(i hope i do not offend any one with this chapter. if you feel offended, i apologize!)

Proofread by: Daylius and Vikingstad

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 7am

Somewhere in Tokyo

Haruna Nakagawa was nervous, more nervous than when she was attending an interview for her job. The twenty year old girl, wearing a white top with blue stripes on and blue jean was now inside a black car which was on its way to the airport. She was all alone in the car with a small bag as her companion. Haruna could still not believe that she was on her way to the airport.

That morning she was woken up by her father. Her father appeared pale and scared, shouting at the girl to wake up. When she had woken up, the girl was asked to come down to the living room saying that there was someone who wanted to meet her. The girl was still sleepy due to her late night gaming hobbies. Reluctantly she got out of her bed and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. Changing her pajamas into something more appropriable, she walked down the stairs to the living room.

There on the sofa sat a young man who appeared no more than 25 years old, wearing a black suite. The man stood up and greeted the girl with a bow, smiling gently, his brown short hair neatly kept. The boy then spoke with a voice beaming full of confidence.

“Miss Haruna! The young master has sent me to take you”

“Eh? Who?”

“Ah! Where is my manners? Pardon me Miss Haruna. My name is Kiro, young master Ryu’s driver. He has asked me to bring you to the airport where your flight to London awaits you. ”

Haruna and her father, Kiyoshi Nakagawa froze. Both their minds could not grasp what was going on. They stared at Kiro with disbelief.

“Mr. Kiyoshi, I have to apologize for the young master’s rudeness. But he desires Miss Haruna to accompany him to London. I have already informed Miss Haruna’s workplace about this. They have agreed to grant you paid leave. Miss Haruna shall come back in a couple of days. You have no need to worry as the young master will be accompanied by his mother and sister too. I shall be waiting outside in the car for you Miss Haruna.” and Kiro walked away leaving the two dumbfounded. When things began to settle, Haruna rushed to her room not waiting for her father to retort. In minutes she finished packing everything she needed and at the same speed she got in the room she ran out to the car while shouting, “I will see you in two days Papa. Take care.”

She got in the car laughing, she was happy to have got the chance to go somewhere she had always wanted to. London was one of the places she wanted to visit, even though she herself did not know why. When the initial enthusiasm cooled down, the girl’s body began to tense. She then realized that she was alone in the car.

“Um, Kiro san, where is his mother and sister?”

“Oh! They are in Germany on a vacation”

“They are coming too right?”

“Of course not! Why would they?” Kiro asked with a straight face, smiling.

It then struck Haruna that she and her father was tricked and it was going to be a trip with Ryu alone.

“Young master is waiting for you at the airport. He just arrived from South Korea. We will be reaching the hangar soon?”

‘Hangar? Does he mean airport? Rich people!’ the girl thought not knowing the place she was being taken to.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 7am

Yasahiro Mansion

“Ryu why are you here?”

“I came to meet a friend of mine, Ojii sama”

“Friend you say?” Isamu asked, his eyes glittering. For years Isamu had tried many methods to try to make the boy

befriend someone, but all his plans always ended fruitless.

“Yes Ojii sama. I want to travel to London with my friend. Can I Ojii sama?”

“London eh? Why there?”

“Nothing big Ojii sama. Somebody tried to play a game so I just want to end the game thoroughly”

When Isamu heard this, the happy face he had till then suddenly vanished. “Who?” was all that the man asked. From the tone of his voice it was evident that the man was now mad. Isamu had one rule in his life, ‘family is everything’. Dare to touch any one from the family, the normally kind man becomes a merciless hunter. Ryu knew what would happen if he were to tell Isamu of the person’s name.

“It’s okay Ojii sama. Let me handle him. I have already asked those in London to make the necessary preparations. So please calm down”

It took a while for Isamu to calm down, slowly the smile returned to the man’s face.

“Is it a girl?”

“Eh?” Ryu did not understand the sudden question.

“Your friend, is it a girl?”

