Ah, Allen is too nice sometimes.
I do not own D-Gray Man.
The Good, the Bad, and Her
Chapter Six: Forward March
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"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one."
-John Lennon
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"Rye, you really shouldn't do that."
The dark haired girl glanced upwards, meeting Allen's worried and slightly exasperated gaze as she picked at the gauntlet bands on her arms, the only thing keeping her from disappearing from this place. But it wasn't that which Allen was worried about. Instead, Timcampy fluttered around unhappily as Rye glanced to the dormant Golem sitting beside her.
It had started beeping again after so long, signaling a call from headquarters. However, the girl had quickly dismissed it and nearly tossed her "phone" to the ground.
Allen smiled sheepishly, giving Timcampy a few comforting pats. "It's how we can contact each other, they're pretty important."
Rye blinked at Allen silently, her exorcist's coat thrown lazily over her shoulders as the two sat in the train cart, the darkened scenery passing by around them.
"I could careless about Komui." Rye murmured quietly, gaze flickering in annoyance at the thought of the hyper active scientist. "His opinions and needs matter last on my list."
He made these damn things after all...
"I know he's hard to get used to," Allen admitted, a small smile on his face. "But he means well, you know? Even I have a hard time getting... used to him."
"You seemed to hate him plenty when he assigned us on this mission." Rye deadpanned, and Allen flinched, his face paling as his hands shook at the thought.
"I-It's just that my... Master and I have a very strained relationship." Allen managed finally, his gentlemanly smile shaking under the thought of the crude man.
Can't blame him. Rye blinked mutely at he white haired boy in front of her, trying to picture how someone so nice had anything to do with that annoying drunkard. When I first met him he tried to drag me off to the Order...
And I ended up here after all...
Rye's lips curled upwards ever so slightly and red eyes met darkened gray. "Then how would you feel towards the man that stripped you of your freedom?"
Allen's eyes grew wide and he glanced downwards, a saddened look coming over his face as he remembered Rye's predicament. He inwardly cursed—how could he have forgotten?
No, he'd simply hoped that Rye would have grown to be at least a little fond of the Order...
"Just kidding." Rye leaned back against the velvet seats, gazing out the window before them as trees flashed by. "I'm not that petty you know."
"O-Of course," Allen laughed slightly, relieved to know that Rye wasn't showing that much animosity towards the Order. "I know that it can be hard, and not everything the Order does is right—but they've treated me well."
Allen's eyes grew warm and Rye avoided his gaze. "They'd treat you well too."
The black haired girl was silent for a moment, fingers ghosting over the gauntlets on her wrist. Her eyes gazed over into the forest surrounding them, as if searching for something, and Allen was struck with how melancholy the whole scene looked.
"...Rye... Is there something you have to do? I mean, it's not everyone's first choice to go to the Order. But you want to eagerly to leave..." Allen trailed off, his eyes looking away this time as Rye glanced back to him.
"I've just been hoping from one place to another before this." Rye responded after sometime, and Allen glanced back to find her eyes away from him again. "I didn't do anything much, just enjoyed myself. This place has me rather productive."
Allen felt a spark of hope in his chest. "It's not that bad, right—"
"But I was free." Rye's words lowered and Allen froze as her eyes looked off somewhere else, as if searching for something beyond him. That was good enough...
The silver haired exorcist stared at the girl before him and a small smile touched his lips. Rye caught the movement and gazed at him quizzically, causing Allen to chuckle slightly. "I'm sorry... I guess I'm glad that you're reason is simpler than I thought. I was worried you had some long term grudge against the Order."
"Too troublesome." Rye muttered. She'd thought about that already, but ideals of hate and revenge weren't her forte. She'd just prefer to stay out of things nice and simple.
Allen frowned slightly, his brows furrowing the faintest bit as he gazed at the girl before him. He was struck for a moment by how familiar she felt to him, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
I hope this mission isn't too involved with people. Rye grimaced slightly, running her fingers over each other as she felt her bandages. The less the better.
Maybe Rye can finally start warming up to everyone. Allen hoped, a bright smile on his face at the thought. Lavi said his mission brought them really close, but somehow I doubt that...
"Walker," Allen glanced up in surprise at the use of his last name, and he smiled at Rye.
"Just Allen is fine."
Rye frowned for a moment, her brows creasing before she let her face slacken out. He's so kind...
"It's always the nice ones."
"You shouldn't expect much," Rye continued, gaze never leaving Allen's as her fingers wove together. "I'm not..." How should she word this? "Like you and Lenalee... "
Some part of her didn't want Allen to get his hopes up. As touched as she was by the fact that he saw her in such a bright light, it seemed wrong to have someone expect you to be so heroic and trample on their idea. At least, I feel like I can't do that to him.
"Of course not," Allen's eyes softened and Rye watched him curiously as he smiled. "You're your own person after all. Comparing you to anyone else wouldn't be fair. You're allowed to believe whatever you'd like."
