Hana: 4,988 words including the chapter title are in this chapter. I feel impressed with myself.
Richie: -claps- Okay then. Good on you, Hana.
Allen: Maybe try to be a little more...enthusiastic?
Hana: Wow...this feels like something that should be said to Kanda. Whelp! I don't own D. Gray-man, or any of the characters associated with the series itself. Richie is my OC!
Richie: Read on.
... ... ... ...
+ - Night 35 – Mishaps - +
Extravagant gowns, and ballroom dancing. All accompanied by the sounds of strings, brass, and woodwinds filling the grand hall. Guests of every ethnic and higher class mingled with one another, hoping to gain prestige to raise their status for the good of their own gains.
I recall this very scene, clearer and clearer with each flash of this memory that invades my dreams. I am but a little girl, innocent, but sharp. My hair is brown, but is in a short bob-cut. The longer strands that normally reached my chin at the time, had been braided back to keep them from getting in my face. Both my eyes, blind and seeing, are visible for the guests to see. My mother had dressed me, gifting me a periwinkle ball gown made to fit a child as small as I had been back then.
What this was for, I remember not, but perhaps it was to show the kind of life I would eventually be introduced to when I would debut as a true debutant. For then, I was simply 'Richelle Linhagem'. The young daughter of both the pride and joy of my parents. The little girl that brought smiles to faces, and only played the part of a perfect doll. One that was to be admired, and never touched.
That taste of that future, was one I loathed. I had verbally voiced this back then, and I was promised that I wouldn't have to attend any if it wasn't what I desired. For a while, I was glad, and I could be Richelle, just Richelle.
All good things come to an end, as I regretfully know.
Then the scene would change, and I was show a similar scene with an older me. Long had I since lost my parents, and now under the care of that woman I despise so much. I still had the role of a doll, but this one was broken, abused, used. My freedom taken from me, and no longer something to be admired. I was shunned for my unseeing eye, and what started from that one woman, spread like wildfire to so many others. Eventually forcing me to hide what I had never found shameful before.
The more I had these dreams, the more of my past that came to light. Over the last two years I've lived within the Order's walls, I've had these visions of a life I had barely any memory of. In the beginning, I've wondered, 'why am I dreaming of what I don't want to remember?'
A question I once asked Lenalee, who had thought carefully of my inquiry, 'Perhaps you really don't want to leave what you can't remember forgotten?' had been her words.
'Your past doesn't make you who you are today.' Kanda had said, and I'd been unaware of him even listening in on us. 'Only what you do, or what you've done will shape you to be whoever the fuck you are.'
My actions make me who I am…with that thought firmly in my mind, the dreams sporadically continued. Bits and pieces began to form the puzzle that was my past, and before long, I had enough to know a general idea of who I was.
However, the memory I was seeing on this night…was different from all the others. Here I am fourteen again, at yet another ball at yet another estate that wasn't my own. The faces are shadowed, hidden from my sight, as is the man that approaches me that specific night. He was older, a lot older than I was, but it was rude to decline a dance. He danced well enough, though I was tempted to step on his feet purposely, if it meant leaving sooner.
I never do such a thing, for that woman was watching me like a hawk. I had already upset Carol Vandenberg once that very evening. I needn't further punishment that I knew was coming when I would return to my prison.
Henceforth, I acted as a good doll, and danced with this tall, faceless man. When he spoke, I politely replied. When he offered me something, I would politely decline. Never would I accept, because a slight of hand was difficult to follow. I hadn't a need to have been slipped anything unfavorable for me.
I remain blank the whole event. My eyes dull, my movements mechanical. There was nothing here for me. Nothing here that would ever make me happy. The man had left at some point, but I cared not to know what skirt he could be chasing. I go to sit on a chair, the heels I was forced to wear were eating at my feet. I had blisters now, and they hurt so much.
Some noble girls had approached me then, saying cruel things. But I was unfazed. Nothing they say had any effect on me anymore. I'd grown so numb to them. They are shoed away, and I'm seeing that same faceless man from before. I chose to ignore him that time, having far too much interactions with him already. I wanted nothing to do with him. When he sat beside me, I stood up, and walked away.
He didn't like it, and my wrist was grasped in a rough and hurting grip…hurting to the point that no human being should be able to grasp. I screamed, trying to pull away.
