I do not own D. Gray-Man or any of its products, subsidiaries, affiliates, or their respective property. I do however claim intellectual copyright and legal ownership of my own invented characters and storylines. This is a fan fiction work and I do not obtain any fiscal gain from it (So please don't sue me -_-;;) It is illegal to reproduce and/or distribute this fan fiction work without due credit to the D. Gray-Man creators and myself. Please enjoy your reading experience! ^_^ ^_^
This was supposed to be the last chapter but I had to split it up or else it would be too long. Lilium ends here.
The Shadow King
Chapter Four: The Fall of the House of Yoshichika
O quam sancta, quam serena, quam benigma, quam amoena, o castitatis lilium.
Oh how holy, how serene, how benign, how pleasant, oh Lily of Purity.
Lavi watched with growing discomfort as the full moon rose over the rice fields. With its light came the stark shadows of the night. As he watched, those shadows lengthened into the forms of the peasant farmers that had once lived in the village. They moved silently, each working the same patch of grain they had harvested the night before. The first night he had come to observe Lavi had tried to communicate with the people. They had not reacted in the slightest. As they worked he could here whispers. The villagers all talked to themselves, seemingly unaware of those beside them. They were sad, often talking through tears, wondering where their families had gone and why the rice they had so diligently harvested the night before was back again. Through their whispers he had gathered that they were held there against their will, promised freedom once all of the rice was gone. What troubled Lavi the most was that there was not a single grain of rice to be found in the fields.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when Road spoke right beside him. "So that's how they do it."
"How they do what?"
"Harvest all of the rice. I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet." She smiled impishly. "But then, you don't quite have the experience I do with the other."
Lavi was sure he would regret doing so, but he asked anyway. "What is the… other?"
"Do you know what shadows are, Apprentice?" Road loved to remind Lavi of his inability to attack her.
"Of course. They're an absence of light. But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Everything. I've learned many things through my ability to travel around in my own worlds and this is one of them: It is true that shadows are an absence of light, but that is only what you humans can see. In truth, there is only one shadow. Because darkness itself is a void, all darkness is the same darkness. This is where the other comes in. The other is a void as well, but that is only one characteristic. Seen from the other side, light becomes the shadow, and everything that is here is not, and everything that is not is here. I would liken it to a mirror that shows a perfect opposite of the human world."
Lavi wasn't sure he understood. "You're awfully chatty tonight."
"I'm bored. I can't leave, Allen isn't awake yet, and Mr. Samurai threatens to kill me every time I'm around.
But back to my explanation. There are certain advantages gained when one has access to the other. The most important one is speed of travel. In the human world, everything can only move so fast, and nothing can go faster than light. Because of this, the human world also experiences the phenomenon of time. These things, however, do not limit the other. Because all absences are the same absence, they are the same past, present, and future. There is no time, no distance. A void here is the exact same void on the other side of the world."
Lavi nodded. "So you're saying that if a person was to travel through the other, travel would be instantaneous. Also, if a person were to go into the void, they could move anytime as well as anywhere."
"You catch on quick. But the most worrisome thing about this situation is this: I can only control the void to the point of making what isn't into what is. Whoever the person is that controls this Innocence can do much, much more. If this were a game of cards, to use one Tyki's expressions, I would only be a minor queen, maybe even less, and this other user would be the Ace of Spades. In this battle… I will help the Exorcists this one time because I am frightened. But, as it stands, I am also your most powerful ally. Unless this accommodator has learned the same trick as well, I have only one advantage."
Lavi cringed at the thought of having to rely on a Noah with his life. "What is your advantage?"
Road laughed. "Like I would say that out loud. Look around; we're surrounded by darkness. In all likelihood the accommodator has heard every word I just said. Besides, you already know what it is." She tapped his chest as a reminder.
"Right. Well, thanks for the information. I'm going to call the Order in the morning and see if they have any ideas on how to proceed."
