Tsuyoshi in Iraq - The Draft Persecution
(Chapter I)
"May I sit down here, please?"
"Oh no, not at all!," a handsome and timid boy moved his package that was in the window seat below to the floor in between his shoes, with a fixed and courteous manner. He sat up and pulled his shirt down and rested his head on the pillow that was on the top of the seat. The train whistled and chugged while the night gradually turned into setrise. Outside, Japan still looked it if it was almost a sleeping bear hibernating in a dark and gloomy cave.
The boy's name was Tsuyoshi, and it was about ten years that he grew into an adult after his lively time in school of age 14. He eventually married his beautiful Aya, and became good neighbors with Akito and Sana, who were irrevocably coupled. Time passed by, and all was peaceful. Fuka strangely ended up engaging with Naozumi, to which Tsuyoshi was surprised.
"Ah, isn't it great that you guys have something to share in common?" complimented Tsuyoshi.
"Well, yes, and seems to me that you've got quite a time on your hands to ask such a question," said Naozumi.
"We could remember those times when things were what they used to be. But today, that has changed."
"So, how's your Aya? Is she doing fine?"
"Oh.. pretty much, we've just had some time together, turning up the music, and relaxing... Yes..."
"Well, Fuka's a person to which I am much more to myself than I was ever before in this world.... I never knew I would fall so deeply in love with her. It was as if..."
"I must go now. It's my stop. I'll see you at work tomorrow. Cya!" Tsuyoshi waved at his corporate partner. He still couldn't believe that Fuka and Naozumi would actually get hooked together for years to come. He went up the steps towards the train station. "All passengers boarding Gate 5..."
On the train, Tsuyoshi dreamt of how serene his world had become, and the intimate problems he solved for everyone he practically knew in Japan. The passenger who sat next to him seemed queer for Tsuyoshi noticed him staring at his package. He wore a dignified uniform revealing his high ranks of many battles. The bureaucrat stood up and increditavely drank Tsuyoshi's wine that was poised within the seat cupholder.
"Hi, my name's Juuke, and I'm the recruiting officer of Tokyo's Japanese Self Defense Forces, and as you know, our country is at war with the terrorists. We are fully conscripting all possible males age 18 to 55 to enlist in the military. It is imperative, you take this into consideration that you will be randomly selected by our officers, called upon by the Monarchy guardsmen of the Diet/Kokkai Parliament. Call me at this number here below this address if you have any questions." The officer gave him a business card that was embroidered with gold-like filings all around the edges. He left without hesisitation and was gone before Tsuyoshi could turn around and notice that the train door had hinged itself back to a closed state.
Tsuyoshi, turned around and looked at the card, for he knew that Japan had gone slightly mysterious. How could he join his army to fight in such a war? What would the others think of him? Is he ready for this? It is as if the third world war had probably begun. He tucked the card in his shirt pocket, and fixed his head on the pillow again. In a moment, he fell into a blank and calmful sleep.
Next morning, the sun rose over the misty mountains. It shone on the carrier roofs with unmerciful heat that melted the window dew to steam. Inside, Tsuyoshi woke up, stretched, and headed up to go to the restrooms. He knocked on the door..
"Anyone in there?" Tsuyoshi went in and saw through the vent window the distant mountains glistening in light. He cracked his neck and sat on the seat. Out of nowhere, he heard a beeping sound. It sounded like a bird had landed on the extended train conditioner, to which it was fanning outside. 'Blee-dee-dip-deepp...' He heard that sound again. Where did it come from? he thought. This time, it seem to came from the bottom of the waste seat. He looked in and noticed that it was peculiarly dry. He felt the inside edges, and felt a sharp cold stick poking at him. Was that a living thing in there? He kneeled down and dug his hand into the toilet pipe. All of a sudden, it is as if he felt.... Oh no, he thought.... Could it be?
Tsuyoshi, stormed out the door and ran towards the end of the train car. He opened the transfer door to the other train and at that instance, he heard another similar beeping sound outside. It sounded loud, that even the wind hurling around could not surpress its frequency. 'BEE-DEE-BEEP-BEE-DEE-BEEP!' the strange object went. He quickly spotted it that was beneath the train roof. It was, he guessed it, an explosive.
