Hi! Really fast, before we start, I just wanted to say that this short story was originally from my book of oneshots. So if you want to see character art, or my original author's notes, feel free to check them out in my "MLB Oneshots" book!!

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"A Tale of Fallen Heroes"

Chapter 1: Oranges and Roses

Kai swang the bamboo pole with practiced poise and form.

It cut through the air, nearing the target. However, at the last possible second, he used the move he had been rehearsing for the past hour; Kai stopped the pole, abruptly.

As he had willed it, the bamboo pole was within an inch of the target.

Relaxing, the young man straightened his posture, resuming his beginning stance.

The sound of a faint rustling reached his ears.

He turned to look over his shoulder at the figure next to the rose bush.

It was her.

The girl who never knew how stunning she was.

Who would never know how she floored him every time she walked by.

How she could light up a whole room.

Who would never know how much he loved her.

Laila.

Her long dark hair was loose around her shoulders and her bangs were swept to the side. In the light of the sun, her raven hair had a beautiful blue undertone to it; making Kai even more captivated by her. She donned a light pink kimono with a spring green sash. Her bright green eyes shone in the morning sun.

Her eyes had been one of the first things that drew him in.

He had only known himself to have green eyes, as they were an extremely rare trait in that part of the world.

But then again, her eyes were different.

They were lighter and of a purer color than his. Where he had a mix of a dark green and brown eyes, she had a pure green color. They shone brightly, never ceasing to make others smile and to lift their burdens.

Kai watched as the young woman picked a China Rose from it's bush; smiling softly as she touched its delicate petals.

Would she ever notice him? As something more than a friend or an acquaintance?

He could only hope.

"Oof!"

Kai quickly spun around, looking for the source of the sound that had interrupted his thoughts.

His gaze soon fell upon an older man, sprawled on the ground. A crate of oranges was damaged by his side; as it had taken the brunt of the fall, and the oranges were scattered across the ground.

Abandoning the bamboo pole, Kai rushed to help the poor man.

But he was not alone in this act of selflessness.

As he helped the gentleman to his feet, Laila had gathered the fallen fruits; dusting them off and carefully placing them in her basket of China roses.

"Are you alright, sir?" Kai asked the man.

Nodding, the elderly gentleman stood up, with Kai's aid.

He dusted his robes off and faced the pair.

Before he could say anything, however, Liana offered him her basket; filled with his oranges and her bundles of china roses.

"Your crate was damaged due to your fall; feel free to take my basket. It will serve you well and I don't need it anymore. Please accept the roses as a get-well gift!" her melodic voice was filled with sincere compassion.

Smiling gratefully, the old gentleman accepted the basket of oranges and roses.

He thanked both Kai and Laila for their assistance.

Before the man left, however, he turned to pair.

"Your good deeds will soon be rewarded. But you must be careful to continue doing only good works. For Karma will always have her way."

With that, the old man turned and walked away, basket in hand.

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Kai sat in his room, puzzling over the day's events.

It wasn't as if something abnormal had happened. But something felt different.

He couldn't figure out what it was.

Maybe he was just overreacting. Just because an old man mentions karma, doesn't mean that something drastic is gonna happen, right?

Right.

Kai let his mind wander. He smiled, fondly, as a figure took shape in his mind.

Laila; she'd acted so quickly when the old gentleman fell. And giving him the basket, including her own bundles of flowers...

Kai couldn't help but feel is breath catch at the memory.

A crack of thunder sounded outside, rattling the glass windowpanes and startling the young man out of his thoughts.

Sitting up on the chaise, Kai noticed the small box lying on his bed.

His eyes narrowed; zeroing in on the dark hexagon-shaped box.

He hadn't put it there....

In fact, he'd never seen the box before...

Where did it come from?

He grabbed the box and pried the lid open.

A flash of green light exploded of of the box--shooting into the air and hovering in front of Kai's shocked face.

He threw his arms over his eyes, to shield them from the bright light.

"Hey kid! Got any cheese?"

Kai jumped at the sound of the raspy high voice.

He looked around his dark room for the source.

"Who's there?" he called. "Show yourself!! I have a weapon!" he exclaimed, grabbing the bamboo pole.

"Up here, doofus."

Kai's eyes widened as he took in the sight of a small, black, levitating creature.

He dropped the pole in shock and scrambled across the floor, in the opposite direction of the creature.

The tiny thing shook it's head and spoke sarcastically.

"Well this is just great."