RockMan Zero
Makenai Ai ga Kitto Aru
Saiko Ninja

Well then, I know that it's been quite a while since I've posted the next chapter to this fanfic, but I've been really busy with a lot of things such as getting my driver's license. –Cough- Umm… Anyways, please enjoy the next chapter and I will find more time to write more.

Disclaimer: Hmm… I don't anything related to RockMan and if there are any likenesses to any story or character, it is purely coincidental, unless otherwise specified.

Makenai Ai ga Kitto Aru
Chapter: Importance

Zzt! Zzt! Zzt!

"Aaghh… I'm awake already… I'm awake…" muttered an exhausted Zero.

Slowly but surely, rays of light entered the room through the window and bathed the crimson warrior in warmth and stirred in him slight irritation. Sitting up suddenly, he gazed about with a tired expression. He was up all night yesterday training since he had nothing else to do. Ciel didn't seem to bother him after that last meeting they had.

"My head… Ugh…"

As he moved both his legs to the side of his bed, he then stood up and stretched his arms upward and a little behind his head. Today, he was going to see to it that he apologized to Ciel for being such an insensitive idiot. He really didn't mean to be as such, but sometimes, he couldn't help it. Exhaling a bit, he walked out of his sleeping quarters and headed to Ciel's room.

(I just hope that she'll forgive me…) Zero thought as he knocked on the door.

"Ciel…? Are you awake? It's me, Zero… I just… I wanted to say I'm sorry…" he started.

No answer.

"Ciel?" continued the crimson warrior.

Again, no answer.

Zero assumed that she was ignoring him and then an anime fashioned vein appeared to the side of his head. Balling up his left fist raising it up a bit in front of himself, he growled a little while closing his eyes a moment. Calming down once more, he opened his eyes sighed starting once more.

"Come on Ciel, I know that I was being a jerk and everything, but give me another chance…" pleaded Zero.

…No answer.

That was it. He was going to go in there and then even get on his knees to beg for her forgiveness. Zero didn't think that she would be this upset at him for looking at another girl like that. Then again, this was Ciel he was talking about; she had a fragile heart, at least, he began to believe that. He pushed the button to the side of the door and then let it slide open. Walking in, he gazed about her spacey room with all these high-tech electronics left running.

"Ciel…? Ci-el…! Where are you!"

The crimson warrior was beginning to worry as he looked about. Ciel wasn't anywhere in sight and her computer was never left on unless she had paperwork that was due the next day. Wait… She perhaps was just at the lounge area getting a cup of coffee…? Right, she probably just needed something to help her stay awake. He then rushed to the lounge room with an anxious feeling in his chest. She would be there for sure; she had to be there!

"Ciel…!" Zero exclaimed as he slid the door open.

"Ehhh!"

A young rookie that had just transferred there jumped up startled, spilling coffee onto the table. He shouted a bit covering his mouth just in time to prevent anyone else running into the lounge wondering what just happened. As the pain subsided, the rookie gazed to the entrance of the lounge and blinked with curiosity. Tilting his head to the side, he remained gazing to the equally startled Zero.

"C-Can I help you, sir?" offered the rookie.

"Yeah… Have you seen a young woman dressed in pink walk by here?"

The young rookie shook his head.

"I'm sorry sir! I haven't seen anyone like her here!" exclaimed the rookie, bowing deeply.

Zero placed a hand behind his head feeling a little irritated, but not at the rookie. He nodded a bit and then exhaled as if trying to release a burden from his chest. Lowering both arms to his side, Zero found himself leaning back against the wall near the entrance, his head slightly pounding.

"Take it easy. Thanks anyways." Zero replied.

The rookie nodded and then poured himself another cup of coffee and then headed on out leaving Zero alone in the lounge. As he was left alone, he placed a hand to his forehead and then massaged it gently. This wasn't good, not at all. As he gazed back up, he thought he saw Ciel standing there pouring herself some coffee, but as he took a moment to rub his eyes a bit, he found that she wasn't there anymore.

"Where could she have gone…?" Zero asked himself, somewhat upset.

