NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Sorry for the other two threads, I posted this RIGHT as the forums died yesterday, and for some reason, the OP wouldn't go through.

IC:


Excerpt of a magazine article from a tabloid of ill repute from 2004.

--"When the Yakuza businessmen of yore set up shop in the 'Little Asia' districts of our provinces, they brought with them a level of organized crime that the native syndicates had not seen in decades. There was blood and warfare on levels that the average Tersanctan had never seen. Now they have 'legitimized' their operations to wealthy conglomerate fronts that the judicial and Law Enforcement branches have been unable to touch. So why is our new Executor being rumored to have been dating the daughters of one of their most powerful leaders? Is he a Yakuza himself? One hates to touch on the notion that his simple Japanese ancestry would have him 'connected' to these ruthless men,...--"

Excerpt of a popular gossip show from early 2005

A fashionable young woman of African-Tersanctan descent smiles into a camera. "Executor Kotomari, long rumored to be dating a certain Sumiko Ichibara, daughter of Ryu Ichibara, CEO of Ichibara Industries, a leading conglomerate in Tersanctan corporations was seen in public today for the first time with the young woman. They attended the premier of the new movie..--"

Excerpt from a Newpaper Article from late 2005

"--and one wonders if the Executor has gained the ire of Ichibara Industries with his passing of this measure, as it does not benefit the usually pro-corporate stance of the Kotomari Administration. When pressed for comment, the Press Secretary simply remarked that Executor Kotomari puts the civil rights of the people first, and does not let his personal relations sway his decisions in any way. Directly referencing his ongoing romance with Sumiko Ichibara..--"

Excerpt from a Magazine Article from mid-2006

"--The nation was swept with a fervor today, after a rumor was leaked from the Executor's Office that Executor Kotomari has proposed marriage to Sumiko Ichibara, daughter of...

Clip from a nightly news show from late 2006

"--in other news; after months of rumors surrounding the extremely private power couple Shijin and Sumiko have formally announced their intentions to marry one another…--“

Clip from a popular gossip show from early 2007

"--about it, and now its finally here! The power couples have announced a formal date for the Imperial Wedding! For the first time in nearly thirty years, the Imperial Republic of Tersanctus will have a Queen! Pundits have been clamoring to the--"


Excerpt from a highly esteemed popular magazine from late 2007

"In light of the recent wedding between Shijin and Sumiko Kotomari, the young bride has quickly become a favorite of the people. Unafraid of the press, or her husbands shadow, she is quickly coming forth as a major proponent of several civil right, foreign relation, and civil corruption matters. One wonders if the marriage was necessary for our Executor to truly get his liberal agenda across. Even amidst rumors that she has been estranged from her father, Ryu Ichibara, one of the wealthiest and most powerful CEO's in Tersanctus, and she is newly appointed to Imperial Office. Simply put she says, they are both very busy people...--"

Clip from a popular gossip show from early 2008

"Is Queen Sumiko pregnant? The rumors have created yet another firestorm in the media and rumor mill, as the already popular Queen is now on the names of everyones lips...--"

United Press File Photo of the Imperial Couple. (http://chorrol.com/files/769/Shijin_and_Sumiko.jpg)

Tersanctus, Lucera Province, Four Cities Plaza
November 16, 2003, 1530 Hours

He tapped his foot as the numbers and facts and figures and images of pie charts in Ichibara Industries scrolled across a giant display screen across the giant hall. He was not alone of course, no, not here in the Business Hub of Tersanctus. The shareholders meeting was packed to the brim with investors watching some overpaid stuffed suit to tell them what they were doing with their money.

Shijin Kotomari breathed in slowly, and exhaled. He could deal with a few more minutes of this, after all, was he not yelled at by a large Sanctan Sergeant in the Trisagion Armed Forces everyday for two years? He was indeed, before he got to do some yelling of his own before leaving the ITA as a Lieutenant.

The woman in front of him was a dark waterfall of hair shining in the highly elevated fluorescent lights of the meeting hall. She turned around to look at him, giving him a slightly annoyed look. When she held his gaze slightly for a second, he stopped tapping his foot. He gave her a slight smile as he beheld her countenance. She was a Japanese decent like he, likely one of the colonists from the Industrial revolution. Her expression was one who was used to commanding respect.

