A/N: This is just a small experiment that will be ended if it proves to be a failure. AU with considerable differences from canon.

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Synthetic Soldiers

1 – Paranoid World

The city of Altinopolis brimmed with movement. Large flows of people strode through the numerous streets, minding their daily business. The sheer number of citizens, merchants and visitors made it impossible to believe this place had been such a small town years ago.

The current world was being corroded by a war that had been going for so long there wasn't a human alive who could remember days of peace. It didn't allow much freedom: every person's identity was under suspicion, and severe procedures were carried out before anyone would be allowed through any community's strong gates. Add to that the endless terror that permeated most people and you had a difficult environment to live in, specially harsh to those who wished to travel or sell their goods.

Altinopolis' government, however, would have none of that. With the city being already isolated because of their small population and weak economy, its administrators knew it wouldn't live for long if they stuck to the world protocol. Wanting to make their lives better through a radical change in their way of living they decided, against every norm and authority, and against all safety recommendations, to freely open their gates for travelers and merchants, allowing entrance without the usual supervision and identity tests. As a result, the city became a refuge for those who couldn't find a place inside the safer walled cities. Altinopolis' economy strengthened unimaginably fast, and its inhabitants' lives apparently took a turn to the better. Now they didn't have to worry about the impending doom of perishing in poverty.

Mysterious disappearances and deaths were completely ignored in face of community's growth.

Kanda didn't know how to react to such a place. On one side, the new procedures of Altinopolis benefited him greatly. As a lone and unregistered traveler, he went through great difficulties to find places to stay, due to the justifiably paranoid nature of the Order-controlled communities in the world. He didn't have any friends or family, only very few acquaintances. Without any sort of useful connections, most of his journeys consisted on breaching security in order to enter a city and, once inside, inspecting the environment frantically in order to spot any law enforcers that could notice his misplacement. The greater states were almost impossible to break into, and he would only engage in such a life threatening endeavor if there was no way around it.

As a result, it was difficult to condemn Altinopolis' attitude if it allowed him to, for the first time in years, enter a city through its main gates without fear.

On the other side, there were no words that could properly express how incredibly callous and irresponsible it was to just give up traditional security checks and leave the whole community open to friends and foes alike. While the city had grown impressively, having attracted people such as himself who had trouble living anywhere else, such an advantage came at a great cost – one that couldn't really be worth it.

This city had to be crammed with Akuma.

Everything seemed fine at a first glance, but this couldn't last forever. Altinopolis became a utopia for the demons, who could enter freely and feed without a problem, thanks to rulers who avoided investigating slaughters in order to preserve their new system. How many of these people were actually monsters wearing human skin? How long before the amount of Akuma surpassed that of people, and the whole place fell down? Not only were these citizens killing themselves, but they were also doing a great disservice to the world. Akuma could strengthen and multiply here. Once this place ran out of nourishment, they would leave in search of new victims all around the continent and beyond.

It was a wonder that this city hadn't already been destroyed. Its procedures scandalized the world, and no other community would ever consider following Altinopolis' footsteps. He would have expected such a place to be exterminated by the orders of Central, eradicating all citizens, visitors and Akuma alike. It was the strategic thing to do, yet this infected nest was allowed to grow. Kanda's expression contorted into a disdainful scowl.

Cowards. The Black Order, charged with the responsibility of dealing with such matters, had yet to make a move. It wasn't hard to imagine why that would be so; finding new accommodators had been a problem to them for more than four decades. They likely wanted to destroy this place, but simply couldn't. So, instead of fighting, they must be hiding in their underground laboratories, manufacturing Exorcists-

The vendor who was handing him a bag flinched, and looked down. "T-that will be three silver coins, sir."

Kanda took his goods and slid the correct amount of money over the counter, before leaving. People stared at him with fearful eyes, but he knew it wasn't because he had been identified. No, the citizens looked like that towards everyone. They weren't that foolish; they knew what danger they were constantly in.

