Komui beamed and clapped his hands together. He had lied about that last bit. After joining The Black Order, he had enforced several changes upon the Order, one of them was that Innocence hosts were left to join of their own free will; leaving, however, remained impossible, unless as a carcass. "Very well! That was just a joke, mind you. But once you enter the Order, you can never leave," Komui paused to look at her and she nodded her consent. "Alright, Devina-san, mind walking straight ahead," Devina followed his instructions, leading her along a trail of windows on each side, "Yes, yes, onwards. Now, turn left. Keep going straight and please wait for me behind that door."
Devina did as she was told, following Komui's orders and reaching a door that led into an open area. She closed the gate behind her, not feeling like eavesdropping. Instead, she studied her surroundings; the wide hallway stretched in a circular manner and she walked until she stood before a stretching metallic rail. From there, she could see across to the other side and even in the dark, she spotted several wooden doors. Above and bellow her, she noticed, were endless levels designed in the same manner as the floor she was on. The metallic rail she leaned on overlooked all the other floors, just like all the rails on all the other floors. She was happy every floor had a rail, which meant she could never end up getting a room that doesn't have a view. She was fascinated with how gigantic this place was and couldn't wait to explore it all.
Bookman was the first to break the silence. "Why did you call us here, Chief?"
The Chief Officer finally wiped his silly smiles, his brows colliding. "As you all heard, Devina is out of control. I will need you all to be very aware of where she is and what she is doing. I will go get her checked with Hevlaska now and then Lenalee can take her on a tour around the place. Meanwhile I'll get her a room. It'll be on the same floor as Bookman and Lavi's." Komui sighed.
"You want us to keep an extra eye on her, don't you?" Lavi inquired, biting the inside of his cheek. "Why do you want a Bookman to trail a beggar girl?"
"Lavi." The old man warned.
The Chief Officer seemed very perturbed. "I just have a bad feeling." He admitted.
At the admittance, the silent swordsman spoke up. "I'll keep an eye on her, as well, Komui."
The Chief gave him an appreciative nod. No one really understood the camaraderie between the two men − they were practically polar opposites − but it was there.
"Alright, I'll set up a timetable to suit your schedules to determine when each of you is supposed to watch Devina or train her. This is it for now. Any questions?"
Allen hesitated, before he raised his normal hand. "This isn't a question…" He trailed.
"Go on," The Chief nodded.
"Why do I get the feeling that you do not trust her? Isn't this what The Black Order is about? Having a place to belong to? People to come back to? Why not treat her like one of us, welcome her, like you've welcomed me, instead of treating her like an anomaly."
Komui seemed to think for a moment. "You're absolutely right, Allen-kun." He touched his chin and thought some more. "We'll make her feel welcome, yet she still must be monitored. I need to guarantee everyone's safety. However, I'll answer your question. It's not that I don't trust her…" The Chief trailed, lost in thought. "However, I didn't succumb to all the fuss about you and your curse," Allen sweat-dropped, no longer certain whether Komui was talking to him or to himself, "so I'm willing to trust her. We'll begin her training starting tomorrow and she'll hopefully control her Innocence shortly eliminating all this dread. Thank you for your time."
Komui began walking to the gate. He stopped midway as a thought crossed his mind. He turned around and chuckled. The team he'd assembled had followed him to exit the grand hall but at his abrupt stop, they froze in place. "I'm sorry, one last thing," Komui stood straight. "As per Allen's request, I'd like you all to keep everything that transpired here today to yourselves. I don't want members of the order to fear the girl or mistreat her, so that will help her feel more welcome, I think." Everyone returned the Chief's request with a curt nod before dispersing.
He turned around and continued on his way to the gate, only to be surprised to find it shut; a small smile snuck its way onto his lips and he opened the door to be greeted with Devina's back. He inhaled sharply, acknowledging the resemblance she had with his little sister.
"Devina-san," he called to her and was amused to realize he'd startled her by the way she'd jumped in the air. He wondered what world he'd pried her from. She turned around, wide-eyed. "I'm sorry, but it's time to have you checked up by Hevlaska." She nodded.
The two walked in a comfortable silence, one which Komui broke as they climbed a triangular-shaped slat which began to shake and then descend lower when Komui pressed his hand to a lit pod. "How do you like The Order so far?"
Devina didn't answer right away and instead tried to look for something to hang on to. "It's… interesting," she mused, "What's this, by the way?"
"It is called an elevator. And that's it? That's all you have to say?" Komui asked, traces of seriousness leaving him completely.
"Well, I like your base! It is absolutely bizarre and creepy and then the interior is kind of odd, but in a good way, and it's so bloody huge and your technology is beyond anything I've ever seen. I really like it." He liked her sudden outburst much better than her censored answer.
"Glad to hear it," he smiled, "we're here."
Her face fell, "oi, were you trying to distract me?" She demanded, hands resting on her waist.
"What are you talking about?" Komui asked, biting a smile as the elevator stopped moving.
"Komui-s-san," Komui looked startled but nodded for her to continue, "you said earlier there were two types of Innocence, Equipment and Parasitic, and that mine was Parasitic. What's the difference between the two exactly?"