"Le—Lenalee…" Allen spoke softly in his sleep.
"Huh? Allen? How did you get here?" Lenalee looked up in surprise. They were in a large stone walled room with windows that looked out into an endless black nothingness.
"What do you mean?" Allen had no idea what she was talking about. As far as he knew, he had always been there.
"Never mind. I'm just glad to see you." Lenalee wrapped her arms around him.
Allen blushed. He still had no idea what was happening. "Where're the others? Lavi and Michi?"
Lenalee broke the hug and stepped away. "Oh, you're not Allen." Lenalee walked backward until she came to a corner where she huddled down. "This place is so confusing. None of it makes sense." Her eyes started to tear.
Allen went over to her. Even if he didn't know what she was talking about, he could not bear to see Lenalee so sad. "Lenalee, come here." He reached out and gathered her to him. He stroked her hair and gently rocked back and forth.
"It's okay. I'm here for you. Remember what I promised you at Earl's?"
Lenalee's eyes snapped open and she looked up at him. "You, you must be Allen, then. But how come you…" Lenalee caught her breath. "I see." Allen was asleep in the real world. That had to be the answer. He was dreaming, and his dream had led him to her.
She couldn't help herself. Knowing that his desire to protect her was so strong, how could she? Lenalee surprised both herself and Allen by reaching up and pulling him down into a kiss. Lenalee had known she had feelings for Allen ever since she had first met him. Even as early as his first mission, when her brother's robot had rampaged through the Headquarters and sedated her, it was Allen's voice that had brought her back to consciousness.
Allen melted. It felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He returned her kiss with all of his heart. They sank to the floor in an emotional embrace. He broke the kiss briefly to look down at her. He brushed a stray lock of her hair from her face… and fell backward in pain.
"Aaugh!" His body convulsed again, his back arching as he tried to escape the agony.
"Allen! Allen, what's wrong?" Lenalee was kneeling beside him, helpless as to what she should do. His body bucked again and his form shimmered. "Allen! What's happening?" Lenalee was starting to cry again.
It took effort, but Allen reached up to her. "Don't cry. I'll be back." With that his body disappeared as another round of pain engulfed him.
"LEENALEEE!" Allen sat up screaming her name.
"Thank goodness. I thought we'd lost him." Zaemon sounded relieved. Road had snuck in when he wasn't looking and doing so had saved the Exorcist's life.
"Hey, Zaemon, shouldn't this be something to worry about?" Road lifted Allen's shirt, revealing numerous pentagrams starting to appear on his skin.
"I thought I told you to… shit! Get out of my way!"
Apparently Allen had become infected with the Akuma virus during his battle. Being a parasite type, his body had fought the infection as long as it could. But with so much blood lost, and such severe injuries, it was only a matter of time before he succumbed. Zaemon had rid his body of the virus, but by then Allen had stopped breathing. He had had to be brought back with artificial resuscitation.
"Where…?" Allen looked around in confusion. He could have sworn he'd heard Lenalee's voice speaking to him. Seeing only Zaemon he lay down. Road had been removed forcefully by Lavi in case she set him off.
"It's about time you woke up. It's been almost a month. How are you feeling?" Zaemon checked his pulse and pupilary reflex. "It appears you're healed. Sorry about that virus, I had no idea you were infected. I've never heard of anyone fighting it off before."
"Yeah, you're welcome." Road's head popped up by the side of the bed.
Without even thinking Allen's left hand shot out and wrapped around Road's throat. "What is she doing here?"
"Easy, boy. I know how you feel, but you can't kill her yet. Besides, she just saved your life." Zaemon sounded like it hurt him to say that.
Allen's hand did not loosen. "Where are Lavi and Lenalee?"
Lavi looked sheepishly in through the doorway. "I'm right here. Sorry about that, she's squirmy. I couldn't keep her out."
