I could have sworn Frau would be in my room. He was still injured and needed to lay down. Not to mention how much blood he had lost. But of course, he was neither in my bed, nor in my room. I also didn't hear anything from the bathroom, and so I was alone. Relieved about that I showered and got a quick change of clothes, until I went out again. This time I wore my bishop robes, as I had to attend mass. Sometimes I couldn't believe myself that I became a bishop. Must be because it was kind of to easy for me, as memorizing the verses was not needed to me. At least that was what I thought to myself as I looked into the mirror. Brown hair. Emerald green eyes. Dark circles underneath them. I quickly looked away, put the hat on top of my head, and walked out of my room.
"Good morning bishop Mikhael" some nuns greeted me in the pathway. I smiled. "Good morning sisters. Have you by any chance seen the blonde man that was supposed to be in my room and bed?" I asked them. They looked at each other.
"Yeah. We helped him bath this morning, tended to his wounds, and then Apprentice Hakuren came to pick him up." they explained. I nodded contently. So Hakuren looked after him a bit. I owned him a favour now. "Thank you sisters. How where his wounds?" I watched as their faces started to blush on the one side. Oh... yeah, I remembered Frau had a body one would get jealous of. But their faces also brightened up.
"Are you by any chance worrying about him, bishop Mikhael?" they then asked. I didn't expect this question and kind of blushed myself now. "You might not believe it, but as I am a clergyman of cause I worry. And besides it was me that brought him here so... yeah, I'm worrying about him"
They laughed and clapped their hands. "It's just that you usually just worry about the orphans and keep your distance from others, although you are a bishop. It's good to see you care for someone else than the children" they smiled. I just shook my head at this statement.
"Well, for now let's just get to mass. It's time." I said and went ahead, smilingly. How could I not worry about Frau? Oh right. They had no idea of my connection to him.
I met up with the other bishops and almost dozed off while the mass was held. I wasn't good with this thing from the beginning, yet Jio-sama always told me to be there. Maybe he thought something would change my attitude towards the mess the more I participated. He couldn't be more off with that thought...
I pushed down the yawn that crept up in me, looking at the people sitting on the benches. I found Hakuren not far away from me. That didn't surprise me, since he was always in mess. But next to him there was Frau. And well, that did surprise me quite much. The Frau I knew would not attend mass out of his own accord. But then again, I didn't know this Frau to begin with.
I started to confuse myself. So I just closed my eyes and started to sing with the others. That made just standing there a bit less boring. It was a relief that this actually seemed to be the last song, and I successfully made it yet through another boring mess.
When the bishops dissolved I sighted and also went back. Back to work actually, as I was one of the bishops that took care of the children together with the nuns. But of course, I should have known that Hakuren would want me to meet Frau. Especially after yesterday night when I said I didn't want to be close to him. It was typical for him. I saw those two walking in my direction when someone a bit smaller than me pulled at my clothes. A cute humming tone was telling me it was Razette. Instantly Hakuren stopped, telling Frau to stay where he was. As Razette was very shy, that was probably for the best. I turned half way round when she jumped at me and trough me over. I shrieked at that. The floor was cold and hard. It hurt, but Razette weight almost nothing, so at least she didn't hurt me badly. Lying on top of me she was humming again, both her hands on my cheeks. Smiling brightly. Was she trying to cheer me up? I started to laugh a little at that, used my elbows to help get me into an upright position. At least my upper body.
"It's ok Razette. I'm ok. Nothing serious" I patted her head. Another humming tone followed and my head turned towards Hakuren and Frau.
"She says it's ok to come nearer. At least you Hakuren" I chuckled. Called blonde grinned and walked to us, taking Razettes hand and helped her standing up. I followed that example and brushed up dust I knew wasn't existent. I clearly was hesitant to look up to Frau. I bend down and picked up the hat that had fallen down as I was thrown over by Razette.
I turned to the noel mermaid again. " Razette, don't be afraid. He's no bad person. He is one of the church's residents as of yesterday. Would you kindly greet him, as you did with me?" I smiled at her. At first she looked insecure, but then she nodded and smiled. I took a deep breath and turned around to Frau. I had felt that he was staring at me, but now I saw how intense his stare was. It sent chills down my spine, as his voice had done yesterday. Razette looked up to the blonde, as he finally came towards us. He had patiently waited where Hakuren had told him to stay. Now he had understood it was ok to come near.
