Longish short chapter here. I had a bit of trouble writing this one for some reason, probably because of making Road act like a little girl. Sure she's sadistic, but she's still a little girl. Yeah…
Lenalee, Komui, and Lavi are in this chapter. As well as a very sadistic Allen. So be happy. And see if you can recognize the song Allen's singing. You get a cookie if you guess right. Don't worry, I only changed a few of the lyrics to make it fit the story better.
And I'll stop replying to reviews that say things like, "OMG great chappie!" Because I already know how awesome I am. I'd like more reviews please! Thank you?
Disclaimer: Original concept of D. Gray-Man belongs to Hoshino Katsura, and the translated lyrics featured in this chapter originally belong to Abingdon Boys School.
The 4th Memory: Ever and Never End
Road stared at Lenalee in shock. "Y-you saved me…why?"
Lenalee tilted her head. "Because you needed help, that's why."
"B-but I…"
"Well look what we have here. :3" The Earl said. "Another exorcist has joined the party. :3 If I knew there would be so many guests, I would've prepared dinner for all of you. :3 :3" He raised his umbrella once more. "But since I'm empty handed at the moment, I'm afraid I'll have to improvise. :3" The Akuma shot once more at the two girls.
"Watch out!" Lenalee grabbed Road and danced through the barrage of bullets.
"Not bad, exorcist," The Earl said, "But you know what the people of the West say. :3 Unskilled guns, but when the number increases, they're sure to hit! :3" The Akuma rapidly fired at Lenalee.
Lenalee dodged the bullets and placed Road behind a gravestone. "Stay here, the Akuma are after me, so they won't shoot at you if you're hidden." She turned to fight, when Road grasped her sleeve.
"Don't you know who I am?" She asked, "What I did?"
Lenalee smiled at her. "As far as I'm concerned, you're an exorcist that needs help." She jumped back into the fray.
Road stared at the spot Lenalee was standing in. "He really doesn't remember." She wept as the sounds of exploding Akuma filled the air. "Why…why doesn't anyone remember me?" She slowly rose to her feet, feeling the ground sway underneath her. She started walking towards the Earl.
Lenalee spotted Road as she pierced though a couple of Akuma. "What are you doing!?" She shouted at Road. "Go back and hide!"
Road didn't hear her. "Duke Millennium…you remember me, right? You…you have to be joking…" The Earl ignored her and continued watching Lenalee with interest. "Why…why don't you remember me?" Lenalee tried to get to Road, but the Akuma were blocking the way. "Please…remember…" The cross on her hand started glowing. "REMEMBER ME DAMMIT!!" A blinding light emitted from Road as her Innocence activated. Silver candles materialized over the Akuma, falling onto them and piercing their souls. The Akuma exploded in a chain reaction, the souls ascending to the heavens. Lenalee fell down to the ground, unconscious, because the debris of Road's attack hit her. Dark seraphic wings appeared on Road's back as she flew up to the Earl.
"Eh, what's the matter exorcist? :3" the Earl asked as Road flew up in front of him.
Road glared at him. "You know who I am." She whispered. "I'm you're favorite Noah, Road Kamelot."
The Earl stared at Road. "What do you presume to know about the Noah?"
"I know all the Noah, because I'm one of them." Road answered.
"Prove it." The Earl said. "Give me the names of six of my children."
"That's easy." Road said. "Tyki Mikk, Skin Boric, Jasdevi, Lulu Bell, Sheryl Kamelot…" She bit her lip. "And me?"
"Oops," The Earl said, crossing his arms. "So sorry, but you're missing my favorite child. :3"
"What are you talking about!?" Road shouted, "I thought I was your favorite!?"
The Earl shook his head. "Why would such an impolite child like you be my favorite? :3 Besides, everyone in the family knows exactly who my favorite is. :3"
Road clenched her teeth. "Who? Tyki? Lulu!?"
