Disclaimer: I do not own Danball Senki, the concept and its characters, they all belong to their respective owners. All I own is my OCs and nothing else.
--*--
Just a brief intro to my OC before the story begins!
Name: Fujiwa Rei
Age: 15
Hair Description: Shoulder length brown hair with bangs on the left side of her face
Eye Color: Green
Likes: Strategizing, Customizing, and Ice cream.
Dislikes: Liars
Nicknames: Tactician Empress, Rei-san or Fujiwa-san
Background: Being raised in a family of police, Rei usually has some difficulty trusting new people. She also loves customizing LBXs and strategizing battle styles during her free time, hence the reason why she's called the 'Tactician Empress' by her neighborhood, much to her embarrassment. She's usually calm and quiet about things but she can be serious when needed. Even though that seriousness tends to get her in a lot of trouble, her ability to be able to adapt to certain situations usually helps her out of sticky situations unscathed.
--*--
A/N: Edited on 10/16/18
The entire fic, like my Tokyo Ghoul one, will be overhauled. Once that's done then I'll be doing my best to update it since, supposedly, this fic will be ending after two more chapters.
To those who waited this long, I'm terribly sorry for the wait. Rest assured I'm not going to delete this and will do my best to finish it.
As for the sequel I mentioned before, I may or may not be doing it depending on how this fic will end.
--*--
Chapter I:
Enter! A New Ally and Enemy
--*--
"Break Over!" The announcer shouts and a child jumps in joy at the victory. Running to the podium, the young child smiles widely, waiting for the award he would receive as victor of the entire competition.
"And the winner for this year's-," The announcer was suddenly cut off when a huge wind picked up, sending everyone into a state of panic. The sky began to darken and everyone looked up with wide eyes at the sight of a huge black carrier hovering above them. A hole from the carrier opened and a strong rope flew out of it and grabbed the young boy on the podium.
"Waaahhhh!" The young child screamed but his cry went unheard due to the mayhem the carrier brought. The carrier, having achieved its goal, flew higher into the skies until it vanished beyond the wide expanse of clouds.
--*--
"Multiple kidnappings by a black carrier have been sighted all over Tokio City, officials have yet to confirm the reason for the incident but-,"I switched the television off before the news anchor could say more.
The 12th victim was a winner of a mini-competition for LBXs, the new hobby going about in the city. I find it weird at how all the victims of this random kidnappings have all been champions of those LBX competitions… I wonder what the true agenda behind all of this incident is.
"I thought the Prime Minister already did something about this? Is there going to be another war involving LBXs." I heard my father comment as I took in a mouthful of rice and some fried eggs. I could see my mom eyeing me worriedly and I looked away. Since both of them are part of the police force, no doubt they already have an inkling as to the connections between the victims.
"As for you, Rei, make sure you take care in tomorrow's competition. I don't know what I might do if something were to happen to you." My father just shook his head as he eyed my LBX standing on the table next to me.
"Three consecutive wins in a competition and now competing in Artemis… No doubt, you could be a target for those low-life jerks."
"Dad…" I sighed. I understand that he's worried and all but it's like he wants me to lose or something. I take my pride as a player and I want to give it my all, I don't want to end up losing on purpose just because my dad thinks I might get kidnapped if I win.
"Dear, just trust in Rei. I know she can handle tomorrow's competition well." My mom gave me a small smile as she tried to appease my father. Dad only huffed in reply and continued to eat in silence, ignoring the both of us.
I took this as a cue to leave and grabbed my LBX and headed upstairs to my room to prepare for tomorrow's Artemis battle.
I don't think I can stand the presence of my father eyeing me like a hawk as if hoping his glares could dissuade me from competing tomorrow.
--*--
"Break Over!" The M.C. shouts as I watch the enemy's LBX fall to the ground. People cheered at the spectacle and my only reply to it was a sigh of relief. I was lucky he missed that shot or my LBX would be the one on the ground right now.
"Well, folks it looks like the winner of Block C is none other than Fujiwa Rei! With that settled, we will begin the Battle Royale and finally see the new winner of this year's 2052 Artemis Championship." Throngs of people shouted and cheered at the M.C.'s announcement while I used that moment to make my exit. I descended the stairs and proceeded to the main hall where the champions from Block A-E were to wait.
"Giving up already?" The moment I got down, I saw two people arguing at the center of the hall. Tetsu Kyouji and Louise Bryant, the winners of Block A and D respectively were the ones causing the whole ruckus in the main hall.
