Not quite satisfied with this one. It'll have to do for now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Seed Destiny

Katsuya walked threw the newly established base. He was still wearing his flightsuit, having spent most of his time in his mobile suit for the past 24 hours. The fresh air was refreshing, and he was starting to feel energized again.

"Report, Micka." he walked into the tent to see one of his team mates, Micka Forrester. Vladamir Alexander was out on patrol.

"The area is secure." she said, not looking up from the charts.

"Where's Alex?"

"He's with the search party." she said.

The door burst open, and the tall, wild-haired Coordinator burst into the scene. His black hair spiked in every direction, bound at the base of his neck it desended all the way down to his waist. Despite his name, he had an extremely thickceltic accent.

Micka and Katsuya exchanged a glance. The blonde-hair, female Coordinator looked curiously at Alex, her black eyes narrowed at him.

Alexander opened the cabinate, took out a bottle of vodka, and took a huge drink before replacing it and closing the door.

"You look horrid." Micka frowned.

"Thanks you for your optimistic, uplifting, explination Micka." Alex flopping into a chair, glarring at his team mates.

"What did you find?" Katsuya unbuttoned his collar.

"Absolutly nothing."

"What does that mean?" the blonde-haired girl looked at him.

Alex looked uneasily at them.

"What is your opinion?" Katsuya said, "You have something on your mind."

Alex scratched his head a moment, and then sighed, "There was a professional here."

"A professional?"

"And I'm not talking about some old dude who just has a lot a experience...the stradegies, the escape pattern...it's all perfect to a tee. Whoever was here leading these people was highly intelligent, thinking on their feet, trained in highly advanded combat, and very strong. I suspect they were a sharp shooter as well. While I was inspecting some of the downed mobile suits, they were hit in exactly right place. With a REGULAR rifle fire."

"My god..." Micka stared at him in alarm.

Katsuya looked out the window.

"Who do you think it was?" he said.

"Off the record?" Alex said.

"Of course."

"I think it was a ZAFT solider." he replied, "I'm guessing he's someone from the old order, maybe back at Patrick Zala's time. From the judgement of his position and the shots, he's highly trained in weaponry, emphasis on sharp shooting. He has extensive knowledge of mobile suits."

"In other words?"

Alex frowned, "He's a gundam pilot, a really damn good one."

"Well, whoever they are, they aren't going to give us an easy break." Micka replied, "What should we do for now, Katsuya-kun?"

"Alex?" Katsuya spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Forget about the villagers for now. Concentrate on supplies and holding this area secure. If it's just one person that we need to worry about, we should take the appropriate precautions." he said, running his fingers through his red hair, "Contact Chairman Trent and inform him."

"Aye." he said, "What should we do about the rounin ZAFT solider?"

"Keep watch." Katsuya said, "I trust your judgement, Alex."

"Aye, old friend." the young man left.

"I'm going to take a shower." Katsuya walked past the girl who was still working on the survey charts.

He closed the door to his quarters, and took off his suit. Hanging from his neck was a silver locket. Stopping in front of mirror a moment, he stared transfixed at himself. What would SHE say to him now, seeing him this way? All covered with battle scars and completely different from back then. Part of him still wanted to end his pitiful life that moment, the other part wanted to blow everything around him to hell.

You're so beautiful, every part of you...Katsuya-kun...I still can't believe that all of you belongs to me...

His eyes snapped shut, the voices never left his head.

I love you. I need you. Please, don't run away from me...

"Shut up." he murmured to himself.

You're prefect...when we finally have a family of our own, it will all be perfect...

"STOP!" he shrieked.

His hands lay on his face, and he leaned against the wall of the bathroom.

"Katsuya-kun!" Micka rapped on the door, "Are you alright in there? Katsuya-kun?"

He let out a shaking breath. Deciding not to let her in, despite the fact that he was stripped to his waist, he just did not want to let her in to see him in such a pitiful state.

"I..." he stared at his hands, "I'm alright Micka, I'm sorry I startled you."

"It's alright." she said after a while, "You're overworking yourself, Alex-kun and I are worried about you. It's this place, isn't it?"

Katsuya was quiet, "I'm alright Micka, go back to work."

She sighed exhaustedly, "Okay. Call if you need anything."

After feeling his heart calm again, he undressed and stepped into the shower.

Suzuka stood on the deck, signing the rest of the reports.

"Captain."

She turned to see Rey, and smiled, "Rey."

"I'm sorry I am late. Athrun-san wished to have breakfest with Lunamaria, Shinn, and I this morning-"

"That's fine, he sent me a notice." she said, "Well, are you ready to meet the new pilots?"

He nodded.

As they headed down the stairs, he frowned, "Is something wrong?"

"Hm?"

"You've been a little distracted." he said, "Is there something bothering you?"

Looking at her watch, noticing they had an extra 10 minutes, he jumped slightly as she pulled him down the hallway. Seeing the closet, she pulled him inside, and shut the door. Rey turned on the light, giving her a look.

After a few moments of silence, Rey sighed, "Can you please explain why you dragged me into the broom closet?"

"I didn't want anyone to hear. Especially Cedric."

"Why?"

"He doesn't like it when I talk about my past."

"Oh?"

She looked at the floor, "There is a girl that is coming here today, she used to be my best friend."

"Best friend?"

"June-chan." she said, "June Van-hild Romanhein."

