Author's Notes ============ Hey there! Kaiser here. This 'little' story here is something I like to think of as one of my more important and serious fictions. Inspired mainly by the computer games Guilty Gear, Toshinden and Psychic Force, I take a lot of pride in naming this as my second longest story of all time (by Feb '05) at a meaty novel-length of 139,000+ words. More than twice the size of Tokyo Iron Child Akari! Anyways, a few things of notice. One, this story was written over a three year period, between '03, '04, and '05. So if the standard of writing seems better in some areas than others then you'll know why. Also, this is only one part of a bigger series (The Neo Comet Swordsman Series) which currently has two titles to its name (the other being Neo Comet Swordsman Saizaki). I've also written an FAQ for the entire Neo Comet Swordsman Series, 24,000+ words long. If your interested in reading it, drop me a request for it via e-mail and I'll send it to you as soon as I can. However, I suggest that you read all the available Neo Comet Fictions before you read the FAQ. You wouldn't wanna spoil any of the surprises for yourself, would ya? Okay then! Lets get the party started! - Kaiser ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Neo Comet Swordsman Setsuya: Second Origin ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Weep and wail, you shepherds; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For your time to be slaughtered has come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery. The shepherds will have no place to flee, the leaders of the flock no place to escape. Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture. The peaceful meadows will be laid waste because of the fierce anger of the LORD. Like a lion he will leave his lair, and their land will become desolate because of the sword of the oppressor and because of the LORD's fierce anger." - Jeremiah 26:34 "The Cup of God's Wrath" WIND OF THE SPRING FIRE IN THE SUMMER LIGHTNING OF THE AUTUMN, DARKNESS OF WINTER, WE ALL FADE TO BLACK ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 2050. The world reached a new age of prosperity and peace. All conflicts were resolved by creating a unified group of every country around the earth. The World Federation. The whole of the Earth is united in celebration at the beginning of world peace and the dawning of a new era, free of suffering. But then the order of things is disturbed. By freak accident or by destiny, a gigantic meteor which would come to be known as the Genesis Comet crash-landed into the planet. From the following destruction, an estimated 78% of the human race is wiped from the face of existence. Science and technology as we know it is irreparably injured, sinking the world into depression and mayhem 2053: The governments newly formed in the world decide that the few remaining countries left standing will be reinforced with magical barriers. This became known as the Safe-Zone Project. 2067: The world is now beginning to recover from the landing of the comet, and the first Safe-Zones (Neo-Japan, Neo-England, Neo-Germany and Neo-Spain) are completed. 2071: Keijiro Seisuji begins the first ever excavation of the Genesis Comet. He discovers four 'Sacred Swords' hidden within its bowls. Shortly after their finding, Keijiro is assassinated by unknown forces and the four sacred swords are lost. 2081: Present day. The Safe-Zone Project is (largely) completed. A new organization known as the Shougatsu Financial Group appears. With ominous intentions... ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Setsuya's Destiny ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Yuuga school of Sword Arts, Osaka, Neo-Japan "Well, well, well. Look where the hell I am." With a deep breath, the fiery adventurer swordsman, Setsuya Seisuji studied his surroundings. The Yuuga school of Sword Arts. It was hard for him to believe that he was finally back here. Back in Neo-Japan, back in JPN-city No. 1, Osaka. When he left Osaka to explore the ruined world, he never expected to actually return. But fate was a fickle mistress. One minute he was doing battle with ten armed desert bandits and a prayer, the next he was receiving word that his old sword master, had died suddenly. Now Setsuya wasn't a compassionate man, but he knew he had to go back to Osaka and attend the funeral out of respect. His old master was a legendary fighter, who really helped him along the path to his current status. Taught him all about life and what it meant to be a warrior. Such bonds were hard to break. Dust blew off the ground as Setsuya's boots stepped through the main courtyard, leading him towards the main centre of his old training facility. The training centre was nothing special really. In someone's eyes, you could call it dilapidated. Cobble stone pathways, wooden buildings and walls, smoked glass for windows. But it was understandable. The Genesis Comet had really worked the world into devastation. Since this was built after the landing, it was no surprise