Chapter 6: Mossy Beginnings

A/N: Update time, thank you loyal few sticking with me.

"It has not been going well?" Loid spoke to his wife over the phone. It had been several days since Chise had entered their home and the girl had scarcely left her room. Choosing to remain huddled under blankets barely wanting to expose herself to anyone.

Tenuous was the situation as the spy only worried more and more about what was transpiring with the entire situation from where they had recovered her. The mental data he had stored from watching those videos were terrifying, but of course the knowledge of what they were keeping down was even more frightful.

Some type of experiment was going on and this poor girl was either the cause or just a part of it. Based on the videos he saw she was still incredibly young and this treatment had been going for some time. More than likely years further compounding whatever trauma she had even further.

Treatment was best kept out of sight from the public and decided after what was discovered to shelter her in place for the most part. Of course the goal was to extract her to the east but no one was going in and out of the country. The entire city was under martial law and the cover story he had fabricated for their new addition to the family wasn't fool proof. Nor could he just up and slip away with Chise and bring the progress of Operation Strix into question.

Without sureties in both sectors Twilight couldn't move…

"It's terrible Loid-San! I've even talked with Yuri about it but he said he was looking into any signs of previous maltreatment from where she came from but he hasn't found a single thing."

'Which is good… it means the forgeries are already in place.'

From the other end of the line he could hear Yor twirling the phone cord around her fingers. Her voice was still shaking slightly. "She's been suffering more panic attacks and just sticks to her room. I haven't been once able to coax her out ot just sit and enjoy lunch with us."

Loid was thankful that he had prepped several meal days in advance. "Have you been able to talk with her."

"I've tried," Yor replied. "But she just won't open up at all."

Loid knew all to well the struggles of isolation and depression, the spy life took enough of a toll on him. How would it go for an emotionally damaged teen thrust into an equally chaotic situation. He'd make a mental note to reach out to his handler to see if they could arrange something. Understanding the possibility of a ticking time bomb in his home as always a possibility.

"Maybe they don't want to hear how much we feel bad for her. Perhaps we should just be direct."

Anya stood off to the side watching her Mama speaking with Papa on the phone. They were having their discussion about their guest again, the scary girl. Nothing had changed and it wasn't like she was gathering any good intel. 'I've put the glass to the wall and herd nofin!' Anya recalling having tried to spy on any kind of information using a drinking glass but there wasn't a single sound.

Spying was impossible because scary girl never left her room. The few times she did which required Mama's help she was wearing a blanket or sheet and completely shaking. This just made the pink haired girls eyebrows fall flat as she wasn't able to come up with any type of way of gaining any kind of smarts about this Chise.

Anya thought about using the vents but that almost ended with her getting stuck and noting that the vents didn't lead to other rooms in the apartment. Another option would be to make some kind of hole in the wall but all of Papa's tools had been hidden away from her so she couldn't make any kind of spy hole.

There was only one other option! Direct espinach! Grabbing a tape recorder Anya had the perfect plan, she would strap a recording device to someone and when they walked in they could record everything. This would let her find out what was going on and then make a plan of attack.

Of course… This left very few options. Papa was out as was Mama… Her babysitter wouldn't go for it, not that he had been around since the excitement had unfolded at the home with the scary girl…

So this only left. Anya's head turned as Bond was attempting to stealthily walk out of the room. His body slightly lower and his head looking straight ahead until he realized that he was now being looked at.

Both of their eyes met and the parties had a long stare.

Then chaos, Yor heard it and turned to look back at Bond yelp and then observe Anya go following after him holding a long roll of tape. Both of the small terrors began rushing around the apartment,the large dog doing laps as it evaded Anya's intent for the first few laps but the girl had the fortune of not being chased.

Yor assumed it was harmless playing, equating the free spirited Anya to just having fun with her dog. "Get back here!" Anya decried furiously running after the dog, both of them panting although Anya's entire body was heaving as she held up the tape.

Bond released a yelp and tried to escape but his side fur was grabbed by his pursuer and brought her along with him.

"Play nice." The faux housewife called out as the two disappeared back into Anya's room.

Chist Hatori Sat quietly in the dimly lit room, her head buried in her own hands. She hadn't felt so isolated and alone. For so long she had relied upon Elias's protection it was the only way she felt grounded and safe. But without him, gone as he was, she was truly alone.

Her thoughts were swirling around in her head, each one spiraling the discontent within herself more than the days before. Memories of her torturous past haunting her, and she felt waves of fear continually wash over her. What if she wasn't safe here? What if these people were no different than the people in the white coats?

