A/N: Ah, I managed to get this chapter out! This will really be the last one before I place this story on haitus. It's been a long year, a trying year... ah, now it all seems to wonderful to look back on. Thank you guys so much for reading and giving me so much support on this long journey.
Everyone seems to be impatiently wanting the SSS to show up. Well... if I go according to my plans, they will arrive for quite some time, but I assure you that their entry into the World will be BADDASS.
There is something I noticed when looking at my stories... What We Live For has now surpassed What We Die For in number of words! Even though the sequel has fewer chapters, the number of words for both stories have exceeded 120,000 words! Discounting the A/Cs, that is still a worthy number to look at. This also shows that this sequel is actually LONGER than the first story despite being made up of fewer chapters. I HAVE COMPLETED ONE OBJECTIVE FOR THIS STORY!
What a long winded story... my friends and families always think that I should publish my stories in books, but I keep telling them that I write fanfiction, not originals. My Originals can never end anyway.
And now onto the last chapter before I go off!
Angel Beats!
What We Live For
Operation 27
And so it begins
He still could not get used to it. Staring out of the window back in the Wolves' room, Katsuragi was wondering just what was happening in this World. Snow. He was staring at the snow. Why was it snowing? Why was this happening? It had been two weeks since he came back up to the surface, having helped Yuuko out more than enough. Yuuko had told him that thanks to his efforts, Guild now had the production line for winter clothes going and were distributing them to the various divisions. It was now a common sight to see the SSS2 members wearing winter jackets and overcoats. It was becoming to look like a scene from a winter resort, or some American Mafia movie. Again. What's this, was there suppose to be some Godfather somewhere?
"Iori, I need to talk to you."
A voice called out in the room, making Katsuragi turn. Standing at the entrance way was none other than Taeno Yuki, the Queen of Fort. Ah, the Godfather.
"Hm?"
Yuki seemed to notice Katsuragi looking over, she looked at him before narrowing her eyes.
"What is it, Yuki-sama?"
Iori asked, walking up to Yuki after he had warmed himself up with the portable heater in the middle of the room.
"... Let's talk outside."
Yuki said, heading out of the room. Was there something Katsuragi did? Nah, she was probably looking at someone else. He looked over to the side and saw that Yamato was slump over by the corner, looking half-dead. Just what did she do that made her like that? Still... He walked over to her and prodded her shoulder with his finger.
"Oi... Yamato, are you alive?"
"Uuuughhh..."
She moaned, still looking half dead.
"I'm heading over to cafeteria to grab a bite. Want to follow?"
"Uuuughhh..."
He would take that as a no.
"Sigh, alright then, don't come complaining to me saying I never invited you."
Katsuragi said, getting up to his feet and heading out of the room. Just what did Yamato do? He was sure she was sent to the assault division to get some guy called the 'Otaku' but it seems that Yamato did not accompany him to the Guild. Katsuragi remember seeing the so-called 'Otaku' down in Guild, helping out Shotoku Gen with creating some new weapons. Well, maybe Gen really isn't that great if he needs help. Katsuragi wondered how much longer would he have to go through all of this nonsense. Oh yeah... for all eternity. But eternity will not fix the scars of these people. Eternity will not heal the wounds they have suffered. Eternity... is the cause of these pain. Pain born from time.
"The fine line between Enlightenment and Insanity."
Katsuragi blinked a couple of times. All of a sudden, he was no longer standing in the hallway of Fort. One minute he was walking towards the cafeteria, and the next he was... where? Katsuragi looked around but could only see white. Everything around him was white.
"There is a fine line between Enlightenment and Insanity, do you know the difference?"
That voice. He heard it the moment he suddenly came to this place. He looked around but saw no one. What was this? Was his mind playing tricks on him? Or was it... An Angel? He reached for his gun but found that it wasn't in its holster.
"Looking for this?"
A figure suddenly stood before him waving Katsuragi's gun. Dressed in the SSS2 uniform, the young man seemed to have a strange shadow cast over his face despite there being no light source in this place.
"I can't have you randomly shooting at me. Though I cannot die, I hate the pain."
The man said, expertly twirling the pistol with one hand.
"So, let me ask once more... do you know the difference between Enlightenment and Insanity?"
