Death of a Noah
Skin Bolic, the Noah of Wrath, killed by Kanda Yuu in the ark before he became a general.
Fiidora, the Noah of Corrosion, killed by General Winters Sokaro and Klaud Nyne.
Jasdevi, the Noah of Bonds, killed by General Allen Walker and Lenalee Lee.
Road Kamelot, The Noah of Dreams, killed by General Kanda Yuu with the aid of Ian, Bookman apprentice and exorcist.
"It will take two weeks for you to be able to use your leg and arm normally again," says Gen. "You'll be needing this."
He hands her two crutches. She takes them and tries to stand up. Her attempts lead to her nearly falling down. Her broken arm is useless in using one of the crutches.
"Oops, it will be kind of hard with your arm injury. I guess you need someone to help you," says Gen hitting his head slightly for his lack of foresight.
He should have seen that problem as Lia might have but she still tried anyway because she didn't want to just sit around.
"You'll help her then, Gen," says the general.
"Um, yeah. Sure," he answers but it can be seen that he is a bit hesitant since he'd rather do something else.
"I'm fine," Lia says trying again. She manages to move a few steps at the cost of hurting her arm.
"Make that three weeks for your arm if you're this stubborn," he says.
"Sit down for now, Ian," says the general.
Lia sits down reluctantly on the nearest chair with the help of Gen.
"It's difficult to kill a Noah yet Road died," Klaud starts. "The first one to have killed a Noah was Kanda Yuu. He killed Skin Bolic, the previous Noah of Wrath. Fiidora was killed by Sokaro and myself. The twins, Jasdevi were killed by Allen Walker with the help of Lenalee Lee. The fifth Noah to be killed is Road. Kanda Yuu killed a Noah for the second time with the aid of his student who is also a Bookman apprentice. How did you do it? Road is a different case being the eldest of the Noah and supposedly the hardest to kill."
"I don't know the answer to that. I didn't do anything," she replies.
"I doubt you're a traitor since the Noah are keen on having you killed. I won't ask you any further but don't expect that from the council. I'll be leaving the two of you behind. Bookman told me that he needs you in the next town. Jairo is already there waiting for you. I'll have Gen come with you due to your injuries and the target on your head. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," they both reply.
Just Friends
As General Klaud leaves, they walk towards the train station. It has taken a longer time due to Lia's injuries but they get there in time seconds before the train leaves.
"Hey, Ian. I've never really talked to you. Can I ask questions?" asks Gen.
She nods.
"I heard you dressed up as a boy before when you came to the order. Is that true?"
She nods.
"Why?" It seems odd for Gen that a girl would dress up as a boy. It would seem odd for anyone.
"People still treat women differently. There are biases," she says as if her answer is so obvious.
"I noticed you're always with that boy, Zee. Are you together or something?"
Rumors had been going around and she was confronted by Bookman.
Word spread around that maybe she and Eeez are together but they were just friends.
Bookman didn't like Eeez and Lia's friendship with him.
"It's nothing more than anything, Bookman."
"Interaction is fine but yours go deeper than it should," the old man says in a warning tone.
"I can't just stop being friends with him. People will be suspicious."
"Lessen your interactions. Don't get too attached. When he dies, what will you do?"
"Nothing but write it on the paper."
"Keep it that way."
"Yes, Bookman."
She shakes her head.
"Then why?" Why would they be together almost all the time and seem so close?
"We were partners before I became an exorcist."
"He's just a friend then?" he says.
"Why do you ask such questions?"
"Nothing. There were rumors."
"They're not true."
"Thank you by the way," he says.
"For what?"
"Killing Road."
"It was General Kanda who killed her."
"I'm still thanking you. Odette is my friend but she hardly recognizes any of us anymore after what Road did to her."
"We're here," she gets up from her seat with Gen's help. They get off the train and see Jairo at the exit.
"How long?" Jairo simply asks.
"Two weeks," she replies.
"We won't be walking much on this one, just deciphering stuff and transcribing. The old man who was doing the job died. He's been taken care of. We're just continuing the job since we're near," Jairo starts talking in a tongue Gen can't understand.
Lia nods and they start walking towards the house. It consists of two stories where a shop was upfront. There's a basement where the old man kept the records but they didn't go there yet.
