Nomad, Shin's Story

by Dark Ryuu

Growing up, Shin (Toy) always wanted to do the right thing for everyone that he could, especially those in need. But can he keep from losing sight of himself, his family, and his friends, especially his elusive best friend, Lyla, and new partner in life, Komari? A prequel to Step Toward the Future and Legacy, an alternate universe crossover between all games.

9. A Social Experiment

Chapter 9: A Social Experiment

Author's Note: Yo, here's the next chapter! Excited to finally introduce this. Warning: Violence and some strange sexual conversations but no actual smut. Oh no, that's…that's next chapter. can't get the full next few chapters, whoa buddy.

So a few other notes: this is alternate universe, of course, and I tried to stick as closely as possible to military lingo as possible. However, literal Japan's military isn't quite to same as any other nation's…so I've basically created my own system of rules for the story. The ranking seems off as well but meh.

Also, geography! Take it with a grain of salt. While I am using actual territories or cities, there is a blend of 'Rune Factory/Harvest Moon land' as well. I think the world is much bigger as a whole to account for these land masses being this large…but yea, if it's like 'oh, there IS a city where you're describing!', don't take it as it doesn't exist or something, it's just different…alternate universe.

Enjoy!

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"Yagami, Shin!"

Shin clicked together his heels, answering with the designated, 'sir, yes, sir'. What in the hell had he gotten himself into?

The flight itself was eighteen hours. Shin had flown a few times but maybe two hours tops. He tried to sleep, he tried to read, he tried everything, but he was already anxious. He overheard some of the guys that had already made this trip talking in dismay about having to come back to August. 'The heat, man.'

Heat? Oh, yes, 34 degrees Celsius, 95 Fahrenheit, no big deal. A hot day in Japan all day. When they finally arrived after almost flying for a whole day? Well, he wasn't sure what exactly it was he walked out into. It felt like the heat literally had formed a fist and slammed it into his whole entire body and just pressed him there. He asked someone what was the temperature? Whomever chuckled. "45 degrees Celsius. 112 Fahrenheit".

112 degrees?! His entire body started to sweat. Drinking water as they went on to a non air-conditioned bus, he had to remind himself not to be a bourgeois kid. But 112 degrees?

It never broke either, not once on the thirty minute bus ride. Shin had to thank whatever kindness existed in the universe that kept him from puking like several others had. He felt it but he fought it. Damn.

He wanted to sleep when they got there, a gigantic void of a space with nothing but sand on either side of it. They were only about a ten minute walk from a small city but 112 degrees. They were already dragging as they stood in line to get linens and towels for their dorm. Aden…definitely was not on this detail. He sent word that he and his girlfriend were nearby in Baghdad so maybe he'd see them. Here, he'd be getting a new bunkmate.

"Yagami, I was reading your reports."

Shin managed not to jump when acting Colonel Teramoto Ken came beside him, holding a clipboard. Shin smiled awkwardly, "Sir?"

"I had an…unusual request handed down to me from above, one I, unfortunately, could not refuse. It goes against all military protocol but I suppose this surpasses those conventions."

What now? "They said you're very by the book, Yagami, so I'm assigning you this…social experiment as a bunkmate. Don't worry, I'm sure it won't last so just bear with it until they tucker out."

'Social experiment'? What the hell did that mean? Shin frowned as he heard some of the rest of the unit start to sharply whisper. What?

"Yamada!"

Shin almost had a heart attack. The social experiment of his dad suddenly being in the army and his bunkmate?! Not having one ounce of military experiment except being shot at in his hometown denied every army protocol!

A young woman marched up to Colonel Teramoto. She had short messy brown hair and light brown eyes, wearing the same fatigues everyone else had on. She might have been around 5'2", 157 centimeters. Her expression was cool and numb as she about faced, staring at Shin. Teramoto nodded, "Yagami, this is Specialist Yamada Komari. She…will be bunking with you. We had hoped to have a free room but fate didn't call for it. Yamada, this is Private Yagami Shin."

He literally exhaled, gripping his chest, "Oh, thank God."

Teramoto and Yamada raised a brow, "What now?"

"O-Oh, my apologies. It's nice to meet you, Yamada-san" he bowed. "I look forward to working with you."

"…You as well, Yagami-san."

"Men, the army passed down that Specialist Yamada is going to be in our unit. She is going to be on active assignment and taking patrol with you. Should any missions occur, she will be considered equally for selection. This goes without saying and is no suggestion of my troop's character, but any untoward actions toward Specialist Yamada or any officer will lead to a dishonorable discharge. Keep your normal decorum."

What? Everyone was quiet as Yamada was handed her supplies. They were assigned to room 20-01. He walked the hallway and overheard 'lucky bastard' as he passed. What?

…Wait. Shin paused as he walked into the room, Yamada already there. The room was…sparse, to say the least. It was like literally just two cots and two metal cabinets on either side of the room. And it was a little cooler but he could only imagine the kind of A/C it would take to cool off a facility like this considerably. So…six months of this, huh?

Yamada stood up and her eyes narrowed. What? He frowned as she marched over and slammed the door shut. Eh? She glared daggers at him, her fists balled, "Look here, Yagami, I don't know what your relief was out there was but I'm going to set you straight now: If you even dream anything is gonna happen between us or you're going to be getting ass because I'm a woman, I will rip your dick off."

"Whoa, whoa" Shin yelped, holding up his free hand, "Th-That never even crossed my mind slightly, I was relieved because you're not my dad!"

She made a face, recoiling, "What?"

"My-My dad's name is Yamada, I thought they had…drafted my…dad." Wow, Shin, blond moment much?

Yamada glared, "Your last name is Yagami."

"Yea?"

"So what sense does that make?!" she demanded.

Oh wow, it'd been a while. "Oh, my dad's first name is Yamada. Yagami Yamada."

"…What?"

"Yea."

Yamada stared at him as if to deliberate if he was serious or not. Honestly, he was serious as hell but for the stupidest possible conclusion he could possibly reach. Startling him, she suddenly snickered. "…Yagami, what the fuck?"

"Yea, it wasn't one of my brighter moments" he groaned, going over to the bed Yamada hadn't set her things on, "…But my dad also seems like the type that would do something like that if it were allowed so I freaked for a moment."

"He that resourceful?"

"Uh…probably, if he set his mind to it."

Yamada sighed, picking apart her pack of sheets, "Well…I guess I wouldn't put it past my own crazy father either. How old are you?"

"Oh, uh, nineteen."

She nodded, "You're young so I'll let you in on a fact of life in the military: no one wants me here, Yagami. A woman has no place in men's war games."

Shin frowned, shaking his pillow into the case, "…You're a specialist though. What's your specialty?"

"I scored a 40 on the shooting example. I have a subspecialty in sniping" she shrugged, picking up her duffel bag and throwing it on the bed.

Gawking, Shin stared, "…40? How many times?"

"Hmm, I took it like eight times the first time. When I took it on my last tour of duty, I scored 40 again. They had no choice but to give me Specialist."

…Good lord. "Wow, I…I mean, I dunno about having no place in 'men's' war 'games', Yamada, it sounds like your shooting accuracy is meant for exactly that."

"Ha! Tell that to your comrades with penises, Yagami. I was in the "women's" unit. Non-combat, by the way. I requested to go out on a mission—begged, really. I must've bothered my old commander enough that he allowed it to happen. I was able to…apprehend one of the lead officials of the Zechs' main lackeys by sniping his cell. After that? I was put right back on mail sorting duty. Important as hell, mind you. Not why I joined, however."

Shin scowled, "…So you made an ultimatum."

"Good catch, Yagami" Yamada droned, "I told them I would officially resign and that they didn't want that. I didn't mean anything threatening by it except it'd be a mistake but they thought I had some dirt on being a woman there. It wasn't great but nothing bad happened to me, not with my guard dog there. I asked to be put on active duty and now I'm here with your all male unit who is convinced you now have an easy lay to tap whenever your balls tighten up."

"And I assure you I will do everything in my power to indicate that is not occurring" Shin sighed. "I know about it being messy to get where you want to."

Yamada raised a brow at him but nodded. They silently went about preparing the room. He unpacked his things, pasting pictures of his family on the wall over his bed. He unpacked the clothes he brought and put them in the cabinet along with the mass amount of toiletries his mom packed for him. He groaned, scratching his head. He had…avoided it but he might cut his hair. It was short but he could see the practicality of a buzz cut with it being a billion degrees.

About to go find the army barber and see his buzzed head for the first time, he noted as he was about to put his duffel bag away that it…still felt like it had something in it. Going through all the pockets, it felt like a brick slammed into his heart and dragged it to his stomach.

The pocket watch she gave him for his 16th birthday.

He stared at the metal timepiece, prepared to chuck it out the window into the sand. He carried this to basic with him. He put her picture in it. What was it doing here? Why? Did Koji think this was a fucking joke? He had stitched himself together to get to this point, how the fuck dare he?

Trembling, he glanced down and noticed a pink piece of stationary. It was familiar. It… glaring, he snatched the letter open. I know you hate me. But please, keep this. And be safe. The fucking hell?

Shivering with rage, he stared at the watch. Was…was her picture still inside?

"You good there, Yagami?"

Shin glanced to his side, Yamada throwing her duffel bag in the bottom drawer of a metal locker. "…Yea. Can you do me a small favor?"

"Maybe?"

"Can you get rid of this for me?"

He tossed it low so it didn't hit her and also because he didn't care if it hit the ground or not. She caught it at ease, pressing the button and opening it, answering one of his questions. "Oh, she's cute. Girlfriend?"

"No."

Yamada blinked at him languidly before throwing it in a drawer. Um, he wanted her to toss it in the garbage. "Hey, a nuclear meltdown takes out all the clocks and compasses, we have that one."

"Well, I leave it in your capable hands. Where you from, Yamada-san?" he asked to change the subject, slumping back on his bed. Well…he wouldn't be sleeping well for six months either.

"Tsuyukusa, near Tadaoka, in the Osaka prefecture. You?"

Oh, a Kansai accent, that made sense. "Born in Wasaba, raised mostly in Subami in the Hondo prefecture."

While he hoped she wasn't quite hip to what that meant, she leered, "So you're like a hyper rich kid?"

