A/N: Hello once again, everyone! I'm glad I didn't take too long on this one.

I'm currently filled to the brim with motivation and inspiration to continue making this fanfic. Although, I have to split the fun into parts. I'm currently taking my final examinations this week and I'm being bombarded with so many test papers. Despite that, I got the dedication I need. And lo, I give you guys Chapter 9!

I shall return with Chapter 10 once Hell Week for me is over. Take care. Again, have a sip of coffee/juice/soda/whatever and enjoy the chapter!

RaiXGear Chapter 9

[Nepgear's P.O.V]

It was 8:00AM in the morning. People around Planeptune are usually roaming around in large numbers starting from 8AM. After Histoire, IF and Compa saw the news on TV, they feel the need to let Neptune and I set an example as CPUs, similar to the masked figure shown on the headlines.

Dragging Neptune along with me, we decided to head to the Guild to check in with the quests that Histoire and IF had assigned to us. Neptune finally calmed down and hesitantly followed me after a few blocks of struggling and squirming. She really is determined to get cozy and lazy.

"Well, this quest better be easy, Nep. Jr. I just wanna sit all day and play video games and eat lots and lots of pudding after!" she held her head up high.

"D-Don't worry, Neptune. We can relax after all this. Maybe we can go shopping and stuff too. All I need left are the routers for my machine and I'm all set!" I gleefully skipped along.

When we arrived at the Guild, there were various Guild agents, fighters and even some Earth Federation GM units waiting in line to sign up for their quests. I grabbed our application sheet from a stall to the left while Neptune waited for me.

While I was signing for both our papers, with the exception of Neptune's signature, I saw a familiar figure passing by, but there were so many people that the figure immediately disappeared from my sight. It was a man with blonde hair and a fitted leather biker jacket. His hairstyle and form seemed very familiar.

"Could it be...?" I thought. "...N-No...we better concentrate. Histoire will get even angrier if we don't take this seriously."

I returned to Neptune afterwards, still bewildered about the familiarity of the person I just barely saw.

[Raiken's P.O.V.]

-A night before the current events-

I went to my room and immediately put down my things on the side of my bed. I undressed my shirt, which was already having blood stains on the left sleeve and placed it in the laundry.

I then proceeded to grab myself a medical kit from inside one of my drawers. I then unboxed its contents, looking for the Betadine solution, some healing salve and bandages.

"...I made Naomi worry again." I sighed. "I must be thinking too much things lately, that's why I must've lost a bit of focus...but...it wasn't all that bad, wasn't it? At least I was able to protect someone." I begin to dress my wound with the Betadine first then the healing salve.

In the midst of letting the healing salve and Betadine do its work, something suddenly came into my mind. A memory of me and a certain girl who I had met a few days ago.

"Lady Nepgear..." Her angelic voice, her kind and heart-warming aura. It made me smile a little, now that I think about it.

"...I don't want to worry her too...After that sentimental stuff that I said in that elevator." I thought.

Awkward and embarrassed after a few moments, I suddenly blushed to myself and thought "W-Why am I thinking of her of all times?...Wow, am I going nuts or something...?"

I then begin to wrap my arm around with the bandage, then wrapped the wound around in gauze in order to prevent the bleeding from spreading. It was a success. The wound won't last for a few more hours.

"Maybe I just need some sleep...I really need a lot of rest after days and days of constant work back at the base..." I said to myself before proceeding to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I went to my bed afterwards, Lady Nepgear still fresh in my mind for some reason.

-Present day-

"Hey, where are you going?" Naomi asked me as I prepare some certain things in my bag and my leather jacket.

"I'm off to do some off-duty reconnaissance. I feel the need to refine my abilities once more." I smiled at her calmly.

"...Geez. You sure do like the action, huh. Be careful, okay? I'll be making burgers for dinner. Feel free to invite the CPUs anytime you wish, if you plan to." she fidgeted.

"Don't worry. I'll come back in one piece. Besides, I'm using the same unit as last night's. It shouldn't be a problem." I said. "I'll only do two major quests. It's all in the Nasuune region. I heard that an ancient dragon and a mecha are terrorizing the residents there.

