AN: Now, with Chapter 9 done, here is chapter 10. Please forgive me if this'll be crappy, but I'm still recovering from my Biology report and my rhinitis just acted up a few days ago so my brain is still a bit…well, hazy. Thanks to those who reviewed and to those who will review.

Chapter X: Car chase and Bad News

Once they got to their cars, Rain and Deuce helped Queen and Rem with the babies' things. They were surprised that their cars were parked very close to one another.

"Okay, so, let's meet each other in the Peristylium." Rain said and they nodded. Then, they rode their cars, with Deuce riding with Rain. As they got on the road, Rain's phone started ringing. Rain noticed that the caller ID said 'Queen' so, she pressed the 'answer' button.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Rain! We're in conference mode with Rem." Queen said.

"Why are we in conference mode?" Deuce asked curiously.

"Why do you think they need us back at the Peristylium?" Rem asked them.

"I don't know. But I'm willing to bet it is not good news." Rain answered.

"I called Nine a few minutes ago and he said he didn't know either. I hate not knowing." Queen said, sighing.

"Don't think too much, Queen, you're driving a car. You tend to space out when- whoa! Watch it ass wipe!" Rem yelled over the phone. They were surprised at what she just said. Rem hardly curses.

"Rem, language, please, you have a baby on board and you're on the phone with Queen! The kids could pick that up easily." Rain complained.

"Sorry, it's just some jerk nearly sideswiped me." She replied.

"Still, don't say- hey! Same jerk nearly sideswiped me." Queen said as they stopped by the traffic light.

"Hold your horses Queen, where is he?" Rain asked curiously.

"Yeah, that's kind of the problem, he's right behind you." Queen answered. Rain looked at her rearview mirror and there was a black pickup truck behind them and the driver was wearing black sunglasses and a handkerchief around his face. Being in the military for three years, Rain knew that when you see someone like that on a normal day without any war going on, you immediately suspect them.

"Deuce, buckle your seatbelt now." Rain ordered sternly as she kept her eyes on the rearview mirror and she was revving the engine.

"Why?" She asked, panicking was starting to rise within her.

"Just do it." Rain answered her as she shifted her eyes from the rearview mirror to the traffic light. Deuce immediately buckled her seatbelt.

"Guys, what's going on?" Queen asked worriedly.

"I want you guys to go to the Peristylium ahead of us. Just tell them we'll be running a bit late." Rain ordered as she revved the engine once again.

"What? Why?" Rem asked.

"Just do it!" Rain yelled and she immediately started driving as fast as she could as soon as the traffic light turned green. They saw the car following them and they saw Rem and Queen going ahead of them. Rain switched to the second lane hoping that the car would stop following them but unfortunately, it stayed on the same lane and it grabbed the chance to start ramming the car.

"This guy just doesn't give up doesn't he?" Rain said and she rammed the car back. Luckily, there aren't too many cars around. The car rammed them really hard this time and Rain hit her head on the window, causing a wound and blood started pouring down.

"Rain, can't you just look for a way to get out? God, you are always looking for a fight!" Deuce yelled at her. Okay, that was the mood swings and the panic talking.

"I'm trying!" Rain yelled. Suddenly, Deuce's phone started ringing; it was Ace. She immediately answered it.

"Ace?"

"Where are you guys? Rem and Queen said you're in trouble and they were speeding as if they were racing." Ace said in a panicked voice.

"We are in trouble! Some ass is ramming our car non-stop and Rain is ramming it back while trying to get out of the scuffle!" Deuce explained in a frightened voice. By now, the window in Rain's car was smashed and her left hand was bleeding, as well as small cuts on her face.

"What? What's going on now?" Ace asked worriedly.

"Um…it hit us again and it doesn't look like he's stopping anytime. Ace, I'm scared!" Deuce said as she cried.

"Look, over there! That could be our ticket to stop this!" Rain said as she pointed towards a car that was stopped at due to the red traffic light.

"Come on, you son of a bitch." Rain said and when she was only few inches away from the car, she moved to the next lane just in time as the next car tried to ram them again, but instead he hit the stopped car. Rain stopped by the corner to look at the scene. The driver of the pickup got out of the car and ran towards the opposite direction. Rain tried to go after him but after Deuce pulled her back and she saw her beloved cousin's tear stained face, she decided not to and instead started driving once more.

"Deuce? How are you guys doing?" Ace asked worriedly over the phone.

"We managed to get away. We're on our way and you might want to call a doctor there because Rain is banged up pretty bad." She replied.

"Okay, just get here fast and in one piece alright." Ace said desperately.

"We will. I love you." Deuce answered.

"I love you too." Ace replied and Deuce hung up. She looked over at Rain, who was wincing in pain and she was starting to become pale. If they don't get to the Peristylium fast, the blood loss is going to get to her. Rain sensed her worried look and sighed.

"Open the glove compartment. Take the vacuum flask, the rag and the bottle of pills." Rain ordered her. Deuce opened it and took everything that Rain said.

"Now, pour the water on the rag. Don't worry, it's cold water." Rain explained. Deuce did so and handed the rag to her. Rain pressed the rag to her forehead.

