This is my revised version of the prologue. After taking some time to think about it, I've decided to redo my earlier chapters as I feel they aren't what I want. My goal with this story is to have you all to stick around and discuss the social commentary. I look up to Hideo Kojima as a writer as he defined how you can have an enjoyable game and a fictional masterpiece with his Metal Gear franchise. I want to make a story that challenges the norm, that makes you think about the issues our world faces. How in war, there is no clear good guy or bad guy in most cases. With that being said I wanted to redo these chapters to improve on the mistakes I made the first time around one year ago. Please enjoy this story.
Shepherds of War Anthology: Princess Evangile
Prologue: Cold Weather Rendezvous
Masaya's POV
Tsurugigoaka, Japan
March 31st, 2011
2000 hrs
Now Playing: Colorless Days- Princess Evangile OST
My name is Prince Masaya Okonogi, the Cyborg Dragon-Prince and one of the commanders of the Shepherds Mercenary Force. I lived a very poor life growing up, until one day 7 years ago that changed my life forever.
"Fuck… It's so bloody cold." It was a cold spring night in my hometown of Tsurugigoaka. I was walking alone and lost in thought, wandering the streets waiting for something to happen or for hunger and fatigue to overcome me. You're probably wondering how I got in this situation in the first place. Well, it all started the night before.
March 30th, 2011
2100hrs
I was walking home, exhausted after my mission rescuing hostages in Kyoto, I finally came back to my old beaten up apartment, waiting in the apartment was my poor excuse of a father probably passed out from all the alcohol he drinks. I climbed the steps of the complex and got to the door of my apartment. It was a small complex with only four one person apartments, mine was on the second floor on the right. When we arrived at Tsurugigoaka, we only had enough money for this place as my father had once again used the money I earned for us on whores and alcohol instead of paying the debt he put on my family, we owed as much as one hundred million yen to various loan sharks and even the Yokosuka Yakuza. The apartment didn't require a fender's fee or a security deposit, we had to pay the first three months rent in advance which basically took all of our money to pay for. Exhausted, I opened the sliding door and saw the room pitch black. "Hey Dad I'm home! He's not here, heh guess those mob guys were back." My father spent his days lazing around the room or getting drunk at a bar. I told him millions of times to get a job, but he'd always just shrug it off and say the same thing. "Sorry Masaya, I've never held anything heavier than chopsticks." It was that saying that got us into a lot of trouble, my father never worked and would borrow money from loan sharks for his addictions to gambling, alcohol, and prostitutes. He'd always try every way to not work to pay off his loans, he would make me and my mother work various jobs to earn money. Eventually my mother had enough of my father's bullshit and on the evening of my 10th birthday, she divorced and left my father. I was glad for her, however this angered my father and he began to abuse me for not being a girl for him to prostitute or how I was the bastard child of a man my mother had relations with when she was younger. After years of warding off the loan sharks, the debt got too big and my father decided to leave Tsurugigoaka, we fled all the way to Yokosuka where one job changed my life forever. That fateful day resulted in me living the rest of my days as a cyborg, half-man and half-machine. After that incident, I was given state of the art cybernetic enhancements by a wealthy American businessman named William Goldman, CEO of Goldman Industries, with that I met my soon to be commander, Colonel Ryuto Yanase, commander of the 1st Imperial Commando Regiment, the best of the best in the Imperial Japanese Army. Colonel Yanase was impressed by my skill as a soldier and at the request of Mr. Goldman was inducted into the Army as a Imperial Commando. While I turned on the lights of the apartment I noticed a piece of corner store memo paper and an envelope on the coffee table. I picked up the memo paper and say my father had written on it. "I'm tired of this lifestyle, I'm going to go away for a while."
"That's rich, he's doing the same shit he pulled back at Yokosuka." I crumbled the paper and threw it in the rubbish bin. I then picked up the envelope wondering what exactly was inside. "Tsk… How sweet of him to leave me a good bye letter." I opened the envelope was another piece of paper that my father wrote on, the note read. "By the way, regarding the debt we owe."
"We owe? This bloody debt was all because of you." I continued to read the note. "I gone ahead and transferred the loan to your name."
