Kage is Kira
Oh, and Kira has yet to enter Seed Mode in this chapter (That is for much later). He's just as pissed as hell.
Prayer's battle stance is based on Samurai X, Saitou Hajime's Gatotsu
Moving this story to M for the gory scene that ensues. (and possible future violent M scenes.)
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 14:
What powers are for
A bladebane, scared halfway to death run for his dear life across the fog of darkness in the alleyway.
A scream heard and cut short as a Bladebane was claimed to the darkness and chopped to pieces.
The knight didn't even bother seeing where he's going.
Another one of his comrade was screaming bloody murder as she nailed her fingers to the floor, but was dragged into the slaughter ground that is the darkness.
In fact, he didn't even bother seeing anyone, not even the wounded alliance soldiers in his way or his allies asking what's going on.
A rain of shuriken riddled another knight again and again until one of his arms was eviscerated and the knight himself fell to his death, 10 stories below.
The Bladebane suddenly reached a dead end, a locked door. He frantically banged the said door in sheer terror. "Open the door! OPEN THE DOOR DAMN IT!"
Much to his delight, the door was broke open, and welcoming him was another group of Bladebanes who came trying to find out what happened.
"What the hell's going on?"
"He's not… not… a man… A… A demon… in the dark-" Shiki went through his open mouth from his back. The back stabber brutally twirled the katana, and even less pleasantly, ripped out the man's head, jaw up.
The Bladebanes outnumber the person before them eight to one, but at the sight of him, a part of their merciless nature start thinking of begging for mercy or just kill themselves right then and there rather than letting the creature before them do the job.
Bloodshot veins encircling a pair of dark purple cornea with little to no sanity or mercy within, clad, head to toe in a black garment seemingly melding with the pure darkness around them, and drenched in the blood of his enemies, some dripping endlessly from his hands, others dripping from his blood bathed katana; his breathing was heavy and slow yet full of malice and wrath. A creature, no, an abomination sent straight from Hell is standing before them. And they knew it before they even defend themselves: they're going to die.
"Gods… have mercy on our souls…"
And the murderous creature lunged towards them.
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While not knowing how many of his men were getting slaughtered, Mikhail Coast was struggling to finish the last, most essential part of the operation, as Athrun had described. The imprisoned strategist even had to ask permission for a momentary leave and meet him in person to make his point across.
"The most important part of this operation… is the twin water towers."
"The water towers?" Mikhail listened to the younger prisoner before him.
Athrun produced a rough sketch of the Archangel's blue print he drew. He pointed at two towers located at the center of the fortress' signature parallel walls. "The Archangel gets its water by processing the water straight from the ocean. I won't go into details about the exact mechanism, but basically, there are two towers that supply the fortress with water. The northern one and the southern one, each distributing water to respective half of the fortress. They are part of the fortress lifeblood. It's their Achilles' Heel, if you wish to name it so."
"And it has to go?"
"THAT, and I mean this seriously, is the whole point of this whole merchant thing. Use these explosive compounds you will load into one of your fake cargos."
"Explosives? That seem a bit… dangerous?"
"Then hack it apart if you will, piece by piece, smash it, ram it… I don't care how you do it, but you have to make sure, it is damaged beyond simple repair. That way, when the fleet arrives, they haven't fix it and we've thirst them halfway to death."
Personally, Mikhail had favored the idea of simply cutting essential parts, causing severe damage but kept most of it intact. The water tower would've helped greatly when the fortress fell to their hands. But then, he started getting reports of his men falling. At first, he dismissed it on simple lack of attention or beginner's luck. But when he get more report of men down instead of enemy down, and what's with this addition of a monstrous dark demon spawned from the darkness start coming up, he realized the time for subtlety had passed.
A few remaining bladebanes were carrying barrels after barrels of explosives into the foundations of the Southern water tower. The Northern tower is being handled by a different team. The water mill's wheel had been destroyed. Now, they just need to blow these two towers, and they can evacuate to rejoin the incoming fleet.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
The Bladebanes stopped in their tracks. Mikhail turned around and saw Prayer, with Kira's gang in tow emerged from the black smoke.
"Tsk… I'll deal with this. And you lot continue with the operation." Mikhail pulled out his heavy lance, which has strong resemblance with an oversized scalpel.
Prayer quickly caught on what's happening. His calm and serene face was suddenly replaced with ruthless and disciplined silence, and he assumed his battle position. Retracting his lance arm, preparing for a stab while his hand with the buckler stretch forward and float around the tip of the lance, aiming at the opponent. "You guys, step back… I'll deal with this." And with that, the blond boy suddenly propelled forward in an explosive acceleration so fast, the boy disappeared in a puff of smoke and thrust the lance forward. The blinding speed of the attack blurred the lance's shape into a merely a stream of light from the gleaming weapon. "GATOTSU!"
'Gatotsu?' Mikhail was caught by surprise and barely able to parry the stab. The lance hit the wall, shattering it upon impact. Mikhail gulped and finally remembered. "Prayer Reverie, 3rd seat, AKA the Lightspeed Sword… of the 7th division very own Juppongatana."
Prayer didn't reply to the recognition, coldly pulled out his lance from the crumbling crater and get into stance again. And as expected the boy charged again, but this time, Mikhail is more relaxed.
"A blinding speed and a brutal power. Nice combination. But…"
At the last second, just before the stab hits, Mikhail suddenly disappeared from Prayer's view.
"The thing is, it lacks: versatility."
Two stabs suddenly appeared on Prayer's chest and thigh. Prayer abruptly stopped and looked at the wounds. He turned around and saw Mikhail showing him his weapon, which is covered in blood. His blood.
Prayer only gave an annoyed sigh and returned to his initial pose. Seemingly unfazed by the scar.
"Hmm… did your brother taught you to remain silent and bear the pain?"
Prayer simply replied in silence and performed the same technique, again. Mikhail gives his undivided attention to the stream of light heading towards him and dodged at the last second. Briefly, Prayer reappeared as a blur and the stab sharply changed direction midway, slightly surprising Mikhail. A loud clash can be heard and Prayer's lance crashed to the ground. Two slashes appeared on his other shoulder and other thigh. Behind him is Mikhail, who had slashed him a millisecond faster. Mikhail looked at his chest armor. A small crack can be seen from when the armor bruised slightly with Prayer's lance.
"The problem is that… you're moving faster than your eyes can perceive. At the last second, your range of sight narrowed greatly. Thus you cannot perceive where your targets are when they change location at the last second. Even when you try to find your target again mid execution, it demands that you decelerate for a brief instant… losing you that edge that is your speed."
Prayer silently absorbed everything in while pulling out his lance. The blood drips from his wounds.
"And now, I've hit both of your shoulders and both of your legs. All which is the lifeblood of your technique. You have no chance to win now." Mikhail's explanation ended when he saw Prayer again resume back to his initial stance.
