Moko-Chan: -man is owned by the still very sick Hoshino-Sensei. The lack of -man chapters is killing me.
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A pile of paper landed on Komui's desk with a soft thud.
"These need to be signed." Reever pointed out. "Now."
The supervisor stared at the stacks of work and gave the Australian a bambi-eyed look.
"Any way I can avoid this?" Komui whined.
"No."
"Gimme coffee or I won't sign it."
"No."
"An~~~~~~I want my coffee!!" Komui started banging the table with his fists and throwing a childish tantrum.
"You'll get it later! Now just sign the damn thing!" Reever growled, wondering for the eighth time today why he worked for this whiny adult.
Komui picked up a pen reluctantly and started signing. Then he heard Reever give a loud exasperated sigh which nearly blew his beret off.
"Oi, Supervisor, you sure it's wise to just send a new guy and Kanda on such a strange mission? The Finder's only a kid too." Reever asked.
"It's alright. Besides, the mission's probably going to wind up as only a simple serial kidnapping or murder case."
You call a serial murder case simple?! Reever had no idea what this supervisor was thinking.
"Besides, Kanda-kun's with them. They can handle it." Komui said, pushing a stack of paper aside and starting on another.
"Coffee!" Came Lenalee's angelic voice as she popped into the office preventing Reever from trying to cut in another sentence. "Am I interrupting something?"
"No, not at all." Reever replied with a smile. In the background, Komui was saying the word "coffee" over and over like the crazed caffeine deprived worker he is.
"Hai, hai. Nii-san, here's your coffee." Lenalee gave her brother the rabbit printed mug and watched her brother gulp the life-giving brew down quickly before continuing his work.
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"Dammit! Yuu, please hold on." Lavi cried desperately as he ran to his fallen comrade. Kanda was lying on the ground, his skin pale from the loss of blood. There was a gaping wound on his abdomen.
There's so much blood. Lavi gripped the handle of Tetsui tightly. I have to get both of them out, fast.
Then laughter resounded throughout the whole house. It seemed to be coming from everywhere.
"Stupid exorcists, you can't get me!" The voice mocked.
Where?
Suddenly, a spike flew out from the flooring but the blow was blocked by Lavi's hammer. Then another followed by another came shooting towards him. Lavi quickly wrapped his arm around Kanda's waist and pulled him away from the ground, blocking the repeated attacks at the same time.
That was when his back came into contact with the red wallpapered wall.
Crap.
"Stupid stupid exorcists!" The voice came from behind Lavi. He looked at the wallpaper only to see three slits on it. Two of them widened, revealing bright orange blood-shot eyes. And the third broke into a fanged grin.
"Dummy!" A spike shot out from the Akuma's mouth.
Lavi closed his eyes in fear, thinking that he was going to get stabbed. The blow never came as the spike stopped short of his heart.
"Lavi-san, destroy it now!" Doug shouted from the doorway. He was holding a large spotlight which was able to form a barrier around Akuma. However, this barrier doesn't last, not against a level 2.
"Ozuchi kozuchi, man, man, man!" The hammer like Tetsui expanded rapidly in size and mass as the redhead swung it towards the wall, smashing it into splinters. The cold night breeze drifted into the room from the newly formed opening.
"Did you get it?" Doug asked nervously, still clutching onto the spotlight for his dear life.
Even though it's hard to aim while carrying Yuu, I'm sure I hit it head-on.
"Is Kanda-san-… okay?" Doug asked. From his tone, it sounded to Lavi that he wanted to use the word 'dead' but didn't dare to.
If we don't stop the bleeding soon… He could feel the other exorcist's warm blood seeping through his fingers.
"I thi-" Lavi stopped in mid-sentence when he spotted an orange eyeball above the doorway. Doug also saw it but was too shocked to react.
"DIE!" Shrieked the akuma!
"Ozuchi Kozuchi! Shin!" Tetsui grew in length and Lavi used it to push Doug out of the room, away from the doorway. The Akuma's spike missed.
"Doug, out of the house now!"
"But, I can't—" Doug started.
Abandon.
"NOW!" Lavi snapped as he broke the wall above the doorway, aiming straight at the eyeball. Doug quickly scurried down the staircase and out of the house.
There was silence again for a few seconds. It was so quiet that Lavi could hear his own heart pounding against his chest. The sound was hurting his ears.
Is it destroyed yet?
