Komui stood before the three present Generals Froi Tiedoll, Klaud Nine, and Winters Socalo.
Their personalities and opinions are so drastically different, he thought.
He was even willing to bet on what their individual views would be on Miranda. Froi would want to give her a second chance and help her brother, Klaud might be the same because she could relate to Miranda the most out of the three, but she wasn't one to let things like that affect her decisions, so Komui wasn't sure if she'd help Miranda in any way or not. Then there was Socalo… He would have more of an interest in locking Miranda away and taking her Innocence than anything.
Komui took a deep breath before asking, "Have you made a decision?"
"I feel we should help this young lady and her brother. She has been used and manipulated by the Earl for an extensive amount of time, so I feel pity for her," said Froi.
Just as I thought.
"I disagree!" boomed Socalo. "Who knows if she would be reliable? She could be a spy for the Earl. I say we keep her locked away and take her Anti-Akuma weapon as well. Someone else could be compatible instead and we could use them."
"And what would be the likelihood of that?" interrupted Klaud. "I would prefer if she was given a second chance because we need all the Exorcists we can get our hands on, but I don't agree with helping her brother. It could be a suitable punishment for her crimes, and she'd have no reason to visit or keep in contact with her family, so if she was to die in battle it wouldn't be an issue." She looked down to Komui from where she sat and added, "However, we have been unable to make a decision that we all agree with. I wish to hear the opinions of the two Exorcists who were directly involved with capturing her to see what their views are on this matter. Do either of you disagree?"
Klaud looked from Froi to Socalo expectantly.
"I think that's a brilliant idea," Froi agreed.
Socalo grumbled some complaints, and a few insults, but also agreed.
Komui bowed and hid his grin as he did so. Miranda still had a chance of being saved. "I will get Allen Walker and Kanda Yuu immediately."
(…..)
The Earl stared down at the small house as he floated towards the ground just before the front door. It was the perfect opportunity because he knew both parents weren't home.
"What are you going to do, Lero?" asked his umbrella friend.
"I'm going to relieve Miranda of her duties. She's no longer useful to me," answered the Earl. "but it seems as though we aren't alone."
There were a couple Finders in hiding that the Earl had noticed right as he landed on the cold earth. He'd have to get rid of them after dealing with Angelo. He wanted Miranda to know it was him, and it didn't bother him in the slightest that the Black Order would know as well. After all, Miranda was just a tragic story to be told in the history of the Order and nothing more. It was unlikely that they would ever let her out of her imprisonment.
The Earl entered the house without knocking and looked around. There were pictures hanging from the walls that showed happier times before the young lad fell ill, and before Miranda had become a corrupted human being. He then noticed the cheap furniture and kitchen supplies. It wasn't hard to figure out that Miranda didn't spare a single coin for her family's quality of life.
He sighed before moving to Angelo's room and just getting everything over and done with.
(…..)
Kanda Yuu and Allen Walker appeared before the three Generals with Komui. Had Komui ever called for the two of them in person before? Allen couldn't remember.
"Do you know why you have been called before us?"
"Yes, General Klaud," Kanda and Allen replied in unison.
"Then please share your opinions," she instructed.
They looked to each other, both wondering who should go first.
Allen was nervous, and didn't want to speak just yet because his opinions were still not clear. He had spent hours in his room thinking about the matter, but had come up empty.
"You first," Allen said.
Kanda nodded.
He took a single step forward and cleared his throat.
"I feel that giving Miranda a second chance would be beneficial for not only the Black Order, but for her as well. She carries a lot of guilt for the crimes she has committed, and she regrets her choices. She has never said these things, but her eyes show so much sadness and pain that it is far too obvious that she feels the way that she does. I do not know if saving her brother would be a good use of our resources or not, but Miranda might be more inclined to join us in our fight against the Earl if we helped her brother."
Silence consumed everyone, and Komui was surprised. He never would have expected Kanda to say such things. It was more like Allen to do so, but when he looked over at the young boy, he appeared torn. Then Komui understood. Allen was the type to not feel pity for people who helped the Millennium Earl, but Miranda was doing it for a pure cause. The young lad did not know where his opinions lay because of his views. Komui hoped he figured it out, and soon because it was going to be his turn to speak in a matter of minutes.
"Thank you, Kanda," said Klaud. "Allen, please step forward and say your piece."
(…..)
The boy was asleep in his bed, which wasn't surprising to the Earl. He was dying and his body was drained of energy as it tried to repair itself in desperation to stay alive.
"Wake up," the Earl said as she shook the boy. "Wake up! I have news of your sister!"
Angelo woke up and rubbed his eyes before slowly sitting up, groaning from pain as he did so. He didn't know who had woken him, but he was angry that they had. It wasn't easy for him to fall asleep when his body was in pain all the time, and when he actually did fall asleep, he loved it because he couldn't feel his body's protests when it came to the fact that he was dying, and nothing could prevent that.
"Who are you, and why did you wake me?" Angelo snapped.
"I wouldn't be speaking like that to me, boy," the Millennium Earl warned. "I have held your fate for quite some time through the help of your sister."
"You know Miranda?" Angelo asked.
"Yes. We've been well acquainted for some time."
"Do you know where she is right now?" Angelo asked. "I haven't seen her in over a month."
"Do you miss her?"
"Yes."
The Earl paused. He had thought about torturing the boy before killing him because it would cause Miranda so much heartache. It was the perfect punishment, besides her death, for not being a good enough servant. However, he could save that for later. The Earl wanted to tell Angelo the story of his sister's undying love towards her little brother, and how ungrateful the wench had been.
"Do you want to hear a story about her?"
"Will that tell me where she is?"
"Yes. Yes, it will."
"Then please tell it," Angelo replied.
The Earl's grin seemed to grow just a tad. "One evening, your sister was picking flowers out in a field…"
(…..)
Allen stepped forward. He would just have to say what was on his mind. He wouldn't sound as confident or sure of his answer like Kanda, but at least it was an answer. It was his chance to help Miranda.
"I don't know where I stand, Generals, when it comes to what we should do with Miranda. Every Exorcist and Finder who has worked together with me extensively knows that my emotions usually get the best of me, and that I have a burning hatred towards those who side with the Earl, however, Miranda's case is trickier. Her reasons were pure. She wanted to save her little brother's life, and the Earl manipulated that wish so he could use her for his own plans. I feel that it wasn't completely her fault. I feel that she deserves a second chance, but I do not know what I would desire when it comes to her brother. It is clear that she is very attached to him, and that could pose a problem to the Order. I feel that you Generals should decide what to do with Miranda's brother, Angelo, on your own."
Kanda and Komui stared at Allen with wide eyes. Allen was usually the type of person to be very sympathetic and accept people with open arms, so for him to act so… cold was a shock to Kanda. That was his job, yet somehow Allen and him switched roles. However, Komui smiled and wrapped his arm around Short Stack's shoulders in approval, so Kanda was able to calm himself just a tad. Maybe it was a sign of Allen growing up and finally understanding the world.
"Generals! Chief!" called Reever as he rushed into the room.
"What's wrong, Reever?" Komui asked.
"We've just received news that the Earl appeared at Miranda's home!"
