This was the very first fanfiction I ever wrote. I wrote this a little over a year ago, but never got down to typing it into the laptop and uploading it. I finally decided to revive and continue writing it. The first few chapters may seem a little childish and the story flow rough as I have typed it in as it was when I last wrote it. I edited and checked for mistakes, of course, but I'm letting it stay as it is. Subsequent chapters would have darker and more mature content, because I've only just recently started writing this story again. I hope you like! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own.


chapter one


His bandana lay torn and dirtied on the ground beside him, its bright orange a nearly unrecognisable filthy brownish-yellow colour.

Lavi was sprawled across the floor. He was in the same position as when he been smashed him there, minutes ago. Everywhere hurt so much Lavi could barely breathe. He really should be getting up to assist Allen and Kanda with that pesky level four Akuma. He wanted to stay here forever, safe on the ground and away from the Akuma's excruiatingly painful blows. His hammer Innocence, Tettsui, was clutched in his fist, having shunk back to pocket size.

Just then, the sound of clattering and a body smacking against hard stone echoed throughout the laboratory, which was silent save the sound of battling Exorcists. He heard an agonised gasp punched out of somebody. The gasp sounded painfully familiar.

It was Kanda. In pain. Hurt.

That steeled his resolve to get his butt off the cold, stone floor.

"Yuu! Ya okay?" He shouted out weakly, even though it made himself gasp for air afterwards and his lungs hurt like shit. He enlarged Tettsui and leaned against it for support, scanning the ruined floors for his comrade. He quickly found the crumpled heap that was Kanda and hurriedly stumbled towards it.

"Shit, Yuu, you hit yer head!"

Blood was seeping through silky black strands, weaving an obscene pattern of dark red liquid among ebony locks. The Exorcist was unmoving and seemed unconscious. He knelt awkwardly due to the pain in his chest and shook the wounded man.

"Shit." He repeated.

He placed his hands gently on Kanda's face. It was burning. He felt abnormally worried.

"Yuu, wake up!"

The raven-haired man was covered was dust and injuries of varying severity. His bangs were matted with sweat and stuck to his forehead, hair undone from all the fighting and mussed up below him. Lavi leaned over to pull Kanda's sword Innocence, Mugen, closer to them. It had tumbled to the side when its owner fell. He fumbled with the man's fingers, wrapping them around Mugen's hilt, hoping that the touch would reawaken him.

"Wake up, wake up wake up!" He nudged persistently at the man on the floor.

Eyelids snapped open to reveal dark sapphire orbs, flecked through with light grey specks.

"Damnit." Kanda growled, remembering what happened. He had a killer headache, his temples pounded uncomfortably. The feeling was unpleasant. The person shaking him was even more so. His fist shot up to connect with that person's body. Lavi couldn't have been happier, though. "You're alive, Yuu!" He rasped joyfully, despite his murdered chest.

The dark-haired man struggled to get up but Lavi held him down. "No, Yuu! Your head is bleeding, you have to lie down."

Kanda merely glared and shook him off. "I heal fast. Get off me now. The moyashi needs help, as usual."

The redhead attempted to staunch the bleeding by applying pressure to the approximate area he thought the blood stemmed from. It was already lessening. "Hey, you're right. It's healing already, Yuu."

"It's Kanda, you asshat." The irate Exorcist growled, annoyed that the usagi still insisted on calling him by his first name, Yuu. Lavi rolled his eyes at him for complaining about a trivial issue in such situations. "C'mon, let's get you outta here." He gripped the black-haired man firmly but gently, and attempted to lift him up. Kanda stood, swaying a little, and pushed the other away. "I can get up by myself." He spoke through gritted teeth, ignoring the throbbing pain at his ribs and shoulders. He must have bruised himself rather badly on Mugen's sheath as he landed on the ground. "And I can still fight."

He could stand. He wasn't beaten down. Not now, not ever. He was as ready as he was hours ago to defend his home from the enemy. But Lavi had a death grip on his arms and began dragging him away.

"You're an idiot! You're bleeding like a woman with period, jeez!"

The dark-haired man was extremely irritated. He shoved the redhead away roughly and gripped Mugen tighter. "Shall we fight, once more?" He whispered encouragingly and could feel Mugen vibrate in earnest. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and sprinted forwards. He ignored the panicked sounds from Lavi and focused on not accidentally jolting his sore shoulder too much. The damn moyashi had taken some serious hits. His ridiculous fur coat of an Innocence called Clowned Crown or Crowned Clown – or whatever – was soaked with his blood.

Kanda would never let a person die if he could help it. He recalled Alma's death. Daisya's. His mistake. His fault. That put a boost in his strides, heading for where the level four was happily bashing Allen up.

"Kaichu Ichigen!" He ran his index and middle fingers along the side of Mugen's shiny, cold blade, calling forth Hell's Insects. The devil creatures emerged from Mugen, shrilling their bloodlust almost soundlessly.

As Hell's Insects rapidly approached, the level four dodged them all and the moyashi was tossed aside like trash as a result.

"Bastard!" He snarled, leaping forwards to slash at the Akuma, who evaded his attack easily. It regarded him with coal black eyes that glittered with malic. "Exorcist." It spoke in a high, chilling child-like voice. "I am chivalrous. I shall spare you for that unnecessary assault because you are woman." It turned to face the other Exorcists in the room as Kanda trembled violently with anger at the Akuma's ignorance.

"I am no woman, I am a man!" He yelled, and swore he heard Lavi snicker despite their dangerous situation. "Second Illusions: Nigentou! Hakka Tourou!" He roared, falling upon the enemy like a raging lion. They parried for a moment, Kanda with his fierce, heavy blows and the Akuma with nimble dodges and effortless blocks.

"Master would like a toy. Spoils from this battle. This little Exorcist's Heart should do." The Akuma mused to itself, half-heartedly deflecting Mugen's strikes. The words and half-hearted fighting infuriated Kanda further. He was not little, and nobody would take his lotus-bound heart from him! He struck at the Akuma with renewed vigor. His blue eyes sparked as the level four caught his wrists, squeezing hard. "Damn you!" It twisted his fingers until, with a pained cry, he had to let Mugen go. He growled and struggled furiously as he heard his beloved weapon strike the stone floor in a cacophony of clanks and screeches.

The Akuma's sickly white face stretched into a toothless smile. It opened its mouth, about to speak when a huge, solid object crashed into it. Kanda was released from its grip and spiralled to the floor, his eyelids fluttering shut. Even though he knew his body would regenerate itself, he did not wish to see his body break and go splat against the hard, unyielding stone floor below.


He wasn't dead.

He did not even touch the ground. Far from it. He was swept from his free-fall and pressed against a warm body, arms circling his waist protectively. "Nani?" He murmured groggily in his mother tongue, Japanese. "What?" Then he heard a familiar voice speak and groaned inwardly. Of all the people to be rescued by...

"Hey, Yuu! Aren't you glad you dropped by?"

Kanda opened his eyes to glare at Lavi, his saviour and bane of his life. "Mugen!" He chose to spit angrily instead, trying to wriggle out from the redhead's grasp. The other held him closer, relishing in the touch and the soft, warm mass that was Kanda's. "I'll get it for you." Lavi promised, depositing the dark-haired man gently next to a half-conscious Allen and made to go for that sword Innocence. "Extend, Tettsui!" His hammer Innocence lengthened and he prepared to make a dash for it. Just then, he felt a weight attach itself to his Exorcist uniform and he twisted his neck to the side curiously.

Of course. It was Kanda, more stubborn and obstinate than a mule.

Lavi frowned anxiously. "No, Yuu. Don't be such a naughty boy. Down!" In reply, the long-haired man knocked him off the hammer and ran lightly along its extended handle to Mugen. He quickly scooped his weapon up, feeling relief flood him. Since the battle with Skin Bolic, he felt uneasy whenever Mugen was not strapped securely to his hips or in his hands. He worried that it might shatter like glass if he left it by itself. His logical side reprimanded him for being sentimental, but sometimes one had to let things slide. His thoughts were interrupted as three familiar beings materialised in the middle of the destroyed laboratory.

Road Camelot hung upside down, her knees hooked around the orange, talking umbrella she always carried around. "Tyki, look! What we have accomplished." She giggled at the sorry sight Allen was. "Aww, my poor puppy..."

Tyki Mikk smiled indulgently at his niece. Lulubell surveyed the badly damaged place with mild amusement. The level four Akuma had gotten back onto its knobbly feet and was now approaching the three Noah reverently. "Master, Mistresses, I am the newly formed Level Four and I bring beneficial news." Tyki looked at the Akuma in interest. "The Earl will be pleased to know we have achieved a level four – accompanied with acceptable strength."