"I tell you, I'm already satisfied with second place. Unless, you plan to push your luck and end up getting kidnapped, Tetsu-san." Louise flicks his bangs while giving the other guy a taunting smile.
"You're a chicken you know that! All of you here are!" Tetsu only shouts at everyone before stomping off. I could see all the tensed looks the champions gave and I sighed. I guess the news was too frightening it made everyone feel scared to try and win the whole thing.
"Fujiwa Rei, was it? How about you, what do you plan to do?" I hear Louise ask me and I muster a light laugh.
"You could consider it suicide but I guess my answer for you is… Bring it on! I don't care what the news says, I don't want people giving up just because they feel scared of getting kidnapped. And I expect that all of you intend to win this competition seeing as you've all made it this far." I shout and see everyone now eyeing me with a renewed conviction to win. Even Louise seemed like he wanted to win too.
"That's right! We take our pride and joy as LBX players and make sure we win this whole competition." I cheer and soon everyone joins in on the victory cry as well.
"Then I look forward to battling you, Rei-san." Louise stretches his hand for a shake and I take it with my own, a huge and determined smile on my face.
"Alright! I'm all fired up!"
--*--
"And Musha is out for the count. What a powerful attack that was delivered by the Lightning Prince, Louise Bryant!" The M.C. announces as the champion from block B loses his LBX by Break Over.
"You're next, Rei." I see Louise smirking at me as his XKnight LBX speeds in on mine. What amazing speed for a knight-framed LBX, no wonder he's dubbed as the Lightning Prince. I dodge his first two attacks and lunged for the block E champion's LBX.
"What the-," Block E's champion shouts as I dig the spear into the center of her Kunoichi and blue lights explode as the LBX is declared defeated.
"What a sneaky move by Fujiwa Rei! Just when we thought she was making a run for it, she was actually aiming for Kunoichi all along."
"Sneaky, but you know the same trick won't work twice." Tetsu joins in the fray with his Panzer-type LBX and soon it becomes a battle between Me, Louise, and Tetsu. I managed to dodge Tetsu's Gaou Canon and delivered two successive hits to Louise's LBX before he blocked the third one and grabbed my LBX by the leg and threw it.
"Attack Function!" I shout and my LBX glows a bight shade of blue as it flies up into the air.
ATTACK FUNCTION: THUNDER CRASH
A blast of electricity shoots out from my LBX's spear, creating a current that rendered Louise and Tetsu's LBXs immobilized. I smirked at the chance and stabbed the spear into XKnight. It shuddered at the attack before it fell face first to the ground in defeat. Louise stared at me dumbfounded but nevertheless he smiles in acceptance as he walks down from the diorama.
"What do have here? The Lightning Prince defeated by our new player! This is one shocking turn of events. Now it's become a single battle so who will win? The one her neighborhood dubs the 'Tactician Empress' Fujiwa Rei or the one they call the 'Iron Beast' Tetsu Kyouji. " The announcer screams and the people begin to shout in frenzy at the battle.
"Iron Beast? Tactician Empress? Where do you get all these fancy nicknames?" I mutter to myself as I aim this time for Tetsu's immobilized LBX.
"Wrong move." I hear him laugh and my eyes widen when his LBX grabs my LBX's spear and whips it around before slamming my LBX onto a nearby pillar.
"How can you still move?" I wonder as I dodged more of his incoming attacks before getting slammed again to another pillar.
"It's simple really. My Genbu II's defense has been tweaked to the maximum. Yes I admit, I was surprised that you rendered it immobilized for a few seconds but as I've said before the same trick won't work twice on me."
"I guess the name Iron Beast does befit you Tetsu but I too have a few tricks still left up my sleeve." I smile and soon my LBX begins to glow in a bluish light. Tetsu laughs as he sends his Genbu II at my LBX.
"Weren't you listening? A move like last time won't work on me twice."
"Attack Function!" Tetsu shouts. His LBX slams its fist on the solid ground and a rumble, like an earthquake began to shake the entire diorama.
ATTACK FUNCTION: TERRA NOVA
Magma begins to ooze from the cracked ground as Genbu II slams its fist again, causing a tsunami of lava heading for my direction. I look back to my CCM and a smile plasters my face as I see the bar finally reach 100%.
"Attack function!" I scream and my LBX begins to spin its spear until the weapon's tip split into three- almost like a trident. A huge amount of water begins to encircle it after the weapon had changed and I see the horrified look on Tetsu's face.
It's at that point that I know the game is over.
"Game over, Tetsu."
