Lavi finally makes an appearance guys! :D
Allen somersaulted on the ground, in an attempt to dodge. He could feel the burning cold air breeze across his skin. He just missed it. Standing quickly, Allen panted as he tried to catch his breath. Fighting the three level two akuma on his own wasn't easy, and they weren't making it any easier on him. A couple good hits with the one akuma's brain screeching ability successfully slowed Allen down considerably.
Not wanting to waste a second, he raised his arm, pointing the gun at the three headed green one. If he could take this one out, he wouldn't have to worry about his head exploding. He managed to get a shot out before the other two fell in on him, causing him to retreat.
Damn, I'm going to lose at this rate, Allen thought. Where is Katsu? Surely Rhode had to be lying. Katsu couldn't have mental trauma.
But how well did Allen truly know her? Only for a couple months and for most of it, she had avoided him. If she didn't, she was insulting him, glaring or ignoring him. They never got the chance for some heart to heart sibling chat.
Rhode giggled. "You can't be slowing down yet, Allen. We only just started."
"Why don't you come down and fight me yourself then!" He shifted his arm into a claw, swiping it in the closest akuma. Unfortunately, it missed.
"I will if you beat them." Rhode continued to swing her legs back and forth.
Allen grunted. Swiping out at another akuma as he tried to position himself to reach Lenalee. The akuma caught on quickly enough for them to cut him off and attack with more vigor.
Damn these akuma...
Allen's limbs began moving slower and slower, and the akuma's attacks began to get closer and closer to hitting him. Even as he tried to force his limbs to move faster, they wouldn't respond.
No, I have to continue fighting. I have to help Lenalee and protect Miranda and Katsu... I can't stop now.
The purple and grey akuma, swarmed into Allen's vision, raising its arms threateningly.
"Wind Sick-Eh?!" The akuma was cut off when multiple black shuriken protruded from the akuma's front, having gone entirely through the rest of it. "No!" It yelled, before exploding.
Allen looked on in shock, the events not registering in his tired mind.
"Looks like I'm just in time then, aren't I?"
Allen's head shot up as he watched a figure emerge from Miranda's dome. He quickly recognized the Exorcist costume and Katsu's familiar white hair. Though her eyes were glowing a vibrant red, a stark contrast to her blackened skin.
"Katsu, are you okay?"
Katsu scoffed. "Of course I am. Miranda's Innocence helped with that. Took a long time though." Katsu glared in Rhode's direction above her head. "You dare to call yourself human? You disgusting Noah."
Rhode was looking down on Katsu with interest. "So her Innocence does heal mental trauma as well. Interesting."
"It takes back time. Obviously it would take back what you did to me, you bitch."
Rhode was unaffected by Katsu's words, simply looking down on the Exorcist from her perch. "How long will it last I wonder. It can hardly be permanent."
Katsu raised her arm, shuriken in hand. "Doesn't matter, we'll kick your butt before then."
Rhode laughed, "Your confidence is amusing." Angered, Katsu threw the shuriken in warning. Rhode easily dodged. "What are you akuma doing? Attack!"
Katsu focused her attention on her brother. "Get Lenalee and regenerate. I'll hold them off."
Allen hesitated. He knew these akuma were a handful to fight on one's own. He couldn't just leave her alone. Though, there was one less akuma and Lenalee needed help.
Quick as lightening, Katsu struck out at the closest akuma, her arms flying in precise and practiced movements, catching the akuma off guard.
"Eh? What's this?"
"Not used to fighting hand to hand, huh? You'd think the Earl would warn his underlings of Exorcists who preferred to fight hand to hand." Katsu grinned, taking note of the three sounds of Innocence merging together in Miranda's ticking. "Oh well, easier for me."
Katsu continued to attack with a flurry, not allowing it to use its special attacks.
Or at least, that was the plan. Despite regaining her ability to hear the akuma, it didn't stop them from working together to confuse her when they learned she wasn't actually watching them. This became painfully obvious when she found herself distracted by one akuma, only to find her head trying to explode from the inside out. Damn, why didn't she take out the one with the screaming powers?
Hurry up, damn it, Katsu cursed mentally while she tried everything she could not to scream in unbearable pain. It felt as if a million needles were stabbing her brain simultaneously. Through the pain, she vaguely felt extremely cold. In an attempt to warm herself up, she tried to move, even though all she felt was pain. However, she found herself frozen in place. Shit, the ice akuma. Though the ice wasn't necessarily burning her skin, thanks to her Innocence, it was still so cold. And the pain wouldn't leave her head.
