"Fubuki!"

"Tempest Dahlia."

Before jin could complete his Battōjutsu, he hit the floor, off to the roses on Rachel Alucard's Garden. Pain began to already consume his senses.

"I suppose you ARE injured, but at this level…"

"…Impossible…"

"Why, I'm barely even breathing hard. What a waste of time."

"You bas…Wait…!"

"I may have misjudged you Mr. Hero.; the likes of you rather stay on the floor. It'd suit you better."

"Stop screwing around! I'm not done! Rengoku Hyōya! Let Everything Freeze!"

Jin buried his sword on the roses, Freezing Everything on sight. He sheathed his sword. However Right in front of him, Rachel Alucard stood calmly, as if though nothing happened.

"What…?" The blonde was speechless.

"Hm…You've grown a little. Perhaps you might win…"

"What should we do Princess?" The black cat accompanying her asked.

"To begin with, Gii I should like some tea. Quickly, before I grow impatient. I wish to think."

"Yokai!" the little red guy went on his way.

"May be able to win?! What are you mumbling to yourself?!" the officer demanded for an answer.

"That, boy, is none of your concern. Playtime is over. Run off to Ragna and prove to me your performance here wasn't unique."

"Such a Shame…as if I would need the likes of you to tell me that."

"Delightful. I should tell you, you have no chance of winning." the witch delicately stroked her bangs.

"What? You bastard, Need I remind you who won our little "game" respectively?"

"As you are now you will lose gruesomely."

"Why are you so sure about that?"

"That is for me to know and you to find out."

"Ridiculous! The one who will kill…Who will Nii-san is me!" The look on Jin's face was cold and harsh.

"Is that so? Wait there Mr. hero…" she said simply. "Valkenhayn." Rachel elegantly called out.

"Yes Milady?"

"Please make this creature more capable. As things stand now, the handicap is too great."

"As you wish. If you will excuse me."

"What are you…Gah!"Impossible, When did you…Seriously I…couldn't…See a thing…" The hero fell to the on his knees.

"I do apologize. But this may be somewhat painful. Do try to bear with it and don't move." The butler said regally.

"Bastard…cough…"

"Whoa…That looks dreadful…" Nago and Gii made a painful gesture.

"Seems you like it Mr. hero."

"A demon…She's a…gyahh!" The red imp was slapped gracefully by the master. To the painful Jin, Such a sight only served to further his anger.

"You never learn…" Nago sighed.

"It's over. But as to be expected from a hero, you did a good job." a smile was drawn on the wolf's lips as he helped Jin stand up.

"Excellent work Valkenhayn, as good as ever."

"You're too kind, madam."

"Pant…You bastards…the lot of you…eh? My body?"

"I do apologize. But I could do little more given the circumstances. You customary range of motion should return in less than a fortnight, although…"

"You're a bit more capable Mr. Hero. Go fast."

"I hope you don't expect me to thank you."

"Please no. It'd feel disgusting."

"With an Injury of this level, Nii-san, might have a chance. He'll need the handicap." Jin arrogantly said.

"Fool. You're the handicapped one."

"What…?"Jin was warped away in a vortex.

"Mr. Butler, were you going to say something?" Nago asked puzzled.

"Ah, yes. After the effect wears off the subject will suffer intense pain. Not even Jubei-dono could contain himself."

"Holy…? Is that true?!" Gii said scared.

"Hee, hee. One must use a strong hand if training a rebellious dog."

"Princess…you're too sadistic." Both mascots said at the same time.


The young man scouted the area, he returned right where he was. Trees, grass, chilly cold night air, and a starry full moon night; A sight he hated indeed, especially the moon.

"Ugh…What?! Just a moment ago…I felt fine…but now…ugh…!"

Jin felt as if 10.000 daggers had been impaled on him. His body felt like if it were the red devil's. Gravity was being a magnet to him and pulled the wounded officer to the ground. Struggling against pain, Jin tried to stand up but to no avail, he rolled over and fell on to the grassy fields. As he gazed on the pure night sky he couldn't look at the moon, with whatever force he had left he tried to avert his eyes.

