Chapter 7: The Other Half
Allen gaped at her, standing up for the first time since she had walked in.
"But, that's not possible! You can't be the accommodator for two pieces of innocence-"
Lavi watched carefully as she shook her head, intrigued, though confused. His rather superior mind was rapidly putting pieces together…Daine shook her head.
"No, you're right. I didn't say that. I said it was mine. As in, it was already mine to begin with, before we went on the mission, before any of this. The innocence in my body that lets me share my power with you, it…"
She trailed off, wondering how best to phrase it. Lenalee noted her sway a bit unsteadily on her feet and led her to the bench. Win frowned.
"You mean, it wasn't your innocence?"
Komui walked back into the hall, without the clipboard he had been holding, pensive, and, for once, thinking of something other than his darling sister.
"No, Win, it was her innocence. Or rather, it was half. It seems the reason why the innocence had no offensive capabilities was precisely because it was incomplete. Or rather, the innocence seems to have adapted, being only half, in an attempt to protect its accommodator. Daine was unable to fight for herself, but, and this is the part I don't know much about, other than what I've been told, Win was capable of defending her, so the innocence adapted in order to ensure its accommodator's safety. I would imagine that now that her innocence has been reunited with itself, its combative uses will make themselves known, but it is Hevlaska's assumption that the innocence's fighting style is dependant upon direct contact, as Daine's power transfer is."
Lavi absorbed it all quietly, even as Win piped up and asked, "will she lose her ability to power us up?"
Daine cracked a smile at that.
"Maybe, maybe not. Hevlaska said that the way my innocence mutated might not allow it to merge properly with itself, and if it doesn't, I might end up just being able to give out power and not get any fighting power. If it does merge properly, I might lose that ability, or I might keep it and gain a fighting style. She's never seen broken innocence like that before, so she doesn't know what'll happen, but…"
She grinned.
"In a bizarre way, our mission was a success."
Komui snorted.
"That's putting it mildly. A broken piece of innocence like that usually is just that-broken. Meaning, it doesn't work. It's beyond use. But Daine's innocence adapted. In fact, based on what we've studied, it continues adapting. For example, Daine being able to power up others is a new ability. Now, her power is just as potent with exorcists she's close to as it is for Win. Why? Because her innocence adapts. This is beyond the adaptation that Allen has seen, for instance. Because that is merely Allen unlocking the capabilities of his innocence. Daine's broken piece of innocence adapted on its own. If Hevlaska and I are correct and the other piece has the same ability to change, it would have been incredibly dangerous if it fell into the Earl's hands. By the way, Daine, I want you down in the research center every evening for the rest of the week. Come, darling Lenalee! We must away-"
He was silenced and banished by a kick to the head. From who? Lenalee, of course. Daine sighed and leaned back on the bench.
"It's good to be home."
And indeed it was. The first night back in her own room was heavenly. She had thrown her filthy uniform into a pile in the corner of her bathroom and had a bath. It was heaven on earth, the very definition of bliss. She slept like the dead-as in, a sleep so deep, had anyone tried to wake her, even if they set Kanda on her and he chopped off her arm, she wouldn't have so much as stirred. That morning, Allen, Win, and Daine had a breakfast that was beyond anything the likes of which had ever been ordered. People had gathered to see if they would finish eating it as their combined amount of food had actually managed to surpass the record for the highest number of dishes ordered at a single breakfast ever.
They enjoyed every last bite.
"WHAT?"
Komui looked completely and totally unimpressed.
"No amount of yelling will change my mind. Daine needs to stay back for tests, and Win, you need to learn to get on without her."
Win-practically red in the face-glared at him, about to explode, and then stamped her foot-actually stamped her foot-and stormed off. Daine watched her go not unworriedly.
"Komui, do you really think-"
He stood firm on his decision.
"Yes, Daine, I do 'really think.' It's inevitable that the two of you will be split up, and you need to learn to deal with it now. You have to stay for testing. It might not be safe for you to go on missions in your current condition. And we're struggling, Daine, and we can't spare Win simply because she can't handle being separated from you. But~"
He grinned in a way that made Daine's stomach drop.
"Seeing as how close you two are, I'll let you be the one to let her know that her partner is Kanda~"
Daine's mouth popped open.
"You-you can't honestly be considering-"
He waved at her and flounced away.
"I'll leave you to it, Daine!"
Or at least, he began to flounce away and then, with a smile that seemed to belong more to some god of mirth, he paused, turned around and said words that Daine hadn't known she dreaded to hear.
"In fact, while you're at it, dear, you can let Kanda know about the arrangement as well~"
That was it. She was dead. She watched him go with the sort of look on her face that might kill a lesser being, and then slammed her head on the table. Allen, whom she and Win had been eating with, glanced at Daine with a look that was a combination of sympathy and amusement. With perhaps a hint of fear.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Daine stared at him for a moment before deciding to push away her troubles-at least for now-and tease him.
