Disclaimer: Don't own anything


What Once Was
11th night: Mission-Japan

Breakfast was the usual routine, the short line going up to Jerry's window, Finders and exorcists filling the many tables of the cafeteria--which had somehow been cleaned and placed back in proper order overnight--Kanda eating by himself, Linali, Lavi, and Allen, along with his tremendously large amount of food, eating together and having quite a good time. The only difference was the presence of Karen in the room, though no one was bothered by her. After getting her meal from Jerry, she walked absent-mindedly toward an empty table. That is, until a certain redheaded Bookman apprentice called her over.

She placed a small smile on her face and headed towards the threesome. It didn't surprise her in the least when she saw how much food Allen was stuffing into his mouth. However, seeing that smile of his relieved her, though she didn't let anything of the sort express itself on her face.

"Allen, you shouldn't eat so fast," she told him, sitting down next to Lavi. "You might choke." Sometimes, it even surprised her how much her voice sounded so convincing, unknowingly deceiving those around her. But then again, that was what she intended.

"Oh, don't worry about Allen-kun, Ka-chan. He's eaten much more than this at once," Linali told her. She decided that she would ask the raven-haired girl about the previous night another time, but for what reason she didn't know. That song of hers, it sounded so sad, yet so soothing at the same time, Linali just couldn't bring herself to interrogate the other girl about her past, about her connection to Allen. But then again, if Karen and Allen knew each other when they were younger, why didn't the two of them recognize each other when Lavi first introduced them to her? And wouldn't Lavi know?

The Chinese took a glance at Lavi and saw nothing but the usual smile of his, even if it seemed to be wider than usual. She knew the reason for that, and her eyes wandered to Karen. She was smiling and interacting with them all as if nothing happened the previous night. It occurred to Linali that Karen was someone who could hide things easily, if she wanted. After all, not even her eyes looked swollen, but Linali swore she heard sobs coming from the room, and they weren't Allen's.

"Linali?"

Lavi's concerned voice brought her back to reality. "Huh?" Linali sweat dropped as all pairs of eyes were on her, curious and somewhat worried at the same time.

"You okay, Linali?" the redhead asked again.

The girl smiled sheepishly and nodded, once again returning to her neglected food, trying to cast all thoughts of the previous night into the back of her mind and somehow managed with a bit of willpower. She knew, though, that they would come back to talk to her before she knew it. But she was okay with that. She would much rather talk to Karen about it in private, when the boys were nowhere within earshot. A pang of guilt rang through her as she realized that she didn't completely trust Karen, at least not yet.

Lavi raised his brows, "You sure? Looks like you got something' on your mind."

Inwardly, Linali grimaced. Why was he always so observational when he didn't need to be? Then again, Lavi is a Bookman apprentice.

"I'm sure." A sweet and sincere smile.

Karen, though no one had even mentioned it at all, had a gut feeling that whatever was bothering Linali was because of her. She thought that she heard someone in the hallway last night, but didn't think anything of it until now. Why, why, didn't she follow her instincts and check outside? But then again, she couldn't bring herself to leave Allen's side, she knew that for sure.

Keeping a kind smile on her face, she allowed her mind to wander back to the previous night. She had done what she had done because she didn't want anything like that to happen to him anymore. But deep inside she knew that it wouldn't work like that. She mentally sighed and yelled at herself. If he had woken up, he would've remembered, she was sure. And although a part of her did want him to remember, the part of her that didn't want him to was stronger. Karen was sure, she did not want Allen Walker to remember his past connections with her.

The rest of breakfast went on as usual, the chatter and mild noise reigned dominant throughout the entire refectory. Just as the exorcists were done with their meal, and simply watching Allen finish his last dozens plates or so, River came through the door, a somewhat serious and disturbed expression upon his face.

He came to their table and stood at the end of it, closest where the exorcists sat. "Allen, Linali, Lavi, Karen. Come to Komui's office as soon as you're finished." With that, he went over to another table and told the same message to Miranda and Krory. Finally, on his way back out the door, he stopped by Kanda's lonesome table and told him the same.

