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Culmination	By : Croik Category: +G through L > Guilty Gear Views: 2646 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Guilty Gear, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Guilty
Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being
used in this fanfiction without permission. This fic is rated R
for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi
material.

Note:
Baiken�s hidden weapons are called anki, for further reference ^^

Culmination
Chapter
14

Baiken sighed heavily, watching the smoke from her pipe curl in lazy spumes
up towards the ceiling. It was strange,
being able to relax for a while.
Changing out of her usual travel yukata,
relieving herself of most of her weapons�it was a very welcomed vacation, as
far as she was concerned. The only thing
that could make it better would be a warm bath, which she was planning on
indulging in shortly. As
soon as her pipe was burned out.
If only Anji hadn�t soured her mood, it would
have been perfect.

�Damn
that Anji.� Baiken pushed to her feet, deciding to take her pipe with
her. It was then that she was alerted to the sound of breaking glass somewhere
nearby. She wasn�t concerned, as Rome was known for far worse
than the occasional bar fight. Even if Anji were somehow involved he could handle himself, and be
back to brag about it in no time. A
moment later, however, just as she was beginning to disrobe, she caught the
sound of a raised voice�definitely Anji�s, even if
she couldn�t make out the words. He
sounded upset. That in itself was
somewhat unusual for Anji, and with an annoyed curse Baiken moved to the window to investigate.

The
streets of Rome were only poorly lit, and
through the dirty glass she could barely make out Anji�s
figure at the other end of the motel.
She still wasn�t all that concerned, until she realized that the dark
shadows surrounding him were actually the outlines of people�men in cloaks,
over a dozen of them.

�Shit�� She only had time to tighten her robe and
snatch her sword from against the wall; by the time she�d jerked the motel door
open and leapt out Anji was already being attacked by
one of the figures. It was moving with
far greater speed than a normal man should have been capable off, and though Baiken was already sprinting towards them she knew she
wasn�t going to make it in time; Anji blocked as best
he could but there was no escaping the relentless attack. Long before Baiken
reached the group he had already taken several punches to his head and gut,
forcing him up against the motel wall.

�You bastard!� Baiken
twisted her shoulders when she was in close enough in range to use the only
weapon she hadn�t shed�a claw of curved metal slit the cool air, striking
towards the man who was even now advancing on the dazed Anji. When he turned to meet the attack his eyes
were bright against the dark, and familiar.
Baiken gasped as the recognition came over
her, and without thinking she jerked her body, diverting what could have been a
lethal strike.

Still
shocked and baffled by the passing events, Baiken was
slow to react. Like wraiths the
surrounding bodies descended on her from all sides, cloaks parting around drawn
blades. She whirled, swiftly countering
the first two that reached her and slipping out of reach of another. They, too, were faster than she would have
expected a human to be, and it wasn�t long before she realized what she was
fighting.

�Damn
fucking robots.� Baiken
growled, the claw that served as her right arm closing around the closest
robot�s throat and flinging it into its companions. She started to resume her attack, but was
momentarily distracted by the sound of Anji crying
out somewhere behind her. She whirled
just in time to see a flare of bright light�Chipp�s ki, flashing brilliantly as it threw Anji
fiercely into the nearest wall once more.
He slumped unconsciously to the ground, leaving an imprint of dark blood
against the brick.

Baiken called out to him, her feet carrying her towards his fallen
figure. Her way was swiftly blocked; the
robots surrounded her, and their leader�a man�took up the position directly in
her path. �Leave him to us,� the man
snarled from beneath his hood.

�You son of a bitch!� Baiken jerked her shoulder once more, aiming her sharpened
weapon for the stranger�s heart. In a
ruffle of movement his hand shot forward; there was a dulled clang of metal,
and when Baiken looked she was shocked to find her
claw in the man�s tight grip. It should
have ripped his hand apart�.

�Impressive,�
the man complimented, an unnatural heat spreading down the length of his
arm. �I can use you.�

Baiken started to pull back, but even then it was too late; the swell of
magic was already upon her. Blazing
electricity was channeled through the darkened metal of her arm, coursing
through her. Though it only lasted a
moment the pain was unbearable. She
could only cry out as her body writhed with the shock, burning, her breath
frozen�until she was mercifully released, collapsing with a weak groan into the
street. Her shoulder struck hard, making
her gasp quietly against unyielding pavement.