that it was in shambles. Not many resources left in the world to go by. Setsuya walked up the large flight of steps leading to the main hall, surveying the place once more. Not much had changed these past two years since his leaving. His entrance into the main hall was welcomed by dozens of old statues and paintings, ancient tapestries and scrolls that had some how survived the destruction. And as his searing blue eyes took this all in, he was unknowingly greeted by an old acquaintance. The man was aging, around his mid-50's, indicated by his hovelled frame and wiry skin. Swathed in a pasty grey cloak and roughly sandaled feet, the old man called out to Setsuya from the other side of the hall. "Seisuji-san!" Called the old man. "Greetings!" Setsuya broke out of his reverie to see who was calling him. It couldn't be... "Yurunosuke-san?" Yurunosuke walked up to Setsuya as best he could, his shrivelled feet tapping lightly on the floorboard ground. He rested his palm on Setsuya's shoulder and smiled happily. "It is good to see you, Setsuya." He said. "It has been two whole years since you left the training hall, you do realize that?" Setsuya nodded. "Yes. I have been travelling for a while now. I didn't expect to hear that the master had..." The smile fell of Yurunosuke's face as Setsuya trailed off. It was disturbing to think of the wise old master's death. By natural causes, no less. That was the only consolation in all this. "It was a great loss." Yurunosuke said sadly. "He was dear to us all. We have at least made preparations for his funeral. The Gods will not accept him in bad graces. He shall be sent off as best we can with all we have." Setsuya grinned. Mention of the 'Gods' never ceased to amaze him. It was another aftershock of the Genesis Comet. With the mortal wound that humanity sustained... and the destruction of science that followed after, the worlds populous had turned once again to Religion and Magic. Still, there were some left in the world who was abhorred by these ideas. Setsuya was one of them. "I see." He responded sardonically. "And the Gods would have expected this, yeah? Wipe out half the world and get my master too? Heh, heh, heh. Lucky bastards." Yurunosuke sighed. Setsuya's lack of belief was nothing new. "The world needs something to believe in, Setsuya. If it gives us a fresh hope, want more could you expect?" "Maybe food in the mouths of the hungry? Homes for vagrants and drifters? While the 'Gods' sit atop the clouds and marvel at the creation they can manipulate and destroy, the ever-lowly mortals can scrape and kill each other over the last few shreds of happiness we can gain. If the benevolent Gods can ruin the world, why can't they come down and save it?" A small silence filled the hall after Setsuya said that. There was no real way for Yurunosuke to answer that. He didn't have the answers at all. But he did have faith. And the hope in his heart that things would get better for Mother Earth. "Have faith, Setsuya." Yurunosuke said. "The world will recover. Until then, the people remaining need something to believe in, to strive for. If it keeps us going... then it is sufficient." Setsuya snorted. "Can the world really recover? I dunno. Ever since that Genesis Comet crashed landed into the planet 31 years ago, wiping out 78% of the human race... everything has been a struggle. I was born after the landing, but I know that the old world had to be better than this one." A wave for nostalgia filled Yurunosuke from hearing that. He was a little older that Setsuya when it landed, so he remembered what the old world was like. Beautiful, prosperous and peaceful. This blasted world of 2081 was so different from then. "You've seen the outside world." Yurunosuke alleged to Setsuya. "You know what condition the outside world is in. In the security of the Neo-Japan Safe-Zone, I am shielded from its horrors. Maybe seeing so much agony has hardened your heart." Setsuya thought about that. He did feel like he was becoming a little vindictive about future hopes. He just could not believe that the world could save itself from the hell it had been thrown into. Before he put too much thought into this, Setsuya changed the subject. "Forget that, Yurunosuke. This day is about the old master. Making sure that his funeral goes down well. Have you sent out invitations to all his previous disciples?" The older man nodded. "Yes. Most of them have returned here to attend the ceremony. However, we have heard nothing from Aarin." Setsuya grinned deviously at the mention of his rival. Aarin Highland. The Englishman had trained at the Yuuga School also, during that time; he and Aarin had developed a healthy friendship amidst a fierce rivalry. Back in the old days, they were the only ones who could give each other a decent battle. Setsuya was looking forward to a good fight when he returned to Osaka. Hopefully, Aarin would return and deliver. "Don't worry." Setsuya said knowingly. "Highland will show, eventually. The master meant a lot to him, too." Yurunosuke