So, I just wanted to point out that all the places mentioned for the Case Pieces and the Heart exists. Also, everything explained about Darién Gap is true, just so you know.
Answer: My favorite Anime is -Man and Fairy Tail, and also Tokyo Ghoul (which I haven't finished, but it's coming nicely).
Enjoy!
The next day, everyone had been gathered in the library at my demand, which was the only place big enough to accommodate all those present on the Ark.
Plus, it inspired a certain serious mood.
Just get on with it, Hime.
Hai, hai.
"Before everything, you have to know this: the Heart isn't the only artifact we need" I started seriously. "To control its power and avoid its Host to become insane and fall to the control of the Innocence fragment, a Case has been forged. This Case is now in four pieces, all hidden somewhere in the world. Last night, I discovered the emplacement of the first fragment. We need the Case before finding the Heart, and our mission is now set"
They all nodded, very serious.
"Where is it, Ary?" asked Reever.
"Darién Gap"
There was a stilled silence. Many were confused, because the place wasn't that popular to begin with, but the scientists, the Marshalls, the Finders, the Thirds, Link, Leverrier and the two Bookmen knew very well what I was talking about.
"Tell me you're kidding, Akahato" Kanda pinched the bridge of his nose.
Him too, apparently.
I shook my head.
"I'm not, unfortunately. It's hidden in a temple, in the middle of the jungle"
Timothy raised his hand, confused.
"What's Darién Gap?" he asked.
Lavi instantly went in Bookman mode.
"Darién Gap is a break in the Pan-American Highway, consisting of a large swath of undeveloped swampland and forest within Panama's Darién Province in Central America and the northern portion of Colombia's Chocó Department in South America. It measures just over 160 miles long and about 50 miles wide. Road building through this area is expensive, and the environmental cost is high. Political consensus in favor of road construction has not yet emerged. Consequently there is no road connection through the Darién Gap conn-" (A/N: Long live Wikipedia!)
I hit his head with a book, effectively shutting him up.
"What our dear walking encyclopedia is trying to say is that Darién Gap is the most dangerous jungle in the whole world" I precised. "No official route exists, so going through is almost an impossible mission"
"D-d-d-dangerous?" repeated Miranda, gulping a little.
We all turned to the scientists for the details.
"There are many military movements, and way more illegal deeds committed in there" answered calmly Reever. "Kidnapping, killing spree, drugs, armed conflicts… you name it, you find it. It's a paradise for the guerrillas and drug dealers, plus thugs of all kinds, really"
"If it's not them, then the very nature will take care of you" added Johnny, checking his notes. "Almost all animals and plants there are poisonous. Most of the time, a single bite will kill you instantly, and that's just the spiders, the frogs and the snakes. There are others like the mosquitos, which transfers the Malaria, and also scorpions, fire ants, jaguars, bot flies –they lay eggs under your skin-, alligators, and many more"
"And let's not forget the humidity and heat too" pursued Dap. "Sometimes, it gets so hot that they suffocate there and then. Plus, once inside, there's no signal. So, no GPS, no phones, no Golems, nothing to call for help"
Seeing how Miranda went really pale all at once, I decided to step in.
"Okay, I think they get it, guys"
"I never heard of it before" Allen pointed out.
"No one lived to tell the tales, Kiddo" I replied.
"Touché" he sweatdropped.
"Fortunately, no Innocence fragment has ever been spotted in that area, which is why we never sent Finders" remarked Jiji. "And why they know about it, too. We always present the most dangerous places so that they know the risks before getting in"
"Incorrect" Komui shook his head. "We sent a team, once. None of them came back, and we never tried again"
"Until today" I completed.
"Until today" he agreed.
"W-wait! You can't be serious!" protested Lenalee. "If this place is as dangerous as you said, then why go? The fragment is safe, isn't it? So why-"
"Jumper"
She snapped her eyes at me, and I could see the fear in her eyes.