How can someone so nice work for people so cruel? Rye felt herself growing puzzled as she gazed at the smiling boy. Or is he just stupid?
"If you don't mind me asking," Allen spoke up again, and Rye turned to face him this time, leaning against the window. "Rye, how did you get that curse mark?"
"Oh." Rye blinked once, reaching up and rubbing the area of her chest where the akuma mark lay. "Hmm... It was just some time after I found out I had this."
Rye waved her hand slightly to gesture to her Innocence, an impassive look on her face. "When I got hit by one of the akuma, it appeared. Komui said... parasitic types don't get affected by the akuma virus apparently, and I guess it just appeared on my first encounter with one."
So simple. Allen sighed enviously, resting his head in his hand as he thought about his own curse. "Must be nice..."
"You asked me how I got mine." Allen opened his eyes and found Rye gazing at him curiously. The intensity of her gaze made the silver haired boy blush slightly, and Rye's eyes shone with child-like interest. "How'd you get yours?"
Allen smiled slightly, rubbing the mark above his eye as if for comfort. "It's a long story..."
Normally she would've left it at that. She'd decided she didn't need to get too close to these people anyway. She'd be gone in a year; it would only be useless to grow attached.
And yet... she still wanted to know.
"We have a lot of time."
Creepy town surrounded in fog, shut off doors and windows, not a single person in sight... Rye let out a slightly annoyed sigh, her coat pulled over her chin as she gazed about the seemingly abandoned town. Well, the last part isn't so bad...
Bloody eyes spotted one house illuminated in light, and she unraveled her bandages as she walked towards it. Allen said he'd meet me in the center, but he hasn't shown up yet...
Though she knew he could probably handle himself to a degree, an unwanted image of Jones flashed through her mind and she felt blood trail down her finger tips. Before letting it scatter around would've helped her out in the future, but now that she couldn't teleport, it was useless.
Where could he be? Rye hesitated before the door, hearing voices on the other side. She gazed at it thoughtfully for a moment before putting her hand on the knob, twisting it open.
Bloody irises blinked once in a rare moment of surprise as Allen glanced up from where he sat, tied down to a chair as various townspeople bowed down before him.
"R-Rye..." Allen smiled sheepishly, the young teen bound by ropes to the chair as Rye stared at the sight before her in bewilderment. "You found me..."
"Walker." Rye's gaze as flat and she eyed all the people before her, the darkly cloaked men staring up at her fearfully. Her fingers flicked out and a thin spike of blood sliced through Allen's ropes.
"Is this the person you're looking for?" A man suddenly exclaimed, shooting up and the rest following suite.
"But she's wearing the same coat!"
"Another priest has come to save us from the vampire!"
"Walker." Rye let the blood pool around her and the people stepped back fearfully. Nothing new. "Should I—"
"T-There's no need for that!" Allen waved his hands frantically, turning around and shuffling through his suitcase. "They're harmless Rye—and she's not the person I was talking about. She's here with me on our mission."
Allen pulled out the rough drawing done of the man they were searching for and presented it to the villagers. "This is the man. His name is Cross Marian."
Rye frowned, her brows furrowing slightly as her blood pulled back in her hands, startling a few of the men still watching her with fearful eyes. The one that seemed to be the leader of them all grasped the drawings of Cross in his hand, gazing at it a moment before his eyes grew wide. "Ah!"
"What's wrong?" Allen offered Rye a new set of bandages and the girl blinked, gazing at them a moment before silently accepting them.
"There's no mistake! I knew it!" The older man threw his arms around Allen and Rye tensed, prepared for a random attack, but Allen waved her off.
"W-What is it?"
"It is you!" Tears of happiness streamed down the man's face. "You really are the man we've been waiting for, the one who'll save our village!"
Is this that drunkard's work? Rye wondered, moving back to stand behind Allen as the older man finally pulled away, an exasperated look on Allen's face. "What happened?"
"He predicted your arrival." The man explained, and Allen looked surprised.
"My master?"
"It was just a short while before Krory started hunting." He continued, handing the picture back. "A traveler came to our village. He came to ask directions to Castle Krory. We tried our best to stop him, saying no one ever returned from there alive, but he just laughed and went on his way. Three days had passed, and just when we thought that Krory had killed him, the traveler returned!"
Is it wrong... Rye's eye twitched as she gazed at the sobbing old man before her and an exasperated Allen. That I understand nothing going on?
"And as the traveler foretold, Krory began to attack the village. All had unfolded like the traveler predicted." The village elder clasped his hands together, a look of fearful awe creeping on his face. "And now you have arrived with the seal on your breast, just as he said you would—and not one, but two!"
The old man lunged forward and Rye's eyes widened as she shot backwards, his arms missing her and latching around Allen. "You've come to save us all! Just as he said!"
