Nambu impatiently paced back and forth in front of the main entrance of the docking bay. Cold beads of sweat ran down on his back neck to the spine. He smashed fists on the icy cold metal gate. All that he heard from Ken was "I need to contact the medical center." Nambu asked to report her condition but Ken didn't gave an answer. When he grilled Ken about her almost yelling, Ken just snapped the connection then never responded again. Noises of clinging instruments disturbed his train of thoughts, it grated his nerves furthermore. Medical staffs were arriving with metal carts and ice boxes then he turned against them hoping not to hear distressful news. Everyone was silent only dying muffling sound of the battleship behind the thick metal gate was filling the stark corridor. He took a deep breath. Just before he was choked by it, the flashing green light indicated that the doors had been unlocked. Nambu stormed into the chamber then he saw a trolley bed running down the slope there was her. His dashing steps became falters as she was dragged closer to him. An invisible cloud of blood attacked his nose as she passed by. Beneath the blanket, the spot where her left leg was supposed to be laid......it was flat. Nambu turned his head slowly to see what he had seen. Oozing red liquid through the fabric was still staining her left thigh. The bloody condor's brutal cries of her name echoed in the bay, he collapsed into his commander's chest. Jinpay dropped Joe's helmet on the floor, also screaming the name of his foster father. Nambu sprang up in bed at dawn. Yes, it was just a silly nightmare. He buried his face into palms catching his breath. He was just tired and exhausted, that might be all. He strode into the small shower booth. Warm pleasant beat of droplets washed the dream away. When he finally dressed up he barely remembered it. He opened the door, horizontal line of the black sea became more noticeable behind the wide glass wall. Feeling dizziness he fall on the chair and leaned whole body against it. Arrears of work on the desk were greeting him with evil grins, he groaned painfully. His heavy hand reached to the phone. He wondered if his two boys had made a reconciliation or not. But nanny's murmuring response let him give out a deep sigh. "Boys are Boys." His secretary placed a cup of coffee in front of him. "It's been a week already. My patience is running out." Nambu rubbed his palm against face. These days intervals became shorter and shorter they drew himself to the limit. The manual was not working at all upon his adolescence boys. "Could you recommend me another books on childcare? I'd rather read them instead of throwing myself at his Magic monkey show." His weak fist punched the desk staring a silver women giggling. "Magic monkey show?? That must be Joe's idea, isn't it? Come on. The one final show is left." Gathering her breath, she said. "What the hell are you talking about?? Oh please...that guy promised me I would be freed if I contribute a question and take a picture for that damn competition poster!!" He growled in agony recalling the horrible moment in the studio. That day, the photographers presented him five sets of suits and took hundreds of pictures. "That's it! The chief requested your presence at the awarding ceremony. Needlessly to say it is included in the invisible contract in his mind. I also think your absence would disappoint the fans of the Magic monkey show, I mean young students and......maybe their mothers, too." She enjoyed Nambu's reddened face, she was the only one who could see the child deep inside of him also she knew he liked to be a fretful boy in front of her. A child was raising children, hell. "Then please gather every excuse to protect me. Why I should go to the children's playground?" Nambu complained. "But I think you'd love to." "What do you mean?" The woman placed two folders on his desk. Nambu narrowed his eyes. He slowly opened the folder on the top and started checking it. Serried rows of neat handwriting were displayed all over the papers. He arranged the glasses gasping in surprise. Even U-TECH graduate students would need a full day to present the answer. It was not meant to be solved by young students. His timid protest against the chief of ISO who was always busy for making shows for his political goals had been vanished. He picked up the other folder. Also neat handwriting filled the first and second paper but in the last page they displayed his hesitation and urgency. Nambu marked 10 for the first one and he gave 5 for the other then he put his signatures on the papers. When Nambu finished his review, frustration had been turned into strong curiosity. "I need to see these students. Especially the winner." "Both are girls. The first one is Jun himuro and the other is..." "What? girls?" "Why? Is that bother you?" "No. absolutely not." But he could not hide a bit of disappointment. "The award ceremony is going to be held on Friday at 10a.m, in the main auditorium on the second floor." The woman stared at him over her glasses not missing fleeting frown on his face. "Good, I can see them then." He said plainly. "Top 3 entries will be offered full scholarships to U-TECH. You may see those girls every day if they want to be ISO members and I hope they would break your prejudice against women." "Is it that obvious?" Nambu chuckled. "Of course it is. If you were my son, I would have spunk you right away." Easing pleasant pain on his stomach, Nambu leaned forward onto the desk. ".........Oh! God!" The coffee mug was fallen down. Cold dark liquid was staining the white papers of the second's.

