Authors Note: To be honest this story is an old one I wrote a while back and never got the nerve to publish in fact I only pre-wrote up to a certain point. Thus I wanna test the waters and see how people enjoy this story. Let me know what you think. And please enjoy~

Almost a week later, Kota and Akiko would be done with the majority of their in-base training. "Are you for real? Field training with one of the Unit Captains! You!"

Now no longer forced to wear the recruit uniforms, both Kota and Akiko had elected to wear clothing more befitting their respective styles. Kota dressed in a much more casual civilian style form of clothing that bore the logo of his favorite show with a striped cloth cap with earflaps, scarf, and a set of fingerless black gloves covering both his hands.

Whereas Akiko, lacking many options for casual wear, or perhaps simply not wanting to go out in the field in such casual wear, had taken to wearing a white assault coat with the Fenrir logo on it's back. She allowed it to remain open in the front, revealing a black sports bra of sorts due to how constricted she had found the closed jacket to be to her front and movement. Her pair of black assault pants allowed her boots and tool belt that were a solid green to stand out in contrast. One of her arms bore nothing while a single white fingerless glove covered her opposite hand and wrist to her armlet arm. Her hair still up in its messy updo, with her red rose hair clip.

"Yeah… I'm honestly not sure why the Major is having me do this?" Akiko admitted with a tired sigh. "I honestly thought she didn't like me."

Kota laughed as he recalled the many, many, many times either he, or Akiko, would be scolded by Tsubaki during their training. Whether it be Akiko's wild and sometimes unpredictable actions, Kota's own mistakes and failings to either keep up with Akiko, or the flow of battle the two teens always ended up in some sort of trouble with Tsubaki.

"Maybe she's hoping to get rid of you?" He joked, wincing as Akiko pinched his side. "Ah! I was kidding!"

"I know."

"Wha- Then why'd ya pinch me!"

"Cause I wanted to."

"Wha-!" Kota gapped in mock pain and shock, "Rude~!"

Sticking out her tongue to the younger teen, Akiko began to lean back in a stretch as they waited for the elevator to reach the lobby floor. "Anyway, did she say anything to you over field training?"

"Huh…? Oh! Yeah, um… I think she said I would be going out for my own training with Yuta." Kota excitedly replied.

Reaching their floor, Akiko nodded. "Nice. That should be fun. Yuta seems like a pretty responsible guy."

Then the elevator doors opened.

The sound of a hand slamming onto the front desks table rang throughout the lobby space. "Come on Soma! You've gotta help me out here, I'm begging you! I don't know how to be responsible!" Yuta's panicked voice echoed. The two teens slowly making their way off the elevator to look over the top floor of the lobby's railing to see Yuta, a reddish-brown pigtailed receptionist, and another God Eater in a dark blue hood, all gathered by the receptionist's desk.

"Yuta, for the hundredth time. Please don't slam your hand on my desk." The receptionist scolded with an annoyed glare.

Yuta wincing as he removed his hand from the desk, "Oops… Sorry, Hibari."

"Why the hell are you even asking me?" The God Eater next to Yuta asked in an annoyed tone. "You're plenty responsible with your God Arc projects as is. Think of it like that and you'll be fine." He bluntly said, moving to walk away as Yuta followed after him.

"Those two things are completely different things! One is a passion, the other is social interaction! You should get my problem here! Mr. 'Stay out of my personal space'."

Growling as the two made it to the top floor Akiko and Kota stood on, the dark-skinned God Eater turned to face Yuta. "Wow. How astute, so tell me Summers. What's the one thing you should be doing right now?"

Yuta groaned looking up at the slightly taller teen, "Aw come on Soma! Old buddy, old pal! We're bros! Comrades in arms! Fellow anti-socialites! We gotta help each other out in times like this!"

"How about, no." He coldly rebuked sharply, turning to walk away as Yuta reached out to his fellow God Eater. "Grow up and deal with this yourself."

"Soma!"

"Sheesh!" Kota quietly whispered, "Talk about being a total jerk. He didn't have to shoot down poor Yuta so harshly!" Kota angrily huffed, crossing his arms as he closed his eyes.

Never seeing as the hooded God Eater's icy blue eyes shot towards his and Akiko's direction with a stone-cold glare. 'Those eyes…' Akiko quietly thought as her gaze met his, 'There's like a storm brewing in them.'

Then he was gone, the elevator doors closing and separating them. Soma's hands clenched tightly into fists as he hung his head, "Damn Yuta." His mind's eye brought back the scene of Kota's whispered insult and Akiko's steady gaze. 'The way she was looking at me…' Forest green eyes flashed through his mind staring straight through him. He growled as his blood boiled, and angrily slammed the side of his fist on the elevator door. "Damn rookies!"

