Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse or its characters; that right belongs to Lee Gwang-Su. I do own the OC and I do not want her used anywhere else, by anyone else.
Tao stood there and watched the strange girl, no woman, as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet to the heels and back again. The smile on her lips as her hazel colored eyes looked down the hallway. He was a bit perturbed at the moment. Eccentric and bossy didn't even begin to describe her, especially with the way she just handled his Boss. Or the fact that Frankenstein let her practically run over him while being a snarky little smart mouth with.
He was not too fond of the nickname she had given him, either. Voyeur, what kind of nickname was that? Hell, how did she even know where his cameras were hidden? He had taken the time to look up Woo Fa-Ming, after seeing her passport. Trying his best to get her history before heading to the bosses office, but ten years ago, there was nothing on Woo Fa-Ming. And he had searched hard to find anything, but he was unable to find even a tiny trace. It was like she had never existed. Meaning there was more to this than he was able to get his hands on. Of course, it was a bit strange that the Boss knew who she was.
The sound of the voices drew Tao from his thoughts just as he saw the woman give a low chuckle that made him step away from her. She changed gears and vibes quickly, and it was very disconcerting. He was watching as she stepped forward, her arms at her side. She was giving him a good view of her face. Her gaze was soft and longing as she stared at the familiar group of teens heading their direction. If he didn't know better, he would say she was close to crying.
"Oh, wow... Ikky has grown." Her words were soft, and he was just barely able to hear it over the growing din of students heading towards them for lunch.
As the other students began to file in, he noted that they took note of Fa-Ming and began to whisper. A natural reaction, of course, curiosity was one of the many spices of life. And she looked Asian, yet she didn't. So, when the Ik-Han and others got closer, Ik-Han's face lit up at seeing him, only to just go still as he and the others saw Fa-Ming. In the next instant, three of the six were rushing forward.
Ik-Han stopped just before the short woman, who opened her arms and hugged him. Showing she was only a few inches taller than him. The hug was brief and gentle, almost as if hesitant with the touching. Odd, considering they were family. Filing it away as he continued to watch the group interact. The way Shinwoo and Yuna were chattering happily with her; they knew her reasonably well.
"So, what are you doing in Korea? When did you get back? How long will you be staying, De... Fa-Ming?" Ik-Han fired off in rapid succession, drawing a soft sound from the girl.
Tao noted that Ik-Han had been about to call her by another name but stopped.
"Oh, I don't know. It depends on certain things and people. But longer than a week or two this time," She replied, her tone casual as her eyes caught Tao's briefly, "And it is good to see all three of you! But, it is rude not to introduce me to your three friends over there, is it not?"
Giving a small shake of his head, figuring that things would be fine, Tao shot an assessing glance at Fa-Ming and turned the leave. Not before he got a questioning glimpse from Regis. Only to give one small shake of his head before vanishing into the crowd of students.
It was quiet. He was standing there, staring at where a person from his past had just sat moments ago. He couldn't help but wonder why here, why now. So, Frankenstein let out a long-suffering sigh as he picked up the tea set. His Master was still sitting on the white couch. Both Takeo and M-21 had already left. This was going to get interesting shortly. It was apparent that the little girl had grown up and was making her way in the world. But that was what was wrong.
Fa-Ming, she had a few of his personality quirks. Though he was sure, that was not a good thing. And knowing that meant she was going to be trouble, more than he needed with all that was going on right now. Clenching his teeth, Frankenstein stared at the now empty cup in his hand. It struck him as odd that the girl was not in her home village. That she was here in Korea when the village held very strict tenants. Did that mean something happened to the old bat? That couldn't be possible, could it? The woman would only be in her late sixties by now.
"Frankenstein?"
Blinking, he looked at his Master, seeing the concerned look in the crimson eyes. Giving a nervous chuckle, he looked at Cadis Etrama Di Raizel and shook his head.
"It is nothing Master. I am just shocked at seeing her again and all grown up," he said. "I hope it is nothing." He thought mentally to himself.
