Cross My Heart
Quick Author's Note: It's finally done! I haven't updated in SO long...sorry about that. I had writer's block...so yeah...Anyway, enjoy!
One more thing: This chapter is modeled after my interpretation of William Faulkner's "stream of consciousness." I don't know if any of the other chapter will follow this pattern, but the story just seemed to...flow more efficiently when I wrote it in this style. Sorry for being boring! Read on.
Chapter 3: Hors de Combat
They had nowhere to run.
"Let's play, Miss Exorcist."
Chloe glared at Tyki Mikk. "And what if I refuse?"
As if refusing was really an option.
"You don't get a choice," the Noah replied with a grin. "You play, or the samurai brat dies at her hands."
Her? Who is 'her'?
"Bellerose-dono, you're in no condition to fight!" Toma hissed anxiously.
"I've had worse," Chloe murmured under her breath. She clenched the bloody gash on her right shoulder with her left hand and winced.
They only needed one moment…they could escape in that window. The problem was finding the opportune moment…
"Are you done talking yet, Miss Exorcist?"
To hell with him!
Tyki Mikk grinned in anticipation. "Let's get started, shall we?"
Shit…they were screwed…big time.
"Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?"
Kanda slowly opened his eyes. His prison was no longer cloaked in absolute darkness, and the dim light provided by the torches floating in mid-air showed the exorcist little to nothing of the room he was being held in. He could vaguely make out the outline of a chair across the room, but the person sitting in it was concealed by the remaining shadows.
"Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines. Ding dang dong, ding dang dong." (1)
Kanda recognized the tune. He scowled when the lullaby brought up memories of his childhood that he wished to forget, and he heard the singing start up once more as he pushed said memories into the farthest corners of his mind.
"Duérmete niño, duérmete ya…"
As if on cue, Kanda felt a wave of exhaustion wash over his battered body, and he struggled to keep his eyes open while the song continued.
"…que viene el cocoy te comerá." (2)
Kanda continued to fight against the fatigue threatening to envelope him in the darkness once again, and he didn't even notice when the only other occupant of the room slowly strolled over and knelt down in front of him.
"You will make excellent bait, Exorcista."
A cool sensation spread throughout Kanda's body a moment later, and he felt himself drifting off to sleep as the shackles around his wrists fell away.
"You betrayed us, Allen…"
Allen viciously stabbed his fork into the chicken breast he had been eating. He was responsible…why did his mind have to keep reminding him?
"Allen-kun, can you hear me?"
He could hear Lenalee just fine. That wasn't the problem. The problem was his guilt. It was his fault Kanda was hurt and taken by the Noah, and he couldn't do a damn thing about it.
"This boy paid for your sins with his life…"
"Allen-kun, it wasn't your fault." There was hope in Lenalee's voice, but it couldn't qualm the heavy guilt weighing his battered body down.
The white-crowned exorcist shook his head. "Of course it was my fault! If I hadn't been so weak, Kanda wouldn't have had to try to protect me and he wouldn't have gotten hurt and taken by the Noah!"
"Allen-kun, it wasn't—,"
"NO!" Allen slammed his bandaged hand down on the table and bowed his head. "Stop saying that, Lenalee," he whispered. "I'm such a failure that Komui-san forbid me to leave the order without his permission."
"Since when has that ever stopped you, Allen-kun?" Lenalee asked as she reached across the table and took her comrade's hands. Allen slowly lifted up his head, and Lenalee smiled while squeezing his trembling hands.
"Allen! Lenalee!"
"Lavi, what's wrong?" Lenalee asked as the red-haired Bookman apprentice skidded to a halt beside the table.
"The science department made contact with the Ark!" Lavi replied excitedly. "Komui is talking to the new girl and Toma right now."
Allen immediately jumped to his feet, and he ran after Lavi with Lenalee hot on his heels. A few moments later, the three exorcists entered Komui's paper-strewn office and pushed past the numerous scientists crowding around their supervisor's desk. A large rectangular black box sat on top of Komui's desk, and Komui spoke into the microphone attached to the voluminous device.
"Are you both all right, Chloe-chan?"
"We're a little banged up, but other then that, we're fine."
"Good, good. Now, how are you talking to us? The last time I checked, the wireless communicator was useless once you entered the Ark."
"I tinkered with Timcampy a little and was able to connect to Johnny someho—,"
Komui's eyes widened when he heard coughing coming from across the line. "Chloe, are you sure that you're all right?" he asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about me, Komui. It's not a—ugh!"
"Chloe, what's wrong?!"
There was no reply. Komui heard coughing once again, this time followed by a pained yelp, and he clenched his fists as he waited for some sort of conformation.
"Komui-dono, Bellerose-dono was injured during a confrontation with the Noah Tyki Mikk. We managed to escape from the Noah with one of Bellerose-dono's spells, but it took a toll on her body as well."
"Is Chloe going to be all right, Toma?" Komui asked softly.
"I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, damn it!"
