According to normal traveling times, from Krory's location to the Black Order HQ, it would, or should, have taken four days.
Five days meaning, rest stops, bathroom breaks, food breaks, waiting for the train, renting horse carriages and so on.
"Sir? Krory? A-Are you ok?"
"You can't seriously pass out here! Not after all that!"
"Don't mind…just…taking...a nap…" Krory mumbled, as he hugged his knees and closed his eyes, while the two Finders struggled to paddle the small gondola into the water way entrance of the Order.
Four days?
Try two.
For the past two day's Krory had not slept and had not stopped, and the poor Finders with him at the time had to do so as well. When waiting for the train took too long, they took horses, when was it time to eat? Done while moving, luckily not the same for bathroom breaks, although Krory was on a mission and wasn't going to let anyone stop him. That being said the Finders did their best to hold it in and not face the wrath of the Vampire.
"Dear God, I can't wait to pee without being rushed…" one Finder whimpered, paddling his best but his tired arms could only go so far, and looking at the streams of water flow pass them wasn't helping his situation any.
"You said it…Hey! Look it's the Supervisor!"
Komui smiled brightly upon seeing the boat carrying Krory, though his smile faded when upon closer inspection the condition of this rag tag team. Pale, sickly, not to mention Krory was still wounded, most likely had not been properly treated.
He watched the two Finders jump onto the platform and fall on their faces, hugging the floor they called home.
"Good heavens you all look horrible"
One Finder stood up slowly and began working on docking the boat, "We feel horrible…"
"Sorrycan'talkgottapee!" while the other took off to the nearest restroom.
"I see…you're something else Mr. Krory" he smiled a bit.
Krory sighed and finally looked up from his fetal position, "…can I sleep now?" not bothering in hiding his pathetic voice as his body began giving up on him.
"No problem, the medical unit will be here any moment to pick you up, then we can tal-"
"Supervisor, report to the Lab #37 immediately"
A voice spat into Komui's ear piece, interrupting rather rudely.
"Ah, was wondering when he'd notice…" Komui spoke softly to himself, not that it mattered, Krory fell asleep in the boat anyway. Soon the medical team made their way onto the docks with a stretch bed and other supplies.
Komui smiled and gave them a cheerful thumbs up, "Please take good care of him, I'll be coming by shortly"
With that he was off, leaving the team dumbfounded.
Last time they checked, Komui didn't have any human contact in a few days, the guilt and grief for the entire situation hit him hard and the whole Order knew it.
And there he went, skipping off with a smile on his face towards the child's captors.
Strange man isn't he?
"You called your majesty?"
"Why is he back?"
Komui blinked, a tad surprised at the vein popping out of the other man's forehead, and even more surprised he wasn't upset with his majesty remark, "Hm? Who?"
"No time for games Supervisor, why is Arystar Krory back? He wasn't due to return for another two months" Link chimed in, seeing how Leverrier was too angry to speak at this point.
Komui stood there, gently tapping his chin as he tried to recall what his superiors were talking about, a few moments later a light clicked on in his brain, "Ah yes, it would appear Mr. Krory had been mortally injured on the job"
"What? What sort of excuse is that?" Leverrier growled, feeling another vein pulsating in his throat.
"Oh I'm sorry, you didn't know?" Komui desperately fought a smile as he calmly strut across the room towards the bookcase, ignoring other officials that watched him carefully, paranoid at his strange behavior.
For a moment he stared at the bookcase, searching for the right one, though it was covered in dust, old papers sticking out of random books, whether they were actual pages or just papers no one could tell anymore. Despite that he knew exactly where it was and plucked out a rather large dusty blue book.
He cracked it open and patiently searched, page by page, while Leverrier's patience grew thinner and thinner. As if feeling a growing sense of evil over his shoulder, Komui quickened his pace and soon found what he was searching for all along.
"Ah here we go, as stated in the Medical code of conduct of the new Black Oder Exorcists regulations B-7,'All Exorcists that retain life threatening injuries or illnesses must immediately return to the nearest Black Order Head Quarters for treatment, no questions asked'"
Komui flipped the book around in his grasp to show that what he had found was in fact true, he even pointed at the tiny print of rules that said so.
