*click*
*buzzt-*
A screen turned on as the light shined, showing the large space of a news broadcasting room. The cameras all high and ready as the reporters were sitted behind the semi-circle table. Papers let down as a large screen turned on behind them to show the words "Beach Terror Subdued by Heroes"
*tick*
"Good Evening, Empire. Ladies and gentlemen." The female reporter greeted as she stacked her few pages of information. "The news which seemed to be only rumors stretched through the internet has blown into tonight's top story. The so-called "Killer Fish" which stirred panic across Lagooner's Bay has finally been caught."
"And by not who you would expect to handle such a situation." The male reporter spun his chair to look back at the screen. "Even though government officials and security were deployed, an anonymous bounty was brought up onto the front page. Leading to a "fish" hunt which raised both sales and scales."
"The heroes who caught the fish were two fishermen who responded to the bounty but were attacked. Taking down the fish in self-defense after it tried to steal their fish and drag them down into the depths." The female reporter spun to point at the screen.
On the screen an edit video showed from a distance, seven blurred figured dealing with the fish as sand and water were splashed around. The video pausing as five zoomed in pictures popped up.
"However, five of the seven who took down the fish in one of the lagoons go unidentified. As they immediately vanished once the reporters had arrived to address the scene."
"Mmmm, this has seemed to be trend. Don't you think?" The male reporter tapped his chin as the video cut to play multiple small windows of videos.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we all know how devastating the Civil War we had only five years ago left the Empire disabled for years."
The screen showed many pictures and videos of collapsed skyscrapers, health stations, full head-on war zones and city fires.
"During that period, many unidentified people from all over appeared as unclassified heroes. Some even earning names from the public." The male reporter sighed remembering the past.
The female reporter nodded as spaced out images appeared. Showing various shots of the scene back then.
"From the law enforcement. We had legends like Titan, Pyro and Agent Shiver."
An image of a man clocking back a fist to clash with another person nearly 8ft tall, both in shredded or burnt armor in a broken building.
The next one showing a shot of a woman crouched with a katana, ready to dash forward to a man with heavily burnt scars.
"Then we also had citizens like the rumored medical student who took charge during the evacuation and the nobles who ralied up the nobles to flee the palace."
An image of a person standing on rubble with a flare in her hand in the blurry clouds of smoke and ash was shown.
Another of a woman dressed in wet muddy robes being followed by other nobles and royal guards in the heavy rain.
"And of course, we can't forget about the criminals and villains who caused it to happen. Names like the Veiled Rose and Genocide being the publics worst nightmares."
A picture of a small woman stepping out of a black limousine with a veil over her face as two bodyguards stood and helped her out.
The next one being of a man talking to the very woman in the previous picture at a high class resort. Both dressed fine for the evening.
"Of course," the woman brought back the camera focus to them as the screen turned black. "Even though such events happened years ago. We still in memory of what we lost during the Civil War."
.
. .
"So, let me get this straight.... We're going. To a "fish" funeral? Mom are you serious?"
"Yes Toga, we were invited to attend. All the major shopping staff of the shops around the Bay will be there." Susten checked in the side mirror of the van to put on her lip stick.
"... arent we the killers though?" Toga looked over shoulder to the back.
"Eat or be eaten Toga.... though I do wish we could carry some of it to the funeral."
"Mel, we can't eat the corpse while attending the funeral- dont tell me you carried some."
Melusine paused from putting another fish stick into her mouth... before slowly eating it. Making Toga groan at the situation.
"For the love of- Jake!"
"What?"
"Where exactly is the funeral?"
"I don't know."
Susten looked over at him. "You don't know?"
"Susten, lip gloss."
"How do you not know? I thought the address was on the invitation?" Susten passed the lip gloss to Takara's hand. "Did you even read the paper?"
Jake nodded. "Yes I did. Still wondering who will serve the food if all the workers for shops will be attending."
"I'm working." Takara replied from the back of the van while tying his hair back into a braid.
