Flashback chapter now – Well, read it. For some reason, I've not got as much to say as I normally do. What about you, Lai Jun Chen-san?
Hello Tsuki Yume- san,
[There's not a lot to say on my end either, I suppose. This chapter was great. I saw hardly any mistakes at all, which always makes me happy. Really, this chapter was nearly perfect just the way you sent it to me. I didn't do much more than change commas- there were a few too many, but nothing that was too noticeable or that would do much to the chapter as a whole. I'm sorry it took me a bit longer to get this back to you than it should've. It really was a breeze to read and edit. I appreciate that you did in fact try not to repeat mistakes that I pointed out in the last chapter- a lot of people don't bother and I am glad that you took the time to do so. Keep up the good work! Until next time,
Lai Jun Chen]
Disclaimer: 'Tis henceforth disclaimed.
Warning: Do not try any ideas presented in this story. CONNING IS AGAINST THE LAW. Everything here is fictional, and should stay fictional.
Chapter 9: Collision Course
February 20th 2009, 06:34 – Allen's House
The sun set, and rose again – and Allen hadn't moved an inch from the computer. His fingers flew over the keyboard, constant in speed and desperation. Itching to be one step ahead of the twisted game he was forced to play, Allen thought that it would be best to research the target. His previous experiences in the trade of conning had moulded a routine into him – pick the target, research it, time it, and take it. It had never failed him so his confidence remained. After all, even if it was concerning a rarity such as the Xuè Shuǐjīng red diamond, why should the method fail now?
Nothing. He found absolutely nothing on that bloody diamond.
Sighing miserably, Allen leaned back in his chair. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to quell the headache that was threatening to flare. Insomnia never did help him and with the added pressure of rescuing his uncle he felt thoroughly fatigued. The only thing that was stopping him from breaking down into tears was the threat of Cross waking up. Sure enough, his guardian knew about Allen's various scams. But it paid for his wine and cigarettes so, to him, it was just another way to find easy money. Rubbing his dark rimmed eyes, he got up and wearily got dressed.
Allen never thought that he, of all people, would think this – but holidays were the worst. A vicious cycle of work and sleep ensued, occasionally broken by a criminal escapade or an errand to run for Master Cross. It was made even worse by a slow day and Allen was forced to hang around delicious toasted sandwiches without touching them. Thoughts buzzed around in his head as he leaned against the counter, putting a sign reading 'Away' on it, when he was clearly there. As if playing a game of poker Allen looked at his different cards carefully, trying to assess the best hand to play. Currently, lady luck was not on his side.
I don't know what kind of sick entertainment this will give to AKUMA, he thought, but I don't intend to become their puppet. How the hell did they even kidnap Uncle Neah, and why? To get the diamond? You'd think with their range of spies and thieves, one of them would have succeeded. Now this Noah lord tells me that none of them have been able to locate it, never mind steal it. Why is their alternative a twenty-two year old con-artist? Well, it's not like I have much of a choice here; if I don't get it by the end of April, Neah and everyone will die. It's February 20th. I've not got time to dawdle.
Allen placed a cool hand on his forehead, still pondering – And I thought it couldn't get worse. In addition to this stupid ransom, I have the police after me. Not just any old police either; Kanda Yuu, the devil incarnate. What harm have I done to deserve this? Is bettering my life that sinful? I didn't get to see the CIA guy, but if they're employing the best for this, it should be Lavi Bookman. Eyes like a camera, mind like a computer. He'll probably have information on me that even I don't!
And that woman, Allen's heart fluttered strangely as his musing brought him to her, what was her name? I'll remember later. She looked my age, so she must be a rookie. Rookies make mistakes, and so will she. If she wasn't being flanked by those two, I would've led her astray easily. But, there's something about her…
"Umm, excuse me?"
Allen turned sharply, surprised to hear another voice. Before he could apologize, the white haired youth's mouth gaped. The spark of recognition registered in his mind, turning the rude surprise into pleasant incredulity. He fitted a smile in place, the perfect expression for a friend he had not seen for many moons.
"Maria?" He said, still not believing his eyes.
Maria's hair had changed again, Allen noted. The long curtain of tawny locks had vanished, and in its place was a cute russet bob, curled to perfection. She still looked resplendent in a simple black jacket, covering a cropped sunset red shirt, dotted with roses. Her designer jeans brushed the ankle of her high heeled boots, making the already tall woman more imposing. She took Allen's hand into her own gloved ones and shook it gently.
"Allen Walker, is that you? My, you've grown since I last saw you!" she said.