Lavi watched River as he did so, blinking curiously. "Komui needs a mission that involves so many exorcists? Something must be up…" The others silently agreed before getting up and heading towards the head supervisor's cluttered office, as soon as Allen stuffed his last dumpling in his mouth. As they passed, Miranda and Krory joined them, followed by Kanda. A procession of exorcists toward a single room. Everyone could already tell that something was going to happen.

xxx

Komui, though usually sleeping and procrastinating, stared wearily at two sets of documents on the table in front of him. He closed his eyes, his thumbs gently rubbing circles upon his temple. The curtain certainly is drawn, and the main play begins, just as the Earl has said. One mission, he was sure, he could just have two exorcists perform without much trouble, hopefully. On the other, he was sure that that the number of exorcists had to be increased, at least for this one. He sighed.

Again, he would sending his little sister into battle. Again, it might be the last time that he would ever see her. Again, he took that chance. Again, he sent her with a smile and hope that she would return. Again, he could already feel the regretful sensation occurring in him, and he didn't even send her out yet. He knew that this was going to be a dangerous mission for them all.

Oh, how right he was.

Komui lifted his head as the door to his office swung open and seven exorcists filed in, the reflection of his glasses covering his eyes.

"Komui-niisan? Why did you call so many of us here..?" Linali asked, settling down into a spot on the couch in front of his desk, careful not to sit or step on any of the mounds upon mounds of paper in his office.

Komui sighed and waited until all of God's Messengers took a seat. He stood and went around his desk, leaning back against it as he looked at them all.

"As you can probably tell, there is a new mission for all of you, two missions actually. Miranda, Krory, you are to head to France and any of its neighboring countries thereafter. A significant amount of Akuma have been appearing there, and I want you to investigate why, not to mention look to see if any Innocence is the cause for their appearance. I shall tell you about the others' mission once you are done with the one you are assigned. You are to leave immediately."

He handed them each a folder. The two exorcists nodded and stood, turning to leave their supervisor's office and prepare for their mission. Both worrisome exorcists had the same thought in their minds: what mission was so dangerous that he needed five exorcists to accomplish? They left with the hope that their friends shall be safe on their journey.

Turning his attention back to the remaining exorcists, they couldn't help but notice Komui's grim expression. This mission seemed to be really dangerous, indeed.

"Komui-niisan?" Linali asked worriedly. "Daijoubu dessu ka?(1)"

Her older brother nodded and returned to his previous spot on his desk. He clicked his fingers and the lights turned off. Projecting above his desk, on the screen, was a map of Japan.

"Your mission," he began, "is to go to Japan and retrieve a piece of Innocence found there."

"If that's all, then not everyone here needs to come along," Kanda told him, icily. "Why send us all?"

Komui said nothing, and instead the screen changed from Japan, to the picture of a girl, not much older than Kanda or Lavi. She had long, dark blue hair, dark enough to be black, and dark, soothing eyes. She wore a lavishly decorated kimono, half her hair up in a taka shimada(2), some kanzashi(3) dangling down her hairand the over half cascading down her back.

"Sakura-hime!"

Kanda's sudden burst surprised everyone, with the exception of Komui. He was even out of his seat, nothing but incredulity shown on his usually unemotional face, then he turned to Komui, angry. "What's the meaning of this, Komui!? Why is a picture of what Sakura-hime would've looked like around this time up there--?"

"Let me explain, Kanda," Komui answered as calmly as he could, much to the surprise of everyone else in the room. Usually, an angry Kanda would've shot Komui clear onto the other side of the tower without so much as a second glare. However, this time, when Kanda was clearly angry, Komui stood his ground.

Kanda relented and sat back down, anger, surprise, and disbelief, all shown on his face. It truly was a sight to see, Kanda, of all people, showing so many emotions--and at once too. The moment would've been comical if not for the ever growing tension within the cluttered room.

"As Kanda pointed out, this is Princess Sakura, daughter of the late Lord Masa, heir to the lands of Inuyama(4)," Komui started.

"That doesn't explain why a picture of what she would've looked like is up there, Komui." Kanda interjected, growling. A few fingers twitched, a hand on the top of Mugen's hilt.

"I was getting to that," Komui said, hurriedly, "Anyway, Princess Sakura was previously thought of as dead, due to the Earl's invasion of Japan so many years ago. It's only been recently that one of our supporters, which was also one of Princess Sakura's guards, contacted us and reported that the princess is alive and safe--for now. The number of Akuma have been increasing tremendously around the areas of Japan, and soon, according to him, the Akuma and the Earl will find their safe haven. Your mission is to not only find and retrieve any remaining Innocence the Earl might've missed, but to also bring Princess Sakura here, safe and sound."

xxx

"Without letting the Earl know you are there."