"That bastard did what?!" I was starting to get angry but I still kept reading the note. "I already verified it to the sharks by taking your fingerprint while you slept. You're work must really tire you out, you slept like a baby." That was the last straw, I crumbled the note and threw it across the room and in a fit of rage, I kicked over the coffee table. "That little worthless, greedy bastard! I swear I the next time I see him, I'll kill him with no regret!" The reason my father left was to get the loan sharks off his back by selling me out. After years of constantly dodging the loan sharks, they hired a pair of ex-Tsurugigoaka Yakuza called 'The Goons', the Goons were way more demanding and violent in collecting the debt money. I was left alone to deal with a problem he started when I wasn't even born. "What the bloody hell am I going to do?" I stood in disbelief, the realisation of how alone I was in this situation was causing my head to spin, to make matters worse I heard a bang on the door.
Now Playing: Turmoil- Princess Evangile OST
"Get out here old man, if ya know what's good for you!"
"Fuck." I pulled out my M1911A1 handgun and pointed it at the door, I quickly realized that I would get tried for murder as on paper, the Goons were just doing their job, however extorting the interest rates were. I flipped on my tactical eyepiece and activated a feature I received called SmartVision and saw two figures on the opposite side of the door, a young man in a white blazer and an older man in a yukata, they were indeed the Goons the sharks sent after us.
"We know your in there! Get out here or else we'll break this damn door down!" I was looking for a way out. I ran to the small closet and hid in there, knowing that wouldn't do anything, I noticed a hole on the ceiling big enough for me to fit. I climbed up the hole and began to escape my pursuers who just broke down the door. I made it to a crack on the roof of the complex and climbed out of the interior of the complex, I jumped down from the rain gutter and ran off into the busy streets of the main district.
No POV
The door to Masaya's apartment swung open and the two men barged in with the younger man at the helm. "Okay old man, now you're really gonna get it! Er… what?" The younger man was confused, they had a lead on their client's target but found his apartment to be empty. The older man just scanned the place looking for anything suspicious. "Hmm… He's not here. What do we do, boss?" The older man looked at a ball of paper on the ground and read the paper.
"Hmph… Looks like that little coward has turned tail and ran away. He even abandoned his kid, the bastard sold out his son and his soul." The younger man checked the closet for anything but found nothing.
"So… What do we do now, boss?"
"Look around for the kid. He couldn't have gone far." The Goons left the apartment and started to search around for Masaya.
Masaya's POV
March 31st, 2011
That all happened yesterday evening. Since I fled from the apartment, I've just been wondering around the city. I slept on a park bench and found a button-up shirt that belonged to a man named Xander Arland, most likely an American tourist. I left the park and walked to the neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the city, I saw a connivence store in the distance, realising I hadn't eaten since last night(one anpan and a can of milk) I checked my wallet for any money. "No paper bills. One hundred yen coin, 8 ten yen coins and 6 one yen coins. A total of 186 yen, fucking hell…" I walked into the store and bought a fish sausage to relieve some of the hunger. I left the store and walked around some more, people walking past shot me glances, at least they had a family to go back to. I continued walking until I heard a female voice shouting.
"Get away from me!"
I looked to the direction of the girls voice and saw a pink haired girl in a school uniform being assaulted by people in blue suits, all appeared to be female. I saw people quickening their pace, trying to pretend that whatever was going on didn't exist. Hmph… Why should I care as well. I thought that but then I stopped. But those bastards can't just assault that girl. Fuck it, what's the worse thing they can do to me. I turned around and ran to where the girl was and yelled out to the suited women.
"What the bloody hell are you all doing!" The suits all turned to me and the girl took the chance and broke away from the suits towards me.
"Please my good sir, help me." The girl hid behind me and hugged my back. One of the women in the suits, acting as a group representative come towards me. "Sir, step away from the girl. If you comply than you can leave without repercussions."
"I would, if you can answer my question first. Who the hell are you people, and what do you want with this girl?"
"Sir, I won't tell you again. Stand down, or we'll use force." I wasn't about to let these people take this girl. The Yakuza always pulled a trick like this, they're about to kidnap a girl and lie and tell people that need to speak to them, without answering questions from the concerned person. I signalled the girl with my elbow to start running away, then the suited woman gave me my "ultimatum". "This is your last warning! Give us the girl or face the consequences for your deviance." I didn't move a single muscle and stared down my soon to be attacker. "Hmph… if you insist. Take this!"
