Chapter Six:
The Scars of Emotion
Disclaimer: I don't own WHR, blah blah blah. I do own my own made-up characters and this story, however. So please, no stealing.
Amon burst in through front door of the small headquaters of the STN-J... Well, actually he burst in though the front door of a run-down gas station that his friends from the STN-J had renovated into a little conveanient store.
A woman by the name of Misha Lui was just at the counter serving a customer when Amon had rushed in. She gave him a scowl with her oriental eyes.
"Amon, please! Keep it down, will you." She snapped irritably at him. Amon, turning to face her, gave her the coldest stare he could manage; the poor customer ending up getting the full blast of it.
"Misha, I want to know where Michael is. Is he still around?" He asked her, trying to make his intentions as meak as possible.
Misha gave him a raised eyebrow before pointing to a door behind her that led down to the basement.
"Yeah, the little headache is still here. He's down there." She drawled, turning to her customer to apologize.
Amon nodded his thanks and was just about to head for the door when Misha snatched on to his arm as he tried to walk past. Giving her another one of his icy glares, he turned her.
"What?" He asked quietly but firmly. Misha did not answer right away. Instead, she took to staring up at Amon's forehead with a look that suggested she had just seen something dead. She then reached under the front counter and pulled out a small first aid kit.
"Here, take this." She told him, looking up when she heard the bell attached to the front door ring. She smiled when she saw Eri carring Shitari walk through the front door. Eri smiled back, the proceeded to file pass Amon and down to the basement.
Amon looked from Misha to the first aid kit in his hands and back again.
"What's this for?" He asked, not even bothering to notice the drops of blood that had began to pool around his feet. Misha looked at him and squared her jaw, looking for all the world like chained Pit Bull dog. She then reached up with her pointer finger and touched the spot on his forehead that was just above his right eye.
"You're bleeding, you dope. Or have you not even cared to notice?" She stated simply, showing Amon her now red finger.
Amon stared at her finger for a moment before raising a gloved hand and placing it on his forehead. Upon bringing it down, he grimaced when he saw how much blood had come off on to the dark leather.
"Thanks. I appreciate it." He said softly, as if he really wasn't as thankful as he said he was. Misha waved her hand at him and scoffed. She then finally turned back to the neglected customer to ring up his price.
Breathing a heavy sigh, Amon heafted the small but heavy first aid kit in his arms and headed down to the basement.
"Michael! Are you down here?" Amon called when he reached the bottom of the basement steps. The young hacker answered from the next room in a voice that clearly stated that he was still angry with the hunter.
"I'm in here! I was here when you threw my radio and I was here when you left." He shouted, his words tinged with the slight hint of venom.
Amon placed the first aid kit on a nearby table and walked towards the small computer room that they had set up in the basement of the conveanient store.
They had found this place right after the collapse of the Factory and had built it out as a place to hide runaway witches and to help them find a place where their powers would be most useful.
Amon had decided to give his job has a witch hunter and had instead devoted his life to protecting the good witches and destroying the bad.
Amon and his friends from the STN-J (Michael, Sakaki, Karasuma, and Doujima) called this little business 'Project Jet Black' as a disguise to the outside world.
Ever since the Factory had been brought down, Amon and Robin had been hunted down as witches. Robin went to the states for this very reason. Amon stayed behind, fearing that if he went, the STN-US would be on them as well. Of course, he never really counted on hurting this bad.
Amon sighed. He hated being alone. When he had worked for the STN, Robin had been his company most of the time. Sure, Eri was a good partner and she had a few good laughs with Amon. But it just wasn't the same...
Amon entered the computer room, which was rather dark considering it had no windows. The only light that was in there came off of Michael's computer. Speaking of which...
Michael, hearing Amon's footsteps, turned and gave a glower to the older man.
"Yeah. What do you want?" He snapped in a very un-Michael type of way. Amon ignored his angry remark and pulled up a chair, which he sat in backwards. After getting himself situated, he immeadiately got down to business.
"Michael. I need you to run a search on Robin's whereabouts. Do it as quickly as you possibly can." Amon said firmly, getting an arched eyebrow from the hacker.
"And you're wanting me to do this because...?" He trailed off, waiting for Amon to answer. The witch hunter's reply was a very cold stare to the spot between Michael's eyes.
"Because I think she could be in danger..." He breathed, lowering his gaze and revealing the bloody scar now adoning his forehead. The sight of this caused Michael to take in a short, surprised breath.
"Amon, you're-" The hacker was interrupted rudely when Amon snapped his gaze back up.
"That's not important! Do as I say and find Robin!" The dark-haired man growled loudly, catching the attention of Eri, who was in the small kitchen that was part of the basement. The young Shitari had been eating a sandwhich, but was now staring at Amon.
Michael leaned away from Amon, stunned. Then, regaining some of his composure, the hacker shrugged and turned back to his computer. Pulling out the keyboard, he began typing at a speed too quick for any regular person to calculate.
