Chapter 3 – Questions
"Dad, can I talk to you?" Gold star asked wandering into the living room of her father's house.
Black Star held himself in the air counting the pushups he was doing with just one arm. It hadn't surprised Gold Star in the least to find him like that. He was physically fit in case his skills were needed.
He glanced up, "You got it!"
She bounced over sitting right in front of him. "Have there been any new threats rising in Death City?"
He let out one of his trademark laughs dropping into a sitting position. "If there was danger I would know about it."
"Dad, please just answer the question."
"No," he answered looking a little disappointed as he ran a hand through his blue hair. "There hasn't been anything major happening for a very long time."
Gold Star shook her head ignoring her father's poor choice of words as she continued speaking. "What do you know about black robbed figures that commit suicide when captured?"
Black Star's green eyes widened a glimmer of worry passing over his face only to be quickly replaced by a large smile. "You must be making up stories to entertain your old man! Ha—ha—ha!"
"I'll see you later. I need to go find Masa before she decides to murder me for ditching class." Gold Star stood up making her way to the door.
"Be careful," Black Star said as the front door closed behind his daughter.
Gold Star didn't need to ask any more questions about the black robed figure. Black Star's face told her more than any words ever could. Her suspicions of something big happening had been confirmed. Then there was his warning which made her wonder what sort of danger she was in and why. Now all she had to do was meet up with the gang to trade the information they all were gathering.
Evan walked through the empty streets of Death City making his way to the one building he knew his gramps was sure to be in. He would have been thrilled to leave interrogating Spirit up to someone else. But Evan knew his gramps would tell him everything he wanted to know after pushing the right buttons.
He kicked the door to Chupa Cabra's open walking to the back where his gramps sat surrounded by a few women that were way too young for him. Some of the girls giggled and whispered to each other most likely about how a kid got past the doorman. The doorman new Evan and the look he had on his face, meaning that Evan had business with his pervy grandpa.
"Evan, what are you doing here?" Spirit jumped up his graying red hair rustled by the sudden movement.
"We need to talk, Gramps." Evan grabbed Spirit's collar and half dragged the man outside.
Spirit shrugged off Evan's grip looking embarrassed at being caught by his grandson once again. "What?"
Evan jammed his hands into his sweatshirt pockets he hadn't bothered hiding his appearance today and wore his normal gear minus his sunglasses. "Someone's been watching me and I want to know who."
"Have you seen this person?" Spirit asked his blue eyes darkening like he knew something.
"Last night the guy killed himself before we could do anything about it."
"We?"
Evan gave an impatient sigh, "Angel, Sid, Sully, Gold Star, and Masa. Who else would I be referring to."
Spirit's eyebrows rose slightly, "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure it was just an odd coincidence that won't happen again."
Evan let out a long breath forcing his patients to come back. He knew his next words would have to count to get what he came here for. "I know you're lying, just like you lied about Mom and Dad."
"Those people aren't something you need to concern yourself with so forget about it." Spirit's face dropped like he wanted to be done with the subject and never mention it again. "Leave it to Kid to sort out."
"I hope for my friends' sake you're right. I'll see you tonight at the party." Evan called out over his shoulder as his feet drug across the pavement heading back to Death Weapon and Meister Academy.
Well he did his part he just had to get through the rest of the day until he could meet up with his friends. School was going to be a drag with all the students buzzing about the anniversary celebration.
"Will you just answer the question!" Angel yelled causing everyone working in the Death Room to stop and stare at her.
Sid and Sully were folding napkins into the shapes of Death's mask since they had nothing else to do at the moment. Liz and Patti examined the music selections pulling out things every once in a while, that weren't good enough to make the cut. Death himself stood in front of a tall mirror deep in conversation with Dr. Stein, who was supposed to show for the evenings celebration but was now trying to get out of it.
Death the Kid finally looked up from the guest list he was examining to stare at his daughter's enraged face. "I thought I did," he said his two-toned yellow eyes revealing no emotion.
"No," Angel's fists flexed at her sides. "You just keep telling me that it's nothing to worry about and tonight's party has to be absolutely perfect so go work on decorations."
"And you don't need to worry about those robed figures they're merely here to observe." Something in Kid's tone made Angel think otherwise.
"One of those robed people offed himself after we caught up to him. You don't find that the least bit troublesome, Dad?" She rubbed her temples feeling a headache coming on from all her father's beating around the bush.
"I will worry about the robed figure," Kid said with an edge that would put an end to the subject. "Would you please fix your tie, it isn't hanging symmetrically."
Angel yanked at the tie to please her father's obsession. "I'm going to class." She whipped around stalking out of the Death Room without looking behind her.
Sid and Sully rushed out catching up with Angel as she grew closer to the classroom door. She flung the door open just as a katana hurled itself toward her. Evan crashed into her side knocking her out of the way and the sword became imbedded in the wall behind her. The pair looked at each other, then inside the classroom where Gold Star and Professor Mifune were locked in a duel.
Gold Star's eyes drifted between her friends and the katana in the wall forgetting to defend against Mifune's next attack. The Professor clobbered Gold Star in the gut with the back of his sword causing her to double over gasping for air. Masa turned into her human form kneeling beside Gold Star to make sure she was ok. Mifune finally noticed Angel and Evan in a heap on the floor and one of his many swords sticking out of the wall.
"Sorry guys, guess I got a little carried away this time." Mifune said sheathing his sword, his eyes resting on Gold Star with an uninterested expression. "Take your seats."
Evan rolled to his feet helping Angel up while glaring at the back of Mifune's head. The four people in the hall moved into the classroom slipping into their seats and Masa helped Gold Star to hers. Mifune started lecturing the class on how not to get distracted during a battle even when friends are in danger. He had a habit of taking an accident and turning it into a learning experience that most students enjoyed. However, Gold Star stopped paying attention, Masa started reading Evan continued glaring at Mifune, Angel stared at the ceiling lost in her own thoughts, and Sid and Sully were busy playing a game of hang man.
"I'm not buying anything they've told us." Gold Star said drumming her fingers on Evan's coffee table leg as she sprawled out on the floor. She was bummed after talking with Black Star and losing to Mifune just added insult to injury.
"Good, because obviously, something my dad did is the reason those people are here," Angel grumbled. She sat on the arm of the chair Evan sat in since the couch had been claimed by Masa, Sid, and Sully. They had gathered at Evan's small apartment hoping it would be the last place anyone would look for them.
"Maybe we should try talking to Grandpa Death." Sid suggested perching his head on the arm of the couch.
"Getting answers from Lord Death is harder than getting them from Kid." Sully retorted rolling his eyes at his twins.
"It wouldn't hurt to try," Sid stuck his tongue out.
"Lord Death was there and didn't say a word." Angel spoke quickly defusing a fight between her weapons before it could break out. "Same with Dr. Stein and he knows everything that happens within Death City."
"We're on our own if we want to find out what's happening." Evan finally spoke. He remained silent after telling them about his conversation with Spirit not feeling up for pointless discussion.
"To bad we can't go to the library to look up black robed groups that kill themselves." Masa sighed and sunk lower in her seat.
"If only," Gold Star mumbled.
Angel caught sight of the clock hanging on the wall. "I gotta run. Dad needs me there early to do something that's really boring for when guests arrive at the academy." She jumped up motioning for Sid and Sully to follow.
"We should go too." Masa hopped to her feet pulling Gold Star to the door.
"See ya," Evan hollered as the front door slammed shut.