"What do you want of me…?" he said weakly. "Everyone must be always interfering…darn it…Nii-san…"

"Senpai! I finally found you! Geez, where have you been? I was looking all over, worried for you." A cheerful voice broke the forest's silence. Makoto Nanaya, clad in the NOL Intelligence Black uniform division, watched the hurt young man struggle.

"I have nothing to do with you…" Jin said gritting his teeth.

"That doesn't matter, Damn it senpai." Makoto closed her eyes. "Huh?"

The officer ignored Makoto and somehow rose to his feet. His body felt way too heavy and he could hardly move as he was extremely dizzy. Yet he began to walk away from his former junior.

"Senpai…where are you…?" Makoto said concernedly.

"Leave me, don't look for me anymore." The green-eyed youth said coldly.

"Eh…Wai…"

"If you interfere, I will cut you down as well!" He said in the most menacing tone he could muster.

"Kisaragi-senpai…why would you say…"

"I…I'm…!"He turned his back on his formed classmate and began his quest anew; defeating his brother. Yet now, doubts filled his mind; the power of order, the handicap that wench had given him…All of these facts made his path and purpose blurry.

"W-Wait! Where are you going?"

"Now, head back. I don't know where to go or what should I do. I will only say it once. DO NOT FOLLOW ME." he said putting his sword on his belt with great difficulty.

"Hey wait…you…you can't!" Makoto sadly called out, the saddest thing was…she was being ignored. He only sought to kill his brother…but for now all he wanted was to get away from the full moon. Before Makoto could go on, a silhouette appeared right before them.

A Man, clad in white armor, with a bulky body and a mask as white as the moon above. No facial expression, nothing. Such a get up made anyone who saw him, cry in fear. Jin felt something extremely strange. Images began to flow into his mind and his sword began to reverberate.

"What is this feeling…? Answer me. Who are you?"

"Jin Kisaragi…so you are here." The man said in his metallic, stoic voice.

"How do you know me? Are you one of Captain Hazama's underlings?" Jin extended his arm in front of Makoto as if in a protective Manner.

"Talk about…intimidating. My…body is trembling…! Who is this guy?" The beastskin stood behind Jin in fear.

"I am…Hakumen."

"Hakumen?! You claim to be Hakumen, one of the six heroes?! You bastard…are you mocking me?!"

"Heh. To see this man…is this permutation done by the Continuum Shift?"

"What are you going on about?"

"…Running away are you? As expected from a coward." The white knight said harshly.

"What?! Running, me?! You know nothing of me, if that's what you think I'm…"

"You ran away from life, ran away from the world…Or should I say…Give up? Both are words for running away."

"What do you know?!" Jin replied with anger.

"…" Hakumen's vacant expression met Jin's anger.

Battle, hurt, prejudice. Those were the only things he knew in the Kisaragi Household. People constantly trying to make him fall. He was all alone, even back then, his own flesh and blood too; His brother had turned his back on him. Apathy was all that was left for him. Life had taught him that the only person you could understand was yourself.

"You lack the most important thing." Hakumen said blankly.

"The most important thing?" Jin inquired with anger.

"The courage to stand up for others, the power gained to fight for the sake of another instead of yourself. Imbuing your heart with these feelings…is one of the things you lack."

"Foolishness!" Jin put his hand in his face and began to laugh. "Comradery? Love? Everything in this world is a Lie! The only absolute truth is death! That is the meaning of war of life itself! Winning!"

"Is that so? Such an empty response. Meaning of war? Surely you know the war you fought was nothing but a slaughter. And what did you gain from it? Nothing but scars."

"Don't screw with me! You're one of the 6 heroes right?! You yourself should know…"

"The war I fought was to protect the people. To give them a future. You are nothing but a puppet of the Library and yet you mean to tell me that this world is a lie…When the biggest lie here is you yourself…Jin Kisaragi?!" Hakumen jerked his fist at his former self's foolishness.

