Windy City

Brief Notes before I start:
phone conversations \\…\\
Fallan Industries: an international conglomerate on the surface but really a Private Witch investigation service…i.e. they have no ties to Solomon or the United States government.

Chapter 10: Wash it All Away

“WITCHES MUST ALWAYS BE HUNTED!!” the voice howled chasing her. She clutched a bundle wrapped snug in a blanket close to her chest as continued to run away from the disembodied voice.”

Robin sat up in bed drenched in a cold sweat. Wisps of ginger wheat hair clung to her face and her eyes looked about startled. Her eyes fell on the clock and saw that it was going on five thirty in the morning and climbed out of the bed.
Unbeknownst to the young fire witch, Amon was already awake and watched as she made her way to the bathroom. It had been a full month since he discovered Robin’s pregnancy and in that time he had become even more protective of her. He listened closely as the morning sickness would take over her body. He continued to feign sleep until Robin returned to bed then he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his hand on the slight bulge of life within her abdomen. Amon pressed closer to Robin and gently pressed a to to her neck. For the first time since he was young Amon would finally have the family he secretly longed for. He thought back to a conversation he had with the dark skinned healer while he held his soon to be wife close to his body.
~*~
Earlier that week

“You’re sure about this?” Amon asked as he looked at the paperwork Rose handed him ecstatic with what she had done for them despite his face never showed it. “I mean first you help us escape from Solomon in Japan. Then you took us into your home. Then helped me get my job with Fallan Industries…Now this?”

“Call it a wedding present,” Rose smiled gently. “Besides, I promised your big brother to see to your comfort and safety.”

“Why don’t you live in this house if it belonged to your family?”

Rose waived her hand and cast an aloof smile to the ex hunter. “Long story short, this house is too big for just me. A house like this needs a family to make it a home.” She tilted her head back slightly with a sly smile. “Nagira told me a little about you, Amon. How the only thing in the world you wanted was family. Be blessed that God has sent the little bird your way.” Rose laughed softly and handed over the deed for the house.

“Arigatoo,” Amon thanked Rose. “Thank you for everything you have done for us.”

“No need to thank me. Just be sure you take care of Little Bird (Rose’s nickname for Robin)
~*~
Seeing as is a s a six am on the dot, Amon extracted himself from the warmth of the bed and placed a gentle kiss on Robin’s forehead.

As he headed to the bathroom, his gaze fell on Robin’s small calendar, which sat open to the current month. His lips turned to a gentle smile when he noted their wedding day was a mere five days away. He also noticed that Robin had a doctor’s appointment later that afternoon.

After he showered and dressed for work, Amon placed a gentle kiss on R’s l’s lips earning a soft moan from the young woman. “I’ll see you later, love” he whispered.

Robin slowly opened sleepy emerald eyes and replied with a sleepy smile. Her slender fingers brushed his jaw lightly before it came to rest on her pillow.

Brushing a strand of hair from her cheek lightly, Amon smiled once agaeforefore leaving for work.

~*~&~*~

Michael looked at his watch and noticed he again left too early for work. “I’m still not used to this,” the young hacker sighed, his breath visible in the chilly mid February air. A satisfied smile touched his lips pleased with how he managed to turn a bad situation to his advantage as he thought back over a month ago when they were gathered at Harry’s thinking they were saying their last goodbyes to each other.

“Hey Michael!” Sakaki called out as he approached the young hacker waiting on the El platform. “Michael!” Sakaki yelled louder in an attempt to get the hacker’s attention. Mildly aggravated, Sakaki walked over to the hacker and pulled the headphones off his ears.

“Hey!” Michael cried out surprised and turned to defend himself.

“You really should be more cautious about your surroundings,” Sakaki teased the slightly annoyed hacker. “So any information on this new place we’re supposed to be working?”

Michael took his pack off of his back and pulled out a file folder handing it to Sakaki. Before he had the chance to open it, Dojima snatched the folder from Sakaki’s fingers.

“What’s this?” She asked teasingly. Information on Michael’s new girlfriend?” she teased.

Both Sakaki and Michael reached for the folder but Dojima held it out of their reach. She teased the two guys in the same manner for the next few minuets until a mildly aggravated Karasuma took the folder from her grasp.

