A/N: Unfortunately, I cannot stop time, and it keeps on going. Sorry for the wait, but this story will continue.

Big thanks to nightsky44 for the reviews! (and the rest who have reviewed :) Makes me happy to know someone is enjoying my MS story. Sorry for being so lame and slow. :/

Thanks to SNK Playmore for everything as always.

Eri's POV

"We carry the burdens of war on our shoulders in search of, and to ensure, everlasting peace."

I sat in the sand, deep in thought. Lieutenant Tarma was lying against the slug just feet away from me with his shades on. Hundreds of images and memories zoomed through my head at the same time, making it difficult for me to think. I was beginning to realize just how much this man was opening my eyes. Never before had I felt the need to rethink and evaluate how or why I've lived. My upbringing had been a crutch my entire life, crippling me before I could seriously make a living. I thought I could mask everything by focusing on work, but that led me to spying and assassinating, which further worsened my conscious. I transferred to the SPARROWS, thinking I could get by being a soldier. It was pretty low key for a certain amount of time, as I worked as a demolition expert and began climbing up the rank ladder. I didn't socialize or care much. I honestly just watched time go by as I did what needed to be done…and nothing else. The girl who I came here with, Fio, had previously approached me, intent on gaining some sort of connection…or friendship, but I just shot her down every time. It wasn't that I didn't like her or anything, I just didn't really know what friends were or how to cherish them. I acted the same way when our mission started with the Lieutenant and Captain. And then we got stuck and I began to feel…

Feel what? Confidence? Meaning? Compassion for others?

Why?

Was it him? Or were they all like this?

These questions swarmed my brain and I couldn't keep up. I honestly had no answers, but I knew something was different. I actually felt like I was living, like I was carrying my own weight along with others. And despite the short amount of time we'd spent together, those others were beginning to matter.

This mission started out like every other before; a chore. The only thing I was concerned with was getting it over with. But now, for whatever reason, I actually cared how I did it, how we did it, and why we did it.

I glanced over at the Lieutenant's still figure. He mentioned wanting to leave the soldier's life behind, but the Captain was enough to make him stay. I had barely interacted with the Captain at all, but if the Lieutenant was any indication, I honestly wouldn't mind working with them again…

In the past twenty-four hours, they had become the closest things to comrades I ever had. I wondered if Fio felt the same; if these two heroes really had an 'effect' on people, or if it was just me and my horrible loneliness.

I was brought out of my musing by a strange noise to my right. I turned to my companion, only to hear another snore escape his mouth.

"Is…he sleeping?" I unintentionally whispered to myself. How could he fall asleep in a place and time like this? Either my opinion of him was wrong and he was extremely irresponsible, or he was just really tired. Knowing what he had been going through with the slug, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

Still, we had a mission to complete and allies to save. I cursed myself again for my shortcomings. There would be no need to wake him if I only knew how to fix the tank myself…

…

"Lieutenant…?" I said softly, and rather counter intuitively. I stood over his sitting form before giving his shoulder a small nudge. "Lieutenant, you have to wake up…"

I watched him stir and I had to fight every urge to leave him alone. "Lieutenant Roving…"

He bolted up from against the tank in the blink of an eye, scaring the living daylights out of me as I felt my behind hit the sandy floor.

"Marco…?!" Tarma said stertorously. He frantically took his shades off and looked around as if we were under attack. He looked like he was in the middle of a nightmare, and I wasn't even sure he knew I was there.

"L-Lieutenant…?" I squeaked out, still on the ground from my fall. His head whipped down to look at me and realization washed over his face.

"Eri?"

"Yessir…" I tried to lift myself off the sand before being immediately pulled up by him.

"Are you all right? What happened?"

I was never one for flattery, and even though he had no idea what was going on I couldn't help but feel delighted by his thoughtfulness.

"Yes…I'm fine. You fell asleep," I told him shyly, and watched as a frown formed on his face. "I…think you had a nightmare."

"A nightmare, huh?" He asked and I nodded in return. "How come you were on the ground looking like you saw a ghost?"

"Oh," I slouched my shoulders in embarrassment. "I tried to wake you…and you kinda jumped up and scared me a little…"

As expected, Tarma started laughing and my face turned red. "Well, sorry about that! Thanks for saving the mission from my lazy ass."

I couldn't help but frown. It didn't surprise me that he just laughed it off as he did with everything else. I was certainly no stranger to nightmares and I wanted to think he was the same…

"Um… Are you sure you're all right?" I asked hesitantly. "You looked really troubled when you woke up…"

He turned to me with one eyebrow raised. "Yeah, don't worry. It was a dream after all."

I remained silent as he leaned against the slug. I heard him sigh and take his sunglasses off. For the first time my eyes met his, and it was like looking at an entirely different person.

