Chapter 9: Flames of Question
Amon got up the next morning hearing a knock on the door. He grabbed his cane and made it to the door.
" Who is it?" he asked
" It's me," Robin said
He opened the door and Amon looked at her as she came in.
" I brought you something to eat before you go to your appointment," Robin said
" I'm not hungry," he said
" Liar," Robin said
Amon looked at her and said, " I'm fine with coffee."
Robin sighed and carried the bag of groceries into the kitchenette. She brewed some coffee and looked at Amon.
" Amon," Robin said
" What?" he answered
" You never told me about you and Karasuma's relationship," Robin said
Amon looked at her and said, " Because we never had a relationship."
Robin poured him a cup and brought it to him then sat down and looked at him.
" You must have had something," Robin said, " Of all the times the group was together you always protected her and she always had your back…I was kind of jealous."
Amon gave a smirk and sipped his coffee.
" That's what happens when you raise a young hunter," Amon said
" But she loved you didn't she?" Robin said
" From the beginning," Amon whispered
" Then why didn't you say anything?" Robin questioned
Amon looked out the window and said, " Because it all came to one thing in the end…there was something he could give her and I couldn't."
Robin looked at him and grabbed Amon's hand.
" What was that?" Robin asked
" Hope," Amon said, " I could only be there and watch her promise her life to him."
" But you said you didn't go to the wedding," Robin remarked
" I didn't go, but I felt it," Amon said, " It drove me to the edge and I paid for it with part of my life. Never again will it happen. I won't let it."
" You can't stop love, you will only fall into darkness," Robin whispered
" Then I will live my life that way," Amon said, " I have grown up to show nothing and it took one woman to change it all."
Robin smiled and said, " Then that is a good thing."
" No, it will never be a good thing, it will only get you killed," Amon said, " Just like them."
Past
" Amon!" Kate shouted
Amon fired 6 shots and pulled Karasuma from the bricks that fell.
" Damn it!" Sakaki shouted
Karasuma coughed and looked at her arm, blood dripped to the ground. She winced in pain and looked at Amon. Sakaki came and helped Amon, but in the processes stupidity injured him.
" Sakaki," Karasuma said
" I'm ok," he said
Amon pulled out a second gun, and Karasuma looked at it, the gun wasn't the issued gun, it was more powerful. Each shot fired two times the amount of orbo than the other. The witch fell and Amon picked up the phone.
" Call the factory Michael," Amon said
" Already done," Michael's voice said
Amon walked over to Sakaki and gave him a look.
" Orders apply to everyone," Amon said, " Especially you."
" Well excuse me for trying to save your ass, how about a thank you," Sakaki said
" Sakaki," Karasuma said
Amon looked at Karasuma and looked at her wrist.
" It's just a scratch and a burn nothing to big, I think Sakaki needs more help," Karasuma said
Later, Karasuma filled out the accident report and looked at Sakaki's leg. Amon sat there and watched as she examined the smart mouth hunter's leg.
" I say you probably broke it," Karasuma said
" What about you are you ok?" Sakaki asked
Karasuma smiled and nodded.
" I'll get my arm checked out later," Karasuma said, " Doujima, can you call my father and tell him I'm bring over a hunter…he'll know what to do."
" Alright," she said
Amon stood up and walked past them and went to the back. He sat down and sighed and then heard Karasuma coming towards the back.
" Stupid hunter," Karasuma said
Amon looked up at her and she looked at him.
" Your easy to read, but there's something else about Sakaki that makes you want to get rid of him…so spill it or I'll make sure your not standing for long," Karasuma said
" It's not your concern," Amon said, " And will never be."
" Let me see, he comes from a family that helped kill your partner and her comrade…you blame him for it and now that he's a hunter your giving him the cold shoulder," Karasuma said, " Am I right?"
Amon looked at her and got up and walked past her and she grabbed his arm. He stopped and Amon looked at her.
" Stop blaming the past Amon, she didn't die in vain," Karasuma said
" I see," Amon said
He pushed her hand off and she sighed as he walked away. Amon walked to his car and sat there. He looked at the gun that laid on the other seat.
" She doesn't understand," Amon said
Amon started his car and vanished for the rest of the day, no calls of where he was. Where he went was just the place to prepare for a hunt for a hunter.
" I'm set up here, just have the factory ready," Amon said
Amon got out and pulled his gun out and aimed it from a distance. He slid his gun into his holster and then got into his car.
" Michael, send Kate home," Amon said
" Alright," Michael said, " But she just stepped out."
" Then call her," Amon said
Amon hung up the phone and looked at the apartment. He drove off and prepared for a hunt.
That night Amon watched Kate's movement and finally when he had her…he got out. He shut the door and saw Kate stop.
" Amon," she said
" Come with me," Amon said
" I can't do that," Kate said
Amon narrowed his eyes and said, " That's an order."
" I don't follow you Amon, I don't follow anyone…I am what I am because I chose that," Kate said, " Just as you chose this moment to hunt me."
