Chapter twenty-one: Battle against Rode: Part one
"I was beginning to wonder if you were even going to show up." Rode said teasingly as Ayume walked up on to the roof.
"You can't let me get something with out inspecting something?" Ayume muttered.
"It shouldn't take a person that long to get up here." Rode stated.
"Shut up, I'm here aren't I? So lets just get this over with." Ayume said.
"Fine." Rode said closing her eyes almost in an annoyed way. With in seconds, everything around them changed until it was the familiar scenery of Rode's dimension. Ayume's eyes darted left and right, jumping almost seconds before several Akuma attacks landed to where she was. She landed about ten feet behind her original spot. Ayume looked up quickly counting the five Akuma that were there.
"It seems you don't like to waste time." Ayume said a bit angry.
"Sorry if I like to take the advantage!" Rode said as she send about twenty candles at Ayume. Ayume jumped on her board nearly disappeared.
"Huh?" Rode said as she began to look around. Ayume was no where to be seen.
"Nice trick! But you can't hide forever!" Rode yelled.
"Whose hiding?" Ayume said as she appeared behind the Akuma, striking three of them with her Katana. She jumped back on to her board and flew back out of the range of the explosions. Rode looked back at her, with that evil grin on her face.
"I've never seen an exorcist able to use more than two things for there Innocence. I can start to see why the Earl is so interested in someone like you." Rode said. Ayume just looked down at her deep in thought but knowing everything around her.
"Just how are you doing that anyway?" Rode asked.
"I use my Innocence to bend the air around me to make an almost solid platform that my board can use." Ayume said. Rode is too strong for me to go Noah. If I do, she'll realize who I am and escape to tell the Earl. And if the Earl knows, that'll endanger the whole entire Order. Besides, I don't think I can turn my heart that cold to kill her. Ayume thought realizing how hard it was going to be to get out of this one. Rode gave off an even more sinister smile, a smile that snapped Ayume back to reality.
"What are you smiling at?" Ayume demanded.
"You should really pay more attention to your surroundings." Rode said. Ayume instantly knew what she meant, she turned around only to be attack by nearly a hundred candles. There was a bright light that gave from the middle of Ayume and Rode's candles. The light made Rode even shut her eyes, as the candles seem to go by the source of the light.
"Did you get her, Relo." Relo said as the light began to die out. Rode looked up, not able to tell herself. Suddenly there were about five bright sharp lights that went by Rode. She dodge the lights even though one went by her cheek, giving her a deep cut but it unfortunately healed instantly. The light died out completely revealing the almost fine Ayume. She was stab it three places by Rode's candles and cut in two more places.
"Hm. Didn't think you would come out of that alive." Rode said. Ayume was higher up than her as she leaned down tearing out the candle that had hit her lower right leg. I have to be more careful. Ayume thought, as she pulled out the candle in her arm. Rode's stronger than my shields, if I didn't add some of my flowers in there I would be dead. Ayume smile in a sad amusing way. I don't think Allen would forgive me if I did that.
Ayume pulled out the last candle that had hit her stomach. She felt luck that it didn't hit any organs. She looked up, Rode was staring up at her, with the smile that could unnerve any one. She's waiting to see what I'm going to do. If I mess up it'll only be paid for with more candle wounds. She almost laughed at how weird that sounded. Her eyes darted to where the Akuma where, they weren't there. CRAP! Wrong! Ayume thought as she dropped down to dodge the attacks from one of the Akuma attacks. Either she's getting smarter or lazier. Ayume thought as she moved again to dodge the next one.
She drew out her katana, cutting though the last Akuma attack. She lifted her katana, her other hand nearly touching the blade as it started to glow a bright white light. Quickly she then slashed the air in front of her pushing the light into the air in front, only stopping when it looked like a flower with ten petals.
"White flower!" Ayume yelled as it broke apart and turned into white like blades speeding toward the last Akuma and Rode. The Akuma where destroyed on impact as Rode blocked the attack with her candles sending more of them to Ayume. Ayume did her best deflecting the candles with her own sword, but one manage to get though. It stabbed her in her shoulder forcing her to go back in order to dodge the others. Rode laughed at her with that annoying laugh of her.
"What's the matter the matter, exorcist? Can't dodge them now can you?" Rode teased.
"Shut up." Ayume muttered. She was on the ground leaning over panting heavy. I have to find a way to get this to end soon. Can't fly anymore, I'll run out of energy to quickly. Ayume though before giving off a deep sigh. If this goes on much longer I'll run out of energy anyway. Slowly, Ayume got up biting down on her lip, trying to think of anyway to end her fight as soon as possible.
Allen's POV
My eyes snapped open when I heard a window slam close. Slowly I got up looking at the direction in came from, Ayume's room.
"Ayume?" I said softly wondering what she could possibly be doing up. Slowly I opened the door, the window was open, a curtain had fallen to the ground, the bed was a mess and empty.
