Author's Notes:
I usually do not experience writer's block but now I do… And it is quite frustrating… Feel free to blame my lack of creativity and motivation for this late, short and quite uneventful chapter.
I hope that you can still enjoy it somehow.
Disclaimer: D.Gray-Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino
Kapitel 28: Allies in unexpected places
The further journey east remained uninterrupted. They left Russia not too long after having more or less successfully solved the mysterious case of the child theft in the small village. They were now making their way land inwards still following the direction Timcampy set for them. They had not yet found any clue to General Cross' whereabouts, but at least they were heading the right way.
Ellen was often absorbed in thoughts while travelling and nobody was too surprised as they all still brooded over the gruesome experiences in the superstitious village. However, once they travelled through China, Ellen's gloomy face lit up and her interest for the exotic new land got the better of her.
"My aunt is a keen collector of Chinese wares, China tea services and vases, herbs, accounts of travels, silk and furniture, she is interested in all what she can get. Even though the general interest for China has actually abated slightly, she cannot be persuaded to give up her passion", Ellen explained when they boarded a longish boat steered by a Chinese man. They planed to travel to the next big town by the rivers and to employ a native was the best option they had. They were lucky that they had Linali because Ellen spoke no word of Chinese, neither was she very interested to learn such a complex language, even though it intrigued her.
"I'm not surprised though, it's still luxurious", Linali said, "I would like to see your aunt's collection one day!", Linali said and Ellen laughed, the first laughter anybody heard from her in over two weeks.
"I will invite you to our house! My mother collects things as well, but she is more interested in English art, and my father collected pipes from all over the world!"
"Pipes?", Rabi wondered and Ellen nodded happily, "a funny thing to collect".
"Oh, not at all, my dear uncle collects plates and Mana collected top hats. It is a very agreeable pastime to go looking for old things on the markets all over the world. I once started to collect ivory trinkets but my collection is very humble", she replied cheerfully, enjoying the topic.
"You seem to like exotic things", Rabi asked and Ellen looked at him with a blush.
"Do not say that. I am merely an admirer of the products of foreign cultures", she said, trying to hide that she was in fact very interested in everything that was labelled exotic.
"Ah, I see", Linali said with a cheerful smile, "isn't Kanda exotic as well?"
"I knew that one of you was going to say that, but I expected that it would be Rabi", Ellen answered with a deep sigh.
"Don't be embarrassed, Ellen! I just wanted to cheer you a bit, I didn't mean any harm", Linali said, putting her hands on her friend's shoulders. Ellen smiled.
"I know. Well, he has a remarkable exotic beauty… But you do as well, Linali", she said and her friend blushed.
"I don't feel exotic at all!", she protested and Rabi laughed.
"That's because you grew up in England", he said and looked at Ellen, "not that British girls aren't very nice to look at! I like you both!", he said and patted Ellen's head, "but one of you is taken and the other is free!", he said, grinning at the two. This time it was Linali who looked at him crossly.
"W… Well… It's starting to rain, why don't we get some rest?", Crowley suggested looking into the stormy sky and the others agreed after a while. The man at the front of the boat continued steering, whereas the exorcists retreated under a big blanket-like cloth that sheltered them from the rain. Ellen, even though she felt quite comfortable under the cover, wrapped in her exorcist cloak, still dared to peek out and look into the bamboo forest that lined the shore.
"What's the matter, Ellen? Are you still thinking about our last mission?", Linali asked, poking her head out as well when she took notice of her friend. Ellen turned her head towards her and blinked at her in surprise.
"Me? No, actually I try to not think about it. It might be naïve to say so, but I would rather just stop worrying about it for the time being…", she said, then she looked back into the forest. "I just have the feeling that we are being watched…". Linali frowned and looked into the forest as well but she couldn't see anything neither did she have the feeling of being in any danger. "Maybe it is a Panda?", Ellen suggested.
"Do you think that they have to be everywhere just because we're in China?", Linali asked, laughing slightly and Ellen blushed in embarrassment. "There are none here".
