(A/N): Finally! I am so sorry it took so long to update, writer's block is such a pain. Hopefully the next chapter will come out sooner…
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, no matter how much I bribe or blackmail the creator
What Once Was
12th Night: Reunion
Everyone followed Fuji through the dense forest, surprisingly evading all Akuma on their way. They still couldn't believe that the man who hugged Kanda was still breathing, alive and well, and he wasn't even hit once by the samurai either, but the katana-wielding exorcist certainly glared daggers at him. It seemed that Lavi had found a new hero. As they passed between two strange looking trees, a strange sensation came over them all, especially Linali, who recognized that feeling.
"Fujitaka-san?"
"Hai, Linali-dono?"
"Did we…did we just enter a barrier?"
Fuji stopped and looked back at her, blinking. Apparently he didn't think any of them would ask. "H-hai…this barrier prevents any Akuma from seeing this place, let alone attack it. However, it can only blind level one and two Akuma, I'm sure those higher than that can see past it," he sounded grave, everyone could understand why.
"Fuji," Kanda started, "hurry up, then."
The older man smiled slightly and nodded, quickly showing the Black Priests the way.
xxx
Soon enough, in the distance, a large structure lurked, large oak trees providing shady coverage from unwanted eyes above, smaller trees and thick bushes spaced out around the building, though not enough for it to be completely camouflaged in the forest. Once, said trees never once reached past the building's second floor, but now they reached past the roof.
Lavi whistled softly, "It's huge…" He could only take his comrade's silence as an agreement. "Ah! Wait up!" It took him a moment to realize that he was about to be left behind, and so he quickly caught up to the rest of the group, all following an excited looking Fujitaka. Kanda walked behind him, his expression as emotionless as ever but somehow the redhead got the feeling that the Japanese was a nervous wreck right now. About what, he didn't know. Maybe it had to do something with this Sakura person they were going to meet. His mind wondered to the mission briefing and recalled his friend's expression when the girl's face first appeared on the screen. 'Princess Sakura, huh? You don't tell me anything, Yuu-chan…you didn't even tell me that you were a prince…'
As they got further up the stairs, and closer to the main entrance, Fuji quickened his pace; it was obvious he couldn't contain his glee. "Sakura-hime!! Kanda!神田王子は戻った!!!(1)" Everyone doubted said princess could hear what he even said, but that didn't stop him. "Follow me, please." He threw open the large doors and went inside, not bothering to really show everyone around, but went straight up the stairs near the far wall, the others following close behind. He past a few doors and headed for a room near the end of the hall, with mahogany colored border line door frames. "Sakura-hime." This time, Fujitaka's voice was calm, all his excitement hidden, once more a guardian and supporter of the Black Order. "The exorcists are here."
"Come in."
Kanda visibly tensed as the soft, velvety distant voice reached their ears. Fuji glanced at the dark haired male and smiled softly, turning back to the door and sliding it open. "There is something else, Hime. Kanda-oujiisama has returned…"
There, in the room, sat a lonesome figure, her long dark hair cascading down her back, even reaching the floor and fanning out around her. Her back was toward them, her face turned toward the clear, cloudless sky, into the full moon. Moonlight glazed down upon her pale form, making her hair shine, her blue kimono looking like the ocean. "Do not…do not joke around, Fujitaka. Yuu is gone…don't toy with me…"
"Demo, Sakura-hime. It is no lie." Fuji stepped into the room and stepped aside, letting the exorcists come in, Kanda first.
"Sakura…hime…" Kanda's voice was soft, cautious. Linali, Allen, Lavi, and Karen all glanced at him. Never had they thought that Kanda, of all people, would be nervous or shy, especially on a mission. But then again, not every mission had someone that the swordsman seemed especially close to.
Immediately, as soon as those words left Kanda's lips, the princess's head swiftly turned to them, her wide, dark eyes showing nothing but disbelief. Her face, right now, nearly mirrored Kanda's earlier expression, save the anger. "ユウ…? いいえ... まさか(2)" her words were whispered, as if she spoke any louder, her hallucination of Kanda would disappear, never to come back again.
And yet he stayed.
