Ch. 12: Zero's Mission Exposed

2 week after Zero confessed his feelings to Rin and Zedept achieving its Second Shift, Zero and Rin started dating. Everyone, except for Zero, is in the locker room waiting for the match pairings to be displayed.

"Where is he at now?" Rin asked in frustration. "He'll be here so don't worry about it." Houki said. "You're right, he won't let me down." Rin said as she calmed down. "I wonder if him being late has to do with that package he got from home?" Ichika asked himself and the gang heard him.

"Wait, what package?" Rin asked. "He got a box that came from his hometown and he told me to go on ahead and that he'll catch up and that he'll be here before the match starts." Ichika explained. "Oh, I see." Rin said. Zero walked up behind everyone. "Sorry I'm late." Zero said and the gang jumped.

They turned around and saw Zero in a new IS battle suit. "Is that a new suit?" Charlotte asked. "Yep, Mentor and Shana designed it for me." Zero said. His new suit is a male suit (of course) with its right shoulder cut off exposing his entire right arm, its left side is the same as the original except that it has a fingerless arm glove that reaches to his elbow, his top and bottoms overlap each other, his bottoms reach right above the knees and it has leg sleeves reaching from his ankle to right below his knees.

"So is that what was in the box?" Ichika asked. "Yeah." Zero replied. "It looks good on you." Rin said. "Thanks." Zero said smiling. Suddenly a voice came over the intercom.

"Alright everyone, the time you've been waiting is over, the match pairings have been decided and here they are!" The pairings appeared and they took a look at who they were facing. "So that's the first match then?" Zero asked.

"That's one hell of an opening start." Houki said. "Well, I guess they wanted to start things off with a bang." Ichika said. "They won't be disappointed with that." Rin said.

"The first match: Zero and Rin vs. Ichika and Houki!" The voice said. Zero, Rin, Ichika and Houki all stared at each other and smiled. "Good luck to all of you." Charlotte said. They shook heads and headed to the launch pads. They deployed their units and entered the arena.

"Before we start." Zero said as Zedept's arm disappears and he extends his hand out. Ichika did the same and they shook hands, Houki and Rin did the same thing. "Now that's what you call true sportsmanship and respect!" The voice said as the crowd cheers. "Shall we begin?" Zero asks. "Yeah." Ichika replied. They all broke the shakes and deployed the arms back and their weapons. "Let the match begin!" The voice said.

Zero and Ichika's swords collided while Rin and Houki's blades went at it. Zero and Ichika exchange slashes with each other, blocking with their shields as well. Rin was firing her Impact Cannons to avoid Houki's swords. Zero regrouped with Rin as Ichika went and regrouped with Houki.

"Let's switch, I can handle Houki, think you can handle Ichika?" Zero said. "Just who do you think I am?" Rin asked, turning to Zero. "I know, that's why am asking." Zero said. Rin smiled. "Yeah, I can handle him." Rin said looking at Ichika.

Zero and Rin flew towards them. "Here they come." Ichika said. "I'm not blind." Houki replied. Zero quickly dashed towards Houki, confusing Ichika. "What?" Ichika asks confused, watching Zero. "I'm your opponent!" Rin yelled as Ichika was barely able to block her attack in time.

As Ichika and Rin went at it, Zero and Houki was putting their sword skills to the test. "Good sword play there." Zero said. "You too." Houki replied. Houki looked over to her shield energy screen and noticed it was getting low.

"Damn, looks like I have to use my Kenran Butou." Houki thought to herself. Houki's Akatsubaki started to with a golden dust mixed with red light. "So that's the Kenran Butou." Zero thought as Zedept's learning program scanned and copied Houki's Kenran Butou.

Houki's unit stopped glowing. "Rin, I got a plan, sending it to you know." Zero said the communication channel. Rin saw the plan. "Think this would work?" Rin asked. "Yeah, trust me." Zero said. "Ok." Rin said. "What are they up to?" Ichika asked Houki. "I don't know but keep your eyes open for anything." Houki replied.

