A/N: Ahh! So sorry for the delay! I took too long for my holiday. Went Japan, then to Hong Kong then to Europe (specifically Hungary, Austria, Germany and Czech Republic via the river Danube). It was an awesome holiday and then came back just in time for... NEW YEARS!

So we all survived the 'dooms-day' event and then got drunk on xmas before landing up drunk again for news years day, and now onto the next part of this story! As I said before, the military aspect will be toned down, maybe give or take another short cameos here and there, but no real focus on it.

I have updated my blog with two more drawings! One of which is a remake of Kou though I'm redrawing another one. The other is Kusanagi Yamato, though after drawing her, I found out I made her too... sexual. And compared to Kou, she really looks much better. As I can't have the secondary main heroine looking better than the main one, I'm redrawing Kou. As usual, my blog is this:

flamingnoodletoiletbowls (the website is "wordpress dot com" and fanfic dot net is really weird about posting websites in stories)

Angel Beats!

What We Live For

Operation 46

Angel's Heart Beat

"This is SSS (Main), the convoy is moving out. All active units in the area, provide support for the convoy."

'"This is SSS (Canada), we read you SSS (Main). Sending all available forces to your area."'

'"This is SSS (China), we'll try to clear the way but we don't know how long we'll last!"'

'"SSS (Germany) is re-routing forces to your area."'

'"This is SSS (Italy)! We need assistance! There's two of those giant Shadows and a whole bunch of Angel class enemy forces heading our way!"'

'"SSS (Libya) is heading to assist SSS (Italy). Just get the main force to the tower in one piece."'

"We hear you. Don't worry, we'll get them there."

He replied through the comms network. Looking back he saw the Japanese SSS fighters get into the Jeep convoy. His leader, the SSS (USA) leader, had trusted him and his crew to get these people to the tower and he will fulfil his job. As the lead vehicle in the convoy, the leaders of the SSS (Main) got into his Jeep Fearless young men and women. He had to give it to them. The Japanese really knew how to fight. The code name for this group was SSS (Main) as they were the ones to charge straight into the tower. That is why he thought of them as fearless... or stupid.

"Okay, driver, let's go."

The one they call Yuri said, closing the door to the Jeep after she got in. Apparently she is the leader of the entire group.

"You got it ma'am. This is convoy leader, Victory 1-1. All Victories, move out."

He stepped on the gas, letting the Jeep jerk to a start as they moved their way from the safety of the command line into the war zone. Tanks rolled past them at extremely fast speeds, firing their heavy guns at the Shadows that stood before the convoy. Those Tanks belong to the SSS2 of this World. Who knew they could create such sophisticated weapons? The equipment that all of the SSS received were mainly from 'that' white World. Like some sort of staging area, all of the equipment, guns, armour, vehicles were given to them. But tanks were not amongst them.

'"This is Sword battalion, moving up to cover the convoy."'

'"This is Halberd battalion, we'll protect the commander even if it should cost us our lives!"'

'"Wolves, forward! Show our predecessors that we are worthy of the SSS name!"'

It was a mad rush of metal and flesh as the infantry line rushed out hollering out their war cries as they engaged the enemy in close quarters combat.

'"In-coming Angels!"'

A sudden report came in. The convoy swerved as a group of Angels flew in, firing their weapons down upon the armoured vehicles. The SSS units tried to retaliate from the ground but the Angels easily dodged most of their attacks.

'"We'll deal with them. Eagle team, light them up."'

'"This is Knights squadron. We'll get rid of those bloody buggers."'

'"Mavericks, close in on the enemy. Don't let them escape."'

Whole swarms of attack helicopters flew in, engaging the Angels and forcing them to retreat, allowing the convoy to press on.

"Those damn Shadows and Angels are getting more persistent."

He muttered, swerving to avoid a burning debris of a tank torn apart by Angel fire.

"They must know of our objective."

His passenger said, leaning forward to take a look ahead.

"... Think you can still manage to get to the tower?"

She asked, making him smile.

"Think it? I can. Buckle up, its time for this joy ride to go critical."