"Not yet." Another spike flew out, Lavi dodged but the spike managed to cut his shin. Lavi looked around for the Akuma. This time, the 'face' appeared above the beds.
"You can't destroy me by smashing walls, for I am part of the house. Even if you wreck the house, I can still kill!" The akuma started giggling at its own powers before breaking into a maniacal laugh.
The laughter continued for a long while until it got interrupted by Lavi's sudden "Oi!" The Akuma stared at Lavi.
"What? You wanna beg for your life?"
"How come you didn't kill the owner of this place?" Lavi asked, not looking at the Akuma in the eye.
"It's interesting to watch a human kill its own kind. And I just kill off those she left out."
"Like the two people wearing beige coats?"
"Yeah, those two. The Earl is going to be proud of me, I bet the families of the victims are in despair and more of us will be formed." The Akuma said in glee. "Are you frightened? You're backing up."
Lavi was stepping backward slowly toward the opening he first made and stopped when the Akuma spoke about it.
"You trying to flee? Even if you get out of the house, I still can kill you. Maybe it would be easier if you dropped your friend." The Akuma gave a devilish grin.
"Ha."
The Akuma's grin turned into a smile when Lavi suddenly started laughing, laughing at the face of death.
"Why are you laughing?"
Lavi didn't reply, he just kept laughing and irritating the Akuma at the same time.
"Why you…" The Akuma launched another spike from the floorboard but it got deflected by the hammer. "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?!"
Lavi looked at the Akuma in the eye and smirked, a broad smirk which did not show fear but confidence in front of the Devil.
"Because you're dumb." Lavi replied.
"What?!"
"You just lost seven victims, seven who would have been your food."
"Their families would be in desp—" The Akuma protested.
"Furthermore, their families believe that they are only missing, meaning they have no purpose for the Millennium Earl. And lastly,…"
The Akuma was starting to look more and more infuriated but Lavi still continued.
"I'm not trying to flee because I know how to beat you. You told me how." Lavi finished his sentence and jumped through the opening, landing on his feet to prevent further harm to Kanda.
I'm not observing a war anymore.
"You little punk!" The Akuma's face appeared on the exterior of the house.
I'm fighting in it.
"Innocence, Daini Kaihou!" Multiple seals with Kanji imprinted on them started floating and rotating around Lavi's raised Tetsui. The one with the symbol of fire stopped in front of Lavi.
"If I can't smash the whole house completely, then I'll just burn it! Return to ashes!" Lavi slammed the hammer's head into the ground causing a large fire mark to cover the ground where the inn stood.
"HI-BAN!" A large tower of flame burst out from the ground engulfing the whole inn in flames. The Akuma's shrieks could be heard and a few neighbours opened their window in shock. Lavi just stood there watching the sign melt and burn as the Akuma's cries died down. Then it was gone, the only thing left was the silence and the stench of burning flesh.
"Lavi-san!" Doug came running over. "The police are coming, please go somewhere else first. I'll handle the situation here." He passed Lavi a small First-Aid pouch. "Your injuries and Kanda-san's."
"Oh yeah, thanks." Lavi was about the walk to somewhere to treat his wounds and then remembered something.
"Doug, don't tell the police about the missing people."
Doug stared at Lavi for a while and realized the reason. "They got cremated completely?"
"Yeah."
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Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Lavi swore mentally as he pulled the bandages form the pouch. It's a miracle that he's even still breathing now. Lavi tried to remember all he has read about First Aid when he heard Kanda mutter something.
"Yuu! You're awake!" Lavi exclaimed, almost happy. Then Kanda tried to sit up to lean against the brick wall behind him but Lavi stopped him.
"I'll help you, kay?"
Upon hearing the word 'help', Kanda seemed to be very determined to ignore the excruciating pain he was feeling.
"Lie still! What the hell is your problem?"
"I don't need help!" Kanda hissed although he was grimacing and still clutching the left of his abdomen but Lavi removed his hand and was unbuttoning Kanda's coat.
"With a wound li—" Then Lavi stopped. The bleeding has stopped and a scab was starting to form over the wound. Lavi then caught a glimpse of a Sanskrit character on Kanda's chest before he got the bandages snatched out of his hand.
Lavi stared in shock as Kanda sat up and started bandaging the wound.
"Your injury just… got better." Lavi said in astonishment.
"Che. Whatever, I heal fast."
"That's not called healing fast! That's called healing at an inhumane speed!" Came the exclamation.