"…there's diligence, and there's stubbornness. This is obviously the latter. Have you not been listening-"
"I AM listening. And I'm grateful. I'm learning a lot." For the first time during their duel, Prayer spoke.
"Then why did you-"
"This is the only thing I'm good at. And since the situation was such; all I can do now is… improvise." And with that, Prayer steadied his form, seemingly intent on doing what he had set to do. Mikhail sighed and prepares himself. His relaxed expression disappeared, replaced with stern discipline, this time, he will land the final blow.
And then it happened again. Prayer disappeared in an explosive could of smoke, a gleaming stream of light burst through. Admittedly, Mikhail was slightly surprised to see that even with its core backbones wounded, the technique performed by Prayer are even more powerful than the previous. Mikhail barely dodged at the last second, but before he can move far, Prayer's other hand, the buckler one, outstretched and grabbed his neck. The momentum still carried from the charge, the Doctor was pushed, brutally, until his head was smashed to the wall, creating a small crack.
"Gack… wha…" The Doctor choked, he could barely breathe. Prayer's grip on his neck was iron clad.
"You're right about everything regarding my Gatotsu. But if I may ask, please retract the statement saying my technique lacks versatility."
"Grlp… why?"
Prayer smirked. The way he smirked made him resemble his elder brother even more. "We of the 7th fighting division are an army of militias. We're full of recruits. Some of us are mercenaries, others are simply inadequately trained civilians. That being said, we're infamously underrated regiment, despite the reputation of the Juppongatana, which you have known to be… quite something."
"Your… point?" Mikhail was barely able to choke that out.
"The 7th division is always been placed in situations where we were inadequately prepared. We're always… ALWAYS on the losing side. When that happens, we adapt. We change things in accordance to the situation at hand. That's why we have no specialized designation. That's why we're called the 7th Fighting Division. 'We lack versatility?' Versatility, Mr. Merchant, is the defining word of our Division."
Mikhail choked blood on that last statement, and he gasped as his eyes widened even more when Prayer stomped his feet to the ground, firming his footing and his right arm retracted. "Gatotsu: ZEROSHIKI!"
Using only the strength of his upper body, Prayer threw his entire weight into the stab. His entire right arm, and even the lance's gleam disappeared. In less than a second, the lance completely smashed through Mikhail's armor, shatter the wall behind the target.
"BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" The victim vomit blood as he could feel the giant object pierced through his side, literally tore through the side of his stomach.
Prayer retracted the now bloodstained lance from Mikhail's mangled stomach and fell on the floor, coughing blood, but still alive.
Kira's gang gathered around Prayer. Prayer steadied himself and assumed a non violent stance, before bowing in a gentlemanly manner. "Thank you for your wise counsel. I'll be forever grateful. I've avoided your vitals. I suggest you stay here. I will come back to you later, with medical aid. I will ask you to debrief afterwards."
Mikhail was too injured to reply, but he nevertheless understood the sincerity and that he will be questioned.
Prayer turned his attention to Kira's gang, who were gaping in awe. He asked kindly, reverting back to his kind face. "Yes?"
"A…are you really in the same age with us?" Tolle dared himself to ask.
"…No." Prayer answered calmly.
"…erh…" Sai sighed somewhat in relief. Maybe this guy is older and a midget… or some case of baby fac-
"I'm 15 years old. I'm 1 year younger than you all, senpai-tachi."
And everyone jaw dropped.
Prayer smiled kindly, seemingly ignorant of his senior's flabbergasted expressions when he heard a series of clanking sounds. His kind face was once again replaced with his soldier façade and instinctively he moved into defensive position in front the gang. A group of Bladebanes appeared out of the water tower. They looked at Prayer's bloodied figure, and to Mikhail, who was lying on the floor littered by his blood and realized what happened.
They readied themselves to fight, Prayer, on the other hand, already injured in various places, had a slight trouble to do so. Grunting, he still placed himself to defend Kira's gang.
"Let us at em, you can't fight them all alone!" Tolle ready to take his stand.
"You're wounded, and those are no light wounds." Sai held Prayer's shoulder while checking Prayer's bleeding scar, nervously.
"They're elites. They're a far cry different than the normal Emerald Knights. You won't be able to defeat them with your slap together skills." Prayer gasped but refused to show any pained expression. Though his body says otherwise.
"Just give it up. We'll make it quick." The Bladebanes bared their swords and start moving forward.
Prayer was about to charge forward and fight to his last breath when suddenly, out of nowhere, an ablaze but still alive Bladebane were thrown out of the window from the fortress.
"AAAAAAAAHG-BLARGH!" The Bladebane's scream was cut short when the knight was impaled on one of the palisades on its landing, right in the middle of the two group.
Everyone gasped. Milly were horrified and closed her mouth.
The two groups looked at the groaning, and burning Bladebane, for a moment not sure what happened or what to do. Until suddenly, a second figure burst out of the same window, briefly covered in the black smoke and, like a living, blistering black smoke, rapidly glided down towards the impaled, but still barely alive knight, and stomp on his battered face to soften its landing - brutally snapping his neck - dead.
At this, even Sai looked away, and Milly buried her face on Tolle's chest. What a ghastly way to execute someone: burned, stabbed, and then have its neck broken in such a brutal manner. What kind of horrible creature could do such…
Their question was answered when the smoke cleared from the said figure. Prayer jerked in surprise. It was Kage… or was that really him?
The Bladebanes looked at each other with fear.
The black clad ninja looked as if he was in a trance. He looked around like a misshapen black beast searching for its prey. When his eyes landed on Prayer and the gang, they all winced at the maddened, empty gaze of his purple, bloodshot eyes. He turned away, ignoring them and looked at the Bladebanes. Upon seeing their blue armaments, the black ninja suddenly began twitching, having found its target. And he started walking towards them, slowly but surely. His murderous intent was so blatantly thick and obvious, in the view of the ninja's subjects of wrath, it literally manifest into an image of a demon.
"O…Oni?" One of them whimpered in sheer terror. The other Bladebanes, subconsciously were also trembling in fear. Some didn't even realize they just pissed themselves up.
Kage continue to move closer and closer, his pace quickened the closer he gets.
"I… I didn't sign up for this!" The Bladebane in the closest vicinity with the black man-demon panicked and start making attempts to escape. The same goes for the other Bladebanes.
Sensing his target is escaping, Kage now start running, angrily roaring as he did, revealing his open mouth from his torn mask and jumped.
Seeing the black ninja is coming at them, and hard, one of the Bladebanes finally snapped and start charging towards the Ninja, screaming bloody terror. Perhaps the idea was to slice Kage's sword as he landed. Except the fact that Shiki was brought down with such a brute force, it cut through the Knight's sword, and vertically cut one third of the man's body, armor and all.
