Hey, I GOT A REVIEW! Thank God, I thought I had been abandonned... It wasn't exactly one I was waiting for, to be honest, but it gave me a good laugh so it's all well and good.
Answer: I don't know for others but, as said sooner, I love him. He's so fun to write!
Enjoy!
We were now sitting under a bridge –most probably the only thing left of what had been a city-. The others had explained everything that we missed and we did the same, explaining in a short resume what had happened at the Asian Branch.
Lady Anita, Mahoja and the rest of the crew, saved for the three man with us, were dead. Lenalee had destroyed a Level Three, but to the price of her Innocence for the time being. I could still feel it there, but it was different from the others'.
Miranda had acted as our replacement, and Kanda, Marie and Tiedoll joined the party not long after the battle started. The woman had used her Innocence to heal their wounds temporarily, Lenalee was still unconscious –which was normal, apparently-, and we were now taking a well deserved break.
Hime, you didn't do much, you know.
I'm tired and hungry and kind of cold. Sue me.
"So Crown Clown, Lenalee's Dark Boots and Archangel all have the possibility to be the Heart" remarked Tiedoll-sensei.
If they think we're the Heart, than it's easier to pass under the radar.
How's that? They'll keep watch on me now!
Yes, but they won't suspect that you're a freaking Innocence GPS.
Touché.
"Let's try piercing this story together" sighed the Marshall. "Cross's group planned to meet up with him and destroy the demon factory, isn't that right?"
"Hai" confirmed Bookman.
"However, our own reason for coming here is to find more Innocence Hosts" the man shook his head. "I know this may sound harsh, given that we've just met, but I have no intention of helping Cross"
Everyone tensed a little at that, but I already knew where this was going.
"That man, Marian, thinks of other humans as nothing but pawns. Even you, his supposed guards, were just bait with his modified Akumas in the plan he laid out" he grunted, scratching his head. "I wonder if it's even possible to work with a man like that…"
From the corner of my eye, I saw Allen sweatdropped.
"Yeah, the stupid womanizer isn't exactly appreciated" I winced in sympathy towards the student.
"Oh, I have a proposition for you all" added Tiedoll-sensei.
"A proposition?"
"I think it would be best for the Cross Unit to pull back from the front lines"
"Eh? What do you mean?" asked Lavi.
"You want us to pull out without fighting?" added Allen.
"Tiedoll-sensei, Kiddo and I just got back!" I protested. "We can't just back down like that!"
"I don't believe the time is yet right for fighting the Millennium Earl" retorted calmly the Marshall. "I believe survival is also a job we must carry out. As of right now, the only living Exorcists in the world are Hevlaska, back at Headquarters, Sokaro, Klaud, Marian and the ten of us present here"
Biting my lower lip, I looked down at Lenalee. She wasn't in any fighting shape, not even able to stand alone. As for Lavi, Krory, Bookman and Miranda, they were all very tired, even with the woman's Innocence active. Tiedoll, Kanda, Marie, Allen and I were the only ones in top shape, and the first three weren't going to help.
This man is quite wise.
That's Tiedoll-sensei for you.
You respect him a lot.
You sound surprise. But yes, I do. He's my favorite Marshall, to be honest.
He's right on his point, though. We can't continue if only Allen and you can fight.
"I don't want to expose you all to danger" he pursued. "In time of hardship, isn't a tactical retreat the best choice?"
For all the respect I have for the man, though…
You can't back down.
Exactly.
"To move forward… or to withdraw?"
I tilted my head at Lavi, who harbored a grim smile.
"But, Tiedoll Marshall" he called, getting his attention. "We've actually heard those words before. But, at that time, sleeping beauty here said 'let's keep going. We can't turn back now. If we do, all the effort of those who gave their lives will be wasted' She tried to live up to your words, Ary"
I felt warmth flutter in my chest and I played with Lenalee's short hair, smiling a little.
"We've decided that, no matter how badly we were beaten up, we would forge ahead" he concluded, this time with a real smile.
Unable to stop myself, I grabbed his hand, and he tightened his hold as I smiled back at him.
"That's right…" suddenly said Krory, tears running down his face.
"We wish to keep going!" added Miranda, crying too.
