History of

HALO

Opening Theme: Pressure

Ending Theme: Embracing the Dream

   The setting is a kendo arena.  There are just a few people watching the fight.  Sage and Shingo are in their kendo gear, and ready for the match.  The announcer said, "Now remember this is just a practice, so you can relax a bit.  AND begin!"  Sage and Shingo began to fight, Sage was winning.  Shingo threw some dust looking stuff into Sage's eyes. 

    "Ow, my left eye is burning!" Sage thought.  He became infuriated.  "You!"  He lifted off Shingo's face mask, and punched him.  Shingo hit the floor with a thud.  Someone came got in-between them and began yelling at Sage.

    "Hold it boy, leave him alone.  What do you think you're doing?  Calm down!"

    Later:  Sage's grandfather was pulling him roughly through the house by the arm and his ear.  "YOU ARE A DISGRACE!  YOU CALL YOURSELF A DATE!" his grandfather yelled.  He let go of Sage's ear.  Sage was crying hard.  "I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO EMBARRASSED TO BE YOUR GRANDFATHER!" 

    "But, I-"

    "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!"

    "No, I-"

    "SHUT UP!!!"  His grandfather pulled him down a staircase, through a door, into the basement and let go of his arm.  Sage began deeply sobbing. 

    "Grandfather, just let me explain, I-" Sage said in between sobs.  His grandfather grabbed his arm again.

    "SAGE, you have brought shame to your family!"

    "But-" Sage said, but his grandfather pushed him to the ground. 

    "You don't deserve the name Date!" his grandfather said hatefully.  Then he turned around walked up the stairs and shut the door.  There was a sharp click as the door was locked.

    Sage was sitting Indian style on his basement floor.  He closed his eyes and sniffed a little.  A green glow shined on Sage and his surroundings.  He opened his eyes and saw a bright green light.  "It's so warm.  What is it?"  The light faded and revealed the shining Halo armor in front of him.  Light surrounded it.  Sage reached his hand out towards it.  The armor turned to green light and formed into a small sphere.  It looked like a large crystal marble.  "What is this?   It's so beautiful." 

    Sage picked up the strange crystal and laid on his back, staring at the ceiling.  "I feel so calm, relaxed."  He closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

One Year Later

    Sage was sleeping in his room.  He looked like a little kid while sleeping.  His blankets were wrapped around him and he was laying on his side with his hands under his pillow.  His bed was a futon and his room was spotless.  There were posters on the wall with Akina Nakamori, Sailor V, and he also had a sword on his wall.  There was a picture of his family when he was about 5 years old on his desk.  His alarm clock went off with an annoying beeping sound.  "Oh."  He opened his eyes and laid on his back.  "My first day of high school," he said emotionless. 

    He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen.  He was wearing his school uniform.  He picked up a box of cereal, a bowl and a spoon.  Yayoi walked into the room.  "Hi-ya there Sage-chan."  She picked up a cereal bar and walked out, "Have fun at Han'a High School!  Ha!" 

    "Yeah, thanks a lot Yayoi," Sage said sarcastically.  Sage poured milk and cereal into his bowl.

    "Sage, I was going to make you pancakes.  Since this is your first day of high school!  I'm so excited!  Sage, you're growing up before my very eyes!" She said as she sat down across from Sage.

    Yayoi popped her head back into the kitchen, "Yeah, he's sinking further and further into the stupidest years of his life.  He's becoming a teenage boy!"

    "Yayoi!" her mother said.

    "Well, gotta go.  Love-ya bro!" Yayoi said as she left again.

    "Hopefully, she's gone for good this time," Sage muttered to himself.

    "Sage!  Listen, sweetie.  I know that you're nervous about school, but everything will be ok.  Don't worry so much," she said as she caressed his head and face.  She then walked out of the room.

    Sage was walking into his new school with his head down.  "I hope that no one sees me," he thought to himself.  He walked by Ryo Sanada, who was looking at him as he walked by like, who's that?  Sage walked by a group of students who were talking and laughing.  Two of them were Kento and Sai.  He continued to walk, head down.  He reached his classroom and walked in.  There were groups of people talking.  Sage sat down in the seat furthest from the other students.  Rowen was talking to some of his friends and they were laughing at his jokes.  A bunch of girls were whispering amongst each other.  Sage sunk into his chair.  One of the boys that Rowen was talking to pointed at Sage.  Rowen stared at Sage and then they started laughing again. 

