Good evening dear readers. I present to you another chapter! Another character is introduced and the story moves forward!
Chapter Six: The Juvenile Guard
The first thing Mafuyu Kurosaki saw that morning in the palace halls was the smiling face of her mathematics tutor.
'Lady Kurosaki,' Takaomi lifted her hand and kissed it. 'Are you settling in well?' When she continued to stare at him he looked concerned. 'What's wrong? Are you sick?'
'Uh…'
'Well,' he grinned. 'Don't work too hard!'
SO SCARY!
'Advisor Saeki is acting out of character?' Hayasaka raised an eyebrow.
'Absolutely. His smile is frightening,' Mafuyu shivered.
'Oh? Isn't that normal for him?' he shrugged. 'Here he is now.'
Takaomi entered the classroom with a huge grin on his face. 'Let's start our class, my wonderful students!'
All the ladies and squires were silent for the whole lesson. When Takaomi left the room after his lesson, smiling, they began screaming.
'What happened to the Advisor?'
'I wasn't asked to stand on my head for forgetting my homework!'
'I wasn't thrown out the window for not knowing the answer!'
'He didn't hit me with his fist because I failed my test!'
Mafuyu followed the panicking children with her eyes. Rather…aren't his teaching methods out of the ordinary anyway?
'I…I should just study!'
'Yeah, me too!'
'And me!'
Mafuyu gaped. So this is how he gets them to work?
A man knocked at the door. 'Uh, Lady Kurosaki and Squire Hayasaka are to report to Advisor Saeki's office right away.'
Mafuyu and Hayasaka shared a look. We're going to be killed!
Takaomi stood in front of them. 'From here on, you are part of the Juvenile Guard, okay?'
It took a moment for Mafuyu and Hayasaka to process that information. 'Wait, what? No, not okay!' Hayasaka got to his feet. 'I never agreed to this!'
'Yes you did,' Takaomi held up a piece of paper. Hayasaka snatched it, his hands trembling.
'You villain…' he muttered. Mafuyu got up to take a look. 'I never signed this!'
'Proof of Membership,' she read out. 'Those who have signed below agree to the terms and duties of the Juvenile Guard…eh? Why are Hayasaka and my signatures here? We never…' her eyes widened. 'You forged them!'
He merely smiled. 'But you have no proof that this is forged.'
'It's forged! It's definitely forged!'
'It's a student's word over an Advisor's. I hope you will forgive me, after I was so kind to you today.'
'Yeah, right!' Hayasaka growled, but he knew he couldn't do anything to retaliate. He looked at Mafuyu. 'Kurosaki, hear him out for me. I already have a headache. I'm going home.' And with that, he walked out.
Takaomi snorted. 'He calls you Kurosaki and you call him Hayasaka? No Lady and Squire title?'
'He's not polite enough…I mean, we're friends! We don't need titles,' she huffed.
'Fine, whatever,' Takaomi rubbed his hands together. I'll tell you something interesting. I made a…bet with the…uh, the King.'
'Huh?' Mafuyu felt like she was being tricked. 'What?'
'It's true.'
As if one can make a bet with THE KING! Oh well, let's hear him out, she thought. 'Alright…what did you bet?'
'My life.'
'HUH?' she coughed. 'You're kidding, right!'
'No, I'm just messing with you. I'm not that stupid. I just bet five years of my salary' he said it like he was commenting on the weather. 'So you're going to help me.'
'Why the hell did you do that?' she spluttered. 'How did you make a bet with the KING? And how is the Juvenile Guard going to help you?'
'I'm...very close to the Royal Family,' Takaomi licked his lips. 'Well, the goal is to get rid of all the delinquents. You know, the people who don't like following the law, or even the basic Palace rules, really.'
'Okay, but isn't that the job of the actual Guard?'
'They answer to the King, so they won't be of any help,' he brushed the matter aside. Mafuyu was still confused. 'The city of Midori ga Oka is in financial trouble because there aren't enough people to sustain its economy,' he explained. 'All these troublemakers are brought here because of the Palace's stupid policy of "not caring about people's past and welcoming anyone with open hands". This is making normal people avoid the city.'
'Hey, you know I'm one of those troublemakers, right?' she mumbled. 'And shouldn't His Majesty want all the delinquents gone himself? How does this committee tie in with the bet?'
