10: Hustle Bustle (Final Chapter)

"Are you the one..." Totomi said to the masked L. D. Angel standing coolly before him, "who killed Nagira? Are you the one..." Totomi's fingertips softly grazed the hilt of his sheathed sword with hopes that he need not have use of it. Fate had brought him to this encounter. The night had drawn to its inevitable climax and Totomi Hamasaki vowed to conclude it in a graceful dignified manner, if he could, without further bloodshed. There was no need for slaughter and negative karma to come out of every opposition. "...who killed my brother."

"Shimazu Hamasaki had ventured down to Middle Deck less two weeks ago where I understand he made your acquaintance. It was then that he met his untimely death by your hands, by then under the influence of the L. D. Angels or not I am not fully certain. I will have you know that I am not here purely in the quest of vengeance but simply to bring my brother's murderer to righteous justice. I do not wish to fight if necessary and I do not wish to harm you, however; I implore you to give yourself over peaceably and tell me of your reasons. I am not here to judge, that is neither my aspiration nor in my natur-"

"Oh shut up already!"

Totomi's mouth shut instantly. The Angel stepped forward into the meagre seeping moonlight, his curly hair bouncing about his face mask. "Geesh, I have no friggin idea what you're going on about." Uriel glared at the talkative Soldier heatedly, he was not in the mood. He had just blatantly defied Kandai's orders. Why was this guy being so familiar and annoyingly chatty with him? He raised his staff and pointed it directly at the Nobles Soldier. "You know, you sure talk alot."

"..." talk alot... No one's ever told me that before. Totomi remained silent. The Angel had finally stepped out from the shadows and seemed to be a young boy. But it's not him. It wasn't the 'blue-eyed' boy who he had been told had killed Shimazu. It's not him after all. The L. D. Angel stood before him with his staff pointed offensively out front. He wore a full face mask so Totomi could not see the boy's face in proper, only that he had curly colourful hair and liked gothic clothing. Why was one so young with a disreputable caustic bunch of anarchic rebels? "...." Totomi looked him squarely on. "Uriel," he said.

"!!!" Uriel stepped back startled. "How did you know that?"

"Your other companion had called out your names earlier on," Totomi explained breezily, "I understand yours is but a code name but the final one's really named Kandai, isn't he."

"..." Uriel's jaws clenched. So Kochiro had slipped and used their names in fright huh. At the very least, he was in the clear. The idiot! "That hardly matters now does it," Uriel said, regaining his stance and grasping his staff firmly.

"Bojutsu?" Totomi continued undeterred. The boy seemed wanting to attack.

"Yeah," Uriel responded, readying himself for assault.

"That's interesting." Totomi drew out his sword by an inch, calmly, "I studied the art of Bojutsu for a few months. Useful for parring against swords and staves. But my actual specialty is... kendo."

"....." Uriel shifted his body weight slowly forward onto his fore leg, twisting onto his toes, straight forward. Could he take on a Soldier? Well he would find out now. Totomi waited solemnly.

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The two helicopters were low down on the rooftop, waiting for the emergence of the L. D. Angels as Totomi Hamasaki had informed Captain Dojima. The whirring blades chopped the air and raised the dust, sounding like gattling guns in the night.

Kochiro Jinchi alias Raphael, ditzy and sick as he was from the BZ gas had no idea that the Nobles had been notified and was simply following Kandai, well moreso, Uriel's, instructions. At the last second, Uriel had blown the door to the roof off with the last C4 explosive and clenched Kochiro by the upper arm as he was swaying. "Go on, I'll take care of those two and the Soldier. I'll face Kandai for this... alright?"

Kochiro, who couldn't even see Uriel clearly, had mutely nodded his head and allowed Uriel to help him over the rubble before the curly haired boy dashed back down the stairs. Kochiro was now slowly walking up into the fading night just as bright white helicopter spotlights blasted onto him. He stopped, dazzled, standing a blatant black spot on the rooftop.

"Stop right there!" a megaphone sounded. Kochiro didn't even have the strength to wonder at this new development. He didn't mind just giving himself up and probably being tried and killed. He just wanted it to end. He raised an arm affront his face to ward off the offending light- "put your hand up!" but he couldn't even do that. He felt himself swaying and ready to faint. He made out the gleaming white uniform of a Noble Soldier rushing towards him as he swooned. The world tilted, he didn't see the Soldier's face as the hands grabbed at him, almost as if catching him and claws gripped his shoulders. "Into the copter!" the voice demanded roughly. "I've got this."

Kochiro felt himself being hauled into the copter hurriedly, into the back seat, everything blurry and then felt the copter taking off. He fell over the person in the backseat who was crouching there... a black shape. Kochiro tried to open his eyes, who was that? He seemed familiar.

"Yo," the person said impersonally, "K-kun."

"Kandai?" Kochiro blinked, saw Kandai's face, fade out, opened his eyes onto Kandai again. "Kandai..?" he repeated stupidly.

"I see Uriel's disobeyed my orders. It's alright, once he can clean up the mess."

Kochiro could say nothing. Kandai... he had made it. Kandai uncrouched and sat up in the seat as they had cleared the area. The helicopter leapt forward and Kochiro stumbled forward onto Kandai's lap. He couldn't right himself. Kandai turned him over onto his back. He produced a bottle of water and made Kochiro drink a bit. "Uriel told me you inhaled the BZ so take it easy. You'll pass out for quite some time. Take it slow in the front there," he said to the Soldier driving.

