Tainted Innocence
Chapter #12
"Rest well, Skinn." Road held out a piece of candy, her face covered with a book. She dangled in front of her.
"Sweet tooth lost?" Tyki questioned.
"Yeah. The guy Allen and the others left behind didn't pass through my door, either."
"So they killed each other."
"Are you crying, Tyki?" Road reached over, pulling the book away from her face. Her uncle had tears in his eyes, and it had fallen down his cheeks.
He blocked her hand from getting to his face, "I can't stop them from coming out. Are the Noah inside of us crying?"
"Aha! That may be so. I guess…the Noah inside us are crying."
Suddenly the door was kicked down by the twin Noah, David and Jasdero. Their black makeup was running, having touched the tears from their eyes.
"Road! Where are the tissues?" David spoke first.
"Wow." Tyki looked at them with an expression of indifference, "Your tears are black."
"STUPID TYKI!" David snapped.
"OUR MAKEUP IS RUNNING, HEEE!" Jasdero carried a chicken with a hat.
The Noah of Pleasure raised his brow as Road got them their much needed help, giving them towels. She sat back on her seat, "Skinn was the child of Noah with the memory of 'Wrath'. Jasdevi's 'Bonds', Tyki's 'Pleasure', or my 'Dreams' are different. 'Wrath' was the most intense of the Noah's memories; I feel kind of sorry for him."
"That baldy had some violent mood swings sometimes." David pointed out, remembering when he destroyed an akuma that had given him a savoury egg.
"He was a difficult character to understand, hee!" Jasdero rubbed his face.
"We are the Noah's children too, so we have the urge to kill exorcists on sight, but…" Road paused for a brief moment, "The thought that the 'wrath' of Noah was a child that was the strongest Noah, was made to fight like a puppet…"
"Skinn was a pitiful Noah, hee!"
Leaning his head back, Tyki pondered on Road's words just now.
Urge to kill an exorcist on sight, huh…? That thought went through his head like a breath of wind. He looked at the twins, trying to distract himself.
Rubbing his nose, the male blinked the tears away as they finally started to stop. "Didn't the Earl ask you two to capture Cross?"
Silence.
"Eh, what? That guy…" David muttered with an almost animalistic like growl.
"How did the conversation get here? Should we go now?" Jasdero mumbled. The chicken on top of his head let out a squawk.
"So you failed again, right?" Tyki pointed out.
"SHUT UP! THAT'S RIGHT, SO WHAT?!" David's expression turned dark as he confronted Tyki. The chicken came up in front of him too, and began to squawk in the 26 year old's direction.
"SO WHAT IF WE'RE AFRIAD OF THE EARL?!" Jasdero roared.
"Is Cross that fast at running away? I wonder if I could catch him…" Tyki mused.
"HE'S OUR PREY!"
As the 3 Noah and 1 chicken bickered, Road found a wad of paper that had dropped from David's clothes. She went down and picked it up, flipping through it. "What's this? Bills?"
David froze, turning around slowly, "That's…"
"Hotel charges, alcohol charges, women charges…" Road let out a long elongated vowel, "Wow! What are all these?"
"That's what Cross left for Jasdevi to pay!" Jasdero crouched down beside Road, explaining the situation like the dumb idiot he was.
"Huh?"
"WHAT! YOU IDIOT, DON'T SAY IT!"
Tyki found amusement in the situation, "Not only did he escape, he stuck the bill to you too?"
"Hee! That's right! No matter where we went—"
"SHUT UP!" Cue a kick to Jasdero's head.
Road was laughing, finding the situation absolutely hilarious.
"Shit…! That bastard Cross!" David cursed angrily. How he hated Cross and his guts right now.
"Hm? This name…" Road smiled, hearing Jasdero's explanations on it, "Jasdevi, I'm going to tell you something good…"
Tyki ignored them and pressed his cheek against his palm, pondering.
Will Sin reach the summit?
He silenced his thoughts for a long moment, letting out an inaudible sigh.
Allen, Lenalee, Krory, Lavi, Choaji and Sin had reached the room filled with books; the archives. It hadn't been downloaded yet, but it seemed it would be soon.
We left Kanda behind, Sin looked back at where they came, coming off from Krory's back, having grabbed onto him when escaping the hallway. I hope Kanda's alright. He's strong, so I think he'll be okay…
While in the archives, they met a pair of twins introducing themselves as David and Jasdero, who were one in the same Noah.
They caused havoc and talked of Cross's debts, causing Allen's dark side to appear. Soon enough, they had to find their way out of the twin's eye-tricking glasses, finding the real key to the door. Lavi was given the job of finding the real key, whilst Allen and Krory fought.
Lenalee, Sin and Choaji stood near Lero, with Sin being on lookout if Jasdevi tried to attack them. However, Lenalee moved forward to try and help when Allen and Krory were caught in what they called 'Jasdevi's Grudge', which almost resembled that of a sludge monster.
Lenalee was caught into a ball, unable to escape, while the other exorcists were able to from the sludge monster. Although Lenalee was caught, she made a huge fuss and even lectured the twins, causing them to hit her.
Sin invoked her Innocence and threw it towards the ball that Lenalee was in, successfully popping it and letting her out, just as Lavi found the key to the door, which burst open, causing the eye-tricking glasses to disappear.
The Innocence returned to Sin's hand as she went over to Lenalee, hoping she was alright. However, after the door was opened, the twins merged together into one, forming the Noah that would be called the 'Noah of Bonds'.
It was a battle between the males of the group save Choaji, and Krory had stayed behind whilst the rest of them went through the doors before they closed.
Lenalee was distraught as her friend was injured but insisted on fighting, and was even given a pep talk by the others, who told her to believe and have faith in him.
Sin wasn't too close to Krory, but she did have an ounce of worry, as he was beaten bloody prior to drinking more akuma blood.
She knew, that he could only go so far before something happens. We're up against Noah, after all.
She checked everyone's conditions, finding that everyone's conditions were worse than hers, even Choaji.
That makes sense. I didn't do that much fighting compared to the others. She only had a few scratches and bruises here and there, but nothing major. Am I even helping out at all? Even though her worries weighed her down, she didn't let it show on her face, trying to be strong. She honestly didn't want to cry again.
There's only so much a person can take. She smiled bitterly to herself, helping Lenalee, who saw that bitter smile.
"Sin?" Lenalee asked with slight worry.
Sin changed her smile to a warm one when Lena called her name, but didn't say a word, continuing up the stairs, which floated in a strange, different dimension.
It was an odd sight to the group, but they managed to get to the door at the top, taking turns to help Lenalee.
"We're finally here," Sin whispered to herself, but the others heard it loud and clear.
She glanced over at Chaoji, seeing him trembling in fear, even though there was a smile on his face. He was talking to Allen, but Sin had tuned them out so that she could think.
Allen invoked his Crown Clown and stepped up the last steps, going through the door. The others followed after him, and they arrived at the top of the tower.
The moment they arrived, Road was there to throw herself on Allen, giving him a kiss on the lips. Allen had the most horrified expression on his face as Lavi shook him, trying to snap him out of it.
Sin stared at her wide eyed, shocked at how forward she was, but finding it refreshing all in the same.
"Road, what are you…? Do you like the boy that much?" Tyki held a look of astonishment, sitting at the end of the long table set out with food in front of them.
"It's the first time I've seen you give a kiss to someone other than the Earl." He commented.
Road skipped happily back to where Tyki was, laughing, "I won't give Tyki one!"
Sin pressed her lips together into a thin line, seeing that her friend was indeed at the end of the table. She inhaled a sharp breath, trying to calm herself. She wasn't used to seeing Tyki in a tuxedo, or with anything proper, for that matter.
