Happy Holidays! :D
I don't own D. Gray Man or any of its characters but I'm glad that I can be free to write stories about them! It's been a blast so far.
Chapter Twenty Four – Utilize
Kisho groaned and held his head tightly, then forced himself to his feet and glanced around, hastily trying to figure out where he was and from there judge if he needed to suddenly book it. But the place he'd been dropped off in was completely dark, cold, and silent. Bending down gingerly Kisho felt the floor around him and discovered it was smooth—either stone or wood—so he was probably inside, so there was a good chance that this place was uninhabited. But I have to get out of here, anyway, and fast, Kisho thought, suddenly feeling uncomfortable despite his observations, as if someone was watching him. Being in the dark just made it worse since if someone was in this place and sneaking up on him, Kisho would never know until they made a noise and by then it would likely be the end of the road for him. The teenager unexpectedly grabbed at his sleeve; something was crawling in it. Reaching inside his right sleeve quickly he yanked out whatever thing was crawling in it and tossed it away. A slight breeze ruffled his hair and Kisho jumped away, but the breeze just came back, and the teenager almost yelled when he felt something rubbing against his face. He waited for pain to follow afterward, but nothing happened. Kisho continued to feel a slight breeze near his face and a faint flapping noise suddenly reached his ears.
"What is that?" He whispered, and the breeze suddenly grew stronger. "When did it get in my sleeve?" The fourteen-year-old felt a sharp nip on the side of his face and he jumped again. "Ow!" Kisho lurched backward in alarm and waved an arm in front of his face, then jolted as he felt something land on his hand and sit there. When the thing on his hand didn't do anything Kisho relaxed a bit. Then something occurred to him. "Is that one of the Golems?" The weight vanished from Kisho's hand and second later a breeze began wafting across his face. "If you are a Golem, you're either Timcampy or Kamu, because they like to bite. If you're not, though, I could be a dead man soon." The gentle breeze stirred up by the Golem's flapping continued to waft across Kisho's face, but then it vanished abruptly. A small but still substantial weight nestled into his hair. "You haven't really attacked me...except for biting me.....but I don't think you're some Akuma....so I guess for now I'll just let you stay there and hope you don't eat my brains out." Kisho began inching his feet forward, feeling for anything he might trip over. So far, so good. After this, I'll find a place to hide where I can actually see around me, and then.... Kisho halted abruptly, alarmed, when his right foot struck something. Before he could even wonder what it was, something grabbed him forcefully around the throat and lifted him into the air. The exorcist's mouth gaped open, trying in vain to suck in air, but the pressure around his throat made that impossible. Kisho began to panic after the seconds began ticking by, and he struggled even though he knew he couldn't get free. Whoever had caught him was inhumanly strong.
Unexpectedly, but to Kisho's blind relief, the pressure on his throat suddenly lessened although he was still suspended in the air. He then gave a yell that was stifled as something heavy pressed over his face, completely covering it. A strange sound, like chanting, filtered through the darkness and without warning Kisho's chest suddenly burned and whatever was covering his face lifted away immediately. A bright flash from the Innocence activating on its own and surrounding Kisho's body with light allowed him to see who had attacked him. If the figure hadn't had one hand still around Kisho's throat, the teenager would have inhaled sharply in shock as he got a first glimpse of his assailant's face. The figure was swatting its other hand at a Golem flapping near its face, and whenever the hand got close enough, the Golem would bite. Then the figure gave a shudder and dissolved into dust that vanished like a breeze had blown it away. The room was thrown into darkness again when the Innocence's light suddenly vanished as its self-executed Invocation ended. Kisho thudded to the floor, but he was on his feet again in an instant, and was streaking blindly for the door he'd seen when the Innocence's flash had lit up the room. Grappling in the dark for the doorknob, he grasped empty air a few times before his hand closed around it. Kisho felt something nestle in his hair again but he was too focused on getting out of the room to pay more attention. Giving a quiet moan of relief, Kisho turned the doorknob, yanked the door open and darted out of the room, gazing around at his surroundings frantically.
Corridors stretched off to his left and right, but in front of him there was a single hallway that went straight for a short distance before winding away to the right. Taking his chances, Kisho darted forward and followed the passageway. In his panic he wasn't caring where he went, only caring that he got away from the room where that thing had been. After turning the corner, Kisho saw that the only way to go now was straight, so he did and ran as fast as he could. But he screeched to a halt when a shadow suddenly peeked around the corner in front of him. A few doors were in the walls around him, and one door particular caught his eye. On its surface were the letters WC and it was open slightly, so Kisho leapt inside, slammed the door. The door had a lock so he hastily bolted the door and stepped back. It was dim inside the bathroom but still Kisho was grateful that someone had bothered to keep the lamp sitting on a small wooden table burning. He was about to turn the it up more so he could see better when a loud knock at the door caused him to jump and almost knock the lamp over, but he saved it just in time and held his breath, heart thudding heavily.