He stepped on the accelerator, pushing the Jeep forward through the rugged terrain. The convoy rushed through the battlefield, avoiding explosions, enemy fire and any confrontation. Most of the enemy forces were being forced to take on the convoy's over-protective SSS troops that were following the convoy. Each time a new batch of enemies appeared, either the SSS2 tanks or infantry were swarm in almost immediately to draw their attention away from the convoy. The SSS air support flew over head, firing their weapons down on enemies below, lighting up the ground with explosions and riddling the enemy with holes. Without pause or without taking any detours, the convoy pressed on, forcing their way through the worst the enemy could throw at them.

"ETA 5 minutes!"

He shouted to his passengers over the loud din of the explosions that erupted all around them. As the convoy started to get closer, the sheer size and magnitude of what they were up against came into clear view. The tower was immensely large, its peak hidden in the dark clouds that hung above. Dark twisted spikes protruded from every angle, even the base. In fact, the entire base was covered with those dark spikes. It was impossible to get into the tower at this rate, never mind the hundreds of enemies that were waiting for the convoy at the base of the tower as well. He had no choice.

"This is Victory 1-1. Path to tower is blocked. Requesting alternative route-"

"No. We will take this path. If there isn't an entrance, we'll just make one."

The one called Yuri said firmly. Does she even know what she was talking about?

"I know what I'm talking about so don't question me."

She added. Was she really a mind reader? He narrowed his eyes at her through the rear view mirror. Should he listen to her? While technically she wasn't his leader, his orders were to bring her to the tower and follow her word.

'"Do it Victory 1-1."'

The voice of his leader came over the radio.

'"There are no alternate routes to the tower. We'll be directing all additional hands to pave your road for you. Just keep going."'

"... Understood command."

He didn't like it, but orders were orders.

"Victory 1-1 to all Victories. Operation: Angel Beats is still green. Press forward!"

The convoy rushed forward, straight for the hundreds of Shadows and Angels that stood between them and the tower. Tanks charged forward, firing their cannons at the enemy, attempting to pave a path for the convoy to get through. A round fired directly at the enemy exploded, sending the Shadows flying and opening up a path for the convoy. Gun ships flew straight in, guns blazing to widen the path.

'"Eagle 1 to all gunships, lets pave the road."'

'"Knight team, roger."'

'"Mavericks, moving in."'

'"Weapons hot, let's light them up."'

'"Target locked. Missiles away."'

'"Knock Knock."'

The gun ships fired their heavy payload at the enemy as well as the spikes that blocked the convoy. The rounds exploded upon impact, causing massive amounts of destruction. The damage from the missiles not only killed off Shadows and Angels, it also broke a hole through the spikes and into the tower.

'"Eagle 1 to Victory team, you have your entrance. Move it before it closes up!"'

"Roger Eagle 1. Thanks for the assist. Victory 1-1 to all Victories, let's move!"

The convoy rushed forward, cutting through the path created for them by the combined efforts of the SSS2 and SSS forces. Without stopping or slowing down, the convoy rode through the devastation towards their destination.

"Shadow!"

"I know!"

He swerved to avoid a flying body of a Shadow.

"Boulder!"

"I can see that!"

"The hole is sealing up!"

"I HAVE TWO FUNCTIONING EYEBALLS SO I CAN BLOODY HELL SEE FOR MYSELF! Hang on!"

He lifted up a cover from the gear stick, revealing a red button.

"If you haven't strapped in by now, you better be now!"

He shouted as he pressed the button, igniting the nitrous into the engine.

"Ramp!"

"ARE YOU DRIVING THIS PIECE OF JUNK OR AM I? ! HOLD ON TIGHT, THIS IS GOING TO GET LOUD!"

The Jeep hit the ramp hard, sending the vehicle high into the air. The Jeep flew straight into the hole at the base of the tower, hitting the ground hard. He swerved the Jeep and jammed the brakes, forcing the vehicle to stop. The rest of the convoy followed suit, flying through the hole and landing inside the tower right before the hole of the tower sealed itself up, trapping them all inside. He turned around and smiled to his passengers.

"Well, we're here. Hope you've enjoyed the ride and don't forget any personal belongings you may have brought on-board."

