Author's Note: I've gone back to the beginning and rewritten much of the story to dovetail to the end of the last novel: Always, Stand By Me. The first chapter's first scene is not my work but that of Shoji Gatoh translated online, as such no credit at all should go to me for that scene. This segment is completely italicized. Much is brand new material that occurs before the events of the previous version of the story.

Also the dates and times are accurate and in chronological order… the international date line makes it somewhat confusing, sorry.

Sword and Shield

Volume 1: Picking up the Pieces

Chapter 1: Homecoming

Home 1. n. One's own dwelling place; the house or structure in which one lives; especially the house in which one lives with his family; the habitual abode of one's family; also, one's birthplace. 2. n. One's native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one's ancestors dwell or dwelt. 3. n. The place where a person was raised; Childhood or parental home; home of one's parents or guardian. 4. n. The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.

24 March 2000, 12:05 hrs.

Jindai High School, Tokyo, Japan

Outside the Main Courtyard

"Oh…"

Kaname, in her green and white uniform, stood in front of the empty gate of the school, and looked at a large sign above it. The sign read: "Heisei 10, Tokyo Metropolitan Jindai High School Graduation Ceremony." She knew, of course, that it was about the time for these events, but she couldn't have imagined that it is today. She thought that she should be happy that she made it in time, but what should she do now? The familiar tune of "Aogeba totoshi" was coming from the gym. So they chose this for the graduation? It certainly set a grave, solemn mood of turning over a page of the students' youth. And at this moment she would show up - someone who had been kidnapped from here after a fight of military robots, involved in the conspiracy of a terrorist organization, started and stopped the changing of the world... it somehow seemed exceptionally inappropriate.

The students started flowing out of the gym and heading towards the school building. Some girls were happily hugging each other, and most boys, tired from the ceremony, were stretching and yawning. A lot of familiar faces in that happy crowd.

"Hey... isn't that Chidori?" someone shouted.

Oh, she was noticed.

"Chidori-san? There, there she is!"

"What, are you serious?"

"Chidori? Really?"

"Wait, who?"

"Chidori-san! There!"

"Woaah, waaah!"

The uproar grew and grew, and Kaname didn't know what to do, she was rooted to the spot. The feeling was as though the crowd might be about to throw stones at her, but didn't.

"Kana-chaaaan!"

The students were in chaos, and inside that crowd, she saw Kyoko Tokiwa, frantically trying to get through to her.

"Kyoko?"

"Kana-chan!"

Tokiwa was running towards her as fast as she could. She was smiling. Without a trace of doubt, or hesitation, she was smiling, and running to embrace Kaname. She didn't understand - a year had passed, and all of those things happened.

Why are you running towards this weak crying me? Stop, Kyoko, or I—

After that, emotions flooded her, like a torrent exploding from within her heart, and as she hugged Kyoko, she began crying. She fell to her knees there and continued weeping, even when all of her classmates from 3-4 came and surrounded them.

The teachers also came running and, while they were as shocked as her fellow students, they still managed to quell the turmoil and lead the crowd into the neighboring courtyard. All of them – her teacher, Kagurazaka, Shiori, Shinji Kazama, Kotarou Onodera, and all of her friends and classmates gathered, some of them smiling, others trying to hold back tears. She was glad no one really changed.

She was also glad she had chosen to continue in this world. Right, Sofia?

Kaname didn't remember much of what she did and said to her friends in the next few minutes, until someone finally said:

"Where's Sagara-kun?"

The crowd went quiet.

"Sousuke..."

She didn't know how to explain it. He was the one who had promised to bring her back, and that he did - fighting, by himself.

How can I...

"Hey, but - isn't that Sagara?" Someone said.

The students started turning one by one towards the gate. A Honda Super Cub was lying there, and the man who just got off the bike was walking towards them.

It really was Sousuke.

The crowd was in upheaval once again, some people genuinely happy, others simply astonished. Kaname, however, felt as if she was almost expecting this.

Ah, so it was a lie. The guy I love has one redeeming trait, and that's his stubbornness.

