Alright, this is a project I've been working on for some time now... but I haven't got enough time to really make a progress (darn homework). I know I should be focusing on my other story, but I just can't get this one out of my mind.
And I personally think that the AllenxRoad pairing deserves a chance.
This story is built on this thought: "The girl everybody had come to know--she is merely but a ghost of a person. Road Camelot herself was not the real "Road", she is a figment of what others expect and think of her. Dreams are supposed to be a non-existent substantial capacity in human minds, you could say it's almost ethereal."
Beware, this story is most likely to be a Road angst.
Standard disclaimer apply.
Chapter 1
Memories were blurred and dimmed. Bits and pieces of visions, sounds and sensations were there, but nothing more.
Her hand was warm. She held the hatchling near her chest. The nest was just above her. Uncaring of all the danger she climb the tall wooden tree.
"Please wait a bit more, little birdie. I'm going to get you to your nest safely."
Just a little bit more… If she could only extend her hand a little bit more…
The world spun and the next thing she knew was the sickening smack of her skull against the ground. The blackness of unconsciousness slowly consumed her until she was no more.
* * *
Lord Tyki Mikk tried to ignore the oddly quiet girl staring off into space. He tried to occupy himself with the latest popular book, words illuminated by the fiery shades of red and orange from the candles. Oh, who was he kidding? He had been stuck on page thirty five for more than an hour now, and pretending to be immersed in his reading wouldn't sell, for the girl wasn't even paying him attention.
Once again—odd.
His suppositional niece would have ranted endlessly and begged to be play with. She probably would have French-braided his hair again and got scolded. She would have secretly stolen some delightful treats and cookies from the pantry. Or when she was in a really sour mood she would have probably burnt his book to a crisp.
He kept a discreet watch over her still form. She hasn't moved for ages, and his eyes were beginning to hurt from peering all the time. A miniscule twitch of her eyebrow and hitch in her breathing awarded his effort.
What are you thinking, Road?
The girl—Road Kamelot started in surprise. A look of pure confusion was etched briefly on her visage before being wiped out by her usual somber expression. Tyki observed it all from his position, head held lazily on one hand. A penny for your thoughts?
Road forced a smile. It came out bitter rather than the usual cheeky grin. "No. Try a guinea." she quipped. Tyki's gaze on her didn't waver the least bit. Her smile completely vanished, replaced by an empty expression. "It's nothing, Tyki."
"Road—"
"You don't have to worry about me. You should be worried for yourself right now. Those wounds still hurt, don't they?"
A frown marred his handsome face. "Tell me, Road." he said warningly.
She swung her legs back and forth. Back and forth.
"I'm fine. It's just… my Day's coming up."
The ashen man's eyes widened. His surprise quickly turned to alarm. "Road, go to your room."
Road narrowed her eyes. "I said I'm fine, Tyki." she hissed ardently. She didn't want to be ordered around whenever they feel like it. Not ever. Not now.
Blood dripped from her clenched fists. Tyki grimaced when he scented blood. It was pooling on the carpet beneath her.
Tyki frowned in response to her audacity. "Go."
You will go to your room quietly, he mentally reinforced his order and visualize the order in his mind. Tyki kept a steady face as her anger rapidly shifted to rage. Road remained to glower at him before she visually deflated, all emotions gone.
That was an order she could not escape from—an order directed straight at her being.
The guilt ate at him as he watched Road silently stood up and ghosted over the tiled floor out the main room and to her room. She was quiet. So unlike her usual self. That was partly due to her state, but Tyki knew it was mostly due to his order.
Tyki stared the way she went even long after she'd gone. One hand came up to rake his hair resignedly. Another hand took out a cigarette out from its pack and lighted it using the candle.
"How long have you been watching?" He blew the smoke toward the figure appearing from the shadows. Lulu Bell didn't seem fazed by the smoke at all. "Don't tell me you actually think I didn't notice you there the whole time?"
The shapely woman's lips slightly curled upwards. "As expected from the Noah's Pleasure." Lulu Bell was pleased to note how Tyki twitched at the mention of his inherited memories. She traced the trail of blood disappearing out of the room. "You'd better keep an eye on her. Master won't be happy if anything disrupts his plan anymore." Just as sudden as she appeared Lulu Bell vanished in the shadows once more.
The twinkling sound of a bell was heard as Tyki took a long drag from his cigarette. Lulu Bell left. He rubbed his temple as guilt and responsibilities clashed inside of him. Dammit, he could feel a headache forming already.
Road stood on the center of her dark room. She didn't bother to light up the candles. The dolls strewn about her room was barely visible to her shut eyes, but she knew where and how every doll was located and positioned by other senses.
She hated being submissive, and the numbness and rage that came after. Right now there was nothing more that she wanted other than to get out from there—the suffocating room filled with overstuffed dolls and sickening decorations, the place where her so-called family live.
She couldn't believe it. Tyki did that to her.
Tyki, you've promised!
She hugged her knees on the cold stone floor.
Darn these human emotions! Darn Tyki! Darn it, darn it, darn them all!!
She glared at the dissipating color of her hands. She could feel the vices weakening its grips on her. Just a little bit more… she would defy them.
She would get out.
The stone floor below her started to change black and white. The floral wallpapers on her room changed to her preferred diamond wallpapers. She was no longer surrounded only by dolls, but by presents. Lots and lots of it, just the way she likes it. In her haven of dream realm Road Kamelot—Noah of Dreams, was impregnable.
