(Nothing But) The Darkness Overhead
Originally: "Augen Auf".
Chapter One
"Often, it's not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don't know how to be."
- Heath L. Buckmaster
The first thing Allen saw as he slowly came to, were a pair of golden eyes staring at him expressionlessly. Still groggy with sleep, he knew he should have tried to escape or even fight back the Noah, but he was just too tired. Even when Tyki grinned darkly at his charges' awakening, Allen couldn't bring himself to mind. He idly expected the Noah to say something –anything- but all he did was pick up an intricately carved, golden mirror from the bedside table. The Noah seemed to contemplate the mirror for a second, as he took a long drag from his cigarette.
"When'd you start up again?" Allen slurred, as the man blew out a cloud of smoke into his face.
Tyki awarded him with a brief glance before turning back to the mirror and seemingly coming to his decision. To say that Allen was surprised when Tyki handed him the mirror would have been an understatement, however, that surprise was exchanged for another: a young man with golden-brown eyes, pale, unblemished, grey-tinted skin and wavy, white hair stared back at him from the mirror.
-xxx-
Kanda ground his teeth and his surveyed the people gathered in the cafeteria for lunch. As a misanthropist, he realised that he naturally expected very little from the idiots he was forced to surround himself with day in and day out but he couldn't believe the talking going on around him.
"I knew he was a traitor! Didn't I tell you-"
"He's a Noah now!? We have to kill him before he gets us!"
"Ever since the attack at the Asian branch-"
"I knew he was going to turn sooner or later!"
To think that these people could so easily proclaim their hatred for the person who had saved their lives more often than Kanda figured they could even count disgusted him. Ever since the attack at the Asian headquarters and with what happened to... to Alma, many people had quickly turned on the beansprout. Even Kanda had received many a suspicious look from people after his return from Mater. He'd even been questioned by Central and knew he was on a very tight leash. But still, the fact that these pathetic excuses for human beings could so easily turn on a person left such a sour taste in his mouth.
After Kanda had reconciled with himself that Alma was 'her' and that he'd never see her again, he'd turned to any other excuse to keep himself going, to give himself purpose – even if it was only repaying a debt to his friend. Allen deserved as much, even if all Kanda could now offer him was death.
He grew cold at the thought. How could he have been so stupid? Ever since that mission with 'Thief G', he'd known what Innocence did to Allen! And yet he still let his own rage and unwillingness to face his past cloud his mind and allow him to hurt Allen again – apparently irreparably this time. He was so angry with himself.
Quickly rising, he headed towards the training room, intent on letting his anger out any way possible. Kanda slammed the doors to the room open and drew his sword so he could practise and get use to his Innocence's strange new form but paused when he heard a monotone voice speak.
"Yuu needs to control that temper of his. Allen is gone whether or not he likes it and he needs to just get used to the fact that it's his fault. He is dead and his body now belongs to a Noah. You need to accept that."
Kanda looked up and glared fiercely at the Bookman's apprentice who was idly leaning against the railing of the platforms set up around the walls of the room that were usually used by generals to observe their apprentices.
Ever since Bookman had been captured by the Noah, Lavi had been acting strangely.
"You should stop acting like you don't care about what happened to Allen, I know you were good friends with him." Kanda spat out in annoyance.
Lavi sighed and shook his head at Kanda.
"But I don't care Kanda. I'm a Bookman. We have no feelings - all the people around us are just ink on the pages of another history book. I don't care about what's left of Allen being killed and I won't care when you eventually die either."
Kanda gritted his teeth at what he said and watched as Lavi began climbing down the ladder from the platform and slowly walking towards him. He stopped in front of the older boy, sneering at him.
"Not that I understand why you care." Lavi continued to taunt, "You hated Allen anyway. Never treated him nice. You know, I do feel pity for him if that helps. The poor bastard likely died knowing how no one gave a shit about him."
Kanda saw red and the next thing Lavi knew, he was on the ground, looking up at Kanda with his cheek throbbing.
