A/N; Why hello there! :D Boooooooo- Isn't Halloween like the best day ever?! I don't care if I'm too old to wear a costume! (is 18 old?) Well, I was going to make a doujin, but only 1 person voted on the poll, so yeah. Thanks who voted though! And as promised, there's an extra Halloween special that was originally going to be the doujin, so I guess in a sense the extra is the doujin? Well, I hope this chapter is readable enough, hehe, and feel free to leave a comment. Also, from now on, the chapters will now have names to them! Why? Think of it as a building up the baby steps to the climax !
'I have to be there for Allen, Section Chief! If not- then it really is leaving Allen to lose to the 14TH!'
Reever sat back on his chair. If he just listened carefully, the blonde haired man could almost swear he could hear Johnny's laughter filling the room. His tired eyes trailed over an old tattered photo frame in his hands, eyes smiling at the thought fond memories. "… You really are an idiot, you know that? … I thought only old fools were the idiots…"
Drip.
A tear spilled from Reever's eyes. He trembled, gripping the old photo frame tighter as he shook with emotion.
…Did he do right? To let the only person he ever thought as a son go…? Or did he knowingly let Johnny go to his own demise?
^*^*^*^* (Regarding Johnny, who has left the Order in search for A.W;)
"ALL ABOAAAARD!"
Chu, Chu! ~
A young man made his way through the crowded terminal, marveling at the rummy old necktie hanging around his neck. He stood out amongst the crowd; his poufy blonde hair seemed so out of place amongst a sea of straight hair. Johnny Gil flustered, rubbing the worn fabric between his hands. "W-wow! It's really… All worn out! I guess that's poverty for you, huh, Section Head?"
"Excuse me sir, do you happen to be Johnny Gil?" A boisterous, authorative voice made the young ex-scientist jump in surprise, legs shaking as he looked at the two burly men in front of him.
He visibly gulped, reeeally wishing that they were just going to ask him for directions, instead of extorting him of money, not that he had much anyway. He had heard Lavi complain many times about thieves, and con-artists out on the streets that loved to pick out victims like him (a.k.a Johnny).
… He never understood why the red haired Exorcist always glared at Allen when he said it. Johnny nervously smiled, adjusting his slipping spectacles. "Ah! Ye-yes?!"
"We've come from Central to accompany you as escorts."
"Please come this way." Johnny let out a sigh he didn't know he was holding, and followed the two men from Central into a cabin inside of the train. "Now then, we'd like to have you cleanse yourself, in accordance with the laws governing those that have left the Order." Johnny saw one of them take out a small vial with some kind of red liquid inside. His stomach felt like it dropped to his feet at the sight of it, and knew that somehow that seemingly 'harmless' liquid was even worse than the Supervisor's stupid Komuvitan D.
"… Cle-cleanse? Like a colon cleanse?" Johnny said, red-faced.
"…. No? As soon as you drink this, the cleansing will be done." The Central man with the neatly parted black moustache handed it to him.
"? Uhm and this is…?"
"It's medicine that will erase all of your memories of the Order."
…..
"… A-all…?"
[-Johnny blushed fervently as he stood in front of Cash, casting his gaze downwards as his best friend's sister helped him adjust the raggedy old necktie Reever gave him.
"Johnny." Cash smiled back down at him. "No matter what happens, believe in Allen Walker until the end, ya hear? … I know my big bro would've said the same."
Tears welled up behind Johnny's glasses, giving her the biggest grin he had as he shook his head. "No matter what, I'll make sure Allen will never be alone, ever again! I- I'LL REALLY MISS YOU GUYS!" Reever grudgingly gave him a one armed hug, and screeched with denial when Johnny pointed out the wet trails on his cheeks.-]- End of Flashback.
No….
'…Everyone! Reever, Cash, Lenalee, Lavi- Does that mean even you, Boss Komui?! Taking this will make me forget about all of you? All the fun times and memories we've all made- together as a family…!' … The ex-scientist could feel a cold sweat coming in.
He couldn't do it.
But if he didn't take the damn drink, he'd never get to see Allen again…
From across him- the black haired man watched with shrewd eyes. 'He's thinking. Thinking will do him no good in this situation…'
Without alerting Johnny's attention, he made signal to the other Central Escort, who closed the door behind him quietly. "Now Mr. Gil- there's no need for concern, I assure you. Once you awake you'll be in a… SAFE place, having forgotten all about the Order. And from there, we will return you to your home."
…Johnny could feel his heart thumping loudly under his vest as he eyed the seemingly 'innocent' looking liquid. 'As expected, Section Head… It's never green or blue.'
Johnny had learned countless times from Reever to avoid any suspicious liquids that were black or red at the lab. Usually, those two colors were associated with something real nasty that Boss Komui would make during his 'experiments'. And now here was a couple of chums he's never met telling him to drink a red liquid. HA! DID THEY THINK HE WAS STUPID?!
… But he was stalling, and it had been far too long that they might've started to suspect him. And he knew well from Allen's case that when Central had the faintest suspicion… It would be HELL.
He sighed deeply, thinking of every possible excuse as to not drink it. '… it's gonna be real horrible to drink, huh…?' He shook his head, hating how sweat fogged his glasses around the rims. 'If this thing makes you forget about the Order, then it most likely means that I will forget about Allen. If so, then I'm in a whole 'lotta trouble!'
"Well, hurry up and drink it." Just as he thought- they were getting suspicious.
"! E-hehe!?" Johnny looked at the two Central men, and made his final decision.
'NO WAY AM I GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN! ~'
The two didn't even have time to react when Johnny suddenly reached into a hidden pocket inside his coat and took out a small black ball, slamming it against the floor. "I'M VERY SORRY!"
"?!"
BOOM!
Instinctively, they both covered their faces, thinking it was some sort of tear gas. "Gah! What the hell?! A smoke screen?!" The closest one to Johnny coughed.
"N-no…" The other one quipped in with a rasp. "The bastard- THIS IS KNOCKOUT GAS!" They soon fell asleep, allowing Johnny time to make his escape. There was a reason why he was a scientist in the Order, after all!
That knockout gas was one of his own inventions. A potent gas that makes you fall asleep within 3 seconds of inhalation; he had used it numerous times on Reever whenever the Section Head went on his infamous 'NO-SLEEP MODE SPREE'. Luckily, Johnny had sneaked it by Central along with a gas mask, and various other things.
…. Unfortunately though- he didn't account for the possibility he would have had to use it in a small space like this. With all the windows in the train cabin closed, the thick black smoke didn't let him see anything. Scrambling on the floor, Johnny desperately tried to escape. "Ah- The door! The door!" In a panic, he flailed his hands in front of him trying to feel his way out. "Crap! Gah! Everything's OK- CALM DOWN SELF, CAAAALM DOOOOWN!"
…
Great- now he was hyperventilating. And it had been three years since his last asthma attack! He only hoped it didn't decide to come back. His lips curled into a big smile when he felt the cool metallic knob of a door. "YESSS! THE DOOR! I'll get off the train and make a run for it before it leaves!"
No sooner did he say that, that he heard a low mutter, and the cabin coat door open…
"Binding Wing…"
"!"
Spells bounded around his body, making him fall… Hard. "Ouch!"
He looked back, and his eyes widened at the sight of shadowy figures coming in the room. "H-holy!- THESE PEOPLE ARE CROW!?" Behind him- the two men got up.