He knew it was an electro-fire bomb due to his experience in engineering explosives at demolition school; it was just about two years ago when his instructor ordered the demolishing the old Tokyo tower version of the Eiffel in France. He now currently works at Hoyshai Buildings Corporation with Naozumi. Tsuyoshi never had any knowledge of disarming such deadly blast weapons many consider are only second devastating to suicide attacks.
As soon as he stepped into the next train, he went to the large call room to warn the driver. "Hello? Don't get me wrong, but I think these trains have wired bombs attached!" Tsuyoshi paused to listen to the responding driver. He couldn't quite get the receiving message as the phone he was using was beaten badly by many many passengers.
"I can't hear you!" screamed Tsuyoshi. He hung up and called his wife through the cell. "Hello, Aya? Yes, this is Tsuyoshi.... Well, I've just gotten up, and so my voice might be not fully awake. And..."
At the house in Sana's neighborhood, Aya had gotten up to go to training work. At this time, she spoke on the phone,
"How can this be? You have to get off that train, Tsuyoshi! Please! I don't want you to.."
On the other line, Tsuyoshi heard a loud and rippling bang. Immediately, the train he had just been and where he had left the package on, had just lost its wheels and slidded down the hills toward a nearby lake. Tsuyoshi, not knowing what he was doing, hung up the cell phone, and looked out the back-door window. Half of the train convoy had been gone. The back cargo train group had plunged into the waters and drowned its victims. The driver, who had half-heard the explosion, stepped on the emergency brake until the train screeched, just like a harsh chalk rubbing against a coarse chalkboard. Sparks flew out of the railroad. In a second, the surviving train, released a stock of steam, and an announcement came in: "It looks that that there had been a technical crisis. Please remain in your seats as we resolve this issue. Thank you, this is your driver Pekay speaking."
Everyone on the remaining trains started chattering to each other. One of the men got up. "I say we complain to this rediculous service. I want my refund!" Tsuyoshi saw the officer he haw earlier come from the front of the express approached towards the man. The officer Juuke pushed the furious fellow into his seat. All of a sudden, Tsuyoshi heard several helicopters roaring in the sky. In a minute, two of them landed near the tracks. The crafts had fixed missile and gattling guns, and they had soldiers pouring out to the ground. All of combatants had army-issued M-16s. "Go, go, go! I want this area secured! Evacuate all surviving W/C victims!" a tall figure said outside.
Footsteps came into the train rooms, and everyone was brought outside. As soon as the women and children were loaded onto the helis, Tsuyoshi felt a slight tap behind his shoulder. He saw several militists talking to the groups of men who were being searched for what seems to be signs of I.D. licenses. Juuke, the officer in front him, advised, "It is time, Tsuyoshi. A second wave of helicopters will come pick us up and send us to a nearby base. As for now, fill out this application, and do not distress yourself, we will let you contact your friends and families on the way there."
Tsuyoshi sat with the other exausted men in the floating gunship flying to the military base that was 75 miles north of Tokyo. He felt impaired by the fact to see what happened just hours earlier. That loud explosion just occuring on the point of mid-dawn gave him a steady siezure. He imagines the the thought of being in that train he left his package in. He visualizes a situation of him being pitilessly trapped in there and drowning with the innocent people into the swampy lake.
He shook his head and felt he was going to cry. He never thought that the day would come to undoubtedly fight in the army. A tear came out, and he rubbed his shirt over his face twice trying to soothe his shattered soul. What would Aya think of this? He had to call her. The helicopter landed on a pad. The back hatch door opened up, and several soldiers came up to help grab the men out. Desert dust caught in everyone's eyes and mouths. They were escorted to a large bunker house for which a Japanese flag was hoisted up on top.
"Men, you may use the phones to contact your loved ones. Please use your time wisely as you will have 15 minutes to call." a high-ranking driller said. All of the men scrambled to the booths. Since the booths could only serve half of them, many began fighting and cursing at each other.
"QUIET! QUIET!!! SIT DOWN!" the driller said, "I said sit down!" The men halted their actions and looked at the driller and began to seat themselves down on the dusty wooden floor. A guy at the back started coughing. "Men, the Japanese defense administration have called upon all of you and many other male citizens across the islands to call at arms and fight in Iraq. Several regiments have been stationed there and are already being under attack by the Hussaini Rebels. The United States is doing all it can to hold off the enemy excursions, but they need our help! We have got to cooperate. Alright, if you need to call your families and friends, please do so now, BUT FIRST, I want half of you to wait for the first half to finish their calls. Each half group will have 7.5 minutes to use their time."
