Recap:
Finally, Juuri's group had finally caught up with the Team Cross in Edo, Japan. As expected, Edo is surrounded by numerous Akuma ranging from Level 2 to Level 3. Just as when the small reunion was made, Lenalee was dragged to the ark together with Lero, an umbrella-like golem of the Millennium Earl. Luckily, Juuri, Allen, Lavi, Kanda, Krory, and Chaoji were able to get into the Ark with Lenalee, only to find out that they were dragged out for the main reason of dying together with the Ark.
Tyki Mikk, who was bored, presented a key to them, the exorcists' hope to ever leave this place through Road's door. But not before revealing his Noah self and his failed attempts on killing Juuri and Allen. Left with no choice, the group used the key leading to a bizzare door in which hides another Noah, Skinn Bolic.
The group moved on forward after Kanda who voluntered to stay behind to deal with the Noah, literally chased them away with his Hell Insects.
Unbenknownst to the others, a certain female exorcist was silently lost in her thoughts about her own feelings.
Disclaimer:
I do not own D. Gray Man, Katsura Hoshino does.
I do not own Vocaloid, I just love it. I use it for inspiration.
I only own my OC's.
Warning: Excessive Cursing
"You know,
I just remembered the things you taught me about
With a smile on your face sometime in the past
Happy things sorrowful things and
The fact that I am alive"
"You know Kanda," The violet-haired Supervisor stated quite seriously."your life has a limit."
He knows it is just a matter of time before the room will totally collapse on him.
"You mustn't misjudge how much of it you have."
Who in the hell does he think he is to lecture him about his life? He can do whatever he wants with it.
He will live.
"Take from my life and rise! Taboo Three Illusions!"
Kanda is going to prove that he will survive and rub that victory into that brat's pathetic face the next time he meets her.
It is already a full twenty minutes and forty- eight seconds since she had closed the door and left the blue haired exorcist.
"Juuri, you sure you're okay, aru?" A surprisingly composed Krory commented, silently earning a few worried glances behind. They had been walking the long grand hallway but they still haven't found the end of this ridiculously unnerving place.
"We need to always stay on our guard. There might be other Noah around, don't you think?" The said female replied back with the same jolly tone. "-But don't worry much because I'm sure we'll pull this through!"
But why is it too different than before? Like something was quite lacking?
"Hey-!" A small pat on the shoulder from both Allen and Lavi made Lenalee to stop instantly.
They know Juuri is right about that. They also know that of all the people gathered around right now, there were only four of them who can fight (Allen, Juuri, Krory and Lavi). Without a doubt, it must have been the tension and anxiety that made the atmosphere heavy around the pressured female despite her effort in trying to hide it from the rest of the group. And knowing that Juuri was able to survive a critical death like Allen did, there is this added weight on her shoulder.
But they misunderstand the part of her truly being worried over something or more specifically, someone.
'I hate my opportunistic brain.'
The black haired girl had made sure to walk in front of the line beside the vampire-like count to avoid being seen with her surely embarrassed face.
Is this really the time for thinking over frivolous, trivial and stupendous things? Of all places?
'I want to look back,'
The only thing that is making her not punch the wall from embarrassment again, (the first one was the sudden slip up joke from Lavi about the forbidden matter) was probably memorizing the structure and names of the 20 amino acids she had learned in college.
'-Back before this madness happen..'
And now she is stuck with identifying which of those twenty are polar or nonpolar.
'Such bullshit.'
"But he is sure taking his time," Lenalee uttered silently before continuing with a smile.
"Juuri, why don't you go and check on Kanda?"
What?
'Are you kidding me?'
All the exorcists together with Chaoji and Lero immediately stopped in their tracks to look at the said Chinese exorcist before looking expectantly at the other female.
"H-huh?" The scythe wielding exorcist stuttered back before raising a delicate brow. "Well, you have a point but-"
"Fetch Kanda for us, okay?"
"WHAT!?"
If she was troubled awhile ago, she is now beyond mortified.
"B-But Lenalee!"
"Seriously Lena?"
"Exorcist-sama!?"
If these things get out of hand, there is no telling what will happen, specifically what Lenalee will do.
She needs to act fast.
"Wait! I mean-" Juuri tried to reason out desperately. "-we need manpower right now, okay? We are facing against what? Four more Noahs? Lenalee are you listening to yourself!?"
There was a minute of silence in the group especially between the two females who were currently gazing intently at each other, with Lenalee who is smiling ever so sweetly. After a moment of silence, Lenalee grabbed the others hand gently, face still smiling ever so sweetly before whispering softly to her left ear.
"Go."
"…You are so, ugh!" Juuri said before facing away from the others, hiding her already blushing face.
"Everyone, will you explain to me what is happening here?" The fifteen year old exorcist asked no one in particular. However his question was left hanging in the air when Lenalee just patted him on the back, eyes looking back secretly towards the girl in question. In the meantime, Krory, Chaoji and Lero wondered the same thing and looked at the red head who had also given them nothing but a small shrug as a reply.
The exchange of questions continues to plug the air with racking noises but not until a certain exorcist had disrupted the silence.
"Then step back, please. I am warning you though, this will not look pleasant. "Juuri sighed helplessly before stepping back herself. She tried to concentrate and even out her already rampaging heart as she partly activated her Innocence in its shadow form. " Death Scythe, activate."
Somehow, she remembered how a certain contracted demon revealed some 'useful terms' about their contract.
=Flashback=
"Do you understand now? All you need to do is govern over that raw power. You have the potential as its accommodator and don't forget," Moloch sneered a few feet away from her, his form overshadowed by the moonless night sky. "-you also hold a bit of my power. You still remember right? You used it before."
"I am not interested in using any trace of your power in me ever again, demon!" The black haired exorcist spat back. "Now, would you just get the hell away from me, since I still don't get the point of you showing up the last time!"
"You need to whether you like it or not. I am only recommending you to use it these times, it will like act as trigger to rouse and anger that God's crystal inside of you. You need to balance out all the dark energy gathered up inside of you or else it will accumulate and will destroy the Innocence, destroying you too." The demon's red eyes were glinting evilly at her which made her shiver unconsciously. "You can control the full potential of the Innocence with darkness from my power since it is ironic enough how your Innocence spring out of darkness itself. I wonder why?"
