Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach or DGM
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Sacrifice
"Does anyone know exactly what just happened?" Allen questioned as the sound of two gunshots rang out, at the same moment that the two Noah were surrounded by a cloud of smoke.
"Maybe they knew they were out numbered," Krory said, looking relieved.
"I don't think that's it, Krory-kins," Lavi commented, his keen eye focused on the spot where the Noah were still obscured by smoke. Despite the fact that they had fired at each other at point blank range neither body had fallen to the ground. He didn't need to be able to see them to know that this was the case.
Still holding his sword at the ready Hitsugaya took a couple of cautious steps toward them. His eyes remained golden and a cold and calculating light shone within them. "I know what you're trying," he snarled, in a voice that was wholly unlike his own. "But it isn't going to work."
Leaping forward Hitsugaya raised his blade, slashing through the smoke and attacking. The others watched as the smoke dissipated to reveal not two but one single Noah. Long blond and black hair framed his face as he gazed at the assembled Exorcists. Hitsugaya's blade was deflected and the youth snarled in annoyance.
"Jasdero and Debitto combined make Jasdevi!"
"They can combine into one person?" Lenalee questioned as she gazed at the spot where two separate people had once stood. At least she thought that they were two separate people.
"The two Noah who were once one," Hitsugaya muttered before seemingly snapping back to reality. Gripping the hilt of his sword tightly he once again rushed forward, not even the least bit concerned about this transformation of theirs. A smirk appeared on his face as he advanced on them quickly.
They were going to die.
Whether that was as one person or two didn't really matter much to the white haired youth. A dark aura seemed to surround Hitsugaya as his attack was deflected by the Noah. He growled in anger as he picked himself up off the ground.
"Is it just me or is there something… dark about him now?" Lavi questioned as he and the others watched Hitsugaya's interactions with Jasdevi.
Allen nodded, feeling a shiver run down his spine. "Something about them seems to be setting him off…"
"I don't think he should fight them any longer," Krory commented, a concerned expression on his face as his gaze shifted back and forth between Hitsugaya and the other members of their group. Suddenly he activated his Innocence, his fangs growing into points as his bangs rose to stand straight up on his head. "I'll deal with this… you guys take him and get out of here."
"But Krory I don't…" Lenalee began but the vampire like Exorcist held up his hand to stop her. "I want to do this Lenalee… I want to do my part to help my friends."
Lenalee still looked doubtful but Allen nodded his head in understanding. He knew why Krory had made this decision and realized that they had to let him go through with it. "I understand Krory… catch up to us once you've finished here."
Krory nodded and rushed forward, using his superior speed to catch Jasdevi off guard. The Noah shrieked as their bodies collided and for a moment all Hitsugaya could do was stare. He hadn't expected for anyone to interfere and almost looked annoyed by it. But not half as annoyed as he became when Allen and Lavi suddenly seized him from behind.
"Come on Chibi," Lavi said as he and Allen pulled him away from the fight, despite the fact that he was struggling like a mad man. His golden eyes glowed malevolently as he fought against their hold on him. "Release me," he snarled, his voice still sounding as though it belonged to someone else.
"I'm afraid that we can't do that," Allen said as he and Lavi pulled the smaller white haired boy toward the exit, followed closely behind by Lenalee. Despite the fact that he was struggling against him like someone possessed, they managed to remove Hitsugaya from the twins' lair while Krory held off the newly combined Noah of Bonds. "Something's up with you and I don't like it. Krory can handle this so deal with it."
Allen's voice held a sharpness that was uncharacteristic for the normally soft spoken teen and it served to fully capture Hitsugaya's attention. And as he gazed over at the other white haired youth his eyes slowly changed from golden back to their customary teal. The only remnant of their former color being a golden rim that remained around his pupils. "What… just happened?" he asked, sounding slightly confused.
"You went all badass and tried to kill two of the Noah," Lavi deadpanned, gazing at Hitsugaya. "Are you seriously going to try and tell me that you don't remember doing it?"
The look of confusion that was clearly etched on his face was enough of an answer to that question. It was something that couldn't be faked and the Junior Bookman gazed at the Shinigami/Exorcist for a moment, the wheels in his mind turning. He had a couple of theories on the situation but wasn't ready to lend voice to any of them at this particular moment in time.
"You can let go of me now," Hitsugaya muttered, breaking the silence that had descended upon the group.
Lavi and Allen both seemed to debate this for a moment before simultaneously releasing their grips on his arms. Straightening out his uniform Hitsugaya's gaze shifted to each member of the group in turn. And he surmised, by the absence of one of them, what had transpired though he couldn't actually remember it. "Are you sure it was a good idea to leave Krory alone with the two of them?"
"One actually," Lavi said quietly, recalling the strange transformation that the two Noah had undergone. "And Krory-kins may not look like much but he can hold his own… don't worry about him."
"If you say so," Hitsugaya said, sheathing his Zanpaktou as he gazed down the corridor. "So I take it that we're continuing on with this little journey of ours?"
Allen nodded his head in the affirmative. "It's not as though we have much of a choice. According to Tyki we have to reach the top of this tower before the Ark completely disintegrates if we want to save ourselves."
"If he was telling the truth," Lavi stated matter of factly.
"Well the only way to find out is to get to the top of the tower," Allen said, his gaze focused squarely ahead. "It's not as though we have very many options at this point."
"Point taken Moyashi-chan," Lavi said, an easy going smile appearing on his face as he casually placed his hands behind his head. "Guess we should press onward then."
"It's Allen," the boy corrected, narrowing his eyes slightly at the red head's use of the nickname that he strongly disliked. It had first been given to him by Kanda, which was bad enough. "Do I honestly have to spell it out for you? A-L-L-E-N."
"Alright guys," Lenalee said, placing a hand in the center of each of their backs and pushing them forward. "Let's move on."
Hitsugaya nodded and began walking forward, the others falling into step behind him. As he watched the smaller male Allen's thoughts shifted back to his encounter with the Noah of Bonds. It was almost as though a dark aura had surrounded the Shinigami/Exorcist as he had faced them and Allen was beyond curious about what had happened to him at this point. "There's something strange going on with him," Allen mused to himself as he walked along behind Hitsugaya. Even stranger than the fact that he was actually a soul inhabiting a faux body. That had blown Allen's mind when he had first found out but paled in comparison to what seemed to be going on with him currently.
"Allen," Lenalee said quietly, reaching out and placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
Turning to gaze at her over his shoulder Allen offered the girl a small smile. "What is it Lenalee?"
"Are you alright?" she questioned, seeming concerned about him. There was a somewhat sad expression in her violet eyes. "You seem distracted."
"It's nothing," Allen assured her, the smile still on his face. "It's nothing Lenalee… I was just thinking."
Lenalee didn't look one hundred percent convinced by his words and the fake smile that he wore but she let the matter drop non the less. She could tell that what had happened with Hitsugaya was weighing heavily on his mind and didn't want to press the issue. Sometimes it was just better to let the white haired teen muse when he was in moods like this.
"Come on guys," Lavi called out, noticing that Allen and Lenalee had fallen behind. "You'll have plenty of time to get up close and personal after we get out of this."
Both Allen and Lenalee blushed as they turned to scowl at Lavi. "We're coming."
A/N - End of anther chapter, hope that you enjoyed it. Please be kind enough to leave a review and share your thoughts with me.
