SailorStar9: This is Chapter 9 of this fic and I'm continuing this from the manga. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OCs. Heck, I don't even know if I should renew the Kanda/Ami pairing again.
Chapter 9: The Alma Karma Arc: Part One
"Allen!" Johnny cried.
"Johnny!" Allen rushed over. "I'll help you now!"
"This light..." Guardian Mercury gaped at Alma exploded in a blinding bright light. "Is from the Akuma virus."
"Stop Alma!" an infected Allen pleaded as Alma went into meltdown, causing an explosion. "There's too many people here..."
"Now then," the Earl of Millennium chuckled as he landed atop a high structure along the the other Noah to watch how events unfold. "The show's only just begun. Let me watch you writhe in pain, 14!"
As Alma wandered around, he stepped on the remains of some Order members that were affected by the Akuma virus, and they crumbled beneath his feet. "Someone's over there..." he stopped as Kanda stood from the smoke, having been affected by the Akuma virus as he healed his face in front of him. "Yuu?"
"Men, they're all the same." Guardian Mercury muttered, having used the 'Thousand Year Ice Prison' tech on herself. "Can you hurry up and wake up?"
"Your defense..." Allen looked at Tokusa who had used a barrier shield. "You shielded me?"
"If we lose any more 'Apostles', it'll be a disadvantage in battle." Tokusa explained.
"Idiot..." Allen muttered.
"What's with that face?" Tokusa inquired.
"I couldn't protect them." Allen sobbed. "Why can I never protect anyone?"
"You piss me off!" Guardian Mercury snapped, clocking her former junior's head with her Caduceus Staff. "Don't get it over your head. People die in battle."
"And besides," Tokusa added. "The Apostle's power isn't to protect people. Their destiny is to destroy things that cannot be destroyed by others. Protecting the lives around you cannot save the world."
"Tokusa!" Allen called when the Dark Matter starts to react within him.
"It's nothing..." Tokusa assured. Madarao, hurry and come to me...hurry and absorb me, Madarao... "Defense is my field of expertise."
"Allen!" Johnny's voice came over the communicator.
"Johnny?" Allen could not believe his ears. "You survived?"
"Barely." Johnny chuckled.
"A Third threw his shield feathers out in the nick of time." Guardian Mercury realized, looking at Tokusa.
"The Chief and the others of the branch..." Allen pressed.
"Are probably safe too." Johnny guessed.
"I had a dream..." Alma started. "The reason that Yuu betrayed me... it's all clear now. I resented Yuu for betraying me, and only me. Because Yuu was alive, humans didn't mend their ways. Because of Yuu, I've become an Akuma."
"That's why I have to destroy you." Kanda unsheathed Mugen.
Meanwhile, Tokusa had started to mutate, growing monstrous mouths from his missing limbs. "I can't forgive..." the changing Third chanted.
"Shit!" Guardian Mercury cursed, realizing what had happened. "Alma's cells that were used as the Dark Matter's womb is in the Third's body. It synchronized with Alma's Akuma transformation and is running wild!"
"I don't want to..." Tokusa choked. "Madarao! Help me Madarao!" he screamed as his mutation overwhelmed him.
"No use calling for him, Third Exorcist." the Earl of Millennium chuckled. "You are destined to be buried along with Alma Karma. By the hand of an Exorcist."
"What are you saying?" Allen stood up. "Edge End!" he released his attack on instinct. My body... it shifted on its own?
"Walker..." Tokusa moaned.
"Stop, Crown Clown!" Allen ordered. "Stop... I command you! If you don't stop, I'll destroy this body!"
"You will... destroy me?" Tokusa echoed, moving against his will.
"No, Tokusa!" Allen exclaimed.
"Ensui: Third Barrier Dance," Guardian Mercury chanted, as snow started to fall. "Snow Flower Technique!" the snowflakes collided with the mutating Tokusa, instantly growing into magnificent icy flowers. "And stay down!" she snapped.
"Has the Innocence decided we are enemies?" both Alma and Kanda faced each other.
"Taboo: Third Illusion." Kanda dodged Alma's energy blast and charged.
