And I'm back yet again! No reviews yet again too... *sigh*
Anyway!
Answer: Well, I can say it's going to protect her. That's all I'll admit ;-)
Enjoy!
Everything was pitch black.
No, seriously. I couldn't see a damn thing.
"Kiddo? Still alive?" I asked, looking around in vain.
"I'm here, Ary" he answered quietly, just next to me.
I managed to grab his hand –I really didn't want to get lost right now- and there was a little buzz of light from our earrings.
"C-can you hear me, Allen, Ary? Have you two entered the Ark?"
I cringed when a white light suddenly blinded me, and it took me a few seconds to readjust to the luminosity. When I finally opened my eyes, I took a step back.
"Holy shit…" I whispered, looking around.
"Something wrong?"
"N-nothing" Allen shook his head, stunned too. "Just... different from what we've expected"
"That's an understatement" I whistled, checking out the place.
There were white buildings all around, a clean pavement under our feet, a bright, blue sky above our heads and even fresh flowers in the pots on the sides of the street we were in.
"What can you see?"
"It's like the south" answered Allen. "Like a town lined with white buildings"
"How're you bodies?"
"Well, I feel just fine" I admitted, gazing at myself to see if there was a problem. "Good, even. This place… it's soothing"
Father was the one to create it before it befall in the hands of the Noahs. That's why you feel so connected to the place.
"I'm okay too" nodded my friend. "Care to take a look around, Ary?"
"Sure"
"Be careful! Don't get lost!"
We sweatdropped at our Boss's cries, and we started walking down the street. There didn't seem to be anything alive here, except for the flowers and the damn Teez still hanging around. I was really tempted to slice it in two, but was afraid it might warned Tyki of our arrival.
"Hey, Kiddo" I turned to him.
"Stop calling me that" he grunted. "And what is it?"
"What you said sooner, about making Lavi jealous… what was that supposed to mean?" I asked, curious.
Their was a choking laughter on the other end of the line, and also in my head, but I ignored the both of them and focused my full attention on a half-amused, half-frightened Allen.
"I don't remem-"
"Hey, Boss? Did you know that Kiddo and J-"
He clamped an hand over his mouth, chuckling nervously.
"Alright, alright! It's just that, ever since I saw you with him for the first time, I thought you two were together or something, but you prove me wrong when you reacted that way sooner" he gave in.
I blinked at him.
"Together? What do you mean?"
"Well… you know, together together"
I stilled for a moment.
"Wait, you mean that together together!?"
"Well… yeah?"
"The hell is wrong with you?" I snorted. "Bookboy and me? That's just plain rubbish! I mean- we don't- we're not- this is ridiculous! Where did you get that idea!?"
He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, shaking his head.
"Hey, don't blame me! You're the one acting all touchy-feely with Lavi!" he retorted.
"We- what?"
Gabriel was literally dying of laughter right now, and Komui was choking on his own on the other side of the transmitter.
And then?
I fucking blushed.
"We're not like that! Lavi and me- we're just friends! Friends! A big bro and a sister, at most, but not- that!" I protested fervently.
"Denial" he mocked.
"I just- Urgh! I'm going for a tour of the place, I- I'll be back in two" I grunted, stomping away.
He chuckled as I quickly headed for anywhere but there, very embarrassed.
Why the hell would he think that? Lavi and me? That was just plain crazy.
"… love?"
Instantly, I pushed away this stupid thought. Why the hell would I love Bookboy?
Her? Him? He was just her friend, and nothing more!
Really?
I rolled my eyes at his suggestive tone.
"Shut up, Trickster" I mumbled, kicking a lonely stone.
"Ary? Who are you talking too?"
"Boss? I'll hang off for a moment, okay?"
"Wait, Ary-"
I deactivated the earring, which left me alone with my traitorous thoughts.
Sure, he was really funny, kind, understanding and crazy intelligent.
He was always there for me and the others, always ready to lift our spirits when we needed it the most.
