Officer Kim
Officer Kim
The Haeunda grand hotel served as the location for my wedding.
On that day Swan officially became Cho Subaru. She was lovely that day, resplendant and glorious. But I couldn't help but sigh when I noticed the small throwing knives hidden in her sleeves.
I decided to let it go, I wasn't that much better after all, and as far as I was concerned pretty much everyone had at least some issues. My superior stood next to me as she went down the aisle.
We said our vows, kissed and enjoyed each other's company then we danced at the reception and carefully drank only enough to be polite. As it got dark Swan looked at me.
"I'm sorry, I have some family to talk to."
Subaru nodded and slapped me on the back, the two of us walked away from the continuing party and into a separate back room. She looked at me.
"Sorry about mixing business with pleasure."
I couldn't help but smirk.
"If you didn't, would we be together?"
She chuckled.
"Good point."
We waited and then a collection of five men walked in.
"We're looking for a drink, something traditional."
"Coffee ok?"
The man in the middle nodded nervously.
"It's a newer tradition but it's still Korean."
They sat down. The door was locked and the man in the middle, the spokesman of the five nodded.
"All right we're ready to come to terms with the Jayu."
"We?"
The man brought out a manilla folder.
"We're not just bringing us in on this defection. We know people, powerful people. That little golem stunt was the last straw, all of us had worked with the regime as best we could. We paid our taxes on time, we did everything they asked and they invaded our homes anyway. They ransacked our properties, they set our businesses on fire."
The man took deep breaths.
"The same businesses that make the warmachines they so desperately love. If we are going to be treated like trash no matter what we do, then maybe it's time to be Korean trash."
Swan nodded.
"So what are you offering the Jayu?"
The men looked at each other.
"Information, a small amount of money, whatever arms we can comfortably let disappear, and safe houses."
She nodded.
"And what do you want in return for that? After all nothing in this world is free."
The man smiled weakly.
"In the event of a regime change we want immunity from prosecution for acts undertaken under Japanese tyranny. We want to keep our businesses and our property and have a say in the future government."
She nodded.
"Done. The Jayu has always prided itself on being an organization that keeps its word and contracts."
The men nodded.
"So assurances."
Swan looked at me.
"My husband here is the future chief of police of Busan."
They looked at me and nodded.
"We assume there will be contracts, magical ones to ensure good behavior?"
Swan nodded.
"Can you really blame us?"
"No...but we agree to that anyway."
She held out her hand and shook his.
"Welcome to the resistance."
Contracts were signed and we went back to our wedding. I danced with my wife, was congratulated by my superior and when the night was over the two of us walked to our hotel room.
There we took the time to watch stars.
"Come on."
Swan grabbed my hand.
"What?"
"There is someone I want you to meet."
She took my hand and took me toward the rooftop.
"Who am I meeting?"
She smiled warmly.
"Someone who taught me a lot."
I followed her with a sense of urgency, when we got to the rooftop we stopped. She looked at her watch and then, in the moonlight, we saw a swirl of leaves. As they dissipated I saw a glowing man dressed in an old outdated outfit.
"I see you got married Cho, good for you."
My eyes widened.
"Kim...this is Ankor Park, Ankor this is my husband kim."
I stood there in shock.
"But, but you're dead."
The man shrugged.
"Compass has a rule. The top student, the valedictorian of a class, is allowed to ask for a single wish. If it is within reason and Merlin can grant it, He will. I asked for immortality."
He smiled and sighed.
"You're immortal?"
"It's immortality of a kind, I bound myself to my school in mind, body and soul. As long as it exists so do I, even if it is in this form."
"So immortality is possible."
The man looked at me with sad eyes.
"It has a price. I am bound to my school for 9 months of the year, unable to leave it. Only during the season of autum can I see the world, and even then I can only exist on the leylines."
He closed his eyes.
"Do you lead the Jayu?"
"I helped form it, but no. I am not the leader, a new generation has taken over that organization. Korea doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the future. These days I just teach new students. Students like swan."
She nodded.
"Thank you teacher."
He smiled.
"I'm glad you're doing well student, and Kim...I wish both of you the best."
He shook our hands and turned his back.
"I'm sorry but I must go. There are so many others to talk to."
With that he vanished, leaving the two of us alone.
"I want children soon."
I nodded.
"Sounds good to me, Cho."
"Any ideas for names?"
I looked at the starry night.
"Yuki....our first will be named Yuki."
