XXXXXXX
Tyki held his pair of cards, looking at them briefly then looking up at the sleeping prone form of Allen. His pair of cards face down on his chest. "So Allen are you going to fold or are you all in?" He then flicked a small wad of paper at his eyes. They flickered once signifying yes.
"Excellent." Tyki had tried his luck against a sleeping Allen. throwing paper at the boys eye. If they flickered once that meant yes. Twice meant no. And so far-
"Dammit! Even in his sleep the kid beats me!" -So far that hadn't changed things at all.
Tyki shuffled the deck again and gave them each their cards. This time after looking at his cards with disdain, he looked both ways before lifting up Allen's cards and sneaking a peak at his. Cheating against an unconscious opponent. Have I sunk that low? Tyki thought to himself.
"TYKI!" Cried Road as she saw what he was doing, entering the room through one of her time-space doors. Tyki twitched because he had been caught red handed. "What?"
"Are you cheating against Allen when he can't even play?"
"I'm going to get my smokes back...besides him being asleep hasn't affected his game at all." Tyki responded remembering with disdain just how desperate he was to get a cig.
Flashback
Tyki was in the kitchen with some rolling paper. He had sent out an akuma to get him some cigarettes making sure it was the brand he liked, none of that cheap stuff. But he had yet to return and the nicotine fits weren't going to wait for him to get back. Remembering he had heard something once about oregano being rolled up and smoked although he couldn't remember where he had heard it from. He thought he would give it a try to help stave off the nicotine fits until the real deal arrived. That's why he stood in the kitchen in front of some rolling paper and oregano. Looking right and left slowly, watching out lest anyone should see him try this. He rolled it up and lit it. Taking a soft drag he quickly erupted into a coughing fit. "Damn! That is just awful! Where the hell did I here that from anyway!?
End Flashback
Sighing at the memory from not too long ago. The akuma still hadn't returned and if he didn't soon Tyki would roll and smoke HIM! That's what had lead to his desperate act of cheating against an unconscious opponent.
Road took a look at both their hands, her head going from Allen's hand to Tyki's. Blinking in curiosity she burst out laughing upon confirming that Tyki indeed was loosing to Allen despite him being asleep.
"HAAHAAHA HA! Oh Tyki you are really bad against Allen aren't you?" It wasn't really a question, more of a statement.
Despite the levity the two were displaying it was a stark contrast to the severity of the circumstances. Road's laughter died slowly and she turned back to look at Allen, leaning over his bedside, her usual tomboyish clothing on.
Concern now adorned her face as she looked on Allen's while Tyki too watched the interaction between the two.
Road saw some blood flowing through the bandages on Allen's cursed eye. She had been horrified at what had happened to Allen's eye. The skin around his eye going down to the corner of his mouth, it...it had just disappeared. There was no muscle or skin or well....anything covering it. You just saw the bone white of his skull, the red curse mark shown a bright red aginst the bone white and blood found it's way out of his eye in a steady flow. The two monocles that hovered in front of his eye were now closed but still there. This horrific effect of his cursed eye, one could only hope his face would return to how it once was once it deactivated...one hoped that is. They had bandaged that side of his face to stop the bleeding but it seemed a fruitless venture for the crimson snaked it's way out somehow.
"The bleeding just won't stop. It is so pretty though...Allen's blood." Her hand brushing Allen's afflicted side of his face gracefully with concern. Pulling her hand away to look at the blood that was now on her hand. If it were any other time she would be rejoicing right now, such pretty blood! She really loved Allen's blood. But right now Allen was suffering. Once she did not care about that at all, rather she used to relish it. But now....she hated seeing Allen in such intense pain if she wasn't the one inflicting it. If she was the one then she could control when it started or stopped. And just how much pain Allen would be in. She was the one in control then. But now, she couldn't stop Allen's pain or have any control at all. She didn't find this entertaining at all, not when it was someone she liked and cared for.
As she looked at the blood in her hand as she leaned over Allen's form she couldn't help but lick it and taste of him. After doing so she felt an intensity shoot through her body. The taste of his blood lit a fire inside her and she felt a warmth in her loins. Allen's blood, just tasting it aroused her. If Tyki and Grant weren't in the room and Allen wasn't suffering and unconscious she would be enjoying this feeling and be doing some rather...ahem untasteful things to herself but quite normal for a girl her age....well a woman of any age for that matter.