"U-us too!" added one of the three man, Chaozii -I think-.
"And you want this too, I presume?" asked the older man, gazing around.
"With all due respect, Tiedoll-sensei" my voice got his attention. "Backing down never was an option to begin with"
"Ary's right" nodded Allen. "We wish to keep moving forward!"
Tiedoll sighed heavily.
"Is that so? Then there's nothing more to hesitate about"
He got up, and walked to the exit of our shelter.
"The trip thus far must have been painful, but the path you must walk from here on is truly strewn with torns"
"The torns are there to protect, though" I beamed at him. "Pain is necessary for the goal we wish to achieve, but we'll keep going, no matter what. That's what making us Exorcists"
At that, Tiedoll finally allowed a smile to grace his lips.
"Yeah, I guess it is"
"Hey, Buffy" I sat next to the friend. "Feeling alright?"
He smiled a little.
"It's good to have you back, Ary" he said softly. "You and Allen. When they told us you two were dead, it had been quite a blow for everyone"
I stilled a little, confused.
"Dead?" I repeated. "Who the hell told you this utter bullshit?"
He looked at me, surprised.
"The Asian scientist… Won, I think…" he answered. "Well, he wasn't very specific, but all logic train of thoughts led to the conclusion where you two had been killed, and when we asked, he just apologized…"
"That's just like him" I shook my head, exasperated. "But, we're back now, and we're not going anywhere. Sorry to disappoint"
He chuckled a little, and I noticed a wooden box in his hands.
"What's this?" I asked, curious.
"Oh…"
He looked down at the box with some sort of sadness.
"We told you about the modified Akuma, right?"
"Yeah. It- she was destroyed in the fight before we arrived, right?"
"She knew she wouldn't last much longer, so she gave me these" he opened the box, revealing four flask.
"Her blood" I realized.
"Hm"
"Well, she wanted to do all she could for us" I smiled. "She wanted you to have these, and I'm sure she's glad to be able to help despite not being here anymore"
"I forgot, about yours and Lenalee's words" he admitted, as if ashamed.
"Hey, everyone forgets something one time or another" I rolled my eyes. "But as long as you go forward to honor our friend's sacrifices, then it's okay. Just keep swimming, eh?"
This time, he laughed outright.
"Yes, I guess you're right" he nodded.
"Hey, you two!"
We turned to see Lavi coming to us, drying his hair with a blanket he found God-knows-where and something fluttered in my stomach. I wasn't exactly comfortable, but not discomforting either…
Aw, Ary-chan has butterflies in the stomach! How sweet!
Ugh, I'd prefer a Teez.
I cleared my throat, looking away to hide the faint red I knew was tainting my cheeks. The hell was happening to me now? It really wasn't the time for the hormones to finally kick in after years of being dormant, seriously.
Look, there's still some drops on his face. Hot, isn't it?
Shut up, Trickster! Don't you have better to do than mind-rape me?
I'm hurt, Ary-chan, really.
"We're going to head out soon" remarked Lavi, sitting next to me and ignoring my internal debate. "Worried?"
"Nan" I let my head fall on his shoulder. "We can take it"
He was warm, which was comforting in some sort of way. Didn't know I missed this kind of contact so much. I always had been a touchy person and a hugging buddy, but it wasn't the same as with Allen or the others…
It's because it's him, Hime.
Trickster, please… just let me be, okay? It's really not the time for this kind of crap. I'll think about it when we get back to Headquarters, okay?
And what if something happens? What if you miss out on your chance because you were too stubborn and didn't act before it was too late?
Deciding not to answer, I simply raised my eyes at Lavi, only to see him looking down at me with a strange look. When our eyes met, he coughed and looked away.
Weird.
"Lavi, didn't you have something to give to her?" suddenly remember Krory.
"Oh, right" he snapped his fingers.
He searched for said something in his pocket, before handing his hand to me. In his palm laid…
"My necklace!"
It really was my necklace. Relief washed over me. No matter how hard I lied to myself, I really was attach to this stupid trinket. Happily, I fastened it around my neck, and it laid again on my chest with the other feathered pendant. Then, I hugged him as hard as I could.
