Frozen.

If she could move, she is certain it would do no good. If she had a heart, she was certain it would be breaking, but if she could feel any emotion other than guilt, Aigis is not sure if she could bring herself to feel it; what she should be feeling-what any human would be feeling.

Aigis can feel an abnormal cold singe through her synapses and wiring. Is this fear?

The tingling sensation begins to manifest itself in the core of Aigis' chest. Had she spared a fleeting thought to these sensational pangs, she might have considered the notion that this was 'life' settling in the hole that vulnerability had left wide open.

He attests to her defeat by standing with his back to her.

In his hand, he loosely holds her red ribbon, still in perfect condition, and enclosing his delicate fingers around it as the wind threatens to sweep it away.

Aigis wrenches her eyes close; willing the snapshot to disappear.

She can't go down like this.

Fringes of electricity and sparks fly as she forces herself to be strong and lift herself up off of the ground. Aigis' limbs shudder for a moment of keeping herself up in a half-standing pose, and then collapses back to the cruel pavement.

Aigis chokes back a sob of frustration.

“Please, don't.” He pleads softly; dignified.

Aigis wants to scream at him, wants to tear him apart with her voice, but she knows she hasn't got much time before her system shuts down. She concludes that now is not the time to care about such formalities, though.

“Why. Why are you doing this to me?!” Aigis' unusually collected voice shatters the distance between them.

Ryoji does her the courtesy of turning his head slightly toward her, but he does not reveal his face.

“Please.” He asks again, his voice still soft. “Stay still.”

She pants quietly to herself, his words falling deaf on her ears.

“I have failed! What end would I serve if. . . I cannot destroy you. Ryoji.”

Ryoji turns his head further in her direction. Now, she can make out the soft profile of his lips and nose, but his eyes are veiled by the night.

He is silent.

Aigis can't scream, so she muffles her hoarse voice into a whisper, meant only for her to hear.

“This is a complete defeat. What is left for me. When one enters battle, it is victory or death, and you have disgraced me by leaving me here, Ryoji. Finish this!”

Ryoji does not give the appearance of hearing the mechanical maiden, and his face has left the graces of the moonlight and is pointed, once again, away from Aigis.

The red ribbon in his hand dances joyously in the moonlight.

He considers her.

He considers the situation.

As he turns around and walks confidently toward her, she tries to glare at him, but she cannot manage it; whether by weakness of form or weakness of heart she does not know. He does not kneel when he comes upon her, nor does he smile reassuringly or attempt to soothe her.

“How could I do something like that?” he queries, his tone is dangerously soft.

Aigis wants to fume, but the look on his face stops her.

While there is an obvious lack of arrogance or dominance, his expression is clearly victorious. Fruthermore, despite his calm and nearly sympathetic kindness, Ryoji is not torn up about this particular victory.

She still cannot see his eyes, they are shrouded by the night

“How could I do that.” He repeats, his voice is still tender but it is stronger now, and his dark image is just below the surface, waiting to strike.

Ryoji creeps closer to her broken form.

“How could I destroy something so strong. . . something so exquisite. Especially when that something was designed just for me.”

Aigis spots a flash of light in the darkness masking Ryoji's eyes.

Her eyes widen, Ryoji goes on.

“I'm not a monster.” He offers lightly, before letting a soft chuckle escape. “At least. . . I'm not that kind of monster.” He adds. Aigis can almost hear a roll of thunder lurking under his voice.

“I . . . understand how ridiculous that sounds right now.” Ryoji turns around again, his yellow scarf itching to flee into the oncoming wind.

“What I've done to you is unforgiveable.” Ryoji's hands turn white while gripping the scarlet ribbon tightly. “However, Aigis.” His voice trembles with her name, and that name alone. Aigis suddenly feels the pangs slowing their pace as her circuits begin to fritz out one at a time. She wonders if Ryoji is telling her these things because he knows she cannot respond.

“You are strong.”

Ryoji has all ready said too much. He gives a weary sigh as his eyes leave Aigis and he turns his back on her. Aigis stares at the shaky ground below her, her vision shaking uncontrollably.

“They'll be here soon.” He says mournfully.

Aigis decides to save her strength so that she can ask forgiveness of her friends.

Before Ryoji slips into the shadows, Aigis sees him carefully fold her red ribbon and tuck away into his pocket.