Chapter 11: Awkward Test

"Crona?"

The demon butler stood a few feet away from the pinkette and watched her tightly holding her upper left arm, a habit she always had. Her face tilted sideway, illuminated by the full moon outside the large, tall glassed-window. Her silky hair flapped in the breeze that rushed in.

"Who was that guy?" Crona whispered, gazing at the umber, porcelain corridor floor, looking utterly lost.

To Justin, the world turned dark around the maiden in front of him. She seemed to have encountered her worst nightmare or else remembered some sort of tragedy, judging by the look on her face. She looked more fragile than she ever she ever did. His instincts told him to postpone whatever he had to say.

"It was probably just a friend of the master who came to visit him upon hearing his current condition," he said straight out and calmly, hoping to alleviate the girl's transparent apprehension. He turned around and continued to walk. "Now, come."

Staring dully into Justin's blue eyes, Crona wasn't sure how to respond. She could see the meager hesitation beneath the trying hard composure. Nevertheless, she appreciated his consideration and plodded on after him.

Just a friend? I'm sure he's the one who killed mother. What's he doing here?

Alarming thoughts still lingered in her mind. She furrowed her brows and shut her powder blue eyes as she ruminated on the question. The tapping sound of Justin's shoes against the hard floor echoed throughout the hallway. It -rang in her ears and gradually condensed into a background drumroll as she thought of the worst-case scenario.

CAW! CAW! CAW!

She gasped and stared at the crows outside who flew off the nearby yew tree.

Death? Don't tell me…

She took a few steps back and felt her body turn cold.

Her eyes widened.

Kid!

Tucked in his bed, Death the Kid raised a hand to the kaleidoscopic tiffany style chandelier. Below it cast a shadow on the earl's pale face. He squinted at the beautiful fixture's light through his fingers all of the sudden, the memory of Crona's crying face flashed back into his mind. He smiled, knowing that he was able to save her. That she's okay. He wasn't entirely sure why he risked his life saving her. A budding feeling has been emerging from him ever since he laid his eyes upon those innocent, sparkling blue eyes of hers. He never thought that the day would come that he would enjoy complete silence. He'd been having a lot of visitors lately due to his current state but the one he'd been wanting to see never came. Tired, he closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to a dream.

I'd probably feel better if Crona was here.

He heaved a sigh.

Then a few seconds later…

SLAM!

Kid felt his heart skip a beat. His eyes burst open and he quickly propped himself up on his bed. "WHATTHE-? CRONA?"

From one side of the room, he saw the pinkette in disdain, panting and still clenching the knob of his door. After finally convincing himself that he wasn't dreaming he pushed off his blanket and jumped out his bed.

Stepping closer, he said in utmost concern, "Crona… are you okay?"

Crona slowly looked up at Kid and almost cried when she saw that he was still alive and well—almost well atleast. She sighed in relief and fell on to her knees.

"Oh, thank God, you're okay," she whispered hastily.

He knelt down on one knee before her. Amused enough, he smirked. "You thought I was dead already?"

Crona nodded weakly.

"Crona…" He held her shoulder.

"Master! Master!"

Justin skidded upon arrival at the door.

You just had to break our moment, huh, Justin?

"What now, Justin?" Kid said lazily, shifting his gaze from Crona to Justin.

"I'm sorry for letting her barge in, my Lord! She just ran off all of the sudden!"

Crona stood up quickly. "No, no! It's my fault! Justin was kind enough to escort me here!"

Kid smiled at how Crona tried to defend her new friend. "Justin, knowing you, you can outrun any cheetah or Japan's bullet train, so don't give me that crap."

Justin was about to say something when he realized his master's right. He scratched his head in embarrassment and chuckled hesitantly.

"I don't know why you had to say that but can you please leave us alone for a while?"

Crona shot Kid a quizzical look.

Alone?

"Of course, my Lord, anything for you." Justin smiled.

"Hey, wait!" Crona reached for Justin but before she could even stretch her arm out fully, the door slammed shut in front of her. She blinked at the sudden action then felt a warm grip on her hand. Next thing she knew she was already being pulled back then abruptly pinned down on the bed. His hands locked her wrists. She felt his warm, minty breath on her cheek.

Hundreds of thoughts raced in her head.

What is going on?

What are you doing, Kid?

This isn't like you.

I'm not ready for this!

Do you intend to kill me like the way the man killed mom?

Or do you intend to tarnish me and abandon me in the end?

NO. YOU WOULDN'T DO SUCH A THING.

Of course you wouldn't.

You wouldn't.

Her thoughts trailed off as her body lightened up. She stopped gritting her teeth when she realized Kid hasn't done anything to her in less than ten seconds. She breathed, finally. But when she opened her eyes, she felt her blood rush to her face when she found Kid still looking at her sternly. Their faces were apart for a few inches already.

Kid was the first one to break the silence thickening between them. He let go of Crona's wrists and sprawled over his bed next to the pinkette. Crona, still shocked from what happened, didn't move an inch.