Jin just grit his teeth. Hakumen was right; he knew the façade of the Ikaruga war and yet chose to follow orders. Although now, he knew the truth he had followed the library and defected only because of his brother.

"Kisaragi senpai…" Makoto called him worriedly.

"This world is nothing but lies…no one can change that." Jin said, his bangs covering his face.

"As I suppose, it serves little purpose to talk to you. Meet me with your blade in battle…Jin Kisaragi."

"With pleasure!"

"No! wait! You're hurt!" Makoto tried to stop him. "You can't possibly fight…"

"Stay out of this." Jin said stepping forward. Hakumen drew his Ookami and Jin activated his Yukianessa.

"Senpai…stop!" The squirrel Pleaded.

"Zantetsu!" Hakumen did a massive overhead slash followed by a low sweeping slash; Jin jumped back and barely avoided them. The green-eyed swordsman countered.

"Reitō!"

A gigantic wolf shaped head went right towards Hakumen. He simply dodged it by back jumping. Right then both clashed, Jin used a rising slash while Hakumen a descending slash. Jin then tried hitting Hakumen with an Icy tombstone.

"Freeze!" The blonde ordered.

Kisshu!" Hakumen apparently disappeared. "Slow. You've let your guard down."

He grabbed Jin with one hand and threw him backwards while hitting him with his knee.

"He predicted it?!" Yukianessa's master realized in shock. "All right then…Hishōgeki!" Jin sent a barrage of 4 ice blades towards the hero. With his Nodachi he destroyed one and some sort of black hole was left in its place all the other blades shattered on contact with it.

"Fumashin." Hakumen then noticed Jin wasn't in place. Immediately he looked up and Jin was ready to strike him from above. Before he could however, Ookami clashed with the midair Yukianessa. Jin landed in front of the masked fighter and slashed like crazy.

"Sekkaijin!"

However, before even one hit could land Hakumen defended himself with his forearm which had some sort of blue shield on it. Jin thought he had hit him but the hero grabbed him and with an open palm, sent him aback.

"Tch!"

"I can see right through you." Right there, he rapidly zoned into Jin and gave him an uppercut, Hakumen jumped and in midair spun with his Ookami slamming the wounded Kisaragi to the grassy field.

"Tsubaki!"

"Ugh…too fast…" the guard said in pain.

"This is…none of senpai's moves work…" Makoto said worriedly. Her fists were trembling and wanted to save her friend but somehow she couldn't move.

"Know your place. You can't win." He said pointing his sword at Jin.

"Holding is useless huh…then…Tōga Hyōjin!"

A Gigantic Wave of Ice was hurled at Hakumen who extended his forearm to defend himself with a red shield. When the ice landed, the masked man disappeared and next thing Jin knew was that, his rival was behind him, and he, felt an intense pain in his abdomen. Somehow, he had been slashed.

"Yuki…Kaze…but that's…not…"Jin fell to his knees.

"This is all? If not…then come with all your might!"

"I've had enough! Hishōgeki!" Jin jumped and this time 6 blades went towards the white knight.

"That again…? So be it!" Hakumen extended his sword sideways in front of him and created an enormous blue circular shield in front of him. "Kokūjin Ōgi: Akumetsu!"

"Got you!" The Ikaruga Hero exclaimed. "Hiyoku Getsumei! Break down!"

Jin sent an enormous arrow of ice towards his enemy expecting to catch him off guard.

"I am the white void, the white steel, the just sword…!" As the hero announced this, the ice arrow began to break down with no damage for him.

"Then…Behold! The technique that surpasses the deepest depths of hell! Rengoku Hyōya! Freeze Eternally!"

Jin Stabbed his sword into the ground and a cage of ice apparently encaged the white armored man.

"With one strike from my blade, all sins will be reaped and all evil will perish!" The ice from Jin's attack began to break by some sort of Black slashes that cut it from all over. Before he knew it, Jin's cage was broken and slashed to tiny pieces. Snow began to fall onto the dark forest; however, the green-eyed warrior was stunned before his faceless opponent.

