Yuki looked down at Seiji on the ground, a little confused by the reaction. “You’re a strange one. You’re the first one I’ve beaten that actually smiled afterward. You some masochist?” The helping hand remained extended out to Seiji.

It was the first time that Seiji looked with his eyes unclouded. He saw nothing in Yuki’s face, just another person. Yuki held no judgment or even an interest in the personal matters that plagued him. It was simply pure. (It should be noted that this is a flashback generated entirely from the memories of Seiji and as such, there are likely distortions in the facts.) Seiji sat up still nursing his pain from his ribs. “No, I just saw something.”

A flat expression came over Yuki in response to Seiji. “I’m not that sort of guy.”

“Neither am I!” shouted Seiji. He coughed several times dealing with the sudden pain. “You don’t understand. It’s not like that!”

Yuki’s features returned to normal. “…whatever…”

“Dammit! You’re ruining the image!”

“I said I’m not like that!”

“And I said you’re mistaken!”

The two stared at each other for a while locked in their last position. They slowly calmed back down and remembered the situation. Yuki looked at Seiji. “You ever going to take my hand?” he said as a side comment. “I was right. You’re very strange.” When Seiji finally accepted the offer and stood up with the grin still emblazoned on his face.

Chapter 119 – The Birth of a Man

After his first meeting with Yuki, Seiji was never the same again. He had found a new purpose in his life. While he still fought, there was something different powering his fist. The rage he had disappeared. A new fuel replaced it. He had a goal.

Seiji stood over the unconscious body of a student from some school that he didn’t recognize. He held out his fist tightening it. “This ain’t it! I must find it!” Seiji turned around and walked out, forgetting about the kid he just pummeled.

The search that Seiji made lasted forever. It took him many opponents to finally reach the goal that he sought. So many scars and bruises, but he had it in front of him. He stood out in front of the gate of a junior high school that he didn’t recognize, even though he sought it. The goal was within his vision. It was near.

“I found it!” he declared with enough volume that everyone in the schoolyard heard him and turned. Seiji threw out his arm pointing it at Yuki, who stood leaning against the opened gate to the school. “It took me years and countless foes, but I’ve found you once again!”

Lazy and uninterested, Yuki cast his flattened eyes toward Seiji. “It’s been one week… You really are strange.”

“Time is meaningless!”

“Can’t understand it, huh?”

“Yuki! I’m sorry!” shouted a girl coming out from opposite of the school building. She closed the distance quickly without missing a beat. “The coach needed me to get the new list! I hope you weren’t waiting long!”

Yuki turned away from Seiji, but still kept the same attitude. “It’s fine, Saki. You ready?”

She gave him a quick nod and started for the entrance. When she caught sight of Seiji, she came to a stop. “Who’s this, Yuki? Someone you know?”

“Just a strange person.” Yuki gave Seiji no further thought and started walking out. “Let’s go, Saki.” He disappeared behind the fence, not waiting for Saki.

Seiji held a blank stare completely taken aback. Yuki ignored him. The goal that he searched so long for left without any acknowledgement. Some of the students murmured comments to themselves about the state of Seiji, but he didn’t hear them. He closed his fists and looked up to the sky. “I must have to prove myself! He won’t acknowledge me until I’m his equal! That’s it!” Upon his decision, Seiji ran off in search of Yuki. Unfortunately, he had no clue where to look for him and ended up wandering the town until the night came.

The following day he returned to Yuki’s school with the same determination. He challenged Yuki to a fight, which Yuki reluctantly accepted. The outcome remained the same as before and Yuki left Seiji no further in his progress. Similar meetings for them occurred continuously after school for several weeks. Seiji refused to see any differently in his path and Yuki gave him what he wanted.

However, one day on his way to meet with Yuki, something interrupted him. In his eagerness for another chance to prove himself to Yuki, Seiji didn’t see the arm that reached out to clothesline him. He dropped to the ground almost flipping in the process. His head smacked into the concrete sidewalk painfully. “…damn…what was that?”

Seiji looked up while holding the back of his head. The arm that knocked him flat reached down to pick him up and dragged him back to the alleyway. The stranger threw him to the other wall waking him up. When the older teen came for another blow, Seiji rammed his knee into his stomach, getting him to back off. “Who the hell are you?”

