Two Worlds - Round 2

(Might want to change that around a bit since it's a different part of the story now. XD)

Days had passed since the mysterious fire of the Livingstone mansion, and only very few within the mansion had survived the event.

Ivy was napping. Lazily sprawled out underneath a tree with the cool fall breeze caressing her, she ignored the kitten that was digging around in her pocket of string. There was a reason she put some catnip in there...

[Ah, yeah. Not grave though. X3]

"Lazying around again?" A soft voice woke her from her daydream. Karem smiled down at her and settled himself on the grass next to her.

"Ach, just bored is all!" She replied loudly, the kitten startled and backed out of the string-filled pocket, just to become tangled in its mass. Sitting up, Ivy let it loose. "Seems there am less jobs nowadays." She huffed. "I hasn't got one since... Well, since that party!"

"Tsk, full of energy, aren't you now?" Karem gave a soft chuckle, stroking the kitten under its chin. "Don't worry, we won't lack preys... Just that the customers are taking their time to decide..."

He too sprawled onto the grass, looking up at the sky. "... In any case, would you like to go check on the hit list right now? Also to take more supplies... I ran out of ice cream." He turned to look at her and grinned.

*

The room was dark, but every time a light flashed, it was very bright. The light only lasted a short while, giving the room a mysterious ambiance. The smell of oil and metal filled the air, suffocating people with an unstable nervous system.

Iris removed his mask, revealing tired, bloodshot eyes. In the dark, the purple of his eyes became dead. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. Memphis had bombed him with firearms crafting orders, so that he wouldn't have an occasion to sneak out again.

But he was so tired.

"I thoughts you might never ask." Ivy grinned, standing. "Mebbe there be something worthwhile now~"

...

Banafrit hesitated at the door to the workshop. She had been by here a few times in the last couple of days, whether to deliver food to Iris or just to watch him work from the shadows, unseen and unheard. She knew that Memphis was making him work unrelentingly, and she felt sorry for him. She felt partially responsible, if she hadn't made him trip, Memphis might not have discovered him. Not like that.

Quietly, she opened the door and slipped into the workshop.

It was a store of a design like no other; at least, like no other store in London. Heavy wooden door painted in a crimson red, graced with golden dragons and calligraphic characters, stone stairs guarded by statues of lions with strange faces... Such were the decors of the Jia Mian Ju - "The Mask" - Drugstore.

Karem pushed the gates open, leading Ivy through a small yart to enter the house. The moment he opened the door, it was like all lights were swallowed, into the eternal darkness wrapped in the scent of dried exotic plants. He smiled to Ivy, "He hasn't changed a bit, eh? Sleeping at this time of the day? Kamen must be the only one to do that."



Iris wasn't aware of Banafrit's intrusion; he had his face burried in his hands as he tried to ease the throbbing pain in his eyes. He looked at the cold dinner that Banafrit had left from yesterday - he was hungry, but he didn't feel like eating.

"Aye. As far we knows, anyway." She offered, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the gloom. "I dun't really stop here 'round this time of day often, so he's usually up when I stop by for a wee bit." She grinned.

...

Banafrit placed a hand on his shoulder, gently. She was concerned. He didn't seem to be doing too well.

(Lo and behold the wonderful motherly instincts of Banafrit! 8D )

"Well, you'll see." Karem lowered himself to dodge a bunch of dried plants sweeping above his head and opened the door to another small, dark room.

*

Iris startled, looking up at her. "Oh, it's you." He sighed.

Ivy followed after him, short enough that she didn't really need to duck because she was already quite short. However, some of the dried plants got caught in her hair, which she let out an irritated grunt about. She hated it when that happened.

...

Banafrit said nothing, being incapable of doing so. However, her face was creased with concern and worry. She glanced at the untouched food and nodded at it with a frown, wondering why he hadn't eaten.

The boy looked around with the casuality of one who has frequented this place. He lit a candle. Immediately, the light spread, like in a theater. Soon the room was illuminated by the light of a hundred little white candles.

It was of the same style of design as the rest of the house. Wooden shelves with sophisticated decorations, full of books and statuettes, compasses, medicine bowls... and a gazillion of other things that couldn't exactly be named. In the middle of the room, there was a bed covered in red velvet. Karem walked closer, lifting the veil.

The sleeping creature inside the bed could be passed for a marble statue. However, the silken look of the silver hair, the smoothness of the skin weren't those of such a material. Not like someone would dress a marble statue in that first-classed silk that must has been exported directly from Asia, either. The rise and fall of the man's chest also confirmed his living status.

Karem shot a smile at Ivy. "Oh well. He must be bored to see my face everytime he wakes up. Why don't you come and give him a pleasant surprise?"

*

"Eh?" Iris' eyes were too tired to notice the movement at first. But he got it after a moment. "Ah? I don't feel like eating..."

His stomach rumbled in protest. Iris sighed again, this time with a little of irritation, then stood up and limped away from the woman. It was her fault he got this injury in the first place, and Memphis got so mad at him. As if he was the one who set up the explosives at the Livingstone mansion.

"Wells, if you insist." Ivy replied, walking over to Karem's side to observe the sleeping man. She then got a sort of devilish look on her angelic face, leaning over the man and poking him on the side rather hard. "Waaake up, sleeping beauty~!" She shouted.

...

