Dead and Gone

 On the outskirts Fiore the sky was clear the sun hung high in the sky and yet a cold wind blew across the mountain terrain making the grass dance furiously, Kimiko Ichijo walked through the wind her hair flailing behind her, "Go by yourself they said, it'll be fun they said!" she thought to herself, "If I ever see those idiots again I'll slice their heads in two!" Kimiko look ahead of her two days of journeying and finally she reached the Fiore Border Outpost. She pull out the job poster it read "Missing Children Help Needed urgently 500,000  Reward." "It must be a town just over the border, considering how close they are to Bosco, I fear the worst for those kids" she thought solemnly. Just ahead of her she saw a fairly young man with dark hair, "Maybe that guy knows where this place is" she pondered before calling out to him. "OI BLACK HAIR GUY WHERE YOU OFF TO?" she yelled whilst waving her hands hysterically startling the guards at the outpost.

Exia Rose turns round his brown eyes looking around. "who said that?" exia says as he gets ready for a attack.

"Whoa Whoa relax" Kimiko says as she innoncently puts her hands up "I just needed to get your attention why so tense?". Kimiko sauntered over towards the dark haired man  "I'll ask again where you off too?"

"No where. I'm looking for someone. Why you want to know?" Exia asks as he lets his guard down.

"Well I'm looking for a village just beyond the border apparently some people have gone missing" Kimiko began before stopping short "I hope the person you're looking for isnt from around this area?"

"let me help you." exia says.

Kimiko looked at the man in front of her she quite figure him out but she sensed whoever he lost must have meant alot to him, "Ahh well it's not like I need the help but hey I could definatly use the company" Kimiko said with a beaming smile on her face "I'm Kimiko" she announced with her arm stretched out to greet the man in front of her.

"Exia Rose" Exia says smiling back and shakes her hand.

"Alright shall we go find that village!" Kimiko said enthusiastically as she ran towards the border outpost whislt dragging Exia behind her. "You better pull your weight buddy!"

"I will don't worry!" Exia says as he is dragged.

Once they had reached the outpost Kimiko asked a guard for directions to a nearby village, the guard explained that the closest village was just "Five minutes east of border" with the information in hand they headed towards the village. "Yo Exia" she began "You said you were looking for someone you never said who."

"The girl I loved." Exia says looking at the sky.

Kimiko stared at Exia and laughed slightly "That's pretty deep man, this girl got a name?" Kimiko looked at the sky revelling in its infinite blue, "I never had someone that I would cross the world for so I'm kinda curious" she said with a bright smile on her face.

"Dawn Yami, i haven't seen her since our other friend Astray died." exia says with a sigh.

Kimiko looked down slightly "Death is something we can all relate to,lets not dwell on it too long, it can drag down even the strongest of souls." Kimkio looked up she could see the village approaching in the distance and said to Exia "What do you think happened to those missing kids?"

"I don't know Kimiko but let's find out." exia says.

Kimiko slowed down, sniffing the air before running ahead with a distressed looked in her eyes, "Exia we gotta move now!" she yelled.

"Right!" Exia yells running after her.

Kimiko ran desperatly towards the village looking up at the sky around that was now a pitch black "How the bloody hell did I miss that!" she thought to herself. The Village must have been incredible, it's simple yet charming design would have been calming for the heart an essential pit stop for those crossing the border from Bosco or Seven. Not that it mattered now when the entire village was now engulfed in flames.

Exia stops. "What happened?" he asks as his light brown eyes flash a light green.

Kimiko was lost for words,"What the hell, a fire this intense we should have seen it from the damn outpost!"

"You're right. But how and why didn't we!" Exia growls

"Someones trying to cover their tracks!" Kimiko said with a sudden realization, "The fire must have been started by a fire mage that the only way something of this level could begin so suddenly and that means only one thing." with that said Kimiko place her hand on her Halberd as she ran straight into the flaming village.

Exia runs entering his blade V 1 form as he catches up to her. "So what's the plan?" Exia asks his voice sounding more robot like.

