Act One: The Raven
Scene One: Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogroves, and the mome raths outgrabe." A demon with leering eyes and outstretched tongue turned to dust, screaming as something poisoned him from the inside.
"'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!'" Bloody projectiles flew, the shooter crumbling into dust like rocks under roots.
"He took his vorpal sword in hand; long time the manxome foe he sought – So rested he by the Tumtum tree and stood a while in thought." An inhumane screech rent the air before being cut off abruptly, his mortal victim running in fear, both from the creature that almost ended her, and the power that stopped the demon before it could.
"And, as in uffish thought he stood, the Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, came whiffling through the tulgey wood, and burbled as it came!" Like a poison a power spread through the demon's body, mouth widening in a euphoric smile – yes, he was dying, but that death was a release.
"One, two! One, two! And through and through the vorpal blade went snicker-snack…" The voice slowed and lowered to a whisper. "He left it dead, and with its head, he went galumphing back…" A demon with a human's face approached a crumpled body, holding a length of chain, and like before the poison began to spread through the vessel that held such darkness.
"'And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Calley!' He chortled in his joy." The poison burned like holy water, but the demon did not crumble, for the evil was rooted deeper than one could reach. Still, the poisoned burned further and further, searching for a light to help and to nurture, until the demon with a human face escaped its touch, leaving behind its unfortunate victim.
"Twas brillig, and the slithy troves did gyre and gimble in the wabe…" Footsteps, silent beneath the destruction of the town. A figure, slim and dark against a flaming background. Hands, reaching up and pulling down, the body of one who could not escape.
"All mimsy were the borogroves, and the mome raths outgrabe."
Kanda may be a harsh, unfeeling man whose heart was more frozen than the Arctic, but seeing the dead body of his companion and brother in arms – as forced and unwanted as that connection may have been – left the tiniest of cracks in his hard exterior. And from that crack burst rage.
(It's no use going back to yesterday)
Barry was a bundle of black and silver fabric, laid out at the base of a lamppost like a sacrifice, head cradled by an unidentified individual. Charity Bell lay in shards a few meters away, and at the sight the crack grew longer. The exorcist had become another victim of the assassin, a warning that its getting too late, that Tiedoll could be dead and Barry's death for nothing.
So, one could see why Kanda would strike first and ask questions later.
Invoked and exuding the same bloodlust as its wielder, Mugen rent the air with a scream. The figure didn't move. Like a battering ram the sword connected, cutting deep.
(I was a different person then)
The glowing vine-like appendage twitched, falling into two pieces and disappearing. A soft sound floated through the air, like cut hair landing. The figure stiffed and turned to face the swordsman, gently laying the dead man's head on the ground before standing. Kanda was frozen. That… That looked like Innocence.
(Who in the world am I?)
An AKUMA emerged from an alley across the square, breaking Kanda from his stupor. The creature screamed in agony, "Please, stop it, stop it stop it stopitstopitstopit!" Like worms, glowing strands pierced the AKUMA's skin from the inside, growing and widening the hole they made until the demon was no more than an echo of a scream, bouncing off the buildings until it too faded.
"What… was that?" Unnoticed by Kanda, Noise Marie had arrived at his shoulder, and through he couldn't see, he had heard everything.
"That… was me." The figure spoke.
"And who are you?" Kanda asked bluntly.
(That is the great puzzle)
"Me." With a scarf wrapped about their head and face, only pale green eyes could be seen, but Kanda was convinced that they were smiling.
"How about a straight answer?" Kanda growled
"Tell me how raven is like writing desk, Anglais, then maybe."
Marie grabbed the swordsman before he could attack. "Perhaps we should finish the battle before we ask questions."
"Che." Kanda shrugged the larger man's hand off his shoulder, "Fine. You can deal with him."
"Non. Demons gone." The individual remarked, before flinching as an AKUMA appeared overhead. "Almost gone."
Kanda scowled. "Finally. Mugen, Ichigen!" The slice tore through the demon, removing its arm and sending it hurtling towards the earth.
But it never reached it.
Luminous threads flew from the unidentified individual and crossed under the AKUMA's falling form like a net, one with razors for wire. There was slightly resistance, but the creatures own weight and the strength of Kanda's second strike pushed it through the net, falling to the ground in pieces that turned into ash upon impact. The threads wavered in the air, moving out of Kanda's way, before sliding back to their master.
"Now demons gone."
"You sure about that?" Snarked the swordsman, weapon balancing on his shoulder.
"Oui. Last one in town."
Marie hastily cut off Kanda's reply, "And how do you know that, if I may ask?"
"Coup de Main."
(Tell me, please, which way I ought to go)
"Pardon?" Marie frowned. That wasn't English….
"Coup de Main. Help… Help… Carpals, metacarpals." The individual trailed off, before lifting their hands and waving. "My English not good…"
"Those are your hands you idiot." Kanda muttered, turning away and crossing his arms.
"Ah, merci…"
"So, your hands helped?" Marie was confused.
(I don't much care where)
"Non, these." And once again those luminescent strings appeared, flowing around their form like glowing wings.
"Innocence..." Kanda muttered, sheathing his sword. "An Accommodator."
"Ah," sighed Marie. This changed things.
"What you mean…. Accommodator?"
"Che, you explain Marie, I don't have the patience for this. I'm taking Barry to the Finders." Before he left, Kanda threw over his shoulder like an afterthought, "Meet me at the train station." And then he was gone.
