It would seem that you all really enjoyed the first chapter of this fic. I'm glad, because it seemed so rough when I typed it up last night. I wanted you all to know that this part of the story will have parallels with the book, so I will try to summarize the major parts in one chapter, such as Lala's story. That is why this chapter may seem sparse and rather uneventful. It is pure business. But I also don't want to end up with like a thousand chapters. That would be terrible!
Chapter 2
A Lonely Land
Komui summoned every Exorcist in the Head Quarters to his office. At the time, there was Bookman, Lavi, Lenalee, Kanda, and Allen present at the summons (although Allen still had a vacation day).
"There seems to be something concerning you," Bookman observed. The Chinese man sipped his steaming cup of coffee. From the dark smudges under his eyes, it was easy to guess that he had pulled an all-nighter.
"There has been a troublesome increase of Akuma activity around the world," he admitted. "It was discovered just as I was putting together a mission. Since our Exorcists have been spread thin, I will need two volunteers to go to Italy. The rest of you will be spread across Europe and possibly the Middle East."
Kanda 'tched', crossing a leg as he was seated. Komui translated that as Kanda volunteering and wrote down the young man's name. He looked over the others, hoping that someone else would go, although Kanda alone was probably enough.
Allen put up a tentative hand. He was still feeling depressed from his meeting with Tyki and felt that going on a mission might take his mind off of things, namely a single Noah of Pleasure.
"Allen and Kanda," Komui sang. "I don't think you two have ever been on a mission together. Considering how much you two fight, I hope nothing goes wrong."
The Branch Head looked at Allen with an appraising eye. "You'll need to borrow someone's uniform while a new one is being made for you."
The boy turned to his friend Lavi. The eighteen year old looked at him blankly.
"What? Yu is closer to your height than I am," he complained. Allen continued to stare at him until the red head sighed, taking off his coat. Allen took it with a bright smile.
"Why thank you, Lavi!" he said. The boy slid it on, unsurprised to see that it was about the length of how his uniform used to fit, although it was significantly bigger than his other coat. Allen reluctantly buttoned it up.
"No problem, Moyashi," Lavi returned sweetly. "I am so sorry it doesn't have any of the gold buttons or trimming you're used to."
Komui ignored the friendly banter and handed out the dossiers to the two Exorcists that would be going to Italy. He then pulled a map down, seemingly from nowhere, and pointed to a random spot.
"In an old city called Mater, many Akuma have gathered," he announced. "We managed to send Finders in their before they arrived, however they stand little chance of surviving there without the presence of an Exorcist."
Allen tilted his head curiously. To him, it sounded an awful lot like a rescue mission. The Black Order rarely sent out rescue missions, and even then it was to save the lives of Accommodators only.
"There is Innocence there, is there not?" he asked. Komui's knowing gaze confirmed the boy's suspicions. OF course the Finders would be expendable. The only thing that the Vatican cared about was the war. Even the Exorcists were expendable to them and they were the way to win this war. As a General, Allen knew this better than most, but it still hurt to think that no matter how much people fought, how many people died for their cause...nothing changed. In the aspect of humanity, the Order and the Noahs were quite alike.
The white haired boy looked at the portfolio containing his mission. He found it ironic that the city was named Mater. In Latin, Mater meant mother. From what he read, that city was like no mother he had ever heard of.
"We will leave now," Allen said loudly. "Come on, Kanda. Let's go."
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Kanda had refused to accept Allen's help and ditched the boy once they had reached the city's outskirts. There were only three Akuma, although one had become a Level 2. Kanda was sure that Level 2 was the real cause for all of the bodies that littered the ground. The Level 1 only left dust. He activated Mugen, jumping down to attack the unsuspecting Akuma.
"Netherworld creatures 'Ichigen'!" he called out. The swarm grew from the tip of his blade and arced towards the Akuma. They sliced right through the spherical armor of the two Level 1s. The third Akuma scowled, drawing into the shadows and disappearing. Kanda moved to the side of the last surviving Finder, a man beaten to a bloody pulp on the ground.
