The city of Promise City was blanketed in thick snow. The snowstorm had indeed come. And with a furious ferocity. With a historically low temperature, the Promise City bay was frozen solid. Piles of snow covered the many vehicles lined along the edges of the maze of roads.
The streets were a buzz; police cars cut off entire districts. A much-needed controlled funnel for the traffic which regularly paralysed the city. Emergency services stood on standby, their vehicles sitting parked.
Six-wheeled armoured vehicles more akin to APCs than trucks stormed furiously through the crowded streets. Their turrets scanned onlookers one by one. The troopers sat rigid, magazines attached to their assault rifles. They were BlueJet International, battle-hardened, well-equipped, and hired for this very job.
Promise City Police Department cruisers escorted from the front, ordering pedestrians to move, forcing them if need be. SWAT stood on high alert, lining the many streets scheduled to be used as the pathway towards the super prison and future home of their prisoner-
The Wedding Ring Slayer.
[All units. Priority One transit taking place. Keep the escort tight. The road is clear.]
[Copy that Command. Snow is thick, the road is icy, be advised our arrival may be delayed.]
[Understood, Gold One.]
The huge wheels roared furiously kicking up debris, snow and the spiteful ice.
I, Edward Quinn, stood leaning against my small apartment's moldy wall. In my pale hand I held a cup of coffee, probably my only source of energy left, because I certainly do not sleep.
Sunohara's voice echoed from my phone.
For once it isn't business. It is not about my day job or-
my night shift.
[... Christmas soon.. Any plans?]
'No.'
My second-hand box television played aloud in the background. The live broadcast feed followed the convoy towards the facility that would house the Wedding Ring Slayer.
[Don't be a loner]
'But I do that best' I whined with faux offence.
[I could fly to Promise City.. or you could fly here to stay with me?]
'I think I am ok, Sunohara.'
I pushed off the wall-
Walking towards the apartment's singular slightly ajar window.
The snow-covered city outside was decorated in decorations. My eyes couldn't help but drift towards the distant dominating-
Kodoma Tower.
Its obsidian walls were hundreds upon hundreds of stories tall. Providing occupants with a view of the entire metropolitan area as well as the Bay that encompasses the city.
I couldn't shift the uneasy bottomless pit in my stomach the sight gave me.
[You listening Eddie?]
'Hmm?'
I snapped back to attention. Watching as the convoy passed by outside my own window. It was on route to the Promise Bay Bridge out of the city limits.
[You can come to Japan-]
I answered faster than my mind could think-
'I haven't been in Japan since-'
I go silent.
Remembering the night I left forever..
Flashback..
Evening March 2019..
Moon City, Shizuoka..
The courtyard was silent aside from the constant cry of the cicadas.
I stood with my arms folded, my eyes focused solely on the garden. Its elegant sakura tree petals slowly congregate into small mounds of pink.
The courtyard's lake was moss covered, its still waters glistening. Small rock islands lined to the centre where there was a stone buddha statue partially submerged into the deep pond.
In its corner was a wooden pagoda, with a long wooden wall surrounding the ground's boundaries. Hanging from the tree branches are trinkets that jingled blissfully.
Hanging dominantly was the Kodoma Clans banner.
A banner of power. Of dominance. Of pure iron will.
I have lived under this for years since I was five. At first I did not notice.
Slowly cracks formed. Revealing the ugly side of the clan.
The grounds of the Kodoma Clan were controlled with a strict code of official and unspoken unofficial rules.
The official rules consisted of the usual;
No romantic frolicking within the main house. No Insubordination. Only Kodoma Clan members may enter the Ceremonial Hall.
The Unofficial rules consisted of what I personally would need to follow;
Speak ONLY Japanese while on the premises. Speak ONLY Japanese to the main household. No affection may be displayed to the ruling Matriarch. DO NOT EMBARRASS THE MAIN FAMILY.
So..
I didn't exactly have the best upbringing. Privileged? Yes. Happy? Absolutely not.
'Edowādo, koi'
(Edward. Come.)
Reina said calmly. Her pale hands clasped in front of her.
Her words were like silk. But her sharp brown eyes were like daggers.
'Kono mae no kimi no ano sawagi... Kōkō de no koto da... Tōtei, yurusareru koto de wa nai.'
(Your recent outburst.. At your high school.. It was unacceptable..)
She began leading me through the courtyard entrance into the main house.
I followed close behind.
She shuffled with purpose. Her hands were placed neatly in front of her. Her elegant burgundy robe was extravagant but this was her nightwear. The kimono dipped into a deep v-neck. The nightwear of the ultra rich.
Her feet were sandaled. Her long silky black hair tied neatly into a tight bun, two golden pins crossed to form a 'x'.
Maids avoided her path. Some bowed deeply the moment she passed by. Some other members of the Kodoma Clan slightly bowed to us both. Honouring the hierarchy-
But I always knew mine was simply due to my adopted mothers rank. Not genuine respect.
'What is this about?' I ask, my arms crossed.
Perhaps I should have picked my words more carefully? Or perhaps I was stupid to ask in English.
Because Reina hit the roof or more specifically, exploded with fury.
