A/n: Sorry for not updating this story for so long!!! and sorry for the crappy previous chapter...hope this one would not disappoint you readers. Anyway, I've actually intended to update this together with chapter 8 but it occurred to me that will probably take too long... but I've already started on chapter 8 =)
Alright, enough of me talking (or typing in this case...) Enjoy the story! ;)
Recap
"What's that greenish light over there?"
"That might be innocence and from the looks of it, it should be activated and causing some sort of trouble inside." Lavi answered, observing the greenish glow.
"Well, why don't we put an end to it first?" Fay asked, taking out his weapon, which happened to be a staff.
"So, I must say 'innocence activate' now right?" he continued, Lavi merely replied with a nod.
"Innocence activate."
Fay calmly activated his innocence. Suddenly, chains shot out from either side of his staff twisting and coiling at a speed that would be considered unnatural. Furthermore, the chains seemed to have a mind of its own as it was reacting in such a way that it would be impossible for anyone who ever attempt to control them.
However, in Fay's case, he twisted his staff as if he knew what to do from the beginning. Directing the moving chains, Fay silently instructed his innocence, which obediently followed its host orders.
Lavi watched from a short yet safe distance away, slightly awed at how Fay managed to control his innocence so well on a first attempt for his anti-akuma weapon was not simple in terms of design to begin with. Although it wasn't difficult to control innocence if one is its host, Lavi noted that the magician was an experienced fighter, judging by the way the latter had perfectly manoeuvred a weapon so complicated.
Once the chains reached its target, it winded itself up around the innocence instead of destroying it. However, as a reflex, the other innocence started focusing its power at the Fay's innocence, causing him to wince slightly at the sudden strength pulling on the other end.
"Hey, is there anything wrong?" Lavi asked, coming forward to help the magician.
"No...Things just got a little more troublesome..." Fay grunted as he tugged harder, while Lavi helped out by tugging on the staff as well.
All of a sudden, the unknown strength that was at the other end gave a rather powerful tug, causing both Fay and Lavi to literally fly forward towards the house. Quite surprisingly, the pair collided in mid-way with another pair they did not expect to meet.
"Kuro-wanwan! Yuu-chan! You're all right!" Fay said happily, raising one of his hands to rub a sore spot on his head. Kurogane, Kanda and Lavi were still temporarily knocked out from the 'head-on collision' earlier. Only Fay was somehow unaffected by the whole thing.
"Umm...guys? Time to snap out of it..." Fay called to the trio, in his usual sing-song voice.
"Puu! Amazing! Switzerland is so beautiful!!!" Mokona exclaimed, looking all around.
"You're right, Moko-chan." Sakura agreed while Syaoran nodded, looking around the slightly bustling station they had just arrived. He noted that various people were moving in their intended directions, train conductors were at their respective posts doing their duty. Nobody paid any attention to the small group dressed mostly in black that had just arrived.
"It seems peaceful here." Syaoran noted.
"We'd better get moving. Our destination is at the Swiss alps." Link said in his usual serious tone.
"Link, try not to ruin the mood here." Allen sighed, walking toward the exit while Timcampy flew beside him.
"That right." Lenalee agreed, walking in Allen's direction, shortly followed by Syaoran, Sakura and Mokona who was sitting rather comfortably on Sakura's shoulder.
Link remained surprised that all of them supported Allen's short retort. It was only when Allen called out to him asking whether he's coming along that he broke out of his thoughts and briskly walked towards the waiting group.
"Tee hee, Link is getting mad." Mokona teased.
"S-S-Shut up." Link snapped, trying as hard as possible to keep his voice to his usual tone.
Everything was almost normal for Allen and the others as they walked towards their intended destination. Everyone in the town was busy with their own work or chores while children were happily running around and playing.
It all seemed peaceful around the area, where akumas never existed and people were not living in fear because of it. Well, that's what Allen and the others thought as they passed through the town. However, unknown to them, a rather rounded figure stood hiding in one the dark deserted alleyway, watching.
"This is a good place to start creating a few of my darling akumas...and with the exorcists and the newcomers, things will be interesting." the earl chuckled sinisterly, stepping back before disappearing in a thick cloud of smoke. Almost immediately, Allen's left eye began to react.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! Monsters!!!" someone screamed, pointing at the floating figures which somehow resembled balloons from far.
On reflex, Allen, Lenalee and Link turned towards the direction of the advancing akuma army that were heading towards them. Syaoran, Sakura and Mokona were surprised at the sudden change in Allen's left eye and wanted to know why it had reacted in such a way but given their current situation, they wisely decided that their questions could be asked later.
