DGM
More Than This
Chapter 18
Teamwork
Kumari looked out the carriage window with a frown. All missions lately were failures or some stupid con. The only words she could get from Saku haven't changed much and she wouldn't train. This kid was driving her crazy. Plus it didn't help that Saku hated her. She has dealt with Kanda to his extreme levels but this girl got under her skin and she did almost nothing. She was so much like Kanda, but so different. At least Saku read the mission files. She was a little happy though. She got to go to headquarters and stay. Missions over. For now. Thank you god. When they got to the front door of the Order they were greeted by the gatekeeper. He inspected them and they entered. Kumari was worried he would freak out again, but nope. Just a little lucky today.
Komui stared at them. Saku was on the chair and Kumari was sitting on the couch. Kumari handed him all of the reports, files, information she aquired, and any other necessary shit Komui requested. Kumari folded her arms and stared at Komui. Saku stood up and left. When she did Kumari handed him the letter she had given him. Komui read it and looked at her. "I didn't write this Kumari." Komui told her.
"Where did you find Sunsh- Saku. . . . . .Saku?" Kumari asked.
"Leverrier said he found her a few months ago. Link came and observed her for a bit and told me to give her to you. That is why we called you back. So, how have things been going with her?" Komui told her, trynig discard the bottom info on the letter.
"She will not talk to me and she keeps kicking me in the shin. She has destroyed several buildings on missions and she practically doesn't fight at all. When she does I don't see her, but she makes me fight the akuma. I can't do anything with her. You have to give her to a general." Kumari said.
"She won't train or fight akuma? That's odd. Leverrier said she listens to orders well and fights akuma all the time." Komui said.
"Do you believe everything that man says?" Kumari asked.
"No, but I should. I always have to put his word before mine. That is my job. I can only do so much." Komui replied.
"I can't stand this anymore. I give up on trying with her. She doesnt' even respond with full sentances or listens to me. She is driving me insane. I wasn't even ready to train anyone in the first place and I'm no general." Kumari responded.
"I can't give her to a general. Leverrier's orders. He gots his eyes on you and I want you to be careful." Komui told her.
"I'm always careful, but the letter. . . . . . .that wasn't necessary. Why would Leverrier want to trick me like that? I know how he is, but still, it has nothing to do with anything." Kumari rejoindered.
"The only way to find out would be to confront him, but after what happened last time I don't think it wise. Because the only way you'll find out is to have confidence and you would have to be there. If you want though, I can look up the last names Janco, Recul, and Sakura. I can try figure things out for you and see if you do have any kind of family out there." Komui told h er.
"That would be nice, but no Komui. Don't do that. What would be the point?" Kumari said.
"You would have family. That would be the point." Komui told her.
"What if they die? I won't be able to see them either. They won't be allowed to know if. . . . . . if I die. There's that possible outcome everytime I go out on a mission. If this war comes to an end then I would love to, but until then, it's best I don't know." Kumari said as she left.
Komui frowned. He lives with that thought everyday. That he won't see one of the exorcists again once he sends them on a mission. Whether it be Kanda to Timothy to a General. It scares him everyday to send his sister out and it scares him just the same with the other exorcists. When he found out the Allen had been dead he was in absolute sorrow. When he found out Allen was alive he was so happy, but when he heard that Allen was going to try and regain his innocence by his choice, he didn't know how to react. Allen did promise to fight with his friends, but he would risk his life every minute of lif eand he may of saved everyone's life several times after he reggained his innocence, but Allen could've walked out and live a free life. Allen sees himself as only a tool in a war. He only seeks salvation to an akuma's soul. He just fights because that's all he knows what to do.
