Disclaimer: I do not own D. Gray-man (would I be writing on here if I did?). However, Analicia is completely my own creation, so back off!
Chapter 4 - Challenge
~ Arrogance and rudeness are training wheels on the bicycle of life - for weak people who cannot keep their balance without them. ~
Laura Teresa Marquez
The Noah took a moment to absorb this information about their newest family member…
The 15th Noah, Analicia.
Of course, within the Noah clan, things can never stay quiet for very long…
"Aaaawwww~!" Road shouted, tackling her sister with yet another hug, "Even your name is cute, Ana-chan!"
'Ana-chan?' Analicia wondered, not quite sure about her new nickname. She didn't really understand where the 'chan' part came from…
Tyki smirked at the girl's obvious confusion and approached her. He doffed his hat and took one of the girl's hands with his own. He gave her one of his heart-wrenching smiles. "Analicia…what a charming name for such a sweet girl," he said as he brought the pale hand to his lips. As he let her hand go, he bowed low and continued, "I hope your stay with us will be a pleasant one."
Analicia stared at him with a slightly dazed look in her eyes and then, shaking herself out of her daze, she gave him a pleasant smile in return. She still felt confused with this whole scenario, but…at the same time, everything, for some reason, felt right to her. She really felt like she was home…wherever this was…she really needed to get some answers.
"Thank you very much," she murmured, feeling grateful to Tyki for the warm welcome.
Tyki smiled kindly at her. However, as he turned back to his family, he directed a boastful smirk at the twins, especially one in particular.
Debitto rolled his eyes at the arrogant aristocrat and leaned back on the wall, acting as if he could care less. His twin looked between the two in childlike confusion, having absolutely no idea what had just taken place.
"Jeez, Tyki," Road muttered rolling her eyes at her overly-charismatic uncle, "She hasn't even been awake ten minutes…"
He smirked at his niece, "Your point?"
"You need to have more respect of our newest member," came Lulu's voice from behind the group. She placed her hands lightly on the 15th's shoulders. "Ignore them, they tend to be a bit…pretentious."
"Joy-killer," Road muttered under her breath, crossing her arms and glaring immaturely at the older Noah.
"Now, now Road," the Earl chastised lightly, also suddenly standing next to the group, "Lulu Bell's right!"
"Please," Tyki muttered, placing a gloved hand on his chest, "I'm anything but pretentious."
"Au contraire, brother," Cyril said from behind Tyki, "You do have your moments."
"Coming from you, I'll take that as a complement…" Tyki grumbled.
Cyril's eyes widened as his body noticeably drooped. Striking a dramtic pose, he cried "Brother, your words hurt me deeply! How can you say such things to your one and only brother?"
Tyki gave Cyril a withering look, "Very easily."
"You two are more juvenile then Road and the twins combined…" Wisely muttered, also somehow managing to come upon the group without anyone's notice.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Road, Tyki and Cyril all cried at once, completely outraged.
"Ahem!" Lulu Bell said, affectively silencing them, "Anyway, Analicia, we're very glad to have you here. We're sure you'll make an important addition to the family."
"Why?"
Everyone looked over in the direction that the snide, rude question had come from. Leaning against the wall was the stubborn and previously ignored Debitto. Jasdero was sitting on the floor next to him drawing random designs on the floor with his fingers, ignorant of his surroundings.
"You have something to say, Debitto?" the Earl asked, a hint of warning evident in his voice. However, Debitto was either to ignorant to notice it or foolish enough to ignore it, as he continued.
"Yeah! Why are you all so happy she's here? Look at her! She's small! She's pathetic! What's the big deal? She probably can't even fight!"
The room went deadly silent, punctuated every now and then by Debitto's harsh breathing. The Noahs were astonished. None of them had ever questioned a new member. Then again, the twins were the youngest addition to the group…which didn't change the fact that Debitto was going to be severely punished for lashing out at Analicia.
"Debitto-" the Earl began, but…oddly enough…he was cut off by the last person anyone expected to talk.
Analicia.
"What makes you say that, Debitto?" the girl asked sweetly.
Everyone glanced back at her, surprised that she had spoken. Most of them had expected such a seemingly sweet and harmless girl to crumple under such harsh comments. Maybe even break down and cry. Then again…
They had forgotten that she was also a Noah.
Now, while Analicia's voice may have sounded sweet, her golden eyes had turned cold and steely. There was an edge to her body language that suggested to all that Debitto needed to shut upand apologize… fast.
However, Debitto was a teenage guy…meaning that he was a complete idiot.
"What makes you think I'm weak?" she repeated, carefully keeping her tone friendly.
Debitto smirked, glad he had gotten a reaction out of her, not the one he'd expected…but this entertained him more than his family's never-ending praises of her had.
"You're small." he started.
"Height means nothing and I'm as tall as you," she countered.
"You have no muscles."
