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The Toy Gun jeep made it's way towards the area that Yukimura and Hotaru were watching over and stopped a couple of blocks away. Masamune and Haruki grabbed their guns. The sun was rising giving them better light, so they left behind their flashlights and quickly made their way stealthily through the empty streets until they reached the building.

"Golden Retriever to Husky." Said the leader in his radio. "Give me an update on the situation."

"Everything inside is quiet. Most of the windows are covered, so I can't see much. They seem to be gathered on the west side of the sixth floor. It seems quiet for now."

"Okay, we're going in. Keep an eye on Hotaru, I don't want him barging in if it's unnecessary."

"Roger."

Yukimura watched his comrades enter the building before turning to Hotaru and giving a kick to his sleeping bag. He was certain he'd awakened the newbie twice since the first call with Masamune.

"Get up, Tachibana." He said without raising his voice. "We need to be ready for anything."

Hotaru opened her eyes again and sat up. Her head spun horribly and she felt ten times worse than the day before. She wanted to puke and her throat was so dry that the very air she was breathing was hurting her. She grabbed her gourd and took a quick sip before getting out of her sleeping bag and grabbing her gun. She sat next to Yukimura but from what she was seeing everything was quiet.

"About time, newbie."

"Sorry." She apologized. "Are Matsuoka and Haruki in there already?"

"Yeah."

"I'll go assist them!" She exclaimed jumping on her feet.

But before she could dash away, the sniper extended a hand and grabbed her ankle without ever taking his eyes away from his scope. That resulted in Hotaru falling face first on the ground.

"OW! What was that for Yukimura?" Hotaru growled angrily.

"Quiet down, Tachibana. We're still on stakeout." Scolded the man with glasses. "Mattsun said to stay put until he calls for us. So sit tight and wait."

'Geez even when he's sick, he's hyperactive.' Thought the sniper.

Hotaru rubbed her sore elbows and wiped the sweat off of herself when she realized she had Yukimura's scarf around her neck. She took it off due to the heat and folded it properly before placing it on top of his bag. She then took her place next to him again and waited.

"Yukimura, thank you for the..."

She got interrupted when the sniper suddenly straightened up, a look of shock in his eyes. Just after shooting was hear inside the buildind. Yukimura jumped to his feet.

"Tachibana, you stay here! Don't move from here until we come get you!"

Before she could even answer, he jumped on his feet picking up his gun and dashed towards the stairs. Hotaru then saw him rush into the street and enter the building where Masamune and Haruki were. The girl stared at the building more confused than ever. Yukimura's orders resonated in her ears and so she waited, staring. They were pros after all. Hotaru decided to obey and have faith in her comrades. She waited and waited until the firing in the old building stopped.

What was going on? Yukimura had been gone for too long... Just what did he see through his scope? And why did he tell her to stay here? Hotaru forced herself to cough to clear the annoying irritation she'd had in her throat for a while. Her aching head was spinning again and she found herself wanting to return her dinner from time to time.

'I must have caught a cold or something.' She thought. 'I hope I don't have a fever. That would be a hassle. And Haruki would definitely think I'm trying to take it easy. Still, what's taking them so long?'

The girl stood back up and glanced at the building her comrades had entered. If she had a scope, she could see what was happening from where she was. But as she didn't hear anything, she supposed that nothing bad could be happening. How wrong she was. Her throat started scratching her again and she once more violently coughed, to the point where she used up all the oxygen in her lungs and took a deep breath after. She brought her bottle to her mouth and emptied it.

"Shoot, I used it all up. Matsuoka won't give me another until tomorrow." She sighed. "Guess I'll have to hold up until then."

A sudden sensation of exhaustion came over the tomboy and her body felt like it weighted a ton. Hotaru leaned on the wall and closed her eyes. She passed her hand on her forehead to wipe the sweat off.

'What's wrong with me?' She wondered as her head started spinning again. 'Maybe I've been under the sun too long...'

POW!

The sound of the gunshot made the girl almost jump out of her skin and get to her feet. I definitely had come from the building her friends were inspecting. But all the firing had ceased a while ago. A bad feeling suddenly got a hold of the girl's guts. Hotaru quickly searched the bag for her radio.

"Matsuoka, can you hear me? What's going on?" She asked, only to receive no answer.

She tried to call for Haruki and Yukimura but neither of the two answered either. Something was terribly wrong, she could feel it in her tensed up muscles. Without wasting anymore time, the teen grabbed her gun and ran down the stairs as fast as she could before dashing into the building. She ran up the stairs as fast as she could to reach the sixth floor.