Slowly, he got up from leaning back against the wall and then rushed out of the Resistance Base deciding to take a look around. Perhaps Ciel would be outside getting some fresh air. As he walked off grounds and wandered on the outskirts, Zero happened to just come across the same grove of cherry blossom trees that Ciel was in earlier yesterday. Pushing past some shrubbery, the crimson warrior gazed about.

"Ciel…? Are you here!" Zero exclaimed.

Sighing gently, he pressed on not saying another word for the moment, as he was too worry-sick in the heart to even say anything anyway. Not taking account of what was around him, rather, below him, the crimson armored hero tripped over a branch that stood out from the ground. As he pushed himself up, he cursed beneath his breath and then dusted off the dirt from his armor.

"Damn it… Ciel… Where are you?"

Standing up quickly, Zero didn't have the time to notice the low branch just above his head. Soon enough, the top of his head made contact with the branch. Stopping short of almost standing up straight, he slid back down on his bottom and then rubbed the top of his head.

"Aghh… Huh?"

Just then, a shuriken of a sort whiffed right past the side of Zero's head striking the tree behind him. A bead of sweat ran down his face as he blinked for a moment realizing that it could have been him who was struck with that sharp projectile. He gazed to the side at the weapon finding that there was more to it than the four-point star, there was a message pinned to the tree. As he pulled it from the tree, he gazed back to the direction of where the shuriken was thrown. A familiar but faint reploid floated in the distance, however, it was only but an afterimage.

Gazing back to the little message, Zero skimmed through it.

If you wish to see the girl again,
Come alone to the abandoned temple at midnight.
Do not try anything smart or I will not hesitate to kill her.

After having read the little message, Zero ripped the paper into pieces and then clenched both his fists tightly forgetting the pain he felt now as it was replaced with incomparable anger. He was so upset that he didn't realize the fact that his palms were bleeding from clenching them so hard…

"Ciel…"

(Meanwhile…)

Ciel was tied up and kneeling on her knees looking to the enemy reploid. She growled slightly and then struggled even though she knew it was useless to break free of the bounds. Bowing her head down, her blonde bangs fell over her eyes hiding her frustrated expression.

"You think that with me here, that he will be distracted and won't fight to his full potential, don't you!" Ciel shouted.

The reploid remained silent, as he showed no sign of emotion. To him, a battle didn't have to be fair to win. It was this one simple rule, "kill or be killed". Shrugging a bit, he then walked off to the main training grounds of the temple and waited for Zero there to see if he would come…

The young girl sighed and then felt tears well up in her eyes. She wondered how important she was to Zero. Would he really come to save her? All these thoughts and more raced through her mind. It wasn't that she doubted Zero, but something in her heart felt that she couldn't put her whole heart in believing in the crimson warrior… Yet…

It was almost midnight and Zero wasn't anywhere in sight.

"Well, you can stop worrying because here is your crimson friend."

"…!"

Ciel gazed up quickly and then found Zero standing there basked in the rays of moonlight, his Z-Saber glowing with an aura she had never seen before. His eyes were narrow and his expression was something that shocked even the enemy reploid. Slowly, the crimson warrior made his way to the training grounds where his enemy awaited and then stopped just a little ways a way from him.

"Release Ciel… Now…" demanded Zero.

The ninja reploid ignored Zero's demand and then started off.

"I am Phantom, one of the four generals under the command of Master X."

"I don't care who the hell you are. Let her go, now. This doesn't involve her." Zero replied.

"If you want her… You will have to go through me!"

Within the next instant, both dashed towards each other with nothing but the desire to eliminate his opponent completely. None would rest until the other stopped breathing and if it took the whole night till morning, then so be it…

"Take… THIS!" Phantom shouted.

Zero was caught by surprised as the ninja-like reploid took to the sky riding his over-sized shuriken. He was then raided with a barrage of mini shuriken. They were quite easy to dodge, however, there were plenty to go around for the crimson maverick hunter to try and escape from.

"Kkh!"

Eventually Zero faulted at some point and then was struck in his right arm and injured at the left rib due to a multiple amount of shuriken boring right through it's edge. Luckily for him it wasn't right through the chest. Zero fell to one knee and winced as one of his eyes shut. Gazing up to his opponent who then hopped down from the shuriken, he growled and would find a way to get rid of this nuisance once and for all.

