Chapter 2

Awaken

Several months had passed since their arrival to the Condesa's palacio. Amon and Robin were able to make a lot of progress tracking Toudou's last steps. They found encrypted in Toudou's diary entries of an address to a house out in the northern counties in Tuscany.

Amon also kept some contacts in Japan obtaining information about the STN-J, Solomon Headquarters and on Juliano's moves with no remarkable findings. Currently, since their "deaths" there were no orders from Solomon or anyone else to search for proof of their demise.

Since the night of their first kiss Amon and Robin have never again spoken about it. Robin had lost all hope that they would speak about it again. She knew that Amon would avoid all conversation that would lead to bring it up. Robin instead concentrated her thoughts on the future and what would they finally discover from clues left in the pages of Toudou's diaries.

It was a sunny Saturday morning without a cloud in the sky as a black sports car with dark tinted windows sped down the highway. The passengers in vehicle were on their way to locate the house whose address was encrypted into Toudou's diary. Robin was gazed out the car window enjoying the Italian countryside as Amon drove. Thoughts of the past months were being replayed in Robin's mind as they sped through the lonely highway. She was still in disbelief how quickly time had already past.

Disrupting her thoughts Amon said, "We won't be there until tomorrow morning… We will have to stay at a hotel tonight." Noticing that something was on her mind, "Are you ok Robin?" inquired Amon.

There was no answer from Robin.

"Robin?" Amon asked again.

"Huh, oh sorry Amon. I'm ok. Just thinking."

"What are you thinking about?"

"There are so many things on my mind but there are few things that have me concerned. Like, if anyone knows about us still being alive. I don't think that the Condesa will betray us but what of the people around her?" Robin sighed as she continued to reveal her thoughts to Amon, "Also, I have an uneasy feeling about this trip to Toudou's house." She sighed.

Amon remained quiet for a while as he thought of what Robin had just said. He finally responded. "It's expected by now someone could have some suspicion that we are alive. But, I find it highly unlikely that they could imagine us here so close to Solomon HQ. Regardless, of what my contacts may say we have to keep our guards up always. Keeping a low profile and staying away from places that may be under any type of surveillance. The important thing is that we know of the possible risk and are always prepared for whatever may come." Amon responded reassuringly to her.

It was late in the evening when they finally arrived to the hotel. Thinking it may be a good idea they decided on getting one room with two beds. They had traveled high into the mountainous region of Tuscany where the nights were very cold. The hotel was an old castle remolded into a private hotel which was surrounded by a beautiful lushes green forest. The view was even more spectacular from their second floor balcony where they could see the sleepy valley below.

Robin had told Amon to go first to take a shower because she wanted to take her time taking her bath. He hated how she would make him wait for what it seemed hours to him while she bathed. Taking advantage of the alone time Robin stepped out into the balcony from their room to appreciate the scenery. She looked dreamily out into the clear night sky as the stars shined brightly as small lamps. She suddenly felt her body stiffen. She was unable to move as a low gasp came out her mouth. Amon who had just finished taking a shower and was on his way to let her know he was done he noticed that something was wrong with Robin.

"Robin, what's wrong?" He called out as rushed to her.

"I, I can't move..." It took every ounce of her will to speak as every syllable hurt her to speak.

"What?" Confused he looked out the terrace when he saw an old man standing outside laughing. Amon took his gun and shot at the stranger. This made the man loose his concentration which broke Robin free from his spell.

Checking to see that Robin was ok… Amon jumped down from the second floor balcony and chased after the mysterious man.

Robin was a little afraid to jump down the balcony but after seeing that Amon drop down with no injury she decided to jump after him as well. She followed Amon into the forest as he chased after the mysterious man. The forest was dark and cold as they ran deeper into it. However, neither took notice at the moment since their thoughts were on catching the mysterious man that had for some reason attacked Robin. Finally the run ended at a clearing where the old man came into full view as he stood next to a bonfire. Amon had his gun drawn out as Robin was only a few steps behind him ready to use her craft.

