Hey everyone! I told you this chapter would take awhile. But take
heart! The story is almost over. Just two more chapters!! Thanks
for reading. And I'll be doing a sequel, I promise.
13 years ago
The usual four walked into the wooded area. It was not
often that members of the Green came here; it involved leaving Toyko
proper. But in some ways this ground was "sacred". This was where
people joined their number, officially.
No one was really sure what the space was supposed to be.
Irony maintained that it was a failed ropes course. Con thought it
was some kind of secret military training area. Satire thought it was
remnants of a structure that was destroyed. If one has asked the young
man with them, he would have likened it to a car wreck. One tended to
see their worst fears in the mix of trees, wood, rope, and wire.
Today the space was being used for a naming. But this was
a special naming. Only the inner core of Con, Satire, and Irony were
present. No hazing from the crowd, no heckling.
The four stopped in front of a tree that was a mess of wires and
branches. "This will tell us." Irony declared.
The four looked at the tree, three knowing the next task to be
assigned. Irony was going to order the boy to climb the tree. If and how
he did this would yield his name. This was one of the two ways a member
received their name...the other was based on an observed life experience
of the member. Irony was wary about taking that road with young Mamoru
Chiba. He was very standoffish while being extremely ready to please.
It seemed that he saw the Green as family or something even more precious.
Irony wanted him named before he decided to do something stupid to get
a name.
At first glance, the task of the climbing the tree seemed hard
and dangerous. Then, as one noticed the wires, it seemed easier and safer.
When one looked at the tree again, one realized that the wires didn't
help support and the tree looked very dangerous. The fourth glance that
made the climb seem easy again was more about faith in the Green than the
apparent safety of the tree. Whether one climbed the tree or not, it
was usually easy to tell what level the climber viewed the tree.
The most common levels were one and four. As Irony noted the boy's
narrowed eyes, he obviously viewed the tree through the third view.
Irony sighed. She turned to the young man, and, with Satire's
help, put the request to the boy. He nodded and went to tackle the tree...
with abandon. The three watched the boy...two a little concerned. But
one was actually enjoying the show.
"Woohoo! Look at that boy go!"
"Con! That boy is going to kill himself. Crap."
"Come Satire. Look at him! That's amazing!"
"That's reckless."
"I have to agree with her," Irony sighed. "The climbing is
reckless, dangerous, caring...Oh Gawd, can he actually balance on that
branch?!"
"Come on! You have to admit the kid is daring."
"Daring?...Dare. Y'all that's it! We'll call him Dare - so
get him the hell out of that tree!"
The Present
Mamoru sighed as he entered the Crown Arcade. He'd spent
all of last night explaining his "other life" to Irony. She reacted
like a cross between a concerned mother and a proud big sister. She
was also still a little angry that Mamoru hadn't shared before. Of
course, Irony didn't know the identity of the senshi or the moon
princess...but if she ever met them, Irony would be smart enough
to figure out who they were AND smart enough not to say a word about it.
In essence, he trusted her. Between Irony and Usagi, Mamoru had
regained (for the most part) the ability to trust and believe.
But that had little to do with why he was dragging himself
to the arcade instead of going to sleep. Motoki had called him while
he was out. He left a message, practically demanding that Mamoru see
him this morning. The summons was extremely odd...but Mamoru figured
he'd find out what it was about eventually.
As the young man walked into the arcade, he saw his best friend,
looking very stern. Mamoru sat down across from him.
"Hello, Motoki."
"What in the hell are you thinking?"
Mamoru stared at his friend. This was not like him at all. But
the summons had sounded strange. "What are you talking about?"
"Usagi was in here a day ago. She was talking to her friends
about your odd visitor. I was curious, so I did a little research. So,
I'll ask again. What in the hell are you thinking, hanging around a
gang leader? AND exposing Usagi to her? Usagi's like a second little
sister to me. Please explain to me why you are hanging around kyojomochi."
Mamoru sighed, "It is not easy to explain. And Irony is not
dangerous. She's actually-"
But his friend had cut him off. Motoki continued on his rant,
showing that he obviously wasn't listening to the previous response.
"And where were you last night? Taka came in earlier. We both know
the kind of crowd he runs with - and he said he saw you near his hangout
last night. What are you thinking? Mamoru-"
"I'm thinking that my friends need my help!" Mamoru exploded.
Then the young man sighed, "Look Motoki, there is a lot I haven't told
you-"
"I'm not surprized," the blond man said. "I had figured that you
probably had a rough childhood. But Mamoru these people are evil, wrong.
I don't care what lies and blackmail they fed you as a kid, but you
have to cut them out of your life. Now!"
"Motoki-"
"If you keep these people in your life, I'm gone. And I'll make
sure that Usagi is gone too."
"What?!"
"These people are a menance to society."
"They are not! You don't know them!"
"And you don't either. Who knows what drugs they had to strung
out on. Be glad that someone got you out. And leave them alone."
"Motoki, they are practically my family!! You don't understand,
and I won't let you -"
The conversation was cut off by a scream.
"What the hell...?"
Mamoru paled. "That was Usako." He got up and ran toward the
terrifying sound.
