07 Ghost: Untaintable

Chapter 3: Secrets

Chapter 3: Secrets (Shiroka)

I knocked on Ayanami's door and waited. Even though it was late I expected he would be awake. I'd never actually met him before though so I was excited. "Enter." A voice said. It was calculating and gave away no emotions.

I entered and saluted him. Ayanami was sitting at his desk. He looked up at me. "Yes?" He asked.

"I apologize for the intrusion sir, but I found this outside and thought I should return it to you." I said. I stepped up to the desk and held out the letter.

Ayanami took it and looked it over. "You found it outside?" He asked.

"Yes. It was being carried by the wind and I caught it. When I saw the seal I brought it to you." I said. "Sir." I added politely.

"Your name?" He asked.

"Shiroka Illumi." I said.

"Illumi? Aya-tan, is that..." A man sitting to the side asked. I hadn't noticed him before: he was dressed in a Black Hawk uniform and wore a pair of sunglasses despite the fact there were no lights on in the room. The light all came from outside.

"Yes." Ayanami said. "Thank you, Illumi. You're dismissed." He said. I bowed and quickly walked out.

"That was weird." I thought. "But I suppose it shouldn't be. My brother is a Beglieter for them." I thought.

•~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~• (Hūuga) •~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~•

Ayanami set the letter aside and used his computer to pull up Illumi's training video. I watched over his shoulder at todays feed. Illumi took off the mask she had over her eyes and tucked it into her pocket. "Level 20 with short ranged weapons." She said.

" 'Level 20' and 'short ranged weapons' are restricted specifications." The computer replied.

"Over ride code Black Hawk Beglieter." She said. I smiled.

"She's using our code." I said.

"Given to her by her brother." Ayanami explained.

"So you don't care?" I asked.

"No." Ayanami said plainly. I missed whatever the computer said next and Illumi activated her Zaiphon. The white Zaiphon spiraled up around the braces on her forearms and sunk in. Blades shot out of the end, extending a few inches past her curled hands.

"A manipulative Zaiphon user." I said impressed.

"Begin." Illumi said as she lowered into a starting position. A handful of enemies ran at her, all carrying various short ranged weapons. Illumi fought well and quickly destroyed the whole group, though after I noticed blood dripping down her arm from a nasty cut. The blades returned to her braces and she touched the cut on her arm.

"Not bad." Ayanami said.

"Did you just praise her?" I asked, shocked.

"I suppose I did. For a human she's talented." Ayanami said.

"She is an Illumi Aya-tan." I reminded.

"True." Ayanami shut down the screen and picked up the letter once more. He fell silent, but I could see he was plotting something.

•~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~• (Shira) •~-~•~-~•~-~•~-~•

"What happened to your arm, Shira?" Mikage asked.

I touched the bandage. "Training accident." I said.

"Oh. Is it bad?' Mikage asked.

I shook my head. "Not really no." I smiled at the blond on my desk.