Chapter 12: Uniform

After Allen read the message from Miranda, he sees that Miranda has mentioned Alice's name. He turns to Komui.

"Komui-san, where's Alice!?" Allen asks. Komui smiles and looks over to Lavi.

"Lavi, can you go get Alice?" Komui asks and Lavi disappears and when he comes back, he starts to drool.

"L-Lavi?" Allen calls as he sees Lavi love struck.

Alice comes into the room. "Lavi, would you please stop looking at me?" Alice asks as she shivers.

"STRIKE!" Lavi shouts and he pounces, but is slam down onto the floor.

Behind him is an old man with only a patch of hair on his head that stands up to make the shape of a question mark, and dark black circles of make up around his eyes. Lavi stands up rubbing his face.

"Jeez, Gramps. You didn't have to slam me that hard to the floor." He complains, still looking at Alice.

Alice walks over to Allen. Alice is fully healed completely because Lavi and the old man had found her just before Allen and Lenalee were brought to the hospital.

"Alice," Komui calls. "Could you please explain to us what happened to day you were knocked out with Miranda? We need a report since you were the only Exorcist there." Alice nods.

"After Allen and Lenalee went to go catch the pick-pocket, I stayed with Miranda. a young girl approached Miranda and asked if Miranda's Innocence was her clock. I didn't feel her presence so I was caught off guard and was knocked out by the head." Alice reports and Komui nods as he leaves the room. She faces Allen. "I just woke up an hour ago… I'm so glad that you and Lenalee are safe."

"Just what happened to you when you were kidnapped?" Allen asks.

"Oh! I can tell you that." Lavi speaks. "Gramps and I were told to report to this hospital after finishing our mission. While heading here, we saw Level Two Akuma with Alice in its hands, but we didn't know it was a human. I defeated the Akuma and caught Alice. She was hurt really badly and looked as if she was going to die any second…" Lavi points at the old man with a smile. "It's a good thing that Gramps was there with me to treat her first. Then, after treating her we continued heading to this hospital and she was treated immediately." Lavi finishes. Allen looks at Alice.

"Are your wounds healed?" Allen asks. Alice shakes her head.

"No… My arms were pierced, so probably a few days later it'll completely heal."

"That's a relief…" Allen sighs.

Then the old man clears his throat. "Alice, would you stand next to Lavi for a few second? I need to check on Allen Walker's left eye."

Alice nods and she walks over next to Lavi. Alice starts to inch away from Lavi as he inch closer to her. Allen sits at the edge of the bed and takes the bandage off his eye. The old man lays out a scroll of needles and he looks at the left eye with a bit of surprise in his face.

"This is strange." The old man remarks. "Your crushed left eye is starting to regenerate."

He puts down one of his acupuncture needles.

"You won't able to see anything for a while. But at this rate, it'll be back to normal in 3 of 4 days. My needles aren't necessary." The old man looks at Allen's eye again. "It seems to be… cursed." Allen puts the bandage back on his left eye.

"It's a wound I got a long time ago, when I turned my father into an Akuma." Allen answers as he touches his left eye with his left arm.

Alice goes onto the bed and sits behind Allen, leaning on his back. Lavi leans on the rails that are on the end of the bed and stares at Alice.

"Allen Walker and Alice Lakefield, the children that the prophecies called 'The Destroyer of Time' and 'Priestess of Water'." The old man speaks. "We are mutual colleges called Bookman." Allen shakes Bookman's hand.

In Lenalee's room

Allen wears his gloves and goes to Lenalee's room. He knocks on the door, but no one answers.

'Wasn't Komui-san in here?' Allen thought. "Komui-san, I'm coming in." He announces as he opens the door.

Inside of Lenalee's room, there are stacks of papers that almost reach the ceiling and Lenalee is buried in Komui's work. Allen walks toward Komui as he tries not to make the stake of papers fall. On Komui's forehead, it has something written. Allen looks closer and it says: Currently in Suspension. Komui snores and Allen places his hand on Komui's shoulder.

"Komui-san!" Allen calls as he shakes him. No movement. Allen waited, but there is only sound of Komui snoring. Allen then goes closer to Komui's ear. "Lenalee is going to get married." Allen whispers. Komui stands up with a drill in his hands and a hat that says: Awake as Allen stares of Komui. "Good morning."

"Oh, it's you, Allen…" Komui says as he puts the drill and hat away. "What is it?"

"I came to see Lenalee… looks like she still hasn't woken up." Allen sits on a box and Komui goes to fix his papers nicely back into a pile.

"She's probably just having a long dream." Komui guesses. "Bookman examined her, so there's no need to worry."

"Bookman… he had some strange medical instruments."

"It's called acupuncture. It's a medical treatment using needles, passed down since ancient times in China." Komui explains. "That old man is a master in art." He sings.

