Yes! I'm still here! Not for long as exams and school stuff are coming up! More gets revealed in this portion of the story.

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While Tsugumi walked along with Daryl, her wandering eyes settled on a cute little boutique filled with headbands. The young woman's eyes filled with curiosity and wonder and she enthusiastically tugged onto his sleeve. "Hey Daryl! I want to go there for a little bit."

Daryl scowled in response. No matter how cute she was, he still found her interests a little...jarring. Cute and girly shops were just not for him. He haughtily responded, "No way! I'm not going in there!"

Tsugumi pouted. "Suit yourself!" And she walked right in.

"I'm going back to the coffee house." Daryl called back. He was not sure if she heard him. She was already well into the little store that had cutesy pop music blaring out its speakers. Should he stay and wait for her? But Jessica was already working the student rush hour and she must be cursing him to high heavens. Should he head back without her?

Tsugumi looked already well invested in her shopping. She didn't seem to recognize his presence.

Daryl finally made up his mind. He turned his heel and began to journey back to his workplace. About half an hour later, he was finally back. The shop was mysteriously empty. How strange... Daryl went through the back entrance. He met a familiar face.

Jessica's brown hair flew when her eyes darted in his direction. Her fingers that were previously typing away on a laptop were now curled into balled fists. She shot him an annoyed scowl and returned back to her work.

"Thanks for ditching."

"Sorry. Something turned up."

She glared at him once again before relaxing a little bit. With a tired sigh, she pointed up to the front. "Clean up now."

He knew he was at fault. So, he merely closed his mouth, forgave her for her disrespect in his head, and followed her orders. But he still found it peculiar that she forgave him so easily.

Daryl strolled past the kitchen, past the counter, and out to the main sitting area for all coffee goers to hang about. It was empty. But now that he just came in, two customers had to walk in at the same time. Both he remembered fondly of, especially from the battlefield, but he preferred not to have bumped into them. But strangely, even when meeting this young lady in a wheelchair and her blind partner that have tried to kill him more than once, they did not seem once disturbed by him.

"Shu! I think this is the place." Ayase wheeled in while holding the blind man's hand. She wore her hair in its typical ponytail and she dressed in a flowing skirt with a fitted shirt. Lying right in her lap was a large handbag that probably contained her valuables.

"Welcome." Daryl curtly responded.

He took the wrong step.

Ayase suddenly stopped in her entrance. Her eyes grew wide and her hand quickly left Shu!

"Ayase!" Shu stumbled back in surprise. If only he could see!

"That voice!" Ayase growled and in pure rage, she raced towards the tall blonde. A gun flew out from her bag in seconds. Her hand was already ready to fire!

But Daryl was faster. Before she even retrieved her gun, he was already running next to her. When the gun was out of the bag, he was already grabbing onto her dominant hand. With little force, Ayase was lurched out of her wheelchair and pinned to the floor. Her gun flew up an down, landing only a few centimeters away from the other hand. But it was still useless as Daryl trapped that hand under his knee. Ayase violently rolled and struggled. For such a thin guy, he was pretty strong and muscular.

Annoyed, Daryl retrieved his own gun and placed it right at her head. He was really more than ready to fire. "Don't move", he ordered.

"Murderer! I thought you were dead!" Ayase equally growled back.

"Ayase! Where are you?" Shu began to grow worried.

Hearing his desperate voice, Ayase struggled again against Daryl's strong grip. Even if her legs were useless, she still had enough upper body strength to fight back. She even proved strong enough that Daryl was having trouble keeping her down.

"I said don't move!" Daryl cocked the gun again against her forehead.

"Why shouldn't I? You're nothing but a psychopathic murderer!"

He had no choice. She had to be put out one way or another. He raised his gun once again and prepared his attack.

"Don't move!"

That voice! Daryl quickly glanced up.

Tsugumi had her watch pointed at him with a red laser aiming at his forehead. Her other hand rested on top of her watch, as if pressing on a trigger. She must have fashioned that watch into her own little weapon.

"I thought I could trust you again."

Tears began to well up in Tsugumi's eyes. She thought she would only find Daryl working at his shop, not him trying to kill her best friend. She forgave him for everything: his betrayal, his chances to kill her and her friends, and his psychopathic self. She wanted to trust him again. She wanted to be his friend. She wanted to know more about him. But all that laid to waste the minute he hurt her friend. For that, Tsugumi was ready to shoot to kill.