Allen's pride swelled and he felt good that at least someone said that he had grown. He led Maria to the sitting room, hoping and praying that Cross wasn't drunk again. He glanced at the time – 6:47pm. It was a mystery where that day had gone; he was so lost in thought for a good part of it. His prayers were evidently heard, because there was no tipsy Cross snoring on the sofa. Allen was taken aback at the sight of his guardian in a full suit, complete with a flower pinned to the lapel. He looked up from the wine he was swirling in a glass. Immediately, he stood up and pushed Allen away roughly.
"Maria!" Cross boomed, hugging the woman. "We don't need to go for another ten minutes, dear!"
She gave him a disapproving look, and brought Allen back to her side. "Don't call me dear, Cross Marian. Lord knows that I'll never fall for you again. I came early to see Allen."
By that time, both Cross and his apprentice were thoroughly confused. The red haired man kept looking from Maria to Allen, as if he couldn't figure out why she would ever want to visit an idiot apprentice like him. Allen was puzzled by the whole situation – Cross dressed up and telling Maria that they will not be leaving for a few minutes, Maria then claiming that she wanted to see him.
He broke the silence, "Maria, Master? Where are you going?"
"Idiot, didn't I tell you?" Cross said, rolling his eyes.
Allen frowned and answered, "You never tell me anything. Either you're drunk, or there's a woman with you."
The guardian shrugged and sighed. He finally explained, "Maria and I have a dinner party to attend. The owner of Innocence Corp. asked us to come for old time's sake. Apparently, it's his sister's birthday. He's crazy for her – too crazy."
Ah, yes I remember, Allen thought suddenly, Maria used to work there too. She quit after Cross, and I'm pretty sure they were lovers for a while. Then she became a singer, and the rest is history.
"He did say that Allen was welcome to come," Maria added.
"I don't want to take a brat along. Too much work."
An uncomfortable silence trailed after Cross's comment. Allen shifted from one foot to the other, unsure about his circumstances. For one thing, going to the dinner would mean endless hours of dull stories about work, followed by awkward alcohol induced singing and dancing. On the other hand, if the police of AKUMA decided to infiltrate his accommodation, he would be nowhere to be found. Maria grabbed his hand, snapping him out of his daze.
"Come on, Allen. We've still got some time; I want to see your room," she said brightly.
"My-my room?" Allen repeated, thinking of the state of it. The floor was littered with food wrappers and papers from the morning. He cursed himself for not cleaning that without delay.
The grip tightened. "Yes, your room, silly," she said again, with an odd glint on her eyes.
He finally agreed and climbed the stairs before her. Once they were inside, Maria hastily closed the door and locked it. Her ice blue eyes narrowed with seriousness. She sat on Allen's desk chair without asking, Allen having to sit amongst the paper waste left on his bed. He understood now – though they had seen each other four or five times, she had visited this house only once before. It was a year ago, and she called in when he was alone. Desperate to perfect a tricky con, he had told her everything and sought her assistance. Instead of calling the cops like he expected her to, Maria consented to his request. With her looks, voice, and sharp intellect she gathered vital information for it, resulting in a successful con. Since then, she swore to help him every time she could. As long as one day, he would come clean for everything and deny her hand in the robberies. He agreed to those terms, but felt guilty as he knew that giving himself up was suicidal.
"You're in a shitload of trouble, you know that Walker?" she said, getting straight to the point.
"Maria, I-"
"No, let me finish," she cut across, "A case has been filed against you. People are looking to put you behind bars. I was there at the scene of the last heist, acting as an FBI officer's lover. They're deadly serious about this, so be on high alert."
"Look, Maria-"
"I said let me finish! Now you've got this fucking diamond to find…"
"Whoa there," Allen interrupted, "How do you know about that?"
The woman gave him an ironic smile. "Who said that looks don't matter? I, uh, 'got close' to an AKUMA, he spilled the beans. Tried to kill me, but you know what I can do."
He ran a hand through his white hair, feeling his silver eyes grow dull. He didn't want to think about this, not now. But he could not run forever.
"Okay, so what can you do to help? That is why you dragged me up here isn't it?" he asked.
Maria nodded. "The Xuè Shuǐjīng diamond – how much of its history have you read, Allen?"
"Enough: I know that it's from China, and it is currently in the possession of a family, since it got passed down through many generations," Allen replied.
"OI! GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE, IDIOT DISCIPLE!" Cross bellowed, then switch to a softer tone, "Maria, it's time to go."
The pair stood and walked to the door. Just before they left Allen's room, Maria turned to look at him. There was a pain in her eyes for some reason, and it made his heart ache. They pierced through the thick wall he had put between his mind and his conscience. She placed a hand to his cheek.
