A/N: I added a few scenes at the end, including a brief view of Tyki (Yay!) Enjoy!
Chapter 2:
It was way too early in the morning for anything in Ellen's opinion. But at the moment no one was asking for her opinion, since her grumpy expression made it was pretty clear.
Currently though no one could see her face, squashed as she was under the beret and glasses wearing principal. The oddball had latched on to her the minute her and Cross arrived on the school grounds.
That was ten minutes ago.
Suffice to say, Ellen's mood had not improved.
Even so, she was trying to stay polite, since the principal had pulled a lot of strings to get her in the school under the radar.
"Um, Komui," the teenager poked his shoulder, "I kinda have to take my test."
"That's okay! I can sit with you!" Komui said, hugging her even tighter, if that was possible.
"No, um, I mean-" Ellen stuttered, trying to find a polite way to tell this guy to just get off her.
"Let her go Komui," Cross said in a detached tone, blowing a line of smoke at the supervisor's face.
"Marian you can't smoke in here." The shrill exclamation from the over excited man was way too close to Ellen's ear for her own comfort.
"Komui!" she finally exclaimed, exasperated, shoving at his arms. "If you don't let me go I can't take the test."
"No, Ellen!" Komui cried, clutching at her arms as she pulled away, "You can't leave me."
Thankfully Cross finally stepped in and grabbed the beret wearing man by his collar,
"Enough of this," Cross reprimanded, pulling him away.
"Don't you have work to do or something?" Cross growled, dropping his grip on the principal and supervisor.
"Nope, just taking care of Ellen." Komui said with a smile.
"Supervisor." A female voice, bland of emotion, cut in. All three glanced over towards the office door where a primly dressed secretary stood, a pile of papers in hand. Correction, two look over, because shockingly the dark haired man was gone. The open, high paned window behind his desk was a pretty good indicator of where he went.
"Good riddance." Cross grumbled, "Get going." He said, a hand on Ellen's back pushing her out of the office.
Holding back her own grumbles Ellen cast a dark glance at her guardian, but her defiance is interrupted by the secretary.
"This way Miss Walker." With an effort Ellen forced a polite smile on her face and followed the impeccably dressed older woman out of the main lobby.
If Ellen hadn't seen the hallways on their way through the school, she would have been a bit more alarmed at how it was so jam packed with students she could barely see the walls around her. As it was, she had to spend most of her concentration on keeping up with the secretary, and less on seeing where she was going. Which really was a mistake in any high school.
An elbow caught her in the side, and in skirting away from that angry student, Ellen found herself tripping back into a whole group of students.
"Hey watch it, bitch!"
Well, at least she knew they didn't mince words here.
"Are you an idiot or what?"
Yep; always nice to find a school where the students were so honest with their opinions.
Shoved out of their way and into the nearby lockers Ellen didn't give them the satisfaction of looking over at their taunts. Instead, brushing herself off, she calmly leaned back against the cool metal and looked for her guide.
The students around her were dressed in one of two uniforms, which was new to Ellen. She had thought only the exorcists attended this school, but besides their black and silver lined uniform jackets there were students with tan and brown outfits. Surprisingly, there were more students in brown lined jackets and khakis than not.
Ellen again had to question the wisdom of her guardian signing her up for an exorcist school. Not only would she be dealing with standing out among the students with her odd looks, but most could probably guess the cause of her 'differences.' The stories created by the gossip would definitely be more interesting, sure, but at the cost of people trying to dig into a past she would be loath to share.
It must have been getting closer to the bell because more and more students were darting into the classrooms, and the hall was slowly but surely clearing. Which meant Ellen was more easily visible to those meandering through the hall. She tried not to self-consciously fix her appearance but after being shoved through the crowd her hair had come loose from her hat and pins, and light white strands were hovering at the edge of her vision.
Whispers, and not so low questions followed the eyes Ellen felt on her as she hurriedly tucked stray strands under the edge of her beanie, pulling it low over her forehead.
