Passion In The Clear Garden
(Unknown Garden) There were two men, a man dressed to fit the description of a first-class general, and a young more sinister figure in a trench coat wearing a mask which had a design of the sun and moon on opposite sides of the face.
(General) "How is she?"
(Sinister figure) "Her state hasn't changed."
(General) "And any news on her counterpart?"
(Sinister figure) "We haven't even a lead on whom or where it is."
(General)(Sigh) "Send all agents to every corner of the city, if she's here, it can't be far. Send me a report immediately if found."
(Sinister figure) "Sir." He vanishes.
(General) "It must be found soon, letting their project run free could turn fatal. We are running out of time!"
Meanwhile...
(Kurokami High School)
(Teacher) "Settle down everyone, let us begin."
(Chattering in the classroom)
(Teacher) "I said...LET US BEGIN!"
(Silence)
(Teacher speaking sweetly) "Now then, we shall discuss the upcoming play and then tomorrow have a vote for the cast to see who will play who after everyone
tries out."
(Boys speaking amongst themselves)
(Boy #1) "So, did you do yesterday's Math homework?"
(Boy #2) "Yeah, got it done before I went to bed last night, how come you never get yours done?"
(Boy #1) "Easy for someone like you to say, you're a walking calculator, that stuff is nerve wracking!"
(Boy #2)
"Whatever. Here it is."
(Boy #1) "Yes! You're a lifesaver!"
(Boy #3) "Hey Kage,
how come you're so smart?"
(Boy #2) "Huh? What do you mean Chad?"
(Boy #3) "I mean, I've known you since first year middle school and I've never seen you struggle in anything, even in sports."
(Kage) "Hmm. Beats me, I never thought
about it before, almost like it's natural to me."
(Boy #1)(Whisper) "Chad, you know what I think? I think Kage is an alien!"
(Boy #3) "Get real, I know he's smart, funny, and can perfect anything on the first try, and I see what you're saying, but there are times when even Kage is a bonehead."
(Boy #1) "You know, you're right, he can't even remember his past. It's all a cloud of blur in my head. He says when I ask him." He said mockingly.
(Chad) "Yeah it's weird, he can't remember where he's from, his home, his family, blank with a capital B."
(Boy #1) "Don't Worry Kage! I, Hiroyuki Sakuno will help you regain you're memory!"
(Kage) "Sorry Hiro, but if I can't even crack this, I'm not sure if you can."
(Hiroyuki) "What are you saying? These were made for miracles, made to
create! Ha ha ha!"
(Chad) "Create what? White stains?" Chad said humorously.
Hiro stared at him angrily for a brief moment.
(Hiroyuki) "Oh yeah? Then allow me to demonstrate how destructive these hands can be in boxing class!"
(Chad) "And I thought you destroyed yourself enough last time you whacked off to that porno."
Angry stare again.
(Hiroyuki) Hey, what's with all the beat-off jokes you bastard?" Hiro said in irritation.
(Chad) "Hey, what's wrong Kage?" Chad said noticing that Kage was massaging the sides of his head.
(Hiroyuki) "Chad, Kage only does that when he's catching a severe headache, we should keep it down."
(Chad) "Sorry 'bout that Kage, we got a little carried away." Chad said smiling trying to ignore the dead look in Kage's eyes.
(Teacher) "And that concludes our discussion and our class."
(Bell rings)
(Kage stretches)(Yawn) "Oh god, I thought that explanation would've ended sooner but it dragged on."
(Chad) "Hey, it's over now, let's not worry about that and enjoy the weekend."
(Kage) "Yeah."
(Hiroyuki) "Why so down Kage, you should be glad to be out of there, we should go sing karaoke tonight."
(Chad) "Yeah, cheer up."
(Kage) "Sorry guys, I just feel tired for some reason."
(Chad) "Then why don't you go home and rest, we'll catch you later."
(Hiroyuki) "Yeah, see ya Kage."
(Kage) "Talk to you later." Kage said walking off.
(Kage walking home alone)
(Kage) "Aw man, that headache came back with a vengeance!"
Kage got the feeling he was being watched. He stopped and looked around him and he saw on the corner of his eye that in the top floor window of the house to his right, there was a curtain slightly open as though he was being spied on by an unknown figure.
