Hello again! I've decided to upload two chapters at a time...I guess there's really no limit but to better avoid making people angry because of possible cliffhangers and because I want to upload more I think I might stick with that from now on unless I start catching up with myself...but I'm at Chapter 31 now so...I'm good for a bit longer. And I'm not about to stop writing so all is good Hope people are still enjoying the chapters!
I don't own D. Gray Man or the characters, except my OC's, but they are still their own people!
Kisho: Person.
Me: Yeah.
Chapter Twenty Three – Call
Allen groaned in discomfort a few times before forcing himself to open his eyes and look around. He felt like he'd been struck by lightning and forced to run into a brick wall a few times. He felt exhausted and he could hardly move without intense pain shooting through him. But something was different, and he felt relieved, though he couldn't remember why just yet. Then Allen's gray-blue eyes drifted down to his wrists and he realized that they were free. The metal cuffs that had bound his wrists and right ankle were gone, and nothing—save for black burn marks on the white sheets—hinted they'd ever been there. Allen's wrists were red and blistered, and the skin on his wrists was peeling; he assumed his right ankle was burned the same way. A hole had been burned in his pant leg around the ankle and the areas were stinging painfully but that seemed like an unimportant detail now—he was free. Sitting up, Allen tried to figure out what had happened. His Innocence's activation had destroyed the cuffs and the barrier that had been around them. The links, he guessed, had been composed of dark matter, which was why they had reacted in such a way when Allen activated his Innocence, but then the dark matter had been destroyed by its opposite.
Worrying suddenly if his Innocence was alright, since a lot of power had been used to destroy the barrier, Allen activated it and watched his left fingers elongate into claws. Nothing felt wrong, but something strange was now nagging at the back of Allen's mind, a stray thought was tickling at him like someone was whispering right into his head. The exorcist sat up and held his head, shaking it a few times, trying to get rid of it. But suddenly words formed in his head.
Shiori...?
Who's that? Allen thought, startled, not immediately recognizing the voice.
...Kisho...who's this? Where's Shiori?
It's Allen.
Allen? Allen! You're okay! Where are you?
Kisho? Allen almost exclaimed out loud, as discovering the speaker's identity had surprised him. Why can I hear you? Are you near me?
No, I'm at The Black Order. Something weird happened...
Obviously, Allen thought back, a half-grin on his face.
So where are you? Where did you go after the Noah pushed you through that portal?
I'm in their headquarters, but I don't know exactly where that is...wait, how'd you know what happened to me? Suddenly an elated grin stretched across Allen's face. You found Timcampy!
Yeah. Well, he found us—He made his way back here a little while after everyone got back and he showed us what happened.
What's going on now? Allen thought urgently, and felt a spasm of panic in his chest when Kisho didn't answer right away.
A lot of stuff has happened...there's kind of...well...there's some bad news.
What? Not Len...not anyone...? Allen blurted, barely managing to correct himself.
No! Kisho exclaimed quickly. Everyone's fine. But since we saw that the Noah Clan had captured you, we...well, Komui announced that we were moving to another location. Everyone's getting ready to leave now. He's already got a place picked out for the new Black Order. He contacted the other Branches to tell them about the situation. He told Bak everything since we're going to rest there on the way but all the other Branches and the exorcists here know is that Akuma found the Main Branch's location and could be relaying it to the Earl. So, Komui told the other Branches that...just a few of us know the real reason but we decided to not tell everyone...since it wouldn't go over well.
...And the reason is that the Earl and Noah want me to use the Ark to take them to headquarters. There was a pause, and Allen's expression darkened as he waited for a response.
...Y—yeah...Allen...sorry. But believe me—Komui didn't make that decision because he didn't trust you. It was...just a precaution; he didn't want you to be put in danger, either.And he's trying hard now to find out where you are.
Allen ground his teeth and didn't think anything back.
I'm telling the truth. We're doing everything they can to find you, too—Lavi, Chaoji, Krory, Miranda, and even some of the Finders, like Emile. And there's something else that I need to tell you.
