A Fading Hope
by:
Nellani (exo)
The light started to slowly disappear across the horizon just as Allen and Kanda had finished picking up the last bit of rubble from what remained of the mysterious Black Order's Headquarters. Behind the shadows, the Black Order organized and housed thousands of exorcists around the world. These exorcists risked their lives in order to save humankind from the Millennium Earl, the maker of a wicked machine called akuma. These akuma, made from the souls of tormented and distraught humans, could blend in flawlessly with society and attack unsuspecting humans. The Millennium Earl, along with his family, The Noah Clan, brought destruction on earth. Now, only a few remaining exorcists and humans survive.
Suddenly, Lenalee came into Allen's view, and Allen felt of pang of guilt and anger towards himself. It was all my fault, he thought.
"Lenalee, you look tired," Allen stated happily. He mustn't let her know. She cocked her head to one side, confused.
"Who's Lenalee?" She asked innocently. Allen cringed.
"She still hasn't remembered?" Kanda said coldly. Allen felt the sudden urge to kill Kanda, which wasn't abnormal, but that would just cause more sadness and grief.
"Your name is Lenalee... don't you remember, at all? You're an exorcist, and a strong one, too." Allen said anxiously, but also with a kind and gentle smile. Lenalee shook her head in deep confusion.
"I don't remember ever being an exorcist. I'm just a nurse..." She smiled weakly, obviously confused about the situation. Allen tried to smile back, but it was too painful. Everything was.
He thought about the times when Lenalee had her memories back. Though she was the same as she was back then, there was something about her that made Allen want to break down and cry, as if she had taken a part of him with him. Allen had never felt the same since then.
A tear rolled down Allen's cheek, and he quickly brushed it away.
"Such a wuss," Kanda grumbled underneath his breath, but it was just loud enough for Allen to hear.
"Kanda, shut up!" Allen screamed, reaching for a rock about the size of his head.
"I'm just stating the facts, bean sprout," He said coolly.
Allen lost control, and threw the nearest rock at Kanda, and it hit him, right in the middle of his face. The rock fell to the ground. It thudded and resounded across the building. Blood trickled down Kanda's face.
"Please... stop..." Lenalee whispered. Tears rolled down her face, and Allen immediately rushed to her side. She collapsed to the ground, but Allen caught her.
"Lenalee, are you okay?" Allen asked softly. Kanda scoffed in the background.
"Yes, but please, just stop fighting. We already have..." She trailed off, too afraid and hurt to continue. Allen squeezed her hand tightly.
"I'm sorry Lenalee. Please, forgive me. I... just..." She smiled and put her hand on Allen's shoulder.
"It's alright Allen. I understand." She got up, and went around a wall of rubble, which was next to the infirmary.
"I guess you're a wuss after all, bean sprout," Kanda said.
"Shut up." Allen said with annoyance in his voice. Kanda chuckled to himself, but Allen furrowed his brow, and began shoveling rubble again. Allen's cursed left hand seemed to always be in his view, constantly reminding him.
A long silence passed between the two exorcists until Allen spoke up again,
"Kanda?"
"What?"
"Was it my fault?" Allen asked as his voice cracked. Kanda stopped shoving rocks, and looked at Allen.
"No. Why? Why do you still think about it? It was a year ago. Let it go." Kanda said angrily.
"I can't! Do you know how many people died, Kanda? Do you know how many of our friends died because of what I did? Because of my decision?" Allen screamed at him. Kanda was unaffected.
"People die in war." He said.
"But, not this many people..." Allen said, tears running down his dirty face. He quickly wiped them away, trying to pull himself together.
"I don't understand you." Kanda stated.
"Of course you don't. You're an idiot."
A girl with long, black hair and eyes like the night entered where Allen and Kanda were working. She wore an old exorcist uniform, which was now used for people working in the infirmary.
"Lavi would like to see you two." She said with a monotonous voice. Allen and Kanda followed her around the wall, and into a field. Here in the field were about fifty or so tents set up for wounded exorcists and humans.
She led them to a tent at the far end of the field with a number "47" on the tent's side. She silently opened the tent's white flaps.
Lavi lay on an infirmary bed with bandages wrapped all around his head, waist, and what remained of his right leg. Lavi turned his head to one side, so he could see his friends better.
"Oy, what's up?" He said, barely opening his eyes. Lavi's voice was weak with exhaustion, but he tried hard to put some enthusiasm in it.
"Nothing Lavi. Are you feeling better?" Allen asked. Lavi pursed his lips, and said,
"Never better, Allen! How's Yuu doing?" He said, smiling to himself.
"I'm fine." Kanda said briskly. Lavi chuckled.
"Still the same as ever." Lavi said airily. Blood began the run through one of his bandages around the stump, which was once a leg. The nurse who had led Allen and Kanda quickly took out a bandage from a nearby box inside of Lavi's tent.
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to leave. The patient needs much needed rest," She shooed them outside. The stars were shining brightly in the sky. Kanda grunted.
"I'm going to bed." He walked off, leaving Allen next to Lavi's tent.
Allen stood looking up at the sky, trying to think, but his thoughts were nothing but a wave of emotions. All of them seemed to come at him once, and he could rarely control any of them anymore. Allen raised his cursed hand up into the sky and looked at the stars,
"Mana, no matter what, I'll keep moving forward."
To be continued...
