PAST/8 MONTHS IN AT ZERO ARMY.
The sand. The hot sand Issei felt seeping trough his army boots. Around his shoulder, on top of the SS coat, there was a rifle strapped. They had given them an HK416 and ammo.
Under the coat was an flat-gray flak jacket and the standard military camo pants with many pockets that were filled with many different tools, but mostly – ammo.
Issei's arm rested on the rifle as he stopped at a shade made from an artificial sand dune. He sat down and exhaled. The dune was used to hide ammunition and other supplies.
The coat he was wearing was actually an magic infused one and so it was made much more durable and it was made to keep his body's temperature to the optimal.
He lowered his head and closed his eyes, listening to the movement of the whole that was known as the Zero Army.
''You don't seem anxious, do you, kid.''
Issei looked up at the man speaking, and he noted two things. – Issei didn't sense him come near and he noticed the dark colored coat with the SS letters. The man was about 6foot2, his build was like a wall. He had a rugged beard and he had half-spiky, half-messy black hair. Around his neck was an shemagh and on his back were two swords and in his hand a large metal suitcase, but other than that – everything else he wore was like Issei's.
''..I'm not.''
He chuckled, sounding amused. – ''The name is Slade.''
''..Ddraig.''
''Ah, Margit's kid.'' - He spoke as he sat down across from Issei, putting the suitcase at his side.
Issei decided to use the chance.
''How well do you know Margit?''
As Slade answered, his voice sounded charred. –''Not at all. I've heard rumors, thats all.''
Issei looked at him with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. –''What kind of rumors?''
''Well, there was a one of her wiping out an entire squad of SAS soldiers. And then there was the one of her being an German child super-soldier made to kill.'' – he chuckled. – ''But well, who cares. She is a great women, I don't care about her past.''
They both sat in an comfortable silence for a while, only listening to the bustling sound of the people near them.
''What about your past, Slade?''
He shrugged. –''An Australian Secret Intelligence agent. I climbed the rank and got more and more confidential missions until there was a fuck-up at HQ and I had to take the fall for it. And fuck if I had – I ran away and became a mercenary. The weapons are better and the missions pay more. It's a good life, to be honest.''
He smirked at Issei who simply looked back at him. They sat there in an comfortable silence. Issei had noticed that two mercenaries can be comfortable everywhere. It didn't matter where, but when there was someone who can watch your back, you get comfortable.
''..Have you been to a war before?'' – Issei asked, his eyes closed and his head resting on his hands.
''...Yeah, I was shipped to the Iraq war because I served in the Australian Army, the sharpshooter battalion.'' – He snickered. –''It was pretty messy. We rolled into Iraq, killed everyone, a lot of innocents and children.'' – He grinned when he saw Issei's eye widened.-''Yes, they don't write about the civilian casualties in textbooks. ...I still dislike to think about the time there.''
''..Then why did you join the Australian Secret Intelligence?''
''Fuck if I know. But I can tell you this. Back in the army they gave me a riffle.''–He then took out a cigarette and gave one to Issei.
''Trust me, you want one.''
Issei shrugged and took one. Slade then lowered his lighter and inhaled deeply, setting the cigarette on fire. He inhaled and let the fumes go down into his lungs. He raised his head and slowly exhaled. Issei shrugged and copied Slade.
As he felt the sensation of the fumes engulf his insides, he let out a small cough. Slade smiled at him as he saw that. After the second and third time inhaling the smoke Issei noted that it wasn't as unpleasant like second-hand smoking.
Slade continued his previous rant. –''After the year or two in Iraq, my tour ended. I gave back my rifle and I came home and tried to do as other people would. I got a job. I found a girlfriend. I planned to marry her...but I couldn't. No matter what I did, my hands, with whom I tried to love her, they only remembered the rifle. They only could handle the rifle. And that was when I finally understood it - I will always remain a soldier.''
A silence donned on the two. Issei stared with wide eyes, grasping every word. He could understand his pain, because he too struggled with similar things.
''..Listen kid. A war changes you. No matter how fucked up we are before, the only thing that is gonna happen now is we are going to get fucked up even more.''
As he finished the sentence, his eyes grew wide and Issei's body got into fight-or-die mode.
They both heard planes.
PLANES.
The cigarette fell out of Issei's mouth while Slade spit out his.
Slade's one arm went for his suitcase as he lunged up and grabbed Issei by the collar with the other, and jumped forwards the nearest trenches.
The ground behind them exploded and they crash landed, Issei was blinded and his ears were ringing like crazy. He simply kept his body as close to the ground as he could. The facts were simple. It was an attack from air. The blur of Issei's vision became lesser and he could see. There were dirt and fire everywhere. The soldiers ran along the trenches.