Kanda stepped toward her and bowed his head ever so slightly. "桜王女…ただいま(3)"
In a flash, surprising everyone of her speed, especially in a kimono such as hers, Sakura was off the floor, and now in front of Kanda, an incredulous look on her face. "Yuu…?" She placed a hand on his face, as if to make herself believe that he was here, that she wasn't dreaming. He didn't fade away. He had changed, that was a fact, but even though that smile was gone, the brightness in his eyes dulled, his hair grown, and body no longer small and frail, this was no doubt the same Kanda Yuu she had known from so long ago. "You're alive…oh, Yuu…" Tears were visible in her eyes before she wrapped her slender arms around him in a tight embrace.
Lavi's jaw dropped, Linali covered her mouth, Allen's eyes bulged out, and Karen stared. Needless to say that the other exorcist were beyond surprised. Especially since Kanda hadn't tried to kill the princess when she called him by his first name (and without any honorifics either, as Lavi pointed out) and now she was hugging him. Hugging him! And yet he did nothing to even push her away, or anything of the sort. In fact, he even hugged her back! Linali practically hid behind Allen, and Lavi hid behind Karen in fear. No, wait, Karen hid behind Lavi. Wait…no, I was right the first time. What happened to their short-fused, evil, always on edge, don't-call-me-by-my-first-name-or-else-you-die samurai? Was he kidnapped and replaced by an Akuma right in front of their noses and they didn't notice? Said exorcists were basically thinking along those lines. This male in front of them couldn't be the Kanda Yuu they all knew!
"I can't believe…you're alive…Yuu…" her voice was muffled, her face buried against his chest. "I thought…"
"Shhh…" Kanda's own gentleness surprised him. He had thought that he didn't have an ounce of kindness left in him, any gentleness that he possessed he thought he lost so many years ago, when he thought he had lost the girl he held in his arms right now. "Sumenai, Hime….for making you worry…"
"Don't speak in keigo(4) with me…I told you that years ago…" Sakura's shoulders shook as sobs threatened to overtake her somewhat composed form. "Daijoubu, Yuu…" She could feel herself smile as Kanda ran a hand through her silky raven hair, in an effort to soothe her. It was the first time she smiled in years, and it just brought tears to Fujitaka's eyes.
xxx
After everyone had calmed down after their little shock, they all got down to business. Lavi leaned against the wall, Karen sitting on the floor beside him, Linali sat in a chair, Allen standing beside her, and Fuji sitting on the floor. Sakura sat on her bed, Kanda standing right beside her. They talked about how they were going to get Sakura back to headquarters, their communications with Dill on the ship, and lastly, if any innocence could be in the area.
"Have you noticed anything strange lately, Fujitaka-san?" Allen was asking him.
The elder man shook his head, "The only thing I ever really pay attention to, is if there are any Akuma that are getting too close to this place. Gomen, Allen-kun…"
"No need to say sorry." Allen sighed and looked at the ceiling. "Komui-san said that there might be innocence here. But if there was, where could it be…"
"The old temple."
All eyes turned to look at princess. "The old temple," she repeated. "Why don't you all start looking there?"
"Why there, Sakura?"
Lavi grinned to himself, covering his mouth with his hand. "He's not using honorifics anymore…" he mused, stifling a laugh. If he let it slip, he knew that he'd be dead for sure.
"Weren't you listening to them, Lavi? No keigo around those two…" Lavi glanced down at the girl by his feet. He wasn't expecting her to listen to his mumbling. Letting his gaze return to the princess, he nodded,
"That's true…"
Sakura looked up at the swordsman, "You remember it, don't you? That haunted temple when we were younger? The building behind it, that was the real haunting place. Otou-sama always told us to keep clear of that area, saying that something bad would happen if we played there. Maybe there really is something there." Kanda looked skeptical, so she continued. "For the past couple weeks I noticed that there was always a soft glow coming from the direction of the temple, near or around midnight every night."
Before Kanda could even argue, Linali piped up. "Sounds like something to me! I say we go check it out, ne?" She looked at the exorcists.
"Better than nothing," Karen agreed, nodding.
"It's pretty late though, don't you think?" Allen asked, looking out the window. The moon was high, shadows all around the forest. "We should all start first thing tomorrow morning." All five exorcists agreed. They would investigate the "haunted temple" the following morning. For now, though, they would take some much needed rest.