The sounds of the battle outside were all cut off, leaving the team in complete silence. The interior of the tower was a mess. Desks, chairs, doors, windows were all scattered about, trapped in mounds of the same dark mass that made the tower. Like the aftermath of a terrible disaster, the debris that lay about in disarray, no seemingly organized manner. Yuri stepped out of the damaged vehicle, looking up. The ceiling was extremely high, almost barely visible. The tower's interior was extremely vast, so large that one would not think that it was the same as the outside. But there was a reason.

"The amount of black essence has distorted the space and time in here."

The one called Fujibayashi Kyou said, jumping out of her vehicle. Yuri looked at her for the moment, then looked back up to the ceiling.

"... Either that, or our perception of things has been distorted."

She replied, before turning to the rest.

"All of you get your weapons and get ready to move out."

She said as she walked over to the lead vehicle's back and opened the trunk, taking out a rifle for herself and checking its ammunition.

"You guys better take care of yourselves up there."

The driver of the Jeep said, leaning back in the driver's seat.

"You're not coming with us?"

She asked, slinging the rifle over her shoulder. The driver shook his head.

"Our mission is to bring you here. The rest and I are not fighters and will only slow you guys down. Besides, we need to make sure there is an exit in case anything goes wrong."

Yuri wanted to argue with that logic but decided not to. These were not her SSS followers. These were people who came to help. She should not ask too much from them.

"... Alright, thanks for bringing us here."

She said. The driver tapped his cap with a smile.

"It's been my pleasure."

Yuri took her rifle and walked down the path. Followed by the rest, she led the way through the twisted barren wastelands of the tower. Twisted amalgamations of things that were once the school covered the land, like some nightmarish scene of an eccentric director's horror film. It wasn't long before some one noticed something odd.

"You know, for being inside the tower, there isn't a whole lot of enemies around."

Fujimaki commented. It was true that while they walked for a whole five minutes, there wasn't a single enemy around to ambush them.

"Maybe they all went out to fight?"

Matsushita 5-dan offered his opinion. Yuri thought as much but... something was still not right.

"Look! Over there!"

Ooyama pointed ahead of the group where a body lay. The group rushed over and Yuri knelt down next to the body. Dressed in the clothes of the NPCs, the body had one stab wound on its back. She flipped the body and saw that it was an Angel. Their enemy was... killed? Before they arrived?

"Yurippe, look."

She looked up and saw that this was not the only one. Ahead of them lay a whole path littered with bodies. These were all Angels, killed in a bloody massacre by someone... or something.

"It's the same."

Kusanagi Yamato muttered after seeing the wounds on the body.

"The same?"

Kyou asked.

"... When I went down to Guild, there were whole tunnels filled with the bodies of Angels. I thought it was Guild that fought and killed them, but the wounds were too... odd for any SSS2 type weapons I know of."

Yamato explained, touching the wounds of a fallen Angel.

"These are wounds made from an NPC weapon. Though I thought it was impossible, but it seems there are some in-fighting within the enemy ranks."

"In-fighting? But how? Some sort of bug?"

Kyou asked but Yamato shook her head.

"No... It can't be."

Somehow the wounds felt... familiar. A form of lingering presence that was frighteningly familiar to her. She wanted to deny it. Wanted to think it wasn't true.

"... I hear fighting up ahead."

The silent SSS girl called Shiina said, breaking the thoughts of the group.

"We won't get anywhere closer to the truth just by coming up with conjectures and assumptions. Let's go."

Yuri said, leading the group in the direction of the sounds. Yamato was somewhat reluctant, but followed anyway. As the group rushed up the twisted path, Yamato noticed that there was a steady increase in the number of bodies of fallen Angels. While most of them had similar wounds to the first, others showed signs of struggles and different types of wounds. They were fighting amongst themselves. Soon, the sounds of clashing steels and gun fire could be heard in the distance. The group hurried on and the sounds getting louder and louder until they finally reached the source. Or what seemed to be the end of it. Standing there, surrounded by the bodies of fallen Angels, was the one person Kusanagi Yamato wanted to see the most. With his hair in its usual unkempt style, he swung what seemed to be a katana down, shaking all of the blood off from its edge, before sheathing the blade.