Placing the recently bought medicine inside his large backpack, he decided it was time to leave. Yes, he was an Exorcist, one of the rare people capable of fighting the evil that permeated the world. Still, this place was so infested with monsters that any sort of action from him would only lead to his messy demise. He was used to battles, and proficient enough to survive by himself, yet he hadn't lived to adulthood by recklessly trying to save every single place he walked by.

Pushing down the disgust at his own powerlessness with practiced ease, he walked towards the gates, ready to leave. The tension that usually followed such an action wasn't present, simply because this city was as dangerous a place to be in as the outside.

Before departing, however, he decided to climb the walls and have a look around. He wanted to see what the outside looked like before deciding which direction to go to. Thanks to his enhanced physical condition, he easily got to the top of the enormous wall, now only useful for sightseeing as it didn't keep anyone outside, anymore.

The view he was presented with wasn't a pleasant one. The area around the city was nothing more than dry, infertile earth, with scarce vegetation and a terrible climate. It was no wonder they used to be dying because of the impossibility of importing provisions, and he wondered how long it would take for this to truly become a desert. Squinting in order to see the horizon under the harsh sunlight, he decided to go south. According to his map, he would eventually reach a path used by travelling caravans. After that, finding his next destination would be easy; Dautland, supposedly known as the city of entertainment, could by found in the end of that long road, even if amusement was the last thing Kanda was currently looking for.

If he had turned around just a few seconds earlier, he wouldn't have seen them. As it was, though, they caught his attention; small points dotted the distance, coming from an area relatively close to the direction he planned to go to. The small time it took for them to cross that barrier and come closer showed they were travelling at a fast speed. Kanda was alarmed. While they didn't seem as great in number as an army would be, he didn't think that was the usual behavior of the traditional visitors of this place. Choosing to stay where he was and keep watch, as the strangers approached, he decided this had to be abnormal. Was this city under attack? And what fools would actually do it? Anyone with half a brain would know this place was filled to the brim with monsters.

Looking around for any sort of guards in Altinopolis, he cursed when he saw none. This was ridiculous. Then again, the government that allowed this place to become a nest of Akuma would hardly care about taking any security measures to protect its people. He felt compelled to run and try to inform some sort of authority, but only for a while. What would these fools do, but panic and cause more destruction?

He looked behind him where, many meters below, people continued minding their businesses, ignorant of the conflict that was about to happen. If this place was raided, the Akuma inside would undoubtedly transform and raise hell, ending the already oscillating order that existed in the community. Both attackers and citizens would be dead, and Kanda would have to avoid the battle and leave. The smart thing to do was to silently disappear. How many Akuma were here? Dozens? Hundreds? One had to know his limits.

So why was it that he just wouldn't abandon his spot?

Making sure to remain behind a pillar, he watched as the small group finally reached the city. Most of them were dressed in heavy, brownish clothes to block the weather, including hoods and fabric that didn't allow one to properly see their faces. When they finally crossed the gates, the one in the front – a person of small stature, and wearing bright white garments that made him very easy to spot – ran ahead of everyone in blinding speed. From the folds of his clothes, the black glint of a clawed hand could be seen.

The others also ran, following their leader. They all seemed physically capable of more than the average human, and it was then that Kanda felt it – the strong pulses of energy that were so familiar to him.

Innocence being activated.

Now everything was clear. These were Exorcists, who had decided to clear this city. For a small moment he thought the Black Order was finally taking action, but these people were just too different from the Exorcists that lived under the organization's control. They had to be rebels. But what could they hope to accomplish? Many Akuma would refuse to leave the safety of their disguises, specially when facing so many accommodators.

Watching to see what they were going to do, he observed, astounded, as the figure in command, still in incredible speed, ran like a white flash amidst the busy streets, uncaring in face the people's surprise and fright. He would occasionally hit a random person, shoving them with great strength towards the ground or a nearby wall.