"Ah, I remember seeing that name on the new roster." Rey said, "Quite an impressive pilot for a natural."

Suzuka looked up at him, "June is a very old friend of mine, she's very important to me and to my...well, please look out for her, Rey."

"I will." he nodded.

She smiled at him, "You're always so nice to me."

"I owe you a lot." he said.

Rey suddenly grew alarmed as she looked away from him sadly, "So, you only are with me because you feel like you owe me?" Rey was quiet a moment. Suzuka grasped the doorknob, "Well, excuse me Mr. Za Burrel, I am a very busy person-"

He grabbed her and pinned her against the back of the door.

"That's not what I meant to say."

She blushed, "What?"

He leaned foreward and touched his lips to hers, "That is not the reason at all..." he whispered to her as he kissed her cheek, trailing his lips down to her neck, "...the truth is I-"

She kissed him back. His eyes grew wide as she opened his mouth, and he smirked as he returned the kiss. Over the past week that Rey had come to stay in Orb, he and Suzuka had occasionally found themselves sneaking off when no one was looking. He found himself utterly fascinated with her, and she with him. All that they knew, was that they were perfectly happy.

Staring into his eyes, she chuckled,

"You need to watch what you say around girls, Rey." she said, "It may just backfire on you if they aren't in a good mood."

"I'll keep that in mind." he bit at her bottom lip. He was about to kiss her again when her phone rang. Making an irritated noise, she pulled it out.

"Kiriyuhi here."

"Yo." Virgil said, "You're late missy."

"Oh dear." she said, "I'll be right there."

"Right-o. If you see Rey tell him to move his butt."

"Sure thing." she smiled.

"Thanks." he hung up.

She closed the phone and put it in her jacket, "Let's go."

"Suzuka?"

"Yes?"

Quickly stealing a kiss from her before she opened the door, Rey smiled at her,

"I do things for you because I like you."

Staring at him, her cheeks deep red, she replied, "I like you too, Rey."

The hanger was busy that day.

Rey walked behind Suzuka, examing the sights around them. He caught sight of Murrue Flaga who was signing papers. She was a woman who demanded organization and creative thinking.Rey would have a hard time on a ship under her command. His eyes glanced at the little boy clinging to her leg. He was about 6 or 7, with blonde hair and golden orange eyes.

"He's not her son." Suzuka whispered to him, "He's probably someone you should go talk to."

"Oh?"

"His name is Koji Shinamura." she said, "He's the son of Talia Gladys."

He gasped.

"Murrue-san made a promise to take care of Gladys' child before the destruction of the Messiah. Because Gladys was declared a Natural sympathizer by Twlight after she died, Koji-chan was sent to live with Murrue and Mwu. His caretakers on PLANT were worried for his safety, so they gave gaurdianship to Murrue."

"How..." Rey stared at the boy, "...how is he doing?"

"How is he doing?" she stared at him in amazement, "He's a child genius. Just like his mother and brother. I can't imagin a better environment for him to grow up in. Everyone knows that the soliders on the Archangel are the elite. Koji-chan also takes lessons from Lacus-san and General Yamato directly. Even Shinn-san and Lunamaria-san babysit him once in a while."

Rey chuckled, "I see."

Up ahead, he watched Suzuka stop and salute to the new recruits. There were about a dozen of them, all young and almost right out of the Eternity academy.

"I am Captain Suzuka Kiriyuhi, and this is the cheif pilot Rey Za Burrel. You will all report to him ASAP. But first I want you all to introduce yourselves." she smiled, "I would like to know who all I working with."

Rey listened, memorizing the names and faces as they all recited their names. There was one particular girl he noticed. She was wearing an Orb-OMNI uniform, which he gathered she was a Natural. She had extremely long, straight, black hair, and glowing blue eyes. Rey frowned, she was quite beautiful and seemed to stick out. When the line reached her, she called her name.

"June Van-hild Romanhein, it's a pleasure, ma'me."

"Thank you for your efforts, and welcome to the Kamaitachi." Suzuka replied, "Please report to Ralph and talk to him about registering and transporting your mobile suits."

"Aye!" they all saluted and ran off, except June, who stared back at Suzuka.

The red-haired captain grinned,

"June-chan!" she smiled, throwing her arms around the girl, "Where's have you been? I've have been worried sick about you! How could you run off like that-"

The girl stared at her, and then she sniffed, tears in the corners of her eyes.

"Suzuka-chan..." she said, burying her face in her friend's shoulder, "...I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

"What? What's your fault?"

"Katsuya..." she said, "Katsuya is in Twlight..."

He had a lot of work to do.

Dearka tried to silence his own breathing as much as normal as he hid in the tree, holding the gun steady threw the leaves. He was covered with dirt and leaves himself to hide better. The gun was focused at the riverbank about 100 meters from where they were hiding. When there were not any soliders coming over the bend, he lowered himself out of the tree.

Walking over to the cliff, he let out a loud sigh, looking down at the temporary camp. After driving for the last 2 days, they had taken a much needed rest to sleep and take care of the wounded. He took this responsibility of seeing these people back to Carpentaria alive.

Then and there, he swore to do it no matter what.

"Watch me, you bastards..."Dearka said, glarring from the direction they had come from, "...you want a war, I'll give you a war..."

Yay for another chapter!

Review if you can!

Arigato

Lilith