Witch Hunter Robin Fan Fiction ❯ Bewitched ❯ Cage ( Chapter 3 )

Bewitched

By: Youkai Yume

[A/N]

Yume: Sorry for the long wait! With AP exams coming up, and my teacher's struggle to teach absolutely everything before it's too late…

CF: (cries) We don't get any sleep! (goes off to find more coffee)

Yume: (nods) Yup, much needed sleep is in order. Also, I've been having a bit of writer's block for this fic. Mainly because I don't know where to go from the second chapter. I didn't expect so many people to take an interest in it. But I'm glad that you all did. ^_^

CF: Story Time!

[Disclaimer]: Witch Hunter Robin is not mine…she more or less belongs to Amon… (grins)

~*~

Chapter 3: Cage

It was still early. The morning fog still left traces of its' presence, as tiny droplets of dew still clung onto the leaves and blades of grass in the tiny garden outside of Harry's. Calm brown eyes watched a few cars and people that passed by his restaurant.

A smile reached his thin lips when he saw a young college student whiz past on a black vespa, watching intently as it drove down the street and disappeared around a corner. For a moment…just a moment, he was reminded of the charming girl with brilliant green eyes that brought perhaps even the smallest ray of light into the quaint, but otherwise dreary restaurant.

Closing his eyes, he sighed softly. His hands grasped around the "Closed" sign and flipped it around so that it now read "Open." Another day has passed. Just like any other ordinary day, it seemed quiet, peaceful, uneventful…even with the visits that the STN-J members sometimes pay him.

Going around the counter, Harry picked up a dry towel and began to dry off the glasses that were slightly wet after he washed them. The music played softly in the air, a soft and soothing melody that gave a relaxing mood to the quiet atmosphere.

Not to mention, more than often, the smell of freshly ground coffee lured more than one customer to his humble establishment. Harry placed the now sparkling clean cup on the shelf.

Another sigh passed his lips, and his sad eyes wandered over to an empty seat by the bar…the very seat that the young witch so often took her place in. He missed her…missed serving her morning espressos and hearing her soft-spoken voice as they spoke on various topics.

He missed seeing her smile gently at the simplest things; like whenever he brought her a warm bowl of steaming miso soup unexpectedly, or commented on her strange usage of Japanese.

Robin…the young girl that the older man had so often thought of as a daughter…even more so since the loss of his son. It had been a little over half a year since he had heard of the factory's collapse, and the sudden disappearance of the witch and witch hunter.

Since then the quaint little restaurant had become strangely empty…quieter than usual. Harry smiled as he thought of how many times he had so often mistaken her for an adult. Robin often spoke in a voice and maturity of a grown woman. Her calm and quiet demeanor was different from other girls her age, who were often more chatty and cheerful in their youth.

'Like Dojima…' The man chuckled to himself, taking another glass in his hands as he continued to dry the cups. She was just a couple of years older than Robin, but often times the younger of the two acted more mature and level-headed than the other.

But then…there were times when Harry was reminded that she still indeed was a child. Times like when she would come into his restaurant with a hacking cough, catching a cold from the previous day when she foolishly went on one of her hunts without an umbrella when it was so heavily raining.

A steaming hot cup of tea with extra honey helps sooth the cough.

Or times when she would stop by late at night with heavy steps and saddened eyes, not speaking her troubles or voicing her thoughts…

Some friendly advice and comforting words; and don't forget the espresso to help wash all the pain away.

Or when she returned after months of taking refuge with Nagira when she became one of the hunted.

A 'Welcome Back,' and a hug of reassurance.

Yes, it was those specific times when he felt like he was playing the role of her father. 'Considering the poor girl had no one to turn to.' His expression grew serious as a thought crept into his mind.

Except for Amon…

The image of the dark, mysterious and often brooding witch hunter flashed through his mind. A man who rarely showed any emotion at all, a man who killed his own partner without a single conflicting thought as he pulled the trigger, a man who enshrouded in his own darkness…so much so that it had become a part of him.

It was he that Robin trusted. He, and he alone that she put all of her faith, her soul into believing that he would always be there to protect and guide her, despite the fact that Amon had tried more than once to do away with her the same way he did with Kate.

Harry placed the last of the clean cups on the shelf, and sighed, staring out the window once more as a black car pulled up by the curb.

Often, when the young witch came late at night, it was because her thoughts were on him. Amon. Of course Robin would never speak or admit it, but the elder man knew. It was always about Amon…something that Amon said that upset her, something he did…

There was always such a pained look in her green irises when she thought of the dark hunter, as if deep down, she was trying to convey a message that had seemed to be deeply engraved into her soul. A message that she was desperately trying to voice or cry out. But the most it would ever do is shine through those serene depths of emerald, silently pleading for a way out.

