"That's a very impressive barrier you have around this area." Ohno committed as his eye moved around the place in a calm fashion that one does when he is inspecting something. I can only get half surveillance in here at best, and the spiritual pressure is almost intoxicating…..He thought to himself as he went. "It appears even the toughest demon could have a hard time breaking through."
"Yes but if several demon lords or high ranking demon servants were to work together..." Aine answered back, and Ohno’s face became serious again. "I wanted to talk to you about Merrick Alvey. I'm sure you know of him."
The name was all but a taboo, yet Ohno had heart of it none the less. "Of course I know that magician..." the red haired man answered back with a calm and careful nod.
"I'm aware that you're an informant." Aine said aloud, and for a moment Ohno was silent. In truth he was this… was he not? His spiritual powers centered around sight, sound, and information in general, and he had been given tasks with such uses of his powers not only from Sho but from the Council directly. Yes… in the end of things, he was an informant.
"Are you asking for information?" Ohno asked back calmly raising his eyebrow as though waiting to see what joke was going to be played on the matter if any.
"I am, you are probably unwilling to give information to angels so I'll pay you with information you might find interesting. It's about the Unknowns." Aine answered back. Ohno’s eyes grew for half a second before blanking again in their normal fashion when something of interest was dangled right in front of him.
"Go on,” he answered back crossing his own arms in front of himself.
"I recently discovered that they were fifteen Unknown items hidden in this property.” Aine began, and the sudden tension that ran through Ohno made him tighten for half a second. Fifteen?? That’s enough to open a portal for nearly five full minutes…. “I swear I knew nothing of this until this morning. I wouldn't have been able to if I hadn't had an Unknown with me. But the problem is that they're gone; all of them. There is only one person that I am certain that could have done it."
"Merrick," Ohno sighed outwards. He already anticipated where this was going.
"Yes. But no one saw him and it's hard to trace his spirit pressure but I can't think of anyone else. Demons could not have enter the property without causing some chaos that would have alerted me. So it has to be him."
"Considering of his hobby of collecting not only powerful Earth Spirits but objects that have spiritual connections like the Unknowns I have to agree with you." Ohno sighed back. Yes and here came the reason as to why his name was taboo.
"I would like to ask you as an Informant to gather information about Merrick,” Aine said aloud. Ohno was silent for a moment.
"Shouldn't you ask the Watchers, the Messenger Angels? I thought gathering information and spying is their job,” Ohno answered back after another moment. However, he already knew the answer that was coming at that point.
"I know but something has been killing the Messengers that had been recently sent to earth." Aine answered Ohno’s thoughts. "The Choir ordered that none of the remaining Messengers were to leave Heaven and they sent arch angels to scout out and investigate the cause of the disappearances. You do not have to help me... It's your decision."
Ohno was silent for a moment before he looked down at the table. “You are aware that he holds one of The Spirit’s guards, Water, and has threatened any that approached with her death, correct? The Council cannot function in the usual wake with the worry running through them that they will make a wrong mistake and accidentally see the death of her.”
“I am aware,” Aine sighed back looking half drained by this.
“And you know that Fire is more than ready to leave the island and get himself captured just to find Water,” Ohno sighed outwards again. Aine took on a look of surprise.
“Are you setting a trap, Ohno?” she asked aloud. Ohno said nothing but grinned a bit.
“No… just stating facts,” he sighed after another moment. “You gave me information, and now it is my turn. I’m sure you’re aware of how Merrick got on the island in the first place. Napu has since been confined and had his memory erased of all of our ways for his treachery.” Aine’s eyes narrowed a fraction before she returned to her usual stare. Ohno said nothing but simply grinned. “The Council has tried to swear off killing all together. I find it stupid, really. Then again, who am I to question?”
“Your loyalty is not blind,” Aine sighed outwards finally.
“Of course not,” Ohno smiled back. “If it was, I would not be a surveillance officer.”
“Indeed….” Aine answered back with a sigh. “So will you look into the matter of Merick?”
“Indeed,” Ohno answered back lightly. “Seeing as an alliance has already started thanks to Sho.” Aine stared surprised for a moment, and the red haired man grinned a bit to himself. “I see a lot of things, remember,” he said aloud. “Including a few things I wished I didn’t see….” He said nothing for a moment and looked down.