'All I can tell you is this: to win, over the next three years, using any method possible,' he leaned closer. 'I have to double the city's population. Simply put, if we get rid of all the delinquents, our jobs will become much easier. You don't want this wonderful city to be destroyed financially, do you? You have nowhere else to go.'
'But…it's so complicated to take care of all the people coming in, and accommodation, and all those things…' Mafuyu said, looking at him. It all sounds insane but…
'Who do you take me for?' Takaomi said haughtily. 'I'm an Advisor; let me take care of the details.'
But…why do I feel as if he can do anything? Mafuyu sighed. She couldn't refuse, so she might as well have fun with it. 'Alright. What's our first job?'
He smirked. 'We'll take care of the only unofficial knight in the entire Palace. We'll be taking down the leader of all the delinquents, the Chief.'
'The Chief?' Hayasaka looked shocked. 'We're aiming that high already?'
Mafuyu nodded. 'Yeah…but I don't know where to even start looking.'
Hayasaka pointed out the window. 'Do you see that old building over there?' Mafuyu peered at a depleted, large building nestled in the edge of the forest. The Palace was after all next to forest filled, mountainous areas. 'It used to be the building for the hall of the Palace where grand events were held, but since one was soon built in the Palace itself, it was abandoned. That's where all those delinquents spend their time. I heard the strongest squire becomes the next Chief and takes up the unofficial knighthood. Anyone who beats the current Chief becomes the next Chief.'
Mafuyu tapped him on the shoulder. 'Why don't you hang out there too?'
'I don't like crowds,' he said simply. 'I'm a lone wolf, okay? I'm not alone!' he exclaimed when he saw her pitying look.
'Advisor Saeki gave me the Chief's details,' Mafuyu took out a piece of paper and showed him.
'Just what kind of Advisor is he?' Hayasaka mused, reading the profile. 'Third Year Squire Kyoutaro Okegawa, self-declared knight and titled as 'Sir' by his followers, able to break stone with his bare hand, good at Tap Code…' Hayasaka paused. 'What's Tap Code?'
'Oh,' Mafuyu perked up. 'It's a code the army uses to communicate. It contains two kinds of taps: a tap and a short pause and a tap and a long pause, also called dot and dash respectively. There's a pattern for each letter and number. For example dot dash is the letter A.'
Hayasaka looked at her, impressed. 'Wow, how do you know this?'
'Uh…one of my friends back home was in Higashi's Army,' Mafuyu stammered. It wasn't an entire lie. 'Are you sure you want to do this? Why don't we refuse?' Hayasaka wouldn't be stupid enough to want to face the Chief! He's a smart guy.
'Are you kidding me?' Hayasaka grinned, determined. 'I've always wanted to see how he looked like!'
Mafuyu slapped her forehead. Are you for real?
'What a messed up place,' Mafuyu commented as they stopped outside the doors. The windows were broken; the ceiling were crumbling…and were those blood stains on the walls? It was very nostalgic.
Her school didn't have a Chief. She and her squires caused a lot of mischief and they all depended on her but…wait a second…she remembered how her squires used to run around, complaining when a rival beat them up, or when enemies came to fight them, or saying that they would "follow Lady Mafuyu wherever she went"… Huh? Could it be…I was their Chief? NO! There's no way!
'Hayasaka,' she said. 'If a bunch of delinquents followed one delinquent, who took care of their problems, what would that person be?'
'That's the Chief, right?'
'No way!' Mafuyu cried, running through the doors of the hall.
'Hey wait up!' Hayasaka followed. 'It's empty as it's lunch time,' he said as they walked in. The state inside was no better than outside, worse in fact.
Mafuyu lifted her skirts and stepped over broken glass. She spotted a cockroach and her killing instincts kicked in. 'HAAA!' she grabbed the nearest thing and smashed the bug.
'What are you…' Hayasaka swallowed when saw what she was holding. It was a cheap backpack and it had a name written on it. Kyoutaro Okegawa. Mafuyu carefully placed it on the ground and turned to Hayasaka, both their faces ashen. Just as she did so, the door flew open.
'Hey, what are you doing on our turf?' Five squires walked in, their tunics dirty and their undershirts ripped.
'O…Okegawa's men!' Hayasaka hissed.
