Chapter 7 (It's a long one!)

Amon and Robin returned to the streets from the Hospital. Her ankle was wrapped carefully in gauze, and crutches lay in the back seat of Amon's car.

"He said you can't do anything too strenuous for afew weeks." said Amon. Robin let out a sigh.

"I know, but, we have to catch Miya." She looked behind her into the backseat into a cage where Miya's cat was asleep.

"You can leave it to the rest of us. After tomorrow, Doujima and Karasuma are coming back to town"

"But Amon,"

She looked at him with pleading eyes, but he didn't reply. She knew better. It was hopeless to argue with the man. Robin looked down at her hands which where rested on her lap. She wanted to help... but... if Amon wanted her to stay out of the case, she would. Amon stopped the car, and snow began to fall through the darkness, making a new fresh layer on his window. Toku came out to help Robin in.

When Robin made her way in, Noel and the cat comfortingly along with her (Amon refused to take care of the feline), Toku stayed outside with Amon for a moment, watching the snow fall.

"She wants to help, Amon."

"It doesn't matter. She won't be of any use if she's in pain the entire time." he replied stiffly. Touku smiled to herself as she brushed some of her hair back.

"I'm surprised, you're actually concerned about someone, Amon." she commented, raising her eyes to him to wait for a response. There wasn't any, and Amon walked out into the snow, to his car.Touku returned inside the house, where Robin released the two animals from their leash and cage.

"So you named him Noel?" asked Toku with a coffee mug, settling down into a chair beside Robin, who was on the couch.

"Yes. Amon thought of it." this brought Toku's eyebrows up. "Amon..? Hmm." she thought to herself questingly as she brought the coffee mug to her lips. Concern didn't do the action justice. He was more than concerned for Robin.. she knew.

"Touku?" asked Robin.

"Yes?"

"What should I call the cat?" Touku thought.

"It's a female right?" Robin nodded. "How about Mei?"

"Mei?"

"Yes. It's very simple, I know, but, when I was younger I had a cat who looked just like this one. I called her Mei as well."

"I.. like it." said Robin. "So Mei it is.." she murmured, stroking the cat's fur.

Amon walked into the STN-J building the next morning, only to be greeted by the rest of the crew, all in their usuall morning places. Doujima sat cross legged, half-awake, at her desk, flipping through a magizine. Sakaki sat leaning forward in interest beside Michaelwatching him type furiously, always ready for anything to happen- for any chance possibly to prove himself. Karasuma stood behind Micheal, a cup in hand, in her usual buisness outfit, and greeted him first.

"Morning Amon." she said, smiling faintly. "How was your Holiday?" Amon snorted a bit at that question, and sat down at the desk beside Michael's.

"What is the latest on Miya?"

"Just checked her bank account. No current activity is shown." replied Michael. "But, I don't think she'd have a reason to get money. If you ask me, she's after that cat." Doujima laughed.

"So you guys really wheren't kidding when you said she put a spell after her cat? This must be the lamest search yet!" she burst into more laughter. Karasuma rolled her eyes.

"Micheal, check the Police reports, I want to see if she's put a missing report in. We're not going anywhere, until we find out where she's been in the last 24 hours." said Amon, ignoring Doujima's comment.

Robin came limping in on crutches several moments later. The noise in the buidling went dead silent.

"Good.. Moring." she murmured to them as she sat down on in a chair and set her crutches asside.

"I'm sorry I'm late, I--"

"It's fine." interjected Amon, watching Michael's computer screen.

"What's going on..?" she asked. Amon glanced at his young partner.

"We're tracking Miya down."

"Duh." said Doujima, turning a page.

Amon got to his feet as Micheal printed out a paper. He took it and held it out to Sakaki.

"This is a list of all her relatives in the city. I want you and Doujima to see what you can dig up from them." Sakaki nodded, and grabbed Doujima's arm, walking to the elevator.

"We're going to go back to her apartment building," he said to Karasuma. "There's no other choice." he looked down at Michael. "Call me if you find out anything."

"Oh, dear, you just missed her!" said the old cleaning maid, with a vacuum in her hands in the 3rd floor.

"Do you know where she went?" asked Karasuma.

"I believe she was going out to look for her poor cat again," she replied. "I felt bad for the little thing, you know, Miya never was particularly fond of it. I'm curious why she's so interested in it now"

"Do you have any ideas why she didn't like the cat?" asked Amon.

