DxD 9 – Leaving in the Darkness II

But still, she cannot get rid of this uneasy feeling, which is why. This little girl with the lime green hair, that has unusually high intuition. Cannot help herself rushing out of her room. And alarming the two girls in this shared bedroom of theirs. And the first one to wake up was Sofia Henze, who titled her head, seeing Zella rushing out of their room, with no signs of being quiet about it.

Sofia, this girl with long blonde hair, who just woke up, cannot help to be confused, as she did want to ask what's the matter with Zella. However, she could only watch her leave their room, since she was too late to ask Zella. Who left in a rushed manner.

"Sofia… what's going on… was that just Zella…?" The one that said that, and yawned was the other girl besides her. Willa Gesner. Who has dull red hair that styled in a twin tail.

"She… just run outside… could it be, she going to Gunnar and her brother's room again?" Sofia went with a bitter smile. As this is not the first time, when Zella this little girl, tried to sneak or break back into her old room, to sleep with her twin brother and Gunnar, like she did before. Which normally ended up being forced back by Miss Wirth into this room.

It cannot be stopped after all. There is a reason, which Zella herself still doesn't understand. Why she cannot stay with Gunnar and Zell anymore. And this had to do with the fact, both the girl, and boys will soon enter the early stages of their puberty.

Which is why, Miss Wirth forced Zella into this room with the girls, Willa and Sofia. For two main reason, for one to get used to sleeping with people of her gender. Who are already in the middle of the early stages of their puberty. Since when someone like Zella entered the early stages of puberty, will become confused, and lost. And it will be helpful to be with others, that will understand the feeling of her changes happening, not only to her body. But to her mind as well.

And the second reason why Zella cannot stay with Gunnar, and her twin brother anymore. Is because of their developing bodies and hormones, that will make the two boys, and girl to go changes they will not fully understand. And might even make a mistake due to their raging hormones clouding their judgements. After all, there no telling what kind of mistake they could make, behind closed doors.

"I bet she going to meet with Gunnar, oh my, how bold of her~ I admit it, even I was going to aim for him as well… he is a lot easier compared to three years ago… shame, he's already owned~" Willa went with a teasing voice.

"Agree, I remember that time well. His eyes always cold compared to now, well Zella and Gunnar are still young after all. I let Miss Wirth deal with Zella if she gets caught, I am going back to sleep Willa…" Sofia went with a yawn. As she looked outside, seeing the moon in the sky, only made Sofia even sleepier seeing the night sky.

"True, true… might as well do the same, night~" Willa went as well. As she took a glance towards the door, that Zella left. And went back to sleep.

While the two girls said that, and went back to their sleeps. Zella just arrived at the small room, where she and her twin brother, alongside Gunnar has spent 4 years together in.

First thing that Zella did, was to slam the door of her old room opened, without caring waking up whoever is inside the room. Which is why, Zell that was sleep, cannot help to almost shit himself. When the door just suddenly slammed opened, as he timidly looked towards the doorway in fear, that some robber is here. Only to see his twin sister, which did made him sighed seeing her, but also confused a moment later, why is she here?

"Sister… what's happening…?" Zell said that alarmed, since even if sometimes Zella sneaks into the room. She doesn't do it this loudly. After all, what if she wakes up Miss Wirth as well? The last thing Zella would want, will be alarming their caretaker. Who doesn't want Zella to share the same room with her twin brother, and Gunnar anymore.

However, Zella didn't pay any attention to Zell's confused look, or his question he asked. As she eyes lays on the other side of the room. The side where Gunnar normally sleeps at. But her dark purple eyes narrowed, when she sees that Gunnar isn't there.

"Say Zell, where Gunnar?" Zella asked, as she went towards Gunnar's bedside.

"He's not here again…?" Zell went with not so shocked voice or expression, seeing Gunnar's bed is empty.

"What you mean not here again?" Zella asked.

"Well, maybe because sister is not in this room anymore… no, it was even before you leave here. But brother Gunnar sometimes leave in the middle of the night. I did ask him about it, and he just said he has trouble sleeping, so he just goes to the playroom, and tries to tire himself out. Maybe he's over there, or maybe the toilet?" Zell went.

It is as Zell said. One night, when Gunnar was training in the forest. Zell by chance, happened to get up in the middle of the night since he needed the toilet. Only to notice that Gunnar's bed was empty.

