A/N: Yo! Mina-san. Sorry for the late update. I was furiously writing chapter 5 and 6 after the sem exam. Even finished writing this chapter, I was furiously refining it to make it better. I'm sorry for the long wait and I hope that this chapter manages to satisfy everybody.

Disclaimer: As I said before, I don't own Gundam 00 and Infinite Stratos.

Enjoy~!

Chapter 4: A new student

1-1 Class

"That's right. I'm Lingyin Huang, the representative of China. And I'm here to declare war on you." declare Rin.

Everyone in the class was stunned, surprised at her statement but none can compare to what Jayr was going through.

When Jayr heard what Rin said, a long forgotten memory suddenly surface within his mind and hit him with full force.

The sound of gunfire and his comrade screaming, explosion exploding around him, the sights of decapitated bodies, the blank looks of dead, and death is inevitable.

"Jayr!"

"Jayr!"

Jayr snapped out from his flashback and looked up and saw Ichika, Houki and Cecilia was looking worriedly at him while Ichika was waving his hand in front of his face.

"Jayr, are you ok?" asked Cecilia worriedly, "You looked pale."

Jayr was panting when he snapped out of his flashback. He shook his head to clear his head and took a couple of deep breath. This gave him a stable ground to suppress his emotion temporary.

"Nothing." Jayr lied, "I…I don't feel well, must be the food just now. I need to go to the toilet."

"Class is going to start." said Houki.

"Don't worry, I'll be back." said Jayr.

Jayr walked towards the door and he was about to reach the door, he looked up and take a look at Rin because Rin was blocking the door.

"Excuse me." said Jayr.

"S…sorry." said Rin.

Rin move to give Jayr some space to walk to the toilet. Before Jayr can go through, Rin notice something about Jayr, especially his eyes.

His eyes show the emotions of sorrows and guilt. And his eyes was harden that gave her the feeling that he had seen too much.

Jayr on the other hand didn't notice anything. He just walked past Rin and walk to the toilet.

Rin looked at Jayr as he walks towards the toilet. After a while, she pointed the general direction of where Jayr has walk.

"Who is he?"

Male toilet

"The Japanese sure can make it quick." muttered Jayr as he flushes the toilet.

The new male toilet was completed a day ago. Despite Jayr knew that Japanese was very efficient during his stay in Japan during his military days, it doesn't stop him from admiring the Japanese's efficiency.

As he finishes washing his hands, he covers one of his eyes feeling the coldness of the water and trying to get a grip on his emotion. Rin casualness in declaring war is causing Jayr to struggle not to lash out on Rin and at the same time his past memories that he had forgotten a time ago suddenly surfaced.

The sound of gunfire, the sound of his comrade screaming, explosion exploding around him, the sights of decapitated bodies, the looks of dead, and the knowledge of death is inevitable.

"DAMN IT"

Jayr punched the wall in frustration, unable to control his emotion. Despite stating he was cured for his PTSD in his medical records, he still struggles with his emotions and his memories from time to time.

During lunch break at the cafeteria

"So you mean he's the rumored second male pilot?" asked Rin as she put down her chopstick.

"Rumored second male pilot?" asked Ichika puzzled.

"Yes, there's been a rumor floating around about a second male pilot has enrolled in the academy." said Rin. "At first I didn't believe it but now seeing him for the first time. It's a bit hard to absorb it in."

"I see." said Ichika looking at the spot where Jayr used to occupy when he join them for lunch.

Jayr currently was nowhere to be found. When Jayr came back from toilet, he was late for ten minutes and was scolded by Chifuyu that it causes the whole class to shudder in fear due to the wrath of Chifuyu but Jayr had no reaction towards Chifuyu's scary scolding.

After being scolded, Jayr was punished by Chifuyu to run around the campus fifty laps in his uniform which is very stuffy of run in. When Jayr finished running, it was lunch break. Ichika expected Jayr would join them for lunch like usual or being harassed by Cecilia but he's nowhere to be found.

While Ichika was worried about Jayr, Houki was very upset that she couldn't spend her time with Ichika alone because Ichika had ask Rin to join them for lunch.

Earlier before the class starts, Ichika was able to introduce Rin to Houki and it wasn't pretty.

"Oh, that's Jayr." replied Ichika.