"Shut up."
Lavi opened his mouth to comment further but was silenced by a very threatening glare. Then Doug arrived informing them that the police will take over. He too was also silenced when he noticed that Kanda was a lot less injured than expected.
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Bookmen are supposed to be passive, emotionless and observing everything around them.
… I think I just broke every rule in the book.
Why?
Who knows?
A jolt from the train indicating that it was leaving the station snapped Lavi out of his inner conversation. It's going to be a pretty long ride back to the order. Lavi looked at the Japanese who was sitting across him in the private train carriage.
"Oi, Yuu."
"Don't call me by my first name."
"How's your wound?"
"It's gone." Kanda said shortly.
"Hmm… Interesting." Lavi gave a pondering look.
"What?"
"The cut on my leg which I got yesterday is obviously smaller than that bleeding puncture but my wound only just scabbed." Lavi said.
"So?"
"You heal damn fast."
"Isn't that what I said?" Kanda said irritated.
"You said 'I heal fast.'" Lavi never forgets whatever he's heard.
"Does it matter?"
"It means you're not as bad as a person as I thought."
Kanda could have gave a very puzzled look at the sudden compliment but settled with a "Ha?"
"In the mission about half a month back, many Finders and a few Exorcists died or came back injured. But you were almost completely unscathed."
There was silence from Kanda and he just looked out of the window not wanting to listen to the other teenager but Lavi continued talking.
"There were rumors that you used Finders as meat shields because there's dead Finders around an unhurt you."
Kanda seemed to become more annoyed each time Lavi contribute one more word to the one-sided conversation.
"It's not because you didn't get hurt but it's because you pretty much can't get hurt, at least not for long. I bet those Finders protected you because you did get seriously wounded but by the time you were found by the reinforcements, the wounds were gone because you heal fast."
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Get away from me! I'll be fine! Stop blocking my way!
You're injured, Exorcist-sama!
The Akuma are coming! I won't get killed, I don't need your protection!
Finders are unable to destroy Akuma, so we can only protect the ones who can.
GO AWAY!
Then the Akumas attacked.
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"What? Can't think of a way to rebut?" Lavi challenged when he realized that Kanda was very quiet. Kanda just continued looking at the scene outside the train but his expression showed that Lavi was correct.
"So, how come you heal so fast? Is it something to do with that weird tattoo of yours? I thought that was some forbidden magic. So who gav--"
"Che." Kanda suddenly stood up and opened the carriage door. "I thought rabbits were supposed to be quiet." Then he left the carriage.
Ok, so Bookman curiousity just got the better of me. Then Lavi thought of what Kanda just called him.
Did he just call me a rabbit?! In what way do I remind him of a little hopping mammal?!
Lavi decided to get answers from Kanda. So he opened the carriage door only to see Doug idling outside.
"If you were wondering, Kanda-san went that way, two carriages down." Doug pointed out.
"Ah, right." Then he noticed that Doug was staring at him, or to be specific, staring at his uncovered eye.
"Is there something in my eye?"
"Nope. It's gone, what a pity." Doug said with a sigh.
"Is this about seeing a light in people's eyes?" Lavi asked shaking his head. Not again.
"There was a light when you were fighting that Akuma yesterday. I saw a life inside then. Now, it's nothing but clouded glass."
Lavi put a palm on his own forehead. "Ookay, so I'm an empty person again."
"That's right." Doug said bluntly.
"How about Yuu? What can you understand by looking at his eyes?"
"Kanda-san? He's definitely hiding a lot of things but at least there's something alive inside." Doug commented.
"Hiding?"
"Things that he's afraid other people would know. However, I rather trust my life in his hands than in yours."
"Ouch." Lavi said mockingly.
"Don't worry, I'm sure you would stop faking your character one day." Doug said smiling. Lavi could not tell if he really meant it or if he was just being sarcastic.
"Sure." Lavi said even though he knew he probably would not be able to. Doug watched as Lavi went two carriages down, opened the door only to close it again. Then he walked back.
"Something wrong?" Doug asked.
"Nah. The mission seemed to have taken quite a toll on Yuu. I think I shouldn't disturb him."
"He's sleeping?"
"Yep."
And the journey continued with no more conversation or disturbances.
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The morning after returning…
A loud commotion could be heard outside the cafeteria.
"Kanda! Calm down!" Marie shouted as he grabbed his Kouhai in an armlock.