Harry narrowed his eyes as he watched almost in a bored manner as a figure exited the parked car outside.

How sorry he truly felt for young Robin…to feel so much for someone who could not feel in return…

"I'll never be good enough…"

He recalled her soft voice one particular day when she was sitting all by her lonesome, whispering to herself as she stared blankly at her coffee with the same sad look in her eyes. Harry wondered if she still felt that way now.

Such a young girl who barely had a taste of life…was she still out there, alive, being watched by a man who made her feel like she would "never be good enough?"

As if on cue, almost silent footsteps sounded through the room, and Harry looked up to see who his first customer for the day was. His eyes grew wide with surprise and mild shock as he instantly recognized the dark and shadowy figure from the doorway.

After a long silence, his expression softened, and a smile was creased across his features.

"Well, I must say it's been a while," Harry commented, gesturing to the chairs. "Won't you have a seat, Amon?"

The man who stood across the room, gazed back emotionlessly, his dark eyes flickering with a moment of recognition before he nodded, his black hair falling into his eyes.

Harry watched as the ex-hunter wordlessly moved to take a seat at the bar, casual and calm as it had always been when he visited.

"Would you like an espresso?" He offered.

"That would be fine, Harry," Amon replied blandly. And indeed, all was exactly like it was before. His voice was still a cold and expressionless tone, his clothes and demeanor dark, his presence commanding, perhaps even intimidating.

There was one difference however, as subtle as it may be. His slate blue eyes were shadowed with an inkling of regret, a cloud of weariness, a flicker of a smoldering fire that shone with suppressed determination and at the same time helplessness.

He placed the cup of steaming coffee in front of Amon. Nodding, he took the cup in his hands and sipped it slowly.

Nothing was said, but already the questions began to plague the elder man's thoughts. None more that stuck out more than the question about her. But knowing Amon, Harry would have to take it one step at a time.

"How long has it been since you were last here?" He decided upon asking first. The hunter looked up from coffee.

"Roughly seven and a half months," Amon replied, his shoulders tense as he was waiting for the next.

"I see, how time seems to fly," Harry commented.

A sigh emanated from him, his black hair falling over his fine features. 'Not for me,' He thought bitterly, almost as bitter as the espresso seemed to taste at the moment.

"Where have you been in that time?"

"Around," Was the short answer. Harry looked intently at him as he sipped from his cup once more. Amon didn't want to talk about it, he surmised…but at the same time, the elder man also knew that it was the reason why he came. He had to ask, and he would get the answer.

"Why are you here?" He asked, and then with a friendly smile he added, "And don't tell me it's just because you were hungry or wanted a hot cup of coffee."

Amon did not look up from his cup, eyes darkening as unbidden thoughts ran through his head, and his frown deepened even more as he tried to restrain the bittersweet word from passing cold lips. His hands tightened into fists as her sad green eyes haunted his mind.

He could hear Harry sigh as he ushered the name that he himself was trying so hard to forget.

"It's about Ms. Robin, isn't it?" The elder man said, his brown eyes reflecting a sad look. He watched as Amon stiffened visibly upon the mention of the young witch's name, his usually cold and expressionless orbs flashing dangerously as his smoldering fire dormant in his depths sparked with an unknown emotion.

"I should've kept her in a cage…" Amon breathed darkly, turning away from Harry and allowing his ebony hair to hide conflicting eyes.

Harry's face faulted, realizing what the young hunter was saying.

"She's not with you then?" A firm shake of his head confirmed his answer, the elder man sighed. "I see. When I heard the factory collapsed, I knew that the both of you couldn't possibly be dead. I assumed that wherever you were, Robin was with you…" Harry paused for a while when he saw Amon tense even more, a regretful look clouding his features. "I was hoping you knew if she was alright…"

He took another sip of his espresso, his expression solemn. A memory flickered through his mind and a sigh passed his lips.

"She is alright," Amon grumbled, his eyebrows furrowing. Harry looked at him, a confused look etched on his face.

"So you do know where she is…"

"I never said that," Another confused look. The hunter sighed. "Robin and I managed to escape the wreckage site of the fallen factory. We immediately went into hiding. She was with me for barely a night since we escaped," Amon mused. "When I had awoken, she was gone…disappeared without a trace…" His eyes narrowed into a cold blue stare.

"She left me no sign of where she went or why she did what she did…" Gloved hands reached into his shirt. Harry stared curiously as he pulled out a glimmering object that hung around his neck. His eyes widened in recognition when he recognized the ruby red pendant. "All she left me was this."

Amon stared with almost mixed wonder as the pendant caught rays of morning light that filtered through the windows of the restaurant. He watched, entranced as it began to glimmer a bright crimson, a beautiful glow that illuminated his dark features.

