Chapter 21: Crossroad

The sun rises and a humanoid, named Fou, walks through the bamboo forest.

'I can smell a corpse.' Fou thought as she narrows her eyes, annoyed. 'But I can't see a damn thing. What the hell is up with this fog!?'

Suddenly, she trips over something, which happens to be Allen's arm.

"OW!" Fou cries as she sits up on the ground holding her nose with her large mitten-like appendages. 'M-my nose! I hit my nose! The hell! What the hell just happened!?'

Fou opens her eyes—as she had closed them when she rubs her nose—and sees a card in front of her.

"Hm? What the hell is this?" Fou says as she picks it up while continuing to massage her nose with her appendage. "A western playing card? Why is this...?"

Then, the female humanoid slowly turns around and looks behind her only to see Allen's lifeless body and Alice lying near Allen. Her expression darkens as she inspects the male Exorcist body.

"Goddamn." Fou mutters as she stands up. "It's already too late for him."

Just then, Alice slowly opens her eyes and sees Fou. "Is someone... there?" She speaks.

Fou looks at Alice with wide-eyes. "Hey! Are you all right?! Stay with me!"

"Please... save Allen... Please..." Alice then goes back unconscious.

Fou looks at Allen then back to Alice. "Tch..." Fou clicks her tongue.


Elsewhere; in the sky

As Iron Hammer carries Lenalee and Lavi, the two Exorcists search for their comrades: Allen, Alice, and Suman.

"You okay, Lenalee?" Lavi asks as he glances at the female Exorcist. "You look worn out. You should—"

"I'm fine." Lenalee replies before Lavi could finish. "More importantly, we have to hurry and help those three... I saw a really bright light in the sky and no matter how hard I searched. I couldn't find them...!"

Lavi grits his teeth in frustration. "We'll find them. Don't worry—" He begins when suddenly, a nearby mountain explodes.

The explosion nearly knocks the two Exorcists off Iron Hammer and as they look towards the direction of where the blast had occurred, a small, golden golem flies out from the smoke. Seconds later, a horde of Akuma appears out of the smoke as well, chasing after the golem.

"Akuma?" Lenalee says as her eyes widens when she recognizes the small, golden golem. "Is that...?"

Lenalee immediately activates Dark Boots and launches herself off Iron Hammer. She destroys a few from the horde and saves the golem, letting Lavi finish the rest with his Anti-Akuma Weapon. Lenalee lands on the ground below and turns towards the golem.

"Timcanpy!" She exclaims in happiness as Lavi joins them. "Where's Allen and Alice, Timcanpy?"

Upon hearing the names of his comrades, the golem suddenly flies away, back in the direction of where it fled from.

In the forest

"According to Tim's memory, he parted with Allen and Alice here..." Lavi says as he looks at Timcanpy. "Alice was still unconscious at that time, but Allen... encountered a Noah and had his arm destroyed... but he only cared about protecting Suman's Innocence."

Lenalee slowly falls on her knees as she looks down and touches the blood on the ground.

"These blood stains... He was here." Lenalee mumbles. "But he's gone! Allen isn't around here anymore!"

As Lenalee begins to cry, Lavi surveys the area once more, looking for the other Exorcist.

"Alice... She's gone as well..." Lavi says to himself as he picks one of the playing cards off from the ground, flipping it over to see the ace of spades. Suddenly, Lavi's golem begins to speak.

"Can you hear me, Lavi?" Bookman calls. Lavi glances at his golem before looking back to the ace of spades.

"...What is it?" Lavi asks.

"Come back. A messenger is here."

Lavi turns and faces the golem.

"A messenger?" Lavi asks.


At the docks

Lavi and Lenalee arrives to where the other remaining comrades are and they see a hooded man.

"It's been a long time, Miss Lenalee." He says as he reaches for his hood, pulling it off. Lenalee looks up when she hears her name called and she stares at the man with recognition.

"You're... a member from the Asian Branch..." Lenalee says.