"Unbelievable…" Both officers were stunned at the same time.

"I am Hakumen…The end is near!"

"That's not possible…Kisaragi senpai is…" Makoto readied her tonfa although she was clad in fear.

"This is it…Guren!" The white warrior lunged forward and hit Jin with the hilt of his Ookami, in the same place that the former Yukikaze had hit a few moments earlier. Awash in pain, Jin fell to his knees and even used his sword as a Cane to keep himself up.

"For me to lose…It's not po...ssible..."

"Try harder…on your next life."

The Nodachi went straight to Jin's head. The hero closed his eyes and sighed.

"I'm not good enough yet…Nii-san…"

"Stop screwing with me!" A Pair of Tonfas stopped Hakumen's Blow. Nanaya Had saved Jin from the Hero.

"Stop! Why are you doing this to him?"

"He brought it on to himself." Hakumen sheathed his sword.

"This is not over…" Jin said rebelliously.

"Did you really think that with such a grievous wound…you could win?" The Susanoo unit's master began to walk away

Impossible…is he really the Hakumen of the six heroes…?" Makoto asked.

"You still seem unaware of your true strength." He said stopping at Jin's side

"My strength?"

"No, perhaps you know but you choose to use it only for selfish purposes. You disgrace both with your choices."

"The power of order? That guy, Jubei also said something like it. But it means nothing to me. Order? Balance?! Why the hell would I care?!"

"Hm…"

"My brother suffers in his own private hell. For this reason, I intend to kill him. To save him from the insanity…and the lies of this world. For that Purpose…I will use that power…!"

"As I thought…lower than trash."

"Trash? YOU call ME trash? Even if you're the leader of the six heroes I won't let those words pass!"

"Your own arrogance blinds you to the strength of your opponent. Or perhaps are you bluffing? It matters little, for you should know from the recent battle…you can't win."

"…Kuh." Jin's train of arrogance was stopped by Hakumen's reasoning.

"I can forgive much…But I will never know how to forgive you! The sorrow and pain your foolish arrogance has sewn cannot be measured anymore than it can be undone! Even now, you think that Yukianessa is a mere toy. This is why you can never beat Ragna the Bloodedge."

"Ragna the Bloodedge…the SS class criminal?! What's this about?" Makoto murmured to herself.

"Shut up! That's none of your business! Six heroes or not…you can't understand what I'm going through right now."

"…" Hakumen remembered Jin's feelings.. "Is the influx of emotion an effect from the boundary? There can be no doubt…this hate filled heart; these feelings…are my loss…my hatred." He thought to himself.

Jin was way too weak to continue. But before he could fall Makoto grabbed him and put the injured warrior on her lap.

"Enough!" Makoto said jerking her fist. "I've heard enough of your insults!"

"Ho?"

"You said that Kisaragi-senpai is arrogant, foolish and immature! But he is far from that!"

"And on what might you be based to defend this fool?" Hakumen asked out of curiosity.

"Sure, Kisaragi-senpai may be a bit rude…aloof, lonely and sometimes grumpy...But I Like that part of him! As did my friends back at the academy!" Makoto put her hand on the injured Jin's face and brushed it. "I was like him…lonely and bitter but because of him and my friends…I changed! Kisaragi-senpai was of the Duodecim and not once…did he treat me like a low-class girl! He always took good care of us, in his own way."

Hakumen stared at the girl beastkin's eyes. Brown angry eyes, but they also reflected pain. Despite the fact the she stared at him menacingly, somehow he didn't feel inclined to attack.

"But everything changes…" He said staring into the night sky.

"Y…Yes. He changed after the Ikaruga civil war but…I…I…"

Right then Hakumen noticed a small tear on her eye. He had fought long battles, seen lots of deaths. He should not feel anything of the sort, yet for the first time in years he felt compassion. And for the beastskin he knew before, perhaps it reminded him of his long-lost Camelia…

"If you believe in him, then teach him. The courage that comes from fighting for others and the power that comes from believing in sacrifice for causes other than your own."

"Eh?"