"That should stop the bleeding for a while. Now, give me two of those pills." Rain said and Deuce did so and handed her two white pills. Rain popped them in her mouth and Deuce made her drink from the flask.

"Thanks." She said as they drove on the bridge to the Peristylium's Island. As they got nearer, Deuce noticed that Rain was struggling to stay conscious. She kept on blinking and she looked like she was about to barf.

"Hey, you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"I don't know." Rain said with a pained expression. Finally, they reached the gates of the Peristylium, where the others were waiting by their cars with Professor Kurasame. Cinque, who is 8 months pregnant, and Cater were playing with Kara and Camille while Seven, Jack, Sice and King was teaching Adam how to walk. Rain stepped on the brakes suddenly, making them skid to a halt and Rain lost consciousness. She dropped on the wheel and the others immediately ran up to them. Rem and Queen ran up to Rain while Ace helped Deuce out of the car. Ace immediately hugged his wife, who was trembling with fear.

"Are you alright? God, I was so scared." He said, his voice cracked as he spoke.

"I'm alright." She replied. Suddenly, Queen yelled something out.

"Oh, god! She's burning up! Get her to a doctor!" She ordered with a panicked voice. Jack and Eight immediately helped her up, but Rain was struggling to walk. Suddenly, a man came up to them and Deuce, Rem and Queen immediately noticed him as James.

"James! What are you doing here?" Deuce asked.

"You know him?" Ace asked.

"He's Rain's best friend in college." Deuce answered.

"I'm the new doctor here, Deuce." James said as he inspected Rain's injuries.

"Damn, the blood loss is getting to her. We have to get her to the infirmary." James declared and he took Rain in his arms and he took off for the infirmary. Ace and Deuce immediately followed him while the others headed for the Headmaster's office.

When they got to the infirmary, James immediately set Rain on one of the beds. Ace and Deuce sat beside her.

"Is she going to be alright?" Deuce asked, worried for her dear cousin.

"Yeah, luckily, she doesn't need a blood transfusion." James answered as he patched Rain's wounds up. Afterwards, Rain's eyes fluttered open.

"Where am I?" She asked as she rubbed her face.

"You're in the Peristylium's infirmary." James answered her. Rain looked at him with surprise written all over her face.

"What are you doing here?" Rain asked curiously and she was wearing a smile on her face, which made the three of them think if she had a concussion or she was on crack.

"I'm the new doctor here." James answered as if it was common sense.

"Fair enough." Was the only reply they heard from her. Rain stood up but she could hardly keep herself balanced. James managed to catch her before she hit her head again.

"Here, put this on your head to keep your temperature down." James instructed her and he handed her an ice pack. Rain took it with a grateful smile and she started blushing like crazy. Ace and Deuce noticed it and just stood there looking amused.

"Well, they're probably waiting for us, so…let's go." Rain said as she pressed the pack to her head and walked out the infirmary. Ace and Deuce followed her immediately.

When they got to the headmaster's office, the others were already waiting for them. The three of them sat on the last couch. Rain, still feeling as if a chocobo kicked her on the head, set the ice pack on the armrest and buried her face in it. Kurasame and the headmaster entered the office and everyone except Rain looked up in wonder.

"I'm sure all of you are wondering why we called you back here." The headmaster began. "But I'm afraid I have some bad news." He added and he handed Rain an envelope. Rain took the paper inside of it and read its contents aloud.

To the Rubrum Government,

Thanks to your army's efforts, Milites lost the war 7 years ago. Now, we will take revenge. We will kill your youngest lieutenant and your precious Class Zero as well as their children and the people closest to them. You have our word.

Rain finished reading it and handed the paper back to Kurasame. Kurasame took it and set the paper back on the desk. He looked around and saw that his former students had looks of fear and anger.

"Who sent it?" Nine asked. His voice had a tone of anger and a bit of fear in it and his glare was active. Hell, if looks could kill, the whole of Oriense would be destroyed by now. But the others could tell that he was scared for his wife and daughter.

"Didn't say." Rain answered and she winced in pain. "If I know Milites soldiers, they're men of their word." She added.

"Why would they wait seven years to come and attack us?" Queen asked Kurasame. But before he can give an answer, Rain intervened.

"They obviously needed time to prepare. Replenish their forces." She answered and The Headmaster nodded.

"They can go after you anytime. We called you here so you can be aware of this new threat. They will go after you because you stopped Aulstyne and saved Oriense, they will go after Rain because she was made a lieutenant at 18 and she was responsible for taking intel from them, enabling us to hit their weak spots. And now that she's 23, they're afraid that she'll enlist again." The headmaster explained.

"I'm 24." Rain complained. Deuce shook her head. Rain always did hate it when people forget how old she really is.

"That's true. She turned 24 last year. She's turning 25 this year." Deuce said before anyone could even ask.

"Anyways, be aware from now on. Danger could come at you anytime." Kurasame said. They all nodded in confirmation.

"You may leave now." The headmaster said and they all stood up and left.

"Rain, you stay. We have to talk to you." Kurasame ordered her. Rain signaled for them to go and they did but Deuce, Ace and the rest of them except for Rem, Machina, King, Sice, Queen and Nine listened by the door.