"Road, I know that was you! I'd recognize your midget profile anywhere! Don't take forever in there like last time—I don't care if you're a girl! I'm leaving, but if you're not out in five minutes I'll come back and break the door down! Got it?" Footsteps stomped away down the hall and Kisho slumped to the floor, thanking his lucky stars that whoever that man had been, he hadn't waited for a response. But he just had five minutes to get out of the bathroom before he came back, so he crawled over to the door and stood slowly, pressing his ear to the door and straining to hear for anyone coming. Half a minute passed with no one approaching the door and waiting; if his hearing was good, no one had walked down the hall and no one was currently coming, either. Sighing, Kisho stepped back and slumped against a wall, then flinched when something flew into his face. An instant later he relaxed; he saw that the thing he'd believed to be a Golem in fact was.
"Timcampy! So that was you before....what a relief. There could have been a flying Akuma in my hair for all I knew....and I wouldn't have been able to do much about it. I wonder if the Innocence would have freaked out about you then, though, since it did for that thing that attacked me...." In his rush to get out of sight earlier Kisho hadn't been paying attention but thanks to the person stomping away before he knew now that the floor was either wood or stone so it would be easier to hear someone coming even if they walked quietly. Kisho was about to unfasten the bolt on the door but it suddenly hit him that he was in unfamiliar territory without anything to defend himself. A wicker basket was sitting on the floor between the toilet and the small table with the lamp. Kisho knelt hastily and lifted the top off and peered inside the basket, not really expecting to find anything of use, but searched through the basket's contents anyway. Timcampy settled on top of Kisho's head again while the teenager tried to focus on finding something he could use as a weapon, but his mind kept drifting back to that figure he'd briefly seen—it had been a human figure but its face had been a pure white skeleton, and Kisho had glimpsed long, pointed ears, and an unsettling gap-toothed grin. The hands gripping him had been strong even though they'd been thin and bony. Kisho had probably only seen the figure for a few seconds before the Innocence had turned it to dust, but he was still terrified by the memory of it. It had to have been some kind of Akuma; if it wasn't he had no idea what it was.
Rifling through the basket as quickly but quietly as he could, Kisho found several objects: a bone toothbrush, a round toothpaste container, a bar of soap, a rectangular wooden object, and a small cup. Sighing, Kisho lifted the objects in case anything else was in the basket but there wasn't anything remotely weapon-like inside. The end of the bone toothbrush was somewhat pointed, and maybe he could stab someone with it, but still it wouldn't help him much in an actual fight....but he took it and slid it in his pocket. Anything that brought him a tiny bit closer to defending himself and making it to Allen was worth taking along. Dark brown eyes strayed to the bar of soap; if—or when, more like—Kisho got attacked maybe he could rub soap in his enemy's eyes. The teenager laughed quietly and shook his head, realizing that he sounded ridiculous. Kisho picked up the soap and was about to shut the basket's lid when he picked up the wooden object on a whim and studied it closer. Turning it, he noticed that a line of metal was in the middle of it and that the metal had a little groove in it. Kisho pinched the groove between his forefinger and thumb and pulled; a blade extended outward and Kisho saw that this object was a straight razor and would be a lot better than a toothbrush. Kisho suddenly wondered how much time had gone by; he closed the razor, shoved it and the soap into his pocket and returned to the door.
Listening hard for a few seconds let him know that no one was coming, and he undid the bolt, turned the handle and opened the door slowly. Looking out through the crack he didn't see anyone, and peered out more. No one was coming from either direction in the hall, including the one in front of him, so he emerged from the bathroom and began walking quickly down that corridor in case anyone came he would see right away and be able to run back and take the left or right hallway. If someone came up from behind Kisho, however, then he was pretty much dead. That reminded him to keep checking behind him in case someone was following him so he could at least try and get away. I have no idea where I'm going, or where Allen is. I think the Innocence took me to him instead of the other way around....I guess his Innocence and the one I have attracted each other....I should be trying to see if I can talk to him. I doubt I'll find him by luck—if I keep wandering around like this I'll get caught before I even get close. Trying to concentrate while keeping his ears tuned, Kisho thought, Allen, can you hear me? He felt a familiar warmth in his chest and hoped that meant he'd gotten in contact with Allen through his Innocence. But he didn't hear any reply for a few minutes and tried again. Hey! Allen! It's me, Kisho....are you here? Can you hear me?
