Okay, so I know you all probably hate me right now but I offer you a nice long chapter! Plus, checkout my one shot Cross/Oc story that was inspired by Dgraymanlover915 threatening to sic Cross on me which got my inner writer running on her little hamster wheel at full speed.
I offer up a challenge for you! Well more like a question. Is anyone willing to use their amazing drawing skills and draw a pic of Iris? Maybe a Kanda and Iris? And if not, its okay! If you do draw a picture of my oc please don't hesitate to send me a message! I would love to see it!
So enjoy everyone!
I do not own D-gray Man. I do own my OCs.
The sound of delighted children filled the air as they watched the man with a giant pumpkin for a head; juggle small blue balls while balancing on a giant ball with one foot. Beside him, a woman in a witch's costume called out the crowd,
"Come one, come all! The Piter Theater's new play of horror, A Pumpkin and the Witch! opens today! Who wants to be the first to buy a ticket?!"
Behind a large yellow and blue striped tent, Iris watched Allen and Miranda perform for the crowd, a smile on her face. Lenalee was scouting for the Akuma from before with Timcanpy while the others work on getting Miranda a job. Loud laughter from the other side of the tent caught Iris' attention. Tugging her hood into place and covering her white hair, she slunk around the tent to see Allen and Miranda standing before a fat mustachioed man in a suit and top hat.
"You're doing an excellent job! Tickets are selling like hotcakes, I tell ya!" The owner cheerfully informed Allen and Miranda. "Keep this up and there be a full time position in it for ya!"
Miranda's face brightened. "Really?! Thank you sir!" she said, a smile on her face.
The owner waved his hand over his shoulder as he disappeared into the tent. "Sure."
Allen turned and grabbed Miranda's hands. "Great job Miranda!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled by the grinning pumpkin. "I think you really did it this time!"
The woman frowned slightly. "Let's hope. This guy fired me 5 times in the last 30 days." she said gloomily.
Iris blanched. She tried to work here before?! She sighed in exasperation. 'That would of been nice to know beforehand, Miranda.' Iris thought. A touch on her shoulder made Iris turn around to see Lenalee and Timcanpy standing behind her and listening in.
"I have a good feeling about this." Allen declared as he pulled off the pumpkin with a sigh of relief. The cool air felt wonderful on his sweaty skin. He smiled at Miranda. "It'll be great if you get this job. You're out look on life will be so much more positive."
"I guess. We'll see. "
Allen sat down on a crate, the pumpkin in his hands. "Oh stop it. You need to believe in yourself."
Lenalee stepped out form behind the tent, Timcanpy on her shoulder and Iris right behind them. "Hey, guys!" Lenalee called out happily. "How did the job interview go?"
Allen beamed. "It went well. She has a chance to land a full time job."
Lenalee smiled while sitting down next to Allen let Tim fly over to settle on Allen's shoulder. "That's great."
Iris grinned at Miranda who bashfully bowed her head humbly. "Nicely done Miranda."
"And there's also no sign of Akuma anywhere. I think it just might work this time." Allen said, smiling softly.
Sitting down next to Lenalee, Iris pulled out the chopsticks with a sigh and let her curly white hair down. Miranda tilted her head slightly, eyes widening slightly. With her hair down, Iris Chase looked older and paler with her bright blue eyes being the only color on her face. It made the older woman wonder how some one so young could have white hair. Genetics? She cast a side-glance at Allen's own white hair.
Could they be related? Not the same last name though. Cousins, maybe?
Running her hand through the mess that was her hair, Iris replied to Allen's comment.
"I hope so. If the Innocence keeps up with reversing time, who knows what could happen to the actual time line." She said seriously, lips pursed. "If it's been 30 days and only the seasons have changed, then what happens if turns into a year? Maybe more? What would happen if the Innocence stopped and the timeline reverted to its real time after so long?"
Allen studied the giant pumpkin in his hands. "Yeah." he said softly. "If this go on for years...what would happen? To the elderly? The young?"
The four went silent, the only sounds being the laughter of children on the other side of the tent.
Lenalee spoke up, a smile on her face as she changed the subject. "I saw that you have an interesting arrangement of moves up there." she teased, referring to Allen balancing on the ball and juggling. "Have you done this before?"
Allen flushed slightly. "I didn't know you were watching." he admitted. "I...use to work as a clown when I was growing up."
The oldest Exorcist reached over and playfully pinched Allen's cheek. "Naw, who knew that our cute little Allen could be so talented." Iris teased, a grin on her face.
The younger swatted at her hand half-heartedly before glancing down to study the pumpkin closely. "My foster father was a traveling entertainer so he would teach me all sorts of tricks to earn money on the streets." He rubbed of the back of his head sheepishly with a smile. "Funny thing is I'd never dream in a million years it would come in handy as an Exorcist."
"Your foster father sounds amazing." Iris said quietly with a smile, her blue eyes focused on the ground before her. The tone of her voice sounded longing.
Lenalee nodded. "And you've seen a lot more of the world than I have. Lucky!" she teased.
"It isn't as glamorous as you may think." Allen said with a smile before laughing.
