And I'm here again! Sorry for the seemingly slightly late update. I'm getting scolded here for posting these kind of stuff late XD but nevertheless, I'll continue to update this fanfic! No way in hell am I leaving it XDD
Take note that this time, it's Baskerville-centric, or rather, Reo-centric. Take this as a very small breather :D
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pandora Hearts, or any of its characters. Pandora Hearts belongs to Jun Mochizuki.
Enjoy the show, if you can! *hides in torn box*
XIV. Preparation
While tension was building up once again inside the Rainsworth mansion, the Baskerville household, on the other hand, were just recovering from the events. However, they seem to be almost ready, with Rufus Barma on their side.
All members of the said household were busy, taking a bit of time off before getting serious once again.
Lily, one of the members, continued to spend her time either bothering the others or playing with them. Either ways, both methods seem to make her happy. She's tried to go to Zwei, Rufus, Zai, and Vincent, but somehow, they seemed to busy. Reo would have played with her, only if Vincent had permitted him. So far, the only people who could tolerate her are Charlotte and Dug.
"Big Sister! Big Sister! Dug!" Lily called, her voice full of excitement.
"Oh, hello, Lily~" Charlotte responded, a big smile on her petite face.
Lily tiptoed a bit to peek at Charlotte's lap. "What'cha doing, Big Sis?" she asked, wide-eyed.
"Well," Charlotte said, looking at Lily, "I'm just fixing up my cloak and checking my face on the mirror from time to time… nothing big in particular~"
"How 'bout you, Dug?" Lily asked, turning to the big, cloaked man sitting next to Charlotte.
"Same as Charlotte," he answered, his tone emotionless and dull.
"I see…" Lily said, looking at both of them. Then she brought up the real reason she was there at that moment. "Hey guys, do you want to play with me for awhile?"
Charlotte's face turned from happy to slightly sad. "I'm sorry, Lily, but… I'm a bit busy preparing, since we'll strike again in a few days. And I think Dug is, too. Also, we were ordered not to play around too much," she replied, frowning.
"Awwwwww~" Lily replied, pouting.
"But don't worry, when all of this is totally over, you can play with us for as much as you want!" Charlotte said, smiling once again. "How does that sound?"
"Really? Yay! That'd be cool! Thanks Big Sis!" Lily exclaimed, squealing.
"You're very much welcome, Lily," Charlotte answered.
With that said, Lily left the room and went out of the mansion, bouncing all the way.
Charlotte watched Lily on her way out, then sighed. "I guess we should let her be like that for awhile, hm?" she asked, looking at Dug. Dug, on the other hand, simply nodded.
In another room, Zwei, Vincent and Reo were together.
Reo was sitting up on the bed, reading a red-covered book, but this time, he was no longer wearing his glasses. Vincent was sitting near Reo's bedside. Zwei, on the other hand, was having a conflict inside her, probably because it was Echo's turn to show up on the surface.
"Now, now, Zwei, enough with your struggling. It's Echo's turn," Vincent said, smiling a bit.
"But, Master Vincent… I want to stay longer! I want to stay here! I'm more useful than her, right? Master Vincent?" Zwei retorted, a crazed expression plastered on her face.
"I know, Zwei, and you know that I think of you more highly than Echo, but no matter what your reason is… you have to be fair with her. So, please, follow my order?" Vincent asked in a polite manner.
Zwei sighed. "Fine. As long as it's Master Vincent's order, I'm willing to follow it!" As soon as she said that, she stopped struggling, making her unconscious for a few seconds. Then all of a sudden, her expression changed from a crazed one to a calm, emotionless one. This was her transformation, from Zwei to Echo. From a Noise of Echo, to an Echo of Noise.
And after that, Zwei, who was now Echo, changed her clothes on the spot, from the blood-red Baskerville robe, to a blue and white uniform.
As Vincent watched this, Reo looked at her 'transformation' and began to talk.
"It really is interesting how Zwei switches to Echo and vice versa. Confusing and interesting, that's the best way to describe it," Reo stated, narrowing his eyes a bit.
"And it's interesting to note how you seem to be interested in her… particularly when she's Echo. You seem to like, in my personal point of view," Vincent responded, looking at Reo.
"Well, personally, for some reason, I'd prefer Echo over Zwei," Reo said. Vincent gave him a weird look. "No exact reason, really. Don't look at me like that," he continued, defensive.
"Is that so…" Vincent replied, smirking a bit. "Oh well, I guess I'd better leave you with her for a while." After saying this, Vincent motioned for Echo to come closer. "Echo."
"Yes, Master Vincent?" Echo asked, staring at him.
"Please keep Master Reo company for the meantime, for I still need to do something downstairs. You understand that, Echo?" he said, showing his usual smile.
