Weiß kreuz OAV v.2 ~ Strafe. trans. and etcetc. by Jey Kama, August 16th, 2000. Version 1.5 August 30th, 2000. ((Note, this translation was written for people who haven't seen the OAVs yet, thus the rather indepth scene descriptions. It is possible to use this script for subtitling, as it is line-for-line, but as I have no idea how to subtitle, I'll leave it up to the ambitious who want to try. Not too much vocabulary here, just the awkward name of "Rabbit-eared Iris" instead of kakitsubata, and as before 'saya' for a katana scabbard. Strafe is German for 'punishment.')) ------ [Snow falls, a thick white carpet burying everything underneath. A lone figure stands upright, white-sleeved arms hatched with bleeding cuts, snapped wires still twisted around the slashed heavy leather of his shattered bugnuks, only one claw intact. He screams in frustration at the horizon. Omi, limp in a net of wires. Youji, face-down in the blood-stained snow. Aya, his chest a broken mess, sightless eyes staring at the sky. All around, just a field of pure white snow.] ------ [Opening Credits] ------ [Aya and Youji stand in the darkened conference room of the trailer, suited up and resigned to the message at hand.] Persia: [recording] Traitors have appeared within Weiß: "Siberian" Ken Hidaka and "Bombay" Omi Tsukiyono. If they will not comply with the mission, they are naught but ordinary murderers. These traitors have willfully taken of blood and sin for others. White hunters of evil, hunt the futures of these dark beasts! [Without the projector lighting, the room is pitched into darkness. Aya stands motionless, whatever thoughts passing through his mind inscrutible to the outside world. Youji doubles up, caught by a short spasm of sarcastic laughter.] Youji: Hah! Has Persia gone nuts? He wants us to punish Ken'n Omi?! Aya: Don't think about it. This is just another mission. [Aya stares at the ground, voice steady, but Youji whirls around, snarling.] Youji: Aya!? You can't be serious!? Aya: Youji, what can you be saying? [he looks at Youji wearily] We are... Weiß. [Youji clenches his teeth, but keeps his silence.] ------ [Night falls upon a carnival grounds surrounded by forest...] Ken: Where're we? Akira: Just what it looks like, an abandoned amusement park. We'll be safe here. Ken: I guess so... At least there won't be innocent lives to endanger here even if we're discovered. [The single lightbulb inside of the carousel control booth illuminates the shabby interior. Closing the door behind him, Ken finds himself face to face with Akira's shotgun barrel again.] Akira: Well, now's a good time to introduce yourselves. Kaori: Big brother!! Akira: Just what are you guys? Omi: Wait! We're...! [Ken interrupts Omi's outburst.] Ken: Omi! He's only pointin' the gun at me. [to Akira] We're friends. Akira: Back in the sewers, that guy who tried to kill me was also your friend? And you're after Nichol, too... ------ Powell: Finally, that meddlesome Nichol is disposed of. [On the monitor, Nichol's bloated face is covered as someone zips the bodybag closed.] Powell: They certainly do superb work, those Weiß members. It's hard to believe that professionals of such caliber exist in Japan. It's really a pity... [He looks over his shoulder and smirks, and a tear slowly streaks down the cheek of a gagged woman.] ------ [Back in the carousel room...] Akira: I'd heard some rumors from investigations that there are some criminals that the police can't bring to justice. For some reason, they're allowed to murder time and again. You wouldn't happen to be one of them? [Ken's brow clenches, but he says nothing.] Omi: Akira! Kaori: Big brother! Stop it!! Ken: And if I were, what would you do? [Suddenly, Akira grins and hefts the shotgun over his shoulder.] Akira: I wouldn't do anything! No matter who you happen to be, the truth is still that you saved Kaori'n my lives. [Omi clutches his heart and sighs in deep relief. Kaori steps over to give her a brother a bit of sisterly rebuking.] Kaori: Big brother, don't scare me like that! Akira: Sorry, I'm sorry! [Ken obliviously watches their interaction