Well, here it is, Chapter 7 duh, duh, duh! Okay that quite enough with the melodramatics. . .
So read, enjoy and then review, please.
Ch. 7 Lady Fire-Starter Returns
It was a little over a week later when Robin was officially released. Her burns required her to return for frequent check ups and restricted her ability to do certain activities like cooking or cleaning but she was able to return to where she wanted to be, the STN-J. Everyone there at the STN-J was glad to have her back and threw a big party to celebrate. At least for a few hours they were able to have fun and forget their problems.
At least one of their cases had been solved. The orbo bullet case was all the sites where Robin and Amon had been attacked by professional witch hunters. According to Robin the pair had made it out of the factory by another exit from the others. They had intended to find the rest of them but discovered they were being followed. So they chose to make a hasty exit rather than drag the rest of the STN-J into trouble. However they hadn't been fast enough and their pursuers kept right behind them. From there they had spent most of the year traveling the world trying to outwit their opponents and ending up in frequent inconclusive shoot outs with them. Their enemies' reason for their pursuit was unknown, even to Robin. It was clear though that most were high level craft users and all were well trained pros in the art of witch hunting.
Everyone else, especially Dojima had their own opinions of what had happened between their two fellow hunters during their time on the run. It was clear to them Robin had feelings for Amon, that had been a fact from before the factory collapsed, but what they were now or how deep they ran was unknown.
A young woman with long black hair and violet eyes sat in Harry's coffee shop with a cell phone against her ear. She was dressed in a dark blue, fitted, long sleeve, ankle length dress and over that was a black trench coat identical to Robin's. In front of her sat a half-consumed cup of expresso. "It's me. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer but my secret was about to be exposed." She said into her cell.
"I understand, Raven. You did your part of our plan and that's what counts. You should report back to HQ and rest up so you can conserve your energy. I asked too much of you and your abilities for this phase."
"Agreed but you realize that they will have to be informed. If this plan of yours goes through it will cost the life of their leader. "
"True but not yet. They can't be informed until everything is ready."
"If that is your plan. . . ."
"You do not agree?"
Raven stirred her drink in silence before answering. "The sooner they know the better, I believe." She replied finally.
With a finalized looked on her face she shut off her cell and rose to her feet. She dropped her tip on the table with the money for the bill and walked out onto the street. Master was making a mistake not telling them now. For all his intelligence and wisdom he was messing up big time with this decision. Robin . . . poor Robin, Raven had to fight to ignore the stab of pain in her heart every time she thought of what master's plan could do to her.
Raven shuttered as she walked and pulled her coat around her. Master's plan would change everything. But at what cost? She wondered. She knew it was wrong to go against her master but she also knew this was wrong.
In the months after Robin's return everything seemed to have settled into a sort of calm. It was the kind of calmness, some believed, that came before a big storm. The witches were on the few and unmemorable. In fact it was extremely quiet and there wasn't much to do. Yet, there was still no sign of Raven or Amon anywhere. Still, the STN-J vowed to keep looking till the end.
One night a call came into the STN-J about a witch stirring up trouble. Besides Michael; Robin was the only one there at the time, half a sleep at her desk. Sakaki and Karasuma were investigating a promising lead at the other end of town and Dojima was nowhere to be seen since 5:00. "You sure you can go alone?" Michael asked Robin when she said she'd go.
"Yes, I'll be fine. It sounds like a simple enough to me. Don't worry."
Michael shrugged, seeing that he would not persuade the young huntress otherwise. "Okay then, good luck." He said.
