Day 14
Morning came really early and yet Toku was very hyper while Vincent and I complained about the lack of coffee in the rotting cupboards. Last night was actually a pretty decent night, except for the fact that Vincent snored very loud but when he took off the white bandages around his forehead and right eye, all that was there was burnt skin and a missing eye. That gave me slight nightmares but he later told me that he got all those scars from trying to save his girlfriend who was another Finder. It all happened so suddenly he said, she died in his arms and he had all the scars to prove it. But as sad as it might sound, he reassured me that he would never let that happen again and we had to look forward to the future.
As the sun came up, we found the Innocence under the floor boards of the inn and Vincent found some antibiotics and bandages for my shoulder wound that was numb by the time I fell asleep last night and he applied the burning medicine. Now, the three of us were finally starting on our way to the town Komui described to us as Holidar.
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It took roughly about an hour and a half for us to reach the gates of Holidar with no breaks whatsoever so that's the good part. The bad part? Well this town was huge all around and was bustling with people getting ready for what seems like a big festival. Toku was the first to get sucked in with the music and food then Vincent ran after him in a race to get to the food first. We were here for the Innocence and yet I don't see any part of Holidar dark and gloomy, it's hard to believe that this place has an Akuma infestation! I take a few steps in and the people aren't even suspicious about my Exorcist gear, they just seem to pull me in with the happy chatter, music, and dancing.
"Toku! Vincent!" I called out their names as I search for them near the food stands with platters with plenty of variety. I finally found them stuffing their faces with pork chops... and I join them because I am starving!
"This is so good! Is the Black Order like this?" Toku cried out.
"If you add a touch of darkness and a little more space." I replied with a smirk as I nudged Toku. He looked to Vincent for some sort of denial of my statement but he halfheartedly shrugged his shoulders and continued to eat. I chuckled as I scarfed down another plate loaded with food, that is until a man tapped me on the shoulder and shoved a bouquet of roses into my hands. I glanced up to see a nicely dressed blonde man, about twenty-one, who gave me a genuine smile and offered me to dance. I've been in Holidar for like ten minutes and this guy has to hit on me? Well this guy isn't getting his dance, I already have a man waiting for me.
"No thanks, there are plenty of other women." I replied as I slid the roses to the side and waved my hand in the general direction of the group of girls. He looked disappointed but he soon wiped off the slight frown and pretended to pout.
"Please? Such beauty mustn't be wasted by sitting here. Or is this you husband?" He asked as he pointed at Vincent who perked up with a confused face.
"No, he's my Finder." I groaned out as I avoided his gaze.
"So this isn't your son either?"
"No, he's my apprentice. Now will you please leave me be?" I slammed my fist on the table and glared at this pushy guy.
"Oh, my apologies. I shall leave you to your work, Lady Exorcist." As soon as he said the wordExorcist, almost the whole area became quiet and every man, woman, and child stared at me as if I was a world wonder. Suddenly they all burst out clapping and they chanted words like Exorcists or Our Savior! Blonde boy leaned over and started to whisper in my ear.
"We've been waiting for you Exorcists. On a side note, my name is Richard. Now I shall bid you farewell for we are in dire need for someone to exterminate these beasts." He straightened up and disappeared into the crowd of thankful people. As the crowd came closer to the three of us, they started to shake our hands and throw words of praise at us. A big clump of people hoisted me out of my bar seat and carried me around the small restaurant and cheered. I've heard of over excitement but this was too much!
But now as if on cue, a loud crash came from outside and echoed throughout the restaurant.
"Let's go Toku and Vincent!" I called to the two who were still sitting and enjoying the scene. I leaped out of their grasp and bolted out the door to find to Level Ones hovering over the far corner, probably trying to destroy one out of the four Innocence in this town. So the three of us bolt over to the corner just to find the two Level Ones, no other Akuma was to be seen.
"Toku, cover me! I got these two!" I yelled as I activated my arms and jumped onto a small building. I hopped roof to roof to get a little closer to the high hovering Akuma who are now just pointing their cannons at me. I dodge the purple bullets and finally leap up to slice the first one into dust but I didn't stay airborne long enough to kill the second one. Luckily Toku has spot on aim and he killed the second Akuma with one Innocence arrow.
"Well that was easy!" Toku called as I jumped back down to the pavement.
"I agree. I'm just glad that the crowd of people didn't follow and congratulate us. They seem really easygoing for a place that has four different Innocence and Akuma probably on their way now." I comment as we head over to the wall where an unusual amount of vines were growing out from under the stone squares. I use my claws to hoist up the most populated one and there it was, the lime glowing Innocence.
"Can I carry it?" Toku pleaded as he stared intently at the shard. I chuckled as I dropped it into his palms which he quickly felt it over and stuffed into his satchel.
"Where do you think you're going with that damn Innocence?!" A loud and crackling voice screamed from above us. We all whipped our gaze to the sky to find a Level Two with four large wings and arms swirling above us about to attack.
"Run guys!" I shout as Toku and Vincent started to run to the corner just vertical from us. The Akuma made a beeline towards me and I clawed at it's torso. I missed so I immediately spun around and clawed at it's face but it's pretty damn fast for the size of the wings. My last resort was to throw a nearby carriage which finally hit him square in the face, making him to land on his back which gave me time to run up to Vincent and Toku.
