Chapter Three

~Tsukino's POV~

"Well, this is officially annoying," Tsukino stated with an exasperated sigh. 'You're telling me.' The two had been hired by a Zoid manufacturing company to escort and guard one of their transporters to the capitol city. About halfway to their destination, however, they were attacked by a small group of bandits. Said group was made up of two Rev Raptors, two Helcats, and one Zaber Fang. The Rev Raptors had already been eliminated, however the other three proved to be more problematic due to being equipped with Optic Camouflage. The Blade Liger took two more hits to it's port side, presumably from one of the Helcats.

'So far, I've only incurred minimal damage. Mostly superficial.' Tsukino pressed a button to release steam, providing them with temporary cover.

"That's good. It still irks me that we're having so much trouble with these guys. They're B-rank, at best!" 'Technically, they are higher ranked than you are, seeing as you're a mercenary, and therefore don't actually have an official rank.'

Tsukino's eye began twitching, but she remained silent. 'Heh, thought so. Now, how about we stop being cocky, defeat these guys and finish our job so that we can, you know, get paid?'

"Okay fine, I'll stop being cocky, and you can stop being a high-and-mighty-know-it-all," she replied good naturedly.

'Punk.'

"You know it. But you're right. Why don't we finish this?" Tsukino pulled the levers, extending his blades, then positioned them to be used as guns, and activated the 3D Dual Sensor attempting to locate the three remaining bandits. "Bingo." She aligned the crosshairs with the Helcat directly in front of her and fired.

'Three down, two to go.'

Turning slightly the their port side, Blade took out the other Helcat with his Shock Cannon. With only the Zaber Fang left, Tsukino maneuvered the blades until fully extended. Blade made an about face and charged after the now fleeing leader. The max speed of the Zaber being comparatively low made it easy for Blade to overtake and remove his left front and rear legs.

Tsukino returned the blades to their original position as Blade roared in triumph. Pulling the lever to open the canopy, she stood up and looked at the now out-of-commission zoid, and gave her signature 'salute'; positioning her right hand next to her head in the shape of a gun, then flicking her wrist to jerk her hand away from her head. It was then that she noticed the damage done to Blade's shoulder.

"Th-the paint job!" Looking around the side of Blade's head, she glared daggers at the Helcats. 'Start glaring at opponents like that and I think we could save a lot of money on ammunition.'

"Very funny, Blade," despite her tone and choice of words, the grin on her face revealed her amusement.

A screen popped up on the left side of the cockpit, and she turned to look at it. The face of the man piloting the Gustav they were escorting filled the screen. "Are the command systems of all the Zoids frozen?" Tsukino returned to her seat before answering.

"Yes. We may continue to the city if you're ready." The pilot nodded and the small screen disappeared. Tsukino strapped herself in and took hold of the controls as Blade closed the canopy. They joined the Gustav and continued on their way.

After about an hour of traveling and listening to Tsukino hum whatever song came to her head, Blade suddenly commented; 'I still find it hard to believe that you mouthed off to an S-rank pilot. Wish I could have seen it.'

"Where'd that come from, Blade? Why are you so stuck on that Brat, eh? Is it because he pilots a Liger, or what?"

'Him piloting a Liger has nothing to do with it. And I'm not stuck on him.'

"Yeah, whatever you say."

'Besides, you're the one who said he was cute.'

"I did not! I said he stood out!"

'Which means you think he's cute.

"Does not!"

'Does to.'

"This is ridiculous!"

'You say that simply because I'm right and you refuse to admit it.'

"Put the shut to the up, Blade! So what if he's cute? I never said it-"

'Aha! So you finally admit that you think he's cute!'

"I- uh, that is… you tricked me, yo!"

'I did not. You messed up because you got flustered. Oh, and by the way, you're blushing so much that I can barely tell where your tattoo is.'

"Blade!"

'Maybe we should hunt him down.'

"BLADE!:

'I'm just kidding! Unless you want to?'

"No. I don't."

'Oh, is the great mercenary Tsukino Flyheight actually embarrassed?'

"Blade?"

'Yes?'

"Shut. Up."

''Alright, alright.'

