Ashes in the Rain

| Chapter 8: Issues |

Location: Hutong, Beijing, China
Date: April 3rd, 1930 (Same day from Chapter 6)
Time: 3:08 pm

Dante's POV
We noticed the female was very hesitant, cautious... Afraid. She seems to innocent to be the partner of David. She didn't seem to be the type, maybe it's an act. "That's the female we are searching for, the name being Morgan Key, dragon kindle." I stated. "Must be powerful, dragons are too dangerous." I continued the inspection. "Then if she hurts you, even in the slightest... Ha ha She's dead dragon." Natalie growled. "We are to bring her back unharmed." I replied. "So if she lands a hand on you, I don't care." Natalie turned her head away. I sighed yet continued watching her through the binoculars. 'She seems distracted, dazed even...' I thought. "We'll attack soon, we must get into positions." I ordered. "Anything for you~!" Natalie sang quietly as she gently knocks on the front door. I knew she literally meant anything for me, so I just nodded her off.

Behind the door however, we could hear the locks being unhooked. "Yes, How may I help you, young miss?" Her reply was much too kind. "Oh well, you see I'm your new neighbor, I live there. *Points to random house* and I was just greeting you." Natalie aced her act. I smirked, my turn. I slide slowly into the house as the Female let Natalie in. As she turned, I threw a punch at her, she blocked speedily. "Who are you and what do you want from me?" She demanded. Natalie came behind her to knock her off her feet. Instead she jumped and simply blocked Natalie's tail. "Doesn't matter, you must come with us." I responded throwing a sidekick to her torso. She dodged, and caught my shoe. I was expecting to be flipped but, instead she ducked and tumbled behind me. I turned swiftly as Natalie got up. The female ran to the window, us following. The dragon jumped out the window and disappeared out of sight.

"Why didn't she attack us?" I asked confused. "I don't know, I'm just glad she didn't hurt you." Natalie kissed my cheek. I smiled, "This isn't the time, but I'll take another." Natalie basically jumped at this and kissed me this time. "So that Dragon, she did not attack, only defend why is that? No matter the ways of thinking it doesn't make sense. She was apart of the mafia, yet only defended herself with no harm." I asked much more confused, yet a little curious. "I don't understand either, Dante. But, I don't care for anyone else, but you~! Oh of course Onii-san, but more of you~!" Natalie hugs me, as I hug back. "I know."

A shadow from the corner started to emerge. 'I didn't even sense it, who is that?' I quickly shielded Natalie. "Ah, how interesting, an assassin that can't even assassinate." That voice belonged to none other than Kian. "I can assassinate, I'm just so great that you can't tell." I retorted. Kian began to laugh hysterically, "Yes, yes. Even the dimwitted wet blanket assassin has his own pride." "I am no wet blanket, for if I was I'm sure I'd not be a professional assassin." I snorted. "Dante... I can't help it, but... you are a wet blanket assassin. Although you're MY wet blanket assassin and that's all that matters." Natalie smiled at me as she held my arm with force. "Eh? What do you mean?" I asked. "Oh, you're too kind hearted is all." Natalie replied. "Anyway, I didn't come here to have small talk. I figure you'd need some extra 'help' with the Dragon. Her weakness is that she's another wet blanket. Too kind for her own good, she's a deredere. So just make a situation where she will feel obligated to help you, and she's nothing more than a cat in a bag." Kian snickered. "Ah. I see, thank you, Kian." I replied sincerely with a smile. Kian looked mentally disrupted by that,"Tsk, shut the hell up. That was disgusting." He turned around and walked away, before jumping out an open window. I stood there speechless. "Hm..." Natalie seemed distant. "What is it, Natalie?" I asked. "He can't take compliments or sincerity." She muttered. "Ah, nevermind that." She grasped her hands together. "We can finally get the Dragon for Onii-san, right?" Natalie seemed really happy. "Yeah, that's right." I replied.

Location: Streets of Italy
Date: April 11th, 1930
Time: 2:00 pm

Lily's POV
It didn't take too long to find a lot of information on David Frazer, after all he is very well feared in Italy. He has various shops where he sells 'rocks,' and Leo was associated with these type of people. Besides, it was where he got our 'under the table' house. Leo had several things prepared for our little visit, which included weapons, fights, and blackmail. We had a plan to buy some of his produce as our cover up. I watched patiently as Leo packed various things under his jacket. There were lines of ropes and daggers. "I would bring a sword, but it's too obvious. Sticks out like a sore thumb." He said. "Ah. I see." I replied. He handed me some sort of bracelet thing. "Hm?" I looked at it confused. "It's for your leg. A hidden knife carrier." He replied. "Wha-? Really?" I strapped it on and smiled continuously. "Time to try this out!" I grabbed my knife and snugged it into its carrier. "Make sure you don't-" "OW." He turned towards me to see a small slice in my leg. "...Hurt yourself..." He sighed as he held his head. He grabbed the first aid kit and wrapped my leg. "Idiot." He commented. "Oh shut up." I said sheepishly.

I was trembling slightly at the stinging in my leg, but I tried my best not to show it. Leo's face looked unusually worried. "Seriously, this is why I...*sigh* nevermind." He finished the wrap and let go of my leg. "I was just a little careless, seriously you don't need to worry about me in battle." I replied. In a swift second I was lying on my back with a dagger to my throat. "If this were battle, you'd be dead right now." His eyes looked cold. He got up and continued packing. "Tsk. You're such a jerk." I mumbled. "Jerk?" He repeated. "Yeah..." The room went a little silent after that. If anything... awkward silences was never our problem, But now... everything seemed a little distant. That lack of voice filling the air was emptying. 'I wonder... is it my fault?' I don't want him to leave... I mean Leo is the only one I have left... I want to make him happy. I could only clench my fists and sit silently in the room.

We're so close... yet so far. 'Why do I want him to stay? Afterall he is only my Butler, right? Butler... That's right. I'm not that close to him after all, am I?' These thoughts started to plague my mind. I was in a fowl mood. Even so... I can't understand my own feelings nor his. At these brief moments I remember what it means to be the last Bunny Kindle of my kind. I wonder... are there any other foxes out there?

To Be Continued...