First off, I want to thank Sakimi1014 for the comment. That comment really touched me and I want to thank you for enjoying this hope that you will continue to enjoy and support my story. After a long wait here is chapter 11. I hope that you all enjoy and to make things better chapter 12 is 25 complete. I want to thank SniegZ and now Angelbecca for helping me with this new chapter. She has taken to looking at the grammer so praise for her. I don't own Full Metal Panic or Metal Gear, I do own Michael enjoy.
For once Michael was actually smart to have different ammo stations around the city. He even was able to sneak in some heavier weapons and ammo near the school in case this happened Michael already finished cocking his new M4 that was stored in an empty warehouse at least 4 blocks away from the school. He pulled out a small bag and stuffed it with ammo for the M4 and Mark .23 pistol.
He leaned against the wall finally able to smoke for the first time since this hellish day started and thought about all that was happening.
Needless to say, Sousuke and Kaname were shocked and upset that not just four bombs went off but an additional three. Michael was able to disarm one but did not think that Ocelot would plant a trap in it.
Michael banged his head against the wall upset at his own carelessness. He should have known that Ocelot would do something like this. Ocelot always chose his words to make people think something when he meant something else.
His own carelessness had cost them big.
Not just the lives that they lost or the massive damage around the city.
Kaname's moral on the situation was worsening.
From what Sousuke had explained over the CODEC, she felt some hope since the Arbalest arrived. Kaname knew full well Sousuke's skill with it and its ability to pull something out of its hat at the last second.
That hope was quickly destroyed when she heard the bombs went off and seeing the destruction from the Arbalest. The fastest route to meet up with him was through the chaos. It seemed that Ocelot had every move planned and anticipated exactly when and where they were going to go.
It only got worse when she got a message from Ocelot showing what she feared the most.
Kyoko had been taken hostage and the picture was sent to her through her phone. The situation got worse when there was a C4 charge right around her waist.
Ocelot's message was simple 'give up or the girl dies.'
They all knew the hidden meaning in the message. If she did not turn herself over than not only would Kyoko die but the entire school would be destroyed.
Michael checked his watch.
It was almost four o'clock. The sun would be setting and every instinct screamed at Michael that the endgame was approaching fast.
He turned his attention outside when he heard a robotic sound. He went outside and saw the Arbalest with Kaname in its hand. Kaname jumped out of it not bothering to give Michael a glance. He sighed knowing what could happen next with the state that she was in.
Sousuke had activated the stealth camo throughout the city in hopes that they would not be detected.
The cockpit opened and Sousuke climbed out slugging the massive weapons bag over the shoulder. Michael walked up to him and took the bag. He started walking with him as they headed into the empty building, "What is the situation around the city?"
All three walked into the warehouse to plan there next move. Sousuke had already ordered AL to activate the stealth camo and remain on full alert. He was ordered to alert even the smallest thing to Sousuke.
Sousuke set the bag down, "Chaos. The bombs sent a lot of confusion through the city and many places have been ordered to stay put until further notice."
Michael sighed. He pulled out a few protein bars from a storage box that was underneath the floor. Michael threw a few to Sousuke who than gave one to Kaname. She ate quietly trying to find some hope in this situation.
Michael leaned against the wall throwing his cigarette to the side, "Right now that is what Ocelot wants. He wants confusion to run through the city so his actions are not noticed. He probably already made sure that the principal cooperates and does not try anything funny. If she does, than someone will die." He stated in a matter of fact tone.
"So what do we do?" Sousuke asked. A full frontal assault would not work at all. The Arbalest would draw too much attention and would need to be on stand-by when the enemy attacked with Venoms.
There were no assumptions or maybes anymore. The enemy would attack with Venoms to ensure more destruction on the fragile state that Kaname was in right now.
Michael took a deep breath and crossed his arms, "We need to figure out the best route into the school. Rescue the hostages and take care of Ocelot once and for all."
Sousuke gave Michael a grim look. In the past Sousuke knew how much Michael wanted to kill Ocelot. However, right now he was obsessed with it. Ocelot mentioned something about a person when he was in Sousuke's apartment. Who was it?
Kaname stopped eating the bar, "What is the point?" She asked. Her tone was cold but it drew the attention of the two men around her.
Michael and Sousuke turned to her.
She stood up with her back facing them, "I mean, you two barely survived the first one and the second one was just a joke. We could not complete it even if we could use the Arbalest radar to find it." She said.
Michael turned to Sousuke, "If we had the Arbalest an hour before he assigned the next task could we have done it?"
Sousuke pondered this for a second.
She turned to them, "Of course it's easy", She turned to them and gave a rather condescending look, "We knew that the frequency was on a small electronic channel. If we could fine tune that signal to look for unusual ones and block out normal ones like those from cell phones and other electronics we could pinpoint them that quickly."
Michael and Sousuke were amazed to hear this. However, her facial features were slowly changing. Her tone was condescending and the way she was talking to them it was like they were children.
It was the way Leonard spoke to them that night. That posture and tone was if he was superior to others. That attitude really pissed off both Sousuke and Michael. Now, it was coming from someone they were trying to protect.