"Tsk tsk tsk, I expected much more from the legendary warrior, Zero. If this is all you are capable of, then I would suggest giving up now. If you can't even defeat me, then you would never be a match to go up against Master X." stated the ninja reploid.

Zero's eyes were hidden beneath the shadow of his helmet as he exhaled slowly and then all of a sudden, a grin played upon his face. Spitting a small amount of blood to the side, he stood up straight once more ignoring the pain he felt at the moment. He wouldn't fall to the hands of some ninja. Never. Zero then muttered something that was quite muffled.

"Hmm? What's that?" Phantom seemed to have arched a brow as he gazed to Zero.

"I won't… Give up…! Losing to a piece of junk like you! I've had better a fight back in my day! You think you're hot stuff? All you got is child's play… Quit while your ahead, ass-clown." Zero grinned as he assumed a fighting stance unfamiliar to the ninja.

"You will regret ever uttering those words in my face, Zero!"

"You will regret ever laying a hand on Ciel…"

Both of them stood there quietly staring each other down waiting the perfect moment to strike. So close was it to early morning and the sun was about to rise from the distance. Oh, of course it would be assumed that they would strike the moment just as the sun rose from the mountains, but no, Phantom already made his move making a mad dash towards his enemy, Zero. Just the same, the crimson warrior rushed forward to Phantom with one last ace up his sleeve. Time began to slow for a moment; at least it seemed so for poor Ciel who had to witness this life or death situation.

"You die where you stand!" Phantom shouted as he jumped up high into the air.

Zero gazed up quickly and knew in his mind that he could not jump as high as he could, so he waited for the perfect moment to counter. Phantom came spiraling down to Zero with twin swords like a drill ready to pierce him. Once more, Zero's expression, his eyes seemed to be hidden by the shadow of his helmet casted by the torches lit not too far off.

"And now… The End…! Hyaaaaah!" Phantom roared.

And here it was, now or never, do or die… And then, just like that, Zero gazed up and then grinned excitedly like that of a child, his eyes filled with a burning light that showed his determination. Quickly, he kneeled down and then forced himself up extending his sword upward with a flame like aura, the outline of a dragon roaring to devour it's opponent.

"saa…TENSHOUZAN!"

The both of them were shadowed in black and the scenery behind them went pure white as both struck right through each other. The sound of their weapons clashing thus broke that speed distortion of Ciel's. Everything seemed to go smoothly once more and then the scenery became quite focused and normal once more. Zero smoothly and gracefully somersaulted in the air and then landed on both feet, his opponent Phantom, using swords shoved himself from hitting the ground and did a small somersault, his back facing Zero…

Neither moved for a moment…

Within seconds passing, Zero fell to one knee and then coughed up some blood.

"Zero!" Ciel screamed.

However, just as Zero did so… The ninja-like reploid frowned discontentedly and fell to the ground knocked unconscious, blood seeping out of his wounds.

"Zero, wake up!" she continued.

The crimson reploid stirred and then forced himself up by pushing his body up with his hands. He then knelt on his knees trying to regain composure and some strength. A good time to use a cyber-elf, but he had none with him. Besides, he found it wrong to use a "living" being like that just to momentarily heal his wounds when all he had to do was wait for medical attention.

"I'm alright Ciel… It's okay…" Zero replied.

"Thank goodness…" sighed the girl in relief.

Just then, the sun finally rose in the distance from behind the mountains and shed light upon the temple grounds they stood upon. The crimson maverick hunter sighed in relief and then walked over to Ciel cutting up her bounds freeing her. She then stood up and then shook her wrists and her feet for a moment to try and get the feeling back in them…

"Zero… I… Thank you for coming to save me… I…" Ciel was cut short.

"N-No… I will not… Let it end this way… You don't deserve a happy ending, you bastard! I'll take you both with me! I will –not- let Master X down!"

Phantom screamed as he then activated a self-destruct mechanism on his body. A bomb perhaps for final measures, however, it would prove useless.

"Die…!" he continued and then set himself off causing a massive explosion.

"Ciel…! Get down…!" Zero shouted.