ATTACK FUNCTION: OCEAN BLAST
My LBX aims the trident at the incoming magma, the water and magma colliding which created a smokescreen as steam began to cover the entire diorama. I can barely see the silhouette of Tetsu's LBX struggling from the magma that was now solidified around its body.
"Let's see if what you say is true, Tetsu." I smile and aim the spear just in between of Genbu II's head and body.
"Attack Function!"
ATTACK FUNCTION: THUNDER CRASH
An explosion clears up the entire diorama of the steam and there I see Genbu II unmoving, electric currents surrounding its body before a blue light emits from Genbu II and then shatters. The whole stadium is quiet, completely breathless from the intense battle Tetsu and I fought.
"B-Break Over! Genbu II is down. The winner of Artemis 2052 is none other than Fujiwa Rei!" The announcer breaks the silence with his declaration and soon everyone cheers at my victory. I see Tetsu give me a thumbs up and I return the favor as well with a congratulatory shake for the battle.
"Will the victor please ascend to the main stage and receive the trophy!" The M.C. announces and I jump off the center stage and proceed to the main stage where I could see the M.C. and an android holding my trophy.
"Give it up folks for-," Before the M.C. could answer and before I could grab my trophy, a huge black shadow appears and I look up in horror at the scene. I could hear the people begin to panic as most of them rush out from their seats.
"Fujiwa-san, get out of the stage now!" I heard Tetsu shout, as he and Louise rush up to the main stage and grab me by the arm. Several policemen appear from behind us as a hole from the black carrier opens and a rope shoots out from it.
"Ah!" I scream as the rope tightens around my body and begins to hoist me up to the carrier. Tetsu and Louise grab each of my arms as they try to stop me from getting in the carrier.
I got careless. Dad knew it was dangerous and yet I still went on with it and won. It seems I was too confident at first because I believed that it wouldn't happen to me. Now I feel stupid for trying to act cool and convince my parents that I couldn't handle this.
"I don't want any of this at all!" I scream, tears beginning to stream down my cheeks as I cried in fear.
Until now, none of the kidnapped victims have been found. Even the suspects remained elusive and no one knows what they did to the victims. It scared me, the fate that might befall me if they took me. Will I die? Or will they torture me first? The shows I watched proved how scary that could be and I didn't want to suffer that kind of end.
Someone! Anyone! Please-
Save me!
"Attack Function!"
ATTACK FUNCTION: POWER SLASH
An unknown LBX slashes at the rope, releasing me from the grip as I was sent to the ground with a thud. Louise and Tetsu hastily helped me up as we watched the black carrier fly into the sky before vanishing into the clouds, the same thing it always does after every kidnapping.
Except this time it's different because they failed to take me.
"Are you alright Rei?" Tetsu asks me and I nod.
"If it hadn't been for that LBX, then you'd have been kidnapped too." Louise adds in as he helps me to a chair while policemen from left and right began to swarm the entire stadium.
"Thanks for the help too guys." I managed to say, my heart beating so hard and fast as if it was threatening to explode from my chest.
"Tetsu Kyouji and Louise Bryant? Your parents are waiting for you by the entrance." A policeman announced after approaching us.
"Take care okay, Rei." Tetsu and Louise say to me as they bid their farewell before running off with the policeman to meet their parents. I wave back as well before wrapping the blanket around me tightly, the fear now even more prominent since I was now alone.
"Fujiwa Rei?" I look up to that voice and see a boy about my age with brown hair and eyes. He wore a hooded red jacket with a yellow shirt inside and a pair of dark green shorts and red and white sneakers. Next to him was an older man who pretty much looked like him with the exception of the lab coat the older man was wearing. Who are these people? How do they even know my name? They look even more suspicious than the police.
"Ban." The older man stopped the boy and shook his head before giving me a warm smile. I guess he saw the alarmed look I was giving them and decided that going about it too quickly was going to make me even more scared.
"Oh, Sorry. I guess you're still in shock huh." The boy apologized. Wait a second… did the man just call him Ban? Could it be-,
"Could it be that you're Yamano Ban?!" I nearly shouted in surprise. The fear evaporated in an instant when I saw one of the most powerful LBX players standing in front me. When he confirmed my question with an embarrassed nod, I nearly fell of my seat in surprise.
"The one and only and this man here is my father, Yamano Jyunichiro." Ban replies and the man who I know created the LBX, Professor Yamano, nods in greeting as well.
