Solbearers: Part 1-Prologue 2: Shinji Miyazaki

Everything happened so fast once Shinji had received the letter. Weeks of big changes had passed like a blur of moments. Relief of knowing they would not struggle with money ever again and carrying his mother around in celebration. His somewhat emotionless response at the funeral of the father he barely knew. Meetings with lawyers. And finally, moving himself and his mother into seperate apartments within his new company's headquater complex. However, this was only the start to how strange Shinji's life would soon become. As he sat at his office's decadent desk what looked like 3 Buddhist monks walked through the the ornate double doorway towards him.

Before Shinji could speak the man in the middle said "I doubt you speak Mandarin but at least we both speak English".

Shinji began "Okay look, I don't know how you got in here without an appointment but it'll be weeks before we can look into what you were hoping for. We've had Chinese clients before but it has only worked out a handful of times. We probably can't represent you as well as your own people. When I have more time I will look into it personally and let you know if I have a practical approach we can take but until then you are wasting your time coming all the way here unannounced".

"You've stepped into this part of your father's role well" started the old but intimidatingly built man "but that's not why I'm here".

Shinji was concerned but trying not to show it. "Most call me Shi Yan Chen, but you can call me Chen as your father did. I'm here to teach you about your father's work" the man continued.

"You're a bit late for that! I don't know how my father ran M.T.F., but I know how I run it. Every single staff here is a respected member of our team. And when some western company wants some Asian flair in their movie or videogame or comic book we convince them to do it the right way and connect them with the right talent. I'm not exactly looking for advice on that" Shinji responded as as he rose from his chair.

"And why would I want to be like a man who walked out on the mother of his child and didn't even raise his own son" Shinji yelled slamming his hands on the desk. Despite his small frame Shinji's intensity made him imposing at times like this.

Unphased, Chen gently nodded and said "I can't condone all of your father's decisions but I can assure you he had good intentions. He was a better man than you know".

"If that was the case he should have shown me himself while he could. I don't know what you are hoping to do here and honestly I'm starting to not care. I think it's time for you to go" Shinji replied.

"5 minutes from now you will want to know all about your father" said Chen as he approached Shinji's desk.

Shinji was bemused as Chen opened one of the desk drawers, placed its contents on the desk and removed a false bottom from the drawer. Chen then handed Shinji a small owl figure.

"Twist the head off" Chen instructed quietly and confidently.

Shinji did as he was told revealing a button where the owls' head used to be. He pressed it and was greeted by mechanical noises coming from the wall to left. He watched in awe as the his office bar smoothly slid forward a few feet, then to the side revealing a secret room.