"Thanks, Bookboy"
He stilled for barely a second, before hugging me back.
"Anytime, Tenshi"
But then, as I pulled away, he roughly swatted the back of my head.
"Hey! What was that for?" I whined.
"For scaring us like that!" he scolded. "Timcanpy showed us what happened on a record, and then this scientist comes and lead us to think you both had been killed! Don't you dare play dead again, got it?"
"Geez, no need to get your panties in a twist" I grunted, smiling nowadays. "But don't hope too much, you won't get rid of me that easily"
"Damn it" muttered Kanda, barely two meters away.
"Shut the hell up, Jerkface"
"Dwarfed pigeons first"
"TAKE THAT BACK!"
As Lavi hold me back from killing the asstard, a familiar voice brought my attention back inside. Exchanging a glance with Lavi, we made our way back in, and found Lenalee having a moment with Allen, who was crying.
I snorted, and the atmosphere just disappeared as they suddenly remembered that they weren't alone.
"Hey, look who's finally awake" drawled Lavi.
They snapped their eyes at us, clearly embarrassed.
"Hey, Kiddo, are these tears I see?" I grinned, poking his cheek.
"I-I wasn't!" he protested.
"Lavi cried too, back on the ship" Lenalee piped in.
"Oh?" I smirked at the boy.
"No I didn't!" he shook his head fervently.
"Now I feel offended" I sighed dramatically.
He paled at my words.
"N-no! That's not what I meant- I didn't-"
"Oh, it's ok, Bookboy, I understand" I shook my head, getting up.
Then, I hugged Miranda.
"I prefer Mira-chan anyway" I pulled my tongue at him.
"Tenshi!" he whined.
The others just laughed a little, and the woman gently patter my head, smiling softly.
"It has been a while, Ary" she said quietly.
"Right, since the Rewinding Town" I blinked, remembering the events at that time. "Funny, it seems like it happened only yesterday. I'm glad you're one of us now, by the way"
"O-oh, I'm not much h-help but…" her stuttering came back in force.
I took her hands in mines and looked at her in the eyes.
"Mira-chan, your Innocence is amazing" I assured seriously. "You're amazing. Don't ever think otherwise, alright?"
She turned so red I was afraid she'd faint.
"We're going to scout the area" announced Bookman as Lavi got up too.
We all nodded, not having decided on a plan yet, and the two Bookmen left.
I went to sit by Lenalee.
"Hey, Jumper" I greeted. "Make some place"
She moved so that I could sit next to her and, once done, I passed an arm around her shoulders and held her against me without a word, knowing my silence would push her to talk rather than my words.
She soon started shaking in my arms, and I tightened my embrace.
"I'm here" I whispered. "I'm okay. Kiddo's okay. Everyone's okay"
"I thought you died back there" she sobbed, hiding her face in the crook of my neck. "And we saw the Noah ripping your wing apart, and your face contorting in pain, and…"
Drops of water landed on my skin, and I caressed her hair soothingly.
"I'm back now" I assured. "I'm back and I'm not going away anytime soon, okay?"
She nodded, but didn't let go. Knowing she would be okay, I said no more and kept the embrace.
Lavi was walking with a satisfied air, his hands behind his head. Next to him, Bookman stopped walking.
"Lavi"
Surprised by the tone, he looked down at his grandfather.
"What's up?"
"In response to Tiedoll Marshall, you yourself said you wish to keep moving towards the demons"
"Yeah. And?"
The old man's traits hardened slightly.
"Did you say that as a successor to the Bookman line, or as an Exorcist of the Black Order? You haven't forgotten your true reason for being here, have you?" he accused.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten" assured his grandson. "Ji-ji, you worry too much somet-"
"And what about Aryane?"
At that, however, Lavi's step faltered.
"What about her?"
He tried to play it off, but there was a nearly unnoticeable tenseness in his voice, something no one but a Bookman would have picked up.
"I am glad she is alive and well, Lavi, I really am" assured his grandfather. "However, as the Heir of the Clan, you mustn't strive away from the path ahead of you. All of this is merely the history we are to record. Do not forget"
"I've already told you I didn't" the boy rolled his eyes. "No come on, we've got to hurry back to the others"
After a second of silence, Bookman sighed, and followed is stubborn apprentice.
