Disclaimer: *mumbles* I hate lawyers, because they make me say that I have no rights to Witch Hunter Robin.
Amon: It’s true.
Puff: Yeah, but I don’t like saying it.
Amon: Too bad.
Puff: *turns chibi* Somebody’s in a bad mood. Maybe Mr. Grumpykins should smile!
Amon: *pulls out gun and aims at Puff* No
Puff: I’m the author, you can’t hurt me!
Amon: *pulls the trigger and gun goes off*
Puff: Is this your bullet? *holds Orbo bullet between two fingers*
Amon: *eyebrow twitches slightly* yes *runs forward and slaps Puff*
Puff: Touché. I wasn’t quite expecting that, but at least you came near me! *glomps Amon*
Chapter Two: Discussions
Within a few moments of Amon’s words, Reika released Robin from the crushing hug. The craft user was wishing she hadn’t, but stood up to leave anyway. She wasn’t betting on Reika catching the hem of her dress to keep her there.
“I want you to stay, in case I start crying again,” Reika said softly as Robin sat down and then leaned over to speak in the fifteen-year-old’s ear, “I know Amon wouldn’t be of any use in that department. Emotions aren’t exactly his forte.” Reika and Robin giggled softly together, before Amon re-alerted them to his presence by clearing his throat.
“Why now?” Amon asked stoically, the second he had full attention. He was slightly annoyed by the fact that Reika had asked Robin to stay and listen to their entire conversation.
“Is he dense?” Reika asked Robin, pointing a finger at the silent bishonen sulking a short distance away. Robin nodded her head slightly, earning a glare from Amon. He couldn’t believe that his partner was siding with an ex-girlfriend of his, though he realized he had done very little to endear himself to the craft user.
“You don’t listen, Amon, and you never have. I told you why I’m here,” Reika said softly, pearls of tears streaming down her cheeks. The hunter hastily went over the past ten minutes of conversation, what he could remember at least. He came up with nothing. The pair of girls rolled their eyes in unison.
“What did I not listen to, Reika?” Amon questioned in tone that could freeze liquid nitrogen. Robin unconsciously slid a little bit further back, away from the impending word war. She technically wasn’t involved and wasn’t planning on getting involved. That plan, like her previous one of leaving the room, was shattered when the pair of combatants turned to her to mediate.
“Tell him what he missed,” Reika ordered sternly, coughing ever so slightly.
“Yes, Robin, tell me,” Amon agreed, his black-gray eyes narrowing dangerously in to mere slits.
Robin’s green eyes darted around nervously, avoiding the piercing gazes that were focused upon her. She took note of all the exits and realized that Amon could catch her before she even got close to leaving the room. A thought clicked in her head, leading straight to her response.
“I plead the Fifth!” Robin exclaimed, apprehensive about their reactions. Reika looked slightly confused, while Amon’s annoyed factor shot through the roof.
“Robin, we’re in Japan, not the United States,” the hunter said softly, his words much more frightening than if he had yelled. The young girl felt tears creeping into her eyes from his tone and fought them back.
“I’d prefer not to answer,” Robin said in a hurt voice, “I don’t really recall what was said.” Reika, despite the fact she was ill, slapped Amon across the back of his head.
“Look, you hurt her feelings!” Reika yelled at the taciturn man, who was glumly rubbing his ebony tresses where his head wound was.
“It’s alright. It doesn’t really matter,” Robin stated, her head hung low as she tried to worm her way out of the discussion. Reika shot out an arm and caught Robin by the shoulders, pulling her right back into the line of fire.
“Apologize,” Reika ordered coldly, almost matching Amon’s earlier tones.
“Really, I’m fine!” Robin said cheerfully, faking happiness beyond her normal moods. Amon couldn’t help but look up at the girl, who was valiantly trying to help save him save face; the rest of the STN-J was just in the next room. Reika wasn’t going to have it though, as she backhanded Robin’s skull. The craft user clutched at her head, casting a slightly sympathetic glance at Amon who was nursing a head and a leg wound.
