The duo got down from the ceiling and hid behind one of the pillars beside a door. Sounds of people typing away at their keyboards echoed throughout the quiet hallway. Douma looked around careful not to bump into any vase or frame. Even though both he and Shinobu were supposedly the only ones in the hallway most of the offices on the level were still occupied. The minute any door opens they'd have to turn invisible. It's going to be troublesome if people keep leaving the rooms at once. If that happens they will have to think of a distraction plan.
And that wasn't going to be easy given how much smaller this area was compared to the previous level.
Douma and Shinobu read the signs on the doors, the one closest to them was the third meeting room. Barging in wasn't a good idea since there could be an ongoing discussion in there. The next door led to an administration area with the appliances and tools they needed for documentation. The young founder didn't have time for interrogation should anyone see them here he was innocent unlike these people so from there he will just put them to sleep and hide them in the storeroom, what happened earlier would be a mere dream.
It only took a few more steps until they reached another room as seen on the door. Glancing at the hallway once more, Douma knocked on the door hoping the person at the other side would answer it dealing with someone else here would be a pain.
"Come in." A voice said which Douma and Shinobu assumed to be someone from the higher management. The blonde just knew based on his senses and he could almost hear everything in the six rooms from outside. The voices became clearer the more he focused on hearing what was beyond the walls and door. Douma was glad to have this ability he wouldn't need to worry about who he was expecting it gave him room to prepare himself.
Shinobu waited behind him she was hoping this door would be the last one they checked. The elevator was right there it was only a matter of time before someone walks out and sees them.
Turning the knob, Douma opened the door and looked at what seemed to be a small room with two large tanks on the table against the wall. There was a strange-looking grey creature floating in each tank mumbling random phrases to each other or to themselves.
"What is- Looking at the horrific sight, Shinobu covered her mouth in disgust this was a rather interesting surprise. Douma immediately shut the door trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. That's just disturbing. How the organization got a hold of those things was questionable.
Both Douma and Shinobu exchanged mortified glances with each other and then continued looking for the office. Things were getting even more challenging since they had to head over to the other side while hoping nobody walks out of the elevator anytime now.
As they were about to do so, a man in a suit walked out of the administration room they had just passed and stared at them in shock.
Shinobu squeaked at the sight of the man as Douma turned them invisible that instant leaving the man bewildered and frightened by their sudden disappearance. The same spot was now empty without a single trace of their presence.
"Huh alright what was that? It can't be they just vanished into thin air I can't be seeing things there were people standing right there!" The man was starting to freak out he gripped his hair in distress and started rambling about his mind playing tricks on him. Both Douma and Shinobu found his reaction amusing.
"Guess I'm leaving maybe I didn't get enough sleep but I don't think I want anything funny lurking around here to continue scaring me like that." He continued. "I take it that there was no one else out here and that I'm imagining things."
Quickly the man pressed the elevator button and waited anxiously, glancing behind him a few times. He was obviously scared there was no doubt about it. After a while the elevator arrived as the man hopped in and pressed the button to one of the lower levels. The whole time he was worried that the elevator would take a while to get here.
Luckily it was at a closer level when he waited, as the doors closed relief washed over him as the fearful expression turned into a look of satisfaction knowing he was safe.
"Phew that was close imagine if he screamed. We'd have to start running again." Shinobu sat down and looked at the ceiling. Both of them came into view again.
"It's a good thing nobody else saw us." Douma responded.
Taking another look at their surroundings, Shinobu faced Douma with an idea in mind.
"Alright I'm going to see if we have anything to distract the next person who walks out. This place is full of surprises." Shinobu said confidently.
Douma looked at Shinobu and when he did, a strange feeling began stirring up in his chest, one that he never felt before.
"Hmm if we don't have anything that can pose as a distraction we might have to continue finding the right door. There has to be something about this particular door that stands out." Shinobu continued looking around however, something else in the corner of her vision caught her attention.
From the looks of it the blonde was jamming his fist into his chest repeatedly. Was something disturbing him? Shinobu had no idea what he was trying to do, this absurdity was getting on her nerves right now.
"HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO FIND CLUES."
"Not until this warm bubbly sensation goes away!"
What on Earth is he talking about? There's no time to sit here and delay on the investigation because of some 'warm bubbly sensation' in your chest. Shinobu placed her palm against her forehead in disappointment. This was just sad.
"IT'S STILL THERE WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?!"
