Prologue: The Interview

I stepped in to the lobby of the courthouse. It had a domed, glass ceiling. There were several brass-fitted, wooden doors. I opened the door that read: Mayor's Office. A woman was sitting at a faux wood desk.

"How may I help you?" The woman asked.

"I'm here about the sheriff position." I said firmly, but surely.

"Bring them back to me, when you're finished" The woman said, handing me some papers.

I went back out to the lobby, and sat down on a bench. I knew that this was the right decision. My life of traveling was getting to me. I filled out the papers, and returned to the office. I handed the woman the paper. She glanced over them.

"Have a seat." She nodded

I pulled a chair, up to the desk.

"Let's see here - it says you're originally from Mie prefecture - You have extensive training in ninjutsu."

"Yep!" I nodded

"You do realize that we require your, full legal name?" The woman glared.

"That's it." I said half-heartedly

"Just Nishoma?" The woman asked

"It's customary in the village where came from, to give your child a one character name."

"Umm - what is the kanji for that - would you mind showing me?"

"ahh - yeah!" I didn't know what to do. I knew it was a complete lie, but it was one I was use to telling. I never had anyone asked for a kanji, before. I grabbed some paper, and a pen from the desk. I scribbled some rough lines.

"Here" I said, handing her the paper.

The woman nodded her head. She stood up, and extended her arm.

"Congratulations!" The woman said with a big smile. "You've got the job!"

I didn't know what to say. was it that easy?

"No one else applied - we need a sheriff." The woman said proudly.

"Thank You!" I said

"You'll be staying at Deputy Yoshikawa's house - just follow the trail behind the courthouse."

I turned to walk out the door. The woman spoke up I turned my head to look at her.

"This town, thanks you!" She said in a stern, but relieved voice.

I nodded my head, and left the office. I stood in the lobby - starring up at the glass ceiling.

My eyes gazed into the autumn sky. Five years - hard to believe. My moment of silence was interrupted by the opening of the courthouse door. A round, disgruntled looking, man wearing a suit came in; shaking his head. He stopped to open the office door, but turned around.

"Who are you? You're not from around here - are you?" The man asked.

"My name is Nishoma - I'm the new sheriff." I replied

"Sheriff!" The man laughed. "It's suicide, kid!"

The office door flew open.

"Mayor, Takodan - Thank goodness you're here - What's going on out there?" The office woman exclaimed with a worried look on her face.

"There's a lynch mob out there - I barely made it in here alive!" The man said angrily.

The woman gasped "Why? What happened?"

"One of those thugs broke into Jim's house, and tried to kidknap the baby - they're headed out after Atara, right now!"

It was my duty as the new sheriff to put and end to this; once and for all...

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems