"What…the fuck…happened here?"

Bando stared open mouthed at the carnage sprawled out before him. It was a grisly picture of a vicious battle; vehicles were overturned, in flames, or both, and soldiers lay dead everywhere from various types of wounds. Many were shot, while some looked to have been stabbed or sliced apart, while still others clearly had been torn apart by anti personnel explosives. It was difficult to see very well due to the residual smoke from the flares that were all over the ground. The hanging smoke gave the burning vehicles a ghostly presence. It was like a dream of Hell.

"Oh my god…" came a horrified whisper at his side. Arakawa stepped past him to survey the scene with hands over her mouth. Bando felt rather uneasy, as though they had only just missed the catastrophe that befell the soldiers.

Bando could still smell the gunpowder in the air; thick, and fresh as if the battle had only ended moments ago. As he and Arakawa had approached the column of smoke, they had heard the gunfire and the explosions, though they had silenced bit by bit as they got closer. At any other time, Bando would have given the situation a very wide berth. However, the destruction was perilously close to Maple Inn, which had compelled him to investigate. He had hoped Mayu and her family had not been caught in that, or God forbid, the cause of it.

He had made good on his word to release the helicopter pilot that had taken them to the mainland. However, as they'd reached the shore, they found JSDF patrols were already present in the area. The sight of the helicopter had drawn them to investigate, which necessitated a quick flight to the city proper, losing their pursuers quickly in side streets and alleyways. They had seen the smoke column in the sky as they had flown in, and continued to see it as they evaded capture from JSDF. It had stretched to the dark sky ominously, drawing him ever closer towards it as though fate had built roads that led only to its dark center. Now that he and Arakawa had reached the source, the smoke was starting to clear somewhat from its thick miasma, into wisps that resembled fog. It still obscured sight in many places except the area immediately surrounding them, and the atmosphere made for an unsettling one when coupled with the dark sky above, streaked with a violent shade of red. The color was starting to obscure the pale glow of the sun, causing it to paint much of the sky in an orange tint. By tomorrow, that shade of orange would turn more red, and cover the entire skyline. Bando didn't want to imagine the general panic that would ensue at the sight of what would surely be the darkest dawn anyone had ever seen.

As above, so below, Bando thought cynically as he observed the blood on the street that streaked in all directions.

"Didn't think the fighting would start already," Bando mused, "but something's not…"

He walked forward, into the wreckage and strewn bodies.

"Could this be Ryota?" Arakawa asked, "making his move against the Institute?"

From the tone of her voice, Bando knew Arakawa didn't really believe that could possibly be the case. After a closer examination, Bando knew it wasn't either.

"No, definitely not," he said, "these men aren't Institute soldiers. They're JSDF. This looks like it was a supply convoy."

"JSDF? The Institute is killing Japanese soldiers?"

"Akane, I don't think the Institute was involved in this."

He motioned to the dead, "look at the bodies. They are only JSDF. Where are the bodies of their opponents? If this had been an attack by Institute soldiers, there would be at least a few of them dead here as well. JSDF are trained fighters. They wouldn't have gone down without taking a few with them."

Bando had also hoped these men had been killed in conventional warfare. The gaping slash wounds on many of the dead told him a different story, and gave him a pretty good idea on what it was that had killed them. Dread began to settle in the pit of his stomach.

"Bando!" Arakawa called out from somewhere farther ahead, obscured by the smoke. She must have walked past him while he was lost in thought.

"What is it?" he asked, moving towards the sound. As he walked through a thick column of smoke, he saw her kneeling down next to one of the fallen men. He seemed to be moving somewhat, and the illumination from a nearby burning truck allowed Bando to see the terrified spark in his eyes.

"Still alive," she gasped, somewhat breathless, "this man is still alive, but he's hurt bad."

Getting closer, Bando could see that she was right. The wounded soldier lay flat on his back, clutching a terrible stomach wound that was seeping thick gouts of blood. The soldier's face was set in a constant grimace of pain and Bando knew from the moment he laid eyes on the man, that he was dying. There was nothing they could do except stay with him until the end, which was likely minutes away.

Bando slowly approached the man, and knelt down beside him, opposite Arakawa.

"Christ," he whispered vehemently. The man's eyes lit with a sense of hope that Bando didn't understand.

