A/N: Hey guys, it's been so long since my last update. What, a month? I had reached what you would call a 'slump', or a 'writer's block', if you will. Those who followed all the stories i wrote would know that i wrote a one shot for Strike Witches, and will be planning to upload a second story (albeit a longer one) onto the same series does NOT mean that i will be dropping this. Far from it. I just need to write more stories in order to prevent my mind from being too absorbed into one story and basically lose all sense of direction.

I send out my condolences to all the Japanese people regarding the recent Earthquake disaster. I followed the news ever since the first quake hit and only knew about the tsunami while i was in the elevator after my gym session (my gym is on the 9th floor of an office building, so i'm not being lazy). I hope my Japanese friends were not affected, but they should not be, since most of them are in the Osaka region. As a ray of shining hope, Akihabara was not too badly affected (i'm being an ass here). It was a lucky thing i was being lazy and chose not to go to Japan for a holiday. If not i would be in Japan at this moment. See? Laziness can save your life. Just not always.

Edit: Did some revisions to make it a little better. Forgot to mention special congrats to Kon, who figured about something about Katsuragi. He is so far on the right track.

Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Operation 5

Dead Tired

Tanaka had reappeared shortly after the recruits had finished their lunch, which was just in time as the school's chime signalled the end of lunch break for the NPCs. The SSS2 members also started to leave the cafeteria, leaving only a small handful who either wanted to hang around, or just entered the cafeteria to eat. Tanaka gathered the recruits, telling them that they were to follow him to their first form of training.

"All of you will undergo the basic training for fighting. This will also determine whether you are naturally inclined to be on the battlefield or not. Now follow me and try not to fall behind."

Tanaka warned before setting off out of the cafeteria. The recruits followed quickly behind the senior SSS2 member, trying not to lose their pace as Tanaka seemed to be in a hurry. They were led straight from the cafeteria out in the direction of the forest behind the school. The crude walking path that was clearly made by cutting through the branches and under brush slowly disappeared as they headed deeper into the forest. Soon, the sounds from the school were nothing more than an echo and then the sound of the school was gone altogether. All the recruits could hear were the sounds of their feet shuffling in the dirt, the rustle of the leaves, the heavy pants of their breaths and the loud beatings of their own hearts. No one spoke a word, no one muttered a complaint. Katsuragi wondered if this was going to continue for the rest of the recruitment camp.

Well, he decided not to interact with the rest of them often until he knew where he was going to be posted at. Tanaka soon led the group out of the thick forest and into a large clearing. Wooden huts were constructed all around this clearing, as well as a large area of cleared out and had multiple SSS2 members in grey singlets and pants and boots, each doing a different form of exercise or training in groups. This wasn't just some student camp, this was a completely military level of organization. A girl with violet coloured hair tied into a tail walked over them. She too being dressed in the training clothes but sporting a baseball cap with the symbol of the SSS2 on it as well as an arm band that had a certain insignia on it.

"Yo, Tanaka, took your time."

The girl smirked, crossing her arms. She gave off them feeling that she wasn't really all that feminine. But that thought crossed out of Katsuragi's mind the moment a large book went flying past him, missing his head by a mere hair's breath.

"I heard that, new kid."

The violet haired girl's smirk had turned into something similar to that of a demon's.

"I thought you were suppose to take over from Guild. I spent the entire lunch time looking for you."

Tanaka explained, obviously not too happy judging from his tone.

"Oh? I was here all along. Well, you needed to skip lunch anyway. Slim down a little would do wonders for your body."

"Whatever. Just take over, would you? I need to eat something."

Tanaka muttered, walking away from the group.

"The canteen's serving boiled potato soup if you're interested! Third shack on the right!"

The girl shouted after Tanaka, who did not even respond properly but a wave as he walked off. Probably in search for food. The violet girl turned back to the recruits, her eyes looking at each of every single one of them carefully. Just like Tanaka did from before.

"Listen up! I'm Fujibayashi Kyou, the vice commander of the Assault division, and the leader of the main front-line squad: the "War Boars". My task is to train each and everyone of you to get used to fighting Shadows, but more importantly how to survive the harshest of conditions that you can, and will face. You all will train in this clearing for one week, and you will be assigned rooms to stay in while here. Hope you guys had a good lunch at the cafeteria since you will not be enjoying the food we have here. Welcome to boot camp 101. Class is in session and attendance is mandatory."

Ein Shrewerz, leader of the second division of the SSS2, the assault division, was feeling slightly out of it at the moment. Leaning over the window sill, the half Japanese half German was staring at the recruits go at it at the field from his temporary office in the forest clearing. He could not help but laugh a little, watching his second in command turn into a demon as she started almost immediately to train the new recruits.

"Fifty laps of running in the forest. She doesn't hold back as usual, does she?"

