Chapter I: To Whom It May Concern
January 18, 12007
Dearest Mother,
Yes, I ran away. I'm off to the military to become an LFO pilot. I know that you promised to disown me if I ever joined the military (and I know that you would never go back on your word) but please understand that I'm only doing this because I don't want to be a house wife that just sits around all day, waiting for her husband to come home to his lukewarm dinner and three children that have been whining for the past three hours. I want to go out and be successful and do whatever I desire. I deserve to do better for me, and no, it may not be up to your standards, mother but one must fly the coup and live, and that's what I intend to do. Someday soon I will come home and visit, but until then I will write when and if time permits.
Love Always,
Moniku
And that was the last time I said anything to my mother in ten years. I was sixteen and stupid when I wrote that to her and the only thing that has changed since then is that I'm twenty-six now. My mother and I have never met eye-to-eye on anything, and we clashed on every and anything possible. My mother was a homebody. She didn't enjoy going on trips or leaving town in general. Bellforest was her home but it wasn't mine. I needed to get out of there before I ended up more stupid and pregnant.
I always wanted to get away from home, and whenever I had the chance to, whatever the reason may be, I did so. Back then my house was divided and miserable. All of my five, older siblings went out on their own but managed to end up poor, as drug addicts or a combination of both, and my parents always argued. It was my parents' duty to make sure that I didn't end up that way, so they attempted to keep me on track and in Bellforest, but that obviously didn't work. Who in their right mind would want to stay here anyway?
My first job in the U.F. Force was as a mailroom girl. Every day I would toil for hours upon hours in a hot, musty room filled with unorganized letters and just put them into the correct mailboxes. It wasn't the best first job in the world, but to me it was a small piece in a large puzzle.
As I began to be noticed by superior officials, I was promoted to an LFO pilot trainee within a matter of months. That's when all the fun began. My best friend, at the time, was Talho Yuki. She worked in the information bureau, and the two of us used to do almost everything together. She'd take me to parties, out to eat and on day trips, but all of that stopped when she started dating that guy: Holland Novak. We were going on strong as best friends until a couple of weeks before Christmas when she announced who she was seeing. At first I was happy for her, only minimally sad that I would be spending less and less time with her, but after a while she would cancel plans to go see him.
"I don't mean to be a bitch, but I really enjoy spending time with him…not that I don't enjoy spending it with you because I do, but you'll understand when you start dating." Talho would say, seeming nervous of my response. Mentally I was pissed out of my mind, but I hid my anger in order to keep the peace between us.
I remember the first time I went on a date with her and Holland as the notorious "third wheel". He was very handsome and seemed very much into Talho, but I didn't like his attitude. There was just something about that man that didn't sit well with me. The more she brought him around me, the more I started to dislike him and the more he and I used to argue. This downward spiral continued for a while until she decided to call it quits and not bring Holland or herself for that matter, around me. Those were probably the worst and loneliest six months of my life.
But as they say, as one door closes another one opens. Toshiro Iwamura was, unlike me, happy, smart and not a part of the military. He was actually a rebel that they have been trying to capture since he was ten, and when I met him he was seventeen. The young man was extremely handsome, hand scruffy black hair and stubble, but he had these gorgeous chocolate eyes and a contagious smile.
In fact, speaking of rebels, I was sent to capture him. It was my very first mission as a pilot, and unfortunately Holland and some chick named Eureka who was very antisocial, accompanied me. The three of us had Toshiro and his "boys" surrounded at a governmental building that they were defacing, and surprisingly his friends got away (mind you they only had ref boards and we were in LFOs), but Toshiro stayed, putting his hands up. Eureka and Holland went after his cronies while I tried to intimidate him. When he noticed how I was new to this, he put his hands down.
"This is totally not you, is it?" He asked. I sucked my teeth.
"Oh shut up, and put your hands up!" I said trying to sound angry. He laughed at this.
"Babe, why the hell are you even in this career? You can't even keep your face straight when standing me up, and I'm literally turning myself in to you, and you can't even stun me or do some shit to knock me out. Unbelievable." I was dumbfounded. He, a rebel, turn himself in? This is a joke.
"Wait, isn't it ignoble of your cause as a rebel to turn yourself in?" I asked, opening the top of the LFO.
"Not really, it just shows that I have the balls to turn a new leaf. Hey, you don't have to stay up there. Come down here, I won't bite, and besides I'm tired of yelling up there." With hesitation, I gingerly exited the LFO and walked up to him. He roughly shook my hand and smiled. "The names Toshiro."
"Moniku." I responded quietly. I felt bad. He was right; I'm not fit to be in the Force. I can't even bring myself to look at a gun! I need to get out of here. "Go. Get out of here, and never come back." I instructed. His smile became straight as I said so.
"Not unless you come with me. You can't do this. You're too pretty and girly for this job, and you'll see some shit that scars you for life." He said. I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't just leave my job behind… or could I? Toshiro didn't even wait for me to answer him; he just hopped into the LFO and looked down at me.
"Living is not doing something that you know won't benefit you. Living is having fun and enjoying life. A bird has to fly the coup to live." He said as he signaled for me to climb up. I stood there in my army uniform for a minute to just absorb everything, then I let go of the past and ran away with him. And that was the first day I experienced love and life.
