Hey! I know it's a really creative greeting but I'm running late (again) so let's just go with it. We all knew that the whole posting on time thing wasn't going to last. I apologize that this was so late. My sleep schedule is still wacky from my old job. Gonna take a while to switch back, doesn't help that WinterYule keeps distracting me on discord. Once you guys are done reading this chapter you should go check out her story if you haven't already. She's a good friend and her story is amazing! Like seriously I'm in love: D. Gray Land ("Qin!," Alma glomped onto me, his tears seeping into my shirt "Yu is being mean again!" Sighing, I patted him, aware that a mini-Kanda glaring holes into my back. When I died, I never expected to wind up in this crazy world, much less as a Second Exorcist. Life certainly has a way of playing cruel pranks on me. Oh well, at least there's no homework. Slightly AU. OC-insert. ). Anywho, I'm still working on the special chapters so please bear with me on those. They will be out as soon as they are done! I think that's all that needs to be discussed before we move on to reviews!
Dear Arkytior's Song, Luca's part was a bit hard to write so I had a lot of fun writing Tyki's part. He really doesn't know what's going on and Joyd is trying to tell him but he's not listening. It's going to be a little while before they see each other again but they will meet in the Halloween special! So look forward to that!
Dear Alexc1209, I hope you had a safe trip home! Yeah Luca's sight is making things a bit more complicated. And yes Joyd has made his decision on Luca and doesn't like letting go of what belongs to him. Lulu Bell is indeed very upset. She cried in the manga and I can't help but think that Luca screwing up her plans might just be rubbing salt into the wound she has from losing to our girl in the first place. She doesn't take loss very well. Poor Sheril Road just loves Allen so much. I'm amazed Sheril ears haven't fallen off. I can just imagine her going on and on about how great Allen is. No the etiquette lessons are literally lessons on etiquette. He and the Earl feel that Tyki has forgotten the proper etiquette required of somebody of he's standing and so he must relearn it! XD He does also force Tyki to go to balls to dance with unmarried young woman who just happen to be on the market. Unfortunately for Sheril he doesn't realize that if it wasn't going to happen before it's never going to happen now. Oh well Sheril can dream. The Earl hasn't realized that Allen is the 14th just yet. Not until Paris. Luca getting kidnapped by the Noah? That would certainly be interesting. I'll keep it in mind. Let me know what you think!
Dear Kp, I'm happy to hear from you again! I figured you just got caught up in regular life and you'd be back sooner or later. I'm glad it's sooner. You could never fail me, just look at it this way, you got to read two chapters when you realized it. So many questions you have. They will all be answered in due time. Patience is needed. Joyd is definitely a bit possessive and it certainly makes things more interesting. I don't know if you saw or not but you won second place in the contest with your guess of November 13th. So I need to know what you would like to happen in your special chapter. I'll get on it as soon as can. Enjoy this chapter!
Dear WinterYule, Thanks for that. I'm glad it didn't seem as bad to you as it did to me. I was stressed about the chapter but you knew that. Yeah Luca has a bad habit of not admitting when she needs help, always stubbornly trying to plow through whatever problem she's having at the moment. You are right on both points. As with everything it will get worse before it gets better so prepare for the next chapter. Yeah Luca's drinking problem, which she would argue that it's not a problem, she is completely using it as a coping mechanism. She learned from the best. She's following in the footsteps of the only role model she's ever had, Cross Marian. Allen hasn't really had time to deal with it yet as they've all been pretty busy. Believe me they will hash it out. Tyki doesn't want to go to the party, he wants to be left alone to sleep. Poor man just wants a break but Sheril won't let him. It's always hard trying to get inside a characters head, Joyd is especially difficult, Tyki is bit easier because he tends to display his emotions and thought right across his face. Don't worry about being all over, I ramble all the time!
Dear B-chan, Joyd and his actions are forcing Tyki to really think about what is going on with him and Luca and where it is going. He can't keep pretending that it's just a game as Joyd simply won't allow it. He's already restless and badgering him about it. Collecting his own thoughts as well as trying to keep a handle on Joyd is tiring so it's taking longer. And of course our favorite Portuguese Noah is oblivious to most things. XD Silly boy. Let's be honest Luca at one of those parties would be a disaster. Sheril would have a fit. Yes Luca is having a hard time at the moment. I love your description of it. It's pretty accurate. What's wrong with Luca's eye is up for debate since the stubborn little crap head hasn't gone to the medical team there is no official diagnosis for what's wrong with it. Her name is actually Lucaria Eve Walker. She dropped Blackwood back in China in favor of Walker. I'm delighted you think it suits her. I think so too and it's just very pretty. Yes I am aware of the pokemon, it's got nothing to do with that. Link is definitely suspicious of Luca, unlike Allen he can see that she's not saying everything that she knows. He's lost track of her several times and he's picked up on some of her stranger moments. Unfortunately for him Luca is one of the few topics that Allen won't talk about. He keeps telling him to ask her which doesn't go well. I'm excited that you caught the parallel of them both needing more whiskey. I thought it would be fun to try it out. Enjoy this chapter!
