空とロマンス
Sola to Romansu (Sky and Romance)
Return of the Legendary Heroes
3rd Arc: Attack of the Nightwitchers
Chapter 36: Nippon, the Country in the East.
Grandma Elh´s Pov:
"The next story which I tell you is about Nippon, home of the Nekohito and the Inuhito (Cat- and Dog-people), an Island where Harmony rules and where rarely severe chaos happened.
It was an Island which existed even before the Era of the Belligerent States, however it only became famous for the Neo Gaya Project.
It was a Project which had been established a few years after the Dragon-War, by both, the Lupycans of Ragnarök and the Felidions of Abyssinia, under the rule of Marikos Wolvenra, King Maranell's little Brother, and King White Savage the 2nd.
The plan intended for a few chosen pilots, so called Astronauts, to go into outer space and find a new home, a new planet to settle down upon, if our old world should ever being destroyed by Natural disasters, World Wars..., or worse by a new rise of Marohumt.
It was conducted together shortly after the construction and commissioning of the very first Crystal-Energy-driven Power-plant, and the G.C.E., the first Giant Crystal-driven Engine which was built simultaneously to a Giant spaceship, the S.S.E., the Space Ship Explorer.
All three Constructions being constructed by Plans of the famous Scientist and Engineer-Twins, Strelka and Belka Million, two of four sisters of the famous Million Family.
Using Crystal energy was nothing new to the people who survived and lived after the Feuds and the Dragon War.
The People of the Golden Era, who lived after the establishment of the two Empires, Abyssinia and Ragnarök, were blessed with prosperity in culture, they established and taught the use of magic for commonplace usage and technology of the highest level.
Even Crystal Engines were something entirely normal, have they even been used before the rise of the two Empires.
However such a giant Engine like the one of the S.S.E., as well as the Crystal Power-plant, had never been built before and it was a milestone of Wolven Technology.
Based on the blueprints of this Machine, have later technologies, such as the different War-Machinery, which were used in the War of Sun and Moon, being constructed.
The Blueprints for the Power-plant and the Engine itself came from investigating and researching about the Abyssinian Dragon-Mecha S.R.-Draken and the Ragnarokian Warrior-Mecha Dahak-Paladin.
However will I now not go into detail about all this, for this belongs to a past from which even I don´t know much, the story I will tell you now, is about the courage of four kids, who will go to the end of the world to save their beloved family, their home and its people.
It's the story of Mamoru and Matoi Inukyūjo and Nyanja and Monja Kodomoryu, the teenagers who too became Heroes of Tailsworld!" I told to my grandchildren.
(Inu = Dog, kyūjo = rescue/ Kodomo = Children, Ryu= Dragon)
Nippon, Island of changing winds.
13. September 1511, Caninestone, the Capital City of Nippon, Mamoru´s Pov:
Nippon, the island in the Far East, a beautiful and prosperous place, far away from all war and misery..., a few incidents over the year, nothing major thought, was all that ever happened here.
It was also home of myself, Mamoru Inukyūjo (15), mostly only called Mamoru-kun, my sister Matoi-chan (14), myParents Hanami (35) and Kota (40) and my grandfather Reito Inukyūjo (65), a famous Fire-defender.
Nippon was my home and my favorite place in the whole world..., to be honest it was also the only place where I ever went to for more than a month.
Sure, I once went with my Father for an early Practical Training a whole week long in the Shepherd Republic, it was nice, I would say, but due to the hard work we had, wasn´t I really able go sightseeing much.
Still Nippon was anything for me..., I was raised here and I surely would also die here, and same as my Grandfather and my Father, was it my wish to become a fire-defender, before that day comes.
But for this I would first have to get good notes in school.
It was the first term in the 10th grade of school, my last year before I would go working for real, like an adult, here in Caninestone, the Capital City of Nippon.
Once again, as in the years before, I managed to get in one Class with my two best Friends, Ren (15) and Masashi (15).
It was a nice time over the course of the year, however today was perhaps the most boring day of the entire school-year, at least it felt so.
Several of our teachers had been sick with the flu, which went around lately, it was quite cold outside since the fall was near, but this year it seemed to become an early winter.