A voice said from behind. Ein did not bother to turn around to face the person behind him.

"I do believe that your interest lies in a certain recruit, am i right?"

Ein raised a finger and pointed to a certain young man. Pushing off from the wall, the person behind Ein smirked, walking over to join Ein by the window, leaning her arm on the frame of the window. With her long dark hair and beret with a blazer draped over her shoulders, the leader of Fort nodded with a smile that bordered to something close to that of a demon's.

"I do not believe in coincidences, Ein, never did and i will not begin now. That recruit is special. His meeting with Kou on the first day of arrival was not coincidence. The fact that Tanaka felt something wrong with him was also no coincidence. The day of his arrival, that 'incident' with the Angel Player program also occurred and-"

"And 'you do not believe it to be a coincidence'. I get where you're coming from, Yuki, but the rest of us still cannot see what is so great about him. As per the rules that we set together, all recruits are members of the SSS2 general group. They can be used by any division, not just you."

Ein corrected Yuki. The 'Queen' of Fort was not one to take being interrupted lightly, but since she was feeling slightly happy this moment, she would let it slide.

"I know that. The fact that you still have Kyou and Tomoyo is enough proof to show that i am willing to 'share' the recruits."

"... Whatever you say."

Ein replied, getting up from the window and walking over to the side where a small icebox was. He opened it and took two cans of 'Key' coffee, tossing one to Yuki, who caught it. Yuki stared at the can for the moment, then looked up to Ein who was quickly draining his can of drink.

"... How long have we known each other, Ein?"

Yuki suddenly asked.

"Huh? What's with this all of a sudden?"

Ein asked, raising an eyebrow with a confused look that had a hint of annoyance.

"I'm asking how long have we known each other for. Ten? Fifteen years?"

"... Eighteen."

Yuki smiled sadly at that reply.

"Eighteen years... That is a very long time, don't you think? And you only arrived several years after i recreated the SSS2. I've been in this World, fighting this bloody meaningless war for more than two decades... How long will this continue on?"

Ein stared at Yuki for the moment, before finally sighing. This wasn't the first time that Yuki had this problem. Ein had suffered from it before. Everyone in the SSS2 has. They have been fighting this war for so long. It would be more unusual for someone to not crack under so much pressure. Yuki, the leader of Fort and the most important person in the SSS2, was probably the one who suffered the most. Ein lost count of how many times Yuki went mad from all of this fighting. She was the most sane, and the most unstable person in the organization.

"... We have plenty of time, Yuki. To us, time does not matter."

"MAYBE TO YOU IT DOESN'T! BUT TO ME IT DOES!"

Yuki shouted at Ein, throwing the can of coffee at him. Ein merely dodged the can, having been used to it by now.

"I've been in this war for so long that I'm surprised I haven't been reincarnated five times over!"

Ein silently listened, letting the leader of Fort vent her anger freely at him and the table in the shack, which broke when she brought down her fist on it.

"... There goes another table."

Ein muttered, pushing the remains aside as Yuki panted heavily, regaining her composure.

"... Sorry about that, Ein."

"Happens all the time."

Though Ein did not need to add that it had been happening more frequently the past few months. Yuki bent down and picked her beret off the floor, dusting it before putting it back on her head.

"... Whenever i see these new recruits, i-... I can't help but think of how many more lives must i put on the front lines? Each of their faces i can still remember. Haramoto Shouji, twelve years ago, lost to a shadow during Operation 'Sting Fire'. Isumi Haruhiko, ten years ago, lost in the shadow raid of Building block C. Tennou Rei, seven years ago, lost to shadows during an ambush along the cafeteria. Matsumoto Natsuho, five years ago, lost to the angel down in the battle of Guild. Kobayashi Nami, lost to an Angel during Operation 'Setting Sun'. The list goes on and on. Each day, their faces still haunt me, their faces still crying out for my help... I don't know if i can continue with this."

Ein stayed silent, watching over the frail leader. Yuki was a strong leader, but the stronger the leader, the weaker they are in person. To support the entire organization, to shoulder the burden of the lives of thousands of souls. It does not matter how many victories they attained, or how many times they beat the Shadows and Angels back. To Yuki, she looked at neither the victories, nor the celebrations. She looked at the ones lost, the ones who did not make it. Ein and the other leaders all knew that after each battle, Yuki would disappear off on her own into the woods. Deep in the woods behind the school was something no one but the leaders of the SSS2 knew. A graveyard.