Okay ladies! Time for some CQC lessons! Private Okonogi, since you are the most skilled in it, your task is to take on six people all at once without a weapon. I remember that day in training, the day I learned the U.S Special Forces hand to hand technique called CQC, a mix of judo and jujitsu and some other martial arts. One of my final tests before becoming a commando was to disarm 6 enemy soldiers with CQC, I passed it after I threw them all to the ground and taking their knives away. I snapped back into reality and jumped out of the way of my attacker, she tried to high kick me but I jumped right before her boot hit my chin.
Now Playing: A Soul Can't Be Cut- Metal Gear Rising Revengence OST
I turned on my tactical eyepiece and rushed one of the suits. I grabbed her by the collar of her blazer and her right arm and threw her to the ground hard, one of the other suits tried to tackle me but I grabbed her right wrist, elbowed her in the vertebrae, flipped her over me and slammed her on the ground right next to her friend. The other four looked at me in horror as I rushed them and put one of them in a chock hold, two of the remaining suits decided to try and rush me but I threw their friend that I had in a chock hold at them, tripping them, they got up and I finished them off the same way I dealt with their friends. I looked back to see the pink haired girl hiding behind a rubbish bin. Then the only one left, the commander spoke to me.
"Who and what the hell are you?!"
"…Classified information, I would tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."
"You scum! I won't let you go away that easy."
"If you want to fight then come at me!"
"Very well then… Hiyah!" The commander ran towards me, her fist aimed for my face, I dodge her strike and grabbed her and with all my strength slammed her on the ground next to her friends. I walked over to the rubbish bin where the girl was hiding. "Are you okay?"
Now Playing: Dignified- Princess Evangile OST
I extended my arm to the girl, she was cuddled up into ball and looked frightened. She looked up at me and took my hand, I pulled her up from the floor when I blanked out and all I saw was a small girl crying over me calling out for someone. "Chien!" The imagine left my mind as quick as it came into my mind. I realised that I was still holding the girl's hand, I let go immediately and turned my head away, blushing a little. Who is this lass? She's so beautiful, she can give most movie actresses a run for their money. After a couple seconds of awkwardness, the pink haired girl finally spoke.
"T-Thank you for saving me, Mr…"
"Masaya, Masaya Okonogi."
"Masaya… that's a lovely name. My name is Rise, Rise Rousenin.
I turned on my bio scan feature that I received along with SmartVision to reveal more about this 'Rise' girl.
Rise Rousenin
DOB: 9/2/94
POB: Tokyo, Japan
Age: 16
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight: 93Ib
Blood Type: O
Occupation: Unemployed(Student)
Parents: Tougo Rousenin: Incumbemt Defense Minister of Japan since 2009, son of the former CEO of Mori Tech.
Kaori Rousenin: Former heir presumptive of the wealthy Rousenin family. She was admitted to a hospital in Tsurugigoaka in 2004 for medical reasons.
"Um… excuse me Masaya, are you alright?" I snapped back to reality and calmly asked Rise what those women wanted with her. "Ms. Rousenin if I may, why were those women in the suits chasing you." She was still somewhat frightened so she had some trouble with talking.
"Those women were… can we talk about this somewhere else?"
"If you wish, I just want answers." We walked into an alley way when Rise finally spoke up.
"Masaya, the reason those women were chasing me was because… they're my school's private security." I looked at Rise's school uniform. It was mainly a white blouse and skirt with some black, she had a what appeared to be a red polished gem around her collar. She then pulled out a dark blue piece of cloth and offered it to me. "You're face is very flushed, use this to clean off the sweat. Don't worry about giving it back, I can just get a new one." I took the cloth and dabbed it on my face to wipe the sweat. I then spoke up about the uniform she was wearing. "That uniform… what school are from?"
"I attend Vincennes Private Girls Academy. I'm going to be in second year Final Course this next school year."
"Vincennes, huh? So that means you're pretty loaded."
"Pretty… loaded?"
