Author's Note: The song that Aurelia will often here is called called "Time to Feel Sleepy" by a very talented composer by the name of Paul Collier. You can find it on you tube if you wish =] or here and remember to remove the spaces!: www . youtube watch? v= U_095IAvXCs
Unlike the last two chapters which were mostly the same, this one is much more different, and elements and scenes I had written before that were left out of the original are now back in. The plot will be the same, the lead up and missing plot points are being added. I hope that uh, you enjoy this! Chapters 4, 5, and 6 will be written shortly. As with all the re-written chapters and I am using the older ones to see where I must change things and what to add to keep the plot going.
By the way this will be the only chapter with a lot of "action" for awhile. I have this story planned out to be 20 chapters, maybe more. However by chapter 20 I hope to have us at the heart of the plot. Yes by the way Chiyone will be heavily hinted at and referenced every so often. The book? It plays a rather large role. Um anyway enough of my ramblings lets continue!
Disclaimer: I own none of this, and take no joy in trying to make a profit off of this. I only own the original characters and plot.
As the silence dragged on in the moments following Aurelia took the time to sit down on her bed, book clutched tightly to her chest. In these pages were some of her darkest dreams. And always a picture of a long haired girl, someone so close to her in appearance it scared her. In these dreams she was fighting something, a terrible pain perhaps? She never knew. Like a calming force the lullaby played within her head allowing her to calm…perhaps relax. She started when Allen took up a brush and began to play with her hair. Shyness overtook her at this act of closeness and for a moment she was scared -Petrified really- until he started talking about his friends and their complex relationships. He talked of Lenalee, of Miranda and someone named Marie. He spoke of Kanda and Lavi fondly and even of a Koumi person…at least that what she thought he said.
It was comforting, she decided, having this boy brush her hair and tie it back with a ribbon. She enjoyed his presence far to much, and in a way it felt right.
"Lenalee would like you," He said after falling silent. "You're very alike in some ways."
"You speak highly of her," she pointed out, smiling to herself.
"She's very kind, like a big sister really. If you met her, I bet you'd like her a lot too."
She nodded, smiling more now before setting her book down although it was terribly hard. She found herself often drawn into the colored pages of random forests, of the different alice and even staring at the girl who she resembles. It's often just baffling sometimes how familiar it all seems.
"We should head back down, I think I can hear my mother complaining…" Aurelia murmured, giggling a bit as she looked to Allen before leaving the room. Allen took one last look at the book and then followed her out. Something just wasn't quite right…
Downstairs the chaos could be heard and Aurelia had to actually stop and process what actually was going on. She was embarrassed as she was amused, but lets be honest she really wished her mother would not go off as she seems to do at times. Like now.
"I OFFERED YOU FOOD, I EVEN ALLOWED YOU IN AND YOU HAD TO DESTROY MY HOME! MY HOME DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD I WORK SLAVING IN MY VEGTABLE GARDEN JUST TO SELL MY PRODUCE FOR A MODEST PAY? DO YOU KNOW HOW TIRING IT IS WORKING AS A BAR MAID IN A TAVERN WITH HORNY MEN WHO KEEP TRYING TO GET TO YOU?"
It was at this point Aurelia looked down, hand now running through the choppy blond short hair that fell a little past the ears and had it not been cut in a girlish style would allow her to look like a boy -girly as it is- yet a boy none the less. She wondered briefly if being a boy would mean an easier time adjusting to her emotions -which seemed so very confusing to her. Besides she wondered exactly if this was the icing on the cake as things had been very tight -even before these strangers came into their life.-
"Now I want my house to be cleaned! By you both! You will not leave this house until its cleaned!"
The scene in which had caused the mother to react this way was as followed: Kanda and Lavi were fighting, it seemed to have been over something, possibly a snide comment from Lavi, but whatever it was had caused a small war between the two and a kitchen half ruined. Oh…
The two men nodded, Kanda more of a grunting sound as he did though and helped Lavi, to some extent, fix up the kitchen the entire time claiming it was the stupid rabbit's fault. Allen could have said something but the image of seeing Kanda cower before a woman like a whipped puppy amused him far to much. Also black mail. You can never have to much Black Mail on someone. Hehe.
Said woman turned to them and nodded.
"I suppose it is all cleaned?"
"MMhmm. My room's all cleaned and my hair is brushed -because you know its not like it makes a difference-," She muttered the last part, her mother never heard.
"Good! I have some errands that need to be done, however it seems I will not be able to do so at this moment. Perhaps you and Allen, was it?" A small nod from the aforementioned male, "Yes you and Allen can do them instead. I need to stock up on some more spices, we're running low on meat and perhaps you could pick up some wine? Oh and fresh water from the springs!" The list mentally noted Aurelia turned to leave with Allen and potentionally leaving her mother alone with two men who could at any time turn on her, much like Allen could.
She needed to stop being paranoid, but the fact of the matter was she couldn't help it...especially after that stunt that was pulled when they had all gone to mass... she shivered a bit despite the warmth of the sun in the winter afternoon.
She gazed upon the cross where the body of jesus hung. Where God and Angels were painted above and the sounds of the mass proceeding into one long drone of voices. Her eyes were stinging, there was a small pain in her chest. She excused herself, causing a stir: No one left mass until the end. She did not care and so she started to run down the aisle towards the doors, but in her moment of panic forgot the glass...
"Aurelia?" Allen's voice broke her train of thought, causing her to look up at him with an almost panicked expression before she quickly schooled into a smiling one.
"Hmm?" She asked, a cheerful voice masking what could have been a potentional scene. Allen chose to dismiss the odd quirk of what just happened and instead smiled back. Something was off with her...
