A woman in a white jacket walked down an alleyway, alone. The sound of her high heels echoed off the walls and all around her with each step she took. Her hands were at her sides, her right tightening into a fist, slowly.

The alleyway was an architectural afterthought, only wide enough for a few people to walk through at once. A thick silence began to surround her as she walked deeper into the alley, the sound of the city becoming muted by the walls at each side. Soon enough, the only thing she heard was herself, as if she'd broken some boundary and left the city alone, for another world.

The black haired woman stopped for a second to adjust the flat billed, flat topped white and black cap on her head. Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, then fell as she exhaled slowly. She took another single step forward.

"Hey." A voice behind her called out.

Slowly, the black haired woman turned around. "Yeah?"

"You're a Knight, right?" A teenage boy holding a baseball bat stood before her. "A Knight Himura."

"Yeah." The Knight stood still, watching the movement of his hands. "And?"

The sky above was blue and brilliant, peering out from behind hanging wires and air conditioners above. It was a deep, deep blue, bathing all that was in shadow in a cool, pale tone. Airplanes high above left long, white streaks across the cloudless, barren heaven above.

The sun was high, but the air wasn't too hot. As the boy approached, the Knight Himura could smell cheap, overpowering cologne.

The boy held his bat toward her. "I'm gonna knock you out."

The Knight chuckled. "Really? Why?"

His hands shook and shuddered, revealing the weak and unsure grip on the bat. The boy's eyes were wide, glaring back at the black haired woman like those of a cornered animal, ready to protect itself. With grit teeth and fear on his face, he steeled himself and doubled his efforts.

"Don't laugh! You know what I'd get if I took out a Knight?" The boy tapped at her chest with the end of the bat.

She grabbed the end of the bat. "So what? They're offering prizes now?"

"Let go!" The boy pulled the aluminum bat away.

The woman sighed. "Just move on and forget about it. Go home."

"...no way!"

Taking a stance, the boy moved back and readied himself for a swing. He tightened his grip on the baseball bat as he moved his legs. His whole body rocked back and forth in one solid motion as he aimed right for the woman's head.

The woman caught the baseball bat in mid flight, only a few centimeters from her face. The boy tried to pull the bat away again, but she twisted it, and his arm. In one motion, she pulled him in close, disarming him.

With her other arm, the woman tossed the baseball aside, as if it were nothing. It made a sad, hollow metallic sound as it hit the asphalt below.

"What the hell? Get away from me!" The boy struggled.

The teenager managed to back away, but instead of running, he put up his fists. His legs once again planted themselves down firmly. The Knight did the same, and they stood across from each other.

He took a mad swing, hitting the woman in the jaw. She didn't even flinch or react much, his strike not even leaving a mark on her cheek. The black haired girl in the white jacket narrowed her eyes, then returned with a punch of her own.

Immense force hit him all at once, knocking him down to the ground unceremoniously. He fell on his side, then rolled onto his stomach. The Knight stared him down as he shifted around, then slowly sat up against the wall.

The Knight approached, standing right in front of him. He didn't react at first, worrying her. When she moved closer, though, the boy raised a hand in a weak attempt at self defense.

"You okay?" The Knight asked. "I should've held back a little, huh?"

"Yeah, I'm... I'll be fine." The boy sighed.

The Knight kneeled down in front of him. "Seriously, I'll call an ambulance if you need it."

The boy hid the red mark on his jaw. "I didn't think you'd be so tough, Tsukiko."

"Trying to scare me by saying my name or something?" Tsukiko looked him in the eye. "It's not really a secret, y'know."

"...I know that." He said without thought, only as an act of defiance.

Tsukiko let out a sigh. "I'm still amazed that kids your age are still dumb enough to do shit like this, but here we are."

She stood back up and started walking down the alleyway again. The baseball bat laid near the boy, until she kicked it away. It made a high pitched bouncing sound as it hit the wall, then rolled down the alley.

Tsukiko turned back. "Try something like that again, and I'll put you down for real."

"Huh?"

"You understand?" Tsukiko said. "Do something like that again, and I'm knocking your fucking teeth in."

"...jeez."

Dense, suffocating silence came once again, and in that moment, only the two of them existed in an alley disconnected from the real world. They exchanged glances at one another, before the Knight turned around, turning back to the bright end of the path that was the boundary back to Tokyo.

Sudden, quick footsteps stomped around behind her, then dashed toward her with impressive speed. Tsukiko turned and found the young man holding the baseball bat high, before it came swinging down onto her head.

"Forgive me, but I've gotta do this!" The boy shouted.

Tsukiko caught the bat again, this time with both hands. "You son of a bitch!"

He tried to force the bat down. "Just go down!"

Tsukiko pushed the bat aside, then kicked him hard in the leg, no longer concerned with the boy's well-being. The young man dropped the bat once again, following to the ground on his knees. In angry retaliation, Tsuki raised her boot with a powerful kick that sent the young man crashing into the alley wall.

"D-damnit." The boy choked out.

Tsukiko stood over him. "I told you what I'd do, didn't I?"

"Please don't." The boy held up his hand. "I'm sorry."

"Now you're acting remorseful?" Tsukiko's voice softened, but her glare was intense as ever. "Honestly. Who the hell'd you take me for, huh?"

"Huh?"

"Did someone put you up to this?" Tsuki demanded and answer.

The boy went silent.

Tsukiko pressed on. "Tell me."

The teenager groaned. "Why should I?"

"You really want me to answer that?" Tsukiko asked him.

He took a moment to rephrase his question. "...why would it matter to a Knight?"

"Because I wanna know why you tried to kill me." Tsuki blinked.

"I didn't wanna kill--"

"What do you think an aluminum bat does when it hits someone in the head?" Tsukiko talked down to him. "This isn't a game, idiot."

"...I'm not trying to kill you." The boy whimpered.

"Then why even risk it?" Tsukiko shook her head. "You knew what was gonna happen."

"...yeah."

"So, who're you trying to impress?" Tsukiko sighed. "This better not be for some girl."

"It's for... Themis." The boy muttered.

"Themis?" Tsukiko repeated. "That some kind of school club?"

"No, it's--" The boy looked away.

Tsukiko stepped back. "Whatever, it doesn't matter."

He tried to stand up again, but he stumbled. "Hey! C-come back here!"

Tsukiko began walking toward the far end of the alley. "It's not worth it. Just go home."

"No, don't..." The boy's voice was muffled by the walls.