"Fuck you." Kanda spat, pointing Mugen at his neck. "Just because you're suddenly insecure about your role because your master's absent doesn't mean you get to act like a stray mongrel and rip everyone apart! If you must know I regret how I treated Allen – I regretted it so much especially after him helping Alma and I that I gave up my chance of freedom and came back here to try and repay my debt to him!"
Lavi snarled and kicked the sword away from him.
"No, fuck you Kanda! Because I don't fucking care." Lavi hadn't had the chance to move and barely managed to activate his innocence in time and place it between them as Mugen came crashing down towards him.
"Fuck your 'I don't cares' and your useless fucking lies, Lavi Bookman!" Kanda growled and Lavi rolled before jumping to his feet and attacking Kanda with his hammer.
"I don't care!" Lavi yelled angrily. He swung his hammer and was parried by Kanda's blade.
"You do! Stop fucking lying!" Kanda swung. "What of last night?"
Lavi parried.
"What of it! I was shocked!" Lavi ducked another swing and felt the blade nick his arm.
"Liar!" Kanda yelled, his face drawn into a twisted look of hate – and at this point, had he been able to think straight, he'd have questioned himself on why he was so intent of making Lavi admit it. A few beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and into his brows.
"You were fucking scared! You were petrified that the beansprout might have been dead! Or that he was in agonising pain! And... even now." Kanda's voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "Even now you're still scared: scared that you won't ever see him again and scared that you will."
.
Lavi grimaced and threw away his innocence and launched himself at Kanda, fists raised. He was just so confused! Bookman was gone and he just didn't understand what was expected of him! Should he take up the mantle of Bookman and leave behind the so familiar persona of Lavi the Exorcist? Either way, he thought angrily, the bastard Kanda had no idea. He didn't care! He couldn't care! His fist connected with Kanda's cheek and promptly both boys were throwing punches at each other. Biting, kicking and tearing at any part of the other's flesh they could reach. They, in their rage, had reduced themselves to primal animals, both taking vicious delight in the pain they brought the other.
"Stop it!" wailed a voice before both boys were dragged off and away from each other by two finders. The yell shockingly enough came from Miranda. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! B-but you boys need to stop fighting! Look what you're doing to yourselves!"
Lavi allowed his eyes to travel across to Kanda and he winced at what he saw. Kanda stood there, bloodied and bruised (much like Lavi suspect he himself looked like) but vindicated.
Lenalee, with tears pouring down her face again, told them that her brother wanted to see them immediately in his office whilst Krory stood next to Miranda, awkwardly comforting the crying middle-aged woman.
-xxx-
Komui adjusted his glasses and rested his chin on his hands as he took in the sight of the two boys in front of him. Beaten and bloody, they both stared expressionlessly back from where they sat on the couch in front of his desk, surrounded by paperwork. He sighed and adjusted his glasses again.
"I'm sending you two on a mission together to Russia. You are to investigate a strange occurrence there that might be Innocence or Akuma. Hopefully the latter so you can take your frustrations out on them instead of each other! We are all sad that Allen is gone but that is no reason for you boys to beat each other senseless!"
Kanda looked away, now ashamed but Lavi continued to look Komui in the eyes, trying to show him that he felt no guilt. Komui nearly smiled as he handed the two men copies of the mission objectives and specs. Lavi was doing a good job but he was unconsciously clutching his elbow and blinking a little too quickly for him to be as calm as he liked to portray. Komui sighed and dismissed them. He watched as the two left and hoped that while on the mission, Kanda and Lavi would learn to accept themselves among other things.
"Reeeeever! Can you get Lenalee to make me some coffee?" Komui whined, pouting cutely to try and convince the man.
Yes, Komui hoped they'd work themselves out or things would go very much downhill for both them and the rest of his family from here on out.
-xxx-
"Oi, Shonen." Tyki mumbled around the cigarette in his mouth. "You okay?" Allen, shocked, continued to stare into the mirror for a few moments before he turned to Tyki and shook his head.
"I... I knew I was going to turn sooner or later, especially after you Noah set Kanda up to stab me and Central took me back to the Order and began trying to force it. I'm not surprised about that... but; I didn't expect to be, well, me. I mean- I thought I'd be-"
"Dead? Or perhaps you thought you'd be stuck in the 14th's old position; a tiny voice in the back of his mind - something to haunt him whenever he looked into a reflective surface?"