Allen sighed. "You know, you're Bookman neutrality is very annoying sometimes. Let me guess, she's Michi too?"
Lavi nodded.
"The fact that Road's here, alive, and Lenalee isn't around also leads me to believe this: A: Something has happened to Lenalee; she was probably abducted like the village folk. B: Through your investigations on the case while I was unconscious you have discovered the means through which this threat operates. C: That means is very similar to how Road, threat number 2, operates. Chances are her powers are being inhibited by threat number one or she would have either escaped or attempted to kill us. My guess is she wants to bargain with us, something along the lines of her help in exchange for her eventual freedom. Am I correct?"
Everyone in the room stared at him in awe. "That's—That's it exactly. How did you… no, when did you get that smart?" Lavi was stunned.
Allen shrugged. "Beats me. That's just what made sense. Maybe my near death experience fixed a few loose connections up here." He tapped his head with his right hand. His left was still wrapped tightly around Road's throat.
"Um… Allen, honey… could you let go? I… can't… breathe." Road was starting to turn red from lack of oxygen.
"Only if you promise not to call me honey anymore."
Road nodded vigorously. Allen released his grip and she stepped back rapidly. "That's better. Thanks… honey." She laughed and danced out of his reach.
Allen ignored her and sat up on the edge of his bed. "Okay, first item on the agenda is food. After that, bring me up to speed on all of your information. Do we have any communications with HQ?"
"None. The phone lines aren't working and we didn't bring any wireless golems." Lavi spoke in an almost military tone. He had never seen Allen like this before. He seemed like the same person, but more focused and alert. It was like talking to a sergeant, only younger and friendlier. He walked away briskly with Zaemon to prepare a meal.
After they had finished eating Lavi told Allen everything that they knew and could guess at.
Allen looked thoughtful for a while before he spoke. "So the villagers are each trapped in their own individual time-spaces during the rice harvesting season. That makes sense, since doing so would provide that rice is always there no matter how many times it's harvested. Also, the accommodator is male, we think, based on his abduction of women before anyone else. We can also assume that Lenalee is being held elsewhere as you have not seen her in the fields." Allen flinched when he said this, remembering the dream he had at Earl's. "But there are weaknesses to his abilities. Road, your candles seem to dissuade his attentions, any idea why?"
Road was sitting across the room with a glazed look in her eyes. "Huh?"
"I asked if you have any idea why your candles affect this accommodator's Innocence more than anything else?"
"Well, yeah, because I want them to beat him. The other is a place for dreams and wishes for those who can control it."
"So why is it impossible for you to summon your door?"
"Because his will is stronger than mine. I don't really mind hanging around. The others won't be able to find me and I get to skip school." She smiled at the look of surprise on the others' faces. "What? You didn't know I go to school like every other kid?"
The others just shook their heads and returned to their analysis.
Lavi spoke up. "So what we need to do is get Road to focus more and get us in. Once we find the accommodator and get him under control it becomes routine. The only problem is how do we get Road to concentrate?"
They looked over at her as she traced shapeless designs on the couch with her finger. It was Zaemon who noticed that she was outlining Allen's face. Leaning over to Lavi he whispered, "Hey, does that girl have a thing for Allen? She's drawing his face on the couch."
Lavi snapped his fingers and walked over to Allen's side. Kneeling down he whispered into his ear. "We may just be able to do this, old boy. But it's going to hinge on your performance." Lavi nodded when Allen's eyes grew wide. "That's right. We need Road to do this for you and not for anyone else. If she really does 'love' you she'll be able to get us in no problem."
Allen watched a shadow on the far side of the room twitch. It formed itself into the shape of a man and bowed, as if welcoming him. It was a challenge.
"Okay, I'll do it. But you owe me big time, Bookman Jr." Allen did not mention the shadow, which was now gone, and went over to Road.
"Hey, Road. I need some fresh air, do want to come with me?"
Road stopped in surprise. "Oh. Okay, sure." She took Allen's proffered hand and they left the room.