"And look at you two," She pointed out, "You two assert your experience over this entire incident without realizing a simple thing. We can't win. Leonard will get me either one way or another."
Michael and Sousuke felt there stomachs flip hearing that. Michael looked at Sousuke from the corner of his eye. He already knew of the incident after there van flipped over. Seeing a man's head explode in front really did a number on her. The first time anyone is exposed to the trauma of a battlefield it will change them. For some they can handle and move on, others just become more enthralled in it. It is like a rush to them. For others, they just broke down.
"Kaname-"
"STOP IT SOSUSKE!" She yelled, "You can't say that 'It's not a problem' or anything else. Even if you and Michael somehow stopped this, what about the people at the school? No doubt Ocelot has told them some truth as to why this was happening. That I was to blame for this! How do you think they will look at me the next day? Look at you? What makes you think that he did not tell the school of what you do? The people you killed? Michael what would people do if Ocelot told them you use to be his subordinate?!"
Sousuke and Michael were in deep thought. Each was trying to choose the best words to say right now. Neither knew what they could say or how to best handle the situation Each knew of there own collective sins and the demons that haunted each man in there dreams. The past was hard to throw away and a future could not truly happen unless those demons were put to rest. However, their pasts haunted them everyday of their lives. The dreams and reminders of what they did and have done have come back to haunt them many times before.
Neither was ready for this. They could never really explain who they were. People could not understand the battlefield and live the notion that it happens far away and none of it will come to them. Soldiers were wanted and hated for the services. If they brought war with them than they were hated forever.
Sousuke made the first move, "Kaname, we will cross the bridge when it comes. Right now we have to worry about the here and now."
"But I don't want anything more to happen to you! I want you to avoid killing!" Kaname said as she started to cry.
Michael spoke, "We have no choice. Ocelot has us in a tough spot and we are in no position to run."
Sousuke nodded.
Kaname swung her arm against Sousuke chest, "I don't know how much more of this I can take. I really like you Sousuke, I do! But I don't know how to see the world you live in anymore." She fell to her knees, "I don't know how I can look at you anymore!" She yelled looking at him.
Sousuke couldn't even find the words to speak at that moment. When they were in the woods in South Korea he could understand that feeling. She barely knew him, and it seemed to be that he was an annoyance in her once peaceful life. However, the time they spent together he tried his best to make sure that she never saw the things that he did on a mission.
This time it was deliberate.
Leonard had planned this. He wanted to force Sousuke to fight and kill.
Kill in front of someone that he swore to protect no matter what. Kill in front of someone that he truly cared about. Expose her to the bloodshed that he committed everyday.
Kaname was someone who could never hope to scratch the surfaces of combat. She could never understand what the two brothers went through or had to do to survive. It was his greatest wish that she would never see what the battlefield brought with it.
"A name is nothing, it is something that a person gives us," Michael broke the silence, "After a week on the battlefield, no one has a name." He looked down at his hands as the gripped it each other, "Snake said that to me once."
Sousuke and Kaname looked at him not really understanding where he was going with this.
Michael rose up and walked up to Kaname and looked at her, "I am still me. Sousuke is still him. We would not kill innocent people. We would never drag innocent people into this."
Sousuke understood where he was coming from and continued, "If this was not happening do you think that I would not do what I have done?"
Kaname could not really look at him but shook her head indicating no.
"Do you think I like killing people?" He asked.
"No."
"Do you think I am a monster?" He asked strongly.
Michael looked up at him amazed that he would ask that right out front. He smiled slightly amazed that he was starting to do a little soul searching when it came to this. For the first time in a long time Sousuke was confronting his past.
"No, not at all." Kaname answered quietly, "But those people-"She turned away from them both with her back facing both of them. Kaname bit her thumb thinking about the men and women that were killed by the Aratsols.
Those caught in the explosions set off by Ocelot and his men.
Her friends and classmates used as hostages.
"We will make them pay. I promise you that we will make them regret this." Michael said strongly as he walked over to run a one last weapons check on everything.
The stinger was fully operational with at least four missiles ready.
Sousuke walked up to her facing her and softly said in her ear, "Thank you".
Kaname stifled a sob, "For what?" She already knew the answer to the question. It was so painful to her.
He cared so much for her and would do anything to see her happy.
Ocelot and Leonard already won before the first shot was even fired.
"For not seeing me as a monster as others would." He turned away heading to speak with Michael.
Kaname covered her mouth trying to control herself. She did not want to cry. Not now, "Big noble moron." She muttered. Right now, she needed to do something. She could not shot, throw knives and or even pilot a AS but there was something that she could do.
Michael checked the barrel of the M4 and looked at Sousuke. He handed him his gun along with an Uzi, "We are getting closer to the climax." He said quietly.
"Affirmative." Sousuke answered devoid of any emotion.
"He would be proud of us right now." Michael said smiling a little.
"Who?" Sousuke looked over at Kaname who sat down. It was best to leave her alone for a little bit.
"Mr. Frank. I remembered the man who watched out for us when we were trying to get into Outer Heaven." He said laughing a little.
