Rook Paladin's Revalation Damnation Beginning x

This is the beginning to my Japanese novel, please comment x

CHAPTER ONE

Nagoya had always been a busy city and its collages were no different. Akira was a post-graduate studying psychology and had always had a way with words, a certain talent of persuasion you may say. Before his honourable father died two years ago at the hands of the notorious criminal Taki Nobu, he had always said that his son was like the wind, very often calm but strong and mostly unseen. It had become a long-running joke about the last part for Akira was a fan of solitude and trusted only a close few. It wasn’t that he was anti-social, it was more a way to distance himself to focus on his studies. Psychology had not been his first choice, he had been planning to study politics like his father before him, but since that terrible day when the police constable had knocked on the door with an expression of sorrow he had found the need to understand how someone could be so cruel. As of yet he had not found his answer, though he did find relief in his friendships with Kaede and Takara.

Kaede was a girl in his psychology class and she was extremely well-mannered. She had always been polite to Akira and it was well known that he could often be a little difficult but she didn’t seem to mind. Akira didn’t mean to be awkward, he just didn’t care if he offended someone because he spoke his mind at all times. But Kaede was a sweet girl with thin black hair to her shoulders that was usually clipped up on one side. Akira had become quite interested in her but for some reason he couldn’t quite bring himself to tell her, or even his best friend Takara.

Takara had been Akira’s closest friend since their first day of high school but no two men could be more different as they were. Akira had soft black hair that hung loosely to his shoulders and brushed the back of his neck while Takara’s was flecked with a reddish hue and spiked up perfectly each day. Many of the girls in the collage flocked at Takara’s feet because of his hansom looks and devilish attitude. Akira on the other hand was not a total loss but with his high cheekbones and outward attitude he was more of a refined taste.

Some would even go as far as to say that he had an elegance lingering on his thin frame but no one could deny that there was something about Akira’s presence that hinted at leadership and occasionally dominance. Maybe it was the way he strolled so freely in the corridors or maybe it was the way he placed his hands under his chin with linking fingers as he thought, but either way he had something, a certain power over people. Just like Kaede he was graceful and calm.

Currently Akira and Takara were sat at a squared table in the canteen, they always sat in the corner furthest from the door while girls squabbled to get close to Takara. The canteen was fairly modern in design and had a glass cover over the stainless steel counter where cooked food was put in deep trays for lunch and break times. Each table stood on steel legs and had a polished, laminate top in white. One side of the room was filled with tall glass windows.

Akira of course sat with his black laptop open, typing and eyeing the screen while sipping tea. It was a favourite drink of his and he rarely had anything else except the odd sake on the weekends. Over the rim of his cup he glanced at the door to see if Kaede had arrived but even as he did he continued to type with his right hand.

“What are you looking at?” asked Takara in his usual casual tone. Akira had a more elegant, lighter tone and shot him a glance without revealing his emotions.

“I was just checking the time, we don’t want to be late.” He covered.

“Lunch only just started.”

“I lose track of time . . . anyway how is law going?”

“Akira, always thinking of work, work, work!” Takara laughed and Akira let out a wry smile, he thought about Kaede more than anything but Takara wasn’t to know such a thing, “It’s not too bad, just wish they’d lock some of these criminals up or something. I mean, so many fall through the net on technicalities.” He explained.

“Sounds to me like it’s more of a gaping whole that a net.” He replied sipping once again and keeping his cup held even after he had finished his mouthful of milky tea, no sugar.

“You said it, I didn’t take law to help criminals get out on a hitch or hiccup in the system, I took it to make a difference!” he explained before biting into a seafood wrap. Akira knew exactly what he meant, after he had come to an understanding of his fathers death he had considered taking the subject himself but it had occurred to him that lawyers are probably the best at scapegoating the law. He looked over at Takara as he used his thumb to catch some salmon from his lower lip when a voice caught his attention.

“Oh Takara!” she smiled, the sweet voice of Kaede was like a serenade to Akira’s ears and he looked her way as she sat down with a tray. She wore a white, long-sleeved shirt and short black skirt and tie. As usual her hair was drawn to one side with a clip, today’s was a little white bow. She smiled at them both and sat down opposite. “You do make a mess. Hello Akira.”

