-cast-

Garren- Giroro

Nora- Natsumi

Kedrick- Keroro

Tobias- Tamama

Mirielle- Mois

Sinley- Saburo

Greyson- Garuru

Donatello- Dororo

Kaylin- Koyuki

Felix- Fuyuki

Kurt- Kururu

Patience- Pururu

Donatello was a master of traveling unnoticed and passed through the town more than easily. He stepped over the stones of the path ever silently, more from reflex than an attempt to be sneaky, as he marched up to the church. He decided to knock out more birds with a single pebble and speak to Kaylin. Garren had mentioned of Kaylin's nonthreatening nature and from experience knew people of a church could often know more about a local citizen than their own neighbors. This would be a simple and safe start to his research.

He knocked on the large but humble doors and listened to the echo of steps approach it shortly after. A pair of children opened the door. They smiled brightly to him. "Hello we're helping the Father around the church today! What can we do for you?"

"I pray I won't be much trouble but I was hoping I could talk to Kaylin today?" Donatello asked in his soft polite voice.

"She's in the garden currently. You can find it easily around the side over there." The smallest stepped out and pointed to the left. "She'd be happy to help with any of your troubles."

"Thank you so very much." Donatello's eyes smiled over his mask. He nodded gently before making his way around the side. He has almost forgotten what it was like living inside a church. To try to fill everyone's day with peace and joy and feel their kindness as they did the same for you and others. It brought him bittersweet memories as he recalled his old church from childhood. Come now, focus. You can revel in sorrow again later.

He spotted the woman he came to meet alone in a small field of flowers.

"Pardon me miss but you're Kaylin correct? I have heard much about you and I came to ask some questions." He asked with no lies in his words. He knew Kaylin was well known to many towns and the very kind rumors about her abilities. Now he would get to know her himself and judge what was truth.

"Hello." Kaylin smiled as she stood straight, cradling a watering can in her hands. Her eyes looked upon him like crystal clear pools as if to wash away any facades he could hide his true intents behind. "What do you need answered?"

Donatello almost found himself lost in her eyes. They were so innocent to him and even more so than any child he met. He found he was taking a second too long to answer and cleared his throat. "I'm new to the town and I started hearing weird things about some of the people. I wasn't sure whom to trust but I've always felt more sure and safe at church. I heard about you then and knew you would be the safest and most honest source. Might you possibly share what you know about some of these people?"

"I'd be most happy to help calm any worries. I understand how it feels to be a stranger in a new town." Kaylin grinned a soft giggle behind her words. "Whom are you asking about?"

Donatello listed the names given by Garren. Kedrick, Tobias... With each one Kaylin's smile began to weaken. Mirielle, Kurt… Soon Kaylin kept her eyes to the flowers at her feet. "I heard things about the missing mother and son and a well known business owner who- what did they say? Murder I think some of them said."

"Sir… Can I ask you something first?" Kaylin slowly raised her eyes back up to his.

"Of course." Donatello became worried at her sad expression. Maybe I should have thrown in some fake names as well. Did I lead in too hard?

Kaylin stepped closer and peered strongly into Donatello's eyes. "Why do you keep seeing the snake, with the canon?"

Donatello's eyes flashed open in shock. He found all words and thoughts frozen inside him. His heart beat slowly louder and louder till his ears felt about to burst from the pounding. "H-how… did you know about that?"

"I can see it in your eyes. It's been there the entire time you were talking to me. Everyone usually keeps something in mind every now and then but it usually isn't as present as yours is. I'm sorry if that was too forward of me to ask. Does it frighten you that much?" Kaylin almost stepped back giving space.

"No." Donatello could almost bite the word with how sharp he spoke it. "No I do not fear it."

"If I may… Denying fear is a very bad choice." Kaylin suggested. "You're going to face it again, soon I'm afraid."

Donatello choked on the hardening lump in his throat. His eyes shifted away from her knowing this fact all too well. "I know."

"Can I look closer?" Kaylin cautiously stepped forward unsure how he would react in his state. She could see his hands shaking. He reminded her of a frightened animal, ready to strike if he felt he needed to.

Donatello didn't know what she had seen, or at least how much. The snake she saw was already a darker part of his past that he would never share with anyone and with that now out between them he felt like his life's story was ripped open for her to flip through as she pleased. Yet he almost felt compelled to allow her. He could tell her kindness was already softening his usually rampant sorrow. Slowly Donatello nodded. Kaylin gently placed her hands to the sides of his face, her soft eyes luring his to look at her.

She winced a moment or two before sighing a gentle smile. She pulled her hands from him and held them behind her back. "I think I see everything now. If it helps I can tell you Garren need not worry about everyone he's sent you to inquire."

"Wait, I'm sorry?" Donatello felt a relieving breath as he was stunned by her knowledgeable response.

"You're much more easier to read than anyone else I've met. I apologize for mentioning the snake earlier, I didn't mean to startle you that much. You had me worried when you listed off Nora's friends so I just asked about the first thing I saw in you." Kaylin smiled brighter.