"I-I—hey!" Allen tried to protest as the old man nearly smothered him, and Rye was conflicted about whether or not she should interfere since Allen kept waving her off. "I get it! We'll help!"
We? Rye remained silent as the old man detached himself from Allen instantly. "Thank you, priests!"
Rye stared at the people for a long moment before turning to Allen, who jumped at her flat stare. "I-It seems like we have no other choice, right Rye?"
"Walker." Allen flinched and Rye's face was impassive, but the utter confusion in her eyes was evident.
"What, exactly, is going on?"
"Come out, come out kids! Why are you hiding? Don't you know daddy loves you?"
Large eyes peered up fearfully through the cracks of the closet, small but firm arms wrapped around her frame as the two siblings cowered in the shadows of the door.
"Daddy loves you! Don't you want to see Mommy again?"
Fear. Fear. Fear. It was all she felt. It was all she ever felt back then. And she could do nothing about it.
"Come out~"
"He won't find us, I promise."
"DADDY LOVES YOU!"
I'm sorry.
Rye's eyes shot open, and before she had time to think, blood was pulling from her hands and she flung her arm out, several vine like tendrils whipping out and slamming the figure before her into the wall. Her breath came in heavy pants and she shot up, prepared to finish the blow.
"R-Rye! It's just me!" Bloody eyes met warm gray and Allen gazed at the girl with wide eyes, holding his hands up to pacify the panting girl.
Rye blinked, her chest rising and falling heavily as her arms trembled. Allen's brows furrowed at her disheveled appearance, and he froze at the look of wild fear that was slowly slipping from her eyes. The other girl trembled once, and then realizing that she was no longer in that home, no longer trapped in her own fear, she let her arms grow slack and the tendrils pulled back.
Allen landed softly on the floor and Rye put a hand to her head, calming herself down as the blood receded back into her hands. She sucked in a deep breath and forced all wild emotions down deep within her where they belonged.
You're not the same as back then.
"Sorry." Rye murmured, reaching over and tearing off a strip of the bed sheets to wrap around her now torn bandages.
"No, don't say sorry!" Allen's eyes were worried, and his face showed one of concern as he took a careful step towards the girl. "It was my fault; I didn't mean to startle you like that..."
Rye said nothing, keeping her gaze on her hands where the blood was still slowly dripping out, sensing her growing unease. Allen swallowed the lump in his throat at Rye's stony expression. If he didn't reach out to her now, he never would.
"...Rye... Where you..." Bloody red eyes looked feral in the moonlight, but Allen was struck with how similar she resembled himself from so long ago.
Simply lost and alone.
"Where you having a nightmare?"
Rye paused at the term. She gazed back down at her hands, clenching and unclenching them experimentally before she let out a quiet sigh, running a hand through her hair and glancing the other way. "Something like that."
Progress? Allen smiled slightly, stepping closer but not reaching out. Not yet. Despite the hard edges and rough exterior, Rye was simply another person not quite sure about what to do with herself in this world. And Allen knew that the moment they brought her back, he'd have to help her find her answer. "Whenever I wake up like that, I remind myself the past is in the past."
"The past holds a grudge." Rye mumbled, rubbing at her eyes and slumping back. Allen grinned slightly.
"True. But that's why we look to the future instead."
Rye left her hand over her eyes for a moment, letting Allen's words echo in his ears. And to the white haired boy's surprise, a ghost of a smile touched her lips. Allen's eyes went wide at the sight, but it was gone a second later and Rye gazed at him thoughtfully.
"That sounded cliché."
"Ah, well, what else can I say?" Allen rubbed the back of his head before his eyes narrowed, and Rye watched with fascination as his left eye came to life, and Allen craned his head, watching the room beside them carefully. "It's here."
Rye's eyes narrowed and then her mind clicked in realization. Allen must've come to waken her up because he sensed an akuma. The black haired girl stood up from the bed, pulling at the bandages she'd just made as Allen motioned to her to head towards the door.
Silently, Rye slipped her feet into her boots and made her way into the hallway, finding Allen's door propped open. Within seconds the sound of shots rang out and the room shook, violet light illuminating the walls. Her blood pooled in her hands and she gripped the sword that formed.
Allen stood beside her, his arm transforming into its full form as the akuma pulled aside the bed sheets, revealing a dummy. Kind and smart... Rye rocked back on her heels. A dangerous mix...
"Too bad." The demon whirled around and Allen's eyes narrowed. "My left eye can reveal demons. You were watching this room from outside, weren't you? I was watching you too."
The akuma let out a cry and charged forward. Rye tensed, and Allen moved past her, his Innocence shooting through the demon and causing it to explode from the impact. Rye eyes narrowed and she whirled around as more villagers charged through.
Her shoulders slackened for a moment until they two transformed, and she narrowed her eyes, shooting forward and swinging her sword down.