Nambu managed to arrive at the auditorium after the award ceremony had started thirty minutes ago. There were a girl and two boys on the stage. He expected two girls to be seen, but strangely there was only one. "So that girl is Jun Himuro...." Nambu murmured looking at the girl who was holding a golden trophy in her snow white hand. The exquisite crest embroidered on Her navy uniform jacket indicated that she was from Biron middle and high school of science. Yes, she must be Jun Himuro. When he came on the stage, all the eyes in the auditorium were concentrated on him. As he was being seated on the chair, the chief shot side long glace at him but he didn't care about it at all. Anyway Nambu had got the enough budgets he wanted and that guy would resign soon to run for mayor. The nominee of the next chief of ISO was Dr.Anderson so there was no reason left he should belly up to the dying chief. Nambu stared at Jun Himuro who was sitting at the opposite side of him. She had a beautiful black waterfall, lustrous waist-long hair. Her face looked like a ceramic doll rather than a human. He noticed that the two boys couldn't take their eyes off her. When their eyes met together, Nambu jumped back a little. Pastel rose blush, slightly curled coral pink lips and her smiling jade eyes were tickling his heart. He felt a black feather stoking his chest. The girl was bearing somewhat familiar face with whom he had known once, but he couldn't recall the woman. As the chief's final speech was over, both strode straight for each other. "Hello, I'm Kozaburou Nambu. Nice to see you." He reached out his hand. Warm soft flesh was far better than his boy's callused ones. Just before she parted her lips to introduce herself suddenly a man in early fifties emerged behind her. Nambu flinched back in surprise and she looked same too. "This is my daughter Odile." He clutched her shoulders in his tight grip. Odile looked quiet disconcerted by her father's sudden appearance. When Odile was about to part her lips, he snapped her words with his again. "My dear daughter is your big fan. She wants to be a scientist of ISO. She is so talented I assure that ISO would welcome her too." Raymond Stangate's voice behind her was soft and warm but he was shooting hostile gaze against Nambu. As Nambu countered it with his own, so the girl could notice that they were engaging in a battle. "I"ve heard that you're so busy collecting ISO scientists these days. Is that the reason why you came here? Oh, you've caught one already in your hands. Pretty good job." At Nambu's snarling words, the girls frustrated faced turned red. "What are you doing here!! Stop I mean it!!!" She yelled at her father. "Sweetie. The chief is calling you over there. It's you they are waiting for." Evading her infernal gaze, he tossed head to his attendants. Two robust men grabbed her arms side to side then drew her to the center of the stage. The chief caught her hand and posed for photo shoot calling Nambu. "I know you don't like me for many reasons. It's not comfortable for me to be here either but I just can't lose my daughter to the future ISO chief- Kozaburou Nambu. I'm so jealous man. Why you guys are always trying to take my women away?" Instead of answering him, Nambu turned back. He heard the chief calling him again but he ignored it and ran out of the auditorium. "Send my regards to Kahl." Raymond growled behind him. Raymond saw his daughter chasing after Nambu, but she was stuck in pouring flashlights and a group of reporters again. Stroking his white beard, he narrowed his eyes. These days she was frequently out of his control. No. Have I ever been able to control her? Raymond let out a small laugh. He didn't have any confidence to resist her sweet smiles and tender pink cheeks rubbing against his. Raymond closed his eyes. He knew Odile would not show them again at least three months. However it was worth to do definitely not to lose his lovely princess forever so he prepared himself to accept her cruel punishment. Whether he came here or not, Raymond knew ISO, especially the one ruled by Nambu would not accept any personnel from Stangate family. He was just in desperate need of showing his first and last disapproval to her. He inhaled a deep breath wishing that they brought the little black pony of a quarter million dollars in a timely manner. When Nambu got back to his office, his secretary was there, waiting for him. "Christine. What happened?" Catching his rough breath, Nambu asked her with confused face. "Jun Himuro is not included in the list of awardees even consolation prize." She answered showing bewildered expression too. "It is really strange and weird. Jun Himuro presented only the things in the folder you saw on Monday morning. I mean, she didn't gave the other papers to the invigilators. I've contacted one of them he clearly remembered her. Because she tore off the exam papers crying bitterly as the final bell rung......"

Rachel, I am curious to know more about what's happening! I'm looking forward to reading more and finding out!

Rachel, this is a very interesting story! I gather that Odile's father is sabotaging Jun's chances to advance his daughter's own? It seems strange that he's so obsessed with the ISO, and it also seems strange that Nambu wouldn't be willing to evaluate the girl on her own merits. And I'm curious to see how the opening scene plays in.

Oooooo...Odile' s father seems like a Galactor agent. I hope Odile isn't an agent, as well! I'll stay tuned...Jun could be in a heap of trouble! Great work!

EW- Glad to hear that you enjoyed it! TJ- Next part will be the answer. Springie- Odile's father is not subordinate to Galector but a cooperative(not really) partner. hee. Please enjoy the show how Joe fall into Odile. It might be pretty interesting.

