Chapter 16: The Lamburg streets.

Previously…

"COME OUT YUJI!!!"

V screamed at the top of his lungs, not accepting what was going through his mind, abruptly grabbing Baldwin from the collar of his shirt, demanding to know where Yuji was. But nobody had the answer to his question.

Who is Yuji? Does anyone remember Yuji?.. Did someone named 'Yuji' work here?..these were thoughts going inside everyone's heads…

-Did Yuji exist in the first place?...

***

It was the Afternoon, and the bantering of the crowd worsened as they saw the new kid falling to the ground on his knees, desperately trying to figure out something, A hand placed on his shoulder, it was Eve.

Looking over his shoulder from the corner of his eye, Eve's eyebrows came together in an upward motion forming a furrowed brow, seeing such a face, Reality hits as V looked over the crowd around them. V hastily stands up, Looking over to Eve with a soft but weak smile,

"I'm fine…Where's John?"

John stands tall even amongst the crowd, his stature and aura couldn't be easily neglected. He comes forth, observing V's sudden outburst as he expects an explanation.

"A few days ago...I got close with this guy and…the description Kevin gave..it matched with him.."

John kept observing silently as V explained, John put his hand on his mouth as he took in the information V had given, putting thought with a stern expression, He made haste, wasting no more time on this matter. John then called in Baldin and his assistant who were present,

"I want a full report about this Yuji fellow, search within the headquarters and the city confines as well…if he's found he is to be detained immediately "

A sense of dread washes of V, He hurriedly steps over to John with a concern.

"NO! WAIT…HE'S NOT A BAD GUY…I think so at least…I'm sure he's got nothing to-"

 John glances at V, with a smirk on his face he looks back at the crowd,

"Well what are y'all looking at? GET BACK TO WORK"

The crowd instantly breaks as the steps in the hallways go from rowdy to silent. The people in the research department got back to typing on their keyboards and sorting documents. John retraces his steps to his office, and his assistant and Baldwin go to investigate.

Leaving just Eve and Kevin in the hallways, They started to head back to their respective rooms. V with his head down, looking at the floor with his bangs covering his face, Eve stood behind as he watched V moping towards his room, she wanted to reach her hand out to him but Kevin stopped her. Waving his head sideways.

" Give the kid some space to think…it's been a shitty morning..the least we can do to make it less shitty is to take a nap"

Eve looked back in V's direction but V had already entered his room.

Sitting on his bed, vigorously scratching his head, gritting his teeth out of frustration, fearing that it was happening all over again, flashes of memories as the first ever friend he had..had broken his trust. It irked V but at the same time, he didn't want to believe it.

That same static noise…like an old CRT TV, displaying nothing but the black and white haze and the vile static noise, mindlessly looking at the walls, the off-white color of it, as if it was meant to be re-painted but somebody forgot to do it. Thinking, Thinking, Thinking, Not even noticing how much time had passed as he was thinking… suddenly,

Knock knock.

The sound of the door breaks his concentration, it's for the better. He stood up from his bed, walking towards the dark wooden door of his room. Opening it, he finds Eve leaning against the door frame, with a smirk on her face.

"Hey...What's going on?"-V asked while noticing her smirk.

"Heh…Mama's got the bag!"- Pulling out an absurd amount of money from her wallet.

V was nonplussed from seeing the money, he looks at Eve, comically skeptical,

"Eve…You didn't steal this right?"

"HEY! WHAT" IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?? I GOT THIS MONEY FROM KEVIN!" Eve yells, Irked by the sudden accusation.

"Hehe…sorry about that…but what's the money for?"- V said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, ain't it obvious?"

Suddenly Eve grabs V's hand, grasping it tightly as they run through the hallways, Their steps on the ceramic tiles send echoes through the hallways, not stopping even for a second to breathe.

"Eve!... Where…are we going!?"-panting as they dashed through.

"Do the same thing as we did on Encford…Exploring the city!"-Enthusiastically rushing forwards, not giving a damn about who they bump into.

Soon they reached the heart of the City, The Lamburg streets. The fresh smell of meat grilled to perfection, and after that the flowery smell of the florist shop down the block, and the bickering of the children playing hopscotch. Bustling streets would be an understatement, not like the overpopulated mess of an environment in Encford, this street had the harmony like a bee's nest. And standing at the heart of it..were 1 guy and 1 girl… struggling to breathe…

"Y'know…you're…quite impulsive…when it comes to stuff like this.."-V said while gasping for air.

