Chapter 14
Too soon for Lulubell's taste the carriage entered a small village.
"All right then" Cloud said attaching her golem to a phone she had borrowed at a nearby inn.
Reever quickly answered. "Yes?"
"This is General Cloud Nyne."
Cloud smiled as she heard Reever falling off his chair. "Is there something wrong general?"
"Well it depends on your view" she said. "I am out of spare innocence and me and my new students aren't technically out on a mission, and it's dangerous out here… we wondered if Walker could be so kind as to open up a way for us to HQ?"
"And by us you mean…"
Cloud rolled her eyes. "Me, the finders, Lenalee and my 3 students, Petro, Tenno and Noah!"
Reever was silent for a little while. "I'll talk with the supervisor and Allen, we'll track you down by your golem, most likely we will see you soon General."
"Thank you Reever."
"No problem general."
Cloud hung up and turned around where the rest of the crew stood, Lulubell looking pale.
"Take a deep breath Lulubell" Kitty said noticing the pale look on the Noah's face.
"Let's wait outside" Lulubell muttered. "I need the air."
They walked out and waited. About 5 minutes later Lenalee smiled and Lulubell groaned as they felt the ark appearing, a small white plate forming.
"Wow" Kitty and Aiki said, gawking at the sight.
Then someone came out of the ark and Lulubell sighed and rose.
"Hello there Walker, how are you doing?" She asked, trying to hide the fact that she was scared as hell.
Allen blinked as he saw her. "Lulubell? You are the Noah who's an exorcist now?"
"Nobody told you?" Lulubell asked.
"No one knew except Komui and he was insistent on holding it a secret" Allen said. "I'm actually relieved, I feared that it was Road; I would never have any peace."
"True" Lulubell said. "She does have an unhealthy obsession of you."
"Shall we go?" Allen asked. "It's safer to talk about this at HQ."
Allen smiled and beaconed for everyone to follow him inside the ark. As Lulubell walked in he muttered to her so only she could hear. "There is a welcoming party at the other side, if I were you I'd do something to make amends for the last time you walked in there!"
"Arigato" Lulubell said nodding.
Allen looked at her and noticed the green stigmata. "Parasitic huh?"
"Yeah I've started getting used to it."
"Holly crap this place is sweet."
Lulubell smiled at Kitty's enthusiasm. "She really get's impressed out of nothing. So which way out of here?"
"So eager to say sorry Lulubell?" Cloud asked coming up next to Lulubell and Allen.
"I just want to get this over with; I've been dreading this day for 2 weeks now, time to close my eyes, take a deep breath and jump into the chaos."
"Very well" Allen said pointing to a door. "There is the door."
Everyone stopped and Lulubell just gulped.
"Ladies first" Allen said smiling, Lulubell scowled.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?"
"Oh you have no idea" Allen said.
"Come on Lulubell we'll go together" Kitty said, Aiki just nodding agreeing.
"Oh for the love of God I'll go" Cloud said walking past them, Lau Shimin chirping happy. Cloud Nyne walked through the door, Lenalee following. Lulubell sighed, took a deep breath and walked in the door.
The quietness was almost unbearable. Lulubell looked up from the floor and saw that there indeed was a welcoming comity. Consisting of exorcists, finders and scientists. She stepped up and saw that all eyes were on her.
"All right" she said holding up her hands. "I get it, I am sorry. I am sorry that I was born into a family that wants to destroy the world; I am sorry I walked into the former HQ and killed many of your friends and family. If I could turn back time and try to hinder what I did I would, but I can't… But I really am sorry. I don't know if it is any consolation to any of you that my family members is now out to kill me… all I can think is that you think I deserve it, and you are probably right."
Lulubell sighed again and fell to one knee, her head downcast. "All I ask is that you won't hate me for what I have done, please forgive me." She finished up and she heard footsteps walking up to her.
"Lulubell Noah, my name is Komui Lee… we talked for about 2 weeks ago."
