Chapter 6
The Ark
The Ark is falling apart, and all they could do is huddle. There is nothing else they could do. The others seem to not make it alive, and had gone down with the Ark that is falling apart. It was then suddenly, he heard a voice singing in his head.
When the Ark is first revealed to all, everyone doesn't know how to control it. Only Marian knew how to control it, and he did it with Allen Walker.
Soshite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuite[And so the little boy fell into his slumber]
Ikizuku hai no naka no honoo[The gasping flames within the ashes]
Hitotsu, futatsu toone by one]
For a moment, he thought that he saw Laia wearing a white knee-length dress singing along beside him, her hand placed softly on the piano cover with a light smile on her face. She looks so beautiful and young, with a rose in her long hair.
Her eyes were so sweet, so full of happiness, and so full of-
"Control the Ark, Allen!" the sound of Marian's voice buzzed through his earpiece connector, shocking him in a way. "Play while concentrating on your wish!"
"W-wish!?" Allen stuttered, surprised with the demand.
"Hurry up!" Marian exclaims, pushing Allen while he stumbles on a loose rock with Lenalee in his arms.
He saw Laia sings a magical chanting song, and he is enchanted. For a long while, he watches her sing, and slowly, she begun to dance.
In his imagination, Laia wears a white dress framed with golden laces surrounding the sides of the dress. Her dress is covered with another sheer material of gold transparent shining material, and there are a few crystals hanging all around the dress in random pattern. It shines whenever she turns and do a pirouette, and she is beautiful.
While Allen stumbles over how to play and how to wish, he thought about Komui and his conversation with him earlier.
"We'll wait for everyone to come home, and we'll throw a large party. Everyone would have a good time." Komui said to him happily.
The feeling of wanting to go home with everyone arises with him, and his fingers moved. Playing confidently a song that he had never played before, he focused entirely on his wish, and begun to feel the Ark coming back in pieces. The song that Laia sings, and her voice came out into the air out of nowhere.
When everyone comes back, we'll say welcome back and pat their backs…Then I'll hug Lenalee as tightly as I can, and I'll let you eat as much as you can, Allen-kun…
Soshite bouya wa nemuri ni tsuite[And so the little boy fell into his slumber]
Ikizuku hai no naka no honoo[The gasping flames within the ashes]
Hitotsu, futatsu toone by one]
Lavi'll probably fall asleep somewhere, so we'll have to cover him with a blanket.
The first note of her song is so enchanting that he couldn't help but to look and stare. She didn't appear to notice him, but he knew she is singing, and he knew she knows he is there, but just that she did not look at him and continues to sing.
Ukabu fukurami itoshii yokogao[Rise up and expand into that beloved face]
Daichi ni taruru ikusen no[suspended from the earth in thousands of]
Yume, yume[dreams, dreans]
Gin no hitomi no yuragu yoru ni[On the night when those silver eyes trembled]
Umareochita kagayaku omae[You were born, shining brightly]
Ikuoku no toshitsuki ga[No matter how many prayers are returned to the earth]
Ikutsu inori o tsuchi e kaeshite mo[Returned to the earth by the passing millions of years]
The adults will want to toast with a glass of wine. If we could party then fall asleep, then it would be the best.
One by one, the arc came back in one whole piece again. White power light embedded them together, and they were sealed again as whole. Allen continues to play the piano, and watches Laia dances around him in a phantom-like state.
Watashi wa inori tsuzukeru[I shall continue to pray]
Douka kono ko ni ai o[No matter what, shower this child with love]
On the other side of the war, Laia lies in a pool of her own blood, a small smile on her face as she lies there, defeated by the Noah, but at the same time, she kills the Noah with her own hands without letting him know her real identity. Everyone knows that the Earl is watching everything through the eyes of the Akuma and through the eyes of the Noahs. Everyone knew that, and Laia is being careful enough to constantly wear a mask to prevent him from finding out that she is still alive. It would be hell to pay if he knew.
Then Kanda-kun will come in with a sour face.
Tsunaida te ni KISU o[And kiss on the connected hands]
Then Laia's voice sounded again in his mind, singing along as he played.
The song ended, and Allen shouted loudly, "Ark! Bring me back everyone! Give me back! Give them back!"