"This war… it's been going on for long enough" I said softly. "Many great people died, trying to bring it to its end. Many more will, too. Now… now is our chance, to finally achieved what we fought for for so many years. Now is our chance to stop this damn war once and for all. Finding the Case, then the Heart, is not a yes-or-no option. If we don't do it, the Noahs will. It's us or them, now, and with Apocryphos joining the party, it'll only get harder. There's no going back, and we can only moved forward from now on"
My friend bit her lower lip, and Krory placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Of course, we can't have everyone coming either" I added. "A too big group would only get unwanted attention, and put us at risk even more"
"So who's going?" asked Madarao.
I blinked a few times, trying to wrap my head around what he just asked.
Then, seeing everyone waiting for an answer, I felt panic rise inside of me.
"W-wait! Why are you all looking at me like that?" I wailed my arms around. "Why are you asking me that? How the hell should I know? They're the Marshalls, ask them!"
"Well, you did kind of take command" remarked Lavi.
"N-no! I didn't- it's not- God, don't do this to me" I let my head fall on his shoulder.
That broke the tension somewhat as the rest chuckled, and Tiedoll finally stepped in to take things in charge.
"Ary will go, of course" he nodded my way. "You're the only one who knows the way. Plus, you're immune to poison, which is a great asset in this jungle"
"Good point"
"Bookman, Lavi, I guess you will have to record it" he pursued. "And Bookman knows a lot about poisons and plants"
They both nodded their assent and Lavi sent me a wink, at which I rolled my eyes.
"Klaud, if you wouldn't mind…"
"I'll go" she nodded.
"Then Allen, seeing as you're the one opening the gates" pursued the Marshall.
"Finally, Krory and Kanda" he concluded. "You need some combat power too"
The boy and the man agreed, and I could feel Lenalee's aura growing more determined.
"Oi, Jumper!" I called, making her stilled. "Mind coming with us too?"
Instantly, Komui was on my back.
"W-what!? There is no way-"
"Sure" she sent me a grateful look.
"Then, it completes the team for this mission" announced Tiedoll.
"When should we leave?" asked Kanda.
Komui sighed, before checking the time.
"Right now. The sooner you go, the sooner you get back"
"Meet back at the garden in fifteen minutes" rendezvous Allen.
"Got it"
The little meeting adjourned, we all walked out to go get our things.
I feel kind of nostalgic. It's been a while since we last went on a mission.
Comes back to Paris and G, right?
God, it feels like forever since that time… eh, ever thought about how everything just… kind of started, when Allen joined the Order? It's weird. Like how the story starts only when the main character make his entrance or something…
Be careful, Hime, you're becoming self-aware.
What...?
Nothing.
We waved, before passing through the gate.
We landed in a small street of La Palma, capital of the East of Panama. Seeing as Allen couldn't open a gate where he hadn't been before –by some luck, he had been in La Palma once-, we would be forced to make our way by foot.
Kanda opened the map, but I quickly got disinterested, some sort of pull making my feet shake in my boots. I was really tempted to run. No idea where, or why, though.
It's the memory. You know where it is. Just follow your instincts.
I never was a fan of these sorts of things.
"Come on, guys" I called nowadays. "It's this way"
None of them questioned, probably coming to the conclusion that Gabriel was guiding me or something, and we made our way through the city for a while. We were apparently on an island, and I couldn't help but notice how the place lacked of Akumas.
That was a nice change.
However, we soon found out that we weren't exactly wearing the good clothes.
It was hot.
So, so, damn hot.
And we all knew it would only be worst once in the jungle.
"How about we just shop for whatever we need today, take a good night rest and take on the wild forest tomorrow?" proposed Lavi, tugging on his collar.
He's hot.
Oh God, Trickster. Are you gay or something? Not that I have anything against it, but I'm seriously wondering.
Hey, I can watch the menu even if I'm not allowed to order, alright?
You're creeping me out.
"I'd say it's a good idea" Lenalee nodded, cheeks all red.
