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 Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:29 pm
Before I actually start posting my work, I'd like to say some things.
I would LOVE harsh critisism, as well as contstructive. I don't think my family and friends are telling the truth when they tell me this is good. They might just be trying to not hurt my feelings. So be as harsh as you like! Note though, that I have 18 chapters already written; so if I need to change anything, I might have a hard time. Although I will do my best.
So basically, this work is a novel I want to publish someday. My second work really; but the first one sucked (I knew that much) and I stopped working on that one. My goal is to finish this; but like I said, I would like some feedback.
Also, my chapters tend to get long; so depending on the length (even with the small font) I may have to post the chapter in seperate posts. I'll label them though.
Enjoy!
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:36 pm
Prologue “But sir! I do not want to!” Crimson eyes looked imploringly at the throne in front of them.
Fire spewed around the group in the throne room.
“Your predecessor failed in his attempt. We have waited twenty years for you to be ready. You cannot deny your destiny. You are a Chosen One.”
“But- but sir…your majesty-”
“Enough!” The shadowed figure on the throne pointed toward the portal.
“It is time for you to go. Make us proud Engelisa.”
The crimson eyes lowered, and then turned to the portal.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:40 pm
Chapter 1- Katsuya Date: September 2, 2045
Place: Tokyo, Japan
I was having a peaceful dream. I was flying across the sky with a beautiful girl. Suddenly, a thunderstorm came up. The girl transformed. Her eyes turned red and her black hair became short.
“Katsuya! Hurry up!” She flew off into the distance.
I tried to fly after her, but I could not keep up. I started falling to the Earth.
THUD! I woke up on the floor in my room.
“Ow.” I untangled myself from my bed sheets. Only then did I realize that the thunder in my dreams was the pounding at my door. The voice of the beautiful girl was actually the voice of my ugly sister.
“Katsuya Takahashi! You had better hurry up. We’re going to be late for the parade!” More pounding.
I got up and placed the sheets back on the bed. “What parade?” I called as I gathered clothes off the floor. I just grabbed whatever. Maybe they would match, maybe they would not.
“You forgot?! It’s the parade! The parade everyone everywhere is looking forward to! It’s World Peace Day!”
I smacked myself in the head. I was so stupid. World Peace Day was my favorite holiday. “That’s right! I can’t believe I forgot!”
“Well hurry up! I don’t want to be late!”
“If I am not out in 10, leave without me.”
“You bet I will!” Her footsteps stormed down the hall.
I shook my head. Katsumi worried a lot. She had been taking care of me ever since our parents died two years ago. She was eligible then, as she was 18. I am considered an adult now, so I did not have to have her as a guardian anymore; but it was still on my school card that I had a guardian. I cannot wait to go to college to where I am in charge of my own life. Of course, sometimes both of our lives were run by our two friends Kenji and Megumi. I blew some of my black hair out of my eyes.
I better hurry or else I will miss the parade.
I looked in the mirror. My blue eyes shone, my hair a mess. I had even managed to pick out matching clothes. I looked at the clock.
“Holy Crap!” It was almost time for the parade. I bolted out the door and onto the street, hopping as I put my shoes on. Katsumi had already left, so I had to walk to the parade line by myself.
I hope I can find Katsumi.
The streets were crowded as people from all over the world were heading to the parade and fair. Everyone always looked forward to the yearly World Peace Day Parade and Fair. Twenty years ago, the world leaders agreed on World Peace. The world leaders chose this date to celebrate not only world peace, but to remember that World War II had ended on this day one hundred years ago. Up ahead, I could hear the sounds of the fair. Silently, I hoped that after this fair, the year would continue to be great and war free.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:42 pm
Chapter 2- Engelisa The portal dropped me in a thick group of trees. My crimson eyes looked right and left. People passing by my hiding spot were laughing and having a good time.