“This is information on Fallan Industries,” she stated matter of fact as she read the information.

The three teens stop their squabbling and look directly at Karasuma. “Hai I know that Miss Karasuma,” Michael replied. The first page is just about their cover. The second page and beyond is what’s quite interesting.”

Karasuma quickly flipped to the second page of the file and read. “Division thirteen, also known as Private Witch Investigations or P.W.I. is an entity separate from the STN in which they handle their own investigations…”

“Isn’t that the division we were assigned? Division thirteen?” Dojima asked.

Michael and Sakaki both nodded in response. “This just keeps on getting stranger by the moment.” Sakaki sighed.

~*~&~*~

For more than a month, Amon has worked for Fallan Industries in the secretive Division thirteen. His experience with the STN-J instantly pushed him to a higher level than some of those that have been there more than ten years. Again thankful for the tip Rose gave him about commuting to work, Amon parked his car at the park n’ ride then took the Metra into the city. At approximately seven forty-five in the morning, Amon arrived at his new base of operations for witch investigations in the Chicago area.

Reminisce of his days back in the STN-J, Amon never smiled or barely said a word to others; basically remained his old brooding self. When he reached the elevator, he inserted his key card in the slot next to an unmarked button then leaned back against the side as the express car quickly ascended to the unmarked floor.

“Good morning Mr. Nagira!” The chipper receptionist/ secretary greeted Amon as he stepped off of the elevator. “Mr. Bridges and Miss Sims wanted me to inform you that the four new recruits will arrive today.”

Grabbing a small stof fof file folders off of the Secretary’s desk, Amon raised an eyebrow and cast a cold glare towards the young red haired woman. “And this concerns me how, Miss Redgrove?s tos tone cold and detached.

The secretary flinched visibly under Amon’s cold gaze. “Ah Angie, did the new arrivals come in yet?” a lighthearted man’s voice cut through the unnerving silence.

“Ah No Mr. Bridges sir,” she replied relieved to be rescued from Amon’s cold stare. Mr. Bridges, a tall and rather lanky man in his mid forties, smiled brightly at the red haired receptionist.

“Any word on the new transfers?” Mr. Bridges asked.

“No Sir, and Miss Sims has not arrived yet either,” she replied.

“Fine with me,” Amon replied not really interested in orientating new employees. Before he could retreat to the confines to his the familiar soft chime of the elevator caught his attention.

“…And welcome to Division Thirteen,” he heard Miss Sims speak. Apparently the new employees met her down in the main lobby.

Amon turned his head slightly and cast a sidelong glance at the four and gasped surprised at what he saw.
~*~

Michael and the others looked around at the opulent surroundings of the main lobby. “Are you sure we have the right place?” Dojima asked.

“For the last time, Dojima, Yes!” Michael replied annoyed. “Now we need to find our contact, a Miss Evangeline Sims.”

Karasuma approached the security guard at the front desk and asked about Miss Sims and he in response pointed to an immaculately dressed slender black woman with long mahogany hair.

“Miss Sims?” Karasuma called out to the young looking woman who in response turned towards her. “I’m Miho Karasuma…”

Evangeline turned and looked at the young Japanese woman. “You must be the new transfers, please call me Eva and follow me.” She waited for the four to follow her and began briefing them on Division thirteen. “First off congratulations on being the only four from the STN to make it into Division Thirteen. We are pretty much solely responsible for investigating cases of the unknown given to us by ChicChicago Police. We are a private organization meaning we report to no one.”

“Not even Solomon?” Dojima questioned.

“Not even Solomon,” Eva replied guiding them to the hidden floor. “When we arrive, you will be briefed on the latest cases, and introduced to the senior investigators.” As the elevator doors opened, Eva stepped off followed by the four ex hunters. “Welcome to Division Thirteen.”

Karasuma looked around and assessed the scene. A very pale skinned woman with thick wavy red hair bunched into a topknot sat at a desk conversing with a tall lanky man with salt and pepper colored hair. What caught her attention was a very pale man with raven black hair bunched in a low ponytail at the nape of his neck and dressed in black. ‘He looks a lot like…’ she thought softly. “…Amon?”

