Will give someone enough of an excuse to act as they wish, even if it doesn't result in a net gain of happiness. Should people be vegetarian if they are meant to value the happiness of animals as well? If the animals are not considered part of the society, it brings back into conflict the thought of higher intelligence. More importantly, do plants not feel pain? Tying back into the present conflicting ideals, should the lives of Noah be outweighed by, what exorcists assume to be, all of humanity? Since the Earl's anger is more towards Innocence than humans, would it not be possible, that Innocence destroying itself would be the Utilitarian thing to do?
General Yeegar turns the wet cloth over, carefully placing it over Antoine's forehead.
Green flickers in approval, light glowing in splutters.
If the umbrella could, it was biting its lip.
"Lord Earl will grant some of your group an area to rest next to the final door."
There's a pause as it listens for more orders.
Air sizzling, reality warping and tearing itself apart, the little pumpkin head darting to a side, bowing at the Noah who jumps through.
"Allen!" hands thrown around the young exorcist's neck, his hands coming up in reflex to catch the female figure upon him.
She smiles, a sweet smile, eyes darting to the sick healer.
Crossing the distance in a burst of speed, registering the flinch of the elderly general, she rests a cool palm to Antoine's neck.
The way she murmurs it, half caring and almost worried, "Skinn's friend… he's really burning up," threatens to lower General Yeegar's guard.
Bookman steps forward, "Lady Road."
She takes a step back, as if re-meeting an old friend.
"Bookman… Long-time no see, ah?"
"We suspect blood poisoning. If you are to take some to the final gate, please take Wrathra's acquaintance."
Road's eyes soften, "Skinn's friend is the only reason that Lord Earl is offering, Bookman. Of course I would take him."
Everyone else settles into a contemplative silence, but Antoine's in his master's protective grip, so Road decides.
"I'll take the old man, Skinn's friend and Allen with me. Say bye-bye, you'll see the rest in a while. Unless they don't make it!"
With a childish giggle, she ushers them three into another tear in the air.
Before the tear seals itself, the last thing General Yeegar sees are the concerned eyes of his fellow General.
He knows that look, and while he appreciates the concern, it's a reminder of his weakness, and how he loathes, remembering how far the Noah pushed him.
Remembers his lips parted, hands limp and fight gone, how close he had been to just dying like a snuffed-out candle.
Road contents herself with hanging onto Allen for the first few minutes or so, conjuring out couches and tables for the four of them.
It's a blank room, freshly made, specifically to connect to the top of the dome.
"Pick a couch and lay him down. Even we can't do much for him, Dark Matter poisoning simply isn't reversible."
She extends the blue couch just enough to accommodate the exorcist.
When she hears the thanks the servant of Innocence offers her, she… is surprised.
Given she had tried to kill him, nearly did so, and psychologically mind raped him, she is surprised.
But she replies pleasantly, willing to go along with him.
"You're welcome. I want Skinn's Tiny to be comfortable as well. Should we give him a blanket? Water? A fan?"
Her Allen neglected on the next couch but it's okay, because family is important, and this Exorcist would make Skinn happy.
Pulling all those things out from sealed spaces, watching the General tend to Antoine, on occasion helping, tugging up the blanket, holding out the basin of water.
Green tries his very best.
The moment he brushes Silver Aegis, everyone feels the electric shock.
Antoine's breathing stutters.
Green takes the plunge instead, brushing Road and, "Please Lady Noah please hear me like Skinn does- their Innocence rejects us because of the taint of Dark Matter on us but just linking to you like this hurts Antoine-"
Road shuts the connection, eyes wide.
"You shouldn't be able to do that. You can't do that, you're going to kill yourself and by extension Tiny. I get vaguely what's going on, I'm going to try to get them to accept you."
She breathes slowly, looking the General and Allen.
"He accepted Skinn,
He accepted Skinn as a Noah and doesn't wish to change him.
That's the main problem. Allen you want to save the world. Crown Clown agreed to save the world, one hand for humans, one hand for the akuma. General you wished to save your students and spare everyone else the pain.
Their Innocence agreed with that.
Skinn's Tiny accepted Noah as equal humans, with feelings, thoughts, and ideas. His Innocence is trying to agree, but I believe the Heart has viewed such a thought as a threat. It's causing the General's weapon to try and kill off the darkness. That was our static storm earlier."
In her head, she can hear the fragment of darkness in the healer crying out.
Her Noah cries out at the unfairness of it all-
Ah, Innocence you deny us even understanding-
Allen's gloved hand on Road's shoulder, grip gentle, "Road? What's wrong? I'm gonna accept Antoine. If Crown Clown and I accept Antoine, surely it'll be okay?"