    Then, the teacher walked into the class.  "Alright, everyone.  Settle down now."  The students took their seats. "I am your advanced placement biology teacher, Mr. Hizumu.  In this course, you will need to-" 

    A girl with long brown hair ran into the classroom.  She was carrying pens and pencils in her hands and a stack of papers, notebooks and binders in her arms. 

    "Miss Koji I presume?" the teacher asked.

   "Hi!  Um, sorry I'm late.  You see, there was this-"

    "You may take your seat now."

    "Oh, yeah.  Ok, sure.  Sorry," she said as she sat down in the only empty seat in the classroom, next to Sage. 

    "By the way students, I don't tolerate tardiness.  The person you are sitting next to will be your partner for labs and projects for the entire year," Mr. Hizumu said.  "Now, as I was saying before Miss Koji interrupted me..."

    Later, at the Date Dojo:   Sage was dressed in a white and green dojo kimono and practicing his kendo moves.  His mother walked in.  "Sorry I wasn't here when you got home.  I had to run to the grocery store.  How was your day?"

    "It was fine."

    "Did you see anyone you knew?"

    "Yes.  A few," Sage answered.

    "Did you make any friends, or see any friends?" his mother questioned.

    "No."

    "Well, the first day is always the hardest."

    "Well, I should probably go study.  It's never too early in the school year to start studying, right?" Sage asked.

    "Of course."

    Sage walked into his bedroom.  "Study?  On the first day of school?  She doesn't buy it, I know.  But at least I got out of her 'don't worry' speech."  He sat down on his futon bed.  "I wish I could just never go back to school ever again."  He laid back and sighed deeply.  He stared off into space.  "I don't fit in."  Memories of his day flooded into his thoughts.  People staring, laughing and pointing.

    "Hi Sage-chan!" his little sister said, popping her head into the doorway.  Her expression changed from a glowing smile to a concerned look.  "What's wrong?"

    "Oh, nothing."

    "You're an awful liar!"  She ran and hopped onto his bed.  He sat up.  "What's wrong?  Are you upset because of school?"  Sage didn't answer.  "Don't let them get to you."

    "Satsuki, you have no idea how I feel.  You're so, normal.  Nothing like me."

    "Don't say that!"

    "You're not the freak of the family like me!  I don't fit in.  I don't look like the rest of the family.  I'm a freak," Sage said.

    Satsuki put her hands on his face.  "Sage, it doesn't matter that you don't look like us.  I love you just the same."  She hugged him.  "Your the best big brother ever and I love you so much."  Sage smiled a little.  Then she hopped off his bed and ran out the door.  He could hear her outside saying, "Hey, everyone, I helped Sage!"  Sage laughed a little.

    He took a strange crystal sphere out of his pocket and held it up to his face.  "So beautiful.  Hmm, for some reason, you always make me feel so calm," Sage said.

    Yayoi was walking by his bedroom and made an evil face.  She yelled, "Mom!!  Sage is talking to his marble again!!" 

    "Oh, go away, Yayoi!"  He shut his bedroom door in her face and put the crystal back into his pocket.  He leaned against his door and could faintly hear his mother yell, "Don't slam doors!"

    The Next Day:

    Sage was walking to school.  He was already on the school's property.  "Hey, you," a boy said.  Sage continued walking as if he didn't hear the boy.  "I mean you, Blondie."

    Sage turned and faced the boy.  "Hey, you're right.  He does look like a freak!" another boy said.  There was a group of five boys.  They began to walk around him with their arms crossed, examining him.  "Yep, a real freak." 

    "So, what planet are you from?"  The boys continued to taunt him, as they stood in a circle around him. 

    "What?  No answer?  Too good for us?" one of the boys said.  Other students stared at the scene.  Boys and girls.  A few of them were giggling and smiling. 

    "Hey, kid, ever seen the sun?"

    "A real jerk, yes sir. Look at his eyes! Weird!"

