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"Come on Tachibana!" She told herself. "You can do this."
Gripping the weapon, in her hands she checked the hallways before dashing towards the stairs. Hotaru jumped down the first two flights of stairs and ended up on the second floor... but face to face with a group of men with dragon tattoos on their shoulders.
"Who the hell are you kid?"
'Darn it!' She cursed. 'Think Tachibana, quick!'
"What are you guys doing?" She shouted at them. "Ao's getting away!"
"Ao? What's he got to do with anything?"
"Didn't you hear the shots? He killed the boss!" She insisted. She didn't have any proof of this but she thought there was a good chance that she was right. "Now hurry up, or he'll get away!"
"That sly bastard! I knew he was no good." Cursed the man before turning to his companions. "Let's go boys!"
Hotaru got out of the way, as the group of Salamander members raced up the stairs to go join the others. She then resumed her race down the stairs. But at the top of the last flight of stairs, another gang member blocked her path. Only this one knew her face. It was one of the men outside she'd lied to to get inside the building and follow Ao. And the way he looked at her showed her his suspicions.
"What do you think you're doing, kid?" He said, eying her. "That's quite a commotion that's gone down since you went up there..."
She clenched her teeth and there was no way she could come up with something other than a clear and valid explanation, and she wasn't quick enough. When the guy reached for his gun, the ball of instincts that was Hotaru Tachibana immediately reacted and jumped down the stairs, landing a heavy kick in his face and clearing her way. The young rebel dashed forward again as fast as she could to get to the entrance door. But other members appeared and blocked her way. She tried to change her itinerary to find a window to escape but the room she ended up in, was also filled with Salamanders.
"Don't let that brat escape!" Said the man she'd kicked in the face as he blocked the doorway. "I'm pretty sure he's a spy."
'Not good!' Thought the girl getting on guard.
A man tried to approach her and grab her arm, but the young rebel was too fast for that and sent him over her shoulder. Another took a knife out and swung at her. Again, she was too agile on her feet, and compared to her mother, these people moved like turtles. She stepped out of the way as he thrusted the knife forward and kicked him so hard in the stomach that a rib cracked. The people left in the room understood that close quarters were not to their advantage with this rebel. So the man who followed her from the stairs pointed his gun at her.
"Move and you die kid!" He ordered.
Hotaru froze on the spot. She still had the gun Ao had given her in the inner pocket of her jacket. But if she made one suspicious move, she could end dead.
"Put your hands where I can see them." Ordered the Salamander.
She brought her hands up and backed up against the wall. She looked around. All of them had firearms, and she only had a few bullets left. But just reaching for the weapon might end up being her undoing. The man took a few steps closer, keeping her at gun point.
"So tell me kid. Who the hell are you? And careful. If I don't like your answer, I'll shoot you."
Hotaru clenched her teeth. She needed to lie and quickly. Technically these guys didn't know her so even if she did tell them who she was, there was a chance they'd still get suspicious and kill her. But if she said she was from Toy Gun, they would definitely not let her go.
"I have nothing to say to you." She affirmed, throwing him a determined glare.
"Wrong answer kid." Replied the man readjusting his gun.
"Hold on a second." Said another man in the room before coming closer.
"You've seen him before?"
"Yeah. When we were sent after that pink-haired medic. That kid helped her escape. Yeah, you've changed your clothes but your definitely that person. Also, if I remember correctly, you're a girl."
The girl's eyes widened in shock and her whole body tensed up. It's true that when she was with Kanae, the clothes she was wearing were clearly feminine. Curse this man for having such a good memory. The one holding her at gun point turned back to her, but this time he had a nasty smirk in his face.
"A girl huh? Interesting." He came closer to her until there was less than a foot between them and roughly cupped her cheeks with his free hand. "Hard to tell. How about letting me check, sweetheart?"
A vibe of fear and anger travel throughout her body, triggering Hotaru's defense reflexes and the blondie sent her knee in the guy's stomach. He backed off a few steps, coughing loudly to regain his breath and holding his stomach painfully.
"This kind of evil, Tachibana doesn't forgive!" Shouted the girl at the man her fists clenched and a dark aura surrounding her.