"You…an…officer?" he choked out, blood draining from his mouth. Bando understood the hope now, as he was still wearing his stolen Institute tactical gear. It identified him as a superior to this man, who was taking whatever comfort he could at the appearance of what he perceived as a superior officer. Bando wasn't about to correct his error. The man was dying, and the least Bando could do, was offer the comfort of the lie.

"Yes," Bando replied, "I'm with a scouting squad to assess the situation. Report soldier, what the hell happened here? Are there any other survivors?"

"No…", he coughed up blood and more poured from his belly wound, "no survivors…everyone…they're all dead…everyone's dead sir…"

Bando saw Arakawa reach into her jacket and retrieved a small box, Bando focused on the man again.

"How? What happened here?"

Arakawa opened the box and removed a syringe in a package, as well as a small bottle. Removing the syringe, she filled it with the liquid in the bottle and began searching for a vein in the man's arm.

"What are you doing Akane?"

"Morphine," she said, "took it from the lab…it's…the least I can do."

He knew she had been about to say, "all I can do". Which would have been the truth, but the soldier didn't need to hear that. The effects of the morphine were almost instantaneous once Arakawa injected it into the man's arm. His breathing began to even out somewhat, and Bando hoped that the man would be able to keep his senses long enough to tell him what happened.

"We were…moving out," the man began, "to resupply the delivery team…"

Delivery team?

"…when the trucks stopped for some reason. Sergeant had given the order. Said there was someone in the road who looked like they had been attacked."

He took a few breaths before continuing, "I was in the third troop transport from the front so I saw her. Woman with light red hair, but it was all messed up, like she'd been thrown around…"

"Jesus…" Bando whispered. It was exactly as he'd feared.

"…and she wore a black dress, but it was torn to shreds on her. Dried blood all over her arms and legs, some on her face. We thought maybe some citizens were running amok, panicked due to the lockdown. Thought she was a victim."

He tried to raise his head, presumably to look at his stomach wound. Bando pushed his head back down gently.

"Just take it easy," he said, "what happened next?"

"The sergeant got off his truck and went to get her off the street and into one of our trucks for the hospital. It was just him out there with her so we couldn't hear what they were saying. He just stood there a second while she spoke to him. When he backed up a step, I could see it…she…was smiling."

He paused again as a wave of pain swept through him. Bando knew nothing less than a constant morphine drip would have fought back the pain sufficiently, but this was the best they could do. The man went on after it had passed.

"Sergeant went for his gun, and…Christ, it happened so fast. She hit him in the throat…barely saw her arm move. Then she ripped the pistol right from his belt and shot him in the face. She was heading for us before anyone even thought to raise a weapon. I've…I never saw anyone run so fast in my life. It was so unreal."

"She was a Diclonius," Bando said, "I assume you were briefed?"

"Just on what they looked like and that they were dangerous…never told us…why…they were…dangerous…"

"Keep talking, what happened then? You fought her?"

The man let out a bitter laugh.

"Fight? Some of us fired on her but she was like the…fucking…wind. Couldn't keep track of her. She was everywhere, firing that pistol and just killing people until it ran out of bullets. By that time, she'd gotten hold of another pistol, and a rifle. Using our vehicles as cover…she was…almost invisible. Didn't see when she'd gotten…into the truck with the flares…"

Bando understood, "that's why there's all this smoke. She threw them everywhere didn't she? For cover?"

He nodded his head weakly, "couldn't…see a fucking thing. After that, it was just fear. Everywhere. She'd come out of the smoke like…a fucking…child's…nightmare. Dragging people away…all you could hear were screams. Didn't see a gun in her hand anymore, just a big…knife."

So this was Angel. This was how she fought. Hearing the man's story chilled Bando all the way through to his core. He wasn't sure he would have stood the ghost of a chance against a monster like that. Lucy had been bad enough. In his mind, there hadn't been anything worse. Obviously, he had been wrong.

"Everyone started…shooting…all over the place…into the smoke," he said through a mouthful of blood, "we were scared…didn't know where she was, couldn't see her. Couldn't see anything. Just knew people were dying. Heard explosions…think she was throwing grenades…some people were firing RPGs…or maybe it was…her."

That accounted for all the gunshot wounds on many of the soldiers. They had shot one another unknowingly in the panic. Bando stopped him.

"Alright…that's enough."

"I was the…last one….fucking pissed myself…" he said, tears falling from his face, "you won't…tell…anyone…"

"Never happened," Bando said solemnly.