Dear Destiny's Gem, Yes Luca should definitely seek medical attention for that injury, buuuut she's not going to. Far too headstrong to do it. Luca shouldn't be drinking alcohol anyway as her brain has yet to fully develop but yeah she picked it up from her Master as a coping mechanism for all the stress she's dealing with. You'll just have to wait for next chapter to see how it all goes down with her eye. Now on to the part about her innocence. You are very close, a few points are off as usual but you are close enough that I'm not going to say anymore about it but keep guessing. I'll let you know if you get too far off. I'm going to admit right off the bat that I love the way you worded it. "Joyd hasn't given up and is harassing him from the backseat now" This comment had me rolling on the floor in a fit of laughter. I actually had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. No matter how many times I read it I still laugh when I see it. Joyd does seem to be rather popular. I guess I'll have to incorporate him into the story some more. I can't picture Tyki having a lot of romances as it's stated that he likes to laze about so he's at a bit of a loss as what he's feeling or what to do about it, yet he doesn't want to ask Sheril about it because he's Sheril and that's just a disaster waiting to happen. He tries to escape the etiquette lesson with little success but that was the only one he had to sit through as long as he doesn't forget them again. Let's be honest Luca's a pretty lively person and tends to cause chaos wherever she goes. It's hard not to think of others as boring. It's not a fair comparison. Oh yeah, if you recall Luca wishes she could've been there to see it. She's a mean twit and enjoys laughing at his pain. Even more so if she's done something to cause it. Yes Gambit was on purpose and your are absolutely correct on the reason. He might be just a pit possessive and definitely doesn't like the amount of attention Lavi pays to Luca. So Gambit is his solution. He's decided to strike back before she owns all of his things. Poor man has to go out and buy a bunch of new top hats now all the while Sheril is questioning him on what happened to the ones he use to own. Scor and Gambit both want to protect their mistress and keep her happy even if it means helping her steal alcohol from her master. They are rather cute together. Don't worry about forgetting about her mother being dead. It can get really confusing with the way Luca words things sometimes. I try to update every week but I'm usually late. Most of my readers are used to it. Enjoy this chapter (which is late)!
Dear 15th, I'm delighted to hear that you loved the scene in the ark. Tyki's not enjoying the fruit of Luca's hard work. She managed to get him in trouble and have more lessons which you know that he hated the first time. Yeah Lulu Bell's gonna be smarting from that defeat for a while but that's what Luca does best! Though she really got Joyd's hopes up that he had finally found his wayward Butterfly but alas it was just his sister. Not nearly as good. I think it was worse for him because she smelled so close but wasn't, so he's got the smell haunting him but she's not actually there and there's nothing he can do about it. I had a lot of fun writing Tyki arguing with Joyd who's as persistent and whiny as a child who wants the candy in the store and he doesn't plan of giving up any time soon. As for Tyki opinion I can't help but think that he wouldn't be pleased about how Joyd appeared and acted. Down the road I plan for Wisely to show Tyki what happened through Luca's eyes which should be fun! I will try my hardest to answer all of your questions in your special chapter! Thank you for your support! Enjoy this chapter!
Luca glared at anybody who met her gaze, almost nobody did, as she took a sip from her flask before placing it back in her belt. She had been in a mood for a while. Ever since the Noah, Damn Lulu Bell, Luca hissed in her head, had invaded proving that the Noah knew where their Headquarters was they had been packing. The Hungarian swore that she had been packing this freaking tower longer than she had been alive. The junk that the science division had collected alone was more than she had ever seen in her life. Hell a single scientist had more stuff on their desk than Luca had ever owned in her entire life. Reever's shouting drew her attention over where to where her brother was falling asleep on the job.
"Allen! You idiot! Wake up!" The girl sighed as the pile her younger brother was using as a pillow fell over along with her brother. Tim, who had been trying to push it back the other way to keep it from falling, was also caught in the puff of smoke as some potion or another exploded on the pair. Luca groaned and rolled her eyes. So many things had been broken and so many utterly ludicrous potions had exploded and caused chaos since the whole move started. Luca was completely done with it. She took another gulp of whiskey and then another. Gambit snuggled closer into her hair, after the first three potions she had told both golems to stick close. Scor sat in her usual place on Luca's left shoulder. Perched happily among the soft warm fabric of one of Allen's dress shirts. Summer was ending and fall was coming. Too lazy to dig something warmer out the girl had decided to just steal one of her brother's shirt's and thrown it on over her under shirt. Her brother's hair now reached his waist and even Tim had long hair. Luca groaned and looked around the room as Miranda tied up Allen's hair for him. So far Lavi and Kanda had been shrunk, Allen and Tim now had long hair and Bookman was now sporting a pair of tall lightly colored rabbit ears. Bookman was crying while Lavi and Kanda were both yelling at Reever.