Zaemon was shocked. "He does hate her, right? I mean, he sounded like he meant it."
Lavi chuckled. "Yeah. He spent so many years trying to pay off his old master's debts that he became somewhat akin to a professional con artist. Take my advice and never play poker with him. He even out cheated a Noah once."
Zaemon looked after them in surprise. "Maybe he could give Kyuzo a few tips. That kid couldn't fake his way out of a paper bag."
Road walked alongside Allen happily. She hadn't been paying attention in the meeting but was glad at her sudden change of fortune. He was even holding her hand.
"Road, is the accommodator's will really stronger than yours? Or do you really just want us trapped here?"
Road looked up, anxious at the pleading tone in his voice. "Well, I get to be around you everyday now, and it is fun to watch you in so much pain with that girl missing. I don't think the Innocence user would be much of a challenge to me, to answer your question. After all, I'm a Noah with much more experience and they're just a lowly, inexperienced Exorcist."
Allen released her hand and stopped. "So this is just about seeing me in pain? You see that every time we fight." His face was unreadable.
"But this is more prolonged. It's so much more pleasing." Road tried to pull him along but he wouldn't shift.
"Do you love me, Road?"
"Of course I do. I kissed you, didn't I? Right in front of Tyki even."
"But you don't care if that love is reciprocated." Allen sounded abused. It even made Road flinch.
"I do I do! Why else would I always try to torture you? Pain and hatred are very near love. Passion is all it takes to convert them."
Allen looked down at her with a grim expression. "If you loved me, you would have no problem getting us to the accommodator. Surely you realize that I would love you, adore you, if you helped me save my friends. They are all I have, please." Allen got down on one knee and took her hand. "Road, I'm begging you. Help me save Lenalee, help me save this village, and my heart will be yours." He tried not to throw up with this last sentence.
Road looked astonished. She had never considered trying to win Allen over by helping him, but then it wasn't really like her to be empathetic. "That is a tempting offer, Allen. But how do I know you won't just abandon me once this mission ends for you? Besides, you can't really expect me to leave the Innocence to you. The Earl would be furious." A shudder of fear ran through her body at the thought.
Allen thought quickly. "Then you can destroy the Innocence! I don't care as long as the lives are saved. Please, if you don't believe me just look into my eyes and see the truth."
Road was convinced. Nobody would make such a desperate plea if they didn't mean it. "Okay, I'll help you."
Allen stood up and hugged her joyfully. He just wished there was some way to let Lenalee know he was coming for her. He led Road back to their temporary headquarters at a run. He knew this deal wouldn't trigger a rejection so he was fine. As soon as he had the opportunity he would simply fake an injury to his head that would 'wipe away' his memories of the last two days. Once they were in, he had confidence that the accommodator would keep them their until their confrontation was over.
As Lavi and Zaemon prepared for their trip to the other, Allen took Leroy aside. "This might seem like a stretch, but if you're shaped like a snake, do you have venom?"
"It is not venom per say, Master. But it will kill most mortal enemies."
"Good." Allen explained the deal he had made with Road and his plan to get out of it. "If I can't find a way to do that, I want you to inject me with just enough to make me unconscious, okay? When I wake up nobody will be surprised if I don't remember some things."
"Very well, Master." Leroy curled into his customary position on Allen's arm.
They gathered outside. Zaemon called Kyuzo to be present. "Son, I may not return. If that is the case, please watch over this village with your life."
Kyuzo bowed his head. "Yes Father."
Road's door appeared beside them without any interference. Road looked proud at the showcase of her power and Allen didn't have the heart to tell her they were being allowed in. They entered the door and vanished.
Standing alone in front of his house Kyuzo raised his head, eyes gleaming as a dark fog swirled around him. "No Father, you will not return, nor will those children. This is my village, the village of Tsukumozaka Jurobei Mitsuharu!"