Chapter V

Distrust

Phoenix opens the door of his apartment in a thoughtful demeanor, his eyes concentrating on a world beyond reality. The silence makes the air stale, he is basically trapped in this apartment for the next few days because he rushed to find the runaway girl.

The food left at the entrance of the living room by the staff members is old and untouched again. A heavy sigh is let out in the air. His feet lead him to the front of her room. He reluctantly stops by the door, someone has to explain everything and he was unfortunately the only person living there.

He knocks at her door, but there is no answer, with a puzzled curl on his brows, he enters cautiously looking around. His sight lands on her figure. She is kneeled in front of the glass window, bathed in sunlight, her eyes are closed. A peaceful aura hovers in the room, maybe it's because he felt that aura and the image of her posture, but there was something seemingly holy around there.

"How long do you plan to stand still?"

His voice breaks the meditation, her eyelids open and her curious orbs seek him in the room, slightly surprised. She finally gets up, her knees look like two tomatoes, for how long was she kneeling? Moreover, her clothes are still the same priestess of the day before, she is even using his suit above it.

"I can't believe it…" his eyes show disapproval and he shakes his head "Is she some animal that must be taught how to change or what? I can't believe she has been wearing the same clothes this whole time and just praying in her room… She didn't even touch the food."

His gestures and semblance make her eyes waver, with a saddened expression, she brings her hands together, speaking in a low tone:

"Ed, are you angry at me again?"

"No…" his eyebrows twisting in a compassionate way "I came here because I have some matters I have to discuss with you…"

Her orbs are cast at him again, this time with a spark of hope by hearing his calm and collected voice. He crosses his arms with a pondering stance.

"From now on, whenever you are asked, you'll introduce yourself and be introduced as my fiancée."

She stares at him for a moment and blinks, but her lack of response just makes him nervous, a drop of sweat rolls down his face. He explains in advance:

"Don't get me wrong, it is all because you had to go and show yourself to the world, now I am chased by a bunch of reporters and you too. Plus, people were already finding it suspicious I am housing someone who was never related to me in any way… I couldn't just pretend you were my assistant for many reasons, neither an apprentice, and everyone knows I have no living blood relatives, but this will solve the issue partially."

He closes his eyes with a bothered expression. A minute of silence passes, his blue orbs narrow in doubt, he can't take it anymore, that tension is just killing him:

"Don't you have anything to say...?"

"Ah…" she is startled with his sudden reaction and a fidgety smile comes to her lips "Hmm… Ed, what is a fiancée?"

He is speechless, his eyes open wider for a moment and more sweat rolls down his face. Well, if she did come from an ancient society, she is prone to not understand a lot of the vocabulary and customs in the current times. That explains her bland reaction. He needs to drop the bomb at some point, doesn't he?

"A fiancée is a bride-to-be. A woman promised to marry a man. A future spouse."

Another drop forms on his face, expecting her reaction, she takes a moment to understand his words, even though he spoke slowly and very courteously. He sees her face blushing from top to bottom, she puts her hands to her cheeks, nervously rambling:

"B-but a priestess like me is not fit for someone like you, master Ed! T-This is…"

"This isn't about being fit."

She is even more confused by his words and his serious gaze, her sight swirls around in embarrassment and she panics, spurting in the moment.

"I-I feel honored! I-I will try to fulfill my duties as a wife, master Ed!"

His calm posture breaks apart with her unnecessary comments, a vein pops out on his face, his annoyance deepens its roots and he talks louder while still trying to keep his voice civil:

"Idiot! Did you hear a single word of what I said? It is a fake engagement! It is only for other people to think we are engaged and avoid problems!"

"D-does that mean master Ed will get a second wife if I can't perform my marital duties? N-no! B-But how can you fake such an important ceremony as a marriage?! More than that, how can you deceive a lady like that?!" She contests his claims, her cheeks are still burning red, her eyes look like spirals swirling in confusion.

"Who would seriously consider marrying you?!" He snaps and berates her harshly.

