"Your daughter is too arrogant for her own good." General Shuu spoke to the man on the other side. "Someday, that arrogance will bring her to her death."

Sakura-San looked at the cuffs around his wrists and the eight-digit number tattooed into his skin.

"I know what you're planning to do." Spoke Sakura-San.

"Oh?" General Shuu asked, glancing back.

"You'll keep me alive up until the Devil Gundam's resurrection...isn't that right?" Sakura-San asked.

General Shuu smiled.

"I know you did background research on my daughter and discovered what she's capable of." Sakura-San answered, looking through the small rectangle window of the door.

"You're very wise for you age, Sakura-San." General Shuu replied.

"You can't control it nor my daughter." Sakua-San answered, his eyes narrowing. "It has a mind of its own. Once it has joined with its pilot, it takes orders from no one."

"We'll see about that theory of yours." General Shuu spoke as he began to walk away.

A soldier that guarded the jail cell closed the wind. Sakura-San sat in the dark, damp cell. He looked at the cracked floor of the cell, worried.

"Kai..." Sakura-San whispered softly into the darkness.


= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =



Kowloon Gundam loomed over the fallen Gundam representing Neo Turkey. The ribbon sash removed itself from around the fallen Gundam's leg, slithering back to its owner. Asia stood in the cockpit, his sash wrapped around his hands.

"I wonder." Asia spoke softly.

Slowly, Asia looked towards his side monitor that displayed the setting sun.

"How things are progressing with the Neo Japan team." Asia wondered out loud.

Suddenly the side screen flickered. Asia looked at it for awhile, before casually turning away. Chairman Lee appeared in the monitor, sitting behind his large oak desk.

"Congratulations, Asia." Chairman Lee answered. "You have done very well so far. All that's left is the Finals. If you make it past that, then you're off to the Duel Round."

"What are the current standings for the Finals?" Asia asked, tying the sash around his waist.

"So far, you are paired to fight Neo Japan for the first fight. The second fight is undetermined." Chairman Lee replied.

"So. I get to fight Neo Japan again?" Asia asked, something flashing in his eyes.

"Yes. But it won't be against the same Gundam as before." Chairman Lee spoke. "They've replaced their Shining Gundam with a new toy they like to call 'Jikoku' Gundam."

A smile crept across Asia's face.

"Sounds like fun." Asia answered.




Never Ending Conflicts
Fight 38 - Crawling Under My Skin




"It's so nice of you all to stop by." Kai spoke as cups of tea were placed on the table.

"We just wanted to congratulate you, that's all." Ziyi answered with a smile.

"That, and we had nothing better to do." Zhang replied, picking up his cup of tea.

Ziyi glared at Zhang and slapped him in the arm.

"Too bad Sheen-San wasn't able to make it." Kai answered, sitting down next to Kyouka.

"Oh? Where is the Neo American?" Francis asked, mixing some lemon into his tea.

"He's currently in a Gundam Match." Kai replied. "His opponent is Neo Germany."

"His a tough fighter to beat." Spoke Francis.

"But I'm sure Sheen-San will do his best to win, ne?" Kai asked, smiling happily.

"I'm sure he will." Ziyi answered, smiling back.

As Zhang sipped his tea, he glances at Francis. Francis looks up from his mixing at Zhang. The Neo China fighter nodded and lowered his cup. He gently nudged Ziyi in the side, causing her to look at him. He made eye motions that only Ziyi understood.

"Kai, can we talk inside for a bit?" Ziyi asked.

"I...guess." Kai replied, a bit confused.

Francis and Zhang watch as the two girls leave the table. Once they were gone, they both faced the silent Kyouka.

"I heard you got a new Gundam, Kyouka." Francis answered, picking up his cup. "What was it called again? Jikoku?"

Kyouka glanced at the Prince of France with his icy green eyes.

"Sounds like a tough Gundam to beat." Francis replied, bringing the cup to his lips.

"Stop with the small talk." Kyouka answered, as Francis drank his tea. "Just what do the two of you losers want to talk about?"