He could be so dumb sometimes, too! He wasn't reckless, per se, but there were some moments where he could act so stupidly!
He was kind of a weirdo, to be honest but, then again, wasn't I too? And he always knew what to say, could hold a decent conversation when needed too, wasn't overly serious or anything…
He kept going after any woman he judged alright to the eye, though. Keeps on yelling his stupid 'STRIKE' each and every time, which is kind of annoying, to be honest.
He was mysterious, in his own way. Sometimes, a flash of tiredness played in his eye. Tired of life, most probably, but we had no secrets for each other. He was a great friend, an even greater brother and confident.
His smile always made me feel better, and his laugh-
For Father's sake, Hime, you're so whipped!
I froze in my tracks. What-
Girl, I've been living long enough to know when someone's in love, and I know you well enough to say that you're just in plain denial right now.
"But- Alright, even if I did love him –which is a ludicrous idea-, he's still a Bookman in training, and we're both Exorcists of the Black Order for now. If I did wanted to start any sort of relationship, hypothetically speaking, it would be downright impossible!"
Don't you think it's worth a try?
"Still hypothetically speaking, the risks that would come with this-"
You never feared the risks before.
"And what if he doesn't love me, hm?" I huffed.
Now you sound like a spoiled brat. I thought it was all hypotheticals?
"I-it is!" I spluttered, my cheeks flaming. "And- this is just insane! Lavi and I got two way different paths. He's got to be a Bookman, and I'm the 'Protector and Savior', remember? It'll only end in hurt and it's not a bound I'm ready to –or will, for that matter- cross!"
Hime, love knows no bounds. You're human. You will make mistakes. However, no matter the destinies, or the obstacles, it'll all work out in the end. Father doesn't forsakes love, Ary-chan. If yours is bound to happen with that guy, it will.
I bit my lower lip and started playing with my pendant.
"But… it's all hypotheticals" I shook my head. "And why the hell is it up to debate? If I don't- I'm just not- I-"
I struggled to finish my sentence, in vain.
See? You can't even deny it anymore.
I banged my head on the nearest wall, making Gab chuckle.
"Damn it"
I was doomed.
And where did that lead me, now?
"Ary?"
"I hate you, Kiddo" I grunted, joining his side.
He snorted. Apparently, my evident self-struggle –more or less- and what conclusion I came with was evident. However, he was kind enough not to bring it up, and I suddenly remembered that I kind of cut all contact with Komui. Cringing in anticipation, I put it back on.
"Ary!?"
"Hey, Boss-"
"Don't you do that again! You're in enemy territory right now, for all we know! Next time you pull something like that off, I swear I'll put you on paperwork duty for a month!"
"Hai" I gulped.
The white haired boy chuckled, then sighed.
"Komui-san?" he asked.
"Hai?"
"Is everyone alright?"
I slowed down a little, wanting to hear the answer. I might not show it, but I was worried too. I knew they were all still alive, somehow, I could tell, but there was a difference between being alive and being alright.
At Komui's silence, though, my step faltered.
"Boss?" I called, frowning a little.
"In times of stress, it's best to think of fun things"
"Fun things?" repeated Allen, confused.
"Can't you think of any? Let me. When everyone returns, I'll greet you all with a 'Welcome Home' and a pat on the back. I'll hug Lenalee as hard as I can. Ary, I'm going to give you a earful for scaring us so much, and you and Allen will get lots of food. Lavi'll probably fall asleep on the spot, so I'll put a blanket over him. The adults will toast the occasion, and we'll throw a huge party before going to bed. It'll be wonderful. And then, though a little late, Kanda will show up with that look of his, and we'll all be together again"
There was a moment of silence, and I allowed myself a smile.
"I'd like that" I admitted softly.
"I'm sure everyone will" nodded Allen, smiling too.
"We'll be waiting, then"
As we exited the Ark, we arrived on a battlefield. Or rather, what was left of it. Or what wasn't?
Not the time, Hime.
Right, sorry.