"Agreed" I nodded, fanning myself. "Meet back here in two hours?"
"Hai"
With that, the boys went one way while Klaud, Lenalee and I went the other. As we walked down the street, I stared at the little monkey on the woman's shoulder.
"Can I pet him?" I finally gave in.
She smiled, before nodding. Instantly, I raised my hand at the animal, slowly as not to scare it. He eyed me for a moment, before jumping on my head and nesting against my neck, making me giggle as his fur tickled me.
"He seems to like you" remarked Klaud, somewhat surprised.
"It's the Innocence" I precised, patting it's head. "The fragments seem to take a liking to Angels and their Hosts"
"He's cute" smiled Lenalee. "His name is Lau Shimin, right?"
"He's also the one who gave me this scar, if you want to know" replied the Marshall, still smiling. "Before I tamed him, he was… a little wild"
"That's an understatement" I snorted, sending the little guy back to his master. "But don't worry, you're still beautiful. My hair's better, though"
That earned a short laugh from the scarred woman as the monkey settled back on her shoulder, and Lenalee simply rolled her eyes.
I just smiled.
Two hours later, we had sent back our Exorcists uniforms on the Ark, so that we wouldn't be slowed down by unnecessary baggage. Then, we went to find an inn. On our way, as the night slowly settled down upon the city, I shook my head, amused.
"Bookboy, you're still the worst at surprising people"
He grunted, just behind me, and intertwined his fingers with mines, coming to walk by my side.
"It's your damn aura-witchcraft-thingy" he huffed.
I laughed, and kissed his cheek. Instantly, his pout disappeared and was replaced by a smug smirk.
"You know, I like these shorts" he remarked. "Quite fitting"
I instantly hit the back of his head, feeling my cheeks burn a little.
"It's for practical purposes only!" I assured. "You damn pervert... Plus, Lenalee and Klaud got them too!"
"Yeah, but you're my favorite" he grinned down at me and stole another kiss.
I was about to answer fervently when I felt the he-she samurai approaching.
"Find a room, would ya?" he grunted.
We laughed at his scowl, suddenly remarking we had stopped walking, and quickly joined the rest of the group.
The next day, we were all well rested and ready to take on the jungle. No more memories had come back, but Gabriel said it was normal, so I didn't worry myself about it.
So, we had rented a few cars fit to the land, before heading for the wild forest. It had taken us about three hours or so before reaching the end of the marked road. Leaving the cars behind, we started walking through the dense vegetation, careful as not to touch anything pointy.
I was in the lead, following the pull. Bookman was just behind, eying the plants with wariness to spot the venomous ones. After him came Lenalee and Klaud, both keeping an eye out for the animals. Lavi and Kanda, behind them, had pulled out their respective weapons, just in case. Finally, Allen and Krory closed the march.
As I felt sweat run down my back like a fricking waterfall, I sighed heavily.
It would be a long journey.
As I scrunched my nose at the weird flower that had just eaten a full bird in one strike, I felt a presence next to me. Turning around, I was suddenly face to face with a frog big like my fist, held in Lavi's hand, his grinning face taunting me.
"Come on, won't you kiss it so it becomes a prince?" he proposed.
I eyed the animal for a second.
"Its skin's poisonous"
"Shit!"
He instantly dropped it and started wiping his hands on his shirt. His panic made me laugh, and he soon understood that I was merely mocking him.
He glared, crossing his arms.
"That was so not cool"
Something move from the corner of my eye, and I shot one of my feathered blades without really thinking. The weapon passed barely an inch from his face, and actually cut some of his red/auburn hair, before embedding itself in the tree just behind.
"W-what the hell, Ary!?" he exclaimed, very pale all of sudden.
"Snake"
"U-uh?"
The redhead looked behind him. Just as I said, a snake was now pinned to the bark, my blade piercing it's skull, it's fangs still glinting in the sunlight.
"That one really was poisonous" I said honestly. "Want to kiss it?"
