Emmetts heart raced as he was faced to faced with the deep blue haired man. He leaned down, setting Raven and pushing her behind his leg, where the child still with a mask gripped his pant leg, peaking around the side.
"I-Its you…you!" Emmett said as he held raven away with a Hand "You!" He stammered out. His mind raced back to only a few days prior. He saw a tall man enter the Grand Library. He seemed like an Antiquarian or a Historian, wanting to find out more. Iris willingly took him into her Office and he was there for hours.
And then disappeared like nothing at all after a tour of Ancient Histories was done. "Had I known you were a Vice Admiral of the Marines I'd have made sure that you never saw anything more than the Children's Section!" Emmett said, holding up a face of Bravado.
"I'm sorry to deceive. Always leaves a bad taste in my mouth…But it's what I have to do." He spoke simply, gaze shifting away to look at the ship. Emmet to that opportunity to make a run for it! Grabbing Raven by the Hand and Sprinting away! Only for a cool chill to wash over them! A wind whipping in front of them in a visible form! Transforming in the blink of an eye into a gigantic wall of Deep Blue Ice!
Emmett shot his head up to the huge wall, and then shot around, seeing Seiko had his hand out. A hazy steam like taking a cold object into room temperature. Frost covering his hand.
"It wasn't supposed to like this" Seiko spoke "Only the Scholar were supposed to be captured for their crimes against humanity. But, I can leave you with one consultation. That ship that's leaving has been allowed to leave. And Vice Admiral Stag's ship, whose closest, will not fire upon it."
"It'll be a few minutes before the Ship reaches that ships view. But unfortunately for you, Ibn Emmett." His gaze hardened. "You were once the High Scholar of Tovara, and cannot be permitted to leave this Island alive."
"P-Please…Just us go. We won't ever show our faces again…I'm not sorry for what I've done…But I'll make sure that we never be a problem for the Marines. I beg you, I'm old. I'm on my last legs already. Let me live out my days…Die peacefully in a bed in a distant Island far away…" Emmett was pleading for not only his life, but for Ravens. If his life could be spared, it meant the possibility that Raven could continue to live.
The thundering of the buster call continued in the background. The Earth beneath them shaking as they could smell and hear the fire and screams crackling. It was a long few seconds before Seiko breathed a heavy sigh.
"I can't do that." The Vice Admiral shook his head. "But I'll Let the Girl go. Killing a child by my own hand isn't something I want to do right now…"
"You've got a Minute. Say your last words. And I'll make sure that when she's taken in by the World Government she'll have a cool bed and warm meals. Just make it quick…" Seiko said in an almost unamused or detached tone. Hands sliding into his pockets.
Emmett wasted time as he just stared for only a moment at Seiko. His mind racing as he tried to understand why a Vice Admiral would do such a thing, Were Marines evil? Or were they good? Was this just a botched mission?! Emmet shook his head hard as he focused and turned around, dropping to his knees and holding Ravens shoulders.
"Raven, my dear…" He began. Looking at the dark skinned child who held only a furrowed brow of confusion and doubt, eyes shifting around. "Professor…What's going on…." She whined, Her lip curled into a saddened frown
"I'm sorry. This is also so confusing and scary for you. But, everythings going to be okay, alright? I promise. Oh baby girl I promise…" He sucked his lips for a moment, eyes beginning to water again. Not from the Chemite, but now from a truly broken heart.
"You'll find others out there in the world. People you can love, people you laugh with. You can cry with. People who will be there for you no matter what…Just…Just Live Raven. Live life." He looked her up and down. Soaking in all the details of the child one last time as the Vice Admiral Spoke.
"Times Up." Footsteps slowly follow.
Emmet Whispered "Carry us on. Everything here…" His voice returned to normal as Seiko was mere strides away. "Don't forget to brush your teeth, get to bed at good times, Let Tea Steep, and never drink the coffee right away."
"And don't forget. Always smile!" Tears flooded his face as he showed a bright toothy smile. Only for frost to begin spreading across his, turning it from the lightly tanned tone to deep blue and white. Freezing him to the core.
His hands went last, Raven pulling away as she was left with a look of…confusion. "Professor?" He asked quietly.
"P-Professor?" Her vision began to sway, getting hazy as her mind struggled to understand that the professor was dead. Her heart raced, on the verge of utter breakdown. Only for a loud noise to break through her ears. Eyes shifting to its source to see that the Ship of Refuge-
Had been shot with a 5k mm Round. Causing it to explode in a fireball. But- with so much grief…Ravens mind could only process it in a single word. "Oh…"
Her face was devoid of emotion. Eyes lacking any light in them.
"Shit!" Seiko said, his composure lost as he held his fist balled ,teeth grit with wide eyes as the shock wave and heat illuminated his face.
"Damnit!" His eyes shot from Raven who stood there silently. Then to the ship. His fist balled deep to knuckle white as he took a deep breath. And pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket, looking at the dumb looking creature before calling a composed manner
"Report on who took fire on the Civilian Ship, Over?" His eyes were shut in contemplation, Static filling the air.
"I took the shot." Spoke a deep gruff voice. "Our Mission here is to Erase the Scum of that Island for the crimes they've committed. The Elders order total culling."
"Fuck!" He screamed. "Dammit Asashi!" He clicked the button again.
"Roger. Over and Out." He sighed. Sliding the transponder snail into his pocket. Looking to Raven from his periphery. "You, kid. C'mere."
He let himself fall. Ice forming beneath him into the shape of a throne, where he slouched heavily.
But Raven didn't listen. She just continued to look at Emmett, continuing to plead. "Professor? Professor…Move…!"
"Kid!" Seiko raised his voice, snapping Raven from her stupor. Hollow eyes looking to the Blue Haired man. Only for his finger to once again gesture the child over. Finally making her saunter over slowly.
Seikos eyes avoided her, looking yet again unamused or displeased. Only looking to her when he spoke "I was supposed to take you. Not that was apart of the original plan, but seeing you with him. I figured I could just take you in and let you have a good life."
"But I know no matter where you go you'll be hunted." He sighed again, annoyed "I have no Idea why I thought any of this would have a sort of happy ending. So I'm letting you go." He reached behind himself. His arm turned into a strange wispy form of cool air and frost in the form of a hand. Gripping a tree and uprooting it., shearing and taking it apart and smoothing the bottom with ice before sitting it into the ocean.
"I ain't gonna give you some heartfelt speech. Devil Spawn. I'm your enemy, and if you ever do anything in your life but lay low. Or you try to do anything that the scholars here did. I'll be the first one to come after you."
He raised his hand and flicked it. Two rows of ice shot forward, freezing the Sea Water solid. 6 inches thick and a meter deep on both sides. Reaching to the next island over 100 km away. It went off to the side of the island. Shooting away and out of the view of Ships.
"So get in." He spoke firmly. Pointing to the makeshift boat. Causing the Child to jump and scamper to it getting into the seat. Seiko coming behind and giving it a push, and causing the water to freeze, beginning to gently grow and push the raft away.
"Don't come back." He turned on his heel and began walking away.
The words barely registered to the Child. Because in her mind and heart. She was-
Utterly Lost…