AN: ...You look familiar. Do I know you?

This took...a while. Sorry about that? I'm feeling...alright (for the most part) these days. I stills struggle with motivation a lot...but I sleep less, so that's an improvement?

I had to reread a lot of old material just to remember the details of what was going on. It reminded me of how much my writing has improved in the...gosh, six years?...since I began this. I don't plan on going full rewrite (I would never be done with this story if that happened), but I've been considering maybe editing the older chapters a bit, to improve them, without changing significant plot stuff. I'll think about it some more...

I only own My Own Crazy Plot Contrivances. Because Reasons.

GUILTY MELODY

21-Unify

I take it back. I don't like this idea.

It will buy you time.

But you'll be vulnerable.

So will you. And you're going to be in a war zone. The Virus will remain occupied with me, leaving you and Inori free to help Triton with Daath's forces. I'll be immobile, but Yuu won't let anything happen to me.

He cut your arm off.

A sigh.

Nothing life threatening—that's not the point, Alio.

Ugh. Fine.

A soft smile and a gentle, comforting brush.

I'm sorry I can't do more right now.

Don't be. How long?

I can't be sure. Mana is still incomplete—I can remove the fragments from the hosts without harming them, but the Knights cannot. They will have to kill them. But that is not the only way they can be released.

What do you mean?

The fragments hide within the Voids of the people. When a Void is used, the fragment will be freed.

Triton.

Exactly.

…What's your plan?

OoOoOoOoO

"Alio?"

He exhaled. Cracked his eyes open, slowly. The ceiling was the same beige he remembered passing out under, so he hadn't been moved. Slowly, he turned towards the familiar heartbeat at his side.

"…What are you wearing?" was the first thing out of the Vassal's mouth.

Inori's clothes had changed. She wore a white blouse that looked a size too large, a pleated skirt, and what appeared to be one of the Undertaker jackets. The girl plucked at her damp hair, tied neatly into a braid over her shoulder.

"My clothes had blood on them," she explained. "They…Triton's companions, said it was bad host behavior to allow a guest to remain in dirty clothing."

"How…thoughtful of them." Nice to know saving their collective asses earned them a little gratitude. He assumed things had gone as well as could be expected, seeing how they were still alive.

"Are you alright now?" Inori inquired. She helped him sit up against the headboard when he struggled just a moment too long. His body felt strange—disconnected, unresponsive, floaty. Like being full of air instead of blood.

"I'm functional," he asserted, gruffly.

She gave him a measured look, before asking, "What about Shu?"

"He's…" How did he explain this? "Alive. Weak. The Virus is trying to subjugate him in what has to be the most passive aggressive, painful way possible."

"But…Shu is…the King?"

"Exactly. Apocalypse isn't happy it's King doesn't want to sit on the throne." He rubbed his forehead, the phantom pain still lingering stubbornly. "He managed to slow it down by putting himself into a kind of dream state and trapping it there with him, stopping it from interfering with us, but it's taking all his focus. It will break through given enough time." He could feel it, still. It wasn't debilitating anymore, but it was still uncomfortable. Adam had tried pressing his Vassal into shuttering their connection so he wouldn't bear any of the pain, but Alio had vetoed that idea. Sharing the pressure would buy more time, anyway. He could handle the ache.

"What can we do?" Inori asked next.

"Right now? Not much, unfortunately. If we're going to squish the Virus, we need to squish it's spawn first. "

"Daath?"

"Bingo. That's what the princess is for. The sooner he gets the hang of the Genome, the better."

"Triton defeated Simon."

"So he can be useful. Brilliant." It'd be even better if… "Tell me Simon is dead. Pretty please."

"Lying is wrong," Inori stated with a seriousness that could only mean she was repeating something Adam had told her, inadvertently crushing Alio's hopes for the Knight's demise. He clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"Damn. Would've saved us trouble in the future, but whatever. Gives me a chance to punch him again myself."

He didn't bother asking how the battle went otherwise—the fact they were still here and not buried in rubble, captured, or dead said enough. There was a digital clock on the nightstand that said it was the morning after the attack, so by now people had rested and clean up was likely underway.

Alio finally stood. Inori watched him to make sure he didn't keel over—he rocked a little, as if he'd forgotten where his center of gravity was—and moved aside when he headed for the door.

"Are you going to find Triton?"

"Yeah." He grabbed the handle and found it locked. Cute. With a jerk, he forced it open anyway. "We need to finish our conversation, and I'd like to hear any plans he has for the future. It'd be nice to know he isn't about to go into anything half-cocked."

Trotting along beside him as he strode in the general direction he thought Gai to be, Inori tilted her head in puzzlement.

"What is full-cocked, then?"

"Uh…" That may have been a poor choice of expression. "I'll tell you when you're older."

Inori pouted.

OoOoOoOoO

The battle had been over for approximately twenty hours. The aftermath had been the predictable ordered chaos, dealing with wounded and patching up holes in the defenses—even temporarily—so that the exhausted, but victorious, Undertakers could set their weapons aside and get some damn sleep.

All things considered, it could have been worse. Even if the attack had been significantly better coordinated and more intense than any before it, the Undertakers were well versed in dealing with Daath's monsters, and had many, many contingency plans and fall back strategies that had minimized casualties. Of course, Gai's timely interference with the Genome had prevented those contingencies from falling apart under pressure, for which everyone was greatly relieved. Even during the grim clean up, their leader's newfound power and rescue inspired shadow of hope among the soldiers. A new weapon that could single handedly cut through legions of enemies could save lives and finally break their current stalemate against Daath—though the enemy might argue differently.

At the moment, Gai and most of his highest ranking subordinates were in their council meeting room, going over data, coordinating the repair efforts, and drafting plans for the new threat the Knights posed. Two hours into his work, Gai was less than surprised when the door opened without warning and a familiar voice addressed him.

"Hey, princess," Alio greeted, waving one hand as he entered, Inori a half step behind him. His movement seemed off, not quite as smooth as before, but only the observant would be able to catch it. Even the too-pale skin and tired air could be written off in favor of his alert gaze. "You ready to finish our talk?"

"I would appreciate it if you didn't call me that," Gai responded dryly, knowing it was probably pointless. Noted the teens condition as something to clarify in their discussion, following his many other questions.

Across from him, analyzing the attack patterns used by the Knights, Tsugumi snickered. It could have been at something Daryl said—currently assisting in the repair efforts in his Endlave while still in contact with her via earpiece—but more likely she was just amused to see someone who wasn't currently in awe of Gai. Next to her, Funell made a happy chirping sound, apparently pleased to see the two again.

Predictably, Alio only smirked. "You want my respect, you're going to have to earn it first."

Ayase, going over their remaining equipment stores, seemed miffed by the implication Gai hadn't already done anything worthy of respect. "He just saved the lives of everyone in this compound," she pointed out. "Including yours."

"So I heard." Cold blue eyes met Gai's silver, and though the smirk remained, there was something almost friendly in them. "Keep it up, and maybe I'll even admire you one day. Eventually."

Again, the words implied harsh judgment, but the tone and delivery had only moderate bite to them. Cautious, and not so playful as he was initially, but not a complete reversal into malicious or unreasonable. Perhaps their previous disagreement had damaged Alio's opinion of Gai somewhat, but not beyond the point of repair.

"I probably deserve that," Gai admitted ruefully, humbled by recent events and plenty of self-reflection. "I've had time to think, and I understand that my behavior yesterday wasn't…ideal."

"Gai…"

He held up a hand to stop any protests, thoughtful as they were, from the rest of the council.

"My family has always been a sore subject, and hearing about Shu was…a great shock. If you'll accept my apologies, there is a lot I want to ask you both about…about everything."

Shu, Daath, the Knights, the Genome, why me?

Alio considered him a moment, and Gai made sure not to waver. He didn't yet understand the relationship between the teen and his brother, but clearly Alio held Shu in high regard. The respect must have been mutual, or why else would Shu trust this person to bring Gai the Genome?

Finally, the teen nodded. He made his way to the same couch as their previous, poorly-concluded discussion, dropping into it with only a shade less grace than previously. He raised an eyebrow when Funell trundled up to him, ears flapping like an eager puppy, but let it climb into his lap, faintly bemused. Inori mimicked him, most of her attention on her companion and only giving a cursory glance at everyone else in the room, apparently still concerned for his well being. Gai still had no idea what Alio's collapse had been about, only that it involved Shu somehow. The teen didn't seem entirely recovered, but he appeared functional at least. Whether that meant the cause was dealt with or not, he would hopefully learn soon.