All it took was one small button on her watch to shoot a piercing bullet. Her finger was already on that button.

"I'd appreciate it if you don't kill my boss."

Tsugumi heard a gun cock up from behind her. Spinning around, she found only Jessica. The young student pointed a hand gun at Tsugumi and she was clearly aiming for a bullet in the back. Her fingers curled around the trigger like a cat playing with yarn. Her posture was unusually relaxed, as if she was never afraid. That was probably because no one was pointing a gun at her.

Jessica heard a gun click from behind Tsugumi. The woman, pinned down by Daryl, had a gun in her trapped hand. But since that hand couldn't get a good aim on Daryl, she aimed at the next best thing: Jessica.

For the next few seconds, nothing but beads of sweat moved in that shop. Everybody had a gun pointed at someone else. If one moved, another would shoot. If one flinched, everyone would shoot. And poor Shu was just lost in the midst of the confusion.

Finally, Jessica managed to speak in the tense showdown. "Well...I do enjoy our little Mexican stand-off, but shop has to close soon. So how about we all put down our guns and back off?"

No one moved.

'Shit! If this keeps going on..." Jessica panicked in her mind.

"Everyone! Guns down!" A powerful voice bellowed from behind Jessica.

As if on cue, both Daryl and Jessica dropped their stance. Jessica turned around. Daryl got off of Ayase. They both turned their attention to the newcomer, assuming that it was their leader. To Tsugumi and Ayase's surprise, it was their former leader and comrade as well...those they haven't seen in eight years.

"Shibungi! Argo!" Both girls exclaimed.

Argo glanced at them and managed to crack a small smile of recognition. "Hey. It's been a long time."

"Shibungi, why are you here?" Ayase calmly asked her former comrade.

But Shibungi softly shook his head. "I'm sorry. Ayase. Tsugumi. Shu. Can you please leave? I have matters to discuss with these two."

"Matters? These two?" Tsugumi glanced at Jessica and Daryl. Both looked extremely uncomfortable when met with Tsugumi's gaze like they were being held at gunpoint.

Finally, Daryl found his courage to speak up. "Provisional GHQ Major General Yan reporting in..."

Jessica nodded and followed suit. "Provisional GHQ Junior Intel Officer Jessica reporting in as well…"

"You guys!" Tsugumi gasped. "What's going on?"

Shibungi turned to the only person that was not one bit perturbed by this situation. "Shu."

Shu nodded. He understood everything even if he couldn't see to understand. He knew exactly what he must do. He felt his way towards Ayase, pulled the shocked girl back into her wheelchair, and began to push her out against her wishes.

"Shu! What are you doing?" Ayase yelled.

Shu leaned down to her ear. "We have to get out. I'll explain everything later."

"Shu!"

Argo placed a reassuring hand on Tsugumi's shoulder. Once he felt the young woman had calmed down enough, the lieutenant led her away out the door.

Tsugumi didn't try to fight. She did not try to resist. She knew when she was not needed. She knew this was a top secret government issue. She already took her step out of the government and she had her own issues to focus on. But even so...Daryl...

She sadly glanced back at the blonde general. He had his back turned towards her. So did Jessica. They were having a deep conversation with Shibungi.

Even if he was now working for the country, she can never forgive him for attacking her best friend. No matter what, he was still a killer.

-GC-

A shiny red car raced down the road of a small suburban area. The driver seemed utterly focused on something else other than the road as she swerved at every turn. Her wavy brown hair flew into her face, but her eyes were not distracted. Every once in a while she took a split second glance at the GPS to find her way. "It's somewhere around here." Jessica mumbled to herself as she slowed down on one road. Finally, she found a large building with students in uniforms departing from it. It seemed like the day has ended or the day had ended. Either way, she should be coming out.

She did.

Jessica spotted a familiar woman come out of the double glass doors wearing a brown jacket and a beige skirt. She still wore her unique cat headband.

Tsugumi walked only a few feet when she saw the strange red car. It was quite out of place. Cars in this area were not that loud. But this one surely was. But it was the person in that car that interested her the most. She seemed like she was waiting for someone. Walking closer, Tsugumi could already recognize this person.

"Jessica?"

"Tsugumi", Jessica responded, "Can you lend me some of your time?"

Now what did she want? Tsugumi obliged and sat down in the passenger seat of Jessica's car. Jessica revved up the engine and sped forward.