"Thanks for your help, Gen. You can leave us here," Jairo says.
"I'm staying. General's orders. She's currently a target of the enemy."
"Stay upstairs then," says Jairo.
"Okay."
In the basement, the two organize the piles of parchments and bundles of scrolls.
"Bookman is sending you back to the clan supposedly," Jairo says. "But you're injured."
"Why?" she asks.
"We need these there and Bookman himself doesn't like what's happening at the order. He doesn't particular like you as he doesn't really like anyone but you're noticed too much. You're affecting the records."
"The order won't let me leave, not while I'm an exorcist. There's a chance I might fall too."
"He planned on sending you there only temporarily but that plan looks postponed. You'll be better in two weeks? You can't exactly travel the seas, desert, mountain and forest like that."
"I'll be better," she says determined.
"Let's finish these then."
Lia leaves the town with Gen after three days working with Jairo. Jairo is left behind to await information from the messenger who will leave with him to transport the records. Lia will still return to the clan after two weeks but due to different reasons.
There are akuma who show up again trying to kill her. Gen kills them since it is difficult for her to make use of her weapon.
As they reach headquarters, more akuma appear trying to kill her. Gen deals with them as she is brought to the infirmary for her wounds to be rechecked.
"You put pressure on it when you shouldn't have. It will still take two more weeks until you can walk easily on that leg," the nurse says. "Stay here for the night. I'd tell you a week but you can walk just fine with a little help. Just call for anyone if you need to go somewhere in case you suddenly fall."
She nods and lies back to sleep.
The council would have assigned another inspector to keep watch on Lia but they don't have enough people who are women for that at the moment in the headquarters. They assign a woman since a man won't be able to enter certain rooms.
Temporarily, they assign a woman in her early twenties. She's simply a secretary unlike the previous inspector who had credentials and the knowledge on how to properly observe a suspected individual.
She stands at the corner with a notebook and pen observing the young girl at the desk working on records. She stands so quietly, no one will really take notice. It's as if she isn't even there.
"Zee," Lia acknowledges the young man who enters the library as she works.
"Does it hurt still?" he asks taking the seat across her.
The two talk in the young man's native tongue. The woman is at a loss on how she will report what the two talk about since she can't understand them. She leaves the room to make a call and ask what she should do.
"A little," Lia answers.
"You're leaving when you're healed," he says not asking.
"Yes," she dips the pen in ink.
"What happened? I only heard a little," he takes a piece of parchment and pen.
"They're after me and Kanda-sensei," she says as she starts writing on the blank sheet.
"Why didn't he kill you then?" he dips his own pen in ink.
"He wanted to hurt me bit by bit until I die. It's working though since I can't defend myself properly with a broken arm and leg. It's a good thing I learned to write on the other hand. It would have been really difficult."
"Do you want to see him?"
"You miss him too. It has been long."
The woman returns with instructions to record the conversation with a golem but it seems she is too late since the young man has already left the room. She doesn't know that the conversation was continued in the parchment the lad had written on and left with Lia. The young girl keeps it folded in her pocket to read later in her room when she is alone.
The weeks pass by quickly. The only rooms Lia went to are the cafeteria, the library, training room and her own. The woman following her has helped her around but can't seem to do the job properly since she often leaves the room to ask for further instructions.
The council can't pin the death of the inspector on Lia since she has been a target herself and injured quite badly limiting her movements. The general and other exorcist gave their statements that it was the Noah that killed the inspector.
There were also reports on the attacks of akuma specifically with Lia as the target. They still don't trust her though even if the probability of her being on the side of the enemy has decreased.
Eeez talks with her sometimes but the woman only got the impression that the two are close friends if not more than friends. The woman didn't bother recording the conversation after a few meetings seeing as they talk mostly only about trivial things.
The crutches are put away along with the bandages. Lia prepares her few things to head back to the clan. She will be working there for a few months as Jairo will return. She will be alone since the order can't follow her back to the clan. She leaves her golem behind but brings the innocence with her.
Lia heads to the clan while Eeez goes on a mission with General Kanda in the same direction. They travel together for a day. She takes a different path the next morning. She doesn't head straight to headquarters though.
