Ruby Red

13

Jin and I had made our way to Border Headquarters so that he could clear things up with Commander Kido. I perched myself on the back wall while Jin approached the conference table to make his deal. I tuned out and stared at my black boots against the dark tile of the Conference Room.

I was a fool. I acted rashly all because Kazama got involved with the opposing team and now Jin and I were stuck in a hole. Hopefully, he could get us out of it.

"Hello everyone! Sorry for intruding on the meeting." Jin was spat at and cursed by some of Border's top chiefs, but he had to be the asshole he is and joke about Kinuta having a rising blood-pressure.

"What have you come here for, Jin? Hanako?" I kept myself against the wall to allow Jin to handle this. "Have you come to declare war on us?"

"It's not that Commander Kido. We came to negotiate." Even more insults were thrown at the elite. "I only have one request: that is for you to approve of my kouhai, Kuga Yuma's enlistment in Border. Tachikawa told me that as long as the Headquarters doesn't recognize it, the enlistment won't be complete."

"Did you think I'd ever agree to such a request...?"

"Of course, I didn't say there would only be this." I watched in slow motion as Jin placed his mentor's memento on the table. "If you agree to it, I'll give you Fujin in exchange. In exchange for my kouhai's enlistment, I'll hand over Fujin to Headquarters." He smirked at Commander Kido. "I believe you don't see this as a bad deal for yourself, right?"

"A deal, huh? It's not even needed though. Using the regulations for your external battle against Tachikawa and company as reason, I could dispossess you and Hanako from your Triggers, couldn't I?" The highest in office had fury in his eyes and a sliver of hatred in his tone.

"In that case, you'd have to confiscate the Triggers of Tachikawa and the others, wouldn't you? My proposition is more convenient. It'd allow us to welcome the Official Enlistment day in peace." I kept my eyes locked on the smug appearance of my companion.

"Did you say it wouldn't only be your Trigger that'd get confiscated?"

"Give it a try, and see up to where it'll go." I gaped at Jin's ballsiness. Challenging someone of Kido's rank was downright insane. "So, what will you do, Commander Kido?" I peered at the older man who sat in a pool of options.

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I began to walk out of the Conference Room with Jin when my name was called from behind me. I shot around to see my uncle following behind us. We walked out into the hallway to speak and Jin left us to meander around the base. Shinoda stood looking down at me with a frown, but I couldn't tell if it was disappointed or confused. Or neither...

"What?" My voice was small and more of a hum than anything. He brought his large hand up and rested it on top of my pulled back hair. He gave a couple pats and turned his expression from stern to smiling gently. I smiled a bit in return.

"You did the right thing. I'm proud of how far you've come." I grinned at the man.

"Yuma is my kouhai and I'd do anything to protect him."

"His father taught me; I'm glad I can return the favor through you," he said with pride.

"And Konami," I chuckled out. He joined in and we stood in a genuinely happy moment. We hadn't had one of these in a long time.

"It's pretty late. I recommend you just stay here in your dorm."

"I was planning on it," I said matter-of-factly. He held out another key for me to grab. I looked at my relative confused.