Kira is Kage

Lacus is Hikari

Except when they're together.

NOTE:

"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking

"Charge!": special case

'Darn!': thoughts

GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Please… read and review

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After the events of yesterday, Kira's mind suddenly became a livelier place, with Shiki at his side, all four Ghosts now stood before Kira. Well… three standing up to be exact, with one was forced on her knees and chained.

A tall conic white hat with the writing Dunce on it was put on top of Tia's head, and her modesty was also covered neck to toe with bandages, chains, and padlocks. Based on her figure, she was being forced to sit in a seiza position, to her visibly extreme discomfort. "Ooooi… Jorm… guuuys…! How long must I stay like this?"

"For the rest of your natural existence if we have to." Jorm grunted. Kira looked at all this with a frown. He was clearly upset about what happened yesterday. Even the other ghost, bar the little boy ghost, seemed unnerved. Aham calmly crossed his arms, glaring at Tia with intensity that rival that of Kira. Jorm tried to ease the situation. "Kira, I'm terribly sorry about this. It won't happen again, I promise you."

But Kira merely glared. "If this… possession thing is something to be of regular occurrence during my life in the battlefield, we need to come up with some agreement about it." Kira suddenly sat down on the floor, crossing his legs. "And we are going to talk about it, in length, right here, right now. And it starts, with a warning."

"?"

"I don't care who or what you guys are…" Kira's look suddenly darkened beyond the motion of upset. It became murderous in an instant. "…But the next time you make a puppet out of my body again, I will find a way to exterminate you all at any cost, even if I have to cut my left arm and pluck my eye out!"

Said warning was accompanied with a burst of rage and murderous will so intense, none who felt it had doubt that Kira will do everything in his power to live up to his words.

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"Eh? (Koff)" Hikari blinked her eyes in surprise. "Could you repeat that for me again? (koff)"

"As I was saying." So Sai stated with his head on the floor, witnessed by every one of the Shadowguards, all soldiers in vicinity, and a particularly shocked as well as horrified Fllay. "Please… take me as your student." He repeated confidently.

All Shadowguards were somewhat surprised with Sai's actions. Here they were in the morning, their bodies still aching after yesterday's ordeal, and then upon sight of Hikari entering the mess hall, Sai came at her like a man on a mission and then out of the blue, bowed down on his knees and brought out that request in a breath. Kira on the other hand, merely shrugged casually over his counter, having seen this one coming ever since the aftermath of Junius.

Hikari looked at Sai's bowing figure. "You're asking me to teach you in the medical arts? (koff) But I…"

"You quit. I know. You're under restraints. I understand. However, at the moment, the fact is: even restrained, your skills in that area are far superior to mine. If you cannot teach me everything, that's okay. But at least bring me to your current restrained level."

Lacus looked at Sai's bowing figure with mixed feelings. "…(koff)… I… I don't know… I dare not…"

"Hikari, a few days ago, when you saw Ms. Anna collapsed and no one seem to care, how did you feel?" Kira suddenly entered.

"Huh? (Koff) Ms. Anna? (koff) I… (koff)"

"You're not the kind of person who fret easily. Yet when those surgeons refused to let you help, you looked like you're ready to go ballistic if they keep getting in your way of helping her."

"Of course I do. (koff) Ms. Anna was on the verge of dying! (koff) You're asking me to just stand in the sideline and gave those medics a try for a botched attempt that might kill her? (Koff)"

"Wanting to help but was unable to. That's exactly the kind of feeling Sai often feel every time he saw a patient died in the Medical Ward." Kira surmised.

Hikari blinked and turned to Sai's kneeling figure.

"When… Kuzzey… a friend of ours… died… we brought his body to the ward, for autopsy and clean up for burial then cremation. He was stabbed 15 times… deep penetration. All of them barely missed his vitals. Kira said… he was still alive for roughly 20 minutes… but then he died anyway due to massive blood loss." Sai bent his head down deeper while the other remaining Shadowguards also bent their head down, mourning their lost friend, especially Kira whose face quickly darkened. "I've been trying to put myself in Kira's position. If I had been there, at his side… in the 20 minutes Kuzzey had left to live, what can I do to stop him from dying. I racked my brains out… and in the end, I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what to do, with only the ramshackle skills I've learnt."

'15 deep penetration? No vital organs were damaged? 20 minutes? I could've…' In an instant, Hikari came up with various methods of how she could approach that case and perform surgery. Net result, she came up with 15 ways to save Kuzzey in her head. When she came back to reality, she saw Sai. Still bowing before her. For a moment, Hikari felt compelled…

But then, the image of her final surgery played again in her mind. Balling her trembling fist, she mournfully and steadfastly said:

"No."

Chapter 38

Choices We Make

The shadowguards sat at the mess hall, sitting calmly on the table. Sai kept frowning, clasping his fingers in deep thought. Fllay still looked disapprovingly at Sai. Her fiancée would humbly lower his head just like that to some other girl. An Advanced girl, in fact! And this is HER fiancée she's talking about here!

After rejecting Sai's request, Hikari immediately stormed her way out of the hall before the bespectacled boy can say anything.

Kira sighed and remarked he'll follow her. So they should stay put and wait. "I'll go talk to her, see if I can knock some sense."

Not long after, Kira quickly caught up to Lacus on the edge of the battleship, gazing thoughtlessly at the sea. "Lacus."

"Kira-kun (koff)." Lacus mourned. "I can't. (koff). I… every time I think about it, I kept being reminded of that boy and his mother. (koff)"

"And what about that time when you saved Anna-san and her children? You think about it too?"

"The circumstances were different! Something like that, I was… I was…" Lacus trembling fingers grasped her rear arms. "With you… it was easy. You were immune. But… Kira… fear has grasped my heart, and it worked its way to my fingers. A single moment of pause could be the difference between life and death!"

"Fear is what makes a doctor a doctor. You said so yourself. Did you not? A fear, not only for your own skills, but more importantly, the fear of your patients' lives."

"Yes. I said that. But it is exactly in that spirit that I rejected Sai's request." Lacus sobbed. "I can tell… from the sincerity of his words… Sai truly possess the spirit of a true surgeon. He asked of me to impart him my skills so that he can help more people, save more lives. It was a great honor to me that he asked of me to become his teacher… but precisely because of that… that I cannot accept his request."

Hearing this, Kira asked slowly. "Lacus… your last surgery… that bladder removal of that child… What really happened?"

"…I don't… (koff)… I… I…" Lacus looked quite confused at herself. Before Kira can enquire further, Lacus made a motion of swiping her face and then she rushed away, leaving Kira before he can say anything.

Kira wanted to chase her, but suddenly, he heard the sound of horn call coming from far away. Lacus also stopped and listened. The horn blows again in a practiced and controlled frequency. Alliance Soldiers who recognized that sound began scurrying about the massive ship. Kira noticed all this activity and yelled at one of the soldiers. "Hey! Hey! What's going on?"

"We got an incoming ship! It's one of ours!" One of the soldiers who bothered to stop and listened to his question replied to the chef.

"One of ours…?" Kira looked back to the ocean, to the direction where the horn call was coming. The morning mist had yet to subside and it's a bit hard to see, but then, he can began to make out the shape of a ship… several of them in fact. All are approaching their way. As the ships sailed out of the mist, he can make out their shape. 40 guns on triple deck broadside, 4 frontal bowguns, double mast, and that wedge shaped hull… Alliance Battlecruiser.

Escorting said flagship on both sides, a pair of significantly smaller ship, roughly half its size, with only a single deck of smaller caliber cannons, but with double mast, and it also support a series of what looked like 4 barreled mortar, each filled with what looked like a weaponized and enlarged firecracker, each rocket half the size of a full grown man and its warhead tipped with steel, the Hellfire Mortar loaded with Helldart Rockets. Each rocket are quite capable of punching through ships' hull and destroyed anything at least twice as big as the ship's own size. Far more destructive than the mortar mounted on the skirmishers. This is the infamous Alliance Destroyer ships.

But of particular interest to Kira, is the flag that was being waved at the very top of the main mast. There are two flags. One has a black anchor, and the roman numeral of XI (11). Kira frowned. 'The flag of the Alliance's division… eleventh division… what was it? Right… the Alliance Second Navy. And that flag above it is…!' Kira gasped when he realized he recognized that flag. He saw it many, many times back in Amaterasu. "Oh no… Lacus…"

"Yes? (koff)"

"You really pick a hell of a time to visit us." Kira looked really anxious. As if on cue, Lacus can hear rapid foot stomps coming their way. Turning around, he saw Sai, Tolle, and Milly rushing towards them. Their tense eyes wide with worry, skin pale white, and lungs out of breath, all due to fright. "Kira! That ship!"

"I know!" Kira gritted his teeth. Any other time, this visit is something to be celebrated. But to Kira, to Mwu, to all who is part of this dirty little secret called Lacus Clyne, this is a disaster in the making.

Kira grabbed Hikari's hand and dragged her away, much to her surprise. "What is it Kira? (koff)."

"Allistersmith Shipwright Co. is the largest Natural ship manufacturer in the world. They produced roughly 60 percents of all the warships used by the Alliance." Suddenly Kira began to blather on about company and ships. "I need my mask."

"What? (koff) Kira, what are you talking about? (koff)" Hikari was thoroughly confused.

"Just listen! Each day, their factory churn up at least a dozen ships of varying sizes, and even with that kind of output, they're still coming about short! Because at the rate of this war going and alliance's ship being destroyed left and right, the demand is in no danger of decreasing. Where's my mask?" The more Hikari heard this, the less sense Kira made. He had this, crazed look on his eyes.

"Kira! (koff) Calm down! (koff) You're not talking sense! (koff!)"

"Listen! Because of that, if the Allistersmith Industry was ever to stop producing, Alliance Navy allover the world will be crippled like nothing else's. The Alliance knows this, and so is Zaft! For the Alliance, the head of the Company and his family were listed as VVIP, one that requires protection of the fullest. And for Zaft, the elimination of the said person was important enough that they included the name on the Logos List!" Soon they reached Kira's office, where began rummaging the room, getting changed into his Kage spare suit, minus his currently under repair Captain's coat, his weight suit set, and his missing- "Mask! I need my mask! Where is it, where is it…"

But Lacus was still as confused as ever. What does some bigshot shipwright company has to do with her? "Kira-kun!" Lacus stomped in and grabbed the manic Kira by the shoulders, holding him to see her eye to eye. "What's wrong with you? (koff) Why are you so anxious? (koff)"

Kira looked at Hikari's visor and exasperatedly stated. "Because I'm about to face a shitstorm called Lacus Clyne."

"Huh?"

Kira glared at Lacus to make his point. "You know Fllay? The hysterical redhead back there?"

"Yes…?"

"Her full name is Fllay Allister. Her father is George Allister, and he is both one of the Naval Minister of the Alliance, as well as the Owner of the Allistersmith Shipwright Co. A supporter of the Alliance as well as one of their most important ministers, and by that authority, he's also my… Kage's superior." Kira added with frantic gaze. "And that man… is on board that ship that's going to BOARD us!"

"Ara! (koff) So that's how it is! (koff) He's coming to look for her daughter!" Lacus innocently clapped her hands together. The bubbly side of her personality sprang back a little.

Kira slapped his head silly. "Look. It's a big problem. ESPECIALLY for you! Don't you understand the situation!? You're an Advanced aboard a Natural controlled battleship! That's more than enough to raise suspicion!"

"And aren't you an Advanced too?"

"Yes. But that fact is not widely known on this ship. Also, as Kage, nearly everyone think I'm a natural. You, however, are a different story. You've told just about every civilian in here that you are an Advanced! Even worse, Fllay knows it too! If Fllay opened her mouth about you to her father, which she definitely will, word of it will ultimately reach Alliance top brass, and then they'll be questioning you too and we risk your identity! Unless I came up prepared with something, they'll found out who you are, we're ALL in trouble, and my task of returning you to your family will be ridiculously harder! Now… where's my mask…" And Kira's back to frantically trudging through the mess of his office.

Lacus heard all that explanation, but she still fail to show the least bit of concern. "So… what do you propose that I do?"

"I'm saying… I think it's best if you hide yourself for a while. Don't let them see you."

"So… (koff) you're saying I have to stay hidden until his visit is done? (koff)"

"That could be a long time, I know. But please, bear with it!"

Lacus pouted, but Kira ignored it. After a while trudging inside piles and piles of papers, he found a spare mask, pitted underneath the cupboard. "Found you, you little devil. Okay…" Kira put his mask back on, doctor's orders be damned, this is an emergency. But when Kage turned around… Hikari was no longer anywhere on sight. "Now where did she… Oh no."

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Down below…

George Allister had seen a LOT of ships all his life. Zaft ships, Alliance ships, Orb's ships… he thought he had seen it all… and now he stood corrected. "Artes… have you ever seen anything like this?"

"Not even in my dreams…" the captain of the Alliance Battlecruiser Lear, Artes jaw state is exactly the same with roughly most of his crew: wide open in disbelief. Here they were. Barely a few weeks ago they intend to visit first the Amaterasu… only to be sent away by a fleet of Orb Submersible battleships under the threat of cannons: Alliance is not welcome here. They quickly made with all haste to Archangel. They were further shocked when they saw the Archangel Fortress no longer existed.

Indeed, for the crews of the Lear, it was a series of shocking news after shocking news. First: Harlbarton died in a battle of Archangel Bay. Barely recovering from the shock, the second shock came: Goud Veia, the infamous immortal master swordsman of Zaft was killed in that same battle. The killer was a new face who, immediately, to a less shocking degree, made one of the Blacklist Captains almost immediately. A shinobi by the name of Kage, with a record breaking Debut Bounty of 300,000,000. And then came the news of how the Archangel was attacked by two invasion forces from Zaft, and the fortress was destroyed, but the 7th division managed to escape to the sea, whereas said Zaft army were massacred by the Samurais for their transgressions, almost down to a single man.

More than the concern over the destruction of the Archangel fortress, George had all but given up of ever finding what happened to her beloved daughter after that final news. But a chance encounter with a Zaft Knight who survived the battle – albeit thoroughly mentally shaken – revealed the existence of a battleship, one gigantic battleship the size of a fortress that nearly wiped out the entire Carpentarian fleet. Normally this would constitute the ramblings of a mad man. However, the facts are: A battleship the size of a fortress appeared at roughly the same time as a fortress being destroyed. As impossible as it may sound, any idiot can put two to two together, and George's hope was rekindled.

Several days searching at the sea, the crow nest finally caught sight of a massive object in the middle of the ocean, and they set sail there in all due haste.

And now that they've arrived… they saw the facts are indeed facts… and they still can't believe something this big can actually float.

The Lear quickly docked on the underside of the gigantic catamaran, alongside with the other existing three battleships.

The first to welcome George was Murrue, Mwu, and Canard. "Welcome, Mr. Allister. What an honor." Mwu, making an effort to make his tone sound as calm as possible, welcomed the Minister as he came down the boarding plank, escorted by a squad of Elite Troopers.

"The honor's mine, Mwu La Flagga… and Murrue Ramias, yes? And Canard? I'm truly sorry about Harlbarton."

