Ooof. It's been a while hasn't it? This chapter killed me because I debated on whether or not to do the end of this chapter the way that I did. I decided on this way because...well...spoilers.
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The cafeteria was chaos.
Less than a second after Road's hand went forward, all exorcists jumped into action. Akuma were pouring forth through Road's door by the dozens-though most were being cut down with ease by the lower level exorcists. They were mostly level ones and twos anyway. The biggest problems were the level fours and the three Noah gleefully watching the destruction.
Allen stood in shocked silence during the first few minutes, watching Road laugh from where she stood. Lenalee, Lavi, and Kanda had already leaped forward to stop her, but Akuma had intercepted them. Actually, now that Allen was really looking, the Akuma were creating a sort of vortex around them-like a shield. A smart move with all the generals bouncing around. That way, they could watch the destruction without actually fighting unless it was really needed.
"So it was Road all along…" Allen breathed, "...it should've been obvious…" He couldn't say he never considered Road-he had, he really did. He had only met a handful of people before so she had to be one of the suspects of being a Noah but...she was only a child. She was a little girl-and Allen was too trustful to not trust her.
His mistake. He'd never make the same one again. Road was not to be trusted-neither was anyone outside the Order apparently. Or when he thought about it, no one inside the order either.
That thought hurt, it really did. How could he be hurt by the betrayal of someone he only met once?
...Despite Road saying that she'd always love him-that they were friends no matter what. They had only met once and yet it hurt to be betrayed by Road. Did she plan this all along? Had she always known he was an exorcist-was their chance meeting not a coincidence?
He bowed his head, smiling bitterly, "Huh...so that's how it is. Thomas, you should probably find somewhere safe to hide, yeah?" He let the mouse scamper off, watching him briefly to make sure that the mouse wasn't hit by Akuma bullets. Timcanpy fluttered around him, seemingly ready for battle as well.
Allen took a moment to look around; Lenalee was fighting by herself against a level four. She was fairing well he supposed, despite looking tired from dodging so often. He had never really seen her in action, but now he could see what people meant about her speed and skill. Lenalee was moving at the speed of light, trying to land as many hits as possible without getting the Akuma's oil on her. She wouldn't need his help.
Kanda was against two level threes, trying to break through to get to the other Noah-the tallest one. The Akuma were circling around Road and the other two-protecting them. Lavi was on the other side of the hoard trying to break through to the shorter boy. They'd probably need help getting to the Noah.
"Innocence…." Allen started, reaching slowly for his arm, "Activate." His sword burst forward. He leaped forward, bringing his sword down with force. It sliced through an Akuma with ease, and Allen landed easily on one knee, letting the Akuma behind him explode. Pushing up with one foot, he jumped into the air to land on one of the Akuma, sprinting forward. Using that for leverage he leaped higher the height letting him slice through several Akuma at once.
He landed next to Lavi, who seemed to be debating something before looking at Allen, "you really should hide-the Noah are dangerous. More dangerous than any Akuma."
"But everyone else is fighting!" Allen protested, "Even Miranda is fighting-I won't hide."
Lavi smiled, though it looked sad, "We're going to lose a lot of people-we always do with the Noah…"
Do you really want to see these people die?
Allen didn't; he could hear the screams, he could see finders being killed before they could run. He could see them even fighting back. They were keeping several Akuma trapped with their barriers. People were running-he didn't want to see anyone he loved die.
But on the other hand, he could see the souls of the Akuma suffering as well. The level four...that was nearly unbearable. He promised he wouldn't let anyone be sad anymore.
"I have to fight." Allen said again. If he didn't, it would be going against everything he stood for;the purpose he gave himself.
And at that point, what was the point of even having innocence if he didn't try and help?
"If you say so shortstack," Lavi sighed.
At that moment, Lenalee came crashing into the tables beside them. She groaned in pain before standing up, "We should scatter," She advised, "We're only giving them a better chance at killing all of us if we stay bunched up."
Lavi smirked wryly, "We all start at one side and meet at the middle for the final battle? That really takes me back." He sent a brief look at Allen, "Okay, last chance Allen before things really get serious. If we all split up, you're on your own out there. We can't protect you or stop you from getting killed."
Allen let himself laugh at that, "They can't hurt me. No one can." It took a moment for Lavi and Lenalee to process what he said; usually Allen was so quiet about his abilities as a second but he always was one. Akuma couldn't hurt him, neither could the Noah. He'd heal far too quickly for them to even keep a scratch.