"Allen Walker." The Earl slashed Road. "That is the name of my favorite, you pathetic exorcist." Upon hearing Allen's name, her Innocence failed, causing her wings to fall apart. Tears and blood trailed behind her as she fell, while the Earl laughed. "It was fun playing with you," He said as Road lost consciousness. "Road the exorcist…"
--
"Pain spills and flows from the wound torn in my open chest in the dark, and dissolves the thoughts that connect overlapped moments." It…it hurts. Why are you torturing me like this? "Having a nightmare in a fever that you can never wake from, I can hear your final voice." Isn't enough you made me an exorcist? Do you have to destroy my family too!? "Don't cry, if I embraced you to the point that you seem to break, you'd tremble. Show me the suffering inflicted throughout the darkness, as we cross the threshold of black and white." Just stop singing…you bastard… "Surely, I've searched for the unfading miracle, and to break you with your own desires."
"Ever and never end, I'll release you, so far away." Road was crucified to a cross on the wall, blood covering most of her body. She was drained of energy, while Allen stood in front of her, clearly enjoying her pain. Allen caressed Road's face. "How do you like my song, Miss Kamelot?"
Road spat in his face. "I like it just about as much as I like you, you bastard."
Allen wiped the spit off his face. "Ah ha ha, still the same as ever, I suppose." He wiped some blood off her face. "I guess I'll just have to torture you more."
"How did you make him forget?" Road asked. "How did you make everyone forget me?"
"I don't know," Allen answered, "You tell me." He took out a knife.
"Gah!" Road gasped as Allen thrust the knife into her stomach.
Allen twisted the knife. "Hurts, doesn't it?" He wiped some blood off of his mask. "I could make it hurt more if you wanted me to. Just say the word."
"I won't lose…"
"Eh?" Allen moved his face closer to hers. "What was that?" Road bit him. Allen winced at the pain and backed away from her.
"I said I won't lose!" Road shouted. "I'll never lose to you! You think creating a fake world like that would break me!? There's no way Duke Millennium would forget me, no way can I have Innocence, and definitely no way you're the Earl's favorite! And if you ever think that I'll bow down to you I then I'll throw you into a fake world like this and watch you suffer!"
"Ah, but Road…" Allen slashed her with his claw. "Who ever said the world you're in was a fake?"
"What?" Road asked weakly.
"The world you've been in the whole time is as real as you or me. There are no fakes at all." He smiled. "After all, the pain and despair you're feeling is real, isn't it?" He moved his face in front of hers, their lips almost touching. "Everything you've been experiencing is real. The Millennium Earl really doesn't remember you. My Innocence really does exist within you, although I don't know why. And best of all…" He grinned evilly. "I really am the Earl's favorite."
"H-how?" Road asked.
Allen shrugged. "A prophecy was once made about me. It called me 'the Destroyer of Time.' This might be what it meant. I've broken up time, turning you into an exorcist, and sending me back to my rightful place." He stared into Road's eyes. "Aw, is little Roadie gonna cry? Does she hate me as much as I hate her? Would you like a kiss to make you feel better?" Allen pressed his lips softly onto Road's. "How does it feel, to be so helpless? To have the one you hate force a kiss on your lips?"
"I…I hate it…"
Allen smiled. "You do, don't you?" He took some of Road's blood onto his fingers. "By the way, have you tasted your own blood before?" He shoved his fingers into Road's mouth. Road coughed violently when Allen removed his hand. "Tastes horrible, doesn't it?"
"Please…just stop…"
"Eh, is little Roadie begging for mercy? Am I finally getting my point across?" He cocked his head. "Do you want to give up, Road?"
Road nodded weakly. "Just let me go home…I don't like this game at all…"
Allen laughed and held his claw to Road's face. "Sorry, Road, but the game's far from over."
--
"Is she all right, brother?" Lenalee asked, "It's been a week since I've brought her here, and she still hasn't regained consciousness."
