(Sueka, I'm sorry.)

It's been three hours since I've left her at the apartment. I try my best to be honest, but to say that I'll get her involved in the events I'm currently stuck in was nothing short of a lie. I know that I'm getting hurt doing these things, but at least I know she isn't getting hurt in the process. I cannot let her get involved in such things, regardless of her strength. She and Hisashi are all I have left.

I am continuing my rounds in my designated area, this time in the Sakura Park modeled after the First Age Kinuta Park, for selling newspapers. Although my selling point is not as strong as some of the others', I tend to still make the quota with a little profit on the side. It seems that Yamiso is still a bit on edge when it comes to working with me. Something about him makes me think he doesn't see any promise in my fighting skills. But, I don't know what his expectations are, as I don't know anything about his organization.

"Get your newspapers here for artistic expression!" I shout out.

"Here's your chance to make some art that can sell!" Hisashi proclaims.

Ever since the incident at the school, Hisashi has suspended all classes until further notice. Although he seems well off, he still takes the time to help me sell my newspapers, free of charge. Now THAT'S friendship.

"Thank you for your patronage!" we both say as we sell the last copy.

Once again, Hisashi sells more than me. It sucks when you lack sex appeal, but I can't help it that I'm stuck in a cloak!

"Thank you very much!" I say to Hisashi.

"Don't worry about it." he replies, giving me the money he earned.

We choose to sit down on a nearby bench.

"How're the kids?" I ask.

"They seem to be fine, mostly, but I don't know about Mai's condition."

"I see."

I look at the sky.

Who is the one you see now?

Who is the one you seek?

"Hm?" Hisashi asks, listening to me.

Are they really different?

Will they save you when...

"Darn it! I forgot the rest!"

"Quite an interesting song you have there," Hisashi remarks.

"Hehe. Well, I just learned it recently. But even so, how does it go?"

Hisashi then looks up at the sky...

And begins to sing in the same style.

Will they save you when things look bleak?

Time is but an illusion.

For friends are always here.

Forget not those you've trusted.

To all, memories are so dear.

The world is but an illusion,

A dream which we are all a part.

But not matter how you see me,

You're real to me in my heart.

(He knows that song!?) I think in astonishment.

"That's all I know," he says to me.

"Is that so? Where did you hear it?"

"An...old acquaintance, if you will, used to sing this. According to her, this was an incomplete song. And the lyrics really weren't my thing, anyway."

"Was it a family song?"

"It's more accurate to say it was her own song."

"Her song?"

"Oren, much like the children I teach, everyone can sing at least one particular style of music. However, like a few of the children, almost everyone in their lifetime is encouraged to come up with their own song. A song that can allow them to utilize their rhime and express themselves to the fullest. This song was her own way of expressing herself. To be honest, I forgot about this song entirely until I heard you sing it."

Hisashi takes out his third of the star pendant that he made, with a small bell attached to it.

Kin! Kin!

It's nice to know that he seems to cherish it.

"I take it then that you have your own personal song as well, correct?"

"Indeed, I do. One that sums me up to a T."

"I'd like to hear it someday."

Hisashi then closes his eyes and sings in the same unknown style as the previous song.

As my words pass on the wind,

I stop to hear my voice.

Can I say my words, like my actions,

Are based on my right choice?

"These words," Hisashi says, "are what I requested that the song writer include in her song. She declined, of course, but it was worth a shot. 'Didn't fit the mood', as she put it."

"What was this woman like?" I ask.

"Let's see. Kind but emotionally burdened. Beautiful, but physically weak. She was one who had so many dreams of the future, but held herself back by things grounded in the present."

"She sounds quite sad."

"I wonder if things have improved for her by now. She should be old enough to be a mother at the very least, so a long time has passed since I've known her."

"Ah yes. I keep forgetting how old you are."

"Respect your elder, kiddo."

The two of us chuckle.

The sound of a siren is heard in the distance.

"You know," Hisashi remarks, "you have quite a good number of similarities, personality wise, with that woman."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"You think so?"

"Wish the two of you could meet. You'd get along quite well."

The sound of sirens gets closer, louder.

"YYYYYEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

And here comes another rally of protestors. This time, the rich have organized what remains of the police force and given them special equipment, like police cars, microphones, even music players in case they need to listen to songs that allow them to use their rhime. These objects are all First Age ripoffs, considering the fact that nobody in this age has been able to fully replicate First Age technology, so these must have been expensive. It's a pity that they're willing to dedicate money to these methods rather than fix the problem. The air crackles with camera flashes.

"DOWN WITH ECONOMIC TYRANNY!!!"

"SPREAD THE WEALTH!!!"

"JOBS, NOT BLOODSHED!!!"

"DO THE RICH SHED BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS!? NO!!!"

The people flood the park to the point that Hisashi and I are surrounded. We get pushed back and forth until we cannot see one another.

"GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I hear a few people scream.

In a matter of seconds, a few protestors emit large quantities of rhime from their bodies, causing their powers to go out of control. The police round up some of the protestors amidst the confusion, probably for questioning, while the remaining members of the force try to subdue the rampaging crowd.

"Oren!" I hear Hisashi yell.

I look in his direction and see him...being dragged away by a policeman!

"Get away from my friend!" I yell, furiously pushing through the crowd.

Unable to squeeze through the throng, I choose to use some rhime.

(Soul Conversion 5...BEAT!!!)

With this energy, I quickly jump over the entire mob and land directly in front of the policeman just before Hisashi is forced into the police car. With my one good arm, I pull the policeman away from the car and yank Hisashi from his hands.

"Don't interfere!" barks the policeman.

More policemen begin to surrounding us, but I fight back. I refuse to let the rich take away my friend! Especially considering that many of them are like Darius, the man who played a part in me losing everything!

A few meters behind me, I hear the snap of a gun being loaded.

"OREN!!!" Hisashi yells.

I stop when I hear his voice. A bad move. I'm quickly pinned down by a group of policemen.

"Don't hurt him!" Hisashi shouts. "Please don't hurt him!"

I stop struggling, and the policeman preparing to shoot me puts his gun away. We are loaded into the car. Where we're going isn't certain, but I can guess.

In a few minutes, we arrive at the main office of the rich. The place where Crystal works, to be precise. Many of us are brought to the lobby, then go into the elevator in small groups, one after another. What I'm wondering is why they aren't throwing us in jail.

After a while, it's our turn. Hisashi and I, along with a poor middle-aged woman, are brought into the elevator. We go up to the 16th floor. When the door opens, the cops bring us to the reception desk. It would seem Crystal is not on duty right now. After the secretary finishes finalizing some things I didn't catch, we are taken into the next room.

The room is practically made of gold. The ceiling. The chandelier. The pillars on the side. It looks more like some treasury described in a fairy tale than an office! And the fancy, hand-carved wooden table and chairs definitely add to the design.

"State your names," one of the older rich men orders.

The three of us stay silent.

"Speak!"

"Now, Mr. Dives," one of the younger rich men says, "try to be more polite."

"Why should I, for these lowlifes!?"

"I'm sorry for what he has said and what he will say," the oldest rich man alongside the younger one states.

"Your names."

After a tense pause, Hisashi speaks up.

"I am Hisashi Turbulent."

"Me llamo Oren Tsurai." I say after him.

"Lucy Hara."

"State the purpose of your actions." Mr. Dives requests coldly.

As soon as Mr. Dives says this, Lucy walks up to the table and slams her hands onto it.

"We demand equality in the economic system! The instability has caused starvation and suffering of thousands of people! While you are here, arguing amongst yourselves with mouths full, we are barely scraping by on crumbs! We are protesting because...!!!"

BACHI!!!

Almost instantly, the bodyguards in the room place three suitcases on the table. They snap open each one, showing large wads of cash. Well..."large" by our current standards. I see what they're doing. Bribery.

"The money is yours, if you stop protesting. More will be provided if you stop others, too."

In a split second, Lucy grabs a suitcase, bows in thanks, and leaves. How quickly she was swayed! I look over to Hisashi.

"Neither myself nor my friend here were participating in this rally."

"Is that so?" one of the other rich men asks.

"Regardless of our situation, I cannot take this money," Hisashi says.