"I am Won." Sammo Han Won, the Assistant Branch Head introduces with a smile. "I have hastened to pass along a message given to me by our Branch Leader."

"A message?" Lavi asks.

"We have found two of your forces, Allen Walker and Alice Lakefield, and have taken charge of them." Won informs as he looks at each of the Exorcists.

Suddenly, Lenalee rushes towards Won and grabs his sleeves.

"Really...!?" Lenalee exclaims.

"Yes." Won replies.

"Are they... are Allen and Alice okay? Please, Mr. Won, let me see them right now!"

Won smiles falls from his lips.

"You must set sail immediately. You must leave Allen Walker and Alice Lakefield here in China."

Lenalee stares at Won in shock.

"I know it is hard for you, but please use your best judgment." Won adds as he places his hands on Lenalee's shoulders.

"Lenalee," Lavi calls out. "You... We both saw Tim's memories. He's lost his Innocence. There's no path he can take to continue being an Exorcists. We must... continue our mission without him."

Lenalee lowers her head as she slowly sinks into despair and Anita—who couldn't bear to see Lenalee in misery any longer—takes a step toward Won.

"It's impossible to leave immediately, Mr. Won..." Anita speaks as Won turns his head to face her. "Unluckily, our ship has been badly damaged due to last night's fight... repairing it will take some time."

Then, a smile appears on Won's face. "It is needless to worry," He glances at the ship. "A new Exorcists has just been dispatched here from Headquarters and because of her, you will be able to depart."

At that moment, the breeze blows and everyone turns their head towards the top of the ship. A woman stands there and pulls her hair behind.

"She is... Miranda Lotto."

Miranda gets off the ship and looks at the Exorcists, Anita, and Mahoja.

"Everyone, please get back." Miranda says and looks at the ship before closin her eyes and exhales nervously. 'Calm down.' Miranda thought and moves her right hand to her left shoulder where a disk is sitting after she puts her suitcase down. 'I created this from my abandoned clock.' Miranda thought as she touches the disk. 'My Anti-Akuma Weapon...' She then spins the disk and it goes down to her hand.

"Time Record, Innocence Activate! Encircle the target, ready!" Miranda says and the ship is surrounded by two rings. "While my Innocence is invoked, I will be able to reverse everything lost back to its proper order. Recovery!"

A giant clock face appears above the ship and the hands are going reverse as the ship slowly repairs itself. Once the ship is repaired, the clock stops going backwards until the hands reach to 12 o'clock. Miranda sighs in relief.

'Thank goodness. It worked...' Miranda thought and turns her head and sees the Exorcists, except Lenalee, Anita, and Mahoja are in shock as Won gives Miranda a thumbs up. "Ah... um... huh?" 'What is this? M-maybe they didn't want their ship repaired?' Miranda thought. 'I'm only a newcomer, and I rudely butted in without asking them!'

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry~!" Miranda apologizes and she suddenly jumps into the sea.

"Ah, Miranda jumped into the sea..." Krory points out.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Won questions.

"Leave me here, just leave me here to dieee!" Miranda yells as she drowns into the sea.

"Ah crap! She's drowning!" Lavi says.

"Go Lavi." Bookman orders.

"EH!?" Lavi shouts.


~Later~

After the Exorcists, including Miranda, and the crew get onto the boat, the boat whistles.

"SET SAIL!" Mahoja orders the crew.

In the cabin

"These are from Komui?" Lavi asks as he looks at his new Exorcist uniform.

"They are your new uniforms..." Miranda explains. "He asks me to bring them to you since your old ones were almost destroyed."

"It's really light and easy to move in." Lavi says as he jumps up and down.

"He said they were also very durable. I hope that it'll be able to protect you all even for a little bit." Miranda says.

Miranda then looks at Lenalee who is sitting on the stairs with Timcanpy flying next to her.

"Lenalee-chan..." Miranda calls.

"She's still trying to sort herself out." Bookman say and Miranda looks at him. "Miss Lena is fully regretting leaving Allen and Alice's side last night. She is condemning herself."

Lavi then grits his teeth.