The drill sergeant picked out the men for the first 7.5 minutes use. Tsuyoshi was the last of half-group called. Tsuyoshi came up to the sergeant and found out his cell had been missing. He disregarded the lost article and went to a booth. He thought for awhile and found out that Aya was at a routinely baseball game with Fuka and Sana. Aya didn't had a cell, but Sana did. He called Sana's cell and in two rings, heard a cheerful voice called him, "Hi! Sana speaking!"
"Sana! Is Aya sitting with you at the moment? I need to talk to her. It's kind of an emergency."
"Hold on.."
"Tsuyoshi! I was worried because I've been pondering you the whole day, and I couldn't really concentrate on the game!"
"Don't worry, I'm at a rescue base somewhere.. Well I don't know where, but I'll tell you later! Now, I've got to tell you that the military is starting to draft all men to fight overseas with America and Great Britain!"
"Oh no! That's awful. What could..."
"I know, I know.. Here, let me talk to Sana while you talk to Fuka about this draft."
"O.K. Let me hand this over.."
"Hello? Yeah, it's Sana. What's up?"
"I know this may sound shocking, but I'm afraid Japan is drafting all men to fight in the war."
Sana looked ghastly and paused. She mumbled, "Akito couldn't be, how can.."
"Hello, Sana? Are you there?" Tsuyoshi felt a sweat accumulating on his forehead and neck. His cheeks were pink. He took off his glasses and cleaned it with a cloth and continued, "Sana? You alright?"
"I-I-no, I cannot let Akito go, and neither should you. I'm going ask Akito to look for you. YOu stay where you are."
"Sana, I don't know if the army would let me rest here for a while; I might be transferred to another base sooner or later."
The driller came out of his office at the back of the room, "Alright people, time's up... NEXT group!"
Tsuyoshi glanced at the driller and endured his conversations, "I gotta go now. Tell Aya I love her, and to breathe in and out slowly whenever she's in panic! Bye!"
Tsuyoshi got up and went to a bench near the window. It was getting dark outside and he could hear jets landing in and out of the fields. Next to him, he saw a fine gentleman wearing ripped jeans and a plain shirt. Could it be... no! Wait a minute.. It is. It is! Akito was casually sitting down not noticing the existng world, always thinking about the unknown. Tsuyoshi could not recognize his figure due to its beaten up clothes and hair.
"Akito, is it that you?"
"Huh? Tsuyoshi, what are you doing here? You're too young to be starting to fight overseas."
"What? We're the same age for heavens sakes!"
"Well, you might wanna get some new glasses because they're really making you look like a geekish bust boy."
"I've had these since I was in 5th grade! I cannot take them off! They've given me memories of.." Tsuyoshi started to wimp. He sniffed, and watched the expressionless Akito stare down at him. AKito placed an arm around and patted his back. Tsuyoshi's sister had moved to Australia for an editor job application. He hoped he had moved with her in the first place a couple years ago, but he did not had the fortunate permission from the immigration assemblies who now only allowed one family member to travel to other places (which the government policized in order to make effort on protecting international homeland security).
"Dude, it's alright. We might just end up to become military chefs feeding grains to everyone."
"How is that so? We don't have the skills to.."
"It does not matter, I've been learning to cook, even with my broken hand, when I was
very young at L.A. while my dad was always away at work. Later when I came back to Japan, Sana taught
me more about it, how to prepare fried vegetables..."
"Akito... you could teach me how to fry fish?"
"Well, it takes some practice, but I could help you start with breadmaking first."
Tsuyoshi, sat and thought of the things he could prepare to impress the driller.
A corporal that was smoking outside of the building spray-painted an army truck on the roadside. He dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it. Walking away, he carried a rifle over his shoulder to a nearby lighted cabin. The wordings on the truck said, "This is the offical day our country calls for the 'Draft Persecution'." At the end of it, the strange Imperial symbol of the Japanese flag appeared.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please review. The author needs at least 5 total reviews to continue the storyline.
