(Some of my absence is explained on my profile, if anyone wants to know)
(Warning: Long guest review section - chapter is not actually 2k+ words)
I don't own D Gray Man or Naruto
Haku looked around, taking in the large library, books spilling out of every nook and cranny. His attention whipped towards the old man as he coughed. The ninja took in the man, his Accommodator, disregarding the library in favor of his Master.
He was old, far older than Zabuza, but with age came wisdom. Haku only needed to turn to the Professor of Konoha to know the power of age. For all the calluses on his fingers matched Haku's, danger did not ooze from the man in a miasma. He was missing the constant state of awareness all ninja displayed, a predatory pride lost on this tired looking old man.
This was the man who would step into Zabuza's cut out?
Haku took his grievances and bundled them up, tucking them away, next to his (caged, bleeding, devastatingly soft) heart.
"The Bookmen have records of other Accommodators within the Clan," Bookman started, a blank page open in front of him and a graphite pencil in hand. "Each of their Innocence told of a world beyond, with no idea how they ended up under the employment of God. Heaven's Compass," the old man paused, looking up at his unmasked Innocence. "Tell me about your life as a human."
Haku blinked, breezing into the seat across from the man and delicately folding his hands on his lap. "What is it you wish to know, Master?"
Bookman's lip twitch, slanting upwards. "Everything. What was the name you were born with? What was the government structure? How did humans interact with one another? Politics, history, culture, the Bookman Clan will record it all."
Haku hesitated only for a moment. Bookman was his Master now, the hand who wielded him. It did not matter why he wanted to know, simply that Haku told him. "I was given the name Haku by my parents. I was born in the Land of Water. The Elemental Nations were separated into countries, the strongest having Hidden Villages. These Hidden Villages were inhabited by both civilians and ninja…"
"The Destroyer of Time," Haku mused, his mist eyes peeking through his mask to follow the small teen. His smile was as fragile as Naruto's, stitched together with tainted hopes and splintered dreams. He looked like he was being held in one piece by the bandages twining around his body. "He's young."
The boy was wary, cautious, but not tense or prepared to be attacked. Haku was still unused to how lax this world was. Children learned how to hold a knife by the time they could read and write back in the Elemental Nations. They were so clean and soft, here.
He liked it. If only the Earl was not wreaking havoc, bringing this young boy's peace to an abrupt end.
"I have no name. You may call me Bookman," his Accommodator greeted, offering the boy a hand and ignoring his Innocence's comment. The boy blinked, his mouth shaping an 'O', his eyes slipped to his bored, pouting Innocence before snapping towards Haku. His gaze fell short. "I will need to check your wounds."
"Oh, of course," Allen Walker said, tilting his head in allowance. "Thank you for your help."
Bookman huffed, but waved his apprentice and the European Branch Chief out of the room, mindful of the boy's sense of privacy. He immediately started unwinding the wraps, expert eyes focused on the boy's injures. Haku hovered, leaning in to check the boy as well. While not as good as his Master, Haku was the acting medic when travelling with Zabuza. He knew enough to tell the boy would be fine, with time and rest.
"You are cursed," Bookman pointed out after a moment of silence. Haku took a single step back, watching the wistful edge to the boy's smile, the haunting tinge to his eye. His Innocence huffed and grumbled, frowning at the wall rather than Bookman or his Accommodator.
"Yes, by my father, a long time ago," Allen Walker revealed, covering the scar even as he opened his heart a crack to a man with no name. "I received it when I turned him into an akuma."
Bookman hummed, nodding as his tired stare recorded and calculated. "Your left eye, slow though it might be, is regenerating of its own accord. My needles are not needed here. You simply need rest. When Miss Lenalee wakes, you will begin your travels anew."