"Did you ever wonder if maybe you guys are always working over time because you make this utterly useless and frankly ridiculous stuff that we don't need?" All eyes snapped over to the Hungarian teen.
"Luca!" Allen chastised. She turned to glare at him.
"What? It's true. None of this has any practical applications!" She picked up the one that had shrunk Lavi and Kanda. "What are we going to do with this? Even shrunk Tyki can still rip out your heart. It won't even have an effect on Road!" she snapped tossing the bottle over her shoulder in a random direction uncaring of what it hit. Her vision had yet to return and she more than a bit disgruntled about it. Not to mention she didn't know why the hell she was packing this junk up. It wasn't her junk in the first place and more than half of it wasn't anything useful. Of course Link wasn't helping at all. Another sip.
"Help out a bit Link" Allen spoke looking at the man over his shoulder. Link shook his head.
"That's not my job." he answered.
Luca snorted at the German man, "It's not my job either." she spits. The others ignored her. Her mood had been sour the last several days and the others had gotten used to it. It was just part of being friends with Luca. Her eyes darted over to the mirror that Allen was passing by, the shadow still loomed behind him. It was at this point that Miranda tripped over her dress and spilled a potion on Lenalee and Bookman. The former was trying to comfort then man who was mourning the loss of his hair which had been turned into rabbit ears. When the smoke cleared the pair meowed. The room descended into chaos. Most of the occupants were freaking out imagining what Komui would do if he found out while Miranda tried to turn herself into a cat as well to 'atone' for her mistake. Allen had to hold her back to keep her from doing it while Marie calmed her down. Johnny freaked out while Reever sighed.
"C'mon who made it?"
"Luca! Look out!" She whirled around, not seeing what she was suppose to dodge. A glass bottle hit the back of her head.
"Ow! Köcsög (motherfucker)!" she snapped and tried to wave away the smoke that now engulfed her. Her head hurt, a lot. Luckily for her Gambit had moved at the last moment and Scor had been dislodged by the impact. A dull thudding from where the bottle hit was present. Now she had pain on either side of her head, several inches above her ears. Her tailbone ached too. She hadn't injured it yet it still hurt. Allen's eyes widened as he took in his sister's new appearance. "What? What happened to me? Don't tell me I've turned green." Lenalee winced away from her friend's new appearance. Luca sighed. "Somebody just tell me." Lavi, being the definition of tact broke the news.
"You've turned into a demon. You've got a tail and a pair of horns." Reever sighed while Timcampy tugged her over to the mirror to show her what she now looked like. Lavi was right. A pair of dark horns curled up out of the sides of her head. A black tail twitched around her legs, it's spaded tip cracking against the floor leaving black marks on it. Her tail snapped around as her agitation grew. Luca twitches several times before she dropped the box she was holding on a random table.
"That's it. I'm done with the szar (shit). You guys are on your own." Allen apparently shared his sister's sentiment.
"I'm tired of packing." he groaned, running his hand down his face. Luca slumped against the wall before changing positions. As she was naturally left handed she tended to watch from her left side. She tried to tune out the useless conversation of Allen and Reever talking about the other crap the scientists had made. Though it was mostly Allen demanding if the cat potion was the worst thing that was made. Luca groaned as the lights went out. A light giggle bounced off the walls of the room, causing Luca to snarl.
"I am so sick of this. I swear if this is another level 4 I'm jumping off the francba (damn) tower." Allen sighed, he could understand her feelings. She had yet to share with him but something had been up. Her balance had been horrible, she had crashed into pretty much anything within a meter of her body. He wanted to tell her to stop drinking but felt as if he didn't have the right. Her lithe fingers pulled the flask from her belt and unscrewed it in the dark. It was almost empty. She needed more and soon. She listened to the science division blame Komui and yell at him.
"Get back to work Curly!" Luca unconsciously reached up and attempted to smooth the curly locks that fell over her left shoulder from her loose ponytail. The unruly tresses sprung right back into place the minute she let go. She sighed and tried again to no avail. Marie moved his head around.
"I can't tell where it's coming from. That's weird." Luca's eyes flicked over to the Austrian man. That information didn't bring her any comfort. He spoke again. "I hear footsteps coming closer." The door lurched open with a loud creek and Head Nurse emerged in the dark from the hall.
"Are you alright Head Nurse?" Allen called out to her but she didn't answer. Luca's eyes narrowed as they adjusted to the dark. She raised an eyebrow. It looked like from her place against the wall, that the older woman was drooling, almost foaming at the mouth. She filtered out Johnny's comment on Allen's exceptional eyesight. Hers wouldn't be screwed up if they hadn't been messing with things they didn't understand, probably couldn't understand. There were days that she agreed with her Master that the Black Order was too ambitious. That had been one of those days. Her eyes snapped back into focus at Head Nurse bit Allen. The room stood still for a moment as everyone processed what had just happened. Luca's jaw dropped. Everybody quickly erupted into chaos after that moment. Several people holding Head Nurse down and a few others pulled Allen away.