The rough boy stood much taller than Seiji and ground one hand into the palm of the other. “The big brother.” With no further exchange, another fist came at Seiji catching him in the lip. A little blood didn’t stop Seiji from dropping down for a tackle to slam his shoulder into the boy’s stomach. The older brother’s back pounded against the brick forcing a small grunt from him. It didn’t do enough to slow down the teenager. He gripped both hands together to slam down on Seiji’s back followed by a knee to his stomach as well.

Seiji lost his hold, staggered by the quick combo. He almost fell to the ground, but the kid didn’t allow enough time for that. Seiji’s face took another blow in the cheek flopping him around. Once he hit the dirty and moist alley ground, a foot came to meet his ribs. He only allowed a single strike to get through without response. Seiji latched onto the leg when he returned for a second kick with his arms. Momentarily grappling the leg, he threw his own leg up to kick him in the waist, trying to drop the boy.

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When Seiji’s leg came in, a loose grapple caught him as well. The two threw themselves into a strength check falling over, but Seiji came out the loser. His opponent kicked him free from him and Seiji rolled over against the wall. Seiji coughed and panted feeling the fatigue starting to build with pain. He threw himself back into the fight quickly taking swings at the taller boy. A few managed to connect, but Seiji’s face and chest received more. “…dammit…” he uttered under his breath, leaning against the wall.

It had been a while since he felt himself losing. His fights with Yuki always ended in a quick loss, but he never felt like it was a loss so much as a learning experience. Any other fight he had been in he came out the victor. It had truly been a while since someone left him completely outclassed and went the extra distance to prove it.

Seiji could only feel the pounding against his ribs from the ground, where he lied. He struggled to try to stand back up, but his strength disappeared. The beating he took gave him no quarter, as well. ‘…dammit, I can’t do anything!’ Then the echoed pulsing ceased through his body. Seiji turned his eyes up to see the sun shining down blinding him.

Only a black figure, shorter than the older brother, stood before Seiji. Seiji looked around painfully until he finally found the unconscious body of his opponent. He turned back to stare up again at the one that succeeded where he failed. “…Yuki…” rang Seiji, building a little grin on his face. It wasn’t a hope or a wish, but a certainty for Seiji. He rolled on his back, starting to see him more clearly.

“So you lost again, huh?” Yuki turned his head looking up at the sky, but continued to speak. “You know they say you learn something from losing too…or some crap like that… What did you learn this time?”

The soreness in his body faded away with the sight of Yuki. His goal stood before him. “To punch harder!” he declared, throwing up his arm to the sky.

Yuki knelt back down and stared for a moment in silence. “Figures you’d say that…” He offered his hand to Seiji, already halfway there. Seiji took the offer and stood up once more.

It felt lighter for him suddenly, but he didn’t know why. He glanced over at Yuki with a question. “Why’d ya come?”

“I didn’t…” Yuki replied, turning away his head to look forward, “I was simply passing by after school. I just don’t like people who beat up someone who's already lost.”

Seiji broke away from Yuki and jumped out in front of him blocking his way out of the alley. “I didn’t lose! He just caught me by surprise!” He threw out his arm pointing his finger at Yuki, as though it strengthened his argument.

“Honorable or not, a loss is still a loss regardless of how it happened. Just accept it.”

“A real man declares his intent before the battle!”

A low snicker came out from Yuki. He dug his hands a little deeper into his pants’ pockets. “A real man, huh? Are you claiming to be one?” Yuki leaned a bit forward managing to cast a fairly ominous shadow for not trying too hard.

Imposing or not, Seiji felt his determination waver a bit. “…no…” Seiji lowered his head with his face darkening out completely. However, his hands balled up into a fist and he raised his head back up. “But I will be one day! I promise you!”

Another chuckle came from Yuki. “Strange indeed. Well, if you plan on being a real man. Then a real man admits when he’s lost and owns up to it. A real man doesn’t run away from it.”

Seiji staggered, having not thought about that angle. He held his reply to stand in silence taking it in. The truth that Yuki spoke sank into him and struggled with the thought. “I lost?”

“Yes, you did.”

“…I lost…”

Yuki patted Seiji on the shoulder and passed by him. Once he reached the end of the alley, he stopped, still not facing Seiji. “However, when you stand together with those you trust…” Yuki began walking away hearing the call of Saki in the distance. “…you never lose.”

The words barely made it to him, but Seiji engraved them upon himself. “I’ll never lose? Together?”

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A painful breeze blew over Seiji, lighting up all of his wounds. The searing pain was enough to wake him back up from his daydream. He coughed in response while trying to bite back from being overwhelmed. ‘So strange remembering that now…’ Seiji looked up from his uneasy perch and saw Miltiades holding off from an attack, no doubt cautiously trying to understand the new situation.