(Kage) "hmm, I wonder who lives here, I don't recall anyone ever coming to or from this house and yet there's no pile of mail outside."
This felt very strange to Kage, his curiosity almost drove him to ring the doorbell, but instead he continued home.
(Voice from the window) "I wish he had."
(Kage) "I'm ho..." Kage paused and side stepped as his father came at him swiftly with power trying to cut his son with a sword, the attacked kept coming.
(Dad) "Close!" Kage closed his eyes and clearly dodged the barrage of swings.
(His dad stopped) "Way to go son, you've kept up in you're training, that's my boy!"
(Kage) "Where's mom? Usually she comes too but with crescent blades."
(Dad) "Oh, you're mom had to work double shifts again, she's gonna have to for the next week."
(Kage) "Oh yeah? I'm going up to my room to call the boys, talk to you in a bit."
(Dad) "Son, when are you gonna quit bothering with those two bums and get yourself a girl? At this rate, your mom and I won't live long enough to see grandchildren."
(Kage) "Not that again, I told you guys, everyone at school, and maybe even everyone in town, hates me. I'll be in my room."
(Dad) "That boy. Hey, wait a second, I can give him my secret stash, maybe that's the problem!"
(Kage) "Hello, may I speak to Hiroyuki?"
(Girl) "Is this Kage?"
(Kage) "Yes, it's me."
(Girl) "Hi Kage, this is Towasuki, my bro isn't here, he and Chad are on their 'Investigation' again."
(Kage) "Oh, ok. Well, let him know I called."
(Towasuki) "Sure thing."
(Kage) "Bye." Kage hangs up the phone.
(Kage) "Hm. Why am I still thinking about that? I don't even know who that was, maybe I should rest now." Kage thought to himself.
(Birds chirping)
(Kage) "Crap the sun is bright, guess that means get you're lazy butt up."
(Mom) "Kage, breakfast!"
(Kage) "Guess mom is up already, better get up before she comes up here." Kage walked downstairs and a heavenly aroma from the food met him half way."
(Kage) "Morning mom."
(Mom) "Good morning dear!" She said happily.
(Kage) "You seem more happier and excited as ever, what's the occasion?"
(Mom) "Guess!"
(Kage) ?Ok, um, you got you're hair and nails done?"
(Mom) "Nooo..."
(Kage) "Um, you and dad put a hole in the floor last night?"
(Mom) "Nooo! I got it, I got the promotion I wanted!"
(Kage) "Oh Wow! That's great, what's you're position?"
(Mom) "My rank is high enough that I'm captain of my own squad now!" She revealed a police force badge.
(Kage) "Wow! Did you tell dad yet?"
(Mom) "I wanted to tell him when he came down!"
(Kage) "Maybe we can get new furniture, and TVs, and...Will my allowance increase?"
(Mom) "Of course dear!"
(Kage) "Alright! Maybe I can upgrade my wardrobe and get a second spare uniform!"
(Mom) "Settle down and eat your breakfast dear."
(Kage) "I'm already finished, I'm goin over to Chad's and I'll get Hiro on the way."
(Mom) "Alright dear, don't forget you're weekend curfew, be home by then for dinner."
(Kage) "Kay!" On the way, Kage to his favorite shortcut to Hiro's down Nagai lane. As he walked he got a chilling sensation, the one from the other night, and he just happened to have stopped in the same place as last time.
(Kage) "What is this strange feeling, why do I only feel it when I'm in front of this one house in the perfect view from that one window upstairs, why?"
The curtains in the upstairs window moved when he walked up to the gate, almost as if someone retreated from the window. He stood at the gate until the paper boy came a few minutes later, after the newspaper hit the front porch of the big blue house, he looked up to see the curtain move once again.
(Kage) "Hmm, I wonder." He said staring at the house as though he was trying to get his eyes to pierce through the walls of the house. Then, the front door slid open just enough for him to see an arm reach out to get the newspaper, after the mysterious person grabbed hold of it, all he saw was dark raven colored hair blow in the wind as they rushed back inside.
(Kage) "Raven colored hair." Kage thought to himself.
