The Sun's heat and the humidity were terrible. His body was still hurting a bit so Heinrich walked slowly and carefully on the island. First he took a circle around it counting his steps. It turned around that it covered an area of about nine hectares. It was about the size of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. The beaches were covered with white sand and he could see the coral reefs under the water. The Pacific Ocean was glistening beautifully. During the walk Heinrich was wondering if he could escape from here. Soon he had to discover that it's impossible. Firstly, he didn't know where he is exactly. Secondly, he couldn't see any other island or land on the horizon. And thirdly, the small marina of his island had no ships at all.

"Looks like I'm stuck here."

After that he decided to explore the inside of the island. There the earth was rocky and rough. Palm trees, ferns and other plants were everywhere. Most of the island looked like a tropical garden. Actually it was a pretty nice place, except that it acted as a prison for him.

As Heinrich walked in the woods, suddenly he heard a high-pitched, sad voice from one of the bushes. He stopped to see what it is. As he stepped closer, the head of a light grey dog appeared between the leaves. The pet took a timid step toward Heinrich. It was an Australian shepherd. And visibly it was very scared. It was whining and shifting its weight from foot to foot. Heinrich watched. He didn't expect to meet a dog here without any humans. He knelt down very slowly so he will not scare the quadruped.

"Hey, hello there." said Heinrich gently. "Come here." he reached out his hand. "Come here." It looked like the dog has trusted him because with very cautious steps it walked closer to him until Heinrich could pet its head. "Good boy." he said as he tried to calm it down. "Good boy. What are you doing here all alone? Hm? Were you the pet of the man who owned this place before? Shhh. It's alright." Then he noticed that the dog had a collar with a name plate hanging on it. "Stuart." it said. "So your name is Stuart huh? Do you want to come with me?" asked Heinrich and stood up. He got an immediate reply because wherever he went Stuart always walked beside him. "I guess you are really a best friend to a human." said Heinrich who was now a little bit happier that he wasn't completely alone. Not to mention he always loved dogs in his life. He finished his exploration together with his new friend. In the middle of the afternoon they arrived back to the house and Heinrich gave Stuart some fried chicken breasts and water.

"Here you are body. I think you didn't get normal food for a long time." he said. He sat down on a chair and watched as the pet greedily ate the meat. When he finished it he went to Heinrich wagging his tail and literally said thank you. He was so much happy that there was a human again that takes care of him and he was very grateful to the young man. "Glad you like me." said Heinrich holding the head of Stuart. "You know, I also love someone. More than anyone else before in my life. But she… I don't know if I can hope that I'll see her again one day." he said wiping away a small teardrop from the corner of his eye.

"I'm sure you will." said a female voice.

"What? Who is that?"

"I'm here in your pocket. And I'd like to get out now." Heinrich dug into the inner pocket of his sport jacket and found a union core.

"Gneisenau! Why are you here?" asked Heinrich surprised.

"Don't you remember? You put me there not long before you got separated from Bismarck. I was in there for the whole time."

"And why didn't you say anything so far?"

"I didn't know what to say. Besides that Hiei named would have found me and that's the last thing I want."

"Aren't you a bit timid Fog ship?"

"Maybe I'm just prim."

"I see."

"And? What's now?"

"What do you want to do now?"

"I don't know. What could I do? I'm trapped on an island far away from everything without a ship and my one true love has possibly sunk. In this situation I'm technically worthless."

"You are not Heinrich. Hope dies last."

"Leave me alone Gneisenau."

"Listen to me. Don't be sure that Bismarck has sunk until you can't get proof. She is stronger than that. Believe that you'll be together and everything will be fine again."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because… I don't know. Maybe because I like the person you are."

"That's great. And what do YOU want to do?" asked Heinrich.

"First, I'd like to ask you to hide me from Hiei when she comes back."

"No problem. Anything else?"

"When she is not here take me out please so I can see if there's enough nanomaterial on this island to restore at least my mental model."

"Why would it be good for me if you regain your human body?"