He quickly shook his head, rubbing his throat where the animal nearly stroke.
"Gaah!"
Lenalee jumped back, just in time to avoid the jaws of the alligator.
"Hiban!"
Lavi fried the poor thing, but didn't see the other one coming in his back.
"Behind!" I called.
Not even looking, Kanda sliced the head in two.
"Swamps… I hate swamps…" I whined.
"Tenshi, you're hitching a ride on my back" recalled my boyfriend with a scowl.
"Still hate these damn things"
"Watch out!"
A jaguar jumped out of the foliage, pinning Allen to the ground.
We all froze in spot. At the slightest movement, the best could rip the boy's head off without even trying.
"N-nice… kitty… kitty…" gulped the white-haired teen, barely daring to breath.
There was a crack, and I snapped my head at Klaud, who had taken out a whip, gaining the animal's attention.
She cracked it once again, before hitting the little devil in the side. It snarled her way, moving away from our friend, and bared it's fangs at the woman. Not backing down, she attacked again. It tried to jump at her throat, but she easily deflected it and, after it's failure, the beast just ran away.
My nose prickled.
"Fuck my li- 'tchi!"
The tension instantly evaporating, the group just started laughing at my predicament as Bookman handed me some pills.
"I –'tchi!- I fucking ha-ha- 'tchi!- hate cats" I grunted.
All in all, I guess we could say that we had been lucky for our first day. We hadn't encountered any armed group, and handled the jungle quite easily.
As darkness befall us, Allen opened a gate so that we could go back on the Ark for the night and come back tomorrow.
Well, tried to, at least.
"It doesn't work!" he announced warily. "I can't open a gate!"
"What?"
"Try again, Allen!"
"Stupid Beansprout"
"Guys, guys, calm down!" I intervened. "That must just mean we're closer to the Case than we thought"
"But we don't have any equipment" remarked Bookman. "And we definitely can't go back now either"
"We're close" I assured. "We should find it in a day and a half, at most. Plus, we still have a few blankets and some supplies, not forgetting the pure water sources we can easily find around here"
"Our Innocence works just fine" shrugged Lavi. "We can do it"
Everyone's hesitation was written on their faces.
"That means passing the night without any protection, though" pointed out Krory.
"We'll take watch, then" answered Klaud. "An hour each. And Lau Shimin will guard around and warn if anything comes up"
"First" called Lenalee.
"Second" instantly added Allen.
"Third" said Lavi, yawning.
"I'll take fourth" announced Bookman.
"Fifth, then" pursued Klaud, sending away her monkey.
"Call dibs on sixth" I raised my hand.
"Tche, I'll take seventh" grunted Kanda.
"I'll be eighth, then" concluded Krory.
I clapped my hands.
"Good! Now that that's settled, how about we make some fire? It'd be stupid to die from hypothermia"
"It might signal our position, baka" refuted Kanda.
"You can fight armed men, not hypothermia" I remarked. "Or we can all just cuddle"
That instantly made him retreat, and I bumped a victory fist with Lavi.
Can you feel any aura?
It's hazy, like looking through some heavy mist or something. I can't clearly see human auras, what with all the plants and animals surrounding us, and that's not talking about the weird force field that the Case lifted around here. It's probably the same thing that's stopping Kiddo from opening a gate.
We'll have to be careful, then.
Wouldn't have it any other way.
Someone shook my shoulder, and I raised my eyes at Klaud.
"Your turn" she simply said.
"H-h-hai…" I yawned, getting up.
We switched place, and I went to sit by the small fire, gazing around. It made me wary, what with being unable to sense anyone clearly, and I bashed myself a little realizing I had become too dependent of my ability.
We'll have to work on that when we get back.
No shit.
Then, I felt it. Barely noticeable, the weird mist still clouding my aura-sensing skill, but it was there alright.
There was a screech as Lau Shimin suddenly jumped on my lap, scaring the crap out of me. The little monkey kept screeching and gazing around in fright.
