"To remember is to never forget. Memories are an idea of time frozen as long as it is remembered. So never forget, because time is always changing. However, memories remain."
UglyDuckling101
An array of open books and spare pages of blank paper, Lavi Bookman was occupied putting ink to paper. He was in his own head space, having had a considerable amount of time to perfect the task. When Bookman gave an assignment, his deadline wasn't negotiable. Updating records wasn't the most interesting job the bookman in training had been given, but it needed done. It was of crucial importance. Upon completing his records of the current events, Lavi would bring the papers to the old man, and then the rest would be left to his mentor. Before Bookman left his apprentice to his work, he parted with his usual warning: "Remember. Recording the truest history and doing so unbiasedly is our objective." And then he would leave.
As of late, The old man had made a point to remind the younger of this often. It was evident the doubt the boy's mentor had for his young apprentice. Lavi himself had began to doubt himself in his ability to remain unbiased and indifferent to the history in which they as bookmen were in charge of archiving. He had made significant progress in the little time he had already been working, and allowed himself to take notice of those in the library with him. Johnny was scanning a book shelf in the science section, while Miranda appeared content to sit at a table across the room by herself, seeming to be enjoying her choice of book.
"Are you busy?" Lavi heard the question, placing the voice to person instantly. Lavi cracked a small smile, stunned by his lack of awareness.
"If you asked the old panda, yes, I'm swamped. But I'm never too busy for you Allen." Allen returned the smile, however his looked more somber. Lavi imagined he probably looked the same. He wasn't his usual hyped, festive self. His line of work didn't encourage this and by himself, lavi had found he couldn't muster the pseudo-excitement. Allen pulled out the chair close to his friend and eagerly sat. If Lavi Bookman Jr had to guess what the other was feeling, he would have had to say 'relief.' The content expression that had taken Allen's face conveyed a more relaxed mood now.
"What brings you to the library?" Lavi asked. He enjoyed the break and the company. The exorcist laughed at the truth he realized was in fact the reason he was here.
"Honestly, I wondered long enough I found my way here. I figured Link wouldn't look here first." Link's whereabouts hadn't crossed the redhead's mind until Allen mentioned the inspector by name. Lavi attempted to make a joke of the game of hide and seek:
"How did you manage to lose him? The inspector is like your own personal stalker." The bot shrugged his shoulders in response, chuckling at the other's humor. Allen responded with some humor himself:
"Tim's doing the hard work really, not me. Let's just say Link is on a wild goose chase with Timcanpy throwing him off my trail. I'll let him win eventually. It's even better when he finds me in the room as if I never left. Pisses him off to no end." Allen and Lavi shared amusement in the man's frustration in keeping track of his charge.
"I have an idea," Lavi offered, "We just need Yu. Have you seen him?" Allen answered, curious what his friend had up his sleeve. A plan of Lavi's was always worth the wager. It was guaranteed to be entertaining in the very least. "I saw Kanda on the training ground when I past by not too long ago. Why?" Lavi's grin only got bigger.
"I'm going to finish this really quick for Bookman and then we will be on our way. Let's pick Lenalee up on our way while we're at it too. The more the merrier." Allen waited patiently while Lavi finished up his assignment, giving the ink time to dry before stacking the paper together. He liked watching Lavi Bookman in action. He was focused and seemed inthroled in his work in a way he didn't understand, only making it more a mystery. After some time, Lavi had quickly finished his writing and tucked the papers away into a folder he had brought with him.
"Let's go, before mole face catches up." lavi stood and Allen followed. On their way to the training grounds, Lavi slipped the folder under his and the old man's door. They were passing the science department when Lavi declared a detour. With no objections, the other followed. Lenalee was serving the science department their afternoon coffee.
"Lenelee! Come with us!" The red head called. The girl nodded, she finished her and Reever's conversation before leaving with the boys.
"Where are we going?" Lenalee asked. Lavi turned to her, answering, "We're headed to the training grounds. I haven't spared in a while. And with us four we can spar two on two!" he exclaimed excitedly. Allen and Lenalee grinned at each other. Their friend was too happy to deny him, not that they wanted to in the first place. Reaching the training grounds, Kanda was sparing with Marie. "Marie!" Lavi called. "Can we borrow Kanda?" Marie turned towards the loud Red head's voice that carried across the outdoor room. "
"Of course. I'll grab Krory to practice with," Marie said, happy to accommodate his friend. Kanda looked unhappy to say the least. Interrupting anything the samurai did typically irritated him.
"What makes you so sure I even want to spar with you?" Kanda glared. Lavi wasn't bothered by the cold stare.
"Because we're friends and it's more fun with four people," Lavi answered Kanda's sarcastic remark. He seemed to consider the idea. "On one condition. I get to kick your ass." Lavi found Kanda's demand amusing.
"You can try. And I get Allen as my partner. I was thinking you'd want Lenalee anyways." Kanda met the girls eyes. Lenalee smiled in agreement to the plan.
"I'll be Kanda's partner," she added. Lavi beamed with eager excitement. "It's settled then! Now, are we wanting to use innocence or hand to hand only?" Allen offered his opinion:
"I'm ok with either." Lenalee chimed in. "I think using innocence could make things interesting. As long as we draw the line at maiming each other," she joked. Kanda scoffed, giving his two cents, "Either is fine by me." Lavi was the deciding vote.
"I'm up to hand to hand. You guys ok with that?" Everyone nodded in agreement, no objections were had. The exorcists found a space that wasn't occupied and that they could refrain from encroaching on others also training. Lavi met Allen's eyes briefly, sending him a non-verbal "ready?" The white haired exorcist's smirk replied for him. Lavi made the first move, his target being Lenalee. Allen was more than ready to take Kanda on. Kanda reciprocated that gesture happily.
