Hey, I really wanted to update as soon as possible, and a special thanks to Chimera-Dragon for answering the question -even though you had it wrong-. It's nice to see I wasn't abandonned!
Answer: He was a Finder! More precisions in this chapter ;-)
Enjoy!
"It's so boring" I grunted, my head against the window.
"There's not much change in the scenery before the next station" nodded Lenalee.
We had met up with her a few hours before, and were now heading for our next destination… I forgot the name, but the others knew where we were going, so I guess that's fine.
While Allen dozed off, she told me about how she partnered up with Summan and a Finder named Goz to protect a child and her mother from weird wolf Akumas attacks. I smiled at the story. If my jerk-ass, ego-complexed, surrogate father had a weakness, it was kids, and even more little girls. They reminded him of his daughter, just like I did back when we first met, I guess.
Hearing Allen whine about how we hadn't woken him up for the pretty valley from sooner, I pushed away my thoughts. I was about to say something when the train brake brutally. I managed to keep in place, but Allen was sent flying towards Lenalee's chest, which she protected with her mallet, making me laugh.
"Nice try, Kiddo. Real smooth" I smirked.
"W-what? No, I didn't- Lenalee, I'm not…"
"It's okay, Allen" she shook her head. "Ary, stop teasing him"
"Why? It's fun!"
"You're impossible" she sighed.
"You still love me, though" I hugged her, smiling.
"Of course I do" she smiled back.
"Looks like a carriage is stuck on the track" announced Allen, peering outside the window. "They…"
He stiffened and stopped talking when his eye activated.
"Akumas!"
At the same time, the train started shaking under the attacks of said weapons.
Activating our Innocence, we ran outside and I instantly went after the Level Two, who seemed to lead the operations.
"Oh, Exorcists on board?" he realized as Allen started shooting at them.
The train started moving away, and I appeared in front of the Akuma.
"Feathered Blades!"
He escaped, and my attack hit four others behind him. As he ran away, a new group appeared beyond the trees.
"Why are there so many?" asked Lenalee, joining my side.
"Does it looks like I know?" I snapped back. "Sheesh, just destroy them and we'll question life later, okay?"
She rolled her eyes, but attacked anyway. Doing the same, my eyes landed on the Level Two again as I destroyed two more Akumas. He had Allen trapped under some sort of giant flying squirt.
"Lenalee!" I called, as she was closer.
"On it!"
I destroyed the last of the Akumas while my friends took care of the leader rather easily, then joined them.
"It's over" sighed Lenalee.
"No, it's not"
We both lifted our heads up and saw what Allen just pointed out.
"Another group, seriously? They keep popping up like fucking cockroaches!" I stomped my foot. "And I'm hungry, too!"
"Ary, so not the time" Allen sweatdropped.
"Let's just destroy them once and for all" intervened Lenalee.
"Hai!"
And once again, we attacked.
Sitting around a fire, I gazed at the stars now populating the dark sky. My stomach grumbled, and Allen's answered back, making Lenalee giggle a little.
"Don't you dare laugh at our pain, Jumper" I grunted.
"But anyway, why do you think there were so many?" she asked, shooting me a grin.
"Think we could eat some olive leaves?" remarked Allen, looking around us.
"Let it go, he's not listening" I told Lenalee, smiling slightly. "But to answer your question, I have no more idea than you do. Let's just contact Komui and ask him once we get our hands on a communicating device"
"Right"
We fall silent as Allen slowly went to sleep.
"Allen, wake up!"
"Uh? What…"
"Someone's coming" I warned, narrowing my eyes.
We stayed tense for a moment, before a caravan passed by, revealing it to be a group of Finders.
"Finders!" smiled Lenalee.
"Food!" I high-fived with Allen.
"Oh, you two…"
We were now sitting with fuming bowls at the Finder's table.
"Itadakimasu!" I exclaimed, before digging in.
"I'm Devon, the Leader of this troupe" he presented himself as we ate.
He then smiled.
