Some of the characters in Samurai Seed are using the characters from Astray and the Seed MSV. And then there are also Characters which use reference from Naruto and other anime. I tried my best to stay true to the character but if any of you feel it occ, my bad.

Kage is Kira

NOTE:

"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking

"Charge!": special case

'Darn!': thoughts

GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Please… read and review

Chapter 11:

Of Masks and Deception

It was no longer darkness. Everything is a bit clearer now. He's standing on top of a floor, floating in a vast limitless sky. A part of the floor is dark though. A part of the whole thing was pitch black. Shrouded in that ever present darkness. "Just what exactly is this place?"

"This is inside you. But at the same time, it's also inside me."

Kira turned towards the voice. It was… a boy. With a messy hair not dissimilar with his albeit longer. The hair has was gleaming beautifully like rainbow.

"Who are you?"

"Ah, a progress. You can see me at last." The boy smiled. "That was incredible. That fight with the water knight yesterday that is."

"I don't know who you are or how did you managed to know about that but, let's be serious. Where are we? Last I remembered I was in the medical ward with a fractured arm."

"Well, physically, you are asleep. This place is your mind. But at the same time, it's also mine. We share consciousness with each other, see."

"…who are you and what are you doing in my mind?"

"I'm S-jfv-i. And it's OUR mind, mind you."

"What?"

"Oh… I see you still can't hear me. Well at least you can see me so that's a progress."

"What are you?"

"I guess I'll just have to be patient. Yesterday's fight proves that the time is fast approaching. You got the blood of Ashura flowing in your veins. You just simply deny it."

"What are you blabbering about?"

"In time. In time. Now wake up. It's late in the morning you know."

"Late in the morning… what?"

Just then, Kira jerked up from his bed as a certain blonde daredevil of a captain splashed some water to his face. "YO! Wake up sleepy head!"

"Ouch. Wounded people here?" Kira pointed at his hung broken arm.

"Knowing you, you'll be fine by the evening. Now come on. The story is you break your arm when a misfire hit the kitchen."

"How long do you think it'll take until people start notice things? How come Kira Yamato had same injuries with Kage?"

"Well, that's why you ought to be careful not to get hurt so much."

Mwu last words sent the boy into some deep thinking. "…"

"…what's wrong?"

"When I fight that water knight… all I care about was to beat him. And nothing else. Not even the safety of my friends ever crossed my mind. Is that normal?"

Mwu looked at the boy for a few moments and then smiled. "It was the adrenaline. The tension you faced when you fought that Yzak guy. You were deadlocked, in a deathmatch. A slightest opening and you would've died. You were right to ignore your friends at the time."

"I feel weird. You said, killing is when you're used to it the more you do it. Now that I have the count… yesterday I killed at least a dozen, and I don't feel a damndest thing. And I just start killing a few days ago. Is THAT normal?"

"Kind of." Mwu sadly nodded at the boy. He seems a bit frustrated.

"That's all I want to know. That's all."

Kira sighed with an air of finality. He grabbed the ninja garment and put it underneath civilian clothing. He walked out the medical ward, still lost and disturbed. He walked aimlessly; taking note that repair is being done here and there. Yesterday's attack took a lot of toll. If they got hit now, they wouldn't last.

Just then, his friends came to him. "Kira! Is your arm okay!?" Tolle cheered happily.

"I'm fine." Kira replied somewhat coldly. Everyone freezes at the chilly tone.

"Ermm… something wrong?"

"I'm not sure." Then, without thinking, the question blurted out. "Guys, how many you killed yesterday?"

Everyone went quiet.

"I… I didn't count…" Tolle wasn't sure if he did kill anyone.

"…15 people." Sai answered flatly. "We managed to kill 15. All three of us ganged up on one knight at the time. We took about 15 of them."

"Oh." Kira frowned sadly. "I killed at least 12."

His four friends gasped. "No. Y… you actually fought some people?" Milly gasped in horror.

Kira remained silent. "…guys… I need a moment alone. Please?" and he left.

"Was it just me… or is it seems like Kira's getting more… distant?" Tolle commented.

"Don't you guys feel anything killing 15 people?"

"Well… yeah we do… but if we don't do that, they'll kill us! It's self defense!"

"Perhaps because it's three to one. Kira single handedly killed hundreds of knights and now this, 12 people, he says?" Sai frowned and then he glared straight at the one person he knew has the answer. "I think you owe us some explanation."

Mwu sighed and nodded. "Right you are."

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Far across the sea, on board the Zaft flagship…

Yzak stared at the cracked Ryujinzan. Veia approached him. "You were always hot tempered student. Yet you're also one of my finest students."

"He's strong. And he's getting stronger. There were barely a few days since the last time I fought him. Could a man be that strong in such short time, master?"

"If you're talking about rapid increase in physical strength, there a few methods one can use. However, based from what I've seen, strength-wise, you and him are on even ground. What changes, is techniques. His stance was more solid, and each of his swing was no longer random slashes. They are precise as they are full of power, though I admit there are some errors here and there."

"Yes. But what I don't get is why my sword breaks… while his remain strong. In fact, it seems stronger."

"May I?"

Yzak handed his master his sword. Veia stared at it and rubbed gently several times. "I see… Ryujinzan has indeed chosen you as his master but… it seems more often than not you go out of sync with it."

"Sync? Synchronize?"

"Yes. The sword's nature, from what I felt, is calm and collected. In a manner, it does suits you. Explosive and aggressive. Only, at times, you seem wanted it to be as aggressive as you as well. You're damaging it every time you used it." Veia gave the sword back to Yzak. "Bottom-line, I can say this: the boy is more in sync with his sword than you. That's why his katana has such destructive power."

"Was he a former student of yours or something?"

