Evie was running around the training room, trying out her new uniform. Lenalee and Lavi were chasing her. They were calling it training for the purpose of the Vatican, but they were just letting her play. Real training would start this afternoon. And then we would be taking Road and Tyki to Hevlaska to see if they could connect with Innocence. Nea and Allen had a theory of because Innocence and Dark Matter were opposites of each other, if you stopped using one, you could use the other. It was worth a shot. If it doesn't work, we couldn't force it - we didn't need to deal with two fallen ones on top of everything else.
"Alright guys take a break" Allen called over to the now giggling trio who had swapped from chasing to tickling. And suddenly my arms were filled with green fuzz as Evie launched herself at me. It was only my fast reflexes that stopped her from dropping on the ground.
"Papa, Papa! The jumpsuit's super comfy!" she announced, and her little face lit up. She was too precious, and I cuddled her closer as I chuckled,
"I'll be sure to let Jonny know" I promised her, and she snuggled into me in response. I put her on the ground and led her over to where the others were sat chatting and managed to secure us a portion of fruit before Allen destroyed it all. I dropped down next to him as I listened to Lavi's recovery story. After a week of rest and medicine, he was doing a whole lot better. A slight limp was the only evidence that he'd ever been ill. Lenalee sat next to him, clutching his hand loosely. I saw this and caught her eye, raising an eyebrow. She gave a small smile, as if to ask, 'do you approve?'. I gave her a small nod. Her face broke into a beaming grin and lay her head on the rabbit's shoulder. I hid my own smile in my glass of water. I was happy for them, in times of war they deserved each other.
On the way to the cafeteria after the harsher training, I walked alongside Lenalee as Lavi and Allen chased a hyperactive cat girl to the kitchen.
"So, does Komui know?" I nodded towards the distant pair. She nodded.
"He made a cheesy speech about deflowering his baby sister but then he gave us a serious chat about relationships. He was quite accepting of it." she beamed at the knowledge. I smirked; the man had a reputation of being sister-obsessed but I was glad he actually handled it maturely. I ruffled her hair which had got long enough to put back into her usual twin tails. I grew slightly melancholic at the visual representation of how much time I'd missed in my search for the Moyashi.
"You've grown into a strong woman Lenalee. I'm proud of you" I smiled as she flushed bright red at the unexpected praise. But I meant it - she'd grown so strong in my absence. I viewed her like a little sister, and I was flexing my brotherly role that I had sorely neglected over my years of being an asshole.
"Thank you, Kanda. And you've gotten stronger too" I looked over at her in surprise. I had?
"You accepted that your emotions won't weaken you; you don't jump straight to violence anymore. And you let Allen in, managing to raise an adorable little girl together. You grew a lot while you were gone. I'm proud of you too" and she leant up and pecked my cheek. I had to swallow to stop myself from choking up. I hadn't even noticed myself change, how much I'd softened and grown as a result. I looked over to where Allen and Evie were waving for us to catch up. Lenalee smiled and patted my arm as I gazed at the two that had changed my whole world. Oh God I was getting sentimental. I smiled and we both headed up to join our respective lovers. We had something to fight for. And, as I looked over at the little girl trying to steal a sandwich from her dad's plate, I knew I would fight as hard as I could. I had to make sure that all of us would come out of this war intact.
"You sure about this?" I asked the pair as we stood outside Hevlaska's room. Road and Tyki linked hands and nodded. Whatever they faced; they'd do it together. All four of us entered.
"Are you prepared?" Hevlaska reiterated my concern and they repeated their consent. They stepped into the grid of Innocence pieces, waiting for one to call to them. This was stage one. If one didn't call, then Hevlaska would select one and if that didn't connect, we would stop. Once they were in the grid, Road instantly began wandering in a specific direction. She reached down and plucked a crystal. Soon Tyki had also been pulled in the same direction and, following the feeling, plucked the crystal right next to hers. They held them up to Hevlaska for inspection.
"Yes, I feel a connection between your souls and the Innocence you hold. These will serve you well" And we watched as, if in response to Hevlaska's words, the crystals melted simultaneously, and the pair looked at each other. Allen and I watched in slight horror at the Innocence's demand for loyalty so soon. And they drank. Blood spurted out of Tyki's hands and Road's arms, forming butterflies and candles. They laughed at the choice.
"I guess it let us stick to what we know" Road smiled up at the green lit candle tops as they floated beside her and she watched in awe as they hardened slightly and dropped into her hands. She concentrated and they floated again. Her face lit up. Tyki watched and concentrated on his butterflies which flew around in formation before flattening and sticking together, forming a broach on his jacket. He looked over at us and nodded. It had been a success. We thanked Hevlaska for her help and left to tell Komui the good news.