Tina, if you are reading this, please review! Duh! :)
(Chapter I)
"May I sit down here, please?"
"Oh no, not at all!," a handsome and timid boy moved his package that was in the window seat below to the floor in between his shoes, with a fixed and courteous manner. He sat up and pulled his shirt down and rested his head on the pillow that was on the top of the seat. The train whistled and chugged while the night gradually turned into setrise. Outside, Japan still looked it if it was almost a sleeping bear hibernating in a dark and gloomy cave.
The boy's name was Tsuyoshi, and it was about ten years that he grew into an adult after his lively time in school of age 14. He eventually married his beautiful Aya, and became good neighbors with Akito and Sana, who were irrevocably coupled. Time passed by, and all was peaceful. Fuka strangely ended up engaging with Naozumi, to which Tsuyoshi was surprised.
"Ah, isn't it great that you guys have something to share in common?" complimented Tsuyoshi.
"Well, yes, and seems to me that you've got quite a time on your hands to ask such a question," said Naozumi.
"We could remember those times when things were what they used to be. But today, that has changed."
"So, how's your Aya? Is she doing fine?"
"Oh.. pretty much, we've just had some time together, turning up the music, and relaxing... Yes..."
"Well, Fuka's a person to which I am much more to myself than I was ever before in this world.... I never knew I would fall so deeply in love with her. It was as if..."
"I must go now. It's my stop. I'll see you at work tomorrow. Cya!" Tsuyoshi waved at his corporate partner. He still couldn't believe that Fuka and Naozumi would actually get hooked together for years to come. He went up the steps towards the train station. "All passengers boarding Gate 5..."
On the train, Tsuyoshi dreamt of how serene his world had become, and the intimate problems he solved for everyone he practically knew in Japan. The passenger who sat next to him seemed queer for Tsuyoshi noticed him staring at his package. He wore a dignified uniform revealing his high ranks of many battles. The bureaucrat stood up and increditavely drank Tsuyoshi's wine that was poised within the seat cupholder.
"Hi, my name's Juuke, and I'm the recruiting officer of Tokyo's Japanese Self Defense Forces, and as you know, our country is at war with the terrorists. We are fully conscripting all possible males age 18 to 55 to enlist in the military. It is imperative, you take this into consideration that you will be randomly selected by our officers, called upon by the Monarchy guardsmen of the Diet/Kokkai Parliament. Call me at this number here below this address if you have any questions." The officer gave him a business card that was embroidered with gold-like filings all around the edges. He left without hesisitation and was gone before Tsuyoshi could turn around and notice that the train door had hinged itself back to a closed state.
Tsuyoshi, turned around and looked at the card, for he knew that Japan had gone slightly mysterious. How could he join his army to fight in such a war? What would the others think of him? Is he ready for this? It is as if the third world war had probably begun. He tucked the card in his shirt pocket, and fixed his head on the pillow again. In a moment, he fell into a blank and calmful sleep.
Next morning, the sun rose over the misty mountains. It shone on the carrier roofs with unmerciful heat that melted the window dew to steam. Inside, Tsuyoshi woke up, stretched, and headed up to go to the restrooms. He knocked on the door..
"Anyone in there?" Tsuyoshi went in and saw through the vent window the distant mountains glistening in light. He cracked his neck and sat on the seat. Out of nowhere, he heard a beeping sound. It sounded like a bird had landed on the extended train conditioner, to which it was fanning outside. 'Blee-dee-dip-deepp...' He heard that sound again. Where did it come from? he thought. This time, it seem to came from the bottom of the waste seat. He looked in and noticed that it was peculiarly dry. He felt the inside edges, and felt a sharp cold stick poking at him. Was that a living thing in there? He kneeled down and dug his hand into the toilet pipe. All of a sudden, it is as if he felt.... Oh no, he thought.... Could it be?
Tsuyoshi, stormed out the door and ran towards the end of the train car. He opened the transfer door to the other train and at that instance, he heard another similar beeping sound outside. It sounded loud, that even the wind hurling around could not surpress its frequency. 'BEE-DEE-BEEP-BEE-DEE-BEEP!' the strange object went. He quickly spotted it that was beneath the train roof. It was, he guessed it, an explosive.