A short time later Robin stood outside a large furniture factory in the middle of town. The place had been closed for about five years now but some of the furniture was still inside making it a popular hideout for dug dealers, druggies, drunks and general riffraff. Now apparently a witch as well. Robin grabbed the handle and the door swung open. Cautiously she stepped inside sliding her glasses on her face. Robin's every sense was bent of feeling for traps sent by the witch. Slowly she walked past rusted dust colored equipment and through narrow hallways. Michael directed her every step though the headset to the witch's location. Before long she was deep inside but the witch had yet to make a move. At last she stood at the beginning of the final corridor facing the last door. She took a deep breath and made her way foreword. When she reached the end she took the handle and pulled. The door slid open with a bone-rattling creak. Robin drew her gun and entered. A green Victorian style couch rested at the far end of the room in front of the window. Lying on it was the witch. Slowly the witch sat up and turned to face Robin. It was Raven. "Hello. It's been a while." She said sweetly.
Robin gasped and her hand grip loosened on her gun. "Raven."
Raven smiled sadly at the recognition. "I see you remember me. I'm sorry about last time but I had orders to follow. I won't attack you this time though so you can put that gun away already."
Robin was confused. Raven was working for someone. Somehow Robin felt like she couldn't trust her so she kept the gun right where it was. "Who?"
"The person whose command I follow is none of your concern." Raven replied harshly.
Robin cringed internally a Raven's voice. She couldn't figure out why everything Raven did affected her so. Maybe it was their past but Robin didn't know for sure. She did know that the Raven who stood before her now was nothing like the girl she had known all those years ago. They were like two different people. This new Raven seemed to have something in mind but what? What did Raven want here anyway? "Why are you here?" Robin stammered.
"To give you this."
Raven lifted a small while envelope from a cushion beside her and held it out to Robin. Robin warily took it from her. "It's for Miss Karasuma but you all may read it." Raven informed her. "I'm afraid that I have other business to see to and I must be going now."
"Wait! What about Amon? Do you know where he is?" Robin called out.
"I'm sorry but I can't say. I can promise you thought that you see him soon."
Raven smiled then disappeared. Robin stood there staring in stunned silence at the moon. She felt suddenly weak and so alone. For a moment all she wanted was to feel Amon's strong arms around her again. She wanted him to kiss her and tell her things were going to be okay even though it felt like the world was about to crumble beneath her. Oh, how she missed him. "Robin are you there? Come in." Michael's voice demanded.
Robin shook her herself out of her funk and replied softly, "Yes, I'm here. What's up Michael?"
"What's going on? Have you found the witch?"
Robin winced remembering the fact she'd let Raven leave so easily. "The witch got away and I am unable to track her further."
"Understood. Why don't you come back to base and call it a night. It's getting late."
"Sure. I'll be there shortly."
When Robin arrived back at Raven's flat everyone (except Dojima of course) was waiting for her in the conference room. She looked them over as she entered and her stomach churned as she wondered how she would explain what had just happened to her. Robin made her way silently to her seat and sat down. "What happened?" Michael asked gently.
Robin took a breath and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could stop herself the words rushed out. "I let her get away. I screwed up big time! I'm so sorry."
"Robin, calm down. What happened? Who got away."
Robin took a deep breath to relax and tried again to explain. This time the words came out right. "It was a set up from the start. There was no witch it was all Raven! She knew I would respond and she was waiting for me."
Robin paused to collect herself and the other members shifted uncomfortably in their seats. With trembling hands she pulled out the envelope. "She gave me this then disappeared. It's for you Karasuma." She stammered.
Miho took the letter from her and carefully broke the seal. From inside the envelope she pulled out a single sheet of typing paper. Slowly Karasuma began to read the brief letter written in Raven's uneven handwriting.
Dear Miho and fellow STNJ members,
I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you. I promise that it will all make sense sometime soon. It's just not meant to for now.
I can assure you that Amon and Aya are being well taken care of and aren't in harms way. You'll probably see them both soon if everything goes according to my Master's plan. So please don't worry about them too much until then.
Yes, I know what you're thinking, especially you Miho, but Aya's death was staged in the same way Amon's was. It was necessary for the greater purpose for them to be believed dead. So I faked their deaths. You see I never told you about the depths of my powers. I can control any inanimate object right down to the very molecules in the air, which I can arrange to create illusions. I have yet to be able to use voice well thus the reason none of creations could talk.
