Tokyo 2013

Every hero has his own story. Good, bad, interesting or not. I never liked supernatural stuff. Besides, there's always an explanation, right ? That's what I thought in the beginning, until my life changed radically.

My name's Akita and that's my own story. My life was flowing normally, as for every 16-year-old boy in Tokyo. My father died 3 years ago in an accident and I became the foothold of home earlier than I thought. I was forced to let things and friends to be by my mother's side. My only hobby, where I could get carried away, was basketball. Most, our team was almost promoted to the college championship.

It was the afternoon, when the team celebrated and it would have changed my life. We had gone to a popular bar, to celebrate.

"Very good game, Akita. At last, we did it!"

"We will definitely go with high moral at the pre-finals, Hachiro."

Hachiro, my best friend. The best player of the team. Tall, sturdy, with short hair and brown eyes. Always smiling and relaxed. We met on our first grade and since then, we are inseparable. In contrast with me, he was always the object of desire for many girls. On the other hand, I was shorter than him, average stature, however I had some noticeable shape due to basketball, black hair and I always wore a lucky charm, which my father gave me before he died.

"I think that we should celebrate it today, Akita. We'll go at Aiko's party."

"At Aiko's ? Look... you know... I must help at home and..."

"My friend, you must grow up. It's time to tell her what you feel."

"I would like to, but... I remembered that I have an important job. I must go."

"Where are you going, Akita...?"

 

I left in a hurry from the bar. Aiko... She came one year later than me and I liked her. Blonde hair till her shoulders, and light blue eyes. A smile that always made me forget every single problem. However, I never had the strength to tell her how I feel. I was always outlandish at such stuff. Maybe Hachiro was right. I had to act as a man... But still...

These thoughts were rushing in my head and, carried away, I got to the old forest of town. I was always here when I was sceptical and troubled. I used to come here with my dad when I was young and we were sitting and talking all the time. I always solved my problems here, no matter how difficult they were.

"It seems like nobody is here right now."

I relaxed on grass and I was staring at the sky. Sun was setting and that made it a bit nostalgic. So, without notice, I fell asleep.

I woke up with her voice.

"Akita !"

"Who is it ?"

"Follow me..."

A figure was appearing in front of my eyes, however I couldn't understand who could it be. Without hesitation, like I was hypnotized, I followed her. She led me to an outlandish cavern. When we got inside, the figure got lost and darkness doused me.

"What happened ? Where I am?"

"The time has come, Akita."

"Who are you ?"

A blinding light doused the cavern and the mysterious figure revealed itself. A young girl at the same age with me, with long red hair. Her eyes were green and they were shining somehow weird. The weirdest of all was that she was naked.

"What the...?"

As it was expected, I was stunned by her being naked. You hardly find a girl leading you in an outlandish cavern and naked... I stared at her breasts and I wouldn't stop looking if I hadn't heard her voice.

"Akita, stop looking at my body like this. You should listen to me. He's coming and we must stop him."

"I'm not the naked here. So, who's coming ? What should we stop ?"

For one more time, I looked at her from the bottom to the top, without stopping myself from looking her "weak spots". I'm 16 years old, you see, I have impulses...

"I know that these will be weird for you and maybe you won't believe them from the beginning, but this is the truth. Will you stop looking at me ?"

"What ? Oh yes, sorry... Who are you ?"

"For the time being, the only thing that I can tell you is that we are through a serious threat. Humanity depends on you."

"I see that we are in danger... Especially with your appearance... About the humanity, can't you just tell about it to an organization or something ?"

"The things are not funny. You are the chosen one."

"The chosen one ? Look, if you are a fan from the school team, I would gladly sign an autograph but you know, I like a..."

At this moment, the unknown girl came closer to me and she hit me on my head. Then, instantly she appeared dressed.

"Hey! Why did you do this ?"

"Seems like you terrestrials admire the naked body of a girl."

"Yeah that's true... Who are you ? You are definitely not from my school. I would have noticed you."

"You see this ?"

She came closer to me and she gave me an old book with "Thievius Catius" written on it and on the front side it had a lock in a shpae of a lucky charm.

"If you brought me here just to read a book, I don't think that..."

