"Tell me another story."
Xiv halted once again in his search for an exit from this void. "Which one?"
Deciding that the Noah didn't sound quite as annoyed as he rightfully could be, Allen continued, "The one where you and Mana fought over the dog."
"Ah." Xiv grinned at the warm memory, though back then the brotherly dispute had been everything less than fond.
And so it went on, request after request of tales that both the listener and the teller enjoyed their participation in.
"Tell me another story."
The Earl paused in his conduction of their counterfeit Ark. "No time."
Road looked down in disappointment, but she puffed out a snigger a moment later. "Sure thing, Earl."
Tyki took a slow, indulgent drag from his cigarette. "How much longer?"
"Patience, Tyki, patience." After a few hums and taps from his supple fingers on the piano, the Earl announced, "Ah! We're ready! Let's go get our brother back!"
"Repeat that?"
"We got a…uh…message…from the Earl…"
"And…"
"He's…coming…and he wants us to practice our scripts."
"The man is a joke…" Komui took the bottled manuscripts from the trembling hands of the deliverer. Upon popping out the cork, a pungent smell of iron filled the air. With several persistent shakes, a scroll fell out, rolling open to reveal its letter in all its sick, bloody glory.
Healthy pink was replaced by green as color drained from Komui's face. "Evacuate headquarters. Head to the nearest branch and stay there."
"Are we running?" someone asked.
Were they? No. Komui shook his head valiantly. They were merely removing the pawns who didn't fight—the Finders, nurses, and everyone who were worth more trouble than help. Even the science department must leave, for they would only get in the way.
"Alert the Exorcists." Komui struggled to wear a professional expression as he condemned his soldiers to near-certain death. "Everyone else needs to get out."
"Rouvelier…" Johnny hesitated.
"He can't stay. He'll be killed." Komui wondered if he sounded as reluctant as he felt.
"He'll want to take Allen along…" Johnny mumbled as he made calls and announcements across HQ.
That was the only thing Komui wouldn't object to. As long as he remained unconscious, Allen was as useless on the battlefield as the rest of them.
"Noahs? When will they arrive?" Rouvelier sped through the crowded halls for the medical ward.
"They failed to provide an exact time." Link walked ahead to clear the way.
"Useless!" Rouvelier dashed into the hospital wing, scanning it for his suspect. "Take him to a private room," he commanded the moment he saw white hair.
"Calm down, Lenalee." Lavi rubbed the girl's hands to give them warmth and optimism.
"But they're on their way!" Lenalee pressed her lips into a fine line. "And we're missing so many comrades again."
That was true. Komui had called back Exorcists he'd recently sent out of emergency, but even then, the closest pair—Miranda and Marie—was quite a few towns away.
Luckily, Panda had returned yesterday, but the old man was tired from his journey, age also contributing an issue to be reckoned with.
And the Generals? Scattered across different countries. Without the Ark, it wasn't even worth the money and effort to rush back to HQ.
They were inevitably outnumbered, heedless of how many Noahs show up.
"If that useless Beansprout and Aristocrat dragged their lazy asses out of bed, we'd be in less trouble." Kanda led the two around headquarters as they took another round of scouting across the building.
Lavi stopped for three reasons: one, Kanda had admitted that they were in deep shit; two, he'd been insensitive enough to bring up Allen when Lenalee was upset enough as it is; and three, Yuu was right. At this point, it no longer mattered who woke up, Xiv or Allen. One of them needed to snap out of it, get the Ark up and running, and help them out on the battlefield.
Crowned Clown had been content in the comfortable silence, but the genes simply couldn't sit tight.
Would you keep still? I can sense you, and it's annoying.
The genes ignored the Innocence, faltering not a single step as it continued to squirm. Something's wrong.
A little bothered by the genes' distress, Crowned Clown felt for anything off.
You wouldn't know. It's not in this body.
What are you so worried about then? Despite knowing it shouldn't, Crowned Clown felt suspicion build up in its being.
My…"family".
The other Noahs? Crowned Clown veiled its bloodthirsty instincts.
Who else? They're doing something. The genes conveyed their intuition to their Noah, hoping he would do something about it.
Wait; if they're attacking…we shouldn't be doing nothing. We have to fight. Crowned Clown insisted needlessly.
Whom are we going as? Your Allen or my…Xiv. The genes gave the name a try; how strange, but for some reason, titles seemed to individualize and almost extol the ones they were given.
Up to them. Crowned Clown decided against reaching out to warn Allen. Let his precious Xiv do it. And if Allen wanted to fight, the boy would have to come crawling back to Crowned Clown first.