Veia paused for a moment and laughed as hard a he could. "WAHAHAHAHAHaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Yeah… well… I wished he was… but he's taken. And it's impossible for me. He's a complete opposite of me and you as well. If he was my student he'll be a perfect rival for you if he didn't leave first. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Veia left leaving a confused Yzak.

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Kira stared at the remnants of the battlefield. The soldiers were carrying dead bodies and other carcasses around the walls, friends and foes. One of the soldiers lifting a Zaft knight accidentally dropped the knight's helmet, revealing his face. Kira instantly recognized the man's face. That was the knight he swept the leg and stabbed him on the heart.

"Oi! Be careful!" The soldier got scolded by his friend. The other soldier picked the helmet and put it back.

"Ah sorry."

"But still… if you look at it, this guy looks no different than us."

"Yeah? Well the outside they look human, but the inside, I tell you they're pure monsters."

Kira's heart skipped a beat at the statement.

"Yeah. My brother worked in the 3rd division and he once told me he could've sworn saw one of them had rocks for skin!"

"Is that so? Well I also heard one that can turn into sand and all!"

"Seriously these Advanced-"

"Uh-HUM!" The sound of an elder clearing his throat stopped their discussion.

"C-Captain Harlbarton!"

"If you got time to chat, then hurry up and clean this mess up!" The Captain's serious look told them that they've done something wrong, though they don't know what; they're not waiting to find out.

"Y-yes Captain! R-Right away!" they quickly moved the knight away from the premises, leaving just Kira and Harlbarton on the scene.

"How's the fortress?" Kira started.

"Well… we made quite a body count. Both of our sides suffer massive damage. A few weeks ago we managed to stock up nicely, but now we may have to ration it, but there's still enough to survive another raid or two. But that's not the main problem. The main problem is that we're short ammo. That last two pronged assault almost used up all our bullets for Gottfrieds. Archangel's defenses are good, but it used up its resources pretty fast."

"Where can we get more?"

"We made it. We have a smelting furnace and a casting facility built in this fortress just for producing the bullets. But we don't have the ores. We usually get that from Tradeships coming to the docks but with all this sieges, there haven't been any trade ship dare to come here."

"And the Lohengrin? Can we not melt their bullets and use it to create for ammos?"

"A good idea, but even if we melt all the Lohengrin ammos in the store, they're still not sufficient to arm everything."

Kira's face look a bit disturbed.

"What is it?" The Captain looked in concern.

"…use a pair of knights on a two pronged attack to take out as many pawns until one of the knights are beaten."

Harlbarton's eyes widened ever so slightly. "What happened to the rest of the pieces? The rooks, the Queen, the bishop?"

"I had no idea. But…I cannot help to think… that I've faced a situation like this before. I don't remember how though." The boy sighed. "This was an elaborate plan made by one man."

"I suppose Zaft army weren't lacking in talent either when it comes to strategy."

"No. Not only can they become monsters they also had the brains to boot."

"I'm sorry. Sometimes my men get too carried away."

"Well. A part of what they said was truth. Seeing some of the things my kind and I had done, sometimes I'm starting to wonder if we are truly human." Kira frowned. "I've seen a man with reindeer horns and blue nose; extend their limbs as if they were rubbers, turning metal to scrap in matter of seconds. Naturally people would be scared shitless. Me, I let them pass like a bird in the sky. Maybe they're right. Maybe we are monsters."

"People are scared on the things they don't know. You, who shrouded yourself in the shadow of a creature called Kage, should understand this."

"That creature Kage…has started to act more than just a shield to me. It's starting to consume Kira. Yesterday I killed 12 people. If it was Kira, he would've been able to sleep, let alone talking like this… and yet." Kira pointed at another knight that is being carried. "I lodged Shiki into that Knight's forehead before I split his face to two. Notice how I didn't twitch even by the slightest when I explained this."

"Yes. So I noticed. You are at the intersection, boy. There are three roads. Most people would say two, but I'd say there always three roads."

"What are they?"

"First is that you throw away that undergarment and Shiki forever, and become Kira-full time. Can you do that?"

Kira looked at his Kage clothing and thought for a few moments. "I admit, that's very tempting. But that's no help for me. Kage is the only thing that allows me to protect my friends, and by extension, protecting myself as I protect them."

"Then perhaps the second road suits you better?"

"Throw away Kira and become Kage? Can you throw away your true self?"

"No. That leave the last road: to live as both Kage and Kira. Accept the qualities of both parts. Or as in the case of being Kira, accept Kage's quality."

"…I don't know about that." Kira closed his eyes. "Thinking back, I'm the one who created him. Maybe in the first place, parts of what he is were already parts of me in the first place. Maybe… all this time, I simply wanted to be Kage? Putting on mask, justifying everything I did?"

"I'm not that wise to answer such question boy." Harlbarton tapped the boy's back. "Fact is, you saved an awful lot of my men by the acts you've done yesterday."

"Taking lives… to save lives. Is that the way of a war?"

"War twisted many things. Saving lives by taking lives, such is the justification of a soldier to remain human."

"That sure is twisted."

"Regrettably so." Harlbarton nodded sadly.

Kira sighed. He suddenly realized he was talking like an old man. Harlbarton was old, but somehow the two can link with each other. "Well, don't worry. We dealt quite some damage to their army yesterday. It'll take them some time until they recover. In the mean time, won't you spar with me again? I understand it yesterday that, your swordskill, thanks to the intensive training you've undergone during the few days had improved quite much. But it seems, there other things as well. Your Katana for instance."

Kira remembered when the Katana transformed from blue to green and then back to Katana. "…it messed up."

"That's why I'm offering a spar. What say you?"

