PLEASE READ

I'd like to take a brief moment to say some things. First off, this is my third story and greatly different then the other two. I have made the decision to challenge myself, to test my true writing abilities if you will. This is to be read seriously and reviewed seriously. All the characters with the exception of Yukino Houjo are original. I do apologize for the some of the characters names and also my attempt at that Takana poetry Yukino frequently speaks. Some gates I'm sure you will recognize, while others you will not. This is because I'm going to create some. Lastly, I make reference to events from the gatekeeper novel: Gatekeepers 1985. In that novel it was revealed that….or should I say I was told or read that there where a total of 8 invader bosses. Two of these were never revealed and I will use one or both of these unnamed invaders in this story. They will remain unnamed.

PS: I can't find that novel anywhere. If anyone knows where I can order it id appreciate it. Also the story takes place in the year 2027

Gate Keepers: Icy Graves

"She cries

No tears, just thoughts…..

I am weak, thus I cannot save…

That which is called fate bounds those like she….

And so we all die"

Yukino Houjo, a gatekeeper whose time was frozen due to overuse of mankind's only means of fighting off the invaders, now, as she always has wonders. "They all die." she thought "Thus once again, I am alone."It was the same, generation after generation. Those taking the lead in the fight against they who forsake their humanity eventually all fall victim to their own powers, the same abilities they once called hope…..slowly but, as clear as day….all of them. This time was no different. "They all die." The haunting images like an unending slideshow navigated her mind, those slain in this war, those who couldn't overcome fate, those…..maggots that slaughtered her allies, comrades…..her friends. This time was no different. It won't be long now. It won't be long until she'd have to fight again. Not long until more comrades would be lost in the endless sea of time. And her? What about her wants? Her feelings? Wants, she had none. Feeling, most surely she felt something. Pain, she understood but….what did that feel like again? Happiness, not quite. Love, what was love? Sorrow, no sorrow just….nothing. And so she sits. It won't be long, until she's all alone again.

This is the epic account of yet another generation of gatekeepers torn apart in an ever waging war against the Invaders. Our story begins in Nagoya, Japan….

Chapter 1: SHOCKING ENTRY

Nagoya Station, hundreds of Invader solders sprout from within like ominous weeds. Weeds that were once human, but failed to lead honest lives and so paid the price. A sickening sight to behold, these wrenched monsters twisting and coiling from their human flesh into mindless menaces. Ones who would trade their freedom for such an existence can only be called maggots, and as such must be ridded of this world…..

"There sure are a lot of them this morning, huh Sai?"

"Sure you can take all of them, sis?"

"My name is Sakura Tomanaka. Age: 18. My brother once asked me the question: "Is there really any point to fighting the invaders?" Of course there was…..there still is but…..he wasn't convinced. That was 4 years ago……4 years, back when my brother was still alive .He planned to quit A.E.G.I.S, and urged me to do the same .How could he? How could my brother rather stand and do nothing while others fought to protect earth? He wasn't scared, it's not like he didn't care about people or was so selfish he'd let them suffer when he had the power to help. He was kind, gentle, loving……We did everything together, but…..that's all in the past. He never did quit, no…..as long as I choose to remain within A.E.G.I.S he wouldn't quit. He loved me, and I watched him die…….4 years ago. I used to think gates were a gift, that it was only human to stand and fight to protect others when you had the power. But, now I understand. I understand Sai's reason for wanting to leave. I understand now, that war, no matter what side you're on, no matter your reason or determination, no matter what…….you lose. Comrades, friends, lovers……can't be replaced. Life, can't be replaced. Countless gatekeepers were sacrificed…..and for what? To take back our already rotten to the core world? But..... if I don't fight, then Sai died in vain. Therefore, I have to fight…..for him.

"Gate Open!"

Sakura Tomanaka had been a member of the A.E.G.I.S Japanese branch for quite some time. A top ranked Gatekeeper just as her brother Sai was. These freedom-less fiends where nothing but numbers, weak and fragile ponds on a checkered battle field. They shout and blather as the gun barrels protruding from their meager bodies fire in great haste. She in return outstretches her right arm, and then swiftly thrusts it left. "Perish!" The result was a shockwave that both nullified the incoming rounds and completely liquefied a vast number of them. Long range combat was clearly not to their advantage. With that, those that remained launched a full scale assault on this adversary. Such long legs allowed them to leap great distances and so were able to avoid a second shockwave. With only two leaps the first invader aims to relieve Sakura of her head. She counters with a side step, followed by her arm plunging into its back. Another rose form behind and struck. Pulling her arm out from within the other she rips this one in two, as the sheer force of her gate allowed her to do so. It was in this manner that they were all exterminated by the gate of lightning until one remained. "So weak." thought Sakura as she clinched the last invaders head. The defeated solder makes one last feeble attempt to destroy this phenomenon, this girl. Wrapping both lengthy hands around her neck he grasps tighter and tighter in hopes to strangle her but there seemed to be no effect.

