A New Life

[katsu]

"This place. This is where I am to go to school? It doesnt seem like much, but I guess it will have to do. They sent me here for a reason. I guess the way they punish students is the only reason."

I stood in front of the school, muttering to myself. It was a nice looking school, but looks can be very deceiving. I saw that kids were everywhere. Some of them were even leaving the premise. I didnt know what to think about this. At my school we could never do such a thing without receiving a servere beating. I looked and saw that some were strong and some were weak. There were to be no weaklings in my school. It was against the way of the Empire. The weak would perish and only the strong would survive to carry on the country. I erased this thought from my mind, since that wasnt the case in this place. I decided to look around a bit.

I walked around the premise and almost got lost. I couldnt believe the size of the place. The grounds spanned for what seemed like forever. There were buildings everywhere and more kids. The school in which I attended in Keijo province was all but large and there werent many people there. I noticed something about everyone here. Everyone looked to be around the same age. I didnt know why, but apparently they didnt have any schools here that held all grades. I guessed it was becuse of the sheer numbers of students that had to attend school. my school was different. It was a small college and it held all grades. Not many people attended because only a select few could attend the school. It was a school for only the wealthy and those whos fathers held a high rank in the military.

Since my father was in the military, I was sent to the closest military academy to carry on the job in my family. It was tradition. Apparently that wasnt something that was commonplace here. There looked to be all sorts of people from every place and culture. You could also tell that some of the people's family's did different jobs also. From the way that they dressed, I could only get a glimpse into their lives. Everything herre was different from where I lived. There were also a lot of females her. That was also something that I didnt have at my academy. All of this information seemed interesting, but I wouldnt dwell on it. That was not my mission. I was only to stay here until I was summoned back to Japan.

"I guess Ill sit down here and look around some more."

[koenig]

(As I walked around the school I watched the kids aimlessly walk to through the halls. This school seemed on the surface to be running smoothly and everything was fine, but everyone here knew the truth behind it. Everyone knew how fragile the system here was starting to become. One small tip from either side could send this whole place crashing down into chaos.

Walking outside I reached into my front pocket and pulled out my favorite sunglasses. The sunglasses were tinted blue and had a blue outline to them. As I looked around I saw a kid who seemed completely out of place. He was an asian kid who was just walking around aimlessly looking at our school. It was quite obvious to anyone who would pay attention that the student was new here.

Pulling a cigarette out from my pack I lit it and began to follow the student from a distance. As he walked around the school I continued to follow at a casual stroll. FInally when he stopped I heard.

"I guess i'll sit down here and look around some more"

walking forward so that I was a mere 5 feet to his back I finally spoke up)

"excuse me, you lost or something? need a hand?"

(I asked as i continued to smoke my cigarette)

[kenshin]

(Yeah...enjoy )

Goddamn....where the fuck has the time flied...?

One step into this secret infamous school of education, missing teeth and blood stained floors. Left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. It was like he almost forgot what it was like to walk. The thing is that Raphael had no memory of what had happend to him. Today he just found himself awake in his room, his alarm was apparently off. The rest is a blur. He rubbed his eyes with delicate care. His sight being unusually sensitive around light. He came to the speculation that he must of been asleep for a long time, which would explain the light sensitivity. Goddamn rumors...il kick anyones ass he was still spreading such pointless rumors. To know what Raph means by rumors. Think back to the 1st official tournament. Yes. If one recalls a moment, Raphael had decided to perform a desparation move against his opponent. Which granted him the title of Dracula. Raph today still contemplates and regrets that one day. But now all he can do is move on and hope that the rumors end. Sadly, today was another day of torment and grief. A kid, an age older then Raph, came up to him holding a large cheap silver cross. Raph peeked at it through the part of his hair, which was down across the left part of his face.