0000000000000000

Athrun's prison…

Veia had just entered the cell when he saw Raww in a match with Athrun on a game of chess. Veia had always heard that Raww never won a single match against the boy, and the Hakutenkun was known to be quite foxy. But by the look of things, Athrun used his Knights on a surgical two pronged attack that wiped off most of Raww's pawns. One bishop was taken out and his knights were in grave danger. And then Raww knock out one of the knight with his bishop and Athrun withdrew his other knight back.

"That looked familiar." Veia commented.

"Veia! You're back." Raww welcomed his fellow Hakutenkun.

"Veia-sama? Any losses?" Athrun paused the game for a moment.

"A few battalion. The front was taken out first and then the rear retreated per your instruction."

"The front? That's a little bit unexpected. I was expecting the rear fall first. I ordered only three battalions on the rear assault to cut our losses and shorten the battle."

"My men reported to me that there are several people who managed to saw through your 'plan'. Specifically, the officers of 7th and 9th squad… and then a particular man in mask." Veia bent down to emphasize his point. "And get this: he repelled the front assault and my men could've sworn he had 'flown' from the front to the rear section in a blink of an eye to take care the remaining army there."

Athrun frowned. Raww moved a surviving pawn to the edge of the board and he switched it to a knight he lost. "And now we have two 'knights' to jump from side to side."

"That Kage is becoming more and more of a nuisance." The strategist grunted as his ploy began to show a small fracture.

"He does more than just being a nuisance. His urban legend grows and our knights began to symbolize him as an embodiment of holy terror. Their soldier saw him as sign of hope. Aside from the Captains that is."

"The way things are it won't be long until he gained his own bounty." Athrun groaned. "All he need is one big blow."

"Do you have any plan to deal with this?" Veia looked at the young strategist.

"…Well… I do have some idea." An unexpected move of his Queen found Raww's recently resurrected knight pinned alone and isolated against that mighty piece. "But it pretty much has yet to alter the entirety of the plan." When Raww tried to save his remaining knight, Athrun's surviving pawn rushed forward and cornered the King. Checkmate.

0000000000000000

Like before, Kage had to attack the standing still Halbarton. And just like before, the captain had not budge by the slightest. Every attack he launched were blocked so easily, even though as Halbarton noted himself, unlike the previous erratic moves, the ones he's performing now are more fluent, well aimed, and generally not too shabby albeit coupled with errors here and there. Kage had also learned to dodge Harlbarton insanely devastating attacks. Though he did get 'scratched' (slashed) every now and then.

"Alright. You're growing very quickly. That is to be expected from amateur warriors. They grow very fast… to an extent."

"Huff… puff… so you said… I didn't… huff… feel very fast…" Kage gasped and wheezed. "I… was lucky… yesterday."

"Ha, ha, ha… you have no idea, my boy." Harlbarton laughed. Talk about a kid with a serious self confidence problem. "Yesterday you were fighting a boy your age. And you had the upper hand, even though your strength and his didn't differ that much. First, you had the element of surprise. Second, his temper. When you fight with your heart boy, you'll fight very bravely… and you'll die quickly. So remember, you fight with this." Halbarton pointed at Kira's head. "Then you can fight with this." Next, he lifted his Glamm. "There's, of course a few things that makes you inferior compared to that boy. First is the amount of training. He was trained to kill people. You were trained to kill animal and turn them into dice cuts."

Kira stared at the old captain, silently agreeing.

"And… for the answer of the million dollar question… why did your katana didn't seem to follow what you wanted… right?"

"Yeah? If you can tell that much."

"The answer is simple. Because you inwardly hate him."

"W…What?"

"When you fight with a katana, the katana became more than just a tool. It's an extension of your own body. You cannot hate a part of your own body, can you?"

Kira frowned. Harlbarton's word ignited a thought. Harlbarton had said clearly hounded Kira's mind that afternoon. "Believe in yourself. And then, trust that Katana, and it'll trust you." He was cooking a pot of broth when another chef yelling at him, telling him he was overcooking the noodles in the broth. Practically turning them into mochi.

"…sorry." Kira handed the ruined noodle to the bewildered soldiers. Once everyone had their share, someone pulled his arm away. He looked at the arm pullers: Sai, Tolle, and Milly.

"Guys?"

"Kira! We just talked with Mwu."

"He told us everything." Sai started.

"H… he did?"

"Yes. Why didn't you tell us!?" Tolle followed.

"I… just… don't want you guys to worry."

"Well… we understand… It must be tough having a ninja for a brother."

"Well I… what?" Kira blinked.

"Mwu-san told us. Kage… is actually your brother?"

Kira flabbergasted. Not sure what to say. 'What did Mwu cocked into them this time?'

"I mean… Mwu told us that secretly Kage has put you under his teaching ever since that day we got separated in the forest… but we have no idea that you two are siblings!"

His mind racing, Kira had to make up an excuse, FAST! Unfortunately for him, his brain just couldn't find a good idea. "…actually… I'm as surprised as you are. I…don't know I have a sibling either!"

"Wh… You didn't know?"

"I didn't tell him." Just then, they turn and saw, to Kira's horror, Kage. Clad in his black cloth. Everyone was totally confused, especially the 'real' Kage. The figure's body was definitely the same size with Kira, and that's what terrifies him. The black ninja approached the group who somewhat shrink in fear. 'Kage' grabbed Kira's arm. "I hope you guys don't mind, but I think I need some time with my brother?"

The four simply nodded.

Kage took Kira and jumped away. After a while, where no one was looking, the Kage was engulfed in smoke… and then Mwu stood before him, grinning from ear to ear. "Yo!"

Kira's fist welcomed his greetings. "YOU…!"

"As I recalled it I just saved your ass." Mwu caught the punch.

"These lies are getting out of control. First a super ninja, and then my brother? What? Am I supposed to create an entirely artificial family tree!?" Kira roared.

"Whoa! Come now. I just saved you a by a skinflint. Besides, who told you to tell them your bodycount?"