The female tried to run toward the demon with a flash, unfortunately, the red-eyed silhouette faded before she can even land a hit.
"Just remember to govern the Innocence in accordance with my power, Master."
=End of Flashback=
"Juuri? What are you-" Lavi only blinked once to get her point before being cut off as a huge surge of black wind engulfed the said female. The others were almost sent off with the gust of wind. Allen had immediately moved to Lenalee's side, keeping her on her knees. Krory and Chaoji was now standing with one knee on the ground while Lero had unfortunately slammed flat to the opposite wall.
"Lux et tenebrae,
-Mea umbra et sui"
The familiar trustworthy Death Scythe materialized in the air, in which she grabbed with her right hand.
"Compositae in deinde separabit eos,
me praeceptum tibi, mortem falce,"
But her next action made the rest of the group look at her, mortified.
"Reaper!"
She used her Innocence to slice her neck off.
Miranda cannot help but feel concerned.
"What's wrong?" Bookman asked as he skidded back for a small break near the female's hiding place under the bridge.
She might not admit it but the only thing that is keeping her conscious at the moment is her will to help the very people who had accepted her as a person.
Her precious friends.
"No...It's nothing." The curly brown haired female said while sitting and trying to regain her breath from maintaining her Innocence activated.
"It couldn't be-" The old man inquired. "Has something, perhaps happened to those in the ark?"
"They're fine." Miranda smiled reassuringly despite her pale complexion. "Everyone in the ark's "time" is still inside my Innocence. If one of them were to disappear, I would definitely know. "
The female exorcist looked at the sky.
"They're fine. Everyone's still fine."
Why did the merciful Earl-tama even think of handing the speaking golem over these lowly beings?
As time passed by, it was starting to get harder for the accursed umbrella to endure the overwhelming presence of these so-called vermins known as exorcists.
If it wasn't for Lero's royalty and earnest adoration towards the great Earl, Lero had already knocked out these trashes a long time ago. And though he doesn't like being dragged around by Rhode's, at least it was better off than being mercilessly insulted and physically abused.
In spite of this, the evil golem just continues laughing maniacally in the corner, ignorant of the present commotion.
The whole group tried to blink twice, even thrice just to confirm the sight before them.
Juuri's supposed to be dead body is nowhere to be found, no blood, no body.
"Hey Allen, will you pinch me?" The red head Bookman chided the said exorcist on his left. "-Because I swear I am seeing two Juuri's in front of me."
But truth to be told, at the middle of the room where the supposed to be female was standing awhile ago stood two identical yet eccentric females; one with the familiar black hair and the other with odd white ashen ones.
In addition what shocked them the most is their faces; they all look exactly like each other, like Juuri.
It was Lenalee who was first to snap out from stupor with her pale purple eyes staring demandingly at the two oddly figures.
What exactly is going on?
"Juuri will you explain to us for a moment what is the difference between the black-haired 'you'-" The Chinese female pointed at the black haired Juuri on her left before setting her gaze on the white-haired Juuri on her right. "-and the white-haired 'you'?"
" And would you also please tell us what is the need for that 'method' awhile ago?" Lenalee demanded, quite unpleased.
The two figures seem to look at each other for a second, and with a small nod, the black haired 'Juuri' stepped up to talk.
"Well, I did warned you guys that it will be unsightly, didn't I?" The familiar black-haired female said with sigh. "Were you really that shocked?"
'BOOM!'
"I can explain to you the details later but we do not have much time. What I did is simply dividing myself into two, apparently." The black-haired 'Juuri' muttered with a small shrug while stretching her arms wide.
"…Well we can see that." Allen confirmed before shaking his head in an attempt to straighten up. "So?"
"Let's go now and find the next door since we do not have much time left! " And without warning, the all too familiar black-haired female marched ahead, arms swinging merrily, leaving the identical white-haired female and mainly the still dumfounded group astray.
"But why is there two exorcists, Exorcist-sama?" Chaoji shouted, half-agitated and half- weirded out by female's identity.
"I'll explain the details later okay? I am the real Juuri and that's that, period!" The said female, now known as the real Juuri rolled her eyes in slight irritation while mumbling about quizzical people or something along those lines.
"She's acting like a kid..." Allen let out a sigh.
"I just realized. After having two Juuri's-" Pink hearts started appearing around the red head. "Double Strike~!"
"LAVI!"
Lenalee just giggled at the scene.
"We are just going to leave her behind, aru?" The vampire-like baron and exorcist asked with a frown. This statement made the whole group avert their attention towards the female, expectantly.
"Hmm, what to do?" The black-haired female half, now known as Juuri stopped in her tracks before grinning and averting her gaze towards her other half. "You are my servant, right?"
What does she meant by 'servant'?
"How about we move on forward and you fetch the other guy?"
There was a small silence between the two females who seem to be locked into a telepathic conversation. The white-haired and 'servant' Juuri nodded, staring at them for a second with an unreadable expression and running off to the direction where they had come from.
Out of the blue, the renowned Juuri clapped her hands to get the others attention, reminding them yet again of the precious time. And with the hedonist as the lead, the group had moved on in search for the next room.
"Are you sure about that Juuri?" Allen asked.
"You do not need to worry about her." She grinned as she trotted towards the opposite way. "After all, she is part innocence."
"WHAT!?"
"God! I hope she will stop throwing lies because it will be too hard to explain everything later!" The white-haired female exorcist cannot help but let out a dejected sigh while she sprinted towards the room where they had been minutes ago.
What in the world that girl was saying about being Juuri? She is not Juuri.
'I am the real Juuri!'
One of the two newest abilities of her Death Scythe is called Reaper. It is a skill that reaps the soul with Innocence and allows it to materialize with the original body to form, in her case, two identical and independent persons: the 'White' Piece and the 'Black' Piece.
The White piece that had its soul manifests a mysterious pallid body and acts as the master and the 'real' person.
And the Black piece that had taken the White's body and shadow, acting as the powerful vanguard and servant.
They are like two pieces of the same color but with different path and goals. Fortunately, she has control over the other.
The real catch with this skill, however, is that as the White, she can now be able to experiment and use the Dark power freely without many problems from the two opposing forces since the God's Crystal is apparently in her body is now in Black's position.