Razette looked up to him, seeing how tall he was and taking a step back. Honestly, I wanted to do the same, but she stepped on my toes. I flinched, put my hands on her shoulders.
"It's ok. He's just kind of big." I reassured her.
"Well, bigger at Castor indeed" Hakuren added. Finally Razette hummed a few tones. I looked up to Frau. "This is Razette. A noel mermaid and our church's organist. She's shy so please be gentle." Hakuren explained. "And the brown haired boy in front of you is the one you searched for. Bishop Mikhael" Hakuren added after a few seconds.
Fraus full attention now was laid on me. I suppressed a big gulp, when he pointed a finger at me.
Frau's P.O.V.:
Green orbs. Emerald green orbs, as if I was in a Forest in the middle of summer, looked up to me. They fascinated me the moment I set my eyes on them. That silky brown hair was exactly the one I cached a glimpse on yesterday. He was small enough to be the one from yesterday. Beautiful enough to be a woman also.
He was small, had a tender body and was more beautiful than most girls his age. He seemed younger than me. I stretched a hand towards him before I actually noticed what I did. So I just pointed out a finger on him in the end.
"This brat here is a bishop? The one who saved me? Ok, good joke. Now, where is my real saviour?" I grinned.
Teito's P.O.V.:
I'm sure something inside my head snapped just now. Probably I wasn't the only one to realize that, for Razette backed off a few steps from me and Hakuren started to cough heavily.
Brat.
Did I think I didn't knew this man in front of me a few minutes ago? Well, I did know him after all. I started shivering at his voice. And more at his words. An unhealthy heat rose up my cheeks.
"Don't call me brat you pervert!" I hissed, staring at his sapphire blue eyes.
Something in this situation made me happy. I had wanted to prevent this meeting from happening, but now I didn't mind anymore.
"Who are you calling pervert, runt!" he now hissed at me.
I heard Hakurens suppressed laughing, and so did Frau. Both of us turned around at him. He barely held his laugh, tears already in his eyes. I stared at him a moment, then I started to chuckle myself. Finally Hakuren lost it and we just stood there, laughing in the hallway. Razette hummed happily, only Frau looked irritated.
"You seem to be in a good mood, Mikhael" I heard castors voice. Razette already started humming happily as Hakuren and I turned around. Frau already had seen him from his position.
I noticed Hakuren whipping away some tears from laughter, and I myself remained with a grin on my face. "Oh? What a rare sight to see you grinning, Mikhael. I missed something good there, did I not?" he asked.
Hakuren and I started to chuckle again, but nodded. "Well, quite the weird sight at least." I said. Hakuren grinned. "He called bishop Mikhael brat. And runt. They hissed at each other as if they where snakes" he explained.
Well, couldn't deny that, could I?
Castors eyebrows rose up. "And you did not snap? I remember last time someone called you that archbishop Jio lectured you quite some time" Caster asked, honestly surprised.
"Weeeellll... I was about to snap...? But Hakuren laughed... and suddenly the situation just seemed a bit hilarious. Can't blame him for his laughter though" I smiled at my blonde Friend. But then I turned so I could see Frau also. I looked at the tall blonde.
"So, I would prefer you to call me by my name. Or I'll stay with calling you pervert" I said. He stared at me, then huffed.
"I'm no pervert." he said. I grinned. "No. Of course not. And I'm the king of Barsburgh" I stated. Again, Hakuren chuckled. Of course. he knew I was no king. At least, not the king of Barsburgh, but the king of Raggs actually. Frau could not quite follow up on Hakurens laughter, but I was sure as hell Castor cached that.
"By the way, " I looked up to Frau. How should I call him? Oh well, whatever. "Frau-san, how are your injuries?"
I will never forget that irritated look on Fraus face again. I felt how he wanted to get into a defensive position. He was from the military. He didn't know how to cope with the way the church went.
"You know my name?" I blinked at his tone. I knew he wanted it to sound emotionless, but as I came from the military myself I was trained to notice the faint fear. And he noticed that I heard it too.
Bt then again, I wasn't just a bishop since yesterday. I smiled slightly.
"Razette, don't you want to go swim in the fountain again? You could finish that song you promised to show me before everyone else" I smiled at her. She hummed, took Castors arm and pulled him off. She didn't seem like it, but she was quick to catch up with situations like that. And she was one of the few Castor didn't complain to.