On top of that we had only old teachers as replacement, that in itself would not be so bad, if only they wouldn´t hold the lesson in such a monotone and sleep-inducing manner, getting half of the class bored, even myself, even though I am a good and attentive student.
However in the end, even I was just a boy, and my mind began to wander of this boring lesson into the realms or heroes and the super-powers they possessed.
Of course even we, who we were so far away from any real Action, heard about the massive disasters from both, the Kingdom of Prairie and the Shepherd Republic in the Far-west.
As I said before did I go with my Father, during the School-vacation and for my practical Training, together with the Reconstruction Assistance Project, short R.A.P., for a week towards the Shepherd Republic, and believe me when I say that they bitterly needed the help.
For a 2 months later the Island of Pharaoh and several others were greatly damaged by a new disaster unknown to us, I was back in school as the Reconstruction Assistance Project went there again.
During that time I heard about a Hero who saved the Shepherd Republic from greater disaster, a hero known as Red Savarin, and even in the Kingdom of Prairie there were Heroes which defended their home against Evil forces.
It was every boys dream to become such a hero someday and even I dreamed about it, but I knew to be rational, Heroes with super-powers were only existent in science fiction.
Still, with becoming a Fire-fighter, I would maybe be as close as possible to such a Hero.
If however someone would have told me that such Sci-Fi Heroes were actually really existing and that this wish of mine, to become a hero, should soon be put to the test, I think I might would have laughed at them.
I never was one to believe much in horoscopes and divination, that was more Matoi´s stuff, but I think today I really should have listened to mine, maybe it would have saved me from what was about to come.
But as said right now I had no idea about all these things which were about to fall upon me.
I was awoken from one of my day-dreams by the bell and a conversation of Ren and Masashi.
"Geez, why does it have to be so cold already, if only it would still be a little warmer, then we could at least still watch the girls in their summer clothes, now everybody is buttoned right up to the chin..., and next lesson is P.E. and for the evening they have predicted a storm to come..., uggh I hate my life!" Ren whined.
"Well be glad that nothing more than the season´s changing is happening, even Chino Ryu has been quiet since some time and Nyanja (15) and Monja (15) also don´t make any mischief anymore.
I though wonder why..., usually the two of them would run havoc at this time of the year!" Masashi wondered.
"Like I care..., I want my summer vacation back, I want girls in summerly clothes and I want action, something to get my mind of this boring and depressing atmosphere in the town!" Ren whined even more.
"Oh be quiet Ren, don´t wish for things that only benefits you, and you do know that as soon strange things happen again it will become a hassle for my family.
I am glad that Nyanja and Monja keep things easy for a while, so I can concentrate on learning and getting good grades!" I mumbled from my desk behind them.
I was highly annoyed by Ren´s wish for Action, it was all he ever spoke about since the last week..., I liked the calm, and calm meant no unnecessary work.
"Yeah, yeah whatever, i´m just so bored!" Ren replied rolling his eyes.
"Must be nice when you already know what you want to do in the future, I have no idea what to do after this year, dad wants me to help in his bakery but I just don´t feel like becoming a baker...,geez even your sister knows it, am I right?!" Masashi asked me.
"Yeah..., although i´m not really sure but I guess that Matoi wants to be a priestess, that's why she trains hard and tonight she will participate in the Shrine festival, as part of her practical training.
If not a priestess then she might become a nurse or a medic like our Mother, either way she will be someone who helps other people, same like me, that makes me quite proud of her as her older brother!" I stated excitedly.
"Yeah..., the Shrine Festival, the time when they bring out all the stalls with the good food and the girls dress up in their wonderful kimonos and when everyone has a good time and the pairs swear their eternal love to each other..., sigh it´s good to be young!" Ren mumbled and even I had to admit that I shared some of his admiration for this day.
I´ve been looking forward to this event since the town decided to bring back the Festival, 5 years ago, after Chino-Ryu, in his wrath over the ignorance of the people about the wonders of nature, began to cause much havoc.
He was demanding from us to worship him, as an earth-dragon, and Mother Nature again, so as it has been done since centuries.
Back then many people were harmed, mostly emotionally, since their home was gone, as he caused earthquakes and avalanches to unleash, luckily no one was killed.