I gazed around. We were now in Edo, and flashes of lights were appearing and disappearing not far from our position. The whole ground seemed covered in a black, ice-like substance, and I could feel a weird thrumming in the back of my head.
Innocence. Your friend Lenalee's, I'd presume. I'll explain later, just focus on now.
Got it.
"There are Noahs, just like the Level Three said" Allen remarked, eying the happening battles.
"Jumper is in the big crystal over there" I frowned. "The Earl is going for it. We have to move now"
"I take care of the Earl, bring Lenalee to safety" he ordered.
"Hai!"
Activating my wings, I flew at a barely controlled speed toward the giant block of crystal-like Innocence.
As the Earl was about to grab Lenalee, something sliced through the crystal and nearly cut his arm off. Backing away as the solid Innocence exploded, he narrowed his eyes at the white form crouched between him and the girl. He couldn't make out anything from the interrupter, except for a flash of red.
Then, the form got up, revealing a human silhouette. The white light died down somewhat, finally revealing a very familiar girl to everyone present present. She grinned.
"Yo! How's life going?"
"Yo! How's life going?" I grinned, making the peace sign.
"A-Ary?"
I looked down at Lenalee, who seemed about to burst into tears.
"Hey, Jumper. I'm glad to see you again. Nice pixie cut, by the way"
"Ary!"
She jumped into my arms, and I hugged her back tightly.
There was a snarl, and we both turned in time to see the Millennium Earl attacking once again, only to be stopped by Allen, in all his Crown Clown's glory.
"Allen…" whispered Lenalee, an hand on her mouth.
"Good evening" sneered the Earl, backing away slightly. "It seems we meet again, Allen Walker!"
"And what am I, the invisible man?" I huffed. "Kiddo, you always have to steal my spotlight, don't you?"
"Ary, not the time" he sweatdropped.
"You're quite troublesome, the both of you" remarked the Earl.
At last, some recognition!
Hime, shut up.
"Every time I see you, you get in my way" pursued the Millennium old man.
There was a sob, and I looked down at Lenalee, only to see her crying. Smiling a little, I tightened my hold on her.
"We won't let you lay an hand on Lenalee" assured Allen, raising his arm.
"Or any of our friends, for that matter" I added firmly.
"Very well, then. I'll let all of you get reacquainted…"
He suddenly jumped, weird dark spheres forming into his hands.
"Kiddo!"
"Got it!"
Passing an arm behind Lenalee's back and the other under her knees, I darted away from our spot, rising high into the sky while Allen engaged the Earl. I quickly made my way to where three man that I recognized from Anita's crew, a now conscious Miranda, a tired-looking Bookman, and even Tiedoll-sensei, had retreated.
Gently, I placed Lenalee down next to them, and remarked that she had fainted.
"Take care of her!" I ordered, before flying back to the fight.
Allen was strong, yes, but not enough to be much of a challenge to the Earl. However, maybe with the two of us, we might be able to do something.
As I approached, Allen was blasted away. Instantly, I jumped in.
"Feathered Blades!"
Two of them managed to graze the man, cutting clean his coat, and I could tell that his eyes narrowed behind his glasses as he lifted them to me.
"Ne, ne, Earl, I've got some bad blood with a few of your Noahs" I crossed my arms over my chest. "Think I've got time to settle scores before you run away like a fucking coward?"
"Such foul tongue for a lady to have" he remarked, venom in his voice. "How about I rip it out!?"
He suddenly jumped, and I managed to block his sword –where the hell did that one came from?- just in time with Shield. He flew back on a few meters as I gently landed on the glassy ground.
"Earl, I ain't a lady" I remarked, an hand on my hips. "I'm a good friend to have, though. Because… when my friends are hurt…"
At that, I showed him a toothy grin, and started batting my wings to a methodic rhythm –more like Gab but anyway-. My feathers, now steel, started emitting a series of tinkling sounds in a strange –somewhat dismal- melody.
"When my friends are hurt…" I repeated, my smile turning bitter. "I become a real bitch"
Hell's Salvation!