"…"
The room fell silent. Komui slapped the book closed, coughing slightly at the puff of dust that spewed from the old book as he shut it.
"Not once did you specify that the medical code would be overruled with your visit, just the mission schedule, the lab for your work and a few other things are in your control yes?"
Leverrier's eye twitched, "Just shut up and keep him away from the lab or the girl, understand?" and with that, knowing he was defeated in a loop hole, he stomped off with his train of officials to continue work.
But as they left, the gentle shine of polished guns at the side of said 'officials' caught Komui's eye.
More like bodyguards.
"Of course…"
He waited for the group to be out of site before quickly putting the book back in its place and pressing a small button on his earpiece.
"Linalee, do you have it?" he called out.
He waited for a moment, his younger sister gently whispering back into her golem, hoping to not wake the Time exorcist, who seemed to still be in a sleep coma, "Yes, Miranda is still out but we'll be ready"
Meanwhile in the medical wing, Krory finally showed signs of life. He groaned pathetically and held his stomach, pleased to find new bandages replacing his old ones that he attempted to do himself.
"Welcome back to the living Krory" a voice called out, he squinted, the medical wing lights felt like the sun.
"How do you feel?" the voice tried again.
"Been better…" he groaned, fighting his tired body to sit up.
"Whoa take it easy big guy" another familiar voice called out, gently grasping his arm to help him sit up.
"Lavi?"
"And Allen, they helped out bringing you here" Komui gave a thumbs up to the two boys, "Try this, you should perfectly fine"
Krory rubbed his eyes and blinked, now adjusting to the real world, and found Komui standing before him with a red pouch with his name on the label. Considering Allen's small look for disgust and a familiar scent, he concluded it was just the thing he needed right now.
Akuma blood.
"How did…"
"We started collecting some when you came around, works wonders when we need you to get out of the hospital bed"
Krory felt his fangs tingle lightly, he grabbed the blood bag and bit down like he would for a real Akuma, quickly draining it dry.
Allen turned his head, pretending the chair beside him was more interesting while Lavi turned around, "Ew I can't watch…"
"Sissies, all of you…" Komui huffed, shaking his head," So how do you feel now?"
Krory smiled, letting out a small sigh of content and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "Great actually" he demonstrated by stretching and beginning to climb out of bed.
"Good…um…now Krory" he started slowly, like a signal Lavi and Allen turned back to the problem at hand and stood at the ready. Krory paused for a moment after slipping on his shirt.
"Listen to me VERY carefully, we want you to relax and be calm so you don't hurt yourself" Komui continued, again he spoke slowly and clearly, making Krory nervous.
He looked around at his comrades, the jokes were done, and things were serious, even though for a moment he didn't know why.
"…..Allen…Lavi…what's going on…"
Then it clicked.
The reason he was in the medical wing in the first place, the reason he had stabbed himself purposely to get home. His face fell into worry.
"Where is Miranda? Where's my baby?"
Komui held his breath for a moment, there was no point in holding anything back or sugar coating it.
"Miranda gave birth two days ago, the officials took the baby immediately afterwards. Miranda is unconscious right now, she's fine but they're doing experiments to see if the child can be compatible with innoce-"
Komui didn't finish, he couldn't, within a blink of an eye Krory made it across the room, grabbed the supervisor by the shirt and slammed him against the wall behind him and screamed," WHAT?"
Komui yelped and grasped at Krory's iron grip, "G-gaaah! Allen! Lavi!"
"S-sorry! He was too fast!" Lavi panicked as the two boys, failing in their requested job to calm Krory down when he heard the news, jumped in, pulling and holding the tall exorcist to tear him away but to no avail. Perhaps the Akuma blood wasn't the best idea.
"WHAT THE HELL" Krory growled, his white streak threatening to stand in fury. For the first time in his life, Komui was terrified of the normally goofy exorcist.
"I-I'm s-sorry! I did everything I could!"
"WHERE ARE THEY?"
"Lab #39, 78th floor! leggo leggo leggo!"