Activating his Innocence as well, Alma met Kanda, blade-to-blade.
"You've become so cool, Yuu." Alma taunted. "How was life? How did it feel to be the only one who survived?"
"The Fourth Illusion." Kanda released his next level, giving himself a huge power boost and enabling him to severely cut Alma through his middle.
"Do you have friends?" Alma inquired as he clashed to the ground.
"Kanda!" Allen retorted. "Idiot! Why are you fighting like that?"
"Come to me, 14th." the Earl of Millennium offered. "If you say you will come with us, then we will put a stop to this show for me. "Leave your Order, Allen Walker." he droned. "If you do, then I'll put an end to these silly killings. You don't believe me, do you? The Akuma's Dark Matter is made from the creator's soul. In other words, it is my child. Allen, if you wish it, I will erase the Dark Matter from within Alma and the Third Exorcists."
"Dark Matter?" Alma chuckled, emerging from the rubble Kanda put him in. "That doesn't matter. Even if I return to my original body, it's not as if my deep grudges will disappear. All I want of for Yuu to die!"
"Kanda!" Allen exclaimed as the Japanese was impaled through the chest by Alma's spear like projectiles from his mouth
"Over there!" Allen moved Zhu over.
"Alma..." Renee voiced, supported by Guardian Mercury.
I'll be waiting... Kanda's mystery woman's voice echoed in his mind as he stood in, the petals of his lotus flower falling, before he found himself in a hallucination of his field of flowers . Forever waiting...
"What's going through your head, Yuu?" Alma taunted.
"No, Alma!" Bak shouted. "You mustn't cause anymore destruction!"
"Earl, answer me this!" Guardian Mercury glared as she encased Allen and herself in a floating water bubble. "Why? Why do you want Allen so much? Even if Allen were the 14th, he's still the enemy who tried to kill you."
"Why?" the Earl of Millennium echoed. "Because I wish to be close. I wish to be close to the 14th."
"Am I the only one creeped out by this?" Guardian Mercury shivered.
"We don't have much time." Allen informed his ex-senior. "We must destroy Alma."
"You don't mean to say you're considering the Earl's words, are you?" Guardian Mercury realized when Allen was implying.
"Nine years ago... I saw Alma's and Kanda's past." Allen confessed. "I want to subdue Alma. But Alma became an Akuma because of his hatred towards the Order and Kanda. There's no way to help him."
"You..." Guardian Mercury blinked. "Get down!" she pulled Allen down, as Tyki attacked the pair, causing the ice Guardian to fall to the ground.
"It seems your heart has decided." Tyki noted. "Come." he held out his hand. "It's not a good idea to keep the Earl waiting."
"You idiot!" Guardian Mercury snapped. "What are you afraid of? Humans all bear weight as they live! It's not an easy thing! To protect or save someone!"
"Don't you dare jump to your own conclusions." Allen glared at Tyki.
"Shut up already!" Tyki fired an energy beam at Guardian Mercury.
"It's not easy, is it?" Allen blocked off the attack with his sword. "I wonder if it's possible for me...? I wonder if I can save him?"
"How the heck should I know?" Guardian Mercury deathpanned.
"It's impossible..." Renee muttered. "There's no way Alma could forgive it."
"Go, Ami-senpai!" Allen ordered as Tyki charged in. "I'll take care of the Noah."
"Stop the two of them, Maris!" Renee hollered. "There's no way that Alma really wants to kill Yuu. Yuu's the only one who can help that child!"
"Fifth Illusion!" Kanda went up the next level, giving himself yet another huge increase in power . "Die Alma!" and cutting off Alma's left arm and right leg.
Alma, however was unfazed and instantly started regenerating his limbs whilst firing a powerful blast at Kanda which blew off his left arm. "Akuma evolve from the frustration felt within their soul, huh?" he chuckled. "It's so much easier than dealing with Innocence. The more I hate, the more powerful I become."
"I'll..." Kanda stood back up, as he, too, started to rapidly regenerate his missing arm
"Hm?" Alma mused. "What?"
"Kill..." Kanda glared and launched an attack at Alma but was blocked by the Ice Guardian.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.