'But I bet I cannot do much with this. After all, all I have to do is just drag someone back and it's not like I have any idea about dark power.' Juuri thought with a small sigh while subconsciously taking note of the absence of a familiar red cross on her left wrist replaced by strange ugly scar. 'Ugh, I hate this scar.'
And as if she have the guts to actually ask for the forsaken demon's help.
Over her dead, rotting body.
Back to reality, the familiar door that she and the group had passed almost an hour ago was again now in front of her, uneasiness settling deep inside her core.
'If I go there, what can I do to help?'
The Noah of Wrath, Skinn Bolic and the infamous Exorcist, Kanda Yu is all fighting behind that door. One turn of her wrist and she'll be able to see the two warring sides.
'I do not have my Innocence.'
Why was she so nervous?
Juuri opened the door and in that instant she remembered why.
"Dammit!"
A few meters away from her is the familiar figure of the male exorcist , Mugen riddled in melted holes and activated into Nigentou on his hands while trying to hold back a devastating attack from the said Noah.
"KANDA!"
Was it just his imagination or did Kanda spot a white-haired figure approaching him from the side?
"Never forgive."
Still, he does not have enough time to think twice as he focused his attention towards the damn Noah. Holding down the ferocious lightning attack by the still living Noah with his hole- melted Mugen is starting to be rather impossible by the passing second.
"Never forgive the Innocence!"
Even with Kanda using his life force to strengthen Mugen to shield him and the only exit against the devastating attack, it is still to impossible to match the strength of this wild beast in front of him.
'This is the Noah's hatred?'
He was losing consciousness.
"Never forgive! Noahs are immortal!"
Just a little more or else the only door for his escape will be gone.
He will not die here.
"The ones who will die is YOU!"
Not like this.
"KANDA!"
Out of nowhere, a familiar pair of warm hands wrapped itself around his tightly, making the said exorcist almost jerk from the sudden presence. However, because of the bigger nuisance in front of him and also by the fact that deflecting the Noah's attack was already straining his body, all he can do at the moment was avert his vision at his right.
'What the-'
Long ghastly ashen tresses greeted Kanda, as it weaved through the harsh wind. Still, for that split second, he recognized the overly familiar Rose Cross of the Black Order.
'I won't die.'
Without looking at who was owner of these hands and with no time to spare, the blue-haired exorcists tightened his grip on Mugen.
Though he already had a wild guess on who in the world would be stupid enough to be with him at this time.
'Until I'll find that person, I'll-'
But that resolve is not enough for Mugen to continue fighting as it finally shattered to pieces.
He lost.
The last thing he remembered was pushing the silhouette behind him.
"I did it. I did it."
Why did her head hurt so much?
"I did it." Sounds of annoying grunts made the white-haired exorcist looked at the source with a frown.
"I destroyed his Innocence!"
The first thing that entered her brain was the said male exorcist. As she looked around her, she noticed that she was thrown away from the impact. When she looked behind her, there on top of the spiky formation was none other than Kanda, body harshly impaled by the spikes.
"I destroyed it! I destroyed his Innocence!"
Because she does not believe on miracles, but this time she must. Kanda is still alive.
The female exorcist reached out towards the other's outstretched scarred hand that is still clutching Mugen tightly.
Helplessness, hatred, guilt and fear of losing someone flooded her mind. Loathful feelings.
Hope.
Juuri gave a small tug.
She knew very well that he will wake up and that will be the only one to defeat Skinn Bolic. Also, her only job was to drag him up on his feet, not to mind his own business.
She gritted her teeth in frustration.
"A light under my feet?" The ghastly ashen haired female looked up, hearing the Noah's voice. "This is no ordinary light."
'It started.' She smiled and closed her eyes. 'Everything will be fine.'
"Consume, Mugen."
"That light," The alarmed Noah stated, looking at the bluish white light moving around. "-the light is reconnecting the broken Innocence sword fragments!"
Juuri rose up from her position and stepped back. This will be over in a minute.
"My life draining Taboo Third Illusions." Kanda still impaled by the spikes, stated with that overly dignified voice of his.
"My katana, won't die so easily!"
With swift motion, the blue-haired exorcist jumped to the air, cutting Skinn in half with his newly reformed Mugen.
"With this, it's truly over."
It was a swift sure kill.
"You still don't get it. " In spite of everything, Skinn who had received a fatal blow, was still able to stand, grinning and cackling while walking around roughly. "I've told you before, the Noah are immortal! This isn't anywhere near finished!"
Skinn is right, it is nowhere near finished.
"Exorcist, why? Why won't you die?"
"I've already told you." The huge, dying Noah blabbered on. "I got it. You're-You're-"
Before Skinn had the chance to finish talking, he had instantly burst into a pile of ashes. And this time, the Noah of Wrath, Skinn Bolic had truly died.
"Shut you're damn mouth. You're done." The blue haired exorcist grunted, as he tried to stand up but failing miserably, making Juuri released a small sigh of relief.
At least, she can finally be able to do her job, and meet up with the others especially, her servant.
"Can you stand up? We need to start moving or else we'll be nothing but history." The white-haired female stated, slightly taking note of the others glazed expression. "Kanda? Are listening to me?"
"Kanda!-"
"And you! " Kanda hissed while and glaring daggers at the now fidgeting girl" What the fuck got into that shitty head of yours to come down here? Get your ass off here, you pathetic excuse for a brat!"
"-Just because you think you know everything means that you have the right to screw my business-"
It was quite clear that the male exorcist was strong enough to verbally fight the girl.
"How many times do I have to tell you, it was Lenalee's plans!" Juuri retorted back. "LENALEE'S!"
"And that stupid hair," The blue-haired exorcist smirked."-were you jealous of that Moyashi?"
Another tremor shook the already collapsing room, alerting the two exorcists' attention, leaving their argument untouched for the moment.
They need to move out, now.
Slowly, the female girl walked in front of the said male, eyes looking elsewhere, while nervously grasping the helm of her exorcist uniform.
"I knew you'd be fine." She offered her hand, gaze still looking anywhere other than the male in front of her, also hiding the fact about her already red-stained face. "Let's go."
'CHIKUSHOU!' Juuri cannot help but curse in Japanese. 'Stop invading my sense of reason, you stupid brain!'
