11th District, 10:25PM. A few blocks away from Le Nuit. There was a hotel that was used as a base by several organizations. This hotel wasn’t as heavily guarded as Le Nuit, but it was still well secured.
On the highest floor of the hotel, there was a large room, that wasn't for living or sleeping; since it didn't have a single bed inside. Inside the room there were 5 teenagers; 2 girls and 3 boys. If someone were to hear that 5 teens were in a getaway hotel room together late at night, they would most likely believe that something inappropriate was happening inside the room. But, that wasn't the case.
Even though the 11th district was widely considered a lawless district, not all the groups that are based there are criminal organizations. There were organizations whose sole purpose, was to protect ordinary people from malicious people.
Silver Crow was one of these organizations.
“Did you hear that?”
Asked one of the teenage girls.She had short black hair and green eyes. She had a beautiful, but stern looking face. She was wearing a black top with the word “CR” in green on it. She had a black and green headphone, with a silver crow design on the sides around her neck. She had on a black skirt with green stitches, and combat boots on her feet.
“Yeah…”
Replied one of the boys.
He had short spiky red hair, and red eyes to match. He had a delinquent looking face. He was wearing a black leather jacket with red stitches, and a silver crow design on the back. He had on a plain red t-shirt under the jacket. He was wearing a silver necklace, with a hawk pendant. He had on black jeans, and red and black sneakers.
“I can't believe that Blanche is really 30! Imagine if he was 40, he would be walking with a stick!”
Said the boy.
“Reiji.”
“Yes, Chrome.”
“What was the last thing you heard Blanche say?”
“That he was 30. Why?”
The girl, Chrome, was clearly irritated at her comrade, Reiji’s answer.
“So you didn't hear when Blanche and Kei Hanazawa formed a partnership?”
She asked, while rubbing her forehead. It looked like was having a migraine.
“Eh?! When did that happen?!”
Reiji’s responded just as she expected he would, which irritated her even more.
“Reiji, don't tell me that you were distracted by Blanche's age for the last 15minutes?”
She said calmly.
“No. I was imagining how Blanche looked as a kid. I bet that he was born with an old face! It must've been rough growing up!”
Said Reiji, with a stupid look on his face. Well, from Chrome’s point of view.
“Reiji, please remind me why are you here again?”
“Eh? ….To capture Blanche of course!”
Reiji was confused by Chrome’s question, but still answered energetically.
“So, I take it that you want to be useful?”
Asked Chrome.
“Of course!”
“I see…”
Chrome, who was sitting around a desk near a window, went into a bag that was at her feet and took something out, and then gave it to Reiji.
“Here. Take this and walk up to Blanche, I'll handle the rest.”
It was a bomb.
“……..Um, Chrome. Could it be that you hate me?”
“My, why would you ask that? You're my comrade. How can i hate you? You hurt my feelings.”
She was obviously being sarcastic.
“Then why did you give me a bomb, and basically told me to go blow myself up?!”
And Reiji knew that she was being sarcastic.
“Haven't you ever heard the expression ‘Love so pure that it makes you explode’?”
“Don't make up stuff just to kill me off!”
“Tsk. I thought he would do it since he's an idiot. It was the perfect chance to get rid of him too.”
Spat Chrome. She had a really disappointed expression, as if she just dropped the baton in an important race.
“You know I can hear you right?!”
Reiji was hurt by Chrome’s harsh attitude.
“Chrome, could you stop teasing Reiji? You know he's sensitive.”
A voice interrupted Reiji and Chrome’s “conversation”.
Chrome turned her attention to the owner of the voice.
“Sensitive? I didn't know that idiots have feelings. Besides, what makes you believe that I'm teasing him? I'm just stating the facts, Zetsu.”
She responded to the teenage boy, who was sitting around a table.
He had a gentle face. He had long black hair and gentle looking blue eyes. He had a black plain T-shirt, black leather gloves, black leather pants with chains on it and stylish black boots to match. On the back of the chair that he was sitting on, you could see what looked like the trench coat version of the jacket that Reiji was wearing.
“That's a mean thing say Chrome. Even robots nowadays have what scientists calls ‘emotions’, so of course Reiji is no different. So, leave the kid alone.”
Said Zetsu.
“Zetsu~”
Reiji was looking at Zetsu as if he was looking at his savior. His eyes was sparkling, and face is full of life. And then-
“It's not his fault that he was born an idiot. Some people are just born to be stupider than the rest of us.”