At first, Zell did thought Gunnar must have went to the toilet as well. So, knowing he will likely bump into each other, since they going to the same place. But it turned out, there was no one near, inside, or left the bathroom when he arrived.

Being the timid boy he is, he was unsure to woke up his twin sister at that time. Or to informed that Miss Wirth, that Gunnar is missing. However, before the boy can do anything, Gunnar happened to return back earlier that day, and was shocked to see Zell woke up. Of course, Gunnar's excuse he was in the playroom. Trying to bore himself to sleep.

Recalling that, Zell looked at Gunnar's bed, which Zella sighed, and was about to run towards the playroom. Until Zell notice something strange about Gunnar's bed itself. And that is, one, his bed is nicely neat, like he hasn't even slept on it… And two, Zell from where he can see, lies a piece of paper under his pillow.

"Huh… what's that?" Zell went, while he looked at the paper that sticking out from Gunnar's pillow. Which did made Zella stopped in her steps, as she looked at her twin brother.

"What's what?" Zella asked, titling her head in a cutely way.

"There seems to be something under brother Gunnar's pillow." Zell told, which Zella herself, looked closer at Gunnar's bed. And finally notice a piece of paper laying under his pillow, as the tip of the paper sheet could be seen. Curious what it could be. Zella reached out her hand, grabbing the piece of paper underneath Gunnar's pillow.

"W-Wait sister! Isn't that part of brother Gunnar stuff!? W-What if that something important to brother Gunnar!" Zell yelled, frightened if Zella will make Gunnar hate her, and him, by reading though something important to Gunnar. After all, why else it will be hidden behind the pillow, if Gunnar himself doesn't want others to see it?

However, Zella didn't glance, or care what her twin brother said. And simply just opened up the folded piece of paper. And read what written on it. And as soon she read it, her dark purple eyes widen, as she dropped the piece of paper itself onto the ground. Only to run out of the room, make her twin brother confused once again. Especially when he saw her expression before she dropped that paper.

"Sister…?" Zell went, not understanding what's going on. So, taking a deep breath, and getting out of his bed. Zell went towards the piece of paper on the ground and read what could cause her sister to act this way. And to his surprise, he took a step backwards as he read it.

"You joking… brother Gunnar… brother Gunnar tell me; this is just a prank… right?" Zell went, as tears formed on his eyes. As he felt his legs becoming weaker. He is a timid young boy, that only can relax around certain people, one being his own twin sister. And the other, is his best friend, as well older brother-like figure, even if they are three months apart in age.

That is why, when this timid boy, Zell Klinger read what's on the letter. His dark purple eyes turned lifeless, as he fell to his knees.

At that same moment, when Zella ran out of the orphanage, and even unlocked the door. And this made a certain old woman in her bedroom narrowed her eyes, as she rushed out of her room, but happened to see the door of Zell and Gunnar's room opened.

"Little Zell, something the matter… what's going on, and where's little Gunnar?" Hearing a voice behind him. Zell eyes turned back to life. And even hidden the letter away from this old woman. And look behind himself, and only to show a somewhat shock and confused expression, when he looked at the old woman behind him.

"Miss Wirth…?" And that old woman was indeed Wanda Wirth, who looked worried, as she looked at Zell's abnormal state. But Zell himself, also looked confused, that is because this old woman in her late 70s, looked different somehow. She still looks old, but she seems a bit younger… or is it just him?

"Come on, you can tell this little old woman." Miss Wirth went, as she rubs Zell's back.

"W-Well… sister just rammed into the room… and brother Gunnar… he's not here… he not here…" Zell went, feeling like he going to cry again.

"What, you mean that Zella just runs outside? And about that Gunnar is not here, where is he, Zell?" Miss Wirth shows a panic face, as she asked as calm, as she can. Not to frighten Zell, knowing how weak willed, and timid he is.

"Yeah… and… sorry I don't know…" Zell went with his face facing downwards.

Knowing something serious is going on. Miss Wirth told Zell to remain in his room. And rushed downstairs. She did find it strange, that her back doesn't hurt as much it used to. She even felt slightly younger for some reason. However, this old woman didn't have the time to find out why she felt this. And headed towards outside, only to find Zella trying to get over the fencing.