He barked something at me, but I paid it no heed, I did the only thing I could think of doing to get away from this man.
With all my might, I kicked him in his family jewels. He keeled over, releasing my wrist, and I turned on my heel and ran.
I heard Carol scream at me to get my butt back there, but I refused. I didn't want to continue living in a cage. I didn't want to be the daughter of the late Viscount and Lady Linhagem. By the time I was running across the estate grounds, I ditched my heels, and never looked back.
I wanted to be me. Just me; and it was then I had finally taken that initiative to accept my acquaintance's offer.
Because in recent memory, that's all that nameless girl who became an Akuma really was to me.
I wanted to be free, and so like a bird, I had taken flight. Fleeing the cage that I was trapped in. I ran away from everything I ever knew.
The rest…was history.
. . - * - . .
I opened my eyes, staring at the ceiling above me. "It was that night…"
Escuro flew into my vision, and I smiled at the black golem. The curious creature had been missing since I'd run off to help fight off Lulu Bell, only appearing again when I'd gotten back to my room after that meeting yesterday about the new Crystal-type Innocence that became of Lenalee's Dark Boots.
"Where were you during the whole fiasco a few days ago?" I asked it.
My golem blinked, bobbing in mimic of shoulders being shrugged.
"Not even gonna hint at it?" I asked. Once again, my faithful companion bobbed in the air. "Okay then." I figured there was no point in trying to get anything from my mischievous Golem.
A knock on my door alerted me of someone there, I didn't have to ask to know who it was, because his voice sounded on the other side. "You in there?"
"You going to answer any of my questions?" I countered. "Kanda, you can't keep avoiding the issue."
"That's why I'm here, baka kitsune." He reluctantly admitted.
Curious, I jumped out of bed, and unlocked my door. I hesitated when I made to reach the handle. We'd be alone, and I doubted I was mentally prepared to deal with him.
Perhaps deciding I had taken too long, he forcefully opened my door, and I barely managed to get out of the way in time. "No, please, by all accounts, do come in." I ground out. Bastard had the nerve to make himself comfortable sitting on my bed.
Not that I had any places for guests to sit. Groaning at my lack of seating, I closed the door, before turning about face to look at my guest. We were silent before Kanda sighed, "What do you want to know?"
He wouldn't do anything to you, Richie. You know that, so calm down!
"First of all, I'd love to know why you kept avoiding me after the Level 4 fiasco that happened the other day."
"I didn't feel like it." He stated.
"Under the assumption we'd get out of that situation alive, you promised you'd answer the questions that have been nagging me for the last two years." I said, crossing my arms, well, that was half the truth…but it was the only portion I was willing to learn about. "So, give me the damn answer already. That day, on my first mission with you, I was on the brink of death. I never died, obviously, and I want to know what you did."
"Of all the things to bring up, you choose something that's ancient history." The sword-wielding man muttered. "Why are you so curious to know?"
"I can't 'see' my past, nor can I 'see' my future." I said in monotone. "My eye isn't able to."
"Fine, then. Alright. But why that one?" The long-haired male murmured. "I get the annoying feeling there's something else."
"On that mission," I decided, ignoring him entirely. I was too chicken to really ask my orginal question. But it still, nonetheless, bugged me senseless not knowing. "I remember splitting up. I remember waking up in the infirmary. I should've been dead."
"Fine then." Kanda hissed, glaring at me. "I'll play your little game. When we came back to the Order, everyone was making a big deal on your condition. They were freaking out because they feared you wouldn't make it come morning. It was annoying."
"And?"
"I was going to leave it, because like hell it had anything to do with me. 'So what if she dies?' was what I was thinking back then." He explained. "Despite my views, I still found myself at the medical wing where they were keeping you that same night."
I cocked my head to one side, a brow quirked. "So, you happen to have ended up where I had been on my own death bed?"
"It was me acting on a whim." Kanda argued. "I gave you my blood."
I felt my arms fall to my sides, my face growing a little pale. "W-what…? You mean, you did a blood transfusion with me?" That was all I could think of that he meant, but it still made no sense. I wasn't AB-negative like he was, so I couldn't receive his, my own blood type being B-negative.
"Not…exactly." The samurai grumbled. "It worked with Marie, I thought it would work for you."
