Author's Note:
Shibaraku desu ne!! I missed writing so much! If you're still reading, thank you very much for your patience. I really appreciate it.
Chapter 19: Hide and Seek
The cold air is nothing compared to the colder scenery that greeted them. High iron gates opened to reveal a vast land with people here and there working mechanically in little groups. Though the land is covered with cotton plants and other unknown vegetation, there is only the barest hint of green visible in the sea of gray mixed with all the dark shades of blue and brown.
Two horse-drawn carriages entered the gates, the wooden wheels roughly bumping with the rocks and soil of the uneven land. The first one was occupied by Arthur and Maurice while the second one housed two exorcists of the Dark Order.
Allen watched as they passed the fields. Even with the noise of their carriage, the workers continued picking the cotton, tilling the soil and carrying their loads as though they heard nothing.
"I would have expected a little more than just passive glances when the master of the manor comes home," Allen said looking at Kanda who sat opposite him.
"Do not take your eyes off the workers. One of them might be an akuma," she said looking out of the window as well. "But you are right. They don't look thrilled to have Arthur back."
"Well that makes them just a gloomy bunch. I don't see any akuma," Allen said.
"Tch"
A big structure at the end of the field towered the pines, growing bigger and bigger as they approach it nearer. The clopping of the horses stopped and their carriages halted in front of the manor house.
"This looks promising," Allen commented as the door opened and they were given the full view of the house. He stepped out and felt the cold air bite into the skin of his cheeks. He held out his arm to Kanda and helped her off the carriage steps. Her cheeks turned pink with the cold just as Allen's did.
"Welcome to my humble house. Shall we go in so that we could warm ourselves up?" Arthur invited smiling lightly. He was wearing a thick coat and a tall hat that made him look unrecognizable.
"Thank you for your hospitality," Kanda said nodding politely.
"Not at all my lady," Arthur said and he led them inside.
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"It's a pity that you have to see the manor just before winter and it already lost it's color. It's really beautiful when the field is in full bloom. You should see it during spring," Arthur said while putting a couple of sugar cubes in his tea.
The three of them sat in the living room where a fire crackled merrily in the fireplace. Earlier, Arthur showed them around a few rooms of the house. He ordered one of the maids to take their luggage upstairs. Mugen stayed with Allen of course.
"Looks like you have a good appetite, Allen-san," Arthur said watching Allen as he started on his sixth slice of pie.
Allen tried to smile with his mouth full. "Thish ai tests ery ood."
"Oi," Kanda nudged him with a warning look.
"aat?"
"It's okay Kanda-san. Allen is a growing boy. He needs his food," Arthur said.
With one big gulp, Allen swallowed everything down. "I'm already a man, Arthur-san."
Arthur was taken aback. The white haired companion of Kanda was looking at him seriously. Allen already knew how Kanda sees him as just a kid but he won't let that get to him. As much as possible. And so he continued staring at Arthur as though daring him to say another word about him being just a 'boy'.
"Of course. I'm sorry Allen, I didn't mean to say that. Of course you're not a boy anymore."
There was a knock at the door and Maurice entered without waiting for a reply. He strode over to Arthur and urgently whispered something while the other nodded gravely.
Allen and Kanda stared at each other and they knew what the other was thinking.
"I'm sorry but I have to attend to something important right away. I'll have to leave now but I shall be back before dinner. Are you going to be fine till then?" Arthur asked putting on his coat.
"We'll be fine," Allen said.
"I really feel bad. You're my guests and I invited you here," Arthur said hesitating to go.
"Please don't. Don't let us get in the way of your affairs," Kanda added.
Arthur walked closely to Kanda and took her hand. "I really wanted to spend time with you."
Kanda quickly withdrew her hand. "I'm sure we could all get together at dinner."
He smiled. "I'll be looking forward to it."
The door opened and closed and Arthur was gone. There was silence which was suddenly broken by Kanda.
"Oi beansprout, are you sure that guy isn't an akuma? I'd be really glad to take him on if he was," she said.
No Kanda. I wouldl be very happy to take him on if he was an akuma. Arthur has been getting on his nerves since he first met him. And how dare he act all pretty boy around Kanda! Can't he see how disgusted she is when he is near? Allen never knew that the day would come when someone would rival his hatred towards the Earl. Almost.
"Sorry Kanda but he is human. "
"Tch. Anyway, this is a good opportunity to do some investigating."
"Yes but where do you think we should start?"
"We'll split. I'll have a look around the house while you investigate outside. Ask the workers," Kanda said.
"Do you think that's safe? You can't have Mugen back unless we confirm the presence of an akuma or innocence," Allen asked uncertainly.
Kanda glared at him. "Don't insult my skills Moyashi. If you think I'll be in trouble then you will surely die."
