The two strangers keep starting at each other, neither of them daring to move or talk to the other. While the girl was keeping her cold and waited the boy to talk first Arata was sweating nervously while retracing the events just now to figure out how this error, this awkward atmosphere came about. Actually, the answer was pretty simple. It was due to that girl which has appeared out of nowhere and was trying to steal food from his house!
Really, for the first time in his life Arata didn't knew how to respond to the situation he was faced with; something that really hurt his pride since he could deal with living alone since he was a little child, but he couldn't take care of a food thief. Absolutely ridiculous!
But no matter how hard Arata tried he couldn't hide the fact that he was feeling extremely uneasy right now. It was because of how the girl was looking at him, piercing through him while keeping a completely emotion-less expression on her face. This look that was more suitable for an inanimate object, like a doll, rather than a human was sending shivers down his spine.
And then a low grow broke the extremely awkward silence that was forming around the two teens. Arata snapped out of his trance and looked at the source of the sound. The girl lowered her head as well and gave an explanation.
"I couldn't find anything to eat." Just like with her expression, her voice was lacking any traces of emotion in it.
"Just who the hell are you?" Arata finally asked the question that was stuck in his throat for so long. "Trespassing and stealing are serious accusations, you know? I'm going to call the police right now!"
The girl titled her head at the side to express her confusion toward the accusations that the boy was throwing at her. Arata noticed this and face palmed. Did that girl had no common sense or something? Were her parents teaching her when she was small how to enter other peoples' homes and steal from them? Because if that's the case her family must be worst that his.
"It's stealing only if you take something that originally belongs to someone else without a permission." The girl told him matter-of-factly. "But I since we are living together in this house I thought that everything in it is shared."
"Living together?" Ok, now it was official. Arata was about to lose his fucking mind. Just who does that woman think she is? As far as he was familiar with the family tree he had no other than his father and aunt, unless his father had…
"That's right." The girl nodded confirming that they are going to be roommates from now on. "Haven't you father told you already?"
Arata took a deep breath and put the umbrella that he was holding, on the ground. After all he had armed himself with it to deal with a thief and it turns out that it was just his roommate who he didn't know about. Arata took one of the chairs that was standing next to the table and sat on it, covering his face with both hands. That man… he has done it again!
His father has never showed to care about him in the slightest, like he didn't exist. Only when something had to be done and that old man was too lazy to do it himself; only then he remembered that Arata exists and sends his troubles to the boy like he was the one who had to deal with them.
"So that is how it was…" Arata mumbled, a small smile forming on his face. Until now his father was satisfied with sending him statues to take care off, but now he moved to living humans. That was a big progress in their bond. But there was one thing that Arata wanted to be sure about. "If that's the case then just to be sure about something I want to ask… You aren't my half-sister, right?"
"No."
The girl answered shaking her head and Arata smiled at her action. She was acting just like a puppy.
The answer he got reassured Arata a bit. Honestly speaking, the boy always had doubts that the reason he got so little attention from his father wasn't due to his work, but because of a secret affair. Hearing that his old man was still loyal to his deceased wife made the boy a little happier.
"I have no idea what you are thinking right now, but my name is Eve. I'm the daughter of a friend of your father." The girl introduced herself with a bow while looking Arata in the eyes. "My parents wanted me to complete my education aboard so I could see the rest of the world and prepare myself for the live as an adult. You father offered them that I should stay here since it would be cheaper than in a lodgings and it's safer if there is someone I could trust."
"Now I feel like a complete idiot." Arata laughed and leaned against the chair. "Sorry if what I said sounded weird, but I and my father aren't in a very good relationship. I would be very happy if he phoned me to tell me about his crazy plans before putting them in motion."
"Actually, he gave me a letter for you." Eve said pulling out a piece paper from the back-pocket of her shorts and hanging it to Arata.
The boy raised an eyebrow, but eventually took it and unfolded the letter.
'Arata, I know that this probably comes out of nowhere for you. Yes, I admit that I'm a bad parent, actually, scrap that, I'm probably the worst father in history. I haven't been able to be there for you when you needed me; actually, I'm thankful to God that no harm has come to you.I know, there are moments in the life of every child when they want their parents to be with them and that I failed miserable to do even that. Even I can't tell when your last Birthday and Christmas that we spent together was. I can't expect from you to forgive me, or to understand me. You probably have many questions that you want to ask me and you will when we met again. But until then I trust you to look after Eve. And don't worry, I have already transferred some more cash to buy things that would be needed. I believe that you will success with the task I'm giving you!
P.S: Happy Birthday!'
Arata read the letter and his eyebrow twitched at the end. His birthday was two months ago, that bastard didn't remember even that. With that thought in mind Arata crumpled the paper and threw it into the bin before turning back to look at Eve.
"Please, take a seat. Dinner will be ready in around thirty minutes." Eve nodded and brought the chair Arata was sitting on just a few moments ago close to the table before setting herself on it. The girl watched as Arata opened the fridge and took three eggs from it, then he took a large bow and a box of flour.
"I hope you don't mind having pancake for dinner but that is the only thing I can cook with what I have right now." Arata said as he poured the flour into the bow and broke the eggs in it.