Shuddering at the mere thought of it, Chise tried to push it out of her mind. But it only persisted, crawling deeper into her skin making her feel just like she had been that tiny little girl all those years ago.

She just kept her eyes squeezed shut, Chise took a deep breath trying to remain in control of her fraying mental state. She knew she had to be strong, to have hope that Elias would return even though she felt completely tiny and insignificant without him. The words of Elias reassuring her and tearing her fraying mind apart. She longed for Elias, for the safety and comfort he provided simply by being by her side.

How much Chise wanted to find a way to face these fears on her own, to tell herself that she could be able to protect and rely upon her own personal strength. Wiping fresh tears from her eyes Chise tried to summon the courage.

But she completely faltered, deep down she knew she couldn't do this without him. She was all alone without him.

It was several minutes later that the door to Chise's room was opened and it was shoved by Bond. The dog making a few grunts of frustration but his burly white figure was unable to scratch his way out. Yet as the dog stuck his nose down the ground he could smell the salt in the air and fresh tears, probably even without his canine nose he could probably discern the crying that was going on.

Releasing a shake Bond tried to rid himself of the annoying tape strapped all over his body holding the large tape recorder strapped underneath his fur.

Still the dog had its mental struggles to overcome but given its temperament towards protecting others it felt a desire to protect. Taking a few steps forward into the room the light clack of its claws on the wood floor followed as he came around the side of the bed to a large figure hidden underneath the blanket. Sniffing along the ground he knew that this was where the girl with the black shadow was hiding herself.

Although cautious the dog knows the girl is suffering, the crying was like the whimpering of a pup crying. Bond's nose slipped underneath the sheet, his wet nose lifting up the sheet.

She couldn't see the face of her guest. But it was clearly not a person. It was the puppy, it stepped forwards releasing a slight gurgling sound but brought its nose into her knee. Touched by the wet nostril. She had never been around dogs before, she had been around Elias in a dog like form and ridden him around but a real life dog? Chise had no idea when she had ever been around one.

Neither side made any other movements, but Bond didn't feel any sort of malevolence in this person like the other humans he had been raised by. Terrified and scared, Chise didn't move. It then came a second later, Bond lifted more of the blanket up with his head and stepped closer to her.

She didn't flinch, not having the same fear of people as the dog's nose moved to her hand, giving it a cautious sniff. When nothing happened the dog then offered it a simple lick telling her hello.

It understood the reservations being shown by the girl so Bond didn't want to push it. Instead Bond let his caution pass by and laid his large fluffy body down along her feet.

Even with the dimness of the room. Chise could still the dog's features and its large dark eyes looking up at her. None of Elias's glowing red, but they had a uniqueness to their own. It was quiet for several minutes as Chise just sat there. Neither side moved or reacted to the other. Just giving one another space to process.

Bond didn't flinch or even acknowledge the feeling of fingers that slowly touched the top of his head. His eyes were sagging but made no effort to lift them. For but a moment Bond could see a future, one where he saw Chise smiling happily and as he tried to view the surrounding image he caught the brief sight of a man's face.

Only that future existed for but a moment before shattering back into the old one he had been foreseen many times ago. He just remained as he was, letting the tepid scratch of Chise's fingers run across his head.

Her fingers were still moving rhythmically but her mind was still elsewhere, glancing towards the window or door whilst keeping her body hidden from sight. Elias's absence was felt even more. The normal joys she felt when she got to pet Elias, enjoy the feeling of his soft fury, the warmth of his large body. But today was nothing like those days.

She couldn't imagine why he wasn't coming to find her. Was he too distracted by something? Was he perhaps unable to find her because he no longer recognized her? Chise no longer had her vibrant red hair, she was now dyed a pure midnight black. Those at the hospital said it would be safer if she didn't stand out so much and could be placed with relatives of her.

As Chise continued to pet Bond, her thoughts were unable to pull away from Elias. His absence was all consuming. She'd never been without him and his ability to take away her own personal desires and focus was all that mattered.

No peaceful moment could be enjoyed as her mind just remained heavy with the thoughts of never having him nearby again.

Sometimes later there was a gentle knock on the door was followed by the soft greeting as the wooden frame was pushed open. Yor poked her head inside of the room. "Chise-san?" Her voice trying to sound affirming and not overbearing. The girl needed her space, time to process and not be shoved into everything.