Kumari had a blind fold on and had her hands up, positioned to attack. She was pretty sure no one else was in the training room seeing how she was the first one at headquarters. The other exorcists were still traveling. They were all on their way here, but she has been training all day so who knows if they were already back. She took in her last deep breath and started maneurvering around the room. The scientists made a second training room, but this one was full of dummies and their fake akumas and such. She was using all of her senses except her sight so she wasn't sure exactly. They did change the background alot though. They added technology with the room and it was really amazing with how they could change the tempurature and everything else. She was the first one to test it out and so far, so good.
"She's doing well. What stage is she on?" Komui asked.
"Sixty- nine. We're going to need to make more if this keeps up. She is going through all of them like Allen with his food. This is too easy for her. Not much of a training session." Reever said as he and the others went through the her skills with each stage.
"Stage complete. Next stage." a computer voice said.
"Kumari, how long can you breathe underwater?" Komui asked, touching a button.
"I don't know Komui." Kumari said.
"The underwater stage might not be best chief." Reever responded.
"What's this?" Lavi asked, looking at all of the buttons.
"I see you all got the memo." Komui said as he stared at all of the exorcists.
"Is that Kumari in there?" Lenalee asked.
"Yes Lenalee, but to answer Lavi's question, why don't I just let Kumari deomstrate for you all." Komui said as he turned back around.
"Komui, is something wrong?" Kumari asked.
Komui pushed down on the button. He thought it best not to tell her the other exorcists were watching. "No. Get ready. The next stage is about to begin." Komui told her.
Kumari felt the air get cold and she heard many footsteps around her. Komui watched as Kumari took out all of the dummies and complete the task, or in reality it would be the mission, and stop. He looked at a small screen. It was saying she hasn't completed it yet. Reever looked at the screen and thenback into the room. "Did she miss something?" Komui asked.
"No. Not unless. . . . this is stage seventy. Johnny, you made this one, did she miss anything?" Reever asked.
Kumari heard a loud ringing in her ears and the air changed. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm. Just right. Then she felt something fall against her skin. She held her hand up. Snow. "Guys, why is it snowing?" Kumari asked.
"That's not snow Kumari. That's. . . . . .ash. Ash. Why would there be. . . oh. She did get pass the stage. It just flipped to a new one." Komui said.
Reever started pressing buttons and then a small screen came down. They did have over four hundred stages, but each one was specifically made for each exorcists, team, or any other pairing or situation. "Uhh, chief, she's on the last stage which are for the generals." Reever said.
"Just change the stage." Johnny said.
"We can't. It's not working. I think there's a malfunction." Tapp responded.
"Then shut it down. This stage isn't for her." Komui said.
"Now that I think about it, you created this stage Komui." Reever said.
"That would explain the malfunction." everyone else mumbled.
"She can complete it. That I have no doubt about, but the thing is, you have to have at least two people to complete it." Komui said.
Kumari felt the floor changed beneath her feet and heard a loud rumble. She turned her hand into a fist and felt the snow stay. It was ash. Ash came from volcanoes. "Komui, what's going on?"
"Just shut it down." Komui said, ignoring Kumari.,
"How?" Russel asked.
"Komui?" Kumari repeated.
Komui looked at Kumari. He stared at the volcano behind her and the lava coming from it. Then a rock started coming at her. "Kumari watch out!" the science divesion shouted.
Kumari tool off her blind fold and turned around. Her eyes went wide from shock and for some reason she didn't move. She got hit and she smashed into the wall yards away from the volcano. The hot rock was big and stuck on her leg. She tried to push it off, but it stayed. "What's wrong with you Komui? What kind of stage is this?" Reever shouted.
The exorcists ran to the big balcony window and looked down. Komui started pushing buttons and typing something in, but it denied access or said invaild. Kumari tried to get free from the rock, but it wouldn't come off and she didn't have her innocence with her. She closed her eyes as she used all of her strenghth to try and push the big rock off of her, but a large shadow cover her and she opened her eyes and looked up. Another huge rock started coming at her and she couldn't do anything. She squeezed her eyes shut, but nothing came. She cracked open an eye and stared at a metal spike piercing through the rock. The rock suddenly came off of her leg and a spike was right inbewteen her leg. Her eyes widened. Her gloves were thrown at her and she caught them. She turned her head and stared at Saku. She stood up, but her leg was really sore and burnt a little. "Sunshine?" Kumari asked.