"..."
Katsuragi was wary to answer this... Angel. What if it was a trap?
"Oi oi, don't give me that look. I only brought you here to ask a simple question. Well, it looks like you won't be answering me anyway."
The young man sighed, snapping his fingers and making a chair appear. He sat on it, making himself comfortable.
"A person is able to gain Enlightenment through many things. Through reading (knowledge), through contemplation (logic), through the trials that they go through (hardships), through the wounds of body, heart, soul and mind (pain and suffering), through obtaining great strength to stand above all (power), and lastly through experiences (time). However, by the same reasons, Insanity can also be reached. A person can go insane through knowing too much (knowledge), through self-realizing the 'truth' (logic), through the events that force them to act (hardships), through the scattered pieces of their hearts and mind (pain and suffering), through the endless cycle of standing over others and wanting more (power) and also through the harsh passage of age (time). Surely you must now realize this. The SSS2 that you are part of is a gathering of people who have gone insane. Driven mad by the same things that led them to the conclusion of their lives."
"... What do you want? Telling me all of this."
Katsuragi was still being wary of this young man. The young man shrugged, tossing Katsuragi back his pistol.
"Maybe it was on a whim. Or maybe... it is because of what you are suppose to do. Rather, it is what you 'want' to do, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Not 'what'. Don't you realize the madness that the SSS2 is facing? You want to change that, don't you? Mister Katsuragi."
Katsuragi immediately brought his gun to aim at the young man. This was an enemy. How did he know his name?
"I have been watching you, Katsuragi, for a very long time. I have watched you grow, watch you become stronger. But it isn't enough. Amongst the different paths to enlightenment, you have taken the path of hardships, as well as the path of logic. But these two paths are not as easy to reach the conclusion as others... Hardships can easily lead to the path of pain and suffering, which in turn easily leads to insanity if the person is unable to handle it. Logic can reach the conclusion of Enlightenment and Insanity as quickly as the person wants... but only if the person is able to."
"What is all of this talk for?"
The young man crossed his legs, tapping his head as though disappointed at something. Probably at Katsuragi.
"... What do you think this World is? A place for young souls to come to resolve their regrets is probably the most common answer. Yes, it is a place to resolve regrets, but... they do not know how. People who come to this World all have suffered great injustice in their lives. They come here, wanting to change that, wanting to prove that the pain they suffered will go avenged. But they cannot do that. Who are they fighting against? What are they fighting for? Are they fighting to correct their past? A fight for survival? Don't make me laugh. The leaders of the Organization know it themselves better than anyone. They fight not for survival... but for their sins. For greed, for violence, for envy, for lust, for pride... Did you really think that you could change the past? The change can never be changed!"
The young man shouted, banging his feet on the floor. If that was a floor.
"Time is a constant, never changing, never stopping. In a way, Time is God. It creates, it destroys. With Time, things can move, can live. But because Time is constant, it can never go back. It can never return to a previous point. Time forces us to learn, to adapt, to change. It also forces us to accept the past, but this World is a place that exist outside of Time. Existing outside the grasp of time and yet... still affected by it. This is a place that was never meant to exist. It cannot exist. There are only two things you can do in this World... leave, or be trapped forever. That is what brings me back to the first question. Leaving this place is equal to understanding what it is you came here for. What you lacked in life, what you must accomplish. You cannot go back to the past, so what can you do? Simple... look forward. Change not what happened in the past, but change what will happen in the future. That understanding is the key to leaving this place."
Katsuragi realized what the young man was saying. He was giving him a hint on how to get rid of this madness of the SSS2.
"But one man cannot change the minds of the many. Actions always speak louder than words. You will understand that one day. For now, I have give you the 'key' (weapon). All you need to do is to now where the 'lock' is."
The young man suddenly started to disappear from Katsuragi's sights. The room seemed to be disintegrating as well.
"Wait- I don't understand-"
"You do. If you have walked the path of logic... then you should know. The seven leaders... the seven sins. You must be the one to release them from the prisons. They have walked too far down the path of Insanity. Find their paths, correct their wrongs and perhaps... you would be able to save the Organization."
"But-"
"Oh, and one more thing... Take care of Kurogane Kou. It is 'that guy's' wish."