"Rye, wait!" Her eyes snapped towards Allen for a second and the sword in her hands shimmered, the blood loosing form and falling over the akuma like rain. Her feet landed on the floor and Allen ran forward as the akuma began to fire off shots, pulling her along. "We have to move outside! In here will cause too much damage—"
The window in front of them shattered and Rye dug her heels into the ground as the violet shots fired towards them. Her fingers curled upwards and her blood shot up to form a barrier, but a shot fired past and slammed into Allen's left eye. Rye's eyes grew wide as the boy let out a cry of pain, stumbling backwards.
I can't leave him now. She tossed aside the idea of using a sword and curled her fingers, tendrils of blood spiking out and impaling several demons. Her eyes narrowed and she bit her lip, her nails biting into her palm as she focused on the blood that had splattered on the akuma before.
The splattered blood simmered and explosions rocked the hallway. Allen put a hand atop of hers, and she glanced back to him as he grimaced. "I can't see out of my left eye. Damn, there's a level two!"
Rye hesitated a moment before gripping his hand. Her free arm swung out and impaled the remaining violet bubbles floating in the air. She felt blood drip to the floor and more demons appeared. Rye's eyes narrowed and she cursed, not liking her odds. At a rate like this, the inn would end up destroyed if she wasn't careful, but something like that wasn't easy with her power...
A shot struck her in the shoulder and she staggered backwards, her blood wavering for a moment and the demons charged forward. Rye narrowed her eyes and brought her hands up, but before the demons could even get close, a gust of wind whirled by her ear.
"Big hammer, little hammer. Extend!"
Rye's eyes snapped past the hammer as explosion from the akuma blew bits of debris about, and her gaze landed on two familiar figures. Allen stiffened in surprise beside her. "Lavi! Bookman!"
"What'cha sitting around for?" Lavi grinned, and Bookman sniffed beside him.
"This is no time for lollygagging."
Allen grimaced and she helped the teen stand, her arm shooting out and rising up another wall of blood as bullets slammed hard into her makeshift shield. Lavi and Bookman were beside them, and the red head grinned, leaning over Rye's shoulder as he raised his hammer. "Long time no see, right Red?"
"Do I know you?" Rye muttered, and when the bullets stopped for a moment she swung her arm up, the blood following suit and swinging through a few.
Several more poured through the opening, and part of the floor before them collapsed. Allen rose up beside her and brought his arm up as a shield as shots continued to fire. "There's no end to them!"
The shots being fired left Lavi and Bookman unable to advance, and Rye felt a sword form in her hands as she ducked out from Allen's shield. She drew to a halt thought when there wasn't an akuma in sight, and Allen was beside her. "They got away."
The four leapt down from the hole that had been created, and Rye winced as her vision grew blurry for a second. I'm loosing too much blood...
"Wait!" Her head swung around and she froze at the man buried under all the rubble the fight had caused. Lavi and Allen quickly went back to help, and Rye hesitated, gazing out at where the akuma had disappeared.
The thought of charging ahead and running after them ran through her mind, and her fingers twitched despite the tiredness creeping up on her from the use of so much blood. But before she could run off, Allen was calling her over, and to her own surprise, she followed his voice and bent down to help the man out.
A month ago she would've just run.
"Four Dark Priests!" The villager gazed over the exorcists, watching as Bookman checked the man's wounds. "Our cup runs over! And you even fought off the attacking monsters last night, the um..."
"Akuma." Lavi supplied, a flat look on his face as the old man grinned.
"Yes, akuma. How wonderful, that you were able to rid us of the demons!"
"Well, demons are our specialty." Allen murmured, and the old man waved him off, a bright look on his face.
"Demons, vampires, they're all the same!"
"Put him in a room with a few and let him find out." Rye muttered, and Allen gave her a reprimanding look, though light. The black haired girl glanced away and Lavi gazed between the two in surprise, wondering how Allen managed to have such influence over the girl.
"In any case, I expect you to accompany our town's militia tonight."
"Wait a—" Lavi started, but the villager's face leered closer with wide eyes.
"We expect great things from you."
Lavi's mouth fell closed and he blinked, glancing over to Allen who wore a look of exasperation. Rye's face was one of annoyance and her fingers curled and uncurled, tempted to tell the villager to hop off, but she reminded herself that they weren't as capable as they were.
It didn't help much.
"That does it." Bookman declared finally, pulling the blanket up over the wounded man. "Well, you'll have to get going then."
The three glanced over to Bookman, and the old man waved Allen over. "Show me your eye."
"R-Right." Allen stepped passed Rye and the girl watched silently beside Lavi, growing unnerved by the fact that she was faintly worried about the white haired boy.
"Allen's a nice guy, isn't he?" Lavi whispered, and Rye spared the red head a side glance as he grinned. "He has that affect on people."