There was a few seconds of dead silence before the said male grunted back and grudgingly taking her offered hand. Unfortunately, Juuri was still deep in her thoughts to even prepare for the sudden pull, resulting for the two of them to almost stumble towards each other.
Which almost made the younger ones face turn into a deeper shade of red.
Say, who would not find this situation awkward?
Still, they continue to walk on forward to the only exit even at a excruciatingly slow pace. If it was just Juuri herself, she could have already been at the exit. But taking note of the beaten up and almost unconscious male on her side, Juuri must do her best to dragged him a little faster.
If he wasn't that heavy for her.
"Oi." The beated up swordsman said.
"Kanda, if you are going to insult me, say it after we get passed the exit. We do not have much time left!" The female exorcist said through gritted teeth while almost literally dragging the poor man with her.
"From the start, you know I will survive," Kanda stopped in his tracks; face down casted which made the other female blink in surprise. "-but you know that I cannot be able to go past the exit. Was that the reason you are here?"
'Huh?' She cannot help but stop and looked at the male leaning on her right shoulder.
"Idiot brat."
"H-How- you…what?" She stuttered incoherently, still surprised. However, her musings was immediately cut off by another tremor. And this time, Juuri knew that this tremor will be enough to destroy their only exit that is just a few more yards away.
Panic, one of the many things that she cannot handle well. God.
"Save it. Geez! Won't you just hush? Shit! Shit!" Panicking, Juuri tried to take huge steps in hopes of getting at the door on time. Unknowingly, the other won't move a muscle, making her efforts all in vain.
"Kanda move! Are you going to give up?!"
As she looked up, it was obvious what Kanda was talking about: they were too late.
'No! No way!'
The building together with the exit had crumbled down into million pieces, just like their hope of leaving.
They will 'die'.
"N-NO! It can't be…" Juuri let go of the said man as she collapsed on her knees. For the white-haired female, she felt nothing but intense remorse, feelings that she could have done better. Was it always hopeless for her?But how about the man beside her? Was it also remorse?
"Che. They're gonna pissed at us." Kanda huffed beside her, a few strands of his long blue silky hair sliding over his shoulder. It was just that moment that Juuri noticed that his hair is not in a ponytail.
"And I'll be stuck with a stupid brat. Oi," The said male smirked, but not before pulling the younger exorcist's arm and bringing her closer to his side while staring at her own chocolate brown eyes for a moment.
"-is this the end?"
The pallid-head female would never admit it but she was almost captivated by his smirk for a short moment. Then again with the given situation, Juuri cannot help give out a small laugh.
There was actually nothing to worry about since she had already laid out her Innocence and servant at their own disposals.
Juuri looked at Kanda's face for a second, and after mumbling a few words of reassurance, prop herself on his shoulder with a placid smile.
"Everything will be fine."
He is not alone.
And so is she.
'It can't be. '
The foreboding feelings of loss that bitterly plagues the said woman's heart was far too much.
"Someone's time has, someone's time has-!"
For a moment, she was quite confident about everyone's condition. She has great faith on them.
'Why?!'
Miserably shaking in sorrow, Miranda's tears continue to fall down her pale cheek, unaware of Bookman and the others' presence as they listened at her heartbreaking sobs.
"-Disappeared!"
One of her precious friends had died.
The black haired female silently looked back with an unreadable expression which luckily got unnoticed by the people around her.
For a second, it felt a slight pain pulsed through her body.
It cannot sense the White's presence anymore.
'No matter what happen, please continue to look after them.' The female-innocence-made imposter thought as it remembered the master's warm smile a few minutes ago.
'I beg of you.'
It's existence is nothing but just that of a Servant, it has no heart, no feelings, that is why it cannot understand the White but it can understand her words. Maybe it was also that reason that it cannot feel anxious about the White's 'death'.
It is just a measly blade; a weapon that had been granted a life to aid and protect the White piece. The Black's existence was like the invincible Queen that protects her King at all cost. Nevertheless, the Black piece is not simply the product of the invocation of the Innocence; it was able to live by having her creator's body, power and above all, a purpose to exist.
The lesser 'it' has been given a chance to be a person.
And as her vanguard and shadow, it must fulfill her creator's wishes no matter what.
How annoying these exorcists are, always acting so high and mighty.
They called killing akuma as exorcism and just. The Noah clansmen are also human; kids just like them but more more special.
So why was it that killing a Noah such as Skinn a noble thing? What gave them the privilege of doing such a thing?
Why was them doing the same thing as 'killing' unjust and evil? The Noah are merely trying to get rid of the existence of these stupid lowly beings.
"Playtime is over."
Aren't they just the same?
Insects.
Worms.
"It's time to finish you for real."
The Exorcists are the worst of them all.
"Once there was a single cradle but in that cradle hid another.
One became two."
Many things had happened since they entered and met the twin Noah of bonds Jasdero and Debitto in the grand library. Located up the center pedestal of the room, Lavi is busy tracking down the real key with his Wood Seal after the twins had stolen and used Deceiving Spectacles on them. On the other hand, Krory and Allen were trying their best in fighting off the two Noah and it was only Juuri who was left alone with the two non-combatants as their guard had also been caught up with the fight.
"Brats are so hard to handle. I hate it."
It even came to the point where the three exorcists were sent flying to the wall numerous times.
Actually, Jasdebi and Debitto are kids around their age; playing around idly and deeming humans as nothing but their own play things.
Unfortunately, right after Lavi had found the key, the room was enveloped with a grim atmosphere, courtesy of the two Noah brats.
"-A single cradle hidden within the mist and a single star,
Rocking in the grave as the mist fades away."
And Krory doesn't like it one a bit.
"Allen! Krorry! Juuri!" Lavi called out loudly. "Above you!"
Everything happened in a blur. In one swift move, Krory was sent against the wall. Juuri who tried to get through the cloud of smoke and help Krory but she too, herself was sent severely to the piles of bookshelves.
Fear is a understatement to explain the present feeling of the people inside the room.
No one expected this to happen.
"K-Krory."
"Who are you?" At this critical moment, Lavi was not even sure if finding the right key was a good thing or not considering their current worsening situation.
"We Jasdero and Debitto are actually a single Noah."