"Please, do not allow Allen Walker to push himself," Haku added, turning to his fellow prisoner of fate. "He is imperative to this war. The Destroyer of Time…"
"Allen's fine, Masky," the Innocence laughed, his smile wide and teeth baring. He was dangerous, Haku could tell now. The ninja felt as if he stood in the eye of the storm, as if this boy-Innocence, with nary a bruise or a callous, could attack at any moment.
Haku was not surprised.
He doubted someone could become an Innocence if they were weak. (But then, why was Haku there and not Zabuza?)
"Right, Allen?" the Innocence called to his Accommodator, pulling the teenager from his deep contemplation. The Innocence practically bounced to the boy's side, alight with a fire Haku remembered in Naruto and his comrades.
"Of course, Crown Clown," the Destroyer of Time agreed, his eyes – eyes grey as his Innocence's storm and just as turbulent – anchored on his companion.
Bookman watched Allen Walker bow in thanks and leave the room, to where his apprentice waited.
And Haku watched Crown Clown, the Innocence of the Destroyer of Time, as he trailed behind his injured Accommodator.
"What an interesting boy, this Destroyer of Time. Don't you think, Heaven's Compass?" Bookman said, neutral to his core.
"Crown Clown," Haku tasted the name. They were completely different, but…Haku couldn't help but remember a boy with a wide smile and a demon lurking beneath his sunshine. "They are an interesting pair, Master."
Haku twirled a senbon, a soft smile hidden behind his blank mask.
An interesting, dangerous pair with lightning for blood.
Headcanon that 'revived' Haku is super sensitive to storms and lightning cause HE HAD A LIGHTNING SWORD SHOVED THROUGH HIS HEART.
Also known as the chapter where I still really like Crown Clown!Luffy and will shove it in everyone else's face.
I'm surprised no one suggested anyone for Heaven's Compass. Then again, Haku was perhaps the only person I could think of to match.
I changed the canonical dialogue a bit for this chapter, sorry not sorry.
On that note, I prefer not to have duel origins, like if Heaven's Compass, Mugen, and Alma's Innocence were all from Naruto. Having Mugen and Alma's Innocence be, for example, Sasuke and Itachi makes sense because they are 'Conflicting' Innocence. Otherwise, I prefer not to have it happen. It is for this reason Sasuke and Itachi will be an EXTRA joint chapter for Mugen and Alma's Innocence. (It's totally not because I never watched through to Naruto Shippuden what aRE YOU TALKING ABOUT? PSH.)
Guest Reviews:
Guest (1) – Thank you! I'm glad you think so!
Piggyninja – They were good suggestions! Of course I would consider them. Haha, that was basically my thinking on Luffy and Allen! But, for all of their similarities, it was that one big difference that really cinched it for me. Both of them were saved from loneliness. Luffy by Sabo and Ace and Allen by Mana and later Cross. Luffy never had a reason to doubt his brothers' love. Allen who worked through Mana's issues and later his connection to Neah, does not have that assurance. The first person who cared…Luffy was loved and knew it. Allen isn't sure. And that, that is why they are the best pair. Because Luffy loves so wholly, Allen could never doubt him and Allen hangs on with all his heart, Luffy would never be truly alone. (Here you go then! Heaven's Compass!)
nyarth teh SHINY – Right? Though, Allen and Edward have a good number of similarities themselves. Torture-training is simply one. Their vehemence against being called small, cheating a poker, a title with some higher calling, subordinate in a corrupt organization, fighting evil 'leader' of said organization (Fuhrer/Apocryphos), connection to divine power(s), womanizing superior, antagonistic relationship with teammate, shit fathers, strange/noticeable features. Really, the list goes on and on. I just felt both emotionally and powerwise, Luffy was the better choice for the main iteration in the end. *flips table* THAT IS AN AWESOME IMAGE. I can't say it'll happen, of course. But, admittedly, Ikuto does go rather well with Marie. (I can just see someone going together better?), Kurama and Tiedoll though. That's equally as powerful, damn. (For all that I love sports anime – trust me, I'm Kuroko trash – I can't really say I would consider any of them, well, significant enough for 'reincarnation'. They are literally high schoolers that probably should join a drama club on the side. HOWEVER, there is someone from a the-world-could-end-any-episode-technically show who is known for their love of soccer :3) Pfff, Gin would have a field day as Tsukikami.