If Akuma could blush, this one did. "I have found the Heart of Innocence!" It blurted out excitedly, proudly.

Everyone in the room froze. Even Allen found strength in his limbs to lift his head and stare at it. The Noah clustered around the Akuma, who was most obviously delighted with his master's attention. "Who is it?" Road asked interestedly.

The Akuma dropped the bombshell. "That pretty, long-haired Exorcist."

There was no need to look who it was, for the only pretty, long-haired Exorcist in the room was Kanda. Lavi was stunned for only a second, havin had his long-standing suspicions confirmed. Then he was running, running towards Kanda, who had unfortunately decided to be shocked motionless for the few rare times in his life. He knew he had to protect the Heart at all costs or all existing Innocence would be doomed. And his heart, which he had discovered because of Kanda, would fade away forever should the dark-haired Exorcist die.

"Yuu! Run, run for god's sake!" Lavi shouted with utmost urgency. His feet thudded on the stone floor, echoing hollowly throughout the room. The Noah had turned their heads simultaneously to fix hungry, golden gazes upon Kanda, who stood there with a puzzled expression, Mugen held loosely in his hands. He was a sitting duck for death.

Then Lavi saw want and lust blaze in the Noah of Pleasure's eyes as he took in Kanda's lithe, slender form. Tyki's gaze travelled the Japanese man's entire length, focusing especially on his exotic features.

"Get your fucking eyes away from him!" Lavi yelled out desperately, lunging forwards. Only two pairs of golden eyes snapped towards him – no credits to guessing where the gaze of the third pair lingered. He felt his lungs die a painful death as he reached Kanda, bundling the dazed man behind him with his hammer Innocence in hand.

"Fucking get your eyes off him." Lavi panted, arms curled protectively around Kanda's waist. He straightened up to glare at the Noah who was ogling Kanda. Tyki's eyes gleamed, and he flinched. The Noah had an almost predatory glint in his eyes. Lulubell stepped forwards – but the redhead was not having any of their shit. "Combo Seal: Gouraiten!" He roared, invoking the spell by slamming the head of his hammer into both seals.

A wall of flames and metal erupted in front of him, shielding them from the Noah. Lavi heard a high, scornful laugh from Road. Tyki parted the fiery barrier with his Tease, black butterfly-like creatures. All Lavi could think of was to keep Kanda safe. "Allen, help us!" He shouted. Clown Belt shot forwards to wrap around them, bringing them backwards and away from the Noah. They were further away from the trio now. He sent a silent prayer to all known gods up there.

"Allen, we need to get Yuu outta here!" Lavi cast around for an escape route, arms still locked securely around the dark-haired Exorcist's waist. He had memorised the exact layout of this room when the announcement was made about Akuma infiltration, but it was of no use now. All the fighting had disfigured the room with fallen pillars, sky-high rubble and blocked doors. Suddenly, he realised that the room appeared strangely different. It seemed more cluttered with debris, somehow. And the number of outlets seemd to have lessened drastically.

After a moment's contemplation, it hit him. Road Camelot. That skiving weasel had used her Noah powers to confuse them and make them imagine things. While they were disoriented, Tyki and Lulubell would attack. This tactic had been used on them before and had been greatly damaging. "You cannot escape, Exorcists." A male voice called out. It was Tyki, emerging from right behind them.

"The Heart of Innocence is mine!"


"Hand him over at once."

"No." Lavi hustled the still-stunned Kanda behind him, bravely facing the Noah by himself. Allen was too out of it. He was alone. "Not on my life."

Tyki smiled cruelly and stepped forwards. "Then you both will die."

"Noooo!" Lavi wailed almost comically and conjured up the spell once more. The fire raged and filled the room, forcing Tyki back. The intense heat broke Road's concentration and freed them from the illusions. The redhead quickly dragged the other two along a narrow path through the walls of flames. Allen could barely stand and had to hold on for support.

"Che." Kanda suddenly grumbled, much to Lavi's delight. His Yuu was not mentally scarred for life by that revelation afterall. "All this shit about the stupid Heart. Let's just kick their sorry asses back to that oversized teddy bear they name Earl so I can get some goddamn rest." Without waiting for a reply, he readied Mugen and prepared to fight once more.