"Have you seen Walker?" Link asked Jerry. If the boy had been here, Jerry would know. Jerry shrugged his shoulders in response, answering, "I haven't seen him this afternoon. Same for Kanda. He's usually here for lunch by now too." Link thanked the cook and left the mess hall. He had given up on the golem leading him, as it became clear its purpose was the opposite of helping him. Link took a left in the hopes that his charge would be in Komui's office or possibly the science department. After that, individual rooms were the plan. The inspector wouldn't have been surprised if another exorcist was harboring the boy. Nearing the medical ward, someone yelled from the training room that was in the same hallway.
"That was a cheap shot!" Link was intrigued and found his legs taking him in the same direction of whoever yelled. The rooms occupants in sight, Link wasn't overly interested in much of what was going on. Marie and Bookman, and a few others were throwing punches and dodging their opponents attacks. On the left hand side of the room four people appeared to be fighting two on two. Lenalee seemed to be gaining the upper hand with her Dark Boots as Bookman Jr. deflected an incoming kick, using his Iron Hammer to do so. Lenalee had gained her footing quickly, while Lavi brought his innocence around to swing at the girl. She jumped, using the hammer's head to gain more height. Lenalee, using her downward gravity, she brought her leg down in a swift motion.
Her target was Lavi's head. The boy barely dodged in time, taking a step back. Without missing a beat, Lavi slammed Iron Hammer into the concrete floor, activating Wood Stamp: Wind. A funnel of wind formed instantaneously, Blowing Lenalee's balance off. She gained her footing below her, landing safely away from the attack. Yu Kanda was striking quickly with Mugen, As Walker blocked each strike with his left arm, which had already activated Edge End. With his right arm, Allen used clown belt to grab Mugen. Kanda's innocence easily cut through the ribbon like wrapping that had hold of his sword. The gave Allen smirked at his split second advantage. The few seconds he had delayed the samurai by holding his weapon still, Allen had gotten close enough to use his Edge End, aiming for Kanda's midriff. Kanda smirked, perceiving the attack. He took half a step back and swung Mugen, releasing First Illusion: Netherworld Insects.
"Have fun with my Netherworld Insects, Moyashi," Kanda sneered, enjoying himself.
Deactivating Clown Belt , Allen confidently charged the nightmarish, distorted looking angler fish. Edge End efficiently took care of Kanda's illusions, having dispersed, surrounding the exorcist. Despite being Illusions, their bite was very much real. Surrounding himself briefly in Crown Clown's stark white cloak, the remaining insects evaporated into nothing. Crown Clown's armor returned to its original garment and Allen took the opening. Kanda caught his kick with a brief second to spare. The four exorcists continued on like this for awhile longer. Link had gotten comfortable and sat, watching the sparring match.
"Lavi!" Lenalee shouts. Lavi had been fending off the girl's maneuvers. "I'm right behind you." They had been fighting in close quarters when Lenalee landed a strong kick to Lavi's stomach. There was a small window in which the boy was knocked breathless, and Lenalee got behind her friend. She grabbed his wrist, turning it just enough to make him drop his extended Innocence in surprise. She smirked. "I'll take that as a win," Lenalee gloated. Lavi laughed nervously as the girl's hold on his neck got tighter.
"You can let me go now. The match is over," he smiled, his friend very much beaming with pride at their victory. The girl retorted, "Regretting the change in plan? Innocence did make things more fun."
Allen and Kanda were nearing their end as well. Having also fallen into hand to hand and close combat, Kanda was quick, but so was Allen. Kanda moved methodically and graceful, while still making blunt and powerful attacks. Allen's style resembles a brawl between two people on a street, who we're fighting with the rules 'everything goes." Mugen had been knocked for the samurai's hand at some point and the two were evenly matched. Without any notice, Crown Clown reappeared and Allen, using Crown Belt, had his opponent wrapped and immobilized in seconds. Kanda seethed, exclaiming, "That is the second time you've-" Allen interrupted his friend's rant, cutting it short.
"If I had been an enemy, you wouldn't be complaining. In fact, I've probably saved your life once or twice with, as you put it, 'playing dirty," Allen smiled, trying to not look as smug as he felt in his moment of victory. "And I do believe i've immobilized you, deciding the victor." Kanda struggled for another minute, eventually giving up his futile attempt at escape. "Fine," he surrendered. "You win." Deactivated his innocence and releasing Kanda, the now freed Lavi stood by his partner. Kanda did the same. "Good match guys," Lenalee extended her hand, her smile bigger than her face. Allen and Lavi shook on it, returning the compliment.
"If you four are done, i'd appreciate if I could get back to my job." Link had been patient and chose this time to interrupt. The exorcist's hadn't noticed the man's presence before now.
"We could all go for a late lunch. It's never too late for food, right Allen?" Lavi smiled, his white haired friend agreed excitedly. "What do you guys think?" Lavi asked. Everyone agreed eagerly. Passing the inspector on the way out of the training room, Lenalee, smiled sweetly, offering, "You can do your job in the mess hall right? I'm sure it won't be any trouble for you." Link knew she was pulling her innocent smile, the one Komui couldn't say no to. He wanted so badly to make a smart remark, but thought better of it. "Of course," he said, "I can watch Walker the same in the mess hall as I can anywhere." The girl had bested him, not allowing for him to object without looking like the stubborn one.
"That settles it. I'm starving!" Allen exclaimed. The three friends lead the way. Link had decided that Walker had been with others, and in a public space, so he couldn't truly report an incident. For now, the inspector would simply accompany the exorcists while they are.
I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope it was good for you too! The adventure isn't over yet, and these amazing characters are always a joy to write. I appreciate the time you, the reader, has spent reading Yume, and I hope it's something you enjoy. Read on FanFiction readers!