"Your dad was an Akuma, too?" John said.
"We weren't related by , Mana...My father, took me in and raised me, even though I was born with an arm like this. Mana taught me many things. Things I needed to live, ways to live entirely on my own. But, when I was left truly alone,
I didn't know what I should do Mana, my father, was dead..." Allen said.
Xxx
"Mana? Mana! Mana! Mana?!" Younger Allen said said.
"Allen...Listen to me, Allen. No matter what happens, never stop!" Mana said.
"No, Mana! I don't want you to die!" Allen said.
"No matter what, keep walking." Mana said.
"Don't leave me alone!" Allen said
"Keep walking, Allen!" Mana said. "As long as there's a breath left in your body!"
"M-Mana! No..It's not true!" Kuri said, coming in from the carnival and crying out.
Don't die! I don't want you to die!" Allen said.
Xxx
"A good evening to you. Shall I revive Mana Walker for you? If you wish me to, I need your help I need you, the one he loved most, to call out to him." Earl said.
"Call Mana?" Allen said.
"Yes, you can steal back your Mana from that hateful God!" Earl said.
"You...You can bring Mana back?" Allen said.
"Now, you must call his soul back from the afterlife." Earl said.
"Mana! Mana..." Allen said.
"A... llen..." Mana said.
"Mana!" Allen said.
"How dare you! How dare you turn me into an Akuma! I curse you, Allen! How dare you turn me into an Akuma!" Mana said.
"Allen, you are now mine. Now, Mana Walker, kill him and take his form!" Earl said.
"I curse you, Allen!" Mana said.
"I didn't know what had happened. My left arm had activated, and attacked the Akuma which harboured Mana's soul." Allen said.
"Mana! Stop it! Don't kill Mana! Run! Run, father!" Allen said.
"Allen...I love you. Destroy me. Destroy me, Allen." Mana said.
"Mana!" Allen said.
A struggling Kuri came out of the darkness. "Y-You killed him. You killed Mana. YOU TRAITOR!"
Xxx
"It was my master who told me who the Millennium Earl was, what Akuma are, and what was happening to me." Allen said.
"Allen's master? General Cross?" Kuri said.
Xxx
"The soul within an Akuma's body has no is a slave for all eternity, bound to the will of the Millennium Earl. There was no way to save him but to destroy it. So, you were born with an anti-Akuma weapon, were you? What an unfortunate fate. It would seem you are yet another man bound to do God's will. Would you like to become an exorcist?" Cross said.
Xxx
"From that moment on I was able to see the souls of Akuma. At first, I thought that Mana had cursed me that day, so I chose to atone for my sin by becoming an exorcist. But one day, after I had seen many Akuma, I came to know that his tears were not those of anger, but of despair from being turned into an Akuma. Of frustration at his own inability to prevent his demonic transformation. So, I decided to become an exorcist, not to atone, but to be able to live with greater strength and purpose. This curse lights my way.
Akuma are far too grim to exist in this world. So, I will destroy them." Allen said.
"Allen..." Kuri said, impressed.
"Allen, I should have killed you that day. You can see the Akuma's souls? You can save them? If so, then just try it! If so, then just try it!" Earl said and had the akumas shoot at him.
"Allen!" John said.
"Allen!" Kuri said.
"No need for alarm. I had to get shot just now, to protect John. But that level of attack won't kill me." Allen said. Did you think you'd just shoot me to death, if the virus didn't work? Don't make me laugh. The anti-Akuma weapon on my right arm is impervious.
The strength and weapons of Akuma cannot stand against it. This is a weapon of God, which exists solely to bring swift death to your machines!"
"Cheeky brat! Well then! Do you know of the people of the east? They make fabulous weapons. I have enough Akuma to smother you. All at once now! Akuma Cannon!" Earl said.
"Allen...Allen! Allen! Innocence, activate!" Kuri said, hands glowing blue.
"Kuri! Take care of him!" Allen said.
"All right." Kuri said.
"You're an exorcist, Kuri? Where's your anti-Akuma weapon?" John said.
"It's my Sacred Arrow. I can destroy akuma with it." Kuri said.