As quickly as the little fight started, it stopped with Reika doubled over and coughing up blood. Her small hands were cupped over her mouth in a futile attempt to catch the crimson liquid. Amon pulled her hands away from her face, pressed a handkerchief over her mouth, and held her head still while Robin went to fetch a glass of water.
When they had finally stopped the coughing fit, the three were spattered with blood. Reika’s light colored outfit showed the red the best, while Robin and Amon’s black clothes hid it well. The silent hunter pulled Reika to her feet, half-holding the girl up. Her pale face had taken on more of a feverish glow, her skin burned with heat.
“We’re going to the hospital,” Amon informed Robin who hurriedly rushed off to tell the others.
“No, there is nothing they can do for me. I just need to rest for a little bit,” Reika said, her voice nearly inaudible.
“You’re coughing up blood; there has to be something,” Robin said worriedly, “Not to mention the fact you’re running a temperature of at least one-hundred three degrees!” The blonde applied a cold, damp washcloth to the pale girl’s forehead.
“No, it’s too late for me. My doctors said so. That’s the reason I hunted Amon down,” Reika sighed, “I know he’s super-devoted to his job, and I didn’t want to burden him with his child unless it was necessary. I’m going to die within the next few weeks.”
“What?” Amon inquired, turning the girl so he could look directly into her eyes. He had to hold her by the shoulders so she could stand properly, but he wanted her to answer him quickly.
“I’m going to die. I have mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer from exposure to asbestos. It takes forever to develop to full-fledged cancer, so I got a late diagnosis. Chemotherapy won’t even work,” Reika muttered calmly, resigned to the fact that there wasn’t hope for her.
There was a silence that permeated the room, hanging like a dense morning fog by the shore. Tiny sobs filled the void left by Reika’s words.
“Mommy!” Javan screamed, running to throw herself on to her mother; she had heard what Reika had said and was thoroughly upset. Robin caught the two-year-old by the hand, slowing her down so she wouldn’t knock her mother down.
“Javan, what did you hear?” Reika asked, angling her daughter’s head so their eyes could meet.
“That you’re going to die!” Javan wailed at first, then allowed her tone to drop in to something more of contemplation, “And lots of big words I didn’t understand.” Robin laughed slightly at the child’s innocence.
“Nonsense. Mommy’s just going to go away for a long time, where everything is good,” Reika told her child, prompting Javan to smile optimistically, “Then you’ll stay with daddy and his friends.” Amon stiffened slightly at the mention of the word ‘daddy’.
“Really?” Javan questioned suspiciously, her head tilted just so.
“Yes, now go back to play with daddy’s friends,” Reika said, pushing Javan towards the room where the rest of the STN-J sat waiting. In reality, they were probably using Michael’s surveillance system to privy themselves to the conversation.
“You never told her?” Amon questioned, confusion flashing in his eyes for a brief second. Reika shook her head sadly.
“How long did you think you could protect her from the truth?” Robin asked, already thinking about the pain that the little girl in the next room would have to face soon.
“As long as was needed. At least until she could understand why her mommy was leaving her forever,” Reika declared, wiping a stray tear from her face and casting a glance at Amon who had put her in a chair and walked off. Robin held a glass of water and an aspirin in front of Reika’s face, waiting for her to accept them.
“Will you help Amon?” she asked the craft user softly, not wanting the hunter a few yards away to hear the exchange of words.
“Of course. You think I would leave that poor girl alone with him? I don’t think Amon has any solid ideas about child care,” Robin mumbled, earning an appreciative smile. Reika quietly took her medicine and couldn’t help but think about the way Robin so readily volunteered to help raise a child that she wasn’t even remotely related to. It brought up thought about whether or not her daughter would even remember her.
“Here, you can rest a little bit,” Karasuma said, handing Reika a pillow and blanket. The ill girl jumped slightly; she had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t even noticed the other girl behind her.
