Sooooooo I'm putting the "Lessed Blessed Memories" story on haitus since no one seems to be reviewing. In case anyone was reading it. I might use the title again though...o.o So once again, this is really an experement. I want to keep going on my story/book but I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING! DX I am undone. There will be eventual Yullen. =D Lavi might join in too. So there's something for you to look forward to. Have fun everybody.
Kanda: Why do you always pair me with the Moyashi!? (angry face)
Me: (stares at Kanda) ....I thought you liked Allen.
Kanda: Have you read the manga?
Me: I have read the manga.
Kanda: When, in the name of Mariah's nipples, have you gotten the hint that I like the Moyashi?
Me: I am of the female gender. Everything is opposite with me. When you punch him in the face, that makes me think that your actually trying to lean in for the kiss. =)
Kanda: ........(twitches)
Allen: o.o......
Lavi: =DDDD!
Chapter One: The Forgotten Prince
The ash covered land remained ever still. Houses were grey with it, pieces of roof and wall missing from their whole. Some still had memories hidden inside, chairs and tables, lamps and desks, pictures of past, all covered by the ash. Any building once important, any field once abundant, any ocean once mighty, was now dry and dead. All covered by the ash.
Streets were cracked and falling, grey and painful-looking bodies adorning the once proud road. They lay silent, like bitter, angry reminiscences. The city was sleepy, windows and doorways dark with neglect. There was a bloody handprint on the wall there, a skeleton in the closet here. Souls huddled together, hiding from the Eater. But somewhere among all the decay, waited a trail, a sent of life left on the dust.
A roar sounded across the distance, and the footsteps grew. The ash flew into the air for a brief moment, as if to cheer for the last thing still fighting. The footsteps ran away from the roar, finding the fight with this creature pointless. There was always more. They were no longer his target. A crack sounded in the silence, making it sound more menacing than it was. Beneath the rubble, bursting from the ash, came a tremendous monster. Rows upon rows of jagged teeth lined both its mouths, lifeless doll eyes starring with bloodlust at the object of its hunger. Its long body rippled with excitement, its thousand arms clawing at its own skin in desperation. There was a face upon its forehead, a white human with black tears, crying like a ghost in pain. Above this face, rested the number eight.
He whirled, his footsteps causing the ash to swirl in a much less destructive manor than the beast before him. He grew tired of this chase. He cast his body into the air, gliding easily up towards the monster. He twirled around a large hammer in his hands, screaming with a sound that could match a tiger's roar. With great tenacity, sweat upon his cheek, ash upon his feet, he brought his mighty hammer down unto the pitiful creature, slicing through it as if the blunt weapon were a sword. The monster glowed and screeched, falling back but never hitting the ground. The light ascended into the grey sky smiling sadly and whispering year's worth of thank yous.
He did not smile back. He turned, facing the never ending road ahead and simply moved on, to create more footsteps.
~X~
Allen and Kanda watched as Komui rummaged through his desk, having lost their mission report within his lake of papers. Allen simply smiled, as he always did, waiting patiently for Komui to finish. Timcanpy nestled in the crook of his neck, comfortable and content where he was. But Kanda's short temper was beginning to show as he closed his eyes and tapped his foot irritably.
"Found them~!" Komui sang as he burst from the pile holding two folders. Kanda shot from his seat, took the two folders, and sat back down before anyone could blink. He handed Allen his folder, who accepted it graciously, and the two began to read through. Komui leaned on his desk and straightened his glasses, now looking bored.
"Right, here's the mission." He began. "You remember one of your missions a while ago required you to investigate dramatic weather changes, which caused you to follow a legend known as the Leaf of Revival. Well, since the removal of the innocence there, the tree died and it wasn't long until it withered away. However, some still chase the legend, and there have been local reports of the tree coming back. There have even been reports of disappearances upon touching the tree. The reports say that the tree is split down the middle, and from this crack emits a white light that some claim whisper to them. Your job is to go and investigate this tree. This may very well be connected to innocence, though I've never heard of innocence popping up in the same place."
Allen looked over the report as he listened. He found himself more and more intrigued at the idea as he read on. He looked over to Kanda and smiled. "This sounds interesting. Shall we go?"
Kanda turned and looked at him. Time of knowing Kanda and taught Allen to accept his glares as the default expression of his face. They no longer fazed him, and he simply continued to smile. Lately he noticed something deeper within the pools of dark blue that was Kanda's eyes, but he never bothered to ask what it was the samurai was thinking.
"Fine. Let's hurry up with this." Kanda said as he stood and headed for the door. Allen stood and bowed to Komui before he followed Kanda away.
"Good luck you two~!" Komui sang after them. He starred at the door a long while, listening to the somber silence of the order. A tree emitting a light and whispering to any stranger nearby. For some reason, Komui had a lump in the pit of stomach. "Come back." He whispered unconsciously.