Why is everyone happy? His majesty made it seem that humans were undeserving of living…oh…wait. Maybe that is why humans are undeserving.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on my wings. My black, leathery wings. My pride, yet my sorrow. My wings made me stand out among my people, the demons. Because of my wings, my destiny was set. My destiny, to be a killer of life. I opened my eyes as my wings disappeared. I stepped into the light. No one seemed to notice my appearance. I was able to blend in. I no longer looked like a demon, unless my black hair was moved. My hair was cut short enough to hide my pointed ears. The only thing that separated me from the humans was my staff. It was two inches taller than my 5’ 5”, black with a red globe on top. I considered putting my staff away, but decided not to. It was a symbol of who I was. The staff was given to all Chosen Ones. It was a Chosen One’s main weapon of evil. Since I was the Chosen One, the staff was bequeathed to me.
I ran a hand through my hair. It was going to be a scorcher today in human terms. In demon terms, today was a cool day, so I had on a heavy black jacket. I followed the crowd, observing everything around me. I hoped to find out why everyone was celebrating. I mean, if I was to accomplish my mission, I had to find out what was causing these ‘pathetic humans’ to be happy so I could crush them.
I stopped and shook my head. So I was lying to myself. I was not going to do my mission. Why should I kill others just because my people hate humans? I guess I have always been the black sheep of my people. I continued walking with the crowd, which soon led me to a fair. A huge banner spread between two lampposts reading “Happy World Peace Day!”
No wonder everyone is happy. There is no war, no havoc, no destruction. I would say my predecessor failed in his attempt twenty years ago.
All around me were festivities. I saw games and rides with long lines. There was a roped off area that people were lining up at. I avoided all of this. I did not need to mingle. If worst comes to worst, I would have to destroy everything here. I did not want to make friends just to kill them. Of course, the only success the Chosen Ones had was the destruction of the dinosaurs. The meteor was made by a Chosen One.
I hurried away from the humans and the celebration. It was many blocks before I could be away from the crowds. I sat down on a bench to think. I mean, what was I to do? Destroy the Earth, or hide for all eternity?
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:30 pm
Chapter 3- Katsuya I hurried along the mob lined up at the parade route, pushing people right and left.
Where is Katsumi?
I kept going, and then stopped short. Ahead of me, away from the crowds, was the girl from my dream that morning. She looked exactly like her, from her short black hair, to her red eyes, to the clothes she wore. She walked past me, away from the fair, as I stood gaping at her. I was so deep in thought that the outside world seemed to disappear, the cheers, the music, everything; but the girl walking away from me.
“KATSUYA!”
I jumped several feet in the air. I glared at Katsumi who now stood beside me in a blue kimono, to accent her eyes. “What did you do that for?”
Katsumi returned my glare hands on her hips. “I’ve been calling you and you didn’t hear me.”
“Sorry sis. I was too busy looking at-” I looked back at the way the girl had gone; but she had disappeared. Where could she have gone? Why was she here? I thought she had been a figment of my imagination.
“Never mind what you were looking at! The parade is getting ready to start!” Katsumi dragged me to the parade line, once again pushing through people.
“But Katsumi! You don’t understand! Last night, I dreamt I was flying, a girl at my side. I just saw the same girl a few moments ago!”
“Maybe you remember her from one of your classes.”
I shook my head. “I’ve never seen her before. It was as if she came out of my dream. She looked EXACTLY like her.”
“Maybe you knew her in a past life.”
I sighed. It was no use arguing with Katsumi. She just wouldn’t understand. I did wonder though how I had dreamt of a girl I had never met before.
“Maybe you’ll marry her one day,” suggested Katsumi.
I groaned. Why is my sister coming up with these stupid suggestions?. “I’ve never-”
“Sssh! It’s getting ready to start!” Katsumi clapped her hands and jumped up and down, acting like a little kid, ignoring the black hair that way flying all over the place due to the wind
“But-” I was drowned out as the bands started to play. A cheer rose up from the crowd. Japan’s World Peace Day Parade was voted the best in the world. I mean, sure, other countries would do parades similar to ours; but who else goes out of their way to get entertainment from every country?