I turned to Hakuren. "Your should resume your studies. And if you do not want, take my shift with the orphans. They asked for you yesterday. Capella likes you very much. He draw a picture for you" I said.
Hakuren stared at me. "You know, you can just tell me to go away and let you two alone. I wouldn't complain to that. As for Capella... I guess I'll visit the children then. You... just stay yourself" he sighted. Then turned to Frau. "I think we will meet again in some time. Till then" and with that he walked away.
My eyes clinged to his back, cruelly aware of Frau still staring at me. When I turned around to him again however, there was no fear anymore. He seemed curious.
"You know my name?" he repeated his question. I looked away for a moment, then sighted. I started to move, sure he would follow me. I chose the garden where we could have a good talk and where he could relax.
"Well, You told Castor and Labrador yesterday you didn't remember anything except blood, black coats and military, right? So I had to give you a name" I said.
"But then again, that was such a shallow lie that I won't believe that." I lead him up the stairs. The garden I wanted to visit was in the church, a place cared by Labrador. He knew I would come here. I saw that on the hot water and two cups that were upside down on the table. Also Labradors flowers for tea lay on the table.
I lead Frau that way and watched him sit down. I turned the cups up, put in the flowers and poured hot water onto them. When I was sitting a could not reach over the whole table, so I always did this kind of thing standing beside the table.
I cached Fraus confused look as he watched the flowers in the water. I chuckled. I had had that exact same look back when I arrived here. "Have a sip. I'm sure it will calm you down. These flowers are special. Labrador bred them especially. You will get used to this eventually. You will encounter stranger things in this church. Just wait until dinner" I grinned.
He looked at me kind of irritated, but I ignored that and sat down. I grabbed the cup with both hands and warmed them through the leather gloves I wore. I enjoyed the silence for a bit, until I saw him taking a sip of the tea. I felt how he relaxed some more.
Labradors flowers were really helpful, that I had to admit.
"Back to your question... Yeah, I know your name. And I know you are lying about your amnesia. But I don't care. It's not my job to interrogate you. Your past means nothing once you set food on god's terrain. And well, you're in the middle of it. So, don't worry." I said calmly.
The tea tasted sweet again. Labrador once explained to me, hurt children think it tastes sweet. And how right he was.
"Tastes sweet, hm?" I asked him with a slight smile. He looked up from the cup, right into my eyes. I saw him staring into mine, captivated. That was a reaction I often found by other people. He did not nod, but just stared into the cup again.
"If one does not hear your voice, it's kind of hard to tell you're a boy. Honestly, you irritate me" he suddenly said.
I stiffened and told myself not to explode at that comment.
"I was glad those three sexy nuns tended to me, but honestly, I really wouldn't mind one of them switching with you" he added, suddenly starting to grin.
Oh how I wanted to punch him for that grin. I had to remind myself being a bishop. Bishops did not punch people. They kicked kor asses, but did not hurt people.
"You're cute. But annoying at the same time. You are younger than me, and try to act like an adult. that's annoying. And what's with that blonde haired friend of yours? He's a strange du-Whoooaah!"
By now I had thrown over my cup, the hot water poured all over the table and on his lap. I was shaking with anger but tried not to explode, what was very hard. He didn't know of my bad temper. He didn't do it on purpose... to hell with that!
I jumped up, ready to shout at him, but I noticed Labrador coming near us, before Frau noticed him. He was too busy cooling his lap down. But that Labrador was hear meant he saw this outcome and disturbed me before I could explode. That was probably for the better. I stood in a normal manner when Labrador had reached us, he gave Frau a cold towel. As I had guessed he had seen this coming.
I could not even smile this time, I was just relieved I was no longer alone with Frau. With a heavy sight I sat back down again.
Frau's P.O.V.:
It huuuuuuuuurt!
But this was probably my own fault. I had noticed this brat had a really short temper, but I still said those things. Maybe I just wanted to tick him off again. It felt right the last time he hissed at me. Just right. A feeling I hadn't had in a long time.
But now I had triggered the wrong thing. A mental note to myself: do not call Mikhael girl, neither compare him to one. Oh, and don't call him cute. Not to mention do not insult his friends in any way. He will snap.