After that, the Exorcists behind him would kill these people, following their fast leader as well as they could.

What the hell are they doing?

Kanda tried to assess the situation the best he could from his advantageous position. His eyes weren't playing tricks on him: he could hear, as well as see, the desperate people screaming as the exorcists slaughtered them. Was that their plan? Since they couldn't know who was Akuma and who wasn't, were they just going to kill every person inside these walls? He wanted to do something against them, but didn't know how. They were so many; after attacking a single one, he would be swarmed. Still, even if sometimes he was incapable of interfering with a situation that troubled him, he couldn't stand to watch as people of his kind did such atrocities. Growling in annoyance and knowing he could very well be killed because of his actions, he unsheathed and activated Mugen, trying to think fast. His body was enhanced by his seal; if he just got to the leader who was, for some reason, pointing out the ones who should be killed first to his followers…

Yes, that was it. In the end, what was the meaning of being who he was, of being so determined to find that person, if he just watched a massacre and did nothing to help? Abandoning his backpack and leaving his hidden spot, he ran over the enormous wall and jumped in the direction of the exorcist in white who, instead of just pointing out their victims, now started killing them by himself. Kanda raised his blade, and the short exorcist gasped in surprise. This was it –

An acrid and nauseating smell reached his nose. Hastily, he covered his nose and mouth, noticing the other didn't seem bothered about that. Looking behind the white clad person, Kanda saw that the other Exorcist's latest victim, a teenager girl who was cut in half by his claws, had deformed into a centipede-like monstrosity that now dissolved in black, toxic gas.

Akuma.

Staring around him at the many places where people were crushed, he noticed that every one of the corpses was proving to be that of a demon's. With wide eyes, he wondered how that could be. Did they know exactly who was what? How would they get such intel?

"Hey, bro," greeted other of the Exorcist fighters in a friendly voice. His Innocence was an enormous hammer. "Lower the murder stick, nice and slow."

"You are just killing Akuma?" asked Kanda, refusing to acknowledge the other's request. There was no way he would do that.

"Yup. Now put it down."

"Leave him, we've got work to do," said the leader, voice muffled by the cloth over his mouth. The other looked uncertain, but quickly followed the order and left. The remaining Akuma had already transformed after noticing they couldn't hide, and the rebel group didn't need this guy in white to point out who to attack anymore. "Hey, you… want to help?" he asked, his gaze intense, before taking a leap that should be impossible for a human and engaging in battle far away.

Confused but used to dealing with unexpected situations, Kanda did exactly that. He had wanted to destroy the Akuma, and now had an opportunity. Forgetting his doubts and remembering what his Innocence existed for, he charged his weapon with energy and tackled the nearest abominations that had just revealed themselves and were terrorizing the crowd.

Two hours afterwards, with a few scratches and depleted energy but mostly intact, Kanda finished the last Akuma he could find, and jumped to the highest place nearby, where he wouldn't have to deal with the toxic vapor that floated from the defeated monsters. The movement in the streets had reduced greatly, as most of the civilians ran away to hide inside their houses, or became casualties of the battle.

The other Exorcists started approaching him, also wanting to rest in the safety of the tall building where the poison couldn't find them. The leader and another person with disturbing Innocence that looked like teeth finished off the remaining foes who were trying to hide.

"Hey, you! Thanks for the help," said the one eyed person who had tried to stop him before. He took off his hood and unwrapped the scarf around his face, revealing the youthful features of someone who must be about Kanda's age and bright, orangeish red hair. Most of the others followed his cue, also taking off the hoods and cloth that served, Kanda now realized, to block the poison, and not in order to conceal their identities.

"You were impressive there," said an Asian girl who seemed a little out of breath, but also fine. Unlike her companions, she had most of her legs exposed, revealing her Innocence as a pair of black boots she still kept activated. "How many did you kill?"