"Jayr?" asked Rin puzzled.

"I'll introduce him to you later when he's around." said Ichika. "Yeah, I almost forgot. Houki, this is my childhood friend Rin."

"Wh…what?" shouted Houki. "Childhood friend?"

This causes Rin to be disappointed. Rin had hoped that Ichika would introduce her not as his childhood friend.

"Yeah, she transfer to our school after you left." said Ichika. "Yeah, Rin. This is Shinonono Houki, the first childhood friend I've told you before."

"I'm first." muttered Houki relieved.

"I see. It's nice to meet the childhood friend that Ichika had been talking about." said Rin with a hint of challenge in her eyes.

"Nice to meet you too." replied Houki in a similar manner.

Ichika was happy that both of his childhood friend could meet unknowing that a declaration of war was made just in front of him. To the whole class, they could see both Houki and Rin were sizing each other up only through eye contact and they wouldn't want to know what would happen if they really got serious.

At class 1-1

It was a few minutes before class starts when Ichika saw Jayr came into the class.

"Hey, Jayr." called Ichika.

Jayr jumped at the voice and turn to see who's calling him. When he saw Ichika calling him, he took a deep breath and walk towards him.

Ichika was able to take a closer look at Jayr when Jayr approaches. Jayr's hair was slightly messy, his face shows sign of weariness and he suddenly looks older than he is. Despite that, he looks much better compared to this morning.

"Are you ok?" asked Ichika.

"It's nothing. Just had a rough time sleeping last night." Jayr lied.

Ichika was unconvinced because Jayr looks well this morning but being polite he didn't push it further.

"So want to continue training later?" asked Ichika.

'Might as well keep myself occupied.' thought Jayr.

"Ok. Same time and place." said Jayr nodded.

At Arena 2. After School.

"What did you say?" ask Ichika and Houki at the same time.

"I said I would like to see Houki to fight against Ichika." said Jayr.

"Why?" ask Houki.

"One, I'm curious on how much Ichika has improve in CQC after training with you. Two, I want to see how Ichika fight so I can see how I can help him to improve." said Jayr trying to keep his frustration in check.

"I see." said Ichika. "What do you think, Houki?"

"I think it might help you if you want." said Houki.

"I'll do it." said Ichika after a moment of thought.

"Ok then. Standard IS rules, time five minutes." said Jayr.

"Huh? Five minutes?" asked Houki puzzled.

"Yes. Five minutes. This is just a practice duel not a real one." said Jayr.

"Oh ok." replied Houki.

Both Houki and Ichika walk towards the center of the arena and deploy their respective IS.

"Ok. Ready?" asked Jayr looking for any responds from both of them and he receive none. "Go!"

Houki started the fight with a vertical slash at Ichika who manage to dodge it. Ichika slashes horizontally narrowing missing Houki. Houki then slash at Ichika who block it then it settled into a stalemate where both of them are looking for a chance to strike.

To Ichika and Houki who are both inexperience, this is normal for them, but to Jayr is another story. Jayr, who had military training and combat experiences, he was able to figure out a way to counter.

After watching them for a moment, Jayr was shaking his head. Both are just fighting as if they are in a competition. Despite that, Jayr was impressed with Houki's abilities to balance her aggressiveness with a smooth flow of attacks.

Houki's aggressiveness was forcing Ichika to be defensive most of the time but her pattern is repetitive. Ichika on the other hand was being pressed at the start of the practice but later when he got the feel of Houki's attack, he's starting to counter when he saw an opening.

'All it takes is one slight mistake then Ichika can have the advantage,' thought Jayr. 'But still, there are many opening that Ichika can take to disrupt her flow.'

When the five minutes mock battle was up, nobody manages to land any hits but Houki won due to her shield level remaining is higher than Ichika.

"What do you think?" asked Ichika.

"Well…., do you want my honest opinion?" asked Jayr rubbing his neck.

Ichika just nodded.

"Ok, then. If you really fight like that in the match, you won't be having much problem against regulars but against representatives, you are going to have a lot of problems." said Jayr.

"Regulars?" asked Houki and Jayr.

"Er… meaning normal competitors or normal training students here." said Jayr.

"Oh, ok. What problems you were talking about?" asked Ichika.