Allen nodded.
"So did the rest of us. It seems something went wrong - or right for you - and Neah merged with you or something, I'm just guessing here. So I suppose that you, Allen Walker, are now the fourteenth Noah. You are the Fourteenth, Allen Walker."
Allen shook his head in slight shock.
"I think Road will be delighted by this new turn of events and maybe now we can have another game of poker without having to kill one another."
Allen looked away from his reflection and stared at the Noah.
"You think a lot." He half smirked before he turned serious. "Why did you come for me?"
Tyki sighed and scratched his cheek in thought.
"The Earl asked me to. Despite his hatred for what the Fourteenth did to us by betraying us, he deeply loved Neah – it's why he hurt Mana: he was jealous. I think he was hoping that when Neah took over, he could convince him to forgive the Earl." Tyki shrugged, "I guess he'll just have to accept that the old Fourteenth, Neah, is gone and that we at least have you."
"I may be a Noah now, and even more fucked up then I was before, but who's to say you have me? The Black Order is still my home and those there are my family. Why would I help you to destroy it?"
Tyki levelled a look at Allen and wondered at Allen's naivety before he motioned for the younger to look into the mirror again.
"You are a Noah, Allen. You do not know what your ability is yet, or how to control and master it which makes you a threat to humans and Exorcists. Your innocence and curse mark are gone - though I don't know where to – which makes you useless in killing Akuma and frankly you look completely different and a lot like a Noah. You may not accept us, but think! Why would they accept you? You are dead to your 'family'. Allen is gone and now there is just another Noah in the way of their false God."
Allen stared blankly into the mirror, a weak mask covering his pain. Tears slowly rolled down his cheeks, but Allen's eyes never strayed from his reflection. He was useless.
Tyki sighed and walked towards the door, feeling terrible that he had to be the one to give Allen the news - the cold truth. He lit up another cigarette and took a long drag before continuing on his way to get them both some food.
Allen's tears soon dried up and the young man so close to adulthood simply stared dumbly at his reflection. No longer cursed by the man he loved and who probably had only loved the memories Allen had carried in his mind. No longer was he burdened by his destiny and job as an Exorcist now that his innocence was gone. His friends and family by now must think him dead either by the hands of the Noah or the Fourteenth. But, he thought as he touched his forehead, he did not having all the markings of a Noah. Who was he? Allen Walker the Exorcist? Allen Walker the Fourteenth? Just Allen, the queer mix of two sides of a war? Or none of the above?
-xxx-
Tyki found himself back inside Allen's room, quietly sitting on his bed, back against the wall and long legs dangling off the side. Tyki was watching the young man sitting next to him through the mirror and studying the emotions that flickered across his face.
"What are you thinking about?"
Allen slowly moved his head away from the mirror and quietly stared at him.
"Everything." He said seriously. "Who am I? What am I doing here? How long have I been here and does anybody miss me? What am I going to do now? Where is my Innocence and my curse mark? I just... I dunno. I don't know anything."
Tyki lit up another cigarette and lifted it to his lips and slowly inhaled, closing his eyes. He lowered it from his lips and exhaled in a contented sigh before opening his eyes again and speaking.
"You're Allen Walker and you're sitting here talking to me. You've been here for three days now, though you've only been awake for two. I'm sure the girl Road was talking about, - Lenalee, was it? - misses you; she seemed to be quite interested in you." Tyki smirked at him and Allen looked away awkwardly.
"And that samurai guy and the one with the red hair and eye patch - they seemed to be close to you." A small dusting ofn pink appeared on the younger man's cheeks. "Hm, what are you going to do now? I can't help you with that one, but obviously I think you should join us. Lord Earl won't force you to though, just so you know. The Exorcists will never trust you now that you've become a Noah and with your innocence gone, you cannot help them or hinder us so he will give you the choice."