The figure walked up to Marie, leant down and grasped his hand, giving it a firm shake. "Bonjour Father. I am Noir."
"Hello Noir, my name is Noise Marie. I'm an Exorcist, and I believe you are too."
The figure made a noise of confusion and, still holding Marie's hand, began to walk.
"Train station. You talk. What Accomodator et Exorcist?" They said in reply to Marie's unasked question.
"Accommodators are those able to wield Innocence, the God Crystal, as a weapon against the Millennium Earl. Exorcists are also known as the Soldiers of Life, accommodators who give their lives in the battle against the Earl and his creations. The AKUMA you fought before belong to him. I am the accommodator of the innocence known as Noel Oregon. Kanda wields Mugen, and Daisya… he wielded Charity Bell before his death."
"Bell? Bell smash. Demon with face pull out D-dai-saya heart. Like AKUMA but non…"
"I see… There aren't many pieces of innocence, and we cannot afford to lose any more… Which is why I ask that you come with Kanda and I, at least until it is safe for you to go to the Order."
"Commander?"
"The Black Order is the organisation that fights against the Earl, that all exorcists work for. It is a part of the Vatican, which is why some call us priests." Here Marie stopped, tugging on the individual's hand until they also ceased walking. "Will you join the Order and its fight against the Earl? We need more Accommodators, and if you have fought who I think you have… You will no longer be safe by yourself."
"Hmm… Why you here?" The figure asked.
"We are looking for our master, one of the Generals of the Black Order, Froi Tiedoll. The Generals hold many pieces of Innocence, and they try to find as many accommodators as possible, but the Earl is targeting them and it's no longer safe for them to be alone. It seems that whoever killed General Yeager killed Daisya too."
"Tiedoll… Hair grey, draw and paint lots?"
"Indeed. I take it you've met him?"
"He draw me. I find again easy. I go with you to Tiedoll, then I choose Noir Commander or non."
"Well then Mr Noir, let us meet up with Kanda before he leaves us behind."
"Fine. But I am Mademoiselle Noir, non Monsieur." The grin could be heard in the, now revealed to be, girl's voice as she let go of Marie's hand and ran ahead.
"Hurry up Monsieur Marie!"
(So long as I get somewhere)
"Che. Took you long enough," Kanda began when he saw Marie, but he scowled at the sight of the unnamed individual beside him. "Why haven't you dropped him off with the Finders yet."
Marie went to answer, but Noir cut him off. "I find Tiedoll first. And I Mademoiselle Noir, Monsieur Kanda."
The swordsman just grunted. "I don't care, as long as you don't slow us down, idiot. Anyway, the Finders have no leads on Tiedoll."
"Next town. Deux days. Nor'east." The two exorcists turned to the girl in surprise. Her pale green eyes crinkled, smiling beneath her scarf. "I find Tiedoll."
Marie grinned at her in return. "You find Tiedoll."
(We must run as fast as we can)
"Whatever, let's just get moving. I'll never hear the end of it if the old geezer is killed." And with that kind parting remark, Kanda was off, leading the way through town towards the river. Marie and Noir followed him easily, leaping from boat to boat as the made their way across and along the river, landing on dry land some miles away from civilisation, with only grassy hills and sparse trees against the backdrop of a blood red sunrise.
"Le rouge…" Noir murmured, pausing to take in the sight. "Not good."
The two males didn't hear their companion's warning, but had already started forward, not making any comments as the girl joined them, keeping pace with their own rapid movements. However, they were startled when she suddenly called out.
"Flamber!"
Hooves thudded rapidly before them, and a large chestnut blur flew over the hills, flashing red in the sunrise, coming to a startling stop before Noir. It was a stallion, with a wild black mane and bared teeth. Eyes rolled, staring down Marie and Kanda in turn, front hoof pawing at the ground as he stood protectively in front of the much smaller girl. A hand came around to pat at its neck, before a body appeared atop the horse, dirt-stained green coat splayed across the wide back obscuring the ropes that Kanda hadn't noticed initially.
"… You have a horse?" He said eventually.
"Non. Flamber have me. He… mon protecteur." Noir said, twisting her sleeve covered hands into the beasts mane. "We go fast. Keep up." And they were gone, just a shining red blur streaking across the grass.
"Tch." And Kanda was off, racing to catch up with the horse and rider. Marie, smirking, followed at a slightly slower pace. He wasn't going to catch that horse anytime soon, and neither was Kanda. He could hardly hear the hoofbeats anymore, and Marie's range wasn't anything to scoff at.
"Depechez-vous!" Came a call from afar, "Course au soleil!"
(Just to stay in place)
(If you wish to go anywhere)
(You must run even faster than that)
Keep running, you poor porcelain doll
Hello everyone! Yes, I'm back, don't kill me! I apologise for the unbearably long haitus, but I'm afraid that for the past... year? Ish? I haven't had my own laptop, as it got broken, and the school laptops don't let me on fanfiction, and it was too difficult to try and write it o my phone... so I spent my time planning out my stories! If you've favourited any of my other stories, rest assured they will get done, but it may take a little while, as I have started uni and haven't started my rewrite. Which this is! I am rewriting all of my stories!
Thanks for reading this! Please review and/or PM me if you have any questions, or if you like my story!
See ya
Kat