What is it? Allen thought stiffly, holding back the urge to feel angry.
Lenalee, Shiori, and me are trying too and we think we'll be able to get you back if we can only find out where you are! And I need to give something to you. Lavi and me found an Innocence fragment on a mission and it turned out to be—
—A fragment of the Heart? Allen finished for him, sitting up attentively.
Yeah. How'd you know?
A Noah, Road, just told me the same thing. Said that all of them and the Earl found it ages ago and that it broke itself apart so they wouldn't be able to find it. And they know that Lenalee's Innocence is part of it, and yours, too.
Well, it's not really mine...it's yours. I'm not the Accommodator for it anymore.
You're not? Why? And I already have an Anti-Akuma Weapon, Allen thought, startled, but skeptical about what he was being told.
Hevlaska told me—it's yours. Kisho repeated. When I went to see her my Innocence fused with the Heart fragment and she said that if it was just the Heart fragment it would be too powerful and destroy you along with the Noah if I got it to you, but my Innocence and the Heart fragment's powers kind of melted together I guess and it's in a more subdued form now, but according to Hevlaska it'll still purify the Noah's dark matter and get rid of him! Allen didn't breathe for a moment, his eyes wide with a mix of emotions—amazement, relief, doubt...
Could that really work?
I think so. But...I'm not sure how I could get there. Shiori would need to be around you in order for there to be a...wait. Kisho stopped himself midsentence. We're communicating with our thoughts now...that's a connection. Even if Shiori isn't with you to make the link, I might either be able to bring you here.
Are you sure? Allen asked elatedly in his mind. Then try it! I almost wish I could see the Noah's faces when they find me gone, though...
Yeah, me too...but you'll have to wait a little while. Kisho said, sounding apologetic, and Allen narrowed his eyes with frustration.
Uh, and why would that be?
I think I'm...not really conscious now. Something strange happened with me recently...it might be hard to...
I can bet I've seen and heard of more weird things than you... Allen thought doubtfully, so define strange.
Okay...well, when my Innocence and the Heart fragment joined, the new Innocence...uh...went inside me. It's part of me now, or something. I was telling everyone that we had to leave The Order's current location and suddenly I felt like something was burning me, or like I was being shocked. I don't know what it was, but that's why I'm unconscious now.
Burning, shocked...? Hang on...that can't be what happened, can it?
Huh?
I think that was maybe my Innocence and yours synchronizing and creating a connection between our minds, which is why we can communicate like this now. I was trapped here and the Noah used some weird restraints to make it so I couldn't escape. Whenever I activated my Innocence, they shocked me. I kept trying to activate it, and I must have blacked out but when I woke up the shackles were gone, and I mean wiped off the face of the Earth, Allen explained looking again at the burn marks on his wrists and the scorch marks on the sheets.
Then...both of our Innocences freed you by synchronizing, and they combined their power...and we also felt the same things?
Maybe....I've never experienced anything like this before...I'm just guessing, Allen admitted.
Same here. But anyway...I'll wake up soon so I can try to bring you back. But are any of the Noah coming now? Or the Earl?
No. Now would be a good time to wake up.
Got it...well...just wait a little. I might have to tell Shiori goodbye.
...Don't do this if you're going to get yourself killed, Allen thought furiously.
I don't plan to. I think I'm waking up now...I'll try not to take much longer.
Hold on!
I'm not going to back down now, and you better not, either. See you soon. If you can, keep your Innocence activated—that created the connection in the first place, like you said.
Allen's head ached suddenly and his ears popped like he'd switched altitudes suddenly, and although he tried to contact Kisho again and again, he didn't hear anything.
"So...you think since there's a connection now, like the one your Innocence and Shiori's has, that you can bring him back." Sitting up in a bed in the Infirmary, Kisho nodded resolutely.
"I don't know how much time Allen has—the Noah could walk in on him—so I'm going to do it now."
