D.Gray-man
The Order of…Oz?
Chapter o1.
It's so…
The tow haired exorcist wore an expression of utter misery. He slumped against the red cushion of his seat that vibrated and jolted along with the train car. His arms rested across his legs, forced into an awkward position. To the left he felt the pressure of another body against his. To the right, it was imperative to make minimal contact unless he wanted to be missing a limb.
He's hogging it…
Forlorn blue eyes were cast in the direction of the pale skinned boy resting with his elbow against the side wall, elbow crooked and chin propped in an open palm.
How does he do it?
If Allen tried to balance his arm on a wall and supported even the weight of his head, he would have fallen and cracked his nose. Kanda's fingers were still, cupping his own face, but Allen knew they would be at the hilt of Mugen come the slightest irritation. He swallowed a thick lump in his throat and inched a little more to the left.
He isn't even sweating…
On the other hand, Allen could feel the sticky heat pressing in from all sides. While on other benches, passengers huddled around the window seats to catch the passing wind, Kanda had taken this window seat with a glower to the rest of his cohorts. Having already made his displeasure of being here known, it was best not to invade his personal space.
He reached with his right hand to sweep aside humidity frazzled fringes from his forehead, but in doing so he disturbed the weight against that shoulder.
"Oi, bean sprout don't move so much. It's too hot." Complained the offended party, wearing an expression similar to Allen's earlier one. But even more bedraggled if possible. The tips of wild red hair were even slightly weighed down, "Lavi…if its so hot, why are you laying on me?" He asked patiently, having wondered as much for the last thirty minutes of their journey. He turned to face the older teen with a small look of displeasure.
"Because you're more comfortable than the seat, bean sprout." Lavi flashed a grin up at Allen from his position and a quite cheeky one. Allen felt a twitch of his left brow coming on.
That makes no sense. It can't be more comfortable. Bodily contact makes it hotter.
This was something he should be glad he didn't say aloud, else he would have to face the teasing consequences. The privilege of continuing to be distracted by this was snatched away by the weight on his shoulder suddenly rotating quite comfortably into his lap. Shoulders stiffening he looked down a bit wide eyed at Lavi leaning over his lap with a slyer grin.
"Isn't that right Yuu? You're always complaining about how hard the seats are in these things, we have a soft bean sprout pillow to take advantage of."
"H-hey!' The timid and somewhat delayed protest of the cursed boy began, "Lavi I'm no pillow and its really too hot to play this way." He was also sure Kanda should be left alone. Lavi snickered and waved a hand dismissively, still with an elbow curled in his lap, "Lighten up bean sprout. it's a great way to ignore the heat." He meant by finding a distraction in teasing Yuu, but the meaning escaped Allen, "Hey Yuu." He continued, reaching for the black haired boy, " Yuuu-chan! Did you hear-" His fingertip made contact with Kanda's side and prodded.
"- me?" Lavi finished his sentence at the exact instant Yuu whirled, innocence whipped cleanly around and relieving Lavi of a few split ends. The bookman's apprentice took it in good stride, holding his laughter on top of brief panic. He'd buried his face in Allen's lap to ensure he didn't ended up being scalped. God only knows what life would be like if Yuu's innocence was a tomahawk instead of a sword.
Trembling, frozen, red, pale - the reactions fought each other for dominance as Allen had Mugen less than an inch away from his neck and a Lavi nestled comfortably in his lap. Too comfortably!
"K-Kanda, you really should be more carefully with that thing." He sweat dropped, lifting a digit of his parasitic arm to push the blade to a safe distance. There was no need because it was flipped and sheathed again, his words only given a snort of acknowledgement as Kanda whipped his head back around to the window. Rather than returning to his former position though, a series of clicks could be heard as the window was loosed from its locks and the wind let in.
That feels so good.
Good enough to distract him from the odd tension on one side and the disconcerting comfort on the other. That was, until the wind caught Kanda's illustrious ponytail and snapped it right in his face.
