The sun set slowly, turning the sky hues of red, orange, and yellow. A light breeze chased the clouds across the face of the sun. It was perfect. But one man didn't notice the beauty all around him. His thoughts were not on the setting, but on himself.

Who am I, really?

Earlier that day, Neo Lorrnoke had known perfectly well who, and what he was. An officer of the Earth Alliance, currently a prisoner on a ship named Archangel. But not long after that, everything had changed.

First he had been released from captivity, then given a fighter jet with which to escape.

He hadn't understood why. If he was a prisoner, then why let him go?

Then, even though he had intended to fly back to his own forces, before he knew it,he found himself turning around, coming back to give assistance to the same ship that had held him captive. How ironic...

And no matter how much I try to convince myself that it was out of obligation, or pity, I know it isn't true. I came back because of her...

As he'd flown away, Neo kept seeing her in his mind's eye. Her face, her soft voice, the tears in her haunting marigold eyes, they all drifted through his thoughts. He didn't know why, but the thought of leaving her gave him a pain in his chest. Why do I feel like this?

Sure, she was beautiful. But was that all? It had felt like he was missing something, something important...

So he had flown back. To protect her, for some reason.

Then I saw something I shouldn't have. I saw her, but in an EA uniform. I was flying towards the ship. Was it wishful thinking? Or a memory?

Am I me, or someone else? Is it because everyone wants me to be this Mwu so badly that I've started to become him? Or am I really him?

If I looked in a mirror, who would I see? Myself, or him?

All this occupied Neo's thoughts as he stood on the top deck of the Archangel, looking into the setting sun. He didn't hear the quiet tapping of someone walking towards him, and was surprised by a gentle voice.

"So, this is where you are."

Murrue smiled as Colonel Lorrnoke swung around in surprise. He hadlooked so lost in thought that she had hated to disturb him. But she had questions. One on particular stood out, but she couldn't come right out and ask him.

Why did you come back?

The blonde man turned back to the view. "I have nowhere else to go..."

Murrue walked up to join him at the deck railing, the gentle breeze blowing through her auburn hair. The sky was beautiful, but she knew that he would had a different reason for being here than just that.

"Neo Lorrnoke. Born November 29th, CE 42, Norslva, Atlantic Federation. Blood type, O."

She turned to him in surprise. Why was he telling her this?

"Enlisted, CE 60. Currently Colonel of the 81st Independent Maneuver Squad, also known as Phantom Pain." he continued. Then he sighed and looked down, worry appearing in his bright blue eyes.

"Or at least, I'm supposed to be. But I'm beginning to lose my confidence."

Before Murrue could respond, he turned to her, the last rays of the sun cascading through his golden hair.

"I feel like...I know you..." She gasped. He what? Her already large eyes widened at what he had just said to her.

"No, I do know you. My eyes, ears, arms, hands, some part of me knows you" he said softly, looking down again.

I must be dreaming. Is he saying he remembers me? That he knows who I am?

"That's why I couldn't fly away..."

Murrue could hardly breathe. Was he saying he had come back because of her? Like Alaska?

Slow down, Murrue. It's not like he's Mwu yet, even if he does think he knows you.

Stepping back a little, she looked at him with wide eyes.

"I do understand you're in pain. But I'm also in pain." the Colonel whispered. She could understand why.

To not be sure of who you are...it must hurt.

"So," he asked, "can I stay here?" He placed his hands on her slim shoulders. "By your side?"

He wants to stay on the ship? He wants to stay...with me?

All Murrue could do was nod. Of course she wanted him to stay. Whether it was for his benefit, or for her own wish for him to be her beloved Mwu, she wasn't about to turn him away.

She was expecting him to thank her, smile at her, something like that. What she wasn't expecting was for him to wrap his arms around her and pull her into a hug.

His embrace was warm, his strong arms wrapped around her felt just the way she remembered. Even if he wasn't Mwu, for this moment, she could pretend he was, right?

Closing her eyes, she returned the embrace, nuzzling close to him.

Neo smiled, closing his own eyes. Her body was warm and soft, the perfume she wore seeming to swirl around him, easing some of the pain in his heart.

Whoever or whatever I really am doesn't matter. Even if I become a totally different person, as long as I'm wherever she is, I'll be fine. More than fine.

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( Lol. I was inspired by a conversation on NSG, about our favourite MXM moments. As you might expect, phase 38 of Seed came first by a long way, but behind that was the 'sunset reunion' scene from phase 43 of GSD. So I wrote a chapter about that, although this story hardly does that scene justice... (come on, how many people squealed like complete fangirls when they saw it? I sure as hell did XD)

Please read and review! )