"Well, this- this is a surprise… but what do you want with me?" I ask curiously and that's when I saw the LBX who saved me a while back, perched on Ban's right shoulder. So I guess it was Ban who just saved me a while ago then…
"You saw the black carrier right?"
"Saw it? It nearly kidnapped me!" I panicked and then sighed again, trying my best to calm the pounding of my heart. "Sorry, being my savior and all, I have to at least thank you for what you did…" I apologized but Ban assured me it was alright.
Rumors are true then, Ban's just too kind for his own good.
"You're scared, I know how that feels. When I got my first LBX Achilles, many bad people have been trying to get me… but I met good people along the way who were willing to help me… so you can trust us too." Ban patted me on the shoulder as if assuring me that they could be trusted. I quickly looked down on the ground contemplating on what he said.
It's just too easy for them. Here I am, a victim of kidnapping, scared, alone and doubtful of everyone. Then they just come waltzing in telling me that I could trust them? Sure, I know about them but only from the interviews I watched. How do they expect me to trust them now that they're here in front of me in the flesh?
"I-I'm sorry…" I only shake my head. It's just too early to trust them. Right now, all I want is to go home and just stay there until all of this blows off. Ban and Professor Yamano take this as a cue and both nod their heads, disappointment somewhat clear on their faces.
"I understand… but if ever you need our help here's my number." Ban just smiles as he sends me his number through his CCM. I nod in reply after receiving his number and give them a wave of good-bye as the policemen begin to escort me back to my home.
--*--
"Oh, thank goodness!" Mom rushed to me when I opened the door to our house. Apparently, it was dad who sent those policemen to the stadium, just in case something were to go awry. Being the chief of police sure has some perks.
"Thank you, I'll make sure this goes to all your paychecks." I hear dad chatting with some of his men before closing the door and looking at me worriedly.
"I'll save the lecturing for later. I'm just glad you're safe." Dad musters a shaky laugh of relief as he hugs me tightly. I hug them both back tightly as I could, afraid to let go.
"You better get ready, dinner's almost up." Mom reminds me with a smile, trying her best to make me feel safe, before letting go. I nod at her attempt of reassurance, glad that the whole ordeal ended with me not getting kidnapped before going up to my room to get dressed.
I opened the door to my room and dropped my bag on the bed. I opened it and took out the Artemis trophy, admiring it with contentment. Regardless of the frightening incident, I'm still glad I won and got the trophy. After all, the trophy was proof of my skills as an LBX player. Consider it compensation for the nightmare I was subjected to. Putting the trophy aside, I then took out my LBX Hel from her case and positioned her next to my CCM on my study table.
"Hmm…" I stared at Hel and continued to ponder if it looked nice on her or not.
The trophy wasn't the only thing I won from the competition. The other award was some sort of shield that looked pretty much like a miniature version of the Aegis shield in Greek mythologies. The only difference was it was sleek black in color as if it came from the pits of Tartarus and not Olympus.
"Well, I've always wanted to earn for a shield but doesn't this lower Hel's speed due to the weight?" I wonder as I check the CCM and realize that that wasn't the case. The shield was almost weightless when I saw that no change had been made to Hel's speed status.
"Rei! Dinner's ready." Mom called from the stairs. I looked back to Hel and then decided that I would just check it out further tomorrow. I then changed to my usual white hooded shirt and blue shorts before shouting from the stairs that I'd be down in a minute.
-*Beep* *Beep*-
I paused by the doorway of my room when I heard the sound of something beeping. I then proceeded to my bed, where the sound was loudest, and looked under it. I could have sworn the sound was coming from under here…
"Where is it-," I cut myself short when I saw something flashing red from the end of my bed. My eyes went wide when I saw that it was an LBX and jerked back, missing the tranquilizer by a few inches. I looked around and saw countless more of them jumping in from my window. I quickly ran to Hel and flipped my CCM open.
"Rei? What's taking you so long?" I could hear Mom's worried tone as she was trying to open the door. I slammed it shut and locked the door before she could open it. No way was I going to let some LBXs try to hurt my parents.
"Mom… I'm sorry!" I shouted over her frantic crying and jumped out of my room from the window. I rolled from the roof and scrambled down to the ground, the LBXs following suit while shooting tranquilizers at me.
"Go, Hel!" I shouted and had Hel take down some of the LBXs while rushing out the gate of my house. I could hear mom and dad calling out to me but I refused to look back and just kept running.
"Attack Function!" I shouted and Hel unleashed a huge barrage of electric bursts that destroyed half of the LBXs. Why are these things chasing me? Could it be the kidnappers from the black carrier? I guess they still weren't giving up on me then.