- to be continued -
heart! The story is almost over. Just two more chapters!! Thanks
for reading. And I'll be doing a sequel, I promise.
13 years ago
The usual four walked into the wooded area. It was not
often that members of the Green came here; it involved leaving Toyko
proper. But in some ways this ground was "sacred". This was where
people joined their number, officially.
No one was really sure what the space was supposed to be.
Irony maintained that it was a failed ropes course. Con thought it
was some kind of secret military training area. Satire thought it was
remnants of a structure that was destroyed. If one has asked the young
man with them, he would have likened it to a car wreck. One tended to
see their worst fears in the mix of trees, wood, rope, and wire.
Today the space was being used for a naming. But this was
a special naming. Only the inner core of Con, Satire, and Irony were
present. No hazing from the crowd, no heckling.
The four stopped in front of a tree that was a mess of wires and
branches. "This will tell us." Irony declared.
The four looked at the tree, three knowing the next task to be
assigned. Irony was going to order the boy to climb the tree. If and how
he did this would yield his name. This was one of the two ways a member
received their name...the other was based on an observed life experience
of the member. Irony was wary about taking that road with young Mamoru
Chiba. He was very standoffish while being extremely ready to please.
It seemed that he saw the Green as family or something even more precious.
Irony wanted him named before he decided to do something stupid to get
a name.
At first glance, the task of the climbing the tree seemed hard
and dangerous. Then, as one noticed the wires, it seemed easier and safer.
When one looked at the tree again, one realized that the wires didn't
help support and the tree looked very dangerous. The fourth glance that
made the climb seem easy again was more about faith in the Green than the
apparent safety of the tree. Whether one climbed the tree or not, it
was usually easy to tell what level the climber viewed the tree.
The most common levels were one and four. As Irony noted the boy's
narrowed eyes, he obviously viewed the tree through the third view.
Irony sighed. She turned to the young man, and, with Satire's
help, put the request to the boy. He nodded and went to tackle the tree...
with abandon. The three watched the boy...two a little concerned. But
one was actually enjoying the show.
"Woohoo! Look at that boy go!"
"Con! That boy is going to kill himself. Crap."
"Come Satire. Look at him! That's amazing!"
"That's reckless."
"I have to agree with her," Irony sighed. "The climbing is
reckless, dangerous, caring...Oh Gawd, can he actually balance on that
branch?!"
"Come on! You have to admit the kid is daring."
"Daring?...Dare. Y'all that's it! We'll call him Dare - so
get him the hell out of that tree!"
The Present
Mamoru sighed as he entered the Crown Arcade. He'd spent
all of last night explaining his "other life" to Irony. She reacted
like a cross between a concerned mother and a proud big sister. She
was also still a little angry that Mamoru hadn't shared before. Of
course, Irony didn't know the identity of the senshi or the moon
princess...but if she ever met them, Irony would be smart enough
to figure out who they were AND smart enough not to say a word about it.
In essence, he trusted her. Between Irony and Usagi, Mamoru had
regained (for the most part) the ability to trust and believe.
But that had little to do with why he was dragging himself
to the arcade instead of going to sleep. Motoki had called him while
he was out. He left a message, practically demanding that Mamoru see
him this morning. The summons was extremely odd...but Mamoru figured
he'd find out what it was about eventually.
As the young man walked into the arcade, he saw his best friend,
looking very stern. Mamoru sat down across from him.
"Hello, Motoki."
"What in the hell are you thinking?"
Mamoru stared at his friend. This was not like him at all. But
the summons had sounded strange. "What are you talking about?"
"Usagi was in here a day ago. She was talking to her friends
about your odd visitor. I was curious, so I did a little research. So,
I'll ask again. What in the hell are you thinking, hanging around a
gang leader? AND exposing Usagi to her? Usagi's like a second little
sister to me. Please explain to me why you are hanging around kyojomochi."
Mamoru sighed, "It is not easy to explain. And Irony is not
dangerous. She's actually-"
But his friend had cut him off. Motoki continued on his rant,
showing that he obviously wasn't listening to the previous response.
"And where were you last night? Taka came in earlier. We both know
the kind of crowd he runs with - and he said he saw you near his hangout
last night. What are you thinking? Mamoru-"
"I'm thinking that my friends need my help!" Mamoru exploded.
Then the young man sighed, "Look Motoki, there is a lot I haven't told
you-"
"I'm not surprized," the blond man said. "I had figured that you
probably had a rough childhood. But Mamoru these people are evil, wrong.
I don't care what lies and blackmail they fed you as a kid, but you
have to cut them out of your life. Now!"
"Motoki-"
"If you keep these people in your life, I'm gone. And I'll make
sure that Usagi is gone too."
"What?!"
"These people are a menance to society."
"They are not! You don't know them!"
"And you don't either. Who knows what drugs they had to strung
out on. Be glad that someone got you out. And leave them alone."
"Motoki, they are practically my family!! You don't understand,
and I won't let you -"
The conversation was cut off by a scream.
"What the hell...?"
Mamoru paled. "That was Usako." He got up and ran toward the
terrifying sound.
- to be continued -