"I won't attack you or anything like that I promise. I don't see you as an enemy."

"Deal." sighed Heinrich. "Do you have any idea about what Hiei wants from me?"

"Not really. Wait patiently and it'll turn out."

"Alright. No need to say that I'm very curious."

Hiei's POV

"Dismissed!" closed Hiei the student council's meeting.

"Are you alright President?" asked Nachi shyly.

"Yes Nachi, why are you asking things like this?" asked Hiei. During the whole session the four cruisers of the Myoko-class were looking at her uncertainly.

"You look so much… calmer now." It was true indeed. Hiei's anger which scared them very much in the past weeks has suddenly disappeared. The president was now much wordless and quiet. She didn't even burst out at Ashigara, not even once. "Is everything alright with you? You looked really disturbed not long ago."

"You have nothing to worry about, everything is fine." said Hiei in a surprisingly kind voice for the Myoko sisters. "You may leave."

"Yes President!" replied the four and then they stood up and headed for the door. Myoko was the last to leave the council room. However when all her younger sisters left she stopped and turned back.

"President."

"How can I help you Myoko?" asked Hiei looking up while roaming through her papers.

"Do you have a minute for me?"

"Is it important?"

"Maybe."

"Take a seat."

The pink haired girl sat back on her chair. "What was exactly that was bothering you so much?"

"Excuse me?" asked Hiei now looking at her.

Myoko sighed and removed her eye-patch. "I'm not the one who knows you the best. But I know that something is disturbing your mind very much. Or it did before. You are not used to act like this."

"Thank you for worrying for me. But I swear I'm okay. You know, I was just wondering before about a few things. I became curious about how the thinking of a human really works after that affair of ours near the Galapagos. The thoughts after the battle have overcharged my system that was the problem. But I'm my old self again."

"Not completely. I can't tell how but you are somehow different."

"And is that worrisome for you?"

"Yes President. I've just wanted you to know that whatever happens, you can count on me. I'll always take your side."

"Arigato Myoko." bowed Hiei. "Do you trust me?"

"Until the end Hiei."

"Then trust me. Don't worry so much please." said Hiei and did something she never did before. She placed her hand on Myoko's shoulder. "Okay?"

"Understood President!"

"Then you may go." Myoko left and Hiei was now alone. "If the war continues as it is going now there's a chance that I'll might lose so great soldiers like Myoko. Humans are troublesome. And the Fog can be troublesome as well, let's face it. I see no end in sight yet. The best way to avoid this would be ending this conflict as much as possible. But Musashi doesn't care about it, she'll continue this. But what if… someone took over the Fog? And wipes away everyone who is problematic and brings peace to the Earth under the egis of the Fog? Then that someone would govern the world as one supreme leader. Who? Maybe…"

"Hiei. Are you questioning yourself right now?" the president heard a voice. In the next moment she found herself in the communication system together with Musashi.

"Musashi-sama." Hiei bowed her head.

"I see you have problems. Are you still thinking about Kongo?"

"Y-Yes. I just can't imagine why would she leave us." lied Hiei about her thoughts.

"She was imperfect. And of course foolish that she let I-401 poisoning her mind. Are you afraid that the same can happen to you?"

"No. That will never happen. I'm loyal to you."

"Good. But then why are you having so rough moments right now? Is it yet possible that you are weak? That would be a very poor thing. I would have to choose someone else for your position."

"No Musashi-sama. It was just a momently waver. I'm sorry." said Hiei but in mean time she clenched her teeth.

"Very well. But don't forget: corrupting your purpose is a sin against the Fog."

"I'll not forget it." said Hiei then she found herself back on her ship. "I'm not weak." she whispered sinisterly. "Moreover! Maybe I'll be much stronger then you want!"

During this time Hiei was sailing northeast from the Philippine Islands. "Huh!" she snorted then turned to the south toward the Coral Sea and her little secret.

Heinrich's POV

Heinrich was playing with Stuart near the beach. He learned it quickly that the Australian shepherd was very smart. He knew all commands he could imagine. Sit, come here, lie down, bring it to me, etc. Suddenly Stuart froze and looked at the sea. Then he started to sprint toward the woods as fast as he could.