with a smile. Omi sidles up next to him, still recovering.] Omi: For a while there, I didn't know WHAT was going to happen. Ken: [he grins] Yeah, me too. Omi: But, I'm happy for them. What about you, Ken-kun? Ken: Yeah... ------ [The night deepens over the carnival, the moon full and bright in the starless sky. Back in the trailer, Youji starts up another cigarette, brows wrinkled in doubt and worry.] Youji: (A lamb who's tasted blood becomes a wolf. It cannot return to the flock.) [He remembers the exchange back in the hospital sewers.] Youji: (Ken! You know what it means right? to interfere in a mission!) Ken: (I know... But I can't just stand back! I'm no different from Akira! Without Persia, I'd've been just like him!!) [He'd been lying back on the sofa for a while, the cigarette a leaning tower of ashes reaching nearly to the filter. In the back room, Aya measures the soil temperature of a seedling, spraying and wipings its leaves. His face betrays nothing.] ------ [Akira finishes his story.] Akira: (Probably Nichol was betrayed, and so shot down the Army plane to kill the betrayer. Right onto our home...) [Once again, young Akira and Kaori stand before the flaming wreckage of their home. Behind them, men in riot gear, gas masks and heavy rifles form up.] Soldier 5: Arrived at Point 3! Mobilize and entering Point B-2! Nichol: It might be necessary to search the area. White Rats, proceed to 2-4-2! [Noticing the activity behind them, young Akira and Kaori turn around fearfully.] ------ [Omi bandages Ken's hand, wounded from Youji's wires.] Akira: They proceeded to follow his orders, and then... then... Ken: Then what happened? Akira: And then... suddenly we weren't in Japan. They found the pilot, and brought him before that man... [The helpless, bound pilot looks at Nichol's sunglassed mug in trembling fear. Nichol merely pulls out a pistol and shoots him in the forehead.] Akira: The whole thing was written off as an accident. Our parents' death, everything. In Japan, a murderer right before my eyes and I could do nothing. But we're the only ones who can do it... can get our parents' revenge. Ken: But was it right to get your little sister Kaori mixed up in this? Not just Kaori-chan! Three friends of hers were killed, too! [Akira looks at Ken in shock, completely baffled, then to Kaori, who buries her face in her knees. He places a comforting hand on her shoulder] Akira: Is this true?! Kaori? Kaori! Kaori: I told her it wasn't a game, but... Yukie... ------ [A couple years ago, in some classrom at Hokusei HS, Yukie sneaks a glance at Kaori's laptop.] Yukie: Wow, neat! Kaori: Eh? Yukie: What're you hacking? [She covers the laptop with her arms, embarressedly.] Kaori: No! It's nothing like that! [Yukie bends over for a look and starts tapping on the keys.] Yukie: But if you don't do this, you'll leave tracks behind. See? [Finally, she notices what Kaori was hacking into.] Yukie: Why're you digging in a place like that?! Kaori: Um... well... Yukie: I get it... for that revenge you were talking about? [Kaori looks away, but nods.] Yukie: Well, that's that! I'm just gonna have to help you! Kaori: Wha? Yukie: [She giggles and winks] Lemme at it! Kaori: (We were a team with Yukie's other school friends. They thought it was just a game to boast about on our homepages, but during those games, I was steadily infiltrating the target's libraries looking for information about that incident, when I found out about the Rats. And then... there... Colonel Nichol... I didn't think it would turn out like this! [She sobs] Akira: Damn! He did it again?! [He stands up, facing Ken and Omi.] Akira: This is how he does things. We can't let him play Japan like a toy! Whenever there's trouble, he just runs back inside his fence. We gotta kill him before he runs away! ------ [Back at the base, Powell mutters commands to the monitors.] Computer: Target 1, confirmed, sir. No complications. Powell: Change in target. Initialize Program B and confirm status of warhead triggers. Computer: Confirming warhead triggers on units 1 through 5... All units functioning and operational. ------ [Wrapped in rough canvas cloth, the four get much-needed rest. Kaori sleeps on her brother's lap, while Omi and Ken huddle next to each other. Day breaks, and Ken stealthily sneaks out alone. He makes it to the carousel porch.] Omi: Ken-kun! [Ken stops, and only sort of looks back at Omi grinning from the door.] Omi: You couldn't possibly be thinking of getting Colonel Nichol on your lonesome? Ken: N... Nah, no way! Omi: [teasingly] Then what? Ken: Tch... Omi: [seriously] I want to protect Kaori... keep those two safe, too. But we can't do it by ourselves. [brightly] Let's go talk to Aya and Youji! They'll understand. We're friends, after all! Ken: Friends? [Ken looks out at the carnival grounds, inwardly smirking at Omi's words.] Ken: (I never really thought about them that way.) [He starts when Omi peeks around his shoulders] Omi: What's wrong? [He blushes a little at Omi's nosy innocence, turning away.] Ken: N...Nothing! Omi: Hmmm? Ken: Wha...What?! [Omi laughs, turning his big eyes on Ken.] Omi: Heh! You're thinking the same thing as me. Ken: Huh? Omi: 'Whaddo I do?! It's too embarressing to go'n apologize by myself.' Ken: WHAA?! Omi: I'll go apologize to them with you! We'll ask if they can help take care of Kaori'n Akira! They'll understand, we're friends! [Ken watches Omi's antics rather dumbfoundedly, but can't help but to look away doubtfully. Omi sighs, then just roughly pushes Ken forwards.] Omi: Come'n, let's just go! Can't hurt to! Ken: H, heeey.... [losing his balance] OMI!!!! ------ [Kaori works furiously on her laptop.] Akira: Well, they're gone. At least they didn't try anything while we were asleep. Kaori, you find out where Nichol's at yet? Kaori: I'm still working on it. Akira: Now that they've betrayed us, we've gotta leave here before they come back to kill us. Kaori: Ken's not that kind of person! They've just gone... to get help for us... Akira: Kaori... [High in the air and approaching quickly, a dozen combat choppers move into position.] Soldier 6: White Rats, arriving at Point D! [Someone loads a rifle...] ------ [Omi peeks into the driver's seat of the trailer. It is empty, as is the living space inside.] Omi: I guess Aya-kun and Youji-kun've gone out somewhere. [They open up the side door. Omi heads for the computer in the back room, while Ken looks down at the crumpled cigarette box and tray on the coffee table, stuffed full with expired cigarette butts. He grins slightly.] Ken: (Youji musta gone tobacco shopping...) [Omi's shouts interrupt his thoughts.] Omi: Ken-kun! This's bad! [He runs into the back room, Omi hard at work on the computer console. Omi plays Persia's last recording.] Omi: Look at this! Persia: [recording] Members of Weiß, traitors have appeared within Weiß: "Siberian" Ken Hidaka and "Bombay" Omi Tsukiyono. If they will not comply with the mission, they are naught but ordinary murderers. These traitors have willfully taken of blood and sin for others. White hunters of evil, hunt the futures of these dark beasts! [They watch the video flicker out in disbelief.] Omi: I can't believe this... Persia... Why would Persia...?! [Youji's voice echoes through the trailer's back doors.] Youji: Can't believe you guys... [The back doors open to Youji's silhouette and his Super 7's (another one) headlights on full beam into the room.] Youji: You surprised even me. You shoulda been smart enough to run far away by now. [he shouts] Why're you back!? Omi: Youji-kun... ------ [Kaori's computer suddenly flashes a huge "HOLD-UP" window. Her eyes widened in terror, she shouts at her brother, taking a snooze.] Kaori: Big brother! We're in trouble! [Rousing himself sleepily, he stands up.] Akira: What's wrong, Kaori? [He's answered by a hail of bullets crashing through the window and eating through the wood walls. Outside, the carousel horses disintegrate in the destructive fire, the squad of Rats lined up for the execution.] ------ [Youji opens the door of the little refrigerator in the living room, pulling out a Budweiser. He at least listens to Ken and Omi's story.] Omi: Youji-kun... is that mission... for real? Youji: