A/N: A shorter chapter, I'm sorry. I also hate to say it, but I won't be uploading a chapter next week because I have exams and I really need to study, especially because one of my teachers is really bad at his job. Anyway, sorry for any OOCness, typos, errors and crappy writing overall. I hope you all like this chapter, even though it's a bit short. I almost forgot about the meeting, though Jin's 'incident' only postponed it, rather than completely canceling it. Enjoy the chapter and I'll be back in two weeks after I hopefully pass my exams :)
Kido, Shinoda and Rindo sat around the meeting room table, trying not to think of the two agents who were missing from the room. It had been a full twenty-four hours since Jin was attacked, and the teen was still out cold. Yuma, Chika and Osamu had visited the unconscious agent multiple times, sometimes together and sometimes by themselves. The three were now back at Tamakoma under the guard of Kazama squad, who knew only that someone had put Jin in the infirmary, and that there was a chance Mikumo squad could be targeted. Kido, Shinoda and Rindo had decided it was best that Kazama squad didn't know the truth, and Kido had ordered them not to ask questions, since Chika and Osamu were very intimidated by Kazama and would likely answer immediately if he said anything. As for Tachikawa, he was still in the infirmary watching Jin to make sure the assassin didn't come back to finish him off.
"The assassin must be looking for someone if it's coming out and attacking people," Shinoda said, a grim look on his face. Kido shook his head.
"We can't be sure that the assassin is targeting a single person. It could be the entirety of Tamakoma, or even Border, that it's after," the scar-faced man reminded. It was true that they really had no solid evidence on the assassin's intentions and/or targets, except for the fact that it mostly only appeared in front of Tamakoma agents. That couldn't actually be considered solid evidence though, since the assassin had appeared in sight of Tachikawa once, and in Border HQ, where it could easily have been spotted by anyone, twice.
"Mikumo was attacked just a few days ago, wasn't he? There were no attacks before that, and neither Mikumo nor Jin were killed, so I believe it's safe to assume this assassin has a specific target," Shinoda argued, looking to the third man in the room for support.
Rindo stared at the wall, a cigarette barely avoiding being crushed by his tightening jaw. The man looked pale, and stress lines marred his forehead, an unusual look for someone who was usually more care-free. Neither Shinoda nor Kido had a doubt in their mind about the Tamakoma Branch Director's feelings. First, Rindo had learned about a future where Osamu was attacked by the assassin, and had been unable to keep it from happening. Next, he sent his own son away from Tamakoma to keep him safe from the possibility of the assassin trying to target the defenseless boy. On top of that, Jin had gone and gotten into a fight, landing himself in the infirmary with an unknown drug running through his veins.
"Yes, it was just a few days ago. He seems to have mostly healed already, which is good. We're going to need all the manpower we can get if the assassin plans on attacking more. I'm sure Jin knew that too, he's a smart kid, so I just don't get why..." Rindo trailed off, slipping into his thoughts as he spoke. Despite the man not finishing his sentence, Kido and Shinoda knew what he ment.
"You don't know why Jin would take the risk of fighting the assassin by himself," Shinoda finished for his colleague. Rindo nodded, inhaling deeply before letting out a long sigh.
"Rindo, you told me awhile ago that Jin's Side Effect was being disturbed. Something wasn't working right. It's possible Jin had foreseen the assassin being in Border HQ and went to fight because he saw himself winning. In reality, that future he saw may have been changed by this malfunction in his Side Effect, causing him to see himself win when he actually was going the lose," Kido theorized. Shinoda and Rindo looked to the older man in surprise, though Rindo's expression quickly slipped back into the a stressed look of defeat.
"Still, he's smart enough to know he shouldn't fight someone who's armed with a Black Trigger and as dangerous and skilled as the assassin without assistance from another agent, or at least letting someone know what he's doing, even if his Side Effect shows him winning," the man pointed out. The room fell into silence.
"We'll have to wait until Jin wakes up, then we can ask him what he was planning. We can also bring Yuma along and use his Lie Detector to make sure we get the truth. If Jin has become reckless enough to stick his neck out based on what he knew could be a mistake on his Side Effect's part, then we'll have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't get himself killed. There is always the chance that it was a coincidence though. Jin may not have foreseen the encounter at all," Shinoda said, summing up the topic of conversation. Rindo rubbed his head in attempts of combating the stress-induced headache that had been throbbing non-stop behind his tired eyes all day.