"She walked up out of the smoke, that knife in her hand…she was covered in blood…she…"

"Stop," Bando said, "that's enough, you don't have to…"

"Begged her…said I wanted to go home…she looked at me and…said…"

The life finally began to leave him, his breathing becoming slower, his eyelids beginning to droop, his fingers slackening.

"She said, 'no…escape…'"

His breathing finally stopped, his eyes only half closed. His face was fixed in a grotesque mask of suffering and the blood on his lips was already drying except for a single stream that ran down his cheek, and dripped onto the asphalt. When Bando looked up, he saw that Arakawa was crying silently.

"Akane…"

"That fucking monster…I'd only heard about the things she's done…but to see it…"

"We have to get out of here. There will be another squad coming here to investigate. We can't be here when they arrive."

She closed the soldiers eyes before standing up, staining her hand with his blood. When she saw it, she absently wiped it onto her pants, staining them as well.

"Bando," she said, "I know we're fighting these men…"

"I know," he said, "no one deserves to die like this. They died as scared victims, not as men. Not as warriors."

She nodded her head.

"I'm going to Maple Inn," he said, "this was too close to their home, I can actually see it from here. I have to do this Akane."

"I know," she replied, "I…actually want to stay here a few minutes."

"Are you insane?"

"Just…something he said bothered me. His comment about a delivery team."

Bando huffed, "caught your attention too huh?"

"I want to see if I can find something here to explain his comment. It won't take long."

As reluctant as he was to let Akane stay in this terrible place by herself, his desire to check on Maple Inn overrode his objections.

"Alright, but be fast," he said, "I'll be heading to that building…"

He had pointed in its direction, but for some reason he couldn't really see it now that he was looking for it. He knew he was in the right place, so where…

"Which building?" she asked.

"Down that pathway, there's a building halfway down, to the right. You'll know it when you see it. I'll be there."

Bando turned from Arakawa, and began making his way quickly through the scene of carnage. The walls of violence felt like they were closing tightly around him the entire way through, and even after he had left it behind, he could still feel their choking embrace.

The feeling was becoming less comfortable to him, and more alien than he had ever remembered in his life.

Lucy almost couldn't bring herself to open the sliding door, her hand pausing on the handle, her breath caught in her lungs.

She stood alone, desiring such solitude in revisiting the scene of what competed for the worst moment of her life. Even if Takashi would have insisted in standing at her side, the sight of the smoke column in the distance had worried him enough that he likely would have chosen to investigate regardless. That was what he was currently doing, having left Lucy at the steps of Maple Inn at her insistence. Even though she had desired solitude, the absence of his company left Lucy feeling lost and alone. Especially here. Especially now.

She closed her eyes and let the breath out slowly, sliding the door open to the courtyard.

One of the trees in the yard had fallen as the fire had spread to its branches. It appeared that the rain had not been enough to protect it from being ignited, but it seemed to be the only tree that had sustained any damage. The courtyard itself was largely untouched, and if Lucy tried hard enough to ignore everything else in her sight, she could imagine that nothing terrible had ever befallen this place. But she couldn't ignore it.

Before her, was the sight of the ruined house, charred black from the fire, and collapsed in on itself in many places. Much of the roof was still standing, but it seemed little more than a mockery, pretending to stand when everything else around it was consumed by devastation. Lucy felt the sight morbidly fitting. The home before her stood as ruined as the sense of home in her heart. As the wind blew, it carried off a little more of that crumbling ruin, causing small areas of the house to further collapse with furtive sounds. Each one of those sounds sliced her heart. No matter what anyone said to her, she could not make herself believe that this wasn't all her fault. Now that she was standing in front of the result of her presence in Kouta's life, it was difficult to deny her responsibility for it.

She walked towards the house; the sounds of crunching rocks filling the ghostly silence. As she moved closer, she could see various suitcases, and bags that had placed outside the front door. They had been all but ready to leave. Had they been waiting for her to arrive? What if she had chosen to return home sooner instead of seeking out Vanith? It was yet another terrible decision that had cost those she loved dearly.

Lucy was really trying hard to put things in perspective, but it seemed so difficult to do that. Takashi had tried equally hard to take her mind off of the things that were consuming her mind and heart. She was thankful for that, even if he had been ultimately unsuccessful. She had felt somewhat unwilling to let him go alone to investigate the smoke column's source, but her all consuming thoughts had overridden her concerns. She felt somewhat guilty about that, but knew Takashi could take care of himself. She had needed to come alone.