It was obvious to Tyki what Allen's decision would be. Allen grimaced and remained silent until something crossed his mind and he asked Tyki about it.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" Allen asked a little bitterly. "I may not be able to stop you anymore, but we were enemies three days ago and you've tried to kill me countless times, so why the niceties?"
Tyki shrugged.
"Why not? I never tried to kill you because I wanted to. It was always just orders or simply because we were enemies. But really, now that we are not longer such, why shouldn't I be nice? We Noah are capable of emotions you know. We tend to be stuck on bloodthirsty and royally pissed off but we are able to love and feel happiness. I suppose now that we aren't on opposite sides of the battle field, we could maybe even be friends." Tyki hummed and looked at Allen. "You remind me of a little brother."
The Noah smiled genuinely and Allen stared at the Noah. He never expected such words from a Noah's lips.
.
As Allen turned back to the mirror, Tyki took his cue to leave. As he closed the door behind him however, he saw Road approach.
"How is he?" she asked, tilting her head, a lollipop in hand.
"He's not accepting it well." Tyki figured that Allen would likely leave whilst he was gone. "I don't think he'll stay."
Road pouted but said nothing but to tell him that the Earl was calling the family to an important meeting.
-xxx-
Allen stared at himself and wished none of this had ever happened but abandoned that trail of thought when he remembered that at least he was still alive and Neah could no longer hurt those he loved. Allen turned his head again and looked out the window he suddenly noticed was there. With that he realised he'd not noticed much about the room he was in. He looked around – taking in wall hangings, fur rugs, and stone walls – and his eyes came to rest on a wooden wardrobe. Allen hesitantly moved towards it and upon examining the contents he stripped from his bloodstained clothes and into a clean pair of black leather pants, a white dress shirt and tight black vest. He left his shirt untucked and wandered over to the window, looking out into the street and seeing the familiar surroundings of London. Despite all the bad blood between them, Mana had taught him to keep moving. Noah or not he was going to keep trying to help the Order from the shadows as much as possible – one way or another; he knew he had to try. But first things first, he mused, he would have to find out more about what had happened to him. Stomach growling softly despite gaining a regular, he pulled on a black travelling cloak and left the building quietly.
-xxx-
The Millennium Earl, Adam, surveyed his family gathered before him; Walker seemed to have declined the invitation to join them, he mused. The Earl had been so disappointed to realise he'd never have a chance to have his Neah back that he'd slumped into a depressed state for the last few days, however, he no longer had time for that.
"-something big's happened..." he heard Devit mutter to Jasdero and Road. "It's serious enough that he's in his 'white' form."
Adam smirked. How his children had no idea.
"Indeed, a situation has come up." He said, making Devit wince at being caught talking about him. "A new side has entered on to the stage – one whose acting is so dreadful as to ruin the performance for all. We all need to be careful; they are abominations far worse than humans and "mankind" and of a greater concern. They are truly against our God and as such, they take a higher place on our list."
"Surely there is nothing worse than mankind?" tittered Sheril Kamelot to a round of agreeing nods.
Adam sighed. He had protected his children too long, thinking that this day would never have to happen. He would now have to tell them about the Godless, the 'True Enemy' and hope that when they won the war, like he knew they had too, that most of his children would survive it.
-xxx-
Allen knew the streets like the back of his hand and a quick look around told him he was right in the middle of the upper middle class district. A few people glanced at him curiously for walking around with his shirt untucked and hair ruffled but Allen wasn't bothered; he was used to looks due to his old scar and arm so these harmless ones from his messiness were nothing he couldn't handle. The sounds of his feet tapping on the pavement were lost in the laughter and excited chatter all around him. He figured that he could possibly stay in the Ark, at least until he got his head sorted out; he'd need food, however and for that, money. So as Allen made his way into the poorer quarters the laughter died down and crying and shouting became more common. Screams pierced the air every now and then as he passed by dank alleyways but even though it was obvious to Allen what was happening, he felt no desire to get himself into a fight to save the life of some whore or someone who couldn't pay off his debts or someone in the wrong place at the wrong time. Rape, theft and murder were common occurrences here and honestly, he couldn't bring himself to be bothered helping. Allen didn't really care about what might be happening that much as long as they didn't try to involve him.