"If only Yugo-san had made it back from Neighborhood. He probably would have had a solution for us, and maybe he would've been strong enough to beat the assassin. He'd be stronger than even Shinoda if he hadn't died, I'm sure," the man said. Shinoda nodded in agreement while Kido stiffened.
"Yuma might not know what's going on, but even Replica might have had a solution. I never spoke with him much, though I know from the meeting about what Neighbor nation was going to attack us in the Second Invasion that he didn't tell Yuma every single thing he knew. I've heard Yuma say that Yugo-san wanted him to figure things out on his own, too," Shinoda added.
"Kuga..." Kido said, voice low. Rindo and Shinoda both assumed the older man was talking about Yugo, but he wasn't. Rindo's words had reminded Kido of something he'd said to Tachikawa awhile ago, toward the beginning of the assassin issue.
"It's possible that Yuma Kuga is very well aware of the Humanoid Neighbor's power and purpose, and that he is trying to keep us, Border, out of the situation. It's possible that he is being hunted by the same thing that attacked him before, four years ago."
Kido immediately shook his head, ridding his mind of the thought. No. That had been a possibility before, but the assassin had no reason to attack Jin and Osamu if it was only after Yuma. Even the likelihood of the assassin being after a single person was low, since most anyone in Border wouldn't stand a chance if even Jin was nearly killed. If the assassin was after a single person, it would have killed them already, and it wouldn't be attacking agents just to injure them. Black Trigger or not, Yuma wasn't immediately to be considered an extremely difficult target. Kido knew the boy believed that he could possibly lose to Jin in a fight if the latter was wielding Fujin, even if Yuma had the aid of Replica on his side. Yuma was not invincible, and the assassin surely knew that, with how long it had been in Mikado. Plus, if it had taken Yuma out once, it surely wouldn't be so hesitant to do it again. There was no reason why it would wait so long to strike if Yuma was the target. Then there was the fact that if he knew anything about the assassin's intentions or abilities, Yuma would have said something after Osamu and Jin's attacks. There was no way Yuma would withhold information that could keep his comrades safe. While Kido didn't exactly trust the boy, he knew that much. The Second Invasion had been proof of it.
"That aside, there's no use pondering what those who are lost might know. Rindo, have you made contact with Tamakoma-1 recently? They could potentially be targets as well, and they're more isolated than any other agents right now, being outside Mikado," Kido said, changing the course of his thoughts as well as the topic of conversation. Rindo nodded, and Kido noticed the younger man's eyes narrowing into a glare, though it only lasted a second.
"I spoke with them yesterday after Jin was attacked. They weren't happy about being so far away, and Konami-chan asked to have a word with you, Kido-san. Anger aside, they're relieved that Jin is okay. They also have found nothing suspicious in Shizuku," Rindo informed. He decided to leave out Konami's threats of burying her axe in Kido's head for making Rindo send them out, and her claims that she was going to punch Jin hard enough to set his Side Effect straight when she got back. She was clearly upset that her comrade had done something so stupid. While Reiji, Kyosuke and Shiori had similar feelings, the three were much better at filtering the thoughts that moved from their minds to their mouths. Instead of blowing up the Konami, they had agreed to keep watch for the assassin when they got back, that is if the issue wasn't resolved by then.
Shinoda glanced accordingly at Kido, who attempted to ignore the stew of negative emotion that radiated from his colleagues like strong cologne. He knew they would blame him if something happened to the agents in Shizuku, since he had been the one who made sure they were sent out. Kido cleared his throat.
"Alright then. We'll continue this conversation once Jin wakes up an explains himself. He may have some new information for us as well," he said, deciding to end the meeting there. The three men in the room got to their feet and headed for the door.
"Be careful," Shinoda said suddenly, causing the other two in the room to stop and look at him. Shinoda was looking down at his palm, which held his Trigger. The younger man shifted his gaze to his colleagues, making sure he had their attention.
"Hm?" Rindo said questioningly, wondering what Shinoda meant. Sure they all needed to watch over their agents, that was obvious. Maybe the man thought the assassin would target a larger Border figure next time, such as a Director. In that case, Kido and Rindo were in much more danger than Shinoda, since neither of them fought anymore. Shinoda narrowed his eyes.
"The assassin left Mikumo with light injuries, and it seemed to have let Jin go as well, but with more to show for their fight. I have a feeling that whoever is next won't be as lucky."