4-2 Let’s Talk

Date: September 4-5

Place: Kyoto Headquarters

[Noel]

    After Rei dismissed our meeting, her assistant Cedrick went back to the lounge with a frown on his face. He looked at us, obediently waiting for an order.

"What now Mr. Cedrick?" asks Vincent, trying to tease him by adding formalities.

"Stopー we're not far apart when it comes to age," he sighs. "I'll give you a tour and you're free after that. I need to finish the files and preparations for tomorrow's schedule," after that, he continued to show us around the whole facility.

    The combat area, the laboratory, the infirmary, each lounge of every branch of Divisions, and more. But I didn't think It'll take this much time. It's already six and he looks exhausted. He told us to do what we want and just make sure that we'll be at the lounge tomorrow morning.

~~

    After we got dinner, it was time for us to sleep and take some rest in our room. Vincent, Shawn, Patrick, and I share a room on the underground's fifth floor. There are no windows where the sunlight and some fresh air can come in. They told me that not everyone here gets to have rooms like this, and it was because they see potential in us that they're treating us like we're important. But I don't buy that, even if I don't know why I'm just sure that there must be a different reason other than that.

    There is a watch near me and I took glances at it whenever my eyes open.

    Eight sixteen. Eight fifty. Nine thirty. Ten o'clock... I can't sleep.

    I get out of bed and went outside to take a stroll. I took an elevator to go to the ground floor as I let my feet took me anywhere. Walking through the long hallway until I came across a fountain at my left. It was old and broken. Moses is healthy and some water is still flowing. And there I saw her, standing before the fountain while the moonlight shines at her, I found myself drawn onto her as I took a few steps forward. But the second I touched her shoulder, she turned around revealing her blurry face as she fades.

Another hallucination.

    I've asked Vincent ａcouple of questions regarding her but he never answers or gave me any hint. And all I could remember about her is that she has long silky black hair, a sweet personality and that she's like me. Even if I came up with theories about my past and hers, it won't be enough to satisfy me. I need to know. So I decided that until then, I'm going to put up an act.

    It's pretty simple, I'm going to be someone that they expect me to be. They think I'm still the useless and clueless boy, then I will be. I know it might lead me to danger in the near future, but of course, I'll adjust and stop when I need to. Acting can't be that hard, right?

"I didn't know you're the type to sneak around when everybody is asleep," I slowly turned to look at the person who spoke behind me and found Rei with crossed arms and a grin on her lips.

"Ms. Rei," I blurted.

"Drop the formality," she says closing in on me. "Can't sleep?" she asked and I gave a nod to answer her. "Want a sleeping pill or milk? I can get it for you if you want" she says, about to go and get some.

"No thank you. I need to be up early tomorrow. How about you? Why are you up at this time?" I asked.

"I'm on patrol. Make sure you get some sleep, tomorrow's going to be busy," she waves her hand as she steps into the shadow of the hallway while I went on my way back.

[Rei]

    The reason why I left Cedrick earlier was that Uncle Leon needs to run some tests for me and right now, the results went out so I'm on my way there. Although I feel bad for lying to Noel, it's better than telling him the truth.

The tests are all about my flaws and the changes that have been happening to me. Like how long I can last that form, how much damage it can cause to my body and to help create medicine that'll prolong my endurance or to lessen the pain and damage it'll leave.

After I got what I came for, I went to the lounge to check the papers that Cedrick made. It wasn't even finished yet so I decided to finish it for him. Printing it after I finish, I didn't even notice that it was morning already until Cedrick walked up on me, holding two cups of coffee.

"I had a feeling you're going to be here, good morning," he says giving me a cup.

"What time is it?" I asked stapling the printed copy.

"Six twenty-three. And thanks for finishing that," he grins as he did it on purpose while he sits on the sofa.

[Cedrick]

She was dozing off for a few seconds then gets back to her work. Her head falling and her eyes closed but she keeps fighting it and tried to wake herself up by slapping her cheeks until it stings.

"Would you like me to go get your breakfast?" I asked.

"That's not necessary," she replied finishing her work as she sips and relaxed at her chair.

"By the way, have you thought of what to do to Noel?" she looks at me with a face shouting 'What?' kind of expression. Maybe she didn't heard me and I think she needs sleep. Rei often loves to do all-nighter it'll be either she's troubled, she couldn't sleep or something bad happened. "Not yet?" I repeat then she nods and gulps the last drop of her coffee.