"Y-you can't deceive the gods! A marriage is a sacred ritual to unite two souls! The gods will know it!."

"Can you listen to what I say? Just pretend to be my fiancee, we will not marry in the end, this is how things are done in this world! Don't be a nuisance!"

His speech might have been a bit too much, her fussing stops in an instant, the color on her face finally disappears. A gloomy mood overcomes her lively expression as she lowers her gaze, he closes his mouth regretting having lost his temper, but he had a very hard time trying to cope with his own problems to be patiently trying to help someone else.

"I see…"

An unsettling silence installs in the room, he keeps his gaze on her, but she never raises her eyes. Just a while ago she had so much energy, where did it all go? She turns around, refusing to look into his face, instead she stares at the windows.

"I have been meditating on your words since yesterday…"

A flinch of surprise occurs in his expression briefly, but he ultimately stays quiet, listening to her.

"You were right. Mourning over the past or standing there for too long won't bring any good. That is why I thought about what I can do to improve and understand my role in destiny to prevent the calamity…"

For a change, what she said made some sense, unlike the clumsy girl who would fret over everything, the person in front of him right now was much more leveled and refined.

"There is much I don't comprehend about this world, and even if I maintain my powers, there is no guarantee they will help in moments of need. Even so… I will do my best to train my latent abilities and I will make efforts to understand this world… I feel this is the best way to settle things… And to discover what it is that I can do to crush the terrible destiny of doom…"

A faint and gleeful smile opens on her lips as she turns back to his direction, full of hopes for a better future. He would be proud of her change had she not smiled so brightly. That gleam that comes from her, it bothers him.

"Then, do you understand what to say if you are ever asked?"

"Yes! From now on, I will be a fake fiancée for Ed."

"Just omit the fake part in front of others, please."

"I don't want to be a 'nuisance'… Even if I have to break my vow of not lying…" her eyes flicker in conflict.

Why does she have to look so miserable? It is not like he is forcing her to do anything bad, it's for her own sake. But when she puts it into words like that, he feels no less than a jerk. Turning around, he leaves those feelings of guilt behind and goes out of the room.

A depressing silence overwhelms the peacefulness of the ambience. She again casts her eyes to the outside, and wonders what she should do next. The bags of clothes are still all spread near her bed, she never fully checked them.

"What I must do… I must live and adapt, even in this world, the gods may hear my prayers too…"

The pro duelist leaves the place with a sour taste in his mouth. He was not attempting to ruin her happiness, but there are things that must be done in order to achieve balance in his life as it currently is. Regardless, he knows he is not renowned for his tactfulness with words. Feeling guilty will not induce any mending on the situation.

He knows in his heart he should've been more understanding and reacted better. His anger gets the worst of him out. It feels suffocating to be trapped by such feelings. Perhaps, this is why he feels so bothered around her. She never seems to be furious or unhappy even when she should.

Everything was taken from her, yet she can smile so carelessly in a world she knows nothing about and for a person she barely met. He considers it all so wrong. But unfairness is what drove him to become a vigilante and pursue the criminal that killed his father.

For the rest of the day, they both are secluded to their rooms. His night of sleep is no better than the others. He wakes up sitting on the bed, haunted by those never ending nightmares.

His day starts in a bad mood again, he takes a peek at the clock, it is later than he would normally wake up, but still early enough, given all his appointments were rearranged. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he puts a hand to his head, it aches. He should take some medicine. When he unlocks the room, he catches a glimpse of someone, startling him.

"Good morning, Ed."

Outside his room, the priestess stands with her hands together as if praying, she greets him with a smile. He is not in the best mood for talks:

"What are you doing here?"

"I was waiting for Ed to wake up. But I am not allowed in the room, so I waited outside." her seemingly innocent smile just makes his head ache more.

"Why did you do this? You shouldn't be standing around like that in front of someone's room. You could've just knocked and woken me up..."

"But there was an awful energy coming from your room..." she gasps, lowering her gaze in worry.

"Awful…?" he frowns.

"It's still coming from you… Let me purify it..."