Saku had her back to her and was staring at the volcano. How did she get in here? And why was the rock so real? It was too real. Saku started walking towards the volcano and stared at something. Kumari followed her gaze and saw a green glow coming from inside the volcano. Saku was walking faster towards the volcano and Kumari felt worry. She started running after her. "Sunshine you can't. . holy shit." Kumari was almost skewered by several spikes.
One was touching her neck and blood was dripping. "Saku. It's Saku! Now stay here." Saku said.
The spikes disappeared and Kumari gulped as she touched her throat. Saku started climbing up the steep volcano and Kumari began running after her again, but she fell down because of her leg. She winced and stared at it as blood came out from the burns. She tried to stand up, but only fell. It was like all the nerves in her leg were breaking down. "Kumari, are you okay?" Reever asked.
Kumari looked at everyone and nodded. She turned her head to look at Saku when a loud eruption went off and lava started coming out of the volcano in a long colum. Now she hated the training room. Saku got close to the lava and Kumari stood up and tried running again. When she got to Saku she grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the way from a rock. Quickly she slipped on her gloves and looked at the lava. She couldn't use any other element except fire at the moment. She couldn't do anything with her innocence right now. "Komui, what the hell is going on?" Kumari shouted.
"There seems to be a malfuction and we can't shut it down. We're working on it, but we have to completely reboot it. It's just how the stage was made, but for now, try to complete the task. The scenerio is almost real and the damage to you will most likely be real. This was made for two generals so. . . . .. good luck?" Komui responded.
"How is this for two generals exactly?" Kumari said, not understanding how it would be like that.
Kumari's question was answered as several level three akuma and two level four akuma appeared and a town not too far off with people. Then a Noah. Tyki to be specific since they knew more about him then anyone else. "Are you kidding me?" Kumari shouted.
"One more thing. If you fail the mission then it'll restart and then it'll get harder the next time round. Just complete the mission without dying. Like, don't fall to the bottom of the volcano." Komui said.
"I'm going to kill you Komui!" Kumari shouted.
"Can't we help them?" Lenalee asked.
"The doors won't open. I don't even know how Sunshine got in." Komui said.
Saku created hundreds of spikes that went flying all around, destroying every akuma except the level fours. Tyki started coming towards them and Saku ran to the top of the volcano using her spikes. Kumari turned back around and ended up being hit by the akumas. She went flying and hit the glass where the exorcists were and fell to the ground. She looked up and saw one of them coming down and punched her in the stomach. She jumped backwards as she stood up and held her stomach as blood drizzled down. She turned her head to look at Saku who came flying at her. When Kumari looked back up at the volcano she saw Tyki holding a piece of innocence and destroyed it. "Stage restarting." the computer said.
Everything disappeared then reappeared. Kumari looked around and saw more akuma and the volcano was already erupting. Saku stood up, angry, and started running back to the volcano. Kumari tried to follow, but she got stuck with the akuma again. She destroyed every single one except three level fours until the computer said restarting. Tyki didn't even destroy the inncocence. She looked at the town and saw it had been destroyed. "You've got to be kidding me!" Kumari shouted as it restarted.
Finve restarts later, Saku and Kumari were laying on the ground, exhausted and being attacked repeatedly then another restart. "Okay, Saku. We're not going to get this done if you keep running off without me. We need to work together." Kumari said as she stood up.
Saku sat on the ground and looked at Kumari's hand that she held out. Saku nodded and grabbed her hand and stood up. "DO you think you can destroy the level threes while I get Tyki to the wall?" Kumari asked.