"Oh, Mr. Jaeger." Sousuke paused for a second remembering him, "He was always quiet wasn't he?"
"Oh yea, but he was so cool and calm. It was like being with a legend. Remember that move he taught us?" Michael holstered his Mark .23.
"Yea, the one where you throw her opponent right over your back." Sousuke answered.
Michael nodded, "Yea." He paused and sighed sadly, "He always wanted us to find something away from the battlefield."
Sousuke nodded, "He did. Mr. Frank never liked seeing children in battle. He was upset and sad when he heard that we had been soldiers all our lives."
"I think that he was the same as us at one point." He looked at him getting up, "I don't think he wanted children to see and do the things he committed."
Sousuke nodded. He looked at Kaname as she stood silent in her thoughts. For a long time since coming back from Hong Kong he believed that he found his place. His place would be at Kaname's side for as long as he wanted it. However, he was not sure anymore. He wasn't sure of where this battle would go or even end.
"We wanted us to find a home, didn't he?" Sousuke asked.
Michael nodded a little, "You have a place here old friend. You have her." He put his hand on his shoulder trying his best to reassure his brother.
"I'm not sure about that. The school would never want anything to do with us if we survive this. I don't know how I can look at them?" Sousuke asked. Right now Ocelot already told them about Sousuke and Michael. Who they were, what they were and what they have done. It would be no surprise to either young man if their classmates wanted nothing to do with them. They were used to it by now.
Michael put his hand down, "We will cross that bridge when it comes." He turned and headed toward Kaname.
Sousuke asked, "Have you ever found your place?"
Michael stopped and did not turn his back, "Once. Ocelot took it or rather I took it away."
Sousuke was about to speak when Michael stopped him by raising his hand.
"That is a story for another day!" He sighed. Sousuke watched his shoulders move up than down with that sigh, "Let's just say that I don't want the same thing that happened to me, happen to you."
Sousuke was not really sure how to answer or even think of replying to what he just said.
Michael paused and looked at Sousuke with a grim look, "Ocelot just called."
Sousuke looked at Kaname who rose with a pale and shaking body.
"Kyoko!! Are you okay!! Please answer me! Put her-"She was cut off and turned to the two telling them to come over.
She put it on speaker and set it down for all to see and hear.
"Well, gentlemen I must say that I am disappointed in you. I thought I trained you better Michael. You should have expected that." He laughed softly.
Kaname and Sousuke could hear the leather of his glove gripping hard. Sousuke took a step away from Michael seeing the way that his arm shook with such violence.
"Kashim," Sousuke froze and paled when he heard his name from Afghanistan. Only Gauron had called him that, "I trust that the Arbalest is here?" He inquired.
Everyone looked at each other with surprise and shook. Only a few knew that the Arbalest was on route to Tokyo. It could only mean a traitor.
Michael had mentioned quietly to Sousuke that the only way for Amaglam to be able to successfully scramble and jam all frequencies both conventional and unconventional methods would be if there were traitors. The channels and frequencies of all operatives were only known by those in the command staff at FOXHOUND. The same could be said for Mithril. Only a few people could have access to the secrets and channels of all the fleets all over the world. A few knew the secrets to be able to successfully attack and destroy the HQ. There were traitors in both orginizations in the highest levels of Mithril and FOXHOUND.
"You are going to need it. Very soon, ten Venoms will attack the city. Show me how good of a pilot you have become. Gauron has told me such wonderful things before he was killed." Ocelot taunted.
"Once I'm done with them I'm coming after you." Sousuke spoke with steel in his voice. He was able to defeat five venoms one on one. Against ten was pushing it for him. However, he would find a way.
Ocelot just laughed, "We will see if there is iron in your words Kashim. Now, to Michael and Kaname who I believe I have there uninterrupted attention."
Michael and Kanamelooked at each other than back at the phone.
"I'm waiting Michael." Michael's eyes widened as Ocelot continued, "I'm in the school basement. We still have unfinished business to attend to." They could hear him twirling his revolver, "But to get to me you need the key and it is in your classroom."
Michael gritted his teeth hearing that. It would be they would have to confront them to get to him. He gripped both his fists realizing that he was going to have to deal with his panicked and fear stricken class mates right off the bat. This was the last thing he needed to deal with. Damn that bastard!
Kaname covered her mouth trying her best to control her fear and anxiety. She was almost at the point of fainting when she heard that. Her world was indeed over right now. She would have to face the fear and distrust in her eyes and take the cold and harsh words she knew she would was going to hear.
"Get that key and face me. Do that and I will let them go with no strings attached." Ocelot finished.
Sousuke stepped forward, "You lied to us before and you think that we should trust you again?!"
The phone was silent.
"If a man challenges one to a dual than-"Ocelot started.
Michael finished, "Than he must uphold his agreement whether he should win or lose. It is the rule of honor."
"However, you must accept." Ocelot said, "I'm surprised that your remember that. I thought for a second that you would forget everything we taught you in GRU."
Michael was silent.
Ocelot continued, "So I believe that you will agree?"
Sousuke and Kaname looked at Michael. They already knew his answer.
"I accept." He stated in cold tone that even Kaname felt it shiver down her spine.