"… This is unmistakably traitorous behavior, Johnny Gil." They loomed over him, dragging the poor boy back against the wall with a thud. "Our destination has changed." Johnny struggled against the bindings, but to no use, and his body felt heavy as his mask slipped away. "Johnny Gil- YOU ARE HEADED FOR PRISON."
"! N-Nooo…"
He wasn't going to cry! Shutting his eyes tight, he forced down the hot tears. Allen was out there- somewhere -ALL ALONE. He wasn't going to give up before even starting his search for him! Allen needed his help! He needs someone who believes in him! That maybe the only thing they might have against the 14th.
… but he couldn't lie to himself… right now- there was no way he was getting out of this.
…..
It was as if God heard his prayer.
In a split second- a foot was shoved on one of the men, sending him reeling back as glass broke from the window.
… A swift figure swung in, heavy leather clad boots with steel rimmed front almost crushed the poor guys face in as the he took down the other one in a blur. Johnny, who had no idea at this point on what to do, only watched the scene blankly, his mind still trying to promise it.
Of course, had an Exorcist been in his place, they would've already taken on the defense in case the savior ended up being some kind of psychopath… Or Noah. But they're pretty close.
It wasn't until Johnny spotted the familiar coat, did he realize the 'savior' was wearing an Order uniform he designed. Not that his heart calmed down just because of it…
A tall figure grasped one of the Central's men by the collar of their shirt, and Johnny realized just how familiar this figure seemed. Long, shiny raven straight hair, what looked like a covered sword in his hand, menacing 'I'll fucking KILL you' aura…. The figure left the room, and immediately terrified screaming was heard just outside.
… Johnny sweat dropped.
"?" The bindings around him fell limp to the floor. Deciding to face the newcomer, the blonde peered through the completely destroyed door, meekly speaking. "… Its kanda- right? Yu Kanda?"
… Cold, onyx eyes peered back.
~/^*^*^*^*^*\~
Kanda boorishly glanced at the scientist- more like ex-scientist as he swung Mugen casually over his shoulder. The Japanese hardly ever saw the frail teen whenever he went down to the Science Division, except the brief moments the boy had to measure him for a new uniform whenever his current one was destroyed. Other than that, Kanda never really payed any mind. He seemed weak as much as he looked it. Though he did recall seeing his poufy hair when he was at the North American Branch- but then again, he wasn't exactly right in the head at that time.
"OI." Kanda awkwardly tried to greet him, but with the scary face he had on, Johnny couldn't help but feel a little threatened… And creeped out… "I heard the news from Marie. You know where that Moyashi is?"
"Eh?" He couldn't recall anyone who went by the name 'Moyashi'. If his memory was right- didn't that mean 'Beansprout'? "Umm, and that would be…?"
"WELL HOW ABOUT IT?!" Kanda's mood soured quickly, his normally thin patience- getting thin.
"Eeek!" Johnny shook in fear. "I- I d-d-don't know! I'm so s-sorry!" Waves of evil rolled of the Japanese, and Johnny could almost swear they threatened to burn him. "B-but I do have a plan for finding Allen! About that Beansprout person- then I have no idea…."
"….." Kanda didn't even know what to say as he glared at Johnny incredulously. "… Really. A plan?"
"Ehh? Uh, yeah!" Leaning to the side, he momentarily feared that the beat up men were dying or something at the horrible sounds of pained groans. "But before that, t-these people are still alive, right? It doesn't look like they're breathing…"
Kanda looked away with a proud smirk. "Che! RELAX. You can never be too sure with Crow, so I've beaten them to a bloody pulp."
"By the way, NOW YOU'RE OFFICIALLY A FUGITIVE FROM THE ORDER AS WELL, KANDA... Err, why do you look so happy..?"
"Che! Could give less about that damn Order." Johnny shook his head at this, still checking on the poor beat up men just in case they were internally bleeding or something. "Where there's even just one Crow, a bunch will follow. It's not safe here."
"Ouch, yeah, you're definitely feeling that tomorrow!" The blonde exclaimed as he saw a really nasty bruise on one of the men's nose.
"I'm going with you-"
"- But Kanda, don't take it the wrong way, but why' ja come here-" Johnny trailed off when he felt him lean in against his ear, causing the tiny hairs on the nape of his neck to stand.
"- I'M SAYING I'M GOING TO BE ESCORTING YOU UNTIL WE GET TO WHERE THE BEANSPROUT IS…"
Johnny shivered. 'GAAAAH- TOO CLOSE!'
^8^*^*^8^
A beer keg was violently slammed against a table. Vein marks popped on Kanda's cheek as he tried to control his anger, to no avail. "Tch!"
He'd never have imagined it..
… NEVER.
All his life, Kanda never once had been the type to be swayed by looks- hell, he'd never even looked Lenalee straight in the eye, or any other girl, or just person in general in a romantic, or sexual way! So to be here, out of all places… Was just ridiculous! His mood only worsened when more of those annoying women in bunny outfits curled around him, gushing like fucking maniacs.
"Oi, boy… WHY DOES YOUR WAY OF FINDING THAT BEANSPROUT INVOLVE A TOUR OF THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT!?" A girl clad in a skimpy bunny outfit giggled, muttering to her friend about how cute the oriental man looked like when he yelled.
"Welcome to the Rabbit's Bottom! ~"
Johnny didn't even seem to mind the girl's all gravitating around them (well, mostly on Kanda), but he merely smiled politely as he talked to one of them next to him, showing her a picture. "Miss, have you seen this guy?"
"Kyaaaan! ~" The bunny girl gushed with joy, holding the picture closer. "What a cute boy! Ohmigosh- he's like sooo couture! But- I don't think I've seen him before, love! ~"
At this, Johnny became crestfallen, not being able to stop the disappointed frown on his face. "… Really? Not at all?"
… Beside him, hordes of girl's pressed their faces near an irked Kanda, gushing about how pretty and dreamy he was. Kanda subconsciously grasped for Mugen, ready to rip those annoying girl's head to shreds at any moment.
"- No, I definitely would've remembered if a boy like that came to the store! ~Oh- yes, another beer please! ~"
Johnny sighed, collecting the giant stacks of paper from the table sadly. "… This place was no good either! Kanda!" At the sound of his name, he snapped his head towards Johnny's direction, brow twitching when the girls started touching his hair. He didn't say anything when Johnny announced they were going to check out the next place, dragging him out of the store by the wrist. He was relieved to leave, hearing those stupid girls whine about how he was leaving already made him want to go back in there and start chopping them up, but stopped himself.
^*^*^*^*^*^* (Day 23 of the search for A.W;)
It seemed as if this was going to be a normal occurrence for the two. Like they have been doing for the past twenty three days; Kanda and Johnny were sitting in a bar. While Kanda seemed to be sort of fine, Johnny on the other hand was tootally plastered, since the frail boy said it would be rude to go in the stores without buying something… But what else could they buy at a bar?
Which left them in this scene; Kanda getting hit on by a drunken idiot, mistaking him for a 'her', thus getting a bloody nose, and ruined pride... Not to mention a possible concussion and a few missing teeth. He looked at the blonde boy, frowning at the alcohol induced blush on his face.
"Heeey- the 23rd place was no good either, huh?! Meh- there's plenty of more of Allen's stack of bills, so don't worry! ~"
"Plenty moooore?! JUST HOW MUCH DEBT DID THAT BEASNPROUT HAVE?!"