She noticed something floating next to him, which looked like a card of some sort. It kept repeating the same words, "He is alive…" referring to Allen.
"What are you doing, sit down." Tyki cut up a piece of meat, "While I was waiting for you, I got hungry, so how about dining together?" He placed the meat into his mouth, "I wanted to talk to you before fighting."
"I'll have to refuse." Allen had just finished rubbing his mouth to rid himself of Road. "I take my time to eat when I have to."
"Time? Do you want to know how much you have left?" Tyki waved the knife towards the outside terrace.
"Outside, it's a superb view." Road leaned against the table.
The exorcists quickly headed to the outside, making sure to see how much time they had left before the whole place got destroyed.
Sin held in a gasp, no words or even a sound coming from her mouth. There was literally nothing down where they were – everything was breaking away, and the only thing was the tower that they stood on.
"The city is…gone…!" Lavi managed to say.
"I don't think you even have an hour. All that's left is this tower. Apart from here, everything else has been destroyed." Tyki put another piece in his mouth.
"No way…"
The door where they came kicked shut, with Road adding an additional lock that bounded it together.
"What are you…!" Lenalee gasped.
"Sit down." Road's expression became scary when she demanded. Sin felt a bead of sweat roll down the side of her face.
"Take a seat, exorcists." Tyki took a sip of wine, before taunting at them, "Or are you too scared?"
Allen slammed his left hand on the table, giving him a scary look, before obliging. The others went to sit down, with Sin sitting down last. She sat opposite Lenalee, next to Chaoji.
Tyki took a quick glance at Sin, who was looking away, averting her eyes so that she wouldn't look at him.
Figures, he wanted to sigh, but instead focused on his task.
"Now, it looks like we can finally talk, boy." He chuckled, "Don't make that face. I haven't set any traps. Didn't I say there'd be no cheating?" Tyki ended up sighing anyway, finding that their distrust in him was too high.
Road latched onto Allen, her arms around his neck, "It'll be alright, Allen! On top of this tower's my door."
"It would be nice if it lead to the outside world too." Allen commented.
Road laughed lightly and glanced at Sin in the corner of her eye, meeting her eyes. She held them for a long second before giving her a small, knowing smile, then turned her attention back to Allen.
What was that…? Sin stared at Road's back with a puzzled look.
She noticed Lenalee's frightened expression across from her, with Lavi comforting the girl.
Poor Lena, Sin could emphasize with how Lenalee felt. She previously mentioned that her friends were her world, and seeing them hurt would hurt her, too. It would make sense that she feel threatened considering both Kanda, and Krory, were 'out of the dimension', with the old Ark.
"What was it that you wanted to discuss, Lord Tyki Mikk? Or is it 'orphan vagabond with sticky fingers'?" Allen asked.
Tyki leaned forward on his arm, "Don't be so cold, boy. You were the first person to ever strip a Noah down to his underwear. Don't you think it was destiny?"
Sin looked at Tyki with a surprised expression and covered her mouth, wanting to laugh at his words. She knew that he loved to play poker and cheat to get winnings (which she was always against), but she didn't see that he himself got played, too. However, the sinking feeling at the bottom of her stomach as well as her affection for the male stopped her from letting out even a peep of sound. The situation wasn't right, either.
Oh…? Tyki saw her reaction, finding the dash of humour that had appeared like a shooting star, in her eyes.
Lavi and Allen saw her reaction, with Lavi documenting it within his mind.
Allen turned his attention back to the poker player, "Not really. There are a lot of people I've stripped to their underwear while playing cards."
"What a mean thing to say!" Tyki stared at Allen with a comical expression, as if he were sceptical of him. "You really only 15?"
"Shall I show you mean?" Allen lifted up his left arm in Innocence form.
The look on Tyki's face changed darkly, but he kept the smirk on his face as he leaned back to the comfort of his chair. "Well, what do you know. I'm sure I destroyed that arm."
Sin's jaw dropped when she heard his words. She nearly slammed her hands onto the table to give an exclamation, but she didn't, fearing that their attention would go to her.
He was the one who 'killed' Allen back in China?! Tyki…! The emotions that went through her were a mix of many things.
"But you couldn't have, could you? After all, it's right here." Allen showcased his arm.
"Are you interested in Innocence now, Tyki?" Road piped up.
"Just a little bit," He leaned forward on his arm again, covering half his face in thought. "So anyway, boy, is it because of your left arm that you're alive, even though the Teez ate through your heart?"
There was a huge commotion right after he said those words, with Lavi and Lenalee fussing over Allen due to his kept secret. Sin stayed in her spot, looking Tyki's way as they bickered.
She saw him grab a cigarette and light it, glancing at her before turning back to the white haired boy and Road.
"Road, isn't it about time you let go of the boy?"
"Eh?!" She hugged him tightly around the neck. Allen had the most uncomfortable expression on his face. "But I love him!"
"Love between a Noah and exorcist is impossible." Allen gave her an intolerable look, "Now let go of me."
Huh? Sin felt her chest clench, almost painfully, at his words. She stared at the table wide eyed, enduring it. She could feel her head going slightly lightheaded as a side effect.
Does that mean I can't be friends with them either? A pained expression formed on her features.
"You know what the Earl's ultimate goal is? I've been having a good time so far, but..." Tyki stood up, "I suppose evil should comport itself with more gravity. Yes…you've helped me realise something, boy."
Sin gulped thickly. He seemed like a completely different person, but she knew, he was one in the same. The flip side of a coin in his personality, one she never really got to know until now.
When he stood up, Sin saw the glint of blue near his ears, which got her attention. She didn't remember him wearing blue earrings.
"In a fight to the death, you've got to give it everything you've got."
A fight to the death…? Having fun so far?! Sin felt her blood run cold. She covered her mouth with her hand, looking away.
A butterfly with the same design as the one that led them in the Ark flew towards Lenalee, about to land on her shoulder. Before it did, Allen stabbed through it with his Innocence, "Tyki Mikk…I've got something to say too," He stood up, "If you hurt my friends again…I'll have to kill you."
Allen got up onto the table and started charging towards Tyki, speaking to Lenalee, "Lenalee, trust me. I'll…take care of him." He met Sin's eyes as he went past, but didn't speak to her.
"I have nothing against you, boy." The Noah lifted his gloved hand up, a large butterfly coming out of it.
"ALLEN!" Lavi pushed his chair away, standing abruptly.
Sin stood up, watching Allen as he engaged in fight with Tyki.
Road floated in front of Lavi, standing on Lero. She wagged her finger, "Tyki likes Allen too. Don't interfere. Let's play, Bookman." She giggled.
"It's time to deal our final hand, boy." Engaged in fight, Tyki and Allen started their fight.
Sin started to panic, uncertainty filling her thoughts. What was she going to do? Her job as an exorcist? Or just watch on?
If she was going to do her job as an exorcist, she would have to kill the Noah, meaning she would have to kill her friend. If she wasn't, her other friends would get injured, or killed by the Noah.
What…what should I do…? Sin just froze, staring at Allen and Tyki's fight, tuning out everything around her. She could only hear the sound of her heartbeat.
Suddenly, Sin felt like she was floating. She felt something solid beneath her feet, but realised that, when she snapped out of her thoughts, she was in a box with Choaji and Lenalee.
"What—?" She saw that Lavi hadn't been imprisoned with them, and stood outside, talking with Road.
"If I win, you let them go." Lavi's hammer handle extended. He seemed about ready to rip something to shreds.
"Okay, sure!" Road smiled.
"LAVI?!" Lenalee shouted.