Ocelot only laughed, "Than I eagerly await you, Mikhail." He hung up and the dial tone echoed through the warehouse.
Michael ran his hands through his hair, "Sergeant, I want you and the ARX-7 to be at least two blocks from the school using ECS."
Sousuke nodded, "Roger." He knew how serious Michael was now. He pulled rank right now to put the seriousness of the situation in Sousuke's mind. However, he did not need to be told twice about it.
"Kaname, I need you to show me the best route into the school." He asked her.
"Only if you let me come with you." Kaname looked at him and Sousuke dead in the eyes.
"Out of the question." Michael answered, "Kaname, it would be best if you are with Sousuke-"
"No." She said strongly
"Kaname it is-"Sousuke started.
"No! Listen even if you could find someway for me to fit in the Arbalest than it would only impede your piloting. I need to do this." Kaname said with steel in her voice. She did not want to face them. She did not want to be a burden to Sousuke or Michael. Kaname would help in her own way.
Michael sighed. He knew that this was already a bad idea but what choice did he have. Kaname made a good point. Sousuke needed to be at his best if was going to fight the AS forces that were on there way.
He rubbed his chin thinking for a little and realized that this could work to his advantage. Michael pulled out a small bag and handed it to Kaname, "This is more ammo for the M9. I trust my back to you when we get inside."
Kaname nodded taking the bag strapping it around her waist.
Michael looked at Sousuke and the two men said much with just their eyes. Nothing needed to be said but Michael and Sousuke understood what they were expecting of the other.
Michael grabbed his M4 and put it around his chest, "Kaname, understand one thing. I'm going to kill the enemy."
Kaname released the magazine to check it and reloaded it with a full one. She slammed it in and the click was heard.
"I will shot them, stab them and break there bones. I know you do not want that, but if I let one live, they could kill hostages." He grabbed his ammo bag walking outside with Sousuke. He only wanted to make sure Kaname understood the seriousness of this situation.
Kaname holstered the M9 and took a deep breath following the two outside, "I understand."
Sousuke looked at Kaname who was already pale and shaken. If he did not stop this soon, she could never come back. Come back to the place that she called home. But he, he could never come back. They just would not accept him the way they did when he first met him. He shook his head sadly realizing that things could not continue or go back the way they use to be.
Sousuke was about to get into the Arbalest when he felt something his shoulder.
He turned and saw Michael's hand.
Michael tightened his grip on it, "Watch your back."
Sousuke nodded, "You too."
Michael walked past Kaname who walked up to him.
The two just looked at each other.
Kaname broke the silence and took a step forward, "Sousuke please be careful."
Sousuke looked down and jumped out of the hand. He was looking away at Kaname not sure how he could look at her.
Kaname raised her hand to touch him but pulled back, "I'm sorry but I just-"
She was cut off when Sousuke kissed her on the lips.
It reminded her of when Leonard kissed her but it felt right.
He stopped and stepped back without saying anything. The cockpit opened and the Arbalest hummed to life.
She took a step back touching her lips not sure how to understand what just happened. Kaname watched the Arbalest jump up on the roofs and disappear when the ECS activated.
She was about cry when she felt Michael's hand on her shoulder, "You need to trust him as I do. He is one of the few people that I trust me back to when in a fight. No matter what happens he always comes through. Please remember that about my brother." Michael turned and started walking toward the school.
Kaname followed not saying a word as they approached the school. She was not sure how much longer she could take this battle. Or even the things that it could take away.
The best way into the school without being spotted was through the cafeteria. The way to get there would be through the gate where the trucks come in and do drop off.
Michael quickly picked the lock for the gate and opened it just enough for Kaname to roll underneath it.
Once under Kaname held the gate for Michael who did the same.
Kaname closed it quietly as Michael quickly scanned the room holding the Mark 23 pistol with a silencer on it.
Kaname looked at him when he lowered the gun and looked at her, "From here where do we need to go? He quietly whispered
Kaname took a deep breath, "We need to head down the halls and get to the other side of the school. Than take the stairs and the class room will be the third room if you remember correctly."
Michael nodded, "Okay," He checked his watch, "We need to try and evacuate the school as quickly as we can before those Venoms arrive. By now-"
They heard a door opened and Michael grabbed Kaname's arm pulling her behind a cabinet.
He leaned over the side and saw one guard walk in. Michael recognized the black uniform and garnet barrette.
It was the same uniform he wore when he was in Afghanistan. The uniform that belonged to the OCELOT unit.
Kaname looked at him and stood still. She quietly grabbed the gun on her thigh and waited for Michael to give his instructions.
Michael turned to her and nodded indicating it would not be necessary and silently walked away from Kaname.
She immediately covered her eyes and closed her eyes waiting for him to come back.
Kaname barely heard the grunt and drop of the gun he was carrying. She heard a dragging sound than quiet footsteps walking up to her.
She slowly opened her eyes and saw Michael above her.
"Let's go." He said helping her up. She quickly looked around and saw nothing that would indicate that the guard was even in here.
"Are you sure-"
They heard a bang behind them.
