I own nothing from Trinity Blood.

"Father Nightroad, the girl has awoken," Sister Kate appeared before Abel as he entered the Vatican Courtyard. "Her eminence has asked that you find her and watch over her."

"She's lost?" Abel frowned in confusion.

"She left Her eminence's office and no one went after her because you had arrived. My radar's say that she is in the southern gardens but she could start moving again soon so you better hurry. If you loose track of her, Lady Caterina won't be happy."

"Very well," Abel sighed and headed down the path that lead towards the south gardens.

The day was a little on the warm side and Abel was uncomfortable in his cloak and uniform. He felt some sweat roll down the back of his neck and sighed as he pulled off his cloak and draped it over one arm as he continued walking. If he was stuck babysitting a child, it was going to be a long day. He reached the gardens and looked around before frowning in not seeing anyone there. Abel sighed and walked towards the pond and sat down, exhausted.

"Who are you?"

Abel jumped and looked around but didn't see anyone.

"I'm in the Sakura tree to your right." Abel looked and saw the edge of a white habit against the trunk. He got to his feet and walked over, only to see the girl he had been sent to babysit. "Who are you?"

"I am Father Abel Nightroad, it's nice to see you awake," Abel smiled. "What is your name?"

"Kaiya..." she trailed off as she grabbed a branch and lifted herself off the branch she was sitting on and lowered herself to the ground and hung about a foot off the ground before she let go and stumbled against the tree. "That was stupid..."

"Are you alright? You are looking better then when we found you," Abel noted as he held out a hand to help her.

"Yeah, I'm alright," she smiled and took his hand. Almost instantly, she collapsed and Abel rushed to catch her. "I... I'm sorry, I'm not usually this unstable."

"Don't worry about it," Abel smiled as he pulled her into his arms and carried her over to a bench near the pond in the shade.

"I hate being helpless, even with my leg on a normal day," she sighed as she pulled her hair over her shoulder and ran her hands through it. "So you are one of the men who found me?"

"Yes Father Watteau and myself, what did you mean about your leg?"

"I cannot use my left leg in anyway, even though it looks normal. I lost the ability when thirteen years ago when I was around two," she smiled, her eyes closed mostly.

"How could you smile when you have so much pain?" Able asked quietly as he sat next to her.

"My whole life has been nothing about pain, mourning the loss of movement in a limb never was at the top of my list." Abel watched as she rubbed one of her bandaged wrists.

"You were a prisoner for several years, weren't you?"

"Does it matter? I'm free now and no one is trying to hurt me now. You were sent to watch me, weren't you?"

"Her eminence wanted to make sure you don't get lost or in case you needed something."

"So you're at my call like a servant?"

"How about like a friend?" Abel asked as he stood and held out his hand.

"I've never had a friend before..." Kaiya stared at his hand like it was a snake poised to attack.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Kaiya. It's just really hot and I would like to go find something to eat. I was wondering if you would like to join me."

"S-sure," stuttered before taking his hand and let him pull her to her feet.

Abel watched as she gripped his hand tightly before she took a step forward. It was slow progress but with Abel next to her, she didn't fall. She had lifted the dress to above her ankles as she moved and he noticed at how her left foot dragged as she half-hopped, half-limped along. Abel frowned and felt his chest become heavy as he watched her.

"Stop feeling guilty," Kaiya spoke suddenly as if she had read his thoughts.

"W-what?" Abel stammered confused.

"Your pulse," she tuned his wrist and he noticed she had two fingers against his pulse. "I felt it speed up each time you looked toward me. I've lived like this for a long time, it no longer bothers me."

"Is there any way I could help?" Abel asked as they continued across the gardens to the building.

"You are doing more than anyone else I've met except that professor guy. He practically dragged me to the Cardinal's office," she huffed before giggling. "Sorry, guess I'm not used to people caring."

"The AX members of the Vatican take care of each other," Abel smiled before stopping and grabbing her arm an easily swinging the light girl onto his back. "We are a family here, no matter how messed up we are."

"Really...?" Kaiya asked surprised, not even complaining that she was now on his back. "A family..."

"You could be apart of it too, if you wanted," Abel continued as he carried her into the building, ignoring the stared of guards and other Vatican members. "Most of the AX goes in teams of at least two now since the Vatican has been targeted more. You'd be out with someone who could help you move fast as well as making sure you both are safe. Know how to use any weapons?"

"I don't know," Kaiya frowned and propped an arm on his shoulder and out her head in her hand. "So grandpa, where we going?"

"Gra-grandpa?!" Abel skidded to a stop and turned to glare at the girl on his back who stared back blankly. "I am no..."

"You have a head full of grey hair..."

"Father Nightroad is only about twenty-two," someone behind them giggled and Abel turned and saw Caterina walking towards them with Vaclav at her side. "You two seem to be getting along really well."

"Grandpa here takes things too personally," Kaiya giggled from his back.

"Abel, I'm going to assign you as Kaiya's partner for now. You seem to be doing a good job helping her around," Caterina smiled.

"But Caterina...!"

"Oh Abel, she can take care of herself. Kaiya, after lunch Vaclav will be taking you over to the training rooms to figure out what you are best at in weapons. We don't let an agent go around unarmed."

"Alright, now lets go grandpa! I'm hungry," Kaiya tugged on Abel's hair and everyone laughed except Abel who winced in pain but bowed his head to Caterina before turning around and headed towards the kitchens while Caterina and Vaclav walked off. "That seemed weird."

"What do you mean?"

"She kept looking at me as if she has some kind if plan up her sleeve," Abel heard annoyance in her voice. "Anyway, is there any food around here that isn't hard bread?"

"Abel, since when have you become a donkey?" Leon came into view with a bottle of vodka in his hand.

"Since when do you drink so much?" Abel countered.

"Vodka?" Abel felt Kaiya shift on his back before she jumped off his back and he watched as she lunged off his shoulder and tackled Leon to the ground.

"Who the fuck is this jumping monkey?" Leon cried out as he struggled to keep the bottle out of Kaiya's reach but failed when she punched him in the throat and grabbed the bottle and drank a giant gulp while still sitting on Leon. "Hey, that's mine..."

"That's too fucking bad," Kaiya growled as she held the bottle in her right hand and placed her left on his shoulder before pushing off and hopped to her good foot and hopped back.

"Aren't you too young to be drinking?" Abel asked amused that she could take Leon down so easily.

"Honestly grandpa," Kaiya giggled. "I've been chained inside a volcanic cavern for eight years now. Wouldn't you want a drink?"

"Your the brat Hugue and Abel found outside the city?" Leon frowned as he got to his feet. "Of all the nicknames I would have for you Abel, grandpa never even came up."

"I'm hungry! Thanks for the drink hottie," Kaiya smiled as she took another swig before handing the bottle back to Leon. Then she started walking down the hallway.

"Hottie?" Leon frowned as he followed Abel after Kaiya. "You would think she's twelve."

"Three years off," Kaiya called back as she continued walking.

"Why is there some fifteen year old prancing around the Vatican?" Leon growled.

"Didn't ya hear? The prissy princess put me on grandpa's team for when I get a mission now that I am an AX agent."

"You're walking funny," Leon commented.

"Yeah, well you look funny," Kaiya countered as she stopped walking and turned around to face the two men. "Now, do I have to search every inch of this place for a cafeteria or will one of you either tell me or direct me? I am hungry and haven't eaten real food for about eight years."

"Calm down, and I'll take you there like I told you in the garden," Abel spoke as he walked over next to her then held out his hand for her to take and she took it and let him lead her down the hall while Leon followed, drinking what was left of his Vodka.

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