Battle Three: Honor

…Kirisaki Eins (age 9) – Year 2093, July 28th

I ran down the concrete stairs of the hill, quickly descending the slope at a dangerous speed.

Behind me I could hear my chaser's footsteps, quick and light.

"Stop, Kirisaki! Wait!" It was Jocelyn's voice, beautiful as always, yet wavering and fearful. "Please, I can explain!"

"There's nothing to explain!" I snapped, continuing to sprint down the steps. "You said we would play together in the meadow, but you spent your time with that guy! I understand now!"

"No, Kirisaki! It's not what you think!"

"You've found someone to replace an idiot like me! You can be happy with him now!"

"Kirisaki – ah!" The distinct sound of breaking cement caught my ear, and as I turned around my vision was dominated by golden strands, flying through the air, wild and uncontrolled.

Flump.

…Kirisaki Eins (age 12) – 8:41

I woke up in that place – lying on the cement ground before the meadow, staring up towards the sky. The stars still danced, and showed no signs of retreating behind the sun's veil anytime soon. Yet this time, my head pointed towards the hill and its stairs, while the grass lay before my feet.

"You're awake," as I sat up, I turned to face the girl I had just mistaken as Jocelyn, kneeling on the ground beside me. Her voice was almost like Jocelyn's – beautiful and musical. Yet it seemed so much more calm and relaxed, as if she had not a care in the world.

Dawn materialized in front of me, asking, "Are you alright? You passed out for a few minutes,"

As I rubbed my shead, I silently nodded.

"Kirisaki…that's your name, right?" As the black-haired girl spoke, I suddenly noticed how pretty she was. As I stared at her soft, delicate eyes and calm expression, my face began to heat up.

"Oh my, are you okay? Your face is turning red – do you have a fever?" She leaned forward and placed a hand on my forehead, and as my cheeks flushed, I quickly drew away.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," I stammered, rather surprised at her care for a stranger. "Y-you don't need to worry for me so much, I'm nobody…"

"I don't think so," she quickly interjected but suddenly withdrew, as if embarrassed by her exclamation. "Your PartNet told me about you…"

Dawn flitted around as she said, "I told her about your memory loss. She thinks you're pretty amazing, continuing to live after you've lost someone so important to you,"

"Really?" I asked, and the girl nodded, looking at the ground and refusing to lift her eyes. "I'm not really special…after all, I did cause Jocelyn's death…and I deserve everyone's hatred for that…"

"Jocelyn…was she nice?" the girl asked once more.

I closed my eyes, nodding my head and smiling. "She wasn't just nice. She was passionate, caring, selfless, and always loved others. She never got angry, and always smiled. It was as if she was an angel from heaven or paradise, and had come down to Earth to bless this world…maybe she was fed up with me and decided to go back to heaven? It makes me wonder sometimes…" I chuckled and continued, "She was a pro Cyber-Battler…I would always watch her train. I decided to follow her footsteps and become a Battler, too…"

"What's you're ranking?" my black-ravened companion asked.

I smiled sadly and whispered, "Out of Ciras City's seven-thousand and fifty-four Cyber-Battlers, I've been ranked five-thousand and one. Pathetic, aren't I?"

"Kirisaki, you need to stop reminiscing! Look at the time!" Dawn suddenly shouted, and I glanced at my Projector. The screen read: 8:43 P.M.

"It's past my curfew!" I exclaimed, scrambling up and running towards the stairs.

"Um, I can help you get stronger!" I turned around to face the black-haired girl once more. "I-I know someone who's a very good battler – he's ranked one-hundred..."

"Really?" I exclaimed, dashing forwards and grasping her hands in mine. "You'd do that for me?"

Surprised at my enthusiasm, she nodded slowly, and suggested, "Let's meet at the entrance of the Cyber-Battle Mall tomorrow at ten. Is that okay?"