"Miss Walker, I have other things I need to do this morning." The sharp voice stopped a few stragglers, who easily connected the secretary's words to the odd visitor standing in the hall. The older woman's stance was just one step away from aggravated, her foot tapping as her fingers drummed against the side of her leg.
"Sorry Ma'am." Ellen hurriedly stepped away from the lockers, smoothing down her shirt and adjusting her hat one last time.
888
It was a rather vague description to say Ellen emerged from the testing room drained. Rather, she stumbled out, falling against the wall and tilting her head back, gasping in air. Sweet, clean, smoke free air. Damn Cross for inviting himself in and spending most of the test finishing off that pack of cigarettes he bought yesterday. Like she didn't get enough of that at the hotel room. Or in the car. Or anywhere else she went that Cross came along.
So what if Ellen had muttered that she would pay someone to take the test for her. It's not like she was serious. Okay, so maybe if she had the money she would have. But Cross knew just how much she had to spend, and it wouldn't be enough to bribe any high school student to go through that. If the SAT's were anything like this five hour test, then there was no way Ellen Walker was going to take them. Even if Principal Komui Lee had already signed her up for the test. Maybe if she bartered with the assistant principal she could get out of it. Ellen was pretty sure the woman had trouble enough waiting on her desk, she didn't need to chase the beret wearing man all over kingdom-come.
Who even knew what that phrase really meant? 'Kingdom come' sounded like a swear, but if Ellen remembered correctly from her short stint at several catholic schools, it was part of a prayer-
"Ugh, no more brain," with a groan the chestnut haired girl rubbed at her aching forehead, "no more thinking today."
Even as she said this, Ellen's brain had one more thought for her. Where was Cross?
Looking up and down the school hallway it was pretty clear that Cross wasn't in her vicinity. It was a well lit hallway that ran the length of one wing of the school, with a clear view in either direction. Apparently it was the less populated end of the school though; there was no one else in the hallway but Ellen.
"Cross?" even as she voiced the tentative question, Ellen was pretty sure her guardian was long gone. The real question was just how far did he go?
A bell rang somewhere overhead, muffled by the miles of stone wall separating Ellen from the rest of the school population, motivating the young woman to get moving before she earned another disapproving look from the assistant principal.
"You better have just gone to the office Cross or so help me-"muttering the teenager stomped her way up the corridor towards a set of steps leading to the next level up. "It's not like it would have been that hard for you to wait…already wasting your time…no common courtesy, I swear," she continued her complaining, glaring at the worn vinyl flooring as she climbed the stairs.
"Hey, you're not lost are you?"
The sudden question, and the proximity of the speaker, surprised Ellen and her foot caught on the edge of the step, leaving her to stumble the rest of the way up the stairs. Luckily she was able to avoid falling on her face, but not from her ministrations alone.
"Oops, sorry to startle you." The hands that had caught her arm were gentle but steady, their touch just light enough to provide support. Following the arm to it's owner silver eyes met one emerald eye from the boy looking down on her.
A step above her were two students standing to the edge of a crowded walkway; they were a bit abnormal in looks, but she wasn't one to talk. One had distinctly asian features, with long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail, and the other had red hair a shade brighter than her own, with an eye patch over his right eye. Even if the taller asian kid didn't look too friendly, his friend certainly made up for with a wide, exuberant, smile and a glint in his emerald eye.
"It's all right, that was my fault." Ellen hurriedly apologized, drawing away from this stranger's touch as she pulled herself up the railing to stand on level ground with them.
Backlit by the multitude of tan jackets behind them, their black jackets stand out, and Ellen was quick to note that both of these boys had the rose cross on the lapels; so they were exorcists.
"So, are you lost?" the red head asked curiously, while his friend leaned on the wall around the corner, glaring at any students who came too close to him in the crowd.
