Cornelius Laeson smirked as he watched the blood drain from his pupil's face, and it grew even wider when he saw that the strange girl beside him hadn't changed her fierce expression at all. Though his reputation was usually limited to the the criminal underworld, he still tended to intimidated people with his tall stature and attitude, so the fact that this tiny little runt of a girl was unafraid and could even be challenging him, amused him to great extent.
"I don't think he needs to explain" The runt said.
Leason raised an eyebrow, while Shigure grimaced "Oh? And why is that." He could tell that the girl could hear the laughter in his voice because a smirk of her own, however humourless, spread across her face.
"I believe you heard him just fine."
"Well I only caught the end of the conversation, so I'm going to need the details explained to me."
She snorted "I killed a bunch of slave traders, traumatized some kids, tried to kill your friend here..." she jabbed a thumb at Shigure "...and my foster brother, and am about to escape from these idiotic policemen, run off to find my friends and kill this guy 'James Colavich'. And since you're the famous Cornelius Laeson it would be so much easier if I could tag along with you."
Cornelius stopped and stared. Not only was this girl not intimidated by his presence, but she also knew who he was and didn't even flinch while telling him about her plans to use him.
He threw his head back and laughed outright, "Ha ha ha! I suppose it can't be helped then. Sure runt you can come along. You could be useful."
"My sentiments exactly."
"Hold on here!" Everyone looked to the sheriff, "I don't know who you think you are little girl. But you aren't going anywhere! And you, Charles Lyson, or whatever your name is, you should walk away from this. I don't have any reason to arrest you but I will for obstruction of justice!"
Obstruction of justice? The mercenary thought Could he sound any more pathetic?
The girl snorted. It seemed she was thinking the same thing.
"How about this officer..." Cornelius said "...you let us go. And I won't kick your ass and have you admitted to the hospital. Sound good?"
"Wh-what!?" The sheriff's face turned an interesting shade of red. He then took out his firearm and aimed for the mercenary's head. "I'm giving you to the count of three to hand over that girl."
Laeson tensed, ready to strike when the countdown reached it's end, but the red eyed girl stuck her arm out, and motioned him to stop.
"One...two..." Stefan began counting.
"Three." The runt finished for him. And pounced.
XXXXXXX
Its dark. And it stinks. I wonder how long I've been in here for... Hours? Days? Months? I feel so numb, I can't tell anymore.
Every now and then one of the other kids will ask me "What is going to happen to us?" As if I know! All I know now is cry, sleep and eat. All I see is my family's blood. And all can think of is... is the horror that is awaiting me.
Elfy... Please... Help me.
XXXXXXX
He never assumed to know everything about her. In fact he was sure that what he did know only scratched the surface of the secrets his foster sister kept hidden away. In the two years they had spent together with Mana, he thought he was, at least, certain of the kind of person she was. But as he watched her step over the unconscious bodies of the Alexandrian Police Force he began to have his doubts.
"Well now..." Allen's gaze turned from Elfy towards the so called 'Cornelius Laeson', who raised his eyebrows and smirked, "I'm starting to like the idea of you coming with us more and more."
"Good, 'cause you're stuck with me." The girl replied.
The mercenary chuckled.
"Hold on a secon'!" Allen felt as if his emotions had been put into a bottle and shaken around, "Ya aren't just gonna leave... Are ya, Elfy?" He hesitated before saying the last part afraid of her answer. And for good reason.
"Yeah, Beansprout. I'm just gonna leave." Allen flinched, he had never heard her voice sound so cold before.
"But watta 'bout...us?" he was desperate. You know those emotions of his in the bottle? Well a mixture of, sadness, fear, loneliness, and a dash of 'What the hell' had come out and play.
The girl was quiet for a long time. And when she finally spoke she said, "Its better if I go."
"Better?" Allen sethed. Anger had decided to join the party. "Better?! What does leavin', after a mess like this, make better?"
Elfy's face stayed emotionless. Unwilling to show how much it hurt her to see him so torn up.
"Mana! Tell her! Tell her leaving ain't the answer!" the boy cried, half begging. But his Foster Father, whose face was as emotionless as his daughter's, said nothing. "Mana...?"
"Sorry, kid. But it seems your friend here is comin' with us," said Laeson.