Kimiko stared at Exia in absolute awe "How the bloody hell did you do that" she said losing herself in the pure awesomeness that was Exia's Blade V1. "Wait no..gotta focus, the plan, we're gonna split up look around and find any survivors and if we're lucky we'll also find the fire starter sound good?"

"Sounds good and you might find out how I did this later." Exia tells her.

"I'm gonna hold you to your word!" she said as she extended her fist to Exia

"I don't go back on my word." Exia says and lightly bumps fists.

Kimiko let out a massive grin and ran down an avenue shouting out for any potential survivors, "I'm gonna destroy who ever did this!" Kimiko thought to herself.

"Well better go." Runs the other way. "Come and get me!"

Kimiko ran down the flamming avenue,she unsheathed her sword from her Halberd, pausing for a moment. "This is just gonna be another walk in the park." She said as she tried to reassure herself taking a few deep breaths she ran toward a house using her sword to cut her way into it the flaming home. She began coughing and gagging aalmost immediatly "Really should have thought this through" she sad as she ran through the house looking for any trapped civillians she found not a single person and immediatly jumped out a window back onto the street. Gasping for air all she could think was "Time for the next home."

Exia looks in 3 houses one after the other with great speed. "Nothing!" Exia says as he runs more.

Kimiko ran through several other houses each time finding no survivors, "What the heck the village is on fire and not a single survivor not even a body"Kimiko pondered to herself  "Wait for that matter no one was even fighting the flames its not like everyone would have been in their homes when the fire started, heck they should have been fighting the fire from wherever it started. Unless...everyone was killed and then the city was destroyed."

"wait what if it's a trap." exia says appearing next to her.

"A trap..maybe but who would benefit from setting an entire village of fire?" Kimiko said before looking at Exia before jumping back slightly pointing her blade Exia. "When the bloody hell did you pop up?"

"just now" exia says. "you never know"

"hmm, your set things on Fire to destroy them, in other words you destroy evidence." Kimiko said as she lowered her blade. "What if who ever stole those missing children came back when he found out the villagers went for help. Maybe they never expected help to come so quickly...maybe the firestarter isnt too far away considering the fire just started! We could track him down!"

"we could set a trap."

"Forget setting a trap we the firestarter probably on its way to Bosco by now we could intercept him or her and get some information outta him..or her!"

"if we get ahead i could take on the form of a kid."

"Yo..you can do that?" Kimiko said astounded.

"yes i was  made up to be able to take on what ever form i need." exia says.

"Made up what the heck are you on about? Actually no tell me on the way we gotta catch up with the firestarter" Kimiko said as she rubbed he temple in a fit of mental fatigue.

"I'm not human"

"Lalala I'm not listening trying to catch a criminal!" she says with her fingers in her ears as he run out of the village.

"Do you want to know or not!" Exia yells following her.

"Well tell me if you can keep up!" Kimiko yelled back at Exia as she increased her momemtum to the point where she was almost gliding across the Grassy terrain.

Exia is flying next to her. "Ok"

Kimiko couldnt help but laugh as Exia flew alongside her "Okay you got me interested spill the beans!"

"I'm one of the remaining gundamdroid a race of robots. But I'm the only human looking one left." Exia tells her as he flies.

Kimiko contorted her face in concusion "What do you mean human looking?"

"i mean that i look human." exia says.

"Okay but like where you born or created?"

"Created but I was made to be a son to the man who made me." Exia says.

"So how excatly does your kind reproduce..or do you just pop out of a factory somewhere?" Kimiko laughed to herself "Actually you know what how 'bout we focus on getting to Bosco and finding the firestarter."

"I'm one of the last of my kind and good idea" exia says as he flies.

"Real kill joy you are, I think after all is said and done we're gonna sit down and you're gonna tell me everything about yourself Tin Can!" with that said Kimiko focused entirely on her destination Bosco.

"Fine but is tin can the best you can do?" Keeps flying "when do you think we will be ahead of the guy or girl?"