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"Business partner of the sir? I'm sorry but I have to go back to work now. I don't know much about business and stuff. I just till the soil."
"Wait! I just want to ask about Sir Arthur," Allen told the fifth person he had the luck to corner in the field.
"What do you want to know?" asked the man as he put down his pickaxe. He had a big built and was watching Allen impatiently.
Allen tried to smile. "Well, I was just wondering why a very young man would own and run such a big plantation alone."
"Sir Arthur and his sister inherited the manor and all the business of his old man when he bit the dust some months ago. Been runnin everything since then. Honestly though, at first we thought that the manor is doomed you know," he said scratching his beard.
"Why is that?" Allen asked curiously.
"Sir Arthur wasn't prepared to take on the job. He's just twenty and all and he always leaves the manor to play in Asia. Not the serious type at all, you know," he said in a low voice.
"But what about his sister? Why is she not helping him?" Allen asked.
"Well, she's sickly. Poor girl's been weak since birth and with no mother too," he said.
Allen had been wondering why Arthur's sister didn't welcome them when they arrived earlier. If what this guy is saying was true, then that would explain her absence. But why is Arthur not mentioning her? He didn't mention her at all. Allen felt like they have to find her soon.
"Thank you very much," he said and turned to leave when a hand grabbed his arm.
"Hey kid, nothing's free. I want you to give me something for those things I said. You look like a rich kid," he said, his swollen face grinning maliciously.
"Fine," Allen said and started fishing out some money from his pocket.
"Wait! What's that? Is that a sword?" the man asked eying Mugen which was strapped to Allen's waist. "I want that. Give me that sword."
Allen stepped back clutching Mugen at his side. "I can't give you this."
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The wooden floor creaked as Kanda walked down one of the long corridors of the house. Her movements were swift and noiseless but the ancient wood made all sorts of sound at the lightest touch. "Tch"
She turned at a corner and continued walking. Looking around for some clue on where to start is always one of the hardest parts of a mission. One has no idea what he's looking for. And so Kanda decided to snoop around in the hope that she will stumble into something useful.
The corridor was lined with doors that were identical in appearance. She ignored them and took the stairs at the end. She felt annoyed for going around so aimlessly. It wasn't her style.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
Kanda froze on the spot. She turned to the voice. "I'm lost."
A man in butler's suite looked at her. "Lady Kanda?"
"Maurice?" Looks like the brat didn't take his nanny with him. "I'm so glad I found you. I've been going around this place for some time and I can't find my way back to the living room."
"I see. Don't worry, I'll bring you back there."
"I thought you go wherever Sir Arthur went. Did he leave without you?" Kanda asked innocently.
"I-uh... Young master... He-uh, left me here because he has guests," Maurice said wiping his forehead.
"I see. How kind of him." Really...
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"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I won't bother you again, I promise!"
"Good," Allen said looking down at the big lump of useless fat cowering in fear. It took him a hard push and two punches in the face to make this man realize that he won't be intimidated easily.
"Now tell me, where is Sir Arthur's sister?" Allen asked while holding his collar tightly.
"I don't know. We only see her when she comes out of the house and that's really rare. But I am sure that she is just somewhere in the house," he said beads of sweat rolling down his face.
"Okay. Don't tell anyone that I've asked you these questions. Understand?" Allen said getting up and straightening his suit.
On second thought... "Hey mister"
The man's retreating form suddenly shook with fear at the sound of Allen's voice. "Ye-Yes?"
"What do you know about the disappearances in this manor?" Allen asked.
"You know about it?"
"I've heard of it."
The man's face grew even frightened. "It's very scary. We were told not to say anything to anyone but I have a feeling that they know what happened. One of the cotton pickers disappeared after she was called to do a special errand and—"
What happened next to the cotton picker remained unknown. The man's eyes suddenly widened and bulged. His face contorted as if in great pain. His opened mouth seemed like it was screaming but no words came out. He lost his voice.
"Mister? Mister? What's happening?!" Allen asked frantically as the man desperately continued to scream.
His eyes grew even bigger and then he fell down face first into the dirt. He was no longer moving.
"Mister? Mister?" Allen called while shaking the man. He didn't respond. Pentacle marks started appearing on his face before his body turned into dust.
Akuma!? He was killed by an akuma!
Allen looked around feeling suddenly alert and anxious. He couldn't see any sign of the akuma nor feel it's presence.
He was killed by an akuma because he was answering my questions. But where is the akuma? More importantly, what was he going to tell me?
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Mystery? It's seems like this fic is making me write several firsts as a writer... hehehe... Sorry taking so long. I really hope you're still reading.
What do you think? I would love to hear you theories on what is happening. SO please... hit that button and review! XD
Next chapters... will finally have Lavi. Komui will also find some clues on how to return Kanda to being the violent man that he was...XD