Krory looked straight into Komui's eyes, searching for a reason to be upset at him, upset at anyone in the room to appease his anger but found nothing, for now. He let go of the frightened man and glared at the two boys still holding him down. They quickly let him go, feeling an evil aura coming from their friend who stomped off. Forgetting how to stand Komui fell flat on his bottom, watching Krory grab his cloak, meaning he was ready to leave.
"Krory wait! The officials have guards all over the place, they're going to kill you if you get too close" he called out a warning, though they fell on deaf ears. Krory continued buckling his boots, ignoring anything they had to say.
He almost felt betrayed; he trusted his friends and superiors to take care of his family while he was gone.
Now his first child was a science experiment and no one is doing anything?
Allen, though not truly trying to get in his way, issued another warning, "Some exorcists were called in to help too, though we got most of them to not but-"
"Let. Them. Try" he snapped.
Without looking back he calmly opened the door and slammed it shut behind him as he took off into the heart of the Black Order in search of his baby.
Allen, Lavi, and Komui remained as they were, dumbfounded and shocked.
"I've…never seen him that upset" Lavi gulped, he had experienced Krory's fury many times before, especially when the Noah picked on him during missions. But this was no anger like any other.
"That, my dear boys, is not an angry man. That is a Father" Komui picked up his fallen hat and smiled a bit, feeling proud to see the silly exorcist finally grow up into the man he needed to be for his family.
The two boys exchanged glances.
"He's going to need back up"
"Waaay ahead of you" Lavi grinned and twirled his temporarily small hammer in between his fingers.
Upset. Angry. Pissed off. Furious. Rage.
None of these words seemed to justify exactly how the vampire exorcist was feeling right now. His muscles and fist clenched tight, his innocence activated though he didn't notice or command it, face curled into a fierce scowl, and eyes on the verge on burning red.
Nothing could justify his anger.
Finally making it into the main hall he looked up at his destination, the 78th floor and the levels below it completely surrounded by guards and other exorcists.
An enemy in his own home.
"Hey, Vampire"
Krory fought the urge the smash a hole in the wall as he turned to face his first road block.
Kanda. With a small group of exorcists behind him.
"You're under orders not to go the-"
He didn't even have a chance to warn him, Krory back handed Kanda in the face like he was an annoying insect.
"Get the hell out of my way!"
With Kanda near unconsciousness partially inside of the wall he was thrown into, the exorcists behind him made quick work of doing as Krory asked and got out of the way as he began sprinting down the hall.
As quickly as word spread of Miranda's pregnancy, same went for Krory defeating Kanda in a single swipe. Needless to say the remainder of exorcists aiding the Officials backed away as soon as they caught sight of the angry vampire, jumping and running up the walls, from floor to floor.
Without even breaking a sweat he made it, he kept his eyes and ears on alert, despite making it to the designated floor as instructed by Komui, he had yet to run into any trouble, this made him worry.
Regardless he huffed and bolted into the nearest hallway, following the signs that led to many of the Orders lab's. Now closer to his goal, he took off with all he had towards his destination, the large lab doors with their numbers on them looked like blurs to him.
36.
37.
38.
The hallway suddenly turned to the right; Krory slammed his feet into the ground and skidded to a halt before smashing into the wall. He turned into the new path where Lab #39 was clearly painted on the doors before him, but was guarded by a small horde of minions of the Officials.
Before he had a chance to attack or defend himself they opened fire.
"GYAAAH!"
Krory cried out in pain, bullets tearing into his already tired and wounded body. The impact of so many bullets forced him back into the wall, all he could do his stand there and take it.
For a moment, he felt himself go into a memory, recalling a time where Miranda nearly died the same way, caught in a shower of Akuma bullets. At the time he was there to save her, unfortunately no one would be there to do the same for him.
As quickly as it started it ended, the men ceased fire and watched Krory fall over in a pathetic heap of his own blood.
"I thought I told you to stay away from here…"
Krory's eyes snapped open, recognizing the voice of evil. He looked up and found Leverrier standing tall and seemingly victorious above him.
If he weren't covered in bullet holes he would strangle the man without a second thought, which brought an interesting revelation. Why was he still alive?
"We won't kill you, you're too valuable to the Order" he answered for him, Krory blinked in realization that he was not shot once in the chest or head though his arms and legs were completely out of commission.
