Ruby Red

11

Two years have passed since I left the main Headquarters for Tamakoma. Shiori and I had trouble adjusting, but we settled within about a week or so. Usami was a freelance Operator who wasn't under strict surveillance by HQ anymore and had the freedom to be creative with her tactics. I, along with my new teammates, was given a brand new Trigger. The team had no uniform; each was fit to their needs.

Kyosuke was clad in grey pants and a cobalt blue top with white detailing. His Trigger included Geist, Escudo, Asteroid and Viper by weapon, Meteora, and Kogetsu, as well as the basic type Shield.

Konami wore all green; her top wrapped around her fingertips like gloves and draped over her green shorts like a dress of sorts. She also wore bright green boots and ear muffs that accentuated her short hair in Trion Form. Her Trigger included Sogetsu, its Connector, and Meteora.

Reiji had on a gray t-shirt with a black vest that matched his pants. He wore greenish-grey boots that matched his utility belt. His Trigger includes Egret, Raygust and Thruster, Asteroid and Hound by weapon, Spider and Meteora, as well as Radar, Bagworm, and Shield. His personal Trigger is called Full Arms, which allows the use of four firearms at once while also equipping Raygust as a shield.

I wore an outfit similar to Konami's except mine was a turtleneck halter top and the slits on the skirt section of the dress were in the middle of my thighs and had a slight taper. There was about an inch around the entire border of the dress that was black to match the shorts, but the rest was a vibrant yellow shade. I wore black gloves and combat boots instead of the over-the-knee ones that Kirie wore. My hair was lifted into its usual ponytail with my bangs hanging even with my eyebrows.

My Trigger used a basic Kogetsu like I was used to, but I also had a specialized Trigger option. It gave me the ability to liquify any part of my body which meant bullets or even blades could pass straight through and not damage me. However, I can only liquify one part of my body at a time so I have to be quick with my reflexes. I also have Asteroid equipped. I wanted my Trigger to stay mostly similar to my original one.

Almost immediately upon meeting, Konami and I became rivals. I didn't really like her uptightness, but I got over it within a month. There's still playful banter between us, but I'd like to believe she's a younger sister to me.

I had already met Reiji when Jin brought me to stay the night when I ran away from Kazama. That night was enough to get us acquainted. Kizaki is, overall, quiet but is stern when it comes to being our captain. When we're on the field, what he says goes.

Kyosuke likes to prank Konami and me, but I feel like he has a more intimate connection with the ginger. I think of him as another, more serious, sibling.

We're like a family: Shiori and Kizaki are the parents because they always keep us on track and Kirie, Kyousuke, and I are the playful children that need a bit of guidance. It's quite sad to say that since I'm one of the older ones. Finally, Jin fits in as the weird uncle that everyone likes but secretly talks about when he's not around. 

One night when the team and I were simply watching TV, Jin brought three kids into the building. I didn't mind two of them, but the kid with the white hair bothered me. Something about him was off, but I wouldn't judge him. He was just a kid. We came to know them as Osamu, Chika, and Yuma, the latter being a Neighbor. I didn't specifically like Trion Soldiers, but this was a young boy who lost his father on the battlefield. He was searching for help. Plus, I had met other Neighbors during my travels across the border. Yuma was just as kind, if not more so than others.

After some decision making between the group, the three had become official members of Tamakoma. Everyone was choosing a kid to mentor and Konami and I had both wanted to mentor Yuma, but we ended up having to share.

I had just beaten Yuma in a battle ten to zero and was giving Konami the booth when Jin suddenly dragged me outside of Tamakoma.

"What is it, Jin? If this is about the box of crackers I stole, then I'll-"

"No! This is about- wait, you stole my crackers?" I slapped my hands on his cheeks and squished his face.

"Focus, Jin!"

"Right! Director Kido is sending the top squads to eliminate Yuma."

"Tachikawa?" The brunette nodded. "Fuyushima?"

"I can see Toma, but no signs of Fuyushima himself."

"Kazama?" My voice was barely audible and my eyes locked with Jin's. He looked at the ground and gave a wary nod. My gaze grew fierce. "Enough said. There's no way in hell they're laying a hand on my kouhai." I stepped past him and began walking off. I suddenly stopped. "Where will we counter them?" Jin's blue eyes perked up and had a devious glint in them.

"Here's the plan I came up with."

赤

I stood patiently in hiding to wait for Jin's dumb signal. I was hidden behind a wall with my bagworm activated to avoid detection. Just moments ago, Tachikawa and the large group flew past me.

"Halt!"

"Jin...!" My brows furrowed at the new voice that I'd never heard. I hadn't been to HQ in a while, but I didn't think a newer face would be in the top ranks.

"I see, so you saw it coming, huh?"

"It's been a while, Tachikawa-san," Jin completely dodges the question. "Where are you all headed together?"

"Oh, it's been a while, Jin," spoke another new voice. "Why are you here?"

"Yo, Toma. How is Fuyushima doing?" A light bulb went off in my head at the realization.

'So that's Fuyushima's teammate... Toma...'

"Our commanding officer is currently down with sea sickness." I grinned.

'Lucky us. We don't have to watch out for Shinji's traps.'

"Don't speak about unnecessary things, Toma." I scowled in anger. I wanted to be happy when I saw Kazama again, not pissed at him. And now I'm gonna have to take him down.

"For you to have lied in wait for us here means you also know what our intentions are, right?"

"You've come here to stand in the way of the training of my kouhai, haven't you?" I finally grew impatient and turned off Bagworm, silently approaching the back of the group. No one took notice of my presence until I spoke.

"You mean my kouhai, Jin?" My teammate's jaw dropped at my sudden appearance.

"You didn't follow my plan..." His eyebrow twitched but I could only roll my eyes.

"Quit it with the childish plan. We already know how this ends, so let's cut the bullshit," I locked gazes with Kazama and glared, "and start fighting."

The boys of Kazama Squad all turned toward me along with who I assume is Toma.

"Woah, woah." The red-clad boy put his hands up in surrender. "I don't want to fight a pretty girl. That's just not fair." I intensified my glare.

"Don't be fooled," Kazama began. "She's Shinoda's niece. She was able to win matches against him two years ago. We don't know where she stands now. Expect stronger than Kizaki."

"How do you know so much about her, Kazama-senpai?" The red-eyed boy scowled.

"I was on Kazama Squad two years ago before I left for Tamakoma."

"You were forced," Kazama pointed out.

"I'm glad I left," I spat. "Otherwise, I'd be standing alongside you on the wrong team." His glare became hateful and I knew I shouldn't have provoked him like I did, but there was no going back now. "Now, are we gonna fight or not? There's more I'd like to do with my night than waste it on regrets." Utagawa's mouth opened, but he shut it. I could see the hurt in his eyes but I didn't fall for it for a second.

They brought this on themselves.