The curly-haired girl stumbled back, her eyes wide with a disbelief that mirrored the fog clinging to the riverbank.
"Um, we're just going to head this way," she stammered, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
She gave a thumbs-up, but it was a flimsy gesture, a desperate attempt to mask the fear that radiated from her. "We'll pretend we never saw anything, alright?"
Bakari moved quickly, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "Hold on, hold on—this isn't what it seems," he insisted, his breath catching in his throat.
"Well, maybe it is a little, but trust me, we mean you no harm.
We're just like you—human." He tried to project an air of calm, but the urgency in his voice betrayed him.
Yuri's eyes, however, were anything but calm. They were sharp and distrustful, locking onto the girls with an intensity that made the air crackle.
"No, no, we believe you," the curly-haired girl assured him, nodding quickly, her gaze darting nervously from Yuri to Bakari and back again.
With fluid grace, Yuri summoned his power, tracing his inner arm, a bone blade erupted, sharp and menacing.
The girls shrieked, clutching each other in terror, while the curly-haired girl eyes wide with desperate pleas.
Bakari spun around, his heart leaping into his throat.
"Whoa, whoa, put that thing away!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with alarm. "I just told them we mean no harm!"
Yuri remained unmoved, his stance unwavering, the sword a silent threat. "Her heart just spiked," he stated, his voice calm but devoid of warmth.
"Which means she's lying." He was an unwavering sentinel, his senses heightened, his instincts screaming danger.
Bakari sighed deeply, shaking his head with a wry smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Oh boy," he muttered, nearly chuckling at the absurdity of it all. "That's what we call reassurance."
The girls stiffened, their eyes widening in fear. Yuri, steady and unyielding, leveled his blade at them.
"Run," he said, his voice a low growl, "and your freedom will be a dream quickly lost."
Bakari gently lowered Yuri's arm, his touch surprisingly firm.
"Ladies," he said, offering a reassuring smile that he hoped looked more genuine than it felt, "my apologies for my overly cautious friend here.
He's just a bit…overprotective." He shot a pointed look at Yuri, silently urging him to ease up.
Bakari grasped Yuri's arm with a swift, practiced motion, guiding him away from the gaze of the two women.
As they turned their backs, Bakari could feel the tension in the air slowly dissipate, like the fog lifting from the river.
He leaned in close, his breath a quiet murmur against the backdrop of rustling leaves and distant sounds of the city.
"Brother," he whispered, urgency threading his words, "we can't go on threatening every human we encounter.
We need allies, especially with both the humans and the Celestials likely to be against us."
Yuri listened, his gaze momentarily softening as Bakari's earnestness washed over him.
"This is Earth, my friend," Bakari continued, his voice a calming current.
"They fear what they don't understand. We need to keep a low profile, blend in."
Yuri glanced back, his mesmerizing spiral purple eyes swirling with thoughts. The curly-haired girl gave a tentative wave, her smile fragile as tissue paper.
"That might be difficult," Yuri admitted, his brow furrowed, the complexity of the moment reflected in his striking gaze.
Bakari tilted his head, curious. Yuri explained, "Our eyes—they glow. Theirs don't."
Bakari laughed softly, a sound that resonated like sunlight glancing off water.
"Oh, never thought about that," he admitted with a grin. "But anyhow, you're going to apologize to these lovely ladies, and then I'll handle the rest."
With a reluctant grunt, Yuri turned back to the women, his demeanor shifting awkwardly between warrior and sheepish child.
He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice gruff but laced with a sincerity that surprised even Bakari.
"I apologize for my earlier behavior," he said, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Where we come from, even our own people…" He trailed off, unable to articulate the harsh realities of their world.
Bakari swiftly stepped in, cutting Yuri off with a broad gesture, his arm outstretched like a welcoming wing.
"So," Bakari began, shooting Yuri a chiding look, "we were wondering if maybe you could…accommodate us at your place for a while?" He offered a nervous, hopeful smile, rubbing his arm in anticipation.
"Just until we can, you know, figure things out." He added, "We have nowhere else to go."
The women exchanged glances, a silent conversation flickering between them.