"Ah… I see…", she said and sounded a bit disappointed, "then I must have been mistaken. Let us get some sleep".
"Yes, that's a good idea", Linali consented and the two girls retreated, listening to the rain hitting their shelter and the waves of the river against the wood of their boat.
After two more days they had reached a town where they were forced to stay because their guide – Timcampy – had managed to get lost. China's villages and towns did have a lot of Akuma, hence the group of exorcists had enough to do even though they were getting delayed.
"China is so vast, it is not surprising that not many exorcists venture here. It must be hard to survey this massive country", Ellen thought and spotted the Akuma with her cursed eye, easily killing them all. Rabi jumped out of the way before she could get too close to do any damage to him too.
"Stop that! Don't just attack out of the blue! That's scary!", Rabi shrieked after he hastily picked himself up from the floor. Rabi thought that for a split second he could see a very dark, evil expression on her face but after he blinked at her, it had changed to a sincere looking confusion.
"What? I always warn you beforehand. You are an able exorcist, you surely will not stand in my way when I am doing my duty", she said. Rabi made a grimace.
"You're still angry at me?!", he asked and Ellen smiled.
"Of course not", she said but Rabi didn't believe her.
"You are! You demon! Harming your friend just because I'm such a nice fellow and like to ease tense situations by stating the truth with jokes!"
"Yes, you are the perfect fool", she said jokingly and Rabi didn't really know what to make of it. Maybe he should just take the hint and shut up about Kanda, but he felt an obligation towards him. As his best friend it was Rabi's duty to remind Ellen of their reciprocal (Rabi didn't doubt it) love. While the saying distance makes the heart grow fonder fit perfectly well for Kanda, Ellen rather seemed to have an out of sight, out of mind policy governing her thoughts regarding her lover. Rabi doubted that the young girl could possibly just forget about him and the intimate moments they've shared. She couldn't be that cold-hearted, but it had been months since they've last seen each other!
Rabi's thoughts were interrupted by Linali who brought back the stray Timcampy (nearly eaten by a cat, but he didn't seem to be too bothered by it).
"Good that he's back, we wouldn't have been able to find our way without him", Rabi said.
"But how long will we continue travelling like this? When will we finally find General Cross?", Crowley wondered.
"It is our forth day in China and we still have not found any trace of the General", Ellen said, "even though we are patiently following Timcampy".
"Might the General be dead already…?", Crowley dared to ask in a worried tone. Ellen just smiled at him.
"I do not think that he will die that easily", she said and Rabi laughed in amusement.
"And why do you think so?", he wondered and Ellen frowned.
"During the few days I travelled with him I think I was able to figure out his character. He seems like the type of man that will make the world change to fit his tastes instead of following a set direction. I am pretty sure that a man like him survives even assassination attempts".
"Dear Ellen, he's not a character from a novel!", Rabi protested and Ellen glared at him, "you really read too much".
"Well fine then. If the thought of General Cross lying somewhere dead in a gutter sits better with you, then suit yourself", she said in a harsh tone, making Rabi shiver.
"No, no, I believe you!", he argued and Ellen smiled, "Man, you're in an awful mood… Shouldn't you be happy because you get to see exotic China?".
"Well, I would be ecstatic if I had the leisure to be careless, but this is not a nice little travel for fun"
"And now guess where she has that idea from", Rabi said with a sigh and was surprised to hear Ellen laugh.
"Well, I guess Kanda was right about it after all. I do enjoy travelling immensely, but if you are able to see the danger then it is rather hard to ignore it", she explained and pointed at her eye.
"True", Bookman spoke up for the first time, "your enhanced abilities have been very useful so far". Ellen smiled politely and Linali looked at her with a frown.
"Ellen? What's with your hand?", she asked when she saw Ellen's left hand tremble. It was just all the more suspicious when the young girl tried to hide it behind her back.
"Nothing you need to worry about. I have just used it too much it seems", she said, but Linali wasn't really convinced by that.
"You've fought a lot more than we did since last mission. Don't overdo it", Bookman said and Ellen nodded.
