Author's Note: This is Cardlover95 again. I do apologize for the long update. I'm in my last year of my engineering education so I'm very busy with studying and preparing for my career. I still do love writing and today, I spent one full dedicated day to write this chapter. I do hope that my writing (grammar and story-telling) has improved. I'm deeply moved that people do like my stories and want me to write. I'll do my best to have something up to your expectation. Still, education is a big thing for me so I hope you understand my reason. This chapter is a good bonus cuz it's much longer than a typical chapter (I usually have about 1.5k word per chap - this one is doubled - 3k without these mumbo jumbo note.)

Anyhow, enjoy the chapter!


Words behind the Mask

Chapter 5: I Am Not the One

"Noel, your wound is quite deep. You shouldn't have chased that thief all by yourself, you know." said Makoto while wrapping the bandage around the blond girl's forehead.

"It can't possibly be him." Noel murmured, paying no attention to her friend.

"What did you say?"

"I can't possibly be him. I mean, it's can't be Major."

Makoto raised her eyebrow in slight confusion, trying to figure out what she meant. "Are you talking about Major Kisaragi?"

"Yeah, Makoto. He and the masked man seem to have some sort of connection." Noel rubbed her temple. Apparently, numerous complicated, mysterious events around her had rendered her mind exhausted.

"Connection? Can you tell me more detail?" Makoto knotted the bandage then put some patches on Noel's cheek. "Now sit still please."

"Ouch, it hurts." Noel jolted back. "Opps, sorry, Noel! Did it hurt a lot?" snapped Makoto and gently caressed the girl's wound.

"I'm ok… Major seemed to be furious about something regarding the masked man. I haven't seen him that angry before."

"Major Kisaragi mentioned the masked man? He must be pretty popular around already." Makoto started putting back the bandages back to the first aid kit.

"I guess so." Noel spoke softly and rubbed her sore shoulder "too many things I still don't know about this man. What's his motives and reasons?"

"Talking that masked guy, you said that he kissed you?"

The blond girl blushed madly at the reminiscence of that awkward encounter "Y-yes... I don't know. He just came to rescue me then kissed me when I tried to unveil him."

"Really? My Noelie has a such dedicated admirer." Grinned Makoto "He gave you a dress, now a kiss. Oh… such prince does exist."

"Makoto! You keep teasing me!" Noel shook her head frantically, trying to deny all of the embarrassment welling inside.

"But seriously, do you like that kiss at all?"

"I-I don't know. I DON'T KNOW! It's my first kiss; it's supposed to be given to my loved one and here, I know neither his face nor his name." Noel gave out a sigh and laid back on the bed "I'm beat, it's too much for me these past few days."

Noel hugged the pillow and turned to the other side while her friend put the medical kit to the drawer. "You know Noel, you really need some good rest. How about a trip to a quiet island and devoid yourself of all worriment? No one will be allowed to meddle with your peace." Noel turned to the squirreled girl, feeling appreciate for her friend's genuine concern. "Thanks Makoto, but what about major Kisaragi? You know how he would react if I skipped any of my work."

"Oh yeah… I totally forgot about that douchebag major." Makoto let out a deep exhale in surrender, even in her best effort, she still couldn't rescue the young lieutenant out of her miserable life. "I don't know how you managed to endure that jerk for so long. What's so good about him anyway? He's good looking, I agree; but his tongue is more twisted than an uneducated thug."

Noel put her finger in her chin, thinking of a reasonable answer, she herself wondered why she would put up with all the hurtful insult from another person like that. "Who knows, maybe I'm still clinging onto a hope that he can become a kind person again? … just like that time." She stood up and put on her dress.

"Huh? What are you planning to do this time? You're not fully recovered yet, don't strain yourself you know."

Noel tied the bow in front of chest "Don't worry Makoto, I just go outside a bit for fresh air. I'll be back shortly."

"Let me accompany you. You know, just in case. The street isn't safe lately." Makoto voiced her concern as she knew what her friend had gone through these past few days.

"I'll be fine. I promise." Noel smiled as she opened the door and got out.


