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Thunder Falling	By : Croik Category: +G through L > Guilty Gear Views: 2276 -:- 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
- 2
- 3
- 4
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.

Big
thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! I know not much is happening yet, but this is
something of a bigger cast than I�m used to (this fic
is going to be long *_*). But I hope you
like it!

And
thanks to Noodles3, who pointed out I misspelled Axl�s
last name in the last chapter ^^;;. I�m going to blame the spell check on that one
(heh heh).

Thunder Falling
Chapter 2

Three drinks later�an
uncommon number for the former Guild leader�Venom believed he was finally
beginning to understand the circumstances around his pair of companions. �So you�re the same person,� he stated,
pointing to each in turn. �And one of
you is here normally��

�That�s me,� the second Axl piped up.

��and the other you is from
the future.�

The original Axl nodded, flushed with his own intoxication. �And that�s me.�

�Isn�t that�.� Venom rubbed idly at his eyes behind a thin
curtain of hair. �Isn�t that�not
supposed to happen? The same person
being in the same place at once�.�

Both Axls
shrugged, and at the same time asked, �Why not?�

Venom�s shoulders
sagged. �I don�t now. I just thought�.�

Original Axl
smirked, though he paused to take another drink before explaining. �It�s happened before. Look�one week from now, my better half here
is going to pop back through time, to here.
He�ll remember that he met us here, and come back, just like I did. It�s a loop.
Get it?�

�But�.� Venom�s face screwed up into an expression of
deep concentration, which would have amused his company had they been able to
clearly see it. �You knew to come here
because you remembered meeting your future self here a week ago, in your
time. But how did he know to come here in the first place?�

�Isn�t it obvious?� Axl shrugged
again. �At the time, he was the future
me. So he must have remembered meeting himself
here a week earlier, too.�

�But then�how did�.� Venom shook his head in confusion. �There must have been an original. The first Axl, who never met their future self.�

�Why?� asked the second Axl. �You�re
thinking to linearly. Time doesn�t work
like that�it�s possible to see the effect before the cause.� He turned to himself. �Right?�

�Damn right.�

�If you say so�.� Venom finished off the rest of his drink as
he thought that over. It�almost
made sense. Not much, but enough
that he could accept it for now. �Does
this happen often?�

�Not too often,� replied
future Axl.
�And usually, it�s not over too long a time�a few days, a few weeks,
maybe.� He grinned. �It�s not so bad. I�ve been able to see a lot of places�meet a
lot of interesting people.�

Venom frowned, his gaze
dropping. �You think I�m interesting?�

�Aren�t you?� He reached out, but the moment Venom felt
fingertips brushing his hair he knew what he was up to, and flinched back. Axl chuckled. �Shy for an assassin, aren�t we?�

�I�m wanted,� Venom reminded
him, leaning back in his chair to avoid any other unwanted gestures. �And this is Paris. Every Global Police officer on the continent
is in this city.�

Axl whistled appreciatively. �No kidding.�

�So why are you here?� asked
the other. �If it�s so dangerous.�

�I�m�.� Venom glanced away. �I�m looking for a man,� he confessed.

�Must be pretty important, to
risk Paris during a holiday.�

�It�s is.�

�Well.� The future Axl
lifted his glass in a toast. �Here�s
hoping you find the bloke!�

�Here here!�
chimed his twin.

Venom hesitated; he wasn�t at
all used to this openness, this easy atmosphere and the almost�friendliness
being expressed toward him. He didn�t
want to trust it�and he didn�t. But he
lifted his glass all the same, deciding it best to play along for now. �May we find our way home after this,� he added.

Both Axls
faltered, one halfway through a gulp of his drink, and for a moment Venom felt
almost guilty watching the flutter of discomfort over their faces. He hadn�t realized that he�d said anything
questionable. He could tell, though, that
their reactions were genuine, and was oddly pleased that even if it turned out
these men were to betray him, he had seen their true faces for an instant.

�Something wrong?� the
assassin asked coolly.

