AN: AU!Heartland evasion by the Academia. Both Kaito and Rio are parts of the Resistance, with Kaito being the leader and Rio somewhat of a second-in-command.

Queen

She gently patted his hair as he stared down at the card in his hands, an unphantomable look on his face.

The bluenette understood very well what he must be feeling like right now, for she had a taste of that particular... pleasure... just after the war had started, robbing her off most of her friends and, most importantly, her brother.

"We will stop them..."

Her calm words didn't seem to reach him as he slowly set the card on the table in front of him and looked at the two newest recruits to the Resistance standing before him, neither showing any nervous behavior or fear like most of the new did. These two seemed to be special, with their own agenda in this horrible reality they were forced into, the little sister of the older one boldly moving to stand in-between her brother and friend.

"You can join. Just know that you won't be expected to return."

"Understood."

As she watched the trio walk out, the girl's bracelet reflected in the rising sun, she pushed a strand of hair away from her face and gazed at her love, who was now picking up some documents to summarize the events described in them.

"We will..."

Feeling him slowly reach out to her caused her to smile.

Rio Kamishiro simply leaned back into her boyfriend's chest and closed her eyes, remembering the peaceful days before everything went downhill.