Allen passed by a shady man with shifty eyes who was trying to sell him something no doubt stolen and entered an inn called 'The Wanderer'. He snorted at the cliché name.
The wooden floor looked like it could do with a good scrub but the clean state of the tables sort of made up for it. There was a wooden counter off to the left, where a bored looking man - who Allen presumed was the inn keeper - sat around moping for a customer. He was of an average height and the owner of a rather large girth that stretched his white apron, a set of keys hanging at his waist. The man looked up and stared at him.
Allen nodded to him confidently and made his way across the room opposite the counter, getting openly curious looks at his golden eyes and white hair by those sober enough to notice. There were only a few other patrons scattered around the room, sitting at tables quietly picking at their food or sipping at their drink. Allen nearly shuddered as he suddenly thought about his Master but managed to keep a blank face as he picked his way around chairs and drunkards towards the table in the corner where a game of poker going on.
"Mind if I play?" he asked the three surly looking blokes gambling with a few guineas. Allen figured they'd stolen the money but didn't mention it. "I'm not that good but I like to play a game now and again."
They looked him up and down before outright grinning at each other at their luck. Once again Allen found himself struggling not to smile.
Fifteen minutes later found Allen relaxing with enough winnings to buy him food for the next few days. Of course it wasn't a lot of money; but a job and some gambling here and there would see him with enough money to get by. Amazingly enough the men he'd bet in poker turned out to be fine with losing and had just laughed and offered to buy him a drink. He had been so suspicious that he'd declined with a smile and made a prompt get away.
Meandering down the streets with a bag of supplies and food clutched tightly to his chest he wondered what exactly to do. He knew he'd promised himself to continue helping the Order but he was at such a loss. How was he supposed to do that without his Innocence? His mind came back to the question that bugged him the most: what had happened to his Innocence and his curse? Had the curse been undone and Crowned Clown found another master? Allen frowned. He knew Crowned Clown would not leave him without a fight, his innocence truly loved him. Allen pondered that train of thought for a few moments. Then why hadn't he turned into a Fallen One yet? Why-
Suddenly Allen noticed the sounds of three sets of feet walking behind him. He was being followed.
As if sensing his sudden awareness, he was suddenly backed into a corner before he even had time to yell.
"Oi calm down kid." A man barked, walking closer so Allen could see his face. It was one of the men he'd played poker with. Dread had started pooling in his gut when the man finally said, "We ain't gonna hurt ya or rob ya, squirt."
Allen blinked and stopped struggling. He just stared at the man in front of him. Was he honestly meant to believe him? How laughable, he thought cynically before saying so aloud.
Allen noticed he was starting to become outwardly more and more like his old self that Mana had struggled so hard to try and change. Although Mana had never been able to change who Allen was on the inside, the person behind the smiling façade he presented to the world he had managed to convince Allen to act differently outwardly. He supposed with how everything had changed, he'd realised subconsciously that that wasn't needed anymore.
Allen snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a grunt and remembered his situation; he was surrounded by three burly men who although claimed no bad feelings, he had just cheated and were more than likely not too happy about it.
-xxx-
The train compartment was nearly warm with the amount of blankets and furs around it. Thick curtains were pulled over the icy window and oil lamps were keeping the room bright as Lavi and Kanda sat quietly reading their mission reports.
According to a local farming family in the town they were heading to, an old manor house that had been long abandoned since way before anyone could remember, had over night changed. Somehow, someone had managed to repair it to perfect condition, to what the farmer thought it would have looked like when it was first built. They hadn't paid too much mind to it at first, thinking that it had probably been like that a while and they hadn't noticed the repairs. It wasn't until someone claimed they saw a woman walk past one of the second story windows that they'd done anything. The farmer and his family had gone to introduce themselves to their new neighbours but when they knocked on the door, all clad in their best fur-lined garments, nobody had answered. Feeling affronted they had returned home but the next day a scream and gunshot was heard from the manor. The farmers nearby had all rushed to help the person in distress but found they couldn't get inside. No axe could cut down the wooden door and no chisel or hammer could smash the windows. Nothing could be done and the scream quickly died, leaving everyone puzzled and worried. Throughout the next week the screams of men, women and children could be heard coming from the manor. Rumours sprung up like crops and though nobody had gone missing, nobody left their homes at night or approached the manor in fear of being captured and murdered like all the poor souls they assumed had been taken by what dwelled inside. The 'D'yavol' they called it - the Devil.
