Tyki had insisted on carrying her, and more embarrassingly for her, he'd decided on carrying her bridal style; so there she was, her arms squished against his firm chest as his arms supported her back and the space bellow her thighs. She tried not to look at his face while hiding her own as he carried her up what seemed to be an endless stairway, before they finally stood before a huge golden door. Road pushed it open for them and they stepped in.
The space they entered seemed to be the highest room in this maze; Devina could see the sky through the open space, through the pillars that held the roof in its place. There was a vast dining table set up in the middle with several dishes of chicken and salad and fruit.
Tyki sat Devina down at the table, while he sat on her right at the head of the table; Road stood by the door in anticipation. Devina couldn't understand why the two had decided to change their clothes nor why Road had forced her into one of her fancy dresses. She was wearing a baby pink dress now, and her skin was no longer dark. She dressed Devina into a long-sleeved green gown. It hung tightly around her frame and Devina felt self-conscious wearing it, especially with the long slit stretching up her left thigh.
"Tyki," she began as she grabbed the lid covering her food and lifted it off. "Where are we?" she asked, finally sparing a glance at him.
Tyki half-smiled, "we're on Noah's Ark. Simply put, it's a moving city that has plenty of doors to help the Noah move about, and other doors to hide a really nice big egg," he said matter-of-factly, chewing on some chicken.
She hesitated before she asked, "and, umm, why are we here, exactly?" she asked. She had been wondering where her friends were for a while now. Why hasn't anyone come for her, and whether she could try outsmarting the two Noah. She didn't wish to ponder on why her friends weren't rescuing her, though. She knew they must've had good reasons. Besides, she was never one who'd admit to being a damsel in distress. "Why did we have to dress up?" she asked.
"You ask too many questions, love," Tyki sipped some champagne and nodded toward her food, "eat." She bit her lower lip, before she picked up a fork and a knife and snatched a piece of chicken, tore at it and bit it. "We're here because Road was downloading the contents of this Ark into the new one; the Earl seems to have lost control over it, so we had to move it." He explained softly. "We all got dressed because we're expecting some guests," he answered while watching her eat.
She finished her chicken shortly and tackled a bowl of salad. "Why did I have to get dressed, too?" she asked, pouting a little.
"Don't you like your dress?" Tyki asked.
"No, I love it. I just don't really like fraternizing with the enemy, you know?"
Tyki's eyes widened at her seeping sarcasm and he frowned. "Are you unable to tell…" he began but stopped, seeming to have a change of heart. "Is it starting to blur? The line between right and wrong?" he asked instead.
Devina cleared her throat and dropped her knife and fork, "no," she lied, "I just don't like that you're nice to me. We're enemies, aren't we? Why do you insist on treating me differently?"
Road was at her ear in an instant and Devina froze. "Would it make you feel better if we hurt you?" she whispered; her hands wound around Devina's hair and she tugged at it forcefully. Devina refused to scream and bit her lip instead. Road let her go instantly and stood up straight, her body facing the entrance. "They're here," she grinned before she ran at the door.
It flung open and Devina saw Road throw her arms around someone; behind the two stood Lavi, Lenalee and Chaoji. "Allen!" the strange Noah squealed before she touched her lips to his.
Allen? Devina's heart hammered and she was about to stand up when the armrests protruded some metallic cuffs, holding her hands in place. "What the-"
"Devina!" she heard Lavi shout and she turned to look at him. His face was a mixture of worry and confusion.
"I'm fine, they haven't done anything to hurt me." Devina quelled his worries. "What are you all doing here?"
Lavi answered quickly. "We jumped in after this dimension swallowed Lenalee up, and then we ran into Tyki on the way up here and we figured he probably has you and-"
"Allen's here…" Devina interrupted, her eyes locking with the Bookman Junior briefly, before she finally met Allen. Road was skidding by his side and Devina was slightly confused at the Noah's antics. What was wrong with her and Tyki? Why show affection or anything of the like to two of their sworn enemies?
Allen looked different. His hair, white and shiny, was spiked at the back now, and he wore a flashy cape adorned with a hood over his two shoulders. His left arm was there, still intact. The one she had destroyed. It looked different now, though; it was black and metallic and claw-like.
"A-allen…" Devina squeaked, struggling against the restraints. "Y-you're not d-dead… You really aren't d-dead… How is that possible?" Devina turned to her right and glared at the Noah beside her. "Tyki, you lied to me,"
The Noah stared at her with ferocious intensity. "I did no such things,"
"You didn't tell me they were here, you kept that from me-"
"I did not lie, I merely withheld information for your benefit," Tyki indulged.