She knelt down before one of the bags that she knew belonged to Mayu, trailing a finger through the ashes that had collected on top of it. Maybe she'd take a few of these bags back with her to the hospital. She was sure there were things within them that the others had to be missing.

She looked up, and into the house. Cold light pierced through the holes in the roof, and gave a haunting illumination of the house within. Beyond the blades of pale light, there was only darkness. The once warm hallways, now were empty, silent, and ruined. Ashes constantly flaked off of the walls and floor as the wind sliced through the house, creating an aura of swirling ash that rose and fell like snow adrift in the winter air. Some of those ashes brushed her cheek and became lost in her hair, coming forth from the gaping maw of the dead house. Brown leaves swirled around her when the wind came up with strength, and provided the only sound that could be heard. It was an earthy whisper, which seemed more to Lucy like a dying breath.

"I'm sorry," Lucy whispered quietly into the air, "I'm sorry for everything."

This was her life. Ever seeking forgiveness and redemption. She was so tired of the struggle in that moment. She almost wanted someone to just…

"It would have been so easy," came a voice from behind her, "so…fucking easy."

That voice. She knew that voice.

She stood up quickly and turned around to stare into a familiar face she hadn't seen in a very long time.

"You," she whispered vehemently.

It was him, that S.A.T. soldier who had hunted her last year. He was standing there with pistol drawn, aimed directly at her. He looked a lot different than she'd remembered. His hair had grown longer, partially covering his eyes and was nearly jaw length. The hair was set in a rugged appearance as though it had never known a comb. That rugged appearance was furthered by the hard set in his jaw and eyes, as though he had been born with a scowl. He was dressed in Institute tactical gear, worn over a shirt and pair of jeans. As Lucy studied him, she realized it wasn't just his appearance that made him seem different. There was something different in his eyes as well.

"Yeah," he said tersely, "me."

He stepped forward twice, his gun still raised. She called her vectors, preparing to defend herself.

"Guess you were wrong huh?" he said, "saying that we had seen one another for the last time. Here we are again Lucy."

"Yeah," she said darkly, "here we are again."

They stood across from one another, the tension thick and the silence deafening. Neither spoke for a long while. His finger hovered over the trigger, and her vectors stood poised to deliver killing blows, all at a moment's notice. If this man came at her as he had done before, she would show him no mercy this time. Frankly, she was dying for an excuse to take her anguish out on someone. Violently.

"I almost shot you," he said, "thinking you were the other one. Frankly, I almost shot you once I realized it was you…Lucy."

"Then why didn't you? I had no idea you were there, you could have killed me."

The ghost of a smile appeared on his face before it vanished again, "yeah…I could have."

He fell silent as they watched one another. Lucy felt that she should be trying to attack him right now, but something was off. Something that nagged at the corner of her mind that gave her pause. After a few moments, Bando lowered the gun, and put it into a holster.

"But that's not how our story ends Lucy. Not like that. Not with you never knowing it was coming. Fuckin disgraceful."

"Don't talk to me about honor you S.A.T. pig," she spat. It felt good to take out her anger on someone who deserved it. Frankly, he deserved a lot more than harsh words, but still she stayed her hand. Why was he here?

She saw him look up at the house, and close his eyes. She recognized the look on his face as one of worry and pain. It couldn't be. Was this man…?

"I don't suppose you know if anyone survived here," the man asked in a quiet voice, "do you?"

She could see him bracing for the worst. It was clear to her that he had cared about someone here, just as she had cared about everyone here…

"You," she said, "you're Bando. Aren't you?"

He gave her a look which confirmed her suspicion. THIS was Bando? Fate had an interesting sense of humor. One of her worst enemies, had unknowingly been one of her family's greatest allies.

Bando sighed and opened his eyes, "Lucy, I know we still have a score to settle, but please. Just answer me…"

"They're all alive," she said quickly.

"Mayu?" he asked, as Lucy knew he would.

"She was hurt, but is going to be ok. They're all at Kamakura Hospital."

He breathed a sigh of relief as he surveyed the destruction. Silence followed as she didn't quite know what to say to him, nor he to her. They had hated one another, and fought numerous times, but things were obviously different now. Bando had protected Mayu and Nana, and was fighting the Institute. Had they spoken on Lucy's behalf to Bando? Was that why he had spared Lucy's life when he could have killed her? Perhaps it was merely his concern for Mayu that stayed his hand? If they weren't going to be enemies, then she had to find some common ground for them both to stand on. She was finding that difficult however, considering the man before her. She then remembered that it probably went double for him, as he had been the one to suffer at her hands most terribly.