"A model teacher to the end," sneers another man. "Trust me, your name and your reputation precede you. How about this. Instead of bribery against the protests, how about consider this payment to improve your educational system. Perhaps one that could result in greater appreciation for our endeavors."

"Bribery is still bribery."

"You really are in no position to negotiate."

"I cannot take this money."

The cocking of guns is heard around us.

(Damn! If only I had a sword!)

"Now guys," the younger one from earlier states, "this is getting a bit too extreme! Let's just hear them out, okay!?"

"The poor all say the same thing."

"And you'd think what they say would get through those thick skulls of yours. Or at least through your thick egos!"

"Silence, Inigo!!"

And with that, another argument ensues. The guns remain locked on us, so all we can do is watch them argue. The sight is actually quite pitiful. Is this all they've done this whole time?

"ENOUGH!!!!" Mr. Dives yells at the top of his lungs.

After silence returns, he gets up from his seat and points to us.

"Take the money and go! And make sure you discourage any more revolt!"

The bodyguards slowly approach us, guns drawn.

"Hisashi made my viewpoint clear!" I protest. "We don't need your...!"

"Then I'll take both," Hisashi says.

"What!?"

"If you don't want yours, I'll take both."

This causes everyone to stop in silence. That is, until Mr. Dives speaks.

"So, even those of the poor with high moral standards are easily swayed by the almighty mesure. How predictable."

(Why you!!!)

Hisashi stops me by putting his hand on my shoulder. He then snaps the suitcase shut, takes them, and the two of us turn to leave.

On the way out of the building, we face many angry protestors ready to mock us. They point at Hisashi and yell that he is a sell-out with no moral standards. Now I know why Hisashi took both. Even though it has ruined his reputation, the fact that I don't have a suitcase means that I'm not a target of the scorn. By sacrificing his reputation, he has saved mine.

We leave the area of the protest and arrive back in the vicinity of the newspaper printing building. Many of the boys show signs of hate towards Hisashi, but at least they don't hate me. I wish I could help Hisashi, but what can I do?

As we walk by the newspaper building, two more policemen arrive at the entrance in their police car. As soon as they get out, they begin to question the boys.

"We have information that this newspaper is printing articles encouraging protests. Until proven otherwise, we must ask you to vacate the premises and allow us to conduct a proper search."

All the boys object loudly, many with some choice words.

"Very well then, let us through!" a policeman says.

"You'll slow down our business doing this!" a boy with dark colored skin says. In First Age terms, I think he'd be considered African.

"We're struggling to survive as it is!" another boy, this time with a French accent, proclaims. "Don't make us suffer ever more because of suspicion!"

The policeman slaps the boy across the face.

"Little brat!" barks the policeman.

With this, some of the boys back up in fear. Some in front continue to protest, but each one ends up getting knocked back.

"Too much..." says Hisashi.

(Hisashi? Are you okay?)

"This is too much!"

For the first time in my life, I've seen Hisashi angry.

He drops the suitcases and gets between the policemen and some of the boys.

"STOP AT ONCE!!!"

"Get out of our way!"

"You have no the right to abuse children!!"

"The will of the upper class is the will of New Vegas' law. We are just following orders."

"And if the rich ordered you to kill these kids, you'd follow that order as well!?"

"We're just trying to survive, like you!"

"THAT'S IT!!!"

(Seeing Hisashi like this is scary. It's like he's a whole other person!)

Hisashi performs a low sweep-kick, tripping both of the policemen. One attempts to capture Hisashi, but he quickly grabs their hand, spins around, then launches them into the wall. In a matter of seconds, the boys start tying up the policemen. After seeing their handiwork, some of them seem to hesitate.

"What have we done?"

"We're going to get in trouble!"

I look to see Yamiso in the corner, silently watching the spectacle.

"EVERYONE!!" Hisashi yells out.

All the boys get quiet.

"The fault is not yours. You cannot blame yourselves for standing up for one another. You've worked so hard, yet we've all suffered at the hands of those who have never lifted a finger, other than to point at and mock us!"

"The grown-ups are struggling to get things done," one of the boys says. "What can we do?"

"Strength in numbers! You have the power! You are this city's future! You must decide when the time is right to become independent! To become men! And now, with the future in your hands, now is a good time to show that you, the citizens of New Vegas, are just as important, if not more important, than those who abuse their power!"