As for Lavi, well…
I can't think of that right now. I'll deal… I'll deal with it later, when everything settles down.
Everyone was busy preparing for our departure. I was still hugging Lenalee, who didn't seem ready to let me go just yet.
She's quite attached to you.
It goes both ways, though.
Kanda and Krory were talking farther away, while Miranda, Chaozii and the other two –I didn't catch their names- prepared the bags. Lavi and Bookman came back from their tour, and I knew from the slight frown on the boy's face that something was troubling him.
You're whi-
Shut up, Trickster.
Allen was gazing around us, apparently happy to be back, and Tiedoll and Marie were talking in low tone into the opposite corner.
Something then shifted in the air, making me tense.
"Ary?" asked Lenalee, worried by my sudden stiffness.
"I-"
Suddenly, a bright purple light appeared under us.
Ary, move!
But before I could even think about it, I felt myself being sucked in the weird vortex-thingy, along with my friend.
"Holy shit!"
I tried to push Lenalee out of the way as everyone reacted around us but, next thing I knew, we were completely sucked in.
There was a moment of utter darkness, before we started falling.
"Innocence!"
Activating my wings, I managed to stop our fall as my friend tightened her hold around my neck. However, before I could make a move, something crashed onto us, sending us flat on the ground. I cringed as my head hit the pavement rather harshly, and found it difficult to breath with an heavy weight on my back.
"T-that surprised me…" I heard Krory's voice somewhere above.
"Tche" definitely Kanda.
There was a weird gurgle sound that I couldn't recognized and Lavi's voice muttering something incomprehensible.
"Y-you're crushing me…" added Allen, sounding a little out of it.
"Get… off!"
With a flap of my wings, I managed to push them off and they all rolled aside.
"Ary, are you okay?" wondered Lenalee.
"Just peachy" I assured, having some hard time getting up. "It's not like I was crushed under a pile of overly grown morons or anything"
She giggled a little, and helped me up. She had been lucky, seeing as I used my own body to shield her, but I was glad she was okay.
"What is this place?" asked suddenly Kanda.
Looking around, I easily identified the place we had just popped in.
"It's the Ark" I frowned. "The device we used to join with you. The hell are we doing here?"
"I was about to ask the same thing, Akahato" Kanda glared at me.
I glared back, electricity crackling between the two of us.
"And why the hell would I know?"
"Hey, what's the weird pumpkin?"
At Lavi's question, we all turned to him and saw a really weird umbrella with a pumpkin head.
"Outta my way, you shitty Exorcists!" it exclaimed angrily.
"Gah, it talks!" Lavi took a step back.
Instantly, Allen placed his blade-like fingers at it's… well, what was supposed to be it's neck, at the same time Kanda threatened it with Mugen.
"If you want to keep that head of yours intact, you'll let us out right now" ordered the he-she samurai.
"Where's the exit?" Allen added with an icy tone.
"T-there's no exit…" it stuttered.
Its eyes glowed for a moment and, suddenly, a voice boomed all around us.
"After many long years, this ship has fulfilled it's purpose and has come to a stop. Excellent work, Lero. It's time to depart, my beloved Exorcists!"
Balloons came out of the pumpkin's mouth along with a purple mist.
"You'll set sail with this ship on its journey to Hades!"
The ground started shaking, and some buildings collapsed. The sky glittered as everyone tensed and the smoke took the form of the Millennium Earl.
"Careful, Exorcists! Those parts that have finished downloading are beginning to break apart"
"What the hell do you mean?" snapped Kanda.
"This boat will soon be absorbed interdimensionally and cease to exist. Or, speaking in terms that minds like yours can understand, you have three hours of life left in this world"
I gritted my teeth at that, clenching my fists.
"As if!" I snapped. "If there's an entrance, there's an exit! Where is it, you soul-rapist!?"
There was a deep chuckle that made me shudder, and Lenalee's legs collapsed. Worried, I brought my attention back on the current situation when Lavi managed to caught her and hold her up. For some reason, seeing those two so close irked me, somehow.
No idea why, though.
Aw, my little Hime is jealous!