Yep... Ken: Youji, you gonna take that mission? Youji: Persia gave the mission. [He pops open the can] Following his orders's our job. Omi: So you're seriously going to kill us? This's really weird! Youji: [He chucks some beer] Aya would. Me, I have no choice. Omi: Ken-kun'n I've done nothing wrong! There's something weird about this mission! [Youji's hand clenches angrily, crushing the still-full can of beer with it. The yellow liquid fizzles to the floor.] Youji: We were given a mission! [softly]... Aya'd kill you, no questions asked. Hurry an' get outta here! ------ [The entire windowpane is gone, the wooden wall riddled with gaping holes. Kaori and Akira had crouched under the concrete wall foundation for safety, but Akira had apparently taken a graze to his forehead.] Akira: It's those damn Rats! Are you all right, Kaori? Kaori!? [Kaori trembles, but nods when she can open her eyes again.] Kaori: I'm... I'm OK... [her eyes widen upon seeing the blood] Big brother! You're bleeding! [He smiles comfortingly, but his brows are furrowed.] Akira: It's nothing serious. I'll be OK. Kaori: But...! Akira: Don't worry. Your big bro's going to keep the enemy occupied. While I'm doing that, you gotta escape, Kaori! Kaori: No! I can't, not without you! We gotta escape together! [A soldier slowly peeks through the open window, and receives a shotgun shell right through the facemask, the hard plastic completely disfigured by the blast. Akira curses in fury.] Akira: The bastards!! I'll kill'm all! [She looks at him with helpless eyes.] Kaori: Big brother... ------ [The crumpled Budweiser can takes center stage on the coffee table, surrounded by the emptied rest of the six-pack. He sprawls on the sofa, smoking again.] Youji: (Hurry and leave, and never let us find you, 'cause we'll be looking to kill you sometime soon... Don't forget this: the next time we meet, we'll be enemies.) [Ken and Omi trudge through the falling snow away from the trailed, eyes downcast and despondant. They give it one last look before making back to the amusement park.] Ken: (Yeah, I know... Youji.) Omi: (There's something horribly wrong... I just want to protect those two, those siblings... but why does it make Aya-kun and Youji-kun our enemies?! Why must we try to kill our friends?! Why?! Why...) ------ [The Rats continue to shoot into the carousel, knowing their targets were still alive. Akira counts the number of bullets he has left.] Akira: (Only three bullets left...) Kaori, you should get ready. We haven't got a chance against them. [She gulps, turns around, and closes her eyes, trembling.] Akira: Don't worry, your big bro'll be leaving soon, too. I won't leave you behind. [He points the shotgun at her head, and slowly squeezes the trigger.] ------ [Aya socks Youji's jaw with a hard right hook, sending him spiraling to the floor. Aya growls at him, but Youji only chuckles sardonically.] Aya: You purposely let them slip away! Youji: Heh, I was lucky they only wanted to escape. Me against the two of them would've been hopeless. [Youji drags himself to his feet, rubbing the bruise on his cheek.] Youji: If I'd went at'em wanting to die, they'd probably could've downed me, don't you think? Aya: You're completely unqualified for Weiß. Manx: [from the projector] Absolutely. [The two look up at the projector screen, where the image of Manx greets them.] Manx: [projection] We've found Akira Hibana's location, an abandoned amusement park. Where he is, no doubt Omi and Ken will be, too. Understood? This is your mission! [Youji stands up and spits angrily.] Youji: I know already! [Furious, he storms from the room. Aya turns to go, too, but turns back to the image, his next words deliberate.] Aya: Has your black lily allergy passed? Manx: Not yet. This attack's being a bit stubborn. Aya: I see. [He leaves without another word.] ------ [Akira's finger loosens from the shotgun trigger. Her eyes trembling open, seeing as she's not dead yet, she looks over to her brother, who is standing near the window in contemplation.] Kaori: Big brother! [He looks back at her, smiling.] Akira: Well, Ken