Canard merely snarled a smile. "Well… welcome to our new fucking huge but humble abode of the 7th division."

Artes winced at the coarse language, but George wave it off, knowing the foul mouthed man's habit. "And may I say… this is one magnificent ship you have here!" George smiled warmly as he set foot on Archangel's underside dock.

"Thanks, but… in all perfect honesty? This ship ain't ours." Mwu remarked.

"Yes. I know." George nodded, knowing full well what and who Mwu meant. "I would very much like to see him."

"He's a bit… preoccupied right now." Mwu gulped. "But I'll definitely make sure you two meet."

"Much appreciated." And then George went straight to another matter at hand. "Mwu… one more thing. I heard that you went to Amaterasu, and you were there when it was destroyed. You wouldn't happen to have seen my daughter, have you not?"

Mwu and Murrue paled slightly. They should've seen this one coming a mile away. "Actually…" Mwu started with a sour face… before, in a style of a true prankster, breaking into wide smile upon seeing something. "We've been seeing her a little too often." Mwu cued the elder Allister by pointing a finger to his back to show him what exactly he had seen.

"PAPA!" Fllay, half blinded by tears rushed in and jumped at her father's unprepared arms.

"Fllay!" In a single moment, shock, relief, and more than anything else, boundless joy overwhelmed the Elder Allister. "Oh, my dear sunshine. My red rose. You're safe. Oh, thank God. Thank God!" The relieved father embraced her daughter tightly, never wanting to let go.

"Papa! Papa!" The girl kept crying, calling out her father, tears free flowing from her closed eyes.

George quickly regained his composure, though he's still understandably overjoyed. But it was then he noticed several more familiar faces: "Sai? Sai Argyle? Is that you?"

"It's been awhile, Allister-san." Sai smiled seeing his future father in law. It was George who put Fllay in Amaterasu for her safety. Then, from time to time, George would often pay a visit to see her daughter, and from there, the Minister became acquainted with the whole gang. When he saw the flag of the Allistersmith Co. on the ship, Sai knew right away that Fllay's father was on board. And if nothing else, the said man would've wanted to know of what becomes of her daughter first thing on the table. Sai imagine that with so many things happening, the family man would've started to fear the worst had come to pass to her daughter with Amaterasu destroyed. Nothing would allay his fear better than the sight of her daughter in the flesh.

For George's part, seeing his future son in law and his friends bringing her daughter to him was truly like a boon from heaven. However, as his composure returned, he started seeing things that seem… seriously wrong. Last he saw them barely a year ago, Sai Argyle had always said he would like to be a surgeon. Tolle Koenig was a well mannered boy who would always make him laugh his brains out at how he play childish tricks that annoys her daughter to no end. Mirriallia Haww, his girlfriend, would always scold him for it. Together with Kuzzey Buskirk and the mild mannered Kira Yamato, they were the model of teenage innocence.

But now, he could barely recognize them as that innocent image seem had faded. All three of them, without exception, bear weapons at their heft with practiced casualness like it was another limb, with Sai holding on to a spear, a pair of swords rested on Tolle's back, and Mirriallia carry a longbow with a set of arrows on her waist. Their faces, smiling to him as it may, was now marred with scars from the worst horrors of war. And finally, their clothes. Differing in design and features, they are all invariably black, with loose collars around their neck being another common feature. It horrifyingly matched their current equipment so well, he felt like he was watching a dark parody of their earlier civilian selves.

"Sai, Tolle, Milly. So good to see you as well." George smiled uneasily. "But… w… what are you guys wearing? Why are you all so armed?" And then he realized some people are missing from the usual gang he sees. "Where's that chubby young boy… Kuzzey Buskirk, wasn't it? And that young man… the cook… Kira Yamato. Where are they?

Sai's smile faltered somewhat, while the other's look darkened significantly. "How should I break this to you… many things had happened after Amaterasu was destroyed. And it's a very long story."

"Well…" George snickered calmly. "It is fortunate that I have a long day ahead of me then."

'That's what we're worried about…' All who are privy to the secret identity of Hikari swallowed a gulp.

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Panic is the one word best to describe Kage right now. Jumping from rooftop to rooftop, his eyes wildly swiveled left and right, searching for a certain bubbly headed pink haired Witch; AKA personal shitstorm; AKA his numero uno arch nemesis; AKA someone he would choose to die over an army of Undead, before she put herself, and him, to an even bigger mess than they are already in. Frantically searching every room, every nook and cranny, Kage became more desperate with each failed search and each moment that passed. And so, he was ill prepared to face another bomb that came his way.

Said bomb goes by the name of an angry and half sane Gino.

"KAAAAAAGEEEEE!" A worse for wear Gino suddenly came charging, barring his way and catch the preoccupied Kage unaware. Holding him by the neck, the taller of the two lifted him off his feet and slammed him to a wall.

"Gino! What are you doing!?"

"KAGE! I DEMAND AN EXPLANATION!"

"Ex… Explanation? What are you talking about? I don't have time for this!"

But Gino insist that Kage MAKE time as he tightened his grip on Kage's neck. "Why? WHY IS SHE HERE!?"

"She? Who… are you talking about?"

"She… My… Why…" now that Kage noticed it, Gino looked more delirious than angry. Gino realized he was so tense he's having a hard time making any sense. But he was so lost, so confused, it took every ounce of his self control to spout the clear question: "Why is Karren here?"

"Karren?" Kage was as confused as he ever gonna get. The Captain frowned, remembering the red haired one armed Sword Breaker. Seeing Gino's flustered look, his quick witted mind immediately remembered Gino's tale back in Junius. That thing about founding only a finger, and the fact that the said Sword breaker is indeed an arm short, and Kira put things together. "Oh my God… that maid you told me about… is Karren!?"

Gino's crazed widened eyes stared in horror, not at the Ninja in his arm, but at the scenery that happened just yesterday, right after he found what becomes of his one time lover.

Flashback:

"W… What are you doing here!?"

The two former couple echoed.

"Karren…? Karren is that really you!?" Gino's jaw was hung open as his throat instantly dried.

"Gino? W… Why are you here!?"

Gino's eyes were quickly transfixed at Karren's missing arm, now a prosthetic weapon. "Oh my God… your arm… they did that to you… didn't they?"

Karren's shock quickly turned into murderous rage. "YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Roaring murder, the red head charged and slammed her claws at Gino's neck, smashing him down to the floor, her blades pinned at Gino's neck.

"Karren…" Gino didn't offer any resistance, only staring in horror at the blood thirst in her eyes. "Karren… I… Why… what happened to you!?"

"Now you care!?" Karren hissed. "After all this time? All the shit you put me through? Now you care!?"

"Karren…" Gino gritted his teeth in sorrow. "I thought you were dead! They told me you were dead!"

Karren's fury and murderous glare didn't fade the least bit. Her claw sank a notch deeper, slowly began to cut through Gino's neck.

"I… didn't know! Karren, I didn't know you were still…" Gino moaned helplessly, ignoring the blood that began to trickle on his neck. "I swear-"

"SWEAR TO ME!" Karren pressed her claws deeper, blood began to spurt and marred her claws. And still Gino offer no resistance at all.

"I… swear… to you… I didn't… know! I looked… allover for you… I… couldn't found you… Karren… I…"

Karren was just one handpress away from beheading Gino, but her former lover didn't seem to care that his head will roll. And upon seeing his devastated eyes, the red head finally pulled her weapon back. Heaving up and down at the downed Gino, still staring at her in disbelief and horror, Karren gritted her teeth. For one thing, she's every bit as confused as Gino at their current circumstances.

"Karren…" Gino pleaded. "Please… listen…"

But Karren would have no more of this for today. Go any further and she'll lose her mind, no mistake. She turned away and began to leave, running like her life depended on it.

"Karren, wait!" as Gino's throat began to recover, his pleading became louder.

But the louder he plead, the faster she ran.

"Karren! Listen to me! Karren!" Gino called her. He wanted to chase her, but his legs suddenly gave in.

For Karren's part, she ran as fast as her legs can carry her. Hoping the moving wind will deafen her ear and blow away this horrifying nightmare away to no avail. Alas, Gino's yell seem amplified in her ears by her horror, bringing her back to reality.

"Karren! KARREN!" Gino yelled in vain as Karren's figure soon vanished at a turn of the alleyway. "KARREN!"

Flashback Ends.

"I didn't know, Gino." Kage admitted the truth. "I've been a captain of this Division for only several weeks, she was already a member of the Juppongatana when I get the post!"

Gino pant and gasped, staring at Kage's eyes, searching for truth. He found only shock and anxiety. Gino finally let go. But he was clearly still shaken at this revelation. Any other time, Kage would be compelled to sympathize, but now is not the time. "Look. You two had a past and a score to settle, I can understand that, and I sympathize, but NOW is not the time. We got a situation here, and I may need your help!"

"Si… Situation?" Gino flabbergasted.

"Lacus' missing."

Upon hearing that, Gino instantly focused. "Missing? How can she be missing!?"

"You know how whimsical she is! But that's not the problem. The problem is: right now, we got a HIGH ranking Alliance Minister here! And when I mean here, I mean HERE on this VERY ship! And when I mean high, I mean right side collar high! If they found out about the princess…"

Gino's current concern of his recently rediscovered lover went out of the window in an instant. Kage was making a clear reference to the Logos List typically sewed to the right side collar of every Knight.

"Oh my God…"

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In stark contrast to Kage's panicked state, Hikari gingerly hopped from one rooftop to another in the civilian area at the central super structure, humming a tune to herself as she did. Sometimes she even waved at the civilians who caught sight of her. However, it was in the midst of her joy walk she caught sight of a red haired girl, with an eye catching claw for a prosthetic. But more than anything, she looked… distraught.

Intrigued, Hikari approached her.

Karren wasn't sure how she remained sane as she was after that thing yesterday. 'Impossible… how could HE's here? What's going on here?' Karren clasped her face with her clawed hand. The event that transpired on that snowy night played again over and over again. Their laughing faces, her cries… and then the searing pain when they took their 'memento' from her… she thought she had forgotten all of that.

"Is something wrong? (koff)"

Karren blinked. She turned and saw the armored girl staring at her quite intently. Karren blinked several times in bewilderment. Come to think of it, she had heard that there are two new faces on board. One, she just met… the other one… was said to be their Captain's very own girlfriend. The red head twitched in slight when seeing the girl's full coverage armor.

"…are you hurt? (Koff)" Hikari tilted her head.

"No." Karren muttered back as she fidgeted her prosthetic nervously. "You are… Hikari? Right? Kage's… Girlfriend?"

"Yep. (koff)" Hikari nodded. "And you must be… Karren-san right? I had heard you're the only girl in the Juppongatana. (Koff) Pleased to meet you. (koff)"

Karren shook her head. "Never thought a guy like that can have a girlfriend."

Hikari snorted. "Well… he's a piece of work, I'll give you that. (Koff)" Hikari tilted her head. "Are you sure are you alright? (koff) For a moment there, you looked like you're in extreme pain. (koff)"

"It's nothing." Karren groaned. She's not so keen to talk about her messed up her love-life to some random girl. "It's…"

"…The prosthetic?" Hikari took the initiative.

Karren blinked and looked at Hikari. "What?"

"Does the prosthetic hurting you? (koff)" Hikari noted. "You've been holding on to it all the time with pained expression. (Koff) it must be hurting you, right? (koff)"

"It's okay." Karren frowned. "It doesn't really hurt much."

"But it's still hurts you. (koff) The point of prosthetic is to replace a lost limb, not to hurt the wearer. (koff) If it hurts you than that means something is misaligned. (koff) May I? (koff)"

Karren blinked several times. "You…?"

"Relax. (koff) I'm a… (koff)…" Hikari frowned, but she finally said it in a peep. "I'm a doctor."

Karren was still skeptical, but she finally conceded and handed her claw to Hikari. "Be careful. It's heavy." Indeed it was that even Hikari needed both hands to lift it up. It's a crude prosthetic, but it's made of metal, with swords for fingers. Weapons aside, it's a good sturdy prosthetic. A coil based mechanism, controlled by movements of the elbow allow the user to clench said fingers. Hikari checked the spot where the limb and the prosthetic connects. "Hmmm… (koff) I need to see your stump. (Koff) Do you mind? (koff)"

Any other person, and Karren would've killed anyone who dare to ask that of her. But with this girl… she doesn't seem to have any bad intentions. And so Karren unraveled the bandages that covered her stump. She lost over ¾ of her forearm, leaving a conical stump just above her elbow, covered in grizzly scars.

Hikari nodded. "Now I see the problem. (Koff) the shape of the connecting spot doesn't follow the shape of your stump, it's too shallow. (koff) That's why it didn't give a stable connection. (koff) The clamp's also too tight. (koff)"

Karren scoffed. "I like it tight. It made me easier to rip my enemies apart."

Hikari chuckled nervously. "Let me readjust it a little… (koff)." Hikari began carving some of the stuffing from the prosthetic out, much to Karren's initial surprise. But then, Hikari began to measure and put the stuffing back in, but this time, a little more careful and more measured and of appropriate amount. Hikari helped Karren put the prosthetic back, and she loosen the clamps. The Red haired girl quickly tried moving it up and down. The claws open and close several times and indeed, it hurt her no more.

"Wow. You're really are good at this." Karren had to admit she really knew what she's doing. And the clamps are no longer so tight and yet the prosthetic felt so securely fastened in her arm.

"The clamp never had to be so tight. (koff) Empty the fillings a little and more can come in, making a perfect fit. (koff)"

"I'll take your advice for it."

"Human heart is the same you know? (koff)"

Karren's eyes widened.

"If you keep your questions and confusions inside you, all you get is questions that you may not have the answer for. (koff)" Hikari smiled. "And when you try to answer them in a confused state (koff) you may end with the wrong answer and the wrong conclusion. (koff) Sometimes, the best answer is simply to throw it all away. (koff) Empty what's already in your head so that you can get new, better perspectives. (koff) Empty the fillings so that you can accept more. (koff)"

Karren blinked several times. 'Is she preaching me?' "Don't you mean empty the cup? The Chinese used to say something like that."

"Two languages, same meaning, same wisdom." Hikari nodded. "But if you kept everything that's already inside your head, using only facts that you put together yourself, who's to say you'll end up with the right conclusion?"

"I got my conclusions! I know what I see, what I feel!"

"Then why are you so confused right now?"

Karren gasped.

"I'll tell you why." Lacus continued. "Because right now, you suddenly realized that even you were not sure if what you've seen, felt, heard, smelled, or touched are really is the truth. There are gaps. Holes that you initially filled with your own conclusion, and now that you've realized your conclusion, you fillings were wrong, you removed it, and now the hole is back, you just don't know how to fill it right." Hikari added with a chuckle. "Just like how I had to fix your fillings just now. (koff)"

"What do you know about me girl!? We've never even met until today!"

"Hey, my fillings about you are practically empty. I'm only using what I think I saw to come up with my own conclusions, based on my own experiences and my own prejudices. For all I know they could be wrong. So if you wanted to fill me in… well, like I said: my fillings are empty."

"You…" Karren gaped. But then, she looked stumped for a few tens of seconds… and then… "Pfftt… Ahahahahahahaa!" She laughed for all her worth.