In the background, Miranda listened to the conversation with her eyes growing teary. The Exorcist before her had been an orphan, roaming the streets with his foster father to earn money for food.
Allen spoke to Lenalee. "So when was it when you joined the Order?"
The pigtailed girl was silence, a sad smile look her face. "They found me and my brother when we were very young. Our parents were killed by an Akuma."
Miranda and Allen looked at her with shock, eyes wide on Miranda's part. Iris on the other hand, simply pulled her hair into a fresh bun and slipped the chopsticks in.
"So that left my brother and I as orphans for a while. Then I was recruited into the Black Order, because they discovered that I was the accommodator for the Dark Boots." Lenalee explained quietly, her voice soft.
Iris listened quietly, watching Lenalee from the corner of her eye while interlocking her fingers.
Lenalee continued. "They separated me from my brother, the only family I had left, and kept me under constant watch so I couldn't leave. But it didn't mean I didn't try. It felt like I was serving a prison sentence the first few years."
She spoke of the scientists that hovered over her, saying that how Lenalee had to be restrained from hurting herself, how her life was to be cherished, that she wasn't an experiment. All they wanted was for her was to become a powerful Exorcist when all Lenalee wanted was to go home, to be with her brother again.
Komui soon arrived, saying he was sorry for taking so long and that he would be living there now and they could be a family again.
As Lenalee spoke of the scientists and of Komui promising that they would be a family again, Iris's grip tightened and a small scowl appeared on her face.
"So my brother worked through the ranks to Chief and moved to Headquarters to be with me. He's what inspired me to embrace on becoming an Exorcist." Lenalee finished, looking up with a smile at Timcanpy who fluttered around their heads.
Allen, at some point, put the pumpkin back onto his head to keep his teary eyes hidden and to keep some of his manly pride. "Brother and sister, huh?"
"Its nice." Miranda broke in.
The two younger Exorcists turned to look at her, Iris staring down at her clenched hands.
"What do you mean?" Allen asked, his voice muffled.
"I guess everyone suffers from heartache in someway. I was thinking I was the only person in the world who dealt with any kind of misfortune like that." Miranda said sadly, looking up at the group.
"Well you're not." Iris's sharp voice cut in.
The three looked over in surprise to see Iris standing up and tugging her hood up, a full-blown scowl on her face. Her cheeks were flushed slightly and her eyes shining with some unnamed emotion. She spoke, her words harsh.
"Just because you think you have problems with your life, don't think others don't. Allen, Lenalee, I'm going on patrol." She said stiffly.
With a swish of her cloak, Iris stalked off away from the tent. The three watched stared after her, Miranda looking somewhat hurt.
Allen reached out. "Iris-!"
"Don't Allen."
The Parasitic Exorcist stopped and turned to Lenalee who sat quietly, a crestfallen look on her face. "Leave her alone."
"But-!"
Lenalee shook her head. "It's my fault. You see, Iris doesn't have any family. Her mother died when she was a baby and no one knows who or where her father is." She explained gently. "Iris was dragged into the Black Order when she was very young, even younger than I was. Iris has always hated them for taking her life away. The only dearest person in the world to her is Kanda. They've been friends since they were small."
"Is that why she left the Order before?" Allen questioned.
He received a shrug in an answer. "I'm afraid I can't answer that. I honestly don't know why she left."
"...Was her life that hard?" Miranda asked softly, still staring into the direction that Iris left in.
"It was tough, but I can't really tell you. The only ones who could really tell you is Kanda or Iris herself." The Chief's younger sister said with a sigh.
There was silence before Miranda spoke up, a determined smile on her face. "Alright! I'm going to head back to work."
With a happy hum, she trotted off back to selling tickets, leaving behind Allen and Lenalee behind.
"Hey, you with the pumpkin head! Over here!"
A young girl with spiky purple hair stood a feet away from them. Wearing a white blouse, a short dark purple ruffled shirt, purple knee high socks and black Mary Janes, she finished off the look with a long bow tied at her neck. She held a pink umbrella in one hand, a orange lollipop in the other.
Dark eyes glittered at them from over the lollipop she held to her mouth. "I want to see the 'Pumpkin and the Witch'. Where can I get some tickets?" she asked sweetly.
It was taking all of her willpower not to punch someone right now.
Walking through the crowd, Iris scanned the passerby with a careful eye. But the conversation of Allen and Lenalee's past lives with their loved ones kept slipping into her thoughts.
She wasn't given the privilege to have parents. Instead she lived in the Order for nearly her entire life, surrounded by the shadows that lurked in the corners. The only thing that kept her from going mad was the hard punch Kanda would deliver to the top of her head.
He was her rock.
And she abandoned him.
When that thought struck her, Iris froze in the middle of the street. She abandoned him. Did her leaving cause him heartache? Her being the closest thing he could probably call a friend? No, no that wasn't it. She left to protect!
...Didn't she?
Something was caught in her throat, almost like she couldn't breath. Her fists clenched and then relaxed, only to clench them again. She left to protect those she loved. Her teachers, Kanda, a few others. That's why she left!
