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Story update 14
Author: so now that the update is no longer unlucky...
kanda: Remind me to kill you later...
Author:Ill mark it on my calendar. Anyway, i guess we can get back to being carefree!
Allen: says the one who is torturing everyone else...
Author: HEY! lenalee isnt... really... um...
Lenalee: whatever helps you sleep at night author chan...
Lavi: author chan... nothing has really happened with me lately!!
Allen: *sigh* lavi that's like asking to be killed...
Author: Pfft, like i would kill off my little bunny hunny!!
Lavi: *blushes*
Kanda: oh, make me puke why dont you...
Author: che, you would totally blush if Alteara came in here and gave you an adorable pet name!
Kanda: Like she would...
Author: well... it just so happens...
Alteara: what-huh?! How... did i get here?! I was just in my room... doing homework... and now... huh?
Author: Alteara! I order you to give kanda a pet name!
Group: o_o
Alteara: um... uh... er... eto...
Lavi: Com'on Altea-chan! Make it an embarassing one!
Lenalee: Hush you! this is an important decision! *complete focus*
Allen: i have NO idea why girls get so into this...
Alteara: uhm... uh...
Author: while we're still young alteara?
Alteara: *slight panic* um... uh..!
Allen: you know, i think she's actually named him "Um, uh."
Lavi: *smacks* quiet you! Come on Alte-chan... just a little more...
Alteara: um... er... y-y...yuu-bear? *major blush*
Kanda: ... *brain explodes*
Allen: what did she say!? I couldn't hear her!!
Lavi: *rolling with laughter* OMG... Alte-chan... epic~! *gasp*
Lenalee: What are you guys... sonic hearing dogs!? i have NO idea what she said!
Alteara: I said... er... yuu-b-bear..
Author: HOGOD! rofl I could NOT have thought of a more PERFECT name! It's Pooh bear...
Lavi: And yuu-bear!!
Kanda: SHUT UP BAKA USAGI!
Alteara: ah! i'm sorry kanda! if you... um... if you dont like it.. uh.. i ... er... *blush*
Author: *glares at kanda* Accept the name, or i snap you in half.
Alteara: AUTHOR-CHAN!
kanda: s'fine...
Allen: What was that Yuu-bear? I don't think the world heard you...
Kanda: I will break your neck if you EVER-
Author: SAY IT.
Kanda: ITS FINE! but... only... *glances at Alteara*
Alteara: *major blush*
Lenalee: Aw, how cute! Now i just need a name for Allen and-
Author: do it later. This intro is already too long. Disclaimer please!
Alteara: Author-chan does not own D. Gray Man! If she did, then i would Co-own it! and since i do not... then.. i guess... neither does she... Does that make sense?
Allen: Just roll with it!
Author: Everyone to your places!!
Pieces of the Heart
Part 14
It was still raining.
Lavi heaved a sigh as his singular green eye reflected in the darkened panes of glass. It echoed down the deserted hallway, mixing with the pattering sound of rain. He shifted himself on the windowsill he was currently occupying, once again appreciated the absence of Bookman. The old geezer had gone on a trip to confirm something with one of his many hidden libraries of information. Lavi had gotten lucky.
He had gotten very lucky.
His eye turned to Mugen, gently cradled in his lap. The sword no longer seemed to resonate with that feeling of life as when it was kept closely by Kanda's side. The swordsman had always taken the utmost care of his weapon, and it went where ever he did. But now... it seemed rather dead.
He laughed.
Just like it's owner.
A flash and a soft rumble pulled lavi's eyes back to the window.
It was still raining.
It had started raining not long after Mugen had arrived.
Actually, he corrected himself, not long after Mugen was taken out of that package by Lavi. The red head had been looking for komoui, and entered his office, only to find the long package addressed to the science head. And lavi knew.
He knew the moment that he had seen that box, what had been in it, and what it had meant.
He couldn't really remember how he knew. Maybe it was the fact that it had been a little longer than mugen? Or maybe it had been because he had been thinking of Kanda at the moment he had seen it.
Either way, at that moment, something broke.
and he had laughed.
He had laughed while he ripped at the box.
He had laughed while he threw the packaging around.
He had laughed as the sword was revealed.
He had laughed, even as he pulled the sword into a cradeling hug, and watched as the rain soaked the sheath.
And then he realized that he hadn't been laughing at all. It wasn't rain smudging his friends beloved weapon.
He was crying.
He had performed treason against all of the beleifs of the Bookman clan, and had let himself mourn over someone who was lost.
He gave a shuddering sigh. It just made it all that more important that Bookman wasn't here, and wasn't coming back for a few more weeks. Lavi needed this time to heal.
He had made friends with the one person who refused to let anyone come close to him, in the hopes that there would be no feelings once things were broken off. What he had never realized was that the distance they kept between them became the strongest thing holding them together. They both understood the price they could pay for getting attached. And so, they had become attached in the hopes of staying apart.
Lavi laughed to himself.
He wondered if Kanda would mourn over him? Probably not. He's probably say something like "idiot" and then leave him lie. And here he was, hiding from the order, holding the one momento of kanda that he had actually stolen from Komoui's office, and lamenting out into the rain as if he had lost his lover.
He started laughing harder at the image of kanda angry face, screaming something along the lines of "BAKA USAGI! I'd never love you! I don't even like you! I'd rather commit seppuku!" or something along those lines.
And he smiled a little.
At least he remember kanda well enough to keep him as alive as he could be.
Suddenly feeling better, and moving from his little emo corner (as he had dubbed it a few moments after he had arrived), he placed mugen into his belt (which felt extremely odd) and started walking down the hallway again.
With just a tiny bit of bounce in his step.
He would return the sword to Komoui, appologize for his actions, and then maybe go find allen and get something to eat. Goodness knows the brit would probably need cheering up.
