Hey! XD I told you I'd update next week and it's next week! XD Tada! Hope you enjoy! This one's not my favorite chapter that I've written, but it's good enough to tie things together. XD
Oh, and disclaimer: Characters of Professor Layton do not belong to me, only this story. YAY ME! XD
"So....You remember nothing my boy?" Layton asked, pushing a warm bowl of soup to Luke.
"Nope. I remember seeing that mask and then.... I felt myself go numb... and it was really cold...." Luke shivered slightly and grabbed his spoon, eating slowly.
Layton sighed. "Eat up Luke, you need your strength."
They had only arrived home a few minutes before, Chelmey keeping them at the museum for a while. Unfortunately the inspector's search for the culprit turned up nothing, only making him more irritable. Luke had barely been conscious the entire time, keeping close to Layton. Only once they left did Luke finally start feeling better.
"So, both the mask and map were taken?"
"Yes. But what worries me is that it was dark for only a few seconds. It's impossible for someone to run in, take the items, and run back out without being seen...." Layton sat back, frowning in deep thought, "Unless they were able to hide the items....."
Luke stopped, watching him. "And then pick them up when it calmed down?"
"...That would make sense...." Layton stood, adjusting his top hat, "I'll need to go back."
"And look for clues?" Luke lightened up instantly, "Sounds great! I'll get-"
"No Luke, I need for you to stay here."
"W-What?" Luke frowned, "Why?"
"Luke please, you fell very ill at the museum. And the fact that you don't remember worries me even more."
"B-But.... Please Professor? I'll be fine, promise...." Layton smiled softly as Luke gave him a look with huge eyes.
"...Very well, but if you feel even the slightest bit ill, tell me."
Luke smiled and nodded happily. "Of course! But I feel fine, honestly."
Layton smiled, only hiding the doubt raging in his mind. Something was seriously wrong with Luke and it could only be from that mask. But why? Was Luke, dare he say it, connected to the mask? No, that's impossible, this was just a myth! ...But Luke's red eyes and his warning, those couldn't just be random events.
"Professor? Is something wrong?" Luke's voice broke through Layton's thought. He looked up, smiling softly, seeing Luke grip his bag's strap tightly.
"No my boy, everything is fine.... Lets head out Luke...." Layton stood and directed Luke back out. Soon enough, they were pulling up to the museum again. Layton climbed out, adjusting his top hat, and started back up the stairs. "Alright, we'll start in the- Luke?"
Layton turned back to find his apprentice hadn't moved away from the car, face pale. Frantic, Layton pulled Luke close. "What's wrong."
"I-I don't think I can go in.... I-I feel sick."
Layton instantly opened the car door again. "I'm taking you home."
"N-No! I still want to help." Luke gripped the professor's jacket tightly.
"Luke," Layton bent down, "You're ill. I'm not going to risk you geting worse."
"No Professor please, I'll be fine."
"We had a deal."
"I'm not leaving."
Layton sighed, and stubborn look on Luke's face. "Very well. But please, if you feel any worse...."
"I won't!" Breaking away, Luke raced up the stairs. Frowning, Layton followed, knowing this night was going to be hard.
"Professor Layton? To what do we owe the pleasure?" The curator, Chelmey, and Arura were standing in the exhibit room as Layton and Luke entered.
"We're here on a hunch." Layton straited his top hat. Arura's attention went instantly to Luke, who disappeared behind the professor.
"A hunch?" Chelmey eyed Layton, "And what would that be."
"I believe that both items might still be in this room."
"Excuse me!" The curator's eyes widen.
"How did you figure that one out Layton." Chelmey barked.
"The lights were off for only a short time It would be impossible for any person to get the items and get out before getting caught in the act. This being the case, this person would have to have some place to hold the items until they could be taken out."
"So," Chelmey pondered, "This person would have to know this place, inside and out." His eyes narrowed on the curator.
"How dare you! Why would I steal from an exhibit!" He glared, "First you accuse my daughter then me! This is an outrage!"
"Inspector, if you think clearly enough, anyone working here could have done it. Further more, people who spend most of their time here could eventually find interesting spots to hide items."
"That doesn't narrow the list of suspects Layton." Chelmey barked again, clearly getting annoyed.
"Let's not look for a suspect, but a clue. That should start us off in the right direction."
Chelmey huffed and left the small ground, pacing the room slowly. Layton nodded to Luke and they started their own search, Luke looking over and under everything. His eyes landed on a rather wilted looking folded up piece of paper laying in the middle of the floor. "Professor."
Layton faced Luke, who was holding up the wilted pamphlet. Layton took it gingerly and looked it over. "How strange.... It's a pamphlet for the same exhibit, only it's being held in Paris...."
"The exhibit was held in the Luvrue before it was transfered here." the curator started.
"Then here's our first clue." Layton smiled; Chelmey snatched it and read it over.
"What're you talking about Layton. This is months old, that museum won't hold anything useful."
"Precisely."
"I-I don't get it Professor." Layton frowned hearing how weak Luke sounded.
"It seems to me, that whoever the perpetrator is, has followed these artifacts."
"If that's the case, why wait so long to take them," the curator asked, "Why now?"
"Who knows, they may have been waiting for something."
"But what could.... could have...." Luke wobbled once the collapsed.
"Luke!" Layton bent down, instantly holding Luke close. He felt like ice, the red from his cheeks completely gone. "Luke, wake up please."
"Call an ambulance!" Chelmey shouted, the curator running out. Arura bent down as well, pale slightly.