"Would you really? That's wonderful! How about this, you can tell them both and I'll report to Komui that you're done, yes?"
The look on his face was beyond priceless.
"B-b-but, Komui told YOU to do it, right? I'm more moral support than, than, than-"
Allen shuddered. He could see the rage in Kanda's eyes already, just on opening the door, and then the sudden, imminent threat of dismemberment that would come right after he opened his mouth. Heck, he could already see the flash of Win's claws as she attempted to kill him for being the bearer of bad news. Daine snickered.
"I'm just joking, Allen. No, don't worry yourself. Well-"
She paused, a bit wary looking.
"Would you mind maybe standing near Kanda's door? You know-just in case?"
It was with a smile that communicated nothing but a sort of understanding fondness that Allen answered her.
"Sure, Daine. Sure…"
They made the decision to meet a respectable distance from Kanda's door a little later on and Daine went off to break the news to Win. Allen stayed behind to finish his dessert.
"Win?"
Daine stood patiently at the door, waiting as she heard a distempered growl and the heavy sort of footfalls that were made by a person trying not to stomp. A few seconds passed and then the door was nearly ripped off its hinges in opening and Daine was dragged in. The door swung shut.
"DAINE, CAN'T YOU SECRETLY FOLLOW US OR SOMETHING? IT WON'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU! I don't even know who I'm going with! Imagine how annoying it would be if it was Lavi! Without you there, though, it's guaranteed to suck!"
Win pouted and threw herself back on her bed, leaving Daine to make herself at home as she wished. Daine sweatdropped, seeing her friend all but throw a tantrum and wondering how badly she would react when she found out who her real partner was to be.
"It won't be that bad, Win! Cheer up. The faster you get it over and done with, the faster you get back, right?"
Win shot her a deadpan look, blowing a few strands of stray, white hair out of her face with an expression that easily communicated that she was far from impressed. Suddenly, she sniggered.
"You're right, Daine. After all, it's not like I'm stuck with Pretty-Boy-Kanda or something. It won't be that bad."
Daine stiffened, even as Win relaxed and flopped back on her bed lazily, going back to what she had been doing with malicious intent earlier: cleaning her claws. Daine chuckled nervously.
"Yeah…right?"
Win sat up like a bullet, narrowing her eyes at Daine.
"Why the scared 'heh, heh' and the questioning tone?"
Daine fake grinned so brightly, it must have looked as if a heavenly light had lit up her face as she said, "Nothing…nothing at all."
She paused, groaned, and then gave up.
"Okay, not really. See…Komui sent me to tell you who your partner for this is…and, well…"
She shrugged. Win's mouth parted slightly in dreading surprise.
Needless to say, Allen and the rest of the inhabitants of HQ jumped when an unearthly shriek echoed throughout the entire building, shattering every piece of glass and melting down every piece of metal. Well, not really. But it was close.
"I'M PARTNERED WITH WHAT?"
By the time Daine managed to stumble shakily out of Win's room, she was deaf. Or somewhere near it. She was so disoriented, in fact, that she needed to grab hold of the wall to keep herself steady. It felt like her eardrums had burst.
"Daine~"
She looked up from her position on the floor to see Lavi, looking down at her curiously.
"Hello Lavi…What's up?"
He grinned.
"Nothing much. Did you hear that unearthly god-awful shrieking noise a few minutes ago? It sounded like, well, I don't even know. Like Kanda, singing in the shower!"
Daine blinked at him, his mellifluous voice soothing her ruptured eardrums.
"You've heard Kanda singing in the shower?"
Lavi laughed sheepishly.
"Well, no. But if he actually did, it would probably sound something like that. You know, what with the end of the world going on in the background and all that."
He smiled when Daine actually started to laugh. She had been looking down, well, not down, per se, but confused, perhaps, or uncertain, and he had known her long enough by now to notice. It didn't suit her. Sulking was more of a thing for Kanda and Win, albeit they sulked in ways vastly different from the other. Kanda's sulking was nearly indiscernible to the naked eye, and Win's sulking was more of a combination of pouting and (audible) anger.
Lavi always managed to make her feel better. From the time that he had saved her from a rather unpleasant end (she had actually nearly fallen off the Black Order tower, due to a fight between Kanda and Win, and for the record, Kanda was a surprising lot heavier than he looked) they had been friends. She trusted him, and she would have liked to say that he felt the same. Suddenly, she sat up. How could she have not thought of it before? Much to Lavi's perplexed surprise (and embarrassment), she without warning bowed so low on the ground from where she sat on her knees that her forehead touched it.