    Sage just stood, inside the circle, his face expressionless.  "Sage, stay calm.  The last thing you need is another fight.  Grandfather will kill me if I fight," Sage thought. 

    "Come on!!  Say something, loser!!!"  The boys began getting angry and moving closer to him, very slowly. 

    "Hey, what's going on," Miss Koji, from Sage's biology class said as she pushed her way through the crowd with a stack of books in her arms.  As she got in front of the viewers, she gasped.

    "What's your problem, Blondie!!!  Looks like we'll have to force you to talk," a boy said.  He punched is own palm, to show how tough he was.  He took a step towards Sage.  Suddenly, a large book flew through the air and hit him in the head.  "HEY!  WHO THREW THAT!!!" 

    "Me."  Miss Koji was standing, arms crossed.  Her books were on the ground and she was stepping on them with one of her feet. 

    "Pht, you?  Why don't you go home to your mommy, girl?"

    "Why don't you shut up before someone gets hurt.  And let me give you a hint that your puny little brain will understand.  YOU are gunna get hurt, got it moron?"

    "Ha, you don't scare me, babe.  So back off, or else!"

    Mia replied, "You're such an idiot.  When are you going to grow up and stop acting like a five year old?!"

    "No one talks to me like that!" The boy stepped forward at her.  He raised his hand to hit her, but Sage grabbed his arm just in time.

    "Watch yourself, punk," Sage said quietly. 

    "Let go of me!"  He shook Sage's hand off and backed up a step.  Then he swung his fist at Sage but Sage stopped it in his hand and squeezed.  The boy fell to his knees in pain. "Ow!  Stop it!  Stop, please!"  Sage let go. 

    The boy go up and tried to punch Sage again.  Sage knocked his and out of the way and picked the boy up by the shirt.  "Listen, I'm not someone you want to mess with.  So, back off and leave her alone, got it?"

    The boy looked a nervous. "Yeah, yeah."

    "Apologize, if you know what's good for you." 

    "Ok, ok.  I don't want any trouble, sorry," he told Mia as Sage put him down, and then ran.  All of his friends followed.  The crowd began to disappear.  The girl began to pick up her books.  Sage picked up the one that hit the boy just moments before. 

    He handed it to the girl.  She stared into his eyes as he glanced at her.  "Thank you," he said.  He turned and began to walk away. 

    "Wait!"  She ran up next to him.  "Why thank me?" He stopped walking and looked confused.  "I mean, I didn't really do anything."  He was still confused.  "Uh, thanks.  What's your name?"

    "My name is Sage Date."

    "I'm Mia Koji!  It's nice to meet you Sage.  I sit next to you in biology, so that means, you're my lab partner.  Cool huh?"

    "Uh, yeah."

    "Well, we should be getting to class, before we're late," Mia said. 

    They walked into biology together and sat down in their seats.  "I'm a junior, know that?" Mia asked Sage.

    "No, I didn't."

    "Your a freshman?"

    "Yes."

    "I'm from France.  I just moved here to permanently stay with my grandfather.  At my old school, everyone took chemistry in 9th grade and biology in 10th.  I failed biology the first time around," Mia said, a little embarassed.

    "If you need any help with it, I can help you."

    "Mia, hi!" a girl said.  A group of girls were walking towards them.  "Who's your friend?"

    "Oh, this is Sage.  Sage, this is Melody, Susan, and Jenny."  Then, the bell rang.

    "Oh, we've got to go to our classes, bye Sage!" Susan said.

    "Now, class..." the teacher said.  Sage directed his full attention to the teacher, and he seemed to be happy.  Mia was staring at him.  Sage moved his glance towards her, but she continued to stare.  Sage took his head off his hand.  Then Mia realized that he was looking right at her.  She blushed and pulled a paper out of her notebook.  She wrote something on it and pushed the paper at him.  The paper read:

Sorry if I freaked you out just now.

I was trying to figure out how

you do your hair like that.  It

looks so cool.

   Sage smiled a little.  "Mia, Sage?  Is there a problem?" the teacher asked.  Mia blushed a little more, and Sage turned bright red.  The class all smiled and laughed at them. "Sage, what's the mitochondria's job?"