didn't very much like that look on Setsuya's face. That vivid look of battle thirst. "I hope you won't bring disorder to the ceremony by starting off your contention with him. As you said, this is the master's day." Setsuya shook his hands, ignoring the gut feeling of a high-quality challenge. "Relax. I have as much respect as you do. I swear, if he shows up, we'll leave our scores to be settled another day." Yurunosuke's look was still stern. "Make sure that they do. The funeral will be held in a few days time; we still have a few more preparations to make before it starts. Will you be staying in the training hall, or will you seek living arraignments in the city?" Setsuya had been thinking about that. Staying in Osaka would be a bit of a chore; he'd have to pay and everything. Plus, he was looking forward to seeing more of the training hall, and meeting up with some of the other students. "I think I'll be staying." Setsuya adjusted his sheathed sword at his waist while saying this. "I need to see more and... who knows what may happen." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Shougatsu Financial Group HQ, Munich, Neo-Germany Deep in the heart of GRM-city No.3 (Munich), amidst the towering buildings of former industry and capitalism, there was a tall skyscraper, which somehow remained intact from the impact of the Genesis Comet. It stood apart from the other buildings, like an ominous aura surrounded it, warning those who looked that this was no ordinary commercial building. It housed secrets and hidden agendas that many could only dream of. Deep within its secretive bowls, halls of rich polished marble, with floors lined carpets imported from East-Persia, a solitary figure stalked along, walking quietly to his destination. He was a tall young man, around 23 years in age, clothed in fine garments (a standard suit, replicated from those created before the landing of the Genesis Comet). His crystalline eyes were a very pale red, and his long tresses of white hair swung from side to side elegantly as he strode through the halls of the Shougatsu Financial Group Headquarters. Before long he reached a large door. It was automatic, but since electricity had been lost due to the Comet, the ancient forces of magic powered the door. There was a stone plate on one side of the door, with the imprint of a hand. The young man placed his hand against it, and the stone plate lit up like fire. The wire-like lines of light that spread off from it went behind the door, and soon, that sizable door began to move on its own. Now that his path was clear, the young man stepped through the doorway and into the following room. An office like room, similar to the rest of the building, although this was richly furnished, rare furniture and ornaments littered about the place like a rich man's heaven. The man walked over to the desk poised at the middle of the exquisite room, and sat down peacefully on the seat behind it. As the man got comfortable, another figure appeared from across the room, popping out of the shadows. He stood respectfully with his left arm held at his waist, bowing a little. Though his face was obscured by the shadows, he kept his devious grin under control. The shadow man finally spoke. "I have news, Master Aesus. The-" "Stop!" He yelled. The man in the shadows stopped speaking as his superior interrupted his declaration. After a short bout of silence, Aesus began to speak again. "I thought I warned you about that before." He said sharply, shutting his crimson eyes. "I discarded that name a long time ago. I am known as Zephaniah. And you will address me as such from now onwards. Unless you wish to incur my anger...?" "No..." He said in response to 'Zephaniah'. "I do apologize master, but I have news for you." "Go on." "We have located one of the four sacred swords, sir. The one known as the Lightning Tooth. It has been confirmed to be in the hands of a young woman known as Ingrid Highland. Her position is confirmed; she is in Neo England, ENG-city No.4 (Manchester)." Zephaniah's eyes did not open. "And you continue to leave it in her hands? Why have you not retrieved it?" "I apologize, sir, but she belongs to a respectable family of the British aristocracy. It will be hard to target her without drawing attention from the public. Which makes the situation more complicated." "Is that so...?" Zephaniah said maliciously. "Maybe I have not made myself clear enough. Those four swords are vital to my plans. Do you understand? They are essential, and if I do not get them, the whole Second Origin Project will be thrown into chaos." The man in the shadows squirmed. "Yes... I know sir, but-" Once again, Zephaniah cut him off. "Do not make excuses for yourself. I grow tired of you. Your mission is to find the other swords and bring them to me. That is all I require from you." A gulp followed that. "Yes sir." Zephaniah finally opened his eyes, and then looked at the folder on his desk. It was fairly thin, but the data in it was priceless. He could tell by what it was marked with. 