Far away, Katsu could make out two voices, calling out to her. She couldn't fully process what or who had spoken through the pain. Even when it suddenly stopped, it took a moment or two for Katsu to think properly again. Despite the sounds of the akuma, Rhode and Innocence, Katsu heard a loud crack, and Lenalee's voice. "Katsu! Are you okay? Do you need to go visit Miranda?"
Katsu stood, stumbling slightly, holding her throbbing head. "I'm fine," She snapped, irritated with the pain in her head. "Cold, with a slight headache but fine. Did you defeat it?"
"Yes, Allen got it. He's keeping the last one busy while I checked on you."
"Great, let's get that one and get the hell out of here."
Rhode's laugh split through the air, "You Exorcist cease to amaze me. You, akuma, stop and come over here." The akuma followed Rhode's orders as its sound drew closer to Rhode's. "However, this game has grown boring. But I know just the thing to liven things up a little." There was a moment of tense silence before Rhode spoke again. "Akuma, self-destruct. Umbrella start a countdown from ten."
"W-What? Rhode-sama, I just leveled up this much! You can't get rid of me!" Rhode ignored the akuma, not saying anything.
"What are you up to Rhode?" Allen demanded.
"Ten~lero."
"Do you know why I've decided that you're the best to play with, Allen?" Rhode taunted.
"Nine~lero."
"It's because I've heard about you from the Earl."
"Eight~lero."
"That you fight for akuma because you can see their souls with your cursed eye."
"Seven~lero."
"Tell me, what do you think happens to akuma that die but aren't killed by Innocence?"
"Six~lero, five~lero."
"What are you talking about Rhode?" Allen demanded.
"Four~lero."
"Let's say they self-destruct, they'll simply turn into Dark Matter." Rhode giggled. "So you won't be able to save it then, right?"
"Three~lero."
"Don't do it Rhode!" Allen yelled.
Katsu heard the pounding of Allen's feet as he ran as fast as possible, the sound of his Innocence merging with the akuma's cries.
"Two~lero."
He was going to get himself killed at this rate!
"Allen stop!" Katsu yelled out angrily voice echoed by Lenalee's, as she ran in Allen's general direction.
"One~lero."
In a desperate attempt to stop him, Katsu jumped with all her might flying through the air in hope that she'd collide with Allen. Thankfully, a human like body hit her chest and her arms closed around it instantly. She turned her body, trying to cover the one in her arms with her body as much as possible, so the explosion would ricochet off her Innocence.
The loud bang almost burst Katsu's ear drums as it echoed in the silence. Though it didn't hurt her ears as much as the sound of the akuma dying. She would have preferred it if it was a horrible, soul shattering, blood curdling scream of the akuma becoming Dark Matter that was bouncing around in her head. Instead it was a simple, heart breaking sob of someone having just lost everything that mattered to them; that was worse.
Allen's voice yelled out in Katsu's ear, his own despair matching hers. She simply curled his body in hers further, as different akuma parts continued to hit her impenetrable skin. Their bodies flew backwards at the force of the explosion and Katsu once again turned her body so she got most of the brunt force of landing on the ground, added with Allen's weight.
Katsu groaned, her arms falling limply to the ground as they skidded back. Through the pain, she vaguely noticed traces of tears falling down her cheeks.
Allen recovered quickly, rolling off Katsu, sitting up. As he did, Katsu's vision quickly returned to her and for the first time, she saw her surroundings and Rhode looked much like the child she sounded and acted like. But it was their surroundings that interested and worried Katsu. Where they hell were they? Why did it look like an inside out present?
"Allen, Katsu! Are you okay?" Lenalee exclaimed, running over to the twins. She skidded to a stop, gasping. "Your eyes! They're bleeding!"
Allen ignored Lenalee, standing and glaring at Katsu. "Why did you stop me?"
Katsu glared back while trying to rub her now itchy eyes. She tried to ignore the red she saw on her fingers when she pulled them away. "Are you truly stupid enough not to see it was suicide? I can't let my brother kill himself, no matter how much of a literal pain in the neck he is!" Allen jerked back as if he had been slapped, but Katsu wasn't finished. "And don't be all selfish thinking you were they only one effected by the akuma. I heard it all. But you can't go risking your life for one akuma, when you can use the rest of your life to save many more!" Silence engulfed the group.