My Grandfather seemed to be most affected about these disasters, since Grandma died 15 years ago, during an earthquake.
Since then he began to hate the earth-dragons more and more, until 5 years ago, as Nyanja explained that Chino-Ryu was the last of them and asleep for a century, so also prior to 15 years ago, and only woke up 2 years after that large earthquake.
The Earthquake back then made herself and her brother orphans, wandering aimlessly around Nippon, 2 years later they found Chino-Ryu within a den sleeping, they woke him up accidentally, but he deemed to be friendly, ever since he began to care for them both as his adoptive children.
But seeing how the people polluted and destroyed the nature of Nippon for their own wealth and held it´s wonders for granted, Chino-Ryu got sad and deeply hurted, in the end he went mad at us all, he was furious and tried to bring out his anger above the people, who forgot to be grateful to nature and his kind.
Nyanja and Monja helped him to make the people aware of the nature and his existence again.
Sure their way of action was wrong in every sense, and still I could understand them a little, after Nyanja explained it to me in a weak moment, as I saved her from falling off a cliff after I chased her to arrest her for her crimes..., back then she told me about her reasons as we were alone and also about her and her brothers history.
Thanks to mine and Matoi-chan´s pleas, the Island finally accepted to bring back the Shrine Festival in the autumn, hailing and praying to the nature and the Earth-dragons, who fertilized their Island and helped nature to grow and become stronger again.
This calmed Chino-Ryu down and he finally promised to stop causing havoc, he even helped to build up the town again, if the Government would hold their part of the promise.
And they did hold it, the first Festival was marvelous and even Chino Ryu commented on the beautiful sight of that evening.
"Hey Mamoru, do you think that Futaba-chan (14) will come along!" Ren asked blushing, halting my trail of thoughts about that day.
It was no miracle that he asked that question, half of the school knew that he had a crush on Futaba Miyamori, a close friend of my sister.
"Well I would think she does, after all she is one of Matoi´s best friends, I would rather wonder if she doesn´t comes along..., unless they ended up in a fight again!" I explained and he nodded.
"Sounds logical to me..., and where they both are will Nami-chan (14) benot far either!" Ren stated and we could see how Masashi blushed deep red at that comment.
Nami Kurosaki was one of my sisters first friends, she knew her since pre-school and it was also a fact that Masashi had a crush on her, ever since she helped him with an School-assignment, which he ran late to complete.
Different as Matoi and Futaba was she the smartest of them three, same as Masashi was out of us three, although I was the more mature one.
"I bet both will wear cute kimonos!" Ren stated as he began to day-dream.
"Possible, I think I heard Matoi speaking with them yesterday on the phone about that theme!" I explained.
"What about you Mamoru, will Nyanja come too?!" Both suddenly asked me with a smug grin.
"Well..., as a matter of fact I did invite her and her brother but she only smiled as response before going back home, so I´m not quite sure if she will come along or not!" I stated, feeling the heat rising in my cheeks, trying to speak as casual as possible.
Over the last few years I became good friends with Nyanja, even though her brother and me just couldn´t get along so well, but Matoi seemed to not mind his assertiveness.
She rarely held any grudges on someone, especially not to someone of her age..., I think she even has a little crush on him.
Not that I was one to talk, I liked Nyanja, quite a bit.
"Hehe, look how he´s daydreaming about her, bet he thinks about something lewd!" I heard Ren snickering.
"Don´t be stupid Ren!" I stated, seconds before the bell rung for the last few lessons.
"What comes next again?" Ren asked curious as he roamed through his backpack.
"History and culture, we speak about the War of Sun and Moon, the one from 1500 years ago!" Masashi explained.
"Oh no, not that again, I mean why do we have to learn about that, it´s not like we Inuhito and Nekohito still wage war against each other am I right, I mean we couldn´t get better along I would say, also is this war so long ago!" Ren whined again, as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"Just get over it, your whining won´t change anything anyways!" I stated and he snarled.
"If only history wouldn´t be so boring!" He muttered under his breath.
And so the last 3 classes of the afternoon were soon ended, as the liberating sound of the school bell rang over the corridors.
