Chapter 1:Fresh Awakening
Nothing more relaxing than waking up to a nice morning breeze.
My face dampens in the morning mist .I get up to see the ember sun in the sky.
Everywhere, I hear people laughing or I see people smiling.My point is that mornings in Japan are amazing.My Father had told me an important quote.
'There is no elevator in life,you must always take the stairs if you want to succeed.'I will remember that.Didn't know what an elevator was though.
There has been a problem.
I went down the wooden stairs and my Dad wasn't there,it has been a while since he has been gone.
"Hello?Where are you?"Pondering around,I searched for him.
He was not in his bedroom.Or in the kitchen making food or even greeting the crowd.Perhaps he had already done those things.People shouted in joy as I took one step after another onto the ground.
"Why here?Out of all places,my house they visit."I gulped in despair.
I hate tight spaces and I hate people.Being alone most of the time is just better.People are either a bad person or just an idiot.
Except for my family of course.There's nothing terrible about us.Elite Royals.That's us,that's me.
I saw a man put some chocolate cake on the table.I've never had one before because the French are some greedy people.
We could now get our hands on their chocolate but the French had always claimed they invented it even though it was the olmecs about a century ago.
In the distance,I saw someone friendly.Finally,a trustworthy man who didn't look mental or drunk could be seen in sight. He was quite short.Wore glasses and had dark coily hair.
"Excuse me,sorry for bothering you,but do you happen to know where my Father is?"The man turned to my direction,
"You mean...Kurisu Korinzu?"
"Yes,I'm looking for him.All of the sudden,he had disappeared.I mean,I looked all over my house and-"
"Sorry,I haven't seen him today."The man replied.How rude.He didn't even let me finish my sentence.
I guess in this world trust is just an illusion to get to know other souls,if you're the only real one.
That was…weird to say.
"Ok thank you for your help."I muttered with a frown.Where in the world could my Father possibly be?
On my right,there was a red dragon costume.Somebody was in it.It's quite impressive actually.These places have lanterns,vivid colours,mascots and amazing food.
Festivals I think it was called?Or a carnival perhaps?I wasn't too sure.
Father used to take me to these sorts of places when I was about five years old.Yet,it happens to be that one is just outside of my house.
Walking away swiftly,I saw a man in a similar hat my father was wearing on the rooftops,something was odd about him.But was it really Father?
There was only one way to find out,which was to see who it was.I rushed back in my house and went through the Attic.A tiny window could be seen.The window lead to the rooftops,where the man was standing.
Not my Father.But a homeless man.A dirty,smelly homeless man.
From what I could tell,he was about to jump off the building
"Hello,what are you doing up here?"
"STAY BACK AND LET ME DIE IN PEACE!"He started to get closer to the edge of the building.I heard the man crying softly.
"Pardon me but what's your name?"
"I'm Kibo...What does that have to do with me jumping off your house?"
"I'm sorry to bother you but whatever you're thinking,it sounds awful and I suggest you not to jump off."
Tears ran down his face.I felt his pain somehow.Kibo covered his face up.He took a quick glance at me and jumped off.
"WAIT,NO!"I screamed in horror.My heart started to get faster.I ran towards the edge to see what happened.
No blood,no death.
Everything was good.
Fortunately,my dad was there to save him just on time before attempted…death.
I went back downstairs into the alleyway to greet Father.
"That was close!"Father said in relief.Kibo was unconscious.Just as we came out of the alley,people rushed towards us,from left and right to see Tokyo's saviour.
"Are you ok?"I said to Kibo.He stayed quiet.
"Excuse me sir,sir?Wake up at this instant!"
My dad snapped his fingers and Kibo woke up.He gasped for air and looked at us with a concerned expression.
"What?I am still alive?Why has this happened to me?I SHOULD BE FLAT ON THE GROUND AND DEAD!"
Kibo crossed his arms and tried not to make eye contact.
"Don't worry."My dad put on a smile."We'll get you a residence as soon as possible,in the meantime,there are loads of materials at the factory down the road.I'm sure they can help you with-"
"NO!"Kibo looked at us,as if he was mental.