'That's Sir Okegawa to you, weakling,' a deeper voice resounded through the air. The five parted to let another man through. This man was tall, with a head of long, black hair casually pushed back. He was wearing light armour, and his dark eyes narrowed. 'Hayasaka, eh? I heard you were strong, but you're with a lady. So I guess you're not,' he chuckled, picking up the pack on the ground. 'Looks like I left this here.'
Mafuyu and Hayasaka stared at it, not saying a word.
Okegawa – as his identity was now proven – glared at them. 'What're you looking at? Oh well, that doesn't matter.' He extended a hand. 'Now give me my money.'
'Eh?' Mafuyu tilted her head.
'This place is our land. You have to pay us ten gold coins each as an entrance fee.'
'Hey, now that's too much,' Hayasaka moved in between Mafuyu and Okegawa. 'I'm afraid we're going to have to refuse.'
Okegawa smiled. 'Then let me enjoy beating the crap out of you.'
Hayasaka you idiot! Mafuyu thought after she got over the joy of realising Hayasaka had stepped between them to protect her. I've been fighting since I was a child! I can sense people's strength instinctively, and Okegawa's level is easily double yours! She bit her lip. She had to do something to stop this fight, but she didn't even have her rabbit mask with her. There was nothing on her dress she could use either – she couldn't tear off a piece of this expensive clothing! She took out her wallet and put it to her eye, tying it in place with her chain. It wasn't working. In fact, now she looked like a Cyclops and her vision was disturbed.
'What are you doing?' Hayasaka asked incredulously.
'Not looking at your opponent,' Okegawa said, 'is a bad idea!' He suddenly punched, but Hayasaka just managed to move back. Okegawa's fist made contact with the wall and left a tiny crater.
Mafuyu gulped. If Hayasaka was hit by that, he would break his bones!
'Interesting,' Hayasaka punched back.
Idiot! Mafuyu yelled mentally as Okegawa grabbed his collar. He's a goner! I need to help…
Mafuyu ran towards him, kicking him in the back. Hayasaka fell forward, missing Okegawa's punch. Hayasaka fell onto another delinquent hard, knocking him out. Mafuyu fell on another squire, knocking him out as well. Okegawa made for another swing but Mafuyu kicked at Hayasaka's legs, buckling him to the floor. Another miss. Another fall and another delinquent down. She saw a wooden pillar hurtle towards them after Okegawa threw it. She pushed Hayasaka again. Another miss, fall and a squire out cold.
Hayasaka grabbed her collar, completely oblivious to how he was being saved by her. 'What are you doing? Stay out of my way!'
'I'm sorry! Don't be so mean.'
Hayasaka turned to face Okegawa, but Okegawa's eyes were focused behind him and on the girl. Incredible, he thought. She dodged all my hits as well as taking out my men by pushing Hayasaka around in an effort to protect him, with the least amount of damage inflicted upon everyone! What skill! He met her icy glare. She's trying to intimidate me! I won't back down. Her lips moved. Is she trying to curse me? No…this is…Tap Code...?
'Dot dot dash dot, dot dot, dash dot, dot dot, dot dot dot, dot dot dot dot,; she muttered. 'Dot dot dash, dot, dot dot, dash dash dot, dot dot dot dot, dash,' she continued, 'dot dash dot dot, dot dash, dash, dot, dot dash dot.'
Finish fight later? Okegawa swallowed, feeling a little wary for the first time in a long time. This girl seemed to be serious, going as far as using Tap Code. 'Fine,' he muttered. 'I'll let you go, but tomorrow, right here at this time, we have our showdown. We will finish this fight.'
'Dot dot dot, dash dot dash,' Mafuyu saluted him from behind Hayasaka. OK!
He nodded. 'Later,' he said, and left.
'Hah?' Hayasaka tilted his head. 'What was that about? Where is he going?'
That was close, Mafuyu sighed. But I can't let Hayasaka go alone. He'll lose for sure. Ah! I think I have a plan…
I should mention that since Morse Code did not exist in the Middle Ages, I had to replace it with Tap Code! Yes, Morse Code and Tap Code are the same thing. My apologies, but I could not think of another type of code! Please, I hope that my dear readers will find it satisfactory. If anyone can think of a better code, please inform me in a review. Also, the Juvenile Guard is the Disciplinary Committee. I think that is more suited to this setting! Thank you for reading!