"Look out-" Vincent shouted as the Level Two dove straight into us but Vincent and I dodged. Toku on the other hand was knocked into the wall forcefully.
"Toku!" I shrieked as I ran to his side and the Akuma just snickered. He leaned against the wall and clamped onto his wrist in sheer pain as tears brimmed his eyes. Chances are it was either sprained or fractured but either way this Goddamn Level Two will NOT get away with this!
"You Bastard! I will make you pay for what you've done! I will kill you!" I screamed as I bared my claws as Vincent blocked Toku and had three daggers between his knuckles ready to protect Toku.
"You're efforts are so futile, you little insect!" The Akuma called as he hovered in the sky.
"SHUT UP!" I yelled as I felt my arms tingle which escalated into severe shaking. My arms were transforming into something totally different and I couldn't control it! The dark skin started to break down and swallow my arms into big blobs of black. Suddenly the blobs harden and shatter into black crystals on the ground, revealing what the liquid had done to my Anti-Akuma weapon.
Both arms were still their midnight shade of black but the left arm had a large diamond shaped shield that's attached to the opposite side of my forearm while the right arm had a four foot long sword blade attached from the elbow extending past my hand by two feet.
"What the hell?!" The Akuma screamed as his expression morphed into slight fear as I hopped onto the roof, rage pouring from my eyes.
"Come and get it!" I yelled as I shot up from my place on the roof, baring my new weapons. I jut my bladed right arm into one of the four wings and tear downwards, making the Level Two scream out as he smashed me back onto the roof. I easily land on my feet and watch as the enemy swooped down and tried to claw at my body but I block it with my shield on my left arm. The Akuma kept the pressure on by pushing into me with a huge amount of force but I kept the force right back at him.
"Sasha no!" I heard Toku's voice ring out as I slightly loosen up to look over my shoulder to see what was wrong. Bad move. The Akuma used a sudden burst of strength and sent me flying upwards with a shoved uppercut. Soon I was falling but I would miss the roof and land right on the pavement and the Akuma was already diving towards me to send me crushing into the ground. How do I get out of this?
"Sasha!" I heard a gruff voice yell as I veered past the roof. Suddenly I felt an arm wrap around my waist and pull me safely to the ground and out of the path of the speeding Akuma.
"Kanda?" I said as he helped me stand up. He glanced at my arms but didn't have time to comment because the Level Two was pulling itself from the broken pieces of stone in the ground. "Shall we?" I said as I nodded in the direction of the stunned Akuma.
"Sure." He mustered as he pulled out his sword and I bared mine. We both dashed at the same time and lifted our blades in unison as we slashed the screaming Akuma into three pieces as it dissolved into ash. We stood there for a minute before I threw Kanda a smile while I dug through the dust and found the second shard of Innocence.
"Where's your Finder?" I asked as I looked Kanda up and down.
"He was killed saving a homeless man." Kanda said as he crossed his arms in an unimpressed way.
"I'm starting to wonder if this is a pattern." I muttered to myself.
"Sasha, come over here!" Vincent shouted as the both of us turned and jogged over to where he and Toku stood.
"Toku has a sprained wrist, we need to get him to a local nurse." He explained as he finally took notice of Kanda. "Kanda? Boy, I haven't seen you in a while. Still tall, dark, and brute as ever I see. I'm assuming Komui sent you here." Vincent said as Toku shuffled up to Kanda.
"Whoa, we kinda look alike!" He awed as he sniffled up his pain. His gaze then flickered down to my arms and his eyes suddenly went wide. "What happened to your arms? Your Steel daggers?"
"I think it's a sudden upgrade. It's probably determined by how much your emotions change when your fighting. But still, I've never expected this to happen, especially a sword and shield style of weapon." I explain as I examine my arms before turning them back into their normal state.
"I've already gotten the other two Innocence in the other corners so now we can get the hell out of this damn crazy town of Holidar." Kanda muttered out as I shake my head.
"Not until we get Toku's wrist in a cast and then we can leave thi-"
"The Exorcists! Our saviors! The beasts are gone!" The townsfolk suddenly came up in a roaring crowd cheering and carrying items like cakes and money.
"Damn it all." Me and Kanda muttered together as the crowd surrounded the four of us.
"You have rid us of these horrible beasts! We must thank you by having a large feast and a ball in your honor!" A pudgy man, most likely the mayor pronounced as the crowd dragged us away towards a enormous building, probably where they have their dances or whatever. Vincent went off with Toku in a different direction with a man and a woman, most likely the doctors. At least Toku will be getting a cast for his wrist and some medicine.
"I don't know why these people are so damn happy! All I want to do is get out of this stuffed place!" Kanda yelled over the commotion of the crowd. I turned to him and grabbed his hand.
"For once I agree with you. But we'll be getting a free meal and a place to stay so we might as well take advantage of it." I replied as I squeezed his hand. He turned to me with a scowl but it soon melted off and he squeezed my hand back. Hopefully this wouldn't be so bad.
This was a good chapter. Thank you all my followers, favers, and especially you reviewers!
Bye for now!
Anonymous Vulture is out! :D