Lenalee smiled gently, despite being so, so, worried, "Stay safe understand? You've never fought so many Akuma." With that, she flew up so the other exorcists could see her. When she was sure she had mostly everyone's attention she called, "Split up! It'll be easier if it's over a wide area! We can't let them win!"
There was a loud uproar as the fighting exorcists agreed. From the air, it was easier to see everyone's faces. Unlike the last time, where everyone was afraid, they looked so determined.
"Okay, scatter!"
"Right!" The other exorcists called and they were all rushing out the door.
Allen followed;
It was time to fight.
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Left alone in the room, Road, Tyki, and Wisely watched as the room emptied out. Splitting up had been a good idea on Lenalee's part-everything was easier when they were spaced out. Except, now the three actually had to split up to overwatch the mayhem and step in when needed.
"Allen left." Road lamented, "I had hoped he would stay and talk with us."
"Talk about what?" Wisely asked, "He's not happy with you, you know." Road stopped from where she stood at the door,silently watching Allen disappear into the mayhem. It wasn't until she saw him destroy another Akuma that she nodded
"Yeah," she sighed, "Yeah I know."
Tyki placed a hand on her shoulder, the other handing her Lero, "The boy will get over it." He snorted, "As a second he's dealt with harsher things."
Road nodded stepping on to Lero when he began to float. She teetered for a moment, finding her center of balance, before standing up straight. Lero flew up, "Okay, let's actually start now." She looked at the chaos taking place just outside the door. She supposed that maybe a third of their Akuma were gone-and as a result, maybe a third of the Order.
How sad.
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Allen was sweating.
He couldn't keep track of how many Akuma he had eventually defeated. All he knew was that he had to keep fighting. Everything hurt; he had been hit and had recovered too quickly for his body not to ache. His body always ached after healing-he was probably brittle as well. Being brittle was never a good thing.
Allen paused to crouch behind a wall, breathing heavily as he watched his previously half gone arm heal. He knew that technically, he could go on with this forever. It was his power as a second.
Speaking of which, Kanda was close by. He was protecting a group of finders that had previously isolated an Akuma. The finders had tried to keep it contained but it broke free-Kanda came just in time to stop their deaths.
"Found you," a voice rasped, "exorcist." Allen whipped around just in time to block a rain of bullets from the Akuma he was previously hiding from. He pushed up with with foot, pushing himself into the air to get enough leverage to raise his sword and bring it down. There was the sound of metal cutting through metal, and then an explosion. Like always, the trapped soul thanked him with a smile and disappeared.
"Just how many did they bring?!" He heard someone; Klaud Nine shout. He heard several gunshots before another voice cut in.
"Probably nearly a hundred just to fuck around." It was Cross. Allen didn't think twice before rushing out towards his voice.
"Master!"
Cross turned, "Stay back. That level four has been following me since this started."
Allen readied his sword, "Just tell me what to do and I'll do it."
"How about you play with me?"
Cross cursed and Allen whipped around to block the first onslaught of candles by pure instinct. When the second wave of candles came he and Cross leaped out of the way, landing a few feet from where they previously stood. Road stood behind them, no longer on her umbrella and with floating candles surrounding her. She looked oddly serious: Road was all smiles and giggles before. Allen shifted with uncertainty, unnerved by the sudden switch in emotion. When their eyes met, Road beamed.
"Allen~!"
"Road-" Allen took a step forward, but was interrupted by Cross firing off his gun behind him. All the bullets hit their mark, hitting Road directly in the chest and stomach. Allen watched in horror as Road jolted back from the force. Then, slowly, blood began to paint her white dress red. Allen waited for her to collapse, but she didn't even move. She only glared at the spots in mild annoyance.
"Ugh, really? My dress-of course the one time I wear it someone ruins it. Millennia and daddy are going to kill me. Do you know how hard it is for blood to come out?" She complained as the wounds quickly melded back together. She glared at Cross, "What was the point of that? You knew it wouldn't hurt me."
Cross shrugged,"Shits and dress anyway." He stared distastefully at it, "Doesn't suit you."
Road huffed, "Figures…and it's cute, and how would you know what suits me or not?" Allen wanted to vomit; the idle talk between his master and Road was almost nauseating. He knew Cross wasn't normal when it came to his likes and dislikes or even how he expressed himself, but even now it shocked him. Road had just murdered people and Cross didn't even blink.
Not to mention he just shot her.
"Road…" Allen breathed.
