Lavi flipped the Ace of Spades in his hand.
War.
It was a common thing; he had witnessed it in every life, with every name. This time, Allen and Lenalee and even grumpy Kanda had given him hope that it might be different. Allen was gone, now. Lenalee, shaken enough to not eat or sleep. Kanda hadn't been seen by Cross's group in months. Lavi allowed himself to feel a moment of self-pity, before it evolved into the pain of loss. He, Lavi, the 49th, needed to grieve. Even if his unnamed core didn't see the purpose.
Lenalee sniffled, curled up her knees to her chest, and laid her head on them.
War.
She had experienced it ever since receiving that Innocence. They had taken Komui away from her, but given him back temporarily. If they chose, they could take him away with just their whims. Again. And now, part of her world had fallen apart. Allen was always a constant, even though he had been the last member of her makeshift family to arrive. She let out a soft moan as she was forced to face the reality that Allen wasn't coming back, ever.
Kanda continued on, head high.
War.
It was what he was bred to face. Fight and win. Fling yourself into the midst of enemies. Destroy and kill. Allen, Allen was different. Allen wanted to fight, but he wanted to save. Allen didn't mind killing when necessary, but he wanted to believe that there was a higher purpose, rather than catering to the Order's whims. Kanda refused to acknowledge the piece of him that mourned Allen's leaving. His guilt over Allen's departure wouldn't leave. And so he continued the chase.
The fourteenth grinned, an ugly toothy smile.
War.
He had been waiting so long for his vessel to stop fighting. Allen had put up a valiant fight, to be sure, but even after Kanda had found him, it was a matter of slightly altering Allen's memories, and just barely changing his behavior. Once that had been put in place, Allen wondered about his sanity. And once that had happened, the fourteenth, no, Neah had his stronghold in Allen's soul. Allen slowly ceased to exist, and became only a shadow of what he once was. And Neah?
Neah conquered.