Bukko of MoJ

The car traveled to the outskirts of Tokyo suburbs where it stopped in front of the decent building in the area of Hatagaya. Orion waited for a few seconds then realized Asahi was walking out of the car. He then instructed Orion to follow him in.

He took the lift to the upper floor number 7 and finally stopped in front of apartment number 286. It was a 1DK small apartment, which wondered Orion as to who they were going to meet.

Asahi knocked on the door and began waiting for it to open. Without asking any questions, Orion also stood quietly beside him.

"You know, we are here to meet…..Ummm….Leader of MoJ!

So don't be afraid, just act casual."

Just as the sound of footsteps of someone inside the opening the door came, Suddenly Asahi whispered this bit of info to Orion quickly.

He felt stunned at the abrupt appointment he was going to have with the Leader of MoJ. He almost squeaked in surprise but the opening of the door made him swallow down his words.

The door opened to reveal an old man wearing a loose-fitted jacket and black trousers. His face was like any friendly uncle from the street, not the bit like any of the smart or powerful people Orion had imagined.

He was sure that if ever he spotted this old man in public, he would only consider him as a local restaurant or shop owner, nothing more. His face was kind and wrinkles on his face genuinely made him look like a sweet man.

"Oh! You are here finally. I was getting bored here. Come in. come in.

Consider…..oh! This is your house."

As Asahi and Orion went inside he quietly closed the door. The apartment was small but not as small to not host three people together. He casually placed two chairs and himself sat on the couch.

"Orion Trudger! Nice to meet you. I'm Bukko, a Mage holding some comfortable position in our circle."

He giggled at his own joke a little.

Seeing Orion not laughing a bit, only watching him dumbstruck, Bukko held down his horses.

'Maybe I am not as funny as I think ' this thought quietly crept into the mind of an old man. As his face turned a little red due to embarrassment. He wanted support from his reliable hand, Asahi but was disappointed to find him fiddling with his phone.

While on other hand, Orion had a hard time adjusting to the character of the powerful Leader of Whole Japan with this 'no offense' the lame person character.

He genuinely believed mage leaders to be some kind of Bigshot Personality.

"Cough!.... I think you were not told about this meeting. Because I have instructed Asahi to keep it between the three of us.

Are you with me?"

Again watching Orion only looking at him dumbly not responding, Bukko finally lifted his hand and waved in front of him.

"Ye….s… yes, sir!"

"Good! Actually, I am here to tell you the truth, which is harsh but you can only adjust to it because this is the real-life of magic users.

The self-center is the main point here always."

He waited for Orion to fully focus on what he was going to say,

"I can not provide you help or security, or even support Orion. Truthfully, I should not even meet you, leave the helping part away. "

This statement came like thunder to Orion. He was already confused with the direction in which his life was steering when suddenly these words drowned his hope.

Bukko sighed seeing the white sheet face of Orion, clearly, what could he expect. He was basically saying to him that he had committed a mistake coming to Japan for help.

But how could he make him understand? He had his own share of problems. He was just a figurehead in Society. He couldn't take veto decisions however much he wants to take them.

"I am helpless, child. Leaving me, Asahi, and one other member no one at the MoJ wants to dip their hands in your matter, which is truthfully the right thing to do.

Your father's reputation is too much to handle for the society that they are even willing to change leaders on this matter."

Orion swallowed a little, he hadn't thought his Father had so much impact or you can say terror, that no one is even willing to interfere with his situation.

"So….I'm on my own….right?"

Listening to his little words, suddenly Bukko smiled in satisfaction. His smile was not mocking or warm, it was like he knew his response beforehand.

"That's not true. I can't do anything officially but....."

He wiggled his eyebrows at him.

Orion felt confused at his mixed statements. He could not decide what he wanted to convey. Is he going to help him, out of his way, why?

"I know what you are thinking? I will explain the matter when the time will be right.

Presently just remember I could not be the top name in your list of friends but consider me someone at the bottom, to call when you have no other ways left to try."

Saying his words he stood up and made his way outside to the apartment. Orion and Asahi followed behind him.

Orion wanted to ask more but Bukko stopped him just in time,

"I and Asahi will Help and protect you from shadows. From bigger and visible threats you will be safe by the temporary stamp of MoJ.

But beware of those lurking in shadows and plane sight.

And why am I doing this? Well, You won't expect your Father to make only enemies in his life, right!"

Orion stood dumbstruck in his way as the old man walked outside of the apartment and closed the door as he exited.

He turned to Asahi for help, who just placed his hand on his shoulder,

"Life is complicated, Orion. You will learn.

Ok, I wish I could tell you more. But right now just focus…..on.....just focus. "

He rubbed his head thinking that he didn't even have words to suggest to Orion.

What should he say? When they were not themselves sure about their stand in this matter.

He, in his confusement, walked and grabbed the door to exit the apartment, but stopped and walked back almost immediately.

"And yeah this is your new apartment. Someone helped us to get this to you. So no rent for half a year, I guess.

After that, we will figure out something.

And before I forget, you are going to go to a local university tomorrow. Someone will come tomorrow to take you there.

And….and…."

He furiously chanted as he tried to remember if he was forgetting something. This episode of Orion had turned his busy life into a super hectic tornado in just two days.

"And, …. you are here safe as only we three know the location of this flat. Boss Bukko was here earlier to personally place some charms and spell of security from all muggle and magic threats.

So… umm...rest. And in just a few hours I will have someone deliver your identity documents along with some other basic necessities like clothes, food, some cash, etc."

He again patted the shoulder of Orion who was either confused or zoned out, he could not figure out. He stepped outside and closed the door while leaving the apartment.

The night passed like a dream to Orion as he couldn't understand what is real, anymore. He suddenly felt he was stuck somewhere in this new modification of his life.

This continuous warning about threats, harm, advice of cautions. Confusing tales of his parents. He was choking inside it all the while knowing nothing.

In the heat of the moment, he almost decided to run off from this house. He would just flee to some insignificant corner of this city. Out of sight, out of knowledge of these people.

But he stopped himself, or what can you say as his experience, his thoughts of the last few days stopped him.

Dead in the night in the darkness of his new room, he was sitting on the floor in the corner of his bed. He immediately unwrapped his t-shirt and touched his new eye tattoo on his side of his chest.

The magic was here, he could feel something buzzing in that eye and it was not a lie. His experience of Land of Dead or Hercules also could not be simply disregarded as some LSD dream.

He felt the magic, hell,

he felt the power. 'This was who his parents were? It is all true?'

All questions, uncertainties, future, were jammed in his mind. All of which only gave him one answer,

To preserve. To see what's coming ahead. For this, he had to Preserve.