"Ayume?" I called out, a worried as I tried to figure out what had happen. There was a low slight coughing sound coming from underneath the curtain. I looked at it as a figure rummaged though the curtain. Two familiar paws lunged out from underneath. Slowly Natsu pulled out from underneath with a half crazed look in his eyes, he coughed again as a load of dust came out of his mouth.
"These curtains need dusting!" He said in a low harsh voice, before falling over.
"Natsu what are you doing up?" I asked him, he looked up at me as if I was invisible or something.
"Good question. Here's another, why are you in here?" Natsu asked as he stared at me.
"I heard a crash and came to see what happened." I explained.
"Good excuse." He complemented.
"Right. Know why were you up, and where's Ayume?" I asked. Natsu gave me the same looked as before, he blinked once as he slowly started to sweat.
"W-w-w-w-w-w-what are you talking about?" Natsu said nervously.
"Natsu!" I yelled.
"If I answer your question you may panic or get angry, or both!"
"Why?"
"Ugh…. I don't know?"
"Natsu, you suck at lying."
"You really want the truth?"
"Yes."
"Okay." Natsu said in a small weak voice, he was trying to hide behind one of his wings even though it wasn't working. He took a nervous gulp before a big breath.
"Ayume'sfightingontheroofagainstRode." He said very quickly, but I understood everything. I stood there, remembering my own time with her, and what could be happening to Ayume.
"Allen?" Natsu said in a low voice. I turned around and headed back into the living room.
"KANDA!" I yelled.
Ayume's POV
Pain, blood and darkness; these things just seem to keep coming back to me now. Out of energy and time, I was lying on the floor, barley staying conscious panting heavily.
"So much for winning." Rode said as she stood in front of me. Since it's Rode, she might try and kill me know, and the moment she sees me again, she'll know I'm a Noah. I thought looking up at her. She had more candles right behind her, all pointed to me. My god how I hate being right. She gave one last creepy smile at me.
"Now say goodbye!" She shout as she send down her candles. I closed my eyes shut, waiting for the pain.
"AYUME!!" I heard Allen shout. My eyes snapped open as the giant white claw passed in front of me.
"ALLEN!?" I yelled in surprise. Quickly he ran over to me, helping me sit up to him.
"Allen what are you doing here?" I asked.
"What am I doing? WHAT AM I DOING?! What about you? And why didn't you tell us so we could help you?" Allen asked with a look of an anger and worry on his face.
"Excuse me for not wanting to see you get hurt!" I yelled to him.
"So you get hurt instead!? I don't like that solution!" Allen yelled back.
"IF YOU IDIOTS WOULD REMEMBER THAT WE"RE IN A MIDDLE FIGHT, AND HANDLE YOUR LITTLE LOVE FEST LATER, THAT WOULD BE GREAT!!" Kanda yelled at us, making us jump a little.
Right. I thought as I was just about ready to get up again, only to fall hard on my butt, reminding me how tired I was.
"Ayume," Allen said lowly. I looked at him with a face that could hide all, the way I was breathing couldn't fool a dead man. Allen's face was fill with worry, but he quickly he wiped it away with his smile.
"Don't worry; we'll take care of it. You just stay here a rest." He said in a cheerful voice.
"But…." I said before he cut me off with a kiss. He placed his forehead against mine.
"Please?" He asked. I didn't say anything, I just looked at him with a face anyone could read. He got up before I had chance to speak. He smiled down at me before he activated his left arm and turned to face Rode. I looked away when he stared to run to attack her. But I don't want be a burden. I thought as I squeezed my eyes shut.
Third person
Even though Ayume had her eyes shut, she could still tell what happen between Rode, Kanda and Allen's fight. Ayume did her best to see if she could sense something that could be helpful. But she could find anything, not a weak spot or blind spot in Rode's attack. She was biting down her lip, biting down harder every time she ran into a dead end. There has to be something! She yelled in her mind opening her eyes slightly. Lucky timing to, as Rode aim more of her candles at her. Ayume threw up her arms as a white light surrounded her in a circle. Shield! Level two! She thought as she crossed her arms. The moment the candles hit the shield, Ayume's right arm pulsed, sending a sharp wave of pain throughout her whole body. She jerked forward and her shied for a moment became unstable but it didn't give away. Ayume waited until all of Rode's candles had been stopped and thrown off until she dropped the shield. She clutched her right arm the moment she did. She gave a small smirk when she did, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. I can hear Natsu and Allen nagging me now. She thought.
Then her whole body jerked again, not because of pain this time. No, this time it was because of the feeling she had growing inside, a very uncomfortable familiar feeling. She eye quickly darted though the space, not finding what she was looking for. I didn't, did I? She thought as she looked around. Then again, she closed her eyes trying to view the world like she did back then, everything though sense. Still not finding what she was looking for. No, nothing. WAIT!! She thought. Her eyes jerked open the deep dark green that she had when she was fighting Hayate, her Noah eyes. She looked past the battle, not checking if anyone was looking at her, thankfully they weren't. In the far off space of Rode's demission was what she was looking for. In the far off space Rode had a closed hourglass that held black flower petals in side at the top and bottom. Again Ayume's eyes darted though Rode's demission as she spotted even more of the petal cased hourglass. Five. Rode has five of them in this dimension, But why? Ayume thought, her eyes switched back to the soft blue that Allen and the others were used to as she bit down on her lip. Even though her eyes were open, she was unfocused on the battle thinking of what Rode could be thinking in her sick twisted brain of hers.
