Chapter 3: Element Water

Amon looked at Michael. He waited for some explanation, none came. Nobody said anything. He could feel their unease, the tension swept across the room clawing at each hunter.

Emotions were pelting inside his head, making it hard to concentrate, to ask the right questions. Amon grabbed his head, sweat beading across his face, distress racing across his handsome features.

Karasuma watched in alarm as Amon struggled with some inner turmoil, something was happening. She stood up quickly and grabbed his arm.

"Amon, come with me." she said as she pulled him out the office and into the hall.

"It's happened hasn't it? They've awoken. Your powers." she spoke.

Amon looked up and her, nodded slightly, "Yes." he mumbled.

He felt liquid coursing through his body, he stretched his arm, and from his fingertips came a duplication of his own arm, only it was aqueous. The water like hand reached out and clawed at Karasuma, she could feel the water suffocating her filling her lungs.

Startled by what was happening, Amon quickly pulled back his hand watching the water stream into his hand. He reached down and pulled Miho to her feet, "Are you okay?" he asked.

She looked into his normally gray, icy eyes, but was met with black liquid. She nodded.

"Amon, your powers, they've awakened. We need to find out mo-"

"I was wondering when I was going to see you," interrupted a sultry voice from the doorway.

Amon looked up and found himself gazing into the golden eyes of Kin Hoshi. Kin watched as Amon stared blankly at her, no expression, she could read nothing from him.

Karasuma watched the exchange, surprise moving across her face.

"Karasuma-san, right?" Hoshi asked turning to the other hunter, bowing slightly.

Miho nodded, watching the newcomer with curiosity.

"Would you mind if I was to talk with your…colleague…alone?" she asked.

Miho looked at Amon, he nodded. She turned and walked back into the office pulling the door closed behind her.

Doujima turned to her, "Miho, what's going on?"

Miho shrugged and they all turned and looked through the glass at the two people who were speaking to one another.



"Amon." she whispered.

"Kin." Amon acknowledged, "What are you doing here?"

"Come now Amon, I thought for sure a smart man like you would have figured it out. I'm here to replace that dead girl; what's her name, well whatever. The one who died in the Factory. When was that again? Six months ? Amon, I'm your new partner."

"Robin." he muttered.

"What?" asked Hoshi.

"Her name was Robin." he said.

"Ah. That's rights. I thought it was something like that, an English name. Odd."

Amon looked at Hoshi. Thoughts went through his mind, raced around, trying to comprehend her presence while trying to control his newfound power. She hadn't changed much, slightly older, just like him. Her eyes still shined like gold, only there was no warmth, no compassion. Her face was painted, making her beautiful yet cold and unwelcoming. Funny, he at one time had found her so attractive. Robin flashed into his mind. Her quiet, warm, approachable face. He crossed his arms across his broad chest and sighed.

Hoshi watched him intently. He had changed. There was something different about him. He was still cold, reticent, distant. His typically, tightly, contained energy was gone, that live wire that rested just below the surface was dead, he seemed weary. No that wasn't it. What was it? She tried to read his feelings, to study his thoughts. She focused harder. Nothing. It made her tired. It never used to be this hard for her. But lately she seemed to be failing, her telepathy was weakening. She didn't know why.

Amon looked at her, resignedly, "You can't get in." he said.

Hoshi, slightly caught off guard yet not surprised, met his eyes. "No," she thought, "Reading this man would be very hard. Very hard indeed. And I'm not as strong as I once was."

"When did you come into your powers?" mumbled Amon leaning against the wall, one foot propped up against it, arms crossed. He was still tired from the surge of Craft that had gone through him.

Hoshi looked at him. "When do you think?" she retorted heatedly.

Amon glanced down at the curvaceous brunette. He felt a twinge of guilt spark inside, but quickly dismissed it, recalling the actions that led to him to make his decision. The decision she was forced to accept. He looked away from her, pushed away from the wall and walked back into the office, straight into the conference room.

Hoshi watched him go, again. "Always running from something, aren't you Amon?" she thought. She followed him into the office, glancing at her new co-workers, their faces filled with curiosity.

"Amon!" called Michael from his work-station. "Amon! Quick!"

Amon walked into the main office and looked down at the young hacker, whose face held something that hadn't been seen in the office in quite some time, hope.

"I think we may have something here," Michael said as he looked up at Amon, "On Robin."

Amon gazed down at the screen. He looked at the information gathered from STN-UK. A young girl fitting Robin's description had just entered into a convent after only being in the country for a week.

"Michael, do what you can." Amon said, then turned and walked back into the conference room.

As soon as Amon was in the other room, the entire group, save Hoshi, crowded around Michael to read the information on the screen.

Hoshi watched in fascination as the members quickly engrossed themselves in the search for their supposedly fallen comrade.

"I thought this girl was dead," said Hoshi.

Sakaki looked up at the new hunter, his eyes flashing angrily at her tactless comment. "Her body was never found," he snapped.

"But didn't the entire building burn," she continued to question.

Doujima looked at her and rolled her eyes, it was obvious that Kin Hoshi did not do her research before being transferred here.

"She was a Craft user. She controlled fire. She wouldn't have burned." she said.

"Oh. Well then why would she run away? Wouldn't she just have come back?"

They all looked up and stared, blankly, at her. They turned and went back to the work at hand.



11:35 p.m.

Michael, glanced at the clock, yawning. He looked around the office, and saw her waiting in the shadows. He jumped, slightly startled by her presence.

She watched him reach for a folder, "Did you get it?" she asked.

Michael nodded, "Yes, Miss Karasuma. It's all here. I don't understand, what's this about?" he questioned.

Karasuma reached out and took the folder from his outstretched hand. She looked through the contents, her eyes widening at the information before her. She grabbed her purse mumbled a hurried thank you and was gone.

Michael watched her run from the office, her STN-J trench coat billowing behind her. He frowned and wondered what was going on. He was surprised when she came to him and asked for the information on the Craft, well the information that had nothing to do with her ability. "Hmm." he sighed. Michael turned around and went back to his computer, watching the information on the Element, Water displayed before him.

"Why," he thought, "Would she need information on Water Craft users? Powers were failing all over, would a potential Craft user actually come into their powers now?"



Later that evening, Amon walked into his house, threw the keys on the table. He sat on his couch, staring into the dark. "A lot happened today," he mused. Amon sighed and let his thoughts take over.

His body felt weary and tired. He closed his eyes and felt the power of Craft inside him, wondering why it had emerged. So many were losing their powers. "Why then, am I getting stronger?" he thought.

The silence in the air was pervasive and soon Amon was lulled to sleep by the sound of water filling his head. She came to him again, in his dream.

She was standing before him, dressed and veiled in white. Her green eyes sparkled with life and danced with flames. He reached out and touched her cheek, she smiled. Amon lowered his hand, looking around. They stood together on a cliff overlooking the sea, a fire crackled before them.

He looked back at Robin, "Why are you here?" he asked.

Robin turned back and he watched her stare into his eyes, "Because you asked me," she stated simply.

Amon looked out over the sea, the wind whipped through his hair tugging him closer to the edge.

He glanced at Robin, "My powers awoke," he said.

"I know."

"Where are you Robin?"

The corner of her mouth rose slightly. "That's not why you're here." she said.

"Why then?" he asked.

She stared silently out to sea.

"Where the rippling waters flow, cast a stone and the truth you'll know. When you have a hold, a need, hearken true and do not plead."

Amon looked down, in front of him was a quartz rock. He bent down and picked it up. The stone was cold, the inside seemed to flow like water. He looked over questioningly at Robin. Her steady gaze met his and she nodded her head once.

Amon closed his eyes.