Instantly, he stopped moving. The sphere that were forming in his hands disappeared, and Allen appeared by my side.
"You okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. What'd you do?"
"It won't work much longer" I shook my head, hearing Gab's words. "Get ready to strike"
He nodded firmly and, not five seconds later, the Earl came back to his senses. Hissing with so much hate I never thought I'd feel one day, he headed for me at an incredible pace. He jumped, higher than before, and shot a way bigger sphere than before.
Reacting instinctively, I wrapped my wings in Shield once again as Allen's Crown Clown wrapped itself on the top. There was an explosion, and I actually felt the blow this time, meaning it would most probably would have killed us if we hadn't reacted in time.
Gotta love Archangel.
And Gab too, for that matter.
Aw, I love you too, Hime!
Any important damage I should be aware of?
None. The Earl left, by the way.
Thought so.
Allen retreated his Innocence, which allowed me to fold my wings in my back. There was an heavy smoke all around us, and I couldn't see a thing a meter ahead.
"You holding up, Kiddo?"
"I'm alright" he nodded. "Where's the Earl?"
"Gone. Do you think-"
Another very familiar presence approached, and I grinned a little. Then, taking the momentum, I jumped on Lavi's back.
"LAVIII!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
We both stumbled to the ground, and I started laughing. I rolled off of him and he gazed at me with a wide eye. Allen simply shook his head at my antics.
"Hey, Bookboy!" I grinned.
Was it me or he seemed…
Hot? Awesome? Different? You're in love, sweetheart, it's okay to feel that way.
I sweatdropped a little.
I was about to say 'injured' but if you're that much into men, I won't judge you.
N-no! It's not-
"It was about damn time you showed up!" he suddenly exclaimed, ruffling our hair. "And seriously, Ary? Was that the only thing you could think about?"
"Aw, I missed you too, Bookboy!" I hugged him tightly.
He stiffened a little a my embrace, which made me frown. Had I done something?
Well, I guess I did kind of left for a while. Was he mad at me? Damn, I hoped not. With everything going on-
Stop there. Right there. Bad brain, bad.
Denial…
As I pulled away, another familiar presence made itself known.
"Stop right where you are, bastard!" snarled a new voice.
Something came out of the smoke cloud, and Allen barely had time to react, stopping the oncoming blow with his arm.
"K-Kanda?" he squeaked out, apparently terrified by the… err, welcome.
"Beansprout?" Kanda's eyes widened in surprise.
"My name is Allen" grunted the boy, annoyed.
"What are you doing here?" retorted the older one, apparently annoyed too.
"Same to you"
"I was after the Noah with the curly hair" answered the asstard.
He turned to Lavi and I.
"Oi, Lavi, any idea where he went?"
He then realized that I was here too, and stiffened.
"Oi, still alive, Jerkface?" I called, huffing a little.
"You're here too" he stated. "Just great"
"About time you remarked too" I replied. "As for the Noah, his name is Tyki Mikk. And yeah, he's a real bastard"
"Come to think of it, the ripped guy I was fighting disappeared too" frowned Lavi, looking around.
The cloud of dust finally fall back on the ground, revealing an empty battlefield.
"What's happening here?" the redhead scratched the back of his head. "The Noahs have completely vanished…"
Wonder he can do other things with these hands…
GAB!
Kanda glared at me.
"Hey, what's with the face? Don't act as if I'm the one who got in your way!" I protested. "Blame yourself. I'm sure he managed to got away 'cause you're such a slowpoke, Jerkface"
"What was that, Akahato?" a vein bulged on his forehead. "It was your punk ass that barged in here like a sloth, later than everyone else, along with the annoying one here. What were you thinking, you slow Beansprout?"
"My name's Allen, how many times do I have to tell you?" barked the boy. "Oh, that's right, I forgot that your brain is as slow as the rest of you. My bad"
"That's some attitude you got there" Kanda bared his teeth. "I'll show you who's really the dumb shit here. En garde! I'll chop off that white hair of yours and sell it to some old geezers! "
He brandished Mugen to Allen's face, who just sighed, as if he was explaining why the sky was blue to some spoiled brat.
