Okay, before we start this chapter, I've had some divine revelations. I've been spelling Citrine's name wrong this whole time. I'm a freakin' idiot, I'm sorry. Also, given the information we've received about the true episode 3, Heinlein is not behind U-TIC and Ormus in this story, rather, he is against them.
Neo: Not only is she an idiot, but she doesn't own Xenosaga either.
T.T
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Xenosaga Episode III: Lager Unsere Kreuze
Chapter 3: Arms Wide Open (pt. 2)
The crisp Second Miltian night sky was broken by the strident cries of a certain raspy-voiced individual.
"Dun dun DUN DUN DUN dun DUN DUN! Danana…danana…danana…da na!"
Jr. tore along the pathway to Jin's front door, dropping to the ground and pulling out a gun while continuing to hum the Mission Impossible theme song. chaos slowly shook his head and stepped over him to the door.
"Subtle," he murmured disdainfully. The U.R.T.V. got to his feet and brushed himself off, grinning.
"I was trying to give the writer's block-stricken KOS-MOS rox a cool opening for this chapter," he explained. "I thought humming would be humorous and pertinent." chaos chuckled and knocked on Jin's door. Jr. stood beside him.
"The pizza is here, yes!" chaos heard Shion cry excitedly. She opened the door, looking over her shoulder at Allen and Jin. "I've been craving the anchovies since a few hours ago and-"
"Hate to burst your bubble, but we're not pizza," Jr. said, interrupting her joyful outburst. "Although it would be pretty cool if we were! We could eat ourselves! Hey, do you think that would be considered mastur-" chaos quickly clamped a hand over the U.R.T.V.'s mouth to keep this story rated T.
"Err…sorry for the outburst, I just really want pizza," Shion said, blushing.
"Any particular reason?" chaos asked. Shion shot Allen a nervous glance. Jr. tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at her.
"…not in particular," she finally stammered. "Come in!" she exclaimed, trying to change the subject. chaos and Jr. shrugged and stepped into the house, slipping off their shoes first.
"Happy birthday!" Jr. screeched, throwing himself at Allen. The younger man instinctively threw up his hands to fend off a blow, but instead, Jr. whipped out a card from his pocket. Grinning, he handed it to Allen.
"Oh. Thanks," Allen said, smiling politely.
"Jr. drew the pictures himself," chaos murmured almost disdainfully. Jr. nodded proudly like a little child.
Studying chaos, Shion immediately noticed that he was wearing a new outfit. His one-piece combat suit was replaced by his old orange and blue vest with the black skintight shirt. He wore light khaki cargo pants with boots, and his gloves adorned his hands as usual. "You look different when you're not in that suit," she commented.
"Oh, does it look bad on me?" chaos asked.
"No, you look good!" She nodded. A long pause ensued as they looked at each other, eyes narrowed in deep thought.
"…we've been through this before, haven't we?" the teen said, tilting his head to the side.
"I seem to vaguely recall something…" Shion replied, putting a hand on her chin.
"Beer's here!" a voice exclaimed from outside. Allen opened the door revealing a grinning Albedo and a loaded down by four six-packs Gaignun.
"Hey there, brothers!" Jr. exclaimed, saluting them. Albedo returned the gesture. Gaignun attempted to, until he remembered he was carrying the beer. Instead, he just sighed.
"You can bring the drinks into the dining room," Jin offered to Gaignun. The U.R.T.V. nodded politely and followed the samurai.
"I was wondering, Albedo, how have the people of the Kukai Foundation taken your sudden arrival?" Allen asked curiously.
"Helmer helped us to start this whole scandalous story that I'm an illegitimate son of Soze Kukai and just happened to be Gaignun's friend," he explained.
"Makes sense," chaos said. Shion nodded. A moment later, Gaignun and Jin returned. The younger pulled a card from his breast pocket and handed it to Allen.
"How are Mary and Shelley?" Shion inquired.
"Hehe, they're just fine," Albedo replied. Jr. snickered as Gaignun rolled his eyes.
"They were sorry they couldn't make it tonight," the Kukai Foundation chairman said. "They're just so busy with the Zohar and isolation teams that they couldn't get a moment's peace. They send Allen birthday wishes."
