A/N: Hello fellow writers and readers,

Me and my beta wish to apologize for the delay in the chapter, me and her have been busy with a lot with our daily lives. Please, still enjoy the chapter (-.-).

The Eternal Love of Guns and Roses

By Alice

Chapter IV

The six year old Lightning only glared, finding no interest older boy what so ever. She was tired, trying sleep until her lazy doctor comes roaming into her overly white room, demanding regiments of all sorts known to the a child of war.

Yet, he was here, standing in front of her with his round gray eyes that didn't hold any contempt that she would expect another child of the Institute, and she didn't like it. The other children that she managed to cross paths with made her feel uncomfortable, insignificant compared to that of an insect. They were like gladiators, while she was a mouse trapped in within their arena.

"What are you doing here?", she asked.

"You know," he started, with a muddled visage. "It's very rude for you to ask a question with a question." The black haired boy scratched his head, shifted on one leg with his hand on his right hip.

"I don't care. What are you doing here?"

The attractive face of the gray eyed boy watched as she struggled to control the nervousness in her voice. He tilted his head before insensibly taking a seat on her bed, almost too closely for the young girls liking. He had some hopes of learning more about the frighten little brown mouse more, examining her further than under the ever so watchful eyes of their doctors.

However, startled, Lightning scrambled away and glared in fear. The boy saw that she went tense and breathing had become erratic, as she planted her body as deep as she could in the corner of the conjoined walls. 'What's her problem?', he thought.

"Hey…it okay. I'm only here because I'm bored. I don't want to hurt anyone at the moment." He started crawling over to her, careful to reach out a hand to her shoulder. He wanted to see her reaction. His fingers brushed away few of the brown strands of her tresses that cover the pale skin underneath, only touching a small part of her face

The boy's eyes went wide, evading when Lighting had suddenly launched herself at him. She hastily became feral like now, throwing different punches at random. He still managed to dodge the relentless on slot with ease and practical elegance, moving about her without having to take a offense attack. It was clear to the brunette that he was already proving to be far superior skilled, more experience in a fight compared to her sad excuse for self-defense.

For him, he could see in complete detail that she was inexperienced. She probably never had to fight a day in her life before she had manage to end up there. Her throws were reckless, she lacked in speed and had only infrequent accuracy. She was blind to strategic opportunities, not bothering to examine his movements or other important cues that could give her valuable information. She really is a beginner at all this…a very useless beginner.

In the mist of extending her fist forward, he managed to grab a hold her wrist. It was soon apparent that Lightning's feet were no longer touching the floor, and she was forced to land unexpectedly to the ground. He had flipped her with effortless strength, and his foot now stood planted on her shoulder blade. Lightning was in a daze of disbelief with the wind knocked out of her abruptly. She had really underestimated him.

Her arm twisted, and her mind was brought back to him. The ball of her shoulder was nearly breaking its restricted limits that she nearly screamed.

"Now then," the boy grinned. "Since we're already starting in a bad note, I'll start the introductions. My name is Cymbal. See, it's easy, right ?" Cymbal asked, twisting her arm further for response. She close to hearing a crack if she denied him more, her arm begged her to comply. He smiled in a sickening sweet way when she gave him a nod. "Good. Now, what's you're name?"

"I don't know my name…" she said, painfully avoiding his eyes.

"What?"

"I don't know my name!" she shouted, feeling him twist her arm once more.

She glanced toward the boy, Cymbal, his eyes became confused and…irritated? "What? Already? Geez, they don't hire people that waste time here anymore. That would explain why you're up on this floor already. Say, how long have you been here?"

"I-I don't know…A month? Maybe more depending on when I got here."

He cups his chin. "A month, huh? That would mean you must have went through a lot of trouble if you really killed off most of failed candidates."

"K-kill?!"she said in disbelief. Killing someone…she didn't think she would killed someone before, not that she remembered. "I've never killed a person, nor do I plan to ever kill someone! I can't believe you said such a horrible thing!"