"Well-" Johnny hiccupped. "More like General Cross, you mean!" he flipped through the giant file. "If, err- Allen were to battle against the 14th, he'd try to find out more about his opponent first. The trail leads to General Cross, who was an ally of the 14th. But the General's vanished. Poof! GONE! So in other words… These debt notices are the only records left of the General." Johnny nervously smiled at the angry, incredulous look he received from the latter.
"… You're saying that he remembers all the places the debt notices came from…?"
"Uh..." Johnny inched away from him a bit, holding the papers closer to his face as if that would hide him away from the scary Japanese. 'What's wrong with him?' "I think he even remembers the amount of debt owed to each one!"
"Hn!" Kanda rested his head against his knuckles, peering at the blonde indifferently. He seemed to know a lot about Cross, and Kanda couldn't help but to ask how. "I thought the General's disappearance was a secret to everyone except Exorcists and Top Admins…?"
"Ah! ~" Johnny rubbed the side of his head bashfully.
Kanda smiled slyly, looking away as he closed his eyes. "Reever, huh?"
"Yeah..." Johnny admitted. "B-but keep it a secret from the order! If this gets found out, The Division Head-!"
"- Shut up. I won't say anything."
With a new wave of determination, Johnny clenched his fists up in the air. "The Section Head, Jiji, and everyone else were rooting for me! I HAVE TO GET WHERE ALLEN IS!" He swiftly got up, and almost fell as he tried to walk out with his wobbly, drunken state. Kanda only watched with half hidden amusement as the idiot kept tripping. "LET'S GO, Kanda! Next up is 'The Pantheress' Shangri-La'!"
Kanda sweat dropped. 'He's totally plastered…' "What a strange guy…" Johnny looked back with a silly grin. "Wanting to go where such a troublesome guy is…"
"Huh?" Kanda's remark caught him off guard.
"Haven't you got everything to lose?"
The silly grin returned back as Johnny turned to face Kanda. "I… Can only think in the absolute simplest terms!" Doing a dramatic pose, Johnny walked towards the raven haired Exorcist, a hand over his heart as he exclaimed happily. Kanda's eyes widened at the faint ghost of Alma next to Johnny, the same stupid grin on their faces. "IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS!"
"…"
Johnny turned away from him, unaware of the dazed look Kanda had towards his direction. A faint red brushed past his cheeks, and Kanda blocked his face with a hand. "As for Kanda… Why does the Order- or rather, why are you helping me?"
… The two walked out of the bar.
"If they find out… it'll be pretty bad for you, won't it? Kanda? … It just doesn't make any sense… Don't you hate Allen?" because he was still looking at the Japanese, Johnny didn't notice he was about to bump into someone. The chubby woman with a bear mask clutched tight unto him, jumping up high into the air with almost seemingly inhuman strength. "Wha-"
… Of course, not odd for an Akuma.
'ACTIVATE!'
"AHHHHH!" Johnny screamed helplessly in the hands of the Akuma, who's once adorable bear head was now a mutilated version of a bear with multiple rows of shark teeth sprouting from its unhinged mouth and ears. It craned Johnny's neck, trying to take a bite out of his head.
Mugen flew towards the Akuma, impaling its mouth against the cold, cobblestone walls of a nearby building just as it let go of Johnny. When it opened its eyes Kanda dug Mugen deeper into it, causing the wall to crack deeper with the force of the oversized Akuma sinking in deeper.
A deep cackling arose from the Akuma, rising regardless of Mugen's mutilation of its body. "KANDA YUUUU, ISS IT? IT'S KANDA YU!" Johnny grasped the floor for his fallen glasses. "WHAT A STUPID FOOL, TO HAVE COME BACK!" He managed to find it, and watched as Kanda continued to dig his innocence deeper. "THAT LITTLE BIT OF LIFE-LIFE YOU HAVE LEFT- YOU SHOULD HAVE JUST SPENT IT IN PEACE…" Kanda's eyes shone wildly, like a predator on its prey as he continued to split the Akuma in half. "THE ORDER HAS NO CHANCE OF WINNING! AKUMA ARE QUICKLY. BEING. BORN EVEN. NOW. QUICKLY. QUICKLY, QUICKLY. QUICKLY. QUICKLY. QUICKLY. QUICKLY. QUICKLY-" Kanda had enough. With a quick shove, he tore through it completely. It screamed in pain. "-YOU'VE CHOSEN HELL, YOU FOOL!"
It exploded.
Taken aback, Johnny got up, looking at Kanda with raised brows. "Really Kanda… WHY?"
The latter didn't even say anything for a while, as Johnny just continued to ask him again. Mugen dripped with blood, and at last- Kanda spoke. "… I was the one that awakened him into Neah…"
"!" Johnny refused it. "You mean what happened at the North American Branch…?"
"So you were there…"
"That wasn't your fault! It wasn't! The Earl was using Akuma to make you-"
"- I didn't care what happened to the Order." Johnny stopped talking. "So during the mission in Paris, when I caught a glimpse of that guy's Noah transformation, I just ignored it. Without even reporting it to Komui… I. Just. Let. It. Be. Because I hated the Order even more than the Noah and Akuma." Johnny didn't seem to comprehend as his face twisted with distraught. Kanda looked back- surprising him with a smile. "But now… This regret simply won't let me die peacefully." Grabbing Johnny's bag, Kanda walked away, heading up a stairs that lead to another level of the street. "… Let's go. This smoke is poisonous."
I looked down… My face felt hot, and I knew at any moment I was going to burst out in tears.
I was about to say sorry… And then I stopped myself. Watching Kanda go up the stairs- I realized just how wrong I was about him. All those insults, the threats, the bashing… I get it now.
… I really do…
…
Thank you.
… That's what I should've said at that moment. Thank. YOU.
I had to let him know, before I'd never get the chance to. My lips trembled, as I tried to choke back a stupid sob that I promised I'd never do again. Quick- before Kanda's out of sight! "T-Thank!-"
…
….
…. KANDA CAME BACK FOR ALLEN'S SAKE.
A/N; AM I LIKE THE ONLY ONE WHO SOBBED AT THIS CHAPTER IN THE MANGA?! Like, heart wrenching sob? I literally cried for hours, thinking about how beautiful Hoshino made this chapter, while ignoring all the scantily clad hoes, and the Red Light District. (Yes, I know I'm probably the only person who frowns upon that.) A lot of ppl say that Johnny's not relevant to the story, and why was he put in Hoshino's chapter, as well as Kanda. Now, I dunno about you guys, but I wasn't like 'wtf?' when she made Kanda help Johnny, or Johnny going out to search for Allen. It just feels sooo- right. I know the two are unlikely to be friends, or that their strange alliance is just, well- strange, but I would've felt so weird had it been Lenalee and Kanda. I actually like Johnny, even though he's not shown much and he's not an Exorcist. That makes him even cooler. Allen and Johnny's friendship is weird, yet interesting; although they don't see each other often, in Hoshino's filler in chapter/ panels when he's at the Order, they're seen chatting together a lot. In The chapters before Allen's death, Johnny was really involved in Allen's daily Order happenings, and it makes perfect sense that he was the one who decided to go out, throw everything away in search for his friend. Johnny admires Allen sooo much. Thanks to Allen, Johnny's grown so much as a person even if Allen doesn't even realize it. Sure, Lenalee and Allen are close, but I feel like it's changed ever since the Ark Fiasco. Maybe once upon a time he had a crush on her? But I bet'cha all the LenaleexAllen fans felt pretty bummed when he left just saying (Literally) 'Lenalee, I love you- but you're not special. I love everyone else in the Order too.' harsh! I'd be so depressed had that happened to me….
