Meanwhile,
Canada,
George Hayden walked stealthy into a parking lot building of four levels, holding his gun ready for anything. He hid behind one of the walls as he panted, "Damn it! How the hell did they figure out my identity?!".
He cursed once he heard footsteps nearing him. As soon as he saw someone nearing his wall, he raised his gun as he turned and fired, killing a Black Organization agent in the head.
"There is Aquavit, get him!", He heard one of the other agents cry and he fired, piercing the bullet through his head, before he started running to the first level of the parking, using the cars and pillars for cover from the bullets.
"Still calling me Aquavit huh?", George scoffed before he pulled out his Technophone and cried in it.
"Sly here! I request back up! CSIS has notified me that I've been exposed by their agents, and for some reason, my Technophone couldn't connect earlier while running away, I'll send my coordinates!". He sent the voice message before he started to quickly type his location.
George heard the sound of a gun magazine being loaded so he rolled out of the way, evading tens of bullets being fired by around five agents.
He hid behind a car before he stood up and fired twice, his bullets killing two other agents in the head. He started running again, evading the bullets fired by the other three.
He reached the end of the garage, the streets down below him, before he turned and emptied his magazine at the fuel tank of the car next to the remaining three agents, and it exploded, flames engulfing it with the three other agents, who instantly died from the huge explosion.
"Thank God, there weren't any cars near it.", George sighed as he took his breath, before a smile of hope and relief appeared on his face.
"Hopefully FAUSD are on their-", George's eyes widened as a bullet went through his forehead, blood pouring from it before he fell face first on the ground, dead.
On the abandoned building across the parking, at the fourth floor across from the first level of the parking, Chianti smirked at her perfect shot before she sat on the ground, placing her sniper rifle beside her.
"Where ye going rat? Thought I was goin' to let ye live?", She scoffed in annoyance, speaking English with an Irish accent, "I's havin' a great time back home until I got a call from Rum about ye.".
"'Least ye're dead now.", Chianti said before she let out a victorious laugh as she started packing her rifle. She then teleported in black light and appeared next to Hayden's dead body. She smirked at him before she started searching him and then she took his Technophone.
Once she was done, she touched the communicator on her ear.
"Mission Accomplished.", She said in Japanese.
"Well done, Chianti, I'll have Madeira teleport you back to Japan, we might need you.", Rum replied, his voice distorted as usual.
"I'm still impressed with how Madeira created a teleporting device…", Chianti mumbled before she teleported in black light.
England,
"So, what are our new orders now?", Harry asked in British English as he walked side by side with Korn into a dark alley, suspicion rising in his mind at the place Korn lead him to.
"Get rid of the rats.", Korn replied coldly as he turned around, raising a gun at Harry's face, but the latter had already suspected he would do so, so he kicked the gun out of Korn's hand easily, before sending a punch at the man's jaws.
"Hand-to-hand combat and close marksmanship were never your suit, mate. Big mistake right there!", Harry cried as he sent another punch, but Korn caught it before he sent his own.
"I honestly liked you since most I work with are idiots other than Chianti.", Korn replied stoically.
Harry dodged his punch before kneeing him in the abdomen muscles, and Korn winced but pulled out the dagger placed in his pocket and aimed to stab Harry, but he caught his hand and twisted it, knocking the knife out of his hand.
"And I never liked you and your stoic attitude, you bloody bastard!", Harry cried as he kicked Korn away.
Harry let out a cry of pain once he felt a bullet pierce through his kneecaps, fired from behind him.
He fell on his knees before pulling out his gun while turning around, now sitting on the ground.
But another bullet was fired at his hand, tearing off four of his fingers and throwing the gun away. Harry stared at his hand in pain and despair before he looked up angrily at his shooter, and his eyes widened.
He recognized him.
"You wanted to know who Whiskey was, didn't you?", The shooter said with a smirk, "Now you know!", he cried as he fired three bullets into Harry's head, killing the man, and his dead body fell on the ground.
Korn recovered from the kick and looked up, just as Whiskey gave him his back to hide his face.
"You'll report this as your job, not mine. It's not the time yet for me to reveal myself, and get his Technophone before teleporting. Those are Rum orders.", Whiskey said before he started walking away, leaving Korn alone to wonder about his identity.
Germany,
Leona let out a cry of pain as her back slammed into the wall before she rolled out of the way, evading the punch that cracked the wall.
"You don't seem so surprised at my strength.", Vodka remarked as he aimed to punch Leona, but she tripped him with her leg before she stood in a fighting stance.
"Cut the crap! I know who you are, and you know who I am! And you'll pay for the crimes you had committed in Munich and Berlin!", Leona cried angrily in German, making Vodka smirk in response as he stood up again.
"So, you figured out I was the Bloody Butcher years ago… Gut gemacht (Well done), Buccholz!", Vodka clapped in sarcasm before he charged towards Leona again.
Leona used her elbows this time to block Vodka's punches, making the latter frown in anger.
"You can't be a Butcher when your hands are not working, can you?", Leona smirked before she punched Vodka in the face, knocking the glasses off it, and he glared at her with his cold black eyes.
And Leona's eyes widened as a bullet went through her heart, before another went through her head, and then she fell face first, dead, blood pouring from her body.
Gin stood behind her with a bloody smirk, the smoke coming out of his gun as he said, "Do svidaniya, krysa. (Goodbye, rat)",
Vodka went to pick up his glasses and placed them back on as he complained in Japanese, "Seriously, Aniki, I had her.".
"We have no time for you to play with her, and I think you can tell that since I killed her instantly.", Gin snorted as he placed his gun back in his pocket.
"Ah, in other times, you'd be toying with your victims like I do. So, what now?", Vodka said as he searched Leona's body until he found her Technophone.
"We'll teleport back to Japan, Rum said we might have another mission.", Gin said.
"Mission Accomplished.", Vodka said into his communicator before he and Gin teleported in black light.
Later,
A Hospital room,
FAUSD Hospital,
"How is she?", Dan asked with his arms crossed as he stared at Curacao's sleeping form on the bed.
"Her vitals are good, and she has no medical condition present.", Araide replied.
"The MRI show that there is nothing wrong with her brain too.", Akemi added just as the door of the room opened and then walked in Vermouth, Shuichi, Rei, and Hidemi.
"Did you tell Hyoue and Cerine?", Vermouth asked Dan.
"Yeah… You haven't found out yet, have you?", Dan sighed heavily. The new arrivals' eyes hardened, as they all understood what he meant.
"Who killed them?", Shuichi asked after a few moments of silence, out of respect to the dead agents.
"I was told they all put up a good fight until they were killed.", Dan explained as he motioned with his Technophone, "Korn killed Bennet, Chianti killed Hayden, and Gin killed Buccholz. Bennet had said he had a mission with Korn, Hayden was killed by a sniper, and Buccholz had a mission with Vodka but from the bullets we guessed it was Gin.".
"Guessed?", Rei asked suspiciously.
"Their technophones were nowhere to be seen.", Dan said grimly making the others eyes' narrow.
"That is suspicious, they might find more information about them.", Hidemi said.
"I was told that the Cyber Division in each branch shut off the Technophone for good, so they don't know about us yet.", Dan said
"I'm not surprised about Korn, he spends most of his time in England, but Chianti and Gin are surprising.", Vermouth said.
Hidemi was about to ask how she knows that, until she remembered that this was Vermouth speaking, so it was no wonder that she knew the origins of some of the members.
And maybe the origin of the whole Organization.
"And why is that?", Shuichi asked directly.
