Purity,
Disclaimer:
AN. Yay I got this up before winter semester started, now I have to go to sleep I have classes tommor... later on today! Thanks again for the reviews, sorry it took so long!
Tenth Book: Spiritual Evolution (Part two)
Cross leaned back into the chair and lifted his glass to his mouth. He took a long slow drink and then held the glass to his lips as he slowly organized how he was going to approach the conversation. Kagome placed Timcampy in a covenant hollowed knot in one of the larger roots of the apple tree. Then settled back against the bark, raising and holding one knee to her chest as she patiently waited for Cross to begin. She shivered in the cold.
"Before I start, I have one question" Cross lowered his glass and turned to look at Kagome.
Kagome didn't raise her head from where it was leaning against her leg, just glanced at the man out of the corner of her eyes. "Yes?"
"My idio ... My Apprentice..." He started before stopping for a moment. His face had an uncharacteristic look of concentration as he frowned into his glass. There were minute shadows forming from the wrinkles across his brow. "His innocence has evolved as well." The shadows got deeper as he looked up.
Kagome raised her head to look fully at Cross. Slowly nodding her head, she agreed, "I believe so."
Cross nodded twice before taking another drink. "I thought so. The Crown Clown was too..." He trailed off and started to wave the hand holding his wine in small circles as he tried to think of the correct word for what he was trying to express. "Different... as if it had a mind of its own."
Kagome nodded absentmindedly. "From the stories that Allen told me while we were traveling, I have to agree. Parasite types... their innocence have a deeper connection then that of equipment types but they still only react to the user's conscious thoughts." Kagome rubbed her hands together trying to warm them as the temperature started to get noticeably colder.
"With the Crown Clown," Kagome continued. "Allen mentioned a couple times when it would defend him against attacking akuma that he had no idea about." Kagome stuffed her hands into the sleeves of her coat and hunched closer to the tree. "That's not normal, The Crown Clown isn't acting like an extension of Allen and it`s become more of a..." Kagome struggled to find the right word.
"Guardian Angel" Supplied Cross. Kagome, a little surprised at Cross's interpretation, stared up at him with amused eyes.
"Cross... That was almost..." Kagome's smile grew as she tried to hold in what she knew had to be a very girlish giggle. "Romantic!" Kagome snorted and hid her face into her shoulder.
Cross turned to her from where he had been staring off into the distance with an affronted look upon his face. "I'll have you know that I can be very romantic" He sniffed as he brushed imaginary dust off his right lapel.
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "You, me, tonight, your place, is in no why romantic Cross"
Cross snorted into his wineglass and couldn't keep from forming a slight smile. To cover up his amusement he waggled his eyebrows at the girl cuddled up against the tree and said. "If said in the right way...."
"No Cross," Kagome shook her head, holding one hand up as if to physically block any more on coming words, though the large smile on her face and the small humorous shakes of her shoulders were enough to satisfy Cross. "No." Allowing one last giggle Kagome took in a large breath and calmed down. "Let's get back on topic shall we? You had a theory on how the innocence were evolving."
"That I do" Cross picked back up his smoke and threw his right leg over the arm of the chair, careful not to bump the table holding the wine. Angling his body towards Kagome and making sure she had a very good view of his crotch, he began.
"The only way to make an object more powerful is to add something to it. When Allen was fighting the third level akuma in the Asian headquarters, he gave everything he had. It was the same with the battle Lenalee had on the ocean. Fighting until the end, knowing full well that they were going to die and even that might not be enough to stop the akuma."
Cross swung his leg back in front of him and lent forward. His arms were on his knees and the ashes of the forgotten cigarette were spreading on the carpet. "Both Allen and Lenalee were willing to give everything to end those third level akumas. Willing to sacrifice anything, their strength, their very lives, even..."
Cross trailed off in a dramatic pause, His eyes staring intensely at the women sitting in front of him. Kagome, herself had her face pressed up towards her knees as she held her breath for Cross's next words.
"Their very souls"
Kagome slowly raised her head until she was looking Cross straight in the eye. Her face held a small knowing smile, and she finished Cross's explanation.
"Or at least part of them"
~*~
"Allen!" Lavi's voice echoed down the furbished corridors of the Black Order's new headquarters "Lenalee!"
The two standing outside Kagome's room turned to look at the hyper Bookman in training as he sprinted down the hall towards them and Link. They had just finished knocking on the door to Kagome's room but had gotten no answer and seeing Lavi return, alone, from where he was checking out the hospital ward and Kagome's new office did not raise their sprits.
Lavi didn't bother to slow down his dash as he neared the three instead he grabbed a surprised Allen to try and stop his momentum. The resulting chaos ended with both of them falling to a heap on the cold stone floor. Not one to sweat the small stuff, Lavi quickly jumped to his feet and ignored Allen's exaggerated moans of pain.