Is this what they meant by 'playtime is over'?
"I'm Jasdebi."
Seriously, when will this madness end?
"So it is here, huh." The blonde-haired man sneered silently to himself before collecting a leather shoulder bag on the floor.
The place was really a mess with after the fight all the books and torn out bookshelves scattered around the room. Although this place is about to collapse any second now, it only took him a few tricks to bring and freeze time itself for him to finish his work.
As he looked around, his red cold eyes caught the image of the still unconscious man lying just a few meters from his location.
It is an Exorcist.
In an instant, the man was already hovering over the oblivious being, eyes looming darkly like a ferocious prey.
"Do not touch, hurt or even think of doing something to these people!" Memories of a certain someone getting angry at him immediately seized his train of thought, stopping him from touching the sleeping exorcist.
"I am warning you,"
She will get angry at him if he touched her friends.
"I will kill you."
It was a deal after all between the two of them; a bond that is definitely something far greater than the connection between a friend, family, a lover or foe.
Just the two of them bind together by fate.
"I can never touch them but," The blonde-haired man stood up from his position and approached the door in the pedestal, where two people is suspended in the air, about to fall down any second from now.
Then that means that the Noah of Dream's door is just underneath.
"I can't say the same to you, Jirainne."
'Perfect.'
He held the bag up in the air, letting all of its content fall down the floor. As he spotted the object that he was looking for, the man's eyes' immediately glowed venomously, restoring the time back to normal.
And with an evil smirk, he threw out the object that will certainly make this awfully exciting game more interesting than ever.
It is Jirainne's diary.
The atmosphere was too unsettling for the exorcists in the room to break it. Nevertheless, this did not stop a certain Allen Walker to get intimidated by the two Noah casually seating a few meters away from him, especially Road Kamelot who had been clinging around him the whole time they got inside the tower.
No one really knew this coming where the Noah themselves gracefully 'ask' for a peaceful chat over the dining table.
But the inevitable truth can never change.
"What do you want to talk about 'Lord' Tyki Mikk?" The white haired exorcist said, reproachingly while being seated far across the said Noah. "Or should I say Sticky Fingers the Evil Bum?"
Kanda and Krory cannot catch up to them anymore.
"Don't be so harsh, boy."The offended Noah replied back, heaving out an exasperated sigh after having lit up a cigarette. "You've got to be the first exorcist to force a Noah to strip to his underwear. Don't you think our meeting is fated?"
"Not really."Allen muttered, impassively. "I've caused tons of people to strip down to their underwear playing cards."
This statement almost sounded like a dark joke to the insulted Noah's ears.
"Oh, what a dark thing to say. Are you really fifteen?"
"Is this about my Innocence?"
"To tell the truth, I was pretty shocked when I heard about it."Tyki cannot help but smirk venomously, hiding the very urge to pierce through the younger teen's heart. " It really seemed as though I destroyed it."
"But you didn't. It's still right here." Allen says a matter-of-factly, obviously not enjoying the conversation.
"Oh? Have you become interested in Innocence now, Tyki?" The younger Noah having spiked purple-blue hair known as the Noah of Dreams butted in with an overly sweet smile.
There was an evident silence before Tyki replied back to Road's side comment.
"A bit," Tyki said before instantly sending the tacit female exorcist a misleading smile. "-But I am more interested about how the lady here was able to recover after having her heart pierced with my own hands than you, boy, being alive after the Tease ate a hole in your heart. There's a big difference between a mere hole from a sliced open heart, isn't it?"
"Allen-kun!" Lenalee sent the younger teen a reprimanding look before averting her gaze toward the other exorcist. "You too, Juuri!"
"Your heart? I never heard about this, Allen. You had a wound like that too?!" The red head Junior Bookman joined in the conversation.
'I kept quiet about it so they wouldn't worry, and now…'
"A part of my Innocence restored my heart. There's no problem." Allen said, reassuring his fellow comrades before looking at the other accused female. He felt a little uneasy with the situation but as he look at Juuri, he was quite unsure how the said girl remained as calm as though the whole situation does not bother her at all.
But having known the said girl for a long time, Allen knew that Juuri is already scheming something up her sleeve. She might act immaturely at times but there is always something more to her that makes everyone think of her seriously, as what Allen believed.
'Still, I too had no idea that she was also attacked by this Noah. Even Kanda seemed surprised that time.' Allen thought grimly.
'How did she able to have time to hide this incident without them knowing at all, even from her own group? '
"Road, isn't it about time you give the boy his space?"
The accursed Noah's voice cut through the air, completely breaking what soothing atmosphere that was built a few minutes ago. Road who was completely displeased about the idea of leaving her Allen, tried hug the said male.
"Um."
"Road-tama!"
"Oi,oi," Smirking widely, the ashen skinned Noah stands up on his seat. "-Nothing good will come of an exorcist dating a Noah."
"You're one to talk with that girl!" Road grumbled as she put an accusing finger towards the said Noah. "It is U-N-F-A-I-R!"
Tyki only shook his head for a moment, ignoring the younger Noah's incessant grumblings. "-You know the Millennium Earl's plan for the world's demise? Half of me's only in it to mess around. I knew being evil is the way to go! But thanks to you boy, I am a bit self-conscious."
"-Your extermination, though, I have to take that seriously."
Out of nowhere, a Tease is flying its towards Lenale at an incredibly fast pace. Its fangs bore out for a kill. Fortunately enough, Allen was able to get a hold of the same thing that almost killed him before.
'Eh?'
But truthfully, the Tease was already sliced in half by the familiar Death Scythe wielder, Juuri Nightray who is now standing protectively beside Lenalee.
His left hand is for the Akuma.
"Tyki Mikk. I also have something I'd like to say." Allen muttered dangerously after crushing the already dead butterfly with his left hand. "If you lay one hand on my friends,"
His right hand is for the humans.
The Noah clansmen are also humans.
"I may end up killing you."
'But they are just going too far.'
The Ark's final minutes are approaching.
Meanwhile in an unknown place, strange skeleton looking beings are guarding a large round object.
"Who is it? Stop right there." The one who stood up in the middle inquired toward the approaching being. With their ghastly skull-like appearance, they tried to approach him.
With just one look at his appearance, they concluded that he is also one of them.