(Kage) "Oh, I better get going before Hiro comes looking for me." Kage said rushing on his way. As Kage left the house, someone followed from the front door to the gates to watch him as he left.
(Voice) "If only I could have come out to meet him." The voice said sadly.
(Arriving at Hiroyuki's house)
(Knock, knock, knock, knock)
(Pause)
(Knock, knock, knock, knock)
(The door opens)
(Hiro's mom) "Yes? Oh Kage, how are you?"
(Kage) "Morning Mrs. Sakano, is Hiro home?"
(Hiro's Mom) "Yes, please come in while I get him."
(Hiro's Mom) "Oh Hiroyuki, Kage's here!" His mother called out to him.
(Kage sniffing the air) It smells delicious as ever here Mrs. Sakano, you guys must have just had breakfast!
(Mrs. Sakano) "Why yes we did, have you had breakfast?"
(Kage) "Yes ma'am. He said politely.
(Hiroyuki) "Kage, I'll be down in a sec!" Hiro yelled from his room.
(Kage) "Kay!" Kage yelled back.
(Kage) "Mrs. Sakano, were you guys planning on going to the Pre-Summer Fair?"
(Mrs. Sakano) "Well we were going, but, we still need time to prepare, we've got our outfits but I..."
(Kage) "But what?"
(Brief Pause)
(Mrs. Sakano) "Well...I can't decide what color fingernail polish to wear with my outfit between red, blue, and green! It has all three colors in each pattern!"
(Kage) "I should have known, you have to look you're best for a special occasion."
(Mrs. Sakano) "I would say my best, just good enough, I'm saving my best for Christmas!"
(Kage) "Mrs. Sakano you're impossible!"
(Mrs. Sakano) "Please call me Karin." She said sensually trying to tease him. (She's like that sometimes, likes to tease people)
(Kage) "Very Funny!" He said slightly blushing.
(Hiroyuki) "Ok, I'm ready!" Hiro said leaping down the stairs. Mrs. Sakano moved Kage out of the way and punched Hiro as he was about to make it to the bottom of the stairs.
(Mrs. Sakano) "What did I tell you about that?"
(Hiroyuki) "Sorry mom." Hiro said dazed on the floor being dragged out by Kage.
(Kage) "Man she clobbered you, she could be in woman's boxing! Kage said laughing.
(Hiroyuki) "Hey it, not funny having a UFC fighter for a mother, if I skip out on too many chores when she's gone. She'll be bringing a butt-kicking home with her."
(Kage) "Yeah my mom could sense when I'm not doing my chores, and she does the same thing to me, but with her it's more deadly!"
(Hiroyuki) "Do you ever get the feeling that we won't live to see twenty if our grades drop below a 'B' in out classes?" He said.
(Kage) "Yeah, the despair sets in whenever I think about it." Kage said with a deathly expression on his face."
(They stare at each other with pale deathly faces)
(Chad) "Hey guys where you been? I've been waiting!" Chad yelled running from his house to meet them.
(Chad trying to catch his breath) "W...Where...Have...You been...I waited...for you..."
(Kage) "Settle down, we were on our way to get you, Hiro's mom held us up a bit."
(Hiro) "So, where to?"
(Chad) "How about the Karaoke Clubhouse?"
(Hiroyuki) "Yeah, we haven't been there in a while, let's go there!" Hiro said excitedly.
(Kage) "Do I really have to hear both of you're terrible voices?" Kage said joking with a grin on his face.
(Chad) "Bet you can sing a little Kage."
(Kage) "Ok, I'll show you, even though I don't really like to sing very much."
(Hiroyuki) "Then let's go, to the clubhouse!"
(Kage) "Alright, I just hope you guys have been practicing, last time you lost to a duo of little girls."
(Chad) "That wasn't fair, they were on a record label, and they were kid singers!"
Kage, Chad, and Hiroyuki went out to sing karaoke. And little did they know, Kage really was being watched, as they left, someone in a hooded robe followed behind without being noticed. The three finally made it to the karaoke club and they luckily arrived in time for the half price booth, Kage was being watch from far across the room, he hadn't noticed yet, which is probably what his pursuer wanted it to be like. But what does this person want with Kage?
(Kage) "Hey guys, I'm gonna go on home, I'm getting a little tired, catch you later."