“I should've know better than to expect a sadist like you to stick up for me!”
That's right. Zetsu was the perfect example of the old saying “Don't judge a book by its cover.” Despite his gentle features, he was what you would call a super sadist.
His black heart matches his black clothing.
“Hm? I never said that I was sticking up for you. Why would I waste my precious energy to look out for an annoying fly like you?”
“Wow. That's harsh. Aren't you the one that said even idiots have feelings?”
Said Chrome.
“I did. But that makes it even more fun to trample on their feelings.”
Zetsu had a mischievous smirk on his face.
(Wow, sadism runs deep in this one. I feel sorry for his future wife. She better get use to wearing a collar.)
Chrome felt sorry for the poor unfortunate soul in the future.
“Brother, take your own advice and leave Reiji alone. Look, he's in the corner crying.”
Reiji, who was in a corner of the room mumbling “I'm not an idiot” over and over again, looked around when his name was called by a new voice.
“Nico~”
“Before you put on a stupid expression on your face, let me tell you that I'm not defending you.”
“Huh?”
“Don't ‘Huh?’ me. You're the one who’s in the wrong in first place.”
Said the final boy in the room. He was standing near the door. His face had a dangerous look to it. He had blonde messy hair and gold beast-like eyes. He was 187 cm and muscular built. He was wearing a sleeveless version of the jacket that other boys were wearing. He had on a yellow tank top, with a picture of lion’s face on it. His overall look can only be described as “wild”.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Since that's the case, why did you tell me to stop, Nico?”
Asked Zetsu.
“That's because you weren't going to stop until you broke his mind. He might be an idiot, but even idiots have their uses, Brother.”
Said Nico.
“Who are you calling an idiot?!”
Shouted Reiji.
“………”
Nico ignored him.
“Listen,Reiji. Some people are born to accomplish a lot in life, while others are born to be fireworks.”
“Fireworks?”
Zetsu walked up to the hurting Reiji, and started to talking to him with a gentle voice.
“Yes, fireworks. Aren’t they beautiful?”
“…I guess?”
Reiji was wondering what Zetsu was getting at.
“I see. Here a present to help you become a true firework.”
Zetsu took a box that was tucked behind his back, and gave it Reiji.
“Wow!”
Reiji happily took the box with a stupid look. Well, from Nico and Chrome’s point of view, he did.
Reiji quickly opened the box and-
“.……………”
It was a bomb.
Reiji had a blank expression on his face. While Zetsu-
“It's a brand new necklace!”
It was a bomb with a chain on it.
“Now go Reiji! Go and become a firework! It may be a short life, but it will be a short but beautiful life!”
“In the end you're just telling me to blow myself up!”
Reiji once again isolate himself in a corner and started crying. It was a pathetic sight.
“….Anyway, getting back to main topic.”
Said Chrome.
“What do you guys think, about what happened at Le Nuit?”
“What's there to think about? It's a dangerous combination, no matter how you look at.”
Zetsu responded with a serious expression.
“Our only choice is to crush D’Arc before it gets anymore powerful.”
Nico was also serious.
“Wait. We can't just go destroying buildings, and killing people without the boss’ permission.”
Chrome stopped the brothers from going on a rampage.
“Bloom, what do you think?”
Chrome turned her attention to the center of the room but-
“Huh? Zetsu, Nico, where's Bloom?”
The person who was suppose to be in the middle of the room, wasn't there.
“I think she's taking a nap on the couch.”
Said Nico, as he pointed to one corner of the room where the couch was.
Chrome looked at the couch, and saw that someone was laying there. She walked over to the person, and looked down.
It was an extremely beautiful girl with long silver hair. Her sleeping face looked like it could rob any man of his senses. It was a beauty that no artist could even imagine to draw.
She was wearing a black choker, with a silver pendent of the letters “MB”. She had on a white dress shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, and the first three buttons loose; deliberately showing her cleavage and the pink and black bra underneath. A short black tie with pink stitching. A pink and black fingerless glove with a silver crow design on her right hand. She had on a short pink and black skirt, and a jacket like what Reiji had on tied around her waist. And finally, a pair of black knee high combat boots. Her overall look was a mixture of a tomboy and seductress.
“…I'm surprise she can sleep so defenseless in a room with three guys in it.”
Said Zetsu.
“Don't even think about it, brother. If we lay even a finger on her, we can kiss our lives goodbye.”
“I know that. I don't want to die yet, so I won't try anything.”
