Author's Note: Well...apparently the site: mangahere is more updated on its chapters than mangafox so chapter 205 is up there! ^^" I'll get the main points this chapter, pray that people won't acuse me of plagarism since I'm keeping the main ideas. WILL CHANGE THE END SO I CAN GET ON WITH THE LOVELY STORY I JUST HAD POP INTO MY HEAD! :D About bloody time if you ask me, prepare for update mania here, I have no school till tues. morning and as long as no work pops up for me I should have broken/numb fingers by the time Tues. comes around. :) WARNING: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS on Kanda's past, Alma, and Allen's involvment with the 14th, so keep updatd on the mangas as I said in chapter 1! mangahere just had a chapter 205 update for -Man manga so make sure youre at least that far to continue reading this fanfic! Other than that, if this story isn't something you think you may like then don't read it! It's going be a Yullen kind of story so just a big warning, that's the point of this fanfic. But for those of you who are into all that jazz? Enjoy! 3
START OF STORY- Allen
I had to squint just to see straight ahead a few feet, the fog was getting so thick, and then suddenly- out of nowhere- it lifted so that I could even make out a dark figure on the other side of the ravine, not 30 yards away. My cursed eye wasn't reacting to it, so I was sure it wasn't an akuma. Now the only question was, was this person an innocent human, exorcist that heard of my new "title", or one of the Clan of Noah?
NEW SCENE- Kanda
Dammit! I was going in circles! I thought I was going straight at first because I never strayed from the small ravine but I was already back to the pond that lied before the small home that had been built into a hill. The little girl from before was reaching into the pond and the old man stood over her, speaking softly to her. I gritted my teeth together and stormed over to them.
"Hey old man, where the hell is the nearest town from here?" I growled, my patience non-existant thanks to my wasted last few hours. The old man looked up at me intently.
"Ahh, it's the hot-headed little kitten. I'm afraid there is no village other than the abandoned town of Mater near here. But beyond Mater you can find the town of Kreet a few miles further West." He smiled at me, his bony old finger pointing in the direction that lied behind his little home. I continued to glare at him, unnerved by his attitude. He somehow reminded me of General Tiedoll...and that ticked me off even more!
"Hey! What the hell are YOU doing back here mooch!" the young boy from earlier shoted at me from the doorway, a bamboo sword in his hand.
"Not a thing you little brat!" I shouted back as I stomped onwards, ready to turn the corner to head up the hill.
"Young man, why don't you have dinner with us first? I'm sure that you must be famished and I would like to ask something of you as it is," the old man chimed after me. I scowled back in his direction, ready to protest when my stomach gurgled loudly. He and the little girl laughed as I grit my teeth together, unsure of what to do then.
"Aha! It's settled then, come in come in," he laughed heading for the hut, the little girl looking in my direction and holding his hand tightly," we don't bite, but careful for Roland, he may just try to clobber you yet! Oho!" I paused, weary of his intentions. For all I knew the three of them could even be akuma, and without Mugen there wouldn't be much I could do in such a small environment as their 'home'. I sighed. I'd eat, then leave. I didn't owe these people anything, and I certainly didn't owe them any friendship. I swore a long time ago that I wouldn't need anyone again...
NEW SCENE- Allen
The closer this mysterious person came to me I could see it wasn't just a single person, but two. Only...the one was holding the other in its arms.
"Are you stupid? Why did you run you fool, don't you understand the situation you're in?" I heard Tyki growl just as I could make out his face, no more than a few yards away from me. I glared at him, repositioning myself so that I could react immediatly if he decided to attack. He shifted Road's limp form in his arms, I glanced at her face only for a moment. Was she going to be all right?
"Of course I do, that's why I'm not going with you idiot." Tyki ignored me and jumped to my side of the small ravine, not a few feet away from me.
"Thanks to you Road isn't waking up, any form of normal Innocence wouldn't have done a thing but Apocryphos- he's different. He's like our grim reaper, and we don't know what he's capable of yet. For all I know, he could have hit her so far to the core to have hit her Noah memories." He paused, looking at me intently. "She can't open portals either, I need you to open a door in the Ark Allen, before Apocryphos comes for you again. We need to hurr-"
"I SAID IM NOT GOING! Look...I'm sorry about Road but you're Noah! You're my enemy, and I'm still an exorcist goddamnit! And you're so afraid of Apocry-whatever only because he's just as bad as you guys!" I screamed at him. I felt genuinly terrible for what happened to Road, it was my fault after all but...I don't know why she did it. And I couldn't stop her at the time, but there was no way I was going with them! "You guys...you're monsters." Tyki laughed.
"Monsters? US? You're a cursed exorcist with the memory of the 14th implanted in you, and that freaking guardian of the Heart wants to become one with you! You have two monsters inside of you, are you really one to talk down on us?" His manical laughter rang out in the stillness of the night, and continued on even as Tim blundered down by my side, growling intently at the man. All I did was stand there...not moving...just staring at him wide-eyed, aware of exactly what he was saying. And then...pain! A searing pain in my arm!