"I understand if you don't want to speak to me again. I kept such a big secret from you."

"I'm not mad at you." Tsugumi sighed.

"But you're mad at him", Jessica said. "I understand that. To be honest, I don't exactly forgive him for what he did to me, but I think this situation is unfair and it needs to be cleared up. All you have to do is listen to what i have to say and you can do whatever you want afterwards."

"Sure..." Tsugumi mumbled. Whatever Jessica was going to say, how would it change the fact that Daryl tried to kill her loved ones again?

Jessica finally pulled up to a university and into one of the dorm garages. She stopped the engine, but she merely sat there without moving. Instead, she spoke. "I was nine years old when I moved to Japan. The reason was because of my father's job. His name is Rowan and he worked for GHQ. He held the position just above mine; GHQ Intel Officer. One year later, he was killed by multiple gunshot wounds."

Tsugumi's face stiffened. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. That was eight years ago. He got those wounds because he saved his comrade. They were in the same squad. My father controlled base operations while his comrade was an Endlave pilot. That comrade is Daryl Yan. My father died so Daryl can live." Jessica said as if delivering a report. "He had his reasons to save him and I just want to show them to you."

She led Tsugumi up a flight of stairs and into her dorm room. It was a single dorm that had a bed, a desk, a drawer, and a flat screen TV. Jessica opened up her laptop and began searching through her libraries. As she searched, she explained, "During my father's time in GHQ, he'd send me back little video diaries. He'd let my mother and I know how he was doing and what's happening." Jessica got up and motioned for Tsugumi to sit.

Tsugumi sat down on her chair and faced the little laptop. She saw about fifty video files. Some were only about half a minute while others ran on for ten solid minutes. She watched as the mouse scrolled over to a five minute video and opened it. Right then, she was greeted with a tired man wearing a green hat and glasses. He seemed to be really nice even though he was part of GHQ.

"Hello Jessica, I think you and your mother heard about the coup d'état yesterday. I'm here to tell you I'm perfectly fine and nothing bad happened. But..."

The man paused and a look of sorrow crossed his face. Tsugumi had somewhat of a clear idea of the time frame this was. It was the time where Funeral Parlor infiltrated GHQ headquarters and it caused Gai to die on that mission. Afterwards, Funeral Parlor broke up for some time and Ayase and Tsugumi were left stranded at the school.

"But Major General Yan passed away yesterday. His son, Lieutenant Daryl, you know, that boy I wanted to be your big brother, he's been taking it the hardest. He locked himself in his room today and he refuses to come out. I can't help but feel sorry for him. He doesn't have anyone left. Don't you feel sorry as well? Well I got to go. I hope to see you and your mother soon! Lots of love! Your father, Rowan."

The video stopped and it automatically loaded the next one in the list. This was dated around two weeks after the last video.

"Hello little Jessica! I'm sorry it took me so long to send a video. But we are making preparations to seal off Loop 7. Your big brother, Lieutenant Daryl, went in undercover as a student today. But his mood has been getting better recently! I think he's coming around to accepting his father's tragic death. I'm so glad!" he gave a soft smile and chuckled. "He came back with this cute grin on his face. He was also licking this candy apple. I wonder who gave it to him. Jessica, do you think he made a friend there?"

That person was happy...

Little droplets of tears began to form at Tsugumi's eyes, which she hurriedly wiped away. She quietly whispered sorrowfully, "I had no idea that had such an effect on him. I thought it was just candy."

"Judging from my father's reaction, whatever you did meant a lot to him. If I had to guess, you are the only person who was ever nice to him in a long time. And it brought him back to his sanity." Jessica replied back. "Do you get what I'm trying to say? Or should I show you more? My boss talks about you a lot apparently."

"No I understand everything..."

Jessica still frowned and slowly, she knelt to the ground in front of her and took both of Tsugumi's small palms. "After you left, Daryl was so down. I never seen him this depressed. So I ask you to just give him another chance...or watch him drive himself mad."

Her desperate plea nearly drove Tsugumi to tears. In fact she couldn't even form a response and only nodded.

It was enough. Jessica gave a weak smile and bowed. "Thank you."

"Right…" Tsugumi glanced back up to the screen. An idea sprang into her head. "Jessica… Why don't you show these videos to Daryl? He's been suffering so much because of this man's death. Wouldn't watching these bring him some closure?"

