Kazon sat on the end of Fujikuro's bed in his darkened room, pulling and tugging a black glove onto his right hand. He strapped it on tightly before he picked up a piece of his alloy armor that was laying beside him and slid his hand and forearm into it, adjusted it into position. As he was doing so, he glanced over his shoulder to the large box that Kei had said she placed in Fujikuro's room for him. It was full of his equipment, weapons and such. But that was just it, it was full, but not anymore. He stood up, fully decked out in his armaments. He jumped around a little bit to see if everything felt right and if it was all in place.

After finishing that little exercise, he lifted his right arm up and his left hand pushed a small button on a powerpack attached to his belt. As soon as he pushed the button, an unusually shaped, reddish colored, translucent shield appeared as if it were a hologram, projecting from the risen plate on his forearm's armor. The red aura refelcted off Kazon's green eyes as he examined the sheild...he'd need it where he was going. He nodded slightly in satisfaction, and Kazon pushed the button once again, making the shield-like device disappear.

Everything was in order....

He walked over to one of the nightstands, next to the bed and took a small, black hair-tie and pulled some of his dark hair back into a short ponytail, leaving the unorthodox front bangs as they were. He caught a glance at the digital clock on the same small table.

"4:06..." Kazon read the glowing digits off to himself, "...plenty of time." He grabbed his long black coat that was laying on the bed and quietly slipped it on abd over his shoulders.

"You'd better be doing the right thing Kaz..." he thought to himself as he buttoned up and fixed the collar of the coat. He glanced out the window of the room, watching the stillness of the night atmosphere. He sighed softly as he gently rubbed his stomach, as if he was a bit unsure if he was even up for what he was about to do, whatever that maybe. He quickly buried the thought and made his way to the door, taking up his two katanas that were propped against door frame and pushing a button single button on the wall. The katanas were bound together, ready for them both to be strapped over his back, but he kept them both held down by his side for now. As the door slid opened, he walked into the living room quietly.

As he made his way through the dark living room, Kazon glanced over to the couch, seeing Fujikuro sound asleep and snoring quite loudly. Kaz simply shook his head and made his way over to the elevator. He was hasty with his movements, however he remained as quiet as a mouse. His gloved hand reached up to push the button on the control pad of the lift....but something stopped him. His finger slowly retracted into a fist as he looked over to that spot on the floor next to the supercomputer. He began to remember what had happened earlier that night...with Iria, that kiss, and his thoughts became cloudy. His hand began to shake and tremble a little as his conscious began to kick it into high gear.

He feared that this would happen, that something would hold him back. He was hesitant, unsure, and in some ways, afraid. He had never had this feeling inside of him, not until recently. Not until he got to know her....

Before he knew it, he was walking out of the elevator and back into the living room...

*****

Iria was sleeping soundly in her own bed, for once. She was still a bit tired from her care-taking of the injured Kazon, and maybe a bit bushed from her little 'sparring session' with him as well. Nevertheless, all was silent in her room as well...until the door leading into it slid open.

Who would have guessed that it would be Kazon, as he quietly peeked in before he walked inside completely. He still had his katanas in his hands as he slowly approached the side of the bed, not making the slightest sound whatsoever. He stood there looking down at her for the longest time, watching her breath softly in her sleep. She was wearing her pajamas again, kind of laying on her side, the sheets covered he body, but that didn't seen to matter to him. His eyes remained on her face the whole time, that lost gaze still on his own. But even more, he has lost in the very glimpse of her. What was this? What was this that he was feeling? He didn't know for sure, but he wasn't in a big hurry to find out either. He tried to reassure himself that he had other plans for the moment, but something still held him back. She held him back...

His free hand reached down to gently brush a few stray, reddish-brown locks of hair from in front of her closed eyes, carefully tucking them behind her ear. He was rather soft with his touch, not wanting to wake her, for many reasons. Part of him didn't want his cover blown....but the other, this new side of him just wanted to watch her sleep.

He finally looked away from her, and over to that same picture on the nightstand, the one of Iria and Gren. He noted the smile upon Iria's face in the picture, and the warm smile that Gren was returning to her. Kazon once again looked back to the sleeping Iria.

"This is for the best..." he thought to himself before he slowly turned around and headed back for the door...

"...going somewhere?" a soft voice called out to Kazon from behind him. Kazon immediately stopped upon hearing it and let out a soft sigh, knowing he had been caught. He turned around halfway to see that Iria was laying on her side and had her head propped up in her hand, her eyes burning right through him.