"No!" Lavi half-shrieked, latching himself onto the long-haired man. What the hell was he thinking? "You'll die! You can't die! You'll break my heart!" He blurted out, then froze as he realised what he had just said. He hastily amended: "You... are the Heart of Innocence. If you die, all existing Innocence would immediately be destroyed!"

Kanda looked strangely at him, making his heart skip a beat at their close proximity. "...Fine." The other man agreed grudgingly, with more than a little reluctance. "For the sake of Innocence, and nothing else!" He shot Lavi a suspicious glare. The redhead couldn't say he didn't feel disappointed at Kanda's words, but they couldn't waste any more precious time now. He grabbed their hands and began plowing a path through the maze of fire.

"Quick, on my hammer." He said urgently. "I'll bring us out of here. Lenalee and the others should be arriving to help us soon." Without warning, Kanda was plucked from his clutch by an invisible force and hoisted into the air, struggling. The dark-haired man spat and snarled like an angry, wet cat. Lavi and Allen looked up, too startled to do anything. The unknown grasp hauled him back a few feet from the others and he was suspended for a few more seconds before the force released him. He landed on the floor in an undignified position.

Lulubell sailed gracefully into sight, with Tyki and Road close behind. Tyki smirked and placed his fingers on Kanda's shoulders. It was an almost possessive gesture. And it drove Lavi nuts. "Hands off him!" He screeched, lunging at the Noah.

"Keep your fucking hands to yourself!" Kanda snarled and attempted to dive away at the same time.

The result was the two of them crashing into each other and sprawling in a tangle of limbs on the floor. "Damn you, La–!" Kanda was silenced by a cloth that had mysteriously appeared over his mouth and held down by Lulubell, who was exceptionally strong. Lavi was brutally kicked in the ribs several times by Tyki. Kanda winced at the redhead's pained groans, but could not make any clear vocalisations. He was brought to his feet with a firm pull. He met those golden, cat-like eyes squarely with his own jewel-blue ones.

Tyki stared at Kanda's face intently for a moment, then reached out with a gloved hand to caress his cheek gently. The dark-haired man tried to jerk away, but Lulubell held him immobilised. "Stay still!" She hissed, cuffing his head and wrenching his arms back roughly when he tried to fight back.

"Beautiful..." Tyki breathed, trailing a slender finger down smooth skin.

"You fucking shit!" Lavi launched himself furiously at Tyki yet again. He failed miserably and joined Allen on the floor. Kanda was the only conscious Exorcist remaining. He felt panic bubble within him, thick and acidic, eating away at his forced calmness. He felt fearful for the Heart of Innocence he harboured inside his body. His eyes darted around restlessly, searching for an escape route of some sort. Then his gaze fell upon Lavi and Allen, and he knew he could not leave. Not when his comrades were still here.

The Noah clicked his fingers and the cloth muffling his mouth vanished. Kanda immediately opened his mouth to deliver a stinging comment, but before he could speak Tyki covered his mouth with his own.

Kanda's eyes widened with shock at the feel of the soft mouth pressed against his. He did the only thing he could do – he bit down harshly on the Noah's lips. Tyki lurched back with a low curse, and wiped his bloody mouth with the back of his hand. He looked slightly annoyed but that quickly faded to amusement. He shot a look past Kanda and something flashed in his golden eyes. The long-haired man barely had time to realise what the look meant when Lulubell twisted his right arm, violently. There was a horrible snick sound and a sharp, burning sensation bloomed from deep inside his bones. He hadly had time to fully register the pain. A scream ripped itself out of his throat as the Noah clamped down on his broken arm with her fingers, crushing he was slammed to the ground.

Kanda didn't stop to think. His body acted on instinct; his other arm shot forwards and beared the brunt of his weight. He swiftly lowered himself to the floor, rolled to the side and leapt up with the aid of his three functioning limbs. He headbutted Tyki right smack against his jaw.

Tyki gave a gasp of pain and stumbled backwards. Lulubell was beside him in a flash, steadying him. He touched his bruised jaw gingerly, lightly massaging it. Road had sprang up and lashed out at Kanda's broken wrist – but he was prepared and managed to evade her. Then the two females were on him at once, kicking and slapping. He flailed blindly, not caring who he hit, while keeping his injured hand close to his body. There was a startled 'oof!' as his fist sank into the soft flesh of a stomach. He watched in grim satisfaction as Lulubell fell ungracefully on her behind. And then Road was lunging for him again, golden eyes slitted–

"Enough!" Tyki snapped. The other two Noah hesitated briefly. "But, Tyki!" Road complained, "He hurt you twice already!" She was given a hostile glare, and she shrugged, backing off. Then Tyki turned to face Kanda, who stared back and snarled in defiance. Instead of a harsh blow, the Noah smiled. It was a genuinely pleasant smile, but it sent shivers of apprehension down the Exorcist's back. "You've got guts, pretty boy."

