Of Love and Death.

The Present Chapter 11: A Snowy Day Pt. 4

      Valt rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he stepped down the final step of the stairs. His mouth tasted like mint from toothpaste, a taste he was desperate to get rid of with breakfast. It was Sunday, and his mom usually made french toast with her own bread, a tradition that had started years ago when he was in school, that he still loved. He'd celebrated a bit when he'd learned that this trip would take him back home over the first day of the week.

     Abruptly turning in the hallway, Valt walked, still in PJ's, into the kitchen. His bare feet were cold against the tile floor. He glanced out the window to see that, sure enough, it was still white outside. Great, the snow hadn't melted. "Morning Mom. Morning Nika. Morning Toko. Morning Venus," Valt mumbled, crossing across the floor to a cabinet hanging from the wall. It creaked ever so slightly as he opened it. Reaching up, he grabbed a relatively tall glass and turned around, intending to fill it up from the pitcher that rested on the countertop.

     There was snickering from behind Valt, that sounded suspiciously like his siblings. He creased his brow as he reached for the pitcher. It was decorated with a simple and generic flower design, crossing the otherwise clear container with blue and pink tulips and such. "Good morning to you too, Valt," Venus said. Somehow, the blue-haired blader could hear a smirk in his counterpart's voice.

     Why, though? What could Venus be smirking about? It was completely normal that he would be here-

     "Venus, what in the universe are you doing here?" Valt blurted out, whirling around, pitcher still in hand. Water sloshed out as he spun, and he made a mental note to clean that up later. Right now, however, he was staring at the man formerly known as Aster Guy, pondering what he was doing in his kitchen.

    Slam! Venus stood up, slamming both of his hands down on the table. "For the last time!" Venus shouted. "Venus is the planet and Roman goddess of love. Venice is the city and my name. I'm not associated with love! That's Mr. Daemon!" Valt blinked at Venus's outburst. Not that he made any sense. After all, hadn't the azure-eyed blader just confessed that he had spirit powers? And wasn't the spirit associated with the heart and thus associated with love?

     "Uh, okay," Valt said with absolutely no intention to commit Venus' real name to memory, and Venus knew that. Valt was very, very, very bad with names. So when he couldn't peek into someone's mind to double check their name, well, it didn't go well. The only couple of people who he managed to remember without help those he was directly related to, the bey club, a couple of people on BC Sol, and Shu.

     Valt would never forget Shu's name.

     "You still haven't answered what you're doing here, though," the number one blader continued. He set the pitcher down and crossed his arms for emphasis. Venus rolled his eyes and sat down, crossing his legs as he leaned back in the chair. Valt rolled his eyes, but nevertheless also sat down, tossing his napkin onto the spill behind him. He had a feeling he'd want to sit down for this conversation.

      Once Valt was settled in his chair, Toko piped up. "He came looking for you really early, and once Mom heard he was a friend of yours, there was no question of him staying for breakfast." There were odds of acknowledgement from both Valt's sister and his mother, confirming that the story was true.

      Not surprisingly, Chiharu had something to add. Valt's mom always loved to share stories, this time being no exception. Her dark eyes were sparkling "Yes, it was very strange. Your friend showed up, all serious and mysterious, like it would be the end of the world if he didn't speak to you right now. Then I told him I was making french toast and he immediately decided that your conversation was waiting a bit."

      There was a knowing glint in Valt's mom's eyes. She smiled like inviting a stranger to breakfast was completely normal. Even if Venice had come in claiming to be Valt's friend, it was still slightly out of character for her to just let him in without informing the mind reader himself. What do you know that I don't? Valt wondered, as he studied his mom. He was sure there was something. There was definitely that expression on her face. She knew something only a mom could know.

      Before Valt could ponder much further on that subject, however, Venus cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to him. Which worked well, all eyes turned to him. "Yes, but, Valt. Once this absolutely amazing breakfast is done, I need to talk to you. Preferably before Kit comes knocking on your door and tells Ilya I'm here." Valt was about to ask what Venus meant by more or less any of that, but he was stopped in his tracks by the look on the ex-Snake Pit blader's face. Dead serious and sorrowful, with a wisdom that seemed to belong to someone much older than 24-ish.

     Something had happened. In the back of Valt's mind, he realized he knew exactly what had happened. He just couldn't seem to reach it. He knew he could. If he just opened that door. He was reaching for it again, but then he was stopped. By words. "Listen Valt, I've known you long enough to guess what's going on in your mind. That being said, wait until after your battle with Shu. Just enjoy that, okay? I don't if you'll ever have the chance to again-" Venus cut off, nevertheless pulling Valt back to reality.

     Everyone's face had turned ashen and serious. What had been a few moments earlier a cheerful breakfast had turned solem. While Valt was currently trying to figure out what was reality and what wasn't, Toko and Nika were just confused. Yet Venus seemed apologetic for changing to mood, while Chiharu was an odd mix of disappointment, understanding, and concern.

      "I'm sorry for intruding," Venus said hurriedly. He stood up, and slung his bag over his shoulder. Valt didn't bother to offer his counterpart to stay. "I should go and see Zac. Good luck with your battle Valt," he said with forced cheer. Yet his face had a shadow cast over it. Then Venus took one step, and another, and left. Not before wrapping a couple of slices of french toast up in a napkin, though.

     Valt frowned, and crossed his arms. Using the silence of his family to try and figure out what exactly the azure-eyed blader had let slip that he wasn't supposed to. It had to be something.

     But what?