Her crown of crosses was slowly fading away to leave smooth white skin. Her eyes were determined—the moment the Noah faded she was sure to let herself out.
There had better be no akuma when she gets there.
* * *
"Walker!"
"What is it?"
Inspector Howard Link huffed in annoyance ahead of the white haired exorcist. "Hurry up or we're going to miss the sermon."
That's Link for you. Even in Spain for a mission he would still perform his religious duties.
Allen pasted one of his usual smiles for Link and nodded, otherwise the inspector would scribble down more of those annoying notes. True, they have lessened, but when it happened, it was still exasperating all the same. They entered a local church just as the church's bell tower was rung. Allen noted that the front of the church was built circular with a high ceiling portraying angels, saints and the last feast. Elaborate sculptures and embossings ornamented the wall with various depictions. They slid easily to their seats—the second pew from the back that Link chose.
Link closed his eyes intent on his prayer and the pastor's speech. Allen eyed his surroundings in slight discomfort. It wasn't that he despised the church—on the contrary since he was working for the Order, but lately the events happening on him made him wary toward churches.
His eyes swept over the pews and landed on a bible laid forgotten a foot away from his seat. Peeking one eye to confirm Link wasn't paying attention to him—Allen silently took the bible. He was relieved to see that the text was printed in English. Checking on Link once again, he opened the bible:
The Old Testament—Genesis, from chapter six to nine.
Noah and Noah's Ark. Noah's Ark was the mysterious ark that only he—as the musician could control. Allen squinted his eyes as he read the small digits printed on the thin frail paper. The bible didn't provide him with anything new. He already knew the text printed by heart.
Allen turned the page over to Torah—Genesis chapter ten: Sons of Noah.
His fingers traced the Table of Nation attentively; mind rerunning all information he has concerning the descendants. Noah had three sons of the name Ham, Shem and Japheth—the forefathers of the South, Middle and North.
The list of names and locations brought back the topic afresh in his mind: the Noah Clan. Allen knew next to nothing about them, yet he was to be one of them. Currently only six Noahs were recorded by the Order and the Bookman Clan, and he had the honor of meeting and knowing them all personally—except for Skinn Bolic whom he knew only by a short uneventful meeting. Kanda was the only one who got the pleasure of knowing the gigantic Noah. Allen'd rather to keep it that way after reading Kanda's report.
The first Noah he met was Road Kamelot. She inherited Noah's memories of Dreams. The petite girl's power was greatly speculated after several encounters with her. Apparently as the first child she was blessed with great power. Road also has the tendency to cling on and kiss him, Allen thought with a grimace.
Then he met with Tyki Mikk who posed as an orphan traveling and working together with his friends. The Noah of Pleasure has the annoying power of "Choose" which left Allen with a hole in his heart—literally, not just figuratively speaking.
There were also the crazy twins who forced him to take on Cross' debts again. Hell no way was he going to accept that. The twins might be a bit strange in the head, but they were very strong. Specially because of that power of "Create" and ability to merge as the Noah of Bonds.
The last Noah Allen knew was Lulu Bell who wreaked havoc in the old main headquarters. Her ability to "Form" was very difficult to deal with. Allen was a bit embarassed when he recalled Lulu Bell's naked form. Anyway, he didn't like her since she hurt his friends and tried to abduct him.
He was supposed to be the last of the Noah, the Fourteenth. He silently wondered what his inherited memories and power were.
Link mumbled his "Amin." and Allen's focus was interrupted. He quickly threw the bible away and tried to look innocent as he paid attention to the priest's sermon. In Spanish.
When they stepped out from the church, one could be seen confused while the other was rather content. Allen hadn't understood a word the priest was saying at all. If not for Link, he wouldn't have been in a sermon, moreover in another language he was not familiar with. The only word he'd caught from the whole thing was "Dios". He was getting tired of that word.
He could've used a nap to make up for his insomniac nights—but he didn't. Allen didn't want Link scribbling on his notes again.
"Walker, let's go." Link said in a curt manner. The inspector stood tall at the side, waiting for him to follow.
Allen shielded his hair from sight. The sun shining overhead and the lights glinting on his snow white hair would've attracted more attention than they would've liked. "Alright. Let's retrieve that Innocence." They had been fortunate so far: clear mission description, good weather (although a bit windy and cold), and no akuma. If these kept going on they could finish the mission smoothly.
They rejoined the crowd of people walking in the busy streets, keeping their eyes wide open for anything—a habit honed from fighting. The busy stream of people was interrupted as the black attired adolescent stopped on his trek. Link stopped a little away from him.
Allen had to blink and wiped his eyes. And blinked again before he was certain of what he saw. His eyes balked at the sight he was witnessing.
"Walker? What's wrong?"
Allen lifted his hand and pointed. Link followed the direction of Allen's finger. "Yes, an old lady is selling flowers to a little girl. I don't see what's wrong with that.
"Let's go. No more stalling."
But Allen stayed rooted to the spot despite Link's demand. No wonder Link couldn't see the significance of what they were witnessing. Link hadn't met with any Noah other than Lulu Bell. Link didn't know Road Kamelot.
The girl was smiling softly albeit a bit sadly at the battered old lady. It wasn't the usual sadistic grin that so often adorned her face.
Road Kamelot was really smiling.
Alright, that's it. How is it? Review please!!
Reviews will be what propels me to write more...