Ah...such a long time! I'm sorry! *sheepish smile* I was really busy you see...but read and review anyway. Something happens this chapter.
The mission to China was simple. It was a quick mission, and the AKUMA placed there to guard the innocence was no match for a general or a Bookman. It was an easy mission, really, that was obviously supposed to be for a weaker exorcist.
Not a general or a highly talented Bookman.
Which prompted the question of why they were given the mission in the first place. Lenalee wasn't giving anything and Lavi already knew why but refused to bring it up. What mattered most was that they were going to visit the Asian Branch.
"So, Lena, are you excited?" Lavi turned away from the train window, "We finally get to see Johnny for the first time since Christmas!" He beamed, but when Lenalee smiled back he noticed it didn't reach her eyes.
She was trying to be happy though, he noticed, she really was. Although the Order had gotten quite sad and quiet over the past year, they were at least trying now. That was more than he could say for a few months ago, when there seemed to be little hope.
And Lenalee...she was healing, slowly.
And me?
Lavi fought down the bitter smirk, Well I supposedly never cared in the first place.
Lenalee grabbed his sleeve tightly, "I am…! We haven't heard from each other in months, and I missed Johnny and Bak." She playing with the hem of her short skirt before folding her hands placidly in her lap, "...it's nice to get away from that place anyway,"
Over time, the Order turned from a home back into a prison.
But hey, life moves on, and life was certainly moving on without Allen.
Lavi nodded, "That's right, you gave Tim to Johnny right?"
"Yeah, for Timcanpy sake, but look!" Lenalee pointed as the train came to a stop. At the end of the village was the cliff the Order was on. They'd be able to walk there and since both could speak Mandarin it wouldn't be hard to stop for a break.
Lavi grinned, "we're here." But both couldn't stop the dark feeling in their chests. Something was wrong.
~insertlinebreaks~
There had been no tests today. Actually Allen hadn't been allowed out of his room. There were going to be visitors, and Lou Fa and Johnny stressed how important it was that they absolutely didn't see him.
He wondered why, but didn't think on it. A day without tests was a blessing, and having his room stocked with snacks and food was a great thing. Since he woke up, Allen hadn't done much other than read and play in his room.
Timcanpy seemed antsy though, and the little Golem kept zipping in and out of his room. Allen didn't bother with telling him to stay, because what good would that do?
Allen stared up at the ceiling, laying on his back on the ground. For the moment, Timcanpy rested on his chest playing that lullaby to him. The lullaby that felt so familiar, almost as if he knew it.
"I'll never cease to pray…" Allen sang softly, pulling Timcanpy's cheeks apart. The little golem looked upset by this, but didn't stop playing the lullaby to him. Something was bothering Timcanpy.
He didn't know if Golems even had feelings but Tim...Tim was different. Other than at night, Timcanpy only played that lullaby went it seemed he was worried. And today had been so strange, with the lack of tests and the Order to stay in his room
Very faintly he heard talking.
"Johnny...hi…!"
"Lena...Lav...how're you?"
"Where's...Lou..Timcanpy?"
At the mention of his name, Timcanpy zipped out of the room. Allen jumped up, his eyes widening. Since the visitors were finally here, he didn't think that Timcanpy should be outside as well. Lou Fa had locked him and Tim inside. Well, not really locked, but she stressed that they should not come out.
"Tim no-"
Allen raced out of his room after him, intent in finding Timcanpy and going back into his room. He expected to get caught by a few Finders along the way, he did not expect to run fact first into another body.
"Oh! I'm so sorry…!" Allen bowed hastily and moved to keep going, but a hand latched onto his sleeve. He looked up slowly, confused. It was probably another Finder ready to scold him for disobeying the scientists. Allen never really paid attention to the Finders, so it was natural that he didn't recognize this one.
He bowed respectfully again, smiling apologetically. He really hadn't meant to get caught, "I'm sorry, Tim flew away and-"
"Tim? As in Timcanpy?" He questioned, green eye narrowing.
"Yea, he flew away although Professor Johnny told us to stay in my room and-". Allen paused, "You're not a Finder are you?" He asked, tugging at the redhead's sleeve. Allen took a step back, "Actually, I've never seen that uniform before."
He beamed, "Are you an exorcist?" From what Johnny had explained, exorcists had separate uniforms from normal workers. Since he didn't recognize the others' uniform he naturally assumed that it was the exorcist uniform.
"...Yeah. I'm Lavi."
There was another voice, "Lavi why weren't you walking with us?" Allen looked up to see another girl. She was wearing the exorcist uniform as well, and she stopped beside Lavi to rap him on the head with her knuckles, "You were supposed to keep up with us." She scolded.
