Looking at the scenary outside, I noticed a cherry blossom tree. Its
leaves attracted me, so I set myself to work. Taking my blazer off
and rolling my sleeves up, I noticed that there were several girls watching me from a corner.
"Such a hottie. I want him baaaddd"
"Yoko got dibs on Ryo."
"Heyy no fair. Why does she have dibs on the hot transfer student."
My name is Ryo Iwamura and I just transferred to Jindai High School. I'm
sixteen-years-old, turning seventeen in three months. I arrived in Japan from
the US two days earlier.
"Hey Souske, check out the new AS magazine I just got" said Shinji.
Hearing the door open, I see a sixteen year old boy with a x scar on his
cheek. Walking with ease, I noticed the look he was giving me. The look
he gave me, was a cold look no one noticed. Feeling like the only two
people in that room, things felt really quiet. The sound of the chalk board
squeeking, the sound of chatter and the chirping of the birds, all seem to
have died down in a split second. I understood what Souske was giving me the look for.
He was suspicious of me.
Walking past me, every sound seems to have resumed back to normal
again. I heave a sigh, continuing on with my drawing on the cherry
blossom.
"Souske, it looks like the M6 has an upgrade to its molecutter knife and
targeting systems."
"Of course, the M6 still needs some serious upgrades. But from the looks
of it, it will do fine in any battlefield."
Eavesdropping on a conversation is a favorite hobby of mine. Multi-
tasking is not difficult to do, but the problem is how anyone can notice
you while eavesdropping. Looking outside to check out the cherry blossom, I notice three to five men with clothes too hot to wear during spring.
RYO IWAMURA
I snapped up to see Kaname Chidori, class representative and vice
president of the Student COuncil. With her blue ocean hair and brown
eyes, it amazes me that someone like Souske has her as a
girlfriend.
"Ryo, how do you like Jindai High so far?"
Trying hard not to put Kaname near the window, I put my drawing where
she could notice it. From the looks of the five men outside, its possible
that they work for Amalgam or some terrorist branch. The men wore identical black clothing, seeing as though they have just come from a funeral. One of them seems to be telling them instructions and pointing at the school.
"This high school is alright compared to the other schools I have been to
in the US."
"Really? You're from the US? What state did you live at?"
"I lived in Virginia. Since my father and grandfather work in the navy, I
was given the chance of traveling around the US. Did you live in the US too?"
Slowly checking my Glock and backup weapon were secure, I had to think of a distraction to get out of the classroom. Souske is still chatting with Shinji, David is in the office talking to the principal and Tessa sat five seats in front of me reading a math book.
"Wow, did you draw that yourself Ryo?"
Kaname took notice of my drawing and I felt glad. Her smile was priceless when she admired my work of art.
"I started to draw the cherry blossom because it attracted me when it was blooming. I have never seen any tree like this before. My drawing skills been rusty but I'm glad that you admire it Kaname."
That was the truth. I used to draw when I was a little boy, and my father told me I have the skills from my mother, who was well known for her art skills in her old days in high school and college. My father works in the Navy as an admiral, and my mother works at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
"Excuse me Kaname, may I talk to you after I come back from the library? I remember the librarian, Ms. Kobayashi, telling me to stop by because of a book I borrowed" I perfectly lied.
"Oh sure, go ahead."
"Thank you Kaname"
Now's my chance to see whats going on outside.
Taking my blazer with me, I gave a hot glance to the girls in the corner of the classroom. My look must have been very hot because one of the girls nearly fainted and started falling to the ground. I couldn't let that happen so I went in front of her and caught her in a swift motion. People saw what
happen and gave out a cry.
"Oh Ryo, that was so cool" Kyouko said
"Yeah, talk about perfect timing" OnoD called out
"I must say that guy really was quick" Souske commented
A number of people I took notice in a first glance started talking and boys whistled for my brave actions. The teacher wasn't back yet so I had to hurry before anyone noticed I left the classroom for a long period of time.
"Are you alright?" I asked the girl.
I had the girl in my arms, looking at her eyes with worry. She and I may have been there for
awhile when she finally spoke.
"I'm ok Ryo. I'm glad that you caught me."
"I'm sorry, but may I ask your name?"
She suddenly blushed again, and spoke very quietly so no one could hear her.
"I'll tell you my name if you take me to your house" (her name's Saeki)
That doesn't sound so bad. But I'll do it.
"Alright, meet me at the front entrance after school. And-" replying quietly "Your perfume smells
so sweet, it makes me want to taste you."
The girl gasp and blushed a flush pink again. I smiled at her and put her back on her feet again. Her
friends smiled at me and asked for my phone number. It took awhile to get them out of my hands, but when
I managed to shake them, I left the classroom walking normal. Souske will be suspicious and follow me so
my Glock was in a place where I can take out from in a fast motion.
-Two days prior to arrival in Japan-
Somewhere around Virginia
I was told to visit Sir Mallory, a good friend of my grandfather. He and Sir Mallory were friends since
they met each other around the Vietnam war. They met each other in a strip bar of all places. Over the years,
they grew up with each other like brothers, always returning a favor to their friend. To me, Sir Mallory is
like a grandfather to me. He gives me advice and listens to my problems whenever I have a question about life
He is a strong man, who everyone gives respect to for his connoiessuer of military warfare and business.
"Ryo, you must understand that warfare is like a game of chess. You set the game and time needed to ensure
you win the game."
Sir Mallory is currently staying in Virginia to stay with my grandfather, Former Pacific Fleet Commander James
Iwamura.
Just thinking of what they do when no one is watching them gives me the creeps. Grandpa, in his "golden days,"
told me how every girl he set his eyes on always come running after him.