Amon pulled out his gun and Kate turned around and looked at Amon.
" Did you hunt her Amon?" Kate said
" Who?" Amon said
Kate looked at the ground then up at Amon as he stood there.
" Did you hunt the only family I had?" Kate said
" Yes, Makoto and I were given the orders from Zaizen," Amon said, " She went with no fear."
Kate nodded and closed her eyes.
" I won't though, I will fight Amon and you know that," Kate said, " I am not a witch…I'm just someone with the ability to enter your mind."
She looked at Amon and her eyes just seemed to stare at him filling with emptiness.
" After all this time we were partners you never trusted me," Kate said
" You never gave me a reason to trust you…your losing your mind and I saw it that day, when Karasuma came…jealousy, hate, no mercy. You have set up to many things to harm us," Amon said
" Then that is why you hunt me," Kate said, " I see that you will never change Amon…so I freely expect my life to end in sleep."
Amon raised his gun and fired 6 shots and Kate fell to the ground. He looked at her and called the factory.
" Eternal pain was placed on you because you chose to become this," Amon said, " A burden has been lifted off everyone else."
6 months later
Amon sat at his work station and didn't say anything while listening to the Chief scolding Sakaki for being so gung-ho and wasting bullets.
" When will he learn?" Karasuma questioned
Amon shook his head and got up and walked to the briefing room and Karasuma followed him.
" Let's get started," Amon said
Zaizen for once joined them to go over the case that just was finished. Amon also briefed them as well to add on to what Zaizen had just said.
Afterwards Amon was asked to come up to Zaizen's office. There Amon looked over at the two hunters.
" We're a little short handed without a fourth hunter, and Solomon agrees…they've sent us a replacement," Zaizen stated
Amon looked over his shoulder and said, " A replacement 6 months after what happened?'
" They do as see fits for the STN-J to function correctly," Zaizen said
Amon nodded and then left the office and headed downstairs. Karasuma glanced up and shook her head. He went straight to the garage and got into his car, not really caring about a replacement. To him the replacement would just get in his way of hunting, he drove to Harry's. As he walked down the hall he past a young girl with blonde hair, she wore a long Victorian style dress. He watched her from the corner of his eye and then went in. He sat down and Harry fixed him his usual as Amon thought in silence.
Later, Amon looked at his comrades
" Stay out here Karasuma, Sakaki follow me," Amon said
" Don't be stupid," Karasuma said
Amon looked at her and kicked the door in and both Sakaki and Amon ran in. Amon told Sakaki to go one way, and he went the other. Amon anxious to find the witch didn't realize he had fallen into a trap.
" Damn it!" Sakaki called
" What is it?" Amon siad
" Nothing I just slipped," Sakaki replied
" Sakaki don't scare us like that," Karasuma said
Amon ignored the two and turned a corner and saw the witch. The witch smiled and witch made Amon slip. Amon narrowed his eyes and aimed the orbo gun at the witch. He was pushed against the metal shelves in the warehouse.
" What the hell," he thought
" Your pathetic," the witch said
As he was about to push Amon again when someone stepped beside him. She used a craft of fire and Amon slightly narrowed his eyes.
" A craft user," he said
" Amon are you ok," Karasuma said
" I'm fine," Amon said
He stood up and fired one shot at the witch and Sakaki joined the shoot out. Amon, Karasuma and Sakaki shot the witch. Amon put his gun away and looked at her.
" Could learn to control your craft it's a pain putting out fires," Amon said as the factory people came to put out the fires
He walked off and headed off letting the others do the rest. Amon went straight to the office and handed Michael the report.
" The replacement is a child," Amon said
" She can't be that bad," Michael said
Amon walked off without answering Michael and headed home, where he tried to figure out why Solomon would send them a craft user who barely knew her power.
Weeks after weeks Amon worked with Robin still not putting his trust in her. She was childish and now with her craft improving it was getting dangerous.
" Karasuma, I'll be in late," Amon called Karasuma
" Why this time?" she asked
" I have business to attend too," Amon said
He hung up and turned around and headed into the downtown Tokyo area. He drove to a warehouse and entered it. He carried a black bag and climbed up the cat walk. He looked at the area and sighed. Fired a couple of rounds before feeling content with the out come. He picked up the empty shells and went on his way. Yet another set up to hunt another powerful hunter, but for some reason he didn't feel that Robin was fully dangerous like Kate was or Emiko. Amon jumped down and got a phone call.
" It's done, I'll bring her tonight," Amon said
" Good," the other voice said, " Don't fail."
Amon hung up the phone and walked to his car. He leaned against the steering wheel and sighed.
" A witch," Amon sighed, " I'm slipping, I can't fail."
He started his car and headed to the office and came up. Robin was there and Karasuma looked at him. He showed no emotions towards her and walked away. Amon leaned back in a chair and closed his eyes for a brief second to recollect himself.
Night came and Amon looked at Robin and nodded, both ran separately and Amon went to the set up. He looked at the false witch's movements as he told Robin where to go.
