Chapter: From The Heart
Shalan's Say: So, that last chapter was a killer wasn't it? I spent like two hours writing it and now at 5 AM I'm writing the next chapter… you guys better be happy!
WARNING: Sensuality and Violent Content
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She fumed lightly as she rubbed shampoo into her scalp with vicious strokes. She hoped she could take her shower before any idiots showed up. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of hot water against aching muscles despite her anger. It had all started three days before, she scowled. Just remembering it made her angry.
They had stared at the door blankly, exchanging looks curiously. Rou scratched her head as Miranda squirmed lightly. Lenalee just frowned. Nyne looked like she was going to punch something, more than likely Cross, when she got her hands on him. The sign on the door read:
Black Order Women's Wash Room Out Of Order
Please Use Men's Washroom
Management
"They've got to be kidding me, what on earth could they be doing in there?" Lenalee fumed as they moved away from the washroom.
"I don't know but I think I know who's behind it," Nyne scowled as Miranda yawned. "After all, whose idea was it to create a new headquarters without our own private bathrooms?"
"Someone that obviously is a pervert," Lenalee disappeared into her room.
"I think the science division needs a talking to, after all, they are probably the ones behind all this," Rou folded her arms. Miranda stared between Rou and Cloud, she was surrounded by powerful people. Angry powerful people.
"What if the water closet is actually out of order?" Miranda offered up. The other women exchanged looks then turned to look at her, their faces livid.
"There's no WAY!" They said in unison.
"Cross is behind this, there's no way that it would just quit on us!" Nyne fumed, storming off down the hallway. Lenalee chuckled from her bedroom, listening to the conversation outside.
"I can't BELIEVE this!" She slammed her fist into the tile wall before her. "I just don't get it!" She let the hot water run down her back, scrubbing the soap from her hair.
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Flames. Glorious flames licking at his ankles and feet. He opened his eyes and whirled around, blocking the oncoming attack with Crown Clown before swiping back. This dream again. He flipped back, landing gracefully on the ground. This time he was expecting it. He expected to fall through the black hole once again. He felt his heart drop out his feet as he fell backwards, feeling utterly peaceful as he did. However, this time the dream was slightly different.
Lenalee sat with her back to him, her black hair down around her neck and shoulders. She turned to look at him, tears in her eyes. He reached out for her, to touch her, to hold her. He felt a strange feeling building in his chest as he watched a pair of mismatched arms wrap around her. The other's grey face coming to rest against her shoulder and neck.
"She is mine," he hissed, sliding his hand through her hair, tugging her head back. Allen was torn between killing him and watching in twisted fascination as he slid his tongue up her throat. The other's hands slid down her back to her rear, pulling her closer as his mouth slid over her neck and shoulder.
"No! STOP!" He closed his eyes. "STOP SHE DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU!" He felt rage fill his chest. "YOU BASTARD LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!" Crown Clown changed and he sliced his fingers through the Noah's face. Laughter filled his head as Lenalee turned on him. Her face was not hers though. "L-Lenalee?" he choked.
"No, it's me! Don't you recognize me?" Rhode's voice filled his head. "Allen!" She reached for him and he drew away.
"NO! NO! NO!" He gripped his head. "THIS ISN'T RIGHT!" Laughter mocked him as he fell to his knees. "WAKE UP! WAKE UP!WAKE UP!"His eyes slammed open so hard he felt it. It was as though an electrical shock had been administered to his body. As he awoke his entire being lifted from the bed then dropped back down. His chest heaved as his heart started once more. He leaned over and immediately vomited blood on the floor.
He stared at the dripping blood as it trickled from his mouth, his eyes dimming. What's happening to me? He shuddered as though an icy hand had just run down the length of his body. He closed his eyes as another fountain of blood poured from his mouth. WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?
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She stepped out of the shower, pulling on her robe as she did. With a yawn she walked down the hallway. She paused in front of Allen's door, her eyes softened. Then she heard it. A muffled dripping sound. A splatter soon followed as she heard him gag. Her face contorted as her Innocence activated. She kicked his door in, running into the room. She watched in horror as he trembled, kneeling in a puddle of blood. Blood that dripped down his chin with the tears that she knew were of fear.