"Access to NOL Headquarter is restricted for normal citizen. Only NOL soldiers and officers allowed." Noel was blocked by the guard at the front gate. It was the second time she came to this place without her uniform. The uniform, to her, is the symbol of hope and justice and yet today, she couldn't help but wanting to be normal. "I wish to speak to major Kisaragi. I am lieutenant Noel Vermillion, his direct secretary."

"Please display any form of official identification, without it, you are off limit to this area."

"I-I … I just want to speak to the major. Can you please transfer my word to him?" Noel sighed. Jin Kisaragi that she knew was now so distant; the more she tried to approach, the more he raised his barrier and prevent anyone from coming closer.

"Please understand miss, but we do have our regulation. Major is a busy person. He wishes not to be disrupted by any trifling matter. Now, if you may…" The guard grabbed her shoulder and gestured her to go away.

"Hold it there, folks. This girl will have my consent to enter. No need for such impoliteness." said Sally, her navigator friend, as she came from behind the entrance. "Noel, how is everything? You are wounded, what happened?"

"It's just a small injury I got during a mission. I'm fine, don't worry."

"Do you need anything in here? You guys should make way for the lady. Where's the manner of the gentlemen?" Sally looked at the guards with some hint of disappointment.

"We're merely performing our du…"

"You are a soldier and a man as well, can't you be a bit more considerate to a girl?" interrupted the navigator.

"B-but…" the man stammered.

"Say no more, I expect better etiquette from you next time. Resume your position now."

"Y-yes, ma'am" The guard immediately returned to their station obediently.

Noel made her way in along with Sally "Oh, wow. They totally listen to you."

Sally opened the main door to the innards of the headquarter "I've just gotten promoted recently. Now those guards will have to respect me. Hihi! By the way, Noel, what do you want to do here today? You look so nice in those dress, but you know that you need your uniform here right?"

"Yeah, I know that. I just want to talk to major Kisaragi. I just want to ask him directly if he's the masked man who saved us last time."

Sally widened her eyes in disbelief. "Major Kisaragi is the masked man? Impossible! Why did you come up with that conclusion?"

Noel was not sure about that idea herself but her intuition kept screaming for a clear answer from the major. "To be honest, I don't know why I feel so either, but there are so many things that they share in common. They both have ice power, their wound appeared at the same spot and most notably is their negative reaction toward my appearance. Except the masked guy ki…" Noel covered her mouth some saying any more detail about her awkward encounter with the man.

"The mask man what? K… Kick? Kill?" Sally raised her eyebrow.

"No no! it's nothing. Those two seem to dislike me a lot. I want to confirm whether they are one." Noel blushed madly, trying to stop Sally from having any more suggestive idea.

"By asking major Kisaragi directly? Are you sure it's the good idea? He can burst up in anger and do away with you, you know?"

"I'm aware of that. He hates me so much and I still never know why. If the NOL Noel makes him feel uncomfortable, then I will talk to him as the normal Noel, not a soldier, just a friend. I hope he will open himself to me." Noel fidgeted in nervousness, fearing the outcome that Sally spoke of. They entered the elevator and activated the Ars Magus to proceed to the higher level. It was quiet on the way, Sally vaguely understood the trouble Noel was facing but she was far from being knowledgeable or powerful to help her effectively.

"You know, Noel. I talked to major Kisaragi a few days ago. I can feel something is broken inside him. It's twisted and unstable. I feel that you may be the only one who can salvage his soul. He is very cold toward people and I can see the darkness in his eyes." Said Sally, looking at her friend in worriment. The elevator reached the floor and opened after the notification alarm.

"I don't know what happened to him" they stepped out of the lift "but I will do everything I can to bring back his kindness."

"I will be around when you need Noel. Do your best!"

"Thanks, Sally." said Noel as she walked toward Jin's and her office.

Standing in front of the door, Noel hesitated to enter; The Ars Magus glowed with the cobalt blue light, waiting to be deciphered to open. The lieutenant reached her arm toward the mark but then retracted as if she was afraid that she would unleash the demon inside. Shaking her head violently, she tried to brush off the thought and believed that it would be just another typical major and lieutenant encounter just like any other days. "Breath Noel, it'll be fine. He will just give you some insult at most. Like always…" She put her hand on the Ars Magus and stopped

"What if he will actually kill me to conceal his identity? No way it can happen, if he really is that evil then what's the point of his heroic actions? But I still don't know if he really is the masked man or not. Noel, DO SOMETHING!" She sweated and panted heavily under the pressure of thought. The door creaked open without her using the spell. Standing in front of her is the infamous major who quietly look at her with the coldest eyes she could ever imagine. His presence alone sent a dreadful chill down her spine. Her leg shook in fright as if he is going to murder her on spot.