She closes her eyes and whispers inaudible words, her aura increases, she is enveloped by a white light, then he opens her eyes and pulls his hand.

"Here."

She smiles while holding his hand on both of hers, in reflex, he slaps her hand away with a perplexed glare.

"What are you doing?!"

She holds her hand back again, rubbing it where he just hit. He backs off feeling bad for overreacting and averts his eyes to the side. The sound of a grumbling stomach interrupts their conversation, she jolts in shame, hoping he won't notice.

He sighs deeply. The scene changes to him having a seat on the dining table, she eats like a kid holding a fork for the first time. He has only a mug with tea on his hand and crossed arms, observing her with a strictly analytical gaze.

The way she looks now, it is impossible she has any experience in this world, her behavior is the proof. He is not fond of the idea, however he might need to spend some time teaching her basic common knowledge.

"For how long did you not eat?"

"A week. But I had water!" she says the last part as if it makes everything better.

His eyes open wide. How could she sustain her body like that? She can't be serious about it, can she?

"Why did you…? For so long..."

"I was trying to strengthen my powers, but for that I must fasten while I pray… I felt like this was my limit..." she sighs in relief.

"Idiot! If you are hungry, just eat, forget those fasting methods. Don't deprive yourself from eating for a week." he holds his chin with one of his hands, observing her more with a half annoyed glare at her bubbly attitude.

"It is fine, I am used to living without food for a week from my times as a slave and from the rituals I had to perform too." her eyes close and a proud and bright smile springs on her lips.

A pinch of guilt and rue is displayed on his shocked face. Which sort of life did she lead until then? He didn't have it easy either with the loss of his father, but he at least had someone as his guardian and was provided everything he needed until he could walk on his own, as for her… Despite having the father she loved, everything else in her life included torture and pain, yet she can smile innocently like this.

He feels his chest tighten with the thought. His eyes close for a moment, he doesn't know until when she will be staying or when the world destiny will be changed, but at least as long as she stays under his wings, he will try to provide a better environment than what she described of her life so far, which doesn't even make it much of a high standard.

"My head also feels lighter since..."his eyes squint involuntarily while thinking "Did her powers really work back then…?"

He sips the last bit of his tea and supporting his hands on the table, he gets up, she mimics his gesture and seems to be done with the food.

"Listen, I will be home for those next days, I think this is the best time to teach you some things."

"Teach me…?" her head tilts.

"Yes. How everything works in this world, though this might be a tall order even for me..."he pulls a napkin from the case on the table and hands it to her "First off, wipe yourself, you're not a kid anymore."

She cleans herself quickly, her orbs sparkle with excitement after hearing he will be spending time helping her adapt to this world.

"A-are you really going to teach me things about this world, Ed?" her hands join and she hops in enjoyment "Thank you so much!"

His faintly grumpy expression accentuates as he thinks to himself he is left with no choice but take care of those matters himself to avoid troubles in the near future. And he has time now since he is under some "home arrest" anyways.

Starting off by showing the apartment, he explains about the ambience and teaches her how to use simple devices both in the kitchen and bathroom, but ultimately prohibits her from using the kitchen afraid she'd burn it down.

He shows some devices like his phone, the TV and the switch controls for lights and blinders. Her eyes glimmer in amusement with everything he shows, indeed it is all new to her, but does she really have to act like a kid getting cotton candy every time?

He feels drained just from telling this much and a lot of time has passed since he started, maybe he should take a break for now. He walks her to the room and gives orders to shower and change her underwear at least once per day and clothes too because that is how girls should live.

"Underwear…? What is that, Ed?"

The question sends an alert signal to his brain, he freezes in place for a moment, staring at her puzzled glance. His mouth gaped.

"How… Do you not know? You should have a bag full of those among your clothes. They are what you wear under your dresses."

"But I am not wearing anyth-"

Before she completes the sentence, he interrupts in a rush stretching a hand to indicate a stop, his blood flowing strongly to his head, he sweats aplenty:

"Stop! That's enough! I don't want to hear more!"