"Ka... Katsuragi?"

Yamato asked. The young man turned and saw the group, raising his eyes brows in surprise.

"Yamato? Fujibayashi-senpai? What are all of you doing in here?"

"I-I could ask you the same thing-"

Before Yamato could finish her sentence, Kyou brought out her book and pointed it at Katsuragi. For those who are uninformed, any book in Kyou's hand is a weapon. Tomoyo also stepped in front, raising her fist in a defensive stance against Katsuragi.

"K-Kyou? Tomoyo? What are you doing?"

Yamato asked, slightly confused and afraid of what was going on.

"Katsuragi isn't who you think he is."

Kyou said, narrowing her eyes at the young man who stood before them. He showed no hint of changing his emotions even when faced with people who drew their weapons at him.

"W-what do you mean? He's Katsuragi-"

"Don't you get it? ! He's an NPC!"

Kyou shouted, rendering Yamato stunned. An NPC? Katsuragi? Her mind did not know what to think. She looked to him, and saw that he did not seemed bothered by Kyou's accusation. In fact, he simply smiled. An NPC? But... how?

"As expected from the head of the Assault division. Yes, indeed, I am what you call an NPC."

Katsuragi replied, making Yamato even more shocked. So it was true.

"B-but... how? When were you converted?"

Yamato tried to find some hope, some form of consolidation. She didn't want this to be true.

"... I was never converted. I always was, and still am... an NPC."

Katsuragi muttered, looking down at his hands. Then he looked up to the group.

"An... Angel."

Angel. The enemy of the SSS2. The ones that were made by this nightmare and formed the vanguard of its creator. The enemy that the Guardians swore to kill at any cost. The enemy... that Yamato must defeat. But this is Katsuragi. Could she really kill him? Could she raise her weapon against him? Her heart felt like it was being gripped by an iron vice, being squeezed tightly. It pained her to breath, to think. It was like her World was collapsing all around her, crumbling into pieces. What was she to do? This wasn't just any NPC, this was... Katsuragi.

"Yamato! Yamato! Get a grip! He's the enemy!"

Kyou shouted, taking her eyes off Katsuragi for the moment to see Yamato standing there, her mind completely lost.

"It's pointless, Kyou, she can't fight him. Not in this state."

Tomoyo said, keeping her fists ready for whatever may come.

"Tch, you planned this, didn't you? All of this? Infiltrating our ranks and attack us from within."

Kyou spat at him but he did not say anything. He simply stood there, watching the two powerful fighters from the SSS2 Assault division slowly try to get into position to land the first strike. It was quite something to see how he would fare against two of the greatest from the Assault division, but he had no time to waste here and now. He needed to escape from here, but how-

"If you have time to look else where, then you better be prepared!"

Tomoyo suddenly dashed forward, swinging her arm towards him. Her fist was too fast for him to dodge but it wasn't fast enough for it to escape his notice.

"Wha-"

Tomoyo stared in amazement as her attack was blocked by a single blade with a blue lining across the edge. Katsuragi drew his weapon just in time.

"That weapon is- Tomoyo! Get away!"

Kyou shouted, prompting the other Assault division fighter to jump back. Kyou's book flew open in her hand and the pages flew out, wrapping themselves into the shape of multiple blades before flying straight for Katsuragi. Katsuragi remained calm even in the face of such danger, opening up the pommel of the hilt like a flip cover, revealing an empty slot in the hilt of the sword. He took a pistol magazine and slotted it into the hilt before closing the cover. He looked up just as the blades were going to hit him. Even for an NPC, the speed required to deflect these blades at this distance was near impossible. But most NPCs do not have a weapon like Katsuragi's. He finger squeezed the trigger once-

CLANG

CLANG

CLANG

His movements were fast, too fast that it seemed to happen in less than a split second. The first thing they saw was Kyou's paper swords flying towards Katsuragi, and the next second showed the same blades laying scatter all over the floor. Kyou knew it at this point.

"... There is no mistaking it... That is Musashi's weapon."

Kyou muttered, narrowing her eyes at the blade held by Katsuragi.

"M-Musashi's Blade? But Musashi's weapons can never be used by an NPC!"

