Chapter 2: Life Style

It began with a day like any other. I did all I could to escape the infirmity and avoid getting caught by the head nurse. A woman so terrifying that she would go as far as hook up straps to my bed to keep me from disobeying orders. With the Order on alert to direct me back at any sighting my only escape became the dungeons which I enjoyed so much.

No one ever bothered me down there. The only problem was getting down there before the surveillance got me in trouble. I slipped through the science division as quickly as possible. "Johnny!" I exclaimed as I let the fabric of my dress fall out of my hands and back down to my ankles. The frame of my figure often clad in a simple long dress, with the top often(and quite shamelessly straps that would reveal too much of my collarbone. If it wasn't my favorite white dress they saw me in it was in my other pastel colored dresses that were much more suited for roaming around the place.

"Maria! Aren't you supposed to be in the infirmary?" John blinked over at me. Despite already being a grown man, my height rivaled his at only fifteen, and still I would grow another couple cms until eighteen.

"Shh! Hide me! I don't want to go back there. I already feel better!" I pleaded as I heard the nurses storming through. Quickly I hid under his desk and held up some reports to hide my face. Nothing suspicious indeed.

"Where is she?! The golems caught sight of her here!" the head nurse grabbed the poor blonde by the color, her eyes sparked with deadly flames. Johnny, the poor clumsy man stuttered as she tried to shake the truth out of him, "I-I-I- don-'t kn-ow!"

"She was looking for Lenalee and went out from the left exit."

My savior that day was . I almost cried out with joy as he blatantly lied to the woman's face and watched her run in the false direction I was at. Once the cost was clear I hopped out of my hiding spot, "I can always count on you guys!" I swayed my long black curls over my shoulder and gave them a genuinely excited smile.

I was free-

"There you are Maria! YOU THINK I'D FALL FOR THAT AGAIN?"

I was off in an instant. I barely made it to the exit before my world spun and I was on the ground gasping for air.

I hated my body.

I was back in the infirmary.

"See why you've got to stay here?" the head nurse towered with her shadow looming over me. I turned beneath the blankets and gave her my back. Very unpleased with how the day was rolling out. "I wouldn't have gotten dizzy if you hadn't been chasing me across this place."

It was later Lenalee came by, caring along with her a couple of books from the shelf in my room. She knew well how to brighten my day, "Ahhh, finally something to do!" I hugged my books tightly and brought my legs up, "but first-" I threw myself at my cute childhood friend and gave her the tightest hug I could muster.

The one thing I hated most about being in the Order was the way people looked at me. Affection and laughter was one characteristic I never tired of giving to my friends and family. It was one genuine feeling that resonated in my chest. I cherished every second I had with those who wanted to spare me sometime. However...sometimes I couldn't help but wonder how genuine the others were.

Ever since they found out my heart was failing me, no one could look me in the eyes for the longest time. Lenalee cried and cried. It was the one thing I didn't like about her. Lenalee was the sister of Komui, the head of the science section, she was strong, brave, an exorcist. Me and her were the same height, while she was of Chinese decent and me of a mix we grew up copying each other's looks until the ponytail faze of hers. Ever since I've preferred to keep my hair down.

But despite being close friends, we were like water and oil.

While I was inexperienced in life, she was far more naive. We laughed and talked all night long; at one point we gossiped over Kanda for months since he was the only boy our age, then Doug, a well reserved guy who was too short for either of us to really see him in anyway other than a fellow exorcist. We feared for the loss of those precious to us and we cried together when we were scared.

She cried harder than me. She cried every time something terrible happened. And while at some point I found myself becoming more accepting to reality I felt like she was losing sight of it. She filled her time training and I filled mine with books and art.

I was accepting, she was not.

"Did they tell you about the newcomers?" She smiled as she sat at the edge of her seat. Newcomers? As in other exorcists? "Eh? No."

"Komui said they're Bookmen. They're coming here to record the secret war into history."

Bookmen here in the Order? I could feel my eyes widen with surprise. I'd heard about the Bookman clan. They were people who recorded history into their memories-they were living breathing history books. I wondered how they would be like to talk too.

"I wonder if their friendly people," I mused out loud. If they had the word 'book' in their name, hey must be into reading a few good books in their leisure time, right?

"Do you think they won't be?" She asked back.

"Well...they do carry secrets of the world. Top secret information...I really wonder. They must be super human to be able to memorize so much."