I admit it. As soon as the parade started, the girl left my thoughts.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:50 pm
Chapter 4- Engelisa I lifted my head as I heard cheers from the roped off area, as well as bands and singing.
Something big must be happening.
I stood up and grabbed my staff. It wouldn’t hurt if I observed what was going on, as long as I was out of reach of everybody. I backed into the shadows. Once I was out of view of prying eyes, my wings appeared. There were slots in my jacket made just for my wings. I was wearing a muscle shirt underneath, so that wouldn’t be ruined. Calling on my staff’s power, I cloaked myself and launched into the air. I made my way toward the festivities, dodging the cars flying through the air. Louder and louder the noise became and I saw the ruckus was for a parade. I landed on top of a building and dropped my cloak as my wings disappeared.
“Now would be a good time to wreak havoc on these inferior beings.”
I did not have to turn around to know that it was his majesty’s top soldier Alegas behind me. “Right now I am observing.”
Alegas snorted. “Yeah right. You said to the king, in front of us all, that you didn’t want to do this.”
Ah yes. The shadowed figure that sent me here. I forgot he had an audience. Better bluff my way through.
“An earlier Chosen One observed before he created war in the 1930’s. Why can I not do the same?”
“You’re lying.”
“Am not.”
“You expect me to believe you had a change of heart? I’ve known you too long. You will never do this mission. I had to tell His Majesty that. He is pretty upset. We sent you here today so you can start your mission on the pathetic humans’ most sacred holiday.”
“So basically you are a messenger warning me.” I turned to look at Alegas, who nodded. “Well thanks; but tell His Majesty that it will take some time before I can convince every leader to go to war. Rome wasn’t built in a day you know.”
Alegas sighed and shook his head. “His Majesty will not like that.”
“I know, but it will have to do. This process cannot be rushed. Maybe by this time next year, all countries will be at war.”
Alegas could tell I was lying through my teeth. “Listen. You know how His Majesty loses his patience easily. If you do not start soon, he will send soldiers after you. He will send me to kill you. I do not want to do that.”
“Your loyalty is to the king. The king always comes first.” I did not bother saying the rest; but Alegas did anyways.
“Orders come before friendship. If it hadn’t been for His Majesty’s orders, I would have gone in search for Nina.”
Nina, or Kenina, was our friend. She disappeared five years ago, at age 18, just when I had started my training. Alegas wanted to search for Kenina himself, since he dated Kenina; but Alegas was ordered by the king to continue my training.
“Al, you had to listen to-”
“Stop. I have already wasted enough time here. I gave you your warning. You have better heed it.” Alegas pointed to the sky. “His Majesty gives you one month and then you better watch your back.” Lightning shot from Alegas’s finger into the clouds up above. The clouds darkened and it started to rain. Yells came from down below. “Ah, sweet music.” Alegas laughed and disappeared.
I sighed and pointed my staff to the sky. The rain and clouds disappeared; but to show no hard feelings to those below, I added a rainbow, and then braced myself. Pain shot through me. I was not supposed to use the staff for good. I could still hear Canesai’s voice in my head from five years ago. Canesai had been my main mentor.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“You must never use that staff for good.” Canesai’s aged face looked down at me.
Me, the 14 year old that I was, did not listen.
“Oy!” Canesai smacked me upside the head.
“Ow!”
“Listen to me! If you use the staff for good, you can die!”
“Why?”
Canesai pointed to a picture in the hallway we were in. It showed the end of the dinosaurs. “That staff is your power. It is a tool for evil. It gives you strength when used for evil, but weakens you when used for good.”
I stared wide-eyed at Canesai. I never imagined that the staff in my hand could kill me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heaven, I might as well do as much good as I can if I only have a month.
