CHAPTER 4
"My hope is to gather more information about Kamelot before making a decision," Kanda finished in the 'conference room', after explaining they would meet an informant who travelled there just to meet them. "As I don't want to leave our ship unprotected, I will be taking two Exorcists with me. The rest will stay here."
"You know you can choose from any of us," Lenalee pointed out.
"Very well. You will come with me, and also…"
His gaze swept over every Exorcist in the room, wondering who would be the most convenient choice. He tried very hard to ignore an annoying hand that shot up and waved frantically almost in front of his face.
"Please take me with you!" Allen finally said, after realizing Kanda was purposefully blind to her request.
"No," Kanda deadpanned without hesitation, "I'll take-"
"Come on, Captain, what is the problem on taking Allen with you?" said Krory, who became friends with Allen after she dealt with the sailors.
"That's right, cap'n! Don't miss the chance of having two lasses by your side!" pointed out a beaming Lavi, who probably did that out of a belief he still owed the girl. The redhead had yet to get rid of his disgusting tendency of self recrimination and tears for having attacked Allen on their first meeting. It seemed like he would always take her side on everything. Sucker.
"It would be good for Walker to have some fieldwork experience with us," said a quiet Exorcist who had been staying silent in a corner.
Bloody hell, even Suman Dark, he thought, feeling betrayed by his crew. Cunning bitch. She's got all of you wrapped around her little finger.
"I can detect Akuma with my left eye," she added. Almost everyone, including the white haired eating machine, started staring up at him expectantly. She seemed to know exactly what his thoughts were.
"Fine!", he barked, "Lenalee, Walker, fetch your things. We are leaving in five minutes."
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Komui Lee was a bored man. After deciding it wouldn't be possible to repair the ship's engine without the proper materials and checking everyone's golem twice just because, he was left with nothing to do. His darling sister had gone out with their terrible captain, because really, why couldn't the man choose someone else? There was also the food that needed to be restocked urgently – Allen was a dear, she really was, but they would have to rethink their storage space at this rate – but Kanda had forbidden any Exorcists from leaving the ship without his permission.
Then again, Komui wasn't an Exorcist. He was just an ordinary, albeit extremely intelligent, person. A person with a debilitating illness that could only be treated through contact with solid earth. With such very logical thoughts in his mind, he picked a large backpack and left the ship.
Sighing as he finally touched the soft sand, he walked towards what seemed like one of the entrances to the city. The ship was anchored but still swayed a little and, if he could, he would just sleep outside of it until this mission was done. A deal with the Minister, Kanda said. Komui had hoped they would form an alliance quickly so he could start asking favors of the politician such as research material and equipment, but it wasn't to be.
The beach was a decent looking one – heavenly for anyone who travelled in the seas, sometimes for months – but it wasn't really a place for recreation. It seemed more focused on work, with sailors, traders and businessmen walking around and talking to each other while they inspected cargo, boats, animals and the occasional bottle of beer. Some of the men he came to recognize as the nice harbor workers who helped them with small repairs approached him, as soon as he had crossed half of the distance between the ship and the first row of buildings.
"Morning, Mr. Exorcist," greeted one of them, other two by his sides.
"I'm not an Exorcist," Komui felt the need to clarify, "I'm Komui Lee, the ship's scientist. And repairman. And other things."
"It is so noble of regular people to help the Exorcists," commented another man admiringly. Komui smiled. Yes, it was very, very nice of him to live in a ship, of all places. The things he did to be near his darling sister…
"Thank you," he answered. "I want to visit the city's tourist spots and maybe buy a couple of things before leaving. Do you have any idea of where I should go first?"
"Why, the first thing you should visit is right in front of you, sir," Tao, as written in a nametag in his chest, said, "Our beach's very best and only bar. You can have a pint and some good conversation there. And information. You can meet almost every type of citizen there."
"Not the Minister, but almost everyone below him," clarified other.
Komui was reluctant. "I don't drink alcohol…"
"How noble of you, Mr. Lee!" exclaimed the third person, who had stayed quiet until now. "Don't worry, we will prepare whatever you want, even orange juice," the others laughed at that. "Or coffee. Anything for the Exorcists. And their friends."