"...'should have known." Iria went on. She threw her sheets aside and sat up, eyeing the long trench coat with an arched brow. "Just gonna walk away again? Not listening to anyone?" she added in a frustrated tone, obviously, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice.

Kazon hesitated before speaking,"...there are just a few thing I need to do."

"Like go fight Zeiram and Kross alone...? You're a horrible liar." Iria said in an agitated manner. Kazon slowly looked away from her. "I know you think he might be to one that killed your friend," she added as she stood up completely, "but you still don't realize that you can't do this alone. Not in your condition...not in any condition for that matter...! Face it, you're not going without me."

Kazon looked back up to her, with a look of calmness. "...I have to do this alone. I've told you before, you'd just slow me down and I won't let that happen..."

"Listen to yourself!" Iria said in a more imperative voice, her eyes narrowing but still kept the noise level down, not wanting to wake anyone else up. "Why do you have to be so stubborn, huh?! You just--" but before she could go any further, in the flash of an eye, Kazon quickly unsheathed one of the two katanas and a razor-sharp blade snapped up right under her chin, the tip of the blade barely even touching her skin. The action startled Iria, but she stood her ground.

Kazon took a deep breath before he went on. "I'm doing this alone...whether you like it or not. You being there would just distract me and put both of us in danger. You can't get hurt or die trying to fight them, not now. If I screw this up...you could still have a chance..."

"But--...!!" Iria mumbled softly as she stared down to the blade. All the while his words played over and over in her head. The way he was speaking, it was like he was actually cared for her and her safety. Or was he just saying it from a strategic point of view, and not really caring about her?

It all confused her, but before she could say another word, Kaz then quickly moved the blade away from her and swiftly twirled around behind her in a blur. Before she knew it, Kazon had given her a quick shot to the back of her neck with his fist. Iria gasped loudly upon the impact, her eyes widening instinctively. Soon though, they slowly began to close as she fell, limply, down to the floor. Kazon remained standing behind her for a brief moment with his weapon still at hand. He didn't hit her hard enough to harm her, he knew this, only to knock her out for the time being and giving him time to get out of the house without her tailing him.

Kazon returned the sword to its sheath before he set them both on the floor beside him. He then reached over to her bed and took one of the pillows and kneeled down beside her. He carefully lifted her head up and slid the pillow under it before gently setting it back down. He glanced over to the blanket for a moment...then he looked back down to her. He thought for a moment as he glanced down to his trench coat. He made up his mind and began to unbutton the coat and then slowly slid it off his shoulders. He carefully spread it out and covered her body with it, tucking her in tightly to keep her warm.

"Sorry for that, but I need you to hold on to this for me...." He said in a very soft voice, referring to the coat, as his gloved hand gently brushed across her cheek. "It was Ouspi's...it means a lot to me..." His gloved hand once again brushed away a few strands of hair from her face. He remained there for a moment as he took in the mere sight of her once again with his hand resting gently on her cheek. He leaned his upperbody closer to her as he moved his hand over slightly, giving her cheek a gentle kiss before he let his fingers trail down her jawline and then completely way as he lifted himself back up.

"Sleep well, Iria..."

Kazon finally reached over and took the katanas by the straps again and stood up slowly. He turned to the door and began his exit, pushing the button to let it slide open once again. Inside the door frame, he turned back around completely get one, long last look at the fallen Iria...

"Thank you, Iria..." Kazon said in that same voice, but with a calm, straight face. "...for everything." He took a step back and then reached over to and pushed the button to the door again...it sliding closed with Kazon behind it....

As soon as he had left the house, Kazon was speeding across the dusty ground in his Kreeper at blistering speeds, kicking up a cloud behind him. Inside the cockpit. Kazon had that same look on his face as before, calm, cool and straight as an arrow as he held on to the controls. The lights of the control panels and consoles illuminated his face in the darkened atmosphere. His faced was lowered and his eyes were closed. He thought he was doing the right thing, leaving Iria behind, but, now that he was gone, he knew he had to put it all that behind him. Those feelings, however new they were to him, had to be let go. It was time for him to get back to work and as those dark green eyes slowly opened and revealed that cold, icy glare, looking forward with a bitter determination, the old Kazon was back....

But there was one place he had to go before he set out on his journey...his journey back to Bachnia.

*****

Inside the Tedan Tippedai Headquarters, on one of the top floors, Touka was sitting on a cot in one of the many science labs. There was a large computer set up next to many large tubes with green liquid flowing in them. This was the same lab Iria had broken into one year ago, but had changed considerably, for even though it was Touka's lab, it could also be considered to be his 'cell'.