The bell must have signaled the switch to lunch, since so many students were out and about; unless the classes all ate lunch at the same time? For the life of her Ellen couldn't remember what kind of schedule the high schools ran to control the flow of students through the hallways.
"Why would you think I was lost?" Ellen asked huffily, brushing off the knees of her khaki pants to avoid showing how embarrassed this was all making her.
"Well, you aren't wearing a uniform, and you're in the tech wing, which is the farthest you could get from the office without leaving the building,"
"Of course it is," Ellen muttered, glancing around the hall as another bell rang, and the students began to move more urgently towards nearby classrooms.
"Unless," the red head dragged out the word, a lilt to his voice that quickly drew the young woman's attention back to him, "You're new here, aren't you?" He asked pointedly.
"Um," Looking from the suddenly too close red head to his companion Ellen tried to come up with some explanation that might save her from this boy's exuberance.
No such luck.
"You are new!" the red head said, visibly bouncing on his feet in excitement. "Yuu, Yuu did you hear that, there is a new student?"
Puzzling over why this boy was repeating the word you like a name, Ellen watched as the taller student took a swing at the eye-patch kid, who dodged like this is a usual occurrence. Her eyes caught on a blur of black that swung into view as the other exorcist came around the corner to make another swing at his target.
"Shut up baka usagi." The asian student cursed, glaring at the red head as he skipped out of reach.
This red head's friend looked kind of like…no, it couldn't be the same boy, her luck couldn't be that bad. Eyes narrowed as she studied the tall asian teenager, from his long hair to his stance, eyes alighting on the sheath poking over his shoulder.
"What's your problem?" The taller boy demanded in a sharp tone, noticing her wandering gaze.
"Where should I start?" Ellen asked smartly in return. If she doubted even a little that this was the boy who dismissed her from her job yesterday, his attitude was enough to cinch the deal.
"You should start with your name." The red head suggested excitedly, taking a step closer, blocking her view of the other kid.
Thankfully the bell saved her from answering, and gave her an excuse to step away.
"Don't you have class; your friend has already left." Ellen pointed out hurriedly, motioning down the hall. Indeed his grumpy companion was almost out of sight swiftly making his way through the hall.
"Oh no, class!" the red head took off down the hall after his long haired companion; only a few steps away he turned, waving, "I'm Lavi, hope to see you in class soon." He called before turning and running down the hallway.
"Yu, wait for me!"
There is a growl and the taller boy, apparently named You, took a swing at him. "Don't call me that!"
"Well." Relaxing her stance Ellen started off after the two boys; albeit much slower. She really didn't care to be near that girly-haired jerk, (You was such an odd name), but they must have been headed towards the main hub of the school.
She hoped.
888
"What do you mean he left?" Ellen asked, staring in disbelief at the dark haired woman before her.
She had finally found her way back to the office, only to find Komui gone on some errand with Lenalee, no assistant principal, and the strict secretary nowhere in sight. And no chain smoking irresponsible guardian either. No the only person around was this assistant secretary who had been noisily lamenting over losing a file until Ellen had interrupted her to ask about Cross.
"Oh he left awhile ago. He did wait a bit, but he said if someone asked for him to say he wasn't 'wasting his time'." The last bit was said proudly, as if she felt important for passing on a message from Cross.
No one should feel Cross' word was worth a dime.
Suffice to say when Ellen had been less than happy about this, chaos ensued.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault!" the older woman wailed, smearing her eyeliner across her cheeks as she grabbed at her face, "I should have made him stay."
"No, um, you really couldn't have done that," Ellen tried to soothe the older woman,
"I should have!" she continued to wail, knocking things off her desk with each movement.
The only thing she hadn't managed to knock over was the sign with her name on it- mostly because it was written on a blank magnet shaped like a conversation bubble and attached to the front of her desk. Miranda Lotto was written on it; not a sure name Ellen could recognize, but then again she didn't really care to learn peoples names.