"What are you talking about," he asked. "That's the way of life in the Institute. You're going to have to kill sooner or later. That what's going to happen when you enter the Simulation Room."

"Simulation Room? What are you talking about? I don't anything that goes on here!"

she shouted out frustration. The pressure in her shoulder lifted, and she didn't feel as pinned to the floor as she had before. She gradually came to her feet as Cymbal took a step back.

He was still lost by her, examining the brunette thoroughly. 'So she doesn't know anything yet.' he thought. When he entered the Institute, the doctors had already thrown him to fight for his place. He'd had to cut down other children. Some were younger, some older, and some his own age. He could still remember the impact of slamming a person's head in, or the convulsion of flesh when he plunged a knife in someone else's chest. Somehow, she avoided that situation. She was lucky enough not to have those memories in her head to revisit her at night.

She was fortunate. It made him instantly jealous.

"Didn't your doctor explain this after the Hunt?" he asked.

"The Hunt? …What's that?"

"The full name the Docs use is 'The Hunting Season'. It's they're way of finding potential candidates for fighting wars, I guess. They go to whatever place they think they'll find kids and bring them here. It's basically like a game on who gets the most children to come with them,"

he explains. "They usually tried to get a lot of children, but they evaluate them by putting them in the Simulation Room." The boy took note of the frighten stare in her eyes.

"But you'll probably won't have to worry about that until later. Right now, I'd be worry getting a resilience to killing."

Cymbal causally said, shrugging his shoulder as he retook a seat on bed.

"Eh?" Lightning questioned, the whole concept going beyond her.

He had his eyes closed for a moment, before sneaking a peek through one gray eye to her. He sly grinned, enjoying the view of utter confusion on her face. 'Cute…' He settled comfortable, folding his arms behind his head. "Well, you don't expect to survive here if you don't kill." he spoke in all knowing triumph.

"Now wait a minute, I don't plan to kill anyone. Get out!" her eyes flaring anger with his nonchalant attitude.

"Now you're being stupid."

"Get. Out."

"C'mon, I'm just telling the truth-"

"I don't want to hear it. I'm not kill anyone. Bug someone else already, and leave me alone."

He frowned slight, getting back into sitting position. "Fine. You can just die, stupid."

Her eyes widen, feeling degraded from the comment that he slashed her with. He however, seemed to be the one offended, like she was the one that said something insulting. This ignorant boy was the one at fault not her. She had her problems, but one of them was not going to be killing.

"You can delude yourself all you want," he said, cutting into her inward rant. "But that doesn't change that you'll have to. They'll make you do it, one way or another."

"I like to see them try…"she said, stubbornly. She turning away from him as he walked out, hoping to never to return to her life ever again. Though, it was a meaningless thought to begin with.

"Think again, dumbass."

As he left, she knew he was smirking, that he was secretly mocking her, but she didn't care. Why should she have to kill? No one had every really done her harm. Yes, people left her. Her own doctor had even hurt her with some his experiments in order to heal her. This still did not tempt her take another person's life for her own sake. Yet, the words still forced its way into her head. No one could make her do something that she did want to do. She had to believe that. She just had to.

Reality seem almost welcoming when Lightning opened her eyes. She was half expecting the dreary world around her to still be the sad hell that she'd abandoned. Her eyes shifted to the balcony doors, noticing the sun starting to cut through the pillar like buildings of Tokyo. In the distance she saw the sun reflect against the windows, returning the large structures to glassy sight that she had grown use to, making nearly happy to see them. Uncurling herself from her spot, she hug her still chilled body.

"Setsuna…?" she called.

No answer. Get off her seat, she headed to her room to peek in the room, but unsurprisingly found that curly haired boy wasn't there. She sighed, heading back to her place in the den.

Everything was too quiet, that it started to deafen her ears. She started to feel pathetic sitting in one room like a lump on a couch. Looking at the time on her phone, noticing that it was 11 now, meaning she slept through most of the morning.

'I need a shower.'