"Don't worry Tin Can I'll get the hang of it, in regards to the Firestarter we have no way of knowing their capabilites so it would be better if we try to get to Bosco before and well use you as bait!"

"That's the plan and don't call me tin can please." Exia says sadly.

"Yea Tin Can is bit obvious don't you think? Perhaps Metal head?" Kimiko said with a playful smirk on her face.

"And not that nickname as well please. That's what dawn and astray called me." Exia says.

The smile on Kimiko's face dropped slightly "Well then I guess I can come with good names, I mean great minds think alike and all..." Kimiko and Exia kept on moving towards Bosco only slowing as they reached its outskirts.

City limits of Bosco

"Okay do we need to go over the plan again?" Kimiko said as she faced Exia

"I go in to a younger form as you hide right?" Exia asks.

"Mmm yes and no. Yes you go into a younger form but you need to make sure he takes you to wherever the other children are. I'll trail behind you and the once you're on the inside we'll have to figure out a way to get you and the kids out of there." Kimiko explains with a serious look on her face as she looked over Bosco. "I really hate this country you know, I was here before a long time ago you really can't get any worse than Bosco."

"You should of seen it years ago. It has only gotten better." Exia says.

"Ohh yea I've heard that the slave trade has become so much more effiecient over the years!" Kimiko exclaimed condescendingly.

"No need to be like that. And it has gotten better trust me" exia says. "So ready for the plan ?"

"Yea go on ahead I'll be watching over you just do your part!"

"What age?" Exia asks.

"Oh you know I was thinking eight and three quarters"Kimiko began sarcastically," I don't know man just make sure you're a kid!

Exia becomes a a 8 year old in tatted clothes. "This ok?"

Kimiko had a dazed expression on her face "Do you have any idea how we that whole scenario was?" She held her face "Yea that'd be fine go the guy I'll look over you"

"Woods or the town?" Exia asks.

"Up to you mate go with your instincts I can't hold your hand for ever!"

"Woods then" exia says as he goes into the woods.

Kimiko followed Exia before jumping into the trees leaving Exia to venture deeper into the forest by himself.

Exia keeps walking acting lost. "mummy, daddy? Where are you?"

"Hm well he's a pretty good actor..for a tin can" Kimiko thought to herself. She heard some crunching leaves and looked behind peering into the darkness "It seems we have some company!"

"munmy, daddy?" exia says.

Kimiko rested her hand on her halbard tense her entire body, as a figure emerged from the darkness of the forest.

"Hey anyone out here?" deep yet alluring voice bellowed.

"just me i losted my mummy and daddy." exia says tears running down his face.

"Are those tears or coolant?" Kimiko thought to herself

"Where about did you lose them?" the figure said as he stepped towards Exia they could now see that it was a fairly tall man with dark blue hair wearing a dark scowl on his face. "How did you even end up this deep in the forest?

"i can't remember but it was in the woods" exia says.

The man eyed up the child as if he was assessing him, "Alright Kid follow me I'll show the way out!"

"ok mr!" exia says walking to him.

"Alright Kid whats your name?" the man asked

"Rose." exia says using his last name for a first name.

"Strange name for a boy!" the man said dimmesively

"so are my mummy and daddy." exia smiles.

"The man chuckled to himself, "You're a strange one kid,I think I'll give you a heads up." the man said looking at the rose "You're not gonna see your parents again so if you came to term with that now it would be better for you."

"What do you mean Mr?" Exia asks.

The man stopped moving and turned to look at Exia, Kimiko had be moving from tree to tree in order to keep up with the pair. "Okay now all he has to do is let him take him to where the children are!" Kimiko thought to herself.

"You are not going home simple as don't hate me too much the people I'm taking you to are much worse than I could ever be." the man said with the same scowl on his face.

"but why?" exia asks.

"Because we all have to pay our dues sometime Kid" and with one swift movement the man let his fist collide with the childs head send the child sprawling to the ground. "As I said don't hate me too much the worst is yet to come"

Exia falls down knocked out.

