Bookman Junior, commonly known by his 49th alias: Lavi, has been part of so many wars that he already lost count of them and he's the type of person that always remembers things of that subject so that's saying something. Despite of that, he could still accurately describe each battle, each bloodshed, each lost, each victory he has seen in great detail. He's a Bookman apprentice; it's a mandatory skill for the job.
He's also proud to say that he is a very good actor. True, a Bookman has to be neutral at all times, a person who has no heart yet it doesn't change the fact that they have to immerse themselves in each war. To be able to record accurate history, one must become part of it. To see what their subjects see, to experience their struggles to achieve realism to their accounts, to have the information first hand: raw, candid, pure facts of wars.
To immerse themselves means to march as soldiers as well. He doesn't have any complaints about it since the field is full of action. There's no boring day in the battlefields. In there, he could adopt a wide range of different fighting styles. He could learn a lot about the practice of medicine. He could study various languages. It's a practically goldmine of knowledge. He could never pass off the opportunity to experience that. The only problem with the task is the people that they will work with. It's understandable though. The Bookman clan are neutral in all wars. They are just there to merely observe and record. They wouldn't bat an eye if one of the subjects dies unless it will directly affect their well beings. They could easily switch sides, like flipping a coin, whenever the tides turn against their own survival if they stayed in such group a second more. They could withhold important information from the people. They could leak out plans to the enemies if it's for their self-preservation. In, short, they can never be trusted because they are not with them. They don't sympathize with them. They don't fight with them in the truest essence. They are just working together since the roads towards their respective goals are just the same. They are harmless because they don't side with anyone but they are more dangerous because they don't side with anyone.
Now, one can't obtain accurate recordings if the subjects are wary of you. That will mess up the whole story. The information will be incomplete. The sense of realism in the history will never be achieved since the events that will be witnessed are coated with lies and suspicion. They have to gain their trust, curry their favours, worm their way through their subjects' hearts to be able to record them for what they really are. For who they really are.
Bookman, good for him, doesn't need to act. He already has the aura of wisdom that would make anyone want him on their side. Knowledge is as good as any kind power found in any battlefield or perhaps even more. As for him, the apprentice, he has to make ends meet. He's young whom norms dictate as brash, careless, thoughtless, and inexperienced. If Bookman is not trusted by the people, then what more if it is him? That's where his talent of acting comes in.
Over the years, Bookman Junior have already undertaken many aliases, acted many roles, and exuded many personalities. He considers it a great accomplishment that each of his so called "identities" was successful in recording the war each has participated in. Nobody second guessed him. By acting as an ordinary boy, or a jaded child, or an innocent grandson, or a vagrant pervert… you name it. He has done it all and everybody fell for him, thinking along the lines of "This kid's no Bookman. He's too normal. He's too emotional. He's too young. He's too cute and blah blah blah". And they trusted him because of that faces, acts…personas. They lower the guards they've made around themselves whenever he comes because he can "connect" with them. For those people, he is just like them. He laughs with them. Hides with them. Runs with them. Fights with them. He's part of their camaraderie. Oh but how wrong they're actually were.
Bookman doesn't approve his method of observations. It takes him too close to the subjects. He could be strayed from their objectives if he gets too interactive with them but he doesn't mind. This method delivers optimum results. The subjects themselves are revealing their true nature to him. And with that, Bookman Junior always always gets an accurate recording.
Now aside from sharp memories and acting skills, he also developed an ability to detect patterns in the field he's working on. Every occurrence in this world has a pattern, a never ending cycle. First there's peace. Then war. Then peace. Then war and so on and so forth. Come to think of it, the longer the peace anyone encounters, the greater the strife people will suffer through. In Bookman Junior's perspective, such pattern seems to be the law of the universe: Misfortune will always strikes when one least expects it.
Eventually, this became his hobby. He tends to search patterns through each job he and Bookman went to as a game. He finds it hilarious as well as amazing. For him to be able to see the signs before anyone of his so called comrades do so, to be able to predict the outcomes of the battle, to be able to guess when the next ambush will come, to have his speculations confirmed on who's going to die next, it was an exhilarating feeling for him to be able to know something no one else does not. A secret. It makes him feel more special, more superior. It's fun. It was fun.
He doesn't understand himself as he looked around the wrecked ship. He could smell smoke and blood. He could hear the groans and moans of pain and death and despair. It's not something new but somehow he felt something is odd in the aftermath of the battle… like there's definitely something there that wasn't there before. It's a very subtle but significant difference and he's anxious of not knowing what exactly that difference is. He's a Bookman apprentice! He should, no, must be able to identify it right away.