Banafrit hesitated, seeing his irritation. With that look on his face, she knew that he blamed her. Quietly, she pulled out a small, dainty notebook and charcoal from one of the hidden pockets in her dress. She silently wrote down a few words.

If it means anything to you, I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional for me to make you slip like that.

But before Ivy could touch him, the man caught her wrist. Hard. He slowly sat up, twisting Ivy's hand in his in the process. The slender ivory white hand that looked almost feminine could actually have so much power. The man rubbed his eyes, silver eyelashes batting for a few times. He finally opened them, revealing a pair of crimson eyes - The color was even deepened by the candles' light.

"Whaaaat is this?" He asked, brushing long strands of silver hair off his sleepy face. "Who are youuu?"

*

"Keep your apologies, I don't know who to blame anymore." Iris raked a hand through black hair, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "You... You embarrassed me in front of Memphis... I don't know... I'm his older brother. I'm supposed to be taking care of him..."

He grasped his collar - Beneath the white shirt, the heart shape of a locket could be seen. "... They would be so disappointed..."

He sighed again, deeply. Covering his eyes with a hand, he whimpered, "Oow... My head..."

"Ach, it's just me, sleepy head!" Ivy replied loudly, slightly surprised that he caught her hand. "Ivy Mcklenn."

...

Banafrit gave him a long, concerned look, and went back to writing on the small notebook.

Embarrassing you was also unintentional. I just wished to get your attention. She hesitated, then continued writing. I'm sure he's worried about you as much as you're worried about him.

"Ah, but isn't this the lovely Ivy." He spoke with a strange accent, smiling sweetly. "Say, last time you dropped to see me, it was so long ago. I almost forgot your face."

He moved on the bed a little to make more space. "But come, let me see you closer."

Karem chuckled softly, "You are such a pedo, Kamen."

*

"But I don't want him to worry about me." Iris had to grip the edge of the table to keep standing. "Can you take that food out when you left? I don't feel like it eating."

"Oh, it haven'ts been that long! Why, I was heres a few days ago!" Ivy crossed her arms, unimpressed.

...

Banafrit turned the page of the notebook and continued writing.

You need to eat. You're going to make yourself sick at this rate.

"But it was loooong!" Kamen whined, forcefully pulling Ivy into his lap. Breathing into her hair, he purred, "I missed youuu~!"

[LOL ILIEKCREEPYPEDO. KTHXBAI~]

*

"I'm not going to get sick." Iris limped angrily towards the workshop's door, pushing it open. "I'll just get sick by having to look at your tiny writing in this shadow. Go away... Please." He added.

Ivy made a sound of protest, and then offered an annoyed sigh. "Ach, ye scunner! I'm not heres for snuggles!" She said loudly.

...

Banafrit hesitated, then wrote.

Very well. I will try to convince Memphis to lighten your workload or at least give you enough time to have a break. If you need anything...

She stopped writing for a second, thoughtfully.

Don't be afraid to ask me.

With that, she put the notebook and charcoal away and grabbed the untouched dinner.

"Your words pain my heart, my little Ivy." Kamen pouted and let go of the girl. "In any case, I won't let you down today." He display an evil, cat-like grin. Long, white fingers flickered smoothly; in the blink of an eye, he took a piece of paper out of no where. "Today's hit list, na na na~"

*

Memphis had been hunching over his office desk for hours, filling one paper after another with fine, italic handwriting, but he hadn't finished half of his work yet. His eyes began to hurt, but he refused to stop. He had to work double to compensate the enormous loss and humiliation that the first assassination was to the Duochromatics.

"Let me sees!" Ivy offered loudly, reaching for the list.

...

There was a gentle knock at the door.

"No." Kamen grinned again, the piece of paper disappearing in his sleeve. He put out his lips, "Give me a kiiiiiss~!"

Karem chuckled, "That's kinda getting creepy, Kamen."

*

"Yes?" Memphis replied angrily. He didn't like to be bothered when he worked, especially at times like this. "Come in."

Ivy's eye twitched. "I gives you a kiss if you deserves it!" She said irritably, crossing her arms. "You am annoying me."

(pfft, it's so hard to take Ivy seriously with her talking the way she does. XD)

...

Banafrit opened the door quietly, walking in. She bowed respectfully. Pulling out her notebook, she wrote in her dainty handwriting quickly.

Sorry to disturb you.

"Aaaaw, you broke this man's heart." Kamen pretended to sob in a very dramatic theatral manner. "Fine, fine, you're such a bum of energy you have to spend it..."

His hand flicked again, revealing a paperplane that seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Catch." He tossed it towards Ivy.

*

"It's alright, Banafrit." Memphis lied quickly. "What's the matter?" You better have a very good reason to come annoy me like this.

Ivy quickly leapt up and caught it in midair, then opened it. She glanced at Karem and grinned.

...

It's concerning your brother.

She wrote, then hesitated for a moment.

He doesn't seem to be doing too well. He's not getting sleep nor is he eating. I wish to ask of his defense, that he be allowed to take a break.

"Sir Clark Hamserton, one of the closest assistants of Countess Livingstone." She offered, still grinning.

"Oh, I heard the rumour about him." Karem smiled. "That coward guy is good for nothing but digging money of the Countess."

.........

Memphis sighed, he looked at Banafrit for a short while and continue his work. "He's older than me and yet he acting childish."