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Post by Yen on Aug 8, 2011 19:33:09 GMT -5
"A lead? Why did that man throw something at his head? He's surely too young to be a murderer, right?" Katrina asked, and the innkeeper's wife simply shook her head. "They say he killed his best friend and his own mother, he's mentally unstable, but the police don't go near him. I wouldn't go near him either." She explained, forming more questions in Katrina's mind. "I'll go talk to him, maybe we can learn something." She said as she headed for the door to follow the kid, only to be pulled back by the innkeeper. "Nice try, but he won't talk to you. The kid's mute." He said before heading back to his spot behind the counter.
Sighing, Brent suddenly raised his hand. "I'll follow him, maybe that'll turn something up. I can report anything I see back to you, that way your time is saved!" He volunteered, but Katrina shrugged. "Maybe it's best we all stick together. Whatever is out there took out an entire team of finders, leaving hardly a trace. It could lead to more trouble if we don't stay close." She said, as the innkeeper's wife decided to leave the exorcists to their own devices.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 8, 2011 19:38:54 GMT -5
"Brent, why don't you set up a command in our room. You know, make it impervious to any Akuma attacks with your finder lantern thing." He said finishing his chicken. He stood up and looked toward the boy. "He doesn't use sign language, so he must have a way to communicate." He sighed. "He's just a kid. Katrina, we'll try to talk to him."
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Post by Yen on Aug 8, 2011 19:50:39 GMT -5
"Okay! I'll do that! But won't you guys get lost without me? I mean, I'm the greatest guide around! I'll miss you, but don't worry, no Akuma have ever gotten through my barrier! I'm really good with stuff like that! Did you know that was how I've survived so many suicidal missions? I think Komui was really disappointed when he heard just how good I was at my job! Can you believe that? He seemed upset! It's not like I'm the plague or anything, right? I'll be waiting in the room, so be sure to come back soon! I get kinda lonely you see... where'd everybody go?" During Brent's excited speech, Katrina quickly pulled Zane away, sneaking out of the inn through the front doors.
As soon as they had left some reasonable distance between themselves and the inn, Katrina finally spoke up. "I was able to get the location of the Emsky family manor, there was a small map up in the inn of the old town. This place must have been quite beautiful when it was built. I... I hate to be so rude to Brent, but there's something seriously wrong with that man. I've never heard someone that had to speak every minute of the day." She said, once again fighting the wind with her voice. "So do you think this kid's got something to do with the strange occurrences? Or is it just a coincidence?" She asked, curious to see if Zane was well experienced in situations like these.
Wherever the boy had gone to, he had left quickly, and there were no tracks left to follow as the wind and snow had completely covered them. The two exorcists would have to rely on the information to track him down again.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 8, 2011 19:57:59 GMT -5
"The boy is mute, lives alone, and is hated by the public. If anything, he could at least use some good company." Zane said sighing. "In most cases like this, its the quiet ones that lead to the right direction." He looked at her. "This boy if anything should have at least seen something the others haven't."
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Post by Yen on Aug 8, 2011 20:25:15 GMT -5
Nodding, Katrina quickened her pace, not wanting to become stuck in the waist high snow. "Yeah, you're right. We haven't even seen his living condition, perhaps the Order might be able to help a bit." She said as they trudged along. Ahead, they could see a small blonde girl wandering in the snow, shivering as she held her sides. "Hello? Can you help me? I'm trying to find a friend, he rushed up ahead without me." She said, putting a slender hand on Zane's shirt. "I'm really cold, I'd like to get there quick. Can you carry me?" She asked as her large eyes gazed up to Zane's face.