Or.. did he even know yet?
Lavi bit his lip, his paces increasing. Allen was probably really upset, and here he was hiding out! He'd have to work hard to make it up to the boy.
So with new purpose, he began to run down the hall.
***
This wasn't right...
"I'm so sorry!"
This isn't right at all...
"P-please... p~lease, I'm s-s-o sorry!" His teary amber eyes bore into deep saphire eyes that should have long since been closed.
It's not really him...
"I-I didn't... d-didn't mean it!" His hands gripped into the uniform that should not be there.
Please stop...
"Please dont leave like this!!" He pulled on the figure that shouldn't be this warm anymore...
It's wrong...
"I'll fix it, so please!" He begged.
"Allen."
"I'll put it right back together, you'll see! It will be f-fine!"
Pale hands reached into the piles of broken glass on the floor, eagerly trying to piece together the broken hourglass.
"Allen!"
"Kanda, please, don't die!" He wailed, holding the pieces forcefully to his chest, as if trying to hold onto the life that had already left the timepiece.
"STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!"
Strong hands snapped onto Allen's wrists, prying the boys hands apart and sending the glass to the floor, adding more breaks to what was already broken. Raven hair flicked around as the two wrestled for control.
Kanda finally got the lead, and threw Allen away from the destruction littering the floor. The boy smacked into the wall, a crack sounding from the skull-stone connection. He blinked for a moment, trying to make sense of the swimming world, before his eyes sagged closed and his body slumped into a pile on the floor.
Kanda sighed, gathering up the pieces of hair that had come loose from the struggle and were now lying irritatingly on his shoulders. After his hair was returned to it's pristine condition, he looked down at the sleeping boy on the floor.
This was the third time today, bringing the total up to nine in two days.
Nine times, since Allen had completely shut down after the news of Kanda's death, had he snuck out of the hospital ward and into Kanda's room, only to attempt to fix the almost irrecognizable hourglass. Nine times, Kanda had had to force his way out of the pendant around Allen's neck, to stop the boy from damaging his already cut and splintered hands. Nine times, Allen had mistaken him for the real Kanda, and had a mental breakdown. Nine times, Kanda had had to knock the boy out for his own well being.
He sighed.
How many more times would it take?
The door to (what was once) his room flew open, and a red headed bookman looked on with grim eyes. Kanda shrugged knowingly, and pointed to the moyashi on the floor. Lavi sighed, before picking the boy up and turning around, leaving the room without a word. Kanda smiled to himself.
The first time, when he had stopped Allen out of suprise, and a loud bout of begging and cursing had followed, when lavi had rushed in, he had immediatly mistaken him for, well, Kanda. Of course the bookman had practically broken down and hugged the fake, appologizing noisily through sobs. Kanda had almost felt guilty about de-materializing back into the pendant. But the bookman had gotten a clue, and hadn't spoken a word to him since. He was always the one who came to get Allen out of Kanda's room, so no one else had had any problems yet. But kanda knew. It was only a matter of time until someone else saw him, and he had to break another heart.
He grit his teeth in frustration. Why... Why wasn't he the real kanda!? Why couldn't he fill that space!
At the same time, he knew. He wasn't alive. Eventually, as the real Kanda's memory faded, so would the feeling's placed into the pendant. And then he would start to forget. He would slowly and painfully lose touch with reality, until he was once again a blank slate. It would be like Kanda's death all over again, and he could not do that to those he was assigned to protect.
"Oi." he snapped. Turning, he unsuprisingly found the red-headed girl on the bed, where she usually was when he called her.
"yes?" she answered kindly. Even so, he could feel the power behind her voice.
"How long will it take for things to get better." he growled. "This isnt.... this isn't fair."
She reguarded him with green eyes for a moment, before tilting her head with a smile.
"You wish for the wheels of fate to turn faster?"
He looked at her with curiosity. She had alot of power, so he wouldn't be suprised if she was able to manipulate fate itself.
"Such flattery you offer." she grinned. He scowled.
"Stay out of my mind." He snapped.
She sighed with a shrug. "Well, back on topic, even I cannot control fate. In fact, you could say we're bound by it more strictly than any other."
"We?"
"We."
Kanda turned to growl at the lack of explination, only to find a suspicious lack of red-headed girl.
"Che."
"Do not fret." Her voice echoed from the unknown. "It will happen sooner than you think."
***
"Allen-kun, what were you thinking?!" Komoui moaned as he, once again, wrapped the poor boys hands in white gauze. The tape almost blened in with the too white skin of the younger exorcist.
Allen, in his defense, was completely silent.
Komoui sighed.
It was the same as before. Ever since Allen awoke from his 'episode' when he heard of Kanda's death, he had remained completely silent and only moved under necessity. Any other time, and he just seemed like a large rag-doll, that only moved with the aid of others. That is, until he snuck out of the ward.
Komoui wasn't really sure how he did it. He watched over the boy almost all the time, but if he took his eyes away for more then ten seconds, it was guaranteed that when he looked back, Allen would be gone, and a few minutes later, Lavi would come tromping back into the hospital ward with the boy curled into his arms, unconsious from some head wound or another. He really couldn't understand what Allen was thinking. After the fifth escape, he had really thought that if he left Allen alone long enough, the boy would accept the reality that kanda was not coming back.
Then lavi had pointed out pendant Kanda's appearences.
So komoui was at an impass. The brown haired boy was desperate to find some sort of resolution to Kanda's death. Most likly, it was because the hourglass had broken when Allen had lost control.
He was feeling guilty.
"Allen." komoui sighed, patting the boys wrapped hand and placing it into his non-responsive lap. Allen stared into space.