Komui shook his head. "She hasn't responded well to the treatment. Her wounds have been treated well enough, but she still remains in a comatose state. However, I'm more interested on how she knew the Earl."
Lenalee shrugged. "When I came to, I was in a hospital bed. A boy named Jean brought the two of us to the hospital by himself, and explained to me what happened. But all I know is that this girl can create weapons using the Innocence in her left hand, and she can create wings to fly with."
Komui sighed. "All that tells us is that this girl is a parasitic type and that she has the power of 'materialization.' But that still doesn't explain her relationship with the Earl. But for the moment, I have a mission for you, Lenalee."
"You aren't seriously suggesting that I leave while this girl is in critical condition, do you?"
"Well, uh, Kanda already left, and you're already a couple hours behind him…"
"But brother!" Lenalee cried.
"I'm sorry, Lenalee, but we need you to go to Martel and retrieve the Innocence. You can't waste time watching somebody who won't be able to wake up for a while."
"But…"
"If she's that concerned," A voice said, "Then I'll watch over the girl." A guy with red hair and an eye-patch walked into the room. "Lenalee, Komui, it's been a while."
"See Lenalee?" Komui said brightly, "Nothing to worry about! Lavi will look after her while you're away!"
"But…" Lenalee bit her lip. "I can't leave her alone with a pervert like Lavi!"
Lavi's face fell. "P-pervert!? Are you crazy!? This girl is probably, what, 12, 13? Besides, you know I only go for older women!"
"So?"
Komui put his hand on Lenalee's shoulder. "Let Lavi watch over her. Don't worry, I'll have a communication golem positioned here to make sure Lavi doesn't do anything inappropriate."
"Do you guys really not trust me?" Lavi asked, "I'm a little bit hurt by that."
Lenalee gave Lavi a hug. "I'm sorry, Lavi, I was just worried about the girl. I didn't mean to call you a pervert." She ran out of the room. "Bye, Lavi! Bye Komui! I'll be back after I get the Innocence from Martel!"
"Lenalee, waaaiiiiiiit!" Komui yelled, "You forgot to give your brother a hug!"
Lavi tapped him on the shoulder with his hammer. "Dude, I don't think she's coming back." Komui latched onto Lavi. "H-hey! What're ya doing?"
Komui rubbed his face on Lavi's robe. "I must take back Lenalee's hug from you…"
Lavi kicked him. "Get back to work!"
--
"Good evening, Millennium Earl." Allen bowed. "It's great to see you back home."
The Earl patted Allen's head. "No need to be so formal, Allen. :3 You don't have to bow, and I said you may call me Duke Millennium. :3"
Allen grinned sheepishly. "I know, sir, but I can't help it. I was just born like this."
"I know, Allen." The Earl replied. "Your politeness is what makes you my favorite after all."
"Eh, would you just tell Allen the mission already, Lero?" Lero the umbrella asked.
"Yes, yes, of course, Lero. :3" He turned to Allen. "I'm sorry to give you a mission when you're supposed to be resting, but this is of the up most importance. :3"
"Just say the word and I'll follow." Allen told him.
"You see, there's been reports of an Innocence in a certain city, and I suspect it may be the Heart. :3 I want you to go to that town and retrieve the Innocence before any of those pesky exorcists get their hands on it. :3"
Allen bowed. "Your wish is my command. Shall I use the Ark for this?"
The Earl shook his head. "No, that won't be necessary. :3 Just take Lero with you. :3"
"Wh-what's that, Lero?" Lero asked. "I thought it was time for my break, Lero!"
"It was Allen's break too. :3" the Earl said, "So it's only fair you transport him to the city."
""B-b-b-b-b-but Lero! Lero."
Allen grabbed the umbrella. "I'll be back in time for dinner, Duke Millennium." Allen said, "But I'm curious, exactly what city are you asking me to go to?"
The Earl grinned. "The City of Martel."