Red Runners

The boy ran through the village on an empty road out of breath from running in the heat of noon.He wore a torn up maroon shirt and black pants that were kept on his body with small pieces of rope, his hair was kept out of his face with a red bandana.

"Hey you brat come back here!" a voice yelled from behind.He glanced back to see Jiro chasing after him letting off clouds of steam.

"Seriously!" the boy muttered to himself, annoyed.The boy ran forward to what seemed to be a tunnel.Jiro followed him through to a huge village built inside what seemed to be a cave.While Jiro was distracted by the scenery the boy slipped into a crowd of people.The boy swiftly maneuvered through the crowd of people and ran.

"Hey stop that kid!" Jiro yelled from behind as he got lost in the crowd."dammit… gotta search around.."

**

"We can track him huh?" Yuriko muttered as she dragged herself across the hot sun following sandy tracks still on the empty road.She paused for a moment and sulked."DAMMIT JIRO YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE A LADY LIKE THIS!"

Yuriko angrily continued to stomp forward following two sets of footprints.

**

The crowd was chattering away, Jiro without any clear options moved forward.He walked through the crowd looking around the village.

"Not the most colorful village…" he muttered to himself as he moved forward.

"Do you require any assistance?" said a soft voice, Jiro stopped and looked in front of him to see a young man around the same age as him a little slim and short.He had long spiky black hair reaching his waist and a wore a sleeveless jacket shirtless underneath.

"Uhh yeah.." said Jiro hesitant until he saw the spear that the man was holding."Some kid stole the food we bought and we followed him into this uhh village?"

"We?" said the man as he looked around for another person.

"huh?" Jiro looks around shocked as he realizes."AH YURIKO!"

"Yuriko? Is that your companion?" He questioned."Could she be in danger?"

"No she's fine but I might be in for an earful." Jiro sighed."My name's Jiro, and you are?"

"Hm? My name is Omori," said Omori, seeming quite occupied with his thoughts."Was the thief perhaps wearing a red bandana?"

"Ohh you're spot on man do you know him?" Jiro exclaimed.

"Know him? Not necessarily but I do know where to find him" said Omori as he walked off."follow me."

**

The boy stopped at an entrance to a closed of alley way.He weaved through the junk and went inside.He passed through the alley full of crooks who wore red scarves or bandanas.

"Ah look who's back!" a man yelled as the boy approached .The man was huge standing at almost 10 feet tall, shirtless his muscles bulging.A red tattoo starting from his shoulders down to his chest.He had very short brown hair and eyes.Next to the man was a someone wearing a black mask completely covering his face except his eyes and had long black hair wrapped into a ponytail.

"Reijiro! What's that you brought me?" The buff man yelled as he sat down in a huge chair that seemed specifically designed for him.

"Could you say that again I can't SEEM TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING" Reijiro yelled back.The man looked annoyed.

"Show some respect to the boss brat-" The masked person said before getting cut off by the boss laughing.

"It's fine Machimo, He's quite the…" The boss pauses as he hears yelling coming from the alley.The people around them drew all of their weapons.A body flew across the alley and landed in front of the three following Omori entering rotating his spear to a more firm grip along with Jiro who walked behind him with his hands in his pocket.Garai raised his hand to which everyone around lowered their weapon.

"You're pretty strong huh?" Jiro whistled as he looked around the unconscious bodies trailing them.

"Oh? What do we have here? The Yuzbashi himself came to see me?" said the boss grinning as he stood up.Towering over everyone with his immense height. "It's been awhile, Omori."

"hm? Yuzbashi?" said Jiro, confused.

"Garai, one of your people has stolen something from this person." said Omori calmly as he looked up at Garai, both of them keeping their distance.Omori looked like an ant near Garai.

"Huh? So this random person tells u a guy with a bandana stole his stuff and u coming knocking my guys out?" said Garai dramatically."A little much coming from The Yuzbashi don't you think?"

"Hey I'm not lying it was that brat over there!" said Jiro pointing at Reijiro who stuck his tongue out at him.

"The child stole from the Peimer's bakery, Garai." said Omori calmly.

"Oh? Oi Reijiro where did you steal that from?" Garai asked as he turned to Reijiro.

"Uhh hehe…" Reijiro had managed to confess guilty with no words.

"Dammit you idiot, I told you not to go there." said Garai as he grabbed the bag of food and handed it over to Jiro. "I'll just give to you here and you can be on your way."

"Oh thanks." said Jiro thinking of how smoothly that went.

"The child is to come with me as well" said Omori to which Garai's whole demeanor changed.

"Hey don't be such a stick up, he's just a child," said Garai as he moved closer to Omori."Plus we gave the stuff back."

