Missing

Author: Lariat


The boy came running into the room and quickly closed the door behind him. He was slightly out of breath and seemed to be cautious, in a panic. But he let out a sigh of relief, from whatever he was reassured of, and proceeded to take safety inside the room. When he turned around, however, he was met with the surprise of three of his comrades already standing there, waiting for him.

"Ryuu." The Talon started in an irritated tone, tapping his foot. "Where have you been?"

Ryuu took a few steps back, almost against the wall. "I...I...I..." His wide eyes were zipping around the room, contemplating the words he should say in this situation. The few beads of sweat on his face showed how nervous he was. He didn't know what to do in such a situation.

"Well?" The Talon asked, tapping his foot even faster.

"I...I...I...was...out!" Ryuu replied, giving a nervous grin. Nobu cocked an eyebrow.

"I know you were out. Out where, exactly?"

"Um..." His eyes trailed down to the ground for a moment, then looked back at his unit leader with a scowl. "Well...S-So what if I went out? I don't have to tell you everything about my personal life!"

"Ryuu, as your unit leader, I order you to tell me where you went." Taiki said, putting his hands on his hips, even more irritated at his subordinate's defiance.

"No." He said flatly. "Why should I anyway?"

"Ugh! Because-"

Iroki stepped forward with a look of worry. "We thought something bad happened to you!"

Ryuu's eyes were still wide from shock. "...R-Really?"

Taiki looked away to the ground with guilt in his eyes, Nobu stayed poker-faced, and Iroki nodded. "Yeah..." He looked back and forth between the scenery outside the window and Ryuu. "We heard that a killer is on the loose, on a killing spree, and that his victims are killed without anyone noticing and Lunar Corps soldiers are already dispatched around the city and... and... and..."

Ryuu's eyes softened. "So...you thought I was one of those victims?" Nobu narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the kind of tone Ryuu was using.

Taiki crossed his arms, stating boldly, "As your unit leader, anything that happens to you is my responsibility! It wouldn't look good for me if you ended up getting murdered..." He looked back at him, his hands were slightly shaking and gripped his sleeves. "So...it would only be natural to worry about you and ask where you went."

"You guys..." That soft tone of voice again. Those sad looking eyes. Nobu had enough of this behavior. He walked over to Ryuu, looked down at the boy, and put his hand on his head as if he were grabbing it. "Uh, Nobu...? What is it?"

"...That's it." He muttered,

"...Huh? What is?"

Nobu gripped on his head even harder. "So, where is Ryuu really," Nobu pulled off the head of hair --a wig, actually--revealing and letting down the bunched up blond hair. "...Haru?"