It was Amon that spoke first to the stranger demanding answers, "Who are you? What do you want from us?"

The man began to laugh obnoxiously.

"What do I want? You mean what do we want?" as five other guys appeared from behind the guy.

Amon clicked off the safety from his gun and was ready to shoot as he looked at Robin letting her know to be prepared for fight.

"I tell you what. Leave the girl with us and we will let you live! Is that a deal?" The old cackled.

Amon smirked at the man's offer. "Right" Amon responded sarcastically. "How about we let you all live if you let us leave?"

The old man had huge round belly that bounced up and down every time he spoke or laughed. Even in his old age one could tell that he was never good looking man. His eyes were filled with bitterness.

The old man began to laugh at Amon's response. "You have a strong witch there that makes us uncomfortable. We sensed her presence when you arrived earlier this evening. We don't want her here and will take her off your hands," the old man turned to the other men "Get them boys. Don't kill the girl just yet… but you do whatever you want the guy he is useless to us."

Amon shot at the old man but the bullet was blocked by the old man's craft. Amon shot at the guys rushing toward him as they shot back at him. Robin blocked the bullets as they are being shot at Amon. She then created a circle of fire around the old man keeping him locked in one spot.

She turned to look to her right making sure that Amon was ok as he suddenly was shot on the shoulder by an unknown shooter who wasn't with the group. Robin gasped as she searched from where the shot had come from. She couldn't see where the shooter was. Robin became worried for Amon as he stopped her coming to check on him.

"Robin! Focus on the old man he is a craft user and is much more of a danger for us. I'm ok, just worry…"

"But Amon your.." Robin insisted.

"Robin, do as I say!" He said sternly as she turned her attention back to the old man.

Amon struggled to keep himself focused as he felt a sudden force flow within him. His mind was clearing…without turning to any direction to look he was able to see. He moved his gun in the direction of the unknown shooter who had shot him on his shoulder. The man crouched down hiding in nearby bushes as a bullet hit him right between his eyes killing him instantly. Amon moved at super speed and with a strength that was beyond his own. He moved fearlessly forward shooting at the other two men from the group that was shooting at him.

Robin not believing what she just saw remained in shock until the old man grabbed her attention as he yelled angrily, "I see your friend has few tricks up his sleeve." he laughed. "Well that's not going to help the two of you," as he sent an energy blast towards Robin almost knocking her off her feet.

Standing her ground Robin said to herself, "Ugh! Dammit I can't let him get away with that," Robin shot back a blast of fire which the old man blocked.

"You think you can kill me?" The old man said as he is laughed mockingly at Robin. "Come on little girl! You can do better than that," as he began his full assault on Robin sending energy blasts at her as she kept blocking most of them.

Amon kept his eye on Robin making sure that she was ok as he finished off the last guy that was shooting at him.

The old man got a lucky blast of energy that knocked Robin to the ground. Robin got back up from the blast refocused her energy as she was able see his element. Sending several rapid balls of fire hitting its mark as it slowly disintegrated the old man into ashes. When the old man was finally down Robin exhausted dropped down to the ground and passed out. The energy she used was too much for her which made her loss consciousness.

Amon also felt sluggish to the point where he thought too he was going loose consciousness. He kept his focus as he ran over to check on Robin. He sluggishly carried her back to their hotel room safely.

Once in the room he began to access her injuries which seemed to be all superficial but quite a few of the energy blast had hit her chest area bruising it completely. It was all black and blue; thankfully she appeared to have no internal bleeding.

Robin slowly opened her eyes as she sees through her blurred vision that her blouse is opened and Amon was looking at her chest as he quickly spoke up…"I'm checking your bruises, ok. You took quite a beating on your chest area it's all black and blue. However, I don't see anything that will indicate internal bleeding. We're back safe in the hotel room. But we are leaving as soon as I can see that you're ok," Amon said as vision began to darken. He collapsed to the floor.