~Meanwhile; on the deck~

"Exorcists really are incredible people." Anita says as she and Mahoja look at the clock. "I understand now why they're known as God's Apostles."

"It's only because they were fighting alongside us last night that we were able to survive." Mahoja says. "Without them, we would have been annihilated."

"But Mahoja, you kicked that Akuma away didn't you?" Anita asks as she covers her mouth with her sleeve. "That won me over."

"Please don't tease me." Mahoja says as she blushes. "Kicking them will not destroy them."

Anita looks at Mahoja.

"But for now, I'm extremely satisfied." Mahoja says. "After you heard that the General had died, you were like a walking dead. I couldn't do anything for you." She explains and she smiles. "But now, there is something that I can do."

Anita smiles and hugs Mahoja.

"Thank you for coming. Mahoja."

"I will always follow you forever, Mistress."

"I'm sorry..." Anita apologizes.

Suddenly, they hear a glass breaks and they look at the cabin where the Exorcists are staying.

"It came from the Exorcists' room..." Anita says.


In the cabin

All the Exorcists, except for Lenalee, looks at Lavi who punched the window and broke it in the process.

"Just cut it out already..." Lavi says looking at Lenalee still unmovable. "There was nothing we could have done..." He tightens his fist. "We were all desperately fighting for our lives yesterday. There was no way... any of us could have helped those two..." Lavi says as he remembers the fight from the day before. "This is war! We had no choice! GET OVER WITH IT AND STAND UP!"

Lenalee widens her eyes and starts cry. Lavi takes a back after seeing what he did to her. He then sees Bookman, Miranda, and Krory stares at him with the atmosphere says, 'You made her cry...'. After that Bookman starts to strangle Lavi.

"I deeply apologize, Miss Lena." Bookman apologize as he strangles Lavi. "Look he shall be severely punished."

"GUGHGEROFF-GEGURRGLE!" Lavi gargles from Bookman's strangling.

"Cool your head off, you fool." Bookman whispers to Lavi.

"WHY PANDA?!" Lavi shouts. "It's not like I said anything wrong..."

Bookman then punches Lavi.

"OW!" Lavi screams.

"Do you believe yourself to be God's Apostle?" Bookman questions Lavi, whispering. "You are the successor of 'Bookman' and nothing else. Haven't I taught you to be nothing more than an onlooker, regardless of the situation?" Bookman scolds him. "As a Bookman, you must place yourself within that, and record all matters with fairness. You must not be afflicted with anything, nor be biased. In history, there will be evidence of war, and because of that war, history will change."

Lavi widens his eyes as he hears Bookman's lecture.

"Don't be taken in by the war." Bookman continues. "We are only on the Order's side 'by chance,' all for the sake for recording history. Don't forget our goal, Lavi."

Lavi looks down. "I... got it. Sorry, Panda."

Bookman punches Lavi again. After that, Bookman looks out through the broken window.

"Besides," Bookman starts. "I do not believe that the boy prophesied as 'Destroyer of Time' can be dead and the girl prophesied as 'Priestess of Water' would disappear."

Lenalee looks at Bookman.

"The reason why I asks the Head Officer to join Cross' unit... was because I was interested in those two." Bookman confesses. "I thought that the word 'Time', in 'Destroyer of Time'... may be a reference to a certain man." Bookman explains. "'Time'... "Millennium"... Allen Walker may be the one who is fated to destroy The Millennium Earl. Also Alice Lakefield has her role as the Priestess of Water when she goes back to her hometown. If that's the case... then they cannot die here."

Then they hear someone knocking on the door.

"Exorcist-sama? Is something wrong?" Anita's voice is heard through the door. "It's been very noisy in there..."

Anita opens the door, letting her and Mahoja to come in. When they see the widow broke, Mahoja makes a face and stares at the broken window. Krory and Bookman point at Lavi.

"He did it." The two Exorcists bluntly tell Mohoja.

Mahoja turns her head and glare at Lavi. She then cracks her knuckles.