" Robin, report," Amon said
She didn't answer.
" The witch is heading towards you," Amon said
" I see him," she answered
Amon set up the scope and watched her, he carefully loaded the gun and fired. Initially missing at first and then fired one shot and hit her. Robin used her fire and Amon got out the way in time. He vanished out of sight and then radioed to her.
" Robin, report your condition," he said
" I'm fine," she said
Later at the office Amon folded his arms as he leaned against a desk.
" I did not hear any gunshots," Amon said
" I swear, I'm not lying," Robin said
Amon shook his head and pushed off the desk.
" I don't want to hear about it, you should go home," Amon said
He walked off and waited for her down at the garage. He looked up when the door opened and she walked out. He waited for her to get in and then took off. He dropped her off to get food then took off. Amon went down the highway and rolled down his window. He threw some empty shells out the window. From there Amon went back towards Robin's apartment, across the street from where her apartment balcony faced out. He stood and then saw her come out onto the balcony.
Later, that evening Amon dropped Robin off and headed to his apartment where the next day would be another setup to stall for time. Amon stayed up most the night trying to decide if this was a mistake or was it reasonable.
The next day Amon came in briefly to the office with Robin, they left to go back and stake out where the failed witch hunt was.
" Amon why are we here again?" Robin asked
" We're staking out," Amon said
" Oh," Robin said
Amon watched Robin for awhile and then called her back and they just staked out the place as though waiting for the same witch to come back.
By the evening Amon dropped off Robin and went off, but he didn't stray to far from her apartment, though orders were to, not to be anywhere near. Amon remain out of sight, but watched.
Minuets later he saw Karasuma's car pull up and Karasuma went into the building and Sakaki ran after her. He couldn't stop them, but he could go after them, he pulled out from the alley way, unaware that he was being watched by his superiors. Amon got out his car and about to go up the stairs when Robin came down and bumped into him.
" Sorry," she said
" Your not going anywhere," Amon said
Robin looked up at him and her eyes became heavy with sleep. She fell to her knees and Amon caught her in his arms. With in minuets Karasuma came down and saw Amon.
" Amon," she said, " What happened?"
" Open your car," Amon said
Karasuma opened the back door and Amon sat Robin in the back seat. Karasuma looked at Amon. There was fear in her eyes as Amon looked at her, he turned away upon hearing the sierns of the ambulance. Karasuma led them up and they took Touko, she then walked down with Sakaki.
" What about Robin?" Karasuma asked
" Her apartment is no longer safe," Amon replied
" She could stay at the office," Karasuma suggested
Amon looked at Karasuma and said, " The office….yes that would be good."
Karasuma looked at him and sighed.
" We're heading to the hospital now, are you coming," Karasuma asked
" No," Amon said
He walked off and got into his car, he would go later to see Touko. Amon took off and waited for the police to be on their way. He received a call from Zaizen and returned to the apartment. He went up and looked around and walked into the living room. Zaizen stood there, staring out the window.
" I believe you were told not to interfere Amon," Zaizen said, " If you had done just that everything would have gone as planned."
Amon stood behind Zaizen and Zaizen turned around.
" I don't think you thought about the consequences," Zaizen said
" I did as you told me," Amon replied
Zaizen walked over and grabbed Amon by the back of his neck and threw him to the ground.
" You did nothing of the sort," Zaizen growled and kicked Amon in the stomach.
Amon winced knowing this was not the only kick he would receive.
" You got in the way and Touko has gotten hurt," Zaizen said kicking Amon harder each time.
" Think about Touko!" Zaizen shouted
Amon felt a sharp pain run through his whole body and after awhile it died away. Amon fell to the ground and breathed in pain. Zaizen looked at him and just left and Amon breathed deep as he pushed himself up. He looked out and stumbled towards his car. Zaizen had left and he felt now would be ok to leave. Amon headed for his apartment and walked up. He got into his apartment and shut the door feeling his body aching. Had he made the right decision or would he be doing the right thing?
Present
They were taken to Solomon's hospital, where Amon would go to his first appointment since the accident. The doctor walked in and asked Amon questions as he took a look at Amon's leg. Amon winced as the doctor scrapped away a piece of skin that was dead, but live skin was growing over it.
" These burns haven't even healed and you said two weeks?" the doctor said
" Yes," Amon said
The doctor shook his head and studied the third degree burns that wouldn't heal because of the skin cells that were no longer rebuilding the skin.
" Well, it looks like there's more than just these burns here," the doctor said, " I want to take an x-ray of this leg. You obviously broke it and that has healed a little awkwardly too."
Robin grabbed his cane and handed to him and they walked him to the x-ray room. The doctor got him set up and Robin waited outside and Amon waited patiently as the doctor took x-rays. Amon was helped down and they walked back to the room.
" It'll be a little while," the doctor said
Amon and Robin walked back to the room.
" There's something wrong, worst than before," Amon said
Robin looked at him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
" I'll help you get through this Amon, just like you helped me," Robin whispered