Road looked at him for a moment before smiling, "Aw, were you worried about me? Don't worry, nothing can hurt me...I'm me, but I'm not me. My body is mine, but not mine. Get it?"
Cross frowned, "Brat, she can hide her true body in a separate world. You have to attack her from there to hurt her."
Allen looked at him, "Meaning-"
"I'll just heal if you hit me," Road explained sweetly, "Meaning-I'll win if you try to fight me, and you'll die. But that's okay, Allen, I'd never hurt you. I love you. So just relax with me here."
Allen pointed his sword forward instead, ignoring the fact he was shaking. He was sad because of Road, he was scared of her, but he wouldn't let that stop him.
"I'd rather die."
Road's eyes widened in shock before relaxing, "Oh but Allen, I'd be sad if you died."
"I don't care."
Road pouted, "Of course you do, silly, we're friends." She said, as if it was the most obvious thing. She took a step forward before pausing and waiting, after a moment she sighed in irritation and flipped into the air, landing in her umbrella just in time to dodge Lenalee slamming into the spot she previously was.
"How rude." Road sighed, "I was talking." She said as she gracefully jumped down.
Lenalee got up with a wince, "Take it up with the person who threw me over here." She bit back, glaring. She moved to stand with Cross and Allen, almost protectively shielding Allen with her own body. Road had to hold back a small giggle at that; last time she had truly fought Lenalee, Allen was protecting her.
Road shrugged and looked around watching the fighting around her with almost boredom.
"You don't look like you're enjoying this." Cross noted.
Road looked back, "Orders are orders,you know?" She didn't offer a straightforward response, but that was enough, "And I follow orders no matter what." She inspected her nails, "No matter my opinion on the matter."
"So what was the point of this?" Lenalee growled, "Just to mess with us?"
Road shook her head, "No, we also had a message for you guys-Yuu Kanda, actually." She shrugged, "If Wisely would hurry it up that is." For Kanda? That was odd. Really, the Noah were so focused on Allen that them showing interest in any other exorcist kind of scared Allen.
"...Kanda…? But why?" Allen muttered.
Road turned her attention to him, smiling gently, "Actually, Allen, have you ever heard of Alma Karma?" Alma-the second Kanda once mentioned. Allen knew that out of all the experiments only three were successful: Alma, Kanda, and himself. Alma...yeah, Kanda was so angry about him once.
Allen felt dread seep into him, "Alma...Karma. A second, like me." He said slowly.
Road nodded sweetly, "Yes, you're right!" She giggled, "But he's dead now, because Kanda killed him! Isn't that right," she turned slowly, to reveal Kanda being held by Wisely and Tyki, both holding his arms, "Yuu Kanda?" Tyki had Mugen in his hand, twisting it easily.
"Kanda!" Lenalee rushed forward, but halted once Road pointed candles at Allen instead of her. Even Allen couldn't dodge all of them, not without at least one hitting him. It wouldn't kill him, no, nothing could, but she couldn't bear to see him hurt.
Allen tensed as he prepared himself, "Kanda!" He called.
Wisely laughed, "Aw, we didn't hurt him!" He called out, "We just managed to grab him-he's fine, really."
"Get the fuck off me!" Kanda growled in response: and really, that should've said enough if they were worried.
Road turned back to Kanda, clasping her arms behind her back, "Al-ma Kar-ma~" She sang.
Kanda struggled from where he was held tightly, "You have no right to talk about Alma!" He snapped, "You-"
"Poor boy," Road continued, ignoring him, "You really loved him a lot, didn't you, General?" Road looked down, "To kill the only person you've ever loved...what a sad thing, how sad." She walked slowly to him, pressing a hand to his face, "I didn't want to do this partially because I don't like messing with history-it can only bring pain." She muttered, pressing her forehead to his, "I know how it is, Kanda, history should remain buried."
Wisely smirked, "Are you talking from experience, dear sister?" Road turned to him quickly, lifting a finger to her lips. They shouldn't talk about Nea when Allen was so close. Especially not when Allen was so stressed, it was asking for trouble.
Road glared, "Buried, Wisely. Anyways, wanna know a secret General?" She giggled leaning in close. She cupped her hand to her mouth and leaned close to her ear, "Alma Karma is alive."
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*Cough* Bookman's Interlude *Cough* Also there's a hint for the next chapter in one of the previous chapters! It's not a happy hint, but I thought it would be cool to include. I'm surprised none of y'all called me out on it.
Hint: The first chapter and chapter 17…slwofre