A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, too busy with games and stuff. Wait, can games be used as an excuse? ... Yes it can.

Anyway, since I didn't have much time, I didn't manage to get much out for this chapter. I'll try to make it up to you guys. Sorry!

Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Operation 40

Of Wars and Battles

Popping the hatch open, Kusanagi Yamato got out of her tank to survey the area. A complete annihilation of the enemy forces. Nothing was left but a barren wasteland. She tapped her earpiece.

"Kusanagi to Yamato."

'"This is Yamato, go ahead commander."'

"Enemies confirmed destroyed, you may stand down."

'"Acknowledged Commander."'

"Hammer 1 to all call-signs, form a perimeter around the Fortress. I want supplies delivered to the Fortress and any available personnel are the aid the wounded."

'"Solid copy."'

Yamato turned the comms unit off, heaving a sigh of relief as the teams began to move out in accordance to her orders. Being a leader was something she had never imagined herself doing. She decided to walk on foot to the Fortress, having sat in the tank for quite some time. Moving the entire army of tanks and APCs took a much longer time than she anticipated, not to mention the number of detours she was forced to make due to the confusing network of tunnels. The artillery battalions had it even worse as they had to take a separate tunnel to get up on the hills.

Communications within the tunnels was hard due to massive interference and signal loss. Time was also needed for the tanks to get into position in order for her to launch her assault. She could not risk a one sided spear attack on the enemy besieging the Fortress as that would cause other sides to fall quickly. Matching the timing of the attacks had cost the Fortress defenders too much precious time. Time that could have been spent saving more lives. Walking towards the fortress, she could clearly see the devastation of the battle. APCs drove straight into large holes in the walls, not bothering to go around to the gates.

Guild members were already beginning to help the injured, the military trucks of Guild bringing in much needed food, water and medical supplies. Ammunitions could be sorted out later. Tanks were moving about slowly, most were heading into the Fortress in order to repair some damaged parts, or to restock on ammunition. Those left in good condition were stationed outside in a perimeter She gave the order for the artillery battalions to join them in the Fortress. Give them another ten or so minutes and they should reach. The second batch of tanks from Guild were also estimated to reach the Fortress in another half an hour. Those super heavy tanks were more of a hindrance than an actual use.

As for the battleship Yamato, it had enough capabilities to keep itself defended despite being on its own. Besides, she was sure Takanari would want to explore and test out some of the ship's capabilities. Who knew Yuuko was hiding such a powerful weapon? Stepping over the debris as she walked into the Fortress through one of the many holes in the wall, Yamato got a full glimpse of the carnage and destruction that was the result of the battle. Many buildings were destroyed, left in ruins or half damaged. The number of injured were too many for the medical centres that they were being treated out in the cold.

Guild members tried to establish outfield medical tents but they were being filled up faster than the tents could be made. Those that were considered half-ways (partially devoured by shadows) were shot and their bodies were brought to one part of the Fortress. She stopped to let two Guild members carry another dead assault member to the dead pile before she continued on. The damage was too much for Yamato to bear, but she continued on. Everywhere she walked, she saw death, blood, pain. She shut her eyes, not wanting to see such scenes. Her nails dug deep into her palms, drawing blood.

This was all on her. Her fault. If only she had moved the tanks earlier. If only she did not hesitate to attack. She saw members of Guard 1 were sitting around, watching the others do the work. She guessed they earned some rest. They had journeyed with her since the first assault began. A tank rolled by, carrying several Guild Shield troops who sat on the body of the tank while carrying supplies. The tank stopped a few metres ahead, letting the Shield members to alight and carry the supplies to the medical tents. It wasn't enough. Yamato was sure they did not bring enough supplies for everyone. Another miscalculation on her part. Why does she keep on messing up?

"Yo, did not expect you to be the new leader of Guild."

She turned around and saw a familiar face. Two, in fact. Fujibayashi Kyou walked over with a half dead Sakagami Tomoyo being dragged along by her collar. Was that really the proper way to bring someone along?

"Fujibayashi senpai, Sakagami senpai. Sorry for coming so late."

Yamato bowed apologetically. Kyou smiled, shaking her head.

"No no, we should be thanking you instead. If you hadn't arrived, we would have been in deep trouble."

"But-"

"Just take the thanks as it is, Kusanagi."

Kyou stopped Yamato before the latter could say anything else.

"Even if you did come late, it does not change the fact that you did come to save us. Due to your actions today, many lives were saved."

Yamato bit her lip. It wasn't that. It wasn't that at all.

"If only I had come earlier, more lives could have been saved."

"..."

Kyou sighed, dropping Tomoyo onto the floor and walking to Yamato.

"?"

Yamato did not know what Kyou was doing until it was too late, where Kyou used half of her strength to flick Yamato's forehead. Unfortunately Kyou's power was somewhat on passive mode, meaning-

BOOM

Yamato flew off and crashed into the dirt a few metres back.

"? ? ? ?"

Seeing stars and moons and dancing cows was all Yamato could see for the moment as Kyou walked over.