"O-Oh my. That's quite dangerous. You really should be careful." she replied.

"I'll be going now. Wish me luck, dear sister." I saluted her before I went out the door, I could feel her worried expression gazing upon me as I left.

-Later-

I entered the Guild, the usual crowd greeted me with confident smiles.

"Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Tsutsumi." A Federation unit waved and saluted at me. "Pleasure to see you, sir!"

"Same here." I replied. "I got some things to do in Nasuune."

Everybody gasped with shock, they immediately knew my purpose for doing some work for the Guild.

"Is he really gonna do it?"

"That's gonna be a tough ride for him."

"Man, this dude's got balls..."

"As expected from the one and only..."

I calmly proceeded with my papers to the next free registrar. "Nasuune Region. What's the catch?" I asked.

"O-Oh, Master Raiken! Uh, let's see...your reward for this difficult quest is 20000 Credits."

"I'll do it even without the money."

"N-No sir, please!..You must be given compensation for finishing these quests. It's a part of our policy...!" she shook her hands in front of me, imploring me to accept the pay.

"Alright, alright. I'll take it." I bowed my head.

She then signed my papers and bowed before me. "Good luck, sir! I'm sure you will be able to finish it in no time flat!"

"Don't assume such impossible things. It takes time. Now, excuse me." I bowed back before walking away, the people nearby still observing me.

Some Federation soldiers and frontliners, even some from my own personal unit, are joining in these sort of quests. From solving robbery problems to even some counter-terrorism acts, there are a lot of young fighters like I am. They have a noble purpose for it aside from the money...well, some of them at least.

Craig, being the Commander in Chief of the entire Federation, approved of the idea. To further integrate our relationship with Gamindustri's citizens, we agreed to help them out in times of need, and in times where the CPUs themselves are not available.

I headed out and walked to the gates of the city. I then see two people flying in the air. I immediately recognized the black and purple and the white and pink colors; it was the CPUs of Planeptune heading towards the direction I am about to go to.

"...Oh? They're heading over there too, huh?" I grinned to myself. "Maybe it's time I give them a helping hand..."

Time to suit up once more.

[Purple Sister's (Nepgear's) P.O.V.]

Neptune and I finished filing our papers and are now heading towards the Nasuune region. After Neptune transformed, her lazy self immediately changed to determination to finish these quests. It's her yin-yang basis again when she transforms...

"Nepgear, we have to be careful. We don't want to allow any damage to be done to the citizens." she calmly said.

"Y-Yes, of course. We'll save them together!" I replied, holding my gunblade below me.

Neptune chuckled. "I wonder what would it be like if Raiken were to fight alongside us, with you in particular." she teased.

"H-Hey...D-Don't suggest some weird things...Raiken m-must be resting or doing some documents for the Federation...he must be really busy." I replied bashfully.

"Aww..." she chuckled again, teasing me. "Why? You want him to join us, hm?" she asked suggestively.

Even when her personality changes, Neptune still likes to tease me...

"I-It would be nice to see him fight..." I said in silence.

"Did you say yes?" Neptune teased again.

"I-It's nothing! P-Please don't dwell on it!..." I blushed.

"Sure, sure. Heheheh...I would also like to see him dish it out against monsters." Neptune thought.

I thought of the same thing again. I wondered how he would be if Raiken was still a warrior just like how he used to be during the war against the space menace known as the Zeon Army, along also with the ancient CPU of Tari. Right now, his only job is to supervise military affairs, train soldiers, file documents and attend strategy meetings.

My thoughts immediately stopped when Neptune and I saw a horde of horsebirds charging at us. They must be alarmed when we were talking.

"Nepgear, here comes some enemies. Let's do this!" Neptune charged at the enemy with speed and aggression. I followed her and began shooting and slashing my way through the enemies before us.

[Raiken's P.O.V.]

*SLASH!* "Hm-!" I slashed another Kupocat and maintained my stance.

Another one tried to approach me from the left side where my sword is not pointing. My left hand finds itself grabbing a beam pistol from my knee holster and fired at the monster, killing it instantly. I then stood calmly once more and began to move forward.

I fought a few more monsters and then proceeded on my path. There were numerous of them, and their numbers were getting dangerously high. It's up to me to keep them at bay for the CPUs.

