They waited until the morning bus filled with passengers left the bus stop. They looked at each other and nervously smiled, nodding their heads as they took their first steps into the street, watching for cars. The parking lot was nearly empty with a few cars parked closest to the street.

"Looks like a few people are left…" He scanned the building, "uiharu… What do you see…?" He twisted his lips as he raised his chin looking up the face of the building.

Uiharu made a few swift adjustments, leaning towards the screens, "looks like a few… Floor 3, 18 and 19…" She paused biting her lip as she reached across the table grabbing a cookie taking another bite, "nothing above 20…"

They moved quickly across the parking lot towards the large glass atrium. They opened the doors feeling the heat rush out to greet them.

The cold on their faces and body quickly left as smiles returned to their faces.

"Oh yeah… That's nice…" Mikoto smiled closing her eyes. She and Shirai shook the moisture off their umbrellas and twisted their bodies shaking the rain off their coats. Ruiko had a mischievous smile on her face, her eyes were lit up as she gave him a playful pout tilting her head as she unwrapped herself from his coat. The color returning to her pale white cold face. She held his coat open reaching in and grabbing her bat, pulling it out from one of the many deep pockets. She nodded her head, "nothing sexier than a young woman with weapon..."

He smiled as they moved towards the elevator door, then pressing the button.

"Please don't be…" Both Mikoto and Ronan looked at each other speaking in a whisper, "please don't be…" They watched the elevator numbers counting down.

"Once we get in…"

"I know…" Shari spoke eyeing the numbers, "I teleport ahead of you to make sure it's all clear." She quickly nodded her head. She raised her right hand to her left palm and cracked her knuckles.

"Good…" He sighed reaching into his pocket taking a coin out and flipping it into the air, "head it's the same song… tails a different one…" Mikoto chuckled watching the coin ascended and then descend towards his palm but she quickly snatched it, "heads… Same song…"

Ruiko and Shari stared at them, "what…" Ronan jerked his head towards the elevator door, "same music… We heard at the hospital…" He took a deep breath as the elevator chimed then hesitated and then the door slowly opened.

"Damn…" They both shook their heads, "the same song… Oh well…"

Ruiko lifting her bat to her shoulder followed Mikoto as she stepped into the elevator followed by Ronan, "ready…" Shari nodded her head, waiting for the doors to close then teleported to the next floor ahead of the elevator. Ronan stood by the door with Mikoto and Ruiko standing next to each other at the back of the elevator. Mikoto shook her head Ruiko chuckled as Ronan nodded his head to the music. He looked over shoulder at them, "I could sing it… If you like…"

"No… No… No…" They both chuckled waving her hands in the air, "are you sure…" He gave them a playful wink.

"Please… No…"

"Critics…Tch..." he clicked his tongue turning back around, "almost there…" He slipped his hand out of his coat as his shoulders twisted removing his coat, "I will leave this outside… The door… Just in case"

"In case of what…" Ruiko reached out taking a piece of the coat in her hand. She noticed how heavy the coat felt. She leaned her head closer looking at the quarter size buttons interwoven into the fabric. She looked at Mikoto as she examined the coat.

"Ceramic… Military grade…" He spoke still watching the numbers change, "interwoven with Kevlar…" He moved his shoulders back and forth and they could hear his bones popping. "If either of you need to duck and hide…" He watched the number 38 light up, "then dive under it… It's bullet resistant… So…"

"Do you think…?" Ruiko tilted her head and he could hear the nervousness in her voice.

"Just in case…" He nodded his head whispering a small prayer of protection.

The number 40 illuminated and the elevator chimed as the door slowly slid open to the smiling face of Shari. She moved quickly past Ronan hugging Mikoto, "oh Sissy…"

"Sssshhhhh..." They responded as Mikoto glared.

"It's okay…" She shot a glared back at Ronan, quickly nodding her head.

"How about the room…" He took a step out of the elevator into the hallway.

"Oh… I didn't…" She sighed lowering her chin towards the floor, "don't worry…" He took a deep breath as a smile grew on his lips, "I would've been somewhat perturbed if you went ahead that far…"

"Really…" She narrowed her eyes, "you don't think I could…"

Ronan held his arm out fingers wide shaking his head, "did you last time…"

Shari didn't answer she closed her mouth, remembering the battle of the iron bridge. She sighed shaking her head.

