6 Chapter 13: Soft Bell Rings

BACK TO TAITSUKE!

The Dragon says nothing more to him and returns to his slumber. A few hours have passed since Honoka has left him and he's feeling very worried. 'To be directly called to the council... It's not something to take lightly. What if something happens to her too?'

A different pair of footsteps walk down the hallway outside the room. Taitsuke's heart starts to beat quickly. Different at this point cannot mean anything good. The guards outside also sound surprised at whoever it is that came to visit. They all share a chuckle, then the door opens.

A red-eyed woman appears before him. "C'mon, kid. Let's go!"

Taitsuke follows, 'unsealed', 'unchained', and unsure of what is about to happen. They reach the staircase leading to Taiyou's office. She leads him up without saying anything. The large doors are already open and framing Honoka, who is fixing fallen paperwork, and Taiyou, who is fixing his ruffed up desk.

Hearing their footsteps, the two look up from what they were doing. In need of an explanation on how she did it, Honoka opens her mouth. However, Taiyou quickly beats her to it. "Now that we're all here, let's go eat something." Yua agrees happily and the two walk shoulder to shoulder down the stairs.

Still in the office, Taitsuke and Honoka watch the two in bewilderment. Taitsuke looks to Honoka, "Do you understand what is going on?" Honoka shakes 'no'.

They catch up to the casually strolling pair. Partially relieved to know that Taiyou seems to have a grasp on the situation, Honoka doesn't question their calmness any further. On the other hand, Taitsuke can't help but feel antsy. Sensing it, Taiyou speaks up. "Taitsuke, I think it's best we some things from you for now on." Taitsuke burrows his eyebrows down to his uncovered emerald eyes."

Yua taps on her forehead. "You know, considering they might decide to use that tactic on you again."

Honoka lightly sighs. "Though that is true.. I think it's proper to give him (and me) some type of explanation."

They're passing through the CODE district's gate. Guards and passerbys give weird looks at the group. Though it has been only a day, everyone in the CODE district heard of the Shika Ambassador's recent arrest. Also, it's been over two weeks since the fire Dragon Vessel has been last seen and what more, six years for Yua. The garnered stares cause Taitsuke to once more be on high-alert. Seeing this, Honoka takes out his pair of aviator goggles and returns it to him.

"Thanks."

All with different styled strides, the four walk their way down to the city when Taiyou finally reveals. "Ah. Taituske, I forgot to mention this is my sister."

Taitsuke looks at the two of them in speculation. 'You two don't look-'

"You're probably wondering why we don't look anything alike with him have golden hair and mine being a beautiful snowy white.. or how he has blue eyes and mine being a mysterious scarlet red." Everyone's a bit disgusted at how she's describing herself. "Well that's because-"

"She's his adopted sister. Yua Kuchiki." Honoka interrupts, still irked at Yua for leaving her earlier.

"WRONG!" Yua interjects. Honoka and Taiyo rotate their heads toward her as if she's gone crazy. "I meant about my name. I go by Kochiki now. I just thought it'd be more appropriate to use my mother's madien name rather than.. my father's surname. It really just did not suit me, you know? Anyway, Taitsuke, I'm basically... your cool new aunt that will be taking care of you because your parents are fighting over custody! You can call me auntie Yua." Taiyou and Honoka once again look at her as if she is crazy. They've been with Taitsuke for so long, but they were obvious to draw a line between them and him. And, just now, she crossed that line so daringly. In order to continue to be in the Council's favor, for his and their sake, Taiyou ordered Honoka to never get too close to him. They took these precautions of distancing Taitsuke from them themselves. From where Taitsuke lived to the amount of interactions they chose to have with him, it was obvious. The Council didn't want them to have to much power over him, thus they never truly intervened in his daily interactions. As much as they wanted to be there for him, there were rules they must follow as retainers. They weren't allowed this personal relationship that Yua just suddenly established with him.

Taitsuke stays quiet, a reaction none of them expected. Yua looks to Honoka to see if she said anything wrong and Honoka gives her a scolding look. Taiyou, trying to break the silence; he asks, "Taitsuke, is there anywhere you want to go?"

Behind his reflective goggles, the boy's eyes light up. "I've always wanted to go to this one restaurant in the back of my apartment."

"Oh!" Honoka interjects, but says nothing more so that it would be a surprise.

They reach the restaurant near the beach. The four stand in a line. "You've gotta be kidding!" Yua exclaims. Taiyou chuckles, "Haha. It's been awhile since I've come here." Honoka gives a small laugh and reminisces, "It's a very fitting place to go to considering Yua just got back."