"?" Hikari tilted her head, happy that the red haired girl's mood improved, confused on why she laughed.

When Karren finished laughing, she looked at the armored doctor. "Ahaha… aha… Empty my fillings eh?" 'Goodness gracious… this girl.' "Let me ask you first… are you stalking me girl?"

"Stalking you…!? Ahahahaha! Oh, no, heavens no. Now why would I wanna do that? I don't swing that way!" Hikari laughed. "Let's just say… It doesn't take a genius to see that you have a lot of problem bottled up inside you. And for the record, I'm… no mean to sound arrogant, but I found out that I'm actually pretty good… at what I do. Patching people up. Physically, mentally."

"Really? That's funny. Because from the way you talk just now, you don't sound too confident about yourself?" And now it's her turn to look intently at Hikari.

Hikari chuckled. "I guess so. I can patch other people… funny thing is… I can't even patch myself up." Hikari sorrowfully looked at her armored hand.

Karren saw this, and she suddenly realized. "That suit. You wear it… hiding your identity… but… it's not out of choice right?"

Hikari chuckled. "We have our little problems… don't we all?"

"Indeed. But for all it's worth, I can now somehow see how you and Kage would make a good match." Karren chortled.

"Huh?" Lacus blinked.

"You both loved to preach." Karren grinned. "Personally I think it's a bit irritating." She quickly added. "But… it's irritating because I know it is right."

"Karren-san… what's right is very rarely what's easy."

"Yeah. Ain't that a bitch?"

And suddenly, a loud crash sounded from right behind them. They turned and saw Kage just landed on the ground with this maniacal eyes and foam seeping out of the seams of his mask. "Found… You~!"

"Ara, Kage-kun! (Koff)"

"Taichou?"

"HIKARI! You… are… in BIG TROUBLE!" Roaring, Kage lunged at the armored Girl, but Hikari easily dodged his angry charge and jumped to the sky, landing on the rooftop. The masked captain immediately gave chase. But Hikari merely laughed and jumped away, yelling: "Karren-san! (koff) See you again later! (koff)"

"Haa…" Karren waved back dumbly.

"You're not getting away! TAKA! NOW!" Kage gave the signal.

Hikari blinked.

"I'm sorry my lady!" Taka suddenly came right behind her, trying to grab the girl. Alas, at the last second, Hikari vanished from his sights, leaving nothing but thin air. "Wha-?" Caught by surprise, Taka lost balance and fell off the ledge. "Wha… Wha… WAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Crash.

And Taka fell head down right in front of Karren.

Up above Hikari snickered and then she jumped away again. "WHY YOUUUUU!" Kage quickly gave chase, stomping on Taka's useless ass as a stomping ground to jump.

Taka quickly got up but then he caught sight of Karren, and he once again forgotten about the crisis at hand. "Karren!" Gino looked like he's about to rush in again but Karren suddenly barked.

"Don't come closer!" Karren snapped, halting Gino in his tracks.

"Karren, please… listen to me-"

"NO! YOU listen to me! I don't know what to believe! But I certainly I know I can't believe you! Not after… after what they…" Karren gritted her teeth.

Gino blinked. What exactly did his family do to her? For all he knows, he thought they had at least mutilated her. And ultimately they' would've killed her. But they didn't. Which left him with only images of the worst atrocities anyone can do to a woman. "Karren… they…!"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Karren screeched. Almost desperately. "Just… Shut up!" And that's her final word. She turned tail and run, leaving Gino, more miserable than ever.

00000000000000

Meanwhile, the cat and mouse game between Kage and Hikari continued across one roof to another.

Down below, still unaware of what's going on, Sai take it upon himself to become George's guide.

"And that's how it is." Sai had just finished the explanation the circumstances of what they are now: no longer civilian or even children. Kuzzey died. They are now an elite fighting unit, Kage's personal squad, the Shadowguard.

"And they're not just some run on the mill soldier either! While their Captain dealing with a 100,000 soldier with only 400 men, they go toe to toe with 40,000 Knights all at once!" Mwu further added a detail that Sai didn't bother explaining. Needless to say, that little detail awed everyone who had not seen the Shadowguards in action. The troopers who never even dreamed of doing a battle with that kind of odd looked at the Shadowguards in disbelief. "Seriously?" "40,000?" "You've gotta be joking…" "Those kids?" "Their captain's no slouch either!" "100,000 vs 400?" "Are you kidding me?"

The only one who did not show one jot of awe and admiration is George. Contrary to what Mwu might expect, instead of being impressed, the man was horrified and looked at the Shadowguard in disapproval. He darkly glared at Mwu. "Mwu. Since when Child Soldier was allowed in the Alliance Army?"

"Ah…" Mwu's smile faded completely, replacing with his true expression: mournful. "Circumstances were… pressing… at the time."

"Pressing? Mwu! I knew these children before they put weapons in their hands! They should've been worried more about warts, dating, girlfriends, hanging out, puberty… not their very survival!"

"Allister-san, it's okay." Sai step forward. "We chose this."

"NO you're not! You have circumstances forced upon you!" George looked exasperatedly at Sai and his friends. "You don't have a choice. A fair choice!" George looked at Mwu. "Officially they're enlisted as Kage's men, yes? Good. I changed my mind. I won't wait any longer; I'd like to see him right now. Where is he?" George start marching away. Mwu quickly tried to stop him.

"Ah… wait…"

But before anything can be done, a loud crash suddenly occurred on the roof, coupled with a series of shouts and hullabaloos.

"I got you now you naughty bitch! Be a good girl and come here or you'll be in a WORLD of hurt!"

"No way! (koff) I'm a bad, BAD girl you know! (Koff) Nyahahahaha!"

"Why you lit'l…! RAAAHHH!"

A loud crash later, and suddenly the roof just above forward where the elder Allister was standing collapsed, and something went through it in a cascade of rubble and dust. The troopers, in a practiced discipline, charged forward ahead of George, Dagger rifles at the ready to shoot.

"Urgh… (koff)" A distorted moan came out from amidst the rubble with a familiar raspy breathings.

Fllay recognized the sound and quickly scurry behind her father's back. George looked at his little girl's peculiar behavior in curiosity.

Once the dust settled, everyone get a look on an armored being. Covered head to toe with something similar to a samurai armor, but has been completely modified with various tubes and canisters… as well as skin tight body suit that clearly showed cleavage and woman curvy figure. "Itetete… (koff) Sheesh! (koff) You shouldn't have jumped like that. (Koff)"

"Huh?" The Troopers who are unfamiliar with the said armored female doctor gaped.

But to the Shadowguards, to Mwu, and Murrue… it felt like apocalypse just fell on their heads.

Hikari, still unaware of her predicament, looked around, searching for her hide and seek companion. "Kage? (koff) Kage? (koff) Where are you? (koff)"

"Mmm…"

Hikari cringed when she felt something moved beneath her. She looked down… and saw Kage's face… buried beneath her groin. Worse, the dust has completely settled, and the rubles were out of the way, giving everyone an eyeful.

Everyone jawdropped.

"Kage… kun? (koff)"

"Getff off myff headff!" Kage mumbled, inadvertently rubbing Hikari's groin.

"A~ah!" Hikari moaned.

Needless to say, everyone's jawdrop is now coupled with blush… and a little perverted thoughts on the side…

Moments later…

A very nervous and pale Kage finally meet with George, elderly face to masked face.

And the still pleasantly happy and seemingly clueless Hikari stood behind Kage on his left. And a rather confused Canard, standing on his right as a lieutenant should be. And if even Kage was nervous, scared to six feet under would be the best description to depict the state of his loyal and supposedly fearless Shadowguards.

"Allister-san. Pleased to meet you." Kage shook hands with the Allister Sr. before he crossed his arms.

"Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Kage. May I call you that?"

"Suit yourself." Kage nodded.

"And this charming armored lady here is?" George politely referred to the armored girl.

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Allister. (koff) Call sign: Hikari. (koff)" Hikari lifted her skirt armor in courtesy. "I'm Kage's girlfriend. (koff)"

Everyone jaw dropped. Kage merely slapped his head. George merely snickered nervously and then returned his focus on Kage. "I was just about to take a tour on this ship. It's truly a nautical marvel. You have an amazing ship in your hands."

"It's not…" Kage murmured.

"Sorry?"

The ninja repeated a tad louder. "It's NOT my ship."

"Oh?" George blinked.

"This ship belongs to Orb. We STOLE it. We're just lucky that we got away with it." Kage reiterated in a firm, whispery and yet stern tone that unnerved those who never heard the masked captain spoke. Except perhaps Fllay, who still consider said captain is as creepy as ever, and so she hid deeper behind her father's back. "That's why, I may be using it right now, but I fully intend to return it to Orb. First chance I get."

"Ah, yes, well…" the Shipwright magnate was also unnerved by his tone, he flabbergasted for a moment. But then, he observed Kage's stature. Judging by his height and what little he can see, he can nevertheless safely assumed, to his disbelief, that this 'Kage' is roughly of the same age group with that of his Shadowguards. "Forgive me for asking… How… urm… How old are you, Mr. Kage?"

"That's classified." Kage answered short. He doesn't want to sound so rude. But if they know that he's of the same age group with that of his friends, they might start having suspicions. He doesn't need that right now.

Everyone gaped. Artes, irritated, quickly interjected. "Pardon me, but aren't you a bit rude? This here is Mr. George Allister. One of the highest minister of the Alliance. That's to say, he's your superior, seeing that you are a soldier of the Alliance. You are amongst friends here, shouldn't you at least be polite enough to show us who you really are?"

"Artes!" George scolded. "It's alright! I really don't mind."

Kage's composure slowly began to return. "To not show one's face to your seniors in a formal talk like this. This Kage understand the tenets and rules of courtesy, and for that, I apologize for my impoliteness." Kage bowed his head down. "However, right now, this mask is the only thing that protects you from retribution over all the carnage I've wrought. If any of you knew the face behind this mask, you'll be target of some of the most vicious bounty hunters in the world, not including the entire military might of Zaft. Your charge…" Kage pointed at George."Doesn't need another target painted on the back of his head." Once again, Kage's kind and gentle whispery reply startled the listeners. He looked at Artes to make his next point. "You say we are amongst friends, but who's to say there are none amongst those friends of yours who are not spies to those who could gain from knowing my identity?"

"B… But… Captain Mwu here is also a shinobi like you. And he has no qualms of showing his face to us."

"I know. But a Shinobi has many masks. Mwu wear his mask to hide in plain sight. Mine just take a more literal sense." Kage rubbed his mask. "Allister-san. You have a family. You hid your daughter in Amaterasu, in Orb, knowing she will be safe there. Wasn't it because you don't want your reputation and unwanted fame as a supporter of the Alliance whose priority had grown high enough to be included in the Logos list to draw danger upon her? You know you can be killed at any time. I don't need to tell you the comforts of having your enemy knew less about you, do I?"

Artes gulped. While George merely chuckled. "True. Very true. I go through dozens of fake names just to get by various ports. Which… at this juncture… brings to one of my main point of concern… regarding your Shadowguards."

"My Shadowguards?"

"Mr. Kage, I don't know if you know, but I know these children before they became what they are today. And I-"

"Alright. Stop right there." Kage suddenly interjected and raised his hand. He had seen this one coming. In fact, he was hoping for it. "Mr. Allister, will you be staying long here?"

"I…" George looked at her daughter. Kage had brought back the issue of her daughter's safety. Now that Orb's doors were closed, he'll need to think of a new safe place for his family, and given the sort of enemies a man of his stature had amassed, that could be a while. "Yes, I suppose so."

"Hm. Thought as much. Canard, Shadowguards, why don't you guys take Mr. Artes and his crew to some place where they can rest?"

"Hrng, they're Alliance Regulars. They shouldn't mind sleeping in sheet covered iron plate right?" Canard smirked and motioned the other Jupongatana to see to it.

Artes and everyone understand of course, that for some reasons that involved the Shadowguards, Kage had the need to talk things out with George Allister, in private. They're used to be left out during a private talk between their superiors, but this time they're a bit reluctant to leave their charge alone with this shady character.

"Shall we go to the Captain's office?" Kage jerked his thumb up, referring to the bridge tower. "You can have a brief tour of this ship while you're at it."

"Why, yes I would love that."

"…and perhaps your daughter can go with Sai? You know well that she'll be safe with him and on this ship. You can see her later at your leisure."

George doesn't really mind to this one bit… but Fllay clearly does. Her need to stay with her father as long as possible far outweighs her fear of Kage. She tightened her hug on George's arm, and the elder man can only smile nervously, rubbing his cheek at his daughter's antique. "Fllay-dear…" George barely started, but Fllay quickly interjected. "NO! I haven't seen you for nearly a year! I want to stay here."

"Your father and I are going to discuss something private and confidential. I can't afford someone unrelated and untrustworthy to get involved."

"Unrelated? Untrustworthy!? He's my father! I'm his daughter!" Fllay defended. "He can trust me! Right, Papa?" She looked with pleading puppy dog eyes at her father.

"Maybe your father trusted you. But I don't." Kage remarked coldly. The problem with George, as far as Kira knew him, is that he's good honest businessman and a family person… but he spoils his daughter a little too much. Net result: Fllay's not used to hear 'no' in the face. That be the case, there's a first time in everything. "I'm sorry to be blunt, but I'm afraid she had to go."

George was stumped upon hearing the Shinobi's blunt answer, whilst Fllay glared angrily at Kage, but Kage's calm and stern fierce gaze was still as frightening to her as ever, and she quickly receded. Still, she won't let go of her father's arm. George was also quite in a bit of a hassle. This Kage turn out to be quite strict and stubborn. "Why can't my daughter come with me, Mr. Kage, even if our meeting were of highly sensitive matter? She's my daughter, and to be honest, most of the time I took her in some of my meetings, she really didn't understand some of the more complicated matters conversed during such meetings."

"Problem is, the sensitive matter we will discuss isn't that complicated, and I believe she's not that dumb that she can't understand. Worse, she had proven herself of being unable to keep her mouth shut." Everyone winced. "The last time she heard of a sensitive matter, the first thing she did was foolishly spreading it around to all the civilians. We nearly had a mass riot on our hands which may result in civilian blood in my men's hands and conscious. So, no. I'm sorry; I just couldn't even trust your daughter with a simple duty of a post-woman."

Any other guy, Fllay would've been incredibly furious at such a blatant condescension, but her fear of Kage diminish all forms of anger, leaving her a very upset girl with tears began to fell on her eyes. And suddenly, the atmosphere became really weird. The troopers weren't sure what to do, seeing this is not even their concern. But the red head need to decide whether she's more afraid of Kage or she needs a glue to stick herself even tighter to her father.

The awkward situation was solved with one head-slap to Kage's crown from Hikari's omnipresent, omnipotent, all powerful Harisen Supreme.

SLAP

Kage glared at Hikari.

"Kage. (koff) I'll say this one for you: (koff) you're way too heartless. (koff) And an asshole to boot." Hikari tapped her Harisen. "Some guy you are, (koff): making a girl cry (koff) trying to part her from her father. (koff) A father she hadn't seen for nearly a year for God's sake! (koff)"

"Some of us never even saw our father all their life." Kage retorted with a glare. "I'm sure she can handle 20-30 minutes."