"Not all Organization members are full Japanese, as many of them have other ancestry, take Shiho and Akemi for example.", Vermouth explained, "I'm American like Hondou, Gin is Russian, Vodka is German, Chianti and Calvados are Irish, and Korn, like Rei and your family, is English.".
"Calvados?", Rei asked.
"Chianti's twin brother, why else do you think she hates me? Because I left him to die in her point of view.", Vermouth explained.
"We are going to need to have a long talk.", Shuichi told Vermouth seriously.
Vermouth and Dan perked up and looked at the door as Dan said, "Later… Hyoue and Cerine are here.".
A few seconds later, the door opened and entered in both Cerine and Kuroda.
"Kazama, you said it was… urgent…", Kuroda trailed off as his and Cerine's eyes slowly widened once they saw Curaçao on the bed.
"I-Irene?", Cerine could not control herself and tears started falling from her eyes as she rushed towards the bed and sat on it, cupping Curacao's cheeks with both her hands.
"Are you-".
"We had done a DNA test using your and Cerine's DNA from the database, and even Irene's. Results confirmed that Curaçao is Irene.", Dan said making Kuroda look at him in disbelief, and so did Cerine.
"C-Curaçao?!", Cerine gasped in shock and horror.
"Curaçao… as in Rum's right hand?", Kuroda asked slowly, trying to contain his anger.
Dan swiftly explained everything to Kuroda, receiving help from Vermouth, Shuichi, Hidemi, and Rei to explain from their point of view what had happened. Dan also told Kuroda what he was told when he reached out to FAUSD Canada, Germany, and Britain concerning the three NOCs.
"No… No…", Celine said in a broken voice, horrified by what her daughter had done, before she started crying silently.
"Another person had his life ruined by the Organization.", Akemi said in sorrow as Araide grabbed a nearby chair and placed it next to the bed.
Kuroda thanked him with a nod before he slowly went towards the chair and sat on it, before he let out a heavy sigh, burying his face in both his hands, his daughter had become a killer… and only God knows what she had done the last ten years.
"Vineyard… I…", Kuroda trailed off, unable to voice his thoughts as he turned to look at Vermouth.
"All she needs is your support, especially when she regains her memory.", Vermouth said gently as she placed her hand on Kuroda's shoulder. The latter silently nodded before Vermouth moved towards Cerine, and the other instantly hugged her for support.
"Chris… Irene… Irene had…", Cerine managed to say between her cries, "They turned her into a killer…".
"I know…", Vermouth sighed heavily before she ended the hug and placed her hands on Cerine's shoulders as she looked at her with hope, "But you'll help her… You'll help her better than anyone else, not just because you're the best Psychiatrist we have, but because you are her mother.".
Cerine nodded silently before she mumbled, "That's why you overprotective of Katrina and Ryuuga… It's not just about them being killed or tortured, it's because they could brainwash them…".
Vermouth nodded, "It's one of my nightmares to see my children become what I was.".
Shuichi and Hidemi shared look, both paying extra attention to Vermouth's words, and both noticed how Rei did not seem surprised by what was being said, so it seemed that he already knows what was happening and going on.
Everyone perked up once Curaçao started groaning in pain before she slowly opened her eyes. Irene and Hyoue looked at her hopeful, Araide and Akemi in pity, while the others remained alert in case Curaçao was still brainwashed and would jump up and attack them.
"W-Where… am.. I?", Curacao mumbled as she slowly sat up, looking around curiously before her eyes landed on the people present in her room.
She blinked at Hyoue and Cerine as she said, "I… I saw you in my dreams… Do I know you two?".
Kuroda and Cerine looked a bit heartbroken, but still hopeful that Curaçao had saw them in her dreams. Maybe this could be a sign that she could regain her memories sooner rather than later.
"Yes, you do sweetheart.", Cerine said softly with a smile as she knelt to cup Curacao's right cheek with her hand, "I'm your mother, Cerine Nightshade, or Kuroda Cerine now… And this man here, is my husband and your father; Kuroda Hyoue.".
"And you are our daughter, our only child; Kuroda Irene.", Kuroda said, his voice wavering with lots of emotions, mostly love, for his daughter.
"I… I don't remember you… I'm sorry…", Curaçao, or now Irene, mumbled sadly before she smiled at her parents who had a sad expression at her words, "But my heart tells me… That you are very important to me… That I love you both.".
Irene's words were more than enough for both Cerine and Kuroda to hug her, with Cerina crying silently while Kuroda just remained silent. Irene was surprised by their actions before she smiled faintly as she returned the hug, feeling safe in both their arms.
"I think we should all leave them alone.", Vermouth suggested before she turned to Araide and Akemi, "You two stay in case Irene needs anything.".
They nodded.
"Let's talk in our office.", Dan said motioning towards him and Vermouth.
"We are going to have to fake Irene's death to keep her safe.", Vermouth spoke up once she locked the door, "But it's Rum I need to convince unfortunately…".
"Just be careful, okay?", Dan said worriedly from where he sat at his desk, surprising Shuichi and Hidemi who had never seen the lazy man like that before, but both did not show their face expression.
"You worry too much, Dante.", Vermouth gently admonished as she moved towards him before sitting on the edge of his desk to face the other agents.
"It's Rum this time, Chris…", Dan pointed out.
"Don't worry… Ano kata will not allow him to do anything to me unless he has solid convincing evidence of my treachery.", Vermouth assured her husband as placed her hand over his hand that was on the desk.
Dan said nothing but turned his hand to hold hers and slightly squeeze it as he looked at her with so much love, and Hidemi found it weird it was Vermouth who was receiving it.
"I get that Rum is a special case, him being the second man in the Organization, but how come even you did not see Curaçao, Vermouth?", Shuichi asked with his hands in his pockets.
Dan opened the drawer of his desk and handed Vermouth a white digital pen as she said in disdain, "Call me Chris or Vineyard or even my codename Mirror, but don't use Vermouth. It's more than enough that I hear it from the Organization and the law enforcement.".
Chris got off the desk before she stood in the middle of the room, gaining the center of the attention. She pressed the side of the pen twice before she started drawing in thin air, a white line forming the drawing.
"Impressive.", Hidemi commented.
"After seeing my sister as a Power Ranger, nothing can surprise me anymore.", Shuichi shrugged.
"Just wait until you two get your own Spacer.", Rei chuckled.
"Spacer?", Hidemi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Short for Space Racer; your own spaceship that can travel at incredible speeds in outer space, not just the sky, and big enough to hold your Racer, or how we call our vehicles that can change between Sea, Air, and Land.", Rei explained, "They can look like a normal car or bike to the eye though, just like how our weapons look like normal ones.".
"I'm assuming your Racer is your Mazda then.", Shuichi guessed.
"Why replace it when I can improve it?", Rei shrugged.
"You even requested your Spacer to be made by Mazda. And yes, the vehicle manufacturers all secretly collaborate to make our ships, and of course the weapon manufacturers too to make our weapons, and some touches from our agents in the Technical Department.", Dan scoffed before explaining to the other two.
"I'm being surprised everyday, that's new.", Hidemi blinked.
"Alright.", Chris said, bringing the attention back to her, and her finished drawing.
The drawing was a large pyramid, divided from inside into six parts by lines, with the parts numbered from 1 to 6 from top to bottom, with a zero drawn to extend from top to bottom.
"This here, is how the Organization is divided.", Chris explained before she pointed with the pen at the part she was talking about.
"Number 6 or Omega Ravens; The lowest member are the ones without an alcohol Codename, and sometimes they don't even know that they're working for us, as we often work under a disguised identity, or under Karasuma Zaibatsu's name. Rikumichi Kusuda is an example.".