"How did you know about Garren?" He was becoming more and more fascinated with her skill.

"I saw him in you. I met him once when I visited Nora, so I recognized him. Your eyes are so clear and open, I bet everyone else has a hard time understanding you merely because you wear everything on the surface instead of in layers like them." Kaylin commented with a laugh. "I bet it seems like I had read your mind."

"Very much so, but isn't that what your skill is? That's what I had heard at least." Donatello questioned.

"Not really. I can read hearts more than the mind." Kaylin explained. "Then I'll get a feeling about whether what they're doing or feeling is going to take them to a better setting in life than they are now. If they're in the right heart to do good for themselves and those around them. I like to think of it as an extremely well developed sense of character."

"Fascinating." Donatello sighed, inspired by her intuition. His eyes flashed away for a moment in contemplation. "I wonder if you could tell me, that I'm on the right line for my life? I feel you've read enough of me so I won't be evasive anymore."

"I'd love nothing more than to help!" Kaylin looked at him, her eyes almost sparkling, before she forced her excitement down. "But I have to ask you something too. I strongly feel you're trustworthy, especially when it comes to the innocent. Yet I worry for my friends and I need to know your connection to Garren and them. What you know so far or believe to know?"

Donatello nodded. "Only fair. I can already see you're quite close to the victims and know more than I expected. I came to you just to gather a basic overview of their character, their personalities or flaws.

I have known Garren most of my life now, we work hard to protect people from those that organize in the shadows of society. It's in our best practice to be thorough to know as much about everyone involved. I was investigating the disappearance of Lady Litwin and her son the instant it was public knowledge. At the time Garren was handling a target of one of the most dangerous organizations. It lead him to Nora Litwin, your friend, and he has a strong feeling of a connection between them, particularly after I discovered a pin matching Nora's necklace.

He only asked me to look into them a little. He did claim he didn't have much worry for them. I understand your worries about a stranger investigating them and I promise no harm as long as they are as innocent as you believe them."

"Good." Kaylin smiled and nodded happy with his declaration. "I feel you are on the best and also most difficult path, heading straight for the snake. You will need all of their help and I will do what I can as well. I didn't know I would be meeting someone already with more information about the kidnappers than we had. Come, you should meet Nora and tell her the same. It might settle her heart more than my reading of him."

Donatello was startled as Kaylin grabbed his hand firmly in hers and began to lead him around the church and towards town. "Wait! I only divulged as much to you cause you could already see so much. I might be in the wrong to bring in anyone else!"

He cried nervously behind her but his words never seemed to even slow her down. So the maiden ran through town with Donatello stumbling nervously behind her on the way to the mansion.

"Are you sure it's his?" Garren urged. He needed more concrete answers soon if he was going to be able to do any good.

"It looks just like his except…" Nora hesitated as she scrutinized the pen in her fingers. She traced the etching. "The design is worn some… but it can't be his anyway since he left his on my desk the night… the night he died."

"Identical pens?" Garren considered. He was forming a theory that Sinley had gone after Nora's family or worse taken them himself.

"He was always protective of his pen. Never went anywhere without it and always fiddled with it, even when it was most annoying." Nora went on. "He made it seem so important, I guess I just assumed there was only one. The etching on this one is so worn though you can't quite make out the snake."

"Snake?! Tell me, is the design supposed to be a snake and a canon?" Garren glared down at her. He struggled to keep his anger and composure in control.

"Yeah how did you-?" Nora began before Garren began anxiously looking all around them.

"Get inside." Garren growled as he searched between the far trees.

"Garren what's wrong?" Nora asked glancing around herself unsure what he was reacting to.

"I SAID INSIDE! NOW!" Garren roared as he grabbed her arms and pulled her to the mansion.

He made sure to keep his back to the trees and Nora in front of him. The action well warranted when a small 'pop' erupted from the trees. A blurred line grazed his arm, spraying a thin splatter of blood over his sleeve. Nora quickly gathered her skirts and followed his order now aware of the danger. She felt compelled to look behind her and make sure Garren wasn't left to bleed to death even as she could hear him breathing heavily so close just behind her. It only took a few moments before they crossed through the garden doors and locked them. Garren grabbed her shoulder and led her deeper into the building, away from the glass doors and windows.

Nora fought to catch her breath once they were safe in a dimmed sitting room. She hurriedly lit a lamp to light the room for it's lack of windows being in the center of the building left them blind in it's darkness. Her mind flurried with questions but dug through the drawer of a small desk and easily pulled out a small tin. "Let me see your arm."

"I'm fine." Garren whispered, keeping his attention to the closed door for any sounds outside the room.

"You just took a shot for me!" Nora felt tears stinging the corners of her eyes, betraying her need to stay calm and strong. "You will let me patch up your wound without struggle!"