Ah, wait, she could use that.
"Your name is Miranda right?" Ellen interjected quickly.
The older woman nodded enthusiastically, hands clasped tightly before her.
"Where are you from, I've never met someone with that last name?"
"Germany." The dark haired woman said, patting a few stray hairs back into her bun; Ellen wasn't about to tell her there were more than a few strands out of place.
"What part of Germany? Did you ever see the Berlin wall?" Grasping for some kind of common ground, Ellen slipped into one of the few history topics she cared to pay attention to- landmarks.
"I saw the wall, yes."
"I wanna see it some day, is it nice?" Ellen asked, leaning against the front counter.
"Oh, well, yes, it is," Miranda said, seemingly flustered by the attention. Feeling that they are moving into murky waters again Ellen changed the subject.
"That is so cool, maybe someday I could go," She began, sweeping down to grab her bag as she spoke, "but for now I have to head home."
"How are you going to get home?"
"Um I was just going to walk." Ellen said as she stepped back towards the door, dying to make her escape.
"You can't walk all that way,"
"It really isn't that far." Ellen tried to assure the older woman, but Miranda continued to speak over her.
"There are no motels closer than two miles, you can't walk so far alone."
"I'm really fine Miranda," the younger girl sighed out, rubbing her now aching forehead, watching in confusion a moment later as the woman froze up, thinking intently. "um, Miranda?" Ellen asked cautiously, stepping up to the counter.
Whipping around the older woman slammed her hands down on the cheap wood and leaned over, an intense look on her face as she moved closer.
"I will drive you home." She declared, a determined look on her face.
"Miranda, it's okay, really, I can just walk home." The younger girl began to argue, trying not to let her irritation begin to show. Really, why couldn't this woman just listen.
Apparently her annoyance was obvious enough for the older woman as Miranda abruptly drew back, her hands meeting her cheeks with a loud slap.
"And now I'm being a nuisance, please forgive me!" she cried out, dragging her nails down her face.
"Miss Lotto?" A sweet voice called, pitched high to be heard over the wails. Both occupants of the office turned towards the door, surprised to see a short girl standing there, hands behind her back as she glanced around the edge of the frame. Even if her voice hadn't been familiar, Ellen couldn't miss recognizing the deep blue hair; after all, there weren't too many people with dyed hair of her age. "I'm sorry to interrupt," she began with a smile, and then Miranda jumped in.
"Don't apologize it's my fault I didn't hear you come in!" Ellen barely stopped herself from flinching from the sheer shrill tones that the self-depreciating words were delivered with.
"But I'm not actually in the room Miss Lotto." The younger girl pointed out.
Apparently dumbfounded by this point Miranda thankfully goes quiet.
"Did you need something?" Ellen sighed out, discreetly rubbing at her smarting ears as she threw a curious glance at the blue haired girl.
She was more curious as to how the younger girl was able to go wandering through the Black Order high in the middle of the school day, but a subtle shake of the head from the girl in question was all the answer she was going to get for the moment.
"I was just passing by on my way out and I heard all the commotion." She said, adding with a sweet smile, "Is there any way I can help?"
"Unless you have a car-" Ellen began, and the shorter girl giggles,
"How else would I have gotten here silly?" she asked
"The bus." The older girl suggested, innocently twirling a strand of her chestnut hair around a finger as the other girl shot her a meaningful, stern look.
"Miss Camelot its really all right, we can take care of things" Miranda began, and Ellen was quick to cut her off.
"Oh it's all right Miranda, I'll just take the bus." As the older woman opened her lips to protest, the teenager again cut her off, "and Miss Camelot could just walk me out of the building, right?" she asked the shorter girl eagerly; or desperately depending how you looked at it.
"Of course, I would be glad to show you." Rhode said, seeming to catch on as she stepped into the hallway, motioning for Ellen to follow. "Have a good day Miss Lotto." She said pleasantly.
