Welcome to the first Intermission chapter of my story! The Intermission chapters are chapters that appear randomly throughout the story, where I will explain some of the stuff that went on before the prologue. And again, it contains some of my ideas for the possible prelude. I'm also sorry that this is so short.
Allen angst in this chapter! And more support for AllenxLenalee! Even though there's some low-brow humor involving Allen and Road…I'm also putting this story on hiatus for a bit. Why? I've been neglecting all my other stories to do this one, and my other fics need love too!
Speaking of love…Timcampy needs more love. I'm sorry I can't find a place to fit you in, Timcampy!
dsclmr: dgm blngs 2 hsino ktsra.
Intermission I: The Black Roses of Eternal Passing
It was breaking. The love I felt for him was breaking apart, crumbling like dust in the wind. The precious memories I held for him were drifting away, unable to be pieced back together. I tried to gather up the pieces, to fit them back into the puzzle, but there was no place they would fit. Those memories were becoming unnecessary pieces, fading away as I brought in new ones. The link that was thought to be unbreakable, indestructible, was unraveling. Only one thing kept it from completely breaking.
A curse.
The curse that had kept me bound to Mana, the curse that had bestowed eternal suffering onto me. The curse that had kept my purpose alive. My purpose to continue walking, and to never look back. No matter what sorrows befell me, I had to keep walking, to bring salvation to the Akuma's soul. Nothing could stop me, nothing could keep me from fulfilling Mana's wishes. I owe it to him to save the souls of the Akuma, to end the cycle of eternal suffering. Why do I continue to keep his promise, long after Mana cursed me and left this earth? I do it out of love, and remorse.
But that love I've been acting upon crumbled away in an instant.
"You had the 14th's memories implanted in you, and you are the host necessary for his revival." General Cross said, "The implanted memories will eventually erode the host, and turn you into the 14th."
Allen stared in shock at his master. "What…the hell…" Allen fell to the ground. "When Mana said he loved me, did he mean me, or…" Allen clenched his teeth. "Which is it?"
General Cross knelt in front of his apprentice. "Mana kind of lost it after his brother died." Cross told him. "Who knows if he even remembered the past or not. At least…I couldn't tell."
When my master said those words…I still thought the reason Mana loved me was because I was to become his brother. The seeds of doubt have already been sown into my heart. In the end, do you always have to sacrifice something to protect something else?
And what he said next was even worse.
"What would you do," Cross asked, "If I told you that you have to kill someone you love when you become the 14th?"
What did he mean be that? Did he mean I had to kill my feelings for Mana, to forget about him and move on with my life? Or did he actually mean I have to kill somebody I love?
"Allen!" A voice said, "Are you dozing off again!?" Lenalee tapped his head with a clipboard.
"Eh, wha?" Allen asked drowsily, "Where were we again?"
Allen was together with all the exorcists, discussing the recent events of the war against the Earl. It had been exactly three months since Allen took control of the Ark, and even less since he had the talk with his master. During that time, the exorcists have been in two major battles with the Noah clan, one which ended in a stalemate, and one which caused Allen to live with Road for a month. The Generals were dispatched on special missions and to find more hosts for the Innocence, but Allen was left behind at the Order because General Cross said Allen wasn't ready for the hardships of a general.
"Che, damned moyashi." Kanda muttered. "Can't even pay attention when we're talking."
"I was paying attention!" Allen protested, "Komui was just saying how mass producing Komurin would increase our chances of victory against the Earl!"
"And we beat the crap out of him for suggesting something as stupid as that." Kanda said, "If you were listening, moyashi, you'd know that Miranda arrived and was explaining how she received a message from the Earl delivered by the Noah."
Allen quickly turned to Miranda. "Eh, really?"
Miranda smiled sadly. "It's okay Allen, I know I'm not too interesting." She looped a rope around her neck. "If I knew I was boring you sooner, I would've killed myself already."
"Ah, no Miranda, please don't kill yourself." He took the rope from her. "It's not your fault I fell asleep, I've just been tired lately ever since I got back from Ireland."