(Chad) "Aw, come on Kage, stay a while longer why don't ya."
(Hiroyuki) "Yeah, the hot babes who show up around 8:00 aren't here yet, stick around and it might be worth you're while!"
(Kage) "Sorry guys, next time." Kage said leaving.
Kage keeps getting tired quickly as you may have noticed, but it's mainly caused by a kind of stress he occasionally feels.
(Kage) "I bet they think I'm lame for leaving five hours earlier than planned. But I didn't want to overdo it and faint."
Kage decided to take his favorite shortcut home again, but this time something felt different, he didn't know why, but he got the feeling he was being watched by an unknown predator. He looked around and then turned around, there was no one there. When he was ready to proceed on, he bumped into someone, it was none other than his stalker.
(Kage)
"Oh no, I'm sorry, are you hurt?" He said sincerely. There was no word, but the hooded person quickly shook their head.
(Kage) "Well, ok, really I'm sorry, I gotta go." The hooded person latched onto his arm almost immediately after he turned away.
(Kage) "Uh... can'I help you?" He said confused as to why that they'd do that. There was no response, the hooded person held onto his arm with their head close to him and moved one hand down to his.
(Kage) "Ok then, how about I walk you home? Still not a word, but this time, they took a step forward and the person holding onto his arm kept their head down as though to shield their identity from him.
(Kage) "Um, which house is yours?" The silence continues, but soon after, the hooded person slowed and then stopped in front of the same blue house Kage kept stopping by.
(Kage) "Uh, is this it?" The person nodded.
(Kage) "Ok, then I guess I'll be on my way now, see ya." Kage tried to go, but they still held onto him. He felt pretty awkward and didn't want to be mean and throw
them off of him, that's not something the real Kage would do.
(Kage) "Is something wrong? Something bothering you?" Kage said to express his concern. The hooded person held his arm tight and finally gave a few words.
(Hood person) "Will you, please come back? tomorrow maybe?" Kage didn't know what to say, a stranger asked him to return tomorrow as if they knew each other, but the Kind Kage couldn't say no, especially to someone with such a sweet voice.
(Kage) "Alright, if that's what you want, I guess I can, I'll be by tomorrow morning at
11:30, I don't usually get up till about 10:30. Is that ok?" The hooded person nodded and ran to the front door, they turned to look at him once more and then entered.
(Kage) "What was that about? What a weird day, who was that? Sounded like a girl's voice." Kage was very confused and didn't know what to do, all he knew was that his mystery pursuer might be a woman.
Just as Kage made it home his headache came back all over again, the only thing was that today, his parents decided to go to bed early while he was gone, REALLY gone to BED. He crept upstairs and down the hall to his room, he laid down staring at the ceiling trying to think of what to do next. Kage figured that he could show up and see what he was needed to do, he was nervous, but he wanted to know who she was and what she wanted from him.
That next morning, Kage woke up around 10:49 am, later than expected but at least he?d be able to get ready and eat breakfast before he left. Kage was ready to go out.
(Mom) "Where are you headed dear?"
(Kage) "Just out for a walk, I'll be back later, bye mom."
(Mom) (Sigh) "Sometimes I wonder about that boy, I'm his mother and I don't understand him as well as I should."
Kage, while headed to see the mysterious person at the spot they parted at, he became worried about what would happen when he got there. As he approached the house, he had his head, but not for long. As he reached the house on the hill at the halfway point of the street, he noticed someone standing outside the house looking up at it. It was a young girl about his age.
(Kage) "Uh, hi there." Kage said trying to greet her as he approached the house.
The girl looked down upon him and stood silently waiting for him, and she just happened to be in the spot Kage was to meet his mysterious new 'Friend'."
(Kage) "So um, do you like this house? It is beautiful." She said not a word, but she did give him her full attention.
(Kage) "Hey, do you know who lives here?" He asked with much curiosity.
Still not a word, she walked up to him and slowly circled him as though to examine his every feature closely.
(Kage) "What? I got dirt on me or something?" He said.
He had no clue why she'd continuously walk around him, and it kinda freaked him out, she looked at him like a marvel.