He really is sharp. Rye cast Lavi a side long glance, finding herself faintly amused. I need to look out for him. "I'm a bit dull, Bookman. I'm not quite sure what you're suggesting."
"Lavi. La-vi. Is it really that hard?" Lavi pouted, slinging an arm over the girl's shoulder, much to her dislike. "It's been so long too! Is that how you greet friends?"
"It's been a few days. And we're not friends."
"So cruel~" Lavi hung his head sadly, and Rye ignored the red head's chatter, watching with curious eyes as Bookman addressed the wound.
"It seems the humorous is absorbing the damage." Bookman observed, gazing at Allen's eye for a moment. "It must be an affect of the akuma attack."
"Will he be alright?" Lavi questioned, and Rye was silently glad that she didn't have to be the one to ask the question on her mind.
"It's just like last time." Bookman leaned back. "Just give it some time and the eye should see again of its own accord."
"All right then." Allen sighed in relief, opening up his right eye, and Rye felt her shoulders relax a bit.
"Now you." Rye blinked, glancing up in confusion as Bookman gazed at the girl silently. "Well? I saw you get hit. Let's have a look—"
"I'm fine." Rye found herself taking a step back, and her fingers curled slightly at her sides. "I heal fast."
"Perhaps, but it doesn't mean you're fine." Bookman's face gave her no inch to work with. "We don't have all day you know."
"Come on, Red!" Lavi nudged the girl forward and Rye sent him a dark glare. "Just let the Old Panda bandage you up and—"
"There's nothing to bandage." Rye rolled her sleeves up, revealing unharmed skin, aside from a few past scars. She reached up and tugged her collar down, revealing only a light bruising on her shoulders. "This...thing has some perks. I heal fast."
"So it seems." Bookman stood and ran his hands over the girl, eyeing her hands thoughtfully. "But you can't have an Innocence like that without a weakness."
Rye was silent, though she knew what the old man was referring too as he shuffled through a bag and pulled out a few pills. "Iron supplements. They should last you for the rest of the mission, and when we return to the Order, you should rest—"
"Thank you." Rye took the pills and Bookman regarded her silently. Inclining her head she added. "Bookman."
The older man nodded his head and Allen cast Rye a worried look before speaking up. "What was that about going somewhere?"
"The townspeople's request." Bookman answered. "The demons that attacked you have me concerned, and there must be some reason General Cross said what he said. We'll have to go see this vampire if we want to know what's going on here."
"Bad luck guys. Better cheer up!" Lavi grinned and Rye felt her brow twitch in annoyance.
"You're going too, Lavi."
"Eh?"
"Don't get shot." Rye added, and Lavi flashed the girl a light glare which she easily ignored, instead moving her fingers and watching Timcampy flutter about them.
"It's part of your training." Bookman explained simply, and Lavi slumped, eyeing the man thoughtfully.
"And what about you?"
"I can't leave." Bookman turned his head to the wounded man. "There are still concerns about the akuma too..."
"All right already, you old panda." Lavi muttered.
Rye watched in fascination as Bookman soared across the bed, foot slamming into Lavi's face. "Who're you calling a panda?"
"Ow!"
"I told you not to call me that!"
Allen chuckled and Rye glanced over to the white haired boy, watching the warmth in his gaze for a moment before she glanced away.
Exorcists were strange people.
I can't believe we're doing this. Rye sunk further into the exorcist jacket, rather glad for the way it had been designed—Jonath—no, Johnny was rather good at what he did it seemed. Blood red eyes scanned over the people, complete with pitchforks, garlic cloves, and wooden stakes to attack this so-called vampire.
"You still can't see out of your right eye?" Lavi inquired, and Allen smiled slightly, shaking his head.
"Yeah, but it's all right." Allen glanced over to where Rye followed a few steps behind and smiled slightly. "I'm fine."
"Hey, did you guys know that if a vampire bites you, you become one yourself?" Lavi questioned, and Rye's face remained blank while Allen blinked in faint recognition.
"Yeah, I think I remember that..."
"So don't get bitten." Lavi nodded his head sagely. "And anti-vampire weaponry..."
"I think they have that covered." The two glanced back and over Rye's head to the villagers followed behind, anti-vampire gear ready and at large.
Lavi's gaze traveled back to Rye and he blinked, looking thoughtful. "Red, it must be pretty unlucky to be stuck on a mission like this with your Innocence."
Rye glanced up and Allen frowned in confusion as Lavi continued. "I mean, your Innocence is your blood, and vampires drink blood. So aren't you at a disadvantage?"
"I heard vampires are useless once you chop their heads off." Rye's face was blank as tendrils of dark red wound up her arm. "I wonder who'll be faster."
"I think Rye can handle herself." Allen smiled, rubbing the back of his head with a light laugh.
"Aw, she's just trying to look brave!" Lavi grinned, slowing down so that he could walk side by side with the girl, but Rye's faced turned into one of disgust and she did the same so he couldn't fall in place beside her.