"It's not your fault." komoui said sternly. "You did nothing wrong! I... I should have kept a better eye on you... You told me you were experienceing weird symptoms and I didn't... I didn't..."
He stopped at the tears flowing down Allen's face. However, the boy was still completely silent.
"Do you hate me... Allen-kun?" Komoui's eyes darkened as he leaned away from the bed. "I understand if you blame me. It's my fault Kanda...Kanda... " The tightening in his throat simply wouldn't release the words. He stood, determined to leave. Allen wouldn't want to be around him. Komoui wasn't careful enough. He had failed.
He had failed, and Kanda had died because of it.
Who else would he end up killing.
With the sudden determination to lock himself away, Komoui turned to leave. One step later, he was stopped by a snag in his coat. Turning to remove the problem (that had ruined his dramatic exit! D: ) he was met with two fingers, gripping onto the hem of his white labcoat.
Allen's hand looked so small and frail, almost as if it was made of porcelain, but it held tightly onto the coat like a lifeline.
A hiccup brought Komoui's attention to Allen's face. The boy was crying. Not just crying like Komoui had seen before, but crying like the child that he still was.
One porcelain hand was fisting into an amber eye, trying to stem the tears that poured out his grief. His body was hunched over, as if trying to shrink the already tiny frame. Komoui took a moment to notice how immaciated the boy seemed.
Gently, he reached down and wrapped both of his hands around the vice on his coat. Allen's hand didn't let go, but didn't pull away either. Instead, he pulled Komoui toward him, looking up at his like a lost child. Immediatly, Komoui's brother instincts kicked in, and he fell onto the bed, wrapping Allen in his arms. The small boy buried himself into the protective embrace, crying like he had never cried before. All of the grief and pain that he had hidden away, buried under his title of exorcist, suddenly demanded to be released. Komoui shifted, and Allen's cries increased for fear of his support leaving him. Komoui gently pat his head, carding his hands through the hair on his neck, before rubbing gentle circles on the shaking boys back. He gently spouted soothing nonsense, loosing himself in the supportive chant. He pulled Allen onto his lap, encircleing him completly and tightly. The younger boy didn't seem to mind, burying his face into Komoui's shoulder.
At that moment, the door to the hospital wing quietly opened, and a head of red hair peeked in. The bookman found the two, quietly weeping together, and decided that it was best to let them have their moment.
"Lavi." Komoui called, his voice cracking lightly.
The red head poked his head back in the door, only to see a summoning gesture by komoui.
"Don't hide." He smiled through his tears.
Lavi felt his chest wrench.
Slowly, with heavy steps, he walked toward the pair. When he reached the bed, he knealt before it, almost as if a child in prayre. Gently, timidly, he placed his hands on the edge of the bed, and lay his head over them, resting one ear against the cool fabric, and closing his eyes.
The first tears fell as a gentle hand swept the hair from his face, and continued to run soothing patterns through his scalp. Each time the hand stroked the same pattern, more tears traced the trails imprinting themselves across his cheeks.
This was all they could do. This was how they would mourn. Once the tears stopped, they would stand back up, and gather the pieces, and try to learn to walk again. But for now, they would spill their hearts into the quiet of the hospital ward, and hope that the next day, the rain would stop.
***
"Eat it."
"I don't want it."
"Tough, cuz I told you to Eat. It."
"Lavi, I'm really not hungry any- mmph."
Allen glared down the fork sticking out of his mouth and right at the red head who was grinning in victory. Chewing grudgingly before swallowing, he opened his mouth to give the red-head a piece of his mind, only to have another forkfull of pasta shoved into his mouth. This time, he put a hand over his mouth to be safe.
"Really Lavi, I'm going to be sick if you keep force feeding me."
"But Allen~" Lavi whined. "You're WAAAAY too thin, and this is only your THIRD plate!" he poked the fork at the pasta in a melencholy mannor.
"Well... I haven't really been eating well for a while.." Allen sighed quietly. Getting over everything had been hard, and he was still struggling just to interact. Lavi was the only one he could be comfortable with. Remembering he was in a conversation, he refocused himself.
"It's going to take a while for my appetite to pick back up..."
Lavi sighed with a nod. He, too, had been feeling less hungry than normal, but he assumed it was part of his mourning.
"Alright." He shrugged. "I guess we'll call it quits for today. To the usual place?"
Allen nodded, and was swept off of his bench by lavi. He sighed. He wasn't really sure exactly what had happened during the few days he had been totally out of it, or even during the second half of the day when he learned of Kanda's death. Everything was hazy during that time. All he knew was that he definitly hadn't been taking care of himself. His hands were wrapped in thick gauze from glass cuts, and his body was so weak that he couldn't really move on his own. Apparently he hadn't been doing very much in the forms of resting either.
As lavi reached the large wooden doors that he recognized so well now, he sighed. A quick knock, and the two were in. Komoui beamed from behind his desk.
"Welcome back." he grinned.
***
Allen: A-a-author chan.... what are you doing!? I was just about to FINALLY get some peace and quiet... i mean... come ON!
Author: Don't blame me. Alteara chan is being subjected to punishment.
Lavi: woah, seriously?
Author: *nods*. This is what happens when she says unnessicary things. *stern face*.
Kanda: So what, i just sit here for a week? Cuz that's bull.
Author: Well, im planning on writing in my notepad, so it will still be the story, just.... somewhere else. 3nodding The day AFTER the punishement ends, i'll upload all that i've written and such.
Lenalee: So cruel... And hey... wait a second.... IM NOT IN THIS UPDATE EITHER!!
Author: woah really? I could have sworn that you were.... no wait... aha... sweatdrop oops.
Lenalee: GRAH!!!
Author: Everyone run!
Group: *flees*
Komoui: This update will continue on Tuesday, February 18th. See you then~!