"Tell them I said thank you." Gaignun nodded at Allen.
"Where's Momo and them?" Jr. asked in a suddenly bored voice, tapping his foot impatiently and crossing his arms. Everyone shrugged.
"Happy birthday, Allen!" the woman's chipper voice exclaimed as if on cue. Jr. turned excitedly to see Momo standing in the doorway next to Juli, Ziggy close behind them. "Sorry we're late!"
"It's quite alright," Jin said. "The pizza isn't even here yet." Shion let out a sigh of disappointment.
"So Zig-meister," Jr. said nonchalantly, putting his hands behind his head. "Scored with any of the chicks on the Durandal yet? Rumor has it that they think you're quite a piece of sexy man."
Ziggy shook his head slowly as Juli laughed, handing Allen yet another card. "Oh, that's right. No manbits." The U.R.T.V. snickered at the cyborg's expense.
"Yo, I got some pizzas here for the…Uzuki household?" a casual, feminine voice came from the open door. The tall, thin teenage delivery girl was leaning on the side of the door, knocking on the wall beside it. Her hair, as red as Jr.'s, was pulled back into a quick ponytail. She wore a black uniform, and carried the pizzas in a red thermal bag. Shion grinned as she and Jin walked over to her.
"That's us," she said politely.
"I've got a large half extra-cheese, half pepperoni, small anchovy, and medium mushroom. That right?" the pizza delivery girl said.
"Yes, that's correct. Thank you very much." Jin said, taking the boxes from her and handing her the money. He signaled for everyone to follow him into the dining room. She stuffed it into her pocket, yawning and stretching. Just as the girl was about to walk away, Shion walked over to her.
"Tell me…what's your name?" Shion asked.
"Aeris," the teenager replied, deep green eyes suddenly filled with confusion.
"Well, Aeris…" The very emotional Shion got misty-eyed and hugged the tall girl. Aeris's expression froze and her body went rigid as Shion sniffed, "Thank you so much for this pizza. I hope Jin tipped you well…"
"Err…you're welcome?" Aeris managed to stammer before darting away, traumatized from the experience.
"I'll never forget you!" Shion called after her before closing the door and walking towards the dining room, stomach growling. Allen held his head in his hands.
"This is going to be a long nine months."
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"So, Shion told you guys she had a surprise as well?" Jr. addressed the group, reaching for a can of beer.
Momo nodded enthusiastically. "Mom thinks she knows what the secret is, though."
"Really?" Albedo asked, hearing the satisfying fizz sound as he opened his beverage.
"Please, tell us," Gaignun suggested.
"Well…" Juli started, smiling softly. "I think she's-"
"Who wants wine?" Jin interrupted loudly, holding up a wine bottle. Nobody answered, mouths agape. "Anyone?"
"Errr…I guess I'll have some," the S.O.C.E. executive replied. Jin nodded and poured her and himself a glass.
"Well, I guess I'll help myself to a slice of anchovy," Jr. announced, reaching eagerly for the box. "You want a piece?" he asked chaos, who was seated next to him. chaos shook his head, refused politely, and sipped his water. "Ah well, all the more for me!" The U.R.T.V licked his lips and lifted the lid.
"Get your hands away from the anchovy or die."
Jr., wide-eyed, slowly turned his head to see Shion staring at him, wearing a glare that was so terrifying, it couldn't even be described. The redhead squealed in fright and curled up into a ball, tucking his legs into his chest. Shion snatched the box, took a slice and stuffed it into her mouth, sighing in almost orgasmic pleasure. Everyone (besides the petrified Jr., of course) stared at her.
"Umm...I'm hungry?" she suggested, raising her eyebrows. Most of the group slowly exchanged glances, shrugged, and went back to talking and laughing. Juli, however, continued to look at Shion. The older woman looked at her stomach, her countenance sly and knowing.
Could she know? Shion asked herself in a mental scream, expression changing to show surprise and fright. As if reading Shion's thoughts, Juli locked her eyes onto the younger woman's and nodded furtively. Shion gulped.
"Shion, have some beer with your pizza," Albedo called to her. "Or some wine, Juli's really downing it. It must be good."
"Hey!"
"Just kidding, Dr. Mizrahi."