Suddenly, the Ark resealed as one whole building once more in a very fast pace. Allen is shocked with his power and stood there transfixed, looking and staring at the keyboards in front of him. It is a beautiful piano, but his powers… where did it come from?
First, it was Lavi and Chaoji, who woke up feeling surprised and utterly renewed. The Ark had come back, and is gathering altogether again in one piece. In the process, the fallen Exorcists that had fallen into the Ark in between came back in one whole piece. After that, the Ark gave back the unconscious Krory, toppled over right outside the bloody Mary, sleeping with a smile and a rose beside him.
Then comes Laia, who lies in a pool of her own blood, a slight smile on her mouth, looking ever so innocent, like a dying damsel in distress waiting for someone to rescue her. There are rose petals everywhere, red ones, and everything smells of roses, while her hair spreads around her like a halo.
Lastly, Kanda came back to his senses, and noticed that he is not dead. So surprised, Kanda is speechless, and he looked around. He found that his surroundings are completely unharmed. Everything was in their rightful place and not in pieces. He is not dead… not dead… this Ark is not falling apart…
Standing up, Kanda trudged towards the door. Going through, he looked back once more, and turns around, not going back again to this hell hole and making sure that he has left absolutely nothing here.
When he finally went through, the first thing he saw is rose petals. Red ones and they are everywhere, emitting a rose scent that is lovely and choking at the same time.
Not to mention there are splatters of blood almost everywhere. He followed the blood stains, praying badly that it is not Laia.
And there she is, lying in a pool of her own blood, with a smile on her face. There is a few whole roses lying around her, and she looks eerily beautiful in this way.
"Laia!" Kanda exclaims, quickly going to her side and turns her over, checking her for any wounds.
But he found none.
So where the blood did came from?
"Laia…" Kanda called again, and she flutters her eyelids slowly.
"Yuu…" Laia said his name weakly, and fell back asleep once again.
"Laia!" Kanda calls, but to no avail. She has fallen back to sleep once again.
Giving a light "Tsk" with his tongue, Kanda lifts her up from the pool of blood and into his arms. When he looked at the pool of blood, the blood suddenly dries up, leaving only flower petals…
Not bothering to investigate, Kanda carried Laia to the next door, and out he came into an empty room.
"The last occupant must have left us… shit…" Kanda curses, talking in a way as if he is talking to Laia. Walking again to the next room, Kanda exited and saw Allen hugging his little golden ball, Timcampy.
Not to mention he heard her singing just now… it was about a boy. A boy that she swore will love forever, a little boy. It sounded like a song that only mothers would sing. So is it a mother's song? A mother who loves her little boy so much that she swore she will protect forever? Who is the boy?
Marian came in with Lenalee in tow in his arms. She has fainted again, and Marian gently places her on the couch. Allen pushes Marian away and looks at her.
"Lenalee!" Allen called worried sick for her well being. She is injured, and her legs are not helping as well. She is deficit, and it will be hard for her to walk again without the help of others. She suddenly becomes heavy due to the innocence's power sticking to her legs, and there are whirls of round things appear on her legs, preventing her from walking too long on her own.
"She is fine, she is just asleep. The poor girl's tired, let her sleep…" Marian said, dusting some dust off his clothes. With that, he walks away, taking out a cigarette and smokes on the nearby window. It is all thanks to the 14th's brilliant idea that the Earl does not know this place at all. What the Earl doesn't know will never be downloaded into his data on the other side of the doorway. They are safe, since Allen has brought back the Ark. The Order can use it to make experiments, and perhaps create a safer route for every exorcist to come back to the Order's Home.
Or perhaps still, everyone could use it and stays in there. After all, it is the safest place on the whole world. He must bring this up to the council. Or else the ark would have gone wasted. There are so many houses there as well. And it is a rich man's place. Who doesn't want to live in a moving ark?
"Oh, yeah, Shishou?" Allen called, a question mark on his head. Marian looked up at him and blows a whiff of smoke over his face. Allen held his breath and made a face at his master. "Shishou, I have something I wanna ask you."
"Can't it wait?" Marian clicked his tongue, and Allen continues nonetheless.
