Hey all sorry for the teasing but I was in a evil mood and figured I tease ya'll for a bit. But this time its the real deal, an actual chapter, yeah! Thanks for all the great reviews sorry I haven't replied to you guys or give you any shout outs in here and all but I've been busy with life and all. Just applyed for college after being out of school for five years and I have to yell at my home town to move there butts and get my school records to the college. That and I've been working on an orginal story plus editing before it goes to my beta reader. So yeah busy busy busy -) So read and enjoy everyone.

BTW Don't own WHR its now the property of some writer/producer who works for the Sci Fi Channel now.

Witch Hunter Robin

Rebuilding from the rubble

Chapter 10

The letter

A fanfic by Prospero53223

Robin was in her room once again, skipping dinner since Stephie had, once again, trashed the room , causing both of them to fail inspection, also again. As usual, though, Stephie was also nowhere to be found. It pissed Amon off to no end, as Robin just took whatever happened. Rather than beating the ever loving tar out of the girl, she instead found solace in confession. This time, though, Stephie went too far. This time, she made Robin cry. Stephie had destroyed Robin's picture collage, as well as the frame that contained the only picture of her parents; Maria and Toudo.

"Just keep her away from me Amon ... seriously I don't think ... I can't" Robin said, as she tried to fight back her tears.

"Don't worry, I've got it" Amon said flatly.

Amon left as Cathy and Leigh came through the bathroom that divided their room from Robin's to help out her out. "No you two, it's ok. I've got it, really."

"Don't be silly" Leigh said with a smile, trying to cheer Robin up.

"Yeah! We'll help out ... no ... Oh my God, she didn't" Cathy said when she saw Robin's picture of her parents scattered and broken on the floor. All Robin could do was nod her head to keep from crying.

"That bitch! I mean, that's just cold! Even for the likes of her" Cathy continued.

Robin said nothing as she walked over to where the picture was laying, gingerly picking it up and wrapping it in one of her handkerchiefs before placing it in her wall locker.

"Well, at least nothing happened to the picture and, from the looks of it, the frame can be saved." Leigh kept a positive attitude, still trying to cheer Robin up, but without much luck.

While the girls were in the middle of cleaning, Robin's cell phone rang. It was Father Juliano on the other end.

"Hello grandfather, no, no I'm good. No, really I am. Yeah, uh huh, uh huh, ok, ok, yes, I'm sure I'm ok. What am I doing? Cleaning. Yes, I know I told you that yesterday. Uh huh, uh huh, well there's nothing that can be done. Why? Because her father is a big contributor to SOLOMON. Tried, and no luck. They were hoping I'd be a good influence on her. Well, she dealt me a real low blow. How low? My mother's picture. I've asked Amon to just keep her away from me. Why? Because I don't feel like being hunted again. Yes, I know, good point. Well, you were the one who asked why I don't use my craft on her. Ok, ok, yes. I've got to get going too. Love you, bye." Robin hung up and went back to cleaning her room, making sure Cathy and Leigh left before the galley closed not wanting them to miss dinner on account of her.

"Hey Robin, we're still on for the gym tomorrow after breakfast right" Leigh asked.

"Yes, I might have to meet up with you guys there since I have to stand re inspection tomorrow." The girls nodded and said good bye as Robin walked down to the supply closet to get a broom, mop and bucket, along with some other cleaning supplies, before heading back to the room and properly cleaning it again.

Once again, Amon found himself sitting in an all-too-familiar meeting with the barracks manager, Senior Hunter John, and Hunter Benjamin, to discuss, of all people, Stephie. Once again, their hands were tied. Stephie's dad just donated a ton of money to build a new library on SOLOMON grounds to keep his little girl out of trouble, which made her untouchable. To make matters worse, she had disappeared home for the weekend so they couldn't yell and have her sign another discipline report. They didn't even try to assign her an extra duty; that form of punishment never worked, since she always seemed to skip duty days, meaning someone else would have to stand a double.