"You implying I can't fly?" the helicopter dipped low.

Kandai shook his head and looked down at Kochiro. "We've got Gabriel. Well done... K-kun." And with that, Kochiro finally closed his eyes.

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Uriel launched forward, swinging his staff across and instantly wishing he hadn't. The Soldier easily stepped aside and had his back exposed as it was, hand on sword. "!!" Uriel looked over his shoulder wide-eyed, damn it!!! A second passed and Uriel jumped to safety, spinning around to ready himself again. The Soldier hadn't drawn out his sword. Why?

"Grr..." Uriel gripped his staff tightly in both hands, "are you toying with me!??" he yelled angrily. The Soldier's calm expression didn't change a fraction. He seemed all too composed for Uriel's liking and it unnerved him.

"I simply do not wish to fight you," Totomi responded peacefully, "you're just a boy. Why are you with the L. D. Angels? Are they manipulating you? Do you know what you're doing and the group's true objectives?"

"You're not gonna get any info out of me, baka," Uriel slowly inched his feet apart, looking for another opening. He just had to get away from this Soldier, get away but also keep the Soldier from getting to the roof.

Totomi closed his eyes despairingly, seeing that Uriel was preparing to strike again. "Do you truly wish to fight me? How distressing; I am not an easy opponent I'd have you know. It'd be better if we simply discuss this."

"Shut up freaking idiot!" Uriel gnashed his teeth and tipped forward, slowly... slowly...

Totomi's eyes opened frigidly, "alright..." he said. He hesitated... and then he pulled out his sword in one swoop while flying forward, Uriel had minimal time to respond. The sword came down on Uriel's staff purposefully, pushing him back, all the way to the wall.

"Oof!" Uriel hit the wall; his staff crossed over his chest as the Soldier cornered him. Up close, Uriel could see the Soldier's perfectly clear amethyst eyes, straightened hair fallen over along the sides of his sombre face. Uriel's own eyes were wide beneath the mask, he couldn't move an inch, the Soldier had been so swift, and was so undeniably strong, it was like fighting Kandai when he was serious. Uriel tried wriggling free but it didn't work. "Damn it," he was in trouble here.

"You should think about what you're doing," Totomi said evenly, "don't just blindly follow orders for the path you walk might wound up being the path you had meant to avoid. You'd only realize it too late. Blind faith, unquestioned motive is the same as brainwashing." Uriel wriggled beneath the hold some more, why was the Soldier doing this to him???

Finally, the Soldier unpressed slightly and Uriel slithered away quickly. He bounded away angered and then forward again in a heat. The Soldier easily hit him away and followed through with three successive attacks that drove Uriel back into a corner again. Before it was too late however, Uriel decided to give up and leapt away out of reach. Damn, he was really no match for the Soldier he had to admit. He had to escape.

Totomi turned around to face Uriel leisurely. Uriel stood aback, huffing hard. What should he do??? "You may think following duty and order patriotic and the right thing to do, but you should think for yourself first. Masses can be deluded as such, I've witnessed it myself. What is it that you're truly after, for yourself? And what are the Angels after?"

"Shut up I'm trying to concentrate here!" Uriel huffed and puffed, glancing around the perimeters. The Soldier still didn't seem to be using his full strength whilst he was only running about out of desperation. Then the Soldier dove off again.

Uriel leapt away but instantly got a back hand hit on the shoulder which sent him to the ground. The Soldier spun to pin him down and Uriel rolled beneath his legs and leapt to the corner. Totomi then charged and Uriel dodged sideways... another, Uriel blocked with the staff... another, Uriel swung in the opposite direction to get away but was pinned through his jersey into the wall. He couldn't move once again.

"Why are you destroying Pillars, why is it always war... what could you possibly hope to accomplish by senseless destruction and murder?"

"You're one to talk!" Uriel breathed hard, huffing before the Soldier. He couldn't bring up his staff or the Soldier would see. "You Nobles are the secretive ones.... the ones planning mass genocide!"

"What are you talking about?" Totomi's clear eyes clouded momentarily. Uriel took the opportunity to bring up his staff and knock the sword away, ripping his jersey in the process but escaping nonetheless. He ran and kept running till he was almost too far for sight. Then he stopped. The Soldier hadn't picked back up his sword. He seemed fairly confused.

"..." Uriel's regular breathing returned and he frowned. Totomi turned around slowly, sword at side.

"I know not what you speak," he said quietly. Uriel tssked.

"You Nobles are freakin liars," he replied. Silence. Uriel didn't elaborate further. Totomi didn't attack. Uriel kept his staff up just in case. Then, -

"Uriel, come in." It was Kandai. Totomi looked on. Uriel kept his eyes glued onto him as he pressed his neck chip firmly.

"I'm here."

"It's too late, we have to go. We're swinging back now. Get to the roof."

"Right," Uriel clicked it off. Just what he wanted to hear. He stared at the silenced Soldier afar from him and turned hastily to run like hell to the roof. He turned heel and ran. Totomi erected himself and started to follow when his Soldier cell suddenly went off.

"Hamasaki!" It was Lady Dojima.

"Yes,"Totomi replied running smoothly.

"We have several missing personal including Tanjo Okami, Lord Bromo and your father."

Totomi slowed down and stopped, losing sight of the young escapee Angel ahead. What did this mean?