"Oh, yes, you too girls." Miranda said and Ellen was only too glad to snag the doorknob and close the office door with only a short wave goodbye.
"Rhode, what are you doing here anyway?" Ellen asked as the door closed behind them, muffling the sound of Miranda shrieking as the phone rang. "You don't go here, do you?"
A quick glance at the younger girl had shown that she didn't wear the same uniform, but it was possible there was a third faction to the school that Ellen had yet to see.
"No silly, of course I don't go here." Rhode said, latching onto Ellen's arm and beginning to drag her down the hallway. "I came to drop off my uncle's lunch."
"Lunch was a while ago, wasn't it?" glancing around the hallway for a clock Ellen stumbled as she was suddenly led around a corner.
"You need a watch." Rhode remarked
"Unless it had a compass on it too, it wouldn't really help." Ellen responded matter-of-factly.
Giggling Rhode swung their clasped hands as they continued through the halls.
"Lunch only started a little while ago," Rhode clarified but even as she said this a thought seemed to occur to her and she stopped in place, dragging Ellen to a halt beside her. "What are you doing here anyway? This is an exorcist school."
"I noticed, thanks." Ellen said dryly, gently disengaging Rhodes grip on her arm. Turning away her gaze wandered up the hallway, but her attention was far from the linoleum and lockers. For a long moment she was silent, but Rhode waited patiently for the red head to gather her thoughts.
"We've run out of options, so we came back here." Ellen said shortly, the words barely louder than a whisper.
"Are you going to be training with them?" Rhode asked just as softly,
"Cross doesn't want me too," was Ellen's answer. Neither mention that this isn't really an answer.
"So why bring you here? Why enroll you in this school?"
"They have extensive wards, better than anything Cross could lay down for a motel, or around another school."
"So it's safer."
"It's supposed to be." Ellen murmured, left hand slowly rising to cover her left eye, fingertips lingering on the skin under her bangs.
A soft touch to her hand drew Ellen from her thoughts and she looked down to meet Rhodes soft gaze.
"You'll be okay Ellen." Rhode said quietly, and Ellen couldn't help but nod her agreement at the surety the younger girl has in this statement.
Stepping away with one last comforting pat, Rhode turned around, her entire countenance changing.
The grin on her lips and the amused glint to her eyes revealed more than her next words,and Ellen had to wonder what the younger was planning.
"Time to go!" she crowed.
"Go where Rhode, we're already out of the school." Ellen pointed out, motioning to the grassy patch of land that spreads out before them, leading away to different buildings and structures depending which way one was facing.
There were the dorms, the other gymnasium entrance, the directors home, the library, and a couple of more buildings Ellen wasn't too sure she knew the use for. But no one Rhode would want to go.
"To my house of course!" the younger girl exclaimed, latching on to the older girls arm, again.
"Why your house?" Ellen was puzzled but she let Rhode lead her down the steps and to their right where a driveway curved before the main doors before heading off the campus towards the main street.
"For lunch! Mommy will be so happy to have company!"
"And what about school for you? Don't you have to get back?"
"I'm home schooled silly."
"You are?" Ellen glanced in confusion to the younger girl's uniform. "But-" seeing her look Rhode giggled,
"Isn't it so cute." She cooed, releasing Ellen's arm to turn in a circle, showing off the short flowy skirt.
"Um, sure?" the older girl wasn't really one for short skirts, so she couldn't really understand the appeal of this rather showy cloth.
Giggling Rhode seemed to take that as an answer, grabbing Ellen's hand to continue down the sidewalk to the only car parked at the curb.
"All set to go?" as they approached the car someone approached from the other direction, his slacks well pressed and shoes and cuffs spotless.
Ellen had to reassess that pronoun though as their voice reached her ear, and her eyes fell on their features. Definitely feminine.
"Yep, all set Lulubell." Rhode declared, dragging Ellen to stand beside her, "this is Ellen, she's a friend."