"Then again, there were demons here last night..." Lavi mused thoughtfully, maneuvering himself around so that Rye was constantly moving to avoid him. "Think the vampire might be a demon in disguise?"
"I've never heard of a demon that drinks blood..." Allen admitted, and Lavi sighed, finally managing to sling his arm around Rye's shoulder.
"That's true..."
Rye had only heard of vampires from books and old tales parents would tell some of the children she'd played with. The idea of such a creature was somewhat interesting, and despite her annoyance at being hassled around by villagers, she was curious to see if it was merely a demon or not.
"Stop you three!" Rye's eye twitched in annoyance at being ordered, but she halted as a looming castle gate bore down on them, clouds of fog trailing along the edges. "This is the entrance to Castle Krory. Beyond here is a garden which Krory owns, where demons are said to lie. Beyond that is the castle itself."
Rye took in the large stone face looming over the wooden double doors, and the long shadows it seemed to cast over them in the moonlight. The entire thing was eerie, but her gaze was flat as she curled her fingers, prepared for anything.
Squeaking filled the air and their heads turned as a flurry of bats flew over head. Rye's ears twitched at the growling noises and groans that seemed to sound from beyond the gate, and she sighed.
How cliché...
"Now, go!" The village leader ordered, and Lavi and Allen swallowed a lump in their throats before her.
"...'kay..."
The wooden doors pulled open with a resounding creak, screaming out the years of old age. The group filed through, and Rye's eyes ran over the creepy statues, looming over the garden and the villagers as they moved down the path way. Her bandages unraveled and she let her blood curl around her fingers, somewhat disturbed by the atmosphere.
"Man, this Krory guy has terrible taste." Lavi observed, taking in a large dog-like creature that bore its fangs.
Rye felt the hair on the back of her neck and her eyes narrowed at the foreboding feel. Allen glanced around in front of her, reaching a hand over and sliding off the glove to his arm.
"Oh~" The two glanced over to where Lavi smirked, a devious look on his face. "Why are you taking your glove off Allen?"
Allen stiffened and Rye blinked in faint amusement as Lavi grinned. "You scared?"
The white haired boy let out a nervous laugh. "No, no." Allen's eyes followed Lavi's hands and he blinked as the red head fingered the hammer at his side. "Lavi, you seem to be hovering around your weapon a lot..."
"Hahaha, I'm so not scared!" Lavi declared, not moving his hand from his Innocence. The two teens paused, staring at each other for a moment before turning around and gazing thoughtfully at Rye.
The girl blinked back blandly at them, silent as they stared at her curiously. "What?"
"Rye... Aren't you scared?" Allen questioned gently and Lavi blinked, emerald eye scrutinizing the girl before them.
"Well, she is a girl..."
What does that have to do with anything? Rye gazed dully back at the two and Lavi smirked, squaring his shoulders confidently. "Well, if you are scared, Red, Lavi here will protect you from the spooky monsters!"
"No thank you."
"Aw, you don't need to hide it!" The red head patted his chest and held his arms open to the girl. Allen and Rye stared at Lavi blankly, leaving the red head standing with his arms open wide.
A breeze whistled past the three tensed, Allen and Lavi moving back to back and Rye tensed, her blood weaving around her as their eyes scanned the area. The villagers huddled closer and Rye's eyes snapped forward when a sharp gust of air whirled past them.
"What was that?"
"It was fast!" Lavi glanced about, eyes narrowed and searching the area around them. Rye frowned, turning around to find the source of the movement when a familiar scent hit her.
Blood?
"F-Franz! It got F-Franz!" Red eyes snapped toward the back of the group and the three cut through the crowd, coming to a halt to where the frightened man was pointing too.
Rye froze, her eyes widening in disbelief as Allen and Lavi stiffened beside her, looks of fear crossing their features as the long fangs dug into the man's neck.
A cloaked figure stood tall, the limp man hanging from his arms as his fangs buried themselves into his neck. Rye was stunned, not quite believing the fact that there was an actual vampire before her eyes.
You've got to be kidding me.
"That's not a demon..." Allen stuttered, and Rye shuddered at the loud sucking noises that ensued, her blood recoiling towards her automatically.
"I-It's a vampire?" Lavi exclaimed, and the black haired girl found herself blinking dumbly, her face paling as blood dripped down from the vampire's fangs.
It's an actual vampire. Her mind slowly churned with the news. Someone that drinks blood.
Blood...
Rye shot back a few steps and shoved her hands far into her pockets, out of sight from the vampire as she paled at the prospect of having her own blood drunken from something like...that.
Meaning she was not scared, only cautious.
The villagers shook in fear behind the three and Rye felt Lavi shaking in disbelief beside her. "No damn way..."