...Isn't it?
Gritting her teeth, Iris shook her. Now is not the time to argue with her inner demons.
Suddenly, Iris yelped as something collided with the back of her head and sent her sprawling onto the ground. Letting out a groan, she sat up and rubbed the back of her head.
"Owww. What the hell hit me?" She muttered, looking around.
A flash of gold and something feathery flew into her line of vision. Timcanpy?
"Tim?" Iris asked, puzzled. She held her hands out, cupping the golem. "What's up?"
The golem promptly reached over and bit her hand. Hard.
"OW!" Iris shrieked. She waved her hand madly, attempting to dislodge the little beast. "DAMN IT TIMCANPY, LET GO!"
After a few minutes of agonizing pain, Iris managed to smack Timcanpy off, sending him spinning into the air. Flapping his wings to stay aloft, Timcanpy flew over back to Iris who was busying nursing her hand.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" She demanded, her blue eyes sharp.
He flew around her head and grabbed a lock of her hair with one of his tiny hands and tugged.
Iris frowned, puzzled as Timcanpy continued to tug. Her eyes widened. "Are the others in trouble?"
A harsh yank on her hair answered her question.
Jumping to her feet, Iris ran back to the tent in a panic, Timcanpy on her heels. She was gone for like, 5 minutes! How could they get into trouble so freaking fast?! Running around a corner, Iris spotted the owner of the tent speaking to a couple before they walked off.
"Hey! Mister!" Iris shouted, skidding to a halt in front of him. "The pumpkin head boy and the woman dressed up as the witch. Where are they?"
He puffed up, curled mustache bristling angrily. "That useless woman just lost all of the money from selling the tickets to some pickpocket! I fired her! She just left with some little kid and the boy took off after the pickpocket with some girl."
"What direction did they run in?" She demanded.
The owner blinked. "Who?"
It took all she had not to punch the man. "The girl and the boy. What. Direction?" She snarled.
He pointed west, along the rooftops. "They headed that way."
"Thanks." She said curtly before running into the direction, ignoring the owner's, "Oi! Bring me back my money!"
Ducking into an alley, Iris crouched down, placing her hands out before her. She furrowed her brow and gritted her teeth as she prepared for what she was going to do.
"Innocence, activate."
The sounds of her skin slowly being stretched and pierced through made her cringe. But it didn't compare to the pain as her wings slowly forced themselves through her back. The large appendages flared, stretching every feather to get the blood flowing. Iris flapped her wings a few times before launching herself into the air. The cold air wrapped around her, wind nipping sharply at her nose and cheeks as she flew. Banking off to the left, Iris watched the people below her and searched for a speck of white hair or pigtails.
A sudden flash of blue white light appeared out of the corner of her eye. Slowing to a halt, the winged Exorcist stared at the fading light that flared only a few minutes ago.
"Allen. Lenalee." She whispered, blue eyes wide. With a mighty push of her wings, Iris blasted into the direction.
Swooping down, Iris hovered and dropped to the ground before an alleyway. Pressing her back against the wall, she peeked around the corner. Ice coated the entire alleyway, mist lazily swirling in the air. And around the corner were the three Akuma, two of which were holding the limp forms of Allen and Lenalee. Licking her dry lips, Iris let her hand drift down and slowly pulled the scythe out of its slot while her eyes never left the three demons.
"Hi there." A voice purred in her ear, making Iris gasp and whip around.
A pair of burning gold eyes shone at her before an agonizingly scream sounded, making Iris scream and covering her ears. Falling to her knees with a painful thump, the young woman curled into herself. Painful pulses pounded through her head, making her feel the urge to slam her skull against the wall. Anything to just stop the pain the radiating through her head. Darkness began to cloud her vision and a numbing bliss began to spread throughout her body. Raising her eyes, Iris stared up into the glowing eyes of a little girl who smirked down at her while holding a pink umbrella with a pumpkin head.
"...Who..?" Iris whispered before she was dragged down into the darkness.
It was wonderfully dark. The darkness made the world seem peaceful and safe. Iris rather liked the darkness. But a mute pounding pain spread out through her body, making her drift from unconscious to conscious.
"IRIS!"
Allen?
"IRIS, PLEASE WAKE UP!"
Her eyelids felt like lead, but she managed to peek them open. Her vision was fuzzy, but she managed to make out the worried and angered face of Allen through silver bars.
Was she in a prison?
"Allen?" she slurred, her mouth dry.
Relief shone in his grey eyes. "You're awake."
Half closed eyes looked around puzzled, but widened when Iris realized where she was.
She sat in the center of a giant big birdcage, a swing hanging above her head. Her long white wings lay limp from her back onto the ground. Looking down, she let out a strangled cry. "Wha- what the hell am I wearing?!"
Her normal Exorcist uniform was replaced with a high low, black, halter-top dress, and the shredded hem brushing along her mid thigh. Her long white hair was pinned back with long big curls, bangs framing her face. A pair of black heels adorned her feet along with chains that kept her pinned to the ground.
"Iris..."