"Um, since we're in the marketplace, how about we go get those items? I uh...wouldn't know where to start!" He laughs, scratching his cheek in embarrassment and Aurelia blinked, nodded and led him off.
They were silent, talking occasionally about simple matters that were not serious or had to do with anything troubling. It was a light conversation that provided her with a sense of calm, the earlier memories being pushed away as she hummed, buying up the items and just enjoying for the moment being around someone who does not truly despise her. It was peaceful until the sun began to set. As it did the two headed off to return to her home and yet Allen couldn't stop a sense of dread. He could feel something stirring in the air and immediately gave a startled cry. The cursed eye activated and before them three level fours stood. Oh shit.
"Aurelia stay behind me and whatever you do, do not even try to run. They will attack you instantly and if one of their bullets hit you...you'll become like them or you will die."
"Allen I'm scared..." and she was, she had never been more scared but...but they seemed to be in pain too...and that confused her.
"Stay," He murmured, turning to glance at her. "I do not want to have anymore casualties then needed."
He ran off towards them, activating the innocence and drawing them away. She could only watch through her one eye, squinting to get a clearer picture of him as he fought. There was something so mesmorizing about how he fought, how he moved and how those…things moved. IT was thrilling, exciting and scary all at once. She didn't notice one from behind sneaking up, not until she heard Allen scream and suddenly found herself wrapped up in a soft white cape…with tendrils lifting her in the air as he jumped to avoid a bullet. Her screams were ripped from her throat and fear shook in her. This was why she really couldn't trust people! Look what happened!
The small body landed safely in his arms regardless as he held her tightly, grunting as they landed before running through alley ways.
"There are at least two near your house, Kanda and Lavi need help, just hold tight, I won't drop you, Aurelia. You're safe with me," He murmurs.
The scene at her house was terrible the place was in ruins, and before her were the two other males, fighting and panting. There was one dead Akuma and another still fighting. Allen sat her down before rushing in to take care of it.
"ALLEN! BEHIND YOU! THERE'S THREE MORE!"
"I KNOW, WE CAN'T TAKE THEM ALL. WE NEED HELP!"
Kanda merely growled, focusing in attacking in unison with Lavi. Aurelia had moved to the wreckage of the house, pushing rubble and pieces of furnitiure away. Where was her mother? Where was she?
"MOTHER?" She cried out, trying to find her. Eventually she ran up the stairs to the destroyed upper half. She was dead, a pool of blood surrounding her body. No sounds were made, could be made and she shakily walked past her.
Her mind went immediately to the book that held her thoughts and her dreams and she was gladto see it and the patchwork rabbit unharmed. She grabbed up both of them and held them close.
'They're not destroyed…'
~'OF course not,'~
'What?'
Aurelia looked up, then to the sides and then all around. Had someone just talked back?
"LAVI!" Kandas voice was harsh and filled with fear. She stood up, turning to watch the scene. They were failing. The akumas seemed so strong. Those monsters. Allen however was the only one who seemed calmed.
His arm had become a sword, a mask was over his face and the same silken tendrils, which grabbed her, were holding Akuma in place while he fought. He was beautiful…
They all were.
Eventually the akuma had all been killed, but the toll was heavy and she knelt next to her mother's body when it dawned on her. She was an orphan now.
"oh…"
Her world suddenly seemed much darker. Tears started to fall unabashed and sobs danced happily free from her chest as she held both book and toy closer. Allen was the first to approach. He was panting, but he was also forcing a calm expression. Kanda got to her first, however.
"Stop crying."
"Why can't I cry!?" She growled, glaring at him. Her vision was blurred and she suddenly felt very sick.
"Because we have to get you out of here. If there were this many in this area there is bound to be more now dry those tears and stop being a child. Tears won't bring you any comfort," He muttered darkly, walking away and allowing Allen and Lavi to tend to the child, but her grip on his arm stopped him and so did the tears that soaked his uniform. "Chh…you're getting my uniform wet, brat."
"Would I be a burden if you took me with you?" She asked quietly, her throat sore and her eyes red as she buried her face into his back, not caring it would be stained by tears or snot, well not snot as she wasn't worked up that hard, but oh god did it hurt to try and breathe through her nose.
"Only if you're a helpless kid. Are you helpless?" He asked, glancing at her from over his shoulder. The female stood still, then frowned and glared up at him, the rabbit by her mother's body glowed a faint green as she gave her answer.
"I am not weak! I can be strong too! You rude, stupid…insensitive jerk!" She shook with rage, trying hard to put on a brave front, but the tears came again and she started to cry. "I can be strong…but I want to be weak now…because I'm never allowed…"
"…Whatever." Kanda moved away, walking down the stairs. Lavi looked to Allen and then to Aurelia. He noticed the rabbit, but said nothing and gave the young girl a comforting smile before following after the tall samurai. Allen picked up the fallen items and held them. Innocence…and a something else. There was a heavy presence to the book that seemed to familiar but at the same time foreign. Aurelia rubbed absently at the blinded eye, her gaze unfocused.
She was now an orphan. In the span of one day she was thrust into a situation she never thought she'd encounter…and she wanted to run away from it all, but something kept her rooted to the spot. She couldn't go anywhere. She had no family and if these people did not take her…she would run away, try to find a new village…a village where no one saw her as a devil child who could not accept the light of God as they had.
She frowned. That was no God they worhsipped…God couldn't be such a cruel man could he? Was this punishment for that day? That day she stood up and yelled God was not real and ran away, bursting through the glass doors and blinding herself…why her father left and her mother was dead? Then again…what did it matter? She told herself it didn't matter what they thought.
"Aurelia…" Allen's voice was muffled as a lullaby played on her mind, the melody seeming to just consume her, hold her and caress her until she collapsed. The sounds of others never registered, no did the feel of arms grabbing her. She had passed out.