The message was clear: we were surrounded.
"Everyone up!" I yelled, kicking the nearest ones.
A few seconds later, somewhat disheveled but up anyway, we were standing side by side in the middle of the little clearing, Innocence ready to be activated, gazing at the trees surrounding us with distrust.
Then, around thirty or so men popped out of the bushes, guns pointing at us and ready to shoot their deadly projectiles.
"Let's try negotiations first" proposed Lenalee quietly.
"Good idea. Anyone speaks Spanish?" I asked around.
"Let me take care of it" Lavi took a step ahead. "Err… Hola! Como estas? Somos viajeros de Inglaterra y-" (T: Hi! How are you? We're travelers from England a-)
"Estas tu espías?" barked one of them. (T: Are you spies?)
What he said seemed to startle Lavi, who quickly shook his head.
"No! No se estas espías! Somos viajeros! Err… buscamos un temple, muy viejo, en el medio del selva! Sabes donde es?" (T: No! No, we're not spies! We're travelers! Err... we're searching for a temple, very old, in the middle of the jungle. Do you know where it is?)
The men exchanged some glances at that, and the first one –more than probably the leader of the Little group- turned back to Lavi.
"Y tus amigos, por qué no se hablan?" (T: And your friends, why are they not talking?)
"No se hablas español" (T: They don't speak spanish)
"The hell are they blabbering about?" I whispered to Allen.
He just shrugged, but the movement caught the eye of the Leader, who darted his eyes at us.
I gulped, not exactly appreciating the glint in his eyes.
"Cabello rojo… bastante raro. Danos la chica y te dejaremos pasar" (T: Red hair... very rare. Give us the girl and we'll let you pass)
At that, Lavi's traits darkened. I grabbed his hand, worried, and he glared at the Leader.
"No estamos dando nadie. Ella esta con nosotros" (T: We're not giving anything. She's with us)
The Leader sneered at him.
"La chica o muerte" (T: The girl or death)
"Vete a la mierda! Everyone down!" (T: Go fuck yourself!)
Obeying, we dropped to the ground, and the men starting shooting each other.
I know, stupid.
As the bodies dropped and the Leader barked some orders, we tried to make a run for it. However, some reinforcements arrived in place, trapping us.
"Innocence?" Allen asked, eying our opponents carefully.
"Don't kill them, they're just civilians" frowned Lenalee.
"Jumper, they're the ones going to kill us" I replied. "And trust me, these ones are as bad as Akumas"
She didn't seem convinced, but didn't protest anymore.
Are you really going to kill them?
… not if I can help it. But they're going for the kill, so I won't hold back.
Not asking you to.
"Now!" Klaud exclaimed.
Instantly, we jumped into action. Kanda sliced, Lavi hammered, Allen slashed, Krory punched, Lenalee kicked, Klaud whipped, Bookman pierced and I just sent the closest ones crashing through the trees with my above average strength thanks to the gantlets.
A few minutes later, all was said and done, and they were all lying unconscious on the forest floor. I could see a few corpses, but most of them were still alive.
Just really beaten up, but still alive.
"Great negotiator skills, Bookboy" I snorted. "What happened?"
"He was just being a bastard" he shrugged innocently.
I knew he was hiding something, but it didn't seem really important, so I didn't prod any deeper.
"We should move, before more of them come out" said Kanda, wiping away the blood on his blade.
"It's morning anyway, by now" Allen pointed. "Let's just continue"
Seeing as no one protested, we did just that. However, as we walked away from the little battlefield, I felt a gun click behind us. Reacting instantly, I pushed Krory out of the way.
My abdomen suddenly was on fire, and I stumbled to the ground with a curse, feeling warm blood sipping through the wound.
"Fuck" I cringed, pulling the bullet out.
"Ary!"
"I'm fine, I'm fine" I waved it off. "See? It's already closing"
Thanks, Trickster.
Be more careful, would ya?
