Disclaimer - I do not own DGM nor any of the characters.

Chapter Twenty-Six - Requiem

I can tell by the look that appears on Kanda's face that he's actually shocked by my words, at least to a small degree. At some other time this probably would have caused me to laugh out loud since it had always been so much fun to rattle him in the past but now it only brings a slight smirk of amusement to my face and little other show of emotion. Banishing those had simply been easier than dealing with them. "I can't believe that you actually think you can fucking kill me Moyashi." His tone is a growl but, at this point, it's one that I can easily match. "You'll fall just as easily as anyone else BaKanda." Not that the battles I've been fighting have been easy up to this point but with the growing strength of the Noah to fall back upon it's far from an impossibility. Even with the three of them working as a team.

The expression that appears on Lenalee's face is one that I recognize as sorrow but I'm not affected by it as once I would have been. The person that I was before would have felt beyond guilty for causing such a look but now… not so much. Circumstance has hardened me against any from the Black Order and, sadly, this also includes those that I once thought of as family. My mismatched eyes narrow slightly as I continue to gaze at them. "Allen-kun…"

I hold up my hand, halting her words before she has the opportunity to continue. "Just turn around, walk away, and pretend that you never saw me." That would make things easier for all concerned; if they walked away then I could go on about my mission and forget that I ever saw them. The urge to destroy both them and their Innocence would go away and maybe the demon whispering in the back of my mind would be quiet for awhile.

Now THAT would be a welcome relief as far as I'm concerned.

"You know my boy, it's a bit irksome that you insist on thinking of me in that manner. You obviously don't know the truth of me."

And I honestly don't want to are the words that run through my mind, knowing that he'll be able to hear them but not really caring. I can't bring myself to care whether or not I hurt the feelings of the bane of my existence. It's not as though I haven't alienated everyone else so what's one more? And especially this particular one. Perhaps if he disliked me a little more then he would keep his ramblings to himself and stop invading my thoughts at every possible opportunity. Though, in retrospect, I have to admit that this isn't likely to happen. And, as much as I hate to admit it… and I hate to a lot… he can prove useful on occasion.

"I'm afraid we can't really do that buddy." For some reason the fact that he chose to call me that only causes my anger to increase. The hands that I'm holding at my side clench into fists as I turn a glare in the direction of the Junior Bookman. "Don't even bother to call me that. I know how you actually feel so it's a wasted effort that we could all do without." I'm sure that there is a hard look in my eyes, though I have no real way to confirm this. Not that it really matters even remotely.

The sound of music seems to fill the air as my gaze shifts back and forth between the three of them. It's a haunting tune that doesn't really seem appropriate for a battle. More fitting for a funeral but the twisted part of me finds this oddly suited to this particular fight. A requiem for the soon to be dead. This thought causes a slight chuckle to leave my lips, though even to my ears it sounds anything but amused. If it's a fight that they want then it's a fight that they'll get. Though I imagine they'll be less willing to proceed once they find out what I'm capable of.

I'm not the Allen that they knew… not anymore.

That particular person has already died, a casualty of this war, and this hollow shell is all that remains. It's sad in a way but I've been able to accomplish much more after this unwanted transformation then I ever did while I was sided with the Order. A sad commentary on their behalf and mine but I'm reminded of something that Mana said from time to time. Sometimes the truth hurts but it can set you free. The man who raised me had been full of wisdom, some of which I'm only now beginning to understand. I feel a slight twinge of guilt as I think back to my foster father but even that's short lived.

"Please Allen-kun, you don't have to do this." She's begging by this point but even that doesn't serve to soften a heart that has been hardened against everyone and everything. I can't take back the things that I've done so there is nothing left to do except to keep moving forward. That's always been what I strived to do and, in this situation, it's the only option left to me. It gave them ample opportunity to turn around and walk away but they wouldn't listen.

So, since they wouldn't listen, now they'll have to feel.

"I'm not the one who made this choice; you are." I hold up my left hand as these words leave my lips but I have no intentions of using my Innocence in this battle. I know what would happen should I use it against those who also wield it but that's not really a problem. I'll just use the powers that I gained from the 14th… they should be more than adequate.

"You're welcome for that, by the way."

And of course he couldn't resist adding his two cents worth into all of this. His tone is smug, which usually irritates me, but I can ignore it for the moment… because it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. With a slight huff I shrug off his words and turn glaring eyes toward those that I once deemed friend. "Absolute last chance… Turn back now before it's too late."

Because the music is growing louder and the desire to kill is growing stronger.

A/N - Finally an update for this! If anyone's still reading this I hope that you enjoyed the chapter and I apologize for the heinously long delay.