Author's Note: Hi guys! It's me again. I've just had a busy summer and everything just kept me occupied all the time and I tried my best to write this chapter. Well, thanks to the Writing Class I attended and a very happy day of my life (happiest day of my entire lifetime!) I've had so much inspiration and happiness to finish this chapter with full speed. (I have much better description his time) University is hard and I'm preparing myself for it. I still write no matter what but the process will have some delay due to the tight schedule.

Enough with my babbling! Let's read the chapter! Enjoy the chapter!


Words behind the Mask

Chapter 3: Savior of the Day

Few days later,

"Lieutenant Vermillion" Jin suddenly called Noel's name amidst his work while she was making tea.

"Yes, major?" She replied.

"Give the newspaper over there. I'm bored." He said.

"Oh, yes. Here is yours." Noel quickly grabbed the paper and handed it to him.

"Hurry up finish making the tea then you're dismissed." Jin said, rubbing two sides of his forehead tiredly while skimming his eyes all over the newspaper.

"Huh? But …" Noel looked at him puzzlingly. The tea she was making spilled out of the cup as she was still confused by Jin's words.

"Haaizzz, you're just as useless as usual!" Jin narrowed his eyes and gave the poor Lieutenant a standoffish glare.

"Major … aren't there … still many paper works for me to do? I haven't …" the lieutenant stammered. Jin rose his hand and ordered her to stop talking and said to her in a jaded tone "Just get out the hell out of my room; don't make me see your face now! Is that clear?"

"Y-Yes sir." She meekly bowed down and saluted before departing.

As soon as the door shut, the broken noise of the tea cup being thrown onto the floor sent a joint down Noel's spine. She could hear the sound of the newspaper being shredded forcefully. Jin gritted his teeth in anger and sent a furious punch against the table. Shocked by his unexpected outburst, she leaned her ear on the door.

"Masked man, huh? Just who the hell are you? WHO ARE YOU! WHO … ARE … YOUUU! How….? HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE IN MY LIFE?" Jin glowed loudly like a beast inside the cage for awhile. Noel covered her mouth, tried not to let out a gasp in bewilderment. He was the type of man would get irritated easily but Noel didn't expect that he went on a fearful rampage like this and it scared her. Noel intended to open the door and help him but she didn't know what exactly she could do.

"Jin, he knows the masked guy? Did they encounter each other by any chance? Why is he so angry about the masked guy?" She thought and walked away before the major knew she was eavesdropping on him.

Taking each slow step against the road, Noel looked around, trying to clear her mind from the confusion. Everything was so complicated to understand now.

"Ughh… I was rescued by a guy during a mission and he just … appears everywhere I go… so weird. Who is he and what is his connection to the NOL, to Jin and many other things?" the mystery plagued her mind every minute and she couldn't focus much on her work. She remembered the masked man's reaction toward their contact on the rooftop of Ronin Gai.

"Why did he have to run away from me like that? It's not like I'm going to eat him alive, right? He even gave a beautiful and luxurious dress, too. Geezz, just what is his intention anyway?" Noel lightly tapped herself on the forehead as she started to feel a bit headache due to the complexity of the matter.

Somehow, her feet led her to the jail of the NOL, where the thugs she dealt with in the previous mission were imprisoned. Entered the building, she saw many prisoners were working and all were under the watch of a group of observers, wardens, jailers. Every suspicious move may mean harsher punishment or even death to them. She asked the nearby guard.

"Excuse me, sir. I'm Lieutenant Noel Vermillion, Division 4 of Praetorian Guard. I want to have a private meeting with the Billy the Smasher. May I talk to your manager?"

The guard went to report to the manager who appeared be talking with a familiar navigator, Sally.

"Huh, Noel? Why are you here?" Sally smiled and ran to the lieutenant's place and gave her a friendly hug.

"Sally? I-I didn't expect to meet you at a place like this? Who is this?" Noel gasped. The manager followed behind and extended his hand, offer a handshake. Noel took it.