She watches the Exorcists set their hands on Antoine, and the healer's Innocence rise again.
"Heavenly Father, hallowed by thy name. Innocence, I implore thee, judge a man not by his crimes but by his heart, that you grant forgiveness and bequeath mercy a child who has tried to love this world."
Like a host of angels descending, the room's ceiling burst into light.
It was a booming voice that thundered around them, like a collapsing pocket dimension.
While Road struggles, she finds herself immobile, healer and that dark bit pulsing so close by.
Blinking, staring straight at the flat side of a blade – Lord Earl? – no, reversed, Lero's sword form
Broad hilt, traced in black, a cross shape along its length. Following the guard up to a white glove, black sleeve, grey eyes concentrated and teeth gritted.
"A-allen?"
"Road, run. Please."
Chains wrap around her, dragging her out of the way, as that sword, brimming with Innocence is stabbed in her direction.
Fingers dancing, puppeting her movements, dodging every swipe of the not-Lero.
The General calling out to her, "Noah, Allen isn't in control, please, do not be fooled."
She almost wonders, why are you saving me?
The booming voice – "If your left hand is for demons, and your right is for humans, will you not kill the Noah and save the human?"
This time, the blade skims right past Road, and her eyes widen.
Out of her peripheral, Allen's cursed eye activates, scopes spinning wildly.
"Not Tiny!"
She's hopelessly aware of the healer lined directly behind her, someone judged to have sinned.
And movement, chains wrapping around the still unconscious healer, yanking him towards the General.
Road sits limp on the floor, skirt pooling around her legs splayed out.
The sword, and Allen, do not slow in their chase.
General Yeegar thrusts himself in front of the accommodator, hands apart, blocking.
Allen is shouting by now, giving his blade a harsh yank but his Innocence never pauses, trying to complete its motion.
Road doesn't move, not for a lack of ability, but rather fear.
His Innocence is out of control.
If she just moves, it'll turn on her and she'll d i e.
Allen givens it a final, one handed tug to change directions, and the General uses himself as a meat shield.
It's for naught, for naught, Innocence cuts through everything, Road attempts to close her eyes, but with unfolding horror and just a tinge of sadism, she watches.
Everything has gone quiet, because there's no way that elderly man will survive a broadsword put through his stomach, severing his spine, nor will Allen take his abdomen being ripped open in his Innocence's quest to destroy.
It's sickly green glow around the pair, laboured breathing as Skinn's Tiny half wakes, leaning on his master's back.
Strung up between the wall and the sword hilt, Allen, the General and the healer.
There's no blood?
She can no longer feel the little shard of darkness in Tiny.
Unbidden tears slide down Road's cheek.
Shocked silence at their survival, complimented by the Noah in her crying state.
She wipes those stray tears aside, grabbing the three of them, tossing them through a space rip into another room, "Since Tiny has had his dark matter purified, I'm sure I don't have a reason to stay. Have a new room, our compliments."
After, she jumps through another portal to find the Earl, in need of some comfort and guidance.
Much in the same way, everyone else is slightly emotional.
"It's the Noah in you that is sad. Sad at a part of it being destroyed."
Green hasn't the chance to thank the Lady Noah.
Antoine thanks General Yeegar and Allen apologising for being a burden, voice wispy.
He sends his Innocence off to rest, and the three of them are alone, in an empty, white room.
Subconsciously, because of human nature to protect one's back, they're huddled in a corner, backs up to the wall.
It's a sudden lull, their hearts still racing from implications and mind numbing fear, in Antoine's case, post fever haze.
Physically, they're unharmed.
Allen only had a flash of shock as Crown Clown pierced him, General Yeegar distinctively felt his insides being shredded.
Green already cleared them as free of internal wounds.
Being placed like this, in a white room, they could go insane.
The General shivers at such a thought.
Green hums, settling around Antoine like a cloak.
Crown Clown seems to ask for its user's forgiveness, but Allen's too disconnected right not to think of it, fingers tapping along the claw, stroking its edges with a tenderness but caution.
Silver Aegis has long since receded.
That's the main difference between the Generals and exorcists like Kanda and Allen, people like Antoine.
For them, this is a war they'll give their lives for, and their Innocence are only tools.
Klaud might care for Lau Shimin, but her monkey itself was her pet, before it became her Innocence.
There's this lack of emotional attachment between the Innocence piece and their wielder because sentience was never required of it.