"This is why I didn't want to look for Master!" Allen exclaimed, gripping his head in frustration. An echoing cry rang through the air, and Rye blinked with slightly widened eyes as the villagers charged past her, screaming for their lives and disappearing with a gust of wind.
"Cowards." Rye muttered.
Allen blinked with his good eye. "What should we do now?"
"Whatever, as long as we don't get done in." Lavi supplied simply, and Allen's face hardened in determination.
"Even if they just serve to feed him, we can't let him kill anymore villagers."
"True enough." Lavi agreed, a smirk touching his lips.
"Who cares?" Rye wondered aloud, and Allen whirled around in surprise, a panicked look on his face.
"R-Rye! You can't have that kind of mindset! Even if they were pushy, it doesn't mean they deserve to be used as food!"
"They could've just—"
"Ah, Red actually has the sweetest heart!" Lavi grinned, tugging at the girl's cheek and Rye's eyes narrowed coldly at the red head. "She even saved a bar maid—"
"Walker," Rye looked over to Allen as Lavi crumpled to the floor, holding his now bruised stomach. "Now's our chance."
Sharp laughter pierced through the air and Rye's eyes narrowed as she turned her gaze back to the vampire, a large sneer lining his face as he bared his fangs. "This is who they send out?"
"Why?" Bloody irises turned steely and Rye held her arm out, sword tip pointing towards the vampire. "Disappointed?"
"Innocence, activate!" Lavi gripped his hammer beside her and Allen's arm aimed at the monster. The vampire's smirk grew, and a look of condescending amusement fell upon his face.
"Do you think you can fight me?" Long fangs bared itself in a grim sneer and Rye cocked her head, tilting her chin upwards in a challenge.
Lavi's eyes glimmered and he spun his hammer on his fingertips. "Just don't let him suck your blood."
"You too!" Allen exclaimed, and the vampire surged forward. The white haired boy plunged his arm into the ground, and the earth broke up as the shots aimed for the vampire. Rye's eyes widened slightly at the speed the man possessed, but before he could attack Allen, Lavi's hammer swung across, knocking him aside.
"What're you doing?" Lavi called, and Allen raised his cannon-like arm up.
"He's faster than before!"
The sword fitted to her hands and Rye swung out, watching the blade extend and curve outwards. The vampire's eyes narrowed and he deftly ducked the blow, and Lavi leapt upwards. "Big hammer, little hammer!"
Shots rang out, and Rye watched carefully as the vampire continued to dodge each hit, but he came to a halt as Lavi's hammer bore over him from above. "Grow! Grow! Grow! Grow!"
The hammer grew to colossal size and landed dead center on the vampire. Rye felt blood curl around her arms and she flicked her sword, prepared to strike. Lavi grinned atop his hammer, and the girl wondered somewhere in the back of her mind how he was able to swing the large thing with ease. "Take that!"
"Lavi!" Rye's eyes widened in disbelief as the vampire clutched the hammer by the pointed tip at the top, clenching the massive weapon between his teeth.
Lavi blinked, clearly in disbelief at the sight, and his face paled. "Oh, crap... Nice teeth, man."
With a great heave, the hammer tipped over as the vampire swung his head around. Rye's arm shot out and a pool of blood left the puddle at her feet, rushing over to the boulder the hammer was about to impact with to help Lavi's fall. As a cloud of dust filled the air from the collision, Rye's eyes locked on the vampire as he rose up.
The cutlass-like sword swung out and the vampire's eyes grew wide as Rye swung down on him. His hands shot up to halt the blade, clamping it flat between his hands, and his eyes narrowed. "Women do not belong on the battle field."
"As if I give a shit." Rye smirked and her sword spiked out, piercing the man's hands. The vampire let out a cry of pain and he scowled, leaping away from Rye.
A frown marred his features and he raised his hands up, staring down at the dark red substance. "Blood?"
Pools of blood hardened beneath her and Rye used it as stepping stools, swinging the sword in a high arch over her head to bear down on the vampire. But as her blade swung to his face, his jaw opened wide and his teeth clamped down on the curved blade.
Rye froze, eyes widening in shock at the move, and the vampire's eyes narrowed as his teeth clamped harder on the solid blood.
And then Rye felt his fangs pierce through the blade, barely a dent, but enough as he threw his head back, pulling her along with him and he inhaled, sucking in a few drops of her blood from the blade.
Sucking... Rye blinked once, her face growing deathly pale as the sickening noise echoed across the castle grounds. My blood...
...
...
...
HELL NO.
Rye swung her sword back in a flash, a look of disgust and horror on her face as she stumbled backwards, her blood hovering about her and curling inwards, as if disgusted by the prospect of being touched by someone else. The vampire made a look of disgust, his tongue licking his fangs and Rye felt her stomach heave, a disgusted shudder running through her body.
Gross. Gross. Gross. Despite the fact that her blood seemed to disconnect from her body, it was still her blood. She felt it—it was her, that was how she controlled it when it wasn't even attached. And the fact that he took blood from her sword was no better than burying his fangs into her neck. Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting.
