Rumi had been fostered by many different families, never staying long in one or the other before she stopped trying. She ran away from the latest one, a horrible home with way too many children and not enough resources for them, finding herself on the streets wandering aimlessly before she heard of a job where she delivered goods between different groups and people. At first, it was simple things that she delivered like food or goods from a store to a person but then she was offered a run where she delivered a random metal briefcase, it's contents locked away. She had been ordered not to look inside, the consequences too great for her to even think about sneaking a peek. She had delivered that case across several prefectures, ending up at a shady ass warehouse that was crawling in shady men covered in many different types of weapons. She had gone home, vowing not to take any jobs similar to that one but eventually the money became too much and she accepted more and more.
During a particular run where she had needed to deliver another case that was handcuffed to her arm, she had been attacked, multiple groups trying their hardest to not only get the case but also to kill the messenger. Seemed like a situation in which there were to be no witnesses. She had fought back, winning and making it to her destination. A few more attacked runs had gotten her a protection label, making it to where she was no longer only running goods, but adding in people. After an attempt to have her as a protection detail for omega's, Rumi had denied it. She took a few days but ended up sending whatever she knew to a opposing group she knew of that was working to get rid of omega and pup traders within Japan.
When she turned 15, she got an apartment and mainly accepted runs from one or two people, just enough to pay bills and eat somewhat healthy. It was on one of those runs when she made a friend, the son of the boss man. His name was Keigo Takami and he was funny, smart and brave. With permission from his father, they accepted a few runs together, growing closer towards a relationship like brother and sister. That all changed when Rumi came home from a separate run to find that her best friend and brother had ran away from home, his father furious and threatening death. She was terrified.
She was bringing Mr. Tamaki the delivery for a two-way run that he had paid her for when she overheard him speaking about having found Keigo. He was alive and somehow had been running around with the missing Todoroki children. She had outright refused to take any jobs that took her anywhere near Endeavor's territory as she had heard about how awful he was so it didn't shock her that the man's own family had ran from him. She finished her delivery before returning back to her apartment. She needed to find her best friend and warn him.
It took her a few months, but Rumi found her best friend hiding within the Kiryaka territory. He had wasted no time in introducing her to his mate who happened to be Touya Todoroki, the eldest of Endeavor's missing children. She was shocked to find that Fuyumi Todoroki was her mate, a simply gorgeous one at that, but she was pleased nonetheless.
Which brought her here. Meeting the Shirayamazawa bosses. Three men who worked their asses off to ensure the safety of omegas and pups across their expansive territory as well as anyone they were allied with. She remembered speaking to one of them once, back when she was first running, about the traders she had refused service to and was happy that they had helped those people.
She was silent as Tensei introduced her to the three men. Gulping, she stepped forward when prompted. "Hello sirs. As Mr. Tensei said, I'm Rumi Usagiyama, but you can call me Rumi. You might have heard the name Mirko though, which is also me." She looked up at them, watching their expressions. The dark haired one stood, walking slowly forward. "I remember the name Mirko. You called us a few years ago about some Omega and Pup Traders, didn't you?" Rumi nodded. "Yes sir. I was please when you worked fast to save those people. Helped me know that I could trust the information to you." The dark haired one nodded, "Yes well, you should be proud of yourself. Most runners don't care what they transport. They only care that they get paid." Rumi watched as he turned to Fuyumi. "Fuyumi, dear, is your brother joining us?"
Fuyumi shook her head. "I'm here for Rumi. Touya and Keigo are getting our things settled in our rooms for now." He tilted his head. "For Rumi?" The blonde behind him giggled before calling out. "Sho, love, they're mates." His words brought a blush to her cheeks. Rumi thought the red looked good on her mate. "Yes, Rumi and I are mates. We found out at the place we were living and I didn't want to leave her side so soon so I came along to her meeting with you three."