"It means you have a lot of money. Anyways, tell me something. Why exactly are your school's private security force chasing you in the first place?"
"Well It has something to do with what I want to ask you. Masaya, how old are you?
"…I'm 16. I know, I look like I'm in my twenties."
"No, that's fine. I must say for a foreigner, you're Japanese is very good."
"…I've lived in Japan all my life. I'm half Japanese, my mother is an Englishwoman, and my great grandmother was German. I just got a lot of European blood in me, my paternal lineage for the most part is full Japanese though." My mother was a noble Englishwoman named Elizabeth Wellington. Her family was rich and powerful within British society and the men were hailed as heroes of the kingdom since the days of the British Empire during the Victorian era. The Wellington family is also a close relative to the House of Windsor, the reigning monarchy of the United Kingdom. Quite frankly, I don't know how she would fall in love with a bastard like my old man.
"Anyways, the reason the Gardiane was chasing me was because Vincennes is in some very serious financial trouble. The school board recently approved of renovations to the school to make it up to date with the national earthquake guidelines."
"I understand the reason why they had to renovate, earthquakes are common in Tsurugigoaka."
"Exactly, however the renovations were very costly and most of our donors are pulling their funds out to fund the war in China. In short the school's in debt and me and my grandmother are afraid that Vincennes won't be around for when I have children."
"So basically what your saying is that your school spent too much money, their donors are switching priorities from the school to the war, and that your scared that you future kids won't have a Vincennes to attend. I get your problem but where exactly does a bloke like me fit into all this blue blood drama."
"Yes, if I may ask Masaya? Can we talk about this over dinner?"
"I… I'm sorry, I'm on a strict diet. Plus I don't have any money…"
"What was that last part?"
"Nothing! It's just that I don't feel all that hungry that's all." I gave a convincing smile and turned to walk away when my stomach made an audible growl.
"Masaya… you're stomach made that noise didn't it? *giggle* Don't worry, I'll pay for your meal. It's the least I can do for you after you rescued me." Before I realised it, I was following Rise into a place called the Pappatore Moonrook, I had always passed by this place when I was growing up but I thought it was a place specifically for blue bloods like politicians and businessmen. Needless to say, it didn't feel right. The sophisticated men looked at me with daggers for eyes as me, some gruff looking nobody walked in with a beautiful girl. But I didn't care, I had a very immense hatred towards the rich, quite frankly I still do to this day. We sat down and Rise opened up the menu.
"Hey Masaya, what do you want?" I looked at the menu, all the food looked very delicious but the prices were way to high for someone like me, granted the food on the menu looked more edible than the rations I would eat at training.
"Uh… I guess I'll have spaghetti." The restaurant was a mix between Japanese and Italian cuisines. Rise called the waiter and ordered our food, while we waited I heard two similar voices call for a waiter.
"Hey waiter, can you hurry it up?!"
"The cap is right! Hurry it up, we're getting shipped out tomorrow to fight the Soviets!" I turned to see two grey haired military officers looking very drunk, their faces and voices were the same as they were clones.
"Uh… Masaya, who are those people? Why do they look and sound the same?"
"Hmph… they're clones."
"Clones?"
"Yeah, those two are clone officers in the Imperial German Clone Army, they're most likely stationed near the army base on the coast. Rise, are you aware of the military alliance that Japan has with the New German Empire." The alliance between the Japanese Empire and the German Empire was formed when the IJA invaded China through the Korean Peninsula in 2007, I remember the news broadcasts the day it was announced that the first army divisions led by the Crown Prince crossed into northern China, rumours had it that he was very vocal in not using military action against China for resources but the previous Minister of Defense and the Emperor overruled the parliament and the Prince's decision to not go to war and launched the preemptive strike on China. After the initial invasion and the formal treaty of alliance was signed, the Germans started to send troops into Japan to instruct our soldiers in German military tactics, though the Imperial Commandos still use the same tactics as the U.S Navy SEALs and U.S Marine Commandos as our commander, Colonel Yanase worked extensively with the SEALs, MARCOM, and the SAS in his youth during the Soviet-Japanese War, nearly 20 years ago.
"Just a little bit, I only know because of my father, he's-"
"The incumbent Minister of Defense, Tougo Rousenin."