What kind of a sick, envious bastard are you. But the genes were cruelly delighted that the Innocence was having such a difficult time dealing with its Allen's split affection. Shouldn't you serve your master with loyalty? Is a little jealousy enough to shake your—
Do not start this with me. You're the one always bossed around by your beloved child. What a sorry excuse of a "parent" you are!
The genes faltered in confusion. Our Xiv has never—
Oh, get over yourselves and your mighty Noah. Even though you were all for destroying Allen, he stopped you because you spoil him! Crowned Clown's conscience remained intact throughout its biting remarks, though it did hurt a little when silence met its rant.
You're right… The genes shivered at agreeing with the Innocence. But at least I still stay by his side. You're the one always using your master as you please, yanking him along like a rag doll with your…ribbon things.
If Crowned Clown had a physical heart, then it felt like it had been ripped out and shredded by the Noah genes. Y—You're just bitter because I can control this body while all you can do is huddle in—
This conversation is over. The genes knew when an argument was hopelessly futile. Besides, they had bigger, more dangerous problems to be concerned with. Please put your ego aside. Just…ask Allen if he wants to fight. I'll do the same with Xiv. At least then, we can reach a temporary verdict on who's taking over next.
The Innocence swallowed another rebellious retort. The genes must've thought it an immature fool. No, it was going to prove that it could handle any situation as well as the genes. All right. I'll go see Allen and—
A second passed as the genes waited for Crowned Clown to pick up its dropped sentence. When it didn't, they grew apprehensive. What is it?
Oh… What's happening? Crowned Clown whirled around and around, trying to shake off the agony that wrecked its being. What's happening?
What? What's wrong? The genes' thoughts spread out, only to be shoved back as Crowned Clown pulsed with raw energy. With a gasp of shock, the genes retreated a little until the stinging subsided. How odd. So this was what pain felt like.
The Innocence seemed to glow in this peaceful darkness, enveloping everything in blinding light.
The genes coiled in around themselves, trying to protect its makeup from the burning radiance. Stop! What are you doing?
But Crowned Clown didn't answer. Was this a joke? Did the Innocence think this was funny?
No, Crowned Clown appeared as tortured as the genes, maybe even more so.
The Innocence wanted to scream, because it knew that emitting volumes of sound helped many humans endure pain. But it didn't have that luxury. All it could do was writhe in stillness as it exploded and imploded, imagining somewhere in the back of its mind that the genes would comment on the impossibility of such an occurrence.
"Where is Supervisor Komui?" Link grabbed the first scientist he came across, who, he thanked, was one of the more intelligent ones.
"Komui?" Reever wondered what happened to bring down such panic on Link that the Inspector would be after the Supervisor. "He's in his office. Packing up a few— Hey! Wait! Why?"
Link took off without answering. As he ran, he cursed himself for every stressed step he took, knowing each led to his downfall. His job, position, and head were all at the mercy of Komui's diplomacy. Oh, he was doomed.
"Supervisor!" Link burst in without knocking, something he hadn't done since he'd turned five.
Alarmed, Komui dropped what he was doing with a, "What's wrong? Are the Noahs here? Who died?"
"No one, Sir." Link jerked his head back down the direction from which he came. "Walker. You must stop Rouvelier."
"What?" Komui rushed out the door in pursuit of the hasty blonde. "What are they doing?"
"Rouvelier lost his nerve." Link swallowed at betraying his superior. "He's starting the surgery already."
Story time was over.
Both Exorcist and Noah were panting in dread and horror. They spoke at the same time, hanging onto what the other said like a lifeline to their sanity.
"They're removing Crowned Clown."
"My family is coming."
"What?"
"Excuse me?"
An instant went by in serenity as both digested what they'd heard. They stared at each other, fearing the moment when the quiet will be broken, and chaos would reign.
Tentatively, in a whisper, Allen tested their resolve to stay calm through madness. "Which one of us is going?"
"Come on, already!" Lavi hissed into the back of Kanda's neck.
"What?" Kanda glared over his shoulder, pausing to rest their sore legs as they began another shift of investigating for peculiar doors and other suspicious entrances.
"Why are the Noahs taking so long!" Lavi grabbed at his hair, threatening to bald himself. "The pressure is killing me!"
"That's what they want. To make us nervous and tire us out." Lenalee found a nearby seat and took to it with a thankful sigh. "They want to break us first. Honestly, I don't think they'd even show up today. Maybe not even tomorrow. They sent that message to scare us, and when we finally let our guard down because we're just too damn exhausted, they'll pop out of their Ark and attack!"