Journals Temporary location!!
Author: So this is where im writing until Alte-chan's punishment ends.
Lavi:Author-chan... aren't you being a little bit... i dunno... stubborn about this?
Author: She won't learn if i just keep letting it slide!!
Kanda: Or... you could just let it slide.
Author: *glares*
Allen: well i don't really care WHERE you write, so long as i get some peace!!
Author: You get alot more than peace in this update ^ ^
Allen: Really!?
Author: No...
Allen: I feel like you've played that trick on me before...
Lenalee: She has.
Allen: *sigh*
Author: Alright! while i remember where the heck i was in my journal, lets get started!
Everyone... to your new places!!
COn't.
Komoui smiled up from his desk. (or something like that... sweatdrop )
"Welcome back."
Lavi waltzed in, carting Allen on his back. Both boy's gave a smile and a wave, which Komoui returned before going back to work. Lavi gently shifted the amber haired boy on his back, beforeheading over to a long red lounge chair that was obviously new to Komoui's room. Carefully,
he turned and set Allen onto the chair. The younger boy sent a slightly peeved pout at his elder.
He had told lavi several times that, even though he wasn't feeling his best, he didn't needto be treated like glass. The red head just grinned sheepishly, before walking behind the boyand grabbing the chord to the curtain behind him. With a swift pull, a large window was revealed.
Lavi lifted the clasps and pulled the windows completely open, swinging them to the left and right. Bright, warm sunlight immediatly fell into the chair that Allen was resting in. The boy shifted around a bit, finding a nice laying position, before he closed his eyes. Komoui paused in his work, watching Allen along with lavi, who stood slightly to the side.
After a few moments, Allen's breathing completely evened out into an obvious sleep pattern, and both boys released the breaths they didn't realize they were holding.
It was a relativily new routine, starting the day after the group breakdown in the hospital ward. Allen seemed to be most comfortable with Komoui and lavi, and as a result, took great comfortin Komoui's office. Immediatly, Komoui had the science department set up a window, and stole one of the more comfortable chairs from the library. Allen was very appreciative of the gesture, and was sure to stop by and take a nap in the sun each day when the sun was blaring through the window.
Komoui found that he also benifited from their little exercise. Now, he got to enjoy sunlight and a light breeze on occasion. And at the same time...
"komoui." lavi pulled the scientist out of his daze, and komoui, knowing the reason, turned to the couch in front of him.
Two girls were seated comfortably, even though they were obviously only projections. If he looked hard enough, he could see the pattern of the couch through their bodies. Komoui smiled.
A while back, he asked Allen to set up a meeting between himself and the two mysterious benifactors that kept helping them. He had to know if they could be trusted or not. Only a few hours later, and Allen returned with a piece of paper in hand, completely confused as to where it came from. On it was only a few simple numbers, indicating a date and time. Today.
"Thank you for coming." Komoui stood and bowed lightly. Lavi stayed next to the drawn curtians, slinking into the shadows.
"You're welcome." The blonde said with a smile. The red-head watched with a rather bored expression.
"So." komoui sat back down, immediatlly falling into business mode. "Can you explain things up till now? Just so that i'm sure i have it all correct..."
The blonde turned to her counterpart, who was examining her nails. Shrugging, she turned back to the science head.
"Basically, Allen-kun's body has been attracting darkenss, which is trying to gain access to his body for it's own use. As a result, there have been several attacks upon Allen-kun's life, as well as the lives of his companions. Several counter's have been implimented, including the use of sunlight, artificial sunlight, the statue provided by Luna, and kanda...'s pendant...."
The blonde suddenly looked uncomfortably at the floor.
"And kanda?" Komoui prompted.
"He's dead." The red-head tossed the words into the air, still examining her fingernails.
"You really mean that."
The three turned to see lavi, glaring at the red-head from the shadows.
"You really... how can you just SAY that!"
"I didn't tell him to waste his life, nor did I advise him against it." Luna shrugged. "What he did was his decision alone."
Lavi gripped his fist tightly, gritting his teeth to hold in any more remarks. Creating an argument with the two people who may save what was left of his friends didn't sound like the best idea, no matter how much he wanted to put that girl in her place.
As if reading his mind, the red-headed girl raised an eyebrow, before turning back to komoui. Said scientist was reguarding the girls with narrowed eyes. Somehow, their answers were just specific enough to be rather vauge. He opened his mouth to ask another question.
"Time's up." The green-eyed girl grinned an unnerving smile before she vanished into thin air.
Komoui blinked, then turned to the blonde, who, to his suprise, remained in place. She was still looking at the floor uncomfortably.
"Um!" She started off rather bravely before quickly becoming meek again. "Ano... about... about kanda-kun..."
"Yes?" Komoui leaned foreward. He knew it! They were hiding something!
"I... I'm sorry for your loss..." She said softly. Lavi and Komoui sighed. What were they thinking?
Kanda was gone. He was gone for good, and nothing-
"Don't lose hope."
And then the couch was empty.
The two remaining boys blinked at each other.
"Did you...Hear that?" Lavi pointed at the couch.
Komoui nodded, but kept the smile from breaking out on his face.
"Do you think... that maybe...!?" Lavi sounded much to excited for Komoui's liking.
"She said not to lose hope, but didn't specify on what. Don't get your hopes up, Lavi."
The jr. bookman was instantly stalled in his internal rejoicing. Komoui was right. She had never said what hope she meant.
With a shrug, he let the heavy thoughts roll off his shoulders. Right now, he needed to focus on Allen. Hoping for kanda's return would only draw out the mourning process, which was the last thing Allen needed. Even though he didn't admit it, Lavi could tell that his friend was only a short leap away from falling off the deep end. His ties to sanity were only so limited, and with so many problems revolving around him so suddenly, he was suprised that the boy had lasted this long.