"Well…I guess. My parents worked to get there. Not a…lineage thing."

Which was apparently a problem to some people. Yamada crossed her arms, staring at him, before her eyes lit up, "Yagami Yamada! The doctor dude! I thought that was a typo, we had read an article about him in high school."

"Ha, nope…that's him though."

"Well, look, around our 'superiors', call me Yamada but so you don't get the weirds about calling me by your dad's first name, you can call me Komari" she shrugged again.

Shin chuckled, "Well, I don't make it a habit of calling my dad 'Yamada' but I appreciate it, Komari-san. You can call me Shin, hopefully not your dad's name."

"Ginjiro" she droned. "So…close but not quite. C'mon, Yagami, you're about to learn how different this is about to be from Subami. You better get ready for hell."

…What?

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It was so fucking HOT.

Shin miserably carried the army assigned rifle under his arm as he, Yamada, and three other soldiers trudged through the nearby town. The unit would break off into smaller groups to patrol the area full of Earthmates in order to see if the Zechs infiltrated the area. He and Yamada had been limited to this area while more seasoned soldiers were allowed to drive the Jeeps and Humvees to other locations. He'd been here a month and thus far nothing really…alarming had happened. He supposed that was the goal. He could deal with stepping stones.

But it was so fucking hot.

He didn't even think he cursed this much, not when compared to his brothers, but there was no describing this climate without profanity. He had told Yamada his plan to buzz his hair off but she had snickered. "You'd look like a douche with a buzzed head, Yagami. If you MUST, maybe shave the sides so you only look like a quarter douche."

And he did, cutting down some of the top. It was an interesting haircut to say the least, he took a picture and mailed it to his family. He wished he could see their direct reactions. He…he definitely missed them. Just…just them.

Stifling a yawn, Shin glanced at the houses. Terran children were playing outside, jumping rope or playing something they had conjured up in their imaginations. How…damaging did this have to be, to see armed people walking your streets to make sure some enemy force didn't come in to swoop them up and kill them? He…had run Louis' scenario by Yamada to see what she thought. He expected her to scoff but she looked genuinely bemused. "…You know, that would almost make more sense."

Capital. Killing people for money 'made more sense'. He shook his head as Yamada fell into step beside him, "What'cha thinking, Blue Eyes?"

"That this is some bullshit the Zechs are pulling and its hot as fuck. The usual."

On top of the haircut, Shin happened to notice he was already tanned. They gave them sunscreen but it was a little difficult to reapply on the field. Sometimes he would walk around in the yard in his shorts with the other guys to not get a farmer's tan, as vain as that was.

During those times, they asked if he had seen Yamada naked. He assured he wouldn't dignify that with a response as he wasn't looking to see her naked. They heckled, said she was 'really cute' and that they would definitely take advantage of that situation with her. It seriously had not crossed his mind. Granted, she was cute but he didn't just go around trying to sleep with people he found cute in general. That aside, her demeanor, it'd…it'd be like trying to have sex with one of his brothers.

She had mentioned it a few days ago, seeming genuinely curious and suspicious. "By now, somebody would have told me to 'watch my mouth' or complained that I'm too blunt, Yagami. What's your problem?"

"Komari, I literally have five other siblings and two of them, once you get them going, would probably manage to flabbergast even you."

Yamada had been shocked. "Five siblings?! So there's like six of you?! Was there even a pullout attempt?!"

Shin groaned, rubbing his face. Unfortunately, while he was working in Wasaba, he did hear someone suggest his dad…was not a fan of contraceptives in his youth. He just preferred to pretend they weren't referring to his father but, yea, six children definitely seemed to indicate that protection was not high on his dad's list of concerns.

Around eight in the evening, they went back to base, relieved by the next group. He needed a shower. While it went against everything he was trying to do and he wasn't sure why she was going along with it, Komari swayed, looking at him 'cutely' when he said this, in front of a good chunk of people: "You want me to wash your back, Shin-san-n-n?"

"Quit it" he sulked, walking toward the shared shower room.

"You're really no fun, Yagami."

Not when it came to that, no. He took a long nice cool shower because, while he loved even a warm shower in Summer at home, his skin was over heat. When he came out, he smirked to find Komari there with her shower bag, sitting. "Be a dear?"

"Sure."

He dragged the chair over directly in front of the door. Most of the guys would go eat first before they took a shower, an order of operations Shin was not able to follow, so generally Komari was good as she was of the same mindset. However, there had been one incident of the guys conspiring to get a glimpse while she was bathing. Some even suggested that she should not get special treatment in the first place since she wanted to be here.

Colonel Teramoto was away but the next in command, an old ghost from basic training he thought he'd get to leave behind, agreed. Shin got the moves were all to try to get her to resign but seriously? He really didn't feel anyone should have to bathe in front of others if they weren't comfortable to.

"Thanks, Yagami, you're the best."

He looked up as Komari came out with a towel around her shoulders, wearing the army official leisure clothes, patting her hair dry. Shin pushed the chair back, "No problem. Luckily no one came or I probably would have had to let them in."

"Eh, fuck it, let them" Komari uttered, "If that's the ball they want to play, they can see these tits all day."

Shin snorted, "With some of these guys? Wouldn't recommend. I guess I can be all awkward and block you so they'll want to beat my ass later."

She laughed as they dropped their things off, heading for the mess hall. "You must be the oldest brother, Yagami. That or you're a real lowkey possessive with making sure you'd be the only one seeing me naked."

"Definitely the former, Yamada" he smirked at her, "I have precisely one sister and I've heard some very aggressive and not even moderately appropriate things suggested about her body so I might be a little extra protective."

"Aww, what a good nii-san" she joked.

He snickered, grabbing a tray to get in line for this slop described as food. "I get to call you anee-san, right? Since you're older than me."

"Oi, oi, no way, bub" Komari stuck out her tongue, "I got that enough from actual kids, not some behemoth a foot taller than me."

Shin chuckled, sitting down while Komari sat across from him, picking at the food disdainfully. "You ever had turtle stew?"

"…Turtles? Like…turtle-turtle?"

Komari blinked languidly at him, sipping the watered down miso, "Yea, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello turtles."

"Can't say I have nor want that pleasure" Shin cringed, spooning a bit of rice into whatever excuse for curry this was.

"You suck, Yagami. It's my favorite dish along with okonomiyaki" she leered.

Drinking a sip of water, he shook his head, "I can rock with you on okonomiyaki but I'd probably freak out eating turtle. Probably just too much of a city kid."

"Well, I miss it like hell. I'd kill for some right now" she grumbled, miserably stirring her miso, "My old man runs a teahouse and it was one of his top dishes."

Shin smiled wistfully, "Yea, I could really go for some home cooking too. My mom makes some awesome cookies…"

Just…five months to go on this leg. Komari made a face, "I don't think my mom ever cooked anything. She was just terrible at it. She's a traveling salesman and is gone all the damn time though so if I ever depended on her for food…"

Frankly, as they all got older, his parents cooking for them was such a rarity. They both were excellent cooks, no doubt, but also far too busy to depend on for a daily meal. He wondered if they'd slowed down a bit now…

Sometimes the universe answered suffering, especially as he was about to dip into a depression. One of the privates came around with a cart, excitably announcing that they had mail. He just…hoped.

And it was delivered. Shin smiled, relieved, to receive a stack of letters and a small package. Komari also got a few letters and boxes. Flipping through, he paused. Last time…he had really been looking for…

He exhaled, relieved, to only have six letters in his hands and a package from his brothers. He and Komari travelled back to their barrack and sat on their beds in silence, accepting this small piece of home in this far off place.

Shin smiled softly, finding his dad definitely hadn't gotten much better with the whole letter thing, scribbled out characters all over the place. He imagined the man started over on various pieces of paper before just settling on this one. Hello, Son, I hope that all is well. I think about you every day and I pray this finds you in good health.

Reading over it, he groaned, finding his dad spent a majority of the letter asking how he was doing versus updating how he was doing. Shin knew how he was doing! With a shake of his head, he leaned over and grabbed a notebook, scribbling answers to his dad and asking, 'hey, how are YOU?'. He understood though, his dad was probably spending his free time freaking out.

When he opened his mom's next, he instantly snickered. His mama was gushing that his hair was actually cute though supremely different than what she'd always seen him with. Figures. She was a little more balanced in asking 'how are you?' and saying what was going on there. She reported she had opened a fifth store and she was very excited. Good, she deserved that…

Koji's was a little short in the scheme of things. He started the letter saying he would write again soon but that he was swamped with classes, taking a course overload so he could potentially graduate at three or three and a half years to pursue his masters or graduate degree. Man, that kid surprised him sometimes. Nelly was talking all about parties with not even a hint of his academics in his letter…

Tony talked a little about high school before talking about his 'smoking hot' second year girlfriend. Shin groaned again, rubbing his forehead, at some of the…gory details. He just…prayed that kid understood effective protection.

Adding to his response letter to Koji to please make sure Tony was 'covered', he fearfully opened Jill's. No, he imagined she wouldn't be quite as candid about 'getting blown' as Tony was or at least about doing the blowing but she may mention a boyfriend…

No, Jill's was tame. A little too tame, in the scheme of things. The most rebellious thing she mentioned was she went to a rock concert with Koji. She said she actually kind of liked it, joking maybe she would branch out a little. That did make him smile.

Shaun, his youngest sibling, told him he wanted to buy a motorcycle just like his. Except he wanted it to be 'Optimus Prime' colors. 'Old Optimus Prime', not Beast Wars Optimus Prime. Yea, he'd been a little upset about that reboot himself. The joys of aging, he s'posed…Shaun's letters, while bizarre, were always the most detailed and entertaining. He hoped that kid was always kind of carefree.

…Swallowing, he rapidly shook his head. No, dumbass, no. That…that lineup did not feel incomplete.

He picked up the box and ripped it open, needing an instant distraction. What he failed to realize was it was not from his parents or younger siblings, it was from Nelly, one of the miscreants. It was a box full of porno magazines. Girl on girl porn. The five books crashed to the floor.

Komari looked up and immediately at the subject of this toppling and he really would have liked to have crawled into that cursed box. She smirked. "…Interesting taste, Yagami."