Speaking of the Akuma Grant he hadn't left Allen's bedside since he had fallen ill. Allen had been out through the evening and throughout the night. Even Road who rarely left his bedside retired to her nearby room to get some sleep. Grant however did not yet this intense observation of Walker was not an order from the Earl so why did he do it? He was the only one who had been next to Allen more than Road herself though he rarely said or did anything so much so it was almost as if he was a piece of furniture in the room.
Road was thankful that Tyki hadn't noticed the feelings that had sparked within her at that moment, or the mild wetness under her skirt.
Tyki on the other hand was merely watching the boy without the look of frustration he had before at loosing to him. He found it rather touching that Road really cared for this cheating boy. He had to admit he liked the boy himself ever since playing poker with him for the first time. He did like him but at the same time he took pleasure at ending his life. Well trying to at least. It was a kind of unique bond born of enemies who in another time and another place could have been great friends.
Now though with Allen no longer being an enemy Tyki found himself worrying about the boy who lay bedridden before him. Even he himself didn't fully understand these feelings or know they were there. But little by little they had made themselves known to him and now that the two were no longer separated by two opposing sides of a war he was able to acknowledge them consciously with less conflict. The fact he liked this cheating boy!
Tyki hoped the boy got better and these feelings showed on his face as he looked on at Allen and Road as he sat slumped forward in his chair.
Road took out a piece of candy and popped it in her mouth. She needed something sweet to replace the absence of Allen's blood in her mouth. It wasn't as good but it was definitely sweeter than Allen's blood but candy didn't give her that heated feeling and thus it was a shallow substitute but she needed something else to help control herself and these feelings
XXXXXXX
Again Allen was inside his dreamscape this time though he found himself surrounded by the pond on a small isle of land with the water slowly rising.
What is this? Why is it so different now? The water is slowly rising. Is this how much time I have left? My eye, my whole body hurt so much. Even people's souls suffer that much!? I thought it was only akuma. It's okay if I go soon, with all this I don't want to live. You can have this body 14th I...don't have the will left to live.
At this the figure in the water of a distorted version of Allen changed into that of the shadow of the 14th. He shot out above the water and landed grabbing Allen in the process. No smile adorned this shadowy figures face. It was not the wicked smile like it usually showed. Nor was it the cartoonish version of Allen that he usually saw in the water. Allen saw nothing in the shadow of the 14th before him. Allen couldn't read any emotion at all from him.
XXXXXXX
"TYKI!!" Road gasped. Tyki looked up to see Allen who's skin had taken on a dark color as Allen started thrashing about in his bed and screaming in his sleep. No words came from his mouth, just vocalization of intense agony.
Blood burst from across his forhead as small marks were left from were the blood had exploded forth. These cross shaped marks slowly grew steadily larger and the blood flow from them intensified with it. Blood ran down his forhead and from his bandaged eye. It seemed as if his entire face was a morbid ornate fountain of blood and pooled around Allen's shivering, twitching face.
Another grimace and scream snapped Tyki into action, "Grant go get the Earl NOW!" Grant hesitated as if reluctant to leave Allen when he was suffering but only for a second and then he was off in a flash.
"Tyki he just turning into a noah or-"
"I don't know Road! That's what it looks and sounds like but...this is a different remember! The closer the noah comes to awakening the closer the 14th comes to waking up as well! I don't know if it's the same with the boy here!"
The conversation was strained as the two had to yell over Allen's screaming. Allen's body was flailing about wildly as spasms of pain wracked his body. His arms clawing at anything nearby leaving deep gouges in the headboard of the bed and breaking his fingertips wide open smearing the blood along with the gouges in the headboard until his hands dug deep into the wood. Squeezing his fingers deep into the wood in a grotesque and awe inspiring display of willpower that one could do that to their fingers, ignoring the pain of breaking ones fingertips by grind them into the wood. Yet it was obvious this act was only possible due to pain which paled in comparison to that which doing said act inflicted on young Allen.
So much blood. This would be a wet dream for Road if it weren't so serious. Allen's blood was everywhere. Hemorrhaging from his fingertips, forehead, and eye. It was a profuse torrent of red that surrounded Allen and it was a sight that would make ones knees shake and the sound of his shouts make ones skin crawl.