"Number 5 or Beta Ravens; codenamed agents but they are the ones, in their point of view, are amateurs. They need to do lots of missions or one big mission to move to the next rank. Snakebite or Snake and Tequila are an example.".
"Number 4 or Alpha Ravens; the highest codenamed agents, sometimes even children of other agents. Their information about the Organization vary according to their position and work, and what the higher ups allow them to know. But when it comes to field ones; they're professional killers. Gin, Vodka, Chianti, Korn are examples. You and Hidemi and Rei were promoted to this rank, but you were not told about the hierarchy yet… They would tell you after completing several missions to prove your loyalty or one big mission.".
"Number 3 or Blood Ravens; they are the ones directly descending from Karasuma Renya himself or from his grandchildren; the seven crows; which include Spider, Vinsanto, Cider, Awamori, Madeira, Brandy, and I.".
"Nanatsu no ko…", Hidemi realized the connection between the children song and the Organization.
"Number 2 or the Second Ravens; is Rum and those whom he chose to work directly under him. If I or another agent did not work with them then we don't know their identity, but we only know the codenames of those working under Rum, that's how Rum keeps his and his agents' identities a secret. Only Ano Kata knows. Rum had told us he had only five agents working directly under him, and they were Curaçao, Pinga, Cointreau, Marsala, and Beer.
"Number 1 or Father Raven; Ano Kata himself; Karasuma Renya. He is still alive, but no one knows his whereabouts, not even Rum.".
"Number 0 or Secret Ravens; are the spies from the Organization within the law enforcement. They are their own rank because it's possible for them to have been recruited by an agent from ranks 4 until 2. And the greater the rank, the more dangerous the spy and their rank in law enforcement would be high. Cognac for example, was recruited by Snake. And I only got to see his appearance when he appeared with us at the Paintings Case.".
"And that's how the Organization functions.", Chris said.
"Explains why how even when we get our hands on an agent, we still are unable to take them down, or at least the group in our country.", Hidemi said.
"It explains even more why they're still present with someone like Vineyard on our side.", Shuichi pointed out.
"To take them down completely, we need to take down Rum and Ano Kata. If that man was capable of creating an organization once, he can do it again.", Rei added.
"Our main focus now is taking down their Secret Ravens. From what you guys explained, now we know we have one in each of the following; CIA, FBI, and NPA SB.", Dan explained.
"Sera says that there is one in MI6 too, or how else did Madeira know that Elena was secretly contacting her?", Chris said as she pressed the pen's side once, making the drawing disappear and then she threw it at Dan. He caught the pen and placed it back in the drawer.
Shuichi perked at the name Chris said and looked at her with a raised eyebrow, "You spoke to my mother?".
"It was must if I want us to work together and not ruin my son's love life.", Chris shrugged nonchalantly.
"If we think about it, Ano Kata would want his main base to be his homeland, so we definitely will find Secret Ravens in Japan. And if he wants to control the world, then he'll want spies in the countries who their government, rulers, and secret societies are often, if not always, obsessed with ruling the world, so he'll want spies in USA and Britain.", Dan voiced his deduction.
"And when he reaches the point that he can control and manipulate those two as he pleases, he can easily use their weapons to start wars while trying to infiltrate the other countries' intelligence services.", Dan said.
"He might even target the top five countries' intelligence services in each continent to have the whole continent under his control once he succeeds in controlling USA and Britain.", Dan said.
"So he'll target after both Russia, China, Korea, India, Pakistan, Australia, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Germany, France, and Spain.".
"And there is Atlantis… I hope he doesn't know about it though.", Dan finished his deductions.
"I'm getting a headache from all of this information.", Hidemi rubbed her temples.
"Sorry, my husband often gets carried away with his thoughts.", Chris chuckled before she became serious, "We still haven't reached that level yet, we need to take out the spies in Japan, USA, and Britain before taking out Rum and Ano Kata. That's our main focus right now.".
"I'll write a full report with our deductions and predictions, and send it to the targeted countries' FAUSD, especially USA and Britain. The other countries need to stay alert while USA and Britain need to start secretly investigating their intelligence services.", Dan said.
"What about Irene? What will you tell the Organization? You can't tell them she is dead without bringing back the body, even if she was burned.", Rei asked.
"The Organization was convinced I'm dead because Gin and Vodka were witnesses, and Vineyard checked if Jodie and James were affected, and then you and Vineyard tested that again with Jodie, Camel, and Masumi.", Shuichi recalled as he rubbed his chin, "If you say only you saw, you might not be convincing since it concerns life and death, and Gin hates you so he'll come and check for himself.".
"And Rum knows Curaçao's capabilities, so he'll know if what you say is possible or not.", Hidemi pointed out.
"Tohto Aquarium… Irene lost her memories when she saw the colored lights there… Maybe if we take her there and she sees the lights again she remembers something.", Dan said.
"And then I go to investigate and say she lost her memory.", Chris followed his trail of his thoughts.
"And Gin and Vodka arrive to check, and most likely will be ordered to kill her, and then we fake her death.", Dan finished with a smile.
"I hate to say it, but what makes us sure Gin and Vodka won't do something catastrophic like Snake and Cognac?", Shuichi pointed out.
"There is no guarantee for that, unfortunately…", Chris let out a heavy sigh.
"I'll talk about it with Kuroda later, but for now, you are all dismissed.", Dan said.
Rei, Shuichi, and Hidemi nodded before they left the office, leaving Chris and Dan alone.
"I'm serious about you being careful.", Dan said once they were alone.
"Dan, I-".
"No, Christine. I get that you want to save Irene but not at the cost of your own life!", Dan's nearly shouted at the second sentence, "You are the one who told me what would happen if they found out about us, about our children!".
"Dan.", Chris called but Dan ignored her and continued talking.
"Christine, the Organization is on higher alert than ever… If anything happens to you…", Dan trailed off before letting out a heavy sigh.
He then looked at her with all the love he had for, mixed with his worry for her safety, and said, "You know how much I love you… I can't live if anything happens to you… If you die… I'd die after you.".
Chris's facial expression softened as she walked towards Dan before sitting on his lap and looking at him, "I don't think I need to tell you how much I love you too, but let's start by saying I burned down one of the oldest and biggest bases and killed its agents, including my father, for you.".
She leaned until their faces were mere centimeters away from each other, "But you do know what I've done in the past can not be forgiven nor redeemed except by bringing down the Organization, and that I'm risking my life not just for my redemption, but to protect the people I love.".
Chris chuckled as she took Dan's hand and placed it over her chest, over her heart, "You've done the impossible and made my heart remember what it means to love, to be Human again… And I hate to see my savior worried…".
"I can't help it with everything going on.", Dan sighed before he looked at Chris seriously, "I'll work with you more often, even if behind the scenes.".
"Yes sir.", Chris shrugged.
"So… do you need to leave again?", He asked.
"The Organization will send me to find Curaçao if she doesn't report back in 12 hours.".
"So, we've got the night to ourselves then?", Dan asked with a sly smirk, making Chris lightly laugh.
"We've got the night.", She nodded.
"Let's go home then.".
10 Years Ago,
"So, how did I do today? And tell me your opinion as the Chief of FAUSD, not my father.", 15-year-old Irene said. She was sitting the passenger seat while her father sat in the driver seat.
"Only if you do admit that you feel something towards Dracule.", Kuroda smirked, and Irene's face blushed.
