Naren stared at the man unaware of the words he let slip.
A corner of the man's lips rose, revealing his gums.
"Huh?!"
Vera's eyes widened, as she opened her mouth, trying to diffuse the situation. But Naren spoke first, grabbing his scarf that was still wrapped around Vera.
"I said you look cool."
The man lingered a second his sharp eye slowly mellowing out as waved his hand urging Naren to come over.
"Shit man...Come grab some."
—————
Vera watched as Naren was sat right next to the man, his stomach already eager to get something to fill it.
A burning glowing piece of meat was being passed from hand to hand like some party trick as Naren kept trying to wait out the searing pain. That is until he grew too impatient and sank his teeth into it.
Immediately, he spit it out.
Vera had to cover her mouth with her shirt as she let out a little giggle, watching Naren try to dig out the piece from his mouth.
"Don't fuck with it?"
The man's voice stopped Vera's amusement at once. His cutting voice, had her feeling constantly at odds. Even more so as his gaze shifted onto her along with an outreached hand.
"How bout her? lil girl wanna try some?"
She shook her head. At least she wanted to, but as she tried her stomach had other plans. Ones that didn't quite agree with logic nor the sight of Naren it just witnessed.
"Come on, shrimpy, try some."
Vera walked over carefully. Sitting down right next to Naren, brushing off the wrinkles on her clothes. She sneezed as the wet clothes had finally gotten to her. At least now, the heat would slowly dry them.
"T-thank you sir...I-Naren and I appreciate the meal."
"You raised right shorty."
The man handed Vera a portion, which she grabbed while clenching he jaw. Immediately, she sat it on the floor waiting for it to cool. She took small bites, covering her mouth as she chewed, disguising her disgust.
Naren took another bite, scrunching his face as he chewed. The thick hard pieces lumping in his throat as he hurriedly tried swallowing.
"Eugh...It's nasty...What's you're name anyways man. You're cool."
"Cairo."
"Naren. And this is shrimpy."
Naren patted the man in the back.
"I Never shoulda called you a freak."
Vera's mouth hung wide open as the chunk in her hands fell to the ground.
Cairo stood up, an unsettling grin growing on his face, the cloth scabbard falling off his waist as he did. He turned to Naren, staring daggers with his only eye.
Grey staring at gold.
"So I wasn't trippin."
Before Naren could even say anything, Cairo's knee was already buried into Naren's face, a deep blunt pain sending him staggering back, landing on his shoulder which sent another string of cries from his body.
Vera staggered back in fear as Cairo's gaze turned to her. Her eyes shaking as her legs trembled. It was like she was burning up.
'Be brav-'
"I have never seen this person in my life."
Vera covered her mouth in surprise, Cairo's grin shifting like he didn't truly know how to smile as he turned back to Naren.
"Thought you was cool..."
Naren staggered to his feet, grimacing with the pain in his shoulder hanging lifelessly by his side.
"Just said it as it was...Perverted Fre—."
Before he could finish, a swift slash arced a few inches from Naren's neck. He stepped back just in time, pivoting over his left leg, sending his right in a horizontal sweep across the floor. Cairo hopped up, avoiding the sweep, only to see a jab flying at his airborne body.
Instead of dodging, however, the shinobi threw his own kunai forward, piercing straight ahead, ready to take the jab head on.
Naren pulled back, avoiding the glowing blade. Both landing back and setting their footing.
The air between them shimmered.
Cairo's skin gave off an amber glow as steam rose from it. Even a few feet away, Naren could feel it. The air grew hotter, drier, and breathing became more of a chore.
Cairo ignited. The oils on his body engulfed in flames licking his forearms in slivers of dancing embers. Like a symphony of cinders, the heat spread through his fingers to the kunai in his hands, catching fire just the same.
Naren clutched his shoulder in pain.
"Neat trick. You do birthdays?"
Cairo shifted, ready to attack, but a sudden voice stole his attention.
"T-That's quite enough!"
Vera stood holding a broken katana. It's cloth scabbard unwrapped and sitting on the white floor.
Cairo's smile disappeared as his eyes took on a monotone look. Something akin to a cat watching a mouse it decided to live still show itself.
"You want your head rollin?"
Vera's legs trembled as the burning sensation intensified. She was afraid to look off him, wondering if her eyes might sear shut the moment she did.
A roundhouse kick came right at Cairo's neck. Then, in rapid succession, a side kick straight to his abdomen, spitting all the air out of Cairo's lungs.
"Atta girl, shrimpy!"
Cairo staggered back, the flames only growing stronger, turning his attention back on Naren.
"What's up? You done..."
Naren's golden eyes glimmered, his words trailing off. His breathing had grown haggard with the air around him altered. Slowly, his eyelids fell as he lost consciousness, slinking to the ground with a thump. All the exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Cairo took a step forward, but Vera came in between him and Naren. Pointing the broken katana at Cairo, evidently struggling under its weight.
"Drop the blade."
Vera shook her head as her legs trembled.
"N-Naren was already injured...It was hardly a fair exchange...He did not mean it as-"
Cairo clicked his tongue, as his eyes narrowed on the girl.
"The prick was hurt?"
Vera nodded, sweat beads falling down her face.
Cairo sighed. Holding his hand out for Vera to return his sword.
Vera held it firmly though.
"I want to ask for your word...that you mean us no further harm."
"I won't kill you. Happy?"
Vera relaxed for a bit, but then tightened her grip again.
'What if he's lying.'
Cairo tilted his head.
"I'd rather slit my own throat than lie, shorty."
Vera's hands trembled as she handed over the sword.
One image flowing through Cairo's mind as the blade was finally back in his grasp: The bloody hands of a sickly woman shaking while handing him a broken katana. The world around them aflame.
"Shorty, you two should prolly scram soon."
"Pardon?"
"During the day, the ground be burnin"
Vera looked at the slumbering body of Naren. Wondering if she could truly carry him up all those stairs.
"How high must I travel?"
"All the way, shorty."
Vera's eyes lingered on Naren.
'I can't...I can't carry him.'
Vera wandered over to Cairo, bowing down in sincerity. The man watching with a lack of emotion. It's not like he wasn't move, but more so he didn't care for it.
"C-could you accompany Naren and I, Cairo sir?"
A corner of Cairo's lips rose, revealing his gums.
"Huh?"
Vera staggered back a little, closing her eyes as soon as he spoke.
"I'm not capable of carrying Naren...If I can not...he may die..."
Looking down, Vera's legs were trembling more than she would've liked to admit. Something that Cairo definitely picked up on.
"Why bother?"
Vera couldn't give him a good reason. Nothing came to mind. Naren tormented her. He never showed any care for her. It was like she was nothing but a pawn to him. But then she thought of when he slapped her hand, forcing a high five.
Her eyes stared at Cairo, this time with conviction.
"He told me he would take me home..."
Cairo nodded and looked away, clearly not interested.
"...To Atlas."
His gaze instantly turned back to her.
"That clown knows where the Tomb of Atlas is?"
"No..."
Vera took a deep breath to stop her trembling.
"...I do."