"There's only two homes in this direction, are you friends with the mute boy that lives here?" Katrina asked, hoping to pull some information from the poorly bundled child. The little one gave a soft nod, now reaching both hands up to Zane with an expectant face. "Please mister... I'm really cold, and I'm worried about my friend. He seemed really sad last time I saw him, and I want to surprise him. Maybe if you help me, he'll let you stay at his house!" She said, her face starting to turn blue and purple from the cold.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 8, 2011 22:57:01 GMT -5
Zane looked at the young girl thoughtfully. This was strange. He thought there was no one who knew the young boy. He sighed and gave a slight smile to the young girl. He took her in his arms and picked her up. "Yeah, we'll bring you there. Here." He wrapped his coat around her a bit, trying to keep her warm. "Come on, Katrina. Lets go."
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Post by Yen on Aug 8, 2011 23:38:38 GMT -5
Although Katrina had assumed that the little girl would be a burden to the party, she was incredibly helpful, pointing out landmarks in the seemingly pure white blanket of snow. It was as if the child had been around the village since birth, knowing each little detail of the hidden roads that led the way to the manor. After what seemed like a good hour, they had finally found the dark home that had once belonged to the Emsky family, with the Kenya's smaller manor in the background. Cobwebs lined the broken windows, and the roofs were slumped from age, it seemed that nobody lived in either of the homes anymore.
"I don't think he's in the Emsky house, only the widow lives there during the summer. We should check for the people in the Kenya's home, the last of the survivors tend to bunk there. Could you please take me to Aleks? I need to see him, I have a surprise for him!" The girl explained, tugging on Zane's shirt as they walked towards the other house. Despite Zane's best attempt to warm the child up, her colors had still not changed, and she still felt as frozen as the frost around them. "I'm sure Aleks will be happy to have company, most people don't like to talk to him." She said, her voice barely audible against the harsh wind. "We'll be happy to help... right?" Katrina asked, almost as if convincing herself that this was all a good idea.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 9, 2011 22:37:42 GMT -5
Zane nodded. We'll definately help you" he looked at the destroyed manor with interest. The place didn't even look remotely inhabitabl. It was strange. Another thing was the girl. She was still cold which was puzzling considering his coat was wrapped around her. "Just tell us where to go and we'll go."
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Post by Yen on Aug 9, 2011 23:30:39 GMT -5
"Thank you for helping me so much! I get lost sometimes, even though I know this place pretty well. I thought I was going to die in the snow, I just get so cold." The small child pointed the way to the other home, which upon closer observation seemed somewhat more acceptable than the living conditions of the other one. "He lives here, we can just walk in, he won't hear us if we tried to knock. What are you doing?" The girl squeaked as she tried to explain, but Katrina seemed distracted, as she started to walk away from the manor. "There's someone ahead... he looks like a clown." She mumbled as she tried to close in on the figure.
"Hello?" Katrina called out to the figure, and it turned on a single heel, running towards the two very quickly. "RUN!! GET INSIDE!" The child screamed as the clown ran at the two. "Please mister, I'm scared! Take us inside!" She demanded, her frozen fingers curling around Zane's shirt. "I- I'm so... so cold. Please don't let that evil man kill me... I've seen him hurt others before." Her whimper could only be heard by Zane, as her voice had become weak, her body growing colder by the second. "He doesn't look dangerous... except for that odd hammer. Why do you think she's so afraid? Is she okay?" Katrina asked, backing away slowly to the front door of the manor.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 11, 2011 23:25:07 GMT -5
"Katrina, get inside." Zane said, his eyes narrowing at the clown. He felt no danger, no malice from it. Yet these two were scared. "Hey, little girl, I'll take care of the clown. You stay in the coat." He pulled out his revolver. "Hey, hammer clown guy. Come closer and there will be a hole in your head. I mean no harm, neither of us do."
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Post by Yen on Aug 12, 2011 1:07:20 GMT -5
Katrina gently nodded as she walked inside the house, as nobody had answered when she knocked. "It's okay, he'll keep you safe, so there's no need to worry. Zane will handle it if he's bad, I promise." She said reassuringly as she marched inside, hoping to further investigate. She couldn't help but wonder why exactly the little girl was so terrified of a simple clown with a hammer, nonetheless, the town seemed full of strange individuals with odd pasts.