~*~&~*~

As usual, Robin got out of bed just as the clock hit nine am. She stretched and yawned slightly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Anr tyr typical day,” she sighed softly, she pulled on her robe as she walked towards the bathroom. “Five more days.”

After a refreshing shower, Robin dressed in a dark green sweater with charcoal gray skirt and tights. Smoothing out any wrinkles, her hands paused on her abdomen, which was just barely beginning to show. A wan smile touched the young fire witch’s lips as her mind began to drift, but it was quickly drawn back by the sound of a car horn outside. Robin quickly pulled her now elbow length hair into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. She then grabbed her purse, house keys and a charcoal version of her trademark burgundy coat.

Rose hid an amused smile as watched the young fire witch run from the house. “Well good morning, Mrs. Nagira,” she teased.

Robin blushed deeply and smiled at the greeting sliding into the front seat of the car before Rose drove off to the medical center.
~*~&~*~

Later that afternoon

“So…Nagira-San helped you escape,” Dojima questioned in a sly manner. “What about Robin? And who are we waiting for?” she asked, the rumbling sound of her stomach following her last question.

Seeing as there were no new cases to really investigate, the five ex STN-J hunters decided to take lunch away from the office. Amon picked a small hole-in-the-wall Chinese café he had been to before with Robin and Rose, but he made sure to call Robin before he left. “She’s safe and if you must know, we’re waiting on my fiancée.”

Four sets of eyes fell upon the aptly dubbed “ice prince” at the mention of a fiancée. Dojima’s jaw hung slack while Karasuma was moments away from crying. Michael secretly grinned like a Cheshire cat at the hope of having a shot at Robin.

Savoring their shocked expressions, Amon’s lips curled slightly as he took a sip of green tea. His eyes cut to the door as the melodic door chimes sung merrily as an indication of new customers. His hidden smirk grew slightly when he saw Robin and Rose enter.

“What? You have a fiancée?” Sakaki asked surprised. “Who is she?” he asked. ‘Is she as cold as you are?’ he thought to himself. “More importantly what does Robin think?”

“What do I think about what?” Robin asked catching the others off guard.

Dojima leapt up from her seat and wrapped her arms around the young fire witch in a warm sisterly hug. “Robin!” she squealed happily. After a warm welcoming greeting from her friends, Robin sat down next to Amon while Rose sat across from them.

“We were asking Amon here what do you think about him having a fiancée,” Michael asked smiling at Robin.

Robin smiled softly and took Amon’s hand. She cast a shy questioning smile towards the man beside her and he nodded in response. “Well I do not have a problem with it…seeing as I am his fiancée.”

Again, four sets of eyes widened with utter surprise and locked on the man they secretly dubbed “the ice prince” and the young fire starter. “Well I can’t say I didn’t see this coming,” Dojima smiled coyly.

“This has all been too surrealistic,” Sakaki finally spoke up since hearing about Amon’s engagement.

Heartfelt congratulations were extended to the couple except from Michael who felt his heartbreaking. Rose glanced at the young man and ed aed a hand on his shoulder. “Sometimes, the first love is not the one meant for you. Be patient and your true love will find you,” she whispered in an almost motherly tone to Michael.

In return, Michael smiled and nodded his head and took Rose’s words to heart.

After introductions, the now six newly acquainted friends ordered a huge lunch. Conversation between them was light as they ate. Halfway through the meal, Rose’s cellphone rang. Rose was going to ignore the call until she looked at caller id. Concern washed over her features recognizing the number as her older sister.

“Hello?” Rose answered the phone obviously uneasy about the unexpected call.

\\…There’s been an accident…They’re gone Auntie, they’re gone!\\ the caller on the other end of the phone stammered after a short pause.

Understanding the message, all emotion faded from Rose’s face. “I’ll be there soon,” she finally replied before ending the call. Obviously shaken, Rose fumbled through her purse and pulled out a twenty dollar bill and dropped it on the table then left the café without exchanging a word to the others.

~&~

Author’s notes:
Well I wanted this chapter as well as the rest of the chapters for this act to span the time of one month, but then I felt the beginning of a nasty writers block trying to set in so I had to step away to do some drawing. So….this act is going to end up running longer than the act one.