Saku nodded again and spikes came out of nowhere. Kumari balled her hands and fire surrounded them. She started running towards Tyki and using her bad leg, she repeatedly kicked Tyki until he went flying into the wall. When she looked at the akuma she saw only seven level fours. She could barely handle one level four. How was she suppose to handle seven? Saku sent a spike right at her and Kumari moved out of the way. She was about to shout at her, but she heard an explosion and saw a level three blow up. She smiled and headed towards the town. Saku stood there, looking had to keep the lava from reaching the town or it's people. Like in real life. Kumari put her arms in front of her and it they formed an X as a level four came down and tried to cut her into two pieces. Her feet started going in the ground and she struggled to get the level four from cutting her. A giant metal spike came and pinned it to the wall. Literally. She looked at Saku and smiled. She got out of the small crater.
Kumari stared at the akuma that had it's hands on the spike and trying to push it off. Kumari's fist were covered in fire again and it got bigger and bigger flames. She ran towards the akuma and punched it in the face really hard and it's white skin started turn charcoal black. Saku formed another giant spike and let it go toward the akuma and Kumari went off to the side. One down. Six to go. "How are flames going to help in this situation?" Saku asked.
"How are your spikes going to help? We have to keep the town from being destroyed, we have to pervent Tyki from destroying the innocence, and we have to stop the lava as well as get the inncoence out of the volcano. Tell me how either of our abilities will work with that?" Kumari retorted.
"Can't you use anything else besides fire?" Saku questioned.
"Not yet." Kumari said, a little frustrated.
Two more akuma came over and they destroyed them after ten minutes. Saku then forced Tyki baack to the wall and made a little maze with her spikes. And since it was made of innocence. he couldn't phase through it. She also created a roof so he couldn't jump out. That gave them some time, but Saku was extremely tired after that. So they destroyed the rest of the akuma and Kumari was trying to think of a way to help the town. Nothing came to her. The only way was to stop the lava. Saku ran up the volcano and Kumari followed, hopeing she had an idea. Then Saku did something totally insane. She used her spikes to create odd spikey stairs and went on the volcano and dodged lava. "Sunshine!" Kumari shouted on a rock so not to get in the lava.
Saku looked up at her as her hand reached out for the innocence. "Behind you."
Kumari turned around and saw Tyki holding his purple butterfly shield. She moved to the side and she fought him. She kicked, punched, dodged, got hit, dodged, get hit, get hit, fall down. Kuumari got back up and then she fell down again as Tyki hit her leg. SHe needed her sais. She stood back up and hit Tyki. She tried to kick him, but she did the wrong appraoch and had her hands on the ground and tried to kick him that way, but he caught her foot and gripped it. He threw her and she rolled around. When she opened her eyes Tyki stepped on her stomach and she tried to push him off, but it didn't work. She felt heat behind her head and there was a bright orange color. She turned her head a bit and saw lava. Tyki tried to push her head init, but she had enough strength to kick him off. Then she heard a scream.
She looked inside the volcano while she dodged an attack. Saku was holding onto her metal spike with one hand and was swinging around. She couldn't get her other hand on the spike and her hand was burning from the heat. The spike was also metal from the lava, but slowly. Tyki jumped down on the spike and tried stepped on Saku's hand. Saku actually showed her emotion this time and it was fear. Kumari couldn't help but feel responsible and bit down on her tongue. Tyki started reaching for the inncoence and the town was about to be destroyed. Saku was about to fall to her death. Tyki grabbed the innnocence and jumped up to where Kumari was. Kumari immediately attacked him and took the inncoence. She put it in her pocket and attacked him. She heard Saku scream again and her mind was in chaos. She was pushed back and her feet came off the edge. She looked down and she froze when she saw Saku slipping.