'The Four Sacred Swords Dossier' The white haired man grabbed the folder slowly and began to flick through it casually. "Is this the data you've collected about them so far?" The man in the shadows nodded, rubbing his hands a bit from nervousness. "Yes, Master... Zephaniah. We have found out quite a bit about them from the notes of Keijiro Seisuji, the archaeologist who originally found the four sacred swords. We obtained his files from the Neo-Japanese data banks, and we have much to learn still. Even he was unaware of their true power." Zephaniah continued to scroll through the folder. "So, roughly, what do you know? Other than the information we have already obtained?" "Well..." He began gradually. "As you know, they were refined from the Genesis Comet ten years ago by the Japanese researcher, Keijiro Seisuji. After he extracted them, he did a study of all four. And discovered that-" Zephaniah held his hand up to stop the other man as he read a passage from Keijiro's notes. 'November 12th, 2071. After 72 hours of continuous study and analysis, I have failed to discover just what the four swords are made of. Their material is lighter than bone, but strangely, I find it to be denser than pure titanium. Each sword seems to have an elemental property, and I have named each one according to its attribute. The first is the Wind Soul. I have named it this because it produces violent gusts of wind when held for extended periods of time. The second sword is the Fire Cutter. It produces extreme heat when touched, and this heat can be so fierce that the air molecules around it can burst into flame. The third sword I have named Lightning Tooth. It creates small discharges of electricity but for some reason, the material it is made of does not conduct electrical energy. The last sword, and arguably the most dangerous, is the Shadow Edge. It's material is a very dark black, with strange runic symbols scripted along the blade. When it is held for too long, tremors seem to erupt from the ground, ones that can shatter stone if intense enough. It randomly creates a barrier around itself to protect itself from people. Which leads me to believe its power was not meant to be used. All in all, the swords are in all probability the greatest discovery of the 21st Century, although we have yet to learn the true depths of their secrets. Three of them, the Wind Soul, the Fire Cutter and the Lightning Tooth, are made from the same substance (an unnaturally light but strong metal) but have different properties. Which leads me to believe that the swords were imbued with their attributes upon creation. However the Shadow Edge generates its own force, and I think the runic symbols scratched into it are a form of warning or precaution. But all attempts to translate these symbols have failed; they bear no resemblance to any recorded language in history. I will continue to research the four swords for as long as my grant funding will allow me to, but until I can get them to a legitimate laboratory, any and all results on the four swords will be ultimately inconclusive. Keijiro Seisuji. The Four Sword Study, excerpt 211.' Zephaniah sighed as he took this all in. The Shougatsu Financial Group was one of the few companies in the world that still had active technology and scientific laboratories, and if anyone could discover the secrets of the swords it would be them, but how long would that take? "Does he have more information in this?" Zephaniah asked. "Yes sir. He goes on to say that the powers of the swords can be manipulated in limitless amounts, which leads us to believe the Lightning Tooth could be the answer to the world's current energy problem. If it is in the possession of the Shougatsu Financial Group then the world will be at our feet." Zephaniah shut the folder. "Enough. I want those swords found, and I want them found now!" ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Black Star Nightclub, Nagoya, Neo-Japan In its past, this club had been called 'Dead End'. It suited the name well back then. The glamour of the surrounding walls and the lights that illuminated them could do nothing to shroud the sense of suffering and misery it contained. This was as true to the club in 2080 as it was in 1994. Of course, it was not called 'Dead End' anymore. Now it was known by the name Black Star. A reflection of the 'black star', the Genesis Comet, that had come down from the heavens and caused the world to fall to the same depravity that had been this club's mark. A sort of 'symbol of equalization'. Just like its past, the Black Star nightclub was the hub of sleaze and corruption in the Neo-Japanese City of Nagoya. Full of drug dealers and drug users alike. A place where petty crime lords and their subordinates gathered in small numbers to discuss any dirty deal they might have on the cards. The large, smoke-filled hall was packed with circular tables (stained from abuse), banging neo-techno music, the shouts, jeers and laughter of the men inside it, as well as the giggling of the young