Over the door, there was a security camera that was slowly panning back and forth from its fixed position. The sliding door leading into the lab also had a type of special lock on it and could only be opened from the outside. Apparently, even though he was 'set free', the higher-ups decided to still keep a close eye on him. Touka was silent, just sitting there with his face in his hands. It seemed as if he hadn't slept much over the last couple of days as his hands slowly to rub his eyes in a tired manner

Suddenly, Touka was awoken to he sound of a loud bang at the door. He quickly looked up and shot up to his feet, glancing over to the door.

"W-who's there!?" Touka called out cautiously. Then suddenly, the door cracked a little, sending the frightened Touka reeling back. The doctor watched on as to pairs of gloved fingers slid in-between the door and the frame. A low grunt was heard as the hands began to pull the door open slightly, the locks on the automatic door holding much opposition.

Touka grinned slightly as the visage of this trespasser became visible to him, dropping his guard and letting out a relieved sigh. "I should have known..." he mumbled softly.

True, it was Kazon, and he continued to push the door open even more, giving him plenty of room to squeeze through. Before he actually entered the room though, he paused to scan the area. He threw a quizzical glance toward the doctor and without saying a word Touka nodded and pointed in the direction above the door. Kazon brushed a few brown bangs from his face as his eyes followed to see the security camera above him. One hand reached up and quickly yanked a few multicolored cords from the camera that connected to the power box on the wall.

"That should be alright," Touka said aloud. "The guards hardly ever watch those things at this time of night anyway." Touka's brow arched slightly. "But how exactly did you get into the building...?"

"You know me..." Kazon responded quietly as he made his way over to the doctor brushing his gloved hands off. "I have my ways..." Kazon stopped a few feet from the aging man and casually crossed his arms over his armored chest, he did, however, leave his katana's in the Kreeper. "Why are they still keeping you locked up like this?"

"Ask those Tedan Tippedai executives, the bastards...!" Touka said with much resentment. "Since the Vice-president's and Puttubayh's disappearances, they've be on a power trip themselves while still trying to maintain order. I was originally written up for some authority violation; treason of some sort, and they threw me in the cells they keep downstairs, underground..."

"Shouldn't Administration take care of things like that...?" Kazon asked.

Touka scoffed. "Trust me, Administration has bigger fish to fry. They let the Corporation deal with my case while they focused on happenings the Bachnia Center...and since the rumors of Zeiram reappearing began to circulate, they moved me up back to my lab in case they needed an answer quick. Then they put that lock on the door and the camera to make sure I don't try anything 'funny'..."

"Hmm...."Kazon thought for a moment, "...who's in charge of the corporation now?"

"A group of spineless bureaucrats, I tell you." Touka called out. "Puttubayh's protégées. They could never make decisions for themselves without the Vice-president's influence..."

"Well, whatever Kross' 'influences' were, I'm afraid they've changed. ..." Kazon said in a more angered tone. "He's in the Bachnia Center with the new Zeiram clone....and Puttubayh's corpse as well."

"What!?" Touka exclaimed.

"Kross betrayed Puttubayh to gain control over the new Zeiram Unit...he's calling the new unit 'BETA', and they've made the center their own little fortress." Kazon added as he began to pace around the tubes in the lab. "Tedan Tippedai was foolish to trust such a madman..."

"Indeed...so the rumors are true then...?"

"...but I didn't come here to give you a news report..." Kazon said as he snapped a hardened gaze at the doctor as he continued his stroll around the tubes. "I want answers about a few things..."

Touka's arms folded over his chest as well with a stern gaze, that same ol' stern look he usually had on his face. The face that gave that creepy, old guy look. "What about...?"

"Think back to one year ago, the Zeiramoids were just as hard to get rid of as the original Zeiram, correct?" Kazon said as he eyed a few cell samples floating the one of the tubes.

"Yes. At the battle at the Tanjankanbaran Construction Site, the only weapon that was effective at all were flame-throwers from what I heard, unless you want to count the Madouradins..." Touka responded. "But bullets had hardly any effect on them."

Kazon said as he glanced back over to the old man. "...how long has this new Zeiram Project been in effect? When was the Bachnia Center opened...?"

"It started last year. Right after the original Zeiram's body was discovered and brought in for testing. The Bachnia Center's construction was a huge project set forth by Tedan Tippedai and Puttubayh urge for it's completion as soon as possible." Touka answered with a furrowed brow, wondering where Kazon's random questions were leading up to. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"I took a bounty recently on a group of Zeiramoids terrorizing the Sabaku Mining Colony. Iria took the same contract." Kaz went on. "Those Zeiramoids were able to be taken down by bullets..."