"M-major…" The words stuck in her throat as he took one step closer to her.

"Noel Vermillion, what are you doing here?" He said each words slowly with his calm yet menacing voice.

"I-I…" Jin turned his back to her and walked inside "If you have anything to say then enter, if not then get out of my sight." He sat down on the table and continued with his paper work. As Noel entered, she saw an unbelievable amount of paper work stacking in the major's desk. Jin was known for hating paperwork but he never left it accumulating uncontrollably like this. Noel stood in front of the desk, looking at Jin, hoping for some more positive interaction.

"Is there anything you want to say? You're wasting my time and focus, you know. Also, who the hell allowed you to wear such filth into this building? If you desire to quit the job, then voice it and I shall grant you that "wish".

Noel gulped, knowing not whether saying her question right now will end her life. "I…"

"SAY IT!" Jin fisted the table, his eyes shot her a very angry glare. Clearly, her indecisiveness had breached his patience.

"ARE YOU THE MASKED MAN WHO SAVED ME?!" Noel yelled out her question in panic. She panted and moved back slowly. Jin put down his pen and rubbed his temple. Ironically, Noel wished that Jin would just throw her some insult and ended the story with that. His silence terrified her more than anything else, that made him become so unpredictable. Jin stood up and walked toward her, Noel stepped back more as he approached. As her back hit the door "M-major" she gathered all of her courage to stand straight and look at him in the eyes while the fear still rumbling in her every cell. The major stopped a few inches away from her and leaned his face down; Noel could feel his cold breath again just like what she talked to him about the old lady case.

"You asked me if I'm the masked man?" Jin's every word was like a knife stabbing around her and waiting for one reason to stab right in the heart.

"Y-yes, sir." Noel replied, trying her best to believe that nothing would happen.

"What makes you think so?"

"Because …" Noel felt her feet went numb, the ice was growing slowly and root her there. "M-major?"

"Answer me?" Jin demanded, his expression didn't change one bit. One stayed close to him as Noel couldn't tell whether he was raging inside or not.

"You and the masked man shared way too many similarities. The forehead wound, the ice power, the allergic like reactions toward me. Could that he and you are one?" Noel said it all out. "you do wish to help other people, don't you, Jin?"

The blond major stared at her "I warned you, it's major Kisaragi. Know your place, vermin."

Noel grabbed the side of his coat and looked at him with her attentive eyes "I want to know, Jin! Where's your kindness? We used to …" Much to her dismay, he grabbed her collar and pressed her against the door.

"Shut up! I have no idea what the hell you are babbling about! You have a death wish today?" his hand was cold. He gritted his teeth and gave her a hard slap.

"Hiekk!" Noel grabbed her red cheek and tried to hide her painful tears. "J-Jin…"

"I TOLD YOU! IT'S MAJOR KISARAGI, YOU STEAMING PILE OF TRASH!" He shouted and the ice underneath her spurt out even faster, covering her lower half. "SHUT UP RIGHT THIS MOMENT OR I'LL CUT YOU IN HALF!" His sword, Yukianesa, touched her neck. She could feel the resonance of bloodlust vibrating inside every inch of that metal. The major's breath went heavier and colder after each roar.

"Can you just … answer my question?" said Noel, holding the major's hand that was grabbing her collar.

"DO NOT QUESTION ME YOU MAGGOT! MENTION THAT AGAIN AND YOU WILL SEE THE MOST PAINFUL DEATH!"

"But…"

Jin swung back the sword "DIE!". Just as the sword accelerated toward her, the door was knocked.

"WHO'S THAT?!" the man yelled, his sword was inches away from ending the girl's life.