She returned the slightest of smiles as she sarcastically mouthed the words, 'thank you' and rolled her eyes and returned to her original position. Despite the rude behavior, he was intrigued, she was beautiful.

She pulled out a long brown cigarette, as she ignited the flame on her purple bic lighter, a dark suit appeared in the corner of her eye. The meeting was over and she was getting a breath of fresh air in the buildings plaza, the human traffic enveloping it in a myriad of colors in the shapes of suits, and skirts.

"The man who loves to keep a rhythm going. What can I do for you?" She said looking over at him, the wind blowing her long hair into her face.

"Smoking is bad for you." he replied.

"Hmm. I was hoping you might have something to say less predictable."

"Do you have another one?"

"That's better." she said reaching into her purse.

"So, do you have a name?" he asked exhaling a plume of smoke.

"Sumiko. You?"

"Shijin."

"Hmm. 'Poet', I would have taken you for a drummer."

"Not as such."

"What do you do?"

"I govern the Executive Office of the Republic."

"Hmm, right. The Executor. Certainly. Or you're just some Japanese businessman who shares the Executors first name, hitting on a pretty young thing like me, but what you don't know, is that my father runs the company that you have stock in. Sumiko Ichibara, at your service."

"Now, you know who I am. Your turn, who are you really?"

He smiled. "You see those men there? And there? And behind us?"

She looked around at men in suits with bulges under their left arms, trying very hard to pretend that they weren't looking at them.

"Those men are Shang Shao Templars. Trained in every aspect of warfare, and sworn to defend me to the death. I also command the army of them."

She raised an eyebrow, half believing him. "Are you trying to impress me?"

"It is rude not to answer a question, especially from a lady."

"Well I still think you're a businessman trying to impress me, and you've unfortunately failed."

He shook his head smiling, and put out the cigarette. "Well, I tried. It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Ichibara." he said turning around.

To her astonishment, all the men he pointed out quickly formed a tight group around him, keeping in perfect stride with him as he made his way to an armored limo, with Government plates.

Tersanctus, Lucera Province, Sanctus, Capitol of the Republic
November 21st, 2003, 0907 hours

"Your Excellency. You have a call on line one. From a Sumiko Ichibara" came the secretaries voice over the intercom.

"Thank you, Prawar." Shijin said as he picked up the phone.

"I've been expecting your call." Shijin said.

"Yes, I suppose I'm as predictable as you Executor Kotomari. I looked over our shareholder list, and it turns out you do in fact own stock in Ichibara Industries. Quite a bit in fact."

"Checking up on me now?"

"I would think that you did the same thing to me, Executor. You after all have access to vast amounts of Government resources. But, no. I was merely making certain that you had adequate reason to be at the shareholder meeting. A girl has to watch her back. Even the government employees can be dangerous. I'm a prime kidnapping target."

"You're right, and this is the second predictable move on my part. I'm kidnapping you for the evening for a function I am attending tonight. A fundraiser for a Senator, there will be free drinks all around. Dress nice, of course."

"How do you know that I don't have plans tonight, Executor?"

"Plans can be rescheduled. Dates with Heads of State cannot."

"Where and when?" she said with her tone masking a pleased excitement.

"There will be a car to pick you up from Dungannon at Six, you should arrive in Sanctus by nine."

"I'm already in Sanctus. As a matter of fact, I can see your palatial abode from my hotel room."

"Now who's stalking who? Be here at eight." he said hanging up the phone.

Tersanctus, Lucera Province, Sanctus Capitol, Rosa Carta Hall, Senator Parmanav Sikjit Fundraiser Event. November 21st, 2003, 2105 hours

Shijin and Sumiko ascended the stairwell into the lavish gala, each wearing exquisite clothing to match it. The photographers from the local press were on all sides, dizzying them with the rapid pulse of flashes.

"You'd think we were royalty." She commented moving in close to his ear.

He smiled, waving at the reception.

The two of them walked around the hall, Shijin shaking hands of every other attendee, whom were very rich or powerful or both. There were high ranking Trisagion Officers in their black dress uniforms, and women wearing fashions that bordered on scantily clad.

Amidst the sea of a hum of voices, crystal glasses clinking, a band played a light faire of traditional Tersanctan folk songs and chamber music from other countries. Shijin and Sumiko wandered amongst them, Shijin introducing her to many of them, and she replied with absolute perfect manners. She smiled at the way everyone called him his formal title of 'Your Excellency.'