"Mm! Mmmff!"
He flailed wildly to try and get the hair out of his mouth, upsetting both of his companions and reinstating the war with Kanda's personal space.
"Those three are always good for entertainment, don't you think Lenalee?" A grin that was a little too wide to be innocent was stretched over the Chinese man's face as he sat on the opposing wall of the train from the bickering exorcists, an arm draped comfortably over his dear little sisters shoulders protectively.
"We should invite them to join us. There's still a long way to go until we get there." She said, heart going out to the victims of Kanda's abuse and the train's heat. Her dark ponytail were being blown back by the fan in Komui's latest and thus far, mostly successful invention. Komurin mini mobile which someone had commented was like the swiss army knife of robots. She felt guilty sitting here being so cool while the boys suffered and had been tempted more than once to go join them. Or at least put a stop to Kanda's mad carving. She was dissuaded by Komui's insistence that it would injure their manly pride to be saved from a small spat by her. (As it happened often enough when one of his inventions had a malfunction. Not that he'd ever say that out loud ).
"I'll hear nothing of the sort!" He proclaimed, mouth forming what Lenalee thought looked an awful lot like the letter 'v' turned upside down. His own shorter hair whipping in the komurin created breeze, any dramatic effect was ruined by a crash across the train and she wasn't certain she even wanted to know what was going on this time. Just that Lavi sounded like he was having too much fun, Allen was in distress, and Kanda…was angry.
Boys…
She sighed softly, but a tiny smile still found its way to her face. Annoying, yet endearing.
"Excuse me, head officer, but what is the reason we have been pulled away from more important things to take a train ride?" Kanda had sudden appeared before the siblings, addressing Komui with a sort of venom in his voice that would make a black mamba envious. Komui appeared taken aback briefly, but only ended up smiling in that pleasant way that pissed Kanda off. Lenalee wondered if a vein would burst if he gritted his teeth much harder. Always so composed, it was a little out of character. So even the great Kanda Yuu wasn't immune to the heat.
"We are going to have a look at a brand new innocence that has revealed itself. An audience was requested and I simply couldn't be rude." He said, laughing sharply. A paper fan slipped from his sleeve and was flourished before his face with a snap.
"I have more important missions to do, than…" He searched the word for what this manner of madness was, "vacation with you." A pathetic lot unable to withstand even a little heat. Never mind the fact he'd opened the window to cool himself off. But the nerve to place him next that cursed moyashi. It had taken everything in his power to keep from making contact with him. Lavi gallingly did all but crawl into the bean sprouts lap and that irritated Kanda even more. He needed mediation. He needed soba. Why was there no damn soba on this train?
"He could use more than a vacation if you ask me. He acts like that sword sheathe is stuck up his ass instead of at his side." Lavi muttered just loud enough for Allen's ears, causing him to blush a little and sweat drop again. At least they were safe while he confronted Komui. That man was impervious to all except a blow from Lenalee's dark boots. With a heavy sigh he let his head fall back against the seat and closed his eyes hoping they would reach their destination by the time he awoke.
Blessed air….
Allen sucked in as much as he could when they were finally off the train. It was still hot, but there was a breeze. His fellow Black Order members shuffled off of the train in due time and there were enough of them. Himself, Head Officer Komui, Lenalee, Kanda, Lavi, Crowley, several finders and even Bookman had come. It was quite an assortment, but he didn't understand why they had been told to come any more than Kanda. Being short on exorcists with the war with akuma pending -shouldn't they have been doing something more important?
It could be that its a really important innocence…
It was actually that they were all in the cafeteria when Komui burst in with Komurin number…Allen had lost count…and rounded up all the hapless victims it could catch. None of them would speak of it on the account of embarrassment.
Once he was done reveling in the break from the heat, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants - since the black order jacket was taken off and slung over a shoulder - and took a look around.
Whoa…
It was…a city. The buildings rose taller compared to most places, and bright lights had been hung up everywhere. Of course, they were only on the edge of this city having just stepped off the train.