"I know. It's odd...but that's not the only case of this I've heard about either." Touka said, scratching at his chin, still finding all of this to rather odd.

"Could it be possible that those Zeiramoids were the clones of a clone?" Kazon asked as he stopped in front of the doctor.

"What do you mean...?"

"I overheard Bob and talking about it with Iria last night..." Kazon said, leaning back against one of the control consoles. "You can't clone anything from something that's dead, right? But somehow, the scientists in Bachnia figured out a way, otherwise they wouldn't have had the ability to make a new Zeiram. So, 'what I mean' is what if the Zeiramoids in Sabuku were cloned from the already-cloned BETA? And since BETA was created from a deceased base, could it have left a vital genetic traits out...?"

"Hmmm...." Touka looked up to the high ceiling and thought for a minute, keeping very quiet as Kazon kept his eyes trained on him. Finally, the doctor spoke again. "That might very well be the case. Otherwise they would be resistant to firearms, unlike the Zeiramoids you encountered."

"Then if it is the case, the same could be true for Zeiram itself...?" Kazon eyes, his eyes narrowing slightly just by mentioning the name. "By leaving something out, it was weakened...."

"It may be that--..." Touka began to say before he stopped himself. He then shook his head and sighed softly, "No, nevermind....it's dangerous to assume anything, you know that. The only way you could tell for sure was if it went through the proper examina--"

"Assumptions or not," Kazon interrupted him, "this new Zeiram could very well have a weakness. I don't think Kross' boasting is very legit, something is up..."

Touka grinned and stared the young Hunter down. "You haven't changed one bit. You're still that cold, blacklisted bastard that would always get himself into trouble back on Taowajan. I bet you're going to leave here and go directly to Bachnia after this, aren't you...? Take on Zeiram all by yourself...?" he said in a mocking tone.

Kazon said nothing...he just slowly looked away, back to the cells in the tubes.

"Hmph..." the doctor sighed. "....I know you are. However, I wouldn't if I were you." This caught Kazon's attention once again. "If history repeats itself, they're going to Transit the site again. It's the only plan Administration knows of that will get rid of Zeiram. If you're foolish enough to go through with whatever outlandish thing it is you're planning, they might just Transit you along with it...!"

"Then I'll have to work fast, won't I?" Kazon said quietly, just as mocking as Touka's manner was, as his arms dropped down to his sides. "I'm not here for a lecture..."

Touka watched him for a few moments before he shook his head slightly, letting out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Hell, there's no way I can stop you...." Kazon nodded in return, moving back to the door...then he stopped himself. Something, a thought, suddenly crossed his mind. Something that had been eating at him since his first attempt to infiltrate Bachnia, and if anybody knew what the answers were it'd be the doctor. This sudden stop recaptured Touka's attention, giving the Hunter a look of confusion and an arched brow.

"One more thing..." Kazon said in a very silent tone, his head hung low. "It's about Ouspi..." Touka simply looked away from the young man as if he was ashamed, realizing for himself what it was that Kazon was going to ask him. Kazon glanced back over his shoulder to him, his eyes displaying a fearful, yet angered gaze. Touka turned away from the Hunter and walked over to his computer console.

"I know what you must be thinking....and yes, it could very well be true..." Touka said solemnly.

"Was Kross with the company back then...?"

"The original Zeiram Project was many years in the making, long before the Karma episode and long before your incident four years ago," he responded as he adjusted his glasses on his face. "Tsutomegi wasn't a part of the original research team, don't get that idea stuck in you head, but he might have been under the employ of the company. The Vice-president would have been about the same age as you were at the time of Ouspi's death..."

"I see..." Kazon responded quietly as he looked away from the doctor, his gaze falling downward.

"Ouspi was a good friend...but take my advice, trying to avenge him alone will only bring you to an early grave." Touka finally looked back to him. "Yours and Hunter Iria's pasts are linked if you think about it. If it hadn't been for your cry of justice after your incident, Administration wouldn't had ever placed that law banning anyone from using and controlling Zeiram. If it weren't for that law, I strongly believe the Karma Incident would have never happened...."

"So, are you trying to put the blame for Iria's past on me...?" Kazon said quietly, keeping his eyes averted.