Jessica's face grew hard. She quickly stood up and stalked away, keeping her back turned against Tsugumi. "No."

"Jessica! That's unfair! Doesn't he deserve to know?"

"Deserve?" Jessica angrily questioned in her shouts. "My father died to save him! Has Daryl changed any change since then? Has he lived up to my father's wishes? No! My father saw well in him and he gave him a second chance, but all this time, that child has been wasting it!" Jessica's voice began to crack and her speech became much more emotional. "As much as I hate it, I have to honor my father's wishes. Daryl already disrespected my father in heaven once before, I have to change him before he can do it again."

Jessica now connected her gaze with Tsugumi, like a fierce tiger looking down on its pack.

"Until he is ready, I will never show these to him."

-GC-

Jessica stayed after at the coffee shop. After sweeping for the umpteenth time, she finally decided to start on some homework. If she wasn't assigned to wait for his arrival, she could be at home watching TV or something. Jessica searched around her laptop and immediately recognized the folder of videos. Oops! She definitely needed to hide these. Jessica fiddled around with some keys and placed all fifty or so videos into a zipped and encrypted folder and hid it within all her other unorganized crap. There. Now there was no way for him to find it. Luckily, she was on time.

Mere moments after hiding away those files, a man loudly stumbled through the back door. She heard him weakly walk forward for a few steps, but heard a sudden stop. A loud thump rang through the shop as he fell to the floor.

When Jessica rushed to get him back up, she found a sickly pale man in place of her usually healthy boss. Though he was only gone for about a week, he looked like he fought through a whole army of Endlaves for months. He was breathing so heavily that Jessica felt long drags of air rushing in on top of her arm for every breath in and pure hot air that settled down once he breathed out. His brilliant blonde hair laid disheveled against the couch once he landed in it. But, the most disturbing sight, he had his hands firmly clutching onto his chest. Sometimes, he lurched forward in pain and other times, he was breathing heavily, trying to recover from the last attack.

Jessica knew the problem of his mess. It was his heart. Ever since removing the Void Genome Emulator, Daryl was left with a weaker heart. He tired out faster than any other person and he was more prone to heart attacks.

"Why'd you decide to still go even in your weak condition?" Jessica asked as she attempted to relieve some of his pain the best she could. She dabbed a warm, damp towel onto his forehead and softly rubbed her hand against his chest like a mother would to her aching child.

Daryl winced whenever Jessica hit the wrong spot. "I have an obligation to fulfill. I am the Major General now."

"Shibungi warned you not to get carried away. He knows about your damaged heart. If this keeps going on, he'll drop you from the army."

Daryl loudly panted as he fist a portion of the couch. He felt another rise of pain in his chest and violently, he heaved himself forward right into Jessica. She expertly caught him and she quickly stuffed her damp towel into his mouth. He violently bit into it as another wave of pain hit him at full force. Sweat dripped down his brow and his hand clutched into his shirt even more tightly. Everything hurts so much! Even if Jessica was trying the best to alleviate the pain a little, everything still hurt!

Once Jessica felt everything had calmed down with this person, she quietly laid him facing up on the couch. "This is what I mean. You're not going live long with your condition if you continue this."

"Even so…what else is there for me? It has always been my job to be in the army. Why should I give it up?" Daryl wheezed out between long pants of air.

"There are other things in life."

"Well…for me…I never will experience that…" Daryl finally felt his heart settle to a normal rhythm and the pain began to subside.

"Pitiful child…" Jessica sighed. "Where have you been this whole week?"

"I was sent overseas."

"America?"

He nodded. "I was stationed in your home state, California. Earlier that week, an unidentified flying object landed in the lower half of California. Since Japan had dealt with this problem eighteen years prior, the United States called us in to determine what that thing is. So I had to bodyguard every scientist that was shipped into the US."

"Do you know what kind of unidentified flying object it is?"

Daryl shook his head to her disappointment. "I wasn't told anything. But I can tell you it is very dangerous."

'Enough to prepare for another Apocalypse…'

Tense! Will Daryl and Tsugumi ever make up? What's going to happen with Ayase in the way? Is Daryl going to survive? What landed in California? I have a feeling most of you thought up an answer because it's so blatantly obvious. And yes, Jessica is from California, making her also a citizen of the US. And she's not the only one...hint, hint. Please review!