I Love you, Carmen

Chapter 2

Carmen was sitting beside the window, impatently awaiting the arrival of the Matsumoto Station so that they could get down. They didn't tell that they were going to visit Shadowsan, so she was eager to see his reaction.

She jerked out of her thought when the computer system announced the arrival of Matsumoto Station. Zack too, was very excited. He called Shadowsan,  'Sensei,' and respected him a lot. He was continuously asking Carmen and Ivy, "Are we there yet?" and didn't stop until Ivy looked murderous. 

But now, they had reach the Matsumoto Station. Carmen smiled. The trio took their bags, and walked out of the train. They group were planning to stay there for the next four days, see all the tourist destinations nearby, and meet up with Shadowsan.

"Are you excited, Red?" Player asked through her Comm-Link earring, curiously, albeit excitedly himself. Carmen could literally hear Player smiling. 

"Yes!" Carmen answered, smiling once again.

"Let's go Carmen, let's go Ivy, let's go!" Zack exclaimed, beaming. Ivy grinned. 

They went to check in their hotel, have a shower a change into a bit more casual clothes instead of travel ones.

_

Reaching Matsumoto Castle, Carmen felt unusually nervous, though not nearly as much as when she first met her mother. She felt the phone in her hand vibrating, and saw Player calling her. She clicked the button. Player's face popped up on the screen, it was grinning. 

"Hey Player!" Carmen, Ivy and Zack chorused. "Hey guys!" He grinned again.  In reply to Carmen's questioning glance, he nearly said,"What? I wanna see Shadowsan too." Carmen grinned, clicking a button which made the camera of the phone turn. She held up the phone in the direction of Zack and Ivy, who waved merrily back.

Shadowsan now worked as a curator and ancient Japanese history teacher to those who came to visit the castle. It was a weekday, so there weren't as many people as weekends.

Walking inside, Zack and Ivy oohed and ahed at all the marvelous items on display. Carmen and Player signed quietly. Carmen found Shadowsan where she kind of expected him to be. Sitting in front of the display of the Daisho. Shadowsan had closed his eyes. But being the master of stealth, he could pick up the tiniest whispers of the wind. He opened his eyes as soon as the trio entered the room.

He saw their reflection on the glass, and smiled, turing back. Carmen,  Ivy and Zack grinned back. "Hello, what brings to here, Carmen?"

"Hey! Nothing, just wanted to hang out with my father like figure," said Carmen, as Ivy, Zack and Player chourused their hellos.

"Follow me," Shadowsan said, and got up and led them down the hallway into a room which Carmen knew to be Shadowsan's office. It was decorated in traditional Japanese way, like the rest of the Castle.

Shadowsan had sit down on one of the cushions, which were scattered on a tatami mat. He motioned them to sit down. Carmen had already sit down. Zack and Ivy imitated her. "You know Shadowsan, I thought our visit would be a suprise, but you don't even show a hint of surprise." Carmen said thoughtfully.

"It would, naturally. But I saw you in the news. I expected you to come, seeing as how you hadn't visited me, and I wasn't disappointed. But I'd think Carmen, you'd be out of this prank." Shadowsan replied.

"Carmen smiled. "I'm a 'unruly prankster' after all." Shadowsan smiled back.

"Hey! What about us?" Ivy asked faking angriness. "You and Zack pranksters, I wouldn't expect anything less from you." Shadowsan said Calmly. 

"You're wicked smart, Shadowsan!" Zack praised. 

"I was a criminal mastermind, Zack. Common sense and logic is second nature to us."

_

The cleaners returned from their day work as janitors. They ate dinner, and picked up their bags. With one nod to each other, they walked out clutching their plane ticket in their hand. 

Arriving the Airport of their city, Vlad and Boris boarded their flight to Munich, Germany. 

They both reach Munich fourteen hours later. Taking their rental van, the Cleaners drove on, and on. They stopped at a hotel near Neuschwanstein Castle for the Night. 

The next morning The Cleaners drove to their destination, thity-nine Miles to the North West of Neuschwanstein Castle.

At last, they found the place they were looking for. They had found the 8 Acre Bunker home of the person they were looking for. But it was on top of the hill they had parked their van, so they still had a bit of hiking to do.

They trekked for around half an hour. At last, they had reach their destination. It was a rather normal piece of land, atleast aa normal piece land on top of hill is. But the Cleaners know of not to be fooled by appearances. They both made way to the incognito door which was hidden in a cave guarded by thick curtains of Ivy.

The Cleaners smiled grimly, and rang the doorbell. An elderly man, who seemed to be a butler, around fifty seven or fifty eight years of age, neatly cut white hair, opened the door.

"How may I help you?" He asked in an airy British accent, as if this happened every day. "We're here to meet Mr. Azazel." Said Vlad, in a in a tone as just casual the butler's, though not airily.

"For what reason, may I ask?" The butler queried. "We wish to speak with Mr. Azazel only." Boris answered.

"Right then gents, follow me." The butler said, unfazed. He led them into the main room. It was rather chilly inside.The house didn't seem like it was in a cave, if fact, the entire was decorated in modern German Engineering. The entrance room itself was looking something like a hospital's entrance.

The butler led the way through a few rooms and and corridors. Finally, he stopped at a door. The Cleaners never knew fear. But they couldn't help but be a bit nervous.

"Wait here." The butler ordered. He walked inside the room.

He returned, within what seemed like less than a minute.

The door opened and the butler bowed them in.

Word count: 1087

_

This chapter was longgg :) I don't write this long, generally speaking. Some of you are probably itching for Red Crackle, but introducing that this early, I feel that it's going to be a bit unrealistic. Rant over, I'll post the next chapter within 48 hours! Bye! 🪂

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