"They killed 15 people yesterday. What supposed to be self defense has now become a skill for mass murder! How could it come to this!?"

"Kid. Yesterday was a battle. If you don't kill, you'll be killed. They've seen it, you've seen it too."

"CUT IT OUT WITH THAT SILLY EXCUSES! My friends are now deep in the path of murderers! THE VERY REASON I BECAME KAGE WAS TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING! AND NOW YOU'RE TWISTING IT INTO A MONSTER!" Kira's rage exploded and bloodshot veins popping around his eyes. Mwu, for a moment, felt a shiver on his back, something resembling a murderous intent burst out from the boy.

Kira was furious. With one more look of anger, he turned away and run away, leaving a slightly terrified Mwu. The two ninjas didn't realize a pair of eyes was watching the conversation.

The boy zoomed through the corridors of the fortress, fury clouded his thoughts. He finally stopped at the edge of the front gate. For a moment, he wasn't sure where else to go. And then, someone tapped his back. He turned around in shock only to find Kuzzey.

"k… Kuzzey?"

"I… I'm just… worried…"

"I… I… well err…"

"You're… Kage's…"

"Ah." Kira shook his arms. "About that, listen, whatever crazy of a captain speak of-"

"…I… I wish I can be like him."

"What?"

"I mean… I wish I can be like Kage… like Mwu, and like the others… to fight like them."

"You know what we did yesterday? We killed people. It doesn't matter how good your reasoning is. Murder is murder. There's no justification for that."

"I just… I just think that… i… it may egoistic but… Kage can do what we too wanted to do… but couldn't do."

Kira blinked. "What are you saying?"

"Is just that… well… some of us… wanted to help… but we're too scared to do anything… thanks to Kage… we could be some bit of ease… that's all I'm saying."

"You're saying that Kage is fighting in your stead?"

"I… I really wish I could share their burden… Sai, Mily, Tolle… I want to be of help to them…but…"

"Kuzzey." Kira pat the boy on the back. He finally understood why the chubby boy has been distant. He was ashamed. Ashamed that he was unable to do anything. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. There are things people can do. But there are also things that people could not do. Fighting isn't your thing."

"I wish it was. I want to help. Like Kage."

"Kuzzey…"

Just then, a bell sounded. Kuzzey gasped, but Kira steel himself. A shouting from the bellman allayed their fears. "Don't worry. It's the TRADERS! We're back in business!!"

"Traders? Finally!" Kojiro jumped. "We're short stock on gunpowder, bullets, and most importantly… the rum is gone! Why is the rum gone!? We need rum!"

"R… rum?" Tolle looked at the Lieutenant incredulously. The man had already moved his arse to the docks…

At the docks, as reported a ship had already entered the docks. Soldiers immediately gather around. There were only a medium sized ship, crewed by 3 people. "Ahoy down there! A few days ago we go and find the blockades were off. Are you ready to do some business?"

The soldiers cheered. And the trade was on.

"Hey-hey… you got some dried fish?"

"I got some arrows! Wanna trade it with a mirror?"

"Excuse me… I need some fresh chicken!"

"We got some fresh meat!"

Kira and Kuzzey arrived at the scene. "Wow. I haven't seen that for some time."

"What are they doing?"

"Trading. They bought some fresh provision from those ships. We are in need of some supplies…" Kira's sigh suddenly turned into something of that of suspicion. 'W…wait a second…' "Kuzzey, stay here."

Kira ran towards the crowd. "Excuse me… pardon me…!?"

"Move away!" The soldiers were too many and so they shoved him away.

"Geeze… wait a minute." He suddenly had an idea. Kira ran out of sight for a moment.

Meanwhile, the three merchants continue to serve the soldiers, trading items, like every merchant would. Just then, Mwu, Harlbarton, Murrue and Kojiro join the crowd. The soldiers move aside to give them way.

"Excuse me? We are in need of some iron. How much do you want to bring us some… errh…" Harlbarton turned to Kojiro for the exact number.

"5,5 ton of irons."

"5,5 tons of iron in say… a week?"

"Tarnation sir. Why do you need iron that much?"

"Let's just say we're in need of some construction. Money's not the problem."

"I'd say 2 weeks. That's the fastest we can get. No matter how much money you offer."

"2 weeks…" Harlbarton was a little bit disappointed. It was then a whispery voice echoed from his back.

"Is it now?"

Everyone turned and gasped. Kage was standing in the distance. Mwu's heart skipped a beat. The soldiers stopped talking and chatting. They silently moved and gave way to the black clad figure. Kage stared at them. But as he looked upon their eyes, he noticed some wouldn't even dare to look at him for more than an instant. 'A mask and a headband and they treated me VERY differently.' Kira inwardly pondered.

Harlbarton looked at Kage's serious eyes and realized something was up. Mwu was so nervous, he forgot to move away. Thus he was standing in front of the masked Kira. "You're in the way."

That quiet whispery words was like a whip cracked at his feet. The captain jumped away. The three merchant was clearly unnerved. Who is this black clad figure that he even earned the fear of the infamous Mwu la Flagga?

Kage looked at the faces of the each merchant. All of them are strong looking and their figure was finely shaped. Seafaring was indeed not for the fainthearted. But there's something in the way they carry themselves… they were too… ordered. Kira had lived in Amaterasu for long. Though it's not exactly a seaside village, the location was close to the shores. A nearby fish man settlement, an hour journey from the city, has also been a place for merchants to come and prosper. And since he was forced to go there at least once every week, he had seen his fair share of sea merchants and their goods. And most importantly, no matter how terrible his memory is, he can still remember their faces and soon he know most of the merchant in the Orb seas. And merchants of the sea are usually had trouble standing straight in dry land because they're too used to the tumbling ship. But they can stand steady onboard one.

"I've never seen you before. Are you guys new?"

