A/N: Hmm…spent more time on this than homework. Oh well, Gaignun and Albedo are tearing my heads off to write it. VV; So…here's the next one…

XP Hopefully this makes sense to you. And if its not right (in terms of places and things than its AU liek i said before) anyway. Hope you like it. It was a pain in the BUTT XX

Disclaimer: I don't own Xenosaga II, Gnosis, Margulis, or anything else related to Xeno X-x……….sure wish I did though (as do all of you ne XD?)

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Prologue

"Pain"

Flashback: Miltia Conflict, 14 years ago.

Overhead the smoke turned from a wispy gray to a pitch black fog that hung over the planet. All around, buildings were smashed, bodies littered the ground. Some smashed beyond recollection, others torn apart in such a gruesome manner. Even the bravest might have adverted their eyes from the carnage. Soldiers, human and realian alike, were placed like dolls on display. Weapons were bundled and bunched together beside every body, some broken beyond repair, and like their users, some unrecognizable.

"Who could have done this…?" a man whispered, afraid if he spoke too loud that the beings would rise once more from their eternal sleep to get their revenge. "This is truly the worst I've seen so far…" he mumbled coming to a stop at one of the worst victims of the outbreak. Kneeling down to squat beside the figure sprawled on his back, he lifted his hand over the others face, gently closing the eyes.

"No one should see the horrors of what has become a reality of absolute destruction." He murmured quietly, rising up swiftly, craning his head around. The smoke still hadn't lifted enough to see perfectly, no good than possibly four feet ahead of him. Before he would strain to squint at the engulfed path ahead of him.

His outfit, an army military working for Wilhelm and Helmer, was still shining with purity, having no speck of blood on it yet. At his side a sword laid comfortably, a simple jerk of a wrist and it would come clean out. Ready to do battle. Emerald colored eyes gazed sorrowfully a he took his time, knowing the importance of the mission. Yet, he couldn't help but pause, doing a complete turn in a circle pattern to stare at what was unleashed.

He had heard the details, something along of a terrible virus that corrupted the realians and made them turn on their creators, enveloping the world into a disaster too horrible to comprehend. Body swaying to the gun shots as the muscles relaxed, an evident amount of evidence telling him there was no need to be on guard in the patrolled area. But unlike his subordinates and companions, he had a different kind of mission to complete.

Find the Y-DATA and the three missing U.R.T.V's.

That simple.

"Wish they had said something else, seems like a grand job already. And I haven't even gotten to the real battles." The figure joked sullenly, lifting his face to stare ahead. The gunshots becoming no more than a simple background music as fires, some big, some small, crackled. Seemingly louder than the gun shots miles away.

Black bangs swayed at the slightest breeze, becoming a minor nuisance to the figure as he did his best to ignore his hindered vision frequently. His footsteps fell against the puddles that were just as common as the fires, dead bodies, some still twitching ("how that irked me so…"). And for once, he felt the need and want to end all of their individual suffering. To use his time doing good instead of bad and ignoring as some eyes peered at him, brains hardly able to comprehend the monstrosity of an environment.

Coming across a bridge leading to the main center of the city, Jin sighed as soldiers. All belonging to U-TIC popped out of the shadows, armed with guns and the likes of which Jin pitied them. Folding his arms across his chest he stood tall and proud, gaze unwavering as one of the figures barked at him, "Who are you? Who are you aligned with, is it U-TIC? Tell now or else!"

Eyes softened at the other guns soon followed suit. U-TIC…that name rang a bell in his head, a small bell. Just barely above a small tinkle. Shaking his head he instantly spread his legs, hand shooting to the hilt, unsheathing it as the first gunshots shot forward. Barreling over the winds, somehow deafening them in favor of their own noise. Moving in almost inhumane speed ("Years of training my friend…") he dashed forward, ducking under the bullets as he dived to the ground. Doing a complete graceful roll and sliced.

The slice, meant for anything, hit solid flesh, and soon, bone, as the legs were completely sliced off. Blood gushed from the wound. In such a distraction and screaming the other U-TIC members turned to gaze at the pitiful figure. Before anyone could have blinked had a bystander been there, the figures all fell one by one. Though Jin was compassionate with every being on the planet, nothing would stop him on a job given by the highest in position.