"Er…." Jayr was struggling to explain it in simple terms that Ichika can understand until an idea struck him.

"Houki, how much is your shield level remaining?" asked Jayr.

"Huh? It'll be full for another two to three minutes." replied Houki puzzled. "Why?"

"I think it's better if I demonstrate why." said Jayr. "Are you ok for another round?"

"Ok. I guess." said Houki hesitantly remembering that his fighting style is very different from what she's used to.

'Hope I can keep up.' thought Houki worriedly.

"Later when we fight imagine me as your opponent and Houki as you." said Jayr looking at Ichika. "It'll give you a rough idea what I'm talking about."

After a moment later, Jayr and Houki can be seen in the middle of the arena with their respective IS deployed but Jayr's IS is lacking the shield and the back-up plasma saber as it's just a demonstration. Jayr was swinging his katana around warming up for the demonstration while Houki has a worried face.

"Are you two ready?" asked Ichika.

"Wait. Houki, just a friendly advice. Expect the unexpected." said Jayr readying himself.

Houki just looked at him and nodded.

'What does he mean? Expect the unexpected?' thought Houki readying herself.

"Ok?" asked Ichika receiving no response from the both of them. "GO!"

As Jayr expected, Houki started the attack by charging at him with her katana raise for a vertical slash. Jayr just block her attack then suddenly tilted his blade to the left causing Houki to lose her balance and Jayr just spin around her and hit her back with the back of the of his hilt of the katana.

This causes Houki to stumble. When she got her footing back, she barely manages to block Jayr's horizontal slash. Instead of pressing onto her as she expects him to do, he pulls back his katana and jump off.

To her surprise, he flips his katana downwards holding it like a blade and charges her slashing his katana upwards. She manages to dodge his slash but before she can attack, Jayr flips his katana and just slash downwards with such force that when Houki block it she was pinned onto the ground.

'What force!' thought Houki in awe.

Ichika was looking in shock at how Jayr was overwhelming Houki which is he haven't seen it in his life. Jayr was using a unique method of fighting that he hasn't seen before.

'I think I get his meaning of problem.' thought Ichika nervously when he imagines himself fighting against Jayr.

'I couldn't find a way to counter him.' thought Houki dodging and blocking his attack. 'He's too fast and random to predict. I need to find a game changer and fast.'

Despite focusing on his attack on Houki, Jayr still have the mental capacity to observe his attack and change it. This is an asset and a liability to Jayr as Jayr can change his pattern according to the situation but sometimes he was too focus to changing his pattern that he lost his focus causing an opening to be exploited by the opponent which is what just happened.

'There!' thought Houki seeing an opening.

She deflects his blade disrupting his flow and started her attack.

'Damn it.' thought Jayr cursing himself to be that careless while blocking a vertical slash.

Now the tables have turn in Houki's favor. Jayr is now dodging and blocking Houki's aggressive attack. Whenever he's tried to counter, Houki was ready for it.

'Now she's trying to prevent me from attacking.' thought Jayr blocking Houki's horizontal slash. 'But she hasn't figured out to land a blow. Small favors but enough for me.'

Ichika was surprised that the tables has turn into Houki's favor. Jayr was too fast for him to see any way to counter.

'By the look of it, Houki is going to win.' thought Ichika. 'But what would happen if Jayr had deployed his full arsenal?'

While Jayr was observing her pattern and try to find an opening, the sound of his katana blocking an overhead slash from Houki suddenly causes him to have a flashback.

A sonic blade closing in going to pierce through his cockpit.

"No. No." muttered Jayr in fear stumbling back when suddenly human most primitive nature kicks in. It's the fight or flight response causing his eyes to flash gold.

"YOU THINK I'M GONNA LET YOU!"

Instead of blocking Houki's horizontal slash, he slammed his katana into Houki's katana catching Houki by surprise losing her balance. Then, he attack.

Start "Monster – Skillet"

Houki just recover her balance when Jayr attack causing her to barely blocking Jayr's attack. The force behind the blade was much more powerful than usual causing her to skid back.

'What the heck?' thought Houki.

Before she can fully recover, Jayr was literary onto her attacking her brutally.

'What's going on?' thought Ichika. 'He wasn't like this before.'