The man threw her an angry look and pointed his weapon at her again. "Wrong move, you little bitch!"
POW
A shot indeed resonated, but from the outside. The bullet broke the glass of a window before going through the head of the man that was threatening the girl. His body fell to the ground like a rag doll would. All the men in the room turned to the broken window, looking at each other wondering what the hell happened. While all Hotaru could do was stare at the corpse of the man in front of her. It was nauseating. But she didn't have time to think. Something else resembling a grenade was tossed through the window. When it detonated, the entire room was swarmed with white smoke.
The young rebel coughed loudly, wondering what was happening. 'I should get out of here while I have this cover.'
But the smoke wasn't only a cover. She leaned on the wall as she kept coughing. The white fog was making her throat itch like crazy and her eyes stung so much that her vision got even blurrier. She tried to find her way, but she couldn't keep her eyes open long and coughed louder. She heard a couple of shots being fired and then quick footsteps approaching her and a hand was placed on her shoulder. Panicking, the blondie threw her fist up at the shape she could barely discern. But a strong hand caught her wrist, stopping her.
"Hotaru!" Said a familiar , yet muffled voice. "Calm down it's me."
"Matsuoka?" She managed to let out in between two coughs.
"Keep your eyes closed. I got you."
The blond man, who's face was covered by a gas mask, threw the younger rebel over his shoulder and made his way through the fog avoiding the gang members who were still choking on the smoke. Toy Gun's leader quickly made his way towards the door and once in the hallway, shut it behind him. The leader set his latest recruit against the wall. He grabbed his gourd and helped her drink some water. The cold liquid immediately soothed her burning throat and she inhaled fresh air while the blond man applied a wet cloth to her dry eyes. When he pulled it away she blinked a couple of times. Her vision was not back at 100% but she saw enough to discern the face of the leader who was removing his gas mask.
"Matsuoka!" She exclaimed, as a huge wave of relief released the tension in her body. "What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" He replied, yelling and frowning.
"Hey, Masamune!" Shouted another voice from further away. Hotaru turned her head to see another man with short brown hair, also wearing a gas mask. From the gun and voice, she recognized Toy Gun's weapon expert.
"Now's not the time!" Said Haruki, before taking another shot towards the end of the hallway. "We have to get out of here before the rest of Salamander get's here!"
Matsuoka agreed with a sign of the head and turned to the girl again, with the same angry frown as before. "I'll deal with you later. Are you armed?"
The young rebel reached inside her jacket and took out Ao's gun. "Good. Follow me and stay close!" Ordered Toy Gun's leader.
He grabbed Hotaru's wrist and pulled her to her feet before turning to his weapon expert. "Haruki! Cover our backs."
"Got it!"
The three of them dashed forward, heading for the entrance hall. Hotaru followed the rebel leader and observed as he cleared the way. The Salamander gang members who tried to get in the way were shot before any of them could even think of raising their weapons at them. And Haruki, was moving slowly behind them, making sure that their backs were covered, and he didn't seem to miss his shots either. Hotaru suddenly realized that both of them were protecting her. That never happened before.
She followed the blond man until they finally reached the front door that Matsuoka kicked open and they finally exited the HQ of the Salamander gang. Toy Gun's leader grabbed Hotaru by the arm and the three of them kept running until they reached a street a little further away where the jeep was waiting for them. Haruki took off his gas mask while Matsuoka grabbed his radio from one of the pouches that were strapped to his waist.
"Yukki! We got him, you can come down. Hurry up. There's still a chance that more of these guys will show up."
"Roger. I'll be down in five." Replied the sniper.
Matsuoka put away his radio before walking over to his latest recruit who was still catching her breath. She looked at him.
"Matsuoka, thank..."
"You idiot!" He snapped, making her jump. "What the hell were you thinking?! I knew you were a hot-head but that tops anything I imagined! Were you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"O-of course not!" Said the blondie, still a bit surprised at the man's sudden anger. "I was trying to ..."
"You followed someone you didn't even know into enemy territory without so much as a plan. Did I get something wrong so far?" He said scornfully, crossing his arms on his chest.