Of course, Bookman Junior is not stupid enough to not see this kind of rotten luck coming. In fact, he has been expecting it what with the continuous streak of fortune they've been having recently: surviving a battle against a Noah, finding Cross' location, encountering a very gorgeous Chinese lady, having a ship immediately prepared to set sail for Japan, having the crew of said ship respect and accept them… really, they were just the most delectable bait for Eris. And when the killing strike did come, he would have smiled with glee at having his assumptions true once again, but somehow he didn't. Lavi didn't. Lavi refused to do so. How come? It was just a same old same old occurrence. It had happened before. It just happened. And it will happen. Again and again and again. So why? He thought as he looked at the direction of the mountains and…
"I saw something. Just now. Something sparkling way out there." He said.
"Something bad is happening." The muscled she-man, Mahoja, announced. "The dawn looks as though it's spilled with blood."
Congratulations! You finally noticed! Bookman Junior resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he observed the sunrise. But he have to give her some credits, her observation is accurate. The rising sun had never looked so bloody red to him before. And then, like a bolt out of the blue, he finally identified the difference he is experiencing at the moment. True, there is no change in his surroundings. Blood, death, destruction…The scenario is still the same but… himself? Deep within him a change has happened and it's gravely affecting his perception. Lavi is different. Bookman Junior doesn't know what to do with it. How would he deal with this? This has never happened before. His persona, his mask, is starting to develop a mind of its own. Lavi is coming to life.
He never got to finish his musings as he heard his alias called out. He looked below and saw Lenalee: face streaked with tears and blood, clothes ripped from the hard battle fought. Her hair a tangled mess. Her violet eyes pleading and desperate.
"Help me!" she said.
Bookman Junior knew this will end into something horrible. It's the law of the universe. It's an observed fact. It's something his experience has always proved. There's nothing to be surprised about it.
So why?
Why do I feel afraid?
Sufficient to say, the Asian Branch has never been this active before. The place has always lived by routinely activities that could possibly kill a person to death by sheer boredom…unless the Guardian Fou found it better to do it personally instead. The last time the branch did become lively was when…it's something most people find better buried in the past. The incident was nothing but bad and horrid memories. But now, as scientists and finders bustled around and around, Yao found the new atmosphere to be…suffocating.
He and Zhou immediately reported the suspicious incident and presented the three children to the director after their encounter with them. As Zhou have predicted, they were taken off duty in the Innocence search… The downside, they were hounded by Director Chan and other scientists with questions after questions after questions. No wonder. A white monster, most likely an Akuma, being destroyed by a tree branch wielded by a ten year old? That is one serious case that simply screams "INNOCENCE!" It also gave hope to the entire branch as it posed the potential of finding two pieces of Innocence in the vicinity. But then, the scientists were never satisfied with that. They said that that information was not enough. How did the Akuma die? How does it look like? Was it a level two? The questions are annoying and their colleagues' sense of curiosity is driving Yao and, even if he doesn't say it aloud, Zhou absolutely crazy. Worst is that they don't really know the answers themselves as well. The Akuma was already gone when they arrived at the scene. All they could do was relay the children's accounts of the event again and again.
This scenario was what transpired for hours and hours. They never got to rest. The children got some shut-eye though. The director had them secured in one of the billions of rooms in the entire branch for further observation. The boy might be an accommodator. Lucky them. Yao thought bitterly. But they deserved it. They need it more and we do. He sighed as he remembered the children's faces in their encounter last night. Horror stricken. Confused. Afraid. Yao's lips twitched into a smile as he remembered the brat that hit him with the "magical" branch. And brave definitely brave.
"You're enjoying this?" Zhou asked him. They're still confined in the director's office. Apparently, the Great Lord Bak needs to have a re-run of questions to them again.
"And what's making you think I do?" Yao frowned. "Your plan backfired! Insurance my ass."
"How am I supposed to know everything will end up like this?" the younger man retorted. "I just did what I thought is best at that time." His tone containing a hint of wistfulness.
Something's off with that statement. "Best for us or…best for the children?" Yao queried.
He was only answered with silence. Zhou glared at him. Then decided to avoid eye contact with him and opted to glare at the stacks of files and folders in the director's table instead. A very defensive reaction. Yao whistled. Then he chuckled.
"What's so funny?" Zhou demanded. It was one of the things he hates: People laughing for no apparent reason at all. It's highly insulting.