"Where you think you are going, Zella." Hearing Miss Wirth voice, Zella bitten her lips, knowing she has been caught, however. It didn't matter to her, what mattered to Zella was to find her best friend, Gunnar.

"Gunnar is not inside… he… he not here… I need to find him!" Zella went, almost crying with tears. Unlike her cheerful, or lazy self. It is strange to see this girl that goes at her own pace. To become this scared.

"Calm down and tell me what's going on… from the start Zella…" Miss Wirth said, which Zella told her she had an odd feeling, that Gunnar is going away. And went to check on him, but he wasn't there. Zella didn't informed Miss Wirth about that letter she and Zell found. Since it stated not to on it.

So, Zella just told her, that she has checked everywhere in the orphanage, but there no sign of Gunnar anywhere. Hearing this, the old woman narrowed her eyes. And told Zella to return back to her room. Which Zella did tried to refuse. And because of the ruckus Zella caused by Zella herself, everyone in the orphanage woke up.

But Miss Wirth told everyone to returned to their rooms. And she herself, made a phone call, to inform her connections she has in the police, as well hunters she knew. About the missing Gunnar. She cannot search for him by herself. Especially due to her old age.

Even if she wasn't old. She cannot leave eight children alone, while she looked for Gunnar in the middle of the night. It is too dangerous, which is why this old woman bitten her lips. Knowing there not much she can do, even if it was her job to look after these children. There nothing she can do, besides pray for Gunnar's safety, while entrusting her connections will find Gunnar, and hopefully alive at that.

While all of this happening, Zell and Zella went into their old room together. Normally, Miss Wirth will not allow the twins to sleep in the same room these days. But that time, she didn't bother telling them off, knowing full well, at this moment of time. The twins need each other more than ever.

As for the twins in question. Instead of sleeping, they both sat on Gunnar's bed, with only a piece of paper between themselves.

"Sister… what we going to do…?" Zell asked, glancing between the piece of paper between them. And at Zella herself.

"Is it simple… we family, right? Gunnar didn't refused, when we asked if we can used his last name! Meaning we are family, so let's find Gunnar, and beat him up!" Zella went with a pure and innocent smile. Which caused cold wind down Zell's spine.

"Beat him up… he might have a reasonable reason why he done this!" Zell went, trying to defend Gunnar. But when Zella's eyes narrowed, which made Zell look away.

"Sure, he might have a reason, but we're family, so after we beat him up firstly, and asked questions later! Simple, right?" Zella went.

"Wait… I had to beat him up as well!?" Zell went, finally figured out Zella's true meaning.

"Of course, I mean, you look you about to cry… and its not like we don't know where he is." Zella went, pointing at the paper between them.

"But… that the problem… we don't know until 8 years… he said on the letter, he will be at some place called Kuoh in Japan… we don't know that is…. Or what will he be doing within these 8 years." Zell asked.

"Oh knows, we find that out when we get there." Zella went with a smile. Which Zell only could sigh, they only nine years old, and this gal before him. Is already planning her way to Japan. Which is why Zell cannot help to sigh once more, and glance at the content of that latter, that both he, and his twin sister hidden from Miss Wirth. Who looks younger for some reason.

(AN: She was in her late 70s, but now she looks in her 60s, not much difference has change. Besides her body is stronger than before. But that just it. And if those that don't get it or forgot. Gunnar did thought, he can devour age also. That is why, he devoured about 10% of Miss Wirth's age. Shame enough, he cannot increased someone's age yet. But he can devour someone's age.)

'Hey, I know this will be hard to understand. And I do hope one day, I can tell you two.'

'But I have no choice to leave, my best friends, my family.'

'Hit me all you want! I know I will have it coming, and I will wait for it.'

'Just don't hit the face, okay? I always wanted to say that!' (AN: MC's otaku's side took over then)

'Ignore that…'

'Anyway, since we family, I will tell you where I will be within 8 years. I don't know where I will be… and I cannot tell you, what I will be doing.'

'But I can tell you, I will be at my father's home country, Japan. I want to see my family there, my father's side. But there some things I have to do before I head there. I will be heading to a place called Kuoh, find me there.'

'Knowing Zella, she will come one day, one way or another. That why, I will look forward when we meet again, my new family.'

'Until then, be safe, will you?'

'PS – Don't tell Miss Wirth about this letter, I don't want to add more worry. I love you guys, and farewell until we meet again.'