The first one nodded, understanding the feeling. "Yes, I know that feeling all too well." He smiled at Rumi. "Well, Rumi. Since you are Fuyumi's mate, feel free to call me Shota unless we are in hostile company or otherwise stated. The blonde is one of my mates, Hizashi, while the blue haired one next to him is my other mate, Oboro." Rumi flushed, nodding quickly. "Yes sir, uh, Shota." Oboro snorted. "Tensei mentioned that you had information for us?"
Rumi steeled herself. "Yes. Keigo and I are best friends from his father's territory. I was on a run when he ran and about a few months ago, I overheard Mr. Takami mention to someone on the phone that he had found Keigo and the missing Todoroki children. He was making plans to team up with Endeavor to bring all 5 of them home and I knew that couldn't happen. So after hearing a bit more on where he thought Keigo was, I went home before leaving again as if I was on a new run. I came here to warn Keigo about the danger but he and Tensei offered for me to stay with you guys."
Shota hummed, "I see. I do agree that you would be safer here. You've brought us good intel and it is very much appreciated. As of right now, we don't have the proper man power to take down Endeavor but in a few days we will be going back to our territory and bringing the Todoroki's with us to keep them safe. Once back in our own compound we can make plans to take Endeavor down." Rumi thought it was a sound plan, grateful that she was being allowed to tag along and stay with her newfound mate.
Oboro stepped forward, dragging Hizashi with him. "Do you still have any belongings wherever you were living?" Rumi frowned, "Unfortunately, I do, sir. I have clothes and books and things I saved of my parents including pictures and a few things that smell like them. I can't leave it all behind and I wouldn't put it past Takami or Endeavor to destroy it all when they realize that I warned Keigo and Touya." Hizashi hummed in thought before grinning. "What if you go back like if you just finished a run and pack? You could leave right after and not go back. Everyone would think you left on another run." She shrugged, "They would see me taking my things though which wouldn't work."
Someone stepped forward from the shadows, his green scales and purple-pink hair making it seem like he was glowing. "I might have a solution to that, sirs. As you know, Mr. Compress has a great condensing quirk where anything he touches compresses into one of his marbles. He could go with miss Rumi and help her pack with no one the wiser." Hizashi snapped his fingers. "That works!" Oboro frowned, "I don't know about that. Mr. Compress isn't really a fighter and while he could protect himself and I'm sure Rumi could protect herself, I'd feel better if a fighter went with them." He turned to Shota. "Can you think of anyone we can spare?"
Shota was silent as he thought about his mate's question. There were quite a few fighters they had brought to the Kiryaka territory with them but who to send was the question. Suddenly it hit him. "Shinya. He's a great fighter and is rising in the ranks of guards. He's not on any detail right now so it won't be like we are taking him away from anything." His two mates nodded in agreement.
"Shinya it is."
After being introduced to her two guards, Rumi had to say a proper goodbye to Fuyumi. "I promise I will come back. You heard Shota, Oboro and Hizashi. I'm going to be so protected and you know, these legs aren't just for walking. They kick really well too." She smirked and leaned closer to whisper into Fuyumi's ear. "They're strong too. Strong enough to carry you close to my body." Rumi held back a laugh at the shiver that ran down her mate's body before pulling away. "Tease." Fuyumi scolded halfheartedly. Rumi chuckled, "I'll be back in a few hours as we are taking a car and not running." Quickly, she leaned down, placing a chaste kiss on Fuyumi's lips before walking away.
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Rumi unlocked her front door, flicking on the light as she started talking. "Don't worry about any of the furniture or kitchen gear. It's all crappy anyways. Books, movies, pictures and clothes to start off with." She watched intently as the one named Mr. Compress walked around and placed all four fingers on various things. Sure enough, it all compressed into little blue marbles that were quickly tucked into a velvet pouch Compress pulled out of his pocket. "I need to go talk to my landlady. She's like a mother to me and I don't want her worrying." Rumi stated as she headed towards the door. Shinya followed her, "I am supposed to go wherever you go as your protection detail. The bosses would be most unpleased if I failed my duty and you got hurt." Rumi rolled her eyes but didn't stop him as she left the apartment and walked down the 5 floors to the main office.