�Very good.� Somewhere above her, blurred
and indistinct, the man was speaking.
�Collect Mito Anji�I�ll take this one myself.�

Baiken�s hand tightened reflexively around her sword. She was still trembling, barely conscious,
but there was still part of her brain that registered what was happening. She wouldn�t allow it. The street was cold against her cheek, and
she stared blurrily across it to watch as the robots surrounding the fallen Anji. There�was
nothing she could do for him, she knew.
But that didn�t mean it was over.

When
the stranger came down towards her she rolled suddenly onto her back, driving
her sword upwards with all her force.
She felt the blade tear flesh and stop, tasted acidic blood against her
lips that made her senses reel. But the
man had cried weakly with pain; she twisted her wrist, opening the wound in his
thigh wider before scrambling to her feet.
Her limbs were slow to respond but it was just enough; a hand closed
around her arm but she jerked free, bare feet scraping painfully against cruel
stone as she sprinted away from her attackers.

They
were following. She could hear their
weighted footsteps pounding after her, the ruffle of thick fabric as they
readied for an attack. And though she
had not had to use her full ability in a long time she sheathed he sword,
clasping her left hand tightly to her chest.
She wasn�t used to using her ki in such a
way�it had always been her defense, focused in a way in which to keep her from
sustaining the shock of a blow, and her fingers ached as she was forced now to
collect that swelling energy inside her.

Metal
digits scraped against her shoulder, drawing her back, and though Baiken had yet to completely amass her power she had no
choice but to unleash the ki she had in full. The light was blinding; Baiken
herself was thrown by the impact of magic against the robots, scattering them
in an instant even if only one or two were seriously damaged. The bought time was just enough for her to
dart down a darkened alley. With her
hair falling awkwardly over her face, feet blistered and breath sharp, she fled
deeper into Rome�s twisted buildings.

*****

The
dawn seemed to rise hesitantly that morning, creeping stealthily along dull
waves and golden sand. It licked at
Testament�s closed eyelids for some time before they were finally coaxed to
open; he was sluggish, but content, as if having awoken from a deep and dreamless
slumber. Somewhere nearby, the sea was
rolling in. It was soothing, and the
Gear yawned lazily as he sat up, drawing a hand through his hair.

Grains
of thin sand fell through Testament�s fingers; he frowned, realizing suddenly
where he was. Everything came back to
him in a rush of unwanted recollection.
The cooling of night against his scars, the pulse of blood against his
temples brought by his memories�and Ky�s
bright blue eyes, watching him intently.
He had confessed a heart of hatred and grief. It made something curl sickly behind his ribs
to wonder what the man must have thought of him now.

Testament
turned slightly, trying to determine exactly where on the beach he had ended up
and if the children of the House were awake.
He was startled to find Ky
and Bridget, fast asleep behind him. He
had to stare for several long moments before finally coming to understand what
must have happened, what had been supporting his head through the night.

Ky�s head was bowed, a few
strands of yet-dyed brown hair lightly framing his face, much like they had
been the morning before. He looked
peaceful despite what must have been an awkward sitting position for him, with
Bridget slumped against his back, only half covered by a thin blanket. The two of them looked inexplicably natural,
nestled together with only the roll of waves and measured breath to disturb
them. Testament was caught by the sight
of them, and even more so by what their presence there implied: they had stayed
with him. All through the night Ky and Bridget had watched over
him, despite the horrible truths he�d spilled.
They�had accepted him.

It
was when Bridget began to slip from Ky�s
shoulder, several minutes later, that Testament was jarred into thinking
clearly. Careful not to wake the pair he
edged around them, tugging Bridget gently away from the officer. The boy slumped against him and continued to
sleep with a tiny murmur. Testament set
him aside, drawing the blanket over him until he decided what would be best�to
wake them or let them rest a while longer, risking being come upon by the
children. The children�.

Testament
didn�t have time to let his concerns resurface, as a shift of movement caught
his eye. It was Ky, falling gradually now that there was no support
against his back. Testament quickly
moved to support him; Ky
seemed to fall perfectly into his crooked arm, head tilting heavily against his
shoulder just as he had that night in Genoa. It was baffling, now, to imagine that
incident in the rain had taken place little more than a week ago. Everything had changed since then. Testament couldn�t have described the emotion
if given the chance, but he felt as if the ache in his chest�had Bridget
described it as loneliness?�had loosened, even if his throat was suddenly tight.

However
it had happened, this man was the cause.
Testament lifted his hand, drawing curious fingertips over Ky�s
unblemished cheek. A week ago, it was to
wipe the traces of blood from his face.
Now�he only wanted to touch, to feel for himself soft, human skin. Ky�s
lips parted faintly, and though he did not stir Testament�s heart fluttered a
little. He suddenly couldn�t remember
how long it had been since he�d really touched another this way, with
deliberate affection, with�the unexpected yearning he felt now.