(Kage) "What's wrong?" She finished scouting him and stopped, she looked at him for a minute and then gave a gentle smile. She moved to his side and grabbed hold of his arm, just as the person from the other night did. At that moment, Kage had a flashback which reminded him of this, he slowly backed away and gave a confused look.
(Kage) "Wait, was it you? The one from the last night?" She gave a nod and walked over to the gate, there was a print scanner she used to open it.
Then, she stood inside the gate with a girlish pose with her head tilted and waited as though she was inviting him in.
(Kage) "Whoa! I just met you, I, couldn't possibly-" She ran up to him and gave a big smile, she grabbed his arm again and pulled him inside.
Kage lost his nerve as they entered, but his thoughts of the current situation changed, the inside of the house was that of a top class millionaire, he couldn't believe his eyes.
(Kage) "Wow. Do you really live here?" He said in amazement.
The girl was waiting at the staircase for him, Kage soon got the impression she wanted to show him something upstairs, perhaps her room he thought, he hoped not. As they scaled the 1 ½ story staircase, Kage's nervousness transformed interest, he was more worried about what he saw than what awaited him at the top of the stairs. After reaching the top, they went on to the room on the far left of the house, and the closer they got, the more of his nervousness returned.
(Kage shivering) (Gulp) "So uh, is this you're room?" His fear to getting to him nearly preventing a single word from escaping his lips.
The girl nodded and opened the door to reveal a dream land, there were paintings of the sky, the clouds, the trees, the grass, and a small river. On the ceiling, there was a picture of space showing stars and comets, Kage was beginning to get lost in thought, and then he noticed her waiting by the bed. His heart pounded harder the closer he came, she sat him down and pulled up a chair in front of him as if she was about to watch something on TV.
(Kage) "Tell me, who...?" The girl got up and went over to the other side of the room for some reason, she stood at the wall and a box shaped keypad emerged from the wall.
Her key strokes were calm yet swift as she entered the password, the keypad submerged itself into the was to reveal a shiny door with a sign that says 'Closet' on it.
(Kage) "Wow, a secret closet, how did you do that?" Kage said as though he thought he'd be amazed to no end.
(Kage) "Wow! That's cool! I wish I had one of those, maybe I can escape to it whenever my parents go at it." She turned to give him a delighted smile and then went in and closed the door.
(Kage) "H-Hey wait, what about me?" Kage said rising from the bed to follow her.
She poked her head out of the closet and gave him a smile, then she waved her hand gesturing to sit down, when he sat back down, she went back into the closet. A moment after, Kage heard a click and stereos came from within the walls around the room, and relaxation music flowed through the air. The music was calm, yet it had a touch of romance.
(Kage) "Whoa, I like the idea of getting to meet her and see all the great things she has, but if this is going the way I think it is..." The girl returned, but only to find that Kage's shyness and nervousness got the better of him. She seemed sort of sad but also relieved, and after a moment, a look of determination shined through her face.
Later that morning at school...
(Chad) "Yo Kage, Kage, Kage, Kage...!" Chad shouted in Kage's face trying to knock him out of his daze.
(Hiroyuki) "Kage, you ok man? You're silent as a muted movie and as red as a tomato." Hiro said trying to get his
attention as well.
(Chad) "KAAAGEEEE!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, he nearly silenced the entire classroom. Kage jumped out of his thoughts and back into reality.
(Kage) "Huh? What is it Chad?" Kage said still blushing with full intent.
Chad got into Kage's face nearly kissing distance, staring at Kage angrily.
(Chad) "Where were you yesterday? Why didn't you call me? And why are
you still blushing? Chad's loud voice gave off an intense wind that had Kage's hair pointed back.
(Kage) "Are you alright? You seem stressed." Kage said with a confused look on his face.
(Hiroyuki) "The problem is, you"ve been sitting there daydreaming for about half an hour now and we've been trying to get you're full attention!"
(Kage) "Oh, sorry. Guess I've got a lot on my mind."
(Hiroyuki) "Oh, I bet." Hiro said suspiciously.
(Kage) "W-What do you mean?"
(Hiroyuki) "You have a girlfriend you never told us about don't you?"
(Kage) "W-What? No way!" Kage said trying to defend himself.
(Chad) "Then why the girly daydream?"