"It's just that-" Yao gave the widower a soft smile, an expression rarely seen in the middle-aged man. "It's just that last night, I thought you finally lost it. I mean…You trying to run out of a finder's job?" he shook his head in disbelief. "And here I was, thinking that you finally got pass your duty over life motto when you-"
Yao didn't need to finish his statement to make a point. Zhou understood what he was trying to say already. "They're just children, Yao. We…I…I couldn't just leave them there."
"And what made you think that you will have to abandon them just like that?" Yao asked with a hint of incredulity in his voice. This spells awkwardness for Zhou.
"Uh…No offence it's just that you…" Better to say it now than later "You seem the type of person to stop me from doing that." Zhou blurted out.
Yao's face morphed into different looks in an instant: first concern, then surprise, then of fury, and then a face of… acceptance? Zhou was confused with the last display of emotion on his fellow finder's face but one thing is for sure. He had offended him. Big. Time. He was about to elaborate, or whatever else he could do to alleviate the shame he cast upon Yao when the director came into the office looking dishevelled. He has bags in his eyes. His blonde hair and clothes were a bit tousled. The Fallen Incident took a toll on him. As the Head of the Asian Branch, Bak Chan has his hands full in making a comprehensive report about The Fallen, what had happened to the Fallen, its power, the Innocence, and other science mumbo jumbo that Yao and Zhou would be more than happy to never know.
Bak flopped down at the chair behind his desk, pinching his nose bridge to relieve the headache. He was bone tired and absolutely stress out with the situation.
"Good…" he checked the clock in the room for time and "…morning, Yao, Zhou." Time flies when you're extremely busy. "Now, I'm sure both of you knew about the issue of the Fallen." The two finders only nodded in agreement. "Fallens are created when the Innocence rejects the accommodator. Rejection happens to those that the Innocence has not chosen."
Yao had already set-up himself in ignoring the expected director's monologue when the surprising statement sunk in. "Wait, news has it that the Fallen is already an exorcist. How could that possibly happen?"
Bak Chan's face darkened. "Suman Dark has betrayed the Order and sold out the locations of our comrades."
The two finders were shocked to say the least. They remembered the recent loss of the entire Black Order. They have mourned for their fellow finders. They have felt great devastation upon hearing the deaths of the exorcists.
Six exorcists. A hundred and forty two finders. A hundred and forty eight people dead.
And the one at fault for that…
Is an exorcist as well?
"What the hell? Is this some sick joke?" Yao stood up. "An exorcist betrayed us? Weren't they supposed to protect us? Weren't they the God's chosen ones?" he kicked his chair in frustration and anger. He couldn't believe it. He refuse to believe it. This…this revelation shook his beliefs to the core.
Ever since his home and his entire family have been slaughtered by Akumas, Yao have lived with the Black Order stationed here in China. He grew up here. He learned here. And he will most likely die here as well. Throughout his childhood, people in the Order told him stories about the Exorcists: God's chosen ones. They were the people who were destined to save them from the Akumas. They were the ones who have the abilities to protect them. He never became an accommodator and so, as a child, Yao idolized all exorcists. He considered them to be related with the heavenly beings. They were his heroes. But such childish illusions were shattered during his first mission as a finder.
It was a summer day. The sun shone brightly and the sky was clear. Nothing bad could happen…or so he thought. He was in his early teens. He was part of a finders unit who have been tasked to escort an Exorcist found in the area to the Headquarters. Yao, shameful it maybe, felt all giddy inside. He was going to meet an exorcist. In the flesh. He will be able to finally see one of the fabled heroes. He was absolutely looking forward to it.
Yet, when he did see the exorcist, he was somewhat…disappointed. What he had imagined was a far cry from the real thing. The exorcist was young; the guy was no older than him. He was very awkward but polite. He was plain. Simple. Normal. Whereas Yao expected him to exude a sense of superiority and power. Yao expected himself to feel secured in the presence of such individuals but somehow… he felt completely the other way around. It also doesn't help that the exorcist seems to be wary of their presence as well. It was just simply… nothing he expected.
En route to the Asian Branch, Yao dared to talk to the boy. Despite the earlier disappointment, he was still curious about him. What is his power? What could he do? Could he fly? With dozens of questions in his mind, Yao tapped the exorcist's shoulder. The boy was startled by the touch but then turned around to face him.
"Um…Hi, I'm Yao." He started awkwardly. "It's nice to meet you. I'm a finder."