"What is it, headmaster?" They heard Rain ask.

"Rain, we called you back because we want you to enlist again." Kurasame said. Rain gasped.

"No, I swore to the Fal'cies that after my final mission three years ago, I would leave the army completely." Rain replied.

"It's only until we take down the remnants of the former Milites army." Kurasame answered.

"You want me to do what? Lead men to their deaths once again? Last time I did that, five of my men, my friends died because I was too weak to save them." Rain countered furiously. Deuce remembered that day. Rain came back from a mission battered, bruised but most of all broken. Behind her walking that day, were men carrying five coffins, each covered with the Suzaku flag. Rain held herself responsible for their deaths because her men saved her from Milites soldiers. She was surrounded by tons and they saved her by killing the soldiers but they were too wounded to be saved. After that, Rain entered a state of depression and trauma and had a really bad case of survivor's guilt that she went into therapy for a few months. She recovered eventually, but the guilt never faded. When Deuce asked her about it, Rain explained everything and ended bitterly with the words; 'I was the leader. I was supposed to look out for them and save them when needed, but instead I failed and they saved me. To save one life, Etro needed five'

After that incident, Rain was honorably discharged from duty, which was the exact same time that she was planning to leave and the funeral of her comrades. Rain attended their funerals but she stayed far since she was too ashamed to show herself to the soldiers' families. Eventually, she made peace with the families who made it clear to her that she wasn't responsible for their deaths. It helped Rain a bit but she felt that the only way to find her friends justice was by killing the person who was in charge of the operation at the time. Deuce snapped out of her musings when she heard Kurasame speak up again.

"If you enlist once again, you can end this once and for all and maybe find the person who was in charge of that base where your men died. You'll be promoted to captain." He explained. Rain sighed and it seems like she was hesitating.

"It'll be a chance to protect them." The headmaster said. Deuce gasped, he seriously can't be using that card. He knows that they were her weak spot. Rain has personal loyalty; she is willing to give her life up for her family and friends.

"I don't want to do it anymore, but I don't want to keep them at harms way." Rain said. Deuce sighed and face palmed; she knew what Rain's answer was going to be.

"I'll do it." She replied. Deuce hit her head on the door; she didn't want Rain to leave; she wanted her here for when she gives birth. Deuce peeked at the keyhole and saw Kurasame handing Rain her old gladius and a box. Rain opened the box and she seemed surprised at what she saw.

"Two silver bars." Rain said.

"Congratulations, Captain. You'll be leaving in a month." Kurasame said. Rain nodded and she walked to the door. Unfortunately, they couldn't get away in time and Rain opened the door, making them fall down from where they were standing.

"How much did you guys hear?" Rain asked them. Cinque looked up at her with a frightened expression.

"A lot." She admitted. All of them groaned in annoyance; one of the most annoying things about Cinque was that she caves in too easily.

"Alright, fine, you caught me. Now get off my pregnant cousin." Rain ordered them.

"You're pregnant too?" Cater asked as they got off Deuce. Rain helped Deuce and Ace up and Deuce nodded.

"Yeah, why? Are you?" Deuce asked Cater. Cater nodded in confirmation and Eight wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Yup, 2 months, how about you?" Cater asked.

"A month and a half." Deuce answered and she yawned all of a sudden.

"We better get home." Ace said and Deuce nodded.

"Bye guys." Deuce said and she, Ace and Rain left.

"So, you're really leaving aren't you?" Deuce asked Rain. Rain nodded and Deuce pouted again. Rain rolled her eyes, knowing that Deuce obviously wanted to talk about it.

"Ace, why don't you wait in the car? Deuce wants to talk." Rain said and Ace nodded and he got on the car.

"Okay, Deuce, what's your problem now? You're acting like the time I told you I was leaving the first time." Rain said. Suddenly, Deuce started sniffling.

"It's just…you're leaving again. I don't want you to go. I want you to stay here with us and be here when I give birth." Deuce said while crying. She loved Rain dearly like any sister would and one of the things that scares her is Rain's death.

"Look, I know you want me around, I really do. But I want to end this once and for all as well and maybe find my friends some justice." Rain said and she approached her cousin.

"But what if you can't find him? You're going to spend the rest of your life trying find him and kill him?" Deuce snapped at her. Rain was taken aback at what she said and simply let it pass.

"I promise I will be here when you give birth." Rain said in an effort to stop her cousin from crying. Luckily, she did and Deuce looked up at her with a tear stained face.

"You will?" She asked and Rain nodded in confirmation. Deuce hugged her tightly and Rain hugged her back. Then, Rain separated from her and patted her head.

"Now, go on. Get some rest." Rain ordered her and she nodded and walked back to Ace's car and hopped on as Rain entered her own car, which was now dented really bad.

"What was that all about?" Ace asked his wife as he wiped the tears from her face but she simply shook her head.

"Nothing. Let's just go home." Deuce requested. Ace nodded and they drove away from the Peristylium.

AN: Arghh! I'm so sorry for not updating for so long but I've been busy and I entered a state of depression for a while. So sorry. Please review.