Allen looks down with a frown. "Komui, why do you take the time to come out here, even though you're so busy?" Komui's eyes widen in shock. "It's not because of me, Lenalee, or Alice, is it?" Komui then face Allen with a sad smile. "What is Noah's family?"

"He came here to ask us." Allen and Komui look around and suddenly see Lavi. "Actually, he came here to ask Gramps."

'Eh!? When did this guy come in?' Allen and Komui thought. Lavi smiles at the two guys looking at him.

"Only in the rumors of history is the name 'Noah' ever mentioned. It's the name of a groundless family." Lavi explains. "They often make an appearance in the crossroads of history, but that is never noted in reference or history books. They appear alongside an unnamed Earl. And that leads to why Komui is here…" Lavi trails off. He then holds up a finger. "Bookman, the only one in the world who knows about the unrecorded historeeugh–" Lavi is interrupted by Bookman, who kicked Lavi in the face.

Lavi lands into a stack of papers and everything falls on top of him.

"How many times do I have to warn you not to talk so much?" Bookman barks. "Only Bookman can reveal information about Bookman."

'WHEN DID THIS GUY COME IN?!' Allen and Komui questions in their heads.

Lavi pops his head out of the papers and Bookman glares at him. "WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?! I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER FOR YOU ANYWAYS!"

"I can't let a greener-than-green novice like you take over. Idiot." Bookman says.

"Panda-Faced Old Man…" Lavi calls as he grins at Bookman. Bookman then face Allen and he jolts from Bookman's stare.

"Allen Walker." Bookman calls.

"Y–YES!" Allen answers. Bookman links his hands together and his Exorcist uniform covers them.

"Rest for now. Nothing can be done until Ms. Lenalee awakens. Take it easy." Bookman tells him.

Then, Allen and Lavi are kick out of Lenalee's room. Bookman locks the door after kicking the two out. They stand there with silence.

"Oh! Allen. Lavi." Alice calls as she walks towards them.

"Alice." Allen calls as Lavi stares at Alice with hearts in his eyes.

"Want to go out for some fresh air?" Alice suggests.

"Okay." Allen replies.

Outside around the hospital building

Allen decides to make a snowman. Alice wants to make a snow-rabbit and Lavi is helping Allen with his snowman.

"So how old are you two?" Lavi asks.

"'Bout fifteen. Alice's…" Allen answers. He then looks up trying to think of Alice's age. "…Is fifteen as well."

"Ah… I'm older. Eighteen!" Lavi says ecstatically. He then looks at Allen. "Fifteen-years-old… 'cause of that white hair you can't see any dandruff…"

'White hair…' Allen thought as he stacks his third snowman.

"Ah, you can call me Lavi, though there are some who call me 'Junior'." Lavi says. "Can I call you Beansprout?" He asks Allen.

"EH!?" Allen shouts with anger as he crushes the snow ball in his hands.

"But Yu calls you that."

"Yu?" Alice repeats.

"Huh?" Lavi looks at her with confusion. "Didn't you know? That's Kanda's given name. He's Yu Kanda, yeah?" Allen looks at Lavi with surprise and Alice continues making her snow-rabbit. "That's right. You didn't know and everyone calls 'im Kanda." Lavi grins at Allen. "Next time, try to call him that. I just know his eyes are gonna bulge. Though you probably won't see him for a while until after this business, eh?"

"What business?" Allen asks.

"Umm… just my guess though." Lavi finish a snowman and starts to stare at it.

Alice finishes her snow-rabbit and decides to stand next to Allen, as she looks at Lavi's snowman.

"Seems to me the next mission is going to be a long, drag out fight." Lavi adds. "The Earl is making his move. That's what the appearance of Noah's Family is."

Allen's eyes widen as he hears Lavi talk. Allen also recalls what Road said to him before she left.


"Next time, it'll be part of the Millennium's Count's scenario…" Road says.


"Can't worry 'bout it too much though…" Lavi states as he looks over Allen.

Allen holds his left wrist with his right hand, and grips it tight. Timcanpy flies above him, looking.

"I… became an Exorcist to destroy Akuma." Allen mutters. "Not to kill human beings…" Allen then turns around and starts walking away.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Lavi asks, but Allen didn't reply. "Beansprout!" He calls and Allen reacts.

It's ALLEN!" Allen growls. He continues walking away. "I'm going for a walk, just go back without me."

"Hmm?" Lavi says as he put his hand on the back of his head. "Yep, a brat." He then notices that Alice is staring into space for a while before calling her name, "Alice? A-li-ce-!"

The girl snaps out and looks at him. "Yes?"

"Is there something wrong, Alice? You were staring into space."

"…Yeah, before you and Bookman saved me, I had this dream from when I was little."

"Dream?"

"It was a dream of a girl I kept seeing but I couldn't see or hear her voice, however, I felt very warm seeing her. Isn't that strange?"

