~Nothing Gold Can Stay~

A/N: Hey, uh, sorry for the extremely late update (well, if anyone cares that is)... I was busy with other things, such as... Umm... Well, nothing. I just didn't feel like updating this. It was a really--er--emo, if you want to put it that way, fic. So, I apologize for anyone that actually cared for updates for this story... n_n;; Anyway, I don't exactly like this chapter much, and yes, it IS short. I'm also quite sorry for that as well. :

I'm also thinking that the style I wrote in doesn't exactly fit the mood as compared with the previous chapters, but I hope it won't affect anything TOO much... ;_; And yes, I did extend the, err, time period for Lavi to decide whether to help the Noahs or not to a week. Because the Earl needs to make more... preparations (coughexcusescough).

Chapter Six: Indecisiveness Sucks

"Meet with us in front of the Black Order in a week... If you want to bring your friend back to life."

This was about the millionth time the words had gone through my head, and I was starting to get sick of it, yet I couldn't exactly throw up or anything. Two words to describe my misery: This sucks.

I rolled over on my side, having gotten bored of staring at the ceiling for about an hour, thoughts whirring through my mind, gears shifting. What exactly were those Noahs thinking? How could they possibly revive someone without turning them into an akuma? There was no way in Hell that I would condemn Allen to such a gruesome and tragic fate.

No freakin' way.

Unable to find a comfortable position, I shifted again, now laying on my stomach, head buried in the pillow. Those Noahs are out of their minds, I shut my eyes, trying to get some sleep. I can't trust them and hand over Allen's Innocence...

---"..."---

It felt like it'd been only about a few minutes since I last got some sleep before a knock came at my door, startling me awake from my (short) slumber.

"Lavi?" came Lenalee's voice. It was probably just me, but her voice seemed... Dead.

"Yeah?"

There was a short, awkward pause, and then Lenalee cleared her throat, as if reluctant to speak, "Allen's--the funeral is today." Well, at least now I knew why she seemed hesitant. Still, maybe she should've stayed quiet about it, since I tried pretty hard to forget about it. Going to Allen's funeral... It just wasn't right.

"...I'll... Get ready," I said awkwardly, sitting up, my entire body feeling sore. There was no answer on the other end, so I assumed Lenalee left already. I sighed; I never apologized to her, after all.

And then, much to my annoyance, Tyki's offer came up again in my head. I could picture his sneering face down to the smallest detail, not making me feel any better. I buried my face in my hands, thinking--I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately.

...Whatever. I got up from the bed and walked over towards the bathroom. Turning on the faucet, I splashed some cold water on my face, hoping to clear my currently messed up mind. Well, it sorta did and it also didn't. When I directed my gaze at the mirror, I was almost mortified at what I saw.

There was a person--a young man--standing there, shadows under his dull green eyes. His once bright orange hair seemed to lose its usual luster, and he, in general, seemed... Withered. My still-gloved hand reached out for that person, only to come in contact with cold glass; it was a reflection.

Remember how I felt like throwing up a few hours earlier, but couldn't actually get anything out? Well, now my stomach decided to change its mind. I bent over the sink; it felt like my guts were being hurled out. I wiped my mouth, the vile taste of vomit lingering.

Still feeling dazed, I had to lean against the counter in order to maintain my balance (it was one of those weird feelings when your head felt a lot heavier than your body). Slowly, I staggered out of the room, feeling that things could not get any worse.

Suddenly, almost making me lose balance again, an alarm sounded, its shrill sound hurting my ears. A black golem flew over towards me... I had no idea how much misfortune that its message would bring me.

"Lavi, Allen's body disappeared."

A/N: Okay, so this kinda (really) sucked... SORRY D: But I had to get this chapter through with... It's sorta like a stepping stone for later chapters... I guess... Well, if I don't epicly fail on the way, I mean. REVIEWS MAKE ME VERY HAPPY. Actually, that's probably an invalid argument, seeing that people probably don't care for my own happiness... So, err, REVIEWS MAKE LAVI HAPPY, BECAUSE MAYBE THEN I'LL UPDATE AND HAVE ALLEN GET REVIVED AND HAVE THEM LIVE HAPPILY AFTER AFTER (not).