"We've cleared the second floor and have all the hostages and Angels in tow. It's over. We are all to reassemble. And thus we have reason to believe any missing Soldier at this point in time... is the spy. "

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Tanjo Okami, Totomi's young and ambitious brown eyed friend was miles away. It was dark, he was in no significant place, he'd almost made it to the Spiritus Forest, some distance from residential castle lands and the Soldier Headquarters where he'd initially started from. Trees surrounded him, he was in a spacious park, and the sun was rising.

Tanjo breathed out. Where is he? He checked his watch. 4:11am. Ah Christ... Tanjo bit his bottom lip in frustration. Was he; Tanjo Okami; lost? Why was he such a klutz? People were depending on him. He was going to be in so much trouble. What would Totomi think of this? After all Totomi'd done for him as a friend. Tanjo sighed. Life was becoming so dismal. Where is he?

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Cogs and Hammer hadn't found the Soldier as they went rushing down the stairs, flight by flight. What they had found, was a swarm of High Deck and Noble Soldiers marching into the building and taking siege and ultimately grasping control of the entire situation. Cogs and Hammer leant back against the third floor flight, cursing profusely, colourfully beneath her breath. How were they getting out of this one?

"Mmph," Hammer touched Cogs on the shoulder and she looked over. He inclined his head to the downward stairway. There was a figure in the shadows, hooded and cloaked and seemingly waiting for them.

"Shit," Cogs muttered. How had she not seen or heard him? Well it was true that both she and Hammer had to have their masks lights turned off, but the silent hooded man didn't seem to need one. Cogs was about to start swearing at the intruder but decided not to be as ignorant again. It wasn't one of the boy Angels she could tell, but an older man. "Are you here to help us?" she whispered lowly.

The hooded man said nothing but turned around to guide them. They followed obligingly in the silence, the hooded man seemed to know which route the Soldiers and High Deck officers would take and soon, all three were moving through a destroyed underground passage way and out into the dawn. Cogs and Hammer asked no question as the stranger lead them further and further away from the crime site and into darkened back lanes.

Finally, the man's rigid back stopped and Cogs and Hammer stopped with him. The hooded stranger turned around for the Angel Muscles to see him and drew down his hood till it folded around his upright coat collar. He faced them sternly. Cogs snarled and stepped back. Hammer gruffed beside her.

"So it's you again huh." Cogs snarled lowly. "I knew it. The one who saw us at the Pillar last time and let us go."

Bromo said nothing. He looked at Cogs, then back at her partner frostily. "I helped you escape, didn't I."

"Yeah..." Cogs' eyes deepened, "why's that? Are you...?"

"Hmph," Bromo lowered his head and leisurely removed the cloak he had been donning, exposing his clear white Soldier's trench uniform. "I am a man of few words. So let's get to it."

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Outside HighDeck building, Totomi walked out toward the crowd of paramedics and HighDeck officers. He glanced around to locate any faces he knew but they were either too far away or busy. Three paramedics rushed to Totomi seeing as his coat was covered in blood, "are you hurt sir? Please take off your-"

"Where's Nagira," he interrupted as courteously as he could, "the Soldier who was shot on third floor."

"How uncouth," Maburik and Kentaro, who had been speaking with a HighDeck officer a little distance away, were approaching Totomi. Maburik had his face screwed as though displeased by a scent, "you've ruined your uniform. How indecent."

"Spray him down," the bespectacled Kentaro atleast was more serious as he instructed the paramedics. Totomi looked at him questioningly. Kentaro sighed and replied, glad for the opportunity, "we... actually it was me, have distinguished that they used a warfare gas called Quinuclidinyl Benzilate. You should hydrate yourself as well seeing as you went in unprepared and all."

"Hamasaki," Totomi looked around to the new person approaching as he fluidly slid his coat off and dropped it in the heavy duty bags provided (much to the horror of the other 2 Nobles). Captain Dojima walked up to Totomi now. "Your father, where is he? I tried to reach him but he won't reply." She looked at each of the three male Soldiers in turn, "we are the only Soldiers involved in this situation who are able to respond. I even contacted HQ and apparently the Soldiers we positioned there are gone too. Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on?"

I sent Tanjo on a mission but what about the others? My.. father..? Totomi couldn't help his brow quirking down slightly in frustration. Plus no one's mentioning Nagira at all.

"Hmph," Kentaro closed his eyes smugly. "Someone's going to have to take the fall for this, I wonder who."

"Grr," Lady Dojima spun around briskly and walked off. "All Soldiers are to return to HQ immediately. It's almost daybreak. High Deck officers secure the hostages and Angels."

Kentaro and Maburik walked off. Totomi turned around to allow the paramedics to spray him down and looked into the sunrise. The Angel… had said something about genocide. And my father… could he be the… "No." A fresh morning breeze blew against Totomi's face placidly. I believe we've managed to apprehend the Angel on the roof… we'll all know the entire truth by the morning. By the morning… this part… of the story… will be all over.

SPRAAAAYYYY...

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Kochiro lied down in an oblivion as gold rays of sun struggled to penetrate the deep set darkness of the latter night. Day was breaking one hour later on High Deck. Where was he now? Was he... safe? Kochiro opened his eyes.

Eep eep eep. Crickets were still playing around; everywhere was lightly grey and quiet. It looked to be about 6 am for the earliest. Kochiro tried to sit up in bed but found himself manacled. "..." Again. Same situation, different place. He looked up from his imprisoned wrists to his surroundings. This wasn't the dojo; neither did it seem to be a prison of any sort. The high ceilings of the vast grey stylized room told him that he was still... a long way from home. The bed he lay on was about ten feet by ten feet wide. Could he be... in a castle?