Quite some time later, the sun was well on it's way to the other side of Zi, and Tsukino was just hopping back into the cockpit after dropping off the Gustav.

'Tsuki? Why don't you spend the night here. We wouldn't get that far before having to break for camp, and you've been up since before the sun graced us with it's presence.'

Tsukino thought about it for a moment. I am tired, and staying in a soft bed for one night won't ruin me.

"I suppose. Do you remember where I stayed the last time we were here?"

'That way.' Blade indicated in a north-western direction.

"Alright, lead the way, oh Great One."

'Cute. Keep it up, and I ain't goin' nowhere,' Tsukino laughed, but otherwise remained quiet, as Blade made his way to the hotel.

It had taken more time to find the hotel than they originally thought because Blade refused to stop and ask for directions, insisting that he knew right where it was. Eventually though, they did find it.

"Finally. Took long enough," she said, reaching behind her to the second seat and withdrawing a bag.

'Oh shut up. I found it, didn't I?'

"Yeah, yeah, you found it alright. After an hour. And fifteen minutes."

'Humph. Oh, well will you look over there. I do believe that's Bit Cloud's Liger.'

Tsukino jerked her head up, and began looking around quickly before spotting it. A White Liger.

"On second though, Blade, I think I'll just sleep in here."'Oh no you don't, you're sleeping in the hotel. You probably won't even run into him.'

"I'm staying here Blade, I really shouldn't waste money on a hotel anyway."

Blade sighed. 'Alright, you've forced me to do this.'

"Do what? Blade?" She said in a suspicious voice.

Blade opened the canopy and promptly tossed her out of the cockpit to land on her butt in the grass below, her bag hitting her head then bouncing off. Blade closed the canopy and settled onto the ground for the night.

"Blade! You jerk! Open the canopy right now!"

Her attempts were in vain however, as he had already shut down his command system, set on ignoring his irate partner. After glaring at him and starting several sentences without finishing one, she grabbed her bag, spun on her heel, and stalked off to the hotel.

Tsukino entered the establishment quietly, looking around for a particular person. After determining it to be free of blonde hair, she went to the check-in desk. The receptionist, an elderly woman, looked up at her and smiled kindly.

"Do you have a reservation, miss?"

"No ma'am. Is there any vacancy? Non-smoking?"

The woman briefly looked at the computer on the desk before turning back to Tsukino.

"Actually, yes. How many nights?"

"Just one."

"Name?"

"Flyheight. Tsukino."

"And how will you be paying, Miss Flyheight?"

"Cash."

"Alright then, just one moment."

It hadn't taken very long for Tsukino to get the key to her room. It was on the eighth floor, and she was currently on the elevator with a group of noisy partiers. One of the guys came up to her

"Hey lil' lady. You're pretty cute. How's about you join us, huh? It'll be fun."

Tsukino gave him a sharp glare. "Beat it, punk."

"So you're a feisty one, are ya'? I like that," he said reaching for her arm.

In the hallway of the eighth floor, the elevator doors opened and Tsukino calmly stepped out, leaving the offending guy on the floor holding his nose, his friends either making sure he was okay or gawking at Tsukino's retreating back.

"Why you little-!"

Tsukino stepped off and the door closed before he got to finish his sentence.

Idiot. She thought while flexing the hand she had punched him with.

"Let's see. 810, 812, 814, 816, ah! Room 818! That's me!"

Just as she was sticking the key card into it's slot, the door behind her opened. She glanced over her shoulder curiously.

"Oh. My. Gosh," she said. Standing right behind her, was the blonde brat, Bit Cloud himself.

Chapter Three End

Konnichiwa minna-san! (hello everyone!)

Chapter three is up! So what did you think, eh? I hope you guys liked it ^^

Thank you to my two faithful reviewers! Your reviews really encourage me to keep writing this story. If it ever seems like Bit's OOC, please tell me. I would really appreciate it ^^

Now, onto the review corner!

ITman496: You know, that would actually be funny XD And no, I don't think it could end well. Not well at all XD And you're right, I do need to update more often. I will do my best!

Rhavis: Lol I'm glad you like it ^^ The café scene was really fun for me to write J

Until chapter four!

God bless you,

Arashi