"I admit, your impressing me with your diplomatic skills." Shijin smiled at her, grabbing to glasses of Champagne off of a traveling waiter.

"When you deal with a great deal of companies, and international meetings, you learn quickly." she smiled accepting the glass.

"Is your Father grooming you to take the reins of his Financial Empire?"

"No, that honor goes to Masato. The eldest son."

"Your the oldest child though."

"How much of your heritage do you remember, Executor? I know you know the stigma my family holds. We were Yakuza in my Grandfathers time. My Grandfather legitimized my families operation to give us a better future, better than he could have foreseen, but we still follow the honor laws. Women, unless the sole heir, may not run the business. Legitimate or otherwise. I am a high level executive though, and I will wont for nothing the rest of my life."

Shijin nodded. "I was never raised in a Japanese family. I am an Orphan, raised in the Shang Shao Temple, my ways are very Sanctan."

"Don't you mean Tersanctan?"

"No, the Shang Shao still calls cultural roots as being 'Sanctan' in nature. The government is the one that puts a stigma on the word. Harking back to the days of endless battle with Drakonia."

"How was it you became Executor anyways? After the destruction of most of the Four Cities Plaza, and the Death of Edmund Dantes, you mysteriously show up a year later, and claim the title."

"It was thrust upon me by the Senate."

"Why?"

"I guess they thought I was most qualified."

"But the highest government distinction you've ever received was lieutenant in the Trisagion Army. Executor, people talk, people wonder where the hell you came from, why you got the position. And if it weren't for the fact that you seem to be one hell of a damn good leader, they would have revolted by now. Especially with native Tersanctans as...proud..as they are of there heritage."

"I'm a native Tersanctan." Shijin quipped.

Sumiko gave him a sarcastic smile. "What I mean is, your lighter skinned and dont have a braid of dark hair reaching your butt. You know how the Sanctans are."

"Yes. Very well."

"His Excellency, Shijin Kotomari!" Came the tone of a smiling Sanctan, matching the Description that Sumiko just gave, Senator Parmanav Sikjit approached the two, he had the standard light green eyes, Caribbean sun-kissed skin, and long straight dark hair. Tall and lean like most of his ilk, the senator was perhaps 45 years of age,wrinkles on his face that denoted a man who liked to smile, and he wore the traditional Shang Shao temple braided hair.

"I am truly honored that you attended. And...who is this lovely woman?" Senator Sikjit stopped and gave Sumiko the attention she craved, and deserved with her attire.

"Sumiko Ichibara, Senator, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Hahaha! Call me 'Nav! Its nice to see Shijin finally out and about with a woman."

"Oh are you two personally acquainted?" she asked.

"Hahahahaha! Why yes, I was the one who originally put the matter of Shijin becoming the Executor before the Senate. We were in the Temple together, and were in the Army together."

"We were just discussing that!" Sumiko said looking at Shijin's slightly embarrassed face.

"And I was curious myself as to why His Excellency got the job, over say, a cousin of Dantes' or a Senator, or Four Star General..."

Nav leaned in close to Sumiko, and spoke in a very low tone. "Thats because Shijin here is far more special then either you or I can truly know."

"Or he used powerful friends to maneuver."

"Hahahaha! Or that Ms. Ichibara, or that. But you should know, he refused the position at first. Took a lot of convincing on my part to get him to even consider it, thats how I knew why he was perfect."

"Thank you, Nav." Sumiko said looking at Shijin with a victorious expression on her face.

Suddenly the band broke with its monotonous quality of chamber music, and then began to play in an a familiar upbeat tune. A mambo beat.

Sumiko's hips and feet began to move in perfect tune to the music. She put down her champagne and grabbed Shijin's hand and led him to the dance floor. A bit hesitant at first, the national leader soon surprised Sumiko with another secret of his. He was an excellent dancer.

The crowd began to take notice of their Executor dancing agilely with the young Asian beauty, and soon there was a small circle around them as they moved back and forth in perfect harmony dipping and weaving to the mambo beat.

At the songs conclusion, the crowd began to clap. Shijin and Sumiko hadn't noticed, being lost in the beat.

"This is going to be in all the papers tomorrow, Executor."

"Probably not. There are no reporters allowed in here."

"Dang, I would have wanted a picture of this."

"Me too..."