They had him when they said 'coffee'. "Alright. Why not?" Komui wasn't used to such great hospitality. Kanda usually made sure everyone in a hundred meter radius would hate their ship and everyone inside it as soon as he opened his mouth. The other men cheered and one put an arm around the scientist's shoulders, which was a feat on itself, considering how tall Komui was. He let himself be lead to what looked like a very large and crowded place.
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"Is there a standard protocol to follow when we meet our informant?" Allen asked, hoping not to embarrass herself on this mission.
"Yes. Unless there is Akuma activity, you are a nonexistent entity. You shut up, stay behind and let me do the talking. We are not in an audience with a pampered prince. He won't bitch because we aren't wearing the proper clothes or used a harsh voice tone or whatever."
Astonished at his rudeness, Allen kicked a pebble out of their way moodily. Why did he have to be like that?
She noticed that they avoided the richest places as they walked, which was only appropriate as their clothes weren't exactly ragged, but weren't at their best states, either. They didn't even approach the Minister's mansion. There was a stand selling chocolate covered popcorn in their way and Allen bought a large bag, because it had already been some time since she last ate. She shared with Lenalee, knowing best than offer any to their grumpy captain, and Kanda's eye twitched in the same rhythm they munched the crunchy treat.
"Mmm, this was good," Lenalee said as they ate what was left of the popcorn and threw the paper bag in a nearby bin.
They were now walking in front of a pub. Allen could smell the alcohol and nicotine. With a sigh, she closed her eyes. How nostalgic. It was almost as if her Master was right by her side, ready to tell her to fetch another bottle of whisky and light his cigarette.
Perhaps her actual company wasn't so bad, she thought, staring at Kanda. At least the man wasn't a drug addict.
Kanda raised an eyebrow at her staring, and she looked at the other side so he didn't have time to say something impolite. Then, her eye activated, and it was only through sheer willpower that she managed not to show any outward reaction.
"Kanda, Lenalee?" she called in a normal conversation voice, because they were out of the enemy's hearing range. "There are Akuma nearby. They must be watching us."
Both of them turned at her, surprised. "How would you know?" he asked skeptically, but fell silent when he saw her, now that she discreetly moved her white bangs from the left side of her face.
"This eye may be a curse, but it is a useful one," was the answer from the white haired girl, who now turned towards them completely. Her left eye, they observed with alarm, had changed dramatically. The white turned black and the grey turned red, assuming a demonic appearance; it bulged slightly and the red traces over her skin became thicker and darker, the inverted pentagram and the rest of the scar looking like a black fissure in her face. It reminded the others why they had mistaken Allen Walker for a demon.
"Most are level one and easily dealt with," she continued, looking sure of herself. "Some… six, I would say, are level two, and one may be level three, but that is it," she finished.
Kanda looked reluctant to believe the accuracy of her info, but nodded. "I can't imagine why they're waiting to attack, but we won't give them time to follow through whatever plan they have in mind. Where are they?"
"It will do no good to point one by one, or they will attack right now. Let us attract them, first."
Lenalee activated her Innocence, that happened to be black boots that apparently let her do acrobatic movements and who knows what else, while Kanda activated his sword, with which she was acquainted too well.
Allen activated her own Innocence. Unlike when trying to defend herself from Daisya and Lavi, she activated it completely, and felt herself being covered by Crown Clown's white cape, silver mask hanging around her neck and left arm activated with its sharp and long claws. Lenalee stared at her in surprise.
"Shiny, Walker," disdained Kanda, "now… where are they?"
::::::::::::::::::::
Two dark skinned men dressed in fine clothes watched the clash of Exorcists versus Akuma that happened far away in one of the city's most distanced areas.
"They're not too bad," Tyki pointed out from where he stood in the roof of the cathedral's highest tower. "Last time Chiaki attacked a group of Exorcists, they all were down in less than a minute."
"Don't call that thing by its name," complained Sheril, sitting at the edge of the same rooftop.
Tyki huffed. Sheril never liked it when he called Akuma by their names. "What do you suggest I do, then? Call them number one, number two? Or call Chiaki 'the level three with the curvy blades?'"