It was after midnight that I took my chances once more. I lit the oil lamp with a candle and made my get away, only stopping by the cafeteria to pack myself some food. As I rummaged through the goods, looking for the bread, cheese, and even chocolate to stuff in my sack when Jerry's unexpected presence nearly cost my soul to leave my body.

"And what do you think you're doing little lady! Sneaking around at midnight! Snacking on petty pieces of bread! You look like a gypsy girl desperate for some food!" He swayed in a manner that left the bread hanging in my mouth. "All you had to do was ask! I promise I wouldn't have told a soul!"

Jerry was our chief. A flamboyant man.

"No, no this is for the morning," I tried to defend, "I' going to hide for a couple days and I need some food so I don't starve to death."

He gave me an 'aha' kind of expression, "I can't have you hiding out in that dungeon knowing you've only got bread!" he grabbed for his apron, "Alright, request what you want! We'll make it right now for you!"

"-uhm-no really it's okay," My cheeks began to blush. I didn't want to trouble anyone so late at night. But Jerry was already on a roll and somehow we ended up preparing three different dishes. By 5:00 am he handed me the basket of our hard work and I was off to the library.

I had a pretty big room on the third floor with all nice things I've collected over the years. I had a book shelf, I had dolls, canvases and art supplies, but none of it even began to compare to the sense of comfort the large library gave me when I was within it. The study stretched out and was at least four times the size of my room. It was carpeted with what I would guess an Iranian carpet, the color a rich red with gold borders, the marks that decorated it quite a beauty.

There was a table and chairs to one side, a fire place with a couple of comfy chairs pointed to it's direction. The walls brimmed with books from top to bottom. My favorite part was the latter because I could use it to cut through the air.

I placed the basket on the table before going to turn on the fireplace. Ever since I had made a habit of coming down here, someone had always made sure their was lumber for the fire. Father's doing perhaps.

With the fire going and the sun finally peaking over the horizon I fell asleep within seconds.

The day didn't begin like any other. In fact it began with the unfamiliar, something which was very, very, very rare for someone like me. After living in a place for fifteen years with no connection to the outside world, everything becomes familiar.

And the voice that woke me? I had never heard it before.

My eyes opened rather slowly to find the fire had been reduced to little bits of ember, the wood to ashes. The room was slightly chilly making me wonder how long I had been asleep. I laid there in the comfort of the couch cushions when I heard the voice again.

"So this is the Black Order?"

"This here will be the place I expect you to study. You will memorize every single of of these books. Understood?" and older voice, one that was of an old man answered back

"Yeesh you're not much fun for an Old Panda."

I heard someone get whacked, then retaliation. Curious to who these people were I decided to sit up and poke my head from over the couch. Could it be...were these the newcomers Lenalee told me about? My eyes fell upon two, a short old man and a tall red head who was being held by the ear for disrespecting his elder.

"Eh?" I understood automatically why the boy called the elder a panda. With those black circles around the eyes it was no wonder.

His eyes made contact with mine and for many reasons, my heart skipped a beat. He didn't look older than me by much. My cheeks felt warmer the longer our gaze were locked, somehow the trance left me unable to form a meaningful sentence. Why was he looking at me in such a thrilled manner?

"Uh-"

"Striiike~!"

...What did that even mean?

"Excuse me?"

Before there was an explanation I was sure I didn't need the old man came with another assault attack on the teenaged boy sending him to the ground with a kick, "Please ignore him he's quite immature."

I gave a slow nod as I examined both new faces. "I go by Bookman, and this idiot is my apprentice."

"I'm-Lavi," the teen took what seemed to be a moment to recall his name before introducing himself. He was automatically an object of fascination. I saw him as odd a sight unlike anyone I've seen before. He had what I presumed to be a pair of emerald green eyes-one hidden beneath an eye patch.

Did he lose an eye in the past? The one that was directed at me was a vibrant color though it told her how false his enthusiasm was. It made me wonder.

He was back on his feet, though he did rub his side where he'd been hurt. So they were the bookmen. My heart raced. I could feel the excitement rise within me. How many stories did they have that they could share with me? Were they willing to become my friends? Suddenly I felt nervous that the teenage looked my age, nervous that the old man would be judging my incapability to react in a timely manner.

"My name is Maria Lockhart," my smile was polite, my words easily reserved even a little sheepish when it came to unfamiliar faces, "I wasn't aware that you would be using this room."

"Do you send your time down here?"

I gave a nod. One to which the redhead gave an amused smirk and tilted his head, "So the place has cute girls sitting around in the basement. Can't say I have any complaints with that."

