DGM

More Than This

Chapter 7

Fight The Heat

Kumari watched as the others fought the Noahs and got their asses handed to them. She could help if she could at least activate her innocence long enough, but she still couldn't move even though the gravity was back to normal. Komui and Reever looked at her crumbled on the had been taken out in just minutes and they didn't even know why. They wanted to help her and let sit up, but they were afraid that if they touched her that she would scream in pain like last time. "Payback time." Jasdero said.

"Yeah, payback. Hii!" Debbitto responded.

Kumari was suddenly lifted from the ground and was looking at the two twins. They had their guns to her head and she glared. She balled her hands into fists just in case. "Put her down!" Kanda shouted while swinging Mugen.

Kumari was dragged around and she wished her body hadn't gone limp and numb. She felt useless. Jasdero put his arm around her neck and had his golden gun beside her head. Debbitto had his gun pointed at her as well. When all the exorcists noticed what was going on, they stopped moving. The Noahs grinned as they found their weak spot. Kumari's eyes drooped. She forced herself to stay awake, but she couldn't hold out for much longer. "You morons. Fight!" Kumari shouted.

They all stared at her worriedly. But soon the worried vanished. Her gloves started glowing and then the light enveloped the whole room, blinding everybody. Kumari took this to her advantaged and got rid of the two twins and started attacking the enemies. She destroyed all of the akumas and when she ran out of her sudden burst of energy, she went to Kanda and leaned on him for support.

Kanda was startled by the sudden touch andjumped back an inch, but when he realized it was Kumari he wrapped an arm around her waist and jumped towards the group of exorcists. Kumari still stood, but she trembled as her body weakened, but her grip on Kanda tightened. The light disappeared and Kanda looked down. He saw pure determination in her eyes and he knew i8t would be useless to make her sit out. He has never seen her so weak before. That bothered him a bit. She mentioned gravity, but they didn't understand. So they couldn't really help, but he hated seeing her so vulnerable because of the Noahs. "Sorry to bother you like that Kanda." Kumari said, standing up straight.

Kanda? Did she call him Kanda? What happened to Yuu? She always called him Yuu. He should be glad that she was calling him Kanda, but it didn't feel right. Kanda didn't say anything though. "You should sit and gather some energy Kumari." Bookman told her.

"No. I'm an exorcist and I will fight. I'll be back on course in a minute. I just have to get use to moving , take a look at yourselves. You're in worse condition than I am." Kumari replied.

"What a brave little warrior you are Miss. Janco. I admire you're determination and your abilities, but how would you be able to fight if what happened last time would somehow happen again?" the Earl responded.

Kumari narrowed her eyes and let flames erupt all around her. "How would you all like to burn in the flames of hell where you belong?"

"Innocence has nothing to do with hell my dear." Earl said.

Kumari smirked as she started running towards them. "No, but I didn't mention innocence." Kumari mumbled.

Kumari took out her sais and attacked Tyki. He dodged with his purple butterfly shield. Or whatever it was. His ciggarrette was pointed to the ground and he smiled. His face came towards her and he looked into her red, red eyes. "I'm not really one for fighting lovely ladies such as yourself. So why don't you just hand over the innocence and we'll do this the easy way? Maybe you'll live through it." Tyki suggest.

"I'm not a quiter. I refuse to go down like that." Kumari spat venomously.

"Whatever you say." Tyki responded, thrusting his other hand.

Kumari used her sai and it went through his hand, but she saw no blood. She saw his hand go through it even more and it was coming at her. SHe kicked him then thrusted her sais. He grabbed them and got a cut on each hand. Kumari put more force into the attack and it started to go towards him. They stopped an inch away from his chest though. "Second chance darling." Tyki stated.

"I'm not your darling. And the only second chance I got is for killing you." Kumari responded.

"Your flames won't work." Tyki told her as more flames surrounded them.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Because you won't get a chance to use them." Tyki said, making the sais go flying.