"Actually, I haven't tried such food before." Eve admitted while trying to peek at what Arata was doing from her position on the table. "I have to say that I'm finding it amazing that someone your age has learned to cook."
"I particularly don't thing that this is anything impressive." Arata answered while at the same time whisking the batter. "In fact, I learned that only from watching my aunt and I'm not that good either. So you are from Japan, right?"
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?" Eve asked monotonously. Arata shook his head in response and reached out for a pan.
"Don't take me wrong, it's just, I have a hard time believing it. You speak perfect English, you are certainly from the European race and you also have a biblical name."
Eve titled her head to the side in a questioning manner. "But isn't it the same for you? European race, lives in Bulgaria, but has a Japanese name."
"I guess both of our parents have a weird idea for naming schemes." Arata smirked and looked to his left. "Anyway, I didn't see your luggage, have you decided in which room you will be staying?"
"I actually don't carry any luggage with me. Your father told me to just come here and that he would take care of the rest for me. Not that I realize it, I should probably apologize for coming in your house at this time of the day, but my fly was delayed and so,"
"I get it." Arata raised his hand and gave a trump up. Her fly has been delayed, it wasn't anything she could about it anyway; so what's the point in making her apologize if she's not at fault? It was also late in the night so she probably thought that he was sleeping and just walked into the house. "Don't apologize, it makes you sound like you have done something wrong."
"I apologize for that; it's just the way you questioned me earlier that I thought that I have done something wrong." Although it was supposed to be an apology Eve's monotone voice made it sound… insincere. Arata had to wonder from who that girl has inherited her personality from and exactly what process of upbringing resulted in this. Her parents must have been extremely strict and cautious to make her so emotionless and socially awkward.
"I'm not saying that barging into someone's home without calling or asking is good." Arata frowned and walked to the table. The boy put a plate full with pancakes in front of Eve along with a fork and chocolate spread. Arata then sat directly across from her on the table and leaned on his right hand. "Actually, you know what? Let's just forget about it."
"Thanks for the food!" Eve bowed before taking the fork and stuck it into the top pancake and then with one bite it disappeared. Arata's eyes widened as he stared blankly at the girl. What has he just witnessed? Suddenly the fabulous angel has turned into a hungry demon, fiercely attacking the innocent and unsuspecting food.
After three more pancakes disappeared like the first one Eve stopped. Putting down the fork the girl remembered that she wasn't alone and looked up at Arata who had a hard to describe expression on his face.
"My apologies, it seems I have started eating without waiting for you."
"No, continue, I'm not hungry anyway." Thought the main factor to refuse Eve's invitation was disgust Arata wasn't lying to her. It was really rare for him to have more than one meal a day; that was also the reason why the refrigerator was so empty, being filled only when his aunt came to visit.
Eve nodded in understand and raised her fork, mercilessly attacking the poor pancakes once again. Unable to bear with the disgraceful scene that was taking place in front of him, Arata stood up, took a kitchen knife and left the room.
His life was going to change that's for sure. Arata will have to be careful his roommate to not find out that he participates in the underground duels. If Eve learn about it then she will probably tell his father as well and things would go messy from there. Arata had to come up with a good excuse about why he leaves the house late during the night. Of course since there wouldn't be any more duels for the rest of the week he had more than enough time to come up with something. Everything would be ok if he play cool and don't give her any reason to doubt his words.
"Guess now is a good time to see what is inside of this." Arata sighed looking down at the cardboard box that he got from his dad today. Judging by its size which was around two feet he expected something of the sort of a weird statue, but since he had to carry it into the house the boy knew from a fact that whatever is inside it was too light to be something of that sort.
Arata used the knife cut the duct tape that keep it sealed and opened the box. Well, certainly what he found inside wasn't anything that he would expect from his father, though, it did serve as yet another proof that the old man was far more worried for strangers than him.
Clothes, all of them too small in size for Arata and more fitting for a girl like Eve. There were also some accessories like bracelets and earrings in the form of butterflies and a shampoo, nothing that a boy would be interested it. Or so Arata thought until he found two Duel Disks buried under the other things in the box. Both devices appeared to be the same as the standard model which used a headset to create holograms from the user's imagination, the only different was the customized color-scheme. One of the Duel Disks was white with yellow colored Monster Zones and the other was mostly black with purple zones for the cards.
"That was the most delicious food I have ever tasted." Eve said with her standard monotonous voice while rubbing her belly to prove the point. She has noticed that Arata was looking at the box and moved beside him. "Oh, so that's why your father asked what my measures were."
Arata moved only his eyes to stare at Eve. Any normal person would question the motives behind such a request, but from her words it seems that she never for a moment wondered what a forty-something man would need her measures for.
"But those Duel Disks, are you a Duelist?" Arata asked her in an attempt to break the awkwardness of the situation with some small chat, but he was really interested if she knew the game and if she was good at it.
"Of course I am." Eve answered folding her arms and puffing out her chest, imitating an act of showing of her pride. "I know everything about the game and in fact my deck uses one of the latest summoning methods."