The present Axl recovered himself first. �Nothing,� he quickly assured, his smile
forced. �Another drink?�

*****

Chipp Zanuff released an
explosive sigh of contentment as he slipped up to his neck in almost too hot
spring water. �Now this is more of what
I had in mind,� he told his companion pointedly, being careful not to get his
hair wet. He took in a deep breath of
soothing steam. �A hot bath, a little
starlight...I can actually feel my feet!�

Anji smiled as he reached behind him for a small saucer of
sak�.
�I told you December in the Colony was a little different than the
outside. The real parties are just
starting�are you sure you don�t want to go down to the shopping district?�

�Naw. If you make me speak any more Japanese, I�m gonna puke.� Chipp sighed again, though more quietly than before. He settled in so the back of his skull was
nestled between a pair of rocks.
�Besides, how could I pass up empty hot springs?�

�Yeah, no kidding.�

They fell silent a moment,
gazing up at a distant canopy of false stars.
Just beyond the line of darkened trees the sounds of celebration were
blossoming. Until presently the
festivities of the day had been comprised of ceremonies and solemn
dedications�remembrance for lives lost, entire lines of families severed in the
devastation a century past. For an
outsider like Chipp it was difficult to comprehend
the depth of sorrowful emotion passed through the whispered prayers and
offerings, but he could feel it, and it was exhausting. Accompanying Anji
throughout the ordeal had only made his ill ease worse, as his companion was
adamant about performing each rite to perfection, and prone to explaining every
move and symbol to the greatest extent.

�Not all of your holidays are
like this,� Chipp said suddenly. �Are they?�

�Only the ones commemorating
massacres.�

Both men started, gazes
swinging to the figure standing at the edge of the spring which neither had
heard approach. �B-Baiken!�
Anji squawked ungracefully, sinking lower into the
water. �What are you doing here?�

�This is the guys� side!� Chipp protested as he drew his knees in.

Baiken was clad in a simple bathrobe, illuminated by the
gentle lamplight coming from the temple behind her. Her hair was already tied up, and except for
the eerie lack of limb to fill her right sleeve she appeared surprisingly
feminine. Until she spoke. �I�m coming in. Have a problem with that?�

�This is the guys� side!� Anji
echoed his friend�s earlier complaint.

�We�re going to fart and talk
about tits,� Chipp tried to warn her off.

Baiken rolled her eye in annoyance, but some of her usual
biting sarcasm seemed to be lacking�even if she hadn�t given her whole-hearted
participation to every ceremony and service, she had been with them all day as
well, and her exhaustion was showing.
�There are a few people on the women�s side,� she explained with a sharp
shrug. �Friends of Wakami�s
mother.�

Chipp snickered. �Aww, wha�s�a matter? Shy?�

Anji cringed a little, looking as if to offer his friend
some warning, but it was too late. Baiken glared at him evenly, and without a word turned her
back on the pair. A slight, jagged
movement of her arm was all it took to let the robe slip into a pool around her
ankles.

Chipp�s eyes widened, lips parting in surprise at the sight
of her. But it wasn�t Baiken�s long limbs and toned physique that had captured
his attention; rather, the map of twisted scars that stretched down her
back. The line of her left shoulder
blade melted into her skin at an odd point as if some of the bone beneath had
been cracked or removed, and there were several patches of skin that appeared
to bear the memories of lacerations and burns.
None of those rivaled the spectacle that was her missing arm: the limb
terminated just below her shoulder in a circle of dark metal, seemingly grafted
directly to what remained of the bone and providing a mass of clasps which
would normally be used to attach her many weapons.

Chipp gulped, and as Baiken
stepped backwards into the tub he turned to Anji. �None of those are�from me, right?� he asked
in a fairly panicked whisper. �When I
was�.�

�No,� Baiken
answered for him, making Chipp jump a little. She turned to face them, and both men cringed
away until they were certain she was well hidden beneath the night water. �Don�t be ridiculous�you�re not good enough
to get me in the back, Chipp Zanuff.�

Chipp made a face, though his shoulders drooped with
relief. �Not my fault I don�t remember
it,� he muttered, crossing his arms.

�Whatever. Anji�pour me some sak�.�

Anji did so with a
shaky smile, while he was at it refilling his and Chipp�s
cups as well. �I thought you�d be down
in town,� he tried to make idle conversation as they sipped from the alcohol.

�Like last year?� Baiken asked, gulping down her share of the drink on one
breath. �Getting myself stone drunk?

�She can do that anytime,� Chipp said with a smirk.

She glared at him, but as
long as there was no threat of physical violence in her face he wouldn�t back
down. �There�s nothing wrong,� she
muttered, �with wanting to spend a peaceful �holiday�.�

Anji nodded; despite their original anxiety at her
appearance, he seemed pleased by the company.
�Well, I�m glad. We�ve been here
for weeks and it seems like we never see you.�

Baiken frowned slightly as she shook her cup for him to
refill. �I�ve been busy.�

�You should train with us sometime,� Chipp
said. He had spent the last two months
since they�d reached the colony trying to get her to do just that; he couldn�t
remember their fight in Italy, but judging by the scar still fading from his
shoulder it had been an impressive match, and he was interested in seeing Baiken�s skill for himself.
�Unless you�re, like, scared or something.�

�Yeah, right. You�re not even worth the time.�

�Now, now,� Anji intervened.
�I�m sure Baiken would love to spend more time
with her friends, if she wasn�t so busy with�whatever it is she�s being doing.�

Baiken took her time with her refilled cup. She hesitated a moment, and when she spoke
her voice was firm, though a pitch lower.
�I�ve been visiting the Council.�

�Council?� Anji echoed.

