Chapter 11: As Snow Falls Over the City

Allen and Lenalee continue to fight the Akuma when Witch attacks the two.

"Fire Ice!" Witch says and froze the place causing Allen to slip.

"WHOAAAH!?" He shouts.

"EVERYTHING'S FROZEN!" Lenalee exclaims.

Allen hugs himself. "CO–COLD!" He shivers.

"Allen," Lenalee calls facing him. "Where's your coat?"

"I left it back where we worked…"

"…Let's go, Exorcists." Witch says as Pumpkin and Scissor appear.

"Let's see how long you'll last in this -100C temperature." Pumpkin says.

"DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!" The three Akuma chant.

'Miranda. Alice…' Allen thought as he remembers what Witch told them of Road capturing Miranda. 'Damn it, I have to concentrate on attacking the Akuma and nothing else.' Cross changes into its gun-type form. "Pitiful Akuma, I will save your souls." Allen declares and Allen goes for an attack on Witch and Scissor covering it. Scissor aims at Allen, but Lenalee blocks the attack with Dark Boots.

"Come fight me!" Lenalee says to Scissors.

"Convert!" Allen thought and Cross turns into arm-type. "CROSS GRAVE!" He attacks Witch and Pumpkin.

"THAT HURTS… DAMN IT!" Pumpkin says. "VOICE OF PAIN!" Pumpkin's attack cracks the ice and Allen jumps up.

"FREEZE!" Witch says and the ice freezes Allen's legs.

'A much more coordinated attack than before…!' Allen thought as he widens his eyes.

"ICE FIRE!" Witch said and attacking Allen, knocking him out.

"ALLEN!" Lenalee shouts out. Behind her the three Akuma prepares to attack Lenalee.


~Later~
In a certain dimension

Allen is leaning against of a wall and opens his eyes. 'Where am I…?' He thought. In front of him, he sees a person, Scissor, and Witch with their backs facing to Allen.

"Al…len." Miranda calls and he looks over to where Miranda is and sees that she is pinned to her clock with spiked candles. "Allen…"

Allen's eyes are fully open. "Miranda… OW!" He looks at Cross and sees that it is pin to the wall with the same candles by Pumpkin as it grins at him.

"Yes, black definitely looks good on you…" Road says looking someone who is sitting on the chair.

"Road-sama, why are you making her look pretty?" Scissor asks.

"Weapons like you guys wouldn't understand..." Road answers. "An Exorcist doll is a rarity, you know."

Allen's eyes widen as he sees Lenalee in a Gothic dress and she wasn't moving. Road turns around.

"You're awake~" Road says.

"LENALEE!" Allen shouts.

"You better watch what you say," Witch tells Allen. "It's Road-sama's doll now."

"So you're called 'Lenalee'…" Road says as she hugs Lenalee. "Such a cute name!"

"She fought desperately to protect you." Pumpkin tells Allen.

"…Ugh." Allen groans. He then realizes Road's face. "You came to buy a ticket earlier…! You're 'Road'…?" Road grins. "Why are you with the Akuma…?" 'I don't see the soul of an Akuma.' Allen states in his head while looking at Road.

"You are not an Akuma…" Allen says. "What are you?"

"I'm human." she replies. "What's with that face? Human can't be friends with Akuma?"

"Akuma… are weapons made by the Earl to kill humans… they target humans…"

"Weapons can be used by humans to kill other humans, right?" Road says. "The Millennium Count is my brother. We are the chosen ones." Then her skin turns darker and across her forehead is a line of black, cross-like markings, called stigma. Her eye color change and it is now amber. "You Exorcists don't know a thing, don't you? You are the Chosen Ones of a False God." She licks her thumb. "We are the True Apostle chosen by God. Noah's Family."

"Noah's… Family…?" Allen repeats. "Human…?!"

"SH–!" An umbrella speaks. " ROAD-TAMA, SH–! YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY TO CLUELESS OUTSIDERS!"