Sin glanced over at her, seeing her full of worry.
If I were as expressive as that it wouldn't be easier to contain emotions, would it? Sin thought, rubbing her temples. She still hadn't regained herself after her light-headedness faded away.
Sin heard something hitting the ground, and by the close proximity, she recognised it as Lavi. He seemed to be completely out of it, but was still kneeling down, and hadn't fallen over. Choaji and Lenalee were making a fuss regarding if he was alright or not.
Sin just observed, knowing that thinking things through was better than acting irrationally.
Not that I've followed that the whole time, but…Sin glimpsed over at Road's face, seeing her almost delighted, like she stole candy from another child. If I act irrationally here that would probably mean the end of us.
Sure, the idea of keeping a calm mind and thought process was taught in schools since a young age, but putting it into action was a lot easier said than done.
Sin had done that for many, many years. It was only until the recent years that she's met Tyki and his friends that she's become a little less composed.
"AH?!" The exorcists in the box flew to one side when Allen smashed into the box. The box was strong enough to stay intact, but there was a large dent where Allen had hit it.
"ALLEN?!" The three of them exclaimed.
"One blast won't settle it, eh? You're tougher than you used to be. You've evolved. But I'll finish you this time. Don't fight it, boy." Something formed around Tyki's hands as he stepped forward towards Allen.
"TYKI!" Sin shouted, catching the Noah's attention. She gasped to herself, realising what she had said. She was worried that he would hurt Allen even further, and wanted to buy him some time.
Now I've done it…Sin was panicking mentally. It almost felt like she was grasping at straws.
He glanced over at her, surprised that she would say something. He saw her face and knew that she was actually quite scared. He knew her long enough to see this through just her eyes.
Now's not the best time…He thought with a light sigh. He was going to be finishing off Allen Walker, and she was trying to get in his way? Well, whatever.
"I see you're doing well, Sin." Tyki mused with a small smile. He was quite glad she was doing well, and that she didn't get needlessly injured much in the process, save for a few cuts and bruises here and there.
Sin opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out. She placed a hand on the box, a pained expression on her face. She was silent as Tyki came over, ready to continue his fight with Allen.
Don't make a face like that…Tyki was getting somewhat distracted; though he did try to get out of it.
"…there's no hard feelings, right?" Sin managed to say. It was already painful enough to see everything unfolding in front of her, but she didn't want to seem like a weak loser that cried over everything.
This is the only thing I can say right now…Sin looked at Tyki, seeing his eyes widen slightly before they went back to their usual shape, with a small smirk.
He chuckled, "No hard feelings."
Sin could only crack a small smile.
Lenalee and Chaoji stared at her with wide eyes, wondering what the hell she was saying.
"I can't let my heart fail me." Allen spoke finally, holding onto part of the crater he had made. "Do you think I'd…run away…from you fiends…and your darkness?" He was panting, as the fight had started to wear him out. He pulled his Innocence in front of him, showing Tyki the arm that was cracking.
"What's the matter? Upset about your new arm?" Tyki taunted, holding his own arm up, readying himself.
Before, Allen could hear the distress and sadness that Sin's voice bore. That gave him another reason, to do what he was going to do. Allen coughed up blood, wiping it off.
"Allen, don't let the Noah touch you. You've got a parasite-type Innocence! They can't damage it without injuring your body!" Lenalee hit the box.
Blood dripped down the ground, but he looked back and smiled at her, then went back to Tyki, "Tyki Mikk…you don't understand exorcists. You think we're like normal humans, that we're harmless if you destroy our anti-akuma weapons. You think we have no powers of our own. But what you should really fear…is the human in us." The cross on Allen's hand began to illuminate, sending out a strong light that turned his hand into a form comparable to that of ectoplasm.
"Innocence…provides the power…but it's an exorcist's human heart that makes him deadly. As long as my heart is bound to the Innocence…as long as my body remains intact…as long as I am an exorcist…as long as what I care about…is in this world…" Allen spoke his words with heart.
Sin jumped a little on her feet, feeling something from Allen.
Tyki's eyes were wide open as he stared at Allen. He then stared at his hand as if it were the craziest thing in this world, his hair falling from its style. He seem somewhat disoriented.
"The Crown Clown…will not be broken!" Allen's Innocence had miraculously repaired itself, looking brand new.
"Tyki Mikk…you Noah take human beings too lightly!"
After a moment, the Noah laughed, his hand on his face as he did so.
Tyki…? Sin's toes curled under her feet and her hands curled into fists against the wall as she watched on. This wasn't the first time she'd seen him angry, but rather, it was the first time she'd seen him really angry.
"Just who are you? Now I see. If I want to kill your Innocence, I have to kill your flesh as well." A symbol appeared behind him, which Sin knew instantly.
Haven't seen that in a long while.
Sin gasped, hearing that voice in her head again. She ignored it, seeing Road fly up on the pumpkin umbrella. She said a few things to Lero, and the box floated up, being brought out of harm's way.
However, Allen was not.
Sin nearly screamed when she saw the amount of power that Tyki had put into his attack, which sent huge shockwaves of wind around into a vacuum like space, destroying many things around it.
"Tyki's not playing around, Lero!" Lero commented.
"Are you trying to destroy this place?" Road rubbed the back of her head.
"Road! What's going on?! What's happened to Allen?!" Lenalee exclaimed.
"Allen's in there. This is dangerous." Road crouched down on the umbrella.
Sin could only stare at the sphere shaped wind on the bottom. It reeked of danger, so much that she could taste it.
"Tyki is the 'pleasure' of Noah. He can touch anything that's of this world. Judging by the way the space around Allen is rippling, I'd say Tyki's repelling the air to create a vacuum. If he keeps it up, Allen will suffocate." Road explained.
Sin felt something go over her as she stared at the vacuum. She heard laughter in the distance, but she didn't make out whose it was. But, the laughter was melodious, before it turned scary.
What…? Sin placed a hand over her eyes, her breathing becoming laborious. Why…all of a sudden…?!
Having become sick of seeing her comrades fighting, Lenalee began to kick the box, finding that it didn't break no matter how hard she kicked, or how much she bled.
Sin pressed a hand to her chest and tried to muster up some strength to tell Lenalee to stop, "Lena…stop…!"
Road had a bored expression, "That won't help. You can't even invoke your Innocence."
"You'll cripple yourself if you keep this up! You can't fight! You can't use your power!" Choaji cried.
Lenalee could feel the pain in her legs even more so than before, "I'm still an exorcist. I exist…to fight."
Hearing those words, Sin wanted to cry. Even in her current state, she had refused to use her Innocence for the sake of killing a Noah, or even engage in a fight with them. She had refused to get out of the box, because if she did so, they couldn't just interfere with Tyki and Allen's battle.
She didn't know who to side with – the exorcists, or the Noah. Of course, she was with the exorcists now, but her dear friend—Tyki, was with the Noah. She didn't want to fight him, but even if she did, she was sure that she would be the one to die first.
But even so, for her, she had a difficult decision. The Order, or her friends. If she were Lenalee, she would have picked her friends instantly, but because Sin had friends on both sides, it was near impossible for her to choose.
She let out a strangled cry as she collapsed to the ground, finding it harder and harder to breathe. It felt like something was purposely trying to knock her unconscious, but she didn't know what.
How about you let me take over? I could do with some fun.
No…! Sin pushed herself off the ground and tried to take deep breaths to stabilize. Are you the one who's doing this?
Of course. I want in on the fun. You'll only be a bystander if you continue like this.
Leave me alone…!
Hahaha…just remember, you're this close to losing it.
What…? Losing…what?