The exorcist seemed to be struggling with the sudden conversation as well, seeing that he was not responding immediately. "Oh, uh…nice to meet you too. I um…I'm Li by the way." He bowed his head in greeting.
This was followed by an awkward silence. Neither didn't know what to say next. "So…" Yao started. "You are an exorcist."
Li mumbled something which he could only guess as a "Yes."
"That must be amazing!"
The boy seemed to frown at the statement but quickly change it into a faint smile. "You could say that."
"What is your power?"
"Huh?"
"I said what is your power? You know abilities?" Yao did a couple of punches into the air to accentuate the idea.
"You're very…nosy. Do you know that?" Li deadpanned.
Yao scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's just that I've never met someone like you before. It's just a great wonder on what you Exorcist are like."
"I'm not an exorcist." Li argued.
"Well, technically no" he said as he took into account the fact that the boy is not registered yet and practically uniform-less. "But still… come on, you could wield an Innocence."
Li stiffened at that. Then he shrugged. "Yeah…I guess."
"So what is it?" Yao insisted on knowing.
"What?" Li was annoyed.
"Your power?"
Li seemed to give it a thought for a moment before he sighed in defeat. "I uh…I could see everywhere."
"What?" Yao blinked in disbelief. Is it really that mundane? "Umm…Again? I didn't seem to hear it right."
"I said I could see everywhere."
…
..
.
"That's lame." Yao concluded.
Li's face turned red in shame and anger. "Well you asked!"
A few of the finders turned at them, hearing the exorcist's outburst. "Is there something wrong, Sir Exorcist?" one of them asked.
"No, nothing's wrong! I'm just talking to him that's all." Yao immediately replied. If Li told them what he said he will be screwed. He was glad when the other finder accepted his explanation and went walking again.
"Hey, Li. Um…sorry about that." He said as he walked with the exorcist again. "Really, I am sorry. It's just that it's far from what I expected, you see." Li didn't reply and instead, walked a bit faster. "Hey Li, I said I'm sorry. It's just that-" Yao tripped at a rock while trying to catch up. "Ouch. Hey, wait up. I just apologized now, don't be like that. I just expected your powers to be like…like… I don't know… flying or strength or speed…" All right I'm just rambling now. How pathetic. Yao thought. "I never thought that just "seeing" could be a power as well." As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Yao wanted to do nothing more than to slap himself senseless. Stupid!
Li whipped around and glared at him. "Well, if it makes you happy, I could make illusions as well!" he yelled before stomping towards the older finders. The leader of their unit gave Yao a questioning look before delivering an I-deal-with-you-later stare.
Eep. I'm dead. Yao thought as he begrudgingly followed the others. But at least I now knew that his power is not that lame. He smiled with that notion in mind.
Then, all of a sudden, they become surrounded by Akumas. The abominations shot at them before anyone could move. Almost half of the unit were immediately obliterated at the attack, the rest have been able to protect themselves inside the portable barriers including the young exorcist.
"Protect the Exorcist!" the leader called out. "Keep him safe!" The Akumas mercilessly shot at the barriers.
Yao was trembling. This was his first mission and he already encountered them. Again. He clasped his hands in his ears, trying to block out the moaning sounds the Akumas are producing. Just hearing them sends him into the night that everyone died. The night that he survived and his family didn't. The night when nothing was left in his home but ashes and dust. He could hear the horrifying screams and calls for help. Please stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. St-
"Yao!" a voice called. "Yao!" he was snapped out of his thoughts as he saw Li in front of him. "Snap out of it!" the exorcist said. His eyes were clear and full of determination. There was a hint of fear, but the strength of his resolve is much more powerful. "Get up." Li helped him get up from the ground where he collapsed. Yao can't find his voice; he was too terrified as the barriers started to crack by the Akuma's onslaught.
"Go." The unit leader said as he held his contraption tighter. "We'll hold them off. You go now."
Yao shook. No. No. Not again. He wanted to stay. He wanted to fight. But he's afraid. Very very afraid. Yet he doesn't want to-
"No." Li stated. "No. If we go, you go with us too."
"You don't understand. You're important. You have to stay alive at all costs. Run!" Unit Leader Jee insisted through gritted teeth. "You have to survive or our sacrifice will be in vain!"
Yao's eyes widened upon hearing that. Li was speechless. They were all prepared to die. They are going to die.
No. No. No. No. "Can't you do something?" Yao demanded at Li. "You're an Exorcist! Do something! Do something!"
