this current situation ... welcome back,” with that, he left the room. I stayed laid down as my wife walked in. I closed my eyes as she sat on the bed next to me. She removed the cloth to see the injury.
“It’s not much.”
She looked at me. “Why did you fight with a real blade?”
I smirked and answered. “So I could train with the danger of dying, so I could train for war.”
She slowly shook her head. She caressed my head and did not feel the pain in my side anymore.
“Don’t die out there, we still have things to talk about.”
I nodded and she kissed my head.
Dinner was in bed, yakisoba with tonkatsu. The servants brought some gyokuro and two cups. I thanked them and propped myself up on my bed and starting eating. I wrapped some noodles with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth. I chewed thinking about how fast my life has changed. I graduated from EMI and got married. I have already chosen my profession, war and death, hopefully not mine.
She entered, probably for the third time this half hour. I smiled as she checked my scar.
“It has been a week since he sowed it up. It has healed so why am I still here?”
She checked it again. “It only superficially healed, don’t be stupid.”
I laughed, she did have a knack for the brutal truth. This was not my battle to win, EMI thought me that, yet rational is telling me different. I looked at her hair and remembered the first time I saw her. Soot all over her face, but her hair was perfection. She noticed my focus-less stare and laugh nervously and asked what I was looking at. I took a sip of gyokuro and willingly forgot.
“Not sure.”
I offered her some tonkatsu with teriyaki sauces. She shook her head, she had already eaten. She wiped my chin with her sleeve and I felt like a child again. She smiled a curious smile, as if someone told a joke that nobody got. I asked her for help in getting up. She said no, if I wanted to get up, I should be well enough to get up. Of course she was more selective with her words so it would not sound so harsh, but I got the message nevertheless. She got up and I move toward my strong side. I rolled out of my bed and landed on my knees. I stood on my right leg first and then, grabbing the bedpost, I stood up.
“Anything else you want me to do, jump through fire, swim to China? Or would you like some roses and a new dress.”
She let me use her as a crutch to walk to the courtyard. The sun was high in the sky, but the breeze made the warm air cool, making a day of observing the trees prefect. We looked at the apple blossoms playing in the wind. After a while, I found her head resting on my shoulder. She was dosing off and I did not want her to fall asleep out here. I could not carry her to bed, but she looked so sweet in her white silk with red lace dress. So when I was sure she fell asleep, I laid her head down and half-limped to the bedroom. I carried a blanket and a pillow. Tripping only twice, I got to her safely. I put the pillow under her head and wrapped the blanket it around her. It was then that I noticed her porcelain beauty.
I sat guard next to her, stoking her face. After five minutes I noticed her head on my leg, as she looked up at me. This would be one of the things I would miss this the most in the week to come.
It finally healed, just in time for me to ride to Fort Protection for my assignment to my platoon and my Leadership TAC. I got dressed in armor, sheathed my swords and prepared my horse. Our professors had told us of this day. The day we would leave for the first time would be the hardest of course, I figured since I had already left home once before
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Dec 06, 2004 @ 02:01:50
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