Author's notes:

I'm sorry! The waits are getting longer and longer! I don't want to bore you with reasons why, so I'm just going to thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you!

This chapter was half finished for the longest time, but I kept on writing and rewriting scenes. Some things still feel a little off, but I let you judge that.

Another three or so weeks passed from the last chapter to this, it's June, Ellen's about six and a half months pregnant now - wah, I'm getting closer X3

The title of this chapter refers to the fact that Kanda and Ellen need to find things to do when they don't have missions; which is actually the life that awaits them if they win the war. Poor them. It seems as if they will be utterly bored.

Disclaimer: D. Gray-Man belongs to Katsura Hoshino

Kapitel 63: Imitations of Ordinary Life

A few days into June and it was Kanda now that was waiting. He was glad for the cool rooms of the castle, where he could sit in the shade away from the sun and contemplate. He was glad for the set of keys that he had received in the post some days ago and that allowed him to unlock rooms away from the hustle and bustle of the order without having to ask Ellen every single time he wanted somewhere exorcists were not allowed. He was also glad for the wind that made walking from here to the next farm (there was nothing much to see on the Bermont estate) more agreeable than under the constant heat of the sun. But he hated waiting. Komui didn't give him missions anymore, thinking it far more important to spend his time with Ellen. Why? That they could be bored in good company?

‟Only three more months, Kanda. Please enjoy it!" Komui argued with a brotherly smile on his lips. ‟You want your wife and little one to be in good health, don't you?" Of course, presented like this, he could not argue one bit. Of course he wanted to, but... But what? What were his arguments? But they were exorcists? But Cross and Leverrier had said that Ellen would be forced to continue fighting no matter what? Somehow he had wished for this because being constantly busy would not put him in a position where he'd be left with nothing but contemplation of certain issues. However, he did have to consider Ellen – for her fighting must be difficult now. Still, they were both bored. He walked around the castle and the property quite often, committing it to memory by walking along the borders with a map in hand because there was nothing better to do. She read and wrote letters, played the piano. Boring. Boring noble, married country life.

‟Maybe we should go to the theatre," Ellen said, waving air against her face with a stack of documents. Kanda snorted in reply. ‟Yu, it's not like moaning about it will give us missions. As long as the problems seem fairly easy to solve there is no need for the Black Order to dispatch us." She put down the documents and looked at him, sitting across the room in an easy chair, feet on a trunk. He watched her in return; she wore a white, short sleeved shirt and a black skirt. He could see her pale ankles and naked feet because she had her legs crossed casually. He could see what was to be his son too, somewhat. Ellen didn't try concealing anything now because concealing was uncomfortable. ‟You must see that they have to send two of the strongest exorcists at once. It's pointless for us to go on small missions."

‟Yeah, yeah. I get it..." Kanda mumbled, staring out at the landscape in boredom. But staring out of the window seemed like the better option that going to the theatre.

‟Good morning, Mr and Mrs Kanda!" Both turned to the door of the study, where Linali stood in her uniform, waving at them with a bright smile on her face.

‟Linali! You're back!" Ellen called, having not seen her friend for almost three weeks because she had been on a mission to Northern Africa. She got up and embraced the girl, inspecting her afterwards with a worried look. ‟No injuries I hope?" Linali laughed, holding Ellen's hands down.

‟Not at all, what about you two? What have you been up to?" Ellen sighed, sitting back down on the couch.

‟Waiting. Waiting. Waiting." Linali smiled at them, patting Ellen's knee.

‟I've got a letter for you, maybe it's something nice," she said, handing her an envelope. Ellen took it, turning it around to find out who had sent it. Meanwhile Linali looked around the room. ‟Where is Link anyway?"

‟He went to hand in a report to my uncle, he should be back in a bit. He can't leave me unsupervised for too long anyway." Linali frowned, but Ellen focused on the letter. ‟It must be from mother," she said, breaking open the seal. ‟Dear Ellen. How is my little...," here she widened her eyes. ‟It's from my aunt!"

‟Your aunt? The one that travels a lot?" Kanda asked and Ellen nodded, reading on:

‟Dear Ellen!