"You were just 'tired' huh?" Lavi cut in, "Are you sure you weren't thinking about your secret teenage lover?"
Allen choked on his coffee. "Ehh!? You couldn't possibly be talking about…what's wrong with you Lavi!?"
Lavi grinned. "Nothing. It's just that you did live with her for a month. And you both had your memories wiped. And you slept in the same room. And she totally had the hots for you, not to mention the fact that you two were both at that age. So any logical thinker would guess you and her…um, how should I say this? Got it on?" Allen tried to reach over to Lavi and thump him, when coffee suddenly spilled on Lavi. "Owowow!" Lavi yelled, "What'd you do that for, Lenalee?"
Lenalee stuck her tongue at him. "It was an accident."
"Why you…" Lavi glared angrily at Lenalee when suddenly more coffee spilled on Lavi. "What, you too!?"
Allen grinned angelically. "I'm sorry, it was an accident."
Lavi punched him in the face. "You stinkin' moyashi…"
Allen punched him back. "It's your fault for even thinking that the two of us could do…that!"
"Ah…the joys of youth." Bookman said as he sipped his tea.
"Settle down, settle down." Komui pulled the two exorcists apart. "As long as you don't involve my Lenalee in this, you shouldn't really care if Allen had sex with Road or not."
Allen tried to punch Komui but he blocked it with his clipboard. "Komui," Allen said, steaming. "Remind me to kill you later."
"Oh look, steamed moyashi." Kanda commented.
"Shut it, Kanda!" Allen yelled.
"Che, why don't you?" Kanda asked, pulling his Mugen out.
"Oh, so it's a fight you want, huh?" Allen asked, rolling his sleeves.
"Count me in," Lavi pulled out his hammer.
"Would you guys just, QUIT IT!" Lenalee shouted, causing them to shut up. "Honestly, you guy are so immature, talking about sex and whatnot."
"Oh, is Lenalee mad that she couldn't be Allen's first?" Lavi asked.
Komui pointed a random drill at Lavi. "How dare you talk about my Lenalee like that!?"
Lenalee kicked Komui's head. "Do you remember that talk we had about your sister complex?"
"No." Komui said innocently.
Thousands of needles suddenly landed centimeters from all of them. "All right, enough playing around." Bookman said, "It's about time we heard Miranda's report."
"Yes, sir," they all said simultaneously.
"T-thank you, Bookman." Miranda said shyly. "Now, Crowley's received this message in Bulgaria as well, from a different Noah. But the message seems to be the same. Although it was kinda hard to hear Crowley. Since the reception was bad, and our golems wouldn't connect properly, and-"
"Just hurry up and tell us the message already." Kanda interrupted rudely.
Miranda nodded her head extremely fast. "Y-yes, Kanda, I'm so sorry for wasting your time!"
"Che, just talk already."
"O-okay!" Miranda gulped. "W-well, the message said this. 'The final act of our play has finally started, so I hope you exorcists are ready for your curtain to fall.' And…" She looked directly at Allen and bit her lip.
"What, is there anything else?" Bookman asked suspiciously.
Miranda shook her head. "N-no, that's all. Well, there was one other thing, but it was from the messenger, not the Earl." She looked at Allen again.
"What? Is there something on my face?" Allen asked. Miranda bit her lip even harder, hard enough for a few drops of blood to leak out. "Eh, Miranda! Are you okay?"
"A-Allen." Miranda stuttered. "Road told me to tell you to come to Italy, alone."
--
Allen stood in front of the Ark, a single overnight bag beside him. He looked up at the Ark. Am I really going to go through with this? He thought. Allen stared at his left hand.
"What would you do, if I told you that you had to kill someone you love before you become the 14th?"
I know what I'd do now, master. I'd leave her behind to protect her, no matter how much it hurt. A single tear escaped from his eyes. "Goodbye…Lenalee…" He whispered.
"Why are you saying goodbye, Allen?"