Through the gaping area from the knight's split body, the ninja saw the other knights are escaping into the Water Tower. Roaring, he chopped down the barely standing leftover of the first knight and rushed into the tower, leaving a group of gasping and horrified audience behind.
"…was that… really… Kage?" Sai having a hard time believing his eyes.
"He looks… enraged…" Tolle suddenly remembered how to breathe. "Like… seriously… seriously pissed off… no, scratch that, this is way beyond the level of pissed off. It's like… it's like… yeah… like that time he went overdrive during the fight on plains against that fire freak!"
"No." Milly squeaked.
"What?"
"This is different." The poor girl was trembling in fear; her face is pale as heck. "Back then it was like… he still knows whom he need to defeat and whom he needs to protect. He didn't attack us because he knows we're not his enemy… but this! This is…"
"Like a cold heartless killing machine." Prayer surmised for the frightened girl. "Like a machine set up to kill certain targets. Machine that didn't attack us because it wasn't told to. Not because it doesn't want to. But when he's through the Bladebanes… God knows what he'll do next."
Everyone gulped.
"…stay here." Prayer gripped his lance tighter.
"Prayer…san?"
"As it stands, Kage is a potentially huge threat: both to the enemy, and to us. I'm going to try to get in there and bring him back to sanity."
"Can… can you do that?"
"I don't really know how strong Kage is. To be on a safe side, I have to assume he stood on equal grounds with us, the Big Ten of the Juppongatana. Maybe I can restrain him."
"Not with you wounded like that brother." Mwu and Harlbarton suddenly appeared right in front of his little brother.
"Nii-san!"
Mwu and Harlbarton looked at the water tower; worry and fear are evident in their eyes. "The fortress is… 'secure'… in a matter of speaking."
"Secure? What do you mean, in a matter of speaking?"
"It was a virtual slaughtering ground. Kage killed most of them. The rest were rounded up, thoroughly mentally shaken and terrorized. I even noticed some of the Bladebane's corpse showed signs they had actually killed themselves out of sheer fright."
Prayer gulped and looked at the water tower. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know."
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Inside the water tower, if Kage wasn't too mad to care, was the result of Murdock's engineering ingenuity. A massive structure as tall as the fortress itself were situated at the center, with long series of stairs and platforms situated to encircle the contraption. It was a towering water processing system that supplied water to the entire base. However, several barrels of explosive had been rigged to some of its key foundation structures.
The maddened Shinobi took no notice and wildly scanned his surroundings, searching for enemies.
The Bladebanes was never much about hiding, and now they wished they were. Hiding their huge frame the best they can behind the water processor taking only small peek as to the location of their murderous opponent, trying to the best of their ability not to make a sound. Unfortunately, when you are a fully armored to the teeth swordsman, every move you make won't be subtle.
A wrong misstep and one of the knights accidentally kicked a stuck-out wooden plating. Like every hunting predator, Kage responded viciously and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
And all Hell breaks loose.
The first Knight who made the blunder gets it first. Kage reappeared behind him and stab him through his throat. The other Bladebanes quickly break ranks and before they go anywhere, Kage took the dead knight's sword and threw it to the last knight on the end of the line to show them no escape. The Bladebanes get the message and charged at him, preferring a death in combat.
But Kage didn't intend to give them combat.
He will give them slaughter.
Funneled in the narrow staircase, even if these knights outnumber Kage 9 to one, their numbers count for nothing. Kage killed the second knight by slicing him across his face, finishing it with a decapitation. Stepping on the headless remains and jumped, the ninja split the next one to two upon descent. Cutting the next one's arm, Kage caught the sword held by that arm before impaling it down to the mutilated one's skull. Jumping over the dead corpse, the ninja hopped several times and kneed the next knight to the ground. Seeing the target still not dead, Kage sit on top of him and stab him by the throat. Seeing their chance, two Bladebanes charge forward. Undeterred, the ninja throw a set of shurikens. One fell dead, the other managed to barely block the attack, but slowed down. Enough time for the Ninja to pick out his next arsenal: strings. Before the Bladebane can gain his bearings, Kage jumped on top of him, ring the strings several times on his neck, and drop to his back. The Knight choked as the strings tightened on his neck and Kage pulled harder, the string slitting his throat. Leaving the latest knight to bleed to death, Kage looked back to see the last three Bladebanes, still trembling in disbelief of how quickly 6 of their comrades were killed.
One of them looked at the black ninja and noticed he was unarmed. The Katana was left behind there, and the Ninja doesn't seem to care. On that basis, another Knight dared itself to charge forward in a thrust. Kage didn't even bother taking out any weapon. He dodged the stab, wrangled the attacker's arm, break it with a punch till the victim's broken bone bursting out of the knight's skin. The Knight's scream of pain was cut short as Kage took the fallen sword and stab it through under his jaw. Tossing the dead Bladebane over the railing, Kage glared at the last remaining two.
One, completely terrified out of its wit forgot its duty. "T… To hell with this shit! I… I'm outta here!" The Bladebane pushed his comrade forward and run off the stairs, upward.
The other one fell on Kage's feet. He looked up and saw death staring down on him. He realized his death is certain. But… at least… "…indeed I will die, Black Death."
Kage's cold purple eyes were unfazed by the threat.
Rising to his feet, trembling to be in such close proximity with the murderous ninja, the Bladebane took his sword and grabbed a prepared torch and lit it. "But I'm taking you with me."
For a moment Kage's eyes widened ever so slightly.
"EAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGH!" Leaving everything behind, the Knight charged forward, screaming hysterically with such a speed, he rammed the unprepared Kage and push him backward, right into a barrel. The Bladebane gained a bit of his composure and looked at his handiwork.
His sword had stabbed the now lifeless masked murderer clean on his stomach. Better yet, it had effectively nailed Kage to a bundle of explosive barrels. And the torch he had used had also pierced the barrel clean. The Bladebane had about less than a minute before it explodes. Though, he still having a hard time believing he had killed Kage.
"I did it? I… killed… Kage! I KILLED-"
A sword went through his back and pierced him through, the force was enough to nail him to the explosive barrel as well. Gasping a lot of blood, the Bladebane turned around his shoulder and saw, to his great horror, Kage, coldly staring at him.
"What? Then… who…" The Bladebane looked again at Kage's 'corpse' and to his disbelief, the Kage turned into a nailed wooden plank. "No…(blargh) I… don't want… to… die… like… th…" The man's word was cut short as the barrel finally exploded.
Even Kage was surprised by this sudden event. And for a moment, sanity returned and the instinct to survive along with it. The explosion caused an instant sea of conflagration around the narrow structure. The ninja then noticed several more of such barrels, and fire had caught up on them.
He jumped away just as the explosive set out and engulf him.