"Yes! Thank you! I have to go home, but thank you! I'll see you tomorrow!" I turned and began to run up the stairs as Dawn followed, when suddenly, I turned around. "Oh, right. What's your name, and ranking?"

"My name?" she responded as if my question was strange. Embarrassingly, she answered, "Melody…Halya. My Battling rank…well, I don't have a PartNet.

"No PartNet? Must be lonely," Dawn murmured.

"Ok then. See you tomorrow, Melody!" I quickly waved and began running up the stairs, with Dawn flying by my side. As we reached the hill's summit, I turned back and gazed upon Melody, standing in the meadow and glowing in the golden light. When she waved kindly, I thought, she's so nice…just like Jocelyn.

…Kirisaki Eins (age 12) – Year 2096, June 14th, 10:01 A.M.

"Crap, crap, crap!" I muttered, refraining from cursing and running past through the Leisure District, passing fellow citizens and PartNets as I made my way along the street.

"You aren't late very often, Kirisaki," Dawn noted, who was sitting on my head and relaxing.

"I know, I know! But that soda I had last night kept me awake!"

"Whatever. C'mon, pick up the pace!" she said energetically.

Dawn's enthusiastic? Why does she have so much energy? I thought, noticing Dawn's unusual spunk.

I shrugged and focused on the important matter at hand. "I'm late!" I exclaimed, leaping into a sprint and dashing through the streets while yelling, attracting strange looks from everyone I passed.

After figuratively murdering my legs and lungs, I slipped through the Cyber-Battle Mall's glass doors and whipped my head around, as Dawn did the same, both of us looking for Melody's distinctive, black hair.

"Kirisaki!" I suddenly heard Melody's voice from a floor above. As I looked up and saw her leaning on the glass guardrail, she kindly waved and smiled to me.

"There she is! Quick, let's go!" I dashed onto the nearest escalator and leapt up the automated steps, reaching the second floor in a manner of seconds.

"Tch," Dawn clicked her tongue. "What are you getting so flustered about?"

"She's a girl! If I make girl's wait, you'll eternally be indebt to them and your soul will be tied to them forever! That's what Jocelyn said!"

As I neared Melody I exclaimed, "I'm sorry for being late! Please do not tie my soul – ah!" My feet suddenly stumbled and I tripped flat on my face before Melody's feet, knocking Dawn off and into the air.

"Ow…" I moaned, rubbing my throbbing head as I stood up. As I opened my eyes, they locked onto Melody's and we both froze for a moment. Suddenly, she began giggling uncontrollably, doubling over with laughter and blushing at my comical scene.

"There's no need to laugh that hard," I mumbled.

"I'm sorry," she exclaimed, between fits of laughter. "It was just so funny!"

"So?" I redirected the conversation. "Who's this pro Battler?"

"He's the manager of the Mall!" Melody answered nonchalantly.

"Eh?" I was shocked. "The manager's only ranked one-hundred? Why didn't they choose a higher-ranking Battler?"

Melody smiled. "He's the highest-ranked Battler who's old enough by government regulations to work. Plus, he's managed the Mall so well that no one could imagine someone else running it! His office is on this floor, right over there," She pointed to a modest-looking entrance consisting of a wooden door with a small window at the top.

"Sure looks small," I muttered.

"C'mon!" Melody grabbed my arm and began dragging me towards the door. As we came into contact, sudden warmth flowed through my body, and I stopped for a moment, attempting to verify the feeling.

"What's wrong?" Melody asked, looking back at me. "Your face is red again. Did you get another fever?" Once again, she touched my forehead, signs of worry creased across her face.

"I'm fine!" I stammered. Melody smiled, and we began moving towards the wooden door.

When we reached the oak-wooden doorway, Melody knocked, and a deep, kind voice from inside answered, "Come in!"

Slowly, she turned the handle, pushing the door and leading into the manager's office.

Melody Halya (age 12) – 10:06 A.M.