"He needs to leave." She spoke softly, calming Layton slightly.
"The ambulance-"
"No, they can't take him. He'll be an easy target."
Layton stared. "Target, for what? Who?"
Arura bit her bottom lip. "I-I can't say, just, please. Please take him home."
"You have to explain, I don't understand. Why is Luke in so much danger?"
"Please-" They both froze hearing sirens wailing, "Professor, please!"
Layton frowned, keeping Luke's limp form close. "I'm sorry, but I can't."
"Professor!" Arura's eyes widen.
"You must explain if I'm to understand."
Arura looked around frantically, seeing if anyone was listening. "I can't, not now."
"Then when."
"Head to Paris, follow you hunch. I will be close behind."
Luke moaned softly, warmth coming back slowly. He knew he was away from the museum, the sick feeling in his stomach disappearing. He laughed softly, someone ruffling his hair gently.
"P-Professor?" His eyes opened slowly, Layton looking back down at him.
"Welcome home," Layton smiled softly as Luke yawned widely and sat up, "Rest my boy, you've had a rough day." Luke peered around, finding himself in Layton's sitting room. Sighing, Luke face Layton with rather big eyes.
"It happened again, didn't it."
"Unfortunately yes. Why didn't you tell me?
"I-I.... Professor, that mask was there, I know it."
Layton frowned. "How could you tell?"
"I don't know... I just... felt it," Luke shook slightly, "W-What's happening?"
"I don't know Luke, not yet," Layton held up the aged pamphlet, "But I will and I know where to start."
Luke frowned. "I am coming."
"Of course," Layton smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
In excitment, Luke jumped up, but his legs were still rather limp and he collapsed for the second time that day. Catching him quickly, Layton sat Luke back down, smiling softly. "I'll start packing, you need to rest."
Luke smiled sheepishly back. "R-Right Professor."
"I don't understand, why aren't we heading back for the museum first?" Luke frowned as the Laytonmobile turned the opposite way.
"I have a feeling that those artifacts are no longer there. Our last visit was probably the last time to find them there. So now, we follow our only clue."
"So.... We're going to Paris?" Luke's eyes lit up.
"Yes my boy, I believe we are."
A few days after Luke's second attack, Layton as able to obtain two train tickets. He wanted to figure this out as soon as possible; Layton could tell Luke was not feeling like himself, but was hiding it. Luke seemed tired and less energetic, which worried Layton to no end. Luke's color was also draining from his cheeks day to day.
Pulling into the train station, Layton gathered their belongings and headed in.
"Professor, I can carry my own bag." Luke went to grab the bag strap, but Layton shifted it away.
"No Luke, it's alright."
"O-Ok...," Luke stayed close, feeling himself being watched, "Professor...."
"Yes Luke?"
"Nothing...."
They made their way through the station, Luke's head starting to pound from the thunderous voices. Gripping one of Layton's arm tightly, both Luke and the professor headed for the train. Their compartment was small but comfortable enough, a small table sticking out of the wall. Luke sat down, watching Layton secure their luggage and sat across from him.
"You alright Luke? You seem in pain."
"M-My head hurts sir, that's all." Luke rested his head against the cool glass.
"You should try and rest, it may help." Layton frowned as Luke shook his head.
"No.... What are we going to find in Paris?"
"Hopefully anything. If these artifacts were held at the Luvrue, we might find another clue there."
"Do you think the robber will be there?"
"I... honestly don't know Luke." Layton's mind wandered back to Arura's warning, someone attempting to take Luke. If what she said was true, then no doubt that person would be there. The train lurched forward as it exited the station. Luke's head dropped forward, but instantly shot back up. "Luke, get some sleep."
"B-But...."
"Come over here Luke, I'll help get you to sleep."
Getting up slowly, Luke saluted over and practically flopped next to Layton. But before the professor even did a single thing, Luke had laid down, head resting on Layton's lap, blue hat lopsided. Laughing softly, Layton pulled the hat off and ruffled Luke's hair gently, watching the scenery fly by.
"He looks comfortable." Layton jumped, causing Luke to moan softly from the sudden movement. Arura stood in the doorway carrying her bag.
"A-Arura?"
"You seem surprised Professor," she sat opposite of them, "I told you we'd met again on this journey."
"Then are you willing to actually answer some questions?"
"Maybe, depends on what you have to ask."
Layton turned his gaze to the outside world, his hand resting on Luke's arm. "How is my boy connected to this...."
Arura bit her lip. "The first question.... Yet I can't answer this, not yet."
"And why is that?"
"I'm afraid you may have already solved it yourself."
"Very well..... Then who is attempting to take Luke? If you insist I keep him safe, then you must know who it is."
"I'm afraid I don't know that either, but I can say he's someone from you past. He attempts to cloud your future and those living in this world...."
"Someone from my past? That doesn't very well narrow it my dear." Layton's eyes drooped suddenly, fingers gently running through Luke's hair.
"You need to rest Professor, the journey ahead will be long and hard." Arura stood and left, the compartment door closing with a slight snap. Soon enough, Layton was snoring softly, top hat slipping over his eyes. Yawing widely, Luke blinked slowly, looked around at his surroundings and laid back down, drifting off again. Arura smiled from outside the door, watching them doze. "You're a wonderful protector Layton, I just hope I'm wrong with this darkened future is nothing."
Meanwhile, flying high above them, a lone figure smiled down from his contraption. The mask and map placed to the side, the eyes of the mask glowing red.
"That's right Layton," the figure laughed, "bring him closer. It'll help me more then you know."