"Let go of me! I'll kill that freaking rabbit!" Kanda hollered.
"Run, Lavi! I'll stop Kanda!" Daisya shouted, while preventing Kanda from using Mugen to do something lethal to Lavi. "Come on, it's just a little frilly ribbon in your hair." He continued, trying very hard to stifle his laughter.
"Daisya, please don't agitate Kanda further." Marie said. Just then, Kanda kicked Daisya in the face. Meanwhile, the main culprit was running away. He managed a few hundred metres before meeting up with Lenalee.
"Is everything alright? I heard yelling." Lenalee asked as Lavi bent over, gasping for breath.
"Yes, it's nothing much. I just tied a ribbon in Yuu's ponytail." Lavi said, half-laughing.
"I guess it's quite tempting sometimes." Lenalee said smiling before popping a snack into her mouth.
"What?"
"Nothing. Do you want some mochi?" Lenalee offered, holding out a bag of mochi (Glutinous rice dessert) she was snacking on.
"Thanks." Lavi took one. Then while chewing on it, he recalled something.
Maybe she would know.
"Lenalee, do you know why Yuu calls me a rabbit?" Lavi asked. Lenalee gave a surprised look.
"He did?"
"Yeah, and I was wondering why."
Lenalee thought for a while. "Hmm… Oh!"
"You thought of something?"
"How cute!" Lenalee giggled. "It's quite a simple reason."
"Simple?"
"Yep! It's only that." Lenalee points at the mochi Lavi just bitten. "And that." She pointed at Tetsui which was strapped to his thigh. "You might want to check on Folklore books in the library. Japanese folklore that is."
Japanese folklore?
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Out of curiousity, Lavi went to read a book he never thought he would touch. Folklores, fairy tales, myths and legends were not something he usually reads. To him, they are just tales made up by people to explain things they do not understand or to comfort themselves with happy endings which do not logically happen.
Japanese folklore, oh yeah, this could be the one. Lavi picked up a book on Asian tales and flipped through it until he found the tale which explained his nickname.
The Rabbit who lives on the moon… That's the dumb reason?! Lavi stared in disbelief. Who would have thought Yuu makes such weird connections?
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Extract from the book
When you look up on a full moon, you can see a strange dark shape. Don't be scared, it's only a rabbit. The rabbit lives on the moon, pounding rice with a mallet and a usu (mortar) to make sweet delicious mochi.
How did it get there, you must be wondering? A deity brought it up a long time ago.
A long time ago, a rabbit, a raccoon and a fox lived together. A deity wanted to bring one of them up to live on the moon so he decided to take the kindest one with him. He disguised himself as a starving beggar and asked each creature to help him.
The fox went to find some fried bean curd for him while the raccoon went to gather grains and fruits for him. However, the rabbit could not find anything but grass. When the three animals went back, the fox gave the beggar the bean curd and the raccoon gave the beggar grains and fruits. The rabbit went up to the beggar with the grass.
"Please start a fire with the grass, and then I'll give you something to eat." The rabbit said.
The beggar thus started a fire. The rabbit then said "I'll throw myself in the fire, when my flesh is cooked, you can eat me so you won't be hungry." The rabbit then jumped into the fire.
However, it did not get burned, not even its fur. The beggar revealed itself to be a deity and praised the rabbit as being the kindest of all. He thus brought the rabbit to the moon.
And that's how it ended up there, pounding rice to make mochi for all to eat.
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Moko-chan: Yay! End of another chapter. Yup. I took long to update because I was distracted by computer games and drawing. Hehe.
The rabbit story isn't the exact Buddhist story. I kinda modified it a bit. And here's a little omake.
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Komui: So how was the mission?
Lavi: … (Kanda went to the infirmary because the doctors demanded that they check his supposed injury and Finders don't need to give reports as long as an Exorcist was present)
Komui: Was it bad?
Lavi: Let's just say I don't wanna talk about it.
Komui: No no, you have to give a report so we know the status.
Lavi: No innocence, one Akuma and a crazy ol—(remembers and clamps hand over mouth)
Komui: Are you alright? You look pale.
Lavi: I think I need to hurl…
Komui: 0_o Reever! Chuck Bucket!
Lavi: (Runs to nearest bathroom)
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Moko-Chan: Ok, that's that. Next chapter's the last! (CRIES) Don't worry, fellow fans, I'll write a new story if I can!