Allen sighed as he remembered the last bits of information Komui gave to them. They were going to Japan, find an innocence that may not even be there, and to find, protect, and bring this Princess Sakura back to headquarters with them. And on top of that, Kanda sure seemed to know this girl.

Allen's mind wandered as to the many infinite number of possibilities that Kanda knew her, especially since when her picture came up, so many emotions that he was sure Kanda didn't even have, appeared; simply because of this girl's picture. She must really be someone important for Kanda to--

"Oi, Moyashi, stop staring into space like that. You're drooling."

Immediately, Allen's hand went up to his mouth to wipe the unsightly sticky liquid off, only to find that nothing was there. A vein appeared on Allen's head and he glared at Kanda's smirking form.

"That was uncalled for, Kanda!"

"Then don't stare at nothing like you're actually thinking and using your brain, since you obviously don't have one."

"Hey!"

"Now, now, calm down you two…"

A somewhat hesitant Lavi was the one who broke up another one of the Japanese and British exorcists' meaningless fights.

In order to get to Japan in the quickest way possible, Komui had told them to take a boat there. A Finder would be waiting for them at the underground waterway to escort them to the docks. From there, he would accompany them to the islands then sail back. A Finder would most likely get in the way in this mission.

It had only been a few hours and already the two of them were going at it, like cat and dog. Or maybe in this case a kitten and dog. Always bickering, even over the most minute of matters, as like in this case. It was amazing in itself that the two of them hadn't killed each other at this point in time. And even more amazing that Kanda hadn't killed Allen, even after all the times that the two had been paired together on missions. So many opportunities to kill the younger boy and yet on every mission they both came back, safe and sound, if not badly injured and maybe near death, but nonetheless alive.

And to think, five days of their bickering over seas. It would be a miracle if all exorcists survived just that.

xxx

"Just…a few more hours…just a few more…"

"Stop complaining, Moyashi."

"Why don't you just mind your own business!"

"Ensuring that the mission goes accordingly is my business!"

"That's not the point!"

"Yes, it is, you dumbass!"

"Hey! You don't need to go and call me dumbass, you prom princess!"

"What'd you say?!"

"You heard me! Why don't you just go somewhere else and tend to that shiny hair of yours! I swear your hair's too pretty to be a guy's!"

"What, are you jealous of my hair, Moyashi?"

"Stop calling me that, you nitwit!"

"It's not my fault that you are!"

A three-fold sigh occurred. No matter how obscure the reason, a yelling contest would ensure for a while, then the drawing of Mugen, then the destruction of the surrounding deck, then one of them would have to break them up. They all sighed simultaneously again as they heard the katana being drawn.

"Why don't you just die, Moyashi!?"

"Aaahh! Watch where you're pointing that thing, Kanda! H-hey!"

A shriek. A crash. A cloud of debris. A yell.

Linali sighed once more. "Someone break them up…"

"Why don't you?" Lavi asked, his head propped up against his arms, resting against the rails.

"I broke them up yesterday. Ka-chan?"

"Fine…" the dark-haired girl mumbled some incoherent words, which both Lavi and Linali were sure were curses, and went over to the area of destruction. "Okay, you two, calm down. You're gonna break the ship." She quickly ducked as something silver came out from the clouds and surprisingly caught the blade securely in-between her thumb and forefinger. Though of course, if Mugen had innocence activated, anyone highly doubted if Karen would have those digits anymore. But of course, no innocence was present, and Mugen was just a blade. A sharp, deadly, pointy blade.

A whistle came from Lavi's lips as he saw what just transpired. "Geez…only Hana-chan would have enough guts to catch Mugen like that."

Linali could only nod as she watch on with the same progressive amazement as Lavi.

"Come on you guys, you've done enough damage for one day," Karen told them as their forms were revealed, the dust clouds parting ways, only to reveal Allen slunk down on the floor, pressed right up against the railing, Kanda standing right over him. The Japanese could've, would've, beheaded the white haired exorcist with his katana if not for Karen holding his blade in place. "Now just calm down, Yuu-chan…"

"Stop calling me by my first name, already," Kanda retorted as he withdrew his blade. Casting a glare at both Allen and Karen, and even to Linali and Lavi, the Japanese left towards his room.