"T-That's just my stupid little brothers, playing a prank!" he blurted, his ears hot as he scooped them up, haphazardly stuffing them back into the cardboard.

"Uh huh."

Kill him. Kill him now. Komari folded a letter before patting it against her lips, cutting her eyes at him. "…Well, I guess that's a good segue."

"Um, not sure how porn is a good segue to anything but…"

She laughed, waving a hand, "It's not but I have to gloat. My baby, she just wrote and told me she's been promoted to Specialist! If I can make this work, in May, she should be here with us."

"That's awesome" Shin smiled, "Guess I'll lose you as a roommate at that rate, huh?"

"Possibly."

He guessed he needed to think about how he was going to rank next. He was a Private 2 and next should be Private First Class. Musing for a moment, Komari got under her covers, turning on her side and leering. Eh? "…And by 'my baby', I mean 'my girlfriend'. Like, a girlfriend."

"I know, I got that intonation" Shin blinked, lying on his back.

"So what, you just kind of assumed I was into girls because I'm here or because I wasn't trying to jump your bone?" she questioned dryly.

Shin scoffed, rubbing his eyes, and yawning, "…When you saw my ex-friend's picture, the way you said 'she's cute' wasn't in any of the two versions I'm acclimated to so I assumed it was an actual 'she's attractive to me'. I just wasn't thinking it was anything pressing to question or whatever."

She chucked an envelope at him with a snort, "Shaddup, Yagami. You and your liberal ass responses to life. I was probably more surprised I have a girlfriend than you are."

"What's there to judge?" he said drearily.

"I guess since we're your favorite porn genre, you shouldn't" she smirked.

"What! That's-"

"What's this about the girl from the watch being your ex?"

…Bizarrely, he was actually okay with that predicament being the change of subject than the former because damn. Squeezing the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes, he mumbled, "…She was my best friend. Since we were six years old, she'd been my best friend. I…When I got back from basic, things started to get a little intimate though and I mistakenly thought there was way more there than there was. I…I gave her a promise ring and essentially her dad told me I was 'a waste of time quarterbreed' who would never be good enough for her. She…she didn't even say anything when he said that…"

Ugh, he…he still wasn't mended. Komari's brows furrowed, slowly shaking her head, "…Nothing?"

"No."

Komari scowled, "I mean, was she the quiet type?"

"Sort of but does it matter?" Shin whispered.

"I mean to say, shit, Yagami, we just met and I wouldn't let any asshole just talk to you like that, especially if it's my pops" Komari scoffed, "Was he beating her?"

Shaking his head, he sighed, "…I'd…I'd seen her naked enough to know that if he was beating her, he was a master at covering bruises."

"Maybe…less surface area abuse?"

He grimaced. "…It…it crossed my mind but I…I told her something once, I don't think she would have reacted the way she did if it was a similar experience."

Komari stretched, folding her hands together to crack her knuckles, "I dunno. Has she ever defended you before?"

Shin opened his mouth to deny that defense as well…but paused. Wait.

"…Once, we were at a French restaurant. I mean, sometimes I get looked at as a foreigner so the waitresses are suspicious of me or something? She apparently laid the waitress out once for profiling me."

So…why? It was almost the same scenario. Komari nodded, "It's something weird going on there with her dad, Shin. I can imagine that whole deal pissed you off but it doesn't sound very black and white."

"…It doesn't matter. That's over. It's over."

She gave him a look. Nope, had to change the subject back anyway. "What's your girlfriend's name?"

"Itoh Kasumi. She's a…loaded case but I love her" Komari sighed.

Shin nodded, smiling some, "That's…that's good. It…it was a nice feeling while it lasted for me but I guess I…"

…Needed to change the subject. Forever.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

'Boredom' was not the word he wanted to use. No, he was not bored. The area he was in had very moderate activity but, fact of the matter was, they'd had more cases of breaking up internal squabbles amongst the Terrans themselves. Nothing violent, just understandable reactions to tensions being high. And if he honestly looked at it, he preferred that. He knew that this way, the people in front of him were fortified. Yes, there were people out there in camps but these people? They were safely at home with their families where they should be, living life. He wanted to keep it that way.

But it was when the day ended.

Some days, he was exhausted. It didn't matter what happened because he was going to sleep. Other days? He'd come back to base, shower, eat dinner, and send emails to his parents. It took a while but they got computers. It was…something to do.

He was just alone with his thoughts so often.

"Oi, oi, Yagami!"

Well, not too often. Shin had been standing in the courtyard, the only open point in the location aside from the exit. Joro and Saki, two guys that were in the squad along with him and Yamada, had been out with him at first, smoking. He'd die before he took it back home so Koji and Nelly could heckle him but he had also started smoking a cigarette or two a day. That was it, he told himself. It was November, he would start weaning mid-December, and let it go. In all honesty, he kind of did not get it, it tasted like burning acrid grass and smoke. If he was addicted to anything about it, it was the idle motion and seeing it dwindle down.

He glanced over his shoulder, currently working on his second and last stick for the day. Yamada stalked up to him and took it, taking a puff. She looked irritated, "Bitch, I heard you scored a 36 on the shooting aptitude in basic?"

Shin groaned, rolling his eyes as she handed it back, "Yea, but it's…not a 40?"

"Which you scored near the end of basic, apparently?"

"It was a good day!"

"Let's go to the range" she leered.

Great, shooting. He sighed, putting out his unfinished cancer stick into the assigned container and following Komari into the artillery area. There was a protocol to follow. While of course they were trusted to carry around guns around a foreign people, they apparently couldn't do it willy nilly in the barracks since they may go 'postal'. Shin was detecting some hypocrisy there but thought better to mention it.

The soldier running the range gave them some 9MM and put up the sheets with a human outline, telling them to 'go at it'. Shin sighed, putting on the goggles and ear protection, getting into position. Six shots.

Granted, he wanted to fudge a little but he did end up hitting center with all six shots. Putting the gun down on the space before him, he took off his earmuffs as Komari did. The sheets charged forward toward them on the rotary so he could take it down. He turned to show it to Komari, his brows furrowed, "Again, a…good day."

Komari scoffed, "Oh, is that what you call it?"

"Let's see yours" Shin replied.

With her reaction, he almost got the idea she hadn't done that well? However, when she held up her sheet…she literally was dead center. It looked like she even managed to get a few of the bullets through prior holes she made. "…I mean, fuck, Yamada."

Grunting, she handed her sheet over to the soldier along with her gun, taking the clipboard and signing it back in. What? She did better than he did!

Alas, as they were in the hallway back to the main area, she glared, "You know how hard it is to be a woman in the army, Yagami? One that wants to be active?"

"Tremendously hard, I'm sure" Shin murmured.

"All I have going for me, in the power's that be sight, is my weapon accuracy. I outgunned every man in my reup to get here and I get here to be roomed with master gunman."

Shin shrugged, "I'll throw my tests then."

"What?"

"I'll throw my tests so they'll overlook me" he frowned, "It's like you said: I'll have an easier time getting to where I want to go because I'm a man. It's not fair so I need to level the playing field."

He yelped when she punched his hip, "Yagami. That is not helping, that's padding. We shoot the exact same, we should be considered equally without you having to come down to the level they think I should be at."

…Ooh. Shin winced, "…You're…you're right. Sorry."

"No, because that's what it's taken to get this far: someone having to buckle under so we 'have a chance'. Well, whatever, keep doing your thing. I'll do mine" Yamada muttered.

Shin shook his head, "I've got your back whether you like it or not, Komari. None of us are winning if one of us is being forced to struggle harder."

"That what your daddy tell you?"

With a grin, Shin pushed the door open to the rec room, "No. I'm pretty sure my dad got to where he was saying 'fuck all of you'."

Komari laughed, "Sounds like my kind of guy. What happened to you?"

He sighed, finding most activities in the room fully occupied so he sat on the beaten old couch, "…I met one guy, right? One that my dad grew up with in the old hood. Guy was just…pissed that my dad managed to get out. Told me if it wasn't for my 'rich cunt mom', we'd have never made it out, basically."

"Um, and you whooped his ass, right?" Komari demanded, sitting on the other end.

"Well, I punched him, but, that was the type of people my dad was surrounded by. Hell, even the guy he named me after sounds like he was a weight to his ambitions but he calls him his 'best friend'. My dad's MOM, my grandmother, she kicked him out for it too. I just can't…imagine how lonely it was to have so few people wanting to see him succeed, to help him—really, to even believe in him. I…I guess knowing all that, while I completely grasp why he had to say 'fuck all of you', even when he didn't want to, I don't want to be one of those people like the ones that held him back."

She frowned, staring at him, before nodding, "I gotcha. That makes sense."

Before he could question what her goal was, quite randomly, a few soldiers came in, cheering, with a crate. What? It was stamped 'Budweiser'. "The brewery sent us a 'thanks for your service' gift!"

Wow, really? Shin smirked as he was handed two in all the shenanigans that ensued. Komari snickered when she was handed four. "Men think they're slick. Wanna make sure I'm nice and wasted."

There was literally few things on Earth worse than a warm beer, Shin thought begrudgingly, but ice nor access to the fridge was a commodity here. "Maybe it'd help if you told them you don't care for penis."

Komari kicked him, laughing, "You don't know what I 'care for', Yagami, thank you very much. However, given your fetishization of a sexuality, I would think you'd understand that'd make things worse."

Shin groaned, sipping the beer, "Have you ever looked at straight porn?"

"Of course."

"Yea, well, I got sick of having to weed out the stuff where I needed to root for a winner while the dicked individual tries to murder their partner. I started to feel like I was watching the damn Terminator."

She laughed more, "You're so damn stupid, Shin, but you're right: it's like watching a torture session even when it's not bondage."

"Exactly" Shin groaned, "Women tend to be a lot more…understanding that the vagina is attached to someone's body."

Komari winked, "Some girls do like it rough though, Yagami."

"I don't like lezdom either…"

Snickering, Komari shook her head, "You know, I was really worried what I'd have to put up with while I was here. Turns out the universe blessed me with your random ass. I guess if it comes down to it, I wouldn't mind if you end up in leadership one day."

