Igetsu Yoru

"Okay, Komui told us not to wear our uniforms on this occasion … for what reasons I don't know. If you agree that Komui is a stupid and unfathomable guy, please raise your hand." Lavi and Senpai raised theirs simultaneously. I was secretly happy that Lenalee wasn't here; Lavi had told me many tales about Lenalee's 'loving iron fist' on the train to Germany; I hoped not to experience it.

"He also instructed me to help you guys, because he believes that you guys have no taste." Lavi pouted in irritation at that command: "Wha?! I'm plenty tasteful for your information, Komui idiot!" Senpai turned his head around with a "tch", which obviously showed his dissatisfaction. They both muttered "sister complex" under their breath in unison.

I gave a sigh and continued: "Well, it's not my fault; just blame Komui all you want. Might as well use the shower before going into the castle; I have to say that this inn has rather nice facilities." Lavi grinned: "Of course it's not your fault. Curse that Komui! And by the way, can I conquer the bathroom after you? You know, just in case there happens to be a hot princess there?" Senpai glared at Lavi and growled: "Oh just give it up, baka usagi."

Lavi

After I emerged from the bathroom, I turned immediately towards Yu-chan and commanded: "Now go, Yu-chan; it's now or never." Yu-chan glared at me as he slid past me, into the bathroom.

I spotted Yoru-chan rummaging through my suitcase. With a guilty grin, I apologized: "Sorry for the messy suitcase; I never really bothered to clean things up like Yu-chan." She smiled back in a creepy understanding: "Don't worry; I've seen worse. You should have seen Shirou-nii's suitcase. I promise that you'll get nightmares from it." That momentarily stopped my grin, but I quickly recovered from the shock. After all, it is hard to find someone who is messier than I am.

I crouched down and helped Yoru-chan choose my outfit, because after all, I have awesome style.

Kanda Yu

I stepped out of the bathroom, slightly more irritated than usual. Apart from the fact that I had less time to find 'that person', how in the world had Lavi gotten soap suds all over the place? Trying to shake the remaining moisture out of my hair, I caught a image of Lavi standing up straight (rather than slouched all over the place – usually the sofa) and letting Yoru force him into a short, high-collared dark green jacket that fit over his white shirt and brown slacks.

Lavi, being baka usagi, was desperately trying to wrestle his bandanna back, but stopped immediately as Yoru produced a lighter out of nowhere, and holding it suspiciously under the bandanna. Throwing the bandanna into Lavi's now neat suitcase, she tied a silk scarf around Lavi's neck in an elaborate and surprisingly tasteful way. For once, that curly-headed Komui could be right.

After much accessorizing Lavi with green (I had to help – stabbing Lavi with the green scarf pin was pleasing), we announced that we were finished with Lavi and he could get the heck out of there. Well, I admit that I was rather reluctant to say that, as it signaled that it was my turn to be the dress-up doll.

I tried to slide silently out of the room, but unfortunately, Yoru just had to have particularly sharp hearing, out of all the things. I got tackled down by Lavi, and a black tie was tightened around my neck like a noose and I was forced into a long, black coat that draped over my crisp, white shirt and black slacks. I stood up and dusted myself as Yoru inspected my hair.

"You still used soap?" She asked, her face in a scolding scowl. I replied with a strangely sheepish "tch". I fished a black ribbon from my suitcase and tied my hair up, not wanting to be forced. I know that they would probably argue, but I tied it up anyways; long hair can be a bother. I don't know why I had it long, but I didn't want to cut it; it seemed so troublesome to do so.

Igetsu Yoru

I smiled at the product of my hard work. Both of them seemed ready for the mission, but something was missing. Lavi seemed to read my mind and said: "Well, now you've got us all dressed up, but what about you?"

"You're right; better change into a dress then." Lavi raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Well, seeing you in that dashingly-manly swallowtail church uniform for the past few days, I could not imagine you in a dress."

I smiled simply and said: "You'll see."

Kanda Yu

Well, hopefully we didn't look too overdone for the German royal court. Though I have to say that Yoru's dark crimson dress with a great lot of black lace was … certainly unexpected.

As we entered the castle (which was in Moscow), a great court of colorfully dressed people were knelt in front of a flamboyantly dressed king. The king raised his nose a bit, seemingly reminding us to also kneel down to him; however, I would not bow my head to a man of such earthly desires. I turned my head with a "tch" as Lavi bent his head slightly with a look of obvious distaste on his face and Yoru curtsied briefly and with a rebellious attitude. Well, that's the Order for you, king.

