Mai Tokiha sat on a bench in the school courtyard. It was vacant. Due to the rash of disappearances and deaths, most of the student body had been sent home.

Mai couldn't shake her feeling of dread. Several of those who disappeared had been her fellow HiMEs. Mai tried to question the Director about it, but she was nowhere to be found either. She had no idea what was going on.

Mai was scared. She didn't want to be alone. She had called for the one person she would feel safe around.

When she heard foot steps, she stood up and turned around expectantly.

"Ta…" She started. But the one who approached her wasn't who she was waiting for.

It was Golgo 13.

He wasted no time in drawing his gun. This was his last target.

"Hey, wait a…" Mai said as she backed away. Two things happened at once. Golgo pulled the trigger and Mai tripped over the bench. The bullet flew clear over Mai's head.

'He's… he's really shooting at me!' She thought. Golgo lowered his aim and fired again. Mai brought her arms up to defend herself. Her elements materialized automatically and the bullet hit a wall of flame. It melted into a little puddle of lead.

Golgo fired a few more shots, but to the same effect.

"W… Why are you doing this?" Mai asked. "I didn't do anything to you! Please stop this!"

Golgo didn't respond. He just emptied his magazine into Mai's barrier. When he ejected the spent magazine, Mai made a break for it. She began flying away. Golgo pulled out a new magazine and loaded his gun. He took aim and fired. The bullet hit the flames, however it continued through. It hit the ring around Mai's left ankle. The ring broke, causing Mai to lose her balance and fall to the ground with a scream.

The heat resistant bullets Dave had made for him were doing their job.

Mai looked back at Golgo, disbelief and fear in her eyes. "This… why is this happening…" Golgo took aim and Mai closed her eyes tight, preparing to meet her end.

"TOKIHA!" Came a shout as Golgo pulled the trigger. Mai could feel some one collide into her. She opened her eyes and saw Yuichi Tate on top of her.

"Tate!" She gasped in surprise. He wasted no time in grabbing her hand, pulling her up and running for a nearby tree. Mai could hear several more gunshots as they ran. They made it behind the tree.

"Who the hell is that guy?" Tate panted. "Why is he after you?"

"I don't know!" Mai said. "He just came out and started shooting at me!" Then she saw the blood. "Tate! You're bleeding!"

Tate grabbed his bloody shoulder and winced. "Yeah, I got hit. Hurts like hell." Tate risked a glance around the tree. Golgo was slowly walking towards them, re-loading his gun. "Listen, I'll distract him while you get away."

"What? If you do that, you'll be…"

"Never mind that! Just go when I tell you!"

"No! He's only after me! Just go and save yourself!"

"You idiot! What kind of man would just run and leave the girl he loves behind to die!" Tate blurted out. Mai was taken aback.

"Wha… What did you just say?"

"… That's the way it is..." Tate looked away. "So just run when I tell you to!"

"But!"

Tate heard the footsteps only a few feet away from the tree. "Just go!" Tate pushed her back as he jumped out at Golgo. Golgo brought his arm back and swatted Tate away. Tate slammed into the ground and Golgo aimed his gun at him.

On impulse, Mai leapt towards Tate, her remaining ankle ring accelerating her. When she was between the two men, Mai shot a burst of flame. It hit Golgo's gun, melting the barrel. Golgo dropped the ruined weapon. Tate strained to look up.

"I told you to run!"

"Shut up!" Mai cried. She knelt down and took Tate into her arms. He could see the tears streaming down her face. "No woman would run away and leave the guy she loves behind to die either!"

"Mai…"

They had no time to savour the moment as they saw Golgo reach into his coat pocket. Mai and Tate embraced, ready to meet death together.

Golgo withdrew a vibrating cell phone.

He flipped it open and held it to his ear.

"Ah, Mr. Tougo. I'm glad I caught you." Came John Smith's voice. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. You see, we've recently acquired a new business partner and he requests that at least one of the girls be left alive for his purposes. So I need you to cancel the hit on the final target. I hope you understand. Don't worry though. We intend to pay you the fee in full. It's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Golgo hung up and put the phone back into his pocket. He turned around and walked away.

The two teens, still holding each other, watched him go.

They had no idea how lucky they really where.

Hours later, Duke Tougo, aka Golgo 13, was on a plane, heading towards his next job.

The End.

This fic was written for my buddy Hildebrant. The fandom's love of yuri and hatred of men (specifically Tate) have left him filled with murderous rage, so I wrote this to sate his blood lust. I'd never write something like this otherwise. I hope he can finally let go and move onto bigger and better things.

I myself have no ill will towards any of the characters (well, maybe Shizuru). My favourites are Midori, Akira, Natsuki, and Mai, so it was a little tough writing their chapters (except for Mai's). But I couldn't save them all because Golgo 13 is not a man that fails a job. Mai was originally going to meet her end too, with only Tate surviving, but I realised that Golgo will listen to whatever his client says. Added to the fact that Smith is seen in league with the Obsidian Lord made for a reasonable premise for him to call off the hit.

What surprised me the most about this experience is how well received this fic was! As mentioned before, this was written solely for Hildebrant, so I didn't expect anyone else to like it, especially since I killed mostly everyone off! Thank you all for your support!