"Well, how's that? I held my promise! I brought her back!" He shouted.

He was breathing heavily, covered with sweat - she didn't know what he did to get here on time. But he, too, had taken the trouble to change into the uniform of a Jindai High student. It was just like him, sticking to principles.

"Sagara?..."

"Sagara-kun!"

"Hey, it's Sagara!"

His classmates surrounded him as he came closer.

"Sorry I'm late. I was held at the Okinawa base until this morning."

"You're not listening..."

"No, I did check that the graduation ceremony was today."

"I said, you're not listening!"

Exchanging words with Shinji, Koutarou and the others, Sousuke pushed through the crowd and finally appeared in front of Kaname.

"I thought you would be here, Chidori."

"Sousuke..."

His manner was casual, almost cocky. After staring death in the eye, after all that happened, he came here, and was smiling in that way... why?

"Lots of things happened. There's a lot I want to tell you... not now. I heard from Wraith that you didn't accept an escort."

"But..."

She didn't hear the "whispers" anymore. Many organizations might exist in the world, but now she was worthless to them.

"That is naive. You need someone to guard you," he held out his right hand.

She took it hesitantly, and allowed herself to be led. He stepped forward, then said: "I will be your guard. Always."

"Wh... you..." She felt her cheeks flush, and her heart start beating faster than ever. How should I answer him?

"Do you remember our promise, from Mexico?"

"Huh?"

The promise they made over the radio... that they would kiss, when they met again, no matter what place they were in. Those were Kaname's words.

"As you can see, this is our reunion."

"Eh... b-but, but..."

"You don't like me?"

"I didn't mean that, but look around!"

A crowd of three dozen people was surrounding them in the school courtyard, and from the windows of both buildings even more students looked at them. All of them were watching... so many people...

"A-ah... it's not like I'm against it, but... here? I mean... everyone is watching... this is a bit...right?"

And then Sousuke answered, as usual: "No problem."

He gently embraced her, and their lips met. Resistance was futile. She didn't know how long it lasted - her head spun, and she was only vaguely aware of what was around her.

The remainders of her common sense kept telling her that several hundred people were staring, then they too threw up the white flag, before the overwhelming realization that this was what she wished for. She just closed her eyes and surrendered to him. She realized she loved him now more than ever.

"Don't care anymore!"

Before the astonished audience, she put her arms around his head, and following her heart, clumsily, but passionately, continued kissing him. The two were completely absorbed in each other among the jeers of a crowd of students.

It was embarrassing. Extremely embarrassing. Her face burned with shame - but she didn't care.

Look if you want to. I've wished for this for a long, long time. He, too. That's all, got any complaints?

Their lips finally separated, but they still embraced each other, her face close to his.

"...don't let me go, please..."

"I won't."

"Always... always stand by me..."

"Of course," Sousuke, his face sullen as usual, nodded seriously. "I won't need weapons while you are beside me."

A single pair of hands began clapping amongst the audience. After a second it was joined by others until the entire class had joined the applause. Issei Tsubaki shook his head and clapped along with the rest. Kazama lifted his professional camera to capture the moment as Kyoko's digital camera flashed. Ono-D and Shiori smiled as they clapped their hands at the two of them. Mizuki and Maya whispered to each other before grinning at Kaname.

Kaname felt the burning in her cheeks deepen as she looked around at them, her friends and classmates showing their support. I'm back, I'm home. She looked up into Sousuke's face and grinned. Yes, we're home.

"We made it! We're home!"

The words tumbled from her mouth suddenly and she pulled Sousuke's head down and met his lips once again. Sousuke smiled, one of his rare genuine smiles and locked his gaze with hers.

"Yes, we are."

24 March 2000, 12:41 hrs.

Yokatsu, Uruma, Okinawa

Yokatsu Dockside Warehouse

The truck rumbled to a stop inside one of the warehouses. As the engine quit Kurz Weber clambered out of the back, his hands gripping tightly to a rifle.

"God, sis, is there any part of this damn island that the United States doesn't own?"