"Suwimasen. Demo, a job is a job…"

Before he took hardly anymore steps, a crackle of thunder boomed overhead. Followed by a deafening explosion that sent Jin on edge. The building next to him began to shudder as cracks began to appear, the material that composed the product together began to fall in clumps. Until a statue snapped off, falling in a graceful manner. Intended to flatten the figure below as he stared in silence.

"Tch…" Propelling backwards he threw the sword up high in the air, twisting his body as he managed a back flip, evading the chunk of rock just as it slammed into the ground a mere centimeter from where he had recently stood. Slamming a hand against the ground as he neared it, his fingers were instantly numbed. The force sending a small quiver of pain through the pain receptors of his body. Feet swayed as he landed, balancing with his knees bent.

Reaching out as he glanced up Jin caught the hilt of his sword. The grip tightening as he narrowed his eyes. Surveying the wreckage as smoke filtered out of the crater it had created. What had once appeared to possibly resemble an angel statue in appearance was now beyond salvation. The art ruined.

"So you've stupidly decided to come back… eh, Uzuki?" A voice rose from where the angel statue had fallen. Perched on top was a silhouette of a figure, arms crossed over the shoulder. Purple eyes ablaze. Jin's own eyes widened as the smoke began to clear, revealing a rather tall structured man. It didn't take very long for Jin to recognize him. How could he not…?

"I admire your faith in your abilities. It seems I underestimated you," The man continued as if he hadn't noticed Jin's muted shock. Instead he was relishing the surprised look on his past pupils face as his lips curled upward into a smirk. Still though. He was quite shocked that Jin did come back. Never mind he had beaten the fool in the past. Yet the kid was like a boomerang, never seeming to stray far for long.

'4 Years…Hah, what a stupid brat. Unable to really disappear for long…' The figure stepped down, hardly being cautious as his heels dug into the cracks and dirt as he made his way down slowly. Eyeing the twenty one year old with a hateful look as his fingers twitched. 'How perfect…it would be if I could just slice his throat right now…' "Or perhaps not. I doubt you're still any better than you were four years ago. Still behaving like the immature selfish little brat I had the pleasure of knowing."

Jin raised himself up to full height, noting that although Margulis was in his late thirties by now. He still had grown. But then, so did everyone. "Don't judge a book by its cover Tai-sa. Isn't that how you lost once before?" The shorter figure smartly retorted as his hand fell to his side limply. There was no need yet to be alert. "Oh I forgot. You don't want to remember that do you? Challenging that same 'brat' that whooped you in the dojo."

Margulis's face changed from a classic smirk to a stern sneer. The arms unfolded from their resting spot, purple eyes gleaming with a hidden malice, a grudge long since buried away began to once again resurface to rear its ugly head. Apparently it was still very much a fond memory Jin noted in silence as Margulis rolled his shoulders. A sickening crack making him flinch. "Still have a weak stomach for blood and gore eh, Uzuki?"

"Not as much as a weak stomach for your face." 'NOW!' Instincts reacted with a quicker reaction as Margulis instantly shot forward. Hardly in a blink of an eye a sword had been drawn slicing at the spot Jin had been standing on. The blade though, was brought down to the ground as Jin smashed his own against the surface from above. The two swords meeting concrete as the two owners. Master swordsman in their own ranks, began to out power the other in raw strength.

"Still the leaping fool." Margulis grunted as his eyes narrowed more. His head mere inches from Jin's. So close he could…

"Still the stern, disrespectful man...heh…" The two swords. One a traditional Japanese katana, the other an olden day pirate sword wavered as neither let down an inch.

Letting go of the handle with one hand, confident in his strength, Margulis reached forward grabbing one of the bangs that draped on either side of Jin's young face and yanked on it. Instantly the katana went slack as Jin let his guard down, "That's why I told you to cut your hair punk!" Margulis barked. Lifting the old fashioned sword Margulis swung it, intending on impaling as he surged forward.