"Chloe-chan, if you are hurt, let Toma help you."
"We don't have time for that! The signal has probably been discovered by now!"
"Chloe, calm—,"
"Listen to me, Komui! I figured out a way to create another gate connected to the Earl's new Ark."
Komui's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"
"I will create it near the same location that Toma and I entered from. I'll call when the gate is finished."
"Chloe, wait—!"
Komui heard a loud explosion echoing through the line, and he heard a long string of curses as another explosion went off closer than the first.
"Toma, we have to move!"
A small 'pop' and a harsh wail poured from the radio a moment later, and Komui let out a long sigh while setting the microphone down on his desk.
"Lavi, Lenalee, Allen-kun, I have a mission for you."
Something wasn't right. He couldn't sense anything around him, but the uncomfortable chill he had always associated with danger ran down his spine anyway. He tried to open his eyes, but exhaustion had taken a firm grip of his body and refused to let go.
"It's a shame, Exorcist-san. That curse will kill you really soon, you know?"
Kanda felt something wrap around his wrists and chest a moment before he was pulled to his feet, and he groaned softly when his still-healing wounds throbbed. Whatever was binding him was coarse and metallic, and Kanda grimaced as the sharp material began to cut into his skin. He recognized the cold presence that had been with him in his first prison, and he couldn't help but flinch when the voice sounded closer than before.
"I'm sure Chloe will be able to fix you up, though. She's really strong. Unfortunately, I can't fight her right now, so you are going to be my substitute, Exorcist-san."
He'd had enough of staying silent. "…Who are you…?" Kanda managed to whisper despite his fatigue. He couldn't see what was going on, but he could at least ask, couldn't he?
"I already told you who I was, Exorcist-san."
Kanda tensed when a hand gently traced the cursed mark on his chest.
"Chloe is taking too long, so the plan is going to change a little bit."
The cool fingers that had been trailing over his flesh began to press against the cursed mark, and Kanda attempted to back away as pain blossomed in his chest. The material wrapped around his body made any movement impossible, and the agony in his chest began to spread to the rest of his body.
"Hurry, Chloe, or Exorcist-san's life will be completely spent."
"Toma, can you do me a favor?" Chloe asked as they trudged along. They had left the town far behind, and the houses had been replaced with dark corridors lined on either side with metal doors of various sizes and shapes.
The finder nodded, and Chloe came to a halt while leaning heavily against the cold stone wall beside her.
"Remember the thing I gave you back at the church before I went to look for Timcampy?" At the finder's confirming nod, Chloe held out a hand. "I want you to stay here with the gate, Toma," the red head said when the finder placed the object in her hand. "I'll leave Timcampy here as well. I shouldn't be long."
"But Bellerose-dono, your condition—,"
Chloe cut Toma off with a glare. "I'm fine, Toma. My wounds aren't serious. I'm more worried about Kanda."
Before Toma could inquiry as to why Chloe was pushing herself past her limits, the red-haired exorcist's head snapped up, and her face paled as her blue-green eyes widened in shock. She reached into her hood, grabbed Timcampy, and tossed the gold golem to Toma while pressing a hidden button on the object that had formerly been in Toma's possession. A portal similar to the one that had led to the Ark formed against the opposite wall across from Toma and Chloe, and the red-haired exorcist handed the object back to Toma once the "gate" had fully formed.
"Contact Komui, Timcampy," was the last order Chloe gave before disappearing down the corridor in a dead sprint.
He was dieing. It was obvious. The Noah was drawing out his remaining life, and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. Struggling against his binds would only cause more pain, but sitting still wasn't an option if he wanted to live.
"You don't have to worry anymore, Exorcist-san."
He couldn't die. Why should he worry?
"Your life won't last much longer, but I'm sure Chloe can sense it."
Chloe? Who the hell is she?
"She's here! She's much faster than before!"
What the—?
"Here we go, Exorcist-san! Let's put your skills to good use before your life runs out!"
Kanda's body began to move on its own, and his eyes opened of their own accord as a wicked cackle filled the air.
She knew Toma couldn't sense it. He wasn't trained to deal with any kind of ancient sorcery, only akuma and Noah. He would only get in her way. Besides, she didn't have time to wait for the finder to catch up to her. She could feel someone's life being drained, and as the once steady guiding beacon began to grow weaker, Chloe pushed her legs to move even faster as she ran.
Chloe wasn't prepared to block the kick aimed at her side as she turned the corner of the never ending corridor, and she felt a rib crack from the force of the blow as she stumbled back a few steps. The level 3 laughed as he lunged once more, and Chloe scowled while dodging the akuma's attack.
"So nice of you to join us, Chloe," a familiar voice said from behind the akuma.