The pass through the snow was much softer and lighter of burden this time. No wild snow came to block their path, nor blazing heat to force them to stop and rest. The walk was almost pleasant.
"So what do you make of all this Kanda?" Allen asked. He continually looked at the report, Tim buzzed around his head, skimming for anything he missed. For some reason, he felt this mission was important, though Komui had introduced it like any other.
"We won't know till we get there." Kanda replied curtly.
Allen chose to ignore him, and question the finder that led them to the tree. "How many people have disappeared?"
The finder turned to face them but continued walking. "The count is at three now. One was traveling with a partner, and claimed that his friend disappeared when he touched the light emanating from the tree."
"The light hmm…" Allen looked back at the report. "Has anyone been able to make out these whispers?"
"I'm afraid not. Sometimes it's too loud and we have to step back in order to hear each other. Other times it's too soft to hear at all. Regardless, it's there at all times, too jumbled to make out."
"So the voice changes?" Allen looked up. They were almost there.
"Yes. Some of the other finders claim that the whispers aren't just one persons voice, but many. They think they are souls crying out for something."
Allen thought. Souls crying out for something…
They entered the cave of the tree, where Allen suddenly understood it all. The reports said the tree had appeared only a few days ago, but it looked as if it had been sitting there for a hundred years. There were welts that looked like the cut of a blade upon its bark, and moss covered its many roots that spread out into the ground. Its leaves hung with a look that seemed weary. He looked at the trunk of the tree and saw the split of light. It looked as if lightning had struck it. Allen could hear the whispers; many different voices jumbled together, all trying to speak at once.
Suddenly Allen stopped. One voice seemed to ring out to him. It started out low, drowning out any sound around him. He suddenly saw the tree in a new way. It had shades of neon blue and green floating across the bark, the leaves mimicking it in time with the sounds. Each leaf it seemed, was a whisper, lead on by the glow.
"Help us." Allen looked around, trying to find the source. But everything and everyone was silent save for that once voice. Even the snow beneath his feet made no sound. "Come to me…I shall show you…what you yearn to know…but you will not like what you see…Please…We need you…We are alone now…there is only one…Alone all hope is lost…We need you…Help us…Save our future!"
Allen focused for a moment. "Hevlaska…?"
He walked forward. His mind was a fog as his hand reached blindly forward, moving closer to the light. Timcanpy tugged on his hair trying to get him to come back. When that failed, the little golem turned instead to Kanda, tugging on his ponytail and directing him to the possessed boy. Kanda swatted at it irritably, and turned to see what was so important. His eyes widened.
"Moyashi!" He screamed as he ran forward and grabbed Allen just as his fingers touched the light. It enveloped them both, sucking them into its void, pulling them with unseen hands and begging eyes. The tree swallowed them in a second, and before anyone had a chance to go after them, the split sealed up, and shined its light no more. Timcanpy flew to the trunk of the tree and perched on its bark sadly, waiting patiently for his beloved master to return. If he ever would again.
When Allen opened his eyes, he choked. He rolled onto his hands and knees and coughed like his lungs were drying up. By the time he could see straight and his breath had evened Kanda had decided he should help the poor boy. He held onto Allen's arm as he lifted him up, and allowed him to get his first look at where they were.
The first thing Allen saw was the tree. But it was much larger, and the roots extended farther. There was some moss and grass around, and water running through like a brook. But something was wrong. There was grey stuff covering everything, not so much that he couldn't see the grass, but enough to be noticed. Allen turned and saw that the life came to an abrupt end. Ahead of him was a city covered in grey, all in ruins.
"What is it?" Allen asked in amazement.
"It looks like ash." Kanda replied. "This is a fine mess you've gotten us into Moyashi."
Allen let go of Kanda and took a few steps forward. It hurt to breath. The air was dry, ragged, and filled with cinders. He looked around and found that they were on a large rock, slightly tilted. It looked as if it had fallen here.
"Hey Kanda…" Allen looked back at the town. "Doesn't this place…look a little familiar to you?"
Kanda stepped forward. "Yes." He said grimly. "It looks like the town…outside the old order headquarters."
Allen looked back at the tree. It was only then he noticed the debris of black stone around it, falling over the tall pillar that brought them to the sky, now confined forever more to the ground.
"How?" Allen shuddered. "We didn't move that long ago! How could this have happened?!" Allen chocked on more ash and Kanda came to pat his back, not at all kindly.
There was a rumble beneath the ground. Kanda looked just as something burst forth, trying desperately to grab for Allen and Kanda. The samurai grabbed Allen by the collar and jumped out of the way just in time. The creature stopped just before it hit the tree, screaming and backing away as if it were repulsive. It turned and roared at the two exorcists, a face of a human upon its monstrous appearance and the number eight above that.