"…Alright," Gai moved from the table to the couch opposite the duo, allowing the rest of his trusted subordinates to gather closer for the long-awaited discussion. He considered logical place to begin for a moment before speaking, "To start—we don't really know anything about the two of you. Who are you, exactly? What are you to Shu, or to Daath?"

Inori looked almost perplexed by this question. Like it had never occurred to her that her relationship with Shu needed explaining. On the other hand, Alio answered after only a few seconds of thought.

"If you want titles, I'm the King's Vassal." He tapped a finger to his throat, where an intricate cross-like symbol resided, half-hidden by the collar of his shirt. "Servant, right-hand guy, whatever you want to call it. He directly shared his power with me, so we have a connection of sorts. I only take orders from him."

Vassal. Somewhat medieval, but it fit Daath's usual theme. But that beggared the question: was Alio more friend, or subordinate? Was their relationship one of convenience, or emotion?

"Who are you loyal to first? Shu or Daath?"

Apparently that was a stupid question, because the Vassal scoffed. Inori almost looked offended on her companion's behalf.

"If it were up to Daath, I would be dead." Alio revealed caustically, tone bitter. "I was a test subject—" Like you, seemed to be an unspoken implication. "—scheduled to be turned into another one of those drooling, mindless monsters. Adam, bleeding heart that he is, saved me from that. Just because he could. Gave me power, purpose, trust, called me his friend." Fingers drummed deliberately on Funell's dome. "I don't know about you, but I'd much rather follow someone who gives a damn about me than an organization that regularly murders children."

Gai fought a scowl. He wasn't going to be baited. "I'll take that as a vehement 'never' to Daath."

Alio crossed his arms, eyes flat and completely serious. "If Adam asked me to walk to certain death against an army of Daath's soldiers, I would."

"Shu wouldn't do that," Inori interjected quietly. His expression softened somewhat.

"Nah. I suppose that makes me lucky to have him."

There was genuine fondness there. Affection, admiration, respect, gratitude—all conducive with the story being told. What was less immediately explainable was that the positive emotions seemed mixed with something more solemn. Something almost sad. Perhaps Gai only noticed because he, too, had a lot of sadness associated with his memories of Shu. He was curious, but it was likely too personal to ask about so soon, so he didn't pursue it.

"You say he shared his power with you," the leader continued. "How strong does that make you?"

Alio raised an eyebrow, likely inferring why this mattered. "At my best, I would say stronger than the Knights. I'm not at my best, so currently I'd say on par with any one of them."

That was something, at least. Gai was able to take on Simon, but he didn't think the Knight had been taking him seriously, and he had no idea the power levels of the others, nor if he could take multiple at once. Another superhuman on his side would even the odds. He already had several plans that could greatly benefit from someone with Alio's abilities.

"I assume your condition has something to do with your unexpected collapse earlier."

"Yeah." The Vassal grimaced. "It's…well, my power comes from Adam, so when he's in bad shape, so am I. He's doing what he can, but he doesn't have much to give at the moment."

Long withered brotherly instincts flexed with new life, and Gai felt concern and dread creep into his chest. "What do you mean? Is Shu…?"

"He's alive, and safe for the most part, just…weak." Alio seemed to struggle with his words, and made a frustrated gesture aimed at some invisible foe. "He's keeping the Virus occupied for us. So the sooner you get control of the Genome and weaken Daath, the better he'll be."

There was more to it than that, clearly, but the way Alio was twitching said it was a complicated, uncomfortable subject, so he let it go. The implication that the Virus was sentient and participating in this war didn't surprise Gai—he remembered the bladed, malevolent shadow curled possessively around the child-like visages of his siblings. He had already resolved to save them both—whatever it took.

"How likely are you to collapse again?" Because it was a liability if it happened during an important operation. Alio seemed to understand this, because he took a moment to consider it.

"I'd say pretty low likelihood for now, but as more time passes, that will change as Adam gets worn down. I should be able to tell if it going to get that bad some time in advance though. I'll warn you."

Good enough.

"And you, Inori?" Gai addressed the female of the duo. "What are you Shu?"