He slid against the trench's wall and pulled his weapon into his arms. He flipped the safety off and pulled the bolt.
[Get a hold over yourself, partner!]
Issei nodded and he felt an arm on his shoulder.
''..aig!''
The ringing sound in his ears dissipated and he saw Slade hiding next to him.
''Ddraig! You alright kid?'' – He asked. His clothes and coat was covered with dust and sand but other than that he was alright.
Issei exhaled and calmed down. He was unhurt, if not for the scratches on his face. He nodded to Slade, only to full on glare just past him towards the group of enemy soldiers behind him. He raised his rifle and fired suppressing fire to the small squad of enemy soldiers. One of them died, and he shot another one in his armor.
They dodged behind some crates, but as they poked their head back up, their brains were splattered instantly by Slade.
He held two dark colored pistols, if Issei had to guess he would most likely would say they were a pair of MK23's.
''Congrats on the first kill of the battlefield, kid.'' – He grinned, showing his teeth. –''And now, lets move out.''
He nodded and ejected the magazine of his HK416. It was about half empty. As Slade took the lead in front of him, he smashed it back in and pulled the bolt and moved forward.
Slade lead them up a giant sand dune that overlooked their base. It was on fire and many different armored cars had smashed trough the trenches.
They both crouched down and Issei couldn't contain his fear.
What of Margit? What of Kuroka? What of Gilgamesh? The thoughts rebounded in his head, until he heard Slade's voice.
''If you have time to worry you have time to shoot.'' – He chuckled as he opened his suitcase and in about 10 seconds he had remade his sniper rifle. He spoke up while configuring his scope. –''This is an SR98. A standard for the Australian Snipers.''- He then looked into the scope and started to mutter to himself, but it was loud enough for Issei to hear.
''This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Without my rifle, I am nothing. Without me...my rifle is nothing.''
BANG.
An enemy soldier was thrown backwards as blood spurted from his brain.
''Go get em kid. I'll cover you. Find Margit.'' –He ordered.
Issei smirked and got an running start. He jumped over the sand dune and slid down with one feet extended, the other bent in the knee, like a surfer. Many heads turned his way, but before the closest one could target Issei, he was blown away by a sniper round.
Issei grinned deeper as the adrenaline made his heart pump blood faster and made everything appear slower. The slope became flatter and Issei heard Ddraig.
[Dodge right!]
Issei didn't question, nor did he waver. He rolled to his right and jumped to his feet. The place where he had been just a moment ago was riddled with bullets. He raised his assault rifle and blind-fired in their direction while he ran to cover behind an armored car.
He ejected the magazine and in a single swoop took another one from his armor and clipped it back into place. He let go of the gun for a second, letting it hang in front of him with the help of the sling over his shoulder.
He pulled a grenade from one of his many pouches and let it drop into the sand. As he turned the corner, he saw a group of soldiers who were in a hot pursuit of him..for that second.
They went up in flames and a mix of screams. Issei pulled the bolt of his gun and moved forward, firing with bursts at enemy soldiers. Many of them died or retreated.
The battlefield slowly evened as Issei noticed many of his friendlies, many looking scared from him. Or maybe scared from his coat.
BANG BANG BANG.
Another soldier fell down dead, as he noticed something shine high up in the sky.
That familiar metal object.
FUCK.
Issei cursed as his movement froze, understanding he was dead.
A mili-second later a knife flew past his ear, collided with the grenade mid-air and it blew up right then and there.
His vision was blocked by a coat. They were engulfed in sand and fumes. Issei opened his eyes, who closed on instinct and noticed the red hair fluttering in a pony tail.
''You alright kid?'' – Margit asked as she lowered her dirty SS coat, which she used to cover Issei.
He gulped. She had saved him, again. – ''..Yeah.''
Suddenly she pulled Issei in a hug. Her lips brushed Issei's ear for a second and she spoke. –''...I thought about you and only now understood.''- She chuckled, her voice turning soft.
''I didn't betray you..You are my disciple. You are my family. I would never betray you and I would never abandon you...and you are not useless. You are not evil or disgusting, you are strong!'' She stopped speaking a for a second.-'' You and I, we exist on this small rock floating trough space, and this is our target. This is our fate. To never sleep peacefully, to never be relaxed, to shoot first, ask questions second...''
She heard Issei yelp, choking back on tears. She simply sighed with a smile and hugged him tighter. She couldn't imagine what kind of mental pain this great of burden would cause on a boy like him.
''..So don't you worry child.'' – She released Issei, and she brought up her sleeve to wipe his tears. Seeing her disciple cry trully reminded her of who he was - He was a simple child. not a soldier, not a killer. A child who just happens to be in a bad situation.