Lavi, as unhelpful as ever said, "She's looking rather cross which is normal," Luca wasn't sure how that helped at all but then again it was Lavi so she shouldn't be too shocked. Surprisingly Kanda asked an important question.
"Did you sneak out of the infirmary again?" Luca smirked having a bit of a hard time seeing him so small. He still looked angry but it was just so cute. She could just imagine what Tyki would look like at that size. Had Head Nurse not been acting like a rabid animal she would've squealed at the idea. Maybe she should grab some. She slid over and grabbed the bottle. There wasn't a lot left but enough for one dose. Perfect. She placed into the safety of one of her belt pouches.
"Luca did you slip out of the infirmary?" Reever called over his shoulder to the girl who shook her head. She stopped as her vision flickered and suddenly she felt dizzy.
"No, I was discharged properly just like Allen." The truth was she had sleep more than any of the others hoping for her vision to come back. Her eyes widened as Head Nurse lunged forward and bit Miranda right on the neck. "Okay I like biting just as much as the next person but this is a bit much. Not to mention weird." Everybody ignored her brilliant commentary. Miranda keeled over into Marie's arms. Luca moved over to her friend's side but not before running into the corner of the table again. She seemed to have a permanent bruise on her left hip. There was also one on her shoulder but it wasn't as bad. Her green eyes narrowed, as Miranda's aura changed. Something wasn't right but she couldn't put her finger on it. Her tail twitched violently, revealing her distress. Marie noticed too.
"Are you alright Miranda? You're heart sounds a little," She leaned up closer to him and promptly bit down on the exposed flesh of her throat, "strange...?" His face exploded into a bright blush and his headphones short circuited. Marie's aura changed.
"Kanda," Luca called over to her friend who was standing near the Austrian man, "get away from him." His eyes darted over to her for a moment before Marie picked him up off his feet by his wrist.
"What?" he turned his gaze back to the tall man. "What's going on?" He paused upon seeing the look on his teammate's face. "Marie?" Head Nurse spread her vicious bite around to many others as the doors burst open allowing more like the nurse into the room. Luca slid back into a defensive position with the others.
"I've got a bad feeling." Johnny muttered as the group backed away. Reever quickly agreed.
" 're making me uneasy." Reever spoke slowly as they advanced upon the uninfected group. Link brought their attention to the hoards pouring in.
"Walker, the door." Luca shook her head.
"We can't get out that way. There's too many of them." Allen nodded agreeing with his sister.
"I'm gonna go out on a limb as say that we're in trouble." Kanda snorted as he kicked Marie in the chin to free his arm.
"Brilliant deduction Beansprout!"
"My name is Allen!" he snapped back always irritated by Kanda and the horrid nickname.
"Boys! Play nicely." The zombies, as Luca couldn't come up with anything better at the time to call them and it was basically what they were, lunged, Luca yelped. "Now is really not the time." She had no idea if Harlequin would awaken. She had yet to use it again since it failed to activate the last time. She backed away only to get her tail tangled in her legs and fall backwards. Luckily for the others Allen activated Crown Clown and flung the zombies off. Luca ignored them in favor of untangling herself from her new appendage.
"I tried to be gentle. I'm sorry if it wasn't." Luca rolled her eyes at the apology.
"Allen get a move on it!" Lavi demanded grabbing the boy's arm and dragging him away. Luca let out another yelp as Allen grabbed her and hauled her to her feet and down the hall as they ran for their lives.
"Run for it!" She ordered. Reever had Johnny on his back as the young man still couldn't move on his own very well. A random scientist who's name Luca didn't know spoke.
"They're coming!" Reever rolled his eyes and lead the charge to safety.
"Thanks so much for the update." They take cover in a storage room filled with old boxes. Luca immediately sensed Komui in the room with them. Allen, Lavi, and Kanda watch the door and the zombies outside of it whom are still looking for them. She watched from her corner as the robot he had with him tied the others up, leaving only her and Lenalee free. She wasn't sure if she was left free on purpose or if she had simply vanished into the dark again. It was a bad habit, or so Allen said. Cross had taught her how, an enemy can't attack you if he can't find you. Maybe Allen only meant that it was a bad habit when she did it to her comrades? Lenalee meowed at the Komlin, probably begging for the freedom of the others.
"What did you guys do to Lenalee?!" he roared causing Luca to stalk over and hit him over the head.
The Hungarian growled, "You did this! If we weren't packing your junk we wouldn't be like this!" Komui poked her left horn experimentally, the teen shifted away from him. She could feel the heat of his flesh through the coldness of bone like material of her horns.
"Oh my. This is rather unusual. Which bottle did this?" she shrugged, her green eyes darting away though her tail betrayed her discomfort. She yelped when he grabbed it. Poking and prodding before tugging on it. It snapped out of his hands, the spaded end cutting his skin.
"Don't touch that!" He went back to prodding her horns, this time where they grew from her head, shifting through her hair. She whimpered at the bolts of strange pleasure running down her spine from the feeling. It was unwanted and uncomfortable.
