Akirina: The Yullen part was not too easy to write...
Chapter 14
"What's this?" Allen had stumbled into a dusty room during his search for the canteen. It seemed to be occupied by someone once upon a time, but the previous occupant's possessions were covered with a thick layer of dust. The room was sparsely furnished—there was a bed in a corner of the room and a table complete with writing materials, a quill and a bottle of ink, and a small book.
Allen approached the table and picked up the book, sneezing violently as the dust flew up to tickle his nose. Allen spent a good five minutes sneezing before he decided to open the windows in the room. He moved to the windows, but found out that the hinges had rusted and any other attempt at pushing it open would probably result in the window shattering. He resorted to opening the door and breathed a sigh of relief when his nose stopped tickling and he stopped sneezing.
"I wonder what's this…" Allen murmured to himself as he flipped open the small book. "A diary?"
His eyes scanned through the pages and widened. "Impossible… He muttered. "This was written by the 14th?"
16th September 1850
Life has never been better for me. Except that, now, I keep having some strange dreams about angels and demons. I've told Road about them, but she doesn't seem to believe me that our life—I'm referring to the Noah's life, of course—is wrong. I do not think that we should be spreading grief and hatred among the humans—my brother is a human and I was, once. So why should we destroy the human life when we are born from it ourselves?
21st September 1850
Something is wrong. Very wrong. My nightmares are coming into my life. Especially the one about the demon. Beelzebub, he is called. I do not think he is some mere demon, though. I cannot hear what he is telling those angels in my dream. But something is wrong. He…he seems to be manipulating them… Only the 14th one was able to resist, but he, too, fell into the trap…
1st December 1850
I cannot take this anymore. I have told Mana of my dreams. Sadly, Mana is unable to help me… And he is going away with his teacher—Bookman—to become a Bookman himself. I will miss him. Mana says he will come back to me, but I do not think so. Bookmans are trained to have no feelings—only identities that are used to record history. Their sole purpose is to record history and learn from it.
As for me, I shall leave the Noahs. I know that the Earl will be angry. But I cannot stay with them anymore. Every single day I spend with them, the visions become stronger. I can see those angels clearly in my mind. They look like us, the Noahs. But how can this be? We are not angels… Are we? Or are we trapped in a lie?
17th December 1864
It is true. My visions were true. There is a demon. Beelzebub. The Prince of Hell. He is after me now. I have recalled everything about our past lives. I cannot let myself be killed—my siblings need to know about this. If I can get to Wisely… But no, it's too risky. I bet Beelzebub would have told Adam that I 'betrayed' them. I will have to run—and find a new host.
I need a plan.
19th December 1865
I have managed to convince Adam that he has killed me. Luckily, Mana intervened and he persuaded the Earl's son to have a son so that the 14th Noah might have a chance of reawakening in a body that is more closely related to Adam and some kind of other nonsense. His son, James, agreed. Although I have to admit that it is disgusting—how does Adam manage with such a revolting son? He is interested in nothing but money, fame and women. If it weren't for the fact that he was Adam's son, I would have killed him long ago.
23rd December 1865
Mana doesn't know that I'm still alive. For that, I am grateful, because I have decided to do something that will be life-threatening to myself. James has started to court several women, but he isn't prepared for marriage—I can tell. After all, he is still sixteen years old and it will take him some time before he can find a woman that he deems well enough to 'bear his children'. I have researched on the past days of my life when I was an angel. Apparently, Beelzebub has taken what is considered the very essence of an angel—he has taken our faith and love in God and scattered it around the world as Innocence. I have come into contact with that substance multiple times and it hurts. Why does it hurt? I cannot understand. Have our bodies changed that much?
Or maybe we have changed. Angels are pure beings. But when we started to feel unhappy that God gave us no rest from the work, we decided to 'rebel' and fell to the temptations of Beelzebub. Without our faith and love in God, our bodies have become corrupted—our very selves have become twisted within the manipulation of Beelzebub. We need to get free of Beelzebub's manipulation… If we can, I wonder whether we will be able to come into contact with our Innocence?