Li just bit his lip. His hands clenched into fists. His eyes tightly shut.
"Do something! Activate you Innocence! Save us! Save them, Sir Exorcist!" Yao pleaded.
"I am no exorcist!" Li screamed as the barriers finally gave way. The finders died in an instant. It was a frightening scene: cries of agony, faces contorted in horror, mouths open in voiceless screams, flesh marked with pentacles, skin turning black, bodies turning to dust in the air. Li grabbed Yao's arm and ran. They ran and slipped and fell and ran until they reached the forest.
Slumped against a tree, the two teenagers tried to catch their breath. Li was lost in his thoughts, wondering if he had made the right decision, if it was right for him to be in there. His injured knee, obtained while trying to escape, was throbbing in pain but he didn't mind it. He couldn't forget what the finder last said before he died. You have to survive or our sacrifice will be in vain. He bit his lip in frustration. When he decided to come with them, he never prepared himself for something like this. Nothing like this. A hard punch unexpectedly connected with his cheek, then another and another. Before he knew it, he was already lying on the ground, being beaten senseless by his companion.
"Why? Why didn't you do anything?" Yao demanded with each punch. He didn't care anymore if the one he was hurting is a valuable asset to the Black Order. What mattered now was the deaths, his fallen comrades, his feelings. He started to hit him harder, he put all of his anger in each strike. "Why? Why? You have the power. You could protect us. You could destroy them so why didn't you? Why…Why…" Yao delivered his bloodied knuckles to the ground; he finally let the brimming tears flow. "Why? You're an exorcist? Why?" he sobbed as he let go the other boy.
Li, beaten up and bloody, sat up. He licked his lips. He tasted copper. "I am no exorcist." He muttered. "I am no exorcist."
"Shut up! Stop saying that!" Yao was livid. Eyes flashing with hatred. "You're an exorcist! You could use Innocence! Damn. You. Could. Use. Innocence! You could fight!"
"No, I can't" Li looked at him, eyes glazed with unshed tears. "I can't. I'm just a person. I'm just someone trying to fulfil his duty as a son. No more. No less."
Yao wanted to scream at him. To tell him what the hell does he mean with that? Why can't he fight? Deep down, he knew that Li have imparted something important with those words. He could feel it. He just can't understand it. And most likely, he will never be able to as they heard the approaching Akumas. Yao froze in apprehension. What would they do? Would they die now. Then he thought Yes, they would. The only thing he had was the portable barrier strapped behind his back. Li refused to fight. It was the end of the road.
"Yao."
Yao snapped out of his thoughts as Li whispered his name. For some reason, the other boy looked suddenly different. He looked much older. Much stronger.
"That thing." He pointed the contraption on his back. "Does that work in the same way as those the finders used a while ago?"
He couldn't understand where this conversation was going, but Yao couldn't help himself but nod.
"Good. Activate it now and protect yourself." Li ordered as he wiped the blood off his face and proceeded to bandage his scraped knee.
"What are planning to do?" Yao queried as he complied, unstrapping the contraption and then turning it on. For some reason, he had an awful feeling about this.
The sounds of the Akumas were getting closer. Li hurriedly fixed himself. Yao's barrier was finally activated. With that, Li shoved his bag to the young finder.
"What the- Li!" Yao called. He was bewildered at first, true, but now…as Li looked as if he's preparing to sprint, Yao could now see how this is going to end.
"Just stay there. Stay inside the barrier." Li glared at him.
"No, you can't order me around." Yao may have hurt him. He may have even hated him but he was not willing to let Li do a foolish thing. He is an Exorcist. He must be protected at all cost. Not him, a finder.
"Yes, I can." The other boy's glare intensified at him. For a moment that seemed like hours, there was silence. Nothing but the dreaded moans of the Akumas and the rustling leaves.
Li was the first one to spoke. "It's true. What I said. I'm just trying to do my duty." He looked towards the direction of the groaning sounds. "But I guess…" he looked back at Yao. "I guess for you, I could try to become an Exorcist."
Yao didn't know how to respond to that. In fact, his mind went into a blank after that. Everything just passed by without him noticing. All he could discern was Li's forlorn smile, a shout, then the awful gunshots, then hurried footsteps, then nothing. Nothing. For hours, he just waited there, hoping for Li to come back. After what he had done, he still wants the exorcist to come back. Day turned into night and there was still nothing. He stayed inside the barrier, just as his friend wished. Friend…Were they even friends? They only had a brief encounter… He fell asleep without knowing and when he woke up, he saw a white ceiling and smelled the strong odour of antiseptics.