'Watashi to hanasu toki wa Nihongo shika tsukau na!'
(USE ONLY JAPANESE WHEN YOU TALK TO ME!)
She spun around to face Edward, pointing dramatically at him-
'Gomen nasai, Okaasan… wasuremashita'
(So-sorry.. Mama.. I forgot..)
'Hanashi ni naranai!'
(NOT GOOD ENOUGH!)
She continued-
'Kono okite o shiranai to wa iwasen! Sore ga wagaya no zettai tessoku da!'
(You should know this rule! THAT IS THE FIRST RULE OF THE HOUSE!)
SLAP
…
She hit me. She actually hit me?
My pale cheek stung. The pink swell is aching.
'W-What.. Why?'
Reina's pale face only grew redder with anger.
The veins pulsating with frustration.
She gritted her pearly white teeth.
'Kono orakamono me! Omae no sono taido, sono orakashisa ga, kono kazoku no hyōban o kizutsukete iru no da!'
(YOU FOOL! YOUR ATTITUDE! YOUR STUPIDNESS! IS DAMAGING THIS FAMILIES REPUTATION!)
'Okā-sama, moshi watashi ga karera o tomenakattara…'
(Mother if I didn't stop them-)
I stood silent. Stunned.
Reina approached. Jamming her long sharp purple painted nail into my chest.
'Anata nante, youshi ni mukaeru n ja nakatta!'
(ADOPTING YOU WAS A MISTAKE!)
Reina turned away, and continued her purposeful shuffle further into the main house's extravagant maze-like corridors.
'Yoku mo maen mae de watashi wo baka ni shi tsuzukete kureta wa ne!'
(YOU CONTINUE TO MOCK ME TO MY FACE!)
'Onna no ko wo tasuketa n da! Osowarete ita n da yo! Boku wa dou sureba yokatta n da!'
(I saved a girl! she was being attacked! What was I supposed to do!)
Reina dipped her voice, it becoming a growl more than words. Edward could FEEL the venom pouring from her mouth.
'Aa, sou, doko no dare tomo shiranu amadzure wo tasuketa wake ne. Taihen yoku dekimashita koto.'
(Yes, you saved some wh*re from an unknown fate. Good for you.)
'Soshite sono katei de, omae wa shinbun-isha ni 'doro-sui' de baa kara chidori-ashi de dete kuru tokoro wo miyareta no yo... sore mo, otoko-tachi ga risei wo subete ushinau yona, ano gomi dango no baa de ne…'
(And in the process you were seen by the press 'piss drunk' stumbling out of a bar… one of those floosy bars.. where men lose any and all brains…)
There was little I could retort or argue, what do I say?
We continued to approach the main living area of the family. Each door was swiftly parted by maids, as if it was a big mechanism.
The doors slowly parted to reveal-
An ambush.
Ayaka sat on a sofa, her bare legs crossed, her skirt hiked up to reveal her underwear. Her arms were crossed across her small bust. Her face had a smirk, but not a welcoming one.
She loved this moment. She absolutely loved it. She gets a front row seat to this show, this act.
I scowled at her.
The bond between us was already weak, and this I could already suspect was about to break it. Completely.
'Okaasama, kono ko wo hizamazukaseru beki desu wa.'
(Mother you should make him get on his knees.) she suggested, squeezing her arms tighter.
Her lips pulled back, revealing her sharp pearly white teeth. Like a predator about to pounce. I was more used to this than I wished to admit.
'Hon'ne wo moushiagereba okaasama, Edouado wo watashi-tachi to douretsu ni atsukau riyuu ga mattaku wakarimasen wa.'
(To be honest mother, I don't understand why you insist on treating Edward as one of us)
Ayaka continued, each word being even more venomous than the next.
'Ken'i wo uyamau kokoro mo, ichizoku wo omou kimochi mo nai... kare wa watashi-tachi to wa sumu sekai ga chigau no yo.'
(He has a lack of respect for authority. Lack of care for the clan.. he isn't one of us.)
Reina looked back at Ayaka, her eyes and scornful expression painting a picture of a thousand words.
This was a look of 'know your place' one of Reina's signature looks.
Naturally, self preservation took over and she shut down immediately.
'Damare, kono amadzure ga!'
(Shut your f*cking mouth.)
Reina sneered-
And Ayaka immediately did just that. The smile is gone. But the oppressiveness of her glare remained.
I wished I could snap a picture for the prosperity of this marvelous occasion.
However, now isn't the time.
Reina returned her stare to me.
(You are forbidden from leaving here)
She stepped closer. Placing her hand upon my cheek.
(Go to your room.)
I turn on my heels and walk away. I ascended the stairs to my room.
The Present..
The snow continued to fall outside my window.
Memories like this tend to reappear especially during the holiday seasons.
I finished my coffee-
With one final swig.
Beep Beep Beep
My computer flickered-
AI-N immediately notified me-
Sending a notification directly to my phone-
Naturally Sunohara would also receive one too.
[I think it's time to suit up Eddie.]
'Me too Yohei-
-Me too.'
I turned to my computer console which was nestled into the secret compartment of my small cold dingy apartment.
'If I use my regular suit, this storm will kill me. I should use my snow suit.'