“T.E.N.A.N.T.”

Author’s Notes: Yay for spring break and downtime before the final push! Another chapter done.

“We regret to inform you that you’re being sent on leave.”

“For how long?”

The men glanced between themselves. “We’re not sure,” replied the one with the goatee.

“I see.” They’re getting rid of me. “If that is all…” he trailed off, standing.

“There are a number of office positions available, if you would like to remain…in the loop, one could say…”

“With all due respect, Sir, I must decline. I’d never be happy in a cubicle or behind a desk.”

“I thought you would say that,” he muttered, sounding almost…sad.

Saluting, Cha walked to the door, but paused there. “Sir…” he began, turning back to the men at the table. “May I ask a question?”

“It’s never stopped you before,” replied the man in the middle, sounding rather astonished at the request.

That was before. “I would like to know who is taking charge of my men.”

“Lieutenant Nishida. I believe you know him.”

“Ryu…” he whispered and lowered his eyes. “Ryu’s a good choice. He’ll take care of them.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

*****

“We’ve got movement!” shouted one of the men in the outlooks. “Heading from the north!”

“How many?” Ren called back, releasing the safety on his gun and stepping towards the woods.

“Not many. Two…maybe three.”

“Sounds like escapees,” the man beside him added.

“Don’t take any chances,” the redhead ordered, “Be prepared for anything that comes out of there.” Behind him, he could hear the foot soldiers readying for combat, getting into formation, checking their weapons. Before him, in the sheltered darkness of the trees, there came the slow movements of whatever set off the censors. If it was another false alarm and some animal lumbered into the encampment, he’d probably shoot it anyway, so sick of the silence was he.

But it wasn’t an animal.

Crashing through the brush and toppling over into the clearing was a young man in TS uniform. He was pale with dark hair. Regaining his composure, he stood, dusted himself off and looked out at the lines of unfamiliar faces.

Ren’s gun clattered to the ground as he rushed forward and threw himself into Masa’s arms. The two men laughed as they collapsed to the ground. “My God, you’re alive! You’re alive!” Pushing himself off of the other man, the redhead looked down at him, suddenly worried. “What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine, Ren,” Masa smiled.

“Did anyone follow you?”

“Yes, actually,” came another voice from above them. Startled, Ren jumped to his feet but his fear melted away when he found himself looking up into Gackt’s eyes. The taller man shook his head. “That’s rather unprofessional of you, you know – tackling a man in the enemy’s clothes and smothering him with affection.” He clicked his tongue before smiling warmly down at the two men.

“I’ll have to work on that,” Ren grinned. “Are you alright?” he asked, noticing the red stains on the taller man’s uniform.

“For the most part. I am in need of a doctor though…” Before Ren could call someone over however, he grabbed his arm with surprising speed. Pulling him close, he whispered, “There’s one more, but he won’t come out – the guns frighten him.”

Ren blinked up at him and then squinted into the shadows. What he saw he couldn’t believe. “How--?” he gasped, glancing between Gackt and the forest. Without turning to his men, he said, “Lower your weapons.”

“Sir?”

Now he did turn to them. “Lower your weapons!” he shouted. “Drop them. To the ground, Nishikawa…”

Once the racket had dissipated, and the 4^th stood unarmed, Gackt beckoned to the third member of his party who took a hesitant step out of the darkness and stood beside the other two, expressionless.

Turning to the soldiers before him, Ren swallowed down his own shock and spoke. “Don’t let their dress fool you. These men are brothers to the 4^th. I will not hear otherwise.”

*****

“Come in, come in,” Cha smiled, moving aside to allow Ren to enter the apartment. “Don’t mind the mess…I haven’t had the energy to really clean.”

The shorter man shook his head, stepping into the other’s home. “Why would I mind? It’s still cleaner than the barracks.”

The older man snorted as he shut the door behind him. “That’s not saying much, you know.”

Removing his boots, Ren laughed. “Yeah, I suppose not. Sorry.”

“Make yourself at home. I’ll be in the kitchen – I need to try to get some of this paint off…”

He could hear him turn on the water from the drawing room. Wandering around he eyed the canvases propped up in various places. Cityscapes he’d never seen, flowers, fruit, people…“You’re a painter?” he asked.

“And you’re a Lieutenant,” Cha replied, returning to lean against the doorframe while he scrubbed at his hands with the rag. “Congratulations. Where are you stationed?”

The flat tone in the other’s voice suddenly made him feel subconscious about his change of status. He wished he had had time to change out of the uniform before stopping by the humble apartment. “I requested to stay with the 4^th,” he said, not meeting the other’s eyes, “but depending on how things heat up in the west, they might send me over there.”

“Ah.”

“Ryu was all too happy to leave it to me as well…”

Cha smiled, “Ryu’s always been one for action. I knew he would be good to the 4^th, but it’s not where he should be. He’s put to much better use in the front lines.” He was quiet for a moment. “You’ll be good to the 4^th too.”

Encouraged, Ren looked up to meet his old superior’s eyes. “Thank you, Sir.”