I am not! And it's really not the time, Trickster!
The ground shook once again, and the mist figure got bigger.
"Adorable little lady" the Earl called with a sweet tone. "Don't you have such wonderful friends? Look at how many have come with you to die! Oh well, at least you won't be dying alone…"
He started cackling as his smoky doppelganger elevated higher in the blue sky.
"Don't worry, though. I'll make sure no one is sad! I'll stop the tears of those who have to live in a world without you!"
"Yeah, more like kill them before said tears even fall" I grunted. "Just show yourself, you damn coward!"
"None of you will get out of here alive, Aryane Darkelston, and not even you, Protector and Savior of the Innocence, will be able to change your fate!"
And with that, the misty figure disappeared. I clenched my fists angrily.
"Bastard" I sneered.
"We've got to get moving" Allen announced. "There should be an house around here with a door that leads to the outside world. We came through it"
"And just how many do you think there are around here?" retorted Lavi, gazing at all the identical buildings.
I felt strangely satisfied when I realized he wasn't holding Lenalee anymore.
By Father, you're hopeless.
Shut. up.
"It's pointless- Lero! The Ark's already stopped moving. It's no longer connected to any other dimension- Lero! Like I said, this isn't-"
We all punched the pumpking umbrella in what was supposed to be it's face, when the ground shook yet another time.
"Look out!" exclaimed Lenalee.
The pavement cracked under our feet, and I struggled to keep my balance.
"There really isn't, though- Lero!" repeated the pumpkin. "There's no way to get out of this ship. You will all die here- Lero!"
The air shifted as a new presence appeared. I stiffened as some sort of cold and twisted feeling slithered in my guts, a slight smell of smoke in my nose.
Trickster-
Noah. On your guard.
"There is one"
At the easily recognizable voice, I snapped my head to the source. Tyki Mikk, in all his human-poker-player glory, with the creepy glasses and the cigarette. He had a key in his hand.
"An exit, that is" he added, just behind Allen, smirking a little.
"You bastard!"
Unable to control myself anymore, I darted at him, ready to punch the daylights out of him. He easily avoided my attack but, before I could try again, Allen, Lavi and Krory stepped ahead of me, pointing fingers.
"Thick Glasses!" they all yelled, recognizing him –well, more or less.
"Is that my name?" he sweatdropped.
"W-why are you here!?" asked Lavi.
"Are you fucking kidding me!?" I yelled at them. "He's the fucking bastard who tried to kill Kiddo and I not a month ago! Get a fucking clue!"
"Eh?"
Suddenly, he grabbed Allen, and knocked harshly both of their heads together.
"You really shouldn't be alive" he said, cold anger under his amused voice. "Thanks to you, I had to take all that junk from the Millennium Earl and the brats"
"What the hell are you talking about?" protested Allen, still not getting it.
"Kiddo, sometimes I really ought to think you're just plain stupid" a vein bulged on my forehead. "Tyki Mikk, ringing any bell for you? You know, the motherfucker of a Noah that ripped my wing apart and tried to destroy your Innocence?"
"Aw, your words are killing me, Milady" Tyki placed an hand on his heart in a dramatic gesture.
"Apparently not enough" I retorted.
He smirked at that, and the glasses suddenly passed through his head before falling on the ground. Then, his skin turned darker as cross-like stigmata's appeared on his forehead and his eyes glowed a golden yellow.
"You want a way out, don't you?" he asked, playing with the key in his hands. "I can give you one"
"And we're out of here" I snapped, taking Lenalee's hand to pull her behind me. "We can't trust a fucking word coming from his mouth"
"But I've never lied, Milady" he casually remarked. "I merely… hid, some information. However, this Ark has no exits now but with Road's powers, we can make one"
There was a flash of purple light, and a door came out of the ground.
"A-a door came out of the ground!" exclaimed Lavi.
"You don't fucking say" I snapped his way.
"That's miss Road's door- Lero!" recognized the talking umbrella.
"Road is the only Noah able to travel through dimensions without the Ark" announced Tyki. "So, how about we play a little game… with your lives at stake?"
