Kiku's eyes remained closed, the fire within him stirring to create a pillar of heat. Heracles felt it. Kiku would stop at nothing now to live through this mission. Their hands held tightly to one another's, the obvious trembling subdued only subtly by their tight grip. Heracles took one last look at Kiku, just taking in his radiance. This could be the last time he reminded himself, the last time he'd see Kiku's perfect face. His lovely porcelain skin that reflected the moonlight so perfectly, the ebony hair that framed that face, his lovely pink lips that had bestowed countless kisses to his own… everything but those eyes. The eyes that remained closed to the world, for no one to glance upon their troubled beauty. Kiku seemed to know what he was thinking, because his eyes opened slowly. They were directed straight into his own. His breath caught in his throat, feeling paralyzed by Kiku's lovely blank eyes. Im Yong Soo's shrill voice rang out, jarring them from the moment.

"Objective confirmed! It's time Kiku… GO!" Kiku and Heracles gripped one another as they hit the button on their transporters. Earth was a mess, exploded building pieces lie everywhere on the streets. Slaughtered innocents blood painted the sidewalks, filling the dusty air with the sorrow of lost life. For a second, Kiku moved his eyes and looked at Heracles. Elizabeta, Gilbert and Tino found them soon and waited for orders. Kiku wasted no time in getting right to it.

"Alright, Gilbert's team will take the back wall and Tino's team will take the sides. Elizabeta's team will follow me into the building and keep our area secure as we plant the C-4. Go!" The teams ran, covering their areas as Kiku and his team filed into the doors of the office building. Ludwig and Gupta shot who they could from the door before snapping the first part of the gun away and filling it with shotgun ammo. Kiku drew his sword and took out the men that came at him, the men hiding behind the thrown over desks and the people trying to shoot him down from the stairs. They found the stairs down and went down to find the support pillars and foundation. Where they found them, Sadiq was. He was tied to a pillar, his face badly beaten and cut wounds that were obviously infected along his torso. Kiku took pity and cut him loose, giving him the gun he'd yet to use.

"Make yourself useful." Heracles scowled at him but helped the rest of the team as they all planted C-4. As soon as they were all confirmed correct, Kiku started out the building. He rushed to see the sky as soon as it came into his line of vision. He checked to see that all his team was there before looking around. Someone was missing.

"Where's Heracles?" He turned to the building and Heracles was rushing out, and at the same time a giant block of concrete was falling from the top of the building. "NO!" Sadiq held him back, worried that he would receive a similar fate if he tried to save him. Kiku screamed his beloved's name as the block hit the ground, sending pieces of debris flying in all directions. Sadiq found Kiku's transporter and hit the button, sending them back to the base. Im Yong Soo was first to ask questions, but was overpowered by Kiku screaming his lungs out. He was crying hard, the tears leaving red streaks on his face. The Korean leader looked to Sadiq for answers.

"No, we didn't blow it up yet. Heracles could still be alive." Im Yong Soo looked to Kiku, who was desperately trying to get the transporter back from Sadiq.

"Then find him. Go back and get Heracles. It'll be your redemption for causing Kiku pain in the first place." Kiku clawed at Sadiq's arms.

"LET ME GO BACK! PLEASE! I WON'T LET HIM DIE! PLEASE DON'T LET HIM DIE!" Im Yong Soo held Kiku back as Sadiq flipped his mask on and hit the transporter button. Kiku screamed again, his little body balling up on the floor. Mei, Yao and Yong Soo all held Kiku in their arms, rocking him as he cried his heart out. The sobs wracked his body, violently shaking him and causing him to lose air for a few seconds and faint. Not a moment later, Sadiq appeared in the room with Heracles' limp body slung over his shoulders. Kiku immediately awoke, sensing the beating heart of his love even without consciousness. Sadiq set him down gently onto the cold floor, Kiku racing to him. Ludwig finally hit the button on the detonator and exploded the building. Kiku cried on his chest, only looking up to see Heracles open his eyes slightly and start coughing violently. Kiku grasped his head.

"Speak to me Heracles, please! Tell me you're okay!" Heracles lifted a hand to touch Kiku's face.

"You're okay… good… I love you... Don't worry I'll be fine…" Kiku leaned to kiss him, and saw his eyes close as they parted lips. Im Yong Soo and Sadiq pulled him away from the body, his screaming becoming increasingly louder as the distance between them increased.

"HE'S NOT DEAD! HE CAN'T BE! NO! I WON'T LET HIM GO! HE'S STILL ALIVE!" Yao went over to Heracles and checked his vital signs. His golden brown eyes widened.

