Disclaimer: Don't own, so don't sue. Hey, that was simple.

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Noin found the darkness oppressive. It seemed to surround everything, permeating into their pores and making them more insane, more vengeful, and more likely to explode, needlessly killing someone who didn't deserve to die. Her thoughts wandered as she left her room, heading for the lounge. The only man inside turned and looked at her.

She noticed how old he seemed, not physically but emotionally. He seemed mature beyond his years. He also had gray hair, streaked with a touch of black. His eyes were hostile until he saw her. This was Anavel Gato.

"Are you Miss Noin?"

"Yes."

"I am Anavel Gato. We are supposed to fight today but I can't."

"Why not?"

"I have a sense of honor that does not permit me to kill women. I feel it would be weak of me to stoop to that low. It is the men of society that have the means to defend themselves."

"Chauvinist."

"Perhaps, but it keeps me from doing something that I may regret later."

"Then you forfeit your match?"

"I don't really have a choice, do I? If I didn't, I would be compromising my sense of honor, wouldn't I?"

She bit her lip. "Where did this sense of honor come from?"

"I was once called the Terror of Solomon. It was a city, and I destroyed it all. Men, women, children, everything. I was in a blind rampage. Only after I stopped did I hear the screams of the women and children. It hurt me very deeply."

"So then why did you do it?"

"I had no choice. I am a man of the military, so I take my orders and carry them out, even if I find them immoral. The choice is not mine to make. If I could I would go back and stop myself."

They stared at each other a second. "How touching." They both whirled to the door. The Colonel leaned against the door, his cape draped, revealing his slender body. "I guess the win goes to Miss Noin, since Anavel 'the Wuss' Gato refuses to fight."

"Wuss I may be, but I don't slaughter women just because they're there. You can find someone else to fight her."

"Can't. The brackets are already organized. You'll just have to sit out then." He turned. "Good day." Then he was gone.

Gato began to sweat. "I'm...suddenly not feeling well. I need to go lie down for a while. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Noin, but suddenly I feel sick."

He staggered out of the room, Noin eyeing his back in wonder. Why did this man have such a sense of honor? Had he just saved her? And at what cost to himself?

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Okay, I know this chapter's a bit short. I'm sorry. It's just that I don't have that much info on either Noin or Gato. If I did, this woulda been much longer. And why did I choose to keep Noin going rather than Gato. Cause someone wrote in telling me who he (or she, depending on the situation) thought should make it farther. And cause he (or she) is the first to do so, I will honor their request. So if you want some kind of control, review with your thoughts. Even if they are bad.

The Colonel