Lavi was rendered speechless for a moment by Lenalee's profanity.
Kanda carried on down the hall, repeating the fifth scanning of the same room they'd passed thirty minutes ago. Really, after this, there was no way he'd ever get lost here again.
"Yuu is handling this well. He doesn't have half the patience you do!" Lavi smiled down at Lenalee. "Just sit here and rest. We'll get through this."
"I…I just want to get this over with." Lenalee clenched her fists. She had to be strong.
"Giggle, giggle!" a pleasant voice announced around a corner.
Lavi and Lenalee exchanged glances. They recognized Kanda's footsteps returning to them.
Lenalee activated her boots, floating several yards above her male companions. Lavi gripped his hammer, taking a place beside Kanda.
"Come out, you bastards!" The samurai drew Mugen, holding it at ready.
"He's scary!" Road pulled the Earl out from hiding.
Fat man was as ridiculous as ever. Ugly, always donning that goofy smile of his, wearing a silly top hat—this one had flowers that simply hollered homosexuality. "Now, now!" The Earl held his hands up in a friendly gesture of defeat. "We're not here to shed blood!"
As if they hadn't shed enough already. Lenalee leaned forward, pinpointing where to land her feet on Road's face.
"Lenalee," Lavi warned, waving her down.
She didn't surrender altitude, but legs relaxed.
"What do you want?" Lavi knew that if there was a compromise to be offered, the Order should take it. They weren't in any shape to go up against the Earl, the eldest, and who knew what other numbers and classes of akuma.
"We want our little brother back!" Road dabbed at a tear that Kanda's keen eyes failed to see.
"Right…" So much for a compromise. Lavi sighed. "Let's go." He prepared to throw a snake at the pair in an attempt at separating them.
"Wait!" The Earl danced around with edginess. "We really don't want to fight! Just hand us the Fourteenth, and we'll be on our merry way!"
"Why should we hand him over?" Lenalee's piercing eyes followed the Earl's every move.
"Well…if you don't, then there will be lots and lots of trouble!" The Earl cleared his throat as his hopping came to an end. "We just want to retrieve our brother. Then we'll return Allen Walker to you, unharmed."
There was a thoughtful and doubtful stillness.
"Hell, no." Lavi was the first to speak up.
Lenalee nodded in concurrence. She was also about to declare a downright refusal. Yes, this was a way to get Allen his body back, but Lenalee no longer knew if any of them wanted that at the cost of Xiv's life.
The Earl was not deterred in the least. "Oh, come now. Be reasonable. Let us see the Fourteenth. I'm sure we can talk some sense into him."
The trio shared an uncomfortable instant.
"Is something wrong?" The Earl's buggy eyes read everything. "Where is he?"
Lenalee felt her anger and strength waning again. Allen and Xiv were so vulnerable. If the Earl decided to take them by force…
"Aristocrat is a pig, just like the rest of you. He's sleeping." The way Kanda spat out the last word virtually convinced Lavi that Xiv really was just loitering off somewhere.
Kanda wondered why he hadn't made a move to slash up that irritating marshmallow yet. Was he buying time with this pointless talking?
The hall was empty, but that didn't mean the rest of HQ was in the same, abandoned condition. People could still be busying about with worthless documents that they stupidly valued over their lives.
"Just give him to us! We'll take care of everything, I promise!" The Earl flashed this toothy grin again.
"We don't trust you," Lenalee deadpanned the harsh truth.
The Earl contemplated her statement; he was losing patience. "What about a trade? Give us the Fourteenth and let us implant him into another body. Then we'll give u back your Allen, safe and sound. Until then, you can keep Tyki!"
The mentioned man tripped around the corner. "What?"
"Oh, Tyki, do it for your little brother," the Earl cooed.
That…would've been a brilliant tradeoff had several qualms not risen to the occasion. Xiv wasn't going anywhere in the first place, and Tyki? The man was as trustworthy as…Allen in a game of poker. And what about the human they were going to implant Xiv into? Was she or he a volunteer? Or kidnapped victim who would be finished off soon after the transplant?
"No." Kanda eyed the smoking Noah with disgust. "You smell like shit."
"Oh, my. Manners, my Japanese friend, manners." Tyki turned to the Earl in a hushed plead for permission to kill.
"You and your big mouth, Kanda!" Lavi growled as he bounded forward to meet Tyki's charge midway.
There was nowhere to hide, no shadow except for their own. The light was too intense, too concentrated.
Control yourself! The genes thrashed about in frantic search of escape.
Crowned Clown could only shine brighter in response. It's not me! It's something….outside!