Iris whipped her head around to meet Allen, her eyes widened in horror as she saw his arm. The three-faced Akuma was happily hitting spikes into Allen's outstretched Innocence, pinning the young man into the wall.
"Allen!" Iris cried out in horror, crawling towards the bars and grimaced at the pain of the chains digging into her ankles.
The younger Exorcist slow lifted his normal arm and weakly pointed. Turning her head, Iris gasped softly as what she saw.
Miranda was pressed against her clock, long vines with thorns pinned her to the time device. Her eyes were closed, tears trailing down her face.
"You're both awake!" a sweet childlike voice said. Iris turned her head to see a young girl wearing Allen's Exorcist jacket and Iris's belt smiling at them, blowing a bubble from bubble gum. Iris spotted her scythe still tucked in its slot on her belt, nearly letting out a sigh of relief.
"You!" Allen snarl, leaning forward.
Iris glanced over at the boy. "Allen you know this kid?"
The girl sauntered over towards a large chair before swinging it around proudly. Lenalee sat in the chair, dressed in a long sleeved purple gown and her long pigtails tightly curled. She stared down at her lap, eyes glazed over.
"Lenalee?" Allen whispered.
The girl sudden wrapped her small arms around the stoic Lenalee as the ice Akuma leaned forward.
"Not anymore. Road has made her into her doll." It informed the two.
"Doll?" Iris whispered. She spoke up. "Hey kid, is that why Lenalee and I are like this? We're your dolls?"
The girl turned her eyes turned Iris, studying her thoughtfully before a full-blown smirk appeared on her face.
Allen spoke up, drawing the girl's attention from Iris to him. "So you're Road? Why can't I see you?" he demanded, activating his eye.
The girl, Road, popped the bubble gum bubble with a giggle. Allen's frown grew deeper.
"Allen?" Iris called out, wary.
"I-I can't see the Akuma's soul." He whispered, looking a little pale. He spoke up. "You're not an Akuma. Tell me what are you?" He demanded towards Road, his scarred one eye black and glowing red.
She smiled. "I'm just a human being. Is there something wrong about a human befriending an Akuma?"
"You want the short list or the long one?" Iris asked dryly.
Road smirked at the caged Exorcist. "Hush Birdy. Songbirds sing, not chatter like chipmunks."
"BIRDY?!" Iris shrieked. "I am not a bird, thank you very much! And I can't sing to save my life!"
"But you have wings." Road said. "Birds have wings, so you are my songbird."
"So you chain me to the floor?!"
Road pouted. "I couldn't have you fly away."
Allen interrupted. "Yes there is something wrong befriending Akuma. Akuma are weapons created by the Millennium Earl in order to murder humans."
"Weapons also exist for humans to kill other humans, do they not?" Road countered. "The Millennium Earl is our brother and our savior."
As she spoke, her skin began to turn gray, eyes turning a vibrant shade of gold. Stretching across her forehead was a line of black, cross-like markings.
She continued. "You see, we are the chosen humans, the true apostles hand picked by God himself. I am Road, and I am from the family of Noah." The girl declared, a wicked smirk on her face.
Iris stared, feeling the blood from her face. "The family of...Noah?" she whispered.
XxX
In the endless landscape, dozens of oddly shaped, multi colored candles and toys hovered in the air, the flames of the candles merrily waving. Allen leaned against the wall with his activated Innocence nailed into the wall, and Iris was chained up in her birdcage while wearing a dress that she wasn't wearing before.
Road, the little pipsqueak, was happily smirking while wearing Allen's jacket that practically swamped her, and Iris's belt that held her scythe.
Miranda watched the three, shaking as tears streamed down her face.
"You Exorcists think your Black Order is so powerful, don't you? I did too," Road said. "well, until we came along."
Allen lifted his head, a puzzled frown on his face. "That family of Noah?"
"I've never heard of them." Iris said quietly to the younger boy, her eyes narrowed. He gave her a worried glance before turning back to Road.
"And not Akuma but...human?" he whispered, unconsciously wakening his cursed eyes once more. His vision was gray but the three souls of the Akuma glowed purple, curled up with chains tying them to the Akuma form.
"Allen?" Iris asked, turning her head slightly but keeping her eyes on Road.
He shook his head slightly, face pale under the blood and dirt that coated his face. "I don't know." he said softly.
"SHHH! Quiet, Road. LERO! SHHHHH!" The pink umbrella screeched loudly, making Iris and Allen jump slightly from the noise.
Iris stared. "What the hell?" she asked. A...talking...umbrella? A pink one at that. 'I shall call you Pinky.' she thought as she watched the umbrella continue to yell at Road.
The umbrella continued to spazz and screech. "You should know it's forbidden to trust strangers all about our secrets!"
Road tilted her head, puzzled while her eyes never left Allen. "Huh? And why is that?"
Pinky the umbrella shouted again. "You just can't do that! The Earl has yet to finalize his ultimate plan, which means you can only take the Innocence to safety, and you have one of the winged girl's Innocence at the moment and fighting these Exorcists wasn't discussed! Not only did you smuggle me out without asking, you're making way too many decisions on your own! Your recklessness is going to get us spanked and I hated getting spanked!"
