Chapter Three: The Request
Kosuke Asuzuki stood outside the large building his spiky red hair blowing in the breeze as his green eyes flashed underneath his pair of yellow tinted glasses that lay close to the edge of his nose. Next to him stood a girl named Ryo who could have easily looked like she was in grade school, but was in fact older than Kosuke by a year. Her long silverish hair was tied back in two pigtails by orange ribbons. Her big eyes focused on her companion as he huffed angrily pulling himself away from the wall.
"What the hell is this meeting all about anyway?" he replied as he began to pace.
"I don't know Kosuke" Ryo said with a frown, "Eyes said it was important."
"Then why are we waiting outside like this? Shouldn't we go up?"
"Mnm" she shook her head, "He said a certain time, it would be rude for us to arrive before hand. Besides we're waiting for Ryouko."
"Oh yea. Good point" he nodded scratching the back of his head.
"Can't believe you have forgotten about me all ready" a strong feminine voice spoke up from behind.
Kosuke and Ryo turned to see another girl arrive at the front of the fancy apartment. Her short tan hair was shining as the sun hit it and her hazel eyes focused on the two that stood in front of her.
"Any idea what Rutherford has called this meeting for?" she asked with her hand on her right hip.
"We were just wondering that ourselves" Kosuke replied with a frown, "He didn't explain it to you?"
"No."
"Well now that we're all here" Ryo said, "I guess we'll go up."
They nodded and were about to follow her when they heard a pair of footsteps behind them. Instinctly they turned around and were surprised to see Ayumu and Hiyono staring back at them.
"Hiyono?" Ryo replied her eyes wide.
"Little Narumi?" Kosuke said equally surprised, "What are you doing here?"
"Huh" Ayumu smiled slightly, "Apparently, he didn't tell you that I was coming."
"Who didn't?" Ryouko asked moving up next to Kosuke.
"Rutherford. He called me up last night and asked me to be here at one o'clock this afternoon. I guess he forgot to mention that I was coming."
"Sorry to barge in this like this" Hiyono added with a sheepish grin.
"Well if Eyes asked you here" Ryo said, "Then this must be a very important meeting."
"Yea" Kosuke nodded, "And I think we have stayed out here way to long. Let's go find out what he wants" the three Blade Children entered the large apartment doors with Ayumu and Hiyono close behind them.
(Next Scene)
Eyes Rutherford heard the doorbell ring as he sat at his piano. He stood up from his seat and walked over to a wall pressing a button.
"Come on in" he said into the box after Kosuke spoke in the other, and the next instant Kosuke followed by Ryo and Ryouko entered the room.
"Hey there Eyes" Ryo replied with a smile.
"Hello Ryo. Ryouko. Kosuke" he nodded, "And where's?"
As if on cue Ayumu and Hiyono entered the apartment.
"Ah Little Narumi. And Miss Yuizaki, welcome to my home" he bowed politely.
"Thank you" Hiyono nodded appreciatively as they walked into the spacious room.
"Nice place you have got here Rutherford" Ayumu observed, "But don't you think you need more furniture?"
"I am hardly ever here" Eyes retorted walking back over to the piano as Hiyono took a seat next to Ryouko and Ryo on the couch.
Kosuke walked over to the large windows and stood against them with his arms crossed.
"All right Rutherford what's going on?" Kosuke said, "It's obvious that it's important since you saw it fit for Little Narumi to be here."
"I will get to that soon Kosuke" Eyes replied frowning a little, "But first I think I need to give a little more information to him and Miss Yuizaki."
"Information?" Ayumu raised an eyebrow.
"That's correct" Eyes nodded, "I think it's time you knew a little bit more about us. Especially since the reason I asked you over here is linked to it."
"All right."
"You already know a little about us, such as the fact that we are missing a rib on the right side of our ribcage."
"Yes" Ayumu nodded, "I'm aware of that."
"But I'll bet you didn't know that, that is because we are second string."
"Huh?"
"Kosuke, Ryo, Ryouko, and myself, and even Sayoko are all second string Blade Children, meaning we were of the second batch of Blade Children."
"Batch?"
"You make yourselves sound like a bunch of cookies or something" Hiyono replied.
"In a matter of speaking you could consider us something that was created much like cookies. You have already established that we are not ordinary humans."
"Well that's for sure" Ayumu nodded crossing his arms his eyebrows beginning to furrow, "So?"
"The thing is, there are many other Blade Children out there in the world besides us. All over the world in fact."
"The only problem is" Kosuke interrupted angrily his fist slightly raised, "Is that many organizations such as the Hunters have been extinguishing them one by one."
"Yes" Eyes nodded, "There are very few left compared to what there used to be. You see the evolution of the Blade Children is broken up into three different groups."
"Three groups?" Ayumu said.
"The third group consists of children who are in grade school right now" Ryo replied her head bent sadly, "They were the last group of Blade Children to be created by our father. The second group are Blade Children like us, the ones missing their fourth rib on the right side."
"And the last group" Ryouko continued, "The high ranking group consisted of the Blade Children who were our leaders. The one's who were smarter, faster, and far more deadly then any of us."
"Kanone is one of them," Eyes said raising his blue eyes.
"What? Hilbert. He's one of the first Blade Children?" Ayumu replied surprised.
"Yes. He was one of our leaders at a time."
"But I still don't understand" Ayumu said, "What exactly are the Blade Children? Why on earth are they being hunted? What were they created for?"
"These are questions that are justified" Eyes nodded, "But I cannot reveal the truth about them just yet. It's not yet time."
"Well then what is the right time Rutherford?" Ayumu replied angrily his eyebrows completely furrowed, "You've been telling me that for months."
"It will be soon, I promise you. But now I must tell you why I asked you here, you especially" he looked directly at the frowning boy.
"Huh?"
"Little Narumi, we Blade Children have decided to trust your abilities to save us, with that in mind I must ask something of you."
"What is it?"
"I have to go out of town for a few days and it's not that I don't trust Kosuke or the others to do this, but this is very important to me and to the other Blade Children in the long run."
"Rutherford" Kosuke said in a huff, "Just spit it out would ya?"
"I found someone the other day. Someone I never thought I would see again."
"What do you mean Eyes?" Ryo asked her eyes becoming wide.
"She was lying on the sidewalk unconscious, and it seemed like she had been in some kind of trouble. When she came to she recognized me at once."
"Eyes" Ryouko said slowly, "Could it really be.."
"Yes. It's Samantha."
"Huh?" Kosuke's eyes became wide as well as Ryo gasped, "How? When?"
"Just three days ago. I have been taking care of her ever since. Little Narumi I do have a big favor to ask of you, but I was wondering if you would do me a small one right now?"
"What is it?"
"I would like it, if you would talk to her? She has been wondering about you and wants to meet you."
"I will on one condition, who is she?" he asked still frowning.
"Her name is Samantha Kinomto. She is one of the Blade Children and not only that she is one of the First" Eye's eyes became serious as Ayumu stared back with his own eyes surprised by this revelation, "Will you accept my request?"
"What is your other request?" he said.
"After you meet her" Eyes replied urging him, "I promise I will tell you."
Ayumu took one look at Hiyono, nodded, and then followed Eyes down the hallway, who was leading him towards the bedroom where Samantha had been the past three days.
(To be continued…)