We Are Fighters

Episode 1: The Graceful Ruler of the Ii Clan

Guys, I don't think she will wake up.

So what else do we do?

Do you think she's dead?

Don't be an idiot. She can't be dead.

He's right, look at her. She's breathing, isn't she?

Everybody zip it, she's coming around.

Slowly, two pair of brown eyes began to open. The vision came across a couple of youths. One of them had shoulder-length blonde hair that nearly covered his blue eyes. He was wearing a red sleeveless undershirt, covered by a light-blue jacket (with a grey hood and grey sleeves and red headphones, around his neck) and also had on dark-blue jeans which the print "One Strike" on the right leg and red shoes with yellow laces.

?: Yo! Can you hear me?

?: Mmm…where…where am I?

?: In Hitomi's room. You had quite the accident. How do you feel?

The mysterious youth assisted the one that was in serious injury. The group of youths took a good look at her, seeing that she was wearing the strangest outfit. She was wearing ribbed shoulder armor and red lacquered armor. Her boots were also fitted with blades, and she also had a slightly flushed face. She had long black bottom length hair styled in a traditional hime cut with straight cut ends, straight bangs, and short blunt sidelocks that framed her face. She wore her hair in practical low loose pigtails that cascaded down her back, and wore various head ornaments and hair bands.

?: Can you stand?

?: I think so…

?: Easy now. One step at a time.

?: Thank you.

?: No problem. Which reminds me, introductions are in order. My name is Damion Douglas. These are my friends: Hitomi, Honoka, my little sister, Marie Rose and that over there is Yokoshi.

The stranger looked towards Damion's friends. Hitomi had a slender, athletic, and petite young woman of average height with a physically fit build. Although she seemed to have a Japanese outlook of heritage, Hitomi also had a more Western appearance than Eastern, overall: she had blue, yet almond-shaped Asian eyes and shoulder-length brunette hair, which is styled with long straight-bangs and a front fringe, normally pushed back with a pink headband. She was wearing a white tank top with a black bra, blue jeans, studded-sole trainers and a white jewel-studded belt.

As for Honoka, she clearly had the appearance of a Japanese schoolgirl. She possessed shoulder length salmon pink hair that was tied into a ponytail on the sids, as well as reddish eyes and somewhat tanned skin. She was wearing a navy-blue school uniform, dark blue glove on right hand with a winking skull and crossbones on the back, white blouse and a plaid skirt. Also...unlike Hitomi and Marie Rose, she possesses a significantly large bust.

Speaking of Marie Rose, she was the shortest, in the group, standing at only 4'10", with a small frame. She has blonde, waist-length hair that's held up in twin-pigtails with black ribbons and has light blue eyes. She was wearing a black jacket, grey bodysuit, white overall shorts with garters, striped socks and pink platform shoes. She appeared very childlike, and looked younger than her actual age.

And lastly, there was Yokoshi. He was wearing a black beanie, with a black hoodie (with the sleeves rolled up), light-black jeans and converse.

?: You…all saved me?

Damion: Well, actually, it was Yokoshi who found you. He brought you here and we waited until you woke up. And believe me, it was a pretty long wait.

The mysterious stranger looked at Yokoshi, who had his arms crossed, glaring at the newcomer. She walked over to Yokoshi, bowing in respect.

?: Thank you…for saving my life. I am forever grateful.

Yokoshi: Uhh…uhm…

Hitomi: Don't stand there, rude. Show her you are grateful as well.

Yokoshi wasn't sure on how to do that, so he simply looked at her, helping her to her feet. He struggled for a second but was able to get the words out.

Yokoshi: You're…uhm…you're welcome, I guess.

?: If there is anything I can do for you, please, let me know.

Yokoshi: You really don't have too…however…

The strangers head, lifted up, slowly, as the rest of the group grew curious.

Yokoshi: If you really want to repay me, how about you tell us about yourself. Who you are and where you come from. That will be payment enough.

?: As you wish. My name is Naotora, Naotora Ii. I am a mamber…and also ruler of the powerful Ii clan.

Damion: Ii clan, that sounds familiar.

Yokoshi: It's what we studied in history.

Honoka: Yes. I remember that.

Naotora: I remember spending time in the private spa. I was with Koshōshō and Gracia. We were talking about how they were going to make me prettier and fix my large hands…

Marie Rose: Make yourself prettier?

Honoka: Fix your…big hands?

Yokoshi: Low self-esteem, huh?

Damion: What happened after that?

Naotora: I…I…I don't remember. The next thing I can remember is awakening here.

Yokoshi: …

Damion: Well, that isn't enough to go on. But you are more than welcomed to stay here with Hitomi, until you gain a little of your memories back.

Hitomi: Yeah, you could stay here!

Naotora: Yes…thank you!

Damion: Alright then! We gotta plan.

Yokoshi: Then she stays here, until we go on from here.

With that, Yokoshi walked out of Hitomi's room and left, through the door. Just as he took that last step, off the stairs, Hitomu came running after him.

Hitomi: Yokoshi!

Yokoshi: What is it?

Hitomi: You do know we have school tomorrow, right? What will we do with Naotora?

Yokoshi: We'll take her with us. But she'll need a uniform, in order to blend in.

Hitomi: Right. Good idea. I'll find her something to wear. Thanks.

Yokoshi said nothing else and continued walking off. Back in Hitomi's house, Damion called his mother and informed her about the situation that he and his friend had been thrown into.

The Ii clan?

Damion: That's right, mom. She could be the actual ruler of the Ii clan.

That is impossible. She had died, long before our time.