"You traitor!" Yuta aggravatedly yelled before the elevator door, "I thought we were friends!" Dramatically falling to his knee Yuta moaned, "I knew I should have just asked Eric or Lindow- Wait! No! Sakuya… at least she's an actual responsible adult." Sitting up tiredly Yuta sighed, "Maybe I could still make a run for it and get someone else to do this."

Finally walking across the top level of the lobby, Kota called out with a wave."Hey Yuta!"

"Oh sweet God Arcs why..." Yuta whispered standing up. "Hey Kota… You… Ready to go." Yuta awkwardly smiled. Akiko winced as she noticed the slight shaking in the teen's hands as he recalled the elevator his fellow God Eater had left on.

"You bet! Hey, Yuta what sort of mission will we be doing anyway today? We gonna be fighting Zygotes, ogretails, oh oh! Maybe a new aragami!"

"Uh… It's the-"

"Wait!" Kota exclaimed as the elevator finally appeared, "Don't tell me! I'm sure it'll be easy peasy with the two of us on it." Turning back to face Akiko he waved, "See ya later Aki! Let's meet up after our training!"

"Good luck you two!" Akiko yelled back with a wave. "Show those aragami who's boss!"

"Yeah..." Yuta tiredly sighed as he let Kota step onto the elevator before him. "Ey, Akiko. Your mentor for the day is probably gonna be a while so just wait for him near the front desk, Okay?" Yuta yelled back to Akiko as he entered the elevator.

"Kay, kay!" Akiko cheerfully replied, still waving. Watching as the elevator closed, her hand dropped to her side as she took stock of the time nearby. She sighed, "Please don't take forever…"

Walking down the steps to the lower lobby floor Akiko was stopped as the receptionist called out to her. "Excuse me!"

"Hmm." Looking up at the pigtailed teen Akiko smiled as she was met by the receptionist's friendly demure. "Something wrong?"

"Oh! Not at all." The young woman replied. "It's just you're one of the new recruits right? We haven't met before, so I thought we could introduce ourselves. I'm Hibari Takeda, I'm one of the operators who oversee missions and assist with support with Major Amamiya during missions."

"Oh!" Akiko excitedly exclaimed, "Well I'm Akiko Amano, but I usually go by Aki. It's nice to meet ya Hibari."

"Same." Hibari giggled, looking over her desks terminal when she heard the machine chime with an alert. She frowned at what she saw, "Hold on…"

"Something wrong?" Akiko asked, but before Hibari could reply to her, the sound of approaching footsteps caught the pair's attention.

Turning they look up at a dark-haired man walking down towards them from the upper levels stairs. Akiko's eyes widened as her eyes met his own visible one, 'Woah! That guy, that guy looks a lot like-'

"Oh, Lindow!" Hibari exclaimed, "The Director has just sent a request that if i saw you, I should tell you he wishes to meet… with you."

"Awesome!" The man cheerfully replied sarcastically. "Sounds like you didn't see me then!" He said with a wave-making Hibari shrug nonchalantly. Then he focused his gaze down fully onto Akiko with a more tense smile. "Oh ho! Hey there, rook!" Holding his gloved hand out to Akiko the two shooked, "The name's Lindow Amamiya."

'Bingo!' Akiko thought, looking up at the older and taller man.'He must be related to Tsubaki. Siblings? I bet Tsubaki's the older one with the way she carries herself.'

"According to various documents, I am your superior officer. But I never paid much attention to that crap and neither should you."

'Definitely the baby brother.' Akiko thought, remembering the few siblings she'd met and seen throughout her years living near the border of the ghetto and the main city within the walls.

"Endgame, I want you to be someone who I know has my back. And I'll have yours." Lindow honestly smiled, releasing Akiko's hand, his eyes glancing quickly to and away from the rose in Akiko's hair as he pulled away.

'Him too…' Akiko quietly thought confused, remembering the way Tsubaki would sometimes look at her since they had met. 'Why are they-'

"Oh, who's this?" Akiko jumped as both she and Lindow turned to see another dark-haired God Eater sauntering towards them. "A new recruit?" She asked, stopping besides Lindow as she stood relaxed and posed next to him with her hip jutted out and her God Arc armlet hand resting on it.

'Woah, she's beautiful too! What is with this place and pretty warrior women?!' Akiko thought gapping at the short-haired female in awe. Only to stop when she noted how the female's smile was similar to the one Lindow had first given her when meeting. 'Hold on... Her too...'