The bystander waiting outside had just contemplated to get in when the explosion happened. Harlbarton and Mwu, ones closest to the building were thrown off the ground. When they regained their bearings, the first water tower is already ablaze.
Mwu panicked, knowing Kage was inside. "KID! K… KIRA!"
"Kira?" Kira's gang froze at the mention of the name.
"The water tower…" Harlbarton's eyes widened at the realization: this was their intention all along. "Mwu, get to the second water tower before-" Before the old captain can finish, the second water tower also exploded.
Mwu and Harlbarton looked on, helplessly, as the ablaze water towers start creaking, ready to fall at any second.
At the top, the last Bladebane jumped out of the burning structure and landed on the top of the southern parallel wall, panting and gasping for his life. He looked back and heard the crumbling and burning water towers let out horrifying noises. A burst of flame blast out from one part of the towers and the two, almost simultaneously, fell, the northern one fell first.
Down below, Mwu gasped seeing the angle of the fall. True enough, the soldiers on northern half of the fortress near the tower panicked and start running. The tower quickly fell to the ground with a horrifying crash.
The southern Water tower was half way to the ground when something, or someone, blast out of the burning wreck and landed on top of the parallel wall.
His attire half burned and torn apart, Kage's disguise was reduced to dangling pieces of black cloth. But Kira's visage, revealed now that his mask burned out, are even more monstrous without the attire. Human blood bleached the said teeth, with minuscule bits of human flesh litter here and there. His hair in a horrific sticky mess from human blood, and saliva littering at the corner of his mouth like a mad dog on a rampage. A large shrapnel of wood had lodged in on his back. Kira took notice, and, instead of groaning in pain, he took the shrapnel out and intend to wield it as a bludgeoning weapon.
A sight horrifying enough to send any full grown (fully armed or not) man on the run for his life. Kira growled angrily and threw the shrapnel with enough force to knock the knight to the ground. The enraged teen shunshin to the downed man's spot, took the makeshift bludgeon and start pounding at the armored knight in a psychotic rage.
At first, the armor held several hit, until it starts denting and begin crushing the man's head inside. The shrapnel finally broke after another hit and Kira paused for a moment, looking at the misshapen helmet, and the misshapen crushed human head encased within.
"P…Please…" The barely alive knight begged.
Kira's eyes twitched as he heard the weak voice.
"Please… I… I… was… following… orders… please… I… don't want… to…"
"Die?" Kira finished with a spat. "I see… you don't want to die… But…" Anger begin to flare in his eyes again, remembering Kuzzey's last moments. "He didn't even GET THE CHANCE TO SAY IT!"
Consumed by rage once more, Kira raised his fist and bring it down, fast and hard.
Fast, hard, and strong enough to pulverize the Bladebane's helmet and the wearer's head inside, bursting blood to Kira's face.
The teen didn't seem to realize he had crushed the man's head with his bare hands and start pounding at the remains, mercilessly. Grunting with each bloodied punch landed, until it became a long hysterical scream.
Kira continue his pounding for God knows how long, until finally, he felt a pair of strong arm stopped his one arm. He looked behind and saw Mwu, frantically holding his arm. He gritted his teeth and his other arm moved, but another pair stopped him.
Harlbarton and Mwu teamed up to stop him from landing another punch.
"He's dead kid… He's dead. It's over." Mwu looked at the boy in front of him. What the hell is that insane look in his eyes?
Kira gasped and panted and turned to the crumpled sack of flesh, blood, and steel in front of him. For a moment, he thought of Kuzzey again and he so wanted to land another punch, but another voice stopped him.
"Kira?"
He turned and saw Sai, Tolle and Milly, all looking at him in his shredded attire. More terrified than shocked. Upon the sight of his friends, sanity finally returned to his mind and Kira slumped down, exhausted both mind and body, allowing Mwu and Harlbarton to finally let go of his arms.
Mwu looked at the wrecked soul before him. "Harlbarton… what the hell have we done?"
"…the term 'an unforgivable sin'… just won't cut it." Harlbarton looked at his smoking fortress in grief before turning his attention back to the horizon. As expected, he can see small forms of galleys and battle barges forming and growing in size. "We're in for one wild dawn."
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Mwu La Flagga wasn't sure which is the worst part of that day.
First, immediately after the incident, he made sure his half sane, shattered wreck of a protégé get into the medical ward for the much needed medical attention. But the said Ninja refused all medical aid and simply went crawling in the corner.
"Kid…" Mwu dared himself to speak.
The boy merely shrugged.
"I… I… I'm sorry…"
"They could've escaped days ago."
Mwu gulped.
"Where Kuzzey would be… if he hadn't followed us all here? If I didn't… ya know… charm him with all that heroic escapades. Safe and sound in Onogoro?"
Inwardly, the elderly man wished the boy just stood up and gore him somewhere as payback… that would be much better than… this…
"Is this what it takes for you to listen to what I say?"
Mwu's face paled at the poison seeping in the young man's voice. "I… Kuzzey's death… was my fault… I… I'm…"
"Sorry? Sorry?" And with that Kira turned around and looked at the older man. Mwu choked. He saw more life even in a dead man's eyes. Those eyes… he had seen them before, but this time, it's infinitely more monstrous.
"No. No, you're not. Not yet."
The 9th Division Captain weren't sure how he could leave the ward after all that and still have enough strength not to fell on his knees.
Second: hearing Tolle's hysteric scream when a few soldiers showed the gang Kuzzey's mangled remains.
"NOOOOOOOOOO! KUZZEY! KUZZEY! TELL ME THIS IS ANOTHER JOKE! No… NOOOOOOOOO!"
"Kuzzey… no…" Sai fell on his knees beside Kuzzey's body while Milly cried.
Mwu and Prayer watched quietly from the side. "I was about to escort them back to Orb tomorrow morning." Prayer stated.
"I know." Mwu tucked his head down in grief. He took another look at Tolle still crying profusely over Kuzzey's body. "…but… I guess no one's going home now."
"I hope more Zaft soldiers are coming here." Tolle muttered halfway between his tears.
"Tolle what do-"
"I hope they do. And then I'll kill em all!" The boy gritted his teeth as he said so. He meant it.
"No you won't." A stern voice brought everyone's attention. Even Mwu was shocked to see it was Prayer who spoke.
"Yes I will!" Tolle angrily replied.
Prayer groaned and suddenly charged forward, rammed the elder boy and held him on the ground on a chokehold. "Look at yourself. So weak, and unable to do anything."
"Let me go!" Tolle squirmed, trying to break free from Prayer's grasp.
"Then do it. Knock me down! Get back up!"
The boy tried, but he's just a civilian while Prayer was an elite soldier. Even with the difference in age, it was obvious Prayer had the upper hand.
"As you are right now, you're just an annoyance to them at best, a small fry at worst."
"Let me go! They killed Kuzzey!"