13th February 1866
I have experimented upon myself and an Innocence fragment. And I deem my theory to be true. I can touch the Innocence and I am positive it is our Light of God. (this is a term to address our angel essence, which consists of our trust, love and faith in God.) Well, this one isn't mine, anyway, it belongs to one of the others. I will need to search around some more before I can find the one that belongs to me…
24th June 1866
I have found it! The Innocence that belongs to me… Although, the General who held it fled immediately after he saw me. I believe he was fighting with one of my brothers—he was bleeding rather profusely. I followed him and I watched him instruct his daughter to eat—or rather, drink—it before I could do anything. Such a waste!
19th July 1867
I have discovered that the auras of the Innocence also determine who the Light of God belongs to. Those with green auras belong to me. I have a feeling that those with dark blue auras belong to Road and the purple auras to Mikk[A/N: the current Noah of Pleasure]. White for Adam, brown for Judgment, red for Desire, dark orange for Wisdom, dark green for Corrosion, Mercy, orange for Wrath, yellow for Bond, dark red for Lust and aquamarine for Talent.
23rd November 1868
Adam has found out that I am still alive. He has sent all of our siblings after me. I am seeking a way to outsmart him and Beelzebub.
14th February 1869
It will not be long before he catches up with me, but I hope to elude him until James has a child. I am planning to transfer my soul into his unborn child. It is possible for me to do so although I will have to be quick or else the babe's original soul will come along. The process will not be easy, though. I can only transfer half of my soul and complete the process when the child is much older. For now, I will have to avoid my siblings like the plague and figure out how I am supposed to break Beelzebub's 'curse' upon us.
2nd August 1869
I have found a way to break the 'curse'. But in order to do so, I will need all hundred and nine pieces of Innocence and my powers to release my siblings from this curse. Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to accomplish that in this time. Maybe in my next life. The method of removing the curse is an intricate and complex process and I will need all my powers to ensure that Beelzebub's hold over my siblings is gone. For convenience, I shall name this process the Final Exorcism.
3rd August 1870
I am so tired. I have spent one year eluding the Noahs. On second thoughts, James has started to court this woman who has white hair. Seriously, white hair. I can't believe that people nowadays have such a terrible sense of fashion! On the other hand, James seems a little more sincere in his efforts to woe her although I bet she will be dumped in the end—just like the others.
17th December 1884
It has been fourteen years since I've written in this diary. For the most obvious reasons, I cannot write too much or if someone finds this, my plans will be foiled. Jame's wife, Sarah is pregnant with child. I have determined that from how a new life seems to be growing within her body—the benefits of being a Noah of destruction as I can see life like a force. However, I am unable to get near her because she is heavily 'guarded' by James and the Earl. They have not realized that she is pregnant, it seems. I must get near her or another soul will attach to the foetus…
1st April 1885
I cannot believe this. The foetus had no soul. On one hand, it made things much easier for me to slip half of my soul into the unborn child. But it was soulless. What does this mean? Were things… preordained?
31st December 1885
The child has been born.
1st April 1892
The Noahs are closing in. I do not have the strength to escape from them anymore. Tomorrow, I will go to find the child. It is a good thing that Mana found him. Or else… who knows what may have happened? I know that this will be found by that child in the future. The burden will be upon him to carry out the Final Exorcism. As for the Innocence fragments that I collected… he will find it when he is close to joining with me.
"This can't be true…" Allen stepped away from the diary. Each word he had read rushed into his mind. He was the 14th… the 'traitor' to the Noah family… he was an angel, in service to the Lord… he was a pawn of Beelzebub's… And then, he remembered everything.
But he didn't understand. Why did it have to be him?
"Why me?" he asked the room. "Why me?"
He was not expecting a reply to his message. But when a voice spoke to him from the deepest recesses of his mind, Allen jumped.
Because you are one of the angels in service to God… you must return so that all chaos on Earth will be sorted out…
"I didn't want this! I didn't want to be a part of his soul!" Allen told himself.
Denial won't work.
"But—"
Kanda will die sooner or later, anyway. If you return to your former status of an angel, you will still be able to see him.
"But I won't get to spend any more time with him!" Allen's voice was laced with desperation.
…Selfish brat.
"I am not!"
It is only a matter of time before our souls merge completely, after all. You wouldn't love him, then.
"I…" Allen appeared flustered.
If you refuse to take on this burden, you will not find a better way in which to defend your friends. And your lover.
"I don't have a lover!" Allen flushed red.
You're so human. I didn't know that this part of my soul could be that childish. Or so human, anyway. Do you not think that your… little sessions with him in his rooms have not allowed him to take on the title as your lover?