Lavi glanced at Kanda. He was sitting on the opposite seat, eyes shut and breathing slowly and calmly. Lavi figuring the elder was asleep decided he may as well look around the train. His got up and walked the three steps across the compartment to the door and opened it. He stepped out and slid the door shut behind him and made his way down the luxurious train corridor past other first class compartment.
While wandering around the train, Lavi came across the dining compartment, where people were smiling and laughing as they chatted over their meals, with their friends and family.
Lavi made his way over to an empty table in the back corner and sat watching and studying everyone. The couple at the table nearest to him laughed as the woman bounced a small child on her knee. The man was smiling at her and beaming with pride and joy.
Lavi wondered if he would have been like that man if he had never become a Bookman. Would he have settled down and married? His eyes flickered across to another man, sitting by himself in the opposite corner. Or would he have been restless? Hungering for something more like he had as a child? He'd never have met Allen and Kanda if he hadn't become a Bookman. Where did that thought come from? Lavi was slightly thrown off balance before he regained it and sighed. The lines between Bookman apprentice and the persona 'Lavi' were merging and blurring quickly and dangerously to the point where Lavi was questioning whether it really was such a bad thing.
Lavi folded his arms on the table and settled his chin on top of them. What was wrong with him? Why did it really bother him so much that Allen was gone? Why did he feel guilt when he told Kanda that he didn't care? Which was the truth?
"You're lying to yourself."
Lavi's eyes widened and he quickly sat up and stared at the woman settling herself down on the seat opposite him. She appeared to be an older gypsy woman in her middle age with blonde hair pulled back into a harsh bun, minus a small strand that hung freely and framed her tanned, wrinkly olive face.
"What?" Lavi asked surprised. The woman rolled her eyes and adjusted her beautiful coloured skirts and shawl. Her gold earrings and bangles clinked softly as she carefully leant forward and stared into Lavi's eyes, studying and nodding at whatever she saw in them.
"Stupid boy." She said amusedly in a very thick German accent. "You're lying to yourself. Your face and posture speak volumes of it."
Lavi glared at the woman.
"Sorry to tell you this," he said mockingly, "but you're wrong. I am not lying to myself about anything. I am far beyond something as stupid as that. And if you expect me to pay you for your 'advice' - you can think again!"
The woman flashed her pearly white teeth and studied him with her cold, dark eyes.
"Your heart." Lavi blinked. "Yes, your heart is the problem, no? It seems you're lying to yourself about something close to your heart. Something your heart has chosen on. Zat's not a very healthy t'ing to do, you know?"
Lavi ground his teeth, annoyed more than he should be. "You know nothing about me! Nothing!"
The woman chuckled and said, "It seems you really are then. Stupid zat is. It also seems me that I know you better zan you do yourself."
The woman rose gracefully and started slowly moving away from the table with a swirl of her skirts.
"The hell you do!" Lavi yelled at her retreating back, causing people to turn their heads and stare at him. The murmur of 'exorcist' filled the room. The women slowly turned around and her lips forcibly and uncontrollably twitched parting and stretching across her face in a weird smile. Her stare was undirected and her eyes clouded over.
"You love zat boy, Lavi Bookman." She intoned hoarsely. "And if you and ze ozer do not manage to save him from himself in time, zis world as we know it will become one we vill not, and will not want to know if ze 'True Enemy' conquer all. Zis I foretell."
The woman suddenly dropped the smile and her eyes became sharp again. She rubbed her cheeks and blinked. Shock painted her face but she quickly returned it to its normal, neutral look and began silently striding away into the crowd of now standing people that were slowly moving towards him.