Nambu was sitting on the back seat of his car. He canceled every afternoon schedule. Any of ISO staff had never faced such situation. Frowning, Nambu sank into his own thoughts leaning his forehead on the cold window. The orphanage home may not exist on the earth. The invigilator saw a phantom. God, how silly she was... How could she kick off the precious chance every student who love science would desire?? A full scholarship to the Utoland institute of Technology. It is the most prestigious one in the world operated by ISO. The awardees were entitled to not only registration fee but also the full cost of attendance. The rewards were truly attractive. Why did she tear off her luck? What is more, she is living in an orphanage. Every single fact around her doesn't make sense. His brain was about to explode, then the driver found her orphanage, fortunately. It was a shabby and stark two stories building. It was surrounded by small factories with rusty slate roofs, piles of scrap metals and abandoned warehouses. Several kids were playing house with empty tomato cans and cracked plastic cups in the yard. Nambu frowned worrying about them to be hurt by sharp edges. As he approached, suddenly kids ran away from him. Behind the van parked in the yard they looked at him with petrified expression. Nambu picked up the can. Its sharp edges were cut off and well grinded. Someone interfered his inspection. "Excuse me?" A middle age women around his age called him from the windows. When he entered the room of the head, he was offered a cup of hot tea which smelled damn good. The poor condition of the orphanage and the scent of the sweet air in this room created an unpleasant discord. Nambu just let the tea get cold. Everything in the room was brand new and also getting on his nerves. He stared at the cookie tin box decorated with sophisticated golden art nouveau vines and colorful peacock motifs on her desk. "Oh, would you like to have them? One of our patron donated them on the last Christmas. My children loved them so much so I bought more cookie boxes with my own expense recently. That is empty one wait a minute......" Nambu didn't requested any justification but she automatically displayed her excuses hurriedly. The woman unlocked the office closet. She opened it slightly and picked out a new box quickly. But Nambu saw numerous cookie boxes filling the whole space of the closet. Nambu finished his investigation on her. This woman must be a kind of person who was always busy for chasing government subsidies and charity funds. The woman arranged cookies on the Victorian bone china plate and placed them in front of him. Now she strongly determined to hook him up as her new sponsor. She couldn't get the expensive silver sedan out of her mind. He has own driver too. He must be a warm hearted rich guy. Even more, this man was pretty handsome. When Nambu finally noticed her flirting gaze, it made him really disgusting. He desperately wanted to escape from this place, but not before finding Jun Himuro. When he asked about a girl named Jun, she pointed out a large photo on the wall. He knitted his eyebrows again looking at her well trimmed French nails. Nambu turned himself to see it, and flinched in shock. Raymond Stangate and his daughter were in the center of the picture, surrounded by orphans. She looked even more beautiful in her scarlet red velvet cape coat rather than the school uniform. Delicate white fur trimmings along the edge implied that it must be a designer's stuff which was far more than a teenager could afford. The shining black enamel knee high boots were proudly revealing its invisible price tag. He had never seen such a luxurious Santa. Every orphan was wearing the same cloth, a red sweater. A ridiculous comic character's face was embroidered on the each garment. The tallest girl standing at the left edge caught his attention. She was in a bulky gaudy red sweater and faded blue skinny jeans. Looking at her sad face Nambu swallowed his groans. "Is she Jun Himuro?" Indicating the girl Nambu almost whispered. "Yes! you've got good sense!" the woman praised him. Raymond......you fucking bastard!! Now he could see what happened to the true champion. He was much more horrible guy than he had known so far. Nambu didn't liked him but he couldn't believe it also. If the man in the picture was Robert Stangate his elder brother, it was rather comprehensible. "Look at the man. He is Raymond Stangate the vice president of Vamplate. Eh...I've heard that it is one of the largest weapon makers. He invited me at the Stangate family's charity party and I have two tickets. Why don't you support my orphanage? Then I'll bring you to the place. You could meet large business owners and high government officials there." The woman didn't curious about why he came here to find Jun Himuro. She just endlessly chattered her own interests, it made him quiet exhausted. What she knew about him was only his name. Nambu thanked God that she had not watched Magic monkey......no, . Joe you little devil...... "I'll consider of being your sponsor. But I'm afraid that I could not attend it due to my overloaded works. Today, I'd like to see the girl Jun Himuro. I need to talk her because......" He said as politely as he could. "She has not come back yet. By the way, you have to make it! Just seize the chance to get involved with such a famous man!" Cutting off his words again, the woman tried to persuade him like a leech. Nambu was about to explode, then he heard squeaking voices of children in the yard. He sprang on his feet and strode to the window. The children playing house ran to a slender tall girl in a navy uniform and he saw a small boy jumping into her embrace. The long shadow under sunset made her look even leaner. Nambu smiled at the scene but it vanished suddenly. He saw flashing eyes behind the dark dusty window on the second floor of the opposite building. When he noticed another sets of eyes next to the dark shape of a man, a jolt of dismay ran through his spine......