Had
it not been for his weakened mind the night before, Ky�s tender consolations and the gentle atmosphere
surrounding them, he would have never acted on the strange warmth spreading
through his fingertips. But those things
had happened, and with his muddled judgment Testament didn�t think twice on
carefully shifting the man in his arms�turning him, just enough, so that he
could tilt his head down to him. Their
lips brushed, faintly at first, breath mixing across the diminishing space between
them. He felt Ky�s shoulders creep up but didn�t wait long enough
to know if he were awakening or not.
With a dull shiver Testament crossed the last space between them,
pressing their mouths together in a gentle kiss; conveying through that touch of
flesh all the thick emotion swelling just beneath his surface.

Ky�s lips were sweet; thin, but
supple, and their tiny, surprised movements only made Testament that much less
willing to release him. It hadn�t
occurred to him until now that he could want this from the officer. But when he pulled back a moment later,
staring into wide, surprised blue eyes, he wanted nothing more than to kiss him
again, to assure himself that the first had even existed here in this surrealistic
dawn.

Ky stared up at him, stunned
and blinking, lips parting to speak.
Testament wasn�t ready yet to be rejected. He lifted a hand to curl in Ky�s hair, drawing him up into
another, firmer kiss. He felt Ky�s hand pressing against his
chest, the low murmur of protest tickling his lips, and ignored them both. Gradually Ky began to relax against him, whether in allowance
or surrender he didn�t know; fingers curled against his collar bone, sharp
breath hissed against his own trembling lips.
When he pulled back again it was with a quiet, gasping murmur, chilling
already with the absence of another body pressed close.

Ky finally found his
voice. �Testament�.� He shifted, and the Gear obediently backed
off a bit more to allow him room.
Carefully, as if not trusting his body at the moment, Ky sat up on his own
strength. �You�.�

�Good
morning,� Testament interrupted. If Ky could just play along a moment
longer, he would be satisfied. �Thank
you, for looking after me.�

�I�.� Ky
was looking entirely baffled as he lowered his eyes, grasping after breath that
was suddenly hard to come by. �You�re
welcome,� he said, very quietly.

Before
he could work up the courage and inspiration to question, Testament turned,
tugging Bridget into his arms. �It�s
still early,� he murmured. �I�ll take
him inside; he can sleep a while longer.�

Ky blinked dumbly. �Oh. All right.� Still
looking too full of questions, he followed the Gear in climbing to his
feet. He shifted awkwardly before they
both started hesitantly up toward the House.
�Testament�?�

�I�m
all right,� Testament assured, hefting Bridget�s slight weight. The boy still showed no signs of waking. �I�m sorry, about last night. I�ll be fine.�

�No,
it�s�all right�.� Ky looked to speak again, but his voice faltered at
the last moment. Testament tried to
ignore the heavy stare upon his back as they returned to the House, in silence.

*****

Johnny
didn�t make an appearance at breakfast that morning, to the horror of his many
fans. When he did show it wasn�t until
just after, and he caught both Ky
and Testament as they headed�separately, and awkwardly silent�out of the dining
room.

�Well,
boys, today�s our day,� he declared, slinging an arm around both their
shoulders. Ky tried to squirm away without success. �I�ve already made the preparations�someone�s
taking a trip to Zepp.�

Ky finally shrugged out from
under Johnny�s arm, giving the man a long-suffering look. He caught on quickly and tried not to look so
amused. �I can go,� he volunteered
seriously. �It�s not like even Zepp can refuse the head of the Global Police.�

�Ah,
but if you go, that�s just like announcing to the world you�re up and about,�
Johnny pointed out. �Not the best coming
out, is it? To be slinking around Zepp.�

�Johnny�s
right.� All three turned to see Bridget
bouncing lightly on his feet behind them.
�And if you go in disguise, they�ll ask for a visa, which you won�t have
unless you go as yourself, but that�s no good, either.�

Ky�s shoulders dropped
slightly. �I don�t like the idea of
anyone else going,� he replied.
�Johnny�s a well known pirate�even if he could dock there, there�s no
way he�d be able to gain much information without connections within the
city. And Testament�s an even more
infamous Gear.� His eyes flickered to
Testament briefly, as if in apology for the remark, but Testament only nodded
his understanding. The Ger was watching
him intently, face calm and manner simple as if nothing had passed between them
that morning. Ky could almost feel a blush creeping into his face
when their gazes met; he had no idea how to react to this situation, and
Testament�s unexpected actions.