He knew it was an electro-fire bomb due to his experience in engineering explosives at demolition school; it was just about two years ago when his instructor ordered the demolishing the old Tokyo tower version of the Eiffel in France. He now currently works at Hoyshai Buildings Corporation with Naozumi. Tsuyoshi never had any knowledge of disarming such deadly blast weapons many consider are only second devastating to suicide attacks.
As soon as he stepped into the next train, he went to the large call room to warn the driver. "Hello? Don't get me wrong, but I think these trains have wired bombs attached!" Tsuyoshi paused to listen to the responding driver. He couldn't quite get the receiving message as the phone he was using was beaten badly by many many passengers.
"I can't hear you!" screamed Tsuyoshi. He hung up and called his wife through the cell. "Hello, Aya? Yes, this is Tsuyoshi.... Well, I've just gotten up, and so my voice might be not fully awake. And..."
At the house in Sana's neighborhood, Aya had gotten up to go to training work. At this time, she spoke on the phone,
"How can this be? You have to get off that train, Tsuyoshi! Please! I don't want you to.."
On the other line, Tsuyoshi heard a loud and rippling bang. Immediately, the train he had just been and where he had left the package on, had just lost its wheels and slidded down the hills toward a nearby lake. Tsuyoshi, not knowing what he was doing, hung up the cell phone, and looked out the back-door window. Half of the train convoy had been gone. The back cargo train group had plunged into the waters and drowned its victims. The driver, who had half-heard the explosion, stepped on the emergency brake until the train screeched, just like a harsh chalk rubbing against a coarse chalkboard. Sparks flew out of the railroad. In a second, the surviving train, released a stock of steam, and an announcement came in: "It looks that that there had been a technical crisis. Please remain in your seats as we resolve this issue. Thank you, this is your driver Pekay speaking."
Everyone on the remaining trains started chattering to each other. One of the men got up. "I say we complain to this rediculous service. I want my refund!" Tsuyoshi saw the officer he haw earlier come from the front of the express approached towards the man. The officer Juuke pushed the furious fellow into his seat. All of a sudden, Tsuyoshi heard several helicopters roaring in the sky. In a minute, two of them landed near the tracks. The crafts had fixed missile and gattling guns, and they had soldiers pouring out to the ground. All of combatants had army-issued M-16s. "Go, go, go! I want this area secured! Evacuate all surviving W/C victims!" a tall figure said outside.
Footsteps came into the train rooms, and everyone was brought outside. As soon as the women and children were loaded onto the helis, Tsuyoshi felt a slight tap behind his shoulder. He saw several militists talking to the groups of men who were being searched for what seems to be signs of I.D. licenses. Juuke, the officer in front him, advised, "It is time, Tsuyoshi. A second wave of helicopters will come pick us up and send us to a nearby base. As for now, fill out this application, and do not distress yourself, we will let you contact your friends and families on the way there."
Tsuyoshi sat with the other exausted men in the floating gunship flying to the military base that was 75 miles north of Tokyo. He felt impaired by the fact to see what happened just hours earlier. That loud explosion just occuring on the point of mid-dawn gave him a steady siezure. He imagines the the thought of being in that train he left his package in. He visualizes a situation of him being pitilessly trapped in there and drowning with the innocent people into the swampy lake.
He shook his head and felt he was going to cry. He never thought that the day would come to undoubtedly fight in the army. A tear came out, and he rubbed his shirt over his face twice trying to soothe his shattered soul. What would Aya think of this? He had to call her. The helicopter landed on a pad. The back hatch door opened up, and several soldiers came up to help grab the men out. Desert dust caught in everyone's eyes and mouths. They were escorted to a large bunker house for which a Japanese flag was hoisted up on top.
"Men, you may use the phones to contact your loved ones. Please use your time wisely as you will have 15 minutes to call." a high-ranking driller said. All of the men scrambled to the booths. Since the booths could only serve half of them, many began fighting and cursing at each other.
"QUIET! QUIET!!! SIT DOWN!" the driller said, "I said sit down!" The men halted their actions and looked at the driller and began to seat themselves down on the dusty wooden floor. A guy at the back started coughing. "Men, the Japanese defense administration have called upon all of you and many other male citizens across the islands to call at arms and fight in Iraq. Several regiments have been stationed there and are already being under attack by the Hussaini Rebels. The United States is doing all it can to hold off the enemy excursions, but they need our help! We have got to cooperate. Alright, if you need to call your families and friends, please do so now, BUT FIRST, I want half of you to wait for the first half to finish their calls. Each half group will have 7.5 minutes to use their time."