"Yes. How exactly did you know that already?"
"…Rousenin isn't exactly a common surname in this part of the world."
"Heh, that's true. My surname is foreign, French to be exact. Oh, I looks like our food is here. Let's eat." The waiter came with our food and asked us about what we would like to drink.
"No wine please, unless you want some Masaya."
"…No, I just take some oolong tea."
"I guess I'll have oolong tea as well." The waiter left the table and me and Rise started eating. As I was eating I started to hear something suspicious.
"You sure he's in here?"
"Of course, he's six feet tall, foreign looking, with dark blue hair."
"I'm sorry sir, unless you're here to dine, you cannot enter the restaurant."
"Fuck that, move aside will ya!" I heard a waiter yell and a thud, I turned to see the Goons at the entrance. Fuck, it has to be these blokes, I need to think, how do I avoid them. "Excuse me Rise, I need to go to the restroom." I quickly ran off to the restroom area and hid behind the wall, I stuck my head out slightly to see the younger man walk up to Rise and I's table. Due to my heightened hearing, I heard the goon start to interrogate Rise.
"Hey girly, it's been awhile."
"Y-you! What do want now? Do you still wish to kidnap me."
"Not really, honestly for a little rich girl, you are a rather feisty one. Anyways, that guy you were with, ya know, blue hair, green eyes, roughly about this tall, talks in a British accent. We need to talk to him."
"What does Masaya have to do with the likes of you?"
"That little punk owes us a lot of money. 1,000,000 yen to be exact. But I think I can let you in on a secret. You wanna support your 'boyfriend', how 'bout you work at the bath houses." When I heard the goon trying to convince Rise to work at a whore house, I got extremely angry. I tried to keep my cool but I was already getting ready to rush the goon.
"A bath house?"
"Yeah, a bath house exclusive to males, using your body to rub soap on them, pays real good too, sounds like a good deal huh?"
"I will not be used as a man's plaything. Masaya is a good man, he'll never want me to stoop to those jobs!"
*slap*
Now Playing: Courage: Princess Evangile OST
"Why you little bitch!" The underling flipped the table and pulled out a Tokarev TT-30 pistol and held Rise at gun point.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Masaya took on four trained martial artists single handed.
"Oh really, than where is your precious Prince Charming right now, huh?! Now bend down, I'll take you in front of all these people." I finally snapped and ran of to the goon, he heard my footsteps as I ran, he turned around and shot me right in the left shoulder. I yelled in pain but still ran towards him, I grabbed his gun, took the magazine out and pulled back the slide to eject the chambered bullet. I threw the gun across the fence, the underling then punch me right in the face with some brass knuckles he was wearing. The punch jerked me back and I spat blood on the floor of the restaurant.
"Masaya! Are you alright?! He shot you right in the shoulder!"
"Hmph… I'll be fine love. Now as for you two, what the hell do you want with Rise!"
"That bitch just slapped me right in the face! I'm just doing my job, if anyone is to blame, it you! You and bastard dad didn't want to pay us back, or you just think you're better than us because you're a robot!"
"SHUT YOUR BLOODY MOUTH!" I rushed the goon and grabbed him by the collar when he headbutt me, he then grabbed my shirt when I bit his arm.
"Agh… what kind of freak are you?!" The underling started to bleed from where I bit him. I touched my mouth and felt blood around my lips. I snapped out of my shock and rushed him again, this time punching him directly in the stomach, I grabbed him and flung him over the fence and into the decorative bushes. I looked over to see him out cold. The older goon was in complete shock as he's partner was just beaten up. "Where did you learn those moves? I had only seen those fighting moves back during the 'Raid of '92'."
"It's called CQC, the same fighting technique the commandos use."
"Oy! Kyoshi, let's get out of here!" The goon boss grabbed the underling and ran out of the shopping district. After the Goons left, the people around started clapping and many of the women young and old started to throw themselves on me, saying things like how I'm brave, or I'm cute, and "My daughter needs a man like you". One of the waiters started to call the police about the Goons and another came up to me with a bundle of napkins
"Here you go sir, use these to stop the bleeding." I was bleeding from where the underling shot me with his Tokarev. I grabbed the cloth that Rise gave me and tied it to the bundle of napkins to kept in place to stop the bleeding. I walked up to Rise and held out my hand. "Come on love, the police are gonna be here soon, besides you need to get back to Vincennes."