It didn't go unnoticed by the elder man…how Amon's eyes seemed to soften and his mood shift as he stared as if he was in a bewitched state at Robin's keepsake. The sound of a car passing by brought the hunter out of his wandering thoughts, and with a hardened, and somewhat resolved look in his darkened depths, Amon grasped the ruby jewel in his hands tightly before tucking it back in his shirt.

In that one short moment, Harry's opinion of Amon changed somewhat. He had always believed the hunter to be indifferent, uncaring and cold towards the whole world. Especially to the young witch that he so often ridiculed and spoke to as if she were useless.

But…perhaps it was in the dazed state that the dark man gazed at the simple pendant…that brought Harry to believe that all this time, Amon had held her above all else…

'He must've, if he's holding on so tightly to the only remnants left of Robin…'

"So what makes you say that Ms. Robin is alright?" Harry asked.

Amon brought up black-gloved fingers to run through ebony tresses, the look of regret returning to his eyes.

"It was a month ago…I was in a bar in a pretty much run-down city, searching for her. It was pretty dim in there, and I didn't get a good look at the girl who was singing across the room on stage. But as soon as I looked up..."

His hand came up to grasp the pendant once more through his clothes, gripping his chest.

"Robin…"

Harry's eyes widened. So, the young girl was still alive after all. He looked up in surprise when the hunter hunched over the table, his fist tightening almost painfully.

"She slipped through my fingers once more…That damned witch," Amon breathed bitterly. "Why do you insist on running?" He looked deeply at the swirling black contents of his coffee, talking more to himself-or rather the reflection of the girl that he saw everywhere he looked-than to Harry. "Why can't you let yourself be found?"

A flicker of fire, consuming emerald, trapped in ruby glass…

'Why won't you let me protect you?' The last words echoed throughout his head, almost unbidden as it crept into his mind. He would've thought his uncharacteristic thoughts to be preposterous, if only… 'If only I hadn't meant them…'

"You are still searching then?" Harry interrupted, never really thinking that someone like Amon would go out of his way to do. But then again, he often remembered the hunter coming in nights before, brooding over his partner. He, like her, never admitted it, but again, Harry knew. Instinct, he supposed.

Amon stood up from his seat, placing the amount owed on the table and turning to leave, his coat swishing behind him.

"I assume you haven't heard anything about where she could be," He said emotionlessly. When he was answered with silence, he merely nodded, and headed to the door. "Sorry to have bothered you. I'll be on my way now."

And with that, the hunter left Harry alone in the empty restaurant. A small smile graced the elder man's lips as he watched the black car speed off down the street.

'So, you are still searching…Amon…'

The door swung open, and another customer came in, yawning loudly. Harry greeted her warmly.

"Hey, Harry. Who was that that just left? He looked kinda familiar…" She brushed dirty blonde hair out of her eyes, and sat down, stretching slightly. "For a split second I thought he was…nah, it couldn't be," She waved aside, rubbing her eyes. "I am still a bit groggy…Give me your strongest coffee, Harry. Hey, are there scones here?"

Harry chuckled.

"I'll see what I can do for you, Ms. Dojima." Turning to prepare for the rather lax witch hunter her drink and morning snack, Harry couldn't help but take a backwards glance at where Amon sat mere moments ago.

'What will you do, Amon?' He wondered. 'When you finally find Robin? Would you put her in a cage? Or would you just…be content listening to the little Robin sing?'

~*~

I keep tracing your steps…

Wondering if you'd be there…

Somewhere down the empty road

The sky was dark, the clouds a gloomy gray…the wind blew ominously around his stoic form, gently tugging at his black clothes, caressing his pale skin as it tried to whisper unknown secrets, urging him to go somewhere…but where?

Perhaps wherever the wind wanted to take him. Perhaps to a place that was not so dark.

I know it is useless, to continue like this…

Constantly searching for something that isn't there

He didn't know how…or why he could sense it…Amon turned around, cold slate eyes locking onto a figure standing in the distance. The scent of roses filled his senses, and it was then that he noticed that he was standing in a field of flowers, the petals dancing in the gentle wind.

Strangely enough, the petals…the roses…were all tinted a pitch-black color, matching with the sky. But Amon paid little attention to them, as he found himself staring, rooted to the spot at the person across the field.

Her golden strands of hair were fluttering in the breeze, her black dress bellowing around her slender frame. Her delicate pink lips were fixed in a slight frown, and her green eyes shone with unshed tears as she turned slowly around to face the hunter, as if knowing that she was being watched under his calculating gaze.

A waste of time

A petty goal

Amon could not avert his eyes, his dark blue depths absorbing the somewhat empty, but nonetheless bewitching scene of the young girl caught in a hypnotic dance of black rose petals. She turned her body around completely now, one of her delicate hands outstretched towards him, as if beckoning him forth to take it.