He finally met her gaze after a while, anger burning within his eyes.

"How did this happen?" he said, "who did this?"

Lucy looked away from him, "I did."

She saw Bando draw his weapon again and aim it at her, taking a few steps forward, "care to fucking repeat that?"

"I'm responsible by coming back here. By thinking I could live here, and be happy with these people. I fooled myself into thinking it would be possible. This is the result. I led Angel here…brought her into their lives thinking I was saving her. We destroyed them together," Lucy closed her eyes, fighting back tears that were welling up within them, "we both deserve to die."

She saw him lower his weapon, considering her for a moment as though he were trying to read her. After that moment passed, he seemed to come to a decision about her, and spoke again.

"Angel…did this?"

So he knew her. She had mentioned the name absent thought. It seemed Angel's notoriety was growing, or perhaps had already existed, and Lucy had been unaware.

"I told you…we…"

"Shut the fuck up and stop talking bullshit. Answer the question. Plainly. Did she do this?"

Lucy turned an angry gaze towards Bando, "yes!" she shouted, "she did! Because I…"

"You what?" he shouted back, "you told her to burn this place down? Told her to hurt Mayu? Did you fucking do that Lucy? I swear, if you did then we're going to finish what we started! Right here! Right now!"

"You fucking asshole!" Lucy screamed, provoked suddenly beyond reason. She rushed towards Bando, needing to take her erupting anger out on something. Or someone. As she ran towards him, she saw him prepare to raise his weapon, then paused for a second, as though waiting for something.

"I DIDN'T!" she screamed as she closed the distance, clenching her fist, wanting to strike him physically and feel the visceral satisfaction of the physical contact. It would be better than using her vectors because she was afraid she would simply kill him, and she wasn't about to do that to Mayu, whom Lucy knew would want to see him again. Bando quickly holstered his pistol as Lucy reached him.

"I DIDN'T TELL HER TO HURT THEM!" she said, swinging her fist towards Bando's face. He effortlessly caught her wrist, and shoved her roughly, using her forward momentum to carry her past him. Frustration, and rage exploded in her at being so thwarted, and she almost struck out with her vectors.

"Then why the hell are you talking that bullshit!" he shouted, "you're either responsible, or you're not!"

"It isn't that simple!" she growled.

"Yes it is," Bando said, in a calmer voice, "you just don't see it because you're a fucking idiot, full of self pity. I can see that plainly. Perhaps you'd like some help with the boards to build you a cross to hang upon?"

"Bastard!" she growled, rushing at him again. She stopped short of reaching him this time so that her forward momentum wouldn't carry her off, then threw her fist towards his face. He dodged, slapping her hand away and moving to the side each time she threw another punch. She felt a little satisfied at seeing his shocked confusion as she came at him. Lucy knew he had been expecting her to use vectors, and was probably quite thrown that she wasn't.

She reached back to throw another punch and saw him prepare to guard his face, but then Lucy changed her mind and threw a kick between his legs, knocking the wind out of him. She took advantage of his pained shock, and swung a fist into his face, connecting solidly with his jaw. Pain shot up her hand at the contact, and she relished it. The anger and physical pain were washing away her guilt and heartache. Bando stepped back, comforting his jaw, and turning to the side, protecting his groin area.

"Nice to see you're not all vectors. You're tougher than you look girl. I thought martyrs were about receiving pain, not dishing it out."

"Fuck you!"

She swung again and he caught her wrist, holding it tightly this time as he looked directly into her eyes.

"This shit…was not your fault. You hear me Lucy?"

Lucy had been about to struggle and swing at him again, but his words stole nearly all the fight from her. She eventually did attempt to free herself, though fruitlessly, forgetting entirely that she could free herself easily with her vectors.

"Let me go," she said, hating herself for the way her voice quivered, "I swear I'll…"

"She did this! That fucking monstrous bitch did this, not you! It's not your fault…"

"Yes it…I…if it weren't…"

He shook her violently, scattering her thoughts.

"Get it through your head, and start focusing all that anger on the bitch who's got it coming! Isn't that why you're here? To get some clarity on that subject? You're here for the same reasons I am. I knew that the second I recognized you. That's why I didn't pull the trigger. I know what you're feeling right now…"

"No you don't!"