.....Kisho....is that you? So you got here?
Yeah, somehow....I think when I tried to bring you back your Innocence called me here instead. I'm trying to find you without getting caught. Think you can help me out?
Well....no. I've been trapped in a room the whole time. I can move around now since I got free but the door won't open, and I've tried breaking it down about a hundred different ways but that hasn't worked either.
....Maybe I can send Timcampy around with the Innocence to try and find you. He's smaller and could probably fly near the ceilings and not get caught. Kisho heard surprise and relief in Allen's voice, strange since they weren't actually physically speaking to each other.
Timcampy came with you?
Yeah, he snuck in my sleeve somehow....and I'm glad he did. He helped me when a skeleton thing attacked me. Now Allen's tone was alarmed.
A Skull? A Skull attacked you? He demanded. When?
It's called a Skull? Oh, uh, it was right after I got here. I was in a dark room and it caught me. Timcampy started biting it, and then the Innocence activated and I think the Skull got killed because it activated.
It activated, meaning on its own?
Yeah. Hang on, Kisho thought sharply, coming to a halt as he heard footsteps coming towards him. Someone's coming. I have to hide, so wait a minute. If Allen thought something back he didn't pay attention. Kisho looked around urgently and entered the only door that was nearby, and was glad that this one was lit and empty; and coincidentally it also happened to be a bathroom, so it had a bolt as well. He closed the door quickly but quietly, locked it, and hid so that he'd be behind it if someone could open it. After several tense moments, the footsteps approached the door....and kept going. Kisho didn't dare breathe until they'd completely faded away; when they'd gone the teenager reached a hand to his head and picked up Timcampy. "That was way too close, and if they catch me, it's over...but you can stay out of sight can't you?" The golden Golem just sat in Kisho's palms and stared up at him....at least, he thought he was. Timcampy was at least turning his body towards him. It was a little hard to see where the Golem was looking since he didn't really have eyes. Allen.
What's going on? Came the sudden and urgent reply.
I'm going to send Timcampy and the Innocence to you, Kisho thought.
Will he even be able to find me? And what if someone catches him?
....I think he'll be able to sense where you are....like what's happened with the Innocence so far. It brought me here. And if I wandered around, I'd just get caught, and the Innocence with me. So... Kisho hesitated.
It's the only option at this point? Allen finished for him.
....Pretty much....
Alright. And, listen--Timcampy can tunnel through walls, even if they're made of stone. He should be able to travel that way so no one sees him.
Really? That helps! I'll send him now. Just, one thing....once you get out of here and to The Order, go ask Lavi to tell Shiori about what I told him when we were on that last mission. He'll understand, and Shiori...well, she'll have to figure the rest out herself, but...
What are you talking about? I'll wait until Timcampy finds me and then we'll get out of here together.
I want to, believe me, but....
You're not staying here. Allen thought angrily.
Listen, we don't have time for this, Kisho snapped.
Too bad, Allen thought smugly.
Fine. If I don't get out tell Shiori that I'm glad I got the chance to see her again, and that...I love her. Got it?
Why are you talking like you're going to get killed?! Allen practically yelled in his mind.
You won't be able to get out of here if you're dragging me along! Just tell her!
What?! You little--!!
Kisho ignored the threatening and enraged exclamations Allen was thinking to him and focused on talking to Timcampy. "Go find Allen," he instructed. "If I give you the Innocence could you use it to sense where he is and go to him? I mean, you won't get lost or anything, right?" Timcampy shuddered for a few seconds, then opened his mouth wide, showing little but pointy teeth. A menacing hiss escaped from the Golem's mouth. "Alright. Sorry to question your sense of direction...when I can't find my way around here," Kisho apologized, then put his left hand to his heart and closed his eyes. A moment later, Kisho grunted and winced as continuous sharp spasms of pain shot through his chest. Since the Innocence had merged with him, he guessed that was why it was hurting, and he tried to stand the pain but soon it became too much and Kisho passed out briefly.