"How is this for my benefit? Release me, release me this instant!" Devina screamed at him.
"Your Innocence will destroy you. I am keeping you safe. Had you known your friends were here you would've tried to kill both Road and myself in order to rush to their side and save them, wouldn't you?"
Devina faltered. "What gives you the right to-"
"That's enough." Road's voice silenced her. "I've had it with you two,"
"You're one to talk, Road, kissing that boy like that. Do you like him so much?" Tyki teased his adopted niece.
"You're jealous cause you're not getting any~" the girl nudged her uncle and giggled.
Tyki ignored her and turned to face the Exorcists at the door. "I got a little hungry waiting for you, so, I began. Please, come; have a seat and let us all share this meal. I'd like to have a word before we begin our battle," Tyki finished his speech and bit into his fork.
"I'll have to refuse," Allen answered gruffly, his eyes narrowed. "I like to take my time when I eat."
"Your time, huh? Would you like to know how much of that you have left?" Tyki challenged.
Road was now sitting atop a pink umbrella with a talking pumpkin head at its tip. "Every room, except this one, has been destroyed." She spoke softly.
Devina could see terror stealing the color off her comrades' faces. "It can't be!" she heard Lenalee gasp.
She was about to ask what was wrong when Road kicked shut the only door in the room. "Won't you sit down, Exorcists?"
"Are you afraid?" Tyki asked Allen.
Allen's glare did not dwindle as he made his way and sat on the chair next to Devina. Devina cowered in her chair and tried her best not to look at him, but she did. Her head was involuntarily turned toward him and she was studying the contours of his face and the steady rise and fall of his chest. He was alive. He was right there. He was on the chair right next to her.
"Devina," he began.
Devina's eyes widened and she couldn't remember how to breathe. "A-allen?"
"Inhale," he instructed, his grey eyes finally meeting her brown ones.
Her lips quivered, "Allen~" and the tears were flowing down her cheeks. She wanted to tackle him in a hug but her arms were restrained so she just sat there, with her body angled in his direction and her eyes pouring rivers. "I thought I was never going to see you again," she sobbed and Allen blinked in surprise before he leaned in and wrapped his arms around her, placing her face at the crook of his neck.
"I'm sorry I worried you so much," Allen patted her back and held a lock of her hair tugging it behind her ear as he pulled away. His hand traveled to cup her cheeks and he squeezed. "I'm gonna get us all out of here, okay?" he asked.
The stunned girl blinked twice before she nodded slowly and tore her face away from his hands, sniffing. "Just don't die again, you moron."
"Looks like you have a bit of a competition, Road," Tyki broke the sweet reunion.
Road glared at her uncle, "I'd say the same goes for you, Tyki," she puffed out some air.
Devina noticed Lavi and Lenalee had sat down on Tyki's right side, while Chaoji sat himself beside Allen. She had calmed down enough to notice how her friends looked extremely dispirited and defeated.
"Shall we begin then, boy? You don't have to look so upset. I've set no traps for you after all, I told you I'm no cheater." Tyki took another sip from his champagne glass.
Road was suddenly attached to Allen's throat again, "you don't need to worry, Allen!" she giggled, "The exit awaits at the top of this tower." The pink umbrella was protesting vehemently about her closeness to the young Exorcist.
"I only hope it truly leads us outside," Allen said, irritated but smiling at the giggling Noah.
Devina's eyes were dancing wildly before they landed on Lenalee. She recalled that the girl's Innocence had been even more stubborn than her own, and wondered whether that was why the girl was so shaken; her entire frame was trembling. "Lena-" Devina began but stopped when she saw Lavi grip Lenalee's hand and tell her to calm down.
She felt a wave of anger wash over her, but she had made a habit out of neglecting the feelings she couldn't comprehend, so instead she listened to Tyki and Allen talk about how Allen had managed to strip Tyki to his underwear. She wondered why the Noah was being so reproachful and why he was delaying the battle between the two parties.
"So tell me, Tyki Mikk, is it this Innocence that you want to talk to me about?" Allen asked, getting to the point by lifting up his left arm.
Tyki flashed Allen a wide grin, and Devina's heart did a few somersaults. This could only mean trouble. "I thought it's been destroyed for sure, so you can only imagine how shocked I am to see you here."