Obviously, the man in the overly-decorated highchair was not pleased, but there was nothing he could do about it, as we worked with the Pope. A brief smirk floated above my lips as I caught a glimpse of the king's irritated face.

And after what seemed like the longest time, the brainless king seemed to notice the silver rose-crosses pinned to our clothes. He coughed a feeble cough, then attempted to boom: "So you kids are the famed 'exorcists' of the 'Black Order', no? Report your names and ages immediately!"

Lavi answered with professional coldness: "Bookman junior, though known by Lavi, my 49th alias. 18 years of age here." I glared ice daggers at the king and replied: "Yu Kanda. A Second, age 18. Enough said." Yoru replied with no hesitation: "Yoru Igetsu, age 15."

And Komui, being that curly-headed idiot sister complex he is, just phoned the court yesterday without filling in the most important details, leaving that stupid king clueless. Thus, the king asked in a quizzical way, his face a mask of ultimate bafflement: "And what are you here for?"

I almost wanted to hit one of those fragile-looking poles with my head.

Lavi

I was certainly surprised at the king's question, but before I could answer, Yoru-chan replied with a unanticipated fluidness: "We're here to check if your daughter is a compatible synchronizer with Innocence; and if she's a exorcist like us, consider her taken." And in the most entertaining fashion, the king turned into the color of a decaying beet and replied: "Outrageous! How could you …" Yoru-chan dragged out a piece of parchment from Yu-chan's pocket (and you should have seen his expression) and flapped it in front of the king: "Oh look! What's this? A special warrant signed by the Pope himself!"

After some long explaining of the Pope's service and something or the other, the king couldn't take all the mental torture and gave in: "Fine, fine, fine! Come, Centaurea!" A girl who seemed to be eavesdropping appeared from behind the heavy drapes.

Her eyes were the color of harvest wheat, and her eyes were of the blue-green of the sea. She was fortunate that she didn't take after her father.

A familiar feeling started building up my chest, and just when Yu-chan and Yoru-chan rolled their eyes, I couldn't take it anymore and yelled: "STRIKE!" The king leaned from his bejeweled throne and inquired menacingly: "What did you say, young man?" I gave a sheepish grin and muttered: "It was nothing, I swear."

Centaurea smiled at her father and said: "Father, it's okay! I forgive Lavi. Come on then, exorcists! Let me show you my archery spot!"

And I practically melted on the floor in relief.

And the royal garden was indeed grand enough to be called a royal garden. The Centaurea girl picked up a silver bow with a griffin's head and a quiver of silver arrows. "So you can shoot?" Yoru-chan inquired casually. "Yup." The princess shot a leaf twirling in the air with a professional precision. I glanced at the bow and felt the familiar aura of Innocence: "This feeling … holiness even … it must belong to the Innocence." Yu-chan replied with a cold tone: "So you really are compatible. If you weren't, you'd be possessed by the Innocence already." Yoru-chan leaned towards Centaurea with eagerness: "Then will you join us?" "Well, what's in it for me?" Centaurea asked, twirling one of her curls with a finger.

And now was the time for me to shine. Before the others could reply, I expertly hogged all the spotlight: "Well, it's lots of fun, adventure, gourmet food, travelling, a good salary, though your life may sometimes be endangered … but it's all worth it, especially when there's a really hot guy like me." "Okay, I'll join." The princess replied with a smile.

I had to say that I was rather surprised. I asked with interest: "Well, was I the main factor?" Centaurea shook her head: "No. It was mainly the money and gourmet food."

Well, it took some time for Centaurea to convince her father, but when we boarded the train, everyone was pleased and baffled at the same time that the church had received a new exorcist – maybe there actually is a chance that we could win the holy war.

To be continued

Author's notes:

Yeah, this is probably going to be the only update for all stories this week, sorry. Well, I've been a lazy bum this whole time so yeah. And just so you guys know, Centaurea is a OC, and why I gave her that weird name is because it is part of the Latin name for Germany's national flower ... I think. I got it from Axis Powers Hetalia, so yeah. I'll try to upload more next week. Well, all critiques and comments are welcome! Please R&R! This chapter is mainly dedicated to Lavi (because I felt like it)!