Aria of the Forgotten

Part 3

Okay! This story actually got a positive response and I felt like updating so… here we go!


They hadn't spent much time in the hotel, only enough to check in and drop off all of their luggage. Afterwards, the four exorcists had headed off to grab a quick bite to eat at a nearby café. The food had been quaint and satisfying, so they had left a nice tip on the table.

Gotta admit, Lavi thought as he strolled through the streets, for a desert town, this place is really nice. He, Lenalee, Kanda, and Alma had split up after dinner in order to cover more ground.

They had to find the innocence, and find it fast. According to the finders that he'd chatted with at the hotel, Mater had recently been plagued by many akuma attacks. The stronger the innocence, the more akuma that recklessly attacked civilians in the process of seraching. If this kept up, Mater would be reduced to nothing but ashes in mere weeks.

"It's a real tourist hotspot," Toma had pointed out. "Especially since big a music company dug up some local talent here."

"Talent, huh?" Lavi muttered as he noticed some posters running along the walls lining the residential streets. They were blue and a pretty blond girl smiled out at him pleasantly. The poster must've been somewhat old, because the words had faded, beaten and weathered by the hot desert sun.

It was evening now, so the cobblestone street gave off a little heat even though the air was cooling. A few children played with a ball off to the side and people speckled the area. The houses were also stone, but not badly built. In all, it wouldn't seem like a bad place to live.

Sighing, Lavi scratched the back of his head. Work was so boring sometimes. Of course, at other times he was fighting to stay alive. Calling that boring probably would have him wrapped in a straightjacket and thrown into a big, soft-walled room in no time. Of course, Komui was always looking for a reason to keep Lenalee away from the redhead, so Lavi decided it best not to share this thought with anyone.

His boots made soft tapping sounds as he patrolled the streets. Occasionally, he touched the hammer in the black pouch around his leg, just his case his innocence reacted to something strange in the vicinity. Outside the residential district, the number of people lessened and it was much quieter. Less people chattered and there was a sweet, faint melody echoing in his ears.

It was at this moment that Lavi realized he had been humming subconsciously. The tune faltered as he became aware of it, but when he tried to pick it up again, he found he couldn't recall it. It had been almost… lonesome and longing… possibly nostalgic. There had been something… almost sentimental about that tune, but he couldn't place it.

The red-haired frowned. It wasn't often that Lavi forgot anything thanks to his exceptional memory skills, whether it was words or otherwise.

He almost stopped to ponder this question, but, realizing he had work to do, shook his head and cleared his thoughts. Searching for innocence. Right.

Lavi scanned his surroundings one more. Old, peeling posters. Gray stone beneath his feet. Painted stone walls with stone shingles, shading him from the evening sun.

Out of the corner of his good eye, he spotted a someone watching from around the corner of an alley and immediately began analyzing and committing the figure to memory. Platinum blonde, male, not much younger than him, 5'6 maybe, intense blue eyes, pale skin, dressed in common clothing and… a star-shaped scar over his left eye?

As though shocked by a couple thousand volts of electricity, Lavi's heart jerked and jolted in his chest. This boy… who was he? Someone he'd never seen in his life, but also someone who seemed so familiar.

"Hey…" he called out.

The teen jerked when he realized he had been spotted. Immediately, he turned and fled down the shadowy alley.

"No! Wait!" Lavi hurtled after him, boots skidding as he turned into the alleyway.

The empty alleyway. It was devoid of all life forms, except possibly a rat or two. There was nowhere to hide, nor was there a way to eascape because a solid stone wall blocked off exit from the alley.

Confused, Lavi turned back to the street. With nobody around, he couldn't confirm the boy's existence. The redhead glanced once more into the dark before shrugging and walking away.

Must've been his imagination.


OKAY! DONE!

I know these chapters are short, but I find it easier to update in shorter chapters more often than in longer chapters because I can organize my ideas faster.

Enjoy it? Then review! :D

Thanks for reading~