The Iron Rose: The Fallen

The Free and The Caged

Chapter 11

Kaname wanted to say something, but he didn't know what. The knot in his stomach was back and growing bigger. His heart sunk when Moritani looked at him. A look of worry flashed across Moritani's face, but quickly faded. A wave of relief rushed over Kaname because he was still the same Moritani even if he hated Kaname.

Once everyone was in line, they took roll and Commander Knile began, "Those of you who are here are the ones who didn't want to cower away in the mines. You wanted to fight for your freedom, for your people, your rights! Is that true? Or did you not want to be teased for being a coward because if that's the case than leave now. If you have no will to fight, then get out now and there will be no punishments. But just know, the Kyuba could kill your families, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, and it would be your fault because you were too afraid to fight." No one moved. No one said a word.

"Good, no one wants that burden on their hands do they?"

"Sir, no sir!'' Everyone said shakily.

"Excellent!" Commander Knile said as he clapped his hands together and flashed smirk of utter joy.

"Now that that's over..." His smirk disappeared as if it was never there. "When the entercoms call your name go through this door and sit in the chair in the middle of the room. From there, Doctor Hishiro will tell you what to do."

He disappeared into the room for a few minutes and when he finallye came back they started calling names. One by one they entered the room and were only in there for a few moments.

They finally called Kaname into the room and he hurried to the door making sure never to break posture or stride. Back tall, even out your steps, steady your breathing.

The room was lit dimly by a ominous red light. He sat in the chair and stared worriedly at the women in the chair. She wore a lab coat over a dress and flats as black as night.

"Hello, My name is Sandra Hishiro. You must be Kaname." Sandra said as she smiled.

"Hi, umm, what exactly are we doing in here. I know there is going to be needles but what else"

"Well, basically what this will do is decide what regiment you are going to be in based on your response to a real world sim of what might happen on the battlefield."

"Oh, does it hurt?"

"A little bit, but not much."

She proceeded to stick the needles in the left and right side of his forehead. He felt blood run down his cheek, warm and thick.

"Alright I'm going to plug these wires into this machine and it's going to feel like a long time, but the sim only lasts a few seconds."

"Ok," Kaname said through groans.

All of the sudden, he wasn't there anymore. He was in a field, the wind blowing in his hair. A Tsurugi had appeared around his waist. He nearly screamed when he noticed the black figures consuming the ground surrounding him. He drew his sword and got in his ready position. His breathing was unsteady and his arms were shaking, but he stood his ground.

He felt the sun beaming down on him, hot and bright. Sweat was running down his face and he could feel the sun slowly cooking him. As the figures drew close, he noticed they had no figure unlike reality. They were just mists in this sim, maybe to make it more challenging, whatever the case it wasn't accurate. It was going to be difficult, but he was not going to let a sim of all things keep him from joining The Iron Rose.

He drew his Tsurugi and charged towards the shadowy figures at full speed. His sword colliding, rough and suddenly, knocked him back, catching his balance and maneuver swiftly to land solid footing. He struck again, his movements strong and swift, this time cutting deep into the shadow and splitting it in two. The disfigured shape dispersed, spraying Kamane with a thick layer of black slime. He charged again striking three of the figures, once again raining down more black slime.

Chapter 12

"What's the hold up in here?!?!" Commander Knile asked.

It had been almost a minute since Kaname went into the sim. Most people had died after a few seconds, so Kaname had lasted the longest of his squad by far.

"He hasn't been released from the sim yet, sir!" Dr. Hishiro said

"What?" Commander Knile was shocked. The only other people who lasted this long were members of the Council.

The Council were the leaders of the city. They decided what parties were allowed the maps to get through the intricate mazes leading to the surface. Without the maps, any man who went in there would get lost and eventually go mad.

Even outside of the sim, Kaname was sweating. The sim made your mind think it was really happening, therefore making your body react. If he hadn't been told prior, Kaname wouldn't have any idea it was a sim. His mind would've made up a story of how he got there and why he was alone. Some people make up a story that everyone else deserted and they refused, others think there team was killed and their body taken by the Kyuba.

"I..I must report this to the council." Commander Knile stuttered in shock.

"Wait! Shouldn't we see how long he lasts and what he is capable of before we report it? What if it's just a glitch? It's happened in the past, remember?" Doctor Hishiro said worriedly. She had some sympathy for the boy.

Any member of the council was not allowed to have any family, friends, or anybody close to them. They were not allowed any social life and had to be professional every second of everyday. Some members of the Council realized their capability in adulthood, but most realized this as a young child. Those who did, were trained to be alone and calm. They were raised like this. They lacked the human part of them who need contact with others. They don't require the one part of them that makes them human and that makes them the strongest people in the world.

They couldn't believe what was happening. They were hoping it truly was a glitch and they were wondering if he knew of his gift. Most people know because they feel different of unwanted. Some people fear that they may become a member of the Council and others dream of it.

Chapter 13

The field was clearing and he was exhausted, but he was winning. Yeah, he was winning! He took a step back to register how many of the shadowy figures were left, about 20. He fought on, launching himself off the ground and lodging his Tsurugi into the center of the shadowy figure. He pushed back unlodging the blade and swinging the sword at the figures surrounding him, taking down 7 total.

Backing off again, he landed in a creek, the cool and refreshing water splashing on Kaname's face. He was struggling to breathe, and his chest was burning. He ran towards the trees to get higher ground and the advantage. He started to use trees right next to each other to wall jump, and to his surprise it actually worked. As the figures copied his movements he lashed his Tsurugi at the shadows. One by one he killed them and with each death, a smile grew on his face. As the last one sprang towards him, realized he was on the edge of the tree branch. If he took another swing it would force him back, causing him to fall Off the branch and even he couldn't land that fall.

Chapter 14

"How can this be happening!?!?" Commander Knile screamed.

"I don't know, sir." Doctor Hishiro said in a worried voice.

"Aren't the scanners supposed to pick up on the gift at birth?"

"Yes, but here's the problem, He wasn't born underground. His records say that you were the one who saved him from the darkness."

"Wait, that was him?!?! They told me that he was going to be a miner, so I never realized that this was him. Plus the fact that I've never fully sat down with him and had an actual conversation."

"Why would they lie that he was going to be a miner?"

"Maybe they decided that he was better fit for combat."

"Maybe..."

Chapter 15

Moritani was growing worried. Kaname had been in there for a long time and Commander Knile had joined him and the doctor in there. Now all he could hear was muffled screaming through the brick walls of this god forsaken place. Was Kaname in some sort of trouble? Was he hurt?

He couldn't bear the thought of loosing Kaname after being in that fight, but he knew there was nothing he could do. If there was anything he wanted to do to help Kaname, it have his back on the battlefield. If he didn't, than no one will.