NEW SCENE- Kanda
I swallowed the last bite of unidentifiable food before I stood up to head for the door. The old man paused and then scarfed the rest of his meal down, following me at an annoyingly quick pace out the door.
"What do you want old man?" I growled when we were both outside, standing just before the pond.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" he said admiringly.
"What are?" I asked annoyed at the old man already.
"The flowers. My granddaughter, Clarissa, adores them. Do you know what kind they are?" He replied, smiling kindly at me, his crooked, wooden cane sinking slightly into the ground under his weight.
"Che...they're lotus flowers. Any fool would know that," I scoffed. I stared down at the smallest buds softly. I even momentarily pondered if this was yet another sick and twisted dream of mine.
"Oho! Someone knows their flowers! However, are you aware of its meaning?" he paused, smiling at me yet and then turned to the pond," The Lotus flower symoblizes both the clarity of heart as well as the mind...in other words, the Lotus represents strength," Strength to keep moving onward...," good luck," What luck? All is it is misfourtune...," a long life," Long life, constantly popping back up undearth the mud for hundred of years...long is a meanial word for it...," honor, and respect. I have even heard travelers speak of her as a universal representation of the spiritual presence in human lives!" I suddenly felt very uneasy being in the presence of this old man.
"She?" I questioned his word-choice for the Lotus flower as it changed in his most recent ranting-phrase.
"Ah, yes. It's quite nice to think of such a beauty as something more than just a plant, am I right boy?" he chuckled. I felt myself becoming increasingly irritated by his words and soon couldn't help myself.
"Idiot. They're just flowers. They're born in the mud and still try and reach up to Heaven. If they represent anything they represent us and our fate, because no matter how hard they try and live, reaching upward at soemthing that isn't there, they just end up withering. They give their fragrance to the world but no matter how hard they try, in the end they just wither. They dry up and sink back into the mud." I paused, unsure of why I said such things, but it's true, isn't it? Isn't that all they represent, the fate of us exorcists? The old man paused as well but turned to smile at me again.
"You...lived your share of terrors, haven't you young man? Aha...I'm sure you have, that would certainly explain why you're so tempremental and closed off to the world. But even so, the flowers may wither and fall back down into the mud, but nonetheless, they don't really die. They just take a nice nap. And perhaps in a hundred years, that same Lotus blossom will rise back up again to show itself and its fragrance off to the world, right?" he chuckled and then moved closer to me. I moved away from him.
"Leave me be you o-" I started curtly.
"Are you by chance an exorcist?" I paused. I moved slightly away from him more, dammit! How could I allow myself to become so distracted! Was he an akuma after all? Or a spy for the Earl? The Order? I scowled at him.
"What the hell are-" I started but he cut me off again.
"The town of Mater, I thought it was haunted so I left to come and live out here. My son, however, had refused to leave with his wife so ill and his two beautiful children so young," he paused," Apparently exorcists exist to destory monsters called Akuma. A young exorcist saved my children, and brought them back to me. I do not know his name even now, but his strong face, kind eyes, and well kept raven hair reminded me so much of my lost son. I cried many nights after that, and learned from Roland that his mother died of her illness, and that my poor boy was killed by an Akuma." He paused to take in a few shakey breaths. I still remained weary of him, ready for anything, but I felt myself becoming less and less rigid. "Apparently that young man killed such a monster. He said that I could ask for help from any other wearing a strange crest that he bore, for that would mark them as an exorcist. I only met one other after that, a woman, she had beautiful blond hair that reminded my of my sweet lost daughter in law. I knew after that, that I didn't need to see such an odd crest to know an exorcist. It's the way the carry themselves that sets them apart from other people." He turned his gaze again from the pond to look me in the eyes. I glared at him sternly but he ignored me yet further. "So are you?" There was a long pause, and an unusual stillness in the air.
"Yes." I replied, my voice not hinting at any emotion I may have been hiding. His smile brightened and reached further across his hair-covered face.
"Then I thank you for all you've done for us as well my young man. I truely hate to see children fighting as you do but please, I wish you the best of luck getting across Mater, and here, take this!" He cheered, scurrying as fast as his frail body could back to the hut, quickly reappearing with a long black case. I paused, shocked, already knowing its contents. He opened it before me, revealing an extravagently crafted katana. The sword resembled thorned vines and ending at the hilt in a single, remarkably realistic, Lotus flower. The silver shine of it glowed in the moonlight and the sharp edge of the blade almost cut through the air as I lifted it out of its sheath to test its weight. It fit perfectly in my hand, and it was so light...it almost felt as if it was an extension of my own arm rather than the weapon that I was fully aware that it was. I paused to throw the old man another stern glare.
"How did-" I started.