Shin scoffed, "…Leadership. You know I have some hurdles too, correct?"

"Ah, yes, nationalistic bullshit that says your 'impure' blood will shame us all" Komari grunted, "Just bullshit, Yagami. Here we are at the top of our game and we're second best because of things that don't matter in the slightest."

"Yep. Racism or sexism…"

She held out her beer, smiling, "Either we both make it or we both fall."

…Yes. Shin tapped his beer to hers, nodding in agreement.

He was really glad the universe put her there. Like, extremely, even to this day. The fact of the matter was, Yagami Shin had four brothers and a sister and…once upon a time, a best friend. The lonely moments at that time would have eaten him up before ambitions could have ever been realized. Yamada Komari would always be special to him.

He never would have made it without her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You hear anything last night, Yagami?"

Shin honestly wasn't sure…what to make of this. They had a 'leave time' for the day and tomorrow to 'relax'. What? They got time to relax? What was this? Apparently, Aden and Sonja also had 'leave time' today and had called to ask if he wanted to go to a nightclub in Baghdad. Oh…okay.

He…was glad he had packed normal slightly fancier clothes? He had assumed he was wasting space packing the white silk shirt and jeans along with the dress boots but, well, here he was. Staring at his feet in something other than steel toes as he sat in a chair outside of his room, he shook his head, "Like what, Yamada?"

Naturally, he invited his roommate. She looked thrilled because, well, it was December and they hadn't been anywhere except the town they surveilled. She kicked him out of the room to get dressed almost immediately. Okay. She was different.

"Like I was fingering the fuck out of my pussy last night, I just knew you'd wake up!"

Shin's brows drooped as he pursed his lips, shaking his head. Very different. "Komari."

"Hey, your brothers actually have quality taste in lesbian porn. Kudos" she said, opening the door.

Glancing to her, about to retort, he paused. He…wasn't actually sure what he thought she'd wear but he wasn't expecting the golden yellow spaghetti strap dress with brown boots. Putting on a red leather coat because it had slightly cooled down, she tipped her head, "C'mon before we miss the transport."

"Ah, yea."

Standing, he followed her to the outside of the base. They showed all of their military IDs and signed themselves out, running for the bus that a number of their other comrades were already on. Shin groaned as almost everyone's attention came front and center for their only girl. She was unbothered as she slammed down on the front seat by the window. He sat beside her, stretching his arm out across the back of the seat because Handsy-san, one of their personal space deficient comrades, was right behind her. "Asshole, Yagami" muttered Handsy-san.

"Hmmm? What was that?" Shin sang, glancing over his shoulder and pinning him with a glare.

"N-Nothing."

"You must be some crazy ass protective brother, Yagami" Komari smirked.

Shin shrugged, "I'm like third tier compared to the others."

"Jesus."

With a chuckle, he closed his eyes as the driver started to take them to Baghdad. Honestly, it probably wasn't a great idea. Should something happen like a landmine, it'd take out at least a fourth of their troops right here. But they rode along in peace and were dropped off at 7 in the city. It was way more bustling than the area they were in, really. Komari strode beside them as he asked a shopkeeper in his spotty Arabic where 'Aljuza' was.

"You're kind of a savant, Shin."

He frowned at that as they walked up the road with the directive that it would be lit up the brightest with a set of Arabic symbols the guy wrote down for him. 'Most of you don't take the time' the guy had said. Well, he didn't want to be in another country with no concept of the language. "I mean, imagine we don't even have enough of a hold to ask how to get to a basic place. It's not smart."

"I'm not smart" sighed Komari, crossing her arms, "…But you're right. I'll work on it. Fuck you, Yagami, always a step ahead."

Smirking at her, he sighed dramatically, "Oh, you'd be cute if you weren't so rude…"

He laughed as she swung at him, dodging, "I'll show you 'rude', prick-"

"Yagami!"

Shin started, surprised by the voice. Looking up, he smiled and waved, "Aden!"

The white haired fellow was standing next to his pink haired girlfriend who was chatting with another young woman. Oh…wait, based on what Komari said, what…what was Sonja doing? Aden grinned, gripping Shin's hand, "How you holding up out there, man? You're right caramel right now."

"The hell are you doing that you're not?" Shin demanded.

"Driving the armored tanker prototype they got going" Aden sighed, "It's kind of fun, kind of not."

Weird. "Lucky jerk. Hey, Yamada, this is my buddy from basic, Aden Bjerke. Aden, this is my roommate, Yamada Komari" Shin introduced.

"Nice to meetcha" Komari nodded.

"Oh, uh, same. You're…his roommate?" Aden questioned, clearly confused.

Apparently this was enough to catch Sonja's attention too, coming over with her friend, a short blonde woman. Shin sighed, "Komari is in active duty with me. We're both doing surveillance in a Terran village near Mosul. The coed situation is…unique."

"Wow, that's intense" Sonja gasped, "I'm Sonja Piehl. I'm in communications and translation right now. This is my friend, Elena."

Elena nodded, "I'm a mechanic in the 5th."

Komari looked startled, "Really? Thought that was another job dudes held down religiously."

"Hey, when you've got it, they won't deny you in a pinch" Elena shrugged.

Sonja nodded her head, "Elena's one of the best, definitely."

"Yeesh, Yagami, sounds like we're in a less progressive squad" Komari droned.

Hmm, maybe. Shin felt…lost being in an establishment like this again. It was a little different though, the music was in Arabic and a lot of people were crowded around tables with…a lamp? Raising a brow as Aden ordered a 'double apple shisha', Shin drawled, "…Which is…?"

"Probably nothing your straight edge ass will want to do" Aden teased.

Komari snorted, seated beside him in the metal chair, "Mister 'Smoke Three Cigarettes A Day' here?"

"My God, dude, what happened?" Aden gawked.

Shin lightly leered at Komari who just smirked. "…I'm going to quit. I just need to wean."

"We're in stressful times and a situation that could potentially kill us anyway, why bother?" Komari questioned.

Groaning, Shin rubbed his face, "Because I have two brothers back home that I've given hell for smoking and the last thing I need to come back with is the habit I've rebuked them for. Not to mention, my mom and dad would probably have a fit."

"It's not a great habit" Aden agreed.

Komari grinned devilishly. He seriously wondered if she was loosely related to any of them given she was like a version of Koji. "Well, Yagami here is probably more stressed than anybody there. His brothers send him a boatload of lesbian porn and he gives it away without even the chance to beat off."

"Aww, he did that in basic too" laughed Aden.

"I hate both of you."

Giggling, Komari pat his head, "Don't worry, two more months and we can both get laid."

Shin scoffed loudly. Yea, right. Never again, at this rate. Sonja smirked at Aden who cut his eyes lightly at her, drawling, "It would be nice to get laid again…"

"Oh, I thought you took care of that with Evelyn" Sonja mused.

…Eh? Shin's eyes widened as Aden rolled his, sighing, "U-Uh, you two good?"

"We're in one of our 'off' stages right now" Aden informed, "We're always either on or off. Mind, I slept with Evelyn, one of our unit members, while we were off but she isn't too happy about it."

"You know how much Guy likes her!" Sonja snapped.

Aden threw his hands up, "It was just oral!"

Sonja simply rolled her eyes as well. What…? "W-Well, gee, that must be awkward" Shin offered, uncertain what else to add.

"You'd still fuck him, I'm sure" Komari said with that landmark bluntness, just to a perfect stranger.

Shockingly, Sonja nodded, "Well, of course. But he's not getting the goods right now."

Wait a minute, what? "…While you're broken up?" Shin demanded.

"The dick you know is better than the dick you don't" Sonja said, strangely matter of fact.

And Komari nodded in agreement so he could give her a look. Oh really? One of the waiters returned with…the lamp with hoses, apparently called a 'hookah' and lit something on the top. Aden showed him the process of apparently sucking smoke out of some magical place and exhaling. Well…it sure made him dizzy.

"Hey, Shin, Yamada-san, we'll be right back, we see one of our lieutenants" Aden said, tipping his head.

Shin nodded, drinking a glass of 'arak', a very…interesting alcohol. He didn't expect to feature a different culture so this was kind of neat. Komari suddenly grimaced, quickly turning so her body was facing more toward him. Frowning, Shin looked up, "What's the matter?"

"Ten o'clock."

Shooting his gaze in that direction, he spotted a guy looking over, seeming…forlorn. What? He definitely wasn't a local, he possibly was Japanese, with long black hair. "What about him? He bothering you?"

"Shut up" she said under her breath, "…His name is Mako. His dad, also Mako, and my dad were good friends back in Tsuyukasa. We grew up together."

"Oh…guess you had a falling out?"

"You…could call it that?"

"A-Ah, Komari?"

Shin looked up as Komari froze, the man in question apparently having garnered the courage to approach. She smiled brightly, turned back, "A-Ah, hello, Mako! How are you? Papa had said your dad was fussing over you deploying."

"Oh, uh, I'm-I'm doing well" he smiled some, "You, uh, you look good. It's weird to see you without Itoh-san though."

"Y-Yea" she laughed, "Uh, I-I made a kind of crazy move and went to a generally all men's barrack so I can serve in active combat. N-Not that we've seen any but definitely not mail duty where she is."

Mako frowned, "Oh, wow, that's intense. Uh, she didn't take it well, I'm sure."

"Nope, not at all" Komari grinned nervously, clapping her hands together silently.

Finally, Mako raised a brow at him, "So I guess this is, uh, one of your unit?"

Shin was about to introduce himself but Komari actually grabbed his hand, "Yes! This is my buddy, Yagami! Yagami, this is Mako! I was telling you about Mako."

"Ah, yes…" Shin drawled, puzzled, "It's a pleasure. She was saying you're from her hometown."

And you're also making her act like a spaz so please leave. Mako nodded, "Yea, we, uh, grew up together."

…He guessed down the line if he ever became numbed instead of bitterly enraged with her, this would be the type of interaction he'd have with Lyla. Swallowing hard, he nodded once and picked up his drink again. Komari nodded her head quickly, "So, hey, when-when do you go home on break, Mako-san?"

"Oh, not until June" he sighed.