"I'm truly sorry Mr. Krory but we are on the verge of an evolutionary breakthrough, you should be proud"
As if someone had struck a match, his pervious anger had returned in full force nearly overshadowing his pain that could've brought any normal man into unconsciousness.
"Take him away please, and keep him away" Leverrier waved his hand and walked away, Krory snarled furiously, desperately fighting his tired body to stand but he just couldn't move. All he could do was watch the guards march towards him to fulfill their orders as Leverrier opened the door to continue his work.
But just then, the few seconds of the door being opened, he could hear her.
His baby, his daughter wailing and screaming her little lungs out.
Crying for help. Crying for him.
Then the door closed, and there was silence.
He couldn't hear the men yell at him or even feel them pulling him to stand up to be taken away.
Now, that small match within his soul turned into a raging fire, boiling his insides.
The puddle of blood under him suddenly came to life and slowly slid back to his body and straight back into the very wounds it came from. Krory had crystallized or hardened his blood and made massive claws in battle before; today it returned to the bullet holes in his body and hardened, making temporary patches in his arms and legs. The guards around him watched as red blotches covered his wounds and backed away, leaving the vampire who seemed to be frozen in blind fury as his innocence repaired him.
He felt fangs itch like he would if an Akuma meal was close by but now strangely his back began to burn, his boiling blood metaphor possibly taken too seriously.
His fists curled tighter, as he slowly made his way to his feet. All of them knew they were supposed to stop him, but none of them currently dared, according to what they saw and did to him, he shouldn't even be moving let alone standing on his own.
He suddenly doubled over in pain, he screamed, feeling as though something was trying to break out of his body, though he couldn't see it, the men around him saw something protruding through his back but still under his cloak. Finally, the tough fabric could no longer hold it in, it ripped out of his body as he screamed in immense pain a pair of giant red wings sprouted from his back as a mixture of bone and blood, by this point the men either ran or fired, either was hopeless, bullets just bounced off his newly evolved innocence.
Not at all bothered by his new ability, or most likely didn't care, he took off, fueled by pure rage partly running and partly flying towards the lab doors. The thick metal couldn't hold him back, nothing could now. He rammed right through them, catching all those inside by complete surprise and pounced on top of the table where his first born lay wailing.
Krory crouched above her, eyes burning crimson matching his massive bloody wings spread out, growling in an almost animalistic and very protective manner at those who were too close.
He didn't need to say anything, people fled from his mere presence.
Looking down he finally saw her, his two day old baby covered in strange wires and circuitry for their experiments. He wasted no time in carefully removing them from her small body.
"Shh shh it's ok sweetheart" he cooed as she continued to cry.
His demeanor changed as quickly as a light switch, he carefully sat on his knees and with the softest touch, gently picked up his little girl. Her wide brown eyes red from tears, but her cries had ended, seemingly recognizing his voice. An out of place fatherly smile spread across his lips.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore" he held her close, fighting tears she clung to him, the first person in her new life that hasn't hurt her.
"That's enough! Kill him!" Leverrier cried out in anger and pain, being right behind the door as Krory smashed through it.
Their union was cut short; more men appeared though they kept their distance this time and fired. Krory no longer felt anger, but panic and fear of his child possibly getting hurt in the crossfire. He held her close and brought his wings up, shielding them from their onslaught while he desperately looked around for a way out.
"I'm sorry sweetie, this might be a little scary for you" he apologized as his eyes fell upon a window just big enough to be an escape route.
Grabbing a hand full of his already shredded cloak, he ripped out a chunk to create a makeshift blanket for her. Once wrapped and secure he made a break for it, launching himself into the air and straight out the window. Glass shards embedded into his arms and back but he didn't care, as long as she was safe he could take on the world.
Despite never using his new flying ability before he glided through the air like a professional outside the large Black Order tower, seeking another way out. Running away in general seemed like a good idea but he was still wounded and it wouldn't be long before his innocence gave out on him and released his bullet wounds.
For now he went up, gently but keeping a firm grasp on his bundle of joy as he made his way to the very top of the Order.
"We should be safe for now…" he panted, landing gracefully on the stone floor, looking around the rooftop and finding no recent activity.