"I'm getting bored of this!" Rode yelled, snapping Ayume back into focus. NO! Ayume shouted inside as Rode sent about a thousand candles at them, not having a blind spot in it. Ayume quickly got up, but was unable to reach were Allen and Kanda were at. Though instinct she threw her arms up as the wave of candles went by. Her eyes snapped open when she didn't feel the pain she should have. Unfortunately, though instinct, her cursed flower was destroying all of the candles that came near her, creating a tare though the wave. NO! Ayume screamed inside as she realized what she was actually doing. Unknowingly, her flowers were also doing their best to protect Allen and Kanda, but still candles went though the flowers. So they didn't realize what was happening.
Ayume darted out of the flowers as soon as the wave was done. Only to be stroked with a few candles that Rode throw at her as soon as she did. In pain, she fell to the floor on her knees. Ayume glared at her as she let the Innocence focus in her hand. Rode laughed out when she saw Ayume's hand starting to glow.
"Do you honestly think that will work?" Rode asked in a teasing voice.
"How foolish are these exorcist, Relo?" Relo said in agreement. Ayume didn't answer as she threw back her hand. Within seconds, Rode was struck with a blade-like weapon made from black petals. Ayume, not wanting to wasted time, then got up a ran to Allen. Rode just looked down at the middle of her chest as a bit of blood ran out of her mouth and down her chin. She raised her hands up a bit as if she was about to touch the blade, but not daring to do it.
"Nee-chan's flowers?" Rode said in disbelief.
"What's wrong Rode-tama?" Relo asked.
"Allen!" Ayume said as she bent down and lifted Allen's head off the ground and into her arms. His eyes were closed and a bit of blood was running out of his mouth. Most of the candles had pierced into his left arm, two in his stomach and one in each leg. Slowly he open them looking up at Ayume.
"Ayume, are you okay?" Allen asked her, almost infuriating her.
"Me? Will you look at yourself!?" She yelled at him. He didn't answer her, he looked at her confusingly for a few seconds before smiling at her.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." He lied as he tried to get up. Failing, he fell down, Ayume caught him and made him lean against her chest, sitting down. Tears swelled up in her eyes. You try too hard, Allen. She thought as she shut her eyes closed. Her eyes snapped up, as she started to search for Kanda.
"Kanda!" She yelled. As she searched, instantly Allen began to looked as well.
"Shut up, you're giving me a head ach." Kanda said from behind. Ayume turned her head. He was standing up, leaning on his sword but standing up. He was pierce in a few places, but he wasn't too bad. But he wasn't in a condition to fight either. Ayume sighed in relief, knowing that both of them were alive was enough for her.
"You guys are making me SICK!" Rode yelled as she sent another wave at them. Instantly, Ayume looked back at her and the wave coming her wave, her eyes almost lit up with a green glow when she did.
"Innocence fracture!" Ayume yelled throwing one hand at Rode. In response almost all of Rode's candles were destroyed when a bright white light shot up almost like a wall underneath them, turning into dust the moment it had hit all of the candles. Again, Ayume's right arm pulsed, sending a greater and sharper pain throughout her whole body. Ayume coughed violently shutting her eyes shut closed and her freed hand covering her mouth when she did. Blood began to drip though her fingers.
"Ayume!" Allen yelled the moment he saw the blood. Though his pain he sat up next to her, his right hand holding her on her shoulders helping her stay up.
"Don't worry." She said when she stopped and began to put her hands down. She was looking at him though the corner of her eye, blood falling off her chin even though she was smiling.
"I'm fine." She continued as she got up.
"Ayume!" Allen yelled as she began to walk off.
"Enough of this!" Rode yelled creating a giant candle behind her before thrusting it forward. Again Ayume's eyes lit up a bright green.
"Innocence creature!" She yelled throwing her arm forward. Again the white light appeared in the form of a giant tiger this time. The tiger attacked the candle destroying it instantly before vanishing itself. Again, the sharp pain came though Ayume's body. She almost coughed violently again, but stopped it in her throat, the blood she couldn't stop as if flowed out the other corner of her mouth.
The Innocence… Ayume thought as she wiped some of the blood away, only for more to replace it. The innocence is sending messages to my brain on how to fight, and I can't stop it. She continued to think. Rode gave a dark smile. Ayume looked up at Rode glaring at her.
"Why the smile?" Ayume asked.
"No REASON!" Rode yelled before sending her candles out again, on to Allen and Kanda this time.
"NO!!" Ayume screamed as the candles closed the gap between themselves and Allen and Kanda.
It's going to get very intresting. Keep reading please. And send reviews!