"Dang, I'll miss you then…um, but when we're both back from active deployment, let's get a drink, okay? It's just a bit too noisy in here to catch up and we have to be heading back to base soon."

Shin could read an excuse a mile away but Mako looked…relieved? "That sounds great, Komari…uh, nice meeting you, Yagami-san. You both stay safe."

"You too, Mako-san."

Smiling with another nod as Mako bowed, Shin drawled as the man walked away, "It wasn't quite kick myself in the face awkward but it was pretty close…"

Komari just groaned, turning in to face him again, flustered. What? It was a random dude she grew up with. Shin turned inward too, blinking, "What's the dirt?"

"Dirt?! There's no dirt!" she squeaked.

"Sand then."

"Shaddap, Yagami" she muttered, smacking his arm, "…I guess I trust you."

"Thanks."

"But it stays between us" she hissed, "Because it'll be more of a nightmare for me if it gets out."

Shin's brows furrowed but he nodded, getting closer to limit this possibility. She flustered, crossing her arms, "…L-Look, you're a straight guy so I'm not sure how…up to date you are on the spectrum of sexualities."

"I'd like to learn" he offered, a bit confused. Spectrum?

"…In high school and middle school, I dated a girl named Suzuki. When we broke up…I dated a guy named Hina."

…Oh. Shin nodded slowly, "…Was it just curiosity or pressure or…?"

"Or. I liked messing around with Hina as much as I liked messing around with Suzu. I'm bisexual" she mumbled.

Oh! "…Oh, so you were with Mako too at some point" he nodded, enlightened.

"Um…not quite like you're describing."

What? Shin blinked languidly as she managed to get redder. "…Elaborate?"

"Kasumi is…is I guess kind of like your girl, Lyla? Like, we've known each other since we were eight and we're best friends. Just, one day, she came out to me when we were seventeen and said she loved only me, so, it made sense to me for us to get together? And I adore Kasumi, I would die for her. I love her and I will marry her. Just…"

It hurt to hear devotion like he once had. It kind of was cloying to hear a 'just'. "Just…?"

"…I won't elaborate on her story, Yagami. She's not bisexual, she identifies strictly as a lesbian. Due to her background, she…absolutely hates men. Like, doesn't tolerate them whatsoever. She doesn't even acknowledge my dad."

What now? "That's…kind of critical there, Yamada, that's your dad and I haven't heard you say you're on bad terms with him" Shin gaped.

"I LOVE that doofus" she groaned, "That's my papa. But…not like that for her, okay? It's…it's a dark story and she's not without her reasons."

"…Understood" he murmured. Sounded like…Koji territory.

"But she's hella jealous and probably mildly psychotic" she laughed nervously.

…Mmkay. Shin stared as she twiddled her fingers, "…She doesn't seem to understand I have no problem with men? I guess she assumed when I agreed to be her girlfriend, I was supposed to call all of that off because-e-e I'm bisexual and that means I have a chance to leave her for a guy which would cause her to go crazy?"

Shin glared, "Komari, that's not right. That means she doesn't even trust you not to screw around on her. Jealousy is not healthy in that respect."

She groaned as Shin grumbled, "Look, I also won't reveal too much but I have a relative that went through some dark stuff very young and let's just say none of it was even resolved or spoken of, he…he didn't even get therapy so he's got a lot of inner demons he is consistently fighting. He may cave to them sometimes but he knows that he shouldn't push that back on other people."

"I let it get…bad" she said glumly, "I didn't mind when she said 'don't look at that guy you used to have a crush on' or whatever because I was loyal to her. It's just when it extended to Mako and Hina…people we've grown up with. Some people I've not had one sexual feeling for!"

"That's not healthy, Yamada…"

Komari rubbed her brow as Shin sighed, "So Mako is awkward because you cut ties with him after she told you to."

"…Uh, not exactly. There's still…more sand."

Oh boy. "So, I actually put my…foot down on Hina and Mako. Like, I'd known them longer than her? Well, in her…unhealthy behavior, she decided to fix that by making me…prove I'm not quite into them?"

... "I…pardon?"

"Yea, so…might be a weird kink of hers but she definitely has watched me have sex with about six guys now."

Shin legitimately had heard some very strange things in his lifetime. Sometimes they left him speechless or just mind blown. He didn't want to reflect on the last occurrence where such happened but, honestly? This challenged the very fabric of his understanding of life because it was being ripped asunder.

He folded his hands, leaning back and gnawing his lip because all of his processes were trying to formulate how to put what was just told to him back together. "…Okay."

"Yea."

"…She hates men."

"Yes."

"She wants you to stay away from men because you can be attracted to men, though you are monogamous to her."

"Yes."

"Because you flexed your freedom to know who you want, male or not…her response to this is…to watch you…get fucked by men."

"…Yea."

Nope, the threads were still ripping like wet paper. Shin rubbed his face, not sure…where to even start. "…Why?"

"Because, if I respond to their…actions, it must mean that I am attracted to them, thus justifying her concerns and confirming why I don't need to communicate with them anymore."

Shin was getting…very aggravated. "And what…are we talking about with responding, Komari? Are we talking…orgasming?"

"Yea?"

Throwing his hands up, he had to pause to remember to keep his voice down. "Komari. Komari—a man's prostate being stimulated can make them ejaculate but that doesn't mean they like anal sex. Victims of rape can still involuntarily orgasm because the body is going to do what it wants and you can't tell it not to do something."

Komari looked startled. Maybe just the 'perks' of being a doctor's kid. "…Wha?"

"Your body is going to react regardless, Komari. That is a piss poor 'test'."

Hesitant, Komari shrugged, "W-Well, I don't? I-I mean, to be perfectly fair, the guy is hella freaked out and I don't…think they're in top tier performance mode because it's so awkward."

No kidding. Shin took a breath, "…Don't take this the wrong way, Komari, but…is this terrible invasion of autonomy at least…consensual? Like, she's not pressuring you to have sex with men, right?"

She blushed, muttering, "T-The first time, it…it might have been a little forced and coerced but…"

Shin nodded, "It became a turn on."

"Is that weird?" she sighed deeply, "I mean, I know people have some wild fetishes. I just didn't think I would be turned on by my girlfriend watching me get pounded. Also, her…flex of dominance is to 'finish the job' the guys couldn't to prove only she satisfies me. So, it's a rare game we play but it is something we do and…that's what happened with Mako. He was that first incident."

…Way uncomfortable. He shook his head. "…Why do the dudes in this equation even agree?"

"Really, Yagami? Look, you might be a saint, but a lot of guys aren't turning down free pussy, man."

'Free pussy'? "You're their childhood friend!"

…Oops. He was one to fucking talk. Komari rubbed her arm before nodding softly, "…They were…slightly coerced too, I have to admit. She's a very assertive and persistent person. She'll talk you into a corner. I can't excuse it but I would say only one third of the guys were there for 'free pussy'…"

"I don't like this, Komari. It's not…it's not healthy. Imagine if this was a man telling his girlfriend he didn't trust her and making her have sex with a guy."

"Cuckolding, right?" she smirked some, picking up her drink.

"…That can't be real" Shin glowered.

"Congratulations to me, I guess, just x'd out another porn genre" she said sarcastically.

Pouring himself some more arak, he looked up as the rest of their party started to return. "Well, I'm putting it out there now: if she does join us on the second leg of our deployment, I will not be having sex with you to prove you're not into me or make it so awkward I won't associate with you."

"We both better hope it doesn't come to that because that monster cock you have might kill me" she muttered to herself.

Shin stared at her through half open lids, slowly shaking his head, "…Just real different, Yamada."

"What! It is, I saw it when we were in the shower!"

"Uh…what?" Aden said, having gotten close enough in the last leg.

…Ugh. What…what nonsense. Relationships like that were…were not good. Meanwhile, Aden and Sonja were just having casual sex while on break up number five because she 'knew' where his dick was usually.

…A lot of things were very different and he wanted no part of that.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"…Merry Christmas, everyone."

Yagami Shin sat by the phone, forcing a smile so his tone might match it. This…was his first Christmas away from his family.

Most of the others called their girlfriends. The rest didn't see the significance. It made sense, it wasn't a big deal in Japan. Just, to his family, it had been made into a big deal. And they were usually together.

Some of the American and European recruits were in the room, thankfully also seeming caught up in the bittersweet reality that all they had was this phone call today. Misery loved company.

"Don't worry, nii-san, we have all your presents here waiting for you when you get back" Shaun said optimistically.

Presents…he didn't really care about stuff right now. "Thanks, Shaun."

"Are you getting enough to eat, son? You sound tired, are you sleeping enough to be alert?" Yamada questioned, a lowkey franticness in his voice.

"I sleep fine, dad. And the food…the food could be better but I'm eating it." They had natto today. Natto.

Dana whined, "My poor Sweetie Plum."

"Well, hold tough, bro. You'll be home soon" Koji reassured.

"Yea, just two months, nii-san!" Jill proclaimed.

Two months. "Yea. I, uh, I have to go, it's someone else's turn" he mumbled as the phone started to chime that time was almost up.

"Okay, son. Please, keep…keep being safe. We love you" Yamada murmured.

"I love you all too. G'night."

Hanging up, he shuffled out of the room to his barracks. Komari was stretched out on her cot before looking up with a grin, "Ay, Yagami! Look what I got!"

Shin raised a brow as she leaned over to get under the bed, pulling out… "Sake? Where'd you get that?"

"I have my ways" she winked, pouring it into a plastic cup.

God, now they were drinking damn cold sake, he groaned as she handed him one. "Thanks, Yamada."

"Aww, what's wrong?" she questioned.

"…It's nothing. My family celebrates Christmas the…American way so I just feel a little homesick, I guess" he shrugged.

He expected the Baroness of Bluntness to heckle him but she nodded, "We would go to the Inari Temple on Christmas and eat mochi buns. My dad always gets me a new headband to makes me more ladylikes."

Shin couldn't help grin, "Oh yea? How'd that go?"

"Dunno, guess it worked in reverse, I likes ladies."

"You're terrible" he snickered, shaking his head, "Does your dad have a problem with your sexuality? I heard a lot of parents can be very dismissive."

