Chapter 4: Missing

It had been so hectic in the past couple of days. Got a lot of assignments and heavy rain poured down and flood's everywhere... My house was also affected and I'm still helping my mom cleaning up our house. But it was quite fun, nontheless :D /stabbed

Anyway, I'm sorry for the late post.

Disclaimer: I don't own HNKNA or any characters in it, they belong to Quinrose. I only own my character and this story.

It's been two hours. Well, it felt like more than an hour for her. Remy could not stop wondering just how long grownups need to held a meeting. She looked at the ceiling as she wondered. What were they doing in the meeting? As far as she could remember, her brother ever said he was going to a meeting in his office's other rooms and it took him only an hour to come back to the office's kitchen where she was drawing that time. An hour is long, but she can wait that long. But two hours? Hmph, not really.

Were they playing around? Were they having fun and forget the time? If they were, she would be annoyed at Nightmare not tagging her along. Ohh Nightmare! She sat up. She will talk to him! She moved to the edge of the bed and prepared to jump down but stopped. Nightmare and Gray said that it was boring, right? She could remember their face and voice when they talked about the meeting. They didn't like it. And she could remember now, her brother didn't like his meeting either. So... It must not be because they were playing. Then what is? Oh grownups, Remy could never understand them.

She could feel something building up in her tummy and she needed the bathroom now. She jumped down the bed and walked to the door. She reached the doorknob and opened the door. The hallway was quiet; she could not see anyone wandering. She stepped out and closed the door. She looked to the left and saw another door on the end of the hallway and started walking to it. She couldn't believe Nightmare and Gray lived alone in a very big house like this. It must be lonely.

She closed the bathroom door after doing her things and started to walk back. But she only got five steps when someone appeared at the other end of the hallway. She stopped walking and looked at that person. It was a man with orange chocolate hair and black hat. He was looking down, he had not notice her yet. She looked to the door to her room. It's pretty far from where she was standing and even though that man seemed to walk in a slow pace; his feet were longer than her and getting closer faster. She needed to hurry. She covered her face with her little hands and ran to the direction of her room.

She should've practice running with her hands hiding her face before she went out of her room. That would have helped a little in this situation. But no, she didn't think this through and just charged without calculating anything else, which was why it was a very big mistake. Because after she took off running, a few seconds later she crashed onto the wall and fell on her bottom. This, of course, went not unnoticed by the man. He stopped as soon as he heard light steps closing in his direction and looked up. He looked just at the right moment to see her crashing to the wall and fell. He stood still for a few seconds but then jolted when he heard her cried.

Crashing onto the wall wasn't what she would've hoped or thought. The impact went to her wound as well and after the crash it hurt so much. She whined and cried so hard when she felt the pain. It was unbearable and she could not stand it. It hurt so so so much...

Pierce couldn't think of anything but seeing the little girl put her hand on her head and hearing her cries, she seemed to be in so much pain. He walked to her side in a flash and turned her to him. He pulled her hand away to see the wound and he was met with a horrifying sight. Her head was bandaged and the bandage is now soaked in blood. He squeaked at the sight. Pierce wasn't afraid of blood. It was part of his job as a grave digger. He had seen blood everywhere, those of which he caused or not. But not this. To see a child with a bleeding head in front of him... He had never thought about he would see something like ths and he could feel a slight panic inside him. And oh cheese and crackers, that's so much blood for a little girl like her!

He looked at her still crying face and cringed, she is in so much pain alright. He looked around the hall frantically, he didn't know what to do! Uhmmm... Ummm! He looked at her again.

"U-Um.. He-Hello chu~? D-Don't cry please...?" Pierce whispered. But the girl kept crying and didn't look like she was going to stop. Oh who he was kidding. She's just a little girl, her head is bleeding and she's in so much pain, of course she won't stop crying.

"Uhmmm..." he looked ahead and saw the bathroom door. There must be some bandages in there. He turned to her again. "L-Let's go to the bathroom chu! I-I will change your bandage for you... Come chu!" He slipped her small form into his arms and lifted her up. She's very light, he thought. Then he ran to the bathroom.

He looked around the room. There was a sink with a cabinet above it, a bathtub, and a toilet. He closed the toilet lid and sat her on it before scrambling to open the cabinet. There, bandages, and also some cottons. He took those out and wet the cotton before turning to her.