There was a gasp, and I snapped my eyes to the man who had tried to shoot us.
My eyes turned colder, and I got back to my feet, making my way to him.
"Ary, don't-"
"Buffy was almost shot" I cut coldly. "Don't interfere"
I loomed above the now shaking man, who was staring at me with wide, frightened eyes. On his knees, so frightened, I almost felt bad for scaring him like that.
Almost.
I spread my wings, the now closed wound clearly apparent, and sent my fiercest glare at him.
"My Dio…" he muttered, sweating heavily. "My Dio…"
I placed my face inches from his, and his eyes became bloodshot.
"Boo"
He screamed, and darted through the foliage without a glance behind.
I swear he wet himself. You scared the poor guy to death.
Tche, serves him right.
Now satisfied, I went back to the others, who were all sporting more than exasperated looks.
"What?"
They just shook their heads.
"Left!"
"Got it!"
Allen sliced the snake in two, and I eyed in disdain the gigantic beast now lying in it's blood.
"It's official: I hate this place" I grunted.
"Don't we all" retorted Lavi. "Gab, you're a real jerk"
Tell him to stop whining like a baby.
"He's telling you to shut your trap" I traduced.
He simply rolled hi eyes.
"Ary, care-"
"Fuck! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Get 'hem off! Get 'hem off!"
As I shrieked my head off as the little beasts swarmed over me like some damn plague, it felt as if my skin was on fire. Red spots with some sorts of blister on the tops kept appearing everywhere they bit, and it hurt even more as Archangel kept rejecting the little dose of poison in their nasty tiny jaws.
"Us your Shield!" called Lavi.
Obeying, and kind of desperate, I raised a Shield over my whole body, roasting the devil's spawns. They all fall back to the ground, toasted, and I glared as the wounds disappeared with a stung.
"Fire ants" remarked Bookman. "You sat on their nest"
"Fuck my life"
"Watch out for the bees!"
I cringed as Allen started running around, pursued by an angry bunch of buzzing bees.
"Don't let them sting you!" warned Lavi.
"They're poisonous too?" asked Lenalee, worried.
"Nan, it'll just hurt like hell" the redhead shrugged.
"HELP ME!"
The white haired boy passed before us, but the black and yellow creatures never changed targets.
Poor kid.
You tell me.
After Bookman put some ointment to calm down the swelling of Allen's injuries, we were back on tracks.
Not for long, though.
"Kanda!" exclaimed Lenalee, behind us.
Turning around, it was just in time to see the he-she samurai collapsing. Something jumped off his leg, and I instantly pierced it with a feathered blade.
Scorpion.
"Bookman!" I called.
Not even looking at me, he examined the small puncture on the jerk's leg.
After a few minutes, he got up.
"We can't move him, or the poison will spread faster" he warned. "I can make an antidote with the plants around. Lavi, come"
"Hai!"
As they went deeper in the jungle, we set up our camp.
We wouldn't go any farther today.
In the morning, Kanda was back on his two feet, however forced to use Krory as a crutch. The antidote was kicking in, but from his scrunched face I could tell it more than probably hurt like hell.
For once, I've decided to keep my mouth shut.
You're awfully ni-
I'd tease him when we got back.
Forget it, you're without any mercy.
So?
I'm proud of you.
"Are we getting closer?" asked Klaud, wiping some sweat from her forehead.
It was hot, too hot. I barely had any clothes on but they stuck to my body like glue and damn, I need some air right now.
"We should… we're close, I know it" I assured, gulping down some water. "I can't even feel your auras, and… the pull, it's stronger. We're close…"
"At least we found that waterfall on the way" grunted Lavi. "Or we'd be dead by now"
"I think I got a sunburn" moaned Allen, shielding his eyes from the sunrays piercing through the foliage.
I snickered a little. His skin, usually pale as a ghost's, was now red as my hair.
"Don't laugh, you don't know the pain of sunburns" he glared at me.
