Mirroring Lotus

Reflection 4: Fool me once, shame on you

"I can't believe you tricked those nice people, Yon!" the caretaker exclaimed as she and Yon stood within the kitchen. "Again!"

"What is Miss Caretaker going on about, Yon?" a little girl asked as she looked up at the older girl.

"Oh, the usual." Yon said as she was busy making lunch for the children.

"Oh," the girl said.

"Those people could have been the ones to adopt you but no, you had to trick them away!" the caretaker said. "Why are you so against adoption, child?!"

"You very well know why, Miss Caretaker." Yon said as she finished up cooking before looking down at the young girl next to her. "Lunch will be served soon, so could you go and tell the others to wash up for me?"

"Okay!" the girl said, smiling at Yon before leaving the room.

"Thank you," Yon called out after her before resuming her work.

The caretaker stood in the corner, looking at Yon with disbelief before falling to her knees and cried.

"Does anyone see her?" Lenalee asked as she and the others walked through town together.

"I don't," Allen said, looking around the area while shielding his eyes from the afternoon sun.

"Are you sure that Baka Usagi was telling you truth, Moyashi?" Kanda asked as he looked toward Allen.

"It's Allen and yes, I'm sure." Allen said, glaring at Kanda for the nickname of his.

"Maybe she's further in town." Lenalee suggested.

"Perhaps," Bookman said. "Let us keep looking."

"Right," Allen said, nodding before turning a corner. "Besides, she couldn't have gotten too far-"

Allen stopped in his tracks, along with the others, as a certain red head walk passed them.

"Lavi?!" Lenalee exclaimed, catching said Exorcist's attention.

He stopped and turned his head toward them before smiling bit.

"Oh, hey there guys!" Lavi said, waving at the group as they stared wide eyed at him.

"What the heck are you doing here?!" Allen exclaimed, pointing at the red haired Exorcist.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Lavi asked. "I came here on accident while I was being chased by Yon's wolf. I'm going around to make sure I lost it."

"But....but...." Allen said, the most shocked of the group.

"I could have sworn Lavi was keeping an eye on things at the orphanage." he thought.

"Anyway, what are you guys doing here?" Lavi asked.

"We came looking for you at first," Lenalee explained. "Allen was left behind to keep an eye on the orphanage in case either you or Yon went back there. But, sometime after we left, Allen came running after us and told us that Yon was the one in town."

"Wait, is she?" Lavi asked. "'Cause if she is, then how did Moyashi know about that?"

Allen ignored Lavi's use of Kanda's nickname for him and spoke, "Because you told me that you saw her leave the forest for town."

"I did no such thing!" Lavi said, "I've been here the entire time-"

He quickly cut himself off as his visible eye widened once he realized what was happening. Bookman soon realized what was going on as well and let out a sigh.

"It seems the reports of our target appear to be true." he said.

"You mean on how she's able to disguise herself as anyone?" Lenalee asked, looking towards Bookman.

"Yes," Bookman said. "It seems like she deceived Allen by disguising herself as Lavi. And apparently she did a fine job as acting like my idiot apprentice."

"Hey!" Lavi said.

"So that's what really happened." Allen said.

"Then that means...." Lenalee said, trailing off.

"We left the girl alone at that stupid orphanage." Kanda said.

"So that also means that we have to go back to it." Allen said.

"Yeah," Lenalee said. "But look on the bright side, Allen. Lavi will buy you the meat buns."

"Why me?" Lavi asked.

"If you hadn't gone off by yourself, this wouldn't have happened." Lenalee said, looking at Lavi sternly.

"Oh come on!" Lavi whined.

Allen, on the other hand, perked up to the thought of getting some food.