Pain of Battle

Shinobi finished a mission with Vivienne and Headmaster Nav about a week ago. Shinobi and Nav were ok. Vivienne on the other hand… lost her arm, eye, and both legs. These injuries could be fatal.

Shinobi felt truly terrible. You see, he thought that he could have stopped the SEED. But he was too slow. He prays to the Holy Light for her to get better.

Laia walked to him and asked, "You ok? You've been silent before but not for this long. You haven't even spoken to your partner machine."

"It's my fault… that Vivienne is hurt," Shinobi said bowing his head. "If I were faster…"

"Look I know this is painful for you to have an injured partner. But suck it up." Laia said.

"It's not that simple Laia. I could have helped. I know the mission was a triumph, but my teammate got hurt." Shinobi said shaking his head. He walked towards the window that allowed his to see all of space. His hands were folded on his back.

Laia walked away and told Nav, "You try and talk to him." Laia said.

Nav walked beside Shinobi. "Hey there Shinobi," Nav said "I hear you were sad so I thought we could talk."

"I will need a second first." Shinobi said. He kneeled and folded his hands, bowed his head, and closed his eyes. He was praying.

He remembers when Vivienne asked about praying.

"Shinobi, what is prayer?"

"Praying is when you reach out from your heart."

Shinobi still remembers what she said after that.

"I'll pray so much that I could give my heart to everyone."

Tears streamed down his face. Nav noticed this. "I hate to interrupt your prayers, but are you ok?"

He opened his eyes and said, "Yeah. I'm fine." Nav then thought for a second.

"You know Shinobi, your reaction is strange. Most humans wouldn't care about a CAST this much, not even if that CAST was me. It's almost as if you love her."

Shinobi then yelled, blushing like mad "Impossible Nav! She's just my teammate."

"Sure she is." Nav walked away whistling.

Another week later, Shinobi walked down the was still away from the other end Nav then stood in a group of Guardians, including, Laia, and other Beasts, Humans, Numans, and CASTs.

Nav then yelled across the hall, "Shinobi, we got a surprise for you."

The group moved out of the way.

Vivienne was in the middle of the group, fully repaired. Shinobi couldn't believe it.

He ran across the hall and hugged Vivienne by surprise.

He let go blushing. "Uh sorry, I got emotional."

"I hate to break up this reunion, but there's a mission for you guys." said someone at the desk.

Shinobi, Vivienne, and Laia were sent on this mission.

Shinobi had a sword and a Holy Ray. Vivienne had her usual staff. Laia used a sword as well.

They were cutting through every monster (a/n I don't remember the names to most of the SEED monsters.) that was there. Shinobi got ahead of his party. He met the worst monster there,

A De Ragon.

He switched to Holy Ray. He shot at its head and neck. It was weakening. Shinobi shot more, until he ran out of ammo. The De Ragon landed on him.

Then the monster breathed fire. He was on fire but he took his sword out and fought. Vivienne and Laia finally caught up with him. They grabbed their guns and started shooting.

The De Ragon was about to shoot his fire breath at Laia. The Holy Ray charged a little. Shinobi shot the creature in the head.

It then redirected the blast towards him. He dodged. It flew above them. It landed near Vivienne. Its tail was about to give a near fatal attack.

Shinobi saw the monster falling. He sprinted towards her, and knocked her away, barely dodging it himself.

Shinobi saw its head was down. He stabbed it in the eye.

While that didn't kill it, it had difficulty shooting fire. Vivienne, close to collapsing, ran on to battle. "She's insane." Laia said. She got out her gun and delivered the final blow.

Shinobi then noticed she fainted for exhaustion.

He ran and pushed her out the dead monster landed on his lower body and only one of Vivienne legs.

He felt every rib in his chest crack and even felt one puncture one of his lungs.

Then everything went black.

He opened his eyes. He was in the hospital of the Guardians, his chest was in bandages.

He was still in somewhat of a daze but he recognized the voices outside his door, Laia and Nav.

"I'm going to yell at him on how stupid that was! He was nearly killed!" Laia yelled.

Nav responded, "Now, he was only trying to save his teammate, that's good."

"But he needs to think of his own health as well."

Their voices faded as they walked away. He heard a voice; he was having trouble hearing the voice.

A minute later his door opened. It was Vivienne. She was smiling. "How are you?" she asked him. "I've been better." Shinobi said.

"During the mission I never got a chance to thank you for saving me twice."

"You don't have to."

"I do, I could have died. But then again you didn't care from the last mission." Vivienne then frowned.

Shinobi was surprised at this. "What do you mean I didn't care?"

"You didn't visit me. Like how I am visiting you now."

"I thought you wouldn't want to see me. I want you to know I prayed to the Holy Light that you'll recover, since the end of that mission to the morning you were repaired."

"Really?" "Of course, you're my best friend."

"I'm surprised Shinobi, I thought you'd hate me because I fainted and you're the one that got hurt. It's my error that caused to get hurt."

There was a minute of silence. Shinobi then asked, "How's your leg? Wasn't it crushed?"

"No for some reason I was fine." This made her even sadder.

Shinobi was going to say something but Lou came in and said, "Sorry Vivienne, your time is up."

Vivienne kissed Shinobi's cheek.

"See you later." She said running out.

"Perfect," he said to himself, "A month of guilt."

A month later he was out of the hospital. He found Vivienne's room.

She was in sleep mode. He left a note. It said:

It's not your fault.