"Fuji-san. Show each of them their rooms," Sakura told him. Fuji nodded and stood from his sitting position. He turned to the exorcists.
"I'm afraid we only have four available guest rooms. The other rooms are probably too unstable to stay in. It's been years, I'm afraid…"
"It's fine, Karen and I could share a room," Linali told them. She immediately glared at a certain redhead as he started laughing. "Not like that!" She herself started laughing, however, when Lavi got hit upside the head by a somewhat angry Karen.
Kanda rolled his eyes at their antics, Allen sweat dropped, and Sakura and Fuji blinked. "Fine, whatever," he said and turned toward the door. "They'll share a room. Fuji, show--" he stopped as he felt arms wrap themselves around his waist. He glanced down, raising a brow.
Sakura let out a soft gasp and let go of him, blushing slightly. "ご-ごめん, ユウ…(5)" she lowered her head, still apparently embarrassed. She reacted without thinking.
The others, who had stopped their momentary bickering, looked over at their direction and blinked. Fuji, too, looked back at them. He smiled slightly, "Kanda-oujiisama."
"Just Kanda, Fuji. Don't call me that anymore."
The older man nodded and continued, "Kanda-sama, why don't you stay with Sakura-hime?"
At that, everyone froze and stared at the man. Each had their own thoughts, own interpretations of what he meant, Lavi was the first to voice his opinion, "Say what!?"
"You can't be serious--"
"You don't mean--"
"No way!!"
Kanda's twitching eye was visible to everyone's eyes. "I. Dare. You. To. Say. What. You. Were. All. Thinking." he growled through gritted teeth. The other exorcists sweat dropped and visibly cringed, all somewhat hiding behind Karen.
"H-hey," Karen hissed, "don't hide behind me!" She flinched as she saw the murderous glare emanating from the older boy.
A hand reached for Mugen's hilt, about to strike at his comrades, but was stopped by a nervous hand grabbing onto his. Kanda looked down once more. "Yuu," though the shyness and nervousness was evident in her voice, Sakura kept a calm look upon her face, "…do you mind?" She lowered her head and unintentionally buried her face against him. "おねがいします(6)…"
Looking away from her and away from everyone else, Kanda could feel a soft smile forming on his lips. He really did miss her, he was so relieved that she was still alive, even though he would never admit to it completely. "If that's what you wish…" Because he was turned away, he didn't see everyone's expressions. It was safe to say that everyone was beyond surprise and fear. Kanda really was kidnapped, that just had to be it!
And yet, the Kanda in front of them was the genuine article, and they all glanced back warily at him as Fuji led them to their rooms.
xxx
"Gomen, Yuu…" Sakura apologized, helping him spread out an old, spare futon. "You can take mine, I really don't mind."
"And let you sleep on this thing? Rather not," Kanda remarked, straightening. "Like it or not, you're still the princess here, and I have a mission to accomplish. Besides, what kind of…friend…would I be if I let the host sleep on the floor?" He softly smiled at her and inwardly beamed as an all-out smile broke on Sakura's face. "Sakura…when was the last time you actually smiled?" he asked her, turning and sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Last…time?" The female became quiet as she thought back, walking toward Kanda and sitting next to him. "Last time I smiled was…" she lowered her head and Kanda had to strain his hearing to even catch her next words, "…was years ago, when I last saw you…that was the last time I really smiled…"
xxx
"Man, Yuu-chan, how lucky!" Lavi wailed to no one, stretching. He was in a decent sized plain, room, though he hadn't really expected it to be anything fancy. After all, the Inuyama palace was burned to the ground over ten years ago, he was surprised that any of them survived, let alone a princess. The redhead lay down on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. 'If Yuu-chan knew the princess of Inuyama…and he was a prince…wait, were they engaged!?' At the sudden thought, Lavi shot up and lost his balance, falling face first into onto the wooden floor. "Ouch…"
xxx
Karen sighed as she heard a small crash in the next room. "I just hope he didn't break anything…" she muttered as she pulled her gloves off. Her azure orbs gazed at the twin crucifixes upon her hands. In their bejeweled beauty, black and silver swirled together, though never becoming one; two opposites that never completely connected, even if they are together. Silver and blue danced together like the aurora borealis, twirling around each other, creating streams and whirlpools within the jewel. "I hate you…" she murmured as she gazed upon her innocence.