Kanda froze. "An Akuma…And it's level eight?!" The highest level he had fought was level four, and he was only able to do so with everyone's help. There was no way, and he loathed to admit it, that he would be able to defeat a level eight. Not even he and Allen combined. He doubted he could even defend from this monster. So he ran.
He pulled Allen by the collar, trying to urge him to run himself. Eventually Allen grew wary to the situation around him, and postponed his shock for a later time. He ran beside Kanda, as the two headed for the town to look for somewhere to hide.
The Akuma had no intention of letting them go. It dove for them, missing by an inch and digging into the ground. Allen and Kanda didn't look back as the thing slithered beneath them, growling in frustration and hunger. Another burst from the ashes, screaming in a way that made the exorcists ears ring. It let its body fall, trying weakly to hit the exorcists with its weight. Allen and Kanda skid forward and were able to avoid the attack in time. They ran at full sprint, heading for the first house they could.
But they both soon realized that the decaying home would offer no shelter. Their only choice it seemed was to run until they either lost the Akuma, or they tired and collapsed. Behind them the Akuma came to the surface again, their tiny legs scratching frantically at the road, trying to heave their credence up. They ran sluggishly for the exorcists they desired, screeching terribly as if pleading them to stop ad let them kill.
"Something's wrong!" Allen cried as he jumped over something to covered to recognize. The Akuma simply smashed through the object and continued to plough through. "They seem weak!"
"Do you see anyone around?!" Kanda yelled back. Kanda was well aware, from the moment he came here, that there were no people in sight. The Akuma here were probably starved of the killing that kept them alive. He couldn't help but wonder in the back of his mind, where everyone was. Hiding in some underground city? Kanda shook his head. What the hell was going on?
"Duck!" Both exorcists looked up as they heard a familiar voice call them. Obediently they stopped and ducked to the ground, just as something large passed over their heads and hit both Akuma, sending them into the buildings. Someone's light step passed by them and chased the creatures in, twirling his weapon in his hand before he brought it down again. There was a screech and then the familiar sight flooded Allen's eye, of a soul ascending to the heavens.
The figure jumped away just as the second Akuma rushed forward. He jumped onto the nearest building and thrust his weapon into the ground, propelling him upwards. The Akuma passed him and hit the building on the other side. The man jumped down and his weapon changed form.
"Orochi!" The man screamed, and the sound of metal swirling against metal filled Allen and Kanda's ears. The man thrust his weapon forward and the aftereffect went on for miles behind, and the Akuma's soul flew into the heavens. Within moments it was over. Kanda starred on in disbelief as the mans feet slowly touched the ground. He could barely defeat a level four. This man had beat two level eights, as if they were nothing at all.
He turned to face them. He had a black scarf wrapped around his head, covering his eyes and holding is long red hair back. The skin that could be seen looked pale and old, but no wrinkles shown on his face. It looked quite young but the impression it gave off was something old. He had on a long black poncho, ragged and torn from use, battle, and age. It was torn enough for them to see some of his well-toned stomach as it flapped in the wind of conflict. He had on black pants that split on each side just slightly, with a few white bandages wrapped around his legs. His feet were bare. His hands were bare. He was covered in ash, his hands shaking and looked calloused from the use of his weapon, which now rest at his side.
Both exorcist stood up and looked at their savior, who looked back through blind eyes. Allen took another step forward and opened his mouth, but the man put up his hand.
"We can talk later. We need to find somewhere safe for the night." Allen looked up. It looked the same. It all looked the same.
Kanda narrowed his eyes. "Your voice…"
"Follow me!" The stranger called before he dashed into one of the alleys. A moment later he was seen on the roof of a building, jumping from one to the other. The two snapped out of their reverie in time to follow him through the festering world.
The stranger took them across the city, which slowly vanished and turned into desolate lands. Some ruins remained, but not enough to be called a city anymore. It was mostly as and smoldering cinders. They jumped from a high building and landed at an entrance of a tunnel. The farther the stranger took them, the more desecrated the place was. Many times the stranger had to stop and wait for Allen and Kanda to keep up. Not only did he seem faster and stronger, he knew this place and all its secrets, he could move through it with ease. No matter how many times Allen fell though, or they both would have to stop and find a new way, the stranger would wait patiently for them, as if he had all the time in the world.
"Wait…" Allen panted and heaved, trying to get used to the ash in the air. Kanda was beginning to have difficulty breathing as well. Though the stranger seemed unfazed, he stopped and walked up to the panting exorcists.
"We have to keep going." He said calmly. "There's water ahead. Bear with me a little longer."
"I don't understand…How can you move through this so easily?" Allen fell to his knees. Kanda soon followed. How long had they been running? It felt like hours.
"Years of practice. C'mon, it's just a little further." The stranger urged them on. Kanda managed to stand and tried to get Allen to do the same, but he only fell further.
