Hello, People of the internet. Sorry that it took so long to update. School is an evil thing (and homework). Not to mention the sudden lack of free time i seem to be having. Oh well.

Chapter twenty-two: Battle against Rode: Part two

Allen's POV

What happen? I found out asking myself this question again and again. Ayume was still sleeping softly on the bed. Her hair was spread across her face, hiding most of the bandages that were still there on her face and her face. Slowly I moved away most of her bangs, revealing the beauty underneath. I smiled softly looking down at her, before getting up. I looked back at her once I had my exorcist coat on, sighing deeply.

"It's no use." Kanda said. He was leaning against the trim if the door, arms crossed just looking at me.

"Even Natsu said that she'll be out for a few days." He continued. I sighed again, focusing my eyes on something else.

"But she shouldn't have had to protect us." I continued, staring down at the ground.

"Your probably right." Kanda said as he began to walk away. I bit down on my bottom lip trying to stay strong. It's just not fair for her. I thought.

Last night, third person

Blood, it flowed down the body and on to the floor. Arms crossed held above her body, head underneath. Another violent cough brought up more blood onto the floor. The shield that surrounded them was unstable, moving up and down at a violent pace before it finally broke apart like glass. Dropping the few candles it stopped. Slowly Ayume lifted her head, and though the pain stayed standing. Her bottom lip was almost covered with blood, her arms were dripping in it.

"AYUME!" Allen yelled. She didn't answer back, just closed her eyes gently, panting hard.

"I don't get it." Rode said out loud, causing Kanda and Allen to glare at her. "Why do you protect them? Why do you even bother?!" Rode yelled.

"Why do I bother?" Ayume said in a low voice. She opened her eyes, revealing the deep dark green, she spread out her arms, in a way to protect her fellow exorcist.

"It's because I refuse to let them die!" Ayume yelled, glaring at Rode.

Rode almost fell off Relo when she took a step back. Her face was filled with fear.

"No it not true." She said lowly to herself, Making everyone look at her in confusion.

"What's wrong Rode-tama?" Relo asked.

"IT NOT TRUE!!" She shouted before disappearing from thin air. Instantly the floor broke apart and the candles disappeared, allowing the blood flow to become heavier. Then all of a sudden they were back on the roof, the sun wasn't even appearing yet.

"She ran away." Ayume said to herself. Then, suddenly another wave of pain came to her brining back the violent coughs and blood, brining her down to her knees.

"AYUME!!" Allen shouted managing to get up and run to her. Her whole body was shaking and she was panting hard. She almost fell over but Allen caught her, holding her against his shoulder. She was unconscious, her breathing was slightly normal.

"Ayume!" Allen said, when he noticed that she was unconscious. Her bleeding had slowed to a stop and her face was calm.

"We have to get her to a hospital." Allen said to Kanda who was limping and holding his right arm.

"The only hospital here is on the other side of town and probably closed." Kanda said. "We'll just have to take care of her ourselves.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Ayume groaned as she turned to her other side in her bed. Allen sighed softly, worried about her condition. She stirred as the moonlight hit her eyes, slowly she opened.

"Allen?" She said beneath her breath, before she started to sit up. She winced in pain when she had to lean on one of her arms.

"Ayume!" Allen said nearly jumping out of his seat, when she winced. He had his arms holding her up as she looked down.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. She looked up at him and just smiled.

"Don't worry, I'm just a little sore, that's all." She answered. Allen moved over on to the bed so he was behind Ayume and she was leaning against him. He held her hands in his own.

"Ayume…" Allen said behind her, his voice almost sad.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Why did you try to face Rode alone." He asked her. Ayume's bright blue eyes widen in the darkness, replaying his question in her mind, but she didn't answer..

"Did she said that you had to fight alone?" He asked. She shook her head in response.

"Then why?" He asked.

"I-I don't know." She finally answered. Allen could see though the darkness, he could see her hands grip the sheets and her head was down.

"You don't know?" He questioned. She move her eyes so they stared out the window, her head followed.

"Maybe…." She said in a low voice before looking away. "Maybe it's because I'm used to being alone."