"Not on my watch. (koff)" But Hikari was adamant. "Your daughter can come, Mr. Allister. (koff) We don't mind. (koff)"

"I DO mind!"

SLAP! Protest silenced with another head slap and an "Oompf!" from Kage.

"Now listen! This is serious."

SLAP! "And so is this. (koff)" Hikari menacingly pointed her harisen at Kage's head, glaring at him as she did.

"But…"

SLAP! "No buts! (koff)"

"And what are you going to do about it if I keep saying no!?"

SLAP! "I'll keep hitting you. (Koff)"

"I'm the CAPTAIN here!"

SLAP! "And I'm your girlfriend. (koff)"

Kage and Hikari engaged once again in a glaring contest.

It was ended abruptly when Canard took it upon himself to grab Fllay by the waist and drag her away from her startled father. Kage blinked in amusement whereas Hikari grunted. "Lieutenant-san! (koff)"

"This ain't democracy, doc." Canard grunted. He's siding with his captain on this one. "This is military. Army discipline applies to everyone, even the Boss' little girl."

"And that also applies to you." Kage followed with a glare to Hikari and a hiss. "Especially to you since you're my girlfriend. It was all fun and games before, but now, this is where it ends. Tolle, Milly! Escort the Good Doctor to the wards. If she resist, bring her to the brig." And then Kage turned to Sai. "And Sai, get your girlfriend under control. Or I will."

This time, Kage's commanding presence seem to overwhelm even Hikari's all calming childishness and Fllay's fright of Kage finally won her own desires. Sai took the weakened Fllay from Canard without much effort, Milly and Tolle gently pulled Hikari back by the shoulder. Now that the two problems are out of the way, Kage motioned the minister to follow him.

00000000000000

Meanwhile, somewhere in the ocean…

Advanced is superior to Naturals in every way. Strength, speed, intelligence… they even have special powers to boot. And most of all, they live longer. Life expectancy of Naturals is probably around 100 at the oldest. Advanced can probably live about 50 years longer. Now, don't start about a particular few hundred years old immortal swordsman; that just ain't fair. Regardless, old age came to everyone, naturals or Advanced. And with old age also came deterioration. Deterioration in strength, mental capabilities, physical stamina, etc, etc. To naturals, reach 40 and already the toll start to show. 50 and above… (AN: in such times) and even the most diehard military man would have no choice but to retreat back to desk job. With the Advanced, the same thing happened though at a much later stage and a much slower rate of decline. An Advanced at 40 would still have the physical capability of a 30 year old. Hit 60, and still an Advanced is combat capable, albeit slightly reduced.

But hit 90… like Marco Morassim does… and signs will start to show, whether one like it or not. But… when you are an Advanced… more specifically a zoan… old age came slow, and retirement is hell. Truly, even though Marco felt like he can go on for another 20 to 30 years or so… his graying red beard says otherwise. And while he insists that he can still serve, the higher ups think differently. When the legendary Knightmaster Ray Yuki perished unexpectedly in Junius, someone equally skilled… or at least more experienced than him had to fill his empty spot as an instructor. Veia was right out, as his split personality is a liability and he's devoted to the way of the sword, and so they get what they thought the second best option: him. On paper, he's to guard the borders of the Empire aboard the Jachin Due. But spending his days guarding the ocean on top gigantic Regalia is definitely not his idea of spending his twilight years. Watching reports of how young knights barely a quarter your age fumbling at missions that you could've done single handedly when you were their age with your eyes closed is also grating his frustration.

How things would've went differently if he were there. Such thoughts crossed his minds every time he received reports of mission failure at his desk. Things were no different even when the reports that came in were reports of victory and success. Somehow, he would always found a flaw… or two. Perhaps that's what the higher ups were counting on. Find error, fix error, get better. Simple. Perhaps things would've been better, if only Marco enjoyed this particular task. Problem is, he don't. Until he was suddenly overloaded with reports of the worst death rate he had ever seen in years since the Bloody Valentine. Bladebanes were nearly purged with only a few senior knights left, tens of thousands of knights returned home afflicted with diseases, half of which will not survive the trip home, and then several tens thousands, slaughtered by Samurais… the rest were arrested and condemned. ALL this… in a span of a little over a week. As if that weren't enough shock, the one in command of the army at that disastrous conflict was none other than Raww Le Klueze.

It's a general knowledge that Marco and Raww never get along. It was said that before Raww arrived, Marco was slated to be seated as one of the Hakutenkun. But the coming of the masked man changed everything. Despite the vast differences in their age, Raww's career rise, in comparison to Marco's own achievement, has been nothing short of meteoric. Perhaps the second brightest strategic mind the empire has ever seen after Lenore Zala, Raww also possess that unnatural prowess in combat that belies his usual calm and calculating nature. An Elemental Knight of fire the instant he was accepted in the academy, and in 2 short years, he was a Hakutenkun, ridiculing Marco's livelong hardwork. A rumor circulate that this choice was due more to Raww's age and youthfulness in comparison to Marco. And yet, despite Marco's best effort to surpass the masked knight, Raww's intelligence was soon outshone by Lennore's progeny, Athrun Zala, a brat barely a quarter even Marco's own age. To his further shock, Raww even humbled himself and had taken classes with said boy. Perhaps Raww did not mean it, but to Marco, it's like adding insult to injury, and the relationship between the two, at least from Marco's standpoint, has been anything but friendly, their enmity kept in check by Raww's string of successes and the fact they're both stood on a same side.

And so the news of Raww's disastrous defeat was the final straw. Marco immediately filed his resignation as Instructor, and before the higher ups can respond with a no, he already left with his fleet of veteran naval warriors. Marco really couldn't care less what they think. He is Marco Morassim. Veteran Water Knight of a thousand battles. He will never be below those upstart younglings!

Three weeks since he left the Zaft waters, and then the spotters saw a battlecruiser with two Destroyer escorts having been hailed off by Orb's submarine battleships. It bear the flag of the 11th division. If that was all, and it would've been enough to dispel any suspicion, and Marco would've simply ignored it. However, call it gut instinct honed from a thousand battles, the aging warrior felt there's something more. Enough that he ordered his fleet to follow said particular ship from a distance.

And then, the ships seem to have noticed something as moments later, there's a lot of activity on the deck, and a flag was lifted… one that bears the Allistersmith company logo! Aboard that ship, there's one member of the Logos list! Marco's crews couldn't be more excited.

"My lord! My Lord! This is a great chance! A Logos! A member of Logos is on board that ship!"

However, in stark contrast to his excited crews, Marco kept his excitement in reserve. "That's weird."

"My Lord?"

"These guys… even when Orb's cannons pointing at them, they kept that Logos flag hidden at all time… and now, all the sudden, they break cover and blared the flag out on the open… why?" Marco kept observing the situation through his telescope. And then he caught sight of a symbol… the Kanji 7 that belong to the 7th division, forming in the air far, in front of the Battlecruiser. That's when Marco and his crew came to realize, that's no air… the 7th division standard was hung on the hull of a ship… a huge ship, massive beyond imagining, as vast as a fortress, floating in the ocean. Its size rivaling that of Veia's Aquarius… but then, he noticed one detail that would make the latter ship a laughing stock.

"That thing… is ironclad!?"

"An Ironclad battleship!? That big? How can the Alliance…"

"No… Not the Alliance…" Marco immediately surmised. "Orb's. Archangel was a fortress in Orb's lands… it won't be strange if they managed to steal a thing or two from Orb."

"But such a thing… how can the Alliance get away with it!?"

"I dunno… but this presented us with an opportunity." Marco smirked. "Come. We need to get into a meeting…"

00000000000000

Meanwhile, George's tour of the ship is well under way.

"So I see you installed the Lohengrin as a bowgun? That's pretty scary…" George gulped.

"Yeah… for all the good it'll do us." Kage wasn't so impressed with it, considering he shot a load of rock salt with it a few days back.

Murdoch took his chance to explain. "It's pretty difficult to aim. We have to move the entire ship to do so. And during the actual firing, the ship cannot move as we need to drop all anchors to nail ourselves down."

"I see…" George laughed. And then, as the trip progresses, they went into the cavernous magazine, the multitudes of barracks and armory, smithery field… everything a fully functioning base needs… all in super size scale in proportionate to the ship's size.

When reaching the civilian section, George was quite surprised at the large number of people resting there. "How can there be so many civilians here?"

"Back before we left, Zaft attacked many civilians settlements. Most of the survivors were sent here."

"Why that's good. That should provide you with able forces to replenish your ranks." Artes commented.

Said comment earned him a murderous glare from Kage. "These are Orb's citizens. They're better off minding their own livelihood rather than fighting our war."

"Our war? But this a great war against the enemy of all humanity! Those Advanced monsters aren't just the Alliance problems! It's also theirs!"

At this juncture, Kage's next foot step was a stomp so hard it practically left an imprint of his foot on the cracked floor at full stop. "Mr. Allister, I dearly hope our conversation will involve a more civilized people. Otherwise you're just wasting my time."

George gulped. He glared at Artes. 'Way to go. I'm trying to flatter and cajole him and here you are pissing him off.'

And yet Artes wasn't sure as to what wrong he had said. "Look, we're all in the same mud! Orb or Alliance! I'm sure we can cut some leeway that-"

But Kage will have none of that. "Prayer, Lockon. Escort Mr. Artes and his men. And do me a favor: keep them AWAY from the civilian area. If they insist, shoot them."

Artes gasped. "How dare you talk to me like that? I'm of the 11th division! Even though you're a captain, you're just the captain of the 7th division!"

"'Just?'" Kage snarled with a hiss. "I see… 'Just' huh?" His glare darkened. "…okay. Change of plans. Prayer, escort Artes and his crew BACK to their ships. I hereby stationed them to help guard the Underside Dock, and THERE they must STAY." Artes tried to protest, but Kage added with infused bloodlust on his words: "This is also… an order."

"And if I say no?"

And Artes found Shiki on his throat. "Last time I checked, disobeying a direct order from your superior is tantamount to treason. Capital punishment is death. Isn't that correct Ramias-san?"

Murrue flabbergasted a bit but then she nodded calmly. "Indeed."

"And may I also add…" Mwu followed. "…That even though Kage is 'just' the captain of the 7th division, he still outrank you, sergeant."

"Plus, you're on board a 7th division controlled ship, Fucking Eleventh." Canard glared. "If you don't guard that mouth of yours in front of our captain, some of us unruly scum might let loose."

And now that Artes sense it, almost everyone of the 7th division began emanating a red tint of death in their eyes. Enough murderous aura to put even George's battle hardened veteran bodyguards on standby.

"Artes!" George immediately intervene before things get worse. "Why don't you… take your men, and get yourself comfy. We might stay here for a while."

"Sir! Your security-"

"-Is at your minimum concern. I have Mwu La Flagga, Murrue Ramias, AND Kage! I have three captains at my side. I'm protected."

Artes looked at Kage in suspicion. "Sir… I… fine." And Artes and his men left, under the angry watchful glare of the soldiers.

George looked at Kage, his mood is now worse for wear. 'Things might be a little difficult now that he's pissed…'

And then finally, the tour ended on the Bridge Tower…

As they entered Kage's office, they were welcomed with a sight that made Kage quake further in his boots. The sight of Hikari sitting innocently on an armchair, welcoming them innocently. "Hi honey! Okarinasai!" and right next to her, is a still slightly terrified and dazed Fllay… and a confused and obviously bewitched Sai, dumbly and unconsciously, with glazed eyes, walking and hitting the wall on the same spot over and over…

00000000000000

Somewhere in the fortress…

The bewitched Tolle and Milly looked like an idiot as they escort Lea and Rea, both having transformed into a single exact carbon copy of Hikari, circling around aimlessly in the civilian area.

00000000000000

Kage smashed his head to the wall to make sense of this absurd of a situation. 'What is it with this girl!?' "HI-KA-RI!" the ninja stomped his way to his girlfriend. "WHAT PART OF PRIVATE THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!?"

"AND WHAT PART OF FAMILY LOVE AND COMPASSION THAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!?" Hikari also retorted with equal ferocity. Ignoring Kage's fuming fury, Hikari grabbed Fllay's back and pushed her to her father. And then, she began doing something that made Kage became even more horrified.

She began undoing her mask.

"Hikari! WAIT! STOOOP!" In total panic, Kage rushed forward trying to prevent the inevitable disaster…

And as her pink hair bloomed out of her helmet, Hikari removed her mask with a hiss of smoke as the sweaty and flushing Lacus smiled in full glow for everyone in the room to see.

Fllay in particular gawked at Lacus' unnatural beauty in full shine. White creamy skin, shining baby blue eyes, bright pink hair crown, flowing like silk… it made all women in that room looked pale by comparison. And then her voice… now no longer distorted by the mask, her beautiful, melodious voice flowed like water from her pink lips. And the words spoken by her voice were: "Long time no see, Mr. George."

And understandably, every Alliance Officer within earshot found their jaw on the ground.

"…Young Ms. Lacus Clyne!? Why… this… what a pleasant surprise!" George's comment made everyone's jaw hung even lower if it were possible. The elderly man also quickly made a move with outstretched arm with a notion to shake hands with her, but that was when Kage gathered back his wits and moved forward, stopping George before he entered dangerous territory. "Captain Kage?"

Kage, still partially confused and at lost, looked at George and Lacus and fro. "…you two… knew… each other?"

"My father and Mr. George had several private meetings in the past." Lacus smiled lovingly. "And we're both quite well aware of each other's identities. If Mr. George wanted me to fall into any harm, he had plenty of opportunities to do so in the past."

"And I can say the same to you, Ms. Lacus." George also bowed his head. And still Kage refused to let him get any closer.

Kage glared at Lacus innocent smile. "…and you're planning to tell me this… when?"

"You didn't ask, I didn't tell." Lacus smirked in pure, pure evil intention. "Plus, I LOVE seeing you squirm and all around pissed off."

Kage gave one very dark and murderous look at Lacus who take it all with a smile and keep on going, and finally, Kage sighed in exasperation. "If this is indeed going to be a face to face off-mask meeting… then it is more imperative that your daughter MUST leave this room." George looked at Kage's frowning face. "…and this has nothing to do with the sensitiveness of the matter we're about to discuss… nor is it about the parties involved. Now, it's more of the safety and health of everyone concerned."

"I'm with Kage on this one, Mr. George." Lacus tucked her head. "A lot has happened since the last time we met." Lacus put back her mask, and with a hiss, her voice became distorted again as soon as the mask back in place. "(koofffssh) Though as I've said before, (koff) your daughter can join us in this meeting, Mr. George. (koff) I don't mind wearing this helmet for some time. (koff)"

George looked at Kage's flustered, anxious look and then to Lacus, wearing that armor. And perhaps some dawning clarity clicked in his mind, as the next thing he said sent her flustered daughter into protesting frown. "Mwu-san… would you please kindly escort my daughter out?"

"Sai can do that." Kage looked at Sai, still dumbly trying to walk through the poor wall. "So for the love of God, whatever you did to him, Princess, you have the 5 seconds it took my fist to smash your face to undo it."