How is my little niece nowadays? I really, really had to write you a letter now, and you know what that means, me being so lazy to do it. While in Rome I ran across Malcolm and there was something he hinted at. I asked Charlene to explain and am I right? You married? Without telling poor me! But I won't be cross at you! Congratulations dearest Ellen! For weeks Charlene had talked about your fiancé, that Lord Somethingoranother, however, seeing as she didn't want to speak up about your marriage when I asked, I assume that you had a little change of heart. How exciting!

I am very curious. So curious actually that I am on my way to Bermont castle where I heard you'd be residing at the moment. That gloomy and boring hole of a castle, why would you want to be there?

But I will find out!

With lots of love, your aunt Mary

P.S.

I've been to a ballet in Paris which is now touring Europe. It's coming to London too. I will insist on you attending! Just us girls!"

‟What's the matter Ellen?" Linali asked, seeing how Ellen had widened her eyes.

‟Aunt Mary's coming to Bermont castle!" Ellen shouted and Kanda raised an eyebrow.

‟And?"

‟And? Is that all you have to say?" Ellen turned to him with a frown, waving the parchment in front of his face, so that he swatted it away in irritation. ‟She heard that I am married and wants to find out to whom." Kanda sighed, leaning casually back in his chair.

‟Fine then. If I was able to survive your mother's interview, then I will probably do well enough in your aunt's," he said and Ellen pulled her lips into a thin line of disapproval.

‟If you're so confident then good for you. But maybe we should warn Komui..." Linali nodded, quite excited to meet Ellen's relatives.

‟I will do that!" The girl excused herself, then she left the room. Ellen rubbed her forehead, sighing.

"I can't shake off the feeling that it's not the best of ideas to have my relatives just coming to the Black Order like that. What should I tell my aunt about all the people, about the black flag flying on top of the castle?" Kanda shrugged. "Don't just take it so lightly, Yu. There is a reason why the Black Order and civilians need to be separated."

"Maybe," Kanda said, looking at his wife, "but actually Innocence has an effect on normal people as well. You can't separate the spheres if they are so connected. You are an exorcist, but you also are someone in normal life. And because you can't just disappear from society like many of us, you need to be able to balance both." Ellen eyed him with a look of annoyance. "Don't give me that look Ellen, you know it's true."

"Of course I know it, but you could be a bit more supportive of my worries. You talk as if this is only my problem. What about you?" Kanda frowned at her, looking away.

"I'm an exorcist," he said evasively, but before Ellen could protest he added: "and your husband. That will be my new role for when this war is over." Ellen sighed, folding her hands in her lap.

"But what about before?" she wondered and Kanda lowered his eyebrows, avoiding Ellen's gaze. He didn't say anything and Link came back to find the two in a tense atmosphere.

"I heard something about your aunt visiting you," he said, choosing not to ask any questions, and Ellen handed him the letter. He scanned over it quickly, then he put it back on the desk. "I see. Well, you better prepare yourself then, because I just got a telegram from the information bureau." He handed it to Ellen.

"I just arrived in London. Will be with you soon. M.B," Ellen read and touched it to her forehead with a deep sigh. "Okay, then let's prepare."

-o-o-o-

Komui wasn't overly pleased that outsiders would be visiting the Black Order, but he couldn't do anything about it.

"This castle does not belong to us, even if your mother provided it so...," he searched for a world and had to settle on a stressed "generously." He tapped his finger on a pile of unfinished paperwork and looked up at the girl standing before him. She wore her hair in a braid fixed to the back of her head with pins and was clad in a pale blue dress and white knitted jacket. "Especially the mansion… I can't tell you not to invite relatives, but I must stress that the Black Order's location needs to be secret to prevent another attack."

"I know, Komui. It's not my wish for all my relatives to visit me. But I can't keep my aunt away, she's… well, if she wants to go somewhere she will, especially if it's family property…," Ellen said, sighing slightly. To be honest it was not quite Bermont family property anymore, because their family rules said that a house would go into possession of male members. Nowadays the laws might be slightly different and more in favour of her keeping the castle, but her family had their own ways. It was Kanda's now and therefore Kanda family property. Well, it was not as if Ellen could imagine any Kanda having an interest in claiming the property. However, she could only guess because the only Kanda she knew was her husband after all.