With a gentle smile, Lavi reached down and tousled the sleeping boys hair, a gesture that he never got tired of. Komoui smiled from his desk.
He would do his best to protect them.
***
Lenalee softly hummed to herself as she walked down the dark hallway. The tune she had chosen was soft and sweet, and made her think of a lulaby she had heard long ago. Shifting the some-what heavy bucket from her left to right hands, she found herself infront of her destination.
A door of old wood and wrought iron.
Kanda's room.
She had begged her brother to allow her the privilage of gathering Kanda's things, and cleaning the room. In the process, she hoped that she could find a way to say her farewells to the friend that she missed so dearly.
Reaching for the doorknob, she was startled to find that it was actally already unlocked, and slightly open. It was rather strange, seeing as ever since Allen had started trying to sneak into the room from his hospital bed, the door had been locked on a regular basis. Back when he was succedding in his attempts, she might have been worried, but since Allen had seemed to regain some of his sanity, she had expected Kanda's door to be re-locked and remain locked. Her brother had even had to remind her to get a key.
Tilting her head in confusion, she peaked into the room. It was just as she had imagined. A simple bed, few pieces of furniture, and the dark figure of kanda, staring out the window. She had always pictured
him as someone who would stare out his window and think-woah. Wait a second!
She opened the door noiselessly, creeping in and then closing it behind her, never turning away from the figure.
"K-k... Kanda...?"
Her voice cracked more than she would have liked.
Startled, the Samurai turned to her. "Ah..." his mouth opened slightly, as if to greet the person, but closed with a furrow of his eyebrows.
"Kanda... Is that really you...?" Lenalee asked desperatly. She was starting to cry, and kept whiping the tears from her eyes, to keep the image of her friend from becoming too blurry.
"I.. I knew it! I knew you couldn't be dead!" She cried, reaching forward and rushing toward him. But just as she reached him, she reached THROUGH him, and ended up confused and hugging the back wall. Turning around, she found Kanda, with a rather sheepish expression on his face.
"Lenalee..." he said softly, the furrow in his brows being replaced with a saddened look.
"You..." she hiccuped, as her tears began to flow more heavilly. "You're not..."
"Alive? Yes." kanda said softly. "But... I'm also not really kanda."
When lenalee didn't look like she understood, Kanda reached over to the bed-side table and picked up the small pendant that had been left there, holding it up for her to see.
"I'm sure lavi explained to you about this?" He asked. Lenalee swallowed and nodded with a sob.
"you... you're the feelings... left behind for A-Allen." she rubbed at her eyes again.
Kanda was glad that she seemed to miss the light pink that dusted his cheeks.
"Don't say it like that." he grumbled in an almost-pout. He was suprisingly rewarded with a giggle from lenalee. She sniffed and whiped her eyes again, before smiling at the boy.
"Well.." she said, her voice still shaking a little, "Seeing you again is still nice." Kanda shot her a pained look, before he nodded.
"Do me a favor." Kanda snapped, tossing the little charm in the air. Lenalee opened her hands, and it fell straight into her palms. "Give this to that beansprout the next time you see him, and smack him on the head for forgetting it." he growled. Lenalee laughed again, before smiling.
"Will do."
Kanda smiled back, a small simple gesture, before dissapearing completely.
Lenalee looked around the room. It suddenly didn't seem as dark as she thought. picking up her tune again, she walked out, forgetting her cleaning for a moment in order to deliver this precious item back to it's owner.
***
The door's burst open with a loud bang. Allen shot up out of his chair, suddenly pulled awake by the probability of danger. Lavi was quick to hold him back. The last time someone had barged in like that, the stack of paper they had been holding was ripped to shreds by crowned clown before anyone could say "who's there". He blinked groggily up at Lavi, who gave him a soothing smile in return, and then both of them turned to find out what in the world was happening.
Of course, it didn't take long. In strode one Mr. Leverieller in all of his greasy-haired glory, sniffing around with his hitler-stach like a mouse who had found cheese. Howard Link followed behind him, tall and silent as always.
"Mr.Leverieller!" Komoui jumped to attendance. Even though the man was lower than dirt in his oppinion, he ranked highly in the oppinion of the vatacan. He could not affort do get in trouble now...
"Why, May i ask..." the man drawled, grinning cruely, "Do you have THREE very capable exorcists here at headquarters at the SAME time..?"
Komoui winced. The man certainly knew how to stab right in the places that would hurt he worst. And his lack of reports to the upper echilon had obviously not gone un-noticed. He had just been so busy with Allen...
As if sensing his train of thought, Leverieller turned his attention to the two exorcists in the room, sneering at both of them.
"And one of them is SLEEPING in your OFFICE?" He asked in an extremely fake amused tone.
"Mr. Leverieller, please, let me explain." komoui inserted. He was stopped by a raised hand.
"Surly, you can not be making excuses for this boy who is lazing around when he should be finding more innocence..?"
"Now, Mr.Leverieller, Allen-kun is sick! and-"
"Then why isn't he in the hospital ward, with the rest of the sick?"
"It's just that, with what happened to kanda-"
"Ah, thats right..."
Komoui certainlly did NOT like that tone. Something bad was comming...
"Poor Mr. Kanda. He will certainly be missed. He was a great exorcist on his way to becoming a general... Always worked hard... followed the rules..." He raised an eyebrow at Komoui. "So. What exactly happened to Mr. Kanda?"
Komoui faultered for just one moment, but that moment was all Leverieller needed.
"It seem's you haven't been doing your job well Komoui." He grinned. This was so bad. "Me and some of the other higher ups have agreed... that it may be time for a fresh face in the supervisor position-"
"IT'S NOT KOMOUI'S FAULT!"