"I don't! I can't believe Hansel and Gretel told you that.", Irene denied before she whispered under her breath as she crossed her arms, "I'm gonna kill those two.".
"I don't need to be told by anyone to notice that you and Dracule look at each other in a certain way, Reni.", Kuroda chuckled.
"Ever the observant one, Papa.", Irene joked with a laugh, "Yet you could not tell that Mama was mad at you because you almost forgot your anniversary!".
"That was only time!", Kuroda grumbled.
"Mama almost used her claws had I not made a present and gave it to her and said you were planning a surprise for her!", Irene laughed again.
Kuroda could not help but chuckle a bit before he joined Irene.
And suddenly, a huge, armored vehicle slammed into Kuroda's car from his side, the car flying into the air; flipping and rolling multiple times, before it landed on the ground, continuing to roll, until it stopped on its roof, the car now unrecognizable from the accident.
Kuroda slowly opened his eyes and coughed blood a few times, now upside down, but he did not care about himself, and turned next to him while mumbling, "Irene…".
The passenger's door was removed, and Kuroda managed to see two men wearing black, taking away the barely breathing and heavily injured Irene, who was unconscious, into a large black car.
His eyes slowly widened as he saw them placing her on the backseat before closing the door, and they entered the car.
His view was blocked by a man wearing black with a fedora, kneeling to the level of the door, and his one eye met Kuroda's, and the latter recognized him, and he noted how Rum now had an eye.
"Rum…", He said.
"Your actions and Haneda's 8 years ago ruined my reputation in the Organization and gave me so much trouble. I got my revenge by killing the Haneda family, but his missing son… And I got my revenge on you, by taking your precious daughter away… and I'll have her become one of our best agents… Maybe then she can find Asaka for me so I can kill her too…", Rum explained with an evil grin before he let out a loud laugh, standing up, and walked away.
Kuroda watched helplessly as Rum entered the same black car, before it sped off and away from him.
"Irene…", was all what Kuroda managed to say, a tear falling upside down from his eye, before everything went black.
Kuroda snapped out of the awful memory as he watched Cerine, who now sat next to Irene on the bed, flip through the family's photo album pages, with the latter telling her everything about each photo.
"I look so messy here.", Irene laughed at the photo that showed herself when she was four years old, covered from head to toe with paint, a wide smile on her face.
"You were so happy about discovering paint and learning how to use it, that you messed up one of the living room's walls and your body while painting.", Cerine chuckled as she remembered that day, and how furious yet helpless Kuroda looked when he saw the living room.
"Kuroda-san.", Akemi said as she approached the man, holding a crumbled photo in her hand.
"I had to change Irene into a hospital gown for the check up and then I managed to bring some clothes for her to wear. Araide-kun and I were asked to search her clothes and when we did, all we found was this photo.", She explained as she handed the photo to him.
"It was wet and crumbled, and we did our best to keep it from being teared or cut.", Araide explained as he stood next to Akemi.
Kuroda read the sentence on the back of the photo before he turned it and his eyes widened, this was the photo that was taken from his house.
"This photo was taken from my house… but why? I'm sure Rum didn't ask her to take it.", Kuroda spoke his thoughts.
"Maybe he tasked her with gathering information about you, and maybe even kill you…", Akemi said with pity, "So maybe she got curious, and decided to infiltrate the house.".
"I think… if she had not been assigned this mission, she may have regained her memories.", Araide suggested, "Why else would she keep this photo? Unless she wanted to find out more about who she is, she was fighting the brainwashing, and at some point, she was going to remember who she was.".
"Rum probably doesn't know, considering she still has the photo.", Akemi added.
Kuroda remained silent, looking at the photo before he looked at Irene, a smile of hope appearing on his face, "So… She might remember who she was quickly?".
Akemi smiled, "We can't say for sure, but the Human Heart and Brain have been capable of doing amazing things, who's to say her Heart's love towards her loved one would not make her brain remember earlier than expected?".
"And according to what we know from Vineyard-san, the Organization's brainwashing does not last forever, some recovered from it after some time.", Araide added.
Kuroda let out a sigh of relief before he placed the photo back in his pocket and nodded at the two, "Thank you for everything.".
"Just doing our job.", Both chorused.
Kuroda looked at them for a second before he said with a smile, "Remind me to give you a break when my daughter recovers, but now, you're dismissed.".
"Thank you, Kuroda-san.", Araide nodded gratefully.
"Our staff room is near here if you need anything, we'll come to check on her regularly.", Akemi said before she and Araide left the room.
Kuroda had noted their interactions the few times he would check on the hospital, and even now while working, and thought to himself, 'I can now see why Vineyard, Sera, and Cerine said those two would make a good couple… how do woman notice these things first?'.
Kuroda shook his head before he walked and sat on the chair next to Irene's bed.
The Next Day,
Early Morning,
FAUSD Training Room
"Galick Gun!", Akira cried as put his hands together before pushing them forward, sending a large white beam with a thick pink outline.
"Destructo Disc!", Static cried as they raised their opened right hand above, creating a blue energy disc with sharp edges, before they shot their hand forward, sending the disc in the same direction.
"Dragon Fist!", Kaiden cried, his body surrounded by white aura, and then he shot his hand forward, all the aura traveling from his body into his right fist as he shot it forward, a white Asian Dragon forming from the aura and shooting from his fist, letting out a loud roar while doing so.
The seven morphed Rangers jumped out of the way of the three attacks in different directions.
While in midair, Shinichi and Masumi cried, "Scorch Tri Crescent!", as Shinichi swung his scythe, sending three fire crescent shaped blasts while Masumi shot a beam of wind current towards the fire crescent blasts, increasing their size and heat.
"Ranged Mode!", Heiji and Ran cried as they changed their weapons to their ranged mode.
"Gale Daggers!", Both chorused as Heiji shot two water arrows before Ran threw her Sai. The Sai Daggers entered the water arrows, and the electricity around them increased in strength and intensity.
"Ice Wall!", Kaito cried as he shot his hand upward, raising an ice wall in front of the three instructors, and Shinichi, who had now landed, shot a fire beam from his hand at the wall.
"Diversion Fog!", They chorused as the fire collided with the fear, melting the ice and creating a steam vapor that started blinding the three instructors' vision like a fog.
"Forest/Rock Polearm!", Makoto and Saguru cried as they formed from the middle of their weapons a polearm that extended towards the instructors
Shinichi and Masumi raised their hand and shot another beam of their respective elements, striking the two polearms, turning them into two Dust Polearms.
"Twin Dust Polearms!", The four chorused.
Akira and Static flew high in the air and away, evading all the attacks, while Kaiden jumped high and forward, grabbing his staff that was placed on his back, and aimed to slam it on Masumi.
Masumi raised her Glaive and blocked the attack as Kaiden landed. He smirked with pride as he kicked Masumi in the abdomen before turning and blocking Ran's strike with her Lance.
"Melee Mode!", he heard Heiji cry and but before Heiji can reach him, his Katana sword collided with Akira's sword.
"HA?! Since when da ya use a sword?!", Heiji asked in disbelief. Akira's sword was a long sword but with a wider blade and a thinner gold cross section, with a black handle.
"Consider this a lesson in never assuming your opponent has showed all his cards.", Akira laughed before he and Heiji jumped backward.
"Ranged Mode!", Shinichi, Masumi, Saguru, and Makoto chorused.
Static changed both their arms into cannons before shooting an energy beam from one while the other shot quick short blasts.
Makoto shot a large beam from his cannon, destroying the short blasts and heading towards Static, just as Saguru raised his Shield, blocking the beam and deflecting it towards Static.