Chipp glanced between the two of them with a frown. Even being in the Colony for as long as he
had been, he still had only a barest idea of how things were run. �The Council,� he repeated. �You mean, like with Wakami�s
dad?�

�The Council is in charge of
looking after the Colony,� Anji explained for his
benefit. �Looking after things, in place
of a real parliament.�

�Ahhh.�

Anji turned his attention back to Baiken. �So why are you talking to the Council
anyway? I thought you hated Chairman Murase.�

�I do,� Baiken
confirmed, glancing vaguely away. �But
as long as his son still likes me, he�ll at least see me, right?� She took a sip. �I�ve been trying to convince them to open
the Colony.�

Anji choked on his sak�. �You�ve what?�

�Open the Colony. Don�t you think it�s about time?� She paused for a sip of sak�. �We�ve been hiding in
here like rats for a century now.�

Chipp glanced between the two as he tried to understand
what was passing between them. �Open the
Colony? You mean, actually let people
in?�

�Something like that, yeah.�

�But�.� Anji frowned at her
with concern. �Why? It�s not like you cared about what goes on
here before.�

Though Chipp
was momentarily surprised by the sudden tension between the pair�even when Baiken was at her worse Anji
usually managed to stay light-hearted�he wasn�t about to question. He devoted himself to his drink and hoped he
might go unnoticed.

�Let�s just say I�ve been
thinking,� Baiken muttered, doing her best to look
unaffected by Anji�s unwavering attention. �This place needs to be stirred up. It needs to protect itself.�

�Protect itself? From what?�

�God, don�t be so fucking
na�ve.�

Chipp sank a little lower into the water with a wince. �Here we go�.�

�I know you were unconscious
for most of it,� Baiken started into it, forgoing her
mask of indifference for a scowl, �but that doesn�t excuse you for being
completely ignorant.� She sat up a
little higher, and Chipp tried to make himself look
away, given the seriousness of their conversation. �We�ve been sitting back in our little hole
for decades, and what good has it done?
Made us fucking livestock, that�s what.�

Anji sighed, sinking back against the rocks behind him. �Come on, Baiken. No need to be overly dramatic.�

�I�m not
over-fucking-dramatic,� she hissed at him.
Baiken had never been a gracious drunk. �Don�t you remember anything I told you? The Ninth, the Bureau, him��

�Baiken.� Anji refilled his
cup, and when he offered the same to Chipp, he was
all too quick to accept the extra alcohol.
�Didn�t we kind of go through this already?�

�If we did, you must have
forgot,� she grumbled. She downed the
rest of her current drink and waved the empty cup at him.

Anji diplomatically eased it aside. �I know you�re worried about the Bureau,� he
said. �And this Colony might not be much
for people like us, but it�s all everyone here has. The best we can do is to keep it safe.�

�Safe?� Baiken
scoffed. �You think it�s safe here?� She turned abruptly to Chipp,
who ducked lower so that his chin touched the water. He didn�t realize that he�d submerged his
drinking glass in the process. �Do you remember what I told you?�

Chipp gulped; he�d hoped not to get drawn into this. �Yeah, I think so. You mean�about what that woman said,
right? About the Gears�the Bureau�.�

�Exactly.� She turned back to Anji
with a sneer. �All this time we thought
we�d escaped�that we�re safe
here. But we�re just where they want us,
at their disposal. Can you really live with that?� She poked him hard in the shoulder. �Well?�

Anji rolled his eyes, setting his cup down and urging the sak� away from them all. �You�re drunk.�

�So?�

�So, you must have forgotten
what happened,� he tried to reason with her.
�Remember what it was like on the outside before we came here? The whole world is looking out for the
Bureau. You should have a little more
faith in Officer Kiske.� He leaned his arms against the edge of the
pool. �The Bureau�s not coming anywhere
near here.�

�I�m not just talking about
the goddamned Bureau!� Baiken snapped. �I�m talking about the Gears�remember
that? That crazy shithead
who pumped your skull full of crap?�

Anji�s eyes thinned, and beside him, Chipp
winced a little in sympathy. This was
not the first time he�d witnessed this argument between them during the course
of their journey here, and he could predict its outcome with a fair amount of
certainty. That wouldn�t make it any
less unpleasant to watch: when Anji was upset it
showed clearly in his face to the point of comedy, the way his cheeks flushed
and his lips pursed. It was like
watching a child face down a bully .

