HIM

Chapter one : "My old friends"

He trained to be a soldier, assassin, and something more, sent to the dangerous missions and sent to kill the most important of persons. Yet this was all done for the good of the country, or so he was told. Batou, that was his code name and his only name. No last name, no past. He was once a soldier who had been turned into something more. In one of those mission he had lost his eyes and his body. He had been reconstructed and made better, or so they had told him.

"Yo, big guy, this came in for you."

Tougusa threw him the package, which was not what he had been expecting. No weight equipment, just an ordinary package. No return address and no visible marks on the outside. His eyes, which could see more than any mere humans could, scanned it and saw no danger. Opening it up however, proved how wrong his eyes were, no bomb, no hazard material, no, it was something much worse.

"Batou get your ass in gear we have…"

"I'm taking a day off."

There was no way, there was just no way the thing in the package was real, it had to be a fake nothing more. Walking past the major he did not noticed the glare sent his way, major Kusanagi was surprised for the first time since she had meet batou. He had looked scared, he was dismissive of her and even ignored her. Something was not right. Walking towards the table she saw the package and frowned. Something was inside and what ever that was, it had to be related to Batou is expression.

"Major? Something wrong?"

"Yeah scan this for any thing unusual."

"Unusual?"

"Just do your stuff Iskawa."

It was too late, he was gone and all that was left behind were tire marks, he had left in a hurry. She did not like that. Something had upset him and frightened him. Frowning, she leaft and walked towards her car. She still had a job to do and a mission to go on. Opening her cyber brain link up, she called for back up.

Time was irrelevant, cyber bodies did not age, did not feel and did not become tired. He was better, or so they had told him. They had lied, cyber bodies did not feel, did not shed tears, no he was not better he was any thing but. Yet someone had sent him a reminder of his past, a small memento, to remind him of his old days as a dog of war. Some one knew his past; some one had sent him a reminder.

"Hello?"

"Aska."

"Batou."

"There has been an incident; I received an L-1."

"I see. Is this a secure line?"

"Yes. I need information."

"Come to my place."

Aska Ayari, one of the best, perhaps even better than the major. She was the one who had guided him back from the brink of death, told him how to use his cyber body and how to become a better killer. She was his mentor and even tough she was human, he could never win once against her, she had told him once, strength and speed meant nothing with out skills to use them.

Major we lost him.

His tachikomas were after him, he could spot them a mile a way and so he avoided them. He knew how and he knew how they worked. Even tough he was pissed, he didn't not blame them. After all the major was the one who had sent them after him. If the major was the one who was following him, he might have had a harder time in losing her, he thought. How ever they were easy to fool.

What do you mean you lost him?

I am sorry. He somehow knew we were following him.

"Damn it!"

Togusa looked at her and frowned. The major was worried and pissed, not a good combination.

"Something wrong?"

"Nothing."

There was no argument, he knew better than to question her when she was like this. Even tough there was something wrong, she would never admit to it, nor was she going to talk to him about it. Hell, the only one who could get trough to her, and that was sometimes, was batou. The dime dropped and he knew, the only reason she was acting like this was because of him. They were the only ones who had this kind of reaction with one another. If the major went missing, then batou would act up, if batou was missing then it was the major who hid her discomfort well enough not be called on it.

"You have not changed a bit I see."

"Cyber bodies don't age."

"True, but then what's the fun of living forever if you cant enjoy this?"

The simple act of tasting a fruit was lost in him, no taste buds. Cyborg food was designed to give nutrition to the living components nothing more, not taste, no flavoring. As advance as they were they could not re-create the flavor of food. Sure, you tasted it but it always tasted off some how, drinks and special foods were eaten out of habit, nothing more, nothing less. Walking inside he smiled at the old apartment. It had not changed a bit, every thing was the same as it was ten years ago, when she had recently moved in.

"Creature of habit I see."

"Yes, well, I like to keep every thing as is."

"Including that old body I see."

"Oh, but not all of it is old as you can see."

One arm was as young as the major's were, while the other was wrinkly and bonier. She had a prosthetic limb. She had gotten injured. Surprise, surprise she was mortal after all.