"Attack Function!"
ATTACK FUNCTION: GUNGIR
A spear shot out from nowhere, hitting multiple enemies with one shot. I felt a hand grab mine and I saw Ban dragging me towards the Tokio City square. I could hear other multiple shouts of people and I turned to see more kids coming out from the corner and attacking the rogue LBXs.
"Don't worry they're allies." Ban assured me as we all assembled in the center of the park. I could make out a few familiar faces in the dark and my eyes widened when I realized that all of them had been winners or players of Artemis.
The partners of Ban when he won Artemis 2050, Aoshima Kazuya and Kawamura Ami. The third placer in the 2050 Artemis, Yuuya Haibara. The third and fourth place winners in 2051 Artemis, Oozora Hiro and Hanazaki Ran. The daughter of the secretary of the A-Nation, Jessica Kaios was also here. Even the second place winner in the 2050 Artemis and the one they call the Split Second Kill Emperor Kaidou Jin was with us.
"They have us completely surrounded, Ban!" Kazuya shouted as his Achilles Deed continued to soar from the sky while shooting with its laser gun.
"Well, I won't let them get to us! Attack Function!" Ami shouted and her Pandora jumped into the air, its fist glowing in a bright light.
ATTACK FUNCTION: SOUKEN RANGEKI
"I'm not about to lose too!" Ran pumped her fist in a karate move as her Minerva Kai prepared for its attack function Homura Kuzushi Kiwami. Even Hiro had his Achilles D9 activate Sword Bit as it rammed onto more rampaging Egypts.
"Attack Function!" Jin, Yuuya and Jessica shouted in unison and their LBXs Triton, Liu Bei and Jeanne D glowed in bright lights making me close my eyes.
ATTACK FUNCTION: OCEAN BLAST
ATTACK FUNCTION: BYAKKO SHOHAZAN
ATTACK FUNCTION: SIDE WINDER-8
Explosions that nearly deafened my ears engulfed the entire park, each of the attacks hitting their aim as more LBXs collapsed to the ground. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as they all buckled to the ground tiredly, the tensing situation finally coming to an end. I too collapsed to the ground, my mind still trying its best to process what just happened. Had it not been for them then I would have been a goner.
"You alright, Rei-san?" I looked up and saw once again Ban, reaching out his hand to help me up. I smiled tiredly and nodded, taking his hand and hoisting myself up.
"Man, you have some pesky stalkers, huh Rei-san." Hiro joked while he scratched the back of his head tiredly.
"I don't know why they're so persistent though." I chuckled lightly and then looked to my left when I saw Ban pat me on the shoulder as if wanting to say something.
"Ban, we'll discuss this when we get back to her house. I think her parents deserve to know this too." Jin stopped him and suddenly my eyes went wide when I realized my parents were still at home and probably worrying sick about me and my little escapade.
"I'm am so going to be dead." I groaned as I led them back to my home.
--*--
"That's it! I knew joining Artemis was a terrible idea." My dad fumed when we all gathered in the living room. Mom tried her best to calm him down but I understood dad. I mean, who'd be calm when your daughter had been nearly kidnapped again.
"So, what brings so many kids here just to see my daughter?" My dad all eyed them one by one which unnerved some, like Hiro and Yuuya.
"We came here to bring your daughter with us to NICS." Ban answered quickly. My eyes grew wide at the sudden announcement of this. Even dad looked like he was about to double over. Only mom seemed calm as if she knew something like this was about to happen.
"NICS?! You're sending my daughter away to some government abroad? And what makes you so sure that I can trust you? You're all just kids." He shouted in disbelief. Dad was right on that one, it was impossible for a few kids like them to ever handle something even the police themselves had difficulty on solving.
"NICS happens to be one of the strongest and safest place your daughter could ever be in. As far as investigations are concerned, we have reason to believe some of the higher echelons of the police force are part of this kidnapping scheme. I assure you, we mean her no harm." Jessica defended and I saw dad eye her suspiciously.
"Kaios, I've heard that name. So your dad's the secretary eh. It's always about using power over others isn't it? Last I checked, NICS was nearly blown to bits by a satellite. How can it be the safest place Rei could ever be in?!
"All your faces are very familiar to me. Kaidou Jin, grandson of a politician who tried to use technology for evil. Haibara Yuuya, a boy who was used as a guinea pig for some twisted creation. Oozora Hiro, son of the one who created the artificial intelligence Adam and Eve, a great discovery had it not been used to launch a weapon that would destroy the world. Lastly, Yamano Ban, son of the man who created the LBX, the very reason why you're all here in this room persuading me to let my daughter go with you." Dad accused and I saw all of them fall silent, guilt evident on their faces.