“Oh, thank you,” Reika responded, gratefully accepting the comforts she was offered. As she settled down for a quick nap at a desk, her mind wandered to the one comfort that hadn’t been presented to her yet. The knowledge that Amon would accept his daughter and care for her; once that was confirmed, Reika decided that she wouldn’t have any ties to life to restrain her soul from leaving the pained body it possessed.
Amon found himself staring at the child that had fallen asleep in the conference room. He was having a slight difficultly with the thought process that tied him with the two-year-old.
“You look a little like me,” Amon admitted, brushing dark bangs back from Javan’s closed eyes.
“She looks more like you when she awake,” Robin said from the doorway. Amon found himself slightly startled; when had she gotten so very good at sneaking? The girl glided into the room, holding a cup of coffee out to Amon. He grudgingly accepted it from her, all the while watching as Robin ran a small hand through Javan’s hair.
“It’s in her eyes,” Robin said suddenly, breaking the hush, “Javan’s are a bit lighter than yours; more of a gray-blue, actually. But that’s where you should look.”
“You think Javan is my child?” Amon asked coldly, not bothering to look at his partner.
“What should be asked is ‘Do you think a dying woman would bother to travel, with a small child nonetheless, all this way on a mere hunch?’” Robin retorted fiercely, her words sounding much older than her fifteen years. After a moment, Amon felt the realization of truth hit him like a speeding train. He sat in a brooding quiet for long time, with Robin sitting soundlessly next to him.
“Amon, do you know what Javan’s name means?” Robin inquired, her voice light once again.
“No,” Amon responded, wondering where she was leading him.
“It’s Latin for ‘angel’,” Robin said emotionlessly as she stood and walked out of the room. Amon watched her leave, and turned to watch Javan again. ‘Angel; it fits,’ Amon thought as he settled back in his chair.
Author’s Notes:
Oh, this story is set right after episode thirteen. But I’ll work in important information from later in the series, I swear.
To the Reviewers: I know ff.net has been kinda slow lately, so don’t feel bad if I missed your review. That said, to the responses.
Yumeko, Priestess of Dreams: Why thank you. I’m glad you like my plot, well thus far.
CuriousDreamWeaver: *bows* Yes, she can be forward if she wants to be. ^_^
Pink Savvy: He’s a guy; I think they’re born ready. *grins* Not to insult any guys out there, though.
Red Queen: Of course I’m gonna write more. I can’t stop, not with mum breathing down my neck and forcing me to write.
Angelbaby52490: I can usually tell from the first few words how a story is going to turn out. But that’s me. (I’ve been read to since before I was born, so I know literature ^_^) I’ll probably update once a week, so every Sunday from now.
Slysilverinu: S’okay. I call most people ‘fool’ :p Yeah, it doesn’t sound right and that’s why it’s going to so freaking funny after I get past the serious junk.
Paris: My mum would strangle me if I stopped writing. Enough said there.
Haruya: It’s been like three years since he last saw her. I know the little girl is two, but if you take in the time in the womb it works. ^_^ Robin is going to, I repeat going to, help Amon raise the kid up. Plenty of fluff once I can clear up a few serious issues. I promise.
Draco MalfoyGirl 16: Hyper aren’t we? *laughs* Thank you, it really means a lot to me that you put this under your fav stories. Really.
Kyo30: Thankies. I try to leave people waiting on edge for the next chapter, makes ‘em come back for more. *giggles*
PiKACHUFAN4288: You’ll be feeling sorry for Amon a lot. (not to mention laughing at him) He’s gonna be forced to deal with a toddler. *snatches Amon from his chair and glomps him*
Alia: Yup, once I can let myself settle down and get the plot going smoothly, I can throw in a few monkey wrenches for a laugh. I’ll try with the details, but usually my one-shots are more fleshy that way than a multi-chapter fic.
Champion123: *raised eyebrow* Any suggestions?
Tessa: *claps*
And with all the reviews answered, I’ll must go write a bit more. But first I have to check the TV Guide channel to see when Mad Mad House is on. *sprints off*