"I understand, Ellen, but just try to not expose too much…," he reminded her and she nodded. "Apart from that we might have a mission that requires you to look into it." Ellen widened her eyes and Komui raised his hand. "Don't get your hopes up just yet. I know how bored you are, but maybe it's no big deal. We just sent a group of Finders to Paris." Ellen clasped her hands, adopting a dreamy look.

"Ooh, Paris!" Komui looked at her with wide eyes, then he had to laugh.

"I will tell you about it later. Now enjoy your time with your aunt," he said, dismissing her with a wave. Ellen nodded, thoughts still circling around Paris and how nice it would be to visit it again. When she got back out into the corridor she found Link alone there.

"Oh? Is Kanda not here yet? I thought we'd welcome my aunt together," she said and Link shook his head. They started walking towards the mansion where they would meet Aunt Bermont.

"Apparently he is still training," Link told her as they stepped out into the flower garden. Ellen pouted in slight irritation.

"I did tell him to be ready! Well, if he won't be here in time you fill in for him." Link rolled his eyes. They quickly crossed the flower garden and went into the mansion. "I doubt that's a wise thing to do," the inspector said, letting a chuckling Ellen guide him into the reception room. Everything had been cleaned and polished. The wealth this family possessed, Link thought, looking around the agreeably cool room, must be exceptional. Ellen sat down at a piano, pushing down a few keys at random, but then she flexed her fingers and started playing. Link listened for a while, but then he noticed her looking at him.

"Come on, Howard, this is a duet! You can play, right?" Link sighed, but took a seat on the stool next to her. "Every self-respecting gentleman can play the piano."

"Don't take it for granted," he replied to her teasing and played with her to pass the time. "I don't have much time to engage in pastime activities," he told her after a while.

"I noticed, you are always so busy after all," Ellen said, not taking her eyes off the keys, "watching me." Link remained silent until they heard someone knock at the open door. Ellen stopped playing and turned around to find her aunt standing in the doorway.
"Aunt!" Ellen called in a delighted tone, standing up at once. Ellen's aunt was a tall woman with a certain disposition towards being stout, at least when compared to how thin Ellen's mother was. She wore quite colourful, light clothes and a hat on top of her curly blonde hair. Link noticed how her face was slightly tanned and very pleasant to look at because of her open smile. "Oh I am so happy to see you!"

"Me too, Ellen!" the woman said, embracing her niece in a strong hug, "and how pretty you are! You must have grown quite a bit!" She put an armlength's distance between herself and the girl, studying her with a smile. "Well, there's also a bit more substance to you," she said with a wink, patting her own belly. Ellen lowered her face with a blush. "Dear child, I think your mother forgot to mention that you are in different circumstances!" It was so like her aunt to notice at once, even though her clothes weren't that revealing.

"I… well, I do not want to make too big a fuss about it. I think it was prudent to await the birth, you never know what complications there are," Ellen lied, "I did not want to get anybody's hopes up." Aunt Mary raised an eyebrow, looking at the girl, but then she shrugged and hugged her again.

"You do nothing but surprise me, Ellen!" she laughed and let go of her, ruffling her hair. Then she set her eyes on Link.

"Oh, if this isn't Howard Link, we have met before, haven't we?" The young inspector nodded. It was true that he had seen her before talking to inspector Leverrier in Rome. "Are you still working for Malcolm?"

"Indeed, Madam…"
"Ah, then I do not need to introduce him," Ellen said and Mary laughed, looking at Link almost fondly. "But he's not my husband." Mary turned towards her with a surprised and also slightly disappointed expression. "We're… close friends." The grin was instantly back on her aunt's face.

"Well, well, Ellen. I never would have imagined you to be so popular! Good girl," her aunt joked, patting Ellen on the back.

"Friends, aunt, I said friends," Ellen reminded her and Mary laughed whole-heartedly.

"Fine then, but we should make sure to keep Mister Link close to our family," she said, winking at the young man, who couldn't help but blushing slightly, for what reason he wasn't sure. Mary sat down on the couch, taking off her hat. "So," she said, putting her hat on the table. "Where is your husband then? Roaming the fields?"

"I wonder…," Ellen mused, pouring some wine Link had prepared into a glass cup to hand it to her aunt. Her aunt took it with a grin, sipping it.

