'I selected the character Bookman since that is who Lavi is right now in this fic. This is the continuation of the fanfic. Bookman's Apprentice. It tells the training of the new apprentice and the struggles of Bookman after gaining his title.

I suggest reading my other fanfic, Bookman's Apprentice first before this one to better understand how they first met. You may choose not to if you'd like.

Chapter 1

Ever since Bookman left the order, he's only been doing minor jobs of recording since he has just recently succeeded the title from his predecessor. He would have continued his work at the order if only it wouldn't cause complications. He couldn't record with the way he was before leaving. He still had lingering emotions of his past persona.

Lavi somehow found his way to live but Bookman junior had to kill him since his mentor's death.

A bookman has no need of a heart.

And so it was taken away and replaced by the new Bookman.

Lavi never said goodbye and disappeared from the order after his mentor's death. He made them believe instead that he was killed by an akuma and turned into dust. He staged everything well before leaving. They believed it and even set a funeral for him that he only saw from the sidelines. He hid himself well making sure no one would recognize him.

He reported to the clan and was given his new assignment. Someone else was assigned to record at the order as his replacement at his own request. It might seem foolish and unorthodox since how can the clan let him do just that?

'A Bookman may have no need of a heart but they can't deny having one.'

They knew that even if they trained themselves, they were still naturally human so they kept watch for each other to do their duty. Each had a responsibility to take when emotions that could create bias, started forming.

When that happens, one must leave the clan, leave it to someone else and take a different work or remove the emotion.

The former two are last resorts, most have to remove the emotion first.

Lavi couldn't, so as Bookman, he left and gave it to someone else.

Everything has been recorded down from the books Bookman had acquired with help from the little girl. He was fixing every ink and paper into place as he prepared himself to leave for the next journey.

The little girl who helped him lay asleep on the bed looking calm with a peaceful face.

Bookman knew that he should just leave the girl after using her but he couldn't. Lavi couldn't and interfered. He instead made the excuse of using the girl as an apprentice which he knew would cause trouble later on since he didn't really need one yet.

Upon giving the records to the keeper, he would be found out. He knew he couldn't keep it a secret even if he tried leaving the girl elsewhere. The man was already in town just waiting for him to give the record for the archives. It was a short job after all and that man too will be the one giving him his next assignment.

One would think that the things recorded were up to the Bookman himself but he wasn't the only one doing that job. They all have to coordinate so that every part of history would be recorded. One would only be able to choose upon reaching a level like his predecessor did. He was far away from that so he expected assignments for now.

Looking at the sleeping girl, he couldn't let her interfere with work. He had to leave her there despite the hesitation he was feeling. He'll just ask a favor from the landlady and pay her to keep the little girl and care for her.

He started picking up his things, ready to leave the room. The small figure of the girl remained calm on the bed, not hearing his movements. She remained unaware of his plans to leave her.

He felt sorry for the little girl but she was right, humans were liars just like he was.

Walking through the door, he left silently. He tried not to look back. Seeing the little girl might change his mind.

The landlady was still asleep with her husband. He didn't dare wake her up yet. He instead left a note to tell her of his request along with the money he was willing to pay for the girl's stay. She really did help him with his work. He bet the girl didn't really hear the book speaking. She could read it.

She would be useful to him in that way, the girl was smart. She really would be a great apprentice but he didn't need one yet and she's too young just as he was which caused a lot of complications.

He left.

The golden rays of sunlight shone and gave off its warmth into the cold morning previously caused by the chilling air from the night before. The little sleeping girl finally woke up feeling weird. She finally had a comforting sleep after how many years of sleeping in the cold.

It had been such a long time since she last slept in such a comfortable bed. She doubted she even had the chance to sleep in one before. It was a nice feeling to experience this but as she opened her mismatched eyes, something didn't feel right.

The room felt empty. Her mismatched eyes looked around her and concluded that he left and didn't even bother to tell her. He broke his promise and left. He gave her hope and destroyed it.

Tears suddenly found their way on the little girl's cheeks. She only met him for a short while but he was the only one she met so far that treated her kindly despite her looking so dirty and like a little monster as most called her. He may have teased her just as she did back but it was a friendly type of teasing.

She wanted to hate him so much for leaving her but the little crying girl gave a determined look. She was going to look for him. She would find him and make him pay his debts. Besides that, he left something of his. He forgot one of his books that she purposely hid before sleeping. She was right to doubt his words. He would pay for deceiving her.

She got up from the bed and noticed a note next to the eye patch he gave her.

Lia,

Sorry but I have to leave. You can stay here. I left a note with money to the landlady so you can stay here for awhile. She will request for your help though around the house. I hope you'll like it here. They're somehow kind.

Liar. She knew that Bookman knew that they will only comply for the given days he has paid for. They won't really take care of her. They're not kind, only to their customers. She rushed down and saw that the couple were reading a note similar to hers. She guessed that the money on the table was what he left for her.

She sneaked up to the table then dashed off outside the door with the bag of money. It took awhile before the couple noticed and shouted at her. She wasn't called a street rat for nothing. The landlord tried to catch up with her but couldn't. She just disappeared into the streets. She was actually just hiding in the alley catching her breath.

She hid well and planned her next move. She didn't plan on staying just as the young man wanted her to. She isn't going to let the money he left go to waste with not much use for her. She's going to use it to find him and make him pay for what he owed her.

Ezekeel: Thanks for reading. I know the flow here is a bit different than, Bookman's Apprentice but it will get there somehow.

Please review and tell how it was so I'll know how I'm doing with this fic.

*Just to note, the date I'm using is in our country.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Edited: Sunday, August 3, 2014