The little old lady was still sitting behind her desk, nose deep in a raunchy romance novel. "Mrs. Japico, you are going to give yourself a heart attack reading those." She called out teasingly. The woman waved away her words. "The day that happens is the day I die happy." She put the book down, eyes narrowing at the two. "Rumi. What's going on?" Rumi glanced around the empty lobby. "I'm moving. It's not safe for me here anymore. My friends are helping but I didn't want to just leave you without you knowing that I was ok."
Mrs. Japico's nose twitched. "I see. Is the danger closer to home or outside?" Shinya chuckled but let Rumi explain. "Inside. I am unsure as to when the danger will arrive but it will eventually and I'd rather my things didn't get turned into charcoal." Mrs. Japico's eyes widened. "Understood. Same number?" Rumi nodded. "Yes ma'am. You'll let me know?" The old woman agreed quickly. "Where?" Rumi frowned before speaking. "Triple threat. Come if you need anger the flashfire?" Silently, Mrs. Japico nodded, ending the conversation.
Shinya followed Rumi back upstairs, entering her apartment before asking questions. "What in the world was that?" Rumi chuckled darkly before explaining. "Mrs. Japico runs the underground. Think pre-quirk civil war activities and you've got basically what she does. This complex and others she owns tend to hide women, pups, omegas and sometimes even alphas or betas who are on the run from someone powerful. After Keigo went missing, I asked her if she had a hand in it and she admitted that she helped get him smuggled out of the territory. I suspect she had a part in the Todoroki's running as well but who knows for sure. I've even helped her get some of the omega's and pups out of the area alongside their families and things when they needed to escape from Takami's clutches. We have developed a sort of code doing this for so long which is what you just heard."
Shinya bit his lip. "And triple threat?" Rumi laughed, wandering around to make sure nothing was missed by Compress. "The bosses. Three of them." Shinya was silent for a moment. "You set it up so that the bosses' territory was a safe house of sorts didn't you?" Rumi tilted her head down in a nod before addressing Compress. "We got everything, we should leave before we're found." She led the two men out of the building, stopping for a moment as Shinya handed Mrs. Japico a business card. "Call me if you have need and can't get a hold of Rumi. I will come."
The drive back was silent, each of them in their own thoughts but that all changed when Rumi's phone rang. "Hello?" She answered, putting the call on speaker. Mrs. Japico's voice came over the line. "Flash wings has exited." Rumi sat up straight. "Any injured?" She sighed as the woman answered in the negative. "That's good. Any information?" Mrs. Japico snorted, "Flash fire seems unable to control their flames. Burnt hand. Walked with a limp stemming from ankle. No healers? Wings searched, angry that you left without his approval." Rumi flinched, worried. "Any danger to self?" Again, the old woman denied. "Said you left for another run and didn't say anything. Not like they could tell otherwise. Stupid men asked stupid questions and got stupid answers."
Rumi laughed, "Thanks, Mrs. Japico. Call me if they give you trouble." She said her goodbyes and hung up, a relieved sigh escaping her body. Shinya looked at her through the rear view mirror. "Care to decipher?" Rumi laughed. "Endeavor got into a fight with someone. Someone strong enough to make him have a need to burn himself to fight back. Takami likes to keep track of those who enter and leave his territory. He probably heard from his men guarding the buildings on all the major streets probably told him we had arrived in a car instead of my normal running and hopping and he didn't think anything of it until Endeavor arrived with news of how Touya had already moved from the place they were at. In other words, they missed both of us, just barely, by anywhere between an hour to 5."
Shinya nodded, moving his attention back to the road. "Makes sense. You should let the bosses know about Endeavor's injuries when we make our report tomorrow." Rumi nodded. She had already begun to plan everything she needed to speak about. Mrs. Japico was at the top of the list. The old bat was tough but she wasn't tough enough to take on Takami or Endeavor. She still needed protection from those two.
Maybe it was time the Shirayamazawa family expanded northeast.