She takes a detour as expected. She changes clothes and wears a disguise. She enters an inn and checks in with a different name. She uses a different language and accent. She acts like a typical traveler not catching any particular attention. An hour later, she walks the streets to enter a cafe.
She joins the young man sitting in a corner. A waiter approaches them and takes their order.
"What will the young lady have?"
"A cup of coffee please," she replies.
"I'll have the same," the young man replies.
The man leaves then returns with two cups of coffee. He places it on the table with a little piece of paper hidden beneath the cup.
"Thank you," she says.
The young man nods with thanks as the older man returns to the counter.
Lia exits the cafe with the young man hand in hand. The two act like lovers but really, they're more like siblings. They enter an inn different from the one Lia had checked in. Eeez asks for the room key with the number on the piece of paper.
"Here is the key for room nine. Please enjoy your stay."
The young man nods with thanks as he and Lia goes up the stairs to the second floor. They take a right then enter the third door.
Eeez opens the door with the key. The two enter the room with the young man locking the door behind them.
The room has two beds, a couch, a table and two chairs. The room reeks of smoke from a cigarette that is already trashed on the tray.
"So how are the little ones," the man sitting on the couch asks. "I heard you were injured, Menina."
"I've recovered, Tyki."
"And Eeez, how are you?"
"I'm fine," the younger answers.
"Care to tell a story of your adventures?" the older man asks.
"Why don't you tell a story, Tyki? We usually do the telling," the young girl replies.
"But that was the deal we made years ago when you were a little girl," the older man replies amused.
"You still treat me as a little girl even when I'm almost sixteen."
"It's near, isn't it?" he says smiling.
"In two weeks," the young man replies.
"So you tell us a story, Tyki."
"For the birthday girl, what indeed should I tell?"
"How is he, Tyki?"
"He's fine, menina."
"Oh, okay. So what have you been doing?"
As night falls, the three settle down to sleep. Lia and Eeez take a bed each while Tyki sleeps on the couch. It is already late when they finished their last card game. Tyki would have drunk if only the two weren't minors.
Nearing sleep, Tyki feels a nudge to his shoulder.
"Tyki," the young girl calls out to him.
"A nightmare?" he asks in a teasing tone.
"No. Come with me for a second. I need to talk to you about something."
"Fine," he slowly gets up from the couch and follows her out the room. They walk to the vacant room next to them. The lock has probably been picked by the young girl if she hasn't paid for the room.
"Destroy it," she says after locking the door behind her.
"Destroy what. menina? You are acting strange."
"This weapon. I don't need it."
"And why should I do that?"
"It is in the instincts of a Noah to destroy the innocence."
"I won't destroy it."
"Why? You know I'll fall sooner or later. With this innocence, I should try to kill you yet I don't."
"I won't."
"Why?"
"Cause Permhead promised not to. I figured you would ask that," says a familiar voice in the shadows.
"Thought you weren't supposed to meet, Eyepatch-kun," Tyki sits on the couch.
"I can't always leave my little girl alone."
"Ne, old man. Why are you here?"
"You're almost sixteen now. Happy Birthday."
"How come you didn't come to my previous birthdays."
"I was busy."
"Happy Birthday."
"Huh?"
"I missed out on your birthdays too."
"So, why did Eyepatch-kun show up?" asks Tyki.
"I wanted to see you, Lia. You're growing up so fast. You were just a little girl," the red head holds the young girl in a tight hug with exaggerated drama acting like an old man.
"I think I'll be going," Tyki excuses himself and leaves the room.
"So why are you really here, Lavi? We weren't supposed to meet. Not yet."
"Your assignment's almost done. You'll leave the order in half a year."
"Is the war almost done?"
"Unlikely. This war will start again even if they kill each other now. If they don't destroy both innocence and dark matter altogether, it won't end."
"A record is still a record."
"But we will be working on something else when you leave them. It has become a dangerous place. The clan knows I'm alive and I'm starting the preparations for a new record. It's not the same as your current one but a record is still a record."
"We won't be working separately this time?"
"No. We'll be together on your next record. Be careful until then."
"You too."
Be careful.
Ezekeel: It took longer than expected but here's the latest chapter. Do tell me what you think of it. Thanks for reading.
Ern Estine 13624 and Samansa-chan147 - Thanks again. So happy to hear from you guys. :D
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Edited: Sunday, August 3, 2014