Rhode broke it, laughing like a maniac. "Running head first into an explosion! You really are entertaining Allen." Rhodes face grew mocking. "Let's do it again some time." She grinned as she jumped down from the umbrella. Walking away from them, a large heart shaped, checkered door protruded from the ground, growing into a full-fledged door.
Allen glared at Rhode's retreating form, body trembling in anger and despair. Katsu could tell he wanted nothing more than to go over there and tear Rhode to pieces, if the boiling anger bubbling in her own chest was anything to go by. Katsu caught Allen's arm, "She's not worth your time. None of the Noah are."
Allen's attention quickly switched over to Katsu. His eyes looked uncertain, flitting back and forth over her face, like he wanted to ask her a question, but thought against it. His emotions right now were hard enough to deal with.
Rhode turned her head towards the Exorcists before completely disappearing behind the door. "Let's play again Allen, but next time, it'll be under the Millennium Count's scenario. Oh, and Katsu, I'll tell my brothers you're in town."
Katsu tensed, her hand unconsciously tightening around Allen's arm. He didn't seem to mind though, lost within his own conflicting emotions.
With a final giggle, the heart shaped doors closed, leaving the three Exorcists in a tense silence.
"So how the hell are we getting out of he-!" She was cut off when the ground beneath her feet was suddenly not there. With a surprised yelp, Katsu's arm flailed, her other grasping Allen more securely, hoping his footing was more stable than hers. It wasn't. The two of them went tumbling down a never ending tunnel of white, while Lenalee's concerned voices called after them. Soon, her calls turned into exclaims of fear. Katsu thought she heard a similar sound from Miranda.
Her vision and consciousness momentarily blacked out. When she regained control over her mind, she slowly opened her eyes to see she was in Miranda's apartment with her hand firmly wrapped around Allen's arm.
Allen groaned, a hand going to his head, "Katsu, can you let go of me now?"
Wordlessly, she released her grip as she examined Miranda's apartment. "Where the hell were we? 'Cause I seriously doubt that all this happened in our heads..." Katsu paused. "Maybe it did happen in our heads..."
"I think it was another one of Rhode's powers," Allen said, examining the wall in front of them, with a message that clearly came from Rhode taunting them. Though, it was pretty much nil since they managed to successfully keep the Innocence from Rhode. Regardless, it was irking. Any reminder of that Noah was irking.
"Allen? Katsu? You need to come over here. Miranda isn't looking too well." Lenalee called from around the corner of Miranda's apartment.
Katsu stood hurriedly, rushing over towards Lenalee's voice. Miranda couldn't be hurt. She owed her so much...
What Katsu saw made her gasp. Behind Miranda was her large clock, but unlike before, the hands weren't steadily turning back. Now they were moving back and forth, as if they couldn't make up their mind on which way to move. Miranda sat in front of it, trembling and sweating, in over exertion. Katsu rushed to sit before Miranda, holding her hands comfortingly, like Lenalee was hugging Miranda.
"Miranda, you need to deactivate your Innocence. Your body can't take this much strain with it yet." Katsu said, softly.
Miranda shook her head, and the clocks decorating the room around them began to make their way back into the clock. With a grunt and a large spasm on Miranda's part the clocks stopped their movements. "I-I can't stop. I-if I do, you'll all receive your injuries. And you'll regain everything Katsu. I can't do that to you. Not after all your thanks."
A sad smile graced Katsu's features. "Miranda," She whispered, "I thank you, from the bottom of my heart and I will from this day forward. You allowed me to know what it feels like to not remember, to not know, but I can't let you suffer something that is mine to deal with. I've dealt with it up until now and I can continue to deal with from now on."
"Katsu's right, Miranda," Lenalee added, rubbing Miranda's back soothingly.
"Besides, we'll heal. Thanks to you we remain alive. Because of that, we can heal." Allen added from his position standing behind Katsu.
Katsu's smile didn't falter, "That's right. Let it go..."
Minutes later, the whole town was awoken to the sounds of Miranda running through the streets in hysterics searching for the finder outside of town, to get aid for the three unconscious and seriously injured Exorcists lying in her home.
"Lavi, go guard the door while I treat Allen's anti-akuma weapon."