"Besides… kuroko..." He waved them to leave the elevator, "do you know where the ampoules are."

She shook her head following Mikoto and Ruiko as they moved down the hallway.

"Thank you… Shari…"

"For what…" He could tell she was losing her confidence, "you got us here safely…" He took a deep breath as he continued moving down the hallway keeping a certain distance between him and the girls. He stopped as they waited as he reached into his pocket for his key. He placed his heavy coat on the floor next to the door. He closed his eyes leaning his head against the door, listening for any sound. His hand on the doorknob and the key in the electronic lock. They heard the click of the lock then he turned the doorknob, slowly opening the door. With his arm extended and powered up, he peeked around the edge of the door.

The room was dark; the only light were the suns' rays filtering through the thin curtains that hung on the large window. He could see the glass and steel buildings gleaming in the sunlight. The shadows painted half the room as the other reflected the white light of the sun. He moved in slowly, waiting for them to follow.

Mikoto then Shari entered the room as Ruiko stood by the door next to his coat. She gazed at it, remembering what he said.

"Let's get it and go…" Shari spoke quickly nodding her head as Ronan moved into the shadows towards the right side of the room.

Their eyes continually scanning the apartment, his eyes were focus on the open bedroom door. He pulled his lower lip into his mouth holding it with his teeth.

"Mikoto…" He raised his arm pointing at the TV. "Over there in the DVDs…"

She nodded her head moving quickly. She knelt down her eyes scanning the racks, "which one…"

"The ghost in the Shell… Arise five…" Mikoto nodded her head as she reached for the dvd box.

"Really..." Ami scoffed as she twisted her lips, shaking her head, "of all places…" They turned their heads towards the sound of her voice as she came out of the bedroom. She was followed by another Ronan prototype. He stood over 190 cm in height, broad shoulders, and strong arms. They watched as his smile grew on his lips and narrowed his eyes, as he stared at Mikoto and Sharia. He stood next Ami, waiting, His body armor clearly visible. Ronan's armor activated as the red dot appeared in his upper left part of his eye. The data running as he scanned the both of them.

Uiharu was watching the computer screens at the judgment office. She stared as the data stream across the computer screen reflected in her eyes.

"This is not good…" She whispered, "He's already powered up."

"Mikoto…" Uiharu repeated calling her name, hoping she would answer quickly.

"I know…" She answered quickly, slowly standing up from the floor, holding the arise five box. She took a deep breath, her eyes still looking at Ami and the prototype.

"Could you check… Please…" Ronan glanced over at Mikoto.

She nodded her head, slowly opening the box. Inside there were no DVDs, just ampoules of the organic compound.

"How many…" She heard him sigh taking a deep breath and shaking his head.

"15…"

Ami closed her eyes as she shook her head, "I cannot believe you would hide it in plain sight." She released a disappointed breath, he smiled nodding his head slightly, "you know ghost in the shell Arise only has 4 dvds." He looked over at Mikoto.

"Hand them over…" Ami spoke as she raised her arm, her hand open with her fingers spread wide, she curled her fingers in a give me motion, "now… Please…" She tilted her head with a Cheshire cat grin on her face.

Ronan shook his head slowly, raising his chin up, "I don't think so… Ami…"

Her shoulders jerked up and down as she chuckled then let out a loud annoying sigh.

"Ronan… Tell your little girlfriend to hand them over…" She paused, dropping her chin looking at the floor. "Before someone gets hurt…" She looked at him with upturned eyes biting her lip.

"So no one will get hurt…" Those words echoed in his mind. He shook his head, "nice phrase… But a little too late for that don't you think…" He glared at Ami, still watching the other prototype.

"What you mean…" She quickly answered, slowly narrowing her eyes. She glared at him then raised her arm up, running her fingers through her hair. He took a step closer, "that's because you killed me Ami…"

She took a quick deep breath and stared at him as the color of her skin drained from her face as she tried to process those words. "You killed me Ami…" Those words ran through her brain. she dropped her arms to her side as her fingers were moving nervously as she quickly looked at the floor, "tt that's… That's a lie…" She struggled to speak the words. She stared at the ground trying to remember the day. "That's not true…" Her voice dropped to a whisper as she tried to remember. What had happened on that particular day? They found him buried under the rubble of stone and steel. She remembered hearing her assistant telling her no life signs. She had his head on her lap, looking down at him as her tears fell to his face. His eyes open wide looking lifeless.