He's alive.
He's a sole survivor.
Again.
That mission changed Yao's outlook about exorcists. He never knew what happened to Li, although he did have a bad inkling about it. He never understood what he meant in their last moments together either. Until now, even if replayed it in his mind over and over again, he cannot get it. But one thing is for sure though; Li had become his definition of an Exorcist.
Exorcists are no gods. They're not all powerful either. They are still humans. They cry. They hurt. They fear. They bleed. They die. But even if they knew that, even if they knew that they may not survive in whatever circumstances they're putting themselves into… Exorcists will still try to protect. They will still try their best to save. But now…right now…when he heard what the director said, that an Exorcist caused the death of a hundred and more people… It's a grave insult to them. It's impossible. Impossible. It can't be true. It can't be.
"It's a lie." Yao shook his head in denial. "How could you be so sure about that? You have no proof!" His eyes were full of hurt and betrayal. Zhou also felt the same way if the smouldering look he possessed were any indication.
Bak looked away from the finders. He had expected this reaction. The higher-ups, even he himself, were very much taken aback with the discovery as well. But the evidences were credible: the recorded conversation from the golem, the time of the deaths, and the time of Suman's disappearance. It was an undeniable fact: The Fallen Exorcist has betrayed the Order. It is unbelievable but it is true, which was why it was extremely hard for him to share the information with the other members of the organization. It will destroy the entire system. If the Exorcists can no longer be trusted with their lives, who could they turn to now?
"It's true. Even Chief Komui of the Main Headquarters confirmed it." He finally said. "Apparently, Suman Dark had asked information about the location of other Exorcists and Finders in his last golem transmission. After that, the deaths occurred." Bak looked at them in the eye. "That is not a coincidence." He hated the crushed looks he has inflicted in his subordinates but it had to be done. And it will be done again: to the rest of the Asian Branch. It is awful but each member of the Black Order has the right to know.
Yao was speechless, brows deeply furrowed, lips pursed into a thin line; his clenched fists itching to have something to punch on. Zhou was the first one to have his wits gathered after the Director's revelation regarding the past deaths in the Order. It was devastating news but the notion of letting them know about it scares him more. "Why are you telling us this? What's the connection of the Exorcist's betrayal with what just happened?" He hated how his voice sounded a bit shaky.
Bak Chan released a sigh, glad to have the chance to veer off the subject to something else. "The first is easy to answer. You all have the right to know about this. All the other branches of the Order are having this information passed through all of their members as well. Central deemed that it was better to be…prepared if such circumstances happen again." He spat out the word Central. He may have been young when the Second Exorcist project was implemented but he could still remember it. No one in his clan will ever forget the horrible sin they have committed. True, it was their choice to do it but Central was the one that demanded it. It is a cross they will carry forever. "As for the other question, it is a bit more complicated but I'll spare you the details." Bak have to remind himself that the people in front of him at the moment are finders. They will not be too happy to hear the joys of research and study especially with the current situation. Technical terms and jargons must also be avoided. He must keep it simple. He doesn't want to have his great face damaged after all.
"You both know that Innocence can only be used by Exorcists." Bak considered the nods as a confirmation. "When a person becomes an Exorcist, you could say that they will enter a "contract" with the Innocence. So far, none of us could identify the specifics of such "contract" but we can confidently say two things." He held out one finger in the air. "One, you can never do a "forced contract". Meaning you cannot force Innocence into accepting any individual as their user. The second…" He held out another finger. "This was based from observation of the recent events. Once a person enters the "contract", they must never break it. Noncompliance with these rules would let the individual doing the "contract" with the Innocence to become…" he trailed off.
"A Fallen…" Zhou whispered, being able to fit the puzzle pieces together.
"Exactly." Bak nodded.
Yao have got out of his stupor as he added his own thoughts as well. "So you're saying that the Innocence has a set of rules which the Exorcist must follow at all cost or else they would become like that monstrous thing that attacked the town."
"Yes, although the form…we could not be sure. This was the first case of an official Exorcist becoming like that."
"Why? Are you scientists looking forward in observing something as horrendous as that again?" Yao said, anger laced in each words.
Bak almost flinched at the finder's accusation but refrained to do so. They're still angry. It is better if the vent out their emotions to him than the others…as long as it doesn't involve fists of course. "As much as possible, no. We don't look forward in witnessing something like this again but if circumstances forced us to do so then we have no choice but to study it." Yao could only glare at him.