"Uhh…no thanks, I'll just have water," Shion replied, pouring herself a glass.
"Are you pregnant or something?" the middle U.R.T.V. asked, looking at her with his eyebrows arched. Shion opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Allen and Jin exchanged nervous glances. Silence fell around the table once again. chaos sensed her discomfort immediately.
"Jr.!" he exclaimed almost too cheerfully. "Why don't you tell them that funny joke you told me earlier?" Jr.'s face broke into a grin.
"Okay! Guys, listen. What do you get when you cross an owl with a bungee cord?" he started. Nobody answered. "…my ass!" He erupted into hysterical laughter.
"…Right." Gaignun shook his head slowly. Jr. smiled and leaned backwards, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Yeah, I made it up myself," he explained in a suave voice. He put his drink to his lips and tossed his head backwards, draining the can. "Ahh, that's refreshing."
"Thinking up that joke deserves another beer, I think," Allen chuckled. The rest of the table nodded in agreement, laughing.
"Yeah, sounds good. Just let me empty the tank first," he replied. "I've gotta pee like a racehorse. Jin, where's your bathroom?" Jin pointed in the direction of the restroom. Jr. nodded and headed towards his destination.
Jin then cursed inwardly as he realized a mistake he had made earlier that day. He motioned for Shion to come to him. She sighed in frustration, stood, and walked over to him, not bothering to put down her precious slice of pizza. Everyone else continued talking.
"Shion…ah," he started in a whisper. "Earlier, after you and Allen fell asleep, I decided to do you a favor and throw away the test for you…but, in my state of delirious rage, I put it in the bathroom wastebasket, forgetting to cover it. Jr. may see it."
"Well you've gotta stop him!" Shion whispered back, mouth full. Jin sighed, lips pursed, trying to think of an idea.
"I'll see what I can do," he murmured, standing and starting in the same direction Jr. had. Suddenly, Shion became very nervous about telling them about the baby. How would they react? Would they begin to see her and Allen as promiscuous and disgusting?
"Umm…Shion, is everything alright?" Momo asked. Shion turned abruptly to discover that the table had fallen silent after Jin had left.
"Y-Yes! Everything is fine," Shion replied, quickly taking her seat beside Allen. She flashed her fiancé an "I-Think-They-May-Find-Out" look.
"Are you sure?" Gaignun prodded. "Jin certainly high-tailed it out of here."
"I'm positive." Shion sighed. "How's the pizza, everyone?" She received various comments ranging from "good" to "freakin' awesome!".
"I just wonder why we're not having your curry, Shion," Momo commented. "It tasted so good!"
"Err…I wasn't feeling very well earlier, and I didn't get around to making it," she explained. "Besides, I think we're due for a change." Shion broke into a slight swear, racking her brain, trying to think of something else to change the subject with.
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In the restroom, Jr. was assuming the position to use the toilet. Suddenly, something in the wastebasket beside the sink caught his eye. "Helloooo, what's this?" he murmured, leaning down to look at it. It was something he had seen before, but only on commercials on the UMN Television Networks. It took a moment before what the object was registered in his mind.
"Holy crap, it's a pregnancy test!" he said in a bewildered whisper. "Not only that, it's a positive pregnancy test!"
The U.R.T.V. quickly finished his business before emerging from the room, stepping into the hallway, shouting, "Hey, who's preg-MMPPH!" Jin removed his hand from Jr.'s lips and pushed him against the wall across from the bathroom door. "You're not going to chop me up into little cubes, are you?" he squeaked, frightened.
"Of course not!" Jin whispered harshly, trying to think of an excuse for the item in the wastebasket. Then, he realized who it was he was talking to. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Look, Jr., I'm pregnant. Don't tell anyone, alright?"
Jr. stared at him blankly for a moment. Then, he exclaimed, "Way to go, Jin! Man, I wish my sex life was as good as yours! Don't worry, I won't tell a soul," he promised, giving him the "scout's honor" sign. Jin sighed in relief and released his captive. Together, they headed back to the dining room.
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"So, you guys are back," Gaignun said in the nick of time, saving Shion from being stared at even more. Jin and Jr. nodded before taking their seats again.
"What'd I miss?" the redhead asked eagerly, reaching for another beer.