What was that all about? Love? And a boy?! Lavi almost spluttered! He liked women! What- Wait. People moving towards him? Lavi hurriedly looked up and towards them as he pulled out his innocence from its holster. The whisper of 'exorcist' grew louder and the twisted smiles on the faces in front of him slowly ripped and peeled as the people before him discarded their skins and revealed themselves to be Akuma.
"Fuck that woman!" Lavi yelled annoyed. "Little hammer, big hammer - grow, grow, grow!"
.
Kanda heard Lavi sigh before he slid the door shut. Kanda opened his eyes and looked out the window. Why did it hurt so much when Lavi said he didn't care about him and Allen? Kanda knew it was a lie. The three were best friends, admitted or not. They were brothers, comrades! It had taken Kanda a long time to admit as much and he'd never give the other two the benefit of hearing him admit as much. Just like he'd never said Allen's name aloud until that whole incident with Alma... Kanda sat staring out the window and contemplating for what seemed like hours - though was really only twenty minutes – before he got up and left the compartment in search of his red-haired friend. Kanda had decided he was going to confront Lavi about all this 'I don't care' bullshit that was really starting to get on his nerves.
He headed down towards the dining cart and brushed past a young blond Englishman in a suit when he heard someone start swearing about a woman.
Lavi panted as he fought off another Akuma. It was easy work, but with so many of them, the Exorcist was growing tired quickly. Lavi idly wondered how many there were when another one attacked him. Was the entire train full of Akuma?!
He nearly fell over as he sagged in relief when he saw Kanda come crashing through the door, Mugen drawn. Kanda ground his teeth at the sight of Lavi nearly collapsing to the floor from exhaustion. He sighed as he quickly slashed the first Akuma right down the centre and gracefully dodged another. Lavi thought it looked like Kanda was dancing as he moved from form to form.
Kanda quickly and methodically destroyed the remaining Akuma and watched as the red-head finally slid to the floor. He sheathed his sword and walked over to him and slung Lavi's arm across his shoulders so he could help him walk back to their compartment.
Lavi was slightly shocked Kanda was helping him in so public a place but when he looked around he thought ruefully that it wasn't like there was anyone alive to see. He supposed though, it was also a part of the change that had occurred since he'd come back from Matel. Kanda had become marginally more open... softer around the edges. His thoughts drifted back to the old woman. Both she and Kanda thought he was lying to himself about something. Lavi sighed. Maybe he was? But, what about? Lavi's thoughts carefully slid around the idea that it could be the two other males or the fact that he really did have emotions and left the man confused and his question unanswered.
-xxx-
Allen found himself inside the silk covered interior of a wooden caravan, seated comfortably on a cushioned, high backed chair across from a strange young woman, her raven hair pulled back into a neat bun.
He thought back to how he'd gotten there exasperatedly:
After Allen had snapped himself out of his thoughts and remembered his situation, one of the men had smiled at him creepily and pulled out a crow bar.
"Now boy, we don't hold it against ya fer beatin' us but ya see here, there's this person who wants ta see ya and said they'd pay us 'eaps fer ya."
Allen grimaced. He'd no weapon but his hands and feet, Innocence gone and Noah powers unknown he was stuck. He watched the two men carefully. The man with the crowbar swung and Allen dodged gracefully, pivoting slightly to the left to knock away a punch aimed at his face with his arm. He was putting up a great fight until suddenly something smashed into the back of his head and he realised, with disgust, as he started to succumb to unconscious that there were three men not two. Well fuck.
Allen gingerly felt the back of his head and wondered at how he could have been so stupid and forgotten the other man present. He sighed and chalked it up to fighting non humans for so long.
He looked across to the woman who was merrily sitting in her arm chair sipping tea. He supposed she might be a gypsy.
"There are as many sides to this war, my dear boy," She said suddenly in a thick Hungarian accent, turning her attention from her tea to the silver-haired teen in front of her. The bangles on her arms clinked together as she shuffled in her seat.
"You have both more and less enemies then you know of my dear child. Then again, I suppose there is a lot you don't know at the moment." She looked at him speculatively.
Allen could admit that he didn't know a lot in the grand scheme of things but he did pride himself on knowing a fair bit – however, he had no idea what she meant. To try and rectify his lack of understanding, he figured he'd try to question the woman.
