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Chapter Twenty-Five - Reunion
Following the unfamiliar dirt road I find myself gazing around ever so often, unable to shake the feeling that I'm being watched by someone. Shaking my head I tell myself that it's just my imagination, left over emotions from the narrow escape that the Fourteenth and I just pulled off and nothing more. Because if the Earl or any of his minions really were watching me then it is highly likely that they would have attacked by now.
It's not in their nature to stand idly by.
"I could be wrong but it seems to me that you're a little on the jumpy side my dear boy…"
"Your powers of observation are truly amazing…" There's a sarcastic tone to my voice that doesn't sound right even to me but I guess that's just another side effect of this transformation. Nowhere near as bad as other things, not that I really care about any of it at this point.
"Oi!" I cringe as I hear this familiar voice, pausing so that I can gaze around in search of it's origins. "Moyashi-chan!"
"IT'S ALLEN!" Despite everything that I have endured since the last time I saw him I can't help this outburst as Lavi suddenly appears on the road behind me. I must have passed by him without even noticing, other than the strange feeling that I was being watched. This is a fact that I inwardly berate myself for but outwardly my expression is blank. I stare as Lenalee and Kanda join Lavi on the path, strange expressions on both their faces. "What are you doing here?"
My tone is hollow and I make no attempts to hide the fact that I don't trust them. Despite the fact that we fought together on a number of occasions, and that I once considered each of them a friend, what happened at the Black Order is something that I simply can't forget.
"Watch yourself… I don't like the feel of this."
Completely ignoring the voice of my inner demon I continue to stare at the trio of Exorcists, who in turn stare back with somewhat stunned expressions on their faces. It's obvious that they hadn't expected this from me but the fake smile and polite demeanor were gone now, replaced by something much harsher.
"It hurts me that you would ask such a thing Moyashi-chan… we came looking for you." Lavi's expression is carefully blank, a skill that he no doubt picked up during his training as Bookman's successor.
"That's right Allen-kun… we wanted to make sure that you were okay." Lenalee's voice trembles slightly as she whispers these words to me, causing me to feel a brief moment of guilt. I banish it quickly however, my expression never changing as I gaze at her unflinchingly. The voice in the back of my head is screaming out for their deaths… and the complete destruction of the Innocence that they all possess… but I attribute this to the Noah part of myself. I can tell that it's grown stronger during my struggle against the Earl and his minions so I suppose it's only natural that this would happen. Shaking my head I take a couple of steps back, putting some distance between them and myself.
"Well you've seen now that I'm fine so just turn around and walk away…" A slight growling tone appears in my voice, causing Lenalee to flinch, but this time I don't feel anything. My two-toned eyes stare at them, challenging them to try to stop me from moving forward. There's a part of me that knows that's the real reason why they're here and that part is at the forefront as I gaze at them. It would be a mistake on their part to get in my way and I want to make this fact abundantly clear to them.
They were once my allies so they at least deserve the benefit of a warning.
"A-Allen-kun…"
"This wasn't what I wanted… but it's the way things are now and I'm completely committed to my mission." My gaze doesn't waver as I stare at the trio of Exorcists. Thanks to everything that's happened I'm no longer even remotely like them and seeing them again only serves to bring this point home like nothing else has thus far.
Turning away from them I make a move to continue on my way, to wherever this road happens to take me. All I need is a short time to regroup before making another move against the Earl and the Noah. This bit of internal planning is interrupted however as Lenalee activates her Innocence and uses her Dark Boots to rush past, skidding to a halt in front of me.
"Won't you please just talk to us Allen?" There's a pleading expression in her violet eyes but I shrug it off. Before this would have made me do anything in order to prevent her tears but I'm not the person that I was then and I'm unaffected.
"There's nothing to talk about." The tone of my voice leaves no doubt that I'm not willing to explain myself to any of them, no matter what methods they employ. The methods employed by the Black Order have only turned me against them and the fact that she, Lavi and Kanda are loyal to their cause mean that we have absolutely nothing to talk about. I'll destroy the Earl and the Noah but I'm going to do it on my terms and I refuse to ever again answer to anyone other than myself. "If you want to fight then let's get this over with and if not then just get the hell out of my way."
"Do you honestly think you stand a chance against all three of us Moyashi? If that's the case then you're even stupider than I first thought… and that's saying something." The scowl on Kanda's face, coupled together with his words, annoys me true enough but not enough to cause me to do anything rash. And the fights with the Noah have given me a confidence in my abilities that I didn't have before. And, as though all of that weren't enough, I've lost the reservation against taking human lives.
"I don't want to kill you BaKanda… so just back away."
My voice is cold, not even the hint of a taunt held within. It's merely a statement of fact, as far I'm concerned. My gaze is unflinching as I stare at them, waiting to see how this will play out.
A/N - End of another chapter and the Exorcists are back in it. Little impromptu survey… what should happen to the group from the Black Order? Hope that you enjoyed the chapter. Til next time, farewell.