"Why do you need to fight so much? We're here too", Linali said as they continued their travels.
"I know that you are here as well. However, if I see an enemy and have the chance to kill him then it would be careless to let him be just because I wait for someone of you to do it", Ellen explained.
"But Ellen", Linali argued, "your weapon is a part of your body, don't forget that! If you fight more then you strain your body more as well. I don't want your eagerness to fight to backfire on you". Ellen frowned slightly, thinking about Linali's words.
"It is not as if I would be eager to fight, but I do not think that killing level one Akuma is a very demanding thing to do", she said and laughed slightly, but Linali furrowed her brow. "Ah, am I being rash again?"
"Maybe", the other girl said, then she sighed, "I just don't want you to put yourself in any unnecessary danger", she said. Ellen looked at her with a gentle smile and nodded.
"Neither do I want you to be in danger, that's why I would rather just destroy the Akuma swiftly so that they cannot harm you". Linali smiled as well, but it seemed a bit sad.
"I understand very well… The only reason I fight is to keep those I love safe... I will never fight for another reason than to protect…". Ellen wasn't sure how to reply to that. For what reason did she fight? Necessity? To repent? She had stopped thinking about it some time ago, because now it seemed like to locate, invocate and destroy Akuma was just a natural reaction. And that realization scared Ellen.
"Killing has become easy…", she thought gravely, "no… I must not think that way. I will continue saving". She turned her eyes down on the suitcase she was holding. Safely hidden away the tainted Innocence of Filip was waiting to strike again. "But are my motives right? Am I doing the right thing or am I just trying to put on a good face on the matter? To justify destruction and murder is never easy…". She sighed and looked in front of her where the high mountains were lining the horizon. "I wish that this war would end soon…".
In a relatively big city right by the sea Ellen and her friends stopped to rest.
"We should go asking around, the General might have been here", Bookman suggested, "this is the first big city that Timcampy has guided us to".
"I would not be surprised if he decided to rest in this city. It somehow matches him more than a remote little village", Ellen said and Rabi had to laugh, agreeing to it. "Well then, let us ask around", she suggested and there was general agreement to that. Rabi handed Ellen a piece of paper on her demand and she started drawing Cross. Rabi watched her display her ability in art first with an expectant smile and then with a grimace.
"Uh… That's… somewhat disillusioning", he state and Ellen rolled her eyes, "aren't all young aristocratic women supposed to be good at art?"
"I never had an interest in drawing myself. I do appreciate art, but I cannot draw. It is a question of talent and I simply have none", the young woman explained and Linali smiled.
"She received the same reaction from me, I guess that she's used to it already", she explained telling of her previous encounter with Ellen's lacking drawing skills. "Anyway, at least she managed to catch Cross' most striking features". She took the pen from Ellen's hand and added some Chinese letters. "Have you seen this man", she translated.
"Thank you Linali! I will go with Timcampy", she said and took the picture.
"Why are you so eager?", Rabi wondered and Ellen blushed slightly.
"I… must confess that I am hungry… And I saw a vendor", she said and Rabi laughed in amusement. Linali was more sympathetic and volunteered to accompany her and look in the same district just in case that she needed her. Ellen and Timcampy with the piece of paper went to the next vendor that sold something that Ellen had never seen before. It looked like unbaked dough lumps, but they were steaming. Very interested and also too hungry to care much about the flavour she went up to the vendor and pointed at the strange food, then she held up five fingers. The man understood her easy enough and handed her the food. While Ellen took a bite, the man investigated the picture and then he started talking loudly, making Ellen nearly choke on her food. She swallowed quickly.
"Oh, my! I do not understand Chinese!", she said franticly and whirled around, "Linali! Please do come, this gentleman seems to know something!", she shouted. She was then joined by Linali and they had a short conversation which ended with Linali very happy and ten more of the strange but tasty lumps for Ellen.
"He gave me the direction of the building General Cross frequented", the Chinese girl reported, "thank God that the General is standing out that much!"
"When has he last been seen?", Bookman wondered.