Ky coughed lightly into his
hand and continued. �However we do this,
it�s going to be difficult.�

Bridget
made a show of inspecting his nails.
�It�doesn�t have to be�.�

The
three men exchanged glances. �All
right,� Johnny said around a sigh.
�We�re biting. Tell us your
foolproof plan.�

�Well,�
Bridget started right into it with excitement, �you wanna get any information
out of Zepp, you gotta go right to the head: President Gabriel.�

Three
pairs of eyes blinked stupidly at him, and he quickly continued before they
could admonish him for the seemingly ridiculous suggestion. �But of course, you can�t just waltz up to
President Gabriel and ask him questions, so you�ve got to get to his right hand
man�Potemkin. Right?�

�If
we could, that would be best,� Ky
admitted. �And I�m sure Potemkin would see me.
But the problem remains there�s no way to even get in contact with Potemkin�if he�s even in Zepp
right now�without first getting past their customs.�

�That�s
why you need a visa,� Bridget told him matter-of-factly.

Johnny
rolled his eyes. �We don�t have a
visa, Bridget.�

The
boy smirked mischievously. �I do.�

�You
do?� came the echoed response.

�I do.� Bridget straightened, clasping his hands
behind his back. �It�s back on the
ship. And an official VIP pass that�ll allow me in the capital building�s main
compound�a first class ticket straight to Potemkin.�

Clearly
dubious, Johnny crossed his arms over his chest. �Is that so?
And how, pray tell, were you able to come across something so
convenient?�

��Cause
we�re friends,� Bridget declared proudly.
�I met Potemkin a while ago, just before I
joined you guys. We were both looking
for Dizzy at the time, and we talked for a while, and he said if I ever needed
to hunt down a bounty in Zepp, I could come to
him.� He bounced lightly. �Perfect, isn�t it? I can get in and right to him and no one will
suspect a thing. I�ll even go in my old
bounty hunter outfit.�

�I
don�t like the idea of you going alone,� Testament said, sounding downright
protective. Ky was inordinately pleased; after everything he had
said last night, there was no telling how he would react to any of the
children, even someone as familiar as Bridget.
�It could be dangerous, especially if we�re right and The Ninth is
getting his technology and supplies through Zepp.�

Bridget
shot him a look as if to say he were being absolutely
ridiculous. �Dangerous? In broad daylight, in a crowded
city, in the capital building compound?�
Bridget set his hands on his hips.
�Exactly how many things are there that can get through Potemkin?�

Johnny
shrugged. �He�s got a point.�

�I
don�t like it either,� Ky
admitted. �The thought of you there
alone�.�

�Youn�s going with him,� Johnny spoke up in the boy�s
defense. �He can�t exactly run around in
the city, but he can wait with the ship if there�s trouble.�

Bridget
nodded exuberantly. �And we already know
I�m fast�I can outrun the robots. If I
get into trouble I can run back to the ship and we�re out, or get to Potemkin. No brainer, fool proof plan.�
He turned suddenly to Ky,
his manner growing a bit more serious.
�I�ve been hunting bounties for a while now, you know. I can take care of myself, and I can do
this. Please?� His eyes gleamed with determination. �Trust me, okay?�

�Bridget�.� Ky
sighed, resigning himself to the decision he could see had already been
made. Bridget simply looked too eager,
and after all the boy had done for him, he couldn�t claim now not to trust
him. �All right. I do trust you, Bridget. If you think you�ll be all right�� he smiled
thinly, ��then we�ll leave it in your hands.�

�Yes!� Bridget bounded forward, flinging his arms
around Ky�s neck in a firm
hug. �Thanks, Ky! You can count on me�I promise. I�m gonna get so much information for you
it�ll bubble out your ears!�

Ky chuckled and returned the
hug lightly. �I�ll have to fill you in,
though, on what the three of us talked about yesterday. We�ll need some specific information.�

�Right! I�m gonna run back to the ship
and change�I�ll be back in just a minute.�
Without waiting for a response the boy sped off on light feet.

Ky sighed quietly as he
watched him go. �He�ll be all right,
won�t he? I still don�t like this.�

�Don�t
worry too much on it,� Testament assured.
�Bridget can look after himself well enough, and he�s right�Zepp is a lot safer for him than Rome was.�

�Yes�you�re
probably right.�

Ky lifted his gaze to the Gear
hesitantly once more, trying to puzzle out what he might have been
thinking. How dare he look so casual
when Ky himself was so
puzzled and flustered. To have been awoken so suddenly�. He hadn�t been kissed like that in a long
time. And though his better sense was
already weighing the experience down, he needed to know why. He had to know for sure�exactly what was
happening between them.