Komari shook her head, lying on her side, her cheek propped in her palm, "Nah. My mom was a little put off she might not have grandkids but that's about all. And even then, it's not like I'm against having a sperm donor, y'know?"

"There are ways" he agreed.

"How about it, Yagami? Wanna be my baby daddy?"

"Ab-solutely not."

Komari laughed because she was crazy. He smiled and shook his head, "…Thanks for being here, Yamada. You've been a wild ride since day one in this 'experiment' but it wouldn't be the same without you. I…I'm not used to being by myself."

She looked puzzled, "I mean, even if I wasn't here, you'd have all the other guys here."

"Yea, but…" Shin paused before groaning, "…When I think about it, I only have a handful of close guy friends. Aden was a blessing, a cool guy, but you heard about that craziness with his girlfriend. I bet he wouldn't even be here half the time."

"…It is a little scary being by yourself. I already told you I was blessed to have your random ass on the other end of this equation. But stop getting all sappy before I start to think you're hitting on me."

Shin stuck out his tongue, "I'm not hitting on you…thank you for being my friend, Komari."

"You too, Shin."

January 31st, 2001.

Yagami Shin smiled when a little girl in the little Terran village handed him a blue flower, murmuring 'thank you' in Arabic to her. She giggled and ran off as he tucked it away in the side pocket of his bag. Yamada Komari snickered, "The girls just love you, huh?"

He snorted and Saki laughed, his rifle under his arm. "Must be, they don't give me flowers."

"You have the face of a mule, Saki. Yagami's got the face of an angel" Joro joked.

"Shaddap" Shin leered as Komari laughed.

The funny thing was, he hadn't caught not sight nor hair of one Zechian soldier and he was about to go home on sabbatical in two weeks. He'd been here six months and not seen one of them. Again, he was okay with that, it meant they were scaring them off.

He thought.

Shin had been looking at the Captain, Sugo, absently as he talked about what might be for dinner when suddenly blood jerked out of his chest. What?

"Yagami!" Yamada screamed.

Fuck.

Shin quickly grabbed Sugo, the adrenaline in his blood making carrying the almost two hundred pound man easier, and rushed to the shelter of a stone building. Terrans were screaming as they rushed to safety. Why now? Shin swallowed, looking down at the guy who just took a bullet to the chest. He was shaking. "Y-Yagami."

"Hey, sir, j-just keep still."

"Yagami!"

Komari came behind him as he quickly tried to patch the wounds. Joro and Saki came next and thankfully their bus to get Sugo back to base for treatment. Shin quickly shot a look to Komari and she nodded. Okay. He shakily checked around the corner and found the shot's trajectory via where Sugo's blood trail began.

"…He was shot square in the chest so it came from that building" Shin concluded, pointing to a community housing in front of them.

Joro was shaking as Komari grabbed a case and unloaded a sniper rifle. She peered through the scope, silent for a minute before muttering, "…Looks like he's the watchman. I can take him but he's got an open shot for me too. I don't know the range on his weapon."

She glared toward him before smiling, strained, "Here's our moment, Yagami."

"…I got you, Yamada."

He counted to three, feeling the emotions of his dad strangling him for this split decision as he darted out into the open. He could see the man mounting up to shoot him…before a bullet ripped through his skull.

Shin exhaled shakily as Komari, Joro, and Saki rushed to him. She looked pissed. "You motherfucker, I didn't mean 'go play fucking bait'!"

Oops. "W-Well, it worked. Let's go in."

"They're phoning for reinforcements though, Yagami" Joro rasped.

"There's-there's an escape route in the back. All it will take is ten minutes for them to disappear and take the Terrans with them."

Shin saw Joro, Saki, and the four other combat members looked terrified. Yea, their first violent encounter five months into being here. Sugo was the captain, of course. "Uh, you're…you're next in rank, Yamada, what do you think we should do?"

Komari jumped, startled by this revelation before squinting, "…I'll take crazy ass here and we'll go scout the inside."

"E-Eh? B-but, we can't let you guys go alone!" protested Saki.

Joro almost looked like 'why not?'. Shin tipped his head, "Why don't Joro and Saki act as suppressing fire while we lead front and center? The rest of the unit can divide equally and protect the entrance and the back door. No one needs to get in and the only ones we want going out are Terrans."

"You heard the man. Create a bulletproof blockade on entry and back exit. Run it Spartan, back to back. Understood?" Komari bellowed.

'Sir, yes, sir' went around and Shin took a deep breath. This…was it. Sink or swim.

Joro was on his left side as he and Komari framed the door. The poor guy was shaking and, really, it was only a miracle that Shin wasn't. His nerves were already shot. Alas… "Relax, Joro. I-I have all of your backs."

His comrade just looked at him, petrified, as Shin slowly reached for the door. Looking to Komari for the signal, she nodded once.

…Don't let this be it.

Shoving it open, he peeked to draw enemy fire. None. Komari gave a slightly longer peek and still nothing. He scowled, "…Ambush."

"Mm."

There were a row of doors on either side of the hallway leading to some steps, there could be Zechians in any one of these rooms ready to pop out. Shin glanced to Komari, "…We open the first ones, we go check the next? Joro and Saki check the first rooms."

"E-Eh? But-" Joro blurted.

"They most likely won't be in the first rooms, else we could have sniped them. Check the rooms for civilians and get them out" Komari whispered.

Joro and Saki looked startled as Shin nodded. Walking in slowly, crouching, Shin slowly pushed the left door open while Komari hit the right, Joro and Saki going into both. Shin took a breath of relief, hearing the two quietly whisper to the inhabitants to go outside to their blockade. Pushing the second door open, Shin checked the corner. Inside was a woman huddled with her children, shaking. Tapping the doorway lightly to hopefully get her attention, the woman yelped. He signaled her to stay quiet and tapped his eye, hoping she understood. The woman rapidly shook her head and he beckoned her. Okay…

The woman rushed out with her children, an older man coming out of Komari's. They went down the entire row and found only civilians. Joro looked confused, "…They went past the bottom to get to the top?"

"They must have rappelled to the roof and planned to take them from the top floor down" Shin mused.

Komari grunted, standing a bit, "Sounds like some sneaky shit they'd do. Let's-"

Shin just glanced to the overhang of the steps. The guy was wearing red fatigues, the Zech's armor of choice. He had a gun and it was pointed at Yamada.

"I have, however, lost a best friend."

Fuck. Not…not another one.

He didn't even call for her to get down, he just shot straight, not concerned about breathing or anything in that second except losing her. Komari's face was alarmed, quickly looking over her shoulder at the Zech's soldier falling off the railing and hitting the ground. Shin exhaled hard, staring at the blood seeping through some human's shirt and onto this ground all for nothing.

…Fuck.

"Don't zone out, Yagami, stay with me."

Shin jolted when Komari grabbed his arm, pulling him up. Right, right, no…no time for reflection. Life or death. This is what his dad meant, they…they don't care what he was feeling right now.

That one was enough. But by the second level, all hell broke loose. Five or six Zechs shot from a corner, screaming at them to stand down. Joro got one, Saki got one, Komari got two, he got two. Master gunmen. Master assassins.

Everything went black as one of the bastards came out holding a small girl with a gun to her head, screaming, "Stand down or I take her fucking brain out!"

"Hey, hey, you don't wanna do that, man" Shin said slowly in English, "This is a lose-lose, we have this place surrounded."

…What was this guy? He wasn't Iraqi, he had a fucking Scottish accent, what the fuck? "I said fucking stand down or she fucking dies, fuckers!"

"Look, dumbass, you don't make it out of this situation if she dies!" Shin snapped, "Put her down and put your hands up!"

"You don't think I'm fucking serious! I'll-"

Shin swallowed hard as Komari shot the guy through the head, the little girl screaming as she and the now dead body hit the ground. Crouching, Shin picked the little girl up, backing up quickly to where they were all huddled. The little girl was still shrieking as he patted her back, whispering in Arabic, "Hey, hey…Nothing is wrong. You are safe.

Or so he lied. The girl's mother rushed out, looking like she was ready to collapse. Shin handed the girl off and Joro directed the level outside. One more…

Komari gave his hand a brief squeeze as they stealthily went up the steps. While he'd have never expected her to be maternal, she praised him. 'You're doing great, baby'. Was…was he?

Fuck. He started slowly opening the doors but there was no one in the first few rooms. He started to throw them open wildly and they were all empty. Damn it! "They got them."

"Fucking assholes" seethed Komari, behind him.

When they got to the last door, Shin almost tore the door off the hinges. He paused, startled. Komari grabbed his arm, aiming her gun, hissing "Get back!"

"Wait!" Shin rasped.

"Shin-"

He pushed Komari back to the other side of the hall and he stared hard. In the room was a teenage boy holding an AK-47 pointed at them. He wasn't wearing scarlet fatigues, just the elaborate robes of the Earthmates. While his mouth was covered, it was the eyes. Shin's eyes narrowed and he waved his hand, saying in Arabic. "Hand it over to me."

He was sure his group was appalled. The boy's hands were shaking as Shin continued to look firm, gesturing again, "Give it to me. Now."

The young man was shaking as he got closer, whispering, "They will kill me."

"A…abaq hadiana? Min'na, orite" he said under his breath. Remain calm. In Japanese, he advised 'everyone, get down'.

It was panicked but he snatched the boy fast and shoved him face first into the ground, the rest of the crew also diving to the ground. A hail of bullets came. Komari glared, "W-Where are they coming from?"

Shin gritted his teeth, "…The other building."

They'd infiltrated under their noses. The building was maybe a foot or so from this one, providing easy access to another escape route they weren't guarding. The kid choked, handing the gun over to him feverishly. Shin took it, holding the boy down as they crawled out back to the front.

He couldn't help grimace as Sergeant Sato was outside, barking orders. Sato…had been sent over from being the gun instructor in his basic to be a Sergeant here. The same one that called him a 'fucking rich kid'. Oh boy.

"Joro! Saki! What the hell is going on in there?!"

"Sir, the-the building to the west, there are additional Zechian soldiers there, sir. They were shooting at Yagami" Saki reported.

The man glowered at him. Yea, there was a reason that man didn't address him nor Yamada as well in that sequence. "And who is this?"