should be coming soon with help. You hide over there. Your big bro's going to buy you some time. Kaori: Big brother!!! [She yells out as he hurls himself through the wooden walls, weakened by the perforating bullet holes, the boards breaking around him like brittle. He shouts in vengeance against the line of Rats standing outside the carousel, but before he can fire one shot, the leader gives the thumbs-down, and the squad fires round after automatic round into Akira's body. Kaori runs out after the gunfire is over to see her brother's body.] Kaori: Big brother!!!!! Big brother... no... [Clapping her hands over her ears, she screams.] ------ [Watching the entire thing from his monitors, Powell witnesses Akira's death with smug glee.] Powell: And now the last who knew of Nichol are perished. My scenario speedily unfolds into its final stages. [Standing behind him with two guards is a woman, handcuffed hands clenched.] ------ [As night falls again, Ken and Omi arrive much too late to help Akira, whose torn body they find lying on the crimson snow. While Ken mulls over him, Omi rushes into the carousel room.] Omi: Where's Kaori? [Ken kneels down beside Akira...] Ken: (Why...? Why is it that everyone I believe in've died before me?) [Tears falling down his face, he closes Akira's eyes.] [Inside the room, Omi finds Kaori's computer. Displayed on its monitor is a map of the area with a flashing red dot, and a recording set on infinite repeat.] Kaori: [recording] Help me, Omi!... Help me, Omi!... Help me, Omi!... [He dashes from the room.] Omi: Ken-kun! Kaori's been... [Omi gasps, shocked by what he sees.] Omi: No... It can't be...! Ken-kun! Ken: What's up, Omi? [He stands up and turns to see what Omi's looking at. Two men, one in a black coat, one in white. They regard each other in silence for long moments.] Ken: You've come... to kill us? Omi: Wait! Kaori's been kidnapped by the Rats! If we don't go and rescue her now...!? [Omi gestures wildly, desperate both to save her and stop his friends from killing each other. Youji just pulls a length of wire from his watch, the metal squealing.] Youji: We're not here for Kaori-chan or the Rats... [Aya, holding his weapon horizontal in front of him, slowly pulls the long katana from its saya.] Aya: Only to kill you two. Omi: Why?! [Ken, determined to do what he believes in, snaps out his bugnuks.] Ken: Omi, let's rock! For the ones I believe in, I'll fight anyone! Omi: But you're talking about fighting friends!! Ken: Y'gotta fight, Omi! If you don't fight, you won't be able to save Kaori! [Omi clenches his eyes shut in agony, while Youji takes this chance to whip his wires around Omi's throat and the carousel horse behind him. The large loop constricts in an instant with a force powerful enough to throw Omi back against the wooden horse. It's only the high collar of Omi's vest that saves him from getting his head shredded off. Ken turns around in shock.] Ken: Omi!! [Aya explodes towards Ken. Barely blocking the blow with both his hands, Ken finds out just too late, that it was only the saya his claws were gripping, the katana itself free and poised in the air. He clenches his teeth in pain when Aya knifes the tip deep into Ken's right shoulder.] Ken: Ga~uh!! [Omi can only gasp in horror.] Omi: Ken-kun!!! [Shoulder spattered with blood, Ken glares at Aya in defiance.] Aya: I will be slow... so to let your body feel the weight of your sins! [Omi struggles helplessly with the tightening wires.] Omi: K..ken...k..un... [Barely able to think, he grabs the bowgun from its side holster, and triggers its bow to open. Automatically armed and cocked, he fires it at Youji's wires. The bolt snaps the wire, and buries itself between Youji's feet.] Youji: What's the matter, Omi? Even though I don't wanna fight you, I won't hold back. You're our targets. [Omi struggles to recover his breath, pulling the wires away from his neck.] Omi: Is it so terrible a sin to believe in someone? Enough to make friends fight each other?! Is this a punishment?! No!! I won't believe it!! It can't be a sin!! [He aims his bowgun at Youji, tears