He was caught surprised when Jayr suddenly shouted but to say shocked at Jayr's sudden brutality in attacking Houki. He was not overwhelming her. He is brutally pounding her causing her to be defensive all the time without a chance to attack.

Jayr was fighting on pure emotion and instinct. The emotions that suddenly surfaced this morning plus the fact the way Houki fights reminds him of the battles that he had experienced beforehand was enough to caused him to go on a rampage.

'Am I imagining it or he's getting faster?' thought Houki dodging and blocking his attacks. 'And downright brutal?'

After when Jayr started his counter attack, she felt that Jayr is getting faster and faster. He's also starting to aim at the vital parts like the chest, head and legs which he didn't did it before. Houki was force to block and dodge by instinct.

Houki was about to block Jayr's another overhead slash when she noticed Jayr face was downright murderous. This causes Houki to freeze in the positon she was in.

Instead of slashing overhead, Jayr move his blade over hers and hit her katana from the behind causing Houki to lost grip of her katana.

Jayr jumps back and kicked her causing Houki to stumble and fall onto the ground. As Houki was about to stand up, she was stepped on causing her unable to stand up.

End "Monster – Skillet"

As she looked up, she saw Jayr was stepping on her and he was flipping his blade ready to thrust downwards.

"HOUKI!"

Before Jayr can react, Jayr was rammed by Ichika deployed in his IS causing Jayr to be instantly snapped out from his rage. Jayr stood up on all four breathing hard trying to figure out what had happened when an image flash through his brain.

Jayr stepping onto Houki as he flips his katana for the final blow.

"Are you ok, Houki?" Ichika put himself between Jayr and Houki as he deploys his blade.

"Yeah, I'm ok." said Houki tiredly.

"DAMN IT!"

Both Ichika and Houki turn towards Jayr and saw him hitting the ground. Ichika walked towards Jayr cautiously.

Jayr was clenching his fist cursing at himself for losing control of his emotion again. He forced himself to unclench his fist and too a couple of deep breath. He had an explanation to make.

Jayr stood up and saw Ichika walking towards him cautiously. He sighed as he deactivate his IS and walked towards Ichika.

Ichika put down his blade as he saw Jayr deactivate his IS and walked towards Jayr.

"Is Houki ok?" asked Jayr.

"She's… ok. What happened just now?" asked Ichika.

"I…I Do you mind giving me a minute?" asked Jayr.

"Ok, I guess." replied Ichika.

"Thanks." said Jayr as he walked towards the hanger.

Ichika looked at Jayr walking towards the hanger as Houki joins him.

"So… what happened to him?" asked Houki.

"I don't know." said Ichika shaking his head.

"I see." said Houki suddenly feeling light headed.

Ichika turn around as he heard a thud.

"HOUKI!"

At the Hangar

Jayr saw Rin was in the hanger as he entered the hanger. He suddenly remembered what she had said this morning.

"That's right. I'm Lingyin Huang, the representative of China. And I'm here to declare war on you."

Jayr face slightly darkens as he walked towards Rin. Rin was waiting for Ichika to come in when she noticed that Jayr was walking towards her.

"Miss, you are?" asked Jayr handing out his hand for a handshake.

"I'm Rin. It's nice to meet you, Jayr." said Rin shaking his hand.

"Wait, how did you know my name?" asked Jayr eyes narrowed.

"Ichika gave me your name this morning. He said he'll introduce me to you later."

"I see. Rin, I want to ask what you mean by declaring war this morning?" asked Jayr suspiciously.

"Oh, that. It's just a way to increase the spirit for the upcoming league. I'm not really declaring war." said Rin.

'Just as I thought.' thought Jayr. 'But still…'

"I see." said Jayr closing his eyes.

"Is there a problem?" asked Rin looking at Jayr curiously.

"Nothing." said Jayr walking past Rin.

Rin turn and looking at Jayr walking towards the exit of the hanger puzzled. She was about to turn around when she heard Jayr calling her name.

"Rin. Just a piece of advice." said Jayr with a serious tone looking around his shoulder. "There are consequences for every word you said. One day it'll bite you in the ass and you'll regret what you have said."

After finished saying, Jayr exit the hangar.

Rin looked at the door puzzled at what he said until she remembered something from this morning.

His eyes.

'Is the feeling I felt from him was right?' thought Rin until she heard the sound of a gate opening.