�What he told me,� Anji said as evenly as he could manage, �was not crap.�

Baiken glowered at him; even bleary-eyed with intoxication
she was formidable. �He�s a murderer and
a madman�he�s just waiting to finish us off.�
She splashed at the water. �All
gathered up like fucking pigs to be slaughtered.�

�I told you, that�s not what
he wants!� Anji protested, his voice rising. �You didn�t talk to him�you didn�t hear
what��

�I didn�t see him because you
were trying to fucking kill me!�

Baiken turned abruptly, clamoring ungracefully out of the
hot springs. She slipped a little on the
dampened stone but when Anji moved to help her she
shoved him angrily way. �Don�t touch
me,� she hissed as she snatched up her discarded robe. But between being drunk, angry, and
one-armed, she didn�t have an easy time drawing it back over her limbs.

�Baiken�.� Anji started after
her, though he was careful to secure his towel around his waist as soon as he
emerged from the water. �Hey�just calm
down, all right? It�s been a long day
for everyone.�

He reached for her again, but
she jerked sharply away from him, still trying to get her stump of an arm
through her robe�s sleeve. They fought
back and forth a moment, until Baiken grew fed up
with his insistence and shoved him hard in the chest. �Don�t you goddamn touch me!� she snarled,
finally managing to draw the robe fully on.
�Stupid shit. Maybe you�ll
believe me when he marches his Gears up your damn ass.�

Though this was usually the
part where Anji backed down and Baiken
sulked off for even more booze, Chipp was surprised
to see Anji hold his ground. �You�re only saying that because you don�t
understand,� he said lowly. �What he was
trying to do.�

�How�.� Baiken shuddered
angrily, her pale eyes narrowed lethally in the dark. �How can you even say that today?� she
growled. �An hour ago we prayed for the
dead�have you forgotten them already?�

Anji gathered himself up; being twenty centimeters taller
than her the effect was somewhat impressive, the way he looked down on her with
a look of stern, almost parental patience.
Chipp couldn�t remember having seen him like
that before, and from the way Baiken�s glare faltered
he guessed she hadn�t, either. �No,� he
said quietly, but with conviction. �I
haven�t.�

Baiken stared at him, and for the first time in Chipp�s memory she seemed to be at a loss for words. Holding her robe closed against her chest she
took a step back. The moment was tense,
and then Baiken turned abruptly to leave without a
word. Her bare feet made only a slight
sound against the rocks.

Chipp licked his lips nervously as he climbed out of the
pool and reached for his own towel. �Anji�?� He
approached his friend slowly. �Um�you
okay?�

Anji sighed, his shoulder sagging as he turned to face the
other. �Yeah, I�m fine,� he assured,
lifting his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. �Sorry you got dragged into it.�

�Hey, no problem.� Chipp fidgeted�he
was no good at dealing with other people�s problems, especially between these
two. �Um, listen,� he attempted. �I�m sure she�s just worked up because of
today, you know? And she�s totally
wasted, so�so I�m sure she was just blowing off some steam. It wasn�t personal.�

Anji glanced at him, and his features curled into a faint
grin. �Thanks, Chipp.� His gaze lowered. �She just doesn�t understand. I know with the Gears gone she needs someone
to blame, but�it wasn�t that man�s fault.
He didn�t intend for what happened�.�

Chipp frowned. �Do
you�really believe that?�

�Yes. I really do.�
He chuckled. �Does that make me
na�ve?�

Chipp scratched the back of his head and shrugged. �Shit, I dunno,� he
mumbled. �I mean, it�s not like I know
the guy. How should I know if he was
lying or not?�

Anji�s smile deepened as he clapped Chipp
on the shoulder. �Well, thanks for that,
I guess. Come on.� He turned back for the jug of sak� and their cups. �I think we�re gonna
need refills.�

*****

Baiken was aware that she wasn�t in the best state of mind
for what she was planning to do. She
hadn�t bothered to change out of her robe and her hair had come out of its
ties�the sight of her drew many curious stares from the men and women still
wandering about the night festivals. She
gave them no notice; whenever she found herself back in the Colony, she always
managed to draw attention with her slovenly appearance and scarred
features. Seeing her now, drunk and
unkempt, could not have lowered their opinions of her much.

