Guys, I'm putting up another fanfict, and it's called "Cross-Worlders." This is one bonus story, supposedly a prequel before the actual Cross-Worlders story. If ya wanna understand at least SOME characters, read this first. ;)

Anyway, the reference is definitely taken from GATE: JIEITAI KANO CHI NITE and it is an awesome Manga and Anime series, so it's one of the reasons why I'm taking X-over characters to the Cross-Worlders series. And yes... it's also part of my Sky Dreadnought universe, so it won't be far. Yes... getting pretty close to something explosive.

And... yeah... I don't own GATE. Here we go!

Shorty, but there will be a next chapter after this. This might end up with only a few chapters before it's complete. Cross-Worlders will be released soon, so enjoy this one first! ;)

Forever

Reference from Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite

Disclaimer: The reference material ain't mine. :P

Rory – I thought it was over.

Rory Mercury's eyes were widened. She knows her own emotions should be negative… but she just had wide eyes after seeing the horror.

I thought when I was going southward from the gate that I'd see Youji alive… but I was wrong. It's 2 years after he and Lelei were entrusted with the responsibility of opening and closing the gate. He had to get there to see a disturbance resolved, only to end in horror. I clearly saw his body, halved… beaten… Everything I didn't want him to be, I saw.

Yes… he was dead, and right in front of me. But why?

…Why didn't I feel it?

Without any other thought, Rory kneeled down to examine Itami's battered corpse. Putting a hand forward while putting a brave face, she touched Itami's face, and eventually getting to his wide and now, dull eyes, and slid them close for him. "I'm sorry… Youji…" She muttered this, knowing she could have gone with him. No… He insisted he do this himself, but even he didn't know his own fate. And she was too late to stop it.

2 days later… 0915 hours…

After finally getting Itami's body back across the gate, Rory went straight back to her world from the gate. But it didn't close as she came there, however. Another person came through the gate, and it was none other than Tuka.

"Oh?" Rory was intrigued, seeing Tuka in her gear, and she even had a bow and quiver of arrows on her back. "Going somewhere?"

Tuka felt furious at Rory, but maintained composure while standing in place. "You know where."

Rory then got serious. "You're not going with me."

"Yes I am, Rory."

"You don't know the kind of nightmare you'll see. The creature itself isn't fit for fighting you."

"I know you meant the other way around. Rory… I'm not stupid. But even as a demigoddess, you don't have the right to stop me! I treated Itami like my father… okay?!"

"I see. Then how would he feel if you were right next to him…" Rory then gripped her Halberd tight as she placed it on her side. "…right now?" And she saw Tuka ready to defend herself. This made Rory chuckle. "Hehe… Silly elf." But as Rory was about to turn back, Tuka suddenly spun the demigoddess back in facing her, and a hand was lifted to Rory's face.

First time… and maybe it could be her last mistake. Rory then drops her halberd, letting it slam to the ground while the ground shook a little. Her lips then blackened, while she made a weak smile on her. Or maybe I could just make things interesting. She could either walk away, or I'll let her be a little burden, even for me. Rory suddenly faced Tuka, grabbed her shirt before she pushed the elf down with her back, slamming the ground hard. Now Rory is over Tuka, with her face close fitted with a deathly glare she always put up for anyone who's worth her time.

"Listen to me closely." Rory whispered to Tuka, now letting some tears out, but still is furious. "I know you want to avenge him… but he wouldn't like it."

"I was healed… My own mind was healed. How would you know that?"

"Oh, I know every feeling there is to know about me and my past life, especially repaying someone before their life ended. I once owed them too… and I repaid every single thing I owe before I came to know you. Tuka… He's not lost. At least… Not yet." Rory spoke of this calmly at the elf, and of course, Tuka was surprised of it. What did it mean? "There's some hope to get him back."

"Wait, what?"

"However… He will never be the same again. It's going to be my responsibility." Rory then gets off Tuka and stands before offering her hand, now with normal-colored lips shown. "Will you listen?"