And to point out something that's been really bothering me; WHERE THE FUDGE'S LAVI?!
SERIOUSLY! HE'S BEEN MISSING M.I.A FOR LIKE 9 OR MAYBE MORE CHAPTERS! SOMEBODY PLEASE SAVE HIM ALREADY!
Well, hope ya guys enjoyed this chapter! And I want to thank every single person who review, follow, and favorited this story! Thank you sooo much! And I want to thank the person who left me that really pretty comment on my Deviant Art on Lost and Found's Christopher Welt's picture I posted up there! Thanks a bunch, and now as I promised (Reader; 'Wait there's moooore?!'); HERE'S THE HALLOWEEN EXTRA! Oh and remember, this extra doesn't affect the 'L&F' story in anyway, so it's just for the sake of Halloween.
/~^~^~^~^~6^*^*6*^*^*6*^*^*6~^~^~^~^~/
"-That's why I don't like that Welt's guy, my darling 'nephew'!" The Noah of Music yelled as he cradled Allen in his arms. "He is obnoxious, flashy, a rich snob, womanizer-"
Allen rolled his eyes. "- I seriously doubt the last part…"
"Don't you see!? He's changed you!" Neah exclaimed wildly. "Ever since you've met him, you've gone back to that whole 'formal talk' crap! And now you're sarcastic! You've never been like that! He's a bad influence, and I don't want him around you."
Allen almost couldn't believe it. Was Neah being…? PROTECTIVE?! In a motherly way?! "… I can take care of myself now, Neah."
"ASFFDHGFH- 'I TAKE CARE OF MYSELF NOW!?' TOO PROPER! Say 'I'm a fucking man, I ain't your bitch'! That's better! Lose the formality and bring the CASUAL!" Neah grinned, letting go of him while dramatically shaking his fist up in the air. Shaking his head, Allen pushed Neah off the edge of the throne with his elbow… So what if seeing Neah made him temporarily immobile- didn't mean he couldn't attempt to beat up the crazed Noah. "OW- THAT HURT!"
"Neah, I will never understand you…" The white haired boy quipped quietly as Neah stood up. "Even though Chris has his moments in which I want to just strangle him for showing off his wealth so shamelessly, he has good intentions! He helped that young girl back in that town where we saw Wisely, remember? He even gave her money son she could leave the town and the bad memories. I think that's heroic, and I admire that. I really was starting to think that all he cared about was himself and his wealth- But… I understand what you mean when my way of speaking changed once I met Christopher…"
….
Neah blinked. "Christopher? Who's him?"
"… CHRIS, Neah… "
"….. I knew that." Neah quipped in quickly. "Hey- Allen?"
Sigh. "What is it now, Neah? You sort of interrupted me and changed the subject."
"Humph! ~ Well! With that attitude, never mind!"
"…"
Neah huffed, trying to say his point one more time. "…. Allen, my boy…Do tell me exactly why you decided to agree on helping Chris. I mean- I know you have a Martyr-Complex and all-" Allen glared at him. "- but why exactly did you agree to help him?"
….
Allen smiled weakly at that.
Why?
…
"…..Why would anyone want to help with a request like that…?"
"Why wouldn't I?" The white haired Exorcist countered back. "If it had been your brother- wouldn't you too?"
"…" The Noah hadn't expected an answer like that back. "… I guess then- yeah. Had it been Mana- I would've done anything to find him and make sure he's safe. Even have killed too… But you don't have a family Allen, so you wouldn't understand." Allen shook his head.
"On the contrary- the Order has become my family. Like you, I would do anything for them to ensure their safety and happiness, that's one thing you and I have in common… And that's precisely what Chris wants. That's why I need to help him find his brother. Because I understand, and so do you…" He smiled, making Neah pout.
"'nephew', you're too adorable when you're giving mushy speeches about the power of love…."
"? Umm, okaaay…?" Allen leaned back against the chained throne uncomfortably. "Anyways, maybe it's because I don't know Chris that, well, my speech has reverted back to how I previously talked before joining the Black Order."
Neah quipped in. "You mean Mana's way of speech…"
… Allen's small smile faltered a bit. "Y-yeah… Right…"
With a sigh, Neah ruffled Allen's hair. "Fine… While I'm still totally against the bloke- I guess Chris can't be all that bad…." Hearing the Noah not talk badly about Chris for once made Allen smile.
"Just give it some time. I think you two don't like each other simply because there's not that much you know. People do fear the unknown, after all."
Grudgingly, Neah agreed.
^*^*^*^*^ (Later on that day…)
"CHRIS- don't be ridiculous, now….." Allen muttered with a frown, watching the brunette stalk across the street. "There's absolutely NO such thing as monsters, or ghouls, or witches… All of that is just made up stories to get little children to behave, and not be out so late at night! Therefore, you're acting like a child, Chris… And it kind of worries me…!"
Chris ignored him, raising the lantern up to his face as he peered cautiously into the dark, empty Alleyway. "Me? You're the ridiculous one, Allen! Suggesting we'd get to the Inn faster by taking a shortcut through the Alleyway…. THAT'S WHERE SHIT HAPPENS, MAN! Haven't you heard all the stories of people's souls being snatched at the brim of night by Grim Reapers, or that faceless chick that dismembers men?! Or even that really creepy one with the little ghost children that eat people-!"
"- STORIES, Chris! Stories! NOT. REAL!" Allen yelled back, not understanding why he was shaking him by the shoulder. "Besides, they could easily have been mistaken for Akuma. Remember how you called that Level three an angel?"
Chris rolled his eyes. "Yeah, and my maids and servants called them monsters, but they're real. What's to say monsters, ghouls, and witches aren't real too?!"
Allen had enough. Without another word, he locked elbows with Chris, and dragged the screeching boy in the Alleyway. "Nuoooooo- WE'RE GONNA DIIIIE!"
"- Not to be offensive and all, but SHUT UP!"
Chris only screamed louder, briefly wondering how the neighbor's weren't chasing them down with pitch forks by now with all the noise they were making. But then again, today was All Hollow's Day, and most of the native's children were out and about the streets, dressed up as the little monsters they truly were. So far, neither Chris nor Allen had seen any children out…
Which was weird. Considering they get free candy tonight.
Glaring at Allen briefly for dragging him through the long, creepy Alleyway, he kept an eye out for anything weird that might pop out. "…. I hate Alleyways…"
Allen gave him a strange look at the misplaced comment, but disregarded it, already used to the older teen's strange personality and comments. "You only hate them because you associate them with fear; the unknown things that you believe are lurking through its shadows. But see? Were already almost at the end of it. Past that corner is the other side of town, and we're almost to the Inn. Then once you get inside, you'll realize how silly you were being…." Allen gave him an encouraging smile. "There's nothing to be afraid off, Chris! Even though monsters and the supernatural might sound really scary, how often do you hear stories happen to close relatives?"
Allen was right. Out of all the creepy stories he had heard, none of them had been about a sibling or close relative that died a horrible death. It was always the same; 'A friend of a friend that I know', 'the old woman/ man down the edge of town', or the 'I knew this person once'… None of them had actually been important… Chris stopped walking, causing Allen to look at him with raised brows. "Chris?"
"Nah, who am I kidding?! They're real as fuck! Allen, bad shit happens to blokes like you who don't believe!" Chris said.