"Well that´s it for this week, I hope you students won´t forget to study for your tests, coming next month, even when today is the 5th edition of the Shrine festival, should you not forget to keep your mind sharp.
We will see each other next week then, Class-Represent Inukyūjo, if you would be so kind?!" The teacher said as he put his files in his briefcase.
"Everyone stand..., bow!" I stated as the whole class stood up and bowed before the teacher.
"Thanks for teaching us!" We all stated in a choir.
"Well then, make yourself a good time tonight, but don´t forget to be careful not to overdo it!" The teacher said, as we began to pack our things.
"Hey Class-rep, want to go to the Arcade before the festival begins!" Ren asked as he nudged me in the side.
"Sorry guys but I have to help Dad with the security check at the festival´s site for tonight, but I think Futaba and Nami will be free to go, since Matoi has to go to the final rehearsal before the time has come!" I explained and their sad mines literally became brighter as I mentioned the girls.
"Well then what are we waiting for Masashi, quick before they plan something..., you know girls-only stuff!" Ren stated as he and Masashi rushed out of the classroom after gathering their things.
I heard a faint `don´t run in the Hallway´ from one of the teachers before I too was done with packing.
"Hey Nii-chan!" I heard it coming from the door, I looked to see Matoi standing in the doorframe.
"Hey Nee-chan, I just wanted to come and pick you up!" I replied.
"Well seems like I was faster, are you ready to go?!" Matoi asked and I nodded.
"Just doing my Class-rep duty to an end and then we are good to go!" I stated as I put on my backpack and, after everyone was out, went out of the classroom myself, I witnessed how the Teacher closed the doors and how he put the keys back in the cupboard, where all the keys of the different Classrooms lied.
It was an additional security, should a key disappear we would at least know that the teacher was not to blame for it.
We told our goodbyes to the teacher before making our way back home to wash and dress up for the night.
"I´m so excited, I can't believe I will really do the Shrine-ceremony in front of the whole town, I just hope I won´t get any stage-fright!" Matoi stated while we trotted back home.
"Don´t make yourself nuts, I know you will be just fine and you will do a great job, all you have to do is to stay calm and think positive no matter what!" I explained and she nodded.
"Well I will try so, but I cannot promise anything!" She stated and I chuckled while ruffling her hair.
"There you go again, worrying about nothing, I mean you learned everything you could and trained hard to come so far, even the main priestess said that you are ready to participate, the only one who now can beat you down is but yourself!" I stated and she nodded smiling.
"You are absolutely right, dear Onii-chan!" She replied smiling.
"So, will Monja and Nyanja come too?!" She asked me with that same smug grin as Ren and Masashi wore before.
"Well I guess they will come, however I cannot be so sure of it!" I stated blushing.
"But you invited them as you said, am I right!?" she asked me, nudging in my side with an even smugger grin.
"Of course I did, I gave the invitation to Nyanja and she said she will think about it!" I explained.
"Well I have a good feeling about it, I am sure she will come and bring her brother along!" Matoi stated and now I smiled with a smug grin.
"Just admit it, you want Monja to see you in your priestess outfit, am I right?!" I asked and she blushed deep red.
"Maybe..., but you want Nyanja to see you in your new uniform, or am I wrong?!" Matoi countered and so it went back and forth until we got back home.
The festival would begin in 5 hours, thankfully was it made on a Friday evening, so tomorrow we have the weekend and we will be free from school, which gives us enough time to have a real blast tonight.
Part II: A colorful Festival, blooming love and Dark Omens.
The festival was as colorful as it has been the last time, maybe even more.
Everybody laughed and everybody seemed to have a real good time just enjoying themselves.
The Ceremony was soon about to start and soon Matoi had her grand appearance on stage.
I meanwhile was patrolling around the festival ground, all dressed up in my new attire, even with the school being in our last Year, was a male, at the age of 15, being seen as an adult, at least in the eyes of the society.
Girls would become socially adult a year later, at the age of 16, it was also then, when they were able to legally marry someone, as long as the parents of both, the groom and the bride, accepted this marriage.
Even a pregnancy was allowed at this age even though it rarely happened so early.
For men was it allowed to get a part time job, if they would still got to school while they are 15 years old.
