A Green Jacket Chapter 2, a xenogears fanfic

Authors Note: Here's the rewrite of the second chapter. I didn't make too many changes other than a few minor details and the obvious spelling and sentence structure repairs. It should be a significant improvement from before.

Cherenkov rolled over on the couch. The morning sun beamed in through the open window casting it's self directly onto his sealed eyes. With a low grumble, he opened them. Rather than slowly allow his body and mind to gradually wake, he quickly rose from the couch with surprising energy. Taking his pack that had been lying next to the couch, he strapped it to his back. Then grabbing his rifle, he quietly went to the door leaving the house. After a brief stretching of his limbs, he lifted his weapon holding it high against his chest and broke into a jog. This was how all his days began, no matter how hectic. No matter how tired he was, he would always do physical training. For Cherenkov and those like him PT was as much a part of their lives as breathing. Just as a priest is expected to pray, soldiers are expected to train. Weather it was an intense two hour work out or a light 30 minute jog, he would never fail to get some kind of exercise in the course of his day. Although of all his exercise routines, by far his favourite was the simple morning run. It gave him the chance to forget about his problems, his past and future. He was able to focus on the simple act of moving forward. As he jogged away from the house, towards the mountains in the distance, the sun light was still fresh in the sky and he could make out a few stars on the opposite horizon. Along the empty dirt road through the fields he ran. Occasionally he broke into full sprint then returned to a jog. He continued until he could no longer see Lahan behind him.

Eventually he caught the sound of flowing water in his ears. Cherenkov followed the sound for several minutes until he found a deep, rocky stream of clear, fresh water flowing off towards parts unknown. By now, he had been jogging for nearly two hours. Deciding that this would be his stopping point, he removed his pack and rummaged through it. After pulling out a bar of soap, he stripped down to his boxers and jumped into the stream. As he washed off the sweat he had accumulated, he tried to decide what to do about his unplanned arrival that had coincided with Fei and Elly's wedding. He genuinely felt it would be rude for him to attend but at the same time, he wanted the chance to visit with Emeralda and Kelvena. He grimaced over this thought as he washed up. By the time he had finished Cherenkov was still uncertain of the best course to take. As he walked up the bank to his pack, he found a familiar pair of brown leather boots standing in front of him. He followed the boots up with his eyes to a pair of porcelain white legs then to the bottom of a light blue dress. Still, further up was a slender torso and a perfectly round chest. When he finally looked up into her eye's he smiled warmly at Kelvena.

"Morning Kelly," he greeted before sitting down in the grass and reaching into his bag for a clean set of BDU's.

"It looks like you have gotten some new scars," she commented crouching down behind him, gently touched one of the many scars on his back.

"Yeah fighting Wels in close quarters is a messy business," he told her slipping on his pants then reaching for his boots.

"I wish you would be more cautious," she told him watching his back as he tied his laces, "You are far too reckless and it worries me."

"I know yer worried about me but I can only be so careful," he told her as he finished tying his left boot.

"Then why don't you accept Kahr's offer?" she asked standing up then, putting her one arm across her chest in the same manner someone would if they were to cross their arms.

"I have to do things my way," he answered finishing with his right boot, "Besides I don't really have any interest in working with Ramsus."

"That's a lie!" She scolded. Cherenkov withheld any answer, "What's the real reason you won't come back to Elru?" After blousing his pant legs, he stood and looked into her eyes.

"I made a commitment and I'm going to follow through with it," Kelvena was becoming frustrated to the point of tears. She wanted to try to argue him into cooperation but she knew it would be no use. Cherenkov put on his under shirt then his BDU shirt, "Besides, if I joined the Elru forces I wouldn't be any safer. I'd still be doing the same thing I do now," Kelvena still could not think of anything to say, "Come on Kelly," he said in an unusually gentle tone, "We haven't seen each other in almost a month I don't want to fight with ya."

"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I…"

Cherenkov did not let her continue. Instead, he took her arm and drew her close, holding her against his chest. She looked up at him with longing eyes and he in turn leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly. When he drew away from her lips, she rested her fore head against his chest.

"Better?" He inquired.

She nodded, "I really missed seeing you," she stayed in Cherenkov's arms for some time, until he let go. Kelvena took a deep breath to recompose herself, "I had a talk with Emeralda last night."

"Last night?"

"Yes after you passed out drunk on the couch," she told him spinning around on her heals.

"I was not drunk, just tired," he argued.

"I'm sure you were."

"Why didn't ya wake me up?"

"I'm not your alarm clock. If you can't keep yourself awake that is your own fault." It was obvious from her indifferent tone she was getting back at him for making her worry. Cherenkov in turn made no further objections.

"So what did ya talk about?"

"I asked her if she wanted to go to med school in Elru."

"She said yes right?" he asked with obvious excitement.

"That's right, she'll stay with me while she attends school," Kelvena turned back around to look at him. As Cherenkov waited for her to continue, he placed his hands into his pockets, "As long as she passes the entrance exam she'll be guaranteed a spot in the first class."

Cherenkov pulled his hands from his pockets and clapped them together, "Hell yea!" He shouted with the kind of pride a father would have exhibited, "By the way have you told Ramsus and the others about us? I was expecting Dominia to tear into me."

Kelvena shook her head, "Not yet, but I think Emeralda might have figured it out."

"I thought ya told her?"

"I've been a little hesitant to tell her actually."

