Len's P.O.V.

"Kamui, are you absolutely sure it was the Eros? We don't want to just bust 'em up over false statements!"

"For the hundredth time: yes! I'm sure of it, Gumi. They wore their stupid white masks! They took aim at both [_____] and me. Go ahead and take a look at her! This poor kid's got all sorts of injuries that match their previous attacks. I'm not sure if [_____] saw any of them, but I... I tried shielding her from them. We were out in the northeastern side of the forest, but they still felt too close to the base."

I sat before them, staring at my hands with almost no conviction as Gakupo and Gumi went back and forth in my office. Their voices echoed through halls, shaking the house apart, but all I could really hear was abysmal shouting. For the first time in so long, I felt drained. Numb. I lacked the strength to even shut them up; listening to their endless bickering. Everything from my breakup to having both [_____] and Gakupo hurt... that day spiraled out of control.

"Hey, could you guys go to your rooms for this?" I finally managed to find my voice. Although my tone was halfhearted.

"I'd've expected you to have an input on this." Gumi stated as she crossed her arms. She took one look at my posture and realized I wasn't myself.

"You not feeling well?"

"I'm just fine, thank you. As for now, I'll keep thinking of solutions and when I have the necessary resources, I'll track you guys down to help me. As Gumi said, I don't want to go up to them with false evidence. But I don't want to rule out the possibility of these Eros fuckers out there. That area is still part of our territory; we claimed it last year."

Gakupo took notice of the distance in my voice and ushered Gumi towards the door.

"We'll try and keep quiet," he whispered over his shoulder before closing the door. Even after they left, I could hear their quieted voices still engaged in deep argument. Finally the two were out of earshot and it gave me some peace but not a whole lot. No matter what I did, I felt like shit. I couldn't dislodge this anxiety out of my chest. I felt awful for allowing this on my watch. I assumed full responsibility of her-promising everything would be safe without the commitment to what a gang would entail-and this... this is what happens when you mix bystanders and gangs.

My fight with Neru before all this didn't go so well either. Everything shattered before my eyes and I don't know if I'll ever be able to piece it back together.

Neru stormed off as I followed after her angrily. She barely made her way down the hall when I grabbed at her wrist and pulled her into one of the rooms. I spun her around to face me and kept my back pressed to the door.

"Mind letting me go?" she asked indifferently, holding up her right arm that had my hand attached to her wrist. God, I hated when she'd act like that.

"Mind telling me what the fuck just happened in there?"

She rolled her eyes, her gaze meeting my furrowed brow, "She needed to learn."

"Learn what? Neru, you can't treat people like that! She didn't do anything to hurt you and yet you just attack her?!" I let go of her wrist as I flung my hands into the air, "I knew you had a jealous streak and I found it endearing when you would cozy up on my arm, but you've taken it too far. You can't just hurt people like that."

"Oh, and what you used to do was better?" she glowered at me.

"I was an asshole, but I'm not about to justify my bullshit actions."

"Hypocrite," she spat, a hiss to her tone.

"No, Neru. I've changed and so have you. I'm bettering myself while you're acting like a complete diva. I can't be with you if you're going to continue to act like this. Please go apologize to [_____], she didn't deserve that."

"No way, you're not breaking up with me on your terms just because of some other girl."

"Then we can't be together. I'm sorry it had to be this way, but if you-"

Neru slapped me, stomping angrily.

"Whatever. I'm not going to listen to this. Bye."

She stormed off again and I couldn't do anything. I left to the common room to find most had dispersed. The whole scenario before was quite the telenovela. I glanced around the room, hoping [_____] was still there, but Teto looked up from her conversation with Miku and motioned for me to come over. I did so and Miku walked away.

"[_____] ran outside and Gakupo followed after her. I can't believe Neru would do something that cruel, what the hell." she frowned, crossing her arms.

I shook my head, "Doesn't matter, she had no right to do that and so I... I broke up with her."

"Whoa, you did?!" Rin exclaimed from behind me. I grimaced and turned. Rin had just sunk into the couch with some snacks, "Damn, I'm proud of you. She wasn't the best girlfriend."

I rolled my eyes, I wanted to end this conversation about Neru. I had more pressing matters to deal with due to [____] running off... the forest was too dense and slippery. I hope Gakupo caught up to her.

"I think she'll be fine," Teto placed her hand on my shoulder, flashing me a soft smile, "Gakupo is one of our best and you know it. [_____] is in good hands."

Reader's P.O.V.

I was reading a book outside under a tree. Though I couldn't quite concentrate on the words. Each felt a little fuzzy and every time I dwelled on a single word, it lost its value. I shut the book, taking in a breath of the rich air surrounding me. A forest and a gaggle of kids around my age. How peculiar, yet interesting.

"Ah! [_____]!"

I turned to my left to see a purple-haired girl bounding up to me, "You haven't happened to see Leon anywhere, right?"

Her voice carried a chipper resonance til she mentioned Leon; her tone turning venomous. I had to admit I hadn't seen him at all. I think she was Defoko? I could be wrong...

"Not today, I'm sorry!" I frowned.

"Darn... I still owe him a knuckle sandwich I swear. The nerve of that boy!" she sighed, a cold glaze taking over her expression, "Oh well, it's fine, [_____]. Thanks anyways!"

I smiled and waved as she left. After taking another breather to clear my mind, I decided to go back to reading the book. It said that this ship had crashed into an iceberg... how ironic. It's almost as if life imitates art.

A leaf fluttered from the tree above and brushed against my arm. When I went to check if there was a bug, the healing cuts on my arm caught my attention. Who did this to me? And why? I then started to examine my legs. There were fading bruises, cuts, and unusual markings on my calves. Whatever had happened, I was surely in harms way.

The one thing that really ate at me was these deep gashes in my left calf. "XXX"? What did that even mean? What was going on before all this?

"Good morning, [_____]!" another peppy voice exclaimed. I looked up wildly to see a girl in front of me.

"Hello... Momo?" I drawled her name. It was a shot in the dark; I was having a difficult time remembering their names even though they all had greeted me before. Her eyes lit up with a dramatic gasp as she clasped her hands to her chest.

"Yes! That's my name!"

I smiled at that, "Hey, I've been meaning to ask someone, but I never got around to it. Where are we, exactly? We're in a forest from what I can tell, but that's about it."

"Oh, you're here at our ba-" Momo was cut short by the one known as Leon.

"This is just our hideout, [_____]. We're kinda like runaways who all need a place to convene. Come to me anytime and I'll always have a place for you, aight princess?"

I realized he was an obnoxious sort of character and all I could do was huff and shake my head.

"First of all, I'm no princess. Secondly, don't ever say that again: to anyone." I glared. Momo shoved Leon away. He stumbled on a tree stump midway and cursed out a couple of words. Momo and I rolled our eyes and caught each other. We shared a small laugh after that.

"I'm so sorry, [_____] he hits on all the girls. He's a pure idiot."

Momo sat beside me and we talked a little more. It was obvious everyone here was holding something back, especially about where we were located, but I didn't want to pry any further. It was strange, but I felt safest here with them.

*****

Third-Person

"Are you sure you wish to turn your back on them to join us?"

"Oh, I'm sure."

"Eager of you, but what would you do to prove that you're not still working for them?"

"I know everything. Locations, codes, and all the members and even smaller groups working with them. I have lists of weaknesses and strengths that I'm sure would be invaluable to you. I mean, they're only your number one rival. It wouldn't be that hard to crush them with all of this... but if I'm not wanted here either, I can always take this to someone else who has need of this information."

"I'll need to see proof, but I think we'll do just fine. Welcome aboard."