"Tincampy…" The little golem had disappeared during the train ride and reappeared without Allen knowing until the golem settled on top of his head. He smiled some, glad it had finally returned.
"Allen! Hurry or you're going to get left!" Lenalee's voice reached his ears giving him a surprise.
Huh?
He looked this way and that until sighting the girl dressed in her Order uniform waving to him by a large gateway. Flushing in embarrassment, a quick jerk of his head this way and that informed him that he was the last one left. And behind Lenalee stood Kanda with his arms folded giving him the usual icy look and Lavi with his hands linked behind his head waiting patiently, "Coming!" He said, hurrying to catch up with the group.
After traveling through the city, the exorcists and company arrived at…
"Another creepy old mansion. Man I was hoping we were invited to some place lush, with long legged maid girls ready to tend to our every manly wh-iiiim…"
Lavi's final word became a wheeze as his head by passed his neck and connected with his shoulders in a most uncomfortable way thanks to Lenalee's boot connecting.
"Lavi…don't be rude." She said, glaring at him although her true thought was don't be a pervert!
Whining and rubbing the battered spot on his head he peered at the Chinese girl with puppy eyes - er eye.
"I'm sure there could be a tanned young butler ready to buttle your every need if you swing that way." He said thoughtfully, stroking his chin whilst Komui rose up behind him in a miasma of darkness, "What are you suggestion for my little sister. You disgusting octopus!" He shouted, causing the hammer wielder to tip sideways and shuffle to regain his footing, catching onto Allen for balance.
Why do they always use me for the shield or the bait?
"Komurin!" A thin finger pointed in Lavi and Allen's direction as Komui readied himself for battle mode, "No!" Lenalee cut it short. She felt like a babysitter sometimes more than an exorcist. Allen was the only sane one, if a little dense. Perhaps she could tag along with him to see the city later and Lavi if he wanted to. Likely, Kanda wouldn't be caught dead with the group unless it was a mission or a life and death situation.
"You were going to attack me with that thing, I didn't do anything!" He rose up and snapped at Komui. Lavi took this as his cue to inch over behind Crowley, "All is far in love and war." the scientist responded stubbornly, arms now clasped behind his back and sore over his sister's rebuke, "That doesn't even make any sense!" Poor Allen.
"I think the decoration is quite lovely. It has a pleasant atmosphere, reminds me of home." Crowley said with a hint of nostalgia. There was a mass sweat drop as the company took in their surroundings yet again. They stood in the courtyard of a gray estate with high iron gates. The garden in desperate need of tending was full of high grass and wild flowers - which gave Allen a chill of bad memories - a cherub water fountain with water gone down to a measly trickle and there were leaves in the bath. Ivy vines crawled up the walls of the house, only interrupted by the balcony jutting out on the top floor. It obviously belonged to the master bedroom. Looking down at the ground, even that was old and cracked. The pillars holding up the old veranda of the manner only added to the severity of the place.
Of course he thinks it looks like home.
Crowley was a nice enough guy when he wasn't feeling long in the tooth, but his taste was highly questionable.
"It looks like someone was trying to hard." Kanda said softly, but loud enough for the others to hear. And if they didn't, it wasn't his problem. The urge to talk was a rare thing, but the bickering of his cohorts was annoying. And he disliked the feeling of this place. Ominous, but he was certain there were no akuma around. If there were bean sprout's cursed eye would have activated.
"Well, we shouldn't continue to stand around out here. We'd better go on and meet our kind host." Komui said, now in a level headed mode - who knows how long it would last this time. The sound of feet trooped up to the front entrance where the heavy iron ring hung in the stone carving of an uncomfortable looking imp was given a bang. They waited.
And they waited.
And they waited.
Just when some had begun to wonder if this was as suspicious as it seemed, the door swung open revealing the yawning darkness of a hall and a slender, bespectacled man in a red coat and black and red checked tie. His short blonde hair was mussed all over his head, but he was obviously a young man. He stared at the company for a moment, boney fingers grasping and adjusting his glasses. Eventually his face split into a wide welcoming grin.
