The Arbiter
a Death Parade Fanfiction.
*cue opening song*
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Arbiter
Tokyo. Japan's greatest city; bustling with movement and life at all hours. In a small district, away from most of the noise, sits an apartment building, called the 'Arbiter'. Most noticeable by the large botanical garden on the roof, thriving despite the city atmosphere, and the mysterious residence living there.
"Oi! Decim!" Nona called out in greeting.
"Good evening, Nona-san." Decim said slightly bowing.
"Heh, still stoic as usual." The light haired woman smiled.
"Hai."
"Well, we have a young couple coming in to check out the place, they'll be down to get a drink I'm sure. Be nice." She said before turning away.
"Of course." He replied.
"Good, oh and have Oona help you." Nona added as she left the bar and lounge.
Decim bowed again before turning back to the bar, silently cleaning glasses, and thinking about what kind of lives the prospect residents lead.
-0-
"Ah welcome." A young man greeted, with an ever present a smile on his face. Takashi looked at him wearily; the man's multi colored hair and piercings was off putting, but he seemed friendly enough.
"Thank you." Takashi said politely ducking in the lift along with his wife.
The man hit the lever, directing them to the desired floor, where the vacant apartment was. The gate opened revealing a short woman standing on the other side.
"Hello, and welcome. My name is Nona, and I'll be showing you the apartment." She explained, guiding them down the hall. As they walked the couple passed by a man on the floor, he was on his knees, a white rag in one hand mopping up a red liquid that reminded Takashi a little too much of blood, and he felt himself pale a bit.
"Cherry soda." Nona explained, "he's always been a bit clumsy with his drinks." She gestured to the man on the floor who in turn glared at them as they passed. Takashi snapped his gaze forward avoiding the stranger. He felt a squeeze on his hand and turned to his right, His wife, Machiko, gave him a serene smile. He relaxed a bit, smiling in turn. He laughed at himself for being so worried, there was nothing abnormal going on surely, He focused his attention on the apartment, enjoying his time.
As expected there wasn't anything truly wrong with the apartment, after looking thoroughly, Takashi and Machiko made their way downstairs to the bar and lounge to relax, over all Takashi was pleased, and sat sipping on a cold drink, and he found himself intrigued by the stoic bartender, whose expression never changed from an indifferent blank look, and the young woman standing next him.
He was about to ask his wife her opinion on the apartment but was interrupted by a loud bang. He jumped and wildly looked around.
"Did you hear that?" He asked.
"Hear what?" The woman behind the bar asked, a little uneasy. (She is called Oona, tired of being referred to as "the black haired woman." Her real name is unknown, Nona came in one day with the woman, explaining Oona had amnesia, and she stayed ever since.)
BAM
"That! That noise!"
"I'm sure it's just a pipe sir, no need to worry." The bartender said. A few more sounds were heard, followed by a short shout and a grunt. By now Takashi's heart was pounding and he was up in his seat.
Ba-dump ba-dump He swallowed, listening closely. A series of thumps and a strangled cry broke out.
BAM BAM BAM
"T-Takashi, we should go-" Machiko started, hiding behind her husband. The door at the end of the hall suddenly burst open, slamming the wall with force. A figure emerged, staggering about, moaning, and speaking incoherently. The figure stumbled closer, almost right in front of the couple. Plumes of purple smoke followed behind the man, that Takashi now identified as the same one they had seen upstairs, finally after a few more steps the man collapsed in a heap in front of them. The couple continued to stand there, still too shocked to move. After a moment, a shadow appeared in the smoke, then a pair of black boots, soon the owner appeared, clad in a white lab coat, black rubber gloves, and a gas mask. Smoke exhaled from the mask in a woosh, and there was a terrible gleam to the goggles. A horrified screech came from Machiko, and Takashi can't say for certain that the sound coming from his throat was entirely manly. Finally shaken from his stupor he kicked into action.
"We're getting the hell out of here!" He grabbed his wife's hand and they ran. It's safe to say they decided not to take the place.
The figure in the lab coat reached up, taking the gas mask off, revealing a woman with short hair, and a skull bandana.
"What's their problem?" She asked, turning her puzzled expression on Decim and Oona.
"I don't know." He replied.
"You know exactly what Quin." Oona said.
Quin cackled madly and shrugged. Oona sighed shaking her head. A groan came from the ground and the three directed their gazes to the heap on the floor.
"Ah." Quin muttered. "Well, I'll be going, and the smoke should clear soon, just don't inhale too much of it." She said, placing the mask back on her head, moving to the heap, grasped him by the ankles and dragged him away whistling.
"What do you think she's going to do with Ginti?"
"I am unsure." Decim replied. Oona sighed at the lack of emotion coming from him.
"Nona will have some fun with this.." Oona said before departing down the hall as well and to her room. Just another day living in Arbiter.