“When did you get in?” he asked bluntly considering how he felt for her.

“About a minute ago, with Anzu and Kilik” she gestured to the brother and sister from the year above who were sat behind them. They both had identical ponytails and wore black blazers.

There was a pause for a short time and Akira went back to typing an essay on Miliband’s study about authority. It involved an electric shock treatment machine with markers on for voltage and relative danger. The study involved a series of people shocking what they thought was a volunteer but it was actually a pained recording. A few years ago he might have been shocked that over sixty per cent continued to lethal simply because they were instructed by an authoritive figure but, not anymore. He went about changing the font to perfect his signature care over presentation and saved before looking up.

“It’s quiet today, what were you talking about before I arrived?” Kaede asked taking a neat bite from her skewered squid.

“Criminals.” Said Takara.

“We think that they need dealing with better, most of them wriggle their way through court and out of jail.” Akira explained.

“Maybe they’re just innocent?” she prompted.

“Don’t be naïve.” Akira replied before closing his laptop with a click and placing both hands on his teacup as he held it to his lips.

Takara took another bite of his seafood wrap and rolled his eyes. A girl named Hamonno had been following him around all week and he had finally gotten rid of her, or so he thought. Out of the corner of his eye Akira watched her roll up her skirt a little and begin to wander over pretending to look for someone she might know but of course she “missed” all of her friends and decided to sit on their table. She had a typical Japanese school-girl haircut which made her look young for her age and her face was quite round like a six month old child. Her straight fringe was in need of a cut because it almost brushed her dark eyelashes.

Kaede and Hamonno exchanged smiles out of politeness and Akira opened his laptop then began loading files, he didn’t want to leave Takara to fend for himself with such a strange girl but being such a ladies man he was well used to the attention by now. She leant forwards revealing a little more than she should have and Takara looked up completely uninterested.

“Takara,” she began in a giggling tone and he looked at her waiting for her to go on, “how have you been? Wasn’t that lecture on drugs prohibition fascinating!” she finished and he coughed before replying.

“Yes, but. . . really who carries drugs in Nagoya? No one” he looked at Akira for help but he was engrossed in a news report. They continued talking but their sounds were soon drowned out in Akira’s mind by the report that had just appeared on his screen as he loaded the internet. It read on with words that seemed to fall together like a car accident in the young, Japanese boy’s mind.

On the second of this month a notorious gang led by Taki Nobu was released on bail and restricted to an unspecified town at central Nagoya. The public are outraged at the jury’s decision to release Taki Nobu and his allies Ken Mamicha and Kakashi Mida but the lack of willing witnesses cleared the accusations. Deliberation was a long and difficult task but with Mr Nobu’s reputation many witnesses mysteriously dropped out of the case.

There is a full investigation proceeding as to whether or not black mail was used in these events. The case began with seven witnesses, five of which dropped out all claiming that they were unsure if their memory was clear enough. The other witnesses have been placed under special security measures.

Previous to this case Nobu and his gang have been arrested for two accounts of murder, five rape charges and several high-jackings but with such a lack of evidence their crimes have amounted to two hundred hours of community-service and one year in a state prison. Many were unwilling to give statements but we did hear Mr Nobu leaving court and saying the words “I am untouchable” to enraged crowds. . .

The article finished with a picture of a man in a brown leather jacket walking out of court with a bitter grin from ear to ear. The jacket had a small gold star on the left hand pocket where a packet of cigarettes was so blatantly held. Nobu had spiked black hair and a slanted jaw where it had obviously been broken in the past. He was a tall man in his mid-twenties with a vicious stare. Akira scowled so much that a small wrinkle appeared on his well sculpted forehead.

“Akira? Akira, are you listening?” Kaede asked and he shook his head to bring himself back to reality. The lunch room seems almost alien to him at first.

“Sorry. . .” he said clicking off the window and placing his hands under his chin with interlinking fingers. Takara seized the advantage immediately.