"Sucks to be you, uh?" I retorted.
"We should probably move" said Krory, gazing around. "I have a bad feeling about this place"
"Same" huffed Kanda. "Let's just go"
"This way"
I felt it, now. The pull was even stronger than before, and my impatience had reached unthinkable highs.
We were close.
So, so close.
My heart throbbed, almost painfully, and my eyes widened slightly.
We're here.
The auras… it's making me dizzy.
Pull back, then. Not like you can use it anyway.
As I did, I instantly felt better, and I turned to the others, excited.
"We found it! Come on!"
I darted through the vegetation, pushing everything out of the way. As they ran after me, flashes of a life that wasn't mine blinded me.
Tripping on my feet, I managed to keep my balance and kept on running.
So close.
So, so close.
I stopped running.
I looked around.
I was in a forest, surrounded by humidity and vegetation of all sort.
Something moved to my right, the leaves shifted.
A red-eyed frog jumped out of the tree to my right. Green eyes stared at me through the foliage. A snake pressed it's body against the ground.
It was the same…
My feet moved on their own.
I started walking forward, never striving from a path I however couldn't see. I had no control over my body, as if I was a mere outsider, watching through my own eyes.
I was in control, yet not really.
After a few minutes, I reached what seemed to be a temple. Really old, barely standing and half-crumbling under the lianas and the exotic flowers.
Making my way through the rubbles, careful as to not bring it to the ground because of a misplaced step, I finally reached-
"It's here!"
I gazed at the temple, eyes wide.
It's here.
"Ary!"
"Guys, we found it!" I exclaimed giddily.
Panting, Lenalee arrived next to me. Then, I frowned.
"Where's everyone?" I asked, looking around.
"A-attacked! On the way!" she wheezed out.
"What!?"
Instantly, all giddiness disappeared, but she grabbed my arm to stop me from going back.
"They're- they're prisoners" she informed, her breath becoming more regular. "We can't u-use our Innocence… properly"
I bit my lower lip, thinking and trying to come up with a plan.
If we get our hands on the Case, then its effects upon the jungle should nullify.
Thanks.
"We find the case, then" I finally said seriously. "We find it, then go back to everyone. If they're prisoners, then going back would only be rash and stupid and we'd only end in the same predicament"
"Then let's hurry" she nodded.
With that, we turned to the temple. It seemed even more dilapidated then in the Angel's memories. However, we couldn't back out now.
"Let's go"
Carefully making our way through the rubbles threatening to fall on our heads each passing second, we finally reached the heart of the temple after what seemed like hours.
Once inside, I realized we truly couldn't use our Innocence anymore.
"Just great" I sighed.
"Where is it hidden, Ary?" asked my friend, gazing at the carved walls in wonder.
I thought for a moment, and the ruby danced before my eyes once again.
I snapped my head to the slab in the middle of the room.
"There!"
Not exactly paying attention, I ran to the flagstone and kneeled next to it.
It was old, and dusty. Grabbing each side, I lifted it from the floor without much efforts, revealing an old ruby.
"Nice!"
However, as soon as my hand touched it's surface, the room started shaking.
"A-Ary?"
A new memory practically pierced my skull, and I instantly stumbled away as the jewel literally imploded.
"Trap! The real one's hidden in the wall!"
"And you couldn't say it sooner!?" she shot back, disbelieving.
I smiled sheepishly, and a few stones started crashing around us, lifting an heavy cloud of sand.
"Come on, we have to hurry before the whole place comes down!"
"On it!"
We started searching the damn wall, trying to find some sort of dent or a trace that'd indicate the presence of the Case, and the temple shook even more on it's feeble foundations.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck…"
"I got it!"
All stopped moving as Lenalee held the shining stone in her palm with a victorious smile. However, sais smile dropped quickly when the ruby started emitting a strong light.
"What in the world…"
And suddenly, it wasn't there anymore.
Dumbly, we stared at her now empty hand. Carved into her palm was now the design of the fragment.