And yet I search for you still…

His feet lead him towards her, his dazed shuffle of feet increased into a brisk walk…then a slight jog. Before he knew it, he was running towards her, not even bothering to wonder why the reason he suddenly felt something rise within his chest, a flutter of excitement and hope. Why in the world he was running.

I am unable to find you,

Except in the darkest recesses of my souls…

My dreams…

The wind was howling loudly in his ear, the black petals flying into the air and whipping around them as if angry. But it did not slow him down. Amon reached out to her, ready to grasp her awaiting palm. His cold slate eyes locked with her soul-searing emerald for a split second, and he was consumed with pain and grief.

Hiding from demons that haunt your pure soul,

That prey upon your light

Their names tasted sweet on each other's lips, their hands nearly touching… But in an instant she was jerked away from reach. Her arms and body suddenly became bound in tight ropes. Robin was tied to a stake…

Amon watched in confusion and surprisingly terror-yes, terror, as the black rose petals that were dancing in the air became incinerated by flashes of fire…turning them into dust. He blinked, and in the one moment that he did so, the hunter was farther away from Robin than he was before, standing in the far off distance as he watched the spectacle before his eyes.

In the end, I cannot guide you

Cannot save you…

It felt as if someone was wrenching at his heart, twisting it in his chest painfully. He couldn't understand why it hurt so much…why, as far as he was from the burning inferno that now spread across the fields of black roses, he could still feel the intense heat.

He could hear her moans of pain louder than anything else, his blue eyes widening as the flames licked at her body, scorching her perfect skin. 'Why am I just standing here? Why can't I move?!'

Indeed, Amon couldn't move a single muscle in his body, seemingly just rooted to the spot as he watched with agonizing torture at the young witch burning at the stake.

I will fail you…

As I have before...

His mouth opened to form her name on his lips, no sound came out. Her screams were getting louder, her tears streaming down her face as she uttered one word: Amon. And then…she stopped, the flames engulfed her, as she fell limply against the stake. Her eyes were a dull green, and tears still escaped her irises, her breathing calm.

Amon wanted to scream at her.

"Don't give in!" But it seemed she already decided, staying absolutely still as she allowed the fire to consume her. All the while, she stared at the dark hunter, her sad emerald eyes catching his slate ones in the distance.

But you would still forgive me,

Still wait for me

And Amon knew. She did not blame him, did not hate him for not being able to save her, for betraying her faith, and breaking his vow to protect her.

The smoke was beginning to cloud her from his view, and Amon found the feeling in his legs again. Taking full advantage of it, he ran full speed towards Robin, calling for her. But it seemed that he was running in place, he was not getting any closer to the dying witch, and she knew it as well.

Yet, despite it all…it was so vague, that he almost didn't catch it… But the corners of Robin's lips tugged upwards slightly. She was smiling…He couldn't believe his eyes.

Her voice caressed his thoughts, his skin like a gentle breeze in the sweltering heat of the fire, and the words pierced through him like nothing before.

"Daijabou…Everything will be okay…Amon."

Sing, sweet Robin,

And I will follow your song

~*~

He bolted from his bed, the beads of sweat rolling down his pale skin. His body met with the cool night air as the curtains fluttered slightly from the open window that blew in gentle breezes. But it came unnoticed to the hunter, whose skin could still feel the heat of the fire, the intensity of the dream.

Dream…

Slowly, Amon allowed his breathing to even, and he fell back against the bed.

'Why am I having such dreams?' He thought, his eyebrows furrowing together as he stared angrily at the ceiling. It brought him too much confusion, too many emotions and unwanted thoughts that he tried most of the day to suppress.

He didn't understand them, and that was the reason why he hated it so.

"It's not enough that you plague me during the day…" He whispered in the darkness, his hand instinctively came up to grasp the pendant that still hung on his naked chest. "You haunt me even in my dreams…"

Amon rolled over, his eyelids drooping almost hesitantly, for fear of seeing her once on the other side of consciousness. 'I should've kept you in a cage…'

~*~

End Chapter

[A/N]

Yume: I have to admit, I didn't expect for this chapter to be so long.

CF: Yays! (runs around in circles) Today rocks!

Yume: Heck ya! I got to watch a new Inuyasha episode today! (happy dance) Not to mention, for all of my Sess/Kag fans, THANK YOU ALL WHO VOTED!

CF: We won a couple of awards for ForgetMeNot! (squeals) CF's genius made it possible.

Yume: Shut up, you! Oh, and thanks for all of the reviews on this fic, I love you all so much!

CF: Stick around for the next update! Chapter 4 of Bewitched! ^^

Yume: READ AND REVIEW! No flames please! ^_^

Ja Ne! ^_~