She nearly leaped out off the couch while taking her sweet time to the bathroom. The brunette was glad to peel off her old clothes, slink into the hot water, and trying to forget her dream. She was satisfied with sound of pelting water, in a small way comforting her in her moment of anxiety. She honestly did not expect the unnerving dream had started to get to her, but than the memory of wasn't suppose to come to her anymore. It surely was suppose to die when she left.

So why…why did it come now?

She pressed her hands against white tiled walls, shrugging as she dipped her head into the raining water to drown the thoughts of the dream…and Cymbal along with it. As the water soon lost its heat, she went out turning the shower back off and slipped out. The cold air reached her body, but she didn't particularly mind, more help in numbing her. She went out into the living room, bare and nude for the world to see with only a fluffy white towel draped her pale neck. She preferred it that way. Her clothes laying on the armrest of the couch, she slightly felt better about the new apparel she acquired. It was much easier to mover around in than her pervious ones and she marveled over the different as she slipped them on.

Slipping on a pair of shoes on her feet, she went to the door. Another minute and she would go insane. To remain in silence in the room would mean reminders of her previous life as a super soldier, a life that she was not too fond of. She need fresh air, and regardless of orders, this was important. It was important if she want to keep her head on straight.

Stepping out, her foot kick something with a loud thwack, surprised to find a large black box sitting on her doorstep. Sliver writing was hand written across the lid in a sad attempt in Japanese. The super soldier brow rose, curiosity getting the better of her as she pick it up, taking it in the living room. From the writing only few words could be picked up, words like: important, size, and have. The brunette blinked in confusion. Instead of trying to pull meaning to the small note on the lid, took off the top.

Lightning found herself somewhat dazzled by a pretty black dress that was hidden beneath clear wrapping paper. On top was a book, "How to Cook for Dummies". It mocked her as it sat, making her feel a little slighted. Sitting nicely above it, in clear written legible English, was a note:

Dear Lightning,

I want you to have this dress and cook book for two reasons. . Now this is specifically meant to attract Setsuna attention, so it important that you wear the dress, okay? Also, I wasn't sure that this was your size, but let me know as my number is at the bottom. Make sure to cook him dinner while wearing it. And try not burn anything while doing, Saji's sister told us about the burning smell coming from your apartment first time we met, but no big deal. This is a sure fire method of you and him to make up, its been a method my mom use all the time on my dad, and it works every time. When I see you, I expect major details on how things go.

Sign your friend,

Louise Halevy

By the time Lightning finished, she could feel a twinge of irritation hit her nerves. She never though her eye twitch the way it did. Lightning wasn't sure if it was implication of her relationships with Setsuna is being more annoyingly intimate, which it was definitely not, or the Louise's newfound idea of interfering in other people's business.

What made that idiotic girl think that she would ever want to be with that annoyance of a boy was beyond her.

The super soldier threw the black box to the side, trudging back to out the doors. She wasn't going to do anything like cook for that boy, or gussy up for him either. Her single job was to protect him, as pointless as it seems in this situation, she wasn't going to push it any further than the status of supervisor and the supervised. Even then, she knew it was a stretch.

That was her purpose for now…

[PMC Headquarters]

"You bastard, what were you doing and where?!"

Ali Al-Saachez lazily leaned back in his seat. He figure this would happen when he returned, getting chewed out by his superiors. For the second time that day, he had to feel the droplets of saliva hit his face before he calmly wiped it away, and silently promising death to their owners. He was doing his job, so what was the problem? Sure, his men didn't take any causalities like the Union did, big whoop. He fought with one of the Gundams and was showing some good results at that. He even got one of them out of his cockpit, but does the big shots care? To hell with them. He did a damn good job. This idiot standing in front of him should be getting on his knees and thanking him. Ungrateful bastards…

"Where? I was fighting the Gundams obviously!" he said, waving a hand.

"Then why is your squad the only undamaged one?" his superiors asked, trying to calm the anger in him. He watched as Ali smirked.

"Because the Commander is excellent."