The sight made Iris sweat drop. 'How the hell do you spank an umbrella?'
Road stared ahead, a nonchalant look on her face. "Lord Millennium would never disgrace me with a spank." She said in a bored tone as Pinky freaked in the background about being spanked.
Sitting on the arm of the chair Lenalee sat on, Road eyed the girl with a smile on her face. "Lero, you need to calm down." She sighed. "This little game is all in the name of fun. Believe me, this little show won't interfere with his plan."
She smirked at Allen, igniting the rage that curled up in his belly. He strained against the nails that pinned him to the wall with a yell. Veins bulged violently in the limb as Allen continued to pull while yelling. With a sudden explosion, he ripped his arm free, the wall ripping open to reveal a glowing purple light.
"Allen!" Iris cried out.
Steam trailed out of the punctures in his arm, a dark purple tinge surrounded the open wounds.
Iris grimaced, already feeling the bile crawl up her throat. "Allen!" She called out. "Say something, damn it!"
"Why?"
The white haired girl leaned forward, holding a hand to her ear. "Eh?"
He spoke again. "Why...would a...human...chose to..." he trailed off, his bangs hiding his face.
Road tilted her head again, studying him thoughtfully. After a few minutes, she began to walk towards him, the heels of her Mary Janes clicking against the marble floor.
"Hey, don't you go near him!" Iris shouted angrily, the protective side of her rising. She slammed her hands against the bars, ignoring the stinging pain ripping up through her arms. "Dammit, stay away from him! ALLEN!"
"Tell me." he hissed lowly.
"Why are you so angry for?" Road asked sweetly as she continued to walk towards him.
"ALLEN!" Iris screamed out, turning to look desperately at Lenalee. "Lenalee! Damn it Lenalee, wake up!"
The young woman sat there, her eyes glazed over and staring into her lap.
Iris whipped her head around to see Miranda watching with absolute terror at the sight of the little evil girl hugging, hugging, Allen.
Road pressed her cheek against Allen's sweaty one. "My name is Road Kamelot. And I'm a proud member of the human race."
Iris grinded her teeth. "Human my ass." she hissed, clinging onto the bars of her cage tightly.
Allen tried to clench his activated Innocence but agonizing pain shot up his arm. he groaned softly through his clenched teeth.
"You're hiding something from me." he hissed, pain racking through out his body. "Aren't you?"
Road smiled, and Allen didn't have to see it to know it. With a sudden burst of strength, Allen brought his arm up and flared his claws. They hovered dangerously over Road's spiky purple blue hair.
Allen ground his teeth, his muscles practically screaming at him to stop. "If your human just like us..."
The Noah hummed. "I'm not. I'm superior than you in everyway."
Suddenly her hand shot up, grabbed the hovering claw and brought it down upon her self. Miranda let a strangled cry that action while Iris just gaped. Allen froze in horror as Road's body hit the ground with a thud, smoke rising from her limp form.
A dark grey hand reached up and grabbed Allen's torn collar, Road pulling herself up from her spot on the floor. The skin on her face was gone, leaving burnt tendons, muscles, and ligaments exposed to the air. Her eyelids gone, and her eyeballs just sat in the sockets. It nearly looked like she was grinning, shredded muscle stretching across her teeth.
Iris covered her mouth in horror. "Oh god." she choked, feeling sweat trail down her face.
"We're super humans." Road hissed. "Who inherited the DNA of Noah, mankind's greatest apostle. So we're not like at all. You are what we call sub humans."
As she spoke, rapidly healing flesh shot across her face, leaving her looking just like she did before. She sudden floated back, a wicked grin on her face. The candles surrounding them began to moving. Moving so the wickedly sharps ends were facing Allen, they shot forward like rockets.
Iris let a scream as they shot through her cage, one literally ripping through her shoulder and another impaling her thigh. Falling back, she clutched at her shoulder and leg as blood spurted out, spattering across the floor. Allen's echoing scream of pain joined hers in the air, as Road's candles hit their mark. Miranda screamed in horror before burying her face into the clock.
A bloodied blue candle rolled to Road's feet, making the girl pick it up. Rubbing her tongue along the pointed tip, she giggled happily, the coppery taste flooding her mouth.
Iris hissed at her, "You little-" But a shock of pain cut off, making her groan. Road lazily strolled over to the cage and peered in.
The winged Exorcist had a hole the size of a pool ball in her shoulder and a candle buried into her thigh, the tip poking out the other side. A small pool of blood began to form underneath her, but her attention was direction onto the small girl, lips bared in a snarl. The tips of her feathers began to turn red of the blood and slowly spreading.
"Aw, look at you." Road purred. "So helpless and weak." She turned to look at Allen. "Just like you."
Allen glared at her, his one hand covering the eye that the candle pierced. Ruby red blood slowly trickled out of his socket and trailed down his hand, staining his once white glove, red.
"Killing you two is no different than snapping off a tree branch or stepping on an ant. I just hate this world because it's become with sub humans like you two." Road shrugged. "To say we need to eliminate each and very one of you. And while we're on the subject, God would also like to see your kind cast into the pit of fire. Why do you think he gave us Akuma in the first place?"