"This is Sally Elena from the navigating department. We have updates regarding the band of renegade army that you request us to investigate." Jin released Noel, the ice encasing her shattered as the major's wild rage was interrupted. The lieutenant dropped down on her feet, embracing her pained legs.

"I am busy right now. Do not disturb me!" his voice displayed irritation but the murderous atmosphere was soothed down considerably.

"I just want to drop a document to you, you can read it at any moment you want, sir." Sally continued.

"I told you, I don't want to be bothered! Bring the paper tomorrow, you are dismissed! Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir!" Sally walked away, leave the two back to their conversation.

"M-major… I.." Jin gestured her to stop. "Silence! You better watch yourself. I am not the masked man and we will not talk about this again! Begone, you imbecile!" Noel stood up quietly and opened the door. As the door was about to shut, she could see the expression on his face, still cold, yet it was very calm and somewhat sad.

"Noel." Sally spoke up softly behind the lieutenant.

The two walked to the elevator again and waited to come down. "Thank you Sally. You saved my life there." Noel let out a deep sigh of relief. Her life was almost taken brutally had it not been for her friend's intervention.

"What happened, Noel? Major Kisaragi just shouted so loudly. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't enter the room."

"He was furious when I asked him. I've never seen him so mad like that, he had never gone to the point of trying to kill me like this." Noel sobbed both in pain and fear.

"I guess he isn't the masked man you're seeking for. His actions were way too violent and cruel to be a hero like that man." Sally commented while they entered the elevator.

"I don't know Sally. He denied being the masked man, but there's something twisted about major Kisaragi as well."

"What did you find out?" asked Sally in curiosity.

"He was the man who warn very little. If he's furious, he will certainly get rid of any obstacle without question. He clearly held back a lot when I asked him. I saw his face before I left as well. It was … sad."

Sally raised her eyebrow "Sad? I didn't know the major has such emotion. Are you sure about that or it's just your imagination?"

"I'm very sure of it. It was a very calm expression with some sad eyes. It definitely was not the major that talked to me earlier…" Noel tried to recall anything she could. Yet, her mind was already worn out from the shock, she could no longer tell what exactly had just happened.

Ringg… ring!

Noel's phone rang loudly in the confine lift, she quickly picked it up "Hello, Noel Vermillion speaking."

It was a familiar voice of her squirrelled friend again "NOELIIE! WHERE ARE YOU?! YOU SAID YOU WOULD RETURN SHORTLY AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN 2 HOURS! DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I AM? WHERE ARE YOU NOW?" Her voice was loud but to Noel, it was like a lifesaving voice with genuine care. She smiled "Calm down, Makoto, I'm going home now. I just visited the NOL Headquarter."

"WHAT! YOU COME TO NOL HEADQUARTER WITHOUT TELLING ME?! YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE NOW, YOU KNOW! DID THAT DOUCHEBAG MAJOR DO ANYTHING TO YOU? DO YOU NEED ME TO KICK HIS ASS?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine Makoto. Don't worry, I'm going home for real." Noel couldn't help but smile bigger, much to Sally's relief.

"OHH, YOU BETTER BE. I'LL SEE YOU FOR DINNER TONIGHT AND YOU BETTER TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED THERE."

"I will. See you soon." Noel turned off the call and returned her attention to Sally.

"It seems that you have a great friend there. I envy you, you know." Said the navigator, trying to hide her smirk.

"Indeed, I'm lucky to have Makoto as my guardian angel. I can't live this far without her."

The two left the elevator and headed out to the dock. As Noel boarded the skyship, Sally gave her a communicator "This is the latest communicating device that we develop at the department. If you need any help, feel free to contact me, and I'll do anything I can."

The device was a small bracelet with multiple buttons, clearly, the department had spent a lot of effort and time to create this item.

"Thanks Sally, I'll definitely rely on your help. Thanks for saving me today again." Noel entered the ship and sat down on a seat; her eyes still fixed on the headquarter.

"Jin …" She murmured before closing her eyes and drifted into a short sleep.


Author's Note: So what do you think of this chapter? :D I hope to hear your opinions about it, and again, if you can point out anything about grammar or story's inconsistency, please do tell me. I do love seeing my flaw so I can improve. Thanks for reading!

Stay tune for more in the future!

CL95