And that's when her eyes caught Allen's-and Lenalee's heart stopped. She was no stranger to the second exorcist people. When she saw it she could recognize it immediately. After all Kanda, who she counted as her brother, was a victim of it.
But I never thought…
Ah, how cruel life could be.
"Who…" She breathed, "Who are you?" Although she already knew, although tears were already escaping. Really, she thought better of the Order. After all that happened, after all the pain they put them through, she actually thought they learned their lesson.
Then again…
That was my mistake...right?
"Professor Johnny calls me Allen, Allen Walker!" Allen bowed, just as he saw Johnny and Lou Fa walking towards them, "Ah, Professor Johnny!"
What was once a prison, will always turn back into a prison.
Lenalee kept looking down, trying to control herself.
I had always felt that the Order was too dark. When Allen was here, it became easier.
It wasn't fair.
When Allen passed away, we only prayed for his salvation and promised to continue praying for this war's end. But...it was really too much to ask for?
"Lenalee-" She heard Johnny, felt his pain, but couldn't stop her hand from flying through the air.
Slap…!
It made contact with a resounding sound and the only sound after was Allen's frightened shout.
Lavi, who had grasped onto Allen, tried to call out, "Lenalee…"
"How could you?" She whispered, "We trusted you…Allen trusted you!" She covered her eyes with her palms, "After all the times he risked his life and after he died when he could've just joined the Noah...you helped them do this!"
Johnny looked down, "I didn't…"
I guess we're all selfish at some points in our life though. It's something we can't help, no matter what.
Lenalee recoiled as Johnny reached on for her, "How could you be so heartless? So, so evil-" Lenalee caught herself off, her eyes widening. Did she really almost…?
But in reality, that selfishness is all we really have in this war.
"I'm sorry...that wasn't fair of me." Lenalee sniffled. She knew the true evil in this world, and Johnny wasn't it.
"No...it was...a year ago I was given the choice to either serve in the project and move to the Asian Branch or let random scientists from the North American branch do it. After seeing it was Allen I accepted…"
Lavi crossed his arms, "So I was right."
"About what?" Johnny asked.
"About a year ago my master forbid me from leaving the European Branch. I thought there was some secrecy around here so I personally looked into it. When central and my master found out I was snooping I was forbid from accessing the files. Strange, for a Bookman heir, even more strange since I was doing my job in the first place."
Lenalee's eyes widened, "they hid this project from you?"
"Yeah," Lavi finally looked down to Allen, who stood confused and scared. Timcanpy had finally returned, fluttering around Lenalee's head. Allen held out his hand.
"Come, Tim." The golem flew over and rested on Allen's head, "What's going on?" Allen asked.
Johnny sighed, "It's time for bed Allen. C'mon, you have the tests tomorrow."
Allen forced a smile at the mention of the tests he hated so much, "right, the tests."
~insertlinebreaks~
The tests the next day started as usual, except Lenalee and Lavi were watching. Allen didn't know why he made them so sad, but he knew that they were.
[Again, Allen.]
Allen screamed again, trying not to cry.
But then again...I've been sad too, right?
He tried not to let it show as much as possible, because Lou Fa and Johnny were always worried. It was hard though, especially when he hated the tests so much. And at times like this, the Order just felt like a prison.
Prisons are meant to keep people in, and Allen's never even seen the sky. He was promised that someday he would, but he doubted it. Allen was sure the tests would destroy him before that happened,
And it hurt to be so negative, but being positive was hard when he was constantly brittle and in pain.
And I hated seeing those two people so sad, I hate seeing Professor Lou Fa and Johnny so sad,
Actually…
I hate being so sad too….
Allen felt like that if he could erase all the sorrows from the world, all the regret he could make the world so much happier. That was his goal-and that's what he was training to do, right?
With my innocence...and as an exorcist I have the power to make people happy.
I think that's a good reason to live, even if I want to die.
Allen felt warm, "I feel strange….."
[Something's off!]
He felt that he could save everybody from being sad if he tried hard enough, because the only thing worse than pain was sorrow.
I...I think that I can save people...no matter who they are.
He felt a flurry of emotions, almost like something was telling him something. His innocence, Crowned Clown, was glowing green. It felt warm, and safe. He was so glad it wasn't hurting him.
"Crowned...Clown?"
There was an explosion.
"Allen…!"
~insertlinebreak~
"I'm telling Kanda. I'm taking him as my apprentice."
"No don't."
"Big brother...?"
"I have a much better candidate in mind."