"Well, while we wait, why don't we discuss the ballet? We really must see it, it's so exceptional! This particular dancer, I tell you, she's just such a beauty. She rarely performs anymore, so it would be such a pity to miss it!" Ellen sat down as well, looking uncertain. "All of boring upper class London will be there. It will be the talk for the next tea parties!"

"I would love to go," she said and her aunt cut her off.

"Good, because I already booked us a box for tomorrow!" Ellen sighed inwardly. Her aunt never changed. Ellen heard the door opening and shoes on the marble floor. She looked up and found Kanda entering. He wore nice clothes, from the black jacket and trousers, to the dark red tie and the polished shoes. His hair was pulled back into a low pony tail. He looked dazzling, as always. Ellen's aunt must have thought the same because she got up with an excited look on her face.

"My apologies, I didn't intend to keep you waiting," Kanda said smoothly and Ellen sighed, somewhat amused. What a show-off.

"Aunt, this is my husband, Yu Kanda." He shook Mary's hand.

"How nice to meet you. I am Mary Bermont," she said and sat down again, Kanda taking a seat next to Ellen. Link was still in the room, sitting at another table and leafing through a book. "Now, tell me, how did this match come into existence? Are you a native to these lands, Mr. Kanda?"

"Well, I am by birth Japanese," he said and Mary widened her eyes, "However, I have lived in England for many years now. I have met Ellen here."

"Not at one of Charlene's dinner parties I presume," Mary said with a slight edge of irony to her casual way of speaking, watching the two over the brim of her wine glass.

"No," was all Kanda said and looked at Ellen. Mary studied the two, then she leant back.

"Hmm. Well, there's no fooling Mary Bermont," she said, "especially not with young Link being here and the flag of the Black Order waving on top of our castle." The three young people in the room looked at her with astonishment. "You two must be exorcists. Slightly surprising, I must say. Especially as I wouldn't have expected it to be a place for people to form relationships."

"How… Aunt… How do you know of the Black Order?" Ellen dared to ask. Mary looked at her with a calm expression, smile gone, but after a minute of tense silence she started laughing, puzzling the others even more.

"Well, if you get around as I do you see and hear quite a deal of things. Also, your father and Malcolm were very close and they used to talk a great deal about different things. Especially after a few glasses of wine, if you know what I mean," she said, with a glint to her eyes, "And when you were born with your peculiar arm... Well, there are just certain things that cannot be hidden and I am not as content with ignorance as many other people are. I like sticking my nose into things that are none of my business. You can call it a risky hobby of mine."

"Miss Bermont…," Kanda started, finding his voice first, "it is risky to know too much about the Black Order… For your own safety you should not disclose to anyone how much you know…"

"Oh, I don't know much, Mr. Kanda, but I know enough to understand what's going on around me." Neither Ellen nor Kanda knew what to say in response to that. "But let us not talk about that too much now, it is not what I'm here for." Ellen rubbed her forehead, quite at a loss. It exhausted her, really, these constant surprises linked to her family.

"I'm just a bit unsettled about how my family seems to be tied to the Black Order far more than I assumed," Ellen muttered and Mary put the wine glass down on the table with a sigh.

"To rise up to power, you must have your ties everywhere, apparently you still need to learn that, Ellen. That's why your mother wanted you to marry that Lord. Not because she assumed that he'd be a perfect soul mate for you, but because this is just the best way to secure your influence within the social sphere." She looked at Kanda, studying him. "What about you? Charlene didn't boast about you…," she lent forwards to study Kanda more closely. "You are a pretty boy, you'll bring a nice set of genes into the blood line, but what else does run in your blood? What ties do you have?" Ellen sat up straight in alarm when she saw her aunt's expression. She rarely saw her without a smile and even more rarely with almost chilly severity.

"I didn't marry him for any of these reasons," she told her aunt, "I thought you didn't care about things like these!"

"I always resented loveless marriages which were created only for political gain. Your marriage is not one of them, I know. Still, I want to know the background of that man that you chose to marry and the background of your unborn child's father." She looked at Ellen. "Is that not important?" Kanda snorted silently.

"I was born in Japan into a wealthy family, but was forced to come here because I am an exorcist. There is nothing more to me." Mary studied him, but then she shrugged and leant back, breaking the tension.