The room grew still, as the occupants all turned to see a slightly panting Allen Walker. The boy looked pale from his outburst, and was swaying lightly on his feet.
"Allen-kun.." komoui started to move toward the boy, but Leverieller cut him off.
"And what do you mean by that Walker?" He sneered. "And keep in mind, you're still under probation."
Allen glared at the vile man.
"I mean... It's not Komoui's fault." the boy swallowed thickly, before straightening himself, ceasing his swaying. "It's mine."
And for a second, Leverieller looked like he had just hit the jackpot.
"Yours?" He asked, in a stikily sweet voice. "Now how could that be?"
Allen continued to explain the darkness, the attacks on headquarters, kanda's dissapearence, the hourglass, and anything else he could think of. As he spoke, he tried to ignore how Leveriellers face changed from
amused, to irritated, to angry. By the time he was wrapping up, the man was grinding his teeth, his face almost purple with rage.
When Allen faultered to a stop, the room was deathly silent.
"Do you think..." Leverieller heaved, "that I am some kind of idiot?"
Allen blinked at him. (lol trick question.)
"No..."
"So what makes you think that I would beleive that load of... of... GARBAGE!?" he snapped, causing the rooms occupants (minus link) to jump.
"It's not garbage!" Allen insisted, "It's the truth! So don't blame Komoui! I'm the one who-"
"The truth?" Lenverielle snarled, "The TRUTH!? You want to know what I think is the truth!?" He reached down, grabbing something off of Komoui's desk. Allen's eyes widened. It was the stone fox. He had placed it there while he was explaining, for evidences' purposes. It was the only thing he had, seeing as he had left Kanda's pendant in Kanda's room, where it belonged. It wasn't fair of him to keep relying on the boy, even after death.
"I think that you're just taking the fall for this incompetant idiot!" He snapped, pointing to Komoui and swinging the fox in his hands as emphasis. Allen suddenly seemed less concerned with proving himself right and more concerned with following the motions of the statue with his eyes and hands. that was his only lifeline!
"This is nothing but a pathetic attempt to buy yourself more time!" Leverielle screamed at the group. "And it's NOT. WORKING. No one would beleive that idiotic story! You're all Exorcists, PROFESSIONALS! Stop sitting around, making up stories, and get back to your jobs! We have a WAR TO WIN! All of you are on probation until you hear otherwise, and if i hear ONE. MORE. excuse that even SOUNDS like some piece of GARBAGE story that no one would ever beleive, I'll be sure to have all of you tried for treason against the vatacan!"
The door to the office creaked open, and lenalee poked her head in at what could have probably been the worst possible moment.
"Nii-san, is this a bad... time..." she trailed off, staring straight at Mr.Leverieller. The pendant in her hands dropped to the floor. Leverieller looked at it for one moment, before reaching down and snatching it up, much to Allen's growing horror.
"Is this... what i think it is?" He whispered in growing rage. Ignoring the others, he whipped around to lenalee.
"Ms. Lee... what is this?" he seethed, holding up the item in Lenalee's face. She balked for a moment, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Finally, she seemed to find her voice.
"It... It's Kanda's..." she whimpered. "For... Allen..."
The greasy haired man's eyes sharpened.
"Another piece of this garbage story?" He grinned, and a chill flew down Allens spine. "This is enough." They watched with growing horror.
"From now on, Komoui Lee, you are revoked of you're duties as Supervisor of Headquarters, and will return to the vatacan immediatly for... re-education."
The exorcists gaped at Komoui, who suddenly looked rather pale, swaying lightly on the spot before catching himself on his desk.
"As for the rest of you." Leverieller leaned down, setting the fox and pendant on the floor with a light click of stone on stone. "I expect you to forget your lame stories, and get back to work." He picked up a thickly booted foot, as if to ascend a stair. Allen's eyes widened and he reached out, his voice caught in his throat.
"Your goal is to defeat the earl and his noah, and destroy any akuma you come in contact with. Lazyness is not tolerated. Personal conflict is not tolerated. EXCUSES are not tolerated."
"You're job is to protect the living, not the dead. Forget those left behind, and get back to work."
And with a gleeful smile, he brough his boot crashing down on the two stone objects, smashing them to rubble.
And all hell broke loose.
Komoui wasn't sure what happened first, the windows slamming shut and engulphing the room in darkness, the light on the ceiling flickering in and out, or the earsplitting screaming coming from Allen as the boy fell to the ground, cradleing the broken stones in his hands.
"NONONONONONONO!" the boy cried, scooping up some of the purpleish stone only to have it slip from his hands and back to the ground, breaking further.
Komoui jerked at the sound of more slaming, as the office doors smashed shut.
"Nii-san!" Lenanee cried through the wood, pounding on the doors. Komoui rushed over and pulled, but the doors wouldn't budge.
"Lavi!" Komoui turned to the red-head who had already pulled his hammer out.
"Stand back." the boy motioned. Komoui moved over, putting his hands on Allen's shoulders to pull the boy away.
"DONT!" Allen immediatly started screaming again, wrenching himself out of the scientists grasp only to throw himself back at the pile of rubble. "DONT TOUCH ME!"
Lavi swung him hammer back, ready to swing it at the door. Right before it impacted, a dark liquid shot from the cracks in the door, stopping the hammer in its tracks and spreading along the walls at a slow pace. Lavi panicked, jerking at his weapon to try and release it from the goo.
"What is going on here!?" Leverielle screamed as Link took up a fighting stance.
"Lavi..." komoui rushed to the boy, helping him pull the weapon away. They both jerked backward and fell to the ground next to Allen. The browned haired boy was curled over the statue's remnants, rocking back and forth and muttering under his breath.
"Allen..." lavi reached for him, gently touching the boy's shoulder.