" Ah -ha. Mr. Lee and company. Welcome, welcome." He spoke in a quick sentences, as though he were collecting his thoughts little by little and some kept trying to escape, "You are here about the innocence, yes? Yes, I'm sure. Sorry to keep you waiting. So very sorry. I hope I can make it up to you by being a wonderful host. Come in, come in all of you!" A step was taken backwards, long leg slid back so he could dip his upper body in a gracious bow.
"Yes, thank you. How kind of you Sir Reamus. And thank you for your hospitality." Komui returned the bow lightly and stepped inside. The rest followed suit, giving their greetings and thanks one by one before marveling at the interior of the place that was no less garish than the outside. Possibly more so, it was messier. The walls were hung with pictures of models, men and women. Some were posed in romantic holds, others in dramatic poses of fright. All pictures. Metal pieces were hear and there, unidentifiable components and there was the faintest hint of chemical in the air.
"Forgive the mess, please, please." He gave a lingering smile for the only detectable female in the company, Lenalee, but only out of chivalry. The door was pushed shut behind them when the last was in, "I was hurrying to -to have the innocence prepared for your arrival in the midst of a project. Do try not to think too harshly of me." He also had an accent, "And I see you have brought me a lovely audience." Noticing the quizzical looks of the exorcists he rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, "You see, I have been a photographer. But lately I became interested in an industry that is in its infancy." He explained, ushering them to follow him down the hall. Which they did. Allen felt a bit like a sheep.
"Moving pictures, or movies as some of my lazier colleagues have coined. A lot of pictures. A lot of pictures flashed quickly gives the illusion of movement. If you take pictures, one small movement at a time you can go through a whole course of action. Its…well…" He paused, searching for a better way to explain it, "You'll just have to see it." He said and hurried on, "Anyway, I was tinkering with creating a projector…this is what we need for the moving pictures and I discovered something odd about my machine. After a bit of investigation, some young man in a tan coat came to examine it. He told me it was an innocence and I thought it was absolutely delightful to have come across something so unique!"
"This guy is a little off his rocker, in my opinion." Allen whispered to Lenalee who had fallen into step beside him. She studied the man for a moment. "You could be right." she spoke back. "So I'm not the only one!" Lavi chimed in. The man continued to drone on, but the words were lost to him.
"By the way, if you ever have any free time or consider a career change, with a picture I am developing I could use someone like you. You'd make an excellent vampire." Reamus said kindly to Crowley.
There was a silent beat as gloom descended from the ceiling and cloaked Crowley, fangs capturing his lower lip causing a wrinkle in his chin. Said chin trembled and tears formed at the corner of his eyes.
.The moment passed much to everyone's relief and the room sighed, "I doubt I'll change occupations. Being an exorcist is my calling." He didn't want to cause trouble, the memories of the burden he'd been on Allen and Lavi when they so recently retrieved him still fresh on his mind. As were the praying thoughts of Eliade, but he had a new life now. He smiled to them. Lavi thought particularly to Allen which caused his blood pressure to spike a little for some reason. He did just as much babysitting as bean sprout did. Said bean sprout only gave a shaky laugh and reassuring wave to the vamp- 'er the other exorcist.
He's been staying awfully close to the bean sprout.
Kanda noted this of Allen and Lavi from his rear position. It matter not to him, of course. He simply hadn't known the two had become such good friends during their mission. He hadn't been too thrilled to see Lavi again and was glad it wasn't his assignment to go with the redhead. However…he couldn't put his finger on it, but he wasn't certain he liked their closeness that much. Couldn't Lavi spend five minutes on his own feet and not within ten feet of the bean sprout? There was no heat drain to continue complaining of, well into the evening time now. The display was unmanly and pathetic. Yes, that was it.