The manager's office hadn't changed much since my last visit, which had been a week ago. The small room was about half the size of a training room, sparsely inhabited with a simple, wooden desk in the middle. By the far wall were three Cyber-Battling Capsules, standing in a short row and facing the door.

Sitting at the desk and busily writing on some documents was an aging youth, about eighteen years of age. Spikey, black hair, cut into a short cut was like dark hair, deep and endless like an abyss. His brown eyes were just like mine, the shade of hazel. The joy within them was supported by the kind, happy grin across his face, wide enough to reach from ear to ear.

He stood up respectfully to greet us. "Melody. You're visiting the Cyber-Battle Mall? This is such an uncommon occasion. When did you leave?"

"Just half an hour ago," I smiled at the man. "It's not that uncommon, Logan,"

As Logan reached out and rustled my hair, Kirisaki shifted.

"What is it?" I asked, turning to him.

"W-why are you two acting so close?" he stammered.

"We're siblings," Logan answered simply.

Silence followed, before Kirisaki exclaimed, "Melody, you're big brother is the manager of the Cyber-Battle Mall? That's huge!"

Logan barked with laughter, amused by Kirisaki's flustered reaction, before turning back to me. "So, what's the deal? Do you guys have a complaint or something?"

After shaking my head, I answered, "He wants to train in Cyber-Battling,"

Logan nodded understandingly, and he turned to Kirisaki. "Kiddo, what's your name?"

Kirisaki calmed down, and quietly answered, "Kirisaki Eins,"

Logan seemed to freeze for a moment, and before I could ask him what was wrong, he hurriedly continued, "You want to train, eh? What aspect of Battling, eh?"

Before thinking for a moment, Kirisaki answered, "I want to become strong so I can follow the footsteps of the one I loved most. So that I can carry on her memory, and make sure that her legacy will never fade from this world. I want to mark down her existence, not in stone, but in the vessel and expression of our emotions through Cyber-Battling!"

His eyes were blazing with spirit, and as I stared into the emerald gems, furious with energy, I suddenly realized that Kirisaki was no ordinary person. He had overwhelming willpower, and although he hadn't put it to use yet, he certainly could become very strong with it.

Logan chuckled, and grinned once more. "Alright, kiddo. I like your answer!" He pointed to a Capsule and said, "C'mon. Let's go!"

As happiness and joy washed over Kirisaki's face, his mouth split into a wide smile. "Yeah!"

Kirisaki Eins (age 12) – 10:08 A.M.

Despite the surprise I had felt when I learned that Melody and Logan were siblings, the map Logan brought me to had taken me aback even more. Its size was much smaller than any other map, about the size of a soccer field. Simple, grass fields covered the map, the green blades waving and looking like an emerald ocean. Cutting through the entire map was a wide river, its current strong and dangerous, splashing and ripping past the riverbank, showing any rock or driftwood no mercy as it picked them up for a ride. Sewing the separated land together was a large, wooden bridge built into the center of the map. Its large support beams stood strong against the current, and dirt paths led straight away from the bridge, drawing a line through the map. Yet the map's distinguishing feature was the multitude of sakura trees, planted one after another along the two dirt paths. With their beautiful, pink blossoms, they stood vigil over the bridge, as if they were its guards and would attack any who dared to pass.

Logan and I both stood on opposite sides of the bridge, silent as loose sakura blossoms were carried away in the wind, fluttering like birds through the empty air.

"Listen up, kiddo!" he called, his deep voice booming like a great, resounding gong. "I don't care what kind of weapons you use, but you'll never master them if you don't perfect the origin of fighting! Fist fighting!"

Logan's armor was highly unorthodox. Unlike the futuristic metal plating that most Battlers preferred, his featured several bulky edges that were definitely non-aerodynamic. Silver, leaf-like blades hung down from his shoulders, and the blue, chainmail-like armor around his waist eventually extended into a tunic. His boots were decorated with white, several, evenly lined bumps. A large, blade-like crest was drawn onto his chest of thin, metal armor, and his helmet featured three, golden sword-like fins, one on the middle, right, and left, forming a crown-like section. The most harrowing feature of his armor was the fact that his face was completely exposed, providing a rather large weak spot for the enemy to exploit.