"DONT!" he screamed again, pulling away. The darkness seemed to respond by surging violently and circling the walls and blocking the exits. The group merged in the middle, trying to find an escape from the darkness.
"Komoui, so help me, if you value you're life, you will tell me what's happening this INSTANT!" leverielle snapped. Suprisingly, Lavi was the one who answered.
"This is what Allen was talking about, you fool!" the bookman screamed, gesturing at the walls that were almost completely engulphed. "This is the darkness that was being kept away by the statue that YOU broke! Now we have nothing to protect us!"
"Lenalee!" Komoui yelled again at what he thought was the door. The room was getting dark, and the walls were completely covered by the puslating substance.
"Nii-... ni-.. -an!" The call was faint.
"Get the lights Lenalee!" Komoui yelled back. "LIGHTS!"
"-ay!"
The group looked at eachother. The walls were covered, and slowely, the darkness was starting to slink across the floor, getting ever so closer, like a tide.
"What can we do?" Link asked, suprising the supervisor and Lavi. Leverielle was just looking around in shock.
Komoui stared for a moment. "Light... er... if we had some sort of... sunlight... or maybe just a really bright light, it might hold it off until the science department could get here... "
"You won't be able to."
The group turned to Allen. The boy was smiling up at them, almost too innocently.
"You won't make it." he said, in an almost amused voice. "Once it touches you, it's all over."
A tendril of darkness swirled from behind the boys hair, twirling over his face in a vine-like pattern.
"Allen!" Lavi gasped. The boy, who was curled on the floor, stood and swayed on the spot, as if he wasn't actually using his body. He lifted his head and grinned, amber eyes darkened. More darkness reached from the walls and wrapped around his arms and legs, pulling him away from the group.
"You'll die." he grinned. "Just wait. You'll die."
"Allen, No!" Lavi cried, reaching out to grab the boy. Komoui grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.
"You can't touch him!" he cried. "You heard him, once you touch the darkness, it's all over!"
"But Allen-" Lavi stared as his friend was pulled against one of the walls. The darkness brushed over him like a loving pet, and he responded with pats and coo's of his own. It wasn't Allen anymore.
The boy turned back to the stunned group, his sickening grin still in place. Lavi shivered as he recalled the noah of pleasures, Tiki Mikk, who acted so similarly.
"So." Allen spat the word into the air. His voice sounded much darker. "Who's first then?" He tilted his head with a grin.
"Done!" Link yelled as his fingers finished their final motion in the air, and the paper he had been holding grew erect and began to glow. The sutra's placed in a circle responded with their own light, and suddenly, the stunned group found themselves incased in a dome of light.
"Link.." Komoui turned to the advisor, who simply sat on the ground and closed his eyes, taking on a meditative possition.
"Oh?" Allen's body grinned. "A barrier of light, eh?" A tentacle of darkness edged forward, only to steam before it shrieked and withdrew to Allen's side. He gave it a soothing pat before turning back to the group. "As expected of a member of CROW. You just bought yourself a few more minutes of life..."
As he spoke, the darkness on the wall behind him surged and pulsed, pulling from the surface and into the open air. It pulled and pushed, forming itself into the shape of a reaching hand.
"Oh no." Lavi gasped, watching the darkness. "That's the thing that attacked us in the medical ward!" he pointed at the shape as a featurless face began to form. "I couldn't even scratch it when i fought it!"
"How did you escape it then?" Link asked, opening one eye, only to see Lavi gesture to the crumbled fox on the floor.
"It saved us..."
Link reclosed his eye with a thoughful hum.
"How strong is this barrier, and how long can you keep it up?" Komoui asked.
"Its as strong as I can make it, and so long as I concentrate, I could keep it up for 5 hours maximum".
"Ho?" The group turned to see Allen's body tilt its head with another wicked grin. "Thanks for the information..." he laughed. More darkness wrapped around his body, leaving dark stripes on his face and clothing.
"Allen..." lavi watched sadly.
"Don't be stupid" Allen... no... the darkness spat. "This body is mine now. That naive little child is long gone. Maybe he'll find his samurai friend!" Allen's face twisted once more, and laughed horribly. Lavi gripped his fists, looking down at the sword still strapped to his side.
"Yuu..." he ground out.
And the sword pulsed.
He blinked, narrowing his eyes. Did he imagine it?
"Yuu..?" he tried again.
"Aw!" The darkness cooed, "He's so scared he's hallucinating!"
"Lavi?" Komoui placed a hand on the red-heads shoulder. Lavi turned to blink at him.
"Komoui, something-"
He was cut off when the form of darkness screamed in horrible glee. The pair spun around to see it finally break off from the wall, razor sharp wings slicing through the air. It's long, sharp fingers dripped with darkness, and its body swirled with blacks and purples. The eye-less face grinned with malice.
"Happy Birthday~" The Allen grinned. The dark creature flew toward the form of it's master, knealing before it and whining like a dog. Allen's pale, striped hand reached out and gently pet its head, running along it's face in a loveing manner.
"I know." He cooed. "Last time, that nasty creature got to you, but this time, I promise it won't. It's long gone, thanks to that mustached man over there."
Leverielle froze as both dark forms turned to smile at him.
"Now." Allen continued, turning back to his dark slave. "I've got a presant for you!" The form seemed to become excited as Allen reached a hand into the darkness covering the walls. It squelched wetly as he seemed to be digging around, before he pulled back. A tendril of darkness came back with him, glowing a brilliant, sick, purple. Once he had completely removed it from the wall, he held it out before him. It squirmed and glowed, before settleing into a new form.
A long broad-sword.
"That looks like..."
"Allen's innocence...?" Komoui stared. He was right. The sword looked just like Allen's arm usually did, accept it was completely pitch black.