"Sure. (Koff)" A gleeful Lacus flicked her finger, and in an instant, Sai suddenly woke up from his trance… with a bruise on his forehead and a horrible headache. "Wha… wharf… owww… my head…!" Holding his aching head, Sai suddenly found himself out of place, with Kage, Mwu, Murrue, George, Hikari and Fllay staring at him. "Errhh… Did I miss something? How did I get here?"

"Sleepwalking. (koff)" Lacus answered short.

"…Huh?"

Kage slapped his face. 'Damn witch and her slew of magic tricks…' "Sai! Escort Fllay out… PLEASE." Kage, almost out of breath, patience, as well as sanity, exasperatedly requested.

The still slightly fazed Sai nodded and thoughtlessly grabbed Fllay as they walked out of the office door. Fllay didn't offer much resistance, still shocked over many things; Lacus' closeness with her father chief among the many other reasons.

Once Sai's back disappeared from sight at a slide of the door, it occurred to Kage. "You know… if you're gonna send Fllay away anyway, why bother the trouble of bringing her here in the first place?" Kage twitched.

"And have her miss the look on your miserable and horrified expression when I unmask in front of your oh so precious boss? (koff) What on earth were you thinking? (koff)" Lacus remorselessly remarked as if that was the silliest question she had ever heard.

Kage's murderous rage was so thick that it chokes the air. "I hate you. In the name of every deity out there, I hate you. I hope you die in screaming agony."

"And why do you think I want to see you suffer? (Koff)" Lacus smirked in triumph. "My hatred of you seeps all the way to the bone marrow. (koff)"

Suddenly George was quite glad he sent his daughter out of the room. She might faint at the feeling of the two arch nemesis' colliding bloodlust. "Did you two have some kind of blood feud or something?"

"You have no idea, sir." The survivors and participants of Prankcraft in the said room replied in kind.

The ceremonious answer earned a huge sweat drop at the back of George's head. "W…Well… shall… shall we get started?"

The private meeting can finally begin in the earnest. All participants sat, encircling a small table. Lacus eagerly seated herself right next to Kage, with Canard on the other side, and right across the table was George, with Mwu and Murrue on each side. George began with his report on his brief evaluation of the Archangel. "From what I see, Captain Kage, is that you are severely undermanned, and in serious need to replenish your ranks."

"No shit." Canard snarled. "Ever since Veia's death, it's been one fucking shitstorm after another."

"We haven't had the chance to go on a recruiting spree…" Kage, being the new captain of the division, was also wasn't sure as to how exactly he's supposed to replenish his ranks.

"Well, I have some news that might turn that frown upside down. Ever since your debut, Captain Kage, the enlistment rate in every Alliance Outpost has been off the chart. Young, eager, able bodies are lining up to join your division."

"That's funny. How come I haven't seen even a single soldier worth of reinforcement coming here?"

"A lot happened in such short notice, Captain Kage. Even if these brave men wish to go to your division to report right this instant, I doubt they had any idea that the Fortress Archangel had become a floating Fortress Battleship Archangel."

"Assuming there will be any brave men left after the 10th division had finished plucking them all out." Canard spat in disgust.

George flabbergasted. "Ah, yes… well… these are… difficult times… and we need all the brave men we can spare in all fronts…"

"Except our front." Another groan from Canard.

George became even more nervous. Kage rubbed his chin. Back in Junius, Ray Yuki gave him a stern warning of the 10th division. But in all honesty, he still had no image on what to watch out for. "Was it really that bad?"

"What bad?"

"The battles that the 10th division had to endure, I mean. In comparison with the other divisions." Kage frowned. "I'm sorry. But… I'm really new at this… Captain Mwu gave me a brief explanation as to what each Division does… but… I'm not really sure of the dynamics that entails in-between Alliance divisions and the role they play… in practice."

"I see…" George nodded with a smile. "Well, then let me bring you up to speed." The Minister cleared his throat and began explaining. "The Alliance divided the army into 13 divisions. Each division was designed to support one another. In the dynamics in-between the 7th and the 10th is… well… the 7th Division is really is a recruitment divisions. The 7th Division's main function is to gather large number of volunteers. Militia, which later, as they progress in the battlefield, will then be channeled into other divisions for specializations, providing other divisions with manpower to support and replenish their ranks. The 10th Division by comparison, is the regular army. And I'll be honest with you; we DO provide them with the best that our armories can offer: better training, better support, better weapons…" George made a nod to the Dagger Rifles. "…better rations, better wages… but, we also give them worse and far more dangerous missions… the place where they can better utilize their hard earned superior armaments."

At this juncture, Canard gave a disgusted snarl, which Kage immediately translate that there's something more that George had yet to tell him. "My lieutenant seems to think you still haven't said everything?"

"Well, what do you know? The man knows me already, kehah!" Canard made a pleased scowl, and then he glared at George. "And Georgie… didn't you hear my Captain already asked you 'in practice'? That means no dumb fuck textbook shit answers are allowed."

Fortunately, George was already quite used to Canard's infamous use of foul language against his superiors. What he didn't expect was how readily Canard acknowledge Kage as his captain, thus he can easily tell where Canard's loyalty lies. Leaving him in eternal wonder as to how Kage managed to secure the said lieutenant's famously hard to get allegiance in so short of time of his tenure as captain.

"Then tell me Canard. How exactly the Alliance treat their volunteers?"

"Does the word meat fucking grinder ring any fucking bells?" Canard growled. "To us, that's what battles are. And the Regulars fuckers simply spin the friggin crank. Meat came from one side… canned meat came out the other side. They grabbed the canned meat, we get the fucking bones."

"Not sure I follow?"

"The battle at Canadian beach, seven months back." Canard glared heatedly at George's unnerved face. "5,000 Troopers rain fusillades of lead from the high cliffs, drillin' holes the size of bee holes on the Knights below, droppin grenades, whizzin' rockets, poppin' them up like fireworks. We killed about 1,000 knights, point blank. We lost like… 300 men. Victory for the Alliance."

"I'm following…"

"But nobody cared of the death of over 10,000 militia Soldiers beating the shit out the Knights with tooth and nail, fighting them at close combat at the beach atop a field of their own blood, guts… and God damn friggin' minefield. The regulars had no qualms of blowing up, taking out the knights… and some chunks of disposable militia while they're at it."

"Meat shield huh?" Kage summarized in one term.

"Yep." Canard confirmed with a nod. "Rejects that can't pass the 10th division regulations: people who are too old, too small, to weak… stuff like that. People they don't need."

The Captain and the Lieutenant of the 7th division unified their glare at the unnerved Alliance Minister. Kage continued his inquiry. "Who's their captain?"

At the change of subject, George breathes again. "Commanding them at the moment in their Headquarters in the Central Plain's Triplet Fortress in China, is your fellow Blacklist Captain, as well as the most powerful Alliance Soldier in history, Captain Rena 'Sakura Burst' Imelia."

"China…" Kage frowned, rubbing his masked mouth in deep thought. The silence that follows was quite unnerving. "Hrmmmmmm…"

"Umm… Captain… Kage…?" George swallowed a gulp trying to break the weird stalemate. "Actually… regarding about your standing forces…"

"Hm?"

"I have no exact number… but… this I know. When I left China, there's about roughly over 55,000 new soldiers recently volunteered… and counting by the hundreds. Between that and the current standing forces that exist in China right now… let's see… that'll put you around… 450,000 soldiers on standby in China. Then again, that was a few weeks ago. I'd say that number had increased by now."

"Whoa… that's impressive." Mwu whistled. Murrue was also jaw hung in surprise.

"All thanks to Kage's fame. Like I said, enlistment has been around the block." George added with a smile… that quickly faded upon seeing that Kage's mood haven't improved by the least.

"And?"

Kage's question unnerved George again. "I… well… I'm just saying… it's a pretty large… force and… and… urmm…"

"Yes?" Kage pushed.

"And… and…a…" And now George understood full well why her daughter was so scared of Kage. What the hell is that stare? It pierced through everything in his mind, filled to the brim with darkness straight from the depths of Hell. It's pretty similar with the darkness he saw in the eyes of those three Shadowguards… but this… this is like worlds apart, both in intensity… and the horror that it emits. 'What is this? Human… really has that sort of hellish eyes?' "And… A…" Cold sweat flooded George's pale skin, and he finally ended up hyperventilating. "A… A…"

"Huh?" Kage blinked in confusion.

Mwu and Murrue quickly came into aid of the poor old man. "Calm down, calm down, Mr. Allister. Take a deep… deep breath…"

Mwu quickly brought the hyperventilating man a glass of water.

"Umm… are you okay?" And Kage still had the guts to innocently ask that.

SLAP! Hikari slapped the oblivious Kage. "(koff) You're scaring him off, you big dummy! (koff)"

"Ri~ight. Like father like daughter." Kage's reply earned him another slap.

SLAP! "Kage no Baka! (koff)"

A while later, George finally calm down. But seeing Kage's look, at first, George looked like he's about to hyperventilate again, but then, something akin to a frightened resolution formed in his eyes. 'Such horrifying eyes… and those three Shadowguards… those three children… is he trying to turn them into ones like him?' George took a deep breath and gather up his courage. 'I won't let you.' "I'll be blunt. You have three Shadowguards… may I request… that you transfer them to my command?"

"HaaaH!?" Canard blared while Kage merely narrowed his eyes.

"I don't know if you know this… but I know those three children. Long before you turn them into that."

Kage narrowed eyes softened a bit. But Canard quickly protested. "Oi, oi, Georgie. I don't know if you noticed, but those kids are doing pretty fine here. Plus, they're also part of our best troops. And even THAT doesn't really count much! We're already under strength as it is, and now you're gonna shave our strength again!?"

"You have nearly half a million soldiers and counting waiting in China! Surely you can compensate the loss of their strength with that many additional warriors?"

"Or what's left of them as soon as the 10th division plucked them clean!"

"Everyone." Kage suddenly cut the debate short. "Please leave me and Allister-san alone."

Everyone looked at Kage. And then one by one, they get up from their seats, and left the room. Lacus left for last, giving one last glance at Kage before closing the door.

Once they all left, George and Kage looked at each other, eye to eye. "I'll be honest with you, Allister-san. I have two answers to that request."

"Eh?"

"The Captain in me rejected your request outright." Kage growled. "Those three children are no longer children. Not ever since Zaft burnt their homes to the ground, and slaughtered one of their friends in cold blood. And after what you told me as to how the other division treated MY division… they represent one of my best military asset, as well as my most trusted friends and aide… other than the Juppongatana. And nothing; not even a million strong army can match their worth." Once again, Kage's dark stare made George at loss for words.

"…and yet…" Kage began undoing first his headband. "…the friend in me…" And as Kage finally removed his mask, George's eyes widened in shock. "…Fervently asked my captain side to accept your request." And Kira sighed in front the shocked George Allister.

"Kira… Yamato…!?" The elder Allister was jaw hung, his eyes widened trying to make sure he's not hallucinating. That calm, mild mannered Chef… is the world's most wanted mass murderer? The owner of that hellish eyes, the one who entered the blacklist on his first debut… that boy!? "Kira-kun… why… are you…"

"Things… happened." Kira remarked. "You already heard most of the story from Sai."

"Then you, of all people, must understand what I'm trying to do. This is your friends we're talking about here… and…" One more look into those dark eyes, and for a moment, George just fails to see the boy he knew in this monster before him. "Kira… kun… there's… something I've been meaning to show you." George rummaged inside his suit and then pulled out several sheets of paper. "This just came out a few days back."

Kira took the sheets. One of them was the black paper that signified his Blacklist status. Bearing the face of Kage, with the price increase to 500,000,000. He had seen this before, back in Junius. Now that he noticed it, it also updated his status, with his new rank as the captain of the 7th division clearly shown in ink.

"Apparently, before they increase the bounty on your head, they weren't aware that you would become the captain of the 7th division. And if there's anything worse than a mass murderer and a killer of the national hero, that would be a mass murderer with an army at his back. Hence the increase."

But then, Kira moved to the next sheets.

Mwu, Eagle of Endiminion, Captain of the 9th Division: 160,000,000.

Canard Pars, Seven Swords, Lieutenant of the 7th Division: 150,000,000

Murrue Ramias, Iron maiden, Captain of the 12th division: 30,000,000

Setsuna, Blind Sword, 70,000,000.

Kamina, Spiral Sword, Pirate chief of the Daigurren Pirates, 50,000,000.

They've updated the bounties of some of the members of the Juppongatana. No doubt due to their involvement in the most recent events, all led by Kage. But then, a single sheet of paper made Kira's heart skipped a beat.

The Shadowguards. All three of them, sharing a single bounty sheet, bearing the value of 100,000,000… PER head. They do not bear their actual faces, but to differentiate the three of them, Zaft had a bright idea of codenaming them based upon their most prevalent weapon that helped them made their infamy. Lancer Shadowguard (Sai) Saber Shadowguard (Tolle) and Archer Shadowguard (Milly).

Kira collapsed to his chair in deep brooding thought. What he had feared the most had finally come to pass. His friends had finally made it into the spotlight in the worst way possible. His only consolation was that the color of their wanted sheet had yet turned black.

"Do you understand now? Now every knight in the battlefield, every bounty hunter that walks this earth will be hunting for their lives." George glared at Kira. "For God's sake, Kira. You have to stop this madness. Go. Disappear! All of you! Go to a place where no one knows you!"

Kira frowned and looked down. "I tried that."

"Excuse me?"

"I tried that method… so long ago…" Kira's eyes glazed to his past. When he first arrived in Amaterasu, he did try to disappear. A place where no one knows who he is… and yet, in just a short 4 years, Zaft… his past… they all came back and bite him again. He tried to run, and he lost Kuzzey. The memory of his death once again strengthened his hardened heart. "…it's too late. I've made it to the blacklist. I can try to run to the ends of the earth to avoid this, and I still won't find a safe haven. And the last time I tried to run, Kuzzey died. I won't run away again. I will fight. And anyone who gets in my way, God help them!" As a sign of his resolve, Kira put back his mask.

"But…"

"I've made my decision. I will stand my ground." Kage suddenly pointed a finger at George. "You, on the other hand, are going to be very busy trying to convince them to leave me behind."

"I… beg your pardon?" George blinked several times.

"I made my choice… so long ago. And now I've taken a path of no return… I chose this. This is the only future left for me." Kira glanced again at the Shadowguards tripartite bounty. "And now… they're getting dragged into a path that I should've trudged alone. However, they are different. Unlike me, they can still walk away from this. Problem is… I cannot ask that of them. You, of all people should understand why."

"Kira… kun…!" George was stumped. Kira was still so young, but he knows the unspoken rule of the chain of command so intricately. Kage is the Captain of the 7th division. He's responsible not only for the lives of his personal guard… but also to all soldiers in his division. Favoritism is a great taboo that no captain must ever perform… even if that were one of closest friends…ESPECIALLY, if that were one's closest friends. If this taboo is broken, army discipline will collapse and so is army loyalty. And when an army is no longer loyal to their commander, how can war be won? Kira understands this. As do many commanders. But, it's easy to say so… but in practice… can one call oneself human if one does not bond so deeply with a close friend and do not worry of their safety?