“I can see something is on your mind, why don’t we step out for a bit of guy talk?” he suggested but Akira didn’t need asking twice. He could see the disappointment on Hamonno’s chubby face as Takara got to his feet with Akira seizing his laptop computer under one arm and following shortly behind. She turned to Kaede quickly and whispered something about them but she shook her head and smiled.

Outside Takara sat on a bench under a cherry blossom tree with Akira leaning against the bark. The outside was greener than most high schools and collages in Japan and had many cherry blossoms flowering in planters around the grounds. All of the benches and bins were made of wood panelling and the area was closed off only by fencing, but beyond the boundary was the hustle and bustle of a nearby train station. The pair could see it from their place at the side of the field but they were too far away for any amount of people to congregate. Akira folded his arms, letting himself slouch down the tree a little until his shoulder-length black hair was pushed up a little. He didn’t look at Takara but instead focused on a small gang of youths crossing the pitch as they headed out to town.

“So?” asked Takara as his soft, rust red hair fluttered in the breeze.

“So, what?”

“What’s got you in such a mess?”

“I’m not in a mess Takara” he replied curtly glancing back at his friend for a long moment then breathing out, he didn’t need any more prompting to go on, he knew Takara never dropped subjects, he was like a Rottweiller with a juicy bone and that bone was gossip “Taki Nobu, they’ve let him out … again.” He explained.

“Shit . . . man I’m sorry, I wish there was something I could do.”

Akira could hear by the tone of his voice that he was being genuine but there was something they could do, clearly Takara hadn’t worked it out yet but the had come to Akira much in the way rain settles into a stream - almost instantly. He just didn’t quite know the details yet.

“On the picture, he was wearing a brown leather jacket, I’ve seen them before, they sell them just up the road from here on the outskirts of Tokoname. Maybe the shop owner knows something?” Akira explained.

“You’re not suggesting that we take this into our own hands are you?”

“I just want to know why he did it. . .”

“Curiosity killed the cat you know.” Takara said hoping Akira wouldn’t take the proverb the wrong way, but Akira simply inclined his hear towards Takara and smiled slightly.

“Without questions there is no evolution.” He had got Takara now, no one won an argument with Akira unless he let them. Takara nodded and got to his feet.

“I suppose we must be the long arm of the law then, for the law is too concerned with mercy.” He smiled and they began heading back towards the main building. They walked slowly and Akira suddenly stopped.

“Don’t tell Kaede, you know she won’t like it.”

“She’s too innocent for her own good sometimes. I won’t, lets keep this to ourselves okay?”

“Good idea. Maybe we’ll finally find a way to change things.” Akira smiled.

All the way through psychology Akira couldn’t keep his mind off the plan and began thinking about what he would say to Taki when they tracked him down. The lesson seemed to fly by and the work was hardly difficult so he typed it on auto pilot rather than actually having to work. After gathering his things and putting them in his thorn coloured shoulder bag he walked Kaede outside. He always walked her home after psychology lessons and they trod the pavement with a practiced ease taking shortcuts whenever they could.

She walked alongside him with her pink folder in her arms and her little black heels making soft clicks on the pathway. The breeze was soft as they strolled along and at the corner before her house she asked him the very question he had been waiting for. He hated lying but sometimes it had to be done.

“What was wrong with you at lunch?” she smiled. He kept walking with his hands in his pockets and looked onwards trying to find something to focus on.

“I had a headache, that’s all.” The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I’m not surprised! You’ve been working so hard you’ll be onto next months papers soon, maybe you need a break. You know, some relaxation” she suggested.

“Maybe,” he smiled as she turned off to her house.

“See you tomorrow.” she waved back.

“Bye Kaede.” He said walking on.

A few minutes later he was almost home and he turned to hear footsteps behind him. He smiled expecting to see Kaede had followed him because she had forgotten to tell him something as she often did. There was nobody there, he looked around. Only an old lady with silvering hair was sat at her window watching television.

“Deaf old bat, must have been her show.” He said turning around and continuing along his way to the door of number forty-five.