"Who are you?"
She tilted her head to the side.
"I am but a humble gypsy woman that knows more than she should." Well that at least confirmed his suspicion, however, the silver haired boy raised a thin eyebrow at the woman's answer. She didn't answer him properly, but then again, he thought grudgingly, he didn't exactly ask the right question. What did she know more about than she should? He decided to ask another question.
"Why did you have me kidnapped?"
"So I could speak with you." She smiled. Allen raised his eyebrow again and was rewarded with a slight elaboration. "Kidnapping you just made it more interesting."
Allen sighed annoyed by her comment, 'more interesting'? That was her excuse? Who was this woman and what did she want him for?
"What do you know more than you should about?" he asked curiously.
A quick flash of a grin showed just above her tea cup as she held it to her mouth to sip.
"That's a secret. But no, I know many things, especially about you, boy."
"Me?" he asked with a brow cocked.
"Well, specifically the entity known as the Fourteenth." She flashed a knowing smile. "I know that he has been merged with you. I know what caused your awakening. Your Noah powers and where your innocence and curse are. I know too much."
"Indeed you do." Allen murmured over his own cup of tea. Was it true this woman knew the answers to some of his questions? How queer, he thought, that just when he needed some help, this woman had showed up.
"I'll answer some of your questions boy, but only some. I'm not allowed to answer particular questions. I'm forbidden. But I'll answer what I can."
Well that wasn't the most helpful thing ever. Allen looked at her.
"Why should I trust what you say, woman? Why would you help me?"
"I have no way of proving to you what I say is true. And my reasons for helping cannot be divulged to you – just know that one way or another, I am bound to help you as I can."
Allen cocked his head at that. Bound to help him? Why? What bound her? He cast his mind to his other questions, those more pressing.
"Where is my innocence and why aren't I a Fallen One?"
"You cannot become a Fallen One unless you betray or give up your innocence."
"I asked-"
"I know what you asked, boy! I also told you I wasn't allowed to answer particular questions."
Allen frowned.
"My curse?" he asked.
"With your innocence."
"I take it that means you won't tell me where that is?"
"You're catching on quick, child." She grinned.
"My Noah powers. What are they?"
She eyed him silently. Allen sighed. She helped him as much a cat would help a fish to anywhere but its mouth.
"Let me ask a better question. What can you tell me?"
A deep, throaty chuckle.
"An excellent question. I can tell you that your innocence and curse are not gone." Her eyes flickered. "They are nearer then you think. Are closer then you think. Sealed is the knowledge - Within your mind you'll find the information. You just need to dwell on words." She laughed like it was all a great joke to her but Allen frowned in confusion. What she said made no sense! Dwell on words? Sealed is the knowledge? What knowledge? Of where they were?
"Music is more powerful then the spoken word. It can create false feelings, beliefs and thoughts. Your Noah power is related to music, my dear, destructive Musician. Though that's not really you, is it?" Another grin and then a frown. "You must be careful. He is not you and you are not he. You'll have a decision to make in the future. Two sides, black and white but there's no room for grey. No, not this time."
Her eyes pierced his. "Stay close to your friends, Allen. In your moment of darkness, they will be your light."
Allen began to fill drowsy alarmingly quick. He looked at his tea. She drugged him!
"You drugged me!" Allen sluggishly placed his tea down. "You told me nothing and then you- you drugged me!"
"I told you a great deal if you're smart enough to understand it!" She snapped.
Allen sleepily frowned and felt his head drifting towards the table. The woman looked at him softly.
"Stay safe boy." She murmured to him as his eyes slowly blurred and closed. "The fate of the world rests with you, Destroyer of Time."
Yay, an update! So this chapter was a bit content heavy with lots of hints for those who can weed them out of some of the nonsense. It's also starting the characters of their journey of change so they can both reach the point where we all get to enjoy a relationship between the boys and where they're prepared for the darkness brewing on the horizon.
I also want to apologise to my original readers, I realise that this chapter is similar to that of the old one but if you read carefully, there's so much that's different and important, so I hope you all read carefully!