"Just leave me here, I'll catch up…"Allen panted.
"You're…pathetic. Get up Moyashi." Kanda tugged on his arm weakly. The stranger chuckled and moved forward. He kneeled down and scooped Allen up, throwing him over his shoulders before walking forward. Kanda followed, able to keep up now that they weren't running anymore. The stranger walked into a room shrouded by darkness and dropped, landing on his feet easily.
"It's okay." He called to Kanda. "Come down."
Kanda jumped without even thinking. He was so tired. The stranger waited for him at the bottom, as Kanda righted himself slowly and nodded that he was ready to move on. He then wondered if the stranger could see him nod. Then again, he'd just moved through rubble, mazes, and black abysses that any blind man would die in an instant from. Maybe he could see somehow. Before Kanda could ponder it more the stranger turned and walked down a long hall. Kanda followed. He was the one who felt like the blind man.
He came into a round room flooded in gold light from a lamp on the floor that the stranger had light. The walls had etched black symbols on them, making the place almost seem sinister. There were books and pages scattered every where, and a few blankets thrown carelessly in a pile in the corner. He placed Allen there, treating him as if he were a precious object before he ran for the other corner and pulled out two bottles from the pile of papers. He ran over and handed one to Kanda, before he went to Allen and tried to get him to drink something. Kanda chugged at the bottle greedily, taking every last drop of water. He looked over to see Allen doing the same.
Kanda dropped the bottle and picked a place on the wall to sit and lean against. He looked at the stranger, who came over to him with a blanket in hand. He had already covered Allen for sleep.
"I've got to get more water. You'll be safe here. Just rest." The stranger said calmly as he held out the blanket for him. Kanda looked at him for a moment before he shot out and grabbed the strangers' wrist. The stranger did not move. He didn't even seem surprised.
"Tell me your name." Kanda demanded.
The stranger seemed to think for a moment before he sighed. "I'm sorry…Yuu…" He dropped the blanket by Kanda and ripped his hand away, dashing out of the little alcove he had carved himself and into the darkness. Kanda's hand fell as he starred after him.
"So it is you…How can…that be?" Sleep took him as one named filled all his thoughts.
When Kanda awoke, he was tucked into the mass of blankets he saw earlier, right next to Allen. He looked over to the boy, who slept peacefully and unaware. There was a small smile on his face, as Kanda noticed he gripped the fabric of his shoulder. Remarkably, Kanda did not lash out. He sighed and calmly drew the boys hand away, before he sat up to see the stranger sitting at the entrance, looking out into the opening.
"He always really liked you." The stranger said. "Right from the beginning I could tell, even if you two would fight, he'd have this sort of sparkle in his eye. Soon you began to look that way too."
Kanda's eyes fell. "So that is you…Lavi…"
Lavi smiled but continued to look out. "Yeah. Surprised?"
Kanda looked at him. "Tell me…where are we? What is this place?"
Lavi's smile vanished. "This is…the future…This is all that's left of humanity. Before it was…" Lavi trailed off. "Wait till Allen wakes up. I'll explain everything."
Kanda didn't move. "Are there any more humans?"
Lavi didn't answer, but continued to watch the gate. Kanda sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to get anything else out of him until Allen woke up.
"Is there any food?" Kanda decided fuel was necessary.
Lavi pointed to a part of the room covered still by papers. Kanda growled and got up, sorting through until he found a bag filled with cans and preservatives. He opened a can of peaches and devoured them in no time at all, only just now feeling his stomach rumble. He moved more papers out of the way and found a small place for a fire and some matches by it. Kanda stopped.
"This looks like it hasn't been used in years…" He looked at Lavi who still only looked on down the tunnel. Kanda put the bag of food down and walked over to the man he knew in the past. This future Lavi though, eluded him to no end.
"Go and eat something Kanda." Lavi spoke without looking at him. "You'll need your strength here."
"So do you. When was the last time you ate?" Lavi didn't answer. Kanda's brows furrowed. He grabbed Lavi by the collar and thrust him against the wall, growling in fury. He was about to yell something when Lavi suddenly curled his legs then kicked Kanda with all his strength. Kanda fell back into the wall like nothing more than a rag doll, the echoing and crumbling of the walls waking Allen up as Kanda fell. He looked around hurriedly from Kanda to Lavi, and stood, ready fight with a wild, frightened look in his eyes.
"What's going on?" Allen asked shakily. Kanda spat and looked up, wiping the blood from his lip. Lavi's hands trembled.
"Kanda…I'm sorry…"
"What are you?" Kanda asked abruptly. Everything froze. It seemed like an eternity passed before Lavi looked at the ground sadly.
"I'm nothing more than a remnant Kanda. Forgotten and alone." He slumped to the ground.
Hey. How's it going? What say you drop meh a review? Hm? Maybe? Okay I'll check back with ya later. ^.^
