My, how this takes me back. Don't you agree ?
After Azalin and Sara disappeared through the ruins of the old gateway, I turned to Ciel and motioned her to follow after them. She stared at me in confusion. "What..?", she had asked. Behind me, Shuichi. It was just the three of us now, with a full moon looming over us. Everyone had already gone through, as planned. I just needed her to go, and it would all be set.
Ciel narrowed her gaze at me in suspicion. There wasn't even a sign of hesitation with her confrontation. How like her to do so. "What're you playing at Shiori..?", she asked as she slowly moved away from the open gateway beside her. I feigned a confused look and stared at her as if I didn't know what she was talking about. From the corner of my eye, I could see Shuichi observing. "I don't know what you mean ?", I asked her, "What do you mean by, 'what're you playing at ?'. I don't get it." She glanced at Shuichi, who had no reaction. After, she turned back to me. "You should hurry you know ?", I asked her as I glanced towards the gateway, "They're waiting for you on the other side. What're you waiting for ?" She didn't budge. "What're you trying to do Shiori ?", she asked bitterly, "I can close the gate from here. Go ahead." "No", I replied sternly, no longer aiming to sugar coat my actions, "I will do that. If you don't leave now, the other will be confused. I told them that you'd follow after and show them where they would be staying for a few days." Ciel's eyes widened. "You did what ?" "If you don't go now, you'll risk the chance of them getting caught by the hunters", I replied nonchalantly, "I said that if you didn't show within 10 minutes after Azalin and Sara, to head to the area West of Kaede Park." "But why would you do that !?", she shouted, "Do you know what you're doing !? You're leading them towards the Nakanishi Clan..." "Exactly", I replied bluntly. I smiled at her and watched as an uneasy expression appear on her face. "5 minutes have passed. If you really cared for their wellbeing, you'd leave now." Ciel stared at me in disbelief. "So that's why you were going around and tell thing them something !!" I chuckled and glanced towards the gateway. "3 minutes now Ciel", I said in a carefree tone, "What'll you do ?"
She hesitated. I could see her staring at me, but in truth I knew that she was actually looking at Shuichi, who was still behind me. "A minute", I said. Ciel reluctantly turned to the gateway and slowly moved towards it. For a second, she stood in front of it without moving. I sighed in disappointment and walked over to her quietly. I pushed her in, which seemed to catch her by surprise. When she looked over her shoulder to me, I smiled in dismay. "I won't promise you anything", I said as she began to disappear, "But trust me more, will you ?" I turned to Shuichi, still smiling. "You're next", I said with a sigh. "Go." Shuichi didn't move. "And if I refuse ?", he asked. "I'll threaten you", I replied. "And how exactly do you plan to do that ?" I stared at his emerald colored eyes. "Like I did to Ciel." To my surprise, he chuckled. Shuichi laughed. Perhaps it was because he had seen through my plan ? "And fall for something so poorly planned ?", he asked when he finished, "All the things you just did were on impulse. You were counting on the pressure and adrenaline to affect Ciel." "How would you know ?" Shuichi sighed in dismay and crossed his arms over his chest. "What kind of person do you think I am Klutz ? I can see right through you. You're too obvious."
I sighed in defeat and turned back to the gateway. I took my blue hair piece out and waved it in front of the gateway. The light that was dimly glowing inside of the gateway began to fade as it disappeared. Once it was gone, I put my hand on the old ruins and closed my eyes. The word, "Seal", echoed in my head as I opened my eyes and pulled away from it. I turned back to Shuichi, who was suspiciously staring at me. "What ?", I asked him. "Just then", he replied, "What did you do to the gateway that Ciel had opened ?" "Nothing", I lied, as I walked past him. His gaze followed me. "You lie", he replied. I chuckled and looked around the old ruins. "My, my Shuichi", I mumbled as I skimmed through the darkened area around us, "..You know me so well." "What do you plan to do after this ?" I sighed. "Well", I replied as I heard his footsteps walking towards me, "Since I couldn't get you to follow after Ciel, I guess the second best thing I could do is Plan B. I hope you won't be a drag." "Good grief, look who's talking."
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She stared at him with an observant smile. I was sure that he didn't recognize her. Although she did. "You've finally arrived", was the first thing she said when she saw us. "It appears that you have a guest with you ?" I nodded my head slowly. "Minor change of plans", I replied, "Though it really won't matter." She slightly tilted her head and stared at him, afterwords looking away. "Indeed", she said as she stepped out from the shadows. Even in the dim lighting of the full moon, you could see that she was wearing something over her head. She stepped up to Shuichi and held out her hand. "Although it'll only be for a short time", she began to say to him, "My name is Asai. It's very nice to meet you." Shuichi stared at her hand and shook it. "Uhn", was all he said to her as they both let go of each others hands. I stared at him, slightly confused. "You're not going to introduce yourself ?", I asked him. "I don't think it's needed", he replied as he turned back to me, "After all, this will only be for a short time." "But still-" "Besides, I think she's already aware of who I am", he added, cutting me off without any hesitation, "There's no need for an introduction if she knows who I am." Asai chuckled as she watched us. "Such a straight forward person", she muttered as she walked past the both of us. She paused and glanced over her shoulder to us. "Let's go", she nonchalantly called out, "I'll give you details when we return to the base." Asai turned away and stared at the darkened area in front of us. Cautious.
"It's much safer speaking there than here. It'd be foolish to speak of something so taboo in such an open area as this one. You never know who will be listening... don't you agree ?"