She lowers her gaze, feeling scolded again, he massages his temple, closing his eyes in distaste for her cluelessness. Maybe that headache will be back soon. There was no way she would know, right? But he certainly doesn't want to be the one to explain it to her. There is no other way around, he needs to be the adult in this house since her personality obviously was too immature for her age.

By the time he opens his eyes, she is rummaging through the bag and pulls a pair of pink panties from inside, with a genuinely ignorant expression.

"Is this what you're talking about? I wasn't sure where to put it, so I just put it back where I found it."

He slaps his own forehead, it's just panties, but it does not make the subject less uncomfortable. He gestures for her to wait a moment and leaves the room, some minutes later, he comes back with some sort of catalogue that sells underwear for women and shows the front picture:

"Here, this is how it should look like. You should wear it exactly like it is shown here."

She looks at it attentively while he holds the image for her. It is not bad she wants to learn, but does he really have to teach her everything from scratch? He might as well have adopted a kid already, on second thought, no, even kids would know better. She looks at the piece of cloth from many angles and the picture on the catalogue, then smiles when she figures it out, raising one of her legs to start wearing it.

"Idiot! Not while I am here!"

A shiver runs down his spine, he turns around in an instant, flustered again with her impressive naivety. Closing his eyes, he speaks loudly and in a rather authoritarian tone:

"Go to the bathroom to change, no, better, I will just wait outside. Call me when you are done."

He closes the door behind with a thud and sighs in relief after he is out, leaning his back against it to relax for a moment.

"I can't believe it… How can she not know…? Maybe I should have hired some female tutor to teach her everything about girls of modern age..." he looks up at the ceiling "I even had to ask the reception to get a catalogue for female lingerie, after Saiou told me to stay out of trouble… I just hope no one had time to record it..."

He slightly loses his balance when the door he is leaning onto opens softly, uncrossing the arms he turns around, Zara peeks through the small crevice.

"I am finished." a smooth smile appears on her lips.

He enters the room again just to witness something even more unnerving, she is using the bra above the dress, with a proud smile of accomplishment for doing it alone. He again endeavors to muster all his patience:

"Zara… This is also supposed to be worn under your dress..."

She is startled by his disbelief stare as he glares at her. She nervously undoes the bra and starts raising her dress to take it off, he turns around by instinct once more, his heart accelerates again with the sudden act, his eyebrows furrow in discomfort. This can't be good for his health.

"I-I am sorry, I forgot it again! I should not change directly in front of others!"

He hears the sound of the undressings until she again notices she shouldn't be doing it there and hurriedly walks into the bathroom with a click of the door closing behind her. Where did she learn it's fine to undress in front of people? Were they doing that in the place she comes from? This is more worrisome than he thought.

He takes a deep breath. There is no point in explaining it to her, is there? Her greenness of spirit is too big for her to fully comprehend adult matters. Still, he should make sure she is not doing it anywhere and in front of just everyone or both of them will be in trouble.

Why is he even getting all excited over such a dumb girl anyways? Instead of stressing his nerves, he should act more maturely. He should use less awareness of genders when around her, there is no reason to be losing his cool for such petty matters. With that set of mind, he calms down fully.

"Now I am finished!"

She comes out of the bathroom and wipes some sweat from her forehead with a bright smile, as if she worked hard for that. The problem now is that she is coming out of the bathroom without the dress on.

He gets a sight of a perfectly healthy girl in her girly yellow underwear and she beckons happily, thinking she has done the right task.

"Ed, I wore it just like in that portrait!"

He turns around in reflex for the third time, closing his eyes and crossing his arms impatiently. It's his fault for saying she should wear it exactly like that, right? He'd seen more than he wished to even. Of her awfully idiotic personality too. There is no use engraving those images in his mind.

"Zara, put that dress over your underwear! How can you not understand a single word of what I explained earlier? Do you not get what the meaning of 'improper' is? Do you have no self-awareness?!"

"B-But what exactly is improper?"

His heart races even more when he listens her voice close, right behind him, her hand tugs his sleeve, urgently demanding an explanation. His posture completely breaks as he is whirled around by her.