"Ha!"
Takara applied the lip gloss and smacked his lips together. "They are paying us a wage though. Not anyone can serve nobles."
"Damn it, why didn't they pick me to serve?" Jake muttered. "There goes extra cash."
"Focus Jake."
After finding their way to the reserved hotel nearby the construction site of the upcoming resort. The five looked ou the window seeing the more high class cars and limos rather than the usual family vehicles.
Once they parked their car after a brief silence, the five remained in thought for a few seconds before Melusine and Takara spoke at once.
"I'm out." Melusine and Takara refused and stood up.
"Wait wait wait." Susten pleaded. "You can't leave us when we just arrived. Besides, you can't walk all the way home."
"Watch me" Takara bit back.
"Come on bro," Toga looked over at him. "Its just guys in fancy robes. All we have to do is just get in, pretend as if we are listening and come out."
Takara sighed as Melusine shrugged not really wanting to argue. Besides, she stayed too far away to walk home.
The place hosting the event?
Down at the very beach itself, just some meters away from the "murder" zone of the dear lost fish.
Parked just at the beach parking were many cars. The cars clearly showing who were attending. Not you typical dent or dusty tires as they were clean enough to see yourself in the reflection. Some even had the audacity to bring a small limousine.
Inside the large tent pulled up for the event had many tables spaced out where attendees would sit down and converse. An open space left at the center for both the open ceiling and also for the wooden stage which was pushed close to the end of the tent.
Suits, classic dresses and tunics were the norm. Wine and fine drinks being served around as conversation was passed around.
"Names?"
After a bodyguard checked a group which had just arrived late, the guard sighed before nodding. Letting them enter.
Once the group had entered, everyone's eyes snapped at their direction. For majorly two reasons. One, they had quite a reputation amongst their peers, not to mention the stunt they pulled some weeks ago. And two? They came in casual??
Hoodies, sweatpants, you name it. The party walked into the room as one even yawned.
"Lets just get this over with. Who comes to celebrate a fish funeral? Its not like we all like the thing, it doesn't even play fetch. Who'd want such a pet."
"Sylvain, we both know its about the competition. "
"Yeah yeah Dashuto, tsk. Its still annoying of how we have so many eyes on us." Sylvain, in a black hoodie and slacks sighed as he took his seat. "We already won when our commercial was aired."
"You can't count a warrior off the battlefield until they've drawn their last breath." Dashuto, a well built man breathed as he glanced at the tents doors. Remembering the van which had arrived a few minutes before them.
Sylvain raised a brow before hearing the murmurs rise again, not to mention Savory Palace.
"Is that?"
"No. It can't. Them attending this is a miracle on its own."
Sylvain clicked his tongue as he the one group he started to resent. Dockside Hub.
Jake entered first wearing a clean black formal top and black slacks. Matching his wife's black long wrap dress with a veil concealing her face. Walking arm in arm.
Toga and Takara following the couple with Toga wearing a black sleeveless frilled dress as Takara wore a black button up shirt and wide black slacks. A black veil over his eyes as their tied braids swayed.
Melusine stepping in last with her hands clasped infront of her. Spotting a black turtleneck and a black long pleated skirt.
Ignoring the murmurs and glances, the group walked on to their seat. Walking past Savory Palace's table as Jake and Sylvain shared a short side eyed glance.
"Finally~" Toga groaned after spotting their table.
Finding their table, the five sat down and sighed, getting back to their usual demeanor.
However before anyone could say anything a ginger haired woman quickly walked up to the group, holding Susten by the shoulder as she whispered into her ear.
"Me? They want to speak to me?" Susten asked as the woman had already made her stand up and was pulling her by the arm. "But-"
Susten glanced back at Jake but Jake waved her off with a soft smile. Watching her leave the group as now they were four.
"Toga? Is that you?"
Toga looked over her shoulder wondering who on earth could spot her. "Eh?"