My family often and friends often said things about me being cute. Never from people I did not know, so I stood there flustered for a second, stumped by his bold comment, "I like coming down here to read and get away from everyone," I answered, "I hope you don't mind seeing me around."

"Not at all Ms. Lockhart. Carry on your day as if nothing has changed. We are merely here to record history."

I left shortly after the conversation came to an abrupt end. With my basket at hand a few books I had placed to the side to read I snuck away to another one of the libraries hidden away in the underground floor.

Our friendship, I believe, started a week after. I was not used to finding someone sitting in the library that had become my own domain. Ever since the Bookman had told me that it would be the place where his apprentice would be doing his studying, I was shied away by the newcomer's presence. I was afraid? Perhaps he would see the excitement of meeting him. Perhaps he wouldn't be to quick to answer my questions, leaving me in a whirl wind of disappointment and curiosity.

It had been two days since I disappeared. I was sure my father had sent out search teams and was waiting on a sighting to catch me in my tracks. I almost pitied my friends; without a doubt I saw him interrogating them for my whereabouts. Sometimes I heard pattering of feet rushing through the corridors; a warning for me to hide. Through my many years of fearless exploration, I would use the secret tunnels to make my way around. Tunnels I never told to anyone, not even Lenalee. After all I was the one most attached to the place.

And I knew it better than anyone else.

Once the sound of my friends calls had ceased and I stepped out and headed toward the library the bookman had been spending his time in. A part of me hoped he would be in there willing to talk and the other hoped I could grab the books I wanted and leave before I had to confront my curiosity.

The door gave a faint creak as I pressed my weight against in and scanned the area. There at the table where I used to stack my books was sets and sets of books blocking the bookman's head from view. So he was here after all. I wondered how far he had gotten since our first meeting.

My entrance caused him to look up over at me, his one good eye barely open. He yawned and stretched. Again I wondered how he had gotten that eye patch. He blinked the way the dull look in his eye changed to surprise caused my heart beat to quicken. Why was it so hard to approach new people? It made me wish I was ore like Lenalee, open and welcoming.

"Hello?" I started while scratching my cheek and started to glance around at the shelves, though I already knew where the books I wanted were.

"Your friends were looking for you," he started his gaze following me around the room. I gave a nod, it was a usual he would have to get used to if he was staying here long. Had they told him of my condition? Surely if they had asked him about me he would know, especially since i'd heard Johnny running around earlier.

"I'm at a rebellious age. I've been retaliating for a while."

I heard a faint laugh but I dared not look over my shoulder,

"Really? That sounds fun, are you going to show me how you've been avoiding getting caught?"

This time I did look over, was he hinting at the passages I was using? He was sporting a lazy smile as he rested his head in his hand, "Hiding in rooms and behind book shelves does it."

he almost looked unconvinced. What else should I expect from a bookman right? I glanced back at the self. Hm, my book wasn't in its place. Was it in one of his piles? I tapped my lips before making my way to the table, my eyes scanning the books he had out.

"What are you looking for?"

"Greek classic The Orestei-" I paused, all the book she had out were of the Greek Classics. From the Odyssey and Iliad to Medea. My heart raced. "You're studying the classics?!" I desperately tried to contain the excitement in my voice.

He let his chair fall back on all fours, "I read a bit of the old history books in here but I thought these might be more interesting to read first. Have you read them?"

read them? I was going to laugh.

"Yes. Many times. They're the most brilliant books in here."

the same interested gleam flickered once more in his eye, bringing it to life yet again.

"Really? Which would you say is your favorite?"

He was feeding a fire within me. One that no one here could do since no one had the leisure time I had, "The Oresteia Trilogy. Clytemnestra the wife of Agamemnon was a defiant woman of her time. She saw herself as an equal to man and felt the need to pursue revenge in a most clever manner. Not to mention it showed the first process of trial. If you haven't read it yet you must keep me up to date with what you think of it as you do."

Surprise was what I read on his face and I instantly regretted jumping into the conversation with such passion. My friends had been used to me for years, my little outbursts were a norm to them. This man however was sill brand new to me, still unfamiliar with my personality and like wise with me being clueless to what type of person he could possibly be.

His smile made my cheeks warm up, "Well, I finished the Odyssey and I'm half way done with the Iliad. I'll have to start on the Oresteia trilogy next."

After that, there really wasn't anyway we couldn't have gotten along more.