"Isn't this exactly what the woman in the portrait was wearing? What is wrong with it? Did I do it wrong again?" she tries to shake him to get an answer.

He is flabbergasted at the sight, indeed she looked like someone from a catalogue, but prettier, her figure is well drawn. Her eyes are wavering in concern as she gazes deep into his, she brings a hand to her chest, afflicted.

His gaze travels downwards, he can see her cleavage again, her skin is clear there unlike the parts where there are scars, in fact he has difficulties not seeing it, he makes efforts to look at her face. His feet slide back nervously, his fingers twitch.

She comes forward, a drop of sweat rolling down his chin as he averts his eyes, his cheeks burning red.

Trying to find words for a moment, he can't think of anything else because his mind is full of her image, confused, and reacts upon his emotions. Grabbing both of her arms, he shoves her into the bathroom and holding the doorknob on the outside, he closes her in there.

"Kyah! Ed! Why are you locking me?!"

"You are not coming out of there until you put your dress on…" his voice shakes, his heart wants to pierce through his chest. His heart is not the only one wanting to come out.

He hears a faint whining in complaint, then she goes back to the bathroom and finally comes out fully dressed with wobbly eyes as she sobs for being scolded again.

"Much better."

He sighs in deep relief of ending that fight over clothes, at the same time, his heart decelerates at a hectic pace. A call saves his day, he uses that as his cue to leave.

"Who is it?"

"It's from the detective agency. You wished to speak to me for my services."

"Yes. I can't go out now, could we meet at a certain residential building…?"

"Sure."

After combining the details, he takes off to the ground floor of the building, where there is a coffee shop. He told Saiou he'd stay out of trouble, but it should be fine if he doesn't leave the building or expose himself too much.

He checks on the priestess before he leaves, she is dressed, she has eaten and she seems to be entertained with some duel magazines that have pictures, she should be fine like that, he nods confidently after marking everything in his mental list.

At the coffee place he waits for the other man to arrive, crossing his legs and looking outside through the glass. Soon a man in a suit comes and takes a seat in front of him.

"I came as fast as possible as you asked, Ed Phoenix. Though, I am curious which sort of business a professional duelist like you could have with someone like me..." one side of his lips curve in haughtiness. "I heard the news, congratulations on your engagement. Funny that all about it disappeared from the newspapers a day later. You sure have contacts."

"I didn't call you here to investigate me." his eyes narrow in distrust.

"Sorry, I make a habit of checking the background of my clients, to avoid future issues." he shrugs off. "What would you like me to investigate? Or who?"

Phoenix gazes into the men's eyes, as if scrutinizing his intentions, after ascertain the seriousness on his orbs, he continues in an inexpressive tone:

"I want you to investigate the main duel academy's history and also a girl named Zara that is related to the island and the academy..."

He flinches at the request, and smirks with certain joy. It was not unusual for him to get a background check on an institute rather than someone, but both investigating an institution and a person is new. Not that it was unexpected of a famous duelist to be interested in a duel academia, he guesses.

"Interesting, who is the girl?"

"This is what I want you to find out. All the connections binding her to that place. Tell me firsthand when you discover something. I will pay well."

The man's eyes open slightly in surprise, he is asking for him to investigate a girl whose name he knows, but he has no idea who she is and how she is connected to the academy? Could it be his mysterious fiancée shown in the papers? That was becoming more intriguing.

"Of course, I'll let you know when I get some info. I will send my contract to you via mail. If you can give me a description or any clue about the girl, it would be a great help."

He stands up and with a shake of hands, they cordially agree with the partnership. Phoenix walks back to the elevators area and takes it to the top floors of the building, the detective smirks feeling the excitement of a new mystery he had to unravel. He loves his job.

Back to the apartment

He walks to his room, such an eventful day and all he did was to stay at home. Upon opening the door to his room, his eyes open wide with the sight of a kneeled Zara near his bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Ed!" she gets up and greets him with a smile. "I was praying so you won't have nightmares."