The merchants gulped. One immediately answered. "Yes."

"You mind?" The ninja was asking permission to board the ship. "Relax. I just want to have a look."

The merchants, now that the Captains beginning to have their suspicion towards them as well, they have to blow away the suspicion, and so reluctantly agreed.

Meanwhile, Milly, Sai and Tolle had arrived. They immediately joined Kuzzey as spectators. "Kuzzey? What's going on?"

"Kage went to inspect that ship. It seems something was off."

"Where's Kira?"

"He's…" Kuzzey chose his words. "Gone back to the kitchen to make a list on what they need to buy."

Meanwhile, Kage looked at the goods aboard the ship. Fresh slabs of meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. And some other goods. Kage took a fruit and examined it. Sniffing it once or twice. He cut a tomato and found it still watery. He looked at the slabs of meat. They're still red. Fresh. "Impressive goods. Superb quality too. And they're not poisoned either I see."

The three merchants smiled in relief.

"And the goods… didn't rot nor dry out… not a slightest bit. Did you get these vegetables in Izumo? And the meat was from Chiba perhaps? This pork meat is superb."

"Yes. All first class quality from Chiba and Izumo." One of the merchants confirmed.

And then, as if on cue, Harlbarton draw his blade, ready to battle.

The merchants were alarmed.

"Funny you should say that." Kage retorted. "Because if it does comes from a place a couple of thousand miles away from the other side of the Japanese island you must have a really fast ship that you can carry fresh meat and not a single one of them rot while you didn't preserve it. And then the people of Izumo must've learned how to grow their vegetables on salt water. Izumo is not a city, it's a rocky island below sea level washed daily by sea water!" Kage tossed the tomato to the pile. Funnily, the fruit rolled off course. This doesn't escape Kage's attention, but he pretended he didn't notice.

The three 'merchants' gasped. Who would've thought the black clad warrior is also an avid man of trade? Suddenly every soldier on the docks pull out their swords. Even with all the hostility around them, they made one last ditch attempt to shield their cover. "Alright… look… we can explain…"

Kage sighed. And then he suddenly unsheathed Shiki and slashed it his side, revealing a suddenly appearing Nichol on top of the pile of tomato. His camouflage disappeared as Shiki was pointed at his neck. "Explain this."

The three Bladebanes finally realized not only Kage was powerful; he's not a man that can be fooled that easily. They showed their true colors and pulled out their weapons. They charged at the masked man. Their pace was stopped short when the three captains also jumped on board. Kage concentrated on the elemental knights on board. Kage gave a stab, but Nichol immediately dodged the stab. The Katana went through a couple of tomatoes. The wood elemental knight tried to disappear again, but before he disappeared completely, Kage swung the tomato riddled katana, sending them flying to every direction. Some tomatoes hit the wood knight hard, and splattered the invisible knight with tomato juice.

"Yuck!" Nichol made a vain attempt to wipe the tomato juice away.

Kage simply watched in glee. "Tomato juice. The hardest kind of dirt to go off."

Nichol grunted and reappeared. He charged with his supersonic feet. Unprepared for the sudden speed burst, the boy scored a punch on his opponent's neck, knocking the air out. But Kage quickly counter attack and slashed Shiki. Nichol managed to dodge the attack in time, but the counter cut the tip of his cloth and put some distance between them. Kage made ready his footwork. "My turn."

The nin disappeared in a puff of smoke, much to Nichol's shock. He crossed both arms on his chest, and a stab crashed at him, followed with an incredibly loud sound of metal hitting metal. The blitz gauntlet barely able to block the brutal stab. Sparks lit up as the two weapons grinded to each other.

'His range is longer than mine… and what the hell is that abrupt speed burst!? That's the same technique used by Mwu the Eagle!' Nichol grunted under the pressure of Kage's attack.

'This boy's strength isn't all that great… but his speed is just overwhelming!' Kage pressed his blade to Nichol's gauntlets, not willing to let up even for a second.

The moment the deadlock was broken, the two proceeded to exchanging blows. Nichol using his hand to hand combat against Kage's blade works.

Meanwhile, the three captains battled the Bladebanes while their subordinates watched. The first Bladebanes was driven to frustration as he seemed can't break through Harlbarton's defense; none of his attack went through! Harlbarton, in an instant, found an opening and smashed the Bladebane's kukri blade away. Before the opponent can retaliate, the old captain stabbed the man in the chest, instantly killing him. He raised the body and then tossed him overboard.

Another Bladebane, armed with Katar, looked around in bewilderment as he saw Mwu disappear and reappear allover the place. Cuts and stabs appearing at a faster rate. And then suddenly an incredibly powerful kick burst out beneath him, sending him flying. High above, to his horror, Mwu reappeared again and jammed a kunai to his throat. The second Bladebane died before he even hit the floor.

Murrue and the third knight (armed with a scimitar) engage in a waiting game. The knight inwardly was frustrated because of three things: one, he's the only one left, two, their mission was a complete failure because of one man, and three, this bitch getting in his way! When he went to the left, Murrue's spear followed to the left. When he went to the right, the same happened. Even when he tried a trick move, Murrue's spear nearly cut him to two. The knight finally, frantically charged forward. Murrue welcomed the man with a stab straight to his gullet. Killing him. Murrue sighed in relief. 'That was close.'

Kage and Nichol engage in a furious close quarter combat. Nichol decided to use his asset, his speed. In a flash he became blurs of green, black and red tomato. Kage took a breather… and suddenly disappeared in a puff. A loud clang echoed once more as the ninja clashed once more with the speedy knight.

'He…just like before… he has the same speed… no… back then he could even outrun me! And yet now he's running at the same speed of mine… is he insulting me!?' "Don't joke with me!"

