So here we go, chapter 21. Can't believe I've written so much in such as short period of time. Just think of all the geography essays I could have written instead LOL. Yeah I know it's an odd time to update but I have been awake all night (its 8am here now) and needed something to do.
BTW, We're currently March-ish
Still not owning. Well apart from the OCs. But who cares about them?
Chapter 21- General's report
"I must say it's a rare honour to have you here, General Cross Marian. I didn't think you would turn up." Komui sat down, facing the three men across the table.
"Heh, and miss this opportunity of seeing my idiot apprentice? Where is Allen?"
"Cloud isn't here either" observed Tiedoll
"It's a woman's prerogative to be late" interjected Cross on behalf of the fairer sex
"What's the kids excuse?" growled Sokaro
Cross lifted his boots onto the table, leaning back in his chair. "What's your hurry?"
The door banged open before Sokaro could reply and Cloud stalked in. She seemed furious and was arguing loudly with the person walking beside her.
"It's hardly my fault that the girl's an absolute psycho!" Allen exclaimed
"You have no idea how to treat women. And I have no doubt where that trait was picked up. You should have let her down gently! And you must keep that bodyguard of yours under control."
Allen flushed, wondering how Kanda would react to being called a bodyguard. He then noticed the other people in the room for the first time.
"It appears we're late" remarked Cloud in an off-hand sort of way.
Allen sat nervously in an empty seat, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on the table in front of him.
"Glad you've decided to join us" Sokaro spat angrily at the newcomers.
Cloud turned to him. "Not that you'd understand but there was an issue that needed resolving concerning our students."
"Bah, students. Bunch of losers!" He was referring to his own team, killed by Tyki Mikk nearly two years ago.
"Now we're all here, let's get down to business." Komui steepled his fingers. "General Tiedoll, perhaps you'd like to begin?"
The frizzy haired General adjusted his glasses. "There has been a suspicious lack of action from the Earl as of late. We thought perhaps the whole Ark fiasco had set him back, but it appears that he was merely regrouping his army." He sighed unhappily. "It seems as though the Earl is preparing for battle once again. There have been sightings of two new Noah, in addition to the one encountered by Kanda Yuu and his team." He inclined his head towards Allen. "It is my understanding you also met this Noah. What was she like?"
Allen considered how to answer the question.
Scary? Unquestionably evil? A sadist who relished in torture and pain?
"She was like all Noah. Beyond human in her strength and abilities. And her thoughts and her idea of pleasure were not human. She was the Noah of Faith, and had the ability to turn all the insecurities about yourself against you." He had his eyes closed; trying to squash down the memories of that awful night that Francesca had decided to 'play' with him.
The room remained silent. They had all heard what Allen had suffered at the hands of the Noah of Faith.
Komui eventually spoke. "I hear you have actually seen these two new Noah in battle, General Sokaro. What are they like?"
"Yes, I've seen them." The large General shifted in his seat slightly. "They have the appearance of children. A girl and a boy. The battle was interrupted by the Earl however, so I never saw their abilities."
"You came face to face with the Earl? How come you were not injured?" Cloud asked scathingly
"I was given a message to pass on."
Komui blinked. "I've heard nothing of this."
"It's not a message for you; there was no need to tell you. It's for Walker."
Allen looked up. "For me?"
"No you imbecile, the other Walker!" the large General snapped. "The message was 'I can't wait until we meet again. My girls always have such fun playing with you.' He told me to tell you to go to the city of Prague on the 18th May and wait for him at the clock tower." Sokaro sneered. "Now why would the Order's enemy want to meet you?"
Allen didn't flinch away from the older man's glare; instead, he turned cold grey eyes on him. "I have no idea. Are you suggesting I am in league with the Millennium Earl?"
"Of course he's not!" Komui gave the large General a disapproving look. "We've been through this situation before, and I'm sure nobody wants Central Administration involved again."
He looked at Allen. "What do you think? It's most definitely a trap."
Allen nodded slowly. "Yes…"
"You're still going." Cross finally spoke and it wasn't a question.
Allen wished his master hadn't spoken at all, then he could have carried on pretending he wasn't there. "I think I have to I we want to know what the Earl is planning."
Komui shook his head. "It's far too dangerous."
"Give him a team." Cross said, still leaning back, feet on the table. He lit a cigarette, blowing smoke into the air lazily.
"I couldn't! I'm not read-"
"Idiot apprentice!" Cross interrupted him.
"The boy's right Marian. If we know where the Earl's going to appear it makes sense to send a large team, lead by someone with leadership experience!"
"And don't you think the Earl will be ready for that?" Cross blew smoke across the table at Sokaro. "Allen will go."
Komui stood. "If that's everything I'll take my leave. I have a lot to do. Pass on my well-wishes to Miss Gazer, General Cloud." He left quickly, shutting the door with a snap.
"I haven't seen you in a while, Walker. It seems your new life is treating you well" Tiedoll looked at him jovially. "Are you taking good care of my boy?"
Kanda laughed nervously. He knew how Kanda felt about being Tiedoll's 'boy.'
"Kanda's fine. How's Chaoji doing?"
"Ah, he's become a fine exorcist. Super strength really comes in handy. Congratulations by the way. I was a little surprised when I heard you had been promoted, but it turned out well didn't it? And we all expected it eventually after Hevlaska's prophesy." He stood, excusing himself. "I really must go, there are several things that I must do before Komui summons us again, as we all know he will."
Sokaro grunted. "He just loves having us all here together under those beady eyes of his." He too stood and walked to the door. "Coming Cloud?"
"Not with you. I must go and se Seren in the hospital wing."