    "Uh..." Sage said as he tried to remember the answer. 

    Sage heard a sound coming from across the room.  Rowen Hashiba was humming the Jeopardy theme, "Do do do, do do do...."

    "Sage, try to pay more attention from now on," the teacher said.

   Weeks later:  In biology.  The class was doing a worksheet in pairs.  Sage suddenly dropped his pen and looked out the window (in the background, Rowen is also looking out the window.).

    "Sage, what's wrong?" Mia asked.

    "I just felt a chill, that's all.  It's nothing.  So, uh, what are you doing this weekend?"

    "Nothing yet, why?  Do you want to do something?"

    "Well, I don't know.  I was just thinking... well there's the biology test Monday.  I thought that you might, well, want to study together," Sage said nervously.

    "Why would I want to study?" Mia asked.

    "Well uh, because you uh..."

    "What's wrong?  Why are you acting so nervous?"

    "Well, because, I don't want to, uh, insult you, so-"

    "Just say it."

    "Since you failed this class before, and you haven't been doing too well in this chapter, I thought you might want some help," Sage said bluntly.

    "Sure, we can study at your house tonight.  I'll be there at six o'clock, 'k?"

        Later, at Sage's house:  Sage is sitting in his living room.  A plate of cookies and brownies was sitting on a small table.  He was leafing through his biology book and notes.  Then he looked at the clock.  6:01  Yayoi walked into the room.  "Your girlfriend is late," she said.

    "She's not my girlfriend," Sage said flatly.

     "She's most likely not coming."

    "Go away Yayoi."

    "I bet she stood you up."  Sage reached for a brownie, but Yayoi stopped his hand with her's.   "Sage, older girls will do nothing but break your heart, and I'm not teasing this time."

    "I have no romantic interest in Mia.  She's just my friend."

    "How many girls have you told me were just your friends, how many did you date?  Sage, so many girls have broken your heart.  I can't bear to see it happen again," Yayoi said seemingly sincere.

    Sage looked up at her and then she burst out laughing.  "You fell for that?  HAhaha!  You're so weird."

    "You're just jealous that I've dated more people than you," Sage said, annoyed.

    Yoyoi turned serious then began to force a laugh, "Am not. ha  ha."  Then she walked out of the room, obviously pretending laugh.

    Sage turned back to his notes.

    6:20- Watching TV, but sitting in the same spot.  Yayoi walked by and said, "Not coming."

    7:56- Sage had left the living room and was taking out his anger and frustration in the Dojo.  He was practicing his kendo moves on a practice post and was working up a sweat.  Yayoi asked her Grandfather, "Where's Sage?"

    "Yoyoi, look."  She walked over to him and looked into the Dojo.  She saw Sage.  "I've never seen him do so well.  Hard at work, that's my grandson," he said proudly.

    8:48- Yayoi walks past the Dojo and sees Sage doing the same thing as before.  "An hour?  Ok, that's just sick."  She mumbled, "Gunna hurt himself."

    9:15- Sage came out of the bathroom wearing a white robe and toweling his hair, walked into his room and calmly closed his door.

    10:23- The phone rang.  Sage was asleep in his bed.  He awoke at the sound of the phone.   "Hello?"

    "Yes, this is Dr. Koji, may I speak to Sage?"

    "Uh, yeah?" he said beginning to look more awake.

    "Is Mia still there?  She told me she'd be home by ten."  Sage dropped the phone and it landed with a thud.  He fumbled around for his floor for his phone.

    "She never came."

    "What do you mean?"

    "She was supposed to come here, but she never showed," Sage said, worried.

    "Dang!  That girl must have went to another party.  Probably won't be home 'til midnight.  She'll be the death of me yet!" he mumbled and then hung up the phone.

    "She ditched studying for a party?  Oh well, at least nothing bad happened to her."  Sage went back to sleep.

    The next morning Sage woke up.  There was a light shining in his face from his marble on his desk.   When he opened his eyes, it stopped.  Sage got dressed in a pair of tight black jeans and a green t-shirt.  He walked into the kitchen where his grandfather was making breakfast. 

   "Sage, good, you're up.  I made you breakfast," his grandfather said.  He turned from the stove holding a plate with a small amount of rice and beans on it.