"About a week ago the vendor told me", Linali replied and they walked towards Cross supposed dwellings. "But he was sure that it was him and he has not heard about him leaving".
"Thank goodness", Ellen said, breathing out a sigh of relief, "now we just have to join him".
They found the house pretty easily. It was an establishment right at the harbour and once Ellen realized what kind of dwelling it was, it brought a red hue of embarrassment to her cheeks.
"A house of pleasure!", she exclaimed, hand in front of her mouth, "Oh my!".
"The vendor told me that Cross is supposed to be the owner's new lover", Linali said, admiring the beautiful building. It looked pretty luxurious, not like a run-down, back alley establishment and it made Ellen hope that the people inside had more honour than her image of visitors and ladies of such places made her believe.
"I have to confess that this does match the image I had formed of him… I knew that he stayed with women, but this is something different", she shook her head, "a brothel…".
"Stop being the scandalized high-class lady", Rabi joked and Ellen pouted, "and be happy! We finally found him!"
"This is quite a flashy place", Crowley said and Rabi nodded.
"The most popular establishment in the city!", the red head added and Ellen wondered how Rabi came to know that. While the others were happy to have finally arrived at the end of their long journey, Ellen had very mixed feelings about her reunion with General Cross. She and Rabi pushed the door open, but were hindered from entering by a tall person.
Ellen did not understand what the person said but it sounded dangerous and threatening.
"How tall!", Ellen thought while Rabi just commented with a "he's got breasts!".
"We are sorry!", Ellen tried to explain, "I… I cannot understand you but please forgive us for intruding".
"What?! A woman?!", Rabi stupidly added. The woman didn't seem impressed and just grabbed the two in front of her. "Linali!! Help!". The girl shouted something to the other woman, but it wasn't even necessary as she bent down to Ellen.
"Please come to the back entrance. From here you cannot access the mistress' rooms", she whispered to her and Ellen blinked in surprise. "We are allies of the order", the woman continued, sticking out her tongue where Ellen spotted a cross. Ellen and Rabi were let down and the woman led them to the back doors where they were easily admitted. They were welcomed by a beautiful woman with a splendid kimono and wonderful hair decoration.
"Exorcists! Welcome! My name is Anita, I am the landlady of this establishment. I am pleased to meet you". The group was very baffled by her beauty and Ellen was fascinated.
"Such a beautiful woman!", she thought and was nearly ashamed to look so plain.
"However, I must beg you pardon", Anita continued, "the honourable Cross no longer stays here".
"What?!", the group called, their hopes of finally finding Cross shattered.
"He has journeyed on. He left eight days ago", she said and Ellen watched her in wonder. The face of the woman, who seemed very strong and composed, changed slightly. "And… We have reason to believe that he is no longer among the living". A shocked moment of silence followed, Ellen was too surprised to even say something. It was Linali who finally broke the silence.
"What… What does that mean?", she wondered and Anita looked at her wordlessly for a few moments.
"The ship that the honourable Cross boarded eight days ago has been attacked at sea and sank". Ellen remained silent as Bookman spoke up:
"Is there proof?", he wanted to know and Anita was still calm when she answered:
"We have received a distress call and other ships have left to help. But both the ship and the survivors have not been found. What they saw were uncanny remains and a sea of poison spread".
"What was my master's destination?", Ellen asked with a steady voice, "what was the destination of the ship my master boarded?". Anita looked up in surprise and Ellen's companions looked at her as well. Ellen wore a determined look. "Such a thing will not kill my master!". Anita widened her eyes, but the honest look that Ellen gave her made tears well up in the woman's eyes.
"Do you… really think so?", she asked, a pained smile on her face. She checked her emotions and composed herself. "The aim of his journey was Japan. He sailed towards Edo". Ellen looked at her in surprise and Anita rose from her sofa. "If you want to follow him then we will guide you. Since my mother has been the owner of this house we have been allies of the order. We will do whatever we can to help". She turned towards the tall woman. "Get a ship ready!". The woman nodded and Anita turned towards the exorcists. "Until we are done you are invited to stay with us".
