Author Note: Sorry to update so late been sick, thanks again for such a lovely job editing my work Misora. Things got interesting as I write what comes to me, more on the Order and this mysterious hunter coming up soon. ^_~
Dirk scowled at her relection in the anitique mirror as she was trying to tame her now shorter hair . "Why, Amon, do you attract that kind of girl...sheesh, I hope Robin doesn't turn out to be some maniac like Touko." She huffed to herself as the tall dark-skinned woman helped her into a Kimono.
She had returned to her apartment once she was sure that she wasn't being followed, and thankfully her servant Gerdy had been there to tend her and keep her safe.
"Thank you, Gerdy..." she said, as she sighed and leaned back to look at herself in the full mirror. "That girl gives new meaning to shock therapy," she snorted, as she crossed her arms over the fine silk, enjoying the texture against her skin. Amon's jacket was tossed over the back of the chair.
"Do you think they're enjoying the Loft?" she asked her companion suddenly, her words almost coy.
Gerdy raised a dark brow and offered a distinct shrug of her large shoulders. "I couldn't tell you, Mistress Dirk...don't you think though, that once you begin to open up the rest of Robin's memories, that she'll ever be able to face it?" Gerdy was always one to be worried of others and want to see them safe...that was what had drawn Dirk to Gerdy and caused her to hire the woman.
"I think...if she's not strong enough to face it alone, that Amon will remember his duty and hold her hand," Dirk said. "I still don't know if she is who they say she is; only time will tell." She shrugged. "If she is, and Solomon did achieve what it was looking for, then the Order of Magdalena will need to know," she said with a shrug. "Maria was a fool to go along with it, but God does look out for fools, doesn't he?" she inquired.
"That he does, Dirk," answered Gerdy, as she turned and shuffled from the room to pause at the door. Her head rested against the frame as she watched the dark-haired woman stand near the open window and peer out into the night.
"But what Gerdy doesn't want to do, is have to hurt the mistress...Maria was close to Gerdy and Gerdy promised to take care of Sister Maria's little Hope," Gerdy whispered to herself. The large woman disappeared down the hallway, her shadow on the wall reminiscent of a large bear.
Gerdy sometimes felt so old...but that came from hibernating, she assumed, as she settled into her own set of rooms and then made arangements to go out as well.
Dirk would not approve of her going to the Loft with them there, but Gerdy needed to see little Hope with her own eyes, before she would let the Order get their claws on the child.
The room was lavish to say the least, with fine silk sheets and expensive chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It was definitely the house made for someone rich, and Amon was not at home here at all. There was something about the place that made him nervous.
Amon didn't like being nervous.
His gaze occassionally drifted back to the sakura blossom sitting on top of his folded jacket, the one Robin had placed in his hands as she had slipped past him into the house. She had remembered something he had always tried to forget...they had both been children, albeit he older than she.
Dark locks fell into his face as he peered down at the gun he held in his hands. He still kept his Orbo gun, much to Robin's chagrin. She had told him before how the idea disgusted her, but she had never condemned him for his use of it either.
How did he feel for the spirited fire user?
She was his ward...so how was he supposed to feel for her?
He paused for a few moments and caught his breath slowly. Like it or not, there had been moments when he'd almost kissed her.
It made him irritable. He didn't want to feel---
No, it wasn't that he didn't want to...he didn't dare feel for anyone, the Seed that wasn't so dormant in him might awaken. He stared through her, tried to push her away...Touko had been nothing but business and Amon had felt nothing for her, but it was hard to separate himself from his emotions when dealing with Robin. Even when the two had been first paired up, she had been able to draw his attention to her, with out meaning to half of the time.
His hands clenched at his side, and he felt his nails break the tender flesh of his palms...she's only sixteen...though he constantly had to remind himself of this. She seemed so much older, perhaps to the point of being older then he was.
The sound of a slight knock at his door drew his attention from his thoughts and he gazed up as the door opeed to find bright green eyes peering at him. "Robin?" he asked, wondering if anything was wrong. She was clad in a simple black sweeping robe.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"I can't sleep in there, Amon," she answered, as she rubbed her eyes. "I tried, but it was like being a world away from everything, and all of the stuff is so...expensive, I fear breaking it if I touch it."
He merely nodded at her, he had felt the same.
"Can I stay in here?" she asked, after having been on the road with him, she wasn't use to being so far away from him...even a room seemed to far. She was aware of the look he gave her, and had a feeling he was about to send her away...when the smoky obsidian eyes softened.
"Yes, you can," he agreed, as he stood and shut the door, locking it. He had always locked their room up when they had stayed together. His gun sat on the dresser; even with his back to her he knew the look of disdain that was likely flitting across her beautiful features.
Moving slowly over to the bed, Robin stifled a yawn and sank into the comfortable sheets. She would have preferred to sleep naked; but she respected Amon's privacy a bit too much for that, and she knew it made him uncomfortable. Then again it made her uncomfortable too, but for diffrent reasons, she was willing to bet.
He kept himself aloof and away from her, watching her sleep. When she started to suffer nightmares, something that happened to her all too frequently, he joined her on the bed, brushing her hair back from her brow.
She was slightly feverish, which worried him, but he knew inside she would be alright; it was likely the stress and the fact that her stitches had been pressed on earlier that day. He decided to ring Master and see if he could get Robin something for her pain...just in case.
When he started to move from the bed, a slim arm went over him. He started, but didn't move...he glanced over at Robin, who'd scooted into his side of the bed and rested her head on his shoulder, sleeping peacefully.
He would just do it in the morning...he sighed and let his eyes drift shut, only planning to rest them for a few minutes...yet the comfort and warmth of her form, as well as steady heartbeat eased him into slumber.
"Miss Masaki..." the young woman asked, as her boss returned to work, tilting her dark-haired head to the side. "Should I get you your usual?" she inquired.
The taller woman shook her head. "Coffee...black," she ordered as she sank into her seat.
"How did your date go, Miss Masaki?"
"Don't ask, Shuna," she said, as she rested her chin in her palm. "Have you ever been in love with someone to the point where nothing else mattered?" she asked in a wistful little voice.
Shuna paused. "Actually...no...I am in love with my lifestyle...I can't imagine any other, so perhaps I understand you a little bit," she explained, as she sat on the edge of her boss's desk.
"Well you keep working for me, Shuna, and you'll be set up for life. My father left everything to me."
"Of course, Miss Masaki," she said with a grin.
"And Shuna, call me Touko," she added as she set her coffee mug down. "Did Mr.Jackson call me about the appointment about rebuilding the Factory?" she asked, as she brushed her light brown hair behind her ear and flipped through her appointment book.
"Oooh , yes of course...Touko.." she said, as she stood and bowed, shuffling out of the room for a few moments to return with the messages she had taken.
"Tomorrow at noon," she said. "He says it's pretty much a green light; just that you need to meet together for the budget and such." She handed over the messages and Touko sorted through them.
"Did Mr.Kusanagi call?"
"The disturbing man who dresses in black and acts like a snake walking on two legs?" Shuna asked.
A delighted laugh escaped Touko, and she nodded. "That would be him...he's my personal Witch hunter."
"No, he hasn't been by yet."
"He will." Touko answered. "When he does...send him right in."
Shuna realized their conversation had come to an end. She bowed and hurried from the room.
Touko looked out of her Hong Kong building arms folded across her chest. She'd have to kill the little tart to get her Amon back; apparently she had worked some kind of Black Magic on him. But it was alright; she was sure that she could undo what ever had been done to him.
TBC
