Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 26: THE SPEARMAN

"I cannot believe you're older than me." Kaguya plopped down on the sofa of the breakroom. "I can't call you lil' bro now, can I?"

Tatsumi smirked, "No, sis, you can't. I am your elder now." Tatsumi had just told them he was twenty-nine.

Kaguya sneered at him. "You're a little shit, you know that?"

Tatsumi had brought them here. It was a loft-type space. The walls, floor and ceiling were dark grey. The furniture was black with hints of green. There were various computers laid out in the space, no doubt for Tatsumi's work against ERIS.

"Mr Kobayashi?" a voice called. A man came down the stairs. His hair was midnight blue. He was around twenty-three and he had a bump in his nose bridge. His eyes narrowed on the strangers. "Who are they?"

Tatsumi glanced at him. "Wielders."

"Like you?"

Tatsumi nodded in answer. He turned to the others. "This is Hachiro Sagawa. He is my second in command."

"What do you guys do?"

"We work against ERIS," Hachiro answered.

Tatsumi leaned his waist against the table. "Why were you looking for me?"

"We were with Abe when he died," Kaguya answered.

Hachiro's face darkened. "Who killed him?"

Kaguya rolled her eyes. "Some bitch called Nakamura."

"Ai Nakamura," Tatsumi corrected. He lowered his head, sneering as he said, "She has killed many of my people."

"So, what happens now?" Ayumi asked.

"I wouldn't mind shutting ERIS down for good," Kaguya said. "And you could use us." Tatsumi eyed Hayate. Kaguya noticed. "Especially him."

"What is so special about him?" Hachiro asked.

"He is a pyrokinetic," Tatsumi said, then he muttered, "Among other things."

Hayate sighed, "Look, if you don't want me here I won't get involved."

"Don't say that." Ayumi chimed, "Of course he wants you here."

"No, I don't."

"Kou," Ayumi tried.

"Ayu," Kaguya stopped her before she could say anything else. "Go find me some lunch would you?"

"But—"

"Pretty please, I'm starving here."

Sighing, Ayumi went outside to find Kaguya food.

Tatsumi stared down dis nose at Kaguya. "I'm surprised at you, sis," he said.

Kaguya raised a brow. "How do you mean?"

"I would have thought you would cut ties with him after what happened," he said, "Jiro I get. She is as dense as a rock. But not you..."

"That happened a long time ago."

"He killed all of you. That is not something you just forgive."

Kaguya closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. "He was not in his right mind."

Tatsumi rolled his eyes. "Bullshit."

Just then the door opened again. Ayumi came back in carrying a plastic convenience store bag.

'Not another word' Kaguya mouthed to Tatsumi. Her face gave a warning.

"Here," Ayumi said, holding out the bag to Kaguya.