"W-what's the meaning of this, Lord Tyki!?" protested the pumpkin. "Master Earl won't allow-"
"This key here will get you through Road's door and the three others leading up to it" pursued Tyki, not really caring. "I'll let you guys have it. Think it over, if you really want to, but there doesn't seem to be much time left"
Just as he finished, an unstable tower cracked and fall onto him, lifting a cloud of dust.
"T-the building collapsed onto him!" Krory's eyes widened.
"If only" I snorted, still angry.
Something flew our way, and Kanda caught it, revealing the key.
"You know, hunting down Exorcists is a hell of a way to pass the time" said Tyki, his voice coming from inside the collapsed building. "The door is at the highest point in the Ark. If you guys can make it there before the whole thing crumbles down, victory is yours"
"But I've heard the Noah Clan is immortal" replied Allen, narrowing his eyes. "Exactly how is this a fair game?"
Tyki had the galls to laugh, which made me grit my teeth, and his voice, just like his presence, started disappearing.
"I don't know where you heard that, but we're humans too, Boy. If it seems like we're immortals, it's only because you're all so weak"
"Come say that to my face, you curly-haired fucker!" I yelled after him, knowing he would hear me.
There was another explosion, though, and Chaozii caught me before I could hit the ground.
"It's not good" frowned Kanda. "Let's go! We need to find a safer place!"
We started running and, suddenly, there was a high-pitched scream behind us.
"Jumper!" I turned around, terrified by the sheer fear in her voice.
Allen managed to caught her before she could disappear in the abysmal void laying under our feet, though, and I sighed in relief.
Well, things are getting hectic.
No shit.
I pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance.
This is going to be troublesome.
"What should we do?" asked Lavi.
We were all sitting in what seemed a safer place, catching our breath.
"We can't run around forever" he pursued. "It's just like the Earl said, this place is going to be history soon"
"You have two hours left- Lero" announced Lero.
"Shut up" I grunted.
"No matter what we do, we're doomed" Krory despaired.
"We're familiar with Road's ability to move through space" remarked Allen. "She's definitely capable of travel between dimensions"
"So Road's door from before might be some kind of trap, but… there's a chance…"
"It really could be an exit" concluded Lenalee.
I stretched a little.
"Even if I hate to admit it, Mikk isn't a liar" I sighed. "And the Noahs all have a certain point in common: boredom. As he said sooner, they're too strong to find people of their caliber to entertain themselves. Exorcists are the only ones able to provide their so-called fun and with our bunch, they're in for a ride, and they know it. They're planning on killing us and going wild in one go, and they certainly don't expect us to win this thing. However, even if I hate this situation, we don't have much of a choice in the matter. If we don't try, then we should just jump already because we aren't going to find any other potential solution in time"
There was a heavy silence as they stared at me with wide eyes.
"I forget that you can actually be kind of smart, sometimes" blinked dumbly Lavi.
The others nodded in agreement, and I banged my head on the nearest wall.
"I hate you guys"
"She's right, though" said Allen. "We don't actually have a choice. We've got to move"
Ten bucks this isn't going to get better.
I ain't even going to bet on this. We both know you'd win.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Fuck!" I grunted as I lost the game.
Now I was the one supposed to open the door and, with whatever could be lurking on the other side, I really wasn't feeling safe right now.
"Just open the damn door, Akahato" grunted Kanda.
Sneering at him, I then looked down at the key in my hand, than back at the door.
I had a really bad feeling and the same, weird, sensation from when Tyki was here was back in my guts. The smell of smoke wasn't there, though, replaced by a sweet taste on the tip of my tongue.
Hime, everything's going to be okay. Just trust ourselves, alright?
Gabriel's voice was soothing, and I finally unlocked the door, more at peace.
I wouldn't let anything happen to my friends, no matter what got in our way, no matter the dangers and the risks, no matter-
"Dafuck!?"
I jumped away from the door as it's surface covered itself in colorful designs of suns, flowers and rainbows.
"Guys, this is seriously freaking me out" I muttered.
Allen suddenly raised his hand to us, as if for a cheer.
"We're definitely getting out of here" he assured.
"Yep" Lavi placed his own hand above his.
"Of course" nodded Krory, placing his too.