"That would be preferable, yes. Ooh, look. Your Juliet just killed that level two with one finger. One finger."
"My Juliet?"
"As in Romeo and Juliet. Because you two come from different sides, and are absolutely going to die if you ever try to get together. Got the hint?"
"Huh?"
"Tyki, you uneducated little boy! I can't believe-"
"No, no, now I get it, seriously. I just forgot," Tyki grumbled, lying. Sheril chose the worst moments to point out his illiteracy.
"Even my dear Road read the whole story already, and wrote a paper about it. And she's only twelve, -"
"She is not."
"Why are you being so difficult today?"
Tyki chose to ignore his older brother, as he always did when Road become the topic of conversation. Creepy man. Straining his vision to see from so far away, he observed the three Exorcists who were cornered by the Akuma. The level ones could as well not have been sent, so fast they had been disposed of. Level twos were more of a problem, but it was clear they would eventually perish, too. The level three, though, looked like it was actually forcing them to give it their all.
The annoying Japanese captain used a katana and, with it, created illusions that followed and destroyed their targets. How inconvenient. He had expected the man to be a close range fighter only, considering his sword.
The black haired girl had Innocence in the form of boots that allowed her immense speed. He wondered about her power, until she ripped apart a level two with a well aimed kick.
And Allen… she was interesting. Her abilities were much more of a challenge to understand. Her cloak provided her a shield the other Exorcists could not generate. It also extended, allowing her a long range attacking ability and good mobility. Her arm, though, seemed to be the true weapon, as she only used it to try to destroy Chiaki. She seemed to be overwhelmed, but that was likely because she was trying not to destroy the buildings around them. There were people in there, he could see some hiding and spying from their semi closed windows.
How tedious. Their enemies would always have a handicap, if they felt like protecting weak people every time they fought. Then again, the fact that these Exorcists could do so without dying proved they were better than the last ones they killed.
"Does she have two Innocence, or what?" wondered Sheril, after seeing Allen with both the cloak and her arm.
"You know as well as I that she has only one. We can feel it."
"Yes, but it is a strange manifestation of… ouch, that got to hurt," Sheril said when the Chinese Exorcist got hit by the wind blades generated by a level two.
"Nah, superficial wounds," said Tyki, bored, and then his eyes widened. "Hey, what is that idiot doing?"
Yuu Kanda's illusions attacked the level three Chiaki, who had been trying to kill Allen. Chiaki was smart though, and managed to make it so that the insects hit and destroyed the extensions of Allen's cloak, that were holding it down. Now free and with an unique opportunity, the Akuma threw Kanda far away. The man hit a wall far away and fell with a crunch – something important must have been broken inside of his body. Meanwhile, the level three advanced on Allen, who managed to avoid the worst of the hit, but it slashed through her left arm, apparently making the Innocence there useless. The other Exorcist, Lenalee, still had to kill the two Akuma she fought against that had managed to drag her blocks away.
"I approve of them. These Exorcists are as good as we can get for the Earl's design," said Sheril, "it is better to hurry. You have work to do, little brother."
Tyki stretched lazily and looked at Allen, who was now toyed with by the level three. "At least it is not Yuu Kanda who needs help. I wouldn't save him even if you asked."
"Go already," Sheril said, and watched as Tyki disappeared, slipping through the tiled roof and running towards the conflict. Only three Exorcists, and they managed to destroy almost all of the Akuma the Noah sent. How many other Exorcist must be in the ship? Yes, this organization would do just fine.
::::::::::::::::::::
Allen fell to the floor, right arm breaking with a sickening crack. Her Innocence refused to move, twitching sporadically, and her legs had been trapped by fallen debris. The Akuma over her raised its blade, intent on cutting her in a half. Lenalee was fighting somewhere else, and Kanda screamed her name and tried to reach her, but he was just too far away –
She couldn't remember closing her eyes. She heard the sound of the blade cutting through the air and then through flesh, the smell of blood and the warm liquid washing over her, but there was no pain.
Allen opened her eyes and saw one of the last people she expected to see tonight.
