Chapter 2 : Presentation

We entered the bar. Inside was something that I have never seen with my eyes before, the place was like and old English pub, very pretty and clean, it looks like the owner really cares for it.

"I'm here." Yata said to the people inside the bar, while we entered.

"Oh, welcome back Yata-chan" Kusanagi said. " I see that you bring the girl with you, did you had any problems?" He added with a mocking tone.

"Eh! What are you doing here Kusanagi-san!? You said that you had things to do before coming back here". Yata Answered angrily.

"Oh yeah, that. I lied. I just wanted to put you in a situation where you were alone with a pretty girl and you were forced to talk to her. And it looks like you did". The blond said getting fun with the boy's reactions.

While those two discussed at the bar, a little girl that was sitting on the couch, got close to me and pulled my skirt to look at her. She was beautiful, she looked like a doll with her white hair, red eyes and white skin, dressed as a Gothic Lolita and with a cute hat on her head '¿What was a cute girl like her doing in a pub at this hour?'

She looked at me and murmured " Your red is going to be warm and sweet."

I didn't know what she meant, then she released my skirt but still she was looking at me. I bent down to be at her height and asked with a sweet and calm tone "What's your name little girl?"

"Anna" She simply answered.

"It's a cute name Anna, my name is Asuka". She was a little surprised to hear my name, but then she smiled innocently. 'She is... SO cute!' I couldn't help to think and the next thing I did, was take her in my arms and hug her. Out of nowhere the place fell silent and the two men at the bar looked at me surprised.

"W-what? She is too cute, I couldn't help it" and it didn't seem like Anna was uncomfortable, she was hugging me too.

"Pff-hahaha" Kusanagi from the bar laughed at my childish attitude."They look cute together, don't you think Yata-chan?"

Surprised by the sudden question, he could only reply with, "Ah, w-well t-they do look c-cute t-together, I think" trying to create an answer without looking directly at us and scratching his head. I couldn't help laughing a little to his reaction with one hand trying to cover myself.

"Well, I'm here, why do you need me?" I asked as I stood up.

"Oh yeah, have a seat." the blond invited me to sit pointing the sofa. I sat down and then Anna sat beside me. "We didn't present ourselves, I'm Izumo Kusanagi, and I'm the owner of the bar" he said as he offered me what seemed like a long glass of squeezed orange juice.

I accepted it and then introduced myself "I am Asuka Reiko, a student from Ashinaka High school." I took a sip from the glass in my hand, "You have an awesome and unique bar" I added with a laugh, obviously flattering him by his proud introduction as the owner of the Pub.

" Thank you, if only all the frequently members of this bar would say the same…" he said directing his look to Yata, unique member of the clan that was present at the time and sitting in the bar listening. "And this is the meeting place of the Red clan, our base, HOMRA".

Although I knew that already, it still impressed me to hear it directly. They are a maligned clan where you only heard terrible things about, but here I am and I didn't think so. At least this bar is everything but dismal and somber, like I would expect to be. And this two guys are not as scary or dangerous like they seemed in the alley.

"Ok Asuka we need you to answer some questions about Isana Yashiro, do you think you can do it?" He asked me without pressure.

"Yeah, I think I can." I answered without knowing what kind of questions would be or why this clan have something to do with Yashiro.

"Since when do you know Isana Yashiro and what kind of person he is?" He started asking me.

"Recently, he just transferred some weeks ago but I don't remember exactly, but ... now that I think about it, I think nobody in class knows either, and yet even skipping classes or being late, he gets along with everyone, it is as if we all know and accept him" When I started speaking I realized some important things that I never questioned myself before "... but I never thought about it before, I know absolutely nothing about him, besides his name." My own words made me doubt and tremble. Who was Yashiro?

Kusanagi and Yata exchanged glances, it didn't sound as if Asuka was lying, but it seemed that the history of Isana Yashiro was uncertain. Kusangi put a hand in Asuka's shoulder so she could lift her look "It's all right you don't have to push yourself too much" he said, removing the weight from her shoulders. And like this the questions continued for a few minutes, but the final conclusion was the same: Isana Yashiro was someone that you could not tell anything about.

Suddenly the sound of the door was heard at the entrance, the door was wide open and several men entered the bar exalting the teen. They were all older than her and they could be, what she assumed were the other members of the clan.

Entering all of them, the first thing they noticed was the girl with black hair and big blue eyes, dressed in school uniform as she looked at them a little nervous with a pale pink hue on her cheeks.

The room filled with silence, that lasted until the members began to move toward her, taking everyone already inside by surprise.

"Who are you?"

"Why did anybody told me there was a beauty in our bar!?"

"What's your name cutie?"

"How old are you?"

Questions after questions suffocated Asuka, while Kusanagi was trying to calm them down and explain things. "Ok everyone, she's Asuka-chan. She is helping us figure out the identity of Isana Yashiro, so don't harass her and let her breathe." He finished addressing them. "Don't worry Asuka-chan, I won't let them do anything, they can seem idiots and dangerous, but they are nice people". He Said to Asuka calming her down.

In that calmer weather the members began to introduce themselves with the girl.

"Nice to meet you Miss, my name is Yō Chitose, you can call me as you like." the boy said as he kissed the hand of the girl. Seconds later Chitose was hit in the head by a boy with glasses and a hat.

"You didn't hear? Don't alter the girl, I apologize for the behavior of my friend, I'm Masaomi Dewa." He said giving a handshake to the girl.

" Hello, it's a pleasure." She replied to both.

"Hi I'm Shōhei Akagi and that one there is Saburōta Bandō" he said pointing to his friend hooded with sunglasses that greeted me from afar.

"Hi, what's up" answered the girl happily.

Two other members came "Hello my name Kōsuke Fujishima and this is Eric Solt" showed up with a smile, as he pointed to his blonde friend, who seemed suddenly approached the girl to look closely and say:

*" Those eyes... are you foreign?" Asking in another language, causing others to stay looking for an answer.

To which Asuka said *"No, I was born here in Japan, but my mother was American, that's why i have this blue eyes."pronouncing each word perfectly, surprising all at the bar and making the blond smile.

*(this two speak in English, while everyone else can't understand them, because they speak in Japanese)

Finally, the last member of the clan was presented "Rikio Kamamoto, nice to meet you". He told the girl amiably offering his hand to greet her. To which the young girl replied, "Nice to meet you , too " shaking his hand. Everyone in the bar were very good with the girl, making her feel comfortable. But there was still something that was bothering her, and decided to find out.

" Well now is my turn to ask why are you after Yashiro?" asked the schoolgirl. The bar silent, all avoided her gaze, she believed that she had ruined the mood, but a few seconds after Kusanagi said.

" I guess with all we make you did , you deserve to know the truth... we believe that Isana Yashiro killed a well- liked member of our clan." The girl froze in her seat when she heard the words.