It was truly something which would give one nightmares for life.
XXXXXX
The shadow of the 14th in front of Allen was wearing a pair of strange glasses with wide eyes where the lenses should be.
Allen stared at this, puzzled by this strange occurrence. The shadow of the 14th pointed to the left lens and the eye popped out because of a spring. The "googly eye" dangling by the spring and the 14th laughing. Then he pointed from that to Allen's left eye. His cursed eye.
Huh? What is this? The realization quickly struck Allen like lightning: The 14th was refering to Allen's cursed eye. He was making fun of Allen!!! BASTARD! This isn't funny. How dare you make light of this, mocking me like this!
The grin returned to the 14th face as he placed the glasses on Allen's face, who was fuming with anger to the point he didn't do anything to stop this.
The 14th put his arm around Allen's shoulder pulling him close in a friendly manner, leaning his head next to Allen's and his maniacal smile as he did so. He walked Allen over to the edge of the pond while holding him close.
Allen was furious at this. He was on the verge of lashing out. It was all building up. That is until he saw what was in the pond. It was a scene that Allen remembered quite well, one he had tried to put behind him, one that hurt remembering. It was when he was in the ark. When he and the others where about to escape it using the door Road had made but Allen told them to go on ahead.
"I'm going to get Tyki Mikk and Lero."
"Are you serious!" Lavi said in disbelief.
"Tyki Mikk is free of the Noah. He's just a normal human now. I know even you saw that Lavi. When I first met him on that train he had human friends. Those people know nothing about this part of him. They may be still waiting for his return."
Lavi wasn't happy to hear this. "I don't really care. But if the order finds out you rescued one of the Noahs then...-"
He was interrupted by Choji, "Rescue? You mean you didn't kill that man?" Choji looked awful, devastated at hearing Tyki was not only alive but Allen was going to go help him.
"He's still alive."
"What! Even though he is with the akuma who killed master Anita and Mahoja, along with many other comrades?...How come you'll rescue him?...I don't believe this...you are going to betray our resolve?"
The air was heavy at these words and it was suffocating, simply being there was twisting ones stomach in knots.
Choji continued after a brief pause, "If you're going to rescue him. That makes you my enemy."
Allen tried to talk "Choji-" but was cut off by Choji's passionate fury.
"YOU'RE AN ENEMY!! YOU'RE AN AKUMA JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM!!"
Instead of having time to dwell upon this Allen acted and shoved Choji out of the way of an attack by a resurrected Tyki Mikk. Despite those harsh words Allen still put his life on the line for Choji. Yet even later after all was over Choji would not take those words back. He stuck by them...and that left a deep hole in Allen's soul...that the humans he tried to save wanted to condemn one another. Wanted to condemn him for wanting to help. What was wrong with the world?
Allen wasn't there to hear Choji's words after he was dragged down by Tyki's tentacles but he saw it now in the pond before him.
"Like I said...that's what you get for trying to save those bastards. I don't care what your reason is. Those bastards kill humans...they are akuma."
The shadow of the 14th that still held his arm aroud Allen in a chummy manner began to laugh harder at this. Allen merely hung his head low. What was the point?
Before Allen knew what was happening the 14th fell forward into the water with his arm still around Allen. The two fell into the waters and Allen's lungs seemed to catch on fire at the contact. The water was so cold! It seemed to destroy the air in his lungs and burn the inside. It was so dark he couldn't see anything! He couldn't tell which way was up and he couldn't breathe. As Allen opened his mouth, his body desperately gasping for air, the frigid waters cascaded inside him. Hollowing him out from the inside. How could something so cold burn like fire at the same time!? It was sheer agony and any intelligent thought left Allen as more primitive instincts took over. Violently pushing at the dark waters around him. Escape! He must escape this darkness! Frantically and violently trying to find the surface to find an escape.
All the while the laughter of the 14th was clear as day even under the waters. Allen could make out the laughing face of the 14th as the images, the memories assaulted his consciousness just as the black waters surrounded and suffocated him, hollowing out his insides.
