Ruby Red

6

I woke up in my Border HQ dorm and pushed myself off of the quite comfortable mattress that was provided for me by the organization. I stepped onto the cool tile ground and headed for my personal bathroom for a quick shower. I was really spoiled by the organization all because I was related to Shinoda but I wasn't going to complain. I slipped into the luxurious hot water and rinsed my hair of any of last night's sweat.

I put on a comfortable sweatshirt and some simple athletic shorts along with a pair of white sneakers. I refused to dress nicely if all I'm going to do is transform into a counterfeit form of myself. I hurriedly tossed my hair into a ponytail and shook my bangs out so that they laid evenly. I shoved my hands in my sweatshirt pocket and headed out the door, scrolling through my phone for any missed messages while walking down the hallway.

I soon came across Kazama's squad room and entered without knocking. I was apart of the team and would most likely become quite close with them so I didn't see the need in having proper manners. Inside stood the three boys, Usami, and Jin who was just about to walk out. I blocked his path and shoved my hand in his bag of rice crackers. I shoved some in my mouth and looked like a chipmunk as I nodded to the brunette, incapable of speaking at the moment. He responded with a grin as he made his way back out to the hallway.

I chewed what was in my mouth and swallowed to open my airways for speaking.

"What was he here for?"

"He was just visiting," Usami replied. I narrowed my eyes skeptically, but shook it off. I pulled my trigger out of my pocket and immediately transformed to match Kazama, but not the other two boys who were still C-Ranks.

"So what first, Captain?" I asked with a smirk.

"Simple sparring." I smiled at first but became nervous as his lips held a small smirk. "You against the three of us." My jaw dropped.

"Damn you." I walked over to the practice booth and stepped inside, readily grabbing my Kogetsu while the boys followed behind me. I stood across the booth from them. "Come at me."

赤

I laid sprawled on the ground of the training booth while Kazama leaned against the wall, Utagawa and Kikuchihara leaning on each other for support. My chest moved up and down rapidly as I tried to catch my breath.

"That... was so... unfair," I said between pants.

"Good job boys, you had Kaori on the defensive the whole time," Usami sang through the speakers. I shakily rose to my feet and used my last ounce of energy to slice through each of them with incredible speed.

"There," I exhaled heavily, "I win." Usami scoffed and I could feel her eye roll through the speaker. "Come on boys," I waddled towards the door. "Let's go get some lunch. Trigger off." My sweatshirt and shorts reappeared. "Oh yeah, that feels better," I said to no one in particular. The boys all followed out of the booth after me in their civilian clothing. I noticed that Kazama was wearing the same dark green, hooded jacket as the previous times I had seen him. "You really like that jacket, huh?" I questioned teasingly. There was no response from the boy as he walked past me and out of the room. I heard whispering from the two boys behind me and glared back at them. "I wish I was the one with super hearing."

I stood with Usami as we walked toward the elevator.

"You just had to prove your dominance by beating them, huh?"

"Hell yeah. I can't let them think they can beat me just by working together. They all need improvement," I answered.

"Even Kazama?" Utagawa questioned from the opposite side of Shiori.