His eyes nearly bulged. He knew he was hearing his blood pump fast in his ears and his fingers clutched into a fist. Of all the arrogant men that he met, the red haired mercenary was by far the most disgusting man that he ever come across.

"Anyway, I heard some good news is coming your way." Ali stated.

"What," the business man oddly stared. "What news are you talking about?"

"You'll understand when you watch the news." 'Its going to be a bang.', he inwardly chuckled.

"Mommy, are we going to see Daddy soon?"

The older woman smiled down at her son, giving him a reassuring pat to his blonde hair. The little boy had been asking this question for an hour now, but it was understandable. His father had been on business trip after business trip for a month and a half, leaving her and child to themselves longer than they would like.

"Of course, honey. He'll be home later in the evening like I promise." she said. She watch the child clutch harder on to her skirt, grinning happily from ear to ear. He was ready to burst at the seams, his eyes sparkled in excitement. He was hope for him to play catch with his father, like he promised before he'd left. He'd been marking the calendars, counting the days, and practicing when ever he could after school. More than anything he wanted to see his dad.

"Sweetie, c'mon, our bus is here." his mother stated, leading him onto the steps of the bus carefully.

"Yes, ma'am!" he hurried up on, thrilled to get home as soon as possible. As his mother paid the fair, he notice a empty space next a brown-haired girl that was big enough for his mother and him. She looked bored as she stared out the window, hands place neatly in her lap. The boy stepped over to her as his eagerness became too strong.

"Excuse me, lady," the girl turned to him with an impassiveness written on her face. "Can me and my mommy sit here?"

She quirked a brow, "I don't care."

"Thanks!" he cheered, completely obvious the rude tone of the statement. He climbed up the plush seat, swinging his legs back and forth, his eyes managed to wander occasionally towards her, "My daddy's coming home today!"

The young girl averted her attention moments before his mother stepped in, "Noah, you can't bother people with things like that." The woman turned the brunette, "I'm sorry, Miss. My son's excited to see his father, so please don't mind him."

"It's fine…"

"Oh no really, I'm sure that-" she tried to reason, but was cut off.

"I don't mind. It must be a special day for him."

The woman smiled warmly, "Yes, it is. It is for the both of us, really." She won't deny, she missed her husband dearly. With the world in the state as it is, she almost fear the phone… scared of the idea that someone on the other end would tell her that husband will not be coming home. She just wanted him to be home, so they could start living the kind of life that would have all three them living happily together.

"He must have been gone long time for you to have that look." Lightning quietly observed, turning back to the window. She pushed back a strand of hair when the woman situated her bouncing son.

"Honestly…" the woman started again, "I never thought we would see the day when he'd come home. I don't think I can remember when the last time he was home."

"November of last year, Mommy." the little boy grinned.

"How would you know that?" Lightning asked in faint curiosity, lifting a interested brow.

Noah's mother chuckled, "He marked off the days after his father left. I must say, he never been so diligent in something like he has for the past year."

Lightning watched as the young boy turned a light red, that reached the tips of his ears, as his cheeks puffed out. A twitch of a smirk soon played across her pale pink lips. The little boy embarrassingly traced imaginary shapes across his knee length overalls, returning to kicking his feet while on his blonde haired mother's lap. Miyori, his mother, rubbed his back to soothing the blushing boy back to his normal color.

"Oh, Noah, there's nothing wrong with missing your dad. We just think it's…cute that you would keep up with it so well." Miyori pressed her chin on top of his head.

"I'm not cute…" Noah grumbled, breaking into a deeper shade of red. He remember very vividly the words that his father spoke to him, telling him that he was the man of the house and he had to take care of his mother. "I'm a man!"

Lightning let out a small laughed.

…Lightning laughed? Her fingers quickly pressed and graved slightly her lips. Did she actually do that? She never remembered having to in the past. It wasn't a habit of her to laugh, nevertheless giving a small one, yet it managed to escaped her mouth. It felt foreign and almost unrealistic that she did. 'Great, now I'm blushing.'