"None at all," replied the old woman, dusting the pictures on the wall. "You know, she said she thought this young little girl may have her cat." She moved to another picture. "But the way she said it,.." she stopped dusting, and thought. "It sounded so,.. cruel. Like that girl was the reason the devil existed, you know?" she looked back at the two STN-J members.

Robin. Amon ran a hand through his hair. No. She would be fine. Worrying wasn't going to do any good. He reminded himself of months ago when the Factory was after her. The fear, the anxiety, of thinking little Robin would be taken away. He didn't want to duplicate that feeling. It was best just to ignore it.

"Karisuma, let's go ask more people."

The clock struck Noon.

"Will you be alright on your own, Robin?" asked Michael, getting to his feet, pulling on his coat. Robin smiled at him faintly over the brim of her tea cup.

"Yes. Have a nice lunch." she replied. Micheal nodded and left the building. Robin took a sip of her tea, and looked about the sun-lit room. She didn't like being alone, but, she didn't want to inconvenience anyone. Besides, it was kind of relaxing, wasn't it? Like a vacation, maybe.

"Hello, little Robin." murmured a voice by the elevator.

"Wh..." Robin nearly dropped her tea-cup in surprise. She quickly set it down, and got to her feet. "Who's there? Who are you?"

"Oh, but Robin, we've already met." Miya walked from the small shadowed corner, to the brightly lit sunlight. "I was waiting for that geek to leave. Now, tell me, where is my cat?"

Robin clenched her fists, her foot was killing her. "No! You put a..spell down.. a death wish for your cat! Why would you do such a thing?"

"That cat.." Miya snorted. "Her eyes..every time I.." she looked at her hands. "I just see her eyes... threatening, accusing.." her widened eyes looked back to Robin, and her hands began to shake. "I can't.. take it. To see those eyes..everytime.."

Robin tried to understand. "The cat.. is one of the purest animals. There where tales that said the cat's eyes could show truth or lies in someone's heart. I see.." Robin closed her eyes. "You wanted to get rid of the cat because of guilt. For killing all those innocent people. Everytime you cast a spell, you see that cat, haunting you. It serves you right.." she slowly paced towards Miya. She wouldn't let her get away. Not this time.

"They deserved it!" screeched Miya. "You.. I thought, I could let you and all your little friends go. I was forgiving. You're too ungrateful, little Robin. You'll never make it out of this building!" she screamed, running at Robin.

Robin stepped backwards, thrusting fire around her as a barrier. Miya walked through it, her trench coat setting on fire as she wrapped her hands around Robin's neck.

"This time.. I won't need to use my powers. I won't see that cat!" she tightened her hold. The fire against Miya's coat burnt against Robin's skin as Miya ruthlessly choked her. She wanted to scream, but her wind-pipes where closed, air was gone. Smoke swirled around her. It was over... thought Robin. All over..

To stop his worry, and to prove his emotions that she was doing fine, Amon flipped out his cell, and dialed Michael. No one picked up.

"No one answered?" asked Karasuma. "He must be out to lunch. Call Robin." Amon dialed Robin's cell.

The phone in Robin's pocket began to ring. This was her chance! She bit her lower-lip, in a desperation for oxygen, she set fire on Miya's back. When Miya screamed, her hold on Robin's neck loosened, and Robin took her chance, shoving her body off, and rolling away, fumbling for her cell.

"Amon!"

"Robin, What's going--"

"Come HERE!" screamed Miya, the ground beginning to shake.

Robin dropped the cell phone.

"What.. how did you?!"

"I can break through anything. Even this floor."

Amon dropped the cell phone, and made a break for the stairs. Robin... Robin! He was foolish to leave her alone. Damnit. Damnit!

"Amon! Wait! What's going on?!" cried Karasuma, picking up his phone and running after.

Ooooooo! Yay! Finally some good ol' fashioned action! Miya's starting to creep me out, but hey, if I had powers like that, I'd probably lose it too.

Little Author's note: I just realized that it's understood that Michael can never leave the STN-J building, but, for this fic, he's been granted to leave for lunch. I suppose. -ahem-

And, I fixed my spelling-name problem. I'm sorry. I always had a problem spelling Michael.