Jin dropped to the ground, swinging his feet under Margulis stopping the enraged man in a heartbeat as he stumbled forward. Giving him enough time to regroup his confidence. "Didn't I always tell you, you were clumsy Tai-sa?" Jin remarked already having a better grip on his sword. Just incase Margulis tried that again. "I didn't actually think I was right though...yet this just proves that theory" the katana leaped into the air to stop the next slice.

"Someone's cranky…"

"Tch. You're still young! You don't have experience…UZUKI!" Margulis used his body weight to his advantage shoving forward, completely throwing Jin off balance. The younger being didn't even have enough time to deflect the sudden barrage of attacks as the blade swung from what seemed like every direction, sparks of fire emitting from the blade.

Yet what Margulis didn't have, Jin had. That may not have been stamina to outlast someone like Margulis but he had the agility to be faster, and much more dominant in the consistence of mobility. Able to keep the same pace for a small time frame. Balancing on the tip of his feet the young swordsman evaded the attacks, returning a few of them with a fierce counter that left his past teacher mentor stunned. 'That's impossible! That punk couldn't have practiced all those years! Tch...the nerve…'

"You know Tai-sa. As much as I hate to admit it. I think you're getting to old to be much of a challenge…" it was a lie, Jin knew inwardly that it was merely an action to provoke the rage from within Margulis. A fierce competitor with his own personality, even in fights. Sword clashed frequently, strangely not denting the swords. But instead the men's pride as they matched near equally.

One thing that Margulis wanted to change, to prove, that Jin was still a novice.

"UZUKI!" A ball of flame shot forward to the unsuspecting twenty one year old as the other turned his back at the precise wrong moment. Yet, the ground gave the crouching being enough warning of what was to come by the sheer force of the shockwave as he wasted no time. Kicking off the ground Jin swung out a hand, catching onto one of the remaining (lucky) standing poles.

Without waiting to see if the fireball had passed or not he swung his body to the side, his feet digging into small cracks. Giving him just enough space to kick off that and jump to another wall with an equal foot space. Although many few people succeeded in such an art, Jin was perhaps one of the best.

Wall jumping.

And even Margulis had to admit as his face twisted to something akin to loathing, Jin was one of the best around when it came to acrobatic exercises and moving/bending/willing the body to a position that many could not manage.

A snarl tore through the short pink haired's throat as he race forward, his body doing an almost unnatural jump as he too, found his place on the rooftop. A grunt passed his lips as he positioned the sword horizontally, countering the diagonal strike once he had landed. Immediately the two tore at each other. One for self-revenge, and the other self-defending. Intent to end the grudge that still clung to him like piece of cotton on a hot summer day.

"Not so powerful are you Uzuki? You still are a weakling. You'll never compare to me…EVER!" Jin narrowed his eyes, the sparks on his sword lighting aflame in a blue aura. Ice. Clangs rang out as the steel clashed with steel, a few grunts passed out as the two desperately clung to the thought of victory over the other. The main reason soon disappearing in the distant backs of their minds.

Jin reared back as the sword nearly grazed his face as the sudden repetitive slashing was broken. The dream in instincts shattered into pieces as he found himself moving his body more. Turning around he countered with an almost cocky precision as he shot his elbow forward, digging into Margulis's gut. Sending his mentor backwards in a mighty hiss of displeasure.

The reaction from Margulis was one that Jin never had time to counter as the blade shot forward. Oddly enough, his limbs didn't move as the tip of the blade slashed across his side. Before he could reconsider his actions Margulis brought his foot up, a cruel look over coming his face as the boot smashed against the recent wound. The action ended up sending his past pupil reeling back a few feet against a large column. A hallow sound bouncing back as the force sent the pillar tipping forward.

The past slash that had been driven in several meters across had softened it to the point of breaking. Reacting fast to the slightest creak heard the longhaired being instantly moved to the side out of harms way. A snicker passed his lips as his mentor paused in mid swing, realizing that if he didn't move it would fall on him. Not that the thought didn't please Jin in any way. The black haired katana wielder had actually mildly looked forward to it.

"How unsightly Uzuki. This is pitiful. Even if you try to look like half the man you are… I can see through your crap" The bold man didn't seem the least bit out of breath, and unlike Jin, was still standing with hardly any more than a few cuts that grazed the surface of the clothing. Tilting his head Margulis regarded Jin with a trained eye, watching him like a hawk, "if you don't train you body and command it to injure another, you're nothing! But like always, you're too soft to cause damage aren't you, Uzuki?"