Michael in an instant pulled his gun out and held it at the storage closet that was in the kitchen.
Kaname tensed and with shaky hands grabbed her gun as well.
They each took careful steps toward the banging sound that it made.
Michael motioned for Kaname to get behind him and watch the door. He slowly grabbed the handle and took a deep breath. He pulled it once and noticed that is was jammed.
"Great." He quietly muttered. He really did not want to use some of his real strength right now.
Michael gripped it hard and pulled it opened and a figure fell out. Without a second thought Michael had his pistol right on the strangers head.
Kaname recognized him, "Tsubaki? What are you doing down here?" She asked holstering the M9.
Michael looked at him and recognized him. He took the barrel off his head and holstered it helping him up.
Tsubaki rubbed his head, "Geez, did not know a toy could feel so real?"
Michael looked at him confused and pulled out the Mark 23. He opened the magazine showing the bullets, "This is not a toy." He shoved the magazine and heard the click.
Tsubaki gulped seeing the serious look in Michael's face and eyes. He fought him before but right now, he seemed ready to kill.
"Tsubaki what happened? Why are you in here?" Kaname asked.
Michael walked over to the door and opened it slightly, "Okay we should be good for now." He closed it and walked up to Tsubaki, "Okay, explained what happened."
Tsubaki took a deep breath, "Not sure, I left the room for a little bit to take care of something and I walked past your uncle."
"What? Uncle? I don't have an uncle." Michael said confused for a second.
Tsubaki grabbed him by the collar and looked at him, "You do have an uncle! A man with a white hair and mustache and goatee came in saying that you were his relative. The next thing I know I see men in black uniforms going through the school and taking hostages. They carried guns and locked everyone in the classrooms."
Kaname motioned with her hand to keep him quiet, "We need to keep it quiet, we don't want to guards to hear us."
Michael gritted his teeth and both Tsubaki and Kaname could hear him grinding his teeth, "That son of a bitch Ocelot!"
"Ocelot is his name well you-"Before Tsubaki could finish Michael grabbed his wrist and squeezed it tight. Tsubaki yelped in pain feeling something that he never felt before.
Michael's true strength was coming. If he fought at this level when he fought him, Tsubaki would be dead in an instant.
He lost his grip and took his hands off of his shirt. Like wise Michael released his grip on his wrist.
"Just who are you Michael?" Tsubaki asked. He was barely able to avoid the guards and before he could escape to tell people what happened he was ambushed by the guards. He was knocked out and threw him in the storage closet in the kitchen, "Who are you, and who are Kaname and Sousuke?"
Kaname looked at Tsubaki unable to really explain all that was going on. But how can you explain to someone who they really were. It was not everyday that there fellow classmates were special. One had secrets of technology that could change the shape of the political world and the other two were soldiers. One worked for a freelance mercenary organization. The other was part of a black ops intelligence organization founded by the greatest soldier in the world. Yea, people could really understand that.
Michael crossed his arms readjusting the M4 on his back, "You don't need to know that." He said coldly.
Tsubaki got in his face enraged with teeth bearing, "That bastard shot our teacher in the knees and four other classmates. Kyoko was taken and who only knows what they are doing to her." He gripped his fists looking at him dead in the eyes, "We have a right to know why we are caught in the middle of this."
Kaname gapsed covering her lips. People had been shot. Her teacher was wounded. Just how sick was this man!?
Michael laughed a little, "There is no middle in the battlefield."
Kaname and Tsubaki looked at him. Tsubaki took a step back after looking at his eyes. He was indeed a wolf.
"In a battle there is no innocents, no rules nothing. Only the strong survive and people will do whatever it takes to complete there goals." He turned his back to both of them heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Tsubaki asked. Everything was coming at him so fast that he could not understand what he was talking about. This was not a battlefield. This was a school! This was a city! Wars were fought away from innocent people.
"I have to go rescue the hostages and take care of that man." He opened the door quietly walking and stopping. He looked at the two, "You coming or not."
Kaname followed after him and Tsubaki grabbed her wrist, "Wait where are you going?!"
"To help them." She stated strongly. Kaname looked at him with a strong feeling through her body.
Tsubaki gently let go and looked at her. He was not just amazed by her looks but strength and resolved. No wonder he loved her, "Okay I'll come with you to protect you."
Kaname smirked, "I already have one person to protect me." She followed after Michael.
Tsubaki looked down. He realized that he did not have a chance of winning her with that simple statement. He smirked and sighed, "But that is not going to stop me from helping those two and everyone." He followed after them.
Ono-D and Shinji sat of the floor just thinking and seething about everything that was happening.
Shinji looked over at there teacher who was pale leaning against the wall trying to comfort some of the students who were near her. He admired that she was trying to be strong when she herself was weak right now.
Ono-D stood silent his thoughts were on Kyoko and praying that she was okay. He had never seen a man that was so ruthless and cold before in his life.
Michael would have a lot of explaining to do if he ever saw him.
Correction, if he would even listen.
Ono-D was not stupid but he just did not want to know more about everything that had happened to them this year. Once Sousuke arrived at their school things started to get worse for them It started with the hijacking and the detour to North Korea. Than the incident on the cruise ship. In some way, he was tied to this along with Kaname.