Chloe's eyes narrowed in contained anger, and she reached into her tattered jacket as the level 3 sped towards her. When the akuma drew within a few feet of her, Chloe removed her hand from her jacket, and she threw the sharp knife she had been holding at the level 3. The blade flew end over end until it connected with the akuma's head, and it sank all the way into the level 3 until only an inch of the knife's hilt was still visible. The level 3's eyes bulged as its body began to swell up, and it let out an agonized scream when small fissures formed from the knife's origin. The akuma exploded a moment later, and Chloe could hear laughter echoing through the corridor as she picked up her knife.
"You're much stronger than you were before, Chloe!" the disembodied voice said excitedly. "As much as I'd love to play with you right now, your opponent will be him today."
As if on cue, Kanda materialized from the shadows, and Chloe leapt back when the Japanese exorcist she was supposed to be rescuing began to attack her. With each punch and kick, Chloe could see the numerous wires wrapped tightly around Kanda's arms and chest, and she searched the corridor for the source of the wires as she dodged the Japanese exorcist's attacks.
"Kanda, snap out of it!" Chloe hissed as she danced out of her fellow exorcist's reach. Kanda's response was a quick punch aimed at Chloe's face, and when Chloe leaned back to avoid the blow, the exorcist grabbed her arms and twisted them behind her. Chloe couldn't help but wince when her left shoulder popped out of its socket, and she struggled to free her right arm before Kanda could damage it as well. "Snap out of it, usted idiota!" (3)
"Now, now, you should know better than to shout, Chloe, especially since he can't hear you."
Chloe's eyes widened at the proximity of the familiar voice, and she slowly lifted her head as a cool hand cupped her cheek. Blue-green met gold as Chloe stared up at the one person she hadn't seen in years, and a single word slipped from the exorcist's trembling lips.
"…Soeur…?" (4)
The Noah of despair tucked a stray lock of dark red hair behind her ear, revealing one of the black stigmata etched into her forehead, and she slowly ran her long fingers through Chloe's red locks with a grin.
"It's been a while, petit guerrier." (5)
"Charlotte, when…how…?" Chloe whispered in confusion. She thought that she was imagining things when she sensed her sister's magic earlier…
"Usted pregunta a la madre," Charlotte replied softly. "Ella sabe por qué." (6)
Chloe could only stare up at her older sister as Charlotte reached up and freed Kanda's Innocence from its sheath, and the Noah smirked while examining the sword Chloe had brought along to give back to its rightful owner.
"Exorcist-san, let go," Charlotte ordered after a moment. Chloe stumbled forward when the pressure on her arms was suddenly released, and her eyes widened when Charlotte handed the Japanese exorcist in her control his Innocence. "Chloe, this boy doesn't have a lot of time left," Charlotte stated while wrapping an arm around Kanda's shoulders. "I'll drain his life until he dies, unless you can defeat me. Then, I'll stop."
Chloe's eyes widened when Kanda's Innocence sped towards her, and she barely dodged the horizontal slash meant to cut her in half. Kanda's next attack was a blur, and Chloe felt the blade scrape across her cheek as she backpedaled out of the Japanese exorcist's range. She reached into her jacket while dodging another slash, but Kanda surprised Chloe by continuing to turn after the initial attack missed. Blood splashed against the stone walls, and Chloe bit her lip while taking hold of the blade buried deep in her side.
"This is going to hurt a bit, Kanda," she hissed through clenched teeth. The red head distracted Kanda with a handful of blood to the eyes, and with her non-bloodied hand, Chloe grabbed the wires coiled tightly around the Japanese exorcist's torso. "Reinigen," she mumbled as a soft blue light surrounded her hand. The wires immediately snapped, freeing the Japanese exorcist from the Noah's control, and his body toppled to the ground as the amount of life that had been drained from him reared its cursed head. Chloe eased the bloody blade from her side, and she fell to her knees as blood poured steadily from the deep wound. (7)
"You did well, Chloe," Charlotte stated as Chloe shakily got to her feet once more. "However, I can't let you escape the Ark alive. Akuma, here are some exorcists to play with."
A horde of level 1s and level 2s surrounded Chloe and Kanda, and Charlotte smirked as she walked away. Chloe gripped the hilt of Kanda's Innocence with both hands, and she took a step forward to attack when a loud, "YUU-CHAN!" sounded from the other end of the corridor. Akuma began exploding left and right a moment later, and Chloe lowered the sword as the destruction continued.
"Bellerose-dono!" Toma exclaimed as he ran towards her. Chloe smiled weakly at the finder, but she couldn't hide a grimace when her bloody side throbbed.
"I guess we're saved," she murmured while closing her eyes.
(1) & (2) I remember hearing/singing both of these lullabies when I was little. If you want the English translations, google them.
(3) This one is probably obvious, but just in case, it means "you idiot" in Spanish.
(4) This means "sister" in French.
(5) "Little warrior" in French.
(6) "You ask Mom. She knows why," in Spanish.
(7) "Cleanse" in German
As you can clearly see, I will mix in a few phrases from different languages within my story. If you absolutely loathe this practice, don't hesitate to let me know! Hope you enjoyed it! Feedback is welcome! :)