"Black Angel…hmph, the name suits the both of us well, doesn't it…" She could've sworn the crosses glowed in response.
xxx
'So…Sakura-hime must be very close to Kanda…' Allen mused, looking out the window. The moonlight struck his pale face and made it shine, his silver hair seeming to sparkle. He closed his eyes and thought for a moment. His nightmares seemed to stop, but for the past few nights he still couldn't sleep--he kept wondering who that girl was, that angel. He just knew that he knew who she was, he just couldn't place it. His mind then wandered to the day's events. It was one surprise after another, he was sure this wasn't the Kanda they had brought with them from headquarters. An amused smile came to his lips as he recalled the smile and actions of both Japanese.
"Kanda really does have a heart, doesn't he…"
xxx
"'Hey, Ka-chan, can I talk to you about something? About Allen?' No…too straight forward….'Ka-chan, um…do you mind if…' Ugh!" Linali groaned and fell back on the bed. How was she going to confront Karen without getting her suspicious if she couldn't think of any non-suspicious ways of starting up a conversation? Besides that, it had been an exhausting day. In truth, she really didn't think they would be able to make it without the Earl knowing, at least so far, but she wasn't complaining. She was more than happy that they all made it here without any one of them getting hurt.
A smile appeared on her face as she remembered the happiness on the princess's face. "She really does care about Kanda…" she sat up, continuing to smile, "Maybe she'll be the one to get a true smile out of him."
:::next morning:::
"Do you really have to go so soon?" Fuji asked, watching as the exorcists prepared to leave.
"Sorry, but we have to see if any Innocence is here. The sooner we find out, and whether or not we find any, the sooner we can get back to headquarters. Not to mention the sooner we can get Sakura-hime out of here," Allen responded, donning his coat. "The earlier we leave, the better."
Fuji nodded, wishing he could go with them. He knew, though, that if he did, he would most likely just get in their way. Besides, Kanda knew the way to the temple, so there should be no problem, right? He certainly hoped so. He had seen Kanda "die" before, and he saw the results from that, he certainly did not want anything to befall him now that he was actually alive, now that he and Sakura were reunited once more. But moreover, he hoped that both his and the princess's parents would watch over him and his friends, and bring them back alive.
They were all about to leave when Sakura grabbed Kanda's hand. He turned his head and gave her a questioning look. "Please come back safely," she whispered, so low that only he could hear. He nodded and walked out the door, the others followed him after bowing goodbye.
xxx
"Yuu-chan!" Lavi wailed, "How much farther is this place!? We've been walking for hours!" He gulped as he received a glare from the person leading their little group and hid behind his precious flower. "Save me, Hana-chan…" he muttered, earning an aspirated sigh from the female, and another glare from their 'leader'.
"ばかなウサギ (7)…" Kanda muttered, then continued walking forward. "It's not that much farther."
"Besides, Lavi, we've only been walking for at least twenty minutes," Karen told him, awkwardly patting him on his head, even though he was taller than her by a good couple inches. "Don't complain…"
"Aww but, Hana-chan! Why're you taking his side?!" the redhead wailed. Karen immediately clamped a hand over his mouth, his wails no longer spewing out his mouth.
"Shut up, you idiot, the Akuma could hear you if you're any louder," she hissed in his ear. That shut him up.
Allen and Linali sweat dropped as they watched Lavi. Was he really older than them? Sometimes, they didn't think so.
"Lavi…" Linali sighed, then turned and continued following Kanda, leaving Karen to deal with Lavi. She heard Allen follow her. A soft smile came to her lips, then she let it disappear. If he saw it, then he would start asking why she was smiling, then she would stutter and it would just be a hassle, trying to reclaim herself.
They continued walking for the next few minutes, Linali and Allen walking right behind Kanda, Karen and Lavi taking up the rear. Lavi had been brooding since he'd been scolded, and Karen couldn't help but feel that the others silently ganged up on her to take care of the redhead. She inwardly sighed but couldn't deny the fact that she didn't mind. After all, she's known Lavi the longest out of the exorcists, with the exception of a certain someone.
