The silence was taken over by shrill laughter. The cracking of the whip echoes resonated throughout the hallowed dungeons. But no matter how much louder the sound of torture became, there were no shouts of pain and agony to answer the torment inflicted upon the suffering. The Black Order could do nothing in their cells but to play the haunting images of their Generals falling from their high grace. There lay the tight-gripped comrades of Black Order in their dense cell. Their magic waiting to be released, but was held down by the more powerful magic covering the dungeon, plugging their magic and leaving them helpless to the wolves. Lavi paced the cell tirelessly, trying futilely to come up with a strategy that would help save them all. Kanda was meditating, but upon closer inspection, you could see the tense muscles rippling through his slim body, just waiting to pounce at anything like a lean panther. The Black Order was frustrated at their helplessness, but what were they to do?

After time dragged itself wordlessly, General Skinn came down to bring the Black Order mages to the Noah's grand hall. It was decorated with the theme of darkness, giving the prestigious hall a looming atmosphere. The hall was as large as the Black Order's grand hall, but something inside this hall sent Lavi chills; as if this hall was not made to enjoy one's company after a tiresome battle, but created to end one's life instead.

Lavi stood protectively in front of his comrades with Kanda by his side as their eyes fell upon the figure standing triumphantly on the stage. The Noah Generals and their sadistic mages melted into the shadows, but the Black Order could still feel their sinister presence around them; waiting for their commander's orders to rip their prey apart bit by bit. The figure was no one but the General Earl himself, smiling evilly and welcoming the Black Order mages with open arms, he bellowed loudly,

"Welcome, Black Order, Welcome! And how are you doing today?"

"Where are our Generals?" Shouted Lavi in reply, seeing as there was not a speck of his love or the other Generals in sight. He began to feel worry but kept a calm head. If they were to get away safely, he'd have to calculate his next move carefully or they'll end up dying wastefully. General Earl had an amused face on him and strode to the brave Lavi. His comrades standing at ready in case the Noah General did anything out of the ordinary; not as if they could do anything if General Earl tried, but they soon die then leave their comrade alone!

"Well, well, we have a feisty one here," murmured General Earl, circling Lavi like an experiment that was worth poking into. Lavi did not take his eyes off General Earl, his hands twitching to grab his hammer and just smash this grinning cat into smithereens.

"How'd you like to join the Noahs, Lavi?" Offered General Earl. Lavi couldn't hold his poker face in check as his eyes bulged open at the sudden invitation from the General Earl. The said General crept slowly closer to Lavi, whispering silently,

"Just think, since Black Order's gone, there is nowhere else you can go. We Noahs here are the strongest, and we could make you becomethe strongest. Imagine, the whole world at your feet, your mind holding the most knowledge about everyone and everything… You'll become the greatest mage soldier that has ever walked on earth! All you have to do is say yes,"

Lavi gripped his hand, the General's enticing words purring heavenly in his mind; who didn't want to become the most powerful mage in the world? Since Black Order has been destroyed, there really is nowhere else to go but here. The Noah General words had nearly successfully twirled its way into Lavi's heart. Then his mind swirled back to his comrades. His Black Order comrades. They were holding him back. They have been there for him when the situation arise, forever supporting him no matter what. True, they had their arguments there and here, but like Allen told them the other day in the midst of their heated battle,

"If you don't believe in teamwork, you're already half-dead, we're all that's left in the real world, and if we don't watch each other's back, we'll be damn in seconds. Fighting brings us closer, true, but you must know your limits and know your teammates'… There's a reason why we're called comrades in the first place…

Allen. Now there is a reason altogether. There was no way he can look Allen in the eye if he take the Noah's offer. The feeling of guilt and remorse would eat him inside out, leaving him in an empty shell, void of any warmth and companionship that he now had. The Noahs offered him fame and fortune, and it was definitely every mortal's dream. But the Black Order gave him something that the Noahs will never have; Real friendship that would last them through thousands of wars. Picking up his courage, he looked at General Earl into the eyes.

"No, I won't," Lavi said with steel in his voice. "There is no way I'd betray my friends like that. No one here would do that. We've been through hell and back, and if you think for one second that we'd leave each other just like that, you're bloody wrong! The Black Order isn't destroyed like you claimed it to be. For so long as one of us is standing, we ARE the Black Order!"

Lavi's comrades lighted up with confidence and new defiance with Lavi's strong words. Yes, there was no way they'd desert each other, not what after they've been through together. Rain or shine, day or night, they're Black Order mages, and nobody is going to take that away!

The Noah General was definitely not happy with the answer and the sudden turn of magical aura trying to destroy the seal they had put on them. But he hid it well behind that immensely large smile and turned back, already have formed a plan in case something like this happened.

"Very well, if that is the way you want… Then I guess I'd just have to do this," Snapping his fingers, the Black Order heard the clanging of chains being dragged across the tiled floor. Lavi's heart turned to stone as he saw Allen, still in his chains, being dragged mercilessly. The trail of blood following Allen closely behind. His face is still covered by the now pale hair. Before the Black Order could react to such a gruesome sight with armed weapons and magic, The Noah Generals appeared and held them back, their faces etched with a foul smile. Allen was thrown onto the floor, his body being held up by his shaking knees. General Noah took his mighty sword out and holding up high, he proclaimed,

"You have made your decision, and I'll make mine! Now see your 'great' General fall before your eyes!"

Lavi could not stand it. He took out his hammer, but he was held back by the powerful pressure of the Noah Generals'. The others also fell prey upon the magical pressure and could do nothing but struggle and grit their teeth in pain. Lavi watched the sword that would end his lover's life, and he could do nothing to stop its journey of death. Time stopped and the silence became deafening. Lavi watched Allen lifting his head and his face shone brightly. Allen had a ghostly smile and Lavi gasped as he realized something he never realized before.

Allen's pentagram is on the other side of his face!

The sword descended and the Black Order held their breath. The Noah Generals watched as the weapon that was going to kill their arch-enemy slowly fell.

Then a shot was heard and the sword fell from the General's hands.

"Finally, something happen. I thought I was going to grow old and die," said a familiar voice that Lavi welcomed to hear. Behind the crowd of mages stood General Winters and General Cross in all their might and glory. All around the hall there stood the Generals in silence, the nearby floor littered with unconscious Noah mages. Lavi's heart was filled with both gladness and confusion. The Generals looked as if they had just gone a day without being tortured painfully. With a smug look on their faces, the Generals stood defiantly, checkmating their opponent in their endless game of strategic chess. General Earl was beside himself, furious that the Generals had appeared out of nowhere without him knowing. The other Noah Generals had a sudden look of fear in their faces, knowing that they've been cornered by the shadows that were the Black Order Generals.

"What is going on here? How did you…" General Earl could not finish his sentence as an approaching shadow covered his. General Earl dodged his near death as a white figure sliced through nothingness with a giant sword. General Earl stepped back, and the newcomer began revealing himself to the audience that held their breath for the climax of the play. Lavi was in high heaven as he saw General of the Army Allen Walker standing with his head held up high. Allen was covered protectively in a white cloak, and the white mask on his face gave him a solemn look of an angel descending from the heavens to bring about God's wrath. Holding in his hand was the great sword Crown Clown, General Allen's chosen weapon. His appearance was elegantly created by the Masters to kill and only to kill. All in all, the General that stood before them was a sight to behold; He was back, with only vengeance in his mind.

"How are you here? What?" Asked the confused General Earl. General Allen walked calmly towards his mirror self that was still kneeling on the floor pitifully. With a slight caressed touch of his hand, the mirror disintegrated to nothingness, leaving all the more confused Noah Generals baffled.

"We knew all about your invasion, so we devised a plan to counterattack. You of all people would know that we'd never fall into your hands so easily. So we Generals made a doppelganger of ourselves individually and had it replace us in the tournament…" General Allen explained to General Earl with as much excitement as a parent would to a puzzled child.

So when the Noahs were distracted at their mirror images, the real Generals would come in with the shadows as their companions and readied their attack. They had already commenced their counterattack even before the enemy could start their first attack. Lavi's heart burst with proud dignity at the ingenious Generals. All of this was a lie, an illusion only to play with the Noahs until the real fight begins.

"Game over, Earl," Said General Allen before attacking the Noah leader. And all hell broke loose.