Static's eyes widened before they teleported in blue light.
"No, you don't.", Saguru cried as he threw his shield forward and high. The shield ricocheted off the wall as Saguru rolled out of the way, the shield slamming into something metallic as a cry of pain was heard.
Saguru's shield returned to his hand as Static appeared out of thin air, moving their head dizzily, "We should have expected you'd predict where we'd teleport to and become invisible.".
Heiji and Akira clashed swords multiple times before Akira raised one hand above his head, and Heiji deduced what he was going to do.
"Solar Flare!", Akira cried as the yellow energy he created exploded into blinding light, but Heiji had raised his sword right in front of his visor and closed his eyes, reflecting the blinding rays of light at Akira.
Akira jumped further away as he tried to rub his eyes with his other hand. Once he regained his vision, he looked in front of him just as Heiji dashed towards him and swung his sword, knocking Akira's sword out of his hand, and it landed behind him.
Akira shrugged nonchalantly, "I guess I got a bit rusty, I haven't used Ascalon for years.".
"Yeah, that's what ya always say when one of us beats ya.", Heiji smirked.
"I don't!".
Ran and Masumi clashed their respective weapons numerous times with Kaiden's staff, the latter skillfully and effortlessly blocking the attacks of his students.
Ran let out a battle cry as she jumped and raised her lance, aiming to slam her staff at Kaiden, but she disappeared in a yellow making Kaiden raise an eyebrow before he turned around swiftly to block Ran's attack from behind, just as he used his right hand, now surrounded by white aura, to hold Masumi's glaive, as she was charging towards him while he was occupied with Ran.
"Training is over.", Kaiden announced with a proud smile before clapping a bit, "I'm impressed, you guys have made such a great progress in your training. You've mastered your weapons in all modes, you've mastered the control of your animal spirit, your main elements, and are now in an advanced level in using the combined levels, and even in the sub elements, you've reached the amateur levels fast.".
"Power Down.", The Rangers chorused before their suits disappeared with their weapons.
"As much as our training with FAUSD helped, we are what we are because of you Sensei.", Shinichi said with a smile.
"I couldn't agree more.", Ran nodded.
"Let's not forget da one who helped us in physical training an' martial arts too.", Heiji said motioning at Akira.
"And the geniuses who helped us adapt to the advanced alien tech in FAUSD, and the few tricks he taught us to use with our Neomatrix and Mecha.", Saguru said motioning at Static.
"Oh, you're making us blush.", Static said embarrassed but happy.
"We did nothing special.", Akira said with a grateful smile.
"Nonsense, you've helped us change and improve in a very short time, compared to the normal time progress would appear in.", Makoto said with a smile.
"I don't think I have seen a better instructor than you guys.", Masumi said with a nod.
Kaiden smiled gratefully and proudly at his students. "It was a teamwork's effort. Our teaching, and your hard work. One could be the best teacher but if he were to teach a student who does not do any sort of effort, there would be no change.", He said before he looked at Static and nodded.
"Everyone, show me your Neomatrixes!", Static said in excitement.
The Rangers shared a look before they raised their wrists with their Neomatrixes towards Static, who raised their left wrist, a compartment opening, showing a keyboard and a screen. They pressed the buttons a few times before saying, "Done!".
The Rangers noticed the Morph button glowing, so they pressed it and Neomatrix changed the screen into two buttons, the Ranger helmet button and another with a normal helmet.
"Press the normal helmet button.", Static said.
The Rangers did as they said and in their colored lights, their casual clothes changed into a different attire.
"Say hello to your civilian uniform!", Static let out their excitement.
They wore jet black combat boots, light black leather pants, belt with the buckle the shape of their team logo, fingerless gloves, unzipped jackets and a tank top shirt of their Ranger color underneath. On their right shoulder was the symbol of FAUSD while on the left was the lightning bolt symbol of the Power Rangers, both drawn in their Ranger color. The Rangers had line of their respective lines on the side of their jackets and pants
"This… looks… AWESOME!", Masumi cried in excitement once she looked at herself.
"Stylish too.", Heiji nodded.
"Not my style, but I like it.", Saguru shrugged.
"I like how simple it is.", Makoto added.
"It is as comfy as the suits.", Ran noted.
Shinichi then noticed the logos on both shoulders before saying, "So we are official now, huh.".
"Indeed, you are now recognized in the galaxy as official agents working under the protection and responsibility of FAUSD, mainly Earth. As your Ranger identity, you were recruited as honorable agents, hence why you don't have the symbol of any section but the Power Rangers logo on your left shoulder.", Kaiden explained.
"Well, who knows? We might join FAUSD for real as our real identities.", Shinichi shrugged.
"It was Akira's idea, and we had help from Nina, Shiho, Agasa-hakase, Jii-san, and Kashiko-san.", Static said, "They look like normal clothes, but they're resistant to fires, can withstand damage, as they are made of the same material of the FAUSD suits. The belt buckle also when pressed can give you a replica of FAUSD agents' utility belt, just in case something happened.".
"It also can be activated by voice command, and like FAUSD agents' do, say Mask on.", Akira continued.
"Mask On.", The Rangers chorused, and their eyes widened as the gloves covered their fingers too, the jacket zipped, and a metallic silver helmet with black visor appeared on their heads, a colored line perpendicular on their forehead and another on their chin.
"And now, not only will you be prepared for action if you were attacked in a place where people who know your identity, but also if you were attacked in a place where people who don't know you identity are present.", Akira finished.
"Remember to get the attire, you can do as we showed you or say Suit Up. You want to protect your identity? Say Mask On. And the opposite to return to your normal clothes is Mask Off and Suit Off.", Static continued.
"Mask Off.", the Rangers chorused as their civilian uniform changed back to its initial form.
"Uniforms, vehicles, I love being a Power Ranger.", Masumi smirked.
"Thank you for everything that you've done for us.", Ran bowed, her friends following suit.
"No need to do that, it is the least we could do to you.", Kaiden raised his hand to stop them from bowing, a smile on his face.
"Almost forgot, wanna race me someday wid our runners ta see who is da better Motorbiker?", Heiji asked Masumi.
"I can beat you, my cousin, and Ryu together.", Masumi said confidently.
"Wait, Haibara had a bike?", Shinichi asked in surprise.
"A Harley.", Ran and Masumi chorused.
"She likes you two more than me for real.", Shinichi grumbled.
Everyone turned at the sound of the automatic doors opening, and in walked Kuroda, his arms behind his back.
"I have a very important mission for you, and FAUSD agents will accompany you.", Kuroda said, getting straight to the point.
The Rangers shared a look, and Masumi wondered if that had something to do with Rei's call yesterday. When he returned, he looked tired about something, so she decided not to press and ask, so she left silently.
"Yesterday, Rum's right hand Curaçao had infiltrated the NPA SB building and got some files about the NOCs in the Organization and texted the names to Rum.", Kuroda explained.
The Rangers' eyes widened but Masumi felt her heart stop for a second as she thought in horror, 'Rei…'.
"Our agents arrived and tried to stop her before she can text Rum Furuya and Hondou's real names, and Furuya chased her, and with some help from Hondou and Akai, her care fell into the river, and she collapsed in an alley and Vineyard and Hondou found her.", Kuroda continued.
Masumi let out a sigh of relief, and missed how Ran smiled warmly at her, happy for her friend that her feelings for Rei were growing.
"Well, interrogate dat bi-".
"Curaçao is Irene, isn't she?", Kaiden interrupted Heiji before he said something that would've made Kuroda kill him.