No one down below seemed to mind very much the short rain shower. They loved the fireworks I made with fireballs and my staff’s power. With each firework, more pain shot through me. Most of the Chosen Ones only used the staff for good, so they died over time. The staff was the Chosen One’s main source of power. Chosen Ones could manipulate fire like all demons; but while demons could be born with other powers, Chosen Ones had to use the staff. Alegas was one of those demons with more than one power. Alegas could control all of the elements. He could make it snow, he could make it rain. Heaven, he could even make it rain plants if he wanted.
My eyes started to unfocus and I was in danger of collapsing. I lowered the staff. I had gone overboard. I sat down on the roof and placed my head between my knees. It helped fight off the dizziness; but I was going to have to eat some meat and do a little evil.
Maybe I’ll scare a kid.
By the time I felt well enough to stand up, the parade was over and the crowd was dispersing.
I need to fly, but I don’t know how long I can last.
Using the staff to support myself, I stood up. Cloaking myself again, I jumped off the building, my wings spread wide. Dodging air cars, I was able to get a little bit away from the crowd; but I was getting tired.
I can’t go much further, and I’m too high to shed the cloak without questions. I need to get lower.
As if hearing me, my wings disappeared. I plummeted to the ground.
I didn’t mean this fast!
Lower and lower I fell. Eventually, trees broke my fall. I dropped the cloak before I fell to the ground. No one around me noticed.
No wonder my people hate humans. They are so inconsiderate. Actually, that should be why my people like humans.
I got up and dusted myself off, then picked up my staff.
“Are you a witch?”
I looked at the lamppost close to me. A little boy peered at me from the other side. “Why do you ask that?”
“You’re carrying a witch’s staff.” He pointed to my staff.
“I’m not a witch. I use this staff to fight off evil.” I smiled, my fangs showing
.
“M-M-Mommy!” The little boy ran to a nearby stall, crying.
My pain eased a little. I probably caused that boy to have nightmares for weeks. He did teach me something though. I was conspicuous with my staff. Besides, anyone around me could be a demon. I could be attacked, even though I was given a month to live. I snapped my fingers. My staff shrunk to the size of a toothpick and I placed it in a pocket that was inside my jacket.
Now what do I do? I have nowhere to go except for another demon’s house and no food. I was given a little money, but I doubt that would be enough for both.
I would have to think more about if I was going to stay at the demon’s house. I would probably be pressured to do my mission if I stayed there. My stomach growled.
Well, I better go find some food. I’m also going to have to find a job.
I headed in the direction of the food stalls I had seen from the sky.
I wonder if they serve meat rare. I need more strength.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:18 pm
Chapter 5- Katsuya “Oh my Gawd! Look! They have Russian dolls!”
I rolled my eyes. “They always have Russian dolls Katsumi.” I followed Katsumi to a stall that was at the fair every year.
My sister’s blue eyes were focused on all the different figurines. “I know that. It’s just that they have different ones every time!”
I looked around and spotted a stand with a sign spelling ‘The Four Friends.’ “Hey, you want one of Kenji’s burgers or something? I’m getting hungry.”
Katsumi never looked up from the merchandise. “You go ahead. You’re supposed to cover there soon so Kenji can explore the fair.”
“Already? Bummer.” I walked to the hamburger stand.
My sister and I were co-owners of a café/ clothing store with our two friends Kenji and Megumi. Kenji and I were in charge of the café while the girls ran the clothing half. We all lived above The Four Friends.
“Hey Kenji. Let me have a burger please, with everything.”
Kenji looked at me suspiciously. “Did you catch Katsumi while she was looking at those Russian things again? You know you’re not allowed to eat the merchandise while we are open.”
I nodded, which caused Kenji to sigh. “Get in here. It’s almost time for my break.”
I walked behind the stall and grabbed an apron and hairnet. “So how is business?” I stepped up to the grill.
“It’s going good. Wait, hold on.” Kenji turned to a customer.
“One hamburger please. Rare.”
“I’m sorry miss. We don’t serve our meat rare.”