“Yes Ojii sama” Ryu said, slightly blushing. Isamu looked surprised for a second but began laughing loudly. “Very well boy. Go on. But boy, never make a girl cry”

Ryu nodded with a smile and gently bowed to his grandfather and walked away. Isamu looked at the boy and realized that the boy’s back was no longer lonely.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 8am

Yasahiro Private Jet Hangar, Tokyo

Ryu got out of his car and walked towards a small office like building. He opened the door and found Kiro standing

outside the door which had a label saying ‘Visitor’s room’

“Kiro-san, has she come?” Ryu asked with a voice which was slightly nervous. The world’s richest and powerful boy was getting nervous. Why? Because he was going to meet his first friend. Kiro nodded at Ryu to answer his question.

“How do I look? Is this ok?” asked the boy who never once cared for his looks. Wearing a black suite similar to Kiro, the boy looked nothing short of a celebrity.

“You look wonderful young master, except for your face which looks like it’s going to explode any minute. I have never seen you so tense.” Kiro teased the boy. The boy smiled and then walked forward, taking a deep breath, he opened the door.

Inside the well-lit and air conditioned room, a girl was shivering, her teeth clattering due to the cold. The girl had a sweater on her and a cap covering her head. With hands covered with gloves she was hugging her body to escape from the cold.

“What are you doing?” Ryu asked, suppressing his laughter at the sight.

The girl was startled and with a ‘Kyaa’ she jumped out of the chair. The girl then looked back to see who it was that talked. She gently turned around as if she were scared to make any sudden movements. Tilting her head and body, she looked at the person who was standing near the door. A boy with jet black wavy hair and golden brown eyes was standing near the door wearing a black suite. He had a smile on his face and she understood that smile was for her.

‘Those eyes, why are they so beautiful’ her heart raced when she looked into those eyes, she could feel her heart beat.

“If you were feeling cold you could have asked Kiro-san to turn off the air conditioner. Sigh” Ryu said shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders.

“Hi! My name is Ryu Yasahiro! Nice to meet you”

“Eh? Um! Etho! Haruna Nakagawa, nice to meet you” replied Haruna nervously. She was cursing inside for being seen like

that by Ryu.

“Then Haruna shall we?” Ryu asked waving his right hand to the outside of the door.

Haruna nodded and walked outside of the room followed by Ryu. Kiro opened the door towards the hangar, when he saw Ryu and Haruna. The three then got out of the building through the back door, which lead to the hangar. Walking towards something that Haruna had only heard before, an Embraer Legacy 500 business jet.

The young girl gaped at the jet, a thing she had only seen in magazines and news shows was in front of her. With

widened eyes she walked towards the jet escorted by Ryu and Kiro.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 10am

London

“Haruna, wake up. We have arrived. Wake up” Ryu gently woke up the sleeping girl. The girl then slowly opened her eyes and then looked at Ryu. She did not recognize the person in front of her and was about to scream for help. Ryu felt Haruna tensing up and looked at the girl. When he understood that she was about to scream, he shut her mouth with his hand.

“Haruna, its Ryu. Calm down”

Those words brought recollection to Haruna’s brain. She remembered the things that had expired before she fell asleep. Ryu gently removed his hands and smiled at the girl.

“Let us go. I will let you sleep in a short while after we reach our rooms”

Haruna nodded and followed Ryu. The two exited the jet. Kiro was already waiting for the two, standing beside a car. Ryu walked Haruna towards the car and opened the back door for her to get in. Ryu then got into the front seat and then asked Kiro to start the vehicle. The already sleepy Haruna fell into a slumber once she got inside the car. She was too sleepy to enjoy the view outside the car. Ryu and Kiro smiled at each other thinking ‘what a simple girl’.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 4pm

Haruna slowly woke up from here deep sleep and stretched her hands, yawning, with half opened eyes. She rubbed her eyes with her hands and once again stretched her hands. Once the sleepiness left her, the girl felt something strange about her surroundings. She looked around and was shocked when she saw the room she was in. the room was huge, painted in white and decorated with beautiful carvings. There was ample sunlight entering from the windows making the room well lit. The walls had some paintings hung on them, a chair and a table in the vicinity, a wooden cupboard with intricate carvings, and the floor had a carpet. The girl could not understand where she was and so she slowly got out of the bed. Before she could explore the room, there was a knock to the door. The next moment the door was flung open and in came a handful of women dressed as maids carrying make up sets, girl wardrobes, shoes, hats and everything girly.

