"Come on Liz, we're going home" She grabbed my wrist tightly making me wince slightly as she dragged me towards the entrance of Taylor's house.
"I don't get what the big deal is! It's just a party mom" I growled angrily staring out the window of th...
It's been a few days since we moved to Japan, and as promised I'd call my friends every night and told them all these crazy stories about the heroes. "Liz! Can you go shopping for me at the store? Put some of that Japanese talk to good use" Mom called from downstairs, frowning I say my goodbyes to my friends and rush down, my socks slipping on the hard-wood floors as I ran downstairs. "Can you go shopping?" She asked again seeing me appear from the staircase; nodding I head towards the front door, grab a baggy sweater and slid my winter boots on making sure they were properly tied before I left; my wallet hung on my wrist filled with one hundred yen which didn't seem that much but if I could get groceries with it then so be it. "Liz!" Mom yelled running out of the house holding a slip of paper with all the items I needed "If you have any trouble with anything call me" She demanded with a serious gaze, I smile and nod.
The store was only a thirty minute walk there and back so I had no trouble finding it; and with all the drawings mom made to help me find the items it was no trouble at all! Until it got to the cash register. My anxiety was spiked and my body was obviously tense. This was the first time I've ever bought something without mom here with me and I was slowly starting to panic "Gōkei wa 100-en (Your total is 100 yen)" He smiles kindly eyeing my nervous expression, I went to pull it from my wallet but I didn't have it. Fear engulfed me as I kept my eyes on the wallet, the yen was gone. Taking a deep breath I prepare to explain the situation when someone slaps 200 yen on the counter making me jolt in surprise, looking up was a man who wore a black trench coat, a white worn out shirt, black pants and equally black combat boots. He had purple scars under his eyes where the eye socket should be and along his lower jaw stopping right at the ears. Turquoise eyes stared down at me lifelessly. "Ā, arigatōgozaimasu (Oh uh, thank you sir)" I bowed politely as the cashier bagged my items and handed it to me with a warm smile. I look back at the man and slightly nod feeling even more anxious to leave. I wasn't scared of him, he was honestly quiet hot but all I wanted to do in this moment was turn to sand; leaving the store I start heading back home. The moment replaying in my head again and again my gut was telling me something but I shook it off thinking I was just hungry and sped up a bit. The crowd ahead were all waiting for the cross-light to turn green; patiently I waited by the end of the crosswalk praying it turn green soon. Not a second later the same man from the store stood beside me with the same frown, I wanted to say something but all I could do was stare at the ground and internally panic at how close he was. The man smelt of smoke and burning campfire wood. "Ojōsama wa nan-saidesu ka? (How old are you young lady?)" A woman's voice asked from behind me. Shyly I turn and find a woman around twenty years-old smiling down at me almost as if I was a threat. "Watashi wa 15-ridesu. Nanika otetsudai dekimasu ka? (I'm fifteen ma'am. Can- can I help you with anything?)" I ask shyly side eyeing the man beside me. A sudden sting was felt on my left cheek, my face now completely staring at the man's side; he was still facing the road while a few others stared in shock "Anata ga sonoyōni bakagete iru yō ni mieru yori ōku no doresuappu! (Dress up more you look ridiculous like that!)" She yelled angrily as if I offended her. My clothes weren't that big of a deal, sure they were all black and baggy but I saw no problem with it. "Gomen'nasai. Watashi wa anata no shūkan o amari shirimasen (I'm sorry. I don't know much of your customs)" I replied with an apologetic bow, turning back to the road the light turned green and the crowd starts forward, still a bit confused by the situation I stare at the ground blankly trying to figure out what I did wrong. Without realizing it the man was still beside me walking silently "Kanojo no kangae o shinpai suru no wa yame nasai. Dakaranani? Anata wa anata ga nozomu yō ni fuku o kite imasu sore wa kanojo no sentakude wa arimasen (Stop worrying about what she thinks. So what? You're dressed how you want to it's not her choice)" The man's voice was deep and almost emotionless as he spoke. "Shitte iru. Watashi wa kanojo o okora seru tame ni watashi ga naniwoshita ka o rikai shiyou to shite imasu (I know. I'm just trying to figure out what I did to make her mad)" I stare up at him calmly for a few seconds as he eyed me down. His eyes travel up to my hair almost as if in question. "Kami no iro no seideshou ka? Naze sore ga kanojo o okora seru no ka wakarimasen (Could it have been because of my hair color? I'm not sure why that'd make her angry)" I answered holding up the strand of red hair that hung low on my face
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"Tato~ū no seida to omoimasu (I think it was because of the tattoo)" He replied calmly turning back to face the sidewalk; feeling my neck where the tattoo was placed I frown "Gijutsu-teki ni wa irezumide wa arimasen. Sore wa watashinokazoku no enburemudesu, watashinochichi no soba no daremoga sore o motte imasu (It's not technically a tattoo. It's my families emblem, everyone on my dad's side has one)" My frown only grew at the thought of my family. I missed them, but at the same time resented them for ignoring me and making me who I am today "Watashi ni kiite mo kamawanai nonara, dō yatte sorera no kizuato o te ni iremashita ka? (If you don't mind me asking, how'd you get those scars?)" I asked hesitantly glancing up at him before looking back at the ground. Silence overcame the two of us, honestly I don't think he wanted to talk about it and that was okay, it was rude of me to ask randomly. "Shitsumon shite sumimasen. Chotto ki ni natta dake (Sorry for asking. I was just curious)" Quickly I shut my mouth and stare at the ground in embarrassment. I just met the guy and I'm already up in his business! "Shazai shi sugi (You apologize too much)" He said bluntly shocking me slightly. Not long after my house came into view, concrete outer walls with spiral metal bars surrounding the area. Bright green grass spiked up from the ground, a medium sized cherry tree in the left corner and bushes of flower lining the windows of the house. "Chinamini anata no namae wa wakarimasen (I never got your name by the way)" Stopping in front of my house I turn and look up at him with dull yellow eyes. "荼毅 De iku (I go by Dabi)" He too stopped and stared down at me, both hands in his pockets with a pack of cigars hanging loosely from them "Hajimemashite dabi, rizudesu (Nice to meet you Dabi, I'm Liz)" Trying for a smile it came out weak and barely noticeable.
