Ruby Red

10

Kazama Unit sat around a square table in shiny, red, vinyl booths. Kazama sat alone on one side, Shiori and I opposite him, and Utagawa and Kikuchihara to our right. We had just finished our Rank-Battle against the stronger B-Rank units and wiped them out entirely with minimal damage to ourselves.

Shiori's small hand reached towards her glass of ice water and wrapped her fingers around it. She lifted it up in the air and with little, but enough force to sway her bob of dark violet hair. Her magnified eyes squinted shut through her glasses and a large smile was plastered on her fair skin.

"Cheers!" I set my slice of pizza down on my plate and turned my body to give her my full attention although I already knew what her aim was. "Kazama Squad, certified as A-Rank! Congratulations!" I smiled at her and focused my attention back to my food. Utagawa and I alone had already cleared half of the pepperoni pizza and we continued to go at it like it was a competition. "When people think "Stealth Combat", they think "Kazama Squad" already!"

"Probably because of how quick it got us up in the ranks," I mumbled. Shiori gave a small slap on the back of my head, silencing me.

"A conceptual team! Hot!" I couldn't help but roll my ruby red eyes.

"Even if other teams do the same thing, they can't beat us," Kazama said with food in his mouth. I grimaced and furrowed my brows, tossing a fry at him which he easily dodged with a simple lean.

"Thanks to Kikucchy's ears!"

"I'm one hundred percent sure it is." I threw a fry at the young brunette.

"Yeah right! You'd struggle a whole lot more if I wasn't there to take out half of your enemies!" I beamed proudly and was fully aware of their glares at my cockiness.

"Hey," Utagawa silenced both of us like our mother. "We're winning because of Usami senpai's information support."

"Oh, Utty, you'll be successful acting like that!" I threw, not one, but two fries at him.

"You're too pure for me, Ryo!"

"Stop throwing food," Kazama scolded me, only making me laugh. He scowled in my direction and I responded with a wink. Pink erupted on his pale cheeks which he decided to ignore and continued throwing me dirty looks. I leaned my chin on my palm and pretended to send him dreamy looks which only intensified the rosy cheeks and glares. He suddenly looked behind me and his expression returned to the usual deadpan mood it usually was. I grabbed my water and began drinking only to feel a large hand loosely grip the top of my head. I sputtered and spat a bit of my drink on my face from the shock.

I wiped my mess up with a napkin and looked up to find a stern Shinoda with his hand also on my red-specced friend.

"Congratulations on the promotion, boys. I'm gonna need to borrow these two for a bit." I looked at Shiori and she returned an equally puzzled look. I made confused eye contact with Kazama.

"We'll be right back, guys..." I slid out of the red booth after Shiori and practically sprinted to catch up with the other two who were leaving me behind.

We rode the elevator up to the Conference Room and entered to find another slightly familiar man.

"Rindo, meet the girls: Shiori, the Operator," she gave a shy wave, "and you've briefly met Hanako, my niece." I stepped forward and shook his hand.

"It's nice to see you again," I said politely albeit skeptically.

"And to you as well. So, I take you two being here means you've agreed to the terms?" I looked from him to my uncle questioningly.

"Terms?" A deep sigh was released from Shinoda's throat.

"From here on, you two will be transferred to Tamakoma branch to form a new team under Rindo-"

"Excuse me?" My tone was rude and I didn't care if it showed disrespect in this moment. I didn't want them to make choices for me.

"You will be subjects of new Trigger types that you discover on your travels." My jaw dropped to the floor.

"So, you're telling me that you're forcing us to leave a team that we've bonded with just to be test subjects?" My uncle and I had a fierce battle between our locked eyes. "Sorry, but I'll pass on the offer, Rindo-san." I turned on my heel, ready to walk out.

"Kaori Hanako!" I stopped in my place at the sound of Shinoda's booming voice. "As your legal guardian and your officer, I am telling you that you are going to be apart of the operation." I turned around to face him again.

"But-" He didn't need to say anything to shut me up. His furious gaze was all it took to make my eyes water and my lip tremble to a shut. I turned my back on him again and didn't look back as I exited the room.

"Pack up. You leave as soon as you're ready," I heard Shinoda say from down the hall. Shiori confirmed and ran out after me, stopping directly in front of me to keep me from walking away.

"Hey, you go straight to your room and pack up. I'll go tell the guys, okay?" I looked at my feet with my glassy eyes to hide them behind my bangs. I gave a small nod and continued my path to the elevator.

I had made it to my scarily silent room and stared at the white walls. I was planning on leaving most of my stuff because it was where I lived and where I plan on returning to. I ripped my black duffel bag out of my closet and threw it on the white bed. I tore multiple sweatshirts from their hangars and tossed them into a pile beside the bag as well as some jeans, shorts and leggings. I packed shoes, socks and underwear into the bottom of the bag and shoved the rest of the clothes on top.

I suddenly heard the door to my room slide open and close which meant someone had come in here looking for me.

"I'm almost done, Shiori. I'll meet you in your room," I said blandly. I tried my best to hold any tears back from the sadness of being ripped from my team.

"You're leaving..." My eyes widened at the deep voice and I shot around to see Kazama looking at me mournfully. His form was slumped slightly, his hands were shoved deep into his pants pockets in the form of clenched fists and his eyes were dark. At the sudden sight, the tears I had been holding back suddenly poured over onto my cheeks.

"Ka-Kazama..." I went to speak but my words got caught in my throat.

"What's going on?" I bit my lip to try to hold back any more sadness from spilling out.

"I'm so sorry." My knees felt weak and were about to give out if it wasn't for my captain coming to hold me. I immediately wrapped my arms around his neck and hid my sobbing mess of a face in his dark brown sweater. He wrapped his arms around my waist, albeit awkwardly at first, and just held me. "Shinoda, he... He's making Usami and I leave and I tried to say no but he-" I broke down even further when he tightened his grip and pulled me closer while running his fingers through my pitch black hair.

Kazama didn't say anything but just held me. After his brother's death, I didn't expect him to know how to comfort someone after blocking himself off. But, hell, he was doing a pretty damn good job with his body this close to mine. I was finally calming down with only the occasional sniffle.

"I really don't wanna leave." His nose brushed up against my neck and sent shivers down my spine.

"I know."

"You know I have to go, right? Who knows how much I'll get to see you guys..." He nodded into the crook of my neck. I took a good breath through my nose so I could remember his scent. It was something I could leave with, but it still wasn't enough. Since it was the last time I'd be seeing him in awhile, I swallowed whatever pride I still held and separated from our hug slightly. I lightly grabbed the sides of his face and covered his lips with mine.

The kiss was short, just a peck. He was too dazed to even realize what happened to him and I didn't give him a chance to respond. I turned my back on him and shoved my chargers and wallet in the duffel bag before zipping it up and tossing it over my shoulder. Kazama stood in his place, still completely shocked at my actions just moments ago. I walked past him for the last time in awhile.

"Goodbye, Kaz."