Gears and cogs spin, singing rapidly as my eyes dart from one page to another. The sound was irritating, like knives plunging into my ears, digging into my mind. But that pain, that annoyance...it reminded me that I'm alive. The dark, damp wear house air left my skin feeling sticky, but it didn't matter. I had to finish, I had to make them pay. I looked up, a file spread before me. (Gamer, right-hand woman of the Peacekeepers. Chishamiso's ability: Game on - she can copy the abilities of videogame characters. She may not match them in power, but her ability to pull off their moves makes her very agile and versatile. Weakness: unknown.) "Damn that Lycoris, this information is practically useless. I already know what they can do, I need to know how to kill them." My eyes darted down to the other file (Nightmare, third in command of the Peacekeepers. She is much stronger than Gamer, but due to her ability, she seems to be narcoleptic. Chishamiso: Lullaby - if she whispers a lullaby into your ear, you will fall asleep. One would think this is a weakness, but she once cleared a room of over 100 trained warriors in a matter of minutes. Nobody knows what she whispers to her opponents because once you sleep, you are already dead. Weakness, tediousness. She struggles to stay awake; if you bore her, she will fall asleep, and you can take advantage.)
I looked down at a Vile. A glowing lime green liquid shimmering inside. I lifted it to my eye and stared deeply into it. "Will this even work? Will it be enough?". The warehouse door slowly swung open behind me as a young man stepped in. His sharp eyes shine a quiet and gentle flame. "What do U want, Liam?"
He stopped and shifted onto one leg, looking down and out of place.
"I don't know if you two were friends, but Lycoris is dead."
I turned around and grabbed a wrench, "we weren't. Is that all you wanted? If so. Please leave."
"N-no, I."
"God's sake, Liam, spit it out." I turned around again.
"You are hunting them down, aren't you. The people who killed your brother. I can help."
"Not too long ago, I thought YOU were responsible," I mumbled as I continued working.
"You what?" He asked, seemingly a little hurt.
"Ya, I know, it was stupid. I don't wanna talk about it, okay."
"Okay? At least tell me what made you change your mind."
"You were willing to enslave yourself to save Hisashi. Anyone willing to do that for him..." I sighed. "You aren't the type.to sell your friends out is what I'm saying."
"Okay," he seemed to relax again. "What made you think I was guilty?" I slammed the desk hard and looked at him.
"Drop it."
"I deserve to know Hida."
"....haaa...he was investigating you, and Itsuki. Apparently, you two are pretty close."
"W-we are."
"So that fight was fake?"
"Technically, no. We weren't fighting to kill, just competing to see who deserves to lead."
"Lead what?" He opened his arms wide and proudly proclaimed.
"The island, of course. The rule was that whoever loses has to give the island over to whoever wins if they ever become leader. I came first, so if Itsuki or Amber wins, they have to give the island to me."
"That's stupid," I said quickly.
"Better than killing each other." He sat next to me, facing the desk. His eyes darted from one contraption to another, then stopped as they focused on the green liquid in my hand. My heart stopped at that moment. "What's that?" He asked. (I could lie to him, he probably won't be able to tell right.) "It's..." I looked in his eyes, concern... that's what I found. "It's an augmenter for Chishamiso." My body will be able to handle my abilities at a higher level." (He told me the truth about Itsuki, I should do the same.)
"Wait, but Miso abilities work like muscles, wouldn't boosting them increase the recoil?"
"I need it."
"Hida-"
"I NEED IT!" I yelled, cutting him off. "Nightmare and Gamer...they were strong...too strong. Alone I'm dead, but with this!" I shook it in front of Liam. "With this, I stand a chance."
"Hida, but you aren't alone." I paused, frozen in astonishment.
"Liam, I'm not looking to arrest them, I want blood." He bent down, wrapping his arms around me.
"They hurt you, they have it coming." His voice was cold, like ice. "As long as I'm here, you'll never need that thing." He let me go as he grabbed the vial, placing it in my toolbox.
"We have a job to do, Hida. Are you coming?" My eyes teared up a little, but I quickly wiped them away.
"Ya," I said with determination.