"Ah! Once when I was a wee lad myself I had been a skilled swordsmaster in Edo, but I retired here with my son and wife to become a Master instead, creating swords of the most artful taste. It's hard to not tell another swordsman after living as I had for so long," he chuckled one last time and then bowed slightly, his cane seeping into the ground again.
"Good luck on your journey young exorcist." I paused, sheathed my new- hopefully temporary- blade, and bowed back.
"And you...living out here with your grandchildren." I refused to give thanks, despite the stab in my stomach that nearly ordered otherwise. I wasn't going to succumb to such feelings of friendship...ever. I walked backwards quickly, attached the sword to my belt, and continued up the hill and back to the town of Mater.
NEW SCENE- Allen
"GRYAAAAAAAAAAAA!" I screamed out, clutching my arm, backing away from Tyki. I heard him stop laughing and squinted one eye open to see him standing over me.
"Idiot, your stupid Innocence is telling him exactly where we are! Here...I'll cut it off for you," he said coldly, his eyes focused on my disfigured arm as he raised his hand above his head, ready to strike. I jumped back just as I felt the wind from his hand cut past my face. I staggered backwards, breathing heavily, my arm out of control. He looked at me, his eyes no longer containing any form of laughter as the had just moments before.
"You fool, he's coming you know. Are you that dependant on that damned thing?" He growled. I felt my back hit the tree behind me and my arm flung wildly in the air. Then...he froze, and stood up unbearably slowly.
"W-what is it?" I stammered, unsure as to whether or not if Tyki had finally lost it or is it was something else...
"Apocryphos...he's almost here already..." he turned to face me quickly. "Take care of Road, I'm going." It took the half-second that he needed to jump to the other side of the ravine and into the forest before I could hardly make out the word 'wait' in my head. Soon though, my Innocence calmed itself and I was clutching only a normally-formed arm. You have two monsters inside of you! I closed my eyes tightly, my head hung low to the ground. He's right. I chuckled lightly to myself. I'm still not even sure as to what I am, is that what's doing this? Link, Master, Lenalee, Lavi, Komui, Reever, Bookman, Krory, Johnny, Chaoji, Alma, Kanda...everyone. I'm so sorry, this was all my fault...I really am disgusting. Mana...why did this have to-
"Don't stop. Keep moving." My head snapped up to look at Road, sitting up against Timcanpy's fat body, her form still limp. I looked at her intently. She moved her head over so slighlty to smile up at me kindly.
"Those were...Neah's last words to Mana...before he-" and then she stopped, her form glowing brightly, her body...dissipating into nothing but little light orbs that were floating away.
"Road!" I ran over to her and tried to reach out to her, but my hand only touched the last few light orbs that rose into the sky. I looked up as they all vanished...dammit! This was all my fault! Why did this need to happen? I got up slowly, looking over at...up at Tim.
"Um...can't you make yourself just an eensy bit smaller Ti-" POP! As if those were the magic words Timcanpy suddenly changed back into his average size. Well...that's convinient. I looked up one last time, and then smiled at Tim.
"This is the last time I'll use the Ark Tim. No more from the Noah or the Order, I'll have to-"
"Allen!" I turned back just as I created a door to see Lenalee standing at the edge of the trees. She was breathing hard, tears flowing down her face.
"You...you're not leaving are you! You wouldn't betray us Allen, I know it! Please say it's not true! Everything...it wasn't Allen right! You know you can't leave! If you do then I'd have to fight you! Please Allen, say it's not true! If you use the Ark now you'll get into trouble, you can't leave!" she sobbed coming up in front of me, her pleading face stabbing a dagger straight to my heart. Poor Lenalee...she'd never understand. I smiled kindly down at her.
"I have to Lenalee...there's something I have to do yet...as an exorcist." I paused, her face twisted into shock, pain, confusion, worry...I englufed her in a hug, perhaps our last one. I felt her body freeze up, and spoke quietly into her slightly regrown hair. "Wait for me Lenalee, I'll come back to my real home, the Order, as soon as I can, I promise." I let her go and moved toward the Ark's open door.
"Allen!" I heard her cry out behind me, whatever pleas she may have continued with cut off as I went through the open door, and straight into the abandoned town of Mater. Kanda...you're the last person I can turn to now. I only hope you're still alive in here somewhere...
End Note: Chapter three is now fiiiiiiinniiiiished~! ^^ Oh I'm so happy, I think this one came out better than I thought. How luck I was to find that chapter 205 existed, now Kanda gets a sword until he retrieves Mugen, Allen meets Kanda much faster now (Mater and HQ was waaaay to far away for my liking D: ) and we all get some extra oh dearsies in the meantime. ^^ I love how I got a review in before I submitted this, I swear I'm addicted now! :D I hope that everyone likes this chapter as much as they did the first! ^^ (chapter one I think will always be my favorite, just because that was too beautiful to beat) but I'll try and make each chapter better than the one before so please stick with me here! ^^ Lots of Love from your dear fanserver, neenea. 3 Watch for updates and please review! ;)