"No, but..."
"But what?!" He snapped again.
"Mune, look..." Started Haruki, with a voice that Hotaru would judged to be slightly embarrassed.
"Shut up! This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't left him there!" Said Matsuoka, reproachfully at his weapon expert. "You're just as guilty."
That sentence made Haruki looked away and keep from any other attempt at calming down his leader. Matsuoka was right. Both of them were at fault. But in a way, he was more guilty than their new recruit. The blond leader turned back to Hotaru, who was suddenly clenching her fists.
"I had no choice..." She muttered.
"What was that?"
"You heard me, I had to get that information back!" She said. "I don't see what I did wrong here Matsuoka! If Salamander got their hands on it, then they would've found and captured a Red Star! I couldn't just sit back and let that happen!"
"And what if you'd been killed, you dumbass?" Continued the leader. "Who would've helped that medic then.
"I'm not weak!" She shouted even louder.
"It's got nothing to do with being weak, stupid! You were alone and unarmed in the middle of their HQ! How was any of that a smart idea? Did you think you could've taken all three hundred of them by yourself?"
Her cheeks reddened as she got angrier. "What kind of coward are you to say that? You would've just sit back and let it happen? Is that what you would've done Matsuoka? What's the point in doing what you do, if you're not going to help those who need it?"
SLAP!
She didn't have time to finish her point, when a gloved hand was sent flying on her cheek. For a moment, the tomboy was surprised. She didn't think Matsuoka was one to hit his comrades. Holding her cheek she looked up at him again.
"Don't talk about things you don't understand." Said Toy Gun's leader with a quieter voice this time, but that still showed how angry and disappointed he was. "It's because I know how this place works and what kind of people roam it that I know how to take action. Until you know as much as I do, you listen to me Hotaru. Is that clear?"
The teenager was still holding her cheek. Everything that had gone down since this morning came played out in her mind at a sickening speed. Again and again. And she still couldn't see what she'd done wrong. Why wasn't he listening to her? What she had done was for the sake of someone... no of many people that depended on the Red Star medics. She lowered her eyes and looked away. Matsuoka took that a sign of submission and walked over to the jeep.
"Get in." He ordered the two of them. "We're leaving as soon as the two get here."
'Two?' Wondered Hotaru.
"MATTSUN!" Called out a voice from the end of the street.
Hotaru, Matsuoka and Hotrau all turned around to see their sniper and the informant running towards them. So that's how Toy Gun found her. Taka's face lit up when he saw the tomboy and stopped near her.
"Glad to see you in one piece, you crazy kid." Said the informant, ruffling her hair. "You guys should get out of here quickly. With this commotion, they'll search the streets soon."
"Right. Everyone in the jeep, now."
"This is where I leave you. Good luck guys."
The blue-haired man started running back to where they'd come from but came to an abrupt stop when a bullet crashed at his feet. A man with a dragon tattoo in a nearby alley was aiming for him.
"Crap!" Cursed the informant, reaching for his gun while knowing that he didn't have the time.
POW!
The man that was about to kill him suddenly fell to the ground, lifeless. Taka turned around and his eyes widened when he saw the newest recruit of Toy Gun pointing a gun. Hotaru's entire body was shaking. There was no mistaking it. This was the first time she shot at someone. That look of terror in her eyes was unmistakable. But he didn't have time to worry about that. He thanked the newbie with a salute sign and disappeared in the next street.
Meanwhile, Hotaru wasn't moving, still pointing the gun in the direction she'd shot. But now, even though her entire body was shaking, she was paralyzed. Her mind was so blank, she couldn't think. She didn't even hear Yukimura call her.
"Tachibana! Hurry, we have to get out of here!"
Knowing that she wouldn't respond, Haruki jumped off the vehicle and grabbed the younger rebel and pushed her in the back before jumping in after her.
"GO!" He ordered to Matsuoka who turned on the engine.
