Ruby Red

2

My combat boots thudded on the concrete ground as I walked forward with a steady pace. I shoved my hands into my gray sweatshirt pocket and strolled my way through the "Forbidden Zone". I stared ahead at my destination, a massive grey structure that is well known as the headquarters of Border.

Over the past two years since the invasion, I had graduated from school at eighteen and trained daily to become strong enough to "take over Border" as Shinoda said. I walked up to the building and scanned my trigger, the door sliding open and shutting swiftly behind me. I walked down the long, dimly lit corridor and soon found myself in a large room where combatants lounged and chatted.

I walked through, looking around and taking in the room. I may have been a part of Border for two years, but not once had I stepped into the base of operations. Other combatants became silent as they observed me. I bet I looked like a girl who managed to find her way in. I casually glanced around at all of them as they whispered to each other about me. My blank look turned into a scowl as I made my way towards the elevators that my eyes rested upon.

A figure obstructed my path as I was about to reach the doors, clad in a blue jacket and blue tinted glasses that rested upon his brown locks. He held a bag of rice crackers and munched away without a care in the world. All combatants remained silent as they watched the standoff between him and I.

"Sorry, but I need to get past yo-"

"Yo, I'm Jin." I stopped my attempts and placed a hand on my hip, shifting my balance to my right foot.

"Oh, so you're the famous elite with foresight." He nodded. "Then you must know why I'm here."

"In fact, I do not. But I can see your future." He added a smirk which unnerved me.

"I'm here to take over Border," I said confidently with crossed arms. "Or at least that's what Shinoda said. I have no idea," I released with an exasperated chuckle as my confidence faded. The brunette gave me a chuckle before turning to the elevator doors. He gazed at me over his shoulder.

"Shall I take you to him?"

"Well, um, actually," my tone raised slightly, "I'm looking for a man named Kei. Apparently, my uncle mentored him as well and I want to test his strength."

"You want to fight him?" he asked with a sly smirk.

"Yes."

"I knew you'd say that." Jin hit the elevator button and the doors soon slid open. We both stepped inside and Jin hit one of the many floor buttons. We stood in silence as we rode up the floors. His hand which held his bag of snacks reached out to me. "Rice cracker?"

I slipped my small hand in the bag and grabbed a single cracker, breaking it in half with my teeth.

"Thank you." My words remained unreplied to as the elevator slowly came to a stop. The doors slid open to reveal a room full of numbered doors, several levels in which people walked in and out of their booths after their matches. We walked over to a sitting area where we found two boys lounging. The boy with black hair and reds eyes made eye contact with me as we approached, stopping just short of their couch.

"Jin," the grey haired man greeted the elite standing beside me. "Who's she?"

"Kaori Hanako, nice to meet you," I interjected. Kei's face didn't show any sign of interest so I assumed Shinoda never mentioned my name around him.

"She wants a battle," Jin said, jabbing a thumb in my direction. Kei chuckled in amusement and raised an eyebrow to match his insulting grin.

"A non-agent wants a battle without a trigger? Brave. But I'm gonna have to decline. I only accept battles from the strong." My irritation grew at his cockiness but I decided not to hide it. I kicked my booted shoe onto the top of the couch right next to his head between him and the other male who had his widened eyes locked on my jeaned leg. My hands remained in my pockets as I smugly grinned at his shocked expression.

"Don't underestimate me," I said in a sickly sweet voice, a fake smile resting on my lips.

"Take my word for it, Kei. Fight her," Jin added.

"Get in a booth." My grin faded as he continued staring at me in silence. "Now," I spat. I pushed my body away from the two, turning my back and entering an empty booth. I played with my trigger in my hand, finally holding it out in front of me. "Trigger on!"

My body transformed into an open black trenchcoat, grey crop top and shorts, fishnet covering my bare stomach and top of my thighs. I never really liked how revealing and short my shorts were, but it allowed more mobility so I dealt with it. My black ankle boots clicked their way over to the monitor where I could hear Kei's voice speaking.

"Since you're new, I'll set up a match. How many rounds do you want? One? Three? Five?-" Our bodies appeared in a cityscape with a slightly disheveled Kei as he wasn't the one to set the match up. "Or ten?"

My left hand rested upon the sheath of my Kogetsu on my left hip. My right hand travelled to my hip, waiting for the signal to start. I didn't yet take a fighting stance as I needed to measure his strength. Kei watched my every move, intimidated by my original Border coat. He stared at the original Border emblem on my right shoulder.

"I haven't seen that patch since I first met Jin," he commented.

"Let's just say that I go way back with Border."

"It's a ten-rounds game in unranked match," the automated voice began. "Begin."

赤

Second chapter completed, yay!