YGP:Year 1 EN Text

**NOW: March 30, 2003; 11:34 A.M.
LOCATION: MooShu (Khotan Skyway) - Hidden Location**

The winds of MooShu blew ever so lightly. Not a day went by where the breeze was overwhelming to the inhabitants of the world. Though the skies looked like it was evening for the whole day, the temperature and climate was rather stable.

% ~ • ~ %

"So, when are we leaving?" said a younger adult man, about his early 20s.

"Kai, you know I can't understand that," said a woman back. She was about Kai's age, just a little bit younger.

"I know, sorry about that," Kai apologized. "I keep saying I'm gonna stop talking in Japanese like that and I keep on talking in it regardless; I need to stop doing that." He turned and looked at the woman beside him. She looked back at him, with a face he typically didn't see. Like he said something he shouldn't have.

"It's fine, Kai. Just... try to keep it to English."

"Yeah, sorry, Ariel. Didn't mean for that to come out as it did."

Ariel looked at him with a more confident look than before. "Don't worry about it. So, what did you say before?"

"I meant to ask when we were heading out," he answered.

"Out where, exactly?"

"Well, our baby is supposed to be born on April 3, so, we might as well just head to the hospital."

"Yeah, in a way, I guess you aren't wrong."

"I know it's still about 4 days off, but, better to be early to this than late, I suppose."

"True."

"So, off we go, I guess."

"Yep."

And Kai and Ariel headed toward the exit to their house, both eager for the moment that the next member of their family would finally appear.

**NOW: April 3, 2003; 7:32 A.M.
LOCATION: MooShu (Khotan Skyway) - Kita Dock - Sujimura Village - 1st Aid Hut**

Time passed, and then 2 doctors entered the room. Ariel was rather calm, and she was ready for their child to be born at long last.

"Aight, Ariel, it's out," said one of the doctors.

"And it seems like it's male," said the other.

The other doctor gave the ascertainment. "Yep. He's male."

"Well, Kai and Ariel Blake, his name?"

Ariel looked at Kai. Kai told him, "Kyle Blake."

"Aight."

The other doctor couldn't help but ask, "Any particular reason for that name? Just curious, is all."

"It's me and Kai's name put together," Ariel explained.

"It is, isn't it?" the doctor replied.

"Yes," Kai said.

"He's yours now; take care and raise him well."

"We will, and thanks again."

Kai and Ariel then left the hut a few hours after Kyle was born, and they departed for their home in Khotan Skyway. They were glad that their child was successfully born and alive, and they swore to raise him as good as they could.

**NOW: May 17, 2003; 5:10 P.M.**

**LOCATION: MooShu (Khotan Skyway) - Hidden Location**

Early evening. Ariel put Kyle to sleep, and left him in there so that he could rest. The two sat in their living room, pondering what to do, besides sit there and be rather bored to tears.

"Ariel, what you feel like doing?" Kai asked her.

"Ain't sure, Kai," she said back.

"In the mood to grab a little dinner?" he asked, sounding way too chill about himself.

"Yeah, sure, why not."

% ~ • ~ %

The two left their house and departed for a nearby restaurant. When they arrived, they were greeted by a younger hostess, but obviously not getting any younger by the second. Then again, nobody was.

"Can I get you people at a table?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am, that'd be nice, just 2 of us," Kai told her. On that note, the hostess led them to their table and seated them there. They had time to look over the menu before their waiter came by and took their order. The wait didn't last extremely long and they found themselves eating their food within minutes. As they ate, Ariel brought up something that was a bit of concern to her.

"Kai?" she asked him.

"Yeah?"

"You know how The Armada has been rather active around our areas lately?"

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I'm just worried. Kyle is at danger of them because we left him alone."

"Well, you do have a point. But, at some point, he'll have to be exposed to danger like that."

"Yes, but, at a month and a week? Really?"

"Uh..." Kai tried to think of a reply, but couldn't find one. He kind of felt embarrassed at the fact that they left Kyle all by himself. "I swear, he'll be fine.

"Oh, sorry. My bad. He'll be fine, I meant."

"Are you sure, Kai?"

"Uh... about 55%."

"Kai, I love you, but... come on... really?"

"Sorry. I'll take him with us next time."

With that, the two continued stuffing their faces with their food. After another 20 minutes, the two finished and then made their way out of the restaurant.

% ~ • ~ %

When the two finally returned home, they were greeted by two clockwork figures at their front door. They spoke robotically almost, threatening to kill Kai and Ariel both, right there on the spot, and if they refused, they'd kill Kyle. They didn't like either option, and Kai was half tempted to just punch both of them in the face. But he knew both of them were far more powerful than him and Ariel both combined. Ariel looked at Kai, and he looked at Ariel.