Bakari could see the hesitation in their eyes, the fear warring with a flicker of compassion.
He pressed his advantage, lowering his voice, making it intimate. "We truly mean you no harm. We just need a safe place to get our bearings.
We promise we won't be any trouble. And we're good for cleaning. And cooking, well, I can cook."
Amy looked at Allison, her expression a mixture of concern and dawning understanding.
Allison, in turn, studied Bakari and Yuri, her gaze lingering on Yuri's still-glowing eyes.
Finally, she sighed, a hint of resignation in her voice.
The girls' apartment was a tapestry of eclectic charm, each corner telling a part of their story.
The walls were lined with photographs—a patchwork of memories and laughter captured in moments.
The gentle hum of the ceiling fan mixed with the faint strains of music from a radio, creating a serene backdrop.
Bakari and Yuri were seated at the dining table, a cozy alcove nested beside an open kitchen.
The table was modest yet inviting, adorned with colorful placemats and laden with an array of aromatic dishes.
Yuri was eating slowly, his movements deliberate as his eyes flitted across the room, carefully observing his surroundings.
On the couch, the girl with the cap bounced her legs idly, her energy a stark contrast to the room's tranquillity.
Her cap was tilted jauntily, casting a playful shadow over her eyes. Beside her, the curly-haired girl sat more still, though a ripple of curiosity danced in her gaze.
Bakari chewed enthusiastically, letting out a groan of delight. "Mh, this is good. What is it?" he asked around a full mouth.
"It's Chinese food," the curly-haired girl replied, her voice tinged with a gentle warmth.
Bakari nodded appreciatively. "Mh," he mumbled, and Yuri, puzzled, asked, "What's Chinese?"
The girl in the cap chuckled, her laughter a light, airy sound that filled the room.
The other girl smiled, a soft grin that seemed to settle the room's earlier tension. "They are a race of people, like Sister Mary," Bakari explained between bites.
Yuri grunted thoughtfully, the new information turning in his mind as he returned to his meal.
Then, the curly-haired girl cleared her throat, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So, what planet are you guys from?"
Bakari paused, his expression shifting abruptly as he nearly choked on a mouthful of fried rice. Yuri quickly patted his back with brotherly concern.
"Yeah, we... are not from a planet, but a realm—Pluton."
The girl with the cap perked up, tilting her head with a curious smile.
"You mean Pluto?" she asked, eyebrows arched in interest. Bakari and Yuri exchanged a glance, a silent questioning if she had misheard.
Bakari clarified, "No, that's a planet. I said Pluton, a realm in a different dimension way at the end of the universe."
"Right," she replied, though the playful skepticism in her tone lingered.
The curly-haired girl leaned forward, intrigued. "So, what are you guys doing here?"
"And what are you, if you don't mind me asking?" the capped girl added, her eyes alight with curiosity.
Yuri stopped eating, casting a cautious look at Bakari, who scratched his beard in thought. "We got lost. Hilarious, right?" Bakari chuckled nervously.
With a more serious tone, Yuri offered, "To answer your question, we are half-breeds—half Celestial and half human."
The curly-haired girl sat up straighter, her expression softening with enlightenment. "Wait, you guys are humans?"
"Half," Bakari corrected, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The girl in the cap wrinkled her nose in playful confusion. "How?"
With a voice that carried the weight of forgotten epochs, he shared with her a piece of his heritage.
"Before my birth," he began, his spiral purple eyes reflecting untold stories, "Celestials once walked this realm."
He paused, allowing the significance to settle, and then continued, "The Celestials were stranded here on Earth. They mated with humans, creating us half-breeds. Then, they all went back."
world."The curly-haired girl leaned in closer, her eyes brimming with curiosity that seemed to deepen with every heartbeat.
He met her gaze, his spiral purple eyes swirling with the complexities of his lineage.
The curly-haired girl interjected with a playful nod, "Okay, now since we're going to be living together, let's start by introducing ourselves. I'll go first. I'm Amy."
The girl in the cap raised her hand, a playful grin lighting up her face. "I'm Allison," she declared, her voice bright and inviting.
With a nod toward the others, Amy prompted, "Now, you guys tell us your names."
