Hotaru Asakura/Crusnik 06

Chapter 1: The Mission

"Sister Hotaru, Cardinal Catarina wishes to see you," Sister Kate said, appearing in my room with her holographic form.

"It's about my last mission isn't it? I know it looked like I was going to kill the...," I trailed off, as Kate interrupted me.

"No not about that Hotaru. She has a mission for both you and Abel."

"Abel?!" I asked, just a slight bit excited.

"I know you don't like partners Hotaru, but we have no other choice. After all you will be dealing with his brother, Cain," Kate said, mistaking my tone for annoyance.

I groaned in disgust. If there was one Crusnik I couldn't stand, it was Cain and I barely knew him since I had stayed on Earth as a last resort against the vampires when the first four Crusnik had been sent into outer space. In fact, I doubted he even knew I was a Crusnik like them.

"I didn't realize you disliked Abel so much Hotaru."

"I'll be right there," I said, not even bothering to correct her.

It was better if no one else knew I had a kind side or could love again. I hadn't been in love since my first husband died years ago. Abel was one of the few who had been able to penetrate my defenses. The only other one being León and my late husband, Eric.

I glided out of my room feeling happier then I had in days. So what if I had to deal with Cain? It would be worth it just to spend that time with Abel. I just hoped that Esther wouldn't try to follow us on official AX business. Ever since she had come to the Vatican, she had followed Abel like a little lost puppy. God it made me sick.

I entered Cardinal Catarina Sforza's office wishing I could have been wearing something a little more flattering than a nun's habet. Abel stood there in the office arguing with Catarina about something, most likely something he had done in his last mission.

"Ahem," I said, clearing my throat to get their attention.

Suddenly both Lady Catarina's eyes and Abel's eyes were on me.

"You called for me Lady Catarina," I said politely.

"Yes, thank you for coming Sister Asakura. I'm afraid that the Contra Mundi has decided to try to incite a feeding frenzy among the Methuselah. I originally had León and Hugue examine the scene but they were unable to find anything except for the fact that the Methuselah in the area had first killed the Terrans then turned on themselves. It was in an area of Londinium that Terrans and the Methuselah co-exist," Catarina said, finishing telling Abel and I about our mission.

Abel looked at me in confusion. I gave him a slight smile enjoying the fact that I had never transformed in front of him making him think I was just a human with supernatural powers like most of AX.

"Cardinal Catarina, I must protest. Sister Hotaru isn't ready to face Rosen Kruez. I... mean...," Abel said, trailing off when Cardinal Catarina raised her hand to silence him.

"I insure you I wouldn't have picked Sister Hotaru if I thought she wasn't up to it. After all, Crusnik, her codename is Bloody Angel."

"B...Bloody Angel? You mean she's Bloody Angel? The Methuselah hunter who's sword continuously drips blood?" Abel asked startled.

"I'm flattered that you've heard of me, but we should begin our investigation. Good day, Lady Catarina," I said, dragging Abel out of Lady Catarina's office after me.

After we had left the Vatican, we headed to the docks to find the ship our tickets were for.

'Excalibur? Isn't that the name of a sword in some faerie tale Terrans have long since forgotten?' I thought to myself, looking at the name of the ship.

We boarded the ship and headed to the dining room. We sat down at a small table sitting across from each other. Soon a waiter approached the table and we ordered.

"I'll have a milk tea with thirteen sugars," Abel said.

"I'll have the same except for with twenty sugars," I said, flashing the waiter a smile with both my lips and my soft green eyes.

As the waiter walked away Abel said, "I didn't think you liked that much sugar in your tea Sister Hotaru."

"I don't if you must know Abel, but I have severely low blood sugar and the only way to help it is a milk tea with twenty sugars," I said acting as if I wasn't really as interested in this mission as I was.

Soon Abel's tea and mine were placed in front of us. As I took the first sip, I noticed it wasn't sweet enough. I laughed as I saw Abel gag on the sugary sweetness of my own heavily sweetened tea.

"I believe the waiter has given you my tea Father Abel," I said switching the cups.

This time as I took a sip I felt the nano-machines inside me buzz with excitement as they felt the sugar enter my system. I knew it wasn't enough though. The nano-machines hadn't been fed properly in months. Which, would probably explain why I kept hearing rumors about me being pregnant with León's baby. Sheesh so I fainted one too many times because of the nano-machines. That doesn't mean I slept with my last partner. In fact that was the last time I had fed properly.

"Ahem," Abel said, drawing me from my thoughts.

"Do you need something Abel?" I asked.

"I'm afraid the milk tea helped but...I must confess the last time I ate was at least twenty-four hours ago," Abel said.

"Fine just a sandwich. I can't afford a feast."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. You're an aaaannnngel," he said, in a tone an octave higher than his normal voice.

"Got that right. Plus I don't break anything every single mission I go on."

"I suppose that's true. Whhhaaaattt? I don't break things on every mission," he said flustered.

All I could do was laugh. He blushed at what I had said along with my laughter.

"I see you do have a soft side after all," Abel said gently.

"You must be imagining things Nightroad. Well we should probably head to our room after all you can eat the sandwich in there," I said giving him twenty dinar.

"Thank you Sister Hotaru."

"Don't mention it," I said, heading to our room.

I laid down on the bed and instantly fell asleep.