Zero and Rin charged and forced Ichika and Houki's backs to collide. "Rin now!" Zero yelled. Rin charged her Impact Cannons and the end of Zero's wings started to form energy balls. "Fire!" Zero yelled. "Go! Dragon Impact!" Rin yelled. "Copy Dragon!" Zero yelled as beams fired from the tips of his wings as Rin's cannons fired as well. "Ahhhh!" Ichika and Houki yelled as they got hit by the attacks at the same time.

Ichika and Houki fell to the ground. "Yay, it worked!" Rin yelled as she high fives Zero. "We're not done yet." Houki said as she stands with her Kenran Butou activated. Ichika's Byakushiki's energy was almost gone until Houki recovered some of it. Rin is panting from her last attack. "Zero, that attack took a lot out of me." Rin said. "Don't worry, I got this." Zero said placing his hands on her shoulder.

Zero turned around. "I figured I'll have to use this eventually." Zero said as he looks at them. Zero's unit suddenly opens up similar to Houki's Akatsubaki. "That ability, it's." Houki said in surprisement. "Unfolding Armor, Activate!" Zero said as Zedept glowed with the Unfolding Armor look.

"Claw Mode. Activate!" Zero yelled as his right arm changed to a similar look to Ichika's Energy Claw. "Let's finish this!" Zero yelled. Zero dashed and slashed downward and took Ichika out. A voice came over the intercom. "Ichika's shield energy, 0."

"What speed and power." Rin said. Zero turned to Houki. Houki got scared. Houki flew away trying to distance herself from Zero. Houki looked around and couldn't find him anywhere. "Too slow!" Zero said as he flew downwards and forced Houki to the ground and Zero's claw on her stomach area.

They hit the ground and a dust cloud appeared. "Houki!" Ichika yelled. "Zero!" Rin yelled as well. The arena got silent. A noise rang and a voice came over the intercom. "Houki's shield energy, 0, Winners: Zero and Rin."

The crowd cheered as Zero helped Houki up and deactivating Unfolding Armor and Claw Mode. "Good fight." Zero said as he lifts her up. "Thanks and same here." Houki said as she gets helped up.

"Are you done playing student yet Zero?" An evil toned male voice asks. Zero turned quickly towards the sound. "You! Why are you here?" Zero said in an angry tone. The rest of the gang went to the field to see what's going on. "Zero, what's going on?" They asks in unison.

A male in a deep dark blue outfit jumped down from the arena's roof and landed on the battlefield. "Who is he?" Cecilia asks. "Someone you don't want to mess with." Zero said. "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" The male asked. "They don't need to know you! Tell me why you're here!" Zero said, still in an angry tone.

"Calm down Zero, I'm not here to fight." The male said. "Nothing good ever comes when you show up!" Zero yelled. "Hey, calm down, he says he's not here to fight so let's hear what he has to say." Rin said. "Alright." Zero said as he calmed down but was still in a defensive position.

"Tell me something Zero, do they know why you're here?" The male asks. Zero eyes widened and he got angry quickly. "Stop right there!" Zero yelled. Ichika, Rin and Laura was holding Zero back. "Oh, so they don't know? Oh that's rich." The male said while starting to laugh evilly.

"Zero, what's he talking about?" Rin asked. Zero didn't say anything as he stared at the male. The male stopped laughing. "I guess I'll tell them." The male said. "Fang! Stop!" Zero yelled as he tried to break free. Ichika and the others are holding him. "The reason he's here is." Fang started. "Stooooop!" Zero yelled.

"To steal the data on the cadet's along with the Byakushiki and the Akatsubaki." Fang said. Zero stopped struggling. Everyone was shocked by what Fang said and let go. "It's not true, please tell me that's not true." Rin said as she started to cry.

Zero looked down with his eyes closed. "It's true." Zero said while looking away from them. Rin was shocked and ran off. "Oh, it looks like someone is hurt by the truth." Fang said as he watched Rin run off. "Damn you TO HELL FANG!" Zero said as he dashed towards Fang.

Fang dodges the attack, deploys his IS's arm parts and puts his fist together and slams Zero's back and he fell to the ground, hard. "You're still too slow Zero." Fang said. Zero got up, coughing. "My job is done." Fang says and then crouches overs to Zero and whispers. "And I'll see you back at the base." Fang says with a smirk. Fang then flies away.