Tomoyo said. Musashi was not only known for making extremely powerful personalised weapons, but it was also known that no matter how, weapons made by the master craftsman could never be used by an NPC, even if that NPC was the weapon's owner who was converted.

"... Musashi would never make a weapon for an NPC... but..."

Kyou trailed off. She remembered the last time she saw the blacksmith. He was working extremely hard on a single weapon, muttering something about 'perfect order' whilst hammering away at the hot metal on his anvil. So determined and concentrated on that work that he never responded to anything else. Not even Yuuko could break his concentration at that time. There was only one time Musashi ever created something with so much focus. And that was Kou's weapon. What was Musashi thinking? Creating a weapon for an NPC?

"... What is that weapon? Answer me!"

Kyou demanded. Katsuragi felt slightly inclined to answer that question, mainly because he was born as an NPC? Or was it because he wanted to be accepted... unlikely the latter. As for Kyou, she felt unnerved by what that weapon actually was. An NPC of this World was, in essence, a perfect human being. A being whose creation was meant to act like a role model for what humans were striving to be. Someone who did not stand out, who did not deviate from the rules of human society. The rules that were created in order to ensure a perfectly ordered World for humans.

Although the rules were something that did not suit everyone, and it benefited only to those who wish to abide by them, they were the rules of what humans wish to have and live by, creating their own societies around such laws. And if an NPC represented that repressed form of perfection... then a weapon that was created solely for such a being would be... Kyou shook her head. It was pointless to think about it now. If she thought too much about it, then her focus would only falter. She cannot waver, not against an Angel. Her hand gripped onto her book tightly.

"I would not suggest you try that, senpai."

A mischievous voice called out, making all turn away from Katsuragi. Stepping out from behind a twisted door, the owner of the voice smiled.

"You are-"

"Tenryuu Shuusuke!"

Iris shouted, pushing her way towards the front.

"Oh-ya? If it isn't the precious second-in-command of our dear Intelligence leader, Iris-chan? What an interesting turn of events to see you here."

The young man smirked. Iris narrowed her eyes dangerously at the young man, pulling out hidden knives from her sleeves.

"You... TRAITOR!"

She snapped, throwing the knives at him. The young man did not even blink as the blades flew towards him. But a small figure suddenly jumped out in front of the young man before the blades, brandishing a large object that opened up, revealing an infinite darkness within that swallowed the blades into its abyss. The object closed once more as the user of this weapon stepped out from behind. A young girl with light auburn hair that went slightly past her shoulders.

"What-"

Before Iris could say another word, the young girl opened the object once more and from the darkness, blades shot out. The exact same blades that Iris threw now flew back at her.

"Watch out!"

Tomoyo jumped out and managed to knock most of the blades away with her enhanced fists.

"Tch."

Tomoyo looked down at the scratch one of the blades she missed made on her thigh. Iris used poison blades but Tomoyo had a certain immunity to it, not enough to be completely resistant to it as her legs were beginning to feel the numbness spreading. She looked up once more to the newcomer. She knows that face.

"Saya."

Tomoyo muttered.

"Saya? You mean the one from Edge?"

Kyou asked, stepping back. Tomoyo did not want to admit it, but she nodded.

"... Yes. 'That' Saya..."

It was a report that made most of the Assault division leaders cringe. Routine scouting mission turned sour. No one knows exactly what happened, only that Saya returned by herself... and the decapitated heads of her party members. Before an investigation could be launched, Kou took her in, preventing anyone from interrogating the girl. By the time Kyou could get any form of appeal from the Division leaders to continue the investigation, D-day occurred. This was getting very problematic.

"Now now, Senpai, you shouldn't be so rude."

The young man said with a smile.

"Traitor? Me? I have done nothing that would warrant such a slanderous title. Well, maybe just this."

With a snap of his fingers, NPCs suddenly appeared all around the group. NPCs with weapons. Angels.

"We're surrounded!"

"W-where did they appear from? !"

Kyou demanded, raising her book in a defensive manner. Katsuragi narrowed his eyes at Shuusuke.

"... Tenryuu, since when did you take control of my troops?"

Katsuragi asked, to which Tenryuu merely shrugged.