Allen slowly came to, his eye fluttering open to the not so pleasant sight of Komui standing beside him with one of his large drills. Any and all sense of peace one received while slowly returning from the realms of unconsciousness was washed away as Allen tensed, ready to jump out of bed at a moment's notice. "Eh?! Komui?" Allen frantically looked around him, expecting to be in the Order's hospital. Instead, his surroundings were unfamiliar. "Where am I?"
"You're in a hospital that supports the Black Order," Komui explained, as he set his drill down on a nearby table, not to startle the Exorcist further. He calmly dragged over a wooden chair and sat beside Allen's bed. "We got word from the finder at the location with you that you returned the town to normal. Good job."
Allen blinked, trying to understand what Komui was talking about. The town with Miranda. "How is Miranda?"
"Ms. Miranda left this morning, you just missed her."
"Come to think of it, why are you here, Komui? Shouldn't you be back at the Order?"
"To fix you up of course!" Komui replied happily. He dropped the act quickly at a raise of Allen's eyebrow. "Actually, you and Katsu won't be going back to the Order just yet. I need the two of you to go to Rome. About a week ago, I sent Kanda over there to collect the Innocence that had been reported there and we haven't been in touch with him since. Since there are many akuma in the area, only an Exorcist can enter. I'll send the two of you once Katsu wakes up. Though Lenalee might end up going in her place, if she wakes up first."
"Lenalee and Katsu aren't awake yet?" Allen exclaimed. He was instantly anxious. Were they okay? He knew that Lenalee had suffered some sort of damage to her nerves, but he wasn't sure how serious it was. And Katsu hadn't been in tip top condition either. He was pretty sure she was still recovering from his wounds as well as her own if his un-sore muscles and general wellbeing was anything to go by. He regarded his lack of injuries with dejectedness. And here he thought that for once, he might've been able to suffer through his injuries by himself.
"Don't worry, the old panda is taking care of Lenalee as we speak, she'll be fine."
Not suspecting another voice to respond, Allen's head jerked in the direction of said voice to see another boy, a couple years older than himself leaning against the door frame. His bright red hair was the first thing that caught Allen's eye, followed by an eye patch covering his right eye. Other than the green and black bandanna around his head and the orange scarf around his neck, he was wearing his own version of the Black Order uniform.
"I'm Lavi by the way. Nice to meet you." Lavi smiled at the startled white haired boy.
"Nice to meet you too," Allen muttered, trailing off at the end. "You said that Lenalee was going to be fine, but what about Katsu?" Allen couldn't ignore the guilt that was gnawing away at his side. Lavi hadn't mentioned Katsu for a reason, and Allen couldn't help but feel like it wasn't because she was in better condition than Lenalee.
Lavi's smile only wavered slightly. A singular twitch of the corner of his mouth downwards was the only indication that Allen's suspicions were correct. "Her physical injuries have been bandaged and taken care of as much as possible. Nothing can be done for her mental state, however." This time Lavi did frown. "That's why Lenalee might be accompanying you instead. We don't want to push Katsu's limits if she wakes up in time for you to go."
Allen frowned, his guilt expanding from his side to encompass his stomach and chest making it feel tight. He tried to hide his face behind one of his hands. He should have helped her. He could have helped her, at the very least tried to stop Rhode from hurting her. Instead, all he did was sit and watch, horrified as she bled and her mind was broken.
"On the plus side, Miranda left you a letter, before leaving," Lavi said, offering a small envelope in Allen's direction, a small understanding smile on his face.
Allen stared at the letter with his one good eye, contemplating whether he had the time to read it now, when his sister was, once again, in a serious condition because of him. He ended up taking the letter from Lavi, rationalizing that Katsu was unconscious at the moment and therefore there was little he could do to help her other than wait. He wouldn't spend his time beating himself over something that happened in the past. At least not right at this moment anyway. Perhaps once Katsu woke up and started yelling at him.
Reading the letter, Allen couldn't help a smile stretching across his face. Miranda was making her way to the Black Order and even with the intention in which the words were written, Allen could tell that Miranda had found a sort of peace, and understanding with both her life and Innocence. It reminded Allen why he-along with Lenalee and Katsu-went through all the trouble and pain to help Miranda. They had gained another Exorcist from the trouble. Something they needed dearly. It made it that much more worth it. A reminder as to why they fought. For the peace of others.
Hope you guys enjoyed :) Feel free to review.