I mutely nodded, though I didn't know what to make of that. Worked with Marie? Was there something I was missing?
"However, he had an open wound on his head…you had no open wounds that weren't already bandaged."
"Wait, wait, wait…you—"
"I was only looking at him in morbid curiosity." He interrupted, "I hadn't healed completely yet at the time, and a drop of my blood dripped into the wound, and healed him."
"So…what did you do with me?"
"I used Mugen to slice the skin on my hand, and had you take the swelling blood from my palm orally."
"And…that's why I heal the way I do?" I was…surprised, grossed out, and…perhaps thankful…more or less.
"I theorize that you gained my abilities to heal quicker than most parasite users because of taking a larger amount of my blood directly."
"I feel like you half turned me into a vampire." I said, attempting to crack a joke. "Isn't that how it works? Drink the blood of the victim, then have the victim drink your blood?"
"Hell, if I knew." Kanda grumbled. "But if that were the case, you'd be my servant for all eternity."
"Hell no!" I shouted.
"You're the one that brought it up, you damn fox."
"Because you would just love to have any damnable excuse to make my life hell."
"Che. Like hell I would need any excuse for some bullshit like that."
"…are you saying you do that on purpose?!" He ruffled my feathers for the sake of messing with me?
"And if I do?" He challenged, "What then?"
"You overstayed your welcome, JerKanda! Goodbye, sayanora, tchau, Au Revoir!" I was pulling him by his hand, removing him from where he sat, before moving to push him from behind. He was a lot harder to move.
"Cut that out, you moron!" Kanda growled, before grabbing me from behind him, and eventually pinning me against my bedroom wall. My eyes were wide, and my wrists were at either side of my face where Kanda kept them in place. "You're a pain in the ass."
W-what's going on!? He wouldn't do anything… "Release me…"
"I won't."
"What the hell has gotten into you?" I asked. "I thought you didn't touch people who were cursed?" Please let me go…I'm freaking out!
"I say a lot of things."
"Please leave." This isn't you…you're too close…you shouldn't be so close to me…
"When we were traveling with Tiedoll, you asked me why I saved you during past missions."
"What of it? You said you had no idea why. I'm highly doubtful anything's changed between then and now. Release me, and get out." My heart is beating too fast…why is it throbbing like it is right now?!
Unamused, Kanda leaned forward, "I've thought a lot of it." He stated, lessening the gap between us. "I think it's safe to say, I know what you want to ask."
My breath hitched. No…he wasn't going to do anything…right?! Stop it…you're too close…wait, he isn't actually going to…?!
"I won't push it." He interrupted my internal panic. "But something happened in the Ark. That's what it's really about, isn't it?"
"W-What gives you that idea?"
"You don't act the exact same as you did before around me."
"What's it to you?!" I screamed, "You're Yu-fucking-Kanda, dammit! Since when the hell would you care about anything anyone says or thinks about you?!"
The taller figure clicked his tongue. "I don't. But even I have one or two skeletons in my closet threatening to break down the door, and reveal themselves."
I didn't understand. "W-what are you talking about?"
"What if I told you...that I—"
[Richelle? Are you there?] I heard Komui's voice call through Escuro, and I mentally thanked god for the interruption.
"I'm here, something you need, Irmão?" I was doing my best to keep my voice steady…and it wasn't helping my case when Kanda's smirked, knowing he was the cause of my current discomfort. Why was he still here?
[Yes, actually. I need you to do something for me at the Asian Branch.]
"Asian Branch? What for?"
[I'll explain when you get here, I'll see you soon~! And if you see Kanda, can you send him here too? I hadn't been able to get a hold of him.]
"Actually…he's right here." I said, grinning from ear to ear, "Shall I drag him over?"
[…are you two alone?]
"I just wanted a few things from him. Nothing of note you should worry about." My smile had darkened, the silent threat between Kanda and I was loud and clear from myself to him.
"Che. Fine, I'll be there."
[Kanda! What are you doing with Richelle?! You better have not—] I silently thanked my Golem for hanging up on the sis-con man that was Komui.
"He knows you're here. Better go see what he wants, and this never happened."
His gripped tightened on my wrists just momentarily, before releasing them. "Fine. For now. But keep in mind, this isn't over."