"…"
Whatever. Allen wasn't even going to try and prove his point anymore… Even as a child, Allen never really got spooked by ghost stories or such… He was more afraid of Cross's Alcohol driven mood swings than a stupid old apparition. And his debts. All those debs scared him more than any monster or ghost tale…
Which was why he couldn't understand why Chris was so spooked about being out so late on any ordinary night like this.
Chris on the other hand, couldn't understand why Allen seemed so calm. Looking at the boy directly, he stopped, causing the both of them to halt to a stop since the white haired boy was dragging him. "… Did you have like, some crappy childhood or something?"
"What?"
"I know you're not normal, but did your parents drop you on the head when you were young?"
Allen glared. "… I'm an ORPHAN…"
"Why aren't you fazed about today?!"
"Because it's just like any ordinary day, Chris…"
Chris scoffed, shoving Allen's elbow off his. "Look, I gotta reeeally bad feeling about this. We can just head on back, and pretend like we never saw this Alleyway-"
"- Oh my gosh- ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK, CHRIS!? Is that why?" Chris growled.
"Fuck no! I just have a bad feeling- like we're walking into something we're not supposed to, okay?!" Allen burst out into laughter as the brunette merely fumed to himself.
"T-that's just-" The sound of something knocking down a garbage can made both of the teen's eyes widen in surprise. "-silly…?"
…
…..
Crash!
Allen wasn't laughing anymore. Quietly he moved closer towards the shadows, signaling for Chris to do the same. "It could be a rat." The white haired Exorcist tried to explain the noise, but when they both heard a deafening rumbling, groan- just a 'rat' seemed unlikely.
Chris's eyes narrowed, that weird feeling of something bad about to happen making his throat burn. "That's a mighty 'squeak' for just a 'rat', don't' cha think?" He whispered quietly. The moan seemed louder now, and Allen could sense it was just around the corner…
… He sprinted forward, kicking hard as he saw the shadow almost turn the corner they were hiding behind, and reach them.
"?"
…But there was nothing. Even though he clearly saw the person's shadow, and heard its footsteps approaching, there was nobody around the corner. After a few more minutes, Allen decided that it was just a coincidence, and the two continued their way, reaching the other side of town. It seemed that as soon as Chris left the dark Alleyway, he felt a bit better, but the sickening feeling of something bad about to happen didn't fade in the slightest. As they reached the Inn, Chris looked over at Allen, who was reaching into his pockets to take out their key.
"Don't' cha think that was a bit, I dunno- weird?" He commented, catching Allen and the Inn Keepers attention. "I told you there was something weird about that Alleyway!"
Rolling his eyes, Allen just smiled at the old Inn Keeper. "Good evening, sir."
The old man's frail, long white hair shook as he coughed out a laugh. With a yellowed grin, he took something out from under the counter and hid it in his hands. Allen watched the old man wearily; the thought of him being a Broker crossed his mind, but relaxed when the old man opened his hands to reveal a shiny black cross with pearls. "You lads crossed the old Blood Witch Alleyway, didn't you…"
Allen and Chris both looked at each other.
"The old Blood Witch Alleyway…" The old man continued, coughing terribly as he set the Cross gently on the counter top. "Is a terrible thing to cross through, young lads. Ya shouldn't have done so."
'Damn, I knew it!' Chris thought in a panic, sending Allen a glare as he spoke to the Inn Keeper. "How' ja know we went through an Alleyway?" At this, the Inn Keeper laughed, banging his scaly old hands on the table as if he had just been told the world's funniest joke.
"Well! For one thing- you said it just a few minutes ago to your friend!" Allen shook his head at the obvious answer. "And for another- anyone who ever crosses that Alleyway always sees or hears something- evil."
"Well, I wouldn't say 'evil', sir, but we did hear a strange moaning noise and footsteps as well as a shadow. But when I turned the corner to attack- there was no one there."
The Inn Keeper shook his head. "Of course there wouldn't…" The old man muttered darkly under his breath, confusing the two teens in front of him. "No one's ever there…"
Allen voiced out first. "Sir, what do you mean no one's ever there?"
Looking up at the two teens, the old man sighed. "… You two definitely are outsiders. Ever heard the tale of 'The Bloody Witch?'"
Chris froze. "T-the what now?" Allen gave him an incredulous look.
"When I was around you lads age, there used to be an old homeless woman who used to live in that very same Alleyway you two crossed as a shortcut… She was a mean old lady- at least that's what everyone said of her, and the locals wanted more than anything to kick her out of the town…."
['The slam of a cane against a creaky oak floor startled the Townspeople into being quiet. Nearby, a young woman looked towards the source with pleading eyes.
"Daddy!" Her soft voice rang about the Town Hall, shaking her father's coat by the arm hem. "Please! Think it over, Daddy!"
Around the room, murmur arose. "How dare she go against the Governor!?"
"Governor, how can you allow such rebellion from your child!?"
"SHE'S FRIENDS WITH THE OLD WITCH- I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES! ~" The room filled with people gasping. The Governor's eyes widened, shaking as he looked at his kin.
"SYRAH!" He bellowed, stomping closer to his daughter. "Is this true, daughter…? Are you friends with that WITCH?!" Syrah let out a scream of pain when her father grabbed her by her braided ponytail.
"D-DADDY!"
The man who spoke up pointed a gloved hand to her, brows burrowed with hate as he described what he saw. "She goes and gives food to the Witch! Almost every day! She even sits down with her and talks to her! She's her accomplice!"
"WOULD YOU ALL LISTEN TO YOURSELVES!" Syrah yelled out suddenly, interrupting the man. The Towns People stepped back away from her out of fear as she glared holes at each one of them. "What has that old poor woman ever done to any one of you, eh!? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! AND HERE ARE ALL OF YOU PLANNING TO RUN HER OFF JUST BECAUSE YOU ALL BELIEVE SHE IS A 'WITCH'! We're not in the Dark Ages anymore, people- just because she is old and not very sociable, you all are ready to just turn your backs on her, call her a Witch, and force her out of Town, and ya don't even know her name! Unbelievable- YOU ALL SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!" Syrah turned to her father. "Especially you, Daddy! Grandpapa Ezkiel taught you better than that! He taught you just as me to not judge one by how they appeared or act, and that calling someone name's is wrong- I can't believe you forgot all about that, Daddy! ~" Tears flowed freely from her eyes, as she made her way through the crowd. The Governor- her father –struggled to stop her with his cane, but she just kicked it away.
"WHERE ARE YOU GOING, DAUGHTER!?"
Syrah didn't even look back as stormed to the front door. "I'm going to go to do the only thing that's right that none of you will ever do! I'm gonna protect that old poor woman! ~ She's been so nice to me, and she's a good person, and definitely not a Witch!"
Her father's cheeks reddened with fury. "Don't' you dare help that wench, Syrah! GET BACK HERE RIGHT THIS INSTANT!"
"SHE'S NOT A WENCH, DADDY- HER NAME'S BARBARA, BUT OF COURSE NONE OF YOU EVER BOTHERED TO KNOW IT!" Syrah burst through the doors and out of sight. After a few seconds, a tall dark figure emerged from the corner of the Town Hall, seemingly out of nowhere. The Town's People gasped as the realized the man must have been there the whole time. Greedy, neon green eyes scanned across the room with a Cheshire cat's grin on his blackened lips.