"It's not just a book!"

She had a very intense look. Her eyes were still shining. She turned her back at me and she started talking.

"World is not as you may imagine it. There are many mysterious stuff. You are not alone."

"You mentioned someone before. Someone who must be stopped. What's happening ? Who is he ? Why should I stop him ?"

At the time, a huge seismic vibration shaked the cavern. I looked at the mysterious girl and she beckoned at me telling me:

"It started."

I ran fast and in a moment I got on the hill, where you could see the city. Terrified, I was staring at people running on a panic, as fires were burning the buildings, destroying anything on their way!

"No... Mother!"

I got down from the hill and I ran at my mother's house. On the road, I saw passers-by running, screaming. Children were crying and searching for their

parents, while a lady was screaming for her baby, which was in a home trapped in flames.

On the next turn, I saw my home trapped in flames and ready to be torn apart.

"Mother!"

I entered home and I instantly ripped off my sleeve, covering my face, so I could breathe easier. My mother was on the floor with burns of an important degree. She had a weak pulse.

"I'll get you out of here. We'll make it through."

"Akita..."

Her voice was nearly heard. She was weak. I tried to lift her, but she grabbed my hand...

"Akita... Do you know how much I care for you ?"

"But... but... Don't worry. I'll get you... out of here."

It became more and more suffocated. I was getting dizzy and I couldn't breathe.

"Your father's...lucky charm...will keep you safe...don't lose..."

"Hold on! We'll get out of here alive."

I got her on my back and I walked to the back door of home. But, the fire was strong, the home was torn apart and a spar hit me and I fell. Dizziness flowed my eyes as my mother wasby my side... For one more time, I showed weakness... Is it the end ?

"Mum..."

"I love you..."

"Me too mum... me too."

As I wa closing my eyes for the last time, I heard her voice.

"Mum ?"

It ended here...

My head was hurting. When I opened my eyes, I didn't know where I was. Someone had tied up my head. Obviously to take care of my injury...

The room had low lighting. A big office was across the bed. I saw papers scattered on it. A fireplace was burning, as there were on it shelves with some dusty books. Smooth jazz music played on the jukebox, which decorated the room. Surely inspired by Europe. It wasn't like a typical home at the heart of Tokyo. Even the most rich places hadn't such appearance.

The door opened and a man appeared.

"I see you woke up."

"Who are you ? Where am I ?"

"Everything will be answered at time, youngster. For the time being, miss, could you come for a minute ?"

On the door , the mysterious girl appeared.

"You! What's happening here ? Where is my mother ?"

"With regret, Akita Matsuzaki , we couldn't save her."

"WHAT? No, no, no....."

I got off my bed and I grabbed the mister. He was looking at me impassive without a trace of sadness. For a while, I was looking at him, without even realise what he said.

"It can't be... It's impossible..." 

I walked some steps and then I stood. I looked at the guy, then at the mysterious girl. I was lost. Hachiro was right. I am not a man. I couldn't save my own mother!

"I'm nothing! I'm nothing!"

I started hitting my hand on the wall and crying... I had lost a big part of myself. I grabbed the man again and I asked him.

"Why? Why she couldn't be saved? I would rather die than her!"

I dropped him on the office. All the papers that were on it they scattered on the floor. I fell on the floor and I began shouting, but it was hopeless.

The man stood up from the office and after he straightened his tie, he whispered at the girl who was waiting at the door.

"What do you want from ME? Who are you?"

"I suppose that it's the perfect time to show him your real self, don't you agree miss Reiko?"

She beckoned positively at him and  then the room flooded with this blinding light that shined in the cavern. I hid my face and when I looked back at her again, I saw something the unthinkable... Something that changed my life...

"It's...not...possible..." I whispered, as the man smiled dimly in front of the view.

The days were flowing quietly. I was trapped in this room. I didn't know what was happening in the world for many days. Maybe weeks... I don't know, I had lost the sense of time.

The door opened for one more time and the man appeared again. Dressed up as the first time. I felt like I was in an organization or something.

"How do you feel today, kid?"

I sat on the office and he was looking at me.

"Don't you talk?"