"How strange. Not only can you feel that but it actually feels good in a way that you don't fully understand." Reever twitched at the fact that his superior was more interesting in poking the (literal) demon instead of what was quickly over taking the Order and it's members.
"Stop bothering Luca! Now how on Earth did this virus of yours get out?" he demanded. Komui made a face.
"That's what I'm asking. You lot confiscated it. I haven't see it since you locked it away!" The group of scientists deadpanned at the man causing him to pout.
"There's been so many times we've had to do that. You're going to have to be more specific." He sighed.
"Remember that week where we worked nonstop?"
"Komuvitan D!" Reever shouted upon realization. Luca raised an eyebrow.
"Komuvi-what? The hell is that and who's naming this junk anyway? Are you people just making things up now?" The other scientists explained.
"It removes fatigue instantly so you can keep working." The scientist who explained had dark hair. Luca thought his name might be Rob. Johnny picked up where he left off.
"The only problem with it, is that it also removes your sense of reason."
"Which does not help you get things done and is therefore a terrible solution to the problem." Reever huffed irritably. Luca groaned flashes of Romania coming to her mind. The witch and Tyki. Dragging him through the halls, the fact that he resisted destroying Harlequin, fighting the zombies though now that she thought about it more they were more like revenants with him, the bickering between them, the fact that instead of fighting when he knew she was tired he walked her back to the hotel that she was staying and didn't attack when she was asleep, and even kissing him to steal his hat. She had just had an overwhelming need to have the hat after seeing the ribbon sparkling in the candlelight. She wondered if he noticed when she took it or didn't realize it until he went to take it off when he got home. I wonder if he's okay. He didn't look so good when the Earl stole him away. I hope he is, she sighed silently. She still couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting to him when she had a moment of peace.
Outside the rain poured down on the tower in buckets and lightning cracked across the sky followed by the boom of thunder. Luca continued to ignore the arguing of the others as the weather reminded her of the times she would dance in the rain with her mother or drinking hot cocoa conjured with stolen coco beans and warm milk curled up by the fire with her mother who told her stories of the gods who caused the storm raging outside and their exploits. It wasn't always the same god. Sometimes it was Thor from Scandinavian lore and other times the better known Zeus of Greek mythology. She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and let her mind slide to something else. I wonder what it would be like if we didn't have to fight. If we could just curl up together during the storm on the couch by the fire and read. They could each read their own books and just bask in each other's presence. They wouldn't need to talk but they could if they wanted. She could tell him the stories her mother told her and play with his curls. It could be just like the fantasy world Emilija had created for us, she shook away the dream like thoughts. She refocused when she felt Allen's aura shift. She glanced over to where Kanda was threatening Komui and Reever was trying to hold the tiny terror back. Were the circumstances different she would've laughed at the fact that she had just called Kanda a tiny terror but it wasn't the time.
"I'm gonna kill you." The Japanese boy snarled. Reever answered him before Komui could set him off even worse.
"It's a lovely thought, Kanda, but now is not the time." She rolled her eyes and turned back to her brother who's aura was still fluctuating.
"Al?" she prodded him gently with her hand. She pressed her fingers to the inside of his wrist. His heart was beating in an odd pattern. Marie had mentioned something like that just before Miranda had bit him. She was doing her best to ignore Kanda who was still throwing his hissy fit but he was making it hard. Johnny must've noticed Allen's unfocused eyes and prodded him too.
"Allen, are you alright?" Allen reached towards his heart trying to steady the beating of the organ.
"I just..." he trailed off unsure of how to word the strange sensations he was feeling.
"Oh!" Johnny exclaimed when he realized what was wrong. "I almost forgot, you got bitten, didn't you Allen?" Allen freaked out at that thought.
"I refuse to turn into a drooling zombie. I won't allow it. I have too much pride for that!" Johnny did his best to cheer the British boy up.
"Don't you worry. You and everybody else will be fine once we make the vaccine." Another voice spoke, a young girl.
"I doubt it." Luca's head snapped over to look around Allen and Johnny. It didn't feel like one person, no it was like a hoard of them, all mashed together. Almost half blended and then left to fester and rot. It was putrid and made her sick. The girl was gone as if she had never been there in the first place. Where had she gone? People don't just vanish as if they had never existed. Suddenly she felt Socalo's presence coming from behind her. Was he coming through the wall? Her eyes widened as she realized she was leaning against a window.
"Move!" As she tried to run, her legs got tangled in her tail again and she crashed to the ground just managing to shove Allen halfheartedly towards Johnny and away from the window. The man crashed through the window with a battle cry and Madness spinning wildly.
"Whooo needs a spanking?!" Allen managed to summon his sword to block the larger spiked sword and shove the general back. Luca managed to untangle her feet and though she swayed as she got up, her balance threatening to give out on her again.
"General Socalo! You're naked!" Luca winced at the length of the towel if it could be called that. It was more like a washcloth. It wasn't nearly long enough for her tastes. She didn't know who had spoken but they were as disturbed as she was. Lavi spoke but Luca didn't hear what he said to busy focusing on the other two presences that showed up with the general.