"You two must be the Exorcists with the appetite Jeryy was talking about" he said. "Such voracity recall me of my younger days. Eat more!"
"Thank you!"
We pursued eating. It was delicious!
"Many of the towns on our way here have been attacked by Akumas" he then announced, more serious. "The lot you dispatched have been gaining force as they move"
"Moving? Where are they going?" asked Lenalee.
"Where exactly is beyond us, but it's somewhere to the west" he answered.
"The west?" she repeated, glancing at us. "Why would that be?"
I shrugged, and Allen frowned.
"I don't know why, but it was an unusual force" he remarked.
"It was indeed. We'll investigate it later on" assured Devon.
Then, he switched moods again, and grinned at us.
"Jeryy tells me he's most enamored with your stomachs, Allen, Aryane"
"He's not enamored with them, but in love with them!" retorted Lenalee with a smirk.
"What? In love?" repeated Allen.
His horrified gaze was the end of me, and I burst out laughing, the others soon joining in as the boy kept panicking.
Night had fallen upon us, and the Finders were kind enough to lend us some spare blankets. Lenalee suddenly sat up, panting, and I stiffened slightly, before slowly turning to her, as if I just woke up too.
"Are you okay?" I asked, making my voice sound drowsy.
"Y-yeah, of course" she shook her head. "Just a silly nightmare"
"Tell me about it" I mumbled in my covers.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing" I quickly retorted. "Are you sure you're fine?"
"I am. Sorry for waking you up. Good night!" she laid down once again, and I sighed.
That was a close one. A little more and she would have realized…
I shook my head, and went back to playing with my necklace.
It'd be a long night.
"So, this is where we'll part ways" announced Devon. "We'll be heading up the coast to rendezvous with Marshall Tiedoll"
"Thank your for all your help" said Allen, shaking his hand.
"And for the food too!" I chirped in, beaming at the man.
"Take care on your way" added Lenalee.
"Safe trails to the three of you, and may you find Cross Marshall as soon as possible"
"Same"
After that, they went down to the village in the valley, and I turned to the others.
"Mister Devon is an odd sort of guy, isn't he?" said Lenalee, giggling a little. "Allen and him look a lot alike"
"Thought so too" I smiled. "He was really nice. I hope him and the others will be okay"
They both nodded, and we went on our way. However, barely fifteen minutes later, a flare exploded in the sky, just above the city.
"A distress signal!" recognized Lenalee.
"The village must be full of Akumas" I realized. "Let's go, quick! Innocence: activate!"
Lenalee and I flying as Allen ran, we quickly made it to the village where Akumas were gathering around the perimeter the Finders had managed to establish. As they attacked the barrier, we started destroying weapon after weapon, cutting through the enemies like knife in butter.
"Exorcists-sama!" Devon's relieved voice echoed.
"Hey, Devon-san!" I waved, before jumping to avoid an Akuma. "Oi, I'm talking to my friend here! Doesn't the Earl teach you any manners in Evil Weapon Academy?"
Apparently not appreciating my amazing humor, it shot at me.
"Feathered Blades!"
And BOUM it goes.
Pursuing the fight, and the Finders helping out by trapping them with the barriers, we almost finished them off when the ground under the caravan lifted, and a Level Two came out.
"Level Two, reporting" a woman's voice announced.
Then, it started spouting friggin fire, making the Finders scatter to avoid it's attacks. Annoyed, I sent a few blades it's way, but it avoided them by going after Devon, who ran in an alley. Going after them, I finally caught up when she was about to pierce him with her tail.
"I have a Marshall to find, and my demons to grow on the way" It sighed heavily. "So please, out of the way!"
"Well, you did say please" I remarked, gaining her attention. "I guess that counts for something. But you tried to kill my friend, which I'm not really okay with. So… toddles!"
Before it could answer, I slashed through it with my wings, before posing next to Devon as it exploded behind us.
"Are you alright?" I asked, helping him up.
"Yes, thanks to you" he smiled gratefully. "I am grateful for your help"
"No problem" I assured.