Losing it. Let me explain this simply to you—your emotions are forcing you to lose it. The more you feel, the more you suffer. The more you suffer, the more I am able to become what I once was.
What…? What do you mean?!
Don't worry…it'll only be temporary, until it restores.
What restores?
Sin's breathing began to go back to normal as she leaned against the wall for support. She groaned gently and saw that Lenalee and Choaji were asking her what was wrong.
She couldn't hear them at all, but she could make out what they were saying. Slowly, her hearing came back.
"Sin?! Are you alright?!" Lenalee cried, holding her friend's hands.
Sin nodded slowly, a little disorientated. The lack of oxygen was bad; her hearing had become weird and her head had become clouded. She was fine and better now, but she didn't want to feel that again.
What the hell is this voice in my head…? What does it want with me? What's temporary? What are they trying to become?
"I'm…fine…" Sin spoke softly, and heard a loud crack and boom from the vacuum. She saw Tyki skid out of it with a weary looking expression.
"What happened, Tyki?" Road stood up on Lero.
Tyki bore silent for a moment, before talking, "He's an unusual human. This doesn't seem so funny anymore. Did I bring out…something terrible in him?"
Sin shuddered when she felt a cold chill from a terrifying power. The smoke that had come with the destruction of the vacuum had started to dissipate, showing Allen, with one arm holding a large sword.
Blast…! Who knew he had that?!
The next thing she knew, Allen and Tyki were fighting again. But, the tides had changed. Tyki was on the defensive, but he couldn't block. Even if he did, Allen's sword cut right through the barrier, including right through him.
"TYKI?!" Sin shouted, hitting on the wall.
Chaoji stared at her with wide eyes, doubt forming in his mind. Lenalee just gasped.
Tyki heard Sin's cries. His screams echoed throughout the whole area as his inner Noah was getting destroyed by Allen, who had the sword to purge evil.
Blood spilled from his mouth as he and Allen talked.
"You're not killing me…just the Noah?" Tyki laughed, "You're…soft! Much too soft. That sword's just a way to soothe your conscience."
"Say what you want. I know what I'm doing."
Road shouted, "Tyki!" She jumped off Lero and hit the ground, running towards Tyki.
The male Noah lifted his hand in a motion to stop her, "Stay back."
"Give up…TYKI MIKK!" Allen lunged the sword into him.
Tyki's hand went up to Allen's face, allowing him to say a few words, "Too bad…boy." He paused, his voice becoming quieter. "I'm sorry Road…Sin…"
Allen fixated his resolve, pulling out the sword from him. Tyki hit the ground, the stigmata on his forehead disappearing.
"Tyki…" Road spoke.
Sin gaped at the scene, eyes wide. Allen didn't kill Tyki, but he destroyed his inner Noah. Was that possible?
"He…he did it. YOU DID IT! HOORAY! HE DEFEATED THE DEVIL!" Choaji cheered.
Three candles flew the Asian's way, stabbing into his back. He collapsed in a heap, not making a sound.
Sin saw candles everywhere. They had sharp tips and seemed to be controlled by Road.
"CHAOJI!" Allen shouted with alarm.
"Don't move. If you do…I'll kill you." Road's tone of voice tasted like venom. It was threatening. "My candles may not be able to kill the Crown Clown…but they can kill your friends and pierce your flesh." She headed over to Tyki, leaning over him before kneeling down and hugging his head, propping him up with her arms, "I…really do like you, Allen. But family comes first. Don't you agree?"
Allen took a step forward.
"Don't move. I'm a little angry right now. You don't want me to poke holes in your friends, do you? But I'm going to make you pay anyway. I'm going to give your red-haired friend what's coming to him. Lavi…his spirit…is inside me right now. I'm going to puncture his heart."
Lavi?! Sin looked over to the box that Lavi was in, seeing that he was still slumped over on his knees. Is he inside Road's dream world right now?
She already knew that he was, but due to her excessive worrying about Tyki and Allen, she completely forgot about the red head.
If teacher knew about this they would be so mad…Sin thought, remembering their teachings and trainings. Enough about that. Just what is Road planning for Lavi in the dream world?
Suddenly, the box containing Lavi opened, with the red head jumping down to where Allen was. He had strange markings on his face.
"La…vi…?" Allen turned around to face him. Lavi didn't utter a word.
"Allen…I have some sad news for you. Your Lavi's heart…just died. If you want to help Lenalee and Sin, you'll have to kill that one."
The candles inched closer to the boxed exorcists. Sin clenched her hands into fists, her hand going to her belt. Her hand clamped around her Innocence, wondering whether to use it or not.
"LAVI?!"
Lavi charged at Allen barehanded. They fought, with Allen on the defensive. Lavi was like a whole new person. He was fighting seriously, with martial arts that could rival those Sin saw in royal guards.
"If you're going to fight, use your Edge's End!" Road laughed chaotically.
Sin grabbed her Innocence and pulled it out, but a candle zoomed past her hand, causing a large gash to appear on it. She winced slightly.
"You think you can get out of this? Try it." Road's eyes gleamed darkly at her.
Sin stared at the gash on her hand. It was painful, but not something she couldn't take. With her uninjured hand, she ripped off the arm of the exorcist jacket and made a makeshift bandage around her hand, securing it well. She quickly picked up her Innocence and crawled over to Lenalee, seeing her on the brink of crying.
"Sin…your hand…!" Lena, who was watching the battle between Allen and Lavi, had directed her attention towards her female friend, who just got injured. Tears formed in her eyes. Sin went over to her, and with her left arm, wrapped it around Lenalee's head and pulled her into her chest, stroking her head.
"Lena, I'm fine." She smiled.
No, I'm not.
"Endure it a little while longer. Allen will solve this." Sin patted Lena's head and smiled down at her.
Will he?
Lenalee didn't seem all too convinced. When she saw all the destruction and rampage going on the floor below, she started to cry, screaming at Lavi to stop using his Innocence to kill himself, and for her own helplessness.
Lavi…Sin covered her mouth with her bandaged hand, tasting blood. You would sacrifice yourself…just like that…?
When she saw the stamp of fire from underneath him, Sin knew, that Lavi was serious.
She hit the wall of the box with her hands, bloodying the wall before she stopped, and clenched her hands and jaw.
Even if I got out of this, Lenalee and Chaoji would be stuck in the fire stamp!
Before she knew it, the box that they were in touched the ground, after Lavi's fire stamp move had frozen in place, almost like frozen fire, but without the heat. The walls of the box fell, and they were all able to move out. Sin helped Choaji up, but he pushed her hands away, giving her a dark look.
Chaoji…? Sin had a feeling that he didn't like her. She stopped trying to help him and headed over to where Allen and Lavi had fallen out.
"Allen! Lavi!" Sin shouted. She was there first, and checked on them, seeing that they were laughing, but hurt. She felt a sob rip through her body as she hugged the both of them, shouting at them to tell them not to worry her.
Once she let go, however, Lenalee clocked a clean punch right in Lavi's face, which surprised everyone.
Suddenly, female laughter sounded. The source of the sound was Road, who seemed to be burned to crisp. She spoke Allen's name before turning into dust.
"What just happened?" Chaoji asked, unsure.
Lenalee and Sin had the exact same thoughts.
Oh no…Sin thought.
"Hear her whisper your name? She really likes you. What did you do to her?" Lavi whispered, swinging an arm around Allen.
"Nothing! I never touched her!" The white haired boy elbowed Lavi, and soon, they were complaining about their injuries and were at each other's faces, pulling and stretching.
"Allen…Road disappeared. Wasn't her power maintaining the portal on top of the tower?" Lenalee finally spoke.
Sin nodded in agreement, pointing to the top.