"I see where this is going."

Kelvena put her hand on her hip. "Do you now?" She asked sceptically.

"I've known for a while that she might have a crush on me," Cherenkov told her with an unnecessarily serious expression while stroking his chin, "Just tell er flat out. It's better that way right?"

"I suppose so," she paused and looked him over, head to toe, "Although, why any young girl would be attracted to your scruffy face is far beyond me."

Cherenkov put a hand over his heart, "You wound me. You fell for me didn't ya?"

"Well it certainly wasn't due to your exterior," she joked.

"Gee thanks," Kelvena smiled a little thinking he might not notice. He stepped closer to her, placed a hand around her waist and pulled her in. From the grin on his face it seemed he had noticed her smile, "So how about a romp in the grass," using his other hand he lifted up her chin and drew her lips closer to his, however she pressed her index finger against his lips holding him back.

"Sorry, but I would hate to get grass stains on my brides maids dress," she coyly pushed him away.

Cherenkov's grin grew larger, "Who says ya have to wear it."

She stepped away from him. The morning sun shone through the thin fabric casting the silhouette of her body beneath her dress, "I suppose we could," she had him wrapped around her finger. At that moment, he would have let her lead him off a cliff. As Kelevna looked at him, the big man reminded her of a large dog. As the thought of him with a pair of dog-ears, happily wagging a tail, took shape in her mind it caused her to giggle.

"What?" He asked completely unaware of her thought.

Still giggling to herself, she forced out an answer, "You remind me a dog when you look at me like that."

"Oh, great," he shook his head.

"Although there's something very cute about that," she turned around, "You know I came here in one of our air ships."

"Oh? Ya mean the converted Gebler ships right, so what?"

She looked over her shoulder with a coy smile, "The cabins are sound proof." Cherenkov's expression perked up like a dog when it has a treat dangled in front of its face, "So shall we go back?"

Cherenkov gave a distinct and very dog like bark before quickly gathering up his equipment. As they started their return, Cherenkov carried his weapon in one hand and with the other; he held Kelvena's hand like it was the most precious thing in the world.

Emeralda stirred in her bed and her eyes slowly opened. She sat up in her bed and took a long pause to look out the open window. She simply sat there in her white night gown staring vacantly out the window that she had left partly open. Finally, she shook off her drowsy stupor and resolved to leave the comfort of her mattress. Getting out of her bed, she went over to her closet to find something to wear. Taking a pair of loose fitting black denim pants and a white t-shirt from her dresser, she quickly got dressed. As she walked towards the living room, Emeralda called out for Cherenkov.

"Sasha, Sasha are you awake?" Peaking around the corner into the living room, she saw he was not present. Realizing he was no longer there made her feel disappointment. Though she knew he would not simply leave without saying goodbye, Emeralda had hoped to talk with him over breakfast. Deciding not to wait and see if he would return, the young woman prepared a simple meal of toast and jam to start the day before leaving to assist with the last of the preparations for the wedding.

After leaving the house, the green haired youth found the villagers already hard at work. A group of them were setting up benches and chairs in front of the stage that now stood completed. Emeralda looked around and spotted a collection of chairs in front of the tavern that were being used for the event. Eager to help, she began assisting, setting up the seating into neat rows on either side of the aisle. The air was thick with anticipation. In just a few hours Fei and Elly would be walking down the aisle and making their vows before their friends and become man and wife. On her fourth load of chairs, someone called out to her. Looking to the source of the call, Emeralda saw the unmistakeable figure of Big Joe waving at her from the stage. After adding the chairs she was carrying to the others, she rushed over to the stage. Big Joe seemed to be having a heated argument with a group of villagers.

Big Joe turned to her, "Hey there girl. Can you talk some sense in to these folks? They asked me to sing but now they're say'n they won't let me."

"That was before!" One of the villagers forcefully objected.

"You lied you can't sing at all, you sound like a dying rooster." A young woman added.

"Come on now dar'lin, just listen again," He began singing in a horse unpleasant voice while shaking his hips.

Emeralda quickly stopped him."Joe, that's enough!" Emeralda sighed frustrated, "Who asked him to sing in the first place any way?" She glared at the group that had been arguing with him but they all tried to avoid eye contact with her. Giving up the green haired girl looked back to Big Joe "I'm sorry Joe but you really are horrible at singing."

"You just can't appreciate my musical greatness!" He glared at Emeralda, "This coming from someone with no singing talent of their own." The two started glaring at each other waiting for the other to say something.

"Emmy can sing!" A young boy had been standing among the group unnoticed but was now scowling up at the big man. It was Steven, from the day before, "She's much better than you, you old fart!"

"Well now maybe we should hear you sing daril'n. It's only fair if you've heard me sing." Big Joe folded his arms and turned up his immense chin at Emeralda.

"I can't, all I know are Elruian drinking songs," the villagers gave her an odd look and she felt embarrassed when she realized that they may have gotten the wrong idea.

"So?" Big Joe asked, "A song is a song, go ahead."

Emeralda did not want to sing one of the drinking songs she had learned from Cherenkov and his unit. They were far too rude and with Steven listening as well, it would be a poor choice. Racking her brain for something to sing even a simple nursery rhyme she recalled a memory from not long after meeting Cherenkov. A memory only the two of them shared from just before her body went under its metamorphosis.

"I do know one song." Big Joe's impatient expression told her to, just start. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes focusing on the memory.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair