zzztt...szzzt...

"...headline news: One civilian dead in battle between...ten kilometers away, a young boy, age13, named...walking home from a local pet store...found buried...pile of rubble...shocked face...his parents..."

zztt.

sssttzzzt...

~ * ~

"Yes, yes, it was such an unfortunate accident. The boy was only...13 yes? Yes...I tell you, I've been against this stupid war from the beginning. I mean, Japan is such a small country, why should we fight against each other and divide it further? If there is anything we should fight for, it should be together.

"Eh? Ah, of course not. The United Nations has set a boundary and shelter, along with a set of rules to follow. It was supposedly to be followed by both parties. I don't even know what they're fighting for, and against? Ruler of the World? Ancient Civilizations? Well, yes, I AM in the heart of these things, but nobody really tells you anything much, especially when you're an old...

"Wait, young man. You have a nice smile. Do you have a bride? No, no, I'm not giving myself away, rather I have a healthy selection of women's pictures that you might want to take a look at--"

~ * ~

He shaded his eyes against the sunlight and looked up at the sky, almost alarmingly bright.

It isn't fair, he thought dully. It should be raining. Should be raining hard. There should be clouds in the sky, and the thunder should be rumbling loudly in protest. This sun shouldn't be here. It's not fair. It should be raining.

~ * ~

"What on earth are you trying to imply, that I haven't been doing my job well? Look, this plan never guaranteed the lack of casualties. This is a war, and when there's war, there's ruined properties and lives. We've just set this up to minimize them.

...

"Of COURSE both parties have been following orders! How dare you! The United Nations has appointed me to get the job done, and I did as I was told. I helped construct battle plans, and I remained neutral with both parties. What--? NO! Of COURSE I have been neutral! Are you attacking personally? The Sanada forces...it's just that the Rara force hasn't been communicating with me much. You should ask Satsuga-san if HE'S been neutral. He's the appointed adviser of the Rara Force for the UN."

...

"You can quote me in this one: We never promised no personal damage, as well as the taking of lives. However, based on the history of wars, which many of you will read in different history books, this is the first time an organization made a move to minimize the threat to human lives. I wonder, if we take it away, many of you would still feel safe."

~ * ~

The streets only had a few people walking on it, as if people have been afraid of the terror, that the Core robot might suddenly appear between everything and kill them. He would be surprised if nobody thought that. Already, he had seen a boy of about 5 step out of their shop and a mother screaming from inside for him to come back in.

The birds chirped from somewhere. He jammed his hands in his pockets and glared at the lounging girl at the other side of the street.

He wondered what the others would think.

~ * ~

"Yayoi Schwael. No, it's not Japanese. It's German. I think you already know what my job is.

"Look, this is ridiculous. I can personally vouch for the safety of the robots. They have been checked and rechecked, as well as their Life Sympathy orders with the pilots. All three pilots have undergone a psychological test and a mind therapy. This will not happen again.

"I feel sorry for the boy. I would like to personally apologize to the parents. I, too, somehow feel responsible. I have been training these pilots, and this somehow feel like a parent feeling responsible for their children's wrongdoings..."

"He didn't MEAN IT! Besides, what was the child doing there anyway? We put a forty-kilometer radius restriction and gave advance warning. We put up the shelters and ordered everyone to go there."

"Saa...but a boy's dead right? That's all you think about, all you would ever think about. What more's to be said? No, no. Please. Leave it alone. Leave me alone. Blame me, blame me for everything. But not the pilots. It wasn't their fault. They were only children. Please. Get out."

~ * ~

So ramen again, and it didn't taste half bad if he could only taste.

He supposed, if he walked and walked and never looked back, there would never be anyone following him. Maybe he would walk into the ends of the earth, except that in this time and age, anyone who said the world was flat would be considered a lunatic.

Maybe he WAS going crazy. They certainly said that quite enough. He was the only boy piloting a robot, why shouldn't he go crazy? Why not?