"Come with us tonight. The diamond will be closer than you think," she said.
Allen tilted his head, perplexed. "What do you mean?"
Maria smiled again, a saddening smile. Allen realized what she was going to say long before she did.
"The Xuè Shuǐjīng diamond belongs to him – the owner of Innocence Corporation. And, if we play our cards right, it will be the highlight of our evening."
Same day, 21:08 – Lenalee's birthday party
The room was so packed with people, that Lenalee felt sick with claustrophobia. But brother had insisted on a big event and she couldn't say no to the ridiculous puppy dog eyes he gave her. She scanned the crowd, trying to spot someone she could recognise. She then waved at Reever, who had just walked through the door. He smiled and walked over, looking smart in a blue blazer over his white shirt and jeans.
"Looking good, Lenalee," the Australian said.
Lenalee blushed, and fumbled with the material of her dress. It was truly a beautiful outfit – a Mandarin collared knee-length dress, white silk with intricate indigo flowers painted on. She had to admit that the capped sleeves and two slits down the side of the dress were not suited for winter weather, but she loved it anyway. It was her twenty-fourth birthday party, a spectacular event devised by her beloved brother.
"So Reever," Lenalee started, "Any more news about this con-artist?"
He gave her such a forlorn look that she apologised immediately. He reprimanded her in a teasing manner, telling her not to focus on the case when she had a birthday to celebrate.
Of course, Lenalee thought. Reever and the others are probably overworked as well. Everyone apart from me has a double job here – Reever's the Squad Leader in Black Order Detectives, but also Second Scientist in Innocence Corp. Wonder if all those people who quit will come…oh!
She could not fail to spot that specific shade of red hair and the peculiar mask.
So, Cross did come after all, she rolled her eyes. He had better not try and flirt again – he was bad enough when he was a General in Black Order! I still can't believe that he quit both sides; I guess Leverrier got to him too.
She wandered away from the man idly, creating short conversation with the various guests. It seemed that her two newest colleagues hadn't arrived yet. That is, if Komui ever actually invited them. He always kept a grudge against any new men Lenalee met, duration ranging from three days to five months. After a while he would get over it. She made sure he did and also made sure he did something worthwhile instead of stalking her whenever she was out.
"Lenalee!"
She whipped around, her long high ponytail catching the redhead's face. Stumbling backwards, Lavi Bookman accidently elbowed the tall Japanese man behind him. His abuse did not stop there, as Kanda promptly aimed a punch to his face. The youth managed to catch himself in the nick of time before he fell right into Lenalee. The Chinese girl just stood there, violet eyes wide with surprise. Lavi shook his head, straightened up and gave a huge grin. She returned it with a less enthusiastic but warm smile whilst Kanda turned his head away with a 'che'.
Brandishing a good sized gift bag, Lavi said, "Happy birthday! I know it's not much, but here ya go!"
Managing a more genuine smile, Lenalee accepted the gift, and replied, "Thank you Lavi, Kanda! So, did brother invite you?"
Lavi shrugged, and said cheekily, "What's life without crashin' a few parties? I even got Yuu to come, and you know your party's a hit when Yuu doesn't try to torch the place!"
She giggled at that, walking past Lavi to shake Kanda's hand.
He scrutinized the hand as if it had offended him greatly, and eventually spoke, "I didn't bring matches this time, otherwise the fire fighters would be here by now. Your damned gift is in that bag Lavi gave you."
Promising herself that she'd look at the gifts later, she set the bag on a random table. Just as she was pouring herself some punch, Lenalee jumped at the sight of one of the many men she was hoping to avoid. She glared with steely eyes at Inspector Malcolm Leverrier. With his customary Hitler style moustache combed to perfection, hair sleeked back with military precision and sharp beady eyes, he looked more like an army commander from World War II than a member of the Central.
"My, my Lenalee," he said, "Don't you look well today? I've made a special cake for the party; it's on the buffet table. Care to take a bite?"
I'd rather eat poison, Lenalee thought disgusted.
But she still agreed to being dragged across the hall to the buffet table. Picking up a cake gingerly she tried to dissect it with her eyes. It looked delicious, but knowing that Leverrier had touched it, she couldn't help feeling suspicious of it. Precious seconds that she could've been spending with her well wishers were being wasted in front of a cream filled dessert.
"You do know that those cakes are gorgeous, right?"