"I lost the count," Kanda replied, not feeling very comfortable about being surrounded like that. He didn't partake in human contact frequently, and realized they had made a circle around him. Because of that, he didn't sheath Mugen, leaving it ready and in synchrony with his energy.

"Nice job, everyone," said the leader, who now walked towards them, "the city is now clean."

"Or as clean as it can be," sniffed the one with the teeth Innocence, inspecting the city filled with noxious gas. "What about the civilians? What if they inhale that?"

"Almost everyone in this world knows that they should flee from an Akuma's carcass. And you can't simply go house by house picking people by hand and taking them somewhere safe, or you will die, too. Casualties are inevitable, and our job here is done." The young man in white stared at Kanda intensely. "We are grateful for your aid."

"This chap destroyed a lot of them!" exclaimed the redhead. "He just went around killing everything that crossed his path, instead of choosing the ones easier to fight with his Innocence type, like we do."

"I don't live in a group, so I'm used to fight whatever appears in front of me," explained Kanda.

"A lone exorcist? I can't believe our luck," the redhead said with a grin, an expression very different from the one he presented in battle – or, at least, his eye did, as it was the only thing visible back then. "You should join us! How do you cope with being all by yourself?"

There was some silence, accompanied by the incredulous stares of the other members of the group. Kanda thought this was because of the man's imprudence in inviting a complete stranger, but it was for a different reason. The redhead noticed, before wincing and glancing apologetically at the shorter exorcist in white. "Sorry, man. I know it's not my place to extend invites, but…"

"It's fine," said the other, even if his tone had a note of disapproval. "It's a sound idea. What do you say, friend? We are a humble group of seven exorcists that helps cleaning this continent, and we also have the occasional clash with the bastards of the Black Order. Trying to rid the world of the two greatest evils, and all that. A though job, but easier when you've got company."

Kanda stared at their expectant faces. They were far from 'humble'. In a world where exorcists were so rare, seven of them working together were a fearsome force to deal with. It only made him more apprehensive about this guy, who was powerful enough to control so many accommodators. "While I truly sympathize with your cause," said Kanda honestly, specially where it concerned the Order he hated so much, "I'm fine by myself. But thanks for your offer." It wouldn't hurt to be polite while having half a dozen people with dangerous weapons around him.

He knew there were some organizations against the Black Order, but he simply didn't want to be under the control of anyone, anymore. He would claw his way to his goals by himself, unhindered by a chain of command.

"Are you sure? It must be hard to be all by yourself. Wouldn't you like to have someone watching your back? You are strong. We would welcome you with open arms."

"I refuse," Kanda said curtly, because his small reserves of politeness for the day had already been wholly consumed by the thanks of before.

"Come on, give us a chance," insisted him who, Kanda noticed, seemed to be just a teenager. By now, the rest of the group stared at their leader with confused looks, as if this behavior was strange coming from him.

Kanda had it. "Listen here, you little-"

"This is worrisome for me, Yuu," the boy continued, ignoring the other's outburst. "Have you been alone ever since you left Asian laboratory number six?"

Kanda froze, incapable of believing in what he just heard. There was a long moment of silence with the people who watched them still looking confused, but they did not voice their thoughts. The man then tightened the grip on his sword, pointing its blade towards the strange guy once more. Mugen glinted dangerously under the strong sunlight. "Who the hell are you? What do you know?"

With a chuckle, the youngster finally took off the cloth around his face and dropped his hood unceremoniously, revealing a head full of hair as white as his garments were before they were dirtied by battle filth. But it was the face that got Kanda's attention, that face that was so hard to forget and that still haunted him every night. Even if the boy's features weren't so firmly embedded in his memory, the silver eyes and the glaring red scar were unmistakable.

"Allen?" he asked in disbelief and, dare he say, hope.

The boy let out that bright smile he only saw once or twice in the old underground prison they were born in. "Hello, Yuu. I'm so glad you are alive."

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