Benjamin could tell that his old friend and roommate was getting very tired of this crap, they all were getting tired of Stephie. He remembered Amon not even tolerating this type of behavior when they were in boarding school together. He knew that Amon's cool and calm expressions came from years of SOLOMON training and it showed in these meetings. Benjamin also knew that Amon's lack of expression didn't even begin to scratch the surface of how pissed off his old friend really was.

"Amon" Benjamin had called out when the meeting was done.

"Benjamin" Amon replied back.

"Your friend, Robin-san, how bad was the frame damaged" Benjamin asked.

"The frame and the picture are both salvageable but it will need some new glass" Amon replied, as he let out an agitated sigh.

"If you can get the frame, with the picture, I have a contact here in Rome who could restore it for you. The picture itself may have some damage too small for our eyes to see." Amon nodded and thanked Benjamin as he left the office, walking over to the bowling alley on base, since the galley was now closed. Amon also knew that the next best place to eat on the base was at the bowling alley snack bar, as he picked up some dinner for Robin and himself.

By the time he got back to the barracks, Robin was done cleaning her room and had left a little note on his door for him.

Amon,

Went to the laundry room to get some wash done and to catch up on my studies.

Robin

Amon nodded to himself as he entered his room, grabbing a pack of ramen noodles along with a green and red pepper, some carrots and the broiled chicken breast he picked up at the bowling alley. He then made his way to down to the lounge so he could use the microwave, and put together a meal for him and Robin to eat. While the ramen was cooking in the microwave, Amon cut up the chicken, the peppers and carrot, adding them to the noodles when they were half way cooked. When the meal was done, Amon then walked back to his room. He divided the ramen noodles into two smaller Tupperware bowls, covered them and grabbed some chopsticks, along with his own laundry, and notes to study.

When Amon got downstairs to the laundry room, he bumped into Brooklyn, who'd had no luck cheering Robin up, but loaned her one of his CDs of American rock and roll, with which Amon was now becoming quite accustomed. He could hear Robin's portable CD player blare out one of the latest hits from America as she sang quietly along.

"Memories consume

Like opening the wound and picking me apart again

You all assume I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again. I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused.

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight..."

Robin's head was bent over her books with her hair up in its usual style, the few wisps of her honey gold locks that escaped were slightly blocking her vision, causing her not to notice Amon until he placed dinner in front of her.

"Oh, thank you Amon" Robin said, as she looked up, turning off her CD player.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it." Amon had replied in his usual tone, as he gave Robin a soft kiss on the top of her head.

Robin gently grabbed his hand, pulling Amon to her, needing to be held in his arms. Amon could tell she was still upset over Stephie's coldness, even though she tried to smile at him. As he held Robin close to him he wished there was a way to cheer up the woman he loved.

"What are you doing tomorrow" Amon asked, as he walked over to an open washing machine, placing his clothes in before starting the machine and adding the soap.

"You mean after re-inspection and the gym" Robin asked quietly.

"Yeah, what are you doing tomorrow" Robin got up went over to the washing machine her clothes were in, placing them in the dryer before answering Amon's question.

"Mall. I still have to find Bradley's Christmas gift and buy some fabric to make that stupid costume for the STN birthday ball." Amon nodded; he, himself, was kind of dreading the STN birthday ball, since they always did some sort of costume theme every year. He was always glad he had worked in Japan. That way, he and the others had a good excuse for missing the stupid thing every year.

"Don't you need a sewing machine for that" Amon asked, wondering where in the world she was going to get a sewing machine.

"Yes. Cathy has one and she said I could use it if I help her with her costume. She hates making these period costumes, but its cheaper to make them in the long run." Amon nodded his head, as he sat back down with Robin, and they looked over their notes while eating the meal Amon had prepared.

"Wow, this is really good" Robin said, as she slurped her noodles.

