Imperial Guest.

Dark stood by, waiting while the annoying sounds of clanging metals clanged against the ground within the shallow kiosk.

The sounds were so sharp but far away, sounding too far away for a kiosk so close. Dark watched the kiosk for any sign of movement, but still only saw shadows within the four-corner kiosk.

The clanging of metals stopped, and a girl ran out, she was visibly younger than Dark, shorter too. Her short blue hair was scattered and tattered, with her apron covered with grease and other stains. 

"What the— why are you so filthy?! You can't serve a customer like this, call someone else!" the gauche-looking young man barked at her.

"There is no one else, they all left, remember?!" The young girl yelled back. 

The man pressed his lips together.

"Well, that doesn't change how irritating you look. Go freshen up, and if he leaves while you're at it —" he leaned in closer, "—it's coming out of your paycheck!" 

"Got that?!" He stomped his hand on the pale wood.

The girl frowned before reluctantly nodding. She headed back inside.

Minutes later, the same girl raced out of the kiosk, panting. Her hair was neatly combed and dripping water, her apron was changed, and her face was washed.

She looked up at Dark, curving her lips slightly. She bent over the kiosk and brought out a form.

"Fill this out," she stretched her hand towards Dark, but the man quickly slapped it away.

"There's no need for that. Company says he's an imperial guest," he said, tapping the earbuds he had on.

"Imperial guest?" she said hesitantly.

"Go ahead and pick a weapon, company's paying." The man shrugged.

"I haven't seen one before," the girl whispered to the man, who ignored her.

"Tom-tom here would be your guide. She's the best I have at the moment." The man pointed a finger at the girl, like she had done something wrong.

She's the only one you have at the moment. Dark sneered.

"I can't follow him around, I told you I'm busy!" she yelled once more.

The man slammed his palm again, "Don't annoy me kid, you'll follow him to his home if I tell you!" he cursed.

Dark sighed,
They're really laid back.

↑→↓←↑→

About twenty minutes later and Dark was still walking beside Tom-tom through a row of the depository, or at least he did. With each stride, she visibly lagged behind, walking quite sluggishly.

"I'm sure you must have found something you'd like by now," She squealed from behind, her face reeking of dismay and boredom.
Dark scanned the shelves as he passed,

I don't actually see a thing that interests me here, no guns, I presume.

"Let's head back," he turned around, walking back to the young girl as she stared.

"What.. No, no, if we return to the registration center empty-handed, my boss would assume that I'm the reason you couldn't decide on anything, and then my salary would definitely be on the line." She choked, obstructing his way.

"Don't worry, I'm not tired at all!" She gripped his arm...

Finally coming to notice the sigil or crest sewn into the 'white' uniform.
The white crossing star symbol couldn't be woven so stylishly anywhere else. Then she saw the three most unearthly words she could think of, inscribed beneath it.

"L.S.P." She whispered, frozen, even her eyeballs didn't move as she watched the uniform.

Dark felt her fidgeting fingers grow colder and they pricked him. 

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She faced the ground instantly, her eyes searched the plain tiles. Carefully letting go of his arm, she quietly took some steps back, all while avoiding eye contact.

"I... I'm deeply sorry, I didn't notice you earlier." She bowed as low as 90°!

The atmosphere thickened, as quiet as a graveyard. The air flowed quietly around then but somehow she could hear every thread.

Her heart was pounding, and the unending silence was killing her from within.

Then the footsteps finally came,

Slow but heavy they drew closer to her, and her eyes, visibly red and strained, didn't disengage with it, untill it stopped before her.
Silence prevailed again.

Dark's shoulders shook with a sudden mild laugh, forcing the girl's head up.

"What happened to your big mouth and all that crazy energy? I guess power does mean everything everywhere," he cackled, patting her softly on the head.

Just then, reality glitched for a moment, Tom-tom's face was wiped clean off, immediately replaced with another, one Dark knew too well, a loved one. 

White hair, flowing graciously above her lovely smile, with black coloured pupils staring deep into his heart.But he quickly shook it off.

"You must have been hurt a lot," he smiled warmly, still patting her short blue hair.

"I knew someone like that. Pain changed her into something I won't admit she is. It's really sad." He let down his hand.

Tom-tom looked at him with glittering eyes, her pale lips slightly parted.

"Don't worry, I'm here." he continued as he slid his hands into his pockets.

With his smile fading, he turned round, progressing into the maze of weapons.

"Hey, where are you going?!" She still stammered as Dark got farther from her. 

And the loud one's back he frowned.

"Hey, answer me will you?!" She screeched still not moving along. Swallowing hard she waited for his response, she wasn't sure if she was dreaming.

"I decided to check out a few others before heading back, I might stumble upon something!" Dark hollered back, still on his way. 

"You'd really protect me from them?" she whispered.Tom-tom didn't know when she said it; her voice was low and shallow, but Dark still picked it up.

"I promised didn't I?" Dark waved without turning back.

Straightening her posture, her eyes poured out false confidence."Let's check over there, we've searched this aisle long enough." She zoomed over to him, hiding her red cheeks the best she could.


↑→↓←↑→


Back in the hallway, a man stood in the same elevator that had brought Dark down, his identity concealed, his demeanour intimidating. He was so tall, gifted with broad, imposing shoulders. 

He had on a black suit which was worn over a thin, red-striped white shirt; his shoes were black, shiny, and pointy like a vintage art piece. The tucked-in red tie, which complemented his entire attire, could not be overstepped. 

But the only thing he had on that didn't fit in the slightest was the giant black gas mask and the annoying breathing sounds he made with it. 

He was stopped on the floor labelled '-6A',

Heading out of the elevator he steadily threaded the same shallow hallway Dark did, one heavy step at a time. 

Pausing before a thick metal door, his breath became the only viable sound; his presence alone froze the airflow.

He brought out his right hand, ready to swing the door open, when he felt the presence of someone else, someone lingering in the dark, watching him. He stopped.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, I mean— you still want to keep that hand don't you?" A light masculine voice warned from the shadows. 

"I'm on a job, Get lost," the masked man said through his gas mask, his voice as thick and monster-like.

The voice from earlier went silent, then, after some time... giggling, very light and quite annoying giggling surfaced, the source finally stepping out of the shadows. 

From his build, he appeared to be a teenager of fairly impressive height. The ensemble was unsettlingly mismatched—a ninja's shinobi shozoku clashed with the manic grin of a clown mask, an effect compounded by the stark red sneakers on his feet.

The three golden stars resting on his left chest reflected the little light onto the stretched hand of the gigantic figure he faced.The gas mask growled, putting down his hand.

"I don't have time for peasants like you. Just run off and I'll pretend I didn't see you," The man stated, slightly facing the clown's way.

"My my, you're not even a captain and you dare look down on me? You old timers are truly crazy." He did a thumbs-up.

"I guess I'll have to put you in your place then," he said in an eerie voice as he wound his thumb to face the ground.

"My place?" The man chuckled, his ears tingled with every word.

He folded his fist, 

"Well then, I'll lend you some of my spare time. Don't die on me."