Pretty soon, a temple came into their view, trees, shrubs, and even vines surrounding the old building. Upon getting closer, the group realized what they saw was just the front of the structure, the actual visitation site of the temple, where people would come to pray to the Gods for protection, provision, and guidance. Kanda, however, continued past that part of the building and headed straight through the arch-way, heading toward the back, partly hidden part of the building.
Everyone followed him, glancing around at their surroundings. Everything was so quiet, deserted, almost a bit too quiet. It was like anything could come up at any moment and attack them, even though there was nothing in the sight of Allen or Karen. Allen had almot completely forgotten the first thought that crossed his mind when he first met Karen: she was cursed? Yes, she was. But not in the same way Allen was, though he didn't know it at the time. None of them knew.
"Damn, Yuu-chan…this is the place?" Lavi whistled, looking up at the building in front of them. It was a two-story building almost directly behind the shrine, very similar to the building in which Sakura and Fujitaka were hiding in, except that this one didn't look as run down, its structure almost perfectly preserved. Vines crawled up its cream colored walls like an infection, though it only enhanced the beauty of the building.
Kanda nodded, "Mitsukimi Temple." With that, he proceeded toward the large, wooden doors and opened them without much trouble. The doors squeaked, as if protesting against Kanda that he forced them to move from their comfortable position. The others followed their older companion as he entered the large hall.
Upon entering, they all looked around, seeing nothing that could possibly be Innocence. But then again, innocence could've already been infused with something, so they knew they couldn't be careless.
"Ano…Kanda?" Linali asked, looking up the top of the staircase. It led up to the second story before splitting into two different directions of the upper floor.
"What is it?"
"Is this place…really abandoned?"
At that, everyone turned to look at her, unsure of what she meant. "Yes…why?"
Linali glanced at him, then to Allen and the others before pointing up the flight of stairs. There, at the very top, right at the junction where the carpeted steps split directions, stood a little girl. She had long, light brown hair in high pigtails (very much like Linali's) and was wearing a simple, light pink dress. In her hands was a somewhat large, red ball. Inside, however, the distinct glow of Innocence emerged. She looked no older than seven.
"She has the Innocence!" Lavi yelled out first.
"Get her!" Kanda growled and started running towards the child, the bookman apprentice following close behind him.
"Kanda, Lavi, wait!" the three remaining exorcists yelled before following their companions.
Something was very wrong with this picture. Why would a little girl, with innocence in her possession, be doing in a supposedly abandoned, run-down temple? And that girl, she was smiling at the teens as they came at her, no fear or anxiousness showing in her blue, cat-like orbs. In fact, there was no real emotion coming from the girl, that smile never ceasing as the exorcists came closer. In fact, it seemed to widen. "Ex…orcists…" she whispered, giggling slightly. The orb glowed and became brighter and brighter. Light surrounded the entire space, causing the black priests to halt and cover their eyes.
"It's finally time…"
Linali screamed as the light enveloped her, Allen screaming out her name, reaching out to try and reach her. But the light swallowed her before swallowing himself. Karen yelled out his name, only to be swallowed next, then Lavi. Kanda, although he was the closest to the child in distance, was swallowed last. "Bastard!" he growled before the light surrounded his form.
The smiling child was the last everyone saw before their vision was lost. Smiling, like an innocent, pure child who did not know any wrong. She vanished soon after the exorcists, her childish laughter reverberating through the halls.
:::End 12th Night:::
If there're any mistakes here, tell me so I can fix it
(1) 神田王子は戻った: Kanda-oujiisama wa modota: Prince Kanda has returned!
(2) ユウ…いいえまさか: Yuu…? Iie…masaka…: Yuu…? No…it can't be…
(3) 桜王女…ただいま: Sakura-hime…tadaima: Sakura-hime…I've returned; Princess Sakura, I'm home
(4) keigo: a manner of formal speech, usually reserved for addressing superiors
(5) ご-ごめんユウ: G-gomen, Yuu: S-sorry, Yuu. I bet you all knew that already…
(6) おねがいします: onegaishimasu: please
(7) ばかなウサギ: baka na usagi: stupid rabbit