"That isn't God." Allen growled, struggling to stand onto his feet. "Not at all. Its just your own!" he snarled. At his rage, his Innocence transformed into its cannon mode.
Road sneered. "But that doesn't really matter, does it?"
Lifting his cannon, Allen aimed it Road but his entire form shook.
"Go ahead. Try to kill me." The little girl smirked. "My death is an impossibility."
The three Akuma launched themselves that Allen, the ice typed once firing the first blast. Allen shielded himself with a cry, letting his Innocence take the blast. As the Akuma continued to barrage him, Road slowly took off Allen's coat but kept Iris's belt on. When last Akuma let out the final attack, it slammed Allen into the wall. His form crumpled to the ground with a painful thump, smoke rising from his form.
"ALLEN!" Iris and Miranda screamed.
Road took her place next to Lenalee, the three Akuma gathering behind her. "IN the state you're in, you couldn't take on one Akuma let alone three."
Her gold eyes slide to Iris. "Sadly though I can't kill you."
Iris pushed her hair back, blue eyes hardening. "Why not?"
Road shrugged. "She said not to."
Reaching down, Iris grasped the candle sticking out of her thigh and steeling her nerves, ripped the candle out. As much as she wanted to say it didn't bother her, it did. Biting back a howl, Iris flung the candle towards Road. "Who the hell is 'she'?"
"That's for me to know and for you to learn later." Road hummed. Her eyes then slide to Miranda who gasped in terror.
"I guess now is as good as time as any to attack." Road said, raising her arm and having dozens of candles fly up and aim at Miranda.
"No...please don't." Miranda sobbed. "You mustn't."
Road said nothing and brought her arm down, pointing at the sobbing woman tied to her clock.
The candles launched themselves at Miranda who screamed and duck her head, only to feel a blast of air and heard several loud thuds, as the candles whizzed by. The attack stopped and Miranda opened her eyes to meet Allen's soft grey eyes watching her.
"Allen?" she whispered, teeth pouring down her cheeks and dripping off her chin.
He looked up, a weak smile on his face. "Don't move, okay?" he asked gently.
Grunting with the pain, Allen flexed his claw, freeing the candles that embedded into the armor and then grasping Miranda's bindings. With a hard yank, he ripped them off, freeing Miranda, who scrambled away towards a wall to cower against the wallpaper. Looking back, Miranda gasped.
Allen sat there, slumped over and his Innocence deactivated.
"Allen, please." Miranda begged. "Please don't die on me. Allen...please stay strong."
His form shook but he turned his head to smile at Miranda, his eyes soft and his smile kind. "I'm... going... to be...fine."
Iris stared at the boy through her bars, tears threatening to spill over as she stared at the young Exorcist. "Allen, oh god. Allen."
His eyes trailed over to Iris and his smile widened slightly. "Sorry...Iris..."
And with that, his one eye rolled up into the back of his head and he landed onto the ground with a thump.
"Allen!" Miranda shrieked, scrambling to her feet towards the still body of Allen.
Tugging at her restraints, Iris stared as tears ran down her cheeks. Never had she felt so useless. Gritting her teeth, Iris pushed herself up onto her knees, letting out a pained whine at the pressure on her thigh. With limbs like jelly, she managed to stand up, knees clacking together. But the heels she wore made her tumbled back down. Gasping at the jolts of pain from her shoulder and thigh, Iris reached back with her good arm and snapped off the heels. With the heels now flats, Iris attempted to stand again and spotted the other two.
Miranda was cradling Allen to her, holding his head against her chest in comfort. The woman gave the Noah and Akuma a crazy grin.
"Yes, I pathetic." she said. "Aren't I?"
Road smiled. "What a great choice of words. You're no more pathetic than any sub human that awaits their death."
"I'm giving...comfort...and...understanding." Miranda stammered.
Road frowned. "Idiot."
Miranda flinched back at the jab and Road raised her arm again, pointer finger up. Candles gathered around them, the sharp points facing Miranda and the limp Allen.
'She's right. I am an idiot.' Miranda thought, closing her eyes and pulling Allen closer to her body.
"ROAD!" Iris roared. "LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
The girl ignored her.
"ROAD!"
The hands on the grandfather clock began to spin rapidly, stopping at 9:15 and let out a ringing gong. Blinding light flared from the floor, encircling Allen and Miranda in the beam.
Iris gasped softly. What was that?
The light cause Allen to open his eye, puzzled as to what the bright light was. Miranda's bun became undone, her shoulder length hair flying in an invisible breeze. Soon a bigger circle surrounded the one that encased Miranda and Allen, turning into a large dome, covered in clocks whose hands never stop moving.
Iris nearly let out a distressed cry. What happen to Allen? Was he alright? Was that Miranda's Innocence?
Moment from the corner of her eye made Iris glanced over her shoulder to see the rip in the wall courtesy of Allen, heal over. Leaving no marks what so ever, as if the rip was never there to begin with. Pieces of rubble started to vanish, toys with rips and stuffing hanging out were as good as new.