"What?" Allen said surprised.

"All my life I had to be by myself, and defend myself. I couldn't depend on anyone because they could become an Akuma at anytime. I was only every used to Natsu, and he isn't much of a fighter." She said, she looked down at the sheets, squeezing her grip around them. She smiled a sad smile as she looked from something in the darkness.

"I'm not used to someone caring." She continued. Allen, quickly, released her hands, wrapped his arms around Ayume's chest, pulling her close to him, and his head down next to hers.

"But you're not alone. Not anymore. You don't have to fight alone anymore. I'll always be here with you, remember that. I won't leave you." Allen said burying his head into the base of her neck.

Ayume lifted her hands gently touching Allen's arms, as she lowered her head till her chin touch his arm. She felt her cold wet tears gently rolling down her cheeks. She felt it become harder and harder to keep her eyes open as the darkness slowly crept up on her. She tried hard to hang on to her conscious, but unable to, she drift back to sleep her head falling over Allen's arms and her hands dropping. Allen gave a slight, unnoticeable gasp when she did, He moved one of his hands to her shoulder, gently making her head fall back against his shoulder. He looked down at her, she was deep asleep, not making any movements or noise when he moved her. He placed her down on the bed gently. He looked down at her, placing the back side of his hand against her cheek going down slowly before going back to its original place. Not wanting to let go, he laid down next to her, his arms over her, holding her tightly against his chest. He gently kissed her against the side of her head before quickly falling asleep.

XOXOXOXOXOXOX

Present

Allen finished putting on his coat, as he glanced back at Ayume one more time. He gave out a deep sigh before leaving for the next room. Kanda was on the phone, talking to Komui with the help of his golem. Timcanpy and Natsu were fast asleep next to each other on the shelf, in a cat-like position, Timcanpy quickly woke up when Allen entered the room flew off the shelf and landed on his head. Allen smiled and looked up to him.

"Good morning Tim." He said.

"Quiet!" Kanda hissed snapping his head at him, before continuing to talk to Komui.

"Yeah, don't worry I'll tell them." Kanda said before hanging up.

"It appears you're not a morning person." Natsu said as he rubbed his little hands against his smaller eyes. "Scratch that, you're not good in any time of the day." Natsu laughed slightly at his joke.

"Shut up Rodent!" Kanda snapped.

"Do you ever have a good side?" Natsu asked jokingly again. Kanda threw whatever he had near him, which happened to be a pillow, and threw at Natsu, which hit him completely. Natsu grunted when it hit him, before trying to find the way out.

"Komui told me to tell you something." Kanda said, as he started to think of a way to get rid of Natsu without Ayume noticing. She can be happier with a monkey. That'll probably be a lot more helpful that that ball of scales. Kanda thought but didn't like what may happen because of it.

"Really, what was it about?" Allen asked as Timcanpy flew to sit on the pillow on top of Natsu.

"Ugh! Whatever's on top of me needs to lose some weight." Natsu's muffled voice muttered though the pillow. Timcanpy just adjusted his weight to cause even more pain for the small beast.

"Komui said for you to stay here, Lenalee, Lavi and Bookman will be coming here, and as soon as Ayume wakes up the five of you will be off on a mission. Bookman will explain when he gets here." Kanda stated choosing to ignore Natsu.

"What about you?" Allen asked.

"I'll be meeting you with two other exorcist and be on a mission, I'll be gone by morning." Kanda explain.

"What kind of mission?" Allen asked.

"None of your concern, Bean sprout." Kanda said.

"TIMCANPY!! IT WAS YOU?! I though Kanda put his ax of a sword on top of me." Natsu said, he was barely out from underneath the pillow, holding on to the edges looking at Timcanpy, Timcanpy looking back shaking his body no. Kanda threw a vase at Timcanpy at that comment, hitting him right on the head, causing him to get knock out.

"At least I don't have to deal with the rodent anymore." Kanda stated as Allen let out a deep sigh.

Hope it was worth the wait. If not, i'm very sorry. Please Review! It helps me write faster!