"What is it?
"Reinforcements, eh."
These horrendous beings seem to be in a special order from the Earl himself to guard this precious round object, even in this critical moment of transferring the Egg to a new Ark.
"I was not informed about you. Stay there for a second."
He paused for a second before taking another look at the big round object in front of him.
The real mission is going to start from here on.
Why can't she endure her emotions anymore?
"How long are you going to sleep you pathetic excuse for a- damn you!" The brown-haired sixteen-year-old Hispanic female cursed through gritted teeth, punching the nearby wall in heated frustration as she finally collapsed on her knees with a racking sob.
After almost six months of pretending that everything was fine, the poor girl had finally cried.
"Please, I suggest you don't cause a racket here in the hospital-"A nurse suddenly rushed inside the room. After a second of seeing the familiar visitor, the middle-aged nurse let out a heavy sigh before bending down to pat the girl's small frame, her gaze unconsciously falling towards the unmoving female patient.
"Shh. We are all trying to do our best. So please, don't lose hope. "
"They are so stupid. Fucking stupid! If they would had listened to me everything would have been just fine! But no! They were-"The female girl continue to thrashed around, tears flowing wildly down her face. The once known as most apathetic girl in the school is now reduced to a helpless, crying baby.
After a few more minutes of cursing and wild sobbing, the sixteen-year-old girl had finally found her strength, with the help of the kind nurse, to stand once again up on her feet.
"Look at her, she might look pale but you can see that she is fighting it through. "With a small smile, the nurse's gaze fell once again on the female comatose patient.
"So you should try to fight for her sake too, Miss Fiamma."
She is weak.
All she can see is that girl is suffering with that weak and scarred body.
"It was a miracle enough that she survived that accident."
Having her in this miserable situation is no miracle. The doctors said that even if she wakes up, the chance of her ever being able to walk and live a normal life again is down to zero.
"Though, what happened on the guy was quite-"
"ENOUGH!"
The Hispanic female, now known as Fiamma cried. "Enough! Enough. "
Taking the grave atmosphere and the girl's unstable behavior, the nurse excused herself, a look of concern passing her face before shutting the door with a small click and leaving the comatose patient and Fiamma alone.
The comatose patient who was once a very lively girl is now turning into a vegetable.
Fiamma tries to drop off at the hospital as much as possible, but every time she walks in to check, sometimes she cannot help but hope that the sleeping girl is still sleeping.
Atleast inside her own happy land, she is protected from the hurtful reality.
"You know," Fiamma muttered softly. "I am more afraid of what you will do after waking up."
The very important person that was always been with her had died, she was the one left alone from that accident.
What had she done for them to leave her?
"First it was Mother." She touched the unmoving female's hands gently as if she is touching a fragile glass, grasping them together between her two hands.
"- and now it is you, Lemi."
What is this faint melody?
"The noise is dissipating…."
For the people who were left to fight in Edo, this song was nothing but heartrending and miserable.
"The white ark is…Please! Time Record stop the ark's time!" Miranda cried out still exhausted, while desperately trying to exert more power to her Innocence.
But no matter how much she pleads to, she cannot do a thing to save her friends.
"Do I not have enough power?"
No matter how much she cried.
The truth will always be that she can never save her friends.
"Please! I beg of you! Stop!"
They all just stood there, helplessly watching the crumbling ark as it predicts the fate of their comrade trapped inside.
As the ark completely fades away, Miranda's 'time' started falling down, clearly delivering the painful truth to them.
"Kanda, Juuri. Not only did we lose Daisya but you two too. "The dark skinned blind man, known as Noise Marie said precariously as he grabbed onto his headphones in an attempt to hear any trace of the ark's restoration.
"Lavi."
It was too devastating for them, even for the Marshall.
"If I had done better…."
Was this still part his female student's good ending or was this already a dreadful nightmare?
'Why was Mana's seal in there?'
Confusion is an understatement on what is Allen's feeling right now. It was just that the white-haired exorcist has no idea on what was he supposed to do.
The second heart, this white room, the musician, the Fourteenth, the ark, the score, his master, Lenalee and this ridiculously unnerving shadow that seems to control his consciousness, all of these are currently shaking any last bit of control he has on his body.
"M-My desires…" Allen stuttered in an attempt to process his thoughts straight. "The download, the ark-"
Unfortunately, everything is already dawning upon him like a tornado of emotions, trying to suck him in into insanity.
"My desires are…"
"Can't you think of any?"
Out of nowhere, a certain Supervisor's words resounded back from the back of his head, chasing away the uneasiness in his heart.
It was a memory when he was talking to Komui on his way around the ark.
"When everyone returns, I'll greet you all with "welcome home" and a pat on the back."
That time for Allen, it seemed like everything stopped. Komui, that time was reassuring him, cheering on him and the others as they talked on what will happen when they finally can go back home.
His home.
"I'll hug Lenalee as hard as I can."
His family.
"-You'll get lots of food, Allen."
Though his mind was still plagued by these constant questions, Allen once again, played the piano but now pouring this resolve with his unwavering heart.
"And so, the boy fell into a deep sleep,
-The struggling flames lay in the ashes."
"-Lavi will probably fall asleep on the spot, so I'll put a blanket on him."
Up in the tower where Lavi and Chaoji was supposed to had fell down, the red haired exorcist seems to have already gained consciousness.
"One by one,
Rise up and swell into that lovely face."
Standing up on top of a house, a familiar black haired exorcist was seen, silently taking note of her surroundings.
"-The adults will toast the occasion and we'll throw a huge party before going to bed. It'll be wonderful."
Back in the archives, Krory was still lying on the ground, unconscious and out of the Iron Maiden.
"Thousands of dreams float above the Earth,"
-those dreams…"
"On the night when silver eyes trembled,
You were born in a sparkling light."
"Though hundreds of millions of months and years will past,
No matter how many prayers return to the Earth, "
"And then, though a little late," Komui chuckled audibly."- Kanda will show up after being dragged out by Juuri with that look of his."
In a bizarre room, two lone figures of a male and a female found themselves lost for words as they processed their current surrounding. But of course being the latter, smiling secretly to herself.
"I will continue to pray,
-Please deliver this love,"
Allen continue to play the piano with unknown intensity.