"I'm Michael Elena, Sally's brother. So, you are the famous Noel Vermillion that my sister always mentions about? It is my honor to meet one of the best students of Military Academy." The man said.

"Geez, please don't mention that. I'm just lucky enough to enter. My other statistics aren't good at all." Noel blushed in embarrassment upon hearing his words.

"Well, you got the highest record of Armagus Synchronization! Isn't that lucky? That's pure talent!"

"Oh please, brother. You are making her blushes like a tomato." Sally poked her brother's head.

"It is my pleasure to know you too. Well, can you help me arrange a private meeting with Billy the Smasher? I have something to ask him." Noel asked.

"I'm sorry but I afraid I can't do that. Billy the Smasher is a serial killer who is obsessed with killing and his main targets are women. It is dangerous to let you meet him." Michael refused.

"I know he is dangerous but this is very important to me now… I have something to confirm. I will take all responsibility for everything happens to me." Noel turned to Sally, eyes begged for some support.

"Brother, I guess she will be fine. She can handle a large group of men then I guess the boss won't be a trouble." Sally made the puppy face that no man could resist. Eventually, the manager had to agree.

"Okay, I will let you meet him and there will be two guards with you there. But I can't guarantee your complete safety." Michael said and led Noel to the inside of the building. Looking around, the blonde girl felt nothing but an uneasy aura of the dark world surrounded her albeit she already knew that the criminal were all caught and might not do anything to her. She came into a small room with a single wooden table lied in the middle. She sat down on one chair and nervously waited for the boss to come. The others left the room saved the two assigned guards. Sally and Michael together moved to the special room to observe the meeting. Minutes passed and the man called Billy finally appeared. His face was terribly deformed as if a paper being crumpled without mercy, he was like a completely another man compared to the last time Noel met him at the hideout.

"You again, bitch!" The criminal barely yelled through his broken teeth. Noel still looked at him with solemnity in her eyes and gestured him to sit down.

"What's the heck do you want from me, huh? You knocked out my shitty underling, and now you come here to talk with me? " Billy gave out a sarcastic smirk and sat down on the chair unwillingly.

"I wanted to ask you about the man who fought with you when I was there." The lieutenant said, watching the opposite guy laughed maniacally.

"You asked me about the person that turned my face into this mess? Hahahaha…. What if I don't want to talk about that? How could it help you?" The boss replied.

"It's none of your business. I just want you to tell me everything you witness. What did he look like and what exactly did he do that night?" Noel said.

"Sheesh, why should I do that? I get nothing from telling you anyway." Billy gave her a cocky grin and turned away, whistled as if the Vermillion girl wasn't there.

"Hey! We are talking here! I want to know who exactly he is!" Noel said in serious tone, her eyebrows arched.

"Wow wow wow, what's with that attitude? Then I won't tell you anything." Billy looked at her; the smirk still remained on his face.

"I guess it is no use talking to you." Noel shook her head dejectedly and pushed the chair backward, prepared to live. But suddenly, Billy said:

"Hey bitch, give me a piece of cigarette, then we talk."

"What are you talking about? This is prison you know?" Noel replied with some hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Just one piece is enough. Tell those guards to get out for a while." Billy grinned, showed his disgusting mouth full of broken teeth.

"You don't even change yourself after being arrested! Is your heart being tainted that much, to extend that it is unredeemable?" the lieutenant yelled angrily.

"Well, I should have reward for my information, right? I feel so itching these days, I want cigarette … or maybe, some cocaine. I promise that I won't ask anything more than that." Said the boss.

"I can't do that! This is against the prison's rule!" Noel looked at him soberly and Billy just crackled like a mad guy.

"You all are like dogs that follow rules of its master. Hahahaha… GIVE ME A BREAK! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THOSE SHITTY RULES AGAIN!" The guy slammed his hand on the table and threw the chair he was sitting on aside. In instant, two long spears blocked his movements as he was about to charged at Noel who had already pointed her pistol at his forehead before he acknowledged it.

