I hope I can finish the translation this week, before holidays. I'm also thinking to add a final chapter with the whole original version, at the end.

For the final scene of this chapter, I had in my mind the imagine of Mireille and Kirika, from Noir, in their last fight :P

I found Haruka in the umpteenth fight with Tate, Mai's friend and member of the Assault Squad too. He was immobile, his eyes closed, his eyebrows knitted in a thoughtful expression, hearing Haruka's words without loosing his composure. As always, Haruka's words were as a river in flood, inflamed by her ungovernable rage. I didn't pay too much attention to them, rather, I slipped away in silence, to reach the black jail and my prisoners.

How much ironic can be the smile on the lips of a vanquished? I can imagine that, at that time, the expression on my face was betraying my astonishment, my disbelief and something else that I think was indignation. At the center of the cell where we have shut the Sharan's Nomad Tribe, there was only a girl with short, brown hair. She was gazing at me, through the bars of electrostatic energy, with a proud sneer in her lips and a savage look on her eyes, behind the lens of her glasses.
All around her, there were trembling figures, the mirages of those I thought were my prisoners and that, now, I saw disappear under my stupefied look. I think that was the first time I felt a true, deep fear inside of me, gripping my body in a mortal grasp. I was unable to turn away, to watch at my back, where there was Natsuki's cell. I was scared, I was aware that I couldn't accept the possibility that also Kuga was a mirage, like everything else around me. Only an illusion created by the power of that scary girl. But, behind me, I heard her clear, powerful voice, rebellious as always and shining in the glory of victory.

- Yukino!

A cold, imperious order, that king of command that only who have any scruples can give. And then, I heard Yukino's voice react at that order, while she was still gazing at me. It echoed in a strange, harmonious way but I felt the consciousness hit me as a fist on my stomach. All that I heard, was a single, terrifying word.

- Diana!

Diana. Diana. Diana...

That name still echoes inside of mind, in every single moment of my life. At that time, I couldn't understand its meaning, but now I know it was a simple, efficacious vocal command, gave to something that now I can imagine was a sort of bionic, sentient parasite. A parasite that has taken the control of my Kiyohime, in those few hours when we were sure to have accomplished our mission. How much pathetic we were. But, I knew, the fault for that situation was only mine, because I haven't understood Kiyohime's signals. I believed that my ship was suffering with me for my new, desperate feeling for Kuga and for what Kuga symbolize: our freedom. Instead, a black cancer was devouring my Kiyohime from the inside.

I felt the bound with my ship cracked, and then it broke with a painful and scary sound, leaving me in a state of shock, lying in the cold, metal ground near the opened cells. I felt that my vital force was abandoning my body, in an unbroken flow. When I raised my eyes, I found Natsuki bent upon me. She had a livid grudge inside her eyes, cold as two bright emerald gems in her thin face.
What was she thinking? Why was she gazing at me like that? There was something in her expression, something I couldn't really understand. And yet, despite of that, I couldn't help but think how much I wanted to be by her side. I wanted to be the only creature in the Universe destined to receive something different from her blind rage against everything. I wanted her to love me. Only that.
Maybe, something into her noticed my need and I can't help but think, with a sort of pride, at the veil of sudden shyness that shaded her face, for a brief moment. I can't explain how it was possible, but in that suspended moment I understood how many fragility there was behind that sharp, cold, rebellious look.

Why? Why was I unable to speech? Not a single word? Slowly, I raised on my elbow, facing Natsuki without fear. I know I was entrusting my life to her, while the dark shape of a disintegrator was creating an obsidian bridge between her right hand and my brow. But I was there, and I didn't want evade my fate. And again, I noticed another flash of uncontrolled vulnerability in her green eyes and I saw that she was lightening as a flame caressed by the wind, as if the purest and sincerest part of her soul was reacting inevitably at... at me.
And then, I saw another flame, the fire of the challenge burning in her eyes. As me, she also was there and she was challenging me to stop her, if I could. But, I felt my strength disappear and when I slid again at the ground I saw a new light in her eyes. Something as a wordless plea. And then, there was only the darkness.