q - *puts foot down* Yes, yes, that. I'm not even going to try jerking this around. That right there. Emily. Every other Grave of Maria can go home now. *cough* Okay, also, personally, I didn't originally think of Cross and Reborn cause I was focused more on female shooters, what with his whole 'only beautiful things can be with me' shtick (which is, wow, kind of an asshole point of view from me, sorry bout that, shit). Not that Reborn isn't beautiful! Point, however, that brings me back to the duel origins issue. I really want to mix things up, drag as many different fandoms into this kicking and screaming. Sarutobi will definitely be an extra, though!
Giggles – Yeah, that part was probably a little over the top on my part, but I can't really see Luffy having any other immediate reaction to it? I mean, his grandfather would abandon him in the forest and say he has to find his way back home eventually. So, while not something he would prescribe to, it didn't seem to far out of Luffy's understanding to have a small baby find its way home from a city, supposedly with less monsters and hungry animals. (Plus, I don't think Luffy has seen a parent explicitly hate their child, enough to throw them away? To him, family might push another, but they love each other. I think Sanji's and Doflamingo's families would be the first he's seen with negative ideals towards their own family and even then they are tight-nit within their approved members. I dunno...anyway!) You bring up a good point about Ed! Technically, Ed would probably work harder to reach 'the other side' to rejoin Al and add to Allen's fanaticism or slowly see some of Al in Allen while hating himself for not being with his brother but...haha, that would be amazing! Could I possibly use that fusion idea in an extra? I think the main reason for Skull was the idea of showmanship and because of the possibility of Judgement!Reborn. But, following the idea of Deathless Skull, it could add to Allen's luck (Arcobelano anyone) and how Crown Clown returned even after being broken apart. Haha, I was definitely thinking something similar for Krory. Of course, my question would then be the canon version or the abridged version? :3. Ah, sorry, Kenpachi and Yachiro are from Bleach. I was planning on not actually having Apocryphos have a 'fandom counter', if only because of it's sentience Innocence - the power itself giving sentience. I'm sorry, I'm not totally sure I'm following the brain-wave you had. Were Itachi and Sasuke originally one Innocence and one (Alma's piece) went made at the separation while Yu's piece couldn't synchronize because he wasn't whole? But once they reconnected into one, Sasuke realized Yu was Yu, just reborn and amnesiac? Or are you saying Yu was trying to synchronize with Sasuke, Yu's Innocence, who doesn't realize Yu is Yu until he reconnects with Itachi who is Alma's Innocence and is enraged by what happened to his Accomodator? Sorry, for noting fully understanding...either way, you have given me a lot to think about! Thank you!
Guest (2) - Definitely in an extra/outtake chapter! Right now, I want the first versions to include as many different fandoms as I can cram in, more for my own amusement than for any legitimate reason.
Kelly the green - Oh, thank you! Haha, you're going to make me blush! Oh, I wouldn't be too sure, I mean, I'm having a lot of fun with this.
Guest (3) - Sorry! Things got a bit hectic on this end. But, I'm back and full of ideas, so there's that! Haha, I have a few ideas for Noel Organon, but you're more than welcome to suggest someone if you have a thought!
Guest (4) - I mean, I'm willing, but I'm not sure I follow the thought process? I'm curious now as to how Danny would fit as Iron Hammer!
Oh, geez, I'm such a blabber mouth.
Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter should be up tomorrow. If not, then Sunday.
Dark Boots - Maximum Ride (Maximum Ride)
Time Record - Rapunzel (Tangled)
Crown Clown - Luffy (One Piece)
Heaven's Compass - Haku (Naruto)