"Yes, Master Vincent. As you wish," Echo responded, keeping up a straight face.
"That's good. I shall take my leave then, for now. If you'll excuse me…" and with that, Vincent closed the door.
As soon as he left, Echo sat at the same place Vincent sat. Reo continued reading the book he was holding, while Echo simply sat there, staring straight off ahead.
But during that awkward silence, Reo couldn't help but look at Echo from time to time. Finally, Reo spoke.
"Um, Echo?" Reo asked.
"Yes, Master Reo?" she replied, still not looking in his direction.
"It's been a long time since we talked to each other casually, right?" Reo asked, smiling a bit.
"Yes," Echo replied, keeping up her short response.
"Well, to be honest, I have a small request for you," Reo said, "if it's not a big deal for you."
"What is it?" Echo asked, finally looking at Reo.
"Mm… how should I say it… when we're alone together, if possible… please don't call me 'Master'," he said.
"Eh? Why? Echo doesn't understand you," she replied, a curious look on her face. This face of hers is rare, Reo thought. Wait, why am I thinking like this?
"It's just… I don't know, it's just too awkward. Also, it won't matter if I become head of the Baskervilles, since… since we both used to be on the same position, so…"
Reo was about to say something else, but Echo cut him off.
"Echo understands now. I will try doing that, even if it seems a bit difficult… Master Re— no, Reo. Is that fine?" Echo asks, her voice remaining monotone.
"I'd appreciate that," he replies, smiling a bit. Then he suddenly remembers something. "Echo?"
"Yes?"
"How does it feel when you… transform? Or whatever you call that?" Reo asked, curious.
"Eh? Transform?" Echo asks, looking down.
"You know… you turn into Zwei, right?" he asks again.
"Well…" Echo says, keeping up a silent response.
Reo, thinking that his question offended her, started gesturing nervously. "You don't have to tell me if you feel like doing so!"
Echo shook her head. "No… it's okay." Strange, she thought. "This is similar to the way Master Oz asked me about Master Vincent…"
Oz-kun… Reo thought.
"Anyways, to be honest, Master Reo— er, Reo… it hurts. Echo thinks it's painful," she continues, her eyes remaining downcast.
"Painful?" he asked, confused.
Echo nodded in response. "It's as if… I was being stabbed. But as soon as Echo stops struggling and resisting the pain, I don't know anymore. It'll be Zwei who feels the rest."
"Echo…"
"But no one would care about that anymore. Because I'm just an echo, an Echo of Noise. I'm just someone sharing the body of another…"
"Echo, tell me. How long has this been going on?" Reo asked. Might as well continue asking, he thought.
"I don't remember anymore… it's already a long time. Besides, how would Echo know about that? Echo doesn't own this body anyway. Perhaps you should ask someone else," she answered, her tone showing her defensiveness.
"No, no need for that… I don't want to look as though I'm meddling with your past life. Or whatever it is," Reo said, smiling a bit.
"Well, I think Echo needs to take her leave. I can hear Master Vincent's footsteps," she stated, looking at the door.
Sure enough, the door opened, and there was Vincent back again. "Echo, you may leave now," he says, smiling.
Echo bowed, then walked quietly out of the room. Reo sighed.
"So, when shall we go back there again, Master Reo?" he asked in a casual tone.
Reo first looked at his book, then at Vincent. Then he answered, "In three days."
Vincent looked back at Reo, then he thought about his decision. Then he smiled once again. "Three days it is, then. I will go and notify the others, then."
"You do that."
"But before that," Vincent said, grinning, "I want to ask you something first. Exactly what did you do on that day?"
"What do you mean?" Reo asked, tilting his head slightly.
"What I'm asking is… are you really going to strike this time, or do you have something else in mind?"
Reo sighed once more. "To be honest, I do… but it's between him and me once again, I'm afraid. Remember this, Vincent… you and the others will not make a move unless I say so, do you understand?"
"Of course, Master Reo," he responded, bowing a bit. "As you wish."
After Vincent answered, Reo put on his glasses once again and smirked a bit. Hopefully he cooperates with me this time, he thought.
And that's chapter 14! Sorry for the seemingly boring title… but I think that's more appropriate.
And as always, I've given a hint of one of my favorite pairings in PH~ Although it's impossible, heck who knows, they might know each, both being servants XD (I assume you now know who it is? :D)
FAST TRIVIA: Did you know that this is different from my original draft? I always put additional words in the final story, so… yeah, if you read my drafts (which are always don at about 1AM-3AM, that's my writing sched and art sched)
So, as always, Reviews/Comments/Criticisms/Suggestions? I'll wait! XD