"Princess, stay behind me!" Syaoran instinctively came in front, shielding her body in order to protect her.
"But-"
"Innocence activate!" three voices shouted at the same time.
As the group of exorcists began attacking, two figures stood safely a little distance away, watching them.
"Tyki, the new exorcists don't seem to be as strong as Allen and Lenalee, but the new female exorcist looks cute." Road commented, licking her lollipop.
"You're right; do you think that boy knows how to play poker like cheater type A?" Tyki asked, taking out a deck of poker cards and began shuffling it.
"Tyki, concentrate on the mission the Earl gave us...wish Lero was here, he'll be more fun than you." Road sighed, looking at the scene where the battle had just begun.
"Speak for yourself." Tyki replied back, lazily placing his cigarette back to his mouth.
Both Allen and Lenalee attacked the level one akumas directly, slashing at the monsters with their anti-akuma weapons. However, Syaoran was fighting defensively, in order to protect Sakura.
As Sakura stood watching, she was extremely shocked that such monsters could even exist. However, when she looked directly at one of them, she widened her eyes in shock.
Instead of just seeing just the akuma like everyone else, Sakura could also see the soul of the akumas which were all chained by their necks and all of them had the same expression; Sadness.
The soul was crying, whether it is tears of anguish or grief, Sakura was unsure. What had really surprised her was that she heard the soul crying out to her.
"SAVE ME!"
"N-n-no..." fear had clearly taken over Sakura as she took a step backwards, uncertain of whether to believe the akuma that was currently advancing towards her.
"Sakura-san! Use your innocence to kill the akuma!" Allen shouted at her, fighting off about six level one akumas at the same time.
Allen's shout had brought Sakura out from her thoughts, it was only then that Sakura realised that one of the akumas had gotten quite close to her and Syaoran was some distance away, fighting off the akumas just like Allen and Lenalee.
"Sakura!" Syaoran immediately tried to rush over to protect her but a number of akumas blocked his path.
Determined not to let Syaoran worry over her, she took out her weapon, pointing straight at the akuma. However, once Sakura made eye contact with it, the fear that was momentarily blocked away by determination made its way back out again. As soon as fear took over Sakura, she had forgotten about the phrase that needs to be said before using the weapon at the akuma.
Sakura aimed her weapon with shaking arms right it and pulled the trigger. Upon pulling the trigger, she clamped her eyes shut, awaiting for the impact of the akuma being blown into bits but it never came.
"Thank you." A voice which Sakura did not recognize whispered.
Surprised, Sakura opened her eyes slowly, looking around for the akuma that had been a threat to her life just a minute ago. Instead, she noticed that there were sakura petals where the akuma stood before, dancing along wherever the wind blew.
"...What happened?" she asked both in surprise and shock, gradually sinking on the ground.
"Huh? This doesn't seem to work either." Fay whined, after trying yet another futile effort to wake both Kanda and Kurogane. Lavi, on the other hand managed to regain consciousness. Just then, the latter spotted two familiar faces that he knew all too well a little distance away.
"Umm...Fay-san, looks like we'll have to try and wake them a little later." Lavi muttered, pulling out his hammer, "Ĺzuchi Kozuchi, grow, grow, grow!"
Fay gave him a questioning look before noticing the two newcomers that have came into view. His expression immediately turned serious. Standing up, Fay too readied his weapon in his hand.
"Oh? What have we here? Two more exorcists?" Devit questioned, moving closer towards the two, smirking.
"Hi! There's the boy with red hair just like Cross! Oooh...looking at his hair reminds me of the debts he left for us!" Jasdero said, waving his arms in frustration.
"Who's Cross?" Fay asked his voice full of curiosity.
Both Devit and Jasdero stood shocked since they had the idea that all exorcists should have at least an idea on their generals' character.
"Y-You...mean you don't know this guy?" Devit gaped, lowering his gun in surprise.
"No, not at all." Fay smiled.
"Hi! That's impossible, hey, you there, why didn't you let him know about Cross?" Jasdero demanded, pointing accusingly at Lavi who looked rather bewildered at the whole scene.
"Hey, hey," Lavi wasn't sure whether to continue their conversation or start fighting since Fay started the whole thing. Then, he looked at Fay who gave him a slight wink. Lavi was a little startled at first but he soon caught on to what the magician was planning.
"Heh, that's a pretty good plan." Lavi muttered to himself.
"Would you be so kind as to tell me who Mr Cross is?" Fay's smile got slightly wider.