"Let us join our hands and kiss."
'Give me...' Allen remembered his fallen friends, igniting an ardent feeling inside of him. 'Give me back my friends!'
What he really desire.
"Don't disappear, ark!"
"Stop sniggering with that snotty face of yours. You look stupid." Kanda called grumpily as usual, as he and the brat walk down the endlessly long hallway.
The said female just continue walking onward but not before heaving a small sigh, trying not mind the overly grumpy male beside her. She is in a really good mood and she is not letting Kanda spoil it.
They all came out alive, as expected.
Though it bothers her a little that she found herself yet again with the said male in a really awkward position (sitting too close with each other), she tried to will her mind to think gratefully for all the things that had happened. Also, adding to the fact that the said male was topless with his awfully beautiful long blue hair swinging back and forth every time he walks.
'Oh good Lord,' Juuri tried to slapped herself mentally before trying to walk faster. 'estrogen.'
"Oi! Moyashi!"
Yet again, it seems like Mr. Grumpy-Old Man wants to drive her to the edge.
"Yeah,yeah," The still ashen haired female rolled her eyes at the blue-haired man. "Would it make you happy if say I am Allen's long lost twin sister?"
"What? "
"I was just joking." Juuri cannot help but tug at her odd white hair, trying not to laugh in the proces. "But I like your reaction."
"You pathetic excuse-" Out of nowhere Juuri felt someone jerked her left arm. Ofcourse when she looked back, she found the culprit to be none other than the imposing Kanda himself.
"Oi. What the hell happened to your Innocence?"
For a second, Juuri felt her cheeks redden from the small touch before jerking her hand away and shrugging back.
"Probably taking a stroll around the Ark? She might be trying to find me right now."
There was a few seconds of silence before something clicked inside Kanda's head.
"She was trying- WHAT!??"
When Juuri was about to look back to the said male when she accidentally slipped, making her fall down in a dangerously fast rate.
'Fall-?'
It took her a second to remember that at the entrance toward the library, where one was supposed to jump down.
Or fall down.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The white haired female exorcist screamed at the top of her lungs. Luckily, before she can even make contact with the hard floor, she was able to plant her foot against the wall of bookshelves, sliding down in the process.
Atleast it was less painful than directly going splat.
"Are you trying to kill yourself!?" Juuri heard the aggravated voice of Kanda above her, who was also making his way toward her. But what caught her attention was the unconscious Krory near the center of the room.
"Krory! " The said girl knelt down, immediately checking Krory's vitals. When she was satisfied, Juuri tried to prompt up the unconscious, slinging one arm over her shoulder.
He was heavy for a 27 year old man and also heavier than Kanda but this cannot stop her from carrying him out of this place.
However, she was quite surprised to find out that for a moment, Krory became lighter?
"It would take you a year to carry him out of this place, idiot brat."
Her brown eyes widen in shock for moment but not before flashing one of her serene smiles.
'You are so kind.'
These unwanted feelings would only bring nothing but grief.
Didn't she already suffered enough from getting herself broken from these delusions?
"I know you'll help me eventually," She muttered soflty, shaking her head in the process."I just knew you will."
Without thinking, the female exorcist placed her hand over her chest.
It was beating erratically.
"Che, don't get so cocky."
They are now on a flight of stairs, both still carrying an unconscious Krory.
'If this continues,'
The white haired female looked away, desperately trying to avert her attention elsewhere. Finally, her gaze landed toward Krory who is still out cold from his fight.
"You fought well Krory."
'-I might, eventually lose.'
Lavi might not admit it out loud but he was very much glad that this is all over.
"YU'S PANTS!"
"Bring it on, you retarded rabbit!"
The long tiring fight was finally over.
"Oh! Yu! "The red head exorcist and Bookman apprentice called out in glee, almost on the verge of giving the stoic man a hug. "Shiro-Juuri too! You brought him here! Good job! I can even give you a hug!"
The white haired female just sweat drop at his futile actions.
"Is that Kuro-chan you're carrying?" The agitated male asked or more like stated. "Kuro-chan!"
"He collapsed. " Kanda just answered, shrugging off the red hair's overly ecstatic voice. "In any case, what's going on here?"
"I don't really know either." Lavi replied. "Hey! Get your ass out here, Moyashi!"
There was a few seconds of silence before they heard someone's voice from the sky.
"Who are you calling moyashi, you stupid Lavi?!"
"Allen!"
"That Moyashi's voice is coming from the sky."
"The name's Allen, BaKanda!"There was a small pause before they heard the white haired male's voice again.
"I won't forgive you if you say that again."
From the corner of Lavi's left eye, he noticed the blue haired male smirking from the Allen's insult rather than getting offended instead.
All of them are all glad this was over.
"Hey Allen! How are Lenalee, Juuri and the Marshall?"
"They're both fine. No I mean!" Allen said but not before panicking a little."The real Juuri is not here, though. She kind of got separated to us after saving Lenale, falling in the process."
Kanda's gaze instantly fell down on the person on his left, glaring daggers at the poor female.
"Eh!? Don't tell me she fell down too?" asked Lavi.
"What are you retarded people talking about? The real-" The blue-haired swordsman was about to say something when something black had fell down from the sky.
However, what seemed like a black object was actually the familiar black haired Juuri that they were all talking about just moments ago. She tried to stand up again on her feet but was weak and worn out enough just stay on her knees..
"Should I cease the invocation?"
"Kanda, hold up Krory for me," The white-haired female exorcist muttered, not even waiting for a reply as she approached the black haired female seating on floor.
Once again, the two oddly differing Juuri's met gazes.
"Sorry for pushing you past your limit, Innocence."
"I-Innocence? Eh? Ugh. Her? But-" The confused red head cannot help but watch idly at the two almost identical females. "What the hell!?"
Kanda who was silently on the verge of exploding approached the two females, leaving the unconscious Krory on the floor.
The hell with all this shit, he had enough.
Chaoji who was watching from the background cannot help but sweat drop at the supposedly regal exorcists infront of him.
It was not her imagination but she felt a looming shadow cast evilly behind her, even the Innocence seems had felt it too.
"K-Kanda!"
"Man! Don't do that!"
Give me a break.
"You brat had a lot of explaining to do."