"The agreement we had was you to keep your business here and not outside the Underground," said Omori not breaking a sweat as a ten foot giant lingered over him."The child broke the rules so he should be punished."

"Ahh well I can't just let you take him then can I?" And as Garai said this everyone around them raised their weapons once again.

"Hey this is a little much don't you think?" said Jiro nervously."I got my stuff back and I don't really want the kid to be punished so we can leave it at that."

By this time neither of them were listening, both of them releasing their vigor.

"HUUUGE" Ray's voice was heard as he entered Garai's grounds along with Yuriko and Tenki floating beside them."Is that a real dude?!"

Ray was beyond excited seeing a man so huge.

"Shhh Ray, he can hear you!" Yuriko whispered loudly, scared witless.

"Oi Omori," said Tenki as he approached them."Leave that kid be"

"Huh a floating child?" said Garai, his expression softened by surprise.

"You wanna die?" said Tenki, annoyed.

"Lord Tenki, forgive me for questioning your judgment but should we not be following strict guidelines in our agreement with the red runners?" said Omori as he turned to Tenki.

"Pfft lord?" Ray, Jiro and Yuriko chuckled amongst themselves.

"Shutup," said Tenki, looking even more annoyed."Listen Omori sometimes you just gotta let it slide, it didn't hurt anyone did it.Plus he's just a kid"

Both Garai and Reijiro look confused as Tenki called Reijiro a kid.

"hey he's a kid too right?" Garai whispered to Machimo who nodded unsure.

"I suppose so…" said Omori hesitantly."But to enforce the rules we must-"

"Yeah yeah just leave it at that will you?" said Tenki frustrated."But we still will be taking… Reijiro was it?"

"Huh?" Garai grunted surprised."Why? You said it yourself right he's just a kid!"

"Calm down, let me rephrase." said Tenki."If he wants to, Reijiro is welcome to join Nadir's special ranks."

"Huh?!" the trio with Tenki exclaimed.

"But I thought special ranks have powers?" said Jiro, shocked.

"Aren't you supposed to be the smart one?" Tenki retorted."That kid out ran you didn't he? While you were using your ability."

"Huh yeah but.." Jiro began until he realized."HEY HOW LONG HAD YOU BEEN WATCHING?!"

"Not long," said Tenki."I saw the kid lead you into the Underground while I was flying to Peimer's with Ray."

"As one would expect from the Lord Tenki, he deduced all that information in seconds of observation." said Omori, genuinely impressed.Ray made a weird face as he stared at Omori who praised Tenki of all people.Jiro and Yuriko joined.

"Well if he wants to…" said Garai looking toward Reijiro.

"Why should I?" said Reijiro annoyed."That guy was trying to punish me"

He pointed at Omori.

"Ah well it's fine if you dont wanna," said Tenki as he turned around."Let's go guys."

The other began to walk off alongside Tenki floating around while Reijiro scowled.

"Hey! Hey! Now wait a damn minute," Garai yelled as he picked Reijiro up off the ground with his enormous hands.Tenki grinned."I've had enough of this little shit."

"Huh?! HEY WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" Reijiro yelled in a panic.

"Since I'm technically his guardian, as long as I give my blessing you can take him away right?" said Garai grinning, as Reijiro stunned.

"Mhm." Tenki confirmed smirking.

"Perfect, here, he's all yours!" said Garai as he slinged Reijiro back.

"H-hey wait-" before Reijiro could finish Garai flung him at Tenki who formed a huge cloud hand and caught him.

"Ah thank you for your business." said Tenki as he floated away with Reijiro in his hand.

"woo new team member!" said Ray in excitement.

"Everyones a new team member for you, dummy." said Yuriko, rolling her eyes.

"HEY I'M NOT SOME PRODUCT YOU CAN'T JUST TRADE ME OFF." Reijiro yelled as he struggled to get out of the cloud hand's hold."DAMN YOU, YOU BIG OAF GARAI."

"GOOD RIDDANCE YOU BRAT!" Garai yelled back cackling.

"Dammit what happened to defending your own." said Reijiro as he continued to struggle more.

"Shut up you've already ruined our day enough." said Tenki as clouds began to cover Reijiro's mouth, gagging him.They all went off without another problem.

"You sure that was a good idea boss?" Machimo asked concerned.

"Well it's better than hanging out with a gang right?" Garai sighed as he sat down in his chair."living like this isn't for a child."

"We were all children once…" Machimo said doubtfully.

"Agh shut up and let me have my moment okay!" Garai snapped as he grabbed a bottle from a crate near the chair and chugged it.