Ono-D could not help but think that there things in the world that he did not want to understand. However, now was the time for answers!
Why should they have to suffer because of them?
Why?
"Ono-D?" He turned and saw Mizuki next to him.
"What is it?" He said in quiet tone as to not alert the guards.
"What is going to happen to us?" She asked scared and worried at the same time.
Ono-D felt the same anxiety and uncertainty that he was feeling, "I don't know, it just seems that they are waiting."
Mizuki nodded and Shinji joined in, "How do you think Sousuke and Michael are involved?"
"The same is with Kaname, what is her connection to all of this?"
Ono-D scoffed, "Does it matter, and we are in the middle of this. They caused this."
Shinji shot his friend a disproving look, "We are not sure if Michael is really related to him, for all we know-"
"It maybe a lie but it could be true." Mizuki finished, "I mean Michael is a nice guy but I heard the way that he fought Tsubaki."
Ono-D and Shinji listened with interest, "I heard that he was cold and just showed no mercy. Michael even mentioned about fighting to kill someone." She shivered a little.
"Just who are Sousuke and Michael?" Ono-D bit his thumb trying to come up with some kind of answers.
"Maybe they are part of a secret military group that protects the world or something?" Shinji threw out. It sounded crazy but it could be true with the group that rescued them in North Korea.
"It is possible but-"
They heard running and muffled sounds.
Everyone in the class room heard silenced gunshots and grunting and fighting.
"Could it be the police?!" Mizuki asked with hope.
"I doubt it, that group was too well prepared." Shinji commented on.
The class held there breath when they heard more footsteps coming there way. Everyone tensed when sliding door started to open.
Mizuki looked and ran up to the person who was in there. The poor guy was tackled started to floor and trying to get away.
"OH! Tsubaki! I knew you would save us!!" The whole class could hear the kissing sounds and cursing that Tsubaki was yelling.
"Kaname!?" Shinji said as she walked on.
"Everyone?!" She said trying to hold back the tears glad that everyone was okay.
"Where is Sousuke and Michael?!" Ono-D demanded. Everyone was looking at him than at Kaname.
The spotlight was on her.
Kaname could feel the piercing glares that everyone was shooting at him. Well now or never, "They are here. They are trying to save everyone." She said strongly.
The class was silent and whispered to each other.
Another person walked in and everyone gave him a cold look. He could feel the urge to kill him. The urge for answers.
Michael smiled and looked at everyone. The M4 was across his back and the Mark 23 was holstered.
"You have-"One of the male students approached him and walked past him not really caring what he was going to say.
Michael walked to front of the classroom and found Ms. Kagurazaka slouched against the wall with some of the other students around her.
He got on knee and lowered his head, "There is nothing that I can say that repair this. I do not ask for your forgiveness."
Ms. Kagurazaka looked at him with a indifferent look in his face.
"I can only promise I can make him pay for this." He was sincere in his words and respectful to her.
She threw a key at his feet, "He said you would come. Who are you Michael? Who are you and Sousuke? Who is Kaname?"
Kaname gasped hearing this. Leonard's words were coming true as she felt the looks around her.
The distrust was coming out.
The resentment of her being with them.
The fear of their own lives.
"I-" Michael started.
"FREEZE" Everyone turned and saw two of the black soldiers enter there rooms with machine guns aimed right at them.
Kaname stepped back when the soldiers saw her. They just walked past her without a worry.
The two walked up to Michael who got up and turned to look at them.
One of them laughed, "Well, well, it is our little brother."
Michael was silent. He could feel the entire room looking at him. Leonard was really trying to picture him as the bad guy. That must have been way Ocelot orderd them to wear those uniforms. A reminder of his past.
"The commander said that he was with FOXHOUND, but I am surprised that he is in front of us right now. It has been a few years since Afghanistan hasn't it?" The second one mocked.
"A few if I recall." He responded coldly.
"You were quite the little hellion in those days. You could say that you were quite the killer." The first one lowered his gun, "Killed a lot of people if I remember."
Everyone took a step back. Kaname looked at Mizuki who was holding on to Tsubaki. Even he reeled back hearing that.
"I'm not like that anymore." Michael gripped his fists.
"You will always be apart of our unit. You cannot erase the past. You killed and spilled blood. You fought with us to the end than you abandoned us." The second said cocking his gun.
"Shut up."
The first one cocked his gun, "That was a hard mission wasn't it. It was two years ago wasn't it?"
Michael gritted his teeth as his body started to shake, "Shut up!"
They both aimed their guns at him and the second one finished, "You could not rescue those people. You could not even save that person who you tried so hard to protect. In the end it was your fault that everyone died."
"SHUT UP!!" Michael yelled.
"Face you cannot change the past. You cannot even save-"The first one never finished when Michael grabbed the barrel of the gun and pulled it forward. He kneed the soldier as hard as he could in the gut.
The second one tried to react but stopped.
Michael fired his gun at his stomach. The silenced sound caused everyone to head straight to the floor. Blood splashed across the floor as the soldier shot stumbled back slightly grabbing the wound.