"This… is what I can do for you. I will train them. I will make them stronger so that they can survive as long as possible. But more importantly, I will hold the line. I will fight and kill. I will obliterate every enemy that tries to bring them harm. I'll catch cannonballs heading their way if I have to. That's what I will do until I got nothing left. Till there's not one iota of life left in me. You got about until that time… to try and convince them to step away from this life… and save them from that terrible fate that we all know will come to those who walk this path. You need of my help in anything else in this… I will do my best to help you… but as for the act of convincing them… you're on your own."

George bent his head down before looking back at Kira. It's just unbelievable. 17 year old teenager… a few years older than his own daughter. And yet he so readily to accept such a huge burden… a burden lesser man would've broke under. Incredible. He knew the boy was an Advanced… and yet… even an Advanced ought to have some limits. How… how can this boy… this man bear such burden and still go on? "I… I'll do what I can."

"Good luck, Minister." Kage nodded.

"That goes for the both of us, Captain." George offered his hand.

Kage looked at that hand and nodded before accepting the handshake.

When the two finally walked out of the office, Fllay and Sai were waiting down there with Mwu and Murrue. Geoge was a little pale for a start. And yet, he turned to Kage, gave a courteous bow which was returned, and it was obvious some kind of deal has been made. Though whether it favor the pale faced but nervously smiling George or the unreadable masked but taciturn Kage remains to be seen.

George quickly moved towards his waiting daughter who rushed at him as if she had not seen him for centuries. And this time, Kage had no intention to part the two. Sai looked at the father daughter reunion and looked at Kage. The shinobi merely motioned him to come closer. When he did, Kage immediately gave him his orders. "Stick to 'em like paint. For the duration of his stay, which as of yet an undetermined length, I'm putting you under his command." Kage remarked. "You'll do whatever he told you to. You're his bodyguard until I say otherwise."

Naturally, Sai had no qualms accepting that order. "Yes sir. What about that other pink haired problem?"

"I'll tell you once I get the gist of the situation." Kage groaned as he turned around and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Sai nodded and then quickly rushed to George's side.

Dashing to the rooftop he found the girl waiting for him, unmasked, with Canard standing guard behind her in a safe distance: she had her helmet removed. Canard looked at the Captain, shook hid head and start walking away preparing to leave the two alone. But before he disappear, he whispered: "We need to talk."

"Wait for me in the office."

Canard nodded and left. Kage looked at Lacus, and then he too removed his mask and stand right next to her. Lacus quickly started with an answer to the question that crossed Kira's mind right that instant. "Not all members of Logos List are proponent to the idea of 'Death to All Advanced!'-thingy. Some are willing to listen. To compromise. And from there, they are more than willing to incline towards peace."

Kira nodded. Come to think of it, he should've seen it coming. Back then in Amaterasu, George had conversed with him quite often, knowing full well of his racial status. And yet, not once he had ever shown any bit of dislike or any anti-advanced indoctrination crap.

"My father and Mr. George had many things in common. For example, they're both single parents with daughters-or in the case of Mr. George-daughter to look after." Lacus smiled kindly. "There was this thing he used to say to my father: "Christ, Siegel, don't be too tense! You looked like you got a whole world on your back! Lighten your load! Look at me! I do this for my daughter and my daughter alone, and the weight is even heavier than the whole world combined!" so he says." Lacus chuckled. "No matter how serious the talk we were having, that man only had his family in mind. I like that about him."

Kira looked to the sky… and then he looked at Lacus. She didn't look back, knowing Kira get her message… if only in part. She looked more sorrowful than ever. "The way you put it back with Mr. George… you talk as if the world has ended for you." With her sharp hearing senses, Lacus had heard ever single word uttered during that conversation.

Kira merely chuckled and start counting with his fingers. "Let's recount: One, I've butchered hundreds of thousands of my own people with my own hands, directly and indirectly. I've committed the gravest of the capital crime: treason, punishable by death and my visage is now printed on the blacklist. Now every single Zaft knight will be out for my blood, bounty hunters will be drooling for my head. And now, I'm going to add another crime: abduction of one of the most important clan of the Zaft Empire. Soon, Zaft will unleash everything they got to kill me." And then Kira continued with a sarcastic smile. "Second, now I fight for the Alliance. A coalition of nations originated from an old secret society whose sole goal was the complete and total eradication of all Advanced down to the last man, woman and child. Thought annihilated, turns out they still exist even today. And the only thing protecting me from being brought into literal chopping block is one sheet of black cloth on my mouth." Kira sarcastic smile grew more sardonic. "And three: that wasn't even the best part. I'm doing all this while impersonating a national hero of my own home country of Orb, committing an enormous count of crimes against humanity in his name, no doubt giving no end of trouble to him. I'll be surprised if the word of these atrocities had yet to reach the government of Orb. Care to guess how would the armed forces of Samurais welcome me if I dare to put even one foot back in the soils of Orb?"

Lacus looked at Kira's smile. Despite the smile, he looked more like he's about to cry rather than laugh.

"I have nothing left. My home, my life… the world… the whole world is my enemy. So you tell me how my world hadn't ended for me."

Lacus' eyes widened. 'It's the same… He really is the same…' Yes. Kira was EXACTLY the same with Lacus when she was in Junius. She truly believed that the path that awaits her in the end of her road was death. And so she wanted to end her life then and there, but she wished to stay that fate from her loved ones. "When you throw me into the jaws of Babylon, a few seconds before I die, I saw the faces of my loved ones. I saw how devastated they will become should I passed away in such a way. In my own terms. That's what stopped me. That's what showed me the world hadn't ended for me."

"Then you know why I had to do this." Kira smiled. "To me, they are the reason my world hadn't ended."

"No, I don't actually." Lacus sent a glare at Kira. "Your friend loved you. You claimed you're ready to catch a cannonball for your friend. Does it ever occur to you that they too would be willing to do the same for you?"

"My point exactly. I know they will. Which is why before they do such thing, I have to make it so that they never had to." Kira glowed a sad smile to Lacus, making her heart skipped a beat. "It is in times like this I'm grateful that I was born an Advanced. My enhanced constitution would make a stronger shield to protect them."

At this point, Lacus looked at Kira with horror. "You really don't think much of your own life, do you?"

"And you're saying you do?" Kira gave a smirk as Lacus knows he's right. "Put your own life in order, than you can start giving me lecture on how to live mine." And then he put his mask back on and left, closing all discussion.

Lacus was repulsed at that comment. But as she watched Kage's departing back, she realized, just like Kira doesn't have the right to tell her how she should've lived back in Junius, she doesn't have the right to do the same to him . Not when she understands how he feels, more than anyone else in the world. 'But… you didn't leave me alone back in Junius… don't ask me NOT to meddle now.'

Kage landed from the roof and quickly entered his office where his Lieutenant was waiting with crossed arms. Kage nodded, realizing he owe his lieutenant a long due debriefing. "Right. Time to put you down to the speed."

"It's the fucking time alright."

"Oh and before we begin… that thing I asked Murdoch to install on the underside dock, is it ready?"

Canard answered with a sadistic smile. "Worry not. We've already placed the special soldiers on the 'special' bunks. That should answer your fucking question."

00000000000000

Meanwhile, in the mess hall, after saving the bewildered and confused Tolle and Milly from the ignoble fate of dumbly walking around in circles, George invited the couple to join him in a lunch. "Just like old times" so he says. But George also intend to make use of this to begin his attempt to sway the Shadowguards to his side, starting with Sai.

"So, Sai, what are your plans?" George began.

"Plans, sir?"

"Yes. I mean… what are your plans after the war, son?"

"After the war?" Sai chuckled. He dare not to think it'll be that easy. The war has been going on for 72 years, and with all the animosity he had seen so far, no one can seem to see any indication of how this terrible war will, in any near future, end… if ever. "I don't know… I originally thought of becoming a doctor… right now other than being a Shadowguard, I also part time as army surgeon. Not much on the latter though… been tryin to change that."

"Ah! Then you clearly had no shortage in experience by now."

At this, Sai gloomed. "No… Well… yes… but…"

"But…"

"Well… haven't had enough successful experiences… mostly are failures…"

"Hmm… then perhaps what you need is a proper medical education." George began. "You need a teacher."

"I know one." Sai murmured in sorrow. "An amazing one. Alas… it appears I'm not worthy to receive her teachings."

"Her?" George blinked. "Now that's new. I've known quite a few medical experts, many males… but very little of the female ones." A moment of thought and it clicked on him. "Might you be referring Ms. La…? Uh hum… I mean… Doctor Hikari?"

Sai blinked and then nodded. "She is… what you call… a reclusive genius. For all the great deeds she had done she refused to take any credit of it."

"Or maybe she just ain't what she cracked up to be." Fllay moaned.

"Fllay, you didn't see her in action. We surgeons understand human body only based on what we memorized from textbooks and what few drawn pictures we have. She had practical understanding over how, what and why an organ functions even WITHOUT seeing the actual organs. If I have to make a comparison, our methods are rigid and based on classical, rather than practical, methods. Doctor Hikari can alter her techniques based on circumstances dictates on a whim. She can perform a surgeon's standard operating procedures that we know at vastly superior skill level, and she knows various other methods that I couldn't even begin to imagine."

"Really? I've met Siegel's daughter several times. But… the way she behaves during those meetings… always playing with that ball like toys she called Haros… she never strikes me as someone with such skills…" George remembered the time he had a meeting with Siegel. The girl doesn't really have that much difference in age with her daughter… and yet he can always detect an air of sophistication… the girl was wiser than her years, and yet she always cover it with what he presumed to be practiced childishness. Rather than sitting on a chair prepared, she opted to sit on the floor, playing childishly with the said Haros while the two elders talked. However, unlike Fllay, who would often interrupt him mid meeting for some girly request like a new dress or a new toy, the pink haired princess never say anything nor do anything that will distract her father. In fact, at times when the topic of their talk often reached touchy subjects, he could always feel that the conversation also earned her undivided attention even though she's physically playing. During those times he would usually concentrate on the matter at hand and so he didn't really pay attention to her, but as soon as the tension was gone and George glanced her way, she would always childishly offer him to play with her.

But then again, that was years ago. Tension between the two factions had reached such degree, he hadn't had the chance to safely meet with Siegel for some time now. But… he never imagined that he would meet her again like that: wearing a full suit of armor aboard a ship controlled by a chef turned Blacklist Captain. Which… at that point… brings him to a certain point of concern… "Umm… Sai… I just… wondering… what happened between Kir… Urmm… Kage and Lac… urmm… Hikari? Are those two boyfriend girlfriend or blood sworn enemies?"

Sai and Tolle sweat dropped. "We're… not so sure at this point. A little bit of both… the tendencies mostly reaching to the latter condition at one point, at times swinging to the former in a heartbeat for just a few seconds at the longest. It's very confusing."

"What's with that?" Again Fllay moaned.

George quickly tried to get back on track to the matter at hand. "But still… it's not right to let things as they are."

"Begging your pardon?"

"Well, you said it yourself: your skills as a doctor is still inadequate. If that's the case, perhaps it would be prudent to concentrate on rectifying that problem?"

Sai quickly pointed out. "You mean I have to back away from the front line? Concentrate on the wards?"

"I don't want to be blunt, but there are many other doctors out there. Perhaps not as skilled as the good Hikari-sensei, but I know many which, beyond a shadow of doubt, people of great skills and genuine passion as a doctor. If you like, I can recommend you to one of them." Without missing a beat, George added a second option: "Or perhaps you can ask Hikari-sensei on where exactly she acquired her skills. Even the most talented must have proper education from someone, somewhere."

Sai pondered the offer for a moment, weighing those two options, especially the second one. But then he answered. "There are 2,000 soldiers on this ship… but in truth, only 800 are perfectly battle capable. The rest were injured or incapable of even getting up… not to mention illness has began to take hold among the ranks, particularly those not used to the change of climate and weather."

George nodded, waiting.

"Not to mention the civilians staying here, they too have their own health problems. Military installation, especially floating ones, are not a suitable place for a civil life." Sai continued: "I mean, just a few days ago, we had a mother carrying twins, and she's having a birthing complication that requires surgery. And not to mention Kage's own condition."

"Kage? Are you saying he's unwell? From what I see he looked like a model of health and vigor to me…"

"No. Hikari-sensei diagnosed him of suffering massive internal damage on his head due to extremely severe cranial trauma. He may look fine now, but that was only because of Hikari-sensei's constant diligent treatment."

George winced. "Oh my… u… urm… what are you trying to say, Sai?"

"Well… I'm just saying… with all that medical problem mounting on this division, and with very few surgeons on our hands, now would be a VERY poor time for me to leave on some study tour." Sai smiled kindly. "You are right to point out that my skills as a doctor is clearly lacking. But my answer to that is twofold. First, they are my patients, and so they are my responsibility. I cannot leave them. And even if my skills as a doctor is lacking, I still have this." Sai lifted his spear up. "Which brings me to my second answer. I may not be able to help them much as a doctor right now, but so far, I've been able to help to protect them from harm in the battlefield, as a Shadowguard."

'Shadowguards…' "…who… came up with it?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"The mask thing… and the whole… Shadowguard affair? Who came up with it anyway?"

"The mask thing was…" Sai was… conflicted. The name 'Kage' was something Mwu came up with, but that was later; the mask thing was indeed Kira's and it came out first. "Half and half… I guess…? Part of it was Mwu's… the other part was Kage's… as for the Shadowguards… I'll admit, it was our own idea."

"You? You guys… thought that up?" George frowned. "Why?"

Sai, Tolle, and Milly looked at each other. And then played again in their memory: the sight of Kira being beaten halfway to death countless times to protect them. After Kuzzey's death, they finally realized they want to prevent the same thing from happening again. Sai smiled and answered calmly: "The name… our moniker says it all."

'Moniker…? Shadowguard… Shadow… Guard… Shadow… Kage…' George looked at the children before him.

"Kage… was first conceived… as an idea." Sai reiterated. "By turning oneself into a symbol, Kage became a shield that protects those that he cared from reprisal. The idea was that… Kage can be anyone. And because he can be anyone, no one can figure out who he is… he'll be incorruptible, and none can gain leverage on him because no one really know who he is." Sai followed. "And then we thought to ourselves: why not enforce the idea, literally? Who says there can't be more than one Kage at a time?"

"And the name Kage is already synonymous with Holy Terror among the ranks of the enemies. We make them guess: am I facing the real Kage or can there be more than one, etc, etc…"

"But with it, also comes danger." To make his point, George once again produced the black wanted poster of Kage and that of the Shadowguards.

The Shadowguards looked their wanted posters. 100,000,000 for each of them, dead or alive. By comparison, Kage's wanted poster received an explosive increase to 500,000,000.

Fllay looked at the bounty and frowned seeing how Kage's bounty worth even more than all three Shadowguards combined.

"Look. Now you will be hunted. And I'm not just talking on the battlefield. Even when you're off the battle you won't found safety: bounty hunters… assassins… and even stragglers or worse: desperate civilians… any party whose wallet will get thicker from your deaths. Take it from me children, to be put on wanted posters; you will no longer know peaceful sleep."