"No luck here either?" He asked
Lenalee could only shake her head as she helped pull the poor English boy up off the floor, she didn't dare open her mouth and risk bursting into laughter.
Lavi made a scene of humming and hawing, his right hand stroking an imaginary beard for the younger exorcists. Turning to face down the hall, Lavi hid the hardened bookman glint in his eye. Physically he maintained his humorous charade but mentally he was quickly recalling and categorizing all the information he had gained on the Order's newest member. From her dubious and abbreviated history, her all too accepting actions of the Order and the war, not to mention her odd meeting with his mentor who was uncharacteristically silent about her when asked.
Rouvelier's suspicion of her only cemented the fact that there was something off about Kagome. As much of an ass that he is, Rouvelier was no fool and Lavi was forced to acknowledge that fact. Link paying a bit more attention to anything pertaining to Kagome didn't hurt either. Lavi took a quick glance at the man from the corner of his eye.
"Maybe she's in the gardens, that where she was the last time we couldn't find her." Lavi said as he turned back around, eye once again yielding a playful and mischievous shine.
Lenalee, nodding and smiling at Lavi's conclusion swiftly took charge. "Okay, let's go!" Spinning on her toes, she led the boys down the hall.
~*~
Cross sat back into the chair and raised his cigarette to his lips. His attempt to inhale his lovely nicotine was thwarted, however as the smoke had burnt out in the conversation. Flicking the finished butt across room, Cross reached one hand over to the table and fumbled for a new smoke. After finally getting one and lighting it, he threw the used match to join the old smoke on the floor and turn to face an unamused Kagome.
"So... we have the same theory" Cross started.
"Seem so. I can't test it without bring too much attention to myself. God knows inspector Rouvelier already doesn't like me" Kagome rolled her eyes.
A yawn forced itself from Kagome's lips. She brought her hand to cover it and arched her back to give a complementary stretch. She settled down against the bark and rubbed her upper arm tying to ward off the chill of the night air. She looked back up to the man, a question in her eyes, "What made you think that one had to give up part of their soul to evolve one's innocence?"
Cross took both a drink and a long drag before he answered. "You told me a long time ago that innocence was a crystallization of holy powers that could be used by exorcists because it was given physical form though the original users sacrificed soul. The most likely way to evolve innocence was to give it more of one of those two things and since neither Allen nor Lenalee have powers like you do, the only logical conclusion was that they had sacrificed part of their soul."
Cross took another drink draining his glass. "I also knew that one can lose small parts of their soul without suffering, you yourself had a large part of your soul stolen from you in your teenage years by Kikyo."
Kagome nodded. Everything that Cross had said matched what she, herself believed... except for one little thing. Kagome smirked at the smug general.
"Your plan has a flaw though Cross" Cross raised an eyebrow in question. "There are currently three people who have their innocence evolved. Your theory only explains Allen and Lenalee but how do you explain yourself? "
"Easy!" Cross stated with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I had the other part of the formula" He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Shikon. "I had this to evolve it for me. Your Holy Powers" Cross stressed, "were used in abundance, the innocence must have absorbed some and evolved." He placed the jewel back into his pocket and bent over to refill his glass.
"You have an answer for everything don't you?" Kagome stated with a smile.
Cross lifted his glass and also grinned. "Cheers"
~*~
Allen peered into the night trying to make out any figures in the dark silent garden. The cool breeze of a cold spring night swept past him and even with his position just in the doorway with the warm air of the building wafting behind him was not enough to stop a tiny shiver.
Lavi leaned over his right shoulder "You see anyone?" He whispered.
"No" Allen answered also keeping his voice unnecessary low.
"Well then" Lavi said, standing straight, "We'll just have to go out and look for her."
Lavi took a deep breath and brought his hands up to cup is mouth. "Kagome!.. Are you out there?" He yelled ignoring the fact that Allen's ears were right beside him.
No response was heard, not that Allen could hear one if there was. Allen turned to tell Lenalee that she should stay there and keep out of the cold before stepping off the steps and onto the grass.
Lavi was already a ways ahead so Allen had to run too get caught up to the energetic redhead. Together they began to search.
~*~
"How do you like the Order?" Cross asked as he expertly screwed the opener into the wine cork, the last bottle having been polished off moments ago.
Kagome gave a soft smile. "Its fine, the people are very nice. Well except for a noticeable few." Kagome mumbled the last part under her breath. "I was worried about there being a bookman here."
"That's right!" Cross exclaimed and hurried to finish pouring himself his glass. Setting the bottle down, he returned to the conversation. "You're a... oh what's it called..." Cross fumbled the cigarette with his lips and snapped the fingers of his unoccupied hand in rapid rhythm.