Allen felt his knees give way.
"Why...?" He asked his sister, searching her eyes for some sign that she was lying. But she wasn't.
"You know damn well 'why'." She hissed, glaring at him.
He did know why. All the dead bodies inside the orphanage were the reason she couldn't stay. But that didn't stop the tears from streaming down his face.
"Allen..." Mana's voice was unnaturally calm as he tried to comfort the child. But he couldn't think of anything to say.
Since Allen was trying to compose himself and stop crying, he didn't see the tears that leaked from his sister's eyes as she walked past him, scooped up Koda in her arms and walked around to the back of the orphanage.
XXXXXXX
As I picked up Koda my tears started to roll down my cheeks uncontrollably, and I was shaking so hard, I thought that I would drop him before I made it to the back of the orphanage to bury him. However, by some miracle I did.
I set his body carefully on the ground, Because of his illness he was smaller than the average six year old. I brushed his bangs away from his eyes, and I flinched when I found that they were still open.
I closing them, I said "I'm sorry."
I needed a shovel to bury him, but I couldn't find the strength to stand and find one.
"Here." Said a familiar voice.
I looked up to see a blurry Shigure holding just what I needed in his outstretched hand.
"Thanks" I said flatly taking the shovel and forced myself to stand. And taking a deep breath I wiped my tears away with the sleeve of my navy blue dress that Mana had bought me, and set to work.
Throughout the many hours It took me to bury Koda and all the slave traders, who I buried far away in the forest, Shigure didn't leave my side. He didn't help, but that was fine because I didn't want him to, he just stayed which was in some strange way, calming.
When I was done I started to think of a way to mark Koda's grave so it wouldn't seem like he never existed. And since I was dead tired I didn't notice that Allen was behind me until he cleared his throat.
I spun around to find my foster brother holding a large rock.
"Mana and I got all the kids back inta town and he's staying with them... The police officers went back too. But there gonna be back soon."
"Alright." I said.
"Also... I made this" He showed me that he had carved words into the rock he was holding: You are a Hero, a friend, and a brother. And you will never be forgotten.
My heart tightened as I read the words.
"Thank you." I said softly, hiding my eyes under my bangs so he couldn't see that I was trying to stop myself from crying again.
Allen nodded and walked around me to where Koda's grave was on the hill, and placing the stone down he said a few words. Once he was done he bowed and walked back over to me.
"So I guess you're leavin' now." He said looking over at the sunrise.
"Yeah..." Damn. If I didn't leave soon I really was going to start crying again.
"Do you think we'll see each other again?"
"For your sake, I hope not."
Now, Allen looked at me, and puckering his lips in a pout he said "That's just mean." He was trying to keep the mood light, which I was grateful for.
"Yeah well, you kinda deserve it."
He crossed his arms, trying not to smile.
"Fine then. I'll give ya that one. But I have a feeling that we'll see each other again someday."
I turned away from him and starting walking back to the front of the orphanage. "It would be nice if we did..." I whispered.
"See ya 'round Elfy!" Allen shouted after me, not moving from his spot, as if he was telling me it was okay to leave. I knew running away wasn't the real answer to my problems. But until I found Siren and Karie I wasn't going to think too hard about it.
"Laeson went back into town a few hours ago so we're going to have to check all the open bars to try and find him."
I hadn't even noticed that Shigure was walking beside me until he spoke. Man I was tired.
"I see... So we have to find out where he is without getting caught by the sheriff." I said. A little annoyed.
"You better get used to this. It happens a lot."
Now I laughed. "Sounds fun."
"Oh I forgot to ask: What's your name?"
"Elfy." I replied almost immediately, in spite of myself. I had never used the same name with another person before. Huh, well that's weird...
"Thats an odd name."
"Yep..." I smiled remembering Allen explain why he called me that. "...It really is"
And we walked the rest of the way back to town in silence.
Six and a half years later:
"Hey Allen!" The white haired teen turned to see his friend Lenalee smiling while walking down the hall towards him.
He smiled back "Hello, Lenelee."
"You're going to the Dining Hall right?" she asked
"Yep."
"Great! Lets go together."
The two exorcists continued walking down the hall to where food and friends awaited them.