Amon found it quite amusing that she ate her food more in the Japanese style now, since slurping was considered a compliment. He also found it quite funny how he had started to take on many European habits. They both chalked it up to hanging out with each other way to much, though neither ever minded the other's habits.

"You don't think you could make my costume for me, could you" Amon asked, in a nonchalant tone.

"Should be no problem, I'd just need to get your measurements and a pattern you want, plus fabric. Do you want to come with me to the mall tomorrow" Amon thought she would never ask. Granted, he hated the mall, but better to go now than in December when the Christmas frenzy was really going to hit and prices skyrocketed.

"Si, why not." Robin smiled, it was one of the few times Amon had actually used her language. They normally spoke in Japanese so no one could understand what they were saying, but only when they wanted to talk and weren't able to get any privacy.

Robin was just about to tell Amon 'ok,' when Ian came into the laundry room looking for her, with a package in hand. "Hey! This just came for you from Tuscany. It looks like its from your granddad."

"Thanks Ian. Oh and, by the way, can you give this back to Joe for me, and tell him thanks" Robin asked, as she took the package and handed Ian the CD.

"Sure, no problem." Ian then left while Robin opened the package. It contained a little note from Father Juliano.

Robin,

Your father had me hold on to this letter for you until you were old enough to learn the truth about Bradley. She got a similar letter, along with a copy of one of Toudo's journals. I wanted to give this to you before Christmas, since Bradley probably won't make it past the winter. Please read it, it explains a lot of things about you and Bradley that you must know.

Your Grandfather,

Father Juliano Colegli

"What is it" Amon asked Robin, as she held in her hand an envelope that had yellowed over the last sixteen years.

"It's from my father, from Toudo I mean" Robin stammered out.

"Are you going to read it" Robin simply nodded her head, though it took her thirty minutes to open the envelope that contained a yellowed letter.

My darling daughter,

No, wait, I apologize. I have no right to call you that. I have not been in your life and, when I created you, it was not out of love, but for the purpose of science. You were simply a project to me; that was, until I realized how important you were to me, when SOLOMON told us to stop all work on you and others like you. I wanted to let you know now, as I write this, that there was another before you. That is right, my little Robin, you have a sister. A half sister, eleven months older than you. Her mother's name was Isabella Rossati and your sister's name is Bradley Rossati.

Robin dropped the letter. It didn't say what she thought it just said, did it? Bradley ... her real sister? Her father, who had loved her mother, had a child by another woman, all in the name of science. Amon watched Robin as she picked up the letter, seeing that she now knew the truth about her best friend.

I am sorry that she will not be with you for the whole of your life, unlike the way most siblings are blessed, though most would say to the contrary. When we first met Isabella, we didn't know about AIDS. It was new and, by the time we found out that Isabella had it, it was too late. In a way, however, Bradley was a success. I want you to know that neither your mother, nor I, wanted to abandon Bradley, but SOLOMON's orders dictated otherwise. I know you are probably angry with me and I don't blame you, its not fair that you had to be kept in the dark for so long, but its what we all thought was best at that time. We don't know how long Bradley will live, but to keep you both in the dark any longer would be wrong. Your grandfather, Father Juliano Colegli, is also Bradley's guardian. He will know when the time is right. If I am right, he will raise you and Bradley together with the utmost love and compassion that he and the church can give. I am just sorry that I will not be there to see you two grow into the beautiful young women I know my girls will become. Never mind, I have no right to call either of you my girls as well. Do know this, though; even though I figured out very late in my life how much I truly loved both of you and your mother, Robin, I, at least, have the comfort knowing that I did figure it out before it was too late. I know I am unworthy of your love as a daughter to her father and that, too, I cannot blame either of you for. I simply wish the best for both of you, no matter how long, or short, a time it may be.

Your Father,

Toudou Hiroshi

Amon had gotten up and hugged Robin as he read the letter from a dying man over her shoulder. Tears spilled from Robin's eyes as she cried into his chest, the letter dropping to the floor, with Robin fighting every urge to set it on fire.