When he left, I felt myself slide down my wall to towards the floor. Just…what the hell was that about? Was he…but, it was Kanda! The man who didn't care about most of anyone here…what was going through his head…?
Moreover, why did it look as though he was about to kiss me? I placed my fingers over my lower lip.
. . - * - . .
About an hour later, I was arriving at Komui's office, I had to do a double-take of what I was seeing. "Lavi, why are you so small now?" I asked.
"Oh, c'mon! The science guys left stuff around, and Yu and I got doused in it!" The now child-sized Lavi stated in a voice that was officially pre-pubescent. Hold up, Kanda did? I looked around, before my eye landed on the now child-like Kanda wearing the clothes now far too big for him. I couldn't hold back the laughter at the ridiculousness of the matter.
"OI!" Kanda barked out, his voice higher than it had been. "The hell are you laughing at, stupid fox?"
"Just half an hour ago, you were tall, broody, and an ass…you look so harmless now." I wish I had kept my mouth shut, because in the next instant, I was doused in something, and things were…bigger. I blinked. "YOU ASS! WHAT THE FUCK?!" I was hugging my shirt to my form, making sure it stayed put.
Kanda grinned evilly, "Who looks harmless now, bitch?"
"That's harsh, Yu…" Lavi sweat dropped.
"Harsh?! You call that harsh? HA! I'll show you fucking harsh!" I had all intentions of beating the asshole, named Yu Kanda, an inch within his life, had it not been for Lavi who grabbed me under my arms, keeping from throttling him. Why the hell was I still smaller than Lavi in this form?! Shouldn't we be closer in size?
"What on Earth is going on…here…?" Lenalee trailed off, as she entered Komui's office. Blinking in confusion she glanced between Kanda, Lavi and myself. And the general scene that was presented to her. Weeks after the events of the hell we had at home, her hair had grown longer, almost long enough to be considered a bob-cut, though. "Oh goodness."
"Need I ask what happened?" Bookman asked taking in the scene faster than Lenalee. "Lavi, what shenanigans have you gotten into this time?" The elderly man made towards his successor.
I was released by the now-kid Lavi, who proceeded to kick something in anger, all the ready to bark out at his mentor. The item he had kicked was a bottle that promptly broke at Bookman's feet. Dust swiveled around the elderly man, and when he was revealed again, it was shown his hair had turned into two long rabbit ears.
And this was the scene that Reever Wenham, the Section Leader himself, had walked in on.
"What happened here?" Reever asked seeing us.
"He did this to me." I bluntly said, using one hand to point at the culprit.
"Are you for real, Kanda?" Reever asked.
"Che!" It didn't look like the Australian male wanted to deal with this too much longer.
"Where do you want me to put these?" Marie asked the Section Leader.
"Just put them over there." Reever said.
Sighing to myself, I decided to lean against one of the desks, already exhausted from the mini-shenanigans. Something caught my ears, and I looked around, "I hear snoring…" I realized, before looking in the direction I was hearing it. Allen had fallen asleep, though I hadn't realized he was even there before. His sleeping form leaning against a stack of books that looked like they were ready to fall over.
I saw that Timcanpy was frantically trying to keep the stack from falling over, but to no avail. Looking up, I saw a weird bottle with a picture of a man with fancy-looking hair.
"H-Hey! Dummy! Allen, wake up!" Reever shouted. The shout startled the younger male, and the books fell to the floor, along the bottle that broke in close proximity to him…and apparently me.
I was coughing at that point, the smell wasn't really ideal. "Huh…?" What was tickling my arms right now? Hair?
"AHH!" I looked to the frantic male, seeing that his short hair was now as long as Kanda's.
"Hey, isn't this the hair tonic Komui gave Bak for his birthday?" Johnny asked, picking up the bottle as he came over to investigate.
"Hair tonic?" I asked, brushing my bangs out of my face. "How did I get caught up in this and the chibi stuff?" Dammit, I needed a hair tie now…
"Well, you pissed off Yu." Lavi pointed out. "And now you're one of us~! One of us~! One of—!"
"Can it, Lavi." I hissed.
For once, he seemed to realize the protentional danger, and quickly pointed at the Science division in general. "YOU STUPID SCIENCE GUYS MAKE TOO MUCH WEIRD SHIT!" Lavi exclaimed in utter annoyance.