"Neither did Kage… even before he had the world's most powerful Advanced gunning for his head." Sai replied, referring to the time when Kira admitted he had trouble sleeping.

"And to be honest… I'd say this is good." Tolle pointed, much to George's surprise. "That way, we can redirect some of the attention aimed at Kage to us. We can lower his burden a bit, that sound fair enough."

"Agreed. He does have the tendency of overdoing it." Milly also nodded.

George became completely at loss for words at this. He showed those wanted posters to them as terror tactics, but instead it backfired and strengthened their resolve even further. He'll go nowhere with his negotiation with them if he continued as it is. He need to change his tactics. George's bewilderment and slight frustration turned to awe. What is this loyalty? First, he must understand it. There's no way simple friendship can instill such powerful bond in-between these youngsters. Not to mention he had also earned the fierce loyalty of the men of the 7th division in so short of a time. There's something more. Something in Kira that bonds them all. Yes. To understand this powerful brotherhood in arms, one must first understand the person who ties them all together.

George now flew his thoughts to the Chef. First, he remembered that boy, Kira Yamato as he remembered him to be. The boy had always been so calm, quiet, keeping to himself. When he first saw the boy, he was not intimidated by the slightest by his presence. But, like Lacus Clyne, he can sense an aura of sophistication and wisdom far beyond his years. Wisdom that, quite in fact, may even surpass those far older than the boy. Then again, Advanced has been known to possess mental capacity far above naturals, but… with Kira Yamato, it was like it was something he used to tamper… something. He always seems… to hold back something, all bottled up behind that mask he always wears. Yes. A mask, a figurative ironclad mask of casualness. Politics are like a battlefield where one had to learn to conceal what you really feel, don't show it to anyone else. And the mask that Kira wears… that's the mask George himself had practiced to wear. He's holding something inside… Something really huge and terrifying.

Now, when they finally talked again just earlier, that ironclad mask seem to had crumbled, replaced by a literal mask… and when even the literal mask is off… he couldn't imagine anything more monstrous. That thing he was tampering? He finally know what it was: Fury, insanity, and hatred; horrifying beyond imagining. What sort of event that can bring that out of a boy barely a year older than his own daughter? But that can't be all. Fear and terror will not make a good career of a high ranking officer. Fear will create obedience yes. But loyalty is a different story entirely.

George took a deep breath. "…I've only… heard things… from reports… most of them are quite unbelievable… but… what kind of person is Kage… really? As a captain, I mean."

"He's scary! He's rude! He's… he's…" Fllay spurted. But then again, no one took her seriously.

The Shadowguards merely sighed. Sai answered: "He's… whenever he's off mask, he's exactly as we know him. But… when he put them on… he's quite a piece of work, I'll give you that."

"Nothing escapes his attention. When he strategize it was like… he can always see two or three steps ahead of everyone, one moment you think he was caught off guard, but no, even that was part of the plan. He predicts like a… like a… God. There, I said it." Tolle choked.

"So… you're saying he's mostly a strategist? Controlling the army from the command post-"

"No, he's mostly a fighter." Milly quickly corrected. "He fights at the front, in the field right on the front line, where the fighting is the thickest. I thought that should be pretty obvious, given the frequency of him getting battered the most out of all of us."

George blinked. 'I see… so he was that kind of leader… this might be a little bit hard…' With that, George decided to try this whole convincing business later.

00000000000000

Nighttime, nearing dusk…

That night, there was no moon. Every soldier not on patrol duty rested.

The patrolling Troopers had to carry lanterns on their patrol of the Archangel's Underside dock. Just as Kage ordered, not one of them are even allowed to approach the stairs leaving the Underside dock. That spot was guarded fiercely by Neil at a spot somewhere where none can see, and Prayer, who simply waved any attempt to move to that door with a smile.

The night was really quiet, and the water underneath the Battleship was dark and swaying. Even the lanterns and torches on the Underside Dock was no help. It is under the cover of that darkness, dark figures, submerged but barely on the surface of the dark waters began to close in.

Slowly, the dark figures crept up, unseen, unnoticed by the patrolling troopers, climbing the starboard side of the underside docks. Clad in black cloth, padded with lightweight leather armor, masked and skin bleached black to match the dark surroundings. Slowly, silently, one of the Onyx Hassansins, emerging from the darkest corner of the dock, approached an unwary and unsuspecting trooper. He flexed his finger, revealing a set of poisoned claws. And in one swift trained move, the Hassansin gagged the Trooper's mouth before he can scream, and slit his throat with a swift flick before said victim was even aware what happened.

With a few hand signal, the other Hassansin began to emerge from the waters. It was but a small group of stealthy warriors that Marco sent into that huge ship. After all, trying to go toe to toe with this monstrosity of a ship right from the front will be nothing short of stupidity. And thus rather than a huge forces, he sent the Hassansins. Their mission: to infiltrate the ship, disable their defenses, pave a way for the rest of their brethren Knights to make a pinpoint crippling strike.

And then, slowly, stealthily, one by one, the patrolling troopers were taken out one by one. A trooper was gagged and had his neck twisted without a sound. Another merely turned around to see what happened only to have three spring launched poisonous needles from one of the Hassansin nailed his head. Slowly, the Hassansins began to take over the lower dock. They slowly reached to the one door leading upward, but it was locked behind iron bars. Not a problem. They were well prepared to bust their way through if needs be. One of them unlatched a bottle from their watertight bag and then he pour the content to the bars. Whatever it was, said liquid began to corrode and melt through the bars. But as soon as one particular bar was melted down the middle, the lower half of the bar dropped like dead weight into the holes on the ground. Within moments, courtesy of the unseen mechanism ingeniously put by Murdoch, small bells fell from door, ringing, attracting attentions to that location. The ringing was cut short with the veteran assassins quickly grabbed the little noisemaker, silencing it.

Alas, the damage was done, and one Trooper immediately answered the ringing bell only to find a whole bunch of killers having just finished slitting the throat of another trooper who answered the ringing bell faster than he. He did what every veteran trooper would do: scream to warn the others, and open fire for good measure. See, that's the value of guns. It's not just the deadliness or the little finesse needed to use one, it's also the fact they make a lot of noise and the light that can scare enemies, and in this case, warn others in vicinity.

The Hassansins knew this. And they've been trained to tolerate the fact that even the best stealthiest operation can sometimes generate a certain amount of noise. The bell was one thing, the gunfire is also just another level of noise they are prepared to accept. One guy scream and open fire can probably warn about 2 or 3 people. Being experts and veterans, they're ready to immediately respond to douse the situation and silence these 2 or 3 people so that each of them do not warn another 2-3 people. And in normal case, that's what they would define as within the acceptable boundaries. What they didn't expect, is a little other something else that Murdoch, under Kage's orders, attached to the hulls of the Archangel's Underside dock.

Hundreds of narrow ended pipes were attached on the ceilings of the Underside dock and unto the docks themselves. When something loud, like a gunfire or a scream, echoed anywhere within the range of any of these pipes, the sound reverberate inside those pipes in such a way, carried all the way through an increasingly larger pipes, where the sound was amplified loud enough… that the WHOLE ship will hear it.

Kira and Lacus's eyes blared open as soon as they heard the sound of the amplified gunfire, as did the eyes of every soldier aboard that ship, particularly those sleeping in the 'special' bunks. They've been told the procedures, and though there are some confusion abound during the initial periods of their sudden awakening, they immediately remembered what they needed to do.

These bunks, holding ten soldiers each, were deemed special because 1: they're located right above the Underside dock. Specifically, the very floors of these bunks are actually the ceiling of the docks itself. And 2: at the center of each of these bunks there's a hinged trapdoor. When the occupants of this special bunks heard the impromptu alarm, they are expected to arm themselves with a set of built in giant crossbows armed with 6 feet long bolts prepped and placed at the center of the room, open the trapdoor, drop the well prepared and lit lanterns on their side to lit up the docks, and then open fire at any hostile enemy they saw below from their elevated position that enters range.

Down below, the Hassansins were still shocked over the unnaturally loud sound that reverberated allover the ship caused by that one single gunfire, coupled with dozens of lanterns suddenly dropping from the ceilings of the underside dock and the whole place was suddenly as bright as day.

In an instant came the screaming, the pointing. "INTRUDERS!" "WE GOT COMPANY!" "THERE, I SEE THEM! IT'S THE ONYXS!" The Hassassins suddenly no longer had the darkness to hide them, and they were as plain as day. "OPEN FIRE!" Lockon, leading the archer team pointed with his arrow and fired the first shot that nailed 3 black clad hassassins in a single shot. And then without further ado, others followed suit and came the rain of arrows the size of spears from the ceiling.

The Hassansins were completely caught off guard. By the time they came to realize what's happening, half of their numbers have been nailed to the walls and floors by giant arrows fired from above. Worse, the Troopers also came around and start open fire with their own projectile weapons. Caught in this deadly crossfire from both the ground and the sky, it was a massacre.

Needless to say, the Hassansins were nearly wiped out within moments, leaving but three remaining Hassassins, wounded and dying, holding out behind a bunch of makeshift items, but they know their fate is sealed.

The Troopers converged upon them, and at least 2 dozen Bolt Throwers were aimed at them. The Hassansins looked at the incoming Troopers, guns cocked ready to roar. They gritted their teeth, well prepared to sell their lives dearly… until they saw the enemy faltered. The Bolt Throwers also withdraw their giant crossbows. But then it dawned to them that the enemy didn't falter, they simply saw little need for violence… seeing the most foolproof bringer of death had just arrived unnoticed into the fray.

"Welcome, gentlemen." A cold whispery voice from their backs was the only warning they had as Kage proceed to grab one of the Hassansin who just turned around by the throat, using him as a shield as another Hassansin launched his needles, unwittingly killed his teammate. Kage replied in kind by grabbing the arm of the dead Hassansin and fired the needles at the shooter, hitting him by the throat. The last remaining Assassin unveiled a switchblade on his arm and lunged at Kage, attempting to stab him. But once again using the dead Hassanssin as a shield, the black clad knight stab his dead teammate, and by that time, Kage had also let go the corpse, bent down and swept the man's knee with a kick, breaking it. The assassin grunted as he was in the process of falling down to his knees when Kage was upon him in a heartbeat and kneed his falling head up, sending him collapsing to his back with blood bursting out of his shattered nose and mouth.

The Hassassin was still alive and kicking though. He quickly rolled backwards, gazing at his enemy. Kage, the Black Devil himself is before him. Eyes as dark as hell, clad in black clothes not dissimilar with that of the black color Assassins favor… he looked like the reaper himself.

The Hassansin would rather die fighting than surrender. He took a deep breath, remembering all his training as the elite assassination force of the Zaft Empire, using secret arts passed down throughout the ages. He got into his fighting stance, standing ready to face Kage. Kage saw the stance and chuckled. "Fight to the death rather then surrender eh? Admirable." He motioned the Soldiers and Troopers to stand down. The Soldiers relaxed their vigilance around the area where their captain stood and instead scanned the other area, in case of any survivors, whereas the Troopers merely followed the orders out of sheer bewilderment.

Kage cracked his neck and moved to his own stance, with his bare-hands, he has no intention of using Shiki… on second observation he didn't even bring it. The Hassansin twitched in anger. 'He's… he dared to fight me with his bare hands? Is this his way of saying I'm not worth his time!?'

In truth, that was hardly Kage's reason. It was much simpler: Mwu had re-confiscated his partner and he had no time to grab her back. Well, it's not like he came without preparations and completely unarmed…

The Hassansin finally struck first, using his left arm, armed with the poisonous claws to strike first at Kage. Midway, Kage reacted and attempt to intercept the claw, but at the last second, the Hassansin pulled back his left claw, a feint, and then strike with his wrist blade to struck Kage's eyes, still concentrating on the feint left arm attack. But then, to his shock, his right stab was stopped when Kage gripped his wrist with one hand without even looking at the incoming attack. The blade stopped inches away from his face. Kage then eyed the bewildered Hassassin, measuring him up. And then, he looked at the melted bars of the entrance door. "Viscous material to melt through iron bars with as little sound as possible. Right. The standard equipment of the Onyx Hassansins." He turned back at the said cornered warrior.

The Hassansin grunted and yanked back his right arm. This time, he slashed from above in a vertical slash. For a moment, Kage looked as if he was focused on this vertical head chop from above. This time, there are no tricks, and Kage dodged it easily. But mid swing, the Hassansin forcibly redirect the vertical swing into a horizontal slash and more, he added a roundhouse kick just beneath the slash, aimed straight to the unprepared Kage's stomach. Or so he thought. Kage suddenly pushed forward and before the attack was completed, Kage caught both the arm and the leg with his hand at the weakest part: the elbow and the knee. The Hassansin gasped, and before his shock abated, Kage roared, tightened his grip and lift the hassansin off the ground by his leg and arm before he tossed him away like a crumpled dish rag to the floor. As he landed with a crash, the Hassansin think of the two occasions Kage blocked his attacks. A suspicion began to grow on him.

Meanwhile, Kage ignorantly looked at the intruder's dead teams, scattered across the surrounding area, impaled by bolts, courtesy of his men on the special bunks, or shot to death by the troopers. He count 20-30 people. "Your Commander's clever. He knows he can't take on this ship head on. So he sent a small team of Assassins to… let me guess… infiltrate the ship, disable any defenses we may have, kill any other resistance, probably create chaos with sabotage… and then open a way for the rest of your knights to take out this ship during the riot? Right?"

Instead of answering, the Hassansin struck again. This time it's started with a dash, his poisoned left claw at the ready. Upon range, the claw struck forth, aiming straight at Kage's throat. Kage made a motion of blocking the claw. But at the last second, with a single twist of the Hassansin's well trained muscle ankle, the Assassin's twisted his whole body in a heartbeat, jumping in a spin midair and all the sudden, he was right on Kage's blind side, still mid air but poisonous claws ready to slash.

But then, as if guided with eyes at the back of his head, without turning around Kage bent his whole body forward, effectively bending down, his blocking move turned into a headstand position. The claws hit nothing but empty air, and at about the same time, Kage's foot stretched back, kicking backward and thrusting upward right through the little opening of the Hassansin's flailing arms, and, with jaw shattering force, accurately kicked the Hassansin's face, sending him flying high before landing with a crash and a bloody mashed up face and a few teeth short.

Kage gently twisted his body back to a standing position, turning around to face the opponent and start approaching the downed Hassansin.

"I… can't… believe it…" the downed Hassansin gargled through his swollen lips. He tried to get up, but he felt like his head is in pieces. The demon's kick was like an anvil. But fighting the pain, he glared with damning accusation at Kage. "You… how can… you know… you're well versed in the secret Assassination arts of our Order… who… are… you!?" How else can he explain it? Kage's anticipation of his moves borders on prophetic. No, it was more than that. He understands every move he'll throw at him. Their targets, their trajectories, their weakness!