~ * ~

"What do you want? No. No. NO! Didn't I say no? No more interviews; half of my staff is already afraid of you. And no, they have no reason to be afraid. You reporters twist what they say and make it so it suits you. I've already met with both Doctor and Mrs. Rara, and they have already agreed to postpone all further battles until investigations are over, for at least five more months. We have already submitted our final report to the United Nations. So I don't really give a damn if you're making a news clip, a commentary, a documentary, or whatever. If you don't have the UN ID, I'm not going to talk to you, and neither will my staff, alright?!

"And I've heard you've been harassing the pilots. I've got only one thing to say to you: BUTT OUT. This is not your business anymore. One boy is dead, and we're very sorry, it was very unfortunate, but we can't do anything to bring him back. We can make more modifications in the security and the battle plans but nothing more. You want guarantees, ask the UN. We're fighting for a cause, and we're not stopping."

~ * ~

"I think that was harsh," Akane observed.

Dr. Ken Sanada glared at her. She fell back a step; so surprised was she to see a serious expression on his face. "I am not having everyone running scared because of this. I've already talked to the parents and they're not even sure how the boy got outside the shelters. This is NOT OUR FAULT."

He said it convincingly, but maybe he was only trying to convince himself.

"Who are you protecting?" she asked quietly.

Sanada turned away, scowling at the blank computer screen. "Maybe all of them."

She was silent before turning away to walk out of the large, empty port. But she stopped before the exit to say: "Maybe you're becoming more and more of a father to Mitsuki."

"You think?" In spite of himself, Sanada had to give a small smile.

"I know." With sharp clicking of the heels, she was gone.

~ * ~

"It should be raining," he said aloud, hands still in his pockets. "It should be raining, shouldn't it?"

"I wouldn't know," she answered dully.

The hordes of reporters have already discarded the cemetery, and only two lone figures stood before the long, tall grave where on the pole, there was the kanji of the family name, followed by the boy's name.

"I wish it was," she agreed finally.

Kazuki Yotsuga stared at her for a while. Beside him, Dee stood motionless, watching quietly, never changing.

"It was careless," Mitsuki Sanada said softly. "And I'm really, really sorry."

"Sanada-san--" Kazuki blinked, then let his shoulders droop. "I...I don't know what to...what to say..."

"It's not your fault," Dee intoned quietly.

Kazuki turned to her sharply and Mitsuki's shoulder twitched.

"It's not your fault...Mitsuki," Dee went on, voice unchanging. Never changing. "It's not your fault."

Silence.

Kazuki turned to Mitsuki's back, still hunched before the grave in a singular form of gravity and depression. And anger. "Mitsuki."

"I wish I could believe that," Mitsuki whispered angrily.

Thunder grumbled above them, turning the clouds black. It was as if granting a maiden's prayer, as the sky clouded and darkened, finally letting out sharp drops of water down, down, falling down. Dee held out her hands and looked up. "Rain," she said in the same voice.

Mitsuki bit her lip and began to sob.

Kazuki closed his eyes. His hands somehow found his way to his pants' pockets once more and held, clenched.

~ * ~

It should be raining, shouldn't it?

He stared out of the window of his room, listening for the signs at the other sides of his room. Dee, ever so silent, stealthy. Yayoi was in her room, drafting reports. Dr. Sanada was not yet home. And Mitsuki...

Mitsuki...

Mitsuki...

"Mitsuki."

It isn't fair, he thought again. It isn't fair that she's hurting. It shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be sunny. They skies should cry for her.

~ * ~

"...restriction...Mitsuki Sanada has been given a reprimand and...separate psychological training due...mental trauma and...boy's parents decided not to file a complaint...UN will be giving...plans for both parties as well as heightened security...never happen again, as assured by UN spokesman Horace Wallanger..."

sszzzzt...pffzzzzt...

"...Japanese civilians wonder...streets will be safe...--gen?"

"And now for the weather report--"

Mitsuki Rara reached for the remote and turned the TV off.