"You know, sometimes a leader has to make harsh decisions. You cannot save everyone. You can try to save most, but in the end you will always end up with casualties. This is war, not some game where everyone gets to go back happy. Sometimes it may be hard, but it always best to just stick to your instincts and take you can get."

Kyou said, offering a hand to Yamato. Yamato looked at the hand. She knew what Kyou was saying. She knew it, but it was always hard to accept it. She hated to make sacrifices. Sacrifices were worthless, not needed. But... she had to accept it. She had to move on. She saw the faces of the Fort and Assault members who survived the battle. All of them were happy, smiling. They were not angry or sad that she came late. Looking back at Kyou, she took the hand and was pulled up to her feet.

"Truth be told, I'm not really the best person to be nagging about this stuff, since I only recently got scolded twice in a row for my own bad habits. But since this she-bear is currently out of it, I'm all that's left."

Kyou pointed to Tomoyo, who was still lying on the floor.

"Well, since the leaders aren't around, I'm taking charge of Fort and Assault."

"What? The leaders aren't around?"

Yamato asked in surprise.

"Yeah, they're not. Both of them disappeared in the middle of the night in the midst of the battle."

Kyou answered, turning to take a walk. Yamato followed in step. The two walked around the Fortress and from time to time members from either the Fortress group or the Guild came to them with reports or questions.

"Take the latest supplies to the medical centre. Distribute them in accordance to importance of need."

Yamato instructed the newest Guild reinforcement officer, who saluted and went off.

"Looks like you're getting into the hang of things."

Kyou smirked, signing off a report before handing it back to an Assault soldier.

"You too."

"Ha ha! I was the former vice commander, and since Ein doesn't bother with this sort of work, this is what I go through every day."

Kyou laughed out loudly as they continued to make their round.

"So, both leaders are gone and no one knows where they are?"

"Yup. Just up and disappeared. With the chaos that went on, there was no way we could send any form of search party. For now, all we can do is to lick our wounds and wait."

Kyou sighed.

"... I don't think we should wait, Fujibayashi senpai."

Yamato said after some thought.

"Hm? Why do you say that?"

"At the moment, we've pushed back the enemy forces and have a moment to breathe. But some of my scouts have reported that the enemy's main base, the school, is still crawling with them and our supplies will run dry if we do not do something about a counter-attack."

"So, you plan to hit the enemy before they hit us?"

Kyou asked with her eyebrow raised. Yamato nodded in reply.

"I do not think we should waste this momentum we have gained from this victory."

Kyou studied Yamato for the moment, her eyes searching, as though wanting to know something else. Then she sighed.

"... True. I see your point. But we still need time to rest and recover our forces."

"I understand. My men will start the preparations."

"Ah, what about your ship? What the heck is that anyway?"

Kyou asked.

"Ah, the Yamato. It was a secret project by Yuuko. Since it can only be on water, it is restricted to the river. Don't worry, it can handle itself."

"Hmm, if you say so."

Kyou muttered.

"Fujibayashi senpai, how long do you think you need?"

Yamato asked, making Kyou think for the moment.

"The fastest is half a day, but most likely we can only move out by tomorrow."

"... I see."

"Well, see to your men. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. If you need me, I'll be over at the main building."

Kyou said, walking off and leaving Yamato standing in the main square of the Fortress by herself. Yamato looked up, seeing the small snow flakes fall from the grey sky. It was going to be a long day.

"... I need something to drink."

"KNIGHTS!"

She shouted, raising her cane up. From the ground, thousands of ghostly armoured figures rose and charged at the enemies in front of her. Like a tidal wave, they swept through the enemy ranks, piercing, stabbing and killing all who stood in their way. From the corner of her eye she saw a new wave of enemies charging towards her right.

"KNIGHTS! SHIELDS!"

She pointed her cane towards her right and thousands of ghostly armoured knights sprang forth from the ground, each carrying a tower shield in hand. Together they formed a giant wall with their shields, blocking the advancing wave of enemies. The ghostly knights were pushed back slightly, but soon they found their footing and with a combined push, they managed to get the enemy to back off. Panting, she realized that her energy levels were getting critically low. But she had to push on.

"Yuki, you need to rest."

She turned and saw Ein standing by her side, blood dripping from his hands and wounds all over his body. He was hurt badly trying to follow her. He was stupid for doing that.

"I... don't need... any rest..."

She wheezed, sweat blurring her vision.

"You're on the brink of death from exhaustion and you're still like that? Come on, Yuki, we need to retreat. We cannot take on the enemy in this state."

He reached out to grab her but Yuki violently knocked his hand aside, her face angry with his words.

"I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY! THERE IS NO RETREAT!"

She snapped at him before grabbing her cane and slamming it into the ground.

"KNIGHTS! CALVARY!"

Stamping her cane on the ground, thousands of ghostly horsemen rose from the ground. One of the horsemen brought another horse to her and she mounted on it.

"I will not stop you from going back Ein, but I will not back down. I will destroy the ones who did this. I will kill the one known as the 'creator', and I will find him up there."

She glared at the looming dark tower before her. The dark tower, the last and final battle. It shall be there where she would find her destiny.