The Minister's younger brother – Tyki Mikk, that was his name – leaned over her standing on his hands and knees, and was shielding her from the attack. The Akuma's blade shone red as it cut through him and almost pierced Allen herself.
"Oh my God…"
"Hey, girl… are you-"
Tyki was interrupted by a wet cough, and blood flowed from his lips, dropping on Allen's face.
"Oh my God… Tyki. We will help you," she said desperately, even if she couldn't exactly move and didn't know how to move him without making his wounds worse, either. A few seconds were needed for Kanda to destroy the remaining Akuma by running it through with Mugen itself. The man tried to remove the blade from Tyki without causing more damage, but only made the mess worse. He took the dark skinned man away from Allen and laid him on the floor.
"Lenalee, call for help for these two!" Kanda ordered, and only then Allen noticed the Chinese girl had just reached them. She gasped at their situation but didn't waste any time, swiftly taking away with the help of her boots.
"How are you?" Kanda asked, heaving the concrete that had fallen over her legs.
Allen panted, trying to ignore the pain coming from her right arm and her Innocence. "Forget about me! It's Tyki you should be worrying about…"
"You are the Exorcist. Now answer my question!" he demanded impatiently. "Is there any damage that you believe may become irreversible?"
"I don't know," she said, still unable to take her eyes off the man who saved her, laying in a bloody pool besides her. "My normal arm will be fine. I don't know about the Innocence, it may need specialized care…" she shook her head. "Now can you, for heaven's sake, focus on Tyki who's in a much worse condition?" she exclaimed in anger, anguished at this situation. Because of her ineptitude, Tyki, who came out of who knows where, had to interfere and save her. She had no idea why a man who barely knew her would risk his life in exchange for hers, but she would be damned if he died because of this.
"Tyki," she called at his fragile looking form, worried when he became too silent. "Listen to me. Don't sleep, okay? Lenalee is going to get help. She is terribly fast. You will be assisted in no time," she assured as she sat near his body.
"It's… fine," he said weakly. "You… okay?"
Allen held back a sob. "Quite fine," she answered. "And you will be, too. I promise."
Lenalee came back with a doctor who performed first aid, before a whole team came, together with a carriage to take them. When the authorities received the news that the Minister's brother was grievously hurt, they mobilized to help immediately. Tyki was taken to a hospital, while Kanda took Allen back to the ship, as they would give priority to healing her Innocence.
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Tyki watched as the doctor finished his bandages, giving some last advice that was supposed to keep him alive. He'd spent a long night in the hospital being operated, and only now had been able to leave the place.
"Really, Minister Kamelot," the doctor said worriedly, addressing Sheril, "are you really sure you wish for your brother to stay home? It is just too soon! He was only allowed to come back because it was you who asked, sir."
"Please do not worry, doctor. I only wish the best for my brother," Sheril assured him. "He will have a whole team of medics at his disposal while he recovers. This way he can stay home with his family, and he will not burden you in the hospital. I would like you to focus on the other patients. Tyki will be fine."
"If you say so, sir," the doctor said uncertainly. The door was knocked. Sheril opened it, and from it came four Akuma in human form, all dressed in white uniforms and carrying medical equipment.
"These are the doctors and nurses supposed to help my brother. I assure you they have a very respectable background. The rest of the team will be arriving soon," Sheril said, smiling.
"Ah… is that so? I am relieved, then," the man said. He finally bowed to Sheril and then to Tyki, and left the room.
The door closed and the man's steps disappeared as he was guided by a servant so he could leave the mansion. Sheril approached his brother, sitting by his bed. "Ah, Tyki. That you went through such lengths to protect your beloved. To watch you like this, it pains me so."
"Bastard. I was just following through your genial plan," he said, "but I've had enough of this." He ripped of his bandages, revealing a very hurt and carefully stitched torso, all blotched and looking like it would burst open any time. He pulled at the threads roughly, but the wound didn't have time to reopen, as it healed at the same time he transformed into his Noah form.
"Argh, finally. I almost couldn't stand it anymore. And to force my body to hold back from recovering, while those people poked and stitched. You owe me big time!"
