(Okay, this is a kind-of sequel to Alphard's return. requested so I gave it a go :) Still in progress. And no I don't know why Canaan is a tsundere in my mind o.o
Also sort of AU, because Liang Qi isn't dead, and Alphard has both arms still :p just assume that most of the characters are still alive.
Rating may change. R&R? :D)
The phone in Canaan's hand buzzed and she reached for it instinctively as she stood outside the museum, waiting patiently. Her synesthesia had brought her all the way here, far into the heart of Shanghai, away from her friends and all she might have called family. Since then, Maria and Mino had returned to Japan and Yun-Yun wasn't too far away when the time came.
Right now, it was for the best. Canaan knew who she was dealing with right now. At least, she hoped she did.
Her heart leapt when she reached for the call button, and then sank again when she realised who it was.
"Canaan?"
Not Alphard. She crushed the rising disappointment rising in her and quickly amended her tone, touching the dark coat draped around her arms.
"Maria, is that you?" Canaan said concernedly. "Where are you?" If she'd come all the way after her, that was going to complicate things.
The reporter's voice came over soft, pained. "Canaan, I'm worried. Are you really going to be all right out there by your own? With...with her?"
"Of course," she replied, struggling to keep her voice from shaking. "I'll be fine. I always am. Maria, are you...?"
The line crackled for a moment, and Canaan held her breath, nervous that her friend might have followed her all the way after all.
"No," Maria answered at last. "I trust you, Canaan. I just keep thinking that you're going to get hurt again, like last time. Promise me you won't do anything drastic?"
Canaan felt the reassuring presence of the Beretta at her waist. "I can still take her down. Anytime I want." The words didn't seem to ring true in her ears, though.
"What if it's a trap? What if she's just drawing you in, like - "
"I'm fine," Canaan lied again. "I know exactly what I'm doing. Please, Maria," she said gently, "just wait for me back home. I'll be back before you know it."
She terminated the call a few minutes later, keeping her synesthesia on just in case. She couldn't detect Maria's colour for several miles in any direction, so the reporter really hadn't followed her after all. That was a relief. Because Canaan didn't want anyone around when she made contact with Alphard again. It was a harrowing and emotive moment for her.
The phone came to life in her hand about ten seconds after the first call and Canaan grabbed at it as if it were her life-blood.
"Hello, Canaan," the silky voice whispered, music to her ears.
Her heart plunged again. Keep calm. You've got a hold on her this time.
"Alphard," she said defiantly. "I've got - "
"I know. You've got something of mine."
"Yes," she said in rising confidence. "And if you want it back then you'll do exactly as I say."
There was a strange contorted sound at the end of the line. Canaan waited patiently in silent irritation. She had better not be laughing at me again.
"Are you really doing this?" Alphard said with a wry chuckle.
"Yes!"
"You're going to use my jacket as a bargaining chip."
Canaan's face burned even though she was pretty sure her rival couldn't see her. It wasn't often she had something over Alphard. Really, she had to make do with she'd got.
"You left it behind last time," she said stiffly. Yes, last time when Alphard had handcuffed to the railing in the train car and – no. Stop thinking about it. "So if you want it back - "
"I left it behind deliberately," Alphard said.
Canaan stopped speaking, her mouth slightly open in mid-sentence.
"Why?" she exploded.
"Just to drive you crazy and make you yearn for me and want to come back," the leader of the Snakes answered with a half-yawn. "Why else?"
Was it possible to hear her smirk over the phone? Canaan wondered. Was it? Because it was what she was definitely doing now.
"Well," Canaan said stubbornly, refusing to give in, "it didn't do you any good. You're probably feeling really cold about now."
"Am I," the older girl remarked with a laugh. "So it's not like I brought along a spare and wearing that instead until you come running back to me with my old jacket."
Canaan found herself at a loss for words again. Why did she constantly say the one thing which made her even angrier? Frustrated, she hit the wall with her fist without thinking and hurt her hand.
"Shut up!" she yelled into the phone. "Just listen. If you want your jacket back, then be here at the museum in Shanghai at 4pm before - "
"Whatever," Alphard said lightly in a bored tone. "I know where it is. You're standing right in front of it." That smirk again. "I can see you from here."
She what? Canaan as she raged inside. Is she stalking me? And why can't I see her at all? She hit the wall with her other fist.
"You'll hurt your hand that way," Alphard commented mildly.
"Is this your idea of a hobby?!" Canaan exploded. "Do you just stalk and spy on people any time you like?"
"People? No. Just you." Alphard sighed on the other end of the line and laughed again. "It's pretty fun watching you get so worked up over something you thought you planned - "
"Stop it! Just. Stop. It." The silver-haired girl felt like she wanted to scream. Why did she keep doing this to her? "It doesn't matter. Outside the museum, right now, or you can say goodbye to your fancy little jacket!"
"I already told you I've got a new one by now," Alphard explained. "You can keep that one. You probably sleep with it anyway."
"Are you even listening to me?" Canaan hollered into the phone. "And, besides, you haven't won. I can trace your phoneline from this call!"
"Well, maybe," Alphard said wryly, "except that it's not mine."
"And then I can - " Canaan felt herself jolted off the rails again. "What?"
"I borrowed it from my sister. She was ever so grateful to lend it to me for some reason."
"You're using Liang Qi's phone," Canaan said numbly.
"Yes," Alphard said brightly. "So if you want to ever call me maybe, you'll wind up talking to her. And I really don't advise doing that, judging by all the things she wants to do to you."
Canaan stamped her foot angrily. So she didn't have a hold over her rival after all. This was getting worse and worse. She refused to let go of the situation.
"Do you want your jacket back or not?" she demanded.
"Not really."
"Well I'll be waiting here – right here – outside the - "
"I can already see you from here," Alphard sighed. "I told you that already."
" - and if you want it back, then you'd better be here!" Canaan spluttered, clenching her sore hands into balled-up fists. "And that's an end to it!"
She dropped her arms to her sides, breathing in and out deeply. The nerve of that woman. She'd even gone to lengths to adopt the same hairstyle as her and if she wasn't going to be here to see it -
Alphard's voice echoed out of the speaker a moment later. "You forgot to press the button to terminate the call," she said cheerfully.
"AAARGHH!" Canaan threw the phone across the street from her in frustration. She was not going to let Alphard get to her anytime longer. If she had to stand outside the museum all day, carrying her stupid jacket, then so be it.
She touched it gently, feeling the insides where it had touched Alphard hours before. It had her smell, her feel, even her colours...
"Snap out of it, Canaan," she muttered to herself, and lined it neatly back over her arms again, cradling it gently.
Fuming, she leaned back against the wall of the museum to wait.