"Really?" Arata's eyes widened in amazement. As awkward that girl was as long as dueling her would prove to be a true challenge he is ready to let anything awkward slide. "That's pretty cool since I'm a Duelist as well. You know, maybe we could duel sometime."
"Hmm, sound interesting enough." Eve nodded and moved closer to the box. The girl took a new set of clothes and looked back to Arata. "It has been a long journey until I came here so, um, where is the bathroom?"
"On the second floor, the last door on the left." Arata explained to her and grabbed the box with both hands. "If you want I can show you, since the guest room is on the second floor as well."
"Is that where I'm going to live?" Eve asked a bit disappointed, which surprised Arata since he hasn't seen her show any emotions until now.
"Of course, sleeping in my or my father's room would be really awkward and the guest room is the only other in the house which has a bed, unless you prefer sleeping on the ground in which case I would offer the hallway as it has much space to move." Arata said cackling at his own joke.
"Are you mocking me?" Eve asked back, somehow offended by Arata's words. The boy looked at her curious. So she was able to see right through his joke? That girl was smarter than she let out, even if her lack of social skills suggested otherwise.
Arata sighed in response and move ahead of Eve. It was just a joke anyway, nothing worth to light the fuse about. Just what's happening with that woman? Guess that emotionless expression she keeps on all the time is just a façade, a mask she used to hide how fragile she is and to protect herself from the outside world. For now that was just a speculation, but if it turned to be true then maybe he had more in common with her than he thought.
The two teens reached the second floor and Arata pointed at the second door on the right. "This there is the guest room, after that the third door is to my room, if you need something just knock. And there at the end in the left is the bathroom. I'm going to warn you that the water taps are very sensitive so be careful while using them."
"Roger that!" Eve nodded and ran into the bathroom. Arata heard a click which meant that the girl has locked the door from the inside which reassured the boy that at least she knew how to use the lock properly.
"I feel more like a babysitter than a roommate." Arata mumbled to himself and turned toward the guest room when he hear something from behind; it was a click. The boy turned around and saw as the door of the bathroom opened and Eve came out, thankfully still clothed. The small girl, since she was lower than Arata, walked toward him while looking down to avoid eye contact. Eve stopped in front of Arata and put a hand into the box he was carrying. After a few moments the girl was able to find the shampoo she needed and ran back into the bathroom, but forgot to lock it this time.
Arata blinked a few times, his brain taking that time to register what happened. The boy then shook his head and turned to the other side, a small smile forming on his face as he disappeared behind the door of the guest room. That girl will certainly give him a lot of headaches, but it will be all forth it. Because even if she annoys him the house seems more alive that it has ever been.
A figure was standing into one of the many dark and isolated alleys that the city offered for muggers and other scum of that short use to hide. The dark shadows that the buildings around them casted were covering their face, making it impossible to identify them. The figure dialed a certain number on their mobile phone and waited.
"Hmm, have you arrived at last?" The deep and rough voice of a man questioned him from the other end of the line. "You already know your objective so I don't need to waste my breath, right?"
"Yeah, because you have so much more important things to do that deal with us the inferior humans." The figure answered with an annoyed, somewhat high-pitched voice, but it was still easily to recognize that it's a male voice. "No need to get angry Mr. Wall, I already got my orders from the higher-ups: Find and bring unit five, twenty two, five back, alive."
The man practically growled at the last word. Why did they need that failure back with a beating heart anyway? They had no need of such trash to get in the way. But those were the orders of the higher-ups so he was in no position to complain about their methods and question their reasoning.
"I can catch your bloodlust even from here." The other man told him. "Better that not cause you to fail the mission or I'm going to rip open that empty skull of yours with my bare hands!"
"Kehehehe, I already knew that you would say something like that. You are soooooo boring." The figure taunted back before licking his lips. "And don't worry about my bloodlust. They said that she needs to be 'breathing' not to be in one piece. And as a bonus, I'm permitted to kill anyone who gets in my way or just happens to be with target."
The man hanged up and began to move and then a pile that stood hidden behind him became visible. Composed from three bodies whose state would make those with weak stomachs release what they have eaten beforehand. The scent of blood was everywhere and a puddle of the red liquid has formed underneath the puddle.
"Clearing the trash is so much fun~" the man singed to himself as he moved to his next target.
A.N: Hey guys! It has been pretty long since I last post a chapter for this, right? I know that this chapter wasn't very action filled or plot filled, but that's ok because the first part of Yu-Gi-Oh! Guardians is going to focus more on the main character, Arata and his personal and moral problem. But don't worry, there will still be action and duels in this story, they just won't be so frequent as in other stories I have posted. There are also some interesting new duel mechanics I came up with and it's a matter of a few chapters until they eventually debut.
I want to thank to HereICome and Kingster16 for following and favoriting. Also thanks to Lspaceship for the follow.
Also a response to Lspaceship: Zayne and Zane actually have different meanings and countries of origins, but now something funny. The original concept for Arata was his name to be Alex, but was changed because I totally forgot about that he had a planned name.
There is nothing else, so Diabolic Tracer out!