Zhang looked at Francis drinking his tea for a second. He cleared his throat and locked eyes with Kyouka.

"Kyouka, my nation has been surveying the movements of the Devil Gundam." Zhang replied. "So far, it's destroyed several large cities, turning them into nothing but a pile of ashes. It's slowly getting stronger each day."

"Why should I care?" Kyouka asked, folding his arms.

"The Chairman Council has agreed to put the Neo Japan team in charge of destroying the Devil Gundam." Francis answered, putting his cup back on the table.

"Didn't Chairman Nijuusei tell you that?" Zhang asked.

"He failed to mention it in our meeting." Kyouka answered, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

"In any case, we came here to warn you, Kyouka." Francis replied, looking up at Kyouka. "Though you might have ascended to the Finals of the Gundam Fight, that doesn't mean you're strong enough to defeat the Devil Gundam yet."

Kyouka opened his eyes and glared right at Francis.

"I know that you think you're strong enough to face the Devil Gundam again, but the truth is, you're not." Francis answered. "Even with the new Jikoku Gundam, you won't last very long against such an evil foe."

Kyouka slammed his fist on the table. The tea cups jingled as tea split onto the surface. Kyouka rose from his seat. He looked down at Francis and Zhang, his green eyes turned cold and dangerous.

"Are you calling ME a weakling?" Kyouka asked.

"I'm just saying that you're not ready yet to face the Devil Gundam." Francis replied, looking up at Kyouka.

"I am NOT a weakling like the rest of you." Kyouka answered. "I WILL defeat all those who stand in my way. Including the Devil Gundam."

And with those words, Kyouka headed back inside. Kai and Ziyi ran into the living room, just as Kyouka stormed through. Kai called after him and followed Kyouka while Ziyi looked at the two still outside. She walked back out onto the patio, closing the sliding door behind her.

"What happened?" Ziyi asked.

"Getting through to him is like digging a hole through concrete with a plastic spoon." Francis spoke, looking down into his tea.

"He didn't listen?" Ziyi asked.

Zhang shook his head.

"I am worried about Kai." Ziyi answered, concern in her eyes. "There's something inside of her that she's keeping hidden. Something she doesn't want anyone to know."

"I worry about that girl's future. There's a dark shadow that clouds over her. Something that could affect everyone."

Francis's eyes become sadden a bit as he remembered the words of his cousin.



"Domo arigatou gozaimasu, minna-san." Kai answered with a bow. "I am sorry about Kyouka-San. I hope you can forgive him."

"It's nothing. It was our fault." Zhang replied as Ziyi stood next to him.

"Please, don't hesistate to visit." Kai replied with a smile. "I would love to see all of you again."

"Good luck, Kai." Ziyi answered happily. "We'll be rooting for you from our home colonies."

"Domo arigatou." Kai spoke, bowing again.

As the Neo China team left, Francis stood before Kai. Kai looked up at him, smiling. Francis leaned forward and softly kissed Kai on the cheek. Kai blushed as Francis pulled away.

"Take care of yourself, Kai." Francis answered, looking down into her eyes.

"You too, Francis-San." Kai replied.

Francis smiled and touched the cheek he had kissed. He waved to her, before heading towards his waiting limo. Kai stood at the door, watching Francis leave.

As everyone left and Kai headed inside, Kyouka watched from his bedroom window.

"Though you might have ascended to the Finals of the Gundam Fight, that doesn't mean you're strong enough to defeat the Devil Gundam yet."

Kyouka sneered and closed the curtains.

Gomen Nasai - "I'm sorry"
Domo arigatou gozaimsu - "Thank you very much."
Wakarimashita - "I understand/I understood."
Shine - "Die."
Chikusho - "Shit."
Nan de yo - "Why?"
Naze - "Why?" [This one will be used more often.]
Nani - "What?"
Yamette-yo - "Stop it."
Minna-san - "Everyone."

G Gundam © Rightful Owners. Never Ending Conflicts - CrystalKeeper/LauraC 01-02