Chapter 34

Komui was unable to sleep. Even after being ALLOWED to have a break from the paper-work, he just lay on his bed, his mind swarming with thoughts. Most of which were based around Allen. It was true; everyone in the Order had come to like Allen, his childish grins, his politeness, and even his just, kind way of living. It had left a significant hole in the Order without the white-haired boy, and this new discovery only heightened the sense of ever-growing dread Komui felt in the pit of his stomach.

He had a horrible feeling that what happened in Bukott Angyal had something to do with the kidnapped exorcist, but was unable to accept that the innocent kid would ever take a part in such a vile act. Besides, murdering other humans sounded like something Allen would never do, it just didn't fit his character, so Komui came to the conclusion it must have had something to do with the Noah…No Akuma would actually take the time to crucify the villagers, and torture them. Akuma are killing machines…they can't feel, so they would just kill them, turning the village to dust.

The fire…this was another puzzle that Komui was trying to work out…it didn't make any sense, why would someone bother to burn the buildings? Why didn't the villagers escape the fire? Unless….Maybe the villagers were already deceased?

The thought struck him like lightning as he stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Tick, tick tick.

The clock struck 4am as Komui sighed, allowing his thoughts drift back to wondering how Allen was faring.

Allen had spent the last few days in the Noah manor, not relaxing as the others had hoped, but training intensely. He had been practicing at absorbing Akuma, then balancing it with absorbing innocence. The Earl had changed his orders towards the Akuma, to just collect it and bring it back.

They had collected almost 10 pieces, without destroying it, leaving it for the white-haired Noah. Allen had been training simple fighting skills for the past few hours against lower level Akuma. He had decided not to use his innocence nor his Noah abilities, and was fighting in hand to hand combat with level twos. Sure, they were slow and clumsy most of the time, and Allen had no trouble dodging every one of their attacks, but without the use of innocence or dark matter, they couldn't be destroyed.

Allen had been doing this the last few days, choosing a worthy level two to fight with and proceeding to fight with it until he grew tired…or bored. Once either of these things happened, the Akuma would be absorbed, slashed to bits, or be detonated thanks to his Noah.

Today was no exception, as Allen quickly grew bored of the endless dodging and blocking. Allen smirked as he brought his right hand up to the Akuma, watching as its shape faltered, dematerialized and melded in with his hand.

Allen couldn't help but chuckle as he went to find some innocence to equalize the power he was absorbing. Finding his private store quickly, he grasped two pieces with his left hand and then tightened his grip.

Within seconds, the innocence disappeared and he could feel it running through his veins.

That hurt… A very frustrated Neah complained from the depths of his mind.

Morning, you haven't been awake for days now. Allen stated in a monotone

I was busy… anyway, what'd I miss?

I don't know… only getting revenge on that damn town?

I MISSED THAT?Neah practically shouted, causing Allen's ears to retract visibly from the mental noise.

Heh, yeah…. Allen tried to reply as calmly as he could, but could already sense Neah's anger.

Why didn't you wake me up? He continued to rage, voice rising with every word

I didn't know how…I forgot anyway…

You forgot! How can you forget! Allen couldn't help but chuckle as he actually heard a deep sigh from within his mind.

So, what did you actually do with that innocence…It just kind of disappeared…

Oh, I absorbed it.

Came the chirpy reply, obviously gloating slightly as Neah was unaware of his newfound ability.

You better be careful, that might have some pretty nasty side-effects…. Allen shrugged to himself as he went back to choose another Akuma to train with for the remainder of the afternoon.

He had been in the small, white training room for hours with a new Akuma. This one was shaped like a snake, with metallic claws and glowing purple fire that spewed from its jaws. It was vicious, and just what Allen wanted to train with. It still occurred, as it was inevitable… Allen grew bored.

He began calling out what he was doing, as if trying to entertain himself slightly more "Jump back, dodge, parry, lunge, jump, kick, dodge…" The Akuma snarled, disliking being mocked by its superior, even if he was a Noah, and without innocence or Noah powers activated, he really shouldn't be finding it this easy…

Allen was fed up, once again, and decided to absorb the Akuma once more, he concentrated and lifted his right arm slowly.

Closing his eyes, he lunged forward, using the ability, but to his horror, his hand made contact with something that was definitely not the Akuma's metallic scales…

Road was bored, Allen trained too much every since he got back and it was annoying. Sure, just the other week she had played with the mind of a General after he was chained to a tree, without Tyki or Allen knowing, but the fact of the matter was still that Allen used to play with her all the time! Now it was so rare, only once a week at most. She was wandering around the gardens inspecting the flowers, boredom evident on her face, as she heard a voice, coming from inside.

She recognized it instantly, even though what he was saying made almost no sense; she decided to check up on what was going on.

"Allen…" she muttered quietly before heading back into the house.

"Kick, dodge, punch, dodge, jump…" All she could hear was a string of words, all having something to do with fighting. Once more she shrugged, heading off to the room where the noise was coming from. Road spotted him, fighting against a level two Akuma, as he closed his eyes slowly.

