ch 6: Consider
Silent murmurs erupted every now and then along with a puff of smoke. Izumo shifted his weight near leaning against his bar with a cigarette in between his fingers, a string of smoke rising from the tip. He remained in his composed position while listening to the chatter from the other Homra members, and even caught a mentioning of where their Vanguard has gone. When they returned from watching their new entertainment system in the other room, Yata was nowhere to be seen in the bar where they last saw him. The streets outside were silent and dark now and the second handle on the clock continued to tick. Izumo had no doubt Yata would arrive any minute; hopefully he didn't run into any trouble along the way.
"Did Yata go out on his own out of boredom and is in a middle of a fight now?"
"Wanna bet?"
The blonde bartender side-glanced at them before shifting his gaze at the sound of the entrance bell-ringing, door opening in suit along with a loud call.
"Hey! I'm back!"
"You made it back in one piece," Bandou jeered. The chestnut-haired teen shot a glance at him. "Haha! Very funny!"
It didn't take Yata long to notice that everyone was gathered as if ready to go on a search party looking for him. The reason for Homra being the most feared gang was that they band together; if you mess with one member, there would be trouble with the others. Homra was like a "family".
Family….
... nostalgia had slapped across the side of his mind, the thing that he tried to not think about on the train home.
Homra was once lively and that party... friends and allies gathered, having a good time and memories. And at Homra, it all was taken away. He blamed the Colorless King, Isana Yashiro. Anger, distraught swirled in his gut. Homra had vowed they would avenge Totsuka and find the responsible murderer. No leads for months now.
And speaking of a search party, Yata took a quick glance at Anna. Noticing her staring at her marbles quickly changed his angered emotions. She sat in the same position she was in when he first left. Knowing her ability to locate a person with her marbles, she didn't tell them exactly where he was, did she? How long did everyone wait for him to return?
"Yata"
Yata snapped out of his musings, turning to Izumo. "You didn't ask Anna where I was while waiting for me to return, did you?! "
Izumo stared at him. Why did he sound a bit frantic? He had not thought of questioning him, even seeing his condition. "Since you didn't run into any trouble, I assume it was somewhere 'harmless'."
"Uh... Yeah! I did!"
"For once…."
"Shut it!"
"And speaking of trouble, you had run into one in that town," the blonde inquired before the hot-blooded teen got into a fit with another member. Just thinking of his previous encounters made Yata irritated, yet a little confused.
"Yeah…. I didn't get a good look at that bastard. Being all covered in black and all. He didn't even fight back at all! He just…..left." He rubbed the back of his head. He had to tell Izumo something without causing any suspicious about Misaki.
"That is strange…." Izumo fingered his chin in thinking position. "He picked a fight with you and then left without a trace?" After a quick moment of thought, he figured it best to wait for more leads and not be quick into conclusions of mysterious persons. "Just focus on your current quests, Yatagerasu."
Yata nodded. He'll be sure to continue first thing tomorrow along with Kamamoto tagging along. He had a hunch the older man would protest of him going out when he just returned home.
"Late night drinking yeah!"
"Chitose, it's late!"
"Exaaaaactly~~~De~wa~"
Yata side glanced at them and mentally shook his head. Some things never change….and one thing to be glad to be "home". In being surrounded by a group of strangers just several hours ago and returning to a familiar place, it tickled his skin. Without knowing, a small wistful grin graced his lips and soft chortle released in his throat.
o0o0o0o
The following day was just any other day. The slid doors of Card Capital slid open along with a curt "Welcome" to the visitors. Shuffling and sounds of play echoed throughout the shop as young kids played Vanguard at located tables. Misaki sat behind the counter reading her novel with the sub-manager resting on the counter. She tuned her ears to the victorious shouts and disappointments among the players as her eyes were set on the words in front of her.
"Hello, Misaki-san!"
The young clerk glanced up, returning with a curt, "Welcome."