The look that he received clearly said that his Master didn't believe him. But like always, let it be, not pressing the matter and watching as Raizel stood up from the couch and gave him one more look before walking to the office door and letting himself out.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Frankenstein placed the teacup and saucer back on the table and flopped into the seat that was just vacated. He didn't like having unknown factors rampaging about. Things were already in a bad state. Frankenstein figured he would just have to wait. Something he had become very good at over the past eight hundred and twenty years.
Regis sat on the couch, silently next to Seria. Both were thinking about the evening they had just spent with the group. While Raizel sat in his chair, quiet like always, though, he waved away the offered cup of tea.
"How was today?" Frankenstein asked, his voice soft yet holding a hint of amusement as he looked at Regis and Seria.
Tilting his head, Regis looked over at Seria, who just nodded her head for him to speak — pressing his lips into a thin line, furrowing his brows, superstitiously peeking at Raizel, who seemed to be a bit distracted. Which he didn't blame him for since that human woman Fa-Ming was indeed an enigma. One that continuously evolved throughout the evening.
With a soft grunt, he looked at Tao, Takeo, M-21, Rael, and Karias, before keeping his gaze on Frankenstein.
"It was different. We did not do our normal routine. Rather something else." Regis said slowly, still trying to piece the day together in his head, "We met Ik-Han's cousin, Fa-Ming at the main gate. She seemed on board with doing what we usually do, until Ik-Han reminded them that would be a bad idea. She doesn't mix well with electronics."
Lapsing into silence, Regis saw as everyone else looked at Raizel from the corners of their eyes. Since it was a well-known fact that he was not good at Computer games. It was a few seconds more before Regis had everyone looking back at him.
"So, what did you all do?" Tao asked.
He was frowning as he thought how to answer that. "We went and saw a movie first. Something about action heroes, Shinwoo was excited about it. Afterward, we went to Karaoke, or a place to sing, then to an arcade. It was loud and obnoxious." he stated before smiling and looking over at Seria and seeing her blushing, "It was fun in its way. The girls were really into playing a game called Dance Dance Revolution. A lot of eye and foot coordination. Seria did exceptionally well, keeping up with Yuna and Fa-Ming easily."
In his words, he noted that Seria darkened considerably. Telling all present that she was embarrassed. But it gave him a real appreciation for how much dexterity she had, along with the grace that was required. Meaning he had a lot of catching up to do.
"Is that all?" M-21 asked, his face scrunched up in disbelief, "Because Fa-Ming seemed to be a bit bossy and flippant when we saw it. And there was something off about her and her reactions to us."
Pausing, Regis slowly nodded his head. He had noticed it when he had met her at lunchtime, that there was something different about the woman, or as he thought, girl since she was not much taller than himself or even her cousin. Which was corrected after an offhand comment by Shinwoo? To which they were promptly told she was thirty years old. And Regis had not been able to sense any falsehood in her words, which Ik-Han had backed up.
"Yes, actually." he said, narrowing his eyes, "She switched moods rapidly, but I always felt an odd calm radiating from her. As if drawing me in, though she was often tactless, blunt, and insulting. Even if it was just to Shinwoo, to tease him. She also blatantly ignored Raizel as if he was not even with us."
Regis swore he could have heard a pin drop in the room with how quiet everyone went. They all took it very seriously to treat him with respect. Then again, it could be because she was a human who didn't know who Raizel was. It chaffed that she didn't even acknowledge the Noblesse a little bit.
"It is fine," Raizel said gently, leaning forward and finally picking up his cup of tea. "She will be coming over tomorrow evening after spending some personal time with the children. Said she would explain everything to all who live here. Starting with how she knows you, personally, Frankenstein."
Regis couldn't help it as he felt his jaw go slack at Raizel's words. He racked his brain to see if he could recall Fa-Ming ever talk to Raizel. Unable to, he looked at Seria, who just shook her head no as well — turning to look at Raizel, who seemed unconcerned.
"Well then, I guess we will get a chance to ask questions and get answers," Frankenstein said, his voice dropping a few octaves as his aura flared up, indicating that he was a bit annoyed. Never a good sign.
TBC!