She was excited, and decided to surprise him, so she quickly jumped and pushed the Akuma out of the way in an attempt to glomp him. She stared in horror as his right hand touched her forehead, almost gently, before a glowing ball of dark matter erupted and she was knocked unconscious.

Allen opened his eyes, terrified at what he would see. He gasped as he saw the unconscious petit figure of Road lying on the ground with her eyes closed. To his horror, he watched as the ashen skin began receding and the crosses started to disappear on her forehead.

He screamed when he felt an unimaginable new power flow through his veins as a burning sensation took control. He rolled on the floor in agony, unable to breathe, he gasped for breath. He heard footsteps rushing to the scene and felt himself screaming, but none of it mattered.

He couldn't believe what just happened… it, it couldn't be true…. No!

Allen blacked out, as he tasted the warm, metallic liquid that oozed from his open jaw.

Allen's nightmares were all plagued with the same, familiar scene of the blue-haired girl lying lifeless of the cold floor. Each nightmare, it got worse and altered more and more from reality.

The last…he had her blood all over his hands and she seemed to be crying as she fell. He couldn't take it, he shouted desperately at himself to stop, but he was unable to control his own body. Again and again, he watched her fall onto the blood-soaked stones, as his screaming and pleading intensified.

Allen was about to give up, he no longer felt the courage that once defined his personality and perseverance, he felt alone, lost.

Screwing his eyes shut, he pleaded for it to end, to release him from this torture, and like magic, a soft childish voice split the realm in half "Shut up, baka!"

Allen opened his eyes in shock and stared at the white roof. His head was throbbing; and his throat was hoarse from his screams.

He looked over to the other side of the room to reveal a VERY pissed off looking Road, in her human form with her arms crossed. Her purple orbs stared furiously at his sullen gray ones, as she stood and raised her arm, about to hit him.

"You've been unconscious for days! What do you think you're playing at!" she shouted angrily once more, but refrained from hitting him.

"Why…why did you have to pass out… I want to know." She cried, Allen couldn't help but stare at her, completely dumb-founded.

Relief began to wash over him as he realized this was not another nightmare, as he replied breathlessly "You're alive?" hope was gleaming in his voice, as the question could barely be heard.

"Alive? Why wouldn't I be alive?" she asked, now wearing the same dumbfounded expression as he.

"I… I was trying to absorb the Akuma, but I touched you instead…" he muttered, trying to work out what he had done.

Road interrupted his thoughts, her voice stern, she retorted, "And you did. It worked… I don't know what you did, but give it back!" she shouted angrily before standing again, on the verge of tears.

Allen couldn't change his expression, so utterly clueless he was that all he could manage to stutter was "Give what back?"

She raised her elbow, preparing to strike before whispering "I… I'm human, you did something to my Noah"

THWACK.

Allen was left coughing, by being elbowed in the stomach so hard, but that wasn't what was bothering him. There was no way… he, he absorbed a Noah? That didn't make sense, he refused to accept it. He clutched his head desperately, then ripped the sheets off and ran to the nearby bathroom.

Relax, you have no other company in here, so that means you didn't absorb her Noah.

Neah's voice filled Allen's mind as he continued sprinting; only quickening his pace. He ripped the door of its hinges, surprised at his own strength before running to the mirror. He grabbed its sides desperately, before both his eyes activated.

Allen sighed in relief he saw only his souls, but Neah seemed to be a whole lot larger and stronger than his other half.

Road trailed behind him with a sullen expression, entering the bathroom and glancing at the mirror which Allen was transfixed on. After a moment he smiled in relief, and turned back to face Road. His smile turned into a broad grin after his eye revealed everything.

Her soul was no longer chained by dark matter, but purple flames still danced at her feet.

Trying to formulate a reason, he spoke up after minutes of silence "You're not human…but I think I accidentally sealed away your Noah…" Road huffed that she had to be in this weak, human state, but was VERY glad her Noah was still there.

After having been angry at Allen for almost a week, she couldn't take it anymore. She jumped on him and hugged him as tears of relief spilled freely from her violet eyes.

"You want us to what?" shouted a chorus of annoyed yells from a combination of Lavi, Crowley, Linalee as well as the usual un-amused looking bookman.

"That's right; you are all assigned to General Cross' search party. Other exorcists have been assigned to the other generals, and it is your mission to find and bring back General Cross… Ever since what happened to Yeagar…" The group of exorcists nodded solemnly, all hearing about what happened to the old General.

"Especially since they're looking for the heart…." All the exorcist's attentions were directed towards the supervisor as their mouths gaped, except for Lavi and Bookman.

"I assume you didn't hear… The general was not dead when we found him… he had a horrible wound across his chest that led to his death the day after, but once we brought him to the hospital… He started singing." The exorcists' eyes seemed to bulge out of their sockets, except for bookman, who was writing down notes.

"The 'song' went something like this…" Komui pulled a golem out of his pocket, as the deceased General's voice filled the room with the eerie song.

Sennen koha shagashiteru...
Daijina HEART sangeshiteru
Watashi wa hatsure!
Zugi watare?
Daijina HEART sanaghiteru