Miyori laughed, "It seems like a bit of a 'fever' is spreading around." The two children set their gazes away, hiding their crystal clear rosy tints.

The bus came to a stop with a sudden jerk, surprising some of the passengers. The driver announced that it will be the last stop before turning around and going back into the new route.

"I guess this is when I get off," Lightning calmly rose, "It was nice meeting you both."

Noah had hesitated at first, but launched his hand towards the brunette teen, "It's nice to meet you, Lady." The young woman became also hesitant, not knowing whether to take it or not. What was the purpose of doing all this for?

"It's only polite," the boy enticed a befuddled sound from her, "My dad said, that you shake hands with a person for two reasons: to make deals or to make friends. So I want to be friends!" He brightly smiled, forcing another burning warmth to spread on her cheeks. She was carefully took the boys hand. His palm was small compared to her, much warm than hers too. It felt nice.

Releasing the boy's tiny hands Lightning kindly nodded to the mother, which she kindly returned with her own, "Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss."

Still in a suspended in confusion, Lightning said, "Um…you too. With your husband and everything."

The woman gave a final chuckle before the super soldier begun to dismount off the bus. As she was ready to step down, she looked back one last time. Mother and son waved at her. She unconsciously waved back at them, taking in their pretty green eyes brimming with kindness. She could still feel the pleasant aura that she received when she sat next to them. Her feet soon met the hard concrete of the sidewalk as the mechanical doors closed behind her, while she breath in late evening air that was strangely fresher.

The bus engine started to revive again, spewing toxic gas from its exhaust, started to roll off, not without Noah his smiling tiny face pressed against the window. She didn't realize the front tooth that was adorably missing his mouth or how his presence made her wish she could stay a little more. 'I think…I'll miss him.' she thought almost fondly. She went the opposite of direction, heading home after a day of mindless walking and roaming.

The world than stopped for some reason…

At mid-turn, Lightning was blasted with massive heat and debris cutting through her body. Her body lifted off the ground, knocking a two feet further from her spot with her hearing shattering glass and smelling burning metal. When she landed, she was delirious of what was going on with her vision blurred, and only having the ability to notice shadows and vaguely colors. Her body stung and she felt something had cut deep in her side. Her ears were useless now, hearing only blazing ringing. Gradually, a little bit of her eye sight returning, catching men running ahead of her, causing her to turn her attention to a view of a burning bus.

Her heart roughly dropped to the depths of her stomach.

That smell. That smell.

It was the same of when she was found in those ruins. Her migraines started to throbbing in the side of her cranium, biting further across her brain. Her legs felt like jelly as she attempted to stand. The burning unknown smell that haunted her whenever she thought back to that day, the day she should have died.

Her ears begun to recognize things, screaming and words, like 'Get help' or 'Call the police.' Everything around went into madness by the blast. But that was not thing that made her stand there with disbelief.

Noah and his mother was in that blast. They were being smoldered by the those bright lit flames now. Everything they were was ashes now, no longer to return home to meet that person they waited so long to see. They were gone now. Noah's waiting was wasted. His mother's hope to be with her husband was burning in the rumble with her and her son's corpses.

This wasn't right.

This didn't make any sense. She was expendable, she could be thrown away. She had nothing compared to them. They had a their family. They were worth something and she was nothing. She unwillingly evaded death once again, and they were the ones to pay the price.

Reality quickly hit her, exposing her when a man asked her if she was alright. She was out in the open, bleeding from the seeping wetness that was dripping from her wound at her side. The man yelled for a medic, hurrying to other that caught in the fire. By the time he returned, Light had already ran off.

Setsuna landed painfully with in the gritty sand. His left cheek pounding, slightly swelling and most likely will later bruise. He couldn't complain, he very well deserved it.

"You understand the reason I hit you, right," Lockon asked, shaking off his sore fist, "The real identities of the Gundam Meisters are to be treated as S-level secrets, alongside the solar furnaces. Why did you show yourself to the enemy?" The other Meisters watched wordlessly behind him, waiting for Setsuna's answers.