The compulsory school attendance ended with the successful ending of the 10th grade, according to the annual total average Score and the personal strengths and preferences of the individual student, possible jobs were offered to them from which they had the chance to make a Practical training, before deciding which way to follow in the future.
For me it had always been sure which way I wanted to follow:
Office for Civil Protection, Division: Disaster prevention, subdivision: firefighters.
It has been always my dream to become such great a firefighter like my Grandfather and Father have been, and for this goal I learned and trained as hard as I could, even my teachers said that I had good chances to reach my dream.
Matoi-chan on the other hand was, as I said before, not to 100% sure about it, she had two wish-futures which she intended to follow, priestess or paramedic, someone who could help people in dire need, psychological as well as physical.
She asked for an early part-time-internship in both, to make it clear to herself which way to follow, last years she took the one of Paramedic, this year for Priestess.
Same as Dad allowed me to make such an early Practical training, 2 years ago.
Momentarily she had her practical training as Temple Maid and it looked like she enjoyed herself more with this work..., at least so was my opinion of what I saw.
"In the end it all depends on what she finds most comfortable with!" I muttered to myself as I walked through the crowd, watching out for any problems or trouble.
"Crrrzzz, junior-in training Mamoru Inukyūjo please coming!" I heard my father's voice out of the Microphone of my portable radio.
"Here Junior-in training Mamoru Inukyūjo, I´m listening, Sir?!" I asked, releasing the microphone from my shoulder strap.
"Any problems on your Location so far?" the voice asked.
"No problems or specific incidents to report, Sir!" I replied.
"Good to hear, you can take things easy now, my son, we will take over..., but keep your eyes open, if anything happens don't hesitate to contact us, okay?!" Father stated as I looked at my watch.
I almost forgot that a Junior-in training, means a minor student, who still works only part-time, is only allowed to work until 18 o´clock.
"Understood, I will call if any grave problems might occur and give accurate information and listen to my given orders, Sir!" I stated.
"I copied that, have a good time with your friends my son, over and out!" He replied and I saluted.
"Over and out, Sir!" I said before I hung my microphone back on the shoulder strap, leaving it only on the receiver-mode.
"Well then, time to meet up with the others!" I mumbled as I made my way through the crowd.
Finding the others was quite easy, we made out a meeting place, near the shrines and that´s where they were all waiting, well, almost all of them.
"Hey there man, you are done with your Duty?!" Ren asked me as I approached them.
"Sure thing guys, but i´m still on constant alert, in case something might happen, anyways it´s good to see you, by the way..., nice outfits girls, you really look fabulous today!" I stated in all honesty, making them blushing.
Each one of them wore a yukata which really accentuated their femininity. Their Hairstyles were neatly done and even their makeup was not too much..., decent and just the right amount to still accentuate their natural beauty.
"Well thanks' a lot Mamoru-Sempai!" Futaba-chan explained while Nami-chan nodded.
"What..., i´m just saying the truth!" I stated sweat dropping, as Ren and Masashi looked at me with narrowed eyes.
"Anyways, has anyone seen Nyanja or Monja, haven´t seen them during my patrol!?" I exclaimed as I looked around.
"Sorry, no luck there bro, haven´t seen them since last week!" Ren stated with a smug grin.
"I see...!" I muttered as I looked down at the ground in thought.
"I hope she comes!" I thought but might have also said this out loud, for Futaba answered me.
"I´m sure that she will come later, she might have just messed up the time, or she´s not yet ready with picking out some clothes!" She stated while Nami nodded eagerly.
"Well it is hard to find the right clothes if you have such a occasion, every girl want´s to look good when she has the chance to show off a little.
I too was at a loss but fortunately Mom bought me this Yukata for my birthday last week!" She exclaimed as she pointed at her get up.
"Well it does look really nice on you Nami-chan!" Masashi complimented her and she blushed deep red.
"Thanks a lot..., Masashi-sempai!" Nami replied smiling brightly.
"Hmm..., oh I think it´s starting we should go!" I stated as I heard the music coming from the shrine and saw the people moving closer, to have a proper look at the ceremony
"Yeah or else the best Places will be gone!" Futaba stated and so we made our way over to the shrine.
To be continued...