pouring from his eyes.] Omi: This can't be the punishment!! [The snow falls around them.] ------ [Kaori looks at the man with wide, terrified eyes.] Powell: So the snow falls again? It's not according to scenario, but it makes this battle all the more beautifically dramatic. [He turns from the monitors, and looks at Kaori.] Powell: Come over, the best seats are right here. Manx: [from behind] It's best not to watch. [Kaori had stepped forward a bit when Manx speaks. She looks over to the cuffed woman, her own eyes closed.] Manx: If you look, you'll certainly regret it. Instead, you should be looking at... that man right in front of you! General Norman Powell, top commander of the American Army! He used Nichol to make the Rats ghost army, enriched himself second-hand by selling American munitions underground, a boss of a base full of rats fawning upon his crooked schemes! He used us to get rid of Nichol... He gave the order to kill your brother... This very man! [Powell only smirks at Manx's generous description of him.] Powell: Hmph! Nichol had taken to threatening me. It would have been a simple matter to kill him, but I thought of a more interesting scenario. As a matter of fact, I thank you and your brother for being such excellent use to me! Kaori: Us...? Powell: Your desire for revenge formed the backbone of my scenario. Well, then, come watch with me. They're fighting because of you, this beautiful war between friends... ------ [Snow falling around an abandoned carnival, a carousel horse entwined with wire, riddled with bowgun bolts, and smeared with blood. Twisted in those selfsame wires is Omi, coughing blood in agony. Sword and bugnuk screech not far in the distance.] [The wire taut and trembling from the watch on his arm, pierced completely through by one of Omi's arrows, blood streaking down his face, Youji grits his teeth but keeps the boy fast] [Not far away, blood dripping onto the newly-fallen snow, Ken and Aya stand off, glaring at each other with weapons ready. His muscles coil, twin bugnuks snapping to the fore. Aya watches him with a cool malignance] [Sliding one foot forwards, Aya breaks the silence, flinging off his full white trenchcoat before bursting into full charge. Ken can do nothing but prepare for the onslaught] [yeahyeah, so I was cheap and C&Ped] ------ [Powell lets out a full-bellied laugh of satisfaction.] Powell: Hahhahhah! Everything's proceeding according to scenario. [He turns his head a fraction toward the captive women, wide smirk on his face.] Powell: Let watch closely, shall we? Hehheh... [Manx watches with gritted teeth, Kaori with wide eyes.] ------ [Pushing himself free with the clacking the bowgun's moving parts, he aims it at Aya and Youji, both facing him with no forgiveness in their eyes. Backing away slowly, he finds himself unable to pull the trigger.] [Behind them, Ken pushes himself off of his face. Blood covering his eyes, he is barely able to see Youji suspending Omi from the ground with multiple strands of wires, and Aya walking forwards. Unable to move in the wire net, Omi lifts his head at Aya's approach, watching the man bare the katana again and drop the saya to the snow. Hefting the blade in both hands, he guts Omi as he did Nichol.] [Ken watches in horror as Aya rips the katana free with a slash of blood, then launches himself in the fallen boy's direction in a vengeance.] Ken: Omii!!!!!! [He twists Youji's hurled wires in his claws, the strands useless in such close quarters. Barely breaking his stride, he claws Youji deep across his breast, ripping right through his left shoulder. Trembling eyes staring at the powdered sky through cracked sunglasses, Youji manages a few whispered words before his life bleeds away into the snow.] Youji: Living was so empty anyways... I'll leave you guys first... [Collapsed onto the snow on his knees, Ken pants for breath and glares at his last opponent, sword still bloody, Omi's body limp beyond him. Aya, none the worse for wear, brings his katana up and about, gripped surely and ready.] ------ Powell: Two left? I wonder which will win? ------ [Aya leads