A few blocks away
The man with the green hair casually walked through the streets, humming a nice lullaby as if he was on a normal evening stride. He'd thought this day was going to be a boring one, like all the others since they came here. The only good point of this day was suppose to be the end of that terribly boring mission he was executing. But it turned out interesting. Especially that one bit about being followed by such an adorable stalker. He chuckled as he remembered that face, so red at their close contact and that worry towards a stranger. What an odd encounter that was. Nothing could please him more than a unexpected event like this one. He was pulled out of his thoughts when a certain truck came in sight. Two people were in front of it, arguing.
"Doctor, you're back!" Said the blue-haired woman with a ponytail. "Good work today."
"Thank you Ichi." He replied smiling. "Fujimoto, is everything in place?"
"All rigged up, Sir." Replied the man with white hair who seemed to be at least two heads taller than him.
"Alright, good work everyone." He praised his subordinates.
"Oh my goodness!" Exclaimed the girl when her eyes landed on the green haired man's clothes that were covered in red stains. "What happened to you? Are you injured Sir? We need to take a look at those wounds right away!"
"Don't worry Ichi. It's not mine." Simply brushed off the man.
"Oh, I see." She replied sighing in relief. "Your uniform is inside the truck if you want to change."
"I'll do that. Just one more thing." Said the doctor before stepping into the back of the truck. "Fujimon. Would you mind cleaning that up for me?"
The tall man approached to grab the bloody knife his superior was presenting him with. It was not one of the knives that was part of their gear, even though it seemed to be a good blade.
"Sure thing, doc. But where did you get this? It's not part of our gear. Are you sure you want to keep it?"
"I only borrowed it. I need to give it back in good shape." Explained the doctor before entering the back of the truck. After having changed into his usual uniform, the green-haired man ordered his subordinates to get in the truck. Fujimoto sat in the passenger seat, while Ichi joined the doctor in the back. Once all three of them were in, their superior addressed the stoic faced driver.
"Let's go Haruharu."
The driver turned on the engine but then looked at the doctor, eying him with contempt. "Do not call me that."
"Sorry, sorry. I know it's your brother nickname but it suits you none the less."
This time, the man with a stoic face turned back without answering and started driving away. Meanwhile, the woman looked at her superior and noticed the smile on his face. It was odd. Not that he wasn't one to smile but usually, when the doctor came back from what he called a 'boring mission', he'd look annoyed and napped in the truck on the way back. And right now he looked... almost happy.
"Doctor?"
"Hmm? What is it Ichi?"
"Did something good happen? You look pleased."
"Well... yes something did happen."
"May I ask what?"
He placed a gloved finger in front of his mouth. "Sorry, that's my secret for now. But you should find out pretty soon. Oh, Fujimon?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Give me the detonator."
The giant man searched his bag before handing a small remote like device to the doctor. A dark smile appeared on the green-haired man, as he adjusted the object in his hand so that the red button would be under his thumb. He pressed it, and in the distance, the sound of an explosion was heard.
"Now that we're done with the annoying stuff..." Said the doctor handing the detonator back to Fujimoto and taking the documents Taka had given him. "Let's see how the Red Stars are moving."
"Oh right." Said Fujimoto. "You were suppose to get the info on where to find a medic. What's their name?"
"Kanae Yajima." Replied Midori, that smirk never leaving his face.
Toy Gun HQ
None of them was saying anything. Matsuoka had his eyes on the road, Yukimura was in the passenger seat, going over some sort of map. Haruki on the other hand kept his eyes on the youngest of the group. The kid was sitting on the floor, hugging her legs tightly and resting her head on them. But she was anything but restful. Her eyes weren't blinking and the only thing going through her mind in that moment was the sound of a gun shot and that image of the men falling down. She did her best to hide it but her legs were still shaking. It was like a restless ocean was inside her stomach, agitated and making her sick.
'Did I really do that? Did I just shoot someone?'
Her breathing accelerated as the thought haunted her. She realized that the vehicle stopped only when the weapon expert placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump. "Hey newbie. We're here."
The tomboy looked up and realized that they were indeed in the underground parking of their HQ. Haruki could only guess how shaken up she was. After all, they'd all been through that. He asked if she was alright, and she only replied with a vague sign of the head. But the instant she stepped out of the vehicle and was back on her feet, her stomach started to feel way too full. She brought one hand to it and the other to her mouth. Realizing she wouldn't be able to keep it much longer, Hotaru turned around and dashed towards the way out.