She turned towards the gate and saw Ichika was carrying Houki fainted in his arms.

"What…what happened?" asked Rin shocked.

"Later." Ichika said. "I need to take Houki to the infirmary first."

At the Infirmary

"She just passed out from sheer exhaustion." said the doctor flipping through the notes. "She just needs a day of rest and she can be discharge tomorrow."

"I see. Thank you, doctor." said Ichika while bowing.

After the doctor has walked away, Rin started to ask something that has been puzzling her.

"What happened?"

"I think Jayr probably got carried away or something when he wanted to demonstrate something about what would happen if I fought as if I'm in a competition." said Ichika.

"What does he mean by in a competition?" asked Rin puzzled.

"I don't know but he said that after watching Houki and I do a round of mock battle." said Ichika scratching his head.

'Is… what I felt correct?' thought Rin.

At night. Room 0040

"Tell my wife that I love her."

Eric head was shot and he slumped into the ground.

"ERIC!"

Jayr woke up sweating and panting.

"Damn it." whispered Jayr.

Jayr turned and looked out at the window. After a moment later, Jayr made a decision.

"Since I can't sleep, might as well take a walk."

At the rooftop of the dorm

Wearing a T-shirt and a short pant, Jayr instantly felt the coolness of the night when he opens the entrance to the rooftop.

Jayr walked to the railings and lean on it. Jayr looked towards the direction of the closest town and smiled slightly. For a moment there, he felt peace and quietness until he heard the sound of the door opening.

Jayr, by instinct, face towards the door with his body in combat position prepared for a fight.

"WHO'S THERE?"

"I didn't expect you to be up here so late." said the unknown figure while walking into the light.

Jayr force himself to relax when he heard the voice. It was Chifuyu Orimura.

"Sorry, Orimura-sensei." said Jayr. "I had a rather… emotional day."

"Emotional day?" asked Chifuyu. "That must be an understatement of the year."

Jayr chuckled at that. She nailed it right on the head.

"Yeah pretty much." said Jayr turn back towards the direction he was looking.

"So why are you up here?" asked Chifuyu.

"I had a nightmare." said Jayr rubbing his face with his palm. "And the view is nice up here so I figure it's a nice place to clear my head a bit."

"It's against the rule for student to be out of their rooms at this hour." said Chifuyu causing Jayr to look at her in shock.

"But I'll let this slide since from the look of your face tells me that you don't know anything." continued Chifuyu before Jayr can say anything. "But don't repeat it again next time."

"I see." said Jayr in relief. "Thank you, Orimura-Sensei."

"Could you explain why did you knocked Shinonono out?" asked Chifuyu after a moment of silence.

"Wait! I knocked out Houki?" asked Jayr shocked.

"Not really knocked out but you exhausted Shinonono so much that she fainted and now she's is in the infirmary." asked Chifuyu. "And she's fine."

"I see." Jayr sigh a breath of relief.

"So do you mind explaining what happened?" asked Chifuyu.

For a moment, Jayr didn't reply her question. He just continues to stare at the city lights.

'Should I?' thought Jayr quietly. 'I know she had been through the same thing I've been through but still…..'

In the end, Jayr decided to tell her. Not because she had experienced the same situation from what he had read from the files about her but for some unknown reason, his instinct told him that he could trust her.

"Orimura-Sensei, do you still remember that I told you that I used to have PTSD?" asked Jayr.

"Yes, I do remember that." Chifuyu replied after a moment of thought.

"I know it sound a bit too much but when Rin said she declare war I had flashbacks of the past memories I had when I'm in military service." said Jayr closing his eyes. "I lost control of my emotion during the mock fight."

Chifuyu's silences indicate Jayr to continue his story.

As Jayr opens his eyes, he saw a field full of destroyed Realdo and Helion. He ran as he heard gunfire. He ran until he was pulled by someone behind a Realdo. Jayr was about to punch the guy when he realize that it was his close friend, Eric.

"Am I glad to see you!" said Eric happily crouching on the floor.

Jayr was lost for words as he sees his friend.

"Wh…what happened?" asked Jayr.

"One moment we were getting ready to jump then suddenly the plane got hit by an AA." said Eric.

"Have you seen sarge?" said Jayr.