"Hey do you feel a burning sensation?!" The older kid jerked around. He moved the cross in a circular motion.
Raph stared at the cross for a few seconds and came out with answer. "No.....now move..." He said in a low, dry tone. Another kid walked up from behind holding a bottle of water. the bottle was open, and the kid splashed some onto Raph. He rose his arm up to defend himsef a bit. The water splashed onto him witha low sound. The two kids laughed and gave each other a high five. Raphs arm lowered, and his look turned from neutral to annoyed. "I mean it...Move now..." he spoke more seriously. The 1st kid kept moving the cross around. Having enough of seeing it, Raph reached out and grabed it tightly. Soon a small but stabbing pain was felt in his palm. Raph let out a loud grunt, a Small puncutre one was visible. One of the kids taped a small tack on the cross to make it stab him. Raph held his wrist and saw the wound in the center of his hand. blood quickly oozed out of the wound, soon spreading to the lines through his hands, and soon to the floor. The 2nd kid took a picture with his cellular phone and laughed.


I've had enough of this....
Raph grapped the cross with his bloody hand. but this time his hand didnt hit the tack again. Using the mucles in his arm and hand, Raph began to slowly break the cheaply manufactured cross till it broke in his hand. The kid was surprised at first, but then looked pissed. "Hey i had to pay 9 bucks for that!" the kid said, balling a fist. Raph still stood there, His head down a bit, hiding his face. "I don't go to church as much...but i do remember the Good Lord doesn't rip people off..." He said, racing his head up showing a fierce expression on his face. Raphs bloody palm was open as he delivered a blow to the side of the kids face. He stumbled back against the wall abit. the second kid rushed to Raph to deliver a quick jab. Raph moved his body to the left and let the kids fist fly past him. With this moment, Raph grabbed the kids arm, moved his body forward, and levered his right leg up, throwing the kid infront of the other kid, who got up and was ready to head for Raph. As the two kids layed there, Raph made his way slowly for them. They started to scoot away.

"Whats the matter? Don't you believe im a vampire?" He said with a sinister tone. "The cross didnt seem to work...well...alittle bit" holding out his blood soaked hand. "Now...what am i to do with you two..?" He said more darkly. That instant, the kids jumped up and bolted down the hall, one screaming and the other up ahead, leaving the 2nd to eat his dust. Most liekly the kids would run past anyone else down the hall. Raph neglected his injured hand, coming to realize a new philosphy of pain being irrelevant.

Walking down the hall non-chalantly, He felt the prescense of two other people. In his current state of mind, He would wait for them to talk, then to notice him

"............."

[katsu]

I began to sit down when I heard someone talk to me. It seemed that he was interested in information on whether I was lost or not. that question was yet to be answered since I wasnt really trying to find any place. I only stood back up and looked at him. I looked only with my eyes and didnt move my body. I only looked at his face also. I wasnt like most people who looked at teh whole body trying to get an idea of who he was or what he was like. I didnt care about either of those. I looked only at the face to determine whether I could make him into a subject that I would and could control. He didnt look to be one that I could do this so I decided to answer the question.

"No, I am not lost. I havent yet started to even look for something. I just landed here in this place from Japan. Unless you have something to offer on the lines of friendship or minionship, I do not wish to speak with you any further."

I didnt move nor did my eyes waver. My voice was assured and hard. It traveled through the air with an heir of authority. In Japan I did have authority. I would have to make myself known here and start to assert my authority to bend the will of people who I knew I could make into minions. I was about to turn and walk when I saw another come up. He looked to be a freak, as Americans would say it, but in my country he wouldnt stick out at all. He looked as if to dress like a vampire and I saw that there was traces of real blood around his lips. It was fresh. When I spoke to the man in front of me, I heard a scuffle and felt that this boy had caused it.

I looked at his face also and he looked unstable. He would make a perfect minion and I decided to test his will.

"So Count, what is your flavor this evening?"

I asserted the same stern voice as when I asnwered the question and waited for the inevitable answer that would be either a bite or fight.

[koenig]

(As my question was awnsered by the student I felt a twinge of a smile about to creep onto my lips. Forcing it down I said nothing at first. He had just gotten here from japan hmmmm? I thought to myself. He sure as hell acted like it the way he held himself. I then heard his last words before he started to turn)

"well I'm not really down for the whole minionship, but i'm a loyal friend"

(I said with a smile)

"the names Bruce"

(I said to him. Before he could of responded in anyway raphael came up. I hadn't seen him since our varron days, and boy did he ever look messed up. It seemed as if he was in a bad emotional wreck. Hearing the new students words however I smiled and waited to see what raphs remark would be)

[kenshin]

Steering away from his train of thought, stood a built rather Jet Li look alike. He took a minute to adjust his eyes, at first his mind tought that Jet Li himself was here in the flesh. But rubbing them softly and looking again, it was only a japanese student, wearing a military style tradiaitonal uniform.


why does it bring back memories...?
He thought, puzzled for a bit.

