Tainted

Sorry I said I would have loads of updates and I've been slower than ever. SORRY! My grandmothers are both in bad shape (but not in a life threatening way). One was given a cane for the first time and she is not enjoying the prospect in the slightest while the other got hit by a freaking car. Yes she got hit by a car but she didn't break a single bone in her body. O.O I would break something if I got hit by a car but she didn't. I think she was super woman in a past life. Anyway, I've been busy running errands for the both of them. I know, lame excuse but it's the truth so if you don't believe me or don't like it, deal. At least I got the next chapter out right? This one…has got rapid mood swings and lots of 'moments'. So you fluff lovers enjoy my gift. Next one is going to be hard. I think I wrote most of this one to stall writing it. As a result, I got fluff. Enjoy!

Ps: I got names for the science department guys. Look at the bottom to find out which name goes with what face.

Pss: 3,625 with bold O.O

They just keep growing!

Disclaimer: If I owned, I would have a cult of followers. But I don't, so I eat Reeses Peanut Butter Cups all day.


"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!"

The scream echoed off the walls and caused the foundation of the tower to tremble. Those on the bottom level of the tower glanced around to try and find the source of the sound while the occupants of Komui's office lay on the paper carpeted floor trying to save their eardrums from more torment by covering their ears.

"You want me to WORK with KANDA ALONE?!" Kaguya screamed at Komui, who was trembling on the ground before her after being blown backward by her incredibly vocal outcry.

"Who knew Miss Kaguya had such a powerful voice." Said Tap Dop, who was huddled in a corner with the rest of the Science department workers who had the misfortune of being in the room when Komui gave Kaguya the news of her new assignment.

"Is that her Innocence power?" Asked Sixty-Five.

"Ah…No." Answered Johnny Gill. "But it is a great weapon none-the-less."

"Um…Kaguya-chan, I can't hear anything anymore." Said Komui, rubbing his ears for emphasis. "Could you write down why you are so angry?"

Kaguya picked up one of the many papers on the floor, grabbed a pen from Komui's desk, and wrote:

Because that guy is an ASS! I can't work with him! Why can't I be with Lavi and Allen?!

She shoved the note into Komui's face. She had a scowl on her face and a hand on her hip. If eyes could kill…

Suddenly, Komui's office doors burst open. Kaguya turned and saw Allen and Lavi looking around the room for the source of Kaguya's scream.

"What happened?" Asked Allen, panic in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Asked Lavi, checking Kaguya to see if she had been hurt.

"Chief Idiot over here is putting me with Kanda for my first mission!" Spat Kaguya, glaring at Komui as if daring him to talk back to her. Komui didn't need his hearing to understand that look. He curled himself into a ball and started trembling.

The two boys sweat-dropped.

"Kaguya…" Allen said gently, as if he were talking to a small child. "It isn't that bad. We go on missions with different Exorcists all the time. I've been with Kanda a few times and he isn't that bad."

Although I do want to strangle him by the time the mission is over. Allen added mentally.

Kaguya shook her head.

"Ya Kag-chan." Lavi sang in his usual happy voice. "Yu isn't so bad once you get to know him. And you'll be back here in no time and then we'll go on a mission together or something."

"Actually that isn't…quite true." Whimpered Komui, who had regained his hearing.

Kaguya turned her head away. This is what made this next mission a pain in the ass. If it were a normal mission, like the ones Lavi and Allen told her about than she wouldn't be so upset but…

"Kaguya is meeting up with general Tiedoll and becoming his student. She and Kanda will be traveling with him and won't be returning to Headquarters for a long time. She will be joining Tiedoll's unit, not Cross's."

The words sank in slowly and painfully. Lavi and Allen looked at Komui with shocked, pained expressions.

Lavi closed his eyes, trying to keep his emotions in check.

Kaguya will not be returning for a long time. She will be traveling with a general, one of the most dangerous places to be now that the Noah were searching for the Heart. She will not be traveling with me or Allen or Krorykins or even Lenalee. She will be traveling with Yu. Yu doesn't even like her!

Komui sighed. No wonder Kanda didn't want to be the one to tell her! This is really depressing to watch!

"Hey now." Komui said softly, hoping this part will make them feel better. "Even if we were sending Kaguya out for a normal, shorter mission, your unit won't be back to see her. Remember Allen, we need you and the rest of Cross's unit to go find your master. Who knows, you may cross paths with Tiedoll's unit."