Krory sighed in relief and plopped on his rear end, trying to catch his breath.
But there was no use, the small child in his arms gently babbled nonsense and took his breath away.
He held her out slightly so that he could see her better. He couldn't help but smirk.
"Well…would you look at that, you got stuck with my white bangs after all" he laughed a bit, gently stroking the tiny patch of white hair with his finger.
Time seemed to stop, he sat there, bleeding, tired and sore yet he couldn't stop smiling as he stared at his baby.
"You know…funny we should hide here…" he started, holding her close to his chest and gently rocking back and forth," Last time I was here I was wounded too…begging for your mother's forgiveness" he laughed a bit, not at all caring that she couldn't understand him.
"Funny, here I am begging for yours…" he looked down at the bundle in his arms who stared back at him, she had Miranda's eyes. With that he finally broke down and wept, holding his daughter close.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry I wasn't here, I should've…I could've…I promise I won't ever leave you or your mother ever again" he whimpered, gently kissing her face. Like some kind of instinct, his new wings folded together in front of him like a shield protecting them both as he continued to rock her, praying no one would find them.
"…What is this?" Allen asked gently, staring at the strange red object sitting before them on the roof of the Black Order, making sure what he was seeing was in fact real.
"I…don't know…but Linalee said she spotted Krory going towards the roof…" Lavi replied, slowly walking closer towards the object.
"…But how she's been in Miranda's room this whole time" Allen bent down slightly, looking at a reasonably safe distance from the strange thing.
"…She said he was flying"
The two boys remained silent, exchanging glances before looking upon the strange thing closer. Upon closer inspection a body could be found within the red walls of the foreign object and it was breathing.
"…so then this must be…" Allen spoke absent mindedly as he bravely brought his hand forward to touch what they hoped to be their friend.
Near millimeters came between his hand and Krory's wing before his eyes snapped open, feeling the presence of people around him. Like a reflex, his wings split apart and his hand grasped the nearest throat while protectively holding his baby.
"GYAH HOLY GOD"
For whatever strange reason that nearest throat was Lavi despite Allen being the one to nearly touched him.
Upon hearing familiar voices Krory's eyes softened and bangs flopped back into his face, quickly letting go of his friend who he nearly strangled to death.
"L-lavi? Allen?"
"H-hey there big guy" Allen gulped, bringing his hands up in case of a sudden attack while Lavi his behind him, shaking in fear, now officially traumatized.
"Need a hand? You're in quite a bit of trouble"
"Y-yeah…They'll find me soon" Krory carefully folded his wings behind his back and stood up," I didn't really think this through"
"It's ok, we didn't either. But Komui did, we gotta get to Miranda and Linalee. We'll meet up with him then and figure a way out of this mess" Allen gave him a reassuring smile and pat on the back.
"Thanks guys…" Krory couldn't help but feel instantly better, his friends didn't abandon him after all. As a way to ask for forgiveness for nearly killing him, Krory carefully placed his child in Lavi's arm.
The red head gulped, holding her nervously, but found peace once he realized she was still fast asleep.
"Lavi, you drop her you are a dead man" Krory quickly added with a small scowl while Allen carefully put his arm over his shoulder once noticing the tall exorcist was still wounded and tired.
"I wouldn't dare she's so cute!" Lavi laughed, gently brushing his cheek against the baby girl's.
"Lavi, focus" Allen carefully, but quickly walked towards the door with Krory using him as a crutch. Lavi took point, opening the door and peaking around for any guards.
"So far so good…"
"Don't jinx us, keep moving!"
"…this isn't the best time…but I really missed you guys…" Krory groaned in pain though couldn't help but smile as the boys bickered.
"Aw…we missed you too…oh….crap" Lavi's words died on his lips as he approached the railings in front of the door, looking down he could see small dots, most likely guards looking for Krory and the baby, running all into one particular direction and it wasn't towards the roof.
"Where are they going?" Allen scratched his head, leaning over the rail to watch them scrabble below.
Krory however knew exactly where they were going and growled, "That's our room!"