Road has an 'I-don't-care-look' on her face. "Eh–? Why?" She asks.

"YOU JUST CAN'T! AND BESIDES, THE EARL HASN'T PLANNED A SCENARIO FOR YOU AND THESE PEOPLE! NOT ONLY DO YOU TAKE ME OUT WITHOUT ASKING, YOU GO AND DO THIS WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE. THE EARL IS GOING TO SPANK YOU!"

"The Millennium Count isn't going to do something like that to me." Road sits on the armrest of the chair–where Lenalee is sitting. "I'm just giving the story a bit of a dramatic flare, to make things more interesting. Something like this isn't going to affect the Millennium Count's scenario."

Allen then pulls Cross out from where it is pin but he still can't move due to the damage on Cross and himself.

"Why are you angry?" Road asks as she draws near him. "You don't believe that I'm human?" She hugs him. "Warm, aren't I? Isn't this what it feels like to touch another human?"

"…Ugh." Allen grunts and He raises Cross to Road, thinking of attacking, but can't. "Even though you're the same as other humans, why…?" Allen tries to attack, but he just couldn't. "DAMN…"

"'The same'? Not quite." Road says as she grabs Cross and scraps her own face off.

Allen widens his eyes. "WHA…!? TO… YOURSELF…"

Road then grabs his shirt. "We are the 'supermen' who inherited the genes of Noah, mankind's oldest apostle. We are different from you lowlifes." Road tells him and then grabs a spike candle (Candle) and stabs it into Allen's left eye. She takes the candle out and licks the blood. And half of her face recovers.

"GYA―H–!" Allen screams in pain. "UGH!"

Road throws the candle to the side and laughs maniacally.

Allen uses his right arm to cover his left eye and clenches his teeth. "...GH!"

Road's face completely heals and she tilts her head to one side. "I don't think anything of killing these insignificant humans. I just ha–te this world, full of these worthless beings. You should all just die and go away." Road says. "You know, God… he wishes for this world to come to an end." She bites the sleeve of Allen's coat. "That's why rewarded the Millennium Count and us with these Akuma."

"That isn't God's will…" Allen says as he stands up. Cross changes into the gun-type form. "It's the Devil's!"

"Who cares? Either way is fine." Road states and then Allen starts to attack her which she is being defended by her three Akuma's. "Can't you kill me?" Road takes off Allen's coat.

The three Akuma have defeated Allen.

"Allen!" Miranda calls out.

Road sits on the armrest of Leenalee's chair. "Are three Akuma too much for you?" Road then looks over at Miranda.

"N… no." Miranda speaks. "Help!"

Road holds up her hand and a volley of spiked candles (Candle). "You too… It's about time I 'release you."

The volley of Candles shoot, but Allen blocks the attack with Cross (arm-type form).

"Allen-kun..." Miranda calls.

Allen then pulls the candle that is in Miranda's hand out. Miranda starts to crawl away to the wall.

"HHEEEE!" She squeals and breathes hard as her back touches the wall. She looks at Allen who wasn't moving. "Allen-kun...!?" No answers. "Allen-kun...? Don't die... Allen-kun, don't die..."

Allen moves his head and smiles at Miranda. "It's… it's all right…" He tells her.

Miranda then clutches her hands into fists.

"What now wrench?" The three Akuma questions. "What are you doing~?"

Miranda then goes to Allen and hugs him. "Ha… haha… what am I really doing…? Miranda asks herself. "But… but…"

"HUMANS CAN'T DO ANYTHING~~!" Pumpkin states.

"But…" The hands on Miranda's clock points at three and nine and starts to shine. Then around Miranda and Allen, a line of light appears causing Allen and Road to look at Miranda's clock.

'Huh? I wonder what this is...? I can feel something there.' Miranda thinks and she looks at her clock. 'The clock…'

"Innocence…?" She says.

Around her a shield of clocks and her clock has grown protects Allen and herself.

"Miranda…" Allen says.