“Are you not supposed to serve what the customer wants?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Then I want my burger rare.”
“Y-yes miss. Right away miss”
I looked at the grill. Most of the meat had just been put on. I slapped a patty onto a bun. “Anything on your burger?”
“No.”
I wrapped the burger up. Walking to the counter, I handed the customer her burger. I got a good look at her and froze. She was the girl from earlier. The girl from my dreams. I noticed that even though it was hot out, she had on a heavy black jacket.
“What are you looking at?” she snarled.
I saw that she had pointed teeth. “Nothing miss.”
Her crimson eyes glared at me from underneath her black hair. Then the eyes turned to Kenji as she reached into a jacket pocket.
“It’s on the-the h-house.”
The girl acted as if she didn’t hear and pulled out money.
“N-no. A-as I s-said, i-it’s on the h-house.”
The girl laid the money on the counter and walked away, taking a bite of her order. Kenji would not pick up the order; and to keep the line going, I placed the money in the cash box.
“I-I’m going on my b-break.” Kenji took off his apron and took his brown hair out of the hair net. He stepped out of the stall and tied his hair back. He started to walk away.
“Hey Kenji.” I collected the money from another customer.
Kenji turned around and looked at me. I made sure there were no more customers before looking at him.
“What did her eyes say? You don’t get spooked much.”
It is said that the eyes were the window to one’s soul. Kenji had the ability to interpret what the eyes showed. Technology in this world may not have advanced farther then flying cars; but there were more people out there who claimed to have special abilities.
Kenji came back, his green eyes wide. “I saw death man!”
“That’s a first,” I said sarcastically. Kenji usually saw death in a person’s eyes several times a week. He could tell how close to death the person was, as usually he saw death in the eyes of senior citizens.
“Dude! She is a murderer. A cold blooded murderer!”
I laughed. “Yeah right. She’s probably dying like all the others you see death in.”
“She is not! You heard how she talked!”
“Maybe she talks tough to hide the fact that she is dying.” I turned to a customer who just walked up.
“See you around Katsuya.”
“See ya. Oh, and if you see Katsumi, tell her not to buy too much!”
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:35 am
Chapter 6- Engelisa Stupid human. Not wanting to give me my meat rare.
I hurried down the street, eating my burger. After that confrontation, I was feeling better. I could tell that human was afraid of me. I knew, though, that I could never be fully healed. Not unless I did nonstop evil. All around me, people were with family and friends. They seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Too bad I can’t enjoy myself.
I had work to do. If I was to act like a human, I had to find a place to stay and work. I didn’t have time for fun. Survival came befor fun.
I stopped in the middle of the road, something dawning on me. I was to act like a human. Today was the world’s most sacred holiday. I could have fun and enjoy myself. No one else was going to be working today, except for the people running the festival and the vendors. I smiled and turned around. Throwing my trash in the trashcan, I headed back to the fair, passing the hamburger stand. The stupid human wasn’t there; but the boy who had served me was manning the booth.
“Russian dolls!”
“Getcha Chinese firecrackers here!”
“Sushi!”
“Borscht!”
All around me were cries from vendors selling objects from all over the world. Up ahead, I saw all the rides.
Now, to have some fun.
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Posted: Sun Oct 19, 2008 10:56 am
Chapter 7- Katsuya “Hey Katsuya! Can you help over here?”
I rushed to help Kenji stop all of our objects from tumbling out of the trailer.
“When will Katsumi and Megumi get here?” asked Kenji.
“They’re stopping at the house to drop off their trailer and then Megumi will bring the hover car here.”
“Damn. That means we’re going to be here all night.”
“Stop being pessimistic. You know only you and Megumi can drive the hover car. Katsumi and I aren’t old enough.”
To drive a hover car, a person had to be twenty-one. Kenji was twenty-three and Megumi had just received her license. As it was, it was not that late when Megumi brought the car. Megumi stuck out her tongue at Kenji when she heard what he said.