"Ary, Devon-san! Are you two okay?" called Allen, joining us.
"We're fine!" I assured.
"Everyone else is alright too" said Lenalee, coming our way.
"Thank God" I sighed, letting go of my Innocence.
"I apologize for troubling you so" said Devon, looking down. "I'll repay you with my special sandwiches, how about that?"
"I'd say that I could get use to this kind of gratitude" I grinned.
Linking arms with him and happily heading back in the street, the others followed behind, laughing softly.
Now sitting on the carriage, eating the delicious sandwiches of Devon-san, I was thinking. The way to their meeting point –Barcelona- would be dangerous, and if they ever got into the same situation as before but without Exorcists around…
I glanced at Allen and Lenalee, then down at the sandwich in my hands. Then, I made up my mind.
"Guys, I have to call Komui" I said. "I'll be right back"
They shot me curious glances, but nodded anyway, and I got inside the carriage to get a hold of a phone. My Golem connecting the line, I waited for someone to answer.
"Headquarters?"
"Hey, Reese, it's Ary" I greeted.
"Ary! Nice to hear from you. Want to talk to Supe?"
"Please"
"Right away"
After a few seconds, Lenalee's brother was on the phone.
"Ary! How are you? How's Lenalee? And Allen?"
"We're all okay, even though there's no real advance in finding Cross" I replied, frowning a little. "We met up with a group of Finders who are to find Tiedoll-sensei, but their travel route isn't exactly safe, you know. We just saved them from an entire Akuma village. I was just wondering if maybe, I could escort them and then meet back with Jumper and Kiddo?"
He thought for a moment.
"I guess it could be arranged. We'll contact again to talk about a meeting point. Just… don't do anything crazy, okay?"
"Me? Doing something crazy?" I repeated, placing an hand on my heart. "I'm offended, Komui, really"
He scoffed.
"See you soon, Ary"
"See you"
The connection was cut, and I went back outside as the carriage stopped.
A few hours later
Seeing as this was where we parted ways again, I quickly grabbed my things before joining my friends and Devon-san.
"Ready to go, Ary?" asked Allen.
"Actually, Kiddo, I'm not going with you" I shook my head, smiling a little.
"What do you mean?" frowned Lenalee.
"Aw, don't make that face, Jumper!" I grinned. "Don't worry, I just asked Komui the permission to escort Devon-san and the group to Barcelona. We'll meet up later to pursue the original mission but for now, it'll be just you two, okay?"
"Are you sure you'll be okay?"
"Hey, I got these amazing Finders with me, nothing will happen!" I assured, earning a few chuckles from those who listened to us.
"If you're so sure…" Allen trailed off.
"I am. Go on the goose chase while I kick some more Akuma ass, and we'll meet back later on, okay? It'll only take a few days, a week at most" I shrugged.
"Be careful"
"Oh God, why is everyone telling me this? It's not like I'm going to blow the entire planet on a whim!" I threw my hands in the air, annoyed.
They laughed a little, then walked away as I waved goodbye. When they weren't in sight anymore, an hand landed on my head, and I turned to Devon-san.
"It is very kind of you to escort us, Aryane" he smiled.
"Don't sweat it" I waved it off. "To be completely honest, it was partly because I wanted some more of those awesome sandwiches"
That made him laugh, and we went on our way to Barcelona.
The Finders were really kind and when night fell, they practically ordered me to sleep inside the carriage, seeing as it would be a cold night. I tried to refuse, really, seeing as I didn't exactly needed it, but they ignored me and I shut up when Devon threatened to lock me inside. At that, I pulled my tongue at him before closing the door, earning a few laughs from those around.
When I was certain they were all sleeping tight, I made my way outside and walked a dozen of meters ahead, letting my gaze wander on the bare land extending at my feet.
I had a bad feeling twisting my guts, a really bad one that made me want to hurl. Maybe because of how many Akumas were around? The air always felt heavier with them in the place.