"Okay. Fair enough. Then just work hard to create a new you, now that you have a wife." She smiled at them. "No ties is something as well, at least nothing will chain you down and shut doors to opportunities." Kanda remained silent but nodded in agreement. Mary clapped her hands. "And now, some entertainment! Let's sing songs, Ellen!"

-o-o-o-

It was well after ten o clock in the evening before aunt Mary let Ellen leave again. Apart from liking to look at them, Mary had had no further interest in Link or Kanda and had let them leave relatively early. But she had had lots of things to talk about with Ellen. The young girl let herself fall down into the sheets of her bed with an exhausted groan.

"Finally back then? Miss Mary seems to be quite a handful." Kanda sat at the window, reading a book.

"Aunt is really lively and she loves company," Ellen said, barely lifting her head out of the covers, her voice muffled but Kanda still heard her.

"Then why isn't she married?"

"Because she didn't want to I guess?" Ellen suggested, sitting up again and started undoing her braid. "Can I ask you something?"

"Hn," Kanda replied, not taking his eyes off the page yet.

"Do you sometimes miss your family back in Japan? Or your childhood before things got complicated?" The young man frowned, still looking at the book, but no longer reading. After a while he shut the book with a snort.

"More complicated than it already was, you mean," he said and Ellen looked at him with an interested expression. "Well, it's not as if I'd noticed how complicated things really were. Children don't hear much apart from their parent's normal expectations."

"I… know what you mean," Ellen said, sighing slightly.

"Sometimes I do." Ellen looked up in surprise when Kanda continued talking. He drew his hand through his hair, sighing. "Sometimes I wonder what happened to my mother after she risked so much to get me out of Japan unharmed. But I don't feel pity for my family. They are cowards that rather suffered the loss of a family member than face danger by protecting me. Only mother did, even though she doesn't have many redeeming qualities beside that one moment of courage…" He got up and sat down on the bed next to Ellen, stroking her hair.

"Were you sad?" she wondered, reaching up to cover his hand with hers. "As a child I mean?" Kanda shrugged.

"Of course I was. Sad and frightened and angry. Especially angry. I didn't want to be an exorcist and I didn't want to have Innocence. It was ridiculous and I hated it." He laughed. "I must have been terrible back then."

"You're still terrible now. Such a hassle!" Ellen joked, pinching his cheek. He frowned. "Thank you." Kanda raised his eyebrow and Ellen let go of his cheek. "For telling me a bit more about yourself. I like the feeling that you finally start to trust me enough to speak of what lies beyond being an exorcist…" She laughed. "Even though what you told me is still connected to it." Kanda snorted and pushed at her shoulders so that she fell into the covers. He bent over her, grinning at her.

"Well. It's like I said. I'm an exorcist. That's all there is to me. But not forever. There's you now." Ellen smiled.

-o-o-o-

Kanda could not be convinced to go anywhere near a ballet, not that aunt Mary would have really wanted him coming along anyway.

"This is Linali, my best friend," Ellen said, introducing the girl to her aunt. Linali smiled openly, bowing slightly. "She would love to come see the ballet with us! If you allow it?" Mary agreed at once.

"Of course! My, such a charming girl! Do you like ballet my dear?"

"I have never been to one, so I am really excited!" Aunt Bermont grinned widely, putting her hand on Linali's shoulder.

"Then I am sure you will not be disappointed!" The carriage to London departed at once and Ellen looked out of the window, seeing Link stand by the door. He had agreed to stay behind because Linali would watch Ellen in his stead. He was not quite comfortable with seeing Ellen go without supervision, but it was, as Miss Bermont had said a "girls only" event. He didn't really want to be part of that.

It was a relief to be out again, to just forget the suffocating feeling of being trapped inside the castle walls. As a child, Ellen never had felt like this and she was sure that it was only because her position had now changed. Or maybe she had just grown up a bit… However, being out in public also unnerved her, because she still was somebody within society, even though only a couple knew how she looked, her mother had made sure of that.