Setsuna was silent. He quietly took the criticized expressions of his comrade as he sat on before them. He doesn't expect them to understand or show him sympathy with his decision. He had history with that man, history that he was planning to repay if Lockon hadn't intervened.

"At least tell me the reason." Lockon could tell from his refusal to answer that it was an empty question. Deep down, Setsuna had his issues, issues that he'll probably never fully come to terms with, but didn't give him the reason to hide it from him. He could help if he only let him. 'But this is Setsuna…' he reminded, and Setsuna has not open himself up to others enough. "You really are stubborn. Or is the punishment not enough?"

Softly, the light sound of a cocked firearm, brought Lockon out of his reverie. He was shocked to find Tieria was coolly pointed a gun at Setsuna's head. The message was clear, if Lockon wasn't going to handle the situation, than he gladly will. "It's fine if you don't want to talk. You're a dangerous existence." Tieria said.

"Stop it, Tieria." Lockon pushed the aimed pistol away from its target.

"If we condone his foolish actions, our lives may be endangered. The plan had just begun, if we screw up over this…" the purple haired meister scolded.

"I will not be taken out of the mission." the monotone voice cut between the heated glared of the two men, "I will not be away from Exia. I am a Gundam Meister." Setsuna refuse to be separated from Exia. It was his life. Exia was his reason for living. He will not be taken off by anyone, least of all Tieria. He wasn't sure why the man didn't like him, and quite frankly, he didn't care. He'd stay…he'd stay until their mission had been achieved. He'd kill if he had to.

Tieria snatched away from Lockon's and re-aiming at his fellow meister.

"Lower your gun, Setsuna!" Lockon ordered.

"Having defied orders, I'm not exactly in the position to say this, but we were all chosen by Veda. There's a reason why Setsuna was selected to become a Gundam Meister." Allelujah reasoned, finally stepping in attempt to quell the brewing strife.

As much as Tieria grimaced the idea and the person on the other end of his weapon, Allelujah was right. Setsuna was skilled pilot, roughly suitable for Celestial Being, though still clearly unfit. Comparing him to other Meisters, Tieria seemed to be the only one doing his part as its pilot. Allelujah was apathetic when it came to secrets of Celestial Being, that he nearly blew his cover as the station. Setsuna had let his human emotion get the better of him, causing him to be less trustworthy of the Meisters. Only Lockon has yet to prove himself to be useless.

"In that case, I sure would like to know the reason why he's a Meister." Tieria quipped.

Setsuna regained his stance, "My existence itself is that reason."

"What?" Tieria asked.

"I'm alive," Setsuna explained, "I'm still alive."

Haro, who has been rolling around himself around in the sand since the argument started, finally noticed the raised voices. "Everyone, get along! Get along!" The tiny robotic orange ball bounced around them, before landing in the rising sea water. "Aw, come on!" Lockon complained.

"Oh! Hey, you guys!" yelled the approaching Technical Specialist, Ian, "Terrible news!"

"What's up Pops?" Lockon asked, drying Haro off.

"Terrorist attacks took place simultaneously in seven locations in major cities around the world!"

"What?!" Lockon exclaimed.

"Multiple attacks?" Setsuna questioned.

"What's the casualty report?" requested Allelujah.

"Apparently, time bombs were placed in train stations and commercial buildings. The blast impacts weren't big, but the targets were crowded locations. Over a hundred people were reported dead." Ian mournfully explained.

"How horrific…" Allelujah clutched his fist in anger.

A light beeping came on queue in Lockon's pocket. The oldest man pulled out the beeping communicator, flipping it open. "Speaking." As expect Wang Liu Mei appeared on the screen with surely further unlucky news.

"Gundam Meisters," Wang Liu Mei dryly acknowledged, "The terrorists behind the simultaneous bombings have just released their statement via the networks. As long as Celestial Being does not cease its armed interventions and disarm itself, the terrorists will continue to carry out indiscriminate killings all over the world."

"So we are their targets as expected." Tieria established.

