Dance of the Damned

Shifting Plans

Clover stared at Juliet holding her spherical object inserted into another circle for everyone to see.

"Then this competition is over!" Carvill shouted, turning to everyone. "Division Three, Juliet will be called over tomorrow for the briefing."

"Congratulations!" Madame Lottie shouted as the other Division Masters made their way down the stairs to their respective people. Everyone congratulating the other.

"So close," Carvill said, looking at Clover as he held open his hand and there was an iron card with the shape of the object in her hands. "It is ok, maybe next time."

"But." She began, looking at him with her eyes glazed over. "I ... I almost had it. I ... was I wrong in thinking I could do this?"

"I don't think so," Heris said, standing in front of her with Teri. "You did great, Clover."

"B-but I was so, so close." She said, falling to her knees. "I ... I thought I could do this. But ... I don't know anymore."

"Clover." Teri began but the girl cut her off.

"I don't have many talents. This is the only thing I was confident about and ... someone else beat me to it." She mumbled. "Was I not as good as I thought I was? I ... I just. I don't know."

"Why not? I think you did fine."

"You don't understand! If not with stealth, how will I be of help to Rosh-!" She paused, staring up at the white figure in front of her. "R-Roshi."

She fell backwards, hands trembling as everyone in the room fell silent almost immediately, staring at the boy with his walking stick just in front of Clover.

"Is that him?" Some asked, looking back and forth at the Masters standing in attention.

"I think so?"

"I get to see him?"

"He looks different from what I thought."

"It's him. It's really him."

"Grace." He said, looking at the girl. Compared to everyone in the room, he was dressed quite modestly.

Only in his white pyjamas, making him appear even whiter as he held his walking stick in front of him, hair falling over his eyes and a soft smile.

The bandages all around his arms and neck did not seem to concern anyone at the moment.

"Y-yes?" She said, scared to raise her voice at him.

"Would you like a chocolate?" He asked, holding out a box to her. "They were made by my nanny today and I thought it would be such a waste if I don't share them with someone else."

"A-a t-thank you." She said, absentmindedly taking one while still on the ground.

"I suppose I missed the competition," he said, popping a chocolate into his mouth. "What a shame. I really wanted to see it too."

"What are you doing here, Roshi?" Carvill asked, walking to the boy. "How did you even make it here?"

"I was the one that told you about this place, of course, I would know how to get to it." Micah chuckled. "Well, I did come here with someone else."

Everyone looked in the direction of the door as Thunder appeared, without his mask on. "Hello everyone."

"Isn't that the king?!" Someone gasped.

"Why is the king here?"

"Too many questions." He said, pressing his temples. "Have we selected the person for the Third Phase?"

"Yes, Thunder." Madame Lottie said as Juliet walked to him. "We have who we need, right Carvill?"

"Yes," he said, still confused but did not say anything else. "

"Thunder?"

"Division Six master?"

"The Division Six Master is the king??"

"Always making an entrance." Angel laughed out loud. "Thunder. Why do you like to do that so much?"

"I have to wonder that myself." He chuckled at the girl. “But I came here in a hurry, after Roshi called me out of nowhere.”

“You called him?” Carvill asked, pointing to the man.

“I did,” Micah said, still eating the chocolate. “Are you upset that I did not tell you, Carvill?”

“Not at all.” He said, looking at him. “I was just … surprised.”

“Well, I just remembered that we will have to begin it tomorrow. There will be no time for a meeting.” Micah said, coughing as he pressed his sides. “Ouch.”

“You are still injured.” Madam Lottie said, looking at the boy. “Please don’t tell me that you came here in a carriage.”

“I did not,” Micah said proudly.

“Ok, horseback should be f-“

“We walked here.”

Madam Lottie sucked in a breath and quickly turned to Thunder who stood there sheepishly.

“You made him WALK?” That was the first time she ever lost her temper as everyone slowly began to back away slowly. “How could you?”

“I tried to stop him. You know how persuasive he can get.” He tried to reason but she was having none of it.

“What is it with you and even the people in his house?” She asked, sounding like she wanted to scream. “May I check your stitched, Roshi?”

“Not now.” Micah stopped her from opening his shirt right then and there. “We have more pressing matters at the moment. That is why we rushed here.”

“And that would be?”

“We will have to speed up Phase Three,” Micah said, frowning slightly as murmurs filled the room. “Please call for an emergency meeting, Carvill.”

_______________________

There was no time for anything else as the Division Masters stood in the centre of the warehouse while the ones with them waited in the corner.

There is no way to keep them away from the meeting and Micah did not find it a problem that they were there.

“What do you think they are discussing about?” Whispers came from the people at the corner.

“I want to know too.”

“But is that really, Roshi? He doesn’t look like anything impressive.”

“Shush. You don’t know what kind of person he really is.”

“You ok?” Heris asked, standing beside Clover.

“Just … a little peeved that he had to see me like this.” She chuckled, looking at the ground. “I didn’t mean to break down like that, Heris.”

“I don’t think it is a problem.” He said, looking at them talk to each other in the middle. “Besides, he gave you chocolate. Do you know how envious everyone is of you now?”

“He must have just pitied me.”

“Does he seem like that kind of person? To just pity anyone? What is it that he told you that night?”

“ ’Create your own future, work as hard as possible. Until you begin to bleed and, when you are all out of options, then come to me.’ When I asked him to help me create my future.” She mumbled. “If he was able to help me then I was sure that I would have no problems.”

“Did he?”

“I haven’t seen him since that day, but Carvill introduced me to Teri and I have been here ever since.” She covered her face with her hands. “Do you think he is disappointed, seeing me today? I haven’t changed at all.”

“I don’t believe that,” Heris said, frowning. “You have changed, I am sure of it. You just don’t think it is important enough to remember it. If you think back, you will see that you have changed and I am sure he knows it too. But you won't know until you ask him.”

Clover wiped her eyes as she looked at the people in front of her having a heated discussion with each other while Micah stood there with an amused look on his face.

It was almost like the two made eye contact as he beamed at her, surprising Clover. And judging by the looks the others gave her, they noticed it too.

“You are right.” She said, nodding. “I will ask him. Thank you, Heris.”

“You would do the same for me.” He chuckled as they fell silent, waiting for the meeting to end.

________________________

“Why do we have to hurry again?” Nameless asked. “Didn’t you say that it will be in one week’s time? Are you saying that you were wrong?”

“No. It will happen in one week’s time still.” Micah said calmly.

“Then, I am not understanding, Roshi,” Teri asked, looking at him as her brows furrowed. “What is the rush all of a sudden?

“You all know why you are here in the first place, right?” he asked, turning to everyone in the room. "You don't have to announce what it is but I just need you all to remember that very clearly.

"What are you trying to say, Roshi?" Carvill asked, confused.

"I will give this final decision to be made up to, Nameless." He said turning to the man. "If you think we should go with it tomorrow, we will, otherwise, we will continue from where we left off."

"Why, Nameless?" Lotus asked, turning to the man with his fan in front of his face.

"Because this has something to do with his life," Micah said brightly. "If you choose tomorrow, there is a chance that someone important will appear."

"And if I don't?"

"Then you have just given someone a death sentence."