Familiar images he had seen before...yet they were so much clearer now...they made so much more sense
(laughter)....(joy)....I love you so much. Two lovers holding each other after a passionate night of making love. Allen could not recall their names but their feelings for one another was as clear as day. Such intense devotion and love. The kind that made Allen cold as one would feel comparing the warmth and light of their fire against that of the sun. It paled by compairison. Allen having never received such love in his life, never had experienced such a thing. Never loved anyone like that....did he???
Who were these people? The answer came suddenly like a gunshot to the head and just as painful: The descendent's of Noah. The real Noah. The one who built an ark taking two of every animal along with his own family. The Noah who's family and their descendents created all humans living today. The ancestors of all of us.
Flash
(tears)....(grief) Why I miss him so much. A younger girl, Amelia, crying into her uncles arms. Why? Because her father was dead. Who was her father? The man from the scene before. Not too far away was his lover and Amelia's mother grieving over his passing. All around people were crying. All of them related to one another in some manner.
A strong looking elderly man approached and hugged the crying mother
I am so sorry Ophelia
Noah please bring him back....oh god give him back to us! Why!?WHY!?
Flash
If only I could see him again...I feel the same... Amelia talking to her mother, Ophelia, in the middle of the night. Both hugging each other in bed. Both unable to sleep. Crying, cold, and alone for their lost loved one.
Flash
No WHY I LOST MY BROTHER NOT HER TOO! WHY DO YOU TAKE THE ONES WE LOVE GOD!? A similar scene of a man crying over his lost lover. How much time had passed was unknown. It could have been years or no time at all really. Again many were crying. Sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers, friends.
So many time scenes just like this replayed themselves over and over again. Each one different yet so similar at the same time.
Until
Flash
They can only be brought back once...and they might not remember...but we can help them to remember. Allen couldn't make out clearly who was speaking but he/she motioned towards the newly made akuma as many rejoiced at being reunited with their lost loved one. A daughter hugged her father whose body was but made of metal and a wife held her husband close.
Flash
Thank you...for reading to me daddy
I don't remember being your father yet...but some things are coming back to me...even if those memories don't ever come back know this: I really do love you sweetie. I don't need memories to know that I love you now. An akuma who had been reading to his human daughter as she lay in bed, the night air cool and crisp around them. The akuma patted her head and hugged her and although he couldn't kiss his daughter goodnight she felt his love all the same. Even if he didn't remember her as his daughter yet...he still loved her. The young girl was just happy to have her daddy back!
Flash
WHY! WHY!! You took her from me AGAIN!!! Why God??? Why do you hate us so? What have we done to deserve this! AFTER ALL WE'VE SUFFEREDTHROUGH DONE FOR YOU GOD!! WHY DAMMIT!! A man who's loved one had been brought back as an akuma, now lay destroyed at his feet. God took her from him again. He couldn't allow happiness and love to last...no that would be too merciful. God had granted a man a strange power...an ability no one else could do. The ability to destroy the akuma. This blasphamy against god's natural order of things. This perversion of the cycle of life and death. This man who used that damned thing called...innocence!
Flash
Never forget...never forgive....exorcists...innocence. The young girl said, who's akuma father had read her a bedtime story not too many days ago, was on her knees with tear stained cheeks crying as the man with the innocence...THE MAN WHO HAD TAKEN DADDY FROM HER...JUST LIKE GOD DID...walked away. Crying intensely over the broken remains that had housed her fathers soul. With a look of pure rage that went far beyond her age, glared with tear stricken eyes at the back of the man who carried the innocence. Never forget...never forgive....exorcists...innocence Her rage and those like hers would be carried on in one by the name Skin Bolic.
Flash
God let's us love but takes it away....he wants us to suffer
Flash
Hey Mana. I know you are feeling lonely without me being around as much so I got you a puppy. (laughter) Well technically I wasn't the one who got it but you know what I mean.
You mean the Earl got him for me. WOW! Tell him thank you!
Tell me yourself. The figure of a gentleman stepped through the doorway smiling sincerely at the young brothers and laughing lightheartedly.
Thank you so much for the puppy sir!
Think nothing of it :) He'll need a name though won't he.
The other brother spoke at this after some thought I like the name Allen. I think it suits the guy rather well don't you think so Mana?
Yeah! His name'll be Allen.