"It is you!" A brown skin teenage serving girl gasped and walked over in excitement. "You look so mature in that dress."
"Why thank you." Toga smirked a little. "It was hard picking such a dress."
"Its my dress, so don't get it dirty." Takara commented.
Toga gave him a glare before walking off to talk to her friend. Thus they were three.
*snap*
Melusine looked over her shoulder towards the back, seeing one of the guards who had snapped his fingers.
The guard then pointed at her.
Melusine pointed at herself with a raised brow.
The guard nodded and gestured for her to come over.
"I'll watch them Mel," Jake assured as a serving boy gave them their drinks.
Melusine let out a breath and got up, leaving the boys as she walked off to converse with the guard who had called her.
"So much for sticking together... left me alone to man the table when I could've met another race in here." Jake huffed after seeing that no one was coming to pick him up.
"Still here."
Jake nearly spelt his drink after hearing that Takara hadn't left.
"Arent you supposed to be having a whole line of people talking to you? You have more than twelve licenses." Jake squinted his eyes.
"Those are just acquaintances,"
Jake nodded slowly before having an idea after seeing how Takara played with his cup.
"You always have dyes on you right?" Jake asked.
"The edible or not edible?" Takara took a sip.
"Edible?"
Takara nodded slowly wondering what he wanted.
Jake snapped his fingers for one of the serving attendants to hand him another drink. It being a glass of water.
*clank*
Jake placed it infront of Takara. "Make me a good one."
Takara raised a brow but the offer made him chuckle. "How lethal do you want it?"
Jake went on to explain a whole list of descriptive words as he looked up in thought. Takara getting to work as he pulled out small sachets of dyes.
The two working on their little master piece as no one seemed to care much about the two, but Jake looked around to make sure no one saw them.
And after a minute or two Takara put in the last touch.
"Woah...." Jake looked down at the two cups of water, now glistening with a golden color as small white and purple flower petals floated both inside and on the surface. "Is it?-"
"Yes. Home made beer." Takara chuckled and got his cup to take a sip.
Jake held his cup and took a sip, a smile crossing his face as he nodded at the taste. Smacking his lips to savor it. "Nice. Made happy, made me smile. Nice."
The two boys crossed their legs and clanked their glasses, watching the people as they sipped their beers. Having that comfortable silence between them as Takara even closed his eyes-
"So... how's the weather?"
Takara sighed before answering Jake's question, the two soon forgetting where they are as the conversation deepened.
As the two continued to chat, in the background sat two employees of Savory Palace. One being larger than the other as they sipped their drinks while staring daggers at the two a few tables away.
"Look at them. As if they own the place yet they are the bottom of the bunch." Sylvain muttered as he snapped his fingers for a serving attendant to come over. "Can you not see them? Like, how were they able to do that? Taking down a Viper Eel that size with only their bare hands?"
Dashuto spun his drink in his glass as Sylvain continued to theorize it all. As much as Sylvain was being overdramatic about it, that is a very good question.
The group were recent to the shop line up by the Bay. Appearing as quickly as their shenanigans started. However, from what Sylvain was explaining... the speed, coordination, precision, strength? Something wasn't adding up.
Sylvain glared at the group from the corner of his eye as the attendant gave his his drink and left. "And from all times to suddenly appear... right after Civil War."
Eyes locked.
Cup on the edge of his lip before taking a sip.
Venomous intent in both-
"Dad?" A young girl tugged her fathers pants. "Why are we attending the funeral? Didn't we eat the fis-"
"SHHH!"
The child was shushed by everyone around her as Dashuto and Sylvain did the same before looking back at the stage. Finding that the noble who had arranged this was already deep in his heartfelt speech.
"When did he start the speech?"
Dashuto just deadpanned. "When you started yours."
The noble on stage had tears rolling down his cheeks as he tried to control his emotions. The speech being a bit broken thanks to the weeping.
So after seeing that he couldn't handle the burden on such a task, he looked out into the crowd.