He requested the woman to stay out while he talked with the girl. As Jun Himuro entered the room, he stood up and turned back to see her. Jun jumped back in her surprise. He was real. Not in a TV box nor picture in the magazine. "I......I've been reading your thesis about compressed methane rocket engine, I mean the one released this month, It is really impressive...ah...." Jun murmured whispers. She was covering half of her face with her hands. "Yes I wrote it ten years ago. Now I'm doing far- more impressive works on the basis of it." Readjusting his suit jacket he said proudly like a boy a little bit. During last one year, Jun was almost the first person who mentioned his works first instead of the magic monkey show. It made him feel so good but he couldn't smile looking at the same crest embroidery which he saw in the morning on her left chest. How could he forget it? He had the same uniform of men's version in deep inside of his closets. Taking a look at his hardening straight lip line, Jun introduced herself hastily but he didn't seem to hear her. "Why did you tear off the exam papers?" He demanded without preamble. Her emerald green eyes were filled with sudden embarrassment and frustration. There was a long silence in the room. "The only question you solved was contributed by me." Jun squeezed her eyes. She guessed correctly. "Now I think you've got the reason to answer me." Her head dropped down. Actually when he saw Jun in the same uniform with Odile, he thought that he figured out the whole picture. However he wanted to hear it from her own. A talented beautiful orphan girl, and her rival from prosperous family and a mean step mom. That woman must have had forced Jun not to touch the princess's tiara and the evil king had encouraged the witch. This story had every feature of third-rate novels. "I'm not the welcomed one to her party. Sir, I know what I'm saying really sounds stupid and ridiculous, but there is something between girls. A man just simply can't not understand. If I had the golden trophy, it must be at the pawn shop now. Yes, it met the right owner it deserves......!" She tried not to sob, but she couldn't resist it. Nambu let her cry enough. He picked up tissues and wiped out her tears. After moment, Jun gathered her breath and continued. "One day Odile told me not to participate the competition. She offered me the same benefit of the winner. I was very upset about her because she was trying to buy the gold with her father's money. She's got everything! It's not fair! I couldn't let her have mine so I flatly refused her proposal....." "So, her father threatened the head." But he felt something strange. He recalled today's morning. Apparently she looked surprised at her father's appearance and also Raymond did not enjoy the award ceremony. Jun shook her face. His eyebrows arched up. "I think he did nothing with it.....since today afternoon Odile has been grilling every teacher in the school to find out who told about the competition to her father...... I'm sure she will detect soon......I don't know why but clearly she did not wanted her father to know about it. It seemed that she had warned the teachers not to tell it to him beforehand......" Nambu's jaw dropped on the floor. Jun let Nambu know her worst Christmas which was a nightmare itself. Odile pestered her father to support the orphanage and she visited Jun on the Christmas Eve with cheap red sweaters and expensive cookie boxes. Odile dragged Jun behind the building and said that if Jun participated the competition, she would cut the patronage. Odile finished her threat with "Merry Christmas." in her typical sweet voice. It still echoed in Jun's ear. It was not the head nor Raymond who tied up her wings on the ground. It was the golden girl filled with jealousy. This princess just couldn't accept someone who had more than her. Hearing that she intentionally visited this orphanage with her father and a local newspaper's cameraman, Nambu couldn't speak anything. It was obvious evidence that she was a true member of Stangate family, sharing the same icy blood. Chill ran down through his spine as he recalled the angelic tender smiles of her. Character was given by her father, and beautiful appearance was from her mother. What a horrible combination. "Why did you come to the competition then?" placing hand on his forehead, Nambu asked. "I had not decided to give it up or not before the final bells." Jun spoke in faint voice. "........May I ask why you didn't tear off mine?" "I just wanted to test my limit and to prove myself, my very existence...... ......I also wanted to show her that the true winner was me....... Did my rude behavior annoyed you?" raising her head up slightly, Jun glimpsed at him. "At first, yes." "Is it the reason why you come to here, sir? To reprimand me?" "............." This time, it was him who was standing at the corner. He couldn't find proper words. He was a very logical man of plans, but this visit was a sudden impulse. He had not even thought about what to do with the girl, Jun Himuro. He just came here. That was all. Suddenly, he felt lost and also felt raging storm of anger. "You should have presented all the papers. You blew up the fine way to U-TECH. And the competition was temporary event thing, that means you don't have another chance. Was it so meaningless to you little girl? Or are you just want to enjoy the roll of a heroine in your tragic drama? Even that fuc..... weapon maker stop contributing money, this orphanage can count on governmental supports! And I surely bet you know that! Now Jun Himuro, say it! I know you've got something holding back!!" It was almost first time his rare thoughts came out of his throat. The girl started sobbing again, he noticed that he was shaking her shoulders violently. Being surprised by himself, he let go of her. "You devil!!!" Suddenly the door opened, a small boy ran into him, throwing his fist like lightening. Nambu didn't even tried to avoid the attack, but he collapsed clutching his stomach with great regrets. "Jinpei!! Stop it! Oh my god!!" After 10 minutes both of them could get back on their feet again. "My apologies. I lost my tempers. It seemed that you didn't care of yourself, your life and talent. That made me upset. What is the more, I'm sick and tired of Stangate family who always believe that money can do everything. I had seen similar situation before. It reminded my bad memories. Now let me hear your story..." Stroking his aching belly, Nambu knitted his brows. What the...... "Without her father's patronage, this orphanage will be.....The head is accused by an old couple, who donated their buildings. Because she registered this building as her private property. She is spending a lot of money to hire a lawyer to defend herself. Odile's lawyer knows it. Odile also said that the head had been taking government's funds using false list of children. If Odile accuses the head, she must be subject to heavy punishment. When this orphanage turns out to be non-profitable.....she is going to abandon it. And I found that she insured this building against fire... I saw the contract when I was working on with account books the day before the competition. It was promising large amount of money.... Insurance company would not doubt her if she says children played with fire. So there was no way I could escape from Odile. Since the last Tuesday several men who own buildings around this orphanage have visited her frequently. I know why......" Jun said in whispering tone. "Sir, please help us......please...I'm so scared......I beg you......" Kneeling down, Jun seized the lower ends of his jacket with her trembling hands. Jun's teardrops awoke half-minded man in front of her. Nambu was sitting on the back seat of his car leaning his burning forehead on the cold window again. The car finally entered familiar roads to his mansion. Still, he could feel the pain on his stomach. He turned on the light and rolled up his shirts. He could see violet bruises. He let out a painful groan in both physical and mental agony. The woman had smiled ear to ear hearing that Nambu came to the orphanage to have Jun as his little nephew's tutor by the recommendation of the principal of Biron. Before leaving, he gently held Jun's hand covered with bandages at the yard. She might hurt her delicate fingers grinding the sharp edges of tomato cans. The building in front of the orphanage gate was not lit up but he could feel that the men were watching Jun somewhere in the dark. As he opened the door of the back seat, Nambu shot strong warning shots to them who might be looking at him through the dirty window. She would be safe for a while......a...while...... When he arrived at home, Ken and Joe sent empty welcoming words to him from the balcony on the second floor. Sighing, he ordered them get close to him. The boys stared at each other for a moment. They slowly stepped down as slowly as they could. Nambu could detect new fresh bruises on the each boy's face. It was getting harder and harder to control these two adolescent boys. Those days, they were always bringing headache to him, every single day. Saying nothing, Nambu left them then he heard chuckling sounds. His legs became jellies. It was the longest day that he had ever encountered. Entering the room, he threw himself to the bad