"Ho, where are you going?" shouted Heinrich after him. He looked at the ocean and saw a closing ship. "Oh mein Gott, here she is again." He ran inside the house and hid Gneisenau in a closet then went back to the shore and watched as Hiei's ship closed the beach and then stopped. The mental model jumped down to the platform she created over the water and walked ashore.

"Ara. You were expecting me?"

"No. I was walking up and down here alone." replied Heinrich coldly.

"Well, you are not alone anymore." smiled Hiei. "We can have a walk together."

"With respect I refuse."

"Hm. Pity. Then I suggest to go inside the house." said Hiei. She saw on him that he would have liked to punch her in the face right now. "Take it easy Wenzel-san. Do you think you could make a stand against a mental model?"

"No. I know I couldn't."

"Great. Then let's go shall we?"

They went inside the villa and settled down in the living room. They were sitting in armchairs facing each other.

"Tell me what happened." said Heinrich.

"How curious are you. I like that." giggled Hiei.

"What happened?" repeated Heinrich his question. "Is Bismarck still alive?"

"Why do you care so much about her?"

"Because I love her with all my heart and she is the only person I have, that's why." He didn't know but hearing him saying that he loves someone else made Hiei's chest ache.

"We'll change that soon." she thought. "I see. Well then. Everything has begun when we fought each other near South America. With your help she defeated me and my entire council alone. I had to admire it; I've never seen such strength before. But I also had to admit that she is a huge danger for the Fog and its goals. That is why I went after her. And when she was unaware near Argentina I've strike."

"So it was really you."

"That's right Wenzel-san."

"What happened after that?"

"Do you really want to know? As I said before: Bismarck has left you."

"That's just not true."

"The blast of my super gravity cannon damaged her and blew you down from her deck. You know what she did? She sailed on trying to do something against me, while you were floating in the water. She didn't care about you. And trust me; I'm sure she would have left you there if I wouldn't have… finished her career."

"What did you say?!"

"You've heard it right. For the sake of my Fleet I've sent her to the coral. She is now resting peacefully in the depths of the Atlantic." told Hiei her own version of the story.

"You son of a…" said Heinrich furiously while standing up. In the next moment he jumped forward to grab Hiei by the collar and throw her to the wall, but Hiei with a single move of her hand created a glowing shield before her and Heinrich fell on the floor.

"Oh my you have such a temper when it comes to your loved ones." smiled Hiei. "I take it as a good point." She knelt down to him and helped him up. Grabbing his clothed arm was such a nice feeling.

"And? What happened after that?" asked the young man in despair.

"From what point of view?"

"Why did you fish me out? Why did you left me alive? I'm your enemy aren't I?'

"I guess so. But that doesn't mean it has to stay like that."

"What do you mean?" He would have sworn that he saw the smallest tinge of red appearing on her face.

"You asked me why did I left you alive and brought you here. I've found you very interesting when we met on Isla Watson."

"Really? You said back then that I must be destroyed."

"I've changed my mind since then. And actually I'm glad that I didn't manage to sink you to the abyss. I want to know you. I want to know who Heinrich Wenzel really is. I want to know more about humans and this exact human in front of me." "And I'd like to know what is under that shirt. Maybe you can show me once."

"That's all?"

"Partly. You know, I find your combat skills and your talent in leading a ship very honorable and respectable. And…"

"And?"

"I would need such a talented commander by my side." Heinrich frowned hearing this. "I offer you a chance to get free from the daily threat of life and vulnerability." continued Hiei. "Become an Admiral in my fleet."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Fight together with me and so your life become much better."

"So practically you're telling me to turn against my kind and kill my fellow humans?"

"Why not? You humans do it so often. You will not necessarily kill anyone but you could get rid of those who kill defenseless people. I'll tell more about my plans later, that's enough for now. What do you say?"

"It's obvious: my answer is a huge no."

Hiei chuckled. "Well. We will see."