Mickchelow Black. He was feared by all in the Town. Rumors circled around this strange man- an avid necrophiliac, 'Grave Dancer', Drug Addict, Grave robber… I was said that he was the most handsome noble man in Town not too long ago, but for some reason, he became this. And he reeked of rotting corpses, not a surprise since he's been said to have been seen down at the Cemetery doing… things. Wherever Mickchelow was; it seemed that the stench of death followed. The foul smell filled the room, and many wrinkled their noses in disgust as he walked up to the Governor. With a nasty smile, he flashed the stoic Governor a yellowed toothy, cavity filled grin, tipping his soiled, raggedy maroon top hat with a mock bow… Hand clad over his heart. "… Ello, Governor!"
"Mickchelow Black… What the hell are you doing here stinking up the whole Town?"
The strange man let out a wheezy laugh tracing his worn down shoes against the Governor's cane. "Oi- is this hostility I hear? Why Governor- if it wasn't for me, you're darling Syrah wouldn't have survived that incurable illness, me Governor! ~"
"Your help wasn't asked for! You broke into my home, and slipped something in my daughter's tea! I can arrest you for that, you know."
"Ah, ah, ah- but she got better! And mighty good looking too…"
"MICKCHELOW! What are you here for?!"
Said man eyed the Governor slyly, as he turned to face the crowd with open arms. "Towns People! Oh, how long has it been since we've last all gathered like this, together! I REJOICE FOR MOMENTS LIKE THESE!"
"YOU SHOULD REJOICE IN WHEN YOU'LL FINALLY TAKE A BATH!" Someone yelled, causing the younger adults- adolescents -to stifle a giggle.
Mickchelow only grinned larger at this. "A little raven told me that you're all planning to run out that old hag who lives up in the Alleyway… It true?"
"None of your business, stinky man!"
"Oooh, such sharp words- they cut through my soul! ~ Hehe, I'm here to warn all of ya, ya see!? Take out the old hag…" Mickchelow jumped up to a nearby chair, startling them. "And you bring about untold horrors in this Town ya ain't never seen before…." He smiled, getting off the chair. "Governor…" Said man looked at him as he left. "Might wanna bet on ya daughter's soul, now. Hurry- before someone else gets it first! Hehe! ~"
"WAIT! Do you mean the Witch?"
Mickchelow stopped, and suddenly burst out in an eerie cackle, laughing with glee as he spun to face him again. "Oooh, silly youuu! ~" A shadow passed over his eyes as he once again gave the Governor a mock bow. "I MEANT ME…."
Syrah's chest heaved rapidly. Her muddy shoes sinked with each sprint she took as she neared Witches 'home'. "BARBARA!" Looking around frantically, she spotted a small hunched back woman against the floor, staring into nothingness. Smiling in relief, Syrah sat down in front of her, holding the woman's cheeks up. "Oh, Barbara- SOMETHING HORRIBLE'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO YOU..!"
The old 'Witch' crackled a smile, cloudy cataract filled eyes didn't allow her to see anything, but she knew it was the ever so sweet Governor's daughter. "Why Syrah- Ain't something horrible always happening to little ol' me?" Searching her disturbingly serene features, Syrah's tears started to fall, as she choked back her sobs.
"Oh Barbara- They're all fools, I tell you! They really believe you're a Witch!" She hugged the old woman tighter. "They've all gathered at the Town Hall, and are set on running you out of Town!"
"Oh Syrah- when haven't they."
"But the way they wanna do it is j-just- AWFUL! THEY WANT TO BURN YOU ALIVE! A-AND AFTER THEY DO THAT, THEY'LL SPILL YOUR AHSES OUT OF TOWN!" Her sobbing worsened now as Barbara patted her cheek softly.
"Chin up." At this, Syrah frowned, confused at how the woman could be so calm after such a terrible thing. "Ain't a thing be done about it. I ain't gonna leave and run' er away just cuz I ain't liked here. If they want to get rid o' me, then they're the ones who gonna go to hell, not me."
"B-but-!"
"Hon- I'm gonna accept my fate. With no regrets. But for you- I'm terribly sorry…"
"Why?"
"Cuz you don't deserve to die with me too. That's what they gonna do, Syrah. Your pop's a cruel man…."
Syrah was about to say something, when she heard her father's loud booming voice. "SO IT'S ALL TRUE WHAT CHARLES SAID!"
"DADDY! I WON'T LET YOU HURT HER!"
The Governor became more enraged, as the towns People yelled to burn the Witch. "SYRAH!Get away from her, right NOW!"
"BURN ME TOO! THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL EVER GET TO HER!"
The Governor slammed his cane. "SYRAH! LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER!"
Without warning, someone in the crowd dumped gas on both women, startling Syrah.
"W-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!" Alarmed, the Governor turned the Charles, who had made it public that his daughter was speaking to the Witch.
"CHARLES- WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING!?"
Charles looked to him fearfully, still holding the can of Kerosene in his arms. "She is an accomplice to the Witch! I'm doing what you will never dare to do! "
"Charles…" The Governor said calmly, his heart racing as he cautiously walked to him. "You don't want to do this…. You're a father too- THINK ABOUT THIS…!"
Charles eyes started to tear. "I-I KNOW!" His voice shook, as he held up with a shaky hand a lighter. "But face it Governor- your daughter has been supplying the Witch with food, and clothes! She talks with her- WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY DISCUSS! THEY COULD BE PLANNING TO KILL ALL OF US! Anyone close to the witch has to burn with her too…" Out of nowhere, two adolescents- Charles children grabbed the Governor, holding him down as the crowd was handed lighters as well.
"STOOOP! S-STOOOOP THIS- ALL OF YOOOOOUU!"
…
…..the lighters were lighted, and thrown.
… Screams shook the Town as red and orange shadowed across buildings.
Away from unseen eyes, Mickchelow watched the scene unfold with amusement, hands shaking with glee as he leaned over the Gargoyle statue. "How pretty! ~"He swooned, resting his chin a hand as he watched the Governor's daughter burn- shake with desire at the sounds of her pained screams. "Oh, Syrah, you're even prettier when your skin melts like that…! ~" Above him, a raven hovered over his head, and swooped down to rest on its Master's shoulder. "It's time, my pet! ~ … Her soul's MINE NOW…." Without another word, he swooped off the Gargoyle, landing in front of the Crowd. His sneer grew wider at their surprised, fearful faces.
"Ello Governor… Didn't I tell you to bet on your daughter's life before me?" Turning to the burning women, he took a deep breath, and breathed out a black mist.
…The fire was gone, and all you could see was two badly burned clumps of body on the floor, one of them still moving slightly and groaning in pain...
"SYYYYYYRAH!"
Mickchelow laughed, skipping towards the charred bodies. With one last look at the crowd, he tipped his hat, and one of the bodies turned to ashes. "…. BYE, BYE, OLD WITCH! ~" He blew his breath to the smallest body, and it disappeared into ashes, the wind blowing it to who knows where .As he loomed over the other one, he raised a thin, gloved finger….
…. And the Syrah's body cracked.
The Towns People watched in horror as more tiny cracks tore through her, blackish liquid oozing out of her body. A crack reached her head, and she exploded, sending the liquid to cover the terrified Towns People. A bright blue orb flew to Mickchelow, and he opened his mouth and swallowed it. With a clap of his hands, the Towns People tried to get away, but found themselves unable to. It was as if their body suddenly became ten times heavier. Mickchelow hummed a tune as he took out a small pocket book from his coat. "Hmmn, let's see….." He licked his lips, taking out a monocle.