"Okay now for the tough part" Kimiko thought to herself, as she watched the man pickup Exia and begin running deeper into  the forest.she followed him running from tree to tree keeping herself hidden.

Exia stays still.

The man ran deeper into the forest looking over his shoulder every now and then expecting to see someone trailing him but only seeing the darkness of the forest staring back at him.

Kimiko followed the man and Exia for several minutes the dense trees seemed to be thinning, just ahead Kimiko could make out a sort of clearing they must be reaching their destination. Kimiko looked on beyond the tree in an attempt to estimate where the man was going. "It's nothing but miles of Grassland!" she thought to herself. Beyond the forest was essentially nothing but grass it was what one may call "the middle of nowhere".

"Okay so how's this gonna work?" Kimiko thought to herself.

The man looked up at the sky breathing in the air, before place Exia on the ground and placing his hand on the ground.The ground began to shake slightly, and then the ground opened up reavling a set of stairs leading deep underground. "Well that's a first!" Kimiko said quietly under her breath.

The dark haired man picked up Exia and walked down the stairs into the ground, Kimiko jumped out of the tree and began sprinting towards the stairs. The ground now begining to close up Kimiko was running with her full effort before diving into the ground and roll down the stairs and then slamming into a wall. "I hope the stairs covered my noise" she though groaning to herself her body was sore all over.

Bosco Underworld

Kimiko stood up brushing herself off, she looked around find herself in a dimly lit corridor with torches place sparling along it, she crept along the corridor half expecting it to close in on itself. She eventually came across a door which slightly ajar, beyond the door the sound of laughter could be heard Kimiko edged closer to the door trying to see if she could make sense of noise behind the door.

Exia slowly wakes up. "w.....where am I?" exia asks.

"I kinda wish you went back to sleep but whatever welcome to the end of your life" the dark haired man annouced as he sat in a chair watching Exia laying on the ground from afar. "I'm not sure if you can tell yet but you're chained to the wall so...you know don't even try to escape."

"Why not?" Exia asks.

"Well where would you go Kid?" he said as he pointed around him at the dark stone room the smell of dirt hanging in the air,"You've been knocked out for awhile so you probably have no idea where you are, heck you probably haven't even noticed the kids next to you". True to his word on both sides of Exia were numerous kids all tied up and in a cosiderable worst state than Exia, one of the kids was bashed ad bruised all over. "You see that guy over there Exia said pointing at the bruised child "He tried to escpae well to be fair one of the other guards "forgot" to tie him up but well what happen when he was caught is easy to see."

Exia laughs as he smiles. "I'll free us all."

The man stared at Exia, "Look..Rose I don't do what I do because I want, I do it because I must, I do not enjoy hurting kids but if I must I will." The man stood up a menacing aura surrounded him "Get in between me and my task and I will destroy you without hesistation, there are far more importaunt things in this world than you child!

exia laughs. "did you just call me a child?" Exia asks.

The man stared at Exia slightly confused "Um you are the only brat talking so..yes I did call you child and what of it?!"

"Because you're dumb and can't see there's more to me then meets the eye." Exia says with a smile and a hard look in his eyes that no kid should have.

That last comment struck a nerve "Dumb am I? You better have a point to this kid! Or shall I just beat the crap outta you right now!"

Kimiko was stood behind the door, where she could hear an assortment of voices, "What do you think of the merchandise Tatsuo brought in?" a voice said, "Could be worse we'll definatly be able to bring in some cash once we sell them!"

Kimiko had heard enough she stood kicked open the door, the sudden force ripping it off its hinges, she unsheathed her sword and look at every single person in the room "Okay guys all ten of you! Where are the kids?!"

"You can try" exia smiles at the man

The man looked at Exia for a moment and in one swift movement her threw his fist aimed towards Exia's head.

Breaks free and grabs the hand. "Told you."