"We both work for the Earl, you know," Sheril pointed out. "I didn't think we would have to do this, but the Exorcists had quite a good fight against our Akuma, weren't they? And only three of them… how many more must be in the ship? They'll probably last for a while in this world. I think they fit the Earl's description."
"Cute Allen did well until that retard got on her way," Tyki remarked, not even pretending to feel bad after watching his servants being killed one by one.
"Don't complain. What happened was to our benefit. You saved an Exorcist's life… at the cost of your own, almost. They don't know you can heal. This will surely take some of their suspicion away from us."
"I'm sure they would trust you even more if it was you who saved her," Tyki complained, prodding at his now unmarred stomach.
"But Tyki, it is you who clearly showed interest on her, whether it was an act or not," Sheril said. "That, plus your young age, would make you more susceptible to foolish, impulsive decisions."
"I'm twenty six, for heaven's sake."
"Heaven's? What's with that expression, you learned it somewhere?" Sheril asked, raising an eyebrow. "Never mind. The fact is that I, as the older brother and a successful politician, would hardly sacrifice myself for someone else. They would think it strange. You fit the role so much better."
"You just didn't feel like being butchered by an Akuma, of all things," Tyki complained, and Sheril messed his hair playfully. Tyki swatted his hand off moodily. Then, he smirked. "Hey. Saving the young girl from certain death would surely win me some points with her, right?"
To his pleasure, Sheril looked dismayed. "Tyki! Don't even think about it. I am going to tell the Earl!"
The younger man sighed theatrically, and watched as his brother worried about Tyki's allegiances. Sheril had been troubled ever since he was convinced that the train story was true, even if Tyki was making it sound like something else. Good, the idiot deserved it.
::::::::::::::::::::
"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT BASTARD?!"
Allen wanted to cover her ears but, with both her arms incapacitated, she resigned herself to lay on the bed and listen as the captain screamed to his crew. They finally got in the ship, after Tyki had been taken to the hospital and Allen was carried by a surprisingly silent Kanda and taken to the same bed in the infirmary she had been at in her first day on the ship.
Kanda had immediately ordered the nearest Exorcist to fetch Komui, just to be informed the scientist had been gone since morning and had yet to come back.
The Japanese man had been furious and Allen hastily asked him to leave her on the bed, so she would be outside of his reach when he started raging. Half an hour had passed and Kanda told two teams of two Exorcists each to leave the ship looking for the scientist.
"No one else around here can repair Innocence. Fuck…" Kanda groaned, entering the room.
Now that Allen thought about it, her situation was worrying. Her Innocence had deactivated long ago, but the long laceration looked no less dangerous than it did when she was laying in the city's cold concrete. And her right arm's pain stopped, but that was hardly a good signal considering how hurt it still was. Had something happened to Komui?
The door opened with a bang, making her jump, and Kanda just glared daggers at the scientist who was dragged by his ear into the room by his younger sister.
"Where the fuck were you?" Kanda screamed, punching the wall. Komui said nothing though, quickly coming to Allen's side and examining her wounds on both arms.
"I'm so sorry, Allen. I really didn't think you would need me today."
"I'm sorry for getting hurt. Thank you for your help."
"Don't worry. We were short on some medical supplies, but I bought some today. There is anesthesia," he said, already injecting it on Allen and massaging her arm, "now close your eyes. It will be over soon."
Allen smiled. "Don't worry, I will be fi…" Komui took out of his bag an enormous device that looked too much like a drilling machine. "Komui, just what-"
"Close your eyes," the pseudo doctor repeated, and she did so, before the torture started.
::::::::::::::::::::
With both her arms heavily cast and too traumatized to care about being badly hurt again in a short span of time, Allen entered the conference room with Daisya's help, since she couldn't even turn the doorknob.
"Good, we are all finally here," Kanda said, "Today we had much to think about. First, this city was infested with Akuma, and may still be. We were ambushed in a planned attack, an interesting fact considering it happened right after our meeting with the Minister."
Most of the Exorcists looked serious, likely understanding there would be absolutely no agreement with the Minister, who had to be in league with the Earl. Allen wanted to say what truly happened, but Kanda would probably explain that by himself, and her post operation voice was still a little pasty anyway.