The other man chuckled and shook his head, waving his finger in front of him. “Not ‘Sir’ anymore. Just Cha.”

“Cha, then. Thank you.”

Tossing the rag back into the kitchen, Cha reached back and pulled the tie from his hair, shaking it out about his head. “Now…” he began, “I know you didn’t just come here to brag about your promotion.” He smiled, “What’s up?”

Ren bit his lip. “I think we should go sit down.”

The older man cocked his head to the side but nodded and led the other into a small dining room, from the look of it, and gestured for the other to sit at the table with him. Ren took his seat in the offered chair while Cha took the one opposite him.

Taking a deep breath, he began, “The night before…everything went bad…and we had to run…those years ago…do you remember?”

The smile faded almost instantly from Cha’s face. “…yes.”

“You were with Gackt and Masa. Do you know…what was said? Or why Masa stayed with him?”

“No. I wasn’t….I wasn’t in the room with them when they were talking.”

Ren sighed. “For a time afterwards, I was scared. I got defensive. I thought that maybe…maybe they knew--”

“They couldn’t have.”

“I know. And I knew that. Because I knew Masa. And I knew Gackt. Neither of them is cold-blooded enough to pull something like that.”

“Neither one of them is cold-blooded, period,” Cha said softly.

Ren paused for a moment. “The reason I ask is because…they’re back.”

That got Cha’s attention. “What?”

“They’re back,” he smiled. “There was a firefight and they escaped to the south, to the 4^th.” Cha gasped and moved to stand, but Ren grabbed his forearms to hold him in place.

“Are they alright? What happened? Are they here?”

“They’re fine, they’re fine. Masa’s healthy as can be, and Gackt…Gackt’s been injured, but he’s okay. They’re here in the city, but…you can’t see them. Not yet. The only people who know about them are the 4^th and headquarters. But I needed to tell you. You’re as much a part of the 4^th as I am. I had to tell you.” He smirked then. “And their status isn’t classified, so I can tell you.”

Cha blinked back the tears that sparkled in his eyes. This was probably the best news he’d had in months. Meeting Ren’s eyes, he smiled. “Will you bring them here? To talk to me?”

“If they pass their interrogations.”

Cha laughed sharply, “Well Masa’s got nothing to hide, and Gackt…you know he’ll pass it.”

“That’s what I told them, but they insisted. And it’s not as if he’s never played double-cross before.”

“But not against us.”

“I told them that too,” Ren said quietly. “There’s…there’s something else I want to tell you…that I need to tell you…but that is classified…so I can’t, but--”

“Don’t.”

“But you need to know.”

“Not yet. Not if it’s classified.”

“…since when do you play by the rules?” Ren smirked, sitting back in his chair to cross his arms over his chest.

Cha smiled. “Since one of my friends got promoted.”

*****

It took all of Gackt’s effort not to laugh at the faces the soldiers before him were making at him. Or maybe it was his history they couldn’t quite get their heads wrapped around. “Should I start over, or…?”

“No, no. It’s just--,” the man in charge cleared his throat, “--it’s just a story like yours is rather…”

“Unlikely? Unbelievable?”

“Incredible.”

“Oh, it’s quite credible, I assure you,” Gackt said. “In fact, if you go talk to the group interrogating Masa – who was on your side to begin with – you’ll find that mine lines up rather nicely with his. And if you still don’t take my word for it, you can plug me into another one of those machines, the uh…” he gestured aimlessly with his hand, searching for the word.

“The psyche catechization processors?”

“Yes!” Gackt snapped his fingers and pointed at the young man in the back corner. “Those. Actually, I think I’m already on your database, if my memory serves me correctly.”

The man at the other end of the table flipped through some paper work before nodding. “Yes, you are.”

At that point, he allowed himself to smile, and pointed to the pack of cigarettes lying on the table. “Do you mind?”

“No, not at all.”

“Thank you.” He pulled a stick from the carton and brought it to his lips. “Spare a light?”

One of the men in the other back corners stepped forward, and flicked his lighter until a small flame appeared. Gackt puffed a few times until the cigarette was burning sufficiently before waving the younger man away with a nod of thanks. Pulling the stick from between his lips, he regarded the head of the team. “Now,” he began, breathing smoke into the air, “what do you want to talk about?”

*****

There was a knock at the door and Cha jumped, cursing. He wasn’t used to this entire “visitors” thing. Turning off the television, he grabbed his glass of brandy and called out, “It’s open!” as he made his way into the main room. He grinned when he got there and found Ren poking his head into the apartment. “Come in Ren, you’re not a stranger. How have you been?”

“Fine, thanks.” The younger man smiled, trying to hide the embarrassed blush spreading across his cheeks. Clearing his throat, he continued, “I brought someone to see you.” Gackt entered the apartment behind him, taking a glance around before meeting Cha’s eyes.

“Gackt! How are you?” Cha asked, stepping forward and smiling brightly.

“Fine, but it’s not me Ren brought to see you.” Stepping aside, he allowed the third member of the party enter the room.

Cha felt his heart stop and there was the shattering of crystal as the glass he had been holding fell to the floor.