Advance of the Fool

by ButterflyMiko

On his way to the Order, Allen Walker comes across a young priestess who reminds him painfully of himself. He cajoles the young woman to join him in his journey, but can she keep walking when her body will not hold her upright?

13. Nicknames

Kuri groaned as she climbed over the cliff, and collapsed on her tummy. "Allen…"

Allen helped her up. "You ok, Kuri?"

Kuri sighed. "Yeah. We made it!" She grabbed his left hand. "Your glove is shredded. Let me…"

Allen jerked his hand away.

"Alleeeen…" Kuri moaned. Not again.

At that moment, Yu Kanda landed in front of them, brandishing a sword. Upon seeing Kuri, he paused. "A maiden?" He got in a protective stance between her and Allen. Kuri was the survivor of the Asian Branch murder long ago. She was also a second. But where were her wings; her innocence? "Why don't you have wings for floating in the sky, like the wind, like the clouds; why?"

Kuri stiffened, then softened in recognition of the quote, of her friend Yuu. "Don't I have wings for sinking into that night, that wraps everything like the stars, like the moon?"

"Ahem." Allen was annoyed. Who was this guy? "Do you know this guy, Kuri?" He glared jealously at Kanda.

Kuri smiled. "He's a good friend."

"Welcome home at last, Watachi." Kanda smiled back.

"It's good to be home, Kand-la."