"I just talked to one for a bit and had a very interesting plan. Besides, if I left the entire thing to you, you would not have explained anything right to them. The best way to get our intentions across, is through force."

"..."

Katsuragi could not argue with that logic. But there had to be a better way. Katsuragi raised his hand and the Angels all kept their weapons at once, causing slightly puzzled looks on the SSS and SSS2 members.

"W-why aren't they attacking?"

Tomoyo questioned.

"Don't fuck with me! Stop toying around with us and just get it over with!"

Kyou snapped, threatening to throw her book at Katsuragi. Katsuragi, on the other hand, simply stayed silent. Kyou felt extremely unnerved by that sad look that Katsuragi gave them. Was it pity? Pity from their sworn enemy? She will not accept that! Never!

"Why you-"

"Now why don't we all just cool our heads a little."

A voice suddenly spoke up, stopping Kyou in mid-sentence. Stepping forward where Katsuragi could see, was a young woman with shoulder length violet hair and sharp emerald eyes that seemed to gleam a sense of danger. This girl is dangerous, was all Katsuragi could think of.

"Don't butt into this, Nakamura-san! This is our problem to deal with!"

Kyou shouted to the newcomer, who narrowed her eyes at Katsuragi, then to Kyou.

"... Don't tell me not to butt into this matter... GIRL."

That single word contained as much force as a ten tonne truck hitting Katsuragi and apparently Kyou felt it too.

"Your problem? Ha! Don't make me laugh! The fight outside may have been your problem, but now it isn't. This battle, this entire war isn't just your problem any more! The consequences of my own actions back then, my own indecisiveness had escalated into a disaster that affects not only this World, but the World of the living as well! So don't tell me that this isn't my problem!"

The girl snapped at Kyou, who actually retreated a step. The girl pointed up towards the top of the tower.

"Whatever awaits us at the top is something that I must finish, it is something that I started and I will end it with my own hands."

The girl then lowered her hand, pointing her finger at Kyou.

"This was never truly about you or the SSS2... This is not your story. Yours had long ended, Fujibayashi-san. The pain, the struggles of the SSS2 may have been real, may have meant something. But now this story has to run its true course. The final chapter is upon us and it is time for this tale to return back to the one who started it. Me."

Katsuragi knew it. This girl is the predecessor. The one who started the SSS and this madness. Nakamura Yuri. She seriously was bad news. And right now, that very bad news focused her attention on him.

"You! You must be the special NPC that Otonashi had been bragging about non-stop."

"...?"

Otonashi? The name of his creator?

"... You spoke to my crea-... father?"

Katsuragi asked, unsure of how to call Otonashi. The infusion of Kei's soul must have messed up his thinking more than he thought.

"Father? That's gross. What sort of fetish has Otonashi gotten? Nevermind. Yes, your... father."

If Otonashi had truly spoken to this girl, then the SSS must be the ones that Kei was talking about. Kei told Katsuragi that Otonashi had planned to bring some sort of secret weapon to help finish this war. But never did he think that this 'weapon' would be the SSS themselves. He thought about it for a while before nodding his head. The Angels all lowered their guard and started to disperse, giving the SSS2 a better setting to relax. Saya, Shuusuke and Kai joined Katsuragi as he walked towards the SSS group. He stepped past an angry Kyou and stopped before Yuri, extending a hand to her.

"My name is Katsuragi Rei, created by Otonashi to end this madness once and for all. Since my father had placed his trust in you, so shall I."

Yuri looked at him for the moment, before smiling and shaking his head.

"I am Nakamura Yuri, leader of the SSS. I look forward to working with you."

"I still can't believe that you're one of those NPCs."

Nakamura Yuri said off handedly as the group walked on, her eyes travelling up and down Katsuragi.

"I am a different sort of NPC from the others."

Katsuragi replied with a smile despite the fact that he was extremely creep out by the former SSS leader's studious gaze.

"I know, I heard it all from Otonashi himself. Created from a separate space from this one, as well as having a human soul fused into you. There's a limit to how sci-fi / fantasy this setting can get."

"There's no point in telling that to me. I cannot change what has already been put into place within the script."