"Aichi big bro, let's go over there!" Kamui urged, tugging at the blue-haired boy's long red sleeve. "Ah, okay!" Misaki watched them and couldn't help but smile. The smile being of one an older sister watching her young siblings would have. The two boys were like her younger brothers. In a moment, Morikawa entered with his boastings and Izaki tagging along close behind him. The louder of the two was promptly ignored. But the second her eyes feathered over the pages of her book, her attention shifted right back to her peers.
Seeing her friends mingle and play the card game together, even with there being some silly arguments between Kamui and Morikawa, a single realization crossed her mind. That thought related to yesterday. Birthday decorations and other things were wiped clean in the shop. No one had mentioned the boy from yesterday. And from seeing the others' actions… it was like he never entered. Misaki heavily exhaled through her nostrils. She lightly shook her head trying to shake it off. Silly, it's natural for them to act like this. Only she knew of him more than they did. Yet, in actuality, she barely knew all that much about him either. But, knowing something outweighed nothing and that was her only upperhand.
Sub-manager slightly turned his head eying his owner. His blue eyes glinted with concern, encouraging her to not worry so much. "Meow~!"
"Are you thinking about him?" Shin inquired. Misaki prevented on giving him eye contact with a quick, "Not really." It was a lie.
"I wonder if he'll come in today…." The glasses-wearing man thought out loud. To her, he just sounded desperate in selling some cards and other merchandise. She mentally sighed at that.
The slid doors opened. "Welcome~!" Shin chimed in greeting a couple adolescent boys.
o0o0o
"Shit! Dammit!" Yata seethed as he forced himself onto the wall of an underpass, gripping the side of his abdomen over a bloodstain on his white shirt. While he and Kamamoto searched for Isana Yashiro, they happened to cross paths with an old acquaintance of Yata's. Yata was just getting warmed up and the fight had to be interrupted.
Kamamoto was glad Lieutenant of Scepter 4, Awashima Seri, stepped in or else the fight between Yata and him would last forever- almost a fight to the death. He offered to bind the crow's wounds caused by his knifes until Kusanagi could treat them at Homra HQ.
"Yata-san, got a handkerchief?" Kamamoto said, holding some bandages he took out from his jacket pockets. Yata heaved an aggravated sigh, calming himself down a little. He searched his pants pocket looking for the cloth, only his fingers touched something else.
Misaki's card….
Yata's eyes wavered momentarily as he recalled all they did together yesterday and how she gave this to him. The Heal Trigger. She had given him more than she realized after being together for such a short time. And the new game he discovered…. It was confusing at first, but deep in his mind he wanted to learn more and play more. Perhaps, this way, he could easily know more about her as well?
Amongst his bruises and cuts, a warm smile surfaced to his lips. A faint chuckle snuck its way up his throat and he placed the card to his heart.
Kamamoto watched his friend's features and noticed the card. Something about that card, or what happened yesterday, made him quite happy despite the wounds. Curious and concerned, "Yata-san?"
Yata quickly snapped out of his senses and placed the card back in his pocket. There was no effort made in trying to fake that Kamamoto saw the card nor what he was thinking as the other young man peeked curiously at Yata.
"I-its nothing. Let's keep moving!"
"That card… something made you happy, or a someone?"
"…Th-that's ridiculous! I am happy! Here with Homra!"
"I really think you should..."
"What? take a break from finding that bastard?! This is Homra's pride! Avenging a death of a comrade!"
"Didn't you also have a quest? One that Kusanagi-san gave you? You havent found 'Ashtin' yet, have you?"
"I'll find him eventually! And bring him to Homra! Drag him if i have to!"
"Anyway, what im saying is... just consider going to where you got that card."
Yata averted his glance from his childhood friend for a moment with a frown. Of what he said, it almost sounded like he didn't want to go and see her with his putting Homra first. He had been part of the clan ever since and long before he met her. Kamamoto's consideration itched the side of his mind. Who does that fatty think he is? Giving him advice?! He grimaced.
"K-keep this a secret from Homra, allright?! You promise?!"
"Why do you want it a secret, Yata-san? I'm sure Kusanagi-san would understand if it makes you happy."
"…" Yata remained tight-lipped and wide eyed; his mind teemed with a flurry of thoughts. 'Th-that's true…. Just don't mention Misaki, but talking about Vanguard instead is fine…right?' After all, he wanted to keep Misaki safe and didn't want her to get involved with Homra or else she'd get hurt.