"Allen?" Her eyes filled with tears. What on earth could she do to help him? Her mind was in a panic. She had never faced a situation like this before. She did the only thing she could think of. She kicked the alarm in Allen's bedroom that would bring the entire Order running. She wrapped him up in her arms, feeling his warm blood trickling down her back as he trembled again.
The siren blared in his head as his eyes went unfocused. He barely registered Lenalee wrapping her arms about him. The only thing that he could think, was that she was there. He wrapped his arms around her weakly. That she was there for him.
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"I'm not sure what exactly happened," she said softly. Lavi covered his face with his hands as Lenalee buried her face in his chest. "He's in fairly stable condition though, from what I've seen, this is just a part of the process of becoming a Noah." Rou sat down, her elbows on her knees.
"So you're saying that we're too late to stop it?" Cross demanded. Nyne had never seen him like this before. His eyes were ablaze, his tone sharp and harsh. She smiled behind her hands. He cared about that boy, whether he liked it or not.
"No, I'm not saying that Marion!" Rou barked at him. "Keep your wits about you!" Cross looked taken aback but sat back in his chair anyways.
"Then, pray tell, what are you saying?" Cloud leaned her chin on her fists as a soft sob could be heard from Lenalee's position beneath Lavi's arms.
"I'm saying that we need a Noah." They all looked over at her. "I only know how to suppress it, not how to reverse it. If only we could speak with a Noah." She put her fist to her mouth, closing her eyes as though thinking.
"Are you suggesting we capture one of them and bring them here?" Cross scoffed. Lenalee looked over at him. "Impossible! The Earl would send legions of akuma after us if we had a Noah here!" He fumed.
"He's suffering! Can't you all see THAT?" Lenalee's tears splashed against the ground. "ALL YOU CAN DO IS WATCH!" She turned and barricaded herself in his room, slamming the door shut and leaning against it, her limbs shaking as she buried her face in her hands.
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His eyes searched the ceiling for answers as she slept peacefully beside him. The soft breeze from the window licked at his skin, sending tingles down his body. He folded his arms behind his head, weighing his choices.
He didn't get much time to think to himself during the day, as his day was usually filled with Anna Maria. He smiled wryly. That wasn't to say that most of his night wasn't filled with her as well. She stirred in her sleep, her fingers striking his side, barely brushing exposed skin.
He had never felt like this about anyone before. He had never loved some one so much that he would give his life for them. He sighed softly. The fact that she was an exorcist troubled him. Part of him wanted to take her fragile throat in his hands and strangle her until she quit breathing. He cupped her neck in his hands. She whispered in Spanish as he lowered his head, laying his lips against her skin. His self control was far too great even for him to understand.
"Anna… why do you do this to me?" He whispered, his lips brushing her jaw as he slid his fingers down her naked body. "How do you have this power?" He couldn't help himself. He pulled her up in his arms, kissing her lips desperately. She stirred in his arms, stroking a hand through his hair as he deepened the kiss. 'Why can't I kill you?'
"Wow," she breathed and he pulled away from her. "What a way to be woken up," she blinked.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself, you just looked so…" 'Innocent.' "… beautiful." The early sunlight bathed them in a golden glow as the open windows let in the soft rushing sounds of the ocean outside.
"Tee?" Anna's cerulean eyes were dark. He was staring at her with an intensity she hadn't seen before. His brown eyes were unblinking and unforgiving, it was as though she were a particularly interesting something or other that couldn't be identified. His gaze caused a blush to rise in her cheeks. "Tyki?" She pulled the blankets up to cover herself. "What's wrong?"
"Hmm?" He lifted his gaze to her eyes. "What do you mean?" She blinked.
"You were gone, for a few minutes," she tilted her head to the side.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he watched as she lifted her arm, letting Najya land. The bird made his senses tingle. "Listen, Anna…" she turned to look at him, a shocked look on her face. "Annie?"
"You don't ever call me Anna!" She blinked.
"Sorry," he scratched the side of his face. "Slip of the tongue," he chuckled nervously. "I think we should leave tomorrow, let's go get everything we need and we can leave tomorrow afternoon," he waved his hand. "My family is footing the bill so we can spend as much as we want," he leaned his elbow on his knee and his face against his fist.
"Are you sure?" Najya fluttered over to land on the back of one of the chairs. He nodded, taking her hands in his.