"How many?" Zhou suddenly asked.
"What?" Bak diverted his attention to the other finder.
"You said that was the first case of a Fallen official Exorcist. Are you implying there have been other incidents such as this as well, involving non- Exorcists? If so…how many?" Zhou asked his eyes challenging the director for a response.
Bak didn't intend to reveal as much as these. He clearly underestimated the two finders' insight.
"How many, director?" the finder asked again.
"It's better for you not to know." Bak curtly replied. It's better for you not to know the darker secrets of the Order.
Yao and Zhou pointedly looked at him till they both decided to let the issue drop. Bak didn't notice that he held out his breath because of the tension and sighed thankfully. They didn't take the news very well. Hopefully the entire branch wouldn't react like that too.
"Anyway, I'm sure you're curious about the children?" The new topic immediately caught the attention of the two finders.
"Now, be glad that the Great Bak has made a great effort in personally attending to the little ones even if I have far far more important things to do!" the director send them a look that clearly says thank-you-for-making-my-job-harder-than-it-should-be. Yao and Zhou could only smile awkwardly.
"After some tests, we found that none of the children have Innocence. There is nothing significant about them either. Although their accounts are consistent."
"They did say that they are not lying about it." Yao cut in.
"We can only assume that the answers lie with the weapon used." Bak continued as if there wasn't any interruption. "I'm sure you've brought the branch with you, didn't you?"
The two finders broke in cold sweat. Zhou glared at Yao. "Umm…Sir Bak, the branch is nothing but an ordinary branch. "
"We'll only say that it's nothing but a branch if we see that it is nothing but a branch. Now where is it?"
Damn damn damn damn damn damn. Yao chanted inside his head. "We're sorry Director, but we didn't take the branch with us." Zhou answered.
…
..
.
Hands slammed at the table. "You did what?" Bak yelled incredulously and rose from his seat.
"We're sorry! But we assure you, Sir Bak. The branch doesn't have any Innocence!" Yao immediately said.
"No. I don't feel any assurance at all. That was an important item, you should have taken it!"
"But it doesn't contain any Innocence, Sir Bak." Zhou hoped that the statement will placate his anger.
"And who told you that?"
Zhou pointed at Yao.
Glaring at the other finder, Bak asked "And what gave you that idea?"
Yao spluttered. He really didn't have the slightest idea of what to say but "Sir, it was just a branch!"
"It's only a branch when we deemed it is only a branch!" Bak sat down again and groaned in frustration. "That was the only lead we have about this case."
Yao and Zhou couldn't help but feel guilty.
"Sir, believe us. The branch didn't have any Innocence at all, we swear." The older among the two insisted.
Bak pinched his nose bridge for the umpteenth time since the Fallen disappeared. Now what? The branch was indeed the only lead they have in solving this mystery. The children were a dead-end. But, hard as it may to admit, the finders' claims were valid. Innocence is not known for subtlety. It's an established fact. If the finders can't find anything odd about it then there really is nothing about it. But if that's that…Now what?
Then he remembered something about the children.
"All right, I believe the two of you."
The finders visibly relaxed at that.
"But, answer me. Did you see any other Akumas in the area?"
The two looked confused at the question. "No, all of us are still alive after all." Zhou answered.
"Absolutely nothing?"
When he received nothing but nodding heads the wheels in his mind started turning. "That's odd. Akumas are relentless. They wouldn't stop at just that. They will do everything to get the Innocence or to kill as much people as they can. They also appear in great numbers. There were a lot of Akumas last night too; it shouldn't be hard for them to have reinforcements. If it's a Level two, it shouldn't die easily as well…."
As Bak continued in his rambling, Yao couldn't shook off a bad feeling.
The director's attention returned to them. "The children did say that they were not supposed to go to where you've found them, correct?"
Zhou responded "They said they were supposed to go the bamboo forest-"
"-but an Akuma attacked them and they were forced to run the opposite way instead." Bak cut in and went back to his ramblings.
Zhou frowned at the blonde's…unusual behaviour. Well it is not that unusual since it is the "Great" Bak but still…
"I have a bad feeling about this." He heard Yao muttered.
"…the Akuma would only chase the children away if there was something important there. Important. Important. Important." Then it finally clicked in Bak's head. Innocence! Suman Dark's Innocence could be there! He schooled his face into a serious one as he addressed the two finders.
"I have a mission for the two of you."