"Aw c'mon y'know this ain't the first time of you getting dragged by me"

"Yeah and I get an earful as well from Kevin"

"Heh we're partners in crime bud…and besides we got permission this time so.."

Eve grabs hold of V's hand again and swings it up high, a grin across her face as she's enjoying his company in solitude.

"LET'S EXPLORE LIKE THEM PIRATES!! ARR-"

"YEAH…eh..what's a pirate?"

"Ah-...Don't sweat about it…"

***

They strolled along the pavement, basking in the streets' warm tones and lights, Various wooden shops and restaurants emitting that strong smell of spices and cinnamon, the sizzling of the various meats and the smokes coming out of their chimneys. And right up ahead of that, sweet smell of fruits and pastries..and durian?...Ugh, the awful smell of durian…

The pangs of cups could be heard in those establishments, cheers among men and women, and the sound of instruments overflowing out of the establishment. The floor would thud with their feat as the people danced inside. But even after being surrounded by all these senses of the human system, V's eyes would only be on Eve as she strolled along in front of him.

"Hmmm..Where should we go first? Wanna get some meat or wanna explore the town more-"

As Eve came to an abrupt stop to look back at him, they bumped into each other, the distance between them had lessened as their faces had closed. V frantically retreats from the sudden closeness, jittering around as his face is red,

"AH!..sorry I didn't mean to-"

"Hahaha, Why're you jumping so much...Chill dude..let's go grab a bite first"-Eve said as she chuckled.

Eve turns in front, pointing V to a restaurant, While V had his head down, wondering what food to eat, someone's ears were bright red and burning up. They both entered the establishment, The walls were oak that was stained in oil from the fat of meat that had been spilling all over from the sizzling. They walk up to the counter, and a plethora of cups are showcased in various sizes, The countertop is made out of wood with an orange hue, and the smell of booze is as pungent as ever in these walls but it gets overwhelmed by the people occupying tables as they banter on like its the end of the world.

They order from the menu at the counter and go to the corner table with the nearest window. They sat down, immersing themselves in the sounds and the smells of meat and Booze. The strong men in the establishment put out barrels to have arm-wrestling matches to see who could be the manliest man of them all! The big tough-looking guys, with their pumped biceps and protruding veins, popping heads as one loses and one wins.

"I just got an idea"- Eve said with a sly look on her face.

"Hm? What's up?- V said being attentive towards Eve.

"Say V…Why don't we have some fun while we wait~"-Eve said maniacally with the ends of her smile curling upwards to a grin.

And just like that, without even a warning the next scene comes as V is now facing a 7-foot tall giant in an arm wrestle match.

"KICK HIS ASS V!!"-Eve enthusiastically cheered on for V. Slapping the shit out of his back.

"OW!-...Yeah, not gonna lie this ain't what I had in mind when you said fun"- V said looking back at Eve.

The giant man puts his hand out on the barrel, ready to trample anyone. Gripping the side of the barrel so hard his fingers could put a hole through it. V shrugs his shoulders as he thinks there's no way out of this match,

"Might as well give it a shot…"-V thought to himself.

"This scrawny ass wuss's gonna get eaten whole…a pity hehe"-The giant thought to himself, licking his lips in a circular motion.

V just kept glaring at the giant's eyes, not blinking for once, The giant felt as if something was off with the kid, not thinking about his physique or anything, but something else. The giant, as if he felt a shiver on his shoulders which he reluctantly ignored. They both come in contact, Clutching onto each other by the palms of their hands, and the referee puts their hand over the participants.

"ALL RIGHTY- THIS GON' BE A CLEAN FIGHT, WINNERS WIN AND LOSERS EAT SHIT!"- The crowd became more and more rowdy from all the anticipation.

"…3..2…1 GO!"

The giant puts in all his strength, giving his all to embarrass the shit out of V. Hunched over, screaming and grinning wide as he thought to himself that he had already finished off V mercilessly…

"Oi..oi oi oi…What the fuck is going on?"-A drunk man with a pint of beer in his hand and his mouth wide open.

"Well I'll be damned, haha this shit is the funniest I've seen"-Another man cracks up at the sight in front of him.