The man by the name of Earl: I'm sorry that I am taking up so much of your brother's time Mana. This is kind of my way of apologizing. It is necessary however. He ruffled the young boy's hair.
Both boys gave the Earl a hug
Flash
The image before Allen of hugging the Earl was warped. Instead of sharing a hug with a kind man he was on the end of a sword pierced through his chest. The Earl with that wide sinister grin yet his eyes seemed so sad as tears fell. He was crying. He said something like "I'm sorry." But Allen couldn't couldn't hear anything. There was no sound whatsoever. Just that image...then nothing... except the laughter of the 14th.
XXXXXXX
"What's going on!" The Millennium Earl had entered the room, still in human form.
Tyki was holding Allen down. Road was keeping Allen's hands at their sides to prevent him from doing any more damage to himself. He was still shaking violently and the two were having a hell of a time.
Tyki answered this obvious question. "The boy he's-"
Before he could answer the Earl moved him to the side briskly but before he could do anythign the spasms suddenly stopped.
All was still and quiet as Road looked down on Allen. Then her heart seemed to lighten as she saw Allen open his eyes. She threw her arms around him, her head on his shoulder as he was sitting up.
"ALLEN!!"
She was crying much to her surprise. But it was only a little at least that's what she tried to tell herself. Something was wrong though. Something was different. She felt him put his arm around her and place a hand on her head, rubbing softly. It didn't feel quite like Allen. Then she heard in a voice that didn't sound quite like Allen's. She didn't see the smile that didn't seem quite like Allen's either.
"Good...mor....ning"
XXXXXXX
In case you people are wondering why I'm sitting in a therapist's office it's not because I'm insane....though I make no claims to not be. Rather it's because low and behold Surgar n' Sweet decided that whole group therapy idea was a good one.
Therapist: Talking to invisable voices hmm?? That's not a good sign. (jots something down)
No they aren't invisible, they're my readers and the conversations I have with the voices in my head are my business not yours.
Therapist: HEY! This is violating doctor patient confidentiality. Uh if they are your readers why are there only like 12 of them
(Me: Get's depressed) sniffle*
Sugar N' Sweet: Look now you got him depressed. Great just great. We aren't gonna get anywhere now.
We weren't gonna get anywhere to begin with. This guy is a quack.
Sugar N' Sweet: What makes you say that.
The fact you learned of him because he used to be one of the customers that would slip dollar bills in your underwear. This is what I get for going to a doc you recommend.
Therapist: aheh* I would rather not-
Sugar N' Sweet: So what if he was a paying customer. I don't see you trying to find a doc to help us.
Lollipop: YAY! More fighting. I brought the rope (holds up rope) let's tie him down!
THAT'S MY ROPE!
Therapist: Okay I can see that we have some serious issues we are going to have to sort through. First off I think you're gay.-
AND WHY ARE WE SEEING A COUPLES THERAPIST!
Therapist: (get's frustrated grabs rope) That's it! Time for some severe critical therapy!
(is tied up facing Sugar N' Sweet and Lollipop.)
Why'd you tie us up you perv!
I'm going to leave now. You three kiss and make up. I'll be back....well whenever my secretary get's off actually. Which according to my record takes only 7 minutes. (he leaves)
(I stare at Sugar.)....I told you he was a quack.
Sugar:....sh...shut up.
Lollipop: YAY BONDAGE! FUN!
Sugar: Well at least things can't get any worse....whats that digging into my thigh.
No...nothing.....
Lollipop: Hee hee...guess what Sugar? He's not gay. Can you guess what's poking you.
SPEAK AND YOU DIE!
Lollipop: Yes that's right! Boss me around! Whip me! Make me your little B%#$%.
....?!!?....this isn't gonna end well is it?...AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Stop moving your thighs around so much
Sugar: What??....I'm not bothering you am I...
I wouldn't use the words "bothering" but still that isn't a good idea...WAIT! You're doing that intentionally aren't you!?
Sugar: (completely ignores my advice) Doing what??? (plays dumb)
I can't tell who's in more trouble. Me or Allen. Well as always REVIEW PLEASE or else! I'll threaten you later..I've gotta deal with this situation here...AH! Don't touch that...how'd you like it when I touch you there huh!
(moan)
....oops...uh looks like I just got myself into something. I might be in trouble here people so...well...I'll see you next time.