He merely replied, earning a puzzled look from Yuri.

"Script?"

She quizzed.

"Earlier, you talked about how this is now your story. So, script."

Yuri stared at him. Nothing but long hard stares. Did he say something wrong? Then-

"... Ha ha ha. Script. I see. How funny. Ha ha ha ha."

Yuri laughed, though her laugh was extremely sarcastic, monotonous and her eyes were definitely not laughing.

"... Are you retarded?"

She suddenly stopped laughing and said that.

[Katsuragi Rei received 999999 damage]

"But besides that, what are you going to do about them?"

Yuri asked, pointing her thumb towards the back of the group, where the SSS2 were obviously showing their discomfort and disagreement with the entire arrangement of working with NPCs. Kyou in particular. But Katsuragi eyed Yamato. The young woman was still in a certain state of shock at the news of his identity. She could get killed at this rate. Katsuragi cared for Yamato, but he knew that the way he felt about her was different from how she felt about him. And mainly because of how she felt about him, to her the truth about him was probably the worst thing she had to come to terms with, if she ever did.

"It's not my place to resolve small issues with you people but if you don't deal with this situation, I'm going to shoot them all right here and now. It's depressing to walk with them like this."

Yuri said, pulling out her pistol. Katsuragi did not know if she was being serious or simply joking about but it was best not to even ask. But it was true that he needed to address them.

"It would be best to simply tell them."

A new voice spoke up. Turning around, Katsuragi saw the face of his creator. No, not his creator. This was his creator's 'other half', Kamiya Yuzuru. Kamiya exuded a different feeling than his creator, a feeling that was more... serene and at peace. His creator, Otonashi, was rather mysterious, unsettled and always seems to be harbouring a secret of some sorts.

"Talk is sometimes the best thing for a situation like this."

Kamiya added.

"Sometimes isn't always, Yuzuru."

Yuri muttered, to which Kamiya simply shrugged before turning back to Katsuragi.

"But it is always best to give it a shot. No matter what the obstacle is, if you don't take the first step in conquering it, you will never be able to cross it."

Katsuragi thought about what Kamiya had said. Perhaps it is best for him to go talk to them. Despite what he is, he was still part of the SSS2 once. He had a certain... bond, that he wanted to maintain. Katsuragi closed his fist and nodded. He will talk to them.

"... Thank you, Kamiya-san."

Katsuragi said before turning around and heading to Kyou and the others of the SSS2.

"... You know that kid is going to die."

Yuri said after Katsuragi left. Kamiya simply smiled back.

"Then that is his own first step in overcoming that obstacle."

[Katsuragi Rei died]

Fujibayashi Kyou was angry. Angry was an understatement. She was fuming, boiling, furious and all ready to blow up. Well, she did blow up and shot Katsuragi a few times before Tomoyo stopped her. She wasn't angry over the fact that Katsuragi was an NPC, not to mention a high level Angel, and that he had managed to infiltrate the organization, but she was more angry over the fact that what he was programmed to do, or his entire purpose for what he did, made sense to her. Everyone by now knew that the SSS2 was a lost cause. They were fighting an endless war that would only drive them deeper into despair. Katsuragi's creator, the enigmatic 'Creator', had sent him out to reverse the damage done by the 'earlier' creations. The names Amatsukai Ichigo and Amagami Futayo were extremely familiar to the SSS2. Amatsukai Ichigo is the name of the student council president though no one has ever seen him before, and Amagami Futayo is the president of the student discipline committee, whom none of the SSS2 had ever seen as well.

Before Katsuragi explained everything, the SSS2 had merely assumed that both Amatsukai Ichigo and Amagami Futayo were pseudo names used by the 'Creator' in order to appear as two people. They were in fact two separate people and the SSS2 merely had a case of 'over-thinking-analysis'. According to Katsuragi, the two NPCs, supposedly his 'siblings', went out of control after coming into contact with the 'despair' of the SSS2. That 'despair' manifested itself into 'essences'. The system of this Afterlife worked in this fashion. The Afterlife was created by humans. Humans, who had emotions, feelings and powerful wills, were afraid to die. They feared the dark abyss to the point where their 'despair' eventually formed the Afterlife World. This World was made to absorb the regrets and fears of humans who had passed on, integrating such emotions into itself and expanding and essentially evolving into a more complex system. Then came someone who 'created' the Angel Program, known as the 'Programmer'. No one knows who he is, what he was doing or thinking, but he created the program and became an unknown NPC after that. The program had interjected into the system of the World, introducing to the Afterlife a 'fail-safe' mechanism that would prevent people from staying too long in this Afterlife. That fail-safe became the Shadows.