"What's the password?" he asked gruffly. The Finder's head twitched as he tried to get a good look at Kanda's face.
"You...came...Exorcist," the man breathed. Kanda was about to give him a rough reply when a pale hand reached past him to clasp the Finder's.
"Please tell us the password so that you all won't have dies in vain," Allen said softly. He wore the smile of an angel on his face, though Kanda couldn't help but notice that it was tinged with a bit of sadness. The Finder smiled.
" Have Hope," he whispered. The man's smile slipped from his face as he breathed his last breath.
"I told you that I didn't need help," Kanda told Allen. The young General ignored him.
"Go ahead and take them someplace safe," Allen said as he gestured towards the barrier. When his silver eyes fell on the two, his gaze softened. He could see the love they had for one another. "I'll stay behind to put all of the Finders' bodies together."
The older Exorcist grunted, making his way to the barrier.
"And Kanda," Allen called. "You have all of the time in the world. If the doll has a last wish, try to grant it."
Kanda scowled, but showed no signs of disobeying the orders he had been given.
Allen began dragging the heavy bodies of the Finders together. He laid them side by side, with their arms crossed over their chests. About ten minutes after his partner left, the boy's eye activated in the presence of the Level 2 Akuma.
"I know your face," it laughed as the young General wiped his hands together, the blood staining the pale skin. "I saw the Earl with you. A lot has happened in the last two years for him to hate you as much as he does. How old are you now?"
Allen turned to face the Akuma. "I'm fifteen." He eyed the tortured soul, thankful that it did not have the worst appearance he had ever seen. "Would you like me to help you?"
The Akuma laughed again, this time incredulously.
"I don't think you'd be willing to help me," it said. Allen's black arm transformed into a large sword, one that looked mysteriously like the Earl's. He gave the Akuma a lying smirk.
"You're looking for Innocence. I can bring it to you." The boy surged forward in a blur, ramming the sword through the Level 2 Akuma's body. Allen looked up to watch the soul become freed, then watched as it faded away. He closed his eyes as the sweet sound of singing filled his ears. He didn't understand the words, but it was a beautiful melody nonetheless. From it he could see the history that Lala and Guzol had between one another. He was glad that Kanda had chosen to let the doll fulfill her wish.
"I always knew that BaKanda was a softie at heart," he sighed pleasantly, making his way towards the beautiful noise.
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Allen sat with Kanda on the steps of the building where they had put Lala and Guzol. The General had asked his companion the status of the old man and the doll.
"He is still alive," Kanda replied. "That old man told me that he will rip her heart out right before he dies, and then we could have her Innocence."
He looked at Allen, recognizing the sympathy in his eyes.
"You're too soft," Kanda muttered angrily. "You always do things like this when it makes you more sad than before."
Allen's head rested on his knees. "I know that more than anyone else. After all; this is my atonement."
Both teenagers' eyes widened in surprise when a breeze rushed through, carrying the dying notes of Lala's voice with it. Allen hesitated for a moment, then he stood up. He walked into the building where the girl sat on her feet, Guzol's head in her lap. Lala turned her head to smile at them.
"Thank you for letting me sing," she said warmly. "I was able to keep my promise." Allen caught the doll as she fell to the side. In her chest was a gaping hole where the Innocence had been pulled out part of the way. The boy recalled a certain had that had done something similar and cradled her close to his body.
"You have sung for five hundred years. You deserve to rest in peace," the boy told her softly, pulling the Innocence out the rest of the way. It tingled in his hand.
Kanda approached the scene silently with a blank expression on his face. He watched as tears slid down Allen's face.
"I've told you before and I will tell you again: I will be a destroyer that saves people."
Kanda wordlessly grabbed Allen by the arm and pulled him up, taking the cursed Innocence from the young General's hands. He knew Allen was strong, and that he wasn't worried about the white haired boy. Kanda simply wanted to go home the Black Order where he didn't have to see Allen crying. It felt wrong to see the boy who could annoy him so easily...cry.
No, Kanda wasn't worried about his superior, a boy three years younger than him. He probably would never be worried for Allen. Or that is what he continued to tell himself.