"Here we are everyone!" Finally everyone was back on subject. This room had large red doors that were pushed open to reveal a dark room full of chairs. A large white screen took up nearly the whole of one wall.
"Where is the innocence?" Kanda put out.
"Yes, yes of course. It is upstairs. If you all shall take a seat I will retrieve the possessed projector." He said and hurried off to get it.
"I do wonder how the innocence has manifested in the form of a projector…" Komui wondered aloud once the blonde had disappeared. It was very curious. He didn't see it as being a particularly offensive anti-akuma weapon. Perhaps it was non-offensive like Miranda's. Or it could simply be that the innocence inside of it was causing strange effects. That seemed like the most logical explanation. But he wasn't the only person pondering on the innocence.
Outside the manor…
"Tyki Mikk. " A little girl's voice, falsely innocent cooed between licks to a spiral lollipop. In patent leather Mary Jane shoes and black and white striped stocking she stood atop a light post just outside the gate, "That man is strange. There are so many exorcists in there…" she smiled faintly," It would be a perfect opportunity…"
"To play a game, Road?" The slick, suited man finished her sentence with a hint of amusement. The girl was predictable, always making everything into a game. But she couldn't have all the fun, " There is quite the assortment inside." He said, rotating a card idly on the pad of his index digit. The jack of spades.
"Of course. I've been getting bored without Relo to play with." The Earl hadn't lent it too her for some time. How cruel of him. The Noah child was in desperate need of entertainment and Tyki never wanted to play for a long time. She gave a soft humph to the thought, lifting a hand pointing skyward to summon a barrage of akuma above the building.
"I want to play myself, but first…I want to get this started…" Pink tongue snaked out, slithering over the lollipop before retreating into her mouth, behind a toothy grin of pearly white.
"Found it!" Reamus said, hurrying back to rejoin the group with the projector in hand.
"Moyashi!" Kanda hissed, jerking his head towards the feeling. Allen should have been one of the first ones to feel it. He was dense, but not when it came to detection. His hand was already on Mugen and it was drawn.
"I feel it too." How could he not? The skin surrounding his eye darkened further, white swallowed up by darkness and subsiding for the monocle. Lavi's hammer was already drawn and Lenalee's boots taking on their innocent form. Crowley was ready as well, fangs gleaming in the dim light of the room.
It was a very intimidating scene for the photographer to stumble upon.
"Don't worry Mr. Reamus. We will protect you and the innocence." Komui said. Who would be foolish enough to mount an attack…even akuma when there were this many exorcists present. Unless someone ordered them to.
A Noah.
His expression grew more dim. But even still so bold. Reamus paled and gave a slow nod.
"Bang." Fingers forming a gun, she 'fired' at the roof of the manor.
The akuma really fired.
Sheltered by there weapons and the roof, the strike was still somewhat disorienting, not only having to avoid the shots of the akuma, but the falling stone of the room and ceiling.
"M-my theater!" Reamus shouted, running forward foolishly.
"No, you have to stay back!" It could have been anyone that shouted it. Probably Allen or Lavi, but a split second too late as a bullet struck the ground in front of the photographer sending him backwards against a chair. Groaning, he dropped the projector, " The innocence…" Glasses crooked, he reached for it, only to be jerked back roughly by Kanda's hand, "Don't touch it you idiot." They told him to stay back. Black pentacles covered the projector and spread over the floor, but didn't get far.
The shell of the projector crumbled, revealing the green and white light of innocence inside. However, it didn't stop there. The light grew and expanded.
What the…
The innocence light seemed to explode outward, engulfing Reamus and Kanda, followed by any and everything else in its path.
A giggling Road was surprised by the light that didn't look to be traveling as fast as it did. She hadn't even the time to make an exit before being taken by. Tyki Mikk would have escaped, had his endearing little sister not have grabbed his pant leg and drug him down with her.
The exorcist and company, the akuma, the Noah were all gone. The only thing remaining in the rubble of the manor was the broken projector and a single card fluttering towards the ground. The jack of spades.
End Chapter o1.