"Annie, I want you to understand, that whatever happens after this… I love you." She seemed curious, her eyebrows furrowed as he kissed her. "Just remember that. That no matter what happens. I love you." He stroked the side of her face. "You are the only one with whom my loyalties lie. It doesn't matter what anyone else might say to you, I love you more than life itself."
How do you do this to me?
Why can't I hurt you?
Why does my Noah side cringe when you are near?
…
Why do I love you so much?
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He heard hiccups of breathing as if someone had been crying so hard it shook their entire body. He had the slightest sensation that someone else was in the room. "Hello?" He rasped. "Is someone there?" His mouth had the oddest sensation of being drier than the Sahara and yet distinctly flavored with copper.
"A-Allen?" Lenalee was at his side before he could opened his eyes completely. "Are you okay?" She took his hand in hers. He blinked dumbly for a moment.
"What are you-" He remembered his stomach turning and the blood spilling from his mouth. "Oh…" He reached for the pitcher of water. Lenalee jumped at it and poured him a glass. He sat up shakily in bed as she walked back from the table.
"Here you go," she made to hand it to him. His hand shook so badly when he took it from her that he slopped it over his legs and she took it back.
"S-sorry Lenalee," he trembled as she lifted the glass to his lips.
"Just drink it Allen," she smiled, stroking his hair back from his face. He drank as if he hadn't for years. She had poured him his fourth glass before he had finally had his fill.
"Sorry to make you do that," he smiled sheepishly, licking his lips of any residual moisture.
"It's okay, you were so shaky that you couldn't hold it anyways," she cast her eyes to the side. He reached out and touched her face, drawing her eyes back to his.
"I'm sorry Lenalee," his eyes searched hers. "I'm sorry that I can't…" she wrapped her arms around his neck, tears dripping down her face once more.
"Shut up. SHUT UP!" She sobbed. He had never seen her as emotional as she had been the past few days. "Allen you need to get a grip! We all care about you! You don't have to keep protecting us, we can protect ourselves, we wouldn't exorcists if we couldn't!" She squeezed him tightly. "You won't lose us! You won't lose me because-because I l-"
"LEE! Leave Walker alone!" The door burst open as Cross walked into the room. "Our doctor needs to have a look at him and you barricading yourself in here wasn't a smart idea!" He stopped in his tracks. "Idiot apprentice, you're awake," he blinked.
"Damn straight I'm awake," Allen scowled at him as Lenalee released him from her arms. "You going to finally explain to me what's going on?"
"When Lee leaves," Cross grinned. Rou walked around the general to Allen's bedside to check his progress. Lenalee's flushed face darkened as she glared at Cross and Nyne as she left. Nyne shuddered and shut the door behind her.
"She's got quite the temper that one," Nyne looked over at Allen. He had his arms folded across his chest, his legs folded beneath his blanket.
"She's not normally like that, I don't know what's going on with her," Allen shook his head. "So what is going on?" Allen furrowed his brows.
"See, there's the rub," Cross pulled a chair over and straddled it, leaning his arms on the backrest. "We aren't entirely sure."
"What do you mean? You aren't entirely sure?" Allen's silver eyes were livid as he stared down his former master. Rou tilted his head back and instructed him to open his mouth.
"We believe that this has something to do with the 14th Noah's memories," Rou examined his throat. "She is mine," he hissed, sliding his hand through her hair, tugging her head back. Allen shook his head to clear the image.
"Something wrong? You look pale, Allen." Cross tilted his head. Nyne leaned against the wall as Allen closed his mouth and laid himself down on the bed again. Rou's cool fingers slid across his abdomen, pushing lightly. He felt his eyes slide shut as she pressed gently on his stomach with the heel of her palm.
"I'm-I'm fine," he trembled as her fingers slid across the scar on his abdomen. Nyne leaned forward as Rou's hand again slid against the scar.
"Is he-" she looked at Cross. "Is he turning grey?" She closed her eyes and opened them again as from Rou's fingertips a patch of grey spiraled out then disappeared each time she slid her hand down the scar.
"This seems to be the source of the problem. I believe that when he delivered this blow to himself it caused a revolt against the Dark Matter in his blood by his body in an attempt to purify itself." Rou slid her finger down the scar again. Allen's body shivered.
"So… what's happening to me, Rou?" He asked without opening his eyes.
"I believe, that you are beginning to turn into a Noah." She said softly.
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HOYA! New chapter comin' atcha! READ AND REVIEW PWEASE!
Shalan