waitresses who darted through the gaps between each table, handing drinks to lecherous men, dipping their 'snouts into the trough'. This was Black Star. Of course, even in the thickest darkness, there is always a glimmer of light. Not everyone in the crowds of the Black Star nightclub could be held to scorn. There were some people in that place that could use this web of immorality as mask to remain inconspicuous. True to form, there was no better place to hide from attention than one that drew full attention. And one of those said men sat at a corner table. Alone. Dressed in usual clothing, ordinary, average. Every now and again a waitress would walk up and offer him a refill for his empty shot glass of whiskey. He refused with a childish blush, even though he looked to be around 45 years in age. Soon enough the waitress would get the picture and buzz off, leaving this man behind to assume himself into the dark, smoky club. And he did this well. It was strange, considering that he was the only man in that nightclub who was of western descent. His pale white skin made him easy to pick out... but in a place where corruption was the name of the game, most people were too high on drugs & alcohol (or themselves) to even care about the origins of this man. He continued to wait around for a while, taking great care in searching for someone. His eyes darted from one side of the large room to the other, looking for one person. One woman. He found her. Or rather, she found him. The western man looked up as he felt a shadow being cast over him. And before long his dark eyes were taking in the sight a young woman. She was averagely tall for a female. Possessed of lengthy dark black hair tied behind her head into a ponytail. One that swung as low as her ankles. Dressed in an unusual set of clothing, a sort of black coat-vest over the top half of a white kimono, while the bottom half of the kimono was replaced with a pair of tight blue denims. Most eye catching of all was the sword and sheath at the girl's waist. A katana, owning a dim glow of strength all of its own. The silvery eyes of the youth looked down at the westerner. But he was the one with the questions. "Are you the one they refer to as The Dark Katana?" Asked the older male, his voice marked with a decidedly Scottish accent. "I've been called that sometimes," She replied, "But I just prefer my clients to call me by my birth name. Ayame Nakagawa. And if you know that name then I can probably guess who you are. Simon McAmish, right?" The Scot nodded to her. "Yeah, that's me. Take a seat." Ayame pulled a little smile and did as she was asked, sitting down upon the cushioned seat that surrounded that particular table like a compartment. Once one of the waitresses noticed that there was an addition to the table, she walked over to it with her little notepad in hand, her 'sinfully' short skirt fluttering over the globes of her ass. Ayame's silvery eyes darted over to her left as the waitress approached swiftly. "Can I get you anything?" Asked the waitress, looking at Ayame. The Dark Katana grinned a little, checking out the more glaring and appealing features of the Black Star club, in all its tight-breasted fury. "Yeah honey, I'll have a beer. And make it an expensive one, since I'm not paying." The beautiful waitress nodded, turning to Simon. "...And anything for you? This time?" "Another whiskey would be fine." He claimed, shaking his empty shot glass at her for a brief second. The waitress nodded, wrote down the order and the table it was to be given to, then strode back out into the smoky climate of the room. While Simon got back into focus, the 'attentive' Ayame couldn't help but whistle at the waitress' cute little ass as it wiggled behind her in stride. If there was one thing she liked about this place, it was the waitresses. Simon, who didn't quite have such a demeaning view of the job, coughed into his fist to draw the attention back from the waitress. Ayame blinked and looked back, her concentration broken. It was now that she remembered just what she had been called here for. And Ayame addressed this. "...I guess you must be one of those guys that don't like mixing business with a little pleasure. Fair enough. Lets just gets straight to business. What exactly do you want of me?" Simon's gaze turned melancholic, looking into his clutched hands. "...I heard that you're the best at what you do. Even better than some of the elite of the Guardian Line. Which was why I need your talents. I need you to do a job for me. But it's not just... any job..." "What's the big deal?" Ayame questioned, flicking a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, "Is it an assassination or something? You know the Mazda Family are best suited to something like that. If you can afford them." The Scottish man shook his head. "No, it's not an assassination job." "Then what the hell is it?" "I need you to..." Simon took a deep breath, "rescue someone for me." Hearing that, Ayame froze. A rescue mission? "Are you serious? You actually