"Thank god I got lucky…" Allen sighed.
"Does that make me half lucky?" I asked.
The Japanese male snorted, "You're pint-sized enough for it."
"Shuddup, JerKanda! Who the hell even asked you?"
"My hair turned into bunny ears…" Bookman whimpered? If that was the right word to use.
"Admit it!" Kanda hissed, glaring at Reever, "you don't work at all. You just fool around!"
"What should we do about their clothes?" Lenalee asked Marie.
"I think they can wear Bookman's…"
(* - *)
To be honest, HQ was actually in the process of moving when all these tomfooleries were going on. I adjusted my borrowed clothes, which were still a little big on me, but at least they wouldn't fall off my form. Thank god for that one.
The moving notice was received only two days ago, and apparently, it was because of the damage caused by Lulu Bell. Central had decided they should abandon the tower we were using for the last hundred years. I didn't really blame them for the decision…there was far too much damage, and very little resources to fix everything to its former glory.
Not to mention…the enemy knew where our base of operations even was, thus it was too dangerous to so much as continue to do anything there. Yeah, I would definitely miss this place, but I supposed a change of scenery was the biggest breath of fresh air we could ever use.
"You sure you still don't mind going off to do this, Richie?" Reever asked me, having kneeled down so we were face-to-face.
"I don't mind." I said with conviction. "Besides, I hadn't visited them in a while, and maybe they'll have something to get everyone back to normal faster."
"Alright then. Make sure Bak gets these files."
"Not a problem, Section Leader!" I said with a salute. "You can count on me! Scold Komui for me when you find him, by the way."
"Don't worry. I will." Said the annoyed man. "Safe journeys, Richelle."
I nodded, taking the files offered, and made my way to the Ark Gate. As I walked, I saw Allen holding a box, complaining to Link about not waking him up.
"He's right you know." I said, as I walked by. "Simply by not waking him up, you've only made your job harder."
From the corner of my eye, Link's form stiffened, and I smiled innocently. "Now just a minute—!"
"It's half your fault~"
"Linhagem, do you not have something better to do?"
"I have papers to deliver."
"So, you have the role of the delivery boy."
I stopped in my tracks, and sighed. "You do know I'm a female. If you're hanging around Allen, you should know that."
The German male blushed slightly, clearing his throat. "Of course."
Allen was laughing in the background, and the watchdog/stalker glared at his charge. "Maybe you should be off, Richie."
"Yeah, yeah. See ya around, Shortcake!" I said, as I rushed off.
"I'm way taller than you right now!" Allen called back as I turned the corner.
. . - * - . .
"These aren't too easy to hold at this height…" I muttered, shifting the folders in my tiny arms. "Too bad you don't have any arms, Escuro."
My Golem flew around my head, before resting on my shoulder. I smiled.
"I guess you wouldn't be too helpful in that aspect, huh?" I asked. "Way too tiny."
I laughed when I felt a wing nudge my cheek.
"Oh, come on, you're more helpful than you — what the…? Who turned the lights off?" I had, at that point made it to the Ark Gate's entry when everything around me turned completely dark. I felt chills race down my spine, but shook my head. "Let's hurry up and get over there, okay?"
Escuro seemed more than happy to oblige.
. . - * - . .
"Oh my, gosh! You look so cute!" Lofwa gushed when I entered the Asian Branch's' Science Division.
"What happened to you?" Rikei asked, having taken notice of Lofwa's apparent distraction. I shifted the papers in my arms, and sighed.
"There was a little mishap back home." I admitted. "We're getting ready to move, and all these weird potions were lying around. Kanda and Lavi were hit with the one that turned them tiny…and then after teasing him, Kanda dumped what was left of that bottle onto me.
"Your hair is pretty long though." Shifu pointed out, putting down his pen in favor of joining our conversation. "Did that have anything to do with the concoction too?"
"Actually, this one happened after I got shrunk to a child." I corrected, "I was too close to Allen who was sleeping against a stack of books…a hair tonic fell on us, and we both ended up getting longer hair…so really, I got two mishaps in the same hour."
"I think you look lovely with long hair." Rikei said smiling. "But I have to ask…shouldn't you have 'seen' any of that coming?"