“You have no faith in me,” she said, flipping her red hair behind her.
“If you were more responsible I would,” grumbled Kenji.
Megumi’s brown eyes sparkled mischievously. “Maybe if you had more fun.”
“I don’t need more fun! I have enough!”
“Come on you guys,” I said laughing as I climbed into the car. “Katsumi will have our hides if we don’t hurry back.”
Kenji and Megumi got into the car, still arguing.
“I do not take forever in driving!”
“You do too! Now move over. I’m driving.”
Megumi made a face as she slid into the passenger seat.
“So how was business today?” I asked.
“It was the usual. More tourists of course, but the usual. How was yours?”
“It was all right.”
“All right? I had to serve a murderer!”
Megumi’s eyes widened. “A murderer?” Then she looked suspiciously at Kenji. “Are you pulling my leg?”
“No.”
“Calm down Kenji!” I yelped as Kenji turned the wheel too hard. “I don’t want to die!”
“Sorry. I’m just too spooked by that girl.”
“What-”
“Later…once we get home,” I interrupted.
The car reached The Four Friends without any mishap. Megumi went inside while Kenji and I put away all of the food and supplies.
Katsumi looked up from counting the money she and Megumi had made when we came inside. “Megumi tells me you two had an interesting day.”
Kenji glared at Megumi, who smiled sweetly and turned to Katsumi. “They served a murderer.
Katsumi laid down the money. “Really?”
“I saw fire and death in a girl’s eyes.”
“You see death in a person’s eyes each week. They don’t turn out to be murderers,” said Megumi.
“But you should have seen how she talked man! It was like she was-”
“Insisting on how we make her burger. Face it Kenji, not everyone whose dying has to be old.” I disappeared into the freezer with the last of the meat. I could still hear the others.
“How old was the girl?” asked Katsumi.
“She looked like Katsuya’s age.”
I frowned. I had been too busy thinking about how I could have dreamt of someone I never met, that I hadn’t realized that she did look my age.
“Poor girl. To be dying at such a young age,” said Katsumi.
“Do you think she has one of those incurable diseases?” asked Megumi.
“She’s a murderer!”
I walked back into the room. “I told him that she probably acted tough to hide the fact that she is dying.
Katsumi looked at the clock. “It’s getting late. You need to go to bed Katsuya. There’s school tomorrow.”
I stuck my tongue out at Katsumi. “You need to go to bed too! You have to go to college.”
“I’ve got to count the money. I am bookkeeper after all.” Katsumi turned back to the money.
Megumi’s hand came on top of said money. “Oh no you don’t! You both are going to bed. I’ll finish the bookkeeping.”
“But-”
“Now!” said Kenji pointing.
Yes, Megumi and Kenji do control our lives sometimes. Even though Katsumi was my legal guardian, we had to listen to our two friends. They had seniority after all.
Katsumi and I traveled up the stairs in the hallway separating the clothing store from the café. Katsumi stopped in front of her room as I continued walking down the hall.
“Did you have fun besides that one girl?”
“Yeah. You?”
Katsumi held up a bag with an all too familiar logo. “Really good. We sold a lot of clothes and I bought a new Russian doll.”
“As long as you didn’t get us into debt. Night.” I closed the door to my room.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:34 pm
Chapter 8–Engelisa Nighttime fell on Tokyo. I sat on top of a building, my eyes looking in the direction the sun had set.
Nighttime, the time evil roams around. A few more hours and this day will be over. I won’t have to worry about being forced to start my mission on this day. Of course, I have to worry about my life than the mission.
Neon signs blinked all about me, most of them all the way up where the cars flew. Streetlights were on, and I was semi concealed. The closest neon sign flashed every five seconds. I had my legs stretched out and the sign’s light revealed them.
In my hand was a piece of paper. On the paper was the address of the demon I was supposed to stay with. I folded up the paper and placed it in my pocket. I was going to have to stay with the demon, at least for a little bit.