"Yes… Curaçao is my daughter, Kuroda Irene…", Kuroda let out a heavy sigh.
The Rangers' shock and disbelief turned into confusion and pity as they shared a look before they looked at Kuroda, wondering how things ended up being the way they were.
Kuroda then explained the accident that happened to him and Irene 10 years ago, how Irene lost her memory, and also told them about the Organization's structure to explain why Chris was not able to save her.
"I pity Dracule now…. Da guy seemed ta have feelings for her.", Heiji whispered to Saguru, "I don' think he'll like da fact dat his girl was turned evil.".
"Look at the bright side, he can be by her side and help her recover.", Saguru whispered back.
"Since Irene lost her memory because of the lights of the Aquarium, I want her to go there to gain her memory, but we believe Gin and Vodka may come to kill her since she hasn't reported back to Rum, and Vineyard will tell them she lost her memory… We'll fake her death, but since the Organization is unexpected, I want you to be there.", Kuroda explained.
"And I want you three to be there with them too.", Kuroda turned to Kaiden, Akira, and Static briefly, "I'll also send a team of a unit of our best agents to handle the Black Organization matters.".
"I'll be there with Cerine for Irene. Before you ask, I'm sending our best agents to ensure that the Organization does not turn this place to a massacre field, or any other place for that matter. There is no guarantee after what Cognac and Snake had done.", Kuroda finished explaining.
Shinichi frowned heavily and Ran turned to him concerned, "What is it?".
"Agasa-Hakase is there with the Detective Boys, Mitsuhiko's sister, and Seiki and Hiyori… And Shiho is there…", Shinichi sighed heavily, earning a look of worry from Ran and a frown from the other Rangers.
"I think we should divide ourselves so we can cover more area in case anything happens.", Kaito suggested.
"Kuroba, Ran, and I will stick to Agasa-Hakase and his group, and Ryu will be there for Shiho. I'll be as Conan, and Shinichi should not be seen.", Shinichi said, glancing at Static and Kaito.
"The Organization doesn't know my real identity and I don't think they know that Kuroba Toichi had a son. I can go without any disguise.", Kaito said.
"I'll take the high grounds to cover from above.", Masumi said.
"I can help you with that.", Akira said.
"I'll cover da ground.", Heiji said.
"So will I.", Saguru added.
"Me too.", Makoto said.
"We can turn invisible and help.", Static said.
Kaiden said nothing for a second before he looked at Kuroda, "I'll be with you and your family, when do you want us to leave?".
"30 minutes from now, I'll call the others with Kazama and have a meeting for the unit I'll be forming, you should be there too.", Kuroda said as he turned around to leave the training room.
"Kuroda-san.", Kaiden called, stopping him. Kuroda looked at him from over his shoulder.
"She'll be okay.", Kaiden gave him a comforting and assuring smile of hope.
Kuroda said nothing and remained passive before he smiled gratefully at Kaiden, "Arigatou Gozaimasu, Kaiden-san.".
30 minutes later,
Kuroda stood with a huge monitor behind him in a room filled with multiple chairs across him. This was one of the meeting rooms the headquarters had, and Kuroda had called with the help of Dan, the agents he decided to form the unit.
He nodded at Kaiden once he opened the door and walked in with Static and the seven Rangers, with the three waking to sit on the empty chairs while the Rangers took a quick look of who were present in the room; Chris and Dan were standing on each side of Kuroda as Vice Chiefs. Those who were sitting were; Cerine, Ryu, Nina, Akemi, Araide, Mary, Shuichi, Shukichi, Rei, Alaina, Dracule, Hansel, Gretel, Aoko, Akako, Sonoko with Lupin, Eisuke, Hidemi, Hina, Kazuha, Masaki, Takaaki, Yokomizo Sango and Jugo, Hagiwara Chihaya, Yamato Kansuke, and Uehera Yui.
And then they sat in the front row next to each other.
"I still can't believe you were Conan all the time.", Sango told Shinichi in disbelief, "You were very convincing.".
"Trust me, it wasn't easy at all.", Shinichi chuckled.
"Oh sure, with all your 'Ah-le-le' act.", Jugo snorted, and Shinichi rolled his eyes while his teammates snickered.
"Don't bother our young heroes, Jugo.", Chihaya gently admonished before she looked at the Rangers, "Hagiwara Chihaya, nice to meet you, and thank you for capturing the bastard who killed my brother.".
Shinichi had a quick flashback to the serial bomber case before he nodded, "I did what's right. And I've met Kenji-san a few times, he was a great person.".
"How have you been, Yui-san?", Ran asked Yui with a smile, glad to see her.
"Everything is going kind of well, but I get headache every now and then from the kids.", Yui chuckled before she glanced in longing at Kansuke, who was staring ahead.
Ran smiled at her gently and in pity, "I'm sure everything will be okay and get better.".
Yui smiled in appreciation at Ran's words, "I hope so.".
"Is everyone present?", Kuroda asked Dan, stopping the small chatter.
"Only Agasa, Jii, Kashiko, and Shiho.", Dan said.
"Agasa and Shiho are at the Aquarium. Kashiko is at a FAUSD Medical Conference in Britain and Jii accompanied her, but we'll record this meeting and send it to them.", Chris said.
Kuroda nodded before he looked at everyone present, "I assume most of you, if not all, know why you are here. I've chosen you with the help of Dan and Chris, because you're either the best agents for this, or possible targets.".
"Everyone here with the four missing people, have been chosen to deal directly with the Black Organization.", Kuroda said before he pointed at Chris, "Christine Vineyard here, codenamed Mirror, and my second Vice Chief, is one of the most important agents in the Black Organization, codenamed Vermouth, but you all may know her as Sharon Vineyard and Chris Vineyard.".
The Rangers glanced at Nina and Ryu to see their eyes hardening at their mother's codename.
"Chris, please tell everyone here about the Organization.", Kuroda ordered.
"Let me just make some things clear, you either call me Chris, Vineyard, or Mirror. I don't want to be referred as Vermouth here.", Chris said.
"Can I call you Baa-chan?", Kaito asked sheepishly, earning a nudge from Aoko, while Saguru and Akako rolled their eyes.
"Only if you want me to embarrass you in public, Kai-chan.", Chris replied with a smirk, making Kaito frown at using her nickname for him in public, especially when he heard his friends snicker at it.
Heiji teased, "Kai-chan?".
"Urusei.", Kaito grumbled.
"I think it's cute.", Aoko said.
"You do?", Kaito asked with a wide smile.
"What can you tell us about the origins of the Organization?", Makoto asked straight to the point.
"There isn't much I can tell about why the Organization was formed back in 1950, but we were always told we were special and deserved to rule the world, but this world was not good enough for us, so we need to change it.".
"We?", Masumi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The Organization first started with the Karasuma clan, the head and the eldest being Renya, which is why he was the founder. All the original ones are dead, including his children. He had seven boys, and each one would end up having a kid, who would be brought into the Organization and raised to be an assassin.", Chris said, "But they also would take homeless children. And picture this, an innocent child with no home and no one helping him, suddenly finds himself being taken care of and fed.".
"They'll be loyal no matter what to them.", Sonoko guessed in horror, petting Lupin who growled in anger to calm him down.
"Exactly. The only Karasuma left are Renya himself, and no one knows where he is, and his grandchildren; Spider, Vinsanto, Cider, Awamori, Brandy, Madeira… and I, Vermouth…", Chris sighed heavily at mentioning her name.
The Rangers' eyes widened (and so did Eisuke, Hina, Kazuha, Aoko, and Akako) especially Shinichi, Ran, and Kaito.