Haruna was flabbergasted from the sudden intrusion and was about to protest when the maids attacked her without a word, the girl could not even let out a squeal. It was an all-out war.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 10am

Phoenix Enterprises Head Office

“Sir!” Yuki called out to her boss who has busy monitoring his game world.

“Can’t you see that I am busy right now Yuki?” Allen sneered at his secretary.

“Sir, you have a call”

“I said I am busy”

“It’s the Prime Minister.”

Allen dashed towards Yuki and snatched the phone away in seconds.

“Mr. Winfred! It’s such an honor Sir” Allen began smooth talking the man on the other end of the call.

“Yes Mr. Winfred”, “I will Mr. Winfred”, “Of course, I will”, “Thank you Mr. Winfred. Have a good day.” Allen gave the phone

back to Yuki, and suddenly began laughing, “Yes, yes, yes” he shouted startling Yuki.

“Sir, calm down please. You are scaring me”

“Yuki, we have a party tonight?”

“Party? With the Prime minister?”

“And the venue?”

“Buckingham Palace young lady” Allen said smiling gleefully at his now frozen secretary.

---***---

Year 2040

Feb 28, Tuesday, 4pm

Buckingham Palace

Allen Perez arrived at the palace in his brand new red Lamborghini. The man exited the vehicle and then walked towards

the attendant who was waiting at the door.

“Allen Perez” Allen said to the man who seemed as if he was in his late sixties. ‘A butler eh!’ thought Allen.

The attendant nodded slightly, “We have been waiting for you sir. The King and the rest are waiting for you”

Allen was excited. He had always dreamed of such a moment. He felt so happy that his face always had a smile on it. The attendant took Allen to a large hall and asked him to wait there in the room. Allen sat on the seat he was provided with, still smiling. A few minutes passed and the attendant announced the arrival of the King and Queen. Allen rose and steadied his suite, he put on his best smiling face and awaited the King’s arrival.

When the door to the room opened, five people walked out of the door. Allen was confused. He recognized three among those. King Aiden was in the middle, to his left was Queen Hanna. The Prime Minister was walking beside the queen. Allen recognized them, but he did not know the other two that were accompanying him. To the right of the King was a young boy and girl dressed in expensive dresses.

Allen did not pay those two any attention and then walked towards to the King. The group halted when they saw Allen appearing. With a smile the King spoke, “I assume you to be Allen Perez” the king asked.

“Yes your grace” Allen kneeled on the ground. The king stretched his right hand towards the man. Allen then held the hand gently and lightly kissed on the ring. These traditions were still followed even in modern times.

“Rise young man” the king said and then began walking. Allen felt a little left off but he followed the group closely. He could hear the conversation between them and he understood that the king and queen were enjoying the talks with the unknown boy. Allen felt anger build up in him for being avoided. They proceeded to another large hall. The king and queen sat down on something similar to thrones. King Aiden then asked the others to sit. Even then the boy was close to

the king. Allen kept his anger at bay and kept smiling.

“Allen Perez, let me introduce you to this fine young man. This here is Ryu Yasahiro, the next in line for the Yasahiro industries. Have you heard about them?” the King asked.

Allen Perez could not respond. There in front of him sat a boy, smiling. But the eyes that were staring at him were not at all smiling. He felt those eyes piercing his body, he felt as if he was naked in front of him, insecurity and powerlessness was what Allen was feeling.

“Your grace, you flatter me. I am just a seventeen year old boy. I do not think Mr. Allen would have heard about me”

“Hahaha” the King laughed. “Just like your grandfather, modest to the very end. You have not introduced to me the maiden with you Ryu.”

“Ah! Forgive me, your grace. This here is my friend from home. I just brought here along when she said she wanted to visit the place.”

“Then why is the little maiden so silent. Perhaps she does not entertain talking with us old people” the King made a sad face.

“I..its not that” the girl said in broken English. This surprised all who were there. The girl had almost shouted at a loud voice. The King and Queen broke out into a laughter while Ryu smiled. The prime minister was shocked with the royal family’s laughter while Allen could not even begin to grasp anything that was going on.

“Seems like I scared the young maiden Ryu. I must apologize”

“No your grace. It is me who must apologize. I had kept it a secret about this meeting to give her a surprise. Seem the girl is too nervous. Please forgive her rude behavior.”