"Wouldn't selling black hair get you a better deal?"
"For your insolence, I'll leave only one strand behind!"
"Are you trying to turn me into a kappa?"
They're ridiculous.
I know.
I eyed Lavi a little. Now that I looked closer, he wasn't half-bad when it came to looks…
Half-bad? Honey, you won't be able to find much better out there, no matter how many fishes there are in the sea.
Ignoring him, I whistled a little at the fight, and nudged Lavi's side.
"Is it me or Allen actually grew some backbone?" I asked.
"More like a first-years grader's fight" he snorted. "Must be your bad influence"
He's acting like usual, if not a little stiff. Hope he's okay, but he seems really injured…
"Excuse me? I have a perfectly good influence on everyone, thank you very much!" I huffed.
Damn, he's annoying. Kind of missed it, though.
"Aw, I don't blame you, Tenshi" he cooed, patting my head. "It must be because you're so short, nothing you can control, really!"
"TAKE THAT BACK!"
Or not.
Jerk.
A few minutes sooner
Lavi shut his eyes close as an explosion happened not too far away.
He had only caught a glimpse of everything that was happening –he wasn't sure what was happening, though- and only knew that Lenalee was now safe, thanks to the weird apparition. Too caught up in his fight, he hadn't been able to see who it was.
And then, barely two minutes later, an heavy cloud of dust and smoke rose around him, blinding him to his surroundings. He was tensed, ready to fight off the ripped guy again, when two very familiar voices echoed.
That can't be, he frowned, heading for the source. There's no way…
Something suddenly landed on his back.
"LAVIII!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
Wailing his arms in fright, he lost his balance and landed on the ground rather harshly. He bite back a wince as his injured arm hit the ice-like floor, but was too stunned by the sudden appearance of a certain red haired teen to mind the pain.
"Hey, Bookboy" she grinned.
He could simply stare at her, wide eye.
She seemed to sweatdropped at something only she could hear, and realization hit him like a wall brick.
It was her.
Aryane was back.
"It was about damn time you showed up!" he finally exclaimed, ruffling her hair. "And seriously, Ary? Was that the only thing you could think about?"
It was her. Ary was back. It was her. Ary was-
"Aw, I missed you too, Bookboy!"
Holy shit, she was hugging him.
Should he hug back? Was it to straightforward? Would she be suspicious or-
Wait. That was Tenshi he was thinking about, probably the densest girl he ever met when it concerned feelings and anything of the sort.
So, he hugged back. After that, as she pulled away, she snapped her head to the right.
"Stop right where you are, bastard!" snarled a new voice, coming that way.
Something came out of the smoke cloud, and Allen barely had time to react, stopping the oncoming blow with his arm.
"K-Kanda?" he squeaked out.
"Beansprout?" Kanda's eyes widened in surprise.
Instantly, the surprise disappeared, and both glared daggers at each other.
"My name is Allen" grunted the boy, annoyed.
"What are you doing here?" retorted the older one, apparently annoyed too.
"Same to you"
"I was after the Noah with the curly hair" answered the samurai.
Then, he turned to the two teens, but Lavi wasn't really paying attention. How had Ary known that Kanda was coming that way?
"Oi, Lavi, any idea where he went?"
He shrugged in answer, and the long-haired Exorcist suddenly stiffened, now only noticing the girl next to him.
"Oi, still alive, Jerkface?" she called, huffing a little.
Damn, she's kind of cute when- shut up!
"You're here too" he stated. "Just great"
"About time you remarked, too" she replied. "As for the Noah, his name is Tyki Mikk. And yeah, he's a real bastard"
How does she know his name? Was he the one who attacked her and Allen?
"Come to think of it, the ripped guy I was fighting disappeared too" frowned Lavi, looking around.