At the same time, the sort of veil lifted, and I instantly searched for the auras of our friends. Now able to make out the whole jungle, I easily spotted them as they were trapped in what seemed a camping site, with more or less fifty armed men.
"We'll question later" I finally came back to my senses. "We've got to move now"
Still dumbstruck, she however found back a calm demeanor, and we both activated our Innocence.
You're going to explode the ceiling, aren't you?
I'm to lazy to make it back the same way we went in. Sue me.
Oh, I will, trust me. You and your stupid ideas…
Then, the walls crumbled and the roof fell onto our very heads.
"Our Innocence's back" muttered Krory.
"Meaning that Ary and Lenalee did it" nodded Klaud.
"We're still trapped, though" remarked Lavi, struggling a little against his bindings.
"And they've got guns at our heads" added Kanda, glaring at the closest man.
"I can open a gate, now" assured Allen, gritting his teeth. "We just have to get free first"
Their quiet conversation however gained the attention of the guerillas around, and one stepped forward. He was missing a teeth or two, and they could smell the distinct odor of cigarette from miles away.
He roughly pressed the barrel of his gun against the redhead's head.
"Que se pasa? Mantén sus bocas cerrada!" he apparently ordered. (T: What's happening? Keep your mouth shut!)
"Yo aconsejo que nos dejas ir" Lavi smiled innocently at him. "O donde se algunos problemas" (T: You should let us go, or you'll get in trouble)
The man laughed and pressed harder his weapon, earning a slight wince.
"Qué piensas un hijo de puta como tú podría estar en tu posición?" he taunted. (T: What do you think a son of a bitch like you could do in your position?)
There was a moment of silence, before Lavi smirked back at him.
"Yo no. Su" (T: Not me. Her)
"Uh?"
"Oi, asstard! Hands off my man!"
Blades embedded themselves in his back, and he slumped to the ground instantly, not dead but not far from it.
All men took a step back when a red-haired girl with wings landed next to their fallen comrade, between them and their prisoners.
"Hey, Tenshi" the apprentice Bookman grinned at me.
"Miss me?" I grinned back.
"E-esta el ángel de la muerte! Disparar, disparar!" (T: I-it's the angel of death! Shoot, shoot!)
I tilted my head to the one screaming.
Hey, isn't that the guy you scared to death?
I think so. He doesn't seem to like me much, though.
Wonder why.
Apparently obeying to what seemed to be an order, the guerillas started shooting at us. However, the bullets merely bounced on my steeled wings, and a few screams echoed as Lenalee suddenly dropped in.
As she took care of them, I sliced the bindings of my friends.
After that, we started running.
As we dashed through the jungle, the armed group hot on our heels, I could tell that everyone was quickly loosing their energy, what with the horrible heat and humidity around us.
After a few more meters, we finally found the right spot to open a door to the Ark.
"Kiddo, get us out of here!" I ordered.
"Hai!"
Our Innocence back in full shape, we easily deflected the attacks despite our sudden exhaustion, and covered his back as he called forth a gate.
The door appeared, and the shooting only got worse.
Apparently, scaring dangerous and armed men currently gunning us wasn't a good idea.
You think so!?
Spreading my wings once again to protect the escape, everyone quickly ran inside.
Once all had passed the door, I waved mockingly at the guerillas before stepping inside. Instantly, I dropped to the white pavement of the Ark as it closed behind me. All around, the others were sitting or lying on the ground, panting heavily.
"So… we got it?" asked Allen between two coughs.
"Y-yeah…" I confirmed. "Damn… how about we… never… do that again?"
"Hai..."
Yeah! Cheers for Darién Gap! So, I apologize if I massacred the Spanish language. I don't exactly speak fluently, so I used google traduction, sue me. And, once more, everything said to describe the jungle is TRUE! I've made my research, thank you very much.
Question: Where do you think one of the Case Pieces is hidden?
Reviews are love!