This is certainly an interesting background for Jun! I would be very worried for her if I didn't know where she eventually ended up....

I agree with TJ. But I still found myself worrying what might happen if Odile found out about Nambu's interest in Jun!

Tee.hee. No one is worry about the poor black pony of $25,000. Odile will not welcome her father's present to soothe her.

Why am I picturing the Godfather? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2CX20bBNJE

Awk!! TJ!! I've googled it!! It's a real horse head!! People said it was picked up from a dog food factory. Fortuately, nothing(?) had happened to the pony.

< Chapter 6. Here goes the Prince> After 5 days, Nambu sent documents to the Ministry of health, welfare and Family Affairs to adopt Jun and Jinpei, but he was announced that the orphanage head presented negative opinion on him. She commented that he was on strong suspicion of having sexual purpose upon the girl. Actually, loosing Jun was a great loss for the orphanage home. She was the eldest girl in the house. She was pretty useful in many ways and the woman needed to protect her elegant French nails from housekeeping labors. Jun was an essential component of her life, a little lamb allowed by Lord in the heaven above as a reward of her devotion and piety. O, please forgive me of my sins as usual and empower me to fight against that Satan. Father, grant that I may always desire more than I accomplish......Amen. Nambu was staring at the pile of documents displayed on his desk by Christine, clenching his trembling fists. His ragged breathing was filling his office. Three sets of documents were sent from Utoland social services department. One was a set of bills which were registration fees and school uniforms of Biron School of Science. Though Nambu had not ever seen a real bill of registration in his school days, but he could notice that they were fakes because its address was not the campus itself. Christine said it was an address of a private cram school specialized only for Biron applicants. That chicken head must have clicked the first URL link under the search box with an small AD tag. The frayed golden crest embroidery on Jun's jacket crossed his mind. These shits were the reason why the head allowed Jun to attend Biron School. Another documents were about invisible staff's salary supports. The other documents were monthly requests for assistance of meal boxes for orphan's lunch and supper. But the number of orphans on the paper was twice larger than it should be. Nambu felt sudden pain in the back of his head looking at the bottom of the documents. All of them bore Jun's signature. Christine shed tears looking at the dried water stains on several papers. CCTV data were flooding into screen monitor sent from the City Hall. Jun was stepping into welfare division. He nervously turned off it and threw the remote controller on the floor. The orphans must have relied on the meal boxes for every three meal. The tight schedule of Biron School would not have allowed Jun to prepare the meals for the children. A vivid scene appeared in his vision that the head was threatening Jun, if she wanted to continue her studies then sign the request form of meals. In his imagination Jun was walking around the noisy small factories and dimly lit dusty warehouses to deliver remaining boxes to workers and collect bucks by selling them......at sunset? Suddenly Numbu's breathing stopped. What a naive bastard!! He cursed himself. Screaming brutal cries of no, he jumped up from his chair and ran to the door. Christine's shouting voice caught his back neck. "You've got to see this!!!" She handed a piece of folded paper to him as she covered her eyes with her left hand. Nambu snatched it from her. It was a copy of a written oath. Trembling letters were saying that hereby I Jun himuro guarantee 5 years of faithful labor from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm six days a week, at minimum legal wage first, 3% increase per each year, lodging charges of $20 will be deducted per each stay, meals, transportation and medical covers were not included, after immediate graduation of Biron schoo......Jun...Jun!! you fool!! Invisible hands of devil were seizing his neck. 6am to 3pm?? Nambu got goose bumps. The bitch must have known that Jun would not flatly leave the house at 3 o'clock. Christine explained about it with a quivering voice. Two years ago, Jun brought a wandering toddler from her study tour. As soon as her school teacher left the house, the head had Jun write the oath claiming the future loss of orphanage budgets by accepting him. As the small poor boy did not apart from her at all, and Jun had not aware of that the government funds were allocated by the number of orphans then, so she wrote down what the woman spat out. Now Jun noticed that any contract made between minors and adult had no legal effect and the head could be subject to punishment for making illegal labor contract with minor. However the piece of paper was yet enough strong to tie up a pigeon-livered girl. Yesterday, the head threatened Jun shaking the oath in front of Jun's face, she should keep her promises if she did not want to be punished for embezzlement of meal supports, showing videos of Jun selling the boxes. A young female who didn't have her protector was always an easy prey. The rusty iron chains were tangled up complicatedly than he expected. However he was a man of plans and also was a mature adult. The only thing he needed was time to set his strategies. No, he didn't need so-called strategies at all upon that kind of person. After two hours, the head was begging his mercy kneeling down on the floor. All he did was just presenting his name card. The factory guys told her that he was a one of a TV show hosts which went off the air two months ago-Science Magic, and as long as she remembered an internet news article said that he was a head of......Eh...ISO PR department. But she clearly remember the faded picture in the dusty newspaper brought by a bootleg liquor dealer. He was sitting between a comedian and Idol girl groups. How could he be the deputy executive director of ISO? Christine dragged a half minded woman into her car and start the engine to chase after Nambu. Christine suggested Nambu to adopt Jun and Jinpei under her name, but he refused it. Then she advised Nambu not to call the police or accuse the head to avoid noisy things and promised him to clean up these dirty beings and care after the orphanage home in her typical professional manner. Nambu finally agreed to her. The head left the office with faltering steps without turning back as soon as the final procedure of adoption had finished. Shaking hands with the officer, he noticed a yellow cardboard paper tucked under a pile of documents. He slowly pulled out it then he found three marks of disaproval stamps, above his name. Her warm heart, her kindness, her responsibility, her beauty, her talent, her youth, every part of her blessed nature was eating her up alive. Eventually he lost himself. Bad timing, why that cigarette box must be in this guy's shirts pocket?? Nambu politely asked him a cigarette and lighter as taking out his cell phone and stepped out of the office. He strode to the wide window at the end of the corridor where Christine and Jun sitting on the chair in each other's embrace. Jinpei was sleeping resting his head on grandma's thigh. Christine saw Nambu walking along the hallway speaking with someone in phone......Leon? ......that Leon?? He stopped in front of Jun and bit a cigarette then lit it up. She scowled at him shooting a harsh warning gaze of disapprovals, but he simply rolled his eyes from her. Christine hurriedly looked at the ceiling. Luckily fire alarm was near the office entrance however it was obvious that he was not aware of it. Is he crazy? Nambu was blowing a cloud imagining his favorite scene in the old movie. He knew he would be grilled by her at least a month, but it was definitely worth to do. Jun was sending a great admiration with her shimmering beautiful emerald eyes to the man who was speaking directly with the chief commissioner of police. At least this moment he could pay everything for her. Looking back and forth at Nambu and Jun, Christine figured out what was happening. She narrowed her eyes at Nambu's neck tie. Clearly it was blue stripped one in the morning, but now he was wearing the red tie bearing exquisite arabesque patterns which was always tucked in his office closet for special occasions. Why this boy must put on that tie of all things given by me - as a prize of stopping smoking ten years ago? She felt strong sudden impulse to swoop on him then strangle his neck, who just had shoved a ton of dishes in her sink. Sleeping little Jinpei saved his life. After conversations, he spoke Christine in a deep bass voice readjusting his suit jacket temperately "Please bring my children to new home. I go back to the lab.05, because all the staffs are standing by waiting for me. The final test operations of Phoenix engines must be done by today." As Jun rewarded him with even greater expressions of respect on her radiant face, Nambu could blow away the upcoming troublesome consequences of his rashness. Nambu thought that he paid for it enough by accepting Christine's long lectures which started around at 11:00pm to 2:00am and being criticized for two months, but Jun and Jinpei were also charged for it after 6 years.

I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused... who is Christine?

Nambu's secretary. A silvery woman. She may be elder than Nambu at least 15 years.

If there is awkward expressions or nonsense, please notify me. As I emphasized before, English is not my first language.

Odile was looking at a text message again from her lawyer in her bedchamber. The orphanage was temporarily closed two days ago and the head was under arrest but strangely every media had not reported it so far. There was one more strange thing. The number of orphans sent to the Catholic Church near the orphanage given by her lawyer was different from her memories. The small boy with brown messy hair appeared in her mind. It was him. A toddler met in Himalaya during the study trip two years ago. After three days from the encounter, Odile was asked a favor by Jun and teacher that if she could allow the boy to board her father's jet, too. Odile demanded Jun's parent's consent, Jun hesitatingly confessed she was living in an orphanage. Suddenly a ridiculous labor contract the orphanage head showed her fleeted in her mind. Its date was two years ago. Was it for the boy? If Jun would really follow the foolish illegal contract, she deserved to be tied up that dirty house wasting her youth. So Odile just handed back the paper to the orphanage head disguising satisfied smiles. That moment she had guessed the reason why Jun signed the contract was fake number of orphans on the documents for meal box supports. Odile slowly stood up from the velvet couch and approached the door of her library room to find old diaries. She opened a diary and browsed monthly schedule tables. The arrival date of study trip was the same with the labor contract in her memories. Obviously it was for him. The little boy stuck to Jun's leg when she visited the orphanage on Christmas Eve. To separate him from Jun, Odile picked up three cookie boxes and asked Jinpei to distribute them to the orphans so they taste it. The gleeful poor boy shyly returned the beautiful Santa Lady's sweet smiles and then left his sis. "Don't you cry. Merry Christmas Jun. Smile. I-said-smile." Her own voice echoed in her ear. Odile went back to her bedchamber then sat down the velvet couch again. She was heard that Jun appeared with a well dressed old lady who seemed to be her new foster mother to quit Biron School after three days of sudden absence. It had been also three days since Odile had not attended her class. She bent herself to thinking. How Jun did meet the lady? According to her lawyer, the old lady named Christine was a normal housewife widowed five years ago. Her only son was a prosecutor who was specialized in economic crimes. Why did she asked to her son to cover the orphanage from the media? Why? Yet Odile couldn't come up with an comprehensible answer. To cool down her burning head, Odile walked into the bathroom and slowly washed up her face with icy cold water. She spat out her saliva with red ripples on the milky marble sink. Odile slowly raised her face and gave a scornful look to her own reflection. Next day, Raymond Stangate and his daughter was summoned for investigation on the orphanage in the police station. A large photo frame was next to the investigator. Several young female officers looked unkindly at Odile in navy school uniform and her Santa cape coat and gaudy red sweaters the picture. A blond gave whispers looking at the black enamel boots in the picture in her colleague's ear and the redhead tossed the message to another female officer standing next to her. The investigator hesitantly asked if they had ever witnessed any violence or abuse because they were the only visitors during last 6 months. Actually Raymond had stayed there only five minutes, also he didn't want to make any further troubles against Nambu, so he answered all questions saying no. Odile stated she arrived there 30 minutes before her father. She said only one 'yes' when the officer showed her a web market page- . The head had been selling them at $85 about 40% cheaper than department stores. As soon as looking into the monitor, young ladies withdrew their hostile gaze from Odile. Watching at the young females, Raymond closed his eyes giving out a weak groan......That's my girl. After the final question, heavy silence filled the office. No one was dare to ask about it. "May I leave with my daughter?" Raymond said breaking the silence. "No. You can't." A man over the partition stood up shaking off his colleague's hands and walked toward Odile. Everyone was uncomfortable at his behavior. The chief of the police station scowled at him behind Raymond. "You again?? Mind your own affairs!! If you've got really nothing to do, then go out and catch some pickpockets instead!!" A middle age officer shouted at him, but he did not obey his boss. The young man knelt down at her for eye contact. His callused hand grabbed her wrist tightly then he slowly stood up and led her to the investigation room. Raymond just sat down on his chair again and watched them. Every officer's eyes in the police station darted on the detective. He closed the door and pulled down the blinds. Odile was still standing next to the table. The detective had her seated on the chair. "Would you tell me about your bruises?" Odile shook her head. "Do you want to see a female officer? I mean, not the one outside." Odile shook her head even roughly. "Do you need your time?" Odile blinked her eyes not to let tears escape. After moments, she finally parted her lips. "Ah... bum....pin..to....mai..po......posder be heh......nait......." (I bumped into my poster bed at night.) She managed to answer him in a hoarse uneven voice swallowing intense pain on her swollen right cheek. Thick tears dropped from her eyes. He was studying her bruised face with his chin propped on his hand. After two hours, he went out of the room in a damp leather jacket with Odile. Raymond stopped staring a tall girl in the picture, Jun Himuro and a small boy next to her. He took his daughter's hand and turned around to leave the office. "Where are you going? It's your turn." Everybody in the office was frozen by his words. Raymond simply picked out his cell phone and told his secretary to cancel his postponed schedules. The chief was almost fell down back, several officers assisted the fat man nearly blacked out. However Raymond got out of the room only after 10 minutes. His statement was perfectly accorded with her final statement, so the young detective let go of him. Odile looked back at him before leaving the office with her puffy eyes. He was going into the Chief's room. "I know what you're thinking. Odile my love, don't worry about him." Father said to his daughter. He said to his secretary to cancel every schedule of the day. As Odile was about to get into the back seat of the car, Raymond stopped her. "Go front. I'll drive." He gave his chauffeur and followers a sudden day off. Raymond wanted to go some restful place out of the city, but it could be dangerous though his invisible bodyguards would cover him. These days, Robert his elder brother's informants chasing after him did not hide themselves desperately which made him extremely nervous. After all, he ended up in a luxury hotel after 10 minutes. A splendid array of afternoon tea set was displayed on the table, Raymond took a tiny black velvet box out of his inner pocket and opened it, then shoved the ruby ring next to her teacup. "I redeemed it from her house early in the morning. If your purpose was to stab a sharp dagger into my heart, yes you succeeded absolutely. You knew I would notice you hired a lawyer, didn't you." Odile said nothing, just looked into a school of gold fishes swimming in the indoor pond. "Was it that meaningless to you? It was your first period gift." Odile's gaze shifted to a lotus floating on the water. Their tea pot was getting cold in the silence. Raymond closed his eyes. It was very hard for him to see purple bruise on her face, however he secretly appreciated his old gardener. If it had not been for him, the poor black foal had been gelded without anesthesia under the windows of his library two days ago. Odile was so cool that not a muscle of her face moved, she took out the castrator from the horrified veterinarian's toolbox. Only several maid's squeaky screams were heard. Raymond knew she had no intention to let the baby horse live judging by her flashing eyes under the dim light. Castration was rather an excuse. As no one volunteered to hold his body, it was obvious that her work would not be done properly. However the foolish little beast licked his fallen domina on the dried cold glass, as he was freed from twines tying up his three ankles by the old gardener. Raymond Stangate had fell onto the marble floor at the scene, but it was not the end. Yesterday, he was heard about another victim Jun Himuro. The eight years old girl who was praying on her knees next to her mother under the soft sunlight through stained glasses had been dead. Pure white lace veils turned as a gloopy spider web, crystal rosary became merciless whip, and the law book light as feather was in her hand instead of the weighty Bible. Before the police station, he had regarded all was because of her mother's death. But everything was clear then. Odile just did what she learned from her father, she just imitated what she had seen behind her father's back. She was his sin. Do I deserve to blame her? It was extremely painful torture seeing his own reflection through his daughter. Raymond buried his face into his hands and break the awkward silence again. It must be done now. "I know the cookies were to insult her and to dilute