“Well, even if you tried anything and Bloom doesn't kill you, I'll will.”
Said Chrome, with a very intimidating voice.
“Yeah, yeah. Everyone knows that your overprotective when it comes to Bloom.”
Said Zetsu. He brushed off Chrome’s intimidation like it was nothing.
“Not as much as the boss. You remember that time, Bloom was injured in a fight with a terrorist group?”
Asked Nico.
“Yeah. He charged into their hideout, and crushed the bones of everyone in there.”
Chrome answered.
“That scene was too gruesome for even me, and I'm a sadist.”
The incident that they were talking about resulted in the destruction of 4 warehouses, two armored helicopters and a jet.
“Anyway, we can't leave her like this. We already waste too much time dealing with a certain idiot.”
“You're right. As our sub-leader, Bloom needs to make a decision on what to do next.”
“We either crush D’Arc or wait and see how the situation develops, huh? I prefer the former. I just love the faces people make when their ambition comes crashing down in front of them.”
Chrome pointed out the urgency of the situation and the brothers agreed with her.
“You sound like the evil one to me.”
Saying so, Chrome placed her hand on Bloom’s shoulder, and shook her gently.
“Hey Bloom wake up, we need you.
After a few shakes, the girl Bloom showed signs of waking up.
“….Hmm?”
She slowly opened her eyelids to reveal her glassy pink eyes.
She drowsily lifted her torso and sat up. She then yawned in a cute manner, and slowly checked her surroundings.
“…huh? Did I fell asleep?”
She asked.
“Yup, I don't know for how long though. What's the last thing you remember?”
Chrome was trying to find out how much of situation does Bloom knew.
“Hmm, I think it was around the time the king asked the fool to switch places with him?”
Megumi cutely tilted her head when trying to remember.
“That's pretty far back.”
Said Chrome.
“Yeah, you missed a lot of stuff.”
Said Zetsu.
“It can't be helped, I guess we have to update you with the current situation.”
Said Nico.
“Sorry, guys.”
Bloon clasped her hands together, and bowed her head apologetically. In response-
“Don't worry about it, Bloom. You must be tired.”
“Yeah, we made you come here even though it's a school night. So we can't complain. Right, brother?”
“There's nothing wrong with falling asleep every now and again.”
They all showed Bloom gentle smiles and spoke with understanding.
It was a beautiful scene until-
“Wait a minute!”
A shout broke the atmosphere. Of course, it was Reiji. He walked out of the corner, he was pathetically crying in, and stood in front of his comrades. He was clearly upset.
“What's with the difference in attitude?! Why are you guys so harsh on me, and so lenient with her?!”
“And, the idiot has recovered.”
Said Chrome, who was clearly annoyed.
Zetsu sighed, and placed his hand on Reiji’s shoulder.
“So you're saying that we don't treating you the same way we treat Bloom?”
“Yes, that's what I'm saying.”
Zetsu sighed again.
“Well, I wont deny that. But there's a good reason.”
“Good reason?”
Reiji started to wonder what reason could there be for the difference in treatment among comrades.
Zetsu stretched out his hand towards Bloom, and had an excited look on his face.
“Look at Bloom. She's our beautiful leader. She's our pride and joy. She's our Idol. Our goddess.”
He then looked back at Reiji, with a bored and disappointed expression.
“And then, there's you. A gullible idiot, with a waste of a intimidating face. Comparing you to her, is like comparing a bottle cap to a diamond. It makes no sense! So of course, she'll be treated differently. Now, go back to your corner, you bottle cap! We're trying to talk to our diamond!”
“Shut up, you sadist bastard before I recycle you like the trash you are!”
The usual running gag of tormenting Reiji ended in failure when Reiji made an unexpected comeback, which caught Zetsu off guard.
Bloom chuckled sweetly, when she saw a confused Zetsu. And then spoke.
“Reiji is right. It wouldn't be fair for me not to be punished for falling asleep, at such an important time.”
“Eh?”
Reiji didn't expect Bloom to agree with him.
“…Well, if Bloom says so…”
“I guess it can't be helped..”
Chrome and Nico also surprisingly agreed.
“So, what kind punishment do you recommend, Reiji?”
Asked Bloom.
“Eh? Um…ah, that's right!”
Reiji seemed to have recalled something.
“The last time I fell asleep in a meeting, I was tied to a pole for the whole night!”
Reiji recalled a bad memory, and got angry just from remembering it.
“What's the big deal? We've all been through torture training, so that shouldn't be considered a punishment.”