Everything was still dark and quiet, getting no real response. Not that Chise was ever really vocal, barely hearing the girl speak more than a word in a day. Still Yor entered wanting to look after her niece the false guilt still weighing heavily upon her.

As she took some steps in heard a commotion but it wasn't Chise, no Yor saw Bond get up from the room. Having missed that he had even came in and then trotted back out of the room. A small yelp followed as Anya no doubt set upon the dog the second he appeared.

Yor saw that Chise was still just in her same spot. 'Come on Yor! You have to be strong for her as you were for Yuri!' Psyching herself up, Yor decided to take a more direct approach. Whenever Yuri had shut down and struggled to keep going she had to do this.

Yor came over and without asking picked up the emotional teen and set her on the bed. Her blanket was not removed. Yor simply wrapped her arms around the girl's shaking shoulders as she gently stroked her hair. Yor could still smell the tears that had fallen although there wasn't any crying going on now.

She held her close, trying to ease her pain with the warmth of her embrace. She could feel the girl's heart beating fast, and she knew that the pain and hurt of her loss was something she knew inside of her.

As she held the girl, the thorn princess looked around the room, taking in the small details that were parts of any young girl's life. There were pictures on the walls, but none of them were 'her own'. Yor could tell that the girl had nothing to make the place feel truly like a home. The room had all of the amenities but something was missing.

Closing her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the girl's loss of security and loneliness. She tried to imagine what it would be like to be in the girl's shoes, to feel so alone and helpless.

As she held the girl, Yor realized that there was no need for words. Chise didn't need advice or platitudes, she just needed someone to be there for her, to hold her and let her know that she was not alone.

So she remained by her side, stroking Chise's hair and whispering gentle reassurances. She held her until the girl's breathing slowed and her body relaxed. This is why she was here right now, Yor could not undo what had been done but, she had given the girl the comfort and support that she needed. It would only be a process, but as she saw her niece not pulling away this was the first start.

[***]

Twilight and Nightfall sat in a small conference room, both looking tired and tense. Nightfall had been injured following her fight with the new threat Elias Ainsworth, but fortunately her injuries were not life-threatening. A few cuts, scrapes, and added stress was all she had at the moment.

"We need to figure out who this Elias really is," Twilight said, his voice low and urgent. 'They're extremely dangerous. We can't afford to underestimate them.' Seeing as how Nightfall had been forced into an altercation with this threat and based on her report there was something bizarre taking place with him.

Her notes detailed him traversing an entire floor soundlessly to the next. Second he spotted Nightfall's gaze and determined her a threat having no interaction with her but sight lines.

'Taking physical blows and pursuing Nightfall with attacks that were beyond perception…' The cuts on his students body were clear that the blows could've been fatal had they landed in a vital spot. The only reason they weren't was because of sharpened instincts, a thought he was thankful for imparting upon her.

Nightfall nodded, wincing as she shifted in her seat. "I've been analyzing all the data we have on them, but it's not much. They're operating with extreme caution and leaving little evidence behind." The way she had turned back upon seeing the guard be turned to ash before taking off on her motorbike. It was a harrowing thought to ignore.

Immensely powerful, quick, and intelligent. That was this Elias. "None of our files so far have any records of a man matching any sort of comparison to what I experienced that night."

Twilight leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Nightfall. "We need to move forward with even greater caution, this foe is a clear A level threat. I think he might be the person referenced by 01A."

Both of them grew quieter, thinking back to the name Chise had barked for profusely. She demanded Elias, pleaded for him to return. The connection would be unknown but for a force like that to appear shortly after her rescue and then this man making his appearance. There were coincidences or causation.

They would both lean towards the latter.

Nightfall frowned, her brow furrowed in thought. "What if we used 01A as a lure then? If he is related to the project perhaps he could be taken into custody and reveal the reasons for her being held beneath in a laboratory for as long as we believe?"

The other agent disagreed with any such gamble, " We should not act on incomplete information, I would only believe they would become further wary and not show themselves. Given that he was instantly suspicious, aggressive, and ruthless we could potentially jeopardize O1A and our own safety."

"We're not sure of his exact intentions and with limited time I think it best we try and provoke a reaction or see what his capabilities are." Twilight learned forward, his hands clasped together in front of him. "We must assume this agent is above our level and we can not afford to expose ourselves in any manner."

Fiona nodded in agreement, 'Of course Senpai would focus on personal safety. His concern for the two of us is perfect!' The deep thuddening of her personal affections wasn't on display as she spoke. "Drawing him out or the agency responsible for him will be challenging."