Knock knock knock. Kochiro turned his head around toward the ornate vast oak doors. It peeped open without him replying and in popped a crazy curly head of blue/green/black. Uriel looked around quizzedly, and then his eyes found Kochiro's and he smiled small and tiptoed inside. He shut the door quietly behind him. "Hey," he said.

"..." Kochiro stared up at the roof. The room was so airy and light. His heartbeat had slowed now and he no longer sweat like a pig but his throat even now felt dry, as did his skin and even his eyes. He swallowed without responding as Uriel walked quietly over. Come to criticize me for my clumsiness.

"Hey," Uriel said again and crawled onto the huge lofty white bed. He crawled right across the wide area till he was sitting cross-legged next to Kochiro. "So..." he began slowly and then exhaled, "we did it."

"!?" Kochiro turned his head around to look at the other boy. Uriel was smiling at him, a smile Kochiro had never seen on him before. There was none of the cheekiness, none of the callousness, none of the overzealous brashness as he'd known before. Uriel's face was still clung with random dirt and streaked with sweat, but his smile seemed soft and genuine for once. He seemed so pleased and happy with himself. The mission apparently had been a complete success, even with Kochiro's mistakes.

"We have Gabriel back with us Kochiro, we really did it. I'm so... relieved." Uriel stretched and plopped down onto his back, lying but two inches from Kochiro with his hands folded under his head. He was smiling at the ceiling. Kochiro gaped at him slightly. "You know, you had me slightly worried there for a while. But I mean, anyway, we all did it... as a team. No one got hurt, I'm just so happy we have Gabriel back."

"..." Kochiro couldn't deny the boy his joy. He decided not to condemn him for lying so close when he clearly hadn't washed as yet. And he wasn't talking as loudly as he usually did. "So Gabriel's here?"

"Yea... still talking with Kandai though. You've been out for about two hours. Kandai said you'd be okay but the greatest worry for you are hypotermey-something and hurting yourself erratically." Uriel explained, "that's what the restraints are for."

"..." Hurt... Kochiro stared at the ceiling as flashbacks hit him. The Soldier he'd killed, Shimazu Hamasaki the acquaintance he'd hated, Yura his best friend, his weak and ailing mother he'd abandoned... He gulped and turned his face into his shoulder, smouldering his voice.

"Huh?" Uriel glanced over and sat up instantly, "hey are you crying? Are you okay? Well except for the BZ... I'm really sorry if I was slightly a tiny bit of a jerk to you. I was nervous," Uriel began speaking rapidly, "I've never done a serious mission like this without Gabriel before and I just kind of panicked. I thought you might have sabotaged everything and ruined the escape plan-"

"Have you ever killed anyone before Uriel?" Kochiro laid dormant in his restraints.

"Killed..?" Uriel spine straightened.

"Yes," Kochiro kept his face hidden as tears welled into his eyes. Uriel looked down at him perplexed. "Have you ever... taken someone's life with your own hands?"

"..." Uriel's young face crinkled. He lowered his chin and then raised back up his head determinedly, "weird freaking question but nah... I've never actually had to kill anyone." He made a fist, "but if you ask me, they'd have been better off dead! Muha ha ha!"

"I've killed before Uriel," Kochiro said quietly. Uriel stopped laughing and slowly lowered his fist. What..? What did he say? "I've killed people Uriel," Kochiro continued, "twice. It... changes you..." He trailed off and shut his eyes. Would he ever be the same again? Even now, he couldn't erase the feelings he'd experienced, he couldn't get over what he'd done. Could he take it back? Would it all have been better if none of this had happened, if Kandai hadn't approached him that night? He couldn't resist the rising and overwhelming despair he felt. It was crushing him. He choked, "Uriel I..." he couldn't continue as darkness welled up inside his chest and spilled out of his eyes.

"..." Uriel didn't say anything as his ally cried silently before him. The new Angel had been more affected than he was. It wasn't just another mission for him; this event had changed his life. Uriel hadn't really thought about his ally's feelings before, he'd been selfish, hadn't he? Uriel shut his eyes and grit his teeth, damn it... "that's not my name."

"!" Kochiro opened his eyes bewildered and stopped crying. He looked over at Uriel for him to continue.

Uriel opened his eyes and smiled kindly at Kochiro. "We don't need aliases anymore, Kochiro. You can call me Firo... my real name," Uriel/ Firo looked Kochiro straight in the eyes, "is Firo."

"..." Kochiro looked at Firo hard. Firo... Firo continued to smile at him. Then he frowned-

"Since you know my secret I best as well," Uriel/Firo scrimmaged behind his back and picked up his fighting staff, "here." He stuck it out before him toward Kochiro. "You can hold my fighting stick and also..." he scrimmaged behind his back some more, "here's my lucky lizard skin, and here, my first baby tooth," Firo revealed both items. "You can also have my pet Spider carcass, these five cool stones I found, a two year wad of gum, a crocodile tooth and ooh," Firo dumped all of his items onto Kochiro's stomach, "my favourite rusty inverted cross wire... Thingy."

"???" Kochiro stared at Firo grinning brightly at the heap of treasures piled on Kochiro's stomach. He was at a loss for words. Firo beamed down on him.

"Yo."

Firo and Kochiro turned their heads to the doorway. Kandai the lead Angel had arrived, leaning against the doorframe as fresh as clean and ever. He opened his green cat eyes coolly, "the kid doesn't want your junk Firo."