The genes acted on impulse, something they hadn't done since…being conceived.
They had no idea where Crowned Clown was. They'd never known; even during their many heated debates, the genes were clueless of which direction to send their thoughts. Before, they'd simply projected everything into the open, hoping the receiving end of the conversation would catch it.
It hadn't cared at first; where the Innocence was located—outside or inside—made no difference to them. After all, Crowned Clown could hear their snide insults and, infuriatingly, vice versa. That had been good enough.
But now the genes urgently needed information on Crowned Clown's whereabouts. But what if the Innocence was somewhere they could never reach? How would they help it then?
It didn't matter. As long as they sent their aid far and hard enough, Crowned Clown should obtain it.
They threw their thoughts out in all directions, probing for anything to wrap around. Quicker than they'd ever dared to expect, they found the Innocence.
Oi, you useless piece of shining stuff! The genes wanted to do what they knew humans did—slap frantic things across the face to knock some logic into them. But it couldn't…
Instead, it kept waves after waves of wonderful memories heaving into the Innocence, distracting it from the pain.
Where are you? Crowned Clown managed to ask as it received another dose of happy experience.
Like we would know. The genes kept the memories coming, taking them from their Noah.
Allen tapped his left hand, noticing that the cross was glowing again. "Ah! Crowned Clown!" His Innocence had joined him and Xiv in their dream.
His excitement dulled. "No, no, no, no."
"What?" Xiv took hold of Allen's hand, examining the pulsing glow. "What's wrong with it?"
"It's…it's being ripped out!" Allen seethed. It was as if a knife was just driven into the back of his hand. "Damn it!"
Xiv keeled over as something in him…trembled. It wasn't a physical sensation. Just…something like an emotion, but he couldn't put a name on it. Something was wrong. Or at least not right.
Their dream was deteriorating, and the world closed in on him. He grappled at his genes, but they couldn't be controlled. "What's going on?"
"One of us needs to go out there and save Crowned Clown." Allen squeezed his wrist.
Yes, but what about them? This…place…was disappearing. Where would they go? His genes were busy with something, and they couldn't keep this world intact. After it shatters, where will they land? Another, deeper abyss?
"Stop! Stop this right now!" Komui thrashed around violently with the white curtains before freeing himself from their entangling grip. He batted aside the doctors gathered around the bed, glaring especially hard at the one touching Allen's hand.
"Supervisor, what is the meaning of this!" Inspector Rouvelier pointed at Komui accusingly, as if he was the one preposterously out of place. "We must unleash the Noah! The Earl is on his way!"
"This surgery is over!" Komui shoved out the flustered doctors and nurses, tending to Allen's hand himself. He looked the injury over, noting nothing too major. Cracks here or there, but no permanent damage.
"This is treason, Supervisor!" Rouvelier roared as things turned uncivil. "Arrest him, Link!"
Komui feared Link would obey, but he refused to budge. He must protect the Exorcists.
To his relief, the ex-Crow shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Inspector, but I stand by Supervisor Komui." Link leveled out his voice and shirt to hide the grief threatening to overwhelm him.
"You… Heresy!" Rouvelier jostled Komui to the ground, snatching up the nearest tool, which—ironically—happened to be a pair of pliers.
"Stop him, Link!" Komui reached out to yank Rouvelier away from Allen, but from his inconvenient height on the floor, missed the raving man by an inch.
Link hesitated. He'd never lifted a hand against a superior before… Never…
Rouvelier took advantage of Link's second of uncertainty. This was his first time handling a medical instrument, but with Link against him, this was his last chance to free the Noah, a chance he had to take.
Steadying his sweating palms, Rouvelier fitted the pliers' teeth around the cross.
Someone grabbed his arm, and for a brief moment, Rouvelier thought that Link had recovered.
But upon following the limb that constrained him, his eyes were led back down to the hospital bed.
"Good morning, Inspector."
This chapter… I didn't like this one. It was too confusing for me. But then again I haven't gone back to reread it yet. Hopefully, it'll make more sense later. It was one of those chapters where I didn't write it all on a single day, so it feels kind of cut off and rushed…
And so illogical. But whatever. Fantasy-theories mustn't fail me now. DX
Wow. I have no idea what to write next. I mean, I know what I want to write, but I don't know how to word it. Sigh. I hate that. It feels like I have to force everything, and nothing good ever comes out of that. This is starting to be more like homework than a pastime. Urgh.
Rawr. I must…prevail against boredom!!
'Kay, you guys know what comes here. Excuse mistakes…yada yada.