"Which organization is responsible for this statement?" demanded Allelujah.

"We don't know. Until we receive reports from our agents, all Meisters are requested to stand by." The Chinese female disappeared from sight, leaving the boys in conflicted feelings.

"I don't know who they are, but they've really done us in." Lockon angrily commented.

"Blackmailing us with indiscriminate killing…" Allelujah agreed.

Tieria merelt chuckled, "Do they really think we will stop our interventions just for that?"

Lockon turned to glared at the purple haired man. He could believe the heartless words that came from him, "What did you say, Tieria?"

"Don't you care about the civilian casualties?" Ian equally questioned, lost in confusion by his reaction.

"No, I don't" Tieria simply replied, "The possibility of such an occurrence was within the scope of our plans."

Lockon furiously approached him. "You bastard!" Certain mentions of terrorism could rile the up like a tightly loaded spring

"This really unlike your usually airy self." Tieria mocked. He actually would enjoy seeing the Irishman lose his cool for once, Lockon was far too carefree for their situation. Him showing his anger would prove how unfit he really was him.

"Shut up, you bastard!" he yelled, gripping the collar of Tieria's purple flight suit.

"Do you hate terrorism that much?" Virtue's Meister teasingly asked, his glare was accusing behind his glasses.

"And what wrong with that?"

"From the world's perspective," Tieria almost maliciously smirked, "we are fine terrorists."

"What's wrong with hating terrorism?" Lockon asked again, fire burning in his greenish-blue eyes. Memories of his childhood were resurfacing in the back of his mind. He could already feel his hand hooking tighter to his comrade's neck.

Tieria, however, swatted his hand like a fly. He could tell that Lockon had bad history with terrorists, but his own terrorism did not faze him. 'This was the problem with humans,' he thought, 'they rely too much on their emotions.' Possibly in the future he may have to take up slack of these emotion-riddled creatures.

"That organization has started a conflict called terrorism." Setsuna had unexpectedly responded.

"Setsuna…" Lockon thoughts had slowly diminished.

"In that case, Celestial Being has to be the one to intervene in the conflict. We, Gundam Meisters, have to take action."

Lightning hissed in pain at the stinging sensation clawed painfully at her side. The torn flesh had stopped bleeding, but the open still exposed a small part of muscle. She carefully held her hand against it, knowing to not to move around some much in case it bleeds again. Her headache was finally dulled, and she was able to think clearly.

But this was time she did not want to.

She knew her mind would wander back to that little blonde haired boy and his mother. They haunt her the same way that a few others had done in the pass … others that she had killed.

Maybe that was why Cymbal show up after all these years. The dark haired boy always was a bad omen, always telling her that she'd do horrible things in her life. This was one of them, wasn't it? They probably would have survive if they hadn't met her.

Pulling her shirt back over her head, she was startled by the loud blows on the door. "Lightning! Up the door! Hurry!"

Louise…

Lightning sighed, resisting urge to pull a gun on her. She went and opened it, taking a usual cautionary method of concealing her a handy knife, finding the blond already pulling her from her home to the next apartment.

Inside the Crossroad home, everything was vastly different from the CB member's. It had color, a delicate warm orange and brown, and filled with precious photos of family. They have evident had home full of a light and cheery presence, obviously a place of love. Saji was staring into the TV on the couch, looking thoughtful and appearing to be waiting for something.

"Saji did it come on yet?" Louise hurried over to his side, curling into his body.

"No they haven't." he said, worried.

"What is going on?" Lightning stood in the middle of the den. Suddenly, a woman with light brown hair, that barely reached her shoulders, bustled out of the hallway, balancing a stack of papers in one arm, a folded sheet dangling between her lips. She came to the table stuffing stack into a brown leather bound bag, finally looking up to meet the cornflower eyes of Lightning. "Um, hello…"

"Hello." Lightning greeted awkwardly.

"Who might you be?" the elder woman asked.