It is true though, how could he trust them when majority of their backgrounds led to this kind of happenings. I knew none of them were at fault, that it was the grown-ups themselves who made the errors that are now being carried by the younger generations. A part of me believed them but another warring against it, whispering to me about trusting too early on kids who think they know the harshness of the world's reality. But who was I to judge them? Even I didn't know about this whole mess I've gotten myself into.
If I followed my dad and said no, who's to say that these kidnappings would stop? Ban made it clear they knew something not even the police knew of. The twelve kids that were kidnapped deserved to be saved too. If I join them, then maybe I'll know the reason why these evil people are so persistent in trying to get me.
"I-I want to trust them." I finally spoke out, making my decision as I faced my dad, his expression morphing to the that of disbelief. Ban looked surprised but there was relief in his eyes as if he was glad I wouldn't decline them again.
"Don't get this the wrong way." I remind them. "If it means keeping my family safe then I'll do it."
"Don't worry, everyone has something worth fighting for. If it helps, we'll do what we can to stop all of this." Hiro pumped his fist, assuring me that they understood why I was still reluctant to accept their invitation.
"If you know this is right then I won't stop you, Rei." My mom hugged me tightly when I turned to face her and dad. "Please, just keep safe and come home when all of this ends… okay."
It's amazing how mothers are always like that… they always trust your decision even if it pained them sometimes. Mom didn't show it but I knew she was worrying for me deep inside. Dad was the only one of both of them who was vocal about the decision.
"Your mom says it's okay but you know as well as I do what my answer is." He sighed and hugged me tightly, this would have been embarrassing infront of Ban and the others but right now, I could really use dad's safe embrace. "I'm allowing you but please… stay safe." He whispered and I nodded.
When we parted, dad coughed to gain everyone's attention. "If so much as a hair on her head is missing then, as chief of police, I have every right to arrest all of you!" He bellowed and I saw everyone pale making me laugh. He shot me a dark look and began to rant on and on about how they should behave making me blush in embarrassment.
Parents can be scary sometimes.
--*--
Against everyone's wishes, Mom had managed to somehow get everyone to stay over for the night.
"I never knew moms could be so persuasive." Yuuya said as they all snuggled up on a makeshift bed in our living room. Only the sofa was the one thing separating the boys from the girls. To get to know them better, I decided to sleep with them and so snuggled up between Ami and Ran near the television.
"Considering her job as a police officer, I'm not really surprised." I say before trying to stifle a yawn.
"But your dad is scary, Rei-san. Did you see the way he glares at everyone? Gave me the shivers." I could Hiro's voice tremble making me chuckle.
"Really? He didn't look angry to me." Kazuya pointed out and both Yuuya and Hiro suddenly retorted on how did he not see dad's 'death glare'.
"Well if you ask me, you have a nice family." Ran yawned and I smiled. I'm glad they actually loved mom and dad's overprotectiveness too.
"Yeah, we'll make a mental note to visit you again when all of this blows off." Ami giggled.
Her words surprised me. I had thought that our relationship was merely due to my connection to these kidnappings. I assumed that once it all ended, then there was no reason for them to even bother seeing me again.
It felt warm somehow, that even after all this, they'd still willingly want to meet up again. Making friends had always been an issue for me yet these people make it so easy to get into their circle. Even if we only met today, it felt like we've been friends far longer than that.
This warmth feels awfully familiar.
"Thanks guys, I appreciate it."
"I told you before, Rei. We're friends now so you can confide in us too." Ban finally said and I could feel everyone smiling to assure me they felt the same.
"Ban's right! When you need help we'll come running. It's what friends do." Jessica added in. I snuggled deep in the covers, feeling heat rise to my cheeks at their kindness. Would it have been any different if I had lost that day? Had I not won then I would never have met such great people.
"Fate has a funny way of making things happen, Rei. So don't worry too much." As if reading my thoughts, Jin finally joined the conversation.
Jin's right, fate sure is funny. It has a habit of leading you into unpredictable situations but for me this might be one of the best situations fate has ever given me. The conversation continued on until everyone finally decided to sleep. I closed my eyes and for the first time in my life-
I felt myself smiling as I drifted off into slumber.
--*--
First Chapter! So this basically happens a year after W. Hope you RR guys :)
xXGemini14Xx- Signing Out!