He looked Margit in her blood-red eyes. She smirked and crossed her arms over under her breasts.
''..What?'' – She asked in an aloof manner, her voice sounded incredibly kind.
''..You saved me, again...I have no idea how I'm gonna repay you.''
She chuckled. –''That's what a teacher does. She protects until her kid is able to stand on his two own feet.''
Issei smiled aloofly and Margit brought out something shiny out of her pocket. She let it hang over her palm. Issei touched it and looked at it.
It was a pair of dog-tags with his information. She brought out hers. Her pair was scratched, but otherwise exactly like the one in her hand.
''See, we have the same ones.'' – She span Issei around and put the ball-chain over his head and then hanged her hands over his shoulders, fiddling with the ball-chain links. Her smile grew wider as she understood just how much wider his shoulders had gotten.
''..And there.''- She said, as she let go of the dog-tag and took her hands off Issei's shoulders.
''FUCKING ASSHOLES, I'M GONNA RIP EM' A NEW ONE!''
Issei and Margit both turned around to see Maria stomping her feet as she walked to them. Her hair fluttered in the wind, and she was wearing a white sundress that almost reached to her ankles. Tied around her waist was an red scarf with the SS initials.
Issei's heart started to beat faster and Margit noticed his palms clutch into fists, but he didn't attack.
''THOSE MOUTH-BREATHERS, I'M GONNA STICK MY FOOT UP THEIR ASS SO FAR THEY ARE GONNA FEEL THE TASTE OF MY FUCKIN' BOOT!''
Behind her was Slade, his rifle hanging around his neck, while he held a pistol to someone's back. Said individuals arms were tied behind his back.
As they arrived near Issei and Margit, Slade winked to Margit. The usual stern look in her eyes returned. Issei snickered.
Maria turned to face them. ''Ya do know I, as the genius I am, wouldn't fuck up this bad, right?''- Maria nodded to Slade, and he pushed the guy he was holding gunpoint. As Issei looked closer, he noticed he was bruised.
He fell to his knees and simply looked at Issei with pleading eyes. Issei's eyes narrowed as he stared back.
''See, this little cock sucker right here, he was in the Marksmen battalion...''- Maria's palm turned into a fist as she knocked him right into the jaw. With a yelp, the guy fell over.
''..but now he is here, his face down in the dirt. Do you know why, Issei-chan?''
Issei scoffed, but answered. –''Because he is a traitor.''
She stepped with her sandal covered feet onto his face. She leaned on her feet in such a way, his face was getting squished harder. She smiled. – ''Exactly. He is a traitor.''
So basically, the guy right in front of them was the reason for this attack.
''Do you know how to deal with traitors, Issei-chan?''
''..Kill them.''
''Yes, yes, good boy.'' – Maria stepped off the traitor and got him back up to his knees. She raised her hand to Slade. Slade brought out his pistol and handed it to Maria. She stepped over the traitor and tread closer to Issei. She raised the pistol in her hand, which she was holding by the barrel, in such a way that the muzzle was pointed her way.
''You do know what is needed to be done, Issei-chan~'' – She said, cutely.
Issei's brows furrowed as he outreached for the gun. His fingers grasped the guns grip and they curled up around it. His index fingers rested on the trigger.
He raised it and noticed how easy it would be to shoot Maria right now.
Maria looked at Issei and her lips curled into a seducing smile, her lips parted slightly as she licked the upper corner of her lips. Her eyes narrowed and she whispered.
''Do it.''
Pull. It. Right. Now.
His fingers arched, but he didn't pull the trigger.
He looked Maria right into her eyes and chuckled. He lowered the gun and looked trough the iron sight as he targeted the traitors head. Their eyes met for a moment.
Click.
BANG
The chamber opened as it spit out an empty shell.
The traitor fell over, lifelessly and sprawled over the desert sand. The blood pool couldn't form under him because the blood was sucked into the sand, turning it red.
''..And that's that.'' – Maria nodded. –''Now, the orders are as follows.''
She turned to Margit and smiled. –''Margit-chan, take Issei-chan and Slade, re-arm if you need and move out west. About two and a half klicks in you will find a moderate size village. Burn it to the ground.''
She turned to walk away, as Issei stopped her. –''Where is Kuroka and Gilgamesh?''
''Don't worry, Issei-chan~'' – She smiled back at Issei, who simply frowned. –''Kuroka is in the medical bay, while Gilgamesh is raising havoc to the east.''
She threw her arm in the air –''Remember – no survivors.''
Issei turned to Slade and tried to hand him the pistol back, but he simply responded – ''Keep it kid.''
''Let's go rearm.'' – Margit took lead, and Issei of course, followed.
PRESENT.