Miranda uses the Innocence to restore Allen which she is in a shock seeing him all refreshing.

"Allen, you can move…?" Miranda asks and Allen looks at her.

"Miranda… I see… you are compatible after all." Allen says as Miranda's Innocence makes Cross better.

Outside of the shield

"What? What is this?" Witch asks as it pokes the shield of clocks.

"Road-sama, you think we can try to touch this?" Pumpkin asks. Then all of a sudden Allen's arm attacks one of the Akuma with Cross coming out of the shield, going straight where Road and Lenalee are.

"ROAD-SAMA!" The Akuma calls.

Road dodges Cross, but Allen is aiming to get Lenalee and he pulls her into the shield. Road then stands on the golem.

"Road-tama!" The golem calls.

"That guy's hand… the wounds healed." Road says.

Inside of the shield

"Lenalee!" Allen calls as he sets the chair down carefully and quickly finds her pulse. "She's alive…!" He says in relief.

'There are no visible wounds. If we assume that the sound wave type Akuma's attack reached deep enough, could it cause nerve paralysis?' Allen thought and sees Lenalee holding something. 'Lenalee is holding onto something…?'

"Allen…" Miranda calls. "How is Lenalee…?"

"…She'll be okay. If she's in this space…" Miranda's Innocence is doing the same thing as Allen did to Lenalee and she comes back to normal.

"Huh? I…" Lenalee speaks.

"LENALEE!" Miranda and Allen call happily.

Lenalee opens her hand and Timcanpy launches into Allen's face.

"GAH!" Allen grunts and grabs Timcanpy wings. "Timcanpy! Why did you leap out from there…?"

"Ah! At the same time you were attacked, he broke into pieces. I've been holding onto the pieces all this time." Lenalee explains. "Eh… what happened to me? Where is this place?" She asks as she looks around.

"We were saved by Miranda's Innocence." Allen tells Lenalee.

"Eh?" Miranda says. "B-by me…? I-I did…?"

Allen looks up at the clock. "This Innocence that you've awakened sucked away the time we got injured by the attacks." He explains. "Thank you, Miranda!"

Hearing those words, Miranda sheds a tear.

"By the way, where's Alice?" Lenalee asks causing Miranda to flinch.

"That's right. Alice supposed to be with Miranda-san." Allen says.

"That's…" Miranda says and begins to tell the two Exorcists what happened to her.

Outside of the shield

"YOU BASTARDS, COME OUT ALREADY!" Witch says as it attacks.

"ENBU 'KIRIKAZE'!" Lenalee says as she stirs up a destructive tornado with a whirling kick of her Dark Boots.

"THIS WIND IS COMING FROM THAT FEMALE EXORCIST WE FOUGHT EARLIER…!" Pumpkin says. "DAMN IT! I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING! WHERE ARE YOU EXORCISTS!?"

Allen then steps on Pumpkin's head and points Cross (gun type, Beta) at it. "Right here." He answers and shoots the Akuma.

"Eeeh~ Exorcists sure are interesting." Road says amuse as the wind dies down.

"Come on and fight us, Road!" Allen tells her as he regroups with Lenalee. "And we'll have Alice back."

Oh my, oh my~~ What did those guys do to become so lively~~?" Road wonders. "...Is it because that Miranda person is compatible? I don't know how she did it though. Looks like somehow that woman revitalized them."

Inside of the shield, Miranda watches the two fight and she clutches her chest tightly.

Lenalee looks up at Road. "Allen, who's that child?" Lenalee asks. "It's that child we met… at the theater, right? Akuma?"

"…No." Allen answers. "Human."

"…I see."

Road then writes Allen's name. "A-L-L-E-N. Allen Walker, 'the one who can see the souls of Akuma'. Actually, I heard about you from the Millennium Count, so I know a lot about you. You became an Exorcist to save the souls of Akuma, right? Because you were cursed by your beloved father." She smiles. "So I decided, if I was going to get involved with anyone, it would be you. And your friend, Alice~~" Allen's eyes widen at her statement. "Hey you." Road calls to Witch.

