Chapter Thirty-Seven:

~Tyki~

As part of the welcome party for the exorcists, the Earl went so far as to call every single akuma in Japan to Edo. But I must say, the sight was mildly impressive though a little disturbing… even I was unaware of the true productivity of the Earl.

Though at present, I was promptly ignoring the jeering remarks of the twins still mocking me for my failed attempt at killing shojo. Instead I preoccupied myself with the magnificent view from the top of the castle roof and thoughts about the white-haired exorcist.

'Tyki-pon~ I am willing to give you another chance but as for you three… please do not fail me again~!' The Earl hummed pleasantly and despite my back being turned on the pompous man, I knew his expression did not match his tone in the slightest.

'Y-yes, Lord Millennium…' were the meek replies from Skin and the twins. I sighed heavily and glanced at the nearest akuma.

'Oi akuma, head to China and retrieve the person known as Allen Walker,' I ordered as the level three separated from the gathering crowd of akuma and bowed polite.

'Yes Lord Noah,' it murmured as I allowed a single tease to show it the way. With some hope, shojo will be brought back alive though in what state would depend on whether she managed to get her innocence restored. With everything set, the akuma slipped onto the Ark and I ruffled through my pockets for my cigarettes.

'Hey Earl, when do you think the exorcists will show up, heh~' Jasdero snickered as I found my tobacco and gently bit down on one of the sticks. Next I needed to find my matches…

'Hmm, that truly depends on them really~ I've prepared for their entrance regardless of when it happens~' I grunted at the Earl's philosophy just as I found a match and quickly lit my cigarette. Inhaling deeply, I rested my hand lightly on my knee.

'Make a scene then,' I somewhat offered hoping it didn't sound so much like a challenged. Glancing at the Earl though, it seemed like he did by the unsettling glint in his golden eyes.

'What a wonderful suggestion Tyki-pon~ we do still have two Generals to find and that'll easily draw out those detestable vermin~' The Earl brandished Lero with an elegant flourish before pointing it forward.

'Then go my darling akuma, find the exorcist Generals~!' Almost instantly a pillaring tower of flames burst through the roof of one of the distant houses. From my brief glimpse, it looked to be some sort of snake before it charged towards us. I was up in a flash jumping from the rooftop with Skin and the twins not far behind. The Earl however didn't seem fazed, in fact he allowed the thing to swallow him whole!

We each landed on the shoulders of a level three akuma and gazed at the swirling flames that had engulfed the Earl.

'AH, the Earl got eaten!' Devit gasped in shock but I rolled my eyes at him. Meanwhile, the Earl quickly destroyed the fire snake and floated back down onto the castle roof looking more annoyed than hurt.

'Hmph~ that wasn't even on par of a General… looks like we've found the intrusive rats~' The Earl huffed arrogantly. I couldn't help but agree with him as I gazed at the small group gathered on the distant rooftop. I easily spied the redhead kid, the vampire-looking fellow and shojo's pretty friend and then a few others I didn't recognize.

There was a brief exchange of glares before the redhead rushed forward, dashing across the rooftops towards us. I smirked at his rashness and stepped off the akuma I stood on.

'I got this one Earl,' I muttered quickly as I fell towards the exorcist. Summoning a tease into my hand, I morphed into a blade and attacked him front on. My appearance caught the exorcist off guard but his surprise was replaced with renewed hatred.

'You!' I raised my eyebrows in amusement.

'Do I know you?' I asked ignorantly as the redhead mustered the foulest stare he could give me. Must have hit a nerve somehow.

'I know who you are! You're the bastard that killed Allen!' I couldn't stop the frown that appeared on my face. There was something in his tone that was unnerving, the way he spoke shojo's name.

'Oh, so you were friends with her?' Playing ignorance was becoming increasingly difficult for me. I wanted to tear this young man apart, relish in his screams but I was stopped from doing this by a single thought.

Why…?

'I'll make you pay for taking her away from us!' He yelled in my face and I roughly pushed him away, laughing. The suddenness of my action caused the exorcist to stumble back, gripping his hammer tightly.

'Whoops, sorry about that but I have something interesting to tell you, Mister eye-patch…' I sneered and spat out the butt of my cigarette. The redhead gritted his teeth, his single green eye conflicted about hearing me out or attacking me. But I continued regardless of his feelings.

'Shojo's still alive but you know, I sent an akuma to fetch her so… let me ask you this. Do you think you'll survive long enough to see her again?' For some odd reason I was feeling strangely anxious when I said this but I brushed it aside and mused over the redhead's reaction instead.

'We'll make sure that we're the only ones to greet her when she arrives,' the exorcist declared and I bit back the urge to growl. I felt irritated though I wasn't sure if it was his words or the stalling of the fight. But I quickly disguised my confliction with pure amusement.

'I suppose we will see about that,' I murmured as the exorcist raised his hammer above his head. I watched, as the head grew several times larger in a matter of seconds. Then the redhead tried to bring it down on top of me and I simply phased through the roof.

I reappeared on the roof of another house and let out a low whistle.

'Impressive but good luck trying to hit me,' I sniggered and rage flared in his green eye. He raised the hammer above his head.

'Oh yeah, try and dodge this… innocence level two activate, thundering lightning whirling in the skies!' Something shot into the sky and booming cackle of lightning danced high above our heads. It really was a neat trick as I slipped back into the roof just as the electric bolts thundered down in a barrage of strikes.

'You are going to have to do much better than that, mister eye-patch,' I muttered as I appeared behind him. He didn't have much time to react as I kicked him into the rubble that remained from his attack. The exorcist got up again looking more than determined to win. I sighed haggardly as I summoned a large cloud of tease.

'Well this'll be troublesome…'

….

Heh heh~ got another chapter done in record time… had it half done last night but waited for today to finish it! Though I wouldn't know how long I'll keep rolling like this but its nice to know that I'm finally getting somewhere after dealing with a bout of writer's block… how annoying…

Anyway, hopefully you are all enjoying this, well of course you are or else this story wouldn't have… what… 112 or something followers so thank you and please leave a review!