Now Playing: Dignified- Princess Evangile OST
I led Rise out the restaurant, before leaving she apologised to the manager and offered to pay for the damages, but the manager just laughed and said. "You have nothing to apologize for young lady, that man is a hero. God only knows what would of happened if he didn't step in and fight those thugs. Don't worry the meal and the damages are on us, it's the least we can do."
"Really? Well… thank you sir, please make sure those criminals are found."
"Don't worry young lady, the police will take care of it."
"Thank you, the meal was very delicious." We left the restaurant and started walking to the bus stop. Rise was staring at me with a smile as we walked.
Rise's POV
I was in awe the entire way to bus stop as Masaya walked me back to Vincennes, he was so dreamy and handsome, not to mention he was so brave, he defended me even though we barely met. What also intrigued me about Masaya was his history, how can someone as old as me be so skilled in a fight and also very knowledgeable in world politics and affairs. The things I wanted to know most was where he got his scars on his face, I also wanted to know if he would be the one man to enter Vincennes to convince the other girls and the school board to finally pass gender integration.
"*sigh* You've been staring at me for a while, what exactly do you want to ask?"
"I… I need to ask. Masaya, where did you get those scars?"
"*grunt* I got these scars in an accident. I got two on my face and one on my back." Masaya showed the scars he had. The two on his face were on his right cheek and his left eye, he then pulled up his shirt to reveal a big scar across his back, the scar extended from his right shoulder to the left side of his midsection. As I looked at the scar I got a flashback of a little boy with short blue hair on the ground, blood all around him as he whispered very weakly
Liz…
No… this man can't be Chien, his hair isn't as short. Though Chien did look like foreigner just like Masaya. As Masaya pulled down on his shirt, I noticed a glimmer of metal, I also noticed that he wearing a glove over his left hand but not his right. "Uh… Masaya, if I may. Why are you wearing only one glove?"
"*sight* What I'm about to show you is very disturbing and you'll probably run away. Are you prepared for it?"
"I don't care, you saved me from those criminals. Why would I look at you any different."
"Very well then… here you go." Masaya pulled up his left sleeve and pulled off the glove to reveal a metallic arm, the arm shined brightly off the lights of the city.
"My god Masaya. Where did you get this?"
"I was working at an army EOD disposal facility, I was helping dismantle a aircraft bomb when it went off, nearly killing me instantly. The shrapnel from the explosion severed my left arm and left my face scared from other pieces of shrapnel." That's not what happened, in actuality, the reason I had a cybernetic arm was because of a surprise Chinese attack on a cargo ship I was working on while I was in Yokosuka, we were in international waters when they attacked, I was the sole survivor of the attack.
"That's awful, was that to support your father-"
"And his bloody addictions! Yes, I earned the money then he wasted it all on alcohol and whores. Uh… pardon my language, I've heard that you bunch at Vincennes are too innocent for your own good."
"Yeah, I guess we are. Being honest, I've rarely left Vincennes for reasons other than visiting my mother or father."
"So… I guess this is where we say goodbye."
"Wait Masaya, I was about to ask. Are you interested in attending Vincennes."
"What?! But Vincennes is an all-girls school, meaning it's for girls only. Also, it's a school for rich kids, a bloke like me could never attend a prestigious place like that."
"I know but like I said, Vincennes is in dire need of male students, if we allow boys to attend, then more parents would donate to the school and we'd have no more financial problems. Please Masaya, you're the only man I've found with the characteristics of a good man, I know with your help, you'll save Vincennes from being forced to shut down."
"I… I can't, I have my own problems to deal with."
"Are you talking about the debt your father put your family in."
"Yeah, and some other more… personal issues."
*ring*
"Hmm… Excuse me Rise, my phone is ringing. Sergeant Okonogi, speak." It was a call from the Ministry of Defense. Usually that meant that I was going to be assigned a top-secret mission that would involve some sort of espionage against a enemy country. But it thankfully wasn't that.