"Come on, Ellen. Loosen up a bit. Sooner or later every newspaper reader from here to New York will know that you're married and with child. That's just a side effect of being born into nobility," aunt Mary said, her arm around Ellen's shoulder. "Right?" She gave her a squeeze and Ellen managed a nod. They made their way to their box in the opera house, Mary stopping every now and then to exchange a few pleasantries with other people, but she paid attention to not let anybody talk too much to Ellen, because at least she saw that it made her unwell. She pushed Linali to the centre of attention though, a fact the Asian girl was not really sure how to deal with.

"I'm a friend of Ellen's. Yes, Ellen Bermont," she replied whenever asked, "we attend the same institution." Ellen was glad when they finally slipped into their box, doors closed behind them and could focus on the ballet. Ellen didn't really care that much for ballets, even if she deemed it an appropriate way to pass some evenings. She put her opera glasses to her eyes when her aunt pinched her side, but overall she was just happy with sitting in her comfortable chair, listening to the music and seeing the figures dance on the stage. When she let her gaze travel from the dancer her aunt was so fond of, her breath almost caught in her throat. Casually leaning on the railing of his box but staring right back at her with a smirk, was Tyki Mikk. He waved at her and Ellen almost let her opera glasses drop into the pit below when she averted her eyes as quickly as possible.

"Ellen? What's the matter?" Linali asked, when the girl got up.

"Sorry. I need to go to the toilet," she made up and her aunt sighed dramatically.

"The fate of the pregnant woman, poor child. Hurry or you'll miss the great and dramatic ending!" Ellen laughed uneasily, then she slipped out of the box and hurried down the corridor. She only got as far as to the main staircase.

"Fancy, meeting you here," Tyki said, emerging from the shadows. Ellen glared at him. "I thought that you'd want to come see me."

"How did you know I was here?" Ellen asked, eyes narrowed. Every encounter with Tyki was potentially lethal. And every meeting with Tyki made her rash, thoughtless, careless. She knew she should not go out to meet him on her own, especially not in public where a battle could cause even more damage. But she couldn't let Tyki visit her in her box, under no circumstances would she allow that. It was a matter of keeping her aunt save, it was a matter of no wanting Linali to know that there were more connections between her, a potential Noah, and Tyki.

"You give me too much credit, darling," he said, taking one step towards her. He grinned when she didn't back away. He did like her for a reason. "Family bonds forced me to come here," he said with a sigh, shaking his head. Ellen was even more alert than before. Family bonds – that meant even more Noah must be present. But something in the back of her mind let her keep calm. For some reason she knew that she nor anybody else was in any real danger. "This is just a lucky coincidence." Ellen reacted way faster than he'd anticipated; when he closed the distance between them and wanted to touch her, she grabbed his hand with her Innocence one, almost crushing his wrist and keeping him away. When he got over his surprise he leaned in closer, his nose almost touching hers. "You know, it's quite boring without you out there fighting," he whispered, "so hurry up and get rid of that little hindrance of yours."

"How dare you," Ellen hissed, but Tyki merely chuckled, not impressed at all by the tightening of her Innocence around his wrist.

"Don't worry, my dear. I am just teasing you. I bet you remember my promise. You will be mine in time. I could just reach into you and turn around its little neck, but I made a promise about your child too. And when I have to, I will be patient." He wriggled out of the tight grip rather effortlessly and with a casual wave he walked away. Ellen forced herself to calm down and made her way back to her aunt and Linali.

When she did get back to her box, her aunt made a clicking sound with her tongue.

"You did miss the finale!" Ellen just slumped back in her seat, while her aunt clapped passionately. Linali bent over to her.

"Are you alright? You look slightly… unwell," she whispered and Ellen sighed, shaking her head.

"I am fine, thank you Linali. Just a bit tired," Ellen replied and even though Linali was not satisfied with that answer, she chose not to force the truth out of her while aunt Mary was still present.

"Well, girls, time to go!" Mary said, ushering the girls out of the box and into the flood of people moving towards the entrance hall. "I'm getting our coats and a coach for you, I'll only be a second." Just after Mary was gone, Linali turned to Ellen with an almost stern expression on her face.

"Now, Ellen, what is the matter with you? You need to tell me when something's wrong!" Ellen tried to avoid Linali's eyes, but while she did, she spotted Tyki again.