"Nothing really interesting," chaos said.
"Juli, is there anything big going on at the subcommittee?" Allen asked, trying to steer the conversation away from inevitably making Shion uncomfortable.
"Actually, yes," Dr. Mizrahi replied. "We've been registering major thermal energy and activity around a deserted planet a few light years away from here. Although, reports of Gnosis attacks are on a very small scale, so we're thinking that it's just military training." Everyone nodded and murmured.
"Any wedding plans for you two?" Ziggy inquired, looking at Shion and Allen.
"We were actually thinking about having the wedding next summer," Shion replied, blushing slightly. "But…now we may move it up to the spring."
"Spring weddings are always nice," Juli said, smiling. Shion rested her head on Allen's shoulder, nodding.
"Do you have any ideas for your gown, Shion?" Momo tilted her head to the side, nervously.
"Yeah, what color will it be?" Jr. asked. Everyone around the table facepalmed.
After they were finished with their meals, Allen opened his cards. He received money from everyone, plus a very…err, lovely drawing from Jr. After he opened the last card, Shion took a deep breath and stood, pulling Allen to his feet as well. She gave Jin a look, and he nodded. Allen, too, got the message.
"As I told you earlier, Allen and I have an announcement to make," Shion began, feeling butterflies of nervousness in her stomach.
"And it's a big one too," Allen confirmed. They both took deep breaths and spoke in unison.
"I am-"
"Shion is-"
"Wait!" Shion whispered to Allen. "Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked, turning her back on the group. Her fiancé shrugged and turned as well. Everyone around the table looked at each other in confusion. Jr. quietly got to his feet and tiptoed up behind them, unnoticed.
"What's wrong?" asked Allen. Shion sighed nervously, blushing.
"I'm kind of afraid to tell them," she admitted. "I mean, I just don't want them to think we're irresponsible…"
"They're going to notice eventually," the man chuckled quietly. "You also don't want them thinking that your body changing is just weight gain." Shion laughed. "I think we should just tell them now and save them the shock."
"You're right…"
"What are we whispering about!" Jr. shouted, thrusting his head between theirs, scaring the daylights out of them. Shion screamed and Allen jumped at least a foot in the air.
"Dammit, Jr.!" Shion yelled, giving him a girly punch on the back as he scurried back to his seat, laughing his ass off.
"Please, don't keep us in suspense any longer," said Ziggy.
"Yes, please, tell us!" Momo begged. Shion and Allen looked at each other. There was no turning back.
"Everyone, I'm pregnant," Shion said sincerely. "Allen and I are going to have a baby." Allen nodded, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Complete and total silence.
Shion and Allen were petrified as everyone at the table sat completely still, gaping at the two of them.
"Did you mean literally or metaphorically?" Jr. broke the silence, voice cracking slightly.
"Uh, literally," Shion replied. More silence. She and Allen both gulped.
"Are you happy or upset about this?" Momo said very reluctantly. The rest of the table waited for the couple's response with bated breath.
"We're happy, of course!" Allen told them. Instantly, everyone let out sighs of relief and cheered. Both of the females rushed to hug Shion while the males fought each other to shake Allen's hand. Jr. even punched Gaignun in the eye to get to him first.
"We're so happy for you!" Momo squealed, embracing Shion.
"For some reason, I'm not surprised," chaos commented. Then, he noticed Jr. standing next to him, playing rock-paper-scissors with himself and accusing his left hand of cheating. "Then again," the teen murmured, resting his head in his hands, "Not much surprises me anymore."
"I see now why you wanted to move up the wedding date," Ziggy murmured. "But, Shion…you, of all people? I honestly never saw this coming."
"What a coincidence! Jin is pregnant too!" Jr. shouted, stopping his game and pointing at the samurai. Jin shook his head slowly as everyone stared.
"It's a long story…" he muttered. "Jr., the pregnancy test was Shion's. I'm not pregnant. That's not even physically possible"
"…you lied to me!" Jr. yelled, hurt. Momo quickly went to comfort him, giving the rest of the group an exasperated look.
"This is unbelievable," Albedo and Gaignun replied, incredulous. The youngest variant rubbed his assaulted eye.