"Yes?" Witch answers.

"Self-destruct." She orders.

"Eh?"

"Umbrella," Road calls. "Countdown."

"Te–ten." The golem begins. "Nine. Eight."

"Wait… Ro–Road-sama, not that…" Witch pleads.

"Seven."

"I've finally evolved this far…"

"Six. Five." Road ignores Witch.

"…GH!" Witch grunts. "ROAD-SAMA?!"

"Hey!?" Allen shouts. "What are you up to…?"

"You know…" Road speaks. "If you break an Akuma without using Innocence and to destroy it, for instance, if you force it to self-destruct,"

"Three." The golem says.

"The Akuma's soul will disappear into Dark Matter. Did you know that? AND THEN YOU CAN'T SAVE IT, RIGHT!?"

"Two."

"STOP!" Allen shouts and rushes to the Akuma.

"ALLEN, NO!" Lenalee shouts. "YOU WON'T MAKE IT IN TIME!"

'Before it explodes… destroy it…!' Allen thought as he aims.

"One." Road finishes.

Lenalee grabs Allen and blocks him just before the Akuma explodes.

"UGYA―!" Witch screams.

Allen sees the soul of the Akuma by using his Cursed Eye. The soul reaches out to him.

"Help me~" The soul pleads before it disappears.

"KYAHAHAHAHA!" Road laughs.

"A–H!" Allen screams.

"ALLEN…!" Lenalee calls.

"DAMN…" Allen curses. "WHY DID YOU STOP ME!?" He yells at Lenalee angrily subsequently she slaps him in the face as she starts to tear up.

"Because we're friends…!" Lenalee tells Allen.

"Great, great!" Road says amuse. "Running headfirst into an explosion, you're even more amusing that I expected!"

"You…" Allen glares at her.

"But, are you sure it's all right?" Road asks. "That woman over there." She points at Miranda as Scissor start to attack Miranda's shield.

"YOU'RE ATTACKING!?" He and Lenalee are then attacking Scissor that is trying to attack Miranda.

"Wind-Sickles!" Scissor says.

Lenalee gives the finishing blow on Scissor and destroys it. After defeating it, Road landed on the floor behind Allen.

"You destroyed it! Well, let's call it quits for now." Road says. "Ah~a, that was more fun I expected to be." She face Allen and a heart-shaped door appears behind her. "Bye~" Before Road enters through the door, Allen points Cross Beta at her head as his tears stream down to his face. Road smirks. "You're so nice, Allen~ You hate me, don't you? Don't shoot. Your hand is also a weapon, Allen."

Allen grits his teeth tightly.

"But an Exorcist crying because an Akuma disappeared is a big no-no. If you act like that, no one will like you." Road enters the door and then she turns around. Beside her is an Akuma maid carrying Alice. "Let's play again sometime, Allen. Next time, it'll be part of Millennium Count's scenario. Also I'll be taking Alice with me~ hehe~ Bye-bye."

"ALICE!" Allen calls out, but the Door closes and disappears. "Damn…" Allen looks down and he makes a fist. Suddenly the dimension that Road created starts to break apart. "WHAT!?"

"IT'S BREAKING UP…!?" Lenalee says as she holds Miranda.

"Ugh…" Miranda groans.

"MIRANDA?!"

The ground collapses and Allen reaches out for Lenalee and Miranda.

"LENALEE! MIRANDA!" Allen calls and falls through the ground and he sees that they were in a box for the whole time. The next thing he knows, Allen sees the message that Road wrote and they are in Miranda's home.

"Huh?" Allen says. "This place…? It's Miranda's apartment… why… that place we were in before… where was that? Was that also Road's power…?"

"ALLEN!" Lenalee shouts. "THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH MIRANDA!"