Jin with what consciousness he had left stared Hakumen's blank face.

"I can still…" The blond tried by all means to get up.

Hakumen stared at the wounded warrior's face.

"Jin Kisaragi…Time can be…a very cruel thing. Remember it." then, he walked away. "Never would I think I'd ask this of you but…when you are ready and heal your wounds, go to the altar in the NOL's Main branch in Kagutsuchi. There you will find that which you seek"

"I'm not done fighting…"

"That's enough senpai. Let it go."

"He's…changed? Is this the Continuum Shift…or perhaps…her?" The white warrior continued his way. "Then let it be. Show me…Your justice, Jin Kisaragi."

Both watched as the white knight disappeared. Makoto stared at the wounded Major. For how long did she like him? ever since she was at the Academy, although Jin was strict with them. She had always thought he was "cool" as did the other girls at thee academy. For a time she was interested in him but perhaps unconsciously, she saw Tsubaki's feelings and gave up, that and she didn't like one bit how he treated Noel. Yet here she was and the feelings from those days were awakening again.

"For how long do you plan on barring me?" Jin asked still weakened in Makoto's Lap.

"Senpai, don't be unreasonable…You can't even move!"

"I said I'd cut…you down." Jin weakly tried to reach for his sword but to no avail. And for some reason he felt he couldn't cut her anyway.

"Why must you always be so unreasonable?! Ever since the war…you…"

Jin was able to sit on his knees as he tried to get away from her.

"It is only natural. You're the only ones acting as if you never grew up."

"But growing up doesn't mean becoming a Jerk!"

"Eh? And just to think a moment ago you were defending me." Jin smiled sarcastically and got up, trying to walk, using his sword as a cane.

"I didn't mean to! But it's the truth! Back then we used to have lots of fun! Why can't everything go back to as it was before?" she said calling out to him in hopes of stopping the Kisaragi.

"I saw the truth of this world. That is all."

"Truth?"

"Yeah." Jin regained a bit of his breath and was able to walk a bit. "Now, beat it."

"Hell I won't! Not until you tell me about this truth!" The squirrel insisted.

"You sure know how to be noisy." He sighed. "Fine, if you must know. I'll tell you…in the war, I did as I was told. As the leader of the attacking Praetorian Guard our duty was to "end it as soon as possible." And I did it. And guess what?"

"What?" the girl asked with wide eyes.

"Some were let's say "troubled" by the swift end I was ordered to pull. We've been told false truths. Serving the agenda of people we'll never see. Besides, there were others who were capable of ending the war and…know what happened…Makoto?" Jin said in a stoic tone. "They were charged with "sins" they didn't commit and were disposed of…by the wings of justice."

"T…then Tsubaki…!"

"Yes. Exactly. But…ugh…" Jin fell and rolled over on the grassy fields.

His emerald gaze contemplated the shiny stars and tried to avert his gaze from the moon. Makoto ran to his side and tried to help him.

"Senpai!" Makoto ran to his side.

"That's right…Everything is ephemeral…temporal. Love, justice, friendship…The only absolute truths are death and despair. After attacking Ikaruga, I realized this. I made myself one sole purpose which is why; I remained in the Praetorian Guard."

"And what was it?"

"It…isn't your business." Blood began to trickle down Jin's lips. "Darn it…I can't die here…I must…"

"Senpai! Hold on…" Makoto try to put him on his lap, but intense pain overcame Jin and he tried to get up. Uselessly, he fell on Makoto's chest.

"Let go…I have to…"

"Senpai…"Makoto wrapped his arms around the wounded soldier. "I'll say it straight. You're an idiot."

"What?! How dare…"

"You're saying the "lies" of this world and this and that, but you know…you're not the only one who's suffered."

"What?!"

"Remember when I got to the academy? In a way I was like you, believing that I could live alone, and like you, many people lied to me."

"And if you know that…why…?"

Jin looked up, and saw a bit of Makoto's brown compassionate eyes. All the harshness, all the ruthlessness seemed to be washed away by that gaze why? he could not understand...

