Welcome back to another chapter of Under the Mask, Darker Than Black belongs to Tensai Okamura.
I'm going to apologise for all the time jumping I'm doing in these latest chapters. Please enjoy reading though.
Chapter 34
The small group of four came to a stop when they came towards a clock tower with a fountain nearby. Amber looked around and watched as Yin walked over towards the fountain and placed her hand in the water. Her specter appeared on the water and helped her look around the area. Hei just stared up at the clock tower, the face of the clock showing some sort of time but the gate had distorted the face it was practically useless as a clock. Time was irrelevant in the gate along with space too. There had been moments where walking on water was possible, walking on the walls, upside down was possible too. The gate had its own rules and it liked to change them whenever it pleased.
"We've come pretty far…much further than when we first came to this gate," Li's ghostly form appeared behind Hei making the contractor turn around. No one seemed to be watching him and instead they all seemed to be taking a break. How much further before Yin and July couldn't take the pain anymore from sending their specters out? Hei didn't want them to suffer if they could help it…yet they both seemed determined (in their own way) to keep going.
"Further than we were in Heaven's Gate," Hei admitted.
"This is as far as we can go…" Yin spoke and pulled Hei's attention to her. The doll continued to use her specter though despite how much it hurt her while July stayed by her side. He wasn't sure if it was because of their programming but Yin and July didn't seem like enemies much like how he and November 11 were before this whole happy accident happened. He was grateful though that this happened though, he never imagined that the contractor of ice could make his heart flutter with just his voice.
"That's fine, we've made it quite far. Further than how we did in Heaven's War," Amber spoke happily as she made her way over to Hei. "You know what's funny?" She asked him to start the conversation between herself and Hei. It worked as Hei's attention shifted to her from Yin and July.
Having those midnight orbs on her just made her realise how much she craved his love and affection. Every night when the killing had stopped in Heaven's War they just sat together with Bai curled up in her brother's arms and just talked. Confessing their wishes and dreams of the future, how the stars were falling or how the food rations were going. Just the pair of them together, in a war he didn't belong in…no, now wasn't the time to reminisce of the past and instead focused on the future. She reached into her pocket and held out a complete meteor shard.
"I shattered this before we even started…yet now that we need it the most the gate has restored it. It's like it knew what was needed," she spoke softly to him. The meteor shard, the artifact that contractors would kill for started to glow softly as she offered it to Hei. "It's time, don't you think?" She asked him.
"Repeating what happened at Heaven's Gate…will cause the same disaster as it did then, right?" Hei asked her.
"You're worried you'll vanish…" Amber spoke with a slightly disappointed tone of voice.
"That's something we'll have to accept…" Li spoke behind Hei. "If we don't do this…then their lives will be at risk," Li pointed towards Yin and July.
"November 11 will come…" Hei spoke up as he continued to stare at the meteor shard. The glow was soft and inviting, tempting him to reach out and touch it but he knew what would happen…he just needed a little more time.
Under the Mask – Chapter 34
"Thank you, we'll take it from here," November 11 smiled at Huang as they were dropped off close to the gate but not close enough to be stopped by the military.
"I'd say good luck but I don't think you need it. With all the chaos going around due to the recent MI-6 incident and the war between the government and Evening Primrose, you contractors will be able to slip by easily," Huang said with a smile on his face. November 11 couldn't help but chuckle at that comment.
"Yes, we should be okay if we team up with Section 4 and slip in," November 11 commented as he glanced towards Hell's Gate. "Besides, Li's waiting for me there."
"Yeah well, you'll get bored of him with the constant headaches he'll give you."
"Your headaches, my enjoyment."
"Any messages you'd like us to give them?" April chirped in. The former MI-6 agents watched Huang think for a moment before the older man shook his head.
"Good luck keeping that reaper under control," Huang laughed as he started up the engine and drove away. April waved as November 11 stood still and watched as the vehicle vanished into the distance.
"We should contact Misaki." November 11 brought out his phone and called Misaki. They would need picking up and taken directly to the gate.
"What are the chances that she's already there?" April asked.
"She's on her way here."
Under the Mask – Chapter 34
July stood patiently by Yin's side, his specter was still out there searching for November 11 and April. He winced in pain as he moved his specter to a different window outside the gate. He didn't realise how far his range had become but maybe that was due to the gate's power? He wished that he could see November 11 and April again and maybe the gate was granting that wish. It was nice and all to be looked after by BK-201 but it wasn't the same. Yin didn't have an issue but she was used to the treatment that she received from the contractor.
"He will come…" Yin spoke softly as Amber and Hei continued to talk…or stall for time.
"Why do you like him?" July asked the silver-haired doll.
"I know…he will protect me."
"They are coming," July spoke as he found November 11 and April in the car with Misaki.
"Hei, we don't have much time!" Amber shouted but Hei didn't seem to listen.
Cardcaptorghost - I'm glad the wait wasn't disappointing. I hope this chapter and the ones after don't disappoint you. I will say one thing, November and Hei will meet again~
Thanks for reading~