Synchronisation rate is just a measure of compatibility. Users, proving their power and ability to kill akuma would have been validated by the Heart, and cause their rate to increase.
It's far from companionship.
"Shishou!"
Antoine bolts awake at the sudden call, and Green is snarling, forming a hideous spectre, holding in a chokehold a bunch of air.
Clearly, there's someone there, and with a momentary flash, Antoine can see.
"Red hair..?"
The invisible cloak falls, and General Yeegar frowns as Allen cycles through various emotions.
A smirk on a roguish face, Green, what's wrong?, wire rimmed glasses, and half a face covered by a mask.
"Mm, I like them feisty."
"This man enslaves the dead by manipulating their human form. He feels worse than the Earl. Miserable even."
Antoine calls off Green, allowing the male's remark to fly over his head.
No use him being overly sensitive lest Green actually kill the man.
It's another General, in black and gold after all.
"Master..." Allen's voice trails off in clear obedience, warnings and questions all mixed.
Left black gloved hand pushing him head first, out of the way, large strides clearing the span of the room.
"Wasn't talking to you idiot disciple."
Antoine reaches out to steady Allen, now less than amused by the male who managed to enter the Lady Noah's room, Green reforming this time as a figure taller than the red head.
Right hand extended to him, a charming smile on the man's lips.
"Cross, General Marian Cross. Call me Marian. You are?"
Green dips his head in acknowledgement, tendril contacting the holster on the Exorcist's leg.
"I am Green."
Hand extending in reply, expecting a handshake. "Antoine of Belgium, Green is my Innocence."
His glove is cool to the touch, but when his lips brush the back of Antoine's hand, Antoine is mortified.
General Yeegar seizes General Cross' hand, firmly placing it back down.
"Antoine is male, I ask that you refrain from making such advances towards my disciple, General Cross."
While affronted, the healer cannot deny that by French customs, it's the classic gentlemen's greeting.
Rather than take the greeting out of context, he takes it in stride, gently taking the hand from General Yeegar's grasp.
Lips pressed politely to General Cross' knuckles, "C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, Marian."
The glove is cold beneath his lips, but the reply is warm, an almost chocolate chuckle.
"Tout le plaisir est pour moi, Antoine."
The other two exorcists, do, know what is going on. Their French is up to par to follow simple greetings.
Green, returns to Antoine, contemplatively silent, a contrast to his near hostility before.
This is a man, who to a certain extent objectifies every person around him.
It shows in his manhandling of Allen, and his opening move being to flummox and throw one off, his casualness within enemy territory.
But General Cross is a man who has seen the darker and sadder side of humanity. The side humans try very hard to deny, and call them evil and inhumane, but it's still human.
If one were not so perfectly fooled by the mask of fine wine and beauty he sought to identify himself as, they would be able to see the guilt in his eyes when he regards Allen Walker.
Antoine by passes all these things by ignoring them.
Allen accepts his master as his master wishes to be seen.
Kevin Yeegar can only see the shade of a man who kills demons like him, but has lost his love for humanity in the process.
"Anyway, I came here for a reason. We need to stop the Ark's download, to prevent the full formation of the new Ark. And we definitely need to keep our hold on the Akuma Egg. I propose, we just steal the whole Ark. After all, we still have Exorcists in here, no?"
He says it simply, as if it is but a chore, Allen almost forgets his Master's strength.
Timcanpy takes this most inopportune moment to pop out of his hood, divebombing his creator's crimson mane, almost drowning in the red threads.
Cross nimbly picks the golem out of his hair, scratching the underside of its round body.
"Controlling the Ark is your job, take Timcanpy and Antoine."
Controlling the ark is not a flippant thought, and it's clear that General Yeegar thinks the same.
In typical Master-fashion, he rips a hole like Road did, tossing them both, plus Tim into it. It crumbles in on itself.
"Tim has the notes, play the piano."
While he could quite sarcastically appreciate the quiet, he can't help but bite out unhappily, "Well Master, if I have to play the piano to save us all, I'm sorry, but then we're going to die."
Allen notes the wry side glance Healer Antoine gives him.
Timcanpy bumps into the side of his head, nudging him towards the piano.
They walk past multiple mirrors, each clearer than the last, and yet all they see are the reflections of the same, incapable people.
Little gold golem plonking himself on the top of the grand, white piano.
Jaw unlocking, projecting a rotating, circular script.
And those symbols are dizzyingly familiar, his stomach churns.
When he staggers, heart aching, Antoine is there to catch him, seat him down on the piano bench.
"Where do you feel discomfort, Allen?"