A vampire did not just suck my blood. A vampire did not just suck my blood.
"R-Red?" Lavi questioned, sitting up from the hardened blood that had cushioned his fall. "Are you alright?"
Rye simply kept herself a safe distance away from the vampire, eyes narrowed and lips curled back in a snarl as tendrils of blood sharpened and jutted out like thorns around her. The vampire sneered, but before he could do anything else, the ground beneath him crumpled, and his eyes grew wide as a clawed hand enveloped him.
"Caught you." Allen narrowed his eyes, sweat dropping as he gave Rye a glance and then returning his gaze back to the matter at hand. "Don't move."
A dark chuckle echoed through the night and Allen's eyes narrowed. "You kids are quite the bee's knee, living through an encounter with me. Are you monsters too?"
"No, we're exorcists." Allen answered calmly.
"I've been called that before." Rye tilted her head back thoughtfully. "I guess so."
"Red!" Lavi turned his head to the girl in surprise. "Wouldn't you rather be called an exorcist?"
"No."
"Well then, it's nice to meet you." The vampire's eyes narrowed and he bore his fangs, his eyes glinting dangerously. "But I'm in a hurry! Let me go!"
His fangs latched onto Allen's weapon, and Rye stiffened, her face paling in memory and Allen's eyes widened in disbelief. "He bit my weapon!"
"Allen! Your blood! Your blood!" Lavi reminded hastily, and the white haired boy blinked, his face paling.
But before either could move, the vampire's face twisted into one of disgust and he instantly released Allen's hand, backing away frantically. "Bitter! It's bitter!"
The three blinked in surprise, and the vampire ran quickly, snatching the man's fallen body and disappearing into the woods. Rye felt her shoulders slump slightly, and Allen blinked, gazing down at the bite mark on his finger.
The villagers whom had hid themselves in the trees backed away as Allen stood, and the white haired boy sweat dropped as Lavi backed away as well. "G-Good job..."
Allen turned and Timcampy fluttered beside him for a moment before fluttering away as well, and the exorcist paled. "Guys..."
Rye blinked at the response and examined herself as well, finding no bite marks. Then again, he'd bitten a hardened form of her blood, but not herself... How the hell did that work then?
"The Dark Priests refuted the vampire Arystar Krory! Three cheers for the Priests!" The village leader cried, bowing down along with the others to the three. "Victory is ours!"
"Ours! Hooray for the Priests!"
"U-Um," Allen frowned at the distance, and Rye pitied the poor boy. "Why are you all so far away?"
"The farther the better." Rye muttered, rewrapping her hands.
"They're all afraid that you're a vampire now that Krory bit you." Lavi explained, and Rye and Allen turned, only to blink dully at the chain of garlic around the red head's neck, and the wooden stake behind his back. "I'm not worried a bit though!"
"Yes you are." Allen muttered, and Lavi's gaze landed on a dazed looking Rye, the girl still wondering if this meant she would turn into a vampire or not.
"R-Red! I promise I'll still love you even if you're a vampire!" Lavi vowed, a safe distance away from the two. "If you ever get hungry, you can use me—"
"As if." Rye snapped, clearly repulsed by the idea, and Lavi slumped, a look of hurt crossing over his features. "I'd rather starve—I'm not a vampire!"
"Forget it, let's head to the castle." Allen walked past Lavi and Rye blinked, following behind.
Lavi blinked as well, a look of faint surprise on his face. "You're getting into it."
"He took one of the villagers after all." Allen reminded, pulling his hood over his head.
"Krory always takes the victims into the castle!" The villagers cried out from their spot a safe distance away. "That's probably what he did this time too!"
"Well, guess that's what we'll have to do." Lavi sighed, tossing the ring of garlic to the ground and Allen turned.
"You wait here, Mr. Mayor! We'll go to the castle alone!"
"Of course!" Rye twitched in annoyance. "We couldn't hope to survive a battle between fours monsters such as yourselves!"
"Forget this." Rye muttered, shoving her hands into her pockets as the three faced the looming castle before them, prepared to continue onwards and track down the vampire.
I'm counting down the days. Rye's eyes narrowed and she let out a sigh.
Only a year of this...
Thank you all so much for all the kind reviews! :D You guys are way too nice to me.
I originally was going to have Rye back at the base when this mission went on, but I couldn't resist putting Rye up against someone who drinks blood when she uses blood. Aren't these two going to get along well?
Hahaha, hopefully I'm going to wrap the Krory arc up in the next chapter, and in the chapter after that, I think you all know which favorite hobo of ours is showing up. ;) I can't wait for Tyki. I mean, who can?
Otherwise, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Perhaps more of Rye's past will be revealed in the next, eh?
Thanks for reading!
Marshmellow-
-OUT!