"Why did I see Laia-san dancing and singing that song? She doesn't know that song and this Ark, right?" Allen said to him, his eyes staring and gouging all reaction from his master. Marian clicked his tongue again.
"You don't have to know that…" Marian said to him, blowing out a ring of smoke from his mouth expertly. Allen watches it fades away and ask again.
"Tell me. I won't tell the others if that is the case…" Allen said to him, a sincere look on his face. Marian sighed in defeat.
"You win this time, brat!" Marian said to him, clicking his tongue again and again. He didn't like people forcing him for information. Sure, he could sell them for a high price, but what would that brings him? It would only bring more disaster.
"She is the last human to live in the natural disaster that God has set upon humans…" Marian said, and waited for a reaction from Allen. When he listens attentively, Marian continues. "She is Die Dame Von El, the girl that the God, El, loves. She is lucky in a way, because she gets to live a long life, and after 7000 years, she is released from her captive capsule that Kanda has accidentally sets her free from. She lives with us again, fighting for the Black Order that the 14th created. She is destined to live and fight for us, and die for us as well. And Kanda, well… you heard what Hevlaska has said…"
"Die Dame Von El?" Allen said to him, curious because he has heard that name somewhere. He brieftly remembers the grand general told him about this a little bit, and said that she would be their salvation. "But I thought she's dead…"
"She is Laia Elfreya," Marian said, waiting for Allen's reaction. When his face remains dumb, he rubbed his head in frustration. "Don't you see? Elfreya. El. The God El loves her enough to give her and grant her that grand name. It protects her, and she, well… we suspects that she is the Heart. But we are not sure. So far, her abilities are increasing, yes, but so does you. You might be the heart as well. We won't know for sure. It is either her, or you, or someone out there that we have yet to find…" Marian said to him.
"There's something else that you need to know as well…" Marian told Allen, and patted his shoulders. "Ever wonder why you had that kind of strange feeling as if you have seen her somewhere else?"
"Yeah…" Allen said, blank for once with all the information. So she is Die Dame Von El, and she is not dead but alive, here, living after 7000 years of imprisonment in a time barrier, fighting the Earl with them side by side and gaining powers so fast that she becomes stronger every single day. How could she become this powerful? Surely there is a catch behind it? He himself becomes powerful because the Innocence has made a contract with him, to protect and save the human kind with one of his hand while the other monstrous one is used to save the Akumas. It is his noble duty as an Exorcist, and he does not kill. He saves. He is the Clown, and the Crowned Clown is the proof that he is to defeat the Earl. He is the destined time destroyer.
"Surely you can sense who she is to you? The 14th?" Marian again said to him, crouching down to see him eye to eye. Allen leans back.
"Shishou, what do you mean?" Allen asks, confused with how Marian treats him. Marian sighs and blows a puff of smoke on Allen's face. This time, Allen coughs.
"She is the 14th's sister…" Marian said, and Allen's eyes grow.
The 14th's sister? Allen thought to himself. The 14th's sister… the 14th's sister…
"She is protected by the 14th, and the Earl did something horrible to her, causing her to evolve beyond what a normal human does, and gains all those monstrous powers. You don't want to be her those 7000 years ago…"
Soon, Kanda and Lavi came in with Kanda carrying Laia in his arms, while Lavi held the poor and fainted Krory in his arms. Kanda sets Laia down on the floor, and suddenly, a strange light surrounds Laia.
Everyone was thrown back by the force of the light from Laia, and suddenly, she floats. There was a music of sort in the background, and her arms lifted itself in front of her and she held it up, as if praying in her sleeping position. Her eyes were close, and her hair swarmed around her like tendrils of fire licking at her skin. She is beautiful when she is covered in blood, like a warrior.
Kanda moves to save her from it and wakes her up, but Marian held him in check.
"Look at her," Marian said to him, and he stares at Laia. Another strange light surrounds her, and suddenly, all the blood and her wounds are gone. Her clothes are changed, and it became white and long and there are lace and crystals everywhere. Her hair becomes longer, and she became more beautiful.
"I believe she is adapting herself into her 7000 years old self…" Marian said to everyone, and everyone is surprised. Marian realizes it too late, and said to all of them, "Oh, and don't tell anyone about it. I will know who did it, and when I did, I will personally come and slice up your throat at night when you are asleep."