Kazuha then looked at Ryu and said, "So yar…".
"Karasuma's great-grandchildren and his heirs after Kaachan? Yes.", Ryu nodded grimly.
"The Organization believes that if you were born to an agent, any rank, you belong to them. They did everything to keep Akemi and Shiho, so imagine what would they do once they find out one of the Boss's grandchildren had two kids?", Nina added in a cold tone.
"It's not just that, the Organization's ultimate project is creating the Ultimate Human; does not age nor get sick, superhuman condition, special powers, and so on. So, us 7 with other Karasuma clan members, children and adult, were experiments for 7 serums… Only us seven survived, that's why Renya chose Nanatsu No Ko as his number, because us 7 were the beginning.", Chris added.
"Spider underwent the Illusion serum, back when they thought Magi were just Illusionists and Mind controllers, so he became a Magi with a speciality and master in Illusions and Mind Games.", Chris said.
"Yeah… I know.", Akako shivered a bit as she remembered her encounter with Spider, Saguru placing an arm around her protectively while Aoko placed a hand on her shoulder, and Kaito frowned.
"I knew he was not just a Magician…", Kaito said.
"Awamori underwent the Strength Serum, Vinsanto underwent the Durability Serum, Cider underwent the Speed Serum, Brandy underwent the Animal Serum, Madeira underwent the Toxin Serum, and I underwent the Regeneration Serum.", Chris said before she pulled out a dagger from her pocket, and rolled her black shirt's right sleeve to her elbow, and stabbed herself into her hand before moving her dagger up to her elbow.
A mixture of winces and gasps were seen and heard at Chris's move before she raised her injured arm to them. And many of them's eyes widened once they saw the skin instantly healing itself, and no scar was present.
"I cannot get sick and my injuries are instantly as long as I don't control my regeneration. I can increase it, decrease it, or stop it for a certain time. Unfortunately, all of that takes some of my energy, so if I use it to much, I can end up becoming a normal human until I recover, and the same with the others.", Chris explained, "No other agent is like this, they'd end up dying during the experiment or survive for a short period of time. Snake is a breakthrough since he survived.".
"Yeah, they did a surgery on me to save me and gave me that serum by extracting it from Chris's blood a long time ago, and here I am.", Dan shrugged.
"And Ryu and I inherited that from her with no issues, which is why us three are incredibly valuable to them.", Nina added.
Chris then explained the structure and ranks of the Organization members like she had did yesterday, before Dan explained what had happened yesterday with Curaçao with Shuichi, Rei, and Hidemi telling the tale from their point of view.
"Kuroda told us today before this meeting… You scared me…", Masumi whispered to Rei who sat directly behind her.
"I'm not going anywhere; I still got a lot to teach you… And Haro seems to have gotten attached to you and would love to see you again.", Rei chuckled, feeling a different kind of happiness deep down inside, because Masumi was concerned about him.
"So, where is Curaçao then?", Alaina asked coldly and angrily, Sango squeezing her hand for support.
"Take it easy, Alaina.", Kansuke warned, "They haven't said yet so it means something is wrong.".
"Yamato is right-
"You know as Van Helsings are paternal ancestry is Dutch, so we decided that those of us with a different maternal ancestry than those two to work in the intelligence service and FAUSD in those countries to spread our activity!", Gretel interrupted Dan as she shot up from her place, sharing the same anger.
Hansel followed her suit, "Gretel and I work at the BND, Alaina used to work at the CSIS, and Dracule works at Romania's SIE! Leona was our friend! George was Alaina's friend!".
Shuichi and Shukichi shared a look before they glanced at their mother, who had a cold deadly expression on her face. They both had known Harry Bennet, the man was one of the oldest and best agents the MI6 had, and one of Mary's old friend, and now he was dead, killed by the Organization.
"Curaçao was brainwashed, and she lost her memory now. She doesn't remember who she was nor herself as Curaçao.", Cerine said, looking at the floor, unable to face the anger of anyone at the death of the agents or at Curaçao just being mentioned.
Those who knew about Curaçao looked at Alaina with pity, especially Akemi and Ran who were the most emotional among the present.
"I can't believe you are defending her.", Gretel growled, "Are the lives of those dead not important to you?!".
Cerine said nothing as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to control her emotions, and she felt Kuroda's arm around her as he cried, "Enough!".
Hansel and Gretel's anger prevented them from seeing Cerine's condition and start becoming suspicious, unlike Alaina and Dracule who were wondering what's going on. As for Mary, she had a good guess from Cerine's form and Kuroda's protectiveness about what happened, and Alaina reached that guess a few moments later after her.
"Why are you defending her too?!", Hansel cried.
"Curaçao is Kuroda Irene.", Dan answered before Kuroda could go berserk on the twins.
His words however made those who didn't know look horrified, but no one could match the shock of the Van Helsings, Takaaki, Nina, Chihaya, and the Yokomizo brothers.
"No… No…", Alaina gasped as she covered her mouth. Hansel and Gretel fell back into their chairs, their shocked faces staring at the ground.
"Those bastards!", Nina cried in English, Takaaki holding her hand to support her, a frown present on his face, nevertheless.
The Yokomizo brothers and Chihaya looked grim but said nothing, although mentally they were saying the most colorful words ever.
But no one was worse than Dracule, who was still staring at Dan in disbelief and horror, his mind having a quick flashback.
14-year-old Dracule stood alone in the field, watching as the different Academy agents interacted with each other, even Gretel and Hansel had formed their own friend group, even though they had just transferred.
As an introvert raised by Alaina's parents since his parents died when he was only four years old, Dracule always felt out of place and-
"Why are you standing alone?". Dracule snapped out of his thoughts and turned to the side, to face 14-year-old Irene who had spoken up to him.
Dracule said nothing, as he found himself staring at her beautiful face, especially her heterochromatic eyes. They were mesmerizing for him.
"Um, are you unable to speak or deaf? I know sign language and-".
"I'm not.", Dracule interrupted Irene's genuine concern, her words snapping him out of his staring.
She looked at him surprised for a second before she smiled widely as she raised her hand at him, "Well then, I am Kuroda Irene! Pleased to meet you!".
Dracule said nothing before he slowly raised his hand and shook hers, a faint smile appearing on his face, "Dracule Van Helsing.".
"Where is she?", Dracule finally spoke up, his voice hard but filled with emotions.
Kuroda nodded at Dan and the latter walked out of the room. A few minutes later, he walked in again, but with him was a timid looking Irene, who decided to stand on Kuroda's other side, staring at everyone curiously and worriedly, but everyone could tell from her looks that she did not recognize anyone in the room.
Until her eyes landed on Dracule.
She did not recognize him nor remember him, but as soon as she looked at him, her heart skipped a beat, and told her that this man was important to her.
"Do you… remember me?", Dracule asked hopefully as he stood up to approach Irene, not caring that there were several people in the room.
"Unfortunately, I do not remember anything. But my heart tells me that you are very important to me… I'm sorry.", Irene mumbled.
"She seems… lost.", Hina commented.
"Scared too.", Eisuke added.
"She is lost. When you lose your memory, you only have your heart to tell you if you care about this person or not… But that isn't always helpful if you haven't seen those who harmed you… You are unable to tell if those around you are nice or not, unable to tell if you'll ever remember anything… and you feel disappointed and awful when people find out that you can't remember them, when you see the sadness on their faces… You're like an empty shell, a living body without a soul, that can be shaped by anyone easily…", Ran explained solemnly as she stared at Irene, remembering when she lost her own memory when the criminal had shot Sato back then.