"Why? Why won't you die?!" it screeched, still grasping as tightly as possible.

It was like crumbling paper. The sound of this beings hands seizing Sakura's neck was just as if slowly crushing a page of notebook paper but…… "So Weak." she thought, and with that the invaders face begins melting to the melodies of static, soon after its body goes numb. Falling to its knees, its arms also go limp therefore releasing its hold on Sakura and she in turn relinquishes her control of its face.

"Because you're to weak to kill me."

Her job had been done, at least for now. All that was left was to escape. Escape, not from invaders but from the local police authorities. Why was that? The Japanese police were indeed baffled by recent events. As the invader activity increased, so too did the number of people assimilated by them and in turn the number of missing people and unexplainable deaths rose dramatically. With not so much as a lead or even a clue, the police could do nothing but responded to bizarre calls from the public. Anything that seemed to have a remote chance of being linked to these disappearances, they were to respond armed and in numbers. It'd be a pain to say the least if she was caught. The identities of A.E.G.I.S and that of its members were unknown to the masses. Ever since the invaders launched a demoralizing strike on the organization 42 years ago in 1985, there wasn't a shred of trace to their existence, let alone their identities. Sakura's parents were no exception. Sai's death, a traffic accident. In which the body was never found as were the other 14 supposed people on that bus. Her life was full of lies, she practically lived on them. It wasn't at all that she enjoyed or found any pleasure in lying it's just…..how would you tell your parents something like this? That your apart of an organization that in effect murders assimilated humans. That it was the only way to prevent conquering of earth. That it wasn't a traffic accident that took the life of their only son but In fact that he died fighting these monsters. Could you tell them? Would you're telling them put them in danger? Would they be able to live normal lives after that? Would they have to lie the rest of their lives like she had done all these years? If the world knew about the invaders, if the world knew that their family, relatives, friends, teachers, police officers, even the sweet old couple down the street could very well be mindless machines bent on human destruction, what would happen?

Sakura waste no time in escaping. She hadn't even the time to retrieve the crystals that remained; such were proof that those whom she just dealt away with were human. A.E.G.I.S was still no closer to finding some way to reverse the effects and revive them to their human state. She makes her way undetected through the underground concourses of the station and on to a city bus just as police were arriving. They mobilized, drawing their guns while screaming on their radios. It was a scene she knew all too well, the only difference would be if S.W.A.T showed up or not. Quietly making her way to the back of the bus, Sakura takes a seat beside a darkly dressed girl in pony tails.

"You suck." said the girl.

"It's not my fault you where to slow." was the reply.

"Kayuga Shime, Age: 18. My favorite thing to do? I'd have to say write. Poetry, stories, Diary entrees….I'll write anything if I'm in the mood. I've had a lot to write about over the years. My parents were killed when I was little, 12 I think. Both of them burned alive inside our house….our small 2 bedroom house. The culprits? Teenage punks out playing practical jokes on the neighborhood by setting fire to mail boxes, gardens, street signs…….some joke huh? I've been told countless times, how it was a miracle that I survived but…..That was no miracle. In my world miracles don't exist. If occurrences such as miracles, hope, love, justice and morality really existed then…….My parents would still be alive. I wouldn't have to move from one foster home to another, and loneliness?.......Loneliness would be gone. It's because these qualities don't exist that Invaders spread like a never ending plague. They are the ones that should be burned.

"So….how many where there this time?"

"I don't know, I lost track."

"You lost track?"

"Yep."

"………Ya' know Jean hates it when you go off by yourself like that, and don't gimme that "Sai was watching over me" crap."

Sakura couldn't help but crack a smile, Kayuga knew her so well.

"It isn't funny! I don't want to lose anyone else Sakura…..especially you! You're like a sister to me so.."

"Don't worry about me." Sakura interrupts "I won't die."

"How can you say that?!"

Closing her eyes, Sakura holds out her pinky finger. "Pinky swear?"

Kayuga is hesitant but the two entwine fingers. "This is childish."

"Just what you'd expect from your younger sister, right?" Asks Sakura, standing up to exit the stopped bus.

They then said their goodbyes as only true friends could. A goodbye without words or any indication of parting. A smile would do, and so they smiled. Slowly releasing one another from the pinky swear until finally, Sakura exits the bus.

Can one really overcome death a midst such trying times of war? If you could see the very moment your death as you do a movie, could you take steps to prevent it?