He made a mad dash as he took Ciel cradling her into his arms. The explosion caused a wave of energy to rush at them, but it would only go so far. Before Ciel knew it, she opened her eyes slowly and then peeked over Zero's shoulder. What she saw caused her eyes to widen in shock. Nothing was left from the explosion and that would have been the same fate for herself and Zero if he had not done something.

"…He…" Ciel started.

"Killed himself… I know Ciel… I know…" Zero sighed as he finished her comment for her.

"I hope X knows what his subordinates are doing for him… What they go through…"

Zero sighed and then looked to her smiling. A gentle wind passed by caressing them both on the face lightly. Ciel faintly blushed as he gazed at her in a manner that seemed so… Intimate. She tilted her head to the side and then blinked at him cutely. This caused the crimson warrior to laugh gently. She was so cute, that he would even have made his choice of picking her over that "sexy" Leviathan character.

A/N: I'm sorry for all you Leviathan fans out there! I'm sure that some of you think Zero and Leviathan look good together… But… Hey! I'll dedicate to you all a fanfiction of them in the near future… Till then!

Out of the blue, Zero then found himself inching closer to her, his heart increasing in pace. This caused him to just hold her closer and then wrap his arms around her to let her feel his "heart" beat. He wanted to tell her now what he felt and there was nothing stopping them now. A vow he would make to her at this very moment, this day…

"Ciel…" he whispered gently to her.

"Y-Yes Zero…?"

"What would you say… If I told you that I…" And this time, it was Zero's turn to be cut off.

"Love me…?" Ciel giggled as she stated that.

"I… Well…" He looked to the side and coughed a bit, his face blushing deep red.

"Silly…" she whispered back. "I can read your expression and the way you are… I already know… I just wanted it to come from you whole-heartedly. And now that I know… I wanted to say that I…"

Perhaps this was a game to both of them cutting each other off at convenient times, but this time, Zero cut her off once more before she could finish and then kissed those sweet strawberry lips of hers passionately. Closing his eyes slowly, Ciel did the same and then wrapped her arms around his neck and then held him "ever-so" close. As they pulled away slowly from the quite lengthy kissed, Ciel seemed to be a little breath taken.

"Z-Zero… I… You took the words right out of my mouth…" she giggled slightly as he blushed a light shade of pink on her cheeks.

"Ciel… I promise that nothing will ever get in the way between us again. I'm sorry for any time before that I had let you down, and that will never happen again. I promise… I'll protect you… Even if it means my own life…"

Zero hugged her close unable to avoid this quite fluffy moment. He wanted to never let go of her but he knew that they had to get going soon back to the Resistance Base and go on, for now… Smiling, he kissed her gently once more on the lips and then winked. Ciel couldn't help but blush a bit more; her strawberry blonde bangs falling over her eyes hiding the faint shyness and affection in her expression.

Ciel pulled away gently and then smiled lightly at him, the sun shining behind her, casting a radiant outline about her body. Extending her hand out to him, she tilted her head to the side faintly, a smile still played upon her face.

"I promise that every time you come back from anywhere, I'll be there to greet you with a simple… 'Welcome home'…" Ciel giggled.

Zero folded his arms across his chest and smirked faintly, closing his eyes. Letting the wind caress him for a moment, he then opened his eyes gazing at her with an affectionate expression.

"And I'll always be there to tell you… 'I'm home'…" Zero replied, taking her hand gently.

End Chapter: Importance

Walks up to the stage blinking at the reading audience-

Okay, okay. I'm terribly sorry for that "ultra-fluffy" ending. I'm sure that it was a little corny. –Tomatoes being thrown towards the stage- I know I've been a bit lax on updating, but I promise to be more diligent this time around, promise! Anyways, as always, tell me what you think and if you have any suggestions or questions (hey, that rhymed!) just let me know and I will do my best to accommodate your requests. Well then, with that out of the way… I'll be going then, no da!

Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars..
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars..
In other words.. Hold my hand..
In other words.. Darling kiss me..

Fill my heart with song,
And let me sing.. Forevermore..
You are all I long for, all I worship and adore..

In other words.. Please be true..
In other words.. I love you..