This was how she felt whenever she looked at everyone she knew back then, and she could not remember them, only depending on her heart… Yet the criminal was her doctor, and she was almost killed numerous times, had it not been for Shinichi, and then the fact that she regained her memory at the last moment, and beat the man up before he could kill him.
"Ran.", Sonoko and Shinichi chorused, looking at her in pity, both knowing and understanding how she knows that, while the other Rangers seemed bewildered.
"How… how did you know how I feel?", Irene asked in surprise.
"I've lost my memory once before.", Ran sighed heavily before she gave her a hopeful smile, "But I regained it again… when I saw the criminal's hand being trapped in the water fountain, similar to how he had his hand out of the umbrella when he shot Sato-keiji, I saw his face back then and I lost my memory out of guilt.".
Everyone who knew Ran frowned at this while Mary rubbed her temples as she thought, 'Looks like it wasn't just Masumi not living a normal life before becoming a Ranger.'.
Dan, however perked up, before he glanced at Hidemi and Chris, "You said Irene fainted and lost her memory after seeing the colored lights at the Aquarium, correct?".
"Yes, they were red, orange, green, white, and blue.", Hidemi nodded.
Shinichi, Masumi, Saguru, and Heiji reached the same conclusion and chorused, "The colors of the Curaçao liqueur!".
Takaaki nodded before adding, "It could be that when Irene saw the colors, she regained her memory for a few moments and upon realization of what she had done as Curaçao, she lost all her memories. Which means that when Rum brainwashed her, she had seen those colored lights during that moment.".
"And that's why I've brought you all here, not just to form this unit to face the Organization, but to tell you the plan we came up with, Kazama, explain.", Kuroda nodded.
Dan then explained the plan he had come up with yesterday with Chris and pointed out Shuichi's concerns, and then Kuroda said that the Rangers with Akira, Static, and Kaiden will go with him and Cerine there.
"If we all go at once, we will be exposing ourselves, I think we should pick those who would be least suspicious, or will be already nearby for some reason, while the rest remain standby in the headquarters.", Chihaya pointed out.
"Rei, Hondou, Akai, and I will be already there since it concerns the Organization.", Chris said.
"I'll go wherever Irene is, I'm not leaving her side.", Dracule said with a look that dared anyone to tell him not to.
"I can take the sky.", Alaina adjusted her glasses.
"We can cover the ground.", Hansel and Gretel mumbled, feeling conflicted about how their best friend was responsible for killing one of their oldest friends.
"I'll go for Shiho.", Ryu said.
"I'm coming with you, I won't leave my sister's side again.", Akemi said stubbornly.
"I'll go with Akemi just in case.", Araide sighed at her stubbornness.
"I'll be going too.", Nina said.
"Takaaki and I can go but remain hidden in the crowds.", Shukichi said with Takaaki nodding.
"I guess this is more than enough. The rest, remain standby for anything.", Kuroda ordered, "Jugo, Sango, I want you both to start privately investigating for the presence of an organization agent in the police force. Eisuke, I want you to hack into Tohto Aquarium's systems and remain ready for anything.".
"Roger!", Everyone chorused.
Mary, however, stared at her feet silently, remembering a call she had with Harry weeks ago.
"Whiskey?", She said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, I heard his name being mentioned by Korn. When I asked him who he was, he said he was a spy, and that's all he knew.", Harry replied, "Remember Sera, only five people in the MI6 other than you and the current chief now, knew about your sister's case.".
"I do not doubt you nor your elder brother, who is now the current chief of the MI6.", Mary said before mumbled, "but those five, on the other hand…I can't say it's any of them since I found out that my nieces used to change locations once I was getting nearer to them, so that mole was also telling them about my moves.".
"That makes things more complicated since the team that was with you during those missions did not often have the same members every time.", Harry said bewildered, "So how did they know?".
"Beats me, but I'll work on it from where I am.", Mary shrugged.
"Alright, I'll try to investigate myself too. I'll see you soon, Sera.", He said before ending the call.
'Three bullets into his head… only someone with so much hate would do that… It could be Whiskey, since Harry dared to investigate him.', Mary thought before she closed her eyes, 'Rest in peace, old friend.'.
'I guess… I'll do this myself.', Mary thought as she opened her eyes and pulled out a pill from her pocket and stared at it intently.
A blue and white pill.
Somewhere Unknown,
Rum stood with Madeira across a large round device, multiple wires attached to it with the other end of the wires attached to a control panel while others were attached underground and into the wall.
"I can't believe you showed me your real identity.", Madeira commented as she pressed a few buttons on the control panel.
"Ano Kata said you could be trusted after everything you have done for us, and Akuma was intrigued to meet the mastermind behind the animal hybrids and who got the core.", Rum replied as Madeira pressed one last button.
"Interesting.", Madeira mumbled as the device started powering up, a white portal appearing inside the round shape, "I'm still trying to get through the Technophones we got, in case you are wondering.".
"We can talk about that later.", Rum said as a sick grin appeared on his face once Akuma walked in from the portal, followed by his generals. Madeira pressed another button, and the machine turned off.
Akuma then started clapping lightly as he said with genuine impress, "I'm impressed. I never knew Humans could be capable to make a portal between two faraway planets, and be capable of teleporting living beings not machines, and the fact that FAUSD were not able to detect our arrival nor Orionson's ship. You are one of a kind indeed, Madeira.".
Madeira smiled proudly as she slightly bowed, "It's an honor to finally meet the future ruler of this world, and I greatly appreciate the compliment.".
Akuma seemed pleased with her attitude, "Ah, I see Rum had informed you about us. That's good, I hope that you and Rum's agents would be able to work with my generals, until we announce ourselves to the rest of the Organization.".
"I cannot speak for Rum's agents, but I personally don't mind for the sake of our goal. But I do warn you, I enjoy experimenting on living specimens, and the more the blood, the better.", Madeira said, her smile turning sick.
Blaze scoffed, not interested. Genesis raised an eyebrow as he adjusted his glasses, "Interesting.".
"I think you and I will get along well.", Kaguya said, mirroring her smirk.
"If you allow me to hunt the specimen for you, I'll be most pleased.", Reaper growled.
"Bloody huh? I like your style.", Kisame smirked before he let out a laugh.
"It seems we all will get along well.", Rum said.
A hologram monitor appeared out of nowhere behind Rum and Madeira, with Ano Kata speaking with the same voice distortion, "I… agree…".
"More than you think. If you wouldn't mind, I'd like to know more about the Organization and what you know and your research, it will help me plan our next move better.", Akuma nodded.
"Let's just start by saying… We've been around since 1950… And we have agents in the highest places in the law enforcement… And we, the higher ups… know everything about FAUSD…", Ano Kata said.
Akuma's eyes narrowed, and his tone could tell that he was smirking under his helmet, "Good, very good… Let us start working on our next move then…".
"And I want it to be very soon… I want the Rangers to know…".
"That their Darkest Nightmare has arrived…".
So, after checking my writing speed and word count, I found out that I can finish a chapter for this fic is 10 days at top speed… And I can't go back to weekly updates since the chapter's are now minimum 10K words…
So, which would you guys prefer?
1. Update 1 Chapter Every 10 Days/3 Times A Month
2. As we are (Biweekly)
3. 2 Chapters Once A Month (Like Bakugan & Eleventh Striker)
4. Random (At any time like the One Shots)
And how is the story progress so far?? I suffer from overthinking so I've been wondering how is it?
Don't worry though, the next three chapters will be epic!
