I personally think this chapter sux. Sorry, I was in no shape when writing it, but I still hope you will forgive me and read it. I accept all reviews suggesting that I failed. I wanted to present a bit of Kanda's dark past and how it affected his soul, his mind, his feelings. But I guess I didn't do my best here.
I know some of you people are missing some characters from DGM, but it was my decision not to put all of them into my story. I wanted to write something of my own, hence the whole OOCness and so I have also decided to ignore the existence of some original characters. Instead I added some created by me.
I'll better stop talking now. Here's chapter 5.
Part V – Out of the shadows and pain I was born
Kanda Yuu, the twenty-seven years old former Exorcist sits in front of the congregation. Even though they speak about him as if he wasn't present at all.
Only two hours ago Hevlaska was accused with negligence. The sentence is still unknown for Kanda. Though judging from the screams he can hear now from the dungeons they must be doing something terrible to her. He tries to ignore those shrieks and shuts his eyes tight. What will happen to him after this all ends? He's prepared for death, he spent the whole last night on meditations and is now ready to face his fate. He only regrets he won't ever see the lovely face of Qiu and the other children in Dengfeng.
- So you admit he was compatible back then now, Mr. Leverrier?
- Miss Fou… back then I was leaning my judgment on Hevlaska's opinion. It never happened that she made a mistake before. I couldn't …
- Why don't we just synchronize him again? – Eva Eppstein cuts into Leverrier's speech. – We did it once, when he was a child. We can do it again now. It's clear he survived the desynchronization because of his strength. And he is so strong because we trained him well in his childhood.
- What do you mean… synchronize? With what? – Fou looks at Eva as if she went completely mad.
- With some other Innocence, as Mugen cannot be retrieved any more.
Kanda blinks and realizes what the women are speaking about. They will lock him in the laboratories again. They will tie him to the surgery table and do those terrible things again. His whole childhood was a never-ending series of tests, experiments, pain. Now they want him to go through it again.
- N-no… - a barely audible protest can be heard from the place where Kanda Yuu, the subject of the congregation sits now.
- Oh, so it speaks again – Walker makes a vicious remark and gives a sign to one of the finders – Make him shut his damn mouth!
It's too late though. The eldest of the cardinal rises his head and looks at the small figure sitting on the floor in the most distant part of the chamber.
- Kanda Yuu, can you answer a few of my questions?
Kanda startles a bit at the sound of this voice, he didn't expect any of the cardinals to even speak up to him.
The cardinal moves from his place and comes nearer to Kanda, so that he can hear him better. The old wise man realizes the boy must clearly have some difficulties with speaking. Before the congregation started he was even told that the subject lost his voice completely and will neither speak for himself nor answer any questions.
- Tell me, child, what are these women speaking about?
Kanda rises his head and looks at the smiling face of the priest.
- I… I was synchronized with Mugen, my Innocence, at the age of nine. Earlier before they made tests on me. They wanted to know if I'll be able to survive it.
- They?
- Mrs. Eppstein. Mr. Leverrier. Mr. Lee too.
- What kind of tests were they?
- I don't really know… it hurt. They gave me injections, so that my blood burned in my veins. They made me sleep I cold places. They forced me to stay awake for many days in a row. Then they synchronized me. And sent me here, to the Order.
- How long did the tests last?
- Since I was six. Three years.
- And your parents? Why didn't they do anything about it?
- I don't have parents, your holiness. I was taken from an orphanage. They said it's better like this, because no one would cry after me if something went wrong.
- Is it true? – the cardinal now turns to Leverrier.
- Cardinal Castello, please… - Eva Eppstein tries to calm the priest down.
- Mrs. Eppstein, just answer my question! Anybody, answer my question! Did you torture a nine years old child?
- But it was for the Order's sake. – Komui Lee protests raising from his chair.
- For the Order's sake, you say? And maybe you will tell me that it was a will of God, that this child had to suffer this much?
- We all suffer for God, don't we?
- God is our merciful and loving Father. Do you really believe He would approve of such cruelty? I won't allow you to, as you named it… synchronize Kanda Yuu again. With anything! Did you understand me well?
- Yes, cardinal Castello – Eva Eppstein shifts in her seat and smoothes out some non-existing falters on her long blue dress. – But you have to understand the goals of our actions. We wanted to create an immortal fighter. Somebody who could face the Noah and defeat them. I'm sorry we failed.
- You failed at the beginning my daughter. You failed just by having a mere idea of torturing a child. – the priest turns back to Kanda and nods to him – Come on my son, get up. It's over. I'm sorry I couldn't help you many years ago, but at least I can be useful here now. – Miss Fou, please take Yuu to his bedroom and let him rest. I can see he needs some good sleep.
When they leave the chamber, a distant cry and some strange noise can be heard. A few seconds later they see Lavi running towards them – Supervisor Lee! Noah! They are attacking us!
A terrifying silence follows these words and then panic explodes.
- Fou, give me a sword. I beg of you, give me a sword. Let me fight! – Kanda whispers to the Chinese woman beside him. She gives him a small nod, then grabs his hand and drags him to the training room. They have to hurry up now. She reaches for the two nearest bokken swords hanging on the wall and tosses one to Kanda.
- It may not be Mugen, but it has to do for now – she calls to him.
Kanda looks at his weapon. It's long and he can feel its reassuring weight in his hand as the sword awakes under his touch like a snake. It's time. Time to fight.