"Yeah" Lenalee added hers.
"Hell yeah!" exclaimed Chaozii.
I stared at them, really not impressed, and Kanda kept away.
"Ary, Kanda" called the white haired boy.
"No way in hell" scoffed the asstard.
"I've already reach my drama quota" I rolled my eyes. "But if you really want to know, we're getting out of this place. All of us. I promise"
Allen, Lenalee, Chaozii and Krory beamed at me –the second one seeming a little startled by my positive attitude-, Kanda scoffed and Lavi ruffled my hair.
"Let's just go" snapped the he-she samurai.
Snickering a little –we were utterly ridiculous, sometimes-, we finally opened the damn doors.
We were now in what seemed to be another room, but it was gigantic, and looked like a rock desert in Arizona or something like that. The sky was dark, with stars and a moon all gloomy, but they all looked as if a child draw them.
"Where are we?" asked Allen.
"Guess we're not out of the Ark, uh?" added Lavi.
Suddenly, the sick feeling got worst and the sweet taste became stronger. I snapped my eyes to the left, Kanda doing the same a second later.
"Ary? Kanda?" blinked Lenalee.
One of the rock formations exploded, and a giant, muscly Noah walked out of the dust mist, grinning from ear to ear. Everyone tense, coming to the same understanding: we'd have to fight our way through.
"All of you, get moving"
I snapped my head at Kanda so fast my spine cracked a little.
"The hell are you talking about?" I retorted.
"This guy is after our Marshall" he replied, taking out Mugen. "I've seen him a few times before"
"We can't leave you on your own!" protested Lenalee.
"Don't get me wrong" he narrowed his eyes our way. "I'm not doing this for you. Like I said, he's after Master Tiedoll. It's my job to kill him"
He activated his Innocence, and I shook my fists his way.
"Stop spouting such nonsense, Jerkface!" I exclaimed, annoyed.
The ground started shaking again.
"Earthquake?" frowned Allen.
"Kiddo, I swear to God, if you ask dumb questions like these one more time…"
"This room hasn't finished downloading to new Ark- Lero! Which means that once the download's finished, all of you will be too- Lero!"
"How long can we stay here?" asked Lavi, grabbing it's head. "Spit it out!"
"I don't know- Lero! The downloading started from outside the Ark, and the order in which the rooms are download is completely random, so I can't possibly know how much longer this room will last- Lero!"
Lavi let it go, annoyed by the lack of clear answer.
"Besides, no matter how much you struggle, there's only 110 minutes left- Lero!"
"Fine, we get it, we're doomed and basta! And your mother?" I snapped. "We don't fucking care! Kanda, you are not staying alone and that's the end of the story! Je te jure que si tu commences à jouer au putain d'héro, je vais te frapper tellement fort que plus jamais de stupides idées de ce genre te passeront par la tête!"
For a second, he seemed truly startled –probably because I used his name for the first time- but he soon found his cool again.
"I'll stay!" proposed Allen. "Guys, while we're fighting, please go through the exit and continue on to the next room. Once we're done fighting here, we'll catch up to you"
"Allen… are you really that worried?" asked Krory, wary.
"Well, although Yuu's personality is less than appreciated, he is technically one of our companions" Lavi shrugged. "We- Wait! We don't have time for this! If we're in that much of a rush, wouldn't it be better for all of us to fight together?"
"And if no one is able to escape, then what?" retorted Allen. "What about Lenalee?"
"I-I can fight too!" she tried to defend herself.
"There are Noahs beyond here as well" pursued the white haired teen, unflinching. "The group that moves ahead needs firepower too, so it's best if just Kanda and I stay"
"Kiddo, I just told him he wouldn't stay alone! Like hell I'll leave the two of you!" I roughly poked his chest. "We are all going through the damn exit together, got it? I can easily block this Noah's attack with Shield, and we can make it to-"
"I'll be damned if I get stuck here with you" grunted Kanda.
"Kanda!" protested Allen.
Suddenly, Mugen was at his throat, and we all gulped at the sudden bloodlust.
"I said I'd handle him" he said with an icy tone.
He moved his blade near Allen's head, making everyone stiffen in fright. Except me, of course. I don't have enough self-preservation to just sit and watch as the devil's himself unfolds his true colors.