Iris stared in awe. "Reversing time. Now it makes sense. Miranda wished for tomorrow never to come and the clock granted her wish. Now, the clock is reversing the damage from Allen's fight."
The Akuma surrounded the dome, peering at it with interest.
The scythe type hovered around it. "What is this thing?"
"Hey Miss Road, do you think I can touch this or is that a bad idea?" The ice type asked.
Iris leaned against the bars. "Go ahead, touch it." She smirked. "Maybe you'll be blessed with another brain cell to add to the only one you have."
It whipped around to glare at her. "Shut up, you!"
"Why? What are you gonna do? Hmm?" Iris taunted the Akuma, ignoring the little voice in her head that was screaming at her to shut up. "Not like you can do anything. After all, Road said that you need me alive."
The Akuma opened its mouth to said something back but something erupted through the dome and cutting the icy Akuma's one arm off. Allen's Innocence reached for Iris' cage, the talons grabbing the bars and dragging Iris and her cage into the dome.
Iris squeezed her eyes closed as if to expect pain but only felt warmth.
"Iris."
The sound of Allen's voice made her eyes open in shock, and she looked up. A completely healed and neat looking Allen Walker smiled at her from the outside of the cage. It looked like he didn't even have a wrinkle in his outfit, all ripped cloth and blood stains gone.
"Allen?" Iris whispered.
His smile grew bigger. "Are you crying? Never thought I'd see you cry." he teased lightly, using his claw to break the bars and cut the chains that tied her down.
She lowered her head, mussed hair hiding her face. Allen tilted his head curiously as he offered his hand.
"Iris?"
"You little bastard."
Allen blinked and then yelped as Iris launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his arm in a form of a hug. Despite him being at least an inch or two shorter than her, Iris buried her face into his shoulder and sobbed,
"DON'T. YOU. EVER. DO. THAT. AGAIN. You stupid little beansprout!"
Allen froze in surprise at her tears and scolding but his smiled apologetically. He wrapped his arms around Iris, hugging her tightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset." he said softly.
Iris sniffled, pulling back. "Well you did, and sorry isn't going to cut it buddy." she said sharply, wiping her tears. "But I'm glad you're safe."
"Iris?"
The soft voice of Miranda made Iris to see the meek woman watching the two with a timid smile.
Iris gave a weak smile in return. "Well, look who's an Accommodator."
The older woman stepped forward and knelt down beside the two kneeling Exorcists. Reaching out, she barely touched Iris's shoulder and leg. Iris watched, puzzled but let out a gasp as clocks lazily flowed out of her skin and into Miranda's own.
"What the-?" she demanded.
"Look closer, Iris." Allen instructed.
Squinting at her shoulder, Iris let out a choked gasp. Her wounds were gone! Leaving behind smooth pale skin like Iris had a wound to begin with. Glancing down, Iris snuck a quick peek at her thigh and was delighted to see the wound there gone.
"Well, I'm impressed." Iris said with a grin.
Allen nodded and stood up. "I'm going to grab Lenalee." he informed the other two, walking to the edge of the protective dome. He stood there for a minute and drew his arm back before shooting it out of the dome. Within seconds Allen stepped back to deposit Lenalee and her chair down in the dome.
"Iris, I believe this belongs to you." Allen said, holding a torn belt and a scythe in his hand.
Relief bloomed on Iris's face and she reached out and took it. Holding it close to her, iris closed her eyes and relished the familiar hum of power that emitted from the scythe.
"Thank you, Allen." she whispered. He smiled but turned his attention to the seemingly comatose Lenalee.
Kneeling down, Allen peered up into Lenalee's face. "Lenalee? Lenalee." he called out.
With Miranda's help, Iris stood and hobbled over to the two. "Check her pulse." she ordered.
Allen took Lenalee's hand and lightly touched her inner wrist with his thumb. "She's alive." he said with relief but waved his hand in front of her face. When she did nothing, Allen pulled with a sigh.
"Allen? Is she alright?" Miranda asked wearily with her hands folded and tucked against her chest.
Allen looked back at Iris and Miranda with a smile. "She's fine, I think she's just in a daze. And it seems that her nerves are temporarily paralyzed. Probably from that sonic Akuma attack from before."
"Are you sure? How can she be okay after that?" Miranda asked.
Iris touched Miranda's shoulder. "Your Innocence will reverse the damage."
"Don't panic. As long as she in here." Allen said, watching as clocks flew out of Lenalee, images of her battling the Akuma in the alleyway.
Her body let out a sigh glow and within an a few minutes, her eyes fluttered open.
"What the-? Allen? Iris?" Lenalee said, disorientated as she stared at Allen, Miranda and Iris.
"You're back!" Allen happily said.
"Lenalee!" Miranda nearly cried with relief.
"Welcome back to the world of the sane." Iris said with a grin.
Lenalee smiled but something violently squirmed in her tightly clenched fist. Opening her hand, Timcanpy shot out and hovered in the middle of the group.
"Timcanpy! I didn't know you were here buddy!" The small golem happily zoomed around Allen's head at the young man's happy exclamation.