"I am Shu's partner," the pink-haired enigma stated simply. Gai raised an eyebrow, waiting, but she didn't elaborate further. Apparently that was all she had to say on the matter. After some thought, he speculated that this partnership had to do with her Void. He'd seen many Voids of great and diverse strengths—some within his own subordinates—but never one on the level of Inori's. It was unmatched, unmitigated power. A fitting weapon for a King.

He didn't bother questioning her loyalties—he knew single-minded devotion when he saw it, and Inori was far more open with her emotions than Alio was. From the reports he'd gotten and what he himself had witnessed, she was quite a capable fighter in her own right. For her possible usefulness on the battlefield alone, her presence was justified, never mind what he could do with her Void in his hand.

However…

"You also mentioned he expected me to…teach you?" This was the part that confused him. Inori nodded, like such a request was completely normal.

"Shu believed that I could not continue to grow within Daath," she explained, speech careful and direct, like she was reciting a script. "He could not teach me about a world that I could not interact with."

…What?

"Here's the thing, princess…" Alio cut in, apparently taking pity on his confusion. "Inori isn't just a test subject like me or the Knights—she was created. She looks like a teenager, but she's really only a few years old. She's never even been outside the GHQ until now."

Is that why…?

"Created for what?" He had a feeling he knew.

"To be a vessel for Eve."

Mana. This was why Inori looked so much like her. She wasn't just coincidentally born with the same face, or a normal person altered to look that way. She was a vessel meant for Mana to inhabit.

"So you're some kind of…clone?" How else does one create a body?

"Genetically, Inori is what Eve would be if the Apocalypse had the time to alter her like it did Adam." Alio was watching him carefully, in a way he couldn't interpret. "But that's really the only connection between them. Personalities are shaped by experiences, and Inori has had a very different life from Eve—though that wasn't planned on the part of Daath. She wasn't meant to be up and walking around until the Apocalypse, but Adam sort of adopted her. He never agreed to the use of a vessel, so he's always treated them as two separate people."

"That sounds like Shu…"

Consenting to creating a sentient being only to be used as a tool without regard to the new, fragile life would surely disgust the Shu of the past. That he ignored the possibility for his sister to regain her body in favor of nurturing the individuality of the intended body…

Would I have made the same choice? Gai wasn't sure. He'd wanted to save Mana for so long, sacrificing one person, who wasn't even much of a person at all when newly born, probably would have seemed a small price. But now? Sacrificing this girl before him, this wise yet naïve child, whose safety his brother had entrusted him, with her gentle voice and expressive face, to give a body to one who may neither want nor need it?

I couldn't possibly.

"Pardon my intrusion," Shibungi spoke up from behind Gai's left shoulder, interrupting his thoughts. The leader had almost forgotten the other Undertakers were there, they'd been so quiet thus far. "By my understanding, you are both loyal to Adam, who is family to Gai, and sent you to assist him in his goals?"

"To destroy Daath, yeah," Alio agreed readily. Shibungi adjusted his glasses before resuming his neutral stance, what most would call parade rest.

"To our knowledge, Adam and Eve are the sources of the Virus, revered as god-like figures within Daath. From your words so far, Adam is clearly a more complicated individual than that information would lead us to believe, but I still wonder, for what reason does he have to dismantle the organization that supports him? In what way does that benefit him?"

The Vassal blinked slowly at the tall, bespectacled man, then turned to Gai.

"You didn't tell them much about your brother, did you?"

The blonde grimaced. "I thought he was dead. It didn't seem relevant."

"Hn." Alio looked back at the gathered Undertakers. "Adam and Eve are only the hosts of the Virus, not direct extensions of it. The Virus uses them as…conduits of a sort, to expand. Adam is more than human, but he still has a human conscience, and Daath has done nothing to endear itself to him. He's never agreed with their goals."

"He caused the outbreak that trapped us all in Loop 7, didn't he?" Ayase pointed out, somewhat skeptically. And as much as Gai hated to admit it, she was right. It was one of the reasons he'd been so concerned initially about what kind of person his brother had become after so long being influenced by the Virus. He didn't want to believe Shu had grown apathetic to the lives being lost, but what if…

"He's also spent the past few years protecting Loop 7 from the Anti-Bodies and manipulating the Gatherers so you were never completely overwhelmed and had time to adapt," Alio retorted scathingly. Narrowed bright, almost glowing eyes at her and the room at large, challenging. "Daath worships him, sure—but he's a prisoner in all but name, isolated and coerced from childhood into spreading a plague among people he holds no grudge against with the life and freedom of his sister being held hostage. What would you do in that position?"