want me to save someone... for you?" "Yes, I do." Simon replied. Ayame sighed before the older man, shutting her silvery eyes. "Look man, I'm not that kind of employee. I may take on the kind of jobs that the Guardian Line frown upon... but I'm a professional at my work. I've got no time for search-for-the-flag missions." "This is no ordinary mission," Mr. McAmish offered, "Not even in the least. The person that I'm asking you to rescue was not taken by a zealous ex-partner. This is no common domestic. The situation is far more serious than that. And if I'm to get her back then I'll need someone with enough strength to get the job done." Again, Ayame sighed. "Okay then, keep your top on. What's the situation?" "...It was almost a year ago," Simon began, "I was working as usual back on the farm in my homeland of Scotland. I left the manor one day to head down to the market to buy some goods. Everything seemed fine at first. Then people began hearing talk of a group of soldiers hiding out somewhere in the village. I assumed they were just rumours so I took no notice of them. But by the time I got home... it was in ruins. My entire home was destroyed. My Father was unconscious, and my daughter was missing. Eventually I nursed my Father back into good health. And he told me that soldiers, dressed as those from the early half of the century, came in and kidnapped my daughter. I was... heartbroken and confused. Why on Earth would someone want to kidnap my sweet child?! I struggled to find an answer... and for months I hired dozens of detectives to figure out what had happened to my precious one. In the end I discovered that she had been taken to Neo-Japan. Or more specifically, a research facility on the edge of Nagoya." By now, Ayame was quite focused. "Research Facility?" "Yes," Simon looked downwards again, "...my daughter is a magic user. A person born with the power to manipulate magic. Some people call them 'Ashidah'. I suspect that the reason my daughter was kidnapped was because of this power." "If this is all true, then it's a big league criminal issue," Ayame claimed, "so then why not ask the government for help? Sure, they can drag their asses sometimes but they could take care of something like this far easier." Simon shook his head. "I tried that route. They told me that I didn't have concrete evidence that my daughter was kidnapped by these people. But the truth is, they're just scared of the power of the company funding the research. So if I can't get that place searched legally then I'll just have to do it illegally. Through you." By now the drinks were ready. The waitress came back to the table with the two orders on a circular tray. She placed the drinks down, the beer to Ayame, the whiskey to Simon. Simon then handed her a few slips of yen from his wallet, and she left to attend to the needs of her other customers. A small silence filled the space between Ayame and Simon, which didn't last long. After taking a swig of her beer, Ayame looked over at her employer. "...I see. So you think that you might need a bit of force to get your daughter back? It does make sense. So what's this place called?" "The Bio-Technological Research Department, Neo-Japan Branch." "And what company funds them?" Simon lowered his head. Here came the difficult part. "The... Shougatsu Financial Group..." The very same second that she heard the name 'Shougatsu Financial Group', Ayame almost spewed up the gulp of beer she was taking down. The girl of eighteen years gave a stunned glimpse to Simon, completely thrown for six. "The Shougatsu Financial Group?! THE Shougatsu Financial Group?! They're the most powerful conglomerate on the face of the planet! And though those guys may look innocent, everyone knows that they can't be trusted!" "That's them." The Scottish man confirmed. Ayame took a second to breathe. "...Look man, the Shougatsu are not a joke. If you fuck with them then you better know what you're doing. It's gonna take a LOT of money for me to get involved with the likes of them. And that's the least of it. I know it might be a horrible thing to say, but how do you even know that your daughter's still alive? A year is a long time to be holding a person. If they really are conducting illegal experiments on her, then chances are she'll be killed as soon as they're done." "I have faith," Simon spoke with full determination, "in my daughter's will to live. She'll not die before me. I'm sure of it. I can feel it." Ayame held a hand to her head. Though she had to admire this man's confidence, she couldn't shake that old feeling that getting into matters like this was a bad idea. "...If I do take on this job, then how much are you willing to pay me for it?" Simon looked back up to eye-level. "If you rescue my daughter... I'll pay you 11,000 credits. To be changed into any currency that you wish. You'll get 2,500 upfront and the other 8,500 if you find my daughter or bring back any information that tells me of her current status. Do you accept?" The red light was flicking in Ayame's