"Yes I goddamn do!"

Bando shoved her on the ground, anger building in his own eyes.

"What the fuck is with you?" he shouted, "you act like you're the only one who knows what pain is!"

He pointed at his chest, "you think I don't know what it feels like to believe that your presence in a person's life causes them nothing but pain? I do know! You could ask my mother but she's FUCKING DEAD! Dead because she wouldn't leave me behind!"

She could only stare at him, stunned. She realized that up until this point, Bando had not been human to her. Just a faceless enemy who had poured all his hate into her, as she had poured her hate into him. It hadn't been that she really thought she was the only one capable of suffering, but she hadn't considered that Bando was capable of it, or even had any dark memories of his own.

"There was only one motherfucker responsible for that, and it sure as shit wasn't me. Self loathing distracts your focus on the shit that really matters, which includes making sure the motherfuckers responsible get what they deserve."

He stepped forward and looked down at her "there's your clarity. You aren't going to get satisfaction down there on the damn ground."

She couldn't believe it. This man was trying to dispel her anguish? Why?

He turned away, letting out a huff of breath in frustration, pacing in a slow circle as he ran a hand through his hair. After a moment, he turned back to Lucy, walking towards her and extending his hand.

"You know," he said, "I wasn't sure how I'd feel, seeing you again. Now I know. Shit's changed Lucy. So have you, and so have I. That's clear to me now. We've got a common enemy, a common problem, and it looks like we're linked together by the people important to us. Way I see it, you need all the help you can get. I know we still have some dark shit between us, but for right now, today? I'm not your enemy, nor are you mine."

She could only stare for a moment in disbelief. How could so many people overlook the terrible things she had done to them? There was something wholly backwards about that.

"Stand up," he commanded, "that's not your place."

The arrogance in the command nagged at her, causing a flame of anger to reignite somewhat, fighting back the pain that her thoughts brought her. She saw him grin slightly at recognizing the anger and all at once realized that he had provoked her on purpose. Anger had washed away her dark thoughts almost entirely. Slapping his hand away, she stood up on her own.

"No," she replied, "it's yours."

"That's more like it," he said, "I like you better when you're pissed off. It's familiar."

The corner of her lips turned upwards slightly in a smile despite herself. He returned the furtive gesture for only a moment. His face then fell again as he looked past her to the house.

"Christ…they had just enough time to pack…"

He walked past her towards the bags that were strewn haphazardly on the front porch.

"Why didn't they leave?" he said softly, "all their shit was right here, ready to go."

"I…" Lucy began, swallowing before she continued, "I think they were waiting for me to get back home."

"And where were you?" he asked, turning around.

"Not here…" she said bitterly.

Bando stared at her for a moment, but said nothing more about it. He turned back to the bags.

"Which one is Mayu's?" he asked.

"The one at your feet is hers."

She watched him kneel down before the bag, gently wiping ashes from it. She understood entirely how he was feeling, and understood in that moment that his feelings for Mayu were far deeper than she had thought. As hers ran for Kouta. Thinking of him in that moment, her mind clear of self pity and pain, she wondered what she was still doing here.

There was Yuka of course but…

To hell with you…I'm coming back to face you. All of you. I'll let Kouta decide what I deserve. He's the only one with that right.

She'd had to fight for everything in her life. This was just one more thing. Bando was right, her place was not on the ground.

Turning her attention back to Bando, she saw him reaching inside Mayu's bag and retrieving something.

"What are you…" Lucy began, but stopped when she saw what he removed.

"Dammit Mayu," he said, more to himself, "I said I was coming back for you, not this."

He stood up, hefting a large magnum pistol. The very one he had used to fight her before. Even to Lucy it had been a frightening weapon. There was just something particularly intimidating about the power and size of that handgun. Bando wielded it like it was a part of him.

"I meant it," he whispered to the air, "I'm coming back for you."

He turned back towards her, "why are you here? If the people important to you are all at the hospital?"

"It's…a long story. I wasn't ready to face them."

"And now?"

"Either I am or I'm not," she replied, "but I've wasted too much time already."

"There's a lot of that going around," he replied somewhat bitterly, "and none of us have a lot of time left to waste."

"You're talking about Red Sky?"

"Yes, we were heading…"

Bando's eyes suddenly widened with shock and he pointed his pistol towards the courtyard door.

"Kiss the ground motherfucker!"

"What…the hell is this?" Arakawa exclaimed softly to herself as she approached one of the supply vehicles.

