This Is My Battleground

Chapter 3
Episode 1 Scene 3

You know what? It's empowering to know you have superiority over someone. My empowerment was my whip, my superiority was over that rookie bastard. Making fun of my chest...I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW I'M ALMOST A B 38 LIKE MIKU. Cough. You didn't hear me say that. Anyway, right now I was whipping Len into shape. And I mean that literally. We ran laps in the running gym of the training center and when ever he slowed down, I cracked the whip at his heels. At this point, I really hope he doesn't become a masochist.

"Rin!" I stop for a moment and turned towards the voice. From the balcony that over looked the gym and waved back at my brunette friend, Meiko. She jogged downstairs and I looked back at Len who was collapsed on the ground.

"You can take a break, rookie," I said, cheerfully.

"Rinny!" Meiko called, jumping onto my back.

"HOLY CRAP!" I yelled, falling. "Meiko! You know you're heavier than I am!" She laughed and rolled off of me. I sat up and dusted off my jacket. "Jeez, I think you broke my back."

"Sorry!" she chirped. "Anyway, how's that rookie doing?" Meiko was one of the older people in the top group. She was about twenty, more or less. And before you say anything about her-

"Holy shit, your jugs are HUGE!" Len exclaimed, walking over to us.

...

I busted out laughing as Meiko took the whip from me. She held both ends of the whip and pulled them apart to emit a loud, sharp, cracking sound. You see, Meiko doesn't like it at ALL when people mention her breast. The only reason she didn't get a breast reduction was because Miku wanted to use her to distract the male Utau soldiers. I'll let your mind imagine what happens next. She basically, she flirts with them, seduces them, takes them to her room, and ...kills them. What did you think I was gonna say? You pervert. Haha, just kidding.

"Meiko, take it easy on him," I joked. Meiko had that evil glare in her eyes and continued her whipping at Len's feet. Poor guy got another work out by running from her. Damn, I wish I had popcorn.

"MEIKO, THAT'S ENOUGH." Meiko slowed to a stop and we averted our attention to Miku who tapped her foot angrily. She walked up to Meiko and snatched the whip from her. "As much as I enjoy his pain, you have to get back to training the lower rank." She pointed to me. "Rin, it's your job to train him. If isn't... house broken by the next week, expect consequences for both you and him." She handed me the whip and dragged Meiko out by the ear. I stood up and sighed.

"Rookie, you heard the boss," I said, curling the whip up. "Since I'm merciful, we're going to take a break and I'm going to lecture you." I slid the whip back into its compartment and pulled out a collar and leash. "This is how we train people like you in the high ranks. Don't look at me like that; it's not a shock collar...yet." I quickly slid it around his neck and made sure he didn't choke himself on it.

"Kinky," he said, winking.

"Bad dog." Zap.

"YOU SAID IT WASN'T A SHOCK COLLAR!"

"And you said you were part of Utau," I retaliated. "Point is, everyone lies." I tugged gently on the leash. "Let's go for a walk, boy." He complied and we walked out of the training center.

"Hey, your name's Rin, right?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Why are you training me so hard?" he asked. I stopped and turned to him with a look that said 'Are you stupid?' "Hey, it's just a question."

"So you don't DIE when we're on the battleground," I said. "Obviously." He rolled his eyes. "What?"

"I'm not stupid enough to die on the battleground," he responded. "Just try me." I raised my eyebrow.

"Alright then," I said, smirking. "Let's get you out there, but I want you to know that I'm not going to save your stupid ass."

We were at the gates that lead to the battleground. They where large, blackish-blue gates that towered above our heads to prevent access to the base. Beyond it, you could hear the gunfire and shouts from the different parties fighting against each other. I removed the leash from Len's collar, but that's as much as I could do. It was necessary to keep the collar on him for tracking...and I forgot the keys upstairs that unlock the thing. Len was taking deep breathes to calm his nerves as I loaded up his shotgun. When I looked back at him, he had a brave face of, almost bored. I'm not stupid. I saw the fear in his eyes. Ha.

"Ready for this?" I asked him.

"Bring it." I nodded and went to the control room. Kiyoteru was monitoring the cameras that are placed on the gates and I pointed to something under a pile of car rubble.

"Oh no..." I gasped. "Kiyo, open the gates! I need to get out there!" He nodded.

"Stock up, first," he warned. I groaned and slid a few bullets into my compartments. I ran out to Len and tossed him the shotgun.

"We're going out on the field," I told him. He nodded and I zipped up my jacket. "OPEN THE GATE, KIYO!" As the gate slowly opened, Len tapped my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked. I bit my lip.

"It's not good," I said. "I'm trusting you right now. I don't want to die and I don't want my friend out there to die. You better do your best, got it?" Realization must have smacked him because he gave me a serious nod and we carefully slipped through the gates. I tapped my pocket and Len slung back his shoutgun around his back before joined me behind a ruined car. "Listen, my friend is in the giant hotel's parking lot over there." I pointed to a far offsign in the distance.

"Alright," he said.

"I know you're scared, but use that adrenaline as an advantage," I told him. "Now, let's g-" I quickly drew my pistol and stood up, shooting one of the Utau soldiers in the forehead. I hooked my arm around Len's and yanked him with me as we escaped into the underground sewage pipes. It was getting to uncomfortable, so I settled with holding his hand. "That was close..."

"Rin, over there," Len said, swinging his shotgun around. My eyes widened. A Creature.

"Don't move," I told him. "Fire when I say." He nodded and aimed. I blew a sharp, crisp whistle that echoed through the tunnel. The Creature spotted us and came racing. "Now!" Len pulled the trigger and shot the Creature right between the eyes. "Nice shot." He winked and we continued down the edges.