"From this school Rhode?" the titled Lulubell asked, narrowing her eyes at the teenager before her.
"Not a problem Lulu." The younger girl said with a surprising amount of seriousness.
"Rhode," Ellen began, but the shorter girl shooshed her,
"Well I won't be the one to tell your father about this, or the Earl." The older woman acquiesced, pulling car keys from her pocket and unlocking the car doors with a click of a button.
"Papa won't mind."
Well, if he was as wrapped around Rhodes finger as the twins had hinted…Ellen wouldn't be surprised if he brushed Ellen's status aside as easily.
Apparently Lulubell thought that was the case too cause her reaction is to shake her head and walk away, entering the drivers door of the car and starting up the engine.
"Get in Ellen, I'm starving." The younger girl proclaimed, popping open the back door and sliding across the seat, patting the seat in earnest as Ellen stood for a moment outside.
"Are you sure-" she began, but her protest was quickly halted as Rhode grabbed her hand and tugged down, pulling on her arm until she was half kneeling on the seat crouched to avoid hitting the door frame.
"Yes, yes, come on," the blue haired girl coaxed impatiently.
"Okay, okay," Ellen assured her, and she couldn't help but laugh at her friends antics as she found a more comfortable seat in the car before closing the door behind her
888
Tyki Mikk was not the kind to act without provocation, or to think without speaking. Sure he usually did the provoking, but that was beside the point.
So he was surprised when he spoke without thinking, and also surprised the principal, who had surprised him seconds before with an unusual request. A surprising request. Suffice to say there was a lot of unexpected conversation going around the teachers lounge.
"What do you mean teach the class?" Tyki hoped the higher pitch to his voice wasn't that noticeable- he would never live it down otherwise.
"Well little Mikk, I mean precisely what I said." Komui began,
The principal really needed to give up on that nickname- they were the same height for goodness sake. Maybe Tyki was younger, but he was ages more mature than the enigmatic principal.
"I need you to teach the Portuguese class."
Tyki frowned at the older man from his seat at one of the lunch tables, narrowed eyes watching as he wandered over to the counter and began picking through the coffee supplies.
"I'm a T.A. Komui,"
"Call me principal," the beret wearing man cut in, but Tyki ignored the request,
"I don't even know what Sr Fernando usually does in class, I just correct papers." Tyki was becoming more insistent by the minute; he was not here to take a full time position. He had other work to do.
"All those papers must be related to chapters already covered; just compare it to the textbook." Komui said flippantly, refilling his bunny coffee mug from the machine. Frankly Tyki was surprised the man was even in the lounge- usually he avoided it since it was an obvious place to be waylaid by his actual principal duties. The main office being the most obvious place the slacker needed to avoid.
"I can't take a full time position-"
"Please Tyki!" from cool to begging in 3 seconds, the principal covered the room in two strides and dropped to his knees, hands up in prayer. "No other teacher knows Portuguese, and we can't find a substitute, we need you!"
Where in the world did the coffee mug he was holding go? The young man was expecting a face full of coffee and had practically jumped out of his seat. Practically, since he didn't do anything so ungraceful. He had completely meant to pull his feet onto his chair, he was definitely going to sit cross legged and relaxed. And he was just stretching, that was why he was clutching the back seat of the chair. He wasn't trying to stay balanced or anything.
"Komui, I have classes," Even as he said this Tyki slowly and carefully, as if backing away from a striking snake, climbed off his chair, putting the furniture between him and the crazy glasses wearing man.
"We can pay overtime." Komui said, desperate, snagging Tyki's arms before he can fully extract himself from the chair.
"It would be a lot of over time, since I am only supposed to be on for 12 hours a week." Tyki pointed out, but he was seriously thinking about it now. His other job wasn't exactly a paying one, and his apartment rent wasn't covered by his college...