"Thank you. We would be glad to rest", Bookman decided for them and it was agreed that they would wait for daybreak.
Ellen was timidly walking around the inner parts of the brothel, trying to avoid looking at the women walking about.
"Ellen! Here you are!", Linali called out to her and Ellen felt trapped, even though she had done nothing other than walk around.
"Ah, I should not be here. What would my mother think!", the white haired girl said with a long sigh when Linali asked about the reason for her distress.
"Don't worry so much. Come! Anita has something very interesting to show us!", Linali said and Ellen had no choice but to follow. She was led into a big room where she saw Anita sitting on a couch.
"I wanted to thank you for making me regain hope", Anita said and rose from her seat.
"Please, this is not necessary", Ellen said. Anita smiled and touched Ellen's hair.
"I always think it a pity to see a woman lost to the battle field", she said and Ellen looked at her in surprise, "both you and Linali are just starting to become women and you don't have time to enjoy it".
"I do not quite understand", Ellen said in puzzlement and the woman smiled warmly. She let go off Ellen's hair and turned towards doors which she easily pulled open.
"Anita suggested that we can wear nice dresses for once! Isn't that great?", Linali wondered and followed Anita. Ellen blinked in surprise but the thought of wearing such nice clothes as Anita sounded wonderful in her ears. She had some reserves about wearing those kimonos but the women who dressed her were very friendly and Ellen had great fun. In the end she was dressed in a beautiful peach coloured and white silk kimono with golden embroidery. Linali wore a dark kimono with red symbols and she looked very beautiful with her hair made and make-up on her face. Ellen was very surprised when she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair, even though it was short, was beautifully dressed with little golden pins in it and she wore make-up, not too much, just enough to enhance her natural beauty.
"I… am quite speechless…", Ellen said, admiring the work of Anita and the other women, "my… if mother could see me like this, oh, how would she be surprised!".
"Don't worry about that, Anita has already called a photographer! You can take a picture! I am sure that Kanda would like to see you like this as well!". Ellen blushed.
"Oh no! He will laugh!"
"Surly not! You know that he won't!", Linali protested and guided Ellen back into the previous room, where they greeted the photographer. Ellen was fidgeting nervously while they prepared for the photograph.
"Don't you feel great?", Linali wondered and Ellen nodded shyly.
"It… has become unusual for me to wear dresses… I almost could forget that I am supposed to be a woman. If General Cross wouldn't have make me wear men's clothes…", she didn't finish the sentence and contented herself with frowning. They took the photograph and the man promised to develop it as fast as he could.
"I… I guess I would like to send it to Kanda", Ellen confessed and Linali was delighted to hear that. "Please, do not make such a happy face, I feel almost wretched".
"Are you still unsure about your relationship?"
"Yes, I am. I worry about the future of our liaison… However, this evening has reminded me of something very important…", Ellen said with a gentle expression.
"And what?", Linali wondered.
"That Kanda thinks that I am beautiful… I have always been told by my mother that my looks would not be able to win me a husband… And I am aware that it were not my looks that pleased Kanda but he never got weary of expressing his fondness… And…", Ellen was by now so red in the face that she rather passed on continuing, so she could keep herself some kind of dignity. Linali didn't even need her to elaborate on this, she was perfectly happy by what Ellen has revealed.
"Then we should ask a finder to hand it to him. I am sure that he will be happy to see you again, even if it is just on a photograph"
"But-"
"No buts Ellen. It doesn't matter what will be later on and if your relationship will be able to last. Right now you can make Kanda happy and I am sure he deserves to know about your gratitude". Ellen sighed.
"You are right…", she consented and caught another glimpse of herself in a long mirror. She looked like a different person. Had she changed that much or was this just this Asian get up? Ellen was not sure, but she knew that she was not the same person as she had been some months ago. She still had a long way to go and many problems to solve, but she thought that she was mature enough to deal with anything. And maybe… maybe it would be nice to have Kanda there to help her. Just as he promised.
To be continued
Notes:
Ahaha. I decided to add a girly scene.
Feedback might revive my low spirits lol