Kimiko stared down at all the men who were rendered speechless by Kimiko's sudden appearance in their domain. "I don't know how you got in here but you best stand down missy" one of the men in the back said nonchalantly. Kimiko stared at the man who was leisurely smoking on a cigar she took what seemed like one step and appeared in front of the man. Who looked as if he hadnt even acknowledge her sudden movement. Kimiko used the hilt of her blade to poke him in the gut winding him and kicked him in his groin knocking him out. "I'll only ask once more where are the children!"

The dark haired man was gobsmacked this child Rose was holding his own forget that he just broke the chain of the wall! "Who the hell are you kid" he said in disbeilef.

"Wouldn't you like to know " Exia smiles.

"Take her out all together she can't handle us all at once!" one of the men shouted. They all ran at her Kimiko kissed her teeth "No need to get your dirty blood on my blade" she said  as she sheathed her blade and began lashing out at the men.They attacked without any form of grace, not that Kimiko was in any postion to judge she  fighting dirty herself throwing chairs at her oppenents,hitting her opponents well below the belt is was not pretty but it was Kimiko's preferred way of fighting. Kimiko smiled to herself "It's been awhile since I've been able to let out all this pent up stress!"

The man jumped back away from Exia looking him dead in the eye "Okay I think I get it,transformation magic right?" He began stretching his body,"I'll ask again who are you!"

"Nope no magic here" Exia says.

"Then anwser my question, WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!" The man had a dark look in his eyes the air around began to shimmer in a heat haze and blue aura began to surround him, given an intense heat.

"i told you my name is rose." Exia says smiling.

"I am gonna wipe that smile of your face you little piece of shit!" he said as he raced towards Exia his fist clenched, "Well then Rose my name is Tatsuo and I assure you it'll be the last name you hear!"

Exia blocks with one of his two mech blades that is way to big in his kid form. "Oh really tatsuo?" Exia asks.

Tatsuo looked at Exia's mech blade briefly then looked at his face carefully notcing something somewhat artificial about him. "Theres something of that wasn't requip that was more like it came out of him" he thought to himself as he pushed away from Exia. "Okay Rose show me what you got!" he said aloud.

"Not my name." Exia laughs spinning his blade around.

Tatsuo felt the vein in the side of his head throb immensely "I'm going to kill him...I'm going to kill and leave no traces!" he muttered to himself,"I'm going to take great pleasure in killing you kid! Come at me!"

Exia returns back to his 21 form. "that's better" exia says.

"What the heck are you a Machias?" Tatsuo said quite perplexed by Exia's sudden transformation.

"I'm Exia rose, a gundamdroid."Exia says.

"Well...I think at the end of the day your just a tin can."

"Don't. Call. Me. That!" Exia yells power forming around his blade.

Tatsuo laughs out loud "Oh did I strike a nerve Tin Can?" Tatsuo stuck out his toungue "So tell me I know you are probably here for the kids but who sent you Tin Can?"

"No one" exia says"but I can't just stand by!" He yells.

Tatsuo scoffed "Oh is that right well when you feel like telling the truth you let me know Tin Can!"

"i am" is all exia says.

"I'm not what you think of me but I'm not stupid, you would never under any circumstances walked into enemy lines in a retrival mission by yourself, which means someone must know you're here.!" Tatsuo said running his hand through his hair.

"Do you really think anything will change if you save these kids Tin Can?"

"No but I will make it change!" Exia yells.

Tatsuo looked at Exia with a mixture of disgust and disappointment, "Why the hell are you yelling like anything you just said has any real meaning, those are just the words of a naive child who has no idea whats going on!" Tatsuo began walking casually toward Exia "Do you have any idea how many places like this exist in Bosco heck all over the world? Trust me Exia you will not change a single thing being a hero."

Exia looks down with tears in his eyes. "I'm no hero."

Tatsuo looked at Exia "You're crying? Why are you crying? What the heck man!" Tatsuo rubbed his eyes, "You know what I don't want to know! Kid are you going to try to stop me or are you having some kind of episode here?"

Exia goes blade V 3 but with free eyes not green. "You will die!" Exia yells.