The heat of his glare caught everyone off guard to some degree. He was very defensive of his King. Concerned, Inori laid a gentle hand on his arm, and he slowly relaxed. Funell whistled softly, and the Vassal patted the robot's head absently.

"It pained Shu to do it," Inori spoke quietly. She regarded them, eyes direct, but distant. Full of sorrow—on behalf of another, not herself. Her brow wrinkled. "He would say that…there are no excuses for the people he's hurt…that he would do it again for Mana's sake…but then he would cry."

She looked like she was about to cry herself. Inori's eyes shone like red crystals, bringing her hands together before her heart like she was prepared to pray, plead, beg for the help of some uncaring god. Alio was a statue beside her. Still, observant, revealing nothing. Gai closed his eyes, fists unwillingly clenched.

"So, please…don't hate Shu." Inori implored them—somehow still so innocent even when he'd watched her rip through Gatherers like a chainsaw through paper. "He wants so badly to help—for everyone to be saved."

Silence. Shibungi visibly considered the girl—all she'd done, her clear dedication to her partner, her sincere words and very real tears—and nodded once.

"I understand. We are all guilty of doing questionable things for those we love." Expressions varied among the council members, but no one disagreed with him. Unanimously, they had accepted Inori's words as truth.

Apparently detecting her mood, Funell climbed from Alio's lap into hers, pressing into her stomach in a semblance of a hug. After a moment of confusion, the teary girl wrapped her arms around the little robot and smiled, just a little. It was unexpectedly adorable.

Save everyone, huh? Gai breathed deeply, centering himself. Remembered his resolve. And yet…Why do I feel like 'everyone' never included himself?

OoOoOoOoO

What is that?

He was looking at himself. A much younger version of himself, skin blackened and crystalized, eyes empty. More corpse than anything else, even standing upright.

Is that me?

Was this his inner monster? A corrupted, diseased, hollow child?

The child offered a hand.

He stared at it, wary of what exactly was being offered.

It's the Apocalypse, Shu.

Ah.

He knelt in front of the child. Met it's dead gaze.

You are not me.

It didn't react.

But you are part of me. And two parts of a whole should not be in opposition.

The hand was still waiting.

I've done my best to ignore you all this time. But now I think it is time I try to understand you.

What are you doing, Shu?

He paused. The child did not react.

Don't, Shu. I don't want you to…it's not safe.

She sounded worried, even afraid. He paused long enough to feel for her, like a hand in the dark, to lend some comfort.

It's alright, Mana.

Shu… When it lived in my body, it drove me to madness. It burrowed into my heart until I didn't know who I was anymore. It will crush you.

He closed his eyes.

I...want to know why.

Why…?

It came to this planet…it created us…it wants Apocalypse…but why?

Do you think it matters, Shu?

He wasn't sure. Did it?

I don't know. The Virus is so different from us, but it does what it does for a reason that makes sense to it, even if not to us. It feels, it desires.

He was human at heart, with a human mind and a human perception. What must the perception of an alien be like?

It's mind is too different from ours, Shu. Our selves can only break beneath it's weight.

He gazed again into the hollow eyes of the child. He felt…something from it, but he could not interpret the sensation. It was too distant, too muffled and strange.

You could be lost forever, Shu…

I know.

Do you?

He pushed more comfort towards her.

Let me try.

He felt her, pressed against him in a crushing embrace, pinkish hair surrounding him like a curtain. Then she let go.

Come back to me.

I will.

Gently, he cupped the child's face with between his hands. Touched his forehead to that of the manifestation of Apocalypse.

Show me your truth.

OoOoOoOoO

AN:

I hope this was worth at least a little of the wait. Thank you everyone who left a kind word during my absence and waited patiently for an update. Have a lovely existence.

I'm getting on a plane tomorrow. Hopefully I don't turn into a pancake.

Read, Review, Absorb, Consume, Cuddle like cute Little Funell who I totally added in as I was editing because I remembered how Cute it was.