"AND THEY'LL KILL YOU TOO!" Prayer roared on Tolle's face. "Haven't your friends lost enough already?"
Tolle paused and then looked at Milly and Sai, both look just as miserable as him. And he remembered another one. Another who, until now, he had realized, had lost the most out of everyone. With that realization, Tolle stop squirming and start crying. "Kuzzey… damn it… damn it…"
Prayer grabbed Tolle's collar and brought him to an eye to eye level. "If you really feel his death that hard to let go, then became stronger! Stronger then you were today! Stronger, so that you'll never cry again. Stronger so that you'll never lose anything ever again!"
Tolle just keep crying, but he got the message and stop struggling. Prayer let go of the boy and get back up, letting his friends tend to him.
Mwu watched all this, and with a brief moment of remembrance, finally understood Prayer's outburst.
Prayer walked past him and muttered. "Onii-san… now they'll walk the same path as the two of us. The burning path of vengeance."
"…yeah. That they will." Mwu affirmed with heavy regret in his voice.
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Veia watched the black smoke rising from Archangel. But he also noticed that it's getting smaller and smaller after the confirmed explosion on the two water towers.
"Push forward. Stop when we're on firing range."
"But sir? I thought the plan was…" His helmsman was confused.
"It was our plan… if only there's some of our brothers left in there who were still alive."
"I… beg your pardon?"
"The infiltrator had blown off their water tower; that is good news. But the smoke is disappearing. That either means Zala's concoction had runs its course earlier than his estimation, which, as we all know, are high unlikely… or… there's no longer a single Bladebane left alive to keep it alight."
The helmsman gulped. "Then what should we do?"
"Get to the firing range, and unload a couple of shots. That should goad them out. We'll proceed with Zala's plan as stated."
"Yes sir."
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"He's obviously in pain, but he refused medical aid. We tried to offer him some water and food, but he didn't touch them." The medical surgeon reported with a worried face to Harlbarton.
"Kage! Please get up. You acting like this, is unsightly!" Natarle was in the medical ward, trying to convince a certain black clad Ninja to return to fight. "Soldiers had died. And many more will die! We need every strength we can, every men and woman available and you are the only one capable of using Shiki!"
"Kira-kun, please. We need your help. I know how you feel, but right now, we have to get those wounds look at." Murrue also tried in a much less stricter method.
But Kira turn a completely deaf ear on the women's pleas.
"Murrue, Natarle?" Harlbarton inquired.
"Captain Harlbarton." The two women saluted their senior.
"Go easy on the boy. He just lost a friend."
"Yes, but, our scouts had reported enemy ships approaching from the sea! They'll be here soon, this is no time to be wallowing in self misery! We need every available soldier to be at their best in times like this!"
"Indeed we do." Harlbarton replied calmly.
"That's why…!"
"But he's NOT a soldier. He never was." Harlbarton cut short. "He was thrust into all this unwillingly. Events which is completely beyond his control."
"And yet he showed exceeding ability to went through things that would break ordinary man. His skills are growing at an unbelievable rate in such a short time. Not to mention his extensive tactical knowledge." Murrue frowned.
"I'm well aware. Kira Yamato, or Kage, has become an indispensable part of this fortress' defense."
"Maybe we can consider the idea of using his friend's safety as a bargaining chip." Natarle whispered in a low voice.
Murrue slapped her lieutenant for even considering the idea. "You do no such thing. Those children just lost one of their own friends for God's sake!"
"Of course we will still give them protection. We just need to make Kage think that his participation in the conflict ensure it!"
"Be quiet, both of you!" Harlbarton's words echoed and cut their arguments short. "Leave us. All of you."
Everyone left in silence, leaving Kira and Harlbarton alone.
"Kira-kun."
"…Harlbarton-san."
"Losing a friend has never been easy."
"Especially if you're the one who caused it."
Harlbarton's brow raised in understanding. "I've been on this job of Captain for a lot of years. Being a captain I've… made a lot of decisions. Some sent their men to their survival… others sent them to an early death. Some of them I had grown quite attached enough to call friend. So when I tell you I know how you feel, you know I meant that." Harlbarton took a seat and continued. "Whenever it's the case of the latter however I always thought on… things…"
"…" Kira's silence was the sign for Harlbarton to continue.
"What if I made the order like this? What if I sent them here instead of there? And you know what I've learn those thoughts accomplish?"
"…nothing."
"…right you are… if I remain contemplating that… yes. I would've accomplished nothing. But I didn't stop there. Their deaths… gave me wisdom. A hard earned lesson. Knowledge that became a power to make a difference in the long run. Kira, you have that power."
Annoyed, Kira cut short to the point. "What do you want from me?"
From his tone, the old Captain knew that Kira want him to get straight to the point. "A massive Zaft naval fleet is gathering just in front of the base's rear walls… this is exactly as your scenario had predicted. And it has remained accurate… so far. This means we have a chance to drive them back as you said we could."
"Then go. You got the plan. You got the chance. Win your battle, get yourself killed, get everyone killed… I don't care."
"No, Kira-kun. That's where you get it wrong. Your… presence inspires the men. When you stand strong, they stand strong too. Your victories… your losses… even your… mishaps… were shared by everyone, more than you know."
"I'm just one man. One man who couldn't even save his own friend. Why are you piling all this on me?"
"Because you can do this. Stay the course Kira. Kuzzey Buskirk died because he believed in something. He believed in you. And so do I."
At this Kira turned around and looked at the old captain. Harlbarton didn't cringe at the sight of his lifeless gaze. That lack of fear perhaps, instilled a fraction of life into Kira.
"Kira-kun… what did you believe in?"
But Kira quickly turned around and went back sulking. "I've run my course. And I have not the guts to believe in anything these days."
Halrbarton put something on the bed next to Kira and walk away. At the edge of the door, he turned around and replied: "When you figure it out let us know. We're waiting on you." The old captain walk away.
Kira remain in his curled up position for some time, but he finally turned around to see what the old captain had left behind. The boy blinked.
It was Shiki, lying on top of newly made and improved Kage outfit, along with the Forehead protector Mwu gave him. This time with multiple hardpoints for extra protection.
At first, Kira fancy a thought of just throwing those things away, but for other reason he can't explain, the boy pick himself up and move towards the package. He took Shiki first and for a moment… he finally understood what Harlbarton meant back then during their training.
He truly despised this Katana.
This Katana had taken away everything from him. It had caused his home to be burned to the ground. It had forced him to fight for his life and murdered countless people. Now it had failed to protect his friend. Now he finally understands that all this time, he had subconsciously hated the sword for all this, and this feeling had just now been clearly brought to surface.
"Kira?"
Kira turned around and saw Tolle, Sai and Milly looking at him with Shiki in his hand.
The four close friends exchanged words without saying anything and the three went into the room. Sai looked at Kira's still half battered form.
