To protect and serve

With my promotion, I've now got a really nice office. Though now I have a newer office up the hall that I'd like. I'll make due with this one for now. It's actually quite nice to see my name on the door. But with that comes a lot more work. Transferring from Violent Crimes to Organized Crime wasn't as difficult as I thought and I'll still be assisting my replacement in Violent Crimes as well as loaning myself out to SWAT on a case by case basis.

It seems there are some rumors in regards to one of the heads of a family stepping down suddenly. I have a feeling crime is going to go up dramatically while the other families test the strength of the replacement. Which means my arrest record is going to look very very impressive very very soon. This makes me very happy.

The other thing that makes me happy. The World Martial Arts tournament is being held in Tokyo towards the end of this month. I'll be participating in the Karate events. All three, kata, point sparring and full contact. My sensei from back home also made a personal private request. I can't really say what it is but I am deeply honored that he would ask me. I won't let him down.

I'm really disappointed and angry right now. That promotion; I didn't get it. Though of the applicants, I was probably the best choice, it was given to someone else. I was taken into the Superintendent's office and he explained it to me.

It all boils down to one thing.

I'm Okinawan. I'm Okinawan and the other applicants were Tokyo born.

He told me that no one would take me seriously because of that one thing.

It doesn't matter that I have JSDF service and a great arrest record. It doesn't matter that I do my job well and that I can lead a team. Because of my island roots, no one will respect me or listen to me if I were promoted at this time. Maybe next time, after I've proved myself more.

So that's how it is. I have to prove myself? Fine with me. I'll show that closed minded idiot what an islander can do. Next time, I won't get passed over.

Today, my best friend claims an award he rightly deserves. Good for you, Tetsu.

Today, I also filled out my paperwork for the promotion. It looks like I have a very good chance. There were only a few other applicants and of them, I have the best arrest record and the most practical experience. The promotion will get me the command of my own riot unit instead of my being lent out to other squads as needed. Instead of Captain, I'll be joining Genichirou as a DI. However, I will wait and see. But I really do have a good feeling about this. I'll know in a week or so.

It's nice to be away from the desk again. I missed being out there. It's still too damn cold, but if being stuck behind a desk is the alternative, I'll choose freezing any day of the week.

There's a lot of street work to catch up on. Violent Crimes is always a very busy place. As much as I wish it wouldn't be, it does give me a lot of work.

I've also been hearing rumors in the station. There are some promotions coming up throughout various departments. Mine might be one of them. I'll find out Monday. If my department is one of them, there will be promotion paperwork to fill out for myself and anyone else shooting for higher positions. I think this will be a piece of paper I'll gladly fill.

I cannot comment on open cases, but suffice to say I'm going to be very busy for a while. A very very long while.

That being said, Okinawa was wonderful. I am so happy I got to go even if my sister refused to acknowledge my existence. I have some really nice souvenirs for my friends. I'll send you yours soon, Tetsuya.

It was nice to see my sensei too. It was amusing to watch him kick Genichirou's ass after he handed me mine. He's still got it, even at his advanced age. Though he could have not shown him those pictures from my childhood Shimoji told me about a world martial arts tournament in April. He asked if I would represent his school in the tournament. He's one of the four living masters of Tomari-te. It is an honor for me to do this for him though it means I'll need to train more.

Between work and training, I'll be very busy. In fact, breaks over. Back to work.

It's good to be home. The smell of the salt in the air. The warm breeze through the jungles despite the chill of the morning air. It's truly a magical place. I feel fortunate that I could come back here.

This is the view that greeted me this morning for my morning Kata


I think I'll visit Shimoji Sensei today. I might have to translate for him if he chooses to speak Uchinaguchi with us.

Then I might see about a boat so we can visit the island where I was born. I think Genichirou will like Iriomote island. It's untouched wild jungle filled with hidden grottos and waterfalls and crystal oceans.

Happy Birthday, Tetsuya. Don't do anything I wouldn't do.

I don't care how hungry you are or how lazy you are that you can't pack your own lunch. You do NOT take mine. I hope you choke on it.

I don't know who you are. I don't know where you are. But I will find out eventually. I will find out and I will find you. And I will take great pleasure in killing you slowly.

I will kill you because you are a moron for stealing lunch from not just one, but two very dedicated police officers.

You have been warned.

COME AND GET IT.

Like the title says, I miss the sound of the surf at night. Instead, I get the sound of traffic and the white noise of my police radio in my place. I did a lot of work at on vacation and there is still more to be done. I am not looking forward to the end of the month. I'll have to ask around to find out what it's like here. I know what Halloween time was like down in Okinawa, with all those crazy GIs on leave.