SO Raymond thinks Odile killed Jun? And his relationship with his daughter certainly seems inappropriate, to say the least. What happened to her mother?

Odile Killed Jun? What(the word victim?) makes you think so? If you point it out, I think I need to revise around there. Jun is now adopted by Nambu and maybe she is with Ken and Joe. For her mother, she was killed in an accident, maybe next next chapter will explain it. Lastly, "inappropriate", do you mean the ruby ring or what? In Korea some fathers who do not hide their affection to his daughter brings presents to her when she starts her first period. If her father's behavior is not comprehensible, please let me know. I had seen a father and daughter a little bit similar with them. Thank you for your comments I really appreciate!

Rachel -- I didn't know about the tradition about the ruby ring until now. There is nothing in our customs for a father to commemorate a girl becoming a woman in this manner. In fact, we generally frown upon a father knowing about his daughter's periods unless it's absolutely necessary that he knows. (For example, if the girl's mother had died and the father is raising his daughter by himself, or if something is wrong and the girl has to go to the doctor.) I think it's safe to say that most of the people at this site are not familiar with that custom, so we would automatically assume that the father was having a sexually inappropriate relationship with his daughter. (I'm not blaming anybody here -- this is turning out to be great opportunity for us to learn about each other's culture!)

Ah, I got it EW. Thank you for the explanations. Actually, traditional Korean fathers, too. These days a buzzword is a hot issue in Korea- Ttal(daughter)-Babo(a fool). Many Korean fathers call themselves as Ttalbabo. It means a father who always becomes a fool in front of his daughter and shows great affection to her. Before late 90's, about 10~15 girls among 100 were killed by abortion. In my school days, if there is 100 girls, number of boys were almost 120. Parents did not welcomed girl if they had one already. These days Korean young men really frustrated about finding their brides. Even though the government forces every woman to marry, one of five men can't marry. If 1/4 girls do not want to marry because of her career, freedom or not to be involved with husband's family(Traditionally Korean mothers want to have her daughter-in-law under her control. Of course, they do not want their own daughter to be touched by her mother-in-low. ironic.), it means only 65% of men could find his bride. Young females want to marry a man who has strong economic power, so there is a strong possiblity for the man of 64th is having difficult times to find his girl friend. He has to wait long until 64th girl notices that she is not good enough to have an ideal groom. Anyway, these days daughters are more popular in Korea, so the number of father who celebrates his daughter's first menstruation is increasing. And I regarded it is from western culture. So EW your comment was a little shocking to me, too. Kinda interesting. Now I consider to revise it as a birthday present.

Originally posted by rachel Now I consider to revise it as a birthday present.

You might not have to go that far, Rachel. I think you'll be okay if you say in the story that it's a custom in the country where the story is happening. That should keep anybody else who doesn't know about that custom from getting confused.

I think it sounds like a sweet custom, now that you have explained it. But I agree that without some explanation, it seems odd.

Interesting...I had never heard of that custom, either! I'm glad that Jun is getting away from the orphanage. I am looking forward to seeing how Ken and Joe react to her!

I had not heard of this custom either. It definitely has a different impact here in the West! Thank you for explaining this cultural difference, Rachel.