Issei simply sat at Margit's grave and looked over the two sisters. At first he noticed the scared, almost frightened expression on Koneko's face, as he did the sorrowful expression on Kuroka.
The two sister spoke. Kuroka spoke of what really happened. The experiments, the power she gained, and the power she used to protect her little sister.
But Koneko had answers to those facts. She told Kuroka about her torture and her getting almost killed. She screamed at Kuroka, telling her she didn't understand the pain she had to go trough.
Issei scoffed, knowing what kind of things Kuroka had to go trough, while Kuroka ruefully smiled at her.
''..And now this. You come back as a terrorist. You and him.''- She pointed at Issei. -''Why?''
Issei gruffed as he got up. ''..About 2 years ago, Kuroka and I began to have serious talks every once in a while. It began with talking about killing. About our job. About life itself. Countless sleepless nights spent talking, looking at the stars...After a while, the subjects became more intimate. I talked about my childhood, while Kuroka talked..well..about you. She told me how you always would stick together, how close as sisters you were. ''
''You don't know anything about Kuro-''
''Oh but I do. I know a lot about her. And I made her a promise. I would reunite her with you.'' – Issei smiled ruefully. –''That was the one wish I couldn't fulfill. Until now, that is.''
Koneko looked at Kuroka with an indifferent look in her eyes. She stepped closer to Kuroka, and hit her in the shoulder. The hit was sloppy, girlish and weak. Kuroka didn't even flinch from it. The mask, that was Koneko had cracked.
''You..you have no idea what I felt when you left me. ..'' – Her other hand formed a fist and dropped down on her other shoulder. Another crack in her mask. –''I was all alone...left to fend for my self...''
Her arms, limp, slid down Kuroka's shoulders. Her hazel eyes met Koneko's. A single tear dripped down from Koneko's cheek.
''You left me to fear myself...to fear my power...to repress it...'' After saying those few words, streams of tears started to drip down Koneko's cheeks as she looked straight into Kuroka's identical hazel eyes. –''..Just don't leave me...again...''
Sobbing noises filled the air as Kuroka tightly embraced Koneko, or rather, Shirone, again. Her eyes as well became wet, as a wide smile broke out on her soft features, and she purred.
Koneko's apathetic mask had broken fully, and she showed her repressed emotions in full glory.
''Never-nyaa.''
Now and forever, Kuroka swore to never leave her alone.
Issei smiled at the way two sisters, engulfed in emotions and the orange sun rays.
He had fulfilled a promise. One of the many he had made. One of the many he still had to fulfill.
Kuroka's eyes met Issei's, and her face formed a soft smile. A smile that meant the world to Issei.
PAST/8 MONTHS IN AT ZERO ARMY.
Issei ran trough the small alleys between worn out houses with bad roofs. The village was mostly civilians. Issei frowned with every civilian he had to kill, but it could be worse. They were all old people.
The young ones, had most likely, evacuated.
A door.
Issei kicked it in and as soon as he did that, he ducked.
A group of what seemed like scattered bullets flew above his head.
A shotgun.
Issei raised his HK416 and fired right down the hallway. He heard a scream and he lowered his weapon. He walked trough the hallway and stopped at the sight of an soldier, armed with a shotgun sprawled against a wall, his eyes still open, looking at Issei.
Something crashed into the ground to Issei left side. Issei quickly got into a battle position and looked trough his weapons sight.
Near a counter-top was a women with two children hiding behind her. The children couldn't be older than 4.
She screamed something in a language Issei didn't understand, but Issei still understood what she meant to say.
She pleaded for Issei not to kill them.
''Remember - no survivors.''
A creepy smile rose to Issei's face as he spoke. ''Don't worry. The children will be put to sleep peacefully, painlessly.''
The women screamed louder, her cries echoed trough Issei's ears as he pulled the trigger.
BANG BANG BANG
3 bullets and a family is ruined.
''You...are...going..to..carry that..weight...''
Issei turned to the source of the words. The men who Issei previously had shot looked at him with narrow eyes. His words, although messy and with a heavy accent, was spoken english. A language Issei knew. A language Issei had learned.
And the man who couldn't protect his family was judging him.
Issei's eye turned cold.
He pulled out Slade's pistol.
''So be it.''
BANG.
Yo. Did you miss me?
I know you did.
Where else would you get your fix of somewhat good and not-over-the-top angst?
The past is out, baby killing is in, and Kuroka and Koneko has somewhat mended their relationship.
I skipped over the part everyone knew about~
Anyways I'm not so good at emotional stuff like that.
Any questions? Any critic? Drop a review.
Blueprints out.
I ripped a road-sign out of the ground at 3 am while shitfaced and threw it Shizou style.