"A-Ah, it's, um, a-a kid Yagami was talking to. He-He did have a gun but Yagami talked him down!" Joro gushed.

Sato's eyes only darkened and Shin pursed his lips when the teenager was cuffed at his command. Great. "Get back on the Humvee and report back to base. They'll get your full…synopsis there."

Sure. Shin managed to walk firmly to the Humvee, sitting quietly. Komari silently stared at him as he digested everything that just happened. Riding along the sandy paved roads, he remembered once, when he was twelve, his dad managed to do four triple bypass surgeries in something like twenty hours. They said that in itself was a great feat but that all four of them were emergency and all four of them lived was even more fantastic. He'd been proud of his papa…

He just killed six people in one day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

What had he really been thinking?

Yagami Shin sat outside of the office of the Sergeant, his hands rested on his knees. He hadn't even had a chance to wash the miscellaneous blood off of him yet. Literal sweat, blood, and, yes, some tears. When the traffic in the hallway stopped for about an hour, he had a good nice cry. The waning adrenaline brought him crashing further down into reality and he felt sick.

Shaun's words when he announced this great thing he was going to do rang through his head nonstop: "You're gonna kill people, nii-san?" Yea, kid. Your onii-san killed people. And just killed a half dozen in one day. One. Day.

"Yagami!"

And now, to top his misery, was a good talking down to. Shin stood, opening the door, as Joro came out from giving his side of the story. He guessed he should be grateful, Yamada wasn't able to give any version.

"A-Ah, good luck, man" Joro blurted.

"Thanks."

Shin came in and stood, crossing his arms at his back. Sergeant Sato was flipping through some notes before peering up at him, his eyes half closed. "Yagami."

"Sir."

"I got Saki and Joro's report of what happened today. Am I to understand you ran out as…bait for a Zechian target?"

"To give Yamada the shot, sir."

"A sacrificial move" he droned, tipping back more pages, "Which I find funny in the face of you apparently not shooting an armed assailant immediately when the opportunity presented itself."

… "He was an Earthmate, sir. The Zechs had used him as a scapegoat to shoot us while they escaped, sir."

Sato spat, "You psychic or something, Yagami? You just could see through their plot immediately?"

"No, sir. But he was a scared teenager, I could see it immediately and I could see I could talk him down, sir."

Shin swallowed when Sato slammed the notepad down. "You don't know if that boy had a bomb strapped to him or whether he would have shot up your entire unit, Yagami. You had the shot and you didn't take it. Is that what I'm to understand?"

"The Earthmates are the ones we're supposed to protect, sir-"

"Not when they're pointing a gun at us, Yagami!"

Enough. "With all due respect, sir, and at the risk of my military career, I will indicate right here for your report and recording, sir: I will not shoot a frightened teenager. Especially when he has the safety on the gun, sir."

He could give two fucks when the man went postal, calling him a 'renegade rebel' and 'ignorant pompous jackass' that was a danger to himself and others. Sato said he'd 'make sure' Shin was dishonorably discharged 'on his life'. He just came about two words short of calling him a 'dumb fuck hafu'. Shin did not care. "Is that all, sir?"

Sato gritted his teeth so hard, his jaw got taut. Shin just stared at him absently, awaiting dismissal. It was silent for two minutes. "Is that all, sir?"

"Get out of here."

Shin turned and left, trembling with anger. So this was it, huh? So be it. Maybe…maybe he wasn't cut out for this.

Other members of the unit looked at him, covered in blood, as he went to his barracks and grabbed fresh clothes. Komari wasn't there, probably somewhere wondering why she couldn't even TELL a story. Idiots. Idiots!

He shivered in the cold water. It was nowhere near 112 degrees now so a cold shower was not comfortable. Otherwise, he would have stood in there for hours to get this feeling off of him. He dried off and dumped his fatigues in the laundry before putting on a clean shirt and the army conscript pants. It was okay. He…he could stand to go home.

When he went back to his room, not even slightly hungry enough to peruse the mess hall, this time he found Komari there. She jumped to her feet and rushed to him. "Oh my God, Shin, are you okay?"

Shin sighed as she hugged his neck, hugging her waist with one arm. But then, who…who would she get stuck with in the interim? What if it was some asshole that took advantage? Ugh. "…I'm all right, Komari."

She pulled him to sit, scowling, "You don't look all right. What did that asshole say to you?"

"…I don't think I'm cut out for this."

"He said that?"

"…Well, yea, he said it too but I'm thinking it's true."

Komari glared, "Shin, you did exceptionally well. Fuck, I don't know if you realized but you had two hostage situations and you saved both hostages. You had all of our backs and you were reading the whole room. I know the fuck I was impressed!"

He smiled grimly, "Thanks."

Before she said anymore, there was a knock at the door. Komari sighed, "Come in."

Surprisingly, it was Joro and Saki. They looked panicked. "A-Ah, Yagami, you're not in trouble, right?"

"…Dunno, maybe? It's okay, you guys told the truth as you should have."

Komari looked puzzled, "Um, what part of that would get you in trouble, Yagami?"

"…The kid. He…he said I should have shot him, that I put you all in danger because maybe he had a bomb strapped to him or something. I had a clear shot and I should have taken it."

Saki looked alarmed. "I-I mean, at first, I was tempted to because I was in complete freak out mode but when you got us to stop and you were talking to him, I started to realize he was no bigger than my kid sister at home! And as much as he was shaking, it might as well had been her that was holding an assault rifle too! I was stunned!"

"Yea, that kid was ready to piss himself. Not to mention, what the hell did it matter if he had a bomb? We shot him and we all died when he pulled it? Plus, after you shot him, they still could have shot you! Sato's just full of shit, man, don't let it get to you" Joro shook his head.

Shin nodded softly. If…anything could be said for today, he…he didn't shoot a victimized teenage boy. "…Well, Sato's holding the reigns, said I might get discharged so…we'll see what happens."

"And I'll go fuck up his life" Komari leered, "We did exactly what we were supposed to: we saved the Terrans. Yes, some of them got captured but I looked at the occupancy report, we got out more than eighty percent of those people. If we didn't act, dozens of people would have been shuffled off to some camp to be killed and Sato can go fuck himself."

…Right. Right. It…it wasn't a hundred percent but, in reality, a hundred percent wasn't reasonable to expect. They…they did what he wanted: help people.

…Didn't expect it to be quite this loaded a pill to swallow though.

"Is this your first time killing, Yamada?"

Joro and Saki advised they were going to check on Sugo who was in critical but 'more stable than he should be' condition. When they left, he curled up in a ball and cried. He didn't care if Komari gave him shit right now, he…he wasn't expecting this. He wasn't…expecting to feel this way.

Komari allowed him to rest his head in her lap and stroked his hair, humming to him. That's what he was: a gigantic baby. He did what he had to so those people were now 'safe' in their homes, waiting for another potential attack. And he needed to stop kidding himself: He did what he did so he could go home to his father in one piece like he promised. Those men died so he could live.

Komari wasn't bothered though. She hadn't been bothered at all on the field. She wasn't bothered now. Was this the first time? She shook her head, "No. In that recovery of a Zech's leader I told you about, I had to kill about four people."

"…Oh."

"You're just a sweet kid, Shin" she explained, "I mean, I'm not going to say it didn't bother me—it did. I cried a little bit. I'm not particularly religious but I wondered if I was going to hell now. I wasn't killing in kami or Inari's name, y'know?"

He nodded and she shrugged, "…We're in a very strange circumstance, Yagami, being the line between life and death while being on the line between life and death as well. I know it feels bad right now—like you've done something terrible. And, knowing your circumstances, you're probably thinking your dad is a lifesaver and you're here completing his antithesis. It's true—we are killing. But we wouldn't be if this sect of people didn't decide to start raising guns and murdering people for essentially their technology. The only saving grace is we're not killing because we want to. And that's why I'll knock Sato's teeth in if he really tries to discharge you for saving that kid: you could have killed him and it would have been for no reason. We're here to do better than the Zechs."

…Yes.

They both jumped when there was a knock at the door. Eh? "Ah, Yagami, Sugo wants to see you!"

"O-Oh. All right. Tell him give me a sec."

Taking a deep breath, he waited a few moments for the redness in his face to go down. Komari followed as he walked to the infirmary. He grimaced, seeing the wounded and wondering why they weren't allowed to stay and help. What if…what if some of their own died too?

"Yagami" Sugo said weakly from the hospital style bed, propped up.

"Captain Sugo, are-are you okay?" Shin rasped.

Shin wasn't particularly close to Sugo so he was a little alarmed and confused when the man patted his hands suddenly. "Doctor said you managed to pack the wounds well enough I didn't hemorrhage out immediately. I owe you."

"O-Oh, no, sir. I-I just know a little bit." A very…at the time, boring lecture from his dad he received before he left about how to handle very specific wounds and essentially tricks to quell bleeding. He…he guessed he could have been an okay doctor.

"A lot of bit, Yagami. Saki was telling me Sato was reaming you out over something?"

Great. "W-Well, I may not have followed direct protocol, sir…"

"Yagami!"

Oh God.

Colonel Teramoto Ken strode into the room, his dark hair pulled back underneath his beret. Shin quickly stood correctly as did Komari. Teramoto tipped his head, "Yagami, Yamada, come with me."

And here was the end. His great illustrious career ended in a year. He followed, swallowing hard, and braced himself to be removed. His…his dad would be happy.

They walked into the very back where Teramoto's office or quarters were, a simple room with just a long table. Komari grunted lowly as Sato was sitting on one side of the table, appearing very…aggravated. Pissed, even. Great. However, another figure was seated at the very end of the table. It…

Shin breathed in, startled, to find it was the teenager that he rescued. The young man had dark brown hair and darker blue eyes, everything on him shaking as he trembled. Teramoto tilted his head, "He's got information, Yagami. However, he indicated to our translator that he only wanted to talk to the guy that saved him."

…What? Shin stared, confused. Why…? Slowly walking to sit at the chair to his right, apparently the translator seated to his left, Shin gazed. Like he expected, what really made him freeze, was he probably was little older than Shaun or Tony. He could have never… "U-Um, can-can you tell him my Arabic is spotty?"