"They must've thought you were going to Miranda"
Krory looked up at his friends with pleading eyes, "I need to get down there"
"Hang on big guy I think I have an idea!" Lavi grinned, carefully adjusting himself to hold the girl in one arm and grabbing his hammer with the other.
Lavi called out to his Innocence and held out his weapon upside just over the railing, the mallet expanded and its handle grew creating a makeshift pole for the group to slide down the middle of the headquarters dorm system.
"Express elevator!" Lavi smiled at his genius plan though Allen and Krory didn't seem to convinced.
"Don't you think that's a bit much for the baby?"
"Do you have any other ideas?" Lavi pouted.
Silence was his answer, the two sighed and gave in.
"Let's go"
While the red head fought the urge to laugh hysterically at the fun ride as he slide down the shaft, Allen attempted to follow Lavi's method but seemed to be failing as he kept clutching the pole tighter, stopping and going every once and awhile. Krory was doing fine other than the traffic Allen was causing and the wind lifting him up slightly due to his wings, acting like a kite.
"U-um…guys…"
Lavi stopped in front of where Miranda and Krory's room, causing both Allen and Krory to stop to avoiding collision. It was then they noticed a flaw in their plan.
The small group was completely surrounded by guards who were on their way to finding Krory only to find he had come to them.
For a few seconds no one moved, too stunned to process what had just happened.
Krory felt his anger return, as if his day couldn't get any worse, they were trapped yet found himself more upset at the guards who were attempting to break his door down where Miranda was.
"…we didn't this through did we?" Allen gulped as the guards readied their weapons.
"N-no we didn't…it's been nice knowin you guys!" Lavi squeezed his eye shut awaiting incoming pain but instead felt someone grab the back of his jacket.
"I don't think so!" Krory growled, with full intentions of not dying today, not after how far he had gotten, he grabbed the two boys and launched himself from the pole and took flight towards his room ignoring the cries of horror of the two he dragged along.
Ducking his head and using his shoulder to take the impact of guards he ran over and the door he broke through before sliding to a halt and smashing into the wall within the room.
"Ow…" Krory whimpered pathetically, officially done with today and wishing it to be over.
"Fire!" someone called out, the boys didn't have a chance to stand or defend themselves as a small group outside of the room, smart enough to dodge Krory as he charged, opened fire.
They yelped and waited for the madness but it never came, the sound of their guns disappeared as well.
Confused, though thankful, they looked up to find the room covered in a strange golden haze, and found Miranda sitting on her bed with the Time Record gently hovering within her hands and Linalee looking rather relieved alongside her.
"Miranda! Linalee!"
Lavi found the urge to cry of happiness, but instead the small baby in his arms did for him, now finally awake.
"Heellpp…." Allen called out finally, being partially crushed by the tall exorcist who was beginning to loose consciousness.
"Gyah! Kro stop doing that!"
As the team began to panic and scramble around, trying to calm the baby down and get Krory medical treatment, Miranda was forced to remain where she was, still feeling the effects of the drugs and a month of no sleeping, she could barely find strength to keep her shield up as the men relentlessly tried to break it let alone aid her friends.
But surprisingly the teens were doing just fine, Linalee gently rocked the small girl as she wailed, her female instincts kicking in immediately. While Allen and Lavi patched up Krory, his bullet wounds that were covered by crystallized blood were beginning to fade and bleed through.
His vision blurred and breathing labored, he couldn't move nor did he want to. For a brief moment, he looked up and found her looking at him. Finally after a month of taking on the world, he was home and she was there.
He smiled before finally blacking out.
At this Miranda panicked, "Arystar!"
"It's ok Miranda, he's still alive….or he better be…" Lavi mumbled to himself that last part.
"We need to get him to the nurses; they'll know what to do"
"Yeah but those guys are still out ther-"
"Oh, hello Linalee"
Team 'Repair Krory Family' froze in time, no pun intended, as a familiar voice called out. Leverrier was found standing in the doorway looking rather upset but his stiff and proper composure didn't show it.
"…Hello Leverrier" Linalee responded meekly.
He turned to Miranda and smiled, "Miss Lot-"
"Krory"
"Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow at the normally quiet exorcist.
"It's Mrs. Krory" she corrected him firmly, not break eye contact.