the attack, Ken unable to do much with his gloves' reach other than to block the long katana from his throat. Sparks fly as the blade skids off of the claws, Aya able to apply his full weight and momentum to each blow, Ken able to use his agility and quick eyes to foul up each stroke.] [Finally, he catches Aya's blade between the long claws of both bugnuks, the tempered steel lattice capturing the katana into a standstill. However, Aya keeps applying pressure, the stained edge hovering over Ken's skull. In a voice barely audible, Aya murmurs to Ken.] Aya: Was that the best you could do? [Aya twists the katana violently, such such force that Ken's claws, weakened by the repeated impacts, crack and shatter. Shouting in surprised, he backs off, but Aya growls, raising his sword overhead to slice savagely down. Before he can finish the stroke, Ken has darted forwards, his right fist buried under Aya's ribs. When his body falls backwards, Ken's fist pulls free, revealing amidst the outpour of blood the single claw remaining that pierced through Aya's heart.] [Aya falls onto the snow on his back, eyes unfocused and gentle. Ken staggers to his feet.] Aya: How...? ...to be beaten by you... [He spasms in pain, spitting out blood, then settles back into the snow. A bowgun, aimed at no one, rattles in the air.] Omi: Why...? We were friends... I... [Finally, Omi drops his arm goes limp in the wires, the bowgun swinging uselessly, caught in a wire loop.] [Ken says nothing, opening his eyes only to scream at the sky full of snow.] ------ Powell: It looks like the show's over. Now we get ready and wait. [On cue, the guards in the control room dash out and form at the base entrance. Kaori still looks at the monitors in horror. Manx glares at the perpetrator. He gazes back at her, smug and confident.] Powell: Now, I have something you should tell me, Miss Manx, the true identity of your boss, this Mr. Persia!! ------ [The wounded Ken peeks from behind a oil barrel, speedily infiltrating the American base.] ------ [Powell cocks a pistol at Manx.] Powell: Well, then, we've thrown all our weight into investigating your organization, and I think we've about 85% of the whole picture. The vital parts, however, were surrounded with darkness so profound that we could not penetrate it. Inside that darkness is the one named Persia. What on earth is Persia? Alternative sources have informed me that Persia is already dead... Therefore, who sent you here to investigate me? ------ [Still grunting in pain and holding his right arm, Ken stumbles into a pitch dark room, the light outside eclipsed by the door closing behind him. The pitch darkness is relieved to the sight of him surrounded by a dozen armored soldiers armed with rifles.] ------ [The scene plays out on the monitors behind Powell, still holding out his gun.] Powell: The last survivor dies here! [The monitors continue to zoom in on Ken's face. Confident with his victory, he begins to lose patience with his captives.] Powell: So, who is this Persia?! There's no one left to rescue you. Talk!! [Suddenly, bank after bank of lights turn off, leaving the control room in darkness.] Powell: What happened?! [He fiddles with the control panels, getting the monitors to work again, but is shocked at the site. A dozen armored soldiers lying in a communal pool of blood in the room where Ken had once stood. Then another image replace that.] Powell: You... you're?! [The image on the monitors shows the backlit silhouette of Persia.] Persia: You will do no more, General Norman Powell, who spoke in my name, gave false missions, and used Weiß for you own schemes. [From the entrance to the control room, four very alive figures emerge from the shadows.] Powell: You're... you're alive?! [Most are grinning, only Aya is cool as is usual.] Ken: What? What're you babbling about at this hour? Youji: Don't get so spooked. We're not ghosts. Omi: Too bad for you, the deathmatch was just a well-choreographed act. Aya: We only seemed to fall into your trap. We knew about it as soon as Manx was taken captive. Powell: How?! I directed all of your activity! You