Garren froze under her commands for a moment before nodding. He silently untied his red ribbon, allowing it to hang loosely from his neck, removed his jacket and rolled up his sleeve, wincing only for a mere second as the fabric worked over the sore flesh. Nora opened the tin to reveal a basic medical set. She opened a small vial and dabbed the mixture onto a scrap of cloth.

"You just had that kit at the ready?" Garren asked. He watched her gently clean his arm before preparing a bandage roll.

"When you have a guard like Kedrick living with you it's best to keep one in just about every room." Nora focused on the wound glad that she wouldn't have to stitch it closed. She finally tugged the knot of the bandage wrapped around Garren's upper-arm and paused. "That must have hurt so much. How could you not scream? You didn't react to it at all."

"What?" Garren processed her whispered words. He didn't expect her to ask about that. "Oh. I'm just used to it. Been in enough fights and worse wounds than this."

Nora regarded the nearly faded scratches and bruises on his arm and realized how true it was. "Thank you."

"It was only my job." Garren laughed softly, trying not to show how much he actually appreciated her thanks. He never got to hear it from anyone else he saved or helped before. It was most effective with the single lamp struggling to light his expression properly.

"You only agreed to be a butler. I don't recall hiring you to guard or even die for me." Nora forced herself to straighten up and speak more clearly.

"I'm not convinced they were after you anyway." Garren replied.

"What makes you say that? I am a daughter of a decently well known rich family. My mother and brother were kidnapped most probably for the money and it only makes sense someone would come for me too." Nora declared her thoughts while fighting the images of her mother and brother being shot. "I figure it was all that was left to wait for when no one could find my family after so long."

"You've been able to live here safe the entire time they've been gone and even out there in the garden you weren't attacked this whole time. I'm a new element to the scenario who drags out new info ever since I have arrived." Garren explained. "Therefore I believe they were shooting just at me."

A sudden approach of determined steps behind the door set both of them on alert. Garren raised his arms standing in front of Nora. The door quickly opened, flooding the room with blinding sunlight. Nora had to close her eyes tight to the sudden light. She held her breath anticipating the worst.

"I demand to know what you were doing with Lady Nora in such a dark room! Why are you not dressed properly?!" Kedrick's shrill voice pierced the air. He was quick to scrutinize the loosened ribbon and missing coat as Garren stood close and protective of Nora.

"Kedrick, thank goodness." Nora sighed before stepping around Garren and approaching her guard.

"Whatever he has done to you it's over now. Let's get you away from him." Kedrick gently rested a hand to her shoulder and tried to rush her from the room.

"I beg your pardon?" Nora became stiff at the accusations made to Garren. "You idiot he was just shot in the garden and diligently brought me to safety whilst you were elsewhere! I was dressing his wound and we had no assurance the attacker had left or followed us inside. I was most worried they came to finish us until I learned you were the one opening the door."

"M-my apologies milady." Kedrick realized his error. He began to shake knowing she was prone to enacting embarrassing punishments in the slightest of bad moods.

"You and Tobias will investigate the garden and consider a thorough and heartfelt apology to Garren. You do not make the calls about anyone or anything in this house am I clear?!" Nora commanded.

"Yes milady. Please forgive me." Kedrick quickly bowed and went to complete his new task before she could add anything he would actually regret to do.

Nora sighed and fought the reddening of her cheeks. "I can't believe him. To suggest such an act." She turned back to Garren and witnessed as he pulled his sleeve back down his arm and started pulling on his jacket. "If you bring your shirt and jacket to Mirielle tomorrow she should fix them right up. You may have the rest of the day off seeing as you have fulfilled more than necessary. The pain must be starting to get worse by now."

Garren allowed himself to gently grasp his arm. Nora's assumption correct as he felt the throbbing stronger especially to each flex of the muscles as he moved. He approached the door and before leaving nodded to her. "Thank you, good afternoon my lady."

As Garren already walked around the corner of the hall, she whispered to herself. "Good afternoon."

Nora sat at her desk, comparing the two pens. They truly were identical save for Sinley's was much newer. Does this mean… he really was a part of some organization? Was he as bad as Garren said? As Kaylin tried to warn me?

In the late afternoon she found herself approaching the servant's quarters. She glanced only shortly to Garren's door before turning her sad eyes to Sinley's. Her hands shook as she grasped the handle and quietly opened the door. The rush of a familiar scent sent her mind reeling to old memories. She wore a sad smile as she glanced over all the old journals of poems and air-headed dreams. The window creaked open slightly as the wind swept into the room. Nora found her heart stutter when she spotted arrows stuck to the ledge and frame, fired from the outside. To each one was a tied note. Hesitantly she pulled one off and read it.

-o- Report -o-

It was written unevenly but was unable to be mistaken as any other word. She pulled another.

-o- New job -o-

The same unstable font. Nora was afraid to touch the others, she pressed a hand over her mouth to stifle a sob. I thought I knew him. We were so close I… I can't believe this. I can't…