MarsAdept

The Truth Behind the Project

Rose stopped just around the corner from the school. She let the Contractor down out of her arms and transformed into ordinary attire. The contractor informed her of the meeting changing. Rose just kept walking. She took note but said nothing. Her eyes barely lifted from the ground to see where she was going. Emiri's murder was a deep blow to Rose. Even as she sat through her morning classes, she could not focus on the lesson. She was even more quiet than she usually was. Only one of her teachers pulled her aside after class to ask how she was doing. She did not want to discuss it with the teacher, so the teacher just left the annoying invitation 'I will be here when you are ready to talk'. Rose never liked people like that. The teacher did help Rose with one aspect. Rose's grieving turned from sorrow, to anger. Still, she said nothing to no one.

Finally suffering through her morning classes, Rose made her way to the meeting place during lunch. She was the first one there besides the Contractor. The Contractor gave a greeting and Rose just barked at him to be silent. Rose looked at the box lunch she had to eat for lunch. She tried but could not eat it. She did not have the stomach for it.

The Truth Behind the Project

He is watching...

The Truth Behind the Project

Rose was not surprised to see the contractor here. He seemed to show up whenever magical girls were together. Rose did not mind the contractor until it spoke. Its words were a dry objective statement based on observation of the situation, but it spoke without considering Rose's feelings. The Contractor's words hit Rose's nerves. Rage immediately shot through Rose's soul. She transformed without thinking and backhanded the small creature. It flew across the room and hit the wall with a good thud. It slide down the wall to the floor. Before it could recover from the shock of being hit, Rose stepped on it pinning it where it lay. Rose had her face covered with her hand. She wanted to kill the contractor for his cold words, but she caught herself.

Rose spoke to herself but loud enough for the Contractor to hear, "Calm down, Rose... You are supposed to be the calm one... There is no need to get angry at him. He will never understand. He observes yet does not understand..." Rose calmed herself but still cried. She bent down and picked up the contractor. She held the contractor in her arms tightly. She felt sorry and wanted to apologize but knew the contractor did not care. She grabbed the two bracelets that were in Emiri's pocket and left. She left the door unlocked and slightly opened. Hopefully someone normal would find Emiri's body soon. Rose made her way to the school.

The Truth Behind the Project

So, um, shouldn't Emiri had a stab wound on her back, considering she was stabbed there? I don't think it can heal if she doesn't have her Soul Gem anymore.

@Flamelord

Good catch, I do not know how I missed that.

The Truth Behind the Project

Rose was transformed as she made her way through the city. It was a good thing that while transformed normal folk couldn't see her. The sight of a little girl jumping from building to building would draw unneeded attention. Rose remained in her magical girl form until she got to Emiri's apartment. She transformed back into a normal girl and began to walk up the apartment's stairs. Finally reaching Emiri's door, Rose took a breath and knocked. Her response was was a eerie silence.

The landlady came around the corner and saw Rose standing there. With a smile she says, "Good morning, Ms. Rockwell, Come to see your friend. If you don't hurry, you will be late for school." When she spoke, Rose nearly jumped out of her skin. Calming herself, Rose returned the smile and said, "Yes, I understand ma'am, Emiri wanted to walk to school together today so I hope she didn't decide to leave without me." The landlady smiled said something about friends and having a good day. Rose wasn't paying attention as she looked at Emiri's front door. Rose however did see the landlady water a plant in the hallway before continuing with her round. Once Rose was alone, She stole some of the water from the poor hallway plant. Using magic, Rose put the water into the lock and made it unlock the door for her. Quietly, Rose opened the door and stepped inside.

Rose was greeted by silence. The hair stuck up on the back of Rose's head. Slowly making her way through the apartment. A small ball of water floated by her side as a weapon. Finding the nearest sink in the kitchen, Rose set the facet to drip. That made her feel safer. Finally Rose walked into the living area. She saw Emiri laying motionless on the ground. Rose dropped her ball of water and ran to Emiri. She shook Emiri trying to wake her. Rose felt Emiri's wrist for a pulse before checking her neck. She leaned forward to try to hear Emiri's breathing. There was nothing. No signs of life. Emiri's body was stone cold and slightly stiff. Fighting back tears, Rose stood back up and tried to look objectively. There were no signs of forced entry to the apartment, or exit. There was a stab wound but no weapon. There was no real sign that Emiri struggled and fought back. Rose, in the starting stages of panic, began to search Emiri's pockets for her Soul gem. The only thing she found were two bracelets. Rose could not hold back the tears. She did not cry aloud but the tears flowed out.