"I hate you." Yao cursed as they trudged at the outskirts of the destroyed village. Again. There might have been some changes: the forest is different, they have another companion, it's almost noon… but it is still the same. They were still sent to find, this time two, Innocence in a forest. Again.
"I hate you."
Zhou's eyebrow twitched.
"I hate you."
Zhou growled in annoyance.
"I hate you."
All the guilt he felt last night about insulting Yao evaporated in an instant.
"I hate you."
"Shut up! I didn't want this as well." Zhou answered back. He, by nature, is a patient man but the immense stress, lack of sleep, and lack of dinner, breakfast, and possibly lunch have worn him out. His partner's constant whining and blaming was certainly not making things any better…
"Hurry up! You slowpokes! I haven't got all day babysitting your sorry asses!"
Nor does the presence of the Guardian Fou.
"Why does she have to come along?" Yao muttered darkly, glaring at the leading pinkette.
"Maybe because Director Bak doesn't want us to mess up again." Zhou answered through gritted teeth as he forced his poor, abused legs to function quickly.
"Are you saying that this is my fault?" Yao could still see the implication in that sentence even if blindfolded.
"I'm not saying anything. That was just your own opinion about yourself."
Yao was beyond irritated. "Are you saying that I'm insulting myself?"
"Did I say so?"
Yao did not have any counter to that.
"Idiot." He heard Zhou muttered.
"What did you just said?"
"Shut up!" Fou yelled as she hit their heads in the most violent manner they could have ever known, leaving them knocked out on the ground. "Stop talking and just focus on walking, you knuckleheads!" Her eyebrows furrowed in a deep frown. Lips pursed into the thinnest line possible with her massive arms crossed on her chest. She was angry, irritated, and intimidating. She may be short and pink but she is as intimidating as hell. "Stupid Bak, making me as your nanny for the day, quit lying on the ground! Get up and start walking! Stupid Bak. Stupid stupid stupid Bak. He'll regret this." She muttered as she stomped forward in the bamboo forest.
Yao gingerly stood up and felt the back of his head, where he's sure an enormous lump will form. Does she have any idea how painful that was? Then again, that must be the idea. He looked to his side and caught Zhou wincing in pain. He couldn't help but smirk. Zhou saw him and turned scarlet with anger.
"Wipe off that stupid grin from your face. You're no better than I am." With that he dusted off the dirt from his uniform and followed the guardian.
Yao only snorted as he started walking as well. Grasses crunched beneath his feet. The wind whistled through the forest. The sun shone brightly in the sky. If he hadn't known it himself, he wouldn't think that something terrible happened around the place at all. His mind then wandered about the Guardian. It was his first time to meet her up-close. It is a fact in the Asian Branch that she will always be seen annoying the hell out of their Director. It was her hobby they say. Yao was never near the Director; last night was an exception though, so it was only understandable if he does not know her that well. But at the moment, as he walked with her, he decided that he would have died happily without having this experience instead. The Guardian was a thousand times more crazy and deadly than any other crazy and deadly women he had met in his life. He cannot help but think about the masculine woman he met some years ago. He shuddered. But at least Mahoja isn't that brutal. Fou seemed to be the type of woman who will beat you randomly or out fun or out of emphasizing a statement or out of spite or out of just about anything he could possibly think of! He seriously believed that if he spent more time with the pinkette, he might meet an early demise.
The mismatched trio suddenly stopped on their tracks when a scream pierced through the somewhat silent forest.
"What was-" Zhou never got to finish off his question when Fou charged towards the source of the sound. The two finders tailed after her.
They could hear the scream become clearer and clearer as they ran. Soon, they picked up some words being spoken. "Stop…..Don't…" Then there was a scream again.
Fou's face darkened. "Hurry up, you two!" she barked at the finders.
Yao didn't need to be told to do so.
Zhou ran faster. He couldn't deny it. That voice. Although it sounds a bit raspy…His mouth set in a grim line. It sounds so young…A child could in danger.
Then they heard the voice spoke again. Pleading. "Run…Tim. Take Suman's Innocence and run."
Suman? Zhou's eyes widened in realization. The Fallen!
"It's an Exorcist." Yao huffed, gripping his bag straps and sprinting faster.
Fou spread her arms. Her eyes sharp as an eagle; she could distinguish two figures ahead and immediately recognized someone she knew. After identifying the threat, she morphed her hands into scythe-like blades. It's been a long time since I've drawn blood. She called out to her companions.
"Get ready."