"When it comes to everyone else? Yes. To me? No. My eye doesn't work that way." I felt as though I was explaining my eye's function a lot lately… "Where's Bak right now?"
"Should be in his office." Lofwa answered, "Do you need to be led there?"
"It's a pretty big place," I pointed out. "And I'm not entirely familiar with everything here…so, a guide would be helpful."
"You three have work to do! Get back to it, and leave that kid alone!" Someone called out, annoyed that work wasn't being done when it was.
"Hey JiJi." I greeted the long blonde head of hair. He looked a little confused that a 'kid' knew who he was, before he took a second look…realizing who it was addressing him.
"Richie! Long time no see!" He said, grinning. "What happened, though? Last I saw ya, you were fourteen…you're tiny."
"Long story." I sighed, unwilling to repeat the same story another time. "If these three are busy, would you be willing to take me to Bak's office?"
"Not a problem." Jiji said, as he started to walk. I had to run a little to keep up with him. "Besides the obvious, how's everyone doing over at the Main Branch?"
"Mm, same old same old. Mayhem ensues, and I still don't get along with that prick. I'm gonna miss that old tower when we move house."
"That building has housed a hundred years' worth of Exorcists." Jiji mused, fixing his darkened glasses, "It'll be sad to see it go."
I nodded. There were people who had been there longer than I have, but even so, it had been home to everyone, regardless how long they were there for. The place we could always return to and reunite with those we called family. Even if its beginnings were more than a little sketchy.
"We're here, Richie." Jiji told me, knocking on the door to the Branch Head's office. "Bak, Richie's here to see you."
"Come in." Bak called, and the door slid open. I was greeted to a dark room with screens all over the walls. Bak sat at his desk, working on some papers, when I entered.
"Hey Bak." I called, confusing the man when he looked up, and not immediately seeing me. "Down here."
He stood, looking over his desk to find me, and when he did, the look on his face was very surprised. "Do I wish to know?"
"Komui."
"Fair enough. What brings you here?" He asked, as he stepped from around his desk, and kneeled down so we could see eye to eye.
"Komui wanted to give you these papers." I told him. "I guess you're exchanging notes about something?"
"We're studying the Ark, actually." Bak said, taking the folders from my smaller arms. "There are so many more questions then there are answers, but I think we're getting somewhere. Perhaps."
"What do you know so far?"
"Well, it's apparent that the inside of the Ark exists in its own plane of existence, though how is beyond us right now." I nodded, understanding. "We have yet to figure out how it's able to connect to different places, but I'm sure it'll come to us in time."
"Sounds like you really are planning on using this for future missions."
"Indeed~! The great me wouldn't let such an idea go to waste, after all~!"
"Think you can use your greatness to grow me back to my normal height and age?" I joked.
"Actually, if that's the potion I think it is…that one might actually wear off on its own." He eyed my hair skeptically, "That wouldn't happen to have been the tonic Komui tried giving me for my birthday a couple of years ago would it?"
"Fancy muscle-like dude with fancy hair on the bottle?"
"Yes."
"Yup. It's that one."
"That one you'll need to wait a day for…" Bak grumbled, seeming annoyed by a certain memory. "After that, you can cut it to your preferred length without it growing rapidly back."
"Why hair tonic?"
"Because that man is cruel, and inhuman." Was the only thing I got from the Asian Branch Supervisor; I decided not to push any further. "I suppose you have to head back now. I'm pretty sure you might be needed back to help with moving."
I nodded, turning to head back. "By the way, I hadn't seen Mr. Wong, what's he been up to?"
"I have him running a few errands around the Branch." Bak said. "Hurry along, Richie."
I nodded and headed back towards home.
... ... ... ...
I had to make a last minute edit to this chapter...but it was an easy fix, so~ Yay! xD
This chapter was actually fun to write out. Originally, I didn't even plan on Ri-chan getting a double whammy with the potions in Komui's office. (Fun fact) But, Kanda just had to be Kanda (in a more child-ish manner, at that) and chibi-fied Richie with whatever was left in the vial...and no, that wasn't the last-minute edit.
As much as I might need it, R&R doesn't stand for Rest and Relaxation. Leave a review and lemme know how I'm doing~! Favorite this work to show it some love, and don't forget to follow this story so you never miss a new chapter when it goes live!