"To the Legion of Superheroes I make this solemn pledge: To use my powers for good, to fight for justice and protect the innocent, to aid my fellow Legionares in times of peril and to keep their secrets safe. I am _."
The bright lights showed in from the city and they would in Bludhaven at Christmas. The winter air made seem that it was. Bludhaven was the wreck of the planet Earth, filled with mercenaries, gangs, and the poor. The politicians and officials finally gave up on spreading lies that they could fix the city. I was just a simple shop owner, with hope that one day people would have the hope and will to change this city.
I looked down outside there was a young girl, an orphan. She always came to my store after dinner to see if she could get something to eat. She barely spoke English, which is why people never took her in. I always felt sorry for the girl, I would take her in myself, but there was no way I could provide for her along with myself. I was barely able to make enough to survive. I walked out of the store, and she looked up at me as I carried a bowl of soup. Eyes wide open as if it was Christmas.
"Kon'nichiwa, on'nanoko (Hello, girl)." I said as handed her the bowl. I was old enough to be one of the few people in this world, who still could speak Japanese, fluently, without help from one of the computers around.
She took the bowl as if it was the most valuable thing on Earth. "O bāchan o arigatōgozaimasu(Thank you, grandma)." She then eagerly ate it. She was thin for a girl-by the officials prospective-but to people in Bludhaven she was normal. It was sad to see children her age die of starvation or hypothermia, to hear their screams at night, being taken from their friends (or family if they had it) by gang members. It still brings me to tears. As she finished she put the bowl down and started to walk away.
"Matsu(Wait)." I took out a three books from my bag. I held it out toward her, and she came closer. "Watashi wa sugu ni nokoshite imasu. Watashi wa anata ni korera o ataetakatta. Karera wa anata ga eigo o manabu no ni yakudachimasu. Karera wa anata ga hokanohito ni hanasu no ni yakudachimasu. (I am leaving soon. I wanted to give you these. They will help you learn English. They will help you speak to other people.)" I held them out to her, and she touched them gently and then looked at me.
"Karera wa ima, anata no mono to narimasu. Watashi no tame ni sorera o anzen ni tamotsu.(They are yours now. Keep them safe for me.)" I put them into her hands.
She stared at them for a bit before wrapping her arms around them tightly so no one could take them.
I stood up and put my hands on her shoulders. "Sayōnara, watashi no kodomo. Watashi wa anata ni kokorokara o ketsujō suru.(Goodbye, my child. I will miss you dearly.)"
"Naze watashi wa anata to issho ni iku koto ga dekinai?(Why can't I go with you?)"
"Watashi wa dai tokai ni ikimasu. Watashi wa hitobito ga anatatowatashi no yō ni, hitobito o mite shutoku shiyou to suru tsumoridesu. Karera wa watashitachi ga koko de warui hito-tachi o torinozoku tedasuke shiyou to suru shutoku shiyou to suru. (I am going to the big city. I am going to try to get people to see people, like you and me. To try to get them to try to help us get rid of the bad people here.)"
She nodded.
"Idō shite, gyangu wa sugu ni detekuru sa remasu. (Go, they gangs will be coming out soon.)"
She gave me a hug and then ran off into the darkness. I went into the shop and picked up my bag and then turned the sign on the window to "closed". I stepped out into the freezing night again and headed to the bus stop. I will always remember that little girl. "Watashi wa, sakura kage, hitobito wa anata no yōna kodomo-tachi o tasukeru tame ni eru tame ni watashi wa zenryokuwotsukusu koto o, kodomo o o yakusoku shimasu.(I promise child, that I, Sakura Kage, will do everything I can to get people to help children like you.)" I said to her as if she was standing right next to me. I stepped on the train as the guns began to go off under the night sky.