"Have fun." Allen smiled like a mother sending her child off to the playground. The dark form took the sword reverantly, before turning upon the dome of light.
The group paled.
"oh." lavi gulped. "this is so bad..."
The dark form flew into the air, before swooping down on the dome, slamming the sword into it. There was a loud clash, and sparks flew, but when it pulled away, the dome was still holding strong. Undeterred, the form tried again.
The group in the dome flinched at each hit, as the room seemed to shake with the force.
"I wonder how long it will hold..." Allen said boredly.
"Allen-kun, please stop this!" Komoui called back. "Aren't we your friends!?"
Allen's head bowed.
"What... what have I done...!" he pulled his shaking hands up to his face, before pulling them away to reveal another sickening grin. "Not!" He laugehed like he had just told the funniest joke in the world. "Did you really think such pathetic attempts would stop me!?"
"Yuu-chan!" Lavi yelled toward the figure. Allen's smirk fell from his face.
"I already told you-"
"Yuu-chan!"
"It's no use-"
"YUU-CHAN!"
"He's DEAD-"
"KANDA!"
Komoui gasped as Allen's form went rigid. The darkness around him was acting strangly, as it seemed to constrict around the boys form instead of being gentle. The form that had been attacking the dome stopped for a moment, to look on, as if for conformation.
"Don't just stare idiot!" Allen spat, struggleing for his freedom. "Break that dome and KILL. THEM!"
"Lavi, what did you-" Komoui stopped his question when he saw lavi pull mugen from his belt. The sword was glowing brightly, and pulsing.
"What..."
"I don't know." Lavi shrugged. "It did the same thing earlier... and every time i say Yuu-chan's name, it does it again."
As if in reaction, the sword pulsed more strongly and glowed brighter.
"What does it want?" Komoui asked, reaching a hand to gently touch the sheath.
Throw it.
The pair blinked.
"Did you... uh..."
"I think... maybe..."
Throw it.
The pair turned, and stared at Allen's body. The boy had completely stopped struggleing. His eyes were closed and he looked rather dead, limply hanging there from the wall. The only signs of light were the shallow, ragged breaths, and the thick stream of tears flowing down his face.
Throw it to the darkness...
"Allen-kun.." komoui gasped.
"Into... the darkness?" Lavi tilted his head.
Throw it to the darkness!
Later, lavi would wonder if it was him or komoui who threw the sword. Or what even possessed them to beleive Allen's disembodied voice was telling the truth, or even Allen for that matter. But whatever had happened, it had worked.
Throw it to the Darkness... Throw it to Him
The sword sliced through air, and time seemed to slow. It arched, turned, and just before it hit the wall, a hand reached out and grabbed it.
The sword burst into light as it's owner arched it through the air, removing the sheath in one gracefull swing and allowing the white blade to glisten with an ethereal glow. With the force of a tidal wave, it pulsed.
Immediatly, the area around the sword and it's weilder was rid of all darkness, a powerful wind sweeping it to oblivion. His clothing was tattered and dirt covered, and stained with a few things left unidentifyable, but his frame still held that princely charm. Long dark hair flew in all directions, whipped from the wind he created. Two slim fingers ran along the edge of the sword, releasing more power.
"Awaken into darkness."
Deep saphire eyes opened, cold as steel.
"Mugen."
***
Author: alright, i've got to stop.
Allen: whaaaaaat?! But but but... i'm still crazy!
Author: yeah, i know, but there's an awsome fight scene coming up, and if i put it in this entry, then it might out last my current "longest entry" standing. And since i don't want my enteries to be TOO long, i just figured now would be a good place to stop.
Kanda: So... I'm not dead?
Author: *shrugs, then points* Is that really you or not?
Kanda: Well where the heck did I come from!?
Author: From the darkness. But that means... it could be a trap!
Kanda: is it?
Author: So, lavi, sorry for sticking you in a horrible situation...
Kanda: *splutters* HEY!
Lavi: No problem author-chan! It was a blast!
Lenalee: and i got to do something!!
Author: yeah, but for the purpose of keeping the group in the room for a while, it makes it look like you WALKED to the science department to get help XD
Lenalee: hey, so long as I'm there. *nods*
Kanda: So are you going to listen to me yet?
Author: *sigh* what?
Kanda: Where in the HECK did "Awaken into Darkness" come from!? That line was horribly cheesy!
Author: Aha... sweatdrop I always wanted to do that with you actually.... Its a kind of thing from the anime series, Bleach. When someone draws their sword (the primary weapon on that series) they have a little catch phrase first. Like, "HOWL!" or "Sit Upon the Frozen Heavens!" So i just thought "Awaken into Darkness" would work for you... It's kinda cool!
Kanda: * Grumbles*
Allen: So... Author-chan...is this the end for me? I mean, the darkness has me in it's grasp and everything...
Author: Just wait and see!
Allen: *sigh* alright. Well then, as a bit of a hint... how about next time. What's in store for us?
Author: Hmm... well... since im kinda doing this off the top of my head, i guess i can give you a general outline... The group gets out of the room. There's an EPIC fight scene planned that may take me a while to write... im not the best at action scenes... Mmm... some much needed explanation, an amazing revelation, and we're one step closer to the finale!
Allen: Finale? As in... the end of the story!?
Author: Finale as in, you die. sweatdrop
Allen: oh thanks... TT^TT
Lavi: I hope all of you readers (*cough alte-chan cough*) have been studying your manga! Because author-chan gave out some epic hints as to the source of the Allen-chan's little "problem" in this chapter! There are three (that she knows of...) and if you find them, you get waffles!! heart
Komoui: super special hint! It's in the last installment of this chapter, so probably the bottom half of the update! heart
Author: the source is a suprising one! Alright everyone, until next time!
Ja'ne!
~ heart ~
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