The long silence prompted Kira to speak first. "…what?"
"I'm looking at you Kira. Seeing you like this… only now do I realize you really are Kage."
Kira's mood lightened somewhat and he sat down. "Thanks for coming guys. It's… it's so happens I… I need to talk to you."
"Actually… we want to talk to you too." Sai replied. And then silence again. The two sides seemingly gathering their wits and guts and finally said to each other in harmony:
"I'm sorry about Kuzzey." All four of them said in perfect chorus.
"What?"
"What?"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Alright, this is very awkward… you go first."
"No Kira… you… you go first. You're Kage. You got the right."
"Not anymore I'm not."
"What do you mean not anymore?" Sai frowned.
"I… screw it up Sai. Kuzzey's death was my fault. During the chaos I… I slept through it. I was sleeping peacefully while everyone is getting slaughtered out there. When they… when they murdered Kuzzey… I just stood there and watched. I watched him die right in front of my eyes, and I did nothing. I… I'm sorry."
"No. It's not your fault. It's mine." Sai followed. "I… I gave you the weed. I heard from the medical ward. You go through a drug induced sleep. An unnatural sleep because it made you completely unaware of what's going on around you… It's… it's my fault."
"If that's your idea of being guilty, and I'm part to blame to." Milly followed. "I mean… you were out there… you were always out there… dealing with the worst they throw at us. And you never flinch. You stood your ground and fight. And what have we done to help you? Nothing. We're burdens. That keep adding the pressure on you… never understanding what it is you went through… I… God… some friend I am."
"…we're all guilty in this." Tolle finally spoke. "…when Prayer yelled at me… I realize we were all in the wrong. All we care about is to go back to our old lives… blissfully unaware of the comings and goings of the outside world. We're happy as long as we have ourselves and our little happy world of a bubble. We ignore things. When we heard of how bad things going on out there… all we did… is just sit and watch and when we don't like what we hear, we turn away and sigh. That's because we never know… or cared… of just how bad things out there. And now that ignorance had made Kuzzey pay. Made us all pay."
"Tolle."
"Kira… I've decided." Tolle raised his face, his eyes filled with determination. "I'm enlisting in the army. I will fight. This time for real. I don't want to ignore things anymore… I want to… I don't want what happened to Kuzzey happened to others as well."
"T…There's an enemy fleet coming on this fortress you know that!"
"I know. But Captain Harlbarton had told us and other recruits to bunk down inside. For protection. We'll only fight when the time comes."
"Us? Who's us?"
"Us." Sai and Milly stepped forward.
Kira gasped. "…guys…!"
Kira doesn't know what to say. All he can do is fell on his seat and cry. Completely at loss on himself and what to do. His three remaining friends huddled around him, trying to comfort him.
"Kira. We believed in you. Kuzzey believed in you too. We're your friends."
"I know…" Kira said miserably. "That's why I don't want you guys to get hurt. That's has been my only reason I…"
Everyone is now in tears. "We know. Now we know." Milly snuggled closer. Everyone hugged each other.
"You don't have to do this alone, Kira. You still got us. We're your friends. We lean on each other when we need to. And we watch each other's back!" Sai added.
"Always." Tolle finished.
"Guys…" They break off, and some bits of life returned to Kira's eyes.
"Now… what should we do, Kira?" Tolle asked as he wiped his tears away.
"I thought Harlbarton already told you."
"He told us that you had foreseen what is to come, many days before this attack arrived. He did say you didn't figure out all the details and the whole infiltration in darkness was something you had not foreseen… but the end result had all led up to this. And it has been accurate to your prediction, down to the last detail."
Kira took a deep breath and sighed. "That's because I've faced this situation before. A knight sent as a sacrificial piece to make a mess of entire roster of enemy pawns while taking out the rooks."
"What?"
"Nothing… it's just that… if I knew the guy who is behind this ploy just right… in which I do… we're gonna need some changes…"
"Well I bet Captain Harlbarton can use that piece of information right about now." Sai followed.
"Then what the hell are you waiting for! Get in there and knock them dead!" Tolle roared.
"Yeah." Kira, enlightened at last, took all his armament, dress up as Kage and rushed out of the medical ward.
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"What have we got?"
"We have three heavy cruisers with us. Your flagship, the Menelaus, Agamemnon and Nestor. The enemy however brought about almost every ship in Carpentaria, including Veia's very own flagship, the Aquarius. That pretty much means they outnumber us 3 ships to one. And unless I'm mistaken, the scouts have determined your old nemesis is on board too, Mwu."
Mwu frowned. "Raww…"
"Prayer? How is it going with the doctor on your end?"
"He's fully prepared to be tortured to death. He won't speak even if we kill him."
"They're gonna bombard us with impunity. They must have thought their infiltration unit had obliterated our insides." Murdock commented.
"It's not that simple."
Everyone's attention was turned towards the source of that voice. Standing on doorway was Kage, fully suited and ready for combat.
"Kage!" Everyone echoed, some were surprised, others were happy.
"From the get go, this was never that simple." The ninja silently walk in and everyone gave way.
Kage still stand, looming over a large map of Archangel and its surroundings.
"You're back to your senses… Kage?"
Kage closed his eyes. Trying to reassure himself he's really up to do this. "…I'm not that sure myself… but I'm sure right now is that I have a power to make a difference. Might as well put it to good use."
Pleased with his answer, Harlbarton motioned the ninja to join their ranks.
"So… where were we?"
"You said it's never that simple from the get go. How is it not that simple?"
"If this plan was made by anybody else other than him, I would say things would go exactly as you've said. But if it's him…"
"Who… is him?" Natarle frowned.
"…not important right now. What's important is that he orchestrated everything. Every accident, beginning with the initial siege when Mwu and I first arrived here, the foiled two pronged full blow assault, the recent merchant infiltration… all of them… were preparation for this."
"All the more important-"
"And I KNOW how to counter this strategy." Kage cut it immediately. He's not going into details about Athrun just yet.
Everyone fell completely silent and gave the shinobi their undivided attention.
"Tell us Kage. Every step of the way."
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"Move the guns. We're relocating them." Natarle gave orders to the front wall battery.
"What's all that rug for?"
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"Why is there so many of this damn gunpowder and explosive tags anyway?" Neumann gulped. There's enough explosive tag strapped barrels of gunpowder there to blow an entire mountain.
"Because overkill is underrated my friend." Mwu replied nonchalantly.
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Murdock groaned as his soldiers demonstrated explosive packages they're throwing into the cliff.
Jackie threw a burning small pot filled with fish oils. A primitive Molotov bomb.
The explosion was small.
Murdock groaned. "Bigger!"
The soldier took an even bigger pot, filled with fish oils and gunpowder, burn it and throw it.
The explosion was significantly larger.