"Almost... It's here somewhere... I've got it!" The young man shouted out excitedly, turning his computer towards Amon so that he could see. Leaning forward, Amon's dark gaze flicked back and fourth over the screen. He then peered over at Michael.
"San Fransisco?" He inquired, raising a dark eyebrow at his young employer. Michael smiled and shrugged at the same time. He then turned the computer so that it faced back towards him.
"It seems she is working as teacher, now, at Zachary Adams Middle School. She teaches eighth grade Social Studies and sometimes oversees the Drama Club. She lives at 807 Alpine Way with her roommate, Tera Maddock and their three pets. Two dogs and a cat..."
Michael paused, turning away from the computer to stare up at Amon. The older man had a wistful look in his eyes, as if tears were actually coming to them.
"She-seems to have made quite a life for herself... Hasn't she?" He whispered, more to himself than to Michael, who was now utterly lost. Giving Amon a sympathetic look, the young hacker typed a few more keys into the keyboard.
"There are some images here... Would you like me to pull them up?" Michael asked in a hushed voice. Getting a nod from Amon, he quickly punched in a couple more keys on the keyboard; then grabbed on to his mouse and left clicked.
About twenty or so pictures of Robin Sena doing everyday things popped up on the screen. A couple were good for laughs. A few showed her playing around with a large Golden Retriever and sleek black cat. One or two of them showed her hanging around with her roommate, a tall woman with long, wavy, brown hair and brown eyes.
Amon drew in a ragged breath, drawing the attention of the other three people in the room towards him. Raising a trembling hand to touch the screen, he gently caressed over a particular image of Robin sleeping. She looked so angelic, just laying there...
Quickly retracting his hand away from the screen, Amon whirled around to face the door. Michael, now confused beyond all reason, turned in his chair to stare at Amon's retreating back.
"Amon!" He called, getting the older man's attention. Stopping just before he headed out of the door, Amon flinched his head slightly to show that he was listening. Cocking his head to the left a little, Michael gazed at his friend.
"What are you going to do?" He asked, raising an eyebrow to go along with his confused expression. He saw Amon's shoulders relax in a defeated sort of way before they straightened again.
"I'm going to leave her be...for now." He whispered, continuing out the door. Michael watched him leave before turning back to the computer screen. He clicked on some of the images so that he could see them in a clearer veiw.
Becoming interested, Eri left Shitari to eat the rest of her sandwhich and came up behind Michael. Tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention, she started slightly whenever he turned to face her. Quickly gathering herself, she jerked her thumb over her shoulder at the door Amon had just disappeared through.
"So, care telling me what his problem is? He's been acting funny all day." Eri asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Michael shrugged, turning back to the computer to click on some more images of Robin.
"Who knows. He's been like this ever since Robin left us." The young hacker said. Eri raised an eyebrow and bent herself double to get a good look at the pictures on the monitor.
"Who is this Robin? That's all I've been hearing all day. Robin this, Robin that. What's the deal here?" She asked in a soft voice. Michael turned to to face her, becoming slightly startled when he realized how close their faces were.
"She-she used to be his partner...at the STN-J. She left about a year or two ago. And ever since then, Amon's been acting like he's lost and has done nothing but mumble her name. It's like he's searching for her, even though I pretty sure he knows where she is."
Michael paused right here, turning to face the computer screen again. It was clear he was rather annoyed with his older employer.
"Ever since Robin left for the states, he's been doing nothing but mope around. We've all asked him why he doesn't just go visit her and he told us that he doesn't want to lead the STN-J to her, since he's always being tracked."
Once again, Michael paused; doing his best to catch his breath before he continued.
"And yet, he has the nerve to quote every little thing she has said in the past and he's even taken up praying..." Another silence. The hacker let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. Then, letting out a 'Hmph' noise and shrugging, he turned to Eri.
"Now we all have trouble figuring out where Robin ends and where Amon begins." He said, finally finishing his ramblings.
Eri stared at him, transfixed at what he had just told her. She then sighed and looked over at the door.
"It's amazing...how much love he's holding for her... And I bet she doesn't even know it." She whispered, gazing back over at Michael, who returned her stare with one of his own.
"Kind of makes you want to keal over and hurl, doesn't it?" He asked with a small smirk. Eri's face srunched up into a scowl. She then reached out and grabbed Michael by the hair on top of his head.
"How can you say that!? Here Amon is, hurting because the love of his life is all the way across the ocean and you have the nerve to make a remark like that!? Shame on you! You-you..." She trailed off, looking over at Shitari, who had been watching the whole fiasco with the utmost interest. As much as Eri wanted to call Michael something that would make him hurt, she couldn't do it in front of the blonde girl sitting there looking at her.
Frustrated beyond reason, Eri ripped her hand away from Michael's head and faced the door. Adjusting her trenchcoat so that it fit her comfortabley, she spoke to the hacker without turning to look at him.