Said Chrome.
“I was trained to withstand torture, not being tied to a pole butt naked in the winter!”
Reiji complained.
“Naked? I don't remember that.”
Chrome was skeptical.
“Well, that's not surprising, because Zetsu was the one who did it.”
Nico revealed what his brother had done in the past.
“I demand justice, dammit!”
Reiji completely believed what he said was right but-
“Ew. I can't believe you're saying that.”
“Eh?”
“To think that you would demand that Bloom is to be forcibly stripped, and tied to a pole.”
“Eh? No..”
“That's cold man, and you call me a sadist.”
But it only led to his downfall.
“Ah, no. I didn't mean it that way.”
“I thought better of you, Reiji.”
Said Chrome.
“To think you want to humiliate such a weak defenseless girl.”
Said Nico.
“Weak and defenseless?”
Hearing those words, Reiji recalled an incident where Silver Crow was battling against a rival organization. He remembered seeing that weak and defenseless girl crush 4 anti-magic tanks, and “threw” an entire building at an enemy helicopter.
(That girl is by no means weak or defenseless!)
Thought Reiji. He was beginning suspect that the his comrades were planning something. When-
“Reiji, please don't make me strip.”
Reiji heard a sweet and seductive voice call out to him. He turned his attention to Bloom.
“If you make strip, I'll cry.”
Her beautiful face had a embarrassed expression, and she looked like she was close to crying. And her angelic voice robbed Reiji of all the suspicion that he had. Not only that, it robbed him of all his senses.
“W-w-what have I done?!”
Reiji screamed, while holding his head.
“How could I've demand that she should do such a thing?! I'm the worst! I'm less than a human being! Oh god, strike me with lightning for my sin is unforgivable!”
Reiji went by the window got on his knees, and shouted at the sky. Of course, no lightning came.
“Even God as abandon a piece trash like me!”
For the third time, Reiji went into a corner to cry. His intimidating face is really wasted on him.
I blame the author.
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Zetsu and Nico were laughing uncontrollably, and was even rolling on the floor. While Chrome just shook her head and thought-
(Wow, men are really simple creatures. No. Maybe it's just him?)
She looked to her side, and saw Bloom wearing a wicked smile.
“You really love tormenting the opposite sex, Bloom.”
“Don't say it like that , Chrome. Reiji was just so cute that I had to tease him a little before I head out.”
“Head out? Where to?”
“To Le Nuit of course. I'm going to pay our friend Blanche, a little visit.”
Bloom said, with an intimidating, but seductive voice.
“Did you expect Blanche to make Kei Hanazawa his spy?”
“You give me too much credit, Chrome. I had always planned to pay him a visit, no matter the outcome of his meeting with Kei Hanazawa.”
Bloom had a playful smile on her face, but it wasn't childish. It was more like the smile woman make when they're flirting with a friend. A teasing smile.
“Then, I'll come with you.”
Chrome said.
“You guys stay here. If all of us visit at the same time, it will only put Blanche on edge.”
“…I see. I guess you're right.”
Chrome had a worried expression on her face. Seeing that, Megumi placed her hand on top of Chrome’s head.
“It will be okay. I'll back soon.”
She showed Chrome a gentle smile, and brought her face closer to hers, until their foreheads touched.
“So, don't make that face.”
“…Stop treating me like child, we’re the same age.”
Chrome moved her face away from Bloom and walked away.
(Did I tease her too much?)
Bloom shrugged her shoulders and walked towards the door.
“Oh Nico, didn't anything else happen while I was asleep?”
Nico stopped laughing, when he heard Bloom’s question.
“Yeah, something about a huge brawl among gang members in the 9th district. Apparently, someone with azure hair was running amok.”
He said.
“9th district? That's a commercial district. You guys should check up on that, while I'm away.”
“Roger.”
Everyone in the room including the crying Reiji responded to Bloom commands.
After that she left the room and walked to elevator, and waited until it opened.
“Eek!”
A couple stepped out of the elevator, and fell to ground in fright when they saw Bloom.
There was no smile on her face, and her glassy eyes looked like they had flames in them. Her once angelic face looked wicked and devilish. She was clearly furious and reason for this was the man who she was about visit.
Bloom ignored the couple that ran away, and stepped inside the elevator and waited for it to close.
“To think that Blanche is about gain more power. He's becoming too big of a threat to the city.”
She displayed a cruel smile.
“The best option is to eliminate him.”