Red Rain

Disclaimer: Witch Hunter Robin, the anime, does not belong to me. However, Red Rain, the plot, and the character Avaia, are mine. Mine I tell you. Ask for permission to use either plot or character, please. And if you like my work enough to write a fanfict of my fanfict (not likely, right? lol) please let me know, and give me the link so I can post it here. Lol. ...I think I had too much orange cream soda...

Red Rain
by Rhynn Adama

Chapter Nine: Already Tainted


Avaia straightened suddenly where she was perched on the edge of the coffee table, her head swiveling in the direction of the bedrooms. An odd look came over her face, and then she laughed. The others all looked at her in confusion.

“I think we’d best let ourselves out. Amon and Robin need some time to talk.”

Doujima and Sakaki exchanged glances, then immediately stood, heading for the door. Harry followed, all three going right back into their argument over leek stew.

Karasuma nodded. “I’ll go back to STN-J and run damage control.”

She left, and Avaia and Michael were the only ones trailing along behind.

“I should probably head back to STN-J HQ too.”

“Don’t. You’re already out, why don’t we make a night of it? If anyone asks, we can just tell them the computer lab didn’t have enough privacy.”

Michael blinked at Avaia. “What? What are you saying?”

Avaia pulled out her car keys. “I’m saying, Michael, I’d like for you to come with me, and stay the night with me.”

There was a moment’s pause, before Michael stood, taking Avaia’s hand and leading her to the door, which he locked behind them.

~*~

“So, now that Amon has been born into his witch powers, do you think he’ll be put on the hunt list?”

“Not likely. If I know Karasuma, she’s already on her way back to headquarters to fill out a report.” Doujima nodded meaningfully at Sakaki and Master Harry as they returned to the café.

“They’ll be alright?”

“They’ve got us as backup. Can’t very well hunt them down if the STN-J hunt team is on their side.”

Sakaki and Harry exchanged glances, then smiled.

“Who’s up for some espresso?”

~*~

Karasuma slipped into STN headquarters and moved silently over to the computers, thankful that Michael’s consul was still running. She sat down, glanced in either direction, and then opened up a blank report file. By the time she was done, there would be no record of Amon and Robin being anywhere near the bursts of power. The water witch who had attacked them was marked as to blame, and was added to the hunt list. Karasuma cracked her knuckles, leaning back in the chair and clicking save, before shutting the computer down. She had the oddest feeling Michael wouldn’t be back that night.

Heading for the door, she pulled her coat on, pulling her hair out of the back of the collar and giving her head a shake. She reached into her pocket for her keys and frowned when she found none.

Now where did she put them? She turned back to the computers, and came up short.

“I believe you were looking for these,” Hattori had her keys in the palm of his hand, and had his hand extended toward her.

“H-Hattori. I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

He smiled, eyes flicking toward the computer. “I had the feeling someone would be here to fill out a report. And please, my name is Tom.”

“Tom?”

“Tomashiro Hattori.” He pressed her keys into her hand and gestured to the door with the file in his hand. “I’ve got what I came for. If you’re finished, I’ll walk you to the door, Miho.”

Karasuma was so anxious to get out of there that she didn’t register that he’d called her by her given name until she was pulling out of the STN-J parking garage.

~*~

The keys jangled quietly as Avaia turned the lock, pushing open the door to her apartment. It was small, but she loved it. The living room and kitchen looked out over a cemetery, and while not the most pleasant of views on the few days there were services, it was otherwise a peaceful bit of scenery. On the far side of the cemetery was a large, stone cathedral, built in the gothic style of Old Europe.

“Well, this is it. Not much, but it’s all mine.” She pushed the door open wide and flicked on the lights.

“Wow.” Michael stepped in beside her, his eyes wide behind his glasses as he took in the back wall, which were solid bookshelves from floor to the ten foot ceiling.

She shut the door quietly behind them, locking it. She kicked off her shoes and padded with stocking feet across the polished hard wood floors.

“The far wall over there is actually a half wall, if you slide the panels open. The kitchen is on the other side. Behind the kitchen are the half bath and the wash room, then my office.”

She noticed Michael scag thg the titles of her books, and blushed faintly when he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, I’ve multiple copies of several books.” She joined him at the bookcase and pointed out the ones she had more than one copy of. “Those three I co-authored. Yes, Adanra Sith-Strythe is my pen name. Two I edited, and these ones—“ She tugged on one, and the bookshelf swung backwards, revealing a room behind it. She laughed at Michael’s surprise. She flicked on the light and waved him into the room.

One entire wall was posters, and book covers. Another was sketches, and the back corner was filled with easels. Several had half-painted canvases on them.

“I’m a freelance illustrator and book cover designer.”

Michael wandered around for a bit, and then moved back into the main room, looking at the books again. He smiled as he recognized several of her book covers. Avaia swung the bookshelf back into place and guided him toward the kitchen.

“Are you hungry?”

“No, thank you.”

Avaia nodded and entwined her fingers through his, leading him down the short hall. “Half bath is in here, and the wash room is through the other door. This door here is my office—“

She pushed the door open and turned the light on so he could see her office. A table filled the entire wall beneath the window. Her desktop was in one corner, filing cabinet in the other, and two laptops were sitting in front of the window.

“I see now how you knew how to fix my program.”

She smiled faintly. “I know a thing or two.” She then turned around and hesitated, chewing at her bottom lip as she stared at the door handle.

“What’s in there?” Michael whispered into her ear. She felt his fingers tighten around hers.

“My bedroom.”

“Really? Can we go in?” His chest brushed her shoulder as he leaned closer.

Making up her mind, she reached out and turned the knob.

~*~

Zaizen sat in his office, feet propped up on his desk, a half-drunk cup of coffee resting on the arm of his chair.

The phone rang.

“Hello? Yes, this is Zaizen. What did you find?”

~*~

Amon frowned at the witch in his arms.

“Robin, how can you be thinking about that when we’re being attacked?”

Robin laughed. “Amon, in case you haven’t noticed, the water is gone. Didn’t you feel his power being yanked back?”

His frown deepened as he felt for the attack, and f non none. He blinked in surprise.

“So—should we lower the shield then?”

Robin nodded, and on the count of three, they both withdrew their powers, letting the sphere shield crack and disperse. They dropped lightly onto the edge of the bed. Amon, however, immediately moved to get up.

“Amon, don’t—“ Robin caught his arm and pulled him back down, her face serious. “I’m serious about this, Amon. It’s not just because we were under attack and you were protecting me. I have loved you for three years, and I do not wish to wait any longer. I want you, Amon. I want to be with you.”

“So do I, but Robin, I’m ten years older than you are.”

“I don’t care.”

“We’re not married.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Well, no, not really, but I thought, with you being raised in the monastery—“

Robin laughed softly and slid onto his lap, winding her arms about his neck. “Solomon taught me many things. However, the monks and nuns taught me as well. The first thing they ever taught me was to listen to my heart.”

Amon groaned as he rested his hands on her hips. It was meant to be a chaste action, but her hips rocked against his, and his fingers gripped as he held her to him.

“Face it, Amon. This time I don’t want your protection. This time I want to live dangerously. I want to break the rules.”

“I’m a violent man, Robin. I do not wish to taint you.”

She leaned down, her lips brushing his ear. “I’ll tell you a secret: I’m already tainted.”

~*~

End Chapter Nine