Murdock shook his head. "Bigger!"
The soldier took a large pot, filled with smaller explosive pots, each filled with fish oils, brimstone and gunpowder, all of them strapped in explosive tags, burn it and threw it.
The explosion was massive.
But Murdock still shook his head. "BIGGER!"
"H-How big do you want it?"
Murdock stretched his hand upward.
The soldier was at lost, until he spotted a small barrel. An idea filled his head. Strapping several explosive pot into it, burn it, and throw it.
Murdock raised his arm with a roar. The explosion was gargantuan. So huge it engulfed him. The soldier was completely nervous.
The master mechanic walk out of the smoke, a few shade darker on his already tanned skin. "Aye. This is it."
But Jackie is still nervous for some reason.
"What? This is good. This is the sort of explosion we need."
"It's… it's just that… we're short on gunpowders… so…"
"Heh? Then what did you use for explosion?" Murdock look behind Jackie and saw… barrels of rum. His rum.
"M… My… rum…"
Jackie ran before he saw the continuation of the 7 days of flame.
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Kage release his mask and sit down in a secluded place. With this, all preparations are set. All he need to do now is wait and see how things played.
And then all the sudden, Mwu appeared. "Kid? You okay?"
"…"
"I'm well aware that you may never forgive me… it's just… there's a big battle ahead… and I really need to get this off my chest okay?"
Kira motioned him to go on.
"…I'm… sorry. About everything. I'm just gonna say it again and again until the two us may get sick of it. It's just… Whooo boy… I'm so bad at this. Can I sit down?"
"Do whatever you like."
"Thank you." Mwu sit far enough from Kira, but well within the place where the boy can see him. "…Endiminion."
"…what?"
"Fort Endiminion in Paris. That was the name of that Fort before Raww changed it into Versalius." Mwu sighed. "I used to be stationed there, and it was the home base of my Ninth division… before he wiped it all out."
Kira's eyes blinked.
"Back then, I was still new, and my division had just been recently formed." Mwu sighed. "At the time, I lacked all the capabilities of a Captain. Some of my own Subordinates were even stronger than me."
Kira wondered where this is going and so he listened.
"I felt inferior, but among them, there's this one guy… he was… the weakest out of everyone. Others treated him as a punching bag. But he never quit, and he always get back up on his feet, no matter how others pushed him. I dislike bullying, but every time I interfered, inferiority get to me… and I always thought they only obeyed me because of my rank." Mwu sighed. "Then, I decided I need to become a better person. A better captain. I think I've told you this before. Harlbarton recommended that I go to Shinobi Training on Orb. Improve myself, improve my skills."
Kira remembered Mwu did say something like that along the line.
"And I did. For some years. Now here comes the part which I haven't told you. When I returned to Endiminion, I found the base was under siege. And like every good captain, I tried to break in. And you know what I found out?"
"…?"
"…half of my forces had defected. Bribed, I heard. Raww made the deal they seem can't ignore."
Raww… isn't that the masked man which had this intense rivalry with Mwu?
"Now that I think of it, I'm rather grateful he did that. He left me only with soldiers who are truly loyal to me… but still half of my forces… that's one big minus…" Mwu snorted at the irony. "But that's not the point… you see… one guy kept that last half together during my absence. They say, when those traitorous half was trying to leave the fort, that guy stood his ground and let them made a punching bag out of him. But no matter how hard he tried, no matter how hard he forced his voice to be heard or how much tears he shed… None of them seem to get through to those bastards. But the report said they were ceremoniously executed soon after. Raww did it himself I hear."
"When I finally broken through, the soldiers were still holding… and that guy… when I finally get to that guy… he…" Mwu stopped midway. "It wasn't long until the fortress was finally overtaken, but we made those Zaft soldiers pay with their lives for every inch they take into that fortress. When they finally managed to go through, I fought one on one with Raww… and that's where I get my title: the Eagle of Endiminion. Raww promote it himself… and never let it go."
Kira frowned. Clearly he wasn't here just to give him the story of how he got his big break? "What happened to that guy?"
"Ah, here's the story. After we escaped Endiminion, he was in coma for several months… he survived but… ever since then… his body was so messed up with all the crap they put him through, he needs to be constantly medicated. Some doctors claimed that to let him die would actually constitute an act of mercy."
"…and now?"
"Oh, he's still in the army. I tried to convince him several times to just leave me… but he refused. He said he want to remain in the army and fight on. When I said what made him so insistent he only have one answer: I have faith in you."
Quite frankly, Kira didn't get the point of this story. "Your point being?"
"The guy's condition… quite frankly, it was massive personal failure from my part. Not only as a captain, but also as a person. But… the situation as such… it seems I haven't matured at all as a captain."
"You're comparing my failure to protect Kuzzey with your failure to protect that guy?"
"No. I'm comparing myself… with those traitors who refused to listen. In one of my bouts with Raww, I asked him what sort of deal he struck on those guys that he was able to sway them over. His answer was simple."
Flashback
"Why it's very simple, Mwu. I simply showed them less fear. I simply showed them only the things they want to hear. The things they want, of how things can go their way. And they listened, those traitorous wretches." Raww smiled. "That's just how ugly humans are, Mwu. They only like to hear and see things that they like. Even if it's wrong. When someone hear something he likes, he will refused to listen to anything else that contradicts that."
Holding his bleeding shoulder over the burning fortress of Endiminion, Mwu groaned.
"I have to give that little boy a little credit though. He managed to hold the fortress long enough until your return, and my… how you've grown, nemesis! This battle is actually quite enjoyable!" Raww marked at the horrible gash Mwu had made on his right arm.
"And there's plenty more where that came from you son of a bitch!"
Mwu charged at the smiling Raww as the flame rage across the field.
Flashback ends.
"Thinking about it now… and seeing the way I am… I finally realized what Raww said was true. We men are that wretched. We only like to hear what we like to hear. Truth be told… I myself had half hoped that all of you will stay and trained and so it will become an additional force to our division. Especially you. I partly hoped that you would stay and help us. And fight for us. It was wrong. My head… my heart keeps telling me it's wrong. I shouldn't be imprisoning you all here. But that part of me… that wretched part of me kept my ears clogged to your pleas and tears… just like those traitors ignore that guy's pleas."
Kira looked at the elder man, he looked… depressed. "If you let me… let me make it up to you. I can get your friends to safety. Right now. I can send them away from this base. And… if you like… you can go with them. You can forget about us. Forget that you even know me."
Kira sighed. This is his idea of making it up? Well at least he tried. "Those are what your heart tells you. But your head, I bet, thought of an entirely different situation."
"Well… I've followed my heart more than my head and it has served me pretty well."
Kira shook his head. "I can't leave. And neither will my friends. Haven't you heard? They've enlisted. With their own free will. You owe Kuzzey for this."