"I'm going after Amon. Watch after Shitari for me, Micahel. At least that's something you're good for besides hacking." She stated cooly, almost sounding like her dark-haired partner. Then, with a ruffle of her red jacket, she tak, tak, tacked all the way out the door.
Michael watched her go, reflecting on how much her words had stung him. Then, his face the perfect picture of regret, he turned back to the computer. As he clicked on more images of Robin, he could not help but think of how close his and Eri's faces were...
Quickly shaking his head, Michael mentally berated himself.
"What the hell am I thinking!? I shouldn't be thinking of her that way! Besides, it's not like she sees me that way, either..." He trailed off, his face dropping into a sad expression. How come he was suddenly feeling this way about someone he hardly even hung around with? It was all rather odd...
A soft giggle alerted him that there was someone else in the room. Spinning around in his chair, Michael turned a surprised glare towards Shitari, who was sniggering from her spot at the bar.
Standing up to his full height (which isn't very tall, mind you), Michael strode over to the young girl and shoved his face into hers.
"Somthing funny?" He asked, a scowl decorating his face. Shitari tried to shake her head no, but could not help it and nodded instead. Michael's eye twitched in annoyance.
"Care sharing what you think is so hilarious?" He questioned in a dangerously low voice. Shitari opened her mouth, only to let out a barking laugh and fell out of her chair on to the floor.
Watching the shaking form of the girl on the ground at his feet, Michael glanced from side-to-side before bending down to try and hush the child and her uproariously loud laughs.
Amon walked slowly and stiffly into the church; his face contorted into an expression that was barely reconizable.
As he opened the double doors of the huge sancutary, the look on his face changed into one of pure longing. Longing to fly over to San Fransisco. To travel to 807 Alpine Way and just bash in the front door. And it would all be for her... It would all be for Robin.
Unshed tears began brimming at the edges of Amon's eyes as he stumbled up the isle to the pedistal where the preacher usually gave his serman. The few people that were there stared at his ragged form from their places in the pews. A few began whispering and pointing at his bloody face.
Amon didn't care. He wasn't there to ruin their lives. He was there to pray for Robin's...
After sloppily knealing in front of the alter, Amon laced his fingers together and raised his head. He could hear the people behind him whispering inaudible nosense at his back. He shut them out. He didn't want to hear their unsatisfied murmerings.
Raising his head a little higher then he intended, Amon opened his mouth and began to pray.
"Please...protect her. Protect Robin from everything that can do her harm. She doesn't deserve to hurt the way I am right now. Please don't let that red-haired bas...freak hurt her. Protect her from him at all costs."
Amon paused, his shoulders shaking from his unhappiness. A young couple that was sitting in the pew to his right stood up and uncomfortabley tried to make their way past him. Hearing their slightly hurried footsteps, the ex-hunter looked over at them; causing them to freeze in fear.
The three of them stared at each other a moment before Amon suddenly began chuckling. The ebony-haired woman that stood a few feet away from him clung onto her tan-haired lover in fear. The way they contrasted only made Amon snigger even harder.
Ushering his frightened girlfriend behind him, the man quickly pushed her towards the church's enterance. Amon noitced that he kept his body between him and his woman the whole time, as if protecting her. Ha! What a joke the man was. He probably couldn't even squash a fly.
Seeing the young couple leaving, others inside the church began following their example and immediately got up to leave.
Just as all this was happening, Eri entered the church's sancutary. Her hair was whipping around her face from the wind that entered in from behind her.
Looking up the center isle, she sighed sadly when she saw Amon's large form knealing at the alter. He was bent to one knee and his hands were folded out in front of him in prayer.
Cocking her head to the right, Eri reguarded her usually aloof partner. She was now seeing him in a whole different light. Not that she was falling in love with him or anything. It was just that she had never seen him so vulnerable.
Letting out a deep breath she had been holding, Eri walked down the isle towards Amon. Apparently hearing her high-heeled boots hitting the carpet, the dark-haired man quickly turned his gaze to face her. Eri paused a good few feet away from him, just in case he was not comfortable with her coming right up to him.
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, as if trying to decide what they saw in each other. Amon then gave Eri an awkward smile that seemed so out of whack, she figured he hadn't used it for awhile. She smiled back, however, before finally kneeling down next to him.
Bringing her hands out in front of her, she latched her own fingers together and glanced over at Amon.
"So, what happens now?" She asked in a hushed voice. Amon just shrugged and closed his eyes.
"Just follow my example." He said quietly. Eri nodded once and closed her eyes as well.
The two of them stayed like that; praying silently for Robin's safety. It was a good fifteen mintues before one of them moved.
And that was only to grasp the other's hand as they ended their prayers together.
Me: Awww! What a sweet ending! Damn, I'm good! Now, if all of you would go to the purple button in the bottom-left corner that says review and click on it, I will be forever grateful. :)