The three nodded somberly, though they didn't really believe him.

Kaguya was the first to walk out of the room. She didn't want to say her good-byes. She hated good-byes.


Kaguya tucked Ren and Rai into their beds. The single person room didn't fit three beds very comfortably but they would manage somehow. Well, Ren and Rai would manage somehow since she wouldn't even be here for more than a night.

"Do you really have to go tomorrow?" Asked Rai, his brown eyes struggling to stay open.

Kaguya nodded.

"For a long time?" Asked Ren, who was trying to stifle a yawn.

Kaguya nodded again. Damn it. Couldn't Komui give her an extra day or something? Damn that inconsiderate idiot to hell!

A knock from outside her door broke Kaguya from her mental rant.

"Who is it?" She called.

"It's Reever! I got something for you!"

Kaguya walked over and opened the door. Reever stood there, with bags under his eyes, holding a folded pile of black clothes.

"I've got your uniform. After we got your measurements we went straight to work on it so it would be ready for your first mission."

"Wow." Kaguya whispered. "Didn't think it would be done that fast." Her expression clearly showed she was impressed the Science Department's fast work.

"Do you want to try it on? At least try on the coat so we know it fits you."

Reever handed her the jacket which was on the top of the pile. Kaguya slipped it on over her red pajamas. Immediately after putting it on, she fell in-love with the thing. The black over coat went to Kaguya's mid thigh. The sleeves went to her knuckles and the collar was high enough to be pulled up to cover her mouth. The coat had a white cross on the upper arms as well as several lines of white that complemented the dark cloth. The Order's symbol, the Cross, went over her left bosom which caused her to notice that the coat wasn't skin tight in…places that didn't need to be stared at. It was looser than Allen's but tighter than Lavi's.

"This coat…it's AMAZING!" Kaguya wrapped the coat tightly around her and hugged herself…or the coat. It was hard to tell which. "This material feels a bit weird though. What's it made of?"

Reever grinned, his eyes shining with pride.

"I'm glad you asked! Now-"

"The short version please." Kaguya added quickly.

Reever's smile faulted slightly but he recovered quickly.

"Because of your wings, we had to use a material that could not only provide protection and warmth but could also not rip when you want to extend your wings. Here, let me show you." He motioned for her to take off the coat and she complied, anxious to understand how this worked.

Reever traded the pants, halter-top shirt, and boots for the coat. He took out a glass jar from his pocket which contained two feathers. A black feather and a white one. Kaguya knew they had to be samples of hers. She shivered as she remembered Komui asking if he could have two during the…evaluations. She watched as Reever took the two feathers out of the jar and hid them under the coat.

"This is what will happen when you invoke your innocence."

He pushed the feathers up into the cloth and they went right through! Like the cloth didn't exist! Kaguya stared agape at the feathers, which were half inside the coat, half out.

"COOOL!" Cried Ren and Rai, who were now sitting up in their beds.

"Innocence can pass right through without damaging it. So if you're fighting some Akuma in a snow storm, you won't be freezing your butt off because you needed to defend yourself. No more ripping through the back of your clothes to fight now!" His grin was so large and bright he could light up a house!

"Thank you Reever." Murmured Kaguya, still flabbergasted at the talent of the Science department. "I greatly appreciate it."

Reever bowed his head in respect as he handed the coat back.

"You're welcome. You just do your part and save as many Akuma as you can."

"Y-Ya. Good-Night." Whispered Kaguya. Reever gave her one last nod before walking away. She closed the door and leaned against it. Ren and Rai were staring at their sister with curious eyes.

"Sister?" They whispered.

But she didn't seem to hear them. Kaguya walked over to the night stand and laid her new uniform on it. She just stared at the uniform's emblem, the Cross. Her eyes were covered by her black hair.

"I'm going to go for a little walk." Kaguya muttered. "You to go to bed now, you hear?" And with that, she closed the door.

"Good-Night sister." Whispered the twins. "Love you." The twins lay down in their beds, regretting they didn't say it sooner.


In the Library with Lavi

Lavi shoved a stack of books off of the library table in frustration.

That damn panda wants me to work all night! Damn it! I need coffee if I hope to get any of this done before sunrise.