Mwu gaped and sighed. Looks he will never accept forgiveness after all.
"You want to make it up to me, Captain Flagga? You're the man who first taught them to put weapon in their hands. You make sure they survive long enough until you can teach them to let the weapon go one day." Kira had put on his mask and became Kage again. "Deal?"
The elder man looked at the ninja before him and nodded. "Deal."
And the two shook each other's hands. When they let go, Mwu was noticeably more relaxed, determined, but relaxed. Almost as if a great weight had been removed from his shoulders and someone had set him straight.
"Now for the official reason of why I came to you. Harlbarton called. The operation is ready to go any moment now. And he's about to make an opening speech. Every high ranking official need to come."
"And that constitute me?"
Mwu looked at him as if he was crazy. "Dude, it's your plan. Of course you have to come!"
And with that, Mwu literally dragged the bewildered Kage away.
Meanwhile, in other part of the fortress…
Prayer Reverie was taking his daily medication while tending to his wounds, which lay on top of various other old scars, marring his otherwise perfectly petite body. He was cauterizing some of his most recent wound, and yet the boy showed no sign of wincing in pain.
Sai watched with a horrified expression on his face. What sort of pain tolerance this boy has? And wasn't he supposed to be a year younger than him? What on earth is that shitload amount of scars?
"Sai-san, I'm done. Please give me back my clothes."
"Y…yes sir!" Sai gaped and handed the boy his clothes back.
Prayer chuckled. "I'm sorry. Every time I stitch myself up, I always made a bloody mess."
"Doesn't it hurt?" Sai can't help to blurt out.
Prayer was slightly caught off guard with the question, but he replied with a smile. "…it's like being caught in the rain. An annoyance."
The 3rd seat put on his clothes back and took his armaments. Ready to battle. "Cadet Sai Argyle."
"Sir!" Sai assume formal ready position.
"You are to take position in the inner barracks together with Cadet Miriallia Haww and Tolle Koenig. Your orders are to remain in the inner barrack and may only engage in self defense. Do you understand?"
"Sir, yes sir!" The bespectacled boy saluted and left.
Prayer walked out and went straight to the rear wall. There he saw his brother had just dragged Kage to join the other high ranking officers. Wow. What sort of magic did he use that he managed to get back on that level of friendliness with the masked warrior?
After that, Prayer took his place next to the other officers.
Not long after, Halrbarton made a full announcement. "In less than a hour, we will be defending ourselves against the biggest naval force ever assembled by Zaft to take us down. Now… customarily, as Captain of this Fortress, it is my duty to give a little… pep talk. But today is a little different. Today, we were graced with the presence of the man mostly responsible of keeping this fortress impenetrable. The man who had saved us many times… and now, will lead our defense."
Kage gaped behind his mask. Now wait a sec…
"Therefore, and all other officers had agreed, it is only proper that the man who will have this honor."
Kage panicked. "Wait a sec! I didn't hear anything about this!" His eyes throw daggers at Mwu.
"Don't worry. Nobody knows that you are Kira. That secret still haven't come out… yet."
"That's not what worries me!"
"I give to you, Kage." Too late, Halrbarton ended his speech and make way for the black clad and very nervous teen.
Kage walk to the edges of the rear wall and saw thousands of pairs of eyes looking at him. He felt something twirling in his stomach.
"Errhhh…"
Everyone waited.
"…quite frankly… I think I'm gonna throw up." And with that, Kage grab the first can he can find and vomit.
Every soldier down below near Kage quickly back away in a hurry, fearing the ninja really gonna throw up on them. Others fell on their backs. Mwu had to pinch himself to prevent himself from laughing his brains out, while every officer simply sweat dropped. Prayer looked disapprovingly at his elder brother.
Kage glared at the smirking Mwu. 'I'll send you to hell for this, I swear.' He turned to the staring audience down below. "…well… I'd say… let's take it easy… a bit… you there." Kage suddenly pointed at one of the soldiers. "Yes you, the one with glasses… where are you from?"
"I'm… I'm from Canada."
"Canada. And you. Yes you, with braided hair."
"Beijing."
He pointed to another and another, and he get: "Egypt", "Cuba", "Colombia", "Korea", some even declare "Madagascar."
"Madagascar… I suppose I can surmise that a lot of you are a hell long way from home."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"And here we are. Stuck in what could be the most expensive gigantic coffin in the world. And it's about to become a slaughtering ground."
Everyone fell silent.
"…I lived in Amaterasu. Used to be there. Good luck finding it on the map though. It's no longer there. They burnt to the ground." Kage paused for a moment and continued. "…and now here I am. Inside the coffin. Stuck with you guys I the slaughtering ground."
Everyone paled.
"Every fibre of my being want to get out of here. By right… I can leave. But…"
Everyone waited with holded breath.
"…oh, screw this, this is not working!" Kage panicked again. But Murrue calm him down and encourage him.
"Keep at it, you're doing just fine. Come on!"
Kage sighed and readdress the crowd. "…right now… this fortress… is our home. We maybe a thousand leagues away from home, leaving sons, and daughters, and wives, and lovers… may the last two never meet."
Everyone snickered.
"We are here. Right now. Every one of us. Quite frankly… I don't really like this place. It's… noisy… too big… and dangerous. In more ways than one. If I have my way, I'd rather bring this fortress down, brick by brick. It's ugly, it's not my taste… but right now… it's the only home we got. The only home I got. It's our home. It's ours. We'll decide what to do with it. Not them. Not anyone. So I say… let's keep this hunk of rock that is our home standing… if not just 1 second longer."
Total silence.
"…and that's all folks. Now if you excuse me, I have to vomit. Again." Kage back away and turned around, grab the can and vomit again. When he finished puking his lunch, he looked at the petrified faces of every officer in charge.
Kage gulped and thought he had done it badly. How can he not? He vomited at the opening and ending of his speech! Of course it's bad!
But a sudden overwhelming explosion of cheers and battle cry from the soldiers below stated otherwise.
Harlbarton and every officer stood up with a proud smile and clapped their hands in a standing ovation. Kage turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. Every soldier in that fortress were cheering, chanting his name.
Kage was slightly overwhelmed and backed away a few steps when a strong warm hand holds him by the shoulder. He turned around and saw Mwu, grinning widely. "You got gift, Kid."
"Answer them. Answer their call." Harlbarton added.
Kage looked at the cheering soldiers down below. He looked at the officers, and Murrue motioned him to raise his weapon. Kage looked back at the soldiers, unsheathe Shiki… and raise it high.
And the cheer escalate even further, with every soldier raised their weapons in unison.
Kage gazed the thousands of soldiers standing down there, cheering. How many will survive what is to come?
"To your stations!" Harlbarton decided enough cheers and declare the order.
And with that, the die is cast.
Let's see what numbers we'll get.
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And that's the lot.
