???'s p.o.v

well I guess being motionless and unconscious for nearly three years makes you unable to move normally... not after spamming my own technique of Adieu and preservation repeatedly.

They'd probably thought I'm dead. Those Hades thugs.

But now's not the time to ponder about such thoughts.

I have to find an escape route... somehow.

I had woken up with the sounds of riots and gunshots. Something you don't hear every day in this silent abandoned manor. Now would be the great time for escape.

It would be risky but I couldn't risk the call of freedom.

I decided to stay in the same position to see how it plays out. It would be foolish to go into a bullet infested battle field now.

When the riot finally stopped I tensed... what if the rioters were worse than the gang? What can I do?

"boss!!! there's a coffin here!" a voice rang. "we might have found her!" the ground shifted as if the coffin I'm in was carried by someone

which it probably is...

"shall we open it here boss?"

"no... there's too much danger... it's not over yet" the boss said. He probably means the sound of gun fights and all that. "let's move it to the car and we'll open it there"

the coffin moved again. It's movements like a cradle calming a baby and lulling it to sleep.

I wasn't really sure these rescuers are after the thing I protected for all of these years but there was nothing I could do for now.

I stayed on guard but for every second I stayed awake amounts of my stamina sapped away. Like a bowl of water with a big hole at the bottom. It would soon be gone.

It was an unfair trade. If I hadn't been shut in a coffin for who knows how long then I would've been lively and healthy. I would probably find another way to get out of this... abyss this … never ending darkness.

I felt the movement stop and then the sense of weightlessness disappeared. I must've been on the ground.

Then I heard the sound of metal, those chains being removed. A part of me shouted in joy while the other cower in fear

there was a creak and before I could react the coffin opened.

And I saw the world again.

And then tears started flowing in my eyes. It's like life has given me a second chance to see my family again... if I survive for that long that is.

"... Noir?" it was the unknown boss's voice. How he knows my name I do not know

I was still squinting in the light. I had stayed too long in the dark to know what light is.

After several phone calls and arrangements I am transported to a hospital know for it's great care and hospitality but also for it's expensive fee. I had then blacked out because of my fatigue.

it was two months later when those two men visited.

The "boss" and probably his right hand man.

I was then still sensitive to light, I had recovered more than the doctors had anticipated. It is my sight that can't tolerate the light. I still have the night vision I had adapted in the coffin. I guess I'll have to adapt to the light too.

They entered the room without permission. A man in his forties and a blonde haired man in his early twenties appeared in this luxurious suite.

"Noir? Are you better now?" the blonde man asked his face looked genuinely concerned

"who are you? How do you know my name?" I asked the blonde man

"what!?! you don't remember me? I'm you best friend! Dino! Dino of Cavallone!!"

I studied his features again seeing a familiar yet different friend who is like a brother to me.

I laughed at my foolishness. "you've changed!" I say hugging my clumsy friend. "I've missed you!!!"

"so tell me... why are you stuck in a coffin?" Dino asked "you don't have to tell me if you want to"

"it was after the cradle incident..." I winced "i was the one guarding the rings at that time... I returned it in time and became a decoy to the people after the rings... I was caught. I pretended to die. I was placed in a chained coffin a secondary measure. Morrietti had taught me adieu well. And so I survived in that manner... replacing blood with dying will flames..."

"I see... do you want to contact the ninth now?"

"I would like to see grand-pa" I say "but not in a bad state so he's all concerned about me I might drag him down from his work in concern.... he spoils me too much."

"he's already concerned for your three year absence and now he found you wouldn't he be glad if he sees you?"

"... okay just let me get dressed" I say

"Noir... wear this... your old clothes don't fit any more, you've grown...taller shortie" he got a small bag out and dropped it onto the ground

"don't call me that!" I say whacking him with a random book I was reading at that time, something boring about vampires.

"okay okay... geez for an ill person you're really lively"

"just get out... I need to change" I sighed

they told me they would be waiting outside.

I locked the door and took of the pale sickly greenish hospital gown and opened the duffel bag.

It was full of dresses and toiletries it's even got a towel . Damn it! Dino! Can't you just say it directly that I needed a bath? They'd probably be heading to a coffee shop by now.

Oh well... there's nothing I could do about it.

I sank into the hot water scrubbing myself with the vanilla scented bath gel until my pale skin turned red. I then quickly moved to my black hair washing it thoroughly with copious amounts of shampoo hoping to get my hair cleaner this way. I took a quick shower to wash off the soap and drained the tub.

I dried my hair with a towel and blew it dry brushing it with great care.

I looked in the mirror and groaned. Why must some of my hair stick up like a crown while the others flowed down normally? Oh well... I'll just have to cope with it. I stared at the mirror further.

It was rather strange not looking at your reflection for years and then suddenly presenting a mirror to you and that is exactly how I feel. My dark blue eyes looked different , even alien to me... they are wider compared to my face. I was taller... with several... changes to the body, two abnormal.... mounds of flesh... what they call breast I guess replaced my once flat chest what happened?... menstruation, a woman's painful curse that I had gotten used to immediately. I looked at my skinny body starved like a models after the confinement and decided I should eat more food. I rummaged around the duffel bag for a bra and something to wear.

I found a decent blue sundress and shoes to go with it. Hoping my fashion sense isn't wrong I wore the two and carried the duffel bag to the lobby of the hospital where Dino and Romario waited.

"Noir?"Dino asked

"who else?" I deadpanned him.

"you look... nice"

"thanks" I say at least my fashion sense is normal.

so now here I am at the front door of the office staring dumbly at the door knob. How should I behave?

I opened the door quietly and went in the office.

Grandpa noticed me

"Noir?"

"hello grandpa" I say "I'm back" I hugged him "thank you for worrying"

and like that I cried for the first time in my two months in the hospital

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