"Lavi! Please…train me!"
Needless to say, the redhead was shocked.
"Um, what do you mean, train? Well, I guess I know what you mean, but-"
The sudden image of Daine-flustered and having abandoned her Order coat, thereby baring her shoulders, pinned beneath him as he taught her grappling-planted itself in his mind and he grinned, helping her up at once.
"Strike~! You bet I can, Daine!"
She grinned back just as widely and proceeded to throw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you so much-you don't know how much it means to me!"
She paused suddenly and cursed.
"Ah! I have to go, Allen promised to meet me in case I needed back up. I'll talk to you later, okay? Later, sensei!"
Lavi waved her off cheerfully before contemplating exactly what he had gotten himself into. He guessed it the cause of the odd affair was her desire to be of use and not be dead weight, and he had seen her looking down and had rightly observed what no one else had-the worries that plagued her. She was scared because she wasn't sure if she would be able to even supply her friends with power, and she was even more terrified of the thought of losing that power altogether and being truly useless. But still…that didn't explain what it was that she had in mind with the training…And wait…had she just called him "sensei?" Oh, he couldn't wait to see Win, Yuu, and Allen's faces when they heard her refer to him as "teacher."
"Lavi? Are you…cackling?"
It was with a look so innocent that even the least gullible of men would have fallen for it that Lavi turned to Krory, just back from a mission, and said "nope." Naturally, Krory believed him. Lavi sniggered after waving him away just as he had Daine. This Black Order business certainly was a way to brighten up the monotony of…well, recording history.
Not that being a Bookman apprentice wasn't fun. He just…really liked…teasing people.
"Are you ready?"
Daine nodded.
"As ready as I'll ever be. Do you think you're at a safe-but-still-close-enough-distance?"
Allen nodded, just as serious.
"If he tries to so much as dismember you through the door, I'll have you out of there in the blink of an eye. Or…the flash of a sword…"
Both of them shivered slightly. Daine, though, steeled herself.
"I'm going in."
"Right."
Kanda had been doing his own little thing i.e. sharpening his sword so that it would gleam when he used it to spatter the pig woman's blood across every wall in the tower. He couldn't believe that damn Komui had partnered him up with that-that pathetic, annoying, weak woman. His hand slipped and he nearly lost it on his own blade. Cursing darkly under his breath, he took the stone he used to keep his blade's edge from dulling in his hand and started up again. Then, there was a timid knock on the door. He growled.
Daine jumped when Kanda opened the door-honestly, she hadn't been expecting him to actually open it. She had been hoping for, at best, a rather rude grunt that could be loosely translated as "get the hell out" or something alone those lines, regardless of the fact that she hadn't actually even stepped into the room. To say a civil response like ripping the door open ill-manneredly was unexpected was an understatement at the very least.
"What?"
Daine took a small step back surprised by the sharpness of his voice.
"Um, Komui asked me to tell you that you have a mission with-"
Kanda put a hand over her mouth-actually covered her mouth-and glared in the direction of the science department, eyes narrowed to slits.
"I already know."
Daine nodded rather weakly. He let go. And then was slammed shut in her face and, bizarrely enough, Daine smiled. That had gone quite well. Better, at any rate, than she had expected it to. Right?
Allen and Daine saw Kanda and Win off when it was time for them to leave-it was a slow goodbye, not necessarily because they couldn't bear to leave, but rather because every time Win tried to remind Allen of her instructions for caring for Daine, Kanda would interrupt and both of them would fight and when they were finally pulled apart Win would continue.
"Don't forget-her favorite food is cheesecake, and you have to make sure to at least check up on her every hour and a half. She gets into such mischief when she's left alone! Don't forget to change her water either. Or feed her."
Daine watched with a drop of sweat rolling down her forehead as she was treated as a pet but decided to forgo complaining in favor of literally shoving Win out the door, red in the face. Allen looked amused, but thought it better not to comment. And so time passed.
"Are you ready?"
Daine nodded.
"Big Hammer, Little Hammer, grow, grow, grow!"
Lavi's hammer increased dramatically in size.
"Dodge my attacks, redirect them if you can, and try to hit me. I talked to Bookman about it and he agreed with me-the best way to get you to activate your innocence is to push you to your limit, as if you were in a real life-or-death situation."
His expression grew as close to serious as it could.
"Basically all you have to do is survive. But, Daine, you have to be serious. Once I start, I'm not going to stop. If I do, your innocence won't recognize me as a threat and won't react to me. If that happens, you'll have to find someone else to help you. Can you do it, Daine?"
She held his gaze with a steady look. He shrugged.
"Okay then. I guess this is the part where I try to kill you."
The Other Half/End.