“Still the formal way of talking. Have I not told you about your grandfather being my best friend? His grandson is like mine too. And yet here you go with those formalities. Do you talk to your grandfather in similar way?”

“I am afraid, it is so your grace” the boy replied with the smile.

‘Friends with the King? Same as my grandson.’ These words were plaguing poor Allen from inside.

“Your grace, it seems Mr. Allen is not feeling well. Let me take him out your grace.”

The King nodded. When Ryu got up from the seat, Haruna too was about to get up. But was prevented by Ryu. He then walked towards the sweating Allen.

“Mr. Allen let me take you out. You seem unwell.” Ryu spoke, glaring at the man. Allen did not resist and so got up from the seat. Ryu then supported the man and walked him out slowly. When the two had disappeared the Prime Minister asked the King,

“Your grace! Why do you treat that boy with such care? Is he not some noble’s son?” Winfred’s voice had a bit of annoyance in it.

“Winfred, you are a small man it seems. A noble’s child? That boy is far beyond that. He and his grandfather are far more powerful than you think.”

Winfred did not ask any further. ‘The king is scared of them?’ was a question that was in his mind.

“Do you know why I care about them? They have so much power that in a snap of their fingers the world would bow and yet they remain silent. Do you know the world’s largest company Winfred?”

“Allen Perez’s Phoenix Enterprise. The launch of his game made his company become number 1 in a month. I heard he overtook the Japanese company, Yanagi corporation in a few weeks who had been first for years.”

“That is why I call you a small man. You do not know the true might of the Yasahiro’s. They remain in the dark, hidden from the world. For the world, they are the King of Japan. But for those who truly know them, they are an existence that stands above all. I will give you a warning Winfred, do not anger them or else you might feel horror beyond your dreams just like that man called Allen Perez. He has angered them and now he shall pay the price for his foolishness”, the king then and queen closed their eyes and uttered a silent prayer to the gods above. They prayed to the god to show mercy on the man named Allen. A shocked Winfred just sat motionless. Haruna just looked at the direction were Ryu had headed hoping nothing bad would happen.

---***---

“Allen, I will get straight to it. You have made me mad and so I will give you the appropriate punishment. So now choose, your life or your company which one of these would you want to keep with you? You have one minute to decide” the voice was calm, his face void of expressions, the eyes cold as the winter.

Allen gazed at the boy, his heart already breaking apart. The man had worked years and years to get to what he was. The once poor boy had strived relentlessly to reach the state he was in. He had overcome everything time had thrown at him, not giving up, not wavering. The company was his dream, life and soul. He opened his mouth, but the voice would not come out.

“Allen, decide already. If you say you want your life then I shall buy your company and you will be given the appropriate compensation. But if you choose the company, you will die here and buried somewhere deep in the bottomless ocean and your family will inherit the company. Oh and if I buy your company I will be shutting down the game too. I don’t like things that reminds me of my enemies.”

“Please! Please give me the company”

“Ho? You choose company over your life? Why? If you choose life then I would give you money enough to create a new

company”

“I do not want a new company. This company is my sweat and blood. I worked years to perfect this company. I can’t let it go.” Allen Perez was already on his knees, with his eyes gushing out tears like a stream.

“Well said Allen. Have you been freed from the lust of power?”

“Eh?”

“You were drunk with power. You forgot the past, you forgot the efforts you had put to make the company. You assumed you were the king of the world and pushed around others according to you whim. You were once like all other common men and yet you hushed those below you when you rose to power. I shall let you go this time, but there won’t be a next time. I may be forgiving but Isamu Yasahiro does not forgive. Power and money are means to live do not think of them as life Allen. Too much money and power will make you lonely, like me” Shiv said with a smile. When the boy was speaking the last line, Allen felt the loneliness the boy had underwent. He looked at the boy who was now smiling.

“Thank you” a small whisper escaped from Allen’s mouth.

“So what do you say Allen? Care to be a seventeen year old boy’s second friend?”

---***---

(I wonder if i met your expectations about the encounter between Ryu and Allen. am sorry if it was a dissapointment. I thought this way was better than having Ryu go beat him up or something.)

My new ff

ARMAGEDDON: THE NEW WORLD

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