"I guess we can't continue our talk like this. Return to your jail and you better change yourself before this gun executes you." The lieutenant narrowed her eyes and her weapon lightened up, ready to fire at the hostile guy if he made any further moves.

"Hahahaha, bullshit! You all just know about light, justice! Shut the hell up! I swear that one day, I will…" Noel once again shook her head in disappointment and left the room.

Turned off the monitor, Sally rushed to her friend's side with worriment shown on her face.

"Is everything ok, Noel?" the navigator said.

"I will be fine. Thanks you." The blonde lieutenant bowed before the manager then made her way out of this defiled place. She couldn't stand the atmosphere there. It was filled with crimes and sins that left a black stain on this world. Inwardly, Noel wished she could do something more to help everyone get rid of the criminals, mafias … and brought a peaceful life to the citizens. But… just who was the masked guy? He entered her life from nowhere and bothered her so much. Everything around her messed up as she couldn't comprehended the situations. The guy seemed to have rescued her several times and he also had connection to many people around her. Jin was so angry about his existence and … and …

Her mind was full of confusion and she kept asking answerless questions over and over again.

"Who is he? Why did he do that? What does he look like?" Noel sighed. She happened to reach a busy street in the North part of Kagutsuchi, near the Headquarter Building.

"Well, I guess I will just call Jin to check the paper work's status." The blonde girl pulled out her phone and made a call. After some beeping sounds…

"This is NOL HQ, how may I serve you?" The familiar phrase of the receptionist came out.

"This is Lieutenant Noel Vermillion, direct secretary of Major Jin Kisaragi. I want to contact him." A glance at the giant clock of the city's holy church told her that it was 5 p.m.

"I'm sorry but Major Kisaragi is not at the office currently. Do you wish to leave any messages?" The receptionist said.

"No thanks. Anyway, do you know when did he leave the office?"

"I'm sorry but there is no information about that issue and we are also not informed about his whereabouts."

"Thank you." Closing the phone, Noel let out another blank, deep sigh. She didn't know what to do now. The major seemed to act weirdly these days. He got angry very quick and he always demanded her to go on missions.

"Just what is going on with you, Jin?" Noel whispered.

Suddenly, a shout came out, broke the peaceful atmosphere of the place

"Get out of the way!" A rider was mourning his house and marched toward two little kids. The two children just stood there, looked at the horse charging at them with blind speed. Though the man tried his best to hold the horse but it still sprinted forward like an arrow pierce through the street.

"Watch out!" Noel yelled then dashed toward the kids. The horse got closer and closer them. A terrible accident was about to come. It was too late for Noel to do anything! But then, she stopped as a shadow swept through her body and pulled the kids out in a blink of eyes. The rider eventually marched through the place and hit no one. The kids opened their eyes, what greeted their eyes was the sight of a tall, black coated man with blue mask on. The guy's breathe was cold and chilly like ice. He stood up and patted all dust on his coat then turned to the kids.

"Are you two not hurt?" He asked. The kids looked at each others then shook their head.

"Wow, you are amazing! How did you do that? Can you do it again?" a young boy shouted out from the crowd watching the incident.

From amidst the people, a young woman ran toward the kids and hugged them.

"Thanks God! You two are fine! Why did you run? Didn't I tell you to stay still?" She was so worried that she almost cried out loud. The kids' mother then turned to their savior and kneeled down in front of him.

"You have my thousand thanks! This debt, I can never have enough to pay you!"

The masked guy supported her and let out a smile "You don't have to. I'm just a wanderer who accidentally goes across this busy street." Then he patted the kid on the head.

"Be careful next time, ok?" The child looked at him, still haven't figured out what had just happened to him. He was too small to understand anything. All he saw was a hero like in the movie who jumped from nowhere and rescued the innocent people from the hand of evils. He pointed at the masked guy and stammered some baby words. "He.. he..ro. Fight!"