"Thank you Tyki!" Komui exclaimed, apparently seeing the considerable thought the young man was putting into this and interpreting it as defeat.
"No, wait, Komui," Tyki began but the once-scientist-now-principal had already leaped away, pink bunny mug in hand again,
"I'll catch you at lunch tomorrow with your new schedule." Komui declared as he headed straight out of the room, goal accomplished,
"Komui," Tyki called, and was surprised for a moment when the principal actually popped his head back in the doorway,
"Oh yah, there will be a new student, don't forget to plan time for tutoring since they are quite behind on their language skills. Toodles!" And he was gone again.
"What, the, hell," Tyki cursed lowly, sinking into his chair once again.
There was a titter of smothered laughter from the corner of the room, and he shot the culprit a glare.
The dark haired German woman hid behind her companion with a squeak, but said companion didn't bother to hide his amusement as he looked down his nose at Tyki. It was quite an aristocratic look, but wasn't odd coming from this teacher; Count Krory had grown up in high society after all. Even if he had been a recluse until entering work here at Black Order high, he still had the air of one who knew their place.
Whatever. Here at the school, the Count was as much a blue collared worker as he was.
Speaking of work, Tyki turned back to his pile of papers and the remains of his lunch.
Having Komui crash through the door halfway through his boxed lunch had spoiled his appetite. Which ruined the great lunch Rhode had brought him.
Oh well, maybe he would just drop by their house tonight for dinner rather than joining the Earl at the manor. The older man would understand- after all, who could deny Tricia's so sweet requests and doting; his sister-in-law mothered everyone, power and status be damned. Not even the Millennium Earl could deny her a request, which was probably where Rhode got her persuasive nature from. Not that they were biologically related, but Tricia had raised Rhode since she was young, never questioning Sheryl's sense of duty towards the young parent-less child.
A bit more enthusiastic in his grading now that he had a plan for dinner that he knew would brighten his day, Tyki returned to his duty. Completely forgetting Komui's last request.
888
"Geez, took you long enough." Was the heart warming statement that greeted Ellen when she finally made it back to the hotel. Three hours after she left the school.
"If you wanted me back sooner you should have waited for me." The teenager pointed out, wringing out her hair and opening the wards before she stepped through the doorway. A sudden downpour had caught her right as she got off the bus about 15 minutes ago, and of course she hadn't had an umbrella on her.
Still, that was better than the two and a half mile walk that would have awaited her if Rhode hadn't lent her a few bucks for the bus. And walked her to the bus. And drawn Ellen a little map of how to get to the motel from the bus stop.
Frankly if not for Rhode she would be in a worse mood right now, though she wasn't about to point that out to Cross and start an unnecessary fight.
But that didn't mean she wouldn't stop complaining, "After all we haven't been back here for a couple of years, its not like its easy for me to find my way around."
And of course her red headed guardian didn't even pretend he had listened to her complaints; he hated when she whined like a child.
"Did you at least figure out if there is a bus? I can't be driving you everywhere."
"When have you ever." The comment wasn't entirely fair, since he had driven her to the test that morning, so with a sigh Ellen amended that statement. "It would be nice if you could drive me, and cheaper, but there is a bus to the school so you don't have to drive me, I guess."
"Then I won't drive you, you should be able to take care of yourself."
"Yes well, it would be nice sometimes for you to, you know," Ellen trailed off, looking away when Cross' attention moved to her questioningly. "Never mind." she muttered, trailing to the bathroom with only a short stop to drop her bag by the bed. Before she could enter, her guardians voice called her back.
"After you shower try this on." Cross tossed a plastic wrapped package on the bed and curious Ellen wiped her damp hands off as best she could before ripping open the plastic unceremoniously.
What tumbled out was an array of black and white fabric that had been folded nice and neat before she had displaced it. Besides the white button up, everything else was black with silver accents; a black blazer, black and gray ascot, and a skirt that was black with silver accents on the edges. If she didn't look pale already, this certainly wouldn't help her complexion.