"Hey! Watch out!" her warning was too late and Link and Bookman were bitten by the other two generals both of which were also only covered by towels. Link struggled to stay awake.
"It is my duty to report this havoc that you have caused." He groaned at Komui. The tall Chinese man moved over to him a hammer in his hand.
"A good hit to the head should erase this." Reever grabbed him before he could. Luca slid over and took the hammer from him. Reever sighed.
"Thank you Luca." She smiled at him and then brought the hammer down on Link's head anyways. Reever made a face at her but she simply smiled, feeling rather pleased with herself. It had felt good to do that. Plus he wouldn't remember nor could the German man prove it with all the chaos that was happening at the moment, which was when Socalo decided to attack again.
"I have to kill you all or I'll burn up." he grinned. Luca couldn't help but feel like he didn't mind it in the first place anyway. Kanda once again began to yell at Komui who had left Mugan in the lab because it was full of zombies which left him defenseless as the other two generals geared up to attack as well.
"Join us in death." They ordered and then they attacked. Komui of course freaked out.
"Komlin EX do something!" He wailed as he cowered behind said robot. The robot complied.
"Yes sir!" The robot then split it's chest opened and released a barrage of missiles which did not do well in the small storage room. Several missiles flew at Luca and Allen, causing green and silver eyes to grow large at the impending pain.
"Activate! Eternal Hunter!" The rockets exploded, shaking the entire tower and sending the survivors scattering. The black liquid wrapped around it's mistress to protect her while the blast sent Allen crashing into the wall and knocked him out. "Allen!" Luca shot out of the molten metal with it trailing behind her towards him only to trip. She pushed herself to her feet and rushed over to Allen to shake him. He didn't wake up. Lavi and Kanda darted over to her.
"Luca we have to go!" Lavi urged her. She nodded and hoisted Allen up. Her innocence shifted it's form and took Allen's other arm and flung it over her shoulder. Kanda and Lavi led the way for the pair carrying the youngest. Luca vaguely noted Komlin EX following them, Johnny tossed over his shoulder. Perfect, she grumbled. Lavi quickly found another storage room to hide in and they ducked into it's safety. Luca slid down the door with Allen. He was still unconscious. She got up and Lavi took her place next to Allen with Kanda on his other side while she moved to check the window. Zombies roamed the hall most likely looking for her. She jumped several feet in the air and promptly fell over due to a lack of balance when her brother woke with a yell. The others were quick to shut him up.
"What happened?" Silver eyes darted around the rather empty room.
"You were knocked unconscious by the blast. Luca had to carry you." Lavi explained, he left out the weirdness with the younger girl's innocence. He'd ask her about it later when their lives weren't in danger.
"Where are the others?" He saw Luca on the floor by the door though he winced at the glare she was sending in his direction and from the way her tail was lashing back and forth. He must've startled her. She was rubbing her tailbone to ease the pain.
Johnny sighed and explained, "It's just the six of us now because of the blast." Allen's eyes darted around counting. Lavi, Johnny, Kanda, Luca, and himself.
"six?" The group sighed and all eyes moved to where Komlin EX rocked in the corner hugging his knees while he sobbed.
"I'm worthless. I've failed my master." Luca groaned and rolled her eyes. Why can't Komui ever invent things that actually work or have a real purpose? she tucked the mental question away for later. Her innocence had yet to deactivate, swirling around her feet low to the ground. Luca slid over to them. She was about to ask a question when a knock sounded at the locked door. The entire group jumped away from it and the mercury like innocence reared up ready to defend against another hoard of zombies. A voice drifted through the door.
"Allen? Lavi? It's me. Please open the door." It was Krory's voice. "Guys, please open the door." The four exorcists glanced at each other. "Please just open the door.
"Krory's awake which is good but," Allen trailed off. Luca nodded picking up where he left off.
"But the chances of him being infected are high. It's most likely the case."
"It's just as she said. The probability is high. Should we even consider opening the door?" Komlin asked. The four exorcists shared a look, each nodding at each other before the three boys shoved Komlin to the door. "What are you doing?" he sobbed as he tried to struggle.
"Go open it." Allen smiled at him while Kanda just glared.
The robot continued sobbing, "Never! I'll be slaughtered as soon as I do. That's literally the first rule of horror stories." Allen proceeded to lie to convince the robot to do as he was asked.
"We don't ask this of you with light hearts EX."
"NO! I won't do it! I simply won't do it!" He shook his head so hard Luca was just waiting for it to come unscrewed. Allen took a deep breath and then caused the strangest scene Luca had ever seen in her entire life.