Nichol broke the deadlock, but Kage made a set of handseals. "Katon, Goukyaku no Jutsu!" A perfect ball of fire burst forth towards a gasping Nichol. Using the armament, the boy shielded himself from the flames. This prevented him from seeing Kage approaching him. When the last traces of flame disappear, Kage was already right in front of him. An overhead slash came from on top of him. Nichol tried to block, but a tad too late. The blade sunk slightly to his unprotected shoulder. Kage pull the blade and sliced the shoulder. Staggering from the attack, Kage took the chance and pull out another jutsu at the boy: Shogekigan. His fist encircled by swirling chakra and he smashed the swirling mass to Nichol's stomach, sending him crashing to the wall, but not before Nichol, at almost the same time, countered with one of his own incredibly fast punch, hitting Kage on the gut. Both fighters spit some blood underneath their headpiece, holding the pain. Both suffered same losses.

'Korede… abunai…' With that thought in mind, Nichol jumped away and then, using his incredible speed, RUN up the walls and landed on top in a blink.

"Zaft-teme!! MATTEEE!!" The soldiers climb the walls. But unfortunately, before they could even walk through the stairs, Nichol ran down through the other side of the wall and then, when he reached a safe height, jumped to the ocean below and quickly swim to his awaiting comrade to report his failure.

Meanwhile, back at the Fortress, the commotion had ended.

Kage, holding his bruised chest, looked around. Everyone was glad. He looked back to the captains. Three fatalities, all enemy. No one got hurt. For now. He looked at the Captains. Harlbarton apparently scolding Murrue with something along the lines of her being to easily tire. Mwu seem a bit jumpy and unnerved at his gaze.

Kage then left without a word.

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The Zaft soldiers that had agreed to stay were surprised to see a gravely injured Nichol barely able to swim his way to their ship. Mikhail quickly tend to the boy. "Nichol? What happened? Where's the others?"

"They're… dead. The three captains… no… that Kage… he snuffed us out the moment we get in…"

"He did? How?"

"He… (cough) knows… cough… about the way of the trade…!"

"Enough! The next talk will be after the operating table. I don't know what he did to you but he just broke 4 of your ribs. If we don't do something about you'll rupture your lung. Open the emergency ward!"

"Aye!"

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Kage undo his disguise in the rooftop. Just then another man appeared behind him. He looked at his back and surprised to find Harlbarton, not Mwu.

"Thank you."

"Harlbarton-san."

"After you left I coerced Mwu about everything. How it all did start… but he seems to be too afraid to explain anything coherently… So please explain, how exactly you lead this double life?"

"He never explained what actually happened?"

"He do explain… that you are from Amaterasu. What he didn't explain is how exactly you, Murrue and Mwu thought up this… well… disguise."

"I suppose I have to explain a few things…"

A few minutes later…

"I see… well that's just like Mwu… always exaggerating stuffs. He failed to mention that part about Kage being a super ninja to me. What he told me was that Kage was a ninja from Amaterasu sent to protect you boys. Though I can see it through."

"I'm starting to think this disguise did nothing." The boy groaned.

"It did more than just hiding your visage though."

"What do you mean?"

Harlbarton sit down and motioned the boy to sit next to him. Kira did so. "Remember a few days back? When you were running away from Amaterasu? I read the report. The first actual fight you participated and won was when you fought against an Earth Elemental knight and then shortly afterwards, you took down a crazed Fire Elemental Knight."

"I don't remember about the latter though. But supposedly, that's when Shiki first transformed." 'And actually that fight wasn't exactly my first, there's that five knights as well… but I suppose I'll keep that to myself.'

"Let's skip the weapon subject for a moment. Let's consider you just took down two fighting forces worth two battalions one after another."

"Two battalions?"

"Yes. One elemental Knights was always said worth a fighting force of an entire battalion. That's because they had a capability to take down one. And you take down two, in your first debut as Kage."

"Well… I suppose…"

"And then, you, and I think with some help from Mwu, wreak havoc and terrorized an entire regiment, no less than 2000 strong. Sending them home horrified and demoralized. And then, you, ALONE, I might add, had one on one duel with one of the Elemental Knights, and then, as Mwu vainly attempt to describe it, you went berserk, beat the Water knight to near death before you proceed to beat down the other two. Within minutes I might add."

"What's your point? That my 'actions', whichever part of those actions are truly mine, provide the truth of Mwu's exaggerated claim?"

"More than proof. You might not know this… but those two thousand soldiers you've terrorized spread the word to their friends. From one person to the other, the word was spread. The upper echelon might attempt to rebuff those statements, but rumors will inevitably spread. Each time the message was given. Some would add his own version of the story, creating a snowballing exaggeration effect. For them, now you're like an urban legend of a terrifyingly monstrous reputation. The same holds true to my men as well though it's the reverse. I can already hear murmurs. Some, as you might expect, doubted your capabilities. Obviously because of a certain braggart."

Somewhere in the fortress, Mwu sneezed.

"That is… until today. You snuff out three spies in one go, and then you defeat an elemental knight and force him on the run. Both are no small feat and brought proof to the validity of the rumors. How exactly did you find out about the merchants eh?"

"I just find it odd. First of all, those merchants were late. Real merchants would always want to reach the market early so that they can get the best place for their best goods… which I might add, should've been preserved. This is a fortress that just suffered attack after attack, so I can understand that some merchants are still terrified. Also… back in Amaterasu, master always force to come along as early as 4 AM. 4AM! I had to wake up at 3 just since I'm always lost. But… as hazy as it was… I can still memorize the faces of every merchant in that harbor. Some of them, as I talk to them, do some of their trades here. That's where I learn a thing or two about Archangel."

"I see. I was once a citizen of Orb… and I must admit I'm ashamed that I don't know things as important as this. Still… I suppose, this accident give light to the authority that mask of yours commanded."

"…authority?"