Opening his eyes, Kisho blinked wearily and found Timcampy repeatedly tackling the side of his face that wasn't pressed into the floor. Painfully pushing himself to all fours Kisho looked around frantically and didn't see the Innocence fragment anywhere. "Where's the Innocence?" Timcampy made a sharp hissing noise and opened his mouth a bit; a pinkish green glow escaped before the golden Golem shut his mouth again. Kisho sighed and stood, but swayed and fell to his knees. "Great....okay....now can you find Allen?" Timcampy nodded and flew towards Kisho's hands, and he stood, then stumbled towards the door and made sure no one was coming before stepping out quickly and tossing Timcampy upwards into the air. "Stay towards the ceiling, and do whatever you can to stay out of sight." The Golem flew high into the air and began sniffing around the ceiling; suddenly Timcampy vanished, but Kisho squinted and could make out small hole in the ceiling and realized that Timcampy must have chewed through it. "Good luck," he took a moment to say to himself, then looked around warily before carefully standing and walking forward, still swaying dizzily a bit at times. He felt a little less uneasy now that Timcampy was going towards Allen but still had to try and find a way out and then go tell Allen where it was so they could escape. "I'll find him....I'll get out of here with him...." Kisho said to himself as he walked down a hall, turned left, and kept going as he tried to follow the direction that Timcampy had gone. "No....if I stay with him, I'll slow him down. I can't fight anymore. I need to just find him and make sure the Innocence gets rid of the Noah, and after that, get him out of here."
"Well, now," a voice behind Kisho said, and he turned swiftly in alarm to see a man standing in front of him with a calm but ominous look on his face. "That's pretty ambitious for someone like you. How did you get here? Have you been having a good time walking around and exploring?" Kisho clenched his teeth and snatched the straight razor from his pocket and quickly flipped the blade out. It wouldn't do him much good for long, not against this person; Kisho didn't have to think that hard about this man's identity. He was scared about being killed, but felt better about going down fighting.
"So, are you a Noah?" The man looked mildly interested.
"You've never seen a person like me, have you? Well, you're young." The Noah lifted his right hand. "That's why this is unfortunate." A butterfly-like creature materialized in the man's palm and flapped its black wings slowly. "Tell me: do you know what this is?" Kisho gazed, stone-faced, at the man and shook his head once. "No? I didn't expect you to. It's a Tease, and as for what it does," the Noah began taking slow steps towards Kisho, who began moving backward, "you'll find out soon." Kisho bumped into the wall behind him and felt his heart beating fast and hard. "Are you afraid?" The Noah asked, now inches away from Kisho, his hand and the Tease creature pressing against his chest, right over his heart. "You don't have to be. I just want to know why you're here, and where that Golem went." He asked softly.
"That's all? Really?" Kisho growled, giving the Noah a glare as he tried to keep dread from his face. Suddenly Kisho felt a chill run down his spine, and some impulse made the teenager look down. The Noah's hand wasn't pressing against his chest anymore, but was starting to go through it, although somehow there was no pain. Lifting his head, Kisho gazed at the Noah, and it was slowly dawning on him that he probably wouldn't be getting out of here. Kisho swallowed lightly and pushed the thought away, trying to keep his head clear. "Well, wouldn't you like to know."
"Oh?" The Noah asked, sounding amused. Without saying anything Kisho lifted the razor, aiming to stab it into the man's chest, but he wasn't fast enough although deep down he knew it probably wouldn't have done much damage. The Noah grabbed Kisho's left forearm and twisted violently, breaking the teenager's bone clean in half—causing him to scream in pain—and at the same time the Noah pushed the Tease into Kisho's heart. The razor he held fell from his right hand skittered a few feet away as he collapsed onto his knees, cradling his right arm, gasping heavily in shock and agony. The pain was making him retch and the Noah blinked, then made a disgusted face. When Kisho finally stopped he coughed several times, and barely struggled when a fistful of his hair was grabbed. Tykki began dragging the teenager alongside him, making sure to step around the mess so he wouldn't step in it or drag Kisho through it, thus avoiding tracking it down the hall. "Do you think that would really have hurt me?" Still cradling his arm as Tykki dragged him, Kisho couldn't hear much of anything over the rushing in his ears, and he was trying to keep his injured arm from being jostled.
"I won't....tell you...anything," he mumbled without thinking, still stunned from the pain. Tykki looked down at Kisho and narrowed his eyes.
"You'll probably change your mind and talk before I'm through with you."
Author's Note: Well, I liked writing this chapter. I could let my creative weirdness and probably random mind go free in certain parts and it was pretty fun, especially when Kisho's roaming around and being a kleptomaniac xD An-y-way, be careful out there on the icy roads if you live in cold places, but if you don't, then be careful of the slippery rainy roads or any other conditions the weather may present and have happy and safe holidays!