"That's the next door neighbor," Louise introduced from the couch, propping her arm on the cushions. "Her name is Lightning. Lightning, this is Kinue, she's Saji's sister."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, but I have to go," Saji's sister came to her brother, lightly kissing him on the cheek. "Saji, I be home late so be careful." Saji nodded, gluing himself back to the TV. Kinue went off past the teenage girl and went out to streets again. Lightning took note how each person glance at the news filled screen. Saji and Louise have been off. They both undeniably looked haggard, clothes spotted with grim or a darker substance.

"Something happen today?"

"We saw a terrorist attack." Saji gripped his knees as Louise shivered. 'So they were caught in the conflict too.' Lightning's hand wandered to the slit in her side, the presence of the little boy's hand spreading when it got close.

The news started showing the names of the few victims and flashed a few minutes of their pictures. Lightning wondered if she would see the name of those two that disappeared before her. Would the man they been waiting see them also?

The brunette prepared to return to some much need solitude, "We will have a moment of silence to those have unfor-" the screen turned fuzzy, images going in and out, "It se-trouble with our-we'll tr-"The screen turned to static.

"Hey! What happen? Saji, did you forget to pay the bill or something?" Louise chastised.

"We did, I don't know what happen." Saji flipped through channels, each being met with the same blackness as the others until he landed back on a new station.

"Please pardon us for interrupting such an important news." A syntheses voice announced, making the blonde girl and brown haired boy jump. All three teens glared in confusion. "However, we would like to make a broadcast of major influence to the nations of our world. There is no need know worry about who we are, but hear what we can offer you."

Lightning stride closer to get a better look on whatever would appear. She was getting a bad feeling, a familiar feeling.

"We, as a people, have begun to recognized the massive power of Celestial Being, finding that the Mobile Suites known as Gundams are a great technological advance of society…and a menace. Considering the endangerment of what has be displayed today, our organization believe it's time to even the odds."

"Even the odds…?" Saji managed to muster.

"Please, pay close attention to the images being shown." The TV display shifted to hanger, the image was out of focus, but was obvious that it was a mobile suite. Small flashes of orange and red lights popped up occasionally along the body, meaning they must still be working on it. It gradually the screen was more clear, revealing the mobile suite to be draped in a brown cloth, allowing a certain view of its head. The shaky camera zoomed on the cranium, making many hearts drop.

Lightning stood there, wide eyed and shocked to find it there. Louise and Saji were dismayed by it. There sitting on probably every television screen in Japan - maybe in the world - was the mechanical human like head of what every nation's number one enemy. The word, Gundam, in bold letters, imprinted on its forehead.

"We have acquire one of Gundam mobile suit and plan to allow anyone to take full advantage of it."

"Does that this mean…that they're going to give the information on the Gundams to the government?" Louise asked.

"I don't know, Louise. This seems too good to be true." Saji answered.

"However," this caught the breath of couple. "we suggest to be prepare for…many causalities." the voice chuckled. This made the room grow fearful, almost choking.

"You see, we want everyone the opportunity to witness such a moment… to see an actual live Gundam. The only perfect place to display such a rarity would be to have shown in one of nations' most populated facilities on the planet."

"Wait minute! They can't be serious! That could be anywhere, even here!" Saji jumped from his seat, shouting. Louise never seen him so furious, and it had surprised Lightning, who been balling her hands.

"This has to be a joke…None of this could be real." whispered Louise.

"Due to the circumstances of today's events, we graciously pushed this debut forward a month. Perfectly enough time to make arrangements and bury your dead. We welcome anyone to come, but we especially request that Celestial Being to be there. Many would surely die to meet you." The view of the Gundam head vanished and news reporters' returned, their expressions were baffled, still registering what happen themselves.

"This is sick. Don't you think, Light," Louise asked, only Lightning wasn't there. It was moments before she heard the door nearly slam shut. "This must be hard on her, having to come here only weeks ago and stumble into this. She must of went back to wait for Setsuna."

"She going to need him," the sweater-clad boy comforted his girlfriend, gripping her hand. "We'll all need someone after this is over."