*"Reserassem hoc spiritum terrenum et mittere me. Sinere quo sanguis currere profundus intus natura mater habitu et humo eam pannos. Eaque projecit in terram, quia contaminatum et malum vobis iustificans. TENEBRIS MORTIS FORES!" At the sound of the last words, a low moan was heard from Syrah, whose ashes was now circulating above the terrified Towns People. The Governor looked at Mickchelow with disbelief.
"… It was you…." The strange man looked at him with a smirk. "…. IT WAS YOU- THOSE CHILDREN, MACKENZIE'S DISAPPEARANCE- ! Y-YOU'RE THE WITCH! IT NEVER WAS THE OLD WOMAN, WAS IT!?"
"Of course not! ~ A Witch can't do nearly as much damage as I can, me Governor…. I CAN DO SOME MUCH MORE…! ~"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU!?"
"Me?... isn't it obvious?" Mickchelow said blankly.
"… You're a wizard?"
"Ha! Hell no!.. I'm a Necromancer, Governor… Raise the dead? You know- all THAT hubbleballoo. And I've had me eyes on your daughter's soul for quite some time, now! ~"
The Governor's eyes widened. "… What?"
"Just to think how much all of ya don't realize just how special young souls are…. It's soo sad! ~ And Syrah's…. Is the cream of the top… And it's mine, now." Mickchelow howled with laughter watching as Syrah's ashes reformed into a pale version of what it once was, and kill the immobilized Towns People.']
…
Chris let out an impressed whistle. "Wow…. Some tale that is, old man."
The Inn Keeper shook his head. "If only that was a tale, young lad- but it's not. I was one of the only people who managed to escape that day. And ever since then, there's been no sign of Mickchelow Black… Or Syrah and the old woman's bodies…."
Allen frowned, not liking the sound of that. "… Are you sure they died that day?"
"? Yes, I'm sure as I watched them both be burned alive…." The Inn Keeper said sarcastically.
"How much time passed after you watched them burn that you couldn't find their bodies?"
Chris looked at Allen with confusion, a bit taken aback as such a question. "Allen? What, we're playing 'catch that corpse 'now?"
A vein twitched. "Would you excuse us?" Allen smiled politely, dragging Chris outside. "No Chris, I think I have an idea as to what may have happened to Mickchelow Black, and the rest." Chris's eyes widened, as he straightened up.
"You mean now you suddenly believe in monsters, ghouls and ghosts?!... And Witches?!"
Allen rolled his eyes. "No! Those are just stories, but the Inn Keeper's story holds undeniable facts."
"uhhh- English please..?"
"….That was English…. Anyways, this may all be the cause of Akuma's and Brokers. If so, then this Town is in trouble because there may be a very powerful loose Akuma around. Syrah came back from her ashes, and killed the Towns People- that sounds a lot like a new born Akuma… And Mickchelow was a Necromancer who captured Syrah's soul and brought her back to life, albeit as a killer, yet still with her face- now that sounds a lot like the Millennium Earl, creator of Akumas."
"Wait… You mean someone out there goes about their shitty lives in creating those damn things!?" Chris exclaimed.
"He's not human Chris, remember Wisely? He's one of them, a Noah, and my enemy."
"He sounds fat."
"…" Allen made a quick note to ask him later on how he knew that. They both went back inside. "Sorry about that, sir- continue?"
The inn Keeper sighed. "To answer your question- the last time I saw both Syrah and the old woman's was the night they were killed. Me and the remaining survivors-"
"- The remaining survivors and I." Allen corrected, earning a glare from both Chris and the Inn Keeper.
"… Feared that the smell would attract wildlife, so we came back to the Alleyway to get rid of the body. Syrah and Mickchelow left had already left, I don't know if Syrah's still out there- but I definitely know she's not alive anymore. After a while her body had to start to rot, like all corpses... But ever since then, children go missing on All Hollows Day. The parents just got so afraid that they either made their kids live somewhere else, or wouldn't let them out on this day."
"Did you find the old woman's body?"
"? No, actually… It was gone when we got there to clean up. We had only gone down the block for a minute… What does that have to do with anything?" Allen briefly looked at Chris, before explaining…
^*^*^*^*^*^*^(20 minutes later;)
"Allen- you sure about this?" Chris voiced out through the darkness quietly as he held up the lit lantern closer. It was 9:30, and according to the Inn Keepers words, it was exactly the same time that Mickchelow brought back Syrah, and killed all those Towns People. To Allen, all of this sounded very uncanny and eerily more familiar to the Earl. He was known to do most of his work at night. His silver blue eyes trailed over to the Inn Keeper, who after much nagging from Chris, he convinced Allen to bring him along too.
~'He knows more than we do on this- he should come too.'~
Allen sighed for the umpteenth time that day, seriously wondering if he really should've brought Chris along. Maybe Neah was right- Chris may be a bad influence on him.
… Allen only shrugged, blowing the comment away even as he heard Neah agree in his mind. 'Neah- do you think that this Mickchelow fellow, Syrah, and the old woman are actually the Earl himself, or one of his 'artwork'?' He could literally hear Neah pondering in his mind, then let out a 'meh'.
'Could be- then again there are a lot of things in that tale that just doesn't add up with the Earl. Like the old woman's body disappearing. And Syrah's 'resurrection' in a sense- it's simply not something the Earl can do… He needs grief and sadness to make an Akuma- this Mickchelow fella just reanimated her out of nothing, with a necromancy spell in Latin.'
Vaguely, Allen recalled all the times Cross tried to teach him the dead language. '… Yeah, I was never quite good at that when Master Cross would try to teach me.'
Neah chuckled, remembering how avid the red haired fool was about learning dead languages. '…. That spell was a soul snatching/reanimation spell. And a really powerful one too. It's roughly translated to 'unbind this earthly spirit and cast it to me. Let the blood run deep within mother nature's dress and soil her cloth. Cast this spell upon this land, for it is tainted with evil, and evil shall be your justifier. Darkness death's door!' Only a very skilled, powerful necromancer could ever perform this spell, and it's only been done once- well, twice now apparently since this guy was able to do it.'
'Do you think this Mickchelow is the Earl?'
'I highly doubt that. Millennium was never 'fond' of the language, or those who spoke it. The twins once gave him a book written in Latin, and he was mad for centuries. That's why he's not too fond of Jasdero and Debitto. Now pay attention, cuz that Welt's guy is calling you. '
"—Hellloooo? Allen- you are still Allen, riiight? Not that creepo Neah guy…." The 'are you kidding me?' look made Chris relieved. "Good. It's you- still creepy that you gotta dead guy who croaked 35 years ago living in your mind and slowly taking over your soul, body and shit… " Chris trailed off at the looks he received. "… What?"
The white haired boy rolled his eyes, turning his attention to the Inn Keeper. "Sir-"
"-Please, call me Ross." Allen faintly smiled, clearing his throat.
"… Ross. Um, could you point out the spot where the old woman died?"
"Where standing right on it."
Chris flinched, a bit unnerved by this. "Gross…"
Allen ignored him. "Alright- things may get dangerous here from now on. Chris, keep an eye out if anything decides to say hello while I look around for any clues."
Ross blinked, grabbing Allen's shoulder. "Lad, it's been more than 50 years since the old hag died- you're not going to find anything but a pile of garbage, maybe a few rats… I doubt things have been kept untouched in this spot for that long."
"You're mistaken, I'm not looking for any sort of clues a detective would…." Turning around, Allen activated his left eye, freaking out both Ross and Chris.
"W-whoa, dude!- Since when have you been able to do that!?" The brunette exclaimed with apprehension, clearly a bit bugged that Allen had never told him about that. "It's weird!"