"Hmph!!" Firo/Uriel swelled up and pouted angrily, "what are you calling junk??? Look where we are, a ruined freaking castle bakayero!"

"Is he being too loud for you K-kun," Kandai ignored Firo's outburst completely and sauntered over to the opposite side of Kochiro's bed. He casually brushed Firo's items onto the floor and sat on the edge of the bed next to Kochiro. "Sorry about the restraints but they're necessary," he said. "Do you need anything?"

"..." Kochiro shook his head and swallowed. He could do with some water though. Firo in the meantime was heatedly swearing and gathering his treasures off the ground then stood next to Kandai with a pout.

"I tried to give him food earlier on but he won't eat," Firo said

"It's the effects of the BZ, he won't be able to eat for a while he could only handle water. And we have to keep him cool-"

"Mommy," Kochiro uttered.

"Hm?" Firo and Kandai both looked down at the bedridden Kochiro puzzled. Kochiro swallowed dryly and then parted his lips once again.

"I want to see my mommy."

"..." Firo frowned and folded his arms. Kandai said nothing. Kochiro's mother lived all the way down on Lower Deck. Firo knew this as well.

"But," Kochiro wasn't finished as yet, tears were welling up in his eyes, "I don't want her to see me like this, she'll be worried but I... I want to see her; I want to know if she's alright too." Silent tears spilled down his cheeks. Firo couldn't help but be moved though he himself couldn't truly relate to Kochiro's situation.

"Alright-"

"Let him see his mom Kandai!!" Firo put his hands on his hips and pointed at Kandai angrily.

"I am-"

"You can't be so friggin cool all the time!" Firo shouted, "he's worked hard enough, you can't deny him this! I'll go with him if need be! You can't tell him 'no' Mr. High and Mighty, you think you're so..."

"Alright alright!" Kandai cut off Firo sharply and sighed as Firo calmed down. He rubbed the temples of his forehead, "I said I'll go for him. I already know where K-kun lives."

"Oh..." Firo stared off dumbly, "really?"

"And so Firo-boy," Kandai lowered his hand and eyed Firo in a superior fashion, "would you mind taking a shower already. Even K-kun's washed off."

"Why you! That's because I-"

"You don't bathe; you won't be having a meal."

"Kandai," Firo whined dejectedly, "why are you always so mean to me??? Oh man," Firo sniffed himself and shook his head swiftly. Then he grinned deviously, "fine. You win this time..." he jogged toward the door, "I'm gonna let Gabriel smell me. See you on the other side... Kochiro." He smiled and exited through the doors. Kochiro watched him go quietly. Kandai shook his head.

"He was nursing you since we got here."

"Huh?" Kochiro looked up at Kandai but Kandai wasn't returning his gaze. He looked at the spot Firo had just departed from. "He stayed with you, wiped you with a wet cloth since you were so hot and made you drink water while you were unconscious. He's a good kid when need be," Kandai sighed tiredly. "Well," he got to his feet and looked down at Kochiro, "you'll be something of a vegetable for the next day or so but don't worry, you're safe now." Kandai walked off toward the door. "I'll go check on your mother. Guess you'll have to wait before you get to meet Gabriel," he smirked. "Peace out," Kandai waved and closed the door, "K-kun." Shut.

Kochiro watched Firo and Kandai exit, one after the other. He could rest now. He looked back up at the ceiling. Would it really be okay? Was everything going to be all right now? For now though, Kochiro Jinchi; also known as the blue eyed Angel Raphael, closed his eyes and drifted into an unbloodied serene dreamland.

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"I am a man of few words," Bromo explained languidly, not an inch of remorse in his baritone voice, "so let's get to it."

"What's that supposed to mean???" Cogs snarled furiously. "Let's get to what? You helped us escape last time… what's the deal with that?? Are you here to help us again or not???"

"Help you." Bromo annunciated each word in mock and contempt. "Your mistake. I help no enemies of my society. Whatever I do it is in order to advance my own schemes."

"…" Cogs eyes' deepened as she glared at the Soldier captain, hoping to conceal any fear from her body that was already tensing for defense. Hammer was by her side, still and silent as he always was and hopefully not as afraid. They still had the rifles in their possession and Hammer had twice the Soldier's body capacity so why was Cogs beginning to feel as though they were caught between a rock and a hard place..? When had she gleaned the solid figure of the Soldier in ivory attire so intimidating..?

Bromo was completely unmoved before the two Angel Muscles he'd guided before him. Finally he continued his discourse, "proposing you'll both be dead soon, I see no harm in an explanation." Cogs snarled at him. "Oh yes," Bromo snapped sternly, not used to being interrupted by anyone except the wearisome Lord Hamasaki, "you killed a Nobles Soldier, all of your allies have been reprimanded and now you too have been coerced into a corner. I have but to call it in and they none would be forgiving." Bromo breathed evenly. "It's over."

Cogs started to glance about frantically. Hammer stood still beside her, fists balled tight. "We have been fuckin' set up. That fuckball Michael… used us like trash and now thrown us out for the dogs! I'll fuckin' kill him." Suddenly, she became aware of the Noble Soldier Bromo looking at her random rebellious display leisurely with raised eyebrows. His facial features were still as stern as ever but he also looked mildly, curiously amused. However, he wasn't surprised by her following foolishly optimistic bargain. She was already reaching into her strapped-shut back pocket to produce the curious item.

"What is that."