She glanced around the area, trying to find Tyki. He was still alive, she knew, since Allen had gone for the Noah inside of him, rather than his humane side.
Where are you…? Sin searched, seeing him on the side, slumped against a wall with Lero flying around him, panicking.
She looked at her friends, seeing them talking amongst each other. Needless to say, they were distracted.
Sorry, guys. Sin quickly headed over to where Tyki was. Since she was the least injured of them all, she was able to move as quickly as she could, her steps as light as a feather. Once she reached the area where Tyki was, she kneeled down and inspected him, knowing that he wouldn't just wake up like that.
"Lero! What are you doing, exorcist?!" The pumpkin umbrella complained.
"Be quiet! I'm checking on him." Sin sent a harsh look his way, telling him to lower his voice.
She didn't want the other exorcists to find out she was here. Choaji was already starting to hate her, and judging by the way that he was acting, he was distrustful of her too. The others were more open-minded.
After this, if this gets reported to the top, then I'd be branded a traitor since I was friends with and refused to fight, a Noah. Sin exhaled slowly.
She placed a hand on Tyki's cheek, caressing it gently, "Tyki. Please don't hate me because I'm an exorcist."
She was keeping it all in, trying to supress all she was feeling. It was hard, but she had to. She knew she didn't have time, as the area started to crumble and rumble.
"I don't hate you, Tyki." She was trying, but it wasn't enough. A tear, then another, slipped down her cheeks as she smiled at him, "I will never be able to."
When they checked if the door was still on the top level, they were able to find it, and go up. However, they noticed that Sin was missing. By sheer coincidence, Allen wanted to bring back Tyki and Lero too, but when he looked over, he found that Sin was there, down by them.
"I'm going to bring up Tyki and Lero." Allen declared. He left out Sin's name because that was a given.
"WHAT?!" Lavi pulled Allen on the shoulder, "Are you crazy?!"
"Tyki Mikk's inner Noah is gone. He's human now. Besides, Lavi…when we first met on the train, he had human friends! That includes Sin! They're waiting for him to come back, it wouldn't be fair to let him die here."
Lavi made a face of uncertainty. He knew that Tyki and Sin were somehow connected, but he didn't know how much they were, and what their exact relationship was. Now he did.
"I don't mind…but if the Order finds out you helped a Noah…" Lavi trailed off.
Both Allen and Sin…he glanced down at where Tyki and Sin were.
"Helped? Didn't you kill him?" Chaoji felt anger and disbelief breed inside him like bacteria.
"He's still alive."
"Why? They're in league with the akuma! They killed Anita, Mahoja and my shipmates! How could you? You helped…a Noah? You betrayed us! If you helped one of them…you're my enemy!"
"Chaoji…"
"MY ENEMY! YOU'RE AN AKUMA TOO!"
Sin gasped when something wrapped around her arms, tightening around it so much that it hurt. She had heard Choaji's outburst, which hurt her, too. However, she had other problems to worry about. The roof above her crumbled after a hit from those same things she was held by, and she saw Allen on the ground nearby.
"ALLEN!" She shouted. She saw that he was fine, just pushing himself off the ground.
The things that had wrapped around her were like black, wispy like tentacles. She tried to rip them off, but they came off voluntarily, dropping Sin onto the ground. She saw where the tentacles had come from, her eyes widening as she felt a fear forming, a terrifying feeling more so than Allen's emanating from him.
"Ty…ki…?"
He was standing, those tentacles having come out from behind him. He had stopped right in front of Sin, where she was dropped, taking off the tie he wore. A black stigmata appeared on his throat, and his face had some form of tattoo that resembled that of the tentacles. The hand that held his tie, was bleeding black blood, and seeming to come from a cross that looked like it had been carved there.
"Who…are you!?" Allen shouted, "Are you Tyki Mikk?!"
Sin just sat there, petrified. She inhaled sharply when the black tentacles extended, before wrapping around Tyki. He was screaming as a whirlwind of dark matter formed all around him, transforming his appearance.
"SINI! GET OUT OF THERE!" Allen screamed, trying to hold his ground.
Sin didn't even react fast enough before Tyki let out a large amount of dark matter, his transformation having completed. Sin was hit with the dark matter, falling over and skidding not so far away.
She coughed, feeling like her lungs burned. She panted as she pushed herself off the ground, coughing right after. She wiped her mouth, before hearing a fight to her side. It was Allen and the dark knight, the appearance of the transformed Tyki.
She could barely see Tyki move – he was too fast for the eye.
He's faster than Kanda…! She tried to stand up, but her body ached all over, having been hit at close proximity to the male. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself up with trembling legs.
"ALLEN!" She screamed, seeing him get cut. It was a major cut that saw blood flying everywhere, horrifying the woman. They continued to fight, with Allen on the end of disadvantage.
"Tyki Mikk? Is that outfit supposed to be funny?" Lavi had intervened with the fight, holding onto Allen after he was sent straight into a wall.
Tyki began to laugh, sending chills straight down the exorcists' spines as he charged towards Allen and Lavi, destroying the area around them.
Whew. Now that's a sight I haven't seen in a long time.
What are you talking about?!
That's Joyd, the Noah of Pleasure. That's your precious Tyki's Noah's form. Its true form. He's pretty powerful in this state and probably won't listen to any of you, so…
What do you mean?! Are you telling me there's nothing I can do?!
Well, there is one thing…
Spill it!
Chill, woman. I can't just go telling you this!
You've got to be kidding me! I'll just do things my own way, then!
Hey, hey! Don't tell me that you're going to…!
Sin ground her teeth together, thinking of another option. She took out her Innocence and invoked, now holding onto a spear sword. She inhaled, seeing that Tyki was still fighting.
That…isn't him. Sin said those words over and over.
"TYKI MIKK!" She screamed as loud as she could, trying to get the attention of the Noah.
He stopped his attack on Lavi and pulled back slightly, glancing towards Sin's direction. He stared at her for a little moment before charging straight at her, a dangerous smirk on his face as he laughed.
As he got closer, the tentacles began to reach around her, trying to grab her. She froze in her place and gulped thickly, hearing Lavi, Allen and Lenalee's screams for her to stop and go to safety.
YOU RECKLESS IDIOT!
Sin knitted her brows together and pulled her arm back, going into a stance that allowed her to combat any moves front on.
As Tyki got closer, she readied her Innocence, having made the decision that she would try and stop him. He pulled his arm back when he was close enough, throwing it in her direction.
She could feel the shockwaves that cracked the ground beneath her and the pillars behind her, but she didn't care. She held out her Innocence horizontally in front of her, holding both sides as she blocked his attack, her feet digging into the cracked ground. She winced as she felt her hand bleed profusely down her arm, dripping onto the ground.
Tyki pulled back his arm and disappeared from her sight, alarming the girl.
Lavi shouted her name, seeing Tyki appear behind her to give her a slash like he did Allen.
Tyki—
Thank me later!
Sin saw the dark knight's expression of excitement before she felt something overcome her, and her consciousness taking a step back for something else to take over.
What is this? She gasped. This is the same feeling I got when fighting against For!
This time, Sin still kept her consciousness, but she wasn't in control of her body anymore. She could see everything that was happening, but could not feel anything at all.
I'll take care of things here.
"SIN!" Lavi shouted. He was shocked that she had decided to do things by herself and call him over, which would most likely result in her being killed, especially since he wasn't 'Tyki' anymore.
She can't die yet…! Lavi clenched his teeth together and pulled Allen up, hoping he could stand.
However, before he could do anything, he felt the presence of Innocence, but a form that was much, much darker than the Innocences he'd come across. He inhaled sharply, feeling a chill that went straight to his bones.