Melissa Mao shook her head as she clambered out of the truck and pulled out a satellite radio and began to set it up. As she worked Al's voice echoed from the back of the truck.

"The United States Military Bases take up approximately eighteen percent of Okinawa's land area. We are fortunate in evading the military police thus far. Perhaps if Sagara could afford it, I would enjoy being loaded into a Mitsubishi Lancer or Evo."

"I have no idea what Sagara can afford after running around chasing Kaname for the last year." Weber walked over to Melissa and sat down opposite the radio and grinned at her. "That man is in deep, really deep. I tell you."

"And you're not?"

Weber stood stunned for a moment. "Maybe I am… Anyway, about the car debate… I can't see Sagara spending the money on a nice car like that. Can you Mao?"

Melissa Mao shrugged as she set up the satellite link. "Maybe, a rally car like that has good performance and practical use with four doors and decent trunk space, Sousuke isn't against spending money, you know how many Glock pistols he's had confiscated at school?"

"Good point, each one of those is what? An eight hundred dollar pistol, plus black market cost for getting it to him in Japan." Weber shook his head. "The teacher has got a veritable arsenal in her room by now."

Mao finished with the dish and picked up the phone. "Now, be quiet I have a call to make."

23 March 2000, 23:46 hrs.

Portsmouth, State of Virginia, United States

Home of Admiral Jerome Borda

Tessa fiddled nervously with her hands as she sat beside the satellite phone. Across the desk Jerome Borda ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his eye-patch, one of his wounds from Amalgam's assault on Mithril Headquarters. Through a holo-projection General Amit sat between the two facing them with his usual stoic expression clearly in place.

A growl slipped through his lips before he spoke. "You authorized this little… operation? As valuable as Sagara is he is not worth the antagonism of the United States."

Tessa and Jerome glanced at each other. The absurdity of the situation readily apparent, an Israeli former member of Mossad was lecturing a former American Admiral and herself about antagonizing the United States.

"So you would leave him to be continually debriefed by the United States? I doubt they'd so readily release him, especially given his checkered past. Not only would he be a source of information on our organization, the whispered, and Amalgam, but he also has detailed knowledge of the inner working of the KGB, the Afghan resistance under Majhid, and with resistance and terrorist movements world-wide. His resume is enormous General, and any one of those would make him a resource to be squirreled away into some dark hole to be milked." Jerome Borda shook his head. "I take it your pawn informed you of volunteering to assist in the operation?"

General Amit blanched and leaned back. "Admiral!"

"Come now, Wraith is on the assault team to get him out. Surely you know that!" Tessa stated. Her eyes narrowing as she spoke, and she shot a nasty glare toward the general.

The Israeli general glanced between the two of them, a stunned look on his face. Tessa found a smirk slipping across her face. "She didn't?"

"Agent Wraith has not made contact with me since the Merida island… incident."

Incident. The single word sent a scowl onto her face. To call a barrage of nuclear warheads across the island an incident! We had to be guests of the American navy since our transports ran out of fuel over the pacific from our rushed escape. How Sagara survived is nothing short of miraculous.

"Maybe we should have her transferred over to operations, since it seems clear she trusts us more than she trusts you." Admiral Borda stated. "She provided the intelligence for the operation, thanks to the Soviet GRU."

"That was probably a slap in the face to the KGB more than an olive branch for us." General Amit stated. "When is this little operation set to begin?"

"It's already started, we're just awaiting— "

The phone on the office desk rang and Admiral Borda leaned over it to tap the speaker button. "Admiral Borda here, General Amit, and Captain Testarossa are also listening in."

"Uruz Two reporting, Uruz Seven launched an escape of his own just as we were setting up to launch. He's already gone, though we did get a bonus from his escape. Apparently he managed to recover Al, the AI from the ARX-8 before he left."

A sigh of relief slipped from Tessa's mouth. "The ARX-8's Lambda drive and Faerie Feather are useless without the AI. That'll definitely be a setback for the Americans and any attempts to reverse engineer the technology from that unit." Tessa glanced at the other officers. "We can't readily allow our equipment to be taken apart by the United States, upsetting the balance of power could lead to a conflict between the United States and Soviet Union. That is something we cannot allow."