Johnny
seemed to notice the way they were looking at each other, and he took a
diplomatic step back. �Well, I�ll go
tell Youn, then,� he volunteered. �Everything should be just about set by
now�it�s only a few hour trip back to Italy, and then maybe we�ll get
some answers, hm? I�ll let you know when
they�re about to go.� With one last
curious glance between the pair he left, abandoning the two of them to their
talk.

They
stood still for several moments, silent and awkward, neither knowing where to
begin. At long last it was Ky who acted first; he took
Testament by the arm, guiding him away from the dining hall�and any curious
eyes that may have fallen on him. When
they were safe in one of the lobby�s side rooms, he turned to face the Gear
squarely. �Testament.�

�Ky.� Testament returned his gaze as calmly and
innocently as possible.

�Testament,�
Ky repeated, trying not to look
as anxious as he felt. �About this
morning�I hope you�re feeling better,� he darted around the issue at the last
moment.

�I
am,� Testament assured with a nod.
�Thank you.�

�You�re
welcome.�

Another
silence followed; Testament certainly didn�t seem like he was going to make
this easy on him. But a moment later the
Gear said, �I�m sorry,� his tone even and with little sincerity. There was no regret in his voice or manner
for his actions. �I didn�t mean to
embarrass you.�

Ky, flinching as he hadn�t
expected either of them to be able to express their thoughts so quickly, shook
his head. �It�s not that. You�surprised me, of course. It�s just that I��

�Didn�t
expect it?� Testament filled in, watching him with those same oddly peaceful
eyes. �Don�t like the taste of
Gears?� His eyebrow tipped. �Prefer women?�

�No, it�s nothing like that,� he quickly
defended himself, though he realized a moment later what he was admitting
to. His face darkened as he turned his
head away from Testament�s unfaltering gaze.
�That is�it isn�t appropriate.
You and I�I just don�t think it�s what either of us intended.�

Testament
watched him a moment longer, still unmoved and expression unchanging. Finally he reached out�slowly, so that by the
time his fingertips alighted on Ky�s
cheek he hadn�t even noticed it was there.
The officer flinched a little but didn�t draw away. Testament�s fingers were unnaturally smooth
for a fighter, his flesh warm with the pulse of magic that surged just beneath
it. He couldn�t bring himself to reject
them.

Testament
tilted his head slightly to the side, his eyes deep with some strange emotion Ky wasn�t in his senses enough to
interpret. When he spoke, his voice was
a quiet murmur vibrating the air between them.
�It�s not. Is that so bad?�

�Testament��
Ky started to reply, but the
hand on his face was already sliding to his neck, Testament�s thumb pressing
gently into the underside of his jaw to tilt it up. Ky
shivered as he was slowly drawn in. He
squirmed just a little, hands rising to press against Testament�s chest, but
they were already too close�thick, warm lips found his mouth easily. Unlike earlier that morning, Ky was no longer inhibited by the
daze of having just awoken. He could
feel everything clearly; the gentle movements of Testament�s coaxing, hopeful
lips; the rise and fall of ancient magic that seemed to flow right into them;
his own body�s foolish reactions, tiny heated shivers tracing up and down his
spine. This was not what he had wanted
from the Gear�the camaraderie they�d managed to forge was already more than he
had ever expected, had ever thought possible.
But here, feeling his heart begin to pound a little faster the longer
they stayed together, he couldn�t deny that he thought
Testament�beautiful. Powerful. Compassionate, even, if he could ever dip
deeply enough into his lost humanity to look for it. Testament, who had saved him, consoled him,
depended on him�.

They
pulled back with twin, faint gasps, hesitantly meeting each other�s gaze. Testament�s blush shone clearly against his
pale skin�the look of him alone was suddenly enough to make Ky�s
chest tighten a little, with thick black hair framing his flushed face and
vibrant eyes. Their breath echoed
tensely in the room.

Testament
took a step back, straightening as if overcoming some of his own
embarrassment. �There�s�something I have
to do today,� he said quietly, calling the matter to a close for the
moment. They would both need time to
gather their thoughts. �We can talk
about it later.�

�Yes�.� Ky
lowered his head, nodding somewhat vaguely.
�Yes, a little later.�

�Thank
you again, Ky. For taking care of me last
night.� But before Ky could find a response to give
the Gear had turned, striding calmly out of the room and leaving Ky to the suddenly tangled workings of his mind.
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Culmination