Into the sky I went, heading to my ‘prison’. I landed in an alley a few blocks away. What would humans think if I all of a sudden appeared on the doorstep? I walked the rest of the way to the house and knocked. The door opened.
“Chosen One. We have been awaiting your arrival.”
I didn’t say anything. I just pushed my way past. There were demons in the main room. They all bowed when they saw me.
“Chosen One.”
One of them came forward. “If there is anything this humble servant may do for you-”
“Just show me where I am to sleep.”
“Yes Chosen One. Right away Chosen One.”
I followed the ‘humble servant’ to a room on the second floor. I looked up, as did the ‘humble servant’, to see a door in the ceiling.
“For if you would like to fly at any time,” was the explanation.
I nodded and the ‘humble servant’ bowed out of the room. I looked around. The room was fit for an important demon, which technically, I was. Blood red curtains caressed the window and the bed. Black leather furniture was scattered around the room. To off set the curtains surrounding the bed, the sheets were black. In this big room, there was very little light. The lamps gave a soft glow, making it seem that our brother the Grim Reaper popped out of the painting across from the bed. The bathroom was more elegant. Marble statues of the previous Chosen Ones lined the walls. Scenic paintings of Hell were between each statue. Black marble stairs led to the tub.
I turned and went back into the bedroom. I was tired after today. I needed meat and sleep.
“Chosen One.” The ‘humble servant’ had returned. “Is there anything you require?”
“Meat…rare.”
The ‘humble servant’ bowed and disappeared. I went and sat on the bed. After I ate, I was going to sleep and try to regain my strength.
The ‘humble servant’ soon came and left. I took a bite of my meat, knowing that pretty soon, I would have to be on the run.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:55 pm
Chapter 9- Katsuya “K-Katsuya! C-can y-you c-come h-here?”
I hurried to the counter. It was the lunch hour rush, the only time I was able to not be in school. I stopped short as I saw who the customer was. It was the girl from the fair.
“Well? Am I going to be served or not?” She glared at both of us.
I recovered. “Of course. What would you like miss?”
“Burger. Rare. Nothing else.”
“Coming right up.”
I returned to the grill; but was soon back at the counter, handing the girl her order. Kenji once again refused to take her money. Instead, as I was placing the money in the register, Kenji went to the grill.
“Please come again!” Behind me I heard Kenji grumbling, banging pots and pans.
“Why did she have to come here? Does she like torturing me?”
“Calm down Kenji. It’s not the end of the world. Oh, and two helpings of ramen,” I added as the customer in front of me cleared his throat.
It was the same for a week. At the lunch hour rush, the girl came for the same thing, a burger cooked rare. It came to the point where I had to take the counter during this hour.
But looking at the girl every day made me sad. I had been having more dreams about her and I couldn’t make heads or tails of them. If, for some reason, these dreams were a warning, then something bad was going to happen to her. Seeing her everyday made me realize that if I went by these dreams, that ‘soon’ was going to be very soon. But why was I having these dreams?
Katsumi came up to me one night, concern written on her face. We had just closed for the night and I was standing by the front window looking out at the night, wondering if the girl was all right.
“Is everything okay Katsuya? You seem distracted.”
I blinked, looked at my sister, and then looked back out the
window. “All week, Kenji’s ‘murderer’ has been coming to get lunch from us. The thing is, everyday she looks paler.”
“Maybe she doesn’t get out in the sun that much,” suggested Megumi.
I shook my head, still not looking at them. “Did you forget that Kenji saw death in her eyes?”
“So you think she is getting worse?” asked Katsumi.
I nodded and placed my forehead on the glass, trying to control my tears.
“Why do you care?” asked Kenji. “We don’t even know her name.”
