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Author of 21 Stories |
Life is hard when you are part of the race everybody hates, and discrimination is in every drop of blood around you. You can only make the blind blinder. Until you find someone who isn't blind, and then you’re not willing to blind her even if it means your life . . .
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“Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the world old of 2004, Dorei-Youkai Tokyo. I am Midoriko-sama, and I shall be your guide. We would like to thank you for using SvF_BD02_Wedge guided bus rides around the city, and also for having chosen not to skip this ritual before entering the world.
“On your right we are passing now one of the Ayami estate buildings. This family is the most powerful in Tokyo for business estimates, transactions and economic influence, although their name has no doubt reached you in whatever country you live for the love of the youngest entrepreneur for diversification.
“On your left at this very moment you can see the tower of Tokyo passing by, an imponent building built to emulate the French Eiffel tower and both are same in power and glory. As you well know, this particular tower was built entirely by slaves, under the control of the most powerful family of the time, and others in tow, which were bought or taken from the prisons to work on this structure.
“Excuse me madam? Oh yes, those chimneys of the far side on the west of the city belong to one of the Firms of the Ayami, I mentioned before. They have had the tender for the production of slave collars for years, and are one of the companies to have the greatest numbers of slaves working on their lines and other minor positions. Always controlled by humans of course
“Now ladies and gentlemen we are passing the entrance to the shrine of Tokyo. Shortly after our guided tour we shall stop you in this location so you can visit the sacred grounds and perhaps meet the inhabitant miko. Please, please ladies and gentlemen! Do not mass around the windows on one side- it may cause an accident! Please return to your places, we shall visit the shrine soon enough.
“These to the right are legal offices . . . the elementary schools and secondary schools for boys and girls . . . the law courts . . . here we can see the high school . . . all these are elements that link our world together.
“It seems we have a National Security agent car sharing our road on the right of the bus. Don’t mass around please, don’t mass around. Their headquarter are a little away from this area, but it is them that control the order of humans and the proceedings of slaves. Those of the slaves that are freed are very often taken as employees by them to keep eye. It always safe to keep your enemies closer. It is an organization which operates internationally, as you well know from the NS officials you no doubt have in your own countries.
“We advise you to keep your children close as always as soon as we are down. Although leashed, the youkai slaves can be vicious if left out of sight for only a minute.
“This world has many dead ends and red herrings, we advise caution for your moments of solitude, as after you leave this bus, you shall find yourself alone in this world of Dorei Youkai. Slave Demons- a world our fathers have built for us and which we now have inherited. Hence the name of our world, ladies and gentlemen. Remember to beware of the slaves always and at no time lower your guard to them, but use them as you will. Of course I find it needless to remind you it is heresy to think of them as anything less than animals.
“The shopping center . . . the cinemas . . . the airport you have already used and this world hopes you have found it to your pleasure.
“Here we have come to an end of our guided tour ladies and gentlemen. I advise you to remain sitting until the bus is completely still, and to attempt coming out in a back to front order to avoid any discomfort. Gomen sir? Yes sir, we are once again in front of the shrine. Hai sir, the Miko inhabiting it is said to be one of the most powerful. Please madam please, do not skip the rest of us, you shall enter the world directly. We shall be here waiting for you within an hour. We hope you enjoy both phases of our world. Both the songs at the beginning of the phases serve to access the correct atmosphere and hint onto the future themes of the phase, but skipping them is not much of a disaster if you don’t care for atmosphere.”
Midoriko-sama looked upon the descending masses of consuming humans and their children. She could also see the slaves the respective and respectable humans had being let out of the back compartment of the made to measure bus by the slave attendant.
“Just another day Imoto” said the chubby, dimple-cheeked and cheery driver next to her “Just another hot day” he wiped his forehead with his handkerchief and then fiddled with something at the back of his neck his uniform and cap seemed to hide.
“Better than one of the other days though, am I right Kira?” she replied
“Definitely” he smiled and fiddled with his nape once more. Midoriko-sama smiled back, but knew better about those dimples as they rode off.