“You change wording when you’re serious,” Aine said aloud noting the lack of nickname on Sho’s name. Ohno looked up a fraction and grinned somewhat.
“Only a few people notice that,” Ohno laughed a bit to himself. “Anyways, I should be heading out. I have more things to do tonight than just chat.” He grinned lightly knowing what the term of ‘chat’ referred to.
“Good bye then,” Aine answered back rising as well before walking Ohno out. The red haired man waved a fraction before walking away from Aisling’s house again and off not towards the hotel but towards Nino and Matsu’s apartment.
Opening the door with ease, Ohno found that Aiba was sleeping curled up on a pillow in the center of the apartment. He was probably waiting for Nino or Matsu….. Ohno sighed to himself before smiling lightly, picking up the boy, and setting him on a bed before tucking him in and then walking away. However, Ohno stopped again, turned, and sat down on another bed and rested his head and back against a wall. I’m sure Ame is still talking with Elle…. And no one needs to be alone right now…. Ohno sighed and closed both his eyes simply waiting for time to pass.
~*~
"You're thinking of your cousin, Emiko, aren't you?" Ame questioned calmly. She could sense the spiritual pressure in Elle changing and wasn’t sure what had caused the change. All she could figure was the information that she had received on it.
"Ya. I feel bad; I guess I kind of pity them. I mean, the two are so in love with each other, yet their relationship isn't going to end well, and they know that,” Elle answered back shaking her head in a rather distressed look. Ame said nothing for a moment but sighed outwards and closed her eyes.
"They are a unique couple," Ame finally answered back as she stressed the word unique out of anything. She could have chosen a different word but had decided not to. It was obvious what Elle was thinking on the matter.
"Those two are going to marry each other. I can't really picture Emiko in a wedding dress, though. Or any dress really,” Elle laughed a fraction. Ame half smiled to herself. If we could all be that free to look into the future…..she sighed to herself thinking on something far more depressing in her bones. Back then… we all thought differently…. We were all just friends not Vessels….
"Are you feeling any better?" Elle asked aloud cutting into Ame’s thoughts. The teal haired woman nodded back a fraction.
"Yes, my strength is returning," Ame answered back still feeling rather tired but not about to admit it.
"Good." Elle answered back. Ame half laughed to herself, and for a while, both were quiet.
“You’re envious…” Ame said keeping her eyes closed and feeling Elle’s spiritual pressure change again. Because she was Vaproraii’s vessel… she could feel it and knew the word for what Elle was feeling. “Don’t stress yourself so much… you’ll find someone.” Elle’s laugh caught Ame off guard, and the teal haired woman opened one eye to stare at Elle.
“I am a bit….” Elle answered back. “But…. I’m also happy….”
“Ow… crap…” Ame said aloud causing Elle to move suddenly forwards. The teal haired woman let out a half laugh. “I just stubbed my finger on the wall. It’s fine.” Suddenly Elle was laughing again. Ame blinked a fraction.
“I just… thought you were more indestructible than that,” she laughed a fraction more before shaking her head. Ame smirked and then laughed as well.
“Well I’m not,” she answered back with a half smirk. “Sorry to burst your bubble. I’m human too.” Elle stopped laughing and nodded a bit.
“True…” Elle finished looking back up again.
Suddenly marching music seemed to ring out. Ame blinked and picked up the phone from her pocket. “Hey,” she asked aloud listening in for a few seconds. “Ah… ya that’s fine. Elle’s still here, so it works out.” After a few half minutes more, Ame closed the phone again. “Ohno says he’s staying over at Nino and Matsu’s place since Aiba’s there alone.”
“Wait… where are they?” Elle blinked a moment. Ame looked strangely morose for a minute before shaking her head.
“I don’t know. All Ohno said was that they left for a day or two,” she sighed outwards rubbing her temple. “Apparently that’s what he picked up from Sho anyway.”
“Ah…” Elle answered back looking down again.
“Hey what are you getting all depressed for?” Ame asked raising an eyebrow. “By the way, you can stay here tonight if ya want. We can have a whole girl’s night in and order up more food and watch silly soap operas till four in the morning.”
“Hah….. hahah that sounds… really good….” Elle grinned a bit as she looked up again.
“Good,” Ame answered back picking up the room service phone and starting to order up more snacks before flipping on the TV to the soap opera channel.
