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Miho Karasuma glanced around the familiar restaurant warily as she took her usual seat by the far window. Harry greeted her with a smile, and within minutes, he approached with her usual espresso balanced on a small tray in his hands. The cup and saucer were placed before her, and the proprietor took his leave.There was no need to be suspicious, but she would freely admit that she had become more than a little bit paranoid since the incident at the Factory. Harry was a staunch ally and had never done anything more than provide the STN-J with delicious food and a space to unwind after work. Then again, Miho had trusted her boss once too, and look where that had gotten her.She closed her eyes and concentrated. No one was watching. A quick use of her powers wouldn’t hurt. Her fingertips brushed lightly over the smooth porcelain of the demitasse. No images formed in her mind, making it clear that the object was free of the lingering presence of someone’s rage. Miho breathed a sigh of relief and pulled her hand away. At least this wasn’t a trap. She was safe for now.Life at Raven’s Flat was seemingly all back to the usual routine. Dojima still loved to gab, her cell phone with its cluster of charms always flipped open and pressed to her ear. Michael was once again perpetually mining data at his computer, though with the occasional walk outside now that he was at liberty. Sakaki still had the habit of shooting first and not asking questions until it was too late, though these days the bullets he used were no longer filled with the emerald green essence of a tortured Witch. For more than two years, she had tried so hard to reconcile her own role in the organization after what had happened, but the weight of the truth ate at her from the inside.Miho never told anyone but memories of being taken to the Factory still haunted her dreams.Administrator Zaizen had tried to pretend the whole thing was a business meeting, but Miho knew she was being lead to slaughter. Though the presence of so much Orbo dampened her powers, the seatbelt in the back of his private car told her everything.
Once there, the researcher had been so matter-of-fact. She tested negative for Orbo extraction, he said, but would be recommended for further observation.The man had never said they were going to observe her alive.Robin was the one who’d saved her, who'd embraced her even though in a heartbeat she could have betrayed them all.Nothing felt right after the two of them left for good. At some point, Karasuma realized that her only choice was to run away from Solomon for good.She took a page out of Amon’s book and did her best to lie low. Maybe because it was in her nature not to stand out, but it was easier than expected. The thought of leaving Japan had made her homesick, but the prospect of losing herself in a new country gave her other things to occupy her mind.One had to give Michael credit. He had done a magician’s job in covering their tracks so thoroughly. Karasuma didn’t know much about hacking, but she was certain it couldn’t have been easy to completely and irrevocably erase the identity of a rogue Hunter as well as his own traces from the databases of Solomon.It was he who had set up this meeting, having the audacity to jokingly (she hoped) call it a “blind date.”“You really need to relax, Karasuma! Trust me, this contact will help ease your mind about getting a new start.” He’d emailed her using an excessively cheery kaomoji to sign off.“Little brat,” she muttered affectionately as she remembered the exchange.Her body tensed at the sound of another patron sliding into the seat across from her. She opened the eyes she'd kept closed in her reminiscing.“It’s good to see you again, Karasuma-san.”Miho couldn’t help but gasp.“You’re supposed to be dead.” That was the agreement. She and Dojima and the others had all vowed to keep the secret so that Amon and the girl could escape unmolested.Robin Sena was forever etched into her memory as a quiet, polite young thing who had no idea just how terrifying she truly was. The girl before her was missing the twin knots of hair she usually sported in the past, instead tying her hair back in a neat but indistinctive ponytail. However, there was no mistaking the cool calculation in her placid green eyes.It might have been a sign that she was getting too emotional as years went on, but Miho reached out on instinct, grasping the girl's hand where it rested on the table.‘’I missed you so much.” There was a tremor in Robin’s voice, and Miho was glad to know that she wasn’t the only one so deeply affected by this reunion.“What happened to you? You look so different, so mature. I mean, it suits you, really.”“Well, it’s a long story.” Robin grinned sheepishly as she cast her eyes downward. “Do you have some time to spare? We’re safe here, as I’m sure you already verified.”Miho nodded in the affirmative. Before Robin could continue, Harry stepped over to check to check on them. She was ever so slightly taken aback to hear Robin order herself a shot of grappa.“I see you’ve upgraded from drinking espresso.” Miho immediately regretted her comment, fearing that she sounded too overbearingly maternal.“They taste very good together, actually,” Robin said with a smirk, and Miho couldn’t shake the feeling that this whole interaction was the result of the girl poking fun at her.The grappa arrived a moment later, accompanied by Harry’s knowing smirk, and Miho had to admit she was impressed when Robin smoothly took a long sip before setting the glass down before her.“As you know, I escaped thanks to Amon, and well, I had to hide, like so many of us had to.”By “us”, Miho knew she meant “us Witches.”She told her more about the time that they had missed before them, how she had gotten hold of the ancient mysteries from the Methuselah Witch in the slums.“I wish I had shared them with you Karasuma-san. Who knows what you would have seen if you had touched it?” Miho didn't know how to respond. She had never dared to use her powers on known magical objects, let alone a sacred branch that held the key to over three hundred years of lost knowledge. The thought alone made her fingertips tingle.“I only wish I had you with me.” She was startled to hear Robin address her with such fondness.“You always tried so hard to take care of me, back when I first started. Remember when you treated me to gelato in the park?”Miho did remember.
Would you like to drop by my place on the way back? It’s close by, and I’d like to talk some more.
Well, it’s taboo for employees to hang out with each other outside of work.
That doesn’t matter.
The girl had smiled at her in a way that said there was still a rebellious teenager beneath that obedient convent girl exterior.“Yes, well, you paid me back more than in full when you saved me from that Witch who was painting there.” Miho went quiet. It was always painful to talk about their past hunts, before they knew what would end up happening to those damned souls.In the end, she’d never followed up on Robin’s invitation. The carefree atmosphere of the day had been totally shattered when they took the girl away.“I know what you’re thinking,” Robin said calmly. It was ironic to hear her say the words in the very place where she had once asked Miho to look into her own conflicted heart.“I want to rescue those of us that are left.” She gazed into her eyes, and Miho could not look away. Maybe Robin really did have some supernatural sway over her after all.“Starting with you.” The girl leaned forward, that look of mischief back in her eyes, and Miho was too stunned to pull away from the kiss and also glad she had yet to take a sip of her espresso. Robin’s lips tasted sweet, tinged with the headiness of alcohol, and somehow Miho could sense the fire she knew burned throughout her very being, now stronger than ever.Zaizen had called her the Devil’s child. Why then did the feather-light touch of her lips seem so angelic?When Robin pulled back from her, she looked terribly smug.“I always liked you, you know. I figured if I didn't do something drastic, you’d never understand my feelings.”“Hmph, well, not bad, I suppose.” Miho struggled to put up a strong front though she was quite certain that Robin could sense the pounding of her heart. Her companion downed the last of her drink and stood to take her leave.“Come with me.”Robin beckoned her to follow. She could have sworn she saw fire blossoming from her fingers with the gesture.Miho stood and took a step forward, then another to close the gap between them. Robin took her hand serenely, seemingly eager to lead her off into the unknown.
This time, she found she just couldn’t say no to her.