"Listen EX, Johnny's the only one of us who can make a komuvitan D vaccine! Luca is still injured and her innocence can be long range which makes it our best defense. That leaves me with you and these ugly bums!" Luca snorted at the faces Kanda and Lavi made at being called ugly bums, but to their credit they didn't attack him. "Please, you're the only one I can turn to!" Allen fluttered his eyelashes at the robot. Using his beautiful appearance and charisma with a little damsel in distress attitude to convince the robot. Luca just stared at the scene in front of her trying to figure out if it was actually happening or if she was having some incredibly weird fever dream. If it was the latter she really wanted to wake up now. She's had enough of this whole debacle. She really wanted this nightmare to be over.
"Allen, my chest hurts. Is this love?" EX asked as Allen dipped him romantically causing Luca to once again consider her life choices.
"What's with that face?" Lavi asked also staring at the scene before him. Kanda shrugged.
"Seems to be the right approach." Johnny just sighed at the scene as he had witnessed every failure of the Komlin series and commented on the fact.
"What I want to know is why didn't we send Luca to seduce the robot?" Luca glared at the red haired twit for his question. "Never mind." he whimpered upon seeing the look. EX ran to the door and opened it with gusto.
"I'm opening it! Come and get me if you dare!" He roared flinging it open in a wide ark. Immediately the robot's head was kicked off. Luca took a moment to appreciate it. She had always wanted to try it. Maybe on the next akuma she fought. Komlin hit the ground with a crash. "I knew this would happen. Krory entered the room, growling like an animal.
"You've made me angry by forcing me to wait." Krory attacked with the chains he had for a reason that Luca didn't know. Krory quickly threw them around tossing Luca into the wall. Her head rang again. By the stop she could see straight again Krory had retreated and Johnny was shouting something that she couldn't make out. The three boys along with the robot that was apparently still alive went charging after him causing Luca to sigh and shove herself to her feet to chase after them. Only to run into a horde of zombies that immediately started chasing them.
"Allen!" She called as they ran. He turned back to glance over his shoulder at her.
"Yeah what is it?" She glared.
"I hate you." They didn't manage to dodge the general for very long. Luca tripped over her tail again. She rolled out of the way and back onto her feet as Gambit bit the crazy Mexican general with no effect. She swayed a bit. Allen grabbed her hand and dragged her again. Socalo dove for them again ignoring the chunk of skin in Gambit's teeth.
The floor beneath their feet cracked and then fell away giving under the weight and the force of Socalo's attack. The group of survivors fell through. Once again Luca's innocence wrapped around her body to protect from further injury. She sat up and rubbed a few sore spots. She raised an eyebrow upon Seeing Komui and Lenalee along with that other scientist tied up.
"Um, what are you doing?" She didn't get her answer as she was shoved. She yelped and rolled, whirling around just in time to see Allen being bitten by Socalo while General Tiedoll finally caught Kanda in his teeth. She would've laughed at the fact that Bookman was biting Lavi on the head or the fact that he still had those ridiculous rabbit ears if the situation hadn't been life threatening. She noticed Komlin EX playing dead on the floor a few feet away. She glared at the robot as her innocence batted away any zombies that got too close to her. Luca's eyes snapped over to Lenalee who's aura was not her own. "You! How did you get into Lenalee?" Her eyes widened. "You're dead. You're a ghost." Komui and Reever looked at her in surprise.
"Luca, how did you know?" Luca paled as she realized that she had said it out loud. She wasn't sure how to explain it away. Luckily for her the ghost started talking.
"It doesn't matter because you're all going to contract Komuvatin D and live with me forever here in this castle." The ghost freed herself from the ropes and began to laugh causing Komui to freak out.
"Don't make my dear sweet Lenalee laugh like that! It's creepy!" Luca winced at the volume of his wailing which was grating on her ears.
"Knock that off Komui!" The Hungarian teen snapped. The ghost ignored them, instead smiling happily.
"Finally, now we can all be together forever." Luca couldn't help the twinge of sadness she felt for the ghost who was clearly lonely. There were so many lost and confused auras mixed together into a mangled and deformed creature full of pain. Souls who had felt nothing but agony at the hands of the Order who were only trying to make more exorcists. The zombies attacked Reever and that other scientist who's name still escaped Luca's mind. Reever apologized as he succumbed to the virus. Krory lunged at the Chinese man.
"Komui! Move!" she ordered. "Harlequin!" Almost instantly her innocence deactivate and slid back up her arms. She groaned and glared down at it. "Now is not the time for a tantrum!" she protested but the innocence didn't budge.
"I will protect my Master!" Was the battle cry Komlin EX made as he headbutted Krory away from his creator. Luca skittered back away from the zombies into the safety of the shadows.
"Komlin EX!" Komui shouted watching his beloved robot wrestle with the vampire like exorcist.
"He's the source Master! This one is the source!" He shouted the important information at the top of his lungs. Luca took a moment to wonder if the robot had lungs and if not then how did this all work. Maybe she needed a different phrase. It didn't work if EX didn't have any lungs. At the top of his voice box? Did that work? Apparently Luca did not know enough about robot anatomy. She tuned back in just in time to see Krory punch EX knocking his head off and sending his body crashing into the ceiling. She winced as the body stayed lodged in the stone of the ceiling.