Damion: I'm telling you, mother. She's the real deal. How else would she be here?

Hrm…I will have to see for myself.

Damion: Well, we'll be taking her to school tomorrow. Why not stop by a see for yourself.

Very well. We will discuss this more, tomorrow.

Damion: Alright. Goodnight, mom.

Marie Rose: What did mother say?

Damion: She doesn't believe me…for now.

Marie Rose: For now?

Damion: When she comes to pick us up, from school, she'll see Naotora for herself.

Marie Rose: Is it the best idea to bring her to school with us, tomorrow?

Damion: Well, we can't leave her in the house alone. It'll turn into a mess.

Marie Rose: Hrm…I guess you have a point.

Damion: Don't stress it, sis. We'll figure something out.

Back with Yokoshi, he finally made it home (thanks to a few cab rides, taking a boat from the city). Once he reached the dock, Yokoshi walked all the way to a small little house, on the beach side. Finally reaching the door, Yokoshi walked through, seeing someone asleep, while watching TV. There was no expression on Yokoshi's face, as he continued on, making it to his room. He crashed onto his bed and immediately fell straight to sleep. However, he wasn't the only one in the room. On the other side of his room, there was another bed, with someone sleeping in it. Naotora was finally sleeping, back at Hitomi's home. Hitomi just watched over her, smiling, seeing that she looked adorable.

Honoka: Do you mind?

Hitomi: Huh? Mind what?

Honoka: Her staying in your home.

Hitomi: of course not. Whatever we can do to help her, you know.

Honoka: True. But…how are we supposed to take her to school?

Hitomi: What do you mean?

Honoka: Well…look at what she's wearing. It will attract attention. And I believe Yokoshi said that we don't want that.

Hitomi: Hrm…good point. I might have an idea.

Honoka: Really? What is it?

Hitomi: You'll just have to wait until school. For now, we should get some sleep.

The next morning, Yokoshi was awake and getting dressed for school. Suddenly, there was a knock on his bedroom door. When it opened, a tall walked in. He was an African-American man who wore dark sunglasses with colored lenses that hide his eyes. He was wearing a black vest, black pants and a gold chain "Z" necklace.

?: Ready for school, kiddo?

Yokoshi: I guess so.

?: You'll do fine, ya hear me?

Yokoshi: Sure, dad.

?: But your mother and I will have work to do, on the island. So you'll know where we are.

Yokoshi: I got it, dad.

?: By the way…are those two awake?

The father pointed to the beds and saw that there was someone asleep in it, along with Yokoshi's bed.

Yokoshi: Dad, you know they're going to be here. They know to stay in here and on the island.

?: Alright then. We'll see you, after work.

With that, Yokoshi's father closed the door and left. Back in the city, Hitomi and the others were at the back of the school, waiting for Yokoshi.

Marie Rose: What's taking him so long?

Honoka: Marie, you know he lives on Zack Island.

Hitomi: She's right. It'll take him a while to get here.

Damion: True. But Yokoshi is also pretty fast.

Honoka: So how are we going to get in?

Hitomi: Leifang came here early and opened the back door for us. But I'd rather wait for Yokoshi.

Marie Rose: We may not have time to wait.

Down the street, Yokoshi was running on top of buildings, jumping from one platform to another. He seemed to be very skilled at it. As he was running, he was sending a message to Hitomi's phone.

Hitomi: Hey, it's Yokoshi.

Damion: What did he say?

Hitomi: He's on his way, right now. Something about taking a shortcut?

Marie Rose: Shortcut?

Damion: What kind of shortcut?

Hitomi: He said too…look up?

Damion and the others were looking around, trying to figure out where Yokoshi was. Hitomi looked in the sky and noticed something…someone jumped off the top of a building and began sliding down to the ground.

Hitomi: Guys! Look, up there!

The group looked in Hitomi's direction and they could see someone. It was Yokoshi, sliding down the building. Just as he was about to reach the edge, he took a great leap and grabbed on the edge of another building. As he climbed up the top, he began running, jumping to the top of the school building and landing on the ground, in a perfect parkour roll.

Damion: Now THAT is how you make an entrance.

Yokoshi: …

Hitomi: Glad you could make it.

Yokoshi: Is she here?

Marie Rose: Right over here.

Marie grabbed something from inside the box fort and it was Naotora Ii.

Yokoshi: Alright, let's get this done.

Hitomi: Right.

Hitomi opened the back door which led to a room where there was many school uniforms.

Naotora: What are we doing here?

Yokoshi: To not draw attention to yourself and to us, we need to dress you in proper clothes.

Honoka: Oh, now I see. This was your idea, wasn't it?

Hitomi: That's right.

Damion: Well, let's make this fast, so we can get out of here.

Yokoshi: Right. Hitomi, Honoka, Marie, get her dressed.

Honoka: Aye-aye!

Outside the backroom, Damion and Yokoshi were waiting for the girls to finish dressing Naotora in regular clothes. Yokoshi looked at his watch and they were running out of time.

Yokoshi: What is taking them so long?

Damion: The bell is gonna ring soon.

Finally, their luck turned around, when the doors opened and out came Hitomi, Honoka, Marie Rose and Naotora, whom was now in proper clothes.

Hitomi: Introducing the new Naotora Ii!

Yokoshi: Nice work. Now, you're going to be given a new name.

Naotora: Huh? W-Why?

Yokoshi: Relax, your last name will be changed. You are Now, Naotora Lee.

Naotora: Lee?

Damion: That way, no one will assume you are the actual Naotora Ii.

Yokoshi: The bell is going to ring soon, so let's hurry up and get back out.

Hitomi: Right.