"Looks like Kanda just gets more and more irritable the closer we get to Japan," Linali mused, helping the shaken Allen to his feet. You'd think one would be used to this kind of thing if it occurred for four days straight, and Allen would've agreed if it wasn't him usually at the pointed end of Mugen's blade.

"You're telling me…" Allen mumbled, dusting himself off. He muttered a few thing under his breath, hoping that something would befall the foul tempered exorcist on his way to his room. A yell and a curse was soon heard from the direction in which Kanda was headed and Allen couldn't help but snicker. Linali and Lavi raised brows at Allen's reaction but nonetheless didn't say anything.

A very scared looking Dill ran towards them, from the direction where they heard the recent commotion. "S-save me!" he gasped, hiding behind Karen. He practically yelped as a particular katana wielder came back into view.

"Yuu-chaaaan…" Karen whined. "Stop picking on the poor Finder…" But even as she spoke, she bit her lower lip, trying not to laugh at the sight of the usually groomed swordsman. While he was just fine a moment ago, what looked like smoldering hot porridge was all over the eighteen year old. The others, however, wasn't so much in control of their emotions as Karen was.

Simultaneously, Linali, Allen, and Lavi, all burst out laughing, earning a death glare from Kanda. "You…are…dead!!!" Kanda roared as he charged towards the three, Mugen drawn, pointed straight at them. Basically, a game of cat and mice ensued, all going in a circle around Karen and Dill, both of whom were just standing there, a sweat drop on their heads.

All movement ceased with the single statement from the finder:

"Japan, dead ahead!"

xxx

"That was easy enough," Linali murmured, looking out from the bushes they hid in. They all had gotten past the few level one Akuma that surrounded the docking point, and they had successfully gotten past the few level twos that wandered about in the area. "The question now is…where do we go?"

"Komui-san said something about that guardian and supporter coming to get us, but I haven't seen anyone," Lavi said, he too looking around.

"Ano…Lavi? Linali? Do you think it's that person right over there?" Allen pointed to a middle-aged man peering out from one of the trees opposite them. He had short dark hair and dark eyes, the clothes he wore seemed to be those belonging to the first hand man (or main guardian, choose your pick) of a noble house.

"I don't know, may--hey! Yuu-chan, get back here!" Lavi hissed.

Kanda did not listen. Instead, he merely looked around cautiously for any signs of Akuma and crossed the space between the exorcists and the male. Sighing, the others followed.

"Ah, exorcist-sama! You've finally arrived!" the man exclaimed, bowing in respect, even when Kanda and the others weren't even close enough to get a good look at. "We've been waiting, I was so worried that the earl or any Akuma captured you." He said all while still bowing. Allen, Linali, Karen, and Lavi blinked at each other, then to the still bowing man. What was there to say?

"Fujitaka," Kanda finally said, his voice unemotional and uncaring, just like it usually was. However, Karen noticed there was something in his voice. He knew this person, and he was on very good terms with him, without using honorifics with the man.

As soon as the man's name was spoken, his head shot up and only then did he finally took in the features of the exorcists that were sent. And the first person he laid eyes on, was Kanda.

"Kanda-oujiisama!!" Fujitaka cried and immediately bowed once more before hugging the dark-haired exorcist.

It was safe--or maybe it wasn't--to say that the other exorcists were more than surprised. Someone actually hugging the Great Kanda Yuu? And even more surprising was that Kanda hadn't tried to kill the man yet. Not to mention that they all wondered what Fujitaka had called Kanda. Everyone except Karen and Lavi, that is.

'Prince Kanda…?'

:::End 11th night:::

Aaahhh I'm sorry! It got really crappy at the end…I'm sorry! I couldn't think of anything!! Please forgive meee!!

(1) Daijoubu dessu ka?: Are you alright?

(2) Taka Shimada: A hairstyle that geisha in Japan have used since the 17th Century. It is a high chignon (or bun) in the hair.

(3) kanzashi: hair ornaments worn by geisha and women attending important ceremonies. They come in many different styles, but the bira bira style, which is an ornament with dangling flowers made of silk, metal, or tortoise shell, is what Sakura is wearing

(4) Inuyama: Inuyama, literally meaning "dog mountain", is a city in Aichi Prefecture, located in the Chubu Region(also known as the Tokai Region, southern part of Japan), not far from Nagoya, on the island of Honshuu. It is most famous for its small but beautiful castle and nearby Meiji Mura, an open air museum about the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Sakura and her family were the reigning family here, hence she is called a 'princess'.