"They can't hurt you, Eri. They're just dreams."

I was getting the notion that the Lieutenant could read me like an open book. Normally I would've gotten angry at someone for assuming I consistently have nightmares, but I knew he was completely serious and right. Once again our conversation turned to focus me, as if he knew what I had dealt with all my life. It was unfair to me, but it was time I realized my troubles and listened for advice.

"I think Marco died in my dream. But then you woke me up and I realized that he's still out there, and it's up to us to save him. It doesn't matter what happens in your dreams; it matters what you do in reality."

My eyes were stuck on my feet but my ears were stuck on him. What he said seemed like common sense, but when you were trapped by yourself common sense was no longer natural. After all this time it was comforting to have someone explain such things to me. He pushed off of the slug and I looked to see him smiling at me again.

"Sorry to sour the mood Eri. I didn't mean it."

My racing mind was keeping me from talking, but I didn't know what to say anyway. 'Thank you' would be appropriate, but I was Eri Kasamoto, and it was hard for me to say that.

"I really gotta finish this stupid thing," he said pointing to the tank. "Take it easy Eri. You seem tired. Lemme know if anything goes on."

And with that he gave me a final smile before heading to the back of the slug. I stayed put, standing in the sand. I hated how my problems always got in the way of everything. I'm sure he was trying to help, but…

Here I am being selfish. He's probably loathing this mission with me…

MS 2

Tarma's POV

Well I'm an idiot. I hope Marco and Fio are still alive; otherwise my life will be ruined.

All because I fell asleep like a lazy good-for-nothing.

Thank god Eri woke me up, even though it led to a rather unfavorable conversation. I had no idea what her life was like, but she didn't seem to argue with my assumptions.

I came to the conclusion that she was a good girl. I liked her. Just needed a few scratches polished on the inside, and whether my fat mouth was polishing or scratching, I didn't know.

The mood around us was as dreary as our environment. I regret saying what I did and I hoped she wasn't taking it too seriously. But alas, missions and lives came before feelings and emotions.

I needed to fix this blasted tank. Also just remembered I had a pack of Natto left. Groovy.

That's it. I'll communion with Eri. I'm sure she'd enjoy some.

With my procrastination hitting an all time high, I peeked around the slug and saw Eri sitting in her original spot on the tank's tread. She looked less than thrilled to say the least. I climbed up and into the slug for the last of my rations and hopped back out.

"Hey Eri," I said lounging next to her on the little empty room the tread offered.

"Finished already?" Her tone was slightly sarcastic, but it was much better than nothing.

"I wish. You want some? Just remembered I had these left."

She didn't bother looking at me or my treat. She clearly wasn't very interested, but enough to ask, "What is it?"

"Just some fermented soybeans. Don't have any rice, but… Have some. They're good and you need your strength."

Her slouched back straightened and she looked at me with a curious expression. "You mean like, Natto…?"

Well look at that. I figured she was Asian. "Yeah, exactly."

Her complexion brightened like the sun. "Well, yes please… If it's all right…"

I laughed and handed her my spare pair of chopsticks. I decided to converse as we dug into the measly portion, "Don't mean to pry, but where are you from? You seem to know what you're eating."

Eri seemed to be in a much better mood, "Oh, I'm from Hiroshima."

I raised my eyebrows, "Hiroshima, huh? Haven't been there in a while…"

It was her turn to raise her eyebrows, "You've been there before?"

I smiled, "Yup. I'm originally from Hokkaido, so I was able to make my way down a few times in the past."

"You're from Japan!?" Eri practically bounced off the super vehicle. Who knew this would excite her so much?

I couldn't help but chuckle at the girl, "Yes, I am from Japan and I have been to Hiroshima. I guess that's another thing we have in common."

The SPARROWS soldier frowned, "Oh really? What else?"

"The fact that we were both dragged out into this no-good wasteland," I spoke and wiped my hot face. She laughed before putting her chopsticks down.

"Thanks a lot Lieutenant," she spoke with a sincere smile which I gladly returned.

"Don't mention it. Glad I could help. I needed it just as much as you did."

Her scowl returned, and I found myself becoming more and more confused by her sporadic expressions as time went on.

"Any luck on the slug?"

Well that would certainly be a reason to frown. "Not yet, but I've made improvements. Good news is I think I can fix it. Bad news is I still don't know how long it will take."

I watched her nod her head in recognition, "I'd love to help…if you'd let me, Lieutenant."

"Enough of the formal talk, Sergeant," I frowned and she frowned back at me. I found that I enjoyed watching her reactions.

"Let's get to work," I smiled at her.

…

She smiled back.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait and boring/short chapter. More will come with more excitement and development (and shorter update time).

Thanks for reading as always. Drop a review. I'd love to know your thoughts. Your opinions mean a great deal to me as a writer.