The Truth Behind the Project

@Ariamis sounds reasonable. Elise can borrow Rose's clothes. It would be funny when when Rose finds out.

What sort of prep school is an 8 year old going to? /:|

@Flamelord

Maybe the prep school goes from K-12 grades.

The Truth Behind the Project

Rose shook her head in disgust at Elise. Very disappointing. Rose never got that bad when she drank, but then again her body wouldn't exactly allow it to get that bad. She called out to Elise, "Go take a shower, and clean yourself up. I hope to leave in twenty minutes. There are extra towels in the bathroom. Make haste. I have things I need to do. And yes I will be dragging both of you along."

Rose then took note of Izumi. She looked completely clueless sucking her thumb the way she was. Rose kept a completely straight face but inside she was laughing. She tried to look amused and lied, "Izumi, I do not know why you were in the same bed as Elise. That was entirely your doing. You left me alone to watch my anime and walked away."

Rose then heard a familiar voice call out to her through her soul gem. She knew the voice and her cheerful mood dropped. This magical girl mentioned Emiri. It validated Rose's fears. Rose still could not sense Emiri and now another girl could not sense her either. Rose replied the the girl through her soul gem, "Lady Yuna Yukino, it has been a while. I read you loud and clear. I have not heard from Emiri. I am on my way to her apartment as we speak. I might be a little late for a meeting. I will send two allies to ahead of me directly to the school. Akame, are you hearing me to. I am going to check up on Emiri, Izumi and Elise will meet you behind the school."

Finishing her reply to Yuna, Rose turned her attention back to the two magical girls before her, "Change of plans, Izumi and Elise, we are going to have a meeting in the behind the school we met in yesterday. I am certain you will all know the way. Please, Find Akame when you get there. Go together and leave as soon as you can. I am going to depart. Do not explore my lair outside where I have shown you. I am afraid in my paranoia I set a lot of traps. Please leave the way you came in."

Without any thing more, Rose left the two magical girls in her lair and ran back out the stairs to the outside.

@Spriggs27@Ariamis@KoL@TheWindel

The Truth Behind the Project

@KoL, I will reply to your post once @Ariamis and @Spriggs27 reply. This should be a hilarious wake up scene to offset the death of Emiri.

The Truth Behind the Project

Rose was quiet for the moment. Senarios raced through her head. All being the worse case senarios. Some not even based on logic. Rose did not answer the Contractor. She knew the creature knew what she knew. She had to assume that it was watching to see her reaction. Rose could do a great many things right now but she had to pick carefully.

She did answer Izumi's questions, " I lost track of Emiri. I no longer feel her presence. She was low on magic from her last engagement." Rose looked over to see Izumi was alseep. It was unclear if Izumi had heard what Rose had said. The peaceful look of Izumi sleeping was in contrast to Rose's internal turmoil. Rose did not want any part in it. That was when a dark, mischievous smile came to Rose's beautiful face. Carefully and gently, as not to wake Izumi, Rose picked up the little girl. Rose carried her to her guest room and placed her in the same bed as Elise. She then pulled a blanket over the two. Inside Rose laughed.

Closing the door behind her quietly, Rose turned to head back out into the living room. The contractor was standing in the hall waiting. Rose was startled so bad by him being there she nearly jumped out of her skin. "I did not mean to startle you. But what are you planning on doing now." it asked without emotion.

"Emiri is a big girl. She is possibly fine. However, even if she is in trouble or dead, it is pointless to leave these two who I know are living here defenseless. I will investigate tommorrow what has happened. This is the most logical course." Rose explained with some hesitancy. Rose made her way back to the couch and fell asleep watching anime. The contractor went on his way to do some task only he knew.

@Spriggs27

The Truth Behind the Project

<Snipped quote by TheWindel>

I wonder if I have Izumi pass out in my post would Rea place Izumi in the bed next to Elise just to make her wake up saying " Oh god we didn't."

@Spriggs27

I totally would. Rose would find it hilarious.