   "Grandfather!"

   "Eat, and you will become strong!"

   "Before, or after I starve," Sage said.

   "After.  Now eat!"

    "Sorry, I'm not very hungry."

   "You are a strange one.  First you complain about small portions, then you say your not hungry!  I don't care what you are!  Eat!!"   he put the dish on the table and pointed at it.  Sage reluctantly sat down.  "I can never make you happy!" he said as he walked out of the room. 

    The phone rang.  Sage started to get up, but he heard his grandfather from the other room yell for him to eat.  Yuji Date walked back into the kitchen and picked up the phone.  "Hello, can I help you?  I'm sorry, he's eating." Sage got up and ran to the phone. 

    Sage pleaded, "Grandfather, please give me the phone!  Please."

    "I'm sorry, I can't hear you.  There's a bug in my ear," he said into the phone.  He turned to Sage and whispered, "Eat, bug!" He turned back to the phone.  "Oh, it's an emergency.  Then call 911!  And don't disturb my grandson.  Oh, my lord!   Just a minute.  Sage, it's for you."

    Sage took the phone from him.  "Thank you!  Hello?  What?!"  Sage's face turned white.  "Thank you for telling me.  Ok, bye."

    Sage walked out of the room, "Dad!  DAD!  There you are," Sage said as he walked into the living room.  His father was reading the newspaper.  "Dad, Mia's disappeared."

    "Who's Mia?"

    "My friend who was supposed to come over last night," Sage paused.  He said with difficulty, "I need your help."  His father looked up from his newspaper.

    "Well, well.  How the mighty have fallen.  Why do you need me so suddenly?"

    "Well, you're a police officer, can't you file a missing person's report or something?  Send out a search party?"

    "HAHAHAW!  A search party?!!  No, how long has he been missing?"

    "She."

    "What?!  A girl!  Since when are allowed to bring girls over?"

    "She's been missing since seven last night," Sage said, ignoring his father's question.

    "Come back at seven tonight, then we'll talk," his father said as he turned back to his newspaper.

    Sage was walking down the street and he began to walk past a red jeep.  It was pulled over to the side of the road.  He noticed that the driver's side door was carelessly left open. 

    "That's odd," Sage thought outloud.  The car had a woman's purse inside, laying open on the seat.  Sage looked down the street to see if anyone was around.  Then he reached into the car and grabbed the purse.  He pulled out the wallet and opened it.  He pulled out a driver's license and his eyes grew wide.  It belonged to Mia Koji.  "I knew it.  Somehow, I just knew it.  If her car is here, where is she?"  He put the purse back and began to wander around the car.  In front of the car, on the pavement, Sage found a pair of sunglasses.  "Where are you, Mia?" Sage muttered. Suddenly, a beam of red light shot down on him.  A bubble formed and began to lift him off the ground.  He passed out slowly.

    Sage woke up, lying on a rock floor that was a little wet.  He began to push himself up, off the ground, groaning.  He moved his hair back into place with his hand.  He was standing on a rock platform in the middle of a field.  Everything surrounding him was dark and looked almost dead.  There was a black tree about twenty yards from where he stood.  The sky was a reddish-purple.  "Where am I?"

    "Ronin Warrior, are you ready?" a voice called out.

    "Ronin Warrior?  Is that me?" Sage thought.  "Who's there?" he called.  An alter appeared about twenty feet infront of him.  When it came into focus, he realized that Mia was laying on it.  She was passed out.  Sage began to run to her when black lightning shot out in front of him.  "Huh?"  

    "Ronin," Sage heard again.  Sage heard a noise behind him and turned to see a dark powerful looking warrior.  It was Cale.  Cale was about three feet taller than Sage, and heavily armored.

    "What did you do to Mia?!" Sage asked, angrily. 

    "Calm down boy!  She'll be fine, IF you do as I say."

    "Oh, and what's that?" Sage questioned, annoyed.

    "I am the Warrior, Cale."

    "Get to the point.  I don't have patience for your games!"

    "Very well then.  Do you wish to save your precious Mia?" Cale questioned.

    "Of course I do!"