"That was very important information you just gave me. But no matter how hard a chef like Kira Yamato try to explain this information, soldiers won't give you an eye. Whether I like it or not, Kage commanded a certain amount of respect and most of all, authority, amongst my men. But when Kage muttered something, you get their undivided attention. Authority in itself… is power. A power to make a difference. Imagine for a moment if you don't have this Kage. I wonder what kind of chaos that invisible knight could've wrought."

Kira gave what Harlbarton just said some thinking.

"I know it seems a little bit egoistical of me to ask this of you… but… the truth is… my authority has been failing for some time. Chalk it to the old age. Men don't follow wisdom only. They follow courage as well. Young people like you and Mwu are the hope they need."

"I'm an advanced you know. If they found about this, their symbol of hope will vanish in an instant."

"The fact remains you saved their lives. Over time, they will accept… now is not the time of course."

Kira stared at the harbor. The soldiers were carrying the dead bodies of the Zaft Bladebanes away from the ships. They still haven't touched the goods in there though. "…what can you do to ensure my friends… go back safely?"

"I'll do what I can. But as you well know… we're short on people right now. I've dispatched most of my higher seat officers away on missions. The only high seat officer from my division is third seat, Prayer Reverie La Flagga."

"Mwu's little brother."

"Yes."

As if on cue, Prayer, with Kira's gang calling them from the ground. Kira quickly put on his mask before they see his face.

"Captain! Kage-dono! Come down if you please?"

Kage mused. Compare Prayer's timid, somewhat naive and polite use of language to Mwu's mischievous, daredevil and brash attitude. "Funny how they look so much alike… yet their behavior is entirely…"

"Opposite." Harlbarton and Kage chuckled as they think alike. The two got down and Prayer delivered his report.

"More ships arrived just now. We dare not to open the gates after what happened."

Kage nodded understandingly. "Right… I'll go get Kira."

"Kira-san?" Prayer blinked.

"Kira was a chef in Amaterasu was he not? He had his fair share of experience on every merchant in these seas. He's surely more knowledgeable than me."

"Of course. He's your brother after all." Tolle smirked.

"UH-HUM!" Kage cleared his throat in an angry tone, rendering the other listeners quiet. "One of these days, I had to tell you guys a thing or two about the REAL me. Not a made up story from a certain braggart." With that air of finality, the ninja walk away.

"That's one pissed off ninja." Tolle gulped.

"Which part of Mwu's story you think is not true?" Sai's beginning to get a good grasp of the problem.

"Knowing my brother… could be everything." Prayer sighed, thinking what horrible fates await his brother now that someone as powerful as Kage is pissed off at him.

Soon afterwards, Kira, Sai, Tolle, Milly, Kuzzey, Prayer and Harlbarton arrived at the docks. Mwu gulped and cold sweat flooded his visage as Murrue and Natarle shoved him before Kira.

"No I don't want to! He'll kill me… ergh… hai there… err…"

"I told Kage what you said. He was furious."

"Errhhh… i… I suppose…"

"I explained most of the thing to my friends. But Kage is most furious especially since you go around blurting a shinobi's secret life."

"I… what?"

"Next time he sees you… he may not be so friendly."

"W… Wait!... But… y… your friends were asking and I…"

"WAIT a damn minute… now you're BLAMING US!?" Tolle an the others protested and took a step forward towards the nervous Mwu.

"Err…"

"Now if you'll excuse me, I got some shipment to check out."

"Wait… so you're gonna stay?" Mwu looked at Kira's back.

"How can I entrust the safety of my friends to people who can even differentiate bogus merchant with real ones? You might end up killing some of Master's restaurant's best business suppliers by mistake. And besides, aren't you had some EXPLAINING to do to them?" Kira jerked his thumb to the glaring eyes of his friends and Mwu's little brother.

"Don't worry… I know when I'm licked…" The man, guilty-as-charged, gulped.

Kira throw one last smirk and walk along.

"If only I knew him 10 years earlier. I could learn a thing or two from him." Harlbarton could barely contain his laughter. "I like the way he 'licked' you just now."

"Do you hate me that much?"

"Well lemmesee… you disobeyed my direct order 10 times-the record still stands by the way, escaped detention God knows how much,… oh, have I mentioned when you burned the stable during one of your so called victory party? So… all in all… yes. I hate you." Harlbarton walked away leaving Mwu in his misery. "So very much." He added with a kind smile.

At the walls, Kira made his away through the soldiers. The men gave way to him when they saw Harlbarton gave permission. Kira looked at the ships below. It's a small group of 3 ships led by one at the center. He blinked when he saw the familiar sails.

"AHOY up there! We saw a merchant ship just come in. Are you ZAFT? Or are you our usual customer?"

"ICHIRAKU-SAN! Is that you!?"

"Wh… I'll be damned! Young master Kira!! Why are you here? Wait… Don't tell me you're enlisted in the army?" A man in his fifties blinked.

"It's a complicated story. Are you here to do some trade?"

"Why of course."

"Then do come in. But I'll need to check all your goods. We just got a bogus merchant just know and we're getting a little bit paranoia."

"I see… But only if you do the checking. I don't think the soldiers have the same respect to fresh goods like you."

"Thank you." Kira smirked and turned to Harlbarton. "Let them in. I know the guy in charge, but for safety's sake, I'll check their cargo."

"Very good." The captain gave sign to his men down below to open the gates.

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Zaft ship…

Nichol was groaning in pain as Mikhail had just completed his surgery. "…Doc…"

"Sssh… calm down. Three of our best soldiers are dead. What happened? What blunder we've made?"

