Allen shuffled from foot to foot. He raised a fist to the door in front of him. Looking at the ribbon in his other hand he let his hand drop. Sighing he leaned against the door looking uncomfortable. Pushing himself back up he face the door again. Scowling slightly he raised his fist. The door creaked open slightly and Lenalee slid out. Taking one glance at the raised fist and another at the exorcist in front of her she gentle shut the door behind her. Whispering quietly she leveled Allen with an intrigues look. "What you doing here?" Grinning foolishly Allen dropped his still raised fist and rubbing the back of his head he offered the girl in front of him the ribbon still held in his grip firmly.
Lenalee's gaze dropped to the ribbon shocked. "Where did you get that? Is that Brigh's?" Allen nodded wordlessly. "Yeah she left it in the dinning hall thought it was kinda odd, i've never seen her without it." "It was her sister's". Lenalee muttered distractedly taking the offered piece of fabric fingering it gently. "Her sisters?" Allen asked bewildered. Realisation dawned upon his face. "She's dead isnt she?"
Shaking herself out of her distraction. Lenalee fixed Allen with a warm smile. "Thank you for bringing it back, it will mean alot to her. She wasnt feeling very well earlier." Deciding not to press the matter he began to turn away. "Well tell her i hope she gets better." He smiled brilliantly at the woman before him. As he began to walk away Lenalee grabbed his wrist. Her fringe covered her expression making her seem strangely desperate. Looking up she gave a shakey smile with blush in her cheeks. "Would you erm... would you like to hang around for a bit?".
Shocked Allen felt his head thump painfully in his head. He could feel the warmth of her slender hand around his wrist. The heat seemed to spread to his whole body making it sing in a welcome delight of anticipation. Going strangley serious in one of his rare moments Allen nodded slightly. "I'd like that." Walking to the next door down Lenalee pushed it open with ease. Pulling Allen into her room she sat cross legged on the bed with her back to the headboard and wall. Blushing, she let go of the wrist still in her possession. Motioning from him to sit on the bed, the silver haired exorcist leaned back onto a wall letting his legs sprawl of the edges of the bed.
Leaning forward Lenalee reached onto the nearest table to her bed pulled out a worn packet of cards. Smiling brilliantly she gave the cards to Allen. "Fancy teaching me poker?" The boys expression in front of her turned dark. Unfazed by the sudden predatory look that took over Allen, she nudged him with her foot to teach her. Quickly running through the rules for Lenalee he began to deal the first round. Looking at the cards she smiled internally. 'OK i can best him with this.'
Brigh woke the next morning to a knock at the door. Ok correction repeated knocking at the door. She threw the thin sheet off her and looked at the dress she had been wearing last night. It was a beautiful dress, just not when you had been sleeping in it. Stumbling upwards she tried to brush some of the creases out as she noticed in the mirror attached to her door that she had large black circles about her eyes, her usually bouncy hair was stringy and lifeless. She licked her fingers and attempted to wipe war the tear streaks that patterned her face fruitlessly. Sighing dramatically she pulled the door open. "Ok Lenalee i get it we need to...oh." Surprise stopped her mid-sentence at the man before her. "Komui." The sibling looked at her a little worriedly. "You should look after yourself better you know." The admonish made her feel embarrassed and self conscious. Rubbing her hand through her hair she looked away. "Is that all you wanted to say?" Raising an eyebrow a flicker of light shimmered across the commander's glasses. "No. Actually i wanted to examine your innocence again see how the progress is going. My cute little sister informed me yesterday that had been training with her and she felt you were ready for your coat and fist missions."
Seeing the shocked look he smiled paternally. "Dont look so worried. Come to my office when your ready, sorry to have woken you up." Turning away he waved to her and strolled to the next door knocking it loudly. Stepping back into her room Brigh could still hear Komui's muffled shouting to his sister, the girl in question appeared to be ignoring the racket he was creating. Looking at the clock opposite her bed she cursed loudly. It was already 12 she usually was helping Jerry by this time. But she reasoned to herself, he had been pretty loose with those ruled lately and kept telling her he didnt need any help. She suspected that Komui had had a quiet word with him about her innocence. 'Sneaky bastard'. She thought fondly.