"I see…well Mrs. Krory, and all of you, last time I checked I ordered all exorcists to stop him"
"Last time I checked, sick men like you shouldn't be allowed to make orders"
It was quiet for a moment, even her baby stopped crying upon hearing her Mother no longer taking any crap from anyone.
"You will bring this shield down" he growled.
"Over mien dead body"
"You can't hold it forever you know"
"You sir, don't know me very vell"
"Rock a bye baby on the tree top…"
Krory's eyes snapped open upon hearing a very familiar voice, a voice he's been wanting to hear for weeks.
Miranda sat on the edge of the bed, gently rocking the small child in her arms as she sang.
"Vhen the vind blows the cradle vill rock…"
Krory strained his neck to get a better view but found himself completely immobile, his body gone numb from medication or just exhausted he couldn't tell. Lying flat on his stomach deep in blankets and face buried in his own pillow, he found it hard to move even if he wanted to. He was finally home in his room with his girls. Instead he smiled and just watched.
"Vhen the bough breaks the cradle…vill...fall…you know the vords to this song are very dark und scary…" Miranda paused her singing for a moment to think.
"Hmm…let's see…vhen the bough breaks….the cradle vill fall…" she stood up and paced around the crib in thought, thinking of alternate words to the classic lullaby, "Ah! I know! und Mommy vill used her innocence to stop time und catch you!"
She smiled, proud of her alternate version but found herself with no audience as the baby was fast asleep in her mother's arms.
"Er…cradle und all…"
Miranda shrugged it off and placed a small kiss on the child's forehead before gently placing her into the crib.
"It was a nice try sweetie" Krory finally piped up, chuckling a bit.
"Oh sure everyone ist a critic…oh! Arystar! You're avake!" Miranda's tired eyes shined as she turned to him living again.
She quickly hopped onto the bed and scooped his head into her arms and kissed his face.
"Ow ow ow take it easy…" he whined slightly, forcing himself to sit up on his arms to meet up with her.
The time exorcist let him go but held his face in her grasp, looking over him and noting the changes.
Krory had grown minor scruff on his chin and looked like it was beginning to sprout above his lip, threatening a mustache. His eyes were dark and exhausted but found joy within now that they were reunited.
With the blankets fallen around his waist she immediately noticed his bandages completely covering his arms and partially around his chest. Any more and he would look like a mummy.
"Oh Gott Arystar you're a mess…vhat did they do to you?"
"I'd rather not talk about that right now" he fought his tired body with whatever strength he had left and reached up, gently stroking her cheek lovingly, "I missed you so much"
After a full month of pain, loneliness and more depression that even Miranda couldn't take, she broke down and cried, plopping over onto her side and holding him tight. Krory carefully wiggled his way to lie on his side, ignoring the wounds she bumped into and kissed her cheek.
"I missed you too…so much…" she sniffled, burying her face in his chest,"…Lavi und Allen told me vhat you did. You saved our baby's life"
"Is she ok?"
"Ja, she just fell asleep right now…" her words trailed off as she noticed something over her shoulder that wasn't there before. Craning her neck she realized that his crimson wing had fallen over her like a second arm for a second hug.
"…um…so vhat happened here?" she asked, while gently poking it.
"Oh…um…good question, I think I evolved or something…I don't really remember…but I'm pretty sure these are permanent" he sighed, already annoyed with his massive wingspan and now being forced to sleep on his stomach until he learned how to control them properly.
"…I knew you vere veird but…" she giggled, continuing her poking and rather surprised how smooth it was despite most likely being his own blood hardening. His innocence was very strange indeed.
Krory yawned and let her do her inspections as he began to relax, until he noticed a dramatic change in the color of his room, now back to normal and no longer covered in a golden haze, "Hey…wait…why is your shield down, are the guards gone?"
"Ja, they just left. Supervisor is negotiating right now…relax honey" she pat him on the head and smiled, meaning "there is no one for you to kill right now".
"Remind me to hug that man when I can feel my legs" he sighed in relief, more than happy to see a possible end to this nightmare that was suppose to be the celebration of his first child.
Miranda giggled, snuggling closer to his warm body and enjoying their time alone together.
