Here it is! The next installment, and, as promised, longer. Please enjoy!


Chapter 26. Normal POV.

Utau and Yaya stayed behind the bush for another half and hour, watching and listening to the many conversations of the stable hands and maids. They were going to follow them, that was for sure, but they needed to know where they were going, what the story was, what was happening. They considered going up and asking themselves, but they realized that they were hiding behind a bush, eaves-dropping on Calothstine property…that wouldn't look good. So instead, they tried their best to ignore the discomfort from lying down, and tried even harder to pick up on any information they could.

There was none.

Besides the obvious, that they were leaving with Amu and Rima and the boys, and they were going by Lady Calothstine's manor, the workers had no other ideas on what was happening.

Another ten minutes past, and parts of their arms and legs were going numb from lack of movement. Lucky for them, the doors leading to the back of the stables opened, with a quiet creak, and Calothstine emerged from them, followed by Marionette. Both were dressed in simple clothes, almost like working clothes, but more durable looking. Behind Marionette, Amu, Rima, Ikuto, Nagihiko, Kairi and Tadase walked, eyes scanning the perimeter, minds working. Amu and Ikuto were dressed in Noble's clothing.

Utau looked over at Yaya, a little fear in her eyes. "Where's Kukai?" She asked quietly, shifting her position slightly. Yaya shook her head, eyes slightly wider than normal.

"I don't know." She mouthed back, and turned her attention back to their friends. Focusing, both of the thieves craned their necks, and tried to block out all other outside sounds, something they had trained to do for years. Their training did not fail them now. They could catch phrases of what was being said.

"We'll go over our major family history, some more personal topics, some good friends that will be there…" Calothstine informed, his face strangely expressionless. Ikuto nodded.

"We'll also do a little history between Marionette and I." Calothstine suddenly looked a little uncomfortable, and Ikuto winked at Amu, earning her disapproving stare. Yaya looked at Utau, a hundred questions pooling in her eyes, but the blonde just kept her gaze fastened on Calothstine's direction.

"…and when you are away from the councilmen and nobles, you and Amu will be discussing with either me or Marionette, on what to say, or ask. Don't stray to far from our loop, or instructions." The last sentence almost sounded like a threat, but none of the thieves could tell. "We'll leave in about five or so minutes." Calothstine finished, and turned to walk towards one of the carriages. Ikuto's voice stopped him from doing so.

"Where are you keeping Kukai?" His voice had a slight edge, almost protective of his close friend. Calothstine looked back and smiled warily.

"He's fine, don't worry. In one of our guest rooms, guarded by a couple guards. Quite comfortable if I might add."
Ikuto, seemingly satisfied, said no more, and turned to Amu, striking up a conversation.

"Utau…" Yaya said quietly, nudging her friend. Utau turned to meet her gaze evenly.

"Yes, Yaya?"

"Kukai's not going." The shorter brunette said, and the blonde scoffed.

"And?" She answered simply, sweeping her gaze back towards the packing servants. Yaya gave her an almost disapproving look, and continued to speak, silently.

"He's locked up." She urged. Utau's bright eyes flashes to Yaya for a second then back again, face forming into a scowl.

"Comfortably locked up." She added, tone dark. Yaya quirked an eyebrow.

"And you don't want to go and unlock him?" She questioned. Utau paused.

"He can take care of himself." She said, with a note of finality. Yaya rolled her eyes, and sighed softly.

"We should save him, Utau. He has more information, he probably knows where they're headed too."

Utau sighed too.

"And what would we do after we've found him?" She countered.

"Follow Amu and Rima, of coarse." Yaya answered as though it was simple. Utau huffed, and looked the other way, eyes squinting slightly. Yaya's gaze softened.

"Regardless of the past you two had, we need him." She said gently. Utau's face softened as well, after a long moment.

"I...don't know…" She didn't meet Yaya's eyes, and Yaya grimaced, becoming impatient.

"You know we need him. You two have worked together for all of your lives, forget about what happened that year, for once, and just accept that he's going to be part of this." Yaya said, a stern look upon her face. Utau's resolve wavered.

There was a long, intense, silence that rang out between them, as the blonde deliberated. Yaya smelled an easy win.

"Yeah…yeah, I guess your right." It seemed like it was a very hard thing for the blonde to say, but Yaya cracked the faintest of a smile.

"Aren't I always?"

….

After Calothstine had walked away, to speak briefly to one of the stable boys, Ikuto immediately assumed the role of a Lord, straightening his back, putting on an almost condescending look.

"Hurry, now, we haven't got all day." He ushered the servants a little quicker, and they complied, thought not without confused glances. Utau and Yaya, still watching from the bushes, were quite impressed, that thought the servants didn't really need to follow his orders, Ikuto's performance was enough for them to be at his beck and call. When the carriages were finished being packed, Ikuto called Roderick.

"You, we'll need to be leaving now, help my lady into her carriage." He said, quite enjoying his role. Calothstine immediately responded with a bow, and walked over to the carriage, opening its door, pulling out a step, and placing it on the dusty ground. Ikuto stepped into his front seat, and Calothstine walked over to Amu, holding out a hand.

"Milady." He said, with a coy smile, and a twinkle in his eyes. Amu took the gloved hand with a certain certainty and grace that all noblewomen seemed to posses, and tipped her head slightly. Roderick gave her a wolfish grin and winked. Amu, shocked for just a second, blushed, and hurried into the carriage, pulling her dress in so it didn't flow out of the door.

Marionette rolled her eyes, and followed after her, giving Roderick a quick, almost warning glance. He suppressed a shudder, and smiled politely. After both ladies were in, and Rima, dressed as a maid, went into Ikuto's carriage, Roderick mounted a great white horse, ready to follow behind. The other boys followed suit, jumping onto their own horses, taking on the duty as guards.

Through the window of the carriage, Utau could catch glimpses of Amu and Marionette, smiling and talking, thought it seemed a bit awkward and tense, she was surprised to see them even socializing at all. With an distasteful grimace, she turned to Yaya to point it out, but stopped, seeing the brunette's eyes squinted, concentrating hard on something far away.

"Yaya?" The blonde stage-whispered, but Yaya, held a finger up, silencing her. After another minute of Yaya's intense staring she turned to Utau, but only briefly, quickly averting her gaze back up at whatever she was staring at before. As though it might disappear any second.

"Do you see that?" She said, pointing up at one of the tower windows. Utau searched all of them that were in the general direction of Yaya's pointing. But saw nothing.

"Uhm, see wha-'' Wait! But there it was, a flash of something, of metal gleaming. Utau peered into the window and in the darkness; there was vague movement, something very shodow-like. Almost inhuman.

For a moment, Utau thought the shadow might've looked her way, like it knew where her and Yaya were camping out. The feeling was chilling, cold. Like the sun was momentarily dimmed.

But it was gone as fast as it came, and Utau could no longer see the wispy movements in the window.


Hope you all liked that, please tell me what you thought! : )