"Komlin!" Komui shouted in distress. Luca glared down at her innocence.
"Harlequin activate!" she whispered harshly. Stubbornly the liquid didn't move. "Kurva életbe (god damn it)! This is not the time for this." She tugged at it but still in remained inactive. She couldn't save the others if she couldn't help Komui and she couldn't help him if she couldn't even defend herself from the zombies.
"Kate Brolly!" Luca's head snapped up away from her innocence at Komui's shout. The ghost looked surprised too. "Fanny Leroux, Olivier Virenque, Ottmar Dach, Celestine Duclay, Ernest Conan, Delphine Baum , Sim Poll, Lize Rolens, Amadeo Kier, Adolf Ende, Estelle Imelda, Zoe Cynthia, Zephyr Pucci, Siméon du Vilepin, Marie Louis, Jayia Nicola, Ava Braun, Froly Ringer, Federico Fuller, Gustav Sinclair, Barnaby Marton, Arcia Tsvet, Gianni Proscienzzo, Thomas, Brody, Brahim Auteuil, Sammy Greenburg, Alva Cederlund, Konrad Toushec, Evarist Ducas, Ferdinand Berlioz, Richard Veil, Roger Ardan, Ségolène Galois, Augusto Dorno, Orner Bohlin, Tila Orman, Indra Dahlstrøm, Leona Eilman, Julian Ringer, Laurence Dion, Emile Dumont, Jacob Cress, Jerry d'Estaing, Susan Unver, Lily Chen, Theo Morris, Calista Veil, Jerry d'Estaing, Jules Thomas, Bruno Meitner, Karl Schmidt, Hector Greff, Alice Eilman, Benedita Runarata, Odile Carnap, Mathilda Kerholm, Josephine Sickler, Gazella Tolvaj, Apolline Rousseau, Louise Nicolas-Ledoux, Virginie Fraga!" Luca's green eyes widened and for a moment she forgot that she was hiding.
"What?!" Allen jumped her and she struggled to keep him from biting her.
"Stop! Don't bite him!" She glanced over to see the ghost protecting Komui. Gambit bit Allen in an attempt to protect his mistress but the British teen didn't even notice. Luca yelped as her moment of distraction allowed Allen to sink his teeth into her left hand which she had been using to push his face away. She fell backwards, her brain tried to fight the virus but couldn't hold it off for very long. A single thought pasted through her brain as she succumb to it, Mother, Mother was here? Did she help them or was she here against her will? She got sleepy and reason left her.
Luca's eyes snapped open as she awoke with a start. She was in the infirmary...again. She groaned and sat up. Head Nurse was by her side in an instant.
"Slow down. You ran around the tower during the whole debacle. We just gave you the vaccine a little while ago. You've been asleep for some time. You're brother's been mad with worry. I had to kick him out. He was wearing a rut into the floor with his pacing." Luca smiled fondly as she unglued her tongue from the roof of her mouth.
"Can I have some water please?" she rasped. The older woman nodded and immediately brought her a large glass of water. Luca drank the entire glass rapidly. She gasped when she was finished too thirsty to stop to breathe until she was done. She glanced down at the her hand which was bandaged again from where her brother had bitten her. Why the hell does everybody keep biting me? she groaned. The wound ached dully. A knock sounded at the door. Head Nurse moved from her side to open it. A finder stood in the door way a vase in his hands.
"I have a delivery for Miss Walker." He seemed nervous but then again Head Nurse could be terrifying. The woman nodded and stepped aside allowing him to walk over and hand Luca the vase. He nodded at Head Nurse in respect and then practically ran down the hall and out of sight.
"It looks like somebody has an admirer." Head Nurse teased a bit. "I'll be right back. I want to check on a few of the others. Some of them still aren't up yet." She nodded and the woman left the room. Luca inspected the flowers. They were white roses with red stripes. She ran her fingers along the petals, they were incredibly soft. There were six in total. Allen came thundering into the room.
"Luca!" She jumped and looked up at him.
Startled she asked, "What? What is it?" He looked around his eye activated. A look of confusion washed over his features and his brows knitted together.
"I sensed an akuma. I tracked it up here." Her eyes widened and she looked back down at the flowers. He raised an eyebrow upon seeing them and his eye deactivated. The akuma was gone. Around the top of the vase was a black ribbon with several silver butterfly charms sewn to it. A single round silver charm hung from the end inscribed with one letter. T. She knew who they were from. They both did.
So that happened! The zombie arc was always one of my favorites but Luca's having a bad time. If not for her lack of sight and all the problems that come with that she probably would've laughed through the whole debacle but she's rather stressed and in a mood. Tyki's not around to put her in a better mood. Also another hint about her innocence is in this chapter. Two MAJOR hints about her mother in this chapter! I can't wait to see if anyone catches them. As I said earlier I am working as fast as I can on the bonus chapters and will get them out as soon as I can! Enjoy your week and tune in next time to find out what happens next! Cheshire is out~!