"Not yet. I'm just as lost as you are. Most of us are scattered around." said Eric. "Come on. We need to get to the safe zone."

Jayr nodded and was toss an AK-47.

"Found this on a couple of dead. Worse than M8 but better than unarmed." said Eric readying his AK. "Ready?"

Jayr nodded and Eric ran into the open first. A shot rang through and Eric was clutching to his chest.

"Damn it!"

"Eric!" said Jayr while putting himself between Eric and the unknown sniper while aiming his gun at the general direction that the shot came from.

"Don't!" say Eric while pushing Jayr back into the cover of the destroyed Realdo.

Caught surprised, Jayr stumbled and fell while looking at Eric shock.

"Tell my wife that I love her."

Eric head was shot and he slumped into the ground.

"ERIC!"

"Eric, he was a comrade of mine and the closest friend I had during the academy. He was killed when we was deployed to Egypt by a sniper." said Jayr after a moment of silence. "And I was there when he was shot in the head just to save me."

"He's the best shooter in the whole regiment and got shot by a sniper." Jayr laughed bitterly. "If he's here, he would also laugh at the irony."

"Life always messed with you in any way you couldn't imagine." said Chifuyu looking at the distance city with her hand cross in front of her chest.

"You are referring to your brother's kidnapping, is it?" asked Jayr.

"Figure you know it sooner or later." said Chifuyu calmly. "Yes, I'm referring to my brother kidnapping."

'Blood that I've spilled just to save my brother.' thought Chifuyu bitterly remembering the memory that she hated so much.

"A vet once told me that it's normal for anyone to be in shock after they killed someone. He also said it'll get easier." said Jayr feeling her conflicting emotion through his innovator intuition.

Chifuyu was shocked that Jayr was able to read her emotion.

"I got used to it after some time but it never got easier." said Jayr before Chifuyu can say anything.

"Got used to it?" asked Chifuyu curious.

"It got easier to pull the trigger but the people I've kill always still weights on my heart." said Jayr gripping the handle of the railing so hard that his fist went white. "I always keep thinking of all the life I've taken."

"But you did it as a soldier." said Chifuyu.

"Even as a soldier, it's no excuse that I'm being used to kill someone else." said Jayr still gripping the handle.

"Aren't you a bit too hard on yourself?" asked Chifuyu.

"Maybe." Jayr chuckled. "But isn't the pot calling the kettle black?"

"What?" A surprised Chifuyu asked.

"Compare to me, you have a more valid reason of why you had to kill." said Jayr turned towards Chifuyu and lean on the railings. "You did it as a sister trying to protect her brother."

"But…" said Chifuyu.

"You were concern about your brother that you had to kill to protect." said Jayr looking right at her eyes. "And in my book, that's the purest form of killing to me."

Chifuyu looked at Jayr slightly surprised. After hearing the word, she felt the burden of the guilt have lifted a bit. Her friend, Tabane Shinonono, tried to cheer her up but met with little success. For a stranger to have such an effect on her, it was the first time for her.

After the kidnaping incident, she felt depressed because of the fact that she had to kill to save her brother. Since then, she's determined to become stronger to avoid killing unless necessary but the guilt of killing haven't diminished which is one of the reason she drinks.

Chifuyu chuckled slightly catching Jayr off guard. Jayr haven't seen Chifuyu showing any emotion except being angry or annoyed.

"What?" Jayr asked curiously with a thin smile on his lips.

"Nothing." said Chifuyu quickly returning to her normal composure.

'I never thought I would show my emotion in front of someone. Not to mention a stranger.' thought Chifuyu.

"If you say so." said Jayr knowing that if he pushes it, he won't get anything out from her.

A comfortable silence passed between as both of them enjoy the view the lights of the city.

At a unknown location

A lone figure can be seen looking at a monitor that is illuminating the dark room.

"So this is the new male that can pilot IS." said the figure smiling. "Looks like he getting along with Chi-chan."

The screen of the monitor shows a live overhead view of Jayr and Chifuyu on rooftop of the IS academy dorm.

A/N: There's the end of this chapter. If anyone manages to find out who's the mysterious person, I'll give you a cookie. BTW, I'm testing the system about the songs played for specific part of fanfic so if there's any comments or recommendations of songs, pls fire away. As always, please read and review.