As I said before I'm so sorry about the deception and all the lies I told. I hope once the truth comes to light you can forgive me or at least understand my motives. I wish I could say more but for now this is all I can say.
All my best,
Raven
Karasuma blinked as she finished reading the letter. Slowly she took several deep breaths and passed it to Sakaki. By the time he was done Haruto looked pale and shaken as well. He handed the note to Michael. When he was done Michael passed it finally to Robin. When they were all done and had had a chance to mull over the contents; they all looked at one another. "So . . ." Michael began uncertainly.
"It's so weird." Robin said slowly "What does she mean by; 'It was necessary for the greater purpose for them to be believed dead.' And who is this master she talks of?"
"What I want to know is what they have planed." Haruto said.
"Michael, do you think you can find out if any other witches have died mysteriously or gone missing recently? It might give a clue as to what they're planning." Karasuma suggested.
Michael nodded. "I'll start on it first thing tomorrow."
With that they all adjourned to go home for the night. Robin was dead tired. She hadn't been up this late for awhile. Inside her mind was consumed by thoughts of Amon. Someone had him. They were going to use him to do something. That she felt sure. What? What were they going to do to Amon? Slowly she turned her face to face the starry night sky above. It brought back so many memories. "Amon . . .If you can hear me please come back soon . . ." She whispered.
Robin smiled as she remembered Amon's first act of kindness to her. It had been twelve months ago, shortly after the factory collapse. She had been hiding with Amon inside an abandoned warehouse after being attacked hours earlier by the unknown enemy. During the fight the building they were in had caught on fire causing one of the windows to explode in front of her. Much of the flying glass had ended up embedded in her hands. Amon had been attempting to remove the all the shards a lengthy, painful and tedious task. As he'd been wrapping up her hands in bandages he suddenly kissed them and said apologetically, "I'm sorry if I caused you unnecessary pain. I'm not very good at being gentle."
Then he finished without saying another word. Robin wasn't sure at the time if he'd been trying to apologize for how painful the glass removal had been or their entire strange and rocky relationship. Now however she was sure she knew the answer.
The first act of gentleness by the dark hunter was followed gradually by more. One Robin continued to find memorable happened three months later. She had dislocated her shoulder during a fight with the witch hunters that day and Amon had told her he would put it back in place. Instead he started talking with her about a completely mundane subject. Soon Robin had forgotten about her arm. Unexpectedly Amon had leaned foreword and kissed her. Robin was so surprised she couldn't move. All she could think over and over was Amon's really kissing me. The next thing she knew Amon had his hands around her arm. He jerked it roughly and sharp pain erupted. Robin bit down hard from the surprise. Amon let her go and Robin winced as she pulled back rubbing her shoulder. "It your arm okay now?" Amon asked.
Robin looked up at him in time to see him wipe some blood from his lip. Robin gasped in surprise when she realized she had bit his lip. "Yeah, it's okay now, but what about you . . .?" Robin replied.
Amon had half grinned at her. "My lip? It's nothing."
Since that day until the day she'd last seen him he'd still had a white scar mark on his lip.
Robin pulled herself reluctantly from her revelry as she reached her door. Time to rest she told herself. Still Robin found it hard to sleep that night. In the dark the memories had come back to haunt her. When she had finally slept her dreams were filled with him, the dark hunter, Amon.
Well, how was it?
Amon: It sucked. You didn't include me at all.
Me: So . . .?
Amon: You promised last time that I would be in this chapter!
Me: Um, um . . .I can explain that . . .
Amon: Yeah, tell my lawyer. I'm going to sue you.
Amon pulls out hios cell phone and begins to dial his lawyer's number.
Me: Gulp!
Okay here's the deal, please, please, please review. Tell me what you think "Master's" great plan is. (I'm currently not sure so any suggestion would be helpful . . .) Tell me you love it, tell me you hate it. Flame me just review!