"There are no Akuma here, but Noah," Ellen whispered. Linali paled at once and slowly turned around, but Tyki had already slipped behind a curtain leading deeper into the Opera house. Ellen wondered just what he was up to.

"Noah? Here?"

"Shh, Linali! I know they are our enemies, but here in public they're just other spectators going to a ballet. We don't know what they're planning. But it would be incredibly unwise to engage in a battle here!" Ellen had her hands on Linali's shoulders and squeezed them gently, but still urgently. "We better just leave and report." The Asian girl slowly nodded her head and Ellen took her by the hand, putting on a smile when her aunt came back.

"There we are. One coat each!" she said cheerfully, then she led the way outside. "I must be on my way, I am expected in Liverpool for tea tomorrow before I depart for India." Ellen looked at her.

"You'll be leaving again? Haven't you just returned to England?" Mary laughed.

"Ellen… I don't intend to spend my live locked up here in this country. I made my choice early on in life. I'd wish to take you with me, dear child. But… your path is different," she said, and took Ellen's left hand in her own, where the wedding ring sparkled in the lamp's light. "Your father… he always wished that his daughter could live freely…" Mary sighed, then she patted Ellen's hand. "Ah, no need to be sentimental now. As long as you are happy!" She hugged Ellen and then Linali. "There's your carriage."

"Aunt… I...," Mary looked at her, smiling gently. Ellen sighed silently, then she looked up, a confident smile on her face. "I will be happy. I promise." Mary laughed and nodded. "Good-bye! Thank you for your visit!" Ellen said after she and Linali had climbed into the carriage.

"It was nice meeting you, Miss Bermont!"

"Just call me Mary, dear! And it was a pleasure meeting you too, Linali! Take care you two!" She gave the driver a sign and then the carriage started moving. "Good-bye! Good-bye, girls!"

-o-o-o-

Seeing Tyki again had greatly worsened Ellen's mood. Why did she need to keep running into him? She really didn't need to be reminded of his so-called promise. Neither did she want to get into a fight now – she knew that as she was now he couldn't possibly fight Tyki. She had failed to do so before, even with Rabi's help. She had improved in the few months between then and now, but she probably was still too weak to win. Of course, her ability to move was impaired now, seeing as she was more than six month's pregnant. However, she knew that if she had to fight, then she would, the Innocence would make sure of that.

"Well, this does worry me slightly," Komui said and Ellen snapped out of her thoughts. She and Linali had gone straight to Komui's office to report. "We know that Noah live human lives, but it is still surprising to find them at an opera house. Which would probably mean that they also have positions in the upper classes." Ellen chose not to say anything about this. Sure, she was withholding important information, but she just couldn't bring herself to tell what kind of connections she had to the Noah. Especially not as she was already in a dangerous position.

"I think we just need to be cautious. We can't do anything about it as our power to interfere is limited," Komui continued after a while. Ellen and Linali nodded, but before they could leave, Komui called Ellen back. "Ellen?" She looked at him and he smiled. Her face brightened up at one when he handed her the familiar black file.

"A mission? For me?" He nodded and Ellen grinned, seeing the note "Ellen and Yu Kanda; Paris" on it.

"Be cautious," Komui said, but then he chuckled, leaning back in his chair, "and enjoy yourself."

-o-o-o-

Kanda looked up suspiciously when he found Ellen barging into their bedroom with a big smile. He looked at her quizzically as she flopped down into an easy chair, opening the file.

"Welcome back. What is this?" Ellen grinned over the top of the file and Kanda saw what it was.

"A mission?"

"Right! A mission, for us!" Ellen sang and Kanda breathed a sigh of relief. Finally.

"So, what's it going to be?" Ellen looked down at the report, a smile still on her face as she read the details.
"We're going to hunt for a Phantom Thief!"

To be continued…

-o-o-o-

Notes:

Finally! I actually wanted to already start with the Phantom Thief G arc this chapter, but I decided to include the opera scene for various reasons.

First I was unsure about letting Aunt Mary appear because she really only has a minor role. Just a little note about her; Mary is the younger sister of Ellen's father, the one that has been mentioned a few times in the beginning of the story.

See you next chapter, with the last bit that loosely follows the manga storyline! :D

Random P.S. I'm still fighting with the line breaks :I It appears to become a long-lasting struggle.