mind. But it was a lot of money, and this man did seem to be confident that his daughter was alive. The Dark Katana took another gulp from her beer and then gave her answer. "...I'll do it. I'd be out of line to back out on you now." A smile finally came to the Scottish man's face. "Thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now there are a few things I must give you." He then went to his side and began pulling a few things out of his pocket. He placed them before Ayame, on the table. One was an envelop, stuffed with the upfront money that Simon had promised to give to Ayame straight off. The other two items were different. One was a sort of card, like an ID card. The other was a folded piece of paper, which Ayame could tell was a floor plan or layout for a building. "This is the money I'll be paying you," Simon spoke, pointing at the envelope, "This piece of paper is a blueprint of the Research Facility. It will show you where the best places are to look for my daughter. And the card is an ID Key. Though technology was weakened by the impact of the Genesis Comet, the Shougatsu are beginning to re-cultivate it. Their laboratories will be full of technology. Use this card to get you through the automatic locks and such that you are bound to face." Ayame heaved a sigh. It looked like she had gotten herself into another mess... "So what's your daughter's name?" "Julia," Simon said, "My daughter, Julia McAmish." ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Western Courtyard, Yuuga school of Sword Arts, Neo-Japan With his sword rested to one side of his body, Setsuya sat down on the cobblestone paving of the Western Courtyard of the Yuuga School. After his talk with Yurunosuke, he was beginning to wonder about certain things. Setsuya had learned a lot of things in his time; he valued his skills as a swordsman and his life as a traveller of the ruined world. But just recently, he had begun to question his purpose in the world. He often wondered, why didn't he ever settle down? Even though he was only 19, the expected lifetime of someone born after the landing of the Genesis Comet was 30. It was logical at these times for young men to seek out a family. But not for Setsuya. As he ran a hand through his smooth black hair, he remembered his old girlfriend back in China, the village girl, Lin-Lin. Setsuya had met Lin-Lin in the ruins of the outside world, near a small Chinese village. Setsuya had been travelling the countryside for a few hours, on a hunch about a bounty he was searching for; he heard a bunch of screams coming from deep inside the forest. When Setsuya heard this he instantly recognised this as a woman's scream. Not one to leave a damsel in distress, Setsuya heroically plunged himself into the thicket of the woods, and tracked down the woman screaming. He eventually found her, and saw that a wild boar was about to attack her. Animals born after the landing of the Genesis Comet were much stronger and bigger than ones of previous years, which meant more meat, but also made them tougher to kill. All the same, Setsuya was undaunted, and effortlessly slew the much larger boar. The girl was amazed at Setsuya's ability and was extremely thankful for his help, wrapping her arms around the taller man. She told Setsuya that her name was Lin-Lin, and she led him back to her village. The elders and Lin-Lin's parents were very thankful for what he did for Lin-Lin, and he stayed there for a short while. During that time, Lin-Lin fell in love with him, and they had a brief but passionate relationship. It was hard for Setsuya to leave, but he had to, he had an adventurous spirit burning inside. That was around five months ago. Setsuya couldn't say that he didn't miss Lin-Lin. Maybe it was time to visit her. "I haven't seen Lin-Lin in a while." Setsuya mused privately. "Maybe I should go back to China..." While Setsuya continued to think in his sitting position, a strong gust blew into the courtyard. The brunette man looked back, in the direction the breeze came from. And his eyes widened as he saw who it was. He was a young man, roughly the same height as Setsuya. His long ponytail of hair was a platinum blonde, and his marble-like eyes were a stern brown. In his hand was an unsheathed sword, with a strange aura about it. Fierce winds surrounded him as he walked forward, whipping up the dust and loose cobblestones around his feet. His face was sterile and docile, his walk was slow and paced, but it was obvious that this man had a mind riddled with intent. Soon his slow-paced walked ended, and he stood before Setsuya, his emotionless face staring down at the seated swordsman. "...We meet again, Setsuya Seisuji." He said coolly. Setsuya grinned as he recognized this young man. With a defiant grin, the black-haired man stood up, clutching his sword along with him. Setsuya turned to face the blonde man behind him, looking into his eyes with re-stoked flames burning in his own. "It's been a while... Aarin."
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