For s2lou-chan. Sorry about the lameness, I'll try to do better next time! :)
"Answer me something, Aoko." Kaito said as they lay in the orange grass, counting the rings around the neighboring planet, Lacuna.
"Ask away." Aoko said her fingers tracing the constellations her mother had taught her many years ago.
"Is it always so warm here, on Ama? It's hardly any colder here at night than when the sun is out." Kaito said, gesturing to the night around them with a hand.
"Ama is warmth and comfort. Soil like cotton and breezes like spring. A perfect world." Aoko recited, just like she had when she was younger, living in the houses of Sector 8 and commuting to Sector 6 for schooling every day.
Kaito snorted. "Well, that was helpful."
She scowled. "The technical reason is that the planet is small and our sun is large. During the day, the entire planet heats up and the darkness does little to cool it off. We have a slow rotation, so our days and nights are about the same length as Earth ones but you could walk to the day time on the other side before night fell over there, if you really wished to. We live in Sector 4, so in Sectors 8 and 6, it's daytime and the children are in school."
Kaito nodded. "Much better. That reminds me, about these "Sectors", what, exactly, is going on with that, if you don't mind?"
Aoko thought about it for a moment. "Well, what is it you want to know about them?"
Kaito grinned. "Just start talking about them, I'll ask questions as we go, if that's good with you."
"Okay. The planet, so far, has been divided into 8 sectors. Only the Western hemisphere is populated so far, the rest is being saved for future generations and just for environmental reasons. Each of the 8 sectors has a primary purpose or function and has its own class of people who live there. Not hierarchal, like Earth, but divided by age. Sector 1 is in the middle of Ama and is where the High Council that governors Ama stays. It's also where Opinion Day is held every year, but you aren't allowed to give opinions because you're a refugee. Sorry about that."
Kaito waved her off. "It's fine. If something's seriously wrong, I might consider asking someone else to bring it up, but I'm content to stay on the sidelines if it means I get to live."
Aoko nodded. "Right. Sector 2 is a farming sector, where vegetables are grown and live stock is raised. Only adults live there, and any children that they decided to keep. Though commuting to Sector 6 everyday all the way from Sector 2 must be a hassle. Sector 3 is a mainly fishing and trading sector, since they're on the water. They mostly fish though. Sector 4 is where we are, the teenaged housing. We're inspired to discover our passions and generally do as we will while we are still able. Sex is encouraged among the houses, which are set up according to age. We're all seventeen, so we all live in the same house, girls on one side, boys on the other and rooms in between for other things. People the opposite sex isn't allowed inside the sleeping areas though."
Kaito interrupted her here. "Why not? If they're all doing it anyways?"
Aoko tried to find a way to explain it to him. "We all share our space where we sleep. Our rooms are never barred to us, we're allowed to be in there anytime we want. If things were being done in there also, then we might not want to enter, which is the same as being psychologically restricted from going into our space. That, and it would be difficult to sleep in there. Everything has a designated place. That way, order is kept."
Kaito nodded his understanding. "I see. Go on then. What about Sector 5?"
Aoko smiled. "Sector 5 is trading and fishing again, but mostly trading. There's a web of small ponds right next to the oceans and the stores are set up on them so you must have a boat to get to the shops in the middle of the waters. That way, if anyone were to try to take something, there's not quick way to escape with it and they are apprehended easily and brought to the High Council for judgment. I'll warn you now, for any crime, there are only three verdicts that may be reached. You may get pardoned, banished to Earth, or executed. There are no alternatives. Only the truly desperate steal on Ama, crime is low, unlike Earth."
"Those sure are some harsh punishments, aren't they?" Kaito said, whistling low.
"But they are the rules. Where was I, Sector 6, right?" At Kaito's nod, she continued. "Sector 6 is the schooling sector. Children commute there to learn for the time they are able to speak coherently and walk to the time they hit puberty. Adults also come back for furthering schooling at the institutions if they want to. Sector 7 is the baby sector. Lots of babies are born to teenagers who aren't ready to stop having fun. And sometimes, parents just believe their baby would be better off. So babies whose parents want them to go are sent to Sector 7, where they are all taken care of. Most women end up working in Sector 7 or 8, though they are always free to choose where they want to work. A good percent work as teachers in Sector 6. Sector 8 is where the children that go to school in Sector 6 live, their houses are just like ours, minus the pleasure quarters. Of course, like I said, if parents want their kids to stay with them, they can.... Anything else?" Aoko asked having run out of things to say.
"Not really, maybe another time. I have some questions about the High Council, but they can wait I guess. Just one last thing." Kaito said, a mischievous glint to his eyes.
"What is it?" Aoko asked, leaning forward in anticipation and Kaito noticed that the flimsy material of her dress didn't hide much.
"If you promise not to breathe a word to anyone.....Would you like to hear about Earth?" Kaito whispered, as if someone was watching them, even heough the area they lay in was bare and open.
Aoko gasped, looking at him as he waited. The most forbidden fruit of all. But....."I promise. Tell me, Kaito."