"My uniform?" Well, she should have known Komui would have it already. He was far too excited about her going to his school.
"Yep, for school tomorrow." Cross said, idly flicking through the tv channels.
"Tomorrow?" Ellen exclaimed, whipping around to face her guardian.
"What do you mean 'tomorrow'?" She asked the red headed jerk currently lounging on the bed and seemingly ignoring her.
"You are going, no discussion. Now try it on, Komui won't stop texting to ask if you like it."
"But I just took the test today, there is no way Komui could have me sorted into classes already." Ellen insisted, voice rising slightly in pitch.
Surprisingly Cross sighed, throwing an indecipherable look her way, "we both agreed that you couldn't hang around the hotel all day."
"I know, but I thought I would have the weekend at least to prepare for this," Ellen said, anxiety settling in her chest as she stared at the package on the bed. She hadn't been to a school since early junior high; she wasn't ready for this. Maybe she wouldn't ever really be ready, but she definitely didn't feel ready right now.
A hand landed on her shoulder and startled Ellen looked up at her guardian, not having heard or seen him get up.
"You have dealt with far worse than some moody teenagers." He said plainly, then removed his hand, returning to his brisk attitude. "Besides, the students at Black Order High are all familiar with the supernatural, and used to odd people and odd occurrences. Of which there will be few at the school, with such permanent wards."
Ellen nodded, trying to feel the same level of assurance that Cross had. Picking at the skirt as Cross moved away, she frowned "Can't I at least wear the boy's uniform?"
"This is the girls uniform. You are a girl. Deal with it." Cross said crassly, preoccupied with looking through his suitcase for something.
"But I can't." Ellen practically shrieked, holding the skirt up for Cross to see, "Do you see how short this is?"
"And why do I care again?" Cross asked, not looking away from the notebook and file he had pulled from his bag.
"Cross!" Ellen whined,
"It wasn't my decision, take your complaints up with Komui. Just be forewarned that hes the one who sent you the uniform."
"Ugh," Ellen dropped the skirt, glaring down at it and its matching uniform jacket. The black reminded her of the jackets she saw the other day at her botched job, the Rose cross on the lapel solidifying her suspicion; Cross and Komui had indeed signed her up as an exorcist. She still wasn't sure if it was a good idea, but it was too late to change it now.
Cross' phone buzzed on the table and both occupants glanced at it, one curious and one annoyed. "You still have to try it on." the older man said pointedly, "If you don't, Komui won't leave me alone."
"Serves you right." Ellen muttered, leaving the skirt where it is and digging her pajamas out of her small suitcase. "Just tell Komui he'll see it tomorrow." She responded before sweeping into the bathroom.
Before she could close the door Cross caught the edge of it, propping it open with his foot.
"Just don't throw away this chance Ellen."
Slightly confused as to where this was coming from, Ellen took in the serious look in Cross Marian's eyes before nodding. "I won't." she said softly. Seeming satisfied with that answer her guardian let her be, returning to his bed.
Before closing the door Ellen noted that the TV was still muted, but she didn't think much of it at that moment. Its not like this was the first time the older man had actually concentrated on his work files, though he didn't have a job assigned currently.
Shrugging away that line of thought, since it really wasn't like it concerned her, Ellen turned her attention back to the hot shower she so desperately needed at the moment.
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A/N: I had intended to include the Cross/Ellen scene since the beginning, but I wanted to get the chapters out on a monthly schedule and to avoid missing it for April I had to exclude the scene for a bit. But then I also had a reader make a comment about Tyki that got me thinking; I as a reader would be begging for glimpses of Tyki right now. Which made me realize that I had imagined all this information, these plot points that would play in later, but never actually thought to make them in to scenes. So now I am! This means I'll probably be making a few more edits on each chapter I have already published, but I would rather make edits and redo chapters then deprive my readers of Tyki :D