Chapter 1
Mr. Kyuzo stood by the front door of his apartment block, situated far out of the main city of Tokyo, above an oriental Chinese restaurant that always wafted the smell of fish and batter through the floor of his place.
He was told via official letter that he should go down to street level at 10:15am exactly to meet a 'Government official limousine'.
Apparently he had to look out for the Japanese flags flying; like he'd have to identify an official limousine from a normal one- limousines around here were as rare as… well, put it this way, it would make the headlines of the local newspapers.
He glanced down at his watch: 10:13am. It was as dry today as it had been for the last 7 months.
The restaurant was as empty as usual, the school down the end of the main street was quiet as the children where in class and the cows in the field opposite the apartment stood idle, surrounded by chocolate-brown grass and dried out tree stumps- a reminder that this village used to be one of the main producers of fruit for the country.
Suddenly, all the doors leading out of the school opened and about 40 pupils- the population of the school- came charging out and around the corner, and out of view.
Moments later, a metallic, pure white limousine drove round the corner, kicking up dust from the dry dirt road with all 40 kids in tow.
Panic set in as he remembered the letter rambling on about this meeting being top secret Government business.
People all down the street were sticking their heads out from their houses or shop-fronts to see what all the commotion was about as the children of the village were yelling and carrying on as they followed the car towards his restaurant.
As the limo cruised ever closer to him, the drivers eyes found his and he shook his head meaning he won't stop.
Mr. Kyuzo was gaping at the scene folding out before him but luckily he fitted in with every one else; the limo passed and turned off of main street and the children were called back into school.
The old mans mouth remained open as he stumbled out the back through a side gate towards his prizes cherry tree- one of the only living plants in the village.
Squinting into the sun, a figure approached on the horizon, followed by a flock of smaller figures.
Guessing that this is the Governments way of avoiding unwanted attention, Mr. Kyuzo walks over to meet the young man.
"Mr. Kodai Kyuzo?" the man enquired. Kodai nods his agreement.
"Sir, these," he gestures behind him to about 25 small Japanese children all patiently waiting in two lines, "are the subjects for the project mentioned in the letter you received."