"Sergeant Okonogi, this Is Lieutenant Saizo Fujimoto, Command has told me to inform you that you 1,000,000 yen debt has been paid in full."
"What?! Are you serious, my debts been paid? Who the hell paid it?!"
"According to the transaction papers it was an American named William Goldman, CEO of Goldman Industries. You still on the phone Sergeant?"
After all these long, bloody years. My debts been finally paid off. Thank you Mr. Goldman.
"I…I see, thank you Lieutenant. I'm gonna hang up now."
"Masaya? Are you alright, you look like you're gonna faint."
"Heh heh… haha… HAHAHA!" I started to laugh hysterically, the years of pain and fear were finally over. No more part time jobs or the Yakuza after me. I can finally rest easy with a debt hanging over my head. I came back to senses, I turned to Rise who was a little worried. Still somewhat in a hysterical state I grabbed Rise's shoulders and hugged her like a bear. "Hey Rise, guess what. You've got yourself a new transfer student."
"R-Really! You're gonna help me."
"Yeah, I finally got my debt cleared, I can go back to a normal life." In my hysteria I completely forgot about all the bad things in my past and all the pain. Little did I know at the time that I was dead wrong, my life would only get less normal.
We walked the rest of the way back to Vincennes, talking about various things from manga to childhood memories, well memories with my mom or my friends in them. Before we knew it we were at the gates of Vincennes, the walls were made of stone with some decretive vines and a iron gate that had the Vincennes emblem on it. Rise told me a little of Vincennes' history.
This school was established in 1896 by French missionaries, though before it became a all-girls school, it was the first French Catholic mission established after the reopening of Japan's borders to westerners during the Meiji Restoration, Rise also told me that the cathedral I saw coming up was the very same one built when the mission was first established, not once being renovated as to keep tradition. "So this place has some history huh."
"Yeah, five generations of Rousenin women have attended this school, even more before as French missionaries. That's the reason I want to save this place. For one day I want both my sons and daughters to attend this school and then have grandchildren go here and so on."
"You're goals are admirable Rise, but I feel this isn't going be an easy battle."
"You're absolutely correct, there's only two people in the entire school for gender integration. Myself and my grandmother, the Chairwoman of the Vincennes board of directors. Without majority support from the students, the board will never support gender integration instead opt to convince more corporations to donate money."
"But the problem with that is that every corporation in this country are funding the Japanese military in China, from your technology companies to your everyday appliances companies, they're all making equipment for the military. You know what they say. "Corporations always look forward to the next big war." War is a business, the corporations control the politicians with money, make us fight wars we can't win, thousands die and the corporations get more money to put us in more wars."
"You're right, it's disgusting how people can profit from such an ugly thing."
"No won really wins in a war except the arms dealers…"
Now Playing: The Important Times- Princess Evangile OST
"The gates should be opening soon. Before we walk in, I want to tell you the other students will not take kindly to you because you're a boy, they might even ridicule you. But with some effort and luck, we'll overcome this challenge and win this fight for integration." The gate opened and we walked in, as we walked through the path way the midnight breeze and the sakura trees around us blew the petals, it felt relaxing, like if I was starting a new life.
"It's beautiful isn't it, the trees bloom in the spring just in time to greet students new and old, they give off a feeling of relaxation to calm the anxieties of new students."
"Yeah, I feel at peace here… this place is like a whole different world than the one I've lived my whole life in." Rise stepped in front of me and extended her arm to me.
"Masaya Okonogi, on behalf of the Filles de Vincennes, will you join our familie and help me fight for integration."
"I will, I promise to help you. I owe you a debt that I will never be able to repay, but this debt is sacred." I walked up to Rise and firmly shook her hand, we nodded and Rise spoke words that would change my life forever.
"Then… let the battle for integration begin."
That concludes Chapter 0 of Shepherds of War Anthology: Princess Evangile. It was good to go back and revise this chapter as it bugged me for the longest time. Anyways, I've decided to set a schedule for the story, One month would be a revision, then the next would be a new chapter. So this month is Chapter 0 revised and next month will be Chapter 8. Let me know if this is a good idea, I hope this was way better than what I originally had and I hope to only get better and make this story an enjoyable read.
Until next time- Shepherds12