The Haeunda grand hotel served as the location for my wedding.
On that day Swan officially became Cho Subaru. She was lovely that day, resplendant and glorious. But I couldn't help but sigh when I noticed the small throwing knives hidden in her sleeves.
I decided to let it go, I wasn't that much better after all, and as far as I was concerned pretty much everyone had at least some issues. My superior stood next to me as she went down the aisle.
We said our vows, kissed and enjoyed each other's company then we danced at the reception and carefully drank only enough to be polite. As it got dark Swan looked at me.
"I'm sorry, I have some family to talk to."
Subaru nodded and slapped me on the back, the two of us walked away from the continuing party and into a separate back room. She looked at me.
"Sorry about mixing business with pleasure."
I couldn't help but smirk.
"If you didn't, would we be together?"
She chuckled.
"Good point."
We waited and then a collection of five men walked in.
"We're looking for a drink, something traditional."
"Coffee ok?"
The man in the middle nodded nervously.
"It's a newer tradition but it's still Korean."
They sat down. The door was locked and the man in the middle, the spokesman of the five nodded.
"All right we're ready to come to terms with the Jayu."
"We?"
The man brought out a manilla folder.
"We're not just bringing us in on this defection. We know people, powerful people. That little golem stunt was the last straw, all of us had worked with the regime as best we could. We paid our taxes on time, we did everything they asked and they invaded our homes anyway. They ransacked our properties, they set our businesses on fire."
The man took deep breaths.
"The same businesses that make the warmachines they so desperately love. If we are going to be treated like trash no matter what we do, then maybe it's time to be Korean trash."
Swan nodded.
"So what are you offering the Jayu?"
The men looked at each other.
"Information, a small amount of money, whatever arms we can comfortably let disappear, and safe houses."
She nodded.
"And what do you want in return for that? After all nothing in this world is free."
The man smiled weakly.
"In the event of a regime change we want immunity from prosecution for acts undertaken under Japanese tyranny. We want to keep our businesses and our property and have a say in the future government."
She nodded.
"Done. The Jayu has always prided itself on being an organization that keeps its word and contracts."
The men nodded.
"So assurances."
Swan looked at me.
"My husband here is the future chief of police of Busan."
They looked at me and nodded.
"We assume there will be contracts, magical ones to ensure good behavior?"
Swan nodded.
"Can you really blame us?"
"No...but we agree to that anyway."
She held out her hand and shook his.
"Welcome to the resistance."
Contracts were signed and we went back to our wedding. I danced with my wife, was congratulated by my superior and when the night was over the two of us walked to our hotel room.
There we took the time to watch stars.
"Come on."
Swan grabbed my hand.
"What?"
"There is someone I want you to meet."
She took my hand and took me toward the rooftop.
"Who am I meeting?"
She smiled warmly.
"Someone who taught me a lot."
I followed her with a sense of urgency, when we got to the rooftop we stopped. She looked at her watch and then, in the moonlight, we saw a swirl of leaves. As they dissipated I saw a glowing man dressed in an old outdated outfit.
"I see you got married Cho, good for you."
My eyes widened.
"Kim...this is Ankor Park, Ankor this is my husband kim."
I stood there in shock.
"But, but you're dead."
The man shrugged.
"Compass has a rule. The top student, the valedictorian of a class, is allowed to ask for a single wish. If it is within reason and Merlin can grant it, He will. I asked for immortality."
He smiled and sighed.
"You're immortal?"
"It's immortality of a kind, I bound myself to my school in mind, body and soul. As long as it exists so do I, even if it is in this form."
"So immortality is possible."
The man looked at me with sad eyes.
"It has a price. I am bound to my school for 9 months of the year, unable to leave it. Only during the season of autum can I see the world, and even then I can only exist on the leylines."
He closed his eyes.
"Do you lead the Jayu?"
"I helped form it, but no. I am not the leader, a new generation has taken over that organization. Korea doesn't belong to me, it belongs to the future. These days I just teach new students. Students like swan."
She nodded.
"Thank you teacher."
He smiled.
"I'm glad you're doing well student, and Kim...I wish both of you the best."
He shook our hands and turned his back.
"I'm sorry but I must go. There are so many others to talk to."
With that he vanished, leaving the two of us alone.
"I want children soon."
I nodded.
"Sounds good to me, Cho."
"Any ideas for names?"
I looked at the starry night.
"Yuki....our first will be named Yuki."