After the SSS had tried to shut down the program, albeit in a rather violent manner, the program merged itself into the Afterlife, becoming almost one and the same. The World absorbed the despair of the humans, and that in turn created essences which became Shadows. It was around this time that the two creations of the 'Creator', Amatsukai Ichigo and Amagami Futayo, stepped out of their 'blank' World and came into contact with the essences. As they had never been exposed to such raw emotions, the systems within them went hay-wire and caused them to become mad, resulting in them converting NPCs and creating the new type of enemy. The Angels. Katsuragi Rei, however, was spared such a fate as he did not leave the 'blank' World that his 'Creator' had made. In addition, Katsuragi had received a 'human' soul, giving him protection from the essences since he was almost human.

"And that soul belongs to who?"

Tomoyo asked, somewhat intrigued by his story. Kyou was interested as well but she preferred not to show it. She was still somewhat angry about accepting his entire reasons for fighting.

"I'm sorry but I'm not allowed to say... it is 'his' wish."

Katsuragi replied with a smile.

"I see... But still, isn't it going to be hard for you? To fight your own siblings?"

Tomoyo knew all too well about sibling fights. Kyou did as well. Katsuragi closed his eyes, shaking his head slightly.

"It would be easy to call us siblings but we hardly had any interactions before. In truth, I do not know what they look like."

Katsuragi replied but that was simply a cover up and Tomoyo knew that well.

"... But it's still tough, isn't it?"

"... Yes."

Katsuragi's smile finally dropped as he looked down at his own hands.

"It may be because I had merged with a human soul, or due to my interactions with the SSS2, but I feel more... concerned. As though I do not wish to fight them though I know I must."

Tomoyo looked at Katsuragi slightly concerned. She turned to Yamato and saw that the girl was still slightly shocked. In such cases, Tomoyo was hoping that Yamato, someone closer to Katsuragi, would be able to comfort him, but it appears that this isn't the case.

"That is what we call human connections, Katsuragi."

Kyou suddenly spoke up, her voice clearly irritated.

"Connections?"

"Humans have a strange tendency to create connections when they may not exist. We try to find reasons to stay, to ground ourselves into our own reality. Humans are beings of change yet we hate to change. And so we find every possibility of connections in order to define what we truly are. We build and apply relationships, we structure communities, we build societies. We are social creatures not only for protecting from dangers on the outside, but also from the solitude of not knowing who we are. Like me... I am not Fujibayashi Kyou without my sister. I would have my own life, but that is not who I am. Same with Tomoyo, she isn't who she would be if it weren't for her family."

Kyou explained though it sounded more like a lecture. Tomoyo simply smiled at her friend's attempt to change her attitude towards Katsuragi, but it would take time.

"Looks like we're here."

Yuri announced, causing the entire group to stop. What stood before them was a twisted winding spiral staircase with uneven steps of different shapes, sizes and even angular degree. Whilst the main large stairwell led up, a small stairwell was visible next to it, leading down into the ground through a large hole.

"Well, time to split up."

Kamiya Yuzuru said, walking over to the descending stairwell with Tachibana Kanade following closely behind. Kanade then paused for a moment, turning around and throwing something towards Yuri, who caught the object and looked down at it.

"... Is it done, Kanade-chan?"

Yuri asked, looking up at her former-enemy-turned-best-friend. Kanade nodded slightly.

"But it is only good for one try, so don't waste it."

Kanade warned before turning around and leaving the rest with the other stairwell.

"Are you sure they'll be alright?"

Hinata asked, to which Yuri simply turned and walked towards the ascending stairwell.

"We all know what we have to do, Hinata. They will have to go down and we... go up."