The clown continued to run at the two, an obvious look of panic stricken on his face as he rushed at Zane and the little girl. "Oyo! Wait up! You don't know what you're doing! Get away from the child! Quick!" He shouted, only to freeze in his tracks upon hearing Zane's threat. "I don't mean harm either! Just not my beautiful face! Please? Anything else would do..." He said, shriveling up and putting his hands in front of his colored face. "You're standing next to a monster!" He warned, pointing at the child, who hid deeper inside of Zane's coat.
"I'm not a monster... please don't let him hurt me." She cried, small tears flowing down her frozen face. "He's a bad man, I've seen people shoot him, and he lives without a scratch! He's killed my friends!" She squeaked, and the clown began to scratch at his hat. "Oya! You don't know what kinds of friends she has, mister!" He warned again, twirling his hammer in his hands.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 12, 2011 8:19:52 GMT -5
Zane looked at the two near him. They both were saying the other one was a monster. Time to go on instinct. "Alright, both of you inside the house. One word of protest and you'll be refretting it." He said firmly but kind. "I don't know whose telling the truth, so I'm gonna find out."
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Post by Yen on Aug 12, 2011 14:12:41 GMT -5
The girl and the clown gave a nod, both heading inside the house at a steady pace. "Be sure to watch your weapon closely, as you've got a demon right next to your leg!" The clown warned again, pointing a large finger at the child, who shrunk into Zane's coat. As they walked, the door suddenly opened, revealing Katrina, who had her hands raised above her head as she backed up. "Uh... Zane... this girl here doesn't like me." She weakly explained as she moved away to reveal a third figure.
The child gave a scream and stood behind Zane at the sight of the delicate figure that had chased Katrina away. "What are you doing here? You're intruders! Kloun, do you even realize they've led an Akuma right into Aleks's home? You should have killed them all!" The woman screeched, pointing a finger at Zane. The man now dubbed as Kloun gave a weak shrug.
"Erna, he was going to shoot me in the face! You know I hate that! Besides, it looks like they'll handle it. No need to get in the way!" He said, putting hands in front of his face once more when the porcelain like figure stepped out from the house. "It's no matter. You there!" Erna pointed at Zane. "Kill that Akuma before it transforms! It'll be much harder to handle it afterwards. Do it or I'll kill you!" She demanded, figuring that the Earl's workers would refuse to kill their own Akuma. "Zane, is that child an Akuma?" Katrina asked, still keeping her hands above her head.
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Post by Kotaro on Aug 12, 2011 19:41:35 GMT -5
"I have an easy way to figure this out." He activated the revolvers innocence. He placed it at the girls head. "if she's an Akuma, this will kill her. If she's human, it will stun her." He grinned evily. "Testing now." He fired the revolver.
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Post by Yen on Aug 13, 2011 3:11:47 GMT -5
The child gave a squeal before her body began to slowly disintegrate, her true form now revealed. "Phew..." Kloun mumbled, now taking more casual steps toward the others. "That sure was close! It's not everyday you can apprehend an Akuma without so much as a scratch, Aya!" He exclaimed, rather chipper that no human had been hurt. "I still don't like them Kloun, they still may be with the Earl. I say we kill them before we have to worry about telling little master what all happened." Erna grumbled, moving slowly closer to Katrina with a demented grin.
Moving quickly, Kloun pulled Erna away from the two. "Eya, don't worry about her, she's always grumpy." He weakly explained. "So you're looking for the master? You can come inside if you like, before you freeze anyway!" He offered with a chipper voice, extending a strange gloved hand towards the two. Katrina gave a weak smile, she'd never been fond of clowns, but this one seemed nice enough. "I think that would be a great idea, and we'd like to meet this master. Thank you very much, sir." She said, nodding her head quickly as she was eager to escape the cold. "Looks like we were able to find our lead after all, right Zane? I wonder how Brent's doing? I sure hope he hasn't found an Akuma as well." She mumbled to herself nervously as she entered the large home.
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