Allen looked guilty. "Maybe I should go and see her too. This is partly my fault."
"Not yet, give her chance to recover a little."
"As you wish." He made to leave.
"What? Don't want to stay and talk with your old master, Allen?"
Allen flinched and turned. He was alone with Cross. Great.
"I assumed you had things to do." Yeah, like going and drinking yourself silly at some whore-house.
"Sit."
"Oh…ok" Allen played with his hands, feeling Cross' gaze upon him. "What did you want to talk about?" he asked, unable to stand the silence any longer.
"I wanted to talk about you."
"What about me?"
"I always knew were different. I knew you'd become a critical one day."
Was that pride in Cross' voice? Nah…
"Well we know I was only promoted out of desperation."
"Well, the gamble paid off, didn't it? But this message of the Earl's has me worried."
Allen stared. Cross was actually acting responsibly…
"His girls have always had so much fun playing with you? Where did you learn such womanising behaviour?"
…or not. Allen sweat-dropped
"The answer to that question would be you, master, but it's not that kind of fun."
Cross laughed. "A woman is a woman, what's wrong with enjoying their company?"
Allen thought of Kanda's response to Seren's question earlier and seriously considered repeating it. Instead he said "because their idea of fun involves blood, pain and death."
"That's a shame. I'll be informing Komui that you want to pick your own team. I assume you do?"
"I'd feel better with people I know at my back, but I don't want people forced into danger for my sake. I'd rather it be voluntary."
Cross shrugged. "If you say so."
"I do."
"That's what'll make you a good leader." Cross grinned lazily around the cigarette. "You started making your apprentice pay your debts yet?"
Allen was indignant. "The only debts I ever had came from you! How do you know about Jim?"
"Heh, news travels fast. Talk about the blind leading the blind."
"I didn't ask for any of this."
"IDIOT APPRENTICE!"
Allen fell off his chair in surprise. "What?"
"Get up, the floor's dirty." Cross rubbed his temples. "Now I need a drink. Do you know any good brothels?"
"How can you ask me something like that? Do I look like someone who pays for sex?" He dusted off his behind.
"You need corrupting." Cross grinned wickedly.
Allen knew that couldn't be a good thing. "No…really I don't." He backed away.
"Come on Allen, you're a big boy now- it's time you learned to enjoy the benefits of a night with a good woman or two!"
"I'm quite happy not knowing, thank you!" Kanda…help!!
Cross couldn't be dissuaded. If Allen hadn't known better he'd have thought the red-haired General was enjoying himself.
"Really…I'm too busy!" Allen futilely tried to extricate himself from Cross' grip. He spotted Lavi as he was dragged past the library. "Help Lavi, he's trying to corrupt me!" he wailed.
"You're already corrupt! You don't need my help!" Lavi waved cheerfully as Allen was dragged away.
"Stop your moaning!" Cross laughed. "You're priceless! You think I don't know about you and your woman allergies?"
Allen considered this as Cross telling him he knew about Kanda.
"I can hardly treat you like an apprentice now, can I? I have to get my kicks somehow." Cross examined his glove. "Urgh, filthy. Well I'm off to partake in some debauchery I'll leave you to do whatever it is you do."
He left Allen where he sat stunned on the floor.
"See you around, Idiot General!"
Lavi slipped out of the library and wandered down the corridor. Allen was still sitting in a heap on the floor.
"I knew he wasn't going to do anything to you!"
"He…he didn't call me idiot apprentice."
"He's stopped calling you an idiot?"
"No, he called me and Idiot General instead. But you can't have everything. Come on, let's find the others, I need to tell you what was said." He knew Lavi would find out eventually, after all Bookman had been present in the meeting, standing in the darkness where he couldn't be spotted, but Allen knew he was there, observing the same as always "There's something I need to ask you all as well."
They all gathered in his study. Allen wasn't actually sure why he needed a study, especially one so big, but it turned out to be a great meeting place. Kanda, Lavi, Jim and Lenalee were all ranged around the room on various bits of furniture. Allen sat at the desk, feeling both important and self-conscious.
He repeated the General's findings about the newest Noahs and what they suspected the Earl was doing (nobody had been very clear on that part). Then he told them about the Earl's message.
"But you can't go; it's bound to be a trap. It's too dangerous!" Lenalee protested, echoing her brother's earlier sentiments.
"It's already been decided. There's no way around it. The Earl will be prepared if we sent someone else." Allen didn't like saying it, but it was true all the same.
"So what? You plan on going on your own?"
"I'm to take a team with me." He held up his hand to stop the questions. "Who is on the team hasn't been decided, and I don't want anyone forced into a situation they don't want to be in. It's volunteers only." He smiled sadly. "It would make me happier than anything if you all were there, but I don't want you to be in danger. The Earl asked to meet me, and me alone."
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice in the matter. I will be going." Kanda said it as though it was the most simple thing in the world.
"Me too, if purely from an observational standpoint." Lavi agreed
"And I'm following you everywhere!" declared Jim
"Nii-san won't stop me!"
"No, that's not…I don't want you anywhere near the Earl. It was bad enough last time with the Noah. I don't want to lose any of you. I won't let you volunteer."
Kanda stood rapidly and walked over to Allen. And slapped him hard across his left cheek. The crack split the silence of the study that had formed when Kanda stood.
"You're right, I'm sorry." Allen didn't let himself touch his face.
The others didn't really understand what just happened, but the argument had been decided.
Team Walker was going to Prague.
A/N
Mwahaha!! Team Walker
More guff for you to enjoy. Starting to get more interesting now? Meh, perhaps.
Don't worry, there will be more from Cross, he's just too fun not to play with.
Much Lovage
Aerika-san