Beside him, Allen coughed repeatedly, feeling a disturbing aura that emanated from Sin. He looked up, his eyes clouded with a fear more so than that of Tyki.
"What…is this?!" Allen exclaimed, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead.
Lavi was the same, finding the sensation stifling. His eyes were wide as he watched Sin. A bright light had come from her, and in the next moment, two white wings had come out of her back, sending back shockwaves that forced Tyki through a pillar.
"What the hell…?" Lavi muttered with awe and shock. "That's…Sin, right?"
Sin's hair was starting to change from black to a platinum silver, having faded halfway. Her eyes weren't the usual blue, but rather, a red that rivalled that the colour of fresh blood.
She checked her wings, flapping them to check how they were, smirking. She ripped off the jacket of her exorcist uniform, throwing it to the ground, since it broke upon her recovering her wings.
"Hm…" She looked down at her attire, seeing that she only wore something similar to what Lenalee wore, saving the bandages around her legs.
She mumbled to herself, "A long time coming."
She checked the Innocence in left hand, seeing that her right hand was bleeding through the uniform piece tied around it. She examined it for a moment, before hearing a growl coming from Joyd, who had flew back to where Sin was, charging at her faster than ever.
Lavi and Allen watched with their jaws dropped, seeing how fast they were both moving.
Sin was dodging and parrying rather than going on the offensive, moving through his attacks with ease. Joyd was hysterically fighting, as if he was a crazy drunk, trying to get a hit in.
"I'm surprised that the little princess's beloved friend has become like this." Sin mused, her injured hand running along the sword. Her blood dripped off it.
Lavi and Allen stared at her in astonishment, wondering what she was talking about. It sounded like Sin, but it was definitely not her.
"That's not Sin." Allen stated, eyes narrowing. "She may sound like her…but I get the feeling it's not her."
Lavi nodded in agreement, finding that was the only way to see a situation like this. He documented it, knowing that this was something he needed to record.
Joyd flew towards her, sending a punch her way. She dodged it and used her injured hand to grab his wrist, the Innocence at his throat. She smiled at him, and he just froze.
"Why'd he just stop?" Lavi asked Allen.
Allen didn't reply, trying to get up.
Sin's injured hand let go of his wrist and touched his cheek, "Joyd. It's been a long time."
The dark knight didn't say anything, but instead, lifted his arm up to touch her face like she did him.
"What…the hell's happening?" Lavi stared at them, wondering what the hell was going on.
A Noah and an exorcist…what is this? Didn't Tyki want to kill us all?
"How many years has it been?" Sin spoke again, dropping her hand. She touched his hand that was on her cheek, squeezing it in her hand.
Joyd made a strange noise, pulling his hand away from Sin, flying back. He pressed his hands to his face and made a strangled noise, before screaming out loudly, as if he were in pain. His voice caused the remaining pillars to crack and the floor to crumble, leaving only water and rubble.
The top area in which the portal was destroyed, had Lenalee and Chaoji, who was taken by Sin in the nick of time, and placed near Lavi and Allen.
"You…YOU'RE AN AKUMA! I was right…you…you're in league with the Noah…I knew it!" Chaoji pointed at Sin with a shaky finger, trembling. He looked like he was about to cry, but it didn't come out just yet.
Lenalee stared at Sin with wide eyes, feeling the darkness of the Innocence that she held, at closer proximity than before.
This…this…! Her breathing became rugged. She had noticed that Sin's hair colour and eye colour had changed, and her aura was different, which was something that frightened her. Her wings, too, surprised her, and everyone else. Was this the true form of her Innocence?
Sin stared at Lenalee, then Chaoji, with a nonchalant expression. She spoke to Choaji, "And you expect me to be in league with the Black Order?"
Those words shocked them all, who stared at her with shock.
"Wha…what do you mean…?" Choaji arm slowly lowered, trying to register what she was saying.
"Sin may love you guys like she loves that transformed Noah over there, but I don't have any loyalties to that pathetic Order for little shits like you all." Sin turned back to where Joyd was, "I only saved you because it goes according to this vessel's wishes, and I owe her as much. The next time we meet, I may kill you." Sin sent a look at the group before she went off to fight Joyd, who was coming in closer.
However, he ignored her and went straight to the exorcists, sending a punch that separated them all.
Sin just flew in one spot, trying to make the hard decision whether or not to help them. They were her vessel's friends, but they were also exorcists.
Help them, you…! She should hear Sin shouting inside her mind.
Should I, though?
You're the only one who can help them…! Please, don't let them die! I beg you! Please…!
She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, feeling kind of bad for Sin.
Since I feel bad for you, I guess I will.
Sin located the exorcists, mildly surprised at what her 20 seconds of thinking got them. Lenalee was being strangled by Joyd, with Chaoji trying to save the day.
A small smirk curled her lips as she watched, wanting to see what happened next.
YOU TOLD ME YOU'D SAVE THEM! YOU…!
Calm down, girly. In a moment.
She heard Sin crying from the other side, shouting at her repeatedly.
"Fine, fine." She rolled her eyes and sped forward, going towards the spot that Joyd had smashed the rubble, letting Lenalee and Choaji fall in. "Ah…so troublesome. They're underneath all that rubble. Wonder if they're dead yet."
Sin zoomed past Joyd, lifting her Innocence above her head. She was going to destroy the large pieces of rubble so that they would be easier to move. However, just before she did so, she felt a hand grab her by the back of her neck, clenching tightly.
"Ow. That hurts, you know?" Sin used her free hand to clamp it around the hand on her neck, and the other to destroy the rocks. As she did so, she threw Joyd over and towards the ground, where he smashed against the rubble to break it further. "Ah, whoops. Slip of the hand." She noticed the rubble starting to move, but not from the movements that she just did. It was from somewhere else, and she could feel the presence of another Innocence.
"Oh…?" She looked down, seeing Chaoji pushing up all the rubble with his veins showing and teeth clenching.
I see. So he's reacted to the Innocence but it can't get here.
Joyd moved from where he had made a crater, pushing himself off the rocks and to Sin, where he just missed her, clipping her wing. She faltered in the air, but it grew back, followed by two other wings that were slightly smaller.
She clicked her tongue, "Now there are four."
Joyd stared at his hand, where the Innocence had disappeared, then looked back at Sin with a wild grin.
Glancing over to the side, Sin saw that Allen and Lavi had destroyed the rubble on top of Lenalee and Chaoji, and were helping each other to a safer area.
They're fine now. Happy?
She didn't hear a word from the other side, only a sob that confirmed that she was crying, yet again.
You cry like one thousand times more than I do.
Joyd let out a battle cry and pushed himself to where the exorcists were, seeing that they were easier targets than Sin was.
She sighed with annoyance and flew after Joyd, going in faster now that she had more wings, and getting to the exorcists before he could. She grabbed them all and flew away in a spiral, throwing them down on a piece of rubble, away from Joyd.
"Ow!" Lavi complained.
"You guys are heavier than I thought you'd be." Sin sighed landed on the ground near where the other exorcists were, and retracted two of her wings. She held up her Innocence sword, pouring her energy into it, making it glow a dark green.
Before she could release an attack on the incoming Joyd, the ground around them became a golden colour, blinding her eyes and the incoming Noah's. The ground beneath them all crumbled in the shape of a circle, with Allen falling victim as he had ventured off the rubble to fight Joyd.
Joyd was pushed away by the bright light that was Innocence, while Sin flew to avoid falling. She flew out of the hole and landed on the outside of it, panting.
Shit…I used too much power for that. She stared at the Innocence in her hand, finding that the power she poured into the Innocence had dissipated. I guess I can't use my power as I'd like in this body. Stupid restrictions.