The other soldier tried to counter but Michael was still too fast. Grabbing him by the shirt he threw him right through the sliding door and slammed his head against the wall. Blood could be seen with the impact.
Michael quickly turned to the other one who was reeling from the bullet. He grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him over. He threw him right threw the class window.
Everyone winced when they heard the thud. They all looked at him in a univerisal state of shock and fear. Never had they seen blood or let alone this. A classmate had killed two men without mercy or hesitation. Michael did not even show pity or even spare a glance at the students as they looked at him in fear.
Michael holstered his gun and took the basement key. He walked to the sliding door and opened it even though it had a hole in it, "Ms. Kagurazaka you asked me what I was."
She looked at him shivering in fear at what he just did. He just killed two men without a moments thought or hesitation. How many had this youth who was the same age as most of the people in class had killed. The world had indeed gone mad.
He turned and looked at everyone with a sorry look in his eyes, "A monster, plan and simple." With that he walked down the hall.
Kaname only looked at everyone who was still in a state of shock and fear. They were coming to the realization that one of there classmates was a killer. Lord only knew that they thought that Sousuke was the same.
Ono-D turned to her, "Did you see that?! Did you see what-"
Kaname walked past him following the same path as Michael. She had her head down unable to look at her fellow classmates. No. They could never accept her. They could never understand the world that she was exposed to. They could never accept who Sousuke and Michael were and what they fought for. The students would condemn them for killing and that would be it. They would never even thank them for putting their lives on the line to save them.
They could never understand what a battlefield was. No one could understand them better than her, "Please, do not view him or Sousuke as monsters. They came here to save you and everyone. They did it not for themselves but for you. Please," Her voice was breaking, "forgive them." She walked into the empty wall following Michael to the basement.
Everyone was silent unable to really think or talk at this moment. Tsubaki got up and followed after Kaname and Michael. He reached the door and turned to everyone, "If she trusts them than we should."
"But how can we when this happened?!" Someone said.
"How can we be sure that some one else will do this again and this time they kill us!!" Another yelled.
It soon became a chicken coop with everyone yelling and ranting at it.
Tsubaki only sighed and looked away. The reason that he could not beat Sousuke and Michael was simple. They were already better men than him.
"I don't have an answer!" He yelled, "But they came to help us knowing this would happen!! Isn't that enough!!?" Everyone was silent with that.
Michael unlocked the door and froze.
The man that had haunted his dreams and cursed his life was behind this door. He raised his hands feeling and seeing them shake a little. He took a deep breath, "Steady Michael, steady."
He froze hearing footsteps and turned quickly. He saw Kaname and Tsubaki.
"You should have stayed." He said turning his attention to the door.
"Someone is going to need to get Kyoko out if she is injured." Kaname answered.
"And someone is going to need to protect them." Tsubaki grinned.
Michael rolled his eyes. Fools courage but courage none the less.
He opened the door and pulled out his gun. He walked inside the dark basement gun trained all around the place.
There was little light but he could see the features of boxes and cement columns.
He motioned for them to follow them when they saw a bright red light in the center of the room.
Walking closer they saw Kyoko.
"KYOKO!!" Kaname screamed and ran to her.
Michael gasped and grabbed her wrist, "NO! Don't get close to her!!"
Kaname was ready to slap him.
Tsubaki looked as if he was going to kill him, "Why not!! Kyoko is right in front of us!!"
Michael turned to him with angry look, "See that red thing around her waist!" He pointed out the C4 around her, "That has a proximity charge! Get close and-"
"She dies my friends." A voice from the darkness. They could hear a clicking and twirling sound.
The man came into view and both Tsubaki and Kaname stepped back.
"So glad that you could make Michael," He twirled his revolver slowly and pointed to Kyoko, "An old trick we used to bring the rebels out of hiding I'm glad you remember that Michael," Ocelot twirled his revolver into the holster, "Now let us begin."
Kyoko was starting to wake up and saw Kaname. She had a gagged and started crying seeing her friend. She turned and saw Ocelot and started to frantically break the handcuffs around to get away from him.
Tsubaki could feel the cold sweat rush down his face. He bumped into the man early when he was in the halls and felt something terrible from him. A killers instinct emitted from him and surrounded those like a snake around his neck poised to strike.
He could remember the amount of sweat that dripped from his body just by bumping into him. Right now, he could not move.
Michael and Ocelot walked up to each other. They had at least a yard between them.
Kaname gulped not sure what was going to happen.
In a flash each had their guns pointed at each others head.
Michael stared at the barrel of the Colt 45.
Ocelot looked at the square that made the Mark 23.
Then they started to move in a circle. Each man held onto the gun so that it was still aimed at their heads.
Ocelot kept a tight grip on the Mark 23 while Michael had a death drip around the barrel of the revolver.
Ocelot spoke, "Hmmm, your eyes are still the same. You have that look for blood. The urge to kill."
"You and only you Ocelot!" Michael yelled at him.
Ocelot laughed, "But killing me will not solve their problems. It will solve only yours and even that will not be enough." Ocelot lowered his gun and Michael did the same.