"I agree." Admiral Borda stated. "In my time in the navy I met plenty of hot heads itching to fight the Soviets, give them a reported means of besting them and they will push for a strike. Plus it's an election year, who will be leading the United States come this time next year is anyone's guess."

"American politics." General Amit shook his head with dismissal. "As if it will really matter who is chosen to lead that nation."

"It might. The struggle in the Republican Party is heating up between George Bush and John McCain. Unfortunately with the two term limit the Democratic Party is struggling to find a replacement for Bill Clinton, though at the moment it seems that his Vice President seems to be the most likely selection." Admiral Borda shook his head.

"John McCain would seem to be the most reasonable choice, but we should plan for American interference regardless. The main people in place in the CIA, NSA, JPL, and NASA are professionals and their advice could determine America's direction." Tessa fiddled with her hands. "Now, Melissa, have you determined a reasonable means to egress from Okinawa with your cargo?"

"Umm… not really, Al is a bit bulky with the power system that he needs. We're a bit tied to a United States truck at the moment."

Tessa sighed. "I see. We'll start looking for alternatives then."

"There is another issue, if we are still concerned about Mithril technologies falling into American hands." General Amit said and a digital panel on the Admiral's desk lit up as it received a file. "The United States has sent a company of Seabees to Merida along with NBC gear, apparently the Tuatha de Danaan may be salvageable once debris that fell during the battle and subsequent bombardment is removed."

Tessa's eyes widened as Jerome Borda glanced at the information. "I see…"

"Admiral, we can't let them get the de Danaan! The silent propulsion system would widen the advantage America fields in submarine technology against the soviets. Not to mention all the data that was in Danaan and all the documents in the vessel!" Tessa said.

"So, how do we stop them from digging the ship out and making off with its secrets?" Jerome asked.

"We send a team of our own. If the ship is salvageable it's possible the self-destruct system is functional. If they infiltrated the base they could then set the ship's self-destruct." Tessa stated.

"That's quite a few 'ifs' miss Tesstarossa." General Amit stated.

"I don't see you coming up with a plan of your own, General!" Tessa stammered. There were few people that could rile her up like this, but General Amit was one of them. She'd grown sick of bad orders coming from headquarters over the last year, and the squabbling between the upper leadership she'd witnessed over the years.

"Tessa, calm yourself." Jerome stated.

Slowly she leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "Thank you Uncle Jerry."

"Her plan is a good one with the limited information we have, and we'll begin putting it in motion once we have the Laevatein AI secured." Admiral Borda sighed and shook his head. "Fortunately I believe Sarah Miller was working on a significantly smaller and more portable version of the AI core. If we can have a prototype transported to the team in Okinawa, Al can be transferred to the new core and the old one can be purged."

Tessa nodded slowly. "That does sound like an ideal solution."

Borda nodded and tapped his display. "I'll send a communiqué to the Alaskan base along with orders to transport the device to Okinawa."

23 March 2000 20:16 hrs.

Mithril Base, State of Alaska, United States

Laboratory A-8, Computers and Electronics Research

"Sarah!"

Sarah Miller jerked and she cursed as the soldering gun sent a bit of smoke up from the circuit board she was working on. Her finger burnt as she tapped the offending material and glanced up at the open door to the outside and the man yelling at her in full artic survival gear. She sucked on the finger and dropped the soldering gun in frustration before turning to him.

"What?"

"Urgent communiqué from Admiral Borda." He held up an electronic clipboard as she scowled. "Is that thing ready?"

"Almost, I need maybe an hour or two to finish the connections and run a test. Why?" Sarah asked.

"We need it, Sagara busted out of Okinawa along with Al. His current housing is a bit on the big side for sneaking it off the island." The man said as he waved the clipboard again. "Could you finish on a flight?"

Sarah bit her lip then nodded. "I could, but I wouldn't be able to run a system test."

"Well grab your tools then, we've got a long flight ahead of us." He said.