Allen screamed as he fell, but Cross, who was in the disguise as a skull, grabbed him by the ankle, "Who is this filthy urchin?"
I knew it. It's him.Sin thought with a heavy sigh. She pulled herself from the ground, seeing them come out of the hole, with Cross, who was standing on his other Innocence, a large container locked with chains.
"I thought I'd be able to tolerate the site of you by now. But you're still filthy. You haven't improved at all, my dear pupil." Timcanpy flew on top of his head.
"The Grave of Maria…" Allen's expression turned for the worst, "L-Long-time…no…see!"
"Why are you smiling?" Cross's disguise reverted back to the mask he wore on one side of his face, "Want me to drop you?"
Sin waited, seeing Cross take off the skull's jacket. The minute he landed on the ground where Sin was, he dropped Allen and scratched his head.
"Master…" Allen said. "T-Tim! You're here too?"
Oh boy.Sin wanted to sigh many times over. She didn't expect to see this person here.
Do you know him?
This is Cross Marian. You know, the General that all you exorcists were trying to find.
Ah! That is! That's General Cross!
Don't be so giddy. He's a womaniser and will do anything to get in your pants.
…pardon?
Sin didn't even want to explain Cross to her vessel.
"At least you can finally do a proper spell." Cross offered him his hand, "But look at you. You're a mess."
Allen stared at his hand as if it were something foreign, but as he apologized, Cross grabbed his collar and threw him all the way over to where Lenalee and the others were.
"YOU'RE FILTHY, BOY!" His expression went dark as he looked over at Lavi, glaring at him too. "Hey, you get away from me too! I like to surround myself with beautiful things. Dirty things must never come near me."
"What a terrible thing to say!" Lavi inched away from General Cross.
Sin inched away slowly, hoping that he didn't see her trying to leave.
Cross's eye gleamed, having noticed Sin when he arrived. "You there!"
Sin made a face, "I was hoping you didn't notice me."
"How could I not notice someone as lovely as you?" Cross smiled.
Sin shuddered. "Stop it with your flirting."
Cross merely chuckled and looked at her, seeing that the form she had taken was one that he knew would happen sooner or later.
"Give that body back to her now." Cross spoke, undoing the Grave of Maria. "After I take care of him."
Sin's brows raised, remembering the last time she had heard from him talking specifically to her. She smirked. "I see. Alright. For old times' sake, I will. Do what you will."
"I'm surprised you don't care." He commented, throwing the chains that bound Maria away.
"I do. But…" Sin trailed off, having a feeling that Tyki won't die, nor will Joyd.
Cross smirked, before chanting the spell that released Maria. Maria sung, sending out the signals to remove everyone except Cross and Joyd, to the mind. That meant Joyd was not able to see anybody but Cross.
Cross flipped his long coat away, pulling out his equipment type Innocence, Judgement, aiming it at Joyd as he charged to attack.
"Amen." Cross chuckled as he took care of Joyd, much to the dismay of the other Sin.
It takes more than that to kill a Noah, you know.
B-but…! What about Tyki?!
Eh, he's either dead or unconscious or something.
Don't give me such vague answers!
Sin rubbed her temples, finding it annoying to deal with the other Sin, who just couldn't keep calm.
Sure, Sin understood that she hadn't been in a situation like this before, but she was overreacting.
I guess that's just accelerating the process. Oh well.
What…? What process?!
Sin didn't respond to her as the ground started to crumble, signalling that it was almost time that the Ark was going to be destroyed.
"Is it time? I'd better hurry." Cross kneeled on one knee, ready to give another shot at the Noah.
"Oh…?" Sin eyes widened, before she smiled small.
The rubble that had started to fall revealed the Millennium Earl, with Joyd over his shoulder, unconscious. He held the same sword as Allen did when he passed the 100% invocation.
The spell that was cast over Sin to be invisible to Tyki had been broken, as the ground beneath her crumbled. She used her wings to fly.
"Good evening." The Earl greeted, both Cross and Sin.
"Hey! Still battling the belly fat, eh?" Cross remarked.
Sin didn't say a word and only chuckled.
She heard the shouts of the others, who she could care less about.
"How long has it been?" The Millennium Earl and Cross chatted for a little bit about Noah's Ark and the fourteenth.
While in the middle of discussion, Allen threw himself at the Earl, anger having flooded his veins and distracted his mind.
As Cross was talking and scolding Allen, stopping him with Maria, the Earl spoke to Sin.
"Do you still wish to destroy the Order as much as you used to? If you so do wish, I will help you." The Earl laughed and headed straight down into one of Road's doors, leaving the scene.
Sin stared at where the door disappeared, repeating his words in her mind. She chuckled to herself, a smirk coming onto her features.
"You, give that body back to her." Cross demanded at Sin. "I want the cute girl back."
Sin stared at him, dropping the smirk she had before, chuckling lightly instead. "Fine."
She glimpsed at Lenalee and Allen, seeing their expressions of shock, no doubt from the words the Earl had said earlier.
"See you, exorcists."
As promised, here's your body back.
Her hair turned back to its original black, and her eyes changed to the crystal blue they once were. The wings that had come from her back had disappeared, and the Innocence in her hand had reverted back to a hairpin.
Sin blinked a few times, feeling herself back in her body again. She looked around at the others, seeing that her friend's expressions were of surprise when they saw her, and that Cross was smiling.
"I'm…back…?" Sin moved her hand, but once she did, she winced in pain, feeling an incredible amount of pain in her hand. She stared at it, seeing that the uniform she wrapped around it was all bloodied, with excess coming out. Seeing all that blood made her feel queasy. She was surprised she hadn't lost it from blood loss yet.
"Sin…" Lena cracked a smile, "You're back!"
"You're back…" Allen repeated, mouth open.
Cross chuckled, "You're still as lovely as ever, Sin."
Sin looked over at General Cross, seeing that his way of saying her name was almost as if he were saying it sarcastically. She decided to ignore it, "What do we do now?"
"I helped you against the Noah, now you must help me." Cross ordered Allen to stand up.
"What are you going to do?" Lena asked.
"My duty."
"Your duty?"
"I think you know why I'm here." Cross looked at Allen.
As if there was a lightbulb moment within him, he realised, "To destroy the akuma factory!"
"The room that houses it is still intact. Show the way, Tim."
A ball of bright light transported them to another room on the Ark, one that had many dead bodies of the skulls lying around.
Sin looked up at the large structure that was shaped like an egg, held by two large handles on the side to keep it in place. It was breathing.
"That's the egg, the Earl's evil body generator. I need to destroy it, but we don't have time to remove the protection barrier." The room rumbled, signalling how much time was left.
"What're we going to do?!" Allen held onto Lenalee.
Sin stayed standing, unfazed. She felt so out of it, especially after coming back from a completely different mental environment. Her senses felt kind of numb.
"What do you think? We're going to steal it. The download will stop and the Earl won't be able to create more akuma in the new Ark." Cross said it as if it was nothing.
"How are we going to? We can't get off this thing!" Allen protested.
"General! Are you going to move the Ark?" Lenalee asked.
"No, that job belongs to Allen." Cross chanted a spell, pointing his two fingers at the egg. "This spell should slow the download. All right, move the Ark, Allen! Hurry if you want to live!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Allen exclaimed.
"I'll open the special room." Cross sent Tim towards Allen, "Follow Tim, then you'll understand."
"But…why me?!" Tim transported Allen to another room.
"Because you're the only one who can do it, my silly pupil." The ground beneath Cross began to crumble, opting him to carry Lenalee. He turned to Sin, "You can use those wings, right?"