"So that's why Jin was after you on the phone," Momo giggled, giving Allen a friendly hug.
"Do you guys want to have a little boy or girl?" Juli asked, smiling brightly at Shion and Allen. The couple gave their answers in unison.
"Girl."
"Boy."
They looked at each other, eyebrows raised. "Girl," Shion pressed.
"Yes, a girl," Allen stammered, quickly changing his answer. Shion in a hormonal rage frankly scared him.
"But we'd be happy with anything," the woman added, grinning excitedly. She was so glad at how they had responded.
"My only wonder is, how did this happen?" Momo asked. "I mean, you've never had sex, right?" Silence fell for what seemed like the millionth time that night.
"Err…she was still in the young body when you two first canoodled," Jr. explained. "Momo, they had sex the night before your analysis. Heh." Momo's face contorted into one of fright and confusion. "Yeah, I had the same reaction."
"Hmm, I wonder if it actually did happen that night," Shion said thoughtfully, resting her hand on her chin, "or if it was one of the other nights." Allen blushed and laughed nervously. Jin's eyes widened as he thought about his sister's productive intimate life.
"Oh, Jin. Loosen up," said Albedo. The Japanese man sighed deeply and admitted defeat.
"We can find out when it happened, if you really want," Jin announced. "I can perform a sonogram. I have my connection gear from the hospital." Everyone began talking happily amongst themselves as Jin went to retrieve the device from his room.
"By my calculations, you'll have the baby during the beginning of the summer," Gaignun pointed out. Juli nodded, counting the number of months in her head.
"Good. You wouldn't wanna be heavily pregnant during the hot-as-balls summer," commented Jr.
Jin returned with his connection gear. "Come with me into the living room so that Shion can lie down while I do this," he instructed. Shion and Allen grinned and followed her brother as the rest of the group tussled to get out of the doorway. Unfortunately for Gaignun, he took another punch in the opposite eye.
"Jr.!"
"Sorry, Gaignun..."
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"Alright, Shion, I'll need you to lie on your back and lift up your shirt," Jin instructed his sister, kneeling in front of her on the couch and booting up his connection gear.
"Hehe, yes please…Ow!" Albedo yelped and grabbed his arm. "Gaignun, don't punch me! I've only got two arms- wait." Albedo narrowed his eyes in thought. Gaignun growled in anger as Jr. laughed. The rest of the group crowded around the couch in a tight semi-circle. Allen fought his way through to make it to his fiancée's side.
"Watch it, Jr. might punch you," Gaignun said scornfully.
"Hey, shut up! It's a reflex!"
"Are you ready?" Shion asked Allen softly, smiling brightly. He took a moment to admire her smile. He had never seen her so happy.
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," he replied, kissing her on the forehead and taking her hand in his.
"Awwww!" Juli, Momo, and Jr. squealed. The couple smiled timidly. Unseen by anyone, Jr. slipped his arm around Momo's waist. She looked up at him, blushing.
chaos, who had been silent for a while now, chimed in. "It's a shame KOS-MOS isn't here. I'm sure she would have loved to meet her younger brother or sister."
"He's right," Ziggy commented. "KOS-MOS is technically your daughter."
"You know, I never thought of it that way…" Allen murmured. Shion beamed and lifted her shirt slightly for Jin.
"Everyone ready?" the samurai asked, placing the device just above her stomach. The group in its entirety nodded their heads fervently. He smiled and pressed the button on the connection gear, and the holographic screen materialized above it. "Aha, just as I suspected…the scan ages the child at about two-and-a-half weeks along."
Shion looked at the image on the screen, and then at Allen. Tears sparkled in her emerald eyes as she said, "Allen, that's our baby." Allen's eyes welled up as well as he stared at the screen in awe. He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, returning the gesture.
"Isn't it beautiful, Jan?" Juli whispered to Ziggy, green eyes bright and sparkling, taking his gloved hand in hers. The cyborg looked into her eyes and managed a smile…her hand was warm around his.
"Can you please make the screen larger?" asked Gaignun.
"We don't have super-sonic vision, you know," Albedo added.
"Sorry," Jin apologized, quickly enlarging the screen for all to see. Momo chirped an "awww!" in delight as Jr.'s face contorted in confusion.