"As... this speech comes to a close and the ending of this funeral soon after. I'd like to have one person to stand here today, to represent all the shop owners of the Bay." The noble wiped his eyes with his wrist. "So, who would like to volunteer to give a few words for my beloved?"
The whole crowd froze as all eyes were up at the stage. Brows raised, taller people tried to shrink and those shorter hid behind the tall.
If there was one thing they all knew. Never mess with the hand that feeds you, this case being the man on the stage. So whoever was dumb enough to even go up there would get hate from the rest of the shop employees.
The noble looked around for any hands as a grin slowly tugged Sylvain's lips.
Sylvain raised his hand as gasps were hidden under the people's breaths.
"Sir," Sylvain spoke after getting a nod from the noble. "As much as I'd like to give my heart out for your dear friend. I can't take all of the spotlight. So why don't we give it to Dockside Hub?"
All eyes landed on them as Takara even froze when serving someone a drink.
"We can't the most smartly dressed group have no time to shine." Sylvain glanced over at the group. "So please, let them have a chance. They are the most recent establishment."
Everyone else nodded and even clapped for the generosity. The largest establishment, sharing an opportunity of glory to be acknowledged with the worst shop. Giving them a chance to take the spotlight as well.... Did they ask for the light though?
"Heck no." Toga whispered as she glared at Sylvain. "Snake!"
"We can curse him later. What about the stage?!" Susten panicked at the noble waiting on them.
"We can't go as a group?"
"Mel, its a speech. Only one of us goes. Dad?"
"Oh no." Jake shook his head "Why can't any you girls do it? Ain't you supposed to be the normal people in the group."
"We are paying our biological rent." Melusine, Susten and Toga all sadly nodded.
Jake gave them a flat glare. "It doesn't work like that!"
"Then who has spoken to-" All the four looked at Takara before Susten stood up to end the suspense of who's going.
"Mr Yakuro will stand in for us." Susten spoke up and pointed at where Takara was working at.
From Takara, the four got flat glare of disappointment and hands on the hips of silent anger. Toga mouthing out the word sorry as Takara held out his tray for another attendant to take it.
Its not like this is new to any of them, but why from all people did they choose.... Takara.
Did he hate it? Sure, but the light was already on him so, it was to do what he did best. Takara got his shawl from Toga and took in a breath.
Letting a sigh out of his mouth, Takara made his way through the tall crowd before walking up to the stage. Having his veil conceal his eyes as he shared a short greeting with the nobel, which ended with a brief hug and a gentle smile from Takara.
Once he was the only one on stage, Takara muttered an apology before taking in a breath. Standing where the noble had previously stood as the crowd was full of people dressed in shawls, having tattoos or face paint, ranging from the elderly down to the new born in their parents arms. All having gentle smiles.
"Takara, start talking"
Takara blinked and looked to see Jake gesture for him to start talking. Seeing the people dressed in black once again.
"Right..." Takara nodded slowly before clearing his throat.
"We are gathered here to mourn the passing of a special member of the most grief stricken attendee of this event ..." Takara looked down at the noble before letting out a long loud sigh. "I'm sorry, I can't do this. We're here to mourn the fish which terrorized the bay for the past few weeks."
*GASP*
"Takara!" Jake whispered. "You are supposed to lie!"
Takara deadpanned. "At funerals you just say nothing but the truth."
Toga smacked her palm on her face.
"Can't you say anything nice about it?!" Susten asked for the love of-
"That thing nearly killed people. Besides, I barely knew the thing."
*sniff*
Toga was already hearing laughter at the back but opened her eyes upon hearing the person next her crying. ".... Mel? Are you crying?"
Melusine sighed after rubbing her eyes with her arm. "I can still taste its flavor."
The noble was frozen with shock, anger and the betrayal. Even his guards were holding their laugher or just crackling out of breath.
"Takara! Look at what you did? He's dead." Jake pointed at the frozen Noble.