She hung her head, tears streaming down her face. He looked at her with an apologetic face. Poor little girl.

"I-I'll change the bandage now chu~ Hang in there chu.."

And then he started working on her bandage. After he's done, her head is no longer bleeding, but it's still swelled and she hasn't stop crying. Now what... He looked at her face and wiped the tears away. He noticed she has eyes. Is she a role holder too? But he didn't see her in the meeting room. If she's a role holder and she's here, then she's attending the assembly too, right? But how come he didn't see her?

"Why were you not in the meeting room chu~? What were you doing in the hallway? Were you going to the bathroom too chu~?" he asked.

She hiccupped and continued her crying, but it seemed to be getting softer. Did it hurt so much? He frowned a bit and felt weird now. If she's a role holder then she's so weak! It's just a little amount of blood actually. But apparently, she had a wound already in the first place and like adding salt to the injury, now it hurts like hell. He wished he could ease the pain somehow. He scooted closer to her, took her tiny hands in his and rubbed them softly, and just waited for her to calm down.

Her cry was somehow making him worried. It made him wanted to cry too. Tears were building up, but he pushed it back down. He didn't want the girl to see him cry and cry even more.

She calmed down eventually, now hiccupping and sniffling. Pierce wiped the snots and tears away and smiled a little. He was glad she calmed down.

"Better now chu~?" he asked softly.

The girl sniffled and opened her eyes slowly. The moment their eyes locked, he was met with a pair of beautiful salmon eyes. They're so pretty, he thought.

She looked at the man with dark orange hair and black hat and saw him looking back at her. Her mind went back to Nightmare's words before.

"Cover your face with your hands to hide the bandage."

Cover your face...

She slowly raised her hands and put it in front of her face. Pierce blinked. What is she doing?

"What are you doing chu~?" He tilted his head to the side and saw one of her eye.

She looked at half of his face, "Covering face.." Ugh her voice was bad after crying, she didn't like it.

"Why chu~?"

"B-Because I don't want anyone to worry.." she looked down.

He frowned a little.

"I was worried a little chu. But it's alright now chu~" Pierce took her hands away.

The girl looked at him and looked like she wanted to cry again, "You were worried..." she whispered.

Pierce reacted, "N-Now I'm not chu! So don't cry alright? If you cry, I'll be more worried chu!"

She stared at him for a few seconds before nodding, "O-Okay.. Sorry.." she said softly.

"It's alright chu~" he rubbed her palms gently. "Do you feel pain again chu?"

"No... It stings. But not hurt much anymore."

Pierce smiled, "Good chu! Are you a role holder too chu~?"

"Role holder? What is role holder?" she looked at him, a bit confused.

Pierce blinked. She's just joking, isn't she? Maybe she acted like she doesn't remember something so that the pain won't come up again? Oh well, Pierce could play along. As long as she didn't cry. He suddenly felt the need to do his things now and he didn't need the girl crying here much longer. Now he just needed to send her out of the bathroom. He thought about children. Children like to play, right? He could use that.

"Mmm never mind chu! Would you like to play, chu?" Pierce asked.

"Play? Play what?" she tilted her head.

"We'll play something chu! But could you wait outside the bathroom first chu~?"

She blinked at the request and nodded, "Okay." She slid off the lid and Pierce opened the door. She walked out and Pierce closed the door. And then she waited.

She started to think. Someone saw her, that orange haired man. Will Nightmare be angry? But the orange haired man isn't worry anymore. So that is okay, right? But he was, that means she made him worried...even though now he's not. She felt pulse in her head and groaned softly. She touched her forehead, not the wound, the bandaged forehead. Her head still hurts. And then the door behind her opened and closed. She looked up.

Pierce stood beside her. "Ready to play now chu! Oh is your head still hurts?" Pierce asked as he lowered himself to her level.

She didn't feel like voicing anything and just nodded softly. She's tired.

Pierce knew his way in the Clover Tower. He had been here a lot of times to avoid that stupid cat and took a nap. Nightmare was so generous and kind and even helped him sleep. Maybe he could take her to a room and accompany her to sleep? But then another idea came up to his mind. Since her head swelled, she would need some pain killers before she sleeps. Nightmare must've had some. He turned to the girl.