I wasn’t about to tell them about the dreams every night. Dreams that kept repeating, like summer reruns. It starts with the two of us flying. Then it goes to scenes that I could only conclude or guess was the girl’s past or her future. Either way it was bad. The dream finally ends with someone saying: “Only you can help her, Guardian of the Chosen One.” Whatever that meant. “I feel this connection to her, like I can help her.” A little white lie never hurt anyone, right?
“She isn’t like those stray animals you help. She most likely won’t accept your help.”
I sighed. “I know. I just don’t like it.”
Kenji patted me on the back. “Forget her. We still have to straighten up. It’s your day to clean the kitchen.”
I groaned and straightened up. “It’s always my day to clean the kitchen.”
“Then get going!”
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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:29 am
Chapter 10- Engelisa I sat on a green cot, staring at graffiti on the wall in front of me. It had been two weeks since I came to Tokyo; and a week since I had left the demon’s house. I had been given a lot of money to convince the leader of Japan that I came from a family of wealth and influence. That day I received the money, I had traveled all over Tokyo looking for a place to stay. The place I chose was a homeless shelter. Renting or buying a place required paperwork that could easily be traced. The people who ran the homeless shelter were suspicious of me. They couldn’t figure out why a person with a lot of money would want to stay in a shelter, unless they were in trouble. I was still under surveillance, but they pretty much left me alone. In fact, everyone left everyone else alone.
“Come back here!” Something dove in front of me.
I looked down and saw a boy with ash blonde hair and chocolate eyes look back at me fearfully.
“Don’t let them catch me!” He had what people might call a ‘Brooklyn Accent’. His th’s came out as d’s and he hardly said his h’s.
“Why?”
“They’ll kick me and my family out of here.” The boy tried to crawl under the cot, which wasn’t that hard to do, as the managers came up.
“Hey you! Have you seen Sticky? He was running this way.”
A smile tugged at my lips. Did they honestly think that I would know who Sticky was? Or that I would hide him? Most likely though, Sticky was the rail thin teenager who was hiding under my cot. I opened my mouth to rat him out, when my jaws snapped shut. For some reason, I couldn’t tell on him. I shook my head.
“Well, sorry to bother you.” The managers walked off.
I watched them go and then bounced on the cot. The boy crawled out, rubbing his head.
“You didn’t have to do that you know.”
I sneered. “What are you going to do about it?”
The boy just stalked away. I chuckled and laid down on the cot, hands behind my head.
Maybe it’ll be good living here, just to annoy that boy. My eyes closed.
Noises filled my ears from all around. People arguing in one corner. A mother crying on the opposite side of the room. Footsteps heading towards me. They paused right beside my cot and my jacket was pulled aside. My eyes flew open as I grabbed the hand. It belonged to the boy. I smirked. “You know, you should make sure your target is asleep before you pick their pockets.”
“Bless it!”
My eyes widened and the smirk disappeared from my face. “What did you say?”
“Bless it. It’s what my sister says when she gets mad.” The boy tilted his head. “In fact, she looks a lot like you.”
I tightened my grip on his arm. He flinched. “Where is your sister?”
“Sticky! What are you doing over…here…Wings?”
I turned to look at the newcomer. Red eyes, blue hair, all familiar. “Nina?”
“Ow! She’s hurting me!”
I let go of Sticky. He ran off as I stared at Kenina. “What-what are you doing here? Everyone thinks you’re dead!”
Kenina took off her baseball cap and ran a hand through her hair, briefly showing pointed ears. She placed the hat back on. “They’re all supposed to think that. I’m not supposed to be dead, but Sticky is.”
“Why?”
“Take a good look at him. Whom does he remind of?”
I looked at Sticky, the very bad pickpocket. He was wrestling with someone else, probably a friend. His face briefly looked up and I saw someone else there. “Papa?”
Kenina nodded. “I saw Sticky hid under your cot. You didn’t give him to the managers. Why?”
“I wanted to, but I couldn’t. It was like my…oh no. You’re not telling me that-”
“Sticky there is your half brother.”
“Bless it!” Right after the king, family was important. One never rats out family.
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