shouldn't have suspected anything!! Manx: 'It's just these damn allegies. Black lilies really do me in...' Youji: Of all the times Manx's been to the flowershop, I've never heard her complain once about allergies. Aya: The flower word for black lilies is "Lies." In other words, Manx informed us she was giving us a false mission. [Sweat streaking down his face, Powell shudders violently.] Persia: General Powell, your laws will not protect you here. White hunters of evil, hunt the futures of these dark beasts! [Eyes wide with fright, Powell growls and lifts his gun. Manx watches impassively while Kaori clings to her arm. Aya stands in front of them, his body blocking Powell from Kaori's sight.] Aya: Don't look! It is not worthy of being seen, the death of a dark beast... [Wires keep Powell from moving, the razor-sharp edges ripping through his uniform. Arrow fletchings protrude from every non-vital organ. While Powell slobbers and shrieks, Ken walks up and shoves the barrel of Akira's shotgun into Powell's mouth] Ken: (Akira... this's for you.) [When Ken yanks back the trigger and feels the blood spattering onto his face, his eyes are pulled back into psychotic... joy?] ------ [The next day, the four of them and Manx relax near the trailer, parked just outside the barb-wire fence surrounding the base. Manx: Official statements say that General Powell died in an accident during training maneuvers with live ammunition. The Rats units'll certainly be killed off and sent to their various graves. [Youji mumbles through a mouthful of cigarette.] Youji: So th'brass's exerting pressure to bury this thing in darkness... [Ken, leaning on the fence chickenwire, lifts his gaze.] Ken: What about Kaori? She saw the mission. [Aya bows his head and speaks with closed eyes.] Aya: She saw nothing. Ken: Huh? [Omi clings to the chickenwire, grinning at Ken.] Omi: She hasn't gone outside all the while she's been hospitalized after the explosion. It's regrettable, but her elder brother died in a biking accident... [He settles into the wire, tone muted.] Manx: Since Kaori didn't see anything, this mission is done for Weiß. Youji: It's best to let all this darkness sink into the darkness... Manx: So none of you will ever see Kaori again. That's the best policy. Ken: You okay with that, Omi? Omi: Yeah... I think it'll just hurt her more if we stay around. Ken: I guess... [Kaori sleeps undisturbed in her hospital room. A pot full of purple rabbit-ear irises wait at the bedside for her to awaken.] Aya: Omi, do you remember the flower word for those rabbit-ear irises? Omi: Yeah... "Happiness will surely come." ... But for us, that flower word sounds like someone's sarcasm, unless there is everlasting happiness somewhere in this world, cruel since the beginnings of time... ------ [In some other place...] Schoolgirl 1: Yeah! They're just work at that mobile flowershop, but they're all so good-looking! Schoolgirl 2: Look, I bought these flowers there! Schoolgirl 1: What're you gonna do with those? Schoolgirl 2: Here, you can have'm! I like this one! Schoolgirl 3: Eeeh?! Schoolgirl 2: Let's go! Schoolgirl 3: Go? Go where? Schoolgirl 2: There, of course! Let's go buy some flowers! [The three girls run off, a blossom of Japanese rose in full bloom drifting to the ground, forgotten. A glove hand scoops the carmine red flower from the concrete. Schuldich contemplates the flower for a few moments with a grin, until a black car honks a few times and drives up to the curb beside him. The driver's side window (left side ala American models, mind you) rolls down, and Crawford pulls off his sunglasses with a maleficent grin.] Crawford: They're here? Schuldich: Yep... just as you foretold. [His eyes fix on the rose, grin eager.] Schuldich: Now we can finish our business... They can't run anymore. Crawford: Heh, there is nowhere they can run. Their chains of sin and future of punishment are... eternal. [With a smirk, Schuldich crushes the flower in his hand, letting the broken petals scatter into the wind.] Crawford: The Japanese rose... its flower word is "a miserable, exquisite death."