Lights fluttered red around me, creating a shrill, angry noise like a swarm of bees. I looked up towards the monitor that was in headquarters (what headquarters don't have a big screen in the room?). It showed Mount Fuji, only a little ways away from here. That was weird. The red alarm meant there was weird activity around. Signals of communicating kaiju or disturbances in the earth or life, but all I saw was Mount Fuji.

Kazuko ran out of the 'closet.' I scoffed at the thought. They had been keeping secrets from me all along. Why should I listen to them anymore? If they couldn't be trusted, what kind of team was this?

"Akira…" Kazuko whispered. I crossed my arms and turned away from her.

I could feel Kazuko deflate behind me. "Akira…" she whispered again. "You know you loved me" I nearly exploded as she spoke the words. What game was she playing at? But I didn't say anything, and she continued.

"You know I loved you, too."

As much as I wanted to melt away onto the floor, turned around and embrace her, and as much as my checks grew hot, I remained with my arms crossed and my feet planted to the floor. I barley choked out a whisper.

"How do I know that wasn't a lie, too?"

Kazuko remained silent. The noise had stopped, but the lights still flashed. It was so quiet and eerie; I listened to the air hum around me. I rubbed my ears to make the noise stop as I turned back to Kazuko.

"Goro and Hayato are talking back there" I said. Thinking more I sneered, "In the closet." Kazuko's head dropped to the floor. She could have been an I injured puppy. But I kept hounding her. "What are they talking about? Kicking me off the team, because you all swore you wouldn't tell me the I HAD A FAMILY!" I began shouting. "THAT I WANTED YOU TO TAKE THEM, NOT ME!"

"No!" Kazuko screamed. "Telling the secret to someone who didn't know would ruin our chances to another life and -"

"Oh, that's what it's all about is it!" I continued. "The secret!"

"No…" Kazuko tried to defend herself, but her voice was fading away. I showed no notice. "Just be seductive and try your best to go on with living! Just don't care for - "

"Akira, enough!" Goro shouted as he walked in, followed by Hayato. I guess I hadn't realized the door open. I narrowed my eyes and turned away again. "This matter will have to be settled later. Right now, there is unknown kaiju activity going on, and we have to act now."

I sighed, walking away to prepare myself. "Everyone meet at the lot in 20 minutes" Goro added before I got out of listening range. "Whatever" I said.

The wheels of the teams car crunched the rocks beneath us as we rolled at top speed through the speckled land. It was a simple car. It was about as big as a minivan, and fit up to six people. In the back there was a couple of computers and software to help track down kaiju and thing like that. Even with all the weight, the van was streamlined and fast, making the green and red outside my window blur together to make a weird, dark color.

Hayato was in the back managing the equipment, saying and calling out things like location and other things I zoned out from. Kazuko and Goro sat in the front, driving the van. I chose to sit in the middle, ignoring everyone to the best of my ability.

"We're almost there. I f the readings are a kaiju, It would have to be 57 meters in length. It shouldn't be much of a problem" Hayato said from the back. I clenched and unclenched my fist, resisting the urge to give him a good whack to his face. His comments were really starting to get on my nerves. For most people, it seems that when you're arguing with someone, everything they do after that seems a thousand times more annoying.

Why did I even, listen to them, anyway? Maybe they would just leave me stranded here by Mt. Fuji, or take me to a super mind-eraser plant that they never told me about.

Okay, maybe that was a little bit dramatic. But I had lost all trust in them. They couldn't even tell me that I had a family. Eri… the people I had loved and trusted don't feel the same anymore. How many kids did I have? Were they boys or girls? Twins or triplets? What was my wife like? What if - "

Tap, tap, tap. A small noise hit the window. I snapped my head in that direction to see golden sparkles of light fade away into the sky. I nearly missed the black van in the background. The sparkles floated around it, but I blinked, and the vision was lost.

"Stop here!" Hayato shouted, and the car squealed to a stop. I looked around. Mount Fuji was still a little ways in front of us, but Kazuko and Goro opened the doors to the car and stepped outside. Hayato rushed from the back, following them . I sighed, and stepped out onto the ground.

I stretched my legs, and looked up at the sun glinting off the barren top of Fuji. The volcano was silent, the only noise coming from the rumbling of the car engine, shaking my feet. How did someone leave the car on? And… when since di the car engine rumble like that?

I turned around to face the car, and I was thrown into the hood of the van, hitting my chest and face as the ground exploded behind me in a shower of dirt. There were three small noises that would have been loud, but the ground erupting shattered my ears beyond belief. The noises were guns clicking and firing, aiming at what was behind me.

Large, dark, and red, It blocked out the sun with it huge shadow. It was dull with age, its thick scales barley glinting in the sun. It rested on two, huge, wicked clawed feet like a birds, supporting its red body. It had no arms, except for two huge, clawed wings that were coiled with muscle and strength. A short tail tipped with a small spike ended its body. A bird-like head with a long beak released a booming caw like a raven, but more dragon-like. Three, ancient, curved horns glowed on top of its head.

The maser guns my team had been firing hit the winged beast's chest, and immediately deflected off its scales. I ducked, covering my head as electricity and static flew around me. The kaiju let out another caw, its horns glowing brighter and crackling with electricity. I expected some sort of beam to fire from it, but the light slowly died out. The kaiju seemed to caw in frustration, and opened its great wings wider, creating a small gust of wind that pinned me against the van and caused me to struggle, unable to move my arms against the pounding winds that popped my ears and battered my body.

The kaiju let out a final caw, lifting off the ground, and taking off into the sky. I couldn't turn my head to see it take off, but as it left, a low supersonic humming took the sound of its draconic caw. The wind rushed past me for a good while before I was able to move. Even then, I was hunkered down for minutes on end because of the swirling dust and debris that spun like a twister.

I slowly looked up, so slowly that it felt like I was moving in tiny jerking movements. It was the most awkward moment in my life, but not because I didn't feel like speaking to the rest of my 'team.' It could have been because it was one of our closest encounters with a huge kaiju ever. Maybe it was because that kaiju hadn't even shown any sign of feeling for our weapons.

Maybe it was because that same kaiju is now on the loose.

I stood up fully as a twig snapped behind me. It was amazing to think the effect of the wind was still lasting. Actually, it was more frightening than amazing. I saw someone's shadow dart swiftly by. Another one dashed by on the side of Mount Fuji. I realized that it was men in black suits – not shadows – as two more twigs snapped behind me.

The wind was knocked out of me, the strong forearm pressing against my neck and slamming me into the hood of the van. I chocked, but no one must of heard me. All I could see was the sky and clouds, but then I heard the sounds of struggle, realizing that my other member were under attack.

Soon, a white gag was pressing through my mouth. I felt like vomiting as the sky went dark, also. I felt the gun press against my body for the second time today, and everyone else fell silent, too, so they must be in the same position.

A gruff voice whispered in my ear. "This time we got you. Don't struggle, or one of you will die."

I shuddered but didn't move.

There was nothing I could do.