"He's alive! Quickly, I need oxygen and water!" Heracles' body was quickly carried off, Kiku tearing away from his brother and Sadiq to follow after. Yao stopped him though.

"Go back to your room Kiku, let me deal with this. I promise, I will save him." Im Yong Soo grabbed him again and took him to the master suite, the leader of the resistance's lavish room. Kiku collapsed onto the bed, his mind and body not able to handle the emotional stress. The Korean held his brother in his arms, wishing only the best for Heracles' condition. He couldn't let Kiku's life end now, not after what he and Heracles had been through. Kiku slept for hours, and for those hours, nobody heard anything of Heracles' state. It seemed to everyone on board that their fearless Greek comrade hadn't made it… was all hope really lost? Would the flame of true love be distinguished by the hand of the universe?

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

Where is this?

This place seems so… familiar…

What is my name?

Who am I?

.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

Kiku awoke hours later, a pounding headache splitting through his head. He looked around and as soon as he saw Im Yong Soo's brightly colored blankets, everything came back to him. He ran out of the room in search of Yao or Yong Soo or anyone who could tell him anything about Heracles' condition. He ran into Sadiq and Im Yong Soo after a minute of searching and they held him steady.

"Where is he? Is he okay? Please tell me he's alive!" Sadiq sighed.

"He's alive and he's doing fine but…" He turned to Im Yong Soo.

"Kiku he… he doesn't remember anything. He didn't even know his own name until we told him. You can go see him but there's a very good chance he won't remember you." Kiku held his tears in, his dainty hands gripping the pleather of his uniform. He returned to he and Heracles' room to clean up and change before going back and into the room where they held Heracles. Inside the room were only a few people. Yao was speaking to Heracles and Lilli was hooking him up with some type of hydration fluid. He walked in and looked straight at Heracles, their eyes meeting only for a brief second until Yao looked at him. His older brother gave him a distraught look before exiting with Lilli in tow. Kiku took a seat next to Heracles' bed, just waiting for him to say something.

"I know you from somewhere… your face seems so familiar…" Kiku's breath hitched.

"Did they tell you about me?"

"I don't think so… what's your name?"

"My name is Kiku…" Heracles nodded.

"Yes, they did tell me about you. They said to tell you that I loved you with all my heart. Is that true? Were we… lovers?" Kiku wiped some silent tears away from his cheeks.

"We were more than that. We were engaged Heracles, to be married as soon as our mission was complete… to have children and make a life together…" Heracles sat up.

"Really? Wow… we must really have loved each other very much… I… I am truly sorry I don't remember you. You're very beautiful, and I would marry you in an instant had I remembered anything. I may not know you anymore, but something inside me says… I love you." Kiku looked away, his face becoming red with frustration and sadness. "Maybe, if it would help, maybe we could kiss one last time? It'll be my gift to you and whoever I was." Kiku stood and sat beside him.

"If that's what you can offer than I accept." Heracles wrapped his arms around Kiku's waist and pressed a passionate kiss to his lips. They could both taste the saltiness of Kiku's tears, but it mattered not. If only, Kiku thought sorrowfully, if only he could remember me… Suddenly, Heracles' body froze only to return to motion a moment later. Kiku was cautious for a moment, seeking the look in Heracles' eyes. The Greek looked down at him confusedly.

"Kiku… where are we? I thought I was still on Earth-"Kiku tackled him onto the bed, crying and laughing at the same time. "Kiku? Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine… I just thought you'd never come to… I've missed you…" Heracles hugged him tightly.

"What happened? All I remember is trying to get you outside and then the rest of it's just… blank."

"I thought you died because you passed out as Sadiq got you back on board." Heracles frowned deeply, the displeasure of being close to Sadiq clear on his face. "Then… you lost your memory for a little while and you didn't remember me until…"

"Until what?" Kiku smiled up at him.

"Until we kissed." Heracles laughed softly.

"I figured as much. Only you could have brought me out of that. Haven't you ever read American fairytales?"

"Well yes but why?" He laughed again.

"True love's kiss always breaks the spell." Kiku laughed too until Heracles drew Kiku in for a hug.

"Don't ever leave me like that again."

"Never. I'll always be here for you." They kissed again, the passion of being reunited fueling their love further to create a kiss that only they could experience. The violence was finally over, the horror and heat of battle distinguished, the pain and suffering gone. Life would finally return to normal… Now, Kiku thought happily to himself, now they could make the life they had been dreaming of since they first discovered their love. Now they could be together in the sun of the Earth without the system to rip them apart.

Now they could live.