Jin flinched as the man mocked him. It's not that he couldn't injure Margulis. The man had boasted so much their was at least fifty times he had seen an opening. But he didn't dare strike at him. If nothing else, it was the simple loyalty to him still. The grudge wasn't deep enough to kill, or suffer, on Jin's part.

Simply because his was of guilt. While Margulis was of revenge. Aiming to better kill him. Jin's was a roller coaster of guilt that had ate at him for four years. 'Demo...he's right if I don't strike I'll…' He inhaled sharply as a hand flew to his side, clamping down on the gapping wound that had long since trickled the crimson fluid, staining his military outfit. A burning pain erupted at the first touch, making him wince with a strangled muted cry.

"I wouldn't…say that…" The younger male murmured as he adverted his gaze, glancing around at their surroundings for the first time. Currently positioned on a rooftop it would have been a difficult feat to find a decent path to run off too. He was wasting time with an old friend! 'ENEMY! Jin, he's your enemy! Think about what he did four years ago...think, think, think…' Yet he couldn't deny it…

He still thought the same. Margulis was his friend, hell, everyone was his friend no matter how badly they treated him.

"Heh. Getting slow Uzuki? Your end is here!" Margulis lifted his sword, the handle glistening as the heavens began to cry. At first tiny droplets fell, but then, it gradually increased to thousand of rain droplets per second. Maneuvering the sword in a series of circles, Margulis poised for a final attack. One hand stretched out, and the other gripping the hilt tightly , high above in the air. "Bare your wound Uzuki, and face me!"

'What? I…this is utter madness I can't…' Jin followed suit regardless, the katana resting in the air as he put a hand in front of him. Two fingers unfolding in a gesture of pure cockiness. His thoughts diminished as he stood his ground despite the aching wound in his side. Swallowing hard he blinked once, a massive amount of ice ether gathering around the tip of his Japanese sword. 'This is it…'

Fire engulfed Margulis's hand as he suddenly shot it forward, a massive fireball of ether sprinting forward. Flames overlapping each other as the ball twirled, heading straight for the expecting man. Releasing a similar action, Jin let the ice shoot off like a beam from his sword, the small line taking on a curve as it instantly enlarged. Matching roughly the same size as the fireball it was destined to make contact with. Snowflakes fell from the edges of it as it zoomed forward at an alarming speed.

Until it made contact.

A huge explosion rocking the area, creating an large impact that blinded all that stood within the vicinity. On both sides of the two that had caused and equal share in the explosion cried out simultaneously as the impact left each out of breath.

Jin's vision blurred as pain exploded from all parts of his body. Unable to stand upright he fell forward, crashing against the ground and laid there. Trying to regain his breath as he wished nothing more than to simply die on the spot. It was terrifying what power he could unleash, combined with his mentors. Lifting his chin a tad off the ground he squinted as his chest heaved with the effort of breathing, his mentor on the other hand. Looked far worse.

It might have even matched with the accident four years ago…

Margulis's gaze was unfocused and dulled as he momentarily was stunned on the spot. Also heaving, his form wavered a bit but didn't fall. Instead he stood dumbfounded as he flat out ignored everything. Wondering why he couldn't see out of his right eye. Lifting a slightly shaky hand, still vibrating from the after shock of the explosion he touched the side of his face. Yet what met him was a streak of blood sliding down his face, dripping down his cheek. And staining his clothes.

"…."

"….Heh…you got what was coming for you….tai----sa" Jin wheezes out as he panted, slowly trying to move his limbs backwards. Instincts telling him that the explosion was far from over. It wasn't until he heard the ground start to crack that he hauled his ass, panicking slightly.

"Uzuki…it seems...I underestimated you again. Your power..…I truly did not know how great it was..." The ground shook as the building roof where Margulis was standing began to crumble away. A shrill scream tore out as the body fell with the chunks of the roof, falling into the ground below, in an eternal abyss of bleak darkness. Half of Jin wanted to rush forward to see if Margulis did fall, and the other half just wanted nothing more than to relax.