Hisashi snaps opens the suitcases.

"See this!? This is how the rich handle things! Bribery! Lies! Deceit! The thought of carrying these things is nauseating! And I wasn't the only one forced to do this! Do you want your futures to be corrupted this way!?"

"What can we do?"

"STRIKE!!" I hear Yamiso yell.

There is a silent pause, but then Yamiso again yells, "STRIKE!!!" Hisashi joins in, and so do I!

"STRIKE!! STRIKE!! STRIKE!!"

Amidst the group of boys, some begin to play the harmonica. And Hisashi starts to sing.

Who ever said we have to live like this?

Who ever said we cannot decide our fate?

Why should we only take what we're given?

I'll tell you now, that isn't living!

We have a right to a future!

We have a right to be free!

Freedom of speech, freedom of expression,

What's it gonna be!?

"STRIKE!!!"

I join in on the song, in the same style as Hisashi.

Who ever said money's all there is?

Why can't we get a break?

Who says we cannot ever win?

Why betray friends for your own sake?

We have a right to a future!

We have a right to be free!

Freedom to speak, freedom to sing,

What's it gonna be!?

"STRIKE!!!"

During the song, a few newspaper boys change the contents of the newspapers and distribute the new copies among the others. They all look at the headline and cheer. In a matter of seconds, we're all marching out the door, singing in unison.

May all ears hear us!

Listen to what we have to say!

We all exist, we will change today!

Don't leave us out!

Life ain't no game!

We're all living. Aren't we all the same?

Our future will shine!

We will change our fate!

We'll shape history before it's too late!

A few blocks down, we begin to attract the attention of some of the adults. Many of them start off staring, then join our march. Yamiso moves to the front and begins his own part.

If patrolmen mess with us,

What will we do!?

"STRIKE!!!"

If our elders quit the fight,

What will we do!?

"STRIKE!!!"

Get a thousand children singing,

Who will hear some fat men's woes!?

Our song the whole world knows!!

By this time, nearly all of the lower class of New Vegas, including some of those "bought out," have joined in on our march towards the rich men's building. Some of the large screens on buildings scattered across the city suddenly change to Mr. Dives speaking directly to us.

"Stop this at once!" he barks.

Many other orders follow, but none stop us from marching.

"Hisashi, you bastard!!" we hear him say over the televisions.

"Alright, that's it!!"

As soon as we get to the entrance of the building, the remaining members of the police force prepare a barricade with a large cannon-like object connected to a giant electric tone crystal in front.

"Stop at once, or we will open fire!!"

At this, many of the marchers start to emit their rhime, creating different forms of protection, ranging from trees to thick layers of ice.

"Alright, you asked for it! FFIII...!!!!"

BANG!!!

At the sound of a gunshot, the crystal shatters. In an instant, the electric rhime inside of it shoots out in all directions, emitting thunderbolts at random and shaking the ground with a thunderous roar. The people behind me sound more angry than intimidated, shouting things like, "You've crossed the line!" and "Bribes were bad enough! And now murder?!"

As soon as the protestors are ready, many rush forward and clash with the policemen, who leave their collapsing barricade. The large quantities of many different rhime tones begin to dance across the city, creating a majestic display of anger and fear.

That is...until the ground absorbs all the rhime.

This unnatural phenomenon then causes the ground to shake. Also, all around me, people start to collapse. They're falling into a comatose state!? What in the!? I look over to Yamiso and Hisashi. Yamiso quickly creates his darkness wings to get to higher ground, but Hisashi seems to be getting weaker. Wait, but why am I not getting weaker? Well, whatever the reason, I rush over to Hisashi in order to...

"I won't let you interfere!" I hear a voice, MY voice, proclaim.

In an instant, Hisashi is grabbed, punched in the gut, knocked unconscious, then snatched away at my unnatural speed. Yamiso manages to toss something onto Hisashi that the fake me doesn't notice. I try to run after him, leaping over people, but I can't get through fast enough. I see Yamiso following the fake me. What do they want with Hisashi? Does this have something to do with Selot?

Whatever the case, I will get Hisashi back! No matter what happens to me!