It was quiet, the madness was over for now and a long deserved nap was in order but something troubled the two parents. Something was missing.
Both were present, no one was attacking them, Krory was recovering and their child lay asleep peacefully in her crib.
Like someone turned on a light switch, the two looked at each other in realization.
"Arystar, she doesn't have a name yet"
"You didn't name her?"
"Nien, she's a few days old now und I vanted you to be apart of it, so vhat should ve call our daughter?"
"I…don't know I've never named anyone before, didn't we have a list?"
"Ve did, but…"
"Good morning!" a voice cried out, scaring the wits out of the two exorcists," Krory! How are you feeling? Sorry I would knock but you kind of destroyed it last night"
Komui poked his head in through the doorway with a big smile, pointing at the door frame and its obviously missing door though some hinges still remain.
Krory sat up, carefully maneuvering his wings into a folded position behind him as he stretched.
"I guess I really am going for a record as far as passing out goes but I'm ok" he huffed, doing his best to straighten out his bed head.
Miranda sat up and nervously wrung her hands together, "How did the meeting go? Vill they stop?"
Komui sighed and stepped inside the room, adjusting his glasses, "Yes and no but I recommend speaking to them yourselves"
Without a second thought Krory pulled the blankets off of him and hopped off the bed, "Gladly"
Miranda blinked in surprise, a moment ago he could barely get himself to sit up and now he was getting dressed, "Ah, Arystar are yo-"
"I'll be fine don't worry, in just a bit this will all be over and we can take a nap ok?"
The German woman let her tears flow," That…that sounds vundebar…"
Krory followed Komui out towards the main entrance, clutching his cloak that suddenly seemed so small with his new four foot wingspan folded in tight.
"New clothes are in order! Oh and right after this we have to report to the lab and Hevleska to look at your new evolved innocence, then afterwards we-"
Krory whimpered slightly, grabbing the scientist by the end of his coat before he could continue on with his plans.
"Komui…please, we love you and you've been great to us but I'd really like to go sleep and actually name my baby if you don't mind"
Komui paused for a moment, "Hm? You mean you haven't named her yet?"
"No not yet…we've been a little busy…obviously…" Krory's words died on his lips as they caught sight of Leverrier before the main door of the Order with his men and wounded soldiers, ready to leave.
Krory hide his smile as the man calmly stood before him with bandages around his nose and parts of his face.
"Vampire" he greeted.
"Psychopath" Krory glared.
"Mind your mouth"
"You will get no respect from me just tell me what you want" he growled deeply.
"The direct experiments will cease, for now, we have agreed to watch the child from afar but the moment any sort of innocence is detected after the age of ten, we will continue"
"…so if there is nothing you do nothing"
"That's difficult to say, many of you didn't become compatible until your later years. Let's just hope the war is over before then"
If it were up to Krory, he wouldn't want them anywhere near his daughter for the rest of her life but there was no room to argue, this was as peaceful as it gets, "Fair enough"
"Just be warned, if I see another gun anywhere near us I'm killing you" Krory's fangs bared and face curled into a snarl, deadly serious about the consequences if they were to harm his baby.
Peaceful for now.
"Oh please, after sending over a dozen of my men in the medical wing I'm sure no one would bother. Please send my regards to your woman and girl" Leverrier turned on his heel and waved an unenthusiastic good bye.
"They have names" Krory snapped, causing Leverrier to turn," Miranda and…"
"…and?"
"Amy…Amy Lotto Krory" Krory unconsciously smiled as he stated his daughters name.
Leverrier on the other hand was less than impressed and continued on his way out.
Komui chuckled, "Amy hm?"
"…I panicked; I needed something cool to say before he left…" Krory scratched the back of his head and blushed sheepishly; hoping Miranda wouldn't mind the name he seemed to blurt out.
The Supervisor let out a hearty laugh and gently pat the tall man on the shoulder, "I'm glad you've grown up, but in the end, don't ever change"
"…Thanks Komui…"
"Now, lets get you back to Miranda, she said something about teaching you how to change diapers"
*falls over dead*
All I can do is beg for forgiveness. I'm sorry this took so freaking long XD
The last chapter will be up very soon I promise! Reviews make me happy 83
~SWD