The giant glances back, his face has gone pale as he sees that his hand hasn't even moved an inch, locking him in that starting position by V.

"Ah…What am I supposed to do now?...do I just keep holding his hand like this?" V comically tilts his head to the side as he scratches the back of his head.

V glances towards Eve's direction, hoping for her help to figure out what he is supposed to do." PFFT-" said Eve, spitting out her drink like a broken water pipe, splitting her sides laughing.

"HAHAHA! Dude just slam his hand!"- Eve said as tears rolled out her eyes and her tummy ached from seeing such a ridiculous situation.

"Oh-"

A gust of wind flowed out of his mouth, planting his feet on the ground causing it to crack, almost shaking it, Without even holding the side of the barrel, in just a few moments…

THUD.

The giant man gets flung like a bug being flicked with a finger, meeting his face on the oily surface of the walls. The barrel broke, the silent audience, the drink overflowing at the counter as the waitress was in awe, and the giant's pride shattered into oblivion, V had won…maybe a little too hard…

"Ah-...the floors wet now..sorry bout' that.."- V said as he looked at the broken barrel that was once filled with booze, he wondered if the spilled booze on his shoes could be washed.

The audience, still not fathoming to what the fuck just happened while someone was laughing their ass off.

"ATTABOY V! NOW THAT'S FUNNY AS FUCK HAHAHA"- Eve said acting like a drunkard even though she didn't even drink any alcohol.

The silence suddenly breaks as the audience cheers out loud, The music, many applaud as they pick up V and toss him up into the air, basking him in his glory.

"HEY HEY PUT ME DOWN THAT DANGEROUS-"

Nobody listened as they just kept on tossing him up and down. Eve watched in great delight, taking sips of her drink despite not being alcoholic. The music intensifies as the people in the restaurant dance and laugh to their heart's content.

Later… Eve and V returned to their table, and with them, their orders came as well, and the sizzling aroma of the steak that Eve ordered was making her mouth water up so much it could probably refill the Dead Sea to its prime. Eve ordered a steak while V got ribeyes, unable to hold back their appetite they dug into their food. With the spices, the juice, and the sheer fat of the meat, Eve could nearly shed a tear.

"I feel so alive right now~"-Eve said as she took a bite of her steak, savoring it like it was her last day on Earth.

"This is great…it's like got this complex flavor and it's so juicy...."-V took a gentle bite, much more well-mannered, unlike the energetic bite Eve took at her first bite.

They kept on eating and enjoying their meals until Eve would side-eye on his pieces. She yoinked one of his ribeyes,

"Don't mind if I do!"-Eve said taking a big bite of his ribeye,

V didn't feel any agitation instead seeing the big grin on Eve's face was worth more than he thought it would. He looked over to Eve's plate,

"Can I have some of yours too?"V said while looking over her sizzling steak,

"Nuh-uh, I don't share~ and besides a gal's gotta eat more y'know~"-Eve said while putting her arms around her plate.

V just smiled back as he didn't want to hang on to the idea of taking a bite of her food. somehow, seeing this ticked off Eve, V looked down at his food enjoying the flavor of it. A fork with a slice of meat was stuffed into his mouth without any prior notice. Eve chuckled as she saw V chewing down the slice she fed him.

"It's good isn't it "- Eve said while chuckling.

A soft expression, Seeing such an expression V gazed at her, noticing her beautiful black eyes that shone like pearls and strands of her black hair tucked behind her ear. However, the only thing that left an impression on V was how pretty her eyes were. The time they spent together alone was so…enjoyable…leaving an everlasting mark on V, and the thought of what happened to Yuji had slipped out of his mind for a moment…

But only for a moment…

***

"Found the Anomaly."-A voice whispered behind The back of V's seat.

Like Darkness reaching out to engulf The Light, taking it all for itself, crawling, grabbing it, yanking it out of its throne, and finally devouring it. The hand holds a sharp tool, Thrusting it through V's wooden seat from behind. Entering into the dead center of the heart.

"ACK-"

V watched as his eyes widened. Stunned, as blood gushed out of his mouth, His clothes getting tainted by the color of Red.

Why? For what purpose? and when? Why does time feel as if a second took minutes to process…He thought,

why is a blade…sticking out of me?