"That, is a very special fuckin virus," the punk Angel replied nastily in a tone that suggested she had the upper hand. "Michael our lead Angel wanted us to give it to Gabriel; our spy, in order to crash all your networks and the info you may have on us. But Hammer and I are done with all this bullshit!" She spread her arms exasperated, "we've only met the guy a couple times but we don't even know his real name!!! He's always moving around, we don't know what Deck he's originated from and I swear that's all he let me know," she swallowed quickly and glanced across at Hammer, "let us know… oh! And he's slim, got long hair and green eyes… and that's all. That's what you wanted right..?"

"Green eyes," Bromo repeated lowly. He lowered his head and stroked his small pointed beard. "Green eyes…" he mumbled.

"Well," Cogs relaxed, closing her palm around the silver box device and reopening it. "You got all the info you wanted from us… we've going now… here's the chip," she tossed her arm back to throw it when-

"Don't throw that to me."

"Huh?" Cogs lowered her arm and exchanged glances with her partner. Hammer grunted and then they both looked at Bromo. "Don't want it?"

"I suspect that is no virus chip."

"Wha… you calling me a li…" Cogs opened her palm to actually inspect the device for the first time. When she's been first handed it, she figured the virus chip was inside the silver container. The funny lid lock she assumed, was simply a special lock that Gabriel would be able to open. Now she placed her hand on it, Hammer leaning in to look as well. "Fuck…?"

"You being alive still is by no luck of yours." Cogs was scarcely listening to Bromo's voice which seemed to be falling away as she tried to pry loose the switch. "It seems your 'Michael' has won this round…" his voice faded. Cogs looked up just as she unclicked the device.

"???" Click… it opened.

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A few months ago, Cogs and Hammer were in the network of computers that encircled and operated each pillar. The thick walls of the pillar contained a series of cables and switches but it was fairly roomy enough to move about in with a squeeze and of course, plant bombs in. Cogs and Hammer had to be careful not to step into metal spacings in the floor that lead down to the Mid Deck Pillar passage or snap the wires there. The continuous security check gave them five minutes to get out before alarming the officers. It was a long winding space to cover and Hammer could barely more than a baby step at a time so Cogs left him to complete the rest.

She decided this when his foot got stuck straight down into a metal slot a mess of cables was hiding. It had slashed his foot as he plummeted down to his thigh. "I'll plant the bombs, you free yourself, hurry."

"Mmph," he'd agreed but when she came back he was still struggling and the security lights flashed in the miropane glass of the Pillar walls.

"Shit Hammer," Cogs twisted her way toward her partner and started pulling brusquely at his leg. It helps lock him further into place. "Interesting. Well we can always simply... Cut your leg you know. Big guy like you it'll only hurt a pinch." Cogs stroked her chin thoughtfully. Hammer's brow rose on his solemn silent face but he was ready to accept any fate Cogs would decide for him. Just as suddenly however, his partner was shaking her head. "Nah that'll probably come to be a liability. Stupid idea. Plus I don't have my saw here..."

Cogs rose to her feet. The red security lights were still flashing mutely around them. She wiped her wristband against her forehead and looked toward the mirror walls. "It'll only be Middle Deck officers," she said to Hammer, "I'll go distract them." And with that, she slid through the concealed Mirror glass doors and out into the circular elevator platform of the Pillar.

The decoder Angel Michael had given them was still attached to the security lock so Cogs only had to press the button for the doors to open. She did so, standing upright as the metal doors slid open before her and put a foot forward to step out. Then she stopped dead in her tracks. Black pointed shoes. Someone was standing before her. Her eyes followed the shoes upward; white, white and more white and eventually she came to a sturdy face with pointed black sideburns and a beard stubble that could pierce and sink a warship.

A Nobles Soldier Captain wearing his Captain's cloak casually, as though it were a simple night walk in the park, was standing before her. She would soon come to know this person as Captain Lord Bromo. Cog's breath caught, but only for a second. She instantly swallowed her transient alarm and launched herself forward. "Scuuuuummmm!!!" She roared as her fist flew out, carrying her across the few yards toward the Noble who didn't shift a fraction. Instead, he raised a steady palm and caught her fist with uncanny ease, spinning her around with the force of her incoming fury.

It took a while for Cogs to realize what had just happened. Bromo had her hands pulled up behind her, trapped in his arm and his other hand was on the nape of a neck, pushing her head forcefully downward and facing the way she had just attacked from. "Wha..?" She gasped and tried to run. Bromo tapped the back of her neck and shoved her forward. She slammed into the Pillar door. She spun around to the immobile soldier perplexed and grew maddened instantly.

"Smugg assho-" she stepped forward and stopped. The soldier didn't move. She swallowed. She knew she couldn't win. "..." the Middle Deck officers were probably going to arrive any minute soon. Cogs grit her teeth and snarled at the Soldier before spinning around and racing back into the Pillar. She had to escape with Hammer now. Why had a Soldier been there anyway? The punk Angel shook her head swiftly and skid to a halt as she hit the elevating platform. She walked into the mirror walls where Hammer was still having trouble freeing himself. He looked up as she entered in a rush.

"Fuck this Hammer, we've gotta get out of here." Hammer's slashed brow raised. She got down on her knees next to him and looked into his eyes. "A fucking Soldier."

"..." Hammer nodded. He drew his own spot on punch the ground where his foot was stuck. The metal ground erupted and gave way to wire cables feeding down into the lower deck. Cogs grabbed onto his shoulder and kicked the rest of the flooring away.