Kaname and Tsubaki just stood frozen not sure how to read what they just saw.
Were they testing each other!? Testing to see if they could kill each other!? They had guns at each others heads and tested to see if both had the resolve to kill the other. Even than, it was still crazy.
Tsubaki gulped and wiped the sweat from his face. Truly these were warriors. True warriors that could fight and kill without a moment's hesitation. They had strength that he only dreamed of. For an instant he was jealous of them.
Ocelot pulled the gun back and twirled it into his holster. He walked behind Kyoko and deactivated the bomb. He unlocked the handcuffs, "You have passed the test. We can duel, little brother." He chuckled at his taunt.
Kyoko tore the gag off and ran to Kaname who hugged the hysterical girl. Kaname saw her stumble as she ran up to her. Ocelot must have done something. Her arm was out of wack which meant that it must have been dislocated.
Michael holstered his gun, "Tsubaki get those two out of here along with everyone."
Tsubaki snapped out of it and grabbed the girls shoulder to pull them along, "We need to go!"
"We can't leave them! I'm not going to leave Michael to fight this manic!!" Kaname yelled.
"You can't take him even if you wanted to." Ocelot stated looked at Kaname.
Everyone looked at him.
"He agreed to this duel on the terms that I would release you all. I kept my word, now he must keep his." He walked over to a box and pulled out a long ammo belt that went around his chest. It was bullets for the Colt 45, "Little girls and boys should not trend where they do not belong."
"I'll be fine. I want this." Michael focused on Ocelot.
"You can't-"
Tsubaki pulled her back, "It is a duel. Right now it is a matter of honor and he has accepted it. When two men fight one on one they are expected to honor whatever is stated. To violate this would mean dishonor."
Ocelot clapped, "Impressive, I have to say that I am impressed with that. You understand it perfectly so now remove those two." He finished pointing to the door.
Kaname could only agree with this as she followed Tsubaki and pulled Kyoko along as well.
She stopped at the door frame, "Michael. If you don't come back than I will kill you."
Michael smiled, "And I believe you."
Kaname closed the door and ran up the stairs without looking back.
Ocelot stood in front of him, "Now we will see if you have improved Michael or has this peace destroyed your skill?"
Michael smiled, "Has old age made you lose the name revolver?"
Ocelot laughed, "I hope you remember why they called me revolver, because I have not lost that name."
The two stood in silence waiting for that word. Waiting to begin the fight to the death.
Ocelot reached first and Michael responded.
"DRAW!!" They both held.
Sousuke stood at least two blocks from the school.
"Srgt I have completed my third scan and no sign of enemy activity" AL. chimed.
"Roger that." Sousuke was worried. He had not received any transmissions from neither Kaname nor Michael he hoped that-
"Srgt. We have an encrypted channel from FOXHOUND!" AL. reported
"Put it through!!" Sousuke wondered if it was Snake.
"Hello," It was a female's voice, "This is Dr. Naomi Hunter of FOXHOUND medical staff to either Srgt Sagara or Chief Kanzuki. Can you read me?"
"This is Srgt Sagara of Mithril Dr. Hunter." Sousuke responded. This was the rescue team that Michael had mentioned earlier. Finally some good news. They must have brought some kind of reinforcements to give Michael back-up.
"Good we got through. I'm sure the Chief told you about us?" Hunter asked.
"Roger." He said.
"Okay where is Angel located at?" Hunter asked.
"Near Jindai High School I will try and patch her through." Sousuke started to ready the radio to contact Kaname and Michael.
"Just tell her we will pick her up on the roof. We were ambushed in South Japan on our way here and we do not want to give our location to the enemy." Hunter explained.
"Roger, Dr. Hunter be advised that enemy Venoms will arrive in the city." Sousuke warned. Now he could get Kaname out of here without having to worry about her.
"Okay we will land in ten minutes please tell-"
"Srgt! Enemy units are detected!!" AL warned.
Sousuke saw the radar and they were all around him moving toward the school!
He cursed, "Dr. Hunter the units are approaching the school please be advised."
"Roger, keep them off and we will tell you when we have her." Hunter closed the channel.
"Affirmative." Sousuke took a deep breath and little drummed his fingers on the controls.
"Srgt. We can take them. It will be a piece of cake." AL chimed.
Sousuke smirked, "We can only hope so."
The Arbalest rose up cocking the rifle in its arms.
"LET'S GO!!" Both yelled and leapt off the building to engage the enemy.
About fifty miles away a large transport plane was nearing its destination.
The silver haired man known as Leonard was on the phone, "So they have arrived and he is with Ocelot."
Small laughing could be heard, "Good, that is good to hear." He paused for a second, "And the Venoms have arrived. So he will engage them soon."
Leonard nodded and looked up at the AS suit in front of him. He smiled and gently touched the frame, "Even if you do not capture her right away, I assure you that you will not be upset. Belial so wants to fight that Arbalest of theirs."
He nodded and smiled, "I understand Copper, please be careful." Leonard closed the phone and only smiled.
Everything was now ready.
It is almost done. I promise the next chapter soon. It will have more action than this one. Review and thanks for the continued support.