Sin's blue eyes widened at him, then she blinked a few times, realising that she didn't know how.
Sure, she saw them when she was trapped inside her mind, but it's not like she knew how to control it!
All those times that it's ever come out is when I was about to die or something major happened! How?!
I'll help you out.
Hearing that voice, Sin felt something come out of her back. She looked over her shoulder, seeing two wings, a third of the size of the ones that she was using before. She flew above the ground, the feeling coming back to her. She had felt this before, a very long time ago.
She pushed that memory out of her head, shaking it.
Cross and Lenalee stared at her for a good moment, with Cross commenting that it was good. He then proceeded to talk to Allen through a wireless earring, similar to the ones that Allen and Sin got when boarding the Ark for the first time.
Soon enough, the akuma factory that was nearly gone had started to come back, along with the room it was in, repairing the ground and everything around them. As that happened, music accompanied it, a familiar tune that Sin had heard before.
Where have I heard this…?
Cross, having finished his job, sat down after setting down Lenalee, placed a cigarette between his lips, and lit it. "The transfer of the factory was incomplete! The Earl didn't get it! This is a great victory for both of us, Allen!"
No sound came from the other side of the transmitter.
"Allen! Are you alright?" Lena asked with concern.
"Allen, send us a door so we can come rescue you." Cross scratched his forehead. "Just hope for one…"
A light came from a door that had just materialised, allowing for them to go in. Sin flew in after the others, seeing that inside of the room was all white, with minimal furniture. There was a piano, which Allen stood behind, a sofa, a chair and a wall sized glass window.
"Lenalee…Sin…I'm glad you two are safe." Allen smiled towards them. He noticed that Sin had small wings, flying towards him.
"We heard the music that halted the destruction. Were you playing it?" Lena asked.
"Yes…" Allen glared at Cross, "Why…was that musical score…"
"COME AND GET IT, ALLEN!" Lavi's voice sounded through the whole room, echoing around its walls.
Sin landed on her feet, the wings retracting. A smile formed when she heard that voice.
While stuck in her mind, she had heard that Lavi had fallen to his death judging by Allen and Lenalee's voice at that time, but now that she heard it again, she was sure that he was alive. That in itself made her eyes feel watery.
"Food?!" Allen exclaimed.
"He's not a dog, Lavi." Sin heard Chaoji comment. She realised that he had survived too.
"Oh yeah? Watch, Chaoji! He'll come running! HERE, BOY! STEAK! PASTA! SWEET DUMPLINGS! TIME TO EAT, ALLEN! COME AND GET IT!" A large projection of Lavi's face popped up right in front of them.
Sin grinned, feeling that their voices really cheered her up.
"Lavi…! Choaji!" Lena placed her hands over her mouth in astonishment.
"They're alive…!" Allen gasped.
"WE GOT RIBS!"
"Whoa…the whole city came back. It wasn't destroyed, just stuck between dimensions." Cross sat on the chair, nonchalantly scratching his head.
"Master, you said my friends were dead!"
"Well they were almost as good as dead."
"You lied to me!"
"DUMPLINGS! DUMPLINGS! DUMPLINGS!"
"Lavi! We're here! Can't you hear us?! Master?! CAN'T THEY HEAR OUR VOICES?!"
Sin headed over to Lenalee, placing a hand on her back, seeing her on the ground. She was silent, as if trying to register what was happening. Tim flew around her.
"If we're alive…maybe Yu and Krorykins are too!" Lavi realised, an imaginary lightbulb appearing next to him. He took in a big breath of air, "YU'S HAIR LOOKS LIKE—"
"Watch what you say." A door slammed opened, revealing Kanda, who was dragging Krory on his back.
"YU!" Lavi raised his arms in happiness, going over to Kanda. He looked around to see who he was carrying, "Is that Krorykins you're carrying?"
"Yeah…but what happened here?" The Mugen user looked around, puzzled.
"I have no idea!" Lavi shrugged.
"COME ON! GET OUT HERE, BEAN SPROUT!"
"DON'T CALL ME BEAN SPROUT!" Allen retorted back, shouting.
The three of them on the visual seemed like they could hear his voice.
"Huh?!" Chaoji gasped.
"Allen!?" Lavi looked around, trying to find where the voice was coming from.
"Bean sprout's voice is coming from up there." Kanda made an angry face.
"MY NAME'S ALLEN!"
"Eli…ade…"
"Hey! Krorykins just spoke!"
Sin laughed a little at their comments, comforting Lenalee when she started crying, sobbing as she heard her friend's voices. She thought they were dead, and felt incredible relief when she found out they were not. Timcanpy tried to cheer her up.
"Lenalee! They're back!" Sin smiled, rubbing her back.
Lena looked over at her, eyes red, with tears still falling down her face. "Yes!" She smiled.
As Lena cried, Sin patted her back.
Except, her mind was distracted. She couldn't help but think of what happened while she wasn't in control of her body, as well as what the Earl said to her.
Who exactly are you, voice in my head? Sin thought, trying to get her voice to reach the other one. She wanted to find out more about them, to see why they're in her mind.
Me? The voice was silent for a long while, before finally speaking again, you can call me 'Mei'.
Mei…Sin raised a brow, isn't that Chinese?
It was a name I had a very, very, long time ago.
Sin had one last question, one that she wanted to find out more about. Just what are those wings that you're able to control?
The wings? I'm able to control them because I know how to. But those are not my wings. They're yours. You just haven't learnt how to yet.
What do you mean?
What do you mean, 'what do you mean'? I should be asking that, you know.
No, I mean, they're my wings?
Yes, they're yours.
But how?
Silly…it's your Innocence.
Innocence?
Yes. Do you remember what Allen asked you, back at the Asia branch? About what the name of your Innocence is?
Yes…?
Well, now you'll know. It's called 'Seraphim'.
Seraphim…
Sin took out her Innocence, staring at it for a long moment.
This is called 'Seraphim'? I thought the Order gave names to the Innocences. They just never happened to give me mine.
"Seraphim…" Sin spoke those words quietly, standing up. She placed the Innocence back into her pouch.
"Sin." Cross spoke. "Come here for a moment."
She turned around, seeing him on the chair. She went over to him, curious as to what he was going to say.
Cross stood up, looming over her shorter figure. He was over a good head taller than her, so she had to crane her neck to see his face.
"General Cross?"
"Don't let it consume you." He spoke this quietly so no one apart from them could hear.
What?
"G-General Cross…?" Sin questioned once again, unsure of what he was saying.
"MASTER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Allen shouted from the other side. He charged at them.
Allen skidded to a halt between Sin and Cross, his arms out to protect his friend from his fiendish Master. "Don't touch her!"
Uh…Allen…? Sin just blinked, surprised that he would jump in between them.
"Is she your woman?" Cross questioned with a raise of his brow. When Allen didn't reply, Cross shrugged, "I was just going to give her my coat. Silly pupil."
Sin swore she saw Allen breathing fire, cursing his Master. Cross took off his coat and placed it around Sin, ignoring Allen's looks of warning at him. He leaned in closer, "It's been a while, little princess. You've grown up well."
"MASTER!" Allen tried to shove them away from each other, succeeding.
"Cross…how do you know?" Sin asked with wide blue eyes, staring at him in disbelief.
Allen stared at her as if she was crazy, then glared at Cross.
"You've forgotten me, have you? I'll get you to remember. How about we talk about this over—"
"MASTER! EVEN IF SHE IS LEGAL DON'T HIT ON EVERY WOMAN YOU SEE!"
"If she's legal there's nothing to worry about, is there?"
"MASTERRRRRR!"