"Amazing!" John said.
"Another one shows its face, eh? You...look awfully familiar girl. No worries. I'll kill you, too!" Earl said. "They're breaking through our defenses! Kill them!"
"Kuri! Are you all right?" Allen said.
"I'm fine..." Kuri said.
"Why won't you two just die?!" Earl said.
"We have to destroy those Akuma now, or the town will be in real danger." Allen said.
"Destroy?" John said.
Xxx
"The Akuma are autonomous weapons created by the Earl, and the enemies of mankind. We have to destroy them. I thought I knew that." John thought.
"Oh, man! These Akuma can take the shape of anyone they kill! Then, you never know who's an Akuma, do you?" John said.
"I was the one who told Leo about Akuma. We patrolled the city together. He should have known that the Earl was no good! But, he...Was he so shocked by his mother's death...that his soul gave into the darkness?" John thought.
Xxx
"Idiot! You fool! Did you want to see your Mom so bad as to turn her into an Akuma? I can't see the Akuma's souls, like Allen can. I don't know that Leo's Mom is really crying.
I don't know it, but...God damn it! I'm sorry, Leo! We got so worked up about how to find Akuma and defeat them...I didn't know anything about the human soul!"
"A soul within an Akuma has no freedom. It lives forever... to do the will... of the Millennium Earl. Akuma are far too grim to exist in this world."
"Akuma suffer the pain and anguish of a bloodthirsty existence." Kuri said.
"So, I will destroy them." Kuri and Allen said.
"Destroy him, Allen! Destroy Leo! Put Leo to rest!" John said.
"I will destroy them all with this next blow!" Allen said. "Pitiful Akuma, let your soul be saved! Cross...Grave!"
"Sacred Arrow: Hit the Mark!" Kuri said.
"Nothing for it, then. We'll meet again!" Earl said.
"Earl!" Allen and Kuri said.
"But, all you've seen here is a tiny fraction of my store. Akuma continue to evolve, all over the world! This is naught but the end of the first act! I am the creator of Akuma, the Millennium Earl! I'll drive out that corrupt God and play the lead, together with my Akuma! No matter how you exorcists might resist me, you'll never save this world! Just the... first act." Earl said and left.
"Allen..." Kuri said, eyes dimming back to their darker crimson color. "Are you alright?"
"It's all right, I'm just a little tired." Allen said. "You look pained. Are you ok?"
"I'm ok...it's just the...Earl...and the akuma...their emotions." Kuri said. "I've never met the Earl before. It was so painful."
Allen held her in his arms and before he knew it John was there too. "John."
"Just...let me stay like this. I'll be ready...in a minute." John said.
Xxx
"From John?" Russell said.
"Yes. But I don't think you should open it just-" Allen said and the onion bomb exploded in his face. "Looks like your son got a shot in."
"If he's still making toys like this, he's got away to go" Russell said.
"John said so, too." Allen said.
Xxx
"I'll go to be with my father someday. I'll study hard, and become skilled enough. I know I'm nowhere close as I am now. So, tell him to wait for me until then, Allen." John said.
"Okay! Let's do our best." Allen said.
Xxx
"He's crying." Kuri said.
"Russel?!" Allen said.
"Well, miracles do happen." Kuri said.
"Shut up! It's the onion! Idiots! You've got away to go, too!" Russell said. "An exorcist can't just go off on his own without orders! But, you did manage to save John. Well then, let's get this over with! When I get a vacation, I've got to go see John."
"Russel..." Allen said.
"After all, it's not fair for me to yell at you alone. I'll have to chastise him personally." Russell said.
Xxx
"Come with me, come with me!" Allen dragged Kuri to the cafeteria.
"What are you doing? What's going on?!" Kuri said.
When they entered the cafeteria Allen removed the blindfold from her eyes, revealing three tables of a huge cheesy feast, and an extra three tables of chocolate desserts. There were little plastic ducks everywhere and as they walked in everyone popped streamers at her.
"Welcome Home, Kuri!" They all said.
A banner above said 'Welcome Home Kuri.'
I'm home at last.