"You must be hungry, aren't you? You haven't eaten for many days. Don't tell me that you're still mourning for your mother. Would you like some ramen?"

"DON'T EVEN CATCH AGAIN MY MOTHER IN YOUR MOUTH!"

He continued with this relanig look which was getting on my nerves!

"Look, kid, we didn't start well. As soon as you realise that your mother won't return, it'll be better for all of us."

How could he talk like this? Especially to a kid like me? Why was he so calm? What did he want from me?

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing more than helping us save the world. Typical stuff."

"This is not only typical. I can't still understand..."

"This which happened with Reiko?"

The thing that happened that day was beyond fantasy. In front of my surprised eyes, the mysterious girl or better, Reiko, transformed into a cat. Yeah, you got it well. Into a cat!

"I suppose that it's the perfect time to show him your real self, don't you agree miss Reiko?"

She beckoned positively at him and  then the room flooded with this blinding light that shined in the cavern. I hid my face and when I looked back at her again, I saw something the unthinkable... Something that changed my life...

"It's...not...possible..." I whispered, as the man smiled dimly in front of the view.

In front of the door, it wasn't Reiko who was standing here, but a black cat! I was looking frightened this cat, whichstood out from the rest because of the tail at the end was white.

"Fantastic, right? Every time I am surprised with the transformation."

The man was laughing and looking at Reiko.

"You're kiddiing me, right? This can't..."

"Let's take things from the start."

"As I told you, you are not alone!"

I looked at my right side and I saw Reiko sitting at the edge of the bed, next to me.

"Yeah, I know... WHAT? YOU TALK?"

I fell down from fear. I was looking with my mouth wide open, one at the man, another to Reiko.

"Let's introduce ourselves! My name's Sally." said the man, breaking the silence which had prevailed.

"But she is... What's going on there?"

"She is Reiko. And here is the book Catius."

"The what?"

He showed me the book which Reiko showed me at the cavern.

"Let's take things from the start. You are Akita Matsuzaki, right?"

"Yeah, how do you know about me..." I was still looking intensively at the cat or better, Reiko. Her green eyes were looking at me curiously. I felt like she was undressing me with her look.

"As I told you, my name's Sally. The book I hold on my hands is called Catius. It's an ancient book of magical spells which can be controlled by two people every generation. You see, as Reiko told you already, you're not alone. We are not alone!"

"What do you mean?"

"Our world is directly connected with the ancient world of the Elders."

"The Elders?"

"An ancient race responsible for the maintenance of balance between the two worlds."

"Whoa, dude, relax! Sure there are many other worlds... It's written in any science book, but the researchers haven't proven something about other kinds of life on the planets."

"Their planet does not exist in our galaxy system. Surely, you cannot enter here with simple technology. Only the book can transfer you on this world. We are the organization 'Spectra'. When the Elders contacted terrestrial population, a human team thought that this contact should have been hidden for the good of humanity. So this oragnization was established. We are responsible for the protection of any generation that comes from the city of Elders. We help them socialize, learn our customs and on, to become one of us."

My mind was rushing. Was that possible to happen?

"Continue..." I stammered abruptly.

"Every generation, the city of the Elders sends to Earth a representative along with the book. He or she is responsible for the maintenance of balance using the book."

"So it's Reiko now?"

"Yeah.. But there are some troubles in the whole thing."

"What troubles?"

"In order for Reiko to access the book, the chosen one's lucky charm is needed. Every cat which passed through generations had the chosen one to help her."

"Actually, me..."

Reiko smiled dimly, Sally as well.

"Two centuries ago, though, an unexpected visitor came on Earth. Nobody knew about him or his intentions. We named him 'Emperor'. He could rule on anything. His magic ability was beyond our strength."

Faltered and looked like a little kid who waited for it to tell a compelling story. Reiko climbed on the desk and sat down while Sally started walking with steady steps in the room.

"Marian..."

"Who?"

"The previous owner of the book. She managed to stop him. Before disaster, she sacrificed herself to prevent him from calling his army for the final strike. We couldn't save her, but only her daughter."

Then I looked at Reiko and I realised. She was her daughter. That's why she was the next owner of the book. The successor...