"So Count, what is your flavor this evening?"

A Witty response at best. He had no flavor really. He just enjoyed spending time at night. The arcades, the theatres, the shows, the clubs. The night life was the good life one can say. But it was people here like this boy who seemingly cant grasp the realization of everything.

"I have no evening flavor. At night is when i usually have a gathering and buffet with my other covenents...." He bull shitted. "The Nightlife to me is the goodlife...Its just sometimes i miss seeing the fights around school, and the recent things that i hear happening here are quite interesting..."

[katsu]

When the first student stated that he could be a loyal friend, I knew that I would need some, but only under the cover. I didn't want to get to close to anyone in the school because of my connections with the governing body in Japan. They might come and use them against me. He then said his name and I turned back to him. Bruce, that was his name. It was a strong, good name. This name could get very far in the world, even though I didn't know anything about American names and culture. My gut told me this and I would trust my gut always. It's kept me alive up till now.

I turned and watched the other who came around after decimating a couple of people. I looked at him and he didn't state his name. He was, what looked to be, a mental and physical wreck, but as Americans say looks can be deceiving. I listened to his words and they came as ash from a fire. Light weight against the wind, easily moved. I was being witty and he was trying to be the same. It made me think of my father, he was like this a lot, until he died. I decided to keep this going, see if I could find out anything more about these two.

"Well My name is Shimizu, Officer of Kempei Tai. Bruce, I like that name. It's a strong name and it suits you well with your mental capacity, which from what I can tell is vast."

Turning to the other.

"You have not told me your name. I can say one thing; you have wits about you. I gave you a witty comment and you gave me one back. If you are interested in friendship, it will be worth your while. If not, then I will not talk with you further. Don't worry, if you don't accept friendship, I will not do as other here do and beat you. Money just wont flow your way."

[kenshin]

"Oh i feel so honored..."

He said in a mellow and cool tone. His right hand waved through his own hair brisk fully. "I may not be a tough boy like the other nimrods and narcissist in this society. But i do have my ways of fighting..."

He was beginning to walk to the Japanese student. An odd tense feeling would pass between them.

"Im known simply as Raph...My full name you cannot know til we both trust each other enough...." His right eye would look to him. "But with the future ahead we will grow to respect and acknowledge our abilities and qualities..."

(short, sorry. Class-S case of Writers block..)

[koenig]

(Saying nothing as the other student came up and gave the other student beside me a witty response back I continued to smile. Then the words of the other student hit my ears.

"Well My name is Shimizu, Officer of Kempei Tai. Bruce, I like that name. It's a strong name and it suits you well with your mental capacity, which from what I can tell is vast"

Hearing this I continued to smile)

"thank you for your kind words shimizu, it is an honor to meet you"

(I said with a slight nod of my head to the student in thanks)

"so how long have you been here? and if you don't mind me asking why did you come to this school?"

(I asked him as I took another long drag of my cigarette and blew the smoke out in a slow continuous cloud)

[katsu]

"Well I like that name. Raph is most likely short for Raphael, but I may be mistaken. I shall not make the assumption and take you at your words. I do look forward to our time here together as friends. I hope you feel the same sentiment."

I didn't smile nor did you hear any feeling about my voice. It was as if a voice recorder was spewing out words that had no meaning, but they in fact did. I looked to the other student who had taken a liking to my previous words. He nodded after talking and then asked a question about my stay here.

"I have not been here long. Just over four weeks. I received information of this schools structure from my family and agreed to come here. It's the closest thing to my own school. Corporal punishment is my specialty."

I heard the last part of his questions and didn't answer the last part accept for a small gesture to signal it was an unwanted question. That gesture was I telling him that this is normal to me. As he smoked I turned slightly to look at the student who walked by. I didn't think it would take long to get him under control, but keeping him there may be a problem.

"Well would you mind if I walked with you anywhere? I also need an appt. Maybe there might be one near you."