Tuka then took Rory's hand and was helped up by the demigoddess. She wipes her eyes from her tears. "Fine, tell me."

"His soul. When I sensed it while he was at his world, I sensed it never moved from him. Usually… souls are supposed to attend to a god, claiming responsibility for his own life and reliving another. But his soul never moved to any god in existence. I took it temporarily at first to examine it, and I realized why: He doesn't know where to go. He wasn't sure as to who he'd turn to: A god from this world, or from his."

"Wait… You're not making sense… I thought he's…"

"You see… Partly it might have been my fault." Rory frowned at this. "You see… I felt something for him… and I accidentally included in one of my prayers his name. The prayer itself involved his safe passage to Emloy after his death. So…"

"You couldn't have made that mistake if there wasn't a reason. I mean… You're… You don't love a mortal since you'll ascend to a goddess anyway."

"Exactly. THAT, is my own sin as to why it happened." Rory then looked at Tuka, now getting what it meant.

"Hold up… You… You love him?"

"Do you hold something against it?"

"No."

"Then don't start." Rory turned her back from Tuka. "It's my fault. I'll have to do what I can for him. His soul is lost. I'm going to offer him to Emloy. Then when I become a goddess, I shall make sure he goes directly to me."

"To you…?"

"Tuka… He wants to be free. He's not given his peace after his life was cut short, and I have to help him."

Tuka knew however, that Rory meant something else. "You're just going to make him an apostle like you are."

Rory turns her head to Tuka and smirks before re-acquiring her halberd. "Is it a bad thing?"

"To Emloy, it might be."

"Then I won't stop defending for Youji. I'm all he has now." Rory was then walking away from Tuka.

"Rory, it won't change my decision." Tuka said it before Rory stopped walking. "I won't stop you from stealing Itami's soul for apostleship. I just want to see his killer dead. Whether it's you or me who does it first. Whatever happens, Itami's yours."

"Oh?" Rory looked back with a smile. "Is he?"

"Just take care of him." Tuka frowned, knowing what she's saying would mean Itami could live, but as another person.

Rory's smile went wider as she saw Tuka's emotion relating to sympathy. "There's more to that, is there?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Hehe…" Rory then walked towards Tuka while her lips blackened again. "Give me your arm."

"What?"

"Give… me… your… ARM." Rory then took Tuka's arm before she suddenly neared her head to it and bit the arm's flesh. She heard Tuka screaming briefly before pulling it away from Rory. Rory then licked the blood off, now satisfied of what she's done.

"What did you just do?" But Tuka was answered by a giggle. "No… I'm not going to let you take all my pain!"

"No… It's completely different, Tuka. This time… I won't lie. I've put something… to ensure your assistance is worth it. Part of my power has been transferred to you. I'm not going to like it if you lose your life."

"And if I did?"

"Then you'll be a nuisance while you're an apostle of mine as well. I won't have it." Rory said it, and it pissed Tuka off for some reason.

But Tuka calmed down for that. "You better not mean it."

"I do."

"You're so mean, Rory!"

"Hehe…" The demigoddess was amused of this, even seeing Tuka wipe the blood off her arm with a piece of cloth. "I'm saying, you don't need to die."

"Should I say the same for you?"

"I don't care. I can't die… not for the nature of what I'll be next, and never for Youji."

"Fine… so where are we going?" Tuka's question was immediately answered as Rory started walking.

"You'll find out. You have things with you?"

"I got what I have." Tuka then followed Rory, walking close behind. "Will you be going through where Yao's living now?"

"I will."

"Then if I need anything, I'll just ask. Thanks for being concerned, Rory. And thanks for letting me come."

"You're welcome. After all, you'll try to avenge someone, and so will I. It's best we make it even." Rory's words were something else now, to Tuka.

Indeed I've changed a bit. I have for many times. If it's simply for Youji, then it won't be bad. My time is coming, so this might just be the right thing to do. I'll not only avenge him… but I'll be having his soul as my own.

Hold on for a bit longer, Youji. You'll be under my care soon…