Bakari chuckled, his presence lively and warm, "I'm Bakari, the one and only."
Amy turned slightly, her expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Oh my goodness," she murmured, while Allison's cheeks tinged with a hint of blush.
The quiet boy, his fork dangling in his hand as if forgotten, finally spoke, "Call me Yuri."
"Okay, nice to meet you, Bakari and Yuri," Amy continued, noting their names with a touch of surprise. "Wow, you have simple names for aliens."
Yuri blinked, his brow furrowing. "Aliens?
"Technically," Bakari mused, twirling his chopsticks, "we are aliens."
He caught Allison's amused smile and returned it with a grin before his gaze drifted to Yuri, who stood statue-still by the window. "What is it?" Bakari asked.
Yuri didn't turn. "What's going on out there?"
Amy and Allison exchanged a glance before joining him at the window. The street below was bustling with activity, people stringing up decorations under the watchful eye of the full moon.
"They're setting up for Halloween," Amy explained.
Yuri's brow furrowed, his spiral purple eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Halloween? What's that? The name sounds…ominous."
Amy chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "Some think it's evil. Witches, ghosts, candy..."
"It's just a holiday," Allison interjected, her tone practical. "Some say that's when the veil between worlds thins, but it's just folklore."
Bakari and Yuri exchanged a quick, concerned glance, a silent communication passing between them. Bakari quickly masked his worry with a disarming smile for the girls.
As they finished their meal, Bakari kissed his fingertips and raised them skyward. "Thank you, Abba," he murmured, his voice soft and reverent.
Allison raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What was that?"
"He's giving thanks to the Creator," Yuri answered, his voice a low rumble.
"You pray to one God?" Allison asked, her gaze questioning.
"Don't we all?" Bakari countered, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Allison shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Earth has many religions. Some with multiple gods. Or none at all."
Yuri looked genuinely astonished, his head tilting slightly.
"Earth and Pluton share reverence for the Trinity," Bakari explained to Yuri, his tone patient.
Amy nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face. "You know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "I think I'm starting to believe."
Allison scoffed playfully. "And I'm an atheist. Science is my religion."
Yuri looked utterly bewildered, his brow furrowed in confusion.
Bakari chuckled, patting Yuri on the shoulder. "She just doesn't believe in God. Only science. It's…complicated," he explained.
Amy laughed, the sound light and airy. "How do you know so much about Earth?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Bakari grinned, a faraway look in his eyes. "I've always been fascinated by Earth. The diversity, the history… it's unlike anything we have on Pluton." He glanced at Yuri. "
Amy laughed, shaking her head. "Welcome to our planet, then!" she said, her voice warm and inviting. "Seems like you're already at home."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Bakari replied, his voice sincere.
"It's not every day we meet new friends this way," Allison said, a wry smile playing on her lips.
Yuri's gaze softened, a flicker of something akin to hope in his spiral purple eyes. "You consider us friends?"
Allison's smile widened. "Yes. We don't invite just anyone in."
Yuri's expression softened slightly. "What about your parents?" he asked, his voice hesitant. "Do they live here?"
Amy's smile faded a little, a shadow passing over her face. "My dad… I never met him. And my mom… well, she never really wanted me."
Yuri nodded, understanding flickering in his eyes. "I understand. It's difficult, being…different."
Allison reached out and squeezed Amy's hand, a silent gesture of support. "I was disowned when I got pregnant," she said, her voice low. "Miscarried a few weeks later. But I found a sister in Amy."
Bakari's tone was gentle, sensing their shared pain. "And your parents?" he asked, his gaze sympathetic.
Bakari looked down, a touch of sorrow in his voice. "They're together… but distant."
Yuri was silent for a moment, then spoke, his voice a low rumble. "My father raised me alone."
Amy gave Yuri a sympathetic look, then turned to Bakari, playfully making finger guns. "A single father, bop bop!"
Everyone laughed, the tension in the room easing under the gentle halo of moonlight streaming through the window. Even Yuri managed a small, almost imperceptible smile.
The shared laughter felt like a fragile bridge, spanning the vast gulf between their worlds.