The cloud of dust finally fall back on the ground, revealing an empty battlefield.
"What's happening here?" the redhead scratched the back of his head. "The Noahs have completely vanished…"
At that, Kanda glared at the red haired girl, who glared back.
"Hey, what's with the face? Don't act as if I'm the one who got in your way!" she protested. "Blame yourself. I'm sure he managed to got away 'cause you're such a slowpoke, Jerkface"
"What was that, Akahato?" a vein bulged on his forehead. "It was your punk ass that barged in here like a sloth, later than everyone else, along with the annoying one here. What were you thinking, you slow Beansprout?"
"My name's Allen, how many times do I have to tell you?" barked the boy. "Oh, that's right, I forgot that your brain is as slow as the rest of you. My bad"
"That's some attitude you got there" Kanda bared his teeth. "I'll show you who's really the dumb shit here. En garde! I'll chop off that white hair of yours and sell it to some old geezers! "
He brandished Mugen to Allen's face, who just sighed, as if he was explaining why the sky was blue to some spoiled brat.
"Wouldn't selling black hair get you a better deal?"
"For your insolence, I'll leave only one strand behind!"
"Are you trying to turn me into a kappa?"
Aryane whistled a little, and nudged Lavi's side.
"Is it me or Allen actually grew some backbone?" she asked.
Allen seems different. Wonder if Ary changed too.
"More like a first-years grader's fight" he snorted. "Must be your bad influence"
"Excuse me? I have a perfectly good influence on everyone, thank you very much!" she huffed.
There doesn't seem to be anything too out of character, except for the fact that she spaces out more.
"Aw, I don't blame you, Tenshi" he cooed, patting her head. "It must be because you're so short, nothing you can control, really!"
"TAKE THAT BACK!"
Yup, definitely her.
On the Ark
The Earl dragged Tyki and Skin by their collars, in the street. The curly-haired one was now taking a smoke, still a little dazed by his previous fights.
"Aah… that was so much fun…" he sighed. "How come we have to head back now, Millennium Earl? That Exorcist girl could have been the Heart, you know"
"So heavy..." the Earl ignored him. "You two have grown up quite a bit, ne?"
"Hey, hold up. Are you even listening?" asked Tyki, puffing some smoke.
"There's only four more hours left until the download's complete, Tyki"
Surprised, he raised his head and saw Road sitting on a balcony.
"Ah, Road? Good job on the programming" nodded the Earl.
"I want a year's worth of candy for all the effort" she drawled.
"Hai, hai. Oh, that's right. Speaking of work… Tyki-pon's target has come back"
At that, the man stiffened, wide eyes.
"Eh? He's still alive? Left arm and all?" he stuttered.
"Alive and kicking" confirmed his master. "He got in my way quite splendidly, along with the red haired devil"
"W-what? The girl too? She can't be back, I ripped one of her wing apart!" he protested.
"If my guess about he true identity is correct, then it is no wonder a mere ripped wing hadn't stopped her" the Millennium Archduke shook his head. "But, she put some serious halt in my advance too"
Damn it, cursed silently the Noah.
"Ne, ne, what are you talking about?" asked Road, latching onto the Earl's neck.
"Tyki-pon's incompetence"
"Eh?" she smiled devilishly.
She suddenly smell something strange. Curious, she gazed down at the curly-haired Noah.
"Ne, Tyki, did you change cigarette brands?" she asked, sniffing around.
"What's with this, suddenly?" he grunted. "No, they're the same"
She looked around suspiciously, before shrugging.
"Hey, where's Lero?"
So, Cheating Boy A and Milady are back, eh?
Tyki's eyes glinted in some sort of sick delight.
Guess it's time for round two.
I won't hold back this time, though, twin's target or not.
I've got so much fun writing Lavi and Ary's interactions!
Also, are the mental conversations between Ary and Gabriel too confusing? I'm trying to be as clear as possible.
Question: Do you like Gabriel? 'Cause I do ;-)
Reviews, even though I lost hope at this point. Oh well.