Chapter 6 — Cemetery

A few hours ago, I understood why Irina and mom Lorenza were behaving strangely today. It was quite surprising that the situation has reached the point where we all have to leave the orphanage and find a new family.

It's not that I thought we'd live there forever, or that the others would never be accepted into other families, I just didn't expect it to all be over in one day.

That wasn't the only shocking thing I discovered today. Irina Jelavic, the person who stood by my side for the last 6 years, who I always thought of as an attractive and capable older sister with a clumsy and childish side only showed to me and possibly my future wife, was actually a woman trained to perform high-difficulty assassinations with superior skills in seduction, planning, weapons handling, and infiltration.

It is true that Irina has a rather curvy body, you would even think that she is an ecchi character from some manga with a lot of fan service, and it is not difficult for me to imagine how she could use her seductive attributes to take advantage of male lust. However, the thought that she would use her beauty to accomplish assassination missions is something that never crossed my mind. I can't even imagine how she could use a weapon without hurting herself.

While I wanted to ask a lot of questions and find out more about her, I understood very well that this was not the right time. Besides, I already knew the most important thing, and no matter what else she might be hiding, that won't change what I think of her. Everyone has reasons and desires, she chose that path and if she doesn't regret it then she did the right thing.

It would be very foolish to judge it with only the knowledge I acquired from books in a library, nor am I so naive to believe that people who do 'good' things are right and those who do 'bad' things are wrong.

Others might think that Irina should have made an effort to bring that man to justice instead of going through training in such a dark trade, but would that have removed that stain of hatred and resentment growing in her heart? Would she have been the same Irina that I knew and took care of me if that man was still alive in some prison?

I do not know.

And I don't need to think about that.

Irina is Irina, and she is important to me. That is all.

Regarding the plan that I must follow, it is actually very simple, we are practically just luggage. I just have to prevent Mia from discovering what is happening, if her parents' enemies are here for her, only one thing could have happened to her parents and it is not the time for her to know that.

It is Irina who is in danger right now, no one knew her identity since she asked her teacher to delete all information about her and create a new one as her last request when she decided to quit that job. Her teacher agreed as he had developed a certain fondness for her, in this job normally one would have to eliminate any possible threat or risk, and letting someone leave of their own free will was completely out of the rules however he also wanted Irina to have a normal life as he saw that even though she was talented she had a kind heart and couldn't go on for long without hurting or losing herself.

With an unknown variable for the invaders, Irina had the element of surprise in her favor, however, it was still too dangerous to face the group on her own.

She planned to escape as a decoy by pretending to take Mia with her, while shedding some pursuers along the way.

Mia and I are in the cargo area of ​​a car from the city vet, the owner is a friend of Larissa and he will take us to a cemetery where we will have to wait for Irina.

She gave us her teacher's number that we should call if she doesn't pick us up on time. Right now I'm completely useless and I can only follow Irina's instructions, I don't want her to do this but trying to do something on my own would put her situation in greater danger.

"Be careful Irina…"

I can only hope that everything goes well.

...

It's already 2 a.m. and we haven't met with Irina, when we left the house I brought bottles of water in my backpack and some fruits that I had on the night table that I didn't eat in the afternoon. Although it is not much, it was enough to not feel hungry during the time we would spend waiting for her. Now, however, we won't have food or money for tomorrow if Irina doesn't come for us, so far the only person who has passed through here since we arrived has been an old man who must be visiting a relative.

I lay against a tree next to Mia, on a blanket, while we covered ourselves with two other thick blankets that I put in my backpack, I get sick easily so I went out prepared to maintain my temperature. However, I had underestimated the cold of the early morning.

Mia fell asleep a few minutes ago and I stay awake because it's my turn to stand guard, I don't think I'll be able to sleep because of the cold when it's my turn though.

When we got to the cemetery, I had to give Mia some excuse as I couldn't ask her to go into one at night for no reason, right? I couldn't tell her the truth and I'm not good at lying either so I only told her half the story, that we need to wait for Irina and find a new home.

Mia is very intelligent and perceptive, she doesn't give the impression of being so by her careless behavior though. She knows there's something I can't tell her but doesn't ask because if I don't tell her it's for a reason.

Now I understand how Irina felt when she dealt with me, a child too smart for my own good.

Right now I can't really think about what I should do, I've always had an answer for any situation I faced but this time it's different, Irina isn't coming and that can only mean one thing. She cares a lot about me and she wouldn't leave me in a cemetery freezing to death, even if she's hurt or very exhausted I'm sure she'd still get here, she's that kind of person, she'll do anything for her loved ones.

'If Irina doesn't come, what should I do? I can't abandon her, we don't have anywhere to go either...'

"Those bastards..." I couldn't help but curse, I don't know what happened to Irina but there is no way she's okay.

…

"I do not know what I'm doing…"

I said as I put on my coat and prepared to leave the inn.

When I was visiting Lady Francesca's grave for the last time, I saw two children alone in a cemetery late at night.

They were just normal kids, nothing to do with ghosts or magical creatures I can tell.

If I had to tell my young self a supernatural world was in front of everyone without anyone knowing it, he would surely believe that age turned me into a dotard.

"If I could tell you…"

Remembering the old me makes me think of the things I should have done when I could... maybe I wouldn't be alone now.

'I think those children were by that tree…' I've been walking around in case they moved and I didn't find anyone so there's only that place left, I don't know if they're still there or maybe someone acted before me, something says that's not the case though.

'I ask myself again why am I looking for them? Have I become a stubborn old man?'

Should I say thank god they're still there? Or look for the irresponsible parents who left them in this place? I just saw them in the same place they were the last time, I guess they were abandoned.

'I'll take them in for the time being, I can drop them off at the police office before I catch the flight tomorrow.'

"Hm?"

'The boy is still awake…'

'It is very cruel of his parents to leave them here but it is better that he understands his situation now or he will suffer more in the future'

"Can't sleep boy?"

I tried to get his attention but as soon as he turned around I understood a little why his parents would leave them in this place...

'just what is that gaze? And those eyes… why do I feel danger coming from the child?

"You waited too long, don't you think? They won't come back"

"Come with me, you will get sick if you continue in this place"

Even if this child has something inside him and may be related to the supernatural world, I should at least take him to Japan. Yasaka-san should be able to deal with this.

'W-what is this…? The danger emanating from the child intensified, did I make him hate his parents? Crap… I'm too old to deal with this'

'No… it's not hatred'

'Those eyes… is he sad? Well no one would be happy being abandoned…'

"Okay, you'll be in charge of us from now on", the boy suddenly spoke.

'This brat… I should scold this child for his insolence but those eyes tell me that I just have to accept, there is no other option, if I want to live that is.'

'I've seen that look several times... this brat will cause great havoc'

'I guess I'll be able to complete lady Francesca's last order...'