"So, that why you left?"

"That and the fact they were tracking me to kill me."

"I heard. Should have joined up with section 9. They have one hell of a health insurance."

"So I heard, but those cleaners are still out there you know?"

"Fine by me."

"Stubborn and stupid as always, so let me see this L-1."

That was weird, there were only three people who had access to the files that held such pictures. Turning towards her couch she sat down and motioned for him to do the same. This just got a bit more interesting. Batou's file was one of the safest guarded secrets in the entire world, from his military career, his days as black op to his mercenary ways. Yet somehow, someone had been able to get his or at least part of his file.

"This is serious."

"Can you take him out?"

"How do you know I have a target already?"

"Because we both know that only four people have access to that kind of material and one of them is sitting right here."

"That still leaves three unaccounted for, or is your old mind playing tricks on you?"

"Don't be stupid. You know damn well that the other three people don't want this to get out."

"Joseph Malone."

"Crap."

Joseph Malone, third member of the three remaining people who had access to his file, the one man who always held a grudge against him, and the one man who swore revenge after Batou walked out on his old life and joined section 9. If there was anyone who could have done this, he was the man to blame.

"I don't think he waited all this time to do this but…"

"The bastard did want revenge on you, especially after you declined that last mission. You think he has a bounty on your head?"

"No, nothing like that. I think he just told some of my old friends how to get to me."

"Yeah, leave that to me. I'll find out which of your old buddies is on the move."

He had enemies, all assassins have them, all mercenaries have them, ex soldiers and ex black op agents have them. Only his list was too long to count. He had been safe in section nine. As a member of the elite squad he was out of reach, if they were to kill him then questions would be asked, investigation would be made on just who he was and why was he killed or had died.

Questions that would lead them downwards into his life and investigations that would show his actions and his missions, how many people he killed, how many missions he had and which assassinations he was responsible for. No one wanted that. That was why ex black op agents were either killed or just keept under a leash. He had been lucky he had escaped by making powerful friends. Now it seemed his more powerful enemies were making their moves.

Walking inside his apartment he wondered how long she has been sitting on his couch, how long has she been drinking and looking at the far off wall. For that matter how long has she been festering up her anger and annoyance. He does not welcome the conversation he is about to have, but he must have it. He owes her that much.

"You're out of beer."

"So you're too drunk to bitch?"

"Where were you."

"Just needed to clear my head."

"You know damn well I can tell when you're lying."

"I don't have time for this crap."

"What was in the box, Batou?"

"What are you, my mother now? I don't have time for this so just drop it."

The arguments were famous, but the respect was always there. Now she could feel it is slipping away and she was worried. Something had really freaked him out. There was only one other time when she had seen him act this way. She didn't like what that meant. If it was a similar incident, then he will go over the edge.

"You still have a job at section 9."

"I'll clear it with the old man."

"Damn it, Batou, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"None of you damn business! You fucking want me to tell you, ain't that a bitch? Oh, I know you tell me your dirty little secrets and I'll tell you mine, how's about that?"

She knows he is right, she had never once opened up to him about who she was and about her past, never once has she told him anything about herself or her life. The only thing he knows is that the damn watch she wears is important to her and even then he had to give it meaning. What right does she have to ask him this? None. She had revealed nothing of her past to him, why should he do that for her? She had lost, she was not defeated by his brawn or brain, she was defeated by her own actions and it pissed her off.

"Your still under my command I expect you to…"

"Don't worry major I'll speak with the old man and see what happens."

"We're in the middle of a crisis! You have duties!"

"Screw my duties! I have other things to do. Besides, its time for a change. Been to long in one place."

The door slamed shut and she is left there speech less, he was talking as if this was his last day at section 9. Frowning she made up her mind. Batou was the closest thing she had to a friend. A pain in the ass at times, but her best friend, the only one who she can actually be civil with, other than her girl friends. Batou is the man who understands the hazards and frustration of her life as a cyborg and as an officer. He is right, there are other things that need to be done and right now her priority is talking to the head of section 9. Something tells her the chief knows more about Batou than he lets on.

Continued.