"Yep," Lindow shrugged before sending his companion a playfully annoyed look. "And you're totally ruining my big, scary speech about our brutal code, so shoo!"

"Wait, that was supposed to be a speech?" Akiko accidentally said aloud, making Lindow turn to gap at Akiko in shock. "Oops… Did I say that out loud?"

"Wha- Rookie!"

"I mean, I admire the effort sir. But if that was supposed to be a speech it was kinda sloppy and far from scary. Though I did enjoy the talks of comradery if it's any consolation." Akiko playfully remarked, thinking it best to play oblivious as Lindow stared down at her.

"What the-"

Bursting out laughing, the dark-haired God Eater tried to cover her mouth as she waved at them, "My, my, it seems our new recruit is a bit on the blunt side."

"Sakuya!"

"Heh, sorry, boss! I… I'll take that as my queue to leave, sir!" The woman, Sakuya, teasingly cooed before snickering. Waving goodbye to Akiko before walking out the lobby's front doors.

"Seriously…" Lindow sighed, scratching his head, "And I lost my place too." Looking back at Akiko he almost seemed to pout, much to Akiko's amusement. "Look. I'm sending you out into battle today, real combat." Placing his hand on top of Akiko's head he smiled reassuringly. "I know that can be scary. But look, I'm gonna be right here with ya, got it?" Looking up at the time he smiled mischievously. "Oh and look at the time. It's half past mission."

Akiko blinked bewildered, "Wha-? NYAH!" She shrieked as Lindow suddenly began to aggressively ruffle her hair. "Stahp! Ah~!"

"Let's go!" Lindow said, releasing the now messy-haired Akiko as she whined. Her hair falling loose from its originally messy updo as Lindow walked away towards the dispatch and armory elevator as Akiko remained in place mourning the loss of her work. "Hurry along rookie!"

"Ah!" She jumped quickly running after the man, "Hey hold on...! Wait!"

Staring out at the crumbling city a much younger Lindow in his teens sighed, taking a drag from the cigarette in his mouth as he quietly glared at the scenery before him. Sitting on the edge of a short drop that led to the aragami infested zone he had been sent to take care of. His hand tightly gripping the hilt of his long blade as his leg nervously twitched from where it hung.

'God… I hate solo missions.' He thought, taking a drag from his cigarette. 'And on my birthday too. God damn slave drivers.'

Suddenly a gloved hand clamped down on the top of his head and his eyes widened with fear as a shadow fell over him. "Roo-kie!" Maria viciously growled before roughly ruffling the teens hair.

"Gah! What the hell?!" Lindow yelled as his head was shook so hard his cigarette fell out of his mouth and over the edge. "My Cigarette!"

"How many times do your sister and I have to say this, you damn brat? No smoking!" Roughly grabbing the back of the teens collar Maria forced him up on his feet. "You're still too young to be killing yourself with those cancer sticks ya damn brat! You might be able to get away with smoking that shit privately in your room back at the base. But you better bet I won't let this slide under my watch."

"What the fuck?" Lindow snapped, finally freeing himself to turn to glare at the older woman. "What the hell are you doing here granny?"

"Uh, obviously here to help you, you dumbass brat."

"What! I don't need your help! Last I checked, I was the senior God Eater here! Not you!"

Staring down at the late teen Maria just sighed, "Yeah, maybe. But you forget kid, I was the one who's been having to save your ass for the last few weeks. Talk about having your head in the clouds, I bet it's all that nicotine messing with that little brain of yours."

"Oi!"

Walking past him she rested her melee God Arc over top of her shoulder. "Not to mention all my years not only surviving the military before this hellscape came to be, and my time outside the wall." Turning back to look over her shoulder she said, "You yourself should know better than anyone what it's like to live out here instead of behind that cosy little cage they call a wall. So your sister and little girlfriend asked me to come out here and babysit you while they're stuck at work."

Glaring up at the older woman Lindow huffed, "Are you kidding me? I don't need a babysitter. Weren't you supposed to be off today too!"

Sighing Maria shook her head, "Yeah, yeah. Cry me a river. This wasn't really my idea of a day off either you know."

"Then why the hell did you agree to come out here anyway!" Lindow snapped, stopping though when he noticed the woman's hand move out to touch the lone red rose hair clip connected to her braided buns tie.

"..."