… He knew the boy was an Exorcist, but never had gone around to asking exactly what he could do to fight off Akuma. The last time he had even seen one was when the Level Four's attacked his Mansion- and he was temporarily blind at that time, so he had no idea how Allen managed to kill those things when he looked so… Puny.
Allen looked back at him a bit peeved, although he forced on a smile to hide his annoyance. A couple of years ago, he would've spent days locked in his room if someone told him that, but after all the shit he had been through after that- it only made him want to punch Chris… But then what would be the use of that? "… Chris, you reeally should learn on keeping something's to yourself, or not think it at all…"
"… You mad?"
"…"
Ross cleared his throat, interrupting the stare down as he awkwardly pointed up to the sky. "You might want to take a look at that." The two teens looked up, not spotting anything unusual at first…
As if the moon slowly turning red was normal!
"!"
"Ross." Allen droned, not leaving his eyes off the moon. "… Does that usually happen on All Hollows Day…?"
The old man gulped. "That's the first time I've seen it do that."
Chris's brows burrowed together in thought trying to remember something. "… Never, huh? For 50 years, little twerps have been disappearing- there's an Akuma in question out on the loose since then, a creepy necrophiliac who brought back a burnt dead chick- who eats people now apparently, some Witch lady's body that's never been found, and now a red moon…." Chris spun on his heel, looking at both of them. "Something's changed. Something's changed since then! ~"
Allen walked up to Chris, still looking at the ominous red moon. "But what? What's changed since then? The land?" They froze, and both looked at the confused Ross.
"HAS THERE BEEN ANY NEW BUILDINGS AROUND THE AREA- RESTORATIONS!?" Both teens yelled in unison.
Ross jumped a bit in place, startled at how fast they spoke. "Um- NO. NOT AT ALL… Barely anyone lives in this area due to the rumors." Allen cursed under his breath, biting his nails in a force of habit. He paced around, trying to think of another explanation.
Chris beat him to it. "Has anything out of the norm, or weird happened since the parents started forcing their kids to stay indoors on All Hollows Day?"
Ross shook his head. "No. Kids still sneak out anyways to trick or treat and visit the old abandoned house at the other side of Town. The one's that sneak out are always the one's disappearing."
"... The other side of Town- that means that most likely they must have used the Alleyway as a shortcut to save more time." Allen quipped.
"Did anything change on All Hollows Day since this?"
"Not at all."
"Ross- how old where the missing children?"
"Let's see…. Well, roughly around the ages 7 to 12… It was always kids…"
Chris's eyes widened. "HOW OLD WAS SYRAH!?"
"? Twenty- six."
Chris cursed. So Syrah wasn't a lead. "Did she have kids?" Ross scoffed.
"… She wasn't even ENGAGED."
"Then there are no patterns to the disappearing." Allen said, frustrated that they were getting nowhere. "Did the old woman have any grandchildren?"
"… They were forty years old…"
"Chris…" Allen looked at him. "There are absolutely NO connections, or a pattern. Everything runs cold besides the fact that the disappearing's only happen on All Hollows Day."
"Allen, so if it's not the parents that caused the change, then what the hell did!? And why did it suddenly get so friggin cold all of a sudden!? Ridiculous!"
"Lads, if it helps, this's been the first time something like the moon changing color's ever happening to this quiet Town." Ross added, trying to help.
"This time something's changed." Chris repeated, trying to get a new trail a thought to start forming. "Any clue's Allen?"
"Not at all. Ross, can you tell us anything more about the Town?"
"Well, everyone's who's ever lived here seemed to be mighty damn attached to this Town… There were gatherings, Balls, and everyone revered the Governor as the Town's protector. Syrah loved this town as much as her love for God…"
"Hmmmmn…." Chris's head was seriously starting to hurt. "By the way- what's the main religion here?"
"? Why we're all Christian here, lad… What are you two?"
Chris hesitated before answering. "Catholic."
Both looked at Allen, whose gaze shifted uncomfortably to the side. "Um- I'm not really a religious person that much… I just work for the Black Order. And it's run by the Vatican, so it's dominantly Catholic."
"Why, I think you two are the only people in this village that aren't Christian, then lads!" Ross laughed. "But that doesn't bother me as much as some of the other Town's people would- as long as there's some belief in something, then that's fine with me! ~" Chris stopped his trail of thought abruptly, slowing looking at the laughing old man with wide eyes.
"… Say that again…"
"?"
Allen was confused too, not understanding Chris's strange request to Ross. "… Chris?"
"You want me to say what, again lad? But that doesn't bother-?"
"- No!" The brunette urged, shaking his head fervently. "The one before that! After 'I think'! ~"
Ross pursed his lips. "… You are the only people in this villages that aren't Christian, then lads?"
Chris let out a shout of glee, patting Ross on the shoulder. "That's it! Allen, that's what's changed! CUZ WE HAPPENED TO BE IN THIS TOWN ON ALL HALLOW'S DAY, SOMETHING'S CHANGED IN THE TALE!"
"… You two are the first outsiders we've had in years." Allen looked at Ross, also patting him on the shoulder.
"BRILLIANT! ~" He exclaimed with joy. "That, and we're not Christian!"
Chris nodded, smirking. "That means there's something- or someone who's been keeping tabs on everyone in Town!"
"INDEFINITELY! But they would need a secure place where they could see yet be unseen by others- a place where they could get a good view of the whole Town-"
Ross interrupted Allen. "- This Alleyway's the middle of Town…"
"... But there's no way to see anything from down here…" Chris trailed. "… SO WHY NOT TAKE IT UPSTAIRS!"
…
…. All three looked up at the top of the red brick building they were facing in time to see neon green eyes hide behind.
…..
HAPPY HALLOWEEN KIDDIES! I hope you're all safe, and got loads of candy! ~ It hasn't been so happy for me. Hurricane/storm Sandy has really messed up things over here in New York City. They cancelled Halloween in New Jersey for the first time in history, and in other places around New York too! Where I live in, Manhattan is flooded with water from the sea, almost a thousand customers without light, power or steam, and they cancelled the famous Halloween parade! I haven't seen a trick or treater, or gone outside since Sunday- well the good news is that I don't have school until Monday hopefully if they don't take out all the water in the underground subway stations so that Transit is back on track. Homes have been destroyed, trees have fallen and de-rooted complete sidewalks, crashed into people's homes, fallen on people… There's been 22 or maybe more people now that have died because of this Hurricane, including an upperclassmen at my school. All this took away my Halloween spirit, and for the first time, there were barely any little twerps outside the streets with their costumes for me to spook! I hope all of you spent Halloween safe, and for those that live in the northeast, didn't get damage to your homes. BE safe- and don't eat TOO much candy lest you want a visit to that horrible dentist.*shivers*
Regarding the xtra scene, there was no way I could've finished it because I lost my Halloween spirit thanks to the hurricane. Also, I had midterms last week, so I had no time to draw any characters, or make a new cover.
Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter- I counted, it's like the longest one I've written so far .11, 438 words. By the way, the previous A/N I wrote earlier in the week, that's why it seems so happy, and froufrou-y, lol.
Oh, and one more thing! ~ If you guys would be so kind as to leave me a pm, or whatever on how well written and structured this chapter was, I would greatly appreciate it. I want you guy's thoughts so I can see if this whole updating two times a month thing works for me. Personally, it makes me rush less trying to update.
Till next chapter! Updating next chapter on November 16! Ciao! ~ ;D