"It obviously hasn't been destroyed, since it's here now." Allen reiterated coldly.
"So, tell me, boy, is your Innocence the reason you're alive after Tease swallowed your heart?" Tyki questioned.
"Allen-kun!" Lenalee protested.
"Why didn't I hear about this till now?" Lavi shouted, worry creasing his forehead.
Allen averted his gaze and sighed before he answered. "A part of the Innocence merged with my heart, so everything is alright now." He reassured.
"Ehh, Allen, too?" Lavi asked, his gaze averting from Allen to Devina and then Lenalee. Devina could see him go into his history recording mode, lost in thought. She saw him startle a minute later and blink at Road, shocked.
"Road, can you let go of the boy now?" Tyki asked as he lit a cigarette.
"But Tyki, I love him, I love him, I love him!" the girl whined.
"Oi, oi, nothing good can ever come out of love between a Noah and an Exorcist," Tyki said gently. "See, boy, I've only been following the Earl's orders on a whim here. Evil, after all, desires no reason. You're starting to get me interested, though," Tyki stood up, "I understand that I have to get serious now."
One of the Tease emerged right next to Lenalee, almost kissing her shoulder. Devina was focusing her energy on her bones, trying to send anything to shoot the glowing butterfly down but Allen was faster. One of his claws pinned the butterfly to the back of Lenalee's chair.
"Tyki Mikk," Allen began, "I've got one thing to say to you as well; if you try to harm any of my comrades ever again, I may end up killing you." He threatened, and Devina felt her heart swell as Allen jumped up on the table and made his way towards Tyki. She felt a surge of uneasiness wash over her. She knew this battle was long overdo, but she also had a bad feeling about how it may end.
"I don't dislike you, boy, but…" Tyki's arm extended, and the giant butterfly appeared on the inside of his palm.
"Allen!" Lavi stood up, about to follow Allen, when Road appeared beside him, floating on the pink umbrella.
"Tyki really likes Allen. So please be a nice Bookman and don't interrupt," Road smiled. "Will you play with me, Bookman?"
Devina fought against the restraints, "Lavi!" she cried, but he didn't seem to hear her. "Ugh, this is ridiculous. If Kanda would see me now, he'd mutilate me." She muttered to herself. "Tyki! Road!" she shouted and managed to catch their attention. "Undo these cuffs, right now!"
But they completely ignored her. Tyki was too busy colliding with Allen and Road was busy tantalizing Lavi. Lenalee gasped, as she and Chaoji were both locked up in a glass cube but she managed to reassure Lavi they were okay and only trapped. Lavi seemed to slightly relax after that.
Devina's wrists were turning into an irritated red, emphasizing her struggle. "Ahh, stop ignoring me!" she yelled, but froze when she heard Allen and Tyki talk.
"Are you excited about killing me, boy?" Tyki asked.
Allen's face was indiscernible. "I'm sad… Each time I see you, you become more and more human, despite your devil-may-care act. I honestly wish this was a mere poker game, where no one has to get hurt."
Devina was losing her mind, stuck between two battles but unable to help either of her friends. She saw Lavi pull his hammer out of his thigh strap.
"You're the Noah's eldest, aren't you?" he asked her. "I'll play with you if you promise to let them go once I've won."
"Yup, you've got yourself a deal." Road said as a purple burst of energy expanded behind her and closed around Lavi. He fell to his knees, his entire form slumped forward and his visible eye glazed.
"Lavi!" Devina and Lenalee shouted in unison. "Road, what have you done?" the former demanded.
"I'm just having fun," the girl answered.
"I don't envy poor Eye-Patch-kun at the moment," Tyki told her, "I hope his mind doesn't snap; being Road's opponent and all."
Devina growled, her wrists were bleeding now. "Tyki," she called, "Tyki, let me go!"
"No can do, love," he said as he swiftly blocked one of Allen's advances. "You be a good girl now and just keep observing. Everything is falling into place."
Devina ignored him and turned towards the redhead. "Lavi!" He did not respond. "Lavi! Can you hear me? Lavi!" she shouted, her throat was beginning to protest as it ached with every scream. "Lavi," she moaned, shutting her eyes.
Author's Note: I know. I'm awful. I have been meaning to update for an entire week now, but last weekend I got pretty busy, trying to be social and all. I did receive three brilliant reviews! Thank you, MusicOfMadness, scorpia1029 and Guest. I hope you enjoy this chapter.