Allen turns around and sees Miranda clutching her sides tightly while Lenalee holds her. "Miranda…!?" Allen calls as he goes closer to them.

"Stop using your powers! If you keep this up, you'll strain your body's limits!" Lenalee tells Miranda.

"I can't…" Miranda speaks. "If I stop…"

Allen then sees the clocks heading towards Lenalee and himself. 'It's coming this way!?' He thought.

"If I stop, it looks like the time that was sucked away will return… Again… all those injuries will come back to you once more…" Allen and Lenalee looks at Miranda.

"No…" Allen mumbles.

"Although it's the first time anyone has said 'thank you' to me…" Miranda continues. "This makes it meaningless… doesn't it!?"

Allen puts both of his hands on either side of Miranda's shoulders.

"Stop using the power." Allen tells her and she looks up at him. He smiles. "Stop it, Miranda. It's because of you that we're here now. That is more than enough. I'll bear my own injuries." Allen points at himself. "As long as I live, I'll be able to recover."

"That's right, Miranda." Lenalee agrees. "Please, stop…"

Miranda stops using the Innocence as both Allen and Lenalee collapses from their injuries and quickly runs out to get the manager.

At the manager's office

"It's midnight…?" The manager says as he hears his clock chime. "Looks like the day is over."

He then hears a clicking noise and he looks out the window. Miranda appears.

"MANAGER!" Miranda shouts.

"WHA–" The Manager says. "MIRANDA? W… WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU… WHAT'S THAT WOUND ON YOUR HAND…!?"

"DOCTOR… CALL THE DOCTOR… SOME PEOPLE ARE INJURED!" Miranda exclaims as she breathes heavily. "PLEASE! CALL QUICK!"


~Later~
In the hospital

"Looks like it's pretty serious." It sounds like Komui. Allen opens his eyes and sees Komui's figure. "Lavi, guard the door and don't let anyone in."

"Gotcha!" A voice says.

"Huh?" Komui says as he sees Allen opening his eyes. "Yo!" Allen's jaw drops as he sees the drill in his hands. "You're awake?"

"KOMUI!? EH? WHERE AM I!?" Allen screams.

"Where? In the hospital." Komui says as he put the drill away and sits down on a chair next to Allen's bed. "We got a 'Town Returned to Normal' message from the Finders we stationed outside of town. Good job on the mission." Allen sits up.

"The town…!?" He then looks at Komui.

"Ms. Miranda was here earlier. You just missed her." Komui informs.

"Come to think of it, why are you here, Komui?" Allen asks.

"To repair you, of course!"

"Seriously…?"

"Actually, neither of you will be going back to Headquarters. We have to assign you a long-term mission here. We'll go into the details when Lenalee wakes up."

"Lenalee hasn't woken up yet…!?"

"It's due to the nerve damage… but…"

"She'll be fine." A voice says. "Gramps is taking care of her as we speak. She'll be back to normal in no time." Allen looks over at the doorway and sees a young man with a bright red hair that is in a bandana, and green eyes. He is also wearing an eye patch over his right eye. He smiles at Allen. "I'm Lavi. Nice to meet you."

"…Nice to meet you." Allen greets.

"Ah, right. Allen," Komui calls. "I have a message for you from Ms. Miranda."


"Allen, Lenalee, Alice. I'm sorry I can't be there when you wake up. The day I gained control of the clock's Innocence, the town returned to normal. The people of this town had no idea that they went through October 9th 34 times. Well, being the cause of that, I'm thankful. Even though the three of you said that the strange thing happened because the Innocence was reacting to my heart… I have a feeling that the strangeness was the Innocence's way to testing me. The Innocence helped protect Allen. It kept deceiving up until then. But thanks to that, I feel that I have found my place in the world."


At the manager's office

"Thank you for everything…" Miranda says.

"Ah… take care." The manager replies.

"Um… Take this… Please take this amount you need to replace the dirty wallpaper." She hands the manager an envelope.

"Where's this?" Miranda smiles.

"My next job."