"N-no! Not at all...!" Touka answered as he shook his head nervously. Kazon might have not had expressed it visually, but Touka could hear the bitterness in the young man's voice. "I just mean that you two share a common bond! Which is why you shouldn't go at this alone!" Touka's brow arched slightly. "Where is she anyway? I figured she'd still be with you...?"

"She's 'preoccupied'..." Kazon said in an 'matter-of-fact' voice, his arms folding over his armored chest. Of course she was preoccupied. He had knocked her out, right? Kaz thought that was a good enough excuse.

"Yes, well..." Touka mumbled out, not really sure what the dark Hunter meant by that. "In any case, you shouldn't try anything, atleast not now. Even if you did take Kross out of the picture, you would still have Zeiram to deal with--"

"I said wasn't here for a lecture, doctor." Kazon interjected once again. "My mind's made up and I'm doing it without Iria. I'm not gonna let her get involved..." and with that he made his way to the door he had pried opened.

"Kazon Locke, actually caring for someone's well being other than his own?!" Touka called out with a coy grin as Kazon started to squeeze his way back through the opening. Kazon stopped again and shot a cold glance over to the old man. The good doctor couldn't help but let his smirk grow wider as he turned his back to him and strolled over to his computer stations, teasing the young Hunter. "What's next, boy? You blushing?!"

"Tch....whatever..." Kazon muttered under his breath, and didn't bother in trying to get the last word in. He didn't care. He had to hurry. He just made his way out the door as quietly as possible....

Touka looked back over his shoulder as the young Hunter exited, letting out a deep sigh. "Good luck...."

*****

"Hey, Iria! Iria!!" Kei shouted as she shook the young Hunter's limp body. The sun had risen and the beams of light were shining brightly through the large window of Iria's room.

Iria eyes began to open slowly, her vision slightly blurred. Eventually, Kei's visage came into focus. Iria felt a sharp pain in the back of her neck as she slowly sat up, one hand gently rubbing at the soreness. Her head was throbbing.

"Iria, are you alright...?" Kei said with a confused tone. "What did you do, fall out of bed?"

"N-no...I--" her voice stammered, but when her hand fell down to her lap and felt a bit of a leathery material that was draped over her, those brownish eyes shot open completely. It was Ouspi's trench coat...Kazon's coat. Her eye's immediately narrowed as she began to recall what had happened in the middle of night. Kazon had walked in. Kazon had put her out, to either save her from getting into trouble or to just get her out of his way.

"That bastard...!!" Iria yelled through her grinding teeth as she threw the coat off of her and on top of Kei. Kei, let out a shocked gasp as tried to fight her way out from under the coat.

"Hey!! What's the big--?!" She stopped herself when she poked her head out from under the coat. She saw Iria, who hadn't really gained her footing back fully yet, stumble up to her feet and storm over to the door. "Iria...!?"

Iria walked with authority as she passed the snoring Fujikuro propped on the couch. She went to the door leading into the scruffy Hunter's room and pushed a button next to the frame. It quickly slid open, revealing...well, nothing. Nothing but a bedroom. The bed was still made and everything was untouched. Iria was skeptic at first. Maybe Kazon had changed his mind about leaving them? However, when she looked into the box that once held Kazon's things they had brought over, completely empty, she knew her answer.

"He really did it...that stupid--" she said softly and mainly to herself. Her voice and her eyes almost had a hint of sadness behind her angry disposition. Kazon was gone.

Kei stumbled into the room shortly after, holding Kazon's black coat in her hands, the tail of it dragging the floor. "Iria?! What going on--?" But she got her answer as well as she eyed the empty box. There was silence from the two, neither of them really knowing what to say. Kei walked up beside Iria and looked up into her eyes. Iria was obviously upset, but the Hunter looked as if she was thinking, a deep thought. Kazon was indeed gone, but Iria was up to something of her own.

"Kei, go fuel up the Kreeper." Iria said sternly, pushing the box away from her and turning to the door. "I know were he is...better yet, where he's going...."

Kei watched on in confusion, looking back and forth between the box and the departing Iria, letting out a soft sigh as things began to become a little clearer to her...

*******************

Author's Notes:
Sorry this episode took longer than expected to finally get completed and posted. On top of FF.Net's difficulties, family stuff, and getting ready for my senior year and all that crap out of the way, writing times have been scarce. Anyways, that's all for now. Check out my pictures!!!!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/krissama

NEXT TIME!!:
Kaz is gone and Iria is on to him. But can she stop him before he screws up royally...? Find out in IRIA: TSoS Episode 11: 'You and Me'!