The translator, a young man nodded, and replied. The lad talked and the translator nodded, "He said your Arabic was good enough today. He thanks you."

"…Marhabaan bik." You're welcome.

"Hold on, Shin."

Oh. He looked up, shocked, as Komari stood there with her arms crossed, leaning against a wall nearby. "The kid says he's got information. He'll only speak to Yagami because Yagami didn't slaughter him today. If you all are going to be utilizing Yagami today and giving him discharge papers tomorrow, I would, on the record, advise Yagami to tell you to go fuck yourselves."

Oh boy. Just continuously shocked how frank she was, Shin noted that Sato's face darkened considerably. What? Teramoto scoffed, "Between Sugo advising me Yagami saved his life today along with Joro, Saki, and now a valuable informant—"

"He saved my life too" Komari interrupted.

"—And Yamada's on top of rescuing a good amount of Terrans so I don't have to write an excuse to why an entire commune in a village we're supposed to be monitoring was not only infiltrated but kidnapped, I'd like to think you don't believe we're that stupid, Yamada. I wouldn't have signed off either way."

Shin exhaled, his heart beating fast. Oh. Sato glared, looking to Teramoto, "…It's still worthy of reprimand."

"Joro and Saki insisted that Yagami made sure they stood back enough distance to keep them reasonably safe. Additionally, had Yagami just plain slaughtered the boy, we would have diplomats up our ass for years, Sato."

Komari nodded solemnly, seeming…relieved. Thank…thank goodness…but, she…

"…I do have one other condition to interview, sir" Shin said carefully.

"What is this, the bargaining table?" Teramoto demanded, his face registering instant irritation.

Shin slowly held up his hands, "It's a fairly simple request, sir: Yamada was responsible for disengaging the shooter that shot at Sugo. She also downed a Sechian soldier holding a Terran little girl hostage. Her telling of events is extremely valuable and crucial and I think it's both a mistake and a disservice to her and the event to not get her account. I think Joro and Saki spoke on all I did out of concern but Yamada took charge of this event, sir."

Teramoto looked…extremely puzzled. What? She did. "…What do you mean Yamada's account wasn't taken?"

"Sir-" Sato started.

The man snatched up a manila folder, flipping through as his expression blackened like a stormy night.

"Was she not present on that field, Sato? Spouting protocols when the most basic one is 'if you're there, you give an account'!" Teramoto snapped, "And apparently she had a body count and you didn't even have that side of the report? Take her account now while Yagami and I get this information."

If looks could murder and bludgeon their bodies, Sato managed to fit it into one nanosecond glare toward them. Shin's eyes narrowed back and Komari just smirked. Sorry the prejudice didn't pay off this once, jackass. Sato stood up, jerking the chair back loudly, and stalked out of the room with Komari following…Teramoto caught him, staring evenly, "…By the book, Lieutenant."

"…Yes, Colonel."

What? Shin looked over his shoulder, a bit concerned. Teramoto cleared his throat, "…We will assure that everything is handled to the letter, Yagami. I would be lying if I told you I hadn't hoped she'd have buckled by now but I'd also be lying if I didn't admit she was a great asset. You two work well together."

"O-Oh, well, I-I thank you for listening, sir." Work well together…

Shin turned to the young man, asking in Arabic: "What's your name?"

"Raga."

"It's nice to meet you, Raga. My name is Shin. I thank you for trusting me in that moment today."

Raga bit his lip and nodded, rasping, "They-they took my mother and sister. My mother and sister are highly regarded in the Earthmate community. My-My father is in Baghdad on business right now. He'll be very upset with me, I-I was supposed to protect them. Instead, they-they told me they'll blow their heads off if I-I didn't guard the room to draw out soldiers for them to kill to aid their advance."

Shin scowled, "It's not your fault, Raga. These people are wrongly persecuting your family and people. They said you have information. What do you know?"

Leaning in closer, Raga whispered, "Some-Some of the soldiers weren't very smart. I heard them whisper that they were going to take the people they kidnapped to an area about thirty miles east of here called Sharance. They-They said they were going to torture them there."

…Okay. Shin leaned back and nodded, "…Understood."

Teramoto frowned as Shin stood, patting Raga's shoulder, "…I don't want to promise you and lead you to false faith but I…I want to get your sister and mother back for you. Family is…is important when you're close."

"P-Please. And-And if there's anything else I can do, I want to help" he blurted.

Shin smiled and nodded, Teramoto tipping his head once as they exited, leaving the kid with the translator. Teramoto raised a brow, "I understood 'Sharance'."

"According to him, that's where they said they were going to take the prisoners for torture."

Teramoto paused, glowering at him, "…You don't believe him."

"Oh, I don't think he's lying, sir. Just seems a bit strange to go a manageable amount of miles from where they were kidnapped in the first place to get the torturing in" Shin said slowly.

The man chuckled. What? "So I take it you haven't heard about Sharance, huh?"

"No…" Shin frowned, "What is it?"

"A nightmare. Get some rest for a few hours. We strike at midnight."

…Again? He…he had to go kill more people? Shin grimaced, rubbing his arm. Damn it, he…he did promise Raga though that he'd try to save his family.

He…he had to accept that it came with the territory. It…was suffocating.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

February 1st, 2001.

Yagami Shin had told Yamada Komari when she got back that there was no way in Hell he could sleep knowing what they were going to be doing soon. She went to her bag, broke a pill in half, and gave it to him quietly. Despite literally everything he grew up with and all his general wariness, he popped it without question. The last thing he recalled was taking that when the siren rang four hours later.

He got up, a little groggy, and started to pull on his combat gear and khaki brown fatigues. Komari was doing the same silently. He registered she hadn't said a word to him since she spoke to Sato…damn it.

"What happened with Sato?" he asked, sitting on his bed to lace up his boots.

She shrugged, putting on her headgear. Shin sulked. "You know, the less you talk, the more suspicious you come off."

Komari smirked at him, "Come on, kid, we don't want to be late."

Hmm. Shin stood, following her and getting into lineup. A sergeant called roll and started assigning. Some people needed to stay behind for communications. Him? "Yagami, combat team four."

Terrific, lucky number four. Making a face despite his lack of belief in superstition, he paused when the man advised Yamada 'communications team'. Pardon?

Komari didn't look even slightly surprised, her lips pressed together in a line. That fucking Sato. Shin's eyes narrowed as combat teams were advised to go for weapons and ammunition. Swiftly turning on his heel, he walked up to Teramoto who was discussing something with the remaining Captains. The man cocked a brow at him, "…You lost, Yagami?"

"…I know this isn't some stupid action thriller where I make some brilliant demand and threats to get my way, sir. But I would be remiss to not indicate that leaving an expert marksman specializing in sniping here to do communications is an overwhelmingly poor decision."

"Yagami, you screwing this girl or something?"

"No!" Shin hissed, "I just want her to be treated like the valuable member of this unit that she is, sir. I will gladly stay back and take her place if it means she gets to use her skillset and talents."

"Girl can shoot an ant off a grain of rice, sir" one of the captains conceded.

Teramoto snorted. "I'm pulling Yagami's leg because he's already watched me have to get in Sato's face once in the last four hours and now I have to reprimand the idiot again. I already told him to frame Combat Team 4 around the original squad that was able to infiltrate and rescue the commune. Captain Fumi, pull Yamada and get her out there too."

Relieved beyond belief, Shin bowed and rushed off to get…weapons. Here we go.

"You really take that 'hero' thing serious. That or you'll just keep flexing the 'I'm the man that can get things done for the struggling female' angle, huh?"

Shin cut his eyes to his side as Komari handed over her orders, her face irritable. "I mean, did you WANT to be on communications? Because I can retract and say I misunderstood."

"Of course I didn't want to be on communications" she snapped under her breath, "Sato threatened and said I'd never see an ounce of combat again in my career because I don't know my place. Then, all hail the great hero, after he goes snitching to the Colonel, I'm put into active duty. How does that look for either of us, dumbass?"

"I could give a shit what it looks like. I told Raga I was going to do everything in my power to get his mom and sister back and that's what I'm going to do. And we're not doing it any easier with you here answering phone calls" Shin countered.

"Yagami-"

"My dad would probably rather kill me himself than see what I did today- yesterday, running out as bait but I knew you had my back, Yamada. And I hope I've proven I have your back too. At the end of the day, I don't care what either of us are considering our genitals and I hope you don't care what nationality my dad is. We came here to save these people and prove ourselves at the same time. We got this or not?" demanded Shin evenly.

Komari glowered at him before sighing, throwing on her pack and shrugging. "We got this."

"Good" Shin muttered, "…Let's just make sure we don't give them something stupid to say."

She finally smiled, cracking her knuckles, "…I dig it. Let's fuck em' up."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

End Notes:

Y'know, Ryuu, avoiding the sacrificial female thing is great but, once again, you have the problematic lesbian. I'm trying to do better, ya'll, give me a chance. There's like 500 pages to go. Anywho, Komari and Kasumi are characters from Trio of Towns. Honestly? These two definitely seem like they could be a couple. Also, Kasumi really does seem to have a problem with dudes so it's really kind of odd she lets you woo her? I dunno, I never tried but okay.

Inari comes up a few times. He remains the god of the town.

Mako is from Tale of Two Towns but since Konohana seems like a similar concept as Tsuyukasa, I just threw him in there. Komari was childhood friends with his son. There's other characters Komari mentions that are a bit of a slant but I didn't name them directly since I might want to use them later.

So another interesting thing I found, apparently due to a law or at least disapproval of eating turtle, Komari's favorite food was edited in the European version to be okonomiyaki. While I'm of the school of I'll try any food at least once, I will admit, I saw the preparation of turtle stew on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (it's an American series where this guy name Guy Fieri just drives around different places to eat in the U.S. and sometimes other countries...you know, the dream) once and…yea, that's where I draw the line, it was pretty horrendous.

Elena is from Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny like Aden and Sonja…and Aden is controlling a 'armored tanker'. Remember Ymir?

So they mention Evelyn and 'Guy'. This is a nod to Rune Factory 3.

And yea…if you know, you know. Sharance is hell. But I gotta say, which hell is worse: Sharance or a certain other endgame