Tatsuo still walking toward completly unfazed by Exia's transformation just said "Are we done talking are you going to fight me kid?"

Exia now holds a green blade as blue and green blades attack tatsuo. "Die"

Tatsuo dodges the first couple of blades sidestepping with apparent ease before grabbing one of the blades and using it to swat away the rest of the oncoming blade and then throwing the blade he caught back at Exia.

All four blades fly around him. "die!" the blades fly at tatsuo.

Tatsuo rolls his eyes and once again catches a blade and throws it at the other three causing two of them fly off course, sidestepping the remaining one Tatsu run straight at Exia fish clenched and throws a calamitous punch aimed at Exia's head.

The blades returns to his left shoulder as he blocks with his blade.

"Oh interesting what ever you made out of Tin Can its pretty strong!" Tatsuo said with a grin on his face. "Lets see how much you can take" he said as he began to unload blow and blow against Exia's blade.

"die" exia says blocking.

"C'mon Exia just telling me to Die isn't gonna make me! I think I'm warmed up!" A small blue spark appeared in Tatsuo eye's a flaming aura began to surround him his fist quite litterally caught fire giving an intense blue light and Tatsuo brought it down smashing it on Exia's blade punching straight throught it his fist stopping mere inches from Exia's face. "Ooops did I do that?" Tatsu said peering through the hole he made.

exia growls as his form starts turning pure black. "you will die!"

Tatsuo lept away from Exia observing the black colur taking over Exia "You're just full of surprises,aren't you,you are no doubt gonna give me a fight to remember but I think the kids behind you might get killed as a result but hey don't let that stop you." Tatsuo said as he peered over Exia's shoulder watching the kids cower in fear as they watch what could only look like monsters fight it out. "I can tell you are angry come on forget the kids just go all out and destroy me!"

"i killed one of my only two friends i don't care what happens to anyone!" exia yells now black all over with a new red blade.

Tatsuo smiled and opened his arm as if inviting Exia to come and embrace him "Lets see if you can make me break a sweat!"

exia gowls blood red appearing behind him with inhuman speed.

Tatsuo turned to face Exia his flame enhanced hand are ready primed he sent a punch straight toward Exia's Gut "I'm sure you saw what happened to you blade!"

Exia disappears again appearing behind him and attacking with his sword.

Tatsu brought him arm blocking Exia's attack but the resultant force stills sent him careening to the back of the room, the children screamed as the enitre room began to quake. Tatsuo stood up dusting himself off "Well I gotta I like this but come if you want me to die try a little bit harder than that!"

Exia is so fast he leaves afterimages as he attacks.

Tatsuo closes his eyes briefly and lashes out feeling his fist connect with Exia's face "If you're gonna run head first at me at least have a plan!"

The real Exia appears above him in the air with all five blades making a giant sword.

Tatsuo looked up watching Exia looked upon "Well you're not completly useless are you tin can!" he said as he clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

"Die!" Exia attacks with the giant blade.

"You know I could easily block it but I think it would be a bit more interesting to dodge it" Tatsuo's body became momentarily bathed in blue flames and then he literally phased out of existence before appearing at the tip of Exia's blade and placing a fierce punch changing its trajectory the blade was pointed at and  was hurtling toward the imprisoned children. "Lets see how you handle blood on your hand!" Tatsuo thought to himself.

The blade hurtled toward the children, there was a sudden flash followed by an explosion sending dust billowing in all directions, "Damn that will there even be anything left of the kids?" Tatsuo thought to himself as he rematerialized, however his eyes narrowed noticing something within the dust,there stood Kimiko Ichijo with her blade unsheathed and a look of complete and utter fury on her face. "See Exia I knew you weren't alone!"

"she'll die next." the dark exia growls.

"Pretty sure she's on your side I mean considering she protected those kids" Tatsuo said slighty confused, "I mean what does being a tin can mean you can't have feelings? Are you on a mission to find a wizard to give you a heart?!" Tatsuo laughed out loud at his own wit.