"Wait-"
In a blink of an eye, Katsuragi found himself back in the hallways of Fort. He looked around and saw that no one even seemed to notice what had happened. It was like everything occurred only within his mind. It was like a dream... but was it? Insanity... and Enlightenment. The path of logic? What did that all mean? That Angel told him that he had the ability to cast off this madness that the SSS2 were suffering. But how could someone like him do it? Someone who only came into the organization less than a year ago was going to change every single person in it? There were over a hundred thousand members! In addition, the number of years everyone had over him was too much! If he ever had to convince the leaders, the most wizened and the most power members of the Organization, he would need an incredible rank. Some place where no one would care of his rank, where everyone would listen to him regardless of division or rank. But just what division could have that amount privilege? And what sort of position would allow that?
"Are you Corporal Katsuragi from Fort's Wolves squad?"
A voice called out to him, making Katsuragi turn. Standing before him were two familiar faces. In the first place, he has been bumping into these two very often these few days.
"Takamachi Yukari-san and... Amatsu Len-san."
"Osu! It certainly is me!"
Yukari laughed out loudly while Amatsu was still glaring at Katsuragi. As expected, she was still angry at Katsuragi.
"Why did you call me by my full name? I don't remember giving you permission to even talk to me."
Len glared at Katsuragi even harder than before. Those glares were getting extremely painful.
"Now now, don't be such a sore loser, Len."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SORE LOSER? !"
Len snapped at Yukari.
"What, aren't you one? Kou told us to pass him a black band, so that's what we came here to do. You're angry because Kou seems to favour him a lot more these days compared to the mere glances and paper she passes to you."
"Captain deserves more than this piece of refuse!"
Ouch, that hurts.
"Come on, he isn't that bad."
"He is worse than an insect! Lower than dirt!"
Lower than dirt? What on Earth is lower than dirt?
"Well, putting that aside, how about it, Katsuragi, want to join the Guardians?"
Yukari turned to Katsuragi. The Guardians? The elite fighting force of the Organization? But... why him? Yukari seemed to have read his mind, her smile broadening.
"You're wondering why can you enter the elite division, aren't you? Well, you have proven yourself well during your last few requests and Operations. Your progress is rather astounding to be honest, and no one in the division has any qualms about you entering-"
"I DO!"
Len shouted but Yukari ignored her.
"So? How about it? You get a lot of privileges with being a Guardian. Stuff like divisions do not matter. You can borrow anyone and anything from any division any time you want. You get your own personalized weapon, you can also get access to the Angel Program's more advance skills."
The Guardians. Katsuragi didn't really need power though. Besides, Len looked extremely pissed and who knows what she would do if he accepted it. But wait a minute, a Guardian has something important. Something that he needed. Authority. The Angel told him that he was walking along the path of Logic and Hardships. By taking down the path of Power, would he be able to convince the division leaders?
"Hmm, you look interested. Then let me convince you even more! Join now and get a special offer of Kou's sexy nude photos!"
Right right... what? ! Yukari suddenly produced a group of photos which showed Kou coming out of the baths of in a changing room.
"Yukari! Just where did you get those? !"
Len demanded.
"You're room, of course."
"Wha- Who gave you permission to look through my stuff? !"
So... Len was a pervert?
"Hey hey, you bought these off Iris, didn't you? You can't lie to me, Iris told me everything I wanted to know."
"Grr... That damn photo-crazy girl... wait till I get my hands on her neck."
"Well, going back to you, Katsuragi. So how about it? Not enough? Then how about a special package? Join now and you get to monopolize Kou for a week!"
"Wha-? !"
What on Earth was Yukari saying?
"Yukari! I never about this! And since when did the captain allow this? !"
Len shouted at Yukari.
"I never told you about it and I never told you about the photos either. Also, Kou doesn't know this deal. I'm just offering it as I please."
"Why you-"
"Right right, why don't you take another nap?"
Yukari sighed before she grabbed Len's arm, twisting it and flipping Len onto the floor, holding her neck in an arm lock.
"Y-Yukari!"
"Just sleep for now."
