Shadow Fangs

Chapter 3

The next morning when Aoba awoke, he found Zorakuba was not only already up, but he was making breakfast in the kitchen.
It was around ten or so, and Aoba doesn't know why he got up. He usually sleeps longer than this, and he doesn't have work today either.
Aoba was about to walk into the kitchen and talk to Zorakuba, but he stopped himself. Zorakuba had his back turned to Aoba, but he heard a faint humming come from him.....was he...singing? It sounded soft and calming, a lullaby of sorts. It was also about......'wait a minute....' Aoba thought.
'Why does this tune sound so familiar? He felt like he heard it somewhere before....
He sighed before shaking his head. That's when Zorakuba finally noticed him. "Oh good morning Aoba!" Zorakuba says with a smile as he looks at Aoba, who doesn't look even half awake yet. After saying a quick good morning back, Aoba glances over Zorakuba's shoulder to see that he was beginning to make some sort of bite sized dough pieces.
"What's that?" He asks as he points towards the small pieces of food. "An old family recipe I call Fox Trots," Zorakuba replies with a nonchalant tone. Aoba is about to ask what they are, but a sudden crash from outside interrupts them.
They two quickly rush outside to see a man with white hair, a lab coat, and a scarf on the ground. Zorakuba looks worried, but Aoba just sighs. "You need to stop doing that Clear. You're going to get yourself hurt one of these days," Aoba lectures the man, who stands up and looks at the two.
Zorakuba then sees that he's wearing a mask, which confused him even more. "Master! I came to see you today!" The man, Zorakuba assumed was Clear, then turned to him and leaned close into Zorakuba's "bubble" causing him to tense alitte.
"Who are you stranger? Are you one of Master's friends?" He says to Zorkauba, who nods his head with confusion written all over his expression.
"Master?" He looks at Aoba, who shrugs and says he doesn't know why he calls him that. Just as Zorakuba was about to speak again, clear grabbed his cheeks and pulled them.
"Why do you seem so familiar? Do I know you?" Clear asks Zorakuba, who was struggling to get out of his grasp. At that moment Aoba knew what he was singing in the kitchen.
"Come on in guys.. let's not talk out in the door" Aoba says as he heads in. Clear let's go before following, followed by Zorakuba who was now very, very confused.
After they all enter the house, Zorakuba goes back to the kitchen, the others following. "So Lets get introductions out of the way. This is clear," Aoba gestures to clear, "and this is Zorakuba," Aoba gestures now to Zorkauba.
Zorakuba gives a polite nod and Clear clasps his hands together happily, saying hi and that he's happy to have a new friend. He then goes back to cooking as the other two talk.
"He looks so familiar, master. I just can't put my finger on where I met him," Clear says to Aoba as they sit in the living room. Aoba node before pausing.
"Earlier he was humming your jellyfish song. I have no idea how he knew it," Aoba states, looking at Clear, who seems to have gone quiet for a moment.
"I think....i think I know where he's from. He's-" Clear cuts off as Zorakuba walks back into the room.
"Hey guys. Just letting you know I finished up breakfast and it's at the table," he says, oblivious to what the other two were talking about. They nod, glancing at eachother before standing and heading to the kitchen.
"I hope you like this. It's something I don't share with people often," Zorakuba says as he sits down at the table, clear sitting across from him and Aoba next to Clear. Tae wasn't there because she was delivering medicine, so it was just the three. Five if you include Ren and Chef, who were talking in the living room.
The dish Zorakuba made was a small pocket of dough filled with veggies and meat. The two tried his dish, and they instantly continued to eat.
Though Zorakuba was stunned and confused on how Clear ate with a gassmask on....
"Zorakuba this is wonderful!" Clear exclaimed as he ate another. Aoba nodded in agreement. "You're a really good cook," Aoba added as he ate more.
Zorakuba smiled at the compliments, though he still acted humble. "I'm just following the instructions of my old teacher. He taught me all kinds of recipes and such about anything in general before-" Zorakuba stops talking and looks down at his food.
Clear and Aoba frowned, though you couldn't see Clear's frown. They both decided not to push, seeing as it was a touchy subject.
Aoba clears his throat before changing the subject. "So Zorakuba what do you do for a living?" He asked the first thing that came to mind. Zorakuba pauses before smiling.
"Normally I sell paintings or stories I made. I also do side jobs here and there to help," he says as he continues to eat.
"He also sells his Allmate designs to people who need them," Chef adds as he and Ren walk into the room. It was a cute sight. Chef was on Ren's head as he walked in.
Zorakuba smiles and laughs alittle. "Haha that too," he says as he looks at the other two. "Speaking of, if you guys ever need anything done let me know," he says happily to the other two, who smile at him.
"Alright then we'll let you know Zorakuba-san!" Clear exclaims happily clapping his hands together again. Zorakuba smiles at this, and the conversation continues for awhile like that.
However, Zorakuba glances at a clock before frowning. "I have to go...." he says as he stands abruptly, Chef climbing his leg and sitting on his shoulder.
"What why?" Aoba asks alittle confused and surprised. Zorakuba doesn't answer as he leaves quickly.
"What was that all about?" Aoba asks no one in particular. Clear shrugs at his questions saying I don't know.
Whatever it was, the two were beginning to wonder who he really was....Clear suddenly pauses as he leans closer to Aoba.
"I remember about the conversation earlier....i saw him in the North District!" Clear whisper yells to Aoba, who nearly chokes on the food he was eating as he looks at Clear with disbelief.
"What?! But it's illegal for anyone to go there at the moment....are you sure?" Clear nods to Aoba's question.
"Yes.....and I know exactly where from Master," Clear says quietly as he begins to explain just how he met Zorakuba for the first time in the North District.

(Long chapter! The next chapter is going to be an important one.)