Zedept runs out of energy and returns to standby. Ichika goes up to Zero as the girls try to find Rin. "Zero? Are you alright?" Ichika asked. Zero is on his hands and knees as he punched the ground with his right fist, crying as well.

"Damn you Fang. Damn you to hell Fang." Zero said to himself. Ichika tries to help Zero up. Zero whacks Ichika away. "Don't touch me, just leave me alone." Zero said. He gets up and walks away. Ichika leaves right behind him.

Dorm: Houki/Rin's room

Houki and the girls found Rin on her bed, crying. "There you are." Cecilia said. "Leave me alone!" Rin said as she throws a pillow at them.

"There's probably a reason he couldn't tell us." Laura said. Charlotte sat next to Rin and places Rin's face on her chest. "It's alright, everything will be fine." Charlotte says trying to calm her down. "How would know?" Rin asked.

"I don't know but I'm sure everything will be fine." Charlotte said. "Laura's right though." Houki said. "She's a soldier as well." Houki also said. "There's probably a special reason that would happen if someone found out about his mission." Laura explained.

"Really?" Rin asked. Laura nodded. "Thanks but I'm going to get some air, please don't follow me." Rin said as she left the room. "I hope she'll be alright." Cecilia said. The rest of them agreed.

Dorm: Ichika/Zero's room

During the time Houki and the girls tried to cheer up Rin. Zero was already in his room. Ichika walked in and saw Zero packing his bag. "What's going on?" Ichika asked.

"What does it look like? I'm leaving." Zero said. "Come on, I'm sure everything will work out." Ichika said trying to cheer Zero up. "No, nothing will work out." Zero said as he finished packing.

"At least say goodbye to her." Ichika said. Zero grabs his sword and places it on his back, not saying anything. Zero walks to the door and says. "Goodbye." Zero leaves the room. "Zero." Ichika said to himself.

Dorm: Roof

Rin is standing by the edge of the roof, watching the sunset. Zero walks onto the roof and notices Rin standing there. Zero closes the door.

Rin turns around and sees Zero and turns back around facing the sun. Zero walks over next to Rin. "Can we talk?" Zero asked. Rin turns her head away from him. Zero sighs. "At least listen to what I have to say." Zero said. Rin doesn't respond.

"It's true that I was sent here to get the gang's data, but as time went on, I figure that I'll just get the data by fighting everyone and get it fairly. I started to go back to the way I was before Zeta was killed, it was the first time I was able to think of anyone as friends." Zero explained.

"So your feelings for me are fake then?" Rin asked while still not looking at him. "No, my feelings for you are real. You're the first one I've cared about since I lost Alkaid." Zero said. "Please, don't let this ruin our relationship." Zero asked. Rin stands up and walks towards the door. "Rin?" Zero asked as he walks after her. "Stay away!" She yells at him. "Rin." Zero said.

"You kept a major secret from me, you couldn't trust me, you broke my heart." Rin said holding her hands together at her chest. "Why couldn't you trust me at all!" Rin said as she turns to look at him. "I wanted to tell you but I couldn't." Zero said.

"Why not?" Rin asked. "Cause if anyone found out I would have to leave immediately and could never return, that's why." Zero explained. "So you didn't tell us just so you wouldn't have to leave?" Rin asked. "I didn't want to be separated from you Rin!" Zero yelled. Rin's face turned red from hearing his words.

"Really?" She asked. "Yes, you're the best thing that happened to me since their deaths." He said to her. Rin turns back around, facing away from him. "I'm sorry." She said. "Huh?" He asked in confusion. "I'm ending this." She said. Zero's eyes widen by what she said. "Please don't tell me what I heard was what I think." He said. "You heard right." Rin said. "We're through, I'm breaking up with you." She said without turning around. "Rin, please don't do this." Zero said. "I'm sorry." Rin said as she cried.

Zero walks up behind her, turns her around and hugs her. "If that's what you want I won't argue with you but always remember this." He said as he looks into her sad eyes. "I love you Rin." He said as he kisses her forehead. Zero turns around and deploys Zedept, but for some reason Zedept was in its First Shift form. "Goodbye Rin." He said as he turns his head and Rin sees him crying.

Zero flies off into the sunset. Rin watches as he disappears, as she remembers the time they spent together, she cries her heart out on the roof.