Kumari watched her sais melt in the flames. Now she had to get new ones. "How did you get here?" Kumari asked.

"Seems like someone ratted ou out princess." Tyki answered.

"Who?"

"Now that's a secret."

Kumari felt something hit her chest with great force and then she went soaring. She put her hand on her head as she stood up. When she looked at her hand she saw blood. "Watch what you're doing Kumari!" Lavi shouted.

"Sorry Lavi."

Lavi sighed and looked around the room. There was no way they were going to win. The Noahs had the upper hand. Unless they could do something else, but what. Kumari seemed to of read his mind because she made the Noahs and exorcists seperate. Everyone in the Black Order was on one part of the room and the enemies on the other. "Is there another possible way we could settle this?" Kumari asked calmly.

"Hmmmmm. . . . . . . . . . .there is one way I suppose. I've been wanting to try something out and you and that samurai look like the perfect candidate." the Earl said.

That was too fast of an answer. He planned this. He knew that Kumari would ask that question. "For what exactly?" Kumari asked.

Kanda whacked Kumari. "It was the only way anyone would bsurvive now get over it." Kumari responded.

"We would've been just fine!"

"Fine my ass! If they would've done that gravitation thing then we would all be dead. So shut up!"

"We're in the damn ark! We'll be killed!"

"What happened to your confidence and your arrogance? We're not in the ark. We're in a dessert because of a doorway. So something is out here. Now shut up!" Kumari shouted, walking off.

"They're watching and this is all your fault."

"Then why did you tag along? I could have done this all by myself. I'm a big girl.. You're a freaking nine year old!"

Kanda glared as fury swallowed him whole. Why did she get on his nerves so much? He took a deep breath and strut in front of her. Kumari ignored him and stared at the ground. This situation may have been her fault, but it gave them time to come up with something because back at the Order. . . . they all seemed so weak. They couldn't do anything and Will almost died. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried and. . . . . . you're right." Kumari said, sitting down on a big rock.

Kanda turned his head a bit. "Let's go."

"We don't even know where we're going. We need to go North. We've probably been going south all the this time. We don't even know what dessert we're in. What country or what. We could just be in Road's mind or in an illusion. We need to stop and think." Kumari told him.

"North? Why north?" Kanda asked, curious.

"Because . . . . . . . I don't know the exact reason, but I was told by General Yeagar that if I get lost in a dessert to go North. At night follow the north star. During the day we try to survive the heat. He said a few more things that could help, but it's all fuzzy in my head. He said there were several things to do during night and day. I just can't remember." Kumari replied.

The sun rises from east to west." Kanda told her.

"So?"

"If we wait and watch which direction the sun goes we'll find which way is north. Moron. You're suppose to know all this stuff." Kanda said rudely.

Kanda sat beside her and took off his shirt and jacket. Kumari laid down. She slipped off her jacket and massaged her feet. It really sicked to be walking around a dessert bare footed. They burned. Plus she had pale, sensitive skin. She had a high chance of getting sun burn. Kanda seemed fine. How can he just sit there and soak in the sun? He wasn't even sweating where as Kumari was going to dried up by the end of the day. Her throat was already dry and she needed water. In fact, they've been there for hours and stopping seems to ruined her. She rather walk and get her feet burned.

Kumari foled her shirt up a bit and did the same with her shorts. Her hand wiped off all of the sweat from her face and she sighed. Her eyes searched for a cactus or any deadly animal like a scorpian. Kanda just sat there and mediatated. She stared at him and saw a few drops of sweat. Kumari put her gloves in her short's pockets and she laid back down. The sun fell and she didn't know where it disappeared to. She paid attention, but once it vanished so did her memory of it. She must've zoned out. Kanda too because he didn't say anything and he didn't start walking.