As expected, the captain continued. "Details about our fight will be given in a report open to anyone who wishes to read about it. I recommend you all do so, as it is always important to know about leveled up Akuma's different abilities. Lenalee, Walker and I fought against seven Akuma, and many irrelevant level one others. Walker's state is because of a mistake of mine, not her own incompetence, and for that I apologize."
People stared and she blushed. She couldn't believe Kanda was capable of apologizing, and even expected him to blame her for getting hurt. It was nice, in a way, of him to say this in front of everyone, but also embarrassing. She probably looked very pathetic with both her arms hurt like this while Kanda and Lenalee had only minor wounds and, after Kanda's declaration, the crew wouldn't believe she was weak because of today.
She nodded, acknowledging the apology, and Kanda continued. "The most important point of the fight was that Walker almost got killed by one of our most powerful foes, yet was saved at the last moment by the Minister's younger brother, Tyki Mikk. He was gravely hurt in her place. The wound may be fatal, and he was rushed to an hospital."
"What? A normal guy just threw himself in an Exorcist battle?" Lavi asked, disbelievingly.
"That's right. I also find that ridiculous, but his wounds were real. There are no news about his state, yet. We will have to inquire about it tomorrow."
"This is just too strange… did he like Allen this much?"
Allen opened her mouth, but found no words appropriate to express her thoughts. Yes, Tyki had been kinder to her than to the others when they visited Kamelot's mansion, but she doubted someone would fall for her in a day and then promptly throw their life away in order to save hers. She voiced her doubts and most people agreed.
"We owe the Minister," Kanda said without preamble, "that is a fact, and I doubt he will let it slip. I don't believe a member of his family would risk their life for one of us if they were the Earl's cronies. While it is still too soon to consider him a trustworthy supporter, it is likely we will make a partial contract with him."
"Perhaps we truly found a powerful ally," said Krory, sounding hopeful.
"Let's hope so. As per usual, don't let your guards down. We lost our meeting with our contact, and it will be hard to arrange a new one, but I still would like to know more information about Kamelot's background. More than what is exposed to the public, at least."
Komui raised a hand. "Hmm, about that…"
"What is it?" snapped Kanda impatiently. He had yet to forgive the scientist for leaving the ship and causing a ruckus, even if he did buy important supplies.
Komui cleared his throat, and stood up. "Minister Sheril was born to the Bragança family in Portugal, and Tyki was born five years later. They were reported to be normal children, unremarkable besides the fact that they were nobles. Sheril was studious and worked hard to meet his family's expectations, while Tyki was known to be a lazy boy, never caring much about self improvement. That may be because his family didn't expect as much from him as they did from Sheril, the one who would become the heir.
"They grew up and Sheril made his debut in politics when he was seventeen years old. The eldest brother seemed to be working towards his family's goals, while Tyki was just expected to marry a high ranking lady. Nothing remarkable about either of them, I must say again. Their family thought the boys were quite normal, and was proud of Sheril. That changed when the man became nineteen – Tyki was fourteen, by then.
"The city they lived in was attacked by Akuma. It was a small attack and it is only recorded in history because it happened in a place where aristocrats lived, even if none of them got killed. The interesting fact, though, is that Tyki got hurt in one of these fights. He had been in a carriage with his parents in the marketplace, when the horses got hit and they had to leave it. They fled, but Tyki was injured. Not by an Akuma, but by an Exorcist's Innocence – this Exorcist probably hit him by accident. Fortunately, it wasn't a fatal wound. But the boy screamed as if he was being skinned alive, and was taken back home in a hurry, where he was tended to by the family's doctor.
Komui continued, with everyone's attention focused on him. "Ahem. The doctor kept visiting every day and caring for Tyki, but the boy wouldn't recover. His screams could still be heard by the house's servants, and they were eventually ordered to stay out of the wing were Tyki's bedroom was at. As the boy wouldn't get better and the doctor didn't know what to do, rumors started spreading in the city that the boy was a demon, because he was being slowly killed by a strike made by Innocence.