"Neither do you."
"You're a girl."
"So are Lulu Bell and Road."
"You're young."
"I'm older then you."
"You're innocent."
"Most of the time."
Debitto grinded his teeth in irritation. "You have no powers."
"And how would you know that if you've never seen me fight?"
"Fine, then let's see what ya got!"
"I'd need an opponent…"
"Fine! My brother and I against you!"
"Alright. When and where?"
"Here and now!" Debitto shouted, pulling out his gun.
"Isn't there somewhere else? I'd hate to ruin my new room…" she muttered thoughtfully. "Is there somewhere else we could fight, Ada - I mean, Earl?"
"Uh…"
The Noah were caught off guard. They had no idea how things had turned out like this…one minute Debitto was shouting…and the next, the twins and Analicia had agreed to a fight!
The girl smiled reassuringly at the Earl. "It's alright, I'm a lot tougher then I look. Besides," she continued, an evil grin alighting her lips, "The quicker I beat him, the sooner he'll shut-up."
The Earl gave a tired sigh and turned to Road, "The Training room will do nicely! Road, if you would?"
Road laughed with pleasure as she walked a few steps from her family. She leaned back on one foot and, suppressing her urge to laugh, sang, "This is gonna be fun~!"
A heart shaped door rose up from the ground behind her and opened into a dark violet void.
Tyki grumbled about his sister's attitude to the situation and then gave Analicia another smile. "I don't really approve of this, but it should be interesting. Shall we?" he asked, motioning for her to follow him as he went through the door.
Analicia smirked at him and walked to the door, pausing to look back at the twins. "You two coming?"
Debitto grinned evilly at her and began to drag his still spaced-out twin to the door. "Just be prepared to lose, little girl."
Analicia rolled her eyes. "I'm still older then you."
She walked through the door, followed by the twins and the rest of her family. Road brought up the rear, skipping happily, looking forward to the bloodshed…at least on Debitto's part…she didn't really want to see her new sister get hurt…
Analicia looked at her surroundings. The door had led to an endless world of deep purple darkness with a slight mixture of black mist scattered about. Pink and blue candles were floating around in the air, each sharpened at the tip like miniature daggers. They gave off an eerie glow. There were also random piles of dolls with wide, disturbing eyes scattered about the room. It was all rather…creepy…yet, somehow comforting.
"This is my dream world Ana-chan!" Road said stopping her skipping to smile at her perplexed sister.
"Dream world?" Analicia asked, feeling even more confused.
"Mm-hmmm," Road said smirking, "We'll have to play here sometime soon."
"Road, let's not torture her, ok?" Tyki said, giving her a rebuking look.
Road crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. "You're so mean Tyki."
"Hey! We still need a door outta here!" Debitto shouted, agitated.
Road glared at him, "Say please and maybe I'll consider it!"
Debitto grunted in annoyance and turned his back on the girl….which wasn't too bright on his part…turning his back on the demonic, malicious and easily angered Road…no, not a good idea at all…
Road growled and the candles in the void, reacting to their creator's anger, simultaneously spun around, pointed ends directed at the obnoxious teen's back.
It looked like Debitto was doomed, not that the rest of the family said anything or cared…until a voice spoke up…
"Um…Road…chan?"
The frozen Road turned her head slowly back to her adorable sister. The girl had one hand behind her head and looked rather nervous as she asked…
"Would you, please, make us one of your doors?"
Road stood there for another second before she leaped up to give her sister a quick hug. "Of course I can, Ana-chan!" She jumped back and another door appeared behind her.
Analicia breathed a silent sigh of relief as the candles fell back into their original, non-lethal positions.
As the Noah's started going through the door, Analicia felt a hand on her arm. She turned to look into the golden eyes of Tyki Mikk. He appeared to be troubled.
"Something wrong, Tyki?" she asked with a slight hint of worry.
"Why did you stop Road? After what that twerp said, I'd think you'd be happy to see him with a few extra holes…"
Analicia grinned in relief. "Oh, is that all? I usually don't like to see anyone hurt anyway…and, well…"
As she trailed off, a vicious smile spread across her face and the wicked glimmer crept back into her golden eyes, "…I didn't want Road to have all the fun."
Tyki blinked in surprise at the girl's sudden change in personality. He really hadn't been expecting that…but…
A wide grin spread across his own face. "You're rather evil, aren't you?"
The girl shrugged, her grin reverting back to a simple smirk and her eyes showing nothing more than curiosity at the upcoming battle. "Depends on my mood."
The two walked through the door to the next room.
Chapter 4 - End
Man, you must all be glad I've finally started posting again...took me long enough, eh?
Anyway, I have the next two chapters after this one written...so I'll post them...whennever I feel this chapter has gotten enough reviews! 3
See ya all later! :3
Oh, and to all thsoe who have already reviewed, thanks so much! ;)