"You're serious?"
I eye my guardian as she signs the paperwork in her table while mumbling curses at it. Moments ago, she just asked me to give Clara a tour of Kyoto, just as what Shizu and Nik did when Sylvia, Klint and I arrived months ago.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" she responds, not even looking up.
Well… I'm actually not sure about that, I can't even get a read on her face.
"Clara has been cooped up in this place for days." she grimaces and looks at me with a tired expression. "Let her go out and have fun."
"You do realize a dangerous organization called Sceptre is after her, right?"
"I am aware April. My father has never kept the business of the yakuza from the reach of my ears."
Wait…
Something's wrong.
"Why are you speaking formally?" I ask. "In fact, you speak like an old person."
She raises an eyebrow then gives a fake cough to get my attention.
"Anyway, you're free and I'm pretty sure you want to go out as well. You've already finished the works the school has assigned you and you want to go out on a mission – I know that look – but I have no mission to give you, so…"
I groan and like a kid, I stomp my foot and pout.
"I'm not going to babysit a girl who can take me on and kill me in my sleep."
"You're not babysitting, you're going to be a tour guide." she sighs and massages her temples. "Just go. You can use your credit card without any limit."
Does she really think she'll get me with such an offer?
Ha!
***
"WHOA! Kyoto is awesome!"
I watch Clara marvel at the Nijo Tower with eyes as wide as saucers. She's gawking at it like a kid.
The poor girl has probably never been out on a tour.
From what I know, reapers of the mafia is not as free as anyone thinks. Reapers usually start as kids and as they grow older they are subjected into harsh trainings to ensure they are capable of the job they're being prepared to do while ensuring loyalty to whoever they're going to serve.
I had seen my fair share of reapers back in the Nera Famiglia's Sceptre.
But seeing Clara, who escaped Sceptre's clutches and is bubbling with youth, it makes me think there's something about her. I can't jump into conclusions though since I don't have enough evidence yet.
It still baffles me that Sakura-nee let her out though, despite the threats of her life. I don't have any news regarding Sceptre's movements in Kyoto but as a former Mafioso, I can tell that much. She's a prized Reaper of the organization, so of course they're going to want her back, whether dead or alive.
I have one question lingering in my mind though; how did she even escape Sceptre's clutches?
There's only one way to find out; by asking her.
I glance at Shino who's only staying silent by my side, his eyes sweeping across the area where we currently are. He's the only one who's accompanying me and Clara. Well, he's the only one available and I'd like to think he's doing it because he likes being with us rather than because it's his duty.
Anyway, the others are… quite busy. Nicco for one has some business with the local church so he couldn't come. Shizu and Nik couldn't come either since they have school stuff to do, and so does Sylvia and Klint. My childhood friends are still in the middle of studying how to speak, read and write Japanese fluently and missing more days of classes is hindering their development of learning the language.
"Hey Clara!" I call, rushing to her side as she takes selfies with the castle as a background.
"Oh my gosh April! This place is awesome! I've only read about it in books and the internet but the real deal is even cooler!"
She seems really different from the person she was when I first met her. She has now become livelier and louder than the first few days she came.
*SIGH*
One can hardly believe she is… I mean it's not really official yet but she was, the Reaper of Sceptre; a supposedly stoic and heartless assassin for the mafia.
"Glad you're enjoying it." I respond. "Hey, I have a question."
"Shoot."
"How did you escape from Sceptre? If you're one of their Reapers, aren't you supposed to be loyal to them? And your demeanor is a bit… not so Reaper like."
She suddenly stops and looks at me, her face with the expression of surprise.
Was she caught off-guard? Maybe. And I think my appearance actually let her act however she thinks so she let her guard down. But then there's Shino, so I'm not sure.
"April, kids like you shouldn't say stuff like that. You're too young to-"
I can't help but click my tongue in annoyance. I think she heard it since she stopped herself and is currently refusing to meet my eyes.
"My mind is not as innocent as you think. Trust me on that." I sigh.
I just realize it now but I think I just actually asked something stupid. Will she really actually share something like her past to a stranger like me?
"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked something stupid."
"No, I understand. My presence in your home is basically putting you guys in danger. If I can actually leave, I would you know? Then you'd be spared from my troubles, but Miss Sakura has somehow… convinced me to stay and live like a normal teenager, whatever that means. I'm just assuming what we're doing, is what regular teenagers do in this city." she sighs. "I can't tell you though."
"Is it because I look like a kid?" I retort, my voice laced with annoyance.
I swear if she says it's because of my appearance, I'll give her kick even though she's a girl. I mean I-
"Of course not." she responds which makes me stop from my internal rant. "You guys are probably the only people I know who are treating me like a real human being. I want to spare you from the troubles of the past I'm trying to run away from."
So she did run away.
"I take it that you never had friends?" I ask, rather bluntly.
"Friends aren't really a big thing from where I'm from."
"Speaking of… You're Dutch, I can tell from how you speak, but why are you working for an Italian Mafia?"
"Err… That's actually a-"
I shush her immediately when I feel sets unfamiliar presences. Usually, I wouldn't mind it since Kyoto is a tourist magnet and many tourists come from all over the world to see the sites of the city. But the new presences are giving me a bad feeling.
Hmm… Now that I think about it, why is the tourist area near Nijo Castle so silent? Where are the people?
Seconds later, figures start emerging immediately surrounding us. They are all wearing civilian clothes, but I can see the bulges in their chests and waists; they have guns.
"Clara, I think we fell in one of big sister Sakura's schemes." I say, holding her wrist as she try to place me behind her, as if trying to protect me.
"What do you mean?"
"She never initiates something without getting something in return." I explain. "And I think in our case, she made us baits to lure the people after you."
She looks at me with disbelief, her jaws clenching as I feel her tense. But then she eases up and looks at me with a smile.
"Miss Sakura is so cool!"
Okay… I think there's something wrong with her in the head.