"Why don't we go to Nightmare chu? Maybe he has some pain killers for you. You know Nightmare, chu~?" She nodded. "Then let's go chu~" he took her left hand by his right hand and led her to the hallway.

She liked this man. He's so kind. Like Gray. He even changed her bandage and waited for her to calm down. Her head throbbed again and she groaned.

Pierce looked at her clutching her head and thinned his lips. It hurts that much? Maybe he should carry her?

He stopped and scooted down to her, "Let me carry you chu. Here." He lifted her up and to his arms.

She let him held her because he's so nice already. She trusted this man would do nothing to harm her. Not after helping her that much. She leaned her head on his chest and closed her eyes. It hurts more when she thought about something. Maybe she shouldn't think? That could work. So she stopped thinking and just closed her eyes.

Pierce held her safely in his arms and began walking down the hallway again. He turned left and saw the Hatters closing in his direction with Alice on the front looking pretty worn out. So he assumed the assembly was over before he could get back. He saw Alice and she saw him back.

"Hello Pierce." She greeted him.

"Hello Alice, chu~" Pierce greeted back.

"Who is that?" Alice stopped in front of Pierce and looked at the girl in Pierce arms curiously. Blood came up behind her and took notice of the little girl as well.

"I don't know chu. I found her crying in the hallway and bleeding. I changed her bandage and she still feels hurt. So I'm taking her to see Nightmare for some pain killers." Pierce said.

Alice bit her lip a bit and looked over the girl once again. She must've hurt. And then the little girl opened her eyes and blue met salmon. The little girl blinked weakly and looked at her. She has eyes?

Blood saw this too. He wondered if she's a role holder because he never saw her before. And she's certainly not in the assembly when it started, unless he failed to notice every single role holders in the room.

Remy saw the girl and man from before looking at her. Are they looking at the bandage? Her head? Oh no.. Now more people will be worried... Then her head hurt again. She groaned a bit and leaned her head back to Pierce's chest. It hurts.

"Oh dear... Let's take you to Nightmare okay? I'm sure he has some pain killers." Soothed Alice, she rubbed the little girl's hand softly.

The little girl only nodded.

They started walking back, with Blood's eyes never leaving her form. But then the mouse man stopped when he saw someone showed up behind Blood.

"What the-It's the mouse!" exclaimed Boris.

"Cat!" Pierce squeaked. Hugging the girl close to him.

"I'm gonna catch you now and skin you alive." Boris readied his claw and was about to pounce on the mouse, clearly missing the existence of the little person in his arms.

"No Boris wait-" Alice tried to stop the upcoming dispute but Boris jumped forward.

"SQUEEEEEEEEE!" Pierce squeaked and ran into the hallway he came from.

Blood looked over everything with amused eyes.

Alice took Boris by his left ear when he was about to follow Pierce. The force on his ear made him stop, "Ouch! Alice! It hurts!"

"Don't chase him away Boris!" she reprimanded Boris. "Pierce! Wait!" Alice tried to call Pierce, but the mouse was already far.

Boris rubbed his left ear gently when Alice had released it and pouted his lips, "Why are you so mean?"

Alice sighed. "Sorry Boris. But you should've known better. He has a bandaged girl on his arms."

"What girl?" Boris looked at her, confused.

Then Elliot came up behind them all and the twins too.

"Big sis!" they exclaimed, trotting over to Alice.

"Ah hello Dee, Dum." Greeted Alice.

"Hey Blood, your room's ready. Just down this hallway, to the left, third door." Elliot said to Blood, then he turned to Alice, "Your room is right next to him."

Alice smiled. "Thank you Elliot."

"Hey sis, why are you smiling to that chicken rabbit?" asked Dum.

"Yea why?" Dee added, he gave a look.

"It's just a smile, no need to get worked over it." Alice's eye twitched slightly.

Blood swing his cane and continued walking, choosing now to open his mouth to talk and ignoring the rest, "He was holding a little lady with bandaged head." He answered Boris's question.

Elliot blinked, thinking his employer was talking to him, "Who was holding who?"

Boris followed them. "So what? It's just another faceless." Replaceable. Not important. Wait. A little girl. Bandaged. Could it be the girl that was by the window? The girl with salmon eyes?