"I hate doing this," began Ariel, "but we have to die."

"True, Ariel," Kai said. "As much as we both hate it, we can't let Kyle die."

The Armada Marines got ever closer to them. "Any last words, weak souls?"

"N-- No, sir."

"No."

"Then take your last breath."

The two Armada Marines both grabbed Kai and Ariel by the arms, their grip on them enough to severly cut them down to their flesh. They both felt the incredible pain from their grasp on them both. The Marines withdrew their large bulwarks, the edges of the heads as sharp as the steel of the swords of samurais. With no hesitation, both of the Marines sliced Kai and Ariel down the torso. They both, almost in sync, yelled in pain and agony. The bulwarks sliced them down the back, causing them both to plummet in terms of HP. From Kai's 2,875, he then laid on the ground at only 163. And Ariel only had 204 out of her maximum of 2,885.

The Armada Marines then kicked both of them in their shins, and they yelled in even more pain. They loved this. They loved every moment of Kai and Ariel's suffering. Finally, without saying another word, Kai and Ariel bled to death, and their dead bodies

shattered into crystal shards, and those shards eventually vanished.

And the two Armada Marines walked away toward their ship, knowing that Kyle would die, having no one to save him.

Or so they thought.

**NOW: August 30, 2003; 4:37 A.M.

LOCATION: Valencia (Calabria Skyway) - The Machine Docks - Machine Control Room (3F)**

Kane laughed in joy, as he looked at his longest listing document to date, Last Mortals. It's a list of names that Kane or his army attempt to target and eventually kill. Kai Blake and Ariel Blake were both listed on there, in chronological order: Kai, then Ariel following after his name. He felt the delight and the satisfaction of being able to finally mark out their names. About 3/4 of the list was completely marked off.

"Kane, sir," said Rooke.

"Yes, Rooke? What have you for me this time?" Kane replied.

"Kai and Ariel Blake both died a few months back, as you well know."

"Yes! I was aware of that... and it's amazing news!"

"Well... I-- I have... some bad news."

"Of which is?"

"There's another child in their house, but he's too young to kill."

Kane banged his metal fists on his metal desk. "DARN!! Two die, then another appears." He groaned. "When can I just eradicate the whole Spiral?!?!"

"As far as killing people, you're already an expert at that, so, soon."

"Well, you do have a point there."

"The Grand Design seems like it's coming along well."

"Indeed it is! It's about 60% done. Hopefully by 2019 it will be ready to be put in full effect."

"Another 16 years, eh?"

"Yes, as much as I wish it would be done now, I must wait a bit longer."

"Why is that?"

"I must give the Pirates a chance to lure them into my trap: the pieces for the map to El Dorado seem ideal."

"What are you saying?"

"If I make these useless Pirates go after the 7 pieces of the El Dorado map, then it will buy me plenty of time to finish The Grand Design."

"Nice thinking, Kane."

"Yes! It will be most excellent!"

"From the way you're describing it, that may very well work."

"We say that, but DARN IT, I'M NOT PERFECT YET!!!" Kane aggressively banged his metal fists on the desk. "But, when I finally get to El Dorado, that will all change."

"You know, that desk cost us like 30,000 gold, be easy with the derned thing!!!"

Kane banged it even harder. "DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!! It's my desk, not yours."

"Okay, but if you break it, you're paying for a new one!"

"Yeah, good luck on that one, Rooke..."

Rooke walked off, then Queen walked in off the elevator.

"Yes, Queen?" Kane asked.

"I guess you know that Kyle Blake is a new one that we have to target now."

"Yes... but he's too young."

"They're never too young to eradicate, Kane, dear."

"You're right, but he seems... different. I'll let him grow up to be a middle-aged teen, then I'll kill him. He'd probably be a worthy kid to fight at that point."

"It might be something worth taking a part of."

"I'd love being able to fight a younger guy again. Male teens typically stand a rather well chance against me, if I'm being honest."

"Yeah, in a way, you aren't wrong, Kane."

"And he seems like he'll be one who could possibly be the perfect target to lure into my trap with the El Dorado map, and then I'll lead him and kill him with no remorse..."

"Yes... I like this plan, Kane..."

"I look forward to being the one who kills him, and the one who makes him lose it all... if he doesn't die before making it here.

"But he probably will."

(A/N: OK, it was probably bad, but, let me know. If it was bad, I might change this up a bit.)