Shinobu grabbed the collar of his shirt and shook him several times. "Listen up goofball this is no time to be daydreaming get your act together!"
"I'm not daydreaming these tingles keep bothering me!"
"Liar!"
This was very unexpected, especially coming from someone like Douma who just seemed unbothered by everything. Shinobu released her grip on the collar of Douma's shirt and crossed her arms, waiting for what he was about to say. Not that she cared but there had to be something.
"T-t-this s-strange f-feeling in my c-chest isn't g-going a-a-away..." Douma muttered. "C-can't you h-help me Shinobu? T-t-this feeling i-is alien to m-me." It was obvious that Douma was occupied with whatever was going on with him leaving them in a tricky situation that required Shinobu to solve so Douma could be free from whatever was troubling him. But she didn't know what was bothering him it's not like she could get a simple answer especially when it involves entirely different concepts.
"An alien feeling huh? How the tables have turned." Shinobu sneered, a wide sneaky smile forming on her face. "That is pretty ironic coming from someone who flew all the way down to Earth from space."
Hmmm, what is wrong with Douma? This has never happened before is he changing or something perhaps evolving into some other creature? I sure hope not I don't want to be stuck here with a creepy monster. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, Shinobu stared at Douma for a while, thinking of how to explain this possible spiral of emotions he's going through. But would he believe a single thing she's saying? The angel wasn't capable of reminiscing human emotions, they could but not on the same level as humans they were nearly absent in them. She could try.
"Let's see how do I put this? I'm not sure if you're going to believe what I'm saying knowing how stubborn you are so just take my explanation with a grain of salt." Shinobu cleared her throat before continuing. "Your mood is changing from cold and self-centered to well I don't know, dazed by something in your heart? It's making you feel touched and relaxed, I think you got to give me more specific details then I can help you out."
Douma looked at Shinobu with a blank stare. What does she mean by that the only thing right now that keeps playing in my mind is you Shinobu just by staring into those violet eyes my heart starts beating fast and I can't control it.
Why am I surprised of course he's not going to get it. That's about a minute of my life that I'm never getting back. Sighing in disappointment Shinobu didn't know how else she could explain to him.
"Hey Shinobu I know this may sound like an odd question but how often do humans get tingles when they look at someone?" Douma asked suddenly. "Angels don't experience these kinds of sensations that's for sure."
There's someone he's fallen for that's clearly it. Meeting his iridescent gaze, Shinobu's expression turned warm like the feeling in the blonde's heart. "Is there someone on your mind Douma?"
From his shocked expression Shinobu could tell she caught Douma by surprise with that question.
How am I going to explain this to her? Every time I look at her the feeling starts to rise. Shinobu what have you done to me is this some kind of strange spell that even I am not aware of? Douma looked at her with suspicion. The violet-haired girl was taken aback by this but decided to brush it off since the blonde was just clueless about this. Shinobu I don't know what you did but I don't think it's something I should worry about it for now. This feeling keeps me calm and at ease. You can't not hear this but at least you can sense it from me. Well sort of.
"Um Douma are you there?" Shinobu tilted her head a little at the blonde who wasn't responding to any of her questions.
"I'm not sure Shinobu maybe it's just me. After all it's been a long day don't you think?" The blonde scratched his head awkwardly trying to not make anything obvious to her.
"Yeah I guess it has." From the way Douma reacted to her question she could sense he was hiding something from her. Regardless it probably wasn't much of a concern.
Suddenly the very first door of the hallway opened revealing a man in a coat walking out with a few documents. He just finished talking with someone else in the office about some recent findings and plans.
At the corner of his vision, Douma could see a stack of books and a shelf, it had to be an office and there was definitely some important figure sitting in there.
"Wait are we going to run there?" Shinobu questioned him. "What if it's just another meeting room don't make rash decisions like that we have to be careful with our movements." Even though the man didn't see them Shinobu didn't want to catch another person's attention by dashing across the hallway. The man was still standing there waiting for the elevator there was no guarantee he wouldn't notice them.
Despite Shinobu's worries, Douma waited another second to observe the area opposite from them. You're not getting away this time I won't allow it.
Douma made a run for it followed by Shinobu who was panicking along the way. They slid through the door that was about to close and entered the same office area that Douma had predicted just now.
"Your reign of terror is over Sir, we're not letting you get away with it!" Douma said demandingly, Shinobu stood beside him with the same stern look on her face that was intimidating. "This ends now."