24 March 2000, 00:21 hrs.

Langley, State of Virginia, United States

Office of the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence

"Just find him! I'm really going to enjoy giving my morning briefing to the President and starting with an escape from one of our Asian theater bases!"

General John A. Gordon slammed the phone down on the table and rubbed his glasses with one hand. Across from the polished desk two other people sat with binders and laptops clacking away. Outside the window of his office it was dark and black. He took a deep breath and glanced back at the documents on his table.

At fifty-three years old he was far too old to be pulling all-nighters, but then he'd long ago learned that in this business bad news always arrived in the middle of the night. If the Soviet Union invading a country, you bet it'd be a call at one in the morning with just a four word description of the event. To which he could only answer with a four letter word of one sort or another as his sleep addled mind came to terms with events. The last month had been full of all-nighters, and the year before that had been loaded with them as well. Just when it seemed the world would quiet down the specter of Amalgam and its conflict with Mithril had raised its head.

"General?" The young woman asked from across his desk with her laptop balancing precariously on her knees.

"The Mithril Operative we picked up on Merida Island broke out of confinement, they still haven't found him." General Gordon rubbed his eyes again. "They're trying to be discrete but it's already been a number of hours since he slipped the net."

"In which case he could be almost anywhere, our information did suggest he had a large number of contacts around the globe, plus access to Mithril's network." The man that sat beside the young woman observed. "We've had quite a hard time tracking down Mithril contacts, and our fellows in the FBI have had much better luck thanks to being able to backtrack some of the equipment they procured. The fact that the organization purchased and fielded AV-8b Harriers, RAH-66 Comanche Helicopters, and XM9 Gernsback Arm Slaves has allowed them to weed through manufacturer records." He set a thick binder on the desk and sighed. "It paints a rather disturbing picture."

"How disturbing?" The general asked as he spun the binder around and flipped it open.

"A number of… highly placed American citizens not only are members of the organization but also among its leadership." He cleared his throat. "I believe you know former Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jerome Borda?"

"I do… You're saying he was involved?"

"After the destruction of the base headquarters, overall command of the organization fell to him. The Admiral is not alone in having connections. Roy Seals is also confirmed as a member. Our British allies have their share including retired Captain Richard Mardukas. We've also found references to some higher echelon members of British society now deceased as being among the leadership."

Gordon rubbed the bridge of his nose. "The fact that such people are involved in the organization is… disconcerting."

The woman stirred. "I conducted interviews with a number of…" She glanced at the man nervously for a moment. "Special researchers at Groom Lake, and almost all reported contact with personnel identifying themselves as being parts of Mithril or their opposing organization, Amalgam. They also reported either a full cessation or diminishment of their talents since the incident on Merida."

So the whispered claim that something about the events has blocked their abilities. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. As a man thoroughly trained in the sciences Gordon had seen and read a wide variety of unbelievable things, but the abilities demonstrated by the whispered had been the most significant and disturbing things.

To see the trance state they would enter, their hands scurrying across keys designing and documenting technologies that some scientists had declared simply impossible was to be pulled forcibly into another world. That these abilities all came from children with the same birth date, and that each was born within a scant three minutes made it all the more unbelievable.

Now things will go back to normal. Maybe better, some of those technologies could be terrifying if placed in the wrong hands.

"I however have not had my abilities affected." The woman said and smiled slightly. "I do not believe that this change is permanent amongst the researchers, but only a temporary shock due to the silencing of one of their inspiration."

"Thank you Mister Bowler. I'll be sure to forward the most valuable portions to the president, go get some sleep."

The man nodded and slipped out the office, securing the door behind him. As the latch clacked in place the woman tapped a key on her laptop and a dull hum echoed in the room as jamming and security devices ran through a quick sweep.

John Gordon said as his gaze shifted to the woman and he stared at her. Just a little makeup and the young woman's age had seemed to advance to the late twenties or early thirties, an age common in the intelligence business. But she was eighteen years old, the same age as every whispered.

"The Whispered Office would now like to make its report." She stated with a small smile. "I've identified two more individuals, and located a third."