Loid leaned back in his chair and took a moment to run his hand through his hair. "Given how he appeared in such an estate and amongst more high ranking Nobility perhaps we pose the idea of an assassination attempt against a government agency. We look to pit two factions against each other, no doubt the military crackdown and elites in the area might see it as an infringement upon their authority and stir up a government response."

"That is risky Twilight," Her eyebrows raised in surprise at the suggestion. "It could gain the attention of those higher up but we could be sparking further action against us."

Loid nodded but continued, "We do not know if the lines of communication between the differing agencies are still intact. We can use this as an information gathering mission and perhaps discover if the Eastern governments authority is still unified or not." It was not the time for complete passivity. The agent knowing that they had to become offensive if not they would be strictly playing defense and that gave rise to more problems. "I'll speak with our Handler and see if the idea is worthy of merit. Either than that return to the hospital and maintain your cover."

"Hai," Was all Fiona said watching as Loid gathered his belongings and went to see if they could look to begin pushing back against this new threat until it ran upon them.

It was later that evening where Loid's handler began to speak in her low, calm voice. "Loid, your plan is to draw out Elias Ainsworth? Under the assumption that he is top agent for the Eastern Government. I must say that is quite the proposition there are numerous risks involved with the unknown and given the precariousness of the situation."

Sylvia leaned forward, her piercing eyes fixed on Loid. "Are you thinking this will be the fight answer," she said.

Loid unfolded a piece of paper and slid it across the table. "I've created several different fake assassination plots, each one designed to draw out a different agency force. We'll make it look like someone is targeting high-level government officials, but in reality, it will be us pulling the strings."

Sylvia picked up the paper and scanned the list of assassination plots. "This is ambitious, Loid. Are you sure that you can pull it off?"

Loid grinned. "Of course. Fiona was able to handle herself well against this agent completely unprepared. But this won't be anything reckless, but an intel gathering one. We don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves and simultaneously put the heads against each other in the east."

Sylvia made no gesture merely taking a law draw from her cigarette sitting beside her. "What about Elias Ainsworth? How do we know which fake assassination plot will draw him out?"

Loid leaned forward, his expression serious. "We don't. That's the beauty of it. We'll let the Eastern Government agents come to us. And when they do, we'll be ready for them."

Sylvia leaned back in her chair, exhaling another draw of her cigarette. "Bold and reckless. Very well I'll allow this mission to continue under the pretense of information gathering only, we are not to stoke any further flames of conflict until we can resolve to take CH-01A out Berlint."

Loid nodded and stood up. "I'll have the team start working on the assassination plots right away."

"I wish you luck Twilight and don't forget your other duties back at home." His handler said coldly, reminding him that he wasn't to lose sight of his other objectives. "This is another battle not a war."

[***]

A gathering was held at an undisclosed location, a group of high-ranking officials gathered around a large conference table, discussing the rapid dissemination of information about an alleged assassination attempt targeting upwards of several top officials, the current standing army colonel in charge of the lockdown, Fritz Luddendorf, the police chief of staff Bethany Corda, and the last possible target was as yet unknown as it all sides were willing to point fingers but not assume that they weren't one themselves. However, there is a sense of distrust and tension in the room. Each occupant seems to be watching the others closely, suspicious of everyone else's motives.

One of the officials, a man with a sharp tongue and a cold demeanor, begins to speak. "We can't rely on our current secret police forces and standard field operatives given this is coming from within." This was a golden opportunity for lower status individuals to rise in the ranks. If the attempt went through it would prove incompetence and damage their own social standing. They had concerns given their interactions with Lord desmond and what ever rock solid position they thought they might have could be eroded with his permission

"Since the parties here have become less than trustworthy I suggest we put forth my newest subject. As we all agree we need someone who is unpredictable, untraceable, and ruthless. Someone who won't hesitate to do what needs to be done, even if it means going against our own people."

Another official, a woman with a calculating gaze, looked on in disgust. "I know that you are not suggesting that subject," she says in a low voice. "Your little pet project? It is extremely powerful, but it has a mind of its own. You can not fully control it and expect it to do the right thing by our values?"

The room falls silent as the woman continues. "I don't trust your pet project, It cost us almost a million marks to repair the damage it caused and all of the research and work put into it gave us nothing to show for it. CH-01A is still missing and when you sent it out on your little errand at a gathering attended by my own daughter it butchered several guards and destroyed a section of the building and after that you believe you can control it?"

The other officials exchange uneasy glances, but they are put into a position to support the man who has a possible ace up his sleeve or roll the dice.