"If you insist, well, it all start-" Devit sighed slightly before trying to begin explaining. However, Lavi immediately attacked him with his anti-akuma weapon.
"That's not fair!" Devit shouted, wiping the blood which had managed to escape from the corner of his mouth.
"Sorry, but looks like you have something we want." Lavi calmly pointed at the glowing innocence that was currently in Devit's hand.
Devit smirked as he noticed that Fay was just merely acting as a distraction while Lavi would attack when both he and Jasdero were off-guard. He silently admitted that the exorcists' plan was brilliant. It might have gotten them should they dodged a second later.
"That's a cunning way to get us...now it's our turn. Red Bomb!" both Devit and Jasdero aimed their guns right at the exorcists and fired.
A large fireball appeared from Jasdevi's pistols and went towards Fay and Lavi at top speed, a speed whereby it would be impossible for a normal human being to jump away quickly enough. However, Fay and Lavi, who were both rather experienced fighters, dodged with ease, although Lavi was just a mere centimetre away from being burned.
"Fire seal!" Lavi struck his hammer at the fire seal causing a dragon covered in flames to appear and immediately attacked Jasdevi who both dodged with practised ease, in synchro with each other.
"Ice chains."
Before either Devit or Jasdero could react, chains surrounded them, preventing their escape. Soon, they were trapped in a constantly revolving round ball of chains and the temperature got lower and lower.
"What? It getting colder in here." Devit snarled, rubbing his hands along his arms, clearly unhappy that they're being trapped. Jasdero, too, was doing the same action as his twin.
"Really? I thought it'll be cool to live in the cold." Fay joked while holding his staff in place.
"If you don't enjoy it, let's heat things up a little, fire seal!" Lavi replied, glancing at Fay, who immediately understood what the bookman was about to do.
The flaming dragon once again appeared and headed for the ball of chains. This time, it was too late for both Devit and Jasdero to react even if they had figured out a way to counter-attack. At the last moment, Fay gave his staff a slight tug causing the chains to retract back into the staff. That left Jasdevi vulnerable to the flames, which engulfed them almost immediately.
"Argh!!!!" their screams echoed as the flames burned them.
Fay went forward and picked up the innocence on the ground which had been forgotten since the start of the battle. After examining it, he gave it to Lavi, who pocketed it.
"Y-Y-You two made us really angry now...prepare to face our wrath!" Devit and Jasdero both growled at the same time, preparing to become one.
"Devit, Jasdero, please stop whatever you're doing and come back home now" a sinister voice said, causing the two noahs to look up in surprise.
"Looks like we'll have our revenge another time, Grey bomb!" a cloud of smoke covered the exorcists' vision, enabling Devit and Jasdero to make a quick getaway before either of them could catch up. By the time the smoke cleared, Devit and Jasdero were gone.
Coughing slightly due to the smoke, Fay managed to ask, "Who was that?"
"The Millennium Earl." Lavi replied in a serious tone, "somehow, I have a feeling that something bad is about to happen."
As Fay tried to reply him, two other exorcists at another corner stirred, causing both Fay and Lavi to turn.
"Ugh...what just happened?" Kurogane asked, looking rather dazed.
"Good morning, Kuro-pon." Fay smiled, patting the ninja's head.
"Answer my question, you idiot!" he snapped, swiping Fay's hand away from his head.
"Where are that two noahs?" Kanda asked Lavi.
"They got away."
"You let them escape?!"
"No...It's a long story." Lavi tried to inch away from mugen that was dangerously pointing extremely near to his face.
"You two are so grumpy when you woke up." Fay pretended to pout.
"I agree" Lavi nodded his head.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Kanda and Kurogane growled, both Fay and Lavi began to run away in mock fear, "COME BACK HERE!!" the two swordsmen raised their swords and chased after the other two, who were already some distance ahead of them.
A/N: I had to 'knock out' Kanda and Kurogane in this chapter in order for both Fay and Lavi to have a bit of the spotlight...yup, I kind of figured out that Fay and Lavi would not have much spotlight if Kanda and Kurogane were to fight all out with Jasdevi...(Hope you won't mind too much ^^;;). Another thing, about Fay's anti-akuma's weapon, I had imagined it to be just like the one he carried in the video "CLAMP in wonderland 2" (For those who haven't watch it, I recommend it...:))
NOTE: I'll be on a MINI hiatus for a while, due to school life and everyday life...but it won't be a COMPLETE HIATUS though...just that the next chapter might take a little longer to be up...
Please read and review! ^-^