Relax…

Relax…

Re—

"The U.R.T.V's!" Jin fumbled to get back on his feet, his legs feeling like mush as he tumbled forward on the first dozen tries, trying to reach the staircase that led back down to ground level. His vision blurred a few times as he tripped on several occasions, eventually learning that in order to get down in a decent time frame. He'd have to use the railing.

Halfway down the long four-story staircase his limbs were in decent shape to hold him up and he instantly picked up the pace. From a casual walk to an exhausting jog as he bypassed everything that he had thought he'd have time to admire or elaborate on.

Buildings, bodies, twitching corpses, blood, water, everything by passed as a blur as he raced by it all. Until his eyes sighted a figure in the distance. Still moving. And as far as he could hear, harsh sobs were emitting from it. Slowing down a he neared the figure, his breath deepened as he stopped. Exhaustion settling in as he found two boys, roughly the age of 12. Sitting.

Correction. One black haired being was bawling his eyes out as a similar structured child was clutched protectively against his chest unmoving. The bawls soon were muffled as the being calmed down, lifting up a tear-streaked face to the invader. Choked sobs were all Jin could hear out of the boy's mouth as he ventured cautiously forward. Trying not to seem like an evil villain out of a cartoon.

"You are…the U.R.T.V's correct? The U-DO Retro Virus…"

Jin was sent a look that would have sent many up the hill. The glare was so intense Jin actually was at lost for words. Taking another step forward he scratched his head, grimacing as knots were immediately identified with a single brush of the hair. 'Bet its blood too…' He sighed. Crouching down he held out his hand, like he would to a dog "look, kid. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to get you off of this planet before anything else happens…"

The black haired twelve-year-old blinked through drying tears as he eyed the man, observing him critically before loosening the hold a bit. "…You're hurt…" He plainly stated, voice cracking from the sobbing on his twin. Green eyes eyed the wound, calculating the cause and deepness of it. "If you don't seek help for it, you may not survive"

Jin shrugged. Nothing new there. "If I do, I can say I did my job. Now come on we have to get out of here. U-TIC is prowling…" He moved closer, still weary that the kid might attack him with some sort of hidden weapon. Even he didn't think he'd survive a sudden bullet wound. Never mind dodging one. Crouching down he lifted a weary hand, doing a rough check over the U.R.T.V. There wasn't any damage, but exhaustion and maybe a virus caused a certain blackout in the functions…

"Why should I trust you?" The boy stated plainly, still doubting.

"Because I may be your only damn hope, now come or else I'm leaving you here…" Jin was tired. Mentally, physically, and everything else was tired too. His brain hurt from thinking, his side hurt from the kicks and sword wound, his mouth hurt to open after the fall, his hair hurt by his mentors cheap shot. And his patience…was limiting…

The boy cradled the red heads body in his arms as he weakly stood up, eyes suddenly turning frantic, "Albedo!"

'Oh god there's THREE of them? Oh hell I ain't going on a wild goose chase for some…'

"Uzuki!"

Jin stopped in mid thought as his face fell to disbelief as he swung his head to the side, glancing out of the corner of his eye, mouth dropping open halfway. Behind him now was at least three A.G.W.S units, a handful ("I'm guessing twenty but…") of U-TIC soldiers fully armed. Along with two A.M.W.S units and a unmistakable figure in the far back. Laughing his head off at Jin's expression.

'Margulis! That……'

"Oh my god…" Jin uttered weakly as almost twenty-five identical guns suddenly snapped forward, armed and targeted at him. Letting out a cough he turned around, positioning himself in front of the two U.R.T.V's and grasped the hilt of his sword. Odds looked beyond grim.

"Uzuki! You'll die here!" Margulis crowed with a twisted sort of pleasurable delight as he threw his head back, laughing. The slash mark had dried and blood was caked but Margulis didn't seem to care. Calming down a bit, Margulis signaled for the first three soldiers to go forward. 'I want to see you struggle Uzuki…and suffer like I have! SUFFER UZUKI!' a crazed expression made even some of the humans on his side weary. Apparently this was abnormal behavior from their commander.