"Well, that's a relief."

"Wha-" she breathed.

A relief?

"Sorry to confuse you, Crona. I was just trying to see your reaction." He closed his eyes. "What a tiring day."

Crona quickly sat up on his bed and looked down on him. "Kid, just because you're the—" She noticed his bandages and suddenly felt her body weaken. She couldn't continue what she was going to say anymore.

"The what?" He opened his eyes and looked truly curious at her.

Crona shook her head. "You should be resting now."

"I would have gotten enough of it if I didn't have a lot of visitors."

"Visitors?"

"You were probably sleeping so you didn't notice." He looked away. For the first time, Crona found him handsome with the way his face looks so serious and his eyes so sincere. "Apparently, lots of people are excited to see me die." He laughed.

Crona wanted to laugh with him but she couldn't. "How could you joke about that?"

Kid stared at her. "How could you take it so seriously?"

Her gaze fell on to the white bedsheet. "I… I don't want it to happen."

He cupped her face with his hands and made her look into his eyes. "It won't. Atleast not until we find your father."

She held his hands and took them away from her face, feeling unworthy being touched by him on the face. "What if he doesn't want to be found?"

"He's your father. He should be taking care of you. He can't hide forever."

Crona was quiet for almost a minute as Kid tried to decipher her thoughts.

"It's not that I don't want you here." He stood up, tuck his hands into his pants' pocket and walked to his balcony.

Slowly, the pinkette's face lightened up after hearing what he said.

He rested his elbows on the balcony and gazed at the sparkling lake below. The wind played with his hair. "It's just that... you've been away from your father for a very long time. I thought maybe you should see how he's doing atleast." When he turned his face around, he saw Crona resting her side on the balcony door.

"I guess I'm just afraid he would say that I shouldn't have come."

He stepped closer to her. "I believe he wouldn't."

She watched his solemn, gold eyes piercing her soul. Her lips formed a gentle smile.

"Now, tell me, why did you look so rattled when you came here?"

The smile faded. "I saw someone who looked familiar."

"Familiar? Who?"

Crona wasn't sure if she should tell him.

Maybe they're close. Maybe he would betray me after I tell him.

"It's alright. You don't need to hide anything from me, Crona. If it's a secret, it will stay that way."

She looked at him in shock. Slowly, she felt that he could fully trust him already. She breathed deeply and looked away. After a few seconds, she finally spoke. "My mom... never came back."

Kid, intrigued by how she brought up the topic, stepped closer to listen more clearly.

"Then I... I met that guy outside a coffee shop, right before I met you. He... he was talking about mom." Her eyes gradually dilated, like a child being presented by a traumatic memory.

"What did he say?"

She began to recite the exact words of the man.

"He said..."

"What a beautiful woman she was who drove men crazy. Unfortunately, she ended up with me… a man of science, a man who's very curious. And do you know what I do when I'm curious?"

Kid squinted his eyes. He couldn't imagine his family doctor saying those words.

"He took out a scalpel."

"See this? This is what I use when I'm curious."

"He drew a circle on the wooden table, pierced the center with the tip of the scalpel and he said..."

Her voice started to shake.

"She had such a tight-"

"Enough," Kid said coldly.

Crona shuddered.

He doesn't believe me.

She felt like she was shrinking. For a second, she regretted telling him about it.

"I've heard enough. I'm sorry for what my uncle said. He must have been drunk that time."

Drunk? If only you could see his face!

"And even if he really did murder your mom, we don't have enough evidences of it yet." He held her shoulders firmly and once again looked into her eyes. "Crona, I believe in you," he whispered gently, "but my uncle is a strong man who hates to lose. Be careful around him. For the mean time, I'll search for evidences. Thank you for telling me about that."

Crona felt relieved.

Why did I ever doubt this guy?

For a brief moment there, she felt as if he's the only person she could trust.

"He didn't do anything wrong to you, did he?" she asked meekly.

Kid smiled. "That was what you were worried about? That's why you thought I was dead?"

Shyly, the pinkette nodded.

He patted her head and chuckled. "No, he just checked my wounds and listened to my heartbeat. He also gave me a few advice for my quick recovery. Don't worry. I'll be careful, too."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Master, dinner is ready."

"COMING!" Kid shouted at the door then faced Crona again. "We'll continue discussing this later. For now, stay in your room. I'll tell Maka to bring you food and stay with you until uncle leaves."

Crona nodded once again, this time, in an obedient manner. "Tomorrow, we shall leave for Royston." He took her hand in his and started walking across the room, into the hallways then he dropped her off at her bedroom door. "Keep your door locked," he instructed one last time in a whisper. "Goodnight." He planted a kiss on her forehead.

Crona closed the door behind her and sat on the floor. She felt like a little sister to Kid.

This warmth and protection... do I even deserve any of it?

She faced the ceiling, admired its intricate design and closed her eyes.