"Here we go," Cogs and Hammer dove down into the hole, their hands on fire upon the cables as they slid down their exits. "NOW!!!" Hammer pushed the button on the detonator at his waist and the air above them burst into flames as the bombs they had planted in the Pillar exploded. Fire was roaring above their heads as they rode the ferocity down into the lower Deck. Another Pillar had been destroyed.

But what was the Soldier doing there? And why had he let Cogs escape? Cogs was wondering this as they descended the levels. What she hadn't noticed was that there was another spectator in the happenings above. The green-eyed shadow had watched the exchange between Angel Muscle on Soldier Captain with interest.

****************************

Cogs unlocked the silver device and as if in slow motion, a red tongue licked upward and curled and curled, and grew... The box in her hand exploded in two seconds flat. Hammers eyes widened. "Cogs!!!" He called out and grabbed Cogs by the shoulders, wrapping himself around her as the fires engulfed them both. It was a glorious fire. It was huge and red and yellow and green and beautifully handmade by the leader Kandai alias Michael. There was no way that one could survive a direct impact like that.

Time rolled past as the fires calmed, spitting gray asthmatic chugs of smoke into the night air. Fire rolled leisurely on the grounds and peaceably on the nearby debris. Cogs laid dazed on her stomach beneath Hammer's charred, heavy body. He had given his life for hers, but she couldn't move. It was all over...

Black shoes walked into her hazy view and she looked up. Lord Bromo stood there in his white uniform, unmarred of any soot whatsoever. He looked down at her. "It was all a trap," he said.

Cogs blinked... "A trap..." The truth was now bestowing itself.

"You were bait. I used you as bait... and I now see that your cold-hearted leader employed you in this same manner as well," Bromo's eyes deepened. Cogs coughed but fought against unconsciousness. "That time back at Pillars 344 on Middle Deck, the first time we met... I placed a tracker chip onto your neck so you lead me straight to your leader. That, and for that sole reason is why I've let you two live for so long."

Bromo breathed in deeply as if taking a drag of a cigarette. The body below him was burning horribly and he exhaled the stinging revulsion sharply. Cogs, in her scabbed state, still tried to glare at the enemy and make him understand her true loathing. He simply looked back at her and continued his narrative. "Your leader was far worse I believe. Somehow, he realized my plot and that I was tracking you two. That is why he cut off all communication with you. He didn't tell you because he realized he could probably use it against me. And he almost managed it... except here I know stand... and there you lay.

He went through this entire elaborate plot of rescuing you and lying to you because he knew we would meet up again. His plan was simply to kill us all with that handmade grenade. Truly cold work... it seems he has won this round. He must have some special personal vendetta against me..." Bromo trailed off to ponder. Who could the Angel Michael be..?

Cogs caught his faraway gaze and enraged. LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU FUCKING KILL ME!!! "Grr," she hawked in her throat and spat onto the glistening shoes before her. Bromo stopped dreaming and looked downward. Spittle was decorating his shoes. He looked into the eyes of the fallen Angel before him. Her eyes were steely and fierce, even in the face of death.

"Any last words?" he asked coldly;

"Yeah," Cogs said, and she thought long and hard about the message she and her partner wanted to leave. Their last legacy to the entire world... "Fuck you."

Bromo lifted his decorated shoe and stamped down on the woman's neck. It snapped easily and he squeezed down till he knew life had departed from her. Then he lifted his foot and backed away. This chapter was over. Now he had to figure out just who this Angel who wanted it most dead could be...

Suddenly, there was a scuffle in the bushes behind him and Lord Bromo spun around, ready to kill again. A twig-covered, dirt spewed, brown haired head popped out and brown eyes sparkled as they met Lord Bromo's. "Master! I've finally found you!" Tanjo squealed enthusiastically. Bromo glared. Tanjo winced. "Uh... I mean sir..."

Bromo turned around and started away from the fire, heading toward HQ. This stupid elongated scene is finally over.

****************************

Totomi Hamasaki stood outside the Soldier's Conference room at HQ where the meeting was about to take place. They now had unavoidable evidence to expose who the L. D. Angel was. Father... Totomi thought, listening calmly to the scuffling behind the glossy smoothest black doors of the Conference room. Then, he placed his hands on the lion head handlebars and pushed the doors in.

The doors opened to reveal the massive cooled chamber where all the Soldiers and Captains were taking their seats. Upon entering, Totomi paused in the doorway to scan the room and immediately he locked eyes with his father. Lord Hamasaki gave him a curt nod and then proceeded to find himself seated.

Soldier's Conference room A, like almost all the other rooms within the Nobles Headquarters, was furnished entirely in ornate white. The furthest wall at the back was hung with monumental drapes the colour of white gold that changed shades marginally upon wavering. These hid the ceiling to floor bay windows petered with gaudy Christian collages. The other meeting room's curtains were the same except it was all done in royal burgundy. Above the curtains, a central gothic rugged crucifix centred itself. This was the symbol of the Nobles Empire.

Lining the front of this wall was the Soldier Captain's desk, which spanned a length of seven seats. This was the only coloured item in the room other then the natural colours of white, gold and silver. It was black like the entrance doors, and so glossy and sleek that it appeared to be glistening. Facing this desk was the fairly longer U-shaped white desk for the Soldiers and above this, a U-shaped mezzanine for more seating. In the middle of the room, between the Captain's desk and the Soldiers' U-desk, was a single stand for the holograph where rotating 3D visuals and projects were usually presented. Finally, in the corner some distance behind the Captain's desk, sat a High Deck official who would also be taking the minutes and was currently giving the agenda for the meeting-

"Call to order meeting of Nobles Soldiers held in Conference room A at Soldiers Headquarters on 20th February 2013. Meeting convenes at 9am with presiding Captains Lord Hamasaki, Lord Bromo..." he continued listing all the Soldiers in attendance.

