(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/9/9a/Tony_Leung.jpg)(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/5/5e/Sarna_reserves_kamakura_s_hussars_spider_by_viereth-d585zvf.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;">Hiro Kagekaze</span></span><br/><strong>Location:</strong>The campfire<br/><strong>With:</strong>Yamina<br/><br/><em><strong>"Either, as it pleases you."</strong></em><br/><br/>I raised an eyebrow then responded to Yamina.<br/><br/><strong>"Okay, 'Either-as-it-pleases-you,' what's on your mind?"</strong><br/><br/>I watched her take the confectionery and take a nibble.  A piece of cream-like melted marshmallow stuck to the bottom half of the pair of pink bows that were her soft lips.  They weren't just lips.  They were matching pillows on which I wanted to plant my mouth.<br/><br/><em><strong>"Your machine is formidable.  It's as fast as mine and you can jump as well.  That third dimension often confuses the enemy enough to unsettle them from their center.  Being unpredictable is a powerful weapon to wield on the enemy."</strong></em><br/><br/>Her voice had a sing-songy aspect to it.  It felt kind of hypnotizing, and had a layer of spirituality and deep faith within it.  And yet, she didn't mention what her beliefs were, or if she even had any.  I listened to her words, but it was more like I was hearing the melody of how she said it.<br/><br/><em><strong>"It is also a sword you cannot grasp with your own hand.  It cuts too deeply.  If it is only you, then this is a fine tactic.  But when you are but a finger among two bunched fists it does not serve you well, serve the others well.  You must remember your center, Hiro.  You must fight with purpose, not with abandon.  That way lies madness and ends in flame."</strong></em><br/><br/>Still hearing more than listening, I also started admiring more and paying attention less.  Even all bundled up, she looked real pretty with her white hair and white furred hood framing her head.  But the marshmallow meeting its demise in the campfire snapped me out of it.<br/><br/>I gasped, then pouted.  I considered reprimanding her, but she kind of just looked at me, although it felt more like she was staring<em>through</em>me.  If I believed in something like souls, she was looking at mine.<br/><br/><strong>"I appreciate the dramatic, Either-as-it-pleases-you, and your message is loud and clear.  In the future, let's not waste stimulations to our taste buds for the sake of spreading wisdom in our minds?  But in terms of what you said, I will not be a marshmallow.  Or at least I'll try not to be.  I may need a reminder of some kind, so..."</strong><br/><br/>After Yamina's analogy about the sword and about the marshmallow in the fire, I tried to think of an one of my own, but couldn't.<br/><br/><strong>"... Just say 'marshmallow' on the comms if you think I'm getting myself into trouble.  Chances are you'll be the closest one to me and most likely to see if I'm fighting with... <em>abandon</em>."</strong><br/><br/>I assembled the s'more and continued talking while chewing a bit.<br/><br/><strong>"So, how about this.  We'll make our approach with Graff, going single file to reduce our visible profiles.  Once we get close enough or once the alarms sound, you and I will charge the barracks and mech bay."</strong><br/><br/>I swallowed.  I was about to take another bite, but it was the last one and I wanted to savor it without talking.<br/><br/><strong>"I'll start flaming the barracks to neutralize the troops and I'll check out the mech bay to see if there's any trouble.  You can gun down the runners.  Graff will take out the turrets while Ranna backs us up.</strong><br/><br/><strong>"If there are mechs coming for us, I'll try to draw their fire and get them to pursue me toward Erich's attack lance.  This will free up Walter and Maho to do what they need to do.  How's that sound to you?"</strong><br/><br/>I took the last bite of the s'more and stood up to walk Yamina to her Locust as she replied.  When we got to her mech, I looked at the script on her cockpit.<br/><br/><strong>"What language is that?  Arabic?  What's it mean?"</strong><br/>