"Because…not everyone is the same. So, you mean to tell me that, Noel, Tsubaki, Carl and me…aren't your friends?"

"As…far as I'm concerned I'm all alone in this world."

Weak green eyes met tender honey brown, despite the fact that Jin was feeling intense pain, somehow looking into them eased it. They were like Tsubaki's but much softer and brighter.

"You're not. I'm here." Makoto whispered.

"Because you want to be…Like I said…I'm alone..."

"Senpai, you've shared your view of life. Now I will share mine." Makoto smiled cheerfully.

"Hmph." The blonde pouted, trying to sit and at least stare into her eyes, and with great difficulty, he was able to.

"You say you're alone, but that isn't possible. At some point in life we all begin to depend on something or someone to live. It's like a Law."

"Ludicrous. As if I…"

"People, rank, stuff…I'm sure even you have needed someone at some point Senpai."

"No, I…"

A flashback came to Jin's mind, as if triggered by Makoto's words…

We were family…

"Nii-san…Let's Play!"

"Sure, I'll kick your ass in soccer! C'mon!"

"Saya you be the judge!"

"Yes, Jin!"

But then Saya fell sick and Nii-san…

"Let's Play Nii-san, Saya needs to rest."

"Sorry Kiddo. Gotta take care of her. Go play for yourself, or ask that old hag."

"But…"

"Do it. Saya needs care."

"Jin…I'm sorry. Nii-sama I…"

"Don't be Saya, I hope you'll get better…I'll go play alone Nii-san"

Nii-san forgot about me…and Saya also vanished…from then On…I...

"Brother…Why? At least for a small while."

"No Jin! Saya's worsened! Why can't you be a good brother too?"

"But it's not fair! You've forgotten about me!"

"No I haven't you brat, But I need to care for her!"

"But I…"

"Argh…Damn kid…go to sleep or the moon will fall on ya…"

If she hadn't…We'd be together…But still…I never needed anyone, ever since that then, Nii-san abandoned me and Saya too…but…Why? Why does it hurt…I should no longer have a heart…right…Nii-san?

"Argh…" Jin gritted his teeth.

"See? That reaction says I'm right."

"No! I don't need anyone."

"Then just say it clearly." The challenging beastskin stated.

Makoto had hit a very sensitive spot on Jin. The young man found himself somehow half-hating her, half accepting her own view. Despite the intense pain in his body, his heart hurt more; the memories of his family were hitting him deep. What was worse, somehow he had softened towards her of all people.

"Senpai…Are you that doubtful of people?" She said in a compassionate tone.

"What can you know?! What I've endured…! The living hell I've gone through; I…"

"You're right. I can't."

"Huh?"

"But if you let me, I can help you. I can understand you…Kisaragi senpai." Her eyes were bright somehow, in contrast to Jin's emerald cold stare.

"How could you possibly…?" Jin asked in disbelief.

"Because…we're together." She said smiling tenderly.

"Enough of this pointless idiocy…!"

"It isn't pointless. Senpai, you can count on me!"

"As if I would…gah…!" This time Jin began to fade into darkness.

"Senpai…" Makoto grabbed him tenderly. "No matter how dark the night, the morning will come."

"Morning…huh…" Jin laughed a bit weakly.

"Yes. Senpai thanks to you all, I was able to understand gentleness. Now I'll repay the favor…You, Noel and the rest made me smile. Now I'll make senpai smile!"

"I don't care about your…gentleness…but, if you can, take me to a clinic…preferably in the lower levels."

"Roger!"

"Take me away from the moon…" Jin finally lost consciousness;

Makoto caught him in an embrace and ruffled his hair.

"If the moon's that big of a problem…I'll crush it with my Planet Crusher."

Author notes: Hello KNS here! As you can see I wanted to try something uncommon. I came up with this idea after seeing both of their storylines, Jin's good and bad ending, and in Heart to Heart when Makoto says HE IS SO COOL! Anyhow, I hope you enjoy. Might make a twoshot o even more chapters. Read you later!