    "Observe."  Cale pointed his sword at the black tree.  Black lightning shot out of the tip and the tree exploded, surrounded by glittery sparkles. Sage was amazed.  "Impressed?  Of course you are.  Sage, you can have that kind of power also.  I will free Mia if you become a loyal warlord to Emperor Talpa."

    "Talpa."   (background music: Talpa's Theme)

    "My master Talpa is extremely powerful and generous.  He will give you great power if you join him.   The answer is simple."

    Sage stared at him, not knowing what to do.  Then he looked down. 

    "What's your answer, Sage?"

    "If I agree to this, Mia.  You'll let her go?" Sage questioned. 

   "Yes."

    "And, what will happen to me?  What will I do, as a warlord for Talpa?"

    "You will help him to rule the Dynasty and gain high respect in the Nether Realm," Cale answered.

   "Nether Realm!"

    "Time is running out, Ronin.  Make your decision quickly, before Mia loses her life.  Now is the time to claim the greatness waiting for you," Cale said.  Sage turned and looked at Mia, still unsure.  Mia was suddenly zapped with power and there was a pained look to her face.

    "What?!" Sage yelled, angry.

    "What's your decision?"

    "No!  You're nothing but evil, and I could never help evil."

    "She will die if you don't join us!"

    "No she won't!" His symbol of wisdom glowed brightly on his forehead.  He pulled his marble out of his pocket and it was glowing green.

    "What?!"

    Sage jumped into the air and put on his first gear.  He landed and the armor was flickering green along the edges. "You can't possibly hurt me with that armor!" Cale said. 

    "There's more.  Armor of the Halo!!!  Tou Chi!!!"  He put on his full armor and held his sword out in front of himself.  Sage thought, "I can't believe it.  My family's legend of a mystical armor, Halo, it's true.  And it's mine."

    Sage lunged at Cale and they locked blades.  They began to sword fight.  Cale pushed Sage back and to the ground when they were fighting by Mia.  "Halo, do you wish her death?  You are powerless to stop it! Hahaha!" Cale said as he raised his sword up over his head. "Goodbye, pathetic girl!" 

    "Noooo!!!!!" Sage yelled as he lunged at Cale.  He dove into Cale and knocked him to the ground.  Cale's blade barely missed cutting Mia.  The sword fell out of his hand and it hit the ground and disappeared in the darkness. 

    "Hmm, he won't join us," Cale silently contacted Talpa. 

    Talpa replied from his throne room, "Very well then.  Let him go."  Cale disappeared out from under Sage.  

    The scenery around them changed.  Mia and Sage appeared in front of Mia's jeep.  Mia was still laying in the air, and as the alter beneath her disappeared, she began to fall.  Sage caught her, mid-air.  His armor disappeared.  Mia began to slowly open her eyes. 

    "Sage?  What happened?" Mia asked as he put her on her feet.

    "Don't worry.  You're ok now."  Sage turned and began to walk away. 

    "Sage!  Get back here!  Sage, you didn't answer my question!"

    He turned his head and said, "It's better that you don't know."  He kept on walking.

About one year later

   A dark shadow hung over the city of Toyama.  Talpa's shadow.  The clouds begin to grow dark.

    Sage was in the Date Dojo.  He wore beige pants, a cream colored shirt and a dark blue jacket.  He was kneeling on the floor, shining swords.  Suddenly, he became very serious.  He thought to himself, "I feel an evil presence.  Just like before I used my armor for the first time.  But this is worse."  He stood and looked to the doorway at the lawn.  "Mom!  I have to go out!  I'll be back!!" he yelled and then Sage ran out the door.  He ran down the sidewalk and his undergear appeared while he ran.

    In the center of the city, Dynasty soldiers were attacking the people.  They were herding them together, like animals.  The chaos began to slow down as Sage approached.  Sage jumped up on the roof of a building and then onto a higher building. 

    As he landed on that building, he realized that he wasn't the only person up there.  A boy wearing identical undergear to his own, except that it was light blue.  He had long brown hair.  The boy turned around to see Sage.  "Sai Mouri?" Sage quietly said more than asked.  

    "Sage Date?" Sai asked.   Then he smiled at him and turned back around as Sage walked towards him.