It began in a small clearing at first. Yuki dragged the largest stone she could find by herself to that spot. With her hands bloodied and raw, she managed to drag the large boulder nearly ten kilometres to where it sits till now. On it, she carved out each name that was lost. But as the years went by, the stone's surface was filled up and Yuki dragged a second stone. But soon that too was covered with names. To prevent Yuki from torturing herself again, Yuuko accompanied Yuki the next time she went and the two dug a small cave with which to carve the names of the fallen on the walls. Soon the other leaders came forward and helped out, even the ever quiet fifth division's head, Kenji. The cave network was immense and large, enough to house the current SSS2 twice over, but Ein knew that it too would need to be expanded.

This war will never end. Ein knew it. Yuki knew it. Everyone did. And it was because it was an inevitable reality that Yuki had to divert the attention of every single member onto her, making them forget about that never ending prospect of fighting. She shouldered their insecurities, she carried their fears, she was the one who embraced them all. A great leader is one who can lead the people behind an iron mask, never showing weakness, never showing fear. Yuki is such a leader and that is why the others had recognized her as the one to lead the SSS2. Ein had to laugh that that though, when he first came to this World, he scoffed at the fact that this rag-tag band of students were led by a frail girl. She could not fight that well, she wasn't extremely physically strong and she lacked any real form of strategies during battles.

But Ein soon realized his mistake. That frail girl was in fact, much stronger than he was. Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. She mercilessly led this band of lost and confused students into a sizeable force. She organized the divisions, showing a constant face of calm and cool under enemy fire. She never wavered, never once blinked the face of death. She cast the uncertainties of the organization with her words, she led the men, once frightened to the point where they were rooted to their spots, to rise up and charge without a care for their own safeties with a single snap of a finger. She was a born leader, a fearless Goddess of war. Covered in an ocean of blood, standing on top of a mountain of corpses, Taeno Yuki was invincible. But she was also a young girl at the same time. No matter how many walls of steel she hides behind, no matter how victories she accumulates, she could not hide those tears, the pain she suffered. Ein sighed, shaking his head. He hated doing this, but for the sake of everyone, he must. They have come too far into this to simply have their leader fail. For this reason alone, Ein must become to devil.

"Even though you do not know if you can continue, you must. You started this war, and you will see it through. Fight, fight till your bones break and shatter. Bleed till you are dry. You will continue to lead this organization, or die trying."

Ein coldly told her. Yuki did not seemed surprised, however. Instead, she smiled a little.

"... You know we can't die."

She said, crossing her arms with a smirk on her face.

"So the little boy finally gotten a mouth with which to talk back."

"It's been eighteen years, after all."

Ein replied smugly. Yuki smiled at that, and walked over to the door of the shack.

"Where are you heading to now?"

Ein asked.

"I'm going to see Shoka. Tease her a little to make myself feel slightly better. Oh, and maybe I'll go see how the recruits are holding up."

"Huh, same old devil."

Ein smirked, taking a swing from his drink. Yuki paused by the door.

"Thank you Ein."

"I did nothing."

Yuki smiled at his reply.

"... I don't particularly hate the way you lie."

She said, before walking off. Ein blinked a couple of times, before smiling.

"I wasn't lying though."

Fujibayashi Kyou having a hell of a time. Well, sort of. For one, she really liked pushing these recruits to the breaking point just to see how they would handle themselves. In this instance, she would be enjoying herself. But on the other hand, she really hated going through the same routine over and over again. During the first few days of training, the trainees would be subjected to intense physical training and be taught basic survival tactics. And during this time, none will survive. It does not matter what they did when they were still alive, this training regime was something that Yuki herself made.

Tweaked by Ein and adapted by Kyou, this was one hellish training. It would not be unusual for even the fittest person to die at least three times. In fact, it would not be unusual for a corpse to die again before it was revived. Kyou crossed her arms, watching the trainees drag their feet across the mud, trying to get over the next obstacle of log walls. Of course, there were spikes at the other end of each log wall, so if a recruit was careless and jumped straight down from the top of the wall, they would get impaled. The sounds of cheering from around the training field caught Kyou's attention. Those assault members who were supposed to be training were all gathering around and starting to watch the recruits go at it. Some were cheering the recruits while others were passing about meal tickets. Betting, that was expected of them. This would take some energy. She inhaled a deep breath.

"HEY! YOU LAZY IDIOTS! THOSE WHO DARE TO SLACK OFF ON TRAINING WILL SUFFER PUNISHMENT IN THE COOK HOUSE!"

Kyou's shouting made the assault members all scared and they ran off. There were some who didn't hear her, though, so she reached into her pocket and pulled out several small pebbles. She clenched them tightly in her fist.

"... Access. Execute Angel Player program. Sub-routine: Creation_Book."

The stones in her hand glowed and soon became large books. Holding one book in her hand, Kyou reared back and chucked the book as hard as she could. The book flew straight like a homing missile for its target. The book hit the young assault member in the head, sending him flying off into the distance. Before his companions could react, more books flew in and knocked them out of the field as well.

"Hmm.. still not as hard as i wanted them to fly."

