( huge X Series-esque WARNING appears) This is the author's first ever deliberate attempt at fluff. If you feel offended at having to read such mediocre tripe, kindly tell the author to stick to his writing forte.

All jokes aside, I am kinda nervous.

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Chapter 4: Destined Souls

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Terry placed his final pair of jeans into his duffel bag, and then peeped into his small wardrobe to see if he had any other articles of clothing to pack. He did not know how long that they would be gone, so he could not afford to miss anything.

Finding his wardrobe bare, he next turned to the small bookshelf next to his bed. The top shelf contained comics and manga, while the bottom shelf contained more substantial reading. He pulled a couple books from each shelf, and then tossed them into the bag on top of his clothes.

He paused, wondering how late it was. He pulled out his PET to check. '' What time is it Dash?''

'' Eleven ten.'' Dash answered. '' Should I shut down for the night?''

Terry nodded. '' Yeah, go ahead. I'll put you in the charger.''

'' Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow then.'' Dash's image turned 2-D, and tucked itself away. Terry switched the PET off, and then placed it on the charger next to his bed.

Hmm, the sky should look nice by now… he thought to himself.

And so he found himself, several minutes later, on HQ's roof, laying on his back with his hands behind his head, gazing at the night sky.

It was a very beautiful sight to behold. Individual stars shone brightly in various shades of red, white, and blue, while a large star band stretched over head. Several decades ago, this sky was obscured by the light pollution from Densan. Now, with Densan abandoned, the only light in the sky came from the heavens.

There was no noise either. Everything was dead quiet. Which was why he was able to detect the soft footsteps that were nearing him.

'' Hello Karla.'' he said without averting his eyes.

'' How did you know it was me?'' she asked, sitting down next to him.

'' Simple.'' Terry said. '' First, your footsteps are lighter than everyone else's. Second,'' he turned his head to look at her. '' You're the only one who seems to always seek me out when the others aren't around.'' He took a pause. '' Why?''

'' Umm… well…'' Karla began, looking a little embarrassed. '' We're both the same age and the two youngest… And I sorta li-'' she cut herself off and changed the subject.

'' What'cha doing up here?''

'' Stargazing.'' Terry answered.

'' Stargazing?'' Karla repeated, lying down next to him.

'' Yeah, I used to do this a lot when I was a kid.'' Terry replied, turning his head back towards the sky. '' See all of those stars? Uncle Charles said that each one represented a soul in Heaven. Destined souls… that's what they were…''

'' Uncle who?'' Karla asked.

'' The aid worker that took me in when my parents died was named Charles.'' Terry explained. '' I'm not sure what his last name was though… Slate would know.''

'' After the defection,'' he continued. '' we lived here. Back then, our rebellion consisted of Slate, Butch, a man named Hugh, and another guy we just called Pork. Those four did the fighting, while Charles held down the fort back here and raised and educated he best he could. When he had a stroke and died, it was awful. Losing the man who had treated me like his real son was hard.''

'' Well, you're lucky that you had someone who cared about you.'' Karla said. '' I was one my own. I survived through petty thievery and the like. It was only when I tried to steal from Slate that my luck turned.''

Terry propped himself up on his elbows. '' Yeah, what exactly happened? I remember him dragging a wild looking girl with black hair into HQ. I, we rather, would've been fifteen or so…''

'' Well…'' Karla recalled. '' He sort of glared at me, grabbed my wrist, and said I hate seeing sights like this! I thought that he was going to beat me.''

Terry smiled. '' Social outrage huh?''

Karla nodded. '' Yes… But it turned out to be a blessing. For the first time I knew people that cared for me, instead of looking right through me.''

She turned her eyes back to the sky. '' What's that reddish object?'' she asked. '' Is it a star?''

Terry squinted. '' Nah, that's too bright to be a star. That's a planet. Mars probably.''

He turned his head to look at her again. '' You know, every once and a while, you can see a falling star.''

'' What's that?''

'' When a meteorite falls to Earth, it heats up as it enters the atmosphere and burns away. We see a streak of light when this happens, and call it a ' falling' or 'shooting' star. Some people believe that if you make a wish when you see one, it'll come true.''

Really? Karla thought. Then I'll make one that is close to my heart.

Terry interrupted her thought. '' What would you wish for?''

She smiled at him. '' It's a secret.''

Terry gave her an odd look. '' You're no fun.''

'' Okay then, what would you wish for?'' she shot back.

'' Me? I dunno… A world where there was a true peace… People have been overcome by their greed and selfishness and have forgotten about justice and other morals.'' Terry said.

How typical. Karla thought. He's always trying to act the hero, running recklessly into situations. How like him.

'' Sometimes I get the feeling that the only way peace can really be restored is by a wish…'' Terry sighed, unaware that his audience of one had drifted off into her own thoughts.

'' You're being too hard.'' she told him. '' Remember when we first buried Saito? You said that the heroes of the past are gone, and that it is up to us, the fighters of the present, to restore justice. That was an oath, which means that we will fulfill it!''

Terry looked her in the eye. Why did her words of encouragement create a strange sensation inside of him? It was something akin to comfort and warmth, yet at the same time, far beyond it. His brain, however, kicked into gear and figured out what it was, and the result was truly surprising.

But then a voice ran out, completely ruining the moment. '' Hey! What're you two doing up here?''

Butch was standing about ten feet away, a bemused look on his face.

Karla sat up. '' Stargazing.'' she answered flatly.

Butch's bemused expression changed to an amused one. '' Well, from where I'm standing, it don't look so innocent, but I'll take your word for it. You better get inside or Vick will start spreading rumors. Say you're boyfriend and girlfriend or something.''

'' Damn, he's right.'' Terry sighed, getting up as he did so.

'' Also,'' Butch continued. '' it's past your bedtime tykes. Since we're leaving tomorrow, it's best to get a decent sleep.

Karla gave him a sullen look. '' Don't patronize us! We're not little kids!''

'' Oh just leave it.'' Terry told her. '' Night.'' he said, passing Butch as he head back down the stairs into HQ. Karla followed him, but not before giving Butch a look of supreme distaste.

He counted off thirty seconds to give the pair a head start, and then headed down himself. He rubbed his chin as he headed towards his own room. That look that Karla had given him… it was as if he had intruded upon something precious and sacred.

Could it be? he thought to himself. He chuckled. '' Well, I really shouldn't be surprised, should I?''

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There you have it, my first deliberate fluff chapter. Hope it wasn't too painful to read. Heh, you'll have to wait a bit for chapter 5, cause next I'm gonna work on a (hopefully) humorous Oneshot. See ya.