The light all gone out after a while, and she drops to the ground in a heap of white cloth and dress. Kanda lurched forward to save her, and ended up with her in his arms, nestled and safe from harm.
"She is sleeping…" Kanda said, noting the soft features of her smile and her face. There is a small blush on her fair cheeks, and he noted to himself that she has become more beautiful than ever.
"Yes, she is sleeping. Her soul is sleeping…" Marian said to Kanda, and Kanda looks up at him.
"How to make her wake up?" Kanda said to him, asking the master of Allen Walker. Marian is famed for being a womanizer, and he does not take up children or a student as well. He is stubborn, but at the same time, a general of his status is powerful. He is so powerful that one single bullet from his weapon of choice in Innocence could kill hoards of Akumas. He is that powerful.
"She will wake up when you kiss her, Kanda," Marian said to him, and smiles widely at the shocked asian man.
"Come on, kiss her…" Marian said to him, and encouraged him to do it. "If you don't kiss her, I doubt Tiedoll would let you off the hooks for not taking care of her well…"
With that, Kanda's eyes becomes large and wide with the annoyance and imagination of the old general coming at him, luring him to the Cafeteria with soba and other things as well.
"Come on, you can do it. It's just a kiss. Haven't you kissed before, boy?" Marian said to him, and he blushes in deep red color, the red spreading to his neck.
"What?!" Marian said, shocked to blasphemy. "You are a virgin kisser!?"
"Shut up! I'll do it! Just give me some time, you idiot!" Kanda said, hissing at the general. The general smiles and walks away, chuckling to himself.
Kanda slowly leans into Laia's face, staring at her beautiful sleeping form. Truly, Laia is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his whole life. So beautiful, and so sweet… and her lips are so inviting… oh no… he couldn't help it… oh dear… I'm going to kiss her… kiss her… yes… you can do it… you like her…
"What are you doing, BaKanda?" Allen said, appearing suddenly at his sides and staring at him, his mouth inches from Laia's lips.
"What!" Kanda said, surprised and leans away from Kanda.
Marian saw this and came after Allen. He hits him on his head and with that, Allen swings his arms at Kanda's head, forcing him to lean back forward and with that, the deed is done.
His lips is planted directly on Laia's lips.
Her lips are so soft, and so sweet, and in that short moment, everyone stares at him with a scandalous look on their face.
"Laia-san!" Lenalee called from behind, appearing so shocked that she had no other words to say. "Laia-san! Kanda! Release her at once!"
Kanda leans back, and allows Lenalee to pull Laia back into the player's room. He is so surprised that he is at the loss of words.
"You did it boy! Hahaha! Gotta grab the opportunity when you have it, yeah?" Marian said to him, so proud of the boy that he patted his back hard. Kanda, angrily, reaches for his Mugen.
Only to come up with a burlap bag with the remains of his swords inside.
"My stupid sword…" Kanda said, staring at the bag sadly. Marian made a face at him, and he is defeated.
"Shit!" Kanda curses, and walks away, lean on a nearby window.
"Oi! Old man, when are you gonna let us all out!?" Kanda shouted angrily, and Allen looks back with a death stare at him.
"Shut up, BaKanda!" Allen said to him, snapping at the older Asian man.
With that, Allen plays a simple note, and a door opens. Everyone went out with some tears in their eyes, hugging all those exorcists outside waiting for their safe return. They are all safe, and they all cried tears of happiness.
Kanda stood behind them all, watching them with a strange expression on his face. He turns back, looking at Laia. He'd better be there to watch over her. She is afraid that when she wakes up, no one would be by her side. It is something that she is most afraid of in the whole wide world. Turning around, he ignores General Tiedoll's callings and went back into the ark to pull Chaoji out of the ark.
"Your new student!" Kanda calls, and drops Chaoji out on the sands. He himself went back in, and sat beside Laia. He has kissed her. And he kissed her good. Her chest heaved up and down slowly, as if she is in a coma, sleeping peacefully with a small smile on her face. He held her hand, and grips it tightly in his.
"Wake up…" Kanda said to her, whispering to her. "Wake up… We are all waiting for you here. You don't have to be afraid to wake up anymore. You are not alone. We are all here for you…"