"You see, Equipment types merely acquire their Innocence through a precious object or something they make a connection with. You saw my sister Lenalee?" Devina nodded, "well, her Innocence is called Dark Boots and it is basically that: her boots. She can take them off whenever she pleases but I suppose she doesn't feel quite comfortable without them anymore." He smiled bitterly. "Parasitic types however are much more intricate; their Innocence isn't an object but it usually is a part of their body. In Allen's case, his Innocence is his left hand. Parasitics are also special because their Innocence tries to protect them and they often project regenerative abilities."
By the end of his speech, Devina was nodding endlessly. She grinned, "Does that mean I got lucky?"
Komui cleared his throat, "you could choose to look at it that way, but Parasitics often die young because the Innocence exerts their bodies."
Devina felt so bad at how uncomfortable Komui looked. "Don't worry, I've always wanted to die young, anyway." She pushed the elevator's side doors open and studied her surroundings, leaving behind an awestruck Chief Officer.
The room was completely black but for several spotlights shining down on the two of them. Before Devina could make another step, something cold and fleeting wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground. She yelped out of surprise, and the sudden cold touch, but she did not struggle; instead, she inhaled, exhaled and instead tried to determine what it was that held her together.
It looked as if some transparent white-blue tentacles were draped over her arms and legs, holding her still, mid-air. A face, or so she thought, that was at least four times the size of a normal human's, was suddenly right before hers. The eyes of the thing before her were hidden by what she assumed were more tentacles, or hair. "Whoa, are you an Exorcist, too?"
"Y-yes, you must be Devina…"
The girl in question nodded, "mhmm, the one and only. And you must be Hevlaska," Devina gasped as she felt Hevlaska bump their heads together. It was a light bump that did not really hurt one bit, but the contact was rather gooey and cold and overwhelming.
"Two percent… six percent… eleven percent… seventeen percent… twenty-four percent… twenty-eight percent… thirty-two percent… It seems the most you're able to synchronize with your Innocence is thirty-seven percent." Hevlaska stated calmly.
Devina bit her lower lip, "I guess that's quite low, isn't it?"
"Not to worry, Devina-san, with a little bit of training, your synchronicity rate will skyrocket." Komui reassured her meekly from down bellow; Devina appreciated the effort regardless.
"I hope so," she smiled down at him.
"Devina… The Reaper," Hevlaska mumbled.
"What?" Komui and Devina asked simultaneously.
"The road ahead of you is not going to be light, child," Hevlaska continued, as if possessed by a power greater than any of them could comprehend.
"Never been an easy one, Hevi," Devina muttered under her breath.
"There will come a time in the near future, where you will have to make a choice, one that would affect your life forever," Devina could not help the chills running down her back, and how cold she suddenly felt, yet she decided there was nothing she can do about it now. Hevlaska sat her down slowly inside the elevator with Komui. "I'm sorry if I startled you. All I wanted was to have a look at your Innocence."
"Don't worry about it, Hevi," as soon as the words left her lips, Devina felt the elevator shake, "thank you, Hevlaska. See you soon!" She waved while Komui chuckled at her antics. "What now?" She tapped her feet against the elevator tiles.
"Well, Lenalee will take you on a tour around headquarters and then you can have a bite to eat. After that, I suggest you get some sleep to preserve some well-needed energy for tomorrow's training." Komui briefed.
Devina smiled coyly, "and what about you? What'll you be doing meanwhile?"
"I'll be setting up your room- wait," as realization fell over the Chief's face, heat crept upon his cheeks, "what are you doing?" Why am I answering her questions?
Devina just giggled and leaned back against the elevator's metallic rail, enjoying the sight of a flustered Chief Officer. For her first day, she was doing a pretty decent job.
The elevator stopped at the fourth floor and Devina was greeted by Lenalee's warm smile. Devina turned to salute the Chief Officer who had his back to her, "see you later, Chief Komui,"
"U-um, yes,"
The moment Devina stepped out, the elevator took off, ascending to a higher floor.
"Did my brother try to flirt with you?" Lenalee asked worriedly.
Devina was shocked, "what? No, not at all. Why? Does he have a history of flirting with innocent young female Exorcists-in-the-making?" Devina asked, digging for some dirt.
"No, no," Lenalee giggled, "I'm just checking because you're really pretty."
Devina froze. She tried hard not to smile. "Thank you, you're very pretty, too." She then fake sighed, "and that's such a relief. No offense, but your brother isn't my type."
The two girls laughed; it was easy to say they got along pretty nicely, and as Komui exited the elevator on the sixth floor, he was submerged with a joy unlike any other at the fact that his sister had finally found someone she could consider a friend of the same gender. He was even happier Devina was adjusting so nicely, and was a little shocked at how open and forward the young girl is.
The room he had chosen for the Exorcist-to-be was two rooms to the left of Bookman and Lavi's shared room. Komui entered the appointed room to check the state of it and whether or not it had been cleaned up as he had instructed. He was pleased to find out that her belongings have already been brought in, yet he couldn't help the way his heart constricted at the sight of the little sack that seemed to hold her few belongings. He had to remind himself to find her something to wear and to also rush Johnny into getting her measurements and making her uniform (and some extra outfits, if possible).
Author's Note: I forgot to mention previously that this story is probably going to be updated once a week, hopefully every Wednesday. I think that's a manageable pace, one that I can keep up with. Please review to help motivate me. I'd really like to know what you all think about it so far, and if anyone at all would like to keep reading this.