"Your skepticism is merely a lack of understanding. In fact… Dear Elias, step forward." The man was almost grinning as the entire room watched as they felt the heavy thud of his footsteps and as the room turned to the man who had behind him a massive towering black figure with red eyes and a wolven skull face. "Elias is here right now, He performed his duties admirably and now some of you wish to tell he is wrong?"

The handler for Elias was showing all of those involved who was in charge here, it was a blanket threat now for all involved. "You see the faster I can speed up the process of gaining power, the faster I give my friend here," His hand gestured to the ominous figure. "What he wants, and all he wants is our cooperation. Now do we have any further objections?"

It was like playing with a loaded gun, instead of a sharp painful experience it would be one filled with sharp claws and large teeth, or if unfortunate his unbridled strength. They were forced to agree to the plan, but they would never stop scheming against one another. Elias was just one in the long list of toys or ideas brought to the table. It was probably the most deadly and viscous one so far but it still had limits.

"He can still not be trusted." The woman objected, "He swears loyalty only to you and for all we know he could easily be the instrument you planted!" A straightforward accusation.

Elias remained silent, his tall figure casting a menacing shadow over the room. His presence alone was enough to intimidate even the bravest of men. He was a shadow of death, a living specter. He only seemed to grow more menacing as the very air in the room became stifling. As he leaned forwards, his large hands placed upon the polished wood table.

His gaze fell to each and every single member in sight. Most weren't able to stomach his gaze for more than a few seconds before feeling repulsed or frightened and then looking away.

Elias's eyes glinted with a dangerous light. He slowly dragged one finger across the table but split the wood in the section he pressed into puncturing it with unrestrained raw power in his body.

One of them gulped audibly, his eyes widening with fear. "W-What is he doing?" he stammered.

Elias finally spoke in a low, menacing voice, "I am showing you what might be the consequences of denying me. I do not care if you trust me or not. We either work together, or you can suffer the consequences." Then at once his shadow spread across the room each member felt the tight curls of his tendrils span around their legs and thighs. Like a painful rosebush latching onto them. Some reacted in stark panic thinking he meant to attack and tried to leave but further dug the barbs into their skin others failed to move, too terrified of this unknown creature.

All of these damn roaches, they were but the grime that should be picked free from his teeth their essence would be but indigestion for him. The game he was being forced to play only dragged him down further.

He wanted Chise Hatori, she was his. Sleigh Beggy and the aura radiating around her. He wanted to have her reach out to touch his arm, and feel that surge of euphoria run through him, a feeling that he had never experienced before in his long, millennia-old life until he shared it with her for these past years every single day.

He loved the physical contact between them, the way her touch sent shivers down his spine and made him feel alive. He couldn't get enough of her, and he knew that she was his drug but it was unlike the vermin with their plants and substances. Her mere presence, her blood, and her aura gave him a feeling that nothing in his existence could compare to.

Elias couldn't help but feel a lingering haunt within himself. He knew that every day without Chise would be a struggle, a constant battle against his own desires. He didn't want to be without her, to be away from the feeling of her skin against his, the warmth of her breath on his neck, the sound of her heartbeat in his ears. But all of that was now gone and he was becoming desperate… so very desperate.

His once simple existence had easily become an obsession, a dangerous addiction. He had lost control himself; he had bathed in the rivers of pure pleasure with her at his side for almost a decade and without it he was losing control.

How even a breath of her scent would send him into bliss now he longed for the scraps of her that remained. He had done almost everything that he could do to protect her, to keep her safe and by his side. Because without her, he had nothing.

He remembered the days when Chise Hatori was just his little girl, living in a sterile lab with no one to turn to but him. He had been her father, her protector, and her only friend, and she had been completely dependent on him emotionally.

He remembered how she had clung to him, how she had looked only to him for his trust and affection. In those days, he had been her entire world, and she had been his.

But now, as he looked back on those days, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of resentment towards the vermin around him. He had been so focused on protecting her, on keeping her safe from the dangers of the world, that he had never truly expected the scum to rise up against him and to threaten him into a position that he was in now.

He remembered how she had grown and changed, how she had become a young woman right before his eyes. And yet, he had always seen her as a child, it was his fault she was gone.

Now, as he thought about all the lost time, he realized that he had been blind to the fact that they were always plotting against him. His own hubris had been the only reason for his fall. He needed to evolve… Fear wasn't enough anymore for these pathetic creatures… no they needed something else.

R&R