"I honestly forgot about that part," she thinks as we went to the cafeteria to have breakfast.

~~

After she finished her food, she seems to be more refreshed and fully awake as we go back to the lounge while she skips like a child when nobody is watching. Too enthusiastic for a sleepy girl. Damn, I wish I have that kind of ability.

"Can you mentor Noel? Teach him everything he needs to know. From the tools to the basic techniques. Can you do it?" she asks, turning around to face me, smiling. Does he have a mood disorder or something?

"You know I'm not good at mentoring. How about the mentors who taught us?" I suggested hoping that she will agree.

"Do you think I haven't thought of that?" she sighs. "They're out, roaming around the new headquarters they'll try to recapture," she continues, now looking serious.

"Is that classified information?" I worry if it's fine telling me these things.

"It's fine. It'll be publicly announced when it's a success. Anyway, are you up for the task or not?" she asked glaring at me like I have no choice but to agree.

"Fine, but don't you rather mentor him yourself?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Yes, that's true. But I want to squeeze every detail that I want from the other three members and I don't want him hearing any of that," she said. Sometimes I wonder why she couldn't just tell everything to him in his face, wouldn't he be of help ifー

"If he does, it might shock him and cause serious mental or physical problems and," she paused just like she's not ready to let go of the words out of her mouth yet. "I don't want him remembering me," she can't fool me, it's hard for her to admit that kind of thing when she went diving in front of the unOrdinary and saves him on that day. It hurts but I'm alright with it.

When we came in, a messenger is inside, waiting for our arrival to give the uniforms I requested yesterday. And as he left, all three of our members entered with smiles and excitement displayed on their faces. I gave them their uniforms and cloaks, and asked them to change into these.

"Where are you going?" I asked Rei when I saw her at the doorstep.

"Do you want me watching a bunch of guys changes?" she raised an eyebrow and left the room.

    I was going to tell them to change at their room but since Rei already left the lounge, I let them change here instead. I went to go get Rei when they finished.

"Perfect fit," says Shawn looking at himself to make sure it looks fine.

"These are so cool," Vincent happily cheers.

    While Patrick and Noel were sitting on the sofa already. Rei handed them the files and went on with the schedule she had in mind.

[Rei]

    I sent Cedrick and Noel to a combat training room that I took permission to use from the Third Colonel: Hikichi yesterday. While all the other three are in front of me, sitting and reading the files at hand.

"Don't worry, no one is watching us," I say like opening a lock to their mouths that were too afraid to speak. But to my surprise, they asked me normal questions. Like how I was doing and the story of the days I spent living on my own. They listened carefully to everything I say. Even though it's just my everyday life of nothing interesting happening. From what I do when I wake up and go to school where nothing interesting always happened and to how I got to this place.

    But when I told them about how Ciel helped me and gave me some things, they were all shocked.

"What do you mean he was alive?" asked Patrick so confused.

"I don't get it. I saw him being shot in front of my eyes," says Vincent looking at Patrick when he knew Patrick has the same thought as he nods.

"He got shot?" I unknowingly raised my voice.

"I was the one who did it, It was an order from the above when they told us that he was betraying the system and was about to escape to find you and make sure you grow up safe," he says looking at me.

    I didn't even bother to think about how Ciel went crawling out of that place without people noticing him. No, he is not a ghost. Even uncle knew him and he has Ciel's belongings.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Now that I think about it, the girls in our group were tasked to bury his body," explains Patrick.

"And the next morning, some of the girls were acting weird," continues Vincent while the other two looks like some light bulb appeared at their head.

"Ashley and Graciel know how to remove a bullet and with Beatrice's help, they might have healed him and sheltered him for a while and helped him escape without anyone noticing," Shawn concludes.

"That explains the blood on one of the uniforms that I saw them burned when I snuck out at night," claims Vincent.

"That must be it!" I shouted with a smile. "Thanks to his popularness to the girls he managed to live and help me," I say, tears almost falling but I held it back. "Although, it's such a shame that he didn't have the chance to reunite with his old friends beforeー" I couldn't finish it.

"At least he didn't get to see how ugly this world is right now," Shawn comments.

    Everyone was silent like they're too afraid of what news I might tell them next. Death after death, who would want to hear stories of their precious friends dying at the hands of someone who we despise? But it keeps us burned with hatred and promises to bring the people who are behind this down to hell.