It was too quiet for comfort. In the few months he had met and had to work with Maria he had never known her to be so quiet, or sullen, without there actually being a reason to cause it. Whether it be the death of a fellow God Eater, or even just a real bad day on the job. Maria always seemed to know in some way how to respond or react. It was probably that fact alone that had made his elder sister, hell even he to some degree, look up to her. Why she was already rising up the ranks past him and others, even though he had been there longer. "Mari-"

"Look alive kiddo." Getting into a position to jump she looked back at the silent Lindow with a smirk, "It's half past mission, and the sooner we get this done the sooner we can be back on base to celebrate that birthday of yours." Jumping over the edge she said, "Let's go!"

"The City of Mercy..." Akiko gasped, bringing Lindow out of his reminiscing. The pair now standing before the ruined city. Akiko's eyes trained on the abandoned church within the center of the field they would be operating in as she held her God Arc close to her chest.

"Man," Lindow sighed as he removed a lit cigarette from his mouth."This place has seen better days, for sure." Dropping the finished cigarette bud to the ground he stomped it out as he shifted his God Arc more securely over his shoulder. "All right, rook, we're gonna get some real hands-on experience today. You got three big rules." Holding up his hand he began to count off it. "Don't die. If you're in danger, frickin' run. And last, hide. Well, not hide. Use cover. Stealth wins fights."

"Um sir… Isn't that more like four big rules?" Akiko asked, feeling her head spin as she tried to straighten out Lindow's speech mentally. "Isn't there a more bottomline rule?"

Chuckling, Lindow scratched the back of his head, "Pfft, I'll give you that.." Shaking his head he made his way to jump off the elevated platform they stood on. "Here I think I can bottom line it for ya: Survive." Looking back at Akiko she took note of the more serious look in his eyes even as he spoke and smiled so casually. "Actually, yeah, let's say one big rule: Survive." The familiar sound of an aragami cry rang out throughout the field.

"Ogretails." Akiko whispered as she shifted her God arc into its gun form as she moved up beside Lindow, and secured a sniper's scope to her left eye.

"All right, kid. Let's get this show on the road."

"Yes sir!"

Jumping down the two took position. The earpieces in their ears came to life as Hibari's voice came from them. "Hey, there. How's it feel to be out on your first field op? Hope Lindow hasn't already scared you off."

Holding his finger to the earpiece Lindow spoke, "Awe come on Hibari. I don't scare off recruits."

"Uhuh. You feeling okay out there Aki?"

Fumbling for a bit to figure out her earpiece Akiko nodded to herself, "Yeah! I mean… I think so?" Staying alert as they walked she looked around their perimeter. "We haven't really run into our target yet so…"

"I get it. Do you need a quick run down on your mission again?"

"Not much that we really have to run down." Lindow rebuttal. "We're fighting little Ogretails today. Should be a pretty basic hunt. Nothing crazy or unexpected, fingers crossed."

"Hibari…?"

"Yes, Aki?"

"Is there any way we could note that down in case the Captain here just jinxed us."

"Hey!"

Laughing into their earpieces Hibari nodded to herself, "Sure~! I'll even make it a point to bring it up to his big sister."

"Okay now that's just cruel. Definitely not cute, rookie. Have you no respect for your superior officer."

"Weren't you the one telling me not to sweat the titles and positions on papers sir." Akiko snickered, as Hibari struggled to not laugh harder over their radio.

"You did tell her that back at base Lindow, I can vouch to that."

"Evil." Lindow huffed as he stopped behind a corner, "You hear me, you're both evil."

"Can I be adorably evil?" Akiko asked, stopping close beside him. Kneeling down beside him as she tried to look around the corners edge with him.

"Rookie…." Looking down at the late teen as she looked back up to him Lindow smirked. "I think this is the start of a wonderful friendship."

"Awe~! Thank you sir! Although…" Pointing her finger up at the older man's face she pouted annoyedly. "Do you think you could call me by my name, sir!"

"Oh, and what would that name be, rookie?"

"Wha-! Didn't they tell you before they assigned me to you?" Akiko gapped as she stared up at Lindow's smirking face.

Tsubaki stared him down with her commanding gaze as he reviewed the tablet she had handed him with the still new recruits picture and almost blank profile, "She's a New Type Scythe and Sniper user. She also happens to be Maria's only surviving family, her granddaughter. Her name is-"

"Eh, I'd prefer hearing it come out of your mouth. And besides, aren't you still calling me 'sir', gonna break a guys heart you know. I ain't that old."

Huffing she looked away once to take a quick glance around the corner, before looking behind them to make sure they weren't caught off guard. "Yeah, but why call you by your name if you don't call me by mine."

"Fair point." He shrugged, "So what's your name 'rookie'?"

Standing up she fully turned to look up at him, smiling as she held her gloved hand to him. "It Aki, Akiko Amano. A pleasure to finally properly meet you, Lindow."