"Jerkface, that's enough playing around" I snapped.
"Get out of my sight" he snapped back. "Or would you rather I slice you all in two?"
"He's threatening his own teammates- Lero!" paled the pumpkin.
"Y-you wouldn't…" stuttered Allen.
"Yuu?"
"K-Kanda?"
"First Illusion: Hell's Insects!"
"HOLY SHIT!"
Allen blocked those coming at Lenalee and me while Krory and Lero got bitten, Lavi jumped to avoid them and Chaozii ran like some headless chicken.
"Come on!" he yelled. "How could you do something like this!?"
The he-she samurai simply seethed back his sword.
"Kanda, you dumbass!" yelled angrily Lavi and Allen.
"You're not human!" pursued the normal one.
"You're a demon!" added Krory.
"Uh, guys… Kanda's just…" tried Lenalee.
"I don't care! Let's just leave his ass behind!"
Kanda simply turned his back to them, sighing, which only angered them more.
"And now you're going to sigh at us!?" Allen shook his fist.
"If anyone should be sighing, it's us!" Lavi joined in.
By Father, you guys are ridiculous.
Don't I know it…
Suddenly, the Noah's anger rose high, and I swallowed back some bile, feeling strangely sick.
He's strong, but so is this Kanda dude. You have to leave now.
…
Ary!
Fine!
"Guys, let's go" I finally intervened, gaining their attention.
They seemed surprised at my admit of defeat, but quickly walked away, apparently unconcerned for the asstard.
I would be too, if it wasn't for the fact that he could very well just die here. I mean, he was a fellow Exorcist, a friend even if he didn't see me as one, and it was my job to protect him too.
Not today, though. Let's move.
… hai.
"Jerkface, you better come back" I shot his way. "I made a promise, and I intend to keep it. Don't make me look like a bitch"
"You already are, Akahato" he grunted.
"Asshole" I mumbled.
"Kanda?" asked Lenalee, still by my side. "Be sure to catch up to us, alright? Promise me!"
He didn't answer, and she huffed a little.
"KANDA!"
He tensed at her tone, and I shot her a frightened look.
Lenalee never shout.
"Fine, fine, I get it" he finally answered. "Now get moving"
She smiled at his answer, then nodded and walked to the others. I gaped at him.
"You answer her but not me? I call favoritism" I stomped my foot. "But I'm serious, Jerkface. If you die, I'll drag your sorry ass back for the beating of your life, got that too?"
"Just go, Akahato" he rolled his eyes.
He had the galls to roll his eyes! However, understanding I couldn't stretch any longer, I shot him one last warning glance before running to join the rest of the group.
I didn't have the strength to look back.
"So, shouldn't there be a door too here?" asked Lavi to the umbrella.
"That's right" it nodded. "Once you turn the key into the door, it'll become an exit that connects to the next room- Lero!"
"So that door will keep the two rooms connected the whole time?" insisted the redhead.
"Correct. Rooms that have been connected will stay that way- Lero!" confirmed the pumpkin.
"Then that means that when he's finished, Jerkface won't be stuck here like an idiot" I concluded, trying to lighten the mood a little.
"The one that will follow you will be Lord Skin- Lero!" exclaimed Lero, apparently offended that'd we'd consider otherwise. "After he takes care of that guy, it won't matter who steps up. You'll all be finished- Lero!"
"If Kanda really loose –which I doubt he will, honestly- then I'll be waiting for your Lord Skin and show him what we, Exorcists, are capable of" I replied. "Now, I-"
"Master Exorcists!" suddenly called Chaozii. "There's a building ahead!"
So there was.
Time to move on to the next level, I guess.
So, here's the new chapter! There Ark Arc is going to last three other chapters, because it was long as hell to write, seriously. I had to divide it in four parts, can you imagine?
Anyhow.
French Traduction: "I swear, if you start playing the damn hero, I'll hit you so hard stupid ideas like this one won't cross your mind ever again!"
Question: The Earl seems to be aware of Ary's status and peculiar situation. What could be his relation with Gabriel?
Reviews, pretty please with a Tyki-cherry on top?