Lenalee turned to see where that new voice had come from, but all she could see was a mountain of food. Clearly, the pile was rapidly diminishing, and soon it had vanished. In front of her stood a white haired boy, around her age, wearing a smart gray waistcoat, white shirt and a crimson ribbon snaked around his neck. He looked at her with big gray eyes, and gave one of the most innocent smiles Lenalee had ever seen. He reached forward and grabbed one of Leverrier's cakes, took an inhumanly large bite out of it, and sighed contently.
"Try it," he said.
Hesitating, she took a nibble. The pleasant sweet flavour of it invaded her mouth, and it was gone before she knew it. Wanting to thank the stranger, she looked around. But he had disappeared into the thick of the party, and not even his noticeably white hair could be seen.
Who was he? Lenalee pondered. I would've remembered if I had met a guy like that before.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the entertainment."
Komui stood at the top of the hall, looking sharp in a standard tuxedo. The general buzz of chatter died down, and some people clapped and whooped. He cleared his throat and continued.
"There are a lot of people here tonight, and though all of us started in the same place, a lot of us have moved on due to…various reasons. This woman is one such person – she started as an assisting inventor to Cross Marian, but her true passion lay in singing. Please put your hands together for the great 'Grave of Maria'!"
The applause had grown thunderous, but was quickly covered with silence. Lenalee assumed that Maria was the auburn haired woman that had accompanied Cross to the party.
That guy was with him too, she realized with a jump. I remember seeing a streak of white hair.
All thoughts were swept out of her head as Lenalee gaped in wonder at Maria's costume. Her hair and eyes were covered by a tight black hood, attached to her elaborate full length dress of the same colour. Green roses lined the waist and the low neck line, giving her an air of intimidating superiority. But the pièce de résistance was definitely the massive blood red butterfly crowning the hood. Her voice was full and untainted, but she understood why she named herself 'Grave of Maria' – her music was borderline creepy; nevertheless, Lenalee enjoyed it.
She caught sight of white hair in the corner of her eye. There he was again, leaning on the table that Lenalee was sitting at. A faint smile graced his lips, his eyes half closed. He looked completely taken by the music, swaying slightly to the beat. She smiled at that, but then quickly stopped. Now that she knew he was accompanying the Cross Marian, her alert levels were on high.
He spoke softly, "Her voice is beautiful, Maria's – but it's damn near heart breaking. I can never listen to an entire song without feeling memories welling up. It's innocent sorrow, that's the only way to describe that feeling."
Lenalee nodded, understanding what he was saying. She could feel it too; the dulled pain of losing her parents to the fire flickered and blazed again. Wiping some escaped tears, she was the first to start the standing ovation as the song ended. Maria bowed flamboyantly, and left without a word. Komui came back, clapping earnestly as well.
"That was amazing, wasn't it?"
A general roar of consent answered the question. The Chinese man chuckled.
"Good! Now, let's call up the birthday girl – oh Lenalee!"
She walked as fast as she could to the front, conscious of the many eyes on her. Her brother engulfed her in a warm hug. The crowd sighed an 'aww.' Lenalee snickered as she saw Kanda's expression of disgust.
Too much lovey-dovey for him, she mused.
"You're now twenty-four, which is the age that, according the customs of the Lee family, the oldest male will pass on this," he brandished a necklace, "to the twenty-four year old girl."
Lenalee felt breathless. The red jewel in the centre mesmerized her, but she caught Komui's furtive serious look. He carefully placed the necklace around her neck, securing the latch.
"Be careful with this, it's an heirloom," he whispered.
Someone from the mass shouted up. "Oi, what's the jewel in the centre?"
Komui laughed and answered, "Nothing big – just some red garnet. But it's important to our family."
Cheers resonated through the hall, coupled with 'Happy Birthday' singing. Lenalee returned to her chair, her face red from all the attention. The guy was still there, smiling that smile again. His eyes traced the necklace. He leaned in close, studying the red jewel thoroughly.
After a while, he looked into her eyes, and said, "That's quite a diamond there."
Lenalee was taken aback, and whispered furiously, "How did you figure that out?"
The guy reverted to his original leaning position and shrugged. "I have a lot of unnecessary skills."
He put his hands in his trouser pockets. "See you around."
For some reason, she didn't want him to go. She tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned slightly.
"Who are you, exactly?" She blurted, getting the pressing question off her chest.
He smiled like that for the third time. He turned again, and dipped his head down a notch. He spoke two words before walking away.
"Nobody important."
Well, that was longer than I expected. Not got much to say – actually, expect me to announce a break for a couple of weeks in February, because I've got three major exams coming up. I'll get straight to the point; Reviews? =3