Lulubell looked up into Komui's face. She remembered the conversation. He looked at her and a hand gently brushed over her innocence.
"I only have one thing to say to you" Komui said. He smiled gently and held out a hand. "Welcome home."
Lulubell goggled but stood up and took his hand. "Thanks" she said smiling gently.
Komui nodded and turned to Kitty and Aiki. "That goes for you too, welcome home."
"Thanks" Aiki said smiling, Kitty still looking around in amazement.
"Well I should go" Lenalee said smiling. "I need some sleep."
"I need to eat" Allen said heading towards the kitchen.
Komui smiled. "Well I should let someone give you a tour… ah Lavi come here would you?"
Lavi came up smiling. "Hai I know, give them a tour, I'll see to…" he stopped talking; he and Aiki had looked at each other.
Aiki smiled to Kitty. "Bull's-eye" she said Kitty shaking her head, Lulubell rolling her eyes as Lavi finally spoke again.
"Strike!"
"Lavi" Komui said a little louder now. "The tour?"
"Ah right, right, follow me ladies."
"See you guys later" Komui said smiling, Lulubell and Cloud giving each other a small look as if to say talk to you later.
"OK now this is our training hall" Lavi said pointing around to show the three new people what was what. "And this is our sleeping quarters, we call this place home. Each exorcist has their own room to sleep in here when not on a mission. This is the food court… oy where are you going?"
"Parasitic innocence, I need food" Lulubell yelled over her shoulder hurrying over to Jerry. "Hi I'd like 3 gallons of milk, 5 plates of steamed tuna and a stuffed turkey please."
"Wow" Lavi said.
"Yeah, first time she said please on her own accord I'm impressed" Aiki said and Kitty laughed.
"Oh hush" Lulubell said as she sat down and started eating. "Having a parasitic innocence is tough, and here the food is free, it's like heaven."
"Tell me about it."
Lulubell looked up from her fish and saw Allen. "Hey there Allen, how are you doing?" Lavi asked.
"Pretty good now thanks" Allen said.
"How come you don't have a lapdog?" Lulubell asked.
"Excuse me?"
"Well last time I was here I heard you were under surveillance for suspicion of being on the Earl's side, and was forced to have a lapdog at all times… what was his name? Link?"
"Yeah he was" Allen said frowning. "But then Leverrier died and the higher ups decided I had nothing to do with the Earl other than a wish to destroy him, so I am now a free exorcist."
"No such thing" Lulubell said as she started drinking her milk.
"Well aren't we a happy camper?" Lavi said, trying to be gentle as he knew that he was after all talking with a Noah.
"Yeah well answer me this, how many are currently scowling over in my direction?"
Everyone looked up and suddenly realized that the entire cafeteria quickly tried to not look as if they had been looking.
"My point exactly" Lulubell said rising from her chair as she finished her food. "Now then Lavi you were giving us a tour?"
"Y-Yeah… this way… fellow exorcist."
Lulubell smiled as the last part was more directed at the finders and exorcists who had been scowling.
"Now then we are almost finished, this is the science department… oh hey there Johnny how are you?"
Lulubell looked over and saw a small man with glasses and a pair of headphones staring at Lulubell who could have sworn she had seen this guy before.
"Have we met?" She asked, Lavi going over to whisper in her ear.
"You pierced his shoulder with your arm and unleashed the level 3 Akuma's at the old HQ."
Lulubell's face changed from quizzically to understanding and then to pain. "Ohhh… oh… Sorry about that."
"We'll I'm alive at least" Johnny said gently. "You are the 3 new exorcists right?" He asked mostly looking at Lulubell's emerald stigmata.
"Yes we are" Aiki said smiling.
"Then I would like it if you could stay here for a little while, we need your measurements for your new uniforms."
"Sure, no problem" Kitty said lining up as Johnny and 2 other scientists dragged out measurement tapes.
"All right then, let's get this over with, shall we?"
Lulubell could do nothing but to sigh and hold out her arms as a scientist gently started measuring the length from her shoulder to her hand.