Lavi quickly got out of his chair and stormed out of the library. His brain said he wanted coffee but his legs took him in the opposite direction. Lavi found himself walking down the corroder of the private quarters for those living in the tower.

What the hell am I doing here? Hell, why am I so angry? I'm never angry! Why should Kaguya's departure bother me?!

Lavi stopped in his tracks. So maybe his brain and his body were connected. Was Kaguya's situation really bothering him so much? Bothering him so much that he couldn't do his duties as future Bookman? Nothing had ever blurred the line between Bookman and colleague or acquaintance or whatever. So why now? What was different?

"Maybe I should talk to her…" he whispered to himself.

"Lavi?"

Lavi broke from his trance and noticed Kaguya was standing right in front of him. His eyes widened. Did she just have good timing or…

"Give me a banana split." He whispered.

"Pardon?" Kaguya asked.

Lavi shook his head. I guess she just has good timing.

"You out for a walk?" Lavi asked.

Damn! Why the hell did I ask such a dumb question?

"Ya. I just needed to think is all…" Kaguya looked out at the row of windows. The moon was full and the sky was clear, revealing a dazzling blanket of stars. The moonlight illuminated the whole corridor, giving both Lavi and Kaguya plenty of light to see facial expressions and body language. Lavi's revealed he was nervous. Kaguya's showed she was troubled. Kaguya walked over to one of the windows and sat down on the sill. Lavi, worried over her unusual behavior, walked over and put a reassuring hand on Kaguya's shoulder. Kaguya looked up at Lavi, waiting for him to say something. After a moments silence, he did.

"Do you want me to ask what you wanted to think about or do you want me to talk about the weather or something awkward like that?" Lavi smiled, hoping that the little joke would lighten Kaguya's spirits.

Kaguya smiled but turned back to the window.

"When…when we destroy Akuma…are we saving them? They were damned by their loved ones but are we doing the right thing? I mean, are we even doing anything by fighting them?"

Lavi sighed and sat on the other end of the sill.

"Did you know Allen can detect Akuma and see their souls?" He asked.

"Wait…what?" Kaguya couldn't figure out how Lavi found a bride between the two topics.

"Ya." Answered Lavi, like there was nothing wrong with the jump in conversation. "Whenever Allen sees an Akuma, he sees the soul of the person who was brought back."

"I…didn't know." Whispered Kaguya, looking down into her lap. She didn't know just what to think of that little bit of info.

"Not too long ago, I caught a mere glimpse of what he sees every day and it's no picnic. I couldn't eat for two days." Kaguya looked back up at Lavi and saw him staring out the window at the clouds below and the clear night sky above. He turned to look back at Kaguya, their eyes connecting again in that unbreakable gaze.

"But then I also saw what happens when an Akuma is destroyed. The soul is chained up and connected to the Akuma it is bound to. But, when the Akuma is destroyed, the chains break and the depressed soul smiles. Allen has even told me that he has heard the soul say 'thank you' to him. Now if that soul wasn't being saved, would they smile or say thanks?"

Kaguya's eyes were wide. There were still so many things she didn't know, didn't understand. But she was learning. With a little help of-course.

"I guess not…" Kaguya tilted her head down and looked at her hands.

"What's wrong?" Asked Lavi, who had angled his head so he could look up into Kaguya's downcast eyes.

"Every time I've seen an Akuma, I got so angry." Kaguya's voice turned colder with every word. "I hated them. I hated them for dying. I hated their loved ones for being weak. I just felt this hate I couldn't control. I just wanted them to disappear."

Kaguya put her hands over her eyes to try and control herself. Control the horrible feeling that was building up inside of her. Lavi pulled back up and looked down at Kaguya's trembling form. He pulled Kaguya up into a sitting position and pulled her close to his chest. Then flood gates broke. Kaguya began crying into his chest, wetting his white shirt with her tears. He began rocking her back and forth, whispering soothing words into her ear. He hated to see her cry. He wanted to make it stop. He wanted to make her smile.

"I-I'm s-such a h-horrible person." She sobbed. "T-They can't h-help what h-happened to t-them but I-I still hate them. I d-don't even know w-why I f-feel like t-this!"

Lavi began patting her hair, her back, anything to help her calm down.