"One day, the doctor came to tend for the boy once more, but he never came back. Friends of the family and even some curious nobles asked about the boy, and his parents said he was just fine, but refused to let anyone visit him. Sheril came back from a travel then, and stayed with Tyki on his bedroom for a few days, not allowing anyone else to enter. A week or so afterwards, he left the house, taking Tyki with him. He would lately appear in Italian society as Sheril Kamelot and his brother, as Tyki Mikk. It is known that they aren't very friendly with their parents anymore, having adopted new names and never visiting Portugal again. The Bragança family eventually managed to give birth to a new heir, and that is it."
There was silence to his long story, and Komui decided to sit down, letting everyone else absorb it all. Then, Lavi spoke.
"This is fascinating. It fits perfectly with the few pieces of information I had. I wonder what happened to Tyki? Sheril must know, and that ought to be the reason they left their house."
Reed looked pensive. "Such a negative reaction to Innocence…"
"I was wondering why they had different surnames. Plus it is said they're Portuguese, yet they became part of Italy's aristocracy…"
Kanda clapped his hands to silence everyone. "Before the onslaught of question starts," he said, staring hard at Komui, "I want to know where in the world you got such information."
"I was out doing a investigation today," Komui said with a self satisfied smile, and then cringed. "I'm sorry Allen had to wait for me to come back, though."
"Investigation. What kind of investigation? How, and where?"
Komui didn't seem to happy with having to share such information, and that only raised the crew's suspicions. He finally breathed in, then, resigned. "I went to a bar."
"What?"
"Brother!"
"Don't think poorly of me, Lenalee darling! I didn't drink anything," he assured everyone loudly, specially Allen, who was now staring, horrified, at both her arms who had been recently tended to by the scientist through his unorthodox methods. "Only coffee. And ate some traditional delicacies. Did you know the harbor workers are really friendly-"
"We know!" barked Kanda. "But you still didn't explain how you got Kamelot's and Mikk's life story told to you."
"They are quite popular with the ladies," Komui said, "and just about everyone in the city visits this place. Everyone drank and was willing to talk. Infatuated women, some infatuated guys too, jealous businessmen and low tier politicians, students who know just too much, and the barmaids, ah, they knew the most of them all… what is it? Stop staring at me!"
"Komui, are you freaking serious?"
"How amazing, Komui! You must be quite a sweet talker," Lavi said, with pride on his voice.
"Brother, I am a little disturbed."
"How do you expect us to believe this information?" Krory asked. He had been listening intently to the story, but thought it came from safer sources.
"It does make sense, considering the fragments of info I already had," Lavi said, "and a good investigator knows not to only ask the people related to the events – they usually keep their mouths shut about it. Gossip mongers love to talk about other people's lives, and they mostly do it just for fun, but end up accumulating a great wealth of information. Now that we have a lead, it will be easier to scrutinize."
They had some questions and argued about it. Allen stayed silent through the whole interaction.
"Are you alright?" Lenalee asked, worried since the other girl just kept staring at the floor after Komui's story.
"I wonder…" Allen started, "I wonder if Tyki is alright. If he was so critically debilitated by a small wound in the past, and was hit again, now by such a powerful strike…"
Lenalee stared at Allen's anguished face. "Oh, Allen… he saved you, didn't he?" the Chinese girl now felt guilty. Everyone was suspicious of Tyki Mikk and his brother because of their past, but if they were truly good, they needed protection, and the younger brother even saved an Exorcist. "We will be informed about his state and help no matter what. I'll see if my brother can't go to the hospital too. Maybe he can be of help, since he has experience with Akuma inflicted wounds. Did Tyki… did he get infected?"
Allen looked at her with wide eyes. "No… he didn't. It is impressive. He was cut through by Dark Matter, yet he wasn't consumed by it. How lucky. I… hope he didn't get a slowly acting infection."
"Never heard of such a thing. If someone is infected, they die immediately." Lenalee shook her head, trying to leave the sour subject. "You look very tired. Let me take you to your cabin."
"Thank you."
Allen let herself be guided by Lenalee, but was unable to take Tyki off her mind. Meanwhile Kanda stared at the oblivious girls as they left the room. These past days had been incredibly strange and he couldn't help but think there was something very dangerous behind their apparent good fortune.