In the Black Order Headquarters, there are a lot of people making preparations for the upcoming arrival of the exorcists. Two banners are also held up wide in the air by the science department staff with a "Welcome Home" sign.
The one who stood in the middle is none other than the Supervisor, Komui Lee.
Finally, the rigorous hours which was actually just a few seconds of waiting had ended with the arrival of the exorcists from the Ark Gate.
"Welcome Home!"
"Nii-san…" Lenalee muttered to herself, still not believing the fact that it was already over.
But it did. They all had successfully returned back.
With a small pat on her back from her three friends, the female exorcist knew that everything came back to normal again.
Back to their home.
"Nii-san!"
"Welcome home, Lenale.." Komui said, hugging his younger sister as hard as he could.
"I'm back."
She is home.
It is finally time for her to deactivate her Innocence.
"Go ahead, Miranda."
Miranda was against it since she know herself of what will happen to them.
Time Record can never heal any wounds, it will never bring back the dead.
"Give it your all."
"Knock it off, Marie! I get it already! Let go of me!"
"Aw. Poor lil' Kanda. "
"Once I get my hands on you, you little twerp-! Marie!"
But when Miranda looks around her surroundings she cannot help but feel reassured.
"I understood."
No matter how painful, how she desires to be more powerful to protect them, they will always be hurt in anyway.
"Time Record," Miranda hold back a sob. "cease acti-."
But before she can even fully deactivate her Innocence, someone had already collapsed, creating a puddle of blood on the floor.
"JUURI!"
Her left wrist, where her Innocence is embedded is bleeding at an alarmingly fast rate.
"I am so sorry, we were quite have a hand full things to do that we cannot be able to properly tour you around especially with the fact that the exorcists had just arrived a few days ago from a long mission and about the Ark too." The purple haired Supervisor muttered seriously before reverting back to his overly puerile character. "Ah! Mou! I cannot even go to my Lenalee without sneaking through the Matron, now! I can't believe it!"
"L-Lenalee? "
"Eh? You don't know her? Oh! Well, she is my super cute, most adorable sister in the whole world! Though it is really a loss about her hair! WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHYYYYYYY?" Komui continue to flail around the room, crying and sobbing for the loss of her dearest sister's beautiful hair.
"Umm, okay-"
"And that Bak of the Asian Branch! He dared, dared to visit my Lenalee! Ha! Fortunately for him, I let him live!" Komui continue to cackle evilly, slightly creeping out the poor person.
"Sir?" The poor person, who was actually a female called out to the Supervisor for the third time. Luckily, this time Komui was able to pick up her words.
Well, it's not like they were expecting her to come here at this very critical time.
Komui tried to clear his throat for a second to straighten out his thoughts before once again, observing the said girl infront of him.
As he got a closer look, the girl must be around Lenalee's age too. She also have lightly yellowish complexion, quite an indication for being Chinese. On top of all, she also has long light brown hair flowing down her mid-back with matching brown eyes.
But what worried Komui was the female's capability to seemed a little too thin and sickly to be fighting Akuma compared to Lenalee, Juuri and Miranda.
"According to this data you filled up, you are Chinese, huh. Do you speak Chinese? Wow. Finally! Another one from China! Lenalee would be-"
"Sir."
"Ahem." Komui continues. "So you are an equipment type too? Good."
'At all cost, it would be difficult having another parasitic type of Innocence. The toll is too much. ' Komui thought grimly . 'That reminds me, I need to visit Juuri again, and she hasn't woken up yet just like Krory.'
"Is there something wrong, sir?"
Komui immediately shook his head, dismissively.
"I'm really sorry, ne? We were very busy for the moment. But we really appreciate of you coming in here. Thank you."
This child is going to be dragged down in this dark bloody path.
Komui cannot help but bit his lip in the process.
"I cannot use it," She muttered to herself. "No, I mean I cannot activate it, as you say, properly. So I hope you'll help me."
This made Komui smile bitterly at her.
"No. We are the one that owes you a great deal."
Komui extended his hand toward the new female exorcist. "Anyway, welcome to the Black Order, Ms…?"
The female girl laughed before accepting the said hand-shake.
"My whole name is Lermiana Mei Lim." The meek girl smiled sweetly. "but my friends call me, Lemi."
"Right now I'm very happy, you know
If these drops falling from my eyes are what they call tears
Then I feel that I can see you again
Beyond this sky"
-Cruel Clocks by Hatsune Miku
YAY! YAY!
I am back~ Ugh..I feel like a person that left the city and lived in the mountains for years only to come back that had a lot of features already..lol~ YAY! A cover photo! I can finally draw and upload Juuri's pic.^.^
Umm, yeah? I was gone for what..5 months? I am so sorry? Really Sorry? Those who message and reviewed last time about my absence and this fanfic..sorry about that. It is just that College is really hectic especially fourth term, with my Research Thesis. *sigh.* And I hate to admit, i am also into gaming and anime ofcourse. Don't worry, though! I am really really set into finishing this series(It is already happening inside my head. LOL) I cannot say much when will I update again(next month?agr! I cannot promise mou!SorryT.T) Anyway, if you have questions, just feel free to ask or PM me, I'll just be around the net and here people!^.^ Thanks again for the reviews last time! I hope you'll have fun reading this awfully long(that's what my friend said.) story/nove/ epic, I dunno anymore..
And if you had figured it out already, there is another OC..another exorcist...and who is she..yeah. If not, just ask.^.^ I'll be so happy to hear you out guys.
Yeah! One of the two techniques of Juuri is Reaper...that is to have her soul out her body,(White) and the Innocence occupies it(Black). In response to this, the Innocence makes a temporary body for the when Kanda and Juuri(White) 'died', it was only Kanda that had technically 'died' because the Time Record of Miranda encompasses the body of the person, which apparently still lives that time.
Umm, anymore important points...ah! the chant for Reaper:
Light and darkness,
My shadow and I,
Separate and combine them,
I commanded you, Death Scythe!
yeah..pretty much like that..sorry I am kind of drowsy...*looks at the clock...wow..3:51 am pacific time..nice. And tomorrow is monday. Bloody fantastic.
So guys, yeah! thanks again! Take care~
Next time will be pretty much fun! Go meek Lemi-chan!
-Jacqueline