SNAP
Len was down for the count. Again. Yukari got back up, dusting her hands like it was nothing. She just killed her comrade for a second time! And she treated it like it was cleaning out the trash? !
"So, how about it? You get to make Kou do anything you want. Dress up like a maid and serve you, wear some miko clothes, wear a bunny suit, or maybe... how about waiting for you on a bed wearing nothing but a wet oversized t-shirt dripping with condensed milk?"
Somehow, Katsuragi's imagination was starting to look more and more like an adult gravure magazine. Why was it so specific? AND WHAT WAS THAT CONDENSED MILK ALL ABOUT? ! IT'S MAKING HARDER FOR KATSURAGI TO CONCENTRATE! This was getting all wrong. All wrong. Yukari smirked, leaning back while enjoying how Katsuragi was having a dilema with his own imagination and conscience.
"Well, putting that aside, our leader does have an interest in you. So, have you found an answer to your homework?"
Yukari asked, changing the topic. Katsuragi blinked a few times, realizing what she was talking about. At that, he nodded.
"Yes, my view is only one of many. The way I presume things to be would only result in the outcome being such as I believed it to be."
At that, Yukari smiled and nodded.
"Exactly. Though you probably got Shinobu-chan to tell you that. Still, good job. So here is your reward."
Yukari took out a long black cloth and handed it to Katsuragi.
"... What is this for?"
He asked.
"That? That is simply a black cloth."
Yukari answered with a smile.
"A black cloth?"
Yukari closed her eyes for the moment, before opening them with renewed vigour. But Katsuragi also sensed that she held much pain in those eyes.
"Yes... the black cloth. It symbolizes the Guardians and of our resolve. Our souls are black, as are our hearts. We are the Shadow, the darkness that claims the other side of Light. We do not rest, we do not forgive. We only kill. We are the sixth division of the SSS2, we are the Guardians. Our motto is clear. We will kill them all."
Yukari showed her black cloth tied around her neck.
"You are now part of us. Through death, through battles. We will cleave a path of carnage through our enemies. There is no tomorrow for us, no yesterday, no today. There is only you... and the enemy. As one of the squad leaders of the Guardians, I welcome you, corporal Katsuragi, to the Guardians."
"The gears of fate are turning."
"A cliché line if I ever heard one."
"... Ahem, moving on."
"You just ignored me, didn't you?"
"... I did not. Anyway, why did you go and meet up with that guy?"
"Hm? Oh, you mean him... I do not see anything wrong with it. Besides, it looked as though he was being conflicted over something."
"The plan could have been foiled because of your meddling."
"Don't worry about it. Nothing has changed. In fact, I may have just given it a little nudge forward."
"Your nudges tend to be explosions... sigh, do you really understand what you just did? You could have jeopardized the entire plan by exposing yourself to him!"
"I haven't done that much. Made sure to cover my face well."
"That's not the point!"
"Ha ha, you're simply too uptight. Got to learn to loosen up. Look at it this way, if I didn't show him the way, he would be floundering about aimlessly for another year or so, right? Do you really think that we have that much time?"
"... No. We don't have much time."
"Exactly. Those on the 'outside' are trying to get in, the movements of the SSS2 are getting more erratic with each passing day, the insanity and darkness within this World grows by the second. We're going to have to push our plans forward ahead of schedule."
"How are things with our insider?"
"He's fine. Though the SSS2 suspects him, he is still able to move about quite well. Have to wonder about his dual personality though."
"Afraid that his mellow side will betray us?"
"... No, it's fine. He will not betray us."
"Alright... what about those 'outsiders'? Will they a problem to our plans?"
"No, they will not be. Their objective is not the same as ours. Do not worry. Everything is going to plan."
"... If you say so... Student president Otonashi."
A/N: And that ends it! How do you guys like it? Suspense! CLIFFHANGER! I'd be trollin' you guys. Just kidding. If it's any consolation, I will not be able to touch a computer for about two weeks, and after that I get to go out of camp on the weekends. Still, just having one day to write and edit chapters wouldn't be enough so two months is probably the minimum you guys will have to wait. Well then, this will be it! Have fun while I'm gone! For my sake as well! For those still studying, study hard! Three rules of life, Work Hard! Play Hard! Live Hard! You guys rule! See you guys later!