Sengo Part One

In The End

Introduction

"The day it happened, felt like yesterday. It was June 9th, 2026. The sky was grey and cloudy, rain dropping from above in an orderly manner almost, like they had a place to go and a time to leave. " He gave a raspy chuckle.

" It was just another June rain, calm and methodical. The soft drum of water on the tin roof of the porch usually put me to sleep, but not today. My Tamashii wouldn't sleep. I wont say I knew what was to come..but I did. I think all of Japan did. And if I thought I knew, your Grandmother definitely knew."

"The TV was constantly set to the news and Shinko, you're Grandmother, was always perched at the edge of her seat, tense. She got up a few times a day, only to tend to your father, feed him, change him. She rarely ate. Her eyes almost always reflected the television screen. All she watched was the news. Ever since a few years ago. 'America threatened this, Korea threatened that.' Japan had nothing to do with it in the beginning, but us being allies with North Korea, it wasn't long before America's president issued threats at Japan as well. The Prime Minister didn't like that."

He chuckled again. The wrinkly smile stayed for a split second, before fading into somewhat of a frown for the past. Regret.

" Later that night, shortly after the feud between America's president and our Prime Minister had ended, the debate being an hour long, and not ending to well I might add. Shinko was shaking and tearing up, eyes once again glued to the TV screen. Then she got up and started walking to the kitchen table. The stress was too much for her. She fell over, unconscious."

" 'Silly girl.' I muttered to myself as I pressed on her forehead. My Tamashii was strong back then, in my prime. 'Always worrying too much.' I focused for a few seconds and shortly after, she woke suddenly and clutched my arm."

" I was more worried than I ever had been. She spoke with an urgency that I had never heard before.' I had a vision Haruto, we must leave. Now.' Not only was I worried, but the way Shinko said it, struck fear in my heart. Not of her. For her."

Chapter One:

The rain poured down in front of Kaito. Hard. The wooden roof above kept him dry, but naturally Grandfather wanted him to go out there and train.

Kaito hated rain.

It rains everyday. Literally. No snow, just slightly colder rain. No summer, just humidity and rain. Fall is just wet leaves. And rain. Rain, rain, rain.

He turned around to face his Grandfather.

He sat in meditation position, cross legged with a tray of tea leaves, hot water and a bowl of rice. This was always in front of him when he meditates.

" Do I have to? " Kaito complained.

He opened one eye.

" The answer is the same every time you ask Kaito." He replied. He closed his eye again.

Kaito let out a sigh as he pulled his hood over and tightened his sheath strap. He took a deep breath.

Kaito ran into the rain, the water below him seven feet deep, and the father he went, the deeper. Every step he took, rings of water surrounded his steps on the surface of the lake. About half a mile in front of me, huge redwood trees sprout out of the moss covered water, almost swamp-like. The trees stretch about a half or a whole mile up. The sharp scent of sap tingles his nostrils still, sickly sweet, the toxins that were once here long ago enhancing that smell. Grandfather has told him it enhanced the trees as well.

Pieces of metal from unknown machines stick out, or almost touch the surface of the water and looking down through the murk Kaito can see more metal behemoths, machines that might have been used for targeting enemies, or for toasting bread.