The shadow that held him let out a bothered sigh. “Even in your flashbacks you’re annoying and don’t make any sense. You wasted so much time on unnecessary background that you ruined the whole point.”

“Hey, listen here!” yelled Seiji, but he started to cough almost immediately after his words. Fresh blood dripped down his chin to remind him of his condition. Seiji forcibly calmed himself down a little (a surprising feat, maybe he’s learning). “I don’t want to hear any damn criticism from someone I don’t even know!”

Another sigh came from the shadow. It seemed that the shadow would become fatigued from annoyance sooner than combat. “You really are worthless. You haven’t figured it out yet. I’m not even masking my voice, moron.”

Seiji narrowed his eyes, forgetting his pain in the moment, suddenly remembering the snarky tone. “The little runt ninja-wannabe?”

Shade peeled back revealing Chiharu’s masked face with only her eyes visible. Even with only her eyes visible, the furrowed brow and pulsing vein leaked her mood. “I’d speak more carefully to the one that holds you.” Her shoulder suddenly gave away as well as the supporting arm. Seiji dropped off her and fell a short half meter before snapped back. Chiharu’s hand held onto the back of what remained of Seiji’s tunic.

More blood spurted out from his arm and chest. Seiji flailed his arms weakly, not wanting to face the jagged grounds of Miltiades’ field. “Alright, alright!”

Miltiades waited in expectation of a counterattack with the arrival of the new fighter. He knew nothing of their potential and the fatigue he felt made him reluctant to find out. However, he was either a supporter or rebel. They threatened the peace of Atlantis. As a threat, he had to do his duty in learning more.

‘The new one looks like a child, but the way they appeared… I didn’t even notice them entering my Field… If they are another MP user then the Captain needs data. I don’t know how much longer I can go, but I must!’ He straightened himself out on the top of the metal pole. Many of the poles disappeared to reduce mental fatigue.

A metal pole shot up at an angle for Chiharu and Seiji. The pole ran through the shadow at increased speed catching both off guard. Several more poles came up to join. Sparks flew as metal groaned in response to the clash. Miltiades watched closely trying to figure out the outcome, but his eyes widened suddenly. He felt a strange presence behind him, followed by a voice.

“I know you can’t understand me, but I think my intention should be clear. Retreat now.” Chiharu stood on the very same pole as Miltiades, her back to his. Barely enough room for air to pass through was all the gap she gave.

He felt a cold chill down his neck, the likes which only his Captain and drill instructor managed to instill. His eyes didn’t dare to turn or his head to confirm what he already knew. Both stared forward where he knew the two to be, at least he thought. ‘So fast! I didn’t even see the movement! What Law are they using?!’

“You’re in no shape for a worthy fight. Leave.”

Miltiades fought to keep his body from sweating. His eyes darted around looking through his Field for any other possibility, an illusion or feint. He caught his mouth opening when he found Seiji nearly forty meters away lying outside of his reach. ‘Is this real?! It can’t be! It must be a trick! I just have to figure it out!’ Miltiades unlocked his knees and loosened his body to spin around, throwing back his leg. When he completed his half turn, the space was empty as though nothing had ever occupied it. “Huh?”

“This is a pointless fight,” remarked Chiharu from behind Miltiades standing on the nearest pole. He turned back in response and she saw him fighting his surprise. Disappointed in him, she dodged with effortless ease as he came for her. She lightly bounced around the tops of the poles.

‘I can’t reach! I’ll just make them disappear!’ Switching tactics, he began to remove poles from Chiharu’s reach while continuing his offensive. However, Chiharu danced through landing softly on the length of the pole. ‘I have them now! My special gloves will give me the advantage!’ Miltiades, in his confidence, leapt out to strike at Chiharu.

She slid down the pole as one would a slide in perfect control of her body. He missed, but chased after her in his usual gliding fashion. When the moment came, he sent poles up from the earth to attack her.

Miltiades halted hanging on to the pole at the intersection. ‘Gone again!? Is it really an illusion?’ The feeling of someone behind him surfaced again and he knew. He spun around the pole making for Chiharu, but missed. She appeared behind him again leaning out from the nearby pole. Miltiades felt the cold sweat returning. A dark blade rested against his neck, close enough for him to feel the edge when he swallowed.

“I told you this was pointless. The fight’s mine. Now leave.”