"Amon!" Robin called to him as she tried to get up feeling a sharp pain on her chest. "Ouch, my chest hurts," as she continued to get up and moved Amon onto the bed.

As Robin struggled to move Amon onto the bed she sees he is bleeding from his shoulder. He had been shot on the shoulder. Fortunately, the shot had grazed his shoulder but not before the bullet cut deep into the skin causing him to loose a lot of blood quickly. Robin quickly started on stopping the bleeding and dressed his wound. After Robin was done she decided that she was going to sit next to him on the bed to watch him over.

It was approximately 4:30 am when Amon finally awoke. Shocked he quickly looked around and saw that Robin was sitting next to him asleep on the bed. Feeling a sharp pain on his shoulder he checked his shoulder as he realized his wound had been already dressed. "Robin" He said softly as he slowly tried to get up from the bed as Robin awakes in a start.

"Oh I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep watching you."

"No, it's ok. Are you ok?" Amon asked in a concerned voice.

Looking into his eyes worriedly Robin responded. "Yes, I'm fine. I was really worried about you, Amon. For a moment I thought I might have to seek medical help for your wound. I didn't want to bring any more unwanted attention. When I checked your wound I saw that you only lost consciousness due to the rapid blood loss. The bullet had only grazed you. I went ahead stopped the bleeding and I dressed your wound." Hesitating for a moment Robin added, "Amon, I think we should leave here as soon as possible…just in case there maybe others that know we are here."

"You're right." As Amon paused for moment gazing into Robin's worried eyes. Her eyes spoke so much of what she did not dare to say to him. He knew this. Without noticing what he was doing Amon ran his fingers through her long golden blondish hair. He thought to himself on how he found her loose hair enchanting as he finally spoke. "You know I was really worried about you for a moment there..."

"Me?" Robin found it difficult to think as he kept twirling his fingers through her hair making her feel dreamy making it hard for her to think straight.

"Yes, you!" Amon responded softly. "I don't know what I would do without you. You've been in my care for quite a while and I don't know if I can live without you now." He hesitated for a moment to changed the direction of his conversation with her, "Robin did you see when I was fighting those guys. I was able to move in unbelievable speed. I shot one of them without even looking towards him. I saw it all in my mind. It was the strangest feeling. I've always had some usual strength that wasn't normal… but this, this was different. I felt that I could… if I wanted to send him a blast to knock him off his feet. But I didn't. I guess was afraid. I think I might have awakened." For a moment he looked away as he sighed. For the first time in a long time Amon was able to express in words to another person what he really felt inside. He felt a strange relief in expressing what he felt to her. He turned his full focus back onto Robin as she began to speak.

Robin looked away as she began to say sadly. "I guess it's my fault that you've been fully awakened."

"No, Robin!" Amon said as he began to caress her face softly with his hands. "Yes, it's most likely because of you that I have awakened, but I have accepted… my fate… It's… the fate that we will share together." He responded gently to her.

Robin tried to pull away but Amon wasn't going to let her go this time. He wanted so badly to kiss her more than anything… He grabbed her gently back towards him to kiss her. She hesitated pulling back… "Amon, I, I don't think we should…"

"Why? Is it that you don't feel the same about me anymore?" He asked not believing it so but he still asked anyway.

"No, it's that I don't want you to regret it later. You barely were able to look at me for days the last time it happened."

In a gentle voice Amon responded back, "Robin it was nothing like that. It was that I felt I took advantage of you. You were feeling insecure… It only seemed wrong…no matter how much I may love you. I wanted and still want you to be sure that what you feel is real. I have never loved anyone like this until you. Tonight, as I carried you back to our room and I looked at you… I knew that I could never be with anyone else but you," his gray eyes stared lovingly hoping for answer accepting his declaration of love.

Unable to resist she accepted his acknowledgment of his love for her as she responded softly saying his name, "Oh, Amon." She felt tears burning to burst from her eyes as Amon continued caressing her face and hair softly... "I love you" she said as she drew closer to him as they began to kiss.

End Chapter 2