Tyki grabbed her throat and started choking her and she started hanging above the pit of lava. She swung her feet as she tried to kick him, but he grabbed the innocence and loosened his hands gripped his and he let her go so she hung on him. He pulled her on the rock and took off her gloves. Kumari stood up and wiped blood from her mouth and was about to burn him in fire, but she couldn't. She looked at her hands and panicked. She heard the townspeople scream and Saku scream. Her friends told her to get Saku, but she was so confused as Tyki held her gloves over the edge. She looked at Saku and mouthed something. She nodded and she created more spikes and gave Kumari two small spikes. They weren't sais, but they were enough. Saku started climbing up and Kumari attacked Tyki, but then Saku screamed again and she slipped off of her spike. She created one more, but then a necklace broke off and started falling. Kumari guessed it was her innocence.
Kumari watched Tyki dropped her gloves in the volcano. Kumari watched all of the scenes and by instinct, she jumped into the volcano. She heard everyone shout her name, but ignored them. She grabbed her gloves and as Saku slipped, she threw one of the spikes on her sleeve shirt and she stayed there. She just needed a minute. She threw the other spike and stopped the necklace from falling. She closed her eyes as worry filled her as she came closer to the lava. Her gloves started glowing and then everything went ice cold and steam came out of the volcano. Kumari hit something hard and opened her eyes. Black. She used her arms to push herself up and looked around. Everything was black. She looked at her gloves that were still glowing and then she looked up. The orange glow from the lava was gone. It was all black.
Saku fell and landed on top of Kumari. Kumari pushed her off and Saku stood up. She put the necklace in her pocket and looked up. The spikes created stairs in an odd way and the two hurried up them. When they got there to the top they looked all around as water fell off the walls and formed huge puddles on the floor. There was no more lava. "Stage complete." the computer said and everything, but the water disappeared.
Komui sighed, relieved. He smiled as the doors opened and the science divsion stopped messing around with the wires. Kumari sat down and didn't care about the water being ice cold. It was better than the heat and it made her leg feel better. She looked up at Saku and smiled. The room filled with all of the by standers and Lavi rubbed her head, giving her a noogie. Kumari laughed along with him and stared at her gloves that were still glowing. "Are you two okay?" Lenalee asked, very concerned.
"Sore, but yeah." Kumari said and turned her head. "How about you Sun- uh- Saku?"
Saku folded her arms and looked down at Kumari's smile. She stared and stared, but she could not find out why she was so happy. They were almost killed by the hardest stage all because of a simple malfunction. Or was it a malfunction? Lavi let go of Kumari and swam around in the water with Daisyia. The exorcists that didn't really care left. Which meant there was no Cross, no Zokolo. Kanda stayed in the doorway though as he watched Kumari stare at Saku.
Saku realized Kumari just possibly saved her life. Kumari's smile did fade, but her eyes showed concern. Kumari could've just left her, but she didn't. She actually put Saku's life before hers. Kumari stared at Saku's hand as she held it out. Kumari blinked, but grabbed it and Saku helped her up. Kumari looked down at Saku. "Thanks Saku and thanks for helping me." Kumari said.
"It's Sunshine." Saku said.
Kumari smiled again as Sunshine hugged her and thanked her. Komui smiled warmly. At least there were a few good things that came out of this. Kumari unlocked a new element for her innocence. Sunshine accepted Kumari as he mentor. And the two became a team and had extraordinary teamwork. Sunshine let her go and walked out of the room. "Well I'll be darned. She does have a heart." Kumari muttered.
"Hey Kumari, you know you two just completed a general mission. Two general mission." Allen said.
"I know." Kumari said.
"Uhh, can you get rid of the water?" Komui asked.
Kumari deactivated her innocence and the water evaporated. "Now, come with me. We might want to check your synchro rate. See if it wwent up." Komui said, walking out.
"Wait a minute. I'm not tthrough with you. You almost killed me and Sunshine!" Kumari said agrily.
Komui smiled foolishly and put his hand to his head. "Oh right, about that. . . . . " KOmui ran out and left only a trail of dust.
"I'm going to kill him." Kumari seethed.
Please review. Thanks and I hoped you enjoyed it. Yan Luna4373