"It looks like…Doppler radar or something…" he murmured. The pink-haired girl sighed and rolled her eyes in disdain.
"So, these are your first baby pictures," chaos chimed in. The betrothed couple laughed as Jin smirked.
"Do you want to find out the sex of the baby?" the doctor asked the parents. "Because if you want, I can do a chromosome scan." Shion and Allen looked at each other, thinking it through.
"…not yet," the woman concluded. "I think we should be kept in suspense for a little while." Allen nodded in agreement.
"As you wish." Jin shut off his connection gear and Shion sat back up, pulling her shirt down.
"I can't wait to tell Mary and Shelley," the youngest variant thought aloud. Albedo grinned.
"Yeah, maybe it'll get them in the mood to have children," the white-haired man suggested lewdly. Gaignun grunted in exasperation and buried his head in his hands.
"You see what he's like? I have to live with this, every single day!"
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Later that night, after the rest of the group had said their goodbyes and departed (not to mention that Momo and Juli became obsessed with Shion's stomach), Shion and Allen had their pajamas on, ready for bed. Jin had already retired for the night. Allen yawned and stretched, lying back on the bed. "Boy, it's been a huge day. I'm ready for some sleep."
"Me too," Shion moaned, relaxing beside him. "Oh! Before I forget, I still have to give you your birthday gift from me! And Miyuki, I guess, but she doesn't count." She leaned over the side of the bed and reached underneath of it, pulling out a silver case.
"Shion, you've already given me the gift of fatherhood. I don't need anything else," he protested.
"But I already paid Miyuki for this," Shion said, pouting. Allen sighed, not wanting to provoke a deadly mood swing.
"Okay, okay. But what could you have possibly paid Miyuki for?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Some vanilla extract? Remember when she drank it straight from the bottle at that one party?" Shion laughed, covering her mouth with her hand as she remembered that particular incident. After chugging two mouthfuls of vanilla extract, Miyuki almost vomited all over Janice, a fellow First Division worker.
"No, this!" she exclaimed, opening the case.
"…whoa!" Allen whispered in awe. Inside of the case was a beautiful sleek black pistol, something that Jr. would probably lick when he saw it. Allen took it out of the case, running his fingers along the shaft.
"It's a Beretta," Shion chirped happily. "You know, just in case we get pulled into doing something else by Helmer."
"B-but those haven't been in use for…I don't even know how long!" Allen stammered in amazement, admiring the weapon.
"Gaignun sent me an e-mail about it, claiming that Jr. had enough pistols. He was wondering if I was interested. I won it in an auction, and had Miyuki make a few modifications."
"This…this is amazing!" he exclaimed, placing it back into the case and pulling Shion into his arms. "Thank you so much," he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck.
"I'm glad you like it," she giggled. "I'll have to tell Miyuki about your reaction."
Shion cuddled against Allen as he pulled the sheet over the two of them and shut off the light. He kissed her forehead, rubbing her stomach. "I love it when we do this," she murmured under her breath, not intending for Allen to hear. He felt heat rise to his face as she rested her head on his chest.
"Only nine months until we're parents," whispered Allen. Shion smiled softly and closed her eyes. "I can't wait to see the baby."
"Wait until we tell KOS-MOS," she added "I'm interested to see how she reacts." Allen kissed her again.
"One thing is kind of funny, though," he half-laughed.
"What's that?"
"The first time either of us probably got laid in two years, you get pregnant."
Neither of them could help but laugh at that.
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-Falls over- BAH! That took me quite a while…but, whatever! This ending was kind of a crap-thing…I pulled it together at the last second. I tried to add some Jr.xMomo and ZiggyxJuli development into this chapter too, sorry if it sounded forced. I promise that Ziggy and chaos will have a lot more lines in the near future, heh.
I've watched the epilogue of Xenosaga 3 (I know, I'm a spoiler whore), and may I say, on a visual standpoint (since I can't understand a word of Japanese), we will not be disappointed. Although, a few deaths left me a bit upset…
Oh, and the pizza-delivery chick was Aeris1172's character in the story. And the reference to Miyuki drinking vanilla extract is a reference to what I did once. .;
Until next time, this is KOS-MOS rox, signing off!