"Initially we succeeded. They accepted us without a slightest suspicion. And then that Kage arrived and everything was falling apart to pieces. He knows the lay of the land and routes of the trade like the back of his hand. And apparently he can also see through our disguises. And… as for his fighting skills… unless something hit my eye… I could've sworn he used the same technique used by Mwu the eagle…"

"This changes everything. We will send the news to the mainland about this… unexpected development. Now for you, my prescription is total sleep. You'll be 100 percent again in a week."

"Thank you doc."

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"Here we are. Take a good look. Salt, fishes and seaweeds from Izumo, ripe pork meat-dried I might add-from Chiba… and the top quality flour I should've sold in Amaterasu."

"Good. The bogus merchant claimed they have fresh veggies from that rocky fortress… and their meat was in perfect condition and they claimed it from Chiba."

Ichiraku laughed. "I'll tell you one thing lad, those guys may make a good soldier, but they can't do trade for shit."

"No they can't. You… have seen Amaterasu?"

"Can't say I'm not surprised lad. I mean… I saw a red sunrise on the east and I thought it was morning. And then me boys told me that the sun wasn't supposed to rise yet… and I knew something was up when I didn't saw yer face at the usual spot."

"That must be Amaterasu… when it was being razed to the ground."

"Heaven knows how many people got burned to death."

"Fortunately, none. Commander Barry Ho managed to evacuate the whole place before they raze everything."

"So… now you're enlisted in the Allied army?"

"…sort of. Officially, I work as a chef."

"Unofficially, a merchant ship checker?"

"…yes." Kira smiled bitterly.

"Did they know you're…"

"One of 'them'? The Captains. The men know nothing so…"

"I'll keep my mouth shut. But my suggestion you better leave this place immediately. Have you not heard the Aoi clan?"

"Aoi clan… unless I'm mistaken aren't they those brutal organization who destroyed Junius with Genma… right?"

"Yes. You do know that there are many soldiers; especially the upper echelons of the Allied army are actually composed of these madmen. If they found out that the chef of the army is an advanced…"

"I know. I've been trying as hard as I could to get my friends and I out of here. But there are some complications."

"Well. Good luck lad."

"Aye. This is good. Okay." Kira was about to leave the boat when he noticed something else. "What's in those drums?"

"Water." The old man nervously answered.

"…really?" Before Ichiraku could stop him, Kira opened the barrel. He took one sniff and frowned. "Ichiraku-san. This is rum."

"Erhh… well…"

"I thought you're the head of that so called Association of Sober Sailors (ASS)?"

"Errmm… eh… aaa…"

"Tell you what, there's a dark skinned man named Murdoch who seem to like some rum. Don't let them see you or…"

Ichiraku saluted the boy before he went out securing the rum. Kira walked out and gave an ok sign to the guards outside. "He's clear. No bogus."

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A few days later…

In ZAFT mainland…

The warden looked bewildered at Athrun's cell… which resemble more like an emergency war meeting room rather than prison cell, even more so with two most prominent general are convening inside. Just then, a bewildered messenger arrived carrying a letter.

"I have a letter for Lord Goud Veia… and they told me he was in prison… am I in the right cell?"

"He's inside with the prisoner."

"Oh." The messenger went inside and found Athrun and Veia were engaged in a heated match of chess. By the looks of things though, Veia was losing. His queen and two of his knights were taken out, half of his pawn is gone, his bishop is too far at the front, and he only has one rook left to protect the king. Athrun's queen is gone. Is rooks maintain their position around his king while what's left of his pawn is pressing on, backed by both of knights.

Veia sighed as he moved his rook to take out the pawn, only to be taken out by a knight. "Truth is… I never really into playing this chess. I used the pieces but only to depict an army."

"Chess ARE based on army deployment."

"But sometimes I couldn't help to think there are so many irrelevancies in this game. Like, how come pawn get only move two steps at a time? How come they can only attack on their side but not on their front? How bishop can only move diagonally. And the thing that I'm confused the most, how come a piece can take out a single unit with just one blow. It didn't take into account the ability of each piece."

"Well, as fans of this game, you're not hurting our feelings. But personally I think war should be thought like chess. And besides, if you're talking about ability, the limits of a piece' movement can be considered its ability as well. The Queen for example, can move anywhere she likes, making her the strongest chess piece in the field."

"But suppose it was trapped, even a pawn can take her out easily. In real life situation, if Queen is truly the most powerful chess piece, I'll say she should fight her way out."

"But in the end, even a pawn can beat a Queen."

Veia used a pawn to take out a knight. "Almost as if every piece is an all-powerful godlike general."

Athrun grinned widely and lift a finger. "Omedetto. You've taken the first step of thinking like me."

Veia blinked behind his armor. Athrun pointed at the messenger. Veia turned and realized that the messenger was staring at the game for some time. "You have news, soldier?"

"I can guess what it is." Athrun relaxed a little bit. "First attempt of infiltration is botched up, a certain guy in mask aided by the captains botch them up."

Veia read the letter and put it away. "Three casualties. That Kage seems know about the merchants around the Orb continent."

"I know not the true capabilities of the Three Captains. Even worse still, this Kage's strength is clearly as of yet, immeasurable."

"We can understand that he's at least stronger than the Elemental Knights." Raww contemplated. "Yzak did say… you expressed an interest in him, Veia?"

"Oh? Yes. Strength wise, he's not as strong as a Hakutenkun… but he's getting stronger still."

"This botched up attempt on infiltration did mount up two results: one, now we know that Kage isn't just able-bodied, but also able-minded. Two, now the infiltration squad will also adopt the mindset that every outstanding officer is a God of war." Athrun suddenly moved his rook in a straight shot at the king. "This information is valuable. That is to say we must now be more vigilant. Send some additional men to replace those that we lost, and my condolences as well as my gratitude. Check mate."

"Everybody is a God of War eh? A point of view that overestimate and yet do not underestimate the enemy."

"Exactly."

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Next chapter a little break. A humorous chapter, I think. Calm before the storm.