Lavi hums at her statement. "It could be a piece of your memory."

"My master told me the same thing but I couldn't remember a thing about her or my hometown." She finishes and hugs herself.

Lavi stares at her, but then stands up and walks over to Alice. He hugs her and Alice's eyes widen in surprise.

"L-Lavi…?" Lavi releases Alice and smiles at her.

"Then how about I help you to find your memories?" Lavi asks with a wide smile at Alice.

She looks at him with a surprise look on her face because of Lavi's sudden suggestion. Alice then looks away and smiles a little.

"Thanks, Lavi…" Alice mumbles quietly.

"Hm? Did you say something?" Lavi asks.

"Nope… nothing." She pulls away from the Bookman. "We should go and check on Allen." Alice suggests and Lavi nods.


In the city

Allen has his hood on, so that he could cover his white hair. He walks past a crowd of people, but he is cautious of them.

'What is it?' Allen thought as the people passes him. 'What is it?' He stops with his eyes widens. 'What am I so afraid of? Am I afraid of being in the middle of this many people? Everyone looks human. But I can't use my left eye now.' He then visions them as Akuma. 'Human?' Allen becomes paranoid and looks behind him. Just humans passing by, until a baby on a mother's back partially transforms and points a gun to the back of Allen's head. Allen's eyes widen.

"Hewwo Mr. Exorcist." The baby says.

Then there is a gust of smoke from where the baby on the mother's back stands.

"That was close~~" Lavi says with relief.

"Allen, what were you doing?" Alice asks. Allen sits on the ground looking at the two fellows Exorcist with surprise. Lavi stands on his Anti-Akuma Weapon (which is a hammer) and Alice kneels besides Allen. In Alice's hands is Silver (bow form) and Lavi eyes glance over to his side. He grins.

"Stand up." Lavi says. "Looks like they're here."

In Lenalee's hospital room

Bookman has just completed telling what he knows about the Noah's Family to Komui.

"And that's all I remember about 'Noah's family'." Bookman states.

"No, no, it helped, Bookman." Komui assures as he flips through his papers. "Sorry for making you talk for so long."

"No problem. It's my job after all." Bookman stares at Komui's face, who just smiles quietly. "Let me guess what you're thinking, Supervisor. In the midst of your trouble with the Akuma, the appearance of these things makes your heart ache."

"Who, me? The ones who really have it hard are the Exorcists." Komui hides his face behind his stacks of paper. "I've done nothing but throw them into the Earl's deep darkness."

"It's hard for everyone. The only thing that is equal in a war is suffering." Bookman then looks at the door and bounces towards it.

"What's wrong?" Komui asks as he watches Bookman.

"Keep yourself hidden, Supervisor." Bookman tells Komui and he opens the door. "It's not the place of leaders to expose themselves." When Bookman opens the door widely, the Finders that are guarding the door are dead and in front of Bookman are five men.

Meanwhile
In the city

Allen is on the ground shock to see Lavi and Alice. Lavi stands on his Anti-Akuma Weapon (Iron Hammer/Big Hammer, Little Hammer) and Alice kneels beside Allen with Silver on the ground beside her.

"KYA–!"

"MURDERERS…! THEY'RE MURDERERS!"

"Allen, it's dangerous on a crowded street. Akuma can get you from behind." Lavi tells Allen. He gets off Iron Hammer and grabs the handle. "You don't think they're Akuma just because they look like humans. You can't use the eye that'll tell the difference between Akuma and humans, right?"

"So… sorry." Allen apologizes as he slowly stands up. Alice grabs Silver with her left hand and stands up as well. "Alice… Lavi… why now?

"Huh?" Lavi says as Iron Hammer shrinks.

"…What do you–" Alice begins, but cuts off.

Suddenly, behind them is an Akuma that sends the three Exorcists flying.

"More enemies!" Allen points out.

It is a Level Two Akuma (Baseball) the thing that attacked them is a giant ball that starts to emitting heat.

"OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!" Lavi repeats.

"IT'S HOT!" Allen screams.

Alice grabs the two boys and leads them far away from the ball. She aims Silver at Baseball and an arrow appears as Alice stretches the string. "Silver Arrow!" Alice says as she let go of the arrow to hit it, but Baseball dodges it and then bats a ball towards her.

"Size shifting hammer," Lavi starts spinning Iron Hammer in a circle. "Grow, grow!" Iron Hammer starts to grow bigger. "Grow!" Iron Hammer reaches the size that seems to fit Baseball's ball.

'IT'S HUGE!' Allen thought Alice pushes Allen down on the ground.

"Get down… Lavi's going to hit it back." She tells Allen.

"If I total anything on the main street like this…" Lavi starts as he swings Iron Hammer back and then hitting the ball at the right moment. "IT'LL BE DANGEROUS, AKUMA!" But instead of hitting it back to Baseball, Lavi made it go into a building with Iron Hammer still on it. "AH!"