"I see." John Gordon said as he leaned forward. "Well Miss Wissen, lets hear it."

She smiled and ran a hand up through her hair letting it hang loosely. With it she wiped away some of the makeup and visibly grew younger, her grey eyed gaze leaping around the room for a moment.

"Yes, we've managed to locate one of the whispered under the employ of Mithril, a Sarah Miller. Additionally we've identified two more candidates."

She pulled a trio of folders from her binder and slid them onto the desk.

John glanced down at them and frowned. "A South Korean and an Indian man, they'd be difficult to recruit. And…" He stared at the file for Sarah Miller and noticed the location was just a set of GPS coordinates. A set he recognized as being either in Alaska or Canada. He picked up the phone. "Yes, I need the National Reconnaissance Office, I have a tasking."

24 March 2000, 13:05

Jindai High School, Tokyo, Japan

School Courtyard

Sousuke swallowed down a lump as he finished fielding a barrage of questions from his classmates. Some he couldn't answer, and after the events of the last year it seemed that most of his friends from school had come to understand why there were some things he couldn't talk about.

That had been a relief. I was afraid they'd doggedly pursue such things like those people on Okinawa had. Their debriefing was just a thinly veiled interrogation. He let out a sigh and felt Kaname leaning against him, one arm slipped through his. A distant look on her features as she watched Kyoko lean over to Mizuki and Maya. The three whispered with each other, their gazes jumping between Kaname and himself.

They're plotting something. For a split second fear shot through his brain but he quickly clamped down on it. They're not terrorists. If they're plotting something it'll probably be beneficial. He let out another sigh. A year of fighting and pursuing Kaname, she'll probably hit me more for not fitting in after being away so long. He glanced over at her and blushed. Why is she hanging on me like this?

"Sousuke?"

"Hmm?" His blushed deepened as he felt her gaze lock with his.

"Where'd you get the bike? I don't remember you having one earlier."

"I… borrowed it. I'll have to return it before tonight or it may be reported missing." Sousuke swallowed as she felt her grasp on his arm tighten.

"You… borrowed it?" Her chocolate brown eyes hardened as she glared at him.

"I was in a hurry, and I didn't want to miss you."

"Oh." She blushed brightly and glanced away. "Okay, well when you need to go take it back… tell me. I'd like to come with you."

"Not a problem." Sousuke sighed and glanced at her. "How are you feeling? Are you feverish?"

Her blush darkened and she shook her head. "I'm fine Sousuke. Though…" Sousuke watched her eyes lose focus and stare of into the distance for a moment. "There are things we need to talk about."

Sousuke felt his stomach knot and he glanced at her nervously. If he pressed her now she'd clam up, it was what usually happened.

"Things will be back to normal now, right Sousuke? I mean, Amalgam is gone, Mithril is…" Gone? The unspoken word hung in the air between them as she fell silent and shuddered. He watched her, worry beginning to eat at his gut. It had been a few weeks. Could what happened still be eating at her?

Of course it could, I'm still… a bit upset with myself after Nami. There's so much I need to tell her. So much happened, Kurz is alive and well for one thing.

"We'll see, but I'll be here Kaname, of that you can be sure." He smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder. "I'm right here, beside you." He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned into her hair. "It turns out Kurz is alive too, he was with Melissa this morning when I… broke out of the Okinawan airbase."

"Really?"

"Affirmative, apparently they were planning to break me out so I left them with the truck. I'll hear from them sometime today, I hope." He sighed. "There wasn't time to get the full story."

Kaname nodded slowly then blinked away tears. "They told me you died. That you were on Merida Island when the warheads hit." She glanced at him and smiled. "I should have known it wasn't true."

"Actually it was. I was there when the missiles hit."

Kaname jerked back and looked at him, worry clearly on her face. Sousuke glanced back at her and smiled softly. "The Lambda driver protected me from the blast. Apparently I didn't even receive much of a dose of radiation during the day I waited for someone to show up."

"Oh, should have figured. That device can do almost anything."