Kumari shivered uncontrolably and sh had her shorts and shirt unfolded and her jacket was on. It was like swimming in the antarctic during a blizzard. The only light was from the moon and it was only a quarter moon tonight. She curled up in a ball to give her some comfort and perserve some body heat, but it didn't work. She wished Chester was here so she could hug him He was always very warm. Mainly because his fur was black, but then during the day he would be dead. Or act like he was. Maybe they would get lucky and someone will find them, but it all depends on what dessert they were in. "Kanda, are you okay?" Kumari queried.

"Perfect."

"How are your wounds?" Kumari questioned.

"Fine."

"Are you sure?" Kumari asked.

"Yes."

"Are you cold?"

"Tch."

"Can you answer a question with more than one word?"

"Yes."

"Well?"

"Shut up." Kanda said.

"Why won't you talk to me? I've been at the Order for over a month and you've barely spoken to me. Why? Do you hate me? Did I do somethin wrong? I'm even calling you Kanda and you're still being a jackass. More so than I remember and more so then from when I arrived." Kumari responded.

"Che."

Kumari wanted to hit him, but refrained herself from doing so. She just shut her mouth and sat there cold and lonely. Even with him there. Maybe an hour or two passed and she fell asleep. Kanda looked at her with a frown, but he wasn't upset. No. He was just. . . . he wasn't sure how he felt at the moment. He just felt like he had to get Kumari out of here. Like something bad was about to happen. He had fear. Fear that he would lose her again, but this time she really would die. She wouldn't come back. Of course he wouldn't admit this aloud. He barely admitted it to himself.

Kanda stayed up all night in the cold weather and watch for the sun to appear. When he saw it beyond the horizon he picked Kumari up and started walking North. Hours passed and Kumari finally awoke. When she did she saw his dark blue almost purple hair. Her hands squeezed one another as she closed her eyes again. Still tired for some reason. She forced them back open and lifted her head a bit. When she came to her senses and realized that Kanda was carrying her on his back she jumped off him, hurting him slightly.

She looked up at Kanda who was staring her down. He seemed like a hundred feet tall as he hovered over her. Her hands started burning really bad and she picked them up. She hated the fact that her uniform was black. Because today was hotter than yesterday and it was really bothering her skin. Once again she folded the shorts and her shirt. Put her gloves in her pocket and put her jacket around her waist by tying the sleeves together. She disregarded the pain the steaming hot sand was giving her feet. Kumari trailed behind Kanda, trusting he knew what he was doing.

Kumari felt faint as she truged her way through the sand, her feet under it. Every step she took her feet would sink down. Like in winter with your boot in the snow, but she couldn't pick her feet up completely. Kanda glanced at her every now and then and found out she was slowing down by the minute. He waited for a few minutes before he turned around and picked her up. She would've struggled, but she was too tired and hot to. So she found herself on his back once again with her hands locked with one another around his neck. Her head was in the groove of his neck. She was looking down with tired eyes. The walk was silent and they would get lucky once in awhile when a nice cool breeze blew by. Kumari still had troubles with the heat though.

The day dragged on and they were only in the mid- afternoon. Kumari's grip loosened and she fell off. Kanda turned around and felt her head. It was really, extremely hot. Her behavior was a little strange. She was normally good in the heat, but she has never been to a place this hot before. It was over a hundred degrees (F) and it was getting hotter and hotter. Maybe there was something else to it though. She said something about the gravitation back at the Order. COuld she still. . is there a possibility. . . that maybe she. . . is still effected by it?

Kanda felt the fabric of her clothing and discovered that they were thick. If they were made for battle they shouldn't be so thick because of her ability with flames. That's another thing that got him. She is always working with fire and fire is beyond hot most of the times. Maybe she didn't feel th eheat because it was her innocence? Maybe only the akumas and the Noahs felt it? WHo knows. There's several possibilities.

Kanda put her back on his back and made sure she would stay. She moaned as if she was trying to say something. He knew she was awake, but she would pass out in due time. If she tried to stay awake she'll waste all of her energy and it would all be in vain. She mine as well give in since there is nothing she can do now. "Sleep." Kanda said aloud.