I decided to go with the ruby ring without revision. Thanks to all of you. >_< < Chapter 8. What happened to us> Last two months, Nambu fell into her completely. Gloomy girl had restored her long lost brightness surprisingly soon with her foster father's love and attention. Christine was also happy not to hear whining voices of private tutors on her cell phone. Ken and Joe seemed that they did not want to show Jun and Jinpei any embarrassing moments. Soon the tutors confessed that they'd got nothing to teach her, so she spent her days Exploring Nambu's library. When Nambu got back to home from work, she made a beeline chasing his every steps. She was always full of curiosity and questions. Sometimes she even detected minor errors in his old treatises in her soft melting voice. Then he just let out satisfactory laughs. Sometimes they held sudden battles to present evidences against each other messing up the shelves and making the piles of books collapsed. These matches usually ended in his victory. Then Jun started running away from him playfully, He chased after her always several steps behind letting Jun escape into her room. Whenever he teased Jun with future visits to ISO, she surrendered to him slowly unlocking the doors. Then he arrested her wrist and dragged Jun to his library. Her happy squeaky screams tickled his ears like a feather and puffed his chest out. Pleasant pain on his stomach erased mental bruises caused by stressful daywork. One day Jun dropped on the stairs on the way back to library. Nambu turned his head. She was crying. Surprised, he grabbed her shoulder kneeling down himself. "Jun. Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?" Nambu said worriedly. "I...I just can't believe it....I'm not dreaming..." Her shoulders heaved as she sobbed. "No, you are not." He said in whispers. "Jun, tomorrow morning I'll bring you to my office in ISO. You'll see the test operations of God Phoenix engines, late at night with Chief Anderson and only several engineers. Please stop crying or you get baggy eyes. I want to show my pretty daughter to the staffs all day long..." He wiped out tears on her cheeks with his hands. Nambu tucked Jun in his embrace. She is safe in my territory. No one can harm her. For the first time, he felt himself fulfilled as a mature man. He already had noticed how two boys looked at her, but he was the only man who could offer what she needed and wanted. Wishing that this moment last forever, boys were still boys not growing up and she would be always in his arms, Nambu tightened his embrace. It was late afternoon in his office, three months had been passed since adoption. "Now I see why that evil one did not mention the meal boxes while threatening my Jun!!" Pounding his fist into the desk, Nambu shouted suddenly. A silver old woman almost dropped a coffee mug frightened at the banging sound. Christine looked at him with a side long glance. God, he started it again. "She held it back in the case of that Jun would accuse her to schoolmates!! If Jun had done it, Odile would have threatened my Jun to say "I'm such a bad girl I lied to slander Princess Odile". I can vividly see her sobbing face with innocent expressions!!!! What a...... I need to investigate why the number of participants limited to only two students for several schools specialized in science education . How do you think about it!" He was chocked by his own imaginations. Regarding the limits, at least she could tell it was too much doubt because the former chief wanted the event to be widely spread as much as possible. Apparently the Biron students would have eat up all the prizes if there had not been limits of participants. The competition was a some kind of fore election campaign. The posters distributed to schools had born Nambu's picture to entice student's attentions. Ridiculously, on the every outdoor billboard there was the former ISO chief, a future politician. But Christine couldn't find any comprehensible reason to counter Nambu's another "absurd" guesses. There was no possibility that Odile had not noticed about the meal boxes, without doubts. His guesses might be right. However, even though Jun had revealed Odile's wicked deal, no one in the school would have not listened to her. Christine couldn't forget Jun's bitter face during the last visit to quit the Biron School of Science. Although Odile was absent for school, no classmate said goodbye to her. Biron School separated students by sex, it was a girl's jungle rather than a classroom. When the teacher asked the students to say goodbye to Jun, every girl pretended as if they had heard nothing. Some of them didn't hide their amused face, several girls looked down at their books, and other girls just stared at the empty whiteboard behind Jun with unreadable masks. What happened to those girls? Christine managed to repress her astonishment. But when Christine entered to the teacher's room, she could figure out what was going on. Every teachers pretended to be busy on their own affairs, they were ignoring Jun's existence. She could see the same faces that she had seen in the classroom. So what happened to those adults?? Did a fourteen years old girl really arranged all of these? Nonsense. What is happening to our world? As soon as finishing the procedures needed, Christine almost escaped from the place with Jun. These days Ken and Joe barely brought headaches to Nambu but invisible Odile did. She has no brother nor sister, which meant Odile was the only heiress of Raymond. His elder brother Robert Stangate had three sons and two daughters but all of them didn't seem to be enough qualified for the crown. If Raymond won the battle, Odile would be the queen of Vamplate Kingdom. He would willingly kneel down on her after winning the tournament. As long as ISO figured out, yet two brothers were puppets of their uncle, the real owner of the Vamplate. The lord was enjoying the games between the two princes, somewhere in the pacific ocean. "Anything from him yet? It's already been three months." Nambu's voice disturbed her train of thoughts. "No, still not. I think it's time to give up. As he repeatedly said, it may be a minor thing that we don't need to figure out what happened in the investigation room for two hours in the police station." Christine sighted. "There is no minor thing. I need to collect every little detail about Odile......If Raymond beats his brother, she will be a great future threat to ISO or else. You always say she is a just fourteen years old adolescent girl, but that's the problem itself in my point of view. You can keep saying like that because you've not seen her yet. Sometimes I rather hope Robert Stangate would win the war. Ha......it is a terrible nightmare too, however he has spent more than 2/3 of his life!! At least it is guaranteed by God that he'll be six feet under the ground within 20 years or so......" Nambu said staring at the rising steam from the mug on the desk. "By the way, when is he going to quit chasing the tail of minor criminals?" Sipping his hot coffee, he asked Christine. "I don't know. Why don't you ask him by yourself if you are that curious about him. Actually I'm a bit confused of your purpose on the man. Do you just simply want to know more about Odile or to test his uprightness? As you said, yeah it's been three months." Maybe both. Faint smile appeared on his face but soon disappeared. Nambu was a little bit annoyed by the young policeman wasting himself. The young man who graduated Utoland National Police University as a valedictorian reminded him Jun with her broken wings in the orphanage. What was wrong with those youth? Nothing. It made him annoyed more. Even though Nambu send him back to where he was exiled from, it was obvious that the young man would be lodged in someone's throat again soon who was in a navy uniform covered with thousands of tiny medal badges. Nambu was not sure of curing his broken legs, but he couldn't let him to be thrown on the ground and being wasted either. Like Chief Anderson once rescued a dusty stubborn mule from the demolished lab in a tiny island, this time it seemed that it was his turn. No one would dare to harm a man who was under the wings of the chief commissioner of police, his friend Leon. "Whether he respond or not, tomorrow I'm going to call Leon, Christine......" "This time, I do not reprimand you." She smiled. "However I'm feeling so disgusting. It is just a palliative care. There must be another men everywhere in this country, also anywhere in this world, even in ISO. Maybe I'm just running away still not facing the real problem. Jun and Jinpei? Maybe too. So helpless." He turned his chair to face the wide ocean under red sunset. "At this moment now, no one would be brave enough to bring fake documents to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. If someone want to stuck government supports into his pocket, he must accept higher risk than ever before. At least you did not run away from what you'd witnessed as you always do. I can proudly say you've done enough. I just hope the police would deserve him, the people in this country would deserve him, our world would deserve him. From now on, it's all up to them." Christine regretted that she just escaped from the Biron School of Science with Jun. If she could turn back time, she wanted to throw a tissue pack in her handbag to the principal's bald shiny head. Even though nothing would have changed by it.