I then come across a cliff. "Huh...wasn't there supposed to be a bridge here...oh!" I spotted a wooden bridge to the left, a good 60 meters away from me.

"...I guess I'll take a break...hm?" I looked up at the sky after hearing the sound of what seems to be swords slashing through enemies like butter, along with beams shot from a beam rifle or something.

I then noticed that there was a lot of horsebirds charging at two figures that I can barely tell due to their speed and agility. Then, I see them blitzing through with amazing speed that streaks of light can be seen from their trail. I then immediately recognize the colors. Purple and pink.

I realized it now. It was Lady Neptune and Lady Nepgear fighting off the horsebirds. It's an amazing sight to see. I then inspected a bit closer to see what they're made of.

[Purple Sister's (Nepgear's) P.O.V.]

*pant, pant, pant* "T-There's so many of them...!" I exclaimed as I fire my gunblade.

Neptune panted as hard as I am. We were both getting exhausted after taking on so many horsebirds. But we were not giving up on this, for we have faced worse than this.

"We can do this Nepgear! Come on!" Neptune screamed as she continues slicing through enemies.

"MPBL!" I twirled around a bit before unleashing a deadly beam which I swept over to hit multiple targets, eliminating half of them. Although, it cost me much of my energy and I was beginning to get tired.

Then, Neptune proclaimed "I'll finish this!" before she spinned around and created 3 beam slashes in the shape of a delta symbol. "Delta Slaaaaash!"

She threw the 3 beams after the final beam blade was made toward the rest of the horsebirds, defeating them completely.

"Wow! That was awesome, Neptune!" I shouted in joy.

"Heh. I just recently thought of this move." she smirked. "Did it look good?" she asked.

"Yes! It was super effective!" I smiled.

"I guess I should use this move when—Nepgear, watch out!"

A stray horsebird was still flying about charge behind me, his horn ready to stab me.

I gasped as I turned around...

*BANG!*

A beam fired at the horsebird from a distance below the ground, killing it by a shot to it's neck.

"H-Huh!?" I was surprised by the sudden shot. We both looked down the direction where the beam came from.

We flew a bit downward and saw a figure, simply standing there with his arm stretched out, holding onto what looks like a beam pistol.

We were shocked; it was the masked figure that we saw in the news earlier this morning. He then calmly put down his pistol, spun it around and stored it in his knee holster in a cool fashion like a cowboy would.

"It must be fate that we have encountered each other in such a manner, Lady Purple Heart, Lady Purple Sister. It's a pleasure to see you here." the figure spoke in a modulated and cool voice.

Neptune returned the greeting. "Yes. This is quite a coincidence. I know you!" she smiled.

"Hm? Oh, you must have been the one I saw fighting Rei Ryghts while we were taking care of the numerous CPU copies running amok." the figure replied.

"You saw that, I see?" she said as we descend to the ground, directly in front of him.

"Wow...you're the guy from the news..." I said in amazement.

"So, you've heard of me." he spoke back. "Anyway, it seems that you ladies are on a quest exactly like mine. I shall join along with you. But first..." his underslung blade retracted to it's stored state. "It's an honor. It's about time I introduce myself."

The figure began to remove his helmet. What we saw shocked us...

Blonde hair...

That familiar scar...

He then removed the cloth mask that covered half of his face down and smiled. He calmly held his helmet to his side, as the sunlight radiates through his skin like an angel descending below. It was an amazing sight to see...

Our mouths were agape when she saw the identity of the man before us. He saluted us with honor before easing up on his stance.

"W-Wait...you're...!" Neptune's eyes quivered.

"N-No way..." my face was filled with shock.

"I am Raiken S. Tsutsumi. I am a Gundam Meister for the Earth Federation. It's an honor to meet you once again, Lady Neptune, Lady Nepgear."

We were both at a loss for words as we see him bow before us once more. The sheer fact that the kind and simple man we had recently become friends with is a powerful-looking warrior completely had us amazed.

"...Raiken-san." I mumbled in amazement.

We were taken aback by the proud presence of the man we have just met, in a mobile suit that will forever be remembered in our history forever...

Gundam.