"A P.O.I!" Cross stated with one last load snap. "A Person of Interest, you've been an ally of the bookman clan for how long now? What do they know precisely anyways?"
"A little over one hundred years now." Kagome answered. "And they know I'm older than that but they don't quite know how old, I never told them. They also know I don't age obviously. As for my powers, I believe they only know that I can heal but if they contribute that to me having innocence or if they think it's different, I have no idea. I do know you're the only one who knows I'm from a different dimension though."
"They won't tell anyone, will they?" Cross asked unusually worried.
Kagome gave a small laugh "I asked the senior of the two that very same question. He almost looked insulted. No, he won't tell anyone and the younger one doesn't know."
"That's good." Cross sipped his drink and inhaled on his cigarette, blowing out puffs of the foul smoke. He removed the butt from his mouth and put in out in the ash tray. "Speaking of not telling anyone..." He trailed off and stared hard at Kagome. "You won't tell anyone I'm still alive, right?"
Kagome, now understanding why Bookman got affronted by that very same question, raised her eyebrow at Cross. "Do you want me to?"
"No, the less that know the better" Cross sighed. He looked down at Kagome and noticed how badly she was shivering. He decided that the conversation was done for today. "I'll contact you every three days, or to be safer, you contact me every three days."
"Sounds good to me" Kagome agreed. A cool breeze caressed the sitting girl making her shiver harder. "Darn, it's cold out here."
"Don't worry Mum, the next time I see you in person I'll warm you right up" Cross leered and even went so far as to lick his lips in a slow and obvious fashion.
Kagome stood up shaking her head and dusted off her backside. Stomping her feet to get rid of the pins and needles, she had just opened her mouth to tell Cross off when a yell ripped through the garden.
"Kagome?.. Are you out there?"
Spinning around franticly towards the voice Kagome spotted the vibrant red hair of the Order's resident Bookman Jr. coming her way. Eyes wide in fear with the thought of being caught talking to Cross, Kagome turned anxiously back to Timcampy.
Her fear was unnecessary as Cross had already ended the transmission, leaving a dazed Timcampy to fly from the root to rest in Kagome's outstretched hands. Kagome shook her head, Cross was never one for good-byes.
"Thank-you Timcampy" Kagome whispered praise to the little fellow. She set the still shaky golem in its place on top of her head.
"Kago~ome!" Lavi stretched out her name in a loud yell as he ducked under the branches of the willow tree. Kagome spotted the white head of Allen join him.
Kagome stepped out from under the shadows. "Hey guys, over here" She shouted back to them, waving her arms so they could see her better.
They spotted her and hurriedly made their way over to her, Kagome also moved to meet them, going slow so not to trip over the roots.
"Hey Kagome, we were looking for you. Were you out here the whole time?" Allen asked when the two met her half way. Noticing movement on top of her head he spotted Timcampy. "There you are Tim, I was wondering were you went off to"
"I just needed some air." She said with a shrug. "I was just sitting under the apple tree watch the stars. It's so peaceful in the gardens. Tim here was keeping me company, right Tim?"
The little golden ball nodded its body and flew off her head to bury itself in Allen's collar, seeking the heat.
Allen noticed his actions, "We better get inside. It's cold out here." And as if on cue a large gust of cold wind brushed by them, raising the end of Kagome's coat and lifting Allen's hood.
Kagome brushed her escaped hair from her face. "Right, let's go"
Kagome and Allen started to make their way back inside before Allen suddenly came to a stop. Spinning around, he gazed back into the night.
"Where's Lavi" Allen asked turning his head side to side trying to stop the tell some red hair. He finally spotted him staring down at the roots of the apple tree, face in quiet concentration.
"Oi Lavi! You coming? We're freezing here" He yelled to the boy.
The teen looked over at the two waiting for him and placed a happy smile on his face. He bounced over and sided right up to Kagome, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Have you tried Jerry's hot chocolate yet, It'll warm you right up"
Kagome shook her head at both his question and his antics. She nodded her head in thanks as Allen held the door open for her and upon entering received a large smile from Lenalee. After they started to warm up a bit the group of five made their way down the dim halls and back to the still on-going party.
~*~
AN. Part Two!
About Allen's innocence evolving, I believe that in the manga and the anime that it was said that only Lenalee's innocence evolved. I know that Allen hit critical point and gained the sword from that but the explanation for the Crown Clown always bugged me. So in this story Allen's innocence has also evolved, though the Order has yet to figure that out.
I would like to give a shout out to Winter Alais for all your reviews and your consistent guesses as to what Kagome's innocence could be. You're the only one that does, so Thank-you.
I have one last Clue, though it will be a few (four, maybe five at least) more chapters before it is revealed.
Last clue: The person with the most similar innocence to Kagome's would have to be Arystar Krory's.
(I bet that was confusing)
Next time on Purity:
Eleventh Book: no title as of yet