"Hey where are you going?" Called out Haruki.
"N-nature calls! I'll be right back!" She replied before speeding up.
The instant she was out, she leaned on the wall and emptied the content of her stomach which mostly consisted of stomach acid, burning her throat and making her cough loudly. She panted, leaning her head and arms on the wall and praying that her shaking legs wouldn't give in. Without any warning, a river of tears escaped her eyes and mixed with the vomit on the ground. Letting herself sob, she clenched her her hand over her chest and moon-shaped necklace.
As she cried, she finally understood what had gone wrong. Going into enemy territory, alone, without a plan or a weapon was far from being the worst, like Matsuoka said. No. It was because in a way, she'd betrayed them. She was one of them, of course they would've done anything to save her. Even if it meant storming an enemy gang HQ and risking their lives to get her out. She felt so pathetic.
"I'm so sorry, Mom..." She muttered in between her sobs. "I lied … I put my comrades in danger … and I killed... I knew it was going to happen, but... I wasn't ready. Not for that..."
"Hotaru." Called out a gentle voice.
She almost jumped out of her skin and looked up. Toy Gun's leader was standing in front of her, a couple meters away. The look on his face wasn't angry anymore. It was sad and pitiful. The tomboy stepped away from the wall and faced him, but her eyes were on the ground. Really. Was it possible to get anymore pathetic? Especially in front of the guy she'd disappointed the most.
"You can laugh, you know..." She said.
The only answer she got was silence, and when she dared to look at his face all she saw was that same sad stare. She clenched her teeth in frustration and more tears escaped her eyes. Why wasn't he giving her the punishment she deserved? Why did he look at her like that?
"What are you waiting for?" She shouted at him, even though it was at herself that she was mad. "Go ahead! Tell me I'm weak! Tell me I'm useless! Tell me you don't need someone like me! Go on!"
Again he didn't respond, but this time he walked slowly towards her and only stopped when he was only half a foot away from her. Taking a handkerchief out of his pocket, he wiped her mouth, as the stream of tears went on down her face. He then gently grabbed her shoulders.
"Listen, Hotaru." He said with that same gentle voice as before. "The day I'll call someone weak for puking after killing someone for the first time, I hope you shoot me."
Her eyes widened and she raised her head to look at him. "Huh?"
"It's disgusting." He continued. "To take someone's life is one of the most repulsive acts a human being can pull. Even if it's for a good cause, it never makes it easier or cleaner. What I see in your sickness is your humanity. A humanity that a tyrant is threatening to make disappear in our country. And I'll tell you one thing : hang on to it. Hang on to that bit of humanity. Because as long as you have that, you'll be able to save others."
The tomboy's eyes widened and she stared at him in the eyes. His beautiful eyes were so gentle, so caring... so loving. Her heart skipped a bit. When was the last time someone had looked at her like that? It must have been at least … four years. The warm and yet overwhelming sensation took possession of her and a new flow of tears escaped her already red eyes.
"Matsuoka..." She let out, her voice choked by that emotion she'd missed so much.
If she didn't have that one bit of self-control left, she probably would've hugged him, but she restrained herself. Only to realize that she didn't have to when the blond man closed the space between them and wrapped his arms around his youngest comrade. She would've blushed but her face was already tomato red from all the crying.
"Let it out, before you burst. I promise, I won't tell Yukki or Haruki."
Feeling that she wouldn't have the strength to push him away, the girl buried her face in his chest and hung on to the back of his shirt, squeezing the blue fabric in her hands.
"I'm sorry... I really was stupid... I'm so sorry... I'm sorry..." She kept muttering as she let herself go.
A soft chuckle escaped the handsome man's lips. "No one can ever be ready for something like that, kid. Don't beat yourself up."
'Matsuoka... is so kind.' She thought, as she enjoyed the warmth of his chest and the protection of his strong arms around her skinny figure.
'Mom, Dad. I hope you can see him. That person I'm going to fight with.'
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