"Except function reliably." Sousuke muttered quietly. Tokiwa tapped his arm suddenly and he blinked glancing at her. "Yes?"

She glanced at Kaname for a moment before shaking her head slightly, sending her pigtails wiggling as she did. Kyoko's voice dropped to a whisper as she leaned to the side opposite Kaname. "If you can keep Kaname away from her apartment for a while, me and some friends can setup a welcome home party for her."

"Not a problem."

24 March 2000, 09:37 hrs.

North of Fayzabad, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan

Shoreline of the River Kokcha

"Are you certain the foreigner was here?" One man asked the other in Persian.

The man nodded his hands gripped tightly around an AKM that had seen just as many worn days as he had, perhaps more. He had a simple pakul cap atop his head and was clad in the typical dark grey clothes of the locals. His beard was well trimmed and cropped and had hints of grey.

The man that had spoken wore a turban and had a pair of wire frame spectacles sitting atop his broad nose. A curly mustache complimented his beard and his skin looked almost pink from years of abuse in the sun. He held a new AKM, perhaps liberated in a recent battle with the soviets to the south, west, or north. He glanced back at the older man.

"We're wasting our time if there is a foreigner surely he left by now."

"She." The older man said. "She was also clad in a body suit like the Soviet arm suit pilots wear, but different."

"Maybe she came from up north, there was a big battle up there I hear, between the Soviets and some other group."

"Majhid kept our people clear. There was a missile base there." The older man stated. "Wait! Quiet now! She's coming."

The clatter of gravel and loose stones being kicked loose by booted feet echoed across the ground for a few moments. Then there was a splash and a curse in a language neither man understood. They glanced at each other and nodded, clicking the safeties of their weapons off they shifted into a crouch and headed toward the river. Both weapons were gripped tightly in their worn calloused hands.

Then they stood and leveled their weapons at a woman, half way stripped nude and surrounded by grey Kevlar and composite materials from her pilot suit. Dried blood coated many of the pieces and a patchwork of bandages covered her sides. She froze, her eyes glancing between the two men as the older one centered his rifle on her.

"Check her for a sidearm." He said.

The younger man laughed as the woman wrapped one arm over her breast to cover up while lifted the other over her head in surrender. Then he walked forward and knelt, picking up a pistol holster with its weapon still inside it and presenting it to the older man.

"What is it?"

"I do not know. It does not look to be of Soviet make." The older man said then glanced at the woman. "Neither does she, for that matter." Frowning he gestured with the rifle to her suit. "Let her get more presentable, we do not want the youth getting ideas."

The woman swallowed as she zipped up her suit once again and cursed her luck. As the man gestured with his rifle she cursed again in English.

"Name." The man asked in Persian as he pointed to himself.

The woman slowly nodded, apparently understanding. "Sabine, Sabine Refiona."

Sabina smirked as she was lead along a simple trail that wound its way along the river. She was lucky to be alive. She'd lived through being left for dead in that cursed missile complex by that idiot Mao!

And the missile failed, I can still feel them every once in a while! That damn girl lived, and Leonard died. It wasn't fair. The world wasn't fair. Even if they'd succeeded it wouldn't be fair because that's not how the world worked. Was it?

Now she was being led along a dirt path by Afghans with bad teeth, terrible clothes, and a pair of assault rifles. At least she'd be to a town soon. Maybe they'd trade her for something.

I know nothing about Afghans. That damn soldier of hers lived here for a while supposedly. What did they call him? Kashim! That's right, Kashim. The son of Badakhshan's Tiger, I hope he died, surely he did right? The world can't be that unfair.

Then she saw the two Afghans behind her smirk and one of them muttered something in Persian. She didn't understand what was said aside for a single name… Majhid.

Shit, and here I am in the tiger's den. Maybe the world is that unfair after all. I should have ended it with that missile, dropped it on Las Vegas or Washington. Then they'd nuke each other and end this damn charade of an existence.

Maybe it's not that bad, if I overpower one of these guys I might be able to kill Kashim's father. Now that would be a nice bonus. Smirking to herself she started planning as she was led down trail.