She was beginning to wish she
hadn�t returned here at all. The Colony
had always left her feeling anxious, the way it rested outside of time and
reason, the way it never changed despite however many years passed between
visits. It was smothering and
irritating. And now, more frustrating
than ever, now that she could see through its petty visage even more clearly.

After a few crude inquiries Baiken found herself outside a small restaurant not far
from the temple she had just been at.
Ignoring the protests of the waiters she stomped inside and quickly
found the object of her hastened search: a middle aged man with a thick
mustache and beard was seated with his son and a few others along the
restaurant�s wall. He was dressed in a
casual green yukata,
which completely spoiled the air of dignity and sophistication he had displayed
earlier in the day during ceremony after ceremony. His son, a tall young man with long, dark
auburn hair, was pouring him a drink.
They were laughing together, and the sight of their enjoyment only
darkened her mood further.

Baiken marched up to them and dropped to her knees, pounding
her fist against the short table. The
men gasped in surprised as their drinks were spilled, and a thin crack ran up
the length of the wood. �Murase Sousuke,� she all but
growled. �I need a word with you.�

Murase accepted a napkin from his son to clear the sak� that had spilled onto his
sleeve. �And here I wasn�t expecting you
until tomorrow,� he sighed.

�I need a word now,� she insisted, ignoring the stares
of Murase�s companions, as well as those of the
restaurant�s many other customers. �Or
I�ll go to Paris myself.� When she
glanced up she caught Murase�s son Yuuya watching her with mixed annoyance and amusement, and
she scowled at him. �What the hell do
you want?�

�You�re the one interrupting,�
he replied, crossing his arms. �You tell
me.�

�Baiken,�
Murase interrupted before she could respond. �If this is about what we discussed before,
it can wait until tomorrow.�

�It can�t wait!� she insisted.
�How can you say that when all our lives are in danger!�

A murmur began to spread
through the surrounding patrons as the two stared each other down. Finally Murase
averted his gaze. �I understand your
concern,� he said evenly. �But this is
neither the time nor place for these discussions.�

�Fuck you!� Baiken snarled, pushing to her feet. She didn�t realize that Yuuya
had stood as well until she stumbled, and he caught her shoulder to keep her
steady�her limbless shoulder. Without
thinking her arm swung, and the flat of her palm caught the man sharply across
his face. The sound of striking flesh
silenced the room for a moment before it began to buzz again, louder than
before, at her boldness.

The Chairman�s son rubbed his
already reddening cheek with a smile that was almost a wince. �You only slap when you�re drunk,� he told
her.

Baiken seethed, a moment away from striking him again when Murase�s voice cut above the restaurant�s din. �Baiken. You can state your case in Council like
everyone else.� Reluctantly she glanced
down to meet his steely gaze. �Unless
you have some new information for us that would make the matter urgent, this is
not the time for this.�

�But he�s still alive!� Baiken continued to protest. She could feel herself shaking by now. It was unlike her, and there was bile burning
in the back of her throat. �That man is
alive, and he�ll��

�You have no proof of that!� Murase snapped back, unwavering. When she faltered and fell silent, he nodded
slightly in approval. �Now go. Come back to me when you�re sober.�

Baiken shuddered, her fist clenched in anger as she glared
at the man�s now turned head. �I�have
proof,� she hissed. But it was no more
than a whisper, and with the sounds of the restaurant resuming Murase didn�t hear.
�He�s alive. He�he met him�.�

Murase gave her presence no more notice, and with a growl
she lashed out, catching the table with her foot and overturning it into the
laps of Murase�s guests. They protested loudly, and one of them
reached for her, but by then she had spun on her heel and started for the door.

�Fools,� she muttered under
her breath as she stalked out into the streets once more. �Let them all burn.� Still shaking slightly she broke out into a
run, letting herself get lost in the crowds.

*****

Yuuya watched her leave without daring to comment or stop
her; his eyes were narrowed on her back until he could no longer see her still
posture and flailing hair. Finally, he
knelt down to help his company right the table and gather the fallen cups.

�My apologies, gentlemen,� Murase said as he signaled for the waiters to approach;
they were all hesitant, as if fearing Baiken might
suddenly reappear with even greater wrath.
�But then, things are always lively when she comes back.�

The men grumbled replies,
snorting at her impertinence and expressing their disgust with her appearance
and drunken behavior. Yuuya didn�t remark�didn�t speak until the dinner
conversation had resumed, and he was allowed a moment to whisper in his
father�s ear. �I think you were right,
Father. About Mito.�

Murase didn�t look to his son, but he nodded, vaguely. �She said something?�

�Yes.�

Murase sighed. �Well,
then,� he said quietly. �Take care of
it.�
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Thunder Falling