Kyou muttered, before noticing that the recruits had all stopped and stared in awe at what just happened.

"... DO YOU GUYS WANT THE SAME TO HAPPEN TO YOU? !"

She shouted at them, which caused them to continue their course with renewed vigor. Or was it fear?

"As usual, you're aim is very good."

A voice spoke up, causing Kyou to turn around. Walking up to her with her military style beret and blazer over her shoulders, the leader of the SSS2, Taeno Yuki was admiring the handiwork of the training with a somewhat pleased look.

"General, i wasn't expecting you here."

Kyou said, her stance snapping to alert with her hand to salute. Yuki waved it off, though.

"You don't need to do that. This whole ranking idea was Ein's anyway."

"So you may say, but it brings order and discipline. This isn't ten years ago where we only numbered so few. Now we have over a thousand members, so structuring is important."

Kyou replied, relaxing a little. Yuki raised an eyebrow at that reply.

"... You were never this stiff, Kyou. What, did Ein tried to cook your pet pig again?"

"Botan isn't a pig! He's a boar!"

Kyou shouted back, causing some of the recruits to stop and stare. Again. But one fierce glare from Kyou made them run back to their routine.

"Pig, Boar, same thing. Anyway, how are the recruits handling themselves?"

Yuki turned the focus of the conversation to the people running around the mud. One recruit slipped in the mud and fell straight into the spike trap. Kyou and Yuki did not flinch at that sight, though Kyou was sighing in dismay.

"They are quite bad at the moment. None of them seem to be able to last at least one lap without dying once."

Kyou replied, her voice hinting of disappointment.

"Ha ha, well, you have to give them some breathing room. No one comes to this World and immediately becomes Kou's level."

"Kou is a special case. Those... 'ghosts' of the sixth division are all like that. They aren't normal."

Yuki could sense fear in Kyou's voice when she said that. It was to be expected, though, since the entire sixth division was literally like a bunch of 'ghosts'. Actually, they all were if you looked at it in a technical sense.

"They are normal."

"Kou wasn't like that! You said it yourself that Kou is different now!"

Kyou snapped at Yuki, then realized her mistake, lowering her head as she cursed herself inwardly.

"... Kou hasn't changed. She is still the same. Whatever i said in the past is irrelevant."

"Whatever you say."

Kyou muttered, turning her attention back to the recruits. It wasn't for a few minutes of silence before Kyou realized that Yuki was still standing behind her.

"Anything else?"

She asked, slightly irked by the presence of the leader of Fort.

"... Kyou, are you afraid of her?"

Yuki asked a rather sensitive question that made Kyou pause.

"... Yes, i probably am. Look, unlike the rest of us, Kou can kill those Angels like they're nothing but lambs for the slaughter. Can you do that, Yuki? Could you kill an Angel while looking straight into their eyes? Can you kill one of your own members of Fort right there and then? It isn't like shooting them to save them from being converted. It is like fighting yourself. It is like killing your soul. It isn't normal."

"Is that why you rejected joining the sixth division when Kou invited you?"

Yuki asked. Kyou tightened her fist into a ball, digging her own nails into the palm of her hand. Frustrated with no one but herself.

"I want to help her. I really do. But i'm afraid. The current Kou reminds me of what what we all are. That we are dead. Nothing matters, no one cares. All we are... are simply mindless fighting machines."

Kyou hated it. This wasn't what she wanted. She did not die only to enter in some war that wasn't hers. She did not lose all hope only to end up driven in a corner. She lost her family, lost her friends. Now was she going to lose them all again?

"... You know, i was thinking about the same thing just a few minutes ago."

Yuki admitted, earning a surprised look from Kyou.

"W-what?"

"I was thinking about how this war was endless. About how i keep having to send comrades, friends into battle to face certain death. It is a decision that haunts me every day."

Kyou kept silent, listening to Yuki's talk. It was foolish of Kyou to even complain about her worries to Yuki. Yuki, who had braved the dangers for over two decades. She who held the entire SSS2 upon her shoulders and kept walking on. Kyou was in no position to say anything.

"Ah, but I'm all better now. Thanks to your commander for punching me in the face."

"... Eh?"

Kyou blinked a couple of times just to make sure what she heard was right.

"... EIN DID WHAT? !"

"Oh, he gave me a little wake-up call, that's all-"

"I told him countless times not to act like his crazy self in front of others, but does he listen? Nooo. Not to mention he hit Yuki. This time i'm going to beat some sense into him."

Before Yuki could stop her, Kyou had stormed off in the direction of Ein's shack. Yuki stared for the moment, before the sounds of a man screaming was heard in the distance.

"... Oops."

A/N: I have started to integrate Angel player program into the story but the one Kyou used was only a sub-category. I will expand on it more later.