Kumari's hand moved to his chest then to his hand. She squeezed it as tight as she could. Her breathing was uneven and her head layid on his shoulder. She cracked opened her eyes and gazed at Kanda through her hazy vision. His cobalt eyes saw the red eyes in the corner of his eyes. She nudged him as if to get his attention. He rotated his head slightly and stopped walking. "Kanda. . . . .danger. . . . . .I. . . . sense aku. . akumas . . . coming." Kumari stuttered.

Kanda's ears listened to his surroundings and he heard something from afar. He could sense them as they grew closer and closer, but he couldn't pinpoint the direction in which they were coming from. Sure, now he sends his goons. Kanda kept moving forward though and searched for a spot to lay Kumari for safety, but couldn't find a single place. So, he started running. Hopefully he could come across something, but unforunately, he didn't and the akumas caught up. Kanda grabbed Mugen and put Kumari on the sediment. He stayed there and guarded her as they attacked. One by one he destroyed them, but with difficult. Being out in the desert took it's toll on him as well.

His pace slowed down and he had been weakened. He was tired and exhausted. He kept getting thrown and thrashed. He was also fighting level threes and one level four. Kumari winced everytime she heard a clash or any kind of noise. She tossed and turned as the blazing heat got worse as the sun floated right above her. It felt like it was getting closer and she tried to grip something, but found nothing but sand. Using all the strength she had, she sat up and looked for Kanda. SHe put her gloves on and activated her innocence. She was going to regret this, but she only had enough energy to create fire. So she did. She burned all the akumas and all of the weak ones immediately turned to ash. The level four got burns and lost a few parts, but it still fought.

Kumari still burned the akumas and Kanda fought with Mugen. "Can't you use any other element?" he practically demanded.

"You have to be next to me first." Kumari said, voice low.

Kanda got beside her and dodged an attack. He lunged forward then jumped back. He looked at Kumari who was trying to concentrate really hard. He felt the wind pick up and the sand started to float. He closed his eyes to keep the grains from getting in his eyes. More sand went up into the air and the wind swirled around creating a sandstorm. Kumari put to much energy in it and when she destroyed the akuma, which she found odd, she deactivated her innocence, but the storm continued. She gripped Kanda tightly and he started running again, but for miles the storm continued. It got out of control and he was blinded and soon they both passed out.

Hours and Hours later Kanda awoke and sat up. He made sure he had his Mugen then he gazed around. He was in a wooden hut. There was just one problem, he didn't see Kumari. He got out of the bed he was in and walked around. His frown got deeper and deeper and something in his chest gave him an aching pain. Like he was worried or felt guilty. He opened door and saw Kumari lying in a ed, unconscious. He was relieved and he sighed for some reason. "Hello exorcist. I see you're feeling better." an old woman said.

Kanda watched her twist a wet rag over a bucket then put it atop of Kumari's head. She didn't have a blanket on her though. He walked over to her and touched her skin.. It felt warm. It was actually burning and red. "She'll be out for awhile. Don't fret though. Most people are like this after they expeirenced the scorching desert we have just around the corner. Most don't even get through the desert and die. Though, she seems to of had more luck then them. I'm Karlay. A supporter of the Black Order. Nice to meet you." Karlay told him.

"When will she wake up?" Kanda asked, sitting on the cool floor.

"It's unpredictable. It could take awhile. That's why I had my husband and my son go contact the Order, but theyhad to go to another town. Until then, you mine as well wait and heal. She may be down for a long time. Just relax." Karlay told him.

"Che."

"I'll fox something up for you to eat. You're going to need all the energy you can get. You have been out for awhile as well." Karlay said.

"How long?"

"About a month." Karlay said casually.

A month? What about the Order? The Noahs? The fight? What happened? Kanda glared at a rat crawling on the floor as if it was it's fault. Karlay left and he looked at Kumari. "You better hurry up and heal." Kanda said, angry.

The End. PLease review. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks! Yan Luna4373