Noah against Black Order, the real fight had now begun. Not spending their time on petty mages, the Black Order Generals chose their opponents wisely and advanced to create havoc. Lavi and his companions took hold of the situation and showed the Noahs the reason why they're resented as the strongest of them all. With calculated precision, they fought tooth and claw with the enemies. They were out for victory, and the Black Order will not rest until that mission had been achieved. All their fighting spirit and steeled determination flared strongly, enveloping the hall with their fire. Although they knew that the Generals being tortured was not real, but their frustrated emotions were. So with everything they got, they inflicted effectively hard damage onto the Noahs. The blood price has to be paid.

0900 Hours, outskirts of Black Order Military Academy

Time chased after time, and soon the sun rose from its sleep to take its throne on the morning sky. As the dawn arises to a new day, the Black Order had done its part. They were now being brought back by their real Generals, supported by their comrades, and loved by everyone. They carried scars and bruises and they returned home with their honour and dignity well intact. But the Noahs were no better off. They had fled from the bloodied battlefield when the tide turned violently against them. General Winters gave a cry of battle and had wanted to chaste after his enemies in the hunt before he was held back by his Commander, General Allen. General Allen had taken out his protective gear when the battle against General Earl was stopped abruptly. General Earl disappeared, as was his way of cowardice. There were wounded to be tended with, and an academy waiting for them with her embracing open arms. So together, they walked back to their territory, heads held up high.

Lavi was sitting on the edge of Allen's bed, being tended upon by the said person. Lavi winced as Allen smoothed through the cuts and injuries. He was glad that his lover was alright, safe and well. But he was also a bit angry at the General but said nothing for now as he enjoyed the silence. As he skimmed through, Allen finally burst that silent bubble with an apologetic tone,

"I'm sorry for deceiving you, Lavi. But please understand that it was better that way; nobody should know of our strategy,"

"Do you know how freaking worried I was when I saw you being tortured? You made me bloody worried back there!"

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Allen bowed his head. Lavi sighed. He understood why he had deceived everyone, but that didn't take the wounded emotions away. Still, to have his lover coming up to him and apologize… Lavi was a soldier, therefore he'd just have to man up and live on with life.

Grabbing hold his Allen's waist and pulling him forwards till their foreheads made contact with each other, he kissed that petite nose and watched Allen's eyes fluttered close. Not a man of many words, Lavi said what was on his mind before claiming Allen's mouth with his own.

"As long as you're alright, I can take a hit. I love you, Allen. And I'd always will,"

Allen fell into Lavi's arms as his entwined around Lavi's neck. Lavi tiled his head for a better position, and heard Allen moaned deeply. Having the urge to breath, they parted reluctantly to catch their breath. Allen returned the kiss lovingly, and their bodies fell on the bed as they continue to ravish each other with deep kisses and soft caresses of love.

"I love you too, Lavi. Now and forever," Allen answered his lover with all the emotions from his heart. He knew it was dangerous for him to love someone, especially with him being General of the Army. That's why he imitated a private, so that no one would know his true identity. But somehow somewhere along the journey, Lavi had wormed his way into his heart and all of the sudden this crazy private is the most important person in his life. He didn't know what was going on in his mind, and he was afraid that Lavi would get hurt…. As Lavi's warm tongue danced with his, expressing his eternal affection for the General, Allen happily sighed…. No, that won't come to that if he can help it. He'd protect Lavi with his life if he had too and he knew that Lavi would do the same. They were both deeply connected with each other now, through thick and thin. Allen could not live without Lavi and vice versa, and his heart gave a contended purr as he accepted that small but very significant fact. Because love really is like that….


A very warm thank you to you who have read this story and enjoyed it. By the way, girls, please go to my profile and enter the IMPORTANT URL; It's really important that you do! Please and thank you! I really need to start studying soon, but this writing this story is sooooo addictive. XD Don't worry, there's still more chapters to come! So sit back and relax :) Another warmer thank you to

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for your loving support. You girls make me go high and giddy! Please review {it'll keep me awake =D} and have a blessed day ;) P.S-I'm not suicidal when I said I wanna slit my wrists. XD It was a metaphor. Haha By the way, I think I misspelled someone's name, so if I did a mistake, please tell me, k? Okay, Kid Darkness-Over- Now where did I put my ice-cream...