Alice followed Blood walking to the other hallway they were walking to, "No, she isn't. She has eyes."

The twins followed, "Who who? Someone bothered you sis?" asked Dee.

Dum joined, "Yea cause if it is—"

"No one's bothering me. Pierce was holding an injured little girl and we're going to take her to Nightmare for some pain killers. But he ran when Boris appeared, taking the girl with him." Alice cut them off and seemed a bit pissed.

The twins looked at each other then at Boris, "What did you do you grumpy cat?" Dum glared at Boris a little.

"Nothing!" Boris defended himself. Seriously. Even though it's not a faceless, probably just another role holder so what's the big deal? It's not like he's the one who hurt her. And now that made him curious.

"Who's the girl?" asked Elliot, feeling curious as well.

"I don't know." Alice told the truth. She really did not know. She never saw her anywhere. But the girl was injured and she looked like she shouldn't be moving around. "But I'm worried."

Dum came up beside her, "You're always worried about little things."

Dee followed, "Yeah sis. Not like it's important."

"I'm sure it's just a role holder. A weak one too if she let herself hurt like you said." Boris said.

Alice shot him a look. Boris cringed and stopped walking. He forgot she doesn't like the idea of people get hurt.

Blood glanced at Alice then stopped walking when he arrived in front of his room. "I'm sure she's alright, young lady. Not every role holder likes to show up in public and she might be one of those. So letting her be might be the best option."

Alice stopped and looked at Blood, "Are you sure?"

Blood looked back at her, "I could send Elliot to go after them."

Elliot stood beside them and looked back and forth between them; he nodded at Blood's statement.

Alice took a second before shaking her head, "No. I think you're right. I can always ask Pierce later."

Blood smiled his usual smile and opened his door, "Now if you'll excuse me, I will retreat to my room for a quick rest. Care to join me, miss?"

Sensing another meaning behind his words, she backed away a little, "N-No thank you."

"Very well then. Until later, miss." Blood closed his door.

Alice shook her head.

"Should we go catch the mouse, sis?" asked Dee.

"He couldn't have gone that far." Dum added.

"Didn't you hear what she said?" Elliot looked at the both of them slightly irritated.

"Hey we asked her, not you!" said Dum.

"Yeah!" Dee shot at him.

Elliot's lips twitched downward. Alice gave him a sorry look.

Boris sighed, "I'm going to town for some fresh air. See ya." He walked back down the hallway and made a mental note about this certain girl that made Alice scold him.

Gray opened the door to Remy's room and immediately noticed her absence. But he decided to call once just to make sure.

"Remy?" Gray called in the empty room.

Silence.

Gray hurried down the hallway and opened up his ears as he stood by the bathroom door. The sound of water running and faucet squeaking closed almost made him relaxed his shoulder until he heard a grunt. That was definitely not a kid's grunt. Too deep and from the tone, it's an adult man. His suspicion was found to be correct when Elliot stepped out of the bathroom.

"You can use it now." Elliot said.

"Have you seen a little girl?" Gray asked abruptly.

Elliot looked at Gray. Even through that expressionless face and his usual tone, the rabbit knew the lizard was in a hurry. Is it about the girl who was with the mouse?

"No." Elliot answered truthfully. He hadn't seen the girl, he only heard about her from his boss and Alice.

Gray muttered a thanks before disappeared into the hallway. Leaving Elliot to feel curious about this certain girl that seemed to catch everyone's attention.

"WHAT?! Urghh—"

Gray was immediately by his master's side as the sickly man vomited.

Nightmare wiped the blood away with his handkerchief and grumbled, "How..."

"I'm not really sure. She doesn't look like the type to wander around. But... Perhaps her patience wore out." Gray added his thoughts.

Nightmare regained his composure and inhaled.

"Send the guards to find her. We must get her back here before the others took notice of her."

Gray stood still for a second before bowing and walked to the door. He wanted to ask about his master's protective manner towards the child, but he couldn't simply ask. If he could just guess the reason, probably because she was another foreigner. And he knew exactly how fragile they were. And to add that the little one was now somewhere with a still injured head simply made sense. That's also why they need to hurry find her before anything in this world injured her further.