Meanwhile Matsuoka was cursing himself. How could he have been so stupid? Of course it was a trap, and he'd fallen for it like an amateur. And now there they were. Yukki was passed out on the floor at the feet of Eagle Eye. Haruki was on his knees and held at gun point by the Assault Destroyer. The Icy Sword was standing in a corner a blank expression on his face but never taking his eyes off his twin. And the King was shoving a gun in his face with that sadistic grin he always had. Sweat dripped down his face and the blond man bit his lower lip to stay calm. The man with the green hair was considerably shorter than him by half a head. But his presence was much more threatening and created an atmosphere so heavy in the room that Matsuoka could practically taste it in the air.

"Hello Masamune." Said the man in the white uniform as if he was greeting an old friend. "It's been a while. I've got to admit, it took us longer to find you this time. You're progressing, aren't you? I guess it's still possible for a young dog to learn new tricks, isn't it Golden retriever?"

Matsuoka clenched his teeth. Was there anything this guy couldn't do? The shorter man's grin widened when he saw the distraught and frustrated expression on Toy Gun's leader.

"Get on your knees." Ordered the man. "And be quick about it. Or your undisciplined mutt is going to loose an eye." He threatened pointing his second winchester towards the passed out Yukimura.

Matsuoka knew better than to try to save his pride with him. He quickly executed the order he was given and got to his knees, his eyes never breaking contact with the gun that was staring him in the face. A couple of sweat drops slid down his face and dripped off his chin.

"But you never learn, do you Masamune?" Continued the green haired man, leaning towards Matsuoka and grabbing his chin to make him look at him. "No matter what hole you crawl in, I'll always end up smoking you out."

Again, the blond man didn't reply and stayed silent. Instead he averted his eyes and looked at his passed out comrade. Thank God Hotaru wasn't here, though. Who knew what that bastard would do to the kid? His thoughts were interrupted when he received a foot in the face, sending him to the ground. His head hit the wall and a filet of blood started dripping from his forehead down his face along with the sweat.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you." Said the man in white suddenly irritated.

His vision was still blurry from the shock, but Toy Gun's leader forced himself to look up at his foe who was suddenly smiling again. "You're hiding something from me aren't you?"

That comment made Matsuoka freeze. The Commander of the Hoshishiro force took a step closer to his prisoner and knelt down on one knee in front of him.

"Bullseye." He said, his grin turning into a smirk, showing off snow white teeth. "You're different from usual. The first reflex you had when seeing us this time wasn't taking out your gun but break your radio. Why did you do that I wonder?"

"..."

Midori could be as patient as he wanted to be, but that didn't apply to when he wanted an answer from Matsuoka. He truly loved his job. Because there wasn't anything more fun than hunting down his former comrade. Mostly because he wasn't good at controlling his fear and tormenting him was hilarious to the sadistic doctor. But right now, what he really wanted to know was that secret. Masamune was as easy to read as an open book to him. Tired of the silence, he grabbed and handful of the blond man's hair and roughly pulled on it to make him look up. Matsuoka's face muscles contracted, showing off the pain and anxiety even more.

"Answer me." He ordered.

After a couple of heavy breaths, Toy Gun's leader finally opened his mouth. "I … I didn't want Yukki to know you were here … I knew he'd come running."

"Is that so?"

"Yes...argh!"

A loud grunt escaped his lips when Midori's fist collided with his stomach, sending him right back down. Matsuoka held his stomach painfully and coughed loudly while Hoshishiro's Commander stood back up.

"That's no good, Masamune." Slowly enunciated his tormentor as if he was scolding a child. "You should know better than to lie to me."

Once more, Matsuoka forced himself to look up at him. "I'm... not lying." That sentence earned him another kick in the ribs.

"Stop it, you bastard!" Shouted Haruki this time. "He's telling the truth!"

Midori turned to his subordinate's doppelgänger. "Really how pitiable. You're even teaching your boys to lie too. You're a terrible example, Masamune. Maybe I should teach them some manners by cutting their tongues out."

His comrade's doppelgänger, who'd been stoic and quiet this hold time, suddenly straightened up and turned to face the Commander. He was throwing him a murderous glare that meant warning. This made their enemies's chief raise his arms and laugh.

"Relax, Haruka. I'm only joking. After all, we have a deal don't we? And I always keep my promises."

Somehow this made the younger man's stoic expression return to his face and relax. Midori smiled to himself. He really was too good at this game. The doctor turned his attention back to the man at his feet. Matsuoka was still shaking in pain.

"Alright, let's do it this way then." He declared after a few seconds of reflexion. "Haruki Hosokawa. Tell me what you're all hiding from me, and I won't have to break Masamune's fingers."