Jin dispatched the three that had attempted to do away with him with a single shot. Hardly moving Jin took a moment to yell at the U.R.T.V that was slowly standing up, supporting his twin on his back (with some difficulty) and holding a pistol in the other, "don't help you moron, RUN!"

Shots rang out as Jin did his best to deflect them with his blade, one managing to slip by and miraculously missed the young child beside him. Gods blessing. "Don't think! Don't even look! Just RUN!" Jin gave the twelve year old a hard shove aside. Noting with a sudden relief a manhole was nearby. If he could distract all of U-TIC for just ten seconds, the U.R.T.V's could waltz to the manhole, climb down into the sewers and end up hopefully out of harms way.

Hopefully…

Hope…

Slamming his blade into the ground Jin made a symbol, concentrating on his breathing as everything slowed down around him. Everyone seemed to react at the same time though. The U.R.T.V he had shoved aside got to his feet and made a beeline for the manhole. Several soldiers lifted their guns and aimed, while other moved manually to get closer or by some miracle catch the U.R.T.V's. Margulis waited in the back, observing the scene while all the A.G.W.S and A.M.W.S units held back.

Either way Jin didn't care as long as the attack succeeded. Placing the symbol against the sword the entire area was suddenly engulfed in white. In the air strange symbols appeared, all black seemingly as they drizzled flakes of snow around. Before an explosion similar to the one with Margulis's impact. "Avalanche!" The snowflakes soon turned into falling icicles as they fell one after another, impaling everything within reach. Or, in plain, every living thing within reach.

Which included all but Margulis, and the U.R.T.V's.

The sword clattered to the ground, the perfect blue glow dimmed to the point of it being non-existent. His legs gave way beneath him as he landed harshly on the ground, emitting a groan of discomfort as he shifted. His body was numb, he couldn't move anything. Much less speak. He had been hoping for a miracle, and one happened. He didn't even know what he was doing! And to that effect…

"Uzuki…"

Jin gazed slowly around, almost everything that had stood was now gone, vanished into thin air. Either that or he destroyed them all. Lifting the gaze up a notch they landed on a figure looking triumphant despite the fatalities. The U-TIC commander lowered down to Jin's pitiful height and smirked at him, observing the man for a moment. "So, you've finally gone so low Uzuki that I don't think crushing you would do any good…"

A hand reached out, running along Jin's jaw line, a thoughtful expression filing onto his face, "No, Uzuki… instead of killing you right here when you're weak and vulnerable I'll make you suffer like I did." Margulis snatched one of the bangs he had early yanked on and pulled the mans head up clean off the ground. Eyes glittering gleefully at the small whimper passing though Jin's lips.

"You're now U-TIC's first class prisoner…"

Jin shut his eyes, wincing at the pain as his head suddenly felt so light, so feathery ,so…relaxing…

Uttering a final moan his eyes closed and he lost consciousness. Wandering in a place that he could only dream of.

And possibly never re-experience.

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Unnoticed in one of the alleyways a figure clung to the chipped building purple eyes filled with utmost concern as his body shook. All around him carnage and battle waged between two separate species, divided by only one thing.

U-DO.

"Nigredo…Rubedo…" Tears pricked his eyes as he eyed the man being hauled up in an obvious painful manner ("The hair hurts thank you very much…") and frowned. The man had risked his own life and possible freedom to save his brothers! A man that didn't have to go to such lengths! Hands slowly curling into fists he began to tail the two to the base.

Hopefully able to somehow help in the way that the stranger had by making a sacrifice of freedom.

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A/N: That's part I of the prologue -- I don't wanna LOOK at it anymore. 11 &(&$( pages! If you survived the grueling long over descriptive battle, lord you're an angel. I almost couldn't write. I was so entranced by the actual cut scene I …tried to flesh out the characters hate for each other. And added in so much crap and dialogue so only a few things in the scene were actually from the game XP. So yeah, probably 5000 words in length by now --; Well the four years ago thing mentioned a few times is in the story. Its not really, ya know, In Xenosaga.

Next Time: In Prologue II Jin is basically kept in a cell and gets a visit from Margulis. That same visit makes the world go round, and help isn't far off either. Smart little brat…