The male's Innocence is out, wrapping him in a flash, warmth like a tight hug.
Looking back, slightly fearful, perhaps even repulsed by Tim, he wonders if it's betrayal that he's feeling.
Stupidly, his voice shakes.
"N-nothing. I'm fine… It's just that I-I can't play the piano."
Tim vibrates insistently where he's perched.
Antoine looks questioningly at him.
"Can't you read the score that the little gold robot is showing?"
He nods jerkily, replying that he can, but that, "I don't understand how these notes are here. T-they were Mana and mine. Our secret code. I know the words and the tune, I know those symbols by heart, but I was never told that it was a piano piece. I-it shouldn't be here."
Claw scraping an ebony key, feeling a shudder run through him, mind twisting in and over itself in how to 'control the Arc'.
Allen finds himself being gently pushed out of the way.
"Read me the notes, Allen, I will play."
Just momentary hesitation in sharing what had been a secret, but the realisation that others have in their possession the code shakes him.
"Background, A sharp, the one just below middle C, F and A from the middle C set."
Antoine positions his fingers, pressing down.
"Then melody, from the C5 set, A-G-A, up a scale to D, then down to A-G-A, again D."
Find the dots and dashes, strokes relating to piano scale, and music sheets, playing slowly, for Allen to check if the sound is correct.
At the affirming nod, Antoine then asks.
"I should then be repeating it again? The whole thing? Because the symbols repeat identically."
Going up-up-up, then left hand coming in, a key with each syllable.
"Soshite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuita…"
There's a quiver in his voice, reciting the words Mana taught him, the piano coaxing him to sing the words in tune.
Dots, dashes, and slashes.
Sharp-key-key-key, left, key by key right.
Given the code to the notes, Antoine races to play the notes right, slowing as Allen's singing slows, speeding up in time.
Humming along softly, marvelling at the gentle song its composer has made. Barring the artistic code, given the Japanese Allen sings in, it's a given that there's some hidden meaning to the song.
After a while, as Allen's confidence grows, and he sings louder still, Antoine allows the sheets to move him, side reading without giving his rusty skills a chance to create doubt.
As he played, and Allen sang, Green wrapping around them, their eyes met.
Move, Ark.
"Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru-" Allen chokes at this point, voice cracking.
With the little Japanese he knows, Antoine too feels his eyes begin to water.
"I will pray. I will continue to pray."
The piano comes to a halt in a jarring splendour of keys.
General Marian's voice crackles through the gold golem.
"Control the Ark with your playing, Allen! Concentrate on your wish!"
And they begin again.
Move, please, -coupled with- my friends, give me my friends, - Ark! -
"Douka konoko ni ai wo… Tsunaida te ni kisu wo…"
That the child would eventually gain the love he so desired, that lovers bound by a kiss would never part.
They hoped, from deep in their hearts.
Antoine finished off, dragging out the notes. The same notes they began on, they ended with.
At the end of it all, the Ark is in the Order's possession, as is the Akuma Egg.
Allen demands answers from his Master, but receives only more questions.
General Cross is left with the mind numbing realisation that if Allen is not the Player, he cannot be host of the 14th.
Where does that leave Antoine?
Someone the Noah favour.
Someone the Noah sought to keep alive.
Someone capable of reading the code with Allen's aid, and play the 14th 's piano, and controlling the Arc with Allen.
General Yeegar is left with the soul rending fear of losing a student who has yet to even become an Exorcist.
Whoosh. It's been a whole month since I last updated. (It's also, coincidentally the 2 month-versary of tToU)
What have I just done...? I've set Antoine up for a fall.
tToU will be wrapped up in 1 – 3 chapters' time :)
I won't be rambling much here this time, because I'd like to think this chapter is far more straight forward.
When Crown Clown pierced through Allen, General Yeegar and Antoine, it erased the 14th within Allen, as well as the fragment of (presumably) Skinn in Antoine.
Therefore, Allen is not on the way to Noah-hood, and he cannot play the piano.
Antoine can sight read the notes as a pianist would sight read sheet music, because Allen effectively gave him the key to what each symbol meant.
Allen on the other hand, only learnt a specific shape to a word and a sound, and so, cannot play the piano.
Translations of the French dialogue between General Cross and Antoine, would be
Antoine: It's a pleasure to meet you, Marian.
Cross: The pleasure is all mine, Antoine.
Simple enough to guess the meaning of!
The romaji closer to the end are simply the lyrics of the 14th 's Melody.
Lastly, this is so long (twice the normal) because splitting it felt weird.
Yours,
Kayo.