"I…"
Remember, Allen. You are part of me. As his lover, he is also my lover. And being consort to an angel is not particularly pleasant.
"Fine." Allen grudgingly said. "I'll find a way to carry out the Final Exorcism. What about the Innocence fragments?"
They're all in the suitcase under a block of stone in the wall between the window and the bookcase. There are about ninety pieces in there.
"Ninety pieces?" Allen asked incredulously as he went to the stone block and removed the suitcase from its hiding place. Quickly snapping open the suitcase, he gasped as the light of the Innocences shone forth. Like what the 14th—his diary said, there were a multitude of colours. Each emanating a different… smell—at least, it felt like a smell.
"Allen?"
Allen swung around quickly, eyes wide as he caught sight of a silhouette in the doorway. The figure moved and Allen was relieved to see Kanda standing there.
"Oh, Kanda," Allen breathed. "You scared me for a moment there."
"What's that?" Kanda asked once his eyes left Allen's face and dropped to the suitcase. He frowned as he saw the light shining from the suitcase.
Allen turned the suitcase towards Kanda and the latter gasped as he recognized the Innocence fragments. Kanda strode over and studied the fragments, scrutinizing them and confirming their authenticity.
"Where did you find them?" Kanda demanded, "No one has ever collected Innocence fragments and kept them here instead of turning them in to Hevlaska!"
"Well, Neah wasn't a Exorcist, so he didn't need to give them up to Hevlaska." Allen muttered. Kanda heard that, though.
"Neah?" he asked suspiciously. Allen had never mentioned of anyone named Neah. So who was he?
"Um," Allen seemed flustered. "the 14th Noah."
There was a moment of silence before Kanda exploded. "WHAT?"
Allen winced.
"So you're telling me that you are the 14th Noah, Neah Walker." Kanda said slowly. Allen nodded vigorously.
"Why should I believe you?" Kanda asked bluntly.
"Because," Allen said, "you saw him once two years ago."
He noticed Kanda's flinch and smirked before proceeding. "And that day, he told you that I had a crush on you."
"So? You can have some sort of personality disorder for all I know."
"Really, Kanda, is it really best to doubt your lover?" Allen's eyes narrowed and Kanda knew instantly that this was not Allen talking to him.
"Well, I cannot accept the fact that he is a Noah. Noahs cannot come into contact with Innocence." Kanda stated.
"True. But I'm not a Noah. In fact, all Noahs were angels, once." Neah pointed out.
Kanda shrugged. "I still don't believe it."
Neah shrugged, "Well, that's not my problem." Then he closed the suitcase and proceeded to move out of the room. He was stopped by Kanda.
"Where do you think that you're going?" Kanda growled.
Neah raised a brow at him before turning his gaze to Kanda's hand on his wrist. "I was going to proceed to letting Allen find out how he's supposed to carry out the Final Exorcism…"
In a split second, Neah found himself shoved up against the wall. He blinked at the close proximity between his and Kanda's face. Kanda looked furious, his dark blue eyes shimmering with anger. Neah sighed and closed his gray eyes. "What is it?"
"You're not putting Allen into any danger." Kanda growled.
"Oh?" Neah opened his eyes and arched a brow at him. "Possessive, aren't you?"
"What—"
"You can come along," Neah interjected quickly. "And I can probably try to convince you that I am not a result of a split-personality."
"I will not—"
"You wouldn't? Allen will be so disappointed."
"You will not—"
"Do you know, Kanda, that Allen is a part of me? So whatever he feels, I will feel it too? It is only that our personalities are different. When Allen manifested from my other half of my soul, it was able to develop freely without the influence of some of my thoughts and emotions. And that is why Allen is much more different from me albeit our brooding perspective of our personality. Although it may seem as if we are different personalities, we have the same soul." Neah said suddenly.
"There's no difference. It's still a case of split-personality disorder." Kanda snarled.
Neah inclined his head, giving up. "If you insist. But it doesn't change the fact that I'm still here."
Kanda snarled, "You bastard—"
But he was silenced off by Neah leaning forward and pressing his lips firmly against his. Kanda lost all thoughts of speech as he tugged Neah closer to him. It was a moment before the two separated, Kanda's face slightly flushed and Neah smirking triumphantly.
After a moment, Kanda grunted and released Neah. "Fine." He said, "I'll come along."