"I gotta tell you Ryo, it probably has something to do with my eyes. Just looking at a girl's eyes suddenly
makes them like a trapped antelope. Me being a lion that is looking for his lunch."
My answer to that sentence was a nod or a grunt in reply. He loves to mezmorize those days so I leave him be.
Besides, I'm glad I took his advice on how to capture a girl's heart. It comes in handy when I'm in a special
assignment of protecting a girl whose name is Teletha Tesstorrosa.
Finally arriving to Sir Mallory's temporary cabin in the woods, I parked my car in the garage. I'm sure he
doesn't mind leaving my car there. Like every insecure person, Sir Mallory set up anti-tank mines, human traps,
animal traps and a bunker underneath the house in case a nuclear warhead dropped on the cabin. I don't blame him
for thinking that way, I would do the same thing too.
Looking around my surroundings, I thought to myself that Sir Mallory sure liked his trees. The cabin was surrounded
with tall douglas fir trees and four hidden anti missle silos that I managed not to walk over. Finally getting to his
front door, I knocked on his door with a old fashion tune.
"Who is it?" A elderly man asked.
"Sons of Liberty, 96 reporting" I said with a guarded voice.
"Jerry, open the door. I know its Ryo with his usual robotic movements."
The man Jerry, who turns out to look older than Sir Mallory, wore Mithril's class A uniforms. He had the rank as a
Captain and for me, I have a lower rank than him. My rank is Specialist, that is equivalent to an Corporal in
the Armed Forces. I stood at attention and saluted. The captain returned the salute and led me to Sir Mallory.
Sir Mallory, was sitting on a leather couch with a Wall Street Journal on his lap. I sense that something was wrong but ignored the feeling. Sir Mallory looked really happy about something and looked like a little boy with his first lollipop. His mustache was trimmed as always, the right glass lens on his right eye and the old fashion clothing of the 1920s. I sat on opposite from him, giving him a warm salute. The captain left to give us some refreshments and came back in the speed of light. No word were exchanged while the captain served us coffee and vanilla waffles. The silence dragged on until I couldn't take it anymore.
"Sir Mallory, may I ask why I was led here?"
Staring up at my eyes, he folded up his newspaper and laid it on the table. Grabbing his coffee and sipping it for a
few times will he speak.
"Your training in the CIA has come to a close."
"Yes sir, my father told me to join Mithril because CIA has alot of people and don't need my smart skills in espionage. After the heavy blow to Amalgam, the intelligence bureau in Mithril has lost numerious losses. Mother tells me to go to Mithril also." Just where is he getting at?
The old man sat back to his sofa, closing his eyes. He spoke with his eyes closed.
"Ryo, there's not that much people in the Mithril Intelligence Department. Most of them were lost to Amalgam's missiles that attacked the HQ at Sydney, Australia. The president of intel is also dead and no one did not replace his position yet. It is my desire to have you join the Intelligence Department and become the President of the-"
"I am not ready for that responsibility Sir Mallory. I'm too young and I need field experience before I start something
like that."
Mallory tried not to smile at Ryo, but ended up smirking.
"Your a pro Ryo. I just got done with a meeting with executive officers of Mithril. They are the commanders of the
Mediterranean, Pacific and Indian Ocean Fleet. I asked them if I could put someone I knew very well as the President of the Intelligence deparment. They said anyone would do but the person must be very knowledgable and flexible. The age
doesn't matter to them. By the way, I think there is someone you know very well that is in Mithril."
I wondered who that person would be and waited for the answer.
"This person is the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, Captain Teletha Tesstarossa."
When I heard that, I choked on my vanilla waffle and gasped for air. Teletha was my cousin's crush but he commited suicide while he was working on the ARX-7. Bunny Morauta is my cousin. I never thought I would be meeting her in my life. This is not good.
"But Sir Mallory, just what is this all about? Are you saying you want me to get close to Captain Tesstarossa while I'm the
President of Intel?"
Mallory chuckled and nodded.
"No, I want you to get close to her when your in Japan. She's taking a break from her command and spending time at Jindai
High School. I want you to meet her and be friends with her, although you can try getting more close to her than being a
friend. But there's another assignment when you get to Japan. Are you familiar with a group called SOULS, Ryo?"
Sitting back on the couch and breathing heavily, I shook my head. The thought of talking and speaking to Tessa, Bunny
gave her that nickname because it suited her more, was giving me butterflies in my stomach.
The old man spoke with ease and began with a serious tone he use for business.
"SOULS, is the police of Mithril. Their job is to ensure there is no corruption within Mithril and they protect the High
Command at all times. The people in SOULS are the best of the best and the Captain of the group is David Santiago. David is
also in Japan, watching over Kaname Chidori and Sergeant Souske Sagara. You are to meet up with David and do a background
check. Your primary job is to protect Captain Tesstarossa and Kaname Chidori. Meet up with intelligence officer Wraith and
she will tell you the rest. Any objections Ryo Iwamura?"
I was ready for my new mission and gave him a nod. After the meeting with Sir Mallory, I was given a briefing of Captain
Santiago, Captain Tesstorassa, Sergeant Sagara, Kaname Chidori and Wraith by Captain Jerry. Captain Jerry told me I have the
power of calling anyone in Mithril when a disaster happens. I left Sir Mallory's house and drove home. My parents did not
speak a word to me and I told them I'll be taking a vacation to Japan for a few months. Mother simply nodded and father told
me to watch my back. For grandpa James, he tells me
"Once you get to Japan, check out the cherry blossom tree. They bloom at this time and are very beautiful. Have a good time
sonny."
This assignment will be a good field experience. But I did not know meeting captain Tessa will change my life dramatically
forever.