"Nightmares?"

He raises a brow, did he ever tell her about his nightmares? How would she know about that? Her powers could be unpredictably amusing sometimes. Just like Saiou's. He should scold her for entering his room while he is not there, but he drops the idea as soon as he looks at her content face.

"I decided to do my best, even if all I can do for now is to support Ed. I am sure the gods will guide my actions when time is nigh."

His rigid expression softens a bit. He really can't understand what goes through her head, but he can't hold it against her when he sees how fulfilled she looks by doing those small gestures.

He opens his mouth to say something, but his phone vibrates in his pocket, he urgently answers it, thinking it would be someone important, much to his perplexity, the person calling is…

"Vice-principal Bonaparte…? Which matters do you have with me…?"

He leaves the room casting a last side glance to the girl who is seemingly curious to understand what is going on.

"A duel? I am not-"

He stops in the middle of the sentence, his semblance transforms, mingled emotions of indignancy and nervousness pierce his heart as he hastily acts upon those feelings:

"What… What did you say? You know who has the card I have been searching for…?"

The world around swirls, his vision is blurred by the rage, accepting the proposal, he ends the call with bitterness in his chest. He is close, so close now. Winning a duel? That will be easy, it is his destiny after all.

Zara's eyes flicker seeing his sudden change of mood, her heart feels constricted. What is this feeling? She has a bad hunch about it. This aura of rage and frustration that spurts from him, it frightens her.

"Ed..."

His eyes look at something beyond the walls of the apartment, so focused he can't see anything else around him. Clenching his fists, his brows come together and he declares:

"I am going to the duel academy tomorrow."

"Duel academy?"

"The place where we met."

Her mind is struck by a terrible current of electricity that travels her whole body when she remembers that day. The ominous sensation she has just deepens. She approaches him with a terrified face, her hand trembles and hesitates as she touches his arm.

"Ed… T-that place… is dangerous. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Leave me alone."

He shakes off her hand, with determination in his eyes. He won't bend to her warnings. Stepping back, she looks down, at the ground, what if something awful happens there? What if the destiny of doom befalls him while he is there, unprotected and unaware of the claws of evil that draw near? She can't just let something happen to him when it's her fate to break destiny too. Gulping, she worriedly takes a different approach.

"E-Ed! I want to go there too!"

She catches his attention with those words, he affords a side glance, his eyes indicate he tries to fathom what she is planning, but is still unsure of her intentions.

"I don't want to be alone here, and maybe I will find a clue of my purpose here if I go."

"She is right, she came from there after all. It is possible I may be out for a day, perhaps it is for the best if she comes along, she could get herself in trouble if she stays here alone..."he ponders to himself, his eyes squinting sharply, considering the possibilities.

"Fine, but if you hinder my way… I will not be lenient with you anymore."

She quivers under his last words, his cold tone was not a joking one, if she fails him, she expects punishment, even though he has been trying to help her live comfortably in this world.

"I understand… I just want to go back there with you, Ed…" she brings her hands close in a plea, he can see a gleam of affliction making her eyes waver and blur.

Those last words give back a glint of liveliness to his eyes, why does she say those things out of nowhere? Averting his gaze he sneers. His goals are clear, he must win the duel and get a hold of the information on the man he has been seeking for the past ten years.

"This time, I'll catch him!"

His eyes are fierce as he vows to himself to end this. Zara's concern only grows by watching him act like this. What will be of him when he goes back to the duel academy? And will she be fine going exactly where the supposed gate to her homeland is?

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presea221: Zara is not used to the world, so it must be hard on her to understand that is not her father, especially with all she has seen in her world, Ed getting a fiancée was, well, XD he just did it for the sake of shutting off the media and telling them "Ok, I have one, but you'd better keep it secret or you'll be the ones losing", and it so happens is for the best of their interests to have him introduced as single XD. Saiou is already in a point where he doesn't fully have control of himself, so yeah, that was not exactly the good side speaking there, in other words, his destiny is approaching and the light of destruction is growing stronger.