Chapter Text
A knock rang out, echoing throughout The Lookout, also know as the Justice Headquarters. A moment passed before another knock was heard. Still no answer, and so the door slowly was pushed open. A head peaked through revealing dual colored hair. Shiori Novella pushed the door open, walking through cautiously. Her golden eyes looked around for signs of life. Nothing. That was odd. Normally it was bustling with life, but today it seemed like a ghost town. She signaled behind her letting the rest of Advent walk through the doors. Each member looked around a sense of dread and uneasiness filling them as the silence became suffocating. Nobody had heard from the newest EN members is a while, which was odd in itself, and worried quite a few members.
"Hoeh? Nothing seems to be touched in at least a day." Mococo spoke as her ears pinned back and her tail laid limply. Advent had come to Justice Headquarters to surprise them and bring them to the Cover office in Japan to get a few things moving along. Though it seems that fate was to have it that Justice in fact, would not be here. Fuwawa sniffed around trying to get a scent and let out a excited yip when she was able to pick one up. It smelled of green jasmine tea, peppermint and mocha. There was an underneath scent of oil.
"There's a scent leading this way!" Fuwawa exclaimed watching as Mococo's ears perked up and her tail wagged as her nose was able to pick up the same scent.
"This way! Bau bau!" The twins barked excitedly taking off in a direction that lead to the west wing of the headquarters leaving the other members scrambling after them. The chase was on as Fuwamoco led them down corridors. A left here. A right there. Shiori let out a huff. She didn't remember the Justice base being this big. Then suddenly the demon dogs stopped. In front of Advent stood a cupboard.
"A cupboard? We went all this way for a fucking cupboard?!" Nerissa exclaimed angrily her feathers puffing up in her agitation. Bijou's gem on her chest flared red in response to Nerissa's angry before she laid a hand on her arm.
"There may be something behind this Rissa." Bijou spoke calmly letting the emotion travel through her arm, down into her hand and into Nerissa. The Demon of Sound's eyes clouded and closed briefly. A quick deep inhale. Exhale. Nerissa's eyes open before she walked towards the cupboard. Shiori and Nerissa made eye contact, words conveying without talking, and moved to move the cupboard out of the way. Behind the cupboard was a simple, normal oak door which caused the others to look at each other in confusion. Why was there a door here? Why was it covered? Shiori stepped forward and grabbed the handle tightly. She motioned the others to stand behind her. She was Advent's leader. If there was any danger that was behind that seemingly normal door then it would have to go through her first. Nobody would be touching her girls. Shiori shoved the door open her other hand pulling out her book, ready to harm any threats. Her shoulders tensed as she looked around a cluttered room? There laid cleaning supplies, laundry, paperwork and other random oddities. Huh that's odd. Shiori blinked and then sighed.
"A dead end," Shiori muttered dejectedly under her breath before she looked behind her at the twins. Their ears were still perked and tails were still waging. That caught her attention. "Fuwamoco is the scent still in here?"
"Yeah!!" Fuwawa and Mococo agreed in sync before they giggled their tails wagging faster. Shiori hummed in thought before she stepped farther into the room letting the others come in behind her.
"Do you think we should spread out and look?" Bijou spoke thoughtfully as she looked around curiously. Shiori looked over at the gem of emotion before shaking her head.
"We can do that if the scent trail ends." Nerissa spoke up looking at the twins and giving patting Bijou on the head. Bijou giggled and leant into the raven's hand. Mococo grabbed Fuwawa's hand and pulled her along letting the others follow them. After stepping over some hazards they came to a table that had four video cameras resting atop it.
"Video recorders?" Nerissa questioned as she stepped closer and picked up the video camera farthest to the right.
"I wonder why their scent lead to these and nothing else." Shiori questioned as she picked up the recorder that was the farthest to left. Fuwawa and Mococo decided to pick up the video recorder beside the one Shiori picked up while Bijou picked the last video camera up. Each camera was held tightly but gently. Safely and securely. A clearing of the throat was heard making Advent jump around and weapons to be pulled. Nerissa pulled out her tuning fork staff, Shiori put her hand out ready to harm, Bijou summoned crystal daggers into her hands and both Fuwawa and Mococo unsheathed their claws from underneath their jackets.
"Woah woah. It's just us!" Calli exclaimed with her hands up with Mumei and Kronii flanked her. The Guardian of Civilization gave a startled hoo as the Warden of Time raised an eyebrow with her arms crossed. Fauna, Kiara and Ina just gave sheepish smiles and waves. Gura, Amelia, Bae and Irys were looking around curiously.
"What are you guys doing here?" Nerissa asked as she lowered her staff.
"We've been worried about them too you know." Kiara stepped forward and stopped beside the reaper.
"You speak for yourself." Kronii piqued up her tone deadpanned.
"Which means she's just as worried." Mother Nature said as she elbowed the warden in the stomach who doubled over in pain. A nasty look was shot at the green haired lady.
"What did you girls find?" Amelia asked as she stepped closer, her blue eyes sparkling in interest.
"We found four video recorders although we've not seen the contents." Shiori responded as she gingerly set the recorder down.
"There was a scent that led us here!" Fuwawa yipped excitedly as she sheathed her claws.
"Yeah!" Mococo agreed as she too sheathed her claws.
"Bau bau!" They both barked in agreement as the others chuckled at their antics. Mumei giggled as she walked up to the twin demon dogs and patted them on the heads rubbing at their wolf ears.
"Then what are we waiting for lets look at them!" Gura exclaimed while making grabbing hands at the cameras.
"Yeah come on lets do this!" Bae agreed readily as her rat ears flicked.
"Let our Advent decide since they were the first ones to come here and find the recorders." Ina spoke calmly as ever as she smiled at them. Shiori thought for a moment before nodding.
"Let's see what these video recorders hold hm?" The archiver hummed as she walked over to the table. She gently picked up the farthest left recorder examining it closely. She walked over to a tv that was conveniently placed in the room and hooked it up. She let out a sigh of relief when the television came to life and the rest crowded around to see what they would see.
"Do you think they're okay?" Bijou asked Shiori quietly tears in her eyes. Shiori let out a small sigh before she nodded.
"They're strong. I know they can get through anything." Shiori spoke even as her heart felt heavy.