Takara rolled his eyes and groaned. "Alright Alright. So I'm supposed to say something good about it right?"
Susten just shot him a glare while holding a rolled newspaper.
At this point Sylvain and most of the attendees were trying their best to not laugh but you can't hide the truth. So their laughs spoke their true feelings about the funeral.
"Lets see," Takara paused to think. "Oh, it made security on the beach more secure thanks to its attacks."
Susten raised a brow.
"Youre not helping." Takara then pointed at the noble. "Besides, He's not even that affected by this."
All eyes turned to the noble and mouths shut in silence to hear what would happen next. And the noble's reaction being.
A lecture?
A trial in court?
Arrest?
Their heads?-
*thud*
The noble's body just dropped onto the floor after having his mouth gaping with shock. The moment of silence being all that he asked for at this funeral.
The attendees and everyone else at the event froze as the noble's bodyguard rushed over and checked for life.
The bodyguard then gave a thumbs up to Takara.
Takara glanced at his group and all they did was just shrug.
What else were they supposed to do?
So...
"After a minor disturbance," Takara continued. "It seems that this event will be coming to a close. Thank you for coming to share your grief and condolences. You may continue to mingle as the curtains are draped on both this event and the fish."
Takara gave a bow and left the stage as murmurs and conversations filled the silence. Some laughter still lingering from other attendees.
Sylvain sighed and managed to catch his breath from all the laughter he had after the whole incident on stage.
As much as the group was suspicious, their shticks were entertaining and honestly made the mundane seem better than life back then.
Sadly and fortunately, the event soon came to a close. The noble apparently was allergic to one of the drinks, thus his sudden disappearance, but he'll do fine.... hopefully.
The people attending had some conversation amongst each other, however, like their entrances- Dockside Hub and Savory Palace left the place early compared to the rest.
Sadly for Sylvain, he had to take the bus to head home. Dashuto had a ride from a colleague so there went his company. So much for being the rich guys huh.
So, after walking around the neighborhood, Sylvain found a bus station which was now empty as unlike the big town, the Bay was more quiet after sunset. So it was just he, himself and Sylvain.
"How long does it take for a bus to get to the Bay side?" Sylvain groaned as he checked the time on his phone. "This is why I'm saving up to get a car. I miss the old days when I could just grab a parked one."
"Is this bus heading up to town side?"
Sylvain heard the voice of a woman walking up the station, not caring to look as he has other things to complain about. "Yes miss. All the way up to-.... to.... town...."
His phone fell out of his hand.
Sylvain's lips parted.
His eyes slowly widened.
His breath hitched and got stuck in his throat.
His fingers twitched and clenched...
Standing right next to him.... Was a woman... That woman.
The woman... Dressed in a black wrap skirt with purple leopard prints below, matching the black laced top. A hat with a silver chain and a veil covering their face as they held an umbrella in their hand.
Sylvain stumbled back and literally fell on his backside. Gasping to try and find the right words. "I- How-"
Sylvain shut his mouth when his amber eyes locked with the woman's toxic green eyes.
"Sylvain..." The soft yet venomous voice of the woman slowly slithered into his ears. "I have stayed far too long out your way, so please pick your poison well... Or you might get venom instead."
*click*
"All passengers to townside shopping district."
Sylvain snapped his head toward the sound. When he looked back, she had already boarded the bus.
He collapsed forward, clutching his head, breath ragged. A shaky laugh escaped him as his hands trembled.
"H-how? When did the bus even get here? The driver should've seen… someone should've seen…"
But no one had. No one ever did.
And all he saw in his mind's eye was her—sitting with two silent bodyguards at her back, that very toxic venom in her gaze.
"Its her... its actually her in the flesh..." Sylvain glanced back at where the woman stood. "... The Veiled Rose."
Sylvain chuckled as his hands were still trembling. But this time with a grin. "I'll pick well Veiled Rose.... Just watch me."