Smiling back down, he nodded clasping her hand to give her a proper shake, "Pleasures all mine, Akiko."

"Targets entering zone E and F from Zone G inside the church." Hibari's voice alerted, making the two pull away to ready their God Arcs.

"It's time." Akiko's voice cracked, feeling the adrenaline start to pump through her veins.

Looking down at the much smaller teen, Lindow took note of the tensing of her muscles and the tightening grip on her gun. Placing his hand reassuringly on her shoulder he watched as she jumped in place and turned to look up at him with wide eyes. "I know it's your first time in the field. Just remember to stay calm." Looking over the corner edge with her they watched as a small group of Ogretails exited the church's only ground opening and out in the open. "Watch their movements and strike when you see an opening." Giving her one last pat on the back, he took position to take point. "I'll be taking point, so don't be afraid to just cover me. But if you think you're good enough." He quickly shot out to engage with the first of the small group of six. "Then show them hell!" He yelled.

Revving up the chainsaw of his God Arc he swung, cleaving through one of the closest Ogretails and alerting the rest to their fallen pack mate and him.

"Here!" Two gun shots went off in almost quick succession, "Have a bullet!" Akiko shouted. Hitting and killing another of the Ogretails as she charged out. Quickly shifting the Arc back into its melee form as she lunged passed an impressed Lindow. "Devor!" Her God Arc bit into the third.

Lindow moved past her to take on the next three, listening to Akiko grunts and yelps as she struggled to kill the ogretail with her devor. "Come on Akiko, you better keep up!"

"Prepare for contact! More Enemies incoming!" Hibari suddenly warned.

"What!" Lindow exclaimed as he slashed through two of the last three, taking note as another small group suddenly appeared from around the corner. "Reinforcement inbound!"

Pulling her God Arc back from the deceased beast Akiko laughed almost hysterically, shifting her Arc once more into its gun form. "Understood!" She took aim and, "Fire!"

It wouldn't be until a good while later that Akiko would find herself trying to catch her breath as her God Arc devoured the last ogretail. Lindow lighting up a new cigarette as he watched Akiko slowly relax from where she stood.

"Target Aragami have been neutralized. Well, done guys! Calling extract now as we speak." Hibari happily signed within their earpieces before dropping the call.

'A… again.' Akiko thought, staring down at her God Arc. 'I went all crazy again! Damn it Aki, why can't you just be chill!' She frustratedly thought, gripping her pole-arm tighter as she tried to think over all the mistakes Tsubaki has been trying to have her correct since her first training.

"Good work today kid."

Jumping up, Akiko tried and failed to do an about-face as she yelped trying to not trip and fall on her own face. "Ack~" Straightening up she looked up at the man with a blush, "Uh… what was that?"

Taking a drag from his cigarette he turned to start walking to their pick-up point. "I don't really just hand out compliments, so listen well." Looking back at Akiko he stared her down straight in the eyes, "I've read the report over your training results, and I'll admit they don't paint a very pretty picture." He watched her flinch and struggle to not look away. He couldn't help but smile at her then, "But when I say you moved well out there for a recruit, I mean it."

"Lindow..."

"You're not some hardened veteran, and you definitely aren't some cocky hot shot punk recruit." He said, "So quick advice, don't sweat the small stuff. Everyone has their own way of maneuvering and dealing with the threat of aragami out here, just be flexible and open for when you are placed onto a team or paired up with people you may or may not know. If there is one thing we God Eaters should be above all else out here, it's flexible." Looking up at the sound of a helicopter's approach he began to walk again, "Come on, our rides here. I think I'll treat you to some dinner tonight for an honest good first day on the job."

"Lindow…" Akiko whispered in awe. Smiling as she felt a part of her fears and self-doubt be brushed aside for a bit. Quickly moving to catch up with the older man as her stomach seemed to react at his offer for food, "Hey! Hey! Lindow, is there any way I can have some of that Giant corn for dinner today!"

"What the- Are you seriously saying you like that stuff?"

"Aw~ it's not that bad! As long as you slather it with a bunch of rationed butter and sugar on top, it's a pretty filling meal once you gobble down two whole ones of them!"

"Kid, are you even human?"

"Hmm… I think Gen would say that's debatable. But come on! I'm a growing girl, cut me some slack! Oh! If not that, maybe I could try some stew! I love stew! Especially meat stew!"

"Woah slow down kid! I offered you dinner, not to kill my wallet!"

Akiko giggled at that, "Yeah, but that's a given with my stomach. Oh! No take-backs by the way!"

"Damn it… Think we could have a rain check?"

Giggling Akiko almost skipped in place, "Let me think… Nope~!"