(Kage) "I wasn't daydreaming! And it wasn't Girly!"
(Hiroyuki) "You sat there doing it for so long, I could've ran home to get my camcorder to record it!"
(Kage) "You guys always want to know all the details." Kage said with tears flowing down his face (funny anime crying gesture).
(Both guys) "Hell Yeah!"
(Kage) "Fine. I'll tell you, but you have to sit down, no talking, and no question!"
(Both guys) "Yes sensei." They both bow to him.
(Kage) "How hopeless." He said kind of annoyed.
(Kage) "Ok, here's the thing, there was this girl..."
(Hiroyuki) "Hah! Knew it, girl!" Kage clocked him on the head.
(Kage) "I said no talking if you want to hear it!"
(Hiroyuki) "I got it!" He said shivering as the knot on his head grew.
(Kage) "There's this girl, I don't know her name yet so don't ask, she has raven hair and her eyes the color of her hair, she has pigtails, long pigs too, and she's just..."
(Hiroyuki) "Mega-Mega Cute?"
(Chad) "Mega-Mega Sexy?"
(Kage) "She's unbelievable for a girl her age." They both sink into the floor in bliss as if melting.
(Kage) "She wonderful in ever way, and on top of that, she barely ever talks.
(Hiroyuki) "Hey guys, you know what? I think I've seen her before!"
(Chad) "What?"
(Kage) "R-Really? Where, where?" Kage said getting overexcited.
(Hiroyuki) "If we can escape the eyes of the hawk, we can get out to see her."
(Chad) "But how, she could see out every move while in a deep sleep!"
(Kage) "You guys underestimate me, I keep stuff for just this kind of occasion."
(Chad) "Stuff? What Stuff?"
Kage opened his backpack to reveal cloaking spray cans, voice communicator watches, and sunglasses.
(Chad) "Where do you get this stuff?"
(Kage) "Dude, my parents are like the Japanese modern day versions of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, I can get my hands on stuff like this." They look at Kage as though he was insane.
(Hiroyuki) "I never knew Kage was as crazy as his parents."
(Chad) "Neither have I."
(Kage) "Shut up!"
Kage sprayed the three of them after they got suited up for their mission, they only had 10 minutes to get there to see her and get back undetected.
(Kage) "All right, let's go!" The three of them marched out.
(Teacher) "I smell something, I smell...naughty boys, their tears will taste so delicious when I find them!"
Only seven minutes to go and they were nearing the class C hallway.
(Kage) "Uh, you sure you know where you're going?"
(Hiroyuki) "Of course bro, I see her all the time on my way to the gym, she always seems so quiet and focused on something, like she's worried about something important."
(Kage) "Are you sure?"
(Hiroyuki) "Positive."
(Chad) "I don't know, I usually see him taking the long way to the gym to peek in on the hot art teacher."
(Hiroyuki) "Hey, cut me some slack, I'm trying to help out our bud Kage."
(Kage) "Thanks Hiro." Kage said with a smile.
(Hiroyuki) "Remember this Kage, Hallway C, Class 3."
(Kage) "Got it!"
Now five minutes left, they were finally at C hallway, they all split up in their own directions, Kage went to see that girl he was looking for, Chad went back to class, and Hiro went to look in on that art teacher.
(Kage) "Hmm, Hiro said class 3, right?" Kage said peeking into each classroom.
When he got to class three, he looked around and thought he'd never find her, but then, he looked back toward where his seat would've been and he saw her in the exact same spot.
(Kage) "It's her! And al this, she knew I existed but I didn't know she did, it must've been sad to like someone at you're school who doesn't even know who you are." Kage felt really bad after thinking about it for a moment, he thought back on how he couldn't remember seeing a single person at the girl's house, not even a butler, she must've been so lonely and wanted someone who would be there for her. Kage at least had his family and a few friends, but she had no one, so he figured the least he could do is try to get close to her, maybe to be friends.
(Kage) "Oh Crap! I'll be exposed if I don't get going! The spray ran off just now!" Kage panicked and ran back to class.
Luckily, Kage made it back to class without being detected, so were his buddies, but now Kage has a wrong he has to right.
School ended, the day ended. End of Chapter 1