Said comment quickly brought murmurs of suspicions from the troopers whereas the Soldiers merely blinked in curiosity. Kage ignored the rising murmurs and snarled. "Secret Assassination Arts? Don't kid yourself. Your movements are rigid, mediocre, predictable… and you call yourself an Assassin?" The Hassansin gritted his bloody teeth (What's left of them) and jumped back up while secretly throw projectiles at Kage. The ninja easily dodge two projectiles, but the remaining exploded, creating a series of loud popping around him. But Kage was clearly unfazed. "Theatricality and deception. Powerful weapons of distractions for Assassins." He casually dodge a predictable back stab from the Hassansin's right arm and catch the said arm, just as the clawed left arm opened up and struck in a roundhouse swing. Alas, they were welcomed by Kage's quick thrust kick, accurately aimed straight at the center of the said open palm, reaching said target before the arm even reach full swing. A loud sickening crack denotes the said arm was broken. "But we're both Assassins. Aren't we?"

The Hassassin screamed in agony. But while he's still wailing in pain, Kage pulled the right arm while his other arm punched the man's chest several times and then grabbed the man's face and with a roar, he slammed the man to the ground by the head with a loud bam that unnerved the spectating troopers. Kage put a foot on the downed Hassassin's broken jaw, earning another muffled scream of pain. "I think you guys think too highly of yourself. Your so called secret arts are nothing more but stolen knowledge and slap together skills you grabbed and stolen from other schools. Your… Hassassins are nothing but pale imitations to us Shinobis. And your practical interpretation of our deadly arts was so pathetic; it's more like an insult, really."

The Hassansin stared at the dark eyes of the human shaped demon in horror and fury. Though at the moment, it really is more of the former. By then, the spectators had grown, including Mwu, Hikari, Canard and George, among other familiar faces. Regardless, Kage decided to begin interrogation, here and now. "Now then. Who sent you? How many are there?"

"I'll die… before… I talk…!"

"Yes. I suppose so." Kage removed his foot, and as soon as he did so, the doomed Hassansin open his mouth as wide as he could, preparing to bite something. But before he can do that, Kage's hand shoved in, preventing him from finishing the act. The Hassansin gargled as Kage rummaged the insides of his mouth for a few moments, and then with a yank, and another scream from the victim, the Ninja pulled out what he was after. A tooth. A tooth with an eerie white glass filling.

Mwu looked at the said tooth. "What's that?"

"A glass filling… filled with pressurized salt acid." Kage sighed. "If he failed, he'll bite that, and the acid will melt his throat, so that he won't be captured alive." Kage once again pressed his foot on the squirming Hassassin's open mouth. "Then again, if that fails, he can always try to bite his tongue, so if the idea is to capture him alive to interrogate him, can somebody please tie and gag him? Can't keep standing on top of his open mouth forever!"

Mwu nodded and motioned the troopers to do as Kage told. As soon as Kage's foot left the man's mouth, the troopers gagged him before he can bite his tongue off.

"Those were some nice moves. Where did you learn to move like that, sir?" Artes frowned in suspicion.

"I told you… this guy is just too predictable." Kage groaned. "Plus, I have some pretty good teacher."

Mwu smirked, feigning embarrassment.

Meanwhile, the troopers had finished gagging the Assassin but lax in tying him up. All the sudden, the Hassanssin yanked himself free, grabbed the short sword from the trooper and charged straight at Kage, intending to gut him. Kage, sensing incoming danger, instinctively responded rather brutally: he grabbed a lantern from one of the troopers, sidestepped the stab and at the same time slammed the lantern on the Hassanssin's face, setting him on fire.

"AAAH! AAARGH! ARGHHHHHH!" The Assassin was ablaze. Screaming in agony, he flailing around wildly, howling in pain, his whole body was soon engulfed in fire. Kage frowned, instantly regretting his thoughtless and needlessly brutal response. And here he was hoping he can interrogate him. At this point, questioning him is pointless.

Grunting, Kage let loose a roundhouse kick and brought the burning man to the ground. And while the fire is still ablaze, he put a foot on the man's neck, and without wasting a breath twisted his leg and snapped the man's neck with a dead finality. The Hassanssin's screams were cut short, and his lifeless body burns away. The smell of roasted flesh filled the air.

Until a few moments ago, the situation around the Underside dock was still rive with activity. When Kage slammed the Hassanssin's face with a lantern and set him on fire, his painful, horrifying screams draw all attention. But when seeing how casually the said Captain dispatched the Hassansin as easily as stepping and breaking a twig brought every Trooper in the Underside dock to a complete and utter silence. Suddenly, the troopers found their hands trembling. All dissident murmurs and any notion of suspicion and skepticism were suddenly replaced with feelings of utter fear, terror and dread. Forget the question of Advanced or Naturals… is this guy even human? He burnt a man alive and then broke his neck under his heel without so much as a flinch.

George felt nauseous as he saw Kage calmly step away from the burning remains of the Hassanssin. Once again he had difficulty seeing the kind hearted Kira Yamato being this sadistic and ruthless masked Captain. "How cruel of you! Even if he tried to kill you, what you did to him was monstrous!" Kage merely replied with a silent despondent stare whose meaning was beyond George's grasp. He merely sighed, and then walk away from the burning carcass, clearly in deep thought.

"That's one way to look at it. (koff)" Hikari murmured next to George's ear. George looked at her. "But it's also mercy. (koff) It took a few minutes for his body to burn. (Koff) You can bet it'll be a very painful few minutes, feeling your skin melts and your blood boil. (koff) Even if we douse the fire, he would not live long with 3rd degree burns on 90 percent of his skin. (koff) So rather than let him suffer in prolonged agony in what little time he had left (Koff) he gave him a merciful quick death. (koff)"

And now that Hikari put it that way, George also had a slight change of opinion. "But then why did he burn him in the first place?"

Hikari frowned. "…instinctive, thoughtless response? (Koff)" She replied flatly.

"Well what kind of training that make someone automatically respond with incineration at the first sign of murder attempt?"

Meanwhile, Kage kept thinking of this situation. Remembering what he learned from the legendary Grand Knightmaster Ray Yuki, Kage thought what else would a commander who just sent such a team would do. Come to think of it, he was able to counter the Hassanssin's every move due to the same token, though it wasn't until his training with Mwu that he was able to put what he learnt ages ago to practical use. 30 men team of Hassanssin were to be used to pave a way for a larger force to attack the Archangel. A 30 men team of Hassanssin infiltrated the Archangel VIA the Underside Dock. That's exactly what he had foreseen will happen Taking the mindset of a Zaft commander who had just saw a larger than life fortress ship, sending a small infiltration force is definitely something he would do. What else?

Canard approached the Captain, knowing full well that the captain knew that it was not over. "What now, Capt? You just killed the only person who can confess anything."

"…could someone… bring me the bodies of the last two to survive?" Kage frowned.

The Troopers, somewhat bewildered, dragged the bodies of the two Hassanssin. Kage bent down and unmasked them both, studying his face. "Hikari… what do you think?"

"Beg your pardon? (koff)"

"Their age." Kage showed Hikari the scarred over quality of the Hassanssins. They're also aged quite a bit. "Those wrinkles… I'd say that's about… 40-45?"

Hikari squint her eyes at Kage's latest victims. "47…" she pointed to one dead face. "42." She pointed on another. "And the one you burned is around 48."

The soldiers also began unmasking the other Hassanssins. "These guys… they're all around… 35-45." Prayer reported after a quick observation of the others.

"What does age got to do with this?" Mwu looked at Kage.

"Well… it tells us about the leader of the guys who are chasing us." Kage frowned. "The Commander is an elderly man. Probably with a serious mid age crisis problem. One who take pride in the… decades he spent in field combat. Probably by holding closely to the by the book approach, never suffered much defeat, enough to reach great age. The same pride also made him stubborn. He saw little value in youngsters and green horns, or new ideas. Keeping company with only the elderly veterans who share his mindset." Kage motioned at the elderly features of the Assassins.

"You can conclude all that from the age of the subordinates? (koff) Isn't that a bit farfetched? (Koff)" Hikari frowned.

"Well… my guess maybe a little off. Maybe some youngsters who wanna be rid of the elderly, who knows? I've been wrong before." Kage chuckled flatly. "But one thing we can say with absolute certainty, the enemy knows that you are here, Mr. George."

Artes and George gasped in surprise. "How can you tell?"

"Come now. A Hassansin Strike force tried to infiltrate the Archangel barely a day after you've arrived. I don't fancy that as a coincidence." Kage crossed his arms.

"Then we must depart immediately…!"

"And go where?" Kage chuckled darkly. "I think you notice, this ship is pretty slow on the speed and not much on the subtlety and nimbleness department. We can't outrun 8 fully loaded Battle Barges."

"8? How can you tell there will be 8 ships?" Artes blinked in confusion.

"By my calculation, they'll need at least that much ship and manpower in order for the commander to have even the guts to send a strike force into a ship this size. But, if I was the enemy commander, I would assume that this ship is currently fully armed and staffed. He had the manpower needed to strike at the full front, but that will undoubtedly enquire large casualties so he picked the most efficient method to ensure his men will face the least resistance when they come in." Kage jovially made his analysis in glee, as if he's enjoying every bit of this intellectual strain. "Of course, with only 2000 men in my employ. They don't really need that many men to wipe us all out and take over this several tens of thousands worthy of oceanic dead weight."

"Then perhaps you can use the Archangel to draw their attention while we take Mr. George somewhere safe!?" Artes blared, earning an angry glare from Canard and most of the 7th division. But Kage merely chuckled in a sadistic snarl.

"Did you not hear me? You're not going anywhere. Even if we do as you say, you guys won't go very far. The enemy commander's pretty good, he'll READ our intentions the moment we set sail. Undoubtedly he would've already cast a net and surround us." Kage deathglared at Artes. "Right now, the safest place for you people is inside the bowels of this ship."

Artes paled, while Canard snarled in a sadistic glee hearing the unmistakably upbeat tone in which their genius captain approach this crisis. "So what should we do, capt? Any ideas?"

"Well…" Kage darkly looked at the dead bodies lying around him. "I have one, and it's a sink or swim. This will either send them running scared… or put them on a watchful distance away… or pissed them off to a full frontal all out assault on us."

Everyone looked at the dark clad captain, waiting on his orders.

Seeing he had their full attention, Kage waste little time. He pointed at the bodies of the dead Hassanssins while making a slit throat motion. "Cut off their heads. Bury it with full respect and honors." And then he followed. "And for the rest of the bodies… hang them in a way… where everyone within 10 mile radius can see."

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Nary half an hour after the Hassansins left the ship, 8 miles away…

One of Marco's senior Knights gnashed his teeth in barely containable fury as they saw what becomes of their Hassanssins through his scope.

Kage's sadistic instruction saw the headless mangled bodies of the Hassanssins were chained, hanged, arrayed around the battleship on the both sides of the deck, putting them on display like some kind of twisted trophy… and then they were set on fire to serve as corpse fueled torches.

"Barbaric…" Marco growled in fury, his lips trembled in unimaginable anger. "That Kage is truly a barbaric bastard. What in God's name is Heaven thinking, giving birth to such a black hearted wretch unto this world?"

"My lord!"

Marco's eyes glinted with rage and bloodlust. "Signal the other ships on the double! Full attack. I try to do this clean he won't let me. Now we do it messy."

"Yes, My Lord!"

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The Alliance

Before the Onis had the idea of utilizing humanity as a potential pack mate, humans served quite a different purpose during the Great Crusade. Crudely speaking, the primitive human were used as laborers and workers to build, and in battle, they are used en-masse in huge number as a meat shield. Over time, humanity began to learn and build their own civilization based on what they learnt from the Onis. Adapting from their masters at an astonishing rate, it wasn't long until the Onis came to realize they need to reassert the value of humanity, going beyond primitive livestock to a great and powerful ally.

As Humanity was on the rise, the Onis had come to realize that they are a dying race. Onis were Gods of their time; Immortals and everlasting, time and disease cannot claim them, but they are dying nonetheless. Humanity will take up the torch from them eventually. Alas, humanity's only resemblance to the Onis is only as far as that both looked alike. They are mortals, frail, weak, and truth be told, vastly inferior in everyway to the Onis. But what they lack in strength, humanity had more than make up for it with strength in numbers and ingenuity. Ideas were pursued by the Onis on how to strengthen their successors. Chief among the many other ideas, were the creation of the Advanced race. The result of assimilation between the Onis and Humans, resulted in a human oni hybrid which special powers.

Alas, even that was only a partial success. Even when inheriting their blood, human cannot escape the frailty of mortality. Even worse, the special powers wielded by these hybrids proved inferior to that of the original strain. And though by assimilation of one bloodline limit with another produced a myriad of new special abilities, the Oni learned, to their sorrow, that eventually a time will came when their blood flowing in these mortal creatures will become thin enough, that there's no gift left their blood will bestow upon their progenitors. The world will be once again in danger of predation from many enemies, most of all from the Oni's greatest enemies, the Daemons and their Genma minions. And one day, there will come a time when nothing of the Oni, not even their legacy or proof of their existence, will be left to stop it.

There's only one option: Humanity must learn to defend itself. The creation of the Human Samurai Army for instance. Alas, even with humanity's virtually inexhaustible manpower resource, these Super Soldiers are a demanding mistress. And only a fraction of humanity is genetically capable of becoming Samurais (at least at the time). The new Advanced Race was also not numerous enough to be able to support the battle everywhere. The Onis need to figure out a better way to capitalize humanity's main strength: numbers and ingenuity. But once again, their frailty was a glaring fault. Gleaning back to their own history, the Onis were suddenly reminded of an ancient weapon they used to wield back during their own more… primitive times.

Before they were able to reshape matters and command elements with a whim of a thought, the Onis used to wield these unique weapons: handheld, with long barrels, breathing fire and spitting sharp metal. Reopening ancient blueprints, the Onis began teaching the humans, particularly those who had not receive the gift of their blood, a new form of power: technology. They teach them how to reshape metal with fire. They showed them how mixtures of substances can produce wonders. Direct them on where to place the stone brick to make a sturdy housing. They sharpen their ingenuity into a keen weapon to direct their brethren in the field. Soon, men who once lived in mud and stick huts and fought with stick and stones now forge armors, weapons of metal, living at stone houses, gleaming and beautiful. Where they once fought like barbaric animals, lunging and biting at their targets, now a disciplined army marched in a regimented formation.

The Onis began to rearrange their stratagems in war. Now few in number, the Onis will lead as high commanders of the battlefield, counseled by the Advanced. The new human army will march in a tight phalanx of shield, spear, and sword, backed by the roaring blast of their artillery cannons, while Samurais, far fewer in number but individually vastly stronger than their lesser kin, will strike with precision of scalpel at key strategic targets. In stark contrast, with their superior numbers to make up their lack of strength, the human regiment will be like a crude blunt hammer that pulverize and smash apart everything that gets in their way. With this mighty army, the Oni's Great Crusade continues, until the Great Empire was finally established, laying the military ground work of what would later become the Alliance.

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The next Arc, the Battle of the Central Plain, is an arc at scale completely unlike anything I've ever wrote before. If I have to make a reference, imagine the War on Marine HQ in One Piece, and then you apply that level of battle to a country wide scale: China. The Strategies, the armies, the parties involved, the twist and tricks. Large armies colliding with Large armies. It'll strain me like nothing else, so I need to prepare it.