24 March 2000, 14:49 hrs.

Yokatsu, Uruma, Okinawa

Yokatsu Dockside Warehouse

Wraith sighed and stood, stretching as she slung her SVD Dragunov over one arm and glanced at the others. Clouseau sat in the back of the truck as Mao checked his bandages.

"This sucks, should have known he'd break out by himself!"

Mao rolled her eyes. "I didn't invite you."

"Come on big sis, she got the GRU to give us the intel after all." Kurz Weber said as he stomped out of the back of the truck and dropped to the concrete floor beside it.

Wraith sighed. "I didn't get clearance to do much of this anyway."

"Oh." Mao muttered. "General Amit is quite a hard ass."

"More of an asshole you mean. That's the guy that pushed to have Sousuke pulled out of Tokyo before Hong Kong. Sousuke is hard to read, but he seemed damn destroyed after that." Kurz said. He leered at Wraith. "So that's the pretty girl under all those disguises, maybe you should shed your skin more—"

Mao ended his rant with a fist to his face that was almost reflexive.

Inside Wraith laughed, but not even a hint of a smile appeared upon her lips as she watched the pair.

Love makes people crazy, stupid, and blind.

Her pocket buzzed to life as a secure phone rang and she sighed, pulling it out. The digital distortion system activating automatically.

"Wraith here."

"HQ, you are to resume your watch of Kaname Chidori and Sousuke Sagara. We expect you back on station inside of four hours."

Damn General Amit, bet he's got someone watching my ass to. Damn jew doesn't trust anyone, not even his wife.

"Understood."

"Agent Wraith, remember you are employed by the intelligence division of Mithril, you are not to respond to any orders originating from another branch."

"Understood." She said again. Her tone was level but inwardly she winced. She'd gotten a lot of exposure to those on the operations side they were good people… mostly.

Is there going to be another schism just when this organization needs to be rebuilt?

The line clicked off and she lowered the phone and glared at it for a moment. "Damn it. Guys, I have to leave. Seems General Amit wants me to watch the lovebirds."

24 March 2000, 15:19 hrs.

Jindai High School, Tokyo, Japan

Parking Lot

The wind blew across the parking lot as Kaname looked back over the school grounds. She saw the pool and softball field in the distance. It was a place full of treasured memories for her, and a singular terrible memory from a year earlier when Sousuke was beaten by Leonard and she'd surrendered to Amalgam.

"Kaname?"

Kaname blinked and blushed as she saw Sousuke staring at her. "Just thinking." She said quietly.

"I see." Sousuke picked up the motorcycle helmet off the Honda Super Cub motor bike and handed it to her. "I'm afraid I don't have a second helmet."

"Just drive carefully then." Kaname said as she slipped it on.

"Roger." Sousuke slipped onto the bike and Kaname followed shortly after, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. She let out a slow sigh and leaned forward pressing her body against his.

It was a sensation she'd thought for sure she'd never get to enjoy, not after all the fighting, and Sofia! Then she'd been told Sousuke had died on Merida Island, killed by the nuclear blasts that had arrived shortly after their escape.

A grin slipped across her face. Here he was though! Her protector, her friend, her… She bit her lip as her cheeks flashed crimson. Her boyfriend... Kissing Sousuke in front of everyone had been terrifying, and thrilling. After the last two years she realized that those two things often came locked hand in hand.

The bike's motor sputtered to life and Sousuke guided the vehicle out of the parking lot and merged with traffic. A number of their classmates waved as they passed and started driving along the roads toward the center of Tokyo. It was early in the afternoon yet, so traffic was light but that wouldn't last long. As soon as those in the inner city began to head from work to their homes the streets would be full.

Kaname tightened her grip on Sousuke as they rumbled past a park and felt the wind tug at her hair, pulling it out like a long blue banner that marked their passage despite the helmet.

At an intersection with a red light Sousuke glanced back over his shoulders at her, a smile on his face. She felt her cheeks heat up again for a moment before she tightened her grip even further and buried her head into the small of his back.

Then the wail of a police siren pierced the calm.