"I need to die,I HAVE TO DIE!DEATH WILL PLEASE ME.DEATH IS PLEASURE AND KILLS ALL SUFFERING."He got up and twitched his eye at us, then ran away.
"WAIT!"Kurisu shouted,but the man kept on ranting,
"DEATH,DEATH IS FUN.DEATH,DEATH."That was strange.My dad turned to the crowd.
"Can…can somebody chase after him?I don't want that man to get hit by a carriage or attempt to murder himself again."Kurisu asked.Someone then started to chase after the homeless man.
Well…I suppose our problem is solved..."
"Come on Irai,I want you to come with me."
We left the town to venture towards the Genshi palace on our horses shortly after the incident.As we arrived,it started to rain.I stepped onto the concrete floor to see paintings of the previous leaders on the walls.A green carpet led the way to the next room.
"Follow me."Father said.We walked down the hall.
I could see parallel lanterns on each side of the hallway.There weren't many windows but paintings,covering where the windows were supposed to be.
Father opened a gigantic wooden door which led to the training room.
There were dummies,bow and arrows,places to exercise and some scrap for the woods.
"So this is where you fought?"
"Yes my son.And you will too,"He took out a wooden board and faced it towards me.
"Kick it."
"Oh..alright."
We both took a step back as I prepared myself.I ran towards the board and kicked it.But nothing broke.All that changed was my foot turning red.
"Try again."This went on for 5 minutes.
Now my feet were blood red.
It had the same effect of walking barefoot for a while.I panted hard,gasping for air.
To be honest,it was looking as if my feet were beginning to swell.
"Come over here."We were in the dummy section.
"What do I do now?"
"This dummy is like a punching bag,hit its head and it will hit yours.I want you to practise your reflexes.In the meantime,I will make some dumplings."
He then left the room for the kitchen.Surely punching a dummy and dodging it cannot be that hard.Right?With all my might,I punched the dummy.But Father was right.The dummy hit my head back hard.
"OUCH."It left a massive red mark on my face.I could never give up early.Father came back shortly after.
"You are free to eat after the training montage."I practised swimming,races and much more.It was exhausting,yet I kept going.
At the end of the day,sunset arrived.The two of us sat down on the couch.
"Eat.You deserve it."The fresh smell of dumplings infiltrated my nose.My mouth began to drool.I picked up a pair of chopsticks and grabbed one.Suddenly,Father snatched one from me.
"I said you can eat."
"But you just took it!"
"That's the whole point."I knew what he was doing.
Father was testing my reflexes again.Alright fine,challenge accepted.My hands moved swiftly left and right.
He just kept snatching and snatching more dumplings.I had to become faster.In a blink of an eye,all the dumplings were gone.
"I'm noting that you need to improve your speed,"I frowned.
"No no.Take them.No more games.You are really free to eat."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes,yes I am sure."
I carefully took a dumpling and shoved it into my mouth.It felt good to eat since I haven't eaten all day.The dumpling felt like a donut with no jam.I shoved 2 more in my mouth and stood up from the couch.
"Save the rest for later.Let's go have some lunch."I nodded. The two of us left the Palace to go outside.
When we got near our house,I saw a convenience store that must have sold some sushi.We went in and ordered our lunch.
"I'm going to wait outside."I said,leaving the building.Outside,the Festival was still going on and the chocolate cake.People smiled everywhere I looked,with cheers of laughter and a rose like scent.
But I noticed something in the corner of my eye,a shadowy figure, lurking in the darkness of an alleyway.
I approached the alleyway,sliding through the brick walls.As I went deeper and deeper,it got darker and more slender.
Finally I reached the other side,to my surprise,nothing was there.Wait,maybe I was hallucinating,or perhaps I scared the person off.
All there was were some rubbish bins and racoons.I mean,it looked like a person,but what if,just what if that thing I saw in this dark creepy alleyway…wasn't human…
Human or Navajo?