The urge of seeing her, and to continue playing the game, verses keeping a distance debated in his mind. That conversation during those short moments and their battle ignited something within him. Fingers curled into a fist. Should he make a sacrifice? Or take a risk? He took one step forward ignoring Kamamoto's protests relating to Yata's wounds.
o0o0o
The shop had gone quiet, being close to closing time. Aichi and the others left a moment earlier along with saying goodbye to Misaki (mostly Aichi). Aichi and his group were the last to leave the shop as usual. It was now half-hour close to closing time.
"That's too bad he didn't come…" Shin said.
Misaki expected it. However, during today a small part of her heart held anticipation that he'd step through the door with that boasting voice of his wanting a match. When she heard the door slide, she had hoped it was Yata but it was just another customer. She stopped expecting after a couple times it happened. She wondered why she let herself to that. She came to a conclusion.
"He's never going to come. He has priorities, just like I do." Misaki felt her heart sank a little at her own words yet kept her casual composure. Shin didn't seem to take her words as a grin graced his lips, his gaze set on the entrance.
"Misaki! Hey!"
Her eyes widened slightly and turned to see a familiar figure encased by a silhouette. A wide grin plastered on his face as he greeted her by a salute with his fingers. The pose slightly reminded her of Miwa. She stared at him, blankly and surprised. Her cat meowed happily waving his tail.
"….."
Shin didn't hesitate in approaching the young man, wrapping his arm around him bringing him into the shop. Yata tensed slightly at the touch and remembering Shin being Misaki's relative made him a bit nervous. But despite that, he had to give a good vibe in order to be with Misaki. He may as well let this guy invite him in as if he were family or a good friend.
"Since you only have a trial deck, let's discuss about you making your own~" Shin said with a glint shine at the tip of his glasses and provoking grin. The manager then guided Yata in giving pointers in making a deck from buying booster packs, and getting him to buy those packs and a deck case to keep his cards in.
"Ehh? ….Uhh….." Yata didn't get a paycheck at his part-time job that he works outside of Homra until next week. There was no way he'd have enough to buy everything Shin offered him.
"I'll give you loan and you can payback whenever~" Shin bargained.
"Fair enough!" Yata figured he might as well try in making his own deck despite playing with the trial one once. Misaki only sighed and shook her head in disbelief over her cousin. She held her head in aggravation.
Yata ended up buying a few booster packs, each holding 30 packs of cards. "What?! I gotta buy this many to make a deck of 50 cards of the ones I want?" It was an astonishing realization.
"It depends on which volume is out," Misaki informed bluntly. "Sometimes players would have to wait for a certain amount of time until a certain booster set to come out. Those sets having the cards they need." Yata glanced at her with her returning with a look that she's not going to give him a discount, with Yata countering that he wasn't asking for one!
Yata didn't have to stay until a little after closing time, but he couldn't wait in making his own deck. Also, he needed some help from Shin in what needs to be in the deck. Shin assured him in testing your builds and it was trial and error. After a moment passed by when Yata finally made his deck of 50 cards, Shin advised, "Why don't you two have another fight? To test a build, you need to fight against someone."
"It's getting late and it's past closing time," Misaki said.
"I got time," Yata said. "Unless…you really want me to….."
Misaki sighed and lightly shrugged as she went to sit at one of the tables, with Yata following after and sitting across from her.
"I think I remember the rules… even if it was yesterday…" Yata said looking through his deck for a Grade 0. He placed his finding onto the Vanguard Circle, then shuffled his deck before placing it on the side. He drew his five cards. "…Okay! I'm ready!"
"…."
"Misaki? Anything wrong?"
Misaki lightly shook her head and noticed he was ready more than her. She snapped out of her daze in staring at him. The thought that he came when she was close in doubting he would ever come back, after their last meeting, affected her. Slightly in the back of her mind, it made her glad to see him. A smile graced her lips then. In thinking, she had never properly welcomed him into her town or Card Capital.
"Welcome"