It was largely undamaged, albeit the shattered windows. It was larger than the others, and appeared to carry only cargo, as a number of the trucks did. Arakawa had managed to recover the manifest from the lead car in the convoy, and had felt a great measure of dread at noticing one of the vehicles missing. According to the manifest, the missing vehicle had been carrying an enormous supply of weapons; from assault rifles, pistols, explosives, to RPGs and anti tank munitions. There had also been two SAW rifles in the vehicle. Arakawa was actually familiar with the American M249, and was chilled at the prospect of them being unaccounted for. It was obviously theft. Could that Diclonius have taken the weapons? Arakawa didn't want to imagine that possibility.

Approaching the truck in front of her, she could get a better look at what was inside the truck that had originally captured her interest. She lifted her hand and slowly swung the door open to the sound of metallic creaking. She was greeted with the sight of numerous radiation suits on hangers, situated near a variety of electronic devices which looked like meters of some sort. What were these things doing here? And where were they taking them?

She looked down to the manifest to find the answer to that question when a sound from behind startled her. She dropped the manifest and whirled around to see an Institute soldier standing there with one hand on his pistol, and the other extended towards her in supplication.

"Shit!" she exclaimed. Bando had been right, she should never have remained behind.

"Easy," the soldier said in a calming voice, "just take it easy, I'm not going to hurt you."

Arakawa reached for her gun without thought.

"Stay back!" she yelled out, drawing her weapon without thought. She knew she didn't stand a chance. If this man didn't get her, his backup would.

"Just calm down," the man said, his voice becoming louder, "were you here when this happened? Who's responsible for this nightmare? Was it Ghost?"

Arakawa could only stare for a moment at the man. He could have had his own weapon out before she had taken hers from her waist. He could have killed her easily, but he didn't. Now he was speaking of Ghost as though he were an enemy. What was going on here?

"No," she said, still wary, "it wasn't Ghost. It was that Diclonius. Number 5. Angel."

"Christ," said the man, looking around quickly, "so what the hell are we still doing here? We can't be here right now. If the Prime Target is still in the area, we are both dead."

The man holstered his weapon, "you're Akane Arakawa right? I recognize you from the bio. My name is Sergeant Yamaoka. You can call me Takashi."

"You're here alone? Are you insane?"

"Not exactly," Takashi replied, "we've got to get out of here, and get you to safety."

Safety? What was this?

"What…" Arakawa began.

"I'll explain later. The short version is that Kamakura S.A.T just received orders rescinding your fugitive status. Bando's too. Is he with you?"

It had to be a trick of some kind, but then again why would he bother with lies? He had her dead to rights. Arakawa looked around for some kind of escape route.

"Goddamn it woman, listen to me! The Institute is split right now and you better thank the gods above that I found you first…"

"…but not fast enough," came a deep, smug voice from somewhere beyond the smoke. Arakawa knew that voice, and it chilled her to the core. She flinched involuntarily as memories of pain and torture came rushing back to her.

Ghost stepped slowly out of the swirling smoke, aiming a massive pistol at both herself, and Takashi.

"Dammit," Takashi whispered vehemently, his hand inching towards his gun.

"Don't try it," Ghost said calmly, "the bullets in this gun will fuck a hole right through your body armor and grind your organs to paste. And that'll happen before you get the barrel clear of the holster."

Ghost craned his neck over to look at Arakawa.

"Nice to see you again."

"Go fuck yourself, pig," Arakawa spat.

Ghost smiled maddeningly.

"We'll revisit that sass a little later, when there's more time," Ghost reached up to the radio attached to his vest, and touched a button, "I have Arakawa. Set up a perimeter around the wreckage."

"Sir," came the reply.

Ghost released the talk button, and focused on Takashi and Arakawa once more, "you both were stupid to come here. Didn't you imagine someone other than you would be interested in the massive column of smoke, visible in all directions for miles?"

"Ghost," Takashi said, "I don't know what's been going on back at the Institute, but surely you realize we both have a common purpose? You're one of us for Christ's sake, why would you defect to the American director?"

"Defect?" Ghost replied, shifting his pistol to the other hand, "I'm not the defector here. The Institute is an organization without nationality. We aren't drawing lines in the sand. You are. Perhaps I should be asking you the purpose of your defection, but that would be unfair. It's hardly your fault that Erich and Ryota have made your decisions for you. But you have a choice now. You can choose to stop taking orders from those renegades, and rejoin the legitimate authority in the Institute. Or you can choose to get shot down like a dog. Right here and now."