The drill sergeant picked out the men for the first 7.5 minutes use. Tsuyoshi was the last of half-group called. Tsuyoshi came up to the sergeant and found out his cell had been missing. He disregarded the lost article and went to a booth. He thought for awhile and found out that Aya was at a routinely baseball game with Fuka and Sana. Aya didn't had a cell, but Sana did. He called Sana's cell and in two rings, heard a cheerful voice called him, "Hi! Sana speaking!"
"Sana! Is Aya sitting with you at the moment? I need to talk to her. It's kind of an emergency."
"Hold on.."
"Tsuyoshi! I was worried because I've been pondering you the whole day, and I couldn't really concentrate on the game!"
"Don't worry, I'm at a rescue base somewhere.. Well I don't know where, but I'll tell you later! Now, I've got to tell you that the military is starting to draft all men to fight overseas with America and Great Britain!"
"Oh no! That's awful. What could..."
"I know, I know.. Here, let me talk to Sana while you talk to Fuka about this draft."
"O.K. Let me hand this over.."
"Hello? Yeah, it's Sana. What's up?"
"I know this may sound shocking, but I'm afraid Japan is drafting all men to fight in the war."
Sana looked ghastly and paused. She mumbled, "Akito couldn't be, how can.."
"Hello, Sana? Are you there?" Tsuyoshi felt a sweat accumulating on his forehead and neck. His cheeks were pink. He took off his glasses and cleaned it with a cloth and continued, "Sana? You alright?"
"I-I-no, I cannot let Akito go, and neither should you. I'm going ask Akito to look for you. YOu stay where you are."
"Sana, I don't know if the army would let me rest here for a while; I might be transferred to another base sooner or later."
The driller came out of his office at the back of the room, "Alright people, time's up... NEXT group!"
Tsuyoshi glanced at the driller and endured his conversations, "I gotta go now. Tell Aya I love her, and to breathe in and out slowly whenever she's in panic! Bye!"
Tsuyoshi got up and went to a bench near the window. It was getting dark outside and he could hear jets landing in and out of the fields. Next to him, he saw a fine gentleman wearing ripped jeans and a plain shirt. Could it be... no! Wait a minute.. It is. It is! Akito was casually sitting down not noticing the existng world, always thinking about the unknown. Tsuyoshi could not recognize his figure due to its beaten up clothes and hair.
"Akito, is it that you?"
"Huh? Tsuyoshi, what are you doing here? You're too young to be starting to fight overseas."
"What? We're the same age for heavens sakes!"
"Well, you might wanna get some new glasses because they're really making you look like a geekish bust boy."
"I've had these since I was in 5th grade! I cannot take them off! They've given me memories of.." Tsuyoshi started to wimp. He sniffed, and watched the expressionless Akito stare down at him. AKito placed an arm around and patted his back. Tsuyoshi's sister had moved to Australia for an editor job application. He hoped he had moved with her in the first place a couple years ago, but he did not had the fortunate permission from the immigration assemblies who now only allowed one family member to travel to other places (which the government policized in order to make effort on protecting international homeland security).
"Dude, it's alright. We might just end up to become military chefs feeding grains to everyone."
"How is that so? We don't have the skills to.."
"It does not matter, I've been learning to cook, even with my broken hand, when I was
very young at L.A. while my dad was always away at work. Later when I came back to Japan, Sana taught
me more about it, how to prepare fried vegetables..."
"Akito... you could teach me how to fry fish?"
"Well, it takes some practice, but I could help you start with breadmaking first."
Tsuyoshi, sat and thought of the things he could prepare to impress the driller.
A corporal that was smoking outside of the building spray-painted an army truck on the roadside. He dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it. Walking away, he carried a rifle over his shoulder to a nearby lighted cabin. The wordings on the truck said, "This is the offical day our country calls for the 'Draft Persecution'." At the end of it, the strange Imperial symbol of the Japanese flag appeared.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please review. The author needs at least 5 total reviews to continue the storyline.
Tina, if you are reading this, please review! Duh! :)