Taitsuke stands there silently and waters at the mouth. 'Oh man I've been dying to come here.' The four walk into the door and heads turn.

"Welcome in.. Oh." Miku drops the plate of food on the floor a mistake he has never made.

Seeing him, Taitsuke turns away. 'I didn't know that that guy works here!' While he's frozen at the doorway, Honoka and Taiyou sit down. Some customers quickly ask for the bill after seeing the crimson haired boy. While others just shoot deadly glares.

"Taitsuke, come sit down already. You are blocking the entrance." Taiyou orders. Taitsuke moves around Miku who is picking up pieces of the broken plate on the ground.

Yua comes out from the back and hands Miku the dustpan while she holds the broom. "Here. I'll sweep." Miku goes to snatch it away, but Yua's reacts quickly and moves back a step. "How uncute!" Seeing him not pleased with her, she sighs, "Fine, do it your way."

She walks to the where the others are sitting and sees that they chose the same booth as the one she was in earlier. A bright smile forms on her face. "Hey, Miku! It's like I've formed a crew of my own! Such an uncanny parallel~" The brown haired boy ignores her and continues to sweep the mess.

With the restaurant only half as busy now, Grandma Mari leaves the kitchen to her other workers and goes to bring them menus and waters. "My God of Kame! It's been so long since I've seen the three of you all together!" She notices the crimson haired boy in the corner and smiles. "And who is this young fellow? Could it be he is yours Yua? He's so handsome! Child! Take off those goggles so that I can see your face!"

"No!" An angry elderly man who has been watching them since the second they came in clamors, "Amatsuchi-san, that thing there is the fire Dragon Vessel that they have allowed to live on this island! Though the Council said that it was not the cause of the fire three years ago... no even the one recently.. This thing is.. pure evil."

Grandma Mari becomes a bit unsure and turns to Yua. Yua sighs heftily. "'Baa-chan, didn't you say I could order whatever I wanted today?" Grandma Mari sees how the three aren't at all affected by the man's words and then at the boy's sunken head. Without giving it any further thought, she says, "Yes.. Yes, of course. You four order anything you want!"

The gentleman slams his payment on the table and walks out furiously. "I'm never eating here again!" The door slams violently and soft bell rings.

Although he's not pure evil, the man was in a way correct. Allowing Taitsuke to eat for free was one of the worst decisions Grandma Mari could have made... business wise. "I'll have the country-fried steak, honey barbecue ribs, fried chicken, a marinated tri-tip, beef stew with potatoes...."

Watching him eat made them feel sick to their stomachs. Well, with the exceptions of Yua and Miku who seemed suspiciously impassive to the sight. 'How can that body fit all that?'

"Taitsuke.. I never knew you could eat this much. Are you always like this?" Honoka commented trying not to gag.

"No.. I usually just eat a few curry-pans everyday." Holding a drumstick in his left hand, he picks up a rib with his right.

Yua bangs the table angrily. "That is in no way a healthy meal! You need a well-rounded diet. No wonder you are so small still! Honoka! Taiyou! I entrusted him to you two so that he can grow up living a normal, happy, and healthy lifestyle! What have you been doing? My goodness! Honoka do you not work in the medical field? And Taiyou! Are you not the Ambassador of Shikakokka could you not afford to feed him more? How can you not be able to manage a 10 year old?"

Honoka wants to retort, but Taiyou holds her back. "Shh," he whispers quietly.

Still holding the drumstick and rib, Taitsuke has been frozen in shock. "You entrusted me to them?" She knew him before? What in the world was Yua's relationship to him?

The table is quite. And the remaining customers of the restaurant, who has been listening closely to the conversation of the interesting group, is at the edge of its seat.

She stands up and turns to the thin crowd of people. "Hah... fine. It's really isn't a secret anyways. Everyone! Listen up! Let me tell you a quick story."

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[CODE DISTRICT]

[Purpose/Location] Is basically like a military base. Is on the northern-most island of Koisan. Its location allows for the Alliance C.O.D.E. to ship their troops (Chibushi and Heishi) to the Mainland easily. It sits at the top of the mountain purposely. It's not open to the public.

[What is in the CODE District] a medical center, Council's hall, Ambassador Taiyou's office, Chibushi Training Facility... ect.

-Why was Ayame and Youta Miyamoto brought there after the fire? Hmm.. I wonder. What about Mai and Principal Miyamoto?