"And... how did we call him?"

"The Emperor dissapeared. We coudn't trace him on his lair, but only the half-dead Marian."

Silence prevailed after Sally's words. I continued looking stupidly with my mouth wide open.

"Close your mouth, something will get in there!" said Reiko with a big smile.

"Your mother... You... Nah, why do I listen to you? I'm lost and I got carried away by childish stories."

"Childish?" Reiko shouted and for the first time i saw her having a serious look looking with those green eyes.

"Don't look at me, I still try to get that you can turn into a cat!"

"Nothing is childish! World is in danger and you are siitting and loitering looking at me!"

"Sorry for not believing a stranger and a girl that turns into a cat!"

"Hmm!" said Reiko, and she turned her back on me.

"Are you sure he's the chosen one?"

"He has the pendant, so he is the one." Sally said.

"I'm outta here! I got sick of your stupidity!"

"You can't go anywhere, remember? Your home has burnt!"

As I was heading for the door, these words hurt me deeply. He was right, I had lost anything. Where would I live ? With who? All my world collapsed in a moment.

A tear flowed on the cheek.

"I'll... I'll make it through."

"With the threat coming? You need help, brat, and we can help you. However, you'll be useful for us. I hope you get the importance of the case. We'll see you the next days."

I was frozen in front of the door. Sally passed beside me, putting his hand on my head and he left smiling. Reiko followed him.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing more than helping us savethe world. Typical stuff."

"That's not only typical. I can't still understand..."

"The thing that happened with Reiko?"

"Even if I believe it, I don't think that I can help you."

"Ok then, I'll let you think about it."

Sally left, but several minutes later, the door opened and Reiko appeared wearing a nightdress.

"What do you want? I thought we talked about it... oh , it's you."

"I brought you some clothes."

I was looking at her holding the clothes. This time she had an innocent and calm look. Then I realised how beautiful she was on her human form. I picked the clothes and I put them on the bed.

"Are oyu ok?" asked me.

"How can I be ok with all this?"

"It's hard for me, too. No one accepts me easily. Do you know how I feel about it? Even humans here don't understand my race."

"At least, you have someone by your side."

"You are wrong!"

She sat on the bed next to me. I turn and I looked at her. Her eyes didn't shine this time, but there was something attractive to them.

"We've got something in common."

"What is it?"

"When the Emperor appeared, my mother was just an apprentice. She didn't know how to react. The counsil insisted on sending her on Earth for help. my father tried to prevent them, but he was condemned for treachery."

As she was speaking, she lowered her look and she got lost to nothing. I looked at her with attention...

"And what happened?"

"The Emperor had entered the city of Elders, trying to eradicate them and claim the book Catius. My mother tried and she killed him, thanks to the magic of the book. However, right before Emperor left, he casted a spell which injured deadly my mother. So, you can't say that I have someone by my side! I know how it is to lose your own person. Believe me, it still hurts me since then, but I never gave up."

"My mother was the only person who was always by my side. After my father's death, I took responsibility of her and the house. I tried to be by her side and help her. Seems like I didn't do it very well, right?" told her, crying.

"I'm sure that she's proud of you and she would like to never give up. Her soul is inside you, here." said and she put her hand on my chest, where my heart was.

"She'll always be there, she'll listen to you and she'll protect you."

"Reiko..."

"I'm not ready for something like this."

"Trust yourself. Only you can do it."

She stood up and she went to the office. She opened the drawer and she got the book Catius. She came back to me. She handed me the book, saying:

"The key is your heart. You can make it."

I shouted and I got off my father's pendant. I looked at the torn-up book. Was it holding so many secrets?

"I need you, Akita..."

I looked at her again. She put her hand on the book and she was looking at me with this serious look of hers.

"Uhmmm... Why not?" I said and I put my hand on her hand.

She smiled at me.

"We'll make it, you'll see. United as one!"

Those stuff were somehow strange, but I felt for the first time that I could do something that would matter. Something that could change the world...and me. For the first time, I felt full of optimism. Ilooked at Reiko and I smiled at her.

"Let's do it!"

She smiled back at me. The next day would judge many things... especially our future!