"I'm sorry." Lavi apologize and Mahoja gets in front of Lavi, still has the face. "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" He apologizes repeatedly then hugs Miranda for support.

"I-it's all right!" Miranda reassures and points at the window. "See, look at the window."

Mahoja looks at the window and sees the window being repaired itself and goes back to normal.

"It fixed itself!?" Mahoja exclaims.

"Yes. While I'm activating my Innocence, real-time is not allowed in the airspace of this ship." Miranda explains. "Therefore, the ship will constantly restores itself to its very best condition. Furthermore, while we are in this airspace any injuries that either we or the crew bears injuries will heal."

"That's a quite a convenient ability." Mahoja says.

"No, it isn't." Miranda denies. "In the end, this ability is only temporarily. The only things I have learning at Headquarters were raising my synchro percentage with the Time Record, and extending my activation time. If I undo my activation, everything will return to real time." Miranda explains. "That is why you shouldn't overdo yourselves if another battle occurs on this ship. Your former wounds will return to your body, and if they are fatal, you will die. My ability can't bring back the dead."

"Understood. I'll let everyone know." Anita says.

"But Miranda," Bookman starts. "Will you be all right?"

"Eh?" Miranda says.

"No matter how I calculate this, this ship will need at least five days to reach Japan." Bookman explains. "Are you planning to continue activating until then?"

"T-that's right! While you're activating you can't sleep!" Lavi exclaims.

"Yes. I'll be fine." Miranda reassures. "Not sleeping is a special ability of mine. Once while I continued to be unemployed and thought of how useless I was, I didn't sleep for ten days."

'Eh?' The three Exorcists, Anita, and Mahoja thought. 'That's... okay...? Are we going to be okay...?'

~Alice's dream~

"I'm here again...?" Alice questions as she stands on a grassland gently swaying against the wind along with her hair.

"Alice..."

The said girl to turn around after hearing a voice calling her and ends up in a wooden room as she sees her younger self sitting in front of an elderly woman as both of them wears red and white robes.

"Is that me...?" She asks looking at the her little self.

"Listen to me really carefully." The elderly woman tells the little girl.

"Yes." The little Alice replies.

"You and your twin sister must protect each other since you two are the chosen priestesses of this shrine. Even if you two leave, the both of you will are always connected to this shrine. Do you understand?"

"Yes, obaa-chan."

"Onee-chan! Obaa-chan!" A voice calls out. "Mama said dinner is ready!" This causes the elderly woman to chuckle.

"We're coming!" She replies and looks back at the little Alice. "Now let's go before they start without us."

"Yes!"

Both of them walks down a hallway but the elderly woman stops causing the little Alice to look up at her confusingly.

"Remember this, Alice. Yours and your sister's powers are connected to this shrine. No one can never break that strong connection between the two of you and this place. Is that clear?"

'My connection between me and the shrine...?' Alice questions in her head and looks both of her hands. 'My... power...?'


Black Order: Asia Branch

"In any case, temporary measures were taken, Komui." Bak Chan, the Supervisor of the Asia Branch says.

"Thank you... really..." Komui says.

"You don't have to thank me. We weren't the ones who saved him, after all."

"Yeah... I've been expressing my gratitude to God after so long."

"Did you know anything about this?" Bak asks Komui. "I've met many Parasite-types, but this is the first time I've seen something like this."

"I knew a little of the potential of his Anti-Akuma Weapon had..." Komui confesses. "But I didn't anticipate this miracle."

"A miracle. Eh..." Back repeats. "What's astonishing... is that the will of the Innocence is what revived him." Bak says. "There was an open hole in Allen's heart that should have unavoidable brought him to death. However what revived his heart... was a small fragment of Innocence that had entered his body." Bak explains. "It shouldn't even be able to activate, yet it substituted itself for his cells and closed up the open wound." He continues. "Even though Allen Walker's Innocence has lost its form, it still lives. He's alive."

Allen's room (temporary)

As Bak talks to Komui, Allen wakes up and sees Fou sleeping by his bed and looks up.

"I'm... alive..." Allen says in surprise.