'He even busted up a building!' Allen thought.

"Lavi!" Alice calls.

"Aha…" Lavi says. "No problem, no problem. Komui will foot the bill for this." He assures Allen and Alice as Iron Hammer shrinks. "Anyway, let's go somewhere else…"

"FREEZE!" It was a police. "HEY, YOU KIDS IN THE BLACK CLOTHES! YOU KILLED SOMEONE! BASTARD! DON'T MOVE!"

'Geh! The police!' Allen thought. The police officer walks over to Alice and yanks her arm.

"YOU'RE UNDER ARREST! COME ON!" He demands as he grips Alice's arm tightly.

"Ouch…" Alice says.

Suddenly, in front of the police's face is Iron Hammer. The police's eyes widen.

"S… STOP IT, WHAT ARE YOU…!?"

"Lavi!?" Allen calls.

Alice splits Silver into twin swords and points at the police.

"I SAID… STOP!" The police suddenly turn into an Akuma, but before it could attack, Alice destroys the Akuma.

Allen activated Cross.

"LAVI! ALLEN!" Alice says as she starts to jump backwards with Allen and Lavi following her.

"ANOTHER BACKUP! LOOKS LIKE THESE BASTARDS ARE HERE TO SHOOT US UP!" Lavi shouts.

At the train station; at the railroads

"But man, you're reaction time is slow, Allen…" Lavi scolds. "Waiting for the Akuma to take shape before starting up your weapon is gonna get you killed."

"Sorry." Allen apologizes. The three land on the ground. "Lavi, how did you know?"

"I don't know, yeah? I'm suspicious of everyone around me." Lavi answers. "Someone I met today could be an Akuma today. 'Cuz that's the type of thing that we're up against." He adds. "You should understand that Allen."

Then people start to come out from everywhere and surround the Exorcists.

"We are at an overwhelming disadvantage. We're different from you are, yeah? Not having that convenient eye, or that convenient arm. Akuma are mixed in with the humans. The other Exorcists and I…" Lavi says as he fixing his bandana. "We end up looking at all human as the Earl's minions." Suddenly, the ball from earlier comes crashing down on them, but they dodge it.

"LAVI! ALICE!" Allen shouts.

"WE'RE FINE! THEY'RE ALL LEVEL ONE!" Lavi shouts back. "So… come and get it." Lavi mumbles as he swings Iron Hammer. Alice grips Silver (twin swords form) and stabs the ground.

"Silver Yoke!" Alice says.

Silver stakes rise out from the ground and skewer the group of Akuma, making them to be destroyed. After the Akuma are destroyed, Alice lifts Silver from the ground, causing stakes to fall back to the ground and she continues to destroy Akuma. Lavi is destroying them with Iron Hammer just by hitting them in its giant form. Allen is using Cross that is in Beta form as he remembers Lavi's words from earlier.


"We're different from you. The other Exorcists and I… end up looking at all human as the Earl's minions."


"KYAAA!" A woman screams.

Allen turns around to see an Akuma gripping on the woman's coat and dragging her. The Akuma stops and smiles as it grips the woman on the neck.

"HELP!" She screams.

Allen grinds his teeth together in frustration.

'I'm an idiot. Noah… knowing that humans are my enemies made me shaky… Lavi's words reminded me of that…' Allen thought as he remembers asking General Cross why he wears the black uniform.


"Why… are you always wearing that coat…?" Allen asks. "Because it makes you stand out, that uniform. Having that cross out on plain sight just expose the fact that you're an Exorcist." General Cross inhales the smoke from the cigar and exhales it.

"Idiot pupil." General Cross says. "It's supposed to show. We're different from you, moron. How're we going to get anything done if we hide ourselves from enemies that we can't see? Cross scolds. "This is a target. By doing this, we can't be suspicious of anyone that comes close."

"Isn't that just like… you're waiting to be attacked…?" Alice asks as she stands beside Allen.

"That's the reason for this uniform." He inhales then exhales. "The two of you… have no worries like this, right? Allen, Alice." General Cross asks.


Allen clenches his teeth. 'My master and Lavi… and everyone that became Exorcists… amidst all the other humans… they constantly see humans as the enemies while fighting. To fight the Akuma inside…they expose themselves as bait… to protect the humans that should be protected…' Allen thought. Allen destroys the Akuma that was gripping the woman and she runs over to Allen.

"AHH!" The woman screams and her legs give out. Allen kneels in front of her.

"Are you okay?" He asks her. The woman starts crying.

"WAAHH WAHH!" Then the Akuma gun appears from the woman and points at Allen's temple, but Akuma is destroyed before it could shoot.

"Too slow." Allen says.

'I've decided to continue walking down this road. So with this uniform, I'll have to take that vow…'