Totomi took the end seat next to his longtime friend Tanjo who turned to smile optimistically at him, and appearing alarmingly wear (for Totomi knew that Tanjo hadn't been anywhere remotely close to the happenings of the Tradings building the previous night.) Around the rest of the U-desk, at the opposite end sat Kentaro; the spectacled intellect. Maburik; his blonde best friend and some other Soldiers seated in between them for which Totomi was eternally grateful. At the Captains desk sat his father, Lady Dojima and another lady. The other four Soldier Captains were amiss. Totomi looked up into the balcony area. Lord Bromo sat there in a far off seat although he too was a Captain. No one seemed bothered to tell him about this so Totomi too decided to overlook it.

"Thank you," it was Lady Dojima who started the motions from where she sat. There was no obligation for anyone to stand or speak, nor was there any appointed speaker as all the Captains were deemed equal and had turns to take authority for concluding each meeting. Apparently that day, it fell to Lady Dojima who had pioneered the entire orchestral operations the preceding night. "Good day fellow Captains and good day Soldiers. We start off this meeting by gathering all the intelligence we have on the L. D. Angels.

Their objectives were number one; to destroy the Pillars. Henceforth failed. Number two; for we Nobles to reveal our supposed secret project. Lord Bromo will take reign of this item at our last motion.

There were 22 detained Angels in total but it would seem so far. they have no valuable information. They were evidently called the Muscles; disposable members of the L. D. terrorists who were born in the Lower and Middle Decks.

As brought to our attention by Lord Bromo, the forefront of this group are individuals by the name of Cogs; a 24 year old Middle Deck resident, and Hammer; a 25 year old Middle Deck resident both deceased due to a freak explosion. Thanks to the sacrifice of Nagira, we have learnt of the four head members of the L. D. Angels."

By that time, the effect of the sombre meeting had fallen across the entire room. This was what they had been waiting for. Totomi cast a glance at his father who had leant forward pensively in his chair. Lady Dojima put up a holograph into the central hub at the centre of the room. It showed a black shadow of a figure with the words 'ANGEL 1' labelled atop. "Angel 1, the one who had encountered Nagira was a young boy, approximately 14 years of age. That is all we know.

Angel 2," at this, the holograph distorted slightly to a shorter shadowed figure with curled hair sprouting from its head and the words 'ANGEL 2' labelled atop along with additional information. Totomi was positive this was the Angel he had fought against. Lady Dojima continued. "Thanks to Totomi Hamasaki we now know Angel 2 goes by the alias Uriel. He is a young boy roughly 13 years with curly coloured hair. He is also an avid Bojutsu martial artist. Angel 3-" a new image appeared. This was the Angel most of the Soldiers and officers had caught but sparing glimpses of. The figure was taller, cloaked with a long ponytailed hair.

"This is the elusive leader of the Angel terrorists We have known to call him 'Michael' before. He is approximately 20 years of age. Deck of residence unknown, black long hair and green eyes..."

Was it just Totomi's imagination, or had his father appeared fleetingly stunned a second ago. Not only that, but next to him, the other Captain had pursed her lips firmly. Was Totomi the only one who had noticed these transitory reactive expressions as Lady Dojima had described the eye colour of the lead Angel? Or was he being a bit obsessive? After all, it was only coloured eyes. Even though Nobles were the only ones with coloured eyes, perhaps a handful Lower Deck citizens could have it as well without it being strange? "We also learnt his name to be Kandai."

Up in the corner of the mezzanine, Lord Bromo the Captain with the usually sternest composition smiled faintly. Totomi was too distracted by his father's own gravening expression to notice. Lord Bromo's head notched down fractionally. Ah... he thought as enlightenment sparked into his eyes. So Kandai, is it. The smile reached full fruition. I remember you...

Lady Dojima cleared her throat as she brought up the image of the final Angel's silhouette. Everyone was looking intently at the image now. Lord Bromo got up from his seat to exit the room. He didn't need to stay here for this. He already knew who the spy was as he'd known all along.

Totomi's breath caught in his throat as he too looked at the image beginning to fill in with colour. It can't be...

"Angel 4; the spy. Angel Gabriel's real name is-"

CRSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

"What in God's name..?" Lady Dojima jumped up as the holograph emitted a shrill sound and then promptly whitened out. Dozens of small black pixelated angels appeared and started flying about the distorted image. A virus had crashed the network. The spy had managed to slip it into their system before leaving.

"Jesus Christ," Maburik was the first one to speak, but he seemed fairly amsued and unbothered. The Captains had all risen from their seats along with the Soldiers. All except for Totomi who was sitting in shock at the revealed picture of the Angel spy, now a clear holograph. The little black virus angels continued to fly merrily around the rotating 3D figure.

****************************

Meanwhile, in an immaculate haze oblivious to everything that was going on around him and the stirring commotions on each Deck, Kochiro Jinchi was sleeping soundly in the pouring sunlight of the High Deck ruined castle within the passing days. For him- his mind was at a perfect state of ease for it was finally over.

In reality, everything had only just begun.