I tried to get the hot off of my pants, but of course, without something to cool the heat there was nothing to be done. And then there was this cold towel. I just grabbed it and pushed it against my lap. Then I looked up. "Oh, it's you, dog" I said. Luckily, this guy was calm. Almost to calm, but that was ok with me. I always had had a bad moth.
Labrador smiled at me. "Mind if I join in?" he asked. I shrugged my shoulders. The Shorty sighted relieved. I really did tick him off...
"No, go ahead Lab. I'm actually kind of grateful for your disturbing for the first time in forever..." he answered. Labrador chuckled and pulled a chair away and sat down.
I looked at him for a moment. "You breed these weird flowers?" I asked. He nodded. "How does the tea taste?" He asked. Seemingly both of us.
"Sweet again." That brown haired kid answered for the both of us. "I see. But I hope it did calm you down a bit" he said. I noticed a young nun walking towards us with a towel, another cup and another bottle of hot water. I grinned. Perfect timing! A cute girl could reassure my mind now.
I grinned some more, but that Mikhael just waved his hands as if he would shush away an annoying fly.
"Don't try anything, Frau-san. It's just one of Castors puppets" he said. I looked at him in confusion, then looked closer at the nun again. He was right. No face to be seen, and weird limbs.
"Tch!" I huffed and leaned back into my seat.
"And by the way, smoking is also prohibited on church grounds" he added. Now I really stared at him openly.
"And what's with-" I started.
"Porn books? Don't even try to search for them. There are none in this church." he interrupted me.
"What a crappy place" I snorted. "But then again, how do you know so much about my habits and preferences?" I asked him. I had fully ignored that dog by now. I just watched Mikhael who took the towel from that fake-nun and cleaned the table. Meanwhile the dog poured two cups. One for him and one for Mikhael. I waited for an answer.
"I don't plan on answering that in the near future, Frau." He just sighted. As furious as he was moments ago he was calm now. I watched him and Labrador slowly sipping from their hot teas. I remembered I also had a cup, and almost copied their movements. I instantly relaxed again. Weird tea...
"Well, now let me question you: You are wearing hand and feet cuffs. Why did the military feel the need to restrain your movements so much? You don't seem like someone criminal to me." Labrador now took part in the conversation. I looked at him.
"Amnesia?" I reminded him of my state, but his smile stayed the same. So I faintly sighted.
"I was a battle slave of the military. I always wear those cuffs if I'm not on the battle field fighting or executing criminals" I said. I was sure that brat had known that fact already. From wherever, I had no clue. I had never heard the name Mikhael in my life before.
"I see. So you ran away because of that?" Labrador again asked me something. This time the thought of the occurrence a few days ago made me angry.
"No. Because I was pissed off of that Ayanami for ordering to kill people who didn't deserve it"
At the mention of the name Ayanami that brat flinched. I clearly saw that. And he seemed to kind of stiffen also, but he covered it with a sip from the tea that relaxed him quickly again.
"Ayanami... do you mean chief of staff Ayanami?" Mikhael asked. I stared at him in fury. There was this faint pause when he spoke the name out aloud. A pause I knew all too well. He stopped himself from using an honourable suffix.
"Yes. That very same Ayanami you seem strangely proud of" I hissed at him.
"Do you want another tea, Frau-san?" Labrador interrupted us. He smiled. Like he always did.
"You see, as you don't have to tell us about your past and we accept you as you am, we wish to be accepted as we am by you. You and Mikhael are quite similar." he said.
I snorted. "I highly doubt this statement."
Staring at the brown kid again I noticed that he seemed... hurt. He put down his cup." It's too sweet to drink, Labrador. Do you have some other flowers for me?" I heard him ask. Labrador nodded, stood up and went a few steps away. I watched him pluck a flower in some distance.
"I used to be a battle slave too, Frau."
My head spined around to look at Mikhaels green orbs. And I instantly regretted that I hissed at him before. "Everyone here has things in his or her past that led them to the church. I'm no exception. Please, just don't mention his name anymore. I would kindly appreciate this." and that was all he would say to this topic. I just knew, because Labrador was back at the table. He didn't seem like someone who wanted everyone to know about him. No. But strangely he had talked to me about it.
"Well then, Frau. Let's change the topic. What do you know about the Barsburgh church up to now?"
I turned my gaze to that dog.
What I knew?
Tiny little. But I had no clue that my future would bring me more knowledge over this church and the story of the 07-Ghost as I should ever know.