"You're still weak," Komui mentioned sharply, and Lenalee and Shiori nodded anxiously, agreeing. "And the aftereffects of you transporting him here could be too much for your body at the moment." Matron had bandaged Kisho's wrist and right ankle, since they had severe second-degree burns, and he was still recovering from the injuries he'd gotten on the mission a few weeks ago.
"Listen, I'm in the Infirmary already. If something goes wrong I already have more of a chance of survival even if I collapse. And this could be our only chance."
You don't know where he is, though! What if it doesn't work because of that? Shiori thought, panicked and angry that Kisho was thinking of going through with this, the way he was.
"That's right. Kisho, don't do this now," Lenalee murmured softly, looking troubled. "I want Allen back too, so much that it hurts, but..." Kisho unexpectedly snapped angrily at his friends and they jumped in surprise.
"If I try it and it doesn't work then we'll be no worse off than before! This is the only lead we have right now, so we should take it!"
Kisho! Shiori jumped halfway up onto the bed and pawed at Kisho's hand, then whined once.
"Don't worry," Kisho said softly, calming down, feeling bad about getting mad. "Something tells me that what's going to happen will be what's supposed to happen and it'll be alright. Understand? Just trust me for now. If it doesn't work then I'll literally stick my foot in my mouth." Despite the situation Lenalee and Shiori both covered their mouths and laughed. Komui gave a tired smile and rubbed his head.
"Matron won't be happy with this...she's out getting you food to help with your anemia. You have my permission to go ahead with this, but do it before she comes back." Kisho nodded and closed his eyes.
"I'm not the Accommodator for you anymore, but just one last time...Innocence, activate!" Kisho held his hands over his chest and grunted as a flash of light surged up around him. Lenalee, Shiori, and Komui felt a shockwave and stumbled slightly from its power. "Allen needs you, but he's where we can't reach him right now, and he's in danger." Lenalee, Komui, and Shiori squeezed their eyes shut at the white light around Kisho became blinding. "Help me bring him back!" The three heard Kisho shout, and then they were knocked to the floor as another, more powerful shockwave went through the room. The light abruptly vanished and they opened their eyes slowly, then shakily got to their feet. Shiori lifted her head and glanced around the room frantically. Kisho wasn't in the infirmary bed anymore. Komui's eyes narrowed and then widened in realization.
"He wanted to bring Allen here, but instead, it seems like the Innocence transported him to wherever Allen is." Lenalee and Shiori turned, stunned, and gaped at Komui.
"But he didn't know where he was! Even Allen didn't know where the Noah had taken him!" Komui put a hand to his chin.
"Maybe he didn't...but maybe the Innocence knew...we can only hope that he's safe. There's nothing we can do from here."
"Wait—Hevlaska could know, couldn't she?" Lenalee asked. "Maybe she could tell if he was where Allen is, too!" After a moment, Komui nodded slowly.
"That's not a bad idea...Hevlaska said that no matter where Kisho was, she would be able to sense him because of the Innocence. But you two should keep preparing to leave—I'll talk to Hevlaska. I'll find you and tell you what she says later." Lenalee looked down, obviously unhappy with her brother's suggestion, and Shiori's ears had wilted in disappointment, but they gave no further protests.
"I want to come, but there are still exorcists and Finders who don't know what's going on. We'll make sure everyone knows, then get ready to leave." Komui looked gratefully at the two exorcists and smiled softly.
"We'll be going through the portal that leads to the Asia Branch, and after that, the new Order's location is almost a week's journey by train. There's an abandoned castle in Russia that we've recently gotten permission to use. It was easier to accomplish because the place hadn't been in use for years, and there's a legend that says it's haunted."
"Haunted?" Lenalee asked, thinking it probably wasn't, but because it sounded like it had been abandoned and dilapidated, rumors of that sort would quickly show up and spread.
"That made it better for us, actually. We will have to fix it up quite a bit but that shouldn't be a problem once I make a new Komurin there." Lenalee gave an uneasy smile and then ran quickly out the door with Shiori keeping pace beside her.