War on Heiwa Book 1: The Wrath of the Demons

The Wrath of the Demons Chapter 4: Meeting a Beautiful Lady

The next day went the same as the last, waking up at five in the morning, lining up at our posts, doing the fifty push-ups, sit-ups and three laps around the barracks. Fukuro didn’t even take a second look at me after our conversation, like it had never happened. Mao and I kept our distance. After learning about him from Fukuro, I didn’t want to be involved at all with Mao and his “company”. I think I’d rather lick a cat’s behind. Okay, maybe not that far but you get my point. Mao is serious business. I’m wondering if he’s going to use his smuggled weapons on the battlefield. I would actually love to see that, the confusion on the enemy’s face as their own weapons are used against them.

After our warm-ups, Fukuro sent everybody to another captain to go to the firing range. Everyone except me. Oh great, we’re probably going to have another “talk”.

“The general wants to see you.” Fukuro told me bluntly.

“The general? Of the army? What does he want with me?” I asked stupidly.

“How in the hell should I know? Maybe he read your history as well.” Fukuro said chuckling. “I told you,” he added, “That you’d be a toy for the army whether you’d like it or not.”

I sneered. “Whatever. Just lead the way.”

He led me to the castle, or more appropriately called a sky-scraper mansion. Fukuro led me past long corridors and banquet halls. The castle was so huge I’d thought we would never stop walking. There has to be over a thousand rooms in this thing. I don’t know how in the hell Fukuro could maneuver in this damn place. Maybe he is an alien and came to conquer humanity!

Finally, after about twenty minutes of walking, we stopped at a huge , lavish iron door, that was five people taller than me. The door was opened by some guards and Fukuro left while the guards escorted me to a door on the right, a small room, which seemed a bit out of place, since it seemed like a loft in this colossal castle. They opened the door and inside was a small but quite cozy office. This was the general’s office, and sure enough, the general was sitting there in a navy blue suit with stars on his shoulders and medals on his chest, wearing a matching hat and pants, and black dress shoes. He was sitting at his desk with some papers in his hands. My application papers. I swallowed hard. Maybe I was being punished for not answering the last question, but it’s not a big deal, it’s just a question.

“Come son, sit down.” He said with a warm voice. I sat down cautiously at the opposite end of the desk, waiting for my punishment to begin. “You are quite an interesting fellow, aren’t you, son?” He said again with that same tone of voice, that warm “welcome home” voice. I wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I guess.” I stammered.

The general chuckled. “It’s okay son, no need to be so uptight. My name is General Attakai. It’s nice to meet you , Takuma.” He smiled warmly at me as he shook my hand. “I read your application, and I saw that you didn’t answer the last question. I brought you here today because I’m wondering why that is.” His look suddenly turned serious, like he’s going to either hug me as if I’m part of his family or beat me to death depending on my answer.

“I didn’t answer it because I didn’t want to play your damn mind games. I’m only here because I’m forced to be here, I’m not going to be used and played with like some toy.” I answered honestly. There’s no use lying to the general of an army. I laid back in my chair and closed my eyes, ready for the beating. It was quiet for a while, I was sure the general was searching for the right weapon of torture hidden somewhere in his desk, but, instead, he started laughing like a child. “Oh my!” He said in between laughs. “Oh my! You are a handful!”

“Uhh… what?” I was so confused; I didn’t know my answer would be so funny. The general continued laughing, and all I could do was sit there awkwardly not knowing what to do or say, or even know what the heck is going on.