"Dammit Ghost!" Takashi growled, "you want to start trouble, then fine, but can we please not do it here? Number 5 tore this place apart, and is probably still around!"

"What?" Ghost replied, almost in a whisper, "Angel…is…"

Arakawa saw Ghost's gun droop down slightly, and seized her chance. She brought her weapon to bear against Ghost, and fired somewhat wildly. Her first two shots missed their mark entirely and caused Ghost to stagger back into the smoke as he returned fire ineffectually. Suddenly, Arakawa could hear radio chatter all around them. None of that mattered to her, as she began walking towards Ghost's direction in pursuit. She wanted him dead so badly it consumed her thoughts and instincts. When she felt a hand grasp her arm, she lashed out by swinging her arm with the pistol, hoping to beat away the asshole holding her back from…

"Snap out of it Arakawa! We have to get the hell out of here right now!"

It sounded so much like Bando, she complied almost automatically. Takashi drug her away from the din of radio chatter and began running with her towards the direction of…

"He's at Maple Inn!" Arakawa said, between heavy breaths as they ran, "Bando's there! We have to…"

"What?" Takashi cried out, "shit!"

His pace picked up and he began to leave Arakawa behind as he turned the corner into the nearby walkway. Already she could hear the gunshots from the handful of pursuers who had caught a glimpse of them. As she turned the corner, she could hear Bando's voice now, yelling something.

"Kiss the ground motherfucker!"

Arakawa picked up the pace as best she could, seeing Takashi up ahead with his hands raised.

"Bando, wait!" Takashi cried out, "I'm not after you…"

Then Arakawa heard another voice which almost made her freeze in place.

"Bando, stop pointing that goddamn gun at Takashi or I'll shove it up your ass!"

Arakawa burst in to see Lucy, standing in front of Bando in defense of Takashi. They knew each other? And what the HELL was Lucy doing here?

As Arakawa burst in noisily, Lucy turned around quickly at the sound. The sight of her dark red Diclonius eyes made Arakawa bring her gun halfway up in an automatic response, thinking better of the movement at the last moment. Lucy glared.

"I fucking dare you bitch…" Lucy said.

At first, Arakawa was confused at the acidic hostility, but then remembered she had earned it by pointing a gun at Lucy back at the island facility. Arakawa also had had some unkind words for Lucy that night. She lowered her gun.

"Lucy…I was just…"

"ALRIGHT!" Takashi shouted, "I know I'm about to ask a lot out of everyone here, and I'd love an explanation from…pretty much everyone right now, but we are in a lot of trouble, and we need to get out of here and back to Kamakura Hospital. We don't have time for questions or explanations. You're just going to have to trust me."

"Do as he says," Lucy said quickly, "you can trust him."

"What the hell is going on?" Bando asked roughly.

"It's Ghost," Takashi said, "he's here, and he's bringing a mountain of trouble with him."

"I can handle him," Lucy said darkly, "and his 'trouble'."

"Lucy," Takashi said, "this man has soldiers who were sent here specifically to hunt the Diclonius in the city. I'm almost certain they have equipment to make that job damn near trivial. Remember what I said about the blaze of glory shit? You have someone to go back to! Don't be a fool!"

"Now you're really asking a lot," Bando said with a smirk.

"Fuck off," Lucy said hotly, though with a strange smirk that Arakawa didn't quite understand.

"Enough talk," Takashi said, "I've got a Humvee parked nearby. Let's move!"

"See Katsuo? I was right. You should learn to trust me more. I told you that you'd find your prey here."

"That you did," Ghost said as he stared with dark purpose at the collapsed building across the street from him, surrounded by a walled courtyard. The pistol was gripped tightly in his hand and the adrenaline in his blood was thundering. Screaming for blood.

"I'm with you Katsuo. Let's fucking do this."

"I'm ready."

Ghost reached up to his radio and pushed down the talk button, the corner of his lips turning up in a smile. Today, he would have his victory. Today, the Institute would have its glory restored. All because of him.

"All units…move in. Take them down."

AN: I've written a message to you guys in my profile to keep the word count accurate on this story. It's officially been a whole year that I've been working on this! I thought to honor the occasion with a few words ^_^. (if "Update 8/18/2012" isn't showing up, give it a few minutes or so. Profile updates take longer it seems)