"You son of a ..." Started the weapon expert, throwing a murderous glare at the green-haired man.

"It's really not that complicated." Interrupted the doctor. "Let's make it a guessing game. You're lying when you say that it was Yukimura that you were trying to warn. But you wanted to warn someone didn't you?"

The change of expression on the rebel's face once more betrayed their thoughts and Midori knew that he'd guessed right again. "So you have a new recruit, how sweet. I wonder how long he'll last though. The last one turned out to be a disappointment."

'Shit.' Cursed Matsuoka, on the inside.

"So what's he like?" The only response he got was utter silence from both men. "I see. Maybe I should take a look around and find him myself."

At that precise moment, the metal door was kicked open so hard, that everyone in the room jumped.

"MATSUOKA!" Shouted the girl as she bursted into the room, sweat falling off her face and panting like she'd just run a marathon.

The blondie froze when she saw the people in white uniforms and her comrades on the ground. She looked at the man with the winchesters. She recognized him instantly : it was the man that had helped her escape the Salamander HQ.

"Ao?"

Toy Gun's leader quickly shouted. "Hotaru! Get out of here!"

That earned him to be stepped on the head by the Commander. "Stay quiet, you." Ordered the green haired man before turning to the skinny teen and smiling at her. "Well, well. We meet again my Stalker. I have to say this is a nice surprise. So your name is Hotaru."

The girl's eyes glowed with anger and she pointed her gun towards him, only to have it kicked out of her hands by Haruka, who immediately tried to hit her again in the head. Her mouth opened in surprise as she thought for a moment that there were two Haruki in the room. But Hotaru was too instinctual to let her guard down too long and blocked his kick. This guy was about as strong as Haruki but seemed a lot faster and agile. She dodged another one of his kicks and grabbed the pocket knife Yukimura had given her. Dodging yet another left hook, she sent her foot flying into her opponent's knee. Hotaru didn't miss him clenching his teeth in pain, which gave her a second of distraction. It was plenty for someone as reactive as her. But just as she readied her knife and took a step, she realized that no air was getting in her lungs. Her entire body froze up. She dropped her knife and coughed loudly, trying to regain some air, but very little oxygen was getting in. She started panting like a dog and kept coughing. So bad to the point that she fell on her knees, clutching her throat. Her vision got blurry and everything around her became unclear.

'What's happening?' She thought, as she started panicking. 'I can't breath...'

Everything was getting so distant. Toy Gun, Hoshishiro... She didn't even feel her opponent get behind her and grabbing her under the arms to immobilize her. She was too focused on getting her breath back as the air she was inhaling was slowly decreasing.

'What's happening to me?' She thought.

Hotaru looked around for Matsuoka, for a smile, for something to reassure her... But everything was so blurry she couldn't make out the faces or even the sounds. Midori looked at the young rebel curiously. Something was clearly wrong with the kid. The commander of the Hoshishiro force approached her.

"Hotaru!" Shouted Matsuoka, attempting to get up. But a foot on his back and a sniper gun's barrel pointed at him sent him right back down. "Don't move, Toy Gun dog." Threatened the woman throwing him a menacing glare.

Midori took off his glove and grabbed Hotaru's chin to make her look up. Her eyes were glassy and looking at nothing in particular. The blood that was rushing to her face made it that she was almost as red as a tomato and he could feel the heat on their connecting skins. She was gasping for air. The symptoms seemed obvious but none the less the doctor was a professional. He'd never make assumptions before making sure first. Besides, it was a way to examine Masamune's new toy a little closer. Without any warning, he shoved two fingers in the already half choking youngster's mouth, who had no strength left to do anything except squirm and let out desperate sounds of plea.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Shouted Haruki.

"Let him go, Midori! " Pleaded Matsuoka. "He's only a kid!"

Immediately after that remark, the doctor took his hand back and said. "Dry tongue and throat."

Both Haruki and Matsuoka froze. Was he examining their latest recruit? Both rebels took a closer look at Hotaru's face. Tears were falling out of her eyes, her eyes weren't looking anywhere in particular, her mouth was wide open as she was gasping for air, and non-responsive. There was no way that was normal for their hot-headed newbie. The doctor smirked at the attention he was getting from the rebels. He placed two fingers near her throat to feel her heart rate.

"Fast pulse."

He grabbed the collar of the choking kid and pulled it down a bit to see the skin just above the chest. It was punctured with a couple of light but clearly visible brown spots.

"Dalmatian plague. Advanced phase." Declared the doctor, before turning to Toy Gun's leader. "You're not making a very good job of watching your new recruits Masamune. How careless of you. And of her for that matter."

"Her? Who are you talking about?"