Reaching for her shower stuff she rolled it up in the large pale blue towel rolled up on her chest of draws. Her eyes were drawn to the door when she heard a loud band and the sound of heavy breathing in the hallway. Shrugging she picked up her stuff anf left her room. Popping over Komui who was lain sprawled over the corridor with a large bum on top of his head. She heard him mutter something about only protecting his cute little sister, but thought nothing of it as she continued to her destination.
The shower had made her feel much more refreshed and level headed. She still felt rejected and disheartened but there was nothing that could really be done about that. Swinging her arm jovially to Komui's office she stopped abruptly at the library. Sticking her head around her door she noticed the silence that descended upon the empty space. Running her finger long the rows upon rows of books, her gaze fixed upon a particular section. The section in question was listed as "History And Foundation Of The Black Order." The high and important title struck her. OK so maybe she had asked to join but she barely knew anything of its history. The next thing that struck her was the book entitled, "The bookman, a legacy." Sliding ding it out from the self she perched the heavy volume precariously on her left arm, from what she could tell this book seemed unfinished, from the missing back cover and blank pages to the end.
The contents featured at the front feature different sections that sounded perplexing and complicated. She was about to replace the book when a section interested her. "Past and Present Bookman Bibliographies". Flickering the section open her eyes widened at a small sketchy picture of a childish Lavi. His hair was a little longer and differently styled. The bandanna was still there but both his eyes were wide and shining. Closing the book she held it to her chest. She knew the bookman were important to the Black Order, maybe it would be worse a little research? She let herself be deceived by the denial as she checked the book out.
Holding the book to her chest Merrily Brigh carried on through the hallway this time determined to make it to Komui's office without distraction. Knocking on the door, Brigh entered without invite. Pulling a large pile of paper work off the chair opposite the desk she placed herself down careful to not knock any piled of paperwork. Placing the book on her lap she tapped and the cover as she was pretty much ignored by the commander writing a report.
Her eyebrow twitched as the minutes ticked by and there was not response from the commander. Finally loosing to her impatience she grabbed the coffee out of his hands mid sip. Looking up shocked Komui looked about the room. His eyes fixed on the coffee and let out a nassel winey voice. "Not my coffee! Not my coffee give it back!!" Rolling her eyes at the man who was supposed to run the majority of the black order and the main head quarter she handed it back to him. "I thought you wanted to see me?" Adjusting his glasses and attempting to regain some credibility, Komui cleared his throat. "Ah yes i did ask you here didnt i?" Motioning to the only open space in his office when there was no mess he signaled her to stand over there. "Right. I want you to activate your innocence and create light's ward and hold it in your hands for as long as possible." Turning back to his paper work Brigh sweat dropped.
"What? Thats it? Thats the great test to see if im worthy?" Activating lights hands she pushed at the power in her hands and created a large sphere that rotated gentle between her two hands. "Its to test your stamina. Accourding to Lenalee you are acceptional at the use of innocence and combat but your stamina lets you down. Therefore if you can hold that for as long as i deem fit your training will be complete." Looking up from his paper work he looked at the time stating. "Its two o'clock now if you can make it to half three ill deem you as ready".
Sweat dipped down her nose and fell the to floor staining the carpet to a deep caramel colour. Her whole body ached. It felt like she had been doing push ups for ten hours straight. She panted as the strain took its toll on her. Carefully holding light's ward she began to reposition her legs. Carefully she leaned her back against the wall the behind her and slid down to a more comfortable sitting position. The pale sphere of energy between her hands flickered and pulsed. Watching the energy flutter a little unstably she dropped her elbows to her knees unable to support them any longer. Surely it was way past half three by now. It must have been. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food and her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. Forcing them back open she saw Komui look towards her please.
"You can let it go now. Your more than capable." Brigh smiled faintly as she finally let go and slumped against the wall unmoving. The last foggy words she heard before she fell asleep were the proud words of her commander whispering. "Welcome to the black order."