The whole crowd clapped their hands for his heroic actions they surrounded him and asked him.

"Wow, you have just saved two lives! Who are you, lad?" An old man said.

"People, you don't have to. I'm just a random guy who runs across this place" He replied.

Noel sneaked inside the group of people and finally reached to the center, where she met the guy face-to-face.

"You again! Where did you come from? What are doing at this place?" The blue-masked guy voice shaken and he moved back a bit. Everyone turned their attention to the blonde lieutenant, who was approaching the mysterious guy bit by bit.

"Who are you? You helped me back then in a mission… I …" Before she could say the later words, the guy ran away. The crowd stepped aside and gave him the way.

"Wait, I haven't finished with you yet!" Noel shouted out and chased after. They ran and ran, jumped through rooftops. The guy seemed to only run away and without fighting back. He was quite athletic and flexible as he leaped from places to places effortlessly.

"Please! I won't do hurt you! I just want to talk with you!" the lieutenant said in her breath. Even though she was one of the fastest runners in the Academy but somehow, she couldn't match with his speed. He was simply overwhelming in terms of stamina and swiftness and he made a quick turn to the left, jumped down to the road beneath then continued his retreating. Noel also did the same but after a long period of chasing, she was out of breath. She collapsed down on her knee and watched him ran away. The guy looked through his shoulder, only to see the defeated girl sat there, chest popped up and down along each breath. He returned his focus to the running but there were two workers unexpectedly walk across, carrying several thick, wooden plates on their shoulder. The guy hit his face on the wooden stack and tripped on his feet. His whole body flight in the air for a few seconds before his back slammed against the hard ground.

"What! Are you okay, man?" The two men ran to him, who was covering his face in pain.

"Urrrghh!" The guy groaned a painful grunt and tried to stand up again. The plates scattered randomly on the land. He tried to hold a grip on his mask. The corner appeared a big crack and it seemed to break anytime soon.

Noel saw the whole story and looked at him, who was trying to keep the mask remained on his face. Through the crack, his messy, blond hair showed up. He moved back for a few steps then escaped into the lone corridor, completely out of Noel's sight.


After a half an hour, Noel finally reached the HQ and meet Major Jin Kisaragi, who was holding a stack of document on his arm, at the entrance. Noel saluted in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go away? When I said "go away" it means you go home!" He yelled in irritation and suddenly, his eyebrows arched in pain, he held his bandaged head and let out a groan.

"Major! What happened to your head?" Noel ran to his place and looked at the injury. Jin pushed her aside then walked away.

"It's none of your business. Don't ask me that question again! I don't have time to tell you the bedtime story!" The lieutenant followed her Major and eventually prevented him from walking any further.

"You annoying little ….!" Jin narrowed his eyes and grabbed Noel's collar in front of all soldiers. Everyone turned to the pair.

"I just want to know what hurt you like this." She frankly said. This time, she said her words to him without fear. Her eyes shot him the look of a caring girl but also of a decisive person.

Jin looked to his sides, noticing all people observing them.

"I was careless and tripped down on my feet. My head bumped the tree over there. Is that clear enough for you or I have to spell out every single words!" Jin said with angry tone.

"Nothing, sir. I understand now." Noel replied and Jin slowly let go of her collar.

"Next time, bother me like that and you are finished!" Jin turned away then entered the building. All soldiers little by little discarded away, left the confusing Noel standing at the middle of the yard.

"Major ..." She whispered.


A/N: Well finish! It took me a very very very long time to finish this. I hope this chapter live up to your expectation! :))

I will proceed with chapter 4 of this story. :D

Thanks for reading. Please review! :D (I really need it! It makes my day meaningful and cheerful in certain ways. Every single review is a good stimulation for me to write more and work harder :D)

Thank you. :D

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