"Your armor is pretty weird," I noted, and he suddenly launched into a long rant.

"Hey, kid, this armor is modeled exactly after the armor set my family has passed down from our samurai ancestor! Respect it, because this armor contains the blood and soul of the honorable warrior! Honor is my weapon as much as my sword is! Got that? Honor!"

"Honor?" I muttered skeptically. "Isn't Cyber-Battling technically war? What's the point of honor?"

Logan immediately put on a serious expression. "Listen, Kirisaki. Honor is extremely important in fighting, because it makes the battle worth fighting. If you win a battle against someone who's much weaker than you, there is no point. Fighting someone on equal or higher ground than you, however, provides not just a chance to prove your honor and courage, but it gives you a chance to hone your skills. Using every known trick in the book to defeat your enemies doesn't make it a battle fought. It will be an ambush that takes a long amount of time. Don't overwhelm your enemy, but provide him a challenge enough that he can fight you fairly. That's honor, Kirisaki. Fighting fairly with someone so the battle is worth fighting,"

"Also…before we start, I need to apologize,"

"For what?" I asked.

"Three years ago…" I suddenly tensed up. "Jocelyn Silya died. I was the one hanging out with her before she went to see you," An intense image suddenly flooded through my mind as I saw Jocelyn clinging to Logan, both of them laughing and smiling. "I want to say that I'm sorry for delaying your time with her. If you hate me, I'll understand. You have your reasons,"

I grinned. "You're being stupid,"

"What?"

My eyes flashed with confidence and spirit. "I could never hate you. When I saw you with Jocelyn, she looked so happy. I don't remember how happy she was with me, but seeing you two together made me see the joy you gave her. I could never hate you because of that,"

Logan closed his eyes before smiling. "Such an honorable answer,"

I chuckled. "I'm getting the hang of honor, already!"

"Now c'mon!" Logan shouted energetically. "We're going to fight only with our fists!"

I blinked once more. "What?"

…Melody Halya (age 12) – 10:43 A.M.

When the boys exited the Capsules, Kirisaki began to pester Logan, complaining about certain instances where he had taken him completely by surprise.

"Man, where did you learn those techniques?" Kirisaki moaned, scratching his head.

Logan chuckled, rustling his hair in a friendly manner.

He only does that to people who are special, I suddenly thought, staring at the scene with wide eyes.

"Well? What did you learn, Kirisaki?" Logan asked, sternly looking at his pupil.

"I always need to keep moving, no matter the situation. My weapon might not always be my weapon, because the enemy might obtain it. A weakness is also a strength,"

"And?" Logan pressed, waiting for the most important answer.

"Always fight with honor," Kirisaki answered, confidently smiling at his mentor. "Always fight fairly to make the battle worth fighting,"

As the two Battlers stared into each other's eyes, I noticed that something new was in Kirisaki's face – a certain kind of passion and care, merciful yet willing to strike with justice.

He certainly is strange, I thought, smiling.

"Come to think of it, is there someone you want to beat, Kirisaki?" Logan asked.

Kirisaki froze for a moment, lowering his eyes towards the floor.

"Jonathan Silya," he mumbled.

…Logan Halya (age 18) – 10:45 A.M.

When I learned that Kirisaki was planning to battle against Jonathan Silya, I decided to break the rules of confidentiality and release of information regarding Cyber-Battling tournaments.

"There's a Battling tournament coming soon. It'll occur on July 28th. Use this remaining time to train as much as you can, and during that tournament, defeat Jonathan Silya! I know you can do it, Kirisaki!"

I sighed as I sat at my desk, and I spun my office chair to rest my gaze upon the three Capsules behind.

Jocelyn Silya and Kirisaki Eins…I thought, before smiling. Honor.