Midori looked at him curiously before laughing his heart out. "Oh no. This is too good. Hahahahahaha! You know what? I think I'll let you figure it out on your own."

Haruki and Matsuoka glanced at each other, more confused than ever. Midori then ordered Haruka to put the kid down. The stoic man let her go and delicately placed her on her back. Midori knelt down. He sighed after taking in the state of the girl again. "It's too bad really. This really won't have lasted long."

"What are you talking about?" Said Matsuoka.

"I told you already, he caught the dalmatian plague. And since he was first infected near the throat, it's very unlikely that he'll survive until evening."

No, this couldn't be happening! Matsuoka bit his lips together. They couldn't loose Hotaru, not to the dalmatian plague of all things! But what could they do? The disease had no cure. Even if it did, it wasn't like they could make it here in Tensora where everything was so... primitive. They'd lost others before, in this cursed war. But … Hotaru was so young. He hadn't even lived yet! This couldn't be the way to go for him. Matsuoka couldn't believe it was God's will to call him back right now.

"Lucky for you..." Suddenly said the doctor getting their attention again. "The reason I came to find you today was this." He showed them a small injection needle. "Central just finished a prevention shot for the dalmatian plague. It's only a prototype, but I know it works. We're the living proof of that."

"I don't get it." Said Yukimura, who'd finally woken up. "Why would a bastard like you want to give us that? What's your game?"

"No game. It's just that your actions and that of the Red Stars helps contain the gang activities in Tensora. You're not completely useless after all, so the Supreme Leader agreed that it was best that you didn't die of stupid things like a medieval age disease."

'That's why he had no problem touching Hotaru barehand.' Thought Matsuoka. 'He's already immune.'

"We don't need it." Shot down the sniper, throwing a murderous glare at the doctor. "Keep your shitty experimental cure for your lab rats!"

"Yukki..." Started Matsuoka, wanting to reason with his friend.

"Don't you get it, Mattsun?!" He shouted at his leader. "If we take what they give us that makes us dependent of them! If we accept this, we'll have to accept more until we're unable to do anything without them! They're trying to control us!"

Yukimura was right, Matsuoka knew that. And the smile on Midori's face was clearly not denying anything the sniper was saying. In any other circumstances, he never wouldn't have understood that. But being immune against the dalmatian plague? That would save them a lot of trouble. It was still a huge advantage.

Another desperate gasp for air from Hotaru made everyone in the room look at the slowly choking youngster. Midori turned back to her and sunk the needle into the veins of her wrist. "I have to warn you though. This serum was created to prevent you from catching the plague. Since she has already caught it, I don't know if it'll do anything. I guess the only thing you can do now is pray to God some more."

The commander got back to his feet and approached Matsuoka before taking another syringe out of his leather pouch. He knelt down in front of the blond man, so that their faces would be at the same level. "It's ironic really. You who prided yourself on protecting your comrades... and here you're carelessness has caused one to be on the brink of death. Nice work."

"Shut your damn mouth!" Replied Yukimura. "How dare you compare us to you? How many people have you killed since Kagetora got the throne?"

"You mean the same scumbags you're trying to protect others from? My method is much more effective than yours."

"You sadistic bastard..." Growled the sniper.

Midori ignored him and grabbed Toy Gun's leader's wrist. He pulled up his sleeve and injected the serum into his veins. The blond man didn't move, unsure of what to do. He was fairly certain that if they tried to resist, the doctor wouldn't give them a choice. Yukki tried to resist but the Commander was much stronger than him and managed to inject him as well without too much trouble. As for Haruki, he stayed quiet and looked away as his brother gave him the shot.

"And with that, we are done here." Declared Midori, picking up his guns and putting them away. "Ichi, Fujimoto, Haruka. We're leaving."

At the order of their superior, the Assault Destroyeur and Eagle Eyes released their hostages and headed for the door. But Haruka stayed back and looked down at his brother that was still on his knees, his eyes still filled with shock from the news.

"Brother, won't you come with me?" He asked.

Every time Toy Gun and Hoshishiro encountered, Haruka asked the same thing to his elder twin brother. But for the first time, Haruki didn't immediately shoot him down. His eyes were still on their latest recruit. It took him a moment to find his brother's face but when he did, Haruki frowned at him as usual.

"Go away."

Haruka sighed and closed his eyes. "Stay alive brother." He simply said before joining his comrades.

The Commander of the Hoshishiro force turned around one last time before leaving. "If your newbie is still alive by tomorrow morning, you can consider him out of danger. Until next time, Masamune. Try not to die by someone else's hand. That job is mine."

The four people in white uniforms excited the building, leaving the Toy Gun members and the dying girl behind.

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