Tyki leaned in close to speak those words into the younger man's ears, breath ghosting down the other's neck. Kanda instantly jerked away but was held down by Lulubell yet again, who deliberately gripped his shoulders with great strength as revenge for earlier. Tyki smirked, reaching out to stroke the Japanese man's long, flowing hair. He marvelled as the ebony strands slipped through his fingers like silk. "It would be such a shame to kill such a beautiful, feisty creature." He brought his hand up to brush away the flyaway strands of hair that stuck to Kanda's sweat-lined face. The Exorcist had a murderous urge to run the Noah through with Mugen.

"Tyki, I want to bring him back to play!" Road had busied herself with her object of interest again. She pointed at the unconscious Allen, jumping up and down. Tyki waved her away, focusing solely on Kanda. "I just can't bear to destroy such a lovely being." He finally decided. "We could use this pretty boy here to do some spying for us."

Kanda stiffened at those words. Spy? On who?

Lulubell looked contemptuously down at him and spat. "He is not strong enough. If he is caught, he cannot fight off all those Exorcists and Generals at once!" Tyki flashed her a warning look and beckoned her away from Kanda. The Exorcist watched suspiciously as they conversed with their backs to him. The occasional raised voice provided him snippets of their conversation as they argued. He heard a few key words he thought should be vital: "Akuma", "virus" and "the Fourteenth". Then Lulubell finally lost her cool and shouted. "The Earl will never allow an enemy to spy for him!"

Kanda flinched like he had been shot. He, spy on his own comrades? That was utterly preposterous. He would never do such dirty bidding for those Noah fuckers. It was against his honor to betray. Unfortunately, Tyki had no such qualms about it. "We can make him one of us!" He told Lulubell triumphantly.

"Him? A Noah?" Her face was a mask of disgust. Road merely ignored this latest development and crouched by Allen's prone form, sulking. Tyki shook his head impatiently. "A Noah's slave." He corrected her. "It will bind him closer to this purpose. He will be unable to resist when Called." Lulubell stared at him incredulously for a few moments then shrugged, anger leaving her tense body. "You may do whatever you want, but be warned, the Earl's wrath will be solely yours to bear."

Tyki ignored her – he was already walking back to Kanda. He pinned the Japanese man against a fallen pillar and brushed the other's lips with his own, a sadistic, triumphant grin on his face. Kanda shut his eyes, unwilling to see his dignity shatter further. Tyki was a man... and so was he. He had stooped so low, he thought bitterly. He fully expected the harsh bite on his lips a moment later – payback for earlier. Blood oozed out thickly and Tyki caught the scarlet droplets on the tip of his tongue. Then he drew back, licking his lips and said eagerly. "Lulubell, make him one of yours now."

One of Lulubell's? What did that mean? Kanda observed the Noah warily as she made her way towards him, scorn etched on every feature of her face. He vaguely recalled the Noah's ability to shapeshift. And something about cats. Black cats.

"He will be so beautiful." He heard Tyki breathe out.

A low murmuring reached his ears and he tensed, bracing himself against the pillar, alert and ready to fight. As the murmuring stopped, Lulubell suddenly lifted her hand and dug her nails deep into his forehead. He shouted out in shock and made to shove her away, but then his world abruptly flashed white and he crumpled to the ground, paralysed. There was a moment where he thought time stopped. His heart stopped. There was a jolt of excruiating pain. Black flames, they were licking hungrily at his body from the inside. He couldn't breathe, his chest felt tight and constricting. His scalp itched, crawled, and he was sure he felt his spine lengthen and grow. He gave a silent scream as bone shifted and ground against each other, locking into new positions. As suddenly as it began, it ended. Kanda did not know. It could have lasted seconds – or minutes. He was only aware of that dreadful pain.

"So beautiful." A rich, deep voice intoned.

And then all was black.


What do you think? I thought it was crazy horrible. Do let me know if I should continue this piece of crap! xD