"I-I want t-to say 'I h-hope they w-will be s-saved' b-b-but I know…deep down, I-I don't w-want them t-to be. M-My own m-mother was turned i-into an Akuma. I hated w-what she was turned in to. I-I didn't know w-what the feeling was w-when I saw her for the f-first time but after the b-battle…"

Kaguya was practically sitting in Lavi's lap but she was holding on to him like her life depended on it. Lavi pressed Kaguya tighter to his chest.

"It's ok Kag-chan. No one likes Akuma. You don't have to like them to be a good exorcist. If it makes you more determined to destroy them than its ok. Trust me Kag-chan, it's ok. It's ok. It's ok. It's ok. Shhh…"

They sat there for a few minutes. Kaguya, crying yet slowly calming down and Lavi, holding her close and comforting her. Soon Kaguya pulled away slightly and wiped her eyes. Lavi looked down at her and felt like he was holding a small child in his arms.

"That was a good cry." She said, her voice still a little shaky but she seemed happier than before.

"Glad I could help Kag-Chan. I'll always be there for a shoulder to cry on. You've already done it twice now." Lavi said with a smile, relieved Kaguya had stopped her self-hating tears.

"I'm just taking advantage of a limited time offer." Replied Kaguya, her confidence back in her voice.

"Ya, well better it be me than Yu." The two laughed.

"Really, you come to me any time if I'm around." Lavi whispered. Kaguya nodded. Then, Lavi leaned in and kissed Kaguya on her forehead. He held his lips in that one spot, immediately enjoying the feel of her skin on his lips. But this was as far as he could go. This had to be as far as he would go. He had to put his emotions aside. It was his duty as Bookman.

He broke away. Lavi repeated this declaration in his head over and over. Yet there was a little voice in the back of his mind. A voice that he couldn't ignore. A voice that said:

I don't want to hide my feelings. I don't want someone else to take you away. I want you to be mine and me to be yours. I don't want to have to give you up. I don't ever want to have to say good-bye.

The two stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. But, of-course, all moments come to an end, this time with a very familiar sound.

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooowwwwwwwwlllllllll."

The two looked down. Kaguya's stomach was making strange noises.

"You can NOT be hungry!" Cried Lavi. "Not after what you ate for dinner!"

Kaguya's face turned beet red.

"What's a midnight snack once and a while?" She replied, rather cutely in Lavi's opinion.

Lavi couldn't help but glop her.

"Damn you're cute Kag-Chan!"

"Lavi! Hey!" Kaguya 'tried' to pull away but the two enjoyed their embrace, trying to prolong their moment. Lavi broke away, stood up, and held his hand out for Kaguya.

"Let's go and steal stuff from the kitchen!" He sang, his usual happy demeanor back in place.

"As long as we make a banana split with vanilla and chocolate ice-cream!" She sang back as she grabbed Lavi's outstretched hand.

"Now you're talking my language!"

The two walked, hand in hand, down the corridor to the dining hall. However, they didn't notice that someone had opened their door during their chat. They also didn't notice the gray eye watching them. They didn't notice the gray eye pull away as the occupant's door closed. So they didn't know that Allen had seen and heard everything. So they didn't know that Allen cried that night because of them.


Personally, I think thats the most amazing ending EVER! I know, I'm horrible for making Allen cry.

Allen: Damn right! How could you do that?

Ihasnolife: Allen dear, you don't even know why I made you cry yet.

Lavi: Well, it can't be anything good.

Ihasnolife: That is a valid assumption.

Allen: Aren't you going to tell me?

Ihasnolife: Nope! Oh, how are you guys feeling?

Lavi: Better! Reading the reviews made us loads better twice as fast as that mediocre chicken soup!

Allen: Um...Lavi?

Lavi: Ya? What is it beansprout?

Allen: I promise to come to your funeral.

Lavi: Eh? Why are we discussing this now?

Allen: Because you are about to die. -Points over to Ihasnolife-

-Ihasnolife's eyes sparkle, a fire is blazing behind her, and is holding a butchers knife-

Lavi: O.O

Allen: I would run...

Lavi: Smart plan. I'll get onto it.

-Ihasnolife chases Lavi around with a butchers knife-

PS: Names and faces of the science department workers! YAY! They are:

Tap Dop: He's the fat guy with the wrappings around his face

Sixty-Five: The aorable ghost with the 'X' on his mouth

Johnny Gill: The scientist with the swirly glasses