Iris grinned. "I wondered what happen to you. I was afraid that something got you."
Lenalee watched them, a slightly dazed look on her face. Iris glanced over at her and asked, "What happen out there, Lenalee? You were completely out of it, and Allen and I couldn't get you to wake up."
"I think, I remember dreaming." Lenalee stated softly.
"What kind of dream was it?" Allen asked.
"It was my past," Lenalee said, "But I can't remember any details." she admitted.
Iris frowned as Allen spoke. "I wonder if your dream was syphoned off too." He looked at the elder Exorcist. "Iris?"
The latter hummed, thoughtfully. "Debatable but not impossible "
Miranda blinked. "Wait, what does that mean?"
Allen stood up and smiled at Miranda. "Do you still not see what happened? The Innocence that is coursing through your veins has saved all of our lives, Miranda."
"What? You're joking...Aren't you?" Miranda said, not believing what she was hearing. She actually helped someone...and didn't screw up?
"I know it's probably hard to believe," Allen said and looked over his shoulder at a massive clock with spinning hands, hovering in mid-air. "but think about it. When you activated the Innocence inside of you reset time to before we got hurt."
"We owe you our lives, Miranda." Iris said kindly, a warm smile on her face.
Miranda fell to her knees, staring up at the mammoth clock above them. "So I really have...Innocence in me."
Smiling, Allen nodded. "Yes, Miranda. Thank you."
"You're thanking me?" Miranda asked, startled.
Lenalee smiled earnestly. "Mm. From me too. Thank you."
"Without you, we wouldn't be here, alive and ready to fight back." Iris said. "Because of you, Miranda. Thank you."
Miranda stared up the Exorcists, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I can't...believe it." She whispered, the tears falling down her cheeks.
Allen, Lenalee and Iris smiled once last time at Miranda before looking at each other grimly. Teary thank yous and happy moments were over. They were Exorcists, and an Exorcist's job was to kill Akuma and protect to human race. And sitting outside the protective dome were the three Akuma and one very pesky Noah.
"How do we want to do this?" Iris asked quietly, eyeing the dome and flaring her wings.
"Three of us against three Akuma and Road." Allen said, frowning. "Not good odds but we have to fight back."
Lenalee quickly added, "Four. Miranda's Innocence could help with any wounds we sustain during battle."
"No." Iris said sharply. "Her Innocence reverses time, not change it. If Allen gets stabbed in the chest and Miranda's Innocence reverses it, who's to say he won't die after we won and Miranda deactivates her Innocence? Three vs. four, excluding the umbrella."
Allen nodded, a grim look on his face. "We take them down hard and fast. Lenalee? You're up first."
She nodded and activated her Innocence, her dress flaring as her Dark Boots came to be.
"The Waltz! MYSTIC WINDS!" She shouted, kicking her legs so powerfully, cyclones shot out of the dome.
The screams of the Akuma could be heard but just barely under Lenalee's furious attacks.
Miranda stared in awe. "Amazing." she whispered.
Allen placed his hand on her shoulder, making her look up. "Allen." she said, unsure of what the more experienced Accommodator wanted her to do.
He smiled. "Just stay put."
Miranda blinked and looked over at Iris who shouldered her activated scythe. Its large blade gleamed dangerously in the light, faint sparks of green static dancing over the edge.
"Don't worry. We'll take care of this." Iris grinned.
"Attack!" Lenalee shouted, creating another cyclone.
Iris shot into the air, lifting Allen up with her and together they dove into Lenalee's cyclone, hiding in her attack. All three of them shot out of the dome, slamming into the typhoon of wind that surrounded the Akuma. Iris quickly released Allen's hand and madly flapped her wings along with the current. She could hear the three-faced Akuma crying something and Allen saying something back, but it was all drowned out by the powerful attack Allen released on three face.
While Allen was distracted by three face, the ice type and scythe type quickly swooped down on him.
"Now die!" The ice Akuma shouted, firing a blast of burning ice.
The scythe Akuma flung energy blades at Allen. "Die!"
A sudden flash of purple grabbed hold of Allen and pulled him to safety while Iris brought her scythe down on the scythe Akuma.
"You know, you lot are really starting to piss me off." she hissed at the Akuma.
"Likewise, Exorcist!" it snarled back, shoving Iris back and jumping away.
Iris, sending a glare at the Akuma, flew down to stand next to Lenalee and a kneeling Allen, the power wind swirling around them and Timcanpy fluttering near Iris's head.
The scythe Akuma hissed lowly. "Damn them."
Standing on Lero who was high and out of the way of danger, Road studied the battle ready Exorcists. "I see. The Exorcists are much more craftier than I thought they'd be."
Allen stood up, both Iris and Lenalee standing on either side of him. He raised his cannon high and his eyes transformed into its cursed form.
"Okay Road." he said, glaring at the Noah with extreme hate. "Your turn."
Road smirked with a chuckle.
'Looks like I might have to kill her after all...' Road thought, her eyes on the girl with white hair and eyes like sapphire. 'Ms. Evelyn won't be too happy about it though.'
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