"Can't sleep?"
I turned to Devon-san, and shook my head.
"I'm not really tired" I simply said. "The guilt of letting you all sleep outside is keeping me up!" I added more dramatically, making him chuckle.
We went back to the fire, and sat down in front of it.
"You know, it has been a while that my men and I wanted to meet you" he finally said.
I snapped my eyes to him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"There are a lot of rumors about you, Aryane Darkelston" he precised. "Words of an Exorcist that haven't shed a tear since she arrived at the Order. She never cried once for those who had fallen, but grieved each and every one who died with the notes of her heart"
At lost at what to answer, I simply stared into the dancing flames.
"The Finders are very fond of you" he pursued. "Because you grieve us, yes, but you never forget and honor our deaths by fighting harder, therefore making sure our sacrifices are not in vain and that those who we fight for in the first place live safely. There is no greater honor you could do for us, Aryane, and I don't think you realize just how much respect your inspire to all Finders"
"I…"
Struggling to wrap my mind about everything that he just said, I finally opted for the truth.
"My dad was a Finder" I finally admitted, fingering my necklace. "He became one after an Akuma killed his mother, right after I was born. He loved us so much, my mother and I, he wanted to be able to protect us with all he had. So, he joined the Order, keeping in touch with us despite the rules. However, short after I turned eleven, he died while he was away. Normally, the family isn't informed but, somehow, the information leaked out and reached us"
I cleared my throat. The memories seemed so far yet so close at the same time, it turned me mad.
"My mother was unable to get over her grief, and accepted the Millennium Earl's offer, therefore calling back my father and turning into an Akuma. That night was when my Innocence activated for the first time. I destroyed the weapon, but… not by accident. I wanted to. It wasn't my mother, it wasn't my father. It was a monster that kept my father's soul in chains and the only way to free him was to destroy it. So… I did. After that, knowing what I was due to my father's research, I joined the Black Order"
I shifted in place, letting go of the necklace.
"I guess that, when I see you, I see a part of my father too, you know? Men fighting to protect their loved ones, to make the world better. You don't have the Exorcists power, yet you keep fighting. It think… I think that you don't realize, how you inspire me, too. I refuse to let this courage and strength be forgotten, so I use it to finish the work you started" I concluded with a bright smile his way.
He smiled back, apparently touched by what I just said, and bowed his head.
"I am honored by your words" he said. "It is good to know that no matter what happens, our deaths will still make a difference"
"You being alive is better, though. I can't promise to save all of you, or even any of you. I can't even be sure I'll survive tomorrow either! However, I can assure you that I'll do my best to protect you and anyone else for that matter" I promised. "After all, what kind of escort would I be if I didn't?"
He chuckled at that, and we fall in a comfortable silence. It had been a while since I talked about my father, but I never tried to hide it in the first place. When someone asked, I answered. It wasn't a secret, and I didn't want it to be.
"I'll try to catch some sleep, now" I said, getting up. "Goodnight, Devon-san"
As I reached the carriage, however, his voice stopped me.
"Aryane"
"Hm?"
"Have you… have you ever regretted it? Destroying the Akuma, I mean"
I fully turned to him, smiling slightly.
"Never. Because if I did, it would mean I considered this monster as my father, and that would be the greatest affront I could do to him"
He nodded, understanding, and I went back inside, even though I knew I wouldn't sleep.
No regrets didn't meant the nigthmares wouldn't haunt me.
So, there's Ary's past. It's not exactly a big deal, but I didn't want to go with the cliché 'I lost everything and now I'll avenge them' thingie, you know? So, resuming: her father was a Finder, so she knew about Akumas and the Black Order, but he died during a mission and her mother, in grief, made the deal with the Earl, forcing Aryane to activate her Innocence and destroy the Akuma.
Also, for anyone wondering, Aryane lived in Paris, which is why she speaks French.
Question: What would those nightmares be?
PS: They're important. You'll understand later why, though.
Reviews are love, and I'll answer any question if you don't understand something!