"No… I remember…" She hesitated before she answered again then tried to speak but Ronan interrupted her, "I saw you leaning over me crying…" He shook his head bringing his arm up and pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers, "I also remember when your assistant leaned down and whispered to me in my ear, "now… She's all mine…" He pulled his lower lip into his mouth using his teeth down holding it tight, "then I remembered when he reached to my chest cavity and squeezed my heart until it stopped…"

She was standing there unable to move as she listened to his words. She was slowly shaking her head back and forth with her eyes close, her lips moving as no words were coming out of her mouth. No, no, no, she could hear herself screaming in her head. Then those words force their way into the air past her lips. "No… No… No…" She closed her eyes screaming as she shook her head, "I didn't know… She clenched her fist tight her nails digging into her palms and slowly started to bleed

"You knew…" He shot back quickly closing his eyes nodding his head, "I remember the blade cutting into my flesh until it hit bone. I released a very low breath… You look at me wondering if I was still alive and then you turn to him, why is he so warm you asked…" Ronan moved a little closer, he was now in front of Mikoto, Shari, and Ruiko. "What did he say to that… Ami…" He could see the words full power appeared in his upper corner of his left eye.

"Because… He still fresh…" They both answered in a low voice. She raised her arms covering her face with her hands, starting to cry.

"So… Now you know that…" He coughed clearing his throat. Ruiko was standing next to Mikoto as she handed the case of ampoules to Ruiko.

"Why don't…"

"No…" She closed her eyes shaking her head, "it's too late now…" She took a deep breath, tilting her head as she looked at them, "besides both our projects are successful…" She raised her arms placing her hand on shoulder of Ronan prototype two, her other hand wiping the tears from her cheeks, she sniffled, "I call this one… Darius…"

She opened her mouth, blowing a deep breath, "unlike you… He's willing to go the extra step. He was one of the snipers you took out…"

Ronan's eyes went wide, shaking his head in disbelief, "I never…"

"No… No… You didn't…" Ami took a quick breath, "he was killed in an automobile accident driving recklessly from the last battle you two had…" She patted his shoulder. They watched as Darius smiled tilting his head, "his brain is interconnected like yours is now… I kept yours separated, or thought I did, because I knew you wouldn't kill unless absolutely necessary…" She chuckled looking at Ronan and then to Darius, "he will do it for fun…"

"So… no more chitchat..." She turned looking at the four of them raising her arm, her hand open wide, "give me them or we start…"

"Kuroko..." Ronan spoke as he stared at ami, waiting for Darius to act.

She quickly disappeared into the air. "What the…" Ami wore a surprised look on her face, "a teleporter…"

Then the fire alarms on all floors squelched.

"It is done…" She appeared back into the room, "see you…" She playfully waved as she cocked her head, grabbing Ruiko and disappeared.

"Stop them… Dammit…" Ami's face twisted with anger as her eyes glowed.

Darius raised his arm, his hand open wide as he fired a bright white blast. The building shook as the apartment trembled as books and lamps fell to the floor. The explosion blew out the large glass window sending shards of broken glass to the ground. The air rushed in filling the temporary void as the debris and dust floated in the air, they heard Ronan yell, "Now…"

The apartment rumbled as a bluish white bolt of energy followed the small arcade coin through the air, striking Darius on the shoulder spinning him around as he managed to deflect the majority of the rail gun blasts.

"Force field…" Ami shook her head as she dove behind the kitchen counter for safety,

"damn rail gun…"

Darius was on the ground covered with debris, pushing himself up glaring at them. "You are first little girl…" He growled as he sat on bended knees. He was reaching for the countertop to help him stand up.

"I don't think so…" She narrowed her eyes flipping the coin into the air as he slowly raised his arm, the white pulse moving towards his hand. Ronan glared as he quickly raised his arm firing just as Mikoto's rail gun split the air. The wall and the ceiling exploded outward sending Daruis over the edge and debris to the ground below them. Ami regained her composure as she lifted herself up off the ground. She moved quickly avoid the ceiling as it started to collapse , the debris from the apartment upstairs tumbled through the air towards and Mikoto cautiously approaching the edge of the room. she watched as they approached the open space, the wall disintegrated. The Pieces of the above apartment hung in the air in disarray as bits and pieces were floating downward towards the ground. It had a panoramic view of Academy city and Tokyo framed by wires, broken cables and other debris hanging from the edges. Ami moved from behind the counter when she heard Ronan shout.

"Watch out…" He pushed Mikoto to the side as Darius fired from underneath them. the blast struck Ronan lifting his body into the air and tumbling through it like a ragdoll then hit the floor, rolling finally coming to a stop next to the wall. Mikoto moved quickly as the ceiling started to crumble where she stood.

"Ami… Run…" Ronan spoke coughing and gagging as the dust filled his lungs. The shot had bounced off his force field striking the ceiling above Ami. They could feel the building starting to sway back and forth. Mikoto trying to run to save her but Ronan grabbed her ankle.

"What…" She looked back in shock at Ronan and then turns to see Ami tumbling over the edge. He pointed to the other side as Darius easily lifted himself up back onto the floor. He was chuckling as he brushed the dirt off his body, "oh well…"

He raised his arm, firing another blast towards them. She glanced at Ronan as he shook his head. Then she felt the heat of the blast as it moved around them. The explosion shook the entire building as the wall behind them disappeared in a massive fireball. They could feel the air roaring back filling the empty space. They could hear the building moaning as it slowly twisted in the air. The sounds reminded Mikoto of the night at the old iron bridge, before it collapsed into the river. She could hear him chuckling under the roar of the blast, "thank god it's automatic…" she had a small smile of relief on her face.

"Mikoto…" He glanced at her, "take out the floor…" She quickly nodded her head with a grin on her face as she raised her arm.

"Oh… Really little girl…" Darius laughed, "That's not going to hurt me…" She hesitated for a moment then she heard Ronan's voice, "look at his left shoulder…" ronan nodded his head, " at this range…oh yea…it will hurt.."

She chuckled as her eyes narrowed seeing the large burn covering his shoulder and upper arm. She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes as she fired as he laughed at her.

"What the…" He exclaimed as her shot hit the floor beneath his feet, disintegrating it. For a moment he hung in the air, like laundry hanging from a clothesline then he felt Ronan's blast hit his chest, blowing him out of the window into the empty space behind him. They rushed to the edge to see him falling 40 stories to the ground. They both took deep breaths. They turned looking at the rubble of what once was his apartment. They could feel the building swaying, the bones of the building moaning and screaming as it moved back and forth. "We should get out of here before it collapses..." he nodded his head as they turned to leave, moving around overturned furniture and book and trash tossed around on the floor. He stopped and furrowed his brow. "Did you hear something..." he looked at Mikoto. She tilted her head trying to listen, nodding her head. They could still hear the fire alarm going off and the sounds of siren slowly becoming louder. He could hear the sound of a woman struggling. They moved toward the edge where Ami had last been seen. He turned his head looking over, seeing it was Ami. He moved quickly to the other side, dropping to the floor, on his belly with his arms extended, "give me your hand… Ami…" He pleaded as he stretched his arm with hand held out. She was silent for a moment as she struggled to maintain her grip on the loose cable. "Please… Ami…" He could see the tears flowing from her eyes as she slowly shook her head. She could see the tears flowing from his eyes.

"Ami… Take his hand…" Mikoto yelled as she looked around the room in hopes of finding something else to help.

Ami just stared at Ronan, whispering